Qing Ye stared at the familiar hand extended before her. How many nights had she fallen asleep holding this hand? How many moments had she spent tracing the slight calluses on his palm, wondering when they would finally endure those difficult years and step together into the light?

In just two short years, they had progressed from mutual dislike to tentative exploration to unwavering commitment. They had experienced bitterness, despair, pain, sweetness, tenderness, and separation. Now, meeting beneath this dazzling archway with its blue bricks and white pillars, they should have been excited, embracing, crying tears of joy. Yet at this moment, Qing Ye suddenly felt the urge to hit someone—especially when looking at the hand extended before her. Her first impulse was to slap it.

However, considering that if she delivered that slap, today’s meal would be ruined, Qing Ye managed to suppress her impulse for the sake of not embarrassing the Qu siblings.

The others around them felt an inexplicable awkwardness. Qu Bing quickly grabbed Qing Ye’s arm, pretending nothing was wrong as she said with a laugh, “My goodness, it’s so hot! Let’s hurry and get something to eat.”

Qu Xing immediately agreed, “Yes, yes, let’s get a taxi.”

He cast an anxious glance at Xing Wu, but Xing Wu showed no signs of displeasure. He simply withdrew his hand into his pocket as if nothing had happened.

Three people had come from Qu Xing’s dormitory—besides the two of them, there was also a roommate named Zhuang Si Xian. After Qing Ye arrived, they headed to the roadside to hail a taxi. The boys walked in front while Qu Bing and Sun Wan Jing pulled Qing Ye along behind them. Qu Bing wiped her sweat and said to Qing Ye, “What were you doing just now? You made things so awkward—didn’t you see how red Xing Wu’s face got?”

“Red? Is there something wrong with your eyes?” He never blushed even when walking around shirtless in front of me!

But Qu Bing continued, “The last time I saw him, he barely spoke. He’s the type of shy guy who gets embarrassed easily. Don’t scare him away on your first meeting.”

Qing Ye’s voice rose to a squeak: “Shy? Him? What’s there for him to be shy about?”

Her voice had gotten a bit too loud, causing the three boys in front to turn their heads. Qu Bing immediately pinched Qing Ye hard: “Lower your voice! Good grief, why don’t you just go up and say it to his face?”

Qing Ye glared at the elegant back in front of her with an annoyed expression. Had he gotten taller? Was he still growing after eighteen?

The taxi stopped then, and they let the senior girls get in first. However, when they reached the restaurant, Qu Xing’s taxi arrived first, with the three boys waiting at the mall entrance for the girls.

From a distance, Xing Wu’s white shirt was tucked into khaki casual pants, the straight pant legs slightly rolled up to reveal long, straight legs. His glasses concealed his originally deep and sharp eyes, also hiding the fierce look in them. At first glance, he appeared to be just a refined, sunny handsome guy. In contrast, Qu Xing beside him, with his somewhat casual mix-and-match style, looked more like an undisciplined poor student. Even Zhuang Si Xian, perhaps due to his anxious-looking features, somehow gave off a middle-aged uncle’s weathered vibe. Looking at them this way, Xing Wu had somehow become the most honest-looking among the three—it was unbelievable!

Xing Wu’s gaze fell on Qing Ye’s waist. He wasn’t sure if it was fashion or what, but he only knew that Qing Ye’s t-shirt was too short, as if she couldn’t afford enough fabric. With just a slight raise of her arms, her smooth, delicate waist would be exposed. He didn’t know when her clothing style had changed like this—college did make a difference.

They headed directly to the buffet restaurant Qu Bing had chosen, only to find it extremely crowded with a waiting list of more than ten tables ahead of them—about a half-hour wait. Qu Bing had already bought group vouchers and suggested they wait since she was treating everyone, and the others didn’t feel comfortable objecting.

So the six of them sat in the waiting area, with the three boys in the front row and Qing Ye and the other two girls behind them.

Qu Xing scrolled through his phone and suggested, “How about we play a five-player game of Honor of Kings?”

Zhuang Si Xian said, “Sure, let’s do it.”

Qu Xing patted Xing Wu’s shoulder: “Do you know how to play?”

Xing Wu pushed up his glasses with his long fingers, looking down at his phone: “I’m decent.”

Qu Bing jabbed at Qu Xing from behind: “You think everyone secretly plays games like you do? Others don’t have time for this.”

Qu Xing immediately protested: “You’re one to talk! Why do you always ask me to carry you when you’re trying to rank up? Even during my monthly exams!”

Qu Bing was momentarily speechless. Qing Ye let out a dry “hehe” laugh and suddenly interjected: “Don’t talk about your brother like that. Maybe others play even more intensely than he does.”

Qu Bing didn’t dare respond to this. While it seemed like she was defending Qu Xing, why did it feel like she was somehow throwing shade at someone?

They needed one more player besides the three of them. Qu Xing asked whether Qing Ye or Sun Wan Jing wanted to join.

