Note: This chapter is Redone on 7 / 27 / 2025
Link for character illustration:
https://ko-fi.com/hannibal52661/gallery
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Volume 1 Chapter 20: Going Out
None of the three guys in the dorm came from well-off families—especially Wen Yang.
His "poor" trait had already been written into the original novel. After all, how else would a university student end up taking on all kinds of part-time jobs, constantly bumping into girls and getting tangled up in not so pure relationships?
Wen Yang hadn't officially stepped into his role as the hentai protagonist yet, and he hadn't started that whirlwind of part-time gigs—but he was already short on cash.
And with the end of the month approaching, Ning Chu and Wang Jie were also feeling the squeeze.
Standing out on the dorm balcony, Ning Chu glanced back at the two inside. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the three of them stood frozen in awkward silence before Ning Chu lowered his head and grumbled, "Of all the times for the rich bastard to go home..."
If Zhang Shaoqing were here, he definitely would've insisted on covering the bill.
And the fact that it would've been the villain's money made it even better. Ning Chu wouldn't have felt even a shred of guilt—if anything, he was already fantasizing about spending Zhang Shaoqing into bankruptcy, completely stripping him of his ability to become a proper villain.
After a brief, awkward standoff, Ning Chu took the lead and suggested, "Whatever, let's just go have a look. It's not like you have to spend money at a theme park."
Wang Jie immediately agreed. Wen Yang looked at both of them, and after a bit of hesitation, gave in with a reluctant nod.
Their university sat halfway up a mountain on the outskirts of the city—a peaceful, scenic spot with a commercial district that had sprung up to cater to the student body. Getting into the city center was a hassle, but the amusement park—also located in the suburbs—was only a half-hour bus ride away.
Up until now, the furthest Ning Chu had ever gone was the Sichuan restaurant just outside the school's back gate.
He'd always wondered what kind of world lay beyond the university, which was the main stage of his hentai novel. But once he was actually on the bus, he realized that this world seemed pretty normal.
There were no creeps secretly taking photos on the bus, no blushing girls clutching their thighs while walking down the street, and no signs of anything supernatural. Other than everyone being ridiculously attractive and dressing a bit bold, it didn't feel all that different from his past life.
Ning Chu curiously gazed out the window, soaking in the unfamiliar scenery.
Did this mean… if he left campus, and stayed away from the protagonist, he might actually get to live a peaceful life?
He turned to sneak a glance at Wen Yang, who was sitting right beside him. The guy's long legs were splayed open, totally hogging the shared space, forcing Ning Chu to awkwardly squeeze his own knees together and lean against the window.
Wen Yang caught the look and glanced down at himself.
"Just so we're clear, I only have two hundred yuan left this month."
"I'll pay," Ning Chu rolled his eyes.
This dumbass. What kind of protagonist is constantly stressed about money?
But no—leaving campus right now wasn't a smart move. He had no idea what was waiting outside. What if it was even worse than this place?
And besides, the story was only just beginning. Wen Yang was still an innocent little virgin. He wasn't much of a threat… yet.
Once he became a scumbag, and Zhang Shaoqing turned into a full-blown villain? Ning Chu would be out of there so fast he'd leave skid marks on the tracks.
Even if he rented a place off-campus, the story would probably just follow him anyway—just like it did with Ling Ling and the bar twins. Both those "plot arcs" got delayed but ended up hitting him later in different settings.
"I've been thinking," Wen Yang sighed, leaning back in his seat, "maybe I should get a part-time job."
Job? No way in hell.
Ning Chu's brain kicked into overdrive. And without missing a beat, he launched into moral lecture mode:
"We're students—our job is to study! You're literally living off school subsidies, and you wanna go waste time working part-time?"
"Yeah… I guess that makes sense."
"If you're short on cash, just tell me."
Ning Chu confidently patted his flat chest, making a light thumping sound. "I might not be as rich as Shaoqing, but feeding one more mouth? Totally doable!"
