Chapter 251: This Kid Has Become Enlightened
At ten in the evening, there were still six hours until the competition began.
Wang Heng sat silently on the sofa, observing the four girls standing not far away chatting and laughing. Among them, Lu Qi was subtly the core with the strongest presence.
Han Yixuan seemed to be consciously lowering her presence, only chiming in occasionally, standing in the outermost position.
Pei Ningle chattered on the side, seemingly excited about so many people gathered in the room. Of course, from her occasional tugs at her clothes and touches to her cheeks, Wang Heng could detect the girl’s nervousness.
Ye Xun was under the greatest pressure. Lu Qi stared at her, probing with a series of indirect questions, making the young girl somewhat uncomfortable. But on the surface, Lu Qi’s questions were all perfectly reasonable, carrying a sister’s caring warmth.
Finally, she asked that most crucial question.
“So you’re not a local from Rongdu either. Studying here alone must be hard work, right?” Lu Qi said softly.
Ye Xun smiled, but her mouth was slightly stiff: “It’s okay. Actually, when busy with studying, there’s no time for extra emotions…”
Lu Qi nodded and asked curiously: “Then how did you meet Xiao Le and Xiao Xuan? They’re not high school students either.”
Here it came.
Ye Xun’s heartbeat couldn’t help but accelerate. She glanced at Wang Heng on the sofa, then said: “I met Wang Heng Senior first and asked him to tutor me in mathematics. Later, I met Xiao Le through him.”
“I see…” Saying this, Lu Qi didn’t even glance at Wang Heng for a second, still staring at the girl in front of her.
At this moment, Pei Ningle suddenly smiled and said: “Sister Lu, the competition won’t start for a long time. Shall we go up and sleep first?”
The apartment wasn’t large but had a two-story layout. The upper floor above the stairs held bedding and some musical instruments, serving as Pei Ningle’s bedroom. However, this bedroom wasn’t enclosed, allowing a view down to the living room below.
The four girls went up the stairs to the bed and immediately realized a serious problem—this bed wasn’t too big; sleeping three was already the limit, and only because Pei Ningle was petite could they squeeze in. Now adding Lu Qi, it was impossible no matter what.
As the nominal girlfriend, Han Yixuan suddenly made a seemingly reasonable suggestion: “Sister Lu can sleep here with Xiao Le and Xiao Xun. I’ll go down and accompany Wang Heng.”
Lu Qi, Ye Xun, and Pei Ningle all turned their heads to look at her.
Han Yixuan had already prepared herself mentally, but facing the gazes of these three gathered together, she couldn’t help but feel a bit timid. Especially Lu Qi—she clearly guessed Han Yixuan was just a shield-like presence, but hadn’t torn the facade yet. Her gaze now held particularly rich implications.
Pei Ningle suddenly slapped her forehead: “Right! I have spare bedding. There’s space here, so we can totally make a floor bed!”
Between the bed and the stairs, there was indeed such a space, perfectly suited.
Lu Qi immediately said: “I’m the last one to arrive, so I’ll sleep on the floor bed.”
Han Yixuan quickly said: “That won’t do, Sister Lu. You’re the landlord; how can we let you sleep on the floor? I’ll do it.”
Lu Qi stared at her, narrowing her eyes, her gaze with hidden implications seeming to say—sleeping on the floor bed makes it easier to sneak downstairs to find him when others are sound asleep. Do you think I don’t know?
Han Yixuan remained composed on the surface, but a chill crept up her back—this sister had seen through her? Or had she thought the same thing?
At this moment, Pei Ningle suddenly said: “Look, Wang Heng seems to have fallen asleep!”
Lu Qi and Han Yixuan turned around, walking with Ye Xun and Pei Ningle to the railing on the upper floor, looking down.
Wang Heng was lying on the sofa, hands behind his head, eyes closed, making slight snoring sounds.
“We can only sleep less than six hours, so let’s hurry.” Han Yixuan lowered her voice.
Pei Ningle nodded, quickly pulling out a mattress and sheets, laying them on the ground.
Then, Han Yixuan urged Pei Ningle and Ye Xun to lie on the bed. Turning her head, she saw Lu Qi already lying on the floor bed, occupying the side closest to the stairs.
Han Yixuan gritted her teeth inwardly, also lay down on the floor bed, trying to hold Lu Qi’s hand.
But Lu Qi decisively shook it off, saying softly: “Sorry, I don’t like being too intimate with others, including girls.”
Han Yixuan: “…Then sleeping like this together, won’t Sister Lu feel uncomfortable?”
“It’s fine. Just leave a little distance in the middle. Hurry and sleep; we have to get up for the competition later.”
Saying this, Lu Qi closed her eyes.
Han Yixuan stared at that exquisite and aloof face for a long, long time.
Lu Qi’s breathing became steadier and fainter, seemingly already in deep sleep.
On the other bed, Pei Ningle was clearly sound asleep—this girl often ground her teeth while sleeping and never admitted it upon waking, so the sound now proved she was asleep.
As for Ye Xun, her breathing showed she was still awake, perhaps due to the unfamiliar environment or too many people nearby.
After waiting a long time, Han Yixuan quietly got up, preparing to sneak downstairs. In her view, Wang Heng wasn’t as carefree as Pei Ningle; falling asleep so quickly wasn’t normal.
Maybe if she went down and poked Wang Heng’s… cheek, he would immediately open his eyes?
However, before she could stand, Han Yixuan heard Lu Qi’s coughing: “Cough cough, cough cough.”
Undoubtedly, Lu Qi was awake.
Han Yixuan instantly lay back down, inwardly cursing her carelessness…
————
Wang Heng had indeed been pretending to sleep at first, but he fell asleep for real soon after.
Then at three forty-five in the morning, the set mobile phone alarm rang for only two seconds before waking him.
Upon waking, Wang Heng stopped the phone alarm, stood up, yawned, and stretched. Then he went up the stairs, looking at the four girls sound asleep.
Han Yixuan and Lu Qi lay on the floor bed, separated by a large distance, both pushed to the edges of the sheets.
Pei Ningle sprawled freely, almost diagonally, squeezing Ye Xun’s leg space. Luckily, she had tucked one arm under herself, or Ye Xun would have been pushed off the bed.
The most pitiful-looking one was undoubtedly Ye Xun. The young girl was curled up on her side, like a cooked shrimp.
Wang Heng clapped his hands and said at a moderate volume: “The competition is about to start. Are you watching or not?”
No reaction; everyone seemed to be sleeping soundly.
Wang Heng cleared his throat and said again: “If you’re all asleep, I’ll watch alone?”
At this point, someone finally opened their eyes.
Pei Ningle rubbed her eyes and got up, quickly saying: “I’m awake, I’m awake! I’ll watch with you!”
The girl got off the bed, went around the floor bed, and came to Wang Heng. At this time, the other three were still in deep sleep.
Wang Heng frowned in contemplation, considering whether to wake them forcefully.
At this moment, Pei Ningle finally saw the situation and widened her big eyes, lowering her voice: “They’re sleeping so soundly; let’s not disturb their rest, okay?”
Wang Heng looked at her, inwardly sighing—this child had become enlightened!
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