—

Ji Su steadied his phone, quickly tapped the photo, and exited the full-screen view.

What was the point of sending an abs photo out of nowhere — was he trying to show off his body again?

Mengmeng: [Xuechang, why are you suddenly sending abs photos...]

Mengmeng: [cat covering face.jpg]

G: [Sent to the wrong person.]

Ji Su: '?'

This familiar-sounding line — was scumbag xuechang deliberately copying his tactics to use against him?

Mengmeng: [Then which pretty girl was xuechang originally going to send it to?]

G: [To a pretty girl named Mengmeng.]

Ji Su: '...'

The scumbag's flirting skills were truly well-honed — all that cold aloofness before must have been deliberately put on.

Mengmeng: [Hmph, annoying...]

G: [Don't like it?]

Mengmeng: [I like it...]

Mengmeng: [shy cat.jpg]

G: [What were you busy with tonight?]

Mengmeng: [Practicing piano, my fingers are kind of sore from it, boohoo~]

G: [Balance work and rest.]

Mengmeng: [Mm, thank you for caring, xuechang!]

Ji Su's fingertip scrolled up, his gaze landing on that abs photo — then quickly darting away again.

Mengmeng: [Oh right, xuechang, why isn't there a face in the abs photo you sent me?]

G: [Want to see my face?]

Mengmeng: [Mm, I want to see!]

G: [Take a video call.]

Ji Su startled and hurriedly typed out a refusal.

Mengmeng: [Xuechang, I'm already back at the Dormitory, it's not convenient to take a video call.]

G: [What about voice?]

Mengmeng: [Voice isn't convenient either~]

Mengmeng: [crying cat.jpg]

G: [Got it.]

Mengmeng: [Xuechang, is this... you missing me?]

The other side was silent for a moment, seemingly deliberating how to reply.

G: [Want to hear your voice.]

Ji Su knew the other party was being evasive, unwilling to officially define the relationship with Mengmeng.

Then, Mengmeng would just have to take the initiative.

Mengmeng: [Just want to hear my voice?]

Mengmeng: [But Mengmeng has been thinking about xuechang the whole time...]

G: [Little liar.]

G: [Missing me but not replying to messages?]

Ji Su's lips pursed slightly, thinking the scumbag was being awfully petty — still hung up on him not replying in time.

Not considering that in the beginning, Mengmeng had sent so many messages that sank without a trace.

Ji Su decided not to answer directly and changed the subject.

Mengmeng: [Xuechang, I wore a really pretty uniform skirt today.]

G: [Let me see.]

Mengmeng: [No~]

G: [Why not?]

Mengmeng: [Because I want xuechang to keep thinking about Mengmeng all night~]

Ji Su lowered his gaze to his own legs wrapped in long pants — the scumbag could go dream of Mengmeng in a skirt.

The other party didn't press further, instead asking a strange question.

G: [What size skirt does Mengmeng wear?]

Ji Su thought briefly and answered honestly.

His frame wasn't large, his waist slim and hips narrow — the skirt size he wore was about the same as a normal girl's, shouldn't arouse the other party's suspicion.

The two chatted a while longer, and in the end it was Ji Su who took the initiative to end the conversation.

*

The next day was the weekend, and Ji Su, as promised, treated his roommates to a big meal.

He had picked out a well-reviewed BBQ Restaurant in advance, right near the School.

After finishing lunch, Ji Su was about to head back to the Dormitory with everyone when the phone in his pocket buzzed.

He pulled out his phone and opened WeChat to check the message.

G: [The skirt I bought for you has arrived, it's at your School's gatehouse.]

Ji Su: '!'

'What's wrong, Susu?' Qiao Jin noticed his expression was off and hurried over.

The other two roommates were still there, so Ji Su couldn't say anything and silently lit up his phone screen.

'Holy shit!' Qiao Jin's eyes went wide. 'The scumbag actually—'

'What?' Zhao Ziyun, walking ahead, heard the commotion and stopped. 'What happened?'

'Nothing, nothing.' Qiao Jin quickly rearranged his expression. 'That — I just remembered I have something to do, you guys go back to the Dormitory first.'

After sending off his roommates, Ji Su opened his mouth: 'What do we do, should we go to the Music Academy to pick it up?'

'We definitely have to go pick it up!' Qiao Jin paused. 'But we can't go directly, what if the scumbag is lurking nearby — then you'd be exposed.'

Ji Su: 'What a deep scheme...'

'Scheming scumbag!' Qiao Jin cursed, then added, 'Too bad this little plot of his can't stump me.'

Qiao Jin contacted a junior girl on WeChat, then through her reached another junior at the Music Academy — after several layers of relay, they successfully got the package.

When Ji Su saw the enormous package, his whole being went cold.

Back at the Dormitory, Qiao Jin couldn't wait to tear it open — and was stunned himself: 'Did the scumbag buy out an entire store?'

Ji Su: 'Maybe...'

Before long, the bed was covered with all manner of pretty dresses — long ones, short ones, one-pieces — in every colour from pink to blue to white, everything one could want.

Ji Su took out his phone and sent a photo to G.

Mengmeng: [Senior, you really bought so many, many dresses...]

G: [Didn't know what you'd like, so I bought a few extra.]

G: [Pick whichever you like and wear it.]

Ji Su: '...'

Just then, the Dormitory door was suddenly pushed open from outside.

Ji Su instinctively tried to hide the dresses on the bed, but they were spread out in such numbers there was no time to gather them.

