Intertwined Fortunes of Misfortune and Joy

The bus.

A bus with only three people on board.

Aside from the driver, there was only a girl sitting in the back and Su Cheng, who stood in the middle of the aisle.

Right now, Su Cheng was extremely awkward, even catching a faint, sweet fragrance in the air.

This was… the girl’s natural scent.

"Pick it up or not?"

Su Cheng hesitated, but he knew very well that picking it up might lead to a conversation, while deliberately ignoring it would seem too intentional.

A brief exchange versus offending someone.

Obviously, the former was better.

"Fine, I’ll pick it up."

With that, he took a quiet deep breath, bent down, picked up the student ID, and approached her to hand it over.

He didn’t say a word, keeping his expression stiff and slightly turning his head to avoid making eye contact.

With a reaction like this, he figured she’d just say "thanks" and that would be the end of it.

Surely she wouldn’t force a conversation, right?

But!

Reality exceeded his expectations.

"Thank you."

After taking the student ID, the girl actually spoke to him in an unexpectedly sweet voice and even patted the seat beside her, offering, "Hey, classmate, why don’t you sit here?"

Su Cheng: "…"

What the hell.

Can’t this girl see I’m scowling?

He froze on the spot, his lips twitching as he forced himself not to look at her, replying coldly, "No, thanks. I prefer sitting alone by the window."

With that, he walked forward and took a seat near the window.

In his mind, this interaction was officially over!

He refused to believe she could possibly salvage this after he’d made his stance so clear.

If she still managed to force a connection, he’d admit defeat and call her "Mom."

But then—

Before he could even settle into his seat, that familiar fragrance wafted over again.

"Huh?"

The girl suddenly sat down beside him, letting out a soft sound of surprise before leaning closer, her bright, pretty eyes fixed on him as she asked in a curious tone, "You’re… a new student, right?"

Su Cheng’s face darkened completely, his expression icy as he replied sharply, "Senior, I prefer being alone. Please don’t bother me again, or it’ll be repaying kindness with hostility."

"Ah~"

The girl made a sound of realization but still didn’t back off, instead speaking in an innocent tone, "Sorry, sorry, I didn’t notice earlier. I didn’t mean to offend you. I’ll go back now."

Su Cheng let out a quiet sigh of relief. Even if she couldn’t read his expression or mood, surely now that he’d spelled it out, she wouldn’t keep pestering him?

At this point, his self-preservation instincts had fully kicked in. As someone with an unstable condition, he believed keeping his distance from others reduced his burden and minimized the complications caused by his treatment struggles.

Of course, it was also about sparing others pain—he didn’t want to hurt anyone, nor did he want to bring unnecessary suffering to anyone.

In short, maintaining distance was his way of protecting himself.

However, the girl beside him claimed she’d leave but didn’t budge an inch. Instead, she pulled out her phone from her pocket, seemingly engrossed in some mobile game.

His blood pressure skyrocketed, nearly pushing him to the brink.

He struggled to suppress his emotions, forcing himself to stay calm. After all, she had every right to sit wherever she wanted. He couldn’t interfere as long as she didn’t bother him.

But!

The girl's fragrance made it impossible for him to focus. The sound of her laughter as she played games buzzed in his ears, unsettling him to the point where his heart felt like it was dangling, restless and uneasy.

In the end, he gave up!

If he couldn't handle it, he could at least avoid it.

He stood up and said in a low voice, "Senior, could you please stand up? I’d like to switch seats."

"I’m in the middle of a team fight. Just step over me."

The girl didn’t even look up, her tone soft and casual.

Su Cheng: "…"

He glanced down at her legs on the seat—the exposed stretch of thigh not covered by her knee-high socks, the flesh slightly pressed by the stockings, exuding an undeniable allure.

Suppressing the turmoil in his chest, he closed his eyes and lifted his leg to step over. But just then, the bus suddenly braked hard, lurching to a stop. His body pitched forward, and he nearly toppled over.

The good news? He managed to catch himself with his hands, narrowly avoiding a cliché disaster.

The bad news? His hands landed squarely on the girl’s thighs.

Instantly, their eyes met.

A silent, stunned moment passed between them.

Su Cheng finally got a clear look at her face.

Her skin was flawless, her features delicate yet radiant, especially her eyes—dark, bright, and shimmering like spring water, brimming with liveliness and an adorable charm.

