That night, Lin Wei didn't return to the dorm. Instead, he packed a few essentials—some books, clothes, and his tablet—and checked into a mid-range hotel. The room wasn't lavish, but it offered quiet and the comforts he needed.
At 5 a.m., his alarm buzzed. Lin Wei got up without hesitation, took a hot shower, and got dressed for the day. His mind was clear. Focused.
By the time he arrived back at the college gates, Stella and Li Xueyin were already there. Xueyin was on the phone, calling Wang Hao to bring the car around so they could leave early and make it in time for breakfast at the beach.
"You guys are early," Lin Wei greeted, walking up with a calm smile.
"I got excited about the trip," Xueyin admitted, her voice light and cheerful. She smiled warmly, making Stella chuckle—clearly amused by her friend's sincerity.
A few minutes later, another girl arrived—a tall, sleepy-eyed beauty in stylish clothes. She yawned as she approached. "Morning…"
Lin Wei recognized her from around campus—a model, part of the same circle as Stella. Her sultry appearance and casual confidence made her stand out without trying.
"She's the only one who came," Stella said, turning to Lin Wei with a faintly apologetic look. "Some of the others bailed... a few still feel weird about Kelvin."
"It's alright," Lin Wei replied, glancing down with a small shrug. "I used to work alone anyway. One helping hand is more than enough."
There was a pause. His voice turned quieter. "I'm actually thinking of quitting this kind of work. Yesterday just reminded me how easily effort can be bought out. All those hours… and someone can just toss money and take it."
Stella looked at him for a second, her expression unreadable.
After all, what he was saying was not all lies. Just some bitter truth.
Wang Hao arrived.
He pulled up in a sleek, polished car—fresh clothes, styled hair, and a confident grin on his face. His charm was turned up, clearly trying to impress.
As the group climbed in, Li Xueyin initially moved to take the front passenger seat beside him, but the red-haired girl—Stella's friend—paused with a hand on her stomach.
"Hey… Do you mind if I sit up front? I get really carsick in the back."
Seeing her slightly pale complexion, Xueyin hesitated, then nodded politely. "Of course. Go ahead."
With that rearrangement, Lin Wei slid into the left rear seat. Stella took the middle, and Xueyin claimed the right-side window seat. Once everyone settled, Wang Hao drove off.
Inside the car, the air felt light at first. Stella naturally took the lead in conversation, guiding it toward fashion and entertainment—topics that made even the normally quiet Xueyin join in with a few laughs. Meanwhile, the girl in the front was already dozing off, head leaned gently against the window.
Wang Hao, however, was unusually quiet. He kept his eyes forward, driving smoothly and steadily for once—no aggressive revving, no showing off. Perhaps it was because Xueyin was in the car… or maybe because of who else was watching.
But Lin Wei noticed something else.
Through the faint reflection in the car window, he saw Wang Hao glance repeatedly toward the center console. And with a slight shift in posture, Wang Hao's hand dipped lower, hidden from the girls' sight but not from Lin Wei's view.
'Unbelievable,' Lin Wei thought, lips twitching. 'He never learns.'
There he was—stroking himself quietly while surrounded by girls, as if this was normal. Lin Wei didn't alert anyone. He just leaned back, eyes half-lidded, and let the motion of the car lull him.
"I think I'll nap a bit," he murmured.
Stella glanced at him. "Sure. We'll wake you when we get there."
With quiet nods of agreement, he let his eyes close.
Later.
When Lin Wei woke, the car was nearing the coast. The mood had shifted.
Xueyin looked out the window, her expression subtly off—eyes dim, lips drawn tight. Stella, beside him, had fallen asleep somewhere mid-drive. The red-haired girl in the front was wide awake now, sitting rigidly against the door, her face turned slightly away from Wang Hao.
She didn't speak, but her disgust was unmistakable.
Lin Wei leaned back again, glancing toward the front—and noticed Wang Hao's smug little smirk as he tapped the steering wheel with one hand.
Seemingly.
Li Xueyin did not bring it in the car.
"You alright? Don't push yourself. If you're feeling sick, it's okay to take a break," Lin Wei said, casually stepping up beside Li Xueyin as the group walked along the beach path.
She turned, caught off guard by his concern. A soft smile curled on her lips. "I'm fine—just a bit carsick. That's all."
Still, she instinctively kept a little space between them. With Wang Hao nearby, she didn't want to give the wrong impression.
Trying to lighten the mood, Lin Wei raised his voice just enough for everyone to hear. "Hey! I'm going to grab some juice. Anyone want anything? Last call!"
Stella, who looked a little pale from the ride, gave a tired nod.
Chen Yuxi, leaning casually against the luggage trolley, perked up. "I'll take one too—thanks!" she added, already forming a quiet appreciation for Lin Wei's steady presence.
Before Lin Wei could turn, Wang Hao suddenly stepped forward. "I'll go with you," he announced loudly, clearly aiming to maintain his image in front of the girls.
But Lin Wei smiled coolly and leaned in, voice low enough that only Wang Hao could hear. "Nah, man. Why don't you help them with the suitcases? You've got a golden opportunity here." He gave a slight nod toward Xueyin, who was struggling to adjust her bag.
Wang Hao blinked, then chuckled with an easy grin. "Oh! I didn't even notice. You're right."
Satisfied, Lin Wei turned to leave—but just then, Chen Yuxi stepped up beside him. "I'll come with you. I already asked them what they wanted—it's easier if I help."
She gave him a quick glance—half appreciative, half cautious. Lin Wei raised an eyebrow but didn't protest.
The two of them walked off toward the small beachside café, leaving behind the shifting energy of the group.
"That's all," Lin Wei muttered, doing a quick count of the items.
Chen Yuxi nodded, arms full of canned drinks. "Yeah, this should be enough. Let's head back."
Without a word, Lin Wei reached over and took the heavier bag she was carrying, slipping the strap over his shoulder with ease.
"Hey—I can carry it," Yuxi protested, pausing mid-step.
He gave her a side glance. "You're still half carsick. I can handle this. Just take the juice."
For a second, she looked like she might argue, but Lin Wei had already started walking ahead. With a small, almost inaudible huff, she adjusted the lighter bag of drinks and followed.
From behind, it might have looked like she was annoyed. But in truth, a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
As the two returned, the group was quickly split into their assigned rooms. All the girls ended up sharing one room, while Lin Wei and Wang Hao were placed together in the other. The arrangement left both of them blinking in mild surprise, but there wasn't much they could do about it. The college had only booked two rooms, and with the summer vacation rush already in full swing, the hotel was packed tight.
Lin Wei tossed a cold beer can toward Wang Hao, who caught it mid-air with a grin. "Want a drink?"
"Hell yeah," Wang Hao said, cracking it open and chugging half in one go. "Damn, that hits the spot."
Leaning back against the headboard, Wang Hao gave Lin Wei a sidelong look. "You know, there are quite a few hot girls out there tonight. What do you say we stir things up? I'll help you out. You might finally get lucky with Xueyin."
Lin Wei smirked, taking a sip from his own can. "Heh… with the way things are going, maybe. Another group drink might just tip the scales."
They clinked their cans together with a muted clack, an unspoken pact passing between them.
After all, with his action, Lin Wei had an inkling that with another group drink, he might be able to get laid with Xueyin later, and Wang Hao definitely will have a huge helping hand as long as he continues to be like he is now.