Bad Luck
Really bad luck
When Bai Mao arrived at the gathering, she sensed a somewhat oppressive atmosphere. She frowned and asked Ji Zibo, who was beside her, “What’s wrong?”
Ji Zibo lifted his chin to gesture toward another table and said, “Didn’t check the almanac1 before heading out.”
Bai Mao looked over. There were men and women at the other table, and the atmosphere there didn’t seem very good either. After a moment, someone jogged over to Jin Shuilan’s side. They said something unknown, and Jin Shuilan shook her head. The person looked dejected but still managed a smile before leaving.
She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ji Zibo said, “That table is Teacher Jin’s classmates.”
Bai Mao had a moment of realization. “Then why not go over and say hello?”
Ji Zibo briefly explained the whole story. Bai Mao’s lips twitched; it was clear she was biting back a curse. Ji Zibo asked Jin Shuilan, “Should we change locations?”
Jin Shuilan looked at everyone, and after a few seconds, said, “Forget it, they’re about to leave anyway.”
Just as she finished speaking, the people at the other table stood up. Zhou Yuan glanced at Lu Zhenqiu’s seat, looking like he wanted to speak, but held back. He had mentioned Lu Zhenqiu in the group chat and said that he liked her. When others asked about it, he felt he had lost too much face, which is why he said that Lu Zhenqiu didn’t like men.
No one had expected to run into them, let alone for something like this to happen. He wanted to go over and apologize, but the class monitor wouldn’t let him. The other table didn’t look like they would welcome them, either.
Zhou Yuan took one last look at Lu Zhenqiu, then lowered his head and left with the class monitor. Lu Zhenqiu sat at the table, her expression calm.
Only after the other table had left did Ji Zibo speak up. “People still discriminate based on sexual orientation these days? Anyone who didn’t know better would think I was living in ancient times.”
“Whether you like men or women, isn’t the most important part the ‘liking’? It’s not like you fall for the gender itself.”
“What kind of people are they?”
As everyone discussed it animatedly, Jin Shuilan, sitting to one side, turned her head to look at Lu Zhenqiu and said softly, “I’m sorry.”
Lu Zhenqiu snapped back to reality and quickly said, “Teacher Jin, this isn’t your fault.”
Jin Shuilan lowered her voice. “I was the one who told Zhou Yuan you don’t like men.”
Although what she had said was that it was “not suitable” and the “gender was wrong,” Zhou Yuan had interpreted it this way, so the responsibility was hers. Lu Zhenqiu thought for a few seconds and said, “But that’s not wrong.”
Jin Shuilan’s gaze remained fixed on Lu Zhenqiu’s side profile, gentle and beautiful. Lu Zhenqiu suddenly turned her head, her eyes meeting Jin’s, her voice both gentle and firm. “I don’t like men to begin with.”
“Teacher Jin didn’t say anything wrong. You even helped me block the peach blossoms2. I should be thanking you.”
And just now, how she’d stood before her classmate and talked about blocking them, and how she refused to accept any apologies no matter how the class monitor tried to persuade her—she didn’t feel that Jin Shuilan had been tactless in revealing her sexual orientation. On the contrary, she was grateful to Jin Shuilan.
In fact, when she accompanied Hua Luo to meet blind dates, they would always run into people who would give them strange looks upon hearing they liked girls. There was no shortage of pointing and whispering, either. Lu Zhenqiu had never paid it any mind before, and she certainly wouldn’t let it bother her now.
Still, those were Jin Shuilan’s classmates, after all.
Lu Zhenqiu blinked and looked at Jin Shuilan. “Teacher Jin, if because of me, you and your classmates…”
Jin Shuilan cut her off. “It’s not a matter of ‘because of who.’ Our three views3 simply don’t align.”
In the past, if it weren’t for her decent relationship with the class monitor, who would call and implore her time and again4, she wouldn’t have attended these class gatherings. There was nothing to talk about.
This is fine, too. Using this as a pretext, she won’t have to go in the future.
Jin Shuilan picked up her glass and placed it in front of Lu Zhenqiu. “Don’t think about it. Cheers.”
