Trapped In Paradise
Volume 1 Chapter 74: Don't Make a Fuss
Zhang Shaoqing's descent into darkness should be impossible now.
The high fever he'd had a few days ago, along with becoming feminine once again, could be considered the punishment for destroying the "darkening" plotline.
At least, that was what Ning Chu believed.
But the fact that he hadn't become evil only meant that Zhang Shaoqing wouldn't commit the unlawful and immoral acts he had in the novel. It didn't mean that he had already forgotten his childhood sweetheart.
Ning Chu was still somewhat worried about Zhang Shaoqing's mental state, afraid that he might do something extreme.
Just look at all those news stories about people who, after a breakup, threatened to die or even committed suicide for love...
That morning, Ning Chu only had two classes, but each one lasted nearly two hours.
At noon, when the clock struck twelve and the class bell rang, the teacher at the front of the room picked up his lesson plan and left the classroom even faster than the students did.
The students surged toward the exits, like zombies breaking out of containment, bunching up around the front and rear doors.
Ning Chu picked up his textbook and stood. He quickly glanced at his three roommates.
Wen Yang had listened attentively all morning and even taken notes. One look was enough to tell that he was the model of a good student. Wang Jie had spent two classes reading a novel, while Zhang Shaoqing had been playing a mobile game the entire time, occasionally turning around gloomily to glance at Ling Ling—and, in the process, spending two 648-yuan recharge packs.
Being rich must be nice~
Ning Chu waited until the crowd blocking the doorway had dispersed before heading out. As soon as he moved, Wen Yang immediately followed.
Ning Chu glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Noticing his gaze, Wen Yang immediately asked, "Want to go to the cafeteria together?"
"No. I already ordered takeout."
Wen Yang glanced at Wang Jie.
Who said I was talking to you?
"Forget it. I don't feel like squeezing into the cafeteria."
Although Ning Chu was worried that Wen Yang might get approached and flirted with by some girl if he went alone, he was even more concerned that Wen Yang's friendship with him might develop into something else.
No! It had probably already started to change!
"Okay, then."
Wen Yang looked a little dejected, like a puppy that had been abandoned and cast aside.
As the four of them passed the cafeteria, Wen Yang walked toward the entrance alone, looking utterly forlorn.
Ning Chu looked back at his retreating figure and pressed his lips together. He was just about to head back to the dormitory when he turned his head and saw Zhang Shaoqing make a turn, heading off in another direction.
What was this guy going to do?!
Ning Chu frowned, unable to put his mind at ease about Zhang Shaoqing.
Whether the guy was plotting some scheme to cause trouble for a girl, or was so emotionally devastated by his breakup that he was about to lose control, Ning Chu couldn't let Zhang Shaoqing out of his sight for too long.
"You go back first." Ning Chu instructed Wang Jie, "Remember to grab my takeout for me."
"Okay." Wang Jie muttered as he continued walking. "Why is everyone acting so weird..."
Keeping a distance of only two or three meters, Ning Chu made no attempt to hide himself as he followed Zhang Shaoqing into the athletic field.
It was the middle of the day. The sunlight beat straight down onto the ground, and with temperatures above thirty-five degrees Celsius, there was barely another student to be seen on the field.
Zhang Shaoqing stopped on the rubber track and turned around, looking at Ning Chu's face, which was filled with concern.
"You..." He shook his head helplessly. "You really do love sticking your nose into other people's business."
"Yeah, well... I'm just a little worried."
"Wen Yang is getting hit on by a girl in the cafeteria."
Ning Chu jolted and instinctively looked back toward the cafeteria.
"You really want to meddle in everything. Can you use the Shadow Clone Technique?"
"We're roommates, after all... Why did you come to the track?" He looked around, trying to find Ling Ling. "Did you arrange to meet Ling Ling here to talk?"
Zhang Shaoqing shook his head. "What is there to talk to her about? Forget it."
He fell silent for a moment, his expression dimming as he lowered his head.
"..."
If Ning Chu put himself in Zhang Shaoqing's position, he wouldn't feel any better either. Not knowing how to comfort him, he could only awkwardly say, "It's all in the past now..."
