The moment Tang Yan stepped through the campus gate she found herself in the middle of lively commotion. A crowd of students had formed a tight circle, and from a distance she could make out two figures—apparently a boy and a girl—standing at its center.
Curiosity drew her closer. She lingered on the fringe just in time for the dramatic part. The boy inside the circle cradled an enormous bouquet of roses—surely ninety‑nine blooms by the look of it. Their vivid crimson stood out sharply against the bleak monotone of early winter.
Opposite him stood a girl in a plaid dress, styled in a soft, Japanese “sweet” fashion. She seemed shy, her head bowed.
“I like you,” the boy declared, voice steady and confident. “I’ve noticed you ever since you enrolled. Will you give me a chance to take our relationship to the next level?”
The surrounding students erupted in delighted cheers, chanting, “Together, together, together!” Even though public confessions did not especially interest Tang Yan, she still wondered how the girl would respond. The boy looked sincerely smitten.
Then everything turned.
When the girl finally raised her head, her face showed not bashfulness or joy but pure embarrassment. Calling the boy by name, she fidgeted with her fingers and said softly, “I’m sorry, I can’t be with you.”
“Why not?” The boy’s expression collapsed into disappointment and confusion.
“Because… because…” She faltered, unsure how to continue. At that exact moment another tall girl—with flowing hair and confident stride—burst from the crowd, seized the plaid‑dress girl by the wrist, and announced to the boy with imperious finality, “Because you’re not her type. Stop pestering her.”
With that, the newcomer whisked the shy girl away, leaving the onlookers staring, stunned, their imaginations racing.
Tang Yan stood rooted to the spot, astonished. Was it possible her hunch was right? If so, that bold newcomer was unbelievably cool. More than once Tang Yan had fantasized about chasing away the men who hovered around Aunt Ji someday—and doing it without hesitation, just as decisively.
A familiar voice snapped her from her thoughts. From across the crowd Zhao Xiaoyun came jogging toward her.
“Xiaoyun!” Tang Yan exclaimed.
“I was just looking for you. I didn’t expect to find you here,” Zhao Xiaoyun said.
“Someone was making a confession, so I stayed to watch,” Tang Yan replied.
“Same here! And that ending—wow.” Zhao Xiaoyun leaned close and whispered, “Honestly, I think those two girls are the real couple. Everyone else just pretended not to notice.”
Surprised that they shared the same thought, Tang Yan gave a light laugh to mask her own feelings. “Yeah, they did look well matched.”
“Did they? Ha! Never thought I’d hear you say that.” Zhao Xiaoyun glanced toward the gate behind them. “Didn’t Aunt Ji drive you today?”
Tang Yan adjusted her backpack. “No, I came by bus.”
“Is her leg better? All thanks to that scoundrel Tang Yawen,” Zhao Xiaoyun grumbled, never forgiving him.
Tang Yan nodded. “We went for a check‑up yesterday. She can walk slowly now; with proper rest she should recover completely.”
Zhao Xiaoyun clicked her tongue. “Tang Yawen really made a mess of things.”
“Enough about him. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Tang Yan asked.
“I wanted to surprise you. Besides, my company’s on holiday.” Zhao Xiaoyun grinned.
Tang Yan smiled. “Looks like you’re doing well. Everything okay?”
“Much better than working down south in those factories. Here everyone works like they’ve had a shot of adrenaline—more effort, more pay—and I meet people from all kinds of circles.” Once she started, Zhao Xiaoyun could hardly stop.
Tang Yan teased, “In that case, have you found yourself a good partner yet?”
Zhao Xiaoyun nudged her shoulder. “You’ve become cheeky, Tang Yan.”
“Come on, at our age it��s normal to like someone.”
“Not yet,” Zhao Xiaoyun promised. “When I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Tang Yan winked.
“Let me show you my dorm,” she suggested. “Then we can grab dinner in the cafeteria.”
“Great!” Zhao Xiaoyun clapped. “I’ve never seen a university dorm, and I hear campus food is amazing.”
“Don’t say that. If you’re a country bumpkin, what does that make me?” Tang Yan laughed. “You’ll see for yourself.”
When they reached the dorm, it was oddly quiet—noone in sight. Tang Yan set her backpack on her bunk while Zhao Xiaoyun surveyed the room. “This is so much nicer than our old school dorms.”
“Of course,” Tang Yan said while tidying her things. “Those schools couldn’t afford conditions like these.”
“I’m so jealous,” Zhao Xiaoyun murmured.
Not knowing how to respond, Tang Yan simply patted her friend’s back. She could not truly feel what Zhao Xiaoyun had gone through, but she understood.
“No need to comfort me,” Zhao Xiaoyun said, inhaling deeply. “Even if my family had sent me to school, I doubt I could have gotten into a university this good. Think of it as saving tuition and graduating early from the university of life.”
The words stung Tang Yan’s heart.
Later she took Zhao Xiaoyun to one of the largest cafeterias on campus. The counters were dazzling, and everything felt novel to Zhao Xiaoyun. Somehow the two of them ended up with a table piled high, and they ate until they could barely stand.
“I’m done, I’m done—bursting!” Zhao Xiaoyun waved both hands. “We bought way too much, but wasting food felt even worse.”
Tang Yan could hardly speak; if not for her friend’s coaxing she would never have eaten so much. “Next… next time, moderation…”
“Do you know, Tang Yan,” Zhao Xiaoyun groaned, bracing herself against a wall, “I wished I had three stomachs like a cow so I could pack in every delicious thing!”
Tang Yan laughed helplessly. “Let’s walk it off then—I’m stuffed too.”
Dusk settled early in early winter. Streetlights blinked on across campus, neat and orderly. The two girls strolled under the avenue of trees, sharing childhood stories and giggling.
Near the library road, Tang Yan’s phone rang, interrupting their chatter. The caller ID showed her counselor. She glanced at Zhao Xiaoyun. “It’s my counselor.”
“Answer it!” Zhao Xiaoyun urged.
Tang Yan hesitated. Why would the counselor call at this hour? She answered anyway. “Hello, Teacher Chen.”
“Tang Yan, are you on campus? Please come to my office right away.”
“Understood.”
After hanging up, Zhao Xiaoyun asked, “Something up?”
“She wants me in her office,” