Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 76

Ji Qingqian had just stepped out of the bathroom.

She tugged at the collar of her T-shirt, taking in the faint scent lingering on it. Not bad—a clean, laundry-fresh smell—but it wasn’t Yibei’s. Looks like he didn’t wear this often.

Then she saw Lu Yibei’s dazed, almost terrified expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Hearing her voice, Lu Yibei forced himself to calm down.

He wanted to laugh, but his mouth could only twitch faintly.

“…Auntie called.”

“‘Auntie’?”

Ji Qingqian blinked. That sounded strange. Then she looked at her phone and realized… oh. Her mom.

It made sense that Yibei would call her “Auntie.”

Though she had been raised with a lot of freedom, this was her first time traveling across half the country to study. Her parents naturally called every now and then to check in.

She hadn’t expected a call today.

She pursed her lips, glancing at Lu Yibei. No wonder he looked like he was about to face the final boss before even leaving the newbie village.

“Does she know me?” Lu Yibei asked.

Ji Qingqian shook her head.

“If she finds out you’re here with me… she’s going to scold you, right?” he asked again.

Ji Qingqian nodded.

Lu Yibei took several deep breaths, back and forth.

“Then… you answer it.”

Ji Qingqian looked at him, this earnest, almost heroic expression of someone about to sacrifice themselves, and a small smile tugged at her lips—but she forced it down.

Lu Yibei continued:

“If she scolds you too harshly, just hand me the phone… I’ll deal with her.”

Ji Qingqian’s eyes flickered with surprise; he didn’t seem to be joking.

“She scolds me too, so scolding you will be even worse.”

“It’s fine… I’ll talk to her myself.”

“You’ve really never been scolded by someone from the Northeast before.”

“There’s always a first time.”

Lu Yibei’s smile stiffened. He seemed to be comforting Ji Qingqian while also reassuring himself: “I’ll handle it properly…”

Even though the idea of staying over had come from the heroine, he hadn’t refused either.

Lu Yibei felt that if her mom thought it was wrong, he shared responsibility too. He couldn’t hide behind her; even if scolded, he had to make his stance clear.

Ji Qingqian’s dark brows curved in amusement. Compared to Lu Yibei’s nervousness, she wasn’t afraid at all. If anything, she seemed pleased.

“Dumb Bei,” she teased.

At that moment, the call came through and automatically hung up.

Ji Qingqian redialed. It was audio only, no video. She muttered softly:

“As long as she doesn’t find out, we’re fine, right?”

Earlier, when she had spoken for her roommate, she had acted quickly and decisively. Now, it seemed she was stuck on a single approach.

But Ji Qingqian thought, Yibei’s so-called clumsiness wasn’t really stupidity—it was a sense of responsibility, a protective attitude that gave her security.

He really was a good man. Very good.

He was genuine with her and with her parents.

Someday, she would introduce him to her parents—but not yet.

Watching him so tense, with his firm gaze but fumbling words… It contrasted sharply with how effortlessly he charmed dorm aunts and security guards.

Perhaps her parents simply held a special place in Yibei’s mind.

The call connected.

“Hmm…”

Her voice was clear as she spoke to her family. “…Oh, Dad? Why are you using Mom’s phone?… I told you last time I didn’t ignore your call, I just didn’t hear it.”

So it wasn’t her mom—it was her uncle.

Lu Yibei’s mind raced. From that one sentence, he concluded: Last time Qingqian didn’t hear her uncle, probably because she wasn’t in the mood. So this time, he borrowed her mom’s phone.

= Uncle is a total doting dad.

“…!”

Lu Yibei’s brain spun even faster.

Though he considered himself fairly upright, he wasn’t one to panic over a phone call. But in her uncle’s eyes, he might just be a clumsy fool.

Then, in his mind, he imagined a middle-aged version of the heroic “Qingqian Xiaojie”: tall, broad-shouldered, built from horizontal muscle training, throwing fists straight at his nose. Blood and bruises. He wouldn’t dare retaliate.

“Alright, no video. The dorm lights are off here,” Ji Qingqian said.

At this hour, the university dorms were indeed dark.

Lu Yibei stood rigid, not daring to breathe loudly.

“Okay… okay, got it…”

Ji Qingqian wanted to tickle him, but worried he’d laugh out loud, so she refrained.

A few more words, then she hung up.

“…Hung up?” Lu Yibei asked softly.

“Not yet,” she said lightly.

Immediately, he regretted asking and covered his mouth.

Ji Qingqian laughed at him, but didn’t tease: “Alright, hung up.”

“Phew.”

Lu Yibei exhaled, flopping onto the mat against the bedpost, completely drained—more exhausted than after a full basketball game.

“You really dare to argue with my parents?” she said, tilting her head, a hint of mock disdain masking joy.

“…Might as well try, what if it works?” Lu Yibei scratched his stiff hair.

“Daring fool.”

Ji Qingqian snorted. “Try later—your level isn’t high enough yet.”

Seeing him drenched in sweat, she felt both amused and a little sympathetic. She said softly:

“I told you, my family practices a free-range policy. They won’t make things difficult for you.”

Lu Yibei: …

Still recovering from his racing heart, he couldn’t reply.

“If it ever gets too hard… I can open my own card, transfer the money from their card, and we could wander the world together. It’d be enough to get by.”

Ji Qingqian’s tone was calm, joking lightly. Lu Yibei caught the tease: “So clever… makes me die of filial guilt.”

He choked back saliva and said:

“Don’t worry.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m not that nervous. Don’t worry, heroine—you’ll see how I handle it next time.”

“Hmm…” Ji Qingqian squinted her beautiful eyes, half-believing.

“By the way, what’s Uncle’s surname?”

Lu Yibei asked. He needed to know in case of future encounters—calling him “uncle” wrong might be frowned upon.

“…Ji.”

“Ji? Like the four seasons Ji?”

“…Yes.”

“Well, isn’t that a coincidence? Same surname as you, heroine.”

Lu Yibei said excitedly. Ji Qingqian’s cold, questioning gaze silently reminded him, “You said you weren’t nervous.” Embarrassed, he lowered his head:

“…I’ll go splash cold water on my face.”

Ji Qingqian kicked lightly, unable to hold back a soft laugh:

“Pfft…”

Lu Yibei slammed the bathroom door, squatting with his head in his hands, letting out a silent wail.

About five minutes later, he emerged, expressionless.

“Brain back in place?” Ji Qingqian teased.

“Less talk, more sleep,” Lu Yibei said, forcing down his shame. “Go brush your teeth, then sleep. You’ve got the morning formation to attend.”

“You’re coming to watch?” she tilted her head.

“…No morning class,” he said. She already knew that.

Ji Qingqian tapped the bed edge, then sprang toward the bathroom:

“Then I’d better perform well~”