Chapter 112: Do You Want to Live with Feng Siruo?
“Good morning!”
“Good morning!”
“Good morning!”
“BombBombBomb!”
Early the next day, Jiang Zhou was jolted awake by a series of QQ notification chimes.
He opened his eyes and saw that it was already 7:10 a.m.
At that moment, Feng Siruo’s profile picture kept bouncing in the message bar.
“Why’d you send so many ‘good mornings’?” Jiang Zhou rapidly typed and replied.
Feng Siruo’s reply was instant: “Making up for missed ones.”
Oh. Got it.
Because she ignored him for three days, she hadn’t said good morning for three days.
Now she was making up for it all at once.
Is this how girls act cute with their almost-boyfriends?
Little Miss Feng sure had her own creative style.
Thinking of that, Jiang Zhou sent her a bomb emoji, then glanced at her social feed.
Nothing useful there.
Just a bunch of angsty, melodramatic quotes:
“Looking up at a 45-degree angle, tears won’t fall.”
“If anyone breaks my bestie’s wings, I’ll destroy her whole heaven.”
“Burying a city and turning off all the lights.”
“If my sunlight can make you happy, I’ll abandon all darkness forever.”
Seriously, this generation is so emo.
And they all think they’re poetic geniuses on par with Tang and Song dynasty masters.
But translated plainly: “I’m just being a simp.”
Jiang Zhou scrolled for a while, cringing so hard he was practically scratching his toes in embarrassment.
Right then, Chu Yuwei also sent her morning greeting.
Hers was more stimulating: “Good morning, Daddy.”
Jiang Zhou replied with a good morning of his own and closed QQ.
But to his surprise, the buzz just now wasn’t only from QQ.
He noticed there were also several text messages in the notification bar.
His Nokia 5230 had a resistive touchscreen.
Compared to capacitive ones on smartphones, it was sluggish and inaccurate.
Often, it would register touches in the wrong place or not respond at all.
In the end, Jiang Zhou gave up.
He obediently pulled out the stylus and opened the text message panel.
[You bastard! You’re the one who broke my window. I checked the security footage!] [I’m changing my name today and ordering food from every place you use!] [If you’re smart, sell me Ganfanren, or this isn’t over!] [20 million. That’s the most I’ll offer. Don’t push your luck!]This crazy old woman is nuts.
Why is she so desperate to buy my Ganfanren brand?
I worked so hard to build it. Begging around, grinding every day wasn’t easy at all.
And now she just wants to take it by force? Keep dreaming!
But still, rich people really do have sharp business instincts.
Jiang Zhou only knew the potential of food delivery apps because he had traveled back in time.
But this woman wasn’t a time traveler, yet she had already locked onto the opportunity.
That’s the kind of sensitivity to business that keeps the rich getting richer.
[60 billion. If you can’t afford it, forget it!]He sent the reply and got out of bed.
It was Friday. The morning sun was bright and beautiful.
Probably the clearest day all week.
Warm sunlight poured in, even causing a Tyndall effect on the balcony.
Wearing his boxers, Jiang Zhou walked over and slapped his three lazy roommates on their bed frames.
“Wake up! Time for class!”
Zhang Guangfa groaned, “Don’t mess with me. I’m not getting up today no matter what!”
Xu Haodong added, “Even if the emperor himself came, I’m skipping class. Haven’t skipped once since starting college. It’s about time.”
“Gao Wenkai! Get your ass up!”
Gao Wenkai answered with a loud snore.
These guys are hopeless, Jiang Zhou thought, but he didn’t rush them.
He sat down calmly, started putting on his shoes, and casually said, “Tomorrow’s the trip. The class monitor wants to hold a quick meeting to assign rooms.
“If you get there early, your room might end up right next to a girl’s.
“You can sneak over at night, play cards, share a drink… and you know, maybe something happens.
“If you guys aren’t going… I guess I’ll go alone?”
Before he even finished, the three of them shot up with blankets still draped over them.
Girls? Next door? Drinks? Possibilities?
Their eyes lit up like high beams.
“Bro, are you serious?”
“Why would I lie for a class with no reward?” Jiang Zhou suddenly noticed he’d forgotten to put on pants.
“Shit.” He cursed, took off his shoes, and started again.
The other three, now pumped with motivation, scrambled to get dressed.
Halfway through, Zhang Guangfa noticed something odd.
“Hey, why’s the weather so damn sunny today?”
Xu Haodong froze. “Wait… I thought it was supposed to rain for the next three days! I even bought a trench coat!”
