Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 8

Nighttime.

When Cheng Jinyang returned to the office, he saw the young ladies gathered in the bedroom, each engaged in their own activities.

In Jingkou in May, the weather had already turned warm. Even with the air conditioning on, everyone was dressed lightly, creating a blinding sea of white that made Cheng Jinyang feel as if his vision was deteriorating.

Eye fatigue, definitely eye fatigue.

Cui Xiaoniang was still engrossed in a drama, curled up on the sofa with a tablet, laughing and chatting. It was amazing how many shows she could find to watch.

She wore a simple tank top and hot pants, her slender, pale legs swinging in the air, making one feel an urge to grab her ankles and pull her off the sofa.

It would probably make her cry for a long time if she were bullied.

Miss Qingqing sat next to her, dressed in a set of pajamas, covering up completely and leaving no chance for anyone to scrutinize her.

Each time Cui Jinqi moved the progress bar, Qingqing watched and commented, saying things like “the male lead is so greasy,” “that supporting actor is really sleazy,” “this female lead is so pretentious,” and “why is that supporting actress so annoying,” which made Cui Xiaoniang laugh uncontrollably and nearly fall off her chair.

Miss Wang had wrapped herself in a blanket and strangely went to bed early tonight.

Xiao Wangshu, wearing black-and-white panda pajamas, huddled in the corner of her little bed, facing the wall and fiddling with something.

Teacher Li and Sister Xiao Pei were seated on chairs, seemingly enjoying something. Miss Qingwan had changed into a sports tank top she wore around the same time last year, her hair in a simple ponytail. She was slowly savoring a piece of cake from her plate.

“It feels a bit soft,” she commented seriously, “I prefer a firmer texture.”

“Then I’ll make it firmer next time,” Zheng Qiupei thoughtfully responded, noticing Cheng Jinyang’s arrival—Sister Xiao Pei’s sense was truly keen; she was always the first to notice him coming back.

“Jinyang, would you like some late-night snacks?” she offered with a bright smile, holding up the plate.

“Sure!” Cheng Jinyang moved forward to take a piece of cake, only to be stopped by Li Qingwan.

“Maybe you shouldn’t eat it,” Teacher Li said seriously. “Carbohydrates before bed are hard to digest and aren’t good for the stomach.”

“Hey, Teacher Li, didn’t you eat some too?” Cheng Jinyang said with a wry smile.

“I have physical activation and can control my digestive system,” Li Qingwan said.

“I could connect and steal your ability,” Cheng Jinyang said.

“Are you sure you want to drag everyone into your body for this?” Li Qingwan said with a half-smile.

Ah, well… Cheng Jinyang hesitated.

“Qingwan has a point,” Zheng Qiupei said gently. “But I think a small piece won’t hurt.”

Her posture was dignified and graceful, her long hair elegantly draped over her shoulders. Her tender tone and gentle gaze exuded a motherly quality that made it hard for Cheng Jinyang to refuse.

“Wait a minute!” Cui Xiaoniang finally set her tablet aside and, with Miss Qingqing, eagerly rushed over. “I heard someone mention late-night snacks!”

“Maybe you shouldn’t eat them,” Cheng Jinyang said seriously. “We’re going to bed soon, and eating now won’t digest well.”

“It’s fine, I have another stomach for sweets that I can store until tomorrow morning,” Cui Xiaoniang said confidently, reaching for a piece of cake.

“Hey, save a piece for me!” Cheng Jinyang quickly protested.

“Do you want some too? I think you’ve gained some weight lately!” Chu Qingqing pushed him onto the sofa and began rubbing his belly through his clothes, laughing, “Your belly is sticking out, and you still want to eat late-night snacks!”

Cui Xiaoniang, who was chewing her cake, froze when she saw Cheng Jinyang pushed down by Chu Qingqing. Swallowing the food in her mouth, she pouted and rushed over, joining the struggle for the right to rub his belly: “Where are you fat? Take it off and show me! Hurry up!”

“Don’t pull at my clothes, you two!” Cheng Jinyang futilely protested as the two girls undid his clothing and started pinching and kneading his body.

“You really have gained weight!” Cui Jinxi exclaimed in horror. “Oh my God, what’s wrong with you? If you only have one stomach, you shouldn’t eat so much!”

“Damn it, I only have one stomach!” Cheng Jinyang retorted angrily. “Are you a cow with multiple stomachs?”

“Girls naturally have several stomachs. If you don’t believe me, come and touch!” Cui Xiaoniang said stubbornly, puffing out her stomach.

“Hey, I noticed Jinqi seems to have gained weight recently too,” Cheng Jinyang pretended to be shocked. “Qingqing, don’t you think her stomach looks rounder?”

“Hmm, it does seem a bit,” Chu Qingqing played along with a mischievous grin. “I was wondering why you were still wearing such thick clothes in summer; it turns out to be fat on your stomach.”

“You’re lying!” Cui Jinqi fumed, but her expression quickly turned stiff. “No way… have I really gained weight?”

She wailed in disbelief.

The little farce soon ended, and everyone went to bed. Xiao Wangshu had hoped to play games a little longer while Sister Ah Zhi was away but was persuaded to sleep by Sister Xiao Pei’s loving education. She could only sulkily go to bed.

Tonight or tomorrow night, everyone was to be promoted to the fifth grade.

With this thought, Cheng Jinyang gradually drifted into a deep sleep.

…

Elsewhere, Lu Qingyun changed into her pajamas in her room, preparing for bed.

Today, there seemed to be unusually many guests at the Governor’s Residence, including several members of the Longxi Li family.

What were they here for? Was it related to the previous incident? Had Cheng Jinyang reached any agreements with them?

Contemplating this, she went to the window in her bedroom, quietly watching her reflection on the glass, with the distant lights as the background.

“Qingyun,” she said softly, as if talking to herself, “are you really just going to go with the flow like this?”

“No, you need to make a change.”

“They’re coming.”

“How much time do you have left?”

“Think it through.”

After murmuring to herself for a while, she seemed to suddenly snap back to reality, letting out a long sigh.

“Sleep.”

In a huff, Lu Qingyun climbed into bed, pulling the covers over herself and turning off the room light.

In the darkness, she lay with her eyes open, gripping the blanket tightly, as if she were staring at some unseen creature.

After a long while, she finally closed her eyes again.

Her consciousness gradually sank back into a memory from the past.

In her dream, she found herself back in Wujiang Town.

Around her were panicked crowds and swirling flames, with people shouting about demons everywhere.

Her mother and guards had been scattered by the crowd. She ran around in a frenzy, her small body being pushed and knocked down several times along the way, her knees and legs covered in bloodstains.

But she dared not stop.

Because the demons were coming.