So, the super handsome guy from the dorm opposite = Xie Lanzhi = top stock market favorite = the stock rival who steals his “daughter-in-law.” At this moment, Qin Shu only wanted to perform an on-the-spot death.
Breaking up a CP means cutting off someone’s source of joy; the hatred of stealing his baby’s partner was absolutely irreconcilable. From the moment Qin Shu entered the pit, Xie Lanzhi was a thorn in his eye, a thorn in his heart. No matter how much the original author wrote him as flirty, dazzling, or drop-dead gorgeous, Qin Shu was unmoved, firmly on his baby’s side, never sparing Xie Lanzhi a glance. But he never expected—Xie Lanzhi could be this dazzling! His looks, his voice, his build, his manner of speech—every single thing hit Qin Shu’s weak spots!
D*mn it, I was already ready to treat him like a male god and worship him, and now you’re telling me he’s Xie Lanzhi?
Eat sh*t, dog author!
The girl with the sports drink looked familiar to Xie Lanzhi, but he couldn’t recall her name. “Thanks,” he smiled politely, “but I don’t feel like drinking this right now.”
“Eh?” The girl tightened her hold on the drink, softening her voice. “Then what do you want? I’ll buy it for you?”
Xie Lanzhi said, “Milk tea.”
The girl looked surprised—who drinks milk tea while playing basketball?
Xie Lanzhi stepped past her toward Qin Shu. For some reason, the junior who had been smiling like a flower a moment ago was now expressionless, with a stray hair standing up, looking dazed and clutching the cup of milk tea, staring at him with an indescribably strange gaze, as if he had just deleted the save file of his favorite game.
Xie Lanzhi stopped in front of him. “Qin Shu.”
Qin Shu’s mouth parted slightly. “Senior…” No, he couldn’t call him senior. He wasn’t the male god senior—he was that Xie!
At the last second, Qin Shu switched words. “Xie Lanzhi?”
Xie Lanzhi raised his brows. “Now you know my name?”
The hammer fell. Qin Shu choked, nearly coughing up blood.
“What’s wrong,” Xie Lanzhi lowered his eyes. From Qin Shu’s angle he could see his long lashes. “Not feeling well?”
Qin Shu bowed his head, hiding his face in shadow. The sound of Chu Cheng talking with teammates drifted over—that was his baby, his precious one. In front of his baby, what senior, what male god—they were nothing but farts!
Qin Shu shot Xie Lanzhi a quick glance. His chest tightened—no, no, too d*mn handsome. Until he could resist Xie Lanzhi’s beauty, he absolutely couldn’t meet his eyes. Otherwise, he’d never be able to keep up a cold front.
Qin Shu’s face shifted back and forth: resolve, intoxication, self-blame, with a pile of nervous little gestures, but still no words. Xie Lanzhi called him again: “Qin Shu?”
“Here!” Qin Shu stared at Xie Lanzhi’s basketball shoes. “I…I’m fine.”
“That’s good.” Xie Lanzhi’s gaze fell on the milk tea in his hands. “You bought that for me?”
In his mind, Qin Shu applied an AI face-swap, turning Xie Lanzhi’s face into Wang Youyu’s. That way it was easier to act fierce. He lifted the milk tea, pointing at the label. “This is a new product from Heytea. One cup is 35 yuan.”
Xie Lanzhi paused. “I’ll transfer you 35?”
“I’ll transfer you 35. Just treat it as me buying you milk tea. This cup I’m drinking myself.” He stabbed in the straw with force and took a big sip right in front of Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi: “…”
“Brother Lan!” Lu Rulu shouted from the court. “You done? We’re starting again!”
Xie Lanzhi didn’t answer right away. He took one step forward and asked Qin Shu, “Am I done?”
That single step destroyed Qin Shu’s mental face-swap—the face reverted to its original form, and he couldn’t act fierce anymore. “Done, done.”
Xie Lanzhi walked a few steps, then turned his head slightly. “After the game, there’s a dinner. Want to come?”
…D*mn it, even his side profile is too good-looking!
“Who’s going?” Qin Shu heard himself ask.
Xie Lanzhi said: “Me, Chu Cheng, Lu Rulu, and you.”
“I haven’t agreed yet…”
“Then do you agree?”
Qin Shu thought it over—he should go. This was a chance to infiltrate the enemy camp, and besides, his baby would be there. He gave a reserved nod. “Okay.”
