Chapter 586
: Irreversible
"Senior, you can't set up 'special contacts' on Fetion..."
Zhong Ling explained softly, a blush creeping up her ears, while her fingers unconsciously tightened their grip on the small cloth bag in her hand.
Although Fetion doesn't allow setting special contacts, QQ does, and she did indeed secretly set her junior as a special contact on QQ.
There was no particular reason; it was just that she had very few friends. Even her relatively close roommates mostly communicated via Fetion, so her QQ account was almost always silent. However, after meeting her junior, he would occasionally send her some strange videos via QQ, which always made her laugh. Afraid of missing out, she set up her account as a special contact.
Actually, at first, she would only temporarily set up special notifications on the day she received the video, because she likes to read in her spare time and is easily absorbed in her reading. Once she is absorbed, ordinary message notification sounds will not wake her up at all. And her junior always replies to her messages very quickly. She does not want to keep him waiting for a long time. So, the unique notification sound for special notifications became the reason for her to occasionally look up from between the lines.
Later, changing it back and forth was too troublesome, so she simply left it hanging like that.
She also asked her junior why he specifically used QQ to forward these videos. His answer was that these videos were all transferred from the QQ group by Lin Anyu, and he had carefully selected them. They were "Han Zhou's carefully selected" videos, and the videos in the Fetion group were not as good.
She didn't quite understand what "off-key" meant, but she felt that since it was a video carefully selected by her junior, she should definitely watch it carefully and then give a serious reply.
She is usually a very indecisive person, but once she starts doing something seriously, she becomes overly focused. For example, she has a habit of writing a book review, even if it is a storybook that many people consider to be of little value.
Her roommates would occasionally tease her, saying that she didn't need to waste that time, and even less did she need to give such long replies to a few forwarded videos.
The younger students would tease her, but they would say things like, "Since you replied so seriously, I should also reply to your reply seriously."
Then they sent a "long and tedious" article.
When she first saw this reply, she seemed a little at a loss, so she also "replied to this serious reply."
Over time, although the two did not meet often in person, their online conversations accumulated more and more.
Zhong Ling was unaware that her mind was clearly in disarray, to the point that she forgot she wasn't speaking. Wang Lengqiu only saw her lips move, but had no idea what she said.
However, some things can be judged simply by reacting.
Before today, Wang Lengqiu's impression of the Zhong sisters was vague, far less deep-rooted than her impression of Han Zhou. But as Han Zhou appeared before her in the morning, those images that she had forgotten seemed to resurface little by little.
Then she suddenly asked, "Can I call you Xiaoling?"
Zhong Ling, who was at a loss, was stunned and couldn't keep up with the sudden turn of events. She didn't understand why this senior, who seemed to only have eyes for her juniors, would suddenly get closer to her. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded weakly.
Seeing her nod, Wang Lengqiu didn't make any further comment, but instead asked another question: "Xiaoling, do you think it's okay to be a bride first and then fall in love?"
Zhong Ling looked bewildered, not understanding why the topic had suddenly jumped to the bride. Was this some kind of riddle?
She thought for a long time before typing in the chat box: "I... I guess it's not possible... Being a bride means getting married. If you don't like someone enough, how can you get married?"
"So, you have to like someone first before you can become their bride?" Wang Lengqiu summarized her meaning.
"right……"
"Can't you be the bride first and then fall in love?" Wang Lengqiu asked again.
Zhong Ling paused for a moment, then said weakly, "I don't think so..."
What should I do? I feel so much pressure talking to my senior... It feels like she's testing me.
But if this is an exam, isn't this kind of question a bit too strange?
Zhong Ling began to miss Han Zhou. If her junior were here, she wouldn't have to face these strange questions.
Wang Lengqiu tilted his head and looked at her for a while, as if he was thinking about something seriously, and then gently shook his head.
"No, it is possible."
……
It was twenty minutes later when the two returned to the hotel. Although Wang Lengqiu had spent so long in the supermarket without buying anything, Zhong Ling thoughtfully brought everyone a late-night snack, a steaming hot barbecue.
