Literary people are ordinary people too.
Ordinary people have vastly different personalities, and literary people are no exception.
Thus, there are those like Song Foxiang who, upon mutual attraction, express love through passionate poems, and there are those like Mu Fan who, despite developing feelings for Wen Ying during the literature college training, did not immediately pursue her. Instead, he calmly waited two or three months.
As Shui Mingyue said, lovers may come and go, but friends who truly know and understand each other are harder to find. If it was merely a fleeting impulse, why destroy this hard-won acquaintance and understanding?
After such a long period of reflection, Mu Fan found his affection for Wen Ying undiminished. This time, taking advantage of Shui Mingyue’s dinner invitation, Mu Fan appeared openly.
Mu Fan’s affection was very subtle.
Perhaps too subtle, for the oblivious Wen Ying did not notice at all.
In Wen Ying’s mind, Mu Fan was simply a friend she got along with well. In her eyes, meeting Mu Fan for meals was no different from meeting Peng Guoqing, Wang Shuang, or others.
Not to mention that Wen Ying’s attention was drawn to Shui Mingyue’s impending retirement from writing. Even without that matter, she might not have detected Mu Fan’s feelings… Her slow romantic radar helped her avoid much unnecessary awkwardness.
Wen Ying was indeed too oblivious.
Peng Guoqing, on the other hand, was overly sensitive.
Hang Xiaowen had targeted Peng Guoqing, this foolish son of a landlord, during freshman orientation. Just one week into term, Hang Xiaowen began probing.
Originally, Hang Xiaowen had several other backup targets, but Peng Guoqing’s wealth stood out too prominently.
Peng Guoqing, an underachiever who miraculously entered a 211 university, received admission gifts from his family, from the latest electronic gadgets to limited-edition trainers, all items a boy his age would use.
Others might collect limited-edition trainers, but Peng Guoqing wore his daily, and the same went for electronics.
Relatives gave them, and not using them would waste their kindness.
Influenced by his mother Zhu Xu’s teachings since childhood, Peng Guoqing never squandered others’ goodwill. He ate what was meant to be eaten and used what was meant to be used.
Wang Shuang had already been toughened by life, knowing how hard parents worked for money. Peng Guoqing had not yet faced such hardship.
Managing to enter a 211 university, Mr Peng said nothing aloud but was secretly pleased, specially instructing Secretary Bai to send Peng Guoqing a sum of pocket money.
As for Zhu Xu, needless to say, she never restricted how her son spent her money.
Thus, Peng Guoqing was truly overflowing with wealth.
As the saying goes, the poor in bustling cities go unnoticed, but the rich in remote mountains attract distant relatives.
Peng Guoqing was both foolish and rich, yet did not hide in some mountain. He swaggered daily across campus. For now, no distant relatives came begging, but a senior sister came offering warmth.
Hang Xiaowen’s first appearance before Peng Guoqing was under the guise of the student union.
Student union recruitment had two modes: freshmen applying themselves or seniors recommending them. Either way, the union sent officers to assess the newcomers.
Hang Xiaowen deliberately brought along another girl from the union, intercepting Peng Guoqing after class.
Hang Xiaowen spoke in a strictly official tone. “You are Peng Guoqing, right? Someone recommended you for the student union. We are here to evaluate you. May we talk?”
Peng Guoqing was baffled. “Who recommended me for the student union?”
Hang Xiaowen smiled. “That is not the point. The point is your personal willingness. Do you want to join?”
Peng Guoqing glanced at Hang Xiaowen.
Was the recommender unimportant?
It was clearly very important.
At this university, the person Peng Guoqing knew best was Wang Shuang.
If Wang Shuang had recommended him, Peng Guoqing would give face… Humph, not to Wang Shuang himself, but to Wang Shuang’s mother.
If not Wang Shuang, Peng Guoqing was too lazy to give anyone face.
Hang Xiaowen acted mysterious, but Peng Guoqing disliked games and refused directly. “If you will not say, fine. Anyway, I do not want to join the student union.”
“You…”
Hang Xiaowen had prepared a bellyful of lines with no chance to use them.
