HRCMF Chapter 22

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🍋‍🟩 Completed Chapter

The group meeting ended hastily, and Shen Yan practically fled.

Ever since he gained this superpower, he hadn't had many normal days.

The complex relationship between the three of them was burning his CPU out.

At this moment, Shen Yan thought of Zhao Linsu.

Not about Zhao Linsu fantasizing about him, but whenever he had a problem he couldn't understand, he would usually choose to discuss it with Zhao Linsu. It had been this way since he met Zhao Linsu.

However, this particular problem was clearly not suitable for discussion with Zhao Linsu.

Moreover, he was currently keeping his distance from Zhao Linsu…

He wondered if Zhao Linsu had found people to team up with.

It should be fine, right?

Then Shen Yan felt a pang of guilt.

He had completely forgotten about Zhu Ningbo, who would obviously have more difficulty finding a team.

Shen Yan quickly called Zhu Ningbo.

"Bo'er, did you find people to team up with?"

"Found them, I'm in a group with three girls."

Zhu Ningbo sounded very happy. "They took the initiative to invite me."

"Really? That's great."

"They probably saw me getting rejected all the time and felt sorry for me."

"Bo'er, don't think like that."

"It's okay, it's the truth," Zhu Ningbo said cheerfully, "I'll do my best and not hold them back."

Shen Yan also smiled. "I believe you can do it." He paused and then added, "Let's grab a meal and chat properly sometime."

"Yeah, what about you? Did you team up?"

"Got a group too."

"I knew it, you and Zhao Linsu must be very popular."

"Did Zhao Linsu team up?"

"I don't know."

Shen Yan gave an "oh" and muttered to himself, "He should have."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, just do your best, I'm watching your performance."

Shen Yan hung up the phone, hesitated again and again, and finally sent a WeChat message to Zhao Linsu.

【sy: Did you find people to team up with】

【Son: Found them】

Shen Yan felt relieved.

It takes about twenty-one days to form a habit, but it only takes a second to break it.

Just say you want to separate.

Shen Yan felt inexplicably sad.

It was strange.

It wasn't like he was breaking up with Zhao Linsu.

But with Zhao Linsu's passive personality, if he didn't take the initiative to contact him, wouldn't that be almost the same as breaking up?

The next day, Shen Yan still chose to take the subway. His reason was that the counselor needed his help frequently these days, and it wasn't convenient to get a ride.

Zhao Linsu received the WeChat message and replied that he understood.

This was the last WeChat message Zhao Linsu and Shen Yan exchanged in the past few days.

During the few large lectures they all attended, whether out of tacit understanding or because the habit had been broken, the three of them no longer sat together.

Zhu Ningbo was the first to bring it up.

Zhu Ningbo said he wanted to sit with his group members, as it would be more convenient.

"I also want to try changing things up. Shen Yan, you're right. We're already in our third year, and we'll graduate in a little over a year. I can't go through university without any progress, right?"

Shen Yan, of course, wholeheartedly agreed with Zhu Ningbo's courage to grow.

He also hoped to see his friend become better.

So Zhu Ningbo left.

Shen Yan sat by the wall, hesitating whether to save seats with his things when Zhao Linsu came in. Zhao Linsu met Shen Yan's gaze from afar at the door.

Zhao Linsu was naturally aloof-looking, and even when he was expressionless, he looked angry.

Today, Zhao Linsu's head was clean.

"Is anyone sitting here?"

A delicate voice came. Shen Yan looked up, and Huang Mengxuan was tilting her head, smiling at him.

Shen Yan hesitated for a moment. When he looked towards the door again, Zhao Linsu was already gone.

Looking around, Zhao Linsu had already sat down in a seat in the front row.

"I didn't wear much perfume today," Huang Mengxuan said charmingly, "Can I sit next to you?"

"…Okay."

Shen Yan looked away. "I didn't think your perfume smelled bad."

"I knew it, Liao Jing was just talking nonsense."

Huang Mengxuan was still dressed in a suit dress today, meticulously styled down to her hair. Even the laptop she took out was decorated in pink.

Shen Yan lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before picking up his phone.

【Son: Understood.】

Exited the chat interface.

