The charity tree-planting team-building event officially ended at 3:20 p.m.
It ran later than expected, but the activities had gone fairly smoothly.
Afterward, the park staff and the students took a big group photo together.
Not bad, not bad at all!
Even though I barely did any work!
I still feel so accomplished!
She looked at the little plaque attached to the sapling.
The first line listed their school and class, the second had her name and He Zhen's, and the third was today's date!
Close enough-our love tree is complete!
Perfect date!
Yao Tao took out her phone and snapped a photo of herself with the sapling, too.
Tsk, tsk, if my darling He were in the picture too, I'd call this date an absolute knockout!
Yao Tao admired the photo for a moment.
He Zhen heard her, but after considering it, he still didn't step forward.
"Let's go, junior. On to the next stop." Zeng Rou and the others had finished dealing with their class affairs, too. Terrified she might miss her chance to bleed He Zhen dry today, she kept both eyes fixed firmly on him.
"I definitely won't leave this time." He Zhen wasn't annoyed by her watchful suspicion.
Thinking about it carefully, Zeng Rou and the others were the ones who ought to be more annoyed.
When he actually counted, He Zhen realized with a start that he really had stood them up quite a few times.
One meal was getting off lightly as an apology.
He Zhen was about to call Yao Tao over, but her eyes were so sharp that he didn't need to. She came running on her own as though she'd caught their scent, her inner voice growing clearer.
Why are you talking without me?
You promised to bring me along today, too!
You can't go back on that!
Good thing I've got sharp eyes!
Otherwise, where would I go to cry?
Outside of this, I'd have to wait for a variety show, an annual party, an assembly, or some big event to see Han Qinglu again!
Or that damned student council with its ridiculously high requirements.
Join the student council in the prime of my life?
Not even a dog would do that!
Girls, I'm willing to live online and be the trash can on the other end of your phones!
Give me a chance!
"Are we leaving now?" Yao Tao checked that she hadn't left anything behind, then addressed her seniors in a quiet, demure voice.
Her voice couldn't be too loud, and her tone couldn't be too bold or too subdued.
The very model of a good girl-one look, and anyone would think she was such a well-behaved kid!
The essential persona for bargaining when she went shopping, the kind that made even a shopkeeper want to knock a little off the price!
I really am such a very, very, very good girl!
I deserve a chicken drumstick!
Yao Tao praised herself inwardly, going all in on self-admiration.
He Zhen, who heard every word loud and clear, had no idea where she got this baffling confidence.
"Are your eyeballs glued to her?" Zeng Rou found it utterly astonishing.
He Zhen's gaze had always been fixed on Fu Xin before. Even from a hundred meters away, he could pinpoint her accurately. This really was a rare sight.
He was actually taking an interest in another girl.
Zeng Rou thought about it for a moment, then found herself unable to describe the look in He Zhen's eyes. Somehow, his expression seemed to defy explanation.
It felt awfully strange.
"That mouth of yours!" Han Qinglu affectionately brushed a finger over her nose. "If you don't rein it in, it'll get you into trouble sooner or later."
"Who would dare?" Zeng Rou planted both hands on her hips. "I'll get my two older brothers to beat them up!"
That's our heroine Zeng for you!
Boohoo, having older brothers is so nice!
If I had someone backing me up, I could poke a hole in the sky itself, believe it or not!
He Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness she didn't have anyone backing her up.
Going from the park to a karaoke lounge left Yao Tao stunned.
The restaurant she had imagined: high-end, stylish, classy.
There should have been a red carpet, hostesses standing on either side, and another hostess to show them the way!
They would take an elevator up to the 108th floor, step out into a corridor full of beautiful ornaments, and pass a series of small rooms before reaching their large private dining room.
Preferably one by the windows!
Outside, neon lights would twinkle, while a live orchestra accompanied their dinner amid the shifting lights.
Where's the big red carpet?
Where are the pretty, long-legged hostesses in cheongsams?
Where are the stairs to the 108th floor?
Yao Tao was completely bewildered.
Why had she ended up in a karaoke lounge whose dazzling colors, gaudy decor, and flashing lights rivaled a nightclub's main dance floor?
Does this make sense?
This makes no sense!
Isn't this just a rip-off joint designed to fleece people?
I know karaoke lounges!
Picking a place like this for dinner is a massive waste of money!
If he could have, He Zhen really would have told her that her expectations were the problem.
"Here, order a few things to start with, host!" With wicked intentions, Zeng Rou handed He Zhen the thick menu.
Under the multicolored lights, Yao Tao clutched her stomach with laughter while standing on tiptoe to look.
So flashy. Who still uses a menu this thick these days? Hilarious.
Could you try keeping up with the times?
Ever heard of ordering with a QR code?
One second Yao Tao was laughing; the next, her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!
Holy shit, am I blind, or do they actually have the nerve to charge 118 yuan for a glass of watermelon juice?
Are you robbing people!!!
I don't know whether your watermelon juice is fresh, but I already want to smash up this rip-off joint!
Other than fruit, this whole menu is nothing but junk food!
So He Zhen's supposed to finish eating and then start chewing stomach medicine half an hour later?
Fried chicken wings alongside roast goose!
Junk food and proper meals served together!
Fine, I admit this place has a few tricks up its sleeve!
Standing on tiptoe, Yao Tao had unconsciously planted both hands on He Zhen's shoulders to take some of the strain off her legs.
He Zhen found it rather funny to see her staring at the menu as though she'd seen a ghost, her hands pressing harder on his shoulders in shock.
That was Yao Tao: lively to a fault, unable to stay quiet for even a minute.
He turned to look at her and helplessly handed over the menu. "Want to sit down and look?"
"Okay." Yao Tao casually took the menu and started to sit down.
He Zhen caught her and guided her over to the couch, settling her into a seat farther inside.
Holy shit, they even have Werewolf?
Yooooo, they won't even spare card games!
You're fucking charging a hundred an hour for these cards? Why don't you just rob people!
This karaoke lounge is shady. Reported!
"Order whatever you like. Everything's on me today," He Zhen whispered, leaning close to her ear.
"No way!" Yao Tao got a little worked up.
She quickly realized she'd overreacted. "I mean, we're treating you. How could we let you pay for everything yourself, He Zhen?"
It's all Qin Zhen's money. Spend it!
Spend as hard as you can!
We have to get this anger out of our systems!
Boohoo, what a rip-off!
Pfft, that's not the point. Did I scare He Zhen?
Good thing I reacted fast. Being gentle is in his nature anyway, so I'm sure I can bluff my way through.
As for the others, Yao Tao hadn't considered them at all.
He Zhen: ...Did he look like some easily fooled idiot?
Yes, he did.
He pretended he hadn't heard even though he had, despite really wanting to know what she meant about spending Qin Zhen's money.
"Impressive, little junior." Zeng Rou came over. "Let's start with the King's Game!"
The King's Game only takes a deck of playing cards, so it should be cheaper than Werewolf at a hundred an hour, right?
The moment Yao Tao finished that thought, she turned to the page listing the card rental fee for the King's Game.
120 an hour?
*???*
Hello, police? There's a rip-off joint here. I want to report it under my real name!
Forget it. Better make it anonymous.
There are too many enemies, and weak, pitiful, helpless little me is right in the middle of their den. I'm scared!
Before you continue