Chapter 7 Add My WeChat

The taxi arrived at the school gates at 9:10.

Jiang Li paid the fare first and stepped out of the car. Liang Zhouyue had her mobile QR code ready, but still couldn't beat his speed.

She followed him out of the car and hurried to catch up.

Despite her high heels, the clicking sound was too distinct in the hushed night. Jiang Li, facing away from the approaching woman, slowly stopped to wait.

Liang Zhouyue came jogging over, insisting on transferring the taxi fare to him. She knew in her heart that Jiang Li had not intended to return to school tonight; she had morally coerced him.

Under such circumstances, he shouldn't have had to pay.

Jiang Li wasn't short of money and wouldn't accept a girl's taxi fare, but he forwent his usual gentlemanly demeanor and did the opposite, pulling out his phone's QR code and handing it to Liang Zhouyue briskly.

"Go ahead."

His overly straightforward tone left no room for doubt. Liang Zhouyue didn't question his intentions, tapped her phone to light it up, and attempted to transfer money.

But after a beep, she realized she hadn't scanned a payment code, but a WeChat contact card.

Even now, she could see Jiang Li's WeChat nickname: "Add me on WeChat."

Just these simple, direct words made it hard for Liang Zhouyue to refuse. Her fingers stiffly pressed the screen, confirming the friend request.

On the other side, having successfully added Liang Zhouyue on WeChat, Jiang Li accessed her profile. But just as he did, he was struck by a post she'd made an hour ago—a stormy look flitted across his eyes, then vanished.

She had posted a photo of her dining with her boyfriend.

At that moment, a sound indicating a successful transfer of money drew Jiang Li back from his faraway thoughts, forcing him out of her social feed.

Liang Zhouyue transferred 26 yuan to him, not a penny more, not a penny less.

Without acknowledging the payment, Jiang Li turned off his phone screen, sounding a bit rushed: "My phone's about to die, I'll accept it when I get back."

He lifted his chin, gesturing for Liang Zhouyue to look at the security guard who had been watching them for a while.

Liang Zhouyue turned and found the guard had already opened the turnstile, greeting her with a smile: "Mr. Liang, why are you back so late today?"

A slight embarrassment appeared on her face as she naturally distanced herself from Jiang Li behind her, avoiding any potential gossip.

"I had something to take care of, so I'm back late," Liang Zhouyue said stiffly, lifting a benign smile: "We'll head in now, not to interrupt your work."

With that, she quickly entered the school gate without waiting for the carefree Jiang Li behind her.

He simply nodded to the security uncle, his long legs moving leisurely, in no rush to follow the anxious woman ahead.

Liang Zhouyue pressed on, her pace significantly faster than usual, and only after five minutes did she gather the courage to look back.

She had thought Jiang Li was still behind her, but he was nowhere to be seen; she hadn't heard him leave and didn't know when he had gone.

But his disappearance was a relief, and Liang Zhouyue silently exhaled, her internal pressure slowly easing.

Just as she was about to walk on, a lazy male voice came from the left upper steps of the library, starkly conspicuous in the night: "Don't be sad, little brother's home now."

He had just walked up the steps from the library perimeter to the second floor, now at a height above her. Less than fifty meters ahead lay the male dormitory of the Business School. The staff apartments were right on their right, very close by.

Liang Zhouyue, startled by his abrupt voice, placed her hand on her chest, trying to calm her chaotic breathing.

She didn't dwell on the teasing tone Jiang Li had used. She simply bid him a polite farewell: "Thank you for coming back with me today."

And a thought she kept to herself, hoping they wouldn't meet privately in the future, to avoid any meaningless entanglements.

Watching the retreating figure of the woman until he was sure she had entered the apartment building, Jiang Li suddenly turned around and followed the same route back.

He had to get home before the security guard locked the door.

He hadn't planned to come back to stay, anyway.

Back in the dormitory, Fang Zirui was applying a face mask.

Seeing Liang Zhouyue enter the room with exhaustion written all over her face, she quickly pulled a chair over so they could sit face to face.

"Where have you been to get so tired?"

Liang Zhouyue shook her head, yawned, and looked at Fang Zirui with moist eyes, her voice tired, "Had dinner, he had something come up, so he left first."

"Again with 'something'?" Fang Zirui ripped off her face mask, exploding like a firecracker, "I'm not being mean, but he's done this so many times. If he doesn't want to go out, he should just say it. Why does he always leave you hanging?"

Liang Zhouyue smiled gently, her voice soft, "He really had something, his phone kept ringing."

Fang Zirui didn't buy it and, with a face full of fight, clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction as a friend, "A phone ringing late at night better not mean there's another woman."

At these words, the smile on Liang Zhouyue's face stiffened momentarily, but she quickly regained her composure.

"We shouldn't talk rashly about such things. If he hears it, he'll think my friend has something against him."

Although Liang Zhouyue felt from many minor issues that she and He Jinseng were not a perfect match, she was not one to casually bring up something like infidelity. Once she chose to trust someone, she wouldn't easily become suspicious.

And someone like He Jinseng, steeped in literature and daily engrossed in educational pursuits, must have a clear sense of right and wrong, knowing what to do and what not to do.

"I'm not cursing you; I'm afraid you'll be at a loss," Fang Zirui pouted, clearly disliking He Jinseng's attitude.

Liang Zhouyue nodded in understanding, "Don't worry, I won't be at a loss."

Not being too in love, she could always cut her losses in time. Even though it sounded irresponsible, she too was a victim in this relationship.

After caring for her friend, Fang Zirui went to wash her face in the bathroom.

Liang Zhouyue was left alone in the small living room where she habitually picked up her phone. Lifting it to wake the screen, a new WeChat message popped up.

Since she couldn't see the remark immediately, she subconsciously thought it was a system notification about her money transfer being collected by Jiang Li.

Then, another message came in.

For some reason, Liang Zhouyue's heartbeat quickened.

She was afraid to use facial recognition—afraid of Jiang Li's message.

Just like she disliked dealing with unpredictable people, fearing that she wasn't a match for them.

Fang Zirui's recent concern posed no immediate threat, as even if He Jinseng cheated, the pain she'd feel could be anticipated, not spiralling out of control.

But Jiang Li was completely different; she couldn't see through his thoughts, just as she couldn't foresee the losses she might suffer with him, The fraction of possibility was a risk; she wouldn't let herself hazard it.

Slowly picking up her phone, the woman, mentally prepared at last, read the newest message on WeChat.

It wasn't from Jiang Li, but from her mother, Ge Shuhua:

[I saw you posted a dating photo in your Moments. How are things between you and Xiao He recently?]

[His mother came over to our place a few days ago, saying that Xiao He often praises you in front of his family.]

Liang Zhouyue's eyebrows knitted tightly together, while outside the window the night thrived, her mind went blank.