There were already 10 unread messages in the group meeting chat.

Huang Mengxuan had sent a selfie that included Shen Yan's profile.

【Huang Mengxuan: Studying with the handsome guy~】

【Liao Jing: ……】

【Huang Mengxuan: If you're jealous, you can come join us~】

【Liao Jing: Just don't disturb others】

【Huang Mengxuan: The handsome guy welcomes me a lot】

【Huang Mengxuan: The handsome guy said my perfume smells nice】

【Liao Jing: Hehe】

……

The entire group chat was just the two of them arguing.

Shen Yan: He had no other opinions, except could they please not use "handsome guy" as his pronoun?

Also, did Huang Mengxuan dislike Liao Jing, or what?

This was his second time meeting Huang Mengxuan, and the name "Liao Jing" was still above Huang Mengxuan's head.

Shen Yan said, "Are you and Liao Jing roommates?"

"Yeah," Huang Mengxuan typed without looking up, "We've been roommates since sophomore year."

"You guys seem to argue all the time?"

"No way."

Huang Mengxuan looked up and gave him a sweet smile. "We're just flirting."

Shen Yan: "…"

For the first time, he felt that girls were a bit terrifying.

The friendship between girls seemed very different from the friendship between boys.

Generally speaking, best friends were closer than brothers.

"So you guys are best friends?" Shen Yan asked tentatively.

"Not really," Huang Mengxuan put away her phone. "We… just can't stand each other."

Shen Yan gave an "oh."

Huang Mengxuan turned her face, her hands clasped together. "Handsome, you seem very interested in me."

Shen Yan coughed twice. "I, I didn't mean to."

Huang Mengxuan laughed so hard she swayed. "Just kidding with you."

Shen Yan's face flushed slightly from her laughter.

"You're the first handsome guy I've met who isn't annoying," Huang Mengxuan said.

Shen Yan didn't know how to respond, so he just said, "Is that so?"

"Generally speaking, handsome guys are very un-humble, because they're handsome and have been popular since they were young, so they're more or less conceited. That's why I'm a bit annoyed by handsome guys."

"Not all of them are like that, right?"

"Of course, you can't just lump everyone together just because they're handsome. But I always thought you were the aloof type."

"Me? Really? Do I look aloof?"

"Maybe it's because you're always with Zhao Linsu. He looks very aloof."

Shen Yan forced a smile. "Maybe a little."

Huang Mengxuan held her face in her hands. "You've been asking me all the questions. Now it's my turn to ask you. Did you guys have a fight?"

Shen Yan never expected that even with a different girl sitting next to him, he still couldn't escape this question. He quickly evaded, "Class is starting."

Huang Mengxuan smiled. "If you don't want to say, that's fine. I won't make things difficult for a handsome guy I don't dislike."

Shen Yan felt a bit overwhelmed by Huang Mengxuan, but fortunately, Huang Mengxuan didn't say anything more.

After class, before leaving, Zhu Ningbo came over to greet Shen Yan, saying he was going to discuss with his group members. Shen Yan told him to do his best, his eyes scanning the classroom. Zhao Linsu's tall figure had already blended into the crowd leaving the classroom.

"Then let's stay and discuss too."

Huang Mengxuan held up her phone. "The busybody in the group chat has made an announcement."

Shen Yan gave an "oh" and slowly looked away.

"They said to go to 102, that classroom doesn't have class later."

"Okay."

Shen Yan walked with Huang Mengxuan. As they were walking, his shoulder was bumped. He turned his head and saw Xu Junhao raising his eyebrows and smirking at him, his eyes constantly glancing at Huang Mengxuan.

After the last matchmaking event, Xu Yuanyuan had given his WeChat number to Xu Junhao, who was now teasing him in various ways on WeChat.

【Xu Junhao: Not bad, you got the goddess Xuan】

【Xu Junhao: Told you, right? Girlfriend is much better than brothers】

【Xu Junhao: Let's go on a double date sometime】

【sy: We're just doing group work, don't talk nonsense】

【Xu Junhao: Haha, I get it】

【sy: Really】

Xu Junhao obviously didn't believe him and kept sending various suggestive emoticons. Shen Yan could only block and ignore him.

