Chapter 104: Chapter 97: Her Gaze Against the Crowd

The moment the sunlight fell upon them, it seemed to wash away the shackles of their exam-oriented education.

Ah Jie glared resentfully at Shen Yuan.

’Shen Yuan was blocking all his sunlight.’

Ah Jie was already tightly bound by the shackles of their exam-oriented education; meanwhile, Shen Yuan was adding an even thicker layer of chains on top of him.

As the bell rang, the weekly Chinese quiz came to an end.

After passing his paper to the front, Shen Yuan started discussing dinner plans.

Chen Mingyu turned around and said, "Why don’t we go to the first floor? I heard the dishes at the senior window have been pretty good lately."

This so-called "senior window" was basically the same as the "military priority" lines you’d find in hospitals or train stations.

But the "senior window" was just a name.

The cafeteria ladies serving the food never bothered to check if your school card said you were a senior or not. Unless you were unlucky enough to run into the dean’s office staff, first and second-years would flock there too.

They couldn’t care less whether the actual seniors got to eat.

Just like how Shen Yuan and his friends hadn’t cared when they were underclassmen.

However, the idea that the food at the senior window was better was pure nonsense.

It was simply because the lady at that window didn’t have a shaky hand.

"What are we waiting for? Let’s go!"

Ah Jie made the call immediately, then looked at Shen Yuan. "Yuan, you coming?"

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi. "Sis, you in?"

Li Zhi didn’t really care either way, so she nodded in agreement.

By the time they reached the cafeteria, their dinner crew had inexplicably grown to ten people.

Ah Jie’s side formed the Three Musketeers, Shen Yuan and Li Zhi were the Childhood Friends duo, and on the other side were He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei, the Shipping Investigation Team.

The three extra people were the Brothers Group.

Although Sun Xiansheng had been talking about moving dorms, he’d quieted down after Yang Shuai and Zhang Peng took turns pinning him to his bed.

After hearing about this little episode, Ah Jie laughed so hard he nearly spat his food all over Yang Ze.

"Teacher Hou, have you fallen in love with the benefits of Nantong yet?"

Sun Xiansheng shot Ah Jie a glare. "Get lost. The truth is, Ah Shuai was the one crying and begging me to stay."

Hearing this, the others around them immediately sensed that there was some tea to be spilled.

"What’s the story? What’s the story? Spill! Spill!"

Seeing everyone’s eyes fixed on him, Sun Xiansheng puffed out his chest slightly.

Just as he was about to speak, a warning glare from Yang Shuai shot his way.

Remembering the "experience" from that night, Sun Xiansheng lost his nerve.

But just then, Ah Jie slapped Sun Xiansheng on the shoulder. "Teacher Hou, don’t be afraid! If old Shuai, that dumbass, dares to bully you, we’ve got your back!"

As he spoke, Ah Jie playfully patted Sun Xiansheng’s lower back.

Sun Xiansheng gave Ah Jie a grateful look, then said to Yang Shuai, "Ah Shuai, about your problem... we can brainstorm. Many hands make light work. Maybe we can solve it for you, right?"

Yang Shuai glanced at the others present and asked, "Have any of you ever been in a relationship?"

"Dude, do you have any manners?" Ah Jie was triggered.

"Damn it! Yuan! Come on! Tell this dumbass Ah Shuai what a relationship is!"

Shen Yuan, who was in the middle of stealing a piece of popcorn chicken from Li Zhi’s bowl, froze.

"Nope, not me, don’t spread rumors." Shen Yuan fired off a rapid-fire denial.

"I’m innocent. I’m as pure as a blank sheet of paper."

"Pfft!"

The entire group jeered at Shen Yuan in unison.

Just as Ah Jie was about to open his mouth, Li Zhi shot him a look.

The intimidating glare instantly calmed Ah Jie down.

"Let’s continue, let’s continue."

Yang Shuai looked at everyone and sighed. "Fine, I’ll talk."

"So, I have this friend..."

The classic opening.

"We’re all bros here, don’t hide it."

"No, it’s not what you’re thinking!" Yang Shuai explained. "It’s a friend of mine, a girl. I play games with her a lot."

"Holy shit!"

This time, everyone really got triggered.

Except for Shen Yuan.

Yang Ze glared at his namesake, grinding his teeth. "Speak! Keep talking! I want to hear just what kind of story you two have!"

Yang Shuai adjusted his glasses. "Uh, well, a few days ago, she suddenly asked me why I hadn’t asked her to play games. I told her I’m a senior and don’t have time, so I haven’t been playing much lately. I told her to just play by herself, but then she got mad."

"Serves you right!" Ah Jie spat, full of jealousy.

Yang Shuai ignored Ah Jie and continued, "I just wanted to ask what I should do. I try to invite her to play now, but she just ignores me."

Although their jealousy was through the roof, seeing their bro was genuinely in trouble, everyone present started racking their brains.

Then they spouted a bunch of nonsensical suggestions.

"Trash talk her skills, then challenge her to a 1v1. Lose to her on purpose, then beg her to carry you."

"Tell her you quit and are going to play Genshin Impact."

"Hey!"

Ah Jie suddenly cut in, "What do you call an angry Shen Yuan?"

"Genshin! Launch!"

Shen Yuan looked at this bunch of idiots helplessly, his gaze landing on Yang Shuai’s face.

"She’s not just a regular friend, is she?"

Yang Shuai nodded, then scratched his head. "We’re from the same village. She’s two years younger than me, at the branch campus."

"You son of a bitch, you deserve to die!"

"Fuck! A freshman girl!!"

The Three Musketeers were triggered for the third time.

Sun Xiansheng clapped Ah Jie on the shoulder. Clearly, he had been triggered before this as well.

’Damn it, who would’ve thought that Ah Shuai, this innocent-looking otaku gamer, would have a girl-next-door type from his own village who’s also a junior!!’

’Why don’t I get this kind of treatment when I play games?’

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Ask her to hang out on Sunday. And stop with the games. She’s not asking you to play games for the sake of the game. She’s doing it for you."

Shen Yuan felt his hint was already obvious enough, so he didn’t elaborate further.

Just then, Shen Yuan felt a light kick on his shin.

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi in surprise.

He saw the corner of Young Master Li’s mouth curve into a knowing smile, her tone full of teasing as she said, "You seem to know a lot."

Not one to be outdone, Shen Yuan shot back, "It’s all because Young Master Li is a good teacher."

The Shipping Investigation Team, which had been single-mindedly focused on eating, immediately stopped and perked up their ears.

’Quick, I need my dose of sugar!’

"Hah!"

Li Zhi snorted disdainfully. "Oh yeah, trying to pick up a girl in black stockings only to have it cost you your English grade."

When He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei heard this, the light in their eyes dimmed.

If things went as expected, next up was the verbal sparring match between the childhood friends.

As for the other side of the table.

Even though Yang Shuai hadn’t said anything else, the Brothers Group and the Three Musketeers were still, in perfect unison, triggered.