Chapter 4, Birthday

Originally, she was two grades higher than Zhou, but Zhou studied for two years in high school before coming to Beijing to attend university

When she discovered that Wei Qing had no intention of going to Tsinghua, anger arose from her heart, and she coldly said: "Mr. Wei, what do you mean by this? Is it really necessary to make things difficult for others?"

How many storms has Wei Qing experienced, that she would bicker with her over a moment of anger? He only finds it amusing and interesting, as very few dare to openly show him a displeased expression. He pays even more attention to her.

Looking at them, I instantly lost my appetite. When toasting the birthday celebrant, someone mischievously shouted, "Li Mingcheng, why don't you quickly toast Zhang Ranyu a glass!" Zhang Ranyu, unable to refuse due to the crowd's insistence, had no choice but to stand up and clink glasses with Li Mingcheng. Some had drunk too much and spoke without restraint: "When are you two going to drink a cup together? It would save our Young Master Li from wasting away day after day for her!" The crowd became even more spirited, all joining in the teasing: "Zhang Ranyu, Li Mingcheng is almost being tortured into a shadow of his former self by you; how much longer are you going to torment him? Just agree to him already!" Some had drunk too much and spoke without restraint: "When are you two going to drink a cup together? It would save our Young Master Li from wasting away day after day for her!" The crowd became even more spirited, all joining in the teasing: "Zhang Ranyu, Li Mingcheng is almost being tortured into a shadow of his former self by you; how much longer are you going to torment him? Just agree to him already!"

Wei Qing, instead of being angry, smiled and raised an eyebrow, saying: "In broad daylight, what can I do to you! Is it not permissible to meet, have a meal, and make a friend?" It is truly shameless for someone like Wei Qing to brazenly speak of making friends.

Wei Qing is certainly not a gentleman, and right then he said: "If you want it, come and take it yourself." Zhou was so furious that she almost dropped the phone. What kind of person is this! Didn't she just offend him a moment ago! A big CEO, does he really need to argue with a mere student like her!

She is still unclear about her feelings towards Zhang Ranyu. Just a moment ago, she was filled with surprise and admiration, but in the blink of an eye, her emotions took a sharp turn.

The unequal round was a rebuttal, and Li Mingcheng was the first to interrupt: "What nonsense are you talking about! Be careful, or I will break your dog leg!" The crowd chatted and laughed as they walked towards the restaurant

Zhou noticed two other girls, one of whom had an unremarkable appearance while the other was relatively good-looking. Both wore framed glasses and had their long hair neatly tied up. They exuded a calm and composed demeanor, speaking little, and it was evident that they were students of science and engineering. The girl with a fairer complexion smiled at Zhou when she noticed him observing her, revealing her small, delicate teeth, and her attitude was warm and polite

Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, everything has changed and people have become estranged. She could only feel that everything has come to an end, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Wei Qing looked at her in the car and said, "Are you back so soon?" Zhou suddenly turned around, searching everywhere.

Wei Qing assessed her and said playfully, "A date? There will be plenty of opportunities in the future." He parked the car in front of a high-end Western restaurant. At this point, generally speaking, most girls would have no choice but to reluctantly join him for dinner, further deepening their relationship. This somewhat coercive tactic is infallible when dealing with indecisive female college students.

Zhou only smiled upon seeing him, anger rising from the heart, malice growing at the edges of courage. He indignantly said: "Are you just bored and looking for fun at my expense?" As he spoke, he was about to get out of the car

Li Mingcheng specifically introduced her: "Shishi, this is Zhang Ranyu, who, like me, is also studying physics." Upon hearing this, Zhou immediately felt a deep respect; a girl daring to study physics at Tsinghua must possess not only diligence but also exceptional talent. Zhou immediately clasped his fists and said: "I admire you!"

Li Mingcheng nervously glanced at Zhang Ranyu, and seeing that she did not turn pale with anger, he immediately scolded, "What are you all making a fuss about! Eat your food, eat your food!" Li Mingcheng's attitude had long been clear, but the key still lay with Zhang Ranyu; it was uncertain what she truly thought. Naturally, Li Mingcheng was afraid that the others' words would be too excessive and provoke her anger. Fortunately, she seemed not to be very upset.

