Ming Xi made a face. “I won’t!”
As it turned out, a mother truly does know her daughter best.
The moment Ming Xi entered the room, she began talking non-stop about her eccentric roommates. Ming Li played the perfect listener, nodding along from time to time.
But after a while, once the lights were off and they were settled in bed, Ming Xi suddenly whispered, “Sis, do you know how… amazing your ex-wife is?”
Ming Li didn’t understand. “Be more specific.”
“I’ve been looking into the requirements for a dual degree at Capital University lately,” Ming Xi said. “And I came across a legendary figure.”
As one of the top-tier institutions in the country, Capital University was a battlefield of geniuses and “monsters.” Ming Xi had been a top student in high school, but at her university, people like her were a dime a dozen.
Ming Xi had originally planned to pursue a dual degree in Finance and Law, but after looking at the requirements, the pressure felt overwhelming. However, she had heard her roommates talking about a legend, specifically someone from their School of Finance.
That person had managed to minor in Finance while being enrolled in the notoriously difficult School of Medicine. Not only that, but she had scored top marks in every single course, outperforming the actual Finance majors.
The incident had caused quite a stir in the department at the time, igniting the competitive spirit of all the students. However, this person had been like a high-level AI, her track record consistently flawless. She had been just as dominant in the School of Medicine.
Ming Xi spoke with a sense of numb awe, having heard it many times from her roommates.
Ming Li said calmly, “I know. She had a dual degree.”
Gu Qingshuang had told her once, speaking without a trace of emotion or pride, as if it were something anyone could do. In reality, only a “freak” like her could achieve such a thing.
“It’s more than that,” Ming Xi said, sounding slightly despairing. “She also took classes at the Law School and was minoring in Law. But for some reason, she never got the degree for it.”
“Maybe she was just too tired,” Ming Li suggested.
Ming Xi shook her head. “No, I don’t think someone like her knows the meaning of the word ‘tired.’ Geniuses don’t get tired; they’re born with boundless energy.”
Ming Li disagreed but didn’t argue.
As Ming Xi drifted off, she muttered one last sigh. “Did she dump all her stat points into IQ and none into EQ? How can she be so clueless when it comes to feelings!”
Ming Li: “…”
The next morning, Ming Li wanted to sleep in, but Ming Xi dragged her out of bed, insisting on taking her to a new breakfast spot that supposedly had incredible steamed buns.
Unable to win against Ming Xi, Ming Li got up and grumbled, “Don’t you dare come home next weekend.”
Ming Xi giggled and stuck her tongue out. “Hehe, I’m coming home anyway!”
Ming Li could do nothing but throw a hat at her sister’s face. Ming Xi immediately clutched her face, pretending to be wounded. “Ow! So much pain! You definitely have to treat me to breakfast to make it better.”
As they reached the elevator, they ran into Luo Chaoxue, who was dressed in athletic gear.
“Going for a morning run in this weather, Sister Luo?” Ming Xi greeted her warmly.
Luo Chaoxue gave her a faint smile. “It’s a habit. What are you two up to?”
“Breakfast,” Ming Xi said. “Only food could drag me out of my warm bed in this cold.”
“Heading to the bun shop on the corner?” Luo Chaoxue asked.
“How did you know?” Ming Xi shivered as a gust of wind hit her outside, but Luo Chaoxue, despite her light clothing, didn’t seem bothered at all.
Ming Xi whispered to herself, “She must have some serious internal heat.”
Luo Chaoxue answered the previous question. “I went there yesterday. It’s very good.”
She had actually brought some back for Ming Li the night before, but it had met the same fate as the Lego set—the idiot dog had eaten it off the table. She was too embarrassed to tell Ming Li, so she just had to swallow the loss, though the thought made her want to give the dog another scolding.
The three of them parted ways at the bottom of the building. Ming Xi immediately began gossiping about Luo Chaoxue again. “What do you think Sister Luo does for a living? And was that girl we saw at the dessert shop her girlfriend? They seemed like a good match, though her girlfriend never seems to visit.”
“You aren’t camped outside her door twenty-four-seven. How would you know?” Ming Li asked.
Ming Xi was stumped. “Fair point.”
As the sisters walked down their usual street, Ming Xi stopped and doubled back after a few paces. “Isn’t that the… ex-wife’s car? The license plate is the same.”
Ming Li froze and looked at the plate: Jing A77788.
It was a rather flashy plate, though not the flashiest in the Gu family garage.
“Why is her car parked here?” Ming Xi asked, leaning curiously against the window to peer inside. Suddenly, Gu Qingshuang sat up slowly, and they stared at each other through the glass. Both were startled.
Ming Xi immediately grabbed Ming Li and tried to pull her away. “Go, go, go! I’m seeing ghosts first thing in the morning.”
Ming Li asked, “Gu Qingshuang is in the car?”
Ming Xi didn’t answer, but before they could get far, the car door opened. Gu Qingshuang stepped out, her hair a bit messy. She froze for a few seconds upon seeing the sisters before giving a stiff, awkward greeting. “Hi.”
Ming Xi pressed her lips together and remained silent. Ming Li, meanwhile, stared at her intensely, her gaze immediately landing on the wound on Gu Qingshuang’s hand.
It hadn’t scabbed over yet and looked raw and red.
Ming Li frowned, but before she could speak, the curious little one beside her chimed in. “What are you doing at our place? And sleeping in your car? Is the big bed at your house not comfortable enough?”
Ming Xi stepped a bit closer as she spoke, her brow suddenly furrowing. “Wait… did you run away from home?”
Gu Qingshuang was wearing a wrinkled sweater, her hair was unkempt, and she looked utterly dejected. She radiated a sense of total exhaustion.
She looked exactly like Ming Xi did back in middle school after a massive fight with their parents.
Ming Xi couldn’t help but think that if her roommates saw their “legendary figure” like this, their pedestals would crumble instantly.
Gu Qingshuang hadn’t expected Ming Xi to guess so accurately. She chose her words carefully. “I’m planning on moving out.”
If she stayed under the same roof as Gu Xueqiang any longer, she was going to die. After the death of her spirit, her body would surely follow.
“No way. You’re this old and you’re still pulling the ‘run away from home’ act?” Ming Xi was speechless. “Isn’t that a bit childish…”
Ming Li cut her off, noticing her sister’s lack of boundaries. “Ming Xi.”
Ming Xi went quiet. Then she heard Ming Li ask softly, “Why did you two fight again?”
Gu Qingshuang looked at Ming Li, and suddenly, her eyes welled with tears.
This was probably the reason she loved Ming Li so much.
When everyone else instinctively moved to judge or criticize her, Ming Li would always ask for the reason first.
