“Are they freshmen from our year?”
“Maths department…”
“No way.”
Wen Ying had already pushed Xie Qian far away before the three roommates snapped out of their daze.
A boy this outstanding, even if he buried himself in studies in the maths department every day, his name should have long echoed across the entire school!
He really was incredibly good-looking.
Just a couple more glances, and even the air felt fresher.
No wonder Wen Ying could not spot others pursuing her.
With such a “divine” figure dangling before her eyes, anyone in her place would be blind to other boys too!
“Who was it that said earlier Wen Ying might like boys with depth…”
“Looking this handsome and not becoming a star, instead choosing our school’s maths department. I think that shows real depth!”
“Exactly. Clearly very deep.”
Depth and looks were not mutually exclusive.
Did one have to be ugly to have depth?
“He seems to be in a wheelchair—”
“Pfft, that does not matter! If he wanted, every girl in the school would willingly push his wheelchair!”
Sun Mingfei looked at her two roommates whose principles had already been led astray by his features. She knocked them with her book. “Snap out of it. Do not fall too deep. He is not someone we should fancy. The grass has an owner!”
The two roommates chased and hit Sun Mingfei.
“We are not fancying. We are purely appreciating!”
“Yes, your thoughts are impure. You are not wholesome.”
Who exactly had impure thoughts? Sun Mingfei was amused by them.
Not just the three of them discussing Xie Qian. Many girls were talking about him.
Known as this year’s maths department freshman at Zhendan. After months since term start, why only appearing now?
Hearing he was a maths freshman, gossip crowds had direction. Someone found this year’s maths counsellor to inquire. Learned indeed a freshman named “Xie Qian” delayed enrolment.
And today, this “Xie Qian” finally came to handle enrolment procedures.
It matched.
Mystery solved. Not lack of presence. He simply had not reported earlier!
Further inquiry: Xie Qian scored 745 in gaokao. Science top scorer contested by Huaqing and Jingda!
Science top scorer wanting maths department. Passed Jingda’s maths to come to Zhendan?
“Has our school’s admissions become this outstanding?”
Huaqing and Jingda always tied for Top 1, but Zhendan definitely not Top 2.
Even comparing maths departments alone, Jingda’s still ranked first!
“Could it be not outstanding admissions, but buy one get one free? Our school has a reason big shots must come?”
Hm, possible?
Seems plausible.
“Good friend” enrolled at Zhendan. Big shot abandoned Jingda maths to follow.
Though Wen Ying did not write romance novels, what happened to her was truly idol drama-like.
Envious?
Sun Mingfei asked her two roommates.
The three exchanged glances, smiled, shook heads in unison.
“Not envious.”
“Even more outrageous idol drama plots happening to her would be normal. Who made her Wen Ying!”
Not everyone could be a bestselling author.
Writing books earning big money while getting into Zhendan. Wen Ying herself incredibly capable. On these strengths, good looks, great personality… Such excellent girl could attract campus stars to pursue together, and make science top scorer abandon Jingda maths to follow to Zhendan.
Wen Ying deserved it!
Roommates saw clearly. “Rukawa Kaede” also investigated Xie Qian’s situation.
Everyone said Xie Qian followed Wen Ying, abandoning Jingda maths to Zhendan.
Some heard Wen Ying say personally they were high school classmates, very good friends.
Basketball team members felt captain had no chance.
Romance about fate, about order.
Captain inserting now like drama villain. Especially with Xie Qian in wheelchair… Cannot bully like that!
“Perhaps—”
“Perhaps what? Find girls you know to deliver. Help me send basketball league tickets!”
Still sending?
Team members refused to move.
“Rukawa Kaede” inhaled deeply. Cold air pained his lungs.
“Send. Why not? He asked. Not sending seems petty! Not just send tickets, send two!”
“Rukawa Kaede” not bullying wheelchair rival. Xie Qian requested. He dared accept!
Cannot leave stingy impression before Junior Sister Wen.
Girls’ gossip spread fast. All saying Xie Qian chased Wen Ying to Zhendan idol drama act. “Rukawa Kaede” heard, indeed uncertain.
High school classmates. Deeper foundation than university seniors like them.
But with such deep foundation, why no official announcement at university?
As long as Xie Qian not yet Wen Shimei’s boyfriend, they qualified to pursue!
Like basketball game.
Opponent scoring more first half, abandon whole game?
Until referee final whistle, game not over. Early scorers not necessarily win. Late not necessarily lose!
“Rukawa Kaede” applied sports spirit to pursuing girl. Open, not easily give up. Won team cheers.
Captain’s popularity not just from Rukawa Kaede hairstyle.
Before liked girl, might act silly, deliberately cool. Overall, “Rukawa Kaede” not lacking girl-attracting charm.
Compared to “Rukawa Kaede”‘s openness, fellow Zhendan student Zhao Qian much less so.
Others unaware Xie Qian and Wen Ying closeness. Zhao Qian knew.
Wen Ying pushing Xie Qian touring Zhendan campus. Zhao Qian missed.
