First Enemy

After the initial conflict had passed, their relationship entered a period of détente. Xiao He played games in the second bedroom while Ye Wanqing watched shows in the master bedroom, neither disturbing the other. Although giving up the master bedroom to her annoyed him a little, he thought about the pay in the contract and endured it. At this rate, they should be able to make it to the end of the contract soon.

The next morning.

"Hurry the hell up! You've been in the bathroom for half an hour already!" Xiao He pounded on the door furiously.

"Why are you rushing me? So annoying!" Ye Wanqing snapped. "I'm warning you, if you dare come in, I'll call the police!"

"I'm about to piss myself!" Xiao He gritted his teeth. "Even if you're taking a dump, isn't this taking way too long?!"

At last, the door opened. Ye Wanqing glared at him fiercely. "I was just washing my face and brushing my teeth, you vulgar creep! And you swore just now. I hate guys who swear at girls!"

"Then couldn't you come out and let me use the bathroom before washing up?!" Xiao He said anxiously as he rushed into the bathroom.

"Couldn't you have gotten up earlier?" Ye Wanqing rolled her eyes at him, then urged, "Hurry up! We both have class meetings at nine this morning, and it's already past eight."

"Got it, got it!" Xiao He replied from inside the bathroom.

After washing his face and brushing his teeth, Xiao He was about to return to his room to change when he frowned in disgust the moment he reached the bedroom door. The nightstand was cluttered with an electric mosquito repellent, toilet paper, prickly heat powder, mosquito repellent, and several bags of snacks. The desk held a cup, an electric fan, a laptop, a miniature laptop table, eye drops, several bottles of unknown cosmetics, and some strange wads of paper.

As for the bed, that was even worse. The blanket had not been folded, and several wrinkled pieces of clothing were piled on it.

"An absolute pigsty" was the most fitting description for the entire room. The sight made Xiao He feel restless. He had mild obsessive-compulsive tendencies and a bit of a cleanliness obsession; this scene was pure torture to him.

He had wanted to immediately clean up the pigsty before him, but on second thought, that girl probably would not thank him. She would likely think he was doing something perverted with her clothes instead. So he could only give up, suppress the urge, grab his clothes, and leave.

After a round of "sparring" that morning, the two arrived at Beichang University of Science and Technology under Cui Man's escort and began their first day of campus life.

"Your second task," Cui Man said before they got out of the car, pointing at Ye Wanqing, "is to keep an eye on your boyfriend while you're at school and make sure he behaves himself. Even without activating his ability, his physical capabilities are far superior to those of ordinary people."

"I'll do my best." Ye Wanqing nodded. Cui Man then looked at both of them and continued, "Protect each other, okay? Without the other, neither of you has any reason to exist."

"Mm..." Xiao He nodded. Although he did not particularly like Ye Wanqing, he agreed with that much.

If there was anyone in the world who needed the other most, it was definitely him and Ye Wanqing. Together, they could secure a contract with an annual salary of ten million, but apart, neither of them was worth much.

"Behave yourself, okay?" After Cui Man drove away, Ye Wanqing turned to Xiao He with a frown. "Think about the money."

"Mm." Xiao He nodded lazily, then looked at the sky and asked, "Did you bring an umbrella? It feels like it's going to rain today."

"I did," Ye Wanqing replied. "A typhoon is expected to make landfall around Link Harbor City, and it'll affect our side too."

"Good news. At least it'll be cooler for a few days." Xiao He shrugged.

"But you'd better pray it doesn't rain." Ye Wanqing gave a delicate snort. "Because I'm not going to come hold an umbrella over you in front of the entire school."

Why do girls like this have guys pursuing them? Xiao He thought indignantly. Is having big boobs really that amazing? As long as a girl has big boobs, someone will want her no matter how awful her personality is?

Today was their first day at Beichang University of Science and Technology as new students. The Special Response Department had arranged for them to "transfer departments," so they would be introduced by their homeroom teachers and greet all the students in their respective departments.

Xiao He was twenty-one and in his third year, while Ye Wanqing was only twenty and in her second year. They were in the Economics and Management Department and the Judicial Department, respectively.

Xiao He's homeroom teacher, Cai Min, was a fair and plump middle-aged woman, probably only around five feet tall. She dressed fashionably and wore heavy makeup, seemingly determined to make her forty-something self look thirty-something, but it only made her seem greasy.

"This is the new transfer student, Xiao He," Cai Min explained. "The Xiao He from 'success is Xiao He, failure is Xiao He.'"

I really hate it when people introduce me like that... Xiao He thought.

Indifference. Looking at the students below, that was Xiao He's first impression. Everyone was indifferent and unconcerned by his arrival. Judging by the seating arrangement, they mostly sat according to dorm rooms. Clearly, the students in the department were only moderately close with one another, and aside from their roommates, they did not interact much with other students.