"That's… not really necessary, is it?"
"It's fine, we're roommates~ No need to fuss about that stuff." Ning Chu waved his hand with a carefree smile, trying to put Wen Yang at ease.
Bathed in sunlight pouring in from the window, his skin glowing softly, Ning Chu's smile looked especially warm and sweet in Wen Yang's eyes—like a little angel.
"Stop overthinking. We're out to have fun, so let's just enjoy ourselves."
"Mm." Wen Yang nodded, and the talk about part-time jobs finally ended—for now.
Ning Chu quietly sighed in relief, then began worrying about his own finances.
Will I even have enough to feed the two of us...?
If it was just buns every day, maybe...
God, I'm just a side character in a college hentai webnovel. Why am I out here worrying like someone's parent?!
The trio joked and laughed along the way. After about thirty minutes, they stepped off the bus and arrived at the stop in front of the amusement park.
It was the weekend, so the area was crowded. Groups of young people bustled about, chatting and laughing. Thankfully, the park didn't charge for entry—only individual tickets for each ride—which made Ning Chu breathe a little easier.
Good, at least we didn't come all this way just to be stopped at the gate.
"I'll go grab us some water."
Since Ning Chu had been the one to suggest the outing, he naturally took on the role of caretaker. He didn't want Wen Yang to feel like the trip was a waste of time—after all, if he wasn't satisfied, he might choose to spend his weekends with girls instead. Not to mention, he still felt guilty about snapping at Wang Jie earlier.
He bought three bottles of mineral water, then exited the small convenience store, glancing toward the bus stop—only to realize...
They were gone.
He blinked in confusion, standing on tiptoe to scan the plaza in front of the park. But it was packed, and with his modest 160cm (5'3") frame, he could barely see past the people in front of him.
"They didn't just hop back on the bus and leave me behind, right?"
Muttering under his breath, Ning Chu figured they'd just wandered off nearby to kill time while waiting for him. He hadn't written any amusement park scenes in his novel, so he wasn't overly concerned.
As long as Wen Yang doesn't bump into a girl and trigger a plotline...
He stepped into the square, eyes scanning left and right in search of his roommates.
As a man, he should've felt secure walking alone. But within minutes, anxiety began to take hold—followed by fear. His heartbeat spiked, and he started sweating nervously.
Someone was following him.
In the two weeks since he'd arrived in this world, he'd always stuck close to his roommates—whether during meals, lectures, or military training. This was the first time he'd been alone.
An overwhelming sense of unease gripped him.
Ning Chu's spine went cold. Every time he suddenly turned around, the shadowy figure behind him would vanish into the crowd—yet a pair of malicious eyes continued to stalk him, hidden among the sea of people, like a wolf biding its time in the dark.
Who was it?!
A pickpocket? A mugger?
Or... one of those vague supernatural weirdos that always show up in hentai stories?
Maybe it was his panicked behavior, but a few tourists nearby had started casting him sidelong glances, whispering among themselves. It felt like they were enjoying the show—mocking his discomfort.
The sky seemed to dim. The air thinned, each breath becoming harder to draw. His heart pounded in his chest like a drum, and all the ambient noise around him—voices, footsteps, even the distant music—blurred into a jumbled mess that filled his mind with static.
Everything was unfamiliar.
He didn't belong here.
He didn't belong anywhere.
"Ning Chu!!"
The shout struck him like a bolt of lightning, cutting through the haze in his head. He jerked at the sound and turned sharply toward it.
Wen Yang and Wang Jie came jogging up to him, one behind the other.
"Wen Yang... Wang Jie..."
If there was anything in this unfamiliar world that still felt real to him, it was the characters he had written—his roommates, with whom he'd lived the past two weeks.
The panic that had gripped his heart finally loosened, and the ominous presence from earlier faded into nothing.
"What's up? You look pale."
"I… I was looking for you guys…"
"We were also looking for you!"