Forcing Me to Be Reborn?!

Chapter 81: Chapter 75: Putting You in an Awkward Position

When the four from Room 309 returned to the crowd, Cheng Zhu felt like he was there to inspect the troops, as his classmates were all giving him salutes.

The kind of attention made Dong Dong green with envy.

Girls of Shen Qingning and Lin Lu’s caliber were like campus celebrities at Technology University.

Online, a celebrity’s relationship could trigger quite the stir.

While not as exaggerated on campus, they definitely garnered a lot of attention.

At that moment, the instructor Chen Jieyu had already left, though nobody knew exactly when she had departed.

Without the instructor present, the atmosphere became more relaxed.

Another male student then inquired, “Brother Zhu, was that Shen Qingning just now?”

Cheng Zhu was momentarily stunned before quickly realizing why everyone had this misconception.

For the freshmen, they might have heard Shen Qingning’s name and seen online rumors involving him and Shen Qingning, but they might not necessarily know what she looked like.

Now, with such a beautiful girl appearing among them, someone was bound to mistake her for Shen Qingning.

Cheng Zhu simply shook his head and didn’t plan on elaborating much on Lin Lu’s identity.

However, our revered dorm leader of 309 promptly said, “Of course that wasn’t Shen Qingning; that was Lin Lu, the one who is as famous as her.”

Dong Dong, this guy, loved to pose in a very lowbrow fashion. And when it came to others’ chances to show off, he also enjoyed getting a piece of the action, to feel involved.

For a moment, there were murmurs in the Computer Science Class Two.

“Lin Lu? I often see that name on the forums.”

“Ah? So that’s Lin Lu.”

“What? Who’s Lin Lu?”

“Is she really famous around here?”

“It seems her reputation isn’t just limited to our school; she even has admirers from the neighboring schools.”

Many were curious as to why Lin Lu would come to see Cheng Zhu during his military training.

Dong Dong was indeed eager to share.

But with Cheng Zhu maintaining a silent demeanor, and with no classmate bringing up the question, Dong Dong couldn’t just stand there like a storytelling peddler, rambling on and on.

“Darn it, Cheng, you really don’t know how to seize the chance to show off. A spotlight handed to you on a silver platter, and you won’t take it. I have no idea what you’re thinking.” Dong Dong grumbled inwardly.

If it had been him, he would have sung his own praises till the cows came home, just to show the other guys in the class a thing or two!

“But I’ve got to admit, the way Cheng’s all cool and detached, damn, it’s handsome!” Dong Dong decided he’d have to try and adopt that demeanor if he ever got the chance.

He was even thinking about striking up a chat with Zhu Yingying later that evening, to see if he could coax her to drop by the class and give him some attention.

Although it wouldn’t cause as much of a sensation as what Cheng Zhu had pulled, it would still let these bastard sons in the class know that Daddy had infiltrated the Fashion Design department!

Right then, a voice suddenly cut in.

“Cheng Zhu, could you introduce me to that senior girl from just now? I mean, like, send me her QQ or WeChat,” a male student said.

This student was none other than Li Xianqiang, one of the two temporary leaders appointed for military training in Computer Science Class Two.

He was rather proactive and loved showing off.

That’s why, when Chen Jieyu asked for volunteers to be temporary leaders for training, he was the first to raise his hand and take the stage.

Cheng Zhu glanced at him, and for some reason, thought of a meme: “Can you give me that? I’m a college student.”

Son of a bitch, it’s precisely because of too many thick-faced clowns like you that college students get such a bad rap.

No wonder insults shifted from calling someone a ‘primary school grad’ to, damn it, calling them a ‘college student’.

When Li Xianqiang first saw Lin Lu, he was floored by her beauty!

How could someone be so sweet-looking?

He had already inquired among the girls in the class and found someone in the forums mentioning that Lin Lu and Shen Qingning were best friends.

He figured that since Cheng Zhu was rumored to be romantically involved with Shen Qingning, seemingly quite familiar, Lin Lu should be fair game.

Moreover, before coming to university, Li Xianqiang had sought advice from so-called online romance gurus.

They all told him to be bold in pursuing beautiful girls at university.

Because the top-notch beauties could actually intimidate many suitors, resulting in fewer chasers and making them easier to win over!

No doubt, Li Xianqiang… he’d taken the lesson to heart!

—He believed it, alright!

Watching him, Cheng Zhu, empathetic as ever, began to understand why in his previous life, despite his youth, handsomeness, and wealth, some fairly mediocre women thought they could hook him and keep him wrapped around their finger.

Many people have a wrong sense of self-placement and self-awareness.

In such times, Dong Dong proved to be very useful.

The stylish Skinny jumped in and asked bluntly, “What the heck are you daydreaming about?”

He thought he was considered better overall than Li Xianqiang, but even he had felt shy speaking to Lin Lu just now, so how on earth did you dare to ask such a question?

He said irritably, “Lin Lu was just right there, why didn’t you take the initiative to ask for her contact yourself?”

“I was thinking of a more indirect approach,” Li Xianqiang responded with a smile.

