We Weren’t Fated, I Just Played My Cards Right - Chapter 32

After their talk in the cafeteria, Xue Lan and Xu Anze seemed to be on the path to reconciliation. They started eating together again and occasionally went out on dates. But she returned to the dorm earlier and earlier, and didn’t seem as happy as before.

For the past few days, Wei Xue had forbidden them from mentioning Xu Anze in front of Xue Lan. When Qian Xiaomeng asked why, she replied mysteriously, “If you keep badmouthing Xu Anze in Lanlan’s ear, it’ll trigger her rebellious side—after all, he was decent before. Anyway, we’ve already said what needed to be said. Now, we just need to nudge her at the right moment.”

Then, she glanced at Liu Mumu.

Liu Mumu nodded in agreement. “This is how we masters usually operate.”

Chasing after someone to spoon-feed them advice? That’s hardly befitting of a master’s demeanor.

The debate champion shared the same philosophy. Champions always pinpoint the crux of the matter with precision, striking decisively without wasting words.

Watching her two enigmatic friends, Qian Xiaomeng fell into deep thought. Should she also learn some kind of mystical professional skill? She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was dragging them down.

Friday classes ended after just the morning. The moment the bell rang, everyone scattered in all directions like startled birds.

The fixed agenda for Dorm 413: lunch.

Even if the sky were falling, it wouldn’t interfere with their digestive routines.

In the second cafeteria on Friday, the usual standard had returned—no more fish that reeked of dirty socks. The chef was back to his usual form, much to everyone’s relief.

Xue Lan ate absentmindedly.

Tomorrow was her birthday. Mumu had said she’d make her decision by then, but… she still hadn’t figured it out.

“Why is she coming over here?” Qian Xiaomeng suddenly whispered.

Xue Lan looked up just as Zhuo Ran approached their table.

Though only a little over a month had passed since the start of freshman year, Zhuo Ran was clearly well-known. In the cafeteria, aside from their peers, even upperclassmen greeted her.

Zhuo Ran responded with smiles, polite and courteous.

“Really, just put on a human skin, and any monster can pass as a person.” Qian Xiaomeng couldn’t help but recall that day at the hospital when she saw her smug expression, instantly boiling with anger.

Wei Xue lightly patted her arm. “Be polite. What did monsters ever do wrong?”

Liu Mumu propped her chin on one hand, listening to their complaints while her gaze followed Zhuo Ran as she approached them.

“Can I help you?” It wasn’t until Zhuo Ran stood before them that Xue Lan finally turned her attention to her.

Zhuo Ran wore a smile. “I heard from Xu Anze that tomorrow is your birthday?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?” Hearing Xu Anze’s name from her lips made Xue Lan deeply uncomfortable.

Zhuo Ran seemed completely oblivious to Xue Lan’s subtle hostility and continued, “What a coincidence—tomorrow is my birthday too. I’m hosting a party at Yuehua Hotel, and I’d love for you to come.”

“I might be busy tomorrow…” Xue Lan was a gentle girl, and even her refusals sounded tactful.

But before she could finish, Zhuo Ran interrupted.

“Xu Anze will be there too,” Zhuo Ran said. “I know you might have misunderstood our relationship. If you’re willing to listen, I can explain.”

“No need. He’s already explained.”

“Alright. I genuinely don’t want any misunderstandings, and I sincerely invite you to celebrate with me.”

“If I have time,” Xue Lan replied perfunctorily.

Zhuo Ran was about to leave when she noticed the other three watching her. She smiled at them too. “You’re all welcome to join my birthday party as well.”

Only Liu Mumu responded cheerfully, “Sure.”

“You’re actually planning to go?” Qian Xiaomeng turned to Liu Mumu after Zhuo Ran left.

“Just saying it casually. Lying won’t make my nose grow. But if Lanlan goes, of course we’ll tag along.”

Xue Lan shook her head. “I won’t be going.”

“Exactly! Tomorrow is our Lanlan’s birthday too. Why should we attend hers? She’s clearly up to no good,” Qian Xiaomeng huffed.

