Chapter 37: Three Companions

Jiang Zheng was taken aback, then asked, "Who else is coming?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Zhou Quanyi replied with an air of mystery.

Seeing this, Jiang Zheng didn't press further. The two of them waited at the school gate for a while. Zhou Quanyi kept glancing anxiously toward the entrance. When a figure emerged, he quickly went to greet them.

Jiang Zheng saw clearly who it was. Wasn't this the girl named Tao Luna, whom they'd met during the dorm mixer with Jiang Qianyue's group?

So, Tao Luna was the one Zhou Quanyi had been waiting for?

Jiang Zheng was a little stunned. Zhou Quanyi and Tao Luna—just the two of them?

How could that be?

It wasn't that Jiang Zheng underestimated Zhou Quanyi, but the latter spent every day holed up in the dorm playing games, rarely venturing out except for classes. How could someone with such full-blown shut-in tendencies possibly have hit it off with Tao Luna? Jiang Zheng simply couldn't understand.

"Let me help you with your luggage," Zhou Quanyi offered.

Tao Luna smiled politely and said, "No need, I can manage on my own."

Zhou Quanyi awkwardly withdrew his hand, his smile turning somewhat embarrassed.

"Hello," Jiang Zheng greeted her.

When Tao Luna saw Jiang Zheng, her eyes lit up and she smiled. "Hello, you're coming too?"

Jiang Zheng's singing last time had left a deep impression on her. She recognized him at a glance.

"Yes," Jiang Zheng nodded, then glanced over at Zhou Quanyi.

They hailed a cab and headed for the airport.

Jiang Zheng took the initiative to sit in the front, leaving the back seats for Zhou Quanyi and Tao Luna.

All the way there, Zhou Quanyi tried to strike up conversation with Tao Luna, but her responses were perfunctory at best. In contrast, her attitude toward Jiang Zheng was rather warm.

The atmosphere in the car was so awkward that Jiang Zheng could barely stand it. He was relieved when they finally arrived at the airport.

Tao Luna, pushing her suitcase, walked confidently ahead while Jiang Zheng and Zhou Quanyi lagged behind.

"Boss, aren't you being a bit too much of a simp?" Jiang Zheng said, unable to stand it any longer.

Zhou Quanyi was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "There's not much time left in college. I just want to see if I can have a sweet romance."

"Boss, I understand your feelings, but you really shouldn't act like a doormat," Jiang Zheng replied.

"I'm not a doormat. I'm just pursuing her," Zhou Quanyi protested.

Jiang Zheng was speechless.

After that, Jiang Zheng said nothing more. Zhou Quanyi's behavior did seem a bit much, but calling him a doormat might be going too far.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Jiang Zheng. "Boss, the reason you asked us to join 'Boys and Girls Forward'—is it because of Tao Luna?" he asked suspiciously.

Zhou Quanyi replied awkwardly, "Sort of."

Jiang Zheng wore an expression that said, "I knew it." Zhou Quanyi's invitation to join the show had come out of nowhere. Given his shut-in habits, he should have been spending the summer at home gaming—not signing up for some competition.

When things are out of the ordinary, there must be a reason. Jiang Zheng hadn't understood the reason before, but now, seeing Tao Luna, he had a pretty good idea.

"But Boss, I still don't get it. If you're joining 'Boys and Girls Forward' for her, why did you have to drag us along? Wouldn't it be better for just the two of you to go?" Jiang Zheng asked, puzzled. Two people is always better than three, after all.

Zhou Quanyi sighed. "You think I didn't want that? But if it was just me and her, she wouldn't agree to go at all."

At this, Jiang Zheng glanced at Tao Luna walking ahead and asked, "So joining 'Boys and Girls Forward'—that wasn't your idea?"

"Of course not. It was Nana's idea," Zhou Quanyi said.

Jiang Zheng nodded. He had figured as much—it couldn't possibly have been Zhou Quanyi's idea.

"Why are you two walking so slowly?" Tao Luna called, looking back.

"Ahem, coming!" Zhou Quanyi replied with a smile.

Then he turned to Jiang Zheng and said, "Come on, hurry up."

Jiang Zheng shrugged in resignation and quickened his pace.

The waiting was tedious. Zhou Quanyi and Tao Luna chatted, but Jiang Zheng didn't want to join in. He was tempted to write, but with Zhou Quanyi right there, he couldn't very well start typing.

At last, after what felt like ages, it was time to board the plane.

...

After landing, the first order of business was finding a place to stay.

Jiang Zheng didn't have high standards for accommodations—cleanliness was all that mattered. Luxury was secondary. So he left the choice up to the other two, agreeing to stay wherever they picked.

But Zhou Quanyi didn't want to decide either. He delegated the choice to Tao Luna, saying that girls usually had higher standards for accommodations, and as a guy, he wasn't picky.

Tao Luna didn't decline. She selected a hotel and said, "Let's stay here—it looks pretty good."

Jiang Zheng glanced at the place and was inwardly taken aback. Even the cheapest standard room was three hundred a night.

So expensive!

He immediately felt reluctant to stay there. He hadn't expected Tao Luna to pick such a pricey hotel.

Zhou Quanyi, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind the cost. He smiled and said, "Looks nice—the reviews online are good too."

Jiang Zheng opened his mouth to protest, but in the end, said nothing.

For Zhou Quanyi, the price was nothing. But for Jiang Zheng, it was a bit much.

He had chosen to fly instead of taking the train to save time. But staying at such an expensive hotel, to Jiang Zheng, seemed like a waste of money with no real benefit. He'd have been just as comfortable in one of those inns that cost a few dozen a night.

"What do you think, Jiang Zheng?" Tao Luna asked.

"I think it's a bit expensive," Jiang Zheng replied honestly. After a pause, he added, "How about this: I saw a decent-looking inn next door. I'll stay there tonight, and we can just meet up tomorrow at a set place."

Tao Luna frowned and said, "That doesn't seem right—we all came together, after all."

Zhou Quanyi quickly said, "Hey, I'll get a double room. There are two beds—I can't use them both. Why don't you stay with me? I'll cover the cost."

Jiang Zheng looked at the two of them, hesitated a moment, then said, "Alright, then."

The three of them went to the hotel and booked two rooms.

Once they'd checked in, they went to their rooms to drop off their luggage.

As soon as Jiang Zheng entered, he transferred half the room fee to Zhou Quanyi. When Zhou Quanyi saw the message, he frowned and said, "What are you doing?"

"It's for the room," Jiang Zheng replied. "We'll split it half and half."

"You know I don't care about the money—why bother sending it to me?" Zhou Quanyi said.

"Whether you care or not is your business," Jiang Zheng replied. "I can't just take advantage of you because you don't mind."

That simply wasn't Jiang Zheng's way.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Quanyi was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll take it."