Chapter Seventy-One: How Did You Know About My…

Xia Juli and Chu Huiyan watched Nangong Kexin’s nervous demeanor and found it amusing. "Are you silly?" they teased. "How are you supposed to have fun at a water park without a swimsuit?"

"I... then forget it, I’m not going!" Nangong Kexin refused, her cheeks flushed.

"No way, you have to go. It’s just a swimsuit, what’s the big deal?" Chu Huiyan insisted firmly.

Xia Juli nodded in agreement, then turned to Angel. "Angel, do you have a swimsuit?"

"No!" Angel shook her head.

"Great! Neither do we. Let’s head to the mall and buy some together!" With that, Xia Juli stepped forward and pulled Angel along.

Nangong Yuchen rubbed his nose as he watched the four chattering women and said with some embarrassment, "Uh... I don't have one either!"

Chu Huiyan, deep in conversation, was suddenly interrupted by Nangong Yuchen and replied bluntly, "You? Once we arrive tomorrow, just buy any pair of swim trunks!"

"It’s already dark. Let’s go get some food first, then head to the mall to buy swimwear!"

Chu Huiyan dragged a reluctant Nangong Kexin away, while Xia Juli pulled a bewildered Angel along with them.

"Phew!" Nangong Yuchen sighed helplessly. He hadn't expected to be so completely ignored. Truly, three women make a crowd, let alone four.

Still, it was for the best; at least the melancholy he had been feeling earlier had been completely swept away by the two women. With this thought, Nangong Yuchen walked toward the school gate alone.

Just as he was considering whether to catch up with the four girls for dinner, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Nangong!"

Nangong Yuchen turned to see a stout figure standing at the school gate, looking at him with excitement.

"Fatty, so that's where you were! I was wondering why I hadn't seen you all day!" Nangong Yuchen walked up with a smile, intending to give him a bear hug, but Le Han dodged him.

With his arms still outstretched, Nangong Yuchen asked awkwardly, "Fatty, what’s this about?"

"Hehe, a man shouldn't be too touchy-feely, so I'll skip the hug!" Le Han scratched his head with a grin and continued, "Nangong, congratulations! From now on, you're an elite student!"

"Fatty?" Nangong Yuchen was taken aback. Le Han gave him a strange feeling; it was as if a distance had suddenly grown between them. Even from his tone, he could sense a newfound hint of respect.

Le Han had intended to excuse himself, but seeing Nangong Yuchen’s slightly displeased expression, he quickly changed his tune. "Nangong Yuchen, let me treat you to dinner?"

The two took a ride to a restaurant in District B. Before the food even arrived, Le Han started drinking on his own.

"Haha, Nangong Yuchen, from now on, I’m going to have to lean on you!" Le Han downed a glass of liquor and laughed.

Nangong Yuchen finished his own glass and joked, "Sure, but I’m afraid your weight might snap my legs!"

They chatted and drank as the dishes were served, by which time they were already nearly full. Suddenly, Le Han slumped over the table, looking dejected. "We won't be able to see each other every day anymore. And later, when you break through to the first rank, we..."

He stopped abruptly, seemingly at a loss for words.

Nangong Yuchen finally understood the change in Le Han. He smiled and finished the sentence for him, "We’ll still be good brothers. And later, when I break through to the second rank, you can walk through Ruxia City like you own the place. When I break through to the third rank, you can sneak into the mayor's house and watch his daughter take a bath, and then..."

"Nangong!" Le Han lifted his head, touched by Nangong Yuchen’s characteristic smile. He realized that his earlier behavior stemmed from the fear that as the gap between them grew, a common guy like him would no longer be worthy of calling himself the brother of such an elite.

But Nangong Yuchen’s smile felt just as it always had. He hadn't discarded his "fatty" friend just because he had become an elite student.

"What? If you don't want to, then when I hit the third rank, you'd better not do that!" Nangong Yuchen teased.

"No, no... I definitely want to!" Le Han quickly agreed.

"Phew!" Nangong Yuchen let out a breath of relief. He had managed to clear the resentment from his friend's heart; otherwise, he would have truly lost his only good brother.

In truth, Le Han’s worries were entirely unnecessary. How could Nangong Yuchen ever forget their shared past?

"Oh, by the way, Angel and Kexin are going to the Luoting Town water park tomorrow. Are you coming?" Nangong Yuchen asked after swallowing a mouthful of food.

"A water park?" Le Han sat up straight immediately, his beady eyes locked onto Nangong Yuchen. "Boss, are you serious?"

In his excitement, Le Han reverted to his old way of addressing him.

"Yes! The four of them went to buy swimsuits together!" Nangong Yuchen nodded.

"Wow, Boss, you're the best! I love you! A water park? Swimsuits? Hehe..." Le Han’s eyes gleamed as he imagined the scene, and he couldn't help but drool.

"..." Nangong Yuchen was speechless, feeling that telling him had been a mistake.

After the meal, Le Han insisted on paying the bill. As they left the restaurant, he didn't forget to remind him: "Hehe... swimsuits... Boss, make sure you call me early tomorrow! Don't forget!"

"..." Nangong Yuchen rubbed his forehead, already regretting it. "Fatty, that’s the eleventh time you’ve said that!"

A while later, Nangong Kexin finally called to say they had arrived at the station. Nangong Yuchen bade farewell to Le Han and hurried over.

"Boss, don't forget tomorrow!" Le Han shouted at Nangong Yuchen’s retreating back.

Nangong Yuchen stumbled, nearly falling over. Hearing the twelfth repetition, he felt a massive headache coming on and truly regretted his decision.

Ten minutes later, Nangong Yuchen arrived at the station as promised. Seeing the three familiar silhouettes, he hurried forward and asked, "Where is Angel?"

"She went home already. Nangong Yuchen, this... this is for you!" Xia Juli’s pretty face flushed as she handed him another shopping bag.

"For me? What is it?" Nangong Yuchen opened it and found a pair of black swim trunks. He asked in confusion, "How did you know my size?"

At those words, Xia Juli’s face turned bright red, and Chu Huiyan’s shoulders shook as she giggled.

"Size?" Nangong Kexin’s face darkened, and she smacked the shopping bag against Nangong Yuchen. "What nonsense are you saying!"

"..." Nangong Yuchen’s face turned hot as he realized his slip of the tongue. He quickly added, "I meant... my measurements!"

"Nangong Yuchen! You pervert, what are you blathering about!" Nangong Kexin’s face, which had been dark, turned red again. Since she was the one who had given Xia Juli his waist size, hearing him phrase it in such an ambiguous way made her lose her temper.

"I..." Nangong Yuchen felt like crying. He hadn't meant it that way at all; who knew those three women would jump to that conclusion?

"Phew!" Watching the three women walk away, Nangong Yuchen let out a long sigh and hurried to catch up.