Chapter 31: Truth or Dare (Part 2)

“Gu Yuqi’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 70.5”

“An Hua’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 54”

“Su Ze’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 38”

Wow, so many people boosting their favorability toward me all at once. I… don’t deserve this. Don’t deserve it at all, hehehe. Liang Sheng scratched at her hair, not looking guilty in the slightest. A dopey grin clung to her face the whole time.

“Okay, okay,” the Long-haired Big Sis said once she’d laughed her fill, letting out a burp. “Let’s kick off the next round already. I’m dying of anticipation here!”

The die hit the floor with a clatter. This time, An Hua rolled a two—the lowest score of the bunch.

“Um… um, truth, I guess,” An Hua said hesitantly.

“Please draw a card.”

An Hua drew one slowly. Everyone craned their necks to peer at it. The card read: What’s the most unknown side of you?

An Hua drew a dare card. It said: Choose someone here and give them a wall slam confession.

“Oooh!” The room erupted again. Eyes locked on An Hua, brimming with excitement as they waited to see her pick.

A suspicious blush crept across An Hua’s cheeks. She snuck a glance at Liang Sheng over the rim of her glasses and bit her lip, looking flustered.

“Come on, pick already!” someone beside her urged impatiently.

“Treating a girl like this—isn’t that a bit rude?” Su Ze, who had been silent until now, suddenly chimed in. “Senior Sister An Hua, if you’d like, I’d be happy to help you complete this dare.” He extended a hand toward her in a most gentlemanly fashion.

Greasy! So greasy! Liang Sheng’s stomach churned. This Big Pig Hoof was putting on his warm-guy act again!

A chorus of gasps rose up.

“An Hua’s Favorability toward Su Ze: 42”

For some reason, An Hua felt a spark of irritation at Su Ze’s words. It struck her as fawning, like he had some ulterior motive—or that he was just a fake gentleman. Call it a woman’s intuition.

“No thanks,” An Hua replied coolly. Then she turned to Liang Sheng, a touch of shy hesitation in her movements as she grabbed the other girl’s hand. Forcing down her racing excitement, she pretended to be calm. “You.” She paused, then quickly added, “You’re the one I’m closest to here, and we’re both girls anyway.” It sounded like she was explaining it to everyone else.

“Alright then,” Liang Sheng said indifferently, stepping over to the wall.

An Hua shuffled forward until she stood right in front of Liang Sheng, her lips pressed tight.

Mustering her courage, she clenched her fists, steeled herself, and shut her eyes. She slammed a hand against the wall beside Liang Sheng’s head. Her heart pounded like a little drum—thump-thump-thump. In a rapid mumble, she blurted out, “I like you!”

The onlookers whooped and clapped, whistles piercing the air. The mood skyrocketed. Most cheered along, but a few watched with bated breath, eyes glued to the scene.

Well now. Liang Sheng closely examined An Hua’s flushed little face and realized the girl towered over her. An Hua was 170 cm tall, while Liang Sheng clocked in at 165. Heh, tall or not, she was still the one getting pinned.

Liang Sheng reached out and pinched An Hua’s chin hard, her gaze fixed on the mark she’d left on the girl’s neck at lunch. In a whisper only they could hear, she murmured, “You like me? Heh, you just like it when I play with you.”

Ding~ Favorability rising.

“An Hua’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 59”

The words had barely left her mouth when An Hua couldn’t take it anymore. She stumbled back in a panic, shoved the door open, and fled. Her figure looked utterly bedraggled as she vanished.

Sigh, off she goes again. Is Senior Sister An Hua part rabbit or something? Liang Sheng shot a teasing glance toward the door.

The room let out a collective sigh, as if to say, “That’s it? Over already?” The other girls, meanwhile, breathed sighs of relief.

“Alright, alright, let’s keep going!” Liang Sheng waved her hand and plopped back down in her spot, all casual-like.

“Liang Sheng.” One of the girls nearby—the Non-mainstream Girl with her wild hairstyle—tugged at Liang Sheng’s sleeve. “Come with me to the bathroom? I don’t wanna go alone…”

Liang Sheng really didn’t want to. She was scared of her own shadow, and heading to the bathroom in the pitch dark? A shiver ran through her at the thought, and she wanted nothing more than to bail. But with all these girls around, turning her down would make her look like a total wimp. So she forced a steady expression and agreed.

Liang Sheng stood up, pinning all her hopes on Song An’an. After all, An’an was always glued to her side—she’d surely call her back or offer to tag along.

Come on, stop me! Please stop me! Liang Sheng was antsy as an ant on a hot pan.

But Song An’an acted totally out of character this time. Not only did she not try to keep Liang Sheng there or join her, she looked downright eager for her to leave.

