"I knew you were a big eater!"
With a single remark, Zhang Wei instantly went from being on the offensive to being on the defensive.
What a masterclass in the art of conversation!
Take notes, everyone—just take notes!
"Please, if you don't know how to chat up a girl, don't force it, okay?"
Guo Lingling found the whole thing utterly tedious. Chatting with this wooden block of a guy was a waste of time; she would rather solve a couple of extra math problems.
Seeing the look on her face, Zhang Wei instantly realized he had said the wrong thing.
With no other choice, he had to try a different angle.
"Since we're already here, wouldn't it be rude not to chat a bit more?"
"Let me ask you this: among the boys in our class, who do you think is the most handsome?"
After asking, Zhang Wei deliberately flicked his precious two-inch-long hair.
Unfortunately, Guo Lingling didn't even notice. She thought about it for a brief moment.
"Well, it has to be Su Ming, of course. He's tall, handsome, great at basketball, and his singing at the New Year's gala was simply flawless!"
"Huh? You wouldn't happen to also..."
"Pfft, pfft, pfft! He's someone to look at from afar, not to get tangled up with! Besides, how could I ever backstab my bestie?"
Guo Lingling knew where to draw the line; she was just speaking the absolute truth.
Zhang Wei secretly breathed a sigh of relief and went back on the offensive.
"Don't you think that at first glance, I'm actually quite handsome?"
"Hmm... That would have to be a *very* quick first glance!"
"That punk Su Ming once said that my looks could only be generously defined as handsome if you subtract forty from my current baseline. You understand how much weight that carries, right?"
"You actually believe a word he says? He's full of hot air, only good for fooling naive little girls. The key is, my bestie actually falls for it every time."
"But I genuinely think I'm handsome!"
"Alright, alright, I get it. You're very handsome—it's just completely invisible."
The conversation ground to a halt right about there.
Just then, the teacher finished the meeting, and everyone returned to their seats.
Compared to Su Ming, who was in high spirits, Zhang Wei looked utterly depressed.
"Ahem, what's wrong? Hit a brick wall?"
Giving him a knowing look, Su Ming motioned for Zhang Wei to follow him to the restroom.
Boys are actually quite simple creatures; all their worries tend to evaporate the moment they take a piss.
"Yeah, she doesn't seem interested in me at all."
"You shouldn't look at it that way. As long as you know she doesn't hate you, that's a great starting point. Chasing girls takes patience. It's a long road ahead, a heavy burden and a distant journey—"
"Are you saying that a patient hunter is a good hunter?"
"You got it! The boy is teachable!"
Su Ming's philosophy was exceptionally effective for chasing girls in this era.
Because girls at the beginning of the twenty-first century hadn't been corrupted by too much worldly cynicism; most of them were still wonderfully pure.
As long as you had patience and sincerity, your success rate wouldn't be low.
"Ge, same as usual. Let's see whose stream goes farther~"
"What a joke! Can a mortal like you possibly comprehend my divine talent?"
"Changjiang 7, launch!"
Adhering to the principle of "I am invincible below the God, and I trade 1 for 1 with the God," Zhang Wei utterly decimated Su Ming...
Logically speaking, Su Ming's equipment was nothing to scoff at.
Too bad Zhang Wei's was simply anti-human—he could probably fly it like a kite even in his dreams...
"You win! I genuinely surrender to you in this department!"
"Need you ask? Hey, don't open that window!"
"Damn it! Once this wind gets in, I can't control myself!"
"Just let the world end!"
...
"Tell me, why are you picking up so many plastic bottles?"
"I'm going to sell them, of course! You can't just waste them~"
After school, Su Ming watched Shen Ruoyan carrying two large bags of plastic bottles, completely baffled.
Although this girl's family wasn't filthy rich, they certainly never had to worry about making ends meet.
Scavenging for junk?
Was she really this thrifty?
Amidst his confusion, Su Ming pulled an empty bottle from the bag and started bashing it wildly against his own head.
"What on earth are you doing?"
