002. Convincing the Harem Male Protagonist to Be Responsible
Ning Chu was jolted awake by the noise in the dorm.
He squinted at the mottled ceiling and heard Zhang Shaoqing’s aromatic curses and Wang Jie’s furious keyboard-smashing as he played games.
He had just had a rather troubling dream.
His frustration didn’t spike despite the ruckus from his roommates; the scenes from his dream flickered through his mind, making him feel even more melancholy.
In the dream, he really did turn into a woman, getting all cozy with Wen Yang—how scandalous…
Fortunately, in this life and the last one, he had remained a little innocent virgin, and just when things were about to get too close for comfort, he woke up with a start.
“Please don’t tell me that was really me?”
With a sense of foreboding, Ning Chu sat up, eyeing his delicate, fair hands and feeling his heart race. He muttered to himself, “Even though I do look a bit feminine now, I’ve still got all the male essentials.”
But his height was only 1.6 meters (about 5 feet 3 inches), and his figure was slight.
His voice was youthful and could be mistaken for a girl’s.
He looked pretty cute too; there’s no need for makeup—it was just the long hair that made him look like a girl.
Ning Chu glanced down at his chest, which was as flat as a pancake, with two little dots awkwardly poking out of his thin pajama top.
This situation had been going on for a few days, and he thought it was just the air conditioning in the dorm that made him feel a bit chilly. But now…
Cautiously, he covered his chest with both hands and pressed down gently.
There was a slight pinching sensation.
With a racing heart, Ning Chu quickly hopped out of bed, jumped down from the ladder, and dashed into the bathroom on the balcony.
After another checkup, he felt a bit more at ease.
Not bad, even though I’m a bit under the weather, there’s clearly something there.
“Why are you so noisy right after getting up?” Zhang Shaoqing, cigarette in mouth, strolled onto the balcony, leaning against the railing, puffing smoke while eyeing Ning Chu as he stepped out of the bathroom. “Want to order some takeout for lunch? Let’s get a discount.”
His laid-back demeanor resembled a middle school delinquent—clearly a rich kid always haggling over small saving slices.
Ning Chu knew he was a villain in the novel, the kind of guy whose deeds would make even a dog cover its eyes, so he had never had any good feelings for him.
“No, I’m trying to lose weight.”
Besides, Ning Chu wasn’t in the mood to eat.
It had already been a week since he crossed over, and every day had felt like a daze for him; he still didn’t understand what role he played in the story.
Surely, he couldn’t be that girl, right?
“Short and skinny trying to lose weight? How do you expect to grow?” Zhang Shaoqing sized him up, scoffing. “Why don’t you head to Thailand and get a surgery? Become a woman!”
His words hit a nerve with Ning Chu.
If Zhang Shaoqing hadn’t been a head taller than him, Ning Chu would have already shot back with a barrage of indignation.
When he first crossed over, he had thought his life would take off, but now he had totally given up—he just hoped not to get dragged into the messy plot of the story.
What kind of Xianxia story protagonist doesn’t have a golden finger or a system?!
After brushing his teeth and washing his face at the balcony sink, Ning Chu came back to the dorm in his usual quiet manner.
It was already the second week of the new semester, and since none of the dorm mates had really figured each other out yet, they often bickered.
Right now, Wang Jie was at odds with Wen Yang over laundry duties, engaging in a “friendly exchange” over who had the dirtier clothes.
Ning Chu usually stayed out of it, sitting at his computer yawning while browsing for interesting takeout options.
“Seriously, Ning Chu, you tell me! Who washes clothes just once a week? Last weekend, Wang Jie’s clothes were left in the bucket and stank!”
“Can’t I be lazy? If they’re smelly, I’ll just deal with them right away.”
The argument had encroached on Ning Chu’s peace, and he turned to give Wen Yang and Wang Jie a silent eye roll.
The shouting settled after a few minutes, and since Wen Yang couldn’t win against Wang Jie, he mumbled some complaints while dragging a chair over to sit next to Ning Chu, continuously complaining about Wang Jie’s bad habits.
“Not only does he not wash clothes, but the guy kicks the door when he comes back at night. I’ve been woken up so many times. He doesn’t change, even when I tell him.”
“His keyboard sounds are deafening, and he snores like a chainsaw. It’s been two weeks, and I haven’t had a good night’s sleep.”
Ning Chu half-heartedly replied, “Uh-huh, uh-huh.”
“My girlfriend wants to hang out this afternoon and told me not to come back tonight. You’d think…”
“Oh… wait!”
Suddenly, he realized, eyes wide: “When did you get a girlfriend?”
Seeing the famously introverted Ning Chu suddenly look shocked, Wen Yang perked up, continuing, “Just a few days ago. I thought she was cute and her personality seems nice.”
“But after just two days, she wants to hang out and even said I shouldn’t come back to the dorm tonight.”
Wen Yang had that gleam of excitement in his eyes: “Is she hinting at something?”
Ning Chu paused for a moment and asked, “What’s her name?”
“Ling Ling.”
“Of course, it’s her…”
Is the plot starting now?
The first short story in the novel featured Ling Ling chasing after Wen Yang!
But Ling Ling was actually Zhang Shaoqing’s childhood friend, someone he had a crush on for a long time. This chapter might also mark his transformation into the villain.
Ning Chu turned to Zhang Shaoqing, still smoking on the balcony. Noticing Ning Chu’s gaze, he shouted through the balcony door, “What are you ordering? Spend 30, get 5 off! Let’s make it a group deal!”
What an idiot…
If I could stop Wen Yang, would that keep Zhang Shaoqing in his goofy state and prevent him from becoming the morally bankrupt villain that hops around the legal lines in the book?
If the girl in the story really is me, then by stopping the plot’s development, could I escape the fate of being overpowered by a man?
“Should I go or not? We barely know each other after a couple of days, plus Ling Ling’s the one who initiated it,” Wen Yang nudged Ning Chu gently on the shoulder, seeking his opinion. “Even if she’s the one who initiated things, won’t it still feel bad?”
Wen Yang was, after all, the male protagonist—tall, fit, and with a sunshiney charm, resembling a younger version of Daniel Wu. He was quite the lady killer.
It had only been two weeks since school started, and he already had girls lining up behind him.
After a moment’s thought, Ning Chu advised, “Maybe you should skip it. If you can’t hold back, you’ll bear the responsibility.”
“True…”
Seeing Wen Yang nod in agreement, Ning Chu felt an inexplicable sense of accomplishment.
Others might urge someone to change, but he was urging the harem male protagonist to be responsible to a girl~
“But she hinted at me first! She doesn’t seem to mind…” Wen Yang still hesitated, reluctant to give up the opportunity. “I wasn’t allowed to date in middle and high school; now that I’m 18, I haven’t even held a girl’s hand.”
Ning Chu hesitated then suggested, “How about we go out for a gathering tonight?”
“A gathering? Back when we just started school, we invited you to a party, and you wouldn’t budge, even if it meant d*ath,” Wen Yang frowned, displeased. “Besides, I have a date tonight, so I won’t be back.”
“I said don’t go… why don’t we four have a few drinks and chat? Isn’t that more interesting than hanging out with a girl?”
Wang Jie chimed in, having overheard the talk about partying and drinking, eyes lighting up: “A date? Definitely more important than a gathering! Last time Ning Chu didn’t show up; we can’t have a gathering without everyone!”
Wen Yang looked troubled. “But my living expenses are nearly gone.”
“I’ll treat!”
Zhang Shaoqing, perched on the balcony, jumped into the conversation with a greedy grin. “I’ll cover everything tonight!”
