Chapter 135: Two Couples’ Passionate Antics

Cao Guangyu’s romantic story was quite twisty.

He rose to fame as an edgy internet celebrity whose posts attracted hordes of trolls. Not just a “call one and a hundred follow” situation, but more like “one call and a hundred insults.”

Among them was a netizen with the ID “Three Words” who could be considered the head troll among the many anti-fans.

Each comment wished the worst on Cao’s entire family, questioning matters of life and rebirth.

Jiang Qin had checked the backend data before and found this anti-fan had a explosive temper, ruthlessly going after anyone he encountered. Even the Ox-Demon King would need to voluntarily put on a harness and plow a few rounds in the fields before daring to walk away.

But ever since Cao Guangyu posted on behalf of an elderly woman on South Street, transitioning into a philanthropic internet celebrity, he managed to totally reform his anti-fans.

Now if you asked around Linchuan University who the number one wealthy and handsome guy was, five out of ten people would say it was that unremarkable young master Cao.

Recently, the head anti-fan suddenly proposed a face-to-face meeting, saying real men wouldn’t avoid it.

Old Cao tucked a brick in his pocket and went to the meeting spot, only to find the other party was actually a girl.

After some initial awkwardness, the two soon hit it off.

After hearing the story, Jiang Qin exclaimed: “Wow Old Cao, you must have accumulated a ton of virtue for such blossoming romance to come knocking at your door!”

Cao Guangyu laughed so hard he could barely stand. “Old Jiang, either way I have to thank you for being my matchmaker. Otherwise where could I have found such a sweet love?”

“It’s fine, I’ll be driving so no alcohol. I’ll just stick to tea instead.”

Jiang Qin poured himself a glass of water. “That’s right Old Cao, do you have a car? Have you experienced the joy of going for a drive with a girl?”

“…”

Old Cao’s laughter suddenly ceased.

Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang immediately burst out laughing. After being relentlessly teased earlier, it was finally their turn to get some payback.

Just as they were chatting, the private room door suddenly opened and a short-haired girl with big eyes walked in. She had a doll-like face, was about 1.65 meters tall, wearing black overalls – the same figure Jiang Qin had spotted by the lake.

As soon as the girl entered, she sat next to Old Cao, clinging to his arm and calling him “Brother” endearingly.

“Brother, I’ve ordered the food.”

“Brother, did you get the chopsticks ready for dipping sauce?”

“Brother, where’s my bag? Help me get my lipstick out.”

Cao Guangyu was absolutely elated by her incessant use of “Brother”, his chest nearly bursting out of his collar unable to contain his excitement.

Jiang Qin felt goosebumps rising, wondering how the internet and reality could be so vastly different.

Was this really the same foul-mouthed, explosive head anti-fan constantly swearing obscenities?

But something seemed off.

Last time by the lake, Old Cao had been so easily dominated by this fierce yet adorable girl. But today’s dynamic was completely reversed.

“Old Jiang, let me introduce you to my girlfriend Ding Xue, a third-year medical student.”

“Ding Xue, this is my roommate Jiang Qin.”

Ding Xue glanced at Jiang Qin and her expression slightly changed. “Oh, you’re that entrepreneurial star from the newspapers?”

Jiang Qin waved it off calmly. “No, I just bear a slight resemblance to that handsome guy.”

Cao Guangyu frowned. “Old Jiang, we’re all friends here, no need to hide anything!”

“?”

Jiang Qin was speechless, feeling like Old Cao was intentionally making him seem like a subordinate. An outsider might even mistake Old Cao for the real boss behind Zhihu.

“You’re right Cao Ge, I am Jiang Qin.” Jiang Qin reluctantly played along to save Old Cao’s face.

Cao Guangyu gave him an appreciative look, acknowledging his brotherhood.

After that, Old Cao and Ding Xue began acting lovey-dovey, holding hands, leaning against each other, and drinking from the same cup in a sickeningly sweet display.

Jiang Qin watched in awe, remarking “Wow.”

“Old Jiang, does it make your head spin? Hehehe, mine too!”

“Let me tell you, Old Zhou and I came half an hour early and had to endure their sappy routine. I almost suffocated from their overt intimacy.”

“We’re all single dogs, none of us are immune. Let’s let them torture you for a bit too.”

Ren Ziqiang looked gleefully resentful, his eyes nearly squinting shut.

But just then, the private room door opened again and Feng Nanshu walked in, sitting obediently beside Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin mirrored the rich girl’s aloof expression, glancing at Ren Ziqiang whose smile instantly froze on his face before lowering his head to drink water in silence.

“Jiang Qin, your shoelace is untied.”

Feng Nanshu’s voice was crisp as she said that, then with a slight look of confusion, she pushed back her chair and squatted down.

Jiang Qin knew what she intended to do, so he reached out and gently grasped her arm – her skin felt as smooth as jade.

“Old Jiang, does Feng Nanshu usually tie your shoes when they’re untied?” Ren Ziqiang asked in disbelief.

For a celestial beauty like Feng Nanshu, noble as moonlight itself, to willingly tie Jiang Qin’s shoelaces seemed utterly absurd.

“Jiang Qin isn’t very good at tying them, but I am,” came Feng Nanshu’s confident voice from under the table.

Before Jiang Qin could respond, Feng Nanshu spoke up without waiting.

