CHAPTER 402: CHAPTER 398: HURTING EACH OTHER

September 30, Wednesday.

Zhou Li sat in the classroom, texting on WeChat. Outside, the sun shone brightly and birds chirped crisply, yet the seat next to him was empty.

Brother Nan had skipped class.

The teacher lectured seriously at the podium. He noticed Zhou Li sneaking glances at his phone but didn’t mind.

There were just too many people playing with their phones in the classroom. Most of them tried to be discreet. Some even made a show of occasionally looking up at the podium, pretending to pay attention to the lecture. To the teacher, however, it was all too obvious and rather amusing. However, this was different from those who blatantly played with their phones, some even wearing earphones. The latter group seemed more arrogant, while the former at least showed the teacher some respect.

This teacher was quite gentle. As long as you didn’t disturb his teaching, he wouldn’t bother you.

And these days, Zhou Li’s tasks were rather heavy.

Yin Le still often sent him messages, asking for his opinion on certain details, which revealed the meticulousness of the event. Some arrangements, like time and place, required both sides to exchange opinions, with Zhou Li acting as a bridge between them.

So tiring...

BUZZ! BUZZ!

The phone vibrated again.

Zhou Li hurriedly opened QQ. It was a message from the club group.

Li Daimao: Everyone, remember not to be late for our club’s first event and welcome party tonight!

Li Daimao: [Location]

Li Daimao: 7 o’clock. Don’t miss it!

Mianmian: Can I hitch a ride?

Zhou Li glanced at the row in front. Those two cutesy girls picking at their feet were the type who blatantly played with their phones in class, dressed in bizarre outfits, as if anxious to let the teacher know they weren’t paying attention. It was a miracle they hadn’t failed any courses last semester.

Li Daimao: You three can ride in my car.

Mianmian: Got it!

Qian Qian: Yay!

Baozi: /Mhm

Li Daimao: Su Jue and Xiao Hua can take a taxi.

Xiao Hua: Okay.

Li Daimao: It’s a pity our club only has one car. It’ll be inconvenient for future events.

Su Jue: Do I need to buy another car?

Mianmian: Wow.

Qian Qian: Wow.

Baozi: /Spacing out

Zhou Li glanced at Baozi again.

Baozi was also the type to blatantly play with her phone, and she liked to sit in the front row. But she didn’t play continuously. Instead, she laid her phone on the desk, glanced at it when a message popped up, and would reply if she felt like it. Then she’d set it down and continue listening to the lecture. Usually, only top students had the confidence to do this, and teachers wouldn’t mind. There’s a difference between not minding and not caring.

Now, she was just holding her phone, staring blankly at it as if unable to comprehend the extravagance of the wealthy.

Zhou Li: Pay attention in class.

Mianmian: Oh.

Qian Qian: Ooh...

Baozi: ...

Li Daimao: Hah.

Li Daimao: You’re playing with your phone too.

Zhou Li: You’re awake but not at school, playing with your phone in the dorm. Don’t skip the afternoon class.

Li Daimao: /Sleepy

Mianmian: Handsome Zhou is awesome!

Qian Qian: Witnessing a live lecture!

Xiao Hua: What class are you guys in?

「Evening.」

A savory, pale broth was poured into a wooden barrel, spilling over scalding hot stones. A puff of white smoke rose immediately with a sizzling sound.

The waiter closed the lid.

Brother Nan, sitting in the main seat, watched the waiter walk away. Then, she cleared her throat and began to speak, "Our club is small, but that doesn’t matter. As the saying goes, ’A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the deity that resides upon it. A club is not about the number of people, but the joy it brings...’"

Zhou Li bowed his head, trying to stifle a laugh.

This gangster girl actually started quoting classical Chinese...

Hilarious!

Wait a moment.

Zhou Li astonishingly realized that, except for Baozi, it seemed everyone present was listening attentively.

Including Huai Xu.

And including Tuanzi.

Can you imagine a half-grown kitten sitting primly on the table, ignoring the fish meat in the pot and the fried crispy meat in front of it, instead listening intently to someone speaking?

Zhou Li found it very interesting.

It seemed that only Baozi and he were on the same wavelength, and their gazes met.

Just as Zhou Li was trying to send Baozi a message with his eyes, she suddenly raised her hand, her expression serious—

"Report! Vice President Zhou isn’t paying attention to the speech!"

"Hm?"

Brother Nan’s gaze sharpened.

Zhou Li: ...

Baozi immediately added, "He’s even laughing!"

Zhou Li: ??

Brother Nan then lightly patted Zhou Li on the arm.

However, it was this action, somewhat like a public display of affection, that gave Secretary Bao an extraordinary sense of satisfaction, as if she could derive a certain indescribable pleasure from snitching.

