Chapter 34: Luo Xing Has Fallen for Someone—And It’s Not Him
The phone rang, the sound like droplets of water.
Star: [Shen Que, I have something to trouble you with.]
Shen Que stared at the screen.
Soon after, another message popped up.
Star: [You know me, every time I see something beautiful I can’t help but buy it. Could you please keep my little stash for me? I’m afraid if I keep spending, it’ll soon be gone. (crying emoji)]
Star: [Don’t worry, Shen, I won’t make you do this for nothing! You can use the money inside as you like, consider it interest I’m paying you. As long as it’s with you, I won’t keep wasting it, hehe.]
Shen Que pressed his palm against his eyes.
So tired.
So very tired.
He wondered when those two would finally stop.
Thankfully Grandma Gu wasn’t here, otherwise she’d have woken up from the noise.
Tomorrow, he’d have to buy some fruit and apologize to the neighbors upstairs and downstairs.
If he took a day off, he’d lose his perfect attendance bonus at work.
Perhaps it’d be better to squeeze it in during lunch.
“Beep—”
He parted his fingers, his damp eyes fixed on the screen.
Star: [Please? Don’t refuse me, you’re the only one I trust. No one else is as reliable as you. Just help me keep my little stash for a while? (pitiful emoji)]
Shen Que cupped the phone in both hands, his fingertips pressed to the screen.
The phone was wet and slippery, the letters he typed refused to form a coherent sentence.
He wiped the phone against his shirt.
[Luoxing, I’m not that desperate for money.]
He looked at the chat background.
It was Luoxing, sleeping on his desk, her face resting on a thick stack of exam papers.
Her cheeks were flushed, long lashes fanned out.
It was the first time he saw her work so hard.
She had even approached him, asking for tutoring.
Unlike before, when she’d sleep until noon during holidays.
Now, every morning before dawn, she’d bring the papers she’d worked through the night to finish.
Covered in dense black marks from problem-solving, red corrections, blue highlights of key points.
She wore dark circles, yet her eyes shone, “Shen Que, I really don’t get it. Physics is so hard.”
Shen Que watched her study from dawn till dusk, often complaining about the difficulty, never mastering it.
But she never once said she wanted to give up.
Luoxing was different from him; even if she only put in a little effort and got into an ordinary school, she could still be happy in her family with Luoxing’s parents.
Back then, he already knew.
Luoxing had probably fallen for someone.
And that someone was not him.
…
Luoxing looked at Shen Que’s message and sighed.
She knew Shen Que’s family situation, but he was proud.
No matter how many ways she tried to give him money, he always refused.
Yao Xiangming always said Shen Que put her first in everything.
Yuncai claimed Shen Que liked her.
Actually, they were all wrong.
Shen Que was simply repaying her.
When they were little, she grew up with Shen Que, spent winter and summer holidays at Grandma’s, and he watched over her, teaching her to do homework.
It was then she learned there were no adults in Shen Que’s home.
Grandma always cooked an extra portion for him.
So now that Shen Que was grown, he took good care of Grandma and Luoxing.
She knew he would never accept her money.
“We’re here.” A cool voice pulled Luoxing from her thoughts.
She looked at Gu Shiyan.
He lowered his eyes and had already stepped out.
Neither spoke.
It was as if the laughter in the car moments ago belonged to someone else, and they returned to their usual silence.
Luoxing went back to her room, put on her headphones, and opened Shen Que’s voice message.
She listened again.
The room was very quiet.
Even the smallest noises were crystal clear.
—Shen Que’s parents were causing trouble again.
Luoxing tapped the voice message, her tone gentle, “Silly, you stayed up this late and still haven’t slept? Even if you don’t want to live elsewhere, you could stay at my grandma’s, you know. You could have my room, I wouldn’t mind.”
A reply arrived quickly.
She knew Shen Que must be watching his phone.
She opened another voice message.
‘Anyway, even if I went, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Sitting here pondering life isn’t so bad.’
His tone was light, but tinged with resignation.