Wei Xue said meaningfully, “Compromise is either zero or infinite, Lanlan. Think carefully.”

Xue Lan looked puzzled, unsure what she meant.

Wei Xue smiled without elaborating. Zhuo Ran had mentioned Xu Anze would be there.

She wondered what Xu Anze planned to do next.

Would he stay to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday, or attend his childhood friend’s party? The choice, though seemingly insignificant, would reveal a lot.

On Saturday, Liu Mumu woke up early to pick up the birthday cake their dorm trio had ordered for Xue Lan.

On her way back, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen—Yan Xiu’s name flashed across it.

Her first thought was: Did he dial the wrong number?

She stared at the screen for a moment before answering.

“Hello, is this Yan Xiu?”

“It’s me.” The man’s voice was as deep and pleasant as ever.

Hearing his reply, Liu Mumu’s eyes curved into crescents. “Consultant Yan, why are you calling me? Don’t answer—I know you must be missing me.”

A seamless self-question-and-answer routine.

Yan Xiu: “…Fang Chuan wants to treat you to a meal.”

Liu Mumu didn’t want to eat, she only wanted Yan Xiu: “Did you miss me then?”

“No.” Yan Xiu’s tone was cold.

“Then I won’t eat!”

Another stretch of silence came from the other end of the phone.

Liu Mumu pressed on: “Just think about me a little.”

“…This afternoon, I’ll come pick you up later.”

“Fine.” If he wouldn’t answer, then so be it. She’d just assume he was being shy.

“My schedule is packed, you know. After lunch this afternoon, I still have to attend a birthday party. Don’t make me late for my important business.”

Lanlan hadn’t made a decision yet, but by afternoon she’d probably have decided whether to go or not.

The main event was in the evening, and she was really looking forward to it.

Important business? Yan Xiu raised an eyebrow.

Yan Xiu put down the phone, and Fang Chuan beside him asked, “Well? Did she agree?”

“She agreed.”

“Then why do you look like that?”

“Like what?” Yan Xiu was puzzled.

“That expression like when your cat refuses to eat fish properly and insists on catching mice instead, and you want to smack it but are afraid you’ll hurt it.”

Yan Xiu gave him a sidelong glance: “You need to see an optometrist. Also, I don’t like cats.”

Fang Chuan shook his head: “What an unfeeling man.”

As Yan Xiu walked out of the office, Yan Ling said quietly, “My brother likes rabbits. He kept lots of rabbits at home when he was little.”

“How is Liu Mumu like a rabbit?” Fang Chuan muttered.

“Looks-wise?” Yan Ling thought back to when she’d seen Liu Mumu and felt the girl was indeed quite cute.

Fang Chuan’s expression turned profound: “I think she looks like a missile.”

Yan Ling was baffled: “What nonsense?”

Was her hearing failing? What kind of person looks like a missile?

Fang Chuan elaborated: “The kind with wide-area lethality that comes with its own death soundtrack.”

He continued fantasizing—how much trouble could be solved if they airdropped a Liu Mumu during war?

When the enemy surrendered, they could say during negotiations: We promise not to be the first to use Liu Mumu-type weapons of mass destruction.

Tsk tsk tsk, now that would be impressive.

“What on earth are you thinking about to be grinning like that?” Yan Ling asked Fang Chuan curiously.

Fang Chuan looked slightly embarrassed: “Just random thoughts.”

He couldn’t say it out loud, or the narrow-minded Master Liu would surely make him pay.

Liu Mumu brought the birthday cake back to the dorm and found that Xue Lan was already gone.

She asked Wei Xue, who was combing her hair, with some curiosity, “Where’s Lanlan?”

“Xu Anze came looking for her downstairs earlier, and they went out,” Wei Xue replied calmly, then glanced at Liu Mumu. “What about you? Do you have plans later?”

“Yep, I have a date,” Liu Mumu answered cheerfully.

