The senior sister looked at her in surprise, thoroughly amused. This young girl was the beauty standard-bearer of the law school. At eighteen, her skin was fair and tender. She answered questions politely, instantly endearing herself to others.
“Alright, go find the dormitory auntie to register. I’ll go meet the other juniors,” the senior sister said.
There weren’t many law students to begin with. By the time Meng Ting finished registering and moved her suitcase into room 307, her roommates had already made their beds.
As Meng Ting entered, everyone turned to look at her.
Their dormitory was a four-person room with bunk beds. Two lower bunks and one upper bunk were already occupied, leaving only the upper bunk near the door available.
The three girls had already exchanged names, so they knew who the absent one was – reportedly the top science student from H City, particularly impressive.
Mi Lei’s eyes widened. “You’re Meng Ting?”
The young woman entering the room was pulling a light green suitcase. She wore a light blue Republican-era style top with a black knee-length skirt. She exuded a delicate and gentle beauty.
Meng Ting nodded with a smile. “Hello, I’m Meng Ting.”
Song Huanhuan, sitting at the desk with her bubbly personality, exclaimed, “Wow, you’re the top science student from your city? You’re so beautiful!”
“Thank you, you’re very pretty too.”
Song Huanhuan’s defenses crumbled instantly!
Before Meng Ting arrived, they had heard that their other roommate was the top student from H City. They had imagined that a science prodigy would be very serious and proper. If it was a girl, they expected thick-framed glasses and a quiet, introverted personality. Perhaps she would be a stern and rigid study fanatic.
Instead, the person who walked in was like a graceful beauty from a Jiangnan water town.
Song Huanhuan, a devoted lover of beauty, was ecstatic. “Come, come, let me help you with your luggage. Only the upper bunk is left. Are you okay with sleeping up there? If you’re scared, I can switch my lower bunk with you.”
The girl touching up her makeup in the corner snapped her mirror shut and walked out. The room fell silent for a moment.
Meng Ting watched her leave and said to Song Huanhuan, “Thank you, I’m fine with the upper bunk.”
Mi Lei explained, “Don’t mind her. Her name is Jiang Rong. As soon as she arrived, she said she couldn’t sleep in the upper bunk and wanted Huanhuan to give up her bed. Huanhuan refused, so now she’s angry and won’t speak to any of us.”
Song Huanhuan clutched her chest dramatically. “She’s rude and has an unpleasant personality. Why should I give her my bed? I won’t. But Meng Ting, do you want my bed? I can give it to you.”
Meng Ting didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
As she climbed up to make her bed, Song Huanhuan looked up at her, like an excited puppy, immediately friendly. “Ting Ting, your clothes are so pretty too. Where did you buy them?”
“My grandmother made them.”
“She’s so skillful.”
Mi Lei couldn’t stop laughing.
She and Song Huanhuan were high school classmates and knew her personality. If anyone else wore those clothes, Song Huanhuan would probably mock them as old-fashioned. After all, the fabric was quite old, and though it was hand-sewn with tight, sturdy stitches, it still had a feel of being out of place in this era.
Meng Ting herself knew the clothes were a bit outdated.
But she had no money left and no clothes. The big fire had burned her wooden wardrobe, leaving only the things hidden safely in her trunk intact, including two sets of clothes sewn by her grandmother and her ballet costume.
Shu Zhitong had given her money to buy clothes, but Meng Ting only bought one cheap set and used the rest to buy shoes for Shu Yang.
A boy starting university needed to look presentable.
They used to wear high school uniforms all year round, and now buying new clothes was another big expense. Meng Ting had no choice but to wear the clothes her grandmother had sewn.
What you wear doesn’t matter; being diligent is what counts. Everything you want will come in time.
September’s military training had seen five rainfalls, which was considered lucky. The new students had avoided several days of training.
Even during military training, the entire Law School Class One knew they had a beautiful, fair-skinned young girl named Meng Ting.
On the night they started their major courses, Meng Ting’s phone rang.
She glanced at the caller and went to the balcony in her slippers to answer.
“Jiang Ren.”
The man’s voice was husky. “Finished with military training?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Was it hot? Were the instructors fierce?”
