Xi Zhengyi appearing at this time was actually reasonable, but this woman temporarily had no romantic line with Liu Yan, and the reason for her infatuation was also different.
In the original novel, she couldn’t outrun Liu Yan and developed a competitive spirit, gradually becoming interested in him.
In the current situation, Liu Yan suddenly appeared and performed a heroic rescue.
Of course, regardless of the reason, Chen Tang believed that her nature would never change.
In other words, she might be momentarily charmed by Liu Yan’s righteous act, but in the long run, she was ultimately a woman who admired strength. Unfortunately, Liu Yan had no grand ambitions.
Although the original novel did describe a romantic line between Xi Zhengyi and Liu Yan, Chen Tang personally felt that Xi Zhengyi only saw Liu Yan as a man who could keep up with Bai Mengling, which was why she thought highly of him.
But after she started dating Liu Yan and discovered that he just wanted to be an ordinary person, she would feel disappointed.
That said, Chen Tang didn’t need to understand Xi Zhengyi, nor did she need to make Liu Yan understand her feelings.
She could deal with this female character later.
If you get too close to her and act intimately, she’ll look down on you. You have to leave her hanging and make her chase you, then she’ll become more and more infatuated and admire you.
So when Xi Zhengyi sent a message, Chen Tang replied directly: “Miss Xi, you don’t need to say so many empty words. If you want to thank my boyfriend, I’ve already accepted your intention. I’ll pass it on to him. There’s no need for extra words.”
When Xi Zhengyi saw Chen Tang’s reply, she thought of the petite and cute girl she had seen on the playground that day, who was like a puppy guarding its food, and couldn’t help smiling.
Guarding food? Bring it on!
“A verbal thank you isn’t enough to show my sincerity. I want to treat you both to a meal to express my gratitude. You two might not know this since you’re not in sports, but if I had fallen badly today, my career might have been over. You may not care, but I have to do something.”
She said righteously, “Of course, if you’re worried, little sister, you can come along too. A woman who’s too jealous won’t be liked by men.”
“Who’s your little sister!”
“I’ll be a junior this semester. What about you?”
“……”
Seeing Chen Tang’s ellipsis, Xi Zhengyi knew the other girl was her underclassman.
“So, little sister, give me a chance to thank you both in person. It’s just basic manners. Otherwise, I’ll have to ask around for your boyfriend’s identity and invite him myself.”
“No!”
Chen Tang replied immediately, then hesitated for a moment before sending: “Fine, let’s have a meal together. I’ll talk to him—when?”
“Although I didn’t fall, I did sprain myself a bit. I’m resting and recovering these days, so I’m free anytime.”
“We’re free too.”
“How about tomorrow noon?”
“I’ll talk to him.”
Chen Tang put down her phone and triumphantly looked at Liu Yan, who was staring at a gray screen, switching to a teammate’s perspective and zooming in on their gameplay.
“Hey? How did you die?”
“Three enemies dove the tower and killed me! How was I supposed to outplay that?”
Actually, Chen Tang hadn’t played much with Liu Yan recently. She found that she preferred watching him play, pointing out mistakes, and waiting for him to get mad.
She shook her phone. “That PE major senior from today said she wants to treat us both to a meal to thank us. I agreed.”
“Huh?”
Liu Yan’s eyes widened. “Why did you agree?”
“Shouldn’t I have?”
“No… there’s no need, right?”
“That’s what I said. I even called myself your girlfriend, and she didn’t seem to care. She probably just wants to show real gratitude, not target you. Also, are you getting a little conceited lately? All these pretty women around you, and they’re all dating you? Are you feeling full of yourself?”
She grabbed Liu Yan from behind the gaming chair, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I want to strangle you!”
“I was wrong, bro!”
Liu Yan quickly surrendered. He was about to respawn and play, and if Chen Tang accidentally hit his flash key, he’d be screwed.
“Fine, let’s just go eat.”
“But did you see that girl today? I suspect her legs are a meter and twenty centimeters long!”
