The Daily Life of Being the Campus Idol’s Fake Boyfriend Chapter 19

After chatting for awhile with Qi Qiu Fen, the both of them returned to their hostel.

After all, there were still many people in the canteen. Rather than standing there and remaining the object of their attention, they might as well return to the hostel.

Xie Qi Bao’s mother was still in the room when they returned.

“Eh, you guys are back?” Xie Qi Bao’s mother greeted them enthusiastically.

With their classmate’s mother in the room, the both of them were unable to be fully at ease. After greeting Xie Qi Bao’s mother, they both sat at their respective desks in front of their laptops.

After Qi Qiu Fen added Ling Ke’s new WeChat ID, she  had sent him a message: “Oh yeah, yesterday I was trying to ask if you were interested in joining our media association?”

“What’s that? Is it like a student club?”

“No, it’s kind of different. A student club is a student club; an association is an association. For our faculty, every Year One student has to join a media association. There are many sections, each specializing in different areas such as the college news, the college news website, interviewing students, etc. This is kind of like an internal internship and is mandatory for all students if they want to graduate.”

“Oh, I see.”

Qi Qiu Fen: “Can you help me ask Qi Feng too? Both of you have such outstanding appearances. I am sure you guys will probably also be scouted by the other associations. I am the vice president of the college news website editorial section, so of course, I am trying to get a head start. [laughs evilly]”

Ling Ke sent a smiley face emoticon to Qi Qiu Fen before turning to Qi Feng to relay the information she had just told him.

Qi Feng was more knowledgeable about the different sections in a media association. He immediately understood what Ling Ke was saying. “Ask your senior what other sections they have?”

Ling Ke read out what Qi Qiu Fen had sent him. “Reporters section, videography section, IT section, online media section……”

“What does the online media section do? Do they have control over the college forum?” Qi Feng asked.

Ling Ke stiffened upon hearing the words “college forum section”. He immediately brought up his query to Qi Qiu Fen. She replied, “Yes, they can. But usually the new students don’t have much authority. What are you planning to do? It wouldn’t be because you want to  take down that picture right?”

Ling Ke’s guess was exactly the same as Qi Qiu Fen’s. But he did not have time to clarify that it was Qi Feng who was the one who had asked that question when he received another message from Qi Qiu Fen.

“Are you still concerned about the picture? Don’t be; everyone knows it’s just a joke. Liang Rui Xi and Zhou Yan had been the topic of discussion for many years but look at them now! They both have a girlfriend.”

Ling Ke had heard of the name ‘Liang Rui Xi’ before. He was the current F University Number 1 in looks. However, he had not heard of the name ‘Zhou Yan’ before.

“Who’s Zhou Yan?”, Ling Ke asked.

“The law faculty student association president. He and Liang Rui Xi are classmates. Zhou Yan’s girlfriend is from our faculty and she is the president of the association in charge of the college website. She even frequently contributes material of her boyfriend and Liang Rui Xi together.”

Ling Ke was stunned.

He asked, “So you girls will still joke about it even when you know it is not true?”

Qi Qiu Fen seemed to have determine that there was nothing between Qi Feng and Ling Ke. “Of course, the world doesn’t have so many gays to begin with! It’s all just a joke – no one takes it seriously. They may say they ship you guys together but really, who doesn’t wish to be that lucky girl who gets to monopolize your love? Also such shipping is a privilege that only handsome guys have. If you guys were ugly, no one would want to ship you guys together, no matter how ambiguous your relationship is.”

Ling Ke: “……”

Hearing Qi Qiu Fen’s words. Ling Ke finally realized the truth – It was not just the straight guys; even the girls who had so fervently and eagerly shipped them would never for once believe that they were really a couple.

They may shout “Get together! Get together!” or “Too cute!” or even a series of “666”, but they would never believe that the ship was real.

Ling Ke really found it difficult to understand a heterosexual’s mentality.

