Getting Caught Up In His Cycle Of Passionate Love - Chapter 8
Coward Lu Que
The weekends in July and August were indeed pleasant. Lu Que was walking home with Xu Tao Yue, and all the way, all he could hear was Xu Tao Yue’s endless chatter.
“Lu Que, I remember we’re from the same hometown, right? Why are you a day student then?”
“Because I have money.”
Xu Tao Yue: “……”
Okay, he is rich.
“Then can you smile?”
Lu Que looked shocked, as if he hadn’t expected Xu Tao Yue to make such a request: “Huh?”
“I want to hear if a rich person’s laugh is a proper ‘hahaha’ kind of laugh.”
Lu Que: “……”
Just as he was about to refuse, Xu Tao Yue quickly grabbed his arm: “Lu Que.”
Lu Que: “……”
“You wouldn’t refuse me, right?” Xu Tao Yue blinked deliberately, thinking her eyes sparkled, then looked at Lu Que expectantly.
Lu Que cleared his throat. Xu Tao Yue thought he was about to agree, but Lu Que looked at her with a cold expression and replied, “I would.”
Xu Tao Yue: “……”
Oh.
It’s fine, I’m generous anyway.
Xu Tao Yue didn’t mind and continued to hop forward. Suddenly remembering something, she stopped abruptly, and due to inertia, her backpack almost smacked Lu Que in the face.
Lu Que, used to her constant surprises, took her bag calmly: “Sometimes I seriously suspect you’re trying to assassinate me.”
Xu Tao Yue laughed awkwardly, then suddenly turned serious: “Lu Que, did you forget something?”
“What?”
Xu Tao Yue took out her phone, looking sincere: “We’re good friends now, right?”
Lu Que thought for a moment… good friends? That seemed accurate.
Seeing his silent agreement, Xu Tao Yue continued, “Then did you forget that I still haven’t added you on WeChat?”
Lu Que nodded, “I didn’t forget.”
Xu Tao Yue walked ahead a few steps: “Well, now that I’m your good friend, surely I can add you?”
Lu Que nodded and pulled up his QR code: “Just don’t message me for no reason.”
“Okay!” Xu Tao Yue agreed instantly, afraid he’d change his mind the next second.
Anyway, she bothered him all the time already.
After entering through the main gate, there was a garden. Xu Tao Yue, not used to such luxury, widened her eyes: “Your community is really something.”
“It’s my home.”
Xu Tao Yue nodded: “I know it’s your home—wait, how much does a place like this cost?”
Lu Que rubbed his nose and nodded: “No, I mean this is my home.”
It was then that Xu Tao Yue finally understood — the garden, the surroundings, it was all his.
“Your house? This? Rich?”
Xu Tao Yue clearly remembered in the original story, his family was described as nouveau riche.
Lu Que got a little embarrassed by her reaction and quickly changed the topic: “Weren’t we going to see Zhuo Mi? It should be on the second floor.”
With his permission, Xu Tao Yue ran up excitedly and found Zhuo Mi, their pet bird, at a corner: “Ahhh Zhuo Mi~ Big sis is here~”
Lu Que leaned against the staircase, watching Xu Tao Yue act silly and baby-talk to the bird: “Alright, if Zhuo Mi goes bald, it’s your fault.”
“It’s not shedding season, right?”
Holding Zhuo Mi, Xu Tao Yue patted Lu Que: “Lu Que, you’ve taken such good care of Zhuo Mi~”
Lu Que nodded: “Now that you’ve seen Zhuo Mi, have you finished your homework?”
Xu Tao Yue looked deeply tragic: “No way, Lu classmate, have you noticed all we ever talk about is studying? Today is the weekend! Can’t you let me off for just one day?”
Afraid they’d cause trouble upstairs, Lu Que led her back downstairs to sit on the sofa: “Going out tomorrow?”
Xu Tao Yue looked surprised: “Are you asking me out to play? If you invite me, I’ll go~”
Lu Que: “… 9 a.m. at Yujian Café.”
Xu Tao Yue nodded: “But don’t you need to study? Aren’t you afraid I’ll be a bad influence on you?”
Lu Que raised an eyebrow: “Who said I wasn’t studying?”
Xu Tao Yue understood immediately, giving an evil grin. She looked forward to their “date” tomorrow.
Even the next day, she was still excited. She dressed up carefully, spritzed on some perfume, and arrived at Yujian Café—
—only to be met by two people staring at her in shock.
Xu Tao Yue stumbled, looked up and rubbed her eyes: “Why are you two here?”
Ye Wan blinked: “Lu Que asked us to help tutor you. Didn’t he tell you?”
Xu Tao Yue: “?”
Xia Xiangyang nodded and pointed at the stack of materials on the table: “We’re all here to supervise you.”
Lu Que walked over holding drinks, motioning for Xu Tao Yue to sit: “You’re not leaving until you memorize all of this.”
Xu Tao Yue felt her world collapse. I thought I was your crush, but turns out you just see me as a student.
Teacher-student romance? Interesting.
“My beautiful time, my beautiful youth…” Xu Tao Yue lay on the table, buried under piles of worksheets.
