My Online Date is My Roommate - Chapter 1

In Computer Science Class 5, it was common knowledge: nobody likes answering the professor’s questions unless you are Jiang Mingbo.

Most students assumed that starting university meant escaping the nightmare of being called on by teachers. Little did they know that specialized major courses would be led by professors with inquiries just as sharp and severe as those in high school. The white-haired professor often flew into a fit of rage seeing his students buried in their electronics instead of listening. Consequently, the atmosphere in his class was always one of trepidation and extreme caution.

“Given the array provided, does anyone have a method to find the smallest missing positive integer?” As usual, the professor looked up, tossing the question into the room. His gaze swept across the classroom through his old-fashioned reading glasses.

The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. Students in the middle rows hastily dimmed their phone screens, exchanging frantic looks with their neighbors to see if anyone knew the answer. Most kept their heads low; even the sound of turning pages had vanished.

After five seconds of silence, the professor’s brow furrowed. He opened the class roster, intending to pick a “lucky winner” at random. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a hand raised in the second row. He paused. “Yes, go ahead.”

The rest of the class breathed a collective sigh of relief. Finally, someone was willing to take the hit. Of course, it had to be the hardworking star student, Jiang Mingbo.

Jiang Mingbo lowered his hand and stood up, as stiff and formal as a primary schooler. His voice was clear and bright. “Professor, use a Hash Table.”

The professor gave a flat “Mm-hmm” and motioned for him to sit. “And what does the rest of the class think of this answer?”

A few students muttered “Sounds right,” while secretly grumbling to themselves. This old fossil… someone already answered, yet he’s still pushing for more. He clearly just wants to make our lives difficult.

“An in-place hash,” another voice suddenly rang out from the back of the room. “Using only a hash table ignores the space complexity requirements.”

The professor looked up again. He heard the answer but didn’t see a hand, yet this time he nodded with a touch of gratification. “Quite right. That was well said. Do you all understand? You must consider both time and space complexity…”

Jiang Mingbo didn’t hear a word of what followed. He stared down at his desk, silently wallowing in frustration over why he hadn’t thought of that himself.

His neighbor, Wu Shuang, patted his chest in relief. “Bo-er, we survived another weekly disaster. Only you would dare to raise your hand. Let me sit behind you for the final exam…”

Jiang Mingbo forced a smile, two dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth, making him look perfectly cheerful. However, the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I got the answer wrong and you still want to sit behind me? Careful, or you’ll fail.”

“Hey now, sixty percent is a passing grade, and that’s all I need. Not everyone can be a freak of nature like Fei Wenxu. We’re just ordinary NPCs; passing is enough, passing is enough.”

Fei Wenxu. The one who had provided the second answer. The one who had effortlessly pointed out Jiang’s oversight.

“You’re right…” Jiang Mingbo sighed, quietly masking the resentment in his eyes. He refused to believe he was just an “NPC.”

After finally enduring the long morning session, everyone prepared to head to the cafeteria. Wu Shuang stuffed his books into his bag and waved at Jiang Mingbo. “My girlfriend is coming over today, so I won’t be joining you for lunch.”

Jiang Mingbo let out a mock-sorrowful huff. “Sigh, look at you forsaking brothers for a pretty face. What more can I say?”

He and Wu Shuang had been friends since high school and met through a freshman group chat. They had been inseparable for the first two years, but over the summer, Wu Shuang had started dating a girl from another campus. Since then, he had been so hopelessly lovesick that he’d completely forgotten his old schoolmate.

Wu Shuang laughed and cursed, “Piss off! It’s your own fault for having such high standards and refusing to date. Go ahead and be jealous.”

After a few more words, they parted ways. As Jiang Mingbo headed out of the classroom, he ran straight into three of his roommates who were waiting for him.

He looked up and met the gaze of the tallest one. The man was dressed simply and understatedly, yet his tall build and exceptional aura were undeniable. He wore a calm, effortless smile. From a stranger’s perspective, Jiang Mingbo would have readily admitted that Fei Wenxu was incredibly handsome devastatingly so. Unfortunately…

Unfortunately, they were roommates. Jiang Mingbo quickly averted his eyes and turned to the other two with a look of confusion. “What are you guys doing?”

One of the roommates, Tan Rui, grinned. “Young Master Fei is treating the whole dorm to lunch. We’re waiting for you.”

