Chapter 27: How dare you contradict the teacher ?!

Lunchtime Decisions

After morning military training, Lin Lu didn’t head home, opting to rest in the dorm since it was closer.
Though he’d tidied it up last night, it was clean enough for a quick nap.

For lunch, Lin Lu and his roommates went to the school cafeteria.
He ordered a simple vegetarian dish—potatoes with green beans.
Until he earned his first paycheck from tutoring, he couldn’t afford meat.
The cafeteria’s “smart” system seemed automated but inflated prices—a couple of meat pieces cost five or six yuan at least.

Going a bit hungry at noon was fine.
He had Yi Diandian as a dinner ticket anyway.
Though Su Keke told him to stay away from her, Lin Lu was selective about it.
Normally, he’d keep his distance to avoid trouble, but free food was a different matter.

Su Keke’s Message

Speak of the devil—Su Keke sent him a photo of a plain bowl of vegetable porridge.

Lin Lu felt relieved.
Even a big celebrity ate worse than him.
Good thing he hadn’t agreed to Sister Wang’s offer to become a star.

As he was about to turn off his screen, Su Keke sent an angry cat emoji with flames over its head.

[What did I say last night? Did you forget?]

Lin Lu quickly snapped a photo of his potatoes and green beans and sent it back.
Fat Bro teased, “Reporting to your girlfriend?”

Lin Lu nodded, grumbling, “Women are such a hassle. Even eating needs a report.”

Skinny Dog Bro chimed in, “Should’ve joined the class in dissing this guy earlier.”

Distraction and Messages

Ignoring Lin Lu, the three roommates started sneakily eyeing the girls around.
Their gazes settled on a pretty girl in a lab coat eating quietly at a nearby table.
When she noticed their stares, she ducked her head and ate faster, startled.

Lin Lu, oblivious to his roommates’ antics, was busy replying to Su Keke.

[You’re in military training, aren’t you hungry? Why eat so little?]

[My dish looks more substantial than your veggie porridge, doesn’t it?]

[I’m keeping my figure… Are you broke? Call me big sister, and I’ll toss you some pocket money.]

[No need. I got a part-time job. I’ll have money soon.]

‘No way I’m taking handouts!’

Su Keke didn’t reply for a while, so Lin Lu turned off his phone.
But as he reached the dorm building after lunch, he got a call from a delivery guy saying food was left at the entrance.

Confused, Lin Lu checked and found a delivery with his name and phone number—a red date chicken leg rice meal.

He messaged Su Keke:

[Did you order me takeout?]

[As if I’d order for you. Stop flattering yourself… I’m napping now. I’ve got filming later, so don’t bother me.]

Her words carried a hint of resentment.

Lin Lu stood in the breeze, baffled, holding the takeout.
He’d sent Su Keke a photo of his lunch just twenty minutes ago, and now this arrived.
But her tone suggested it wasn’t her.

Yi Diandian?
Zhuang Yanyue?

Lin Lu didn’t bother asking them one by one.
If they didn’t say anything, he’d pretend he didn’t know.
Free food was free food—not a handout if he didn’t ask for it.

Dorm Room Fun

“Training’s not till 2:30. Wanna play a thrilling round of Three Kingdoms Kill, kids?”

Exhausted from prepping for his tutoring job, Lin Lu pulled out a deck of cards to liven up the dorm.
He’d won it in a mall raffle long ago and hadn’t packed it away last night.
He seemed to have a knack for winning raffles, like the condoms by his bed.

“No objections here.”

Naturally, no one refused.

Slant Key Immortal closed his game, hopped off his bed, and eyed Lin Lu’s Three Kingdoms Kill deck with a frown.

“What’s up?” Lin Lu asked.

“Not sure if I should say…”

“Just spit it out, man.”

“Fourth Bro, your cards aren’t spicy enough. No vibe. I know a Moe Girl version of Three Kingdoms Kill—characters barely wear anything, like they’re naked. Especially Zhang Fei’s dark-skinned girl with those huge… slurp…”

“You’re really thirsty, huh?”

“It’s human nature.”

“Not enough players for fun. I’ll grab some guys from our class.”

Lin Lu went to the two neighboring dorms to rally friends.

“Three Kingdoms Kill, brothers?”

“Uh…”

“Sounds kinda boring…”

Since they weren’t close yet, the guys hesitated, despite drinking the “future class president’s” milk tea earlier.

Lin Lu added, “It’s the Moe Girl version. All the generals are barely dressed, busting out.”

Suddenly, everyone scrambled off their beds, adjusting their pants as they followed Lin Lu.

“Busting out or not isn’t the point. I just wanna dive into Three Kingdoms history.”

All twelve boys from the class—three fewer than the girls—gathered in Lin Lu’s dorm, forming a circle.

“Where’s the busty female generals?”

“Where’s Moe Girl Zhang Fei?”

They glared at Lin Lu, who gave a sheepish smile.

“Damn you, Lin Lu!”

Despite the grumbling, the game kicked off with enthusiasm.

“Why didn’t Prime Minister Cao make a move on the Qiao sisters before they married?”

“Cao was waiting for them to become wives first.”

The guys chatted freely, but the room darkened as a tall figure appeared at the door.

Counselor’s Inspection

“Good afternoon, Counselor…”

The counselor was doing a dorm check.
Everyone stood to greet her, instinctively lowering their heads like obedient kids.
Their earlier bold talk about Three Kingdoms romances wilted like frosted eggplants.

It wasn’t just Zhuang Yanyue’s authority as a counselor.
Her stunning looks made the boys feel like rats in a dark sewer, daring only to steal glances, too intimidated to look up.

Zhuang Yanyue walked in with a stern face, inspecting the room.
She frowned, “You’ve only been here a few days and can’t keep it clean? The balcony hasn’t been washed, and the other two dorms are the same. Yet you’re playing cards.”

Her gaze landed on the game box on Lin Lu’s desk.
With a thought, she asked coldly, “Who started the game?”

No one was tactless enough to snitch on Lin Lu.

“We all played together. No one started it…” Fat Bro mumbled.

“Whose cards are they?”

Silence.
Lin Lu stepped forward, taking the blame.

“They’re mine, and I started it… But, Teacher, aren’t you overstepping? This isn’t high school. Why do you care so much? We’ll clean when we want—it’s our place, not yours.”

His words echoed what the other boys thought but didn’t dare say.

Zhuang Yanyue’s lips curved slightly, unnoticed.
Then, she turned to Lin Lu with a stern face.
“How dare a student talk back to a teacher? Everyone else, out. Lin Lu stays for punishment. Let’s see if you dare defy your teacher again.”