Chapter 30: Truth or Dare (Part 1)

As the old saying goes, three women are enough to stage a full-blown drama. With five women seated at this dinner table, the theatrics were on an entirely different level.

They gathered around a large round table. Liang Sheng found herself sandwiched between Song An’an and Gu Yuqi, with Su Ze sitting directly across from her. Lu Ziqing occupied the seat between Su Ze and Gu Yuqi, while An Hua sat with an icy expression between Su Ze and Song An’an. The atmosphere felt subtly charged, laced with a hint of awkwardness.

Liang Sheng paid no mind to any of that. When Young Miss Lu Ziqing told her to order, she dove in eagerly, menu in hand, scribbling away and picking almost nothing but meat—no vegetables in sight.

When the food arrived, Liang Sheng didn’t hold back on her image or manners. She dug in unladylike as could be. Beside her, Song An’an kept piling food onto Liang Sheng’s plate, and Gu Yuqi, not one to be outdone, followed suit, tossing dish after dish into her bowl.

Liang Sheng’s bowl soon overflowed like a little mountain, but the two acted as if they couldn’t see it, continuing to heap on more.

Crunch. Lu Ziqing gnashed her chopsticks so hard it seemed she might snap them in two. Never again would she bring them out to eat like this—it was too frustrating. With a huff, she slammed her chopsticks down, utterly baffled by her own irritation.

Liang Sheng had no time to worry about anyone else’s moods. Her mouth was stuffed to bursting, chomping and slurping away like a voracious little piglet.

In the end, aside from Liang Sheng, hardly anyone at the table got their fill. Song An’an and Gu Yuqi were too busy serving Liang Sheng to eat much themselves. Lu Ziqing had swallowed a bellyful of anger, which filled her up just fine. Su Ze stared blankly at his phone, lost in thought. An Hua’s stomach wasn’t feeling well, so she barely touched her food.

All that food went to waste, leaving Liang Sheng heartbroken at the sight.

Back at the hotel where the group was staying, Dong Yue began assigning rooms—two people per room. As expected, Young Miss Lu Ziqing ended up sharing with Liang Sheng. It wasn’t some protagonist halo at work; Lu Ziqing had arranged it deliberately.

Before they could even settle into their room, someone from the class—whose bright idea it was, no one knew—decided to play Truth or Dare and dragged Lu Ziqing and Liang Sheng to another room.

Why not invite Senior Sister Yuqi too…? No way—she’d been surrounded by a gaggle of beauties that morning and hadn’t spared me a glance. Going to her now would just be embarrassing! Liang Sheng fumed inwardly. She clearly wanted to see Gu Yuqi but refused to seek her out.

“I’ll go find Song An’an,” Liang Sheng said. She always felt out of place with the seven guys and girls from her class, aside from Lu Ziqing.

“No need,” Glasses Guy replied, pushing up his glasses. “We’ve already called Song An’an.”

“Huh?” Liang Sheng blinked in confusion. Wait, Song An’an wasn’t even from their class.

The short-haired girl nearby caught Liang Sheng’s puzzled look and explained, “You know, that pink-haired girl who always clings to you? She told us today that if your class has any events or whatever, we’re supposed to get her. It’s all about helping others, right…?”

Everything the short-haired girl said up front was true, but when she tacked on “helping others,” her voice lacked conviction. They’d been bribed—handsomely, with some adult material kids shouldn’t see—to keep an eye on Liang Sheng.

Moments later, Song An’an bounced into view at the doorway. She skipped in cheerfully and pounced straight at Liang Sheng. Just then, a shadow flickered by the door—Gu Yuqi.

Liang Sheng shot questioning glances at her classmates, but they all averted their eyes guiltily, avoiding her gaze. Sure enough, the generous “reward” had bought their silence once more, selling her out again.

With no answers from the others, Liang Sheng sat up straight, sulking and refusing to look at Gu Yuqi. Gu Yuqi had no idea what she’d done to upset Liang Sheng. Seeing her ignored, she plopped down right across from her, propping her chin on her hand and staring.

And you thought it was just this crowd? Think again.

The door creaked open once more. Everyone turned to look, genuinely unsure who might walk in this time.

First came a fluffy little head peeking around the doorframe, question marks practically hovering above it as it scanned the room. Spotting the group, it jolted back in surprise, a touch embarrassed.

An Hua? Why was Senior Sister An Hua crashing the party again? Liang Sheng stared at her in bewilderment, then whipped around to her classmates, eyes pleading: You didn’t sell me out again, did you?

Her classmates waved their hands frantically or shook their heads. This time, they were innocent.

An Hua had been bored and stepped out for a stroll. She first spotted Song An’an hopping up to the third floor but didn’t think much of it. Then she saw Gu Yuqi hurrying in the same direction and couldn’t suppress her curiosity. She tailed them stealthily.

