Chapter 24 An Unremarkable Special Admit

Chapter 24 An Unremarkable Special Admit

After finishing their meal, they walked back to the dormitory together.

Along the way, Shen Lingsi was very talkative.

His chattiness was different from Qiao Qiao's. After all, he had been the president for several years and knew how to handle conversations with different people. He was even more adept than Deng Xun. He chose his topics carefully, speaking in a gentle manner that made people feel comfortable, just like his appearance.

Of course, the most important thing wasn't how he behaved, but rather that Ning Song clearly liked this side of Shen Lingsi.

Pu Yu noticed that when Ning Song looked at Shen Lingsi, his eyes sparkled. It seemed as if Shen Lingsi's smile was contagious, making him smile too.

Shen Lingsi didn't focus solely on Ning Song; he also included Qiao Qiao in the conversation, occasionally even directing questions to Pu Yu with a warm smile: "Pu Yu should know this, right?"

There was no hint of hostility towards Pu Yu, as if the subtle tension at the dinner table was merely an illusion.

Pu Yu realized that Shen Lingsi was indeed a formidable opponent.

The four of them lived in different dormitories, and Qiao Qiao was the first to part ways.

After Qiao Qiao, the chatterbox, left, the atmosphere among the three of them changed subtly.

This subtle change reached its peak when they arrived at the skyway.

Because Ning Song was about to take a different path.

Shen Lingsi paused at the intersection, watching Ning Song walk away.

Pu Yu continued walking towards the skyway, and halfway across, Shen Lingsi caught up.

The moonlight was faint, casting a serene and tranquil atmosphere on this spring night. Cars occasionally drove under the skyway, and the distant sound of waves could be heard.

Each of them had their own thoughts, and neither spoke during the walk. The silence further confirmed their individual contemplations. Shen Lingsi noticed the ticket partially sticking out of Pu Yu's pocket, which made everything seem even more unbelievable.

This ticket certainly wasn't obtained casually. He had learned that Ning Song liked elope and searched for information about the band. Then, in fan discussions, he found out that elope was coming to Entertainment Channel to record a program, so he specially asked someone to get the tickets.

If he had known, he would have just gotten one ticket.

He had been too cautious, not expecting Pu Yu to change so much. He had thought about Sheng Yan going but never imagined Pu Yu would go.

What Pu Yu did the most was reflect.

He reflected on why Shen Lingsi could think of things he couldn't.

Why he only bought elope's records and checked for concerts but didn't look further to find out they were coming to Shangdong province to record a program.

Otherwise, he could have gotten the ticket himself.

Shen Lingsi was unhappy, but Pu Yu didn't really want to ride on his coattails.

He reflected that he hadn't done enough.

He hadn't thought deeply enough.

And he hadn't been good enough to Ning Song.

Each of them had their own advantages. Pu Yu won in terms of family connections. He knew Liu Fen and Ning Wei and had received their extreme favor... although some of that favor was due to respect for his background.

Additionally, he and Ning Song were in the same class.

Most of the time, they were together during classes.

Although he spoke little and mostly listened to Ning Song and others, Qiao Qiao often praised him.

He considered Qiao Qiao Ning Song's best friend at Upper East School, and having a best friend's praise helped improve his image.

So today, he deliberately invited Qiao Qiao to dinner.

But Pu Yu knew he still had a long way to go.

Because his starting point was different from others.

Others started off getting along easily and chatting freely, while his starting point was "being with him is suffocating."

Therefore, he needed to put in ten times the effort compared to others.

While catching up on elope's songs, he thought about it.

Shen Lingsi believed his biggest advantage over Pu Yu was his personality.

Even if he wasn't as charming as he appeared, he still easily outshone Pu Yu's introversion.

Introversion was Pu Yu's hallmark and his greatest flaw. Even if given a chance to be alone with Ning Song, he might not say much.

But Shen Lingsi was too busy with work and in a different grade, lacking opportunities to interact with Ning Song.

So whenever he had time, he went to the book bar.

