"Hoo... hoo..."
Xia Nuannuan wasn't very good with spicy food. After eating a few slices of fatty beef, she was so hot that she kept huffing.
Qin Tian quickly opened a can of herbal tea and handed it to her, saying, "If you can't handle it, just eat the clear broth!"
"No, I'm fine."
Xia Nuannuan waved her hand, took the herbal tea, and after a couple of sips, smiled and said, "It's a bit spicy, but hot pot is tastier when it's spicy."
"That's true."
Shen Siqi smiled and agreed, picking up another piece of fatty beef with her chopsticks. She then dipped it heavily in chili powder and, to everyone's surprise, ate it with ease.
Chen Zhuang watched this scene, then looked down at the bright red chili powder on the plate in front of her. He instinctively felt a tightening in his rear.
At this moment, he felt like he had boasted too much earlier.
"Waiter."
Qin Tian called out to a nearby waiter.
The female waiter immediately walked over and asked, "Hello, can I help you with anything?"
"Do you have yogurt? Two bottles!"
Qin Tian said.
"Yes, we do. Would you like it chilled or at room temperature?"
The waiter asked again.
Qin Tian looked at Xia Nuannuan for her preference.
Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly and replied, "I'll have chilled."
"Okay, please wait a moment."
The waiter smiled and nodded, then quickly went to the front desk refrigerator to get two bottles of yogurt.
Qin Tian put a straw into one bottle and placed it in front of Xia Nuannuan. He picked up the other bottle and looked at the others.
"Does anyone else want this?"
"Me..."
Chen Zhuang blurted out instinctively, then saw the teasing looks from everyone and quickly changed his tune.
"No, I don't. It's just hot pot, who would want this!"
"If you don't want it, why did you say so!"
Qin Tian rolled his eyes.
The others, seeing Chen Zhuang's lips already reddened by the spice, secretly rejoiced.
This guy was eating the most aggressively, grabbing several slices of fatty beef at once, coated in the red broth and beef tallow. What's more, he was overestimating himself and made a dipping sauce exactly like Shen Siqi's, which was spicy on top of spicy.
This made him, a man from the Northeast who had just boasted so loudly, start to falter.
He handed the remaining bottle of yogurt to Lu Lei, who also couldn't handle much spice.
Chen Zhuang could only pick up a beer next to him and gulp down more than half of it. However, beer wasn't as effective at relieving the spiciness as yogurt.
Not wanting to show his discomfort, he could only force himself to stop huffing and continue picking up food from the red oil broth.
The others saw through him but didn't say anything. Those who couldn't handle the spice ate from the tomato broth base next to them.
Everyone continued to eat and chat and laugh.
"You have a lot of sweat on your forehead, wipe it off!"
Shen Siqi saw Chen Zhuang's face redden and his forehead covered in sweat, and handed him two tissues.
"Mhm, mhm!"
Chen Zhuang took the tissues and wiped his sweat.
"Why don't you have some tomato broth too? This broth is indeed quite spicy."
Shen Siqi felt a bit sympathetic and offered him a way out.
However, for a tough guy who considered himself a Northeastern tough guy, the boasting was like spilled water – it couldn't be taken back.
"It's fine, I just haven't eaten spicy food in a while. I'll get used to it, I can do it."
Chen Zhuang wiped his sweat again and said with forced composure.
"Alright!"
Shen Siqi was speechless but didn't try to persuade him further, thinking it shouldn't be a big problem. At worst, she could accompany him to the proctologist tomorrow.
Everyone was quite satisfied with the hot pot meal, and their bodies felt warmer.
Afterward, everyone got up to prepare to return to school.
Chen Zhuang followed the waitress to the front desk to pay the bill.
"Look, his walk is a bit strange."
Cao Mingliang suddenly said.
Everyone looked, and indeed, Chen Zhuang's walk was a little odd, his body seeming slightly hunched.
"He ate too much spicy food and drank so much beer, his stomach can't handle it!"
Zhuang Zhe said.
"Ahhh... I can't."
Chen Zhuang suddenly exclaimed, turned around, and quickly walked towards them, saying loudly, "Siqi, pay for me first, I'll transfer it to you later. I can't, I need to go to the restroom."
With that, he dashed into the store's restroom at what looked like a hundred-meter sprint, much to everyone's astonishment.
"I'm really impressed. He's suffering because he's too proud."
Shen Siqi put her hand on her forehead, her mouth twitching slightly, and walked quickly towards the stunned waiter.
Qin Tian and the others exchanged glances, then, unable to hold back, burst into laughter.
Their cheerful laughter attracted the attention of many in the restaurant.
Especially the girls, whose smiling faces drew fiery gazes from many boys around them.
"You guys go ahead, I'll wait for him here."
After paying, Shen Siqi turned back and said to the group.
Qin Tian and the others had no objections. After bidding her farewell, they left the hot pot restaurant.
...
...
Back in the dorm, Qin Tian and Cao Mingliang had played a couple of games when Chen Zhuang finally returned.
As he walked into the dorm, he was holding his butt with a pained expression, looking quite comical.
"Are you okay?"
Qin Tian asked, trying to suppress his laughter.
"I'm fine, just ate a bit too much and got diarrhea."
Chen Zhuang said with an awkward smile.
"Does your butt feel fiery?"
Cao Mingliang teased with a sly grin.
"Scram!"
Chen Zhuang glared at him angrily.
"Brother Zhuang, do you need any stomach medicine? I have some in my drawer."
Zhuang Zhe, who was sitting next to Qin Tian watching the game, said.
"No need, Siqi accompanied me to buy some earlier."
Chen Zhuang shook his head, refusing, and took out two boxes of medicine from his pocket.
Zhuang Zhe nodded and said nothing more.
"Come on, let's log in and play together, a five-player game."
Cao Mingliang urged with a smile.
"Alright!"
Chen Zhuang immediately perked up, grinning and saying, "I'll crush the other team to vent my frustration."
He quickly walked to his desk, sat down on the chair, and immediately cried out in pain. He slightly arched his butt before slowly sitting down.
"Look at him, doesn't he look like a gay guy who got..."
Cao Mingliang whispered jokingly.
Qin Tian almost burst out laughing and offered no comment.
Zhuang Zhe lowered his head, forcing himself to hold back his laughter, his shoulders shaking.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Chen Zhuang turned to look at Cao Mingliang with a confused expression.
"Nothing, nothing. We were just talking about when we're going back!"
Cao Mingliang replied hurriedly.
"Oh!"
Chen Zhuang looked at Qin Tian and Zhuang Zhe again, replied with a hint of doubt, and turned back to log into his game account.
"Brother Tian, when are you and Xia Nuannuan leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning, probably. Why?"
"Then I can't get a ride. Siqi and I both have tickets for the day after tomorrow."
Chen Zhuang said with regret.
"You two should go to the station together then, and help carry the luggage. It'll prove your boyfriend power."
Qin Tian said with a smile.
"My boyfriend power, does it need proving?"
Chen Zhuang flexed his arm in a show of muscle, revealing a smug smile.
"Too bad you're still the submissive one."
Cao Mingliang suddenly quipped.
"Hahaha..."
Qin Tian and Zhuang Zhe could no longer hold back and burst into loud laughter.
Chen Zhuang looked at the three of them blankly, his sharp gaze finally landing on Cao Mingliang.
"Cao, what did you just say?"
"Nothing, really!"
"Don't pretend you don't know. What did you say that made them laugh like that?"
"Really nothing!"
"Come on, let's go to the restroom and chat."
"No, no! I'm straight!"
"Hahahaha..."
Qin Tian and Zhuang Zhe were almost rolling on the floor with laughter.