On the way back to the university, Zhao Yuan looked at the coupon in his hand and gave a wry smile. "Looks like I've been blacklisted by this restaurant."
Lin Xue pursed her lips and smiled. "Eating a restaurant into submission... I'd only ever heard about that in jokes before. I never thought I'd see it with my own eyes. Zhao, you're amazing!"
Yang Zi chimed in, teasing, "Haha, did you guys see the look in the owner's eyes? It was filled with such bitter resentment. If looks could kill, Zhao would probably be riddled with holes by now."
After laughing, she clicked her tongue in wonder. "Zhao, I really didn't expect this. You don't look particularly built, but your appetite is terrifying! Do you always eat this much? It's so strange. How do you eat so much and not gain any weight? Don't tell me you have some secret weight-loss trick?"
As expected, what women cared about most was still their figure.
"I exercise a lot, so I have a good appetite. That's also why I don't look fat," Zhao Yuan answered vaguely. He couldn't very well say that his ability to eat a lot without gaining weight was due to Body Refining, could he? 'If I said that, it'd be a miracle if anyone believed me.'
The three of them chatted as they walked, and they soon arrived at the university gates.
Seeing that Zhao Yuan wasn't making a move, Lin Xue hesitated for a moment before taking the initiative to invite him. "How about we find a place to sit down and get a drink? I know a coffee shop nearby with a great atmosphere."
When Yang Zi heard this, she couldn't help but be taken aback. It was the first time she had ever seen Lin Xue be so forward. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, 'Don't tell me Xiaoxue is actually crushing on this Zhao Yuan?'
In Yang Zi's eyes, faced with Lin Xue's direct invitation, Zhao Yuan would surely jump at the chance. After all, with Lin Xue's charm on full display, what man could possibly refuse?
However, the way things unfolded was completely beyond Yang Zi's expectations.
Zhao Yuan didn't agree immediately. Instead, he pulled out his phone, glanced at the time, and then shook his head. "Never mind. It's getting late. I should head back."
'What's going on? This guy actually refused Lin Xue's invitation?'
Yang Zi's mouth fell open in surprise. For a moment, she suspected she had misheard.
That was Lin Xue! The Lin Xue who was voted the Sweetheart Goddess! The dream girl of countless male students at West Hua Medical University. For her invitation to be rejected... even seeing it with her own eyes, it was hard to believe.
'Could it be that he's into men?' Yang Zi's mind couldn't help but run wild.
"Oh, okay then. Back to the university." Lin Xue was a little disappointed. This was the first time she had ever invited a guy for coffee, and to her surprise, she had been turned down.
How could Zhao Yuan possibly know any of this? Having eaten and drunk his fill, his mind was completely preoccupied with getting back to study medicine with his Information Leaf. Besides, he had always been dense when it came to matters of the heart. Otherwise, Wu Yan wouldn't have called him a blockhead.
"Which dorm building are you in? I'll walk you over." Although he was clueless about romance, Zhao Yuan still had manners. He didn't just ditch the two beauties at the gate but walked Lin Xue and Yang Zi all the way to their dorm building before saying goodbye and leaving.
Watching Zhao Yuan's departing figure, Yang Zi threw an arm around Lin Xue, playfully teasing her as she interrogated her. "Xiaoxue, fess up. You're into this guy, aren't you?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Lin Xue's pretty face flushed red as she flatly denied it.
Yang Zi narrowed her eyes and huffed. "I'm not talking nonsense. You were acting really strange today. Normally, you're so cold and aloof with guys. When are you ever like this, inviting them to dinner and then coffee? You've definitely got a crush!"
"What? I was just expressing my gratitude to my benefactor!" Lin Xue explained hurriedly.
Yang Zi didn't buy it at all. "Dinner is enough to express gratitude. Was inviting him for coffee really necessary? What if he had said yes? Would you have gone to a movie after coffee? I never knew, Xiaoxue, you've got some smooth moves for picking up guys. But this kid is average-looking and plainly dressed. He's not handsome or rich. What is it you see in him?"
