Chapter 62 – Heard that Tang Tang is Cinderella

A group of student council members were chatting away at a gathering. Two girls tugged at each other’s sleeves, then gathered their courage to look towards the boy next to them.

The boy had handsome features and a somewhat aloof temperament, his almond-shaped eyes very clear and attractive.

“Tang Qing, I saw on campus posts that you and school grass Lu, are a couple. Is it true? I’m not prying into your privacy intentionally, I just really like seeing you two together,” one of the girls asked.

“We’re not a couple, just good friends,” Tang Qing replied gently.

Upon hearing this, the two girls who were previously excited suddenly lost their sparkle in their eyes. The other girl persistently asked, “Really? I heard you both live off-campus together, and school grass Lu doesn’t have any opposite-sex friends, always having only you by his side. Are you sure you’re not together with him?”

“I really am not. We’ve been good friends since childhood, and I would never be with him,” Tang Qing said as he opened a bottle and took a sip of his drink.

The two girls slumped back into their seats, feeling dejected, realizing their favorite pairing had become a bust, crying sadly.

A rather cute-looking girl, upon hearing this, showed a hint of joy and moved closer to ask, “Tang Qing, is school grass Lu really not gay? I noticed he never has any opposite-sex friends around him.”

Tang Qing shook his head firmly, “Lu Bei is not gay, he likes girls.”

Having been in this world for seventeen years, System 99 had clearly informed him that the entire world suspected Lu Bei of being gay, simply because he hadn’t met his true love yet. Once the female lead appeared, he would be there for her through thick and thin.

Unfortunately, Lu Bei was just a cannon fodder villain. Tang Qing’s task was to get close to the villain to prevent him from obstructing the development of the romantic relationship between the male and female leads.

If Lu Bei were gay, System 99 would live-stream itself eating excrement.

The girl’s name was He Yao, and upon hearing this, her eyes lit up with joy as she said, “Thank you, Tang Qing.”

Tang Qing could easily see through the girl’s intentions. Over the years, there had been hundreds, if not thousands, of girls wanting to pursue Lu Bei. He couldn’t be bothered to dissuade them anymore because he knew that when it came to matters of the heart, those involved often couldn’t see clearly.

Tang Qing took a couple more sips of his drink and started feeling a bit dizzy.

Could it be that this drink contained some alcohol…

Excitedly, someone asked, “I heard school grass Lu and Tang Qing are always together outside of class time. Even during breaks, school grass Lu has to pick you up. Is that true? Will he be here today?”

Feeling a bit lightheaded, but still answering seriously, Tang Qing said, “He has a class tonight. We don’t stick together every day, it’s just by chance we happen to run into each other. There’s no special pick-up service.”

Tang Qing sat quietly, his eyes a bit hazy, and no one could tell that he was actually a bit drunk. Everyone saw him answering questions willingly and couldn’t help but marvel at how kind Tang Qing’s personality was, completely different from his aloof appearance.

Beside Tang Qing, a senior named Chen Ming whispered, “Junior Tang Qing, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. They’re just curious, no need to feel pressured.”

Tang Qing shook his head, “I’ve already answered these questions for many people, it’s not a problem.”

This statement wasn’t an exaggeration. When they first entered the school, the freshmen posts at A University were dominated by candid shots of Tang Qing and Lu Bei for a full week. The reason was simple – the freshmen this year were exceptionally good looking. One was cool and handsome, the other a cold beauty, both capable of driving everyone screen-licking mad¹mad to the point where they can lick their phone screens.

The tall cool guy even carried the luggage for the cool and beautiful guy the whole time, without even looking around, his eyes fixed solely on his companion. As they walked, he smiled and made playful gestures towards the cool and beautiful guy, who couldn’t even grab a small bag of luggage without a fight.

The crowd started a heated debate on who would become the new school grass. The votes on both sides were neck and neck, the battle intense. In the end, the former school flower ended the debate with one sentence that made thousands stop arguing:

“The tall handsome guy becomes the school grass, and the beautiful one becomes the school flower.”

Of course, no one dared to call Tang Qing the school flower to his face. His divine face gave off an aura of aloofness, making him seem unapproachable. However, those who knew him well discovered he wasn’t cold, maintaining a gentle and friendly demeanor with everyone.

It was the smiling cool guy in the photos, Lu Bei, who only smiled at Tang Qing, usually aloof and distant, making girls hesitant to approach him. In contrast, when it came to matters concerning Lu Bei, everyone preferred asking the gentle and friendly Tang Qing.

It was said that Lu Bei adamantly refused to join the student council, despite the seniors’ earnest pleas. However, when Tang Qing joined the publicity department, Lu Bei immediately signed up, practically a buy-one-get-one-free deal.

Ding, there was a new message in the student council group.

【Publicity Department – Lu Bei: Is Tang Qing with you at the gathering?】

【Entertainment Department – He Yao: Yes, Lu, are you coming over?】

【Publicity Department – Lu Bei: Address.】

He Yao happily sent her location in the group chat. She didn’t expect to see Lu Bei today.

“I’ll go to the restroom for a moment.” Checking the time, He Yao left the room first and walked to the lobby, waiting for Lu Bei to arrive.