“Next time, just go straight to my room, and while you’re at it, sweep the floor, tidy the wardrobe, and air out the quilt. I won’t let you stay for nothing, okay?”
A video call came in.
Luoxing answered.
Shen Que’s face didn’t appear on the screen.
She frowned, “Did they hit you?”
In the darkness, his voice was faint.
“How could they? I’m on the balcony, the lights are off.”
“Then why call video? I can’t see you at all.” Luoxing laughed, “Guess I’ll just zoom in and admire my own beauty.”
“Mhm.”
The silence lingered between them, then Luoxing asked, “Are you taking a day off tomorrow?”
“Better not.”
“Then you must sleep early tomorrow night, I’m worried you’ll suddenly drop dead.”
Shen Que chuckled softly, “If anyone drops dead, it’ll be Yuncai. She always stays up all night during holidays, blaming me first would be so unfair.”
Luoxing was cheered by his lighter tone, “I’m going to tell Yuncai you said this.”
“Is Beijing fun?” he asked.
Luoxing paused, considering Shen Que’s complicated situation, and decided not to tell him what had happened on her end.
“It’s nice. Next time, let’s come together.”
…
“Star, why are you up so early today?”
Luoxing finished getting ready and went downstairs, surprising Gu Yunzhi.
Luoxing awkwardly tucked a stray lock behind her ear, “I slept early yesterday, so I woke up early. Just in time to have breakfast with Grandma.”
She took a seat by Grandma, smiling and greeting Old Mister Gu.
“You should sleep as late as you want, treat this as your own home,” Gu Yunzhi said with a smile, gently smoothing Luoxing’s hair behind her ear.
Luoxing smiled, “Okay, Grandma, I know.”
Old Mister Gu watched the warm scene between them, frowning as he glanced at Assistant Song.
Assistant Song caught on immediately, “Should I go wake the young master?”
“No need. He’s grown, still lazing in bed,” Old Mister Gu said, letting Luoxing and Gu Yunzhi start eating.
His words had barely finished.
“I’m here.” Gu Shiyan stood behind them, his voice cool.
He walked over, casually pulling out the chair beside Luoxing.
“What are you doing?” Luoxing looked up at him.
Gu Shiyan changed course, heading toward his grandfather.
Luoxing lowered her head and continued eating.
She didn’t notice Old Mister Gu and Assistant Song exchanging surprised glances.
Old Mister Gu stared at Luoxing, then at Gu Shiyan.
Though this grandson had gone to Beicheng for high school and rarely returned, he knew him well.
He was a troublemaker, and no one at home could control him.
He hadn’t asked Assistant Song to call him down because he knew he never came for breakfast; it would have been pointless.
Previously, when other girls visited, if they tried to sit next to him, he could make them cry with just one word.
He was never accommodating.
But now, with a single glance at Luoxing, he obediently changed seats.
Old Mister Gu let Assistant Song sit and eat with them.
Assistant Song didn’t protest much.
Old Mister Gu watched Luoxing closely.
When she looked up, she was startled, “Grandpa Gu, is something wrong?”
“Do you know Shiyan?” he asked.
Luoxing hesitated, holding her spoon awkwardly.
She glanced at Gu Shiyan, but before she could respond, Grandma surprised her with a question.
“Star? Shiyan? Is Shiyan the one who messages you…?”
“Grandma!” Luoxing clutched Gu Yunzhi’s shoulder, hiding her face.
Gu Shiyan picked up a napkin and pressed it to his lips, coughing quietly.
Assistant Song’s gaze darted between them—something was going on here.
Old Mister Gu clearly sensed their relationship was unusual.
His eyes rested on Luoxing, thoughts already forming.
“You know Luoxing? Are you two dating?” he asked Gu Shiyan.
Luoxing and Gu Shiyan exchanged a glance.
She bit her lip, frowned, and wanted to shake her head but feared Old Mister Gu would notice.
Gu Shiyan had intended to answer honestly—they had dated, then broken up, only…