We Weren’t Fated, I Just Played My Cards Right - Chapter 28
After military training ended, true freshman life began.
One of the world’s greatest lies: “University life is easy.”
Liu Mumu’s packed schedule left no room for daydreaming. Between daytime classes and occasional evening electives, this bore no resemblance to the carefree university life she’d been promised.
She began suspecting the welcome party was the school’s final hurrah before condemning students to an endless cycle of classes—first period in Building 1, third period in Building 2, afternoon classes in Building 3.
Whether she was learning much remained unclear, but her calves definitely grew slimmer from all the walking.
As students, their goals remained consistent: longing for holidays during school terms, then counting down to the next break once vacation arrived.
The National Day holiday became her sole remaining expectation for university life.
After surviving two weeks of classes, the glorious seven-day break finally arrived.
In Liu Mumu’s dorm, only Wei Xue was going home—compelled by a family elder’s birthday celebration. Xue Lan had also made plans with her boyfriend to visit scenic spots around Qingcheng.
However, complications arose when Xu Anze needed to return to Beijing unexpectedly, leaving Xue Lan alone on campus.
Before the holiday, he specially treated Liu Mumu and her dorm mates to a meal. Taking advantage of Xue Lan’s absence, he asked Qian Xiaomeng to look after her during the break.
It wasn’t that Xu Anze was being overly cautious—Xue Lan hadn’t been feeling well lately. During military training, she seemed fine, but afterward, she started experiencing frequent dizziness, nosebleeds, diarrhea, and even caught a cold two days ago that still hadn’t cleared up.
With the outside temperature hitting 31 degrees, her coming down with a cold was downright bizarre.
Qian Xiaomeng, who had no travel plans for the holiday anyway, agreed readily.
Liu Mumu stayed an extra night in the dorm. On the first day of the break, she woke up early to see Wei Xue off with Qian Xiaomeng as she headed to the school gate to catch her ride home.
Like Wei Xue, many students were dragging suitcases, ready to head home. Despite it being only 7 a.m., the school gate was bustling.
A white sedan suddenly stopped beside them as it passed. Just as Liu Mumu and the others were about to walk around it, the window rolled down, and a vaguely familiar face popped out.
“Master! It’s me, remember? I’m Zheng Xuan!”
She had nearly forgotten, but the title “Master” instantly jogged her memory.
Hemorrhoid Zheng.
They had added each other as friends at Zhan Hongye’s birthday party but hadn’t been in touch since. Presumably, Zheng had been doing fine lately and didn’t need the “Master’s” guidance.
“Oh, I remember you. What are you doing here?” Liu Mumu asked curiously.
“I came back to grab something from school.” Noticing the suitcase in her hand, Zheng Xuan had a sudden idea. “Wait, are you studying here too?”
“Yeah, I’m a freshman.”
Zheng Xuan felt like he’d just won the lottery—this was too much of a coincidence! Going from “Master” to “junior” meant their relationship had leveled up!
Immediately switching gears, he said enthusiastically, “Where are you headed, junior? I can give you a ride!”
As for fetching something from school? That was long forgotten.
Liu Mumu thought about it and decided Zheng Xuan seemed reliable enough. “I’m not going anywhere. We’re just seeing a friend off to the airport.”
“The airport? Perfect, I know the way! Your friend is my friend—hop in!”
Afraid they might slip away, he even got out to help with their luggage.
His enthusiasm was almost suspicious—like he was trying to abduct them.
Wei Xue and Qian Xiaomeng had never encountered such an over-the-top senior before. They eyed him warily—his flashy outfit made him look anything but trustworthy!
In the end, trusting Liu Mumu, the two still got into the car.
Originally, Liu Mumu and Qian Xiaomeng had only planned to send Wei Xue to a taxi heading for the airport. But there was no way Wei Xue would get into Zheng Xuan’s car alone. Zheng Xuan, ever the tactful one, suggested they all go to the airport together since he had to return to school later anyway and could drop Liu Mumu and the others back on the way.
