Chapter Fifty-Two: This Is Not Fair

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“Well, that’s what happens when you’ve been around the block for a while.” Miao Shu propped her chin on her hand and looked at Yuan Zhong. “Don’t overthink it, it’s a waste of brain cells. Just focus on making your choice, alright?” she reminded her again, out of kindness.

“I don’t know. That writer, he’s really... a rare kind of person.” Yuan Zhong’s eyes reddened.

“Hey, hey, hey, no tears! I really can’t handle girls crying…” Miao Shu lowered her voice, “This is the library, you know. If you look like that, people will think I’m bullying you.”

“I’m sorry.” Yuan Zhong pulled out a napkin and covered her eyes, head bowed.

Miao Shu sighed helplessly. “What are you apologizing for? It’s not such a big deal. And you shouldn’t feel so bad. Your editor-in-chief was right about one thing: whatever the outcome, most of it depends on that writer.”

Yuan Zhong shook her head. “It’s not fair, why should he have to bear it all? If he manages to write it, the company profits; if he fails, he breaches the contract, and the company still profits. What kind of world is this?”

Miao Shu let out a breath. “That guy is partly to blame himself. You can’t sign a contract without reading the fine print.”

Yuan Zhong kept her head down, silent. She felt a little sad. Whether or not it directly involved her, things like this really did make her sad.

“That writer—is he a man?” Miao Shu suddenly asked.

Yuan Zhong wiped her eyes and nodded.

“Oh,” Miao Shu drew out the syllable. “So that’s how it is.”

“What?” Yuan Zhong looked at him, confused.

Miao Shu’s face lit up with gossip. “Do you like him?”

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Yuan Zhong flared up.

“Shh, shh!” Miao Shu nearly reached out to cover her mouth. “Why so agitated?”

“You—you’re making things up! I’ve only met him twice. I just… I’m just being fair. He really is pitiful, isn’t he?” Yuan Zhong’s face was flushed in embarrassment.

Miao Shu waved a hand. “Alright, alright, I was wrong, I made it up. Don’t get worked up.” Seeing the young woman wasn’t one to be teased, he straightened his expression again. “Anyway, I’ve told you all I can. If he needs a legal advisor, he can come to me.”

That suggestion made Yuan Zhong’s eyes light up—what a good idea!

When Miao Shu saw the sudden gleam in her eyes, he had a premonition. “You’re not serious about this, are you…”

Yuan Zhong nodded. “You can help him, can’t you?”

Faced with her expectant gaze, and knowing this was also something entrusted by his teacher, Miao Shu really couldn’t bring himself to say no.

“It’s settled then,” Yuan Zhong said, seeing a glimmer of hope.

“What’s settled? You need to ask him first; it’s up to him to agree.” Miao Shu reminded her again.

“I’ll ask him right now.” Yuan Zhong pulled out her phone and hurried out of the library.

Miao Shu rested his chin on his hand again, thinking to himself, I really am too free these days.

Yuan Zhong dialed Qi Leyu’s number. “Hello, Qiye, it’s Yuan Zhong.”

“What is it?” Qi Leyu’s voice was still a bit muffled.

“Is your cold any better?” Yuan Zhong asked with concern.

“It’s alright.”

“Did you take any medicine? The herbal kind won’t affect your work, right?” she pressed.

“What do you want?” Qi Leyu asked directly.

He must be busy, Yuan Zhong thought, so she got straight to the point: “About your contract, I found a lawyer I’d like to introduce to you.”

“No need,” Qi Leyu refused.

“Wait!” Yuan Zhong rushed to stop him from hanging up. “I asked the editor-in-chief about it today. The contract probably can’t be changed, and you don’t want to face those breach of contract consequences, right? So I asked a classmate to find a law grad student—he’s from my alma mater, really capable. Why not just talk to him? Maybe it’ll help?”

“I can handle it myself,” Qi Leyu refused again.

“Qi Leyu, I don’t think you need to shoulder all this pressure on your own.” Yuan Zhong steeled herself. “Whether the contract date was a careless mistake or something done deliberately, you don’t have to take all the responsibility. I mean it—I believe in you, but I just think it’s unnecessary, you know? Think about it?”

Qi Leyu was silent, as if considering.

Yuan Zhong persuaded him further: “Besides, your writing style isn’t the kind that pads out word counts. It takes time to polish, and it’s for your own work’s good, right?”

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After a while, Qi Leyu asked, “Is this your idea, or your company’s?”

Yuan Zhong replied softly, “It’s mine.”

“You little rookie, are you trying to get yourself in trouble at work?” Qi Leyu suddenly said.

Yuan Zhong hadn’t expected that and stammered, unsure what to say.

“Don’t meddle in these things. Just focus on getting by yourself,” Qi Leyu said.

What was with this guy! Yuan Zhong frowned but still asked, “Well, shall I send you Lawyer Miao’s contact info?”

Qi Leyu grunted in agreement, and Yuan Zhong breathed a sigh of relief. She was just a small fry; there wasn’t much she could do. She really had tried her best.

Back at the library, Yuan Zhong told Miao Shu that Qi Leyu would add him on WeChat soon.

Still uneasy, Yuan Zhong waited a while, but Miao Shu’s phone didn’t ring.

Checking her watch, Yuan Zhong asked, “Is your phone on silent?”

Miao Shu showed her his phone—it was normal, just no new friend requests.

After waiting a bit longer, Yuan Zhong suggested, “Why don’t you add him instead?”

Miao Shu was reluctant. “Wasn’t he the one asking me for help?”