The kicker? She was now wearing an expression straight out of a pure romance, her cheeks flushed as she shyly turned her face away, as if too embarrassed to meet his gaze… yet somehow also seeming a little expectant.

"Sorry, that wasn’t on purpose!"

Su Cheng hurriedly retreated to his seat, inwardly cursing himself. What kind of rom-com nonsense was this?

His usual judgment had completely short-circuited. Any semblance of rational thought had evaporated, leaving him stranded in his seat, struggling to calm his nerves instead of taking any other action.

Was his cursed luck acting up again?

How else could this be explained?

"Hey, junior?"

Just then, the girl beside him smiled and patted his shoulder, her tone light. "I know it was an accident. Don’t worry about it. I’m not mad."

He’d almost rather she yelled at him or hit him.

But this…

Why was she so understanding?

What was he supposed to say?

Thanks?

And then they’d just… start talking?

But Su Cheng refused to accept this turn of events!

He decided to take a drastic approach.

Turning his head, he deliberately adopted a sleazy tone and said, "The feel was pretty nice. Got some good material for tonight."

There was no way, even if he sounded like a complete creep—disgusting even to himself—that she’d still try to force this interaction forward.

Sure enough—

The girl froze for a second, then narrowed her eyes and said, "Junior, that’s going too far. Just because you’re good-looking doesn’t mean you can take advantage of girls! Let me tell you, if you keep saying things like—"

"Are you gonna call the cops?"

Su Cheng smirked, the curve of his lips growing more pronounced—until his expression suddenly stiffened, his face turning ashen, his pupils shrinking in sheer disbelief.

Because the girl had just reached out with both hands, giving his thighs a quick squeeze before pulling back and turning away, declaring firmly, "Well, I’m not letting you get away with it for free."

"Wait—are you insane?!" Su Cheng stared at her, utterly dumbfounded. "Do you have no sense of shame or dignity as a girl?!"

Now he finally understood that the girl in front of him was an unpredictable person and couldn't be judged by common sense!

"How dare you blame others?"

The short-haired girl looked as if she had been accused by the real culprit first. "I didn't even care about you taking advantage of me just now. Instead, you said such annoying things. Why can't I fight fire with fire?"

Su Cheng: "..."

This logic really left him speechless.

But the problem is that you're a girl!

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and prepared to respond according to her logic. He said, "In that case, we're even."

Saying this, he stood up and continued, "I'm going to change my seat now. Please stand up and make way."

The short-haired girl blinked her big eyes and tilted her head. "What if I say no?"

"Then what on earth do you want? Just say it straight."

Su Cheng sat down impatiently and said.

"What did you go to the pharmacy for just now?"

The girl suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Su Cheng was stunned for a moment.

Then, with a look of annoyance on his face, he said, "It's none of your business."

"What's your name then?"

The girl persisted in asking and obviously wasn't going to let it go easily. She continued, "My name is Liu Qingyue. What about you?"

"I have no obligation to answer you."

Su Cheng looked impatient, and his tone became even colder. "Can't you tell that I'm in a really bad mood?"

Liu Qingyue tilted her head and sized him up. "Normally, seeing a beautiful girl early in the morning would make one feel good. Why are you in a bad mood?"

"It's because of you that I'm in a bad mood!"

Su Cheng said bluntly. "Get out of the way quickly. If you keep chattering..."

"Judging from your look, you don't dare to do anything."

Liu Qingyue snorted unhappily but still followed his words and stood up, making way for him.

Seeing this, Su Cheng didn't say a word and immediately moved away.

Then he found a seat at the back. But before he could even sit comfortably, she sat down beside him again.

And she stared at him with a resentful and aggrieved look in her eyes, which made his hair stand on end.

"Come on. Are you really going to pick on me?"

Su Cheng finally exploded. "What on earth do you want?"

"I'm really curious."

Liu Qingyue said with a smile. "I want to see what you'll do to me."

Hearing this, Su Cheng was so angry that he laughed. Now he suspected that the girl in front of him had serious intellectual deficiencies. Otherwise, even the most tough and proactive normal woman couldn't be so... brazen!

"What a pity."

Su Cheng shook his head regretfully and sighed. She was really good-looking, but unfortunately, she was a fool.

"Hey hey hey~ I really have a lot to talk to you. Let's get to know each other~"

Liu Qingyue still pestered him and kept chattering. She also kept blowing into his ear, and the tingling sensation made his hair stand on end.

Finally, he glared at her angrily and said sternly, "Shut up, or I'll really be rude. Don't think I dare not hit a woman."

