045. Class Dinner
“Sorry~ Sorry!”
On the balcony, Zhang Shaoqing wore a dark expression. He had just returned to the dormitory when Ning Chu dragged him outside, and now the little one was persistently apologizing to him.
“It’s all my fault! I was completely out of my mind yesterday morning! I misunderstood what you said about the massage…”
He was feeling a bit bewildered, his gloomy face frozen in confusion as he stared at the pitiful Ning Chu before him. Then he leaned against the balcony railing and, in a displeased and fierce tone, questioned, “You think just saying sorry is enough?”
“Well…” Ning Chu’s fake pitiful expression instantly shattered as she took two steps back. “What are you trying to do?”
Oh my! Don’t tell me I’m going dark over something so trivial!
So this is how weak the villain’s heart is!
Seeing her wary expression as if a little cat faced with a fierce dog, Zhang Shaoqing suddenly burst into laughter. “Just call me Dad, and we’ll be good.”
“……”
“Come on! Show some sincerity!”
Ning Chu felt a deep sense of humiliation, her lips twitching as she grudgingly uttered, “Dad.”
“Ah~ One more time!”
“Are you asking for a beating?”
“Come at me~” Zhang Shaoqing turned and dashed into the dorm, still mocking as he ran, “You act all feminine! You don’t really think I can get mad over this, do you?”
Ning Chu, fuming, picked up a broom and chased after him.
Inside the dorm, it was as noisy as ever. Wen Yang turned around and looked at the two play-fighting in the cramped space, rubbing his temples in pain as he raised his voice to interrupt, “Stop, stop!”
“The instructor mentioned yesterday that our class is having a dinner tonight. Are you guys going or not? Just give a clear answer.”
“Not going! What’s there to gather for? I barely know a few of you.”
Zhang Shaoqing shot a casual reply over his shoulder, but was hit on the backside by the broom, yelping as he ran even more energetically.
“Not going isn’t good… The instructor said we should all go to promote class unity…”
“Are you stupid? You really believe that nonsense he said?”
Wen Yang had no real way to deal with this, glancing at Ning Chu, who was brandishing the broom, her cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish as she continued her pursuit of Zhang Shaoqing.
“Ning Chu, are you going?”
“Don’t want to go!”
Ning Chu’s only desire right now was to knock Zhang Shaoqing unconscious.
“Wang Jie?”
“Busy leveling up, no time.”
Wen Yang shook his head helplessly. “Seriously, can at least one of you come with me? I don’t know many people in class.”
“Don’t worry, the girls in class won’t ignore you.”
Hearing this, Ning Chu suddenly perked up, coming to an abrupt stop, her voice trembling with urgency. “If you don’t go, then great!”
“I’m the class leader, how can I not go? The instructor would break my legs.”
Ning Chu furrowed her brow, hesitating. She put the broom down and pulled out her phone, opening the notes app.
In her notes were the summaries of all the girls from the novel who had fought against Wen Yang, including the catgirl Ling Ling, the abstinent succubus they had discussed in the dorm, the sickly yandere fox girl…
There were plenty of female supporting characters in class, and if Ning Chu let Wen Yang go alone to the dinner, he probably wouldn’t come back tonight.
“Are you worried about Wen Yang going out alone?” Zhang Shaoqing teased, seeing her glum expression, “You might as well go to Thailand and marry Wen Yang.”
Ning Chu retorted defensively, “I just don’t have money for food!”
“Your family hasn’t sent you your allowance?” Wen Yang asked curiously, “Mine has already been deposited.”
“Not really…”
Opening her banking app, Ning Chu stared at the single-digit balance with despair.
Due to raising a cat and not controlling her appetite for food and milk tea, her allowance was practically spent. The remaining funds could only buy two packs of instant noodles, enough for a day.
She bit her lip and hesitated, hovering over the contact labeled “Mom,” but her thumb did not press down.
In her past life, her mother had passed away early, leaving her and her grandfather to rely on each other. In this life, a new mother just appeared out of nowhere.
This made her feel extremely resistant, her brow furrowing as she didn’t want to communicate with this new mom.
