Chapter 103: 150 Pounds, Slightly Chubby, Cute Girl
As the girl walked in, she looked around the room.
The moment she saw the group, her expression showed clear surprise.
She hadn’t expected there to be others in the private room.
Her demeanor immediately grew tense, and she even glanced back toward the door.
“Let me introduce you all. This is my senior from the Literature Club, Yang Xin.”
Guo Wei’s face turned beet red, and he didn’t dare look her in the eyes.
This guy reads literature classics?
Jiang Zhou glanced over at him, skeptical.
If he didn’t know Guo Wei so well, he might’ve actually believed him.
Still, the guy was doing a decent job of pretending to be cultured.
Might be worth learning a trick or two.
Yang Xin looked nervous. “Why are there so many people here?”
Guo Wei scratched his head. “These are my high school friends. They’re just here to hang out with me today.”
“Oh, then you should enjoy your time with them. I don’t know anyone, so I’ll excuse myself.”
“No, no, Senior! I invited you here so you could meet everyone!”
Just then, Yang Xin was pushed into the room by someone behind her.
And right after, a round figure wearing a red cashmere coat followed her in.
That “round” was no exaggeration. The girl was short, maybe 1.5 meters tall, and had to weigh about 150 pounds.
Yet she moved quickly, entering and closing the door all within two seconds.
She moved so fast that Jiang Zhou thought a cannonball had just hit the seafood restaurant.
“Why wouldn’t I join in? It’s a seafood restaurant, something we usually can’t afford.”
The chubby girl swaggered in and pulled out a chair to sit next to Chu Yuwei.
Yang Xin apologized awkwardly, “This is my childhood friend Ji Wenyen. Sorry.”
Ji Wenyen nodded. “Yang Xin and I grew up together. If you’re treating her, then you’re treating me too.”
“She’s… like this. Please don’t mind her.”
“Yep, I’m just the straightforward type. But people often say I’m pretty cute too.”
“Cute…”
The four others exchanged glances.
Well, if we’re talking shape, then maybe.
Round things do tend to be “cute” — like Doraemon or Baymax.
Ji Wenyen looked over the table and frowned.
“Why are we at a seafood place with no seafood? Everything here runs on land. Let’s order more. I want Boston lobster.”
Yang Xin glanced at her. “Wenyen, that’s enough. We don’t need more seafood.”
“Someone else is paying, what’s the problem? Don’t hold back. Hand me the menu.”
At that moment, Jiang Zhou leaned in toward Guo Wei and whispered, “So, which one are you trying to pursue? The round one?”
Guo Wei’s face turned bright red. “Of course not! It’s Yang Xin. But every time I ask her out, Ji Wenyen always tags along.”
“Man, that’s one hell of a third wheel.”
“I’ve told Yang Xin not to bring her next time, but she says Wenyen won’t agree to it.”
Jiang Zhou frowned slightly. “What is this, dating or playing basketball?”
Guo Wei looked helpless. “And she eats more than anyone! I’m gonna go broke tonight.”
“This girl’s clearly here for a free meal.”
“You mean this girl?”
“I don’t think that word quite applies to her.”
“But what can I do? She’s really thick-skinned.”
Jiang Zhou suddenly had a thought. “Has Yang Xin actually accepted your confession?”
“I confessed under her dorm last time, and she seemed hesitant.”
“So… she didn’t agree. Don’t you think Ji Wenyen might be the reason?”
Guo Wei’s eyes widened. “No way. I’ve treated her to so many meals. She even said she’d speak well of me!”
Jiang Zhou fell silent for a moment. “If I were that cannonball, I’d probably be worried you two dating means no more free food.”
—
Meanwhile, Ji Wenyen had already written down a bunch of seafood on the order sheet.
“Wenyen, don’t order more. Just eat what’s already on the table.”
“Yang Xin, what’s your deal? We’re at a seafood restaurant. Of course we’re gonna eat seafood!”
Chu Yuwei finally spoke. “How about we don’t order more. I’m allergic to seafood.”
Su Nan chimed in, “I’m allergic too. Let’s just stick with what we have.”
“Yeah, Wenyen. They’re allergic. No point ordering more.” Yang Xin gave Ji Wenyen a glance.
“If no one else eats it, I will. Don’t worry about leftovers.” Ji Wenyen blinked innocently, then handed the menu to the waiter.
Everyone in the private room fell silent.
Guo Wei leaned in to Jiang Zhou. “Bro… if we’re short on money later, you’ll have to lend me some.”
Jiang Zhou paused. “I don’t mind lending you money, but don’t you think these two are going too far?”
“It’s not Yang Xin’s fault. Ji Wenyen is just really pushy.”
