At eleven PM, Xu Sui had finished washing up and was lying in bed. She was looking at the next day’s class schedule when the senior student came to check the dormitory. Only she and Liang Shuang were in the dorm – Bai Yuyue still hadn’t returned.

From the first day Bai Yuyue moved in, she had demarcated her territory, especially emphasizing that she had germophobia and telling them not to put their things next to hers or touch her belongings.

Liang Shuang had complaints about this, but aside from that, Bai Yuyue didn’t have any conflicts with them. After all, they were still classmates, so Liang Shuang still helped out.

When the senior came to check rooms, Liang Shuang feigned surprise: “Oh my, I forgot – our teacher called her out for something. She should be back soon. Senior, would this work – I’ll have her come sign the absence form with you when she returns?”

“That works. You two should go to sleep early,” the senior said.

After sending the senior away, Liang Shuang sighed: “Bai Yuyue is too bold, going out on dates this late and still not back.”

Xu Sui put down her phone. The intimate scene from evening appeared in her mind, her heart felt wrapped by silk threads again, making it hard to breathe. She lowered her eyelashes: “She should be back soon.”

Not wanting to continue discussing this topic, she looked at the empty bed across and said: “I heard our new roommate is coming tomorrow.”

Xu Sui had registered late, which is how they ended up in the same dorm. There was still one empty bed – apparently this student had taken a month’s leave for personal reasons and was arriving tomorrow.

“I heard she’s from veterinary medicine. How nice, rescuing small animals. If I had known, I would have chosen that major too. My brain must have been waterlogged to choose such a miserable clinical medicine program. It’s only been a month and my hair is already falling out. I’m afraid by graduation, I’ll have to change my name to Liang Three Hairs,” Liang Shuang said.

“Then… should I order you some hair growth tonic?” Xu Sui asked tentatively.

“Yes yes, thank you so much!” Liang Shuang made a heart gesture toward her.

Xu Sui laughed out loud, her earlier gloomy mood lightening somewhat. The two were chatting when Bai Yuyue pushed the door open. Liang Shuang told her about signing the absence form. Bai Yuyue seemed to be in good spirits and even thanked Liang Shuang.

The next day, the new roommate arrived with two people carrying luggage of various sizes behind her. The new roommate wore sunglasses and was dressed in designer brands. The two male students were about to follow her in.

The new roommate wagged her index finger, her tone serious: “Is a girl’s boudoir a place for you smelly men to enter?”

The two male students froze upon hearing this, standing with the luggage, neither advancing nor retreating. The new roommate took out several red bills from her bag and handed them over generously: “Just leave them at the door.”

“Alright, Miss Hu, we’ll be going now.”

Only Xu Sui was in the dorm, reading a book. Hearing the commotion, she closed her book and walked over: “Let me help you.”

After the two helped pull the luggage inside, the new roommate took off her sunglasses, immediately breaking the distance barrier, and introduced herself: “Hello, I’m Hu Qianxi from Veterinary Medicine Class 3. You can call me Xixi.”

Only then did Xu Sui see her appearance clearly – manga-style straight bangs, big eyes, cheeks still showing baby fat, slightly plump figure, looking cheerful and cute.

“Clinical Medicine Class 1, Xu Sui. You can call me whatever you like,” Xu Sui said.

This was Hu Qianxi’s first time living away from home at school. She was somewhat disorganized in unpacking. When it came to putting on the duvet cover, she got completely tangled up in the bedsheet, struggling and cursing while inside, but ultimately failed.

Xu Sui was somewhat amused and patted her: “Let me help you.”

Under Xu Sui’s hands, the bedding immediately became neat. After tidying up the dorm, Xu Sui also accompanied the new roommate to register for a campus card and buy daily necessities.

Throughout the process, Xu Sui didn’t complain once. Hu Qianxi immediately took a liking to this girl who looked obedient on the surface but was quite organized in her actions.

From then on, Hu Qianxi became an invisible human accessory next to Xu Sui, constantly saying “Sui Sui this, Sui Sui that,” and even painfully shared her idol’s shirtless photos with her, calling it – “under the witness of my idol, I made a good friend.”

Xu Sui smiled. She also liked Hu Qianxi – cheerful and cute. The two gradually became close.

On Friday, Xu Sui was eating with Liang Shuang in the second dining hall. Thinking of Hu Qianxi who hadn’t eaten yet back in the dorm, she sent a message asking what she wanted to eat, planning to pack something for her.

