Lin Lu’s ears began to burn.
“This is too much! Let’s pick something cheaper. This is far too valuable.”
“Lin Lu.” Chen Yuwei took hold of Lin Lu’s wrist and said, “This competition doesn’t just represent you alone. It represents our Piano Club and Beijiang University. If you really feel bad about it, just think of this gown as club property.”
“But…”
“Alright, no more arguing. It’s decided.”
Chen Yuwei handed the bank card to the salesperson, quickly paid, watched as the clerk placed the gift box into a bag, took the bag, and then passed it to Lin Lu.
“Thank you…”
Lin Lu took it, thinking she would find other ways to repay Chen Yuwei in the future. But 1.9 million… it was just far too valuable.
Chen Yuwei glanced at her phone. There was still plenty of time. She then gave Lin Lu a once-over.
“Let’s go pick out a pair of high heels to match. I’m guessing… you probably don’t own any.”
“Hehe, perfect timing. I know a shoe store…”
Su Tang headed for the door, looking back at the group as she pulled it open.
“Alright, fine… but this time I have to pay. Otherwise, I won’t accept it.” Lin Lu said to Chen Yuwei with a serious expression.
The group had just stepped out of the gown shop when Su Tang ran headlong into someone.
“Oof—!”
The person was knocked back several steps by Su Tang, almost losing their balance and falling. The phone in their hand nearly went flying.
“I’m so sorry, so sorry!”
Su Tang hurriedly apologized.
Lin Lu and the others looked over. It was a petite girl with twin ponytails, wearing a short black down jacket, a plaid skirt over thick leggings, and a pair of little leather shoes.
Her features were delicate, though her current expression was less than friendly—her mouth turned down at the corners, her eyes slightly narrowed.
Then again, anyone who was almost knocked over for no reason probably wouldn’t be happy.
“If you don’t need your eyes, you could donate them to someone else. How utterly uncouth!”
The girl berated Su Tang without mercy. Su Tang couldn’t very well argue back, as she was in the wrong, and could only keep apologizing.
“Hmph! This young lady is magnanimous and won’t stoop to your level…”
The girl glanced towards Lin Lu and the others, and her words suddenly cut off. She seemed to have spotted a familiar face. She looked at Lin Lu, then at Chen Yuwei beside her.
“Hmph! So it’s you. I should have known it was someone from your crew, Chen Yuwei.”
Lin Lu glanced at Chen Yuwei, as if asking a silent question.
An acquaintance of yours?
“Yes, it’s been a while, Qin Shiyu.” Chen Yuwei looked at the twin-tailed girl, her expression unchanged. “Here to buy clothes too?”
“Hmph! What else would I be doing at a mall if not buying clothes?” Qin Shiyu rolled her eyes, then delivered a challenge to Chen Yuwei. “Chen Yuwei, this year’s piano competition, I will definitely beat you. Last year was just you getting lucky…”
“Is that so? Then I’m afraid you might be disappointed. The person representing Beijiang University this year isn’t me.”
“What?” Qin Shiyu was slightly taken aback, frowning disdainfully. “Among the sorry lot at your Beijiang University, besides you, who else is even qualified to compete? What, are you so unwilling to face me that you’d resort to such a pathetic lie?”
“Your temper really hasn’t changed a bit.” Chen Yuwei smiled and looked towards the confused Lin Lu, explaining to Qin Shiyu. “It’s not that I don’t want to compete with you. It’s that the competition rules state the same person cannot compete for three consecutive years. I’m no longer eligible to register. See, she is the one representing our university this year.”
Lin Lu gave an awkward smile and waved a greeting to Qin Shiyu.
“Her?” Qin Shiyu frowned, looking Lin Lu up and down, her lips curling. “Her? Don’t think I don’t know. Lin Lu. A newcomer who hasn’t been in your Beijiang Piano Club for long. She’s worthy of competing with me?”
Chen Xingye, standing to the side, hearing such an unfriendly tone towards Lin Lu, spoke up in rebuttal. “Do you have to be so unpleasant? It was just an accidental bump. Is it necessary to be so hostile?”
“Hmph! This young lady speaks as she pleases. If you don’t like it, don’t listen. I wasn’t talking to you, you nobody.” Qin Shiyu snorted, but her gaze still swept over Lin Lu a few more times before settling on the bag in her hand. “So, you were here buying her a gown? I must say, Chen Yuwei, your taste isn’t bad… from an appearance standpoint, at least.”
“Uh… thanks?”
Lin Lu wasn’t sure what to say. Was that meant as a compliment on her looks?
Qin Shiyu paused, seemingly not expecting Lin Lu to thank her, and turned her head away.
“Hmph! This young lady isn’t one to slander others without reason. Although I don’t believe you are qualified to share the stage with me, your appearance is indeed only slightly inferior to my own.”
Chen Yuwei, noticing Qin Shiyu’s slightly reddened earlobes, chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, Qin Shiyu. Her level isn’t as pitiful as you imagine. On the contrary, if you underestimate her like this… you might very well be defeated by Lin Lu, a piano novice who hasn’t been studying for long.”
Qin Shiyu let out a derisive laugh and waved a hand dismissively. “Since when did you become such a joker, Chen Yuwei? A novice beating me? Since you have so much confidence in her, then I’ll defeat her at the competition. You’ll be there then, right? I’ll challenge you on the spot afterwards.”
“If you can actually defeat Lin Lu, then I won’t mind accepting your challenge then.” Chen Yuwei smiled. “Though I don’t believe that possibility exists.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll have to look forward to it.”
Lin Lu stood to the side, listening to the two of them go back and forth, feeling like a piece of merchandise on display.
Su Tang and Chen Xingye exchanged a look, also unsure of the exact relationship between Chen Yuwei and Qin Shiyu.
Qin Shiyu took a deep breath and walked up to Lin Lu. Due to their height difference, she had to look up at Lin Lu.
“Lin Lu, right?”
“Ah… yes.”
“No matter how much Chen Yuwei praises you, on the day of the competition, I will give it my all. Don’t expect me to go easy. When you lose, don’t go crying about it.”
Lin Lu blinked.
“Okay.”
Qin Shiyu snorted.
Su Tang quietly leaned closer to Chen Xingye. “Hey~ you think this is what they call… a tsundere? Bad-mouthing Little Lu with her words, but actually caring in her heart, even telling her not to be sad if she loses…”
“Ah? Is that tsundere? Seems… kinda like it, yeah.”
Although the two were whispering, whether Qin Shiyu had exceptionally good hearing or what, she actually overheard them.
“Hey! You two…” Qin Shiyu’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger as she glared at Su Tang and Chen Xingye. “You two… big-boobed idiots!”
Su Tang and Chen Xingye were taken aback, looking down at their own chests.
They’re not that big…
Then they sized up Qin Shiyu, who stood there with her hands on her hips, puffing up with anger.
The two exchanged a smile. Oh, I see~
“Hey! What’s with that look?! Are you looking down on this young lady?!”
With that, she made to chase after them.
But how could the two just stand there? Each grabbing one of Lin Lu’s arms, they hoisted her up and ran off.
“Aiya~ Little sister, don’t be mad! You’ll develop more later. Small can be cute too, you know!”
“Bastards!!”
“Well then… Qin Shiyu, enjoy your shopping. We’ll be going now.”
Chen Yuwei also gave a slight smile, bid farewell to the fuming Qin Shiyu, and quickly walked off after them.