Once everyone was in the car, Zheng Xuan turned the car around and drove them to the airport.
Though he didn’t seem the most reliable at first glance, he was quite talkative and, being a senior in his fourth year, they quickly warmed up to him after chatting for a while.
After calling Liu Mumu “junior” a few times, Zheng Xuan decided “Master” had a better ring to it and switched back.
As he drove, he asked Liu Mumu, “Master, aren’t you planning to go out during the break? There are a few scenic spots nearby with great views. There’s also a Qing Shan Temple with quite a few worshippers.”
“What do people pray for there?” Qian Xiaomeng and Liu Mumu’s thought processes aligned perfectly once again.
Zheng Xuan racked his brain—one of his ex-girlfriends had dragged him there before. “Uh… love, I think?”
Praying to the Buddha, making wishes, hanging love locks—he’d gone through the whole routine, only for his ex to dump him later. Just thinking about it brought tears to his eyes.
Of course, there was no need to share that with Master. Surely, she wouldn’t be visiting temples to pray for love anyway.
“I think,” Qian Xiaomeng said seriously, “we shouldn’t waste these seven days holed up in the dorm.”
“We should go to the temple and immerse ourselves in traditional culture,” Liu Mumu added.
“Tomorrow, then?” they said in unison.
Wei Xue rubbed her forehead, though she had to admit she was a little tempted too.
“I’m free tomorrow—I can drive you there,” Zheng Xuan offered enthusiastically, eager to play chauffeur.
It wasn’t a bad idea…
Liu Mumu considered it. “Are you sure it’s not too much trouble?”
“Not at all. I’d just be gaming at home otherwise. Might as well go out. Give me the chance to be your gallant escort, won’t you?”
“Alright, it’s settled then. Let’s meet at the school gate at 8:30 tomorrow morning?” Liu Mumu didn’t stand on ceremony.
Though Zheng Xuan came off as a bit frivolous, his demeanor was upright—someone worth befriending.
“Deal.”
The car soon arrived at the airport. After parking, Zheng Xuan helped Wei Xue with her luggage, escorted her to check-in, and even assisted with her boarding pass—handling everything efficiently and reliably.
Finally, the three of them saw Wei Xue off at the security checkpoint. Once she passed through, she turned and waved. “I’ll be back in a few days with treats for you all.”
“Have a safe trip. Come back soon.”
As they were about to leave after sending Wei Xue off, Qian Xiaomeng suddenly tugged Liu Mumu’s wrist.
“What’s up?” Liu Mumu turned to her.
Pointing at a tall guy pushing a suitcase in the distance, Qian Xiaomeng gasped. “Mumu, look—isn’t that Xu Anze?”
Liu Mumu followed her gaze and sure enough, it was Xu Anze. He was wearing a black T-shirt and light blue jeans, pushing two suitcases—one black, one pink.
He wasn’t alone. Beside him was a girl in a white dress, her face obscured as she walked slightly behind him.
The pink suitcase in Xu Anze’s hand probably belonged to her.
“Is he going home with someone he knows?” Liu Mumu hesitated.
“Could they be relatives?” Qian Xiaomeng also said uncertainly.
Everyone in their dorm had a good impression of Xu Anze. When Xue Lan was unwell, he showed more concern than she did herself, and he was always polite when asking them for help.
Such a patient and considerate boyfriend was already a rare find. Just two days ago, they had joked in the dorm that Xu Anze had raised their standards for future partners.
But now, seeing him standing so close to another girl, they couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
“Who are you talking about?” Zheng Xuan chimed in curiously.
“That tall, handsome guy over there.”
No sooner had she spoken than the pair in the distance stopped—or rather, the girl beside Xu Anze halted. After exchanging a few words, Liu Mumu and the others watched as Xu Anze set down his suitcase, knelt on one knee, and tied the girl’s shoelaces for her.
The girl stood there calmly, indifferent to the stares from passersby.