Zhao Ziyun walked in chatting and laughing with Li You, but when his gaze fell on the bed, he stopped short.

Ji Su's face flushed hot with embarrassment as he tried to explain he wasn't some pervert: 'That, actually...'

Zhao Ziyun cut him off: 'Ji Su, are you guys planning to open a women's clothing shop?'

'Ah, yes, exactly!' Qiao Jin reacted at lightning speed. 'We're planning to open an online shop selling women's clothes — these are samples sent by the manufacturer.'

'No —' Zhao Ziyun was displeased. 'Are we even brothers? Making money on the sly without bringing me in?'

'Not decided yet, just an early idea.' Qiao Jin fudged. 'We think the clothes the manufacturer sent are pretty mediocre, we're planning to send them back.'

Li You chimed in from the side: 'Online shops are tough to run these days, you should think it through.'

'But why women's clothes?' Zhao Ziyun asked, puzzled. 'Men's would be so much better — you could even wear them yourselves!'

'Women's clothes make money.' Qiao Jin kept fabricating. 'Girls love buying clothes, but guys only wear a few things all year.'

'Makes sense.' Zhao Ziyun clapped his shoulder. 'Qiao Jin, I think you've got a real business head on you — when you get rich, you better bring your bros along!'

Qiao Jin: 'Mm-hmm, yes, yes...'

After finally getting past them, Ji Su gathered up all the dresses at top speed.

During this time, G had sent him new messages.

G: [Don't like any of them?]

Mengmeng: [How could I? The dresses are all so pretty!]

Mengmeng: [Mengmeng super loves them!]

G: [Good that you like them.]

Mengmeng: [Senior is really too good to me, I don't even know what to say, wuuu~]

Mengmeng: [crying-cat.jpg]

G: [Try them on and see if they fit.]

Ji Su seriously suspected the scumbag senior had bought so many dresses just to have a legitimate excuse to see his leg photos.

Mengmeng: [Going to practice piano now, I'll try them on later~]

Mengmeng: [I'll take photos for Senior then, okay~]

G: [Good, go ahead.]

*

In the evening, Ji Su and Qiao Jin ate dinner at the Second Cafeteria, discussing their next strategy.

Halfway through, a familiar male voice rose behind them: 'Qiao Jin, Ji Su, you guys here for dinner too!'

Qiao Jin turned his head, delighted: 'Zhou Yang?'

Zhou Yang strode over: 'Mind if I join?'

'Of course.' Qiao Jin immediately scooted over to make room.

Zhou Yang sat down and said casually: 'Drank a bit too much last night, my head still aches a little.'

Ji Su glanced at his wrist — on it was the birthday gift Qiao Jin had given him.

Qiao Jin noticed too, barely suppressing a smile, and said with concern: 'Then have some congee or soup tonight, to settle your stomach.'

Zhou Yang said breezily: 'I'm fine, my stomach's solid.'

'By the way, why are you eating alone tonight?' Qiao Jin looked around. 'Where are your roommates?'

'Old Wang's foot still hasn't healed, hard for him to get around.' Zhou Yang replied with a smile. 'As for Gu-ge, he's busy with his online romance.'

'Online romance?' Ji Su caught the keyword, his lashes lifting in a flash. 'Who?'

Zhou Yang repeated: 'Gu-ge. Gu Zhao.'

'Huh? Impossible!' Qiao Jin looked as though he'd heard some fairy tale. 'What kind of girlfriend couldn't Gu Zhao get if he wanted? Does he really need to date online?'

'We didn't believe it at first either, but Gu-ge's been glued to his phone lately, and every now and then he gives this eerie little smile at the screen.' Zhou Yang explained earnestly. 'After Old Wang and I analysed it, we both agreed Gu-ge has an online girlfriend.'

'This...' Qiao Jin clicked his tongue, still finding it incredible. 'I really can't imagine what our cold campus heartthrob Gu would even look like in an online relationship...'

Ji Su listened quietly, and couldn't help but think of his own situation — pretending to be a girl in an online romance with a scumbag.

Just then Qiao Jin thought of the same thing, and they exchanged a strange look.

Ji Su pressed his lips together, and out of goodwill offered a tactful warning: 'Actually, I don't think online dating is very reliable — after all, with just a phone screen between you, you might not even be able to tell if the other person is male or female.'

After all, he'd fooled the scumbag into believing a pretty girl was on the other end with nothing but a few leg photos.

Zhou Yang said breezily: 'It can't be that bad. Gu-ge's so sharp, there's no way he couldn't tell if his online partner was male or female.'

'Online scams are really common these days.' Qiao Jin chimed in to help. 'Haven't there been all those news stories lately — some barefoot slob using a voice changer to pretend to be a cute girl and scam people through online dating? We should warn Gu Zhao to be careful.'

Ji Su took an inexplicable hit to the knee, and could only quietly console himself — at least he wasn't some barefoot slob, and he hadn't used a voice changer to pretend to be a cute girl...

'It's fine.' Zhou Yang didn't take it seriously. 'If Gu-ge really did run into an online scammer, I'd almost feel sorry for the scammer.'

Ji Su was baffled: 'Huh?'

'Because Gu-ge's the type who always pays back a grudge — even if he has to dig three feet into the earth, he'll dig the person out.' Zhou Yang laughed brightly. 'Don't worry, anyone who dares to scam Gu-ge won't have a good ending, hahaha!'

Ji Su: '...'