Zhao Lianmai pulled out a slightly worn wallet from her embrace, counted out some money, and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"This is for the last dormitory gathering, my share."
"I told you, it was my treat, you don't have to pay."
"Sorry, I'm not in the habit of taking advantage of others. Here's my fifty-two yuan and seventy cents."
Zhao Lianmai's words carried the same determination as the sharp awns of wheat from the loess soil.
But somehow, it always felt like there was an ulterior motive behind her words.
Xu Musen looked at the money in his hand, noting that it included both new and old bills, but to be precise, it should have been fifty-three yuan.
"Why is there an extra yuan?"
"Didn't have change, just rounded it up."
Zhao Lianmai said indifferently.
Xu Musen looked at her for a while.
"Then sorry, I'm not in the habit of taking advantage of others either, so give it to me when you have change."
Xu Musen pulled out one yuan and returned it to her.
Zhao Lianmai was taken aback for a moment, holding the one yuan in her hand, also not expecting him to retort like this.
"Also, I'm very curious, why do I always feel like you have something against me?"
Xu Musen asked with a smile.
A flicker of emotion crossed Zhao Lianmai's eyes, as if recalling some unpleasant memory, she bit her lip.
Then her gaze shifted to An Nuannuan, who was sitting obediently, waiting for Xu Musen.
She said, "I just don't like those who are fickle-hearted. It's not specifically about you."
You're totally singling me out here!
Xu Musen said helplessly.
"I've said it before, there's nothing going on between me and them."
"It has even less to do with me. I don't want to have anything to do with you rich people either."
Zhao Lianmai shook her head slightly, then glanced once more at the girl in the wheelchair: "Just a word of advice, don't toy with a girl's feelings carelessly."
"No, I...how did I toy with anyone?"
Xu Musen said, a mix of laughter and helplessness in his voice. Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
But Zhao Lianmai had already turned and left.
Xu Musen always felt that Zhao Lianmai had a particular dislike for fickle people.
But what had he, a single guy, done to provoke anyone?
If they insist on being given, am I really obliged to accept responsibility?
I've heard of forcing a good person into prostitution but never of forcing a handsome guy to be a scumbag.
Nevertheless, Xu Musen looked at the money in his hand: small amounts, clearly saved and reluctantly spent.
Plus, being able to swallow her pride and take on a part-time job at the beginning of the semester.
For a girl, this mindset is quite challenging.
And even though she clearly needed money and took on a part-time job, she insisted on contributing her share; this mental strength surpasses many people.
Such people are indeed suitable to be recruited to work for oneself.
Xu Musen appreciated this.
Turning back to An Nuannuan, she was simply sitting there waiting for him.
It seemed as if she would continue to wait if he didn't return.
Pushing her out of the restaurant, onto the school corridors bustling with groups of friends and intimate couples, their unusual pairing was indeed eye-catching.
"Nuannuan, are you getting along well with the people in your dorm?"
"Yeah, they're all pretty nice."
"Then why don't you go out with them for meals or shopping?"
"I always feel...different from them. Sometimes when I say something, it's like they don't know how to continue the conversation with me."
An Nuannuan looked up at Xu Musen, her big eyes filled with confusion and a touch of grievance: "Xu Musen, am I really bad at talking?"
Xu Musen was silent for a moment; indeed, sometimes An Nuannuan's remarks did hit a nerve.
But on second thought, what she said was not wrong; in fact, it was the real, unfiltered truth.
We are just so accustomed to lying that when we hear the truth, it feels so jarring.
Seeing her in the wheelchair, perhaps she hadn't ever interacted with people normally since she was young, those pure and aggrieved eyes.
Xu Musen inexplicably felt a pang of heartache.
"Of course not, they are just too dumb to understand the humor in your words."
Xu Musen said with a smile.
"But you should still try to get along with them more, having more friends is always good."
But An Nuannuan lifted her head to look at him: "But I just want to be best friends with you. You told me, if I want to make friends, you have to screen them for me."
"That doesn't stop you from making other friends. How about this... You can try communicating more with the girls, but stay away from the boys for now."
Xu Musen offered his answer.
After all, her family had sent her to university alone, hoping she could integrate into a normal life more quickly.
Xu Musen could have selfishly convinced her to only interact with him.
But as someone who had also faced constraints, he couldn't selfishly impose the hardships he had endured onto An Nuannuan.
Of course, as for boys, the level of contact is still too much for An Nuannuan to manage.
For now, having himself as a male reference point was enough.
"Why?"
"Because there's not a single good thing about boys; all they have in their heads is colorful glue."
"What about you?"
"I'm an exception."
"Oh~"
An Nuannuan's eyes sparkled: "Xu Musen, can I have a milk tea?"
"How many did you have today already?"
"I only had a few sips."
"One sip is a whole cup, right?"
Xu Musen looked at her; believing this little foodie's 'just a sip' was like believing a boy's 'just a touch'.
"How about half a cup then, we can each have half."
An Nuannuan had already made quite a compromise.
Looking at her pitiful expression, Xu Musen saw the same in the stray cats and dogs on campus, those who inspired protective feelings in the older students.
"Then it can only be half-sugar."