However, now that he knows that “passer-bys won’t take it for real”, Ling Ke felt that he could up his level of pretense to a new level. Next time, if the girls were to ask him again, he would calmly put his hand around Qi Feng’s shoulders and ask, “Do we look like a pair”.

……this still feels a bit too provocative.

Ling Ke gave Qi Feng a brief description of the online media section with the information he got from Qi Qiu Fen. Even though he would have no control over the college forum, Qi Feng was still more interested in this section.

Qi Qiu Fen did not have any opinion on Qi Feng’s inclination. She even helpfully provided Qi Feng with the contact information of the person-in-charge.

As for Ling Ke, he was fine with any sections as long as it was not the reporters section which requires much interaction with strangers. He decided to abide to Qi Qiu Fen’s wishes and join the editorial section too.

Just as he was debating whether to introduce his other roommates to Qi Qiu Fen, Gao Jun Fei returned.

At that moment, Xie Qi Bao’s mother was climbing onto her son bed to hang the mosquito nets.

Gao Jun Fei’s footsteps stopped as he witnessed this scene. He almost thought that he had gone into the wrong room. Only when he saw Ling Ke and Qi Feng, did he manage to confirm that this was indeed his room – room 412.

Upon seeing Gao Jun Fei, Xie Qi Bao pressed his mother to hurry up. “Mum, faster! My roommate is already here.”

“Ok ok. I will be done in a second! Xie Qi Bao’s mother hastened her speed but did not forget to greet Gao Jun Fei. “Nice to meet you. I am Xie Qi Bao’s mother.”

“……Hello Aunty.” Gao Jun Fei smiled stiffly as he walked towards his desk. This 1.7 metre greenhorn still wants to bring his mum to college?

After Xie Qi Bao’s mother finished hanging the mosquito nets, she started lecturing her son – reminding him to study hard; to maintain a good relationship with his classmates; not to burn the midnight oil; to remember to eat his three meals…As the saying goes, “Nothing can triumph over a parent’s love”. Even though Xie Qi Bao was almost twenty years old, his mother still treated him like a kid, worried that he would face difficulty assimilating into college life.

Xie Qi Bao could not help feeling impatient as he listened to his mother’s nagging. Actually, he would not really mind if his mother had said this to him in private. But to lecture him in front of all his roommates. It was as though he was a still a mama’s boy, unable to leave his family behind: it was really very embarrassing!

“I know, I know. Mum, don’t say anymore.” Xie Qi Bao could not wait for his mother to leave.

“Okay. Mummy’s leaving then. Remember to share these snacks with your classmates.” Xie Qi Bao’s mother took one last look around the room, as though trying to recall whether she had missed out anything. Her gaze eventually fell on her son. Remembering that they would be separated for almost half a year, her eyes actually reddened as she said, “Bao, mummy will miss you. Remember to call home often!”

Xie Qi Bao was originally feeling irritated but upon seeing his mother’s reddened eyes, he also started to sniffled, “I will, mum!”

The melancholic emotions of mother and son influenced and reinforced one another. It was not long before mother and son were crying as they hugged each other.

This sudden melodramatic development caught the other three people off guard. They could not help feeling awkward as they looked at each other.

Ling Ke was not good at dealing with this type of situation, so he continued to remain silent. Qi Feng, on the other hand, tried to say something but the pair was too wrapped up in their own emotions to even hear him.

As for Gao Jun Fei, he was completely bewildered — What’s going on! He had not even been in this room for ten minutes! Why were the pair of mother and son suddenly crying like it was the end of the world!?

Luckily, their sorrow went as soon as it came. After weeping for a few minutes, they finally stopped.

Xie Qi Bao’s mother finally managed to harden herself. She let go of Xie Qi Bao and grabbed the hand of  a nearby roommate. “I will leave my son, Xie Qi Bao, in your care.”

Gao Jun Fei: “…………”

Xie Qi Bao wiped the tears in his eyes. “Mum, I can take care of myself.”

“As long as you are aware of that,” Gao Jun Fei thought to himself.

