Yao Tao was startled. No wonder her alternate WeChat account hadn't shown one new contact!
He Zhen had actually found her through the class group and added her main WeChat account first!!!
Yao Tao couldn't make sense of it. Sure, she lusted after He Zhen and liked him very, very, very much.
But Yao Tao had love to spare. She loved every gentle second male lead equally.
She hadn't planned to save He Zhen, either.
After all, hopelessly devoted second male leads had always been used from beginning to end. Saving them was no easy task.
Trying to save him?
That was harder than reaching the heavens!
She simply lusted after He Zhen's body!
If she could keep him from developing stomach problems, all the better. Otherwise, after pouring in all that time and money, he'd lose half his stomach, too!
He could throw his youth, time, and money into the ocean and settle for hearing the splash, but his stomach was his own!
Still, He Zhen's attitude toward Fu Xin lately completely baffled her.
His tenderness toward Fu Xin was supposed to be one of a kind!
Aside from his mother, Zhan Yan, Fu Xin was He Zhen's top priority.
It was always girls adding him and him accepting. He had never added a girl first, not even once!
He Zhen felt as though he'd been possessed. He had actually gone through the class group to add Yao Tao himself.
As his fingertip brushed over his phone screen, a message from Tang Zhao popped up.
Tang Zhao: We're going to an exhibition for our class outing. What about you guys?
He Zhen opened the chat and typed.
He Zhen: A park outing or a barbecue. The barbecue has more votes this time. We'll have to see what Zhang Hansong says about the budget, food, and venue.
Zhang Hansong was Class 7's activities representative.
Tang Zhao: A barbecue, huh? All right, have fun. Hope you get plenty to eat.
He Zhen smiled.
Barbecues were hard to organize. Almost every time, someone ended up dissatisfied.
Money was one issue. People making a fuss was another.
He Zhen actually wanted to visit an exhibition or a museum, too. Less hassle, more relaxing.
While He Zhen was thinking, a little red dot appeared on his pinned chat.
Fu Xin: Zhen, what's wrong?
Fu Xin: Are you angry?
Fu Xin: My phone died this afternoon.
Fu Xin: I only just saw all your calls and messages.
Fu Xin: [Crying.JPG][Crying.JPG][Crying.JPG]
For some inexplicable reason, He Zhen replied: So Qin Zhen paid the medical bill?
The typing indicator slowly appeared on the other end.
He Zhen watched those words flicker on and off, suddenly unable to understand himself.
Did he really like Fu Xin?
Did he like a girl who kept wavering, unable to make up her mind?
Just because she had saved him when they were children?
Without Yao Tao knowing, He Zhen unpinned Fu Xin's chat.
By the time Yao Tao finished working, she had collected so much money her hands were practically tired. When she finally came back to her senses, she realized it was almost ten.
"I'm going to shower and get some rest!" Yao Tao closed her laptop and stretched. "It's so nice having just the two of us here!"
Bai Jianai gave her a helpless look. "Watch what you say. Let's see if you're still this cocky when they come back."
"That's why I have to swagger around while I can!" Yao Tao stretched and wiggled her body. "I'm going to wash up."
"Mm." Bai Jianai nodded, then asked casually, "Our class decided on a barbecue for the outing, and the group chat's blowing up. What about yours?"
"We're choosing between a park outing and a barbecue. Nothing's settled yet," Yao Tao replied as she gathered her things. "If we both go for a barbecue, we can grab a table together!"
"Let's not. Our class is already up in arms. They're charging eighty per person, and a bunch of people aren't happy." Bai Jianai shook her head.
"Eighty's pretty reasonable," Yao Tao said. "For eighty, I could eat skewers until I burst. That's plenty, plenty."
"..." Bai Jianai gave her an indescribable look. "Where did all those cunning little schemes of yours go?"
Leaning against the bed, Yao Tao struck a pose. "I spent them all on handsome men, babe!"
Bai Jianai instantly lost interest in continuing the conversation with Yao Tao. "All right, go shower."
"You got it!" Yao Tao scurried off.
The class outing? It would definitely be a barbecue!
Their Class 7 would have a barbecue, and so would Fu Xin and Qin Zhen's Class 5. Although the original novel hadn't mentioned Bai Jianai's Class 3 having one, this outing was still going to be a romantic battlefield!
The unhinged younger student would fall for Fu Xin at first sight during this very outing!
It would be quite a spectacle!!!
Yao Tao happily went to shower, already calculating how many treasures from He Zhen's personal collection she could acquire this time, and how much money Qin Zhen could make her yet again!
Oh, right, right! Qin Zhen's "fiancée" would also be at this outing!
Yao Tao was already looking forward to it!
Just look at this juicy drama!!!
She was ready to rush straight to the scene!
Fresh off the press!!!
Only before going to bed did Yao Tao remember to accept He Zhen's friend request.
Ah, she was one of only two people her darling boy had ever added first!
She could accept ranking below Fu Xin.
Fu Xin was the heroine of this story, after all. Yao Tao had better just watch!
Maybe she could even become He Zhen's nutritionist someday and send him recipes or something.
As long as she kept her beloved second male lead physically healthy, he could weather a few emotional blows!
Damn it, though. It still felt awful!
However unhappy Yao Tao was, it wouldn't change anything. He Zhen was head over heels. What could she do?
A person had to be content. Being able to observe He Zhen up close was enough. She couldn't get any greedier!
Class 7 soon settled on a barbecue for their outing.
Some classmates were delighted, while others were dismayed.
After discussing it, Youth League secretary Song Pianzhou and activities representative Zhang Hansong decided to collect seventy-five per person for now, with welfare representative Wu Jingru holding the funds.
Everything was fine until money came up. Once it did, quite a few people were unhappy.
"Isn't there enough in the class fund already? We have to pay again?"
As the representative responsible for managing class expenses, Wu Jingru stepped forward and explained exactly how the money had been used.
Where the money had gone and what it had been spent on-she laid out every transaction clearly.
After hearing her explanation, the class fell silent.
"If everyone's really short on money, we could visit a museum instead." Zhang Hansong seized the opportunity to suggest a change of activity.
"Then let's stick with the barbecue!"
"Seventy-five isn't that expensive."
"Exactly. Let us have some fun on our class outing!"
"Who wants to waste their Saturday at a museum?"
"We could even go to karaoke after the barbecue!"
The mood shifted. Compared with a boring museum visit, a barbecue was more interesting. At least there would be food!
"I heard Class 3 is having a barbecue this time, too!"
[Just look at this class, everyone with their own little agenda!]
[How could a museum offer as natural a chance for boys and girls to get closer as a barbecue?]
[Grilling something for the boy or girl you like, lending them a hand-oh my goodness, one giant matchmaking party.]
With the barbecue finalized, Yao Tao's mind sprang into action again.
[I'll get to see a three-way romantic showdown!]
[Just thinking about it is exciting!]
[If only He Zhen weren't one of the main players in that mess.]
[Boohoo, my poor He Zhen. You haven't even dealt with one love rival, and now another lunatic is coming.]
[Why is your life so hard?]
[Don't worry, I've got your barbecue covered!]
[I'll save you a mountain of food. Nobody's taking it from you!]
[Please turn your grief and frustration into an appetite!]
[Amen!]
He Zhen, who had been talking to a classmate, instinctively turned to look at Yao Tao.
Was she talking about this barbecue?
So this barbecue outing was apparently going to be a lot of trouble?
After considering it for a moment, He Zhen thoughtfully dropped a bombshell. "I think Class 1 has decided on planting trees in a park."
Before you continue