The driver recognized Li Mingcheng and jokingly said, "This is your girlfriend, she is truly beautiful." Li Mingcheng smiled and explained, "This is my sister." The driver responded with an "Oh," and said, "No wonder, both siblings are good-looking."

Li Mingcheng has not had a girlfriend for four years, so this time he must be serious. Moreover, his partner is Zhang Ranyu, such an outstanding individual. Looking at Zhang Ranyu's expression, it does not seem that she is indifferent towards Li Mingcheng. She appears increasingly bitter, her hands almost unable to steady the chopsticks.

Since they are alumni from the same school, the atmosphere is even more lively and vibrant. During the gathering, Zhou noticed that Li Mingcheng was paying a lot of attention to Zhang Ranyu. When he saw her glass was empty, he immediately refilled it. He also moved some non-spicy dishes in front of her, served her food, and asked if she was cold and whether she wanted to change seats, as the air conditioning was directly facing Zhang Ranyu. His attitude was attentive and caring, and no one else seemed to show any unusual reactions. A sudden chill ran through him, and he couldn't help but feel a bit cold.

Zhou sniffed and, trying to remain calm, asked: "What is it that you want this time?"

The minister noticed her anxious expression; she truly did not regard him highly, and it was not a matter of feigned indifference or retreating to advance. He had never been so completely overlooked by a woman, which only intensified his desire to conquer. He glanced at her, smiled, and said, "You look very beautiful today"

Zhou was a person sitting in the back, tears could no longer be contained, falling down in a steady stream, desperately suppressing the sound of sobbing. Just thinking about it brings sadness.

Li Mingcheng then addressed the crowd, saying: "There is no need to introduce the others; they are all a bunch of wolves from our class." Before he could finish his sentence, he was met with a barrage of responses from the crowd, leading to a moment of continuous laughter and a lively atmosphere

Sitting stiffly in the passenger seat, feeling out of place. Wei Qing asked, "What are you holding in your hand? Be careful not to poke someone; I will put you in the back seat." She placed the carefully written words in the back seat. She looked at the scenery outside, feeling very annoyed, biting her lip in silence. Taking out her phone to check, it was almost six o'clock, and she hurriedly said, "Please go to Tsinghua, thank you"

Zhou was not in the mood to brush him off at that moment, and time was a bit tight, so it seemed she had to take a taxi. She hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I don't have time right now, let's talk later." She waved at the taxi that had just stopped at the school gate and hung up the phone. Before she could run out of the school gate, Wei Qing opened the car door and stepped out, smiling at her, exuding a sense of determination.

She took a moment to slip into the restroom and called Wei Qing, her tone rather curt: "Hello, I left my things in your car!" Wei Qing lazily responded with an "Mm," and only then did he notice a tube of badminton shuttlecocks still sitting in the back seat.

Zhou abruptly halted his steps, his face turning pale, for he had long been prepared to lie in wait here. She, aware that escape was futile, lowered her posture and said: "Mr. Wei, I apologize, but I truly have matters to attend to. I must take my leave for today."

This move was unexpected, catching Wei Qing off guard. He was under the impression that he had grasped the vital point of Zhou Shi, believing that this matter should be treated with utmost care, and he planned to take the opportunity to make demands, gradually achieving his goal. To his surprise, she was extremely decisive, and when she said no, she truly meant it

Wei Qing lazily said while taking out a long feather tube from the side, "You don't want this anymore?" After experiencing a wave of sadness and disappointment at the banquet, she had long forgotten about it. It was only upon his reminder that she recalled this matter, and with a faint "oh," she reached out to take it.

It is not good for a girl to return too late, and everyone does not keep her. Li Mingcheng offered to see her off, but she resisted: "No, no, no, how can the birthday star leave! I can go back by myself." After repeated refusals, Li Mingcheng did not understand why she was so uncooperative today and thought she might have some worries. He still said: "It's fine, we are all classmates, I will see you to the car and then come back."

Zhang Ranyu has been a prominent figure since childhood. She is the youngest daughter of Principal Zhang of Shanglin No. 1 High School, and her brother is a talented student at Yale, currently working at a research institution overseas. Since her school days, she has accumulated a plethora of trophies that fill her entire room. In her senior year of high school, dissatisfied with the quality of the recommended major, she resolutely participated in the college entrance examination and emerged victorious. She is now a first-year graduate student at Tsinghua University, one year ahead of Li Mingcheng and others.

