Chapter 11: Positive Energy, Spreading Warmth (Rolling Around and Begging for Recommendations)

Zhang Kexin shot Chen Xiaofei a look.

Chen Xiaofei glanced at Lu Yu, then at Qianqian, and moved over to pat Lu Yu on the shoulder.

“What are you thinking about?”

Lu Yu snapped out of his reverie. “Stem cells differentiate into new functional cells, replacing and repairing damaged and aging cells, thereby promoting cellular renewal and secreting a large amount of active factors to activate the body’s self-repair capabilities.”

Chen Xiaofei looked utterly baffled. “What? Speak human language!”

Lu Yu thought for a moment. Stem cells secreting new functional cells and active factors could only slow down aging, not actually extend life. He summarized, “Cosmetics.”

Chen Xiaofei rolled his eyes. “So you’ve been staring at Qianqian all this time just thinking about cosmetics?”

Lu Yu: “???”

“When did I stare at her? Why don’t I know about it?”

Chen Xiaofei gave him a knowing look. They were all men here—who was he trying to fool? He leaned back dramatically. “Let me just ask you: is Qianqian good-looking?”

Lu Yu turned to look at Qianqian. “Yes, she is.”

Chen Xiaofei: “Is she beautiful?”

Lu Yu nodded firmly. “Beautiful.”

Chen Xiaofei: “Does she have a perfect figure?”

Lu Yu continued without hesitation. “Perfect.”

After his rapid-fire questions, Chen Xiaofei wore a smug expression and shot a triumphant glance at Zhang Kexin.

Qianqian, listening to their exchange, bit her lip and lowered her head, her gaze flickering.

Zhang Kexin, holding her phone, alternated between snapping pictures of Chen Xiaofei and Lu Yu, and of Qianqian.

Qianqian’s bashful demeanor made her look all the more endearing.

Zhang Kexin glanced at the scrolling comments, signaling Chen Xiaofei to keep going.

Chen Xiaofei caught on immediately and gave Lu Yu no time to react.

“Let’s put it this way. Does looking at a girl like her please the eyes?”

Lu Yu answered without pause, “Yes.”

Chen Xiaofei: “Does looking at her put you in a good mood?”

Lu Yu: “Yes.”

Chen Xiaofei: “Do you like looking at such a girl?”

Lu Yu: “I do.”

Chen Xiaofei: “How about having a girl like her as your girlfriend?”

Lu Yu’s expression grew serious. He glanced at Chen Xiaofei, then at the blushing Qianqian, took a deep breath, and gazed up at the night sky at a forty-five-degree angle, his tone touched by a hint of melancholy.

“Humanity has yet to colonize Mars. I am not worthy of a girlfriend.”

Chen Xiaofei was dumbfounded: “???”

Zhang Kexin was also frozen in place: “???”

Qianqian looked up in astonishment: “???”

Chen Xiaofei stared blankly at Lu Yu for a long moment before finally squeezing out a sentence.

“Are you messing with me? Are you serious?”

Lu Yu, aloof as ever, replied, “What do you think?”

Chen Xiaofei: “I feel like I’ve traveled to April Fool’s Day.”

Lu Yu shot him a look of disdain. “Heh. Foolish human.”

...

Chen Xiaofei pouted. “That joke wasn’t funny at all. I can’t be bothered with you. Come on, let’s drink.”

Zhang Kexin chimed in, “Forget the Cinderella, I want a Long Island Iced Tea too.”

Qianqian added, “Me too.”

So Chen Xiaofei ordered four Long Island Iced Teas. They drank while listening to the house band perform.

It was Zhang Kexin and Qianqian’s first time drinking such strong cocktails. The blend of lemon and alcohol made them frown at first.

Strangely enough, after a few sips, they got used to the taste and found it quite good. Without realizing it, each of them finished two glasses.

As the alcohol took hold, the two began to challenge each other to drink, spouting all sorts of nonsense, leaving Chen Xiaofei and Lu Yu shaking their heads in exasperation.

Seeing they were both quite drunk, Chen Xiaofei suggested they take the girls back.

Lu Yu nodded and helped Chen Xiaofei gather their bags. Chen Xiaofei took Zhang Kexin out first, supporting her as they went.

Lu Yu looked at Qianqian, sprawled on the sofa, feeling a headache coming on. He walked over to help her up.

Qianqian mumbled sleepily, “Where are we going?”

Lu Yu steadied her swaying form. “Home, to sleep.”

