The meeting time was set for noon.
Wang Zeqi and Gu Yanzhen had arranged to meet at a home-style restaurant in the Business District.
Meanwhile, the three enthusiastic roommates — Yuhua, Lin Ling, and Liu Shuxing — had already occupied a table not far behind Wang Zeqi.
They claimed it was for spiritual support, but in reality, they were there to watch the drama unfold while enjoying a meal.
“Wang Zeqi is gone, so what are we eating?”
Liu Shuxing asked, flipping through the Menu.
“Yeah, what should we have?”
Lin Ling sat opposite Yuhua with Liu Shuxing, also glancing at the Menu.
***
Yuhua, however, had little interest in the food; he was only focused on when the good part of the show would start.
Before long, Yuhua lightly tapped the table with his finger, signaling to the other two that it was time to focus.
“The answer is watching the drama unfold. Come look, come look!”
A tall, thin girl appeared at the entrance.
She wore a simple black hoodie and jeans, a pair of thin black-framed glasses, and a neat Single Ponytail.
Her features were not particularly exquisite, but her skin was fair, and a faint, sunny smile lingered on her face.
She followed the table numbers to find her seat and quickly spotted Wang Zeqi sitting alone on the inner side.
She immediately quickened her pace and walked over.
“Big Sister, you’re here!”
Wang Zeqi immediately waved toward her, his voice thick with unconcealable nervousness.
“Yes, Little Wang, I’m here.”
Gu Yanzhen laughed and naturally reached out to rub Wang Zeqi’s hair before sitting down across from her.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No, no, I just arrived too.”
Gu Yanzhen sat down, her gaze lingering on Wang Zeqi’s face for a few seconds.
Then, she narrowed her eyes and said, “Little Wang, you’re still the same as before.”
“I… Is it the same as before?”
Wang Zeqi touched her own face.
It felt smooth and delicate, not at all like the skin of a boy.
“Yes, exactly the same.”
Gu Yanzhen propped her chin on her hand, her eyes gentle.
“In my heart, you’ll always be that little kid who used to run around behind me.”
Wang Zeqi’s face turned slightly red, and she awkwardly changed the subject.
“Um… I, I haven’t ordered yet. Big Sister, take a look and see what you want to eat. Order whatever you like; it’s my treat today!”
“Alright then, I won’t be polite.”
Gu Yanzhen took the Menu and looked through it.
At the next table, the three roommates overheard the conversation.
“The atmosphere seems okay? Is she really going to succeed?”
Liu Shuxing whispered, her tone tinged with a hint of jealousy.
“Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s keep watching.”
Over at the other table, Gu Yanzhen quickly finished ordering and handed the Menu back to Wang Zeqi.
As Wang Zeqi looked at the list, she asked naturally.
“Big Sister, you ordered the Steamed Sea Bass? I thought you used to have a phobia of fish? I remember one time when we were kids, you got a fish bone stuck in your throat, and I ran frantically to the convenience store to buy vinegar for you. That was probably the first time I felt like I could actually help you.”
As Wang Zeqi spoke, her eyes filled with a touch of nostalgia.
Gu Yanzhen paused for a brief moment before saying, “I did have a psychological shadow because of that, so I didn’t dare to eat fish… but people always grow up. Now I think fish is quite delicious, even if I might get a bone stuck.”
“Yeah, everyone grows up…”
Wang Zeqi sighed with emotion.
Perhaps because they had been apart for too long and didn’t know what else to say, the conversation between the two suddenly stalled.
However, Wang Zeqi eventually gathered her courage to talk about some childhood events, and Gu Yanzhen nodded with a smile, agreeing with her words.
***
Halfway through the meal, Wang Zeqi put down her chopsticks as if summoning all her courage.
She raised her head, looked directly at Gu Yanzhen, and said, “Big Sister, actually, there’s something I have to make clear to you.”
“Hmm? What is it? You look so serious.”
Gu Yanzhen smiled and set down her chopsticks as well.
“Even though I still look human right now, I’ve already been Awakened by the Vampire Meme, and my body has become female. So, regarding what you said before about our feelings for each other… I’m afraid I can’t respond to you like a normal person. I’m sorry.”
After she finished speaking, she lowered her head, not daring to look at the other woman’s reaction.
Gu Yanzhen put down her chopsticks and remained silent for a few seconds.
Then, she reached across the table and gently took Wang Zeqi’s slightly trembling hand.
“Ah… so that’s how it is.”
Her voice remained gentle, and the hand holding Wang Zeqi’s was still warm.
“It doesn’t matter, Little Wang. I actually don’t mind at all.”
Wang Zeqi snapped her head up, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Re-Really?”
“Of course.”
Gu Yanzhen tightened her grip on Wang Zeqi’s hand and looked at her affectionately.
“Because in my heart, you will always be you. No matter what you become, you’ll always be my Little Wang.”
Wang Zeqi’s nose prickled, and her eyes instantly turned red.
Her long-standing worries and self-doubt were easily accepted by the other woman in this moment.
“However…”
Gu Yanzhen suddenly let go of her hand, her tone dropping as a shadow clouded her face.
“Little Wang, I also have something to tell you…”
“I… I actually didn’t pass the Postgraduate entrance exam for Shuicheng University of Technology.”
“What?”
“I was only off by a tiny bit… a very, very small number of points. I want to try for one more year, but my family says it’s a waste of money and won’t support me.”
“I’m sorry, Little Wang. Perhaps there are still realistic obstacles between us. I can’t even take care of myself, so how could I dare to dream of being with you…”
“Don’t say that! If they aren’t willing to support your studies, I am!”
Wang Zeqi grew anxious and immediately grabbed Gu Yanzhen’s hand back.
“Big Sister, I’ve saved up quite a bit of allowance over the years. It’s more than enough to cover the living expenses for both of us.”
“And if that’s not enough, there are plenty of Private Tutor jobs near our School. With our School’s reputation in the area, taking on a few tutoring jobs on the weekends will definitely bring in enough money. I support you. You can take the exam for as long as you want; I’ll pay for your studies.”
Gu Yanzhen raised her head.
Behind her glasses, her clouded eyes lit up, instantly filling with tears of emotion.
“Really? Little Wang… are you… are you really willing?”
“Of course.”
Wang Zeqi nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with the determination that she would be the one to protect her Big Sister.
“Big Sister, you just focus on preparing for the exam. Don’t worry about anything else.”
“You’re so kind, Little Wang.”
Gu Yanzhen broke into a smile through her tears.
“Then we can be together, right?”
Wang Zeqi nodded with resolve, a long-lost smile appearing on her face.
“Yes, we’ll be together.”
Lin Ling nodded.
Although his face remained expressionless, it felt as if he had learned something.
“What a pair of star-crossed lovers.”
“Where is the touching part? Why does this sound more and more wrong the longer I listen? I feel like the other person is the real Vampire here. She’s about to bleed Little Wang dry.”
Yuhua clutched his head.
Lin Ling truly had no powers of observation at all.