Meng Ting thought for a moment. “It was okay. We wore hats and camouflage uniforms. The instructors were a bit fierce. They made us stand still for an hour.”
“Hmm, sounds strict and fierce indeed.”
But in his youth at the military academy, he had once been punished for talking back to a superior officer. He had to stand in the scorching August sun for three hours.
He stood there until noon without a word, sweat pouring down, his stomach growling. Even the instructor couldn’t help but curse, calling him a wolf cub before telling him to go eat.
Meng Ting had something on her mind. “Why did you give me so much money? I won’t spend much in university. Besides, aren’t you short on money for what you’re doing now? Give me your account number. I’ll transfer the money back to you.” She was afraid of losing it if she mailed it back.
“Keep it since I gave it to you.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you looking down on me? Don’t think about sending it back, or I’ll have to find someone to bring it to you again. Be good, this is all I can afford for now. Miss me?”
She blushed and said softly, uttering a single word.
Jiang Ren lay on the beach, the night sea breeze gently kissing his cheeks. He smiled. “I didn’t hear clearly. Say it louder, will you?”
Meng Ting bit her lip. “If you didn’t hear clearly, then forget it.” How annoying he was.
“Meng Ting.” He covered his eyes and called her name softly. “I miss you like crazy.”
He wanted to accompany her to university, walk with her on campus, and watch the night sky of B City with her.
But he was guarding her hometown, turning this deep sea into his territory. He wanted to be her king.
Meng Ting’s cheeks burned. After a while, she said, “I’ll come see you during the holiday. H City is so hot, don’t get heatstroke.”
“When will your holiday be?” He cursed inwardly. “I’ll come to B City to see you when I’m free.”
Meng Ting couldn’t help but smile. “Okay.”
But Jiang Ren really couldn’t get away. The construction company was working at full steam, and as the big boss, he was already short-handed. He was so busy he only slept five hours a day, yet he still insisted on calling Meng Ting. Sometimes Gao Yi would find him asleep on the beach.
Looking at the young man’s tired, chiseled face, Gao Yi suddenly couldn’t remember what he was doing at twenty, but he certainly wasn’t working as hard as Jiang Ren.
In fact, in Jiang Ren’s nineteen years of life, this was the first time he had gone crazy trying to make money.
It was also his poorest and most down-and-out year.
There were far fewer female law students than male ones. In the first week, Meng Ting became famous for both her beauty and her status as the top student. Their law department privately called her the department flower.
The department flower was hardworking and gentle. Many people tend to relax a bit after entering university. B University promoted freedom, and its educational philosophy was also liberal. However, only Meng Ting would diligently memorize legal provisions and go to the library to read whenever she had free time.
Her life was quiet and routine, basically revolving around the cafeteria, teaching building, and dormitory.
Song Huanhuan was crazy about Meng Ting’s looks and became her little tail, following her around.
Until the school forum exploded.
Song Huanhuan hurriedly showed Meng Ting. There was an annual campus beauty contest. Generally, the department beauties would upload their photos, and then people would vote in the thread. Whoever got the most votes would be recognized as the campus beauty.
Meng Ting hadn’t uploaded any photos herself, but she saw herself there.
It was a photo from military training, a candid shot of her marching.
Under the September sun, it was particularly hot. She wore camouflage, her cheeks covered in a thin layer of sweat that dampened her bangs. Her lips were a bit pale, with a touch of dishevelment.
The photo was full-body. Few people marched well, so it looked a bit comical.
The photo wasn’t taken well, at best looking only sixty percent like Meng Ting. Yet it was clearly labeled “Law Department Flower – Meng Ting.”
Below were a bunch of laughing comments.
“Greetings from the Physics Department!”
“The law department’s standards for beauty can’t be high this year if this is what they’re putting up.”
“She looks pure, but the pose is off.”
…
Song Huanhuan was furious after reading the comments. She had registered on the school forum during summer vacation.
[Huanhuan Is Happy Today Too]: That’s someone deliberately smearing her. Our department flower isn’t like that at all.
“Then post a picture!”
“Yeah, show us a picture!”
Song Huanhuan couldn’t stand it anymore that night and posted a photo.
