074. Stop Messing Around
Zhang Shaoqing’s dark transformation is probably not going to happen anymore.
A few days ago, he had a high fever, and his newfound femininity was just the punishment for the dark transformation plot.
At least that’s what Ning Chu thinks.
But not darkening just means Zhang Shaoqing won’t do illegal and chaotic things like in the book. It doesn’t mean he has completely forgotten his childhood friend.
Ning Chu still feels a bit worried about Zhang Shaoqing’s mental state, concerned he might do something excessive.
Just look at those news articles about people committing s*icide after breakups…
Ning Chu only had two classes in the morning, each nearly two hours long.
At noon, when the bell rang, the teacher on stage grabbed the lesson plan faster than the students and quickly left the classroom.
Students rushed out, resembling zombies breaking free from their cages, jamming the two exits into one chaotic mass.
Ning Chu picked up his textbook and stood up, quickly scanning his three roommates.
Wen Yang was taking notes seriously, clearly the type of model student. Wang Jie spent the whole class reading novels, while Zhang Shaoqing was glued to his mobile game, occasionally shooting a gloomy glance at Ling Ling, and dropped a couple of 648s in the process.
Being rich is so nice~
Ning Chu waited for the crowd of students to disperse before heading outside. As soon as he moved, Wen Yang followed his lead.
He glanced back at Wen Yang, who immediately asked, “Are we heading to the cafeteria together?”
“Not going. I already ordered takeout.”
Wen Yang shot a look at Wang Jie, as if to say, “Who asked you?”
“Forget it, I don’t want to push through the cafeteria crowd.”
Although Ning Chu worried that Wen Yang would be lured and teased by the girls, he was even more concerned that Wen Yang’s feelings for him might change.
No! It might already be changing!
If he wasn’t still a guy to make Wen Yang cautious…
“Fine then.”
Wen Yang looked a bit dejected, like a little puppy that got abandoned.
As their group of four passed by the cafeteria, he lonely trudged toward the entrance, looking quite miserable.
Ning Chu looked back at his figure, pressed his lips together, and was about to head to the dormitory when he turned around and saw Zhang Shaoqing take a turn in another direction.
What is this guy up to?!
He frowned, feeling uneasy about Zhang Shaoqing.
Whether he’s scheming something to harm girls or experiencing a romantic meltdown after a breakup, he can’t let Zhang Shaoqing out of his sight for too long.
“You go back first,” Ning Chu instructed Wang Jie, “remember to grab my takeout.”
“Okay.” Wang Jie mumbled, continuing forward, “Why is everyone so weird…?”
A couple of meters behind, Ning Chu didn’t hide at all, just followed Zhang Shaoqing onto the playground.
In the blazing sun, the heat over thirty-five degrees Celsius made it hard to see any other students around.
Zhang Shaoqing stopped on the rubber track and turned to look at Ning Chu’s worried face.
“You…,” he shook his head in resignation, “you really love poking your nose into other people’s business.”
“Just a little worried…”
“Wen Yang is being hit on by girls in the cafeteria.”
Ning Chu jolted, instinctively glancing back toward the cafeteria.
“You really want to control everything? Do you have a clone?”
“We’re roommates after all… What are you doing on the playground?” He looked around, trying to spot Ling Ling, “Did you arrange to meet with her here?”
Zhang Shaoqing shook his head, “What’s there to talk about with her? Come on.”
He fell silent for a moment, lowering his head, looking gloomy.
“……”
If he stepped into Zhang Shaoqing’s shoes, Ning Chu wouldn’t be feeling any better either. Unsure of how to comfort him, he awkwardly said, “It’s all in the past…”
Zhang Shaoqing didn’t reply but started walking along the track, gradually transitioning from a stroll to a jog, then to a full sprint.
“Who vents emotions like this…” Ning Chu glanced at the clear blue sky, his mouth twitching with a dull ache, “He’s definitely going to heatstroke.”
Running a few laps in the gym would be fine, why does it have to be under this glaring sun?
He plopped down on the grass, the ground scorched beneath him, making it uncomfortable to sit.
“What’s wrong with everyone~”
Ning Chu felt like he was more concerned than even the parents would be, with Zhang Shaoqing being melodramatic and Wen Yang acting rebellious…
Ever since he crossed over into this world, it seemed like there were no smooth sailing days.
Who’s there to worry about him? He’s tired too~
“What’s up with him?”
Suddenly, Wen Yang’s voice came from behind, and Ning Chu turned to find him sitting beside him, handing over a bottle of cola. “Aren’t you going to eat at the cafeteria?”
“I packed takeout.” Wen Yang displayed his takeout box. “Right after leaving the cafeteria, I saw you two heading to the playground.”
“Oh~” Ning Chu subtly shifted, creating some distance while explaining, “He probably needs to vent. He saw Ling Ling in class today; it’s normal for him to be down.”
He glanced at the cola in his hand. “I’ll transfer the money to you later.”
Three bucks for cola was nothing to him, but to Wen Yang, that’s a whole breakfast.
“It’s fine, it’s on me.” Wen Yang watched Ning Chu, noticing he spent most of his time fixating on Zhang Shaoqing who was sprinting on the track, then looked up. “How long has he been running? He won’t heatstroke, will he?”
“He probably hopes to heatstroke himself.” Ning Chu sighed, “So immature… torturing himself to impress himself, as if that would bring Ling Ling back.”
“……”
It was rare for Ning Chu to say something so seemingly mature, leaving Wen Yang a bit astonished, unsure of how to respond.
“Hey! Get him to the medical room!”
Zhang Shaoqing suddenly crashed onto the ground, startling Ning Chu so much he jumped up, instinctively grabbing Wen Yang’s wrist, rushing over. “Don’t hurt yourself!”
He hurried to Zhang Shaoqing who was lying flat on his back, gazing up at the blue sky, looking dazed.
Ning Chu froze in place, a complex expression on his face as he sighed.
Great, who told him to write Little Emperor Wen in the first place? Who made Zhang Shaoqing the villain…
He released Wen Yang’s wrist, squatted down, gently patted Zhang Shaoqing’s head, and smiled helplessly yet gently, “Alright, alright, go take a nap. Stop messing around, okay?”
“You’re into catgirls, right? When Black Bean turns into a catgirl, I’ll marry her off to you~”
Zhang Shaoqing’s gaze shifted from staring blankly at the sky to Ning Chu’s sunlit smile, then to Wen Yang’s worried expression.
He mumbled, “How can a cat turn into a catgirl…?”
He meant to shout like usual but felt a lump in his throat, his eyes misting up, laughing and crying at the same time as he wiped his tears, choking out, “Are you… crazy?”
Wen Yang stood back, shaking his head in amazement, “With a roommate like Ning Chu, you can just quietly enjoy it.”
“Can you get up? Or should I carry you to the medical room?”
He half-squatted and reached out his hand to Zhang Shaoqing, “Stop messing around; you’re making Ning Chu worry all the time.”
“Uh-huh…”