"Thank you, senior."
Gu Zheng, who had just come out of the bathroom, had her eyes shining. While drying her hair, she said, "But if you want to have a late-night snack, you can just order takeout. It's so cold now, there's no need to wait outside."
If they hadn't been waiting in the barbecue restaurant, the two of them would have been back long ago.
Zhong Ling didn't speak, she just smiled faintly.
"The senior student probably felt that food baked by her own eyes was healthier than takeout."
Han Zhou smiled and explained, then looked at Zhong Ling, who seemed a little dazed, "Thank you, senior. I'm a bit hungry too, so I won't be polite."
He knew that Zhong Ling was usually very frugal, and she would hesitate for a long time even for the cheapest meal in the cafeteria. So, buying this barbecue meal meant that she had obviously "spent a lot of money".
Zhong Ling snapped out of her daze and lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly: "You're welcome. You can eat more if you're hungry. I bought a lot..."
The four of them sat around the small table in the hotel room, chatting and eating barbecue. At one point, Guzheng suggested that they prepare some meat skewers before climbing the mountain, and grill them at the top to have a real camping trip.
Clearly, even though it was still drizzling outside, she was still thinking about the hiking plan she had made earlier.
It's worth mentioning that Wang Lengqiu and Zhong Ling seemed to have high expectations for this as well, and began discussing which seasonings to buy and how much food to prepare.
After they had almost finished eating, Han Zhou said, "It's too late now, so we can't go back today. I've booked another room next door. The three of you girls can stay together. If you think it's too crowded, I can book another room."
Unfortunately, today is neither a long holiday like May Day or National Day, nor is it a day of special significance. There was no scene of hotels being fully booked with only one room left.
On the contrary, the hotel had plenty of rooms available; otherwise, he might not have been able to arrange another room next door.
It wasn't until he finally booked an extra room that the receptionist downstairs finally showed a complex expression of relief and regret, her emotional journey unreadable. While saying this, Han Zhou secretly observed Wang Lengqiu's reaction. After all, her wish was to have him all to herself for a day, but now they had to sleep in separate rooms. He hoped she wouldn't make the same nighttime raid as yesterday.
Unlike yesterday, he now finds it harder to refuse his girlfriend.
Unfortunately, Wang Lengqiu remained expressionless. Even Yi Xia found it difficult to understand the girl's thoughts, so he naturally couldn't see through her either.
"No need, this bed is big enough for four people, there's no need to waste money on that," Guzheng said.
But as soon as she finished speaking, she remembered Mo Yixia's words not long ago, "Wouldn't it be too crowded for four people to sleep in one bed?" and she immediately felt depressed.
Zhong Ling also shook her head slightly, indicating that three people sleeping in one bed was enough, and there was no need to book another room.
Han Zhou nodded slightly: "Then let's leave it at that. Everyone, get a good rest tonight. If it doesn't rain tomorrow and the road conditions aren't too bad, we can start preparing for the hike. As for Senior Leng Qiu's family matter..."
"Ignore them," Wang Lengqiu said softly.
"That's what I think too."
Han Zhou said calmly, "Judging from what I observed tonight, my 'curse' should have succeeded. If they can remember this lesson, they probably won't bother you anymore. There's no need to keep in touch with family members like that."
Wang Lengqiu nodded.
Gu Zheng looked at Wang Lengqiu, then at the calm and composed Han Zhou, and said suspiciously, "Han Zhou, although I agree with your point of view, that is, after all, Wang Lengqiu's family matter... Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to make the decision for her like this?"
Han Zhou's heart tightened, but he said calmly, "I'm just making a suggestion. How to do it is up to Senior Wang Lengqiu to decide."
"That's true..."
Gu Zheng put aside her doubts. Given Wang Lengqiu's personality, she wouldn't say a word even if she was bullied, and might even thank the other party. If no one helped her make a decision or stood up for her, things would probably continue like this.
She hesitated for a moment, then suggested, "Severing ties is no small matter. Either have a good talk with Grandpa Wang, or don't let him know. After all, he loves both of us."
