Chapter 258: The Warm Man Who’s Not Even a Good Troll

Chapter 258: The Warm Man Who’s Not Even a Good Troll

TL: Etude Translations

As evening fell, the night crept in from the mountaintops, rendering the world silent except for the chirping of insects.

The students of the Finance Class 3 busied themselves in the dimming twilight, preparing for the night’s bonfire party.

Ren Ziqiang had initially decided to showcase his cooking skills by preparing a lavish dinner for everyone. However, to his surprise, Jiang Tian ordered a self-service barbecue. Hearing Ren boast about his culinary expertise, Jiang Tian pondered and then assigned him the simple task of sprinkling chili powder.

“Ren Ziqiang, since you’re such a good cook, you must be able to sprinkle it evenly, right?”

“...”

Ren was dumbfounded, thinking that great cooking skills were no match for damn good abs.

He wished he had heeded Brother Jiang’s advice to work on his abs earlier. Even sprinkling chili powder could have been sexier...

“Brother Jiang, do you eat spicy food?”

“Just a little.”

“And your partner?”

Feng Nanshu turned his head smartly: “His partner eats it.”

Soon, the ingredients and tools were neatly arranged, and the large barbecue grill was filled with fiery red charcoal, covered with a wire mesh.

Everyone began to pick out ingredients from the plates, placing lamb, beef, and pork belly on the grill. The melting fat dripped onto the coals, creating a crackling sound.

Sometimes, too much fat melted and caused a burst of flames in the stove, eliciting excited screams from the girls around.

The thing about barbecues is the atmosphere, especially when you do it yourself, the ambiance is even more intense.

As they waited for the food to cook, the sky turned completely dark, with stars gradually appearing in the night.

Jiang Qin sat slumped in a chair, leaning back with a can of beer in hand, drinking and listening to the idle chatter around him.

“Eating barbecue isn’t a great choice. Not only is it not filling, but it’s also expensive. Take this skewer of meat; it’s less than an ounce. A pound of lamb costs twelve yuan, which can make about thirty skewers, but the boss dares to sell it for one yuan each. It’s a rip-off.”

Zhuang Chen, either to show off his mathematical skills or his worldly wisdom, babbled to Jian Chun beside him.

Hearing this, Jiang Tian’s expression turned visibly sour.

Visiting a rural resort was all about enjoying the leisurely atmosphere, and outdoor barbecues were part of that experience.

After all, if you want to be full, you can be full anywhere. For these college students out for fun, there was no need to fuss over cost-effectiveness in such a setting. As long as it’s interesting, that’s what counts.

After a while, vegetables were served, and Zhuang Chen put on a know-it-all face, going on and on.

“If meat can have half this profit margin, then these potatoes and eggplants are even more profitable. How much does a plate of spicy shredded potatoes cost? Tsk tsk...

I bet the owner of this rural resort makes more money than Jiang Qin.”

Zhuang Chen’s mindset was complex. As a warm man, he didn’t mean to say these things, but he wanted to emulate Jiang Qin, talking about economic benefits as if it made him seem more mature.

They couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed, realizing why the three most attractive girls in Finance Class 3 were so eager to serve Jiang lunch. His aura wasn’t just about looks; it was like a damn superpower!

Jiang Qin, unaware of these whispers, would have retorted if he had heard them.

“Who says I lack looks? Look at how Feng Nanshu is smitten, her legs going weak!”

During this, Ren Ziqiang, in charge of sprinkling chili powder, had lost count of how many rounds he’d done, now stopping near Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu.

“Ren Ziqiang, Jiang Qin’s partner still eats it,” the little rich lady whispered.

Ren, taken aback for a moment, eventually caught on and sprinkled chili powder over their skewers.

At around nine in the evening, the barbecue party ended, and everyone moved indoors. Some continued their card games from the afternoon, while others played truth or dare.

Jiang Qin took the opportunity to change his clothes, as the smell of smoke and grease was uncomfortable. But when he returned, he found Ding Xue leaning against the window, chatting with Feng Nanshu.

Due to the pressure of her upcoming postgraduate exams, Ding Xue had barely participated in the trip’s activities, except for flirting with Cao Guangyu.

Jiang Qin had let his guard down, thinking Ding Xue wouldn’t have the mood to teach Feng Nanshu any tricks.

But now, the little rich lady, with her mouth slightly open and eyelashes fluttering, looked as if she had learned something fascinating, her eyes sparkling.

Seeing this, Jiang Qin panicked, immediately shielding Feng Nanshu and looking alert.

“What are you doing? I’m not going to eat her!” Ding Xue said, puzzled.

“Don’t lead my little rich lady astray.” Jiang Qin shouted down the hallway, “Old Cao, come take your girlfriend away quickly. She’s too dangerous!”

Ding Xue was pulled aside by Cao Guangyu, looking confused, “I didn’t do anything, did I? Why am I dangerous?”

“Last time at the dinner, you called me ‘big brother’ and asked me to feed you. Feng Nanshu picked up on that, and now she does it all the time. Jiang Qin is at his wits’ end, unable to resist it.”

“She’s scared of that? That’s hilarious.”

Cao Guangyu smacked his lips, “Old Jiang, that bastard, has few weaknesses, but anything related to Feng Nanshu is his Achilles’ heel. It’s like tofu meeting brine – each meets its match.”

Ding Xue looked back at Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu, whispering to themselves, “Can a relationship really be like this?”

“I’m telling you, Ding Xue, don’t teach Feng Nanshu your cute voice tricks, or I’ll be broke this semester.”

“When the hell have I ever acted cute? I’m naturally super cute! You wanna die?”

“...”

...

Warm man = considerate person.

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong are historical Chinese figures; you can search them up if you’re interested.

Also, I’ve decided to start using the name Etude Translations when it’s more than one person working on the translation. I think it’s more standard practice too?