13: Boss! Don't suddenly start driving!

Yu Heng carried two large bags of daily necessities out of the supermarket, the plastic handles digging painfully into his fingers.

Returning to the Villa, he tossed the items onto the living room floor, went straight up to the second floor, and came out after showering in the bathroom.

As Yu Heng rubbed himself dry with a towel, his WeChat rang again.

He Mengyao: “Thank you for today. I'll treat you to bubble tea another time.”

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. She recovered quickly: “Sure, let's talk after you're fully functional.”

He Mengyao sent a hammer-hitting-head emoji: “I'm functional now! Ibuprofen is the GOAT!”

“So you can jump and run now?”

“Pretty much, just a little weak still. Did you finish shopping?”

“Finished shopping, just got back to where I live.”

“You live off-campus by yourself?”

“Yep, I rented a place.”

“Wow, that's luxurious!”

Yu Heng smiled and didn't reply.

He Mengyao's personality was the type that kept strangers away but bothered acquaintances. Once familiar, she was quite talkative. The problem was figuring out how to become familiar with her.

Just as he was pondering this, Bai Xinran sent another message: “Boss, I suddenly thought of something.”

“Go on.”

“Are you covering the streaming equipment? My laptop is okay for streaming, but not so great for playing certain single-player games.”

“You want a desktop?”

“Exactly. The Captains don't want to see me playing LoL every day anymore. I don't really like playing it either, but other streams lag too much.”

“Alright, then we'll go to the Computer City tomorrow to build one.”

“Really? What's the budget?”

“Under 10,000 yuan. That should be enough for you.”

“Boss, you're generous! I'll kowtow to you! (*^▽^*)"

Yu Heng shook his head, laughing. He even wondered if the person online was actually a ghostwriter.

Bai Xinran: Oh right, where is the house? Send me the address.

Yu Heng: The new community across from University Town, the innermost row of Villas, Building 7.

Bai Xinran: A Villa??? You rented a Villa???

Yu Heng: Yep, a two-story house.

Bai Xinran: Holy crap, Boss, you really spared no expense.

Yu Heng: I live here anyway. You can come over to stream after class. If you don't want to live in the dorms anymore, you can move in too.

Bai Xinran's side showed “typing” for quite a while.

Bai Xinran: Move in? Live with you? That doesn't seem right, Boss! o(╯□╰)o

Yu Heng: Why not? There are so many rooms in this house. Do you want to sleep in the same bed as me?

Bai Xinran: No! Σ(⊙▽⊙”a

Yu Heng: Exactly. I just think it gets too late sometimes when you finish streaming and go back, and it's not very safe for a young girl.

Bai Xinran: Is it safe living with the Boss?

Yu Heng: Don't worry, absolutely safe. You're not my type.

Bai Xinran: Oh ho, what kind of person does the Boss like?

Yu Heng: If you were as provocative with me in person as you are in the stream, I would definitely like you.

Bai Xinran: So the Boss likes that kind!

Yu Heng: What man doesn't like a provocative woman?

Bai Xinran: Then go find a provocative woman!

Yu Heng: Aren't you right here? Being provocative online is fine too; I'm not picky.

Bai Xinran: Dame! o(＞﹏＜)o Boss, you can't tease your own Streamer!

Yu Heng: Haha, alright, alright. Then come over here tomorrow at nine in the morning, and we'll go to the Computer City.

Bai Xinran: OKK, I'll be on time.

Yu Heng turned off his phone and went back to the dorm to grab his laptop. Then he applied for a Bilibili Guild.

...The next morning, exactly at nine o'clock, the doorbell rang.

Yu Heng yawned and pulled open the Villa door. Bai Xinran stood outside wearing a black windbreaker.

“Quite punctual.” Yu Heng stepped aside to let her enter.

“Of course. Did Boss just wake up?” Bai Xinran grinned.