Fortunately, Pu Yu wasn't the type to cling to Ning Song every chance he got. He was grateful that Pu Yu was introverted and not particularly skilled at pursuing people.

The book bar was set up by him for Ning Song. The book bar next to Building One was quiet and close to the dormitory, and so far, he hadn't created something for others to enjoy.

Today, when he arrived at the book bar, he saw an unexpected person.

Qin Yi.

He pushed the door open and saw Qin Yi talking to Ning Song. When he entered, Ning Song greeted him, but his voice lacked its usual brightness.

He knew Qin Yi's character well and smiled at him, saying, "Qin Yi is here too."

Qin Yi's eyes brightened when he saw Shen Lingsi approach. He smiled and said, "I heard that the president has been running here frequently lately, treating this place like half an office. I came to see what new products have caught the president's attention."

Shen Lingsi's smile faded slightly as he said, "Did you install surveillance on me? How do you know I didn't come often before?"

Ning Song asked, "Brother Shen, what would you like to drink? Still jasmine tea?"

"Yes," Shen Lingsi said with a smile, looking at him.

The gloomy Pu Yu liked iced Americanos, the amiable Shen Lingsi preferred floral teas, while Qin Yi always opted for fruit wine when he came.

Everyone seemed to fit their roles perfectly.

Ning Song went to brew some floral tea for Shen Lingsi.

Qin Yi said, "You're ignoring me?"

"It's not ready yet," Ning Song replied with a forced smile. "Senior, please wait a moment."

He brewed a pot of floral tea for Shen Lingsi and placed it on his table.

He now knew Shen Lingsi's preferences: he loved fragrant jasmine, mixed with a touch of pan-fried green tea, and most uniquely, a spoonful of honey. The tea was aromatic but left a subtle sweetness in the aftertaste. Shen Lingsi would pour his own tea once the pot was placed beside him, not wanting to be disturbed while working or studying. He even took calls outside.

Elegant, gentle, and untroubled. All these beautiful words applied to him. Having such a perfect man around made Qin Yi seem more troublesome by comparison.

Since they were in school, the book bar's fruit wine had a very low alcohol content. However, Qin Yi clearly came after drinking elsewhere, carrying a strong scent of alcohol. He might have been slightly nearsighted, squinting slightly when looking at people, which made the scar on his brow appear quite frightening in the sunlight.

But Ning Song found his constant staring even more terrifying!

Help!

When he came with his tattooed boyfriend last time, it wasn't like this. Back then, he merely indulged his boyfriend's bullying, but his gaze held more amusement.

Now, his intense stare seemed to be searching for something. What did it mean?

Fortunately, they were in the book bar, where the boss and colleagues took care of him, and with the president present, Qin Yi wouldn't dare cause trouble, no matter how reckless he was.

Being stared at by Qin Yi made him feel uncomfortable, as if a snake's tongue was licking his face.

Qin Yi scrutinized Ning Song from head to toe several times.

He tried to discern what magic this frail new student possessed.

Sometimes, one doesn't find someone particularly attractive, but everyone else does. After hearing it enough, one might doubt their own taste, thinking the person is indeed good-looking. Or like a dish everyone praises but one can't get used to, one might still think it's delicious, just not to one's liking.

That's how he felt looking at Ning Song now.

He thought there might be some charm in Ning Song he hadn't noticed, perhaps in his personality or talent. The longer he looked, the more he felt Ning Song seemed different from the night of the welcome party.

He had gained a bit of weight, which was the most noticeable change. Before, his cheeks were slightly sunken, his jawline prominent, and his neck and wrists so thin he looked like an alien. His large, dull eyes seemed out of place on his face.

But now, Ning Song looked less gaunt. His cheeks were visibly fuller, though he was still slim. He seemed less silent than when they first met. When he arrived, Ning Song was seen chatting with the boss, leaning against the counter with a waist apron tied around him. For the first time, he noticed his excellent proportions.

Slim waist, long legs.

He was well-versed in male bodies, experienced enough to see through clothes to the flesh and bones beneath. He never realized this bean sprout had such remarkable leg proportions.

