"Hmm? Who's eating pancakes, they smell so good!"
Xu Hao, who was busy farming monsters, sniffed the air, turned his head to look at Qin Tian, and exclaimed in surprise.
"Master!"
Zhang Peng and the others heard the shout and their gazes fell squarely on Qin Tian.
"I didn't know you two were here. There's only one pancake left, and some grilled skewers. You two can share!"
Qin Tian smiled and placed the items in his hands on the table.
Both of them simultaneously placed their hands on the pancake.
"Senior, you've never helped me catch anyone. Shouldn't this pancake be mine?"
Zhang Peng said with a grin that didn't reach his eyes.
"You're dreaming. You've screwed me over twice already. This is compensation. Let go!"
Xu Hao was completely unwilling to yield.
Their eyes met, and it felt like sparks were flying in the air.
"Zhang Peng, you're going to die."
Qin Tian ate a skewer of beef and kindly reminded him.
"Holy crap!"
Zhang Peng's expression changed, and he quickly withdrew his hand to operate his mouse.
Xu Hao got his wish and took the pancake into his hands. He let his hero automatically attack the wild monsters and took a big bite of the pancake sticking out.
"Damn, leave half for me, I'm starving."
Zhang Peng glanced at him and said urgently.
"Dream on."
Xu Hao smiled playfully. To everyone's astonishment, he stuck out his tongue and licked the exposed pancake all over.
"Holy crap, you really are like a rat, that's disgusting."
Zhang Peng complained with disgust and reached out to grab the remaining skewers, saying indignantly, "I'll give you the pancake, these are all mine."
Xu Hao ignored him and looked at Qin Tian, asking, "Master, want to play?"
"Holy crap, Brother Hao, you can't do that!"
"Yeah, if the master is here, what's the point of us playing? We might as well surrender."
"Brother Hao, if you can't win, just admit defeat, don't call for help!"
"..."
The opponents on the other side started shouting before Qin Tian could even speak.
"Play it yourself, I'll just watch."
Qin Tian politely refused.
"Alright!"
Xu Hao shrugged, put down the pancake he had already bitten into almost halfway, and said indistinctly while chewing, "Damn, I'm not afraid of you guys. I was just letting you have it earlier. Now that Master is watching, watch how I abuse you idiots."
"Ptooey!"
"Brother Hao, please have some dignity!"
"Come on, catch me if you can!"
"You're all talk. You're still going to lose this match."
...
...
After watching Xu Hao and the others play two games at the internet cafe, Qin Tian pulled a reluctant Zhang Peng and left to return to school for evening study.
They went to a ramen shop outside the school, planning to eat a bowl of noodles before going in.
When the owner asked if they wanted to add beef, they both decisively refused.
Are you kidding me? Those paper-thin slices of beef cost an extra six yuan. Only an idiot would want that!
Adding meat was out of the question. They couldn't afford it, so they could only add a braised egg and a sausage to satisfy their cravings.
Soon, two large bowls of ramen were ready, with a braised egg and sausage added as requested.
The two of them carried their noodles, found a table, and sat down, happily slurping their noodles.
To be fair, while the beef noodles at this shop were a bit of a rip-off, the ramen itself was quite good and had a good chewiness.
Zhang Peng picked up a braised egg, took a bite out of half of it impatiently, and winked at Qin Tian, saying, "Brother Tian, did you go on a date with Xia Nuannuan today?"
"Mhm!"
Qin Tian responded with a hum and first took a sip of the noodle soup with his spoon.
"Tell me about it, how far have you two progressed? Holding hands? Kissing?"
Zhang Peng asked excitedly.
"What's it to you?"
Qin Tian looked up and rolled his eyes at him.
"Heh..."
Zhang Peng was displeased and said seriously, "I'm your best buddy. I have to pay attention to your life events, don't I?"
"Forget it!"
Qin Tian said indifferently.
"Don't be like that. What did you two do today? You can at least tell me so I can learn from you."
Zhang Peng said with a playful grin.
"We went shopping, had a meal, and then watched a movie."
"That's it? Nothing else?"
"Mhm, nothing else!"
"Details, tell me the details!"
Qin Tian slurped his noodles and looked at him calmly.
"Details?"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Zhang Peng nodded excitedly.
"I can't say that."
Qin Tian grinned and picked up the vinegar bottle from the next table, pouring nearly half of it into Zhang Peng's ramen bowl.
"Good boy, eat more!"
"Holy crap, what do you mean by this?"
Zhang Peng was dumbfounded.
"I said it because I was afraid you'd be too sour. Eat more vinegar, it's the same."
"Brother Tian."
"Mhm?"
"Please do something human!"
Zhang Peng tearfully ate a bowl of sour ramen, experiencing the joy of a Shanxi person.
After eating their fill, the two of them walked into the school.
"Want to go for a run at the track and field stadium together?"
As they parted, Qin Tian asked with a smile.
"Get lost. I've already been sour enough today. I'm not going to disturb your lovey-dovey session."
Zhang Peng glared at him.
"Alright, then you go back to the classroom and study hard!"
Qin Tian looked at him with pity.
"Get lost!"
Zhang Peng raised his right foot as if to deliver a roundhouse kick.
However, Qin Tian, who was prepared, dodged and sprinted towards the track and field stadium.
"Study hard, don't get discouraged. You still have a chance."
After running a certain distance, Qin Tian turned his head and shouted again.
Zhang Peng's face darkened, and he gave Qin Tian the middle finger.
"Hahaha..."
Qin Tian laughed heartily, in a good mood.
On the sports field, many students' gazes were fixed on him.
On the steps not far away, several younger female students were sitting together, whispering their girl talk.
"Isn't that a senior from the third year? So tall and handsome!"
"Yeah, really. When did our school have such a handsome senior?"
"He smiles so sunshine. Oh no, I think I'm falling in love."
"Then go for it! We support you."
"I, I dare not. Who knows if he has a girlfriend."
The three accompanying sisters on the side all showed helpless expressions of disappointment.
Their eyes exchanged glances. One of the more outgoing and generous ponytail girls shouted towards Qin Tian.
"Senior!"
Qin Tian heard someone calling him, slowed his steps, and cast a confused glance at the girls.
"Do you have a girlfriend? She likes you."
The girl patted her sister's shoulder next to her and said with a smile.
The girl next to her instantly blushed, her face turning as red as if it were about to bleed.
"Thank you, but I'm sorry, I already have someone I like."
Qin Tian smiled heartily at the girls and quickened his pace towards the track and field stadium.
"Oh, don't be sad. It's only natural for such a handsome senior to have a girlfriend."
The ponytail girl patted her sister's shoulder again, comforting her with a look of regret.
"I know, that's why I didn't dare to think about it. Why did you suddenly call him? You've embarrassed me."
"Actually... I also wanted to know if he had a girlfriend."
"Ahhh, you're using me! I'm going to scratch you to death."
"Heh heh... I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I apologize. I was just thinking if he didn't have a girlfriend, we could compete fairly!"