Shen Ruoyan looked at Su Ming as if he were an alien. She had barely managed to get his brain working right again; she couldn't afford for him to break it now.
"Don't you think hitting these empty bottles together makes a really nice sound?"
"Not only does it sound nice, but you look like a total idiot."
"That's not important. If you're short on money, I can lend you some."
"No thanks, I don't want to owe anyone anything."
"Are you sure nothing's wrong?"
"Relax! I've been wanting to buy a gift for a friend lately, so I'm trying hard to save up."
"Which friend? A guy or a girl?"
Faced with Su Ming's rapid-fire questioning, Shen Ruoyan just smiled without answering.
"Fine, if you won't say, I won't force you. But if you've got a crush on someone, you have to let me know in advance."
Su Ming was being completely serious; he wasn't joking around.
Seeing the person in front of her wear such a rare expression, Shen Ruoyan felt a tiny ripple of happiness in her heart.
Could this be...
Is he worried about me?
"Yep, I'm worried about you. This is the crucial sprint phase, so your studies must come first!"
"Oh! Do you have mind-reading powers?"
"Hahaha, I know you too well. Your thoughts are written all right across your face."
The two of them continued riding side by side. Their first stop today wasn't the snack shop, but the bustling old street not far away.
"Sharpen your scissors! Sharpen your kitchen knives!"
"Candied haws! Candied haws! Not sweet, and your money back!"
"Going-out-of-business mega sale! Crazy discounts! Don't just stand there, act now! Clearance blowout, come on in and take a look!"
As soon as they turned the corner, all sorts of peddlers' cries filled the air.
This old street was always lively, with pretty much anything you could imagine.
Su Ming had come today to get a haircut and, by the way, treat Shen Ruoyan to some good food.
Before long, Su Ming stopped in front of a shop called "Baldy's Barber Shop."
He patted his pocket—the paper bills were still there.
"I've noticed you really like coming to this place."
Shen Ruoyan parked her bicycle and asked with intense curiosity.
"Yep, we guys are like that. Once we find a barbershop that gives a decent cut, we pretty much stick to it for the foreseeable future."
"Oh, I see. I thought it was just because you were exceptionally loyal."
Shen Ruoyan covered her mouth with a small giggle. Her curved eyebrows and smiling eyes were truly captivating.
"Let's go. Come inside and give me your expert advice."
Pushing open the door, they found the shop wasn't very busy at all.
"Boss, I'm back!"
"Well, if it isn't young Su Ming! Getting a trim again so soon? Youth is great—hair grows so fast!"
The owner was indeed bald, which explained the shop's name.
"What do you think? The usual, just a little off the top."
"No, no, I want to try something fresh this time."
Pointing at a picture of a *Shamate* hairstyle on the wall, Su Ming's eyes lit up.
Yes!
This was it!
The ultimate current fashion!
Use the left eye to forget, let the right eye selectively go blind...
Say what you will, out of every ten young guys on the street, at least five sported this look.
Pair it with tight pants and pointed leather shoes, and the vibe was 100% on point!
"I'll take this exact style, and I even want to dye the whole thing green!!!"
Hearing this, Shen Ruoyan was the very first to object.
"No way, no way! That hairstyle is hideous! Besides, you're a student—what kind of look is dyed hair?!"
She grabbed Su Ming's ear and gave it a sharp twist, instantly reminding him of his mother's touch.
"Ow, easy, easy! I won't dye it, okay?"
Turning back to the barber, Su Ming still wanted to experiment with a new cut.
"No green, but the haircut has to be top-notch. Give me a crescent moon carved into the left side—just thinking about it is cool~"
Hearing Su Ming's request, the barber didn't reach for his scissors right away.
Instead, he looked over at Shen Ruoyan and asked cautiously:
"I know the final decision rests with you."
As expected of the boss—he had a sharp eye.
And as it turned out, his guess was spot on.
Shen Ruoyan pointed straight at Su Ming in the mirror and issued a murderous warning:
"If you dare get this haircut, I won't speak to you for the entire next month!"
"And if I break my promise, I'll change my last name to yours!!!"