rival

Zhou Jingxing's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly replied, "It's a deal!"

Zhang Yang was specially invited to be a judge. The two changed into their gear and started from the diving platform. Zhou Jingxing's entry into the water was beautiful, but his speed was slightly slower than Shen Zhou's. This disadvantage continued into the second half of the race, and no matter how hard he tried to catch up, he was always half a body length behind Shen Zhou.

In the final twenty meters, Zhou Jingxing began his sprint, creating huge splashes in the pool. Chen Zhou, however, seemed exhausted, his speed noticeably slowing down. Zhou Jingxing touched the edge of the pool first, stood up, and looked at Chen Zhou, who was slightly behind him, with great excitement.

My wife should forgive me this time!

Shen Zhou took off his swimming goggles, looking nonchalant. "You won." Zhou Jingxing grinned. Zhang Yang on the shore gave Shen Zhou a knowing smile and said to Zhou Jingxing, "Jingxing, congratulations! I didn't expect you to beat Shen Zhou. Alright, I've been hanging out with you guys for a while now, I have to go."

Once ashore, Chen Zhou pretended not to see Zhang Yang's mocking gaze and said goodbye. Zhou Jingxing followed behind him like a puppy, saying, "Chen Zhou, you forgive me now, right?"

Chen Zhou continued walking towards the bathroom without stopping, "Hmm."

Zhou Jingxing was overjoyed. He seized the opportunity and wanted to solidify their relationship, asking, "So, are we dating now?"

Chen Zhou stopped and cruelly told him, "I only said I forgive you, but I didn't say I wanted to date you."

Zhou Jingxing panicked, "But, but didn't you say before that Zhao Xin and I were in the south and the north respectively? Now that you've ended things with him, you should all be mine, right?"

It's all his? That's unbelievable!

Shen Zhou's face flushed slightly. "I did break up with Zhao Xin, but I didn't say I wanted to start a relationship with you."

How could my wife do this!

Zhou Jingxing visibly wilted, his previous joy gone. Chen Zhou found it amusing and deliberately teased him with a stern face, "You did such a wrong thing, I'm already being kind by forgiving you, and you still want to date me? Tell me, aren't you being too greedy?"

Am I greedy? Zhou Jingxing looked at Chen Zhou with resentment. How could his wife, with her 36.5 degrees Celsius, say such disheartening things?

Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "You feel wronged?"

"No! No, I deserve it." Zhou Jingxing said bitterly, "Can you give me another chance?"

"What opportunity?"

Zhou Jingxing looked at Chen Zhou with unwavering determination in his eyes, "I will definitely do my best this time to pursue you."

Shen Zhou's face grew increasingly red under his gaze. He turned away uncomfortably and walked towards the bathroom. After a long while, he said softly, "Whatever."

"Let's start tonight then. Shen Zhou, how about having dinner with me tonight?" Zhou Jingxing smiled and leaned closer. "I won, so I can't just leave without doing something. I'll treat you to dinner."

Chen Zhou pushed away his face that was leaning towards her. "Let me think about it. I'm going to take a shower, you can leave."

Zhou Jingxing, acting like a rogue, followed him to the door of the cubicle. Chen Zhou slammed the curtain shut, and Zhou Jingxing pouted, "Don't overthink it, I won't peek. I just wanted to ask if you've thought it through?"

The sound of running water came from the stall behind the shower curtain, but Chen Zhou didn't answer him. Zhou Jingxing flicked the curtain. "Chen Zhou, you've been thinking about this for a long time. Can you tell me your answer now?"

From behind the curtain came Chen Zhou's voice, which could no longer contain itself, "It's only been less than three minutes!"

"But I really feel like I've been waiting for so long, Chenzhou, please just say yes."

"A sunken ship?"

"You didn't faint from washing, did you, Chen Zhou?!"

"Are you really dizzy? Then I'll go in..."

