Chapter 62: Swallowed in One Gulp

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Swallowed in One Gulp

「The next morning.」

Gu Qing and his family sat around the dining table for breakfast.

Breakfast consisted of two eggs, half an ear of corn, a few cherry tomatoes, a slice of whole wheat bread, and a glass of milk.

High-quality protein, high-quality carbs—a nutritious meal.

It was a million times healthier than just having congee, buns, or other staple foods made from rice and flour.

"Oh, right, Mom. I took down the mosquito net over my bed last night."

Gu Qing said to Wen Wanyi while chewing his bread, "I don’t plan on using a mosquito net anymore. If anyone else needs it, just give it to them."

Wen Wanyi was puzzled. "But this is peak mosquito season. Why would you take it down?"

Gu Qing replied, "Having a net over the bed feels oppressive. It’s much more open and comfortable without it."

Wen Wanyi didn’t understand. "Aren’t you afraid of getting bitten?"

"Nope."

His sister chimed in, "Oh, Hajiqing, you weirdo. Ditching the mosquito net during peak season? Are you hoping that by feeding the mosquitoes, you’ll raise one that can shapeshift into a beautiful maiden who will repay your kindness with her body and warm your bed every night?"

Gu Qing said, "You don’t get it. I’m forging a will of steel through the torment of mosquitoes."

His sister scoffed, "Heh, just don’t let the mosquito army carry you away in the middle of the night. I won’t be able to save you."

"A will of steel will grant me the weight of steel. The mosquitoes won’t be able to lift me."

"Mom, I think his fever fried his brain! You need to take him to the hospital!"

Wen Wanyi shot her daughter a look. "You, girl. Don’t talk about your brother like that."

Gu Qing said, "Mom, remember to make some mung bean cakes for me to take to school today."

Wen Wanyi smiled. "Don’t worry, Mom remembers. I’ll make them right after breakfast so you can take them to your little girlfriend to try."

"She’s really not my girlfriend."

"Alright, alright. Just a regular classmate, I’m sure. Mom believes you."

"..."

After breakfast, Wen Wanyi immediately got started on the mung bean cakes, humming a little tune the entire time as a smile occasionally graced her lips.

’Her son was all grown up and finding a girlfriend. She was so pleased.’

Meanwhile, Gu Qing had just finished washing the cups and plates when he pulled out his phone to contact Xia Shuran.

[Gu Qing: I’m planning to head back to campus this afternoon. When are you heading back?]

[Xia Shuran: I’ll go back after dinner. I should be able to get there before 8 PM.]

[Gu Qing: Okay, I’ll bring you some of the mung bean cakes my mom made.]

[Xia Shuran: I can’t wait to try your mom’s mung bean cakes! They’re going to be insanely delicious. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.]

After a brief chat with Xia Shuran, Gu Qing tapped on Huang Xiaoyue’s profile picture and sent her a similar message, telling her he would bring her some of his mother’s homemade mung bean cakes.

Huang Xiaoyue replied instantly: [Thank you so much, senior! As a reward, I’ll wear stockings to meet you at the school gate tonight. So, senior, would you prefer me in black stockings, white stockings, or maybe fishnets?]

[Gu Qing: Any of them are fine.]

...

「Around six in the afternoon.」

After finishing dinner, Gu Qing left for school with his sister.

One was heading back to Hai City University.

The other was going to Hai City First High School for an evening self-study session.

「Around 7:30 PM.」

Gu Qing finally arrived back at Hai City University.

Just as he got out of the car, a soft, sweet, and cooing voice called out:

"Senior, over here~"

He looked in the direction of the voice.

Gu Qing immediately spotted Huang Xiaoyue standing at the school gate, waving at him.

She was wearing a pair of thigh-high black stockings and a miniskirt so short it barely covered the tops of her thighs. The sight alone was enough to make one’s heart race and spark indecent thoughts.

Gu Qing suppressed the stirring in his heart, smiled, and walked over, handing her an exquisitely packaged box of mung bean cakes.

"These are the mung bean cakes my mom made this morning. I brought them especially for you."

"Wow, thank you, senior!"

Huang Xiaoyue took the pastry box, a sweet smile blooming on her face.

Then, she blinked her big, round, dolled-up eyes, her voice dripping with sweetness and suggestive undertones:

"Senior, you’re too good to me. I’m so touched. As a reward, I can stay out all night with you."

As she spoke, she took half a step forward, rising slightly on her tiptoes to get close to Gu Qing’s ear, and whispered seductively:

"Senior, I brought my ID~"

This was no longer a hint; it was an outright proposition.

Gu Qing smiled and politely refused. "I can’t. I have two early classes tomorrow, so I can’t stay out all night."