Liu Qingyue was stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth and giggled. "You're so funny!"

After laughing enough, she stopped and looked at Su Cheng with a gloomy face. Her beautiful eyes were as if they could speak, twinkling with a lively glow. "I'll stop talking then."

However, right after she shut up, she started poking the side of his waist with her hand.

Finally, Su Cheng couldn't bear it anymore and grabbed her little hand. "What on earth do you want to do!"

"I don't want to do anything. I just think you're really fun," Liu Qingyue said with a smile as she withdrew her hand. Then she raised her hand to adjust her collar, revealing her snow - white and slender neck.

"Do you know that what you're doing is called harassment?"

Su Cheng issued his final warning.

Liu Qingyue blinked her eyes and suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Anyway, if you do something to me, I'll do the same to you. Do you believe it?"

"Then if I kiss you, will you kiss me back?"

Su Cheng asked curiously.

Liu Qingyue raised her head and looked at him provocatively. "Come on. I'm just afraid you don't have the guts!"

"I'm not as promiscuous and unrestrained as you," Su Cheng scoffed and said with a look of disdain on his face. "You've thrown away all the so - called propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame that a girl should have."

"What are you talking about?"

Liu Qingyue was unhappy. "Hey, stop insulting me. I still have my first kiss. Who on earth is promiscuous and unrestrained?"

"Come on. Who would believe that?"

Su Cheng clearly didn't believe her.

Liu Qingyue was immediately upset. "Why would I lie to you?"

"We just met for the first time," Su Cheng pouted. "You were so proactive. How can I believe you?"

"Both you and I are civilian students who got into the school through the entrance exam!"

Liu Qingyue explained seriously. "There's an unwritten rule in the civilian student circle of the school that seniors must take care of juniors. I was specially instructed by a senior from the third grade, so I also want to pass on this spirit. Otherwise, do you think I'd be so proactive? What on earth do you take me for?"

Hearing this, Su Cheng was stunned. He was in a daze for a moment and slowly turned his gaze to Liu Qingyue's face. He saw that she looked serious and stubborn, showing no sign of lying at all, and it didn't seem like she was putting on an act.

Could it be that he had misunderstood her?

As his thoughts were racing, he heard Liu Qingyue say again, "I was just like you at first. I was very resistant to this. I didn't want to have any contact with anyone. But thanks to the senior who patiently enlightened me every day and taught me how to integrate into the group, I gradually got used to it and even fell in love with the feeling of being cared for and loved by everyone..."

Hearing this, Su Cheng suddenly woke up. Originally, he thought her actions were just for fun, but he never expected there was such a profound reason behind them!

Seeing that he was standing there in a daze and not saying a word, Liu Qingyue got anxious. "I'm just using the same way the senior used on me on you, but you're even harder to get along with than I was back then."

Saying this, she pursed her lips and made an unhappy face as she complained, "I got the freshman list yesterday and picked you out at a glance. I started waiting for you at the bus stop at 6:30 this morning. And now you're even wronging me?"

As she complained, Liu Qingyue stood up and didn't even want to sit next to Su Cheng anymore, as if she was afraid he would continue to bully her.

However, Su Cheng was not affected. He still looked at her coldly. Although he felt guilty, he had to put on a heart - of - stone face and mercilessly refused. "Sorry, senior. I apologize for my previous words and actions, but I don't need help. I just want to be alone."

"I'm not coming either. Whoever wants to come can come!"

Liu Qingyue pouted and sat sulkily at one end of the window, ignoring Su Cheng.

The car fell into silence. Just as the two were at a stalemate, the driver in the front row couldn't hold it in any longer and couldn't help asking, "Well... young man, don't be so stubborn."

"Just drive your car. It's none of your business!"

Su Cheng looked up and shouted angrily.

The driver shrugged helplessly and stopped talking.

Just like that, the vehicle slowly drove away and stopped at the bus stop. With a clanging sound, the door opened, and a large group of passengers got on. The noisy chatter filled the whole carriage.

The door closed, and the bus set off again, heading towards the school. Just as it was about to reach the school -

"Why did you steal my wallet?"

There came an angry question from up ahead.

Su Cheng looked in the direction of the sound and saw Liu Qingyue standing up, glaring at the person next to her and accusing.

"Who stole your stuff? Don't frame innocent people." The man wearing a mask also stood up, scolding angrily and impatiently.

"I saw it with my own eyes. Can it be false?"

