Chapter 30: Why Do I Feel Hot All Over?

"One hundred fifty thousand a day?"

Inside Shuangqing Restaurant, voices buzzed and clattered.

Meng Jie heard Wang Zihao mention the day's earnings from the campus card, and was so startled that her mouth fell slightly open, the hand holding her chopsticks frozen mid-air, motionless for a long time.

She knew Chen Yansen had earned over a hundred thousand by reselling mp3s and mp4s, but that had taken him more than ten days; now, earning one hundred fifty thousand in a single day—how could it not shock her?

"That's only an estimate. How much we actually end up with still depends on Zhao Maolin's generosity."

Chen Yansen picked up a slice of fish and put it in his mouth, his expression calm as he spoke.

"Brother Sen, you mean Zhao Maolin will cheat on the commission?"

Wang Zihao's smugness vanished in an instant, and he demanded angrily.

"We know the phone card sales numbers in our hearts, so he won't short us the eighty-yuan activation commission per card. But for the top-up rebate promotion's commission, we can't get precise data, so naturally Zhao Maolin can pay whatever amount he wants."

Chen Yansen explained unhurriedly.

Those words were like ice water poured over his head; Wang Zihao deflated, his face full of helplessness.

However, when he caught a glimpse of Chen Yansen's composed, unhurried expression, his mind spun rapidly, and hope immediately flared in his heart. He hurriedly pressed, "Brother Sen, you must have a way to deal with it, right?"

"What way could I have? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Don't overthink it—eat first."

Chen Yansen sighed softly and rapped on the table as he spoke.

As for a method, of course he had one. If Zhao Maolin truly dared to cheat him out of money, he had more than enough means to make the man kneel and beg for mercy.

The reason he didn't tell Wang Zihao was, first, to let him understand how treacherous human nature could be; second, seeing him getting carried away, popping the champagne at halftime, and along the way giving him a little knock-down.

Are you two planning to run for class monitor? My dad said the first few days after school starts are crucial—if you can show yourself more to the counselor and manage to become class monitor, then afterward, whether it's scholarship selection or joining the student council, you'll have a bigger advantage.

Meng Jie cheerfully changed the subject.

"Our dad speaks sense. But I'm not interested in being class monitor."

Chen Yansen lifted his head, the corners of his mouth curving up as he spoke.

Xucheng College was nothing but a second-tier university; besides, he didn't plan to take the civil-service selection exam. The meager resources that came with the class monitor position held no value to him whatsoever.

Rather than wasting time, it was better to think more about how to make money.

"Who's your dad? You—you just love talking nonsense."

Meng Jie was so exasperated by his thick-skinned-ness that she laughed, and her speech became stammering.

Wang Zihao let out a嘿嘿 laugh, lowered his head, and focused on shoveling rice.

Afterwards, the three chatted and laughed; the meal lasted over an hour. When they walked out of the restaurant, the sky outside had long since turned pitch-black as ink.

"Thanks for the treat, Boss Chen. I'm heading back to the dorm first."

Meng Jie raised her hand to check the time—a quarter hour left before eight—so she waved goodbye as she spoke.

"The school bathhouse closes at eight. If you go back now, you probably won't have anywhere to shower. Want to come to my place?"

The corners of Chen Yansen's mouth lifted slightly, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.

"Oh no! Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Meng Jie froze for a moment, then immediately demanded, puffed up with indignation.

"You never asked me! What, afraid I'll eat you?"

Chen Yansen, hands in his pockets, leaned down, a roguish, reckless grin on his face, and whispered into Meng Jie's ear.

"Pfft! Who's afraid? We're good buddies—it's just borrowing your room to take a shower."

Meng Jie's heart pounded uncontrollably, but her voice remained casual and bold, with not a hint of shyness.

"Is that so? That's what I was thinking too."

Chen Yansen smiled faintly and turned to walk toward the hotel.

"Brother Sen, I'm coming up to shower too, alright?"

Wang Zihao shouted at his retreating back, and once finished, scampered after him eagerly.

"Zihao, you're healthy—taking a cold shower would actually be fine for you."

Chen Yansen turned his head, blinked, and said in a flat tone.

"Oh oh, I just remembered—the counselor's coming to check the dorms soon. I'll head back first."

Wang Zihao was just short on experience, not low on IQ. After picking up on Chen Yansen's signal, he immediately caught on, gave an awkward laugh, and hurried off running toward the school.

"Babe, let's go."

Chen Yansen patted Meng Jie, who stood dazed in place, and teased with a smile.

