When the driver realized his little scheme had been seen through, he could only laugh awkwardly. The car fell silent for a while.
Xu Yi was happy to enjoy the quiet, and they rode the rest of the way without a word.
As soon as they arrived at the hot pot restaurant, the two of them drew a whole crowd of stares.
Negative Emotion Points +30 Negative Emotion Points +30 Negative Emotion Points +30
Xu Yi didn't hurry to sit down. Instead, he led Ai Xiaoxing around the restaurant.
That made the customers so mad their noses nearly twisted out of shape.
What the hell? Is this guy showing off to us?
Quit parading her around. We get it, your date's pretty.
Seriously, bro, what have you got going for you? What makes you worthy of having such a gorgeous girl eat with you?
A bunch of grown men ate hot pot while sneaking glances in their direction.
Whenever they got caught, they immediately forced themselves to look away and pretended to be daydreaming.
Xu Yi swept a contemptuous glance over them.
What a sorry bunch... They look like they've never seen the world.
Once he'd collected enough Emotion Points, Xu Yi finally took a seat.
Negative Emotion Points +100*2
"Got some experts here, huh?"
Xu Yi glanced at the Campus Belle and saw that her expression was still the same.
Heh. The Campus Belle really is a master at pretending not to notice.
"Boss, we're ready to order!"
The owner came over with a small notepad. After sneaking a couple of seemingly casual looks at the Campus Belle, he pulled out a pen, looking quite satisfied.
"Xu Yi, take a look and order whatever you want."
"Boss, do you have braised chicken feet?"
"No."
"What about tender-braised beef?"
"Not that either..."
"How about hand-pulled shrimp paste?"
"We do have that."
"Then we'll get a plate of freshly sliced beef."
Negative Emotion Points +20
"Add some tender pork, crispy fried pork, duck intestines, beef tripe, beef aorta..."
Xu Yi rattled off more than twenty dishes in one go.
"Ai, Campus Belle, is that enough?"
"That's enough, that's enough. We can't eat that much. It'd be a waste."
"That's what I'm eating. Order whatever you want for yourself."
Negative Emotion Points +50
Ai Xiaoxing's patience was impressive. Xu Yi could see both her little fists clenched tight.
Yet she kept smiling, speaking to the owner in a gentle voice.
That was the kind of person who deserved to be his Top Supporter.
The Campus Belle said nothing... She just kept supplying him with Emotion Points.
As the hot pot warmed their stomachs, the two gradually loosened up and started chatting.
Xu Yi: "Ai, Campus Belle, why are you so quiet? Are you still keeping up that aloof image you have at school?"
"I..."
"Quit pretending. I know you're a total weirdo. Online, you call everyone 'bro.' If you've got more to say, say it."
Negative Emotion Points +50
Ai Xiaoxing's ears had already turned red, and she was panicking inside.
You stupid mouth, hurry up and say something! Don't let him look down on you!
"I just don't know what to talk about."
"Come on! On WeChat, you're a total chatterbox. Don't tell me you're building up to something big?"
Ai Xiaoxing was so restless she could barely sit still. Even the shrimp paste in her mouth had lost its flavor.
Damn it! He's putting me under pressure again. Ai Xiaoxing, you have to say something to prove yourself!
"I... I'm pretty weird online, but I'm still shy in real life."
Damn it! Why did I say that? That's not what I was thinking at all!
Watching Ai Xiaoxing, Xu Yi understood.
The Campus Belle's a born contrast queen.
Still, lots of people were like that these days. They were totally unhinged online, but in real life they were trembling like quails.
But that offbeat streak was still written into their bones. They just didn't have the guts to show it.
Thinking of that, Xu Yi asked the owner to bring over two bottles of beer.
Xu Yi: "The great Lu Xun once said, 'Beer is the bridge that brings people together.'"
"Huh?"
Ai Xiaoxing eyed Xu Yi warily.
She didn't dare drink with just any guy, especially not out in public.
Xu Yi explained, "You're actually pretty weird, but right now you're way too shy. You're not showing the full force of your weirdness.
A little booze gives a timid person courage. Maybe you'll get weird again after a drink."
"That makes some sense, but why does it feel like you're insulting me? And this is alcohol..."
"What, are you a lightweight? Don't tell me you can't even handle one four-percent beer."
"Of course I can!"
Who did he think she was?
Ai Xiaoxing decisively popped the cap and poured herself a full glass.
Xu Yi had a point. It was just one beer... practically a soft drink.
It was just a way to get the conversation going.
She needed his help, after all. She couldn't keep feeling too embarrassed to bring it up.
But the other men were grinding their teeth at the sight.
What a bastard!
They were both men. Did he think they couldn't see what he was up to?
Getting a gorgeous girl to drink beer in a hot pot restaurant?
Outrageous!
If it were them, they'd take out a loan just to go to a fancy restaurant.
Western food and red wine—that was the kind of place that suited her.
Gulp, gulp, gulp~
The Campus Belle downed a whole glass of beer in one go, then smacked her lips.
"This beer's kind of bitter. Milk tea tastes better."
Then she poured herself a second glass. She ate a few quail eggs with it and downed that one too.
"Beer's too weak. It probably won't get me talking."
Down went the third glass.
"Bro, bro, are you raising fish? What? You're on your fourth glass already!"
The Campus Belle casually ate a few slices of beef, then quickly finished her fourth glass.
"Stop talking. Let me speak first... Listen to me! Bro!"
Xu Yi: "..."
"Ai, Campus Belle, maybe we should stop drinking."
"What are you talking about? Are you a lightweight who can't hold your liquor?"
As she spoke, Ai Xiaoxing downed her fifth glass.
"Bro, what do you think people are really living for?"
Down went the sixth glass.
"Bro, let me borrow your lipstick. What? You don't use lipstick? Huh? This chili's red too."
Down went the seventh glass.
"Bro, I'm not bragging, but I'm... intense!"
Down went the eighth glass.
"Damn it! Do weird girls deserve to die? Why does everyone call me the Campus Belle and expect so much from me? I just want to be weird in peace."
Xu Yi: "..."
"Ai, Campus Belle... Ai Xiaoxing, maybe you should stop drinking. You're getting tipsy."
"Don't. I haven't had enough! I really think you should learn about the relationship between Great Xia and the Ugly Country. Let me tell you..."
Down went the ninth glass~
Ai Xiaoxing's face was bright red, and she looked absolutely adorable.
Ai Xiaoxing: "Bro, I swear I'm not saying all this just because I'm drunk..."
Down went the tenth glass.
"What's wrong with being weird? They say funny girls don't get romance. That's hilarious... Like I need romance?! Why does everyone judge what kind of person I should be based on my looks?"
Xu Yi shook his head and said earnestly, "Don't worry about what other people think. It's best to be yourself."
"So you really licked the cockroach jailer?"
Xu Yi: "..."
Ai Xiaoxing: "Bro, I'm pouring my heart out to you, and you're playing mind games with me? Did you hide the liquor?"
Down went the eleventh glass.
"Waaah~ Bro, this isn't the life I wanted at all. It's so damn hard. In my next life..."
Seeing Ai Xiaoxing with snot and tears streaming down her face, Xu Yi felt his scalp prickle.
The thing he regretted most today was telling her to drink.
How was he supposed to deal with this mess?
Didn't she say beer was just a soft drink?
Ai Xiaoxing smiled foolishly, looking dazed with drunkenness. "Bro, the real reason I asked you out for drinks today is that I want to ask you for a favor."
Xu Yi froze. "What is it?"
Before you continue