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nAs they took their seats, Qian Hongwei eyed them both, then looked at Tang Qiu and asked out of the blue, “Do you have anyone you’re interested in?”

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nTang Qiu nearly spat out her food in surprise, but she managed to stay composed enough to shake her head.

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nQian Hongwei raised his eyebrows, a wicked curve playing with the corners of his mouth.

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n“What?” Tang Qiu retorted bluntly. “Is there a problem?”

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n“Not at all. I just feel sad for some people, that’s all.” Qian Hongwei cast a meaningful glance at Ning Mufan, who noticed his friend staring and instantly felt his appetite leave him. “I told them you were dating Ning Mufan partly out of consideration for your prospects too.”

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n“What prospects?” Tang Qiu asked, confused.

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n“If the rumors got out of hand, people would start taking them for the truth,” he explained. “It would affect your reputation. If word got out to the teachers and they got the wrong idea about you, they might choose not to grant you a scholarship. What would you do then?”

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nTang Qiu’s fists clenched at his mention of the scholarship. “Thank you for looking out for me, Senior. But there’s nothing between Ning Mufan and I, and I don’t want to drag him into this…”

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n“Drag him?” Qian Hongwei echoed, grinning. “I’d say he’s perfectly happy to be ‘dragged into’ all this.”

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nTang Qiu’s eyes widened, as if in shock. Ning Mufan’s gaze simmered. He hadn’t thought Qian Hongwei was capable of screwing someone over like this. “Your senior just likes to joke around,” he said hastily, trying to salvage the situation. “Aren’t you well aware of that by now?”

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nQian Hongwei threw an arm around him in a brotherly gesture. “Why so bashful?” he asked with a smirk. “If you like someone, you ought to tell them.”

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nNing Mufan shoved him away, red-faced. Tang Qiu laughed awkwardly.

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n“Okay, okay, I’ll stop.” Qian Hongwei’s smile never left his face. “True, I said you two were a couple. But couples can break up. You could do so now, if you want. Just remember to make it clear to everyone.”

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nTang Qiu nodded in understanding. “But this will mean sacrificing Senior Ning Mufan’s reputation. I–”

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n“Ning Mufan is magnanimous by nature. It may be a sacrifice, but not a huge one. Besides, those girls were bothering him too. You’re helping him out by pretending to be his girlfriend. Isn’t that right, junior?” Qian Hongwei nudged him with his elbow and gave him a look.

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nNing Mufan nodded in implicit agreement. “So you don’t need to feel guilty, Tang Qiu.”

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nDespite her relief, Tang Qiu couldn’t shake the feeling that something was not quite right.

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nThey finished eating, and Tang Qiu left before them both. Still carrying his basketball, Qian Hongwei flashed a grin at Ning Mufan, as though expecting some kind of credit. “Looks like you’ve got to work hard now, to upgrade her from being your fake girlfriend to your real one.”

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nNing Mufan returned his gaze, perplexed. “Why are you helping me?”

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n“You shouldn’t let good things fall into the hands of other people,” Qian Hongwei replied matter-of-factly.

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nNing Mufan remembered that Tang Qiu was married, and faltered. “But…”

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nQian Hongwei cut him off, putting an end to his hesitation. “No buts. If you like her, go after her. You’ll regret it if you don’t make good use of this golden opportunity. I’m rooting for you. Just remember to buy me a drink in the future.”

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nShe did say that there’s no one she’s interested in, Ning Mufan reflected. Maybe he did stand a chance. Looks like that man wasn’t such a good match for her after all. They were only pretending to be a couple now, but who knew what they would evolve into in the future?

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n“Thank you, Senior. I’ll do my best.”

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n“That’s more like it!” Qian Hongwei drummed his fingers on his basketball, a hint of calculation swimming in his gaze.

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nIf Jiang Shaocheng knew that his wife was dating someone in school, would his rage drive him over the edge to his death right then and there?

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nOn the other end of the cafeteria, Niu Caijie ran out in tears, still reeling from the humiliation Tang Qiu had inflicted upon her. She had to make that woman pay… make her grovel and beg for mercy…

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n“Do you hate Tang Qiu, Niu Caijie?”

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nNiu Caijie turned and saw a woman she didn’t recognize staring back at her. “Who are you?”

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n“You can say I’m Tang Qiu’s younger sister of sorts. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I despise her.”

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n“You despise her? Why?”

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nFeng Yao’s face twisted into a cold sneer. “Because she’s shameless. She’s having a fling with Ning Mufan despite being married!”

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nNiu Caijie gaped at the other woman. “Tang Qiu is married? Isn’t she Ning Mufan’s girlfriend?”

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nFeng Yao snorted. “She stole my sister’s fiance. She got married a long time ago. That woman has no sense of shame. She’s someone’s wife, but she still goes around seducing people, and mistreating them, too…”

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n“Your sister? That means Tang Qiu stole her own sister’s fiance! And now she’s dating Ning Mufan! That slut…” Niu Caijie’s fists clenched, as if she could crush Tang Qiu’s face just like that.

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n“What’s your name? Tell me more about Tang Qiu.” This woman was far easier to manipulate than Tan Yuqi. Feng Yao’s gaze was intent with calculation, but she kept her distance; the other woman reeked of soup.

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nBack then, she had wanted to make use of Tan Yuqi to humiliate Tang Qiu, but Ning Mufan and Qian Hongwei had shown up, and she had only succeeded in making a bad impression on Ning Mufan. But she wasn’t about to give up and let Tang Qiu get her hands on Ning Mufan. If she couldn’t have him, neither could Tang Qiu!

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