Sun Wan Jing didn’t even have the game app and said she’d just help them watch their queue number. Qing Ye did have the game—she’d downloaded it when she first started college. During those nights, she would remember how things used to be in the small second-floor room: she would read while Xing Wu played games. Later, she downloaded Honor of Kings herself, played a few rounds to experience it, and then left it alone.

So she warned them: “I don’t know how to play.”

Zhuang Si Xian also said, “I’m not very good either.”

Qu Xing sighed helplessly: “Then I’ll have to jungle and carry you all. Qing Ye, if you don’t know how to play, do you have Yao’s trial card? Just play support and follow my lead.”

It took Qing Ye quite a while to figure out that the pink-haired girl was called Yao. After the game started, Qing Ye just wandered around aimlessly. Qu Xing anxiously said, “Qing Ye, don’t run around! Buy support items and come with me to counter-jungle their red buff.”

At the same time, a player with the ID “After Rain Comes Sunshine” sent a message: “Come.”

Qing Ye naturally assumed this was Qu Xing and headed toward the Monkey King in the game. Qu Xing was still calling from the front: “Qing Ye, hurry up!”

“Qing Ye, come on!”

Annoyed by his rushing, Qing Ye responded, “I am coming! Aren’t I right next to you?”

“Where did you come? Why are you mixing it up with the marksman in the bottom lane? Come find me!”

“Where are you?”

“…”

While Qing Ye was still fumbling around, suddenly “First Blood” rang out, and before anyone could react, “Double Kill” followed.

The bottom line Houyi and the enemy support Cai Wen Ji were instantly killed by the Monkey King.

Qu Xing blurted out “Damn!” and said: “Qing Ye, don’t come anymore, just stay in the bottom lane and follow the marksman.”

Qing Ye had no idea what was going on and was still standing under her tower studying the skill descriptions. She asked Qu Xing: “How do you play this hero?”

Qu Bing beside her couldn’t bear to watch anymore and told her: “Just use your ultimate skill and don’t do anything else.”

Just as she finished speaking, the Monkey King in the game ran over to the pink-haired Yao. After Qing Ye pressed the ultimate skill, she was startled—the pink-haired girl suddenly flew towards the Monkey King, instantly merging with him into one body. Throughout the entire game, Qing Ye didn’t do anything, not even needing to press any skill buttons. The Monkey King carried her around collecting kills, easily pushing to the enemy crystal while Qing Ye still hadn’t figured out who was who among her teammates in the game.

In the end, she even got a gold medal for support.

Qing Ye said with great satisfaction: “This game isn’t that hard! I played pretty well, right?”

The others around her stared at her with indescribable expressions. They’d seen people getting carried before, but never someone who got carried the entire time and still claimed they played well.

Sun Wan Jing informed them their number was called, and everyone got up to walk to the restaurant. Qing Ye casually asked: “Who was ‘After Rain Comes Sunshine’ just now?”

Xing Wu raised his eyes and gave her a meaningful sideways glance. Qing Ye instantly realized—damn, she had been following him from the start…

Qu Xing excitedly said: “Xing Wu, you’re pretty good at Honor of Kings! Those graceful movements—I wouldn’t have guessed! I thought you never played games.”

“Haven’t played in a long time.”

“…”

At the restaurant, they sat at a long table, three boys and three girls facing each other. Xing Wu sat on the outside, Qing Ye sat inside, and Qu Xing sat across from her.

Among the six of them, only Qing Ye and Qu Bing weren’t wearing glasses. Little brother Qu Xing said he wore contact lenses, while the others all wore glasses. Somehow the conversation turned to when everyone had started needing glasses.

Sun Wan Jing said she started wearing them in ninth grade, while Zhuang Si Xian said he ruined his eyes from study pressure in his second year of high school.

When it came to Xing Wu, Qing Ye, who had been sitting inside working on a large crab claw, suddenly piped up: “Some people wear glasses not because they’re nearsighted, but because they’re trying to look cool.”

She sat in the innermost corner, her whole figure shrouded in shadow. More importantly, she was holding large crab claw-like scissors, giving off an inexplicable “Professional Killer” horror movie vibe.

“…” The atmosphere suddenly became subtle. Qing Ye set down the stubborn crab claw and got up to refill her water glass.

As soon as she left, Qu Bing immediately said awkwardly to Xing Wu: “She’s just joking, she wasn’t talking about you.”

Xing Wu lowered his head with a faint smile, saying nothing.

When Qing Ye returned after making a round and bringing back a plate of snacks, the crab claw she had given up on had already been cracked open. The succulent crab meat now lay quietly on her plate. Qu Bing informed her at the right moment: “Xing Wu got the claw cracker to help open it for you.”

Qing Ye set down her plate and glanced diagonally across at him. Xing Wu happened to look up at her too. Qu Bing anxiously pulled at her and whispered: “Shouldn’t you thank him?”

Before Qing Ye could speak, Xing Wu said with a mild smile: “No need.”

Throughout the whole process, he acted refined and gentlemanly, putting on quite a show while also giving Qing Ye a way out. It made her look unsentimental, impolite, and cold-hearted. Qing Ye’s inner thoughts exploded.

