Throughout the summer vacation, Qing Ye spent her time intensively. She rationally divided her time, simultaneously preparing for several certification exams she would take after entering her sophomore year, which occupied almost her entire summer vacation.
Xie Qian Qian was virtually missing in action all summer, but Sun Wan Jing often invited Qing Ye out to coffee shops or bookstores, where they would spend entire afternoons, though generally not disturbing each other, each busy with their own work.
As for Qu Bing, she would occasionally call Qing Ye for casual chats. Qing Ye heard that her cousin had been directly admitted to Q University’s famous Y Class through recommendation. Qing Ye couldn’t help but exclaim: “What kind of celestial beings is your Qu family?”
This class had always been the source of top domestic computer talent – half of the nation’s talents were at Q University, and half of Q University’s talents were in Y Class. How exceptional this class was – undoubtedly top-tier in domestic computer science. With around 50 spots annually, two-thirds were provincial recommended students and national competition winners, while the remaining spots, left for secondary selection, were filled by provincial top scorers. It was truly an abnormal existence. When Qing Ye first started university, she heard that a senior from the previous year, before even graduating, was spotted by a large domestic enterprise willing to offer an annual salary of 2 million to secure him. This senior didn’t even blink before refusing. Therefore, this gathering place of elite students possessed a noble and aloof nature that outsiders couldn’t comprehend.
Qu Bing also mentioned that when her cousin was recommended for Y Class, their family held a three-day feast. However according to her brother, there were even more extraordinary students in their year – 38 spots were taken by National Training Team members in mathematics, physics, and informatics, less than ten through independent recruitment, and four through regular examination. Among these four, one person received preferential admission with reduced points after submitting application materials, though their original score was already sufficient for admission – truly outstanding.
The two of them marveled over the phone about how each new wave surpasses the last, and how admirable such juniors were.
It wasn’t until late August when Qu Bing returned from her hometown that Qing Ye suddenly realized school was about to start – in the blink of an eye, she was already a sophomore.
Qu Bing came back a few days early, not by choice, but mainly because her cousin needed to report early, so she had to run around like a mother hen helping him. On registration day, she escorted him to his dormitory as a family member.
But after sending her brother to the dormitory, she went crazy, immediately calling Qing Ye, saying her brother had a roommate whose looks she could worship for a lifetime. It had only been a month since Qu Bing last said these words when she attended her mother’s friend’s son’s wedding and said the same about the best man, so Qing Ye didn’t take it seriously at all.
She was the last one in the dormitory to arrive at school, with the others getting into the rhythm a few days earlier.
Qu Bing brought local specialties from her hometown, but surprisingly, after two days, she was still going on about her brother’s roommate. Under her gossip-seeking probe, this exceptionally good-looking roommate of her brother turned out to be the genius who received the reduced points policy through secondary recruitment. It was said he had existing internet project achievements, and during the presentation of the results, his comprehensive evaluation was approved on the spot, becoming their year’s well-deserved potential stock.
Qu Bing asked if others in the dormitory were interested. This junior had already caught many people’s attention since arriving for registration, and many people had been asking her for information. If anyone in the dormitory was interested, she could prioritize resources, converting external sales to internal.
Sun Wan Jing, adhering to her principle of no dating before senior year, didn’t want to engage. Xie Qian Qian wasn’t uninterested in men, she just didn’t trust Qu Bing’s taste. For instance, among those fresh young celebrities she admired and claimed had divine looks, Xie Qian Qian didn’t approve of any. So she directly asked: “Besides looks, what else?”
Qing Ye calmly added: “Give one irrefutable reason.”
After struggling for a while, Qu Bing said: “He has a lot of hair.”
“…” Everyone burst into laughter, after all, as computer science guys aged, their hair volume decreased alarmingly, so having lots of hair could count as an overwhelming advantage.
Xie Qian Qian conceded and said they could discuss good resources again after she broke up with her fiancé.
The other three discovered that after becoming sophomores, this girl’s ability to shock with her words had improved – she could joke without changing expression, even bringing up a fiancé.
