Most students had finished their exams by Thursday.

The campus had quieted down noticeably. Outside the school gates, students with suitcases bustled about, heading home. But on the street behind the school, it was the exact opposite—it was rush hour.

In front of a seafood diner, Zhang Shaoqing looked nothing like his usual lazy, street-punk self. His hair was slicked back with gel, his long black overcoat hung past his knees, and he wore shiny leather shoes. Thanks to Yan Xinya’s styling, he looked surprisingly mature—even his whole vibe felt more composed.

He had already booked a private room and ordered the food. Now, he was just idly standing outside the diner, peeking through the glass at the live seafood tanks inside.

Clearly anxious, he kept pacing back and forth, glancing toward the street every few seconds, and occasionally checking the time on his mechanical watch.

After a moment, he spotted two familiar figures approaching—one tall, one short.

The girl was actually wearing pants for once, wrapped in a khaki trench coat. A white scarf covered half her face, softening her already-pretty features.

“Ning Chu! Over here!”

“I see you.”

Ning Chu let go of Wen Yang’s arm and lowered her head slightly, shifting her tail around her waist for comfort.

Normally, no matter the weather, she wore skirts to help conceal her tail. But today, she’d opted for a pair of slit-cut jeans—letting her tail slip out the back and then wrap around her waist under her sweater.

It made her waist look a bit thicker than usual, but under the coat, her figure didn’t really stand out anyway.

“Wow~ You really dressed up like a proper dog in a suit.”

The moment they met, Ning Chu grinned and teased him.

“A real wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“If you can’t appreciate handsome men, maybe zip it.”

To be fair, Zhang Shaoqing did look much better like this than his usual sloppy self. But the more mature styling made him feel a bit unfamiliar.

“Is Qian Qian coming?”

“Xinya said she would.”

“Ooh~”

Wen Yang followed behind the little succubus, asking, “You booked the room already? Ning Chu, you should head inside first so you don’t catch a cold.”

“Yeah. Room 5 on the second floor.”

“Great, I’m going inside to mess around on my phone.”

Ning Chu trotted into the diner, leaving the two guys behind. Zhang Shaoqing turned to Wen Yang and asked anxiously, “How do I look? Is this outfit okay?”

“Looks good.”

“Really? Your wife was just roasting me out there.”

Wen Yang paused awkwardly at the word “your wife,” scratching the back of his neck.

“We’re not married...”

“Yet. Just remember to invite me when you do.”

Zhang Shaoqing craned his neck, still staring in the direction of campus, muttering,

“Damn that Wang Jie really did ditch us. Got a girl and immediately ghosted the boys. Bet he won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow. Ugh, I’m so jealous.”

“Wait—Qian Qian’s here!”

He straightened up immediately, getting flustered.

“Wen Yang!”

He quickly smoothed down the front of his coat and brushed off invisible dust.

“Is my hair okay? Is my scarf crooked?”

“Xinya helped you with your hair, didn’t she?”

“Yeah. She looks wild and carefree, but turns out she’s actually good at this stuff.”

Zhang Shaoqing muttered, “She even tied the belt on my coat. I usually don’t even bother with it.”

Yan Xinya really went all in for the sake of shipping her favorite couple.

Wen Yang thought back to how the wolf-girl used to push him and Ning Chu together and chuckled.

“Maybe she should just become a matchmaker.”

“Honestly, I could see it. Or a wedding host. Didn’t she MC the New Year’s gala?”

Before they could continue, Qian Qian, Yan Xinya, and Lily were already approaching.

Zhang Shaoqing cleared his throat, quickly masking his usual unserious demeanor. He whispered, “Wen Yang, do I look powerful and assertive right now?”

“...”

Wen Yang really couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Even zombies wouldn’t want to bite a love-struck man—they are all empty-headed and unsatisfying.

“The room’s ready. I’ll take you all upstairs.”

When the girls finally arrived, Zhang Shaoqing eagerly stepped forward to greet them. His voice, usually sharp and loud, had been forced down into a gravelly baritone, trying to sound calm and mature.

Qian Qian only gave him a slight nod, her tail drooping low and her expression full of resignation.

If he hadn’t given her that expensive Musang King durian earlier, she wouldn’t have even shown up.

“Let’s go, let’s go~” Yan Xinya hooked Qian Qian’s arm and practically dragged her inside like she was taking a hostage.

Upstairs on the second floor, the group entered the private room. Ning Chu was already there, cracking sunflower seeds while she waited.

Wen Yang and Lily sat on either side of her. Ning Chu leaned over and whispered,

“She doesn’t seem interested in talking to Shaoqing at all~”

“Probably the age gap is too much.”

Just as Ning Chu had predicted, as soon as they sat down—before the food even arrived—Zhang Shaoqing started trying to make conversation with Qian Qian.

She responded half-heartedly, with barely a few words.

“Lily, do you think Qian Qian has any interest in Shaoqing?”

Ning Chu turned and asked quietly.

Lily just shook her head, her eyes glued to her phone.

“What are you looking at? You haven’t even looked up once...”

Ning Chu leaned in to peek at Lily’s screen—then immediately blushed and jerked her head back.

“Do you want it?”

“No, no, absolutely not!”

She shook her head so fast it was a blur.

She might’ve gotten used to small toys, but those big ones? Still way too scary.

Not long after, the dishes started arriving.

“Waiter, bring a case of beer,” Zhang Shaoqing called out. He needed a little liquid courage.

It was now or never—this was his last shot to make a good impression on Qian Qian.

But their earlier conversation had fallen flat, and he couldn’t help but suspect that Ning Chu’s “strategy” was flawed.

Maybe she’d just made it all up to mess with him.

Then his phone buzzed.

He glanced down—it was a message from Ning Chu:

“Qian Qian’s a huge Stephen Chow fan. Try talking about his movies.”

Zhang Shaoqing quickly typed back:

“I haven’t really watched any of his stuff.”

“Then talk about anime. She probably likes that too.”

“Have you ever seen me watch anime?”

Ning Chu looked up and gave him a deadpan glare.

Seriously?! She was handing him cheat codes and he still couldn’t use them?

Movies? No.

Anime? Also no.

What do you do besides playing games and partying at nightclubs?!

At that moment, the lobster dish arrived. Ning Chu gave up on helping and immediately got up to grab a piece.

Before she could eat it though, her eyes drifted toward the piece of lobster in Wen Yang’s bowl.

“Here.”

Wen Yang noticed her stare and offered his piece.

“I don’t want it. You eat it.” The source of this content ɪs NoveI(F)ire.net

She tried to decline with fake modesty.

“Don’t fake it. I know exactly what you're thinking.”

Without another word, Wen Yang picked up the lobster and dropped it into her bowl. Then he peeled two more shrimp and set down his chopsticks.

“Want me to peel the rest for you?”

Ning Chu happily nodded while munching on the lobster.

“You’re a grown woman and still need someone to peel your shrimp...” Lily muttered from the side.

Ning Chu turned toward her, grinning as she teased: “Then go find a boyfriend who’ll peel shrimp for you~”

“I hate men.”

Lily silently scooted her chair a few inches away from the couple.

She hadn't even eaten yet, and they were already force-feeding her dog food (public displays of affection).

Wen Yang was absolutely going to end up like Wang Jie—all looks, no stamina.

Toys were better. At least they didn’t run out of power unless the electricity did.