Yu Heng was still in his pajamas and chuckled, saying, “It's still vacation, isn't it? My biological clock tells me I don't need to get up early.”

Bai Xinran stepped into the entryway, her eyes lighting up: “This place is really nice!”

“Want a quick tour?” Yu Heng pointed inside. “You can pick a room for streaming. I'm taking the master bedroom; you can choose among the remaining three guest rooms.”

“Sure, let's look.” Bai Xinran followed him inside.

Yu Heng showed her around the first floor—the kitchen, living room, and bathroom—and then looked at the remaining rooms.

Bai Xinran peeked into the doorway of each room, finally pointing to the one on the first floor near the corridor: “I'll take this one, it's closer to the entrance.”

“Done. You can put your things here, and then we'll head out.” Yu Heng glanced at the time. “The bus comes every half hour; don't want to miss it.”

Bai Xinran tossed her backpack onto the guest room bed: “Let's go!”

The two locked the door, left the community, and walked to the University Town bus stop.

While waiting for the bus, Yu Heng bought a few steamed buns from a roadside stall and handed her two: “Just grab a bite now; we'll eat something good at the Computer City at noon.”

Bai Xinran took the bun and bit into it: “Thanks, Boss.”

The large bus rumbled slowly up. There were only a few people on board, mostly students.

They sat down in the back row, Yu Heng by the window, and Bai Xinran next to him.

After the bus started, Yu Heng casually asked, “Where are you originally from?”

“The Capital City.” Bai Xinran pulled out her phone to check a message.

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow: “A Beijing Master?”

Bai Xinran turned to look at him: “What is that?”

Yu Heng smiled: “Nothing. So why didn't you study in the Capital City? Why run off to this remote place?”

It seemed that term wasn't popular yet?

“I went to school in Beijing from childhood until now, and I got bored.” Bai Xinran stuffed her phone back into her pocket. “Still in Beijing for college? How dull.”

“Then you should have gone to Guangdong Province or Shanghai City,” Yu Heng tilted his head to look at her. “Coming to Tang City, which is only four hundred li away from the Capital City, is practically staying put.”

Bai Xinran pouted: “I was afraid my family wouldn't allow it, so I didn't dare run too far.”

Yu Heng laughed: “Tang City certainly isn't far.”

“Definitely,” Bai Xinran lifted her chin proudly. “It only takes two hours to get home by high-speed rail, so my mom could barely accept it.”

So she was a rich girl from the Capital City. No wonder she was willing to spend so much money on a skin.

The bus hit a bump, and Bai Xinran lost her balance, leaning toward him.

Yu Heng instinctively steadied her, catching a faint scent of shampoo.

“So what does your family do?” Yu Heng continued fishing for information. “To let you spend so freely.”

“Just regular office workers.” Bai Xinran clearly didn't want to talk much and changed the subject. “Boss, do you know your stuff when it comes to building a computer later? Don't let someone rip us off. Should I advise you?”

“Don't worry,” Yu Heng shrugged. “In my previous life... no, I mean, I've helped several people build computers before.”

“Oh really? Then you don't need me after all?” Bai Xinran said, laughing.

“You know computers?” Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. “Aren't girls usually the type whose C drive is maxed out, whose desktop is covered in files, and who know nothing about computers?”

“That's a stereotype!” Bai Xinran pouted. “Not only do I know computers, but I'm also really good at basketball. I can do anything you guys can!”

She was indeed the athletic type. Yu Heng grinned and said, “There's one sport you definitely can't do.”

“What sport?” Bai Xinran raised an eyebrow.

“A competitive sport.”

Bai Xinran narrowed her eyes: “What is it?”

“Shooting a pistol,” Yu Heng said seriously.

“Well, you're wrong. I actually have shot one. The Capital City has shooting ranges.” Bai Xinran finished speaking, noticed Yu Heng's strange smile, and finally realized: “??? Boss! No sudden dirty jokes!”