CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 37 I’M JUST A KEPT MAN

Just before class ended, the teacher wrapped up the lecture early.

Yu Yun finally mustered the courage and found a suitable moment to strike up a conversation with Han Lie.

"Bro Lie, where are you heading for dinner? Ting Ting and I are going to the cafeteria. Want to join us?"

"The cafeteria?"

Han Lie shook his head, "Too expensive. I can’t afford it."

In reality, he mainly didn’t want to get too close to Yu Yun.

No sooner had he responded than his phone suddenly vibrated.

Han Lie pulled it out; sure enough, it was a friend request from Chen Yanfei, which greatly lifted his spirits.

Yu Yun, seeing the gold iPhone 5S in Han Lie’s hand, was so angry she practically ground her teeth.

"Can’t afford the cafeteria, but you can afford the just-released 5S?!"

"Yeah!"

With his mind on Chen Yanfei, Han Lie nonchalantly brushed her off, "Exactly! Because all my money went to the 5S, I can only eat dirt now, right?"

Perfect excuse!

Han Lie felt his refusal was extremely gentlemanly.

But Yu Yun’s reaction was completely unexpected—

"No problem, I’ll treat you!"

Those resolute words left no room for doubt.

Han Lie quickly accepted Chen Yanfei’s friend request, still nonchalantly trying to deflect, "Really? But I don’t have money to treat you back..."

Yu Yun was almost beside herself with anger.

How can this guy be so clueless?! Am I doing this for your return treat?!

She gritted her teeth, yet suppressed her anger and replied, "Seriously! You don’t need to treat me back. I have enough living expenses. Treating you several times is no problem!"

Han Lie had no flirting skills and was distracted besides, so his initial reaction wasn’t quick.

But he did have Level 3 knowledge in psychology, so he eventually caught on.

Well, well? Did I just succeed in reverse fishing?! Now the tables have turned: she’s nervous, she cares, she’s hooked, she’s anxious! Right then, it’s my turn to lead you on, huh? Hehe!

Han Lie blinked, his gaze clear and shy, his expression slightly hesitant, "Is that really okay? I mean... do you need something from me?"

Xi Luting watched Han Lie put on his act, rolling her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into her head.

Here we go again! He’s like a polyester drama king from the last century!

It wasn’t just her who saw through him; Yu Yun did too.

Having just witnessed such a scene, anyone who still believed Han Lie was an inexperienced youth was a purebred husky!

"Bro Lie, just do me this favor, please~~~ Come on, let’s go, let’s go!"

Yu Yun ignored Han Lie’s act entirely and pressed on relentlessly.

Han Lie could no longer keep up the pretense and casually made an "OK" gesture.

"Fine, let’s go. However long you’re willing to treat, I’m willing to eat. When it comes to mooching food and drinks, I’ve never backed down!"

"PFFT!"

Fang Feifei, who had been eavesdropping, couldn’t hold back when she heard that keyword.

She not only snorted but also leaned over her desk, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably with laughter.

Yu Yun didn’t catch on at first.

Then, Xi Luting followed Fang Feifei’s lead, collapsing in laughter.

Annoyed, Yu Yun nudged Xi Luting a couple of times, "What’s up with you two? Are you crazy?!"

"Mooch... mooching food and drinks... HONK HONK HONK HONK HONK HONK..."

Yu Yun finally understood, and her face turned beet red with embarrassment.

On a sudden impulse, she expertly grabbed Han Lie by the inner thigh, her face flushed as she demanded fiercely, "Confess! Did you do that on purpose?!"

If it hadn’t been for those eyes, so flirtatious they seemed almost moist, Han Lie might have believed her.

HISS... Audacious demon, release my leg at once!

Han Lie, experiencing a mix of pain and pleasure, winced and replied, "What did I do on purpose? Do you take me for some kind of lowlife? I only eat at proper cafeterias!"

Duan Xiaoyi, who had been quietly keeping a low profile after his earlier humiliation, found himself an innocent casualty once again. This time, however, he didn’t dare to look back. Let him scold all he wants, he thought. It’s not like I’m losing any flesh. It’d be my loss if I even tried to argue back!

Yu Yun pinched him again before finally letting go of Han Lie’s thigh.

