I Fell In Love With My Rival (GL) - Chapter 7
After saying those words, Su Chunyin could hear the classroom buzz with low whispers. She also felt Fu Erqiu’s gaze land on her chipped fingernail polish. Su Chunyin had thought she would be the one with the moral high ground, but unexpectedly, Fu Erqiu appeared even more composed than she was.
When the reaction she had anticipated failed to materialize and the whispers in the room grew louder, Su Chunyin began to feel uncomfortable. She grabbed Fu Erqiu’s hand. “Come with me!”
Fu Erqiu nearly stumbled from the force of the pull. Only then did Su Chunyin realize that Fu Erqiu was a full head taller than her. With Su Chunyin tugging her like that, she had to hunch over awkwardly. Su
Chunyin loosened her grip, switching from grasping to dragging, and led her out of the classroom.
Just as they stepped outside, the homeroom teacher of Class 1 walked in with a thermos in hand. Seeing the two girls heading out, she looked puzzled. “Class is about to start—where are you going?”
Fu Erqiu remained silent. Su Chunyin didn’t even turn her head. “Going to take a dump.”
She pulled Fu Erqiu to the elm tree in the corner of the teaching building. The large tree cast a cool shade over the area. Letting go of Fu Erqiu’s hand, Su Chunyin folded her arms and scrutinized her from head to toe.
“You’re very pretty.”
Fu Erqiu raised an eyebrow, confused and slightly surprised. “Thanks?”
“…That wasn’t a compliment,” Su Chunyin muttered. What she meant was: With a face like yours, you could have any guy you want. So why go after Lu Fang when you knew he already had a girlfriend?
Fu Erqiu stood quietly, her expression indifferent, as if she truly didn’t grasp the meaning behind Su Chunyin’s words. She existed in her own tranquil space.
Su Chunyin glanced at her, then at the elm leaves, a strange sense of frustration building in her chest. Even the calmest people shouldn’t be this composed after being called out in front of a whole class, she thought. But Fu Erqiu just stood there—no questions, no confrontations.
With a head full of thoughts, Su Chunyin finally asked, “Did you know Lu Fang has a girlfriend?”
She had intended to give Fu Erqiu an out—if she said no, Su Chunyin could blame everything on Lu Fang. But Fu Erqiu lifted her eyes ever so slightly and answered blandly, “I know.”
Su Chunyin froze for a moment before the meaning hit her. Then came the surge of anger she couldn’t suppress. “You knew and still went after him?”
She reached out and grabbed Fu Erqiu’s collar. With Fu Erqiu being taller, she had to lower her head slightly to look at Su Chunyin.
Su Chunyin clenched her fists, but in the end, couldn’t throw a punch. She’d never hit anyone before—let alone a girl.
Her fist hovered barely an inch from Fu Erqiu’s face as she seethed, “Fu Erqiu, Lu Fang’s a piece of crap for doing what he did, but why get yourself involved in this mess? I suggest you break it off with him right now and apologize to his girlfriend—or I’ll make sure you regret it!”
To emphasize her threat, she gave Fu Erqiu a hard glare, hoping to knock some sense into her. That poor freckled girl deserved an apology.
Su Chunyin thought her glare looked fierce, but in Fu Erqiu’s eyes, she just looked like a puffed-up kitten trying to act tough—more comical than intimidating. Fu Erqiu lifted her gaze lazily. “Lu Fang’s girlfriend… you mean—”
Before she could finish, a head with a shock of gray-white hair popped up in the hallway window. It was the always-smiling homeroom teacher from Class 3. “Su Chunyin, why aren’t you in class?!”
Su Chunyin jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “I just came from the bathroom—coming now!” She took off, leaving Fu Erqiu standing alone, the rest of her sentence left unspoken.
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By the time the first afternoon class wasn’t even over, Su Chunyin’s “heroic feat” had already spread across the school. From three rows away, Xu Chang winked at her and gestured for her to check her phone.
When she did, she saw she had made a new group chat with just him, Yang Yuxia, Song Rao, and herself. The group was named The Heroic Support Squad.
Su Chunyin raised an eyebrow and sent a “?” in the chat.
Xu Chang, as chaotic as ever, sent:
[Miss Chunyin, your lunchtime storm into Class 1 to scold Fu Erqiu for being a homewrecker is all over school! How did it feel grabbing her collar like that?]
Yang Yuxia added,
[Our fierce Miss Chunyin! Next time bring us with you!]
Only Song Rao, who knew the full story, sent a string of shocked emojis:
[Wait, wait, Su Chunyin—was that… a righteous act for love?]