Zhang Guangfa roared dramatically, “Dragon King, you’ve destroyed my dreams of romance!”
They had bought raincoats and boots, planning to flirt in the rain on the trip.
Now? Day one and it’s perfectly clear.
“Told you your plan sucked.”
Xu Haodong grumbled, “Says who?”
Jiang Zhou scoffed, “You really trust a guy who broke up Little Dragon Girl and Pigsy to be your matchmaker?”
“Bull! She was sealing the sea-eye, okay? Didn’t you watch Spring Pigsy?”
“Still didn’t work out in the end. That’s your omen right there.”
After roasting each other a while longer, they finally headed to class.
It was Friday, and there weren’t many classes, just political science and a foreign language session.
Jiang Zhou arrived at the classroom and sat next to Feng Siruo, holding out his hand.
Feng Siruo obediently pulled out a piece of candy from her pocket and placed it in his palm.
Warm, thoughtful. It was better than any medicine.
As he unwrapped the candy, Jiang Zhou suddenly felt odd.
Why did this feel like he was… taking meds on schedule?
“Dalang, time for your medicine!”
Feng Siruo saw his serious face and got startled.
She quickly hid the little maze ruler she’d just bought.
Last time, he broke her old one, and she’d felt bad for days.
“Tomorrow’s the trip, you know that, right?”
Feng Siruo nodded. “I know.”
“Then wait for me downstairs at your dorm in the morning. I’ll drive you there.”
“I want to take the coach bus.”
Jiang Zhou blinked. “You want to ride the group bus?”
Feng Siruo looked up at him. “Is that okay?”
“It’s okay, I guess… But it’s noisy, and the closed space doesn’t exactly smell great.”
“I want to try…”
Jiang Zhou figured she wanted to push herself.
She had never ridden a group bus or been on this kind of trip.
The chaotic atmosphere might stress her out.
But since everyone around would be classmates, she probably wouldn’t get too overwhelmed.
“Alright. You take the bus, I’ll drive.”
Feng Siruo nervously tugged his sleeve and gave it a gentle shake.
Jiang Zhou was caught off guard. “What’s wrong?”
“…I’m scared.”
“Oh, I get it now. So you want me to ride the coach with you?”
Feng Siruo looked up at him and gave a small nod.
“But isn’t Ding Yue going with you?”
“That won’t do…”
“So it has to be me, huh? Then what do I get out of it?”
Feng Siruo thought about it, then took out another piece of candy and gave it to him.
Just as he thought, feeding candy like he’s Dalang taking his medicine.
Jiang Zhou rubbed her little head. “Alright then, I’ll go with you. But if you start feeling sick, we’ll get off and take a taxi.”
Feng Siruo nodded. “I’ll bring you something tasty.”
“What tasty thing?”
“Not telling.”
“Fine. Then I’m leaving all snacks to you. I won’t bring any myself.”
Feng Siruo nodded eagerly, agreeing without hesitation.
After all, she was a little rich lady carrying over a hundred thousand.
What’s a few snacks? She could probably empty the campus supermarket if she wanted.
“Oh, and the snacks you bring, only I can eat them. Don’t give any to Ding Yue, and definitely not to anyone else.”
Feng Siruo agreed, “Then… can I eat them?”
Jiang Zhou thought for a moment. “Depends. If you behave, I’ll let you eat a little.”
“Then I won’t give anyone else any.”
After saying that, she snuck a glance at Ding Yue sitting next to her.
Luckily, she seemed to be spacing out and didn’t hear anything.
Otherwise, she’d probably call her heartless and go on again about that poor princess who got hung on the city wall.
Seriously, what did that princess ever do wrong?
Got baked in the sun for three days and nights, and still gets dragged into stories over and over.
At that moment, Ding Yue suddenly turned around.
Feng Siruo got startled and instinctively leaned closer to Jiang Zhou.
“Jiang Zhou, don’t you have a car?”
Jiang Zhou glanced at her. “What are you scheming this time?”
Ding Yue lowered her voice and leaned in. “Aren’t we going to the hot spring town tomorrow? The coach is stuffy, slow, and bumpy. How about Siruo and I ride in your car?”
“No thanks. My car isn’t for just anyone.”
“Hey, I’m not just anyone! I’m your wife’s best friend!”
As soon as Feng Siruo heard that, her little face turned beet red.
She panicked and pushed Ding Yue, clearly flustered.
Her angry little glare seemed to say, “Why are you selling me out like this?!”
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhou looked quite pleased.
You’ve got some tact, he thought, suddenly seeing Ding Yue in a better light.
