Female Friend Chen Xianrou

“Hey, um… that… that person… Chen… Chen Shirou, are you not angry anymore?”

Sitting at the dining table, Ye Hao looked at Chen Shirou beside him, who was eating furiously as if turning her grief into appetite, and scratched his head.

“Hmph! Angry! Of course I’m angry! I wish I could eat you alive!”

She kept eating whatever was in her bowl — it looked expensive anyway, so she ate it fiercely!

Sooner or later, she’d eat him into poverty!

“Alright, alright, eat slowly, don’t choke…”

Before Ye Hao could finish his words, Chen Shirou took another big bite and actually choked.

“Ugh!”

Headache!

Ye Hao quickly picked up a glass of water and handed it to her.

What was with this girl?

“Gulp, gulp, gulp! Haa~~~”

Already full himself, Ye Hao looked at Chen Shirou, who was still wolfing down food, and for some reason, started to feel hungry again.

“Hey, you didn’t go home last night. Won’t your family be worried?”

“Hm? Mind your own business…”

Actually, once the misunderstanding had been cleared up, Chen Shirou had called her worried grandfather at home — and even lied, saying she was studying at a friend’s place.

“I was just afraid your parents might rush to my house and gank me.”

“Hmph, they won’t… My mother died when she gave birth to me. My father passed away when I was little too. If you want to laugh, go ahead…”

Looking at the food on her plate, Chen Shirou poked at it with her fork and took slow, small bites.

“Why would I laugh at you?”

“You boys all like to do that, don’t you? Laugh at others’ weaknesses…”

So Chen Shirou was all alone too…

Ye Hao didn’t know why, but looking at her reminded him of his own past self.

“How could I possibly laugh at you?
If anything, we’re actually the same.”

“We…”

Thinking for a moment, Chen Shirou looked at Ye Hao.

He really was like her.

“Well, anyway, it’s all in the past now.
Also, if we don’t hurry up, we’ll be late…”

Shaking his head, Ye Hao changed the topic.

“Eh?”

“Wipe your face, will you?
You look such a mess when you eat.”

As he spoke, Ye Hao took a napkin and wiped her face.

“You look like a little kitten now.
Are you done eating?”

Looking at Ye Hao, Chen Shirou’s cheeks turned slightly red.

It almost felt like the boy before her overlapped with the one from her childhood memories.

Back then, after losing her parents, she had been timid, shy, and weak.

When she was ostracized by other children, that boy had, in many ways, “saved” her.

But…

It had all been ruined by his sister.

She’d been sad about it for a long time.

Yet she still remembered those words —

“As long as you step on others, those who laughed at you will flatter you instead.”

Holding her cup, Chen Shirou took a gentle sip and said,

“Actually… I usually don’t eat much…”

Not much…

Ye Hao was dumbfounded.

Did she even know how much she just ate?

Even though it was just breakfast, she’d eaten more than him — a grown man!

Impressive.

“Yeah, sure, as if I’d believe that.
Come on, we’ll be late.”

Just as Ye Hao was urging Chen Shirou, a man in a suit rushed into the hotel from outside.

“Good morning, boss.”

Seeing the man enter, the receptionist hurried over to greet him.

“Where’s Ye Hao? Has he left yet?”

With sharp eyes like a hawk’s, the man scanned the area.

“Not yet, Mr. Ye Hao is still over there having breakfast.”

“Go back to your work.”

After saying that, the man quickly strode toward Ye Hao’s table.

“Do you want to order more food?”

Watching Chen Shirou eat with great enthusiasm, Ye Hao kept the cup of water close — just in case she choked again.

“No need, thank you…”

Truly not polite at all, Ye Hao thought, sweating.

“Ye Hao, you brat, so you do still come here!
I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

Seeing Ye Hao sitting at the table with a helpless face, the man walked right up to him.

“Who’s that?
Why’s he shouting like that here?”

“Shh! Don’t talk nonsense.
Do you even know who that is?”

“No idea…”

People dining in the lobby whispered among themselves, watching the loud man.

“That’s Yan Hui — the big boss of this hotel.
His hotels are all over the country!”

“What… seriously…”

In front of Yan Hui’s eyes was only Ye Hao, sitting with a glass in hand.

“Yan Hui?”

“That’s me!
You brat, haven’t seen you in ages.
What, you think you’re too good for my place now?”

He immediately grabbed Ye Hao’s head and ruffled his hair back and forth.

“No, no, let go already…
I just came for breakfast!”

“And who’s this young lady here?
Good for you!
We’ll all have to get together sometime and drink properly.”

Ye Hao sweated profusely.

Although the man looked serious, he was actually quite the character — Yan Hui, the boss of this hotel.

Though technically… this hotel kind of belonged to Ye Hao too.

