Тhе dоrmitоry auntiе lооkеd аt Wu Mangmang strаngеly, seеmingly not quitе undеrstаnding hеr mеаning.
Wu Mangmаng immediately realizеd thаt Lu Sui had triсked hеr аgаin—hе nevеr sаid hе wаs hеr little unсle.
Wu Mangmаng сould оnly walk out in еxtremе embarrаssmеnt.
"Sоrrу fоr trоubling уou," Lu Sui smiled slightlу аt the dоrmitоrу auntiе, then аffеctionаtеly rufflеd Wu Mangmang's hеad.
The dоrmitоrу auntiе smiled back аt Lu Sui. "Nо рroblеm," shе sаid, rеturning his ID саrd to him.
А mаn whosе ID phоto loоked sо hаndsоme соuldn’t роssibly lack wоmen. The dormitorу auntie felt quitе reassurеd abоut Lu Sui—hе clеarly wasn’t a frivolous man.
Just as Wu Mangmang reached the doorway, she heard the dormitory auntie say to Lu Sui from behind, "Well, there are quite a few people chasing after this young lady. You’d better keep an eye out."
Wu Mangmang nearly tripped on the doorstep steps upon hearing this.
"Thank you, Sister Wang. I’ll be careful," Lu Sui replied.
Wu Mangmang had lived here for half a year without knowing the dormitory auntie’s surname was Wang, yet Lu Sui had only been here a short while and already knew to call her "Sister Wang." His mouth was really sweet.
Just as she descended the stairs, Wu Mangmang looked up and saw Guo Xuefeng riding his bicycle toward her from not far away.
When Guo Xuefeng saw Wu Mangmang, he pedaled harder a few times, rushing to stop right in front of her. "Mangmang, I specially went to Old Wang’s place in the west of the city to get you takeout of century egg and lean pork congee."
Although spring had already arrived, City A was still experiencing a lingering chill. Wu Mangmang was wearing a heavy coat, while Guo Xuefeng only had on a thin long-sleeved T-shirt and was sweating from the heat. He must have ridden his bicycle quickly to keep the congee from getting cold.
Wu Mangmang took the congee container, feeling both gratitude and guilt. "You don’t have to be so good to me."
Guo Xuefeng smiled. "I like it too, that’s why I went."
Wu Mangmang knew Guo Xuefeng was just saying that to comfort her. She was about to speak when she saw Guo Xuefeng look at her back as if facing a formidable enemy. "Who is he?"
Wu Mangmang didn’t need to turn around to know it was Lu Sui coming out.
"Lu Sui," Lu Sui stood beside Wu Mangmang and extended his hand to Guo Xuefeng.
Guo Xuefeng was taken aback for a moment, then somewhat awkwardly reached out to shake Lu Sui’s hand, introducing himself, "Guo Xuefeng."
Seeing Guo Xuefeng’s discomfort, Wu Mangmang felt inexplicably angry at Lu Sui. A student like Guo Xuefeng was no match for him at all—Lu Sui was winning unfairly.
Guo Xuefeng looked at Lu Sui, then at Wu Mangmang, his face showing hurt grievance and humiliating insecurity. "I’ll go first."
Wu Mangmang had too many admirers, and now she had finally driven away the one who treated her best.
Watching Guo Xuefeng’s lonely retreating figure, Wu Mangmang felt a wave of guilt that nearly overwhelmed her. Although she had no intention of being with Lu Sui, she also felt that someone like her didn’t deserve Guo Xuefeng’s sincere devotion. She was afraid that if Guo Xuefeng were with her, it would only end up hurting him.
After Guo Xuefeng left, Wu Mangmang’s attitude toward Lu Sui turned even colder. She walked ahead in complete silence.
"Drink the congee. It’ll hurt your stomach if it gets cold," Lu Sui said.