But Zhao Qian caught Xie Qian waiting outside classroom post-procedures.
Zhao Qian confirmed personally. Wheelchair man was Xie Qian.
Xie Qian’s legs… could not stand?
For a moment, Zhao Qian truly saddened. Forgot sides, forgot rejection. Purely sad for Xie Qian.
Someone as outstanding as Xie Qian truly disabled. Heavens unfair!
Then Zhao Qian saw Wen Ying.
Watching Wen Ying dash to Xie Qian, lean speak. Xie Qian gentle too.
Zhao Qian’s sadness turned sour vinegar.
Xie Qian truly poor taste!
If only gave her half… no, tenth of tenderness for black fat plain… She would ignore Zhuo siblings. Including Sara Zhuo, roll far away!
Choosing black fat plain useless?
Black fat plain could help nothing.
Zhao Qian fumed, called brother Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong surprised Xie Qian sudden campus appearance.
“In wheelchair. You sure?”
“Sure. Wheelchair.”
“Besides wheelchair, other abnormalities?”
To Zhao Qian, wheelchair biggest abnormality. What else?
Zhao Dong cared more if Xie Qian’s intellect impaired.
Zhao Qian inquired. Learned Xie Qian handled enrolment, soon normal classes with this year’s freshmen.
No impact studies?
Zhao Dong thoughtful.
Thinking Sara Zhuo still suing Xie Jinghu. For some reason, Zhao Dong not immediately tell Sara Zhuo of Xie Qian return.
…
Restaurant not far from school.
Tonight diners not just Xie Qian, but Zou Weijun too.
Zou Weijun brought Wen Ying scarf. Said saw while shopping, suited her, bought casually. Besides scarf, two coats. Same reason.
“Modu winters cold. You can use them.”
Today not just Wen Ying and Xie Qian long-separated reunion. Also Wen Ying and Zou Weijun.
Wen Ying missed Xie Qian much. Missed Zou Weijun too.
Dinner, Xie Qian kept looking Wen Ying. Even before Zou Weijun, served her food. Xie Qian composed. Wen Ying embarrassed always talk to him.
Zou Weijun divorced Xie Jinghu. Wen Ying asked if returning to “Jinhu” work. Zou Weijun gentle shake head. “No return. You all in Modu. I plan stay Modu.”
Frankly, Xie Jinghu capable managing company. Since divorced, assets split. Zou Weijun not covet remaining.
If Xie Jinghu willing give shares to Xie Qian later, Zou indifferent.
If not… Zou cared even less.
Zou wanted distance from those lurking in shadows.
Those people less trip Xie Qian, not harm him. With Xie Qian ability, by 2019 perhaps build second “Jinhu”!
Wen Ying felt likely future Xie Jinghu beg Xie Qian take Jinxiu. Xie Qian disdain.
“Then what do you plan in Modu? Still publishing?”
Not just Wen Ying concerned Zou Weijun career. Xie Qian listened seriously.
Zou Weijun truly thrived in publishing.
If not forced, never abandoned Rongcheng job. Returning publishing now good choice for her.
Zou Weijun nodded. “Want return publishing. But not join publisher. Want found own cultural company main book planning publishing. What books publish, from topic to market, all us decide. No others dictate signed authors. Authors write what want. Rest us handle!”
Zou Weijun radiant. Clearly long planned, not whim.
Wen Ying bold guess. “Aunt Zou, your ‘us’ includes Little Newt?”
Zou Weijun laughed. “Of course cannot miss Little Newt. Before boarding return flight, already invited Little Newt. New company must have place for Little Newt!”
Ah?
Little Newt coming Modu meant Zheng senior too!
Xie Qian timely added. “So on return flight, met literature site manager, talked happily?”
Zou Weijun frank admit. “Saw many good works online. Serialised stories quite attractive. Look Wen Ying blog popularity. Think once accustomed online reading, forms may change. Now literature sites started online ‘paid reading’. Cannot see future clearly. Think publishing cannot lag. Happened stock earnings this year. Want invest stock money to literature site… Profit better. Loss fine.”
Zou Weijun complete stock newbie.
But Xie Yuping friend skilled. Taught her stocks. Plus this year bull market.
Last month, A-shares broke 6000 points.
Whole market frenzy. Friend told Zou stop. Zou not greedy. Kept long-term holds, sold rest. Huge stock profit!
To Zou Weijun, stock money “ill-gotten”. Invest elsewhere loss, not too pained.
Wen Ying numb.
Zou Weijun investing literature sites. Wen Ying thinking herself still earning by pen. Truly tearful.
But Zou originally wealthy. Money breeds money always easier than starting empty.
Wen Ying mainly admired Zou Weijun vision. Long-term in publishing.
Seeing Wen Ying silent long, Xie Qian asked what wrong.
Wen Ying murmured. “Last year to this, gradually gave mom nearly ten million for stocks. Win or lose, mom never accounted to me.”
Could Manager Chen lost much in stocks?!
