Chapter 41

Zhen Bao walked to her dorm room door. Just as she was about to put the key in, the door opened from the inside, revealing Jia Xiao Yu's excited face.

"Come in, come in." Jia Xiao Yu furtively looked left and right, grabbed Zhen Bao's arm, and pulled her inside.

Fan Xuan and Qian LeLe were already there, one sitting at the computer, the other standing nearby, tilting her head and smiling at Zhen Bao. Zhen Bao wanted to pretend she didn't know anything, but Jia Xiao Yu eagerly pushed her over to Fan Xuan's side. Pointing at the enlarged male head circled in red on the screen, she asked Zhen Bao, "Tell the truth, isn't this your Timing?"

Zhen Bao looked over. In the photo, Fu Ming Shi had just gotten out of the car, while Xia Ying had just walked out of the hotel. The photo was taken from the side. Xia Ying wore big sunglasses, her long hair fluttering, red lips curled up. Fu Ming Shi stood in front of a luxury car in a tailored suit, looking as if he was specifically waiting for Xia Ying to come out, although his face was cold. Fu Ming Shi was always like that, so you couldn't judge his mood from it.

At dinner, Zhen Bao's mind had been chaotic, and the screen on her phone was small, so she hadn't looked closely. Now that she saw it clearly, and saw the suggestive titles "Xia Ying Suspected of Going on Date with Fu Ming Shi", "Xia Ying and Fu Ming Shi Enter and Exit the Same Hotel", Zhen Bao suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

That was her boyfriend. What girl would like her boyfriend getting embroiled in scandals with other women?

"Zhen Bao?" Not feeling reassured, Jia Xiao Yu called out to her. Just now, she had only thought of confirming Timing's other identity. Now, seeing Zhen Bao's expression, she and Qian LeLe and Fan Xuan realized that if Timing really was Fu Ming Shi, this photo would definitely be a blow to Zhen Bao.

Zhen Bao came back to her senses and looked at her roommates. She slowly nodded.

In fact, Zhen Bao had wanted to keep it a secret all along, but Fu Ming Shi's words to her on Christmas Eve had reminded her. Jia Xiao Yu and the others weren't just ordinary classmates and alumni, they were good friends she would keep in contact with after graduation, and roommates she trusted. Since they had already guessed, she shouldn't keep lying.

"Ah..."

Jia Xiao Yu was the first to pounce over and hug Zhen Bao, drawing out her voice in a long cry. Afraid of being overheard by other dorms, she kept her voice very low: "Oh my god, I can't believe I get to be friends with someone so rich. Zhen Bao, tell me quickly, how did you get to know each other!"

Qian LeLe, on the other hand, wheeled her luxurious chair over, seating Zhen Bao in it like a guest. She then brought over Zhen Bao's little stool. The three girls surrounded Zhen Bao, hands over hearts, hands cupping faces, eyes brimming with pink bubbles, eagerly anticipating a romantic story.

Zhen Bao felt a little uncomfortable with their attentions. As she recalled her romance with Fu Ming Shi, Zhen Bao's face gradually reddened. For now forgetting about the scandal, she lowered her head and gave her roommates a simple explanation. However, Zhen Bao tweaked some parts of the story, only saying that Fu Elder and her grandfather were war buddies. When Fu Elder fell ill, he suddenly remembered his war buddy and sent Fu Ming Shi to visit. Then, as Fu Ming Shi was taking care of things on Fu Elder's behalf, he ended up...

"Wuwu, my grandfather was a soldier too, how come he wasn't in the same company as your grandfather?" Jia Xiao Yu clung to Zhen Bao's left arm, very regretfully stroking Zhen Bao's sleeve.

"If you were Zhen Bao, Timing... I mean Boss Fu could have just given you a few cards and called it a day." Qian LeLe meaningfully said. She deliberately lightly stroked Zhen Bao's little face, "Our Zhen Bao is the most outstanding flower bud in the big mountains. She has a natural fatal attraction for Boss Fu."

"Oh stop that." Zhen Bao pressed down Qian LeLe's mischievous hand.

Qian LeLe and Jia Xiao Yu laughed together.

Fan Xuan was more sensible. Worried, she asked Zhen Bao, "I flipped through the news, last year Fu Ming Shi was also embroiled in a scandal with Xia Ying in Paris. That's why the media is making a big fuss over this photo now. Do you know what's going on?" There were too many playboy rich men. Zhen Bao was so innocent, she was worried Fu Ming Shi was deliberately taking advantage of a honest person, playing with two boats.