[Huanhuan Is Happy Today Too]: Here’s proof [Image.jpg]
It was a side profile shot taken in the library, with sunlight streaming in. Meng Ting’s eyelashes were long and curled, her tea-colored eyes clear and transparent, seeming to shimmer for a moment. She was resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
Many comments followed, some expressing amazement, others disbelieving that the image was real, given the stark difference between the two photos.
By this time, the voting had already ended, with Zhu Jing from the Foreign Languages Department winning.
The title of campus beauty was naturally beyond Meng Ting’s reach.
Someone teased Song Huanhuan: “If you had posted this picture earlier, the campus beauty title might have gone to your friend.”
Song Huanhuan only wanted to clear Meng Ting’s name, as some of the comments had been too harsh. Whether she was a campus beauty or not, neither Meng Ting nor Song Huanhuan cared. The fewer people who knew how beautiful Ting Ting was, the better!
Of the four people in the dormitory, Jiang Rong was the most unpredictable. Everyone could see that she disliked Song Huanhuan the most, followed by Meng Ting.
Song Huanhuan was straightforward and would argue at the slightest provocation.
Meng Ting had a good temperament but wasn’t a pushover. On the day the campus beauty contest ended, Meng Ting confronted Jiang Rong: “Did you post that photo?”
Jiang Rong impatiently replied, “What are you talking about? Move aside, I need to go out.”
“That day during military training, only you said you had a stomachache and rested in the shade. You brought your phone and the angle matches where you were sitting. You took that photo.”
Mi Lei, who had been playing on her phone in bed, poked her head out upon hearing this.
Jiang Rong didn’t respond and tried to push past Meng Ting to leave.
Even Song Huanhuan, who was usually oblivious, was stunned.
Meng Ting calmly said, “You don’t like me, and I don’t like you either. But dislike isn’t a reason to harm others. If you’re studying law and don’t understand respecting privacy rights, someone needs to teach you.”
Jiang Rong turned around, “You’re studying law too, you need evidence when you speak!”
“Then do you dare to take out your phone and let us see?”
Jiang Rong’s face turned pale.
Mi Lei and Song Huanhuan understood everything now. Everyone was horrified – having a roommate who secretly took photos was truly unpleasant.
Mi Lei said seriously, “Jiang Rong, you should apply to the counselor to change dorms.”
She wanted to let Jiang Rong keep her last shred of dignity. If she didn’t want things to escalate, she should volunteer to move out herself.
Jiang Rong said, “Fine, I’ll change! I hated you all anyway. One country bumpkin who doesn’t even have decent clothes dares to call herself the department beauty. Another with a poisonous tongue and stupid brain. And one pretending to be righteous. I’ve had enough of you all long ago.”
The other three were speechless.
Did this girl hate the whole world?
After Jiang Rong moved out, Song Huanhuan was still shaken: “Tingting, it’s good you figured it out. Otherwise, it would have been so dangerous.”
If she had taken photos of girls in their summer sleepwear, it would have been a huge problem.
However, the department beauty incident had a follow-up.
There was a rich second-generation student in their school named Qin Yang, whose father owned a famous clothing company. He was decent-looking, always dressed in designer clothes, and spent money lavishly. He was also a freshman – though a visiting student.
This young master dared to do anything. Qin Yang had been pursuing the new department beauty Zhu Jing quite spectacularly – covering the playground with roses, filling the sky with helium balloons, as grand and romantic as could be.
Zhu Jing wasn’t interested at first, but under the bombardment of sweet gestures, her attitude began to soften.
That’s when Qin Yang saw Meng Ting on a tree-lined path.
Just one look, and he fell for her instead.
Qin Yang’s flamboyant nature was evident from how he pursued Zhu Jing. Thanks to him, everyone now knew that Meng Ting was even more beautiful.
However, adults have their own restraints and bottom lines, so they don’t swarm to see what the beauty who had caught Young Master Qin’s eye looked like.
Qin Yang staked out the library every day to wait for Meng Ting. He’d have a cigarette dangling from his mouth, inviting her to meals and sending her high-end designer clothes.
Meng Ting disliked him and was nearly driven crazy by his persistence.
