Chapter 79: Old Xu Was Played

Seeing Song Yao glaring at him, Xu Qingzhou pushed the clutter in his mind aside and focused on eating, shoveling in a few bites: “That guy just now—is he from your Economics College?”

Song Yao nodded: “Yeah, second-year economics major, head of the student union’s publicity department, wanted me to join the union.”

After a pause, she added slowly: “But I already turned him down.”

Xu Qingzhou understood—he thought Song Yao wasn’t suited for the student union; it required not just ability, but also social finesse.

Song Yao ate little, finished half her bowl of rice, then sat waiting for Xu Qingzhou.

“Eating with you is too stressful.”

Xu Qingzhou felt dozens of eyes piercing him—if those were bullets, he’d be riddled with holes by now.

Song Yao lifted her chin slightly, a hint of pride in her expression.

“Objection dismissed.”

Read! {

Song Yao nodded in satisfaction.

Then, after a silent sigh, he slammed the table and surged with determination: “Fine! Starting tomorrow, I’ll study with you guys—love? All nonsense!”

Too cruel.

“They’re in love,” Song Yao said dismissively; foolish acts were normal for couples in the throes of romance.

Kong Xian shook his head, deciding inwardly: Old Xu was a seasoned player—better to avoid him; he destroyed people without drawing blood.

Before Xu Qingzhou could finish speaking, Song Yao turned her phone screen toward him, playing Wang Nushi’s voice: “Xiao Yao, since you’re close to Qingzhou, keep an eye on him—make him exercise more, don’t let him look so listless all day. If he ignores you, tell me.”

“Don’t mind the details.”

“You really should exercise—you might drop dead one day.”

Xu Zhengyang’s expression was eager, awaiting Xu Qingzhou’s guidance, especially moved by Xu Qingzhou’s warm, gentle smile.

“His Dao heart is shattered,” Kong Xian didn’t know where to begin, then lowered his voice to Xu Qingzhou: “He got played by Dong Shan.”

Looking at Xu Zhengyang’s state, Xu Qingzhou sneered: “Look, you don’t even believe it yourself—why bother being heartbroken?”

Xu Zhengyang sat slumped, hollow-eyed and defeated.

“You don’t understand...”

At the intersection, Xu Qingzhou watched a passing couple huddled under one umbrella, sighing: “It’s raining, yet they insist on squeezing together—do they hate getting wet?”

Hope flared in Xu Zhengyang’s eyes—he believed Xu Qingzhou, as a seasoned player, knew far more than they did, given all the beauties constantly around him.

Xu Zhengyang let out a long sigh, slumping into his chair, staring blankly.

“They shared an umbrella, drank bubble tea, used the same straw,” Zhai Ziqiang added details.

Song Yao raised an eyebrow: “Staying up late harms your health.”

Xu Qingzhou walked ahead, holding his black umbrella; Song Yao held her pink little one.

“Not necessarily—it depends. I didn’t run any experiments myself—just helped Professor Zhao’s team build a model. Time was tight, so I pulled a few all-nighters.” Xu Qingzhou put down his chopsticks and slowly sipped his soup.

“Did you pass your Cat Association interview?”

!.

Though they whispered, the dorm was small—their words were crystal clear. Xu Qingzhou noticed Xu Zhengyang’s cheeks twitching as Zhai Ziqiang spoke—CRACK! A bolt from the blue.

“Really?”

Xu Qingzhou pulled up a chair, patted Xu Zhengyang’s shoulder, and comforted him: “Old Xu, seeing isn’t always believing.”

“This isn’t—”

“Passed,” Song Yao said lazily, propping her chin on one hand; outside, a light rain had begun again.

“Old Xu had planned to take Dong Shan out today, but she said she was eating with her roommates. Then we saw her outside with a senior from the street dance club.”

Xu Qingzhou nodded: “Maybe she just sees him as an older brother.”

“Exactly, Brother Yang—only by forgetting the past can you embrace the future,” Zhai Ziqiang spouted wisdom.

Xu Qingzhou nodded thoughtfully; rebirth wasn’t something everyone got—cherish it.

Xu Qingzhou caught the scent of gossip: “Tell me more.”

Song Yao rolled her eyes at Xu Qingzhou, deciding his physical training was urgent: “Starting next week, run twice a week—Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ll supervise.”

“No need to be so precise,” Xu Qingzhou sighed; the thing he feared had come true—Kong Xian’s Chinese was excellent; “played” was a masterful word choice.

Xu Qingzhou and the other two said nothing, letting him think it through.

“Okay, you’ve got no classes Tuesday and Thursday nights—those two days. Two hours each session.”

Night fell; orange streetlights glowed, raindrops tracing fine lines through the light—the rain intensified, carrying a chill.

“Again?” Song Yao thought he’d gone mad from sleep deprivation—now he was talking nonsense.

Rainy days, sharing an umbrella—that’s romance, that’s intimacy... Xu Qingzhou froze, realizing he lacked even this basic charm; no wonder he was single.

Xu Qingzhou’s lip twitched, his face solemn: “I’ll say this—it’s not so bad.”

Kong Xian tried to distract Xu Zhengyang: “Old Xu, forget this love crap—study with me. A girlfriend might leave you, but knowledge? That’s yours forever.”

“Can I object?”

“Old Xu, you’re still the best,” Xu Zhengyang looked at him with gratitude.

Song Yao glanced at Xu Qingzhou’s equally disheveled clothes: “Do you guys really need to pull all-nighters for your experiments?”

“True,” Xu Qingzhou realized he’d asked a stupid question—with a beauty like Song Yao applying, those clubs wouldn’t even bother with interviews—they’d just accept her.

“Mm.”

After dropping Song Yao off at her dorm, Xu Qingzhou headed toward the male dorm of the Math College.

When Xu Qingzhou returned, his roommates were all there. Xu Zhengyang sat in his chair—miraculously reading a book, though it was only the title and publisher page. For a moment, Xu Qingzhou wondered if he’d walked into the wrong dorm. He whispered to Kong Xian: “What’s wrong with Old Xu?”

A promising student.

The other three roommates sighed inwardly in unison.

It was the weekend, yet the dorm was busier than ever—beyond studying, they had to attend club events and group meals.

Kong Xian had grown busy again, secretly—Xu Qingzhou had glimpsed once—a paper on Fourier equations.

(End of Chapter)