The worry in Lu Zhenqiu’s heart subsided. She picked up her glass and gently clinked it against Jin Shuilan’s. The rims made a crisp sound. The two relaxed, sharing a smile.
The atmosphere at the table eased up a bit. By the time the barbecue arrived, everyone had mostly recovered. However, they were still discussing the earlier topic. They were chatting about the current climate for homosexuality, their discussion heated. Jin Shuilan sat to the side eating a bacon roll, listening as someone else asked, “Teacher Jin, they say that baihe projects get a bit of support nowadays. Is that true or false?”
Jin Shuilan said, “There is such news.”
Homosexuality isn’t as taboo as it used to be, something to be hidden away. In the past, suppression in certain circles was severe. Artists who came out publicly a decade or so ago were basically blacklisted. Now, the higher-ups also turn a blind eye5, very much implying tacit approval. Capital has taken notice of this point and is now supporting baihe projects.
Jin Shuilan rode this favorable wind; her movies and TV series have been quite successful, making it a win-win.
Someone else from the crew said, “Then it’s probably true. I recently heard that God Xia’s book signing is set for Guangda.”
“For real? Guangda?”
Guangda is a university with a long history and has produced many legendary figures, but its school culture is conservative. The president has been called an old fossil more than once. A long time ago, one of Jin Shuilan’s book signings was supposed to be held there, but the president disagreed. After the students raised a fuss, Jin Shuilan changed the venue. Only now, after more than two years, is she holding a signing at Guangda again.
“It must be true. The president has changed. The current one promotes sexual freedom, so he’s very welcoming of authors holding book signings there.”
“That’s pretty good, but God Xia has been in the spotlight a lot lately.”
“It’s more than just ‘a lot.’ I heard she sold two more movies, and they’ve already started casting.”
“What do you guys think, is the thing with her and Yu Wen real or not? It’s all over the circles. A couple of days ago, someone even saw them in the studio…”
Jin Shuilan set down her glass—not too lightly, not too heavily—just enough to interrupt the idle chatter. She said to Lu Zhenqiu, “I’m a little stuffed. Want to go for a walk?”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “Sure.”
Jin Shuilan said goodbye to everyone and followed Lu Zhenqiu out of the barbecue restaurant. Outside, the sky was dark and heavy, a sign that a big storm was about to arrive. Jin Shuilan said, “I want to buy something at the supermarket.”
Lu Zhenqiu nodded. The streetlights stretched their two shadows long. Halfway there, Lu Zhenqiu said, “Teacher Jin, thank you.”
She could tell that Jin Shuilan was trying to get her out of an awkward situation and had deliberately suggested buying something.
Jin Shuilan’s expression was a bit unnatural. She awkwardly started to speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she got a mouthful of cold wind and sneezed.
Lu Zhenqiu said, “Teacher Jin, let’s go back. It’s a little cold out here.”
Perhaps because it was about to rain, the wind was colder than usual, chilling one to the bone. Jin Shuilan could have been comfortably chatting with the crew inside, but she had come out because of her.
Lu Zhenqiu’s expression was one of obvious guilt. Jin Shuilan said, “It’s fine. Let’s go, the supermarket is just up ahead.”
After speaking, she walked ahead on her own, rubbing her itchy nose and suppressing the urge to sneeze.
Gusts of cold wind seeped into her body; she hadn’t worn a jacket when she came out. Because of the cold, she walked quickly to the supermarket entrance. She let out a soft sigh as the warm air from the heater greeted her. Lu Zhenqiu watched her thin back, pursed her lips, and followed her inside.
Jin Shuilan bought a pack of chewing gum. When it was time to pay, Lu Zhenqiu rushed to pay for it. Jin Shuilan didn’t object, just nodding. “You can pay.”
After Lu Zhenqiu paid, the two of them stood in the rest area at the supermarket entrance. Through the transparent glass, they could see pedestrians hurrying by outside. The wind swept up leaves, lifting them into the air, and some of the shop’s posters were being flipped up, making a rustling sound. Jin Shuilan offered the chewing gum, and Lu Zhenqiu shook out two pieces. Jin Shuilan’s gaze swept over her thin, red lips before she quickly looked away.