"Are there rumors about us?" Huang Mengxuan said beside him.

"…Ah," Shen Yan said awkwardly, "Sorry, they just talk nonsense when they see us."

"It's okay," Huang Mengxuan said, "It's not a loss for me to have rumors with a handsome guy."

Shen Yan felt that Huang Mengxuan looked like a soft and cute little princess on the outside, but her words were often surprising, and her personality was unexpectedly straightforward and uninhibited.

Honestly, she was the type of friend he would make.

As for that damn superpower, Shen Yan hadn't gained any benefits from it. He basically ignored the fantasy objects of the people around him, of course, unless the object was himself.

Fantasy was such a vague and difficult thing to define.

Shen Yan didn't want to interfere with others either.

"Um, can I ask a somewhat personal question?" Shen Yan said.

Huang Mengxuan's high heels clicked lightly down the stairs. "You can't ask about weight."

"No… I wanted to ask, are you and Zhang Qian close?"

"Zhang Qian?" Huang Mengxuan's expression became very subtle, looking somewhat disdainful. "That clingy toad?"

"Ah? Clingy? Is he pursuing you?"

"What? Would he dare to pursue me?"

Huang Mengxuan flipped her hair. "The one he's pursuing is Liao Jing."

"Ah?"

Shen Yan was shocked again. "Isn't he Liao Jing's boyfriend?"

Huang Mengxuan stopped walking, turned her head seriously, and said, "Who said that? Did Zhang Qian say that, or did Liao Jing tell you?"

"…Zhang Qian said that."

Huang Mengxuan's face showed that charming and arrogant smile again, and she flipped her hair again. "So that's why he's a toad, dreaming of eating swan meat."

Shen Yan was also a bit confused. "So they're not in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship?"

"At least not now."

Shen Yan followed her downstairs, thinking that Zhang Qian should be pursuing Liao Jing, but he also fantasized about Huang Mengxuan. So was this guy eating from the bowl while looking at the pot, or was he settling for second best because he didn't dare to pursue Huang Mengxuan?

Liao Jing seemed a bit more approachable than Huang Mengxuan…

Shen Yan thought that since that was the case, he didn't really have the right to say anything more.

After all, it was Zhang Qian's freedom to pursue whoever he wanted, as long as he didn't cheat on or simultaneously pursue both girls in his actions.

Judge by actions, not intentions. Let's just leave it at that for now.

Shen Yan and Huang Mengxuan arrived at 102.

Zhang Qian happened to come out to get water, and Shen Yan met his eyes.

"Come in quickly, Liao Jing has been waiting for you guys for a while."

Zhang Qian brushed past them.

Shen Yan's shoulder was bumped by him, and he subconsciously turned around.

There were two names above Zhang Qian's head.

【Huang Mengxuan Liao Jing】.

Shen Yan: "…" ???

This… this… what did this mean?

"Don't sit here."

"Why? I didn't wear perfume today."

"Your cosmetics smell very strong too."

"I said last time, if you don't like my smell, you can just not breathe."

"Then why can't you move further away from me?"

The two girls were arguing again.

Huang Mengxuan didn't sit on the chair but sat on the table next to Liao Jing. Liao Jing was frowning and constantly criticizing Huang Mengxuan for smelling too strongly, but she never actually got up to leave.

And Huang Mengxuan had a smile on her face, leaning her upper body towards Liao Jing.

Today, Liao Jing also had names above her head.

【Huang Mengxuan】【Liao Jing】, the two names moving closer to each other above their heads.

Four words involuntarily appeared in Shen Yan's mind—flirting and teasing.

"Why are you standing at the door and not coming in?"

Zhang Qian came back with water. Shen Yan quickly entered the classroom as well.

Huang Mengxuan got off the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down next to Liao Jing. Shen Yan and Zhang Qian sat opposite them.

The discussion process was surprisingly smooth, mainly because Huang Mengxuan had been constantly provoking Liao Jing before. As long as she obediently followed the process, most of the obstacles instantly disappeared.

After the discussion, the four finally finalized their individual tasks.

"Want to have lunch together?" Zhang Qian suggested.

