Trapped in Paradise

Chapter 15: Weekend Plans

Apart from the first day of military training when he fainted from lack of breakfast, Ning Chu managed to get through the next few days of military training quite smoothly.

His stomach pain also ended on the fifth day of training.

He strongly suspected it was because he had previously interrupted Wen Yang’s drinking session at the bar, triggering the punishment mechanism, which was why his stomach hurt until today.

“Just one more hour to go, and then it’s the weekend,” Wen Yang lay back on the grass of the playground, staring despondently at the sky. “Why is it always sunny during military training? I can’t see a single cloud.”

Ning Chu wasn’t as carefree; he sat cross-legged, gulping down half a bottle of water, then spacing out while hugging the bottle.

He slowly adapted to the intensity of the training, but his skin had darkened a shade from being sunburned every day.

A little tan was okay; it at least made him look more manly.

He glanced around at his classmates; almost everyone was a different shade of tan, with some even peeling from the sun.

“What’s the plan for the weekend?” Ning Chu looked down at Wen Yang. “Staying in the dorm to play games?”

“You and Wang Jie need to get out a bit. Can’t just stay cooped up every weekend, can you?”

“Then how about we do a team-building activity? Find a scenic spot to explore?”

As long as he could occupy Wen Yang’s weekend time, those flirtatious girls couldn’t seduce his male lead.

Wen Yang hesitated and turned to Zhang Shaoqing, shouting a few meters away, “Shaoqing! Wanna go out together this weekend?”

“Nope, I have plans.”

“Wang Jie! What about you?”

“I’m too wiped out from training…”

After consulting his two roommates, Wen Yang shook his head at Ning Chu. “Forget it, they’re not going.”

Ning Chu rubbed his nose in frustration; he wasn’t Wen Yang’s parents and couldn’t force him to stay in the dorm, but if Wen Yang went out, he was genuinely worried the plot he was trying to avoid would catch up.

Was he supposed to just follow Wen Yang wherever he went?

With him acting like a gigantic light bulb, those girls interested in Wen Yang shouldn’t go too far, right?

After about ten minutes of rest, they all got up to train again under the instructor’s urging.

College military training lasts half a month, and two weeks is enough to make them walk in formations with some style. On the last day of training, they’re supposed to have a performance.

By evening, the sun was no longer scorching, and the wind blowing across the playground no longer carried heat; the last hour of training felt much easier.

Finally surviving to the end, Ning Chu let out a sigh, stretched lazily, and turned his gaze toward Zhang Shaoqing and Wang Jie.

He wanted to persuade these two to join him for weekend activities.

Even though he had just gone through a week of military training, his mind was filled with thoughts of lying in bed all weekend, but this was crucial for his future gender and position.

He really didn’t want to be pinned down by a man…

Too scary!

Ning Chu jogged over to his roommates, his eyes filled with expectation: “Let’s go out this weekend? I haven’t been out since school started.”

Zhang Shaoqing glanced at him, coldly rejecting, “I told you, I have plans this weekend.”

“I just want to lie around in the dorm like a salted fish.”

“I already asked them, right?” Wen Yang shrugged. “They all say no.”

Ning Chu frowned helplessly. Wang Jie wasn’t so hard to deal with; he was a homebody, but with a bit of pressure, Ning Chu could drag him out.

However, Zhang Shaoqing, usually casual and playful, seemed gloomy today, wearing an expression of deep thought, clearly having something important to do this weekend.

He couldn’t help but think further.

Was this guy already plotting something devious, planning to mess with some girl this weekend?

In the book, Zhang Shaoqing’s first short story plot: his childhood sweetheart, whom he secretly loved, always ignored his hints and turned to Wen Yang for romance. Just a few days later, she actively pursued Wen Yang, causing Zhang Shaoqing’s possessiveness and anger to explode. He then resorted to drugging her to claim her.

Ning Chu’s lips twitched; if he could, he wanted to travel back in time and slap that former self who wrote such royal nonsense.

He could have at least written a pure love story!

“Shaoqing…”

With no time to regret his past, Ning Chu had to figure out how to handle the current problem.

He had to stop Zhang Shaoqing from going down a twisted path!

“What do you have planned for the weekend?” He cautiously probed Zhang Shaoqing, who had a blank face. “You don’t seem in a good mood, though?”

“None of your business…” Zhang Shaoqing turned his head, but upon seeing Ning Chu’s nervous yet somewhat concerned gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words. After a pause, he muttered softly, “It’s family matters, going home for a bit.”

“Shaoqing’s family seems strict?” Wen Yang chimed in, “I often see you on the phone with them at night.”

That did seem to be the case.

Every night, Zhang Shaoqing would light a cigarette on the balcony; Ning Chu didn’t have a nose for smoke, so he hadn’t paid attention to what he did out there.

With Wen Yang bringing it up, Zhang Shaoqing couldn’t help but complain, “It is strict. I don’t want to go back this week; they’ve been arguing with me a lot.”

No wonder he looked so troubled lately.

Knowing Zhang Shaoqing wasn’t up to any mischief, Ning Chu felt a little relieved. “Then don’t go back.”

“I didn’t go back last week either.”

“You’re an adult; what can they do if you don’t go home?” Wen Yang advised, “I used to live with my parents, and they were strict. Before college, I hadn’t even held a girl’s hand. Look at me now, free as a bird, no one’s stopping me from going on dates…”

He paused, suddenly at a loss for words.

Well, there were still some restrictions.

Turning to Ning Chu, who knows why this roommate so despised him going on dates, always finding various excuses to refuse.

This weekend, sneaking out for a date…

Wen Yang knitted his brows, suddenly realizing that Ning Chu was just his roommate. Why did he have to hide the fact that he went out on dates, as if it was some secret affair?

“Let’s see,” Zhang Shaoqing sighed, his mood slightly improving under the consolation of his friends, suddenly reverting to his usual teasing tone. “Let’s skip it this time; maybe we can go for some fun another day. How about bungee jumping?”

“Bungee jumping?!”

Seeing Ning Chu’s mouth agape in surprise, his big eyes wide open, Zhang Shaoqing felt a burst of joy, as if he was teasing a child.

But he had to admit, this roommate was quite the eye candy; those slightly parted cherry lips could indeed be described as resembling cherries.

“What? Are you scared? A big man afraid of bungee jumping?”

“Isn’t that just a bit too extreme?” Ning Chu shrank his neck. “Let’s try something else.”

“In this hot summer, how about rafting?”

“I can’t swim, I’m not going!”

After some thought, Zhang Shaoqing suggested, “How about paragliding? There’s a coach, it’s very safe.”

“……”

Wen Yang saw Ning Chu losing the argument and eagerly joined in: “How about a massage at a club?”

Wang Jie’s eyes lit up; he nodded vigorously: “Just say massage, and I’m not tired anymore!”

“Absolutely not!” Ning Chu shook his head vigorously, refusing with the ultimate passion. “No way!!”

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