“He’s got some special circumstances. Please be understanding,” Yuan Zhong said.

“Special circumstances? Like what? Is he on his period?” Miao Shu scoffed.

“He’s a man…” Yuan Zhong rolled her eyes. What period?

“Miss Yuan, you worry too much. Whether or not he uses a lawyer is up to him. Maybe he already has one,” Miao Shu said.

“Really?” She realized she hadn’t asked that.

“You shouldn’t get too involved. Just do your job. Your boss already hinted at it—if you make the wrong move, you’ll only cause trouble for yourself.” Miao Shu put away his phone and stood up.

Yuan Zhong stood as well.

They left the library together, and Yuan Zhong said, “Thank you, Lawyer Miao. Let me buy you dinner.”

Miao Shu was happy to accept.

“Can I invite a friend too? She was my roommate, also in grad school. We haven’t seen each other in a while,” Yuan Zhong asked.

“No problem.” Miao Shu smiled. “By the way, this is the matter your teacher asked my teacher to help with, right?”

Yuan Zhong nodded.

Lin Hui was a bit busy and didn’t want to go far, so Yuan Zhong chose the fourth floor of the campus cafeteria, where they could order dishes.

Back at her old school, eating in the cafeteria again, Yuan Zhong felt nostalgic. She looked around, face full of joy.

Lin Hui smiled. “What’s got you so excited?”

“Just revisiting old haunts,” Yuan Zhong laughed.

Miao Shu stole a few glances at Lin Hui. After Yuan Zhong’s introduction, the two had exchanged greetings, but Lin Hui hadn’t said another word or even spared him a glance. Well, that was a beauty’s prerogative.

Yuan Zhong picked up the menu and looked at Lin Hui, who shook her head, so Yuan Zhong ordered a few dishes herself, then handed the menu to Miao Shu. “What would you like?”

They must be close—probably best friends, Miao Shu thought, and added two dishes at random.

The three poured some beer, and Yuan Zhong politely raised her glass. “Here’s to you, Lawyer Miao.”

“There aren’t really any lawyers on campus. Just call me Miao Shu.”

“Alright, thank you,” Yuan Zhong said.

Lin Hui also raised her glass, clinked it with Yuan Zhong’s, and said, “Wishing you smooth work and happiness every day.”

Miao Shu took a sip and, looking up, saw both girls had finished their drinks!

Yuan Zhong and Lin Hui were looking at him with odd expressions.

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Miao Shu hurried to finish his drink as well, making Yuan Zhong laugh.

After eating for a while, the next time they clinked glasses, Miao Shu learned his lesson and emptied his glass right away, but when he turned, he saw the two girls only sipped before returning to their food and conversation.

What on earth was going on? Miao Shu was baffled, quickly topped up his drink, and quietly ate while listening to the girls chat.

“Haven’t seen you online lately,” Yuan Zhong asked Lin Hui. “Been that busy?”

“I’ve been online, but you’re always in-game, so I didn’t want to bother you,” Lin Hui replied.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. My schedule’s irregular. I log in, play a quick game, log out—just to kill time, really. So I didn’t bother to call you.”

Miao Shu listened closely but couldn’t follow, so he asked, “What game is this? Is it fun?”

Yuan Zhong looked at him as if he were an alien. “You don’t play games?”

Miao Shu shook his head. “No. Is that a problem?”

“No,” Yuan Zhong replied, turning away.

Miao Shu thought, From your tone, it sounds like it is a problem that I don’t play games!

Yuan Zhong thought, Not a problem, just not normal—a guy who doesn’t play games?

Halfway through the meal, Yuan Zhong and Lin Hui were chatting when they suddenly wanted to play a match.

Lin Hui said, “Carry me for a game, will you? I haven’t been able to coast for ages.”

“Sure!” Yuan Zhong agreed.

So the two of them started a game.

Miao Shu leaned over to watch—it did look interesting.

“Want to join the next round?” Yuan Zhong asked him.

“Sure, it looks fun.” This was perfect; he needed something to pass the time.

Miao Shu downloaded the game. Yuan Zhong gave him a quick lesson, and then the three of them queued up for a match.

“Which hero should I pick?” Miao Shu was a little excited.

“Whatever you want,” Yuan Zhong said.

Miao Shu picked Old Arthur and asked again, “Which lane should I take?”

“Wherever,” Lin Hui replied.

Finally, the beauty had spoken to him. Sharing a meal had been worth it, Miao Shu thought.

The game began; he cleared the minions in his lane. When a fight broke out mid-lane, Miao Shu asked, “Should I head over?”

“Your call,” Yuan Zhong replied.

Then there was a skirmish in the bottom lane. Miao Shu asked, “Should I go there?”

Naturally, the answer was still, “Up to you.”

Then the battle reached his own lane, and Miao Shu finally understood why they kept saying “whatever”—his own measly power wasn’t even factored into Yuan Zhong and Lin Hui’s calculations. The two of them simply steamrolled the opposition on their own, while the rest of their team was, well, whatever.

When the match ended, he hadn’t felt much involvement, but seeing the big “Victory” sign still made him happy.

Miao Shu wanted to play another round, but Lin Hui told him, “Your rank’s too low. Play by yourself for a while; we’re going into ranked games.”

“Alright.” Miao Shu had always been eager to oblige when a beauty made a request.

He watched as Yuan Zhong and Lin Hui’s eyes sparkled, immersed in the game. Yuan Zhong’s language grew more animated, so different from before, and Lin Hui was the same—she seemed so much more approachable.

So, that’s the magic of games, Miao Shu thought. He felt this meal had been worthwhile.