“Stop fooling around, exams are coming. Teacher Xiangyang said if you fail again, you’re doomed.” Ye Wan exaggerated dramatically and pulled her back to the surface: “Start working.”
Xu Tao Yue looked up at Lu Que grading her papers: “Lu Que, don’t you think this is boring?”
“Do your work.” He tapped her forehead with his red pen. “You’ll get candy when you’re done.”
Alright fine. Xu Tao Yue sat up. For the sake of candy, she forgave them.
She rubbed her eyes and sighed.
Finally, when she finished all the work, she collapsed. Ye Wan smiled: “How about we go out and play tomorrow?”
“Really?!”
Ye Wan nodded: “One more day won’t kill us…”
Xia Xiangyang sighed: “Wan is too soft-hearted toward Tao.” Then thought for a second — he wanted to go too — and nodded: “Actually… I agree. Lu Que, you’re okay with it, right?”
Seeing the three expectant faces, Lu Que could only sigh and nod.
Xu Tao Yue immediately cheered and clung to his arm: “Lu Que, you’re the best!!”
“One condition. This is the last time.”
Xu Tao Yue nodded furiously and swore again: “I swear, this is really, really, really the last time.”
Lu Que turned away: “Yeah, right.”
…
They ended up picking the tackiest amusement park. Xu Tao Yue agreed — better than nothing.
Lu Que arrived last, looking like he hadn’t slept well.
Xu Tao Yue looked at him: “Didn’t sleep well?”
Lu Que nodded: “I’m fine.”
Xu Tao Yue pointed at the rollercoaster, asking everyone: “Who’s coming?”
Xia Xiangyang raised his hand first: “Of course! Lu Que, you’re coming too, right?”
Lu Que: “……”
The rule of majority ruled this time. Lu Que couldn’t fight them and was dragged on.
Midway, Xu Tao Yue suddenly remembered something and turned to ask him: “Lu Que, are you afraid of heights?”
Lu Que: “……”
Xu Tao Yue pursed her lips. In all her excitement, she’d totally forgotten Lu Que had a bit of acrophobia.
“Who told you I’m scared of heights?”
Xu Tao Yue: “?”
“I’m not afraid of heights.”
That couldn’t be right. Xu Tao Yue frowned, then began recalling all the discrepancies—
His relationship with Xia Xiangyang, with Ye Wan, and… himself.
All of it was different from the original story.
Did that mean she had already changed the ending?
Xu Tao Yue looked at him with burning eyes, making Lu Que uncomfortable: “Why are you staring at me?”
Xu Tao Yue smiled: “Good thing I persisted.”
Lu Que realized he really couldn’t understand her.
So he gave up trying to. Someone once told him to follow his feelings, and not to dwell on what made him uncomfortable.
After one ride, Ye Wan collapsed first, waving her hands: “Peach, I’m dead tired. You and Lu Que go play. I need a break.”
Xu Tao Yue hesitated: “Ah… okay… take care of yourself.” Then she turned and smacked Xia Xiangyang’s back: “You take care of her, okay?”
Xia Xiangyang gave her an OK sign, signaling them to go quickly.
Lu Que sighed: “You’ve played every ride here. Where now?”
Xu Tao Yue looked him up and down, a mischievous smile on her lips: “Lu Que, are you afraid of ghosts?”
“Huh?”
Of course she knew he was. She couldn’t pass up the perfect “hero saves damsel” opportunity!
She pointed at the farthest corner on the map: “Let’s go to the haunted house.”
Just as expected, Lu Que immediately refused: “No way!”
Xu Tao Yue teased him: “Scared? Lu Que! The great Lu Que isn’t afraid of anything except ghosts?”
Lu Que: “Nonsense! I’m not afraid of something so fake!”
Xu Tao Yue raised her brow: “Oh~ not afraid? Then why not come with me?”
Lu Que licked his lips: “Fine! Why not! Just don’t scream your head off in there.”
Xu Tao Yue nodded and bought two tickets.
“They say you have to go in separately.”
Lu Que: “!”
He hesitated: “Can we stay together? I don’t want you screaming in there.”
Xu Tao Yue grinned: “I’m not scared.”
As soon as they entered the pitch-black interior, Lu Que shrank back and cautiously stepped forward, his voice shaking: “Xu Tao Yue?”
She was right behind him and responded softly: “I’m here, let’s go.”
Lu Que turned around — just then, a long-haired woman in a scary mask screamed at him. He froze in fear. Xu Tao Yue quickly ran up and grabbed his arm.
“I’m here, turn around and keep walking.”
Smelling her familiar scent, Lu Que finally relaxed.
At least he hadn’t screamed.
And she hadn’t heard anything.
Xu Tao Yue held his hand and led him toward the light. Lu Que peeked ahead: “Is that the exit?”
Xu Tao Yue shook her head: “I don’t know.”
“Then why are you taking me forward?”
She sighed: “Then how about you lead me?”
Lu Que shook his head immediately: “Nope.”
Xu Tao Yue smirked to herself.
Hmph.