Both girls had prepared birthday gifts. It was only at this moment that Zhou remembered the words she had written were left on Wei Qing's car. She had been quite upset earlier and had forgotten about it when she got out of the car. She could only smile and say, "Li Mingcheng, I had prepared a gift for you a long time ago, but I came in such a hurry that I forgot to bring it. I will deliver it to you later." Li Mingcheng agreed, not paying much attention.

The meal was tasteless, akin to chewing wax, yet I had to hold on and feign nonchalance. Before the meal was finished, everyone suggested going to a nearby KTV for an all-nighter. Li Mingcheng leaned over to ask Zhang Ranyu if she wanted to go. At this point, Zhou could no longer endure it. He stood up, bracing himself against the table, and with all his might managed to keep his voice steady, "It's getting late, and I need to return to school, so I'll leave first"

Wei Qing is the most despicable of the despicable, how could he not take the opportunity to haggle? Of course, he refused and said, "Are you just taking it like this? Not even a word of thanks?" Zhou endured and said thank you.

Zhang Ranyu smiled and said, "I heard from Li Mingcheng that you are studying fine arts, which is truly admirable." She was neither arrogant nor impatient, displaying great composure. Unlike some students from Tsinghua University, who look down on students from other schools with an air of superiority. Zhou had a good impression of her

Zhou's face turned red as he whispered angrily, "Let go quickly, what exactly do you want to do?"

After calming down, I returned to my seat and casually asked Zhang Ranyu where she was from. Zhang Ranyu replied. Zhou exclaimed: "I know! Zhang Ranyu, Zhang Ranyu, you are the Zhang Ranyu from the top class of Shanglin No. 1 High School, aren't you? You are my senior! I heard about an incredibly talented Zhang Ranyu when I was in my first year of high school. Oh my, I didn't expect to see you in person today!" She was very excited

Zhou, upon hearing this, turned pale, his heart ached, and he felt a lump in his throat, nearly brought to tears. The laughter and joy of the crowd seemed to go unheard.

Wei Qing raised an eyebrow and said, "Get in the car." Zhou just wanted to quickly leave the sight of the crowd; if she were to be seen by someone she knew, she would have no reason to live anymore. After a moment of hesitation, she had no choice but to get in the car

A familiar young man saw her and let out a whistle with an exclamation of "Wow," grinning with ill intent as he said, "Li Mingcheng, your 'sister' is becoming more and more beautiful. How about introducing her to me? You know your brother is still a lonely bachelor!"

Wei Qing noticed that her expression was not right and stared at her intently. Seeing her eyes red and the corners of her hair seemingly still with traces of un-dried tears, he asked, "Aren't you supposed to be quite happy? Why are you crying?" Zhou did not expect his gaze to be so sharp; she thought that in the dim light, he would certainly not notice. Coldly, she replied, "I cry for my own reasons; what business is it of yours? Why do you meddle in my affairs!" Her attitude was harsh, and her tone was unfriendly.

Zhou did not speak, and seeing that he was not preparing to leave, she had no choice but to say: "Mr. Wei, I am leaving first." Wei Qing smiled faintly and remained silent, but the next moment, unexpectedly, he grasped her wrist. She was displeased and struggled with all her might, but it was of no use. She did not expect that his casual strength would be so great.

Fearing that she might encounter an accident, he specifically called a familiar taxi driver. Noticing her lack of energy, he repeatedly urged her to call him again once she arrived at school. She kept her head down and remained silent.

The minister gazed ahead, unmoving as a mountain, and said: "What business do you have at Tsinghua? Is there some urgent matter concerning human lives?" Zhou replied with a cold smile: "That is none of your concern."

He was quite curious and initially thought it was a tube of shuttlecocks. Upon opening the lid, he realized it was not; it was actually an unframed calligraphy work. To his surprise, it was a piece titled "After the Red Cliffs Ode," written in the strict and elegant style of Liu's small regular script, with clear structure and beautiful form, making it quite pleasing to the eye, indicating considerable effort had been put into it. There was a vertical line of small characters at the back: "Congratulations to Li Mingcheng on his birthday, written in Beijing." Below that was the date and signature, with several ancient characters from the seal clearly visible.

