Chapter 34: The Internet Café

For reasons unknown, Yan Yu felt a bit embarrassed upon learning that the drowned ghost he was searching for was actually Zhao Qingqing.

Seeing Yan Yu’s flushed face, Zhao Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh, “What’s wrong? You didn’t blush when you touched me before, but now you’re embarrassed?”

“It’s different…” Yan Yu replied in a low voice.

“If you want, next time when Su Han steps out, I’ll let you touch me all you like,” Zhao Qingqing flirted openly with Yan Yu.

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t pretend I don’t exist!” Su Han protested angrily. “And Qingqing, you’re really not holding back!”

Zhao Qingqing shrugged. “I’ve been bored alone for too long; is it wrong to want a boyfriend?”

Su Han rolled her eyes. One was her best friend, the other her student; now these two were mixing together, wouldn’t she be forced to watch them flaunt their affection every day?

No, this bowl of dog food, I, Su Han, refuse to eat!

So she resolved to clarify their relationship; she couldn’t just let Yan Yu whisk her best friend away without explanation.

Su Han glanced at her watch and said, “Class is about to start. How about this, Yan Yu—come to my dorm tonight. You two can have a good talk then.”

“Again?!” Yan Yu was terrified. “Over my dead body, I’m not going to your dorm! Let’s meet somewhere else!”

Just then, Yan Yu received a text from Fatty, saying a new internet café had opened near the school with a nice environment. So Yan Yu, Su Han, and Zhao Qingqing agreed to meet there after dinner.

Thanks to Zhao Qingqing, Su Han didn’t force Yan Yu and his friends to continue standing as punishment. When the afternoon classes ended, Yan Yu took Fatty and Hao Zhuang to a small stir-fry restaurant outside the school for a quick meal, then the three locked arms and headed to the internet café.

The internet café was newly opened, with a particularly refined decor and a no-smoking policy. Besides high-end computers, it featured private rooms for couples.

“Miss Net Admin, we want to log in!” Fatty walked in confidently, pulled out his ID card, and slapped it on the counter.

The net admin was a young woman in a maid outfit, speaking in an extremely cute voice, “Welcome! Which area would you like to sit in?”

“Definitely the e-sports zone! IG just won the championship, and we old LOL players should return! Haven’t played my Yasuo for ages—Eonia’s happiest Wind Man, that’s me!” Fatty grinned.

Hao Zhuang chimed in, “And I’m Eonia’s number one Darius, not just an empty boast!”

“Three computers in the e-sports zone!” Fatty ordered.

Yan Yu quickly interjected, “No, I want a private room. We have friends coming later.”

“Is it Zhou Xiaowan?” Fatty asked curiously.

“It’s not her.”

As soon as he said this, Fatty and Hao Zhuang immediately hooked Yan Yu’s shoulder and whispered, “Boss, you’re not being honest. Tell us, is the friend coming later a girl?”

“…Yes.” Yan Yu thought, Su Han probably counts as half a girl, right?

“Damn!” Hao Zhuang exclaimed. “Boss is truly the boss—hanging out with us every day, yet still finding time to chat up girls!”

Fatty grinned slyly, “When the girl arrives, you better introduce us properly!”

“You already know her,” Yan Yu replied.

Fatty and Hao Zhuang exchanged glances, incredulous. “Don’t tell me it’s Yang Xuefei? That can’t be! Boss, you never make a move, but when you do, it’s the class beauty. How are we supposed to compete?”

“It’s not her…” Yan Yu smiled wryly.

Fatty and Hao Zhuang looked at each other again, eyes showing a hint of terror. They even took two steps back, keeping a safe distance from Yan Yu.

“What are you doing?” Yan Yu asked, puzzled.

Fatty spoke with utmost seriousness, “Boss, I think we need to rethink your taste. You let class beauty Yang Xuefei go, but chase after the dinosaur from Class 9, Zhao Qingqing. Your tastes are way too heavy!”

“Who told you I’m meeting Zhao Qingqing?” Yan Yu glared at them.

“Not Zhou Xiaowan, not Yang Xuefei, not Zhao Qingqing—what other girl do we know in common?” Hao Zhuang scratched his head in confusion.

Just then, the familiar sound of high heels echoed in the café. Fatty and Hao Zhuang shivered as one.

Turning around, they saw Su Han—wearing a khaki trench coat, black stockings beneath, hands in her pockets—walking toward them!

From her trench coat pocket hung a palm-sized Hello Kitty plush toy.

Su Han was truly a stunning beauty, rivaling the hottest celebrities. Her appearance in the café instantly drew the gaze of many otaku.

“Damn, that’s a top-tier beauty! How did she end up in an internet café?”

“Trench coat, black stockings, high heels—queen vibes, I’m in love!”

“Queen, please torment me as you wish!”

Compared to the crowd’s admiration, Fatty and Hao Zhuang turned and bolted!

“Where are you going?” Yan Yu shouted.

“Are you stupid? The class monitor’s come to catch us. If we don’t run now, when will we? Boss, for our safety, you’ll have to sacrifice yourself. Stall the class monitor while we escape through the bathroom window!”

Fatty and Hao Zhuang dashed away, leaving Yan Yu alone in chaos.

Only then did he remember that Su Han held another identity—their homeroom teacher.

High school students weren’t allowed in internet cafés. Though gaming had become a popular way to unwind, the older generation still saw it as a mental poison.

Teachers at Rongcheng No. 1 High frequently conducted surprise inspections at nearby internet cafés. Students caught would be scolded, reported to their parents, and forced to write a three-thousand-word self-reflection!

No wonder Fatty and Hao Zhuang were so scared.

“Wasn’t that Zhu Xiangyang and Hao Zhuang just now? Why did they run?” Su Han approached, puzzled.

Zhao Qingqing floated beside Su Han, covering her mouth as she laughed, “You scared them off.”

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve forgotten I’m their teacher,” Su Han said, recovering her composure. “Those two dared to come to an internet café? Tomorrow, each of them will write a three-thousand-word reflection!”

“…Yan Yu.”

“…Zhao Qingqing.”

Soon, Fatty and Hao Zhuang poked their heads out from the bathroom, seeing Su Han had spotted them, they walked back with heads lowered.

“Why didn’t you run?” Su Han asked.

Hao Zhuang replied gloomily, “Fatty’s too big, he couldn’t fit through the bathroom window…”

“Miss Su, we know we’re wrong. We won’t come to the internet café again. Please give us a chance to reform—just don’t tell our parents, okay?” Fatty pleaded.

Su Han looked at them, then suddenly smiled, “You’re students. Life is stressful; a little relaxation now and then isn’t a bad thing. Go play, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything today.”