「The next morning.」
Chen Yuan was jolted awake by a series of agonized screams.
The heartbroken fear the lonely night, while the shameless fear every new morning.
Sun Pengnan’s screams were more punctual than a rooster’s crow.
After getting up, he checked his phone. It was time to meet for breakfast.
He grabbed his things and went to wash up. When he came back, Sun Pengnan was in slightly better shape.
"Your daddy can’t bring you food today. Just make do with some bread."
"Fuck off. You call *me* Dad."
"I’m gonna play the movie."
"Dad, please don’t..."
Just then, a message from Song Jianye popped up on his phone. She said she was already on her way.
After sending a reply, Chen Yuan went downstairs and ran right into the three of them.
Song Jianye had changed into a stonewashed denim skirt, paired with a small white blouse. Her long hair fell naturally down her back. Her smile was like the fizz of a suddenly shaken, ice-cold soda.
"Chen Yuan."
Wang Chuyue called out to him. The three of them picked up their pace, walked over to Chen Yuan, and then they all headed to the cafeteria together.
It was the holidays, so not many people had stayed on campus. Most students were out having fun. The cafeteria was just as empty, and the selection of dishes was pitiful.
"Do you know who sent Nian Nian that milk tea yesterday?" Wang Chuyue asked mysteriously.
"I just know it was a guy."
"I hear he’s a department head in the student council. Plays the violin, too."
Among the freshmen, the student council held a strange, lofty status.
It was like the number one sect in a fantasy novel. All the other clubs couldn’t compare.
Many freshmen were proud to join the student council, thinking it was a great place to gain experience and build character.
"He probably couldn’t find a girlfriend in his own year, so now he’s targeting ours," Chen Yuan said nonchalantly.
"None of the girls in his year are interested in him. If someone from our year falls for him, it’ll make us all look like we have bad taste."
’That’s a pretty good angle.’
"Chen Yuan, did you join the student council?"
"An upperclassman girl tried to recruit me for the Public Relations Department, but I would’ve had to write an application, go through a screening process, and then run in an election. The whole process was too much of a hassle, so I decided against it."
The hassle was one reason, but there was another reason he ultimately gave up.
Back in his third year of high school, he’d had the dubious pleasure of witnessing Upperclassman Meiyu’s "infantry-tank coordinated operation." Ever since then, the whole concept of the student council had been ruined for him.
’These days, in times of national crisis, one longs for a great general. He found himself almost missing Upperclassman Meiyu.’
They chatted as they ate, and breakfast was over in no time.
"We’re going shopping, are you coming?" Wang Chuyue asked.
Song Jianye glanced at Chen Yuan, a subtle motion that didn’t escape Wang Chuyue and Cao Yumeng.
"You two added each other. You haven’t been secretly getting together behind our backs, have you?"
"No, but we agreed yesterday that I’d treat him to a drink."
The two girls exchanged knowing, suggestive looks.
"You just added each other on WeChat yesterday and you’re already going on a date today? Isn’t that a little fast?" Wang Chuyue asked, looking like she was ready for all the juicy details.
"Shouldn’t there be a dramatic chase first? A whole push and pull, followed by the classic ’groveling after he screws up’ arc? That’s what makes it interesting!"
’Girl, this is Qidian, not Jinjiang.’
"I’m just treating him to a drink, it’s not a date," Song Jianye quickly explained, her cheeks turning a little red.
"Alright, our roads part here. We’ll take our leave."
"Why don’t we all go together?" Song Jianye said.
"We’re not about to be the clueless sidekicks. Let’s split up."
The two of them were very self-aware. They grabbed their trays and scurried away.
Song Jianye looked at Chen Yuan, the blush on her cheeks hadn’t faded yet.
"Where are we going?"
"Follow me."
"Okay."
Chen Yuan led Song Jianye out of the school gates.
There was an underground shopping street in University City that had everything. It could satisfy any need a local college student might have, and nothing was too expensive.
Song Jianye didn’t know where Chen Yuan was taking her, so she followed behind him without a word.
Soon, Song Jianye slowed her pace. In a display window to their left, several cats were lazing about.
"Let’s go in and see."
"In there?"
Song Jianye looked up at the sign above the entrance: Pet Cafe.
"We’re coming here?"
"Yep. You can treat me to a coffee here."
"Okay, okay."
The two entered the cafe. The kittens and puppies inside weren’t in cages but were roaming freely. They were all small.
After they went inside, they bought two coffees, put on shoe covers, and entered the enclosure.
Besides cats and dogs, there were also chinchillas, hamsters, saltwater fish, and even capybaras. However, these were kept in display cases and were only for viewing.
’Just add a chicken, and you’d have the whole gang: rodents, cats, dogs, and chickens.’
After getting into the enclosure, Song Jianye’s attention was captivated by these small animals.
She squatted down next to a Ragdoll cat, giving it a gentle poke and then a soft pat. An unconcealable smile spread across her face as she turned to look back at Chen Yuan, sharing her delight with him.
’She’s really beautiful.’
Just then, a small corgi trotted over to Song Jianye’s side and started licking her leg. After it was done with her leg, it moved on to her foot.
’This is one shameless dog.’
Chen Yuan discovered he was also quite popular with the animals. A teacup dog was rubbing against his leg, occasionally giving him a few licks. ’Now that’s a dog with good taste,’ he thought.
"Capybaras are pretty expensive, you must have spent a lot of money, right?"
"Getting all the permits for both of them cost 150,000," the young owner said.
"Wow, you really went all out. Business must be good, right?"
"Don’t even get me started. I’m about to lose my shirt. It’s almost noon, and there’s barely anyone here," the owner said.
"If things don’t pick up, I’m going to have to bring in the big guns. Something that’ll stun everyone the moment they see it."
"You’re not thinking of getting a weasel, are you?"
"Bro, don’t joke around."
Chen Yuan smiled and didn’t speak, but he had a new idea.
’He had a new idea. Why not bring in the five "great immortals" of folklore—the fox, weasel, hedgehog, snake, and rat? Customers could come for coffee and say a prayer to pass their exams.’
[Task Complete: Reward: 700 yuan cash, Constitution +5%]
The reward arrived. He still didn’t feel much of a change, except for a slight warmth around his kidneys.
At first, he thought it was from the reward, but then he realized his shirt had ridden up, exposing his lower back, and a dog was licking him there.
’Son of a bitch.’
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ—
His phone buzzed. It was a message from Jiang Wanyi.
Jiang Wanyi: "Little brother, are you awake?"
Chen Yuan: "I’m up."
Chen Yuan felt that Jiang Wanyi really understood college students. Freed from any strict schedules, they would usually sleep until noon during the holidays.
Jiang Wanyi: "Come over for breakfast in a bit. I got some for you."
Chen Yuan: "I’ve already eaten."
Jiang Wanyi: "As long as you’ve eaten, that’s fine."
Chen Yuan: "Can you handle the kid? Do you need me to come over?"
Jiang Wanyi: "I kind of do. [Crying.jpg]"
Chen Yuan: "I’ll be over in a bit."
Jiang Wanyi: "I’ll be waiting for you at home."
...
Thanks to reader [GongJiTong] for the tip. Thank you, thank you.