After a Drunken Night, I Got My Happy Ending with My Tsundere Childhood Friend - Chapter 3

The days that followed were exactly as Kong Ning had imagined, completely free of Wei Mu’s presence.

Room 203, Building 19 of the Huada University dormitory was the starting point of her new life. To mark the occasion, Kong Ning proposed that their dorm group be named “Wealthy Fairies 203.” Although she was already wealthy, she didn’t mind being even wealthier. Besides, “getting rich” sounded so auspicious. This resolution was passed unanimously.

“Wow, freshman, you are truly the most perfectly trained person among the new students.” “Freshman, you are so talented!”

Kong Ning had joined the Guitar Club and received much praise. Kong Ning, who had studied music since childhood and won numerous awards, accepted all the compliments. To her, she was a new member, a newcomer.

Applause! Ring out!!!

In places where Wei Mu was absent, there were no comparisons and no days spent being the eternal runner-up—it was simply exhilarating. However, after hearing so much praise, she felt a slight sense of emptiness. Yet, knowing what kind of person Kong Ning was—a narcissist to the extreme, a “pretentious” poser whose adolescence was defined by chuunibyou (middle-school syndrome), she felt absolutely no lack of self-worth.

Take, for instance, during the military training break, when a female student in the same row whispered in her ear: “Wow, classmate, your goose-stepping is so standard. The instructor even praised you just now. Do you have any techniques?” The friendly girl even handed her a bottle of water.

“It’s nothing, really. I just followed the instructor’s movements,” Kong Ning said, lifting her head at a 45-degree angle to drink the water.

“Wow, so cool, you’re amazing!” the girl exclaimed again.

“Pfft, hahahahaha, I can’t take it anymore, I really can’t. Lingbo, Nanxi, I’m about to explode,” Le Xiu, who was in the dorm trio not far away, leaned on Yu Lingbo’s shoulder, trying to stifle her laughter. She then erupted into hysterical laughter. “Hahahahahahaha, Kong Ning, that pretentious poser, Kong Ning.” Le Xiu was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

Others might not know, but they, as her roommates, were well aware. Kong Ning had started practicing her posture two days before the military training began, training for two hours in the dorm every night. Yesterday was the first day of training, and feeling she hadn’t performed well enough, she had specifically bought bandages to strap to her legs and practiced for three full hours last night. Even the most taciturn roommate, Shen Nanxi, had sighed, “It’s a pity Kong Ning didn’t join the army.”

Through these days of living together, everyone had come to understand Kong Ning’s personality. Regarding her “pretentious” nature, no one had any objections, except for the fact that sometimes, they just wanted to laugh—the kind of loud, uncontrollable laughter. Kong Ning was truly stubborn; she kept up the act to the end, never mentioning the hardships behind the scenes.

The collective verdict of Dorm 203 was: Kong Ning is truly a master of the act.

“Hmm?” Kong Ning shot a suggestive look at the laughing Le Xiu, signaling her to stop being so blatant before she exposed everything.

“Ok, ok.” Le Xiu held her stomach with one hand and made a gesture with the other to indicate she understood. Kong Ning turned back with a haughty air, continuing to display her charm.

“I suddenly really want to see her ‘nemesis’,” Shen Nanxi remarked suddenly. Whenever Kong Ning reminisced about her glorious past, she always circled back to Wei Mu, especially since so much of her history involved being “second best.” Therefore, she had only told everyone that she had a nemesis named Wei Mu at the neighboring Jingda University. Although she hadn’t gone into detail about their history, everyone was curious about Wei Mu. Come on, she was the woman capable of suppressing the “pretentious” Kong Ning!

“Add me to that,” Le Xiu chimed in. “Me too,” Yu Lingbo agreed, while shrugging Le Xiu’s head off her shoulder. “That’s enough leaning, your head is heavy, it’s tiring.”

“Tch, what’s going on, Yu Lingbo? New friends are supposed to have a ‘friendly buffer period,’ why aren’t you faking it anymore? Why start acting annoyed?” Le Xiu teased. “Fine, since you like it that way.” “Then, friendly classmate, after this is over, Shen Nanxi and I are going to the first cafeteria for spicy hot pot. Would you like to come? If you do, please respond.” “I’m in, I’m in!” Le Xiu raised her hand to reply. The spicy hot pot at the first cafeteria was their dorm’s recognized “supreme delicacy,” and they had to eat it at least once every three meals.

“Hahaha,” Shen Nanxi chuckled from the side.

“Which one of you is going to ask Kong Ning over there? I’m so tired, I don’t want to move,” Yu Lingbo said, pounding her legs. She wasn’t usually athletic, and the military training was killing her. “Equally tired,” Shen Nanxi replied.

Meanwhile, Le Xiu dashed over, excited to act as the messenger; she wanted a front-row seat to watch the “Pretentious Queen” in action.

