Snail Senior Brother

Chapter 92 A Beauty as Bait

Here is the translation:

Keep the money here, I don't plan to spend it.

My expenses are now no different from those of an ordinary college student: tuition, fees, and meals.

...

Spring arrived quietly. In the bright March, I, carrying my small suitcase and humming a song, cheerfully headed to school. The scam syndicate in Huishi had been apprehended, and Laotie had destroyed his identity and fled abroad. I called Lao Gui (he took my phone), and it was off but not disconnected. That's a good sign.

In any case, I'm no longer associated with "Logical Paradox" recently.

For now, I'm not considering Wang Zu's suggestion of taking the civil service exam. Instead, I've been thinking of seriously researching the online game "Fantasy Westward Journey 2" that my roommates and I have been playing.

During the opening class meeting, the teacher said on the podium, "Although our university studies aren't that intense, we can't just let ourselves go. One of our classmates failed every single subject in the first semester."

I was zoning out and didn't hear clearly what the teacher said. Seeing the students' knowing smiles directed at me, I realized something.

"I failed every subject last year?" I asked the classmate next to me.

The classmate, suppressing a smile, nodded.

I didn't believe it and asked again, "I didn't even pass PE?"

"You didn't even show up for the PE exam."

Alright, my ambitious self had become a failing student. I forced myself to stand up and said to the teacher, "Teacher, I promise I will pass all my exams this year."

"That's a story for another day. Tang Nan, let me ask you, I heard you were scammed out of a lot of money last semester. Do you have money to pay for the make-up exam fees?"

"That's not a problem. I can really pass this time, I swear."

"Swear? I recall the saying, 'success in love, failure in exams.' You've been chasing girls too much, haven't you? You've used all your swearing skills on your studies."

As soon as the teacher finished speaking, the whole class burst into laughter, and my face felt hot. Just then, Nurse Li Qian appeared at the doorway. She had taken off her nurse's uniform, and her fierce demeanor was gone. I didn't find her beautiful, but with her ponytail, she was indeed pure and radiant.

"Teacher, excuse me, is Tang Nan in this class?"

"Yes, student. Is there something you need?"

"Can you call him out for a moment?"

"I'm in the middle of reprimanding him. Would you mind waiting a moment?"

"Okay, I'll wait outside."

After the teacher spoke, she turned her gaze back to me, suppressing a smile, and said, "A young lady is looking for you, and you're still swearing?"

I couldn't answer. All the classmates were laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

...

I am an excellent strategist, but even I have difficult moments in life. At this moment, time felt as if it had stopped.

...

After class, it was already lunchtime. I booked a private room at a nearby restaurant and ordered eight dishes for two people. The plates in Huishi are small, and to me, they looked like condiment dishes.

I hadn't contacted Nurse Li Qian since I was discharged from the hospital. It had been several months since we last saw each other, and we hadn't exchanged phone numbers. I truly hadn't expected Li Qian to come looking for me at school.

"How is Uncle's condition?"

"He can move around now and is recovering very well. My parents have been wanting to see you these past few months. I figured you'd be back in school soon, so I wanted to fulfill their wish and invite you to our house for dinner."

Hearing this, I was perplexed and paused with my chopsticks to ask, "Why do they want to see me?"

"Father's lumbar surgery used an imported brace, which was quite expensive. They knew I couldn't afford over two hundred thousand yuan, so they kept asking. I could only say I borrowed it from you. My parents are honest people, and they are extremely grateful that you lent me two hundred thousand yuan in a time of crisis."

I smiled and said, "Then you should have said so earlier. We wouldn't have come to a restaurant for lunch; I would have saved some room for the delicious food at your place tonight."

...

Li Qian's home was in the development zone, near a large musical fountain. Li Qian's house was quite modest. Upon entering, I could smell the aroma of stir-frying and frying. I saw Li's father sitting in a chair and wanted to stand up, but I quickly stopped him. I smiled and said, "Uncle, it's inconvenient for you after just having surgery. Please don't be so formal."

