Chapter 254: Dorm Dynamics and Lunch Invitations
by xennovelHuo Dashan jumped back into his self-appointed leadership role and spoke up:
“Let’s all go grab lunch together and chat over the meal.”
Chen Wenyi chimed in: “Xu Chen mentioned there’s a great tea restaurant at the West Gate. We were just planning to head there.”
The others quickly agreed: “Sounds good!”
Jiao Tianbo’s eyebrows shot up, clearly annoyed at hearing about Xu Chen’s restaurant pick, but he kept quiet.
Xu Chen could sense that his arrogant top-student roommate was indeed a bit petty.
Maybe it was because of Xu Chen’s blunt rebuttals that didn’t show him any respect, or perhaps because Xu Chen had stolen some of his spotlight—either way, Jiao Tianbo was now set on clashing with him.
But Xu Chen didn’t care at all.
Guys like this seventeen or eighteen-year-old with a chip on his shoulder were bound to get offended no matter what, so what was the point?
It was ridiculously childish, and Xu Chen had no interest in dealing with it.
……
Xu Chen’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glanced at it, and said:
“Sorry, but I’ve got another lunch commitment I can’t skip.”
Hong Xiaoqiang grinned: “What kind of lunch? Unless it’s with a girl, you’re not getting away.”
Xu Chen: “Well, it actually is with a girl…”
“Oh?!”
The others lit up with gossip and excitement.
“Just a regular friend, though.”
“Hopefully more…” Hong Xiaoqiang teased.
Xu Chen laughed:
“How about this? I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight!”
Huo Dashan chuckled: “You’re always so generous, Xu!”
Jiao Tianbo looked irritated again.
Hong Xiaoqiang: “So, who’s this girl you’re meeting? We need to check her out…”
……
……
Xu Chen headed back to the dormitory to grab his bag, then hurried downstairs.
Glancing back, he saw the six guys from the two rooms trailing after him quietly.
Hong Xiaoqiang grinned:
“We’re just heading out for our own meal. Not following you or anything.”
Xu Chen: “……”
Stepping out of the dormitory building, he spotted two girls standing on the big lawn—it was Fang Jun and Wu Feifei.
Fang Jun wore her usual neat, androgynous style: a polo shirt, khaki pants, and a high ponytail.
Wu Feifei looked fresh in a white T-shirt, jeans, and her long black hair flowing loose.
Seeing Xu Chen approach, Wu Feifei tugged Fang Jun along and hurried over with a smile.
Xu Chen spoke first:
“Welcome, Miss Wu. Thanks for making the time to visit.”
Wu Feifei smiled: “I’m mainly here to hang out with Fang Jun. Thought I’d check out your school and grab a meal with you along the way.”
Xu Chen laughed. Wu Feifei really knew how to handle things smoothly.
The way she ordered those reasons made it all feel perfectly fine, without making him uncomfortable.
Whispers came from behind.
Xu Chen turned to see the six dormitory mates who’d followed.
They stared at the two girls in front of Xu Chen, their expressions full of teasing.
A few gazes lingered a bit longer on Wu Feifei.
Xu Chen paused.
Well…
Wu Feifei stood out with her looks, figure, and vibe, probably surprising his roommates.
Xu Chen turned to the girls and explained:
“Those guys are my roommates. They heard I was meeting girls and came to check you out.”
Fang Jun stayed expressionless, while Wu Feifei, ever outgoing, just smiled.
Suddenly, a figure stepped forward and said:
“Wu Feifei…”
Xu Chen looked back—it was Jiao Tianbo, the “top-student guy.”
Wu Feifei blinked: “Jiao… Tianbo?”
Xu Chen was surprised:
“You two know each other?”
Jiao Tianbo raised an eyebrow, his eyes darting between Xu Chen and Wu Feifei:
“You two know each other?!”
He seemed to piece it together: “Oh… Xu Chen’s from Tiancheng too. That makes sense.”
Wu Feifei explained to Xu Chen:
“Jiao Tianbo and I were classmates in seventh and eighth grade. Then he transferred schools.”
Xu Chen smiled at Wu Feifei: “So you were in the Provincial Capital before?”
Wu Feifei: “Yeah, my dad worked there. When he got promoted to Tiancheng, I went with him.”
As she chatted with Xu Chen, she left Jiao Tianbo hanging.
Xu Chen picked up on it—Jiao Tianbo looked thrilled and nervous seeing Wu Feifei, but she seemed cool and uninterested.
Jiao Tianbo hesitated then said:
“Feifei, I heard your dad got another promotion in Tiancheng?”
Wu Feifei gave a polite smile and just hummed in response.
Noticing Xu Chen’s confusion, she added:
“Back in the Provincial Capital, my dad and Jiao Tianbo’s dad were colleagues.”
Xu Chen nodded: “I see.”
Jiao Tianbo paused: “Feifei, you and Xu Chen…”
Wu Feifei frowned slightly: “We’re just friends.”