Liu Qingyue shouted indignantly.

Su Cheng felt a huge headache.

Why did he always run into such things?!

Especially in the past few weeks, it was just too much of a coincidence!

What on earth was wrong with this world?

Just yesterday, he had a woman throwing herself at him as a wife, and today, there was a senior girl who seemed to be getting close to him. Was his romantic luck finally here?

So, this was really a day worth popping open a bottle of champagne.

But the problem was that he had a heart condition. Falling in love with someone would be like ruining that person!

So, this was probably a curse from the world!

"Girl, you need to have evidence when you speak!"

"Yes, yes, you can't frame innocent people."

Unexpectedly, the surrounding passengers all expressed their condemnation.

At this moment, Su Cheng suddenly realized that the few people who had just got on the bus were obviously a gang. Otherwise, they couldn't have made a quick decision and coordinated their acting after a brief moment of silence.

"My wallet is in his pocket!"

Liu Qingyue pointed at the man in the suit and argued vehemently, "If you don't believe it, ask him to turn out his pockets and have a look."

However, the next second, the man in the suit turned out all his pockets, and there was no sign of the so - called wallet.

But Su Cheng, sitting in the back row, clearly saw that when the man in the suit was emptying his pockets, he skillfully flicked the wallet out, and it was caught by a member of the gang next to him and stuffed into their pocket.

"I said, girl, it doesn't cost you anything to frame someone, but this is really too bad! Your behavior is just so immoral."

"Yes, he didn't take your stuff at all!"

The surrounding passengers criticized righteously. Some even suggested calling the police to let the police investigate the matter.

The man in the suit shook his head and said in a tone full of righteousness, "Forget it. Maybe her wallet is really lost. Let's understand her feelings."

"I clearly saw him take it!"

Liu Qingyue looked flustered and helpless. She turned to look at Su Cheng, with pleading in her eyes and a trembling voice, "Really, he really took my stuff."

"What do you think, young man?"

This man in the suit showed a threatening look on his face, as if warning Su Cheng: If you dare to expose me, I'll kill you.

All four of them were strong and fit, while he was in poor health. They could probably knock him out with one punch. It wasn't a wise choice.

So -

Su Cheng hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed, hung his head, and helplessly closed his eyes.

Seeing this, the light in Liu Qingyue's eyes faded away instantly. She slumped down in a daze, with a bitter smile on her lips. Her eye sockets were red, and crystal - clear tears slid down along her eyelids. She clenched her teeth tightly, barely holding back the sobs.

"But!" Suddenly, Su Cheng's powerful voice rang out, silencing the whole scene. All eyes were fixed on him.

Even Liu Qingyue, who was sitting in her seat, perked up again. With her wet almond - shaped eyes, she stared at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to give an answer.

"The police might know."

He held up his phone and reminded, "I called the police three minutes ago. The police station is only one kilometer away from here, and they can definitely arrive within five minutes!"

As his words fell, a shrill siren suddenly blared inside the bus. The four people were startled. Then they quickly threatened the driver to stop the bus and fled out in a hurry.

Liu Qingyue stared at him and asked, "You called the police?"

"No."

Su Cheng turned off the siren sound from the web video on his phone and shook his head. "I was just bluffing. Normally, people don't have time to tell if the siren is real when they're nervous. I just took the opportunity to scare them."

"Thank you, really thank you so much."

After hearing his explanation, Liu Qingyue let out a long sigh of relief and sincerely thanked him. "If something really happened because of me, I'd never forgive myself."

"Don't thank me. I'm a straightforward person." Su Cheng shook his head and then continued, "I was just protecting myself. Besides, I haven't helped you get your wallet back."

"It doesn't matter. Anyway... there wasn't much money in it."

Liu Qingyue took a deep breath, then forced a smile and tried to control her emotions. "Although the wallet is gone, it's enough that you believed me just now."

"Humph."

Su Cheng gave a proud snort and didn't say a word.

"Hey, I called the police a long time ago!"

Just then, the driver spoke up. "The police might be waiting at the next bus stop."

"Ah! Thank you, sir."

After thanking the driver, Liu Qingyue turned to Su Cheng again. "I'll handle it from now on. You go to school first."

As the three of them were talking, the bus arrived at the Flame City Private Academy bus stop. Su Cheng nodded coldly, then opened the door and stepped out, intending to leave.

But when he passed by Liu Qingyue, she reached out her small hand and patted him. "I'll wait for you at the bus stop after school."