QTIMP -Chapter 153 Character Persona – Love Brained (Part 24)

Si Qiu immediately understood the implied meaning in the other person’s words.

It seemed that this Third Aunt—Zhou Chenyu’s mother—was indeed as tricky as her aunt had said.

Si Qiu typed a reply: “Thank you, Second Brother Zhou, for letting me know. I understand what you mean.”

Over on the other side, Zhou Chengyu was sitting on the bed in his pajamas, holding his phone. Seeing her message, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

In a gentle tone, he said, “What a clever little girl!”

His left hand held a cigarette while his right hand tapped away at his phone.

Another message was sent: “You’ve been wronged, but no matter what, I am your Second Brother. I’m always on your side and will never let you suffer in vain.”

Si Qiu pursed her lips as she read it. Having once been someone of high status herself, she knew exactly how to soothe people’s hearts. If her experience had been less, she would probably have been completely manipulated by the Zhou brothers and ended up thanking them profusely.

But then again, sometimes you just have to know the times. Sitting in the canopy of her bed, Si Qiu lowered her gaze slightly, the glow of the phone reflecting on her face.

“Second Brother!”

“I—”

“I understand!”

What could have been resolved with a single message had been broken into three: first to express her pitiful grievance, second to assure that she bore no ill intentions of revenge.

On the other side, Zhou Chengyu touched the glowing screen with his hand. Finally, he leaned back abruptly against the headboard. His chest rose and fell in short, uneven bursts, betraying his inner unrest.

He knew the girl was very cunning and likely pretending to be weak on purpose—but he still couldn’t help feeling a pang of worry.

He even began to doubt whether his approach in all this was the right one.

Yet, thinking of what might happen if he didn’t act this way, he steeled himself again.

Sitting upright, he bent his left leg with his left hand resting on the knee, and held the phone in his right hand to continue typing: “I will protect you.”

Si Qiu didn’t reply again. She tossed her phone aside and lay down to sleep.

The next morning, as expected, Zhou Chenyu brought breakfast over. Si Qiu and Tian Shuang went downstairs to get it. Seeing that the two had something to discuss, Tian Shuang hurriedly took the breakfast back upstairs.

Zhou Chenyu cheerfully approached Si Qiu and took a box out of his pocket. “This is the hair clip I reserved for you earlier. I hope it helps you in your studies.”

Si Qiu opened the velvet box to find a pink crystal-encrusted claw clip. She took it out and clipped it firmly to the side of her head.

Then she shook her head lightly. “Chenyu, how do I look? Does it suit me?”

Zhou Chenyu’s expression was far more genuine than before. He couldn’t help reaching out to adjust a strand of her hair. “Of course it looks good. Qiu Qiu, you’re already beautiful.”

People are visual creatures. While appearance doesn’t determine everything, it can serve as an advantage under equal conditions.

Just as Zhou Chenyu saw Si Qiu like this, he reflected on himself, wondering if he had been too inconsiderate yesterday.

He held her hand sticky and warm, spoke many words of reassurance, and only then reluctantly let go.

The two of them hadn’t joined the military training, and with the new semester just starting, there were many things to take care of, so Si Qiu didn’t ask him to escort her to class.

When Si Qiu returned, she found that no one had eaten yet—they were all just sitting there waiting for her.

“Eat quickly, we still have military training later!”

Xu Duo hurriedly sat down at her spot and started opening the packages. “Of course we were waiting for you. We can’t forget our hero here.”

Military training was not only exhausting but also helped students get familiar with each other quickly. Although Si Qiu and her few friends weren’t very close with the other two girls, their relationship was still decent.

The boys were relatively attentive toward them as well, since they were all good-looking, performed well academically, and came from decent families.

So, the atmosphere in their class was fairly good.

On Zhou Chenyu’s side, it was also mostly boys and few girls. But as a male student, he quickly blended in with his classmates.

Even after military training, he didn’t feel too tired and would invite others to play basketball. After the training ended, he continued playing regularly.

Si Qiu had gone to watch him once. Among a group of sporty students, he didn’t look out of place at all, and the girls around couldn’t stop squealing.

Every time they paused for a break at halftime, someone would run over to hand him water and a towel.

Si Qiu, of course, felt jealous and got angry at him, but she was also savoring the bittersweetness of being in love.

Zhou Chenyu would politely refuse others’ attention, but when asked whether he was dating the “department beauty” of the Computer Science Department, neither of them would confirm nor deny it.

Si Qiu wasn’t worried about classmates finding out. For families like theirs, dating in school was normal, and later on, marriages were arranged within families.

As long as they didn’t go overboard, parents wouldn’t interfere. So, unless they openly acknowledged their relationship in front of their parents, the two families could deny that the couple had ever been involved if they broke up later.

The longer they spent together, the more conflicts could arise, so both had silently agreed to this way of interacting.

“Qiu Qiu, Qiu Qiu, where are you running off to?”

Si Qiu was pulled back by Zhou Chenyu grabbing her arm.

In a fit of temper, she tried to shake his hand off.

“Let go of me.”

Zhou Chenyu rubbed his forehead with a helpless look. “I thought you were the one handing me water. I didn’t see clearly and just took it.”

Si Qiu flung his hand away and gave him a cold laugh.

“I saw you were pretty accurate with your shots. How come your eyes fail you now? You say you didn’t see clearly—was it because she looks like me? Or dresses like me? You just didn’t see clearly, right?”

Zhou Chenyu wore a look of helpless tolerance. “I really wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t even turn my head—I just reached out and took the water.”

Si Qiu wasn’t satisfied with his explanation. “Hmph, mistaken identity, yet you two could still chat so easily?”

Zhou Chenyu suddenly felt a bit exhausted. “I took her water, of course, I had to politely thank her. Where did you get that we were chatting so easily?”

“What did that girl say after seeing me? ‘Sister, I’m giving water to brother. You won’t be angry, right?’ Why are you forgiving her on my behalf, making me look petty? Zhou Chenyu, you’re my boyfriend. My requirement for you is favoritism. When you belittle me as petty in front of another woman and forgive her for her teasing words, do you really think I’m a fool who can’t hear her provocation and your compromise?”

Si Qiu didn’t even listen to his defense and went straight for the heart of the matter.

Zhou Chenyu took a deep breath. “Si Qiu, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. I just didn’t want you to make a scene in front of so many people. How is that not respecting you or showing favoritism? If I didn’t respect you or favor you, would I let you take up most of my free time? Would I spend time, energy, and money comforting you every day over trivial things?”

His impatience was fully evident in these few words.