Jiao Tianbo relaxed a bit: “Do you have time today? I’d love to catch up over a meal… I messaged you before, but you never replied…”
Xu Chen thought to himself, this top student was turning into a total simp.
Wu Feifei kept up her polite front: “Oh… I must have missed your messages. I’m afraid I’m booked—I’ve only got plans with Xu Chen.”
“……”
Xu Chen felt a twinge—this was definitely drawing heat his way.
Jiao Tianbo’s face shifted, embarrassed but persistent: “Maybe another time then. Enjoy your meal…”
He forced a smile at Wu Feifei before walking off.
Xu Chen gave Wu Feifei a pleading look.
Wu Feifei looked apologetic: “Did I cause you trouble?”
Xu Chen: “Not really.”
Wu Feifei smiled awkwardly, checked that Jiao Tianbo was gone, then said:
“Jiao Tianbo did chase after me once, but I wasn’t interested.”
Xu Chen joked: “His parents are leaders in the Provincial Capital. Isn’t that a good match?”
Wu Feifei shot back playfully: “Your dad’s a businessman in Tiancheng. Wouldn’t that be even better?”
“……”
Xu Chen froze and glanced at Fang Jun.
Fang Jun said flatly to Wu Feifei: “Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in Xu Chen?”
Wu Feifei laughed: “That was just a joke! Look at you two getting all worked up!”
……
Wu Feifei was curious about the “Eat at Tonghai” thing, so Xu Chen led them to the cafeteria.
They headed to the more upscale small cafeteria on the third floor of the West Garden.
On the way, they chatted, and Xu Chen learned more about Jiao Tianbo and his family.
Turns out, in the Provincial Capital, Jiao Tianbo’s father was under Wu Yongming’s command.
From middle school, Jiao Tianbo had shown interest in Wu Feifei.
But pursuing your boss’s daughter always carried that “aiming high” vibe, making people wonder about ulterior motives.
Wu Feifei was young back then and clearly not into him, so she ignored it.
Later, when Wu Feifei moved to Tiancheng with her father, and Jiao Tianbo went to Shanghai for high school, his pursuit faded.
He still reached out occasionally, but Wu Feifei never responded.
Somehow, he found out she was at university in Shanghai and messaged her multiple times over the summer.
She ignored those too.
Xu Chen sighed inwardly—this probably meant Jiao Tianbo held a grudge against him now.
Jiao Tianbo had tried so many times without a response, yet here Wu Feifei was, showing up at Xu Chen’s dorm and dragging him out for food.
Anyone would jump to conclusions, especially someone as petty as Jiao Tianbo.
Oh well.
It was all childish nonsense, and Xu Chen didn’t want to bother with it.
……
The buffet line at the West Garden cafeteria amazed Wu Feifei.
Xu Chen made sure to pile on extra goodies to treat Miss Wu properly.
It wasn’t fancy or expensive—just a school cafeteria after all.
Wu Feifei tried a few dishes and her eyes sparkled:
“Your school’s cafeteria is seriously amazing! I’m so jealous!”
“At our school, it’s just basic cafeteria food, so lots of people eat out…”
Fang Jun ate quietly, clearly enjoying it too.
Xu Chen smiled: “I’ve got four years of this—I might get sick of it eventually.”
They ate and talked. Xu Chen stayed polite with Wu Feifei; she was the daughter of a leader, and it tied into his family’s business.
The girls planned to hit the Bund in the afternoon.
Xu Chen asked: “Weren’t you both registering today? Anything else on at school this afternoon?”
Wu Feifei: “We finished registration in the morning, so the afternoon’s free.”
Xu Chen: “Lucky you. I’ve got college orientation and some meeting this afternoon.”
Wu Feifei teased: “Well, our school isn’t as top-tier as your Tonghai 985.”
Xu Chen: “……”
Fang Jun remembered something and told Xu Chen:
“I’ve sorted the Shanghai license plate for you. You can pick it up next week. It’s good for six months.”
Xu Chen nodded: “Great, thanks Fang Jun.”
That meant he had to buy the car within six months.
It was his father Xu Zhiquan’s university gift—fifty grand already in the East Morning Star Advertising account.
Fang Jun said buying through the company could handle taxes or something, so they’d do it that way.
Wu Feifei: “You’re getting a car?”
Xu Chen: “Not me personally—the company’s buying it.”
Wu Feifei shook her head teasingly: “Figures from little boss Xu…”
She perked up: “How much are you budgeting? What kind of car?”
Xu Chen: “Haven’t decided yet. I haven’t had time to look.”
Wu Feifei lit up: “Can I tag along?”
Xu Chen didn’t answer and even showed a hint of reluctance.
Fang Jun gave Wu Feifei a wary glance.
Wu Feifei quickly backtracked: “Okay, okay… Take Bing Ge instead. I was just kidding.”
Xu Chen: “……”