After sending the message, Xu Sui put down her phone and focused on eating. After a while, Liang Shuang excitedly nudged her arm and lowered her voice: “Damn, look, Bai Yuyue’s boyfriend has appeared!”

“Holy shit, Zhou Jingze.”

Xu Sui stiffened and mechanically looked up. The dining hall was bustling with voices, but she spotted him immediately. Bai Yuyue’s boyfriend was accompanying her in line. After Bai Yuyue got her food, she turned around carrying the silver tray.

The male student was on her left, hands in his pockets, posture nonchalant. Bai Yuyue occasionally looked up to talk to him, her eyes bright as stars when looking at him. The male student lowered his head, and not knowing what she said, he tugged at the corner of his mouth in response.

Suddenly, someone brushed past and nearly bumped into Bai Yuyue. The male student quickly raised his hand, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and frowned as he told her to watch where she was going.

Xu Sui’s stomach began to feel acidic. She couldn’t eat anymore, lowering her gaze to chew rice grains that had no taste.

The two found a seat diagonally in front of them. Xu Sui could only see his profile.

Liang Shuang was still secretly staring at the pair. The male student was so outstanding that sitting there, he quickly attracted sidelong glances from passersby.

While watching, Liang Shuang sighed: “Look, Bai Yuyue’s smile is reaching the back of her head. But that makes sense – if I found such a handsome and amazing boyfriend, I’d be ecstatic too.”

“This is my first time seeing Zhou Jingze today. I heard he changes girlfriends very quickly – the shortest doesn’t exceed a month, the longest doesn’t exceed three months. How long do you think Bai Yuyue can stay by his side this time?” Liang Shuang poked at the green beans in her tray, full of gossip as she asked.

“How do you know his name is Zhou Jingze?” Xu Sui didn’t want to guess his girlfriend’s expiration date and casually asked a question.

“Of course! Didn’t I say I wanted to find a pilot boyfriend? I infiltrated Beihang’s forum early on and have all the intel on several famous heartthrobs from their school. Plus, with Bai Yuyue’s high-profile personality, everyone in class knows she’s dating an amazing boyfriend,” Liang Shuang tapped her bowl with chopsticks like a storyteller, “Want to hear me elaborate on the gossip?”

Xu Sui smiled but didn’t respond.

“Zhou Jingze, a major heartthrob, 185cm tall, freshman in Flight Technology at Jingbei Aerospace University. Do you know what makes this person amazing?” Liang Shuang posed the question, wanting to interact with her audience.

Xu Sui cooperatively shook her head. Liang Shuang continued: “Apparently his mother is a famous cellist, and his father seems to be in business. I heard that in high school, he was originally a music arts student learning cello, preparing to study music in Austria after the college entrance exam. But guess what happened?”

“This heartthrob was rebellious and suddenly changed his intentions, choosing to stay in China to study aviation, and as a liberal arts student no less, entering Beihang with excellent high scores,” Liang Shuang said.

“His grandfather is an aircraft manufacturing engineer for the state, though he retired years ago. His grandmother is a music professor at a university. With such a background, he seems like he’d excel at anything,” Liang Shuang sighed as she spoke, “I really envy people like this – excellent at everything, always looking effortless.”

“You’re excellent too, except for having less hair,” Xu Sui comforted.

Liang Shuang laughed. She hadn’t expected that someone as well-behaved looking as Xu Sui would have such dry humor. Liang Shuang remembered another piece of gossip and said in a low voice: “I saw on the forum that Zhou Jingze specifically went to have his tattoos removed before the college entrance exam to pass the physical examination. I think it’s fake – probably exaggerated.”

“No, it’s true.” Xu Sui suddenly spoke up, her tone firm.

Liang Shuang was stunned for two seconds, then winked at her: “How do you know it’s true? Don’t tell me you’ve been secretly following him too. Do you like him?”

Having her girlish feelings accidentally exposed, Xu Sui was drinking water when she choked, coughing violently with her face flushed red. Liang Shuang immediately patted her back to help her breathe.

Xu Sui and Zhou Jingze were both from Tianhua High School – they were classmates. She really hadn’t meant to hide it, but explaining would be complicated.

Besides, there was no point in saying anything.

Zhou Jingze probably didn’t remember her anyway.

Xu Sui glanced at the pair not far away. Bai Yuyue was eating while Zhou Jingze was obviously there to accompany her, not eating himself but lazily leaning back in his chair, looking down at his phone playing games.

His other hand rested on the table, the pale blue veins on the back clearly visible, slender and clean.

