580. Tu Junhui’s Best Buddy
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Even though Tu Junhui’s birthday gift was a bit on the cheap side, at least he picked it out in an accessory store.
But Xiong Da’s gift? Talk about half-hearted!
Lin Nan stared blankly at the phone he handed over, gritting her teeth as she accepted it, contemplating whether to buy something around a thousand or eighteen hundred bucks just to make Xiong Da feel a little pain in his wallet.
But that seemed unlikely; Xiong Da had spent over ten thousand just on figurines recently!
The plush parrot being sold online was only a few dozen bucks, and the expensive ones topped out at just a hundred.
Lin Nan casually selected one, wondering if Lemon would mistake that plush parrot for a real one down the line.
This Japanese restaurant was pricey; Lin Nan couldn’t fathom why eel rice cost a hundred bucks and tempura with flour could go for several dozen.
“So expensive.” Lin Nan looked at the menu, feeling the urge to bolt. After all, today she was treating.
“Don’t worry, if it gets too pricey, we can split the bill.” Tu Junhui didn’t want to take advantage, knowing Lin Nan was tight on cash.
After a long hesitation, Lin Nan thought about how she could pig out at Chen Yao’s place tomorrow without spending a dime, so she resolutely ordered a volcano beef rice.
“Are you two planning to find internships next semester when we hit junior year?” Lin Nan curiously asked Tu Junhui and Xiong Da, who were sitting opposite her.
She was still fantasizing about working at the same company as her dormmates.
If that happened, work would be bearable.
Xiong Da quickly shook his head, while Tu Junhui justified, “Why bother with internships when we could just have fun? Between classes and work, who wouldn’t be exhausted?”
“I’m just envious of you rich kids who don’t have to worry about a thing.”
After her deadpan comment, Lin Nan turned to look out the window.
They were seated by the window, and with just a turn of her head, she could see the event area in Wanda Plaza, where a mobile game competition was happening. Though the angle made it hard to see the big screen, Chen Yao was completely engrossed.
Lin Nan figured he was mostly watching the cute girls dressed lightly on either side of the stage.
So, she lifted her foot and playfully stepped on Chen Yao’s shoe under the table, then glared at him.
“Not looking, not looking.” Chen Yao awkwardly turned his head away.
If you wore as little at home as you do out here, I wouldn’t have to ogle others, would I?
She grumbled silently but didn’t dare say it out loud; still, she’d caught a glimpse of a few shorts and skirts when Chen Yao packed his bags.
Not that Lin Nan wore them; she had no idea why he bought them.
After waiting nearly half an hour, the Japanese food finally arrived.
Lin Nan had expected the beef rice to be just a few translucent slices of beef on top of rice. When the dish came out, she was shocked to find it was a mountain of beef topped with a raw egg—quite luxurious.
Though she knew you could eat raw eggs in Japanese cuisine, it still felt oddly off-putting to her.
Out of curiosity, Tu Junhui ordered a bottle of sake, but after a few tentative sips, they all agreed it was just too weird to drink.
“So, when are you marrying Chen Yao? Right after graduation?” Tu Junhui asked, sticking out his tongue, putting Chen Yao on the spot about his private life.
They were engaged, but the wedding date was still up in the air. It was too far off to think clearly about it.
Chen Yao waved it off, knowing Tu Junhui was just trying to sneak advantage: “You’ll definitely be invited to our wedding, so why all the rush?”
“I’m just worried you’ll be a j*rk, stringing Lin Nan along for years before ditching her!”
“Am I that kind of person?” Chen Yao straightened up, proclaiming, “I’m totally devoted to Lin Nan!”
“That’s what everyone in the honeymoon phase says.” Xiong Da chimed in with a huff.
As someone recently out of a breakup, his opinion had some weight.
But Lin Nan felt that she and Chen Yao were no longer in the honeymoon phase.
At least living together now involved constant bickering over trivial things.
It was like mutual disdain—seeing each other would spark irritation, yet after separating for a bit, they’d miss one another.
“They’re both each other’s first loves,” Tu Junhui declared, channeling his inner love guru while sipping his sake. Though it tasted awful, he had to finish what he bought, tears included. “First loves usually don’t end well—just look at Xiong Da!”
Chen Yao shot back, “You two are just jealous because you don’t have girlfriends!”
“Ha! If I wanted a girlfriend, I could get one in no time!” Tu Junhui boasted with supreme arrogance.
Lin Nan jumped in, “So, what’s the scoop with you and Lin Kexin now?”
“Which Lin Kexin?” Tu Junhui immediately played dumb, shaking his head. “I’m not interested in girls; don’t bring them up!”
“He’s still on the phone with Lin Kexin every night for half an hour,” Xiong Da snorted.
Clearly, he had witnessed Tu Junhui chatting up a storm with girls during his recent low moments, probably musing over it for days.
If Xiong Da had a bit of a twisted personality, Tu Junhui would surely be applying for a vacation in the afterlife right now.
Chen Yao added, “I really don’t understand how Lin Kexin could ever like a chubby guy like you. Must be a vision problem!”
“DNM! This is what I call ‘chubby with a sense of security’!”
Though he kept up his swagger, his face turned a noticeably red shade. He straightened up, puffing his chest, “Lin Kexin and I are like best buddies, okay?”
“I used to be best buddies with Lin Nan too,” Chen Yao nodded in deep agreement, “Looks like you’re trying to snag my skills?”
What kind of skill is it to turn a buddy into a fiancée?
Lin Nan kicked Chen Yao under the table again, but he didn’t budge: “Come on! Call me ‘Daddy,’ and I’ll teach you how to turn a buddy into a girlfriend!”
“Some people just want to be my dad.” Tu Junhui chuckled, suddenly standing up with his drink, bowing to Chen Yao. “Dad!”
Lin Nan could barely hold it together, covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably, terrified she’d laugh like a pig.
Chen Yao looked horrified: “You actually did turn Lin Kexin into your buddy, didn’t you?”
“How am I supposed to know what goes on in that woman’s head? She calls me every day to chat about gaming or calls me chubby!” Tu Junhui cursed.
Xiong Da kept his head down, munching quietly, feeling like he was being shown up again.
Thank goodness he was planning to leave tomorrow; otherwise, he might not be able to handle it.
During the meal, Tu Junhui started bombarding Chen Yao with questions on how to turn a buddy into a girlfriend. But with Lin Nan sitting there, Chen Yao couldn’t go into too much detail—or he might end up in the hospital.
Ultimately, they reached a conclusion: “Maybe Lin Kexin already likes you, just thinks you’re a bit too chubby?”
“If not, why would she waste her time calling you every day?” Chen Yao theorized.
“So what do I do next?” Tu Junhui asked seriously.
“Just go for the kiss! If it works out, she’s your girlfriend; if not, you face some charges!” Xiong Da proposed.
“Man, you just can’t stand to see me happy, can you?”
“Who was it that seemed thrilled for two whole days after finding out I got cheated on?”
