Classes resumed as usual the next day.
Only, every time Gou Yu looked at Zhu Niao, he had this expression like he wanted to say something but couldn’t. Clearly, he was mentally wrestling with something.
Of course, Zhu Niao didn’t notice—because all four roommates now had their eyes on Ye Qingchang.
“So it turns out, the biggest reward actually went to the last person who stayed?” Zhu Niao rubbed her chin, deep in thought.
Ye Qingchang, meanwhile, was scrolling through her phone with her slender jade-like fingers, tapping and flicking away.
She didn’t even look up and spoke in an absentminded tone, “I don’t know either. I just figured since you guys all left, I might as well head out early too. Then Second Bro’s parents came to see me off—and gave me two bottles of wine.”
Zhu Niao turned her gaze toward Liuxie, who just shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I have no clue what my parents were thinking either.”
“So? What happened to those two bottles?” Zhu Niao pressed further.
“Don’t tell me you drank them all by yourself in the dorm, Third Bro?”
She vaguely remembered that the whole turning-into-girls mess began with those three clowns partying it up with wine in the dorm.
“I put them up for sale online.”
Ye Qingchang casually held up her phone for the others to see.
“Ooh, did you use that thing?” Zhu Niao’s eyes lit up like she remembered something important.
“What thing?” Liuxie asked in confusion, but under Ye Qingchang’s guidance, her gaze fell to the product description: “Ninety-nine percent new, used by female college student.”
Zhu Niao gave a big thumbs-up in satisfaction.
Ye Qingchang tapped her screen a few more times and refreshed the listing. “Alright, someone’s bought it.”
Seeing Ye Qingchang suddenly busy, Zhu Niao and Liuxie didn’t bother her. Instead, their attention turned to Yang Shuli, who had dozed off as soon as class started.
“What did the dorm leader get up to yesterday to end up this tired?”
“Maybe he’s getting ready ahead of time for the sports meet before National Day,” Ye Qingchang offered without looking up.
“Oh right, the sports meet’s this month. With our current ‘identities,’ think we could snag some medals?” Zhu Niao’s eyes sparkled. “Aren’t the girls’ standards way lower?”
“What, you think your physical strength’s even close to what it used to be?” Liuxie shot her a glare.
Zhu Niao shrank back in her seat. She wasn’t even sure she could beat her old male self now, let alone compete.
“What’s up with you, anyway?” Zhu Niao finally noticed Liuxie’s low energy.
Liuxie lifted one foot, wearing a soft house slipper over cozy cotton socks.
Looking closer, Zhu Niao finally spotted the medicated patch stuck on her ankle.
“Sprained it. Otherwise, when you got cornered last night, I would’ve rushed in and smacked the guy right then and there,” Liuxie grumbled, frustrated she hadn’t gotten to throw down.
“Oh yeah—last night I called Second Bro to ask if he still wanted the wine. He nearly made me drop dead right there in the dorm hallway,” Ye Qingchang suddenly chimed in.
Zhu Niao raised a brow at her indignant tone. “Go on. Details.”
Ye Qingchang cleared her throat dramatically and began mimicking, “‘Don’t… don’t… not there…’ That’s what she said.”
“My little brother was putting medicine on me!” Liuxie growled through clenched teeth.
“I recorded it anyway,” Ye Qingchang said calmly, deadpan.
Which left Zhu Niao and Liuxie staring at her in pure shock. “Even if it means total social death, you’d still dig up dirt on your roommates? Hakia*, you bastard…”
“By the way, Birdie—nothing weird happened after you got home, right?” Liuxie asked, turning to Zhu Niao.
Even though Liu Anran was now being so obedient it was downright unsettling, considering how her brother used to treat her, Zhu Niao figured it was safer to check in just in case.
“What’s going on? Nothing happened,” she said, scratching her head in confusion. Then she turned to Gou Yu, who was still idling next to her with a conflicted expression on his face.
That look alone made Zhu Niao’s heart tighten.
“Hey, Old Gou, be honest with me. Did you get yourself into some trouble?” she elbowed him lightly.
“Huh? Me? No way.”
“Then why do you look like the sky’s falling?” Zhu Niao frowned, and even Liuxie—who’d also been paying attention to the situation—leaned in, sensing something was up.
“There is something…” Gou Yu hesitated, clearly struggling with how to bring it up.
“If there’s a problem, just say it. We’ll figure it out together,” Zhu Niao reassured him, giving his shoulder a pat.
“Well, it’s just…” Gou Yu’s eyes darted around nervously. “Are you free during the National Day break?”
On the other side, Liuxie seemed to realize what was going on. She subtly leaned back and pulled Ye Qingchang—still on her phone—into their little bubble of gossip.
“I’m free. The manager gave me time off for the holidays,” Zhu Niao answered cheerfully, immediately perking up at the thought.
“Then could you come on a trip with me? Just treat it like a vacation.” Gou Yu was clearly forcing the words out.
Zhu Niao’s face lit up. “Did you win some kind of travel prize? Where are we going?”
“My place.”
“…?”
Seeing her confused look, Gou Yu rushed to explain, “It’s like this—my parents are demanding I bring a girl home this time. You get what I mean, right?”
He had considered just skipping the trip entirely, but once his parents got wind of that, they’d definitely hunt him down.
“You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?” Zhu Niao frowned. “You want me to sell out my dignity like that? Even a dog wouldn’t—”
“They’ll give a fat red envelope if they’re happy,” Gou Yu added plainly, cutting her off.
“Deal. Selling out dignity it is,” Zhu Niao said, face instantly changing. “But bro, I’m just pretending to be your girlfriend, alright? If you’re looking for the real deal, go hit up that rich lady I tried to set you up with.”
“Relax, we’re bros—I know the deal,” Gou Yu said, thumping his chest. He hadn’t expected Zhu Niao to agree so easily.
Or maybe… he was just overthinking the whole thing?
Yeah, this was just a fake dating scheme to get a red envelope—why was he overthinking it?
What was he so worried about? That Zhu Niao might misunderstand? That she’d find the whole thing awkward? Weren’t the two of them close bros? It was just an act, not like they were signing up for a lifetime together.
Gou Yu looked at Zhu Niao, who had already turned away and was chattering with the dormmates again. For some reason, it made his mood even more chaotic.
Zhu Niao, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to how her bro was feeling.
“She really sold them? And to a fellow student?” Zhu Niao marveled out loud. “People actually buy stuff with those kinds of titles? Is our campus population really that… diverse?”
“Someone contacted me after I posted on the campus confession wall. They just wanted them dropped off at the literature club room, which happens to be on my way, so I’ll leave them there later.” Ye Qingchang’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Ladies, we’ve got 800 more in the budget—time for some proper meals.”
“Wait, how much did you sell those two bottles for?” Liuxie tilted her head.
“Eight hundred. Why?” Ye Qingchang paused, suddenly unsure. “Was that too high?”
“It’s fine, kid. Go play,” Liuxie waved it off, looking a little drained by it all.
“Oh right,” Zhu Niao suddenly remembered something and turned to Gou Yu. “I’m on night shift tonight, so go dig around and find your own crap to eat. Don’t wait up.”
(*T/N: 哈基叶 (Hakia) — Ye Qingchang’s nickname, mimicking a Turkish or Middle Eastern flair; may just be banter.)
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