Chapter 15: Payment
A single meal left everyone sweating—and also revealed a lot about social dynamics.
Everyone was surprised that Jiang Rong had suddenly changed his demeanor and blended into the group.
No one thought too deeply about the reason. Maybe after a summer break, something had happened that changed him. Given his former personality, once he entered society—no matter where—he would have been isolated by others, or rather, before others could isolate him, he would isolate them first.
That Jiang Rong could integrate into collective life was a good thing. From now on, everyone could live a bit more freely.
On the way back to the dorm, Jiang Rong, Yao Shule, and Li Yizhou walked in front, with Ding Yan and He Siming following behind.
Ding Yan found it strange that He Siming had been sleeping in the dorm lately.
“Why have you been staying in the dorm recently instead of going back to sleep in your two-point-one-meter bed?”
He Siming replied casually, “Too much going on. Don’t feel like running back and forth. The dorm is more convenient.”
Ding Yan thought that made sense. “By the way, I transferred ten thousand to Jiang Rong and apologized to him. Don’t keep bringing up the drinking incident anymore.”
He Siming said, “Then quit drinking.”
Ding Yan protested, “No way—my junior is still working part-time at that bar!”
He Siming gave a soft chuckle.
That laugh made Ding Yan uneasy. “What does that laugh mean?”
He Siming said, “Yesterday I saw a comment on the forum. A junior was talking about a sophomore—said the guy was dumb and rich, going to Jiangnan Bar every day to give him money. Thanks to that sophomore, the junior has already bought the newest phone and a pair of AJ sneakers.”
Ding Yan’s temper flared immediately. “Who said that?! You can say I’m rich, but you can’t say I’m dumb!”
He Siming took a few steps forward, as if afraid of catching stupidity, and didn’t want to talk to an idiot.
Ding Yan: “……”
When He Siming walked up, he heard Yao Shule asking Jiang Rong, “Want to go out and have some fun this weekend?”
Yao Shule was the type who got excited around people—loved making friends and having fun. He had signed up for several clubs, and when he wasn’t dating, he often participated in club activities.
Now that Jiang Rong had grown closer to them, Yao Shule enthusiastically invited him along.
Jiang Rong asked, “Where are we going? If it costs money, I can’t afford it.”
He faced his lack of money head-on. Unlike the former “Jiang Rong,” he didn’t feel ashamed of being poor. He accepted it calmly—if he had no money, he would work to earn it himself.
Yao Shule said, “What money? We’ll just go climb the Great Wall. At most we’ll pay for public transportation. With student IDs, tickets are half-price.”
Jiang Rong had been cramming history lately. He knew the Great Wall was an ancient relic in this world—a magnificent wall, with the saying “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true hero.” He wanted to see it. He hadn’t expected it to come up so soon.
He wanted to go. This would be his first group activity since coming to this world.
“Sounds good. I’ll go with you.”
Li Yizhou said, “Then I’ll go too. I’ve never been.”
Yao Shule was incredulous. “Aren’t you a local?”
Li Yizhou replied, “Who says locals must have been?”
Yao Shule scoffed. “An unreliable local.”
Li Yizhou said, “That’s a personal attack.”
Yao Shule didn’t argue with him and instead asked the He Siming who had walked up, “God He, climbing the Great Wall this weekend—are you in?”
He was really just asking casually. Everyone knew He Siming was always busy—so busy that even the counselor couldn’t find him. He hadn’t expected him to join.
He Siming said, “Sure.”
Yao Shule had already prepared what he’d say if He Siming declined, but he hadn’t expected that answer.
Jiang Rong, meanwhile, didn’t know that He Siming rarely joined these kinds of activities.
“Have you never been to the Great Wall either, He Siming?” Jiang Rong asked.
“I have,” He Siming replied. “But it was when I was very young. I don’t really remember it.”
Ding Yan, still sulking from being called dumb, spoke dejectedly, “I’ll go too. I’ll go too. It’s time I participated in some positive, healthy activities.”
Yao Shule liked having more people. “Our dorm finally feels like a proper college dorm. I need to plan this well—maybe buy a Polaroid!”
He happily began planning what to bring on Saturday.
In the past, Jiang Rong had also participated in club activities, but his parents had given him limited living expenses, so he couldn’t spend much. He usually only joined activities that didn’t cost much money or time.
That afternoon, Jiang Rong went to class with Yao Shule again, but He Siming was called away midway by a professor. He didn’t message Jiang Rong until after dinner.
He Siming: Come to Siming Building, Room 709, to discuss the assignment.
Jiang Rong had no reason not to go.
Since He Siming had said he’d answer the questions Jiang Rong didn’t understand, Jiang Rong simply brought along all the books he’d planned to take to the library. Passing the supermarket, he bought He Siming a bottle of water and brought his own thermos.
Students at Qin University liked studying in the library, because classrooms often had couples who would start flirting while “studying,” which ruined the atmosphere.