“That’s an exaggeration. Think about it: she’s only one meter and eighty tall. If her legs were that long, the ratio would be 2:1. Does that seem right?”
Chen Tang thought about it and agreed it was a bit unreasonable. “Then she’s got at least a meter-long legs!”
“I think so too.”
Liu Yan started playing again, and within three seconds, the screen went gray.
Chen Tang looked at the respawn timer: “62 seconds.”
Her feelings were complicated.
“Is your game console a knockoff? Why is it always black and white?”
Liu Yan pressed ESC decisively and initiated a surrender.
In one second, four yes votes came in, and the game ended.
Chen Tang sat down in her own gaming chair with satisfaction. “Looks like you can’t do it without me. Watch me carry you this time!”
Liu Yan thought that she wouldn’t be much different.
He didn’t care much, though.
By the way, what was that girl’s name today?
…
The next day, they slept until a little past eleven in the morning.
It was summer vacation, so staying up all night playing games was routine. They only got up because someone was treating them to a meal; otherwise, they would have slept until two in the afternoon.
Chen Tang sat on the sofa, still groggy.
Liu Yan stood behind her, tying her hair.
Ever since Chen Tang became a beautiful girl, she mostly kept her hair loose, only combing it occasionally to avoid looking messy.
Tying her hair up became a thing only after she started cosplaying with Liu Yan.
Some character hairstyles were troublesome—or rather, some characters were defined by their hairstyles, and people recognized them by their hair.
But Chen Tang found she couldn’t tie her own hair.
So she left that task to Liu Yan.
You ask why Liu Yan knew how?
Who knows? Chen Tang never saw him learn it as a child, but in the original novel, there were often descriptions of Liu Yan tying female characters’ hair, and they specifically mentioned that everyone enjoyed that time.
How did the original novel phrase it?
“She loved that moment, as if Liu Yan belonged only to her.”
Chen Tang didn’t feel that way.
She simply thought Liu Yan was good at tying hair.
“How about I make you double ponytails today?”
“Double ponytails?”
“Yeah, I think they’ll suit you. Make you look cuter and more energetic.”
“I think you just want to hold the steering wheel.”
“…”
Liu Yan’s expression turned serious. “Don’t talk while I’m tying your hair!”
The atmosphere had been nice, but then she had to open her mouth and steer things that way. He hadn’t even reacted, and besides, she wasn’t going to let him actually drive—don’t say things that fuel his desires.
Chen Tang pouted but obediently stayed silent.
So today, she really went out with double ponytails.
She felt a little uncomfortable, thinking the hairstyle was too flashy, as if she were deliberately showing off her looks and acting cute.
But on the other hand, it was Liu Yan’s choice, and he tied it for her, so she’d just consider it as pleasing him.
After all, he wanted to see it.
What could she do? He was still her buddy.
She had to spoil him.
Her heart was so magnanimous that even she found it surprising. Was she really this great a person now?
The meal today was Xi Zhengyi’s treat. If it had been up to Liu Yan, he would have taken her to eat at his parents’ restaurant, but since someone else was paying, they had to go along with the host.
It was at a Thai restaurant.
“Hey, I’m not really into Thai food. A lot of dishes are sour, and you know I don’t like sour stuff, like vinegar.” Chen Tang complained.
Liu Yan had no choice. “She’s treating us. Free food and drink—can’t be picky.”
“Fine.”
They arrived and saw Xi Zhengyi already seated, with a crutch beside her.
“You’re already using a crutch? Are you okay?”
“It’s just for convenience,” Xi Zhengyi replied. “I don’t really need it, but I’m avoiding possible secondary injuries. I can walk slowly if I have to, but for athletes, rest is important.”
They sat across from her, nodding as if they understood.
Liu Yan didn’t quite get it. A sprained ankle—didn’t it heal in half a day?
Why go this far?
He’d sprained his ankle before.
If Chen Tang knew what he was thinking, she would have said, “It’s impossible to explain this to someone who can get stabbed a dozen times and still be bouncing around.”
