Xie Lanzhi’s fingertips hovered over WeChat’s search bar. Qin Shu’s yell was so loud, it was like his intended recipient wasn’t Xu Ning but some alien —send one message, and Earth would face annihilation.
After several previous “baptisms,” Xie Lanzhi was already practiced in staying calm at Qin Shu’s bouts of abnormal behavior. “Why not?”
Qin Shu stared nervously at Xie Lanzhi’s phone like it was a ticking time bomb.
Why? The h*ll you even need to ask?! If Xie Lanzhi is the one who finds and returns Xu Ning’s campus card, with Xu Ning’s personality he’ll definitely be super grateful, maybe even invite him to a meal. Then Xie Lanzhi will invite him back in return, and back and forth like that—how could the “Lan–Ning” stock not hit the daily limit-up? There’s no way he can just stand by and watch such a deranged thing unfold.
Qin Shu sneaked a glance at Chu Cheng. Poor kid still hadn’t noticed them, head down, searching hard for the card, completely unaware that Ning Ning’s campus card had already been scooped up in seconds by Xie Lanzhi, the one with the “canon-ML halo” built in.
Stock-trading is not easy—Shushu sighed.
He steadied himself and said, “Can you give me the campus card, let me be the one to return it to Ning Ning?”
Xie Lanzhi raised an eyebrow.
“You know I’m chasing Ning Ning. This is a good chance to get close to him.” Qin Shu clasped his hands together, begging, “Please.”
Xie Lanzhi glanced at the card in his hand. The campus card had the owner’s name, student ID, and photo. He had only met Xu Ning once or twice, didn’t remember his looks that well, but the photo showed a strikingly pretty boy—no wonder the junior liked him.
Looking at Qin Shu’s eager face, he felt a subtle amusement. Lately this junior had been acting like a different person—sometimes cold, sometimes warm, half-smiles every time they met, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Xie Lanzhi said slowly, “I could.”
Qin Shu’s eyes lit up.
“But wouldn’t that mean you owe me another favor?” He handed the card toward Qin Shu. “Last time, when I let you crash and take a shower, you paid me back with 35 yuan worth of milk tea. How much is this worth?”
“Thanks! When (Baby and) Ning Ning gets married in the future, you won’t have to give a wedding gift.” Qin Shu, afraid he’d take it back, quickly reached for the card—but Xie Lanzhi suddenly lifted his hand, making him grab at nothing.
Xie Lanzhi chuckled. “I’m not short on wedding money.”
“Then what do you want?”
“It’s been a while since you called me ‘senior,’” Xie Lanzhi dangled the card in front of him. “Call it once for me.”
D*mn it, the original novel wasn’t wrong—the guy with the surname Xie might look cultured and gentlemanly on the surface, but he’s full of bad water inside. Still, for Baby’s sake, never mind “senior,” he’d even call him “dad.”
Qin Shu’s gaze flickered as he muttered it quickly: “Senior.”
Xie Lanzhi paused, then a sudden inspiration struck: “Look at me when you say it.”
…So fussy.
Unwillingly, Qin Shu lifted his head. The moment he met Xie Lanzhi’s deep eyes and brows, he couldn’t help breaking into a smile brighter than the summer sun. “Senior!”
Xie Lanzhi: “…”
Qin Shu: “…”
Worst thing is—when the air suddenly goes quiet.
Xie Lanzhi’s soft laugh broke the awkwardness. “Sounds good.”
Sh*t—did he just expose his face-con attribute? What kind of wtf moment is this!
Xie Lanzhi tucked the card into Qin Shu’s chest pocket. “Why haven’t you called me that lately? Did I offend you?”
Qin Shu turned his head away. “No.” If blame was to be placed, it was because you’re too perfect—he had to guard himself.
He was wearing a linen T-shirt today, with a kind of retro look, but against bare skin it wasn’t that comfortable if rubbed too long. Before, it had felt fine, but now with the campus card sitting in the pocket, the fabric pressed against his nipple, and… yeah, it felt really awkward.
D*mn you, Xie Lanzhi, why’d you have to stick the card in such a weird place!
The two of them had been standing under the sun this whole time. Xie Lanzhi still looked cool and aloof, but Qin Shu’s face and ears were red as a beet. He wanted to take the card out of his pocket—but of all times, that’s when Chu Cheng finally showed up. “Brother Lan, you were looking for me?” He wiped sweat with the hem of his shirt, then noticed Qin Shu with some surprise. “Why are you here too?”
Xie Lanzhi answered for him. “Just happened to pass by. What are you looking for? We’ll help you.”
Chu Cheng stammered, “N-nothing important.”
Qin Shu, enduring the strange sensation on his chest, said, “If it’s not important, why’d you skip class to look for it?”
Chu Cheng glared at him, eyes full of warning.
Qin Shu pretended not to see. “Oh right, weren’t you supposed to be playing ball with your Brother Lan? Why’d you run to the soccer field to look for something?”
