035 The Unexpected Counter-Attack
After a minute of listening and sorting things out, Wang Heng finally understood what was going on.
Pei Ningle had changed her mind at the airport, deciding on the spot to stay in Rongdu and continue to fight for her musical dream. So she got a refund for her plane ticket and took the last airport shuttle back to the city. Because she was completely lost in Rongdu and didn’t know where to stay, she came to Wang Heng’s school, hoping to find a hotel here… However, at the beginning of the new semester, the popularity of the hotels near the school was far beyond her imagination.
Helpless, the girl chose to call for outside help.
And for Wang Heng, who received the call, if Pei Ningle were really just a stranger, he might have coldly thrown out a “What does your business have to do with me?” and hung up. But unfortunately, she wasn’t.
Should he just buy her another plane ticket and send her back? The problem was, since she could run away once, she could naturally do it countless more times. Should he force her back? Besides, he didn’t have her parents’ contact information…
The girl’s helpless yet stubborn voice reminded him of many things he had experienced in the first timeline. He still remembered that at her lowest point, Pei Ningle couldn’t even afford rent and had to temporarily stay in his rented apartment… It was better not to actively recall those bits and pieces of memories, but listening to her voice, how could they not surface in his mind?
“I’m really, really sorry,” Pei Ningle said weakly. “I know I might be a bit much, but in Rongdu, you’re the only one I can ask for help…”
Unsure if he was responding to her or talking to himself, Wang Heng said in a low voice, “It’s okay. Anyway, helping you think of a solution won’t put my life in danger, right?”
Pei Ningle didn’t quite understand why he said that and didn’t know how to respond, so she could only remain silent.
Wang Heng was also silent for a few seconds before finally saying, “Then you wait at the gate. I’ll come over now.”
Then he hung up the phone and got out of bed.
In the dormitory, after a brief silence, the three roommates became even more excited.
Fu Hanwen: “Is it another girl?”
Tang Hexing: “This is a bit much of you.”
Wang Ke: “Impressive…”
With his conflicted feelings, Wang Heng couldn’t be bothered to come up with any excuses. He got out of bed, got dressed, took his phone, wallet, and dorm key, and casually explained:
“Don’t overthink it, you guys. She’s just an ordinary friend. I’m just going to do a good deed.”
With that, he quickly walked out of the dormitory and closed the door behind him.
The dormitory was still dark, but all three of them sat up in unison.
Tang Hexing was a little confused. “What did he say… a good deed?”
Fu Hanwen scoffed. “Do you guys believe that?”
Wang Ke thought for a moment and said, “I think it depends on the situation. For example, if an older woman asked me for help, then I definitely wouldn’t have any improper thoughts. It would definitely be a purely charitable act. It’s the same for Wang Heng. If the girl who’s asking for his help at the school gate isn’t his type, then it might really be that simple…”
Fu Hanwen interrupted, “Wait, what’s your definition of an older woman?”
Wang Ke: “Over fourteen.”
Fu Hanwen: “…”
Tang Hexing: “…”
**
Under the streetlight outside the school gate, a slightly petite and thin figure stood in the orange-yellow glow.
Seeing Wang Heng walk out of the school gate, the girl quickly trotted up to him, put her hands together, and bowed to express her gratitude and apology.
“Alright, I’ve already booked a hotel for you.” Wang Heng waved his new phone.
Pei Ningle noticed this detail and couldn’t help but ask, “Did that Sister Lu buy it for you?”
Wang Heng didn’t think much of it and nodded. “That’s right.”
The girl’s expression changed slightly, and there was a hint of profound meaning in her eyes as she looked at him.
Wang Heng noticed something was wrong and subconsciously explained, “No, we have a business cooperation, a business partnership, you understand? I have to pay her back for this money later. It’s just part of an investment for me to use now.”
“Part of an investment, business partners… I do mess up a lot, but you can’t treat me like a fool, can you? You’re only 18, just like me, a freshman in university. What kind of business could you have? She bought you an Apple phone, and that’s an investment? Tsk, tsk, tsk…”
There was a hint of contempt in Pei Ningle’s tone.
Wang Heng was about to explain, but on second thought, he suddenly realized that he didn’t need to say anything more at all. If Pei Ningle misunderstood and thought of him as a kept man, wouldn’t that be better? She couldn’t possibly fall for a freeloader, right?
Besides, he didn’t think he was lying, just not explaining it completely. If she wanted to misunderstand, who was to blame?
So Wang Heng looked around and said mysteriously, “Keep your voice down! I’m just a freshman. I still have to stay at this school for four years.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not a blabbermouth. But thinking about it, that Sister Lu is beautiful and rich, so amazing. How could you refuse her? And speaking of money, I really didn’t care about money before. I thought it was particularly boring to think about rich and poor people all day. But now I’ve learned that money is really important…”
As she said this, Pei Ningle sighed. She was clearly a young girl in the prime of her life, yet she had a sense of world-weariness.
Of course, from what Wang Heng knew, this girl’s world-weariness was just a fleeting emotion. The next minute, she would be as absent-minded as ever.
Wang Heng: “So are we going to the hotel now?”
Pei Ningle nodded, but then she remembered something and couldn’t help but worry.
She asked, “You’re using the money Sister Lu gave you on me. Is that…”
Wang Heng looked at her with amusement. “What’s wrong?”
The girl bit her lower lip lightly. “I just feel that this is very wrong…”
“Don’t worry. Lu Qi only bought me a phone. The money I used to book the hotel for you is of course my own.”
“Oh…”
Pei Ningle followed him towards the hotel.
After walking for a few dozen meters, she suddenly realized a more important problem and said hurriedly, “Oh right, oh right, how much was the room you booked?”
Wang Heng: “Two hundred and twenty a night.”
Pei Ningle tilted her head and thought for a moment. “It’s cheaper than in the Imperial Capital… but it still feels so expensive. Or maybe I’m just too poor?”
Wang Heng: “It’s mainly because the cheaper rooms were all taken, and this is just for you to get by tonight. If possible, you should be able to find a rental apartment tomorrow and settle down.”
“A rental apartment…” The girl lowered her head and began to ponder silently again.
Wang Heng turned his head and glanced at her, roughly guessing what this girl was thinking.
So he added, “I’ll front you the money for the rent first. You can pay me back when you earn some money.”
Anyway, with the hundred thousand from Lu Qi, Wang Heng felt that there was no need to be too calculative about the cost of one or two Bitcoins. Besides, at this point in time, the housing prices in Rongdu hadn’t surged yet, so renting wouldn’t be that expensive.
As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Ningle couldn’t help but be stunned. Then she took two large steps to block Wang Heng’s path and solemnly bowed again.
“Thank you so, so much. This humble girl has no way to repay you, I can only…”
For a moment, Wang Heng felt his heart stop.
Fortunately, Pei Ningle immediately continued, “I can only work overtime and pay you back as quickly as possible!”
Wang Heng calmed down, his expression complicated. “When you speak in the future, don’t pause. Can you just say it all in one go?”
The girl playfully stuck out her tongue.