Why did Peng Guoqing not want to join? Boys his age loved showing off. Hang Xiaowen had observed him for a week, thinking she understood his personality and devising this clever approach, only to hit a wall right away.
Her companion, unaware of the scheme and straightforward, voiced Hang Xiaowen’s confusion. “Why do you not want to join the student union?”
“If I do not want to join, I do not want to. Must there be a reason?”
What was interesting about the student union?
Peng Guoqing had deep grudges against it.
Before transferring to the provincial key school in Rongcheng, he had been a prime target of the appearance and discipline inspection team. He often dyed his hair, and every Monday he was stopped by them.
Though Peng Guoqing himself did not care, the team members treated him like a thorn in their side, watching him like a spotlight, waiting for mistakes… Anyway, he had zero interest in joining.
With time better spent shining elsewhere, Peng Guoqing could do other things.
There was plenty of work at Jiaxin. He had no interest in playing house with ivory tower students.
Thinking of Jiaxin reminded Peng Guoqing of Xie Qian, then of his promise to look after Wen Ying.
It was the weekend.
Nothing could stop Peng Guoqing from going out to play.
“What kind of person is he? We are student union officers, and he just…”
Hang Xiaowen’s companion complained, but Hang Xiaowen stayed silent.
People from wealthy families could indeed be that wilful. Ordinary students joined the union to network, win scholarships, excel in evaluations, build teacher relations for future job recommendations. Wealthy students needed none of that.
It was truly unfair.
And truly enviable.
“If he will not join, forget it. We have others to ask.”
Hang Xiaowen quickly diverted her companion’s attention.
If Hang Xiaowen appeared only once, Peng Guoqing would not have seen through her intentions.
But how could Hang Xiaowen appear just once?
Starting her final year this term, if she did not quickly secure a foolish rich heir, she would have to settle for a low-starting salary job.
Hang Xiaowen was anxious, and in her haste, she revealed flaws.
Student union rejected, what about university clubs?
Hang Xiaowen herself had joined several, recently adding the photography society.
With freshmen arriving, clubs were recruiting aggressively. Peng Guoqing, under the pretext of looking after Wen Ying, had actually gone to Aurora to fawn over Xie Tang for ages, returning to campus with a smitten grin, only to be intercepted midway.
Hang Xiaowen held a photography society flyer, feigning surprise. “Oh, it is you again. You do not want the student union, but are you interested in the photography society?”
She handed Peng Guoqing a flyer, pleading softly.
“Junior, help me out. Our president assigned recruitment quotas.”
Hang Xiaowen was not unattractive, had a pleasant voice, and was a senior.
Most boys would help with such a small favour upon her gentle request.
But Peng Guoqing was not most boys.
His gold-digger radar activated instantly.
All coincidences in the world were either fate arranged by heaven or calculated schemes.
Like Wen Ying and Xie Qian, definitely heavenly fate.
Like him and Sister Xie Tang, pretty much the same, hee hee.
What was this before him?
Peng Guoqing took the flyer, asking while reading. “What happens if you fail your recruitment quota?”
Hang Xiaowen showed slight worry. “The president will criticise my competence, and other members will mock me.”
“Oh…”
Peng Guoqing drawled, stuffing the flyer back. “You scared me. I thought failing would cost me credits deducted by your president.”
He ran off after speaking.
Whether Hang Xiaowen got criticised was none of his business. He was not her boyfriend.
Hang Xiaowen clutched the flyer, stunned.
Truly a foolish landlord’s son, utterly clueless about romance.
She fumed briefly, then consoled herself: foolish was fine; fools were easier to handle.
Hang Xiaowen did not give up. Peng Guoqing paid no mind to this minor episode. Compared to women who wanted to be his stepmother, Hang Xiaowen’s skills were too shallow.
He did not even mention it to anyone.
At the end of the second week of term, Xie Qian had still not returned, but Zhang Liqun and Pang Zhigang’s divorce case reached its second hearing.
Considering Pang Zhigang’s personality, Lawyer Liao did not let Wen Ying and others attend, only saying the appraisal results were out, Pang Zhigang had no new evidence, and the judge would likely rule.
“Just await the good news.”
In the end, accompanying Zhang Liqun to court were only Lawyer Liao and one Pang Jinglong.
