Well, why not?

Kang Wei slowly began to understand.

He thought about how Zhou Cheng pursued Xia Xiaolan directly, so why was he being such a coward now?

Catching Shan Yujun’s hint of openness, Kang Wei instinctively pressed his advantage:

“So what are we, with me coming to see you every day? Shan Yujun, I liked you from the first time I saw you. If you don’t mind that I’m not very educated, would you be willing to be in a relationship with me?”

Shan Yujun thought for a moment, “You’ve been writing to me constantly, scaring away all my other suitors. I suppose I don’t dislike you, so shall we give it a try?”

Despite her gentle demeanor, Shan Yujun was surprisingly straightforward.

Kang Wei grinned foolishly, taking a few eager steps after her, pushing his luck: “Just ‘don’t dislike’? I think there’s some like there, no, definitely more than just some like!”

Shan Yujun walked slowly, the twilight conveniently hiding the blush on her cheeks.

If there was some like, then there was some like. She wouldn’t have agreed to try things with Kang Wei without having some feelings.

Kang Wei was interesting and novel. They didn’t need to discuss famous literature or poetry; she could feel his sincere affection all the same.

Though his letters had seemed composed, who knew he’d become so smug just from her agreeing?

One tried to mask embarrassment with calmness, while the other walked on air, expressing joy through smugness.

Kang Wei followed Shan Yujun around campus eagerly, completely missing Xia Xiaolan standing just meters away.

Yang Yonghong, passing by the water room with Xia Xiaolan, watched Kang Wei and Shan Yujun in shock:

“How did those two end up together!”

She knew Kang Wei from the building materials store, as she often dealt with him while helping Li Dongliang.

She also knew Shan Yujun, a senior from the Civil Engineering department, having met during new student orientation!

So how did these two get together?

Yang Yonghong was completely puzzled.

Xia Xiaolan smiled, “I expect Kang Wei will be treating us to a meal soon.”

“Why would he treat—oh? No way, him and Senior Shan!”

Yang Yonghong wasn’t stupid. Though she’d never dated, she’d seen others date and finally understood Xia Xiaolan’s meaning.

She found Kang Wei and Senior Shan’s relationship strange.

Senior Shan had many suitors, and there didn’t seem to be much interaction between her and Kang Wei, yet they were together now. The older Yang Yonghong, completely unaware of her bachelor status, cheerfully added: “He should treat us! Since Kang Wei managed to win over Senior Shan, he should at least treat us to two portions of braised pork at Huaqing Cafeteria!”

While Yang Yonghong’s aspirations were simple, Xia Xiaolan was genuinely happy for Kang Wei.

Two years of acquaintance was enough to turn strangers into good friends, and now, even setting aside Zhou Cheng’s connection, Kang Wei was her good friend. It was natural to celebrate when a friend found love.

Kang Wei also had plans to start his own business – that made two pieces of good news.

As for whether Kang Wei noticed her as he passed by, what did it matter? A man immersed in love naturally only has eyes for the one he loves.

“Let’s go, boss. Let’s not disturb them.”

The next day when Kang Wei came to find Xia Xiaolan, she didn’t tease him about it. It wasn’t until Kang Wei brought up the furniture factory matter that he couldn’t help telling her:

“Anyway, Sister-in-law, you should know that Xiao Shan is now my girlfriend. Sister-in-law, please look after her.”

Xia Xiaolan was exasperated.

From “Senior Shan” to “Xiao Shan” now.

And asking a sophomore to look after Shan Yujun – had Kang Wei been completely overtaken by love-brain?

“Alright, alright, I get your meaning. Do you want to buy an existing small factory in Yangcheng and produce furniture according to your ideas? You need to think it through carefully. Don’t be too ambitious at first, settle on two main products to start with. You could talk to Gong Yang too, he’s studied many renovation cases and must have ideas about furniture styles. When your factory’s products are ready, you can display samples at the building materials store, or even open your showroom…”

Starting a business from scratch wasn’t easy.

Kang Wei had always followed others’ lead, first Zhou Cheng, then Xia Xiaolan.

Now that he was striking out on his own, Xia Xiaolan could only offer general guidance. She couldn’t manage everything for him. Kang Wei listened intently, afraid to miss anything. These points seemed simple in the discussion, but only in actual operation would he discover their difficulty.

Having just started dating, it should have been time to be lovey-dovey, but now with so many matters pending, Kang Wei couldn’t stay in Beijing for long.

“I’m going to miss her so much!”

Xia Xiaolan covered her ears, “Don’t wail about it to me, Senior Shan might misunderstand. If you’re going to miss her, then stay in Beijing and properly plan everything out. You’ve been relying on letters to communicate with Senior Shan, which isn’t easy. These few days, focus on planning in Beijing, we can discuss anything you’re unclear about. Once you have a direction, go back on weekends, you could ask if Senior Shan wants to go together… Do I need to teach you this?”

Kang Wei nodded matter-of-factly:

“Of course, you need to teach me, I’ve never dated before!”

Never dated before and proud of it?

Well, he could be proud. This kind of innocence was probably only common in the 80s. Alone thirty years later, even in just over a decade, with society becoming more open, how many girls would pursue men like Kang Wei with his good family background?

Having your first love in your twenties was almost impossible.

She was Zhou Cheng’s first love too, and Xia Xiaolan felt inexplicably happy about that.

She should be better than Chengzi, more tolerant, not complaining like a bad girlfriend when he sometimes acted too direct.

Those gentle and considerate men were just trained by other women… Xia Xiaolan had no time to chat with Kang Wei: “Just follow your heart. When you like a girl, you’d give her the stars and moon if you could, no teaching needed.”

Senior Shan didn’t seem like an unreasonable girl, and with Kang Wei being so accommodating, their relationship would work out.

Kang Wei thought so too.

Even if he wasn’t as handsome as Brother Chengzi, he was at least second best, much better than that philandering bastard Shao Guangrong. He was willing to be good to Xiao Shan, willing to yield to her, Xiao Shan would like him too.

Ask Shao Guangrong for advice.

Impossible.

Shao Guangrong had dated so many girlfriends and none worked out. Kang Wei feared bad luck would rub off – why learn from failed experiences? He was different from Shao Guangrong, he was a proper person!

This proper person proudly went off to treat his new girlfriend to a meal.

Just as Xia Xiaolan was thinking about being more patient with Zhou Cheng, trouble came that evening when Guan Huie told her:

“Zhou Yi ran away!”

Xia Xiaolan was surprised: “Wasn’t Sister Zhou Yi locked up at home? How could she run away? Did she run off with Yuan Han? Perhaps Aunt got discharged early, and Sister Zhou Yi discovered Aunt was faking illness…”

Guan Huie’s voice carried indescribable sympathy:

“No, that child Zhou Yi is so thoughtless. Her mother is still in the hospital, but when she heard Yuan Han was transferred back to his hometown, she just bought a ticket and went after him. This time her mother fell ill.”