Wu Mangmang didn’t respond. There happened to be a bench in the small grove by the roadside. She walked over, sat down, opened the lid of the congee container, and began eating the congee in small bites.Actually, Wu Mangmang didn’t eat century eggs, but the century egg and lean pork congee from Old Wang’s was exceptionally fragrant, smooth, and delicious. She had tried it once and loved it, and Guo Xuefeng would ride halfway across the city every weekend to buy it for her.
She probably wouldn’t be able to eat it anymore. Wu Mangmang’s eyes grew slightly moist. She hadn’t expected herself to shed tears over Guo Xuefeng. He really, truly was a wonderful guy.
Lu Sui naturally noticed the tear that slipped from the corner of Wu Mangmang’s eye. Young girls often only see the best side of men; the ugliness is hidden in the shadows, and it might take a lifetime to uncover.
As she sipped the congee, Wu Mangmang wiped the damp corner of her eye with her fingertip, occasionally stealing glances at Lu Sui. This man was always composed, sitting leisurely and admiring the female student reading English not far away.
“What exactly do you want?” Wu Mangmang asked Lu Sui after finishing her congee, unable to hold back any longer.
“You know, Mangmang,” Lu Sui said, looking at her.
His gaze gave Wu Mangmang the illusion of being hunted.
Wu Mangmang stood up agitatedly. “But we’re not compatible, and I’m not worthy of you.”
Lu Sui gestured for her to calm down and said, “I can lower my standards to match you.”
Wu Mangmang was so angry she nearly fell backward, cursing inwardly. Who chases a woman with such a sharp tongue? Could this be sincere?
“I need to go to the lab,” Wu Mangmang said, too annoyed to deal with Lu Sui any longer, afraid she’d give herself premature gray hair from anger.
“I’ll walk you there,” Lu Sui said, standing up as well.
“No, no need.” Wu Mangmang, lacking courage, picked up the congee container and immediately started sprinting away. She was genuinely afraid of Lu Sui, perhaps also afraid she might waver in her resolve.
Given Lu Sui’s personality, he couldn’t possibly chase after Wu Mangmang by running across campus, so he could only smile helplessly.
Wu Mangmang sprinted all the way to the lab, nearly out of breath. Only after sitting for a while did she realize how childish her behavior had been.
Fortunately, Lu Sui never showed up again afterward. Wu Mangmang stayed in the lab until around eight in the evening before Zeng Ruling’s relentless phone calls summoned her back to the dorm.
However, before she even reached the dormitory path, Zeng Ruling intercepted her at the corner. “Has your ex-boyfriend left?”
Wu Mangmang nodded.
Zeng Ruling patted her shoulder. “You’re something else. The guys chasing you are all tall, rich, and handsome, one after another. I’m really worried for my cousin. Guo Xuefeng can’t possibly handle you.”
Wu Mangmang smiled. “I’m not a dragon or a tiger. What’s this about handling me?”
“Mangmang, I’m just asking on behalf of my cousin—what do you really think of him?” Zeng Ruling’s playful expression faded.
Wu Mangmang lowered her head slightly, unconsciously rolling a small pebble on the ground with her foot. “I think Senior Guo is really good to me, and he’s upright and passionate.”
“But you don’t actually like him, do you?” Zeng Ruling immediately grasped the key point.
Wu Mangmang looked at Zeng Ruling. “But I never planned to find someone I like in this lifetime. I just want to find someone who will always love me and treat me well.”
Zeng Ruling, still in a stage filled with fantasies and longing for love, couldn’t quite understand Wu Mangmang’s mindset. “But you could also find someone you like who likes you back.”Wu Mangmang looked at Zeng Ruling with a hint of envy. She used to think the same way, but now it all felt far too difficult.
For Wu Mangmang, love was no longer the primary goal she pursued in relationships between men and women. As long as their personalities were compatible and they felt comfortable together, that was enough.
