Chapter 40: When Girls Play the Rogue, Boys Are Left Powerless

What are we betting on? The moment Wang Wenbo heard this, he perked up, no longer sleepy. “If we’re doing this, let’s make it exciting. None of those boring bets that put people to sleep.”

“Exactly! I want something thrilling!” Wang Churu slapped her small hand on the table.

Cheng Yao glanced at Liu Han Yue’s twin ponytails. “Let’s keep this between us, no need to tell them. The rule is…”

“If you can win first place in the competition, that’ll do!”

“Liu Han Yue, isn’t that a bit much?” Cheng Yao said with an insincere smile.

Liu Han Yue snorted, crossed her arms—though she had nothing to boast about—so she put her hands down and said, “No way, that’s the rule. If you get first place, I’ll grant you one request. If you don’t, you owe me a favor. Don’t worry, I won’t make you streak across the playground.”

“Just imagining it feels exciting!” Wang Churu clenched her tiny fist.

Cheng Yao glanced at her. Wang Churu lowered her head and quietly ate, giving Liu Han Yue a thumbs up.

“Deal. If I win, you’ll agree to anything I ask?”

“Of course not. Only within what I find acceptable.”

“Double standards! So if I lose, you get to toy with me as you please, but if I win, I can only ask for something small?”

“What do you mean ‘toy with you’? Can’t you be serious for once…”

Liu Han Yue’s face flushed pink; she thought his words were getting more and more indecent—after all, they’d only known each other for a few days.

“In any case, nothing too outrageous. If you’re not confident, you can opt out.”

“Alright, don’t regret it.”

So, the bet was sealed.

Cheng Yao was nearly splitting his sides with laughter. Wasn’t winning first place easy?

What should he ask for?

After a hearty meal, they headed to evening study. Cheng Yao, for once, showed up for evening self-study, headphones on, listening to music. He’d more or less settled on his song choices—a mix of old classics and popular tunes.

After all, it was a youth campus event; classic songs might not fit.

Simple.

Direct.

Just crush the competition.

Wang Churu muttered quietly, “Yueyue, do you think Cheng Yao will ask something naughty of you, like… touch your chest?”

“I’d never agree!” Liu Han Yue glanced down, her eye twitching—she’d need something to touch, first!

Fuming, Liu Han Yue leaned over. “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll secretly tell Cheng Yao about your shaving incident—the rabbit, or was it a heart? Hehehe…”

“You’re dead! I’m going to strangle you!”

Zhou Ziqing shivered, looking at Liu Han Yue and Wang Churu, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Quiet… Please keep quiet.

The seminar after evening study lasted until nine. After returning to the dorm, Wang Wenbo asked, “Where did you borrow the guitar?”

“From the class next door. One of their girls bought it. I’ll go buy one myself this Saturday.”

Cheng Yao planned to buy both guitar and piano. The piano would go in the Half-Mountain Cloud Residence, perfect for Cheng Cheng to practice.

Cheng Yao pulled up a chair and sat on the balcony, not disturbing Wang Wenbo and the others gaming. His slender fingers gently plucked the strings, melodious notes filling the air. He recorded a short video for TikTok.

Soon, the music drifted downstairs and across to the girls’ dormitory, attracting some attention.

But no one was particularly surprised; the campus singer contest was about to start, and many were in it for the prize money.

Across the way, in the girls’ dormitory,

Wang Churu leaned on the railing. “Yueyue, every time I hear Cheng Yao play guitar, it feels like he’s got a story. There’s something about the way he plays—completely different from anyone else.”

“Probably his skill and technique,” Liu Han Yue answered, yawning as she scrolled on her phone.

“Skill and technique?”

“Mm…”

Wang Churu blinked, suddenly pouncing and hugging her. “How good is it!?”

“Let go, ah~~”

“Hehe, is it better than my technique… That shaving incident, that was high school…”

“I only said it because you called me flat-chested!”

Liu Han Yue fought back fiercely, and the two beauties wrestled, tickling each other on the bed.

Their roommates watched, unable to resist commenting, “You two are so close. By the way, since you’re friends with Cheng Yao, do you have his contact info?”

“Sure, but he’s set it to reject new requests. Can’t add him.”

“Alright, carry on!”

…

…

It’s said there really is a god

A solitary soul

But never seen that door

Maybe I’m too ignorant

Just a frog in the well

A small room

Pointing fingers at the world outside

Cheng Yao played and sang in the dorm. Wang Wenbo commented, “General’s Order? This song’s intro is good, but the rest isn’t great. Are you planning to use this for the contest?”

“This one won’t do. The beginning’s classic, but the lyrics later are weak.”

Cheng Yao shook his head, just experimenting with rap.

But the TikTok video turned out well, so he decided to upload it and pull in some fans.

Unknowingly, he’d already amassed over a hundred thousand followers.

Mostly casual fans, but Cheng Yao wasn’t aiming high; slow and steady was fine.

While texting, he didn’t forget to message Zhang Ya, nor to reply to Lu Mengyao. They’d agreed to learn driving together that weekend—lessons by day, technique by night in the hotel.

“I’m a bit hungry. Anyone want to order takeout?”

“Order me two chicken wings, thanks.”

“Get a bottle of chilled Coke, please.”

“I’m good. Ate earlier. If I eat too much at night I can’t sleep.”

Cheng Yao ordered some barbecue for himself, savoring the good life.

…

…

Friday arrived. Teacher Li said, “Good luck to the students participating in the campus singer competition.”

All eyes landed on Cheng Yao, Huo Bocheng, and Ban Fengxiu.

Cheng Yao kept his head down, studying the sheet music and lyrics, drawing the attention of many girls. There’s just something handsome about a focused boy.

Time passed. After class, he bribed Liu Han Yue with a cup of milk tea and borrowed her notes to review. That was enough.

He really didn’t care much for studying.

He’d need to practice driving tomorrow, so tonight he planned to help Cheng Cheng move.

After his outburst in the parents’ group, the chat only opened for a short time; otherwise, it was locked down.

Friday, everyone was heading home.

Cheng Yao planned to return, too—to his and Cheng Cheng’s new home, not the cramped rental apartment.

Registration for the campus singer competition was closing soon—nine o’clock tonight. Nearly six hundred contestants.

After school, crowds of students left campus.

“I’m off. Need to clean up the rental and hand it over to the landlord.”

“Bye!”

“See you Monday.”

Cheng Yao had little to pack. He slung his bag over his shoulder and left, calling Cheng Cheng.

“Hello.”

“Hey, what’s up?”

“I’m heading back to the rental now, getting ready to move…”

After hanging up, Cheng Yao hailed a cab straight to the apartment.

A dozen minutes later, he arrived first. Cheng Cheng soon followed, backpack bouncing as she ran in.

“Brother, where are we moving to?”

…