Chapter 36: If You Had Money, You’d Be Even Worse Than Me

After filling out the information, Zhou Ziqing glanced at Wang Wenbo. “What’s wrong with him? Didn’t he sleep well last night?”

“Kidney deficiency,” Cheng Yao replied with a chuckle.

Zhou Ziqing’s cheeks flushed. She shot him an annoyed glare and turned away.

Wang Wenbo was genuinely exhausted and continued sleeping even after the homeroom teacher entered.

Cheng Yao couldn’t figure it out. If it’s really such a problem, just do it less—why act like he can manage thirteen times in a row? If you don’t have the skills, don’t take on jobs beyond your ability.

Even someone like Cheng Yao, who carried a bunch of grapes in his pocket, wouldn’t dare overdo it.

Medical studies prove that excessive indulgence leads to memory loss and dark circles under the eyes—time itself is the real assassin, leaving those dark shadows deep as caves and the whole body weak and powerless.

Cheng Yao switched his phone to silent, scrolled for a while since the class was pretty dull, and decided to borrow Liu Hanyue’s notes after class.

Meanwhile, the parents’ group chat was lively.

Scrolling up, Cheng Yao frowned, finding the whole exchange absurd.

Dong Bin’s mom: Fellow parents, National Day is just around the corner. The teachers work so hard—shouldn’t we pool together and show some appreciation?

Yan Zhenglan’s mom: Dong Bin’s mom is always so thoughtful. I was just thinking the same.

Jia Shijun’s dad: Agreed! Both moms are absolutely right!

Yao Xinming’s dad: Especially the homeroom teacher, who works extra hard. We parents really ought to do something.

Dong Bin’s mom: Everyone, think about what we could buy for the teachers.

So Cheng Yao joined the conversation.

Cheng Chen’s brother: I heard our homeroom teacher isn’t married yet and hasn’t bought a house. Why don’t we pool our money and buy her an apartment at Half-Mountain Cloud Residence? It’s close to school, convenient for teaching.

Jia Shijun’s dad: …

Immediately after, Cheng Yao saw that posting in the group was now forbidden.

He laughed, put away his phone, and focused on the lesson.

After class, Cheng Yao approached Liu Hanyue. “Hey, beauty, can I borrow your notes?”

“No.”

“Still mad about yesterday?”

“No,” Liu Hanyue rolled her eyes, clearly uninterested.

Cheng Yao grinned. “How about this: let’s play again, I’ll only use half my strength.”

“Get lost!”

Liu Hanyue stood, grabbing her twin ponytails and swinging them at him. “Thunder Warhammer!”

Her ponytails missed, and Cheng Yao watched her quietly.

Liu Hanyue, embarrassed, wished she could crawl into a hole. She silently sat down and placed her notes on the desk.

Cheng Yao glanced at them. “Thanks. Your handwriting is nice.”

“Mm…”

He put away the notes. “You really are the master of monkey tricks.”

Liu Hanyue’s cheeks turned crimson, her ears burning.

Wang Churuo, sitting nearby, gave an auntie smile.

Cheng Yao laughed. “You two have always been close, right? Known each other for ages?”

“Yeah, we’ve been at the same school since kindergarten. Childhood friends…”

“Wang Churuo, are you a boy?”

Wang Churuo covered her mouth. “Slip of the tongue. We’ve always been best girlfriends.”

Cheng Yao leaned in and whispered, “Is her flat chest hereditary?”

Wang Churuo’s face instantly flushed, and she pinched Cheng Yao’s hand.

Liu Hanyue fixed her gaze on Cheng Yao. “What did you say?”

“Nothing…”

“I heard you. Go die, Cheng Yao!”

After Cheng Yao left, Liu Hanyue was breathing hard, glancing at her own toes with frustration.

Hmph.

Do boys only like girls like Zhou Ziqing, whose toes are invisible beneath their curves?

Shallow! It’s all just fat anyway…

…

Sneaking out of the classroom, Cheng Yao headed to the school’s commercial street. A few storefronts were still unsold, and the area was crowded with students.

He had just reached the milk tea shop when his attention was drawn to a tall, beautiful woman.

Name: Wang Yuting (Conquerable)
Looks: 84
Figure: 78
Special: 91

Vice President of the Student Council?

Cheng Yao’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected this senior from the fourth year to have such striking looks—almost rivaling Lu Mengyao.

But Wang Yuting was a completely different type. Lu Mengyao was a bit naïve, while Wang Yuting was mature in every way, including her style.

The most important detail: she wore black stockings.

Which college student could resist?

College girls… they’re really something.

Seeing Cheng Yao approach, Wang Yuting assumed he was there to buy milk tea. “Go ahead.”

“You’re Senior Wang Yuting, right?”

“I am. And you are…?” Wang Yuting looked at the young man and nodded.

“I’m Cheng Yao, first year in the School of Economics.”

“Cheng Yao…” Wang Yuting frowned, searching her memory, then exclaimed, “Oh, you contacted me this morning, right?”

“Yeah, what a coincidence.”

“It really is,” Wang Yuting nodded gently, finding this junior enthusiastic and mistakenly thinking he was interested in her.

The server smiled. “Handsome, what would you like?”

Cheng Yao ordered several tea drinks. Wang Yuting waved goodbye. “Junior, good luck in the campus singer contest.”

“Thank you.”

He watched Wang Yuting leave, feeling nothing special—just that she was a very attractive senior.

Back in the classroom, everyone got a fruit tea and continued with the lessons.

After a morning’s nap, Wang Wenbo finally revived. “I can’t have dinner with you tonight.”

“?”

“?”

Zhang Lei and Zhu Huiyang both gave thumbs up. Cheng Yao was baffled. “Haven’t you seen a woman before? Do you plan on dying in Chen Qian’s bed?”

“What are you talking about? I’m going to Xinjiekou for a date tonight. I’ll be back late. If I did this every day, do you think I’m made of iron?”

“Exactly.” Cheng Yao nodded. If you’re not made of iron, how could you endure such wear and tear?

If even an iron rod can be ground into a needle, how much more so…

Wang Wenbo headed for Xinjiekou, while Cheng Yao planned to go with Lu Mengyao to YH District to look at cars, conveniently avoiding trouble.

Cheng Yao changed the subject. “Are you really going to lock up the shared bikes?”

It wasn’t that Cheng Yao disliked Chen Qian, but honestly, the impression wasn’t great. Knowing each other for two days and already checking into hotels? Calling her a shared bike wasn’t too far off.

Wang Wenbo wasn’t even handsome.

What did she see in him?

His refusal to shower?

If Cheng Yao put himself in Wang Wenbo’s shoes—if the girl were Lu Mengyao, that goddess of green tea, he’d probably never even get to touch her hand.

“If there’s meat, why not eat it? You think I’m a fool?” Wang Wenbo spread his hands. “I’ve got limited money—can manage a few lipsticks, but nothing more. I doubt it’ll last long anyway. Honestly, I still yearn for pure love.”

“Don’t give me that crap, you scumbag!”

“Hah, if you had money, you’d be even worse than me—believe it?” Wang Wenbo said seriously.

Wang Wenbo thought, with Cheng Yao’s looks, if he had money and talent, his life would be a nonstop fireworks show, utterly shameless and wild.

Cheng Yao: “….”

He didn’t argue—because it was true. In fact, that’s exactly how things were.

…

…