"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
On the balcony, Zhang Shaoqing had a gloomy expression. He had just returned to the dorm when Ning Chu dragged him out here, and now the little guy in front of him kept apologizing non-stop.
"It's all my fault, it's all my fault! I was distracted yesterday morning! I misunderstood the massage you were talking about..."
He was actually a bit bewildered, his gloomy expression stiff on his face, looking blankly at the pitiful Ning Chu in front of him. Then, leaning against the balcony railing, he asked in a dissatisfied and fierce tone, "You were wrong? Just saying it won't do any good."
"Uh..." Ning Chu's feigned pitiful demeanor immediately dissipated, and he took two steps back, "What do you want?"
Oh my! Could Zhang Shaoqing really have turned dark just because of this little thing?
Sure enough, the villain's heart is very fragile!
Seeing that wary expression, like a kitten meeting a vicious dog, Zhang Shaoqing suddenly burst into laughter. "Just call me 'Dad' and we're good."
"No."
"No? You are the one who asked me what I want!"
Ning Chu felt extremely humiliated, his lips moved as he reluctantly hummed, "Dad."
"Hey~ one more time!"
"Do you need a beating?"
"Hit me then~" Zhang Shaoqing turned and ran back into the dormitory, taunting as he ran, "You are so girlish, it's like a woman! You didn't really think I'd be mad over something like this, did you?"
Ning Chu angrily grabbed a broom and chased after him.
The dormitory was as noisy as ever. Wen Yang turned around, looking at the two who were chasing and playing in the cramped dormitory, and rubbed his temples with a headache. He loudly interrupted them, "Stop for a moment, stop for a moment!"
"The counselor said yesterday that we have a class dinner tonight. Are you guys going or not? Give me a clear answer."
"Not going! What's the point? I only know you guys in the whole class."
Zhang Shaoqing took a moment to respond, only to get hit on the butt with the broom, and he ran even more cheerfully, yelping.
"It wouldn't be right not to go. The counselor said we should all try to go to promote class unity..."
"Are you dumb? You actually believe his crap?"
Wen Yang had no way to deal with this guy. He turned to Ning Chu, who was holding the broom, his face puffed up in anger like a pufferfish, chasing Zhang Shaoqing.
"Ning Chu, are you going?"
"Don't want to!"
Right now, Ning Chu just wanted to beat Zhang Shaoqing to death.
"Wang Jie?"
"I'm ranking up in-game, no time for useless stuff."
Wen Yang shook his head helplessly. "Come on, can at least one of you accompany me? I don't know many people in the class either."
"Don't worry, the girls in the class won't ignore you."
Hearing Zhang Shaoqing say this, Ning Chu suddenly perked up. He immediately stopped and, with a tense voice, asked, "Are you going?"
"I'm the class monitor, the counselor would break my legs if I don't go."
Ning Chu frowned in distress, put down the broom, and took out his phone. He opened his notes app.
The notes contained a summary of all the girls in the novel who had ended up conquered by Wen Yang. Among them, the ones who are in the same class as Wen Yang are Zhang Shaoqing's crush, the cat girl Ling Ling, the abstinent succubus they had previously discussed, the yandere fox girl...
There were quite a few girls in the class who were supporting characters in the story. If Wen Yang attended the dinner alone, there was a high probability he wouldn't return tonight.
"Are you worried about Wen Yang going out alone again?" Zhang Shaoqing teased with a weird tone, seeing Ning Chu's worried expression, "You might as well go to Thailand and turn yourself into a girl, then you can just marry Wen Yang."
Ning Chu explained stiffly: "I just don't have money to eat!"
"Your family hasn't sent you your living expenses?" Wen Yang asked curiously, "I already got mine."
"No..."
Opening the banking app, Ning Chu looked at the single digit balance and fretted.
Due to raising a cat and indulging in meals and milk tea without much restraint, Ning Chu had already nearly spent all of his living expenses for the month. The remaining money was only enough to buy two packs of instant noodles, which would last him a day.
He pursed his lips and opened his contacts, finding the number labeled "Mom," but hesitated to press the call button.
