Love in the Illusion

10

Chapter 10

At nine in the evening, Hu Xixi effortlessly led Xu Sui to the snack street behind Beihang University. After walking for a few minutes, Sheng Nan Zhou, sitting at a barbecue stall, waved at them.

Xu Sui looked over and saw several boys sitting there. Zhou Jingze, dressed in black, had his back turned to him, his short stubble revealing a pale neck.

Hu Xixi walked over, carefully avoiding the puddles, and complained from a meter away, "I really don't like places with such heavy cooking fumes. I'm all about refined consumerism."

Sheng Nanzhou set down his teacup and sneered, "Who was it last time who ordered two servings of pork knuckles and a dozen pig kidneys?"

"You—you, don't go slandering people, Howling Celestial Dog!" Hu Xixi rushed forward, ready to hit him.

"Why do you always provoke her?" Zhou Jingze lifted his gaze to look at him, spinning the menu in his hand before slapping it down in front of Xu Sui. "Order whatever you want."

Sheng Nanzhou thought to himself that he was at least a decent-looking guy—how did he end up being called Howling Celestial Dog? The two continued to argue incessantly, with Hu Xixi grabbing his collar and saying, "I only had a little last time, don't you go framing me."

The two were tangled up in a scuffle, with Big Liu also present, watching gleefully from the side. Zhou Jingze tapped the table with his knuckles, his sharp gaze sweeping over them. "You two should transfer schools. You'd fit right in at Little Sun Kindergarten."

The two little troublemakers immediately let go upon hearing this. Just then, the owner brought over the utensils. Hu Xixi unwrapped her chopsticks but couldn't pierce the plastic seal on the bowl no matter how hard she tried.

Sheng Nanzhou naturally took the utensils from her hands, unwrapped them, and even rinsed them with hot water, all while muttering, "How can you be so clueless?"

Xu Sui was indecisive and worried her choices wouldn't please everyone, so she pushed the menu back. "You guys order. I'm fine with anything."

The barbecue they ordered arrived shortly after, and the waiter here seemed to know Zhou Jingze. As he set the plate down, he asked, "The usual, a dozen Coronas?"

Leaning back in his chair, Zhou Jingze smiled and said, "Thanks."

Once the beers were served, Da Liu acted as if everyone was attending his wedding banquet, pouring each glass to the brim and urging them to drink, shouting, "Not drinking means you don’t give me face, bro."

The group: "..."

When it was Xu Sui's turn, she instinctively declined, saying softly, "I don't drink."

"Xu Sui, why don't you have just a little? Otherwise, with you being such a good student sitting here while we drink, it feels like a crime scene," Da Liu persuaded.

"What kind of nonsense is that?" Zhou Jingze stretched out his long leg and kicked Da Liu, his voice deep. "Alright, don't force her."

The group sat together chatting. Xu Sui rested her chin on her hand, watching Sheng Nan Zhou and Hu Xi Xi playfully bicker, and listened as Da Liu shared stories about Zhou Jingze from school. She listened intently, not even noticing when Zhou Jingze had left.

Big Liu, acting like Zhou Jingze's die-hard fan, slammed the table and said, 'My man Zhou ranked first in both academics and practical skills—impressive, right? The teachers adore him so much they wanted him to be class monitor, but he actually turned it down. Damn, what a shame. Now there’s no one to cover for skipping night study.'

"'But I always cause trouble. Last time, Zhou even took the blame for me. He got punished with fixed rolls and running laps on the field. Must’ve been last month—it was so hot he just stripped off his training jacket, revealing those muscles. The girls watching from the sidelines went wild,' Big Liu took a couple of swigs of beer, envy creeping into his voice. 'Damn, he’s like a walking wingman. The next day, the school’s confession wall was flooded with posts—all about my man Zhou.'"

Xu Sui’s heart clenched slightly as she asked, 'Does he have a lot of admirers at school?'

Just as Big Liu was about to answer, a familiar, icy voice cut in from above: 'Don’t listen to his bullshit.'

A carton of milk appeared by Xu Sui's right hand. She heard the sound of a chair being pulled out beside her as Zhou Jingze returned, clad in a black leather jacket, and sat back down.

Xu Sui reached for the milk carton, still warm, marveling at his unintentional thoughtfulness, and softly said, "Thank you."

Zhou Jingze let out a light chuckle without responding, picking up his drink from the table. Sheng Nan Zhou tapped his bowl with chopsticks: "Friends, the reason we're gathered here today is because there's something I want to—"

"Spit it out already," Hu Xixi rolled her eyes.

"He wants to form a temporary band with everyone to compete in the school competition," Da Liu stole the spotlight from Sheng Nan Zhou's long-prepared speech, "He wants to ask for your help."

"Why are you so enthusiastic about campus activities all of a sudden?" Hu Xi Xi turned her head to look at him.

"Because the prize is a two-day, one-night trip to Beishan Ski Resort," Zhou Jing Ze chimed in, "He begged me on his knees for a long time."

"Right, I remember you can play the electric guitar, can't you? Our beautiful and lovely Princess Xi Xi." Sheng Nan Zhou shamelessly flattered without realizing it.

Hu Qianxi didn’t hesitate either: “Fine, I’m practically going crazy reciting textbooks every day anyway.”

“Alright, I’ll handle the accordion, Big Liu is the lead singer and keyboardist, Old Zhou is on cello and backup vocals, and you’re on electric guitar,” Sheng Nanzhou sighed. “We’re just missing a wild drummer.”

Suddenly, a soft yet resolute voice spoke up: “I can.”

“You?” The group was stunned, turning their heads in unison to look at Xu Su.

Just as Xu Sui was about to speak, her phone let out a "ding" notification sound. She tapped to check and saw it was an apology text from Bai Yuyue.