The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Free Chauffeur

After running and sweating buckets, I mysteriously got saddled with a bad rap before returning to my dorm to quickly change into my uniform and prepare for class. Just as I stepped out of the dorm, I slammed right into Shen Qingyan, who was yawning away.

Despite looking all wilted, Shen Qingyan has skin as fair as snow and drop-dead gorgeous features, giving him a strangely alluring, sickly beauty right then.

Shen Qingyan half-squinted his phoenix eyes and upon spotting me, covered his mouth with his hand and said, ”Aha, poor deadbeat number 4444, off to class, aren’t you?”

My heart skipped a beat and my steps suddenly halted.

Beauty?

I shook my head.

Illusion.

Where’s the beauty? It’s just an eyesore.

And –

Who is this poor deadbeat?

Never heard of them.

I turned a blind eye and pretended not to hear, striding ahead.

Shen Qingyan, sitting on his self-service Floating Car, continued yawning while giving me a sidelong glance, ”Which classroom are you headed to? Want a lift?”

I stopped in my tracks, turned around, and beamed a radiant smile at Shen Qingyan, ”Wow! Shen Qingyan, you’re looking exceptionally dashing today!”

Shen Qingyan: ”...”

Look –

Talk about a quick change of face.

When it came to face-changing skills, I had to admit I was pretty impressed with Shen Qingyan as he stifled a yawn, ”In the future, if you want to compliment someone, don’t call them handsome, call them cute, the cutest in the whole Universe.”

I fell silent.

I pondered whether it was worth sacrificing my dignity just to save those 5 credit points for the fare.

Forget it.

Even heroes struggle with the smallest of expenses.

But hey, it’s still 5 credit points.

I replied, ”I’m headed to the Combat Training Ground.”

Shen Qingyan: ”Oh... what a coincidence... I’m headed there too.”

I was genuinely surprised and asked, ”...Why aren’t you going back to your dorm to sleep? What are you doing heading to the Combat Department?”

This guy doesn’t seem like the hardworking type.

At that point, Shen Qingyan’s face suddenly took on a look of despair, slightly aggrieved, ”It’s all Old Man Sheng’s doing, forcing me to come here to study. He promised me that once I enrolled in school I could do whatever I pleased. I barely enjoyed a few good days before he became dissatisfied with me again, insisting that I attend class. As if that wasn’t enough, he didn’t even let me choose and forced me to join the Combat Department...”

I remained silent.

Listen to that –

Whining like a housebound woman of the old days.

Shen Qingyan, unable to keep it in any longer, began to unload his complaints onto me, ”I really don’t want to study... Studying isn’t nearly as good as eating, drinking, and having fun... I don’t want to fight at all... What’s so great about all this fighting and killing...”

Looking at his miserable face, I couldn’t help but coldly say, ”Poor thing, you did something wrong, huh... I have to listen to your whining first thing in the morning... I really don’t want to hear it...”

Shen Qingyan was instantly choked up, glaring at me, ”Do you have any sympathy at all, you poor deadbeat?”

I spread my hands: ”None.”

Shen Qingyan: ”...”

Shen Qingyan raised his hand, pointing to the ground: ”Get off then. I don’t welcome cold-hearted people...”

I also raised my hand, fanning the air pretentiously, ”Who’s the cold-hearted one here? Not even willing to do a fellow student a favor by giving them a lift on the way, you’re not just cold-hearted, you’re downright detestable!”

Sheng Qingyan: ”...”

This is quite the display of thick-skinned counter-blaming.

Sheng Qingyan opened his mouth to speak but then decided not to engage in a war of words with Ji You.

Not only is this person shameless, but his verbal skills are also infuriatingly deadlier than paying with one’s life.

Ji You chuckled, saying, ”... My fellow student, how are you? That... I really do feel sorry for you—Old Man Sheng having to deal with an unambitious child like you, it must really break his heart.”

Sheng Qingyan: ”...”

Ji You smiled: ”What a wise and martial decision by the old man. I mean, you’re young and in your prime, why waste your time doing nothing and waiting for death? A life without ambition is no different from that of a salted fish.”

Sheng Qingyan retorted angrily: ”Poor dead ghost, shut your mouth!”

Ji You turned serious and said: ”Anyway, as someone who’s a waste and a poor ghost, I truly can’t understand your choices, but I won’t criticize you because you have your own stance and your living environment.”

Sheng Qingyan was all set to hear Ji You say something that wouldn’t make sense when he suddenly heard this, slightly stunned. After a moment, he abruptly asked another question, his tone unusually serious: ”Is your daily morning run really useful?”

In all honesty, running as an exercise has been replaced by more convenient and effective training methods, like using training rooms or other physical fitness exercises, even at Lanyue Star Military School, not many people are persistent with running every day.

Ji You pondered seriously and said: ”It hasn’t been long, so I can’t say I’ve noticed any significant effects, but I have to admit, my endurance has gotten stronger. I used to only be able to run half a lap with gritted teeth, but now I can easily run one, or even two laps. That’s progress, isn’t it?”

Sheng Qingyan asked: ”What’s the point of that persistence? I think there are better ways to enhance physical strength than running.”

Ji You was stumped by the question and replied: ”Hmm, I know, but I just prefer this way and don’t want to be idle first thing in the morning.”

Sheng Qingyan: ”Oh...”

Ji You thought that would be the end of the conversation—

Suddenly—

Sheng Qingyan said: ”Since that’s the case—then I’ll join you for a run tomorrow morning...”

Ji You: ”...”

Sheng Qingyan said: ”It’s a promise...”

Ji You: ”...”

Can I politely refuse?

Sheng Qingyan covered his mouth, suddenly said: ”And also... you must help me prove to Elder Sheng every day that I have been running on time...”

Ji You: ”...”

Have I been schemed against?

From Sheng Qingyan’s earlier complaints, Ji You knew that Elder Sheng was Sheng Qingyan’s grandfather and that he was good friends with General Shen, his grandfather. It seemed the two families were quite close. As for Grandpa Sheng’s identity background, Ji You was not very clear.

With that in mind—

This sudden request for a ride from Sheng Qingyan doesn’t seem so innocent.

Ji You: ”... Your grandfather couldn’t possibly be withholding your allowance and only giving you money if you run each day, right?”

Sheng Qingyan’s eyes flickered slightly and he said: ”Nonsense! That’s not true! Even if Elder Sheng doesn’t give me money, I still have lots of pocket money...”

Ji You: ”Oh...”

Just as Sheng Qingyan heaved a sigh of relief, he heard Ji You slowly say: ”So, you’re saying you don’t need me to vouch for you, and you don’t have to worry about running out of money.”

Sheng Qingyan: ”...”

Ji You smirked, smilingly said: ”But we are classmates, how could I do something to damage our friendship? Just give me a lift in your Floating Car every day, and I’ll make sure to vouch for you every day.”

Sheng Qingyan’s mouth twitched slightly: ”Poor dead ghost... that’s the only capability you have...”

Ji You spoke solemnly: ”Is that just a little capability? I can save at least 10 credit points on transportation every day, that’s 300 credit points a month, 3600 credit points a year...” How much garbage would I have to pick up on the garbage planet to exchange for that many credit points?

Sheng Qingyan: ”...”