After Wu Zhengjing coldly rebuked them, he slammed the door and left, disregarding others' opinions and not giving Yang Le a chance to respond. The atmosphere, which had just started to thaw, turned awkward again.
Li Dazhuang, though small in stature, had a fiery temper. Seeing Wu Zhengjing's retreating figure, he yelled, "Damn it, what's with that guy? Art? In this day and age, the only art left is Japanese AV. So disgusting, having to share a dorm with such a pretentious jerk."
Yang Le looked a bit embarrassed. His intention was good; everyone had come from different places to the same school, living in the same dormitory for four years. Getting along would make life more enjoyable. He didn't expect his good intentions to be met with such disdain.
"Let it go, Dazhuang. Maybe I said something wrong. Since Wu Zhengjing isn't coming, how about the rest of us go out for a bit?" Yang Le suggested, looking at Ye Qiu and Li Dazhuang. His ability to quickly adjust his mindset showed he had some depth.
Though university students were called the 'pride of the heavens,' freshmen were just out of high school's rigorous test-driven education. In high school, there was no time for scheming or forming cliques amidst endless studying. The portrayal of university students as cunning and devious in books was nonsense. Except for those from affluent families, who else would be so sophisticated?
Most students retained their purity and straightforwardness, valuing loyalty and even maintaining a sense of pride. Some held onto these traits even years after graduation. Like Li Dazhuang, who would curse at what he didn't like without caring about others' opinions. Yang Le's reaction, on the other hand, caught Ye Qiu's attention. This seemingly carefree guy might be hiding his true abilities.
Given Ye Qiu's own nature, he naturally felt wary of people like himself.
"Sure, Yang Le. Let's celebrate on our own. Without him, I can have more drinks—although I'm not much of a drinker," Li Dazhuang patted Yang Le's shoulder, his words contradicting but sincere.
"What about you two?" Yang Le looked expectantly at Ye Qiu and Han Shuang.
Honestly, Ye Qiu felt conflicted. Though he was now a student at Shuimu University, he had another job: Tang Guo's bodyguard. Last night, Tang Buyi had called, earnestly asking Ye Qiu to pay special attention to Tang Guo's safety, preferably staying close to her.
If Tang Guo planned to return, Ye Qiu would certainly follow her back. But after the incident with Wu Zhengjing, refusing Yang Le's kind invitation felt wrong. He could act on his own in social situations, but Yang Le was a young, energetic student and his dorm mate. Ye Qiu didn't want to dampen his spirits.
Han Shuang, having developed a liking for Yang Le, looked to Ye Qiu for guidance since he had acknowledged Ye Qiu as his leader.
"I need to make a call first," Ye Qiu said, feeling caught.
"A call? Do you need permission to eat?" Li Dazhuang asked, wide-eyed.
"Ye Ge, are you asking your girlfriend? You're amazing, a role model! I was planning to seek help from other departments, and you've already secured a girlfriend? Is she from our school? If so, invite her to join us; we'll meet her eventually," Yang Le joked, trying to ease any awkwardness.
"No, it's my boss," Ye Qiu replied, not bothering to explain further.
Just as he was about to call Tang Guo to check their plans, his phone rang first.
"Ye Qiu, Bao'er and I won't be back for lunch. Find something to eat yourself." Before Ye Qiu could respond, the line went dead.
"Hey, Ye Ge, your girlfriend has a lovely voice. She must be a beauty," Yang Le teased, assuming Ye Qiu had just started dating and faced some challenges. He wanted to avoid embarrassing Ye Qiu in front of the others.
"Not really. No chest, no hips," Ye Qiu said flatly. He didn't mind badmouthing Tang Guo behind her back, finding a brief satisfaction in it.
Shuimu University, being a prestigious institution in Yanjing, had a thriving student-oriented business district. While Ye Qiu wasn't familiar with the area, Yang Le seemed to know it well, leading them to a fancy-looking restaurant across from the campus.
"Yang Le, we don't need to eat somewhere this upscale for a casual get-together. Any place will do as long as we're happy," Li Dazhuang said, pulling Yang Le's arm as they entered.
"Don't worry, brother. I can afford this. Besides, it's not my parents' hard-earned money; I earned it myself. You said it yourself, it's about having fun, not the money," Yang Le reassured him. The others had no reason to object after that. Ye Qiu, in particular, was indifferent to money.
The restaurant was elegantly decorated, with calligraphy from the previous president of Shuimu University, Yan Tiesheng, hanging in the hall, making it even more appealing to students.
Being the first day of school, the restaurant was packed with students and their families. Yang Le wanted a private room, but the waitress said all were reserved, and there were no available tables in the main hall either.
Just as they were about to leave disappointed, they spotted a father and son finishing their meal and getting ready to leave. Li Dazhuang sprinted over like a rabbit, securing the table before anyone else could. Some boys nearby had tried but failed to beat him.
Li Dazhuang proudly waved them over. Yang Le and Ye Qiu exchanged a smile and walked towards him.
"Dazhuang, your speed is impressive, like a flash. We had just noticed the table, and you were already there," Yang Le said, clapping Li Dazhuang's shoulder.
"Hehe, I'm our school's hundred-meter dash record holder," Li Dazhuang said, wincing in pain but happy inside. Such a friendly gesture indicated a growing bond with Yang Le.
Yang Le called the waiter to order food, including a few beers since they had no afternoon classes.
While waiting for the food, Ye Qiu noticed a few people walking towards him. He recognized one of them as the sleazy guy he had scolded on the train to Yanjing.
Judging by their hostile looks, Ye Qiu knew they were up to no good.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/Jw-q2euGywY