Qu Xing returned with his food. The table was crowded, and as he stood to move some plates, he accidentally bumped Qing Ye’s phone. The screen lit up, and he happened to see the lock screen image, casually remarking: “That hand-drawn lady looks a lot like you.”

Sun Wan Jing chimed in: “It was drawn by her ex-boyfriend.”

Qing Ye quickly grabbed her phone and frantically locked the screen. When she looked up, she caught Xing Wu’s eye. He casually put a piece of beef in his mouth, his gaze falling on her phone.

Qu Bing interjected: “How do you know it’s an ex-boyfriend and not a current boyfriend?”

Sun Wan Jing replied matter-of-factly: “A year without contact turns even the best current boyfriend into an ex-boyfriend.”

Qu Xing was confused and looked at Qing Ye seriously: “So do you have a boyfriend or not?”

Qing Ye’s peripheral vision caught someone’s reaction—he had lowered his gaze and was stirring the barbecue sauce on his plate. Her lips curved slightly as she decisively answered: “Single. If you know anyone good, feel free to introduce them.”

Zhuang Si Xian laughed: “Senior, you must be joking. With your qualities, you need introductions?”

Xing Wu finally put down his utensils, picked up his water glass, leaned back in his chair, and cast her a deep, meaningful glance.

The conversation circled back to Xing Wu. Everyone learned he came from a county in G Province, known for its relatively backward economy. If he hadn’t mentioned it himself, no one would have guessed from his appearance and demeanor that he came from such an impoverished area.

Qu Bing’s gaze immediately changed, filled with inspiration and admiration.

Qu Xing joked: “If I had your looks, I’d rely on appearance rather than talent. With housing prices so high now, I might as well find a rich Beijing girl and settle down here directly.”

Qing Ye looked up at him with an ambiguous smile. Xing Wu pushed his glasses up his nose bridge reservedly and replied: “A rich Beijing girl…”

He deliberately dragged out his tone, then added: “Not a bad suggestion. Maybe I should try pursuing a single one.”

Everyone thought he was joking, except for a certain Beijing girl who turned away with an almost imperceptible smile playing at her lips.

After dinner, it was only eight o’clock when Qu Xing suggested they go sing karaoke. For young men who had just finished their college entrance exams and left their hometown for a new environment, it was like suddenly being set free. Since they were out having fun today, they might as well enjoy themselves thoroughly before officially starting their new academic life.

So everyone asked where to find a KTV. Sun Wan Jing had lived with her father at the Shenyang branch throughout high school, so among the six of them, only Qing Ye was truly a local. Everyone looked at her, and she pointed ahead: “There seems to be one over there, not far.”

They decided to walk there to digest their meal. On the way, Zhuang Si Xian pulled out a pack of cigarettes and asked Qu Xing if he smoked.

Qu Xing said “I’ll have one,” but Qu Bing immediately grabbed his collar: “Getting brave, are we? Want me to tell Mom and Dad?”

Qu Xing removed her hand and said: “It’s not like I didn’t secretly smoke in high school.”

Zhuang Si Xian then asked Xing Wu: “Want one?”

Xing Wu waved his hand: “I don’t smoke.”

Qu Bing said sarcastically: “That’s enough from you guys. Don’t corrupt the honest one. He doesn’t smoke.”

Qing Ye suddenly let out two “heh…heh” laughs.

Qu Bing turned to ask her: “What are you laughing at?”

“Was I laughing?”

“Yes, you were.”

“Oh, maybe I just found what you said amusing.”

“…”

At the KTV, they ordered some drinks and snacks. This was the first time the girls from Room 319 had gone to karaoke together. As soon as they entered, Qu Xing called out: “What do you want to sing? I’ll queue them up.”

But nobody felt like singing, so the private room became Qu Xing’s concert. He even picked the rather classic song “Glorious Years,” saying that when his whole class sang it after the college entrance exam, everyone cried, so he sang it with great enthusiasm.

After one round of excitement, they noticed people were either on their phones or eating snacks, which wasn’t very interesting. So they turned off the music and suggested playing games instead, so everyone could participate.

The game was simple: each person had a dice, and whoever rolled the highest could ask any question to the person who rolled the lowest. If they couldn’t answer within one second, they had to drink.

This game became much more interesting among a group of top students. Everyone wracked their brains to come up with tricky questions, making it like a live version of “The Brain.” At first, everyone was seriously challenging each other with academic problems.

After several rounds, the game took an unexpected turn. Qu Bing rolled a six and asked Zhuang Si Xian, who rolled a two: “How old were you when you had your first kiss?”

“…Six years old, with a little girl at my doorstep…” This sudden change in direction sent everyone into fits of laughter.

In the next round, Qing Ye unfortunately rolled a one, and Qu Xing excitedly held up his six and looked at her: “Compare your ex-boyfriend to an object, answer immediately.”

“An electric pony.”

“…” Instantly, the entire room fell silent. Xing Wu’s eyebrow twitched slightly behind his glasses, while Qing Ye’s face turned red to her ears, nearly bit off her tongue and swallowed it.