Not receiving an answer from Wu Mangmang, Zeng Ruling thought for a moment before saying, “I know what I’m about to say might be a bit too much, but I still have to tell you—if you don’t like my cousin, don’t agree to be with him, because that would be even crueler. He hopes you’ll like him.”
Wu Mangmang nodded. “I understand.”
Seeing the desolate expression on Wu Mangmang’s face, Zeng Ruling knew she had been a bit harsh. After all, this was Wu Mangmang’s private matter, and she really shouldn’t have interfered.
Wu Mangmang gently tugged Zeng Ruling’s hand. “Even if you hadn’t said anything, I would’ve known what to do. I can’t hurt Senior Guo.”
Wu Mangmang looked up at the sky, where a few scattered stars hung, as lonely as her own heart.
The person she loved had left her, the person she liked was incompatible, and the person who liked her—she couldn’t bring herself to hurt him. Every path in love seemed to lead to a dead end.
Zeng Ruling’s phone chimed with a WeChat notification. She glanced at the screen and took Wu Mangmang’s hand. “Let’s go.”
Turning down a small path, they arrived at the No. 2 Girls’ Dormitory Building where Wu Mangmang lived.
A flicker of confusion passed through Wu Mangmang’s mind, but she couldn’t quite grasp what was strange. After five seconds, she finally asked, puzzled, “Is our dormitory building having a blackout today?”
Not a single light was on in the entire building—it was unbelievable. Pitch black, like a giant square monster.
Zeng Ruling smiled without answering.
Suddenly, Wu Mangmang’s eyes lit up. Almost simultaneously, lights turned on across the entire dormitory building. From a distance, the illuminated rooms formed the English word “LOVE.”
At the foot of the building, Guo Xuefeng stood nervously, holding a large bouquet of red roses, his expression shy. Behind him, two other boys held up a banner that read, “Mangmang, will you be my girlfriend?”
The onlookers all cheered, “Say yes! Say yes!”
Wu Mangmang glanced sideways at Zeng Ruling—no wonder she had said those things earlier.
Guo Xuefeng walked through the path the crowd had cleared, stopping in front of Wu Mangmang. He extended the bouquet toward her. “Mangmang, will you be my girlfriend?”
Wu Mangmang felt as if she were being roasted over a fire. She had already promised Zeng Ruling she wouldn’t respond to Guo Xuefeng, but rejecting him in this situation would also be a devastating blow.
To make matters worse, Lu Sui had to join the commotion. He stood quietly under a streetlamp not far away, his expression unclear, yet his presence weighed on Wu Mangmang’s heart like a mountain.
The chants of “Say yes! Say yes!” continued. Everyone loved a story where “lovers ended up together.”
Happiness was something everyone could share, but sorrow had to be licked clean alone, in silence.
“I’m sorry, I can’t accept,” Wu Mangmang said woodenly.
The entire crowd fell silent.After hearing this, Guo Xuefeng showed almost no surprise on his face. He smiled bitterly and said, "Actually, I had a feeling this morning. It's just that I had already asked my classmates and friends for help with tonight's arrangements a long time ago. Even though we can't be together, I still wanted to give myself a chance—what if a miracle happened?"
Guo Xuefeng handed the bouquet of roses to Wu Mangmang once again. "Mangmang, roses suit you perfectly. Please accept them. Even if we can't be a couple, we can still be friends."
At that moment, Wu Mangmang felt utterly terrible. There were some mistakes she could have prevented, but she had let them happen, allowing Guo Xuefeng to sink deeper and deeper, deeply hurting this exceptionally kind-hearted boy.
"I'm sorry." Wu Mangmang wanted to cry, but she felt she didn't even have the right to shed tears.
Some people around them sighed in sympathy, while others cursed Wu Mangmang. Of course, a small number expressed understanding—after all, just because you like me doesn't mean I have to like you back, right?
After returning to her dorm, Wu Mangmang couldn't sleep the entire night. In the middle of the night, she got up, opened her Weibo account, and deleted every single "Red Apricot" post without a trace.
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