The classroom He Siming chose on the seventh floor had fewer people.
Jiang Rong spotted He Siming sitting in the back row, typing code on his laptop. For some reason, a warm feeling passed through his heart.
Someone was waiting for him in this unfamiliar world.
In his original world, his parents only demanded that he study hard and become an excellent Omega. If he failed to meet expectations, he’d be scolded. As a child, he disliked all kinds of talent classes and deliberately didn’t try hard. When he did poorly, his parents punished him by forbidding him from eating, forcing him to give in. Later, as long as he behaved and obeyed, they were happy. After that, when he didn’t differentiate into an Omega, their concern for him dropped sharply—let alone anyone waiting for him to eat a reunion dinner during holidays.
He couldn’t even remember the last time he ate with his parents.
Of course he was sad. But his parents wouldn’t change. Families like that weren’t rare in his world. He couldn’t change others—he could only try to live happily himself.
Jiang Rong was actually glad he hadn’t differentiated into an Omega in his original world. Otherwise, he might never have experienced the full spectrum of human life.
He Siming’s seat had a good view; he could see anyone enter from the corner of his eye. The moment Jiang Rong came in, he looked up.
Jiang Rong walked over, clearly in a good mood—his brows relaxed, and the faint scent of peach drifted over.
“So happy?” He Siming asked. “You wear all your emotions on your face, like a kid.”
Jiang Rong nodded and handed him a bottle of water. “I bought you some water.”
He Siming noticed he’d only bought one. “Thanks. Didn’t get one for yourself?”
Jiang Rong pulled his thermos from his bag. “I have water.”
“Next time, just fill my thermos too,” He Siming said. “No need to buy me anything.”
“Got it,” Jiang Rong replied.
It was Thursday. They had to finish the assignment—midnight was the deadline.
He Siming showed no sign of tension. He gestured to the chair beside him. “Sit here.”
Jiang Rong sat down. Seeing the nearly completed assignment on He Siming’s screen, he exclaimed, “You’re done already? You’re amazing.”
Meeting Jiang Rong’s clear, sincere eyes filled with genuine praise, He Siming found it hard to imagine that this same person would make all sorts of demands in bed. For no reason at all, he felt a bit restless.
In any case, Jiang Rong’s praise pleased him greatly. Many people had praised him before, but it had never felt like this.
“At your current level, you can’t write this yet,” He Siming said. “I’ll teach you slowly. I’ll just finish this assignment myself. Do you want me to start from the beginning?”
Jiang Rong thought that free tutoring was the best thing imaginable. “Will it take up too much of your time?”
He Siming looked at him. “College courses are very easy for me.”
“You’re a genius,” Jiang Rong said.
“A lot of people like to say that,” He Siming replied. “They like to stick labels on me.”
“Being a genius must be exhausting,” Jiang Rong said.
He Siming froze for a second. No one had ever asked him whether he was tired. “It is tiring. I don’t like the ‘genius’ label—it means more responsibility.”
“Sorry,” Jiang Rong said softly. “I just wanted to compliment you. Then… don’t tire yourself out too much.”
Hearing his gentle consolation softened He Siming’s heart. He really had been tired for a long time, and now he felt soothed.
“Where should I start explaining?” He Siming asked.
“From the beginning?” Jiang Rong said without hesitation.
He Siming sighed inwardly—maybe he really had knocked his head badly.
He suddenly leaned closer to Jiang Rong. “I can teach you—but I’ll need a bit of payment for being a teacher.”
Jiang Rong froze. “But I don’t have money, God He.”
“That’s just what they call me. Don’t,” He Siming said. He stared at Jiang Rong’s lips. “It’ll be something you can afford.”
Jiang Rong thought it would just be some small favor and nodded. “Okay.”
The only thing he could afford was labor.
Thinking that, he settled down and listened attentively to He Siming’s lesson.
In his original world, Jiang Rong had been someone who worked extremely hard to get into his dream university. Now, he wanted to master his major, earn money early, and support himself. He absorbed everything He Siming taught him. His comprehension was good, and in a single evening, he managed to organize most of what he had previously studied on his own. Everything became much smoother. No wonder He Siming was a top student—he taught with real insight.
One taught seriously, the other learned seriously. Without realizing it, it was already ten o’clock. Jiang Rong yawned sleepily, and He Siming stopped.
The other students studying in the classroom had already left. They packed up and headed out as well.
Jiang Rong slung his bag over his shoulder and took the initiative to turn off the lights. He Siming walked toward him.
But the moment the lights went out, He Siming grabbed Jiang Rong’s backpack from behind. Before Jiang Rong could react, he was pressed against the door.
He Siming’s faint lime scent enveloped him as he murmured, “Who said you could leave? I haven’t collected tonight’s payment yet.”
Jiang Rong froze. Just as he opened his mouth in surprise, He Siming bit down on his lips.
His eyes widened. “Mm?”
Y-you didn’t say the payment was this.