Although it was Fang Chuan who invited her to dinner, the call had come from Yan Xiu! She unilaterally decided this counted as their first date.

At half past ten, Yan Xiu, who had been forcibly roped into the date, arrived to pick her up.

Liu Mumu dashed over, opened the car door, and hopped in.

Only to find Fang Chuan and Yan Ling sitting side by side in the backseat. She silently turned her head—what glaringly bright lightbulbs they were.

“Hey, hey, at least try not to look so obviously disappointed. I’m the one paying today,” Fang Chuan couldn’t help but protest.

Liu Mumu teased mischievously, “Are you hinting that I should order two lobsters today?”

“…There are no lobsters. Please don’t try to bankrupt me. My salary isn’t that high.”

Liu Mumu grinned. “Need Master Liu to divine your financial luck for you?”

“No, thanks. I’d rather stay poor,” Fang Chuan declined with exaggerated emotion, terrified that the moment she predicted his fortune, she might drag him down with her.

Who could afford a fortune-teller whose readings came with a life-ending debuff?

It wasn’t until they arrived at the restaurant that she realized it really was just a casual meal.

Still, Fang Chuan at least had the sense to book a private room, so it wasn’t too casual.

Listening to their conversation over the meal, Liu Mumu learned that the so-called Master Ning, who had ruined the entire Zhan family, had suffered a sudden heart attack on the way to the capital and died.

Though there had been a hiccup at the end, Fang Chuan had at least caught the culprit and received praise from headquarters—hence this thank-you dinner for Liu Mumu, who had helped tremendously.

“Was there no mastermind behind Ning Yuan?” Liu Mumu asked curiously.

“Of course there was. Unfortunately, we didn’t get much out of him—he never revealed the most crucial details,” Fang Chuan said regretfully. Ning Yuan had probably been counting on his backer to save him, only to be silenced instead.

Yan Ling chimed in reassuringly, “Solving this case saved a lot of people. There are plenty like Ning Yuan out there. Headquarters has been investigating some so-called overseas investment companies and uncovered several firms involved in similar schemes.”

Liu Mumu shuddered. “There are more families like the Zhans?”

“Exactly. Luckily, we caught it in time.”

Liu Mumu reflected that her impulsive involvement in the case had ultimately led to a far better outcome than she’d imagined.

Stepping back from the events themselves, many lives had been saved because of it. That was something worth celebrating.

“Come on, let’s toast to our joint efforts in this case,” Fang Chuan raised a glass of plain water.

For once, Liu Mumu didn’t complain and clinked glasses with him.

After the meal, Liu Mumu went to the restroom while Fang Chuan went to settle the bill, leaving only Yan Xiu and Yan Ling in the private room.

Yan Ling scooted closer to her cousin and asked curiously, “Brother, why did you tell Mumu all that?”

Yan Xiu glanced at her. “She helped. Isn’t it normal for her to understand the consequences of her actions?”

“But I think—” Yan Ling started, then under her cousin’s cool gaze, quickly changed tack. “I think you’re absolutely right.”

Putting everything else aside, someone who could track down a murderer’s whereabouts just by sitting in a police station was truly terrifying. If it weren’t for her brother being here, she would have considered tricking Liu Mumu into going to headquarters.

After finishing her meal, Liu Mumu returned to school in high spirits.

When she got back to the dorm, Wei Xue and Qian Xiaomeng were both there, but Xue Lan still hadn’t returned.

In fact, after having dinner with Xu Anze, Xue Lan had originally planned to return early and invite Liu Mumu and the others out for dinner in the evening.

Everything had been perfectly planned, but when they reached the dormitory building, the two of them disagreed while discussing the evening arrangements.

Xu Anze said to her, “Lanlan, I hope you’ll come with me to Zhuo Ran’s birthday party tonight.”

Xue Lan was still holding the bouquet of roses he had given her. Suddenly, she found the fragrance of the flowers a bit overpowering.

“Why do I have to go?” Xue Lan looked up at him, her cheeks slightly flushed from the heat.

Her fair skin made her complexion look especially vibrant.

