Chapter 57: Inviting Someone to Dinner

At dusk, military training ended.

Li Luo followed the crowd toward the edge of the playground, where he spotted Ying Chanxi and Qiao Xinyan waiting for him.

As he drew closer, Li Luo noticed Ying Chanxi's gaze seemed odd—as if she wasn't looking at him, but behind him.

So Li Luo turned around in confusion and discovered Yan Zhusheng had been silently following him; when Li Luo stopped, Yan Zhusheng stopped too.

"Why are you following me?" Li Luo laughed and asked.

"I'm not following you," Yan Zhusheng shook her head, then pointed at Ying Chanxi, "I want to ask her to have dinner with me."

"Oh." Li Luo remembered his morning suggestion, "You're treating?"

"Yes," Yan Zhusheng nodded.

"She's treating," Li Luo said to Ying Chanxi, "in thanks for buying her sunscreen."

"Sure," Ying Chanxi agreed happily, nodding, "Thanks then."

Saying that, Ying Chanxi stepped forward and affectionately linked arms with Yan Zhusheng, then pulled Qiao Xinyan along; the three girls headed toward the cafeteria.

Feeling the surging tide of stares around them, Qiao Xinyan sighed and couldn't help saying, "I probably shouldn't have walked with you two."

Each of them alone—Ying Chanxi or Yan Zhusheng—was already eye-catching enough.

Now, walking hand in hand, they formed a stunning sight, impossible to look away from.

Ying Chanxi wasn't short—about 1.62 meters—but beside Yan Zhusheng, she looked petite.

Her cute oval face looked plump and rosy, her skin white like a freshly boiled egg, making one want to take a bite.

Yan Zhusheng stood 1.7 meters tall, with long, slender legs; apart from her modest chest, her proportions were nearly perfect.

Her cold, refined oval face had skin so pale it seemed translucent, like a pure lotus atop a snow-capped peak—so white it felt chilly, deterring closeness.

Qiao Xinyan wasn't unattractive either—her features were fresh and delicate, her mushroom haircut looking sweet and innocent.

But walking beside the other two, she became nothing more than green leaves accentuating red flowers, utterly outshone.

"Have confidence, Qiao Xinyan," Li Luo walked behind the three girls, strolling slowly, "Beauty isn't just skin-deep—you need a pure, clean heart too. In that regard, you're no worse than them."

Qiao Xinyan covered her mouth and giggled, then turned to ask, "So you're saying Ying Chanxi and the other one have dirty hearts?"

"Cough… I don't know about Yan Zhusheng," Li Luo said, "but Ying Chanxi's heart is definitely not clean."

"What do you mean?" Ying Chanxi turned back, glaring at him, "Looking for a beating?"

"See? See?" Li Luo pointed, "Even tolerance—a virtue—she's still far behind."

"Hah~" Qiao Xinyan laughed at the two of them.

Ying Chanxi huffed, quickened her pace, dragging Yan Zhusheng and Qiao Xinyan into the cafeteria, ignoring him entirely.

The four of them went upstairs to queue; Qiao Xinyan ordered first, swiped her card, and went to claim a table.

Yan Zhusheng and Ying Chanxi followed behind to order.

Pulling out his meal card from his pocket, Yan Zhusheng swiped for Ying Chanxi; beside her, Li Luo began ordering, then glanced at Yan Zhusheng, who was about to put her card back, and raised an eyebrow: "So you're only treating her?"

"You want some too?" Yan Zhusheng blinked, then looked down at her card and handed it to Li Luo, "Here."

Before Li Luo could respond, Ying Chanxi reached over, pulled Yan Zhusheng's hand back, and shot Li Luo a glare: "The sunscreen wasn't bought by you—just treat me."

Saying that, Ying Chanxi pulled out her own card and slapped it onto the reader, glaring at Li Luo: "Hurry up, don't dawdle."

"Alright, alright," Li Luo shrugged, accepting Ying Chanxi's card with perfect ease.

As for Yan Zhusheng, their relationship wasn't close enough yet for free meals—even if Ying Chanxi hadn't pulled her hand back, Li Luo wouldn't have actually taken it; he was just joking.

The three of them carried their trays toward Qiao Xinyan's table.

Among the queue, Shao Heqi stood silently, watching the three of them pass by.

Since Li Luo became class monitor and Shao Heqi lost the vice-monitor position, his presence in the class had become almost invisible.

Mainly because since entering high school, this guy Li Luo had simply been too dazzling.

Not only did he become class monitor, he managed the class flawlessly, gave classmates free drinks and ice cream, and yesterday morning even prepared belts for everyone.

Though reluctant, Shao Heqi had accepted Li Luo's kindness yesterday morning when Li Luo called his name as he left the dormitory area.

But he couldn't understand it.

He'd mocked Li Luo so much before, yet Li Luo acted as if it meant nothing; now that he'd risen to power, he hadn't done anything to retaliate.

Yet this very indifference and equal treatment made Shao Heqi feel miserable.

It was like a stray dog barking frantically at someone, only for the person to not care—and instead smile and toss the dog a sausage.

Now, watching Li Luo, Ying Chanxi, and Yan Zhusheng walk away, Shao Heqi quietly lowered his gaze, like a homeless dog, ears drooping, hiding in a corner licking his wounds.

He clenched his fists tightly, vowing to work harder—even if he couldn't beat Li Luo for class monitor, he'd study hard and surpass him in grades.

Li Luo had only scored 555 on his high school entrance exam—barely above average.

If he tried hard enough, he could easily outperform Li Luo academically.

Then, Shao Heqi wouldn't feel like he was drowning in Li Luo's presence everywhere, struggling to breathe in class.

As he made this resolution, Li Luo and the two girls didn't notice Shao Heqi at all; they found Qiao Xinyan's table and sat down for dinner.

"Are you going to play guitar tonight?" Ying Chanxi asked Li Luo while eating.

Before Li Luo could answer, Qiao Xinyan's eyes lit up curiously: "Li Luo plays guitar?"

"Just casually," Li Luo laughed.

After all, Yan Zhusheng was right there—he wouldn't dare show off with the guitar; better to stay humble.

"Li Luo plays guitar really well," Ying Chanxi recalled hearing him sing and play on the rooftop, unable to help saying, "He even sings while playing."

"Wow~ What a pity," Qiao Xinyan sighed, then shook her head, "If only Li Luo were in our Class One."

"That's asking too much," Li Luo grimaced, "Can anyone just walk into Class One?"

Sitting across from him, Yan Zhusheng froze at his words, then asked blankly, "If Class One isn't for Class One people, who's it for?"

Qiao Xinyan: "..."

Ying Chanxi: "..."

Li Luo: "... You're pretty funny."