During the meal, Ren Xiang kept pulling Xue Yang aside to talk, occasionally winking at Liang Youqing. Liang Youqing acted as if he hadn't noticed, continuing his conversation with Zhu Xingtong from a distance, just as before. Ren Xiang stepped on him twice in frustration, but he didn't change. He did have a crush on Zhu Xingtong, a fondness tinged with childhood memories. He decided not to take any initiative until he had a clear understanding of his inner thoughts.
Thanks to Liang Youqing's letters, he held a stronger place in Zhu Xingtong's heart than Xue Yang. His letters, like a diary, chronicled his life, and so, despite not having seen him for a long time, Zhu Xingtong felt an inexplicable familiarity. They could still talk, but nothing more.
The meal didn't last long, and Zhu Xingtong didn't even ask for a waiter afterward. Xue Yang and Liang Youqing were in perfect sync on this point, not even mentioning it. Ren Xiang still found it odd, thinking the two grown men were being ungentlemanly. After Liang Youqing explained, he finally glanced at the two men with admiration. Not just anyone dared to pursue a female superstar.
Xue Yang then explained, "Don't look at me like that. Ah Tong doesn't like me."
"Don't think we'll let our guard down just because you said that. Do you dare to say you don't like classmate Zhu?"
"I like her, but she is too outstanding and I am not worthy of her, so it is better for us to be brothers." Xue Yang said with a smile.
"The pressure is huge." Ren Xiang patted Liang Youqing on the shoulder.
Liang Youqing brushed his hand away and said, "I don't mind standing behind her."
"Then you should work hard. I have seen clearly from today's meal that classmate Zhu has not yet figured it out in this regard." Ren Xiang said gloatingly.
Xue Yang nodded in agreement and waved at them, "We can play basketball together sometime. I'm going back now."
"This kid is not bad." Ren Xiang said, looking at his back.
Liang Youqing said, "Go back and tell me about your eighteen ways to woo girls."
"Hey, I told you before, but you didn't bother to listen. Now you ask me. It's easy for me to say, just carry me back. I drank too much just now, and I feel dizzy." Ren Xiang said as he jumped onto his back like a monkey.
"You'd better hold it in and don't vomit on my head." Liang Youqing said resignedly.
"Who am I doing this for?" Ren Xiang muttered.
Liang Youqing smiled silently. Because of his childhood experiences, he was extremely trusting and therefore had few friends. He and Ren Xiang were good friends only because the boy had such a thick skin.
Here, Zhu Xingtong had just walked downstairs to the dormitory when she saw a large group of people gathered there. She didn't pay much attention and went straight upstairs. When she arrived at the dormitory, she found that all the girls in the dormitory were gathered around the railings looking down. Seeing her coming up, Yuan Zhen immediately asked, "Atong, did you see what that person looked like?"
"who?"
“The one reading poetry down there.”
"I didn't notice."
Yuan Zhen glanced into the dormitory and whispered, "Do you know who that person reads for? It's Manli."
Zhu Xingtong nodded and went into the dormitory.
Liu Zhichan was trying to persuade Li Manli. When he saw her come in, he immediately waved at her and said, "Come over here and persuade Manli."
"What's wrong with her?"
"I feel ashamed. You don't know that not long after you left, the guy below came and called Manli's name before reading the poem. That's fine, but the key is that he is too ugly, short and fat. It's just that his family is well-off, but Manli is not short of money either!" Liu Zhichan said with a bit of gloating.
"Manli likes poetry?"
"No, you're focusing on the wrong thing."
"Just ignore him."
"That's what I said too. We are beautiful and come from well-off families. It's normal for someone to like us! However, having said that, it's disgusting enough to be liked by a toad." Liu Zhichan covered his mouth and laughed.
Li Manli suddenly opened the curtains. "Are you trying to comfort me?"
"Yes. Okay, come out. I'll go down and chase them away." Liu Zhichan said as he pulled Zhu Xingtong out.
"Why are you pulling me?"
"You're strong, so you can give me courage. What if that toad down there takes a fancy to me?"
After saying that, she shook her head again, "Forget it, I'll look for Xia Lin, you look pretty good too."
Charlene, who just walked in: “…” She’s not ugly.
Charlene: "No need to go down, he's gone. But he said he'll come again."
Liu Zhichan: "Then let's tell the teacher who he harassed."
Charlene: "But he didn't do anything. Is there anything wrong with liking someone?"
Li Manli: "He's wrong. Who made him like me?"
Zhu Xingtong: "It's better to just say it directly."
Li Manli: "I feel sick just talking to him."
Liu Zhichan: "You don't have to do anything. I'll go and talk to you. What do you think? I'm a good friend, right?"
Li Manli: "That's enough. I'll give you my red dress."
Liu Zhichan: "Take it out quickly so I can try it."
Li Manli: "Why are you in such a hurry? It's just an old skirt. You're not Charlene, and you've never worn nice clothes."
Charlene didn't get angry. "I don't mind. You can give me all the old things you don't want anymore. If I can't wear them anymore, I can send them back to my sister."
Li Manli and Liu Zhichan's hand-me-downs were at best 70% new, made of fine material, far superior to the ones her relatives had given her. She'd been picking up other people's clothes since she was little, and she didn't think it was a big deal. As long as she worked hard, she'd one day be able to wear new clothes every day. Right now, it was all temporary. For example, someone from a family like her managed to get into university, but no one believed her before.
Li Yun raised her head after hearing this. She wanted to say that she didn't mind either, but she didn't have the courage to say it out loud. She couldn't bring herself to do that.
Liu Zhichan: "I've been with Xia Lin for a long time, and I've been influenced by her. I used to never wear someone else's hand-me-downs. But I think she looks good in hand-me-downs, and she doesn't miss out on anything. I told my mom about this, and she praised Xia Lin for being generous. She really likes her."
Upon hearing this, Xia Lin looked at Liu Zhichan in surprise. She had always thought that Liu Zhichan treated her as a nanny.
Liu Zhichan said proudly, "I also listen to advice. Although I sometimes do things without thinking, my mother is amazing!"
Li Manli: "Your mother is great, but you are not!"
"But I listened to my mother's advice. She was absolutely right. She was a very good judge of people. She had never agreed to my relationship with Yang Yang before."
Li Manli was amused by her rogue appearance and said with a smile: "In our dormitory, if we talk about the smartest one, Atong is definitely it. You should remember to listen to her more in the future."
Liu Zhichan glanced at Zhu Xingtong, pouted and said, "You are quite smart, aren't you?"
Li Manli shook her head. "I'm just a little clever."
Liu Zhichan nodded, "Okay then." After that, she looked at Zhu Xingtong again, "I'll rely on you in school from now on."
Zhu Xingtong: “…”
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