The curtain was slammed against the wall by Chen Zhou, who was wearing a bathrobe and looked extremely annoyed. "How dare you!"

Zhou Jingxing smiled ingratiatingly, "I was just worried you'd faint in the bathroom. So, will you accept my invitation?"

Chen Zhou was annoyed by him to no end. "I promise, I promise, stop talking!" Chen Zhou straightened his sleeves and said to Zhou Jingxing, "I'm going back to rest now, don't bother me." He paused, "I want to eat beef tonight."

Forget beef, I'd even eat Zhou Jingxing's meat!

That evening, Zhou Jingxing booked a table at the hotel's rooftop restaurant. Candlelight and flowers were all arranged, but he regretted that the restaurant did not offer violin performances and that the private event fee was too expensive.

No, the high price isn't its flaw; my poverty is the real problem. Zhou Jingxing decided to go back and ask Li Weilin if he knew of any part-time jobs he could do.

Zhou Jingxing eagerly awaited the arrival of Chen Zhou and Wang Ao.

Wait! Why is Wang Ao here too?

Why bring a third wheel on a date?!

Wang Ao sat down opposite Zhou Jingxing without any hesitation. Ignoring Zhou Jingxing's unwelcoming expression, he said enthusiastically, "Brother! Long time no see."

Who's your brother!

Zhou Jingxing's face darkened. "No! That's not a generational difference. I'm of the same generation as your teacher Sun Qian. You have to call me 'Shishu' (a term of respect for seniority).

Wang Ao readily agreed, "Uncle Zhou, you don't mind if I come over for a meal, do you?"

I mind this very much!

Chen Zhou sat down and explained to Zhou Jingxing with a smile, "His father is in a meeting and can't be free for the time being, so he's been entrusted to my care."

Zhou Jingxing immediately wagged his tail and said to Shen Zhou in a very attentive manner, "No problem at all, you're very welcome!"

During the meal, Zhou Jingxing was eager to show off, but Wang Ao interrupted him several times when he was having a lively conversation with Shen Zhou.

Zhou Jingxing gave Wang Ao a threatening look, "What are you trying to do, kid!"

Wang Ao raised an eyebrow and smiled at him, then turned to Chen Zhou and said affectionately, "Brother Chen Zhou, how about taking me to soak in a wild hot spring in the mountains tomorrow? My dad is timid and absolutely won't let me go by myself, but it'll be different with you there. I heard there's one near this hotel, shall we go together tomorrow?"

Zhou Jingxing's alarm blared, and Wang Ao's tone, expression, and choice of words...

Teacher, there's a manipulative guy here!

Zhou Jingxing interjected, "The roads near the wild hot springs are slippery and easy to fall on, and there are poisonous snakes and wild animals in the wild. Your father is worried about you, that's why he doesn't let you go."

"Isn't Brother Chenzhou here? You definitely won't let anything happen to me, right?" Wang Ao turned to Zhou Jingxing, "Uncle-Master, would you like to come along?"

Zhou Jingxing gave him a fake smile, "I'm not going, and Chenzhou won't go with you either. Since President Wang has entrusted you to him, your safety is naturally his top priority. Be good and don't make things difficult for Chenzhou, okay?"

Wang Ao looked at Chen Zhou with a wronged expression, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make things difficult for you. I just felt so bored in the hotel, and my dad wouldn't talk to me. I was so lonely..."

Zhou Jingxing gritted his teeth in anger. "Do you think I don't understand you? I used to be a green tea bitch too!"

He smiled and said to Shen Zhou, "It's better to be a child. You can make any demands of adults, and be innocent, carefree, and do whatever you want."

The implication is that he's a really unreasonable child.

In fact, Shen Zhou also felt that Wang Ao's request was difficult to fulfill, so he followed Zhou Jingxing's words and said, "Your Uncle Zhou is right, wild hot springs are too dangerous. The hot spring in this hotel is very good, there is no need to go outside."