Through gritted teeth, Chu Cheng spat out four words: “Shut the h*ll up.”
“What’s the big mystery? Just tell us.” Qin Shu said in a deliberately annoying tone. “We’re already here, at least satisfy our curiosity.”
Xie Lanzhi said, “I’m not that curious.”
Qin Shu choked. “Thanks a lot.”
“Whatever it is, searching like this won’t work.” Xie Lanzhi said. “Just post a lost-and-found notice on the forum.”
Chu Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. “Makes sense. I’ll stop looking. Have you eaten?”
Xie Lanzhi: “Not yet. Wanna go together?”
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
Qin Shu cast Xie Lanzhi a resentful look.
Ugh, my nipple hurts. As soon as he gets back, he’s cutting this d*mned T-shirt up.
The three of them went to a small off-campus restaurant for Chongqing chicken pot. A huge pot was served, richly colored, full of flavor, with sides of dried bean curd sticks, celtuce, rice cakes, and Qin Shu’s top recommendation—layered tofu—plus a big bottle of sour plum juice to cut the grease. Just smelling it made Qin Shu’s mouth water uncontrollably.
Chu Cheng, the sporty type, burned calories fast. Qin Shu hadn’t even finished half a chicken wing, but Chu Cheng had already spit out five or six bones. His eating was unrestrained, almost aggressive, and Qin Shu unconsciously sped up his own pace to keep up.
Xie Lanzhi’s chopsticks froze midair. “Have you two not eaten in three years?”
Qin Shu couldn’t out-compete Chu Cheng. Just when he was still craving more, the last piece of thousand-layer tofu was snatched away. Chu Cheng deliberately ate it in front of him, savoring it with exaggerated glee. Truly the most elementary of chickens.
After a satisfied burp, Chu Cheng complained, “What extra-large? Not enough for even me alone.”
Qin Shu fumed: “That whole big pot wasn’t enough for you? Did you ever think this was a chicken’s life? No, you didn’t. You never think. You only ever care about yourself.”
Xie Lanzhi couldn’t hold back his laughter, pressed the bell on the table, and called the waiter to settle the bill. Chu Cheng quickly said: “This time it’s on me!”
The waitress said: “Since Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, our restaurant is holding a promotion. If a family eats here, takes a group photo in the restaurant, and posts it to Moments, once you get thirty likes, you can enjoy a 20% discount~ May I ask, are you a family of three?”
Xie Lanzhi: “…”
Qin Shu was sipping on sour plum juice, biting his straw, thinking that he and Chu Cheng could barely be considered a family of two, but as for Xie Lanzhi—he could go wherever it was nice and cool.
Chu Cheng’s eyes went wide. “Do we look like a family of three to you?”
The waitress covered her mouth, secretly laughing. “Sorry, sorry. Without the discount, the total is 267 yuan.”
After dinner, Xie Lanzhi went home, while Chu Cheng and Qin Shu walked back to the dorms together. At the intersection, Chu Cheng’s eyes kept drifting toward the sports field. Qin Shu took advantage of his distraction to quickly pull the campus card out of his pocket and casually toss it on the ground. In that instant, his little nipple was finally freed—he felt reborn, letting out a long sigh of relief. And now, it was time for his performance again.
“Chu Cheng!”
Chu Cheng jumped. “What the h*ll, don’t scare me like that.”
Qin Shu pointed at the ground. “Look, what’s that?”
It was already dark, and Chu Cheng couldn’t see clearly. “Probably just a fallen leaf.”
Qin Shu felt like he was about to have a heart attack. “Take a closer look? I think it looks kind of like… a card or something.”
“A card?” Chu Cheng crouched down, finally seeing it clearly. “It’s a campus card—sh*t, it’s Xu Ning’s!”
Qin Shu exclaimed in surprise: “Really? I don’t believe it.”
Chu Cheng picked it up and shoved it in Qin Shu’s face. “Are you blind?”
Qin Shu stepped back half a step, cursing silently, d*mn brat. “So his campus card was dropped here.” He added sourly, “And you’re the one who found it. What kind of bullsh*t luck is that.”
Chu Cheng looked at Xu Ning’s photo on the card, his face practically spelling out the word “conflicted.”
Qin Shu said: “Hurry and give the campus card back to Ning Ning, he must be really anxious.”
“You give it back.”
Qin Shu thought he misheard. “Huh?”
Chu Cheng gave him a sideways glance. “You saw it first.”
Qin Shu nearly had another heart attack. Brat, this is not the time to be modest with your dad, okay! Do you think this is just an ordinary campus card? No—it’s the key to your wife’s heart! Do you know how much your dad went through to get it into your hands? My nipple still hurts right now!
“But you’re the one who bent down to pick it up,” Qin Shu said.
“Don’t give me that cr*p.” Chu Cheng sneered. “Honestly, aren’t you already over the moon inside?”
