Chapter 55 Part 1

“Hello! I’m Ji Chen, president of the Comics Club. First off, a warm welcome to all our new friends joining the Comics Club.” A refined-looking young man stood at the podium, leading the applause.

“The Comics Club is all about comics. Here, you can chat freely about anything comic-related—but keep it PG, folks.”

The small classroom was packed to the brim. Liang Zhixia sat in the back row, propping his chin on his hand as he listened intently to the club president.

Scattered laughter rippled through the room. Liang Zhixia just tugged at the corner of his mouth. Talk about timing—his own comics pushed the boundaries way too far.

Lin Jie leaned in and whispered, “Someone posted that kind of comic in the group chat before, and it got the whole group shut down. The president even got called in by the Student Union.”

It had been that serious?

Liang Zhixia pondered for a moment. He had no intention of sharing his comics with the club anyway. He hated the idea of going without his mask on—no privacy at all, like being stripped bare and put on display in the sunlight for everyone to ogle.

Ji Chen pointed to the projector on the blackboard. “To help everyone get acquainted quickly, we’ve decided—after a vote among the veteran members—to hold a contest. The theme is drawing the human figure. Everyone’s model prompt will be different, and no copying or ghost-drawing allowed.”

No sooner had he finished explaining the rules than a hand shot up.

“President, what if I can’t draw? I’m just here because I love comics.”

Ji Chen smiled. “Participation isn’t mandatory. It doesn’t matter how it turns out. As for prizes: just entering gets you class credits. First place wins an extra two hundred bucks cash and a certificate.”

The mention of credits sparked a wave of chatter in the classroom.

Lin Jie turned to him. “Xia Xia, you gonna join?”

Liang Zhixia nodded. “Yeah.”

He’d only just joined the Comics Club, but he was confident in his skills—and the human figure was his specialty.

First place came with two hundred yuan, after all.

For his current broke self, that was as good as two thousand.

Once the room quieted down a bit, Ji Chen spoke up again. “I know some of you are worried about fairness. The judges will all be from the art department. To keep it completely impartial, we won’t reveal their names yet. Any questions?”

The class shook their heads—no issues.

Ji Chen fiddled with the projector controls, then stepped aside and pointed to the screen. “Alright, time to scan the code and draw your model prompt at random.”

A large QR code appeared on the screen.

Liang Zhixia pulled out his phone and scanned it. With a beep, a few words popped up on his screen.

【185、Muscle、Male】

Short and sweet: a muscular guy, height 185 cm or taller.

Lu Quan’s image flashed in his mind. No way—Lu Quan was prepping for his own competition, and besides, he couldn’t exactly ask.

Lin Jie wasn’t a new member, so he couldn’t enter.

Liang Zhixia caught Lin Jie eyeing the words on his phone, barely containing his eagerness. The excitement was written all over his face, practically screaming “Pick me!”

Then Liang Zhixia thought of Xu Cheng, but Xu Cheng couldn’t keep a secret. He’d blab to Lu Quan for sure.

Xu Cheng: pass.

No one else around him fit. Lu Xingzhu was shy of 185, even if Zhuzi always claimed he was—Liang Zhixia knew that was stretching it.

He turned to Lin Jie. “Lin Jie, got any ideas? Know any muscular guys over 185?”

Lin Jie’s eyes dropped in disappointment. He was about to nominate himself when the girl sitting in front of them turned around. “You could post on the Campus Wall.”

Campus Wall?

“What’s that?”

The girl looked at him curiously. “You don’t know about the Campus Wall?”

Liang Zhixia shook his head honestly. “Nope.”

She turned her phone screen toward him and pointed. “This right here—A University Campus Wall. Post your requirements anonymously, and Wall Wall will put it up as a status.”

Liang Zhixia thought that was a great idea.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Lin Jie deflated completely, missing his shot at volunteering. He couldn’t bring it up now, but… he could always sneak-add the contact info Xia Xia left later.

With that settled, Lin Jie relaxed.

Liang Zhixia cradled his phone, scrolling through the A University Campus Wall feed. It was full of campus gossip—everything from hookups and class swaps to carpooling and cafeteria rants.

He added them as a friend, drafted a careful message, and hit send.

【Summer】: Hey Wall Wall, looking for a male life model. Guy, 185+ cm (for real), muscular build. Interested? Add my QQ. Paid gig~

【Summer】: Thanks Wall Wall (little flower.jpg)

After sending the message, Liang Zhixia didn’t check again.

He figured it’d take hours for any replies. He pocketed his phone, said goodbye to Lin Jie, and headed to the coffee shop.

He’d taken half a day off from the coffee shop boss just to make this Comics Club meeting.

Little did he know, while he was busy over the next few hours, the comments under that A University Campus Wall post had exploded.

