Huada University, Dorm 203.
Judge Yu Lingbo sat in her chair with a stern face, ready to try the sinner Kong Ning sitting opposite her.
Le Xiu offered her a folding fan from out of nowhere. Yu Lingbo opened it and fanned herself a few times before closing it with a sharp snap, grasping the top end with her other hand.
“So, what you’re saying is that because of your compassion for the delicate gender, Mr. Kong, the three of us have to participate in that nonsensical debate competition?”
“I must clarify, it’s absolutely not about compassion. It’s friendly, helpful neighborliness between classmates,” Kong Ning, lowering her head like a timid quail, quietly raised a hand to defend herself.
“Fine. Because of your boastful behavior, Mr. Kong, the three of us have to participate in that nonsensical debate competition,” Yu Lingbo corrected her phrasing.
“I can tell you already have a burning love for debates in your heart, you’re already starting to argue back! Little Kong, does being the team captain feel awesome?” Le Xiu glared at Kong Ning with a “death stare.”
That fellow Kong Ning hadn’t just signed up all four of them for the competition, she had even written herself down as team captain. It was hard not to suspect her intentions.
Was Kong Ning planning to go out there and debate a room full of scholars just to flex?
“Ahem, watch your wording, Le Xiu. What ‘Little Kong’? That’s Defendant Kong of Dorm 203,” Yu Lingbo emphasized. Standing behind her, Le Xiu immediately chimed in.
“Defendant Kong, do you plead guilty?”
“Atoning with your death is the only option, Kong Ning,” Shen Nanxi raised her eyes from typing and looked indifferently at Kong Ning.
As an introvert, Shen Nanxi had zero desire to “show her face” in public.
“Forgive me, elder sisters! Please forgive me! Just one round, we only need to go for one round. When the match starts, we’ll say a few words and forfeit immediately!” To beg for mercy, Kong Ning, the youngest in the dorm, called them “sisters,” a rare occurrence.
Kong Ning suddenly regretted her actions.
However big she had flexed on the outside, she was kneeling just as miserably now.
She had completely forgotten that her entire dorm was made up of lazy sloths.
“How dare you! We of Dorm 203 possess unyielding backbone! How could we surrender so easily?” Judge Yu Lingbo declared once more.
“Then what should we do?” Kong Ning asked.
“If we’re going, we’ll participate normally. But as for the wasted time and energy…”
“Oh my, Le Xiu, next Wednesday afternoon when the Student Council inspects the dorm for cleanliness, it seems it’s my turn to stay behind and guard the room, right?” As Yu Lingbo spoke, she stroked her chin and shot a look at Kong Ning.
“That’s right! Cleaning the dorm and taking out the trash this week happens to fall on me as well. Next month is Little Yu, the month after is Little Shen, and only after that is Defendant Kong, huh?” Le Xiu also looked at Kong Ning with malicious intent.
“Speaking of which, tomorrow’s weather forecast says it will be sunny. I really want to wash my bedsheets and air out my quilt. But the drying racks on the roof are so hard to snag! Plus, I suddenly craving those pan-fried buns from the shop near the back gate next Monday, the ones with the super long line. Whatever shall I do?”
Shen Nanxi suddenly grew interested. Setting aside her work, she looked at Kong Ning with the exact same gaze as Le Xiu.
Kong Ning’s eyebrows twitched a few times. Fine, she understood now.
Doing hard labor was the only way to redeem her sins.
“Honorable Judges, I voluntarily take over the dorm’s cleaning duties for one whole month! Furthermore, I will cover room-guarding duties, help air out your clothes, and fetch pan-fried buns to show my sincere repentance!” Kong Ning raised two fingers to the heavens and swore, uttering those words through holding back tears.
“Now that’s more like it. Guards, adjourn the court!” Yu Lingbo clapped her hands, stuffed the fan back to Le Xiu, turned around, and began watching TV.
“Class dismissed!” Le Xiu gleefully kicked the overflowing trash can toward Kong Ning. “Little Kong, the bathroom trash is full too. Remember to throw it out when you go out for dinner later.”
“Kong Ning, tomorrow I want the very first rack on the left side of the roof, the sun hits it fully, so it dries faster. Remember to go up early tomorrow morning to air out your quilt and reserve that rack for me,” Shen Nanxi instructed.
“Understood, Judges! Yours truly shall comply,” Kong Ning said sourly, her eyes filled with utter despair.
However, Kong Ning soon realized that these chores were not the end of her troubles. Ever since she signed up for this debate competition, everything had been going wrong.
Why did this competition require so many meetings? As the captain, Kong Ning had to draw lots, handle administrative procedures, and even accompany someone to meals.
Yes, accompanying someone to dinner. Accompanying Ji Yuzhu, who couldn’t run fast, to eat.
After every meeting ended, Ji Yuzhu, as an acquaintance, would always appear by Kong Ning’s side. Since it was usually mealtime, going to eat together was convenient.
Kong Ning owned a skateboard, but she didn’t want to carry a passenger. Riding tandem on a skateboard looked foolish, so she refused to do it, forcing them both to walk.
