Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 141, Page 139: Lipstick as a Subtle Trick

The fifth canteen at Jiangcheng University of Finance and Economics is located near the library in the central area of ​​the campus and is called Xiaohu Garden.

There weren't many people on the first floor, but the second floor was the famous Qiaolou Restaurant, which mainly provided table meals for team building activities.

Gu Caiwei and Zhou Mingyuan took two plates and found a seat in the Happy Dining Room on the first floor.

What have you been doing these past few days?

The brown-haired girl casually asked, fiddling with the rice noodles in front of her.

"You're having so much fun playing music with your senior classmates that you've forgotten all about home, haven't you?"

"Who is Shu?"

Zhou Mingyuan smiled and opened his chopsticks, raising his eyebrows and pulling at them.

Seeing that Gu Caiwei remained silent for a while, the man added, "It's not a joke."

"My senior classmates helped me prepare for the rehearsal, it's a serious matter."

"rehearse?"

Gu Caiwei put down her chopsticks, blinked her watery eyes, and looked at Zhou Mingyuan.

"Our school's welcome party is at the end of the month."

Zhou Mingyuan shrugged and spoke.

"Haha, the gala isn't until the end of the month? Did you sign up for a performance?"

Gu Caiwei seemed to suddenly understand everything.

Unlike the welcome party at Jiangcheng University of Finance and Economics, which ended early after the military training, the welcome party at Nanhu University was delayed for quite a while.

"Go on stage and sing?"

With the details piled up, the clever little princess naturally had no trouble figuring it out.

The rehearsals Zhou Mingyuan mentioned were most likely inspired by the landlord's cat's extensive performance experience.

"Correct."

Zhou Mingyuan smiled and nodded: "Remember to come and support us!"

"Okay, okay, I'll bring Little Lychee along and watch you embarrass yourself!"

Gu Caiwei giggled, her eyes sparkling like a pool of melting snow.

"We haven't seen you for the past few days, and the landlord's cat hasn't come to sing either."

"Such perfect teamwork, I thought you guys were forming a secret clique~~~"

She lowered her head, gently scooped up a spoonful of fish soup, sipped it, and her soft, sweet voice returned.

The suffix was drawn out so long, and the soft, gentle Wu dialect tone was almost sweet enough to touch one's heart.

We can't resist!

Completely unable to resist!

Upon hearing this tone, Zhou Mingyuan immediately sensed something was amiss and looked back with a half-smile.

"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean by 'you' and 'our'? Your wording is so weird."

"If you're going to form a small group, you should at least have a WeChat group, right?"

The man paused for a few seconds before continuing.

"You, me, and Li Zhi, we are the unbreakable little group."

"alright."

Gu Caiwei bit her lip, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and a pair of dimples reappeared at the corners of her mouth.

Do you have a WeChat group?

While eating, Gu Caiwei suddenly remembered something and asked casually.

"Yes, I have."

Zhou Mingyuan was confident and righteous.

"."

Gu Caiwei's eyes widened, and she straightened her back, as if the fluffy fur of a kitten, which had been smoothed out, was standing on end again.

"No, you."

This guy was so shameless that Gu Caiwei couldn't find any words to respond.

"Please, having a WeChat group doesn't mean it's a small clique."

Zhou Mingyuan was still smiling, his expression gentle, his emotions as stable as ever, as he spread his hands and said.

"This group is just for convenient communication; can it be the same as ours?"

"What are the three of us?"

Meeting Gu Caiwei's questioning gaze, Zhou Mingyuan continued speaking to himself.

"Shared ideals! Mutual understanding! United in purpose!"

"A small group is one where you can get along well, make money together, understand each other, and be happy together every day."

".Um."

Gu Caiwei was completely exhausted from being pulled and stretched.

But logically speaking, what he said is indeed correct.

They share similar interests, similar values, and can talk about anything.

Only the members of the Fruit Princess WeChat group can be considered a true small group.

Everyone started from scratch, learning how to start a business step by step through trial and error, and gradually learning to identify and solve problems.

How can any other small group compare to the days spent together, the bittersweet experiences, and the genuine bonds formed?

