Starting from Zero Frames

The traffic light turned from red to green, like a silent command.

Gu Luo seemed not to hear Big-eyed Girl’s words, his steps never pausing as he strode straight across the street.

Big-eyed Girl stood frozen in place for a few seconds, bewildered.

She couldn’t understand how two people who had been chatting happily just moments ago could suddenly end up like this.

Then, as if unwilling to be brushed off so coldly, she quickly jogged after him.

"Gu Luo, what’s wrong?"

"We were just having a great conversation, weren’t we?"

"Say something, please."

"......."

All the way, Big-eyed Girl’s voice buzzed around Gu Luo’s ears like an incessant fly.

But Gu Luo simply ignored her, walking forward as if she didn’t exist.

Only when they reached a small park did he finally slow his steps and speak: "Please stop following me."

"Then at least give me a reason," Big-eyed Girl blocked his path, her expression serious.

"Give me one, and I’ll leave right away."

"You... you..."

Gu Luo opened his mouth, then hesitated, his face twisting with conflict—as if there was something he couldn’t bring himself to say.

Seeing this, Big-eyed Girl seemed to realize something. A flicker of nervousness flashed in her eyes as she cautiously asked, "Did... did Qu Meimei say something to you?"

"N-no, it’s not..." Gu Luo immediately waved his hands in flustered denial, his gaze darting away, unable to meet hers.

His slightly panicked demeanor only made his lie more obvious.

Big-eyed Girl’s vision darkened.

So it was Qu Meimei!

She must have spilled the beans!

If nothing else, Qu Meimei was the only one who knew about her abusing cats.

"Gu Luo... please just hear me out, okay?" Big-eyed Girl’s face paled as she struggled to speak.

"Did Qu Meimei tell you I abused cats? Or that I bullied people before? Or something else?"

"None of it’s true. The so-called ‘abusing cats’ was just me lightly tossing things at them sometimes, and the ‘bullying’ was just misunderstandings and arguments."

"Really, please believe me."

Yeah, right. Gu Luo internally scoffed, but on the surface, he maintained a conflicted expression.

He lowered his head slightly, as if deep in thought, then finally nodded slowly.

"I believe you."

"Really?" Big-eyed Girl asked excitedly.

No.

"Really."

Gu Luo flashed an innocent, angelic smile.

The fading sunlight spilled across his face, outlining his flawless features, making him look serene and beautiful.

How can someone be this unfairly handsome?

Big-eyed Girl was mesmerized, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of her throat.

It took her a moment to snap out of it, her face flushing as she coughed lightly to mask her daze.

"So... Gu Luo, what exactly did Qu Meimei tell you?"

"It’s... it’s not Qu Meimei, really, it’s not." Gu Luo stammered like a terrible liar, his eyes avoiding hers.

But his clumsy act was instantly seen through.

That Qu Meimei is really something...

A chill ran down Big-eyed Girl’s spine. Thank goodness she ran into Gu Luo today—who knew what other outrageous secrets Qu Meimei might have spread otherwise?

The thought ignited a surge of anger in her.

If you play dirty, don’t blame me for doing the same.

"Gu Luo, can I tell you something? But you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay?" she ventured cautiously.

"What is it?"

Gu Luo tilted his head slightly, feigning curiosity.

Inside, he was thrilled—the big fish is biting.

"You have to swear not to tell a soul." Her voice dropped to a whisper, as if sharing a world-shattering secret.

"Okay, I promise." Gu Luo nodded solemnly, his expression grave and earnest.

Big-eyed Girl leaned in closer. "Gu Luo, the truth is, you’ve been fooled by Qu Meimei. She’s the type who loves spreading rumors."

"Like about me. And like about Vice President Luo Shuning."

"She’s always gossiping in the club—saying Luo Shuning steals boyfriends, sells herself in secret, even that she’s sleeping with the principal."

"Can you believe how awful that is?"

"Plenty of people only dislike Vice President Luo because they fell for Qu Meimei’s lies."

As she spoke, she watched Gu Luo’s reaction, a glint of triumph in her eyes.

Qu Meimei, you brought this on yourself.

"Enough." Gu Luo suddenly cut her off.