“Actually, this place just opened. I’ve never been either,” Xi Zhengyi said, acting very familiar. “I’m treating you while also checking out the place.”
“So you don’t know if it’s any good either?”
Xi Zhengyi smiled and nodded, handing over the menu. “You can also scan the QR code on the table to order. See what you want and tell me; I’ll place the order.”
Liu Yan and Chen Tang weren’t the type to take advantage of someone, so each ordered something inexpensive.
Xi Zhengyi, however, ordered a lot.
She clearly had a big appetite.
Liu Yan could eat a lot too, but he didn’t let it show in public. He preferred to go home and feast, especially since he was a good cook himself.
He subconsciously compared other chefs’ cooking to his own.
“Hmm, this meat is a bit tough,” he commented. “Since it’s grilled with fruit, the acidic surface of pineapple breaks down the meat’s protein, making it cook faster. So you can’t grill it too long, or it becomes tough.”
He explained his understanding. “And this is the kind you don’t like, right, Chen Tang?”
“I prefer the kind with honey brushed on the barbecue.”
The two of them enjoyed their sweet time together without caring about anyone else. Xi Zhengyi watched them.
She had met this couple by chance, and they had helped her.
Personally, she felt she should bless them.
But…
Her gaze subtly settled on Liu Yan.
In that moment yesterday when Liu Yan caught her, her whole body lifted into the air. She felt the firm, solid muscles on his body and that overwhelming, suffocating power that a “male” should possess.
That crushing force, coming from biological instinct…
She remembered her feelings at the time.
Her mind went blank, her breathing quickened, and her whole body heated up.
She didn’t even feel the pain in her foot.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have insisted on getting their contact information.
She then looked at Chen Tang, who was chatting with Liu Yan.
Little sister, your sister is sorry.
You’re so pretty, so cute, so petite. You’ll definitely have no shortage of rich boyfriends in the future. This man in front of you—you can’t handle him. Let your sister take over.
I’m a PE major. This guy’s build isn’t something a little girl like you can withstand. I can take it. Let me bear this hardship, so you, this delicate flower, won’t be crushed.
Anyway, today I must get Liu Yan’s contact info.
“Are you two freshman?”
Liu Yan shook his head. “We’ll be sophomores next semester.”
“Oh, I thought you were incoming freshmen. So you’re veterans too.”
She joked, “By the way, are you in any clubs?”
Both shook their heads.
“Why not? Clubs are an essential part of college life. You only go to college once. Not joining a club would be a regret, don’t you think?”
Chen Tang nodded. “That’s true, but Liu Yan and I aren’t really interested in other things. We usually go straight home to play games after class.”
“Isn’t there a gaming club?”
“Senior, as everyone knows, anime clubs don’t watch anime, and gaming clubs don’t play games.”
You two even know that!
Xi Zhengyi realized she had miscalculated.
From their attitudes, it wouldn’t be easy to persuade Liu Yan to join the track team. He didn’t seem interested in her.
“Ah, speaking of that, Liu Yan, junior, I’m really sorry, but could I ask you for another favor?”
Liu Yan was taken aback. “What favor?”
“Well, I used to live in the dorms, but now I plan to move out. I found an apartment off campus and was going to move these two days, but as you can see, I sprained my ankle. Some stuff is heavy, and a girl can’t handle it alone. I just had you help me, and now I’m asking again. I feel really bad, but please, I’m begging you~”
When a senior begs like that, it’s hard for most people to refuse.
Chen Tang narrowed her eyes slightly, then returned to a normal expression.
She probably knew what this woman was planning, but Liu Yan was usually the same—he wouldn’t refuse such a request.
Sure enough, Liu Yan nodded. “Of course, senior. I’ve got nothing going on these days anyway. It’s just a small favor. I can’t stand to see you struggling with moving with a bad leg.”
He pulled out his phone and showed his QR code. “Add me, senior, and contact me when the time comes.”
“Great!”
Contact info: Get!