Only his buttocks remained somewhat flat.

He thought if Ning Song gained a little more weight, he might look better. If it weren't for Ning Song's connection with Li You, he wouldn't have given him a second glance.

But now, he was intrigued by this scrawny special admittee.

Usually, when he set his sights on someone, he either showered them with gifts until they willingly followed him or used force... He enjoyed the thrill of conquest. Those who threw themselves at him, like his previous tattooed boyfriend, quickly lost his interest.

But since he wasn't sure how deep Ning Song's ties were with Pu Yu and the others, he didn't plan to use force yet.

He decided to go with the first approach. As a wealthy young master, seducing an inexperienced poor boy should be easy.

He couldn't wait to see Li You's shocked expression when he saw Ning Song by his side. Thinking about it made Ning Song more appealing.

"Don't be afraid of me," Qin Yi laughed, completely ignoring Shen Lingsi's glare. "How about adding me on FB? That's okay, right?"

"Of course," Ning Song said.

He added people on FB casually, not wanting to offend Qin Yi over something trivial.

Luckily, after adding Ning Song on FB, Qin Yi got up. "Remember to follow back."

"Right away."

Qin Yi then swaggered off.

Ning Song's lips curled downward as he glanced at Qin Yi's profile picture.

What a close-up selfie.

He even deliberately captured the scar on his forehead, taking up half the screen.

He was either extremely insecure, extremely crazy, or both.

In any case, extreme people should be avoided!

Shen Lingsi asked, "Does Qin Yi come here often?"

Ning Song said, "Not really, occasionally."

"The manager said, 'Every time he comes, he causes trouble for Ning Song. Today, his attitude was strange.'"

"If he gives you trouble and you can't handle it, come to me," Shen Lingsi said, unusually serious.

Ning Song nodded: "Okay, thank you, Senior... Shen Ge."

A pleased expression returned to Shen Lingsi's face: "I have something to take care of, so I'll be on my way. The tea today was also very good."

He was skilled at giving compliments, and his demeanor and tone were more touching than the words themselves. Ning Song watched him leave. This time, Shen Lingsi really did suddenly remember something, as he pulled out a box of chocolates from his pocket: "I saw them handing out chocolates, so I got one for you."

Ning Song felt a bit embarrassed. Last time, when Shen Lingsi gave him a box of chocolates, he had politely texted back saying they were delicious. He hadn't expected Shen Lingsi to bring him another box.

Shen Lingsi smiled: "Eat some if you're hungry. You finally gained a little weight; don't work yourself too thin again."

After leaving, Shen Lingsi went straight to find Qin Yi.

Qin Yi had just returned to the dormitory. When he opened the door and saw Shen Lingsi, he was taken aback but then smiled, saying: "President, could it be that you came here for Ning Song?"

Shen Lingsi had both hands in his pockets, slinging his backpack over his shoulder like a gentle god, but his expression was cold: "Stay away from him."

Qin Yi thought that apart from himself, probably no one else in the school had seen the true face of this Shen family's eldest son. Like his father, he was ruthless and cruel, yet also maintained a respectable facade in public, much like his father who could whitewash his image.

"I was only intrigued at first," Qin Yi said, "he doesn't even fit my type. I was just curious about how he could get close to all these rich kids in our school. Your threat has actually piqued my interest. It seems this Ning Song indeed has something special."

Shen Lingsi said: "You don't lack people. Why make things difficult for me? If we fight, what benefit would you gain?"

Qin Yi asked: "Do you like him? What do you like about him?"

"You don't need to know that," Shen Lingsi said, "do what you want, but stay out of my territory. I won't interfere with you."

With that, Shen Lingsi left, carrying his backpack.

A faint scent lingered in the air around him, reminiscent of fresh spring branches.

Shen Lingsi rarely showed his fangs, but those who knew him well understood his power.

Compared to such an openly menacing person, Shen Lingsi was far more terrifying.

But being threatened like this still irritated Qin Yi.

He lit a cigarette and walked to the corridor, looking toward the distant bookstore.

Shen Lingsi actually liked Ning Song.

