Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

In the afternoon, Li Chen took his senior to her classroom and promised to have dinner with her that evening. Indeed, Li Chen didn't eat much all afternoon.

He took the basket and obediently started picking up vegetables.

A huge basin, piled up like a mountain.

When it was served, the chili oil was bubbling and steaming hot.

Yan Xi only ordered a small bowl of clear soup and slowly ate a few green vegetables.

The enormous pot of red oil in front of Li Chen emitted an enticing yet dangerous aroma.

"Eat."

Yan Xi broke a pair of disposable chopsticks in half and handed them to him.

"So many..."

Li Chen looked at the bowl of red oil, his throat feeling a little dry.

"You're growing, eat more."

Yan Xi rested her chin on her hand, looking at him. "Or do you want me to feed you?"

The eyes of the surrounding tables instantly swept over.

Li Chen felt a chill run down his spine and quickly took the chopsticks, saying, "I can do it myself! I can do it myself!"

The first bite of the beef roll was an explosion of spicy and savory flavors on the tongue.

Li Chen is someone who can't live without spicy food, and this flavor is just right for his taste.

"Is it tasty?"

Yan Xi asked.

"tasty."

Li Chen was sweating from the spiciness, but he couldn't stop eating.

Yan Xi watched him wolf down his food, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.

She reached out, took the vinegar bottle from in front of him, and poured a little into his bowl.

"To relieve the spiciness."

Then she pushed the tissue box to his side.

"Wipe your sweat."

With his mouth full, Li Chen mumbled a thank you.

Before we knew it, the big bowl of spicy hot pot was empty.

Li Chen let out a burp, feeling as if he had come back to life.

He leaned back in his chair, looking at Yan Xi across from him, who had already finished eating and was looking at documents on her phone.

This feeling is wonderful.

There was no romance, no deliberate attempt at romance.

In this noisy little shop, there's a pot of spicy hot pot, one person is in charge of eating, and the other is in charge of watching.

It actually gives off a vibe of an old married couple.

I've gotten used to her domineering ways, used to her feeding me, and even used to this life where everything is arranged so clearly.

Li Chen touched his stomach and sighed inwardly.

It's over.

I think I'm really about to fall into my senior's arms.

Along the way, Li Chen felt as if he were walking on clouds.

……

After finishing their meal, the two walked back along the artificial lake on campus.

As night deepened, the campus became much quieter.

The streetlights stretched the shadows of the two people, which overlapped and intertwined on the ground.

The wind was a bit cool, but Li Chen had just eaten a lot of chili peppers and felt hot all over, so he found the wind to be comfortable.

Yan Xi walked very slowly.

Li Chen matched her pace, with a fist's distance between them.

Suddenly, she stopped.

This is a small stone bridge over an artificial lake. There is no one around, only willow branches swaying in the wind.

Yan Xi turned around and faced Li Chen.

"Li Chen".

"Um?"

"Hand out."

Is it that trick again?

Li Chen muttered to himself, but his body betrayed him, and he obediently extended his right hand.

Yan Xi did not hold hands with her fingers like last time.

She took something out of her pocket and placed it in Li Chen's palm.

It's icy cold.

Li Chen looked down.

It's a mint.

The wrapping paper was blue and shimmered faintly under the streetlights.

"After eating so much minced garlic and chopped green onions, my breath smells terrible."

Yan Xi's tone was disdainful, but her eyes were not cold.

Li Chen unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth.

The refreshing minty flavor instantly dispelled the spicy taste in my mouth.

"Is it sweet?"

Yan Xi asked.

"sweet."

Li Chen nodded.

"That's good."

Yan Xi took a step forward, getting closer to him.

Li Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously held his breath.

What is she going to do?

The atmosphere, the distance, and the mint in my mouth...

Could it be that belated "next time"?

Li Chen's palms began to sweat with nervousness, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes darted around in a panic before finally settling on Yan Xi's face, which was so close to his.

Yan Xi looked at his tense expression and the smile on her lips grew wider and wider.

She raised her hand.

Help him brush his wind-blown bangs to one side.

Then, she leaned close to his ear.

"Go back and make up with your roommate."

The hot air entered his ears, making Li Chen shrink his neck in ticklishness.

After saying that, she took two steps back, turned around, and waved to him with her back to him.

"Let's go back to the dorm."

Li Chen stood there, stunned, the mint in his mouth melting, a chill running straight to the top of his head.

Watching that dashing departing figure, Li Chen shook his head and smiled helplessly.

……

After seeing Yan Xi off, Li Chen returned to the entrance of dormitory 302.

He glanced at his phone; the screen displayed Wang Qiang's recent post: "[A family tragedy! A rebellious son abandons his elderly father for a woman! The qualifying rounds are here!!! Image: An angry groundhog.jpg]"

Li Chen: "..."

He stood outside the door, took a deep breath, and braced himself for the storm.

Push the door open.

The room was deathly silent.

The headlights were off, leaving only the eerie blue light of the computer screen illuminating three pale faces.

Wang Qiang, Chen Mo, and Zhao Zixuan sat side by side in chairs, staring blankly at the door.

That look in his eyes held three parts resentment, three parts anger, and four parts the feeling that he wanted to kill him.

"that……"

Li Chenqian chuckled, trying to break the silence, "I'm back."

No one spoke.

Wang Qiang slowly lifted the clothes hanger.

Zhao Zixuan silently picked up the sneakers.

Chen Mo pushed up his glasses, and a thick book on criminal law appeared in his hand.

"Brothers, let me explain!"

Li Chen took a step back, his back pressed against the door. "I'll treat you to two drinks this week! No, three!"

Wang Qiang sneered, "You think you can make up for our desire to reach diamond status with just three drinks?"

"Shine my shoes!"

Li Chen: ...

"So...how about I introduce you to some architecture students sometime?"

Li Chen unleashed his trump card.

The air froze for a second.

"really?"

Zhao Zixuan's eyes lit up.

"As long as she's half as pretty as Yan Xi, that'll be fine!" Wang Qiang put down the clothes hanger.

Chen Mo wrote in his letter: "Based on probability, the architecture department has the second highest concentration of beautiful women in the entire university."

"This deal is negotiable."

Li Chen breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like he had escaped a disaster.

Just as he was about to go inside, Wang Qiang suddenly spoke again.

"However, while the death penalty may be spared, punishment is inevitable."

"What?"

"Did Yanxi buy you some spicy hot pot just now?"

Wang Qiang sniffed, like a police dog, "You smell like that all over you."

"Um."

"Did you pack it up?"

Li Chen froze: "...No."

"Then don't blame your brothers for being ruthless."

The three exchanged a glance and pounced at the same time.

"Scratch him!"

"Let him prioritize his lover over his friends!"

"If we don't tickle you to death today, we're not the 302 Three Musketeers!"

"Holy crap! Stop scratching your back! Hahaha... Oops, Oops! Help!"

In dormitory 302, screams and laughter mingled together.

Li Chen was pinned to the bed, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

Despite being "bullied" and losing the qualifying round.

But at this moment, the mint in his mouth hadn't completely melted yet.

It's really sweet.