Song Huanhuan, who was with Meng Ting, thought Qin Yang was creative, though he was indeed quite generous.
When Qin Yang tried to help her carry her books, Meng Ting frowned and said, “I’m sorry, I have a boyfriend.”
Qin Yang said, “You’re kidding me. I’ve never seen you with any guy. Meng Ting, you don’t need to make up excuses to reject me.”
Not only did Qin Yang not believe her, but Song Huanhuan didn’t either.
Only Meng Ting maintained a serious expression: “I’m not lying to you. I have a boyfriend. He’s in H City.”
“F*ck! Long-distance relationship? Just break up. Is he more handsome or richer than me?”
Qin Yang said, “Don’t lie to me. If he had money and ability, would he let you wear these clothes?” If he had such a beautiful girlfriend, he would cherish her and not let people laugh at her clothes.
Meng Ting couldn’t be bothered to look at him: “Anyway, he’s better than you in every way.”
After they had walked far enough, Song Huanhuan asked her: “Tingting, is what you said true? You have a boyfriend?”
“Yes,” Meng Ting answered, her eyes smiling, her gaze softening.
Song Huanhuan’s eyes lit up: “What does he look like? Is he richer than Qin Yang?”
“I don’t know, I don’t have a photo of him.” She realized then that she indeed didn’t have any pictures of Jiang Ren.
Song Huanhuan automatically imagined a tall, rich, and handsome guy for her goddess.
Somehow, the news that the Law Department beauty Meng Ting “might” have a boyfriend spread.
He might have been more handsome than Qin Yang, after all, Qin Yang dressed rather garishly. But being richer than him was quite unlikely. Many people were amused, as Meng Ting indeed didn’t dress well. After paying her tuition fees, she had little money left and didn’t have many pretty clothes. She wore the same few outfits repeatedly, though beautiful people look good even in sackcloth.
Song Huanhuan didn’t expect that three days later, she would see the rumored “tall, rich, and handsome” boyfriend of department beauty Meng Ting.
At the end of September, a news report caught social attention.
A mass food poisoning incident occurred in a university cafeteria. Everyone was shocked, and the affected students were sent to the hospital at noon.
When Jiang Ren heard the news, he was still at the construction site in H City, inspecting materials.
After laying the foundation, the environmental friendliness of the materials was crucial.
He was promoting the idea of environmental protection and green construction.
As workers moved materials, his shoes were covered in mud, and he occasionally lent a hand. Not minding the dirt or fatigue, wearing a yellow safety helmet, sweat poured down his face under the sun.
“…Currently, over 200 students have been affected by food poisoning. The severe cases have been sent to the city hospital, while the rest are being examined at the school hospital. The school and police are thoroughly investigating the cause of the incident. Please stay tuned for updates…”
Amidst the noisy shouts, Jiang Ren only heard the words “B University” and “food poisoning.” He called Meng Ting, but after many rings, no one answered.
Despite the blazing sun overhead, he felt ice-cold all over.
Gao Yi knew how much he valued this real estate development, but this time he was going mad. Jiang Ren would rather eat plain noodles than touch a cent of company funds, and even Meng Ting’s tuition and living expenses were borrowed.
But this time, he directly used the company funds he had been guarding so carefully to buy the most expensive ticket on the nearest flight. With bloodshot eyes, he rushed to the airport.
The workers all stared blankly at the irrational Jiang Ren, their young boss who usually seemed excessively mature. They had always thought nothing could break him, but he left without hesitation as if he could give up everything.
Gao Yi sighed and told the lead foreman, “Let’s continue. This is his only personal weakness.”
This was his only soft spot, which no one could touch. If anyone did, he would go crazy.
When Jiang Ren arrived at the B University campus, it was afternoon dismissal time. The sunset stretched his shadow long.
He asked his way through and arrived at the entrance of the school hospital.
There were too many hospitalized students. The nurse saw his disheveled appearance, with only a pair of dark eyes, their light cold and dim.
“Tell me your class. Don’t worry, I’ll check for you.”
“She’s in the infusion room, the building next door, second floor, turn right.”
When he ran over and opened the door, everyone turned to look at him in surprise.
