C9 Who Dares to be Her Boyfriend?

"Zhang Xiaopang, Qin Feiya is rolling in money, yet she can't bring herself to spring for a meal for someone. That's pretty stingy, don't you think?" Xiao Ge asserted with conviction. His definition of stinginess clearly differed from Zhang Xiaopang's understanding. "She knows full well that I'm unbeatable, yet she insists on someone else taking me down before she'll offer to buy dinner. It's obvious she just doesn't want to foot the bill, right? That's why I say she's truly stingy. Someone as generous as me just can't seem to get through to her. I've got no choice but to call off the engagement."

Zhang Xiaopang was left speechless once more. Generous, this guy? He hadn't noticed it one bit.

What rendered Zhang Xiaopang even more dumbfounded was Xiao Ge's overconfidence. No one could beat him? Sure, Xiao Ge was a formidable fighter, single-handedly taking down the six-man group that was all about non-violence and non-cooperation. But that was common knowledge. Those aiming to take down Xiao Ge would likely not challenge him to a physical fight, but rather try to outsmart him in other ways.

"So, you agree that Qin Feiya is stingy, huh?" Xiao Ge, basking in self-satisfaction as Zhang Xiaopang remained silent, believed he had swayed yet another person with his eloquence, rivaling that of Su Qin.

Zhang Xiaopang eyed Xiao Ge and timidly inquired, "If you're so generous, how about treating me to lunch today?"

"Are you a beauty?" Xiao Ge asked, eyeing Zhang Xiaopang.

Zhang Xiaopang shook his head; he was neither a beauty nor a handsome man.

Xiao Ge sighed, giving Zhang Xiaopang a look of pity. "You just don't get my brand of generosity. It's something only the beautiful women who adore me can appreciate. I'm ready to open my heart and offer them a safe haven, all on the house. Don't you see how generous I truly am?"

"Disgusting!" The plain-looking girl ahead couldn't contain herself and muttered under her breath.

Xiao Ge glanced at the girl, then turned his gaze back to Zhang Xiaopang, whispering, "Do you know her?"

"Yeah, that's Liu Xiaoyan," Zhang Xiaopang responded.

"Oh, that explains it," Xiao Ge said, feigning an epiphany. "She's disgusted, probably because she's pregnant. Was it you?"

"Huh?" Zhang Xiaopang was momentarily dumbfounded.

"Xiao Ge, you scoundrel!" Liu Xiaoyan glared at Xiao Ge, looking ready to fight him tooth and nail.

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of class.

The once raucous classroom fell silent. Despite her anger, Liu Xiaoyan had no choice but to turn around and prepare for the teacher's arrival.

With the click-clack of heels on the floor, a woman dressed in a professional suit entered the classroom—it was Su Yunman, and the subject was English.

Even though they were humanities students, English was still part of their curriculum. Su Yunman was not only their advisor but also their English teacher.

Su Yunman approached the podium and faced the class, offering a warm smile. "Good morning, boys and girls!"

The class rose to their feet, and Xiao Ge followed suit. But while others greeted the teacher in English, he leaned over to Zhang Xiaopang and whispered, "I finally figured out why Teacher Su doesn't have a boyfriend."

"Why?" Zhang Xiaopang couldn't resist asking.

As the rest of the class began to sit, Xiao Ge took his seat and said, "Didn't you catch what Teacher Su just said?"

Zhang Xiaopang looked confused. "I don't think Teacher Su said anything special, did she?"

"Zhang Xiaopang, you might want to get your ears checked!" Xiao Ge said with a mix of concern and mockery. "Didn't you hear her? She said, 'When a girl touches you, I'll have to cut twice.' Don't you think Teacher Su's standards for a boyfriend are a bit too high? She expects a guy to get touched by a beauty and not react at all. And if he does react, she'll 'castrate' him twice. Who in their right mind would sign up for that?"

Zhang Xiaopang's jaw dropped. This guy was a true genius—a freaking genius. He'd never heard anyone interpret English quite like that.

"Dude, you're incredible!" Zhang Xiaopang gave Xiao Ge a thumbs-up, now looking up to him in awe.

"Xiao Ge, Zhang Lei, no talking during class," Su Yunman's voice interrupted them. The classroom wasn't large, and even though they weren't speaking loudly, they had caught her attention. Of course, Su Yunman hadn't quite caught the specifics of Xiao Ge's colorful interpretation.

Xiao Ge and Zhang Xiaopang promptly sealed their lips, remaining silent.

Just then, Liu Xiaoyan, the girl seated ahead of Xiao Ge, raised her hand. "Teacher Su?"

"What's the matter, Liu Xiaoyan?" inquired Su Yunman.

"Teacher, Xiao Ge has been indecent towards you," Liu Xiaoyan declared.

"What?" Su Yunman's brow furrowed, her disbelief apparent.

Liu Xiaoyan retrieved a cellphone from beneath her desk and hit play on a recording. She had come prepared, having captured Xiao Ge and Zhang Xiaopang's conversation.

Seconds ticked by.

The classroom fell silent, the recording leaving everyone aghast. The phrase "I have to cut the first time and I have to cut the second time" drew admiration from the boys and flushed the girls' cheeks with embarrassment. Su Yunman, meanwhile, was livid, her face pale with rage, her body quivering with barely contained fury.

The students braced themselves for Teacher Su's eruption, eager to witness Xiao Ge's reprimand. Yet, to their surprise, Su Yunman managed to quell her anger, avoiding a public outburst. She simply stared at Xiao Ge with icy resolve and instructed, "Xiao Ge, step outside the classroom. You're excused from this lesson."

To everyone's astonishment, Xiao Ge seemed delighted by the command. He rose, grinning at Su Yunman, "Thanks, Teacher. See you."

With those words, he strode out the back door, not pausing at the threshold but disappearing altogether.

Xiao Ge's defiance only fueled Su Yunman's ire. Inwardly, she seethed, cursing the principal for assigning such a student to her class.

Unbeknownst to both Xiao Ge and Su Yunman, within minutes, a post surfaced on Ningcheng University's campus forum titled, "Literary Teacher Meets Lewd Student!" The infamous phrase spread like wildfire, and unbeknownst to Xiao Ge, it marked the end of its use as an English class opener at Ningcheng University.

Xiao Ge stepped out of Ningcheng University's gates once more, making his way toward the Fat Sheep Hotpot Restaurant. He wasn't going for a meal; he was there to collect a debt.

Money was tight for Xiao Ge. His irresponsible master had vanished, feigning death, and left him with a mere hundred yuan. Fortunately, his luck had held up somewhat; he hadn't paid a cent for his ride to Ningcheng City, and just yesterday, he'd won another hundred yuan from Zhang Xiaopang. But after shelling out twenty yuan on breakfast that morning, he was down to just 180 yuan in his pocket.

He needed money, and he needed it now.