The two chatted while chewing their gum.
Jin Shuilan said, “Qiuqiu, you know, you don’t have to keep everything bottled up inside.”
Lu Zhenqiu turned her head. “Hm?”
Jin Shuilan said, “I’ve heard a little about what happened with you and Tang Yingxia. If you want to curse her out, just do it.”
Lu Zhenqiu gave a light laugh. She relaxed her body, sitting on a high stool with her hands resting on the counter, and watched the gale blowing outside. “Actually, I was pretty angry right after the breakup.”
“Her and Yu Wen…” Lu Zhenqiu said, chewing her gum. “Teacher Jin has probably heard all about it.”
Jin Shuilan nodded.
Lu Zhenqiu continued, “But later, I felt there was no point.”
After disappointment piled up time and time again, reaching a breaking point, she actually managed to move on after her breakdown. Now, when she sees Tang Yingxia, she can already treat her as a complete stranger.
She won’t cry for her, won’t have her emotions swayed by her, won’t feel upset just because she’s standing with Yu Wen. Just now at the dinner table, when she heard them talking about God Xia and those rumors with Yu Wen, she could even chime in with a comment or two.
It had clearly been only a month since the breakup, yet it felt like a very, very long time had passed—so long that she was on the verge of successfully banishing Tang Yingxia from her world.
She could do it.
Lu Zhenqiu’s expression was resolute.
Jin Shuilan chewed her gum, finding it increasingly sweet and refreshing. She said, “What a pity.”
Lu Zhenqiu was confused. “A pity for what?”
Jin Shuilan said, “It’s a pity. I was originally planning to comfort you a little, but it turns out you don’t need it.”
Lu Zhenqiu was amused by her and laughed. “I don’t need comforting.”
“Ever since I was little, I’ve been very good at regulating my own emotions. I rarely drill into a bull’s horn6, nor do I have the time to.” Hearing this, Jin Shuilan’s heart ached a little. She said, “How about this, then: you can comfort me a little.”
Lu Zhenqiu was curious. “Does Teacher Jin need comforting?”
Jin Shuilan said with a straight face, “Of course I do.”
Lu Zhenqiu sat up straight, her expression earnest. “Then what kind of comfort does Teacher Jin want?”
Her sudden seriousness made Jin Shuilan speechless for a few seconds. “Actually, it’s not me. It’s my friend.”
Lu Zhenqiu rested her chin in her hand, looked at Jin Shuilan, and nodded.
Jin Shuilan said, “My friend was dating someone. She herself is very outstanding, but her partner was very insecure—so insecure that she was unwilling to let my friend go out to work, obstructed her at every turn, and even asked the people around them not to give my friend any opportunities.”
Hearing this, Lu Zhenqiu frowned and said instinctively, “That’s going too far.”
“It is,” Jin Shuilan nodded. “I think it’s going too far as well. And the worst part is, she locked my friend at home and wouldn’t let her develop her career, but then she herself cheated.”
Lu Zhenqiu was indignant. “How can such a person exist? That’s just too trashy!”
Jin Shuilan agreed. “Isn’t it just?”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “Cheating on your friend while not letting her pursue her own career… your friend is truly miserable.”
Jin Shuilan nodded. “She was just unlucky to have met her partner.”
Lu Zhenqiu said, “Truly unlucky.”
Thinking that wasn’t enough of a condemnation, she added, “Really, really unlucky!”
The author has something to say:
Thirty red envelopes, muah muah.
Jin Shuilan: If you want to curse her out, just do it.
Lu Zhenqiu: It’s okay, I can regulate myself.
Jin Shuilan: My friend met a scum woman…
Lu Zhenqiu: Can’t regulate. I want to curse someone out.
✨ Unlock Early Access to Chapters! ✨
Choose your perfect membership at bamboopandatl.net:
📚 Full Access ($4.99)
• Advanced chapters of ALL ongoing novels
• Access to complete finished novels
• Ad-free reading experience
📖 Single Novel Access ($1.49)
• Advanced chapters of ONE specific novel
• Ad-free reading for chosen novel
PayPal is the only current payment option!