Chapter 4: A Born Friend to Women
The 500 yuan wasn’t free money. Luo Lianyun demanded that Chi Wang use it to buy new clothes and dress to impress.
Chi Wang was skeptical. “Why bother dressing up so much? Wouldn’t I just steal your thunder?”
“You don’t get it,” Luo Lianyun replied. “The more handsome you look, the more girls you attract. The more girls there are, the less chance they have. Then they’ll finally notice us single guys.”
Chi Wang: “…”
Fine.
Chi Wang went shopping, dragging Luo Lianyun and Shu Tingyu along.
Men’s clothing didn’t have many styles to choose from, and Chi Wang disliked anything flashy. He aimed for simplicity, so he finished shopping for clothes in less than half an hour. He did, however, carefully pick out a pair of shoes.
Afterward, while Luo Lianyun and Shu Tingyu were still browsing, Chi Wang sat down to play on his phone and wait.
He rarely browsed the internet or got caught up in social media trends. Even on his phone, he stuck to playing simple games like Candy Crush.
Perhaps it was the sweltering heat, but Chi Wang felt unusually restless.
When Luo Lianyun and Shu Tingyu finally finished their shopping, Chi Wang handed them his purchases. “Take these back for me. I need to head to work.”
Luo Lianyun stared at him. “You just can’t stop, can you?”
As soon as Chi Wang decided to get back to work, his mood instantly lifted. So that was it—the restlessness had been from not working.
—
Chi Wang’s workplace for his startup gig was, naturally, an internet café.
His 800-yuan secondhand computer couldn’t handle the numerous office programs he needed—it would freeze constantly. So, he bought a monthly membership at the café, reserving a machine. Short-term, it was cheaper than buying a new computer, but long-term, not so much.
He planned to save up for a new laptop, but he didn’t have the money yet.
Chi Wang settled into his usual spot at the café and completed most of his online tasks for the day, leaving some minor work for the evening.
Tomorrow was the mixer, which, according to Luo Lianyun, would take up the entire evening. Chi Wang would need to take a day off from tutoring—slightly unprofitable, but oh well. He figured he’d help Luo Lianyun find a girlfriend.
The hours passed as Chi Wang threw himself into his tasks. He even got ahead on some of tomorrow’s work, leaving a small portion for after the mixer to compile and submit.
What does “ten years of work experience before graduation” look like? This was it.
—
By the weekend, Chi Wang felt anxious with nothing to do. Borrowing Luo Lianyun’s gaming laptop, he finished the leftover tasks, compiled his data and summaries, and sent them to his colleague, Sister Yang.
Sister Yang messaged him back: “So fast?”
Chi Wang replied, “Yep. Could you send it to the team leader later? I have plans today.”
Sister Yang immediately understood. “Got it. Don’t worry. I’ll send it the day after tomorrow.”
Chi Wang: “Adding to societal chaos.jpg.”
Life as a cost-efficient worker for a startup meant delivering quick results but being cautious—finishing early only invited more work. Chi Wang had learned this the hard way.
—
After finishing their afternoon class, Chi Wang and his roommates prepared for the mixer.
Though uninterested in finding a partner himself, Chi Wang knew the basics of being a good wingman and made sure to put in some effort.
He took a shower, trimmed his hair with scissors, shaved his non-existent stubble, and fully committed to the moment. Dressed in a black T-shirt with colorful prints and black cargo pants, he looked effortlessly stylish.
When Luo Lianyun saw him, he whistled and gave a thumbs-up. “Looking sharp, man!”
Chi Wang, unfazed, accepted the compliment without a hint of emotion. Growing up, he’d heard such praise so often that he was almost numb to it.
Shu Tingyu, meanwhile, was still munching on a bag of spicy snacks. Luo Lianyun groaned and grabbed his head in frustration. “Stop eating, you pig! Put it down, brush your teeth, and bring some gum.”
“I’m just going for the food,” Shu Tingyu muttered, reluctant but obedient as he set down the snacks and went to brush his teeth.
Chi Wang frowned at Luo Lianyun. “No need to be so harsh. You’ll scare the kid.”
“You’re one to talk!” Luo Lianyun retorted. “You’re always bossing Shu Tingyu around too!”
Chi Wang shrugged. “That’s not scolding. That’s just raising my voice a tiny bit.”
When Shu Tingyu returned, teeth freshly brushed, Luo Lianyun finally revealed the mixer’s location.
“Jinyu Hotel?” Chi Wang raised an eyebrow. “That’s a five-star hotel. Since when are you guys so loaded?”