Her heartbeat raced to three hundred beats per minute, blood rushed to her face, and her head spun.

Internally, she moaned in agony, Have you gone mad?!

But the wildly secreting dopamine told her, Being bold is right, this is so joyful...

Once her rationality returned, she started to chide herself again, Damn it, why are you so frivolous?!

The intense internal conflict felt like it was tearing her apart. For a whole ten seconds, she couldn’t utter a normal sentence and lost all sense of what was happening around her.

Luckily, no one noticed anything amiss.

Everyone assumed she was just embarrassed by the joke and didn’t think anything else of it—it didn’t even cross their minds.

Fang Feifei finally stopped laughing and suddenly threw a curveball.

"Bro Lie, mooching off Yun Yun like that is too much. How about I treat you instead?"

Oh snap?! The goddess actually wants to get in on this?!

Han Lie was slightly taken aback and exchanged a glance with her.

Fang Feifei cupped her face with her hands, smiling sweetly, her gaze somewhat evasive and shy.

Han Lie quickly figured things out.

During this period in his previous life, Duan Xiaoyi’s attention was mainly focused on Xi Luting. And although Fang Feifei had some interest in Duan Xiaoyi, she never showed much enthusiasm because of Xi Luting’s presence. At this stage, she could chat easily with most of the boys in the class. Even the Han Lie from his past life had an okay relationship with her. It was just that back then, Han Lie was too sensitive. Plus, having his deepest insecurity poked by Pan Shaohang on the train, he hadn’t dared to express any fondness for her. Afterward, two incidents occurred that made her completely lose interest in Han Lie. Later, Duan Xiaoyi gave up on Xi Luting, turned his attention to Fang Feifei, and they got together in less than a month. That happened in the second semester of their freshman year. There must have been quite a few stories and incidents in between, but unfortunately, Han Lie’s relationship with his roommates was so poor that he was completely in the dark. In any case, later on, Fang Feifei seemed to give up on herself for some reason. She slept with all the other guys in their dormitory but completely ignored Han Lie. And then, much later, on the day Duan Xiaoyi and Yu Yun got married, Fang Feifei posted in the class group chat: "Duan Xiaoyi, may you die a horrible death! Yu Yun, you can slowly regret your choices!" Yu Yun probably did regret it. According to those in the know, Yu Yun was particularly blatant about cuckolding Duan Xiaoyi. Moreover, it was Yu Yun who initiated the divorce, while Duan Xiaoyi was the one pitifully begging her to stay. It was all quite absurd. Han Lie neither knew nor cared how much truth there was to those rumors. But reflecting on it now, some things did add up. For instance, the Fang Feifei of now wasn’t that goddess yet; at best, she was a somewhat headstrong little fairy and hadn’t yet developed real feelings for Duan Xiaoyi. This girl was far more "daring to love and hate" than Yu Yun. So, it really wasn’t strange for her to take a liking to Han Lie and actively pursue him. Compared to Duan Xiaoyi, the fully upgraded Han Lie completely outclassed him in every aspect. The outcome of their recent face-to-face battle had been brutal for Duan Xiaoyi. With Brother Xiaoyi’s perfect unwitting assist, whether it was Yu Yun or Fang Feifei, as long as I wanted, I could guarantee establishing a relationship within three days.

But the problem was... I didn’t want to.

For a serious, proper relationship, neither of them was suitable. It had nothing to do with looks; both had a baseline attractiveness score of around 90, qualifying them as great beauties. The main issue lay with their personalities and inner substance. Both had clear character flaws and, additionally, a severe lack of depth. Poor academic performance wasn’t a huge problem, but one should at least have some goals or positive hobbies, right? Instead, one was completely love-obsessed, while the other daydreamed daily about marrying a rich heir. Their hobbies consisted of binge-watching dramas, putting on makeup, gossiping, parking... What kind of ridiculous relationship would I have with you two? No way, absolutely not!

Of course, the free meal still had to be mooched.

So Han Lie smiled at Fang Feifei, shamelessly passing the buck to Yu Yun.

"I’m just a freeloader. As long as the food is good, I’ll eat whoever’s treating. Why don’t you two discuss it?"

The girls all stared wide-eyed in unison.

Shocked, yet again.