“…” The situation was far more complicated than anyone realized, with layers of entanglements between the freckled girl, Lu Fang, and Fu Erqiu. Su Chunyin was about to explain when she suddenly remembered—the freckled girl!
She had been so caught up in her anger that she forgot the crying girl still waiting in the milk tea shop!
Su Chunyin quickly exited the group chat and switched to her messages with the girl. Sure enough, she had sent several texts:
[Sister Chunyin, where did you go?]
[This school is huge. I can’t find you.]
[I’ll wait at the milk tea shop.]
Half an hour later:
[I heard the class bell. Are you in class now?]
[I’m feeling better. Maybe I’ll just head back. Let’s meet another time.]
Su Chunyin smacked her forehead and cursed under her breath, quickly replying:
[Okay, head home first. I got caught up with something—sorry! Let’s meet again soon.]
As she sent the message, she looked up—her teacher was standing right in front of her. Startled, she quickly put her phone away.
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That evening after school, Su Chunyin finally sat down and explained the full story to Xu Chang and the others. They were dumbfounded.
“So, what do you plan to do about Fu Erqiu?” Song Rao asked, frowning. “Give her a lesson?”
“No,” Su Chunyin shook her head. “When Lu Fang gets back from City A, I want both of them to apologize to the freckled girl and explain everything to her face. Lu Fang’s behavior was trash, and Fu Erqiu betrayed her too.”
Xu Chang, Yang Yuxia, and Song Rao exchanged glances in silence.
Then Song Rao raised a finger to her lips. “Listen—next table.”
They were in a small, popular restaurant near campus. The decor was basic, and the private rooms weren’t well insulated. With everyone quiet, they could hear faint sounds from the next room.
Su Chunyin and Song Rao looked at each other—they both recognized the voice. It was Fu Erqiu.
She was on the phone, her voice choppy, but they caught snippets like:
“…say whatever you want, I don’t care… who I like has nothing to do with you…”
They were about to lean in closer when the door next door suddenly opened. Fu Erqiu stepped out, phone still in one hand.
Song Rao exchanged a meaningful glance with Xu Chang and Yang Yuxia. Su Chunyin recognized the look instantly—it meant mischief was coming.
Sure enough, the next second Song Rao said, “Brother Xu, go ask the front desk for a bottle of Moutai.”
Even though the restaurant catered to students, it also served teachers and parents, so the counter always had high-end liquor on display.
Xu Chang nodded and went off.
Then Song Rao turned to Yang Yuxia. “Yuxia, keep an eye on Fu Erqiu. I saw her leave stuff in the room, so she’ll probably come back.”
Now only Song Rao and Su Chunyin remained. Song Rao raised her brows. “Chunyin, I know you’re kind—you want to wait for Lu Fang to come back and face them both properly. But we can’t stand seeing our friend hurt by scumbags. A little revenge is fair, right?”
Su Chunyin hesitated. “…Just don’t go too far.”
Xu Chang returned with the bottle. Yang Yuxia reported that Fu Erqiu had gone to the bathroom and finished her call—she’d likely be back soon.
Song Rao instructed Xu Chang to crack the bottle’s seal and carefully place it under a potted plant near the hallway corner. She then told Yang Yuxia to distract Fu Erqiu when she returned—just long enough.
Everything in place, Song Rao grinned, the dimples at the corner of her lips faintly visible.
“She needs money, right? Let’s make her lose a bit.”
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Fu Erqiu splashed her face with warm water in the restroom, trying to collect herself. It was summer, and even the tap water wasn’t cold, but it helped clear her head.
She sighed and turned off the tap, thinking about the tutoring student whose grades had just improved. His parents had invited her to dinner in celebration. She’d tried to decline, but they insisted.
After dinner, the student and his parents left. Then came a phone call from Zhu Lulu, as clingy and demanding as ever, accusing her of being in love. Fu Erqiu brushed her off and hung up.
Her thoughts turned to money as she walked quickly toward the second-floor hallway. Zhu Lulu still hadn’t paid her what she owed. Tonight’s parents had seemed happy, but subtly questioned her contribution—she wasn’t sure they’d rehire her.
She glanced at her phone. No messages from the small business owner who’d promised her 3,000 yuan a month. Who knew if that deal would even go through?
Distracted, she reached the corner—when suddenly, a short-haired girl popped out and cheerfully called, “Fu Erqiu!”
Startled, Fu Erqiu misstepped slightly.
CRASH.
The sound of something shattering filled the hallway. A strong smell of alcohol filled the air.
Fu Erqiu looked down.
A shattered bottle of Moutai at her feet. Her pants leg was soaked in—