Fortunately, the kind-hearted Qi Feng managed to interpose a reassurance. “Aunty, we are all classmates now. We will definitely take care of each other. Please be reassured.”

Xie Qi Bao’s mother was touched. She gave Qi Feng a grateful smile before letting go of Gao Jun Fei’s hands and reluctantly leaving the room.

Xie Qi Bao gradually regained his composure after his mother left.

Realizing the embarrassing scene that he and his mother had caused, he suddenly felt abashed.

“I am sorry to have you guys witness this. My mum has always been like that……” There was still a hint of a sob in his voice.

He then took the initiative to distribute the treats that his mother had brought, hoping to make a better impression of himself. The treats included green bean pastry, plum sweets and chicken floss rolls.

Qi Feng and Ling Ke accepted the snacks with thanks. Gao Jun Fei, on the other hand, did not show any indication of accepting or rejecting the snacks. He was still feeling a little incredulous about the situation. Moreover, he did not like sweet things.

After giving out the snacks, Xie Qi Bao took out a notebook and turned to Qi Feng. “Qi Feng, how do we connect to the internet in this hostel?”

He had seen the people in the hostel access the Internet. This means that the hostel must have a Wi-Fi signal. Since Xie Qi Bao was the last one to arrive, he was unsure of the nitty-gritty and naturally he had turned to Qi Feng who seemed the most amicable out of the three.

However, the atmosphere immediately tensed up as soon as he asked this.

Qi Feng and Ling Ke had evidently remembered what Gao Jun Fei joked about the other day — No, they did not know if Gao Jun Fei was really joking.

The Wi-Fi was set up by Gao Jun Fei, so Qi Feng was unable to take it upon himself to tell the password to Xie Qi Bao. Thus, he only said, “Ask Gao Jun Fei.”

Qi Feng shot Gao Jun Fei a meaningful glance — his mother had just left, don’t bully the child any more.

Xie Qi Bao turned to look at Gao Jun Fei. To be honest, he was a bit scared of Gao Jun Fei because he did not look like a student but more like someone who had already stepped into the working society.

However, they are both roommates now; he could not avoid talking to Gao Jun Fei forever. Thus, he mustered up his courage to say, “Umm, Gao…Brother Gao, what’s the Wi-Fi  password?”

Hearing a sniff in Xie Qi Bao’s voice and looking at the snacks that Xie Qi Bao had placed on his desk, he could only temporarily concede. “Gaojunfeiisyourmaster…….”

Xie Qi Bao stiffened. Ling Ke could feel the brewing of an imminent misunderstanding and so he hurriedly quipped in. “That’s the password.”

“Oh okay. Thank you,” Xie Qi Bao had thought that Gao Jun Fei was annoyed with him. He did not expect that to be the Wifi password. He thought that the password seemed a bit weird, but after some thinking, he realized that Ling Ke and Qi Feng must have also went through the same ordeal to attain the password.

Ling ke and Qi Feng heaved a sigh of relief.

After obtaining the password, Xie Qi Bao did not bother to continue speaking to Gao Jun Fei, leaving Gao Jun Fei to his own thoughts — Who am I? Where am I? Why did I let this greenhorn have my Wi-Fi password so easily?

Xie Qi Bao’s self-recovery ability was especially strong. He managed to find some comedy movies to watch and it had barely been half an hour and he was already laughing uncontrollably. It was as though the melodramatic farewell scene half an hour ago had not happened.

After Gao Jun Fei had regained his senses, he felt more and more puzzled. He felt as though he had been cheated.

He knew it. From the moment he entered the room and saw the flowery mosquito nets above the bed, he had already stepped into a well set-up trap.

The scene of mother and son crying had dwindled away whatever fighting spirit he had inside him, while Xie Qi Bao’s mother “final plea at the end” had caused him to let down his guard…And then in his confusion, his password was taken away.

……Damn, that greenhorn actually dare to bring his mother here and act pitiful. That’s cheating!

