Unmasking Intentions and a New Resolve

Having grasped this realization, Zhou Yi drew a deep breath. When her gaze finally lifted, all traces of confusion had vanished from her eyes.

“I truly am fine,” she assured her roommates, flashing them a radiant smile. With a casual gesture, she tucked a stray strand of long hair behind her ear. “There’s no need to worry.”

Once this mission concluded, she would depart from the game forever. These rumors, these individuals, even this entire world, would fade as though they had never existed, rendering them utterly insignificant.

Her sole focus now needed to be on advancing her current mission: rescuing Li Yanze.

With this shift in perspective, the bitter ache and suffocating repression in her heart began to gradually dissipate.

She elegantly picked up some tomato scrambled eggs from her plate. As the sweet and sour flavors melted on her tongue, even the most ordinary cafeteria dish suddenly seemed delicious.

Xiao Ju and the other roommates were perplexed by Zhou Yi’s sudden shift from gloom to cheerfulness. Yet, seeing her eat with such composure, their own anxieties slowly began to subside.

Suddenly, a clear, resonant male voice spoke from just above Zhou Yi’s head. “Senior Zhou Yi.”

Zhou Yi looked up.

‘Isn’t this the silver-haired man who was always with Xu Yao?’

A glance behind him confirmed her suspicion: Xu Yao stood not far off, her expression dark as she glared in their direction.

‘Weren’t these two supposed to be getting sour cabbage fish?’

“Hello, Senior,” the man began, introducing himself. “I’m Lu Zichen. In addition to my computer science major, I also serve as a student assistant in the Security Department.”

‘So?’ Zhou Yi blinked, her gaze questioning as she looked at him, completely bewildered.

Lu Zichen offered what he clearly believed to be an impeccable smile. He then retrieved his phone, displaying the Security Department’s distinctive blue shield application interface.

“I’ve already become aware of the situation on the forums,” he explained. “Senior, should you require assistance in retrieving surveillance footage or tracing the IP of the rumor-mongers, I am fully capable of helping…”

“Really? That’s wonderful!” Xiao Ju exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. The other girls around them also brightened, their faces reflecting expressions of pure delight.

“Finally, someone is willing to help us!”

“And a Security Department assistant, no less!”

However, Zhou Yi raised a hand to gently halt their nascent cheers. She offered Lu Zichen a polite smile. “Thank you for your kind offer, Assistant Lu, but according to regulations, don’t we need the Counselor’s signature to access surveillance footage?”

Lu Zichen’s smile froze at the corners of his lips. Behind him, Xu Yao let out a soft, sudden chuckle, the corners of her mouth curling into a mocking sneer.

“It seems Senior is quite familiar with the procedures,” Lu Zichen remarked, straightening his posture. His silver hair swayed slightly under the cafeteria lights. “Then you must also know that student assistants can prioritize urgent applications.”

“No, truly, it’s not necessary. Thank you,” Zhou Yi politely declined him. “I trust the school will handle matters according to its own regulations.”

Noticing he still lingered, she added another casual remark. “By the way, your girlfriend appears to be waiting for you.”

Lu Zichen froze, an almost imperceptible dark glint flashing in his eyes. Never before had a girl so unequivocally rejected his overtures of goodwill.

“Senior, if you happen to change your mind…”

“Then I will follow the established procedures,” Zhou Yi stated. She didn’t even spare him a glance, instead focusing intently on picking the spring onions out of her tomato scrambled eggs.

Witnessing her complete indifference, and the blatant disregard for his ‘face,’ Lu Zichen could no longer maintain his strained smile. He merely nodded, attempting to mask his discomfiture.

“Understood. I won’t trouble you any further then.”

He maintained his dignified demeanor as he turned to leave. Yet, the moment his back was to Zhou Yi, his lips instantly pressed into a thin, tight line.

Xiao Ju anxiously tugged at Zhou Yi’s sleeve. “But that’s Security Department authority! Tracing an IP would take mere minutes!”

Zhou Yi leisurely wiped the corners of her mouth. “Do you truly believe someone would offer help to me without any ulterior motive?”

