The Slacker Academic Always Gets Caught (SLACKER)
The air instantly turned deathly silent.
Zhang Qiuwen: Holy shit!
Chi Ning has someone he likes? What’s Qin-ge gonna do now?
He couldn’t be sure, but if anyone said Qin-ge didn’t have feelings for Chi Ning, he wouldn’t believe it.
Qin Heng slowly lowered his hand. As his fingers trailed down, his knuckles brushed one by one against the buttons of Chi Ning’s shirt, an inexplicable restlessness coiling in his chest.
Chi Ning was despondent.
He’d used that lie on three people just to avoid trouble. Now, the whole world thought he actually had someone he liked.
What now?
Might as well go with the flow.
Chi Ning pressed his lips together, neither denying nor confirming, resolved to let things unfold as they would.
Qin Heng glanced at Gu Zhe, his eyes devoid of emotion.
Gu Zhe stumbled back two steps in fright and hid behind Zhang Qiuwen, only to hear Qin Heng say softly, "How is straightening clothes considered inappropriate? It’s part of the VIP service at our billiards hall. When you try on clothes at a store, don’t the staff adjust them for you too?"
Gu Zhe: ?
Th-that kinda makes sense?
Zhang Qiuwen: …
Bro, it's fine if you’re lying to us.
Just don’t lie to yourself.
Qin Heng tugged lightly at Chi Ning’s collar, wanting to ask who he liked, but he knew it was better to let the topic drop for now.
Leaning close to Chi Ning’s ear, he whispered in a voice so low it was almost inaudible, "The agent’s almost done with the apartment. When do you want to sign the contract?"
The warm breath against his ear made Chi Ning shiver slightly.
Remembering the matter at hand, he instantly pushed the fake crush and the fallout to the back of his mind. "Tonight. I’ll treat you to dinner, and I’ll give you the money then. I’ll leave the rental entirely in your hands."
Qin Heng smiled.
So what if he had someone he liked?
When Chi Ning needed help, the first person he thought of was him.
At five in the evening, Xu Jiahao, as usual, gave Zhang Qiuwen and Qin Heng two and a half hours for dinner.
On the way to the restaurant, Chi Ning pulled out a list of lab equipment and handed it to Qin Heng. "I plan to gradually buy experimental instruments for the house. Right now, too many paparazzi are watching the Chi family, so I can't handle it personally. Can you help me? There'll be an extra commission—I won’t make you work for free."
Qin Heng held the paper filled with detailed instructions and fell silent for a long moment. "You... won’t be living there?"
Chi Ning: "No."
How could anywhere outside compare to the comfort of home?
"You can pick the biggest and best room for your bedroom and move in any furniture you want to keep. I plan to clear out the rest to make space for the lab equipment."
Clutching the list, Qin Heng felt absurd for the first time.
Last night, he had lain awake for hours, worried that Second Young Master Chi might not tolerate his living habits once they shared a space.
After working half the morning, he’d even inexplicably gone to develop photos.
And now Chi Ning was telling him the house wasn’t even meant for living in?
Thinking Qin Heng might be concerned about Zhang Qiuwen, Chi Ning added, "If you still want to live with Zhang Qiuwen, we can keep a room for him. The duplex is big enough—one more person won’t be a problem."
Without hesitation, Qin Heng replied, "Zhang Qiuwen has a place to stay."
He wasn’t as poor as before—his earnings as a Playing Partner had grown. If Xu Jiahao really offered him a place later, he’d let Zhang Qiuwen have it. If not, he’d use his bonus to rent another place for him.
Folding the paper neatly, Qin Heng said, "I’ll help you. But no need for the money."
"It’s necessary." Chi Ning handed him a bank card prepared along with the list. "These things are very expensive and require running around. Once we start, utilities for the house will also be an issue. I can’t ask for your help and let you cover the costs."
This time, Qin Heng didn’t refuse.
The two went for bullfrog hotpot in spicy red oil.
The waiter serving Chi Ning and Qin Heng immediately recognized Second Young Master Chi, who had been frequently featured in gossip tabloids lately, and kept sneaking glances.
The young master clearly couldn’t handle spice, nibbling on frog legs while hissing with his lips flushed red and eyes glistening with tears—yet he couldn’t bear to eat any less.
Waiter: ...
This was the epitome of "loving what burns you" and "playing beyond your limits."
Amused, Qin Heng went to the self-serve ice cream station and scooped a fist-sized ball of milk ice cream, placing it before Chi Ning. "To cool the spice. Want me to get a bowl of water to rinse them in?"
"No way." Chi Ning hissed between bites. "That’d ruin the flavor."
The light spilled over the young man, the image striking Qin Heng’s eyes.
His heart lurched violently and the accumulated grit in his chest suddenly collapsed, leaving him dizzy with a ringing in his ears.
Everything in the private room seemed bathed in a hazy glow with Chi Ning enveloped within it like a white hydrangea blooming in sunlight.
Qin Heng felt dazed and his grip on the chopsticks stiffen.
When Chi Ning looked up, their eyes met—as if he’d sunk into a bottomless, still lake.
Qin Heng watched him quietly.
After a pause, Chi Ning picked up a clean pair of serving chopsticks, fishing out a lean, well-muscled frog leg and placing it in Qin Heng’s dipping bowl. "Eat?"
The weight of Qin Heng’s gaze lifted abruptly.
Only then did Chi Ning’s breathing ease.
Just as he secretly sighed in relief, Qin Heng’s eyes locked onto him again, trapping him like an inescapable net.
Chopsticks in hand, Qin Heng leisurely picked up a piece of meat, chewing deliberately. Though his movements were small, his gaze never wavered from the other side of the table.
