Chapter 325: Not a Burden, Not at All

Now fully convinced of the girl’s identity, Mu Zhaozhao’s eyes brightened as she offered a warm smile. “Senior, were you looking for someone just now when you were peeking into our dorm?”

“I wasn’t looking for anyone,” Ren Jiaojiao shook her head. After a pause for thought, she added, “I just noticed your dorm only has three beds. Does that mean only three of you live here?”

“Yeah, just the three of us,” Mu Zhaozhao nodded cheerfully.

Ren Jiaojiao’s eyes sparkled. “An empty bed like that is such a waste. Do you think… I could move in?”

Mu Zhaozhao blinked in surprise. “You don’t have a dorm of your own?”

“Of course I do. But it leaks when it rains—the ceiling’s got a crack right above my bed. Half the time, my quilt gets soaked through,” Ren Jiaojiao replied, visibly annoyed at the thought.

“Oh wow, that sounds awful,” Mu Zhaozhao winced sympathetically.

“Right? Total nightmare,” Jiaojiao sighed dramatically. “So when I saw the spare bed in your room, I figured I’d ask if I could move in.”

Mu Zhaozhao tilted her head thoughtfully. “I don’t mind, but I’m not the only one living there. I’ll have to ask my roommates first—wait here, okay?” With that, she ducked back inside.

A few moments later, she returned with a smile. “They said it’s totally fine.”

“Awesome!” Ren Jiaojiao beamed. “I’ll go grab my things.”

“Wait, we’ve kind of piled a bunch of stuff on the spare bed,” Zhaozhao said, scratching her cheek in embarrassment. “It’d be hard to clean it all up right now. Maybe it’s better to wait till tomorrow?”

It was late, and frankly, she wasn’t in the mood to clean. She had other priorities—Qin Yunhan had already invited her to squad up for some ranked gaming.

“Alright, tomorrow works,” Jiaojiao agreed without fuss. She didn’t want to leave a bad first impression, especially not with Mu Zhaozhao.

“Zhaozhao, what are you doing? I already formed the team—we’re just waiting on you!” a voice called out impatiently from down the hall.

“Coming, Sister Yunhan!” Mu Zhaozhao answered, hurriedly fishing out her phone.

Ren Jiaojiao glanced toward the voice and spotted a strikingly beautiful girl standing just outside another dorm room. Her eyes widened. “Wait… that’s Qin Yunhan, isn’t it? The other campus belle from your year?”

“Yup, she’s my bestie,” Zhaozhao said with a giggle.

“Can you not yell in the hallway?” another girl leaned out from the neighboring dorm, irritation written all over her pretty face.

“I’ll yell if I damn well please! Mind your business!” Qin Yunhan shot back without hesitation.

Ren Jiaojiao’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the girl who had just spoken. “That’s… Xu Muyan, right?”

Mu Zhaozhao nodded. “Mhm.”

Jiaojiao couldn’t help the grin that stretched across her face. Delight shimmered in her eyes, and the excitement building in her chest practically made her tremble.

What a jackpot.

All three of the freshman campus belles lived on this floor.

And by tomorrow, she’d be moving in with one of them.

She definitely had to start paying visits.

—

First period, the next morning.

Wang Haoran stepped into the classroom and immediately spotted Wei Zhihang slumped over his desk, his right eye dark and swollen like a panda’s. Alarmed, he rushed over. “Old Fourth! Did someone beat you up? Who was it? Tell me!”

Wei Zhihang was a minor villain in the narrative, with a naturally punchable face. Getting beaten up out of the blue? That was probably the protagonist’s doing.

And wherever the protagonist struck,

halo points

and

villain points

were sure to follow.

Wang Haoran was practically buzzing with excitement.

“N-No, I just tripped,” Zhihang said with a stiff smile, trying to play it off.

“Bullshit,” Wang Haoran said bluntly. “You trip and end up like that? Be honest—did you try to mess with some beauty and get your ass kicked by her knight in shining armor?”

“It wasn’t a guy… it was Ren Jiaojiao,” Zhihang muttered, defeated. “And she didn’t just hit my eye. She got my brother too. Still hurts.”

“Ren Jiaojiao?” Wang Haoran raised a brow.

“Our senior in the Finance Department,” Zhihang clarified.

“You serious, Old Fourth?” Liu Hua leaned in, openly sneering. “You got laid out by a girl?”

“I heard Ren Jiaojiao’s supposed to be gentle and sweet. Why the hell did she get violent?” Lu Ming chimed in.

“Rumors, all of it,” Zhihang grumbled. “She’s brutal. Don’t let those skinny arms and legs fool you—she hits like a damn truck.”

“So what now?” Liu Hua asked, clearly enjoying this. “You just gonna let it slide?”

“Of course not!” Zhihang’s face twisted in rage. Lowering his voice to a whisper, he hissed, “I’m planning to buy some knockout drugs online. Once I get her alone, I’ll knock her out and teach her a lesson. Gotta avenge my little brother.”

“Leave it to me.” Wang Haoran clapped a firm hand on his shoulder. “I’ll settle the score for you.”

Ren Jiaojiao—sophomore year’s famed campus belle. Gorgeous, they said. Now caught in the sights of a minor villain like Zhihang?

That practically screamed female lead. And when it came to handling female leads, only a professional villain would do.

Wang Haoran didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He took the job without blinking.

“Boss, that’s really kind of you,” Zhihang said, grateful but sheepish.

“Not a burden, not at all,” Haoran replied with a calm smile.

“Hey, Wang Haoran! What are you guys whispering about?” A bright voice rang out behind them.

They turned to see Mu Zhaozhao walking over, curious as ever.

“Talking about Ren Jiaojiao!” Lu Ming blurted before anyone could stop him.

Wang Haoran shot him a glare that made the boy shrink back. Then he turned to Zhaozhao with a calm face. “Just discussing classwork.”

“Oh.” She clearly didn’t buy it, but didn’t press further.

“Look, it’s Ren Jiaojiao!” Liu Hua suddenly pointed toward the window.

Everyone turned to look.

Outside, a tall girl with a stunning figure walked past. Even at a glance, she scored a 95—gorgeous curves, confident stride, textbook female lead material.

And just like that, she was gone.

“You couldn’t take your eyes off her. You want to get to know Ren Jiaojiao that badly?” Mu Zhaozhao teased.

“Why would I want to know her?” Wang Haoran scoffed, putting on a righteous face. Then, after a short pause, he looked at Zhaozhao. “You said that like you know her.”

“She’s moving into my dorm today. We’re going to be roommates,” Zhaozhao replied.

“Really? Want me to help you tidy up the room?” Wang Haoran offered, a little too eagerly.

“Are you helping me? Or are you just trying to cozy up to Ren Jiaojiao?” Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes.

“I don’t even know her. Of course I’m helping you,” he said smoothly. Then, with a casual shrug, added, “But if you don’t want help, that’s fine too.”

“I do, actually.” She smiled. “That spare bed’s a mess. We’ve stacked a bunch of stuff on it, and I don’t want to clean it alone. Come help.”

Despite her suspicions, Mu Zhaozhao didn’t mind an excuse to spend more time with him. And if it gave her a chance to watch him up close—so be it.

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