Cao Guangyu looked like he wanted to grind his teeth watching this scene unfold. “I spent a couple thousand setting all this up, yet Old Jiang keeps upstaging me at every turn!”

“It’s fine, leaving it untied is more comfortable.”

Jiang Qin stopped Feng Nanshu from tying the laces, pulling her up from under the table. Under the warm orange lighting, her delicate face looked even more fair and radiant, leaving one entranced just by glancing at her.

For a girl to remember every word you’ve said and wholeheartedly believe it was simply absurd.

Once the rich girl was seated, Ding Xue’s eyes grew wide. “Holy crap, this girl is insanely beautiful!”

“Uhh…I mean, the junior sister is really pretty.”

“…”

Jiang Qin immediately gave her a thumbs up – this was indeed the normal blunt mode of Old Cao’s girlfriend, her earlier saccharine tone must have been an intentional act.

And the rest of the dinner only grew more “vivid.”

Ding Xue spoke in a baby voice, “Brother, the crispy fish skin is delicious.”

Cao Guangyu immediately extended his chopsticks to pick up a piece and gently fed it to her mouth, then shot a smug look at Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao.

Feng Nanshu quickly learned, turning to say to Jiang Qin, “Brother, the braised pork belly is delicious.”

Jiang Qin trembled as he silently picked up a piece and fed it to her. But she only took a small bite, leaving the rest for him.

Not to be outdone, Ding Xue continued in her baby voice, “Brother, the boiled fish is delicious. Feed your little sister a piece.”

Feng Nanshu followed suit, eyes shining as she looked at Jiang Qin, “Brother, the beef in hot and sour soup is delicious. Feed your little sister a piece.”

Even Ren Ziqiang was speechless, thinking to himself “What am I even doing here? I might as well have rotted in the dorm!”

He chugged his beer, then turned to Zhou Chao only to find his friend didn’t seem as tortured, but rather was eating heartily.

“Old Zhou, you aren’t feeling tortured?” Ren Ziqiang asked bewildered.

“I am, but I’ve had two major hobbies my whole life. One is taking advantage, the other is pursuing girls. Taking advantage comes first, so even if you let them torture me, as long as you treat me to a meal at that high-end Juxian Lou restaurant, I’m good.”

Zhou Chao remained nonchalant as he kept eating.

Before long, the luxurious meal was devoured. At some point Cao Guangyu had slyly untied his shoelaces, then cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention before arrogantly declaring, “Ding Xue, my shoelace is untied.”

Ding Xue went silent for a moment, then suddenly grabbed Cao Guangyu’s collar. “Let me tell you, I’ve been holding back in front of your buddies to save you face, but you still want me to tie your shoelaces?”

“…”

Zhou Chao was in the middle of drinking beer when he heard this and nearly choked, almost spitting it out through his nose.

Unfortunately Ren Ziqiang was too deep in his own misery to hear this and get a shred of comfort that love isn’t always sweet, sometimes it’s spicy too.

“I’m gonna use the restroom, you guys take your time eating.”

Jiang Qin got up and walked out. Feng Nanshu’s gaze immediately followed him, but she dropped the idea of accompanying him when she heard “restroom.”

After using the bathroom, Jiang Qin was washing his hands at the sink when he suddenly noticed a familiar yet unfamiliar face in the mirror. The person was expressionlessly wiping his mouth with a tissue, and based on his reddened eyes, he had likely just vomited.

“Junior, what a coincidence.”

Jiang Qin shook the water off his hands. “Senior Sister Ye, you’re here to eat too?”

Ye Ziqing nodded. “I had some business to attend to.”

“Senior Sister really is a powerful woman. What have you been busy with lately?”

“Just some family business matters, nothing special. I’m just helping out and killing time day by day.”

Hearing this, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but feel envious. Casually mentioning “family business” like that – rich second generations were simply impressive.

Though in this lifetime, he likely wouldn’t get a chance to say those four words himself. Having a kid was still possible though.

Huh?

Jiang Qin looked at his reflection in the mirror and suddenly felt a sense of detachment.

What was he thinking, going straight from romance to having kids?

“Junior, is something wrong?”

“Nothing, I was just momentarily dazzled by my own handsomeness reflected in the mirror.”

“…”

Ye Ziqing’s lips twitched, finding this junior far too unruly to continue the conversation.

Come to think of it, she and Jiang Qin had only met in passing that one time at the entrance of Room 208. Though they exchanged a few words, she hadn’t left much of an impression.

In fact, this type of acquaintance was no different from occasionally sharing an elevator with a stranger on the way to work. Based on her usual personality, she would typically pretend not to recognize the person and swiftly leave after freshening up.

Yet for some reason, she had inexplicably greeted him earlier. Reflecting on it now, she felt it might be due to their similar life experiences.

Like Jiang Qin, she too had started an entrepreneurial path in her first year of college, using that same Activity Room 208.

In Jiang Qin’s current youthful ambition, Ye Ziqing could see her former self, that wild drive she had somehow misplaced along the way.

Who wouldn’t feel compelled to greet their younger self if given the chance?

“Were you also dazzled by the handsome guy in the mirror?” Jiang Qin asked in jest.

Ye Ziqing gave a wry smile. “Just the alcohol making my mind a bit hazy. I’ve seen your forum before, it’s quite nice.”

“Just mindless ramblings really. The monetization aspect is way too troublesome, I don’t even want to bother with it anymore.”