Volume 1 Chapter 188: A New Item

Knock, knock, knock!

"Damn! Why did you lock the door?"

"Are you doing something shady in the dorm? Let me join!"

Early in the morning, Ning Chu was woken up by the loud knocking on the door. She yawned and stretched, only to realize that her right hand was still gently wrapped in Wen Yang's palm.

She pulled her hand out, propped herself up, and leaned over to look at Wen Yang, who was sleeping head-to-head with her. She yawned again.

"So noisy~"

"Mm." Wen Yang opened his eyes, and most of his view was filled with Ning Chu's youthful yet charming face. Seeing her sleepy, teary eyes without any defenses, he couldn't resist raising his hand to gently graze her cheek.

"What are you doing! Go open the door!"

With one hand gripping the bed frame, Wen Yang flipped himself off the bunk bed effortlessly, landing lightly on his feet.

Ning Chu watched his graceful descent with envy. But after glancing at her own slender arms and legs... Yeah, if it were her, she'd definitely end up flat on the floor.

Zhang Shaoqing barged in, yelling loudly. "What shady stuff were you up to?!"

Behind him, Wang Jie trailed along, looking exhausted. He yawned repeatedly and rubbed his eyes. Judging by the greasy state of his hair, he had probably stayed up all night.

"I'm going to wash my face and sleep." He dropped his belongings and stretched lazily as he walked to the balcony.

"You're so weak~ How are you gonna satisfy your girlfriend in the future?"

Zhang Shaoqing plopped down in front of the computer, crossed his legs, and leaned back, eyeing Ning Chu, who was peeking out from the bed.

No matter how you looked at her, she seemed just like a little girl.

Acting like a street thug, he teased in a playful tone, "Ning Chu, why's your face so red?"

Because she was guilty...

After all, she had shared a bed with Wen Yang last night—even if it was just for a few minutes in total.

Ning Chu flopped back onto the bed and muttered, "None of your business!"

"Didn't you say you were getting a hotel?" Wen Yang leaned against the bottom of Ning Chu's bunk and asked Zhang Shaoqing, "Why does it look like you pulled an all-nighter instead?"

"We booked an e-sports hotel, originally planned to win a match and then sleep..."

"And ended up staying up all night?"

"Don't even mention it, damn! What kind of monsters and idiots were my teammates? Playing games on weekends is a mistake—too many little kids online."

Zhang Shaoqing looked miserable, venting to Wen Yang about his 0-16 teammate who claimed to be a 'violent carry,' the hour-long match that got overturned, and the game where three teammates quit within ten minutes...

"So, did you resolve things at home?"

He paused mid-rant. "No."

"Honestly, I don't want my mom controlling me every day, and I definitely don't want to get married so soon," he scoffed. "I haven't even experienced club girls or escorts yet, and she's already pushing me into the grave. Does she have a grudge against me?"

Wen Yang couldn't offer much advice on family matters and could only say, "Just don't think about club girls too much, or you'll wear yourself out."

A hentai doujin protagonist, advising other men to not spend too much time having fun with girls?

Ning Chu peeked down from the bed, feeling proud of how well her "training" was working.

"Like I'd actually been with one."

Zhang Shaoqing yawned, lit a cigarette, and shook his leg. "By the way, has my mom come looking for me again?"

"Nope."

"Good. I was thinking about skipping a few more days of class and hiding out."

Judging by Zhang Shaoqing's attitude and expression, Ning Chu felt relieved.

He didn't seem like he'd go dark because of family issues—at least his mood appeared pretty good. Probably had a fun time last night.

Since it wasn't her place to interfere with family matters, she reassured him like a bro, "It's fine, take a couple of days off. I'll help you sign in for classes."

"We'll see."

Wang Jie, looking extremely sleepy, walked in from the balcony and climbed onto his bed. He reminded them, "I'm going to sleep, keep it down."

"I'll have a smoke and catch up on sleep too."

Stretching, Zhang Shaoqing walked out with a cigarette in his mouth. But before he could leave the dorm, Wang Jie's loud snoring had already filled the room.

He rubbed his earlobe in resignation. Wang Jie was alright in most aspects, but his snoring was unbearable.

Wen Yang had initially planned to take a nap, but hearing the snoring, he gave up on the idea. He grabbed his toiletries and followed Zhang Shaoqing to the balcony.

The balcony was filled with cigarette smoke, making Wen Yang frown slightly. He disliked the smell of cigarettes. As he washed his face at the sink, he casually suggested, "Why don't you smoke in the hallway? Your clothes are reeking of smoke."

"It's fine."

Leaning against the railing, Zhang Shaoqing took a deep drag and exhaled. Then, after some hesitation, he pulled out an eyeglass case from his pocket and asked, "Hey, aren't you curious if Ning Chu is a guy or a girl?"

"A guy."

"Come on, nothing about him looks like a guy!"

Zhang Shaoqing sneered, leaning in closer with a tempting tone. "Wen Yang, I have a way for you to find out."

"Hmm?"

"X-ray glasses!" Zhang Shaoqing excitedly handed over an eyeglass case. "Put them on, and you can see through Ning Chu's clothes to—"

Before he could finish, Wen Yang snatched the case from his hand.

"Ha! And you said you weren't curious. You're so eager," Zhang Shaoqing laughed gleefully, leaning back against the washing station. He puffed on his cigarette and egged Wen Yang on. "Go on, check if he's a guy or a girl. You and Ning Chu are close, the worst that'll happen is you'll get beaten up."

"Where did you get this?"

"Bought it from a street vendor yesterday while I was out wandering. I tried it..." Zhang Shaoqing's grin grew even sleazier. "It actually works."

"Just imagine using it on chicks... tsk tsk."

Wen Yang gave him a complicated look, as if staring at a perverted scumbag.

"I thought it was fake! How was I supposed to know it actually works?"

Annoyed by Wen Yang's judgmental gaze, Zhang Shaoqing snapped, "Hurry up and check if Ning Chu is a guy or a girl! Why are you hesitating? If you're too scared, give it back!"

"So you're too chicken, and now you want me to do it?"

He flicked his cigarette away, stomped it out, straightened his jacket, and raised his chin smugly. "I'm a gentleman!"

"Ning Chu!"

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

Zhang Shaoqing was stunned. He never expected Wen Yang to betray him on the spot!

Panicking, he grabbed Wen Yang. "No way! At least check first before snitching!"

"Ning Chu! Shaoqing got his hands on some kind of X-ray glasses!"

"You're the worst! We're no longer bros!"

On the bed, Ning Chu, who had been playing on her phone, froze in shock.

No way! Not again!

She hurriedly wrapped herself tightly in the blanket and, just to be safe, scooted toward the wall, praying that the gadget couldn't see through her blanket and bed frame.

In the novel, the villains had a blast with X-ray glasses.

Ning Chu yelled, "Hand it over! Confiscated!"

"Damn it! Why are you taking it?!" Zhang Shaoqing groaned miserably. "I paid for that!"

"Who knows what you'd use it for!"

Wen Yang chimed in, "He's already used it to peek at girls. Pretty creepy."

"It was an accident!"

"And he were planning to use it on you..."

Ning Chu spat in disgust, "Pervert!"