Zhen Bao nodded.

After listening to Zhen Bao's explanation and considering Fu Ming Shi's good treatment of Zhen Bao, the three girls believed in Fu Ming Shi's innocence. Instead, they advised Zhen Bao, "There are tabloid rumors in the entertainment industry every day, few are real. This kind of hearsay happens all the time, you absolutely can't take it to heart."

"Mm, I know," Zhen Bao smiled.

Helpless at being surrounded by the three girls, she asked, "Can I leave now?"

"You wish." Jia Xiao Yu clung tightly to her arm, "Tricking us for so long, tell us, how will you make up for it?"

"I'll treat everyone to dinner tonight." Zhen Bao obediently acknowledged her debt. Now that she was earning her own money, she could indulge in a little luxury occasionally.

Qian LeLe pursed her lips. "Who wants you to treat them? We want Boss Fu to treat us."

For that, Zhen Bao couldn't make the decision.

"Zhen Bao, why did you have to hide it, and even make up a Timing?" What Fan Xuan couldn't understand most was this point. She looked back at the computer, hugging herself as she humphed, "If I were you, I would have made Fu Ming Shi publicly announce the relationship long ago, letting everyone know Boss Fu is mine, so those paparazzi wouldn't gossip."

Zhen Bao lowered her head. It was a good while before she mumbled, "I'm afraid too much attention would affect my studies."

The three girls looked at each other, understanding. Fu Ming Shi was a public figure. If it came out he was dating, reporters would certainly follow them for news. Zhen Bao was so shy, she would blush even when giving a PPT presentation at the lectern. Suddenly becoming the focus of the media would indeed be troublesome, not to mention their classmates' possible reactions. "Alright, we'll help you keep it a secret." Jia Xiao Yu was the first to raise her hand and pledge. Qian LeLe and Fan Xuan quickly chimed in agreement.

Zhen Bao naturally believed her roommates, thanking them with a smile.

"Oh right, since your aunt is made up, where did you spend New Year's this year?" Qian LeLe suddenly asked.

Zhen Bao was coy, eyes shifting.

Jia Xiao Yu gasped in shock. "Could it be at the Fu family? In that case, you've met his parents already?"

Zhen Bao tacitly admitted it.

Fan Xuan heaved a huge sigh of relief, teasing Zhen Bao, "You've met the parents already, Zhen Bao's just waiting to become the young mistress of a prominent family now. In the future, if you ever use some clothes or bags just once or twice and don't like them anymore, remember to give them to us."

They were joking around when Zhen Bao's phone rang. It was Fu Ming Shi calling.

Zhen Bao wanted to go outside, but was pinned down by the three girls together. Jia Xiao Yu humphed, "Having scandals with other women when you have a family already. If Boss Fu is calling to apologize, we can forgive him this once. If he doesn't offer a single word of explanation, then Zhen Bao will... punish him with no kisses for a month!"

Zhen Bao was helpless against the three of them, so she could only take the call under their siege.

"Had dinner yet?"

Amidst Jia Xiao Yu and the other two's bated breaths full of expectation, the phone conveyed the most plain and simple opening line. Jia Xiao Yu rolled her eyes. Qian LeLe feigned collapse. Fan Xuan struggled not to laugh.

Zhen Bao wanted to laugh too. She gently reminded him, "Is there something? My roommates are all next to me..." Before she could finish, Jia Xiao Yu surreptitiously pinched her. Zhen Bao softly sucked in a breath.

In the hotel suite, Fu Ming Shi could almost imagine the scene in the girls' dorm. He could also guess why his call was being eavesdropped on this time. Glancing at the scandal photo on the screen, Fu Ming Shi calmly said, "That hotel is the best in the area. The director, producer, and several main cast members are almost all staying around there. I happened to run into her coming out when I entered the hotel. We didn't exchange a single word. The rest is just the reporters making things up for sensationalism."

Although she had already believed him in her heart, hearing him explain it personally still made Zhen Bao happy. Lowering her head, she hmm'ed, "I know."

Face flushed red, voice soft and delicate, like a little wife who would believe whatever her man said.