“Hey you!” Gao Jun Fei suddenly shouted at Xie Qi Bao. Because he was feeling slightly indignant, his “hey” was slightly louder.

Xie Qi Bao was frightened. He took out his earpieces. “What?”

Gao Jun Fei fiercely demanded, “You need to give me money to use the Wi-Fi.”

“Oh, how much……”

“Thirty yuan per month.”

Ling Ke and Qi Feng: “…….” They had only given Gao Jun Fei twenty-five yuan each. Gao Jun Fei was too evil. For the peace and harmony of the dorm, both of them decided to…keep silent about this.

Xie Qi Bao hastily took out his money to pass them to Gao Jun Fei. He grumbled softly as he handed the cash to him. “It’s just paying up some money. Don’t need to be so fierce about it.”

Meeting Xie Qi Bao’s sorrowful gaze and remembering his mother’s plea to him to take care of Xie Qi Bao, Gao Jun Fei felt that maybe he was behaving too much……

“Am I, very fierce?” Gao Jun Fei’s tone softened.

“A bit.” As though afraid to offend Gao Jun Fei, Xie Qi Bao withdrew his head and asked, “Brother Gao, where are you from?”

“Chang Chun…..a town nearby.”

“Oh, which town?”

“You probably don’t know.”

“I am from Fu Qing. Do you know where’s that?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then let me tell you, Fu Qing is a town in Fu Zhou. The geographic location is 25 degree north to 28 degree north; the east-west coordinates are……”

“Wait, wait, did you memorize all that?”

Xie Qi Bao pointed at his laptop screen. “No, I am reading from Wikipedia.”

Gao Jun Fei was speechless.

Xie Qi Bao patiently continued. “So you can tell me which town you are from. I will be able to find it through the search engine.”

Gao Jun Fei…..was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Damn! What type of person is he!

***

Under Gao Jun Fei’s and Zhang Wen Xin’s efforts, Media Faculty Class (1) finally managed to set up their own WeChat group.

That night, the four people from room 412 went to eat dinner together. Their phones vibrated continuously as they were eating. Qi Feng took out his handphone and laughed. “There sure is a lot of people adding me.”

He had just refreshed his page and there were around twenty new friend invitations, all of them from his new classmates.

Xie Qi Bao glanced at the notifications in Qi Feng’s screen. He was puzzled. “How come so many people added you? I didn’t get a single friend request.”

“Really?”

Xie Qi Bao took out his handphone to show Qi Feng. Only Qi Feng and Gao Jun Fei had added him on WeChat, even Ling Ke had yet to add him.

Gao Jun Fei had added him because he was the class representative. If he did not have to add everyone as friends, he probably wouldn’t have added Xie Qi Bao.

Qi Feng asked Ling Ke, “How come you didn’t add Xie Qi Bao?”

Ling Ke took out his handphone. “I forgot. Let me add you now.”

To be honest, he did not really forget. Ling Ke originally did not have the habit of adding people whom he was on mediocre terms with. Since they already had a class group chat, talking in the group chat was sufficient.

However, now that Qi Feng mentioned it, there was no harm in adding another person.

Taking out his handphone, Ling Ke was surprised to find that he had also received a lot of friend requests.

This phenomenon had sparked Gao Jun Fei’s curiosity. “Ha, which of you has more friend requests? Faster, lets compare.”

Having nothing to do after finishing their meal, the four of them investigated the friend requests that the two of them had received.

In the end they found out that Qi Feng had received a total of 26 friend requests – 20 were form girls and 6 were form guys.

Ling Ke was the opposite. Out of the 21 people whom had added him, 11 were guys and 10 were girls.

Gao Jun Fei rubbed his chin and came to a conclusion. “So Qi Feng is indeed more popular with the girls.”

Xie Qi Bao was bewildered. “That’s weird. How come Ling Ke has more friend requests from guys. Does that mean that Ling Ke is more popular among the guys?”

Gao Jun Fei and Ling Ke and Qi Feng: “Oh……..”

None of them were able to answer that question.