Even if the lead singer of Landlord's Cat is very good-looking, and even if he spends several days with him, he still has absolutely nothing to do with any clique. They're worlds apart.

Moreover, he had legitimate reasons that were enough to convince himself.

I used to hang out with the senior students every day for the important reason of rehearsing for the welcome party.

It seems I misunderstood him.

In some ways, Zhou Mingyuan is indeed quite warm-hearted.

She had made preparations in advance to have only a small meal at a canteen with Gu Caiwei, and even specifically reminded her not to wear makeup.

The delicate little princess, no matter where she goes, even without makeup, will never lack the attention of male beings.

After the two had eaten and drunk their fill, Gu Caiwei's quick trip to the restroom to wash her hands already attracted the attention of many passersby.

After leaving the cafeteria and walking along the tree-lined campus paths, the shortcut back to the dormitory is to cross the playground.

The cicadas chirped incessantly in late summer, sunlight slanted through the trees, the air flowed silently, and the most popular folk songs of the moment played on the campus radio.

"Hey, why are you staring at me like that?"

Gu Caiwei turned her face to look at Zhou Mingyuan beside her, a smile curving her lips.

"I'm analyzing your little scheme."

Zhou Mingyuan raised his eyebrows, not denying it: "I already said you didn't need to wear makeup, yet you still made yourself look so pretty."

"It took a lot of trouble."

The two stepped into the playground, one after the other.

At midday, a gentle breeze blows, and couples can be seen strolling hand in hand on the green lawns.

"Who's wearing makeup? I'm not!"

Gu Caiwei slowed her pace, curled her lips, and said dismissively, "You straight man, what do you know?"

"I know."

"You do not understand."

The two hid in the shade to bicker, the sunlight creating a boundary between light and shadow.

"The cafeteria was too far away, can I take another look?"

Zhou Mingyuan stopped and tugged at the girl's sleeve, looking as if he meant something.

"Okay, then."

Gu Caiwei thought for a moment, then moved closer.

"Come a little further."

"Oh."

She obediently tiptoed again, her cherry lips slightly pursed, her chin gently raised, and her delicate, flawless face gradually came into the man's eyes.

"Did you see it clearly?"

"They already said they weren't wearing makeup."

The answer is obviously obvious.

Regardless of whether Gu Caiwei put effort into dressing up, her uniquely fair and cool-toned skin alone is enough to surpass the efforts of countless beauty bloggers who work all day.

A closer distance reveals cunning; the girl's fluttering eyelashes are like a fan, tugging at one's heart.

Zhou Mingyuan remained silent, carefully observing Gu Caiwei.

The two locked eyes and drew closer and closer in the almost frozen air.

Despite it being a summer afternoon, the playground was still filled with many energetic students.

A variety of voices came from all directions: a sporty boy playing half a game of soccer with his partner, a girl with a ponytail stretching her legs near the equipment in preparation for a run, and even a young couple walking in circles, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

It wasn't until she saw herself reflected in the other person's eyes that Gu Caiwei realized the world had suddenly fallen silent.

All that remains is the thumping sound of my heartstrings being plucked repeatedly.

The tension was palpable with every breath.

"How long are you going to watch this?"

With a flick of her brown hair, her long earrings swayed, their coolness brushing against her neck and ears. Her gaze drifted across the man's face, becoming hazy in the sunlight.

This distance is still too close, and too ambiguous.

In novels, TV series, and movies, both viewers and special effects artists unconsciously turn the few seconds of eye contact between men and women into long, slow-motion sequences.

It's as if a single glance can last a lifetime, a love at first sight.

Gu Caiwei couldn't hold on any longer and turned her head away.

"Alright, alright, I see clearly now."

Zhou Mingyuan solemnly withdrew his gaze.

"Did you see it clearly?"

"You didn't wear any makeup, just a little lipstick, and the shade was noticeably darker than when you came out of the dorm."

Zhou Mingyuan smiled, narrowed his eyes, and pointed to Gu Caiwei's lips from a distance.

"He must have gone to the bathroom to eat it after the meal; he was quite cunning."

"am I right?"

".cut."

Gu Caiwei snorted coldly, but felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

"I admit, you do have some discernment."

"But is this really considered a little trick?"

(End of this chapter)