Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 82

Lu Yibei slipped the card reader and memory card into his pocket.

As Ji Qingqian’s eyes followed him intently, he noticed her three roommates lingering behind.

They seemed to want to approach, yet hesitated, unsure if they should disturb her.

Just as they were about to quietly leave, Lu Yibei tilted his chin, silently prompting Ji Qingqian to turn her head.

“Go have lunch with your classmates,” he said gently, running his fingers through her dark ponytail. “You didn’t get much sleep last night. Since nothing’s happening this afternoon, eat first, then get some rest in your dorm. Don’t overdo it. I’ve got some work to handle, plus classes this afternoon, so I won’t be joining you. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay.”

Ji Qingqian nodded obediently. “You remember to eat too.”

“Mm, I’ll eat later,” Lu Yibei said. “Bye.”

“Bye.”

He headed toward the boys’ dorm.

After half a month of school, everyone had gotten fairly familiar with one another.

Ji Qingqian had told him before, back at Haidilao, that unlike him, she didn’t have that many friends. These few roommates were likely all she could call close friends.

He had wanted to have lunch with her, but since her roommates were waiting, it was best to let them take the lead.

For a heroine like her, the main storyline of romance needed to progress, but the subplot of friendship also deserved attention—only then could life feel balanced.

He thought for a moment and sent a WeChat message to Ji Qingqian.

Afterward, his steps grew lighter, his smile brighter.

Everything recently felt like a dream to Lu Yibei.

Ji Qingqian quickened her pace toward her roommates, glancing back at Lu Yibei after a few steps. The boy’s figure was already fading into the distance.

She knew he didn’t want her to feel isolated from the dorm. Over the past two weeks, she could sense that her roommates were genuinely kind to her.

For someone usually alone, having friends like this was a rare, beautiful fortune.

Yet, she still felt a pang of reluctance to part.

Even though they’d been together since yesterday, and even though “parting” merely meant moving from the boys’ dorm to the girls’, she could see him anytime.

Still, this reluctance was stronger than before.

Perhaps it was because last night, they had openly confessed their feelings to each other.

The closer you are, the harder it is to say goodbye.

“You careless, heartless Lu Bei,” Ji Qingqian muttered under her breath.

Yet Lu Yibei showed no trace of parting sorrow.

By contrast, she felt overly sentimental.

Her phone buzzed.

It was Lu Yibei’s first WeChat message to her.

[Lu Bei: I’m a reliable adult male.]
[Lu Bei: Even if I’m unhappy, I can’t let anyone see it, or I’d get laughed at.]
[Lu Bei: So I’ll only tell you secretly.]
[Lu Bei: Just now, when I parted from the one I like…]
[Lu Bei: I was actually pretty sad.]
[Lu Bei: But no one noticed. I’m really amazing.]

Ji Qingqian’s brows softened, and a gentle smile touched her usually cold eyes.

…So cheesy.

She had wanted to reply like that.

But her fingers hesitated. Tilting her head, she looked at the screen.

Instead, she took a screenshot of the first message and then typed:

[Qingqian: You really are amazing.]
[Qingqian: Even a lowly corporal must learn from a five-star general.]
[Qingqian: Next time I’m sad, I won’t let anyone see it either.]
[Qingqian: I’ll only tell you secretly.]

She sent it, then reached her roommates’ side.

“Qingqian, aren’t you eating with the senior?” Ma Jiaojiao asked.

“He has work to finish. He’ll eat later,” Ji Qingqian said.

Ma Jiaojiao nodded, naturally noting that Senior Lu had been busy during formation practice.

“Lu senior is so talented. He even takes photos,” she praised.

Ji Qingqian pressed her lips lightly. Though it was praise for Lu Bei, she felt a small swell of pride and embarrassment.

“…Alright, alright,” she murmured.

Meanwhile, Wang Jue was comforting Chu Chu, whose eyes were red and tear-streaked.

During the earlier farewell to Monkey Brother, many of Ji Qingqian’s classmates had cried, but Chu Chu had cried the loudest and hadn’t recovered yet.

Ma Jiaojiao whispered to Ji Qingqian:

“You know, yesterday she arrogantly bet in the dorm that anyone who cried today would be a little puppy. Look at her—she cried like a little puppy herself…”

“Ma Jiaojiao, you’re talking nonsense!” Chu Chu cried while scolding. “You vicious woman! You didn’t even cry, and yet you can laugh!”

Ma Jiaojiao replied in mock surrender, “Yes, yes, I’m vicious, I’m vicious…”

Someone had declared yesterday that no matter who cried, she wouldn’t—she was heartless and ruthless…

“…Juejue!” Chu Chu leaned on Wang Jue’s shoulder again.

Wang Jue’s shoulder was already wet. He suddenly spoke:

“Chu Chu… you’ve tanned recently.”

Chu Chu froze mid-cry. “Where?”

Ma Jiaojiao jumped in: “Yeah, quite a bit.”

Chu Chu’s tears and sniffles retreated.

“Soy sauce from Chu Bang, delicious and fresh; campus beauty tanned like Judge Bao,” Ma Jiaojiao teased.

“I wasn’t a campus beauty anyway!” Chu Chu retorted, nervously checking her arm. Had it darkened? She’d protected herself well during training, using the same products as Ji Qingqian.

Ma Jiaojiao showed her phone:

“Look at your earlier photos on Moments, then compare with now. You’re basically coal-black.”

“Can it be the same?” Chu Chu relaxed. “The old photos were edited…”

At that, she hastily bit her tongue.

“Oh~” Ma Jiaojiao said knowingly. “Who was it that claimed their photos were never edited?”

“You… you shameless!” Chu Chu punched Ma Jiaojiao’s chest, still crying. “But I’m still fairer than you!”

“Why compare with me when you should compare with Ji Qingqian?” Ma Jiaojiao defended her two strong points.

Chu Chu glanced at the pale, icy figure of Ji Qingqian, who silently lifted her wrist.

Deciding not to humiliate herself further, Chu Chu turned back to Ma Jiaojiao:

“Fine, fine, I’ll compare with you!”

“…I have a boyfriend. Being tanned is fine,” Ma Jiaojiao muttered.

“…Shameless!!” Chu Chu punched again, making Ma Jiaojiao yelp.

Chu Chu could no longer cry. She was angry, Ma Jiaojiao startled, Wang Jue amused, and Ji Qingqian serene.

The quiet girl finally curled the corners of her lips into a small smile.

…

Meanwhile, in Room 404, Lu Yibei still hadn’t returned.

Liu Jie planted a black pen upright on the desk, clasped his hands in mock ritual, closed his eyes, and then suddenly snapped them open, shouting:

“Revive! My Lu Bei!!”

Bang.

The dorm door swung open just then.