Wang Ao was a little unconvinced, but Zhou Jingxing nodded in satisfaction.

You think you can mess with me?!

Shen Zhou then said to Wang Ao, "If you feel bored tomorrow, come find me. How about we play games together? I have a Switch."

"Huh? How could this be! My wife has never played games with me before." Zhou Jingxing looked at Chen Zhou resentfully. Chen Zhou softened and said to him, "You should come too. I'll borrow some controllers from Zhang Yang later."

After dinner, Chen Zhou left with Wang Ao, saying that President Wang was waiting for him to discuss something. Zhou Jingxing had no choice but to return to his room alone.

After returning home, he became increasingly suspicious. What was wrong with Wang Ao? Did he have feelings for Shen Zhou? After all, Shen Zhou was handsome and had a great presence; he could debut on the spot. It was perfectly normal for that kid to be captivated by him.

That despicable mistress!

Shameless mistress!

His own identity wasn't clear yet, so he couldn't let a kid take advantage of the situation! Zhou Jingxing opened the group chat and started complaining.

[Fire prevention, theft prevention, and petty theft prevention (3)]

Zhou Jingxing: I saw Wang Ao from your class. He didn't have a holiday today, did he? Did he skip class? @Sun Qian

Sun Qian: Is he also at the hot spring hotel?

Sun Qian: It wasn't skipping class. His family arranged for him to take a week off, saying it was for relaxation and recuperation.

Zhou Jingxing: ? Aren't you guys in your final year of high school? How can you do this?

Sun Qian: He doesn't need to take the college entrance exam; he's already applied to schools abroad.

Zhang Jin: The Evil Capitalist

Zhou Jingxing: The Evil Small Capitalist

Zhou Jingxing: He had improper intentions towards my wife.

Zhang Jin: ? Does he treat you like that too?

Sun Qian: Zhang Jin, do you need a beating? Try insulting my professional ethics again! [Smiling]

Sun Qian: Zhou Jingxing, you have a vice-delusion, don't you? My student is just an annoying brat, simple-minded and physically weak, he doesn't have that many complicated thoughts in his mind.

Zhang Jin: You didn't let him off the hook either.

Zhou Jingxing: I'm serious, Shen Zhou finally forgave me and even agreed to have dinner with me tonight, but Wang Ao insisted on barging in.

Zhou Jingxing: He also ordered the most expensive set meal! It cost 899!

Sun Qian: Given his family's financial strength, this might be the cheapest meal he's ever had.

Zhou Jingxing: Thank you for reminding me that my rival is richer than me.

Sun Qian: ...Is that the point? And how did you decide he's a rival in love?!

Zhou Jingxing: With Chen Zhou's charm, anyone could be my rival in love.

Sun Qian: ...

Zhang Jin: Gay men are truly terrifying.

Zhou Jingxing: Forget it, I can't explain it to you guys.

Zhou Jingxing: Actually, I just wanted to ask you, how do you prevent a mistress? @Sun Qian

Sun Qian: I don't entirely agree with what you said. According to the theory of realistic structuralism, captive-bred wild giant pandas could capture chargers, and excavators could defeat electronic mistresses. What do you think?

Zhang Jin: What nonsense are you spouting, wife?

Sun Qian: Can anyone be as crazy as Zhou Jingxing? [Smiling]

Zhou Jingxing: ...

These kinds of bad friends are better off without.

Zhou Jingxing opened a certain literary city app, selected several classic novels about rebirth and beating up scheming women as learning materials, and then began to study them seriously.

The next day, he went to Shenzhou's place to play games as agreed. Before the game even started, Shenzhou received a last-minute notification to attend a video conference.

"Sorry, you two play, I'll be done in a bit." After saying that, Shen Zhou left in a hurry, leaving Zhou Jingxing and Wang Ao staring at each other.

Honey, are you really going to leave like this?

Aren't you afraid we'll fight to the death right here?