Chapter 190: Two Lunches
This time, they were still eating on the third floor of the cafeteria. Unlike the previous private room, this time it was a two-person table by the window in the main hall, partially hidden by potted plants—fairly discreet.
When Gu Qinghuan arrived, she found that Wei Xiao had already ordered two individual set meals.
She didn’t mind eating separately, but the fact that he ordered in advance without even asking her made her uncomfortable. She didn’t like others making decisions on her behalf.
She sat down across from him without touching the food, poured herself a cup of tea, and asked politely, “So, what’s the matter today?”
Wei Xiao looked straight at her and got to the point. “The student council recruitment results are out. My name isn’t on the list.”
Gu Qinghuan remained calm. “You want to know why you didn’t pass?”
He didn’t respond, so she continued on her own.
“The Discipline Department was only recruiting one person this time. Including you, there were three applicants. You ranked third in the votes. Both the department head and deputy head voted against you. Isn’t it normal that you didn’t pass?”
These detailed voting results were visible on the app. Any student council member could check them—it wasn’t confidential information.
If it were up to the Discipline Department, they wouldn’t even care if others knew. Out of all departments, they were the least afraid of confrontation.
Clearly, her explanation did not satisfy Wei Xiao.
He wanted to ask why—what made the other two better than him—but meeting her gaze, he suddenly felt it wasn’t worth saying.
What was the point of asking her? What could she possibly understand? To him, Gu Qinghuan was merely a stepping stone to connect with Bai Hanshan and Xia He. If he really wanted to join the council, he would have to approach Bai Hanshan directly.
Thinking this, Wei Xiao felt even more uninterested.
Gu Qinghuan, on the other hand, found just looking at his face exhausting.
She stood up. “Since you’ve already gotten your answer from me, there’s no need for me to stay. I’ll take my leave.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left without looking back.
Once outside the dining hall, she took a deep breath—then couldn’t help clenching her fist and giving it a small shake.
Food was innocent. Wasting food was shameful.
But she absolutely did not want to sit through a meal with someone whose displeasure was so obvious!
It was all Wei Xiao’s fault—his mere existence ruined good food. He should apologize to that wasted meal!
Even after consoling herself like this, Gu Qinghuan still felt unhappy.
She walked around to the main entrance of the cafeteria, wondering what dishes might still be left on the first floor at this hour—and happened to run into Lin Zhulu.
“Class monitor, you…” Lin Zhulu initially thought she had already eaten, but hesitated and corrected herself, “You haven’t eaten yet?”
Gu Qinghuan nodded heavily.
Lin Zhulu was genuinely surprised. Everyone in Class Three knew that nothing could stop their class monitor from eating on time. What could have happened today?
She pointed toward the cafeteria. “I came late too. How about we go to the second floor together?”
Gu Qinghuan thought that sounded good. She had received quite a bit of New Year money recently—might as well eat something nice.
The two of them went to the second floor together.
Thanks to a certain student’s parent, whose name they didn’t know, the quality of the cafeteria had improved significantly this semester.
Not just the taste—there were more dishes and even multi-person set meals.
After comparing options, they chose an Italian-style set for two, which included pasta and mushroom rice. They agreed to split both evenly.
While waiting for the food, Lin Zhulu casually asked, “Why are you eating so late today?”
Gu Qinghuan poured herself another cup of tea and downed it in one go, speaking solemnly:
“Wei Xiao invited me to lunch to get information. After telling him, I didn’t feel like eating with him anymore, so I came down from the third floor.”
To make her give up the third floor’s food—it really meant she disliked him that much.
Lin Zhulu thought so and comforted her, “Don’t let someone like him ruin your appetite.”
“Exactly,” Gu Qinghuan sighed. “He didn’t get into the student council this time. Who knows what tricks he might try next.”
Then Lin Zhulu asked, a little worried, “But you left him like that… won’t that offend him?”
“I’m not too worried about that,” Gu Qinghuan said. From Wei Xiao’s attitude, she could tell he didn’t take her seriously at all.
And since he knew Xia He was backing her, at worst, he’d just stop contacting her.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect myself,” she added, patting her chest.
After all, no one could predict how a psychopath might think.
Hearing this, Lin Zhulu relaxed slightly.
Then Gu Qinghuan asked casually, “By the way, when you warned me before, you mentioned the Wei family, not just Wei Xiao. Do you know them well?”
Although the system had already revealed Lin Zhulu’s identity, there was still no clear sign of how she was connected to the Wei family. Gu Qinghuan wanted to learn more from her.
Lin Zhulu was immediately at a loss.
She didn’t want to admit that she was related by blood to Wei Yan and Wei Xiao. But since it was Gu Qinghuan asking, she also didn’t want to lie.
How should she put it…
Sharing part of their genes made her feel like she might also carry something bad. Hiding the truth felt like deceiving others.
Her throat felt dry. “Actually…”
“Stop!” Gu Qinghuan raised a hand immediately. “If it’s something that puts you in a difficult position, then don’t say it.”
She looked at her seriously. “If you don’t want to say something, then don’t force yourself.”
Lin Zhulu hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to say it… it’s just hard to bring up.”
“That means you’re not ready yet. All the more reason not to rush,” Gu Qinghuan shook her head. “I only asked casually. Whether to answer is entirely up to you. You can take your time—there’s no rush.”
Lin Zhulu blinked, a little surprised. “Is that… okay?”
“Of course it is,” Gu Qinghuan said, glancing toward the server approaching with their trays, smiling brightly. “For example, right now—our lunch is more important.”
Lin Zhulu laughed.
And as she laughed, her mood lightened.
There were so many important things happening every day. Her current worries—maybe, in the grand scheme of her life, they were just something small.
So why should she feel guilty?
The ones at fault were clearly Wei Yan and Wei Xiao. Those two had never reflected on themselves—why should she feel ashamed on their behalf?
The food was placed on the table.
Gu Qinghuan asked for two extra bowls and used clean utensils to divide the dishes evenly.
“Alright, time to eat!” she said cheerfully, handing Lin Zhulu her portion.
Eating was such a happy thing—no need to think about someone like Wei Xiao.
And with Lin Zhulu, she got to enjoy two different main dishes. Just thinking about it made her happy.
Lin Zhulu also set aside her worries and began eating.
But after the meal, she decided she would think carefully about how to tell everyone about her connection to the Wei family—and find the right moment to say it.
This time, however, she no longer felt shame or guilt.
She was the one who deserved sympathy!
Lin Zhulu thought firmly—
Being connected to the Wei family was just her terrible luck from eight lifetimes!
