Chapter 20: Still a Fool When Faced with Love

Whether it was exaggerated or not, everyone present could tell—the performance was truly on par with the original, with only a few flaws in technique. Even the guys thought it sounded great. Didn’t you see how all the girls were moved to tears?

Oh, right—moved to tears, not anything else.

As the song ended, Cheng Yao made exaggerated faces at Liu Hanyue and her friends.

Wang Churuo said, “He’s looking over here, Hanyue. Do you think he’s interested in you?”

Liu Hanyue glanced at her. “I thought you’d ask if he was interested in you.”

“Oh, come on. I’m not actually clueless. Besides, I already asked about that day—he only greeted us because he made a bet about whether you were pretty or not.” Wang Churuo grinned slyly.

Liu Hanyue’s eyes widened. “You actually asked him?”

“Of course. They bet a week’s worth of lunches. Cheng Yao won.”

Liu Hanyue snorted, annoyed. “I gave him the chance. If I hadn’t coughed that day, he wouldn’t have won a week’s worth of meals. He should treat us to lunch at least once.”

“Exactly.”

“Besides, what does my appearance have to do with them? A bunch of bored hooligans.”

She glanced at Cheng Yao, begrudgingly admitting he looked much more refined playing guitar than when playing basketball.

Wang Churuo kept a mischievous smile, but inwardly, she saw through everything.

The song had set the field abuzz. The girls shrieked like cats in heat.

“Encore! Encore! Ahhh…”

“I just realized—Cheng Yao from Class One is really handsome. What do I do? He’s totally my type!”

“Every handsome guy is your type, you little flirt!”

Cheng Yao jumped off the stage. The coach, surprised, said, “Not bad, kid. Look around—pick someone you like and confess right now. I guarantee you have a seventy percent chance of success. Believe it?”

“Cough, cough. I’ll pass on that.” Cheng Yao laughed awkwardly. If he really did that, his reputation would be ruined for good.

Wang Wenbo rushed over, clapping him hard on the shoulder. “Damn, Cheng, you’ve got some serious skill. No wonder you’re one of our 404 dorm legends. Awesome!”

“Quit slapping me, you’re going to blind me with all these photos. Next one will cost you!”

Just then, a bespectacled girl ran up. “Cheng Yao, hi, I’m Ning Rongrong from Class Two. Can I upload the video online?”

You can’t refuse someone who’s smiling, and she even asked for his permission. After thinking it over, Cheng Yao nodded. “Go ahead.”

Immediately, groups of girls came over asking for his contact, claiming they were all single.

Wang Wenbo and the others basked in the feeling of being surrounded by girls—it was a thrill like drinking an ice-cold soda.

Wang Wenbo whispered, “No one is to mention that Cheng has a girlfriend, understand?”

“Why not?”

“Are you stupid? If they know he’s taken, who’s going to ask for his contact?”

“Good point, good point.”

When the crowd finally thinned out, Liu Hanyue and Wang Churuo sat down. Liu Hanyue fixed Cheng Yao with a look. “Feeling pleased with yourself, Cheng Yao?”

“Very!”

“How pleased?”

“As high as the cheers went, that’s how pleased I am. I could fly from happiness…”

Wang Churuo looked confused—he still hadn’t answered her question, so she smiled and asked, “Did you add all those girls?”

“No, I politely declined.”

In truth, Cheng Yao had added a few of the prettier ones and turned down the rest—he’d hit the friend limit anyway. The other girls flocked to Wang Wenbo and his friends, still for the same reason.

He really had no interest in the crowd—he was a sucker for good looks.

Liu Hanyue said, “Congratulations, you’ve earned first pick in the dating pool. I’d say you’re about to become the talk of our School of Economics.”

“Talk of the school? That’s a stretch. I’m just playing around.”

Cheng Yao smiled wryly. He wouldn’t call himself a celebrity, but his name would definitely get around—though what use was that, really?

He leaned back on the grass, supporting himself with his hands, and gazed up at the starry sky in a moment of literary flair. “Military training is almost over. I’m exhausted—once it’s done, I really need a good rest.”

“My skin’s gotten a lot darker, even though I put on sunscreen,” someone complained.

“My little sister called and said she’d gotten darker too…”

Liu Hanyue’s curiosity was piqued. “You have a younger sister? You look pretty good—she must be very pretty too, right?”

“My sister’s pretty average. I got all the good genes.”

Wang Churuo burst out laughing. “If I were your sister, I’d hate you for life.”

“Not really. She complains about it, though,” Cheng Yao replied with a smile.

That song had been the highlight of the evening. The following activities paled in comparison, but the students still enjoyed themselves immensely.

Soon enough, nine o’clock came around.

Back in their dorm, Wang Wenbo rattled on excitedly. “Cheng, you’re famous in our school now!”

“Oh? Do I get paid for it?”

“No money, but there are girls! That group almost started a fight just now. I got dozens of contacts. Damn, if I were this popular, I’d date a new girl every week.”

Wang Wenbo was green with envy.

Cheng Yao teased, “A new one every week? In less than two months, you’d be the shame of our dorm and tagged a player by all the girls. Then you’d really be in trouble.”

“Hmm, you might be right.”

At that moment, Cheng Yao’s phone rang. He stepped onto the balcony to answer it. “Hello, is military training finished?”

“It’s over. Come home tomorrow, okay?”

“Tomorrow’s the weekend. I’ll take you shopping, get some new clothes and pants. Last semester’s must be too small by now, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Get up early.”

“Alright, got it.”

He hung up and went back inside.

Wang Wenbo was turning on his computer. “With your attitude, when your little sister gets married, you’ll be heartbroken, won’t you?”

“She’s not allowed to date until she graduates from college.”

“Whoa, harsh! If she can’t get a boyfriend, your sister will hate you forever.”

Cheng Yao just smiled. That was his rule, but he knew all too well about teenage rebellion and girls’ yearning for romance. He couldn’t really stop her—at most, he’d help her screen her suitors.

After all, guys know guys best.

Stretching and showering, Cheng Yao stepped out onto the balcony to feel the breeze. He couldn’t resist scrolling through his contacts and opening a chat with Zhang Ya.

“Zhang Ya…”

“Hey, is your military training over?”

“Yeah. I’ll come see you tomorrow afternoon if you’re free.”

“Of course I’m free. How’s school life?”

“Not bad.”

“Are there any beautiful girls in your class?”

A trap—Cheng Yao could tell immediately. “They’re all ugly. None of them compare to you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Really, I swear!”

“Even if you swear more, it’s pointless. I’m about to practice the piano—want to listen?”

At the balcony door, three heads poked out, eavesdropping on Cheng Yao’s conversation with Zhang Ya, full of interest.

Wang Wenbo clicked his tongue in amazement. “Who would’ve thought, Cheng? You’re so smooth with girls, but when you talk to Zhang Ya, you turn into a model student.”

“Shut up,” Cheng Yao muttered into the phone. “Just my idiot roommates, ignore them.”

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