During class, Han Lie continued to work on problem sets.
Once class was over, he immediately began to ponder the matter.
First, it was certain that the online novel had nothing to do with her main account.
Not a whisper about it had leaked before graduation in his previous life, which indicated she was very cautious and kept it well-hidden.
So, had she signed the contract using a burner account?
Xi Luting did have a secondary QQ account.
Han Lie had discovered it under extremely fortuitous circumstances.
Later, when he served as the deputy head of the Literature and Art Department, Xi Luting had already worked her way up to become the president of the student council, complete with her own private office.
One time, while organizing an event, Han Lie needed to use the printer in her office.
Xi Luting happened to have something urgent and left in a hurry, allowing Han Lie to discover two QQ accounts logged in on the computer.
One was her main account; the other was naturally her secondary account.
At the time, Han Lie casually opened it and took a glance, finding only four groups and a mere thirty-odd friends in the secondary account.
So, he paid it no further mind.
The unpleasantness that subsequently arose from this was now needless to recall.
However, Han Lie did remember the nickname of the secondary account and the name of one of the groups.
The nickname was quite amusing: "Loneliness."
The group name was "Carnival."
Han Lie couldn't be sure at the moment if those were the precise characters for "cucumber" in Martian script.
But it was precisely this suggestive nickname, combined with the "cucumber" Martian script that tried too hard to be covert, that made it unforgettable for Han Lie.
At the time, Han Lie hadn't thought much of it, simply assuming it was a secondary account Xi Luting used for flirting and celebrity-chasing.
Perfectly normal, right? Who doesn't have a few secret hobbies?
But now, reconsidering it, the correct answer seemed to be staring him in the face—
That was the tool she used for signing contracts, writing, and interacting with her readers!
Moreover, Han Lie had reason to suspect that Xi Luting hadn't given up on her dream of becoming a web novel deity even by the time she graduated!
Otherwise, why would she keep that secondary account active?
Not giving up is good…
Not giving up means I have a chance!
Han Lie silently schemed, quickly devising an intricate and detailed plan.
HEHEHE...
For some reason, the thought of pranking Xi Luting filled Han Lie with extraordinary excitement.
He hadn't felt this thrilled even when leaning against Chen Yanfei earlier.
Did I misallocate some attribute points?
Brother Lie suddenly gained a new understanding of his own mischievous tastes.
But I can't be entirely blamed. Xi Luting's height, her physique, that cold, abstinent face!
Chen Yanfei was just a little tsundere, but Xi Luting was a queen!
Sorry, Fei Fei, of your one hundred and one techniques, two will have to go to Xi Luting...
The first technique is called: 'Foe in the open, I in the shadows, casual online flirtation.'
The second technique is called: 'Offline meetup, a shocking reversal.'
The outcome? Her social death, and me beaten to death by her...
Although it sounded somewhat tragic, Han Lie resolutely decided to go for it!
Xi Luting was different from Yu Yun and Fang Feifei; she was a woman with few weaknesses. To repay last life's arrow of... cough, cough!
To become her friend, one had to dispatch the cavalry.
The second class of the morning was English. Han Lie continued to quietly work on problems without any incident.
Xi Luting took English quite seriously and studied diligently, so all was peaceful.
After class, Yu Yun took the initiative to invite him, "Han Lie, where are you having lunch? Want to go to the cafeteria together?"
"No, I have things to do. You guys enjoy your meal. Bye!"
Han Lie waved his hand and left directly.
He was the type to be verbally polite, but his actions were swift and final, leaving no room for lingering.
Yu Yun pouted, dissatisfied. "Ting Ting, why is Han Lie like this..."
Xi Luting replied indifferently, "Aren't all straight guys like this?"
A straight guy, huh...
To handle a straight guy, should I be more direct, play rough, bet big?
Yu Yun pondered covertly, her thoughts drifting.
At this time, having been in university for just a month, she was still studying her seduction manual and was not yet the fully mature Tea Queen of the future.
Her first attempt to make a move on Han Lie, a steel-willed straight guy impervious to any advances, met with intense frustration.
High school boys were so much easier to flirt with, weren't they?
A slight thrust of the chest, a coquettish wink thrown their way, and they'd immediately come running over, tongues out and tails wagging.
Why are high-quality university guys so hard to deal with?
Ignoring messages, unresponsive to chats, not even paying attention to coquetry...
So frustrating!
She mulled it over, sometimes doubting herself, sometimes doubting Han Lie, and sometimes doubting Xi Luting.
Her mind was in disarray.
However, her personality was indeed as tenacious as Han Lie had assessed.
After letting her thoughts wander for a while, she caught sight of Duan Xiaoyi and immediately set aside her worries, greeting him with a beaming smile.
Well, there are plenty of fish in the sea.
Han Lie is great, but Duan Xiaoyi isn't necessarily worse.
Until it's time to sell, who knows which one will be more valuable?