“He…”
The air conditioning was on inside, dispelling September’s heat.
The students were on IV drips, originally watching TV. But when he burst in, step by step, his movements almost rough and passionate, he embraced the Law Department beauty Meng Ting.
Meng Ting was stunned for a long while before she reached out to hug him back. “Jiang Ren, what’s wrong?”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I went out to look for a part-time job at lunchtime, so I didn’t eat at school. Song Huanhuan wasn’t feeling well, so I’m keeping her company.”
The tall man lowered his head to her neck and took a deep breath.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was looking at Jiang Ren.
Meng Ting couldn’t describe her feelings at that moment. On this day, Jiang Ren’s face was still covered in dust. He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and ordinary sweatpants, with gray cement on his body.
He was wearing a construction site safety helmet, and his exposed arms showed firm muscles. Jiang Ren was panting, his right foot limping. His whole body was sweaty, soaking his back, clinging to it wetly, looking like the most ordinary construction worker.
And excessively disheveled.
He had always been so proud, domineering, and unrestrained.
She knew Jiang Ren hated losing face in front of so many high-achieving students he both looked down upon and envied.
But he came like this, without hesitation, regardless of all gains and losses.
Meng Ting hugged his waist, her eyes feeling hot, but her tone was gentle: “I’m fine, Jiang Ren, don’t be afraid.”
She hesitated, then gently stroked his black hair.
The man’s hair was short and prickly.
She didn’t mind that he was covered in dust. Her delicate lips softly kissed his cheek: “It’s okay, let’s go outside and talk.”
Then everyone watched in astonishment as the beautiful girl who should have been the department beauty took the hand of a tall, dirty man and left.
The key point was, that man was limping!
Limping, for heaven’s sake!
Song Huanhuan was also shocked. She looked down at the needle in the back of her hand, unable to process it for a while.
No way! What happened to the promised tall, rich, and handsome guy? Meng Ting was so disdainful of Qin Yang, but this was the boyfriend she chose?
Meng Ting had already led her now-calmed boyfriend out of the school hospital.
“Did you run here? It’s so hot, are you silly?”
“It’s nothing.” He held her hand, “My face is dirty, don’t touch it.”
Jiang Ren pressed his lips together and turned his head away.
His face was cold and extremely uncomfortable.
She found it both amusing and heartbreaking: “It’s okay, they’re not looking at you. Let’s go wash your face and change your clothes first, okay?”
“F*ck, did I ever say I cared about this?”
“No, you’re the most generous.” Her little face was flushed red, “You look handsome like this too.”
Her soft voice was incredibly sweet, the end of her words drawn out gently and tenderly.
He couldn’t take it and patted her fair face: “Alright, I know I look embarrassing like this. What nonsense are you spouting? Look at me, are you ashamed of me, hm?”
She looked at him with big, moist eyes, almost smiling but not quite.
Jiang Ren kept a cold face. Damn it!
Under the green shade, she finally couldn’t help laughing, burying herself in his embrace, rubbing her tender cheek against the cement dust on him. He frowned and pulled her away.
Meng Ting’s little face was now also smeared with dust.
But she smiled at him obediently and asked back: “Now we’re equally dirty. Will you feel ashamed holding my hand?”
He cursed inwardly, his heart melting completely.
Jiang Ren lowered his head and gently wiped the dust off her little face. His eyes showed a hint of a smile: “How can you be so sweet, Meng Ting? Do you want my life too?”
They walked from the campus towards the twilight streets of B City. Many people along the way looked at them curiously and in surprise.
Jiang Ren didn’t look like a B University student at all, but rather like a temporary worker who had run over from a construction site. Meng Ting held his hand tightly, not letting him pull away.
She smiled and said: “Let’s go buy clothes first, then go to the bathhouse to wash up, and then have dinner.”
“Alright, there are still things to do back in H City. Since you’re fine, I’ll head back.”
He pulled his hand away, put it in his pocket, and started walking towards the school gate as if nothing had happened.
Meng Ting bit her lip and grabbed the hem of his shirt: “Jiang Ren.”
“Hm, what is it?”
She looked up at him without saying a word, her tea-colored eyes watery, and looking at him. Wronged and pitiful.