Hehe gathered the photography club members for an annual wrap-up. The three “plus-ones” had nothing to do, so they huddled together for warmth.
Lu Rulu walked over and sat down between Chu Cheng and Qin Shu, arms around a junior on each side. “What’s this now, sucking on oxygen again? Aren’t you afraid of oxygen intoxication?”
“Impossible,” the oxygen mask blocked Qin Shu’s nose and mouth, making his words muffled. He thumped his chest with a fist. “Here—it hurts.”
Chu Cheng pressed down the switch and took a deep gulp. “Blame that boss! He dares call that cr*p ‘a little scary, just enough to spook some cutesy girls’?! What misunderstanding does he have about the word ‘scary’?”
Qin Shu lowered the oxygen mask, raised both hands in a “ta-dah” pose, even adding sound effects: “Congratulations on clearing the escape room side quest! You’ve obtained the title of ‘Big /□□ Moe Girl.’”
Chu Cheng, already sulking, was now being mocked on top of it. His face darkened. “Can you shut up? Do I not need face?!”
“Nope. You acted dumb, and you won’t let people talk about it? Not only will I talk, I’ll spread it everywhere!”
Lu Rulu blinked. “What’d I miss? Chu Cheng, weren’t you going to confess? How’d it go?” Actually, no answer was needed—their expressions said it all. “You got rejected, huh?”
“Not exactly,” Qin Shu said. “More like ‘perished before the battle was won.’”
“Enough already, stop showing off your poetry reciting.” Chu Cheng inhaled more oxygen, forcing himself back up. “It’s fine. If it’s ruined today, there’s still Christmas. If Christmas flops, there’s New Year’s… No way! I survived exams without failing a class, and I can’t even handle a confession?!”
Qin Shu rolled his eyes, too tired to waste energy mocking him anymore. Don’t ask—just know his heart was exhausted.
Afraid that staying near Chu Cheng longer would make him bash his head in with the oxygen bottle, Qin Shu stood. “I’m going to find Brother Lan.”
Chu Cheng snorted. “Clingy brat. Brother Lan’s in a meeting, don’t you see?”
“What, is it some top-secret national-level meeting? I can’t just go listen in?” Qin Shu said. “Also, you don’t get to criticize me. Go haul your gift back to the car, Big /□□ Moe Girl.”
The photography club’s meeting wasn’t formal. People were chatting and laughing casually. Hehe summed up the semester, mentioned next term’s plans, and finally announced she’d be stepping down to prep for grad school. Anyone interested in running for club president could sign up.
Xie Lanzhi had no interest. The girl standing next to him leaned closer. “Senior, will you run?”
He didn’t remember her name, but her face looked familiar. She’d invited him to game earlier too. “No.”
“Why not? I think you’re perfect.”
“No time.”
“Second semester of third year barely has classes, and with your grades you’ll definitely get a grad-school recommendation. How could you not have time?”
Xie Lanzhi glanced up, saw Qin Shu walking toward him, and smiled faintly. “My time’s for dating.”
The girl’s smile froze.
Qin Shu didn’t want to interrupt the meeting, so he crouched down, slipping cautiously through people until he reached Lanzhi’s back.
Since there weren’t enough seats, most club members were standing in a circle around the dining table. Qin Shu thought Lanzhi wouldn’t notice him and reached out to poke his back—but Lanzhi caught his hand immediately.
Qin Shu startled, terrified someone would see. He glanced around nervously, hardly daring to breathe. “Brother…”
Xie Lanzhi tilted his head and spoke to him. “Looking for me?”
He hadn’t spoken loudly, but nowhere near as soft as Qin Shu. People nearby instantly noticed Qin Shu sneaking around. Just like that, his boyfriend had sold him out—now he was the dumbfounded deer-in-headlights.
Hehe looked over, grinning. “What’s so urgent? Your senior’s in a meeting, can’t you wait?”
“…” That smile’s so bright, but don’t think I can’t see what you’re imagining!
Thankfully, their hands were hidden by the table. If Hehe had seen, Qin Shu suspected she’d borrow his oxygen bottle on the spot.
Having survived enough dumb-friend antics, Qin Shu had built a high tolerance for cringe. He leaned casually against Xie Lanzhi and joked, “How long’s this meeting going on? Senior, I’m starving!”
Between guys, hugging or leaning was normal—most people would just think they were close friends. But Hehe, having seen through everything, nearly burst from maternal instinct at the sight of her “soft little uke” (Qin Shu: ??). She waved her hand grandly. “Meeting adjourned—let’s eat!”
Dinner was fried chicken, pizza, fries, all kinds of delicious junk food. Chu Cheng turned grief into appetite: by the time Qin Shu was halfway through a chicken wrap, Chu Cheng had already demolished half a family bucket. Lu Rulu said it was a shame he didn’t livestream mukbangs. Even Xu Ning, usually unfazed by his eating, urged him to slow down.
Chu Cheng paused, Orleans chicken wing in hand. “Didn’t you say you like watching me eat?”
“Yes, but…”
“Let him eat, Ningning,” Qin Shu said, munching his wrap. “Better he stuffs himself sick than wallows drunk.”
Xu Ning: “Uh?”
Xie Lanzhi wiped Qin Shu’s mouth with a napkin, casually adding, “Almost forgot Chu Cheng had that trait.”
When the junk food was mostly gone, Hehe brought out a big cake. Xu Ning’s birthday cake was simple yet exquisite: two white swans facing each other on the top layer. It didn’t look much like a birthday cake—more like something for an anniversary or engagement party.
