"Do I look like I need a 'boyfriend'?" Lu Zhi couldn't help but examine his own appearance in the rearview mirror. Apart from a small mole near the corner of his eye by his lower lashes, his appearance was basically the same as when he had transmigrated into the book. Did he look gay?
He Jiu's car was a luxurious long sedan. He casually took a bottle of red wine from the cooler, poured himself a glass, and took an elegant sip. Without asking Lu Zhi what he wanted to drink, he got him a bottle of beverage and said, "Do you want the truth?"
Lu Zhi was speechless at the cartoon font on the bottle that read 'Child-Friendly Beverage.' After a pause, he replied, "What about the lie?"
He Jiu said dejectedly, "The lie is that you look like a closeted gay, clean, and easy to handle."
Lu Zhi expressionlessly used a single finger to pry open the beverage cap, took a sip, and his face darkened slightly from the sourness. He then asked, "The truth?"
He Jiu lifted his partially closed eyelids, stared at Lu Zhi from head to toe, and curved his lips, "Oh, unrequited love, wanting to find a decent replacement can also work."
Lu Zhi froze for a moment, then realized and exclaimed in surprise, "You like my brother?"
"Alas, what a shame. Your brother is straight, and a devoted one." He Jiu suddenly placed his wine glass into the cup holder on the armrest. His fingers, still cold from the condensation, unceremoniously gripped Lu Zhi's chin. His effeminate face suddenly moved closer, his voice filled with allure, and he asked, "How about you play with me for a while?"
Lu Zhi looked at him calmly and said, "Sorry, you're not my type."
He Jiu placed his other hand on Lu Zhi's lap, slowly caressing his way up to his waist. He chuckled in a low voice, with a hint of flirtatiousness, "How do you know if you don't try, if this dish suits your taste?"
Lu Zhi didn't swat away his touch like a frightened young man. Instead, he smiled slightly and asked innocently and obediently, "What do you think my brother would do if I complained to him that you were harassing me?"
He Jiu's playful smile froze for a moment. He retorted, "How old are you? Do you still run to your parents like a child about adult matters?"
Lu Zhi sighed softly, "There's nothing I can do about it. I'm weak, helpless, and my brother is protective. If I go back crying to him that you have ulterior motives and are trying to take me by force..."
"Wait." He Jiu interrupted him, straightened up, and smiled, "It was just a joke, don't take it seriously. Why are you so easily scared, little one?"
Lu Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, took another sip of his drink, and with a hint of youthful dissatisfaction, asked with annoyance, "If you know I'm easily scared, why scare me?"
He Jiu raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "I just wanted to see what kind of personality Lu Chengxuan's newly recognized younger brother has."
"What kind?" Lu Zhi asked back with apparent curiosity, though only he knew the turmoil within. The mist seeping from the iced aluminum can in his hand was mixed with his sweat.
He Jiu's words and actions were half true and half false, and his personality was unfathomable. Most importantly, Lu Zhi knew this He Jiu was no ordinary person.
How could someone who had successfully walked out of a cage alive and become a physician be a kind soul?
"Not particularly good," He Jiu reverted to his颓废 demeanor, slumping in his seat lazily, "Get off at the next intersection and go back to your academy. Stay out less when you have nothing to do."
Lu Zhi instinctively asked, "What about my sister-in-law? Where are you taking her?"
He Jiu glanced sideways, "Since your brother dared to entrust her to me, it means I am someone he trusts. The rest is not something a little imp like you can interfere with."
Before getting out of the car, Lu Zhi probed, "What's your relationship with my brother?"
He Jiu chuckled upon hearing this, "Relationship?" He rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and then said, "What kind of relationship do you want us to have?"
"Of course, friends." Lu Zhi's sincerity in his eyes made He Jiu freeze for a moment. He then closed his eyes, waved his hand, and said, "Kids shouldn't ask about adult matters. Drive."
The car door closed without mercy. Lu Zhi watched the receding taillights, touched his nose, and used his phone as a mirror to examine himself, muttering, "Do I look that childish?"
By the time Lu Zhi returned to the academy, it was completely dark. However, the entire dormitory building was brightly lit.
Just as he was about to open his own room door, a boy from the room next door, completely covered in bubbles, ran out holding his lower half and shouted, "That bastard cut off my water! If you have the guts, come out and fight me one-on-one!"
