He’d averted another crisis, derailed the bar threesome that was supposed to happen tonight, and kept Wen Yang a virgin. Ning Chu was in a pretty good mood.
But the punishment he’d been expecting never came. Clearly, he still hadn’t made those seductresses give up on Wen Yang for good.
This time, he’d also realized that the plotlines in these short smutty stories really didn’t connect much. Otherwise, after he’d completely derailed the opening plot of the first story, there shouldn’t have been any more storylines involving Wen Yang.
“The twins’ plotline is supposed to be the fourth short story... So where are the second and third? Since the timeline isn’t spelled out, do the events happen out of order?”
As soon as he got back to the dorm, Ning Chu pulled up his novel on his phone and quickly reread the twins’ plotline.
“This is a headache. I can’t predict where the story’s going anymore.”
He’d assumed the plotlines would happen in the same order as the stories, but apparently they’d been jumbled up.
“What’re you mumbling about?” Wen Yang came up behind him and reminded him, “Send me your home address, your parents’ occupations and phone numbers, and your ID number. I’m going to start filling out the forms.”
“Sure.”
Ever since Wen Yang had caught him reading the novel in the middle of the night, Ning Chu had moved it to his phone. With a screen that small, it was hard for anyone to notice, even when he read in plain sight.
“Shaoqing, send me that info too.”
Wen Yang turned toward Zhang Shaoqing. When he got no answer after waiting a moment, he gave Zhang Shaoqing’s shoulder a gentle nudge and glanced down at the computer screen.
“You’re not even gaming. Why’re you ignoring me?”
“Got it. Quit bugging me.”
Zhang Shaoqing suddenly looked up and snapped back at him, clearly in a bad mood.
Wen Yang rubbed the back of his head, confused. “Just remember to send me the info.”
He didn’t think much of it, but Ning Chu turned around and watched Zhang Shaoqing with narrowed eyes.
That guy had come back from taking a call outside tonight with a dark cloud hanging over him. He’d been wearing a cold expression and snapping at his roommates for no reason. Something had probably happened.
Wen Yang and Wang Jie went on with their own business. Everyone had their off days, but Ning Chu couldn’t help worrying. He kept glancing over at Zhang Shaoqing while using the computer, concern written all over his face.
Had the girl Zhang Shaoqing liked found some other guy and thrown herself at him?
Or had something happened to his family?
Ning Chu worried as he tried to figure it out. He was especially afraid that some little thing might suddenly turn Wen Yang into that villain who’d stop at nothing.
Drugging, hypnosis, coercion, imprisonment, S&M... He’d crossed every line, moral, legal, and ethical. In the book, this guy didn’t even treat himself like a human being.
If they threw him into a society governed by the rule of law, he could well get life in prison once all his crimes were added up.
If this guy really turned evil, Ning Chu would have no choice but to run!
A chair scraped noisily. Ning Chu looked back and saw Zhang Shaoqing had gone out to the balcony and lit a cigarette.
He realized this was a good chance.
Quickly fixing his expression and mood, Ning Chu put on a warm, concerned smile and hurried out to the dorm balcony.
“Shaoqing~”
Zhang Shaoqing kept his head lowered, only lifting his eyes as he replied coolly, “Get lost.”
“...”
Ning Chu was caught off guard, and his smile froze.
“You’re usually so outgoing. How’d you get even more withdrawn than I used to be?” He stalked off toward the bathroom, looking indignant, and muttered, “You’re the one who used to say I kept switching between being withdrawn and hyper.”
He stepped into the bathroom. When Zhang Shaoqing didn’t call after him, Ning Chu turned around and went back over, concern on his face once more. “What’s wrong? Wanna tell me about it?”
“Heh. So you can enjoy hearing about it?”
Zhang Shaoqing was especially hostile right now.
“Well, not exactly...” Ning Chu was starting to lose his composure. He’d never been good at comforting people, and now his concern was getting him nowhere.
Zhang Shaoqing let out a long sigh, turned around, and leaned his arms on the balcony railing as he looked out at the little garden beyond the dorm.
He smoked in silence, his face expressionless. Before long, though, a faint, delicate fragrance drifted over beside him. The young-looking boy had come to stand at his side, gazing out just as he was.
“...”
“I’ll keep you company. It’s not like I have anything to do.”
“No need.”
Ning Chu lowered his head and fiddled with his nails, sighing softly. “You guys think I suck at games, so you don’t want to play with me. Playing by myself isn’t much fun either.”
“I’ve got nothing else to do, so I might as well come out for some fresh air. Then I’ll shower and go to bed when lights-out comes.”
Zhang Shaoqing glanced at Ning Chu and pulled a cigarette from his pocket, holding it out to him.
Ning Chu reached for it, hesitantly.
“Forget it.” When Zhang Shaoqing saw he was actually going to take it, he shoved the cigarette back in his pocket. “You’re a kid. What’re you doing smoking?”
“Tch~”
On a summer night, the breeze on the balcony was refreshingly cool, nothing like the scorching heat of the day, when the air felt like steam rising from a hotpot. The two of them leaned side by side against the railing, enjoying the gentle breeze and the brief quiet.
He’d only meant to keep Zhang Shaoqing company, hoping that if his roommate ever turned into a villain, he’d remember Ning Chu had been nice to him and spare him.
But the quiet summer night brought back memories of his previous life...
Fortunately, he’d had no parents, no girlfriend, and a 500-yuan Huabei debt in his previous life. All things considered, he’d come out ahead.
Not many people could get one over on Jack Ma!
After who knew how long, Zhang Shaoqing finally spoke first. “Does your stomach still hurt?”
“Yeah, a little. But it’s nothing serious.”
“We’re not going to that Sichuan restaurant again.”
“...”
“You’re acting like a woman, all coy and awkward.”
“What the hell!”
Annoyance got the better of him, and Ning Chu couldn’t help swearing. If Zhang Shaoqing weren’t someone special to him, Ning Chu wouldn’t be going out of his way to awkwardly try to comfort him like this!
Just then, Wang Jie called from inside. “Ning Chu! Shaoqing! I got some barbecue and beer. Come in and have some!”
“See? Now that’s a normal guy.”
Zhang Shaoqing chuckled and turned back into the room.
“But I can’t drink...”
Besides, now that he knew the plot didn’t follow the order of the stories, what if a plotline involving him suddenly kicked off? If he got drunk, wouldn’t he end up stuck between two guys?
“Quit standing there like an idiot.”
“You never have anything nice to say...”
Ning Chu glared at Zhang Shaoqing’s back, annoyed.
He still didn’t know why the guy’s mood had suddenly tanked, but it seemed like something minor had gotten him down. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bounced back so quickly.
When Ning Chu walked back into the dorm, he saw two boxes of barbecue and some crayfish already spread out in the middle of the room. Wang Jie and Wen Yang hadn’t waited for him; they were already eating their fill with gloves on. Zhang Shaoqing had dashed over too, snatching the last grilled chicken drumstick.
“Save some for me!”
“Relax. You don’t drink anyway. Just eat a little.”
“I’ll have cola!” Ning Chu hurried over to the table and craned his neck, searching for his favorite skewers. “Where’re the gloves? Are they all gone?”
“Make room! Make room!”
