Chapter 61: There Are Too Many Clowns

On his way back to the dorm, Xu Qingzhou had to pass a small lake, where, as always, couples could be seen hugging and kissing, spaced ten meters apart, silently respecting each other's space.

One couple seemed to notice Xu Qingzhou watching them; the boy deliberately turned to face away, leaving Xu Qingzhou with only his back.

Xu Qingzhou silently sneered, took a detour, and entered Wusi Road, choosing to see nothing and feel nothing.

Perhaps heaven sensed his resentment, for after walking a short while, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

It was Song Yao calling.

“Have you gotten back to your dorm?” came Song Yao’s soft, sweet voice through the receiver.

“Just left the library.”

No sooner had he spoken than he heard rustling sounds on the other end—like someone getting out of bed—followed by someone asking Song Yao why she was going out so late.

Yuan Xiaoye remembered that Xu Zhengyang had mentioned Xu Qingzhou had a high school classmate who also got into Jingda—a guy.

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While Xu Qingzhou waited, Xu Zhengyang returned with Dong Shan—more precisely, with Dong Shan and her entire dorm from off-campus.

“Mm.” Xu Zhengyang nodded, glancing at Yuan Xiaoye, silently screaming inside: Clown, are you ready to be destroyed!

Xu Qingzhou checked the time: 22:45.

“You’ve seen him?” Yuan Xiaoye frowned, thinking Xu Zhengyang was making things up again.

Yuan Xiaoye’s eyes flickered, as if recalling something, then wore an expression of total insight: “Xu Qingzhou, you got Xu Zhengyang’s message and are deliberately waiting here, aren’t you?”

“Song Yao.”

Even Yuan Xiaoye forgot to scold Xu Zhengyang, staring at the girl in the distance: “I heard she’s from Civil Engineering.”

“It’s a bit late, you’d better—”

“Yeah, they said they had free time and wanted to experience the university library.”

“So passive, deserves to be single,” Yuan Xiaoye muttered under his breath, defending his roommate.

He reached the building quickly, planning to toss his laptop bag through the window—but the dorm was pitch black, not a soul in sight.

“This is a notification, not a discussion.”

Too lazy to go back again, he simply stood under the locust tree, bag in hand, waiting.

“Xu Zhengyang, who are you looking down on?!” Yuan Xiaoye protested.

To make your enemy fall, first let him swell with pride!

Tsk~ How old are you, pouting like that?

Xu Zhengyang felt annoyed—he’d hoped for a quiet moment alone with Dong Shan, but now her entire dorm showed up, turning a romantic date into a boring group gathering.

!.

Dong Shan smiled shyly: “No, it’s actually nice to go out together.”

“No,” Liang Dongni shook her head. She was slow to warm up, or perhaps passive by nature—she disliked taking initiative, especially in relationships. If Xu Qingzhou didn’t reach out, she’d unconsciously distance herself.

Xu Zhengyang wanted to curse, but it was this woman who’d insisted on coming along—he forced out a stiff smile: “Fine.”

Doo~ Xu Qingzhou hadn’t finished speaking when the call ended.

Xu Qingzhou sighed, noticing eight or nine WeChat messages from Song Yao: where to eat, where to wander, ending with a selfie of her hugging a blue-and-white cat café cat.

Dong Shan tugged Xu Zhengyang’s sleeve: “Have you heard?”

“You guys are already hitting the library this early?” Yuan Xiaoye thought these guys were boring, utterly lacking charm—just entered university and already buried in books.

Xu Qingzhou gave Yuan Xiaoye a long look, thinking the guy must be mentally ill: “A friend said they’d bring some fruit—I’m here to pick it up.”

As they spoke, the group reached the dorm building.

“You’ll be disappointed then—Xu Qingzhou’s high school classmate probably won’t like you,” Xu Zhengyang rolled his eyes. “Xu Zhengyang, you’re being too much!”

High school classmate?

“Someone even said he’s from the Math Department.”

Suddenly, Yuan Xiaoye pointed at the guy idly joking ahead: “That… is that Xu Qingzhou?”

“Stop it, I’m not ready to date,” Deng Lin said shyly.

“Lately I heard Song Yao was waiting for a guy on the track field,” Deng Lin whispered.

“Sounds like Old Xu,” Xu Zhengyang squinted, nodded. Five people walked toward Xu Qingzhou.

Yuan Xiaoye didn’t think so—he turned to the quiet Liang Dongni: “Dongni, is Xu Qingzhou still in touch with you?”

Xu Zhengyang hadn’t returned from his date; Kong Xian and Zhai Ziqiang had planned to go to the library.

“Yes.”

After complaining, Xu Qingzhou tapped the photo and saved it.

Xu Zhengyang sneered inwardly—he’d been about to say Old Xu had company, but swallowed the words. Suddenly, he felt this moment of humiliation was no fun if spoken now.

Xu Zhengyang refused to answer her.

Xu Zhengyang, simmering with anger, stopped coddling her: “Forget everything else—you really can’t.”

Dong Shan and the others paused, then understood Yuan Xiaoye’s implication—Liang Dongni even blushed.

“What are you doing standing here?” Xu Zhengyang asked, puzzled.

Beside him, Liang Dongni felt a pang of disappointment.

“Waiting for someone,” Xu Qingzhou answered honestly.

The girls’ eyes immediately turned toward him.

“Waiting for your high school classmate?” Xu Zhengyang finally caught on.

“Xu Zhengyang, how’s it feel being escorted back to the dorm by four golden flowers?” Yuan Xiaoye joked.

Xu Qingzhou had noticed Xu Zhengyang’s group too, wondering: wasn’t he supposed to be on a date with Dong Shan? He’d strictly forbidden the three of them from tagging along—how’d this turn into a group dinner? He blinked in surprise but still nodded and greeted them as they approached.

At that moment, a girl in a white dress appeared in their line of sight.

Deng Lin teased: “Say that, and Shan Shan will get jealous.”

“Just happened—you’re downstairs, so when we went out to eat, the fruit was on sale, I bought too much, brought you some.”

Single?

The girl was beautiful: long black hair fell over her shoulders, her exposed arms pale as jade, feet in delicate sandals. She skipped lightly over a puddle, clearly in high spirits.

“Really from the Math Department?”

“So intense right after enrollment—no wonder they’re the top crazy house,” Deng Lin sighed.

She still didn’t believe him, so she grinned: “How about we wait here too? If he’s hot, you can introduce him to me and Deng Lin.”

At that moment, Deng Lin got a little excited: “He’s walking this way!”

Yuan Xiaoye thought it normal: “We’re all from the same major—we’ve seen each other twice. Maybe he’s just coming over to say hi.”

Then she saw Song Yao brush past them, stopping right in front of Xu Qingzhou.

Xu Qingzhou took the bag the girl held—it was heavy, digging into his palm. “It’s late—just leave it, I’ll pick it up tomorrow.”

(End of Chapter)