467. Wang Jie
At noon, Ning Chu ran into Wang Jie again.
Wang Jie looked like he had been dragged through a hedgerow backward—red-eyed, gloomy, and meandering like a lost puppy that might just collapse and d*e right where it stood.
On Monday, under the tyrannical rule of his rabbit-like girlfriend, he was never in a good mood, but today was… well, let’s just say it was a hot mess.
“Didn’t sleep well last night,” he mumbled.
Sitting at his computer, Wang Jie’s gaze was glued to the screen like a moth to a flame, completely entranced by the game.
“Seriously? You’re letting this trivial matter get to you?” Zhang Shaoqing nonchalantly stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall. “Just play it—are you planning on raising it or something?”
“She won’t let me.”
“d*mn it, women are just a hassle!”
Wen Yang chimed in, “You need to talk some sense into her. Haven’t you two’s parents ever wondered how babies are made? And after they’re made, who’s raising them?”
Ning Chu stayed out of that conversation, finally sitting down at her own dusty desk, staring at the thick layer of dust like it was some kind of ancient artifact.
She perked her ears up, listening to the guys’ discussion without saying a word, quietly using a tissue to wipe the dust off her desk.
“Why does your girlfriend insist on having it?”
Wang Jie scratched his head in distress. “She says it’s so pitiful… Every time I mention getting rid of it, she just cries and makes a fuss. You saw that, right?”
“Can’t figure out what women are thinking,” Zhang Shaoqing turned to Ning Chu. “Hey, how about you throw in your two cents?”
All three of them fixed their gaze on Ning Chu, her head filled with question marks as she blinked dumbly. “Huh?”
“Look at you, with that lost puppy look. You don’t look like you can analyze anything.”
Rolling her eyes, she continued wiping the desk, “Girls are just more emotional, you know? And being pregnant makes those emotions go haywire.”
While she agreed it should probably be terminated, she could kind of understand Wang Jie’s girlfriend’s feelings.
As a woman, she had enough experience to feel the physiological and psychological differences between men and women.
Perhaps thanks to estrogen, she had become more sensibly emotional, sensitive, and empathetic, sometimes feeling her emotions swing wildly out of control.
But after living as a guy for over a decade, she could never completely mimic a factory-fresh girl.
So these changes just left her a bit troubled, and honestly, she preferred getting lost in some juicy drama over dealing with this headache.
“What do you think he should say to her?” Wen Yang pulled up a chair and sat next to Ning Chu.
“Well, at least wait until she calms down. Honestly, you won’t get through to her in the next couple of days.”
Wen Yang thought for a moment then suggested, “How about you, Wang Jie, hurry up and take a taxi back to be with her?”
“I still have classes.”
“What’s the point of going to class right now? You clearly have zero focus on your studies.”
Ning Chu nodded in agreement, chiming in, “Right? You skipped two classes this morning, too.”
“I think you’re just dodging the issue.”
Her head bobbing up and down like a bobblehead, she added, “Exactly! Not manly at all! Didn’t even use protection and now you’re trying to dodge responsibility!”
Wang Jie just sat there staring blankly at the computer screen, not bothering to argue back.
Suddenly, a loud knock at the dormitory door shattered their roast session.
“Takeout!”
“Coming, coming!”
Zhang Shaoqing scampered to grab the takeout, glancing at the order, and instantly dropped the excited façade, grumbling as he tossed the takeout box onto Ning Chu’s desk.
“Yours.”
“Thanks.”
“d*mn it, I ordered that takeout at 11:30—how is it still not here?”
Ning Chu gleefully opened the bag and lifted the takeout box, revealing a delicious pile of stir-fried meat with green peppers rice, steaming hot, topped with a perfectly browned fried egg.
“It smells pretty good. Which place is this from?” Zhang Shaoqing leaned in, eyes sparkling. “Can I have a bite?”
“Nope! If you want to eat, order your own!”
“Such a cheapskate!”
Ning Chu rolled her eyes at him, busying herself with her food, mixing the steaming rice with the green peppers and meat, shoveling it into her mouth.
Eating in the dorm always tasted better than eating out.
Especially when her other roommates were staring at her with hungry eyes, grumbling about the tardy delivery person, making every bite even more delicious.
“Wen Yang, what did you order? Why hasn’t it arrived yet?”
“I ordered with Shaoqing—sauerkraut noodles,” Wen Yang muttered. “He insisted on splitting the cost with me. I couldn’t say no.”
“Let me try some later!”
As Ning Chu chewed, she threw a glance at Wang Jie.
He was still glued to the screen, staring blankly, like he’d forgotten how to actually play the game.
This was the life of a socially awkward gamer. Even when he knew what the right thing to do was, he still leaned toward evasion, thanks to his introverted nature.
Ning Chu’s “big sister” instincts kicked in, seeing her roommate struggling, and she felt restless wanting to help.
Her bowl of rice didn’t taste nearly as good anymore, especially when Zhang Shaoqing’s takeout arrived too, and that rich beef aroma wafted over, making her lick her lips, leaving her dry mouth even drier.
“Didn’t you and Shaoqing order from the same place? Why is he getting beef rice and you’re stuck with sauerkraut noodles?”
Wen Yang held up his bowl, momentarily taken aback. “It was cheaper.”
“Aw, come on!”
He had that goofy grin on his face, eyes twinkling mischievously as he glanced at Zhang Shaoqing.
Zhang Shaoqing immediately covered his beef, muttering, “Hey! There aren’t even many pieces of beef in there! Don’t go overboard! If you’re hungry, order your own!”
“What a cheapskate!” Ning Chu shot back with indignation, “I just want one piece of meat to taste!”
“Look who’s talking! Wen Yang, you’re such a lapdog! Why are you listening to Ning Chu? Don’t you dare come closer!”
While the commotion continued, Wang Jie let out a deep sigh and suddenly said, “Shao Qing, can I borrow some money?”
The room fell silent as they shifted to the more serious topic.
“How much?”
He hesitated, lowering his voice, his face turning an embarrassing shade of red, “Uh, maybe two thousand?”
“Two thousand? Man, is getting an abortion that pricey?” Zhang Shaoqing frowned as he looked at his phone balance, awkwardly scratching his head. “I don’t have that much cash. Just bought a new pair of shoes—cost me over a few thousand…”
Wang Jie drooped, slumping over the table with his phone in hand, deep in thought about who to borrow money from.
As for Ning Chu and Wen Yang, living off-campus, their expenses were already through the roof, and they were both practically broke…
But Wen Yang seized the moment, patting Wang Jie’s shoulder, “What about borrowing money from me?”
“Save what little you have for Ning Chu to eat better. At least she’s losing some weight from sharing a place with you.”
“I swear! Am I really losing weight?!”
Ning Chu said in utter disbelief, dropping her takeout box and rushing to the mirror to inspect her figure, pinching her stomach through her clothes, only to deflate like a balloon. “No way…”
That little belly was like a thorn in her side!
“Wang Jie’s just exaggerating; besides, a little extra fluff can be cute,” Wen Yang reassured Ning Chu. Then he turned back to Wang Jie. “Don’t worry, I’ll transfer the money to you. Two thousand?”
“Where are you getting that money? Dating a sugar mama?”
“Worked over the winter break.”
