Around 7 PM, Shen Lang took his two sisters out to eat at Haidilao. Although he often pretended to be annoyed with them, he genuinely cared for his sisters. Since it was rare to see them, he didn't want them to just go back to school without spending some time together.
After ordering, the sisters chattered away about school, gossiping about quirky roommates and sharing little stories. Shen Lang quietly listened, feeling a sense of warmth and nostalgia, as if he were watching his little sisters grow up.
Time truly flies. The sisters were now in the prime of their youth, yet the memories of their lively and adorable childhood remained vivid in Shen Lang's mind.
"If only they weren't so annoying," Shen Lang thought with a silent sigh.
Just then, a message came in from Su Lexuan.
**Lexuan Who Hates Early Mornings:** "I'm so bored. What are you up to?"
Shen Lang thought for a moment before replying, "Having dinner out. What about you? Watching horror movies again?"
**Lexuan Who Hates Early Mornings:** "No, just sitting in the dorm. I don't feel like eating the canteen food tonight. Tomorrow is Saturday, but college life is so dull. I envy you, senior, for being done with university so early."
Su Lexuan attached a short video to her message. In the video, her roommates were seen either playing on their phones or watching dramas, with Ye Xinxin leisurely playing a game nearby. The last few seconds showed Su Lexuan's selfie, pouting cutely in boredom.
**[Option 1: If you're so bored, why are you in college? Don't you realize how hard your parents work to send you to school?]**
**[Option 2: Your bed seems to be in a secluded spot. No one would notice if you entertain yourself!**]
**[Option 3: How about going out tomorrow? I'll treat you to roast duck. There's a famous roast duck place near where we met last time!]**
Shen Lang dismissed the first two options outright. Although the third option was quite normal, it still made him inexplicably nervous.
If he sent that message, it would essentially be inviting Su Lexuan out. Shen Lang couldn't understand why he felt so nervous—perhaps his reclusive nature made him fear rejection.
"Damn it, why am I so scared?" He thought about how he almost missed the chance to get to know Su Lexuan last time. Nervously but expectantly, he typed out, "How about going out tomorrow? I'll treat you to roast duck. There's a famous roast duck place near where we met last time!"
After sending the message, Shen Lang's heart pounded. This was the first time he had ever actively asked a girl out for a meal, and he wasn't sure if she would accept.
Calming himself, Shen Lang realized there was a good chance Su Lexuan would agree. She could have chatted with her roommates, but she chose to message him instead, even sharing a video of her day.
He felt this was a clear sign that she wanted to chat and connect with him. Mentioning her boredom on Saturday was a hint that she wanted to go out. By actively messaging him, she was inviting him to take her out.
After a few minutes without a response from Su Lexuan, Shen Lang felt a bit down. "Maybe she went to the restroom or to get takeout?" He thought.
This was typical of sensitive and reclusive people, always preparing for the worst. Even without a reply, they would make excuses for the other person to soothe their fragile hearts.
A few more minutes passed with no reply, so Shen Lang checked their chat. He noticed something interesting: every few seconds, the chat status would show "Typing..."
Shen Lang was puzzled at first, then it clicked. Su Lexuan wasn't doing something else; she was probably holding her phone, considering whether to accept his invitation.
This made sense. They had known each other for less than two days, and inviting her out was a big step. She wasn't an easy girl, so she would naturally hesitate to go out with a guy she barely knew.
"Maybe I rushed things," Shen Lang thought, smiling as he prepared for rejection. He reminded himself to be more patient in the future, to build rapport slowly.
Besides, if Su Lexuan had immediately agreed, Shen Lang would have felt a bit uncomfortable. Winning her over easily would feel less rewarding, like defeating a game boss too quickly.
"Chasing girls is quite a learning process," Shen Lang murmured as he stared at the "Typing..." notification.
Finally, the WeChat notification chimed, and Su Lexuan replied.
**Lexuan Who Hates Early Mornings:** "Sure, but you don't need to treat. How about we split the bill? It feels bad to make you pay when we just met."
**One Night Sleeps Till Dawn:** "Alright, then. Tomorrow at 6 PM, I'll meet you at the bus stop from last time."
**Lexuan Who Hates Early Mornings** sent a cat emoji: "Okay!"
"Sometimes, defeating a boss in one move isn't so bad after all," Shen Lang thought, excited about the date.
"Brother, who are you online dating now?" Shen Nannan teased as Shen Lang put his phone away. "Didn't you learn your lesson from last time?"
Shen Lang's first love was someone he met online. When they met in person, she had him buy all sorts of things, spending nearly twenty thousand yuan without so much as holding hands. After returning home, she blocked him, leaving Shen Lang heartbroken for months. He had even posted a bitter message on social media: "If I ever trust a woman again, I'm a dog!"
Shen Lang didn't answer, just smiled. "Don't worry about it. Let's eat."
"You look so silly," Shen Linlin scoffed. "If you have money to waste on girls, you might as well give it to me."
"Please, just find boyfriends and stop clinging to me," Shen Lang's smile faded, and he pleaded, "When will we get to the point where you say, 'Brother, you don't understand him'?"