Chapter 9 The Unexpected Visitor
A few days passed after that.
Zhou Chaoqing never showed up again.
I thought he had finally come to his senses.
Then an unexpected person found me.
Bai Yao.
Her eyes were red-rimmed. She dragged me to a quiet corner and started accusing me right away, voice urgent.
“Zhou Chaoqing is planning to quit the joint project we’re working on! He’s a core member. If he leaves, our whole group will fall apart!”
“And he actually said he wants to apply for the PhD here at our school. Giving up top overseas offers? That’s ridiculous!”
“Can you talk to him? Please?”
She stared at me. Her eyes held a messy mix of anxiety, unwillingness.
And something unspoken—like she was blaming me for all his changes.
I was genuinely surprised, but I kept my face calm. I only frowned and asked,
“What does that have to do with me?”
Bai Yao softened her tone.
“I know you two are close. He must be doing this because of you. Just say a few words to him. Tell him not to be impulsive, okay? That opportunity is so rare… Quitting the project will hurt his record too…”
I pulled my arm free from her grip and said evenly,
“Whatever decision Zhou Chaoqing makes has nothing to do with me.”
Bai Yao froze.
“It’s his own choice. I didn’t force him. He’s an adult. He should take responsibility for what he decides.”
I added, voice light but mocking,
“If the project is in trouble, you should talk to the Advisor or coordinate with the other members. Not come find me.”
“Or is it that you can’t handle it on your own? Once he’s gone you can’t hide your incompetence anymore, so you panic and come bother me?”
Bai Yao was probably capable enough—otherwise Zhou Chaoqing wouldn’t have helped her, I guessed. He never wasted time on thankless tasks.
Sure enough, she snapped back, agitated.
“That’s not true! I can do it alone! Why do you look down on me?”
I shrugged.
“Then what does his withdrawal have to do with you? And what does it have to do with me?”
Bai Yao had nothing left to say. She turned and ran off.
I thought for a moment, then took out my phone and messaged Zhou Chaoqing.
[Are you free? Let’s meet.]