【Whoa! Sure this is for a life model and not a boyfriend???】

【Basically boyfriend specs lol】

【Feels like there’s more to it…】

【Tagged a 185 muscle guy for you below: @AAAA University Hottest Male God】

【Anyone gonna add him? Or is this a catfish?】

【184 here, so close! I’d try otherwise.】

【Paid gig and y’all aren’t rushing it???】

【Go for it, dude above!!!】

【My roommate: 188 cm, bad-boy looks, eight-pack abs, V-taper waist. Says he’ll do it for free. Tagged: @188cm College Hunk】

Top floor of Lu Corporation.

Xu Cheng lounged on the black leather sofa, leg swinging idly as he scrolled through the comments. He tsked lightly. “Bunch of bored idiots.”

With a grin, he tagged a few of his own roommates in the thread.

Suddenly, voices drifted in from outside the office.

He bolted upright on the sofa, posture ramrod straight, and hastily smoothed down his messy hair.

The assistant pushed open the door, letting the big boss enter. “President Lu, these are the quarterly plans from the East District. Take a look.”

Lu Quan tugged at his tie with one hand and grunted. “Leave them here.”

Work at the company had piled up lately. He barely had time with Zhizhi anymore.

It had been days since they’d eaten together.

Irritating.

Depressing.

The assistant set down the files and left.

Lu Quan sank into the executive chair and glanced at the sofa indentation. His fingertips drummed the desk. “You were just lying on the sofa?”

Xu Cheng chuckled. “I’ll get someone to clean it!”

Seeing no reprimand, he crossed his legs smugly. “Heard something fun. Someone on the Campus Wall wants a model—185+, ripped. Pretty high standards.”

Lu Quan flipped through the documents, brow furrowed. “Isn’t that basic?”

“…”

Fair enough—his bro had even higher standards for himself.

Xu Cheng rubbed his chin. “Think this poster’s a hot chick? Should I throw my hat in?”

He was confident in his build. Handsome, loaded, and jacked.

Lu Quan never cared about that stuff.

“Whatever.”

Xu Cheng eagerly added the chat ID from the screenshot.

He sent the friend request, but it sat unapproved.

He muttered, “That many people adding? Cool username too—just ‘Xia’.”

“Xia?” Lu Quan glanced up at Xu Cheng, voice low. “What Xia?”

“Summer Xia.” Xu Cheng pocketed his phone, eyes narrowing. “Bet she was born in summer—or has Xia in her name.”

Lost in his daydreams, Xu Cheng trailed off.

Lu Quan set aside the files and pulled out his phone to search for the post Xu Cheng mentioned.

He scrolled past the chaos in the comments and spotted one that made sense.

【Figured it out! Comics Club newbie looking for a legit life model.】

Could this “Xia” be Zhizhi?

Lu Quan rubbed the back of his phone, planning to probe later that night.

By the time he wrapped up work and got back to the dorm, it was empty—save for the sound of running water from the bathroom.

Zhizhi must be showering.

He undid his tie with one hand and tossed it into the laundry hamper. Passing Zhizhi’s desk, he heard the phone ping.

He glanced casually—and froze at the lit-up lock screen full of friend requests.

【Beauty Harvester requests to add you: Add me, I’ll pay YOU】

【Richest Prospective Male College Student requests to add you: Looking for a BF? I’m 180, rich, hot, loyal AF】

【AAAA University Hottest Male God requests to add you: 185 muscle stud^-^】

AAAA University Hottest Male God?

This username looked a bit familiar.

Then he remembered.

He had seen it in the comments section of that post.

Was the person who posted it really Zhizhi?

If so, why hadn’t he reached out to him?

He fit every single requirement perfectly.

He picked up his phone, navigated to the contact info from that post, paused for a moment with his finger hovering, and then hit add friend.

Sure enough, Zhizhi’s phone chimed once more.

A new friend request popped up on his lock screen.

【LLL requests to add you as a friend. Reason: Can send photos.】

It was the request he had just sent. That person really was Zhizhi.

Just then, the bathroom door swung open from inside.

The moment Liang Zhixia stepped out, he spotted Lu Quan’s figure. He rubbed his damp hair and said, “You’re back? Want to take a shower?”

He had assumed Lu Quan would return late like he had the past few days, so he hadn’t drained the tub yet.

Even though his relationship with Lu Quan had improved lately, he still remembered the dorm regulations and made sure to keep the bathroom clean.

He was about to turn around and mop the floor when Lu Quan called out to him.

“Zhizhi, someone messaged you.”

“Huh? Really?” He knew “someone messaged you” meant a friend request, but he hadn’t expected so many people to add him.

He just couldn’t tell Lu Quan about it.