Once he was full and satisfied, the bell rang.
Luo Cheng let out a contented burp, rubbed his stomach, and walked into the classroom.
Wang Dalin sprang up from his chair, his heavy body nearly toppling it over.
“Cheng-ge, Cheng-ge, got anything else to eat?”
Luo Cheng shoved his bag into his desk and gave him a lazy glance. “All gone.”
Wang Dalin looked a little disappointed. The light went out of his tiny eyes.
“But…”
A spark lit up those tiny eyes, and he swallowed.
“There’s some in the second-to-last room at the end of the hall. Want it?”
Wang Dalin shook his head frantically.
Luo Cheng snorted, picked up his water bottle from the desk, and went outside.
“Hey, Cheng’er, wait up!”
Someone caught up behind him and slung an arm around his shoulders. “Why the rush? Got a ghost after you?”
Luo Cheng shrugged Yang Chuan’s arm off, looking disgusted. “Can you act a little more civilized?”
Yang Chuan cackled a few times and dramatically slicked back his bangs. “I’m this good-looking. I’m supposed to have a carefree swagger. You get it?”
“Fine. Then stay away from me. Your dandruff’s falling on me.”
“Huh?”
Yang Chuan dashed over to the water dispenser and carefully examined himself in its reflection. Then he touched his face and struck a few poses. “What are you talking about, Cheng’er? I just washed my hair last night. I even borrowed my sister’s shampoo. It smells amazing!”
“Look at me. Am I even more irresistible now?”
Luo Cheng pressed his lips together and rinsed out his water bottle.
“Go on, smell it! Doesn’t it smell good? My sister says it’s a famous Japanese brand. Want some? I can pick you up a bottle too.”
“No, thanks.”
“Oh. Then fill my bottle for me. I’m going to the bathroom.”
“Hurry up.”
After filling the bottles, Luo Cheng leaned his lazy frame against the balcony railing and gazed idly at the view.
A few girls were standing by the stairs, sneaking glances at the teaching building across from them. There was another water dispenser over there, and quite a crowd was lined up to fill their bottles. Most of them were girls. Every so often, they’d glance behind them, then quickly look away.
Luo Cheng might have been a lousy student, but he had good eyesight. He immediately spotted the tallest figure in the crowd.
Long legs. He had to be at least 183 centimeters tall.
Tall, he thought.
The girls by the stairs looked excited even from behind. Their legs were trembling, as if they were ready to rush over at any moment.
Luo Cheng tapped his water bottle with a finger, looking thoroughly uninterested.
“Big shot?”
“Luo Cheng?”
Hearing his name, he slowly raised his eyes. Several girls were staring at him with shining eyes. It was hard to describe their expressions: they looked like wolves holding themselves back from pouncing, then gradually broke into strange, giddy grins.
“You…” Before he could finish, someone came over from across the hall, and the girls immediately scampered off.
Luo Cheng was a little confused, and a little annoyed.
Yang Chuan had been in the bathroom so long, he must’ve fallen into the toilet.
And the water bottle in his hand was still freaking pink!
That guy was hopelessly flamboyant. He could ride a rocket’s exhaust straight into the sky.
Heavy footsteps approached. Before Luo Cheng could even look, Wang Dalin’s huge face loomed in front of him, his white teeth nearly blinding.
“Cheng-ge, what’re you standing here for?”
Luo Cheng raised a hand to shield himself and waved his bottle at him.
“Oh, what a coincidence. I came to fill my bottle too.”
“Is that so?” Luo Cheng blinked.
“Huh? What’s wrong with your eyes? You okay, Cheng-ge?”
“I’m fine, Big Fatty. You’re just too dazzling.”
“Oh, you’re making me blush…” Wang Dalin laughed outrageously, the fat on his face jiggling, then gave Luo Cheng a hard smack on the shoulder.
“Smack!” “Rumble!”
The flashy water bottle rolled across the floor. Wang Dalin let out a shriek and bent over to pick it up, then stumbled and sprawled on the ground.
“What the hell?”
“Fuck!”
The first was disbelief. The second was just a shout of pain.
A fair, slender hand picked up the pink water bottle.
“Big Fatty Wang, I’m gonna kill…” Luo Cheng clutched his badly injured shoulder and looked up to curse him out, then suddenly froze.
A boy stood in front of him. He had big, round eyes, long, soft-looking lashes, and rosy lips against fair skin. He looked exceptionally pretty and well-behaved.
Holding out the pink water bottle, he smiled, revealing a pair of dimples. He was as soft and sweet as a little mochi. “Senior Luo.”
Luo Cheng corrected him solemnly. “Call me gege.”
Wang Dalin, still sprawled on the ground: “…”