Chapter 11

Bai Zining was so startled that he was nearly scared out of his wits. Why does Zhu Shizhou act so impulsively? Where am I supposed to find a “Cai Ning,” a freshman from University B, to meet with him? If his lie got exposed, wouldn’t all his efforts go to waste?

He quickly typed a reply: 【No need, gege. It’s too late now, and our dorm’s curfew is about to start. I wouldn’t be able to get out, and you’d make the trip for nothing.】

Hawthorn Porridge: 【And just hearing that from you already makes me really happy. Don’t trouble yourself—get some good rest, okay?】

But Zhu Shizhou only glanced at his phone and showed no intention of stopping. On the contrary, he began fixing his hair in front of the mirror.

Bai Zining panicked and quickly sent another message: 【Seriously, don’t come. I’m already getting ready to sleep.】

Zhu Shizhou didn’t see the message because he was busy putting on his shoes. Bai Zining couldn’t take it anymore and called out, “Zhu Shizhou, what are you doing?”

Zhu Shizhou gave him a strange look, his expression clearly saying: Can’t you see what I’m doing?

“It’s already past ten, and lights-out time is coming soon. Are you going out?”

“Yes,” Zhu Shizhou replied succinctly.

Bai Zining couldn’t sit still anymore. He scrambled down from his bed and blocked the door. “I’m the dorm leader. I’m responsible for the safety of everyone in this dorm. If you go out this late and something happens, who’s going to take responsibility for that?”

Suddenly, Bai Zining remembered the unpleasant incident from last semester when he had tried to stop Zhu Shizhou from leaving the dorm. He had no idea what kind of conflict this time would bring, maybe they’d even end up in a fight.

But no matter the consequences, this time, he was determined to stop him.

Zhu Shizhou was amused by Bai Zining’s flimsy excuse. He pointed at the two empty beds nearby and said leisurely, “Oh, so, Dorm Leader Bai, are you only responsible for me? What about the safety of our other two roommates? Are you not responsible for them?”

At this point, Bai Zining was so anxious that sweat was forming on his forehead, but he still argued confidently, “When they come back, I’ll reprimand them too. But right now, you’re about to break the rules right in front of me, and I won’t allow it.”

“Alright, you’re the boss,” Zhu Shizhou said as he casually switched back to his slippers. Picking up his toothbrush cup, he added with a half-smile, “I’m just going to wash up, Dorm Leader Bai.”

As Zhu Shizhou walked away, Bai Zining was momentarily stunned. That’s it? I actually stopped him? How had Zhu Shizhou suddenly become so obedient?

He wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. No matter what, this crisis is over for now.

At eleven o’clock, Bai Zining received a message from Zhu Shizhou: 【Sorry, ran into a little trouble, can’t make it.】

Bai Zining felt a wave of relief and quickly replied: 【It’s okay. We’ll definitely have a chance to celebrate together in the future. Goodnight, gege.】

Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, Bai Zining suddenly opened his eyes wide, belatedly realizing something. Wait… did Zhu Shizhou mean that I was the “little trouble”?!

Nonsense! It was Zhu Shizhou’s impulsiveness that was Bai Zining’s biggest trouble.

The next day, the money Zhu Shizhou had transferred automatically returned to him.

Bai Zining had already made up his mind that he couldn’t accept Zhu Shizhou’s money. He was pretending to be in love, not scamming for money.

He had his principles.

Zhu Shizhou’s sudden idea of meeting up had scared Bai Zining so much that, for the next few days, he didn’t dare to tease him lightly.

No more leg photos in his Moments, no more coquettish voice messages, not even his usual set of expressive stickers, but just plain, dry text.

Zhu Shizhou, on the other hand, seemed as if he had been possessed that night because he didn’t make any further “excessive” requests afterward. Bai Zining speculated that Zhu Shizhou’s suggestion had probably been a spur-of-the-moment thing, or maybe he just got carried away in conversation, but in reality, he didn’t have a strong desire to meet.

On one hand, this gave Bai Zining some time to breathe; on the other, it made him reflect. Based on their daily conversations, he realized he had celebrated too early.

Even though he had never been in a relationship, he knew this wasn’t how a normal romantic relationship should feel.

He needed to adjust his strategy.