Although Han Zhou did not explicitly say that he wanted Wang Lengqiu to sever ties with that family, it was clear that he meant it. Wang Lengqiu did not object, which meant that she agreed with the decision, so there was no need for her to hide it.
Seeing that the three seemed to agree that severing ties was the best option, Zhong Ling hesitated for a moment before weakly saying, "Isn't there a better way? Like, we could shake hands and make peace... Wouldn't severing ties be a bit too cruel...?"
She had experienced the beauty of family love and the pain of losing family members. Therefore, even though she knew that Wang Lengqiu's family was not happy, she felt indignant about it, but still held a glimmer of hope.
After all, we're family, why did things have to escalate to this point?
Han Zhou was taken aback. He could roughly guess what the senior was thinking, but he didn't directly retort with "Don't advise others to be kind if you haven't experienced their suffering." In fact, he had always felt that this saying was biased. Many times, it was more like an emotional outburst than a genuine principle. Throwing this out when faced with well-intentioned advice would only make people feel disheartened.
After a moment's consideration, he said, "How about this, if that family takes the initiative to reconcile with my senior, then it's not impossible to consider it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized something, and his heart skipped a beat.
Sure enough, the next second, Gu Zheng's suspicious gaze fell on him again: "Is what you said considered a suggestion?"
The girl narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them. "Why do I feel like you're making the decision for your senior?"
"Is there?"
Han Zhou remained expressionless. "I just think what my senior said makes sense."
As he spoke, he "translated" what Zhong Ling had just said.
Upon hearing this, Gu Zheng pouted and said, "I think that hesitation will only lead to trouble. Since it is a relationship that is destined to be irreparable, there is no need to hold on to it."
Clearly, in her view, if she had already made up her mind to sever ties, there was no need to pay attention to that family even if they came to apologize to Wang Lengqiu.
But to Han Zhou, these words foreshadowed a very ominous future. He probed, "Then what do you think constitutes an irreparable relationship?"
Gu Zheng gave him a strange look and replied, "Of course, it's just like Senior Wang Lengqiu's parents. They're irresponsible, and they don't even have the thought of admitting their mistakes. They owe Senior Wang Lengqiu so much, why do they think that an apology will make Senior Wang Lengqiu forgive them?"
In fact, her words were, to some extent, making a decision for Wang Lengqiu, but Wang Lengqiu did not speak and just silently watched the two of them.
However, Han Zhou did not respond. In his opinion, Gu Zheng's point of view was not wrong, or rather, the two of them actually shared the same view. It's just that people are hypocritical, and he hoped that one day Gu Zheng would not use this set of standards to treat him.
He absolutely did not want his relationship with the guzheng to become irreparable.
If that day ever comes, he will beg Guzheng for forgiveness, even if it means shamelessly begging.
So he looked at Wang Lengqiu and changed the subject, saying, "Senior Lengqiu, just like I said, what we said were just suggestions. How to do it is up to you. As for Grandpa Wang, whether to keep it from him or discuss it with him is also up to you."
Indeed, as her boyfriend, he could make decisions for Wang Lengqiu in some matters, but there were many things he couldn't make decisions for. However, as long as it was her choice, he would face it with her.
Wang Lengqiu nodded and whispered, "Thank you."
Beside her, Zhong Ling's face was somewhat gloomy, as if she still felt that things shouldn't have developed this way. Seeing this, Han Zhou no longer hesitated and suddenly said, "Senior, can we talk alone?"
Zhong Ling then snapped out of her thoughts, lowered her head slightly, and nodded somewhat shyly.
Gu Zheng and Wang Lengqiu were not surprised, because Han Zhou had mentioned this to them before. He wanted to find out the specific details of the accident that led to the death of Zhong Ling's parents.
However, Zhong Ling herself was still kept in the dark, thinking that her junior wanted to explain to her about holding hands that night. Perfect, she also wanted to explain the reason for this to her junior.
The two then stood up and walked towards the next room. (End of Chapter)