It was a bit cold outside, and she wore a short skirt, showcasing her slender and pretty legs, a beautiful sight to behold. She adjusted her posture, trying to present herself in the best possible light.

“Classmate Lu Bei!”

In front of her stood a tall and handsome young man, walking straight into the private room. She hurriedly ran up and grabbed the sleeve of the young man.

Lu Bei turned around. The young man was quite tall, almost 1.9 meters, looking down at He Yao with a hint of aloofness in his expression, “What’s the matter?”

“Classmate Lu Bei, can we exchange WeChat contacts?” He Yao looked at the young man with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Lu Bei had set up a rule to decline friend requests in group chats, so she hadn’t been able to add him.

“Can’t we discuss any matters in person?” The young man’s response was cold and somewhat puzzling.

Because Lu Bei usually stuck close to Tang Qing, finding a chance to talk to him alone wasn’t easy. He Yao gathered her courage and said, “Classmate Lu Bei, I really like you. From the first time I saw the photo of you and Tang Qing together on the posts, to later interacting with you in the student council, my feelings for you have grown deeper…”

Lu Bei suddenly became interested and interrupted, “In the photo, we look good together, don’t we?”

He Yao was taken aback for a moment and replied, “Yes, everyone says you look good together. Initially, I thought you and Tang Qing were a couple, so I kept my feelings hidden, afraid to confess to you. But today, I asked Tang Qing, and he said you’re just friends, he would never be with you, so I…”

“What did you say?” Lu Bei’s expression turned cold again, narrowing his eyes as he asked.

He Yao instinctively lifted her head and met the young man’s dark eyes, focused and indifferent, feeling nervous and embarrassed, but still managed to say, “I said I’ve always liked you…”

“Repeat the last sentence. What did Tang Qing say?” Lu Bei’s frown deepened, his face frosty.

Recalling, He Yao repeated, “Tang Qing said you’re just good friends, he would never be with you.”

Lu Bei gave a cold laugh, leaving He Yao blushing where she stood, and turned to walk back into the private room.

Tang Qing, a bit drunk, hadn’t been looking at his phone and was quietly sitting in the private room.

Seeing him remain silent, Chen Ming asked, “Junior Tang Qing, are you okay? Are you drunk?”

His dark almond-shaped eyes were hazy as he looked up at Chen Ming, not saying a word.

Chen Ming couldn’t help but feel a flutter in his heart. This new junior was truly spotless in appearance, with an air of purity about him.

He couldn’t help but lean down and quietly ask in Tang Qing’s ear, “Are you drunk? Do you want me to take you back?”

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Ming was pushed aside by a tall and burly young man.

“Tang Tang, I’m here to pick you up.”

With those words, the young man’s strong arms lifted Tang Qing up around the waist.

Chen Ming couldn’t help but say, “Junior, the gathering hasn’t ended yet. Why are you taking Tang Qing away? I’ll send him back later.”

The girl beside them also spoke up, “Lu Bei, sit down. Let’s eat something together, we’re all part of the student council.”

Lu Bei, however, held onto the person in his arms firmly and said firmly, “It’s already 11:30, we need to go back.”

Without caring about how others in the room were looking at them, Lu Bei left the private room holding the drowsy Tang Qing.

The two girls who were discussing the pairing couldn’t help but have their eyes light up again, “My dead pairing is attacking me again, haha.”

“Yeah, the post online wasn’t lying, the school grass really set up a restriction for the school flower, he has to pick him up on time, haha.”

“Maybe he’s afraid Cinderella’s glass slipper will fall off, so he has to carry him back home, how sweet.”

Lu Bei princess-carried Tang Qing all the way to the car. The driver started the car and Tang Qing slowly regained a bit of sense, “Lu Bei, what are you doing?”

Lu Bei’s expression darkened, “What do you think? Did you go out to play without checking your phone?”

Tang Qing sat there blankly for a moment before saying, “I forgot to look at my phone.”

Seeing Tang Qing drunk, sitting there dazed and obedient, who knows how many people had witnessed it. Lu Bei couldn’t help but sound a bit harsh, “How many messages have I sent you? It’s late, why aren’t you going home? Don’t you know your own situation?”

Seeing Tang Qing speaking so softly, Lu Bei’s anger subsided a bit. He looked at the drunk and dazed Tang Qing, with his flushed face, feeling sorry for him yet slightly annoyed, “I’m sorry, I just had a drink that contained a bit of alcohol, and I felt dizzy.”

Upon hearing Tang Qing speaking so softly, Lu Bei’s anger subsided. He couldn’t resist feeling sorry for the slightly drunk Tang Qing, who looked so dazed and soft. Despite his initial harsh tone, Lu Bei couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy.

Listening to Tang Qing’s soft voice, Lu Bei’s anger subsided a bit. He couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty. Looking at the drunk and dazed Tang Qing, with his flushed face, Lu Bei had the urge to reach out and touch the young man’s face.

However, to his surprise, the handsome young man in front of him suddenly disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a round and fluffy tuxedo cat²image provided by the author, nestled in a pile of clothes.

The little cat looked around in confusion, then finally raised its head, its big black eyes staring blankly at Lu Bei.

“Damn! It’s already midnight!” Lu Bei was seething with frustration.

• 1
  mad to the point where they can lick their phone screens
• 2
  image provided by the author