Zhou Li immediately felt that his little cousin was becoming unbearable.

Brother Nan didn’t speak much, because the fish only needed a few minutes to cook. Keeping an eye on the time, she said to everyone, "As long as we’re having fun together in the club, that’s all that matters... Dinner’s ready!"

She lifted the lid, and steam rose.

Seeing that the waitstaff were busy, Brother Nan took the initiative to get up and ladle soup for everyone.

As the vice president and connected to Brother Nan, Zhou Li was the first to receive the soup. He quickly thanked her before tasting it.

The pot contained cooked fish, but the soup wasn’t actually a fish broth. It was primarily a milky-white pork bone stock, enhanced with green and red peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and a touch of tomato for garnish, making the colors appealing. It had a slightly savory and spicy flavor, with the distinct numbing tingle of Sichuan peppercorns. In terms of mouthfeel alone, it might have been even better than soups from specialty soup restaurants.

The fish was cut into thin, very tender slices and was almost boneless. Cooked, it was beautifully white. One needed to be careful when picking it up, as it would crumble with slightly too much force.

He dipped a piece into his sauce, blew on it gently, and took a bite. Zhou Li’s eyebrows immediately shot up.

"How is it?" Brother Nan asked with a smile.

"Delicious."

"Hehe..."

After serving the last person, Brother Nan used a ladle to scoop two spoonfuls of fish from the pot, one into Zhou Li’s bowl and one into Tuanzi’s bowl, before sitting down to eat herself.

The others couldn’t hide their envy.

Zhou Li glanced at Baozi, hoping she would realize that her previous slander against Vice President Zhou had no effect and that she should not do such silly things in the future. However, Baozi just sipped her soup with her head down, not giving him a glance or showing a hint of jealousy like the others, as if she hadn’t seen what happened.

Zhou Li pursed his lips.

「After the meal.」

Su Jue and Xiao Hua went back to study spells, while the rest headed to KTV.

Brother Nan ordered some drinks, fruit, and snacks, then went to the door to adjust the lighting. The two cutesy girls who had been picking at their feet each opened a bottle of beer. They hadn’t said anything about drinking during dinner, but now they were clamoring that they wouldn’t go home sober.

Zhou Li wasn’t fond of singing, nor was he used to such environments, so he found a corner seat as soon as he entered, quietly watching them sing.

The atmosphere in the private room quickly became lively.

Brother Nan, of course, loved to have fun.

Mianmian and Qian Qian also had lively personalities, especially around people they knew, where they really let loose. Moreover, they sang well, their voices sweet. After warming up with a few songs, they seemed to hit their stride.

They sang even better than Brother Nan.

And then there was Huai Xu.

If Zhou Li had to say whose singing he’d heard most in his life, it was definitely this old monster’s. He would hum a few notes whether he had anything to do or not. The first time they met, Huai Xu was humming, and he often sang at home too.

And he sang beautifully.

In terms of vocal ability, the old monster had an unfair advantage. He could mimic anyone’s voice. Theoretically, he could also bypass human physiological structures to produce sounds normal people couldn’t make and possessed breath control far beyond human capability. In the past year, he had also frequently attended classes at the music conservatory, bringing his vocal techniques, musical sense, and understanding of music theory up to par with professional singers.

Therefore, as soon as he started singing, Cotton Swab was captivated.

When the song ended.

Brother Nan couldn’t help but praise Huai Xu a few times. Then, grabbing the microphone, she looked towards Zhou Li, who was cuddling Tuanzi in a corner and already yawning, and Baozi, who was quietly observing the whole room from another corner.

"Why aren’t you two singing?"

"You guys go ahead..."

The cousins looked at each other across the room, sharing a commiserating glance.

Brother Nan thought for a moment and said, "Let’s pick an easy one that everyone knows. Let’s sing it together? We’re all friends here, no need to be shy. Look at me, I’m not a great singer either, but I’m not afraid!"

Baozi looked at Zhou Li, silent, hoping he would refuse.

But Zhou Li remained silent too.

Baozi waited silently for two seconds. Realizing she had no other choice, she began to gather her thoughts to speak up herself.

But before she had fully formed her words, she suddenly saw Zhou Li nod—

"Okay."

?

Baozi was a bit disbelieving. She thought she must have misheard, so she looked at Zhou Li and Brother Nan again.

She hadn’t misheard...

Brother Nan was already at the machine, choosing a song.

Baozi bit her lip, suddenly feeling nervous. Her small hands twisted tightly in front of her. She realized she had lost her ally and was now the only ’salted fish’ (lazy person) left in the private room. And this ’salted fish’ was about to be forcefully flipped!