With the obstruction gone, they finally got a clear look at her face.
It was a familiar one—none other than Zhuo Ran, who had instantly become the talk of the school after her opening performance at the welcome party and was now firmly seated as the campus belle.
Had a bouquet from the opening ceremony sparked a romance, or had they known each other all along?
Liu Mumu thought for a moment. She remembered that both Xu Anze and Zhuo Ran were from Jing City.
“Holy crap, what’s Xu Anze playing at? Two-timing?” Qian Xiaomeng was about to explode. She let go of Liu Mumu’s hand and started marching toward them.
Before she could take more than two steps, Liu Mumu yanked her back. “What are you doing?”
“Of course I’m going to ask Xu Anze what he’s thinking. He already has a girlfriend—how dare he act so ambiguously with another girl?”
“And then what?” Liu Mumu glanced at the distant pair, finding the sight particularly grating.
“And then?” Qian Xiaomeng blinked in confusion. “What more is there? A guy like that deserves to be dumped on the spot!”
“You tell Xue Lan, ‘We saw Xu Anze with another girl, kneeling to tie her shoelaces—you should break up with him.’ Even if she believes you, do you really think they’d split over this?” Liu Mumu countered.
Yes, tying a girl’s shoelaces was undeniably intimate—but it was just shoelaces. They hadn’t been caught kissing. To Xue Lan, it might not even count as evidence.
Though the four of them in the dorm got along well, they had only known each other for a month.
The most likely outcome was that Xue Lan wouldn’t break up with him but would instead grow wary of them.
Xu Anze and Xue Lan had been together for over a year. He treated her so well, and they all knew just how much Xue Lan trusted him.
“You’re right, Master. We should verify things before jumping to conclusions. If he’s really two-timing, we’ll need more evidence. Matters of the heart should be handled carefully,” Zheng Xuan chimed in supportively.
Qian Xiaomeng understood this logic, but her anger still simmered.
She pulled out her phone, carefully angled several shots of the couple, and huffed, “I’ll keep these photos for now. Sooner or later, I’ll catch him red-handed.”
Being at the same school meant she could keep tabs on him, waiting for him to slip up.
“Master, can’t you tell from his face whether he’s two-timing?” Zheng Xuan asked.
Liu Mumu shook her head regretfully. “I’m not well-versed in physiognomy—I can only see the most superficial traits or extremely obvious signs.”
Had Xu Anze been willing to cast a divination, she might have been able to deduce something.
Then an idea struck her—if she couldn’t divine Xu Anze’s fortune, she could try divining Xue Lan’s. She’d find a chance to have her cast a hexagram.
As they spoke, Xu Anze and Zhuo Ran headed toward the security checkpoint.
Liu Mumu and the others lost interest in watching and left with Zheng Xuan.
Their cheerful mood from earlier had soured after this unpleasant encounter.
*
Just before passing through security, Zhuo Ran suddenly turned to scan the area. Not recognizing Liu Mumu, she dismissed the group even if she spotted them.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Anze asked.
“Felt like someone was watching us,” Zhuo Ran smirked. “What if we ran into someone you know? What if they tell your little girlfriend about seeing us together?”
Xu Anze’s expression darkened. “Can you behave?”
“Touched a nerve?” Zhuo Ran’s grin turned malicious. “You never lost patience with me in front of Mom and Dad before. All I asked was for you to tie my shoelaces—it’s not like I asked for your life.”
Four hours later, their plane took off from Qingcheng and landed in Jing City.
As they exited the airport terminal, a middle-aged couple waved at them. “Ranran! Anze is back too!”
Xu Anze stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Uncle Zhuo, Aunt Lin.”
“No need for formalities, Anze. After over a year apart, you’re treating us like strangers,” Zhuo Yongqi said, patting Xu Anze’s shoulder before suddenly asking, “Heard you have a girlfriend now?”
Xu Anze stiffened.