The next day, Qu Bing said her cousin insisted on treating them to dinner, showing some hospitality while seeking advice from senior sisters about survival at Q University.
Qu Bing readily agreed, saying they could invite his roommates too, then came back and dragged her dormmates to this new semester’s social party with Y Class juniors.
Except for Xie Qian Qian who really couldn’t make it, Qing Ye had been out during the day and didn’t really want to go, but considering it was Qu Bing’s brother, she should at least give Qu Bing a face since he just arrived in Beijing.
The time was set for 6 PM, meeting at Q University’s west gate. Qing Ye had met with her former high school classmates in Xidan that afternoon, leaving at 5 PM, planning to return to the dormitory to freshen up before heading out together. However, by coincidence, she ran into Lawyer Ji Bo whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Lawyer Ji Bo maintained his graceful manner and asked warmly upon seeing Qing Ye: “How have you been lately, little sister?”
Qing Ye deliberately responded: “You have the nerve to ask me?”
Unexpectedly, Ji Bo awkwardly said: “I tried to persuade your father, I didn’t expect him to directly confront Xing Wu, I’m sorry.”
The next second, Qing Ye’s pupils suddenly dilated as she stared at him in disbelief: “What did you say?”
…
When Qing Ye heard that her father had met with Xing Wu, she felt her head buzzing, countless emotions suddenly surging like a flood. Without another word, she rushed straight to Qing Hong Zhi’s company.
That anger made her look frightening all the way there. No wonder the people from Zha Zha Ting seemed to collectively disappear lately, and even Pang Hu hadn’t contacted her since arriving in Beijing.
She burst into Qing Hong Zhi’s office in one breath. Qing Hong Zhi was discussing something with a subordinate, but seeing Qing Ye’s expression, he asked his colleague to leave first.
As soon as the person left, Qing Ye threw her bag on the sofa and said: “I thought you would at least communicate with me first.”
Seeing Qing Ye’s aggressive manner, Qing Hong Zhi had already guessed why she had come. He unhurriedly opened his tea lid, blowing at the floating tea leaves, and said: “Some things can be discussed, some things I believe don’t need discussion.”
“Why?”
Qing Hong Zhi placed the tea lid on the deep wooden table and said mildly: “Just like this set of my rosewood desk and chairs – if you forcefully insert a particle board stool, do you think it’s appropriate? Perhaps it looks beautiful with a coat of paint, but it’s ultimately not durable. Do I need to teach you this principle?”
Qing Ye’s chest heaved violently, her eyes seemingly able to shoot fire, staring unblinkingly at Qing Hong Zhi as she said coldly: “What did you do to him?”
“What could I do? Just as a worried old father, I shared these principles with him.”
Qing Ye knew her father too well – he definitely wouldn’t just stop talking. If he wanted to, he could use the gentlest language to say the most hurtful things.
Thinking of the scene of him meeting Xing Wu, her entire heart trembled. She stepped closer to Qing Hong Zhi, slamming her hands on his rosewood desk, staring at him aggressively: “And then?”
Looking at his daughter’s bloodshot eyes, Qing Hong Zhi’s face suddenly showed a trace of mockery: “Then? Since you know, I’ll tell you directly – I cleaned up this matter for you. Then I proposed that as long as he stops interfering with your life, I could give him a compensation fee. I was originally prepared to give him 500,000 considering Li Lan Fang’s face, and let them live peacefully in the county. But when I just mentioned 200,000, he readily agreed, as if afraid a cooked duck might fly away.
Look, open your eyes wide and look carefully – what do you like about him? You’re only worth 200,000 in his eyes. The young man looks tough but his actions don’t match his aspirations, without any integrity.”
Qing Ye suddenly froze, thinking of that puzzling 200,000 from early July. Her previously angry face suddenly broke into a “pfft” of laughter. Originally Qing Hong Zhi was fuming, but seeing his daughter’s sudden abnormal behavior, he frowned and asked: “What are you laughing at?”