Shen Yan didn't say anything. Huang Mengxuan was looking at her manicure. Liao Jing said, "Let's go."

Huang Mengxuan raised her face. "Together it is then. What about the handsome guy?"

Zhang Qian secretly kicked Shen Yan's shoe.

Shen Yan turned his face and saw that this guy had an expression that said, "The chance to eat with two beauties is once in a lifetime, big brother, hurry up and go."

"Then let's go together."

The four of them went to the cafeteria together.

Zhang Qian eagerly offered to get food for Liao Jing. Shen Yan didn't know if he should also get food for Huang Mengxuan. Huang Mengxuan had already blinked her eyes and handed him her meal card. "Please."

Shen Yan didn't say anything, took the meal card, and left, queuing up behind Zhang Qian. He was a head taller than Zhang Qian, and his eyes inadvertently swept over something, suddenly stopping.

Zhang Qian seemed to be updating a post.

The forum looked familiar; it was the basketball forum he often browsed.

The most popular section of this forum wasn't the basketball section but a chat section. Because there were more boys, it had a bad reputation, and sometimes Shen Yan himself wasn't happy to mention that he also visited this forum.

Shen Yan's eyesight and memory were good. In just that one glance, he remembered the name of the post.

【Guess who my girlfriend is? Rate the picture.】

The two of them got their food and went back. As soon as they put down their meals, Huang Mengxuan's face changed. "Are you sick? She's allergic to peanuts."

"Ah? Is that so?"

Zhang Qian had gotten a side dish for Liao Jing that contained peanuts.

"It's okay," Liao Jing said, "I just won't eat it."

Zhang Qian said, "You eat mine, mine doesn't have peanuts."

"Oh," Huang Mengxuan took the plate from Shen Yan's hand. "So sweet, thank you."

The thanks were directed at Shen Yan, who nodded slightly.

"Are you jealous?" Liao Jing mimicked Huang Mengxuan's sarcastic tone.

Huang Mengxuan smiled. "I have a handsome guy getting food for me, aren't you the one who's jealous?"

During the meal, the two girls didn't stop.

Having learned from Zhu Ningbo's previous experience, Shen Yan was cautious. He noticed that Huang Mengxuan seemed to be targeting Liao Jing on the surface, but once Liao Jing ignored her and talked to Zhang Qian, Huang Mengxuan would immediately say something sharper to provoke her, as if… she just wanted to attract Liao Jing's attention. And Liao Jing, while her attitude towards both Zhang Qian and Huang Mengxuan was fierce, she would say one sentence to Zhang Qian for every ten sentences she said to Huang Mengxuan.

After lunch, Zhang Qian said he would take Liao Jing back to the dorm. Since the two girls were in the same dorm, he would naturally take both of them. Shen Yan thought of the title of that post and felt a bit uncomfortable. "Let's walk together, it's just a few steps anyway."

"Handsome, you're so nice," Huang Mengxuan said sweetly.

Shen Yan said helplessly, "Can we discuss something? Can you not call me handsome?"

"Okay, handsome."

After taking the two girls back to their dorm, Shen Yan and Zhang Qian parted ways. On the way back, he went on the forum and found that post.

The reply style was quite disgusting.

Shen Yan clicked on "Only show楼主 (lǒuzhǔ - the poster)."

Zhang Qian had only replied three times.

I guess the one on the left is the poster's girlfriend. The one on the left has bigger boobs, did the poster develop them already.

——Correct (smirking emoji)

The best friend is also not bad, the delicate type, suitable for marriage. The poster should just play around with this one.

——Great minds think alike

Is the poster a rich guy? Girlfriend is so pretty? By the way, I also think the best friend is not bad, please introduce me.

——Haha, don't overthink it, they're all mine, let's have a threesome

Shen Yan closed the post with a blank face.

Generally speaking, he wouldn't use fantasy to convict anyone.

But this person was really…

Shen Yan remembered the new words he had learned.

"Pǔxìn nán (普信男 - overly confident and often delusional man)," "zhēn xiàtóu (真下头 - really cringe/disgusting)!"

Shen Yan clenched his phone. Perhaps, his superpower could finally serve a purpose.