Zhang Liying woke up the following morning earlier than the others. She was seated in the dining room taking coffee pleasurably. Chen Duling joined her.
"Your face looks brighter,"Chen Duling remarked and sat across from Zhang Liying.
"Really?"
"There's something I don't understand."
"What is it?"
"I know you were jokingly making things hard for Tu Xiaolong but you didn't mean it. It looks like you will accept to teach him. Why does it seem you're compromising your usual aloof self for him?"
Zhang Liying was very calculative. She was willing to do everything just to see Tu Xiaolong become the best video gamer and she would do it for free. After honing Tu Xiaolong's gaming skills she would ask him to sign a contract as a gamer under Four Seasons Brigade as a sign of being grateful to her. Since most gaming companies were fond of hiring guest gamers during emergencies,she would get Tu Xiaolong to play when she found such a chance and a little percentage of Tu Xiaolong's earnings would go to their company.
"Turns out you've already planned everything. As expected of you,"Chen Duling said sipping her coffee,"Are you sure he will come though?"
"He hates me but he's just compromising just to use me to achieve his goal . I'm sure he'll definitely come."
"You're both selfish."
Tu Xiaolong was indeed having a hard time to make a decision. He wasn't ready to lose his dignity to an extent of selling his body. Moreover,he cringed at the sight of kissing someone he hated so much. He was almost going crazy for not being able to tell whether Zhang Liying was serious about sleeping with him or not. But with Zhang Liying's temperament,she wouldn't do such a thing. Tu Xiaolong tried to encourage himself.
Two days had passed and Tu Xiaolong hadn't shown up yet at the studio. Jia Wei and Ai Xia who had been anxiously waiting for him gave up on waiting. Chen Duling on the other hand knew Zhang Liying wasn't serious about the condition she stated about the deal so she was worried Tu Xiaolong would miss out on the being taught by Zhang Liying. Zhang Liying was rather calm and didn't look like she was anticipating anything at all.
On a Thursday afternoon,Tu Xiaolong showed up at the studio. He knew the contemplation period Zhang Liying had given him was already over but he still dared to go. If it were his grandmother or the female friends he had in highschool he wouldn't worry so much. When he needed something from them he would just coax them especially his grandmother who loved hearing him pour a series of sweet words in her appraisal and then she would grant him whatever he wanted. But Zhang Liying was different. She wasn't the least bit lenient and she wasn't the type to be coaxed by words.
Tu Xiaolong was trembling inside as he stepped inside the game studio. Everyone had a surprised look on their faces. He bowed and managed to say Hello nervously. Zhang Liying stood up and walked towards Tu Xiaolong. Tu Xiaolong wasn't sure what Zhang Liying was planning to do with him. He cringed as he stood a step backwards when Zhang Liying stood up so close to him.
"You sure took your time to consider it,"Zhang Liying smirked.
"I'm sorry but I've made a decision now. You can have my body whenever you want as long as you teach me how to play videogames,"Tu Xiaolong held his breath as he uttered the words in one go.
Zhang Liying didn't respond immediately. Instead she took her time staring into Tu Xiaolong's eyes like she was trying to figure out something through the look in those beautiful doe eyes.
'How can such a beautiful girl have no humanity at all?'Tu Xiaolong wondered.
"I know you're feigning your politeness but you're seriously cursing me inside,"Zhang Liying spoke as if she was certain with her assumption.
"How do you know?"Tu Xiaolong blabbed. He subconsciously covered his mouth when he realized he had given himself away.
"Your face is so easy to read,"Zhang Liying smirked proudly,"Since you also took your time to consider it then I will also take mine to consider it. You can give your number to Jia Wei. I will contact you when I make a decision. Duling let's go."
Chen Duling grabbed her phone and purse and followed Zhang Liying outside.
Tu Xiaolong was left stranded there uncertain about what to do next. Jia Wei called him over and asked for his number and she wrote it down.
"Kid if you want to stay here for long you have to be immune to Liying's harsh words,'Jia Wei commented after a while.
"We have to go to the gym now ,"Ai Xia reminded her.
Jia Wei sneakily grabbed Tu Xiaolong's T-shirt and raised it exposing Tu Xiaolong's bare tummy.
"Look at you,you don't even have a muscular body. You look like a girl,"Jia Wei criticized him still eyeing his tummy.
"What are you doing?"Tu Xiaolong asked in embarrassment and gently slapped her hand away.
"Why are you getting shy?"Jia Wei teased him,"You sure are a virgin. Why don't you come work out with us?"
"But I didn't carry any extra clothes to change into."
"You're right. Maybe another day,"Jia Wei said standing up and tapped Tu Xiaolong's shoulder in a friendly manner and walked away.
"Lock the door on your way out,"Ai Xia instructed him and followed Jia Wei.
'What a bunch of weird girls! Only Duling Jie is normal,'Tu Xiaolong smiled at the thought of Chen Duling.
Although Chen Duling followed Zhang Liying,she didn't have the faintest idea where their destination would be. She just walked calmly beside Zhang Liying and didn't bother to ask where they were heading. She was a little surprised when they Zhang Liying suddenly led her into an electronics shop.
"What are we doing here?"Chen Duling asked curiously.
"A master always forges a sword for his disciples so I'm here to do the same thing,"Zhang Liying replied subtly.
"Are you buying a computer for Tu Xiaolong ?"
"Yes."
"You've really changed,"Chen Duling uttered excitedly.
"How have I changed?"
"I thought you would use your computer to teach him I didn't expect you to purchase a new one for him."
"I just don't like someone else using my computer, that's all."
The following day was on a Friday. Tu Xiaolong had only one lecture to attend but because he was anxiously waiting for Zhang Liying to call him he couldn't concentrate during the lecture and kept staring at his phone. He was relieved when he walked out of the lecture hall. His friend Cheng Cheng tailed him immediately after the lecture to check up on him because he noticed Tu Xiaolong spacing out earlier during the lecture.
While they walked down the stairway,Tu Xiaolong caught a glimpse of a masked girl walking up the stairway. The girl looked familiar. Tu Xiaolong stared at her intensely and to his surprise the girl passed by close to him almost bumping into him and whispered something. Tu Xiaolong feigned an excuse of going back to the lecture hall to collect a book he had forgotten there and ran after the girl. The girl led him into the computer room ,a place that seemed convenient to talk especially during a Friday when most students weren't using it.
Chen Duling took off her mask to talk.
"Liying said she will be teaching you videogames as from tomorrow."
"Really?!"
"Yes."
In his eyes Chen Duling was the fairy of good news. Whenever they met she always had good news to deliver to him.
"Actually Liying isn't bad as she seems. She's like a lemon. A lemon produces sour juice but it's quite useful in cooking and has nutritional value. Zhang Liying is the same. She is cold and harsh but when she's willing to help she does it wholeheartedly,"Chen Duling said smiling.
"What time should I come tomorrow?"
"Liying will text you herself."
"Fine."