Qianqian tried to shake off his hand. “I don’t want to. I want to keep drinking.”

So Lu Yu simply took hold of her arm with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her slender waist, saying firmly, “Be good. You can drink more when we get back.”

Whether Qianqian listened or was just too tired to argue, she let Lu Yu lead her outside.

By the time they left the bar, the designated driver was already waiting in the car.

Chen Xiaofei helped Zhang Kexin into the backseat. Zhang Kexin buried her head in his chest, clinging to him and muttering incoherently.

Lu Yu settled Qianqian next to Zhang Kexin, tucked a small pillow into her arms, took off his jacket to cover her, then closed the door and got into the front passenger seat.

...

With few cars on the road at night, they reached a business hotel near Zhang Kexin’s university in about half an hour.

Lu Yu got out, opened the rear door, and gently pulled Qianqian from the car.

She had already dozed off, and when he pulled her out, she didn’t wake but instinctively clung to him in order to stand.

Finding himself suddenly holding her soft, warm form, Lu Yu’s throat went dry and his heart skipped a beat.

With the faint fragrance on her, and the alcohol in his system, thoughts unsuitable for the young began to creep unbidden into his mind.

He shook his head to dispel them.

Seeing Chen Xiaofei simply lift the unsteady Zhang Kexin into his arms and carry her into the hotel, Lu Yu, after struggling for a few steps with Qianqian, finally bent over, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her in.

Losing her balance, Qianqian instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her head into his chest, mumbling softly.

Lu Yu looked down at her. Her slightly messy hair half-veiled her delicate face, her lips pursed as she muttered something.

The unintentional allure in her expression made Lu Yu’s heart skip two beats.

He quickly looked away, biting his tongue and silently reciting a mantra to clear his mind as he carried Qianqian into the hotel.

Inside the room, Chen Xiaofei had already laid Zhang Kexin on the bed and was helping her take off her shoes.

Lu Yu did the same for Qianqian, bending over to remove her shoes, his gaze inevitably drawn to her long, slender legs and the alabaster curve of her ankles.

He swallowed, resisting the urge to reach out, silently chanting to calm himself. Quickly, he pulled the blanket over her and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Xiaofei, after tucking Zhang Kexin in, caught all of Lu Yu’s actions, a sly, indescribable grin tugging at his lips.

Lu Yu turned just in time to see Chen Xiaofei’s smirk and shot him a look of disdain.

Chen Xiaofei was unfazed, winking and teasing, “Feeling tempted? Want me to take Kexin to another room?”

Admittedly, Chen Xiaofei’s suggestion did spark a fleeting temptation in Lu Yu, but it passed as quickly as it came. He snapped, “Get lost!”

Glancing once more at the blanket covering Qianqian, he finally called for Chen Xiaofei to leave the room.

After making sure the door was locked, Chen Xiaofei kept grinning wickedly.

Lu Yu, growing irritated, kicked at him, but Chen Xiaofei dodged easily.

They got into the car, wondering where to go next.

...

Chen Xiaofei asked Lu Yu a few questions, then pulled out his phone to make a call, asking about private rooms and other arrangements. The answer didn’t satisfy him. “That’s it?”

After the other party said something else, Chen Xiaofei pondered for a moment.

“Then hurry up and make arrangements at another place. Tonight, Brother Fei wants a grand scene.”

“Quality, it’s all about quality. Don’t call in a bunch of riffraff.”

“Alright, I’ll be there in about half an hour. I’m telling you, if I’m not satisfied, I’ll take my business elsewhere in the future.”

He hung up, gave the driver an address, then started bantering with Lu Yu.

“What did you think? I was talking about the drinks. If the quality’s no good, who’s coming back? Right? We can’t cheat consumers, can we?”

Lu Yu: “I almost believed you. Models at the club?”

Chen Xiaofei: “Don’t talk nonsense. I, Chen Xiaofei, am a respectable man. Tonight’s theme is True Feelings and True Love in the World.”

Lu Yu: “Should we give you a medal then?”

Chen Xiaofei: “That’s not necessary. There are plenty of people in this world in need of care and love. As outstanding young people with core socialist values, it’s our duty to spread warmth!”

Lu Yu rolled his eyes, too lazy to keep up the banter. “Whatever makes you happy.”

Chen Xiaofei: “Isn’t it you who’s happy tonight?”

Lu Yu: “Is it?”

Chen Xiaofei: “Isn’t it?”

Lu Yu: “Is it?”

...