Chapter 14

Chapter 14

◎Man, I really want to give the author a terrible review!◎

Meng Qi wasn't sure if his words actually comforted Qi Yun, but after hearing them, his expression did brighten a bit. He stopped looking around and began to focus on eating.

Meng Qi couldn't help but feel a little smug inside. He was pleased that his words had a positive effect on Qi Yun.

He Cong and Wang Boyuan had always been the ones to help him. Now, through Qi Yun, Meng Qi felt as if he had helped Wang Boyuan once and successfully pulled *Wang Boyuan* out of a bad mood. The feeling of being able to lighten a friend's load was really good. The corners of Meng Qi's mouth began to lift, and a genuine smile softened his features, making his eyes look soft, watery, and sparkling—really quite lovely.

Qi Yun had been eating with his head down, but he suddenly looked up at Meng Qi. He froze for a second, then asked Meng Qi a rather tough question.

Qi Yun asked very seriously, "Are you happy?"

Until he could return to the real world, or before confirming whether he could change the death-bound plot, he couldn't be truly happy. Perhaps he might occasionally feel happy when he temporarily forgot his current situation, like now—he was happy because Qi Yun, who was eating with him, resembled his good friend Wang Boyuan, and he had managed to comfort him with a single sentence. But as soon as he remembered that he was living inside a book, a book where he couldn't see his own future, any happiness he felt instantly drained away.

Meng Qi didn't know how to explain his confused and directionless feelings to Qi Yun. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded gently and said ambiguously, "I think I'm somewhat happy."

He had enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, money to spend, a friend by his side who was very similar to his good friend from the real world, and he didn't have to die for now—at least he could enjoy another nine months... Looked at that way, he couldn't say he was *un*happy.

If all these experiences weren't real but just a dream, then this dream could definitely be considered the kind of wonderful dream that could make you laugh out loud in your sleep. It should feel no different from being suddenly hit by a five-million-yuan lottery ticket.

But the trouble was that all signs indicated this wasn't a dream but reality.

Thinking of this, Meng Qi couldn't help but sigh again. He pouted slightly and said with a frown, "My life is like a chicken rib—half happy, half troubled."

"Your life is not a chicken rib; it's a diamond, something many people can only yearn for but never reach," Qi Yun said, his gaze intense as he looked at Meng Qi, earnestly refuting him. In his agitation, he even forgot to stop using the formal 'you'. "Don't say that about yourself. On the contrary, *my* life is the chicken rib—wanting to give up but unable to let go, not giving up but unable to persevere..."

Give up?

Had Qi Yun actually thought about giving up on life?

Meng Qi didn't quite understand and was completely shocked.

Comparing his current life to a chicken rib was just his way of expressing that if he couldn't return to reality, he could still muddle through and live here. Even if he truly couldn't return to reality, he had never thought of giving up on life. Otherwise, why would he go to such lengths to try and change the original setting of this book? He could just give up and wait to die in the ninth month.

In reality, Meng Qi had been abandoned by his relatives since birth because of his eyes. Later, he was found and raised by his grandparents, who made a living by collecting scraps. His rough life could be considered a disastrous start, later layered with buffs of poverty and weakness.

As a child, he was like wild grass in the wilderness—anyone could step on him and spit on him. But even so, he had never thought of giving up. Instead, it instilled in him a resilience akin to "spring breezes revive the grass." Once those who bullied him walked away, he would shake himself off and continue dancing in the spring breeze.

Struggling to grow up this way, he not only managed to get into university as he wished but also made two friends he could trust with his life. Didn't this outcome precisely prove that as long as you don't give up on yourself, life can always find a way out from a desperate situation?

In contrast, Qi Yun was so good-looking, didn't have a single flaw that could be criticized, and had even managed to get into a top-tier 985 university through his own efforts—a dream school for many!

If Meng Qi's life was layered with buffs of poverty and weakness, then Qi Yun's life could be said to be layered with buffs of advantage and success. He was way luckier than Meng Qi. Yet, he still wanted to give up? Meng Qi truly, truly didn't understand.

So, with a puzzled expression, he asked Qi Yun, "Why aren't you happy?"

Qi Yun was taken aback by the question, then he laid his head on the table and laughed. He laughed for a good while, his shoulders shaking with it, before finally sitting up straight. He first wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes with the back of his hand, then pointed his chopsticks at a few people who had just entered the cafeteria not far away. Instead of answering, he asked Meng Qi, "Do you know what they're saying?"

Meng Qi looked in the direction Qi Yun pointed and said, not very confidently, "Probably discussing what to eat later?"

"Of course not. Guess again," Qi Yun said, putting down his chopsticks and propping his chin on one hand as he looked at Meng Qi, his brows furrowed with worry. "You can't always assume the best about people. Let me give you a hint: they were talking and laughing when they first entered the cafeteria, but they stopped as soon as they saw it was you and me sitting together."

"Puzzled that the esteemed Young Master of the Meng family would personally come to the cafeteria to eat?" Although Meng Qi had already guessed the answer probably involved Qi Yun, and not in a good way—most likely the rumors Kuang Hui had told him—before Qi Yun volunteered the information himself, he didn't want to utter these hurtful words. So, after some thought, he gave a relatively safe answer.

If Qi Yun wanted to talk about it, he would listen. If Qi Yun didn't, the topic could be dropped right there, and no one would be embarrassed.

Those who have been rained on often want to hold an umbrella for others. Meng Qi was like that too.

After hearing Meng Qi's words, Qi Yun first curved his lips into a smile at Meng Qi, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. It didn't look much better than crying.

It made Meng Qi's heart ache. Suddenly, he remembered when He Cong first tried to get close to him; he had looked at He Cong with full defensiveness and exactly this expression. He Cong had later described Meng Qi's expression at the time, saying he was trying hard to smile, but it looked worse than crying.

