“Actually, I think you don’t need to wait here at all,” Mo Xiangwen said. “Once my roommate comes down, the two of us can haul all this stuff up by ourselves.”
“What are you afraid of?” Yan Nuoya smiled. “Would my presence here really have that bad an effect on you?”
“Yes,” Mo Xiangwen replied with dead seriousness. “It would cause a massive misunderstanding. My roommate and I wouldn’t even have a chance to build a solid friendship before our most basic trust came crashing down.”
Yan Nuoya couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. “You guys are so childish. Just explain what happened.”
“Walking with an ordinary girl might be explainable,” Mo Xiangwen sighed. “But standing next to you? I’d be innocent even if I jumped in the ocean and swam for a week.”
“Hmm…” Yan Nuoya pondered for a moment. “Doesn’t the classic case prove that pretty girls have an easier time clearing things up?”
“Are you secretly calling me ugly?” She shot him a mock-suspicious look.
“Classmate Yan, are you hoping I’ll compliment your looks?” Mo Xiangwen grumbled helplessly. “It’s precisely because you’re so stunning that I’d get jealous stares. Whether they believe me or not, I’d still end up taking a beating.”
“Thanks for the compliment.” Yan Nuoya nodded with a smile. “See you later.”
I can’t deal with this girl, Mo Xiangwen thought, shaking his head helplessly.
I can’t deal with how easily she teases, Yan Nuoya mused to herself as she turned away. She gently rubbed her cheek with a finger, dispersing the grin that had bubbled up.
“Oh right, I forgot to invite him to dinner,” she said to herself, pursing her lips. Then she suddenly smiled. “Whatever, no rush. Plenty of opportunities ahead.”
Yan Nuoya had barely left for a minute when Qin Yongfeng arrived at the dorm entrance below, much to Mo Xiangwen’s relief.
What he hadn’t expected was that Qin Yongfeng wasn’t alone—two other guys their age were with him.
Mo Xiangwen opened his mouth to greet them and ask a question, but one of them—a tall, skinny guy—cut him off. “No rush. Let’s get your stuff upstairs first, then chat.”
The three of them pitched in, helping him carry everything up.
No wonder they say strength in numbers. What had been a grueling task requiring every ounce of his effort—even his teeth, practically—became a breeze with four pairs of hands. He didn’t even have enough stuff to fill both of his.
By the time they reached the fifth-floor dorm, no one was even out of breath.
“Let me introduce myself first. Hey, Mo Xiangwen, I’m Zhong Taihong.” The tall, skinny guy spoke up and extended a hand.
“Oh, you already know my name. Nice to meet you, Zhong Taihong.” Mo Xiangwen shook it, noting the pricey brand names covering the guy from head to toe.
“Qin Yongfeng told us. Hey, I’m Xi Shaojie.” Xi Shaojie was a bit pale and pudgy but still within normal guy proportions. He wore a shirt printed with a standing illustration from Hero O Alliance.
“Nice to meet you.” Mo Xiangwen shook his hand too.
With greetings done, Zhong Taihong waved grandly. “Alright, let’s head to the Chicken Casserole on the commercial street tonight. My treat.”
“I’ll unpack my luggage and essentials first. You guys go ahead.” Mo Xiangwen shook his head and started climbing onto his bunk to sort things.
“Come on, come on, unpack later!” Xi Shaojie barreled over, bumping him away from the bed and slinging an arm around his shoulders to drag him toward the door.
“Damn, easy for you to say—you’re all unpacked already.”
“Aw, don’t be a buzzkill. Let’s go!” Zhong Taihong grabbed his other side, and together with Xi Shaojie, they hauled him along.
Qin Yongfeng chuckled, shaking his head as he followed, closing the dorm door and pocketing the key.
Seeing this, Mo Xiangwen gave up the fight.
“Fine, fine. Let go—you don’t have to drag me. I can walk.”
Satisfied he’d given in, Xi Shaojie and Zhong Taihong exchanged grins and released him.
“Would’ve been easier if you’d agreed sooner.”
The four of them bantered all the way to the Chicken Casserole. The place was packed, every table full. Clearly, plenty of people had the same idea.
Luckily, Zhong Taihong had reserved a spot ahead of time, so they didn’t have to worry about a wasted trip.
After a few bites of appetizers, the roommates’ conversation grew more lively.
It started casual—novels, movies—but soon they were debating international affairs.
Naturally, at their age, the grilling about girlfriends was inevitable.
Aside from Zhong Taihong admitting he’d dated once and gotten dumped, none of them—including Mo Xiangwen—had any relationship history to speak of.
After a few sips of low-alcohol drink, Zhong Taihong threw his arms around Xi Shaojie, sobbing dramatically and vowing through tears to become a total player.
The group could only console him that bad girls weren’t worth it, calling him a lovesick fool one after another. An outsider might’ve thought they were some heartbroken alliance.
Mo Xiangwen silently mourned the poor guy for a second in his mind, then impassively picked up another piece of chicken and popped it in his mouth.
As he inwardly praised the restaurant’s cooking, his phone buzzed.
Pass One Charm: @Human-Dragon Unity Say something.
Another fool on a rampage, he thought.
Human-Dragon Unity: What’s up?
Pass One Charm: Sorry. (SUPER LOUD)
Super loud, huh? Rare for her to apologize so directly—and in the group chat, no less.
Usually, she’d pick a game from his wishlist or time it around his birthday and send it stealthily.
Whenever he got a game from Little Charm, he knew it was her way of saying sorry.
Most times, though, he hadn’t even noticed the offense and had to rack his brain later to figure out what it was.
Human-Dragon Unity: The wooden plaque thing?
Pass One Charm: Yeah.
Human-Dragon Unity: Like the president said, you really didn’t make one?
Pass One Charm: No, honestly just a joke.
Human-Dragon Unity: You joked, I didn’t bite, so nothing happened.
Human-Dragon Unity: No big deal. Am I that petty?
“See? No need to overthink it.” Su Mengli tapped her sister’s forehead. “I have no idea what goes on in that head of yours all day.”
Su Mengyao huffed in dissatisfaction but let it slide this once, given her sister’s scheming help.
Pass One Charm: So where are you now? Time to make good on that promise—dinner on me.
Human-Dragon Unity: Huh? Now?
Human-Dragon Unity: [Sent a photo]
Human-Dragon Unity: Next time. Eating at Chicken Casserole with roommates.
Chicken Casserole?
The next moment, Su Mengyao and Su Mengli both shot up from their chairs. They exchanged a glance and hurried to the loft railing, peering down.
