Chapter 112: Let Her Feel a Sense of Crisis at First Glance
Du Zhuo hesitated for a moment before speaking. “It’s just… I think there’s something strange about me.”
“What’s strange?”
“Well, yesterday I overheard you and Goddess Lin talking about Chen Qianxi.”
“Mm, and?”
“When I heard you guessing she might have a new boyfriend, I just… felt a bit weird inside. I don’t even know what that feeling was, just that…” He trailed off.
“Uncomfortable?”
“Yes.” Du Zhuo nodded. “That’s exactly how it felt.”
Xu Nianshen held back a laugh. “You really don’t know why?”
Du Zhuo looked blank. “Why?”
“Because that’s called liking someone.”
“???”
Du Zhuo was even more confused.
Xu Nianshen cut straight to the point. “It’s because you like Chen Qianxi without realizing it. That’s why you felt upset when you heard us talking about her—it was jealousy.”
“Me?” Du Zhuo pointed at himself. “Jealous?”
“Of course.”
“I like Chen Qianxi?”
Xu Nianshen nodded again.
Du Zhuo started doubting himself. “That’s not possible, right?”
“Why not?” Xu Nianshen countered. “Come, let me break it down for you.”
Du Zhuo listened intently.
“Think about when you made her mad and went to buy an apology gift. You didn’t even need Jiujin to tell you—you already knew exactly what Chen Qianxi liked. Isn’t that suspicious? What kind of straight guy remembers a girl’s preferences so precisely?”
Seeing him stay silent, Xu Nianshen continued, “And that necklace you bought—it just so happened to be the one Chen Qianxi had glanced at for a long time. Do ordinary guys even notice details like that?”
Du Zhuo hesitantly nodded.
“Exactly.” Xu Nianshen spread his hands. “You like her, that’s why you unconsciously remember all those little things about her. And as for yesterday—when a guy hears his good friend is about to start dating, usually he’d be all hyped, saying he wants to meet the girl, maybe even teasing his buddy. Did you do that?”
Du Zhuo shook his head.
“Did you say you wanted to meet her?”
Another shake of the head.
“You didn’t. Instead, you went silent, distracted, and uncomfortable. Hearing she might have a boyfriend made you restless. Aren’t those all signs you care about her, that you like her?”
Du Zhuo fell into silence.
Xu Nianshen picked up his cup and took a sip of water. It was honestly tiring, analyzing someone else’s feelings like this. Since it was his first time acting as a “relationship counselor,” he simply watched Du Zhuo standing there, lost in thought, waiting for him to have his realization—so Xu could finally relax.
Du Zhuo thought for a long time. Did he really like Chen Qianxi?
Scenes flashed in his mind: the times they shipped Xu Nianshen and Lin Yuejiu as a CP together, their banter, their academic rivalries, the evenings they often bought books together after school, the walks home side by side… and recently, the joy on her face when he gave her that apology gift. And then, the uncomfortable image of her being with another boy…
Xu Nianshen sat at his desk, left hand holding his water, sipping slowly, while his right hand casually texted Lin Yuejiu.
Teacher Xu: [Relationship analysis report: completed.]
Student Lin: [Did he react?]
Teacher Xu: [He’s standing there, deep in thought.]
Student Lin: [Looks like your words worked. Well done, Teacher Xu. Thumbs up.]
Teacher Xu: [If you ask me to do something, I’ll do it properly.]
Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help but press her lips together in a smile.
He Yue, walking past, gave her a glance, snorted softly, and turned his head away, convincing himself in his heart: So what if it’s love? One day, I’ll have it too.
Wu Lin and Mao Xin exchanged a look, and in each other’s eyes, they saw the same helpless smile.
Du Zhuo was silent for a long time before suddenly raising his head to look at Xu Nianshen, his expression serious.
“Xu Shen, you’re right. I really do like Chen Qianxi.”
Xu Nianshen nodded. “Exactly. You like Chen Qianxi.”
“Then… should I just confess to her right now?” Du Zhuo thought for a moment before asking.
“Wait, don’t rush. Let me check first.”
“??? Check? Check what?”
Xu Nianshen didn’t answer, only telling him to wait.
Xu Teacher: [Now he’s already realized he likes Chen Qianxi. What should we do next?]
Lin Student: [Hold on.]
Lin Yuejiu turned to the others. “Sisters, the guy has already realized it. What about the girl?”
The three of them exchanged glances, then met Lin Yuejiu’s eyes. As if understanding each other, they said in unison:
“Since the guy could realize it, then we’ll use the same method for the girl.”
All four smiled.
Lin Yuejiu laughed. “So, do we have any nominations for who’ll be in charge of this part of the plan?”
The other three thought for a while, then shook their heads. “Doesn’t seem like we do.”
Lin Yuejiu let out a pitying “ah.”
He Yue raised her hand. “Wait, just because there’s no one else doesn’t mean we can’t send one of our own.”
The other three exchanged glances, then gave her a thumbs-up. “Hero.”
“Jiujjiu, you can arrange to bring the guy out. I’ll meet him.”
“I’ll let him know the plan and tell him to cooperate.”
“Okay.”
Lin Student: [Xu Teacher, I’ve got a new candidate. It’s my roommate.]
Xu Teacher: [Using your own for the plan?]
Lin Student: [Mm. You tell Du Zhuo. The plan starts tomorrow.]
Xu Teacher: [Alright.]
“Du Zhuo.”
“Eh, yes, Xu Shen?”
“We’ve thought of a way to make her realize her own feelings. That way, when you confess, it’ll be easier to succeed.”
“Okay. What plan?”
“Here’s the thing—tomorrow Jiujjiu’s roommate will pair up with you.”
“Mm, and what will we do?”
“Starting tomorrow, and for a little while after, you two will have to act close, then let Chen Qianxi see. If she gets jealous and upset, that’ll prove she likes you too. Once Jiujjiu gives you the signal, you can confess.”
Du Zhuo understood, nodding. “Then… what’s Lin Goddess’s roommate’s name?”
“You’ll know tomorrow. Just make sure to cooperate.”
“Got it.”
The next day, He Yue woke up extra early. When Wu Lin woke up, she was startled. “Why are you up so early?”
He Yue was drawing eyeliner. “Of course I have to get up early. I need to put on a nice look.”
Wu Lin: “??? Sis, he’s not your boyfriend. Stay clear-headed.”
“Of course I know he’s not my boyfriend. But still, I need to do my part properly.”
Lin Yuejiu had just returned from her morning run and caught the last part of their conversation. “Do your part properly? What do you mean?”
He Yue didn’t turn around. “The prettier I look, the stronger the sense of crisis for the other side.”
Lin Yuejiu nodded as soon as she heard this. “Makes sense.”
He Yue finished her makeup. “Come on, help me pick which outfit looks best. I need to amaze him so that when she sees me, she’ll feel a crisis at first sight!”
