Everyone on the bus stared at Ruan Yu as she boarded. She knew how awful she looked – though water had stopped dripping dramatically from her clothes during her walk, her clinging pants, disheveled hair, and wet eyes all screamed to passersby about what had just happened.

“Young lady, are you alright?” The bus driver turned to look at her.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

She kept her head down and walked to a window spot. She wanted to sit but was worried about wetting the seat for the next passenger, so she simply stood there.

The window was open, and as the bus started moving, the cool wind gusted against her face. The jacket draped over her shoulders threatened to fall with the wind, and she quietly gripped it tighter.

The jacket had been warm when first placed on her shoulders, but now it was soaked through, having lost its warmth.

She shivered involuntarily.

After getting off the bus, she drew more stares while walking back to her dormitory through the north gate.

Classmates recognized her and came up asking if she was okay. She shook her head to all of them, hurrying more quickly toward her dorm. The room was unusually full – even Chen Manbai, who rarely showed her face, was there.

That’s how life is, isn’t it? The more you want to hide your embarrassment, the more people witness it – God’s little joke.

The three roommates stared in shock as Ruan Yu walked in with dripping wet hair, exchanging looks and unable to speak for a long while.

“Ruan Ruan, did you fall in the water?” Chen Manbai broke the silence.

Ruan Yu didn’t respond. She just walked to her bed, threw the jacket down, gathered some clean clothes, and headed toward the bathroom.

“I’m talking to you,” Chen Manbai blocked her path. “Who bullied you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

She stepped past Chen Manbai, entered the bathroom, and closed the door.

To save electricity, the water heater wasn’t on during the day, so the shower sprayed cold water. She removed her cold clothes and pressed the switch, standing there, staring at the faint red light, hoping it would quickly turn green.

Voices drifted in from outside, whispering indistinctly, but Ruan Yu knew they must be discussing her. She had never cared what others said about her, but she didn’t want to enter their conversations in this state.

Her eyes stung again. She tested the water and, not caring that it hadn’t warmed up yet, let it pour over her head.

She felt even colder after the shower.

When Ruan Yu came out of the bathroom, she saw Jian Xiangxiang standing at the door, holding out a hair dryer.

“Quick, dry your hair. After that, drink some ginger tea to warm up – Qiaofeng made it in your cup. Don’t catch a cold.”

Ruan Yu glanced at her three roommates. They were all watching her, the earlier shock in their eyes replaced by varying degrees of concern.

Her heart suddenly warmed.

“Thank you.”

“Tell big sis if anything’s wrong, tell me who bullied you too. Don’t keep everything to yourself – how old are you anyway, always worrying like a little old lady?” Chen Manbai scolded.

“How old are you to keep calling yourself ‘big sis’?” Jian Xiangxiang came to Ruan Yu’s defense.

“Being two months older still counts – don’t argue! In this dorm, I’m the big sister.”

“You’re only tough at home.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with being tough at home? Want to fight?”

“Bring it on!”

The two grabbed each other, scratching playfully like fighting cats.

Xia Qiaofeng watched them, amused.

Ruan Yu took the hair dryer and walked to the mirror. When she looked up, she realized she was smiling too.