The Mighty Mage
Chapter 373: Campus Belle

Chapter 373: Chapter 373: Campus Belle

Long Yifan watched helplessly as Gu Jin supported Luo Meng and exited the infirmary.

A fire burned in his chest, and he wanted nothing more than to tear both of them apart.

What right does Luo Meng have to be with Gu Jin? He was a liar!

His inner voice suddenly mocked him,

"So what? Gu Aihan was a liar too. Yet you knowing everything helped her. Now you are just getting your karma back."

A lump formed in Long Yifan’s throat, and his eyes moistened slightly.

In a low voice, he whispered,

"I am sorry...I am sorry Gu Jin...I shouldn’t have mistreated you. I should have listened to my heart and confessed my feelings."

The words were directed not only at her but also at himself—for all the times he had failed her, for all the moments he had let slip away.

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

In the dim light of Luo Meng’s dorm room, Gu Jin adjusted the pillow under his head, her movements careful and deliberate.

She didn’t notice how close he was leaning toward her until it was too late.

As Luo Meng shifted, trying to get comfortable, he lost his balance, and with a soft gasp, Gu Jin was pulled onto the bed alongside him.

They froze.

The air between them grew thick with tension, the silence broken only by the soft sound of their breaths.

Luo Meng’s hand hovered near hers, trembling slightly.

His eyes, filled with something unreadable, locked onto hers. Gu Jin’s heart raced as she realized their faces were mere inches apart.

"Master," Luo Meng whispered, his voice barely audible, a mix of yearning and hesitation.

His gaze flickered to her lips, and before she could react, he began to lean in.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly in that moment.

But just as his lips were about to brush hers, Gu Jin shifted away abruptly, sitting up and putting a small but definitive distance between them.

"I’m sorry," she said softly, her tone steady yet laced with a hint of regret.

Her gaze remained on the floor, refusing to meet his.

Luo Meng’s expression faltered, and a bitter, self-mocking smile spread across his face.

He propped himself up on one elbow, looking at her with an air of fragile vulnerability.

The light from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows on his features, emphasizing the pain etched into his expression.

"I knew it," he said, his voice tinged with a hollow laugh.

"I knew I wasn’t much better than Long Yifan. Maybe... maybe I’m even worse."

His smile twisted into something sadder, more pitiful.

"I can’t blame you for pulling away. Someone like me... I probably don’t deserve to stand by your side."

Gu Jin’s brows knitted together.

"Luo Meng, don’t say that—"

"No, it’s true," he cut her off, his tone growing quieter, almost like a confession.

"I’m not blind, Master. I see how much you shine, how strong and brilliant you are. And I see how unworthy I am in comparison. I don’t expect you to love me the way I..." He hesitated, swallowing hard.

"The way I love you."

Her breath hitched slightly, but she said nothing.

"All I want," he continued, his voice breaking, "is just a little piece of your heart. Not all of it, not even most of it—just a small piece. That’s all I’ll ever ask for."

Gu Jin’s chest tightened at his words. For all his flaws, the raw sincerity in his eyes tugged at her heart.

She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Luo Meng," she began, her voice warm but firm, "you’re not unworthy. You’ve stood by me for years, and I’ll always value that. But... I can’t give you what you want. Not now. Not when my own heart is so uncertain."

Luo Meng closed his eyes, his expression as fragile as glass.

"I understand," he murmured, though his voice wavered.

Gu Jin gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before standing.

"Rest, Luo Meng. Take care of yourself. That’s all I need from you."

Without another word, she turned and left, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions.

Behind her, Luo Meng lay still, his fragile façade cracking as a smile formed on his face.

He knew his master was a soft-hearted person, but he never knew, it would be so easy to gain her favor.

Maybe what he was lacking all this time wasn’t the charm but a stepping stone.

But now...now he has a stepping stone.

A glint flashed in Luo Meng’s eyes.

Unaware of Luo Meng’s expression, Gu Jin returned to the training field.

Throughout the training, Gu Jin performed exceptionally well, however, in between she fell into a deep thought.