Of course, Xiao He did not really care about interpersonal relationships. He only had one thought: Where's the department beauty?

His gaze swept around the department, and then he spotted a girl who made his heart stir. She sat alone in a corner, seemingly unwilling to pay attention to anyone else. She wore a simple pale yellow T-shirt, denim shorts, and flip-flops. Naturally, what caught Xiao He's attention were her graceful, beautiful legs.

He always assessed girls starting with their legs. As long as their legs looked good, their figure and facial features came second.

But this girl's features were quite delicate as well. Though the dark circles beneath her beautiful almond-shaped eyes made her seem a little listless, and her complexion was somewhat pale and wan, she would definitely be stunning with a little makeup. Her lips were slightly full but very sexy. Her long black hair draped over her shoulders and fell to her waist.

This girl was the petite, delicate type, probably around five foot four, with a slender waist and long legs. Though she was flat-chested, those beautiful legs alone were already her greatest advantage. In Xiao He's eyes, there was no prettier girl in the department.

She was not quite campus belle material, but she was practically made to match his standards of beauty.

It'd be great if I could win her over... Xiao He thought. After the homeroom teacher finished introducing him, he sat in the seat behind the girl and waited for the roll call.

"Huang Ling," Cai Min called.

"Here," the girl sitting in front of Xiao He answered.

"So her name is Huang Ling... Her name is as petite and delicate as she is." Xiao He rested his chin on his hand and sighed, considering how to strike up a conversation with her. By then, the homeroom teacher had finished roll call and began explaining the week's activities.

"So, we originally planned for everyone in the department to go on an autumn outing this Saturday, but Typhoon Sally is expected to make landfall around then. It will affect our area too, bringing heavy rain, so the outing has been canceled," Cai Min explained. The classroom immediately filled with groans. Cai Min raised her hand to quiet them. "I know you've all been looking forward to it for a long time, but there's nothing we can do. How are we supposed to go on an autumn outing in a torrential downpour?"

What's the point of an autumn outing in weather this hot? Even in late September, Beichang City is still over thirty degrees Celsius. Xiao He thought.

After soothing the students, Cai Min announced that the meeting was over. The students began preparing to return to their dorms and wait for class to start. Just then, Xiao He had an idea.

"Hey, beautiful, could you tell me about the courses in our department?" Xiao He struck up a conversation with Huang Ling in front of him.

Of course, Cai Min had already sent him the course schedule, but... this was an opening line.

"Have you joined our department's group chat?" The girl's voice was soft and gentle, as though a breeze could blow her away at any moment.

"No, I just transferred here today," Xiao He replied quickly.

"Then I'll add you to the department's WeChat group first." Huang Ling spoke calmly. There was no expression on her face, and her attitude was neither cold nor warm.

However, when Huang Ling unlocked her phone, Xiao He saw the wallpaper and had another idea. "Oh, Tokyo Ghoul!"

"You like it too?" Huang Ling asked with a slight smile. This girl looked truly beautiful when she smiled, and it made her full lips especially sexy.

"Yeah, I like its reflections on human nature," Xiao He said seriously. "Humans, relying on their place at the top of the food chain, naturally do a lot of cruel things, like poultry farms. Newly hatched male chicks cannot lay eggs and are not broilers that can mature quickly, so they get tossed into machines and ground up the moment they are born. But then a species above humanity suddenly appears... When humans become the chicks, what would they think then?"

"Mm! I think your interpretation perfectly matches mine!" Huang Ling's smile became even brighter.

Awesome! I hit it off with a girl I like on my very first day! Xiao He cheered inwardly.

"Oh, I'll add you to the group first." Huang Ling smiled. "What's your WeChat ID?"

After successfully joining the department group, Xiao He was about to add Huang Ling on WeChat when his phone vibrated. A message appeared on the screen. The sender was "Sister Man," and it read, "There's a mission. Gather at the school gate in ten minutes. Someone will pick you up."

What kind of bullshit is that?! Xiao He cursed inwardly. He had only joined the department for one day, and they had already found a Variant? Could there really be such a coincidence?! This had to be some kind of drill, right? Damn it, why now...

But whatever. He had already gotten the girl's WeChat account. He could talk to her another time.

"Thanks. Let's chat when we get the chance." Xiao He waved at Huang Ling with a smile, then ran toward the school gates.

By the time he reached the entrance, a black Volkswagen SUV was already waiting there.

"This mission's target is 'Typhoon,'" Cui Man explained after he got into the car. Ye Wanqing was sitting beside him, while Cui Man had her arms crossed.

"What the hell is 'Typhoon'? An operation codename or some Variant's nickname?" Xiao He frowned.

"No, it's 'Typhoon.'" Cui Man said expressionlessly. "Typhoon Sally, which is expected to make landfall in a few days."

Xiao He: WTF?