Zhuo Ran immediately linked arms with him. “Dad, you’ve watched Anze grow up. You know what kind of person he is.”
“Exactly! You two have always been close—that’s why we arranged your engagement,” Zhuo Ran’s mother, Lin Qiu, quickly added.
“Anze has always been reliable. Your aunt and I trust you completely,” Zhuo Yongqi said, as if he’d never brought up the girlfriend topic.
Xu Anze’s lips twitched, but no words came out.
“Don’t worry,” Zhuo Ran whispered in his ear. “Mom and Dad know you’re only dating that girl for my sake. They’re not really angry—just reminding you not to forget your real purpose here.”
…
Zheng Xuan dropped Liu Mumu at the school gates before leaving. After getting out, they bought Xue Lan some breakfast to bring back.
She’d had a slight fever last night—had the medicine helped at all?
When they returned, they found Xue Lan already awake. Qian Xiaomeng handed her breakfast and asked, “Still have a fever? Do you want us to accompany you for an IV drip this afternoon?”
Xue Lan took the breakfast with a smile. “Thanks, the medicine I took last night worked—the fever’s gone.”
Liu Mumu sat sideways on her chair, watching Xue Lan eat breakfast, then suddenly said, “Xiaomeng and I are planning to visit Qingshan Temple tomorrow. Why don’t you come with us?”
Xue Lan seemed tempted but hesitated. “But Aze…”
Before Xu Anze left, he had repeatedly reminded her to rest properly these days and not go out.
“Come on, he’s not here, and we won’t tell him,” Qian Xiaomeng coaxed, nudging Xue Lan’s arm. “We’ve already arranged a ride. It’s just a casual outing—nothing strenuous. Even if you’re not feeling great, staying cooped up in the dorm isn’t good either.”
Qian Xiaomeng had developed a rebellious streak against Xu Anze lately—whatever he forbade Xue Lan from doing, she’d encourage her to do the opposite.
“…Alright, I’ll go too.”
Xue Lan had always been an active person by nature. It was only after her health issues arose that she became more restrained, not wanting to worry her family or boyfriend.
Thinking about it, it had only been a little over a year.
The three agreed on the outing, and Liu Mumu ended up staying in the dorm that night.
Early the next morning, they packed their backpacks with snacks and water, waiting at the gate for Zheng Xuan to pick them up.
As reliable as ever, Zheng Xuan arrived ten minutes early. Once everyone was in the car, they headed straight for Qingshan Temple.
Just as he had described, Qingshan Temple was bustling with worshippers, though it remained a local tourist spot with limited visitor traffic.
Like all thriving temples, the air was thick with incense smoke.
After entering, they first collected three free incense sticks from an elderly monk at the entrance. They bowed in all directions before planting the sticks in the massive incense burner at the courtyard’s center.
Then, they queued in the main hall to pay respects to the Buddha.
Whether it worked or not, it never hurt to have a little hope.
When it was finally Liu Mumu’s turn, she knelt beside a middle-aged woman whose prayers were just loud enough to be overheard.
The woman clasped her hands devoutly, murmuring, “Bodhisattva, please bless my grandson to score perfect marks on his exams, help my daughter marry soon—her husband doesn’t need to be rich, just handsome. Let me win at mahjong every time, especially against Old Hu next door…”
Emmmm… Liu Mumu felt she’d just learned a new way to pray, though this particular style didn’t quite suit her.
Clasping her own hands, she bowed earnestly before making her request: “Bodhisattva, please send me several boyfriends—tall, handsome, dashing in suits, preferably with tough luck. If that’s too much, just give me Yan Xiu.”
Here’s another way to pray to Buddha—first make a difficult wish, then follow it with an easy one. The Bodhisattva might just grant it.
Yan Xiu, who was finally on vacation and resting at home, suddenly shivered, feeling as though someone was plotting something against him.
After paying respects to the Buddha, everyone gathered outside the main hall, and Zheng Xuan led them to hang love locks.