Qing Ye’s smile gradually grew larger, eventually reaching a rhythm that seemed impossible to stop. She slowly straightened up and narrowed her eyes: “Dad, how come I never found you so adorable before?”
Qing Hong Zhi stared at her with deeply furrowed brows.
Qing Ye had walked back to the sofa, picking up her small bag, saying mockingly: “200,000 is indeed a bit low. Dad, next time in this situation, you should do as they do on TV – take out a check and write him 100 million. That would better reflect your daughter’s value. How could you have the nerve to mention 200,000? Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
Then she opened the door, turning back to tell Qing Hong Zhi before leaving: “Oh right, I won’t be back for dinner tonight.”
Seeing Qing Ye’s reaction, Qing Hong Zhi felt increasingly uneasy. He stood up and asked: “Where are you going?”
“Having dinner with classmates.” With that, she directly left with her bag.
Before she even left her father’s company, Qu Bing called to hurry her. Qing Ye said she had something earlier but was heading over now, telling them to go to the restaurant first and just send her the location.
Qu Bing said it was fine to wait a bit, just telling her to fly over quickly.
Earlier, Qing Ye had been so angry she’d lost her head and temporarily forgotten about dinner with the juniors. Actually, after leaving Qing Hong Zhi’s company, Qing Ye’s mood was quite complex. Her father had gone behind her back to find Xing Wu, and Xing Wu hadn’t told her. Even though he had returned that money to her, it was still through Du Qi Yan’s hands – was he planning to completely separate their paths? This feeling inevitably made Qing Ye feel embarrassed and angry.
If it weren’t for Qu Bing’s messages coming one after another urging her, she really wanted to call and question Xing Wu about what this meant.
After getting out of the taxi and rushing to the west gate, the early September weather was somewhat sultry. She wore a short-sleeved trendy T-shirt paired with flowing high-waisted wide-leg pants, tall and slender, still carrying some of August’s heat.
When she reached the west gate, sweat had formed on her nose tip. From far away, she saw a group of people standing at the side of the west gate. Qu Bing waved at her, and she quickly jogged over, panting: “Sorry, I temporarily…”
Qing Ye’s voice suddenly stopped. The gentle wind lightly danced with her long hair, the setting sun obliquely dyed red the blue brick and white-pillared archway. They stood under the arch, and Qing Ye’s eyes suddenly grew huge, her jaw instantly dropping, staring dazedly at a tall man in the crowd behind Qu Bing – fair white short-sleeved shirt, crisp khaki casual pants, vibrant chestnut hairstyle, thin-rimmed scholarly glasses on his nose bridge, and a shy faint smile on his lips.
At this moment, Qing Ye had only one thought – had a long-lost twin brother with an opposite temperament to Xing Wu appeared at the other end of the map?
She even somewhat fearfully stepped back. Seeing her ghost-like expression upon arrival, Qu Bing very embarrassedly blocked her view and whispered with lip movements: “I told you he was handsome but you didn’t believe me, but do you need to be so exaggerated? Looking like you’ve never seen a man before, calm down! Where’s your expression management?”
Qu Bing’s brother had already walked over, smiling: “You must be Qing Ye? Hello, I’m Qu Bing’s brother, Qu Xing.”
Qing Ye’s face was still frozen, unable to make any expression even if she wanted to, her eyes still staring straight at that person behind Qu Bing. The setting sun happened to shine on his glasses, causing some reflection – she couldn’t quite see the expression behind the lenses.
Seeing Qing Ye’s reaction to his roommate, even more exaggerated than his sister’s, Qu Xing instantly refreshed his understanding of Q University girls. What happened to their supposed nobility? How come they all acted like wolves upon seeing a man? And not even trying to hide it? Were they really this straightforward?
He secretly smiled and pulled his roommate forward to introduce to Qing Ye: “This is my roommate…”
A reflection slipped away from the glasses, and the deep, profound light in the man’s eyes unexpectedly crashed into Qing Ye’s line of sight. His lips curved into an unfathomable smile as he extended his hand to Qing Ye: “Xing Wu.”