Perhaps he was wrong. Maybe Qi Yun's life wasn't layered with buffs of advantage as he had imagined?

Just as he was lost in thought, Qi Yun across from him moved. First, he shifted his eyes to gaze at a point in the empty space, as if making a difficult decision. After a long moment, he fixed his clear, innocent-looking eyes on Meng Qi and slowly said, "If you came to the cafeteria alone, they wouldn't react so strongly."

"At first, they might be shocked because you've genuinely never eaten at the school cafeteria. But after the initial shock, they would definitely greet you with smiles, calling out from afar, 'Hello, Young Master Meng,' 'Young Master Meng is here,' 'What will Young Master Meng eat today?'" Seeing Meng Qi's expression grow increasingly puzzled, Qi Yun paused before continuing, "Don't doubt it; that's exactly how it would be. If you don't believe me, try coming alone next time. Have you forgotten what I said? You're a big celebrity at our school; almost no one doesn't know you."

Perhaps holding his chin up with one hand for too long made his wrist tired. Qi Yun switched from propping his chin with one hand to holding it with both hands and continued, "Alright, let me continue from where I left off last time."

Meng Qi thought about it and felt it was okay. Whether it was more subjective or objective, the facts that occurred were always connected to him. It wouldn't hurt to listen. So he nodded, agreeing to Qi Yun's suggestion.

In Qi Yun's subsequent explanation, the image of "Meng Qi" in the book gradually became three-dimensional and vivid before Meng Qi's eyes.

Qi Yun said, "The reason you're so famous at our school, besides your father funding scientific research here, there's another big reason. I was about to mention it last time, but you interrupted and told me not to continue. That reason is: you're also the head of the External Relations Department in our school's student union, and a very competent one at that. Every semester, you use your own connections to secure a large sum of sponsorship money for our school."

Good heavens! The "Meng Qi" in the book was also the head of the External Relations Department and had to secure sponsorship money for the school every semester?! Meng Qi was utterly shocked, his eyes fixed on Qi Yun. He thought, is there anything even more impressive? Please, no more... I really can't handle it...

"You really are that amazing. Are you shocked by yourself now?" Seeing Meng Qi's reaction, Qi Yun even had the mood to joke. He laughed a couple of times and, ignoring Meng Qi's reaction, continued, "Later, you even proposed to the school to use part of that money to establish an on-campus financial aid scholarship, specifically to help students who are financially struggling but excel in both character and academics."

Wow! How great it would be if there were someone as capable as the "Meng Qi" in the book at my school after I return to reality! Stimulated, Meng Qi couldn't help but start to daydream. If there really were such a person, I would definitely work hard to get that scholarship!

"Fortunately, because I met all the criteria, I was lucky enough to receive it twice, each time getting the first-class scholarship of 3,500 yuan."

3,500 yuan was no small amount—that's living expenses for a whole semester!

"But this amount was still too little for the difficulties I was facing, almost like a drop in the bucket. So I could only look for part-time jobs during my spare time. You probably guessed it; the part-time job I found was being a waiter at Qian De'an's place."

So Qi Yun really was facing significant difficulties. Meng Qi didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only encourage him with his eyes for now.

Qi Yun gave Meng Qi a smile in return. "Just when everything was starting to look up, during the third scholarship distribution, my name wasn't on the list. I found out through various channels that it was you who suggested to the school to remove my name. At the time, I didn't understand and was very indignant. I clearly met all the criteria, so why wasn't it given to me? So I found you in the classroom where you were having a class, wanting to ask for an explanation."

"That was the first, and only, time I spoke to you before you lost your memory. I asked you for the reason. You told me that someone had reported to you that I had issues in my private life and didn't deserve the money. You also said your money was earned cleanly and was meant for students who were pure and above reproach."

"I wanted to explain to you, but you didn't give me the chance. After answering my question, you just walked out of the classroom."

There was actually such a backstory? Who knows how much this novel's author omitted, not even writing such an important plotline into the work. Bad review!

Meng Qi thought indignantly. Looking at Qi Yun again, besides heartache, he also felt apology on behalf of the "Meng Qi" in the book.

No wonder Kuang Hui and the others held such a big prejudice against Qi Yun. With the "Meng Qi" in the book doing this, even white could be turned black.

"You don't need to feel sorry. Although I was very sad too, I don't blame you. But since then, whenever you and I appeared in the same scene, people would gossip behind our backs. To avoid disturbing you, I've been avoiding you for quite a long time."

Meng Qi could tell that although Qi Yun said he didn't blame him, the grievance in his tone was real.

"You don't need to avoid me from now on. Starting now, I genuinely consider you a friend. I won't care how others see me." Meng Qi promptly expressed his attitude to Qi Yun.

Qi Yun shook his head with a smile, whether he took it to heart or not was unclear. "But when Qian De'an said you wanted to find someone to help you recover your memory, I still couldn't help but recommend myself to Qian De'an. I really wanted to help you. After all, your 7,000 yuan had once solved my urgent needs. They say a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring. I had to repay you."

Although he didn't know the "Meng Qi" in the book that well yet, he thought that when the "Meng Qi" in the book decided to establish the financial aid project, he probably didn't expect repayment from others. So Meng Qi wanted to say something on behalf of the "Meng Qi" in the book, but Qi Yun interrupted him. "If it weren't for my taking the initiative, you wouldn't have become the subject of gossip again. I never intended to drag you into the mud. Now I've told you everything I know. From now on, when you see me again, just pretend you don't know me."

Then, without waiting for Meng Qi's reaction, Qi Yun stood up and walked out.

This guy... is too decisive. He should at least give me a chance to speak...

"Author's Note"

Revised on July 4, 2024.