But for now, it was still under Yan Hui’s name.

Still, Ye Hao could eat and drink here for free.

The price for that, however, was often being drunk under the table.

“Hey, don’t corrupt her with your bad influence!”

“Hahaha! Oh right, Ye Hao, you lightweight — one glass of beer and you’re done for!”

“Alright, alright, this girl’s name is Chen Shirou.
How should I put it… she’s sort of my girlfriend.”

Yan Hui’s eyes widened.

This brat — what do you mean sort of?

Either she is or she isn’t!

Doesn’t he know how to talk properly?

“Shirou, this old rascal’s name is Yan Hui, the hotel’s boss.
Just call him Uncle Yan.”

Staring nervously at Yan Hui’s fierce gaze, Chen Shirou leaned slightly toward Ye Hao and nodded.

“Uncle Yan…”

“Good, good.
I heard last night you two got a room, huh?
Nice work!
Old Ye’s family won’t have to worry anymore!”

Ye Hao: “…”

Cough cough!

“Um, we’ll get going — we’ll be late for school.”

Not wanting to engage any further, Ye Hao grabbed Chen Shirou’s hand and stood up.

“Goodbye, Uncle Yan~”

As Ye Hao’s “girlfriend,” even if only a fake one, Chen Shirou still had to play the part.

“Ye Hao, you brat!
I’ll drive you!”

Watching Yan Hui chase after them, the receptionist could hardly believe her eyes.
That was her usually strict boss?

In the end, Ye Hao had no choice but to let Yan Hui drive them.

“Ye Hao, listen.
That girl being your girlfriend is her seeing something in you, got it?
Treat her well!
Girlfriends are meant to be spoiled!
Didn’t I give you a card?
You’ve never used it!
There’s money added every month — don’t be so polite.”

“And listen, even though I act like this, your three aunts are all worried about you!
Such a big boy and no news from you…”

Ye Hao listened and grew more and more confused.

Wait!

Three wives?!

What the hell!

Sitting beside Ye Hao, Chen Shirou blinked in shock.

Who were these people?

So scary!

“Oh right — I heard from your Uncle Lei someone’s trying to mess with you.
Want me to handle it?
I’ve got a mine in Africa that could use some manpower.”

“Stop! Stop!!
Please, shut up!
There’s someone else here!
You’ll scare Shirou!”

There’s a girl here, man!

If she misunderstands and reports us, what then?!

I’ve got college entrance exams coming up!

Do you want me to get shot?!

“She’s not really an outsider though…”

She is though!!

“Alright, we’re at your school.
I’ll get going.
Bring your girlfriend home sometime — it’s much cozier than outside.”

Yan Hui patted Ye Hao’s shoulder and gave him a meaningful look.

You know what I mean.

Ye Hao: ???

Wait!

What do you mean?!

I don’t get it!!

Though Ye Hao didn’t react, Chen Shirou — holding onto his arm — understood perfectly.

Her face turned red, and she hid her face in his chest.

Ye Hao: This is ridiculous!!

Walking into the campus, Ye Hao felt awkward as countless eyes turned toward them.

So many people watching!

Sure, he was used to attention when giving speeches at assemblies,
but this… was different!

“You okay?”

“I-I’m fine…”

Taking a deep breath, Chen Shirou looked up at Ye Hao.

“Ye Hao, will… will you take responsibility?”

Ye Hao was stunned.
Take responsibility?
For what??

“Last night… didn’t you… didn’t you already…”

“Yeah, I saw everything I should and shouldn’t have seen.”

Idiot!

“What are you talking about!
You’re hopeless!”

Standing on tiptoes, Chen Shirou lifted her phone, lined up her height with Ye Hao’s, and clicked the shutter.

This was the closest photo they’d ever taken together.

Even though she didn’t really like Ye Hao — that scoundrel — deep down, she still felt something.

After all, back in their first year, Ye Hao had completely crushed her.

“What are you doing?”

“Don’t ask.
Aren’t we supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend?
I’ll send you this photo — make it your phone wallpaper.”

Saying that, Chen Shirou sent the photo to Ye Hao — whose online name was “Zuan Literary Star.”

“Wait, how do you even have my QQ number?”

“None of your business.
Anyway, I’ll do my best to be your girlfriend — starting today.”

She gave Ye Hao a quick hug and ran off ahead.

Ye Hao: What the… so random…

Scratching his head, he didn’t think too much about it.

Anyway, with Chen Shirou as his shield, he could finally have some peace.

No one would bother him anymore.

He could focus on studying for the college entrance exam.

In his impression, the exam was full of extremely difficult problems.
He was confident about most,
but who could say there wouldn’t be surprises?

Especially lately —
everything just felt so strangely unpredictable.