The girls all whipped out their phones to snap pictures. “Looks expensive!” one said.
“President, did you buy this to confess to Xu Ning? Hahaha!”
A boy had teased. Hehe laughed and scolded. “Get lost! I wouldn’t dare covet our school flower. This was sponsored by a mysterious clubmate.”
Xu Ning frowned. He had already transferred cake money to Hehe long ago, but this clearly wasn’t the agreed cake. “Who?”
Hehe kept up the mystery. “The donor wishes to remain anonymous. Don’t ask.”
Qin Shu’s eyes lit up. He nudged Chu Cheng with an elbow. “Nice move, Baby. You even hid it from me?”
Chu Cheng’s face turned stormy, glaring holes into the swan cake. “Not me.”
“What the—? Then…” Qin Shu turned to Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi raised an eyebrow. “You think it was me?”
“No,” Qin Shu said. “But you’re the rich one here.”
Xie Lanzhi shrugged. “It’s only four digits. Anyone could afford it.”
“You’re overestimating the average college student.” A few thousand yuan was several months’ living expenses for many. And who would secretly buy a cake that looked more like a lovers’ cake? If they really wanted to gift one, wouldn’t a private delivery be better than this unavoidable public gesture?
Qin Shu concluded, “Oh, I know who.”
Xie Lanzhi said, “Wang Youyu.”
Qin Shu grabbed Xie Lanzhi’s hand. “Consensus reached.”
Chu Cheng looked at Wang Youyu’s poker face with pure disdain. “D*mn it, can’t guard against him at all.”
Hehe urged Xu Ning to cut the cake, and everyone looked eager—after all, such an expensive cake wasn’t an everyday treat. Xu Ning said, “I’m not good at cutting. You do it.”
“How could I? It’s your birthday.”
Qin Shu couldn’t stand it anymore. Rolling up his sleeves, he declared, “I’ll do it. My knife skills are sick—no one else could carve this kind of refinement.”
“Wait,” Wang Youyu said. “Don’t you light candles and make a wish first?”
Hehe slapped her forehead. “Right! I forgot. Xu Ning…”
“No need,” Xu Ning said softly. “That’s not important. Let’s just eat.”
Since the birthday boy himself said so, everyone dug in. Qin Shu sliced it into neat equal pieces and passed them out.
Lu Rulu scooped a bite, clicking his tongue. “Think this spoonful’s worth five yuan?”
Qin Shu asked Chu Cheng, “You want some?”
Chu Cheng sneered. “I, Chu Cheng, would rather starve, die outside, and jump from here, than eat a single bite of his cake!”
Xie Lanzhi said, “There’s still two pizzas left.”
“…Fine, I’ll take those!”
After the cake, people lingered a bit longer before heading back to campus. Having devoured a family bucket and two whole pizzas, Chu Cheng slipped into his usual “food drunk” state, slumped and incoherent on the sofa. Xu Ning told Qin Shu to go on ahead; he’d hail a cab and take Chu Cheng back later.
Qin Shu was uneasy. “He really stuffed himself. Can you manage alone? He’s heavy.”
Xu Ning smiled. “I can. I’ve tried before.”
Oh? That “tried before” sounded loaded.
Qin Shu first dropped Lanzhi home, and thanks to Lu Rulu’s presence, they had to part like ordinary friends.
Back at the dorm, it was late. Qin Shu started daydreaming that Baby might not come back tonight—that Ning-ning might take him to a hotel. His imagination went wild. But then—Xu Ning knocked at their dorm door.
Fine. Shouldn’t have hoped. No hope, no disappointment.
Sigh. After all, Ning-ning was the bottom. He couldn’t be too forward. Only Baby’s fault for being useless.
Chu Cheng slumped in his chair, eyes hazy, watching Qin Shu and Xu Ning talk.
Qin Shu asked, “He threw up on the way?”
“No, he slept the whole time,” Xu Ning said. “Are you sure he’s not drunk?”
“Nope. He always gets like this when overstuffed. He’ll mumble a bit, sleep it off, and be fine tomorrow.”
Xu Ning nodded. “Thanks for taking care of him tonight.”
“Sigh, if you really don’t want me tired, you shouldn’t have brought him back.”
Xu Ning smiled faintly. “I wanted to… but…” He paused. “I’ll head back. If anything happens, let me know.”
“Sure. Oh—and happy birthday, Ningning.”
“Thanks.” Xu Ning ruffled Chu Cheng’s hair gently. “Chu Cheng, I’m leaving. Rest well.”
Chu Cheng cracked his eyelids open a slit and muttered, “…Gift.”
“Hm? What gift?”
Chu Cheng burped. “I got you so many gifts… from age one to twenty… so many…”
Xu Ning froze, then his gaze softened like water. “Then why don’t you give them to me?”
“Because… because I’m too lame.” Chu Cheng frowned. “I didn’t give you mine, but Wang Youyu still gave you that cake—what kind of man am I, f*ck…”
“It’s okay,” Xu Ning smiled brightly. “You’re my best birthday gift.”
Qin Shu pressed himself against the wall, trying to merge into it. I—I—I… the f*ck, am I witnessing this live??
Can’t wait until next week to see more? Want to show your support? Come to my Patreon where you can read the rest of the book for If I Can’t Get the Male Lead, I’ll Just Be a Salted Fish right away ! Or go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)