Dong Dong: “…”

Damn, so you think if Cheng Zhu acts as the go-between, she might actually not refuse, huh?

You really are delusional. Lin Lu is the kind of girl to thoughtfully bring Cheng sunscreen before military training, and even come over today just to check if he’d applied it properly.

Damn it, even I’m getting hooked!

As for this marriage, we of Room 309 are all in agreement, be it with Shen Qingning or Lin Lu.

But you, foul creature, better scram!

Why are you so damn annoying!

After these two days of interaction, the Three Musketeers of their room all felt Cheng Zhu might act tough and wear a sour face, looking all rebellious as if he was not to be messed with.

But in reality, he was quite amiable, nowhere as foul-tempered as his face suggested.

Moreover, this little incident made the folks of Room 309 realize that Cheng Zhu was actually rather low-key, and at the moment, he probably didn’t want to confront Li Xianqiang directly.

This made Dorm Leader Dong Dong of Room 309 feel it was time to take responsibility!

Even the stoic and plump Zheng Qingfeng suddenly let out a cold laugh from the sidelines: “Heh.”

To Dong Dong, that sneer was the signal for a full-on attack!

He was about to reveal the whole truth to this clueless fellow when Cheng Zhu, looking at Li Xianqiang, flatly said, “I won’t be introducing you to any friends.”

“Why not?” Li Xianqiang asked.

“What do you mean, why not? Are we playing ‘3000 Whys of Blue Cat’ here, or what?” Cheng Zhu looked at him expressionlessly and said, “My little sister is still in kindergarten, and even she understands that when you make a request, it’s possible for people to say no.”

“What’s your reason, then?” Li Xianqiang’s face was turning red.

“The way I see it, saying it out loud wouldn’t be nice, but I’m too lazy to make something up, so your question…” He walked over, patted Li Xianqiang’s shoulder lightly, and said, “Take it back, will you?”

In Cheng Zhu’s eyes, he’d have to be unbalanced in the head to give Lin Lu’s contact to Li Xianqiang, like setting up a clown for his own humiliation.

Besides, he had never liked playing cupid.

He had always been clear that in the dating market, the level of the match someone introduces to you often reflects how they perceive your own level.

That’s also one reason why many matchmakers end up thankless for their efforts.

Li Xianqiang was just a blockhead, obstinate and dull.

He probably still thought that asking for a girl’s contact in front of everyone was remarkably cool.

The sergeant gives you a break for a drink of water, and you end up getting yourself drunk?

People all around, eavesdropping on this interaction, had their ears pricked up.

Overhearing the commotion, Dong Dong suddenly realized that he actually found Cheng Zhu’s company quite comfortable most of the time. But he really seemed to have a knack for refusing others.

Just like on the first day in the dorm when he proposed a dinner as Room 309’s inaugural gathering, Cheng Zhu had declined, saying he already had plans.

And whether it was the suggestion to tour the campus together or head to the internet café for some gaming, he declined, too; if he didn’t want to go, he just wouldn’t go.

These days, actually, some people just don’t know how to say no to others, which is why they live so miserably.

Cheng Zhu was different; born with such a scowling face, he didn’t mind letting people know he wasn’t one to be trifled with, that he was downright intractable. And I tell you, living life that way sure makes for a more comfortable ride.

The modern trinity for a long life: being good at passing the buck, having low standards, and a filthy mouth.

In truth, Cheng Zhu knew full well that some people, when making a request in front of others, were just trying to put you on the spot to coerce your agreement.

But indeed, if you publicly refuse, they get really pissed off, feeling you embarrassed them in front of others, that you tarnished their dignity.

Honestly, Cheng Zhu found Li Xianqiang admittedly intimidating, and when he came over to clap his shoulder, Li Xianqiang nearly flinched.

It felt like Cheng Zhu was less of a student and more, well, streetwise.

But boys at that age, once they get a head of steam, it’s really hard to say.

They simply aren’t experienced enough.

Cheng Zhu’s words were laden with numerous undertones, and Li Xianqiang could catch some of them, but what really grated was his attitude.

“What the hell is your problem, Cheng Zhu?” Li Xianqiang demanded.

Cheng Zhu’s patience was now utterly exhausted.

“Another question, you really love your interrogatives. Stop annoying me; military training is tiring enough. Get lost, go ahead, off yourself.”

“You better watch your mouth!” Li Xianqiang shouted, his neck stiff.

“Sure.” The man’s all about obliging others. If you want cleanliness, Cheng Zhu revised his earlier words.

“Just go ‘die peacefully’.”

…

(ps: The first update. By the way, the average daily update rate has been over 8000+ words lately, so why are people still berating me for only updating once a day?

Also, if you have a favorite character from the book, remember to ‘heart’ them in the [Characters] section, huh? Brother Zhu being top-rated in ‘hearts’ is something I never saw coming, you folks must feel a strong connection with Grandmaster, huh?

Lastly, I recommend a buddy’s book: “Two Realms: Starting with the Awakening of the Guan Gong Statue”.)