“Think about it. Your wife in the front seat, her bestie in the back. Isn’t that nice?”
Jiang Zhou was amused. “Mm, sounds pretty sweet. Go on.”
Feeling encouraged, Ding Yue got more excited. “I asked the class rep yesterday. She said I’ll be sharing a room with Siruo.”
“So?”
“So I can… uh, switch rooms at night, you know?”
She raised her eyebrows like some shady matchmaker at a train station.
Not that she was really selling her friend.
Anyone with eyes could see that Feng Siruo was growing more and more attached to Jiang Zhou.
She’d waited over two hours for him at the school gate. That said everything.
Especially after Jiang Zhou got back from his business trip, the girl had been sticking to him like glue.
So whatever was going to happen, would happen eventually.
If that’s the case, what’s the harm in making things convenient?
But the moment Ding Yue finished her pitch, Feng Siruo panicked and stomped her foot.
No way!
She couldn’t share a room with Jiang Zhou.
She’d definitely be bullied into tears!
“…Fine, I’ll agree.”
Ding Yue instantly lit up. “You swear on it?”
Jiang Zhou nodded. “But I already promised Siruo I’d ride the bus with her. You’ll have to find your own driver.”
“Huh?!”
“What? I’m even willing to lend you the car.”
“No thanks. I’m not Siruo. I don’t have anyone spoiling me like that.”
Jiang Zhou went quiet. “Then what about that room-switching thing?”
Ding Yue gave him a sharp look, then turned to Feng Siruo. “See, Siruo? That’s a man for you. One little test, and he instantly reveals his true colors!”
“I…” Jiang Zhou almost burst out swearing.
When she needed a favor, she sold out her bestie.
Now she’s setting traps for him? What kind of person even is this?
Feng Siruo looked at Ding Yue, her expression sulky.
She might be socially anxious, but she wasn’t dumb.
Her best friend had clearly just sold her out.
And now, seeing she didn’t get what she wanted, she’s trying to patch things up while throwing Jiang Zhou under the bus.
“Siruo, why are you looking at me like that? We’re besties!”
Feng Siruo scrunched up her nose and turned her head away.
Ding Yue was furious. “You’re both the worst! Once I get a boyfriend, I won’t talk to either of you!”
Jiang Zhou pointed ahead. “How about Xu Haodong? Half-price.”
“No thanks! I’ll find someone myself — tall, rich, and handsome!”
“Sorry, someone like that already belongs to Feng Siruo.”
Ding Yue sneered, “You? You? Out of tall, rich, and handsome, you’ve only got the tall part!”
Jiang Zhou grinned and kicked the seat ahead. “Hey, Rich and Handsome. Someone wants to date you.”
“For real? No joke?! Who? Which class? Big… you know?”
Jiang Zhou pointed with his eyes. “That one. Miss Ding.”
“…Her? Nah. I’m aiming for a rich, pretty girl.”
Ding Yue widened her eyes. “You’re rejecting me? Well, I’m rejecting you!”
The two of them huffed and turned their heads away from each other.
On the side, Feng Siruo covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
And just like that, half the class period slipped away.
By the second half, Jiang Zhou was already nodding off.
Political science was a strange subject.
If you understood it, it was like opening the door to a whole new world.
If not, it was the most effective sleep aid known to man.
Jiang Zhou was definitely the latter.
It wasn’t a core class anyway.
Even if he failed, he could easily make it up later.
But this meant Feng Siruo had her hands full.
She had to focus on taking notes, while also stretching out her hand on the desk.
Because when Jiang Zhou nodded off, his forehead sometimes bonked right onto the desk.
She’d pad it with her hand to stop him from hurting himself.
So there she was taking notes with one hand, shielding with the other.
Absolutely swamped, but surprisingly happy.
Before, she was withdrawn, socially anxious,
No one needed her, and others would go out of their way to take care of her, which only made her feel like a burden.
But this was the first time she was caring for someone else.
Whoosh!
Just then, a paper ball flew over and smacked Jiang Zhou right on the forehead, waking him up.
“What the hell?”
Feng Siruo picked it up from the floor and handed it to him.
Paper notes? What is this, a pigeon message delivery system?
Seriously, if you’re gonna throw a paper ball, just use regular paper.
Why wrap a pen cap inside it?!
Jiang Zhou blinked, opened it up, and read: “After class, can you come to the rooftop? I have something to tell you.”
Huh??????
Jiang Zhou snapped awake.
Based on his two lifetimes of experience…
This was definitely the prelude to a confession!
He lifted his head and scanned the room.
Now, the only question was who threw it?