Chapter 77: Chapter 77: It's the one who says no to dating that's the real jerk!
"5061..."
As Xu Musen arrived at the dorm room's door, he could already hear the lively chatter inside.
And two were already starting to smoke.
Xu Musen didn't like smoking; first, he didn't have the addiction, and second, in his past life, Yao Mingyue wouldn't let him smoke.
Because she wanted to make sure she could kiss Xu Musen anytime and it would always be sweet and delightful.
What a disgrace.
"Yo, the last roommate finally arrives."
A guy with slightly long hair, looking somewhat gangsterish, smiled and started the conversation.
Everyone introduced themselves.
This gangster-looking guy dressed in trendy brands is Zhou Hangyu, a local from Hu Hai. When he speaks, he occasionally lets out a regional accent, sounding a bit gibberish.
Another guy wearing gold-rimmed glasses, tall but skinny, is Li Rundong from Shandong.
As for the last one, looking a bit pale and chubby, and very honest, is Ma Yaxing.
Surprisingly, he's also from the Central Plains, the same as Xu Musen.
Sitting quietly off to the side, he seemed a bit out of place in the conversation between the other two, and when he said "I" it was met with a laugh.
Listening to their introductions, Xu Musen started to form an understanding of their characters.
"Xu Musen, also from the Central Plains."
Xu Musen simply introduced himself.
"Yo, you three are all from the north, do you all think it's easier to get into a university in Hu Hai?"
Zhou Hangyu, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, asked with interest.
"Easy my ass, I scored 650 points, and almost didn't make it. I'm already considered the genius of my village," Li Rundong said.
"650 points and you're not going to Tsinghua or Peking University but coming to Hu Hai University? Aren't over 400 points enough here?"
Zhou Hangyu was somewhat disbelieving.
Li Rundong ha-ha'd in a tone of discontent, "You were just born in the right place; with your scores, you'd only be getting into a community college where we're from."
"Lucky me, what can I do? Here, buddy, have one too," Zhou Hangyu cheekily smiled and offered a cigarette to Xu Musen.
He said he's offering a cigarette, but he twisted his wrist almost to a ninety-degree angle, just to show off his green Rolex Submariner.
This guy was clearly the kind of rich city boy who loves to show off and act pretentious.
Xu Musen had noticed this right away.
Li Rundong's family seems to be quite well-off, able to converse normally with Zhou Hangyu.
But Ma Yaxing, dressed plainly, came from a small county town and was somewhat insecure, unsure how to join in the conversation.
If Xu Musen hadn't come in, the atmosphere might have continued to be awkward.
"I don't smoke."
Xu Musen extended his hand and gently pushed it away.
"Yo? Is that a Rolex on your wrist?"
Zhou Hangyu noticed the watch on Xu Musen's wrist and immediately showed interest.
"Damn, that's a limited edition from five or six years back! It's so well preserved, I bet there are people willing to pay 100,000 for it now!!"
Zhou Hangyu knew his stuff, and his words made Li Rundong and Ma Yaxing involuntarily look over too.
Xu Musen's watch was actually quite modest and unassuming, not easily recognized by those not in the know.
"Just this watch, 100,000?"
Ma Yaxing smacked his lips in astonishment, his parents were ordinary workers earning only a few thousand a month.
Such a small watch could equal three to four years of his family's income...
He looked at Xu Musen, silently reflecting.
He had thought that because they were from the same place, they could chat more easily, but here was yet another rich person.
"Of course, how would you know about such things in a small county? 100,000 is even on the low end for this handmade watch model. My dad has one, and I've been green with envy..."
Zhou Hangyu casually mentioned.
But this comment made Ma Yaxing's complexion turn, regardless of Zhou Hangyu's intentions.
The remark did seem somewhat contemptuous, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment.
Zhou Hangyu realized this, but since it was their first meeting, he couldn't quite bring himself to apologize.
At that moment, Xu Musen laughed and rolled up his sleeve, flaunting his watch in front of him, "Didn't you say your dad also has one? So, do I look like your dad with it on?"
The three of them were startled at first, then Li Rundong couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Damn! You're taking advantage of me! I'm not going to argue with you anymore, let's smoke, smoke..."
Zhou Hangyu's face turned red, and this time, he specifically offered a cigarette to Ma Yaxing as well.
For the guys, that was as good as an apology.
Ma Yaxing took it, his glance towards Xu Musen carried a bit of gratitude.
Xu Musen's joke had provided a perfect opportunity for everyone to save face.
...
The topics of conversation in a boys' dormitory, no matter what they start off discussing, will always eventually turn to the opposite sex.
Zhou Hangyu: "So, do any of you have girlfriends? I know quite a few people; how about I take you to a social tonight?"
Li Rundong: "Sure, introduce me to a rich lady from Hu Hai; I don't want to work hard anymore."
Zhou Hangyu: "Heh, the rich ladies from Hu Hai are famously crazy. You should probably go to the butcher's market, get a piece of pork, stick a coin in, and get some practice first. Otherwise, you might want to start wearing steel wire underwear to get used to it."
"Get outta here... Actually, I think some of the upperclasswomen welcoming the new students at the school gate today were pretty nice. There's one with yellow hair, such huge eyes I was dazzled. Too bad she seems rather aloof; I could only dare to sneak a glance."
