The dormitory chat session continued until 1 AM.

The dorm inspector knocked three times before finally extinguishing the flames of conversation in Room 307. They deployed their ultimate weapon – threatening to deduct conduct points.

Conduct scores appeared on academic transcripts and were closely tied to scholarship eligibility and student organization membership. These scores would enter student files, and clearly, students rated “excellent” in conduct were more favored by employers than those rated “good.” A failing conduct grade could have serious consequences.

Though Teacher Dai didn’t emphasize it, a few students missed the opening ceremony. Once mentioned, everyone took it more seriously.

During the chat, beyond thorough self-introductions, they also elected Room 307’s “dorm head.” Yang Yonghong was unanimously elected, being both the oldest and naturally nurturing in temperament. Fifth-ranked Su Jing and youngest Lu Yan were Beijing locals, while the rest, like Xia Xiaolan, came from other provinces. Third-ranked Zhou Limin was from Yangcheng in Yue Province, though her accent wasn’t particularly strong.

Their conversation until 1 AM covered self-introductions, views on architecture, and expectations about university life. No one mentioned their college entrance exam scores.

On the second day of enrollment, Xia Xiaolan experienced firsthand the dedication of her studious roommates. Her body clock hadn’t adjusted, so she naturally woke before 7 AM. Yet she wasn’t the first – Yang Yonghong was already studying on the balcony, and the youngest, Lu Yan, sat at her desk with headphones, silently memorizing English vocabulary.

“Classmates, do you need to work this hard? It’s only the first day!”

After quietly finishing her morning routine, Yang Yonghong lowered her book and softly asked, “Want to go to the cafeteria?”

Xia Xiaolan had planned to go running but decided to accompany Yang Yonghong instead – she could wake up half an hour earlier tomorrow for her run. Before they left, several others woke up. With the opening ceremony being the day’s main event, they wanted to sleep in and begged Yang Yonghong and Xia Xiaolan to bring back breakfast.

Yang Yonghong called them lazy bugs but still took their lunch boxes. Lu Yan opened her eyes and turned off her recorder: “Going to the cafeteria? I’ll join you – that’s too many boxes to carry back.”

“We’ll bring breakfast, but we don’t know what they’re serving. If it’s steamed buns, you get buns; if it’s noodles, you get noodles. No being picky!”

Xia Xiaolan tapped the lunch boxes. Su Jing poked her head out from under her blanket: “Let me sleep a bit more. I’ll eat even if you bring back rocks…”

Agreeing voices emerged from other blankets everyone was awake but wanted to sleep in. Xia Xiaolan gave in, figuring people willing to eat rocks would be easy to please.

The girls’ dormitory wasn’t next to Cafeteria 9, so Xia Xiaolan missed the bizarre sight of noodles being served in bathtubs. They got their food normally using yesterday’s meal tickets. Since they were getting food for five roommates, Lu Yan suggested they eat first before packing food to take back.

The cafeteria had limited tables – during rush hours, people probably had to eat outside. The three arrived early and each had a bowl of noodles. Despite having identical value meal tickets, Xia Xiaolan got the smallest portion due to her small lunch box.

Hadn’t the cafeteria worker suggested she get a bigger lunch box? Xia Xiaolan was confused – she thought she saw male students bringing spittoons to buy noodles… and washbasins?

“Xiaolan, your lunch box is too small!”

“Yes, you’re getting shortchanged on portions. Get a bigger one quick!”

Yang Yonghong and Lu Yan ignored the variety of “dining vessels” while unanimously criticizing Xia Xiaolan’s small lunch box. Yang Yonghong slurped down her large bowl of noodles in no time, seeming unsatisfied as if she hadn’t eaten enough.

Xia Xiaolan was used to better food at home – Huaqing’s noodles were just boiled noodles with soy sauce. Yet influenced by Yang Yonghong and Lu Yan, she found these soy sauce noodles quite tasty. Perhaps she really should get a bigger lunch box?

Walking back to the dorm with several portions of food, it wasn’t yet 8 AM. Huaqing was already bustling with students – sleeping in wasn’t an option, not just at Huaqing but at any university. The study atmosphere was intense. Without phones, computers, or other diverse entertainment to distract students, everyone cherished their opportunity to learn.

Infected by this atmosphere, Xia Xiaolan felt motivated to study. She was eager to learn about architecture. In this ivory tower, business in Yangcheng, the preparation of ‘Anxin Building Materials,’ whether Chen Xiliang had sold all the sportswear, including the business of ‘Blue Phoenix’ in Shangdu – everything seemed to instantly fade away from Xia Xiaolan’s mind.

Getting into university and solving basic survival needs, Xia Xiaolan felt she had achieved a short-term goal. Money-making was endless, and since she wanted to study architecture for plans, having invested so much effort in the college entrance exam to get into Huaqing, she needed to focus and learn something truly useful.

As she was thinking, she spotted a familiar figure under a willow tree ahead.

“Senior, please take my lunch box back. I’ve met an elder.”

Yang Yonghong looked at the woman under the willow tree, then at Xia Xiaolan – they really did look similar. Lu Yan mentally exclaimed – Xia Xiaolan was truly beautiful, and this woman looking for her was beautiful too. Do beautiful people just naturally connect with beautiful people?

After her roommates left, Xia Xiaolan approached Guan Hui’e: “Aunt Guan, did you come to see me?”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to presume, but Guan Hui’e waiting below the dormitory wasn’t there for anyone else.

Guan Hui’e nodded, “Come, keep Auntie company for a while. Show me around Huaqing – such a good university.”

“Yes, as you wish.”

They walked slowly through campus. Guan Hui’e was very polite, asking if Xia Xiaolan had adjusted to her first day, and encouraging her to maintain her excellent high school performance in university. She asked about roommate relationships and whether the cafeteria food suited her taste. As Zhou Cheng’s mother, having only met Xia Xiaolan once, Guan Hui’e’s concern was remarkably detailed!

Walking until they reached a lotus pond, with no one around, Guan Hui’e stopped: “Xiaolan, Auntie wants to talk about you dating Zhou Cheng.”

Xia Xiaolan’s heart settled – ah, so it was finally coming.

She had thought that even if Zhou’s family didn’t like her at their first meeting, they wouldn’t hate her.

Now what was this suppressed anger from Guan Hui’e about?

Xia Xiaolan steadied herself, completely calm: “Please speak. As Zhou Cheng’s mother, you have a say in our relationship.”

Guan Hui’e took a deep breath. It was this calmness, this assured calmness, thinking Zhou Cheng liked her too much to break up with her! Guan Hui’e felt somewhat angry, this anger coming from a “mother’s” perspective:

“Do you really like Zhou Cheng? What do you like about him? If I, as Zhou Cheng’s mother, ask you to leave Zhou Cheng…”