Just like when he first met her—a lively, cheerful girl whose eyes seemed to speak.

Now, her eyes were filled with nothing but refusal.

But Xu Anze could only ignore it. He said, “Zhuo Ran’s uncle came all the way from the capital to attend her birthday party. When he heard that you share the same birthday as Zhuo Ran, he insisted on inviting you.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Xue Lan found it ridiculous. Did she really have to care about what Zhuo Ran’s uncle thought?

Xu Anze lowered his eyes and said softly, “I already accepted on your behalf.”

“Xu Anze, why would you think I’d want to go to Zhuo Ran’s birthday party with you?” Xue Lan felt angrier than ever before. “You know I can’t stand her. Why would you make decisions for me?”

“Lanlan, I couldn’t refuse her family.”

“So because you owe the Zhuo family, I, as your girlfriend, have to compromise? But I don’t owe her anything.” Xue Lan’s hands trembled with anger. She couldn’t understand why Xu Anze had become like this.

Xu Anze gripped her hand tightly. “Lanlan, just this once. After she turns twenty, my debt to the Zhuo family will be settled. I won’t have to listen to her anymore.

I know you’re upset. From now on, I’ll celebrate your birthday with you—no one else, okay?”

Xue Lan bit her lip, her eyes slightly red.

Just this once…

She felt exhausted. If he knew she didn’t like it, why had he agreed on her behalf? Just to please Zhuo Ran and her uncle?

Her birthday only came once a year too. Why did it have to be wasted on people who didn’t matter?

Wei Xue had told her that compromise was either zero times or countless times, and only now did she understand what it meant.

When Zhuo Ran came to invite her to the birthday party, Wei Xue must have already foreseen this situation, right?

Xu Anze was still the same Xu Anze. His wholehearted devotion to her had only been because Zhuo Ran wasn’t around.

Could something you’ve grown accustomed to really be cut off so easily?

Xue Lan thought Wei Xue was right. She really needed to think carefully about whether to continue like this.

Otherwise, things like this would just keep happening.

“Lan Lan?” Xu Anze looked at her expectantly.

Xue Lan pulled her hand out of his grasp. “I understand. I’ll go with my dormmates tonight. You don’t need to pick me up.”

Consider this their final farewell.

After attending this birthday party, she could also say goodbye to her past self.

Holding the flowers Xu Anze had given her, she walked into the dorm building without looking back at him.

Back in the dorm, she casually placed the flowers on the table and announced to the three others in the room, “I’ve agreed to go to Zhuo Ran’s birthday party.”

No one reacted particularly strongly.

Then Xue Lan continued, “After this party, I plan to break up with Anze.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she froze for a second, a faint ache spreading through her heart. She had always thought she and Anze would smoothly make it through their four years of university, work in the same city, get married naturally, and live together forever.

But all of that, before it could even begin, was about to be ended by her own hands.

Before Xue Lan could even start feeling sad, she was bombarded with three synchronized “Congratulations!” from Wei Xue and the others.

“Congratulations,” the three dormmates said in unison, their jubilant expressions as if they’d hit the jackpot.

It was hard to stay sad in the face of such a scene.

Forget it, Xue Lan thought. Xiao Meng was right—if one in a thousand people shared mutual affection with her, it was only because she hadn’t met enough people.

If she expanded the scope, there were at least a million men in the world waiting to fall for her. She was just losing one boyfriend—there were still so many potential boyfriends lining up to meet her.

Thinking about it that way… it actually seemed kind of exciting?

Xue Lan covered her face, feeling like ever since she’d moved into this dorm, her way of thinking had been racing off in a strange direction.

At six in the evening, the four girls from Xue Lan’s dorm arrived outside Yuehua Hotel.

Many other invited students were there too—some from the student council, others they’d seen at the freshman welcome party.

Liu Mumu and the others overheard someone ahead saying to their companion, “I heard this hotel belongs to Zhuo Ran’s family. They closed it for a day just for her birthday.”