Moreover, this was about asking for money… it felt humbling, almost like begging a stranger.
“What’s wrong? Is your relationship with your mom bad?” Wen Yang noticed her hesitation.
“Should be fine?”
Zhang Shaoqing leaned back casually and mused, “Asking for an allowance from home is so drama-packed. I don’t have to ask; my mom shoves money at me every day.”
After all, you’re a rich kid!
Ning Chu shot him a glare and slammed her phone screen down on the table, shaking her head helplessly at Wen Yang. “Forget it, I’m not going to the dinner tonight.”
Wen Yang couldn’t pry further into Ning Chu’s family matters and shrugged to show he understood.
He returned to his computer, but his heart was fluttering with excitement.
So, tonight Ning Chu wouldn’t be tailing him. She wouldn’t interfere with his romantic prospects—if any girl pursued him, Ning Chu wouldn’t be there to cause chaos…
If it weren’t for Ning Chu, would any girl really be lining up to pursue him while he was still a single virgin by today?!
Feeling guilty about those little thoughts, he sneaked a glance at Ning Chu, only to find her still sulking, head down, seemingly searching for something on her phone.
“What’s up?”
“Looking for a part-time job…”
Ning Chu lifted one foot onto a chair, resting her chin on her knee, mumbling, “It’d better be a campus part-time job. Supermarket staff or cafeteria delivery or serving… then I could earn some money while attending class.”
Wen Yang watched her gloomy expression, feeling his excitement slowly fade. “It’s the last day of the month. Asking your family for money isn’t that weird. Why do you need a part-time job?”
“Didn’t you say the primary task of college students is studying?”
That was just a lofty principle I told you to keep you from flirting with girls while working part-time! How dumb can you be?!
Ning Chu silently scoffed at Wen Yang’s foolishness, not responding.
“How about you join me in some gaming service? Just a few hours at night, it won’t interfere with studying and can be fun.”
“Just him? You forgot that last time he was zero to eighteen?” Zhang Shaoqing snickered. “Even with the three of us helping him, we’d flop around. We lost all night, and he still talks about carrying.”
Gaming service…
Ning Chu’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
Carrying is out, but companionship should be fine, right?!
Even if he’s bad and still a guy, it’s unlikely anyone would want to hire him unless it’s a rich woman like the boss lady who’s into little boys.
But what if?
She hurriedly downloaded a gaming companion app, registered an account, and thought, even if it didn’t work out, it only cost her some phone storage.
“Don’t rush. If you really run out of money, it just means buying one less meal; you won’t starve.”
“……”
That sounded awfully familiar~
Ning Chu had said that to Wen Yang back then, and now it was he who was facing the situation of not being able to afford food.
“I’ve got to go now.”
“This early?” Ning Chu jolted up.
“I need to find out how many people are going to the dinner and then go with the instructor to find a good place to eat…”
Zhang Shaoqing interjected, “Don’t choose that Sichuan restaurant; you might upset Ning Chu’s stomach.”
“Got it.”
Seeing Wen Yang getting ready to leave, Ning Chu hurriedly got up and jogged over. “Wait, wait!”
“What is it?”
He turned back and caught a glimpse of Zhang Shaoqing enjoying the show, suddenly hit by a wave of shame. Her face flushed slightly as she lowered her voice, hinting awkwardly, “Don’t drink at the dinner, try to come back early. Um… don’t stay out overnight…”
Ning Chu had to learn to let go; it was just dinner, right? Wen Yang should be fine…
But Zhang Shaoqing picked up every word, grinning, “Oh~ Little wife telling her husband to be careful when going out!”
Hearing that, the sense of shame skyrocketed. The rosy hue on her cheeks turned crimson, as if they were about to bleed. Red color quickly spread to her ears; she lowered her head, feeling her face burning with embarrassment, wanting to punch Zhang Shaoqing.
What a j*rk!
Wen Yang looked at her adorable face turning pink; her shy demeanor poked right at his heart.
Could it be that Ning Chu really likes me?
Thoughts raced through his mind, but he simply nodded gently.
“I’m not that kind of person.”