She cast a glance at the two figures still standing nearby. “Given the choice,” she elaborated, “I’d prefer open, declared malice over kindness with hidden agendas.”

What she hadn’t mentioned to Xiao Ju was the glaring fact that Lu Zichen, who was clearly dating Xu Yao, had suddenly appeared to offer his assistance. Such behavior either indicated a hidden agenda or a highly questionable character.

Furthermore, even if his intentions had been genuinely good, she could never accept help from a former romantic rival. This wasn’t a matter of right or wrong; it was simply the unwavering boundary of her dignity.

****

Not far away, Lu Zichen found himself directly confronting Xu Yao’s icy stare. He frowned, a flash of impatience crossing his features.

“What, trying to curry favor with the senior using your Security Department assistant privileges?” Xu Yao scoffed, crossing her arms. “Didn’t you just hit a brick wall?”

A flicker of annoyance crossed Lu Zichen’s eyes, but he swiftly replaced it with a nonchalant smile. “Are you jealous?”

“You? Are you even worthy?” Xu Yao retorted, her fingertip jabbing emphatically at his chest. “Don’t forget who spent every day of finals week highlighting key points for you, just so you could keep that assistant position!”

Lu Zichen swiftly seized her wrist with his other hand. “And who, pray tell, helped you optimize the research data for your social practice report last semester?”

“You!” Xu Yao’s face paled with fury. “Lu Zichen, you’re truly unbelievable, arguing with me over an outsider?”

“Xu Yao, must we truly destroy each other right here?”

“Hmph, do you truly believe I wouldn’t dare?”

The two continued their argument as they moved towards the cafeteria exit, drawing numerous curious glances from the surrounding students.

As she watched the two figures argue and recede into the distance, Zhou Yi’s emotions grew unexpectedly complex.

It was these very same two individuals who, not long ago, had first taught her the bitter taste of heartbreak.

Now, with the roles reversed, the very man who had once shattered her illusions was inexplicably attempting to ingratiate himself with her.

Furthermore, the sharpness and derision etched in Xu Yao’s expression starkly contrasted with the pure, beautiful ‘white moonlight’ figure from Zhou Yi’s memories.

She lowered her head, taking a sip of water, and gently swallowed the surging bitterness that rose within her.

Those days of humble, desperate placation were long gone.

She was no longer the Zhou Yi who once found her entire day brightened by a single smile from someone else. Nor was she the girl who would retreat to a corner, silently licking her wounds after a heartbreak.

She was now Senior Zhou Yi, a distinguished student. Her new purpose was to help others caught in similar predicaments discover their own inherent worth.

“I’m truly fine now,” she reiterated to her roommates with a smile. She neatly gathered her餐盘. “I’ll be going now; I still have matters to attend to.”

Stepping out of the cafeteria, she was met by the perfect warmth of the sun. A gentle autumn breeze rustled through the treetops, carrying with it the faint, sweet scent of osmanthus flowers.

Her gaze inadvertently swept ahead. Lu Zichen and Xu Yao were still by the entrance, caught in a tense, drawn-out argument.

Straightening her back, she walked past them with an air of composure.

Lu Zichen’s phone suddenly rang.

“What? The surveillance system in the girls’ dormitory area is malfunctioning?” Whatever was said on the other end of the line, his expression abruptly turned serious. “…Alright, I’ll be right there.”

Zhou Yi’s steps faltered, almost imperceptibly. ‘A surveillance malfunction? What a coincidence.’

Lu Zichen hastily ended the call. He quickly muttered “something urgent” to Xu Yao before turning and departing.

As he passed by Zhou Yi, he offered her a somewhat awkward nod.

Xu Yao remained rooted to her spot, her expression growing even more displeased.

Zhou Yi watched Lu Zichen’s retreating figure, then cast a quick glance at Xu Yao’s ashen face. A faint, knowing curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

The autumn wind swept past, lifting her long hair and carrying away the last vestiges of stubborn obsession from her heart.

The smile gracing her lips held a touch of self-mockery, yet it was predominantly infused with a profound sense of release.

She softly called out in her mind: ‘Xiao Qi, where is Li Yanze now?’

It was time to reach out and help the junior who had once made the same foolish mistakes as she had.