Since three out of the four were still single, only Xue Lan bought a small lock, engraved her and Xu Anze’s names on it, and hung it among the countless other love locks.
After hanging the lock, she even bowed again, as if this would truly bind her and her beloved together forever.
The three standing behind her watched in silence, momentarily speechless.
When Xue Lan turned around, everyone wore relaxed smiles. Zheng Xuan suggested, “I saw divination and amulet stalls next door. Want to check them out?”
“Let’s go! I think I need a love charm,” Qian Xiaomeng was the first to raise her hand in agreement.
“I doubt the temple sells such frivolous charms,” Zheng Xuan said, looking to Liu Mumu for support.
“What’s frivolous about it? When you were just asking the Bodhisattva for a girlfriend, did you think that was frivolous?” Qian Xiaomeng retorted.
Liu Mumu thought to herself—she wanted one of those “frivolous” charms too.
There were countless ways to seek love in this world, and she wasn’t about to let any opportunity slip by!
Cast a wide net, and eventually, some unlucky fish would swim right into it.
Zheng Xuan found Qian Xiaomeng unreasonable and turned to Xue Lan. “You probably don’t need a charm, right?”
Xue Lan pondered. “I want an exam-passing charm.”
Zheng Xuan: “…That doesn’t exist.”
Why were the master’s roommates all so… different in their thinking?
“Let’s get a protection charm too,” Qian Xiaomeng said, sidling up to Xue Lan.
“I already have one,” Xue Lan replied, pulling out an exquisite little pouch from her pocket. She loosened the drawstring to reveal a yellow charm folded into a triangle. “Anze got this for me before.”
Liu Mumu glanced at it and said casually, “More can’t hurt. That one’s from him—we’ll each get you one later. That’ll be four layers of protection.”
As they chatted, the four arrived at the hall where protection charms were offered.
To Zheng Xuan’s dismay, not only did they actually sell love charms here, but there were also exam-passing charms.
Why did such things exist?
No—more importantly, why had he only discovered them now, in his senior year, when he no longer had exams?
Each of them reverently purchased several charms for different purposes.
In the end, all the protection charms were given to Xue Lan. She thanked them and accepted each one, opening her pouch to place the new charms inside with the original one.
Distracted while walking, she didn’t notice a small stone underfoot. Her foot slipped, and she nearly fell.
Zheng Xuan quickly steadied her, but the pouch and charm slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground.
Liu Mumu and Qian Xiaomeng crouched to help pick them up. Just then, a gust of wind blew the lightweight pouch and charm several meters away.
As Qian Xiaomeng retrieved the pouch, she turned to see Liu Mumu pick up the triangular charm—only for it to crumble into black ash in her hands in an instant.
In fact, when Liu Mumu touched the protective talisman, she only felt a slight numbness in her fingers. The diviner’s pendant hanging around her neck instantly grew warm, and then the talisman simply vanished.
Qian Xiaomeng’s eyes widened as she tried to speak, but Liu Mumu glanced at her and raised a finger to her lips in a silencing gesture.
Xiaomeng obediently closed her mouth, watching as Liu Mumu opened one of the love talismans she’d obtained herself and placed it with the three remaining protective talismans. To the naked eye, it was nearly impossible to tell which was the original protective charm.
She handed all four talismans to Xiaomeng, who deftly tucked them into a sachet, tied it securely, and passed it to Xue Lan.
Xue Lan accepted it without suspicion, thanking them before putting it away.
Something wasn’t right. Walking behind the others, Liu Mumu rubbed her still-tingling fingers.
Though she had no expertise in the mystical arts of talismans, Yan Xiu had drawn some for her before. Initially, those would turn to ash upon contact too, but she’d never felt anything like this.
Back then, she’d just performed a fate-reading and couldn’t suppress her own destiny anymore, which explained the strong reaction.
But now everything was normal. Even if Xu Anze had obtained genuine talismans, they shouldn’t have affected her so powerfully.