A pillow flew out from the opposite door, hitting the naked boy on the head. A thunderous roar followed, "Wang Cao Tian, can't you at least wrap a towel around yourself before coming out!!!"
Wang Cao Tian, upon hearing this, instead waddled to the doorway of the opposite room, hands on his hips, proudly tossing his hair, "Xia Zhi, we're all men. If you have it, I have it too. What's there to be shy about?"
"Get lost!"
The next second, Lu Zhi saw a quilt being thrown out to cover Wang Cao Tian, along with a push. The door slammed shut mercilessly.
"Damn it, Xia Zhi, Xia Zhi, Brother Xia, open the door, lend me your bathroom to take a shower?" Wang Cao Tian knocked on the door a few times. Seeing that Xia Zhi completely ignored him, he could only dejectedly turn around, wrapped in the quilt. However, upon seeing Lu Zhi, he jumped back in fright and asked loudly, "Who are you? I've never seen you before! A freshman?"
Lu Zhi, recalling Wang Cao Tian's naked sprint just moments ago, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. His gaze slowly fell on Wang Cao Tian's dyed yellow hair as he replied, "Yes, I'm a freshman. I just moved in today."
Wang Cao Tian's eyes lit up. He opened his mouth and said flatteringly, "Good job, brother! I can tell you're extraordinarily talented at first glance. We're classmates from now on. Classmates should be friendly and help each other. Now a classmate is in trouble, can you lend me your bathroom?"
Lu Zhi thought that the latter part was the main point.
"Yes."
Wang Cao Tian was overjoyed, "Good brother, I'll go get my clothes."
Lu Zhi found it both amusing and exasperating. What was all this about?
Wang Cao Tian was a naturally gregarious person with excellent social skills. After showering, he stayed in Lu Zhi's room, chatting about everything and anything. However, two out of every three sentences were about revenge: "It must have been those guys from Class B. Just you wait, I'll beat them to a pulp in the competition tomorrow."
"Competition? What competition?" Lu Zhi gathered some information from Wang Cao Tian's words. The classification of supers wasn't based on test rankings but on their abilities, assigning them to suitable classes with appropriate teachers to guide them.
Wang Cao Tian said with great seriousness, "It's a class competition, held every three months. The winning class gets special prizes, which vary each year. That's not important."
Lu Zhi said drily, "If it's not important, why are you saying it?"
Wang Cao Tian looked momentarily choked and said fiercely, "It's foreshadowing, an introduction! Don't you understand?"
Lu Zhi, amused, said, "Alright, alright, continue."
Wang Cao Tian coughed and said, "The most important thing is to gain the favor of the great Shen."
Lu Zhi froze for a moment and asked doubtfully, "Great Shen? Shen Qi?"
He recalled what Director He had said. Shen Qi was coming to the academy, seemingly to select students?
Wang Cao Tian proudly said, "The competition this year is particularly fierce. I must use my ultimate moves and highlights to make the great Shen favor me."
Lu Zhi asked curiously, "This year? He never selected students before?"
"Alas, you wouldn't know, but the great Shen is rarely seen. His strength is top-tier in our China. If it weren't for..." Wang Cao Tian stopped mid-sentence, talking animatedly.
Lu Zhi's expression shifted slightly, "If it weren't for what?"
Wang Cao Tian looked around sneakily, then lowered his voice, "Gossip has it that Shen Qi was injured in the recently discovered divine ruins and was forced to rest for a year. That's why he's come to the school to select a few students for guidance."
Lu Zhi pondered the scene when he met Shen Qi. On the surface, he didn't seem injured, and his aura was still powerfully commanding.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Wang Cao Tian, what time is it? Go back to your dormitory and sleep," Xia Zhi's voice came from outside the door. "Don't forget you have an early test tomorrow."
Wang Cao Tian's expression changed. He exclaimed, "Son of a bitch, how could I forget about the test? I'm leaving. We'll talk more next time." With that, he rushed out the door and ran to the opposite room.
Lu Zhi found it both amusing and exasperating. He took a simple shower and then rested.
The next day.
After washing up and getting dressed, Lu Zhi opened his door and saw Luo Shiyu from the opposite room. They nodded at each other and descended the dormitory stairs one after another.
Halfway down, Lu Zhi turned his head to look at the opposite bank across the lake. Shen Qi was talking to a woman with a graceful and alluring figure.
Suddenly, Shen Qi looked up.
Startled, Lu Zhi quickly averted his gaze.