***

Bootcamp training started the next day.

All the new students were divided according to their faculty. The morning was simply theory lessons while the real training started in the afternoon.

Room 412 was once again the object of the students’ attention. This time, not only Qi Feng and Ling Ke were in the spotlight, but also Gao Jun Fei who looked especially handsome after changing into his uniform.

However, the only one who was left out from this spotlight was Xie Qi Bao. Because the same soldier uniform worn on Qi Feng, Ling Ke and Gao Jun Fei that emphasized their charm and charisma as a soldier only managed to make Xie Qi Bao looked like a scrawny recruit wearing a baggy uniform.

Xie Qi Bao could not help feeling unhappy. Fortunately, they were grouped according to their heights during training – the tall ones in front and the short ones behind.

Besides Xie Qi Bao, the other three people from room 412 stood in the first row. At least, he did not look so pitiable when there was no one tall standing beside him to emphasize the height difference.

The sergeant in charge of the bootcamp seemed to be especially fond of making things difficult for guys who were handsome and looked smart. For the first two days, they practised their postures in the squad. The hawk-eyed sergeant surveyed the students; his gaze constantly shifting between Qi Feng and Ling Ke, trying to find some fault in their postures. The punishment itself was not that bad, rather it was the sergeant’s ridicule that got to Ling Ke – insinuating that they are weaker than a woman; having no pride as a man……..this was something a gay like Ling Ke could not tolerate.

And so, Ling Ke gritted his teeth and persisted, not daring to relax even for a second.

Recalling Qi Feng’s incident with the blanket, Ling Ke was originally a little worried that Qi Feng would not be able to cope with the training. To his surprise, he found that his worries were unfounded – Qi Feng was much able to tolerate pain than he had expected.

Although he was good looking and his skin color was pretty fair, no one in room 412 had ever seen Qi Feng using any skincare products or sunblock..

Qi Feng endured these few days of training without a single complaint.

Ling Ke remembered that on the second day of training, there was this girl with a weak constitution who had fainted from the heat.

At that time, Qi Feng was standing in the front and he was standing the nearest to the girl among all the other guys. He instinctively went to help the girl up, but was stopped by the sergeant. “Who ask you to move? Go to the side and do 100 push-ups.”

Such blatant goading astonished the other students. However, since the sergeant had gave out such an order, no one dared to rebuke him even though they knew that he was being unfair to Qi Feng. In a squad, the sergeant’s commands were absolute.

Qi Feng did not express any objection. He immediately went to the side and started doing his push-ups.

After doing fifty at one go, he was slightly out of breath. Beads of perspiration were dripping from his forehead as the sun shone its ray mercilessly on his back.

The sergeant let him get up after his eightieth push-up. His eyes now carried some hint of recognition of Qi Feng’s capabilities.

After a while, the squad was allowed to rest for three minutes. Ling Ke walked towards Qi Feng and asked in concern, “Are you okay? Are you tired?”

“I am not tired yet, just a little thirsty…….” Qi Feng grabbed the water bottle beside him and started gulping down the water.

Recalling the pool of sweat that had accumulated below Qi Feng as he did his push-ups, Ling Ke could not help saying, “Sometimes, I really wonder whether you are……” He stopped his sentence midway.

Qi Feng curiously prodded him on. “Hmm? Whether I am what?”

“Made of water.” Evaporating into water when you stay under the sun.

“Cough….Cough!” Qi Feng almost choked on his water.

Ling Ke turned away. He felt that maybe he had used the wrong choice of words.

After Qi Feng finished his water, he imitated Ling Ke’s serious tone and expression as he jokingly said, “Maybe I was a jellyfish in my previous life.”

Ling Ke: “……”

After that show of strength and endurance, no one dared to say that Qi Feng was the type who was unable to tolerate hardships, including Gao Jun Fei who had previously teased Qi Feng, saying that he was just like a “princess”.

Note: jellyfish is made of 97% water.

T/N: 666 aka liu liu liu means smooth or skilled