Might as well keep them both on the hook!
Xi Luting glanced at Yu Yun, who had once again engaged Duan Xiaoyi in conversation, a flicker of mockery in her eyes.
Han Lie planned to go to the electronics market to buy a new phone and a laptop.
His old cell phone was too laggy; it was high time to replace it.
Besides, the phone number was from Dream City, and roaming plus long-distance charges were eating up his money.
Han Lie indeed lacked experience, but the problem was, he was even more short on cash now.
Better to save on unnecessary expenses where possible...
Before heading out, he first returned to his dormitory.
Just as he reached the doorway, he heard a chorus of snores coming from the room.
Oh, the little ones are catching up on sleep?
Pulled an all-nighter together yesterday and had nowhere to sleep during the day?
Han Lie instantly knew what was going on; he was all too familiar with this situation from his previous university days.
Alright, since fate brought us together, I should go say hi!
Han Lie tiptoed, then slowly inserted the key and opened the door, trying not to make any noise.
Pushing the door open, then closing it, still produced a "SQUEAK."
There had originally been three distinct snores in the dorm; now, one suddenly stopped.
Han Lie paid it no mind.
The curtains in front of the balcony were tightly drawn. Additionally, the fourth-floor male dorm was already shaded from sunlight by the female dorm, making the room somewhat dim.
Han Lie stealthily walked over to Huang Wei's bed and stopped at the head of it.
Huang Wei was sleeping soundly, clutching his blanket, lying on his side, facing the wall.
Han Lie stood there motionless, his eyes fixated on the back of Huang Wei's head.
His breathing gradually, gradually grew heavier.
LV, with worries on his mind, was a light and restless sleeper.
When Han Lie pushed the door open, he sensed it.
By the time the squeak sounded, he was practically awake.
But he didn't open his eyes right away, mainly because he didn't know what to say to Han Lie.
Then, Han Lie's footsteps suddenly stopped; he didn't walk towards his own bed.
This puzzled LV greatly.
Bro, what are you up to now?
LV quietly opened his eyes and saw a figure standing silently at the head of Huang Wei's bed.
Holy shit!
LV clamped his mouth shut, feeling a sudden intense contraction in his bladder.
I really have to pee.
Han Lie stood there for a full ten minutes, and LV stared wide-eyed for ten minutes.
He didn't dare make a sound, didn't dare move.
The inner turmoil was simply indescribable.
In the eleventh minute, Huang Wei's snoring also stopped. He mumbled incoherently twice and burrowed deeper into the bed.
His body curled up like a large shrimp, his head nearly touching the wall.
Han Lie finally moved.
LV quickly shut his eyes and pulled the blanket forcefully over his face, completely covering his head.
He sensed that terrifying bro standing at the head of his and Xiao Dongbei's beds for what felt like an eternity.
Five minutes?
Or ten?
LV didn't know; it felt like each second was a year.
There were gaps in the blanket, but he dared not open his eyes.
What if those terrifying, vacant eyes are waiting just outside the gap, peering in?!
LV didn't dare to risk it, and the more he thought about it, the more frightened he became.
Only when the sound of footsteps receded, followed by the thud of a backpack on a desk, the creak of the door opening and closing, and the fading footsteps in the corridor did LV finally dare to lift the blanket, gasping for breath.
Just then, Huang Wei, from the diagonally opposite bed, suddenly sat up, cursing loudly with a sob in his voice.
"Your mother... How the hell are we supposed to live in this dorm? Huh?! Shit, you scared me to death... Son of a bitch!"
"Fuck!"
LV shuddered violently. "Old Huang, when did you wake up?"
Huang Wei continued to whimper, his voice filled with utter grievance.
"Motherfucker! I was sleeping and suddenly felt something was off. The back of my neck felt chilled, as if something was behind me, blowing air on me...
"Groggy as hell, I slowly became alert and sensed someone breathing behind me...
"I didn't dare move an inch, I was trying to confirm it for ages...
"Shit! And there really was someone!"
Huang Wei scrambled out of bed, frantically getting dressed.
"Bro, you can have your fun! I'm definitely getting out of here and renting a place... GODDAMN IT!"
He swiftly packed his things and turned to leave.
Before going, he threw a pack of tissues at Xiao Dongbei's head.
"You moron! Still fucking sleeping! Sleep yourself to death for all I care!"
Xiao Dongbei was jolted awake by the impact, utterly confused. He squinted and asked sleepily, "Huh? Is it nighttime? Are we going to eat?"
"Go eat shit!"
LV was so exasperated he laughed. He rolled over and pulled the blanket over himself. "Whatever! The troublemaker's gone. He won't take it out on me, right? If he really pisses me off... I'll go rent my own place too!"
Xiao Dongbei blinked vacantly, looking left and right, completely puzzled.
What happened?
Did those two have a fight?
So, what about tonight?
Who's treating?
What are we eating?