In his previous life, his mother had passed away early, leaving him to rely on his grandfather. Here, he suddenly had an additional mother, which made him very resistant. His brows furrowed, and he was unwilling to communicate much with this mother.
Moreover, asking for money... It felt humiliating, like begging from a stranger.
"What's wrong? Do you not get along with your mom?" Wen Yang noticed his hesitation.
"It should be fine, I guess?"
Zhang Shaoqing, with his legs crossed, carelessly muttered, "You're being so indecisive about asking for living expenses from your family. I don't even have to ask; my mom keeps stuffing money into my hands."
Of course, you're a rich kid!
Ning Chu rolled his eyes at him and put his phone screen face down on the table, shaking his head helplessly at Wen Yang. "Forget it, I won't go to the dinner tonight."
Since it involved Ning Chu's family matters, Wen Yang didn't say much more. He shrugged to show he understood.
He sat back down in front of his computer, but couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement.
So tonight, Ning Chu wouldn't be his shadow, wouldn't interfere with his luck with the ladies. If a girl pursued him, Ning Chu wouldn't deliberately get in the way...
If it weren't for Ning Chu, would he, someone who had girls lining up to chase him, still be a virgin today?!
That little thought made him feel guilty. He sneaked a glance at Ning Chu, but Ning Chu still looked distressed, head down, searching for something on his phone.
"What's up?"
"Looking for a part-time job..."
Ning Chu lifted one foot onto the chair, resting his chin on his knee, muttering, "Preferably an on-campus job, like a supermarket clerk, cafeteria delivery or serving food..."
"That way I can work during class breaks and earn some money."
Seeing Ning Chu's gloomy expression, Wen Yang's excitement gradually dissipated. "It's the last day of the month. Isn't it normal to ask your family for living expenses? Why look for a part-time job?"
"Didn't you say a student's primary task is to study?"
That was just me spouting nonsense to keep you from flirting with girls while working part-time. Did you really take it seriously? How naive!
Ning Chu silently cursed Wen Yang's foolishness, not saying a word.
"How about joining me in game boosting? Just playing a few hours in the evening won't affect your studies much and can be entertaining."
"Him? Do you remember his 0-18 score last time?" Zhang Shaoqing sneered, "The three of us carried him and still lost. You think anyone would buy his service?"
Game boosting...
Ning Chu's eyes suddenly lit up.
Boosting might not work, but how about seeking companionship?!
Even if he was bad at games and a guy, there might still be people willing to pay for his company. Perhaps someone like the coffee shop owner who liked young boys...
What if he got lucky?
He hurriedly downloaded a game companionship app, registered an account, and decided to let it sit there. If someone was willing to pay him, great; if not, he only wasted a bit of phone storage.
"I'm about to leave."
"So early?" Ning Chu jolted.
"I need to check how many people are going to the dinner, then find a good and affordable restaurant with the counselor..."
Zhang Shaoqing chimed in, "Don't choose that Sichuan restaurant again. It upset Ning Chu's stomach last time."
"Got it."
Seeing Wen Yang about to leave, Ning Chu quickly got up and ran over. "Wait, wait!"
"What's up?"
He glanced at Zhang Shaoqing, who was watching the show, and felt a rush of heated embarrassment. His face turned slightly red, and he lowered his voice to gently remind, "Don't drink at the dinner, come back early, and... don't stay out overnight..."
I have to learn to let him go. He's just going out for dinner; he should be fine, right?
But Zhang Shaoqing heard everything clearly: "Hey~ It's like watching a distressed wife reminding her husband to not go back too late!"
Hearing this, Ning Chu's embarrassment multiplied, his face turning crimson, as if it could drip blood. The blush quickly spread to his ears. He lowered his head, feeling the heat on his face, and clenched his teeth, wanting to punch Zhang Shaoqing.
What an annoying guy!
Wen Yang looked at Ning Chu's blushing face, the shy and delicate look tugging at his heart.
Does Ning Chu really like me?
He couldn't stop himself from overthinking, but still lightly nodded.
"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who messes around."