Chen Kailin returned a moment later.
She immediately sat down next to Lin Qiang and asked, "What were you guys just talking about?"
"Nothing," Lin Qiang said, deliberately explaining, "I was just asking Huang Hui if she had a boyfriend. If not, I have a few buddies I could introduce her to."
He then slipped his phone into his pocket.
Chen Kailin smiled. "Huihui already has a boyfriend, and he's pretty handsome, too."
"He's alright," Huang Hui replied awkwardly.
Although Jiang Sifan wasn't as wealthy as Lin Qiang, his good looks at least scored him some points.
The dorm social finally ended at eleven o'clock that night.
The girls had all had at least a little to drink. Chen Kailin, in particular, couldn't hold her liquor and was about to collapse into Lin Qiang's arms.
Lin Qiang wrapped his arm around Chen Kailin's waist, then glanced at Huang Hui, flashing his phone. "Kaelin won't be going back to the dorm tonight. I'll take her to a hotel to rest."
Huang Hui and Hu Ke nodded and said with concern, "You'd better take good care of Kaelin, then."
"Of course. No problem."
After they parted ways, Huang Hui looked at a WeChat message from Lin Qiang.
Lin Qiang: [In a couple of days, I'll introduce you to a handsome guy.]
Huang Hui: [I already have a boyfriend. No, thanks.]
Lin Qiang: [What's the harm in making another friend? Besides, who can guarantee the guy you're dating now will be the one you marry? It's good to have options.]
Hearing this, Huang Hui had to admit he had a point.
'Maybe Lin Qiang really does have some wealthy, single friends,' she thought.
So she agreed: [Okay, then.]
But Huang Hui had no idea that the "friend" Lin Qiang was talking about was himself.
Seeing that Huang Hui had taken the bait, Lin Qiang smirked.
He glanced at Chen Kailin lying on the bed, then took off his shirt, ready to get down to business.
Perhaps because she'd agreed to meet another guy, Huang Hui felt a little guilty toward Jiang Sifan.
She immediately sent Jiang Sifan a message: [Babe, are you asleep?]
Jiang Sifan was still preparing for his tutoring lesson. Even without looking at a math book, his skills were more than enough to handle He Lingyi's current level.
But this was his first tutoring job, after all, so he had to take it seriously.
Just as he was reviewing some problems, his phone screen lit up.
When Jiang Sifan saw it was a message from Huang Hui, he replied immediately: [I'm not asleep yet. I'm studying.]
Huang Hui: [I'm back from karaoke.]
Jiang Sifan: [You guys were out that late?]
Huang Hui: [Yeah. Kaelin's boyfriend treated us to karaoke and a late-night snack—the whole package.]
Reading this message, Jiang Sifan felt a pang of bitterness.
He quickly typed a reassuring reply: [Once I save up some money from my part-time job, I'll treat you guys to a late-night snack too.]
Huang Hui: [It's okay, I don't care about that stuff. I love you just the same, whether you treat me to snacks or not.]
Jiang Sifan looked at his phone screen, a smile creeping onto his face.
A warm feeling spread through his chest.
Huang Hui: [Okay, I'm going to go wash up. Don't work too hard, and get some rest soon. Love you, babe *muah*]
Jiang Sifan: [Okay. Good night, babe.]
After the chat, he was suddenly re-energized, as if he'd been given a shot of adrenaline, and dove back into his lesson prep with even more focus.
If he could just teach He Lingyi well, he might build a reputation for himself. Then, a steady stream of parents would come looking for him as a tutor.
And Jiang Sifan would never have to worry about money again.
"Huihui, don't worry," he murmured. "I'll definitely save up and buy you that iPhone."
...
"Lulu, do you want breakfast? I'm going to the cafeteria, I can grab you something."
「The next morning.」 Lu Yao called up to Jiang Silu from beside her bed.
Jiang Silu was a little surprised. She shook her head and said, "Thanks, Yaoyao, but I'm going out today, so I'll just get breakfast myself."
"Alright then~" Lu Yao waved. "Well, Lulu, I'm heading out. I have dance practice."
"Okay."
After Lu Yao left, Song Miaomiao started teasing, "Lulu, after using your makeup yesterday, she's now offering to bring you breakfast today?"
"Huh?" Jiang Silu laughed. "Honestly, whether Yaoyao used my makeup or not, she'd probably offer if she was going to the cafeteria anyway."
"I wouldn't be so sure. She's never offered to get me anything," Song Miaomiao said with a laugh. "But I didn't realize your family was so rich. Why are you still working a part-time job?"
Jiang Silu answered awkwardly, "Actually… my family's just average. These gifts probably cost my relatives a lot of money."
"Lulu, don't be so modest. A family that can casually buy so many gifts must be well-off. But the fact that you still work a part-time job… I really admire that. Look at Shiting—she only eats at restaurants, never the cafeteria."
Eager to change the subject, Jiang Silu quickly washed up and hurried out the door.
Once she was off campus, she took out the new iPhone she had gotten yesterday.
She had mixed feelings about it.
Since she had no classes all morning, Jiang Silu wasn't sure what to do. After thinking it over, she decided to go visit her brother at the Jinling Institute of Technology.
After all, school had been in session for two months, and she still hadn't visited.
It was always Jiang Sifan who came to see her.
So, Jiang Silu sent him a message: [Bro, I'm free today. I'm coming to your school to hang out.]
Jiang Sifan was still in class, but he saw the WeChat message and replied: [My class ends at eleven. Come over and we can get lunch together.]
Jiang Silu: [Okay.]
A short while later, Jiang Sifan's class ended.
Jiang Silu was waiting for him at the base of the academic building. When she saw him, she happily walked over. "Classmate Jiang Sifan!"
"Have some respect," Jiang Sifan said, rolling his eyes at her. "Call me 'Bro.'"
"We're not at home, why be so formal?" Jiang Silu refused to say it. "Besides, with a great beauty like me standing next to you, your classmates are bound to be jealous. If I call you 'bro,' it'll blow your cover."
"I already have a girlfriend, so it doesn't matter if you're standing next to me or not," Jiang Sifan retorted.
Jiang Silu frowned and huffed. "Wow, Jiang Sifan. Your girlfriend is all you talk about. Let me tell you, four years of college is a long time. Nothing is guaranteed. Don't end up losing both the girl and your money."
"What's there to lose? I have no money, just my life to give," Jiang Sifan shrugged. "Besides, your sister-in-law and I are still just at the hand-holding stage. There's no person or money to lose."
"What?!" Jiang Silu's eyes widened. "You've been dating for over two months, and you've only just held hands?!"
She looked Jiang Sifan up and down in disbelief, then asked doubtfully, "Bro, don't tell me you're… not good in that department?"