Jia Xiao Yu jabbed Zhen Bao's arm, scorning her for being so shameless.

"Is there any trouble on your side?" Fu Ming Shi asked in a low voice.

Zhen Bao looked at her three roommates and smiled. "Xiao Yu and the others all know now. The other classmates haven't seen you many times, at most they might feel you look a little similar." Even the same person could give very different impressions wearing a down jacket versus wearing a suit. Moreover, one was a university student while the other was an unreachable tycoon. Most people wouldn't associate the two.

"That's good. I still have some things to deal with here. I'll be back Monday afternoon and treat you all to dinner in the evening."

Zhen Bao nodded.

"You hear that? Boss Fu said he'll treat us to dinner!" Jia Xiao Yu excitedly jumped up.

"Keep it down." Fan Xuan shot a look at the door, timely reminding her.

Jia Xiao Yu quickly covered her mouth, continuing to pester Zhen Bao for details about the couple's romance. She asked on and off all the way until bedtime, when the excitement Boss Fu had stirred up in the dorm finally gradually died down. Before sleeping, it was Zhen Bao's habit to listen to some audio for a few minutes. As she was listening, a message alert came in.

Zhen Bao thought it was Fu Ming Shi calling, but when she picked up her phone, it turned out to be Meng Ji Ning, who was studying abroad. He sent her a screenshot of the scandalous photo, "Shi Ming?"

Remembering what he had said before going abroad, Zhen Bao admitted: "I don't want to go public yet, I've only told my roommates. I hope you can keep it a secret for me."

About a minute later, Meng Ji Ning sent back a smiling emoji: "As you wish, rich lady."

Zhen Bao almost laughed out loud.

On Sunday morning, her roommates were sleeping in, so Zhen Bao went to the cafeteria alone for breakfast - rice porridge, salted vegetables and scallion pancakes.

When she was halfway through her meal, a food tray suddenly appeared on the table across from her. Zhen Bao looked up in surprise.

Feng Yue had an awkward expression as she looked at her: "Can I sit here?"

This was the first time the two had spoken since the start of the school year.

Zhen Bao felt no joy at the possibility of rekindling their friendship, only discomfort. She stiffly nodded and continued eating with her head down.

Feng Yue looked at her and gently said as she peeled a boiled egg, "Zhen Bao, I was in the wrong about what happened last year. But it wasn't on purpose. I had liked him for so long, and when he suddenly left, I was too heartbroken. With only you, a fellow townsman, around, I couldn't help but take it out on you. Actually, I regretted it over winter break, but I could never figure out how to make up with you. Seeing you every day but not speaking, I felt awful too."

She said a mouthful, and Zhen Bao smiled politely out of courtesy: "It's alright, it's in the past now." Feng Yue's eyes immediately curved up happily. "So you're willing to make up with me?"

What could Zhen Bao say?

Throughout the meal, Feng Yue chatted and laughed as if nothing had ever happened between them. Zhen Bao couldn't act so carefree. Unless spoken to, she barely opened her mouth. After finishing her food, she directly stood up, "I'm going to get food for Xiao Yu and the others, I'll get going first."

Feng Yue smiled and nodded.

Zhen Bao went to get food - three lazy roommates, three meal cards, she got them all. When she turned around, she saw Feng Yue standing there waiting for her. Zhen Bao sighed silently, they used to be friends, but she had never liked certain aspects of Feng Yue's personality. Their interactions had been fairly easygoing, but now, she suddenly couldn't find that feeling anymore. The thought of having to entertain Feng Yue felt tiring.

"Bye bye," Feng Yue smiled and waved at Zhen Bao when they reached the dorm building.

Zhen Bao took out her keys and entered the dorm room.

Fan Xuan poked her head out from her bed, staring at Zhen Bao suspiciously: "Who were you talking to just now?"

Zhen Bao gave a wry smile: "Feng Yue."

No sooner had she spoken than Jia Xiao Yu and Qian LeLe almost simultaneously sat up, incredulously asking: "You two made up?"

Zhen Bao went to distribute the breakfasts, then came back to her side to explain: "We ran into each other at the cafeteria. She spoke to me, I couldn't just ignore her." From elementary to university, Zhen Bao had always had good relationships with classmates, never fighting with anyone. As long as someone smiled at her, she couldn't act aloof. After all, she and Feng Yue didn't have any deep hatred, just a minor tiff.