The entire work retains the freshness of the ink, and one can tell at a glance that it is made with high-quality ink produced by Yidege in Beijing, with a unique fragrance. He was quite taken aback, and it was then that he remembered that Zhou Shi was a student in the Fine Arts Department, not only skilled in painting but also surprisingly adept at calligraphy. In fact, the Fine Arts Department is a place where many talents are hidden, and Zhou Shi's ability to manipulate words and ink is not particularly remarkable.

Someone interjected: "Zhang Ranyu is still dominating at Tsinghua, treating us boys as if we are nothing, truly arrogant!" This shows how famous Zhang Ranyu is. Zhou listened and became increasingly impressed. Zhang Ranyu merely smiled faintly, remaining indifferent to the praises from the crowd, as if she had not heard them.

The car drove straight to the school gate, Zhou wiped away his tears and took out his wallet. The driver smiled and said, "No need, no need, it's already been taken care of." He turned around and left. Li Ming always thought of everything so thoughtfully. However, at this moment, such thoughtfulness, when recalled, felt particularly piercing.

Zhou is like a young calf that is not afraid of tigers, unaware of the extent to which power, influence, and wealth can lead to arrogance. He thinks to himself, I do not seek others' approval, so what is there to fear? The essence of his inherent flamboyance and rebelliousness has never changed; it has merely been temporarily restrained due to the pressures of life.

Wei Qing has made quite a fool of himself this time

After parting ways unhappily, Wei Qing's mood was naturally not very good. For someone who has always been victorious in the realm of romance, this was indeed somewhat embarrassing. Thus, he decided to switch to a bar to continue his pursuit of women, hoping to alleviate the great shame he felt. Unfortunately, he had little success; the numerous beautiful women he encountered were either dull in conversation or unpleasant in appearance. Just as he was about to return to rest, he received a call from Zhou, who said something happened and it was left in his car. He was just about to return to rest when he received a call from Zhou, who said something happened and it was left in his car.

The tears had not yet dried when they flowed down again. She stood in a daze under the hazy shadows of the trees. The phone rang, and she lazily picked it up, "Hello, what is it?" Her voice was hoarse, vague, still carrying a hint of sobbing.

Wei Qing, with his outstanding appearance, is a handsome man with an impressive car. As soon as he steps out of the vehicle, he attracts the attention of passersby. This time, he openly performs a scene of tugging and pulling right at the school gate, causing all the pedestrians to turn their heads and look back.

She did not wait for the other person to speak and quickly said, "I am going to take the elevator, there is no signal inside." She abruptly hung up the phone. Before she could leave the dormitory building, the phone rang again. She did not expect him to be so insensitive and coldly said, "What do you want?"

However, Zhou got out of the car with a cold expression, rushing onto the road without saying a word. Before Wei Qing could react, he had already hailed a taxi and left swiftly.

Wei Qing still did not let go; what he wanted was certainly not as simple as just a thank you. Zhou immediately understood, realizing that he was being toyed with, that he was being pushed further. He glared at him coldly and after a while, threw out a sentence: "Do as you wish." He no longer cared, opened the car door, and left. If it was lost, so be it; having lost the person, what was the point of holding onto this!

Zhou bit her lower lip and hesitantly requested, "If you are still nearby, could you bring it to me?" She still hoped to deliver the gift to Li Mingcheng today, after all, she had put in a lot of effort. That is why she was willing to take the risk of calling Wei Qing, this ungrateful wolf.

Zhou saw his black Lamborghini quietly parked in the shadows, not wanting to provoke further disputes or become a subject of ridicule. He walked over and knocked on the window. Wei Qing was about to get out, but Zhou hurriedly said, "Let's talk in the car." He took the initiative to open the door and get in. Wei Qing merely smiled and ignored him.

Zhou was still feeling unsettled; this minister was truly overbearing, it would be wise to avoid provoking him in the future. Just as she got out of the taxi, Li Mingcheng and a group of classmates were already waiting for her at the main gate of Tsinghua University

He glanced at the time above, which was measured using the ancient lunar calendar. After checking his phone, he was astonished to find that it was indeed today. It seemed she had gone to celebrate her little boyfriend's birthday today, no wonder she had been so evasive. After a moment's thought, he turned around and headed back to the school.