Luo Lianyun puffed up his chest. “There are 24 of us, and we’re implementing a ‘wealthier students subsidize the less wealthy’ model. Each person chips in 500 yuan. The mixer includes three parts: dinner to get to know each other, karaoke for deeper interaction, and a late-night barbecue session. We’re covering all the costs.”
Chi Wang: “…That’s pretty extravagant.”
“Exactly! And the girls coming from the other school are amazing—at least half the pairings will work out. Most importantly, the campus queen is coming! She’s gorgeous!”
Chi Wang: “Oh.”
Shu Tingyu, eyes gleaming, asked, “So we get to eat twice? Can we take food home?”
Luo Lianyun: “…”
Talking to these two gave him zero sense of accomplishment.
—
Elsewhere, Zuo Qianxing received a call from Xiao Chengfeng asking him to bring Xie Siheng to Lu Xiao’s birthday party.
Just hearing Lu Xiao’s name gave Zuo Qianxing a headache. “Xie Siheng’s busy. You go get him.”
“I can’t,” Xiao Chengfeng complained. “You’re closest to him. You do it.”
“No way. He might still be sleeping, and if I wake him, I’ll get chewed out. You take responsibility?”
“He’s still sleeping in the afternoon?” Xiao Chengfeng was shocked.
“You know how messed up his schedule is. Sleep-deprived people are always cranky.”
“…Ugh. Well, try convincing him anyway. Lu Xiao’s leaving for overseas soon, and it might be years before he comes back. He’s been into Xie Siheng for so many years. He arranged this birthday party here just to see him.”
Zuo Qianxing said, “Emmm, Xie Siheng is straight. Lu Xiao should just give up.”
Xiao Chengfeng retorted, “Hey, come on! Are you helping or not? Lu Xiao looks up to you like an older brother. Can’t you fulfill this one wish for him?”
Zuo Qianxing hesitated. “…Fine, I’ll ask him, but I can’t guarantee he’ll agree.”
He hung up and sent Xie Siheng a message. After waiting for a while, he received a reply, indicating Xie Siheng was awake. He explained Lu Xiao’s invitation to the birthday party.
Xie Siheng didn’t reply immediately, but Zuo Qianxing was used to it. After another short wait, he received a message asking for the address. Relieved, Zuo Qianxing sent it over and added, “I’ll pick you up.”
Xie Siheng didn’t respond, which Zuo Qianxing took as agreement.
He then called Xiao Chengfeng. “He’s coming. What about your brother?”
“He’s not coming,” Xiao Chengfeng said. “No way I’d invite him. If he and Xie Siheng meet, they’ll fight again, and that would ruin Lu Xiao’s birthday.”
“Good, then,” Zuo Qianxing said. Satisfied that there wouldn’t be any drama, he grabbed his car keys to pick up Xie Siheng.
—
Meanwhile, Chi Wang and his group arrived at the hotel. The mixer was organized by a classmate from their department whose family had some money and had paid for a large, spacious room.
The venue was well-equipped, suitable for a small cocktail party—more than adequate for a mixer.
Chi Wang hadn’t expected the event to be so formal. Many of the male attendees were wearing suits and ties, giving off the vibe of a real estate agents’ gathering.
Luo Lianyun almost fainted when he saw the scene. Leaning close to Chi Wang, he whispered, “I told them in the group chat not to overdress! We’re students—something casual would’ve been fine! Now look at this… they all look like insurance salesmen.”
Chi Wang suppressed a laugh, wary of drawing attention. However, when he spotted one guy wearing a suit and tie on top but pairing it with shorts and sneakers, he couldn’t hold it in. Turning his head, he covered his mouth and chuckled quietly.
Luo Lianyun let out a despairing sigh.
The girls soon made their entrance, most of them dressed in bright and flattering outfits, their delicate fragrances trailing behind them. Compared to the awkwardly overdressed boys, they seemed like goddesses descending among mere mortals.
Luo Lianyun gritted his teeth. “We’re done for. Out of our guys, only seven or eight are passable. The rest… ugh.”
Chi Wang laughed openly this time. “Hahahaha.”
Luo Lianyun rolled his eyes at him.
When most people had arrived, the waitstaff began serving food. Shu Tingyu eagerly picked up his chopsticks as conversations between the boys and girls naturally started.
As Luo Lianyun had predicted, Chi Wang quickly became the center of attention. The campus queen herself, along with two friends, took seats right in front of him, their interest in him plainly obvious.
As the queen chatted with Chi Wang, his warm smile and natural conversational skills kept the mood light. His measured responses and effortless charm brightened the girls’ eyes.
