My Demon Friends-Chapter 682 - 643: The Exam is Over

"Ah, Room Leader, you went out to eat delicious food again! And you didn't take us!" Chang Xiaoxiang exclaimed.

"How did you know?"

"I saw the photos Qian Qian posted!"

"Oh, that was our club's end-of-term gathering and staff promotion meeting," Zhou Li explained calmly while changing into slippers. "You see, there were other people in the photos."

"I see. So when are we having our dorm dinner?"

"After the exams…"

"Can we bring along 106?" Chang Xiaoxiang asked hopefully.

"Huh?" Chen Yang was startled, then turned his head and said, "Yesterday, the dorm next door said they wanted to have dinner with us after the exams. Didn't you agree readily?"

"Ah, they brought it up first, how could I refuse…" Chang Xiaoxiang scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed. "Besides, this just gives us an extra option! If Brother Nan and her dorm have other plans, we can consider them then."

"You're so shameless!" Chen Yang said.

"That remark... When a young man likes a young lady, how can you call it shameless? Plus, with Mianmian, Qian Qian, and Baozi, who would still want to eat with the dorm next door? Would you?"

"Er..." Chen Yang thought for a moment. "No."

"No," Liu Zhengming also said. "And the dorm next door can really drink; we can't outdrink them."

"…"

"…"

"Sorry." Liu Zhengming lowered his head.

"I'll try, I'll try... I'm going to take a shower now," Zhou Li said as he walked towards the bathroom. "Most likely, there won't be a problem."

"I just took one; the hot water is used up!" Chen Yang paused, then quickly added, "It wasn't just me who used it all. Chang Xiaoxiang showered before me. He was in there for over forty minutes. I don't know what he was doing inside, but by the time I got in, there was barely any hot water left. It was cold towards the end."

"It's fine, I'll take a cold shower."

Zhou Li walked out to the balcony, where the cool night breeze blew just right, making him feel so refreshed his pores almost seemed to open.

Behind him, Chang Xiaoxiang and Chen Yang started bickering again. Only Liu Zhengming was focused on playing his game, uninterested in both showering and arguing.

Twenty minutes later, Zhou Li had washed away the heat and the smell of hotpot, becoming cool and refreshingly scented. He sat down at his desk, took out his phone, and messaged Miss Zheng.

Zhou Li: The holiday's coming.

Miss Zheng: Really?

Zhou Li: Doesn't it feel fast?

Miss Zheng: Does it?

Zhou Li: Really fast. Another semester just flew by. Luckily, I focused on my studies this term and didn't waste it.

Miss Zheng: When are you coming back?

Zhou Li: In a few days.

Zhou Li: I'll come and hang out with you when I'm back.

Miss Zheng: Sounds good.

Zhou Li: By the way, I have a cousin. She's also my classmate and Brother Nan's roommate. You met her last time when you came to Chunming; she had dinner with us. This time she's coming back with us to Yan City. Can I bring her along when I come to see you?

Miss Zheng: Of course, you can.

Miss Zheng: But I can't really remember her.

Zhou Li: She's a very quiet girl, doesn't talk much, and her mind's a bit off.

Miss Zheng: Really?

Zhou Li grinned at his phone.

Looks like I can't joke around with Miss Zheng; she takes it seriously.

Zhou Li: Really.

Zhou Li: Last time she went out, she encountered a demon attack. Luckily, she called the police in time. Now the chances of ordinary people encountering demons are increasing.

Miss Zheng: It's the same in Yan City.

Zhou Li: Previously, she said she wanted to hang out with me and meet you. She loves taking photos and heard that your place has beautiful scenery. She also heard you can cook a lot of delicious food. However, I didn't want to take her there. I was afraid that she would cause Qinghe to hide away and not even come to the table to eat. Luckily, she met a demon.

Miss Zheng: Luckily she met a demon.

Zhou Li could envision her repeating this sentence with a smile on her lips.

They chatted for a long while.

Around ten o'clock, a message came through the group chat.

