Chapter Fifty: The Circle of Beloved Confidantes

Geng Haoshi was utterly dumbfounded. Never before had he wished so fervently that technological progress could be rolled back twenty years, back when cell phones weren’t yet capable of taking such high-resolution, crystal-clear photos!

Li Shishi, brimming with curiosity, sat beside Geng Haoshi. Her hands twined around his left arm, her head gently leaning against his shoulder. “Senior, these are of us—um!” She exclaimed in delight when she saw a photo on the phone of Geng Haoshi carrying her on his back.

After scrolling through the photos, a tide of comments awaited them below—“Look! This is love!” “What a wonderful man!” “Is this the legendary ‘boyfriend from someone else’s family’?” “From his vigorous, light steps you can tell he must carry his girlfriend often!” “If you ever meet a man like this, marry him!” “Wishing you both happiness!” and so on.

Although the comments overwhelmingly praised Geng Haoshi, he found it impossible to feel happy at that moment.

Li Shishi looked up at him. “Senior, everyone’s sending us their blessings… The students here are so warm-hearted!”

Lin Ling snapped her fingers at Li Shishi, holding up her phone. “Shishi, look over here, pretty girl.”

Obediently, Li Shishi looked at Lin Ling, one hand still hooked around Geng Haoshi’s arm, the other posed in an adorable cat’s paw, her lips pursed in a playful pout.

“Got it!” Lin Ling announced after snapping the photo, immediately busying herself with her phone.

Noticing Geng Haoshi’s lackluster demeanor, Li Shishi assumed he was simply tired from carrying her for so long. She picked up her chopsticks and offered him a bite of food.

When the food reached his lips, Geng Haoshi absentmindedly opened his mouth and ate it… “This one’s perfect!” Lin Ling captured the moment and continued her digital tinkering.

Seven or eight minutes passed. “Breaking news! Breaking news!” Lin Ling excitedly thrust her phone in front of Geng Haoshi’s eyes. “Hey, little bro, you already have your very own fan club!”

Still in a daze, Geng Haoshi muttered, “What on earth is this?!”

On the phone screen, the title read: “Legendary Good Man Geng Haoshi’s Admirer’s Club—Now Accepting Applications!”

Geng Haoshi stared in disbelief. “How do they know my name?!”

“I know why,” Zhu Di said, showing his phone. The homepage of the Ten-School Alliance website was displayed, the trending topic having changed from “If you love her, carry her” to “The Identity of the ‘If You Love Her, Carry Her’ Male Lead Exposed!” Below the headline was the very photo Lin Ling had just taken of Li Shishi looking into the camera.

“When was this taken?!” Geng Haoshi snatched Zhu Di’s phone and tapped the headline. The full-size image appeared: Li Shishi was holding food with her chopsticks, feeding it to Geng Haoshi, whose mouth was slightly open. In bold text beneath the photo, it read, “Boyfriend grows tired carrying her; girlfriend sweetly feeds him.” Below that was the main article.

The article read: I (“Don’t ask who I am, just call me **”) secretly snapped this precious photo with my phone. By matching the school emblem on the male lead’s clothes and his basketball uniform, I deduced he’s a member of the basketball team at Tiancheng University of Science and Technology. So, I hacked into the university’s student information database and finally found the person who matches the photo! Remember this name, everyone—the name of a truly exceptional man, a man willing to carry his girlfriend to the ends of the earth: Geng Haoshi!

Below the article was another note: “Good man Geng Haoshi will play his final match of the autumn intercollegiate games today at 3 p.m. If you want to cheer for this legendary good man, or wish to meet him in person, sign up to join the ‘Legendary Good Man Geng Haoshi’s Admirer’s Club.’ Only female members accepted. Thank you for your cooperation.” After this was a link—“Apply to Join the Legendary Good Man Geng Haoshi’s Admirer’s Club.”

“How about that? Not bad, right?” Lin Ling looked at Geng Haoshi with a triumphant wink.

“Lin Ling, did you do all this?!” Geng Haoshi stared, bewildered.

“Sis, you’re incredible!” Li Shishi looked at Lin Ling with admiration. “You study computer science, don’t you? I do too!”

“Sis, I want to be the president of the ‘Legendary Good Man Geng Haoshi’s Admirer’s Club!’”

“Shishi, as his girlfriend, you should probably avoid suspicion… So, I’ll be the president. You can be the honorary vice president, working behind the scenes to help out.”

Li Shishi nodded obediently, her face full of anticipation.

Geng Haoshi slumped in his seat, defeated: They’re going to be the death of me!

Though Lin Ling certainly had a penchant for stirring up drama, she had an important motive: boosting the popularity of the basketball team. After all, the empty stands at Tiancheng University’s games (aside from family members, not a single spectator) were well known.

In the time it took to finish a meal, the number of applicants for Geng Haoshi’s Admirer’s Club reached 2,163!

“I’m off to organize our female fans!” Lin Ling declared enthusiastically before leaving.

The basketball team members decided not to return to their own school, heading straight to the Flying Wings Aeronautical College gymnasium. Each took up several seats, lying down to rest, while Li Shishi insisted that Geng Haoshi use her lap as a pillow.

After all the commotion, Geng Haoshi was exhausted and quickly drifted off to sleep.

“Hey, look! Isn’t that our legendary good man?”

“It is! He’s resting with his head in his girlfriend’s lap.”

“I’m so envious of that girl! I wish I could be her.”

Amid the murmurs around him, Geng Haoshi woke groggily… “Senior, you’re awake,” Li Shishi said sweetly, suddenly leaning down to kiss him softly on the lips.

Geng Haoshi shot upright in surprise, looking around. Only when he was sure the famed Goddess Mimi was nowhere to be seen did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Flash! Flash! Only then did Geng Haoshi realize that countless cameras were pointed at him—members of Lin Ling’s newly formed “Admirer’s Club,” all snapping photos with their phones.

“Everyone, listen up! If you want to take pictures during the game, make sure to turn off your flash, so as not to interfere with the match!” Lin Ling announced through a megaphone.

By now, the gymnasium was nearly full—most of the seats occupied by girls.

Zhang Zhaolong stared wide-eyed. “Are all these people really members of Second Brother’s ‘Admirer’s Club’?”