18: The counselor really doesn't treat him like an outsider.

On the first morning after the National Day Holiday, Yu Heng was woken up by his phone alarm.

“Shit...” He squinted at the time: 7:10 AM.

The sound of Bai Xinran humming came from the living room.

Yu Heng put on his clothes, walked out of the room, and saw Bai Xinran busy in the kitchen.

“Up so early?” Yu Heng rubbed his eyes and yawned.

“I have class first period,” Bai Xinran plated the Fried Eggs. “Don't you have class too?”

“Right! I have an 8 AM Class!”

He glanced at the course schedule; the morning classes were Introduction to Communication Studies and Digital Media Technology.

“Is the breakfast you made enough for two people?” Yu Heng leaned toward the stove.

“Yes,” Xinran pushed the plate toward him. “Eat quickly and leave. I don't want to be late on the first day back.”

Yu Heng finished the Fried Egg in a few bites. Before leaving, he glanced at Bai Xinran's room: “Are you still streaming tonight?”

“Yeah, I'll come back right after class.” Bai Xinran locked the door. “Are you eating at the cafeteria tonight or coming home?”

“Depends,” Yu Heng stretched. “Maybe I'll eat with my roommates.”

The two parted ways at the school gate, and Yu Heng slowly walked toward the Teaching Building.

Yu Heng found the classroom and took a seat in the back row.

“Yo!” Hao Junran, sporting dark circles, leaned over. “Where did you go to mess around during the break?”

“Lying around at home.” Yu Heng tossed his backpack onto the seat beside him.

“Who are you kidding?” Hao Junran winked suggestively. “Did you go rent a room with some girl? That was fast! Which one? The busty one or the aloof one?”

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow: “Bullshit. Who told you that?”

“Liu Tianqi told me,” Hao Junran lowered his voice. “He said you haven't been staying in the dorm since you got back from the National Day Holiday.”

“Tsk, rumors. I rented an apartment outside,” Yu Heng said dismissively. “How did that turn into renting a room?”

“You rented a place? Not staying in the dorms anymore?” Hao Junran raised an eyebrow.

“Not necessarily.” The Counselor hasn't replied yet!

Hao Junran wanted to press further, but the teacher had already walked into the classroom.

The Introduction to Communication Studies teacher was a middle-aged woman wearing glasses who spoke slowly and methodically.

Yu Heng started zoning out after listening for ten minutes.

He pulled out his phone and sent Bai Xinran a WeChat message: “Are you in class yet?”

Bai Xinran replied instantly: “Yup, first class is a Filler Course! So boring (╯‵□′)╯”

Yu Heng smiled, and the two chatted sporadically.

As soon as the class bell rang, Yu Heng stood up and walked out.

“Where are you going?” Hao Junran asked. “The next class is still in this room!”

“I'm going to find the Counselor!” Yu Heng said as he walked out the classroom door.

Yu Heng walked to the Counselor's Office door and knocked.

“Come in.”

Pushing the door open, he saw Qin Lu sitting in front of the computer.

Today she was wearing a fitted Beige Knitted Top, made of soft, close-fitting material.

It outlined her full bust and slender waist, and the neckline was slightly open, revealing a section of delicate collarbone.

Her hair was loosely pulled into a bun, with a few wisps falling by her ears, highlighting her long neck and giving her a very mature, married-woman vibe.

Yu Heng unconsciously glanced at her twice. This woman was not young, but she maintained an incredible figure.

Her ripe curves trembled slightly with her keyboard strokes, exuding an indescribable, languid allure.

“Teacher.” Yu Heng walked up to the desk. “I messaged you yesterday to ask about External Accommodation.”

Qin Lu looked up, adjusted her glasses, and as she raised her hand, the cuff of her knitted top slipped down, revealing a Thin Silver Chain on her wrist: “Yu Heng, sit down.”

Yu Heng sat down on the chair opposite her.

“Why are you applying for External Accommodation?” Qin Lu placed her hands folded on the desk and leaned slightly forward. “In principle, the school does not recommend freshmen live off-campus.”

The shadows in her neckline were faintly visible as she spoke.

Tsk! Is this Counselor truly not treating him like an outsider, or is she deliberately testing his self-control?

“Teacher, I'm currently working on a New Media Startup Project,” Yu Heng tried to make his tone sound sincere. “I need a relatively quiet and independent environment, and the dorms aren't very convenient.”