Zhou Qianqian: Final confirmation of the list for the college's rural outreach! Anyone still wanting to sign up, hurry up!

Zhou Qianqian: Those of you who lack credits, are introverted and urgently need to change, have been single for many years and need to get to know female classmates better, or have no plans for the summer—get yourselves signed up, and fast!

Baozi: Teacher, I'm applying to withdraw.

Zhou Qianqian: ?

Baozi: My cousin is taking me on a rural outreach to another place, along with Brother Nan, so I am withdrawing from the college team.

Zhou Li: I didn't, you're making things up.

Zhou Li: I haven't agreed yet.

Zhou Qianqian: ??

Baozi: Sorry teacher, I won't quit for now.

Zhou Qianqian: ???

Zhou Li exited the group chat interface and found Baozi.

Zhou Li: I agreed.

Baozi: /crying

Zhou Li reopened the group chat interface.

Baozi: Sorry teacher, I have to quit again. My cousin just said he agreed.

Zhou Qianqian: ????

Zhong Xin: Handsome Zhou, bring me along too.

Luo Dan: Still need people?

Zhou Li had no intention of replying, wanting to maintain his aloof image, so he turned off his phone again.

At that moment, a series of light footsteps came from outside the door. A half-grown cat, taking small steps, entered the dorm room with something in its mouth. After entering, it looked around and quickly locked onto Zhou Li, who was only wearing shorts and a T-shirt, then trotted over to him.

Zhou Li quickly crouched down and stretched out his hand.

Lord Dumpling placed the object in its mouth into his palm. It was a lollipop. "Zhou Ni~ Lord Dumpling has come to bring you candy!"

"Thanks for the grace of Lord Dumpling."

"Not really!"

"Then, thanks for the grace of Brother Nan."

"That's right~~"

Lord Dumpling spoke softly, then paused to catch its breath, "Zhou Ni, you guys live so high up, it was so tiring for Lord Dumpling to climb… and there are doors everywhere, it's really hard to find."

"Sorry."

"I forgive you."

"Lord Dumpling indeed has a broad heart!"

"Lord Dumpling is going back now~"

"Why don't you stay!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Goodbye, Zhou Ni."

Zhou Li watched longingly as Lord Dumpling turned and left, its petite silhouette quickly disappearing at the doorway.

"Sigh..."

What mixed feelings.

Fortunately, the candy was still sweet.

「Three days later.」

Zhou Li had finished his last exam.

Walking out of the exam hall, he felt incredibly light. He was also confident about his performance this semester after his hard work revising—unlike the previous three. The sense of relief and satisfaction mingled within him, making him want to jump for joy like Brother Nan. However, that would have seemed a bit silly, so he refrained.

Brother Nan and Baozi had handed in their papers before him, waiting outside the academic building—one standing and the other squatting.

When Zhou Li approached, Brother Nan was braiding a few unknown, fine strands of grass. Baozi stood by silently watching her.

"Brother Nan."

Zhou Li greeted her, "How was it?"

"Not bad."

Brother Nan nodded, giving a fairly confident response, "I filled everything out."

"Oh." Zhou Li nodded.

That probably meant they would pass.

The three walked side by side toward their dormitory.

Baozi, pinching a bent piece of grass and twirling it between her thumbs, turned to ask while walking, "Cousin, when are we going to Yan City?"

"In a couple of days."

"Oh." Baozi asked again, "Can Lord Dumpling work these next two days?"

"You're still working after all the exams?"

"Yeah." Baozi nodded. "I need to earn back the fare for my return trip."

"…I bought your return flight ticket!"

"Oh, then I'll just save the money I earn, and actually make some more." Baozi continued looking at Zhou Li. "Can Lord Dumpling work these next two days?"

"I'll ask her."

"Okay."

Brother Nan turned her head and said, "Oh yeah, she said to wait for her when you go to see Hong Ran; she'll go with you."

Zhou Li responded with an "Oh."

Baozi beside him didn't react or ask who "she" was, uninterested in such matters.