Ning Song.

His eyebrows twitched, and his eyes took on a slightly deranged look, as if he had momentarily lost his head, feeling a headache and burning eyelids.

He went downstairs, and the mist from the fountain blew onto his face, cooling him down a bit.

Leaning against the marble, he extinguished his cigarette in the water pool.

The cigarette sizzled, emitting a puff of white smoke. Bathed in the golden light of the sunset, he didn't know how long he sat there until he suddenly saw Ning Song walking through the flower-lined path with his backpack.

From a distance, he couldn't see Ning Song's face clearly, but he found the slender figure of Ning Song to have a fragile and delicate beauty.

Ning Song hurried to the library before it closed to check if any new magazines had arrived this week.

Just as he approached the library, he received a call from Liu Fen.

After answering, before he could speak, he heard a sweet voice ask: "Is this Brother Ning Song?"

It was Pu Ying.

Ning Song immediately laughed: "Yes, hello."

"Brother Ning Song, when are you coming to my house? I bought new toys."

Ning Song laughed: "That will have to wait until the weekend. I'll come visit you then, okay?"

"Okay, okay. Wait for me after school. I have a lot of classes on weekends too."

Ning Song heard others laughing in the background.

"Alright."

He had always wondered how Pu Ying, the elder brother, could be so quiet while his younger brother was so sweet and endearing.

Liu Fen took the phone and said with a smile: "Will you and Little Yu come back together after school on Friday?"

"I have to go to work on Friday night."

"Oh, right." Liu Fen said, "Should your dad pick you up then? He'll be freer this weekend."

"No need, I'll come back on Saturday."

"But isn't your workplace far from school? You finish work at midnight, right? Since we're so close, we can wait for you after your shift. Madam mentioned before she left for her trip that she prepared a room for you, inviting you to stay over on weekends."

Ning Song was surprised.

Madam had always been kind to him, but inviting him over for meals and encouraging him to visit more often seemed like natural kindness. Preparing a dedicated room for him seemed beyond ordinary kindness.

Liu Fen lowered her voice, but her joy was evident: "It seems Little Yu was particularly happy when he visited our house and attended a classmate's birthday party with you. He said he enjoys playing with you."

Ning Song felt a chill run down his spine: "He said that?"

He couldn't imagine Pu Yu saying something like enjoying playing with someone—it wasn't his style!

Indeed, Liu Fen laughed: "He probably meant it. He said you have a good personality and accommodate him."

That sounded more like something the introverted Pu Yu would say.

Ning Song smiled: "Then I'll come over after work."

He felt that this time it might not be Mrs. Pu's kindness; it could be an olive branch from Young Master Pu. For someone as reserved as him to take the initiative is rare, and he couldn't afford to be ungrateful.

He planned to introduce Pu Yu to his social circle. He now knew many people who would make suitable friends for Pu Yu and intended to pull him into the bustling world of social life.

The mother and son chatted for a while longer. When he had rushed in earlier, he hadn't noticed the electronic screen outside the library. It was only when he came out with the books that he saw the display board in the hall.

The large screen in the library hall was looping a video. He glanced at it and realized that a renowned scholar was coming to their school to give a lecture.

Just by watching for a moment, he immediately perked up.

Their school was actually planning to establish an esports course!

He had thought so. With esports entering the Olympics, how could a prestigious school claiming to offer comprehensive education and ranked first in the Asian Federation not offer such a course?

The reason the video was being shown in the library was that they were inviting several gaming professors to give lectures in the thousand-seat auditorium next week.

True to its reputation as the best noble school in Shangdong Province, the school had a high profile and plenty of funds. Two of the invited professors were figures he often saw in gaming magazines, one of whom was Xie Qingting, whom "Autumn Mackerel" had told him to keep an eye on.

Xie Qingting was a master-level figure whose games were even collected by museums. He had heard just a few days ago that Xie Qingting was coming to Shangdong Province for a game developers' conference. He never expected their school to manage to invite him—what a grand gesture.

"Author's Note"

Brother Yu's move was swift and forceful.