Zhao Lin eyed me up and down as I approached. "So you're Zhang Cheng?"
"Yeah. You wanted to see me?"
"Not bad-looking," she said, lips curling. "But terrible taste."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"The love letter to Xia Shi." She flicked her hair over one shoulder. "Copying Tsangyang Gyatso's poetry? How... unoriginal."
When she followed up with "How could you like someone like her?" I turned and walked away without another word. Behind me, her friends' mocking laughter chased me down the hallway.
Evening Study Session
Halfway through self-study, the classroom door slammed open. Li Dehai stormed in with his gang, zeroing in on me immediately.
"You got lucky today," he spat, leaning over my desk. "Friday after school—we finish this."
The class erupted in whispers as he left. Some looked at me with pity; others barely hid their smirks. Let them laugh, I thought. We'll see who's laughing Friday.
Dorm Room Surprise
Right before lights-out, Jiang Qingqing barged in for inspection—wearing that infuriatingly professional smile. I barely had time to dive under my covers in my boxers.
She made small talk about grades and dorm life, but her eyes kept darting to my phone. The moment she left, I grabbed it and opened WeChat.
Me: "Back from your rounds?"
Her reply came instantly: "How long is this 'business trip' of yours supposed to last?"
I hesitated. Give a short timeframe, and she'd expect to meet soon. Too long, and she'd question my job.
Me: "About ten days."
Jiang Qingqing: "Perfect. I'm free most evenings after."
Shit. Ten days until this house of cards collapsed. But for now, the game continued.
Me: "If you don't trust men, planning to stay single forever?"
Jiang Qingqing: "Oh I'll marry—when I find one who actually loves me." Then, abruptly: "My problematic student? He's going to make this semester hilarious."
My thumbs froze over the screen. She's talking about me.
Jiang Qingqing: "Poor thing barely passed college entrance exams. Got in through connections. Terrified of expulsion though..." A devil emoji followed. "I think I'll have some fun with that."
Blood pounded in my ears. So today's 'errand' was just the beginning.
Me: "Why bully a student?"
Jiang Qingqing: "Because I can. Now about those photos you wanted..."
Three images popped up—all modest, fully clothed shots. Nothing usable as leverage.
As I stared at the screen, two realizations hit:
She was toying with me in both worlds.
This war just got personal.