Chapter 42: Showing Off Too Much
Once they reached the hotel, the newly arrived people went to the front desk to check-in.
Even if the boss arrived, the standard procedures had to be followed.
Chi Yuheng occasionally leaned in to listen to the managerâs work report. His low, slow voice mingled with the light music in the hotel lobby, yet it remained so clear it couldn’t be ignored.
Ye Ran followed behind and circled a few times. Watching them hand over IDs, check information, and report work, he felt bored to death. He told Chi Yuheng, “I’ll wait over there,” and slipped away to the lounge area not far from the front desk.
Even in the lounge area, he couldn’t stay idle and started fiddling with the leaves of the hotelâs “money tree.”
“Eh? Ye Ran, you came here for vacation too?”
A clear female voice suddenly approached from a distance, carrying a hint of familiar excitement.
Ye Ranâs hand paused, and he instinctively looked up to see An Yiyi, wearing a primrose-yellow dress, walking quickly toward him.
An Yiyi was the school belle of his high school. At that time, many boys in the class had pursued her, including Ye Ran.
Actually, Ye Ran didn’t really “pursue” her, let alone like her. Boys always liked to compete to see who could win over the school belle.
Ye Ran disdained playing such games with them, but that group of boys seemingly defaulted to the idea that Ye Ran was pursuing An Yiyi.
And An Yiyi, having heard from someone that Ye Ran wanted to pursue her, didn’t even think twice before taking the initiative to confess to him, which completely confused Ye Ran.
Ye Ran simply didn’t like An Yiyi, so he naturally rejected her, only to be told by the boys in class that he didn’t know how lucky he was.
Ye Ran had long since forgotten this matter. It must be said that Ye Ran had good luck with people; he could meet acquaintances everywhere.
An Yiyi had come to play with her best friend.
Ye Ran looked at the two and nodded. “Yeah.”
Seeing Ye Ran again, An Yiyi rarely spoke except for taking the initiative to say hello. Instead, her best friend was a typical “E-person.”
She smiled and took out her phone. “Handsome, can we add each other on WeChat?”
Yesterday, his surfing at sea had garnered a group of little fangirls; quite a few had wanted to add his WeChat.
Ye Ran generously showed his QR code. “Add it, add it…”
He didn’t chat after adding them; he just let them gather dust. Ye Ran just liked the feeling of showing off and being cool.
Hearing that another girl wanted to add his WeChat, Ye Ran habitually took out his phone to find his QR code. Just as he was about to hand it over, he suddenly felt a surge of pressure.
He couldn’t say where this feeling came from, but it forced Ye Ranâs hand to stop mid-air.
For some reason, a sentence strangely flashed through his mind: Don’t seek death.
He had no choice but to pull his phone back. “Sorry, I can’t add you.”
The girl was full of questions. “Didn’t you just…”
Ye Ran: “I had WeChat just now, but now I don’t.”
“…”
Chi Yuheng and his group finished the work report and were going to tour the island. Ye Ran followed along.
Xu Huiyang walked behind with Ye Ran. Xu Huiyang asked, “Wasn’t that the high school belle An Yiyi just now?”
Ye Ran gave an “Mn.”
“Why did you two only chat for a couple of sentences? Didn’t you pursue her when you were in school… mgh…”
Before he could finish, Ye Ran covered his mouth and whispered, “Can you please shut your mouth!”
He just had to say it now. Although he truly hadn’t pursued An Yiyi, if it really reached Chi Yuhengâs ears and the man dug up his past to settle old accountsâsaying he didn’t study hard in school and engaged in “early love”âhe might get another round of “discipline.”
Chi Yuheng wasn’t a very old-fashioned person, but he always insisted on one point: doing what should be done at a certain age.
For example, no dating before eighteen; what he needed to do was study.
Ye Ran was so focused on shutting Xu Huiyangâs mouth that he didn’t realize the person in front had stopped. After walking a few steps, he crashed straight into him.
The person he crashed into was as solid as a mountain, while Ye Ran was knocked back half a step.
Just as he was about to ask why Chi Yuheng had suddenly stopped when he was walking perfectly fine, Chi Yuheng spoke first.
“I didn’t expect Young Master Ye to have such good luck with people. You were popular with girls in school, and you’re still so popular here.”
