Zhou Cheng’s gaze swept across the cafeteria, instantly extinguishing the burning flames in many people’s eyes. The noisy cafeteria fell silent for a few seconds.

*Sigh~*

His young, already chiseled, devastatingly handsome face and that aura so different from typical college boys were truly mesmerizing. Could he have stolen their carefully guarded Junior Sister Xia with just his looks? What to do, their hearts ached.

Referee, someone’s breaking the rules here! They had agreed to attract Junior Sister Xia’s attention with talent and ability, but someone had ignored the rules and relied on their face instead… Junior Sister Xia was inexperienced in the ways of the world, how could she guard against such a pretty boy?

Some students from the ’84 class also recognized Zhou Cheng. Their military training instructor! Heavens, military training was one thing, but why did he have to pluck the ’84 class’s most beautiful flower after training ended? Where was his discipline?

Xiong Baiyan, holding his lunch box, patted Ji Jiangyuan’s shoulder: “My condolences, brother. I’d say you have no chance – Chief Instructor Zhou and Xia are quite well-matched.”

Ji Jiangyuan suppressed his unease, “Xiaolan and I have been getting closer lately, it’s not what you think.”

Xiong Baiyan gave him a look of sympathy. Well, Old Ji simply lost out because he had a mother with a difficult temperament – Xiaolan probably couldn’t handle having such an eccentric future mother-in-law.

Ji Jiangyuan couldn’t explain at all. His relationship with Xia Xiaolan wasn’t like that. They had gone from cutting ties to reconnecting, not because Xia Xiaolan had fallen for him or forgiven his mother Ji Ya’s actions, but for the sake of his birth father Tang Hong’en… Soon, Xia Xiaolan might become his stepsister.

Ji Jiangyuan picked up his lunch box, “Let’s go eat in the dorm. There are so many people gathered in the cafeteria, it’s only going to get more crowded.”

News always spread quickly, and only Zhou Cheng would openly eat with Xia Xiaolan so intimately in the cafeteria. Many wanted to see for themselves what kind of extraordinary person had won Xia Xiaolan’s heart.

They wouldn’t be convinced without seeing it with their own eyes. And Instructor Zhou didn’t seem to mind being stared at.

Just from appearances alone, Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan made a pleasing couple. As for substance, no matter how proud Huaqing’s students were, they had to respect Zhou Cheng’s professional status – a young cadre with a bright future, completely faultless.

One group of onlookers would leave, only to be replaced by another.

The roommates from Room 307 sat at the adjacent table. Today’s meal was Zhou Cheng’s treat, and Su Jing thoroughly criticized Xia Xiaolan for being too frugal with Instructor Zhou’s money.

Xia Xiaolan pretended to look stern: “You can order an extra portion of braised pork.”

The braised pork at Huaqing’s cafeteria was indeed delicious, and the Room 307 residents came over salivating.

Since the cafeteria didn’t have such long tables, they sat on the other side, enjoying the meal Zhou Cheng was treating them to, leaving Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan at a separate table.

They couldn’t sit with Instructor Zhou – he was being scrutinized by so many people. Sharing his table would make even the most delicious braised pork taste off.

Yet surprisingly, Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan seemed completely unaffected.

Su Jing had to admit defeat, whispering: “I’ve made my assessment – these two are truly a match made in heaven.”

One was thick-skinned, completely unaware of how much attention she attracted. The other was confident, meeting the stares of others with casual glances in return, his handsome face causing the senior brothers who came to size up their rival to retreat without a fight.

The meal was intensely dramatic, but Xia Xiaolan just frowned: “The cafeteria seems crowded today. Why did everyone come to this one?”

Huaqing had several cafeterias – were the others closed today?

Zhou Cheng suppressed a smile, “It’s fine if it’s a bit crowded. I enjoyed this meal. Next time I’m on leave, I’ll treat your roommates to another good meal.”

Xia Xiaolan pointed at the empty bowls in front of the group at the next table: “The braised pork was really good, wasn’t it, Su Jing, Senior?”

Yes, yes, yes – you’re beautiful, everything you say is right.

After finishing their meal in the cafeteria, Xia Xiaolan took Zhou Cheng on a tour around campus.

Her admirers, already heartbroken, suffered multiple blows. Those with lower HP had already fallen, while the more resilient ones struggled to encourage each other:

“Having a boyfriend isn’t scary – they might break up even if things are good now!”

“Right, we can’t give up hope. Junior Sister Xia is going abroad as an exchange student, maybe their relationship will cool off and they won’t last-“

The words cut off abruptly.

If her relationship with her current boyfriend cooled off, who would benefit?

If Junior Sister Xia started dating a foreigner, they wouldn’t have a chance either.

Thinking of this possibility, their hearts grew heavy. They couldn’t help asking those nearby: “Is it easy to get a spot for state-funded study abroad next year?”

Others looked at them as if questioning their intelligence.

Next year?

Even five years from now, getting a state-funded study abroad spot wouldn’t be easy!

…

Xia Xiaolan’s campus tour with Zhou Cheng was indeed meant to establish his legitimacy.

While women seek security from men, men also need security. She had visited Zhou Cheng’s workplace many times, and even his academy. Everyone around Zhou Cheng knew he had a girlfriend, so Xia Xiaolan felt she should also declare Zhou Cheng’s existence to those around her.

After all, Zhou Cheng had nothing to hide.

After seeing Zhou Cheng off, Xia Xiaolan got busy.

She will be going to Pengcheng this week. Wang Houlin and her mentor Mao Kangshan were holding down the fort at the construction site. She had already discussed her ideas for the Jinsha Pool project with Wang Houlin, and the detailed design drawings should be ready when she arrives.

Xia Xiaolan was also trying to draw herself.

While she couldn’t design the entire residential complex, she could handle individual buildings. The residential buildings in the complex were generally similar, and Xia Xiaolan wanted to incorporate features from future residential buildings – she wasn’t going to build cramped apartments.

Better functionality, more attractive appearance, and reasonable community planning – these factors could raise the unit price to a respectable level.

While Xia Xiaolan was drawing in her dorm room, she heard that the department head wanted to see her.

Yang Yonghong was a bit nervous, “Could it be about your relationship? Did someone report it to the teachers?”

If students didn’t report such matters, the school usually turned a blind eye. Right after Xia Xiaolan appeared on campus with Zhou Cheng, the department head immediately requested to see her – it was hard not to be suspicious.

Xia Xiaolan put away her half-finished drawings, “It’s probably not about that, Senior, don’t worry.”

During summer break, she participated in Jiangcheng’s creative symposium and wrote a paper based on the Nanhai Hotel renovation case. After showing it to Mao Kangshan, she submitted the paper to him.

The department head’s summons was probably about these two matters.

Xia Xiaolan entered the office, and though she couldn’t read the department head’s expression, the topic wasn’t what she expected. Instead, they brought up something else:

“The Ministry of Education’s notice has arrived. Those of you who won awards will be going abroad as exchange students, starting early next year. What are your thoughts on this?”