Big-eyed Girl blinked in surprise as he continued, "I believe Qu Meimei isn’t that kind of person—just like I believe you wouldn’t abuse cats or bully others."

"........"

Big-eyed Girl fell silent, just staring at Gu Luo, her emotions in turmoil.

She found his naivety almost endearing.

How can someone trust others so easily?

At the same time, she despised Qu Meimei even more—how dare she deceive such a sweet guy?

Well, if she won’t appreciate him, I might as well take him for myself.

"We shouldn’t gossip about others behind their backs. It’s wrong. Let’s just go to the supermarket." Gu Luo turned and walked ahead, slipping his hand into his pocket to grip his phone.

............

Evening.

A simple, well-lit bedroom bathed in soft lamplight—yet none of its warmth could soothe the resentment festering in its occupant’s heart.

Qu Meimei sat at her desk, pulling an A4 sheet from the drawer.

She wrote "Luo Shuning" in bold characters across the top.

Then, slowly, she picked up a red marker and began slashing X’s over the name.

"It’s all your fault!"

"It’s all your fault!"

"Everything is because of you!"

"......"

Each stroke was an outlet for her rage.

If not for Luo Shuning, why would the guy she liked have left her?

If not for Luo Shuning, why would she have suffered such humiliation?

Of course it was Luo Shuning’s fault.

She must have been secretly seducing guys behind the scenes.

That had to be it.

The truth didn’t matter to Qu Meimei.

All she knew was that those three guys had gone and confessed to Luo Shuning.

And after the last one got rejected, he came back, slept with her, then dumped her at lightning speed.

His reason? "I still like Luo Shuning more."

Just thinking about it made Qu Meimei tremble with fury.

She’d never admit she was inferior to Luo Shuning.

So the only explanation was that Luo Shuning was a man-stealing slut.

That made perfect sense.

Suddenly, Qu Meimei smiled at the red-slashed paper and murmured to herself:

"Luo Shuning, this time, you lose."

"Gu Luo is completely charmed by me now."

After a pause, she added, "But what happened before isn’t over yet."

"On school festival day, you’ll humiliate yourself with me."

"We’ll go down together."

"Haha..."

I can’t wait to see the look on Luo Shuning’s face then.

At that moment, the phone on the table suddenly rang.

It was a voice call.

Qu Meimei’s smile faded as she glanced at the caller’s name, her brow furrowing with visible irritation.

Still, she pressed the answer button.

“Qu Meimei, go f your mother!”

A sharp, ear-piercing curse exploded from the other end of the line.

Qu Meimei froze, her mind momentarily blank.

“You’re such a b, talking sh behind my back.”

The voice grew louder, as if trying to burst through the phone screen.

“Is your mother fing dead?”

“Answer me—is your mother dead?”

A barrage of obscenities detonated in Qu Meimei’s ears like a string of grenades.

Zero to a hundred in seconds.

Mother-related insults at maximum density.

Finally snapping out of her daze, Qu Meimei fired back.

“Your mother’s the real fing wh!”

“Qu Meimei, I’ll f your entire—”

“You worthless piece of—your whole fing family—”

“.....”

Their curses tangled together like a vicious battlefield, neither willing to back down.

By the time both were too exhausted to continue, Qu Meimei barely managed to choke out through her rage, “Did Gu Luo tell you all this?”

“As if!”

The other end scoffed in disdain.

“I figured it out myself. It’s ironic—someone as kind and innocent as Gu Luo still defends a snake like you.”

Then, the caller recounted what had happened earlier.

Hearing this, Qu Meimei fell silent.

“Qu Meimei, listen up—this isn’t over.”

“If you ever dare expose my past—the cat abuse, the bullying—I’ll tear you apart.”

“Motherless trash.”

With that, the call ended abruptly.

“.......”

Qu Meimei took several deep breaths, slowly steadying herself.

Just another fake friend. Good riddance.

As long as she had Gu Luo, nothing else mattered.

She’d have to act even sweeter, even more considerate around him.

Secure him soon—no room for complications.

As for Luo Shuning… she’d let her off the hook—for now.

Come the school festival, they’d both be humiliated together.

And then, she could always turn to Gu Luo for comfort.

............

............