Zhang Shaoqing didn't answer. Instead, he began walking along the track.
Gradually, his slow walk became a jog, then a run, and finally an all-out sprint.
"How is that supposed to be a way of venting your emotions..." Ning Chu glanced up at the cloudless sky, the corner of his mouth twitching. He was completely speechless. "He's definitely going to get heatstroke."
He could've at least run a few laps inside the school gym. Why did he have to do it under the blazing sun?
Ning Chu sat down on the grass, but the ground was scorching hot, making it impossible for him to sit comfortably.
"What is wrong with all of them~"
Ning Chu felt like he was worrying over these guys even more than their own parents would. Zhang Shaoqing and Wen Yang—one heartbroken, the other going through a rebellious phase...
Ever since he transmigrated into this world, it seemed like nothing had ever gone smoothly.
Who was going to worry about him for once~? He was tired too~
"What's wrong with him?" Wen Yang's voice suddenly came from behind.
Ning Chu turned around and saw Wen Yang already sitting beside him, handing him a bottle of Coke.
"Aren't you going to the cafeteria to eat?"
"I got takeout." Wen Yang held up the takeout containers he was carrying. "I saw you two heading toward the track as soon as I came out of the cafeteria."
"Oh~"
Ning Chu subtly shifted his butt a little, putting some distance between them, while explaining, "He probably needs to vent a little. He saw Ling Ling in class today, so it's normal for him to be in a bad mood."
He lowered his gaze to the Coke in his hand.
"I'll transfer the money to you later."
Three yuan for a bottle of Coke was nothing to him, but for Wen Yang, it was the price of a breakfast.
"It's fine. It's on me."
Wen Yang carefully studied Ning Chu's expression. Seeing that Ning Chu was mostly focused on Zhang Shaoqing sprinting around the track, he looked over as well.
"How long has he been running? Isn't he going to get heatstroke?"
"He probably wants to get heatstroke." Ning Chu let out a sigh. "So childish... Torturing himself and convincing himself that he's suffering, as if that'll somehow make Ling Ling come back to him."
"..."
Wen Yang was surprised to hear Ning Chu speaking in such a deliberately mature tone for once, and he had no idea how to respond.
"Hey! Take him to the infirmary!"
Zhang Shaoqing suddenly collapsed heavily onto the ground. Ning Chu was so startled that he practically jumped to his feet. He instinctively grabbed Wen Yang by the wrist and hurried toward him.
"Don't let him hurt himself!"
Ning Chu hurried over to Zhang Shaoqing, only to find the guy lying flat on his back in a spread-eagle position, staring up at the azure sky. His eyes were vacant, and he looked like an idiot.
Ning Chu froze in place, then sighed with a complicated expression.
Well, he only had himself to blame. Back then, he had insisted on writing that smutty novel, and he had insisted on turning Zhang Shaoqing into a villain...
He released Wen Yang's wrist, crouched down, and gently stroked Zhang Shaoqing's head. With an exasperated yet gentle smile, he said, "Alright, alright. Go back and take a nap. Stop messing around, okay?"
"You're a cat girl fetishist, right? Once Black Bean turns into a cat girl, I'll marry her off to you~"
Zhang Shaoqing's gaze shifted from the dazed stare he had fixed on the sky to Ning Chu's smiling face, bathed in a golden glow by the sunlight, and then to Wen Yang's worried expression.
His lips moved.
"How could a cat possibly turn into a cat girl..."
He had intended to laugh and curse at Ning Chu as usual, but his throat tightened. The ache in his nose became too much to bear, and he once again ended up crying and laughing at the same time. Wiping away his tears, he choked out between sobs, "Y-you're crazy, aren't you?"
Standing behind them, Wen Yang shook his head and sighed.
"With a roommate like Ning Chu, you'd better count yourself lucky."
"Can you get up? Or should I carry you to the infirmary?"
He crouched halfway down and held out his hand to Zhang Shaoqing.
"Stop fooling around. You're making Ning Chu worry about you all day."
"Mm..."