“Zhou Cheng, your girlfriend’s come to see you again?”

His dormmates were quite envious. Usually, Zhou Cheng never left the academy on weekends, staying in the dorm to study even when there were no classes, as if trying to make up for all the years of missed education.

Only when his girlfriend said she was coming would Zhou Cheng carefully groom himself, put down his books, and smile more!

They weren’t just envious of Zhou Cheng’s beautiful girlfriend, but that in 1985, when transportation wasn’t convenient, she could frequently come to see him at the academy – wealthy and free? She must be both, and devoted.

Making trip after trip was quite tiring – wasn’t she exhausted?

Willing to endure this fatigue just to see Zhou Cheng – this was what his roommates truly envied.

Of course, envying Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend’s beauty was also a reason – this kind of envy was instinctual, not superficial.

Envy aside, everyone knew the score – after all, wasn’t Zhou Cheng incredibly handsome?

His roommates teased him a bit, but Zhou Cheng didn’t mind:

“Yes, she’s coming. She’s even busier at school than I am. I tell her to rest on weekends, but she insists on coming to see me.”

Zhou Cheng’s words were too provocative – as soon as he finished speaking, everyone united to drive him out of the dorm.

The door slammed shut against the back of his head with a “bang,” showing his roommates’ anger. Zhou Cheng rubbed the back of his head – he’d only spoken the truth, these people were just jealous. His wife wasn’t just busy with academics, she also had the residential development in Pengcheng. He was proud of how capable his wife was, but bragging about how much money she made would be truly showing off – Zhou Cheng could only savor this pride privately!

The thought of seeing Xiaolan filled him with springtime joy.

When studying felt dry or advanced studies became tedious, he would think more about Xiaolan.

Hadn’t Xiaolan also worried about making a living before, and also needed to calm down to study? Zhou Cheng had other concerns, but the academy’s advanced studies were truly a good opportunity. When the two-year program ended, Zhou Cheng hoped to show good results… What advantages did he have over Xiaolan? Only being lucky enough to be born into a good family.

If he didn’t work hard enough, the gap between him and Xiaolan would only grow wider.

Zhou Cheng thought about this as he walked downstairs.

Jiang Yan and several female students approached, noting his casual clothes, “Zhou Cheng, are you going out?”

Zhou Cheng didn’t hide it, “Xiaolan’s here, and she brought friends to visit.”

The female students ran off giggling, leaving Jiang Yan to talk with Zhou Cheng alone. Jiang Yan looked worried:

“I don’t mean to interfere with your date, but my cousin still hasn’t been found. When I called Jinling to ask, my family just told me not to worry about it, being vague and not telling me where Jiang Wu went. Zhou Cheng, don’t you think he’s like a venomous snake, ready to strike at any moment?”

As Jiang Yan spoke, she unconsciously touched her neck.

“He’s disappeared but still holds his position – the Jiang family truly influences Jinling. I’m not mocking you, just stating facts.”

Zhou Cheng thought Jiang Wu had gone to find Brother Pan San, and he’d already sent a message warning Third Brother to be careful.

Third Brother was quite bold, unlike Zhou Cheng and Jiang Yan’s worry. He believed he and Jiang Wu would eventually have a showdown and welcomed Jiang Wu to find him. According to Brother Pan San, encountering Jiang Wu on the vast sea meant fewer constraints than on land – this time he wouldn’t need to show mercy!

Zhou Cheng didn’t want to discuss Jiang Wu today – thinking about such a gloomy person would spoil his mood.

Jiang Yan didn’t persist and changed the subject: “If it were just you and Xia Xiaolan meeting, I definitely wouldn’t intrude, but since other friends are coming, could I join too? Honestly, I still don’t understand why you’re with Xia Xiaolan, perhaps because I’ve had too few chances to interact with her. Zhou Cheng, I’m glad you and Third Brother still consider me a friend. Third Brother advised me not to meddle in your private affairs, to be more open-minded… I’d like to get to know her better, is that okay?”

Though Jiang Yan spoke graciously, Zhou Cheng frowned.

Although they could talk normally now, since returning from Pengcheng, Jiang Yan hadn’t constantly bothered him.

They’d talked more only after Jiang Wu suddenly went crazy and choked Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan truly hadn’t spoken ill of Xiaolan again, but letting her join their outing? Zhou Cheng felt it inappropriate and replied honestly:

“Probably not a good idea – you don’t know any of the friends coming.”

Jiang Yan immediately felt awkward.

She wasn’t one to give up easily. As Pan San said, Jiang Yan had an indomitable persistence, never giving up until achieving her goal – sometimes this persistence became an obsession.

Zhou Cheng’s rejection was clear, though it left her some face. Instead of gracefully backing down, she became more determined:

“Fine, ever since you got a girlfriend, you’ve lost half your heroic spirit, becoming timid and indecisive. You’re afraid Xia Xiaolan won’t agree, right? When she arrives, I’ll ask her myself!”

Having one’s way was also a skill.

Jiang Yan’s skill wasn’t just this – she was particularly righteous about having her way.

Zhou Cheng ignored her and left the academy.

Xia Xiaolan had called before departing, and Zhou Cheng had timed his exit accordingly. After waiting less than 20 minutes, he saw Kang Wei’s modified Jeep 212 appear.

“Zhou Cheng!”

“Brother Cheng-zi!”

“Call him Brother Cheng-zi, show even more respect than you do to me, understand?”

Shao Guangrong’s messy introductions made Xia Xiaolan both amused and exasperated. Though Little You dressed like a street girl, her temperament was very good, basically doing whatever Shao Guangrong said.

One doesn’t hit a smiling face – even if she was a street girl when someone greets you respectfully, Zhou Cheng wouldn’t embarrass them. He treated Little You the same as Dan Yujun.

To Zhou Cheng, both were his childhood friends’ partners – temporary or long-term didn’t matter, their status wouldn’t change.

With his brothers’ partners, he was polite but not overly familiar… What use was caring about others’ partners when he couldn’t get enough of looking at his own wife standing before him?

He held Xiaolan’s hand, “Let’s go. Last time, your sister-in-law mentioned wanting to hunt in the back mountains but couldn’t. I see she’s still thinking about it. With more people this time, it’ll be livelier – everyone can have their fill of fun!”

Xia Xiaolan squeezed his fingers as if she was just being playful. But with few entertainment facilities at this time, when so many people gathered together, hunting was more interesting than just eating and drinking.

Just as Xia Xiaolan was about to suggest they squeeze into the car, the academy gates opened, and a car stopped in front of them. Jiang Yan leaned out from the driver’s seat:

“Xia Xiaolan, can I join you all?”

Kang Wei couldn’t help secretly checking Zhou Cheng’s expression. Wow, what a dramatic scene! He’d said Jiang Yan had ill intentions – would Sister-in-law Xiaolan make Brother Cheng kneel on the washboard?

Before Zhou Cheng could speak, Xia Xiaolan looked at Jiang Yan for a moment:

“Why not? We’re quite cramped in one car anyway – Jiang Yan, you’ve just solved a problem for us.”

Xia Xiaolan wanted to see what Jiang Yan was up to. Better to cause trouble under her watch than to mess with Zhou Cheng when she wasn’t around. Whether or not she could accept Jiang Yan, however wary she might be of her, during her time abroad as an exchange student, Jiang Yan would definitely find opportunities to undermine her – there was no use hiding, so why not face it head-on?