Chapter 544 - 356: Double Standard Lin Ruoxi

Gu Muxue spent a long time coaxing Lin Ruoxi. Like a small child who’d been deceived by grown-ups one too many times, Lin Ruoxi kept asking if she was telling the truth.

"I’m not lying," Gu Muxue chuckled at the questions.

Lin Ruoxi was as composed as a twenty-nine-year-old when it came to her work, but in matters of the heart, she was more like a nine-year-old girl. And now, the tables had turned, and she was the one who needed coaxing.

"But why...? Don’t you want to have him all to yourself?" Lin Ruoxi asked in a small voice, her head lowered.

’If she could, she’d still want Xue Rui all to herself.’

Gu Muxue didn’t answer, simply handing Lin Ruoxi a card with a red string attached. "Have you decided what you’re going to write?"

"Mhm." Lin Ruoxi took the card and swiftly wrote her wish on it.

...

From a distance, Xue Rui was secretly watching Lin Ruoxi and Gu Muxue. The two of them seemed to have hidden behind a large tree, discussing for a long time before finally writing down their wishes.

Once the two of them had moved a short distance away from the wishing wall, Xue Rui casually sauntered over, feigning indifference as he searched through the rows of cards for handwriting he recognized.

He recognized both their handwriting. Lin Ruoxi’s wish was: For Xue Rui and those around him to be safe and healthy.

A warm feeling spread through Xue Rui’s heart as he read it. ’I’m number one in her heart.’

After reading hers, he flipped over Gu Muxue’s card next to it: I hope the people around me are peaceful and happy.

Xue Rui nodded to himself. ’Her wish is more typical,’ he murmured. ’Centered on herself.’

Gu Muxue patted Xue Rui’s shoulder and handed him a card. "Have you written yours yet?" she asked, a bit annoyed.

Xue Rui took the pen and paper and, with a flourish, wrote a line of text. He then hung his card right between Lin Ruoxi’s and Gu Muxue’s.

"Who said you could touch my wish?"

Gu Muxue walked forward. She felt that Xue Rui could be very childish sometimes, insisting on squeezing in between her and Lin Ruoxi, so she was about to move his card.

However, when she picked up the card, she saw a line of text written vertically on it: May the dreams of the girls I like come true.

On either side of the words were two arrows, one pointing left and one right, aimed at her and Lin Ruoxi’s cards, respectively.

"You’re so childish."

With her hands behind her back, Gu Muxue ordered Xue Rui, "Go buy me and Ruoxi some ice cream. I’m thirsty."

"Mm, I’ll go with you. It’s so crowded, I’m afraid of getting separated," Lin Ruoxi said, grabbing onto Xue Rui’s arm.

"You got it," Xue Rui readily agreed.

Gu Muxue watched as Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi’s figures disappeared around the corner. Then, she turned back and nudged the three cards closer together.

Gu Muxue tilted her head, thinking. ’If someone puts their wish card in between ours, who will Xue Rui’s wish be pointing at then?’

So, she pulled a few threads from the red tassel on her own card, reached out, and gently wound them around all three cards, tying their wishes together.

When she was done, a faint smile graced her peach-blossom eyes.

She picked up Lin Ruoxi’s card and murmured, "Those around him..."

On the other side of the wall, at the corner, Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi peeked out, watching Gu Muxue.

The corners of Xue Rui’s mouth couldn’t help but lift. ’That girl is still the same as ever. She calls others childish to their face, but behind their backs, she cares more than anyone.’

"Aren’t we going to buy ice cream?" Lin Ruoxi asked, looking up at him. She was peeking out from under his chin.

"Where would they be selling ice cream here? She just wanted to get rid of us." Xue Rui gently knocked on Lin Ruoxi’s little head. ’You’ll believe anything anyone tells you,’ he thought.

"Muxue was just calling you childish, but look at her, tying all the wishes together herself," Lin Ruoxi said, pulling out her phone to take a picture of Gu Muxue.

"Whoa, don’t you dare say that to her face," Xue Rui warned. "Watch out, or she’ll get furious and bite your head off."

"Oh, okay." Lin Ruoxi jumped in surprise. ’Should I keep the photo, then?’ she wondered.

Just then, Xue Rui spoke from above her head. "Remember to send me a copy of that photo."

"Mhm!" Lin Ruoxi nodded emphatically.

...

The three of them wandered around the nearby scenic area for a while, buying some fruit ice cream. As dusk began to fall, Lin Ruoxi drove them back.

"Xiaorui, where are you sleeping tonight?" Gu Muxue asked.

Xue Rui sank into thought at her question. ’Keep hiding out at Gu Muxue’s place?’

’That’s asking for a death sentence.’

’Go back to the dorms?’

’Pulling an all-nighter gaming with my roommates would be fun, but it would mess up my sleep schedule.’

He had no choice. The arrival of Gu Qingshan and his wife had completely ruined his plans. He’d originally intended to just shamelessly crash at Gu Muxue’s place.

Lin Ruoxi whispered, "What about hiding in my room?"

Xue Rui gulped. ’I’m not that brave.’

"Ruoxi, let’s just find a hotel and dump him there," Gu Muxue said, pointing to a chain hotel on the side of the road.

"Okay." Lin Ruoxi flicked on the right turn signal and slowly pulled over in front of the hotel.

"Xixi, I think I’ll just go back to the dorms," Xue Rui sighed.

’I have two girlfriends, for crying out loud. I’m not even asking to have one on each arm, but surely I don’t have to sleep all by myself?’

’The thought of lying alone on stark white sheets made him prefer going back to the lively dorms instead.’

"Rui, I want to go home with you tonight," Lin Ruoxi said, turning her head.

A flash of panic crossed Gu Muxue’s eyes. She knew that Lin Ruoxi and Xue Rui had bought a house together.

’Is Lin Ruoxi leaving?’

"Don’t go," Gu Muxue said, flustered.

Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi were both stunned. What was wrong with Gu Muxue?

"Mm, just for tonight. I have something I need to talk to him about," Lin Ruoxi said, then looked at Xue Rui. "Can we take Muxue home first?"

Gu Muxue took a deep breath and said slowly, "Fine."

’I get it,’ she thought. ’Lin Ruoxi is going to lay her cards on the table with Xue Rui.’

Lin Ruoxi started the car again. This time, the previously light and cheerful atmosphere inside was gone, replaced by a heavy silence.

When they got back to Gu Muxue’s apartment complex, Lin Ruoxi took Gu Muxue by the hand and led her into the elevator, telling Xue Rui to wait for her in the garage.