Chapter 31: Photoshop Maniac
Back in the classroom, the four of them once again sat near the back.
This time, Mu Lantu couldn’t concentrate during the lecture. Xu Huazhang hadn’t brought a book to read like usual, likely worried Mu Lantu would get bored, but now he couldn’t help wanting to see what Xu Huazhang was doing. One glance—and Mu Lantu felt his soul leave his body.
Xu Huazhang was editing photos. He was photoshopping the pictures Zhou Ye had just taken of the two of them earlier that day!
Anyone else in the shot—cropped out, gone, totally erased.
Lighting too bright—adjusted.
Too much space between them—trimmed out the middle to bring them closer…
He looked so focused and serious that at first glance you’d think he was handling a billion-dollar contract.
Mu Lantu silently turned away.
Better focus on class after all!
When the dismissal bell rang, the hungry students bolted from the classroom.
Xu Huazhang pulled Mu Lantu closer, afraid he’d get bumped by the crowd.
“No rush. I ordered food at the cafeteria. It should be served around 12:20. If we head over now, the timing’s perfect.”
“Alright.”
Mu Lantu was perfectly happy with that plan. If they went off-campus, it would take over ten minutes just to walk to their car—then there’d be the drive, ordering, waiting… Eating at school was much more convenient. The food was not only cheap, but since the cafeteria was privately contracted out and faced competition, the chefs were skilled. Fast food, stir-fries, Western dishes—students could find nearly anything they wanted. Private dining rooms were also available.
As they walked down the tree-lined path, students zipped by on bikes and shared scooters—some with boyfriends or girlfriends, others with best friends or buddies. Youthful energy filled the air.
Mu Lantu casually wrapped an arm around Xu Huazhang’s waist—a subconscious move.
“Can you ride an e-scooter?”
Xu Huazhang glanced at Zhou Ye, then gently removed Mu Lantu’s hand, giving it a quick squeeze before wrapping his own arm around Mu Lantu’s waist.
“No. You could teach me.”
Zhou Ye kept snapping photos tirelessly. After capturing shots from behind, he jogged ahead to take some from the front.
Ge Tao’s face turned bright red. He’d trained himself to control his expressions and rarely smiled—unless he really couldn’t help it.
Mu Lantu noticed Xu Huazhang’s little ploy and didn’t know whether to laugh or be mad. He swatted his arm in warning.
Xu Huazhang smiled slyly, then gave his wrist another squeeze.
“You’ll teach me?”
“I’ll think about it,” Mu Lantu replied with mock arrogance.
Xu Huazhang responded indulgently, “Alright.”
When they arrived at the cafeteria, the four of them entered a private dining room named Academic Success.
The food arrived promptly.
All four had solid appetites. Xu Huazhang ordered more than ten dishes—hot, cold, fruit, and soup—with plenty of spicy options tailored to Mu Lantu’s taste.
Xu Huazhang placed his phone on the table. When it got nudged, the screen lit up.
Mu Lantu caught a glimpse of the lock screen.
It was a photo he had sent Xu Huazhang previously.
His cheeks flushed at the thought of how many people around Xu Huazhang might have seen it.
Seeing that Xu Huazhang was about to debone fish for him again, Mu Lantu stopped him and placed a bowl of pork rib and corn soup in front of him instead.
“Don’t feel like eating fish today. You and Brother Zhou, Brother Tao can have it. I’ll eat something else. Go on, eat.”
After eating, Mu Lantu asked if Xu Huazhang had plans that afternoon.
Xu Huazhang asked the same.
Mu Lantu replied that he didn’t. Since Xu Huazhang finally had a day off, he wanted to spend it with him.
Xu Huazhang then asked, “Do you usually take afternoon naps?”
“Sometimes,” Mu Lantu said.
“Then let’s go nap for a bit first, and later I’ll take you out?”
“Out where?” Mu Lantu had imagined dates with Xu Huazhang before, but it was hard to think of good places for two grown men to go together. Watching a movie was one option, though the atmosphere wasn’t great during the day—it worked better at night.
Xu Huazhang suggested uncertainly, “Amusement park?”
Mu Lantu perked up, “Sure.”
He’d been to one before, but that was back when he was younger, right after he had transmigrated. There had been many attractions he hadn’t really tried properly.
As the four of them exited the private room, another group was also coming out from a room diagonally across from them.
Zhu Feiyu spotted the man carrying Mu Lantu’s backpack and his eyes gleamed with an idea. He headed straight toward him, trying to bump into him.
Before Zhou Ye and Ge Tao could react, Mu Lantu had already stepped in front of Xu Huazhang and slammed his right elbow back in a sharp strike.
Zhu Feiyu staggered back two steps and crashed into the wall, his entire body going numb from the pain. He didn’t dare move.
Mu Lantu lifted his eyes to glance at him, voice cool and indifferent, “Blind, are you?”
Zhu Feiyu was in real pain. He realized Mu Lantu’s strength was far greater than the average man’s. He knew he’d been careless, but he couldn’t even speak. His face was ashen.
The people with him stood there stunned. Internally, they admired Mu Lantu. They’d heard Zhu Feiyu say “Are you blind?” countless times to others who accidentally bumped into him. Today, they got to hear someone say it back to him. And they had to admit—it felt great. Not that they had any sympathy for Zhu Feiyu. They were just hangers-on, mooching off his money and dumb antics.
Even though they were thinking all that, on the surface they played their roles, rushing to help him up.
“Young Master Yu!”
“Young Master Yu, you okay?”
Mu Lantu, holding Xu Huazhang’s hand, strolled away unbothered.
Xu Huazhang turned back and glanced at Zhu Feiyu with a calm, indifferent expression—as if he were looking at a speck of dust.
Zhu Feiyu stared at their retreating backs, his gaze dark and venomous.
