058. Bad Luck!
“Bad luck! Just trying to work a bit, and I run into some idiot!”
Wen Yang stormed out of the coffee shop, cursing like a sailor. Usually not one to use foul language, today his words were flying out like a broken tap.
But you can curse all you want, just stop dragging me along with you!
Ning Chu was getting pulled along by his wrist, stumbling after Wen Yang. He had already changed into his casual clothes, and thanks to this whole fiasco, his workday was totally ruined.
It wasn’t that Boss Lady kicked them out; it was just that Wen Yang would rather forgo his paycheck than leave Ning Chu behind.
“It ruined my chance to see Ning Chu in a dress! Bad luck!”
Ning Chu shot a silent glare at Zhang Shaoqing.
Considering this guy had just grabbed a chair to help out a moment ago, he decided to let it slide—for now.
“I’m telling you both, just quit working and play games with me in the dorm. Ten bucks a round!” Zhang Shaoqing had that usual carefree attitude, “Otherwise, if you guys are working, I’m all alone in the dorm and it’s so boring!”
“Not going back. After that, who can focus?”
“Let go! That hurts!”
Wen Yang finally released Ning Chu’s wrist, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
“Your grip was so tight it left a mark! What was the rush?” Ning Chu complained, “And you scared me earlier.”
“That was because I’m fiercely loyal!”
He aimed a kick at Zhang Shaoqing.
A miss! Ning Chu pursed his lips, glanced up at Wen Yang’s slightly flustered face, and suddenly smiled: “Nice job! That pervert was disgusting! Someone needed to put him in his place!”
“As long as you’re alright,” Wen Yang managed a small smile.
“That ‘putting in place’ wasn’t enough! I wanted more! You should have just taken him down, right then and there!” Zhang Shaoqing was fanning the flames.
But why did it feel off somehow?
Ning Chu hadn’t been with that pervert for long, yet Wen Yang jumped in to defend him. Clearly, while at work, this guy had been keeping a watchful eye, as if he was keeping tabs on whether girls were flirting with him.
Was Wen Yang acting out of friendship, or was it more…?
Given Zhang Shaoqing’s obvious desire to brawl, he probably just liked a good fight.
Ning Chu sighed dramatically, “And here I was just trying on a dress for fun, now I’m totally out of luck.”
“And called me ‘master’ twice!” Zhang Shaoqing laughed cheekily, “How about we have you wear a maid outfit in the dorm? I think that would suit you!”
“Get lost!”
Okay, so he looked pretty heroic earlier, but now he just looks ridiculously annoying.
Wen Yang was definitely better—he was the first to jump in, never acts foolishly, just a straight-up nice guy.
Ning Chu suddenly realized Wen Yang had vanished from sight. Turning around, he saw him cornered by a girl, shaking his head helplessly.
All too alluring for a vixen-type, it seems.
Ning Chu trudged over, grabbed Wen Yang’s hand, and started dragging him away without a word.
“Just say no, why do you keep getting tangled up with these girls?”
“I did say no.”
“Be more decisive! Be strict! Just tell them to buzz off!”
“But she’s a girl…”
Which is why it’s so exhausting~
If it were Ning Chu himself, he wouldn’t be confidently turning down rich girls either; otherwise, he wouldn’t be in this predicament today.
Zhang Shaoqing leaned in. “So, where are we off to now? Want to grab a bite?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
The three of them casually found a shabby little eatery outside of campus. Two meat dishes, one veggie, and a soup came to about ninety. Not too bad, all things considered.
The place looked like it hadn’t been renovated since the last ice age, and the hygiene wasn’t exactly top-notch, but none of them seemed to mind. Surprisingly, Zhang Shaoqing, the rich kid, was enjoying the food the most.
Sitting beside Wen Yang, Ning Chu, feeling the oppressive heat of the day, lost his appetite. He picked at his food, then set down his chopsticks, leaning his cheek on one hand and staring out at the bustling street.
Surely more of these encounters were on the horizon.
The amount of creeps in the Little Emperor Wen storyline is through the roof; right now, he just looks like a boy with somewhat feminine features, but it won’t be long before he’s mistaken for a full-blown girl.
And when that happens, his roommates can’t be around to protect him forever. Or worse, these two roommates just might be the biggest threat!
Ever since Wen Yang brought him back from that drugging incident the other day, his attitude toward Ning Chu had been… off.
He was clearly taking extra care of him, looking at him with those soft eyes. Ning Chu even started to wonder if Wen Yang’s feelings had changed from friend to something more… romantic.
How terrifying!
“What are you thinking about?” Wen Yang leaned closer, whispering in his ear, “Still stuck on what just happened?”
“Nothing, running into creeps is normal—just a small price you pay. But mainly, it was you who had the bad luck; if it were a girl…”
Then I’d be thrilled!
Ning Chu smirked, “Nothing, nothing at all.”
Running into perverts was predictable, but the real issue was you!
Wen Yang leaned in even closer; his breath was warm against Ning Chu’s earlobe, a shiver ran down his spine, and he felt himself blush and go weak at the knees.
Trying to create some distance, Ning Chu was caught off guard by Wen Yang’s teasing question: “When will you call me ‘master’?”
“Pervert.”
It was pure teasing, yet why did it sound so much like flirting?
“Hey~ what are you two whispering about?” Zhang Shaoqing looked up from his food and spotted the two deep in conversation, “Look at Ning Chu’s face, it’s red as a tomato! Speak any sweet nothings?”
Wen Yang noticed Ning Chu’s face was indeed as red as cherry jam.
Taken by surprise, he sat up straight, distancing himself from Ning Chu while grinning, “He called you ‘master’ but didn’t say that to me. Not fair!”
“Are you jealous? Who told you to be a waiter instead of a customer?” Zhang Shaoqing joked, casting a playful glance at Ning Chu, preparing to tease him further, but then noticed Ning Chu was staring wide-eyed at something behind him.
“What are you looking at?”
Just as he turned, he suddenly heard Ning Chu’s frantic plea: “Shaoqing!”
“Huh?”
Under the table, Ning Chu elbowed Wen Yang in the ribs, his face pale, heart racing. He managed a stiff smile: “Uh… didn’t we say we’d help you get with Ling Ling during the National holiday?”
“Yeah, but then you both went and got part-time jobs.”
“And if it fails, what happens then?” Ning Chu’s smile was growing awkward, “What if she finds someone else…?”
Zhang Shaoqing froze for a moment, let out a soft sigh, and his expression turned solemn.
Uh oh! Uh oh!
Ning Chu feared silence the most, jabbing Wen Yang’s side with his elbow again.
Wen Yang coughed lightly: “I mean, there are a lot of women out there; no need to fixate on just this one.”
“Exactly! Pretty catgirls aren’t an endangered species!”
“Why do I feel like you two are hiding something from me?” Zhang Shaoqing frowned, looking over his shoulder and through the glass doors towards the street.
“Nothing at all!”
Thankfully, Ling Ling and her current boyfriend had already passed by…
Otherwise, if she saw the two of them acting all chummy, Zhang Shaoqing might just snap right there.
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It’s the end of the month! Go ahead, give me all your unwanted monthly votes~
