Chapter Twelve: A Reunion
“Ah~”
“Ah~”
“Ah~”
Each sigh grew more plaintive and louder than the last, making it impossible for anyone to pretend not to hear.
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhuge Yun’s forehead veins bulged as he tried to stay calm. “Boss, is it that time of the month?”
“Yeah, big brother, what are you sighing about so miserably?” Zhao Lu was covered in goosebumps.
Xiao Xiao was flipping through a hefty tome on monsters and strange phenomena.
One day, he had actually seen a monster, which naturally sparked his intense curiosity and eagerness to learn more. So recently he had borrowed many books about monsters from the library, reading them with great interest.
The sudden mournful sigh made his hand tremble, and as he turned the page, a sharp pain shot through his finger, leaving a blood-red scratch.
Though it quickly healed, Xiao Xiao looked at the boss lounging on the bed with his legs crossed and said expressionlessly, “Boss, do you think you’re some shy maiden waiting in her chamber? Or a lonely woman guarding an empty room? Tell me, who is so unlucky as to be on your mind?”
“Just thinking about it makes every hair on my body stand on end.”
“It sends chills down my spine.”
“It’s downright terrifying.”
Sharp words, each one piercing the heart.
Zhang Bo froze, a sigh caught midway, stuck in his throat and unable to rise or fall.
Zhuge Yun and Zhao Lu were also stunned, then burst out laughing.
“Third brother, that was savage!” Zhuge Yun gave a thumbs-up with one hand while clutching his stomach with the other, laughing until he almost died. He hadn’t expected the usually gentle third brother to be so sharp-tongued.
“Third brother, well said!” Zhao Lu looked admiring, though barely able to hold back his laughter.
“Alright, third brother.” The boss finally came to his senses, sat up cross-legged on the bed, and said, “I didn’t realize you’re such a devil at heart.”
“Third brother is just hiding his true self.”
“I think his true nature just came out.”
…
After the commotion, Xiao Xiao pulled everyone back on track. “Boss, what are you sighing about?”
“Yeah.”
“Spring fever, obviously.” Zhuge Yun hit the nail on the head.
Huh? Xiao Xiao and the others looked at the silly smile on the boss’s face and all nodded in agreement: yes, definitely spring fever.
“Come on, tell us—who caught your eye?”
“Luo Xiaoluan, right?”
---
“How did you know?” Zhang Bo blurted out, then looked shocked, as if he’d seen a ghost.
Zhuge Yun grinned smugly. Was it really that hard to guess? Among the four girls that night, the one named Luo Xiaoluan was by far the prettiest, delicate and soft—exactly the kind to catch the boss’s eye, especially someone as tall and burly as him.
You see, people tend to desire what they lack. The boss, being so big and strong, naturally liked gentle, clingy girls—perfect for feeding his macho ego.
“Boss, are you trying to reenact a real-life Beauty and the Beast?”
“Get lost.” Zhang Bo turned away disdainfully at the lecherous laughter from someone nearby, then looked at Xiao Xiao and Zhao Lu with some anticipation.
“How about we invite them out again?”
“Invite them? Last time was a thank-you banquet.” Zhuge Yun poured cold water on the idea.
So what now? The boss scratched his head, still clueless after a week since the last dinner about how to get close to his goddess.
“Boss, you’ve got to ask her out alone. Don’t you think all these third wheels are a pain?”
“But… how do I ask her out alone?” Zhang Bo stammered, cheeks flushed wheat-colored.
Seeing the boss so bashful, Xiao Xiao and the others rubbed their arms uncomfortably—this was almost too cringe-worthy.
But of course, they were determined to help their boss with his love life.
After a moment of exchanging looks, they launched into a lively discussion.
…
In the end, the best plan they came up with was… to invite the girls over for a meal at their dorm.
Faced with the boss’s scornful and accusing gaze, Zhuge Yun wiped his nose, coughed a few times, and casually looked away, as if he hadn’t seen anything.
Well, given the boss’s clumsiness, this was probably the simplest approach.
Xiao Xiao was speechless. If that's the case, why bother discussing it earlier?
…
Encouraged by everyone, the boss called Luo Xiaoluan to explain the situation and extend the invitation.
Under Xiao Xiao and the others’ expectant gazes, Zhang Bo cleared his throat nervously.
“Hello, hi.” A sweet, mellow female voice came through.
Zhang Bo immediately blushed. “Y-yes, hello, I’m Zhang Bo.”
…
After hanging up, Zhang Bo was still a little dazed.
It worked!
“Well done, boss!”
“Hehe.” Zhang Bo smiled sheepishly.
---
Saturday, 11 a.m.
Everyone met up smoothly.
Since the weather was turning cooler, Xiao Xiao and the others chose a hotpot restaurant for this meal.
But when they arrived, they unexpectedly ran into some “familiar faces.”
“Isn’t that the couple from that ridiculous drama last time?” Zhang Jiajia blurted out in confusion. What a coincidence—two meetings and both times they bumped into them.
Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow watching the bickering couple in front of them. Yep, it was the same pair.
He ignored the male figure and frowned as he scrutinized the woman.
There was still a strong sense of dissonance.
What was it?
Xiao Xiao felt so uncomfortable he wanted to scratch his head and ears in frustration, sensing the answer was just beyond reach but unable to grasp it. The feeling was terribly awkward.
Forget it—out of sight, out of mind. Since he couldn’t figure it out now, he’d just set it aside.
Still, he couldn’t help sneaking a few more glances at the woman, then again…
At the entrance of the hotpot restaurant, two groups were facing off.
The leader on one side was the spoiled rich kid they had seen last time, wearing a smug expression typical of a playboy. The other side’s leader was clearly another wealthy heir, sporting silver-rimmed glasses that gave him a refined look.
Unfortunately, the look in his eyes was anything but refined.
After watching the standoff for a while, no one felt like picking a side or spectating, so they decided to avoid the crowd blocking the entrance and headed straight for a private room.
At meals like this, food always comes first.
As Xiao Xiao brushed past the girl, his nose twitched. Beneath the rich scent of her perfume was a strange, faint odor, weaving in and out, lingering.
Mixed with the perfume, it gave off an unsettling, almost nauseating vibe.
Quite an unpleasant association.
“Ah-choo!” Xiao Xiao rubbed his nose. He had deliberately slowed down as he passed her, sniffing carefully for a while, and was somewhat unsure but thought: was that a faint fishy smell?
Such sweet, cloying perfume—was it meant to mask this underlying fishiness?
Xiao Xiao’s face remained expressionless, a slight curve at the corner of his mouth as he naturally passed the girl and entered the restaurant. But deep in his eyes, a storm of thoughts raged.