Xie Qian surprisingly did not call out to her?
Well, this approach was very much Xie Qian. Still the familiar recipe, still the original flavour. Wen Ying thought about it and could not help laughing.
If she returned to the dorm for her textbook now, she would be late. She called her roommate instead.
By the time Wen Ying reached the classroom, her roommate had not only brought her book but also saved her a seat.
Three smiling faces, three pairs of eyes staring intently at Wen Ying. She steeled herself and sat in the circle of her roommates.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Wen Ying almost could not resist touching her face, suspecting something dirty was on it.
“Of course we have questions! We heard the basketball team captain gave you league tickets, and some guy from another school cut in and stole the show?”
“Yes, yes! So many people saw it! Poor basketball captain. His heart must be shattered.”
“I told you long ago Wen Ying would not like the basketball captain type…”
Before the teacher arrived, the roommates seized the chance to gossip.
From their mouths, Wen Ying first learned of the basketball captain, Zhendan’s richest student, and the journalism talent all declaring pursuit of her.
Apparently, the three had publicly announced “fair competition”, each relying on their own merits to win her favour. Wen Ying could not hold back laughter. “They all like me?”
The roommates widened their eyes. “So obvious. You did not notice?”
Wen Ying recalled seriously, then shook her head. “Before today, I truly saw nothing. Take your basketball captain. I think I ran into him the day before yesterday too, but then I suspected he wanted to smash a basketball at me!”
Thinking now, that basketball probably did not fly towards her by accident, right?
Following this train of thought, besides the captain, there was a senior she often bumped into at the cafeteria. He had recommended some Modu restaurants to her.
That senior dressed not flashy, but upon closer look all solid expensive brands. Quite knowledgeable about Modu food. Could he be the “Zhendan richest” the roommates mentioned?
Hm, and another senior, met several times on the path to the library. Each time Wen Ying heard him passionately discussing international affairs with companions.
This senior spoke with insight. Wen Ying had inwardly marvelled at Zhendan’s hidden talents.
The insightful senior, impassioned, invited Wen Ying to join his club. Considering her studies and work, where was time for clubs? She could only politely decline.
So the international affairs senior should be the “journalism talent” roommates spoke of?
Before today, none of the three had directly expressed interest. Wen Ying busy daily. Where time to play guessing games with seniors?
Wen Ying herself did not much approve of this kind of liking. She had not deeply known any of the three. What they liked was merely their imagined version of her!
Hearing Wen Ying detail encounters with the three seniors, roommates laughed uproariously.
The seniors liking Wen Ying should not be mocked, but how could they help it!
So your three gentlemen’s agreement, fair competition. Turns out pursuing Wen Ying most effectively is not subtlety but directness.
Roommates laughed, then realised. “No wonder you do not write romance novels. We now have reason to believe you have never dated. You could not write it!”
Wen Ying chuckled. “Nonsense. I just do not want to!”
Writing romance cannot judge if one has dated.
Naive roommates could not imagine some female authors wrote dozens bestselling romances yet never dated. Oh, Wen Ying meant Shui Mingyue.
Roommates wanted to probe further about today’s “off-campus interceptor” who shattered the basketball captain’s young heart. Wen Ying denied. “What interceptor?”
“So many saw!”
Teacher arrived on bell. Three roommates temporarily spared Wen Ying.
Wen Ying secretly sighed relief.
At first, the three roommates interacted cautiously with Wen Ying, fearing celebrity quirks.
After months since start of term, they gradually understood her personality. Relations grew close. Speech freer.
They not only pried Wen Ying’s gossip. They could not hold their own little thoughts in dorm.
For example roommate Sun Mingfei fancied a boy from next class.
Sun Mingfei northern girl, tall, striking features. Always neat. Class boys eager to chat showing closeness.
Yet she fancied next class boy.
Apparently, fetching water, accidentally bumped. Boy instinctively pushed her away, preventing scald from falling thermos. But he scalded his foot. Sun Mingfei accompanied to infirmary. Thus familiar… Logically should date naturally. Sun Mingfei thought so. But boy mild-tempered, slow. Long no confession.
Lately dorm “bed talks” mostly discussed this.
Sun Mingfei anxious, lost judgment. Relied on roommates for advice.
Some said wait for boy confession. Others said she should act.