Walking into the hotel room, when Meng Jie saw that half-transparent frosted-glass door, she immediately lost her nerve: "I-I didn't bring a change of clothes. Forget it, never mind."

"Prepared them for you."

Chen Yansen pointed at the table; on the surface sat disposable underwear, and even disposable bath towels and face towels.

"You could have told me earlier when the bathhouse closes."

Meng Jie suddenly realized—the guy in front of her must have planned this long ago, deliberately dragging out the meal.

"Don't you want to spend a little more time with me?"

Chen Yansen gently closed the room door, casually hooked the security chain, and stepped toward Meng Jie one pace at a time.

"I-I don't know."

Meng Jie had originally meant to say "I don't want to," but looking into Chen Yansen's bright eyes, she just couldn't get the words out.

"You've changed quite a bit."

Chen Yansen smiled, voluntarily stepped back, then sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed straight on Meng Jie as he began his critique.

Her eyes were evenly matched and symmetrical, shimmering with a dewy sheen; her lashes were slender and perked; a pair of crescent-shaped under-eye bags added a touch of liveliness; her lips were pink, like a soft, squishy jelly.

Apart from her hair being a bit short, her glasses being too ugly, and her not knowing how to do makeup, every other aspect stirred in Chen Yansen's heart an irrepressible surge of affection.

Such a cute girl—yet in her previous life she had stubbornly endured until her thirties without marrying, spending all her time grinding away inside the banking system.

The middle-aged woman with black-framed glasses and a solemn expression at the class reunion was nothing like the girl standing before him now.

"You too, you seem to have grown taller again."

Meng Jie said, raising her hand to measure above his head, and finally discovered that seated Chen Yansen was actually the same height as her standing.

"You were 182 before, now you're 184. Are you going to wash or not?"

Chen Yansen leaned back, hands braced on the bed, and said lazily.

"This door is see-through. If you're here, how could I possibly bring myself to wash?"

Meng Jie put her hands on her hips and pointed at the frosted glass door as she spoke.

"We're all bros here. You don't actually think I'd sneak a peek, do you? Besides, it's sweltering out there—would you really have the heart to let your good bro suffer?"

Chen Yansen pouted, putting on a wronged look that said 'why don't you trust me,' and turned the accusation back on Meng Jie instead.

"You pervert! You shameless thing!"

Meng Jie was so furious her chest heaved; she rolled her eyes hard. Seeing his "unshakable, impervious" expression, she was utterly at a loss—she could only grab a box of disposable underwear and storm into the bathroom, seething.

Before long, the sound of "splash splash" water came, and a delicate, charming figure was clearly cast upon the glass.

"Small, but kind of cute."

Chen Yansen gave a casual glance, then walked to the desk and sat down. He pulled a Dell business laptop from his bag, logged onto QQ—mostly group messages, plus a few private messages from 'junior girls.'

Just then, Li Hui's message popped up: "Bro Sen, tomorrow I want to pick up another 300 phone cards."

"7 a. m., Telecom activity station."

Chen Yansen's reply was concise and clear.

"Thanks, Bro Sen."

Li Hui replied immediately. That 'Bro Sen' rolled off his tongue more and more smoothly, even though one was a third-year senior and the other had just started his first year.

Meng Jie finished her shower, got dressed, and carefully pushed open the bathroom door, expecting to see Chen Yansen crouching by the door to sneak a peek.

But in fact, Chen Yansen was now sitting in front of the computer, fingers tapping 'clack clack' nonstop on the keyboard, clearly busy with the campus card sales work.

Seeing this, a pang of guilt instantly rose in her heart.

Yeah, with a figure as flat as hers, Chen Yansen probably couldn't be bothered to look. Her originally nervous mood turned hollow again.

"Grab me a bottle of water."

Chen Yansen heard the movement behind him, didn't turn his head, and simply ordered Meng Jie.

"Oh, sure."

Meng Jie looked around, quickly spotted the mineral water on the coffee table, casually picked up a bottle and handed it over. She opened one for herself too, sipping in small mouthfuls, her cheeks flushed pink.

"Then I'll head back first?"

Meng Jie sat on the edge of the bed and asked in a small voice.

"Weird, there's something off about this water. What did you give me to drink? Why do I feel hot all over?"

Chen Yansen gulped down some water, then suddenly furrowed his brow and asked with a serious face.

"???"

Meng Jie froze on the spot, inwardly cursing Chen Yansen as shameless, momentarily unsure how to react.

(End of chapter)