Chapter 163: Why Use a Bullwhip to Discipline a Puppy?

Page (1/3)

At first, the photo didn’t draw much attention; most people clicked in only because of the provocative title. But once the post was opened, everyone’s focus instantly shifted to the girl in the picture.

[Random User A]: Isn’t that Senior Cheng’s little girlfriend? Why is she alone in the library so early in the morning?

[Random User B]: It’s not just about having money—it’s about rich people working even harder than you.

[Random User C]: Damn it, I’m caught up in this again!

Comments flooded in, and the post quickly shot up to the trending list.

Unaware of all this, Lu Qingyue, fighting off drowsiness, bent her head over the example problems at the back of her advanced math textbook. Her scratch paper soon filled with dense notes and calculations.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed beside her.

Then, someone gently pulled out the chair next to her, and a familiar scent drifted over.

Lu Qingyue looked up in surprise and found Cheng Xingye and Lou Zhao sitting down across from her.

It had been half a month since she last saw them, and Cheng Xingye seemed even more handsome than before.

He wore a black sweater with the collar of a shirt peeking out, topped with a high-quality gray coat that accentuated his tall, upright figure.

They both looked like they had just woken up and stepped out of their dorm—sleep still lingering in their eyes—as they naturally took their seats facing her.

Lou Zhao had originally wanted Cheng Xingye to help format his thesis, and the latter had surprisingly agreed, but insisted on coming to the library to do it.

Now, seeing Lu Qingyue, Lou Zhao finally understood why Cheng Xingye insisted on the library. He shot a meaningful glance at the man opposite him, then leisurely greeted her.

“Good morning, Diandian!”

Caught off guard by running into her boyfriend in the library, Lu Qingyue’s expression was a bit stiff, struggling to react.

Faced with such beauty, her thoughts fleeting momentarily, she blinked drowsily, wondering who on earth invented this “good morning” greeting. What exactly was good about the morning?

She had gotten up so early and was practically dying of exhaustion!

So, puffing out her cheeks, she replied politely and rationally,

“Hello, Brother Lou Zhao.”

Lou Zhao was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter.

Cheng Xingye lazily lowered his head to look at her, casually resting his hand on the back of her chair, then glanced at her scratch paper and quietly asked,

“How long have you been here?”

Lu Qingyue let out a long yawn, eyes misting over, and replied vaguely,

“Almost two hours, I think.”

It was about 10 a.m. now, so two hours ago would have been 8 a.m. Cheng Xingye thought to himself, she really was disciplined.

At eight in winter, the sky was still dim and barely bright.

Out of concern, ignoring Lou Zhao’s teasing smile across from him, Cheng Xingye reached out and gently touched her head.

Page (2/3)

“Have you eaten breakfast?”

Lu Qingyue wasn’t one to fuss over small things in life and often made do. She had only eaten a little on the way to the library just to save her spot. When Cheng Xingye asked, she honestly said,

“I had an egg in the cafeteria.”

Cheng Xingye knew she hadn’t taken good care of herself.

He quietly hummed in acknowledgment and slid a sticky rice cake he had bought on the way over toward her, softly coaxing,

“Eat some more. After reviewing, I’ll take you out for something delicious.”

Lu Qingyue’s eyes lit up at the sight of the rice cake.

She immediately accepted this gesture of love from her boyfriend, softly replying “Mm,” then affectionately rubbed against his palm.

Lou Zhao: “...” Overkill much!

Since Cheng Xingye arrived, the tone of comments under that post on the forum instantly changed.

[Random User D]: Whoa! Senior Cheng is here! They’re showing off their love right now!

[Random User E]: So what if they’re showing off? Prove it by getting married!

[Random User F]: Delivery for the upstairs, Meituan takeout—your dog food package. Enjoy your meal.

The forum quickly exploded with messages. Lou Zhao, who witnessed everything firsthand, wasn’t about to be outdone. He immediately snapped a photo of the couple being all lovey-dovey and posted it in their dorm group chat.

[Lou Zhao]: @Lu Yi, someone’s flirting with a girl in the library. Want to come deal with it?

Before the tagged person could reply, another single friend eagerly jumped in to feast on the dog food.

[Chen Shujie]: Damn! Where is this? I have to see for myself what shameless things this dog could be doing to the girl in broad daylight!

[Lou Zhao]: Stop butting in, what does this have to do with you?

[Chen Shujie]: How is this butting in? This is increasing the number advantage and wounding them with our gaze to express moral condemnation!

Cheng Xingye’s phone was on silent but vibrated nonstop in his pocket.

When he finally pulled it out, dozens of unread messages had piled up.

Opening the group chat, he saw Chen Shujie and Lou Zhao running around like crazy. Scrolling down to the bottom, Lu Yi finally appeared.

[Lu Yi]: Just have Senior Cheng arrested! Don’t let him be fooled by my sister in the library so badly that he doesn’t even have his underwear left!

Cheng Xingye: “...?”

...

In the end, the underwear was saved.

When Lu Qingyue got serious, nothing could stop her.

Cheng Xingye and Lou Zhao kept working on the thesis nearby, occasionally exchanging a few hushed words.

She sat beside them like a stranger, totally absorbed in her own reading, paying no mind to their work.

Page (3/3)

Lou Zhao had thought he would be overwhelmed with all this public display of affection, but after a morning of studying, the girl barely acknowledged her boyfriend.

In contrast, Cheng Xingye, who appeared cold and aloof, finally couldn’t resist after being treated so indifferently for half a day. Under the table, he reached out to intertwine his fingers tightly with hers before he stopped.

Lou Zhao clicked his tongue in amazement, then, showing some tact, quickly finished formatting his thesis and quietly slipped away with his bag.

At noon, the quiet library began to stir. Many people left to eat before returning to study.

The economics building gradually emptied out, and Lu Qingyue finally finished her advanced math textbook.

As she closed her book and stuffed it into her bag, Cheng Xingye naturally reached out.

He took her bag in one hand, held her hand with the other, and stood up. Ignoring the faint glances around them, he led her out.

It had been days since they last saw each other; to say he wasn’t missing her would be a lie.

Cheng Xingye held the girl’s small hand firmly, his fingertips brushing the soft flesh of her palm as if by accident, then casually asked,

“Will you come back this afternoon?”

If Cheng Xingye hadn’t appeared, Lu Qingyue definitely would have returned.

But now, sensing something, she looked at him with a sly smile and asked meaningfully,

“If I don’t come, will you tutor me?”

Cheng Xingye knew she was clever; he couldn’t hide anything from her.

He lightly curled his lips, idly squeezing her fingertips, and candidly admitted,

“Yes, I’ll tutor you.”

Tutoring wasn’t the real point—it was more about taking her home. He hadn’t seen her for days and missed her terribly.

Lu Qingyue studied his profile for a moment, then feigned worldly experience and grinned mischievously,

“Will your tutoring be serious?”

Cheng Xingye: “...”

He shot her a speechless glance, unsure what to say, while his adam’s apple bobbed honestly under her clear gaze.

They say once you’ve tasted something sweet, you want it again. If it were a month ago, the tutoring would probably have been proper.

But now, it depended on the situation.

They walked and talked, arriving just beside the campus road.

Cheng Xingye unlocked his car and expertly slid her into the passenger seat. Then he circled around, got in, and leisurely fastened his seatbelt. As he helped her with hers, he teased with a hint of flirtation,

“That depends on where you want the tutoring to take place.”