Luo Lianyun wasn’t surprised. The “King of Odd Jobs” had mastered the art of reading people—knowing exactly what to say to whom was a basic survival skill.
Seeing the lively conversation unfold, Luo Lianyun tactfully excused himself, leaving them to it.
Chi Wang’s eyes widened. He was stunned that his so-called “wingman” had abandoned him at such a critical moment. Couldn’t Luo Lianyun see that the conversation was about to reach the “exchange contact info” phase?
With no backup, Chi Wang had to rely on himself. Conveniently, the copious amount of juice he’d drunk provided an excuse. He excused himself to the restroom.
—
Jinyu Hotel was massive and luxuriously decorated, and it took Chi Wang a while to find the restroom. After finishing up, he realized he couldn’t remember which way he’d come.
He messaged Luo Lianyun asking for the room number, but there was no immediate reply. Stowing his phone, he decided to rely on memory to find his way back.
As he walked, someone exited a room and bumped into him. Chi Wang immediately stepped aside and apologized. “Sorry.”
He moved to let the person pass, but they grabbed his arm.
Before he could look up, another person emerged from the room and clung to the first figure. “Brother Siheng, let me take you back.”
That name made Chi Wang raise his head. He saw the cold profile of Xie Siheng, whose dark eyes were roiling with an inscrutable emotion, his entire demeanor radiating suppressed irritation. “No need. He’ll take me back.”
His voice was cold, with a hint of hoarseness. Chi Wang, surprised to be named, considered asking if they knew each other but decided against it.
Instead, he smoothly supported Xie Siheng’s arm and said, “Yes, I’ll take him back.”
Lu Xiao, looking at Xie Siheng with a mix of reluctance and frustration, hesitated before blurting, “What’s your relationship with him?”
Before Xie Siheng could respond, Chi Wang smiled and replied, “We’re friends. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets back safely.”
With that, Xie Siheng tugged Chi Wang forward by the collar, his strides quick and purposeful, carrying a palpable tension.
Chi Wang, ever patient, didn’t protest. He glanced back to see Lu Xiao stomping in frustration, his delicate features clouded with regret. A sudden chill ran down his spine as realization dawned.
Once they reached the elevator, Xie Siheng finally let go, his aura still simmering with irritation. His voice, low and tight, instructed, “Take me to Room 908.”
“Alright.” Helping out wasn’t a big deal to Chi Wang.
He reached to press the button when Xie Siheng added, “No. Take me to another hotel.”
Chi Wang: “…”
So many requests.
Holding his phone, Xie Siheng’s hand trembled slightly as he said, “Your payment code.”
Chi Wang blinked in confusion before pulling up the QR code. Xie Siheng scanned it and transferred him 800 yuan.
Chi Wang: “!!!”
A benefactor! Is this all for me?
“Take me to the Minglong Hotel,” Xie Siheng said.
“Of course, my generous benefactor!” Chi Wang replied with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Xie Siheng: “…”
Too drained to argue, Xie Siheng’s mood was clearly terrible.
Chi Wang, having brought along a lightweight deep-red shirt to the mixer—thinking it might serve as a makeshift jacket for a girl feeling cold—hadn’t ended up using it. Instead, he took it off and wrapped it around Xie Siheng’s waist, providing some modest cover.
Practical and considerate, Chi Wang thought. If nothing else, this would be one job done well.
Xie Siheng: “…”
Chi Wang, his cheeks slightly flushed, smiled brightly, his lips curving in an open and cheerful grin. “I’ve been called a ‘Friend to Women’ since I was a kid. No need to thank me. Just go ahead and use it—no need to return it.”
Indeed, Chi Wang had spent his middle and high school years discreetly helping numerous girls through the awkward moments when their periods came unexpectedly. His considerate nature remained unchanged even in college.
Xie Siheng closed his eyes briefly. His complexion was a cold, porcelain white, tinged with a sickly pallor from long hours without sunlight. Dark circles underlined his sharp, aristocratic features, giving him a frosty air. But now, a faint flush spread across his skin, veins standing out slightly on his temples as he struggled with what seemed to be irritation—or exhaustion.
He remained silent, his composure strained to the point of physical weakness. Chi Wang steadied him with an arm around his waist, supporting much of his weight. The effort made Chi Wang realize how heavy he was, but he didn’t mind—he had strength to spare.
Chi Wang helped him toward the Minglong Hotel.
Once they arrived, Xie Siheng managed to summon enough clarity to instruct, “Take me to Room 1015.”