On the other side, “Kong Ning, I heard you joined the Guitar Club and play the guitar. Do you play very well?” the girl asked with admiration. She had liked talented people since childhood, but her parents always insisted she focus on her studies, though that very dedication was what got her into Huada.

“It’s alright, I’ve won a few awards,” Kong Ning said, knowing the principle that the shorter the words, the greater the impact. Sure enough, everyone around her started sighing in admiration. “Wow, that’s really good.” “The instructor was just looking for someone to perform and liven up the atmosphere.” “Yeah, this is perfect for you, Kong Ning.” “Oh, it’s nothing,” Kong Ning feigned humility.

Exactly, exactly, this is how it should be! This is what I want! During military training, how could she miss an opportunity to perform? She had asked Aunt Ge to mail her guitar over right after school started. However, she couldn’t conjure it out of thin air right now, as the guitar was still in the dorm. Kong Ning pondered whether she should bring it in the afternoon.

“Xiao Kong, want to eat spicy hot pot at noon?” Le Xiu scurried over and asked. “Why doesn’t this classmate sing a song live?” “Sure!” Kong Ning replied quickly upon hearing Le Xiu, fearing that the three of them would dash to the cafeteria without her. On the first day of training, they had experienced the crowds of the cafeteria.

Wait? Was there another voice just now? Kong Ning looked up, and damn it, it was the instructor. The instructor had been looking for someone to perform, and upon hearing the commotion, stopped to listen. And just like that, a candidate was chosen.

“But instructor, my guitar is in the dorm,” Kong Ning explained. Without the guitar, she didn’t have the same confidence singing. It was like when Wei Mu wasn’t around—she lacked that extra “edge” to her pretense.

“No problem, classmate, just sing a cappella. Come on, everyone in the second row, form a circle and clap in rhythm for this classmate.”

When the instructor spoke, it was final. It’s over, I’ve over-acted this time. Kong Ning bit her lip, eventually standing up and walking to the center to sit down. Fortunately, her fundamentals were solid, so she wasn’t that scared. She had genuinely studied bel canto.

Le Xiu pulled Yu Lingbo and Shen Nanxi to find the best viewing spot, and then took out her phone, planning to be Kong Ning’s dedicated “fan-site photographer” and capture a stunning direct shot.

Kong Ning sang a sentimental song. After the piece ended, it took a few seconds for everyone to speak.

“Kong Ning really has the capital to be pretentious,” Le Xiu said, looking away from her screen. “It’s a shame she isn’t an idol,” Yu Lingbo said. There were two great beauties in their dorm, Kong Ning and Shen Nanxi. Yu Lingbo felt they were on par with the campus beauties of Huada. There were two campus beauties at Huada, Xia Yiqiu from the Physics Department and Xu Qingfeng from the Chinese Department; their beauty was on a level fit for top-tier entertainment actresses. Kong Ning, not only beautiful but also talented—while Shen Nanxi’s beauty was perhaps more striking, Kong Ning’s “Pretentious Queen” temperament was truly unique. Anyone would be attracted to her; she was a born idol!

“That’s right,” Shen Nanxi replied, while jotting something down on her phone.

“One more, one more,” the instructor took the lead in cheering, demanding an encore from Kong Ning. The crowd cheered loudly, attracting onlookers from the neighboring row. Unable to refuse, Kong Ning sang another song. Meanwhile, the video of Kong Ning being confessed to on the Huada University “Confession Wall” had already been secretly uploaded.

It wasn’t until she had sung three songs that Kong Ning complained of a sore throat, and everyone let her off the hook. After she finished, the instructor called everyone to assemble and continue training. Looking at the scorching sun in the sky, Kong Ning deeply felt that heaven was heartless and the president of Huada was inhumane. The neighboring Jingda University didn’t have military training right now; their president was considerate, scheduling it for the cool, crisp weather of October.

Damn it!

But then again, look at Wei Mu, that delicate little thing; she would probably faint from being roasted by the sun. “She’s so delicate, humph, I’m the one who can endure it,” Kong Ning thought, and for some reason, she felt a little better.

When military training ended at noon, Kong Ning and the other three were ready to sprint to the spicy hot pot stall in the first cafeteria. But unexpectedly, Kong Ning’s little fan girl blocked her path. She grabbed Kong Ning’s arm and handed her water again, “Kong Ning, what are you having for lunch?”

Kong Ning really wanted to say, Girl, we are going for spicy hot pot, stop pulling me, you’re affecting my running. But she couldn’t. Maintaining her image was an indispensable part of her “pretentious” journey.

“Spicy hot pot.” “Can I go with you?” “Sure.” In order not to waste time talking, Kong Ning agreed readily. Then, the girl continued to pull Kong Ning’s hand and followed her as she ran. In order to get to the cafeteria quickly, Kong Ning didn’t pay any mind to the grabbing.

Not far away, a cold beauty carrying a chilled watermelon turned and walked away.