He had only given Huang Xiaoyue the mung bean cakes to get closer to her, making it easier to farm Attributes from her [Feces] tag later on.

He had no desire to get a room with her.

At least, not right now.

Seeing that Gu Qing wasn’t willing to get a room and stay the night, Huang Xiaoyue settled for the next best thing.

"Senior, I’m heading to the gym to work out and tone up in a bit. Want to come with me?"

’Working out in black stockings?’

’What a show-off.’

’I hope she doesn’t get hooked up with some musclehead at the gym...’

Gu Qing refused again. "No, thanks. I have something to take care of in a bit."

After being rejected twice in a row, Huang Xiaoyue didn’t press further. She just gave a sweet smile and said, "Well, since you’re busy, senior, I guess I’ll just have to go to the gym by myself."

"Going to the gym alone is good. You can focus on your workout and be more efficient."

"That’s true."

Huang Xiaoyue smiled. "Senior, thanks for the mung bean cakes. I’m off to the gym now. Let’s hang out again when we’re free."

Gu Qing replied, "Sure, when we’re free."

After a few more words, the two said their goodbyes.

Huang Xiaoyue walked off campus, and who knew if she was really going to the gym.

Gu Qing found a random spot to wait, scrolling through Douyin while waiting for Xia Shuran to arrive.

Xia Shuran had texted him from the car earlier saying she was almost there.

He figured they would meet in just a few more minutes.

Before long, Xia Shuran got off the bus, successfully arriving at the school gate before 8 PM.

"Here are the mung bean cakes my mom made. I brought them for you."

Gu Qing smiled and walked up, handing her the prepared box.

Xia Shuran’s eyes curved into crescents as she accepted the pastry box, then offered him a small, delicate paper box of her own.

"Senior, I made you some egg tarts. Quick, try one and tell me what you think."

"You should try the mung bean cakes, too."

"Mmm, your mom’s mung bean cakes are delicious! If she opened a bakery, there would be a line out the door every day. She wouldn’t be able to keep up with demand!"

"Your egg tarts are amazing. They taste even better than the ones from KFC."

The two of them exchanged a round of compliments, both of their faces wreathed in smiles.

After finishing the mung bean cake in her hand, Xia Shuran asked in a soft voice, "By the way, senior, the thing you said you were busy with last week... are you all done with it now?"

Gu Qing nodded. "Yeah, all done."

Xia Shuran asked, "So, are we still meeting up to practice martial arts at the field tomorrow afternoon like usual?"

Gu Qing shook his head. "No, I have plans tomorrow afternoon."

At two o’clock tomorrow afternoon, he had to go with Lin Tianyang to apply to join the Night Court.

He just didn’t have time to run off and practice martial arts with Xia Shuran.

...

「In a gym not far from Hai City University.」

Huang Xiaoyue had been "working out" for less than ten minutes before she left the gym, followed closely by a handsome, well-built, five-foot-eleven fitness coach.

The two of them walked until they reached a secluded corner with no security cameras before deliberately slowing their pace and drawing close.

"If you’re worried about hidden cameras at a hotel, we can just go to my place. It’s very safe."

Huang Xiaoyue’s voice was soft and seductive. "Working out at home is so boring. It’s not often we find someone we click with. We should do something a little more exciting. How about we go into that alley up ahead and have a secret little ’workout’ together?"

"I like the sound of that!"

The fitness coach’s eyes lit up.

Seeing his reaction, Huang Xiaoyue proactively linked her arm with his and led him into the alley ahead.

"Coach, you’re so thirsty. You’re taking your clothes off so fast."

"Can’t help it. When I see a sweet little cupcake like you, who wouldn’t want to eat you right up?"

"But Coach, I want to eat you too."

"Haha, I’d love for you to eat me. It’s just... my muscles are pretty big. I don’t know if that little cherry mouth of yours can handle it."

"Then I won’t be polite! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH—"

An impossibly drawn-out sound of a mouth opening was heard.

The fitness coach, who was hurriedly taking off his pants, froze on the spot.

In the next instant, immense terror crept across his entire face.

"Mon, mon...!"

He couldn’t even get the word "monster" out before his trembling, horrified cry was cut short.

Under the bright moonlight, the wall of the alley reflected the long silhouette of a monster. It tore open an abyssal maw like an alligator’s and swallowed the well-built, five-foot-eleven figure before it in a single, brutal gulp.

「A few minutes later.」

Huang Xiaoyue emerged from the alley alone, licking a trace of blood from her tender, cherry-pink lips.

’Even if a normal person is muscular, the taste is still lacking something. I wonder when I’ll get to have a taste of that Extraordinary Contactor senior?’

...

P.S. Holding out my bowl for monthly tickets and recommendation votes!