Li's mother heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen, smiling and saying, "Xiao Tang, please sit. Let Xiao Qian make you some tea. I knew you were coming today, and I was afraid my cooking wouldn't suit your taste, so I specifically learned a few Northeastern dishes from our neighbor."

"Please don't stand on ceremony. I'll eat whatever you cook?"

Li Qian made me a cup of tea and then went to help her mother in the kitchen. I felt a bit awkward sitting there. Seeing a chessboard on the table, I smiled and said to Li's father, "Uncle, how about we play a game of chess?"

"I don't know how."

I was quite surprised. The chessboard looked quite old, and I couldn't help but ask, "Then who plays chess?"

"Probably Li Qian. Her mother plays sometimes too."

"Oh!"

It seemed this way of passing the time wouldn't work either. I'd just have to wait. Fortunately, the food arrived quickly—a large table full. Li's mother poured me a glass of beer, and then the elderly couple watched me with smiles.

"Xiao Tang, do you have any other family members?"

Li Qian looked a bit unhappy. "Mom, why are you asking him that?"

"Isn't it just casual conversation? Right, Xiao Tang?"

"Yes, yes. At home, I have my parents and my wife."

Li's father listened, extremely surprised. "Tang Nan, aren't you still in school? How do you already have a wife?"

"I was out of school for two years doing business and didn't plan to continue my studies, so I got married."

As soon as I said this, the elderly couple fell silent. The meal was eaten in quiet solemnity. Occasionally, they would praise me, but it wasn't as enthusiastic as I had expected. After dinner, Li Qian said she wanted to take me to see the musical fountain in the area, and we went out.

The fountain was impressive, and the night view was beautiful. Li Qian and I walked shoulder to shoulder, and it truly felt like a couple. Li Qian asked me faintly, "How did you guess my parents' intentions?"

"It wasn't hard to guess. I lent you two hundred thousand yuan. If it wasn't for your beauty, there would be no suitable reason. Your parents wanted to see me, probably to pressure you with parental authority. A man like me who can provide for you, why not consider marrying him."

Hearing this, Li Qian lightly slapped me. I feigned a yelp of pain, which earned me a charming smile from her.

"Are you really married?"

"No, isn't this just a reason?"

Li Qian smiled and suddenly linked her arm through mine, saying with a laugh, "Don't misunderstand, I'm a little cold. I'm borrowing your masculine energy to keep warm."

We walked along the river, chatting, talking about school and childhood. Inadvertently, I felt her pressing closer against me. In the slightly cool weather, I felt her warmth.

I stopped, and Li Qian also sensed the increased intimacy between us. She let go of my arm, blushing slightly, standing hesitantly with her lips pursed.

"That's all for today. I... I should go back now. It's getting late, and the dormitory will be locked soon."

After saying that, I turned to leave, but Li Qian rushed over and hugged me tightly, pressing against me like a ball of fire. "Don't leave tonight!" Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. My heart trembled. I suddenly looked up and saw the words "Chain Hotel" in the distance, illuminated by the lights.

The atmosphere, the location, the mutual affection, the burning desire.

Li Qian today was vastly different from usual. Her pure appearance made it hard not to blend youthful impulses with nascent love. No one could resist such temptation, especially a young man like me.

However, I seem to be a bit slow on the uptake. Li Qian had said that. Most guys would turn around and embrace her tightly. But I didn't. She was hugging me, and I didn't "struggle."

"Do you play chess?"

"No!"

"Your mother?"

"She doesn't play either. Why are you asking this?"

I chuckled and gently pried Li Qian's hands off me. Turning to face her directly, I said, "To ease the atmosphere." Fearing she might become suspicious, I took her hand, intertwined our fingers, and whispered, "Let's go to the hotel up ahead."

"Will there be any checks? I didn't bring my ID. Tang Nan, you have to believe me, I've never been to a hotel with another man, I..."

I lightly scraped my finger across my nose. "What are you talking about?" She buried her face in my chest and quietly hit me a couple of times. I didn't overreact, hug her, or kiss her. Instead, I peeked sideways at the hotel's neon sign.

A honey trap?

The huge scam in Huishi had been exposed. The people from "Logical Paradox" should have been rounded up. Why was someone still targeting me?