167. Deservedly Single
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Afternoon classes didn’t kick off until two-thirty, so there was plenty of time to k*ll during lunch.
Lin Nan originally planned to spend this lunch hour revising before getting stuck in an endless loop of games, but to his surprise, something interesting happened instead.
“That girl probably doesn’t like me,” Chen Yao said, glancing at Lin Nan while stuffing his hands deep into his coat pockets. “I’m not exactly a heartthrob.”
Well, it’s true that Chen Yao wasn’t the kind of handsome that made girls weak at the knees. His square jaw and slightly serious features did little to help him score the title of a pretty boy. However, while he couldn’t achieve that K-drama star level of beauty, he could certainly pull off the rugged charm of a military or police officer.
Chen Yao didn’t have the whole soldier vibe going for him, but with his defined cheekbones and a set of big, expressive eyes, he was at least charming in a little way.
At least, that’s how Lin Nan saw it.
Now looking at himself, though, he couldn’t help but feel he had all the masculinity of a limp noodle, despite his hopes of becoming a strapping man before the winter break turned him into a girl.
“It’s fine, I’m just bored and wanted to play,” Lin Nan said as he followed Chen Yao, full of curiosity. “And that girl must have some feelings for you, right?”
“Maybe Dong An has a reason to call me,” Chen Yao shrugged.
Speaking of Dong An, ever since that esports competition at school, Lin Nan had hardly seen him. After that event, they played less League of Legends, and their contact was pretty much limited to gaming.
“That guy has a sister?” Lin Nan imagined what she might look like. “She probably looks just as ugly as him!”
“Come on, you haven’t even met her, and you’re already dissing her?” Chen Yao rolled his eyes.
Lin Nan was just joking around; if that girl stood right in front of him, even if she looked like a train wreck, he’d still find all kinds of odd angles to compliment her. After all, that’s just basic social skills.
When they reached the front gate of the school, that girl was already waiting for Chen Yao.
When she spotted him, her face lit up with joy, but as soon as she saw Lin Nan beside him, her expression froze instantly.
I knew it! This guy is clearly drooling over Chen Yao!
Lin Nan was taken aback. He had suspected it, but seeing it play out in front of him was still hard to digest.
What? How could a guy who only plays games and basketball every day actually have a girl interested in him?
He sighed, thinking maybe this girl was just blind.
However, Chen Yao was as dense as a brick wall; he didn’t care how she reacted. With his hands still buried in his pockets, yawning as he walked up, he complained, “Couldn’t you have told me earlier that you wanted me to come eat? I’ve already had my meal, and now you want to drag me out?”
“Um… I’m sorry,” the girl responded timidly, shrinking her neck. She seemed like the shy type, unable to meet Chen Yao’s gaze and turning as red as a tomato within moments.
But Lin Nan wasn’t focused on that; his gaze slowly drifted down from the girl’s face, landing smack dab on her chest.
Whoa! That’s huge!
Lin Nan followed Chen Yao closely, curiously eyeing her. Though the girl’s face wasn’t exactly supermodel-level gorgeous, she had clearly done her makeup, apparently preparing for this meet-up with Chen Yao. Yet, looking at her, inexplicably, Lin Nan felt uncomfortable.
“Is he your boyfriend?” the girl asked, biting her lip softly.
“Nope, just a roommate.”
“Roommate…” Her expression changed dramatically. “You guys… you live together?”
“???”
Are you seriously that clueless?
If it weren’t for the fact that she was a girl, Chen Yao would have brutally called her out. Instead, he forced a gentle smile, showcasing a rare moment of chivalry. “No, he’s a guy. We share a dorm. Your brother should have mentioned him, right?”
“You mean the one my brother said was a girl but insisted was a boy, Lin Nan?”
Lin Nan silently rolled his eyes next to Chen Yao, feeling a wave of disdain wash over him from this girl’s comments.
But he never expected that this girl genuinely seemed interested in Chen Yao, while Chen Yao remained blissfully unaware.
Yet, usually, Lin Nan thought Chen Yao was fairly perceptive. A slight change in his expressions would catch his attention, so how on earth was he so oblivious around this girl?
Or was he just playing dumb?
With him playing the role of a third wheel, it made the girl uneasy, and Chen Yao’s complete disinterest in this shy, awkward girl who looked less appealing than most guys made Lin Nan feel like he was being dragged along on a first date… that everyone was pretending he wasn’t on.
“She’s Dong Juan, a freshman,” Chen Yao gave Lin Nan a perfunctory introduction after a few dismissive comments.
Unlike her annoying brother Dong An, Dong Juan was polite yet shy. Even knowing Lin Nan was just an unwanted tagalong, she turned and smiled, nodding in acknowledgment.
Her smile was quite pretty, but Lin Nan simply wasn’t having it. However, since she approached him with a grin, he couldn’t react like his hot-headed friend Li Sisi and just rip into her.
So, he reluctantly managed a half-hearted smile at Dong Juan.
He wasn’t sure why he felt this way. He’d come just to hang out with Chen Yao, but now that he realized Dong Juan might actually have feelings for him, a wave of irritation flowed through him.
It felt like Xiong Da, the figure collector, discovering a brat using his beloved figures as toys—pure frustration mixed with helplessness.
Lin Nan felt a slight ache in his lower abdomen, a chill of discomfort creeping in with his rising irritation, making his mood plummet further and a wave of vague anxiety rise up.
He suddenly realized walking alongside Chen Yao was pure torture, like trying to walk on hot coals.
So, he tried to calm his nerves through comparisons.
Chest? No contest; she was miles ahead. Face? Well, his was maybe a bit more refined, but Dong Juan had makeup going for her. Legs? Ugh, okay, hers were probably longer.
Lin Nan looked down at his legs, wrapped in baggy sweatpants, then glanced over at Dong Juan still rocking a mini skirt in late autumn. He couldn’t help but grimace.
She looks innocent and demure! But why is she out here dressed like this in the middle of winter trying to flirt with Chen Yao?
Grumbling about Dong Juan only made Lin Nan feel more downcast.
The ache in his abdomen was probably just his period arriving right on schedule; even though it was more of a surprise than it should’ve been for every other girl. He always had to wait until he felt a twinge of pain to realize something was off.
It had to be the monthly visitor causing these extreme mood swings. Usually, if he saw beautiful girls that made him envious, it stirred admiration rather than jealousy. But today? Today felt a bit different…
As they strolled lazily toward the back gate, Dong Juan tried her best to ignore Lin Nan’s presence, but unfortunately for her, Chen Yao didn’t pick up on the vibe at all. He turned around and noticed Lin Nan appeared quite off.
“My friend doesn’t seem too well,” he scratched his head, asking Dong Juan, “How about we save this for another time?”
“…”
Dong Juan pressed her lips together, reluctantly nodded.
No wonder my brother says you deserve to be single!