Xie Lanzhi walked back to the court, Chu Cheng came up to him, smiling and saying something. Qin Shu watched with an extremely complicated mood. How could this baby be so dumb, having his wife stolen and still happily being friends with the guy.
Chu Cheng asked Xie Lanzhi: “Brother Lan, did you get your milk tea?”
“No.”
Chu Cheng looked at Qin Shu in shock, only to see him holding the milk tea and drinking happily. “What the h*ll, are you kidding me?”
Xie Lanzhi also looked over. “Don’t understand.”
Qin Shu took out his phone, sent Xie Lanzhi a 35-kuai red packet, and then changed his contact note to “That-surnamed-Xie.” Just then, the girls on the side gave another little gasp, and Qin Shu reflexively looked up, right in time to see Xie Lanzhi snatch a rebound. His fingertips paused, and he deleted the three words “That-surnamed-Xie,” changing it to “Xie Lanzhi.” Well, with a face like that, he’d give him this bit of face, reluctantly.
Xie Lanzhi and the others kept playing until dark before breaking up. Chu Cheng guzzled down a whole bottle of water. “So refreshing——”
Lu Rulu said: “I’m starving, where are we eating later?”
Chu Cheng said: “Anywhere’s fine, but I definitely need meat.”
“Then barbecue?” Lu Rulu suggested. “Brother Lan?”
Xie Lanzhi lifted his chin toward the edge of the court. “Ask Qin Shu.”
Chu Cheng and Lu Rulu exchanged a look. The latter said: “I’m the kind of guy who can’t take a joke. If you joke, I’ll take it seriously.”
Xie Lanzhi said: “Take it seriously then.”
People on the court gradually dispersed. Xie Lanzhi came to the sidelines, and saw Qin Shu was still waiting. He was sitting on the bench, milk tea already finished, but he hadn’t thrown away the empty cup, just absentmindedly biting the straw, holding his phone, as if reading a PPT from his major.
He was so absorbed that he didn’t even notice when Xie Lanzhi walked up behind him. “This is freshman-level content?”
Qin Shu hurriedly made a gesture back to the main screen. He didn’t turn his head—this way he wouldn’t see Xie Lanzhi’s face. “You guys done?”
“Mm. Barbecue, want some?”
Qin Shu didn’t want to give him face. “Who eats barbecue in this heat.”
“Chu Cheng wants to.”
If baby wants it, how could dad not accompany him? Qin Shu stood up. “Then let’s go!”
Xie Lanzhi: … targeted, much?
Near the school, aside from the night market there was also a big shopping mall, enough to meet most food, drink, and entertainment needs. It wasn’t far, just a short walk.
The four of them walked two by two. Chu Cheng and Lu Rulu in front, chatting and laughing, Qin Shu and Xie Lanzhi behind, quiet as chickens. Even though it was already the beginning of autumn, the weather was still hot, and the mosquitoes at night were many, especially around the street lamps, swarming in clusters. Qin Shu suddenly felt an itch on the back of his hand. Looking down, a huge mosquito—he smacked hard, but the mosquito flew away, and he slapped for nothing. Soon a big welt rose up, itching unbearably.
Qin Shu fumed: “Why, out of this vast sea of people, am I the only one blessed by the mosquitoes’ love! Bite the guy next to me, fine, but me? No way!”
Xie Lanzhi casually said: “Maybe because you’re sweeter.”
Their conversation was overheard by the two in front, who burst into loud laughter. The joke itself was lame, but paired with Xie Lanzhi’s calm face and tone, it unexpectedly hit the funny bone.
Chu Cheng laughed until blurry: “Hahahaha Brother Lan I beg you, can you stop telling cold jokes with that serious face? I—hahahaha!”
Lu Rulu laughed like a chicken clucking: “Gegegegege mosquitoes choose me I’m super sweet, not cheating feelings, not cheating money!”
Qin Shu: “……” D*mn, that is kind of funny. He wanted to laugh too. No—no way, how could he laugh at a joke told by That-surnamed-Xie? As a proud “Cheng-Ning” shipper, his dignity forbade it!
But he really wanted to laugh ahhh! Rationally he told himself to hold back, but emotionally he couldn’t stop it!
Qin Shu’s mouth twitched, fighting to hold back, but in the end, he let out a “pfft.” Realizing he had broken character, Qin Shu quickly tried to freeze his expression, but the upturned corners of his mouth wouldn’t go down.
Qin Shu’s smile carried three parts mockery, three parts indifference, and three parts careless amusement. Seeing it, Xie Lanzhi fell silent—did this junior really have a screw loose?
