Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 87

Just as Lu Yibei had said, the rain kept falling until Saturday.

Even with the drizzle, Ji Qingqing still walked briskly down to the boys’ dorm, Building 4.

Today was the first time she came to pick up her little boy to go out and play.

[Qingqing: I’m here!]

[Yibei: ?]

[Yibei: Didn’t I tell you to let me know when you were heading out?]

[Qingqing: It’s fine.]

[Qingqing: I’ll wait for you, take your time.]

[Yibei: I’m coming down now.]

It was a weekend, and with the rain, not many students were venturing out.

Occasionally, a few hurried by, sneaking glances at Ji Qingqing standing outside the boys’ dorm.

Her expression was cold and distant—no hint of joy or anger, no desire to strike up a conversation with anyone.

She looked up at the overcast sky. Luckily, the rain wasn’t heavy.

She adjusted the brim of her slightly oversized baseball cap—the one she had picked out for Yibei.

Even with her aloof demeanor, a few boys were naturally drawn to her beauty, tempted to approach.

But each was quickly restrained by a friend:

“Use your brain. She’s holding an umbrella. She’s not hiding under the boys’ dorm to escape the rain—she’s waiting for someone.”

The boy blinked, confused:

“Brain? What brain?”

“…Idiot. Just go with your dad. If her boyfriend comes out, you might get punched.”

Ji Qingqing glanced at her reflection in the dark screen of her phone, carefully checking her slim, oval face. She confirmed her clothes and shoes were in order, laces tied tight.

Perfectly ready to greet Yibei.

“Qingqing.”

A young voice called from behind.

She turned; Lu Yibei had approached.

He wore an oversized white T-shirt with a tiny cracked watermelon pattern—probably because the temperature had dropped a bit these days. On the bottom, he wore black drawstring cropped pants.

A common, ordinary outfit—but to Ji Qingqing, only her little boy looked this special.

Clean, crisp, uniquely refreshing.

“Mm.”

She replied softly: “Shall we go? Are you taking the umbrella?”

“Sure.”

Lu Yibei took the long black-striped umbrella she handed him.

When opened, it was surprisingly large.

“This should cover both of us. You don’t need to lean it toward me all the time.”

Ji Qingqing glanced at the boy by her side: “Last time you got soaked on one side… made it look like I was bullying you.”

“Alright.” Lu Yibei smiled, pleasantly surprised that the heroine had bought a big umbrella.

Still, when she looked up, the umbrella subtly tilted toward her side.

No wonder love is like a tilting umbrella.

Fortunately, it was large enough that even tilted, Yibei’s shoulder remained dry.

They walked from the dorm entrance toward the front.

“Where do you live?” Ji Qingqing asked.

Lu Yibei had helped her move her luggage, but she didn’t know where his dorm was.

Even if she did, it didn’t matter—she couldn’t go inside.

Still, she wanted to know a bit more.

“404… over there…”

He pointed and then laughed, cursing softly: “Damn… see him? That’s the fat guy standing on the balcony.”

Quite noticeable.

Ji Qingqing spotted him immediately. Her eyesight was excellent—not only did she see the “fat guy,” but also the encouraging, almost tender look in his eyes, directed at her and Lu Yibei.

The fat guy waved at them from above.

Lu Yibei raised a middle finger at Hao Zhangwen with a friendly smile, then turned with Ji Qingqing.

“That’s my roommate, Hao Zhangwen. Call him Hao Fatty.”

He introduced him: “Every story has a fat guy. He’s mine—cute, right?”

Ji Qingqing nodded.

She wasn’t good with people, didn’t know much about reading characters—but Hao Zhangwen’s smile and gestures toward her and Lu Yibei were full of goodwill.

He seemed gentle.

Nice. Yibei’s roommate was as kind as hers.

“I think he’s cute too,” she said.

Lu Yibei helped her avoid a puddle and said, “Second cutest in the whole school.”

Ji Qingqing avoided the puddle and looked at him:

“Don’t you dare say I’m the first… that’s so cheesy.”

Lu Yibei felt a lump in his throat.

Sometimes, trying to say something romantic gets immediately shut down—it was frustrating.

“…Then I have nothing else to say.”

“Hmph~”

Ji Qingqing hummed lightly: “Besides, if you’re picking the cutest in school, there’s someone else~”

Lu Yibei puffed out his chest proudly.

She said he was cheesy—but the heroine didn’t hold back either.

He would accept this title without question…

But before he could feel proud, she glanced at him:

“Not you.”

Lu Yibei froze: “Huh?”

She reached into her chest pocket and pulled out a bright orange:

“Auntie gave this to me when I left, said I was going out with you and insisted I share half. You hold the umbrella, I’ll peel it for you. She’s the cutest.”

“Mm.”

Looking at it this way, Lu Yibei was happy to concede the “cutest” title to Auntie. Definitely classy.

Her nails were clean, simple. As she peeled the orange, she whispered:

“Even if you’re not the cutest in school, you’re the cutest in my heart.”

She winked, sly in her icy calm, clearly enjoying his embarrassed, dazed expression.

…Damn it.

Lu Yibei’s composure was shattered once again by Ji Qingqing’s sugar-coated trap.

“Here, you little cutie.”

Ji Qingqing fed him a segment, asking: “Sweet?”

Lu Yibei nodded.

She peeled one for herself, tasting it.

“Mm, really sweet~”

Her eyebrows lifted slightly, a faint smile brightening her otherwise cold expression.

With her ponytail bouncing, Ji Qingqing’s steps were lively and light.

Lu Yibei glanced sideways, catching a glimpse of her pale neck.

Because of the weather, she wasn’t wearing a skirt, but a washed denim overall.

This style had a large front pocket, perfect for holding not just the orange but also her phone.

Lu Yibei watched her pull her phone out from the pocket—but she gave him a look:

“What are you staring at?”

“…Nothing.”

He denied it, though he was looking at her phone. The pocket was a sensitive spot, so he softened his words:

“I think you look… really pretty today.”

Ji Qingqing: …

“Of course, you looked pretty yesterday too.”

Ji Qingqing: …

“All other times, you’re beautiful too.”

She paused: “Are you saying I’m pretty?”

Lu Yibei hummed, scratching the back of his neck. He felt like he hadn’t properly complimented her… or maybe he had, too few times.

“Very beautiful.”

Ji Qingqing lowered her gaze, lips pressed lightly.

Lu Yibei immediately tensed—this wasn’t shyness.

It was… a prelude.

That “I’m about to do something funny” prelude.

Sure enough, she leapt lightly, giving him a playful headbutt, humming:

“Ji, you’re too beautiful~~ Bei-bei~~”

Lu Yibei: “…Damn.”

…

Back in the dorm, Hao Zhangwen returned to the room, telling Zhao Sun, who sat at the computer with legs tucked in:

“Sun, did you see? Jie went to the library, Bei went to West Lake—they’re far from us.”

“Fatty, I saw. Just a bunch of weak-hearted guys. We must uphold our faith in staying single.”

Despite his words, both Zhao Sun and Hao Zhangwen hoped that whether Yibei or Lu Jie, they’d meet the best girl in their lives.

Hao Zhangwen strummed his guitar, inspired to compose a new tune quickly.

Zhao Sun took out a long-unused drawing tablet, sketching and tinkering.

The drizzle outside seemed to have nothing to do with them.

…