Real World (2)
“President Gu.”
Ming Ming held Gu Qing’s hand and, overcome with emotion, patted his shoulder as she sighed.
After everything they had been through together, who would’ve thought that Gu Qing would cross over from the virtual world into reality — and not just that, but become a powerful CEO and wealthy investor?
What did that mean?
It meant heaven hadn’t abandoned Ming Ming. It had given her a lifeline — a meal ticket so she wouldn’t starve, collapse, or be crushed by this brutally competitive society.
Once his investment arrived and her struggling little company got on its feet, it could even create jobs and benefit countless overworked college graduates.
“We’ll be good together from now on,” she said, her tone full of weathered relief, like someone who’d seen too much of life.
Gu Qing silently sighed. He had no idea what she was thinking or what kind of grand conclusions she’d drawn in her head — and frankly, he didn’t want to know.
Because it probably had very little to do with reality… or with him.
There was no rush. He could explain things slowly, one day at a time.
This wasn’t the virtual world anymore. He needed to take care of his health.
Men had to protect their hearts too.
If he wanted to grow old with her, he couldn’t afford to be angry all the time.
Calm mind. Longer life.
They stood at the school gate for a while.
Ming Ming felt both familiar and unfamiliar with him, unsure what to talk about.
So she suggested, “Want to walk around campus?”
Gu Qing nodded.
They strolled through the campus together. Students moved around them, laughing and chatting, walking quickly or slowly toward their own destinations.
Plane trees lined both sides of the road, casting shade over the early summer sunlight. The breeze under the trees felt cool and gentle.
It wasn’t the hottest part of summer yet, but wearing a trench coat was still warm. Gu Qing took it off and draped it casually over his arm as he walked beside her.
“Hot? Should we sit somewhere?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I want to see where you live and study.”
Ming Ming clasped her hands behind her back, suddenly a little shy.
“There’s… not much worth seeing. But I remember there’s a lake over there. Let’s take a walk by it.”
As they walked, she kept sneaking glances at him.
He was handsome — unfamiliar on the outside, yet oddly familiar beneath the surface… but still not fully familiar.
She still hadn’t managed to mentally merge all those “past versions” of him into a single person.
Which one was the real him?
Maybe… the one standing beside her now.
That meant they’d have to slowly get to know each other again.
How unfair, she thought bitterly.
He probably knew everything about her by now. Every habit. Every weakness. Every thought.
And she? She barely knew anything about him.
Still… just the outline of his build beneath his shirt felt strangely familiar.
Ming Ming stared blankly at his chest, thinking:
What brand of white shirt is this? Why isn’t it sheer at all?
Is the fabric really that thick?
No outline either. Disappointing.
She looked forward… then sneaked another glance back, thinking:
Does he wear an undershirt just to prevent that?
…She suddenly thought of those awful old-fashioned tank tops.
Gu Qing suddenly raised his hand to cover his mouth lightly as he coughed. The fabric pulled slightly with the movement.
Her eyes moved along with every subtle change, like they were glued to him.
“Cough.”
He cleared his throat softly.
Ming Ming snapped back to her senses.
She looked up — and met his teasing gaze.
Only then did she realize her shameless staring had been completely noticed.
He leaned toward her slightly and whispered,
“If you want to look… do it at home.”
Ming Ming flushed and lowered her head, walking faster.
She heard his low laughter behind her.
As expected.
Same person. Same rotten sense of humor.
Every university had a lake like this — the kind that couples liked to give romantic meanings to.
No matter what its real name was, students always renamed it:
“Lovers’ Lake.”
Ming Ming hadn’t known before.
Now she did — and regretted coming.
Couples were everywhere, walking in pairs.
She stole a glance at Gu Qing’s expression. Sure enough, he looked surprised… then thoughtful.
Like she’d brought him here on purpose.
“I’m not like that,” she tried to explain.
“Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Oh?” Gu Qing replied, pretending not to understand.
“Which idea is that?”
Ming Ming narrowed her eyes.
“The kind of idea that means no idea!”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“When there’s no meaning, that’s usually when there’s the most meaning.”
Ming Ming: “…”
They passed by a couple hugging tightly.
The girl said sweetly,
“Darling, I once made a wish by this lake — that I’d meet my destined love, my white horse prince, the one sent to soften my heart. I never thought it would actually come true.”
The boy replied emotionally,
“Then let’s make this our special place. From now on, every anniversary and every wedding anniversary, we’ll come back here to celebrate our love.”
“Okay! You’re the best!”
Ming Ming got goosebumps and dragged Gu Qing away before she burst out laughing.
Even he couldn’t hold it in.
When they were far enough away, she muttered,
“These people are so clingy. Like octopuses trying to strangle each other…”
Gu Qing glanced at her calmly and said,
“Back then… you clung to me even tighter.”
“…?”
She didn’t get it at first.
Then she saw the amusement in his eyes and realized what he meant.
Her face instantly turned red.
“In broad daylight, in public, what are you saying?!”
She could fool around when nobody knew her identity.
But now she was Ming Ming — she needed dignity.
She stared at the surface of the lake, feeling like this man knew far too much.
If nothing else worked… she might have to silence him.
Gu Qing chuckled softly.
“You ever make a wish at this lake?”
“Of course not,” she shrugged.
“Before today, I didn’t even know this was ‘Lovers’ Lake’. I don’t have time to wander around here.”
She paused, then added seriously:
“If someone told me this lake brought wealth, I’d come here every single day and worship it.”
She said it lightly.
But the smile faded from Gu Qing’s face.
“You’ve had a hard life, haven’t you?” he asked quietly.
She thought for a moment, then answered honestly,
“Yeah. Pretty hard.”
She counted on her fingers.
“I grew up without parents. Even in the orphanage, I wasn’t very welcome. I finally got into college, and the support from the orphanage barely lasted, so I had to figure out tuition and living expenses myself.
“I hardly had any vacations. My life was just school and part-time jobs. The good thing is, college students are cheap labor. You don’t even need benefits. You can find work anywhere and at least make some money. And since I was alone, I didn’t have to support anyone else. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even had startup capital.”
She grinned proudly.
“My little cart cost money. Ingredients cost money.”
Gu Qing followed her words softly.
“You’re amazing.”
She walked a few steps forward, snapped a willow branch, and lightly skimmed the surface of the lake.
Ripples spread outward.
Then she remembered something and said,
“One year, my roommates were all traveling everywhere. I was so jealous. No money. No time. So I went and got a tour guide license.”
Maria Lian On CFRFGC Chapter 104