After the counselor announced their dismissal, the students left the classroom in small groups. Some boys yelled about going to the internet café to play together, while others who hadn't eaten dinner were discussing going to the back street to eat. With a full schedule the next morning and having slept in at home the previous two days, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan decided to return to their respective dorms.
"By the way, what about the car? Should we drive it back?" Xia Nuannuan suddenly asked Qin Tian as they left the teaching building and prepared to part ways.
Qin Tian smiled and shook his head, "It's fine, just leave it there for now. My car is often parked at school too. I'll drive it back when I go home for dinner tomorrow."
"Okay!" Xia Nuannuan nodded.
"Nuannuan, let's go! We need to get back to the dorm. It's really getting cold, the wind is so chilly at night," Shen Siqi said, linking her arm with Xia Nuannuan's and urging her along.
"Brother, we're heading back to the dorms!" Xia Nuannuan bid farewell to Qin Tian.
"Go ahead, take a shower and get some sleep early," Qin Tian smiled and nodded.
"Mhm, you too. I had a great time today," Xia Nuannuan said with a sweet smile.
"Me too, I love you!" Qin Tian winked and made a heart shape with his hand.
Xia Nuannuan's face blushed, a mix of shyness and joy, as she debated whether to mimic the gesture.
"Oh my god, you two are too much. I'm getting goosebumps," Cheng Meng complained with a feigned look of disgust. Lu Lei, with a gentle smile, watched the scene unfold.
"Let's go!" Qin Tian waved goodbye with a composed smile and turned to leave.
Chen Zhuang glanced at Qin Tian's retreating back, then at Xia Nuannuan's bashful expression, and finally his gaze settled thoughtfully on Shen Siqi.
"What are you looking at me for?" Shen Siqi's delicate brows furrowed, sensing something amiss.
"Siqi..." Chen Zhuang's eyes showed a hint of mischief.
"Stop right there. If you dare try Qin Tian's move, I'll kick you, believe it or not?" Shen Siqi, sensing his intention, slightly raised her right foot as if to kick him, adopting a defensive posture. Qin Tian's attempt at such sweetness was already a bit much; Chen Zhuang would be even worse. She feared having nightmares.
Chen Zhuang looked at his girlfriend with a wronged expression.
"That's completely unsuitable for you, alright? Hurry up and go back to sleep!" Shen Siqi waved him away with clear disdain.
"What's unsuitable about it? Brother Tian can do it, so can I."
"Shut up and get lost!"
"Okay!" Chen Zhuang responded reluctantly, lowering his head and turning to leave. His dejected, three-steps-back-and-one-look-back demeanor made the girls laugh.
"Pfft!" Cheng Meng was the first to burst into laughter. Lu Lei and Xia Nuannuan followed suit.
"Hey, hey, what are you guys doing? I'm just telling the truth, stop laughing! Pfft..." Shen Siqi complained with mock seriousness, but then she too couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Siqi, no offense, but if your Chen Zhuang wants to be romantic, let him try. It's not a bad thing."
"Exactly!"
"Try what? Just imagine him doing what Qin Tian just did."
"Uh... it's a bit... but it's okay, you'll get used to it."
"Stop, stop, stop, Cheng Meng, don't say anymore!"
"Ahem... alright, let's not talk about that. Nuannuan, tell us about your Qin Tian. Where did he learn those moves? It's interesting, but a bit too cheesy!"
"Agreed!"
"How should I know!"
...
...
The next morning, Qin Tian woke up early as usual to go for a run with Xia Nuannuan at the track and then have breakfast at the cafeteria. Zhuang Zhe woke up around the same time, and Qin Tian assumed he would bring breakfast for the other two, so he didn't pack any. Indeed, when he entered the dorm, he saw Chen Zhuang and Cao Mingliang sitting there, shirtless, devouring their food.
"Brother Tian, have you eaten? There's more here!" Chen Zhuang said indistinctly, his mouth full of food, upon seeing Qin Tian enter.
"Already ate!" Qin Tian nodded and walked to his wardrobe to find some clothes to change into. After taking off his loose athletic t-shirt, his perfectly sculpted abs and V-lines were revealed, earning envious and jealous glances from Chen Zhuang and Cao Mingliang. The system-judged perfect physique was not apparent when wearing clothes, but once revealed, it was truly captivating to both genders.
"Brother Tian, how do you maintain this physique? You don't seem to train specifically, and you don't always go for morning runs," Cao Mingliang asked, swallowing his food. Chen Zhuang nodded in agreement, also puzzled. No man wouldn't desire such muscle definition and physique. However, achieving it required immense willpower, and even then, it didn't always look good. Like those gym enthusiasts with exaggerated arm circumference and well-developed muscles, some boys might find them handsome, but girls generally didn't. Qin Tian's physique was undoubtedly the kind that girls adored the most. One could imagine if he walked around campus shirtless, the upperclassmen and underclassmen who already had crushes on him would go even crazier.
"At least I still do morning runs. You two sleep until noon every day and then stuff yourselves with fried dough sticks and hot dry noodles. You expect to have a good physique? Dream on!" Qin Tian put on his hoodie, covering his perfect body, and glanced at them indifferently. The two exchanged a look, then looked at the fried dough sticks and chopsticks in their hands, unable to retort.
"But you don't seem to watch your diet either. You eat the same thing for breakfast," Chen Zhuang questioned defiantly.
"Talent, understand? No talent and no effort, what are you envious of then?" Qin Tian retorted. The two were once again speechless.
"Brother Zhuang, you really need to pay attention. Eat less, okay? Your weight must be approaching two hundred and fifty pounds," Cao Mingliang said seriously, looking at him.
"Get lost! You're the one who's two hundred and fifty! Look at you, like a skinny monkey. You don't have any manly aura, and you dare to talk about me?" Chen Zhuang rolled his eyes disdainfully and retorted, "Brother is strong, not fat, understand?"
"Damn it, who's a skinny monkey? I've gained several pounds recently, I'm already one hundred and twenty!"
"Heh, I could knock out several people like you with one punch."
"Bullshit! Knock out several people with one punch? What are you showing off for, you idiot."
"What, you want to try?"
"Come on, I'm not afraid of you!"
Watching the two lively characters bicker again, Qin Tian and Zhuang Zhe, who was sitting nearby, exchanged a helpless smile.
"Alright, stop arguing. Finish eating quickly so we can go to class. If you're too slow, we won't wait!" Qin Tian called out. The two simultaneously snorted, ceasing their verbal argument and instead starting to fight over the remaining breakfast.