Is Self-Redemption Really That Hard? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 20

Capital University’s National Day holiday lasted from September 30 to October 7—a full eight days.

But holidays always seemed to slip by faster than usual, and that was just as true for Lu Wuqi and Lan Xu.

After visiting their homeroom teacher, the two only managed to go out for a few meals together before October 7 arrived—the day they had to fly back to the capital.

“Don’t worry, I can take care of myself. I’ll rest more and stay away from heavy chores. I remember everything the doctor said.”

Mother Lu busied herself stuffing things into Lu Wuqi’s suitcase, determined to pack in every good thing she could find.

“If you feel unwell in any way, call me—or just go straight to the hospital. Don’t hold back just to save money. I’m earning quite a bit now,” Lu Wuqi reminded her once again.

“Alright, alright. Didn’t you install another camera in the living room? You can even watch me eat. I wouldn’t be able to hide it from you even if I tried.”

Mother Lu laughed, then asked, “What time is your flight? Don’t miss it.”

“Two in the afternoon. It’s only eleven now, we’ve got time.”

Lu Wuqi squatted down and zipped her suitcase closed. “Mom, I probably won’t be able to come back until New Year’s. If you miss me, we can video call anytime.”

While Lu Wuqi was saying her goodbyes, Lan Xu was doing the same—but her conversation with her own mother was far less warm.

“Lu Wuqi’s a good kid, but the burden from her family is too heavy. With a father like that, she can’t take the civil service or teaching exams. That’s a fact she can’t change, even as a Capital University graduate.”

Mother Lan said matter-of-factly, “I can’t control who you make friends with when you’re away, but just remember to be careful when it comes to money.”

“I know. She’s never borrowed money from me—she just used my laptop once,” Lan Xu mumbled under her breath. “I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t let just anyone take advantage of me.”

“Alright, alright. That Lu girl seems fine to me. To have found such a good part-time job as a freshman—she’s bound to do well in the future.”

Father Lan came over, patting his wife’s shoulder in an attempt to ease the tension.

“She’s grown up. You have to let go a little. You can’t always be by her side, can you? She needs room to grow.”

He used to be strict with Lan Xu, too, but ever since she turned eighteen, he had gradually eased up—only Mother Lan still kept her old habits, meddling in everything big and small.

“Do you want me to drive you to the airport?” Father Lan asked.

Lan Xu shook her head. “No need. Lu Wuqi’s coming soon—we’ll go together.”

“Alright then. Remember what I told you—study hard.”

He had only one daughter, and he wasn’t about to let some boy deceive her in college.

“Mhm, I’ll keep my distance from boys,” Lan Xu said seriously.

Uh-oh. Apparently, she was a natural at lying—she’d been nervous the first time she said that, but now it rolled off her tongue effortlessly.

Once the National Day holiday ended, both Lu Wuqi and Lan Xu became busy again.

Lu Wuqi threw herself into money-making ventures with Miao Miao, while Lan Xu got swamped with club and student union activities.

For college students, internship credits and volunteer hours were crucial—they affected scholarships and even graduation. The ways to earn them were limited: through clubs or the student union.

Unlike the upperclassmen who already held leadership roles and could take easier tasks, freshmen had far fewer options. Most of their work was time-consuming and offered little reward.

When Lu Wuqi heard that Lan Xu was assigned to work as a volunteer at a museum over the weekend, she immediately signed up to go with her.

But what she didn’t expect was that those thankless tasks—worth only three to five volunteer hours—had already been distributed internally. Without joining a department, she wouldn’t even get a slot.

Still, that wasn’t a problem. If she couldn’t go as a volunteer, she could always go as a visitor—and at least they wouldn’t risk being separated to do different kinds of “free labor.”

“Indoor work is way better than being outside—no sun, air-conditioning, and a steady temperature,” said Lan Xu, dressed in a red volunteer vest. Her assignment was simple: maintain order and give directions.

“There’s nowhere to sit, though. Standing all day is exhausting,” Lu Wuqi remarked, unscrewing a water bottle and handing it to her.

“Then I’ll just sit on the floor. I didn’t wear a skirt today on purpose,” Lan Xu replied, sipping the water in small gulps.

“Lan Xu, we’re short on people at the entrance. Go help out there,” said a male upperclassman from the sophomore year, walking over before she’d even finished resting.

“The entrance? Isn’t that Team A’s job?” Lan Xu blinked. The entrance was outdoors—under direct sunlight.

The upperclassman shrugged. “Can’t be helped. They’re short-staffed, so we’re pulling someone from Team C.”

“Senior, will the volunteer hours be adjusted too? I remember the entrance shifts get two more hours than ours,” Lan Xu asked politely.

“I don’t know. The list was already submitted. It probably won’t be changed.” He frowned slightly, his tone turning impatient. “It’s just two hours. Don’t make a fuss.”

“Senior, can I ask why you’re short-staffed? Weren’t all the assignments finalized at nine? It’s almost ten-thirty now,” Lu Wuqi interjected, taking the water bottle from Lan Xu and meeting his eyes.

“One of the students at the entrance isn’t feeling well and needs to rest,” he said curtly. “They’re shorthanded now, so hurry up and go.”

Lu Wuqi caught Lan Xu’s wrist and took a step forward.

“Senior, if the list was already submitted, does that mean even if that student didn’t complete their shift, they’d still get the full five hours?”

“I wouldn’t know. If you don’t want to go, just stay here,” the senior muttered, guilt flashing briefly in his eyes before he grumbled something in Japanese under his breath.

Lu Wuqi clicked her tongue, her gaze laced with mocking amusement. Education didn’t always equal character—how true that was.

“If I’m not mistaken, Senior, you’re in the Spanish department, right?” she said casually. “Next time you want to complain, maybe use Spanish instead of Japanese. At least then we might not understand you.”

His face darkened immediately. Unable to think of a retort, he glared at her and stalked off.

“How did you know he’s in the Spanish department?” Lan Xu asked curiously. “And what did he just say in Japanese?”

“Your club has an official account that posted the volunteer list. I read it yesterday,” Lu Wuqi said innocently. “As for what he said—I didn’t catch it. But since he didn’t dare say it in Chinese, it probably wasn’t anything nice.”

Lan Xu glanced anxiously in the direction the senior had gone. “You think he knows who I am? He won’t mess with my credits, will he?”

“He won’t. He said himself the list was already submitted—he doesn’t have the authority to change it.” Lu Wuqi reassured her. “Besides, he’s from the Foreign Languages Department. Worst case, I’ll ask that Professor Yi from your department for help.”

A little team leader with a scrap of power—that’s all he was. The kind who bullied the meek to feel important.

Lu Wuqi remembered the list of volunteers: among the freshmen, there were only three girls—and her own girlfriend’s photo looked by far the gentlest.

“Forget it. I’ll just do something in my own department next time,” Lan Xu sighed softly. “I didn’t expect even Capital University to have people like that. I thought the seniors here would all be refined and mature.”

“Academic degrees don’t equal good manners. As long as we’ve got nothing to be ashamed of, that’s what matters.”

Lu Wuqi glanced around. “I’ll run to the convenience store and grab you a folding stool. Standing all day’s too much.”

Lan Xu nodded. “Get two—don’t forget one for yourself.”

“Got it. I’ll be back in twenty minutes, tops.”

Lu Wuqi set the bottle aside, checked the time on her phone, and hurried off.

In her rush toward the museum entrance, she failed to notice that the same sophomore who’d spoken to them earlier was walking in with a freshman from the Foreign Languages Department—the two passing each other almost shoulder to shoulder.