“She may be pushy, but aren’t you supposed to say something? Are you dating her or raising livestock?”
Guo Wei sighed. “But I can’t let Yang Xin pay either…”
“So you never told her how much she was eating cost?”
“No. That’d seem too petty.”
Jiang Zhou nodded. “After dinner, let me handle this. Don’t say anything.”
Guo Wei swallowed nervously. “You’re not gonna blow it for me, right?”
“Of course not. I just want to deflate that basketball.”
—
Meanwhile, Yang Xin looked a little embarrassed.
She noticed everyone staring at Ji Wenyen, who, oblivious, was shoveling food into her mouth.
Yang Xin knew bringing Ji Wenyen was awkward.
She’d told her multiple times that Guo Wei didn’t like this arrangement, but Ji Wenyen always had her own twisted reasoning.
She said that if Yang Xin didn’t invite her to eat, it meant she didn’t see her as a friend.
That both of them were studying far from home in Shangjing, and life wasn’t easy.
She claimed it wasn’t about being greedy, it was fear.
Fear that once Yang Xin started dating, she wouldn’t have time for her anymore.
Hearing that kind of talk, Yang Xin couldn’t say much.
But even now, in front of Guo Wei’s friends, Ji Wenyen still acted this way.
Yang Xin really felt powerless.
At that moment, Jiang Zhou lightly kicked Chu Yuwei under the table.
She glanced at him and immediately understood.
“Senior Yang, I’m Chu Yuwei, Guo Wei’s high school classmate. Nice to meet you.”
Yang Xin let out a small breath of relief and smiled. “I’m Yang Xin, from the Literature Department at University of Technology.”
Su Nan’s eyes lit up. “I’m also in the Literature Department at Shangjing University. I’m Su Nan.”
“You’re from Shangjing?”
Su Nan nodded. “Chu’s from Qingbei, though.”
Yang Xin looked envious. “Shangjing and Qingbei are so hard to get into. You’re all amazing.”
Jiang Zhou waved a hand. “Guo Wei would’ve made it too, but he missed the English listening test helping an old lady cross the street.”
“Really? Guo Wei, that’s so kind of you.”
“Y-yeah, I’m a really caring person…”
Even Guo Wei didn’t believe himself as he said it.
Still, gotta hand it to Jiang Zhou, he can spin anything into gold.
“Are the guys at Shangjing and Qingbei handsome?” Ji Wenyen suddenly asked, “I want a boyfriend too, but I’m not really into tech guys. Know anyone you can introduce me to?”
Chu Yuwei smiled slightly. “At our school, not many guys play basketball.”
“I said I want a boyfriend, not someone to play basketball with.”
“Oh, you mean a boyfriend? I’m not sure even Qingbei guys are good enough for you.”
Ji Wenyen put on a “cute” expression. “Well, that’s true. I am super cute and lively.”
How drunk is she…?
Jiang Zhou couldn’t help but facepalm.
To be honest, height, weight, and appearance didn’t really matter.
The real issue was that this girl’s personality was just way too bizarre.
“By the way, what’s that handsome guy’s name? You haven’t introduced yourself.”
Jiang Zhou was caught off guard and twitched. “Me? Just an ordinary nobody, not worth mentioning.”
Ji Wenyen giggled, “I think your height is alright. Do you have a girlfriend?”
“I don’t have one at the moment.”
“With so many girls in Shangjing, you still can’t find one?”
Jiang Zhou glanced at Chu Yuwei. “I’m not someone who settles. My standards are pretty high.”
Ji Wenyen gave an “oh” and smiled, “Sounds like we have similar values. How about we add each other on QQ?”
“Uh… that might not be necessary.”
“Don’t be shy! I’m just a weak little girl and I’m the one making the first move.”
A weak little girl…
Jiang Zhou instinctively reached for his waist.
This woman’s thigh was thicker than his whole waist.
Yang Xin coughed. “If Jiang Zhou doesn’t want to, don’t push him.”
Ji Wenyen didn’t believe it. “He’s just shy. I’ve seen so many guys like that.”
Chu Yuwei couldn’t help asking, “So… a lot of guys are like that?”
“Yeah, every time I try to talk to one, they wave me off and say sorry or something.”
“Oh… I see.”
Ji Wenyen propped up her chin and sighed, “Sometimes being too cute can be a burden, you know?”
The four others all quickly nodded, hoping to move past this awkward topic.
After a while, the extra seafood dishes they had ordered were brought in — Boston lobster, swimming crabs, Arctic surf clams, coral trout… everything imaginable.
“You’re all allergic to seafood, right? Guess I’ll help myself then.”
Ji Wenyen grabbed a lobster with both hands, tore the shell open, and flung the head aside.