The smile in Chi Yuhengâs eyes didn’t reach the bottom, making Ye Ranâs back feel numb.
Damn it. He showed off too much.
Chi Yuheng must have heard what Xu Huiyang said just now and was going to use his “pursuit” of An Yiyi in school against him.
Ye Ranâs brain scrambled to figure out how to explain laterâhe definitely didn’t have “early love.”
Pei Si watched Chi Yuhengâs expression and “tsk-tsked” in his heart. He wouldn’t say who was jealous.
…
The work of inspecting the island was very tedious. Xu Zhaoli told the three of them they didn’t need to follow and to return to their rooms first; they could play together in the afternoon if they had time.
The three “little ones” returned joyfully.
Who would want to follow two ice-blocks plus a chatterbox around?
Ye Ran returned to his room and changed into Chi Yuhengâs clothes.
In the past two days, he had gotten used to using Chi Yuhengâs clothes as pajamas. They were comfortable to wear and made him sleep soundly.
Chi Youchuâs room was on the same floor as Xu Huiyangâs, also a luxury sea-view suite. Only Ye Ran was on the second floor alone.
Since it was inconvenient for the three of them to communicate, they formed a temporary group chat and named it [The Three Zhuge Liangs].
As soon as Ye Ran finished changing, there was activity in the group.
[Chi Youchu]: I’ve finished packing. Anyone for gaming?
[Xu Huiyang]: Coming, coming! Get online, I’m bored too.
What a great opportunity for a team! With three “Zhuge Liangs” combined, they would definitely crush the opponents. Ye Ran joined the team.
The three of them were in their respective rooms, lying down, sitting, or in various postures, playing games with voice chat on.
After playing two rounds, Xu Huiyang remembered the three who were out inspecting. “I wonder when my brother and the others will be back.”
Ye Ran mocked, “Haven’t you been weaned? You miss him that much?”
Xu Huiyang cursed back, “You’re the one who hasn’t been weaned! It’s so hot, I want to drink iced beer.”
Ye Ran: “That’s easy. Call the front desk and have them send some up.”
[Chi Youchu]: I want some too.
Xu Huiyang felt their group shouldn’t be called Zhuge Liang; it should be called “Smelly Shoemakers”ânone of them had brains.
“Did you forget or are you stupid? Whose people are in the hotel? What’s the difference between having them send it and telling my brother directly?”
There weren’t many times Ye Ran was called stupid by Xu Huiyang, and he truly hadn’t thought of that point.
Chi Youchu spoke up, “You guys arrived yesterday. Didn’t you check if thereâs a convenience store on the island?”
This single sentence enlightened everyone.
Xu Huiyang immediately said, “I saw a convenience store yesterday. They can deliver to the door. I thought it would be convenient for buying snacks at the time, so I happened to keep their number.”
[Chi Youchu]: We can call them. Even if the front desk sees it, they won’t know who bought it.
Ye Ran agreed, “I think itâs feasible. Get me two bottles too.”
Once the round ended, Xu Huiyang immediately called to buy beer.
In less than ten minutes, there was a knock on Ye Ranâs door.
Ye Ran was currently in a team fight. “No way, it was delivered in just a few minutes?”
As he spoke, the knocking sounded again. Ye Ran shouted toward the door, “Just leave it at the door!”
Sure enough, the knocking stopped. He figured the person had left after delivering the items.
When another round ended, Ye Ran asked Xu Huiyang and the other to wait for him while he went to the door to get the delivery.
Ye Ran hopped off the bed and went barefoot to open the door. When the door opened, there was no iced beer outsideâinstead, there was a person standing there.
Ye Ran was startled. “Holy shit! Why are you outside my door?!”
Translator’s Note:
An “E-person” refers to an extrovert (MBTI personality type). This is a very popular slang term in modern China.
“Early love” (ćŠć – zÇoliĂ n) is a common term in China referring to students dating before university, which is often discouraged by parents and teachers.
“The Three Zhuge Liangs” refers to the idiom “Three smelly shoemakers equal one Zhuge Liang” (ä¸ĺčçŽĺ ďźčł˝éä¸ĺ荸č于), meaning commoners can be smarter than a genius if they combine their wisdom. The boys calling themselves “The Three Zhuge Liangs” is their funny way of saying they are geniuses.
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