Chapter Twenty-Eight: You're Just My Type

From the “Trans-Dimensional” internet café to Huayang University was only a five-hundred-meter walk. Neat rows of plane trees lined the roadside, their fallen leaves carpeting the ground. The night wind was chilly, and even Chen Hao, who wore a jacket, could feel the bite of late autumn in the air.

Beside him, the little girl wore only a short-sleeved shirt and hot pants, her slender, pale arms wrapped tightly around her chest, as if she could warm herself that way. Seeing this, Chen Hao felt he ought to offer her his jacket, but as always, he overthought things and hesitated. He reasoned, only boyfriends give their jackets to their girlfriends—would she think he harbored ill intentions if he offered her his?

Even though he now possessed memories from the next few years, Chen Hao—who had been addicted to games—hadn’t dated anyone in those four years either. He was a typical novice in such matters, never confident when talking to girls.

The girl looked up, a strange expression on her face. “You’re really indecisive, aren’t you? If you want to play the gentleman and give me your jacket, just do it. Why is a grown man like you still so shy?”

“How did you know I was thinking about giving you my jacket?” Chen Hao asked, puzzled.

She snorted, tilting her head with pride. “Please, I’m too smart for your little schemes. You really think you can hide what’s on your mind from me?”

Embarrassed, Chen Hao took off his jacket and handed it to her. She was barely a meter fifty-five, while Chen Hao stood at one seventy-five, so the jacket draped over her, covering her entire thighs. They walked on together, and after a while, the girl said, “Man, you’re really uptight! We’ve walked half the way already, and you still haven’t found anything to talk about?”

Chen Hao forced a laugh. “Uh… what’s your name?”

“I’m Ban Qianqian—Ban as in ‘class’, Qian as in ‘graceful silhouette’. I’m in the College of Economics and Trade.” She rolled her eyes. “So unoriginal. That’s all you can come up with? Are you a census taker?”

Chen Hao chuckled awkwardly and changed the subject. “You look about fifteen. How are you already in college?”

“I’m seventeen! I just look younger because I’m cute,” Ban Qianqian pouted. “Don’t call me a kid again. I hate it when people say that! Hmph! I’ll grow taller, just you wait.”

They continued chatting as they walked. The girl was so candid and open that Chen Hao began to relax as well. Though they’d only been talking for a short ten minutes, it was as if they were old friends, and conversation flowed easily. Soon, they reached the entrance of the College of Economics and Trade.

Only three hundred meters separated it from Huayang University. It was a junior college, and at the gate Ban Qianqian suggested, “How about we find somewhere to keep talking?”

“Maybe next time. I’m feeling really tired tonight,” Chen Hao shook his head. Although chatting with her was effortless, the night wind was fierce, and even with his jacket, the girl was shivering. He decided not to drag things out.

Ban Qianqian didn’t mind his refusal; she was sleepy too. She blinked mischievously. “You’re worried I’ll catch cold, right? You really are something. If it were any other guy, he’d probably suggest we find a hotel to ‘discuss life’ by candlelight.”

Chen Hao could only manage a dry laugh. When they reached the college’s iron gate, he saw it was locked and frowned. “The gate’s closed. How will you get in?”

Ban Qianqian winked slyly. “Looks like fate, huh? This is the universe’s way of telling us to find a hotel and talk about our hopes and dreams.”

She was stunning—almost unreal—and Chen Hao found his mind wandering. Nowadays, it wasn’t uncommon for young men and women to head to hotels together after just a few hours’ acquaintance. Yet, he’d made it to his fourth year without ever giving in to such impulses, and deep down, he still resisted. He shook his head. “I have to get back to my dorm. I’ll walk you to a hotel and then go.”

“Tsk, letting a beautiful woman slip through your fingers—you really are hopeless. Just kidding! I sneak back late all the time. A locked gate’s no problem.” With that, Ban Qianqian strode up to the gate, grabbed the bars, and nimbly climbed up, using the gaps for footholds.

Who would have guessed she was a master at scaling fences? In a few swift moves, she was perched atop the gate. Chen Hao could only marvel at how looks could be deceiving. After she’d slipped over to the other side, he remembered his jacket and called out, “Ban Qianqian, my jacket…”

She gave him an exasperated look. “You’ve never chased a girl, have you? If I kept your jacket, you should’ve pretended to forget. Then, next time, you’d have an excuse to see me again—and maybe even win me over.”

Chen Hao smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t think that far…”

She passed his jacket back through the bars. “That’s exactly why you’re still single—an old virgin at your age! Aren’t you the least bit ashamed?”

Once again, Chen Hao felt deflated. He took the jacket from her, numb. “Well… I’ll head back now. Take care on your way in.”

“Wait.” Ban Qianqian called after him. “I still don’t know your name!”

“Chen Hao,” he replied, then hurried away as if escaping. Though he was six years her senior, he felt utterly out of his depth around her, as if he’d become the child.

“Chen Hao,” she repeated under her breath—Ban Qianqian, or rather, Ban Qianqian, as she was truly called. Her lips curled into a habitual smile, and she pumped her fist. “I always thought men were no good, but I never expected to meet one like this. Hmph! You’re just my type, and no one else is getting you.”

Back at the dorm, Chen Hao found he was the only one there; the other three must have gone to the virtual café as well. Usually, his roommates weren’t interested in staying up late, but since he’d pulled an all-nighter at the “Trans-Dimensional” café, they too seemed to have fallen under the spell of the game, “War.”

After a quick wash, Chen Hao collapsed into bed and slept until his phone alarm roused him at ten the next morning. He skipped class again and went out to the field for a few laps, exercising as his future memories advised. The game “War” could train a person’s awareness and reflexes. If he improved his physical fitness in reality and combined it with the combat instincts developed in the game, even an ordinary person could become formidable in the real world.

He’d only played for one day, and his combat sense was still lacking, but he was determined to build up his physical strength first. After his run and a cold shower, just as he was about to head to the internet café, his phone suddenly rang.

After taking the call, Chen Hao’s expression turned sour. It was the class monitor, summoning him to a “War” game seminar, with the warning that if he didn’t attend, he’d lose his participation credit for the semester.

(P.S.: During the new book ranking period, I’m asking for clicks, recommendations, and favorites. If you support me, there’ll be a surprise for you tonight…)