Chapter 99: The Underdog’s Road to a Comeback

After more than half an hour of fussing, Meng Ran finally managed to “restore” the stench-ridden black bag to something like respectability.

“Brother Zhang, take a sniff. I’ve washed it clean.”

The moment Zhang Shen thought of the “leftovers” still inside, he could not help blurting out a string of curses. “Stay away from me. I don’t want that thing.”

Hearing this, Meng Ran casually hung the washed bag up.

“Brother Zhang, I’ve been this obedient already. When are you going to help me with the thing you promised?”

Zhang Shen was a little lost by that.

“What’s wrong, Brother Zhang? You wouldn’t have forgotten, would you?”

Zhang Shen stared at him, trying to remember whether he had ever agreed to anything for this fat man. The two of them looked at each other for several minutes before Zhang Shen, meeting Meng Ran’s lecherous gaze, suddenly understood that the fool was still talking about Wang Ying.

But now, from the bottom of his heart, Zhang Shen no longer dared to play matchmaker for Meng Ran.

After all, if this fat man ever truly lost control one day, it would be a disaster.

“I don’t remember.”

At the moment, that was the only excuse Zhang Shen could think of.

“What? Brother Zhang, don’t mess with me. I’ve pinned my lifelong happiness on you. You absolutely cannot let me down!”

Zhang Shen was completely baffled by Meng Ran’s words. How could this fat man possibly entrust such a daunting task to him?

“Let me think about it some more. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Zhang Shen was already exhausted from the night’s affairs, and he simply did not have the energy to deal with Meng Ran right then.

“Then you get some rest, Brother Zhang. You look kind of drained today. How about I massage your legs for you?”

The moment Meng Ran said that, Zhang Shen jolted upright from his lazy sprawl on the bed and hurriedly shouted, “No, really, don’t.”

After all, Zhang Shen did not want those filthy hands of Meng Ran’s touching him again.

Seeing Zhang Shen refuse so firmly, Meng Ran did not continue fawning over him. Instead, he went back to savoring those explicit films. At the blood-pumping scenes, Zhang Shen had no choice but to turn his head away.

...

The next day, when Zhang Shen was awakened by his alarm, Meng Ran was still snoring away on the bed, clearly still lost in last night’s train of thought after overusing his brain.

“Hey, Fatty, get up. It’s time for class.”

Zhang Shen gave him a hard shake. After a long while, the fat man finally opened his eyes slowly and mumbled, “What is it?”

Zhang Shen could hardly imagine how late this fat man had stayed up. How could he be asking such a stupid question?

“It’s time for class. I heard there’s a quiz today too. You think that matters or not?”

At the word “exam,” Meng Ran’s first thought was Hao Lei, and his mind cleared at once.

After washing up, the two of them hurried to the classroom. After all, Meng Ran was still hoping to cram at the last minute and get through the test somehow.

As soon as he stepped into the classroom, Zhang Shen noticed a great many people bent over their books, and he could not help feeling a little impressed. It seemed their homeroom teacher’s classes really were no joke.

At once, Meng Ran joined the ranks of the crammers as well.

Zhang Shen, however, took it all in stride. Having been raised from childhood by his master and taught the classics of ancient medicine, and with so many years of practical experience treating patients, a little quiz was hardly anything to worry about.

When Zhang Shen reached his seat, he saw Wang Ying with her head down, revising diligently, and asked, “How’s the review going?”

But Wang Ying seemed to have treated Zhang Shen as nothing more than air, completely ignoring him.

Seeing her cold attitude, Zhang Shen was not surprised. Instead, he leaned closer and said in a low voice, “Xiao Ying, I know you’re still angry about what happened yesterday, but the truth really is not what you think.”

No sooner had he spoken than Wang Ying slapped her book down on the desk with a sharp crack. Zhang Shen thought she was just going to throw a little temper, but to his surprise, Wang Ying rose directly from her seat and walked straight over to Meng Ran.

“Meng Ran, be my boyfriend.”

The one who was most shocked by Wang Ying’s words was Zhang Shen. He had no idea what had struck the girl, how her thoughts could leap so wildly in the span of one night.

On the other side, Meng Ran, who was only focused on memorizing his lines, had not noticed Wang Ying’s arrival at all. The next instant, however, a slap jolted him back to himself.

“Damn it, who hit me?”

The moment Meng Ran opened his eyes, he saw the girl of his dreams standing right before him, and his anger vanished at once.

“Wang... Ying? Why are you here?”

At that moment, Wang Ying repeated herself once more.

“Do you want me to be your girlfriend or not?”

Faced with Wang Ying’s sudden question, Meng Ran clearly had not expected such a development so early in the morning.

“N-no.”

His halting answer left Wang Ying plainly dissatisfied, and she said outright, “Yes or no? I’m telling you, if you let this chance pass, there won’t be another.”

Wang Ying’s resolute attitude also drew Ye Qiong’s attention. Though she did not approve of Wang Ying being with Zhang Shen, that did not mean she had wanted to see her pair up with Meng Ran either.

“Xiao Ying, are you crazy? Didn’t we agree last night to just let this go?”

“Ye Qiong, stay out of it. I know what I’m doing.”

For the first time, Ye Qiong realized that Wang Ying, who usually kept everything locked deep inside, had suddenly started pouring out her emotions. The result was truly beyond anyone’s expectations.

Still, as Wang Ying’s best friend, Ye Qiong could not help saying, “Xiao Ying, you need to think this through.”

As soon as she finished, she glanced at Zhang Shen, then cried out in anger, “Don’t throw away your own happiness for some worthless jerk!”

Zhang Shen did not understand why Ye Qiong was blaming him for something like this too. But that no longer mattered now.

Seeing what Wang Ying was doing, Zhang Shen stepped up to her, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her straight out of the classroom, then shouted to Meng Ran and Ye Qiong, “You two, get out here too.”

The four of them came to the corridor. Zhang Shen swept his gaze over the three faces before him. Meng Ran’s excitement could not be hidden at all, while Wang Ying stood there like a wooden doll, motionless.

“Wang Ying, tell me the truth now. What exactly are you thinking?”

At this point, Zhang Shen had to make absolutely sure whether Wang Ying was acting on impulse or truly of her own free will.

“Yes, Xiao Ying, say it. What are you thinking?”

“I... I mean it.”

The moment Wang Ying said those words, Zhang Shen and Ye Qiong naturally could not accept such a bolt from the blue. But since the girl had already said it out loud, what else could they do?