“That’s so extravagant? It’s just a twentieth birthday. Is that really necessary?” another girl asked, puzzled.

“Who knows.”

As soon as they stepped into the hotel entrance, they saw Zhuo Ran in a cocktail dress, wearing an exquisite diamond tiara.

She stood beside a middle-aged man, with Xu Anze not far from them.

Spotting Xue Lan and her friends, Zhuo Ran smiled and personally walked over to greet her. “Thank you for coming to my birthday party.”

After speaking, she turned to the middle-aged man beside her and introduced, “Uncle, this is Xue Lan, Anze’s girlfriend. She shares the same birthday as me—what a coincidence, right?”

The middle-aged man gave a noncommittal “Hmm” and looked Xue Lan up and down with an appraising gaze.

His stare was the kind that made one feel as if they were being watched by a cold-blooded creature.

Xue Lan instinctively shrank closer to Liu Mumu, discomforted, and only then did the man withdraw his gaze.

“Please, come in,” he said, gesturing politely before turning with Zhuo Ran to greet the next guest.

Xu Anze stepped forward at that moment. “Lanlan, you—”

Xue Lan avoided his outstretched hand and said softly, “Whatever it is, let’s talk after the party.”

Knowing she was still upset, Xu Anze didn’t press further.

Initially, everyone had assumed that with elders present at Zhuo Ran’s birthday party, the atmosphere would remain restrained. But to their surprise, once the celebration began, her uncle left, leaving only a group of young people to revel freely in the hotel hall.

Some danced to the music, others took the stage to sing, and a few gathered around a table to play cards.

Zhuo Ran seemed particularly interested in the card game. Not only did she join in, but she also had someone bring down a pile of exquisitely wrapped gift boxes from the second floor.

The boxes, large and small, were stacked like a small mountain. She announced to those around her, “These are all gifts from relatives and friends. I have no idea what’s inside, so let’s use them as prizes. Whoever loses can pick one to take home—how about sharing some of the birthday girl’s luck?”

With such an offer, no one could refuse.

The card game was a simple round of Old Maid. Players paired their drawn cards with those in their hands and discarded the matches, taking turns until the last remaining Old Maid fell to someone, who would then lose.

Zhuo Ran declared that only the person left holding the Old Maid could claim a gift, sparking fierce competition for that single losing card.

Liu Mumu and the others watched from the sidelines, thoroughly entertained. The game progressed quickly, and after three rounds, three people had already chosen gifts from Zhuo Ran’s pile.

One of them even picked out a watch worth tens of thousands. When the winner tried to return it, Zhuo Ran merely laughed and refused to take it back.

Eventually, the excitement of the Old Maid game drew everyone’s attention, and the crowd pressed forward, pushing Xue Lan and her friends to the front.

There were still over twenty gift boxes left from Zhuo Ran’s haul. Some had already been opened—revealing a gemstone brooch, high-end skincare products, and other luxurious items.

Xue Lan was content to watch the fun and had no intention of joining in.

But when Zhuo Ran spotted her, she suddenly stood up and announced to the players at the table, “Listen, everyone! Today is my birthday, but it’s also Xue Lan’s. I propose a special match between the two birthday girls!”

After speaking, she smiled and looked at Xue Lan: “What do you think?”

It was just a game, and Xue Lan wasn’t one to back down. She sat down gracefully and said, “Alright, let’s begin.”

“Don’t rush. I’ve had someone bring a new deck. We’ll switch to this one.”

Xue Lan had no objections. She sat on the chair and waited. Soon, someone brought Zhuo Ran a new deck of cards. The cards were placed in an exquisite wooden box. This deck seemed special—the final joker card wasn’t like the others. Instead, it depicted a girl wearing an elaborate princess dress.

Her face was painted with a mask, her lips curved into an exaggerated smile, giving it the eerie feel of a joker.

Playing with a single deck between two people was inevitably slower.

Five minutes passed in the blink of an eye. The cards in both their hands dwindled—Xue Lan had three left, while Zhuo Ran held four.