"You're just talking nonsense. I can't be bothered with you." Lin Xue wriggled out of Yang Zi's embrace, turned, and quickly walked into the dorm building. Her heart, however, was in turmoil because of Yang Zi's words. 'That's right, why did I think of asking Zhao Yuan for coffee? And I was so disappointed when he said no... Could it be that I really like him? No way. I've only met him twice. How could I possibly like him?'
Back in her dorm room, it was a long time before the blush on Lin Xue's face finally faded.
Zhao Yuan, of course, had no idea about any of this. He walked briskly and was back in his own dorm in no time.
When he pushed open the door to his room, Wu Yan was in the middle of saying something to Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng.
Seeing him return, Wu Yan flew over as if he'd seen his savior, yelling, "Third Brother, you're finally back! I told First Brother and Second Brother that Lin Xue invited you to dinner, but they don't believe me! They insist I'm lying. Quick, come and back me up!"
Liu Zhu said with a smile, "Give it up, Fourth Brother. Third Brother would never help you lie."
Wang Rongfeng also said, "Of all the people to ask for help with a lie, you pick Third Brother? Aren't you just asking for trouble?"
"I told you, I'm not lying! Every word is true!" Wu Yan shouted at the other two before turning to urge Zhao Yuan, "Third Brother, hurry up and prove it."
"Fourth Brother isn't lying. Lin Xue really did invite me to dinner today. She was going to ask me for coffee too, but I turned her down because I thought it was too late."
The moment Zhao Yuan said this, Dorm 301 fell utterly silent.
"What's wrong with you guys?" Zhao Yuan was baffled by his three good brothers' reaction.
"Third Brother, you're incredible. Absolutely incredible! That's Lin Xue we're talking about! She personally invited you for coffee, and you turned her down? Because it was too late? If it were me, I'd be hoping it got later and later!" Wu Yan said excitedly, his tone one of utter exasperation.
Liu Zhu let out a long sigh and said mournfully, "Third Brother, you've been corrupted!"
"Isn't he?" Wang Rongfeng agreed. "Helping Fourth Brother lie... you've really fallen! Most importantly, if you're going to lie, at least make it a little believable. Lin Xue inviting Third Brother to dinner and coffee? That's the most ridiculous brag I've ever heard. Only a Ghost would believe that!"
Just as he said that, Zhao Yuan's phone rang. He pulled it out and saw it was a text from Lin Xue.
"Huh? Third Brother, when did you get a phone? Whoa, it's a text from Lin Xue!" Wu Yan was standing right next to Zhao Yuan and caught a glimpse of the screen, crying out in shock.
"Keep faking! Go on, keep it up!" Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng still didn't believe it, even joking, "Going out and buying a new phone just to sell a lie? That's some serious commitment!"
Zhao Yuan opened the message and saw that Lin Xue had sent a few group photos from their dinner at the hot pot restaurant. Wu Yan, who had peeked, immediately shouted, "Third Brother, you took pictures with Lin Xue? I'm so jealous! First Brother, Second Brother, you don't believe me, right? Come on, come look at the pictures. These are group photos sent by Lin Xue herself! Hmph, you might suspect Third Brother and me of lying, but there's no way Lin Xue would conspire with us!"
Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng exchanged a glance. Although still skeptical, they couldn't help but lean in for a look.
After seeing the photos and confirming that the message was indeed from Lin Xue, the two of them were so shocked their jaws hung open for a long time.
"Third Brother, Lin Xue really invited you to dinner?"
"So you're the mysterious guy from the school forums? Damn, that's incredible!"
After the shock wore off, Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng simultaneously grabbed Zhao Yuan's legs, shouting, "Third Brother, please teach us your ways with women! Fourth Brother is always bragging about how great he is at picking up girls, but compared to you quietly winning over the Sweetheart Goddess, he's a total amateur!"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? My skills with women aren't bad, okay? Although, I admit they're not as good as Third Brother's..." At this point, Wu Yan also dropped to his knees with a THUD, shamelessly joining the ranks of those begging to become his disciple.
That night, Dorm 301 was buzzing with excitement!
γThe next dayγ
Zhao Yuan woke up before dawn. He couldn't wait to get to his rental unit to check if the Soul-Stabilizing Incense and Bone Refining Pills had dried.