Winter Time Rendering

Chapter 154: Chapter 64: Mianmian’s Energy

Since he couldn’t figure it out, he decided to just go to the front desk and pay. As luck would have it, he ran into that guy, who was slapping a few hundred-yuan bills onto the counter.

He’d thought that if he brought enough money this time, the other guy would be out of excuses to start trouble. But all he had on him was small change, as was the money his buddies had given him. For students their age, someone like Gu Qiuyan who could casually pull out large bills was a rare sight.

As Zhang Shutong was counting out his coins, the guy leaned in.

"Hey buddy, not enough cash? How much are you short? I can cover you."

Zhang Shutong sighed. ’This guy really has to make his presence known,’ he thought. ’Everything is starting to change, but he’s still the same—like a fighting cock.’

Without looking up, he replied, "It’s enough," making his stance clear. But perhaps because of their recent clash, the guy’s words were now laced with even more hostility.

"I noticed you were the only one who didn’t stand up earlier. What, did you chicken out? But hey, no need to be scared. We were just messing with you, not planning to actually throw hands. So, we’ll just call it water under the bridge, yeah?"

Zhang Shutong didn’t want trouble, but that didn’t mean he could tolerate a cocky loudmouth chattering in his ear without getting annoyed. For the first time, he shot the other guy a cold glance.

"Shut up."

But at that exact moment, an icy female voice rang out, and their "shut up" came out in perfect unison.

Zhang Shutong turned to see that Gu Qiuyan had walked over at some point. The other guy choked, seemingly unable to believe her words were directed at him. Zhang Shutong glanced at Gu Qiuyan and noticed her face was still a little pale. ’No matter how the timeline changes, it seems she always rushes over to save the day.’

Of course, right after saving the day, she would turn and walk away again, the little charm in her hair swinging as she went.

The guy forced a smile, about to call out to her, but Gu Qiuyan paid him no mind. She was already back at her seat. She pointed in their direction, in no mood—or perhaps with no energy—to say more. At her signal, the girl who acted as her "little secretary" immediately ran over and dragged the guy away.

"I..."

"Alright, that’s enough. Don’t come back. Qiumian just said she doesn’t want to deal with anyone right now and told me to pass that along to you."

"No, I was just..."

"Cut the crap. Didn’t I tell you? He’s Qiumian’s deskmate. You’d better keep that little crush of yours to yourself. You really think no one can tell what you’re trying to do?"

The guy shot a pleading look toward the others at the table, but the same people who had been his allies moments before had now turned on him. Some even began to openly condemn him. "It’s freezing today, and Qiumian isn’t feeling well. Can’t you be less annoying? We told you not to start anything! What’s the point of trying to be nice now..."

Zhang Shutong couldn’t be bothered to watch what happened next. He was simply struck by how much weight Gu Qiuyan’s words carried. ’One moment she looks as if a puff of wind could blow her over, and the next she’s giving orders with an iron will, her entire presence transformed by a single stern look.’

’Speaking of which, does this count as her repaying the favor for the building blocks?’

Zhang Shutong had no idea why she was so insistent on repaying favors. He had planned on settling things with the guy for good, but Gu Qiuyan had cut him short.

’But she meant well.’

He had other things to do—he needed to find someone on the rooftop—so he hurried out of the restaurant and immediately sneezed.

As he left the warm restaurant, a blast of cold air hit him, making his nose sting. Powdery snow drifted down from the sky, blanketing the outside world in a vast expanse of white. The commercial street looked even more desolate, and the few pedestrians on it hurried along. Zhang Shutong froze on the steps, his eyes slowly widening.

He suddenly recalled a small gesture Gu Qiuyan had made when she came in: she had been wiping moisture from her hair.

He also suddenly understood why she wasn’t feeling well today, why her period had come early.

These were all details that hadn’t occurred in the previous timeline. Now, everything seemed to have an explanation.

But this still couldn’t explain—

Why...

...it was snowing today in this timeline?

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