“So this is what it tastes like. Not bad. Yang Xin, try some.”
Yang Xin shook her head. “I’ll just eat something else.”
Ji Wenyen reached out with a piece toward Jiang Zhou. “Handsome, try some. I peeled it myself.”
“No need, really. You go ahead. I’d hate for you to go hungry.”
“Why is everyone being so polite with me?” she muttered and went back to stuffing her face.
Jiang Zhou smiled and looked at her. “Classmate Ji Wenyen, I have a question for you.”
Ji Wenyen blushed a little. “What is it? Are you interested in me?”
“No. I just want to know. How did you manage to get this fat?”
The room instantly fell into dead silence.
Even Ji Wenyen stopped chewing, her expression slowly turning stiff.
“I… I’m just a chubby beauty. How can you say something like that?”
“Sorry, maybe I phrased it wrong. But I do think slightly chubby girls can be cute.”
“Hmph, that’s more like it.”
“Come on then, adorable chubby beauty. Eat up, I mean eat more!” Jiang Zhou stood up and began peeling shrimp and crab for her, piling up a plate full.
Ji Wenyen didn’t hold back, she dug in happily.
Having a handsome guy peel seafood for her?
This meal was a hundred times better than her usual.
The others stared in disbelief, especially Chu Yuwei.
It was like she suddenly understood why Jiang Zhou rejected her.
Was it because I’m not heavy enough?
Even Su Nan looked incredulous.
How does our boss even have the stomach to flirt with anyone?!
Eventually, the meal wrapped up.
Guo Wei looked at the mountain of shells on the table and went pale.
“Jiang Zhou, you have to help me!”
Jiang Zhou leaned in close. “You walk them out. When you go pay, just cover what you ordered.”
Guo Wei’s eyes widened. “But how? The restaurant won’t allow that.”
“It’s fine. I’ll distract the cannonball. Just tell the cashier the seafood was ordered by someone else and she’ll cover it.”
“You’re sacrificing that much for me?!”
Jiang Zhou patted him on the shoulder. “But this is just a temporary fix, you know?”
Guo Wei was stunned. “Then what do I do?”
“I’ll handle the cannonball. You take Yang Xin aside somewhere private and have an honest conversation.”
“What if… what if Yang Xin blames me?”
“I don’t think she’s unreasonable. She’ll understand.”
“Alright…”
Guo Wei took a deep breath and looked at everyone. “Well, we’ve finished eating. Let’s go?”
Yang Xin nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”
Everyone stood up and began heading out.
Just then, Jiang Zhou turned to Ji Wenyen.
“Fat Yan— Er, I mean, Wenyen. Mind if we talk for a bit? Let them go ahead.”
Ji Wenyen bit her lip, hesitant. “Alone? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”
“Oh, then never mind. I just thought we could have a nice chat.”
“No, no, I was just teasing. Yang Xin, you guys go on ahead.”
Yang Xin looked surprised and wanted to say something, but before she could, Guo Wei took her arm and led her out of the private room.
Meanwhile, Su Nan, Chu Yuwei, and Mu Xiaoxiao all gave Jiang Zhou a long look.
There was sorrow, disappointment… and deep contempt in their eyes.
Seriously?! How shameless can one guy be?!
Ugh, what a scumbag.
Soon, the room was empty except for Jiang Zhou and Ji Wenyen.
They stared at each other, but their moods couldn’t be more different.
“Handsome guy, are you trying to chase me? I’m not easy to get, you know.”
Chase you? I could try, but can you even run?
Jiang Zhou coughed. “How about we play a game?”
Ji Wenyen pouted flirtatiously. “All guys are like this, always playing games to flirt.”
“I’ve never dated before, so I only know a few tricks.”
“Fine, but don’t say you get to kiss me if you win. I’m not that kind of girl.”
Jiang Zhou took a deep breath. “I swear I won’t.”
“Hmph. Alright then, what game?”
“Human Transformation Magic.”
“Human… what?”
Jiang Zhou nodded. “I’ll leave through this door, and in one minute, come back looking completely different.”
Ji Wenyen looked puzzled. “Different how?”
“You’ll see. If you win, I’ll chase after you for real.”
“Really? You’re not lying?”
Jiang Zhou nodded, then opened the door and left.
He walked to the front desk and tapped the counter.
“The folks at table 25 are leaving. Go settle the bill.”
“Oh, okay!”
Jiang Zhou lit a cigarette and leaned against the doorway.
Just then, a loud yell came from an upstairs window, “Pay the bill?! They said they were treating me, why should I pay?
“Move! I’m going to find that guy. He tricked me!
“I’ve never paid for a meal in my life. My looks cover the bill!”