Chi Ning felt as if Qin Heng wasn't chewing meat, but rather his neck.
He instinctively hunched his shoulders.
Just as this ambiguous sensation emerged, the gaze upon him vanished.
Chi Ning immediately felt like sitting on pins and needles.
What did that mean?
Was the frog not tasty enough?
Lost in thought, Chi Ning mechanically ate spoonfuls of milk ice cream, even neglecting the hotpot.
After finishing what Chi Ning had served him, Qin Heng fished out another piece. Using serving chopsticks, he meticulously picked the meat off and placed it in a clean small bowl, which he then set beside Chi Ning. "Eat."
Looking at the piled-up leg meat in the bowl, Chi Ning sensed that something had changed after Qin Heng stared at him for a while.
After the meal, one went home while the other returned to work. Neither expected this to be their last meeting in two months.
Chi Ning's summer vacation officially began under the strict guidance of his combat coach.
While other things could be managed through efficiency, fitness and exercise always followed the principle of no pain, no gain.
Dissatisfied with his frail physique and fearing an untimely demise, Chi Ning trained with exceptional dedication, astonishing both his father Chi Baichuan and Coach Han who had doubted his perseverance.
Coach Han sighed to Chi Baichuan, "I thought your son would only last a week, but he's been training for over a month. His weight and muscle mass have improved, and his constitution is much better."
Chi Baichuan nodded, "I didn't expect it either."
Just a month ago, Chi Ning had been a weakling who panted after three steps, couldn't overpower a chicken, and would topple at a slight push.
Now he could hold his own against Coach Han for three minutes.
Chi Ning was pleased with his progress.
With combat training taking priority, his time at the billiards hall naturally decreased. He only had free time after dinner.
Mo Yuanzhou often played in the evenings and frequently ran into Chi Ning. Their matches would last hours.
Each visit, Chi Ning would head straight to the fridge to retrieve the daily bottle of bayberry juice Qin Heng left for him and sipping it while playing.
Over time, Mo Yuanzhou grew curious, "Ning-zi, this drink is Qin Heng's doing, right? Why don't we see him around?"
Xu Jiahao cheerfully chimed in, "He's my godson now, set to take over my business. Recently, he's been busy with tutors and running around buying all sorts of equipment I don't understand. But no matter how packed his schedule is, he always makes time to prepare a bottle of bayberry juice and asks me to bring it over."
Chi Ning guiltily rubbed his ear, "If he's really that busy, the money could be refunded."
Mo Yuanzhou felt a pang of jealousy. Chi Ning was the most talented and worry-free student he'd ever taught. Someone coveting him felt like someone eyeing the prized cabbage in his yard.
Xu Jiahao glanced at Mo Yuanzhou and thought with a smile: The little lamb still hasn’t caught on. Some people are too busy to even think about refunding—once something’s in their mouth, why would they spit it out?
Xu Jiahao checked his wristwatch. "He recently participated in an American Pool tournament. The broadcast should be starting soon—let me switch the channel."
Chi Ning made a vague sound of acknowledgment and turned to see the Snooker match on TV disappear, replaced by Qin Heng’s face.
Dressed in a three-piece suit, he had taken off his jacket after entering, revealing a patterned vest and shirt beneath.
Nearly two months had passed since they last saw each other.
Qin Heng was gradually resembling his past self—his expression unreadable when his eyes lowered and his demeanor alone enough to intimidate.
He had grown taller and his frame fully filled out, exuding a sense of strength, and his shoulders noticeably broader.
Chi Ning tilted his head back. "A broadcast? Then the results must already be out, right?"
Mo Yuanzhou: "Yeah."
He was about to say more when he turned and saw Qin Heng lift the door curtain and stride in. Dusty from travel, he nodded at Xu Jiahao first, then swept his gaze around before locking onto Chi Ning’s profile.
Mo Yuanzhou raised an eyebrow and teased Chi Ning with a smile, "After not seeing each other for so long, all you care about is what rank Qin Heng got?"
Chi Ning caught the underlying implication—was he asking if he missed Qin Heng?
He avoided a direct answer, mumbling, "The tournament wasn’t far from here. Judging by the timing, he should’ve arrived by now. We’ll definitely meet tonight."
So he did miss him? The corners of Qin Heng’s lips curled up as he quietly moved behind Chi Ning.
He raised his hand, then lowered it again before finally just saying, "Turn around."
Chi Ning froze, then whipped his head around—only for his forehead to brush against something soft and a little damp.
He wiped at it with his hand.
Qin Heng’s mind went blank.
Had he just… kissed Chi Ning’s forehead?
Chi Ning: "Huh? Why’s your neck red? Are you hot?"
Qin Heng: "Ahem. I walked too fast."
He turned and headed toward Xu Jiahao, his retreat slightly flustered. "Dad, I’ll handle the accounts. You can rest."
Facing the receipts, the curiosity that had been frozen for nearly two months suddenly exploded in his chest.
Who does Chi Ning like?
The pent-up emotions that had stagnated for two months seemed to crack open with that brief touch.
Qin Heng stared blankly at the calculator and kept tapping it absentmindedly, forgetting even to show off the Gold medal in his pocket.
The calculator announced: "Zero. Zero. Ze—ze—ze—zero."
Xu Jiahao: "..."
Way to make it look like I earned nothing today.
Qin Heng touched his forehead again, his thoughts in complete disarray.
He wasn’t entirely sure: Did I… really kiss him?
If the person Chi Ning liked found out, would they get jealous? Would they openly kiss Chi Ning to stake their claim? Would they be provoked into wanting to be with him?
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•
Advanced chapters are now available up to chapter 65 (End) on my Ko-fi page!
If you appreciate what I do, please consider supporting me on kofi. Thank you!
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•