Tan Rui was built like a tank; he looked less like a Computer Science major and more like a star athlete. He fit the “brawn over brains” stereotype perfectly always cheerful, with no hidden agendas. Jiang Mingbo liked dealing with him.

The other roommate, Yu Xuan, remained quiet. He was thin enough to look like he might blow away in a light breeze, possessed a gentle temper, and spoke very little. He nodded at Jiang Mingbo with a smile, and Jiang Mingbo liked him, too.

Then, glancing back at Fei Wenxu in the center, Jiang Mingbo arched an eyebrow. “Your treat? It’s not a holiday or a special occasion. Why the treat?”

Fei Wenxu grinned with a wild, unrestrained confidence. “I’m in a good mood. Let’s go.”

Jiang Mingbo’s smile became strained. “No thanks, really. I already decided what I wanted to eat today. You guys go ahead.”

Tan Rui’s face fell. “Huh? Bo-er, how can you be like that? Just eat that tomorrow instead.”

Yu Xuan nodded in agreement.

Fei Wenxu let out a soft, amused chuckle from the back of his throat. It was the sound Jiang Mingbo hated most a sound of careless ease and a hint of contempt. It was as if everything in the world was within Fei’s reach, and nothing was worth his genuine concern.

The worst part was that most things were within Fei Wenxu’s reach. He came from a prestigious background with a wealthy family; everything he had was top-tier. Life is so unfair, Jiang Mingbo thought bitterly.

Since childhood, countless people had praised Jiang Mingbo’s good looks, and plenty of girls had sent him love letters once they reached the age of romance. But since entering university and sharing a dorm with Fei Wenxu, eight or nine out of ten people who asked for his contact info were only doing so to get to Fei Wenxu. Standing next to him, Jiang felt dimmed by several shades. He couldn’t beat him in looks, and he couldn’t even beat him in height standing just a few centimeters shorter.

Jiang Mingbo had always been smart, a quick learner with fast reflexes. Despite his average background, he had worked hard to get into the best university in Xingcheng. Yet Fei Wenxu had gotten in even after “underperforming” on his exams and he’d “underperformed” his way into the most prestigious major: Computer Science. In every class, no matter how hard Jiang studied, Fei Wenxu could surpass him effortlessly, as if it were his birthright.

Living with such a powerhouse, Jiang Mingbo initially thought he might learn a thing or two. But soon, the psychological gap led to a jealousy that grew like vines in the dark, wrapping tightly around him. He felt an uncontrollable sense of irritation and suffocation.

He knew it was wrong. He shouldn’t feel this way. But the dark thoughts continued to spread like a venomous snake, surrounding and consuming him from all sides. After enough silent resentment, he eventually gave up: Fine. I can’t control the jealousy. If I hate him, I hate him. Once we graduate and go our separate ways, these feelings will vanish. No one will ever know anyway.

But he was wrong. Someone did know. Fei Wenxu knew.

Having been the “Golden Child” his whole life, Fei Wenxu had seen too many unsightly looks jealousy, sarcasm, envy, flattery. He didn’t care. Only those without talent felt the need to be jealous. When he first noticed that flicker in Jiang Mingbo’s eyes, he simply found it amusing. No matter where you go, there are always narrow-minded people.

However, unlike others, this person clearly envied him yet never showed it openly. He didn’t let others find out, didn’t try to sabotage him, and didn’t even speak to him if he could help it. Fei Wenxu raised an eyebrow. Interesting. A petty person who knows how to put on an act. I’d like to see just how long he can keep it up.

Fei Wenxu let out a sigh, sounding regretful. “We’re all brothers, don’t be a stranger. Every time I offer to treat, you’re ‘busy.’ Bo-er, if I didn’t know you had such a great personality, I’d think you had a problem with me.”

Jiang Mingbo rolled his eyes internally. You know exactly what’s up!

He complained in his head, but he believed his “mask” was still intact. Surely Fei Wenxu couldn’t actually know.

Tan Rui chimed in again, and even the usually silent Yu Xuan added a few words of persuasion. To refuse again would make him look ungrateful. Besides, Jiang Mingbo had a reputation for being “bright and cheerful” to maintain.

He flashed a bright smile. “In that case, thanks!”

Fei Wenxu smiled back and said nothing more.