“I guessed it. Look, there’s a white mark on the back of his hand – obviously left from removing a tattoo,” Xu Sui had a flash of inspiration.

Liang Shuang turned to look, and indeed there was a conspicuous white mark on Zhou Jingze’s hand, looking like a recently removed tattoo.

“Detail master.” Liang Shuang gave Xu Sui a thumbs up.

After eating, Xu Sui returned to the dorm, bringing Hu Qianxi a packed portion of shrimp scrambled eggs. Hu Qianxi immediately hugged her, crying: “Thank you, my Sui Sui!”

Xu Sui patted her shoulder and walked to the desk to get her books, looking somewhat hesitant. Because of witnessing his intimate moment with another girl on the rooftop a week ago, she hadn’t been to the rooftop for several days.

Still afraid of seeing that scene again, Xu Sui finally chose to go to the library instead.

That evening, after doing several practice sets and memorizing some medical knowledge at the library, Xu Sui returned to the dorm to find Hu Qianxi sitting on her bed painting her toenails grape purple with glittery sparkles.

“Sui Sui, want to try some?” Hu Qianxi waved the nail polish at her.

“I’ll pass,” Xu Sui sat down and poured herself some water, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist picking at my feet.”

“Hahahahahaha.” Hu Qianxi couldn’t help laughing. What kind of weird habit was that?

Xu Sui looked innocent. She had OCD – if she painted them, she really wouldn’t be able to resist picking them off. Last New Year, her little cousin had forcibly dragged her to get her nails done. Within a day, Xu Sui had picked them until they looked like a bald old man’s head.

“By the way, Sui Sui, are you free tomorrow Saturday?” Hu Qianxi closed the cap and asked, “Can you accompany me to Beihang? I have something at my uncle’s place and need to go there.”

“Yes, I’ll go with you.”

On the weekend, Hu Qianxi slept until noon. The two tidied up and went out together. When passing the dining hall, Xu Sui was about to go over when Hu Qianxi pulled her back, winking: “Don’t go – someone will treat us to dinner.”

Beihang was right next to their school. After walking about ten minutes, they reached the school gate. But their school was really too big – they wandered for half an hour without finding where the Flight Academy was.

Hu Qianxi sent a voice message complaining: [Is your school hiding some treasure? It’s like a maze. Who are you guarding against? I’m getting dizzy from all the walking.]

Not knowing what message came from the other end, Hu Qianxi turned off her phone screen and said: “My uncle says he’s coming to pick us up. He wants us to wait.”

In less than ten minutes, Hu Qianxi seemed to spot a new continent, excitedly waving toward the opposite side: “Uncle, we’re here!”

Xu Sui was standing aside reading Beihang’s promotional materials when she heard this and turned to look. Then she saw Zhou Jingze. He stood in the center with several male students following behind him like stars around the moon. Zhou Jingze had a cigarette between his fingers, walking at a leisurely pace. Several people surrounded him in animated conversation while his expression was relaxed, wearing a cynical smile.

She never would have expected it to be him.

She caught sight of the scarlet at his fingertips. As Zhou Jingze walked closer, his brow bone and straight nose bridge became clearer. Her heart beat fast, like that touch of scarlet – faint but burning uncontrollably.

Zhou Jingze obviously saw them too. He raised his hand holding the cigarette toward his companions, then walked toward them. A male student stood beside Zhou Jingze, and when the two groups were fairly close, he deliberately raised his eyebrows and said: “Well well, if it isn’t Miss Qianxi?”

The way he said “Qianxi” sounded mocking. Hu Qianxi ran over in a few steps, punched the male student, and said with furrowed brows: “Sheng Nanzhou, I told you not to call me that. If you don’t want to use my full name, you can call me by my English name, Tracy.”

“I think you’re asking for a beating,” Sheng Nanzhou said seriously.

Seeing they were two girls, Zhou Jingze stubbed out his cigarette and threw it in a nearby trash can. Zhou Jingze walked up to them, his voice carrying a slight hoarseness from smoking: “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. I was waiting for exactly those words from you,” Hu Qianxi remembered something and linked arms with Xu Sui, “Oh right, this is my roommate, Xu Sui.”

By normal social etiquette, Xu Sui should have taken the initiative to say something at this moment, but the two were standing too close, and her mind went completely blank.

Zhou Jingze looked at the girl before him. A sense of familiarity flashed through his mind, quick and elusive. He frowned slightly, raised his eyelids to look at her, his voice having a grainy texture, deep and pleasant.

“Hello, Zhou Jingze.”