Volume 1 Chapter 22: Darkening

“Hey! Did you see how angry the shop owner was!? That man’s face turned red, haha!”

“You brought back so much with just a hundred bucks! Wen Yang, were you there for restocking?”

“You really are amazing!”

Ning Chu held a super-large plastic bag in both hands, filled to the brim with various ornaments and dolls. It even blocked his vision, making him tilt his head to see the road clearly.

Continuous praises and compliments flowed from their mouths, and Wen Yang, with a bashful smile, scratched the back of his head.

“That’s so  impressive! Let’s go again next week! Stock up again!”

Although it seemed like they didn’t play much on this outing, the constant praise made Wen Yang very happy, and a smile uncontrollably appeared on his face.

Ning Chu glanced back at his expression and became even happier.

This trip, including bus fare, snacks, and the money spent on ring-tossing, only cost around a hundred yuan. Yet, they had acquired a bunch of small ornaments that made Wen Yang so happy he lost his sense of direction.

Even if they didn’t play any big rides, they still saved money by avoiding them. Next time, they could set up a stall on the school square when they had time and sell the surplus ornaments. Who knows, they might make some extra money.

Laughing and chatting, Ning Chu walked to the dormitory door and gestured for Wang Jie to open it.

“I can’t, you open it.”

“Sure.”

Wang Jie, looking rather exhausted, took out the key and was about to open the door. However, with a twist of the handle, the door just swung open.

“Didn’t you lock the door when you left?”

Ning Chu asked in confusion, leading the way into the room with a pile of things in his arms. After placing his belongings down, he raised both hands, arched his body like a lazy cat, and yawned.

Returning to the dormitory felt just like coming home.

Although the dormitory looked chaotic and disorderly at first glance, with a faint scent lingering in the air, it still felt more comfortable than the unease experienced outside.

Smack!

“What are you doing?” Ning Chu turned back, irritated, covering his buttocks. “Are you crazy?”

“Don’t block the door,” Wen Yang stood helplessly outside the room, “It’s scorching outside.”

Ning Chu’s buttocks did feel quite soft and bouncy.

“You little— Whatever! Turn on the air conditioner! I’m taking a nap!”

Ning Chu turned to find the remote control but suddenly realized something, looking up at the air conditioner blowing cold air.

He paused for a moment, and at that moment, the back door of the dormitory was opened. Zhang Shaoqing, holding a cigarette, leaned in, peering at the people inside the room.

“You’re back so early? Can’t see people in broad daylight.”

“You returned so early?” Seeing Zhang Shaoqing, Ning Chu immediately dropped his playful attitude and scrutinized him with a serious look.

Not bad. Although Zhang Shaoqing used to have a gloomy expression before coming home, it seemed that he hadn’t gained any additional sinister aura since returning.

Ning Chu breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that this guy might have undergone some trauma and transformed into a villain after coming home.

“Missed me after just one night?”

“Get lost.” Ning Chu rolled his eyes at Zhang Shaoqing’s smooth-talking, then turned to Wen Yang and asked, “Are you going to take a nap this afternoon?”

With the current temperature nearing forty degrees, spending the morning outside, staying vigilant in the unfamiliar environment, and trying to keep Wen Yang happy had left Ning Chu exhausted.

“Not sleeping? I…” Wen Yang had originally planned to go to a café outside campus in the afternoon but changed his mind, thinking about the intense heat outside and the sweat and fatigue covering his body. “How about taking a shower and a nap? I’m all sweaty.”

“Then I’ll go first!”

Hearing the satisfactory answer, Ning Chu smiled with narrowed eyes, realizing that Wen Yang had become more obedient and sensible.

In the past, Wen Yang would have unhesitatingly chosen to go out on a date.

Keep working hard to train Wen Yang into an indifferent old virgin who’s not interested in women!

Let him know that besides women, there are many other interesting things in the world.

As Ning Chu entered the bathroom with a change of clothes, Wen Yang yawned and went to the balcony, leaning against the railing, playing with his phone, and waiting for Ning Chu to finish showering.

“Don’t smoke next to me,” he glanced at Zhang Shaoqing, who was puffing smoke beside him, frowned slightly, and asked, “What’s going on between you and Ling Ling now?”

Zhang Shaoqing had initially worn a cynical smile, but as soon as his childhood sweetheart was mentioned, his face immediately darkened.

He turned his head, responding indifferently, “Nothing’s going on.”

Wen Yang felt a headache. “If she doesn’t like you, find someone else. There are so many girls in the world.”

“Did she tell you?” Suddenly turning his head, Zhang Shaoqing stared at Wen Yang with a dangerous look. The jealousy and possessiveness towards Ling Ling were already surging within him.

His favorite girl looked down on him while having all her attention on Wen Yang, who had never cared about Ling Ling.

His breathing became involuntarily heavy, his eyes slightly reddened, and his fists unconsciously tightened.

Wen Yang noticed his unusual expression but still nodded. “She messaged me last night, saying you confessed to her.”

“…”

The bathroom door suddenly swung open, and Ning Chu, with wet hair, entered, holding a pile of clothes.

As soon as his feet reached the balcony, he suddenly realized that something was not right about the atmosphere.

He glanced at Wen Yang nervously and then at Zhang Shaoqing, who had a distorted expression. His heart suddenly rose to his throat.

Dear lord! What happened!

I just took a shower! Why does Zhang Shaoqing have a tendency to turn into a villain?

Ning Chu quickly ran through the plot related to Zhang Shaoqing in his mind, and immediately disturbed the atmosphere on the balcony: “Wen Yang, I’ve finished washing, you should go take a shower and go to bed.”

“Okay.” Wen Yang was decisive. Realizing that he had stimulated Zhang Shaoqing’s emotions, he immediately left along the steps.

When Wen Yang entered the house to get a change of clothes, Ning Chu turned to look at Zhang Shaoqing.

What’s going on?

Perhaps it was because he had left an image of a close roommate to Zhang Shaoqing. Facing his questioning gaze, Zhang Shaoqing’s lips twitched, hesitating for a moment and then sighed: “I confessed my love last night and was rejected.”

Why the hell would you confess your love to her? Doesn’t you know that, at this moment, she sees you as nothing more than her brother!?

Ning Chu’s face darkened in anger, and then said: “Why– why didn’t you tell me in advance?”

The characters in a Hentai story should not be viewed with normal people’s brain circuits, not to mention the darkness in Zhang Shaoqing’s heart.

What if Zhang Shaoqing’s failure to express his love turn him into the dark side?

He originally planned to take Zhang Shaoqing to conquer Ling Ling step by step after the military training, and turn his route into a pure romance one, rather than a hardcore BDSM one.

Ning Chu was silent for a moment, and continued to wipe his hair with a towel in distress: “Don’t worry, let’s… let’s think of a solution.”

He tried hard to calm down Zhang Shaoqing’s impatient mood.

“Anyway, Ling Ling doesn’t have a boyfriend now, so don’t worry about it for a while.”

I’m worried that this guy can’t wait any longer and just chooses to drug her and take possession of her like in the plot.

Girls are never wary of relatives and friends, and should Zhang Shaoqing try to do this, he will most likely succeed.