Qin Lu raised an eyebrow: “Startup project? What exactly is it?”

“Virtual Streamer Operation.” Yu Heng observed her expression. “It involves using digital technology...”

“I know what a Virtual Streamer is,” Qin Lu interrupted him. “I didn't expect you to be interested in this.”

Yu Heng was stunned for a moment; her reaction was somewhat unexpected.

“How about this,” Qin Lu took an Application Form out of the drawer. “Fill out the form; it requires a parent's signature. Also... you must guarantee it won't affect your studies.”

“No problem, Teacher!” Yu Heng quickly took the form. “I guarantee my grades won't slip.”

Qin Lu nodded: “By the way, how many Streamers do you have now?”

“Just one right now,” Yu Heng answered truthfully. “Why do you ask, Teacher?”

“Then, are you still short of Streamers?” Qin Lu adjusted her glasses, her tone slightly hesitant.

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow: “Yes, of course. Now is the time for expansion.”

“My daughter dropped out of school and has been staying at home for over a year. I really can't manage this child,” Qin Lu sighed. “She's too young to go out and work, and I wouldn't be comfortable with it. Recently, I noticed she's always watching live streams on her phone, clamoring that she wants to stream too. Since we ran into this today, I thought, why not let her try?”

Yu Heng smiled; this was an unexpected bonus: “That sounds great! When is a good time to meet and talk? I already have all the equipment ready here.”

“How about tonight?” Qin Lu glanced at her watch. “Where do you live? I'll bring her over to see the environment.”

“The residential area across from the school, the innermost row of Villas, Building 7,” Yu Heng replied. “How about 7 PM?”

“Alright, see you then,” Qin Lu said.

“Great, see you tonight, Teacher!”

Yu Heng took the Application Form and left.

He went back and attended another class. As soon as the noon dismissal bell rang, Yu Heng's phone began vibrating continuously.

He unlocked the screen, and Ning Yutong's WeChat messages popped up one after another:

“Yu Heng! Are you out of class yet?”

“Why didn't you reply to the messages I sent last night?”

“I came back to school early specifically to ask you to have dinner with me...”

“(Wistful look.jpg)”

Yu Heng rubbed his temples and quickly replied: “I was busy last night and finished quite late, so I didn't check my phone much.”

As soon as the message was sent, Ning Yutong replied almost instantly: “What about now? Are you free now? Should we go eat lunch together? (✧ω✧)”

Yu Heng was about to reply when Shen Yueling sent a concise message: “Let's eat lunch together.”

Yu Heng sighed, his finger hovering over the screen for a moment, then he replied “Okay” to Shen Yueling first.

Then he switched back to the chat with Ning Yutong and replied “Okay” as well.

He thought for a moment and added a line to Ning Yutong: “Yue Ling also asked me to eat, so how about the three of us go together?”

After sending the message, he stared at the screen, feeling anxious.

Love Triangles are exciting to watch when they happen to others, but when it happens to you, it just gives you a massive headache.

This awkward situation had to be broken; he had to find a way for them to at least coexist peacefully.

A few seconds later, Ning Yutong replied: “Sounds good (*^▽^*)”

It was followed by a cute cat emoji sticker.

Yu Heng looked at the smiling face, feeling even less certain.

Was this reaction genuine indifference?

He said goodbye to Hao Junran and walked toward the Second Cafeteria, where they had agreed to meet.

All the way there, he pondered how to make the meal feel somewhat normal.

When he reached the cafeteria entrance, he saw Shen Yueling and Ning Yutong waiting there from a distance.

Shen Yueling maintained her usual cool demeanor, standing there with her arms crossed, her gaze calm.

Ning Yutong was wearing a JK Skirt and smiling as she talked to Shen Yueling.

“Let's go, let's head in.” Yu Heng walked up to them.

“Mm.” Shen Yueling replied indifferently.

“Okay! I want to eat Spicy Stir-fry Pot today!” Ning Yutong immediately chimed in, her voice sweet.

The three of them got their food and found a four-person table by the window to sit down.

Yu Heng sat on one side, and Shen Yueling and Ning Yutong exchanged a glance before sitting down across from him.

He cleared his throat, trying to break the silence: “Um... Yue Ling, do you have many classes this semester for your major?”

“It's alright.” Shen Yueling replied without looking up.

“Yu Tong, how about your Music Performance major?” Yu Heng turned to the other side.

“It's also alright, we have 15 classes a week,” Ning Yutong said softly.