Li Rundong rubbed his hands while Zhou Hangyu couldn't help but make a disdainful comment.
"You're really sleazy."
"Nonsense, who doesn't like it big?"
Ma Yaxing still felt a bit out of place in the conversation and was somewhat nervous about the mixer that evening.
"Maybe I just won't go..."
"Come on, I've already reserved our spots, and don't worry, I'm footing the bill for the whole night!"
Zhou Hangyu grandly gestured with his hands.
Xu Musen just listened silently, not joining in the conversation.
"Xu Musen, with your height and looks, plus the luxury watch you're always wearing, you must have no shortage of girlfriends, right?"
Zhou Hangyu brought the topic back around.
Xu Musen shook his head. "What's the point of talking about that stuff? I'd rather memorize a few more lines of code."
Li Rundong pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses. "Generally, those who say such things are actually the most inscrutable playboys."
"Right on the money!"
"Agreed!"
The atmosphere in the dorm became harmonious as they chatted.
Afterward, they all went down to grab a bite to eat.
Most of Hu Hai University's dishes were sweet and so bland that Ma Yaxing and Li Rundong shook their heads in disapproval.
Looking at the pitiful amount of chili peppers in the dish, they said, "You Hu Hai people really eat bland food. I could put that much chili in my eye and not even blink."
"Actually, spiciness is a type of pain sensation. Why don't you try putting those chili peppers in your 'downstairs' eyes?"
"We're eating! Can't you avoid saying such disgusting things?!"
...
On the other hand, Yao Mingyue entered the dorm and hardly spoke much with her roommates.
Her three roommates felt that Yao Mingyue was somewhat aloof and hard to approach, but Yao Mingyue's attractiveness, her dress style, and her fair skin made it hard for the girls not to find excuses to strike up a conversation.
Yao Mingyue was somewhat patient with girls, as long as they weren't the ones who appeared before Xu Musen.
So, she engaged in a bit of sporadic conversation with her dorm mates.
"Yao Mingyue, you're so pretty, there must be lots of boys chasing after you, right? Do you have a boyfriend right now?"
A girl with short hair couldn't help but delve into gossip.
Youth is the same for boys and girls; the topic is always close to these matters.
Yao Mingyue's mind was full of Xu Musen, but thinking about his current attitude towards her still made her angry.
However, she then recalled the conversation she had with Xu Musen on that thunderstormy rainy day...
A gleam shone in the depths of her eyes as her lips gently curved into a smile.
"A boyfriend? Not quite yet."
"Huh?"
The three girls suddenly sensed some juicy gossip. "What do you mean? Is someone chasing you right now? You haven't agreed yet?"
Yao Mingyue lifted her fair chin with a deep and distant gaze towards the male dorms. "Something like that, but sooner or later, we'll be together."
"Ooooooh!"
"That's pretty bold!"
"I really want to see what this lucky guy looks like..."
The three female roommates were thrilled by Yao Mingyue's directness; if it were them, they would certainly wait modestly for the boy to say such things.
In the past, Yao Mingyue would have done the same, but now that Xu Musen's attitude had changed so drastically...
She also had to adjust her strategy.
After all, he could only end up being hers!
As Yao Mingyue was thinking, she received a message on her phone: Liu Rushuang had bought bed sheets and a duvet cover for them, which had arrived at the security office at the entrance.
Yao Mingyue stood up, took out her phone, and sent a message to Xu Musen: "The bed sheets and duvet cover my mom sent have arrived. Come pick them up with me."
Xu Musen took his time before replying: "I've got something to do, I'll go get them later."
Yao Mingyue gripped her phone tightly, this guy...
But suddenly, a light flashed in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a joyful smile as she left the dorm.
The three female roommates exchanged glances, having observed all of Yao Mingyue's expressions as she sent the message. They couldn't help but feel that she seemed like the one who had fallen in love.
Xu Musen, on the other hand, was discussing with the others about going out to buy bed sheets and duvet covers after their meal.
Xu Musen wasn't in a hurry; his own bedding was already bought.
It was a good opportunity to take care of things like recharging the water card.
"Fine, we'll go back to the dorm to rest for a while and go together in the afternoon."
The three of them headed back to the dorm first.
Xu Musen went to handle the water card.
Soon, on the pathway leading to the male dorms, a tall figure clutching bed sheets caught the attention of many male students.
Yao Mingyue, holding the bedding, walked on the road towards the male dorms, drawing more and more gazes.
Eventually, she arrived at the bottom of Xu Musen's dormitory building.
The boys going up and down the stairs couldn't take their eyes off Yao Mingyue.
"My, which department is she from? She's incredibly handsome."
"What's she doing at the bottom of the guys' dorm building? Could it be she's delivering bedding to her boyfriend?"
"Darn it, if I had a girlfriend as gorgeous as her, I'd be willing to pull out my ribs to make her soup, let alone let her come all this way in the scorching sun to deliver bedding."
"No idea which lucky bastard is so fortunate."
Meanwhile, Yao Mingyue stood at the base of the dormitory, the crowd of onlookers growing around her.
The more people gathered, the more her smile widened with delight.
Yes, that's right, let the whole school know they were involved!
Poor little Xu Musen, you'll never escape the palm of this old woman!
In the end, Yao Mingyue confidently stepped forward and entered the male dormitory building...