At nine o’clock in the evening, Hu Qianxi expertly led Xu Sui to the snack street behind Beihang University. After walking a few minutes, Sheng Nanzhou, sitting at a barbecue stall, waved at them.

Xu Sui looked over to see several boys sitting there. Zhou Jingze wore black clothes with his back to her, his hair cut very short, revealing a section of pale neck.

Hu Qianxi walked over, carefully avoiding puddles, and complained from about a meter away: “I really hate places with heavy oil smoke smells. I’m all about refined consumerism.”

Sheng Nanzhou put down his tea cup and sneered: “Who ordered two pork knuckles and a dozen pork kidneys last time?”

“You—you, don’t make false accusations, you howling celestial dog,” Hu Qianxi rushed forward to hit him.

“Why do you always provoke her?” Zhou Jingze glanced at him, took the menu in his hand, spun it around, and slapped it in front of Xu Sui. “Order whatever you want to eat.”

Sheng Nanzhou thought to himself that he was at least a handsome guy with decent features—how did he become a howling celestial dog? So the two continued arguing endlessly. Hu Qianxi grabbed his collar, saying: “I only ate a little last time, don’t slander me.”

The two tussled together while Da Liu watched from the side, greatly amused. Zhou Jingze tapped the table with his knuckles, his sharp gaze sweeping over them both: “You two should transfer schools—you’d be perfect for Little Sun Kindergarten.”

The two elementary school kids immediately let go upon hearing this. The boss brought over utensils at that moment. Hu Qianxi unwrapped her chopsticks but couldn’t break through the plastic-sealed bowl no matter how hard she poked.

Sheng Nanzhou naturally took the utensils from her hands, unwrapped them, and even scalded them with hot water, though he said: “How can you be so stupid?”

Xu Sui was indecisive and worried that what she ordered might not satisfy everyone, so she pushed the menu back: “You guys order. I can eat anything.”

Not long after they ordered, the barbecue was served. The service guy here seemed to know Zhou Jingze and asked while setting down plates: “The usual—a dozen Coronas?”

Zhou Jingze leaned back in his chair and smiled: “Thanks.”

After the beer arrived, Da Liu acted like everyone was attending his wedding banquet, filling everyone’s glass very full and urging them to drink: “If you don’t drink, you’re not giving me face.”

Everyone: “…”

When it came to Xu Sui’s turn, she instinctively refused, saying gently: “I don’t drink alcohol.”

“Xu Sui, why don’t you have just a little? Otherwise, with you, a good student, sitting here while only we drink, it looks like a crime scene,” Da Liu persuaded.

“What bullshit are you talking?” Zhou Jingze stretched out his long legs and kicked Da Liu, his voice low: “Enough, stop forcing people.”

The group sat together chatting. Xu Sui propped her chin on her hand, watching Sheng Nanzhou and Hu Qianxi bicker, and listening to Da Liu talk about Zhou Jingze’s affairs at school. Xu Sui listened intently, not even noticing when Zhou Jingze left.

Da Liu was like Zhou Jingze’s fanboy, slapping the table: “My Master Zhou ranks first in both cultural studies and practical operations. Amazing, right? The teachers love him so much they wanted him to be class monitor, but he actually refused. Damn, such a pity—there’s no one to help when we want to skip evening study hall.”

“But I always cause trouble. Last time Master Zhou helped cover for me, and he got punished with fixed rolling and running laps on the field. I think it was last month—it was so hot that he just took off his training uniform, showing all his muscles. The girls watching around the field went crazy,” Da Liu took a couple sips of beer and began envying Zhou Jingze’s popularity with girls. “Damn, he’s like a walking wingman. The next day the school’s confession wall was completely dominated by my Master Zhou’s name.”

Xu Sui’s heart tightened as she asked: “Are there many people pursuing him at school?”

Just as Da Liu was about to respond, a familiar cold voice sounded above their heads: “Listen to him talking nonsense.”

A box of milk appeared beside Xu Sui’s right hand. She heard a chair being pulled nearby as Zhou Jingze returned, wearing a black jacket, and sat back down.

Xu Sui touched the milk box—it was still warm. Touched by his casual thoughtfulness, she said softly: “Thank you.”

Zhou Jingze chuckled but said nothing, picking up the beer from the table to drink. Sheng Nanzhou tapped his bowl with chopsticks: “Friends, the reason we’re gathered here today is because there’s something I want to…”

“If you have something to say, say it quickly,” Hu Qianxi rolled her eyes.

“He wants everyone to form a temporary band to participate in the school competition,” Da Liu stole the thunder from Sheng Nanzhou’s long-prepared speech. “He wants your help.”

“Why are you so enthusiastic about campus activities now?” Hu Qianxi turned to look at him.

“Because the prize is a two-day, one-night trip to Beishan Ski Resort,” Zhou Jingze interjected. “He got down on his knees and begged me for ages.”

“Right, I remember you can play electric guitar, right? Beautiful and lovely Princess Xixi,” Sheng Nanzhou unconsciously became fawning.

Hu Qianxi didn’t act coy: “Fine, I’m going crazy from studying all the time anyway.”

“Alright, I’m on accordion, Da Liu is lead vocals and keyboard, Master Zhou is cello and backing vocals, you’re on electric guitar,” Sheng Nanzhou sighed. “We’re still missing someone really wild on drums.”

Suddenly, a soft but firm voice spoke up: “I can do it.”

“You?” Everyone looked shocked, turning to stare at Xu Sui in unison.

Just as Xu Sui was about to speak, her phone made a “ding” notification sound. She opened it to see an apologetic text message from Bai Yuyue.