"There's no free lunch, she must be up to something shady. Zhen Bao, listen to me, be careful. I dare bet she's guessed that Shi Ming is Fu Ming Shi. That's why she's cozying up to you again. It always happens like this in idol dramas," Jia Xiao Yu, who disliked Feng Yue the most, got dressed first and climbed down, putting on her pants while warning Zhen Bao. "Last year she shamelessly roomed with you. This kind of person just loves taking advantage of others. Now you're a big fat sheep to her."

Zhen Bao did have some suspicion, but Feng Yue hadn't mentioned Fu Ming Shi yet, so she couldn't jump to conclusions prematurely.

In the afternoon, Zhen Bao went to the library to study. Just as she walked out of the dorm building, she heard someone calling from behind - Feng Yue's voice.

"I'm going to the library too, let's walk together." Feng Yue greeted her familiarly.

Zhen Bao smiled and went to get her bike first.

At the library, Zhen Bao focused on her own reading while Feng Yue browsed on her phone after a short while.

"Oh, Zhen Bao look, doesn't this person look like Shi Ming?"

Feng Yue suddenly leaned over to show Zhen Bao the enlarged photo from Weibo. As soon as she heard her speak, Zhen Bao knew which photo it was. Remaining surprisingly calm in the face of her morning guess being confirmed, she pretended to look at the photo, then made an interested expression under Feng Yue's probing gaze: "He does look similar, who is this?"

"Fu Ming Shi, CEO of Shèngshì Group, rumored to be worth billions." Feng Yue looked at her enviously and said staringly, "His name is Fu Ming Shi, your boyfriend is called Shi Ming, their names are so alike. Shi Ming might actually be Fu Ming Shi but was afraid to scare you so he hid it from you. That's how it always goes in idol dramas."

She strongly suspected the two were one person, but Zhen Bao's expression was flawless. That left only one possibility - Fu Ming Shi had hid it from even Zhen Bao!

Feng Yue's imagination ran wild. Zhen Bao laughed and shook her head, continuing to read her book: "Impossible, Shi Ming is only in his second year of university. This guy is a CEO, graduated at least a few years ago right?"

Feng Yue frowned, looking between the photos, uncertain again. Judging by Shi Ming's outfits, except for that time he booked two presidential suites in one go, he didn't really look like a CEO. However... She took out the candid photos of Shi Ming she had secretly taken, comparing them side by side. The more Feng Yue looked, the more shocked she became. If they weren't the same person, how could two people in the world look so alike?

She surreptitiously observed Zhen Bao.

Zhen Bao had her head lowered reading, long eyelashes prettily drooping down. She was beautiful, but not shockingly so at first glance. Lively and natural, she was the kind of clean beauty that was more charming the more you looked, the sort of green tea bitch most beloved by men. On the surface, she acted friendly, but was secretly seducing Meng Ji Ning, the one Feng Yue liked.

Thinking of Meng Ji Ning, Feng Yue's chest burned with anger.

But she had to get to the bottom of Zhen Bao's relationship with Fu Ming Shi first. If Shi Ming really was Fu Ming Shi...

Putting away her phone, Feng Yue pretended to read while scenarios of the suit-clad man from the photos floated through her mind.

On Monday night, Fu Ming Shi came early to wait for Zhen Bao. The two first went back to the dorm building to drop off bikes and pick up roommates.

Seeing Fu Ming Shi still in his low-key university student outfit, Jia Xiao Yu had a belly full of complaints but didn't dare voice them. She no longer teased Fu Ming Shi like an ordinary roommate's boyfriend.

Sensing their restraint, Fu Ming Shi behaved no differently than usual, putting his arm around Zhen Bao's shoulders and smiling apologetically at the three girls: "Zhen Bao likes keeping it low-key, so...we'll have to make do with eating off campus tonight. After we go public in the future, I'll treat you to a proper meal."

Zhen Bao awkwardly ducked away from his shoulder.

Fu Ming Shi smiled helplessly, his deep gaze fixed unceasingly on Zhen Bao.

Whether as a fake university student or a business magnate, his attitude toward Zhen Bao remained unchanged, shamelessly displaying their affection regardless of onlookers.

Having been oppressed multiple times, the three roommates suddenly came alive. Forgetting all about the CEO, they grabbed Zhen Bao and headed off campus - eating was most important!