Consequently, because they arrived late, Kong Ning had to stand in line for every single meal.
After enduring several instances of walking too slowly and waiting in endless cafeteria lines, Kong Ning thought it over carefully and decided to take Ji Yuzhu to eat at the back gate today. Waiting in line was waiting in line regardless of where they went, so they might as well eat at the back gate.
Coincidentally, halfway through her meal, Kong Ning received another message from Wei Mu.
Wei Mu: Are you free?
Kong Ning didn’t even need to read the next sentence to know that Wei Mu was definitely going to ask her out for dinner.
It was downright absurd.
Why was it that every time she finished eating with Ji Yuzhu, Wei Mu would ask her out to eat? Only this time, she happened to be mid-meal.
Without hesitation, Kong Ning typed back.
Kong Ning: I just ate and I’m full. Let’s do next time.
Although she was still eating, eating another meal was genuinely impossible, so Kong Ning expertly replied to Wei Mu.
Besides, she didn’t quite dare to eat with Wei Mu anyway. Looking back at what happened that other day, Kong Ning felt lingering fear.
She seemed to care too much about Wei Mu, it felt somewhat unlike ordinary friends.
To outsiders, Kong Ning was fearless. But only she herself knew that deep down, she was actually a coward.
She was afraid of that strange feeling.
Wei Mu: Oh. Have you been very busy lately?
Kong Ning: You could say that. I have a lot of things to do.
Wei Mu: But this time I wanted to get the plushie, Kong Ning.
Kong Ning: I’m heading home in a moment. What time will you arrive?
Wei Mu: Right now.
Kong Ning hastily shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice into her mouth.
“Kong Ning, eat slower,” Ji Yuzhu handed Kong Ning a glass of water.
“Thanks,” Kong Ning took the water and drank it. She had indeed almost choked just now.
In the moment their hands touched, Kong Ning failed to notice the bashful flush on the face of the girl sitting opposite her.
Wei Mu saw it, though.
“Ring ring ring ring ring.” Kong Ning’s phone rang. It was a call from Wei Mu.
“You’re already here?” Kong Ning answered quickly and asked.
She was a bit worried Wei Mu would wait too long and thought about leaving directly without finishing her meal.
“Kong Ning, look outside. I’m right in front of you.”
“What!” Kong Ning turned her head. Through the glass window, she saw Wei Mu standing there all alone, watching them.
A sudden, panic-induced guilt swept over her from being caught red-handed.
Hadn’t she just told her that she had already finished eating?
“Let me explain,” Kong Ning spoke the moment she snapped back to reality.
“I’ll go wait for you at your doorstep.”
“Wait a second…” Kong Ning urged.
“Beep, ” The call was hung up, and the figure on the other side of the window was gone.
“Kong Ning, is she your friend?” Ji Yuzhu noticed something was off with Kong Ning.
“Sorry Ji Yuzhu, I have something to take care of and need to leave first. Go ahead and keep eating,” Kong Ning grabbed her jacket and bolted out the door.
On the other side, Wei Mu replayed the intimate scene between Kong Ning and that girl in her mind. She recognized Ji Yuzhu, she was the same girl who had hugged Kong Ning’s arm during military training.
After all this time, she hadn’t realized Kong Ning and that girl had grown so close. Then again, they had already walked arm-in-arm before, so sharing a meal was nothing unusual.
Right, what was a meal to them? Yet Kong Ning refused to eat with her.
Did you not want to see me at all just so you could keep her company?
You didn’t want to meet up even once. Kong Ning, do you still hate me?
Didn’t you say… you liked me?
When Kong Ning reached her doorstep, she saw Wei Mu leaning gloomily against the door frame. She found it a bit odd. The weather had turned cold, and Wei Mu was dressed lightly today. Afraid she might catch a chill, Kong Ning opened the door and said to her, “Hurry inside.”
Wei Mu didn’t answer. She headed straight for the sofa, picked up the plushie, and prepared to leave.
While Kong Ning was pouring a glass of water, she saw Wei Mu heading out the door and hurriedly ran over.
Kong Ning knew Wei Mu was angry.
“Don’t go! I’m sorry, Wei Mu, I really didn’t mean to deceive you. It was just this one time today, and I was almost full anyway. I…” Kong Ning felt too embarrassed to talk about her twisted inner feelings, fearing Wei Mu would think she was weird.
Even though she had clearly made up her mind to be good friends, meeting in person was still so awkward. Could it be that they were destined to only be rivals?
“Actually, what I said earlier was true. I really have been busy with a lot of things lately. I wasn’t lying to you when I said I was full. Do you believe me?”
“No.”
Having said that, Wei Mu held the plushie tight and walked straight out.
Liar, Kong Ning.
If you wanted to explain, why didn’t you explain right when we met? In the end, you just didn’t want to explain, you just didn’t want to talk to me.
Besides, that’s not what I wanted to hear.
Who cares whether you were full or not.
What exactly is your relationship with that girl?