When she reached a room buzzing with laughter, she peeked in—and got caught red-handed.

“I… I was just passing by. You guys play,” An Hua said, her face flushing as she turned to leave.

“Don’t go, Senior Sister An Hua! Join us!” Liang Sheng called out with a mischievous grin.

It was Junior Sister Liang Sheng calling her! A strange thrill bubbled up in An Hua’s chest. She meant to refuse, but her mouth beat her to it. “Okay, sure.”

No backing out now. An Hua shuffled over with tiny steps, feigning reluctance as she took a seat at the game table.

The rules were simple. Since they’d only brought dice, everyone rolled once per round. The lowest roll got punished: pick truth or dare, then draw a card to decide.

If you picked truth but didn’t want to answer, you could switch to a dare.

Heh, this game was a cliché straight out of every romance novel. Liang Sheng rolled her eyes. Bunch of childish brats—what was the fun in this? Fine, she’d humor them. Sigh, she was the adult here; no need to take it seriously.

“Aaaah!” A wretched scream echoed. Liang Sheng clutched her hair. Why did she lose the first round? So infuriating! She glared at her classmates (though it smelled like victory already?).

“Truth or dare?” Glasses Guy asked.

“Um… t-truth, I guess,” Liang Sheng mumbled reluctantly.

“Draw a card,” Long-haired Big Sis said, dumping a pile of truth cards in front of her. They all looked identical from the back, so Liang Sheng grabbed one at random.

Everyone crowded in, dozens of eyes glued to the card. Once they read the question, a chorus of “Oooohs” erupted.

The question: Is there anyone around you that you have a crush on?

Liang Sheng tilted her head, pretending to ponder deeply. Song An’an, Gu Yuqi, and the other three girls held their breaths, staring intently.

Ever the drama queen, Liang Sheng covered her face, squeezed her eyes shut, and answered shyly, “Y-Yes… there is!”

The four girls exhaled in relief, hearts settling. But that lasted only seconds. Liang Sheng hadn’t said who— what if it wasn’t them?

Even Lu Ziqing and An Hua, who didn’t like Liang Sheng that way, would find it grating to hear another name from her lips. Gu Yuqi wasn’t sure about her feelings, but a fierce possessiveness gripped her.

All five leaned in, voices overlapping: “Who is it?” Make that five—Su Ze, who’d been silent, looked tense too.

“Uh…” Liang Sheng covered her mouth, her expression hidden. She hemmed and hawed mysteriously, until the impatience boiled over and they started pinching her arms.

“Ow!” Liang Sheng feigned exasperation. “Fine, fine! I’ll tell you!”

Everyone craned their necks, faces a mix of anticipation.

“Actually…” Liang Sheng paused.

The four girls and one guy held their breath, eyes locked on her.

“Aw, it’s so embarrassing to say it out loud~” Liang Sheng buried her face again.

“Just spit it out already!” The short-haired girl, a gossip fiend, couldn’t take the teasing. She grabbed Liang Sheng’s neck and shook her violently.

“Gah, cough cough!” Liang Sheng stuck out her tongue, prying the hands off. “Hey, can’t you wait? I’m shy here!”

“Say it! Say it!” the short-haired girl bellowed.

“I… I…” The room fell silent again.

“Hehe.” Stop laughing and talk!

“The truth is… I like someone who’s drop-dead gorgeous.” The girls puffed out their chests—who could top that?

“Top of the class in every way.” Song An’an slumped, eyes reddening.

“Not two-faced.” An Hua bowed her head sheepishly.

“Not spoiled or capricious.” Lu Ziqing, ever self-aware, turned away with a huff.

“And handsome to boot.” Gu Yuqi smirked smugly. So far, she fit perfectly. Could it be…?

“Aw! That’s me, silly~” Liang Sheng ducked her head coyly, giggling. “You guys are awful, making me say it out loud. So embarrassing~”

The room went dead silent.

“And whatever you do, don’t fall for someone as amazing as me, okay~?”

“Hahahahahaha!” The silence shattered into roaring laughter. They gasped for air, clutching their sides; a few even started hiccuping from laughing too hard.

Was it really that funny? Liang Sheng pouted. She was telling the truth—she really was that great! What was so hilarious?

“Y-You…” The short-haired girl’s finger trembled as she pointed at Liang Sheng, finally catching her breath to mock her. “Talk about full of yourself!”

“Where’s the narcissism? Where?” Liang Sheng shot back indignantly. “I’m just stating facts! Facts—get it?”

Another wave of hysterics swept the room; someone nearly choked.

“You absolute goof,” someone teased amid the laughs, leaving Liang Sheng stunned. What, jealous ’cause you can’t measure up?

Ding~ Favorability increased.

Lu Ziqing’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 75

Song An’an’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 100+