…I’m over the moon from being pissed off by you! Qin Shu really wanted to crack open Chu Cheng’s skull, drain out the water inside, and stuff in his own brain.
“So did you like Ning Ning’s post on purpose,” Qin Shu deliberately provoked him, “are you actually gloating, not wanting him to get his card back?”
Chu Cheng was shocked. “Are you an idiot? Him not getting his card back—what good would that do me? Of course I want him to get it back! As long as he can, what difference does it make who helps him?”
Qin Shu’s anger deflated instantly, like a puff of smoke.
As long as he can get it back, what difference does it make who helps him. Rounded up, that was basically: As long as he’s happy, what difference does it make who’s by his side.
Brat, do you like Ning Ning to the point of this kind of selflessness? Dad feels both bitter and moved. But sadly, your arrow is way too faint—Xu Ning has no idea about your feelings. If you don’t take the initiative, how will he ever shoot an arrow back at you?
Qin Shu thought a bit and said: “Then let’s go together.”
Chu Cheng muttered: “I don’t have any reason to go.”
“You still haven’t given Ning Ning the thing you wanted to,” Qin Shu said. “Why not use this chance to do it.”
“I said I’d give it to him in front of Squid King.”
“…Brat, what the h*ll is wrong with you.” “Then just treat it as keeping me company? I don’t know my way around the dorm area.”
Chu Cheng raised his chin proudly. “So you’re begging me?”
“…I’m begging you.”
Chu Cheng “reluctantly” nodded. “Fine then.”
Qin Shu messaged Xu Ning on WeChat to ask where he was. Hearing that he was in his dorm, Qin Shu and Chu Cheng headed there.
Qin Shu knocked on the door, and just as it opened, he reached over to straighten Chu Cheng’s collar.
Chu Cheng got goosebumps all over. “Are you insane!”
“Your collar was crooked.” At that moment, Qin Shu felt exactly like an old father taking his son to propose at his future daughter-in-law’s home—of course he had to tidy him up a bit.
Soon, the door opened. The one who answered wasn’t Xu Ning, nor Xu Ning’s roommate, but—
Qin Shu: “Wang Squid?”
Chu Cheng: “Squid King?”
Even being called his nickname to his face, Wang Youyu still smiled politely: “My name is Wang Youyu, thank you.”
Qin Shu: “Then I didn’t call it wrong.”
Chu Cheng narrowed his eyes. “Why are you here?”
Chu Cheng’s hostility was way too obvious—there’s no way Wang Youyu couldn’t feel it. Adjusting his glasses, he said: “That’s what I should be asking you two.”
Qin Shu said: “We came to see Ning Ning.”
“Qin Shu, Chu Cheng.” Xu Ning appeared from behind Wang Youyu. He must’ve just finished showering—his hair was still damp, and he was wearing loose pajamas. His figure was tall and slender, his face pure yet dazzling.
Chu Cheng froze for a moment, and a strange flush climbed up his ears.
“You came specially to find me—what’s the matter?” Xu Ning asked.
Qin Shu nudged Chu Cheng with his elbow. “Hey.”
Chu Cheng snapped back, coughed lightly, and asked: “Why is he in your dorm?”
Xu Ning answered patiently: “Youyu went home for the weekend. My mom asked him to bring me some things.”
Wang Youyu smiled. “Our two families have always been close.”
Qin Shu muttered under his breath: So what if you’re close? A childhood friend can’t beat a heaven-sent rival. Just give up already.
“It’s homemade cured sausage,” Xu Ning said. “The taste is good, and it keeps well. Do you two want to try some? If you like it, I can pack some for you to take back.”
Qin Shu swallowed hard. “That’d be too much trouble…”
Xu Ning smiled. “I’ll go get some.”
Qin Shu quickly said, “Haha, no rush—let’s handle the main thing first. Chu Cheng?”
“Right, the main thing.” Chu Cheng shot a provocative glance at Wang Youyu. “Xu Ning, I’ve got something for you.”
Xu Ning froze. “What?”
Qin Shu hesitated. “Chu Cheng, maybe we should give him the card first—”
Chu Cheng cut him off with a “stop right there” gesture, his tone fierce: “I got you a year-long gym membership. And I signed you up for a kickboxing class.”
Xu Ning: “?”
Wang Youyu: “??”
Qin Shu: “???”
“From now on, come to the gym with me,” Chu Cheng said firmly. “Once you build some muscle, no one will dare to bully you again.”
Qin Shu: “…” Once he builds those muscles, he’s gonna flip you over and pin you down, you idiot! Wake up already!!!
Xu Ning’s face lit up with a smile. “Okay.”
That was Qin Shu’s third near-heart attack of the day—absolutely not, Dad disapproves!
Author’s note:
Q: If you had to choose, would you rather break a CP or flip a CP?
Love Letter: … I choose death.