This… Liang Sheng’s hopes shattered. She resigned herself and trailed after the Non-mainstream Girl.

The hallway wasn’t dark, bathed in soft yellowish light that felt almost gentle. Liang Sheng’s heart eased a little.

“Liang Sheng, I’m heading in. Wait out here for me?” The Non-mainstream Girl darted into the bathroom.

“Y-you… hurry up!” Liang Sheng’s teeth chattered.

No response.

Suddenly, a chill prickled the back of her neck. Liang Sheng jolted and flicked her eyes sideways. Nothing. Her body shook like a leaf as she mustered the nerve to turn around slowly. Still nothing—just an endless corridor stretching into the shadows.

Whew. Liang Sheng turned back, exhaling in relief. Scared myself for nothing.

No ghosts in modern times. Believe in science! she told herself.

Yeah, right. Where do ghosts even come from in this world… GHOST!

“Ghost!? Where!?” The “ghost”—the Non-mainstream Girl, who had just emerged from the bathroom—grabbed Liang Sheng’s hand in a fluster, scanning the surroundings nervously.

Liang Sheng took a closer look. Yeah, couldn’t blame her for freaking out. The girl’s hairstyle and makeup were just so out there! A massive black explode of hair blocking one eye, lips painted deathly black like she’d swallowed poison, and a face caked in foundation so thick it might flake off if she twitched.

Her outfit screamed ’80s punk nightmare—dark and studded with little spikes. And those nails: long, black claws.

How could that not terrify someone?

“B-big sis,” Liang Sheng stammered, her legs turning to jelly. She nearly collapsed right there. “You almost scared the pee out of me!”

The Non-mainstream Girl stayed cool, like this happened all the time. “No worries,” she said casually, helping the wobbly Liang Sheng back to the dorm.

Damn it. Never playing hero and escorting a girl to the bathroom at night again.

When they returned, the atmosphere in the room felt off. Several faces bore mysterious, knowing smirks.

What happened? Rewind to right after Liang Sheng left.

Song An’an had seized the moment. She pulled the Short-haired Girl aside and laid out her plan: tamper with Liang Sheng’s die so she’d keep losing, then slip her a pre-selected dare card when the time came. In exchange? Ten days of lunches on Song An’an.

Gu Yuqi wasn’t one to sit idle either. She didn’t go as boldly as Song An’an. Instead, she messaged the Long-haired Big Sis on Koukou, outlining what she wanted—and the payoff was juicy: she’d hook the Long-haired Big Sis up with the upperclassman she had a crush on.

Deals struck all around, everyone pleased.

“Roll the die! Come on, roll!” The Short-haired Girl had already rigged Liang Sheng’s.

Sure enough, Liang Sheng lost.

“Truth!”

The Short-haired Girl shot a look at the Fat Boy nearby. He caught on and hollered, “Aw, man! Truth again? Come on, Liang Sheng, you chicken or what?”

Oh? Daring to say I can’t hang? Liang Sheng’s temper flared. She slammed the table. “Who says I can’t? Dare! I’m doing dares all night—watch me!”

Everyone chuckled, each harboring their own schemes. Just what they wanted.

The Short-haired Girl lunged first, ready with her prepared card. But the Long-haired Big Sis wasn’t having it—she had her own commission.

“Pick mine, Liang Sheng!” “No, mine!” The two girls shoved cards at her, scrambling.

Liang Sheng sensed something fishy. Why did it feel like neither had good intentions?

“Uh… this one, then.” In the chaos, she snatched the card from the Long-haired Big Sis’s hand. The Long-haired Big Sis shot a triumphant smirk at the Short-haired Girl. Gotcha!

Song An’an fumed, sinking into gloom.

“Read it! What’s it say?” The Glasses Guy feigned curiosity, though he knew exactly what was on it.

Kiss the person to your right… through this card? Everyone froze solid in an instant.

Liang Sheng twisted her head. To her right sat Gu Yuqi, propping her chin casually and watching her with an enchanting smile.

Song An’an twitched with barely contained jealousy, glaring daggers at Gu Yuqi like a tiger ready to pounce.

This… what a scandal! But hey, no loss for me, heh…

“Wait!” Liang Sheng’s brow furrowed as a serious issue hit her. She eyed the Glasses Guy intently. “Is this card brand new?”

“Yeah, why?” The Glasses Guy scratched his head, baffled.

“Oh, good. That’s a relief.” Liang Sheng nodded solemnly and explained in all seriousness, “It says to kiss through the card, right? I was worried if it’d been used before—that’d be so gross. Just thinking about it makes me shudder, eww~”