Chapter 86: The Mysterious Guest

After struggling through a tedious lesson, Wang Ying was just about to strike up a conversation with Zhang Shen, only to find he had already stacked his books neatly on the desk and fallen into a deep sleep.

At that moment, Ye Qiong took advantage of the break to walk over. Seeing Zhang Shen sleeping so soundly, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“This is the first time I’ve seen him doze off in class. Just wait, I’ll give him a piece of my mind later,” Ye Qiong said with a mischievous smile, making Wang Ying suspect she was plotting some mischief.

“Ye Qiong, can’t you behave yourself for once?” Wang Ying asked. Ye Qiong could clearly see Wang Ying’s protective attitude toward Zhang Shen, but she was the type who liked to challenge things; the more Wang Ying defended Zhang Shen, the more Ye Qiong wanted to tease him.

“Oh, look at that! Our little Ying is like a whole new person!”

“Ye Qiong, stop it. My parents are inviting him for dinner tonight,” Wang Ying said.

Ye Qiong was taken aback, then leaned in to whisper, “Don’t tell me your parents have taken a liking to him and want him as a future son-in-law?”

Wang Ying knew Ye Qiong was teasing her in a roundabout way and replied, “Go cool off somewhere else.”

Ye Qiong ignored Wang Ying’s response and turned to Meng Ran. “Hey, chubby, you share a dorm with Zhang Shen, do you know what’s going on?”

Meng Ran hadn’t expected Ye Qiong to address him. As he turned, he was still munching on snacks. When he caught sight of Wang Ying, his mouth seemed to freeze in time, his eyes blankly staring at her.

“Those two in the same dorm are a perfect match—one only sleeps, the other only eats.”

“Ye Qiong, don’t say that. They’re both coming to my house for dinner tonight!” Wang Ying interjected.

Her words were like a bombshell, and Ye Qiong was the first to gasp loudly.

“Ying, are you serious? They’re coming over again tonight?”

Wang Ying was about to reply, but Ye Qiong continued, “Can I come again too? The dumplings at your house are so good, I really want some tonight.”

Wang Ying cursed Ye Qiong inwardly: “She’s such a foodie herself, how can she shamelessly call others out? Truly a little oddball.”

Although Wang Ying’s parents hadn’t specifically invited Ye Qiong, seeing her so determined, Wang Ying worried that refusing her might lead to Ye Qiong ending their friendship altogether.

“Fine! We’ll go together tonight.”

“That’s why you’re my best friend! I knew you’d come through—who else but us?”

“You’re the sweetest talker in the whole class.”

Ye Qiong grinned mischievously at that.

“You haven’t tasted it, how do you know my words are sweet? Want to find out?”

Wang Ying, whether muddled by anger or possessed by a sudden impulse, grabbed Ye Qiong by the collar and pulled her close. Ye Qiong had only been joking, but hadn’t expected Wang Ying to actually act on it.

Just as Wang Ying seemed ready to pounce and Ye Qiong was about to be “lamb to the tiger,” the class bell rang.

“Enough, class is starting!”

For the first time, Ye Qiong found the bell a pleasant sound. Wang Ying stopped fooling around, gently nudged Zhang Shen, and said, “Class is starting.”

But Zhang Shen was lost in his plan to catch up on sleep and paid her no mind. Fortunately, this class was taught by Hao Lei, who didn’t give Zhang Shen any trouble. The next two classes were by veteran teachers who knew these students were about to graduate and didn’t waste much time on them.

When the bell finally rang for the last class, Wang Ying shook Zhang Shen vigorously.

“Ow!”

Hearing him stir, Wang Ying said, “Class is over.”

“How many classes was that?”

Zhang Shen’s groggy question left Wang Ying speechless.

“All the morning classes are done. Time to head to the cafeteria for lunch.”

Zhang Shen snapped awake.

“Time flies!”

He glanced around and saw most classmates had left, except for three familiar faces.

“Hey, chubby, I’m skipping afternoon classes. I need more sleep,” Zhang Shen said to Meng Ran.

Wang Ying felt a strange ripple in her heart upon hearing Zhang Shen wouldn’t be coming in the afternoon.

As Zhang Shen reached the classroom door, Wang Ying suddenly called out, “Zhang Shen, don’t forget tonight.”

“Tonight?”

Meng Ran was clearly more interested in this, and Zhang Shen knew what was on his mind. “You’re coming too.”

“Thanks, Brother Zhang.”

Then Zhang Shen turned to Wang Ying and said, “See you tonight.”

Meng Ran didn’t head straight for lunch; instead, he escorted Zhang Shen back to the dorm. Seeing Zhang Shen collapse onto the bed and fall asleep, he finally went to the cafeteria.

...

Zhang Shen slept until four or five in the afternoon. When he awoke, Meng Ran hadn’t returned, so he idly played mobile games.

One round, two rounds...

Just as he was about to pull the trigger for a headshot, a message popped up on his phone:

“Meet me at the gate after school!”

Zhang Shen quickly replied with an “okay,” then realized he’d been eliminated in the game, making it seem dull.

Just then, Meng Ran returned to the dorm. Zhang Shen said, “Go clean yourself up, we’re going out for dinner.”

“With whom?”

Honestly, Zhang Shen felt like strangling Meng Ran; he’d just discussed this at noon, and Meng Ran had already forgotten. How could anyone trust him with important matters?

“With Wang Ying, of course. Aren’t you always thinking about her?”

“Ying! I need to dress up then.”

“You definitely should—you're meeting her parents tonight.”

Meng Ran was even more excited now, thinking to himself how quickly things were progressing; he wasn’t mentally prepared at all.

“Hurry up, or she’ll call soon.”

Meng Ran rushed to the bathroom and scrubbed himself from head to toe.

A dozen minutes later, Zhang Shen and Meng Ran left the dorm and headed to the main gate. They found Wang Ying and Ye Qiong already waiting.

Zhang Shen could already guess Ye Qiong would soon start her usual tirade.

Sure enough, as soon as he reached Wang Ying, Ye Qiong began to speak.

“You—”

But unexpectedly, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.