Wen Ying neutral. Felt romance should flow naturally.
If Sun Mingfei hesitating, boy not confessing, meant not yet ripe for clarity.
Dating, why rush? Term just started. If truly like, plenty time later!
Sun Mingfei considered, followed Wen Ying’s advice. No hurry to confirm.
Then Sun Mingfei found Wen Ying wise. Dorm’s romance mentor.
Now Sun Mingfei suspected Wen Ying bluffing… Wen Ying denied firmly. Including Sun Mingfei, three roommates now felt Wen Ying never dated!
Tonight’s bed talk protagonist must be Wen Ying!
Wen Ying unaware of roommates’ plans.
This public class, Wen Ying often distracted.
Body in classroom, mind elsewhere.
Wonder if Xie Qian finished procedures?
Xie Qian likely not dorm. Still rehab.
Rehab, cannot take many classes. Plus missed before. How negotiate with school… Ah, thinking thus, Xie Qian returning now truly troublesome. Better next semester. Less coordination hassle.
Xie Qian hated trouble most.
Yet endured trouble to return early. Wen Ying’s heart uncontrollable joy.
Ever principled Xie Qian always adjusted principles for her. How control excited girl heart?
Thump.
Thump, thump, thump.
Wen Ying’s reflex arc truly long here. Already pushed Xie Qian around campus. Only now heartbeat accelerated.
Perhaps Wen Ying’s uncontrollable smile drew teacher’s notice. Called her name.
“Wen seems to have her own view. Let us hear it.”
Ah, what view?
Wen Ying blank. Sun Mingfei poked her leg under desk, pointed textbook passage.
Wen Ying prompted, racked brains, stammered opinion.
Teacher barely satisfied. “Fine, sit. Listen well. Your understanding can deepen.”
Teacher no criticism. Wen Ying embarrassed, face burning.
Second half, Wen Ying dared not wander. Listened earnestly.
Public not major, but valuable.
University thus. Some students cram pre-exam highlights, pass fine.
Others serious as high school, high scores every course, naturally scholarships.
Same public textbook. Skim surface or deep study… Teacher not force. Student’s choice.
Wen Ying distracted, time crawled.
Focused, time flew.
Bell rang. Teacher left first. Wen Ying followed flash. Sun Mingfei trio stomped.
“Ran so fast!”
“Forget it. Let her run. Monk may run, temple stays.”
“Yes, yes. She returns dorm to sleep tonight. Then interrogate!”
“No need tonight. Next class she attends!”
True.
All flustered by Wen Ying, forgot next class.
Wen Ying in corridor called Xie Qian. Indeed not finished.
“School understands my situation. But since wheelchair mobile, they hope I attend remaining classes.”
School schedule not for one person. Prior absences count attendance. Remaining no more miss. School timetable, doctor’s rehab schedule. Conflict needs coordination.
Wen Ying worried for Xie Qian. “Want me there?”
Xie Qian laughed. “You come, no need coordinate? Class first. After, I find you.”
Many things seem troublesome. But with sincerity both sides, always compromise.
Wen Ying attended second class alone.
No matter roommates’ interrogation, Wen Ying refused reveal “off-campus interceptor”. No such thing. How reveal?
After class, roommates pestered. Wen Ying surrendered. “Our school. Maths department. This year’s freshman. Do not overthink. Just high school classmates… Of course, good relations in high school!”
At least now, old classmates and good friends!
Wen Ying introduced without guilt.
Maths department, old classmate, good friend?
Words separate understandable. Together what meaning!
Long roommates. Wen Ying besides weekend friend gatherings, school actions never solo.
Classes, cafeteria, dorm. Plus library, field.
So many eyes. How Wen Ying conduct underground work?
Plus maths department. Many not social, skip activities. Seem stuffy.
So Wen Ying likes this type?
Stuffy maths freshman beat basketball captain, Zhendan richest, journalism talent. Who believe!
Roommates doubtful, wanted deeper discussion. Wen Ying spotted something, dashed down steps.
Below steps her young man.
Three roommates watched Wen Ying run to wheelchair, lean speak to boy in it.
Boy looked up, nodded lightly to three.
The three girls were completely bewildered.
Their thoughts were similar to those of “Rukawa Kaede”: Where did this guy come from?!
