Chapter 127: 127 Pei Ningle’s Deep Contemplation
This Monday, following the routine of the past few months, Wang Heng went outside the school to have lunch with Pei Ningle.
Compared to a few months ago, Pei Ningle was no longer so strapped for cash. At her strong suggestion, the two went to a hot pot restaurant.
And right after ordering, Pei Ningle emphasized, “I’m treating today!”
Wang Heng: “How much money have you even earned, and you’re already rushing to treat?”
“After rent, it should be about the same as your part-time job…” At this point, the young girl rolled her eyes slyly, as if reciting reading comprehension answers.
Wang Heng didn’t think much of it and just smiled, “You might have misunderstood my earning ability. The part-time job writing code from before was about the same as your bar resident singing, and now I have a new job.”
Pei Ningle naturally followed up, “What kind of part-time job is it?”
“Being a consultant for Penguin Company’s investment department. This part-time job is even better—no need to clock in, just chat on the phone with people when needed, maybe occasionally do a video call. But the money I get is no less than writing code.”
Wang Heng’s answer clearly caught Pei Ningle off guard. The young girl blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
What to ask next? This question is beyond the syllabus!
After being stunned for a few seconds, Pei Ningle simply skipped the intermediate steps and said, “Yesterday I went to the supermarket to buy things, and when passing by the school gate area, I saw you with a girl…”
Wang Heng immediately became vigilant.
Such an abrupt topic shift—isn’t it signaling something? Is this girl asking on purpose?
He calmly countered, “Where did you see that?”
Pei Ningle blinked: “Right next to the martial arts hall by the school, seems like the one that just opened…”
Wang Heng didn’t speak, just quietly gazed at her. Soon, Pei Ningle’s tone weakened a bit, and her eyes started to dart away slightly.
Observing the young girl’s expression, Wang Heng judged that her seeing him leave the martial arts hall with Ye Xun probably wasn’t a coincidence. If not a coincidence, then it means… she’s stalking me?
Throughout the entire first playthrough, Pei Ningle never stalked him, so what’s this situation? Has she learned to stalk now?
Who did she learn it from?
Is it inspired by the first playthrough dream, or did she become enlightened on her own without inspiration?
If it’s dream inspiration, that’s fine, but if she became enlightened on her own, then he needs to be cautious.
Wang Heng hadn’t seriously considered the possibility that Pei Ningle learned it from Han Yixuan, after all, during the first playthrough these two girls were mortal enemies, needling each other at every meeting. He still remembered, after Han Yixuan joined the battlefield, she stalked Pei Ningle and was accidentally discovered, then Pei Ningle simply called the police, making Han Yixuan look so embarrassed… After that until the final cleaver endgame, Wang Heng didn’t dare let these two meet, otherwise there was a risk of accidents the moment they did, with intense mutual “bitch” and “mistress” insults that were off the charts.
These two girls, from personality, three views, educational background to interests, were completely incompatible. Thinking back to how fiercely they argued back then, so ideally, the least likely to collude would be Pei Ningle and Han Yixuan.
After a brief contemplation, Wang Heng decided it was better to be cautious. Knowing that Pei Ningle’s favorability had exceeded the safety line and she was even having first playthrough dreams, assume she has become enlightened now and can’t treat her like the airhead from the first playthrough.
In other words, he needs to raise vigilance a bit and not try to brush it off with easily exposed lies.
So he explained, “I met her while doing tutoring, she’s sort of a client. Yesterday we happened to run into each other at the martial arts hall, and she helped me get a membership card and became my combat coach.”
The truth, all truth, that’s the lowest risk.
Recalling the walkthrough Han Yixuan gave, Pei Ningle continued, “So your relationship is pretty good, right?”
For this question, Wang Heng pondered a bit.
It’s also telling the truth, but there are different strategies in between. Facts can have many sides, and a skilled scumbag would pick the one most favorable to himself to state.
So what is the most advantageous strategy for him?
Clear up the relationship with Ye Xun, or add some embellishments?
If he deliberately lets Pei Ningle misunderstand and think he has an ambiguous relationship with Ye Xun, maybe it could make her back off… But wait, not long ago he already told her he has a girlfriend!
Making her think he’s a scumbag—what effect would that have? It might deter her, but could it instead make her think there’s an opportunity? Since he’s already a scumbag, no harm in adding one more? Recalling the scene in the first playthrough when relationships were mutually exposed, Wang Heng suddenly felt a chill.
Directly saying Ye Xun is that shield doesn’t seem appropriate either—after all, when he told her he had a girlfriend, he used a virtual shield based on Han Yixuan’s template. So as long as she checks Ye Xun a bit, it would be exposed immediately. Given Pei Ningle’s performance today, he naturally can’t bring out such a lame lie.
So he decisively said, “Nothing special, just normal mutual benefit.”
Pei Ningle recalled the walkthrough and continued, “Oh, I see. I thought she was your girlfriend…”
Something’s off, very off!
Wang Heng keenly noticed that the words just now from Pei Ningle’s mouth would fit Han Yixuan better. This light probing really doesn’t sound like Pei Ningle’s lines.
He decided to probe back.
“If you’re curious about my girlfriend, want me to bring her to meet you?”
According to the memorized answer, Pei Ningle immediately nodded: “Sure, I’m really quite curious.”
Obviously, he needs a shield now.
At this time, the waiter nearby had already brought all the dishes. The two paused their conversations full of hidden thoughts and started putting things into the boiling red oil pot.
After dumping in a plate of tofu skin, Wang Heng quietly took out his mobile phone and sent a text to Han Yixuan:
【There’s one thing that might trouble you a bit. You know, I don’t want to date, so I told others I already have a girlfriend. But now there’s a girl who might have feelings for me, and she says she wants to meet my girlfriend, so this weekend, could you help me out? Sorry for the abrupt disturbance, but I’ll cover all expenses for the meeting, and you can enjoy a big meal and afternoon tea or whatever, how about it?】
After sending the text, Wang Heng thought—Han Yixuan should agree, right?
The key is, anyway he and Han Yixuan are not at the same school, usually far enough apart, so having her act as a shield once occasionally shouldn’t give her any chance to push further.
Yeah, if Han Yixuan’s school was right next door, then Wang Heng would have no choice but to swallow his pride and ask Feng Jia Miaomiao to act as the shield…
————
While Wang Heng and Pei Ningle were eating hot pot, Han Yixuan had already quickly finished lunch and walked to the library doorway, preparing to continue self-study at her claimed seat.
At that moment, she received Wang Heng’s text.
Glancing at it, the young girl immediately beamed with joy.
“OK, first battle big success!”
Thinking for a moment, she immediately replied:
【No problem, but no need for the big meal, saving you some money.】
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