The day ended, and once free, Gu Jin went back to her dorm. She entered her space and started to cook food.

Once she made four dishes and one side dish, she went to the boys’ dormitory.

It was evening time and many students were returning. When they saw Gu Jin walking toward the dormitory, they subconsciously followed her.

Though they tried to maintain the distance, Gu Jin sensed their presence. Yet she didn’t stop or acknowledge their presence.

Standing outside, Luo Meng’s room, she knocked on the door, and when Luo Meng, opened it, she entered the room, closing the door and successfully obstructing the gaze of the curious young men.

"My god! Am I seeing things? Why is Campus Belle in this new transfer student’s room?"

"I don’t know but, it sure isn’t for anything impure, considering how casually she was dressed."

"How I wish I could see through the door."

"Yeah...yeah, we all know you have a gossipy spirit hidden in your body."

"What are you guys talking about?" A stern voice asked.

The young men chatting instantly stopped and when they saw Long Yifan, they relaxed.

"Boss Long you scared us!"

"Yeah right! I thought some teacher had caught us!"

"Oh right, you were asking what we were talking about, right? We just now saw Campus Belle Gu walking inside the new transfer student’s room."

Long Yifan’s brows furrowed at the words, his expression darkening.

"Gu Jin went into Luo Meng’s room?" he repeated, his voice even, though an unmistakable edge of tension lingered beneath it.

The group of onlookers exchanged uneasy glances. One of them hesitated before replying, "Y-Yes, Boss Long."

Inside the room, Gu Jin set the tray down on a small table and took out the food from the storage ring.

"Master," Luo Meng said softly from the bed, his voice laced with gratitude, "you didn’t have to do this."

Gu Jin glanced at him, her expression neutral. "You haven’t been eating properly. As your mentor, it’s my responsibility to ensure you’re healthy."

Her tone was measured, almost clinical, but Luo Meng’s lips curved into a faint smile.

He sat up slowly, his movements deliberate as if to emphasize his frailty.

"You’re always so thoughtful," he said, his gaze lingering on her. "It means more to me than you realize."

Gu Jin didn’t respond immediately. She placed a bowl of soup in front of him and gestured for him to eat.

"Focus on recovering. That’s the best way you can thank me."

As Luo Meng began eating, the room fell into a comfortable silence.

He occasionally glanced at her, his eyes calculating despite the soft smile on his face.

"Master," he said after a while, his voice tentative, "do you ever feel... uncertain about your choices?"

Gu Jin paused, caught off guard by the question.

"Everyone feels uncertain sometimes," she admitted, her tone cautious. "Why do you ask?"

Luo Meng lowered his gaze, feigning a look of vulnerability.

"I’ve been thinking about my place here, about what I want and what I can achieve. And about whether I’ll ever be worthy enough to stand beside someone like you."

Gu Jin sighed, her heart softening despite herself.

"Luo Meng, you don’t need to prove your worth to anyone. Just focus on being the best version of yourself. That’s all I expect from you."

Her words were sincere, but Luo Meng’s mind raced. He knew he’d struck a chord, and now he needed to tread carefully.

"Thank you, Master," he said, his voice filled with apparent gratitude. "I’ll do my best."

Unbeknownst to them, Long Yifan stood outside the door, his hand hovering near the handle.

He clenched his jaw.

Inside, Gu Jin gathered the empty dishes and prepared to leave.

"Rest well, Luo Meng," she said, her voice gentle but detached. "I’ll check on you tomorrow."

As she opened the door, she nearly collided with Long Yifan, who quickly stepped back.

"Excuse me." Gu Jin said calmly.

Long Yifan calmly moved away, but suddenly thinking of something he said softly,

"Gu Jin, sometimes, some people may look harmless, but they have hidden intentions, you should be wary of them."

Gu Jin’s halted for a brief moment before rolling her eyes,

"Yeah? Don’t worry, I have created distance with them. After all, you are one of them."

Long Yifan: "..." My darling truly has a poisonous tongue.

"Hahaha!" Luo Meng’s laughter, caused Long Yifan to turn and glare at him.