The Art of the Interrogation

“Uh… it’s just something I scribbled down, nothing worth mentioning, haha…” Zhou Yi forced a dry laugh, subtly shifting backward.

She had absolutely no idea what that damned official account had even written, so she could only bravely feign ignorance.

“Don’t be so modest, Senior!” The other two girls in the dorm also crowded closer, examining her with excited expressions.

“You look even better in person than your official account profile picture! Your skin is absolutely flawless!”

“And your voice is so gentle, so elegant~”

“Uh… haha…” Beyond a dry laugh, Zhou Yi couldn’t think of any other way to respond. She felt as if all the fake smiles she’d ever given in her life didn’t amount to as many as she’d produced tonight.

Suddenly enveloped by this enthusiastic barrage of ‘rainbow farts’ from the girls, a polite smile still plastered on her face, her heart was already sending out an SOS. How in the world was she supposed to keep up the act now?

Just as Zhou Yi racked her brain, wondering how to proceed, the girl with round-rimmed glasses, who appeared the most demure and quiet in the dorm, suddenly asked in a soft voice:

“Oh, right, Senior, what exactly is your research topic? It sounds really impressive~”

For Zhou Yi, these words were heavenly music! They were an ice-cold cola in the desert! It was a godsend, a stepping stone from the heavens, even more helpful than a system prompt. She was practically a hidden NPC!

“Ah! Yes! The research topic!” She immediately seized this lifeline, quickly displaying the QR code.

“It’s a study on the consumption behavior and mindset within contemporary college students’ emotional relationships. My advisor places great importance on this project. Would it be too much trouble for everyone to scan the code and fill out a questionnaire? All data is anonymous~”

As she spoke, she deliberately looked at Lin Yating, offering a sincere smile. “Junior, would you mind helping out too? It won’t take too long.”

“Of course I’ll help, Senior~” Lin Yating said with a smile, then skillfully picked up the teapot. The amber tea liquid traced an elegant arc in the air. “This is Osmanthus Oolong that just arrived. Would you like to try some, Senior?”

“Thank you.”

Zhou Yi took the steaming tea, its fragrance wafted delicately past her nose.

She took a light sip. The taste was fresh and sweet, with a lingering aftertaste, refreshing and soothing to the heart.

‘Indeed, good tea, so ‘green,’ and what a scheme.’

She slowly set down the cup. Her fingertip lightly tapped the questionnaire’s QR code.

“Actually, our research topic is precisely to help our advisor profoundly investigate the campus loan phenomenon. It’s about… for example, how some students engage in excessive spending and might stumble upon irregular campus loans. As interest accumulates on interest, it becomes incredibly difficult to resolve in the end.”

Lin Yating paused for a moment, then her expression bloomed into one of concern. “Hmm, I think I’ve seen similar cases in the news. College students’ money is limited to begin with, so ultimately, it comes down to immature consumption habits.”

Roommate A excitedly slapped her thigh. “Exactly, exactly! Last time, a high school classmate of mine was just like that. She originally wanted to buy a phone in installments, but the debt spiraled, and her family had to pay it off for her in the end.”

Roommate B scornfully pursed her lips. “Ugh, it’s just a case of trying to keep up appearances. Insisting on having the latest model, insisting on following trends—in the end, they only bring misfortune upon themselves.”

Lin Yating followed with a soft sigh, saying meaningfully, “Indeed, it’s understandable for young people to pursue a quality lifestyle, but they must act within their means. After all, false prosperity must ultimately be repaid with tears.”

Zhou Yi subtly lowered her head, hiding the mockery in her eyes. ‘She spoke so well, truly. After all, when a bill is repaid with someone else’s tears, it truly makes one’s performance exceptionally composed.’

If she hadn’t personally witnessed Chen Hao’s predicament, just listening to these words, it would be easy to believe Lin Yating truly saw through everything.

Roommate C, indignantly shaking her phone, declared, “If you ask me, all those loan apps should be taken down!”

Zhou Yi, however, wouldn’t miss this opportunity to push things along, so she mysteriously chimed in:

“Exactly, exactly. Didn’t something happen a while ago? I heard there was a guy who, to make his girlfriend happy, borrowed from seven or eight platforms… now he even has to scrimp on meal money just to pay the interest. It’s quite lamentable.”

Roommate C’s gossip soul immediately ignited. “Really? Is that true? It couldn’t be someone from our school, could it?”

The other two girls also wore expressions of eager gossipers, yet only Lin Yating, seemingly detached from the world, calmly arranged the teacups.

“Oh my…” When she looked up, her face had already adopted a perfectly fitting look of pity. “No matter who it is, they’re truly pitiful… Love shouldn’t become a shackles.”

Roommate A softly echoed, “Exactly. If my boyfriend borrowed that kind of money for me, I’d rather break up than have him burdened with debt.”

Roommate B, however, shook her head. “But unfortunately, some people fall for that kind of gesture, feeling especially touched. In the end, both people suffer.”

Roommate C couldn’t help but mumble, “I heard someone at our school really hasn’t been doing well lately… It couldn’t be the one Senior mentioned…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Yating gently cleared her throat, interrupting her. “Don’t just guess wildly. It might just be a coincidence.”

Zhou Yi watched her flawless and natural reaction and couldn’t help but be utterly impressed. Yet, how could she possibly let her off the hook so easily?

“Yes, I heard lenders love to harass their debtors…” Zhou Yi tilted her head, a light chuckle escaping her lips. “Junior, what do you think… might they have already infiltrated the campus?”

After saying this, she casually glanced at Lin Yating. A fleeting flicker of unease in the other girl’s eyes couldn’t be entirely concealed.

“But don’t worry, everyone~” Zhou Yi smoothly changed the subject. Smiling, she lifted the gift box from the table.

“My purpose in coming here this time is actually to understand students’ views and awareness of the campus loan phenomenon through an anonymous questionnaire. It’s purely for research, no real names involved~ What I just mentioned was merely an example, and won’t involve any personal information.”

Lin Yating lowered her head and took a sip of tea. When she looked up, her eyes held a hint of probing. “Oh, so that’s how it is… I thought, Senior, that you were here to investigate someone.”

“Oh, how could that be?” Zhou Yi immediately played dumb, laughing. “I’m not the Disciplinary Committee; it’s not like I’m going around checking everyone’s water meters, right?”

The other three girls in the dorm were amused by her words, and the atmosphere instantly lightened again.

“Exactly!” Roommate A patted her chest. “Our dorm is so clean it could be awarded as a ‘Civilized Dormitory Model’!”

Roommate B added with a laugh, “Yeah, aside from secretly eating hotpot late at night, you’d hardly find any dirt on us.”

Roommate C waved her hand even more dramatically. “Forget the Disciplinary Committee, even if the police uncles came, they wouldn’t find anything wrong!”

Zhou Yi, seizing the moment, smiled and pressed further. “What, are you afraid I’ll actually find something?”

Lin Yating elegantly set down her teacup. A faint smile blossomed on her lips. “Senior, you jest. We don’t even have any unauthorized appliances~”

She turned to look at her roommates, her gaze sweeping over them. “Right?”

The other three girls immediately nodded like chickens pecking rice.

Zhou Yi almost laughed in exasperation at her seamless maneuvering.

‘If you’re truly this calm, how am I supposed to break through your facade?’

She lightly tapped her palm. “Then perfect, filling out my questionnaire will count as extra credit for your civilized dorm~”

While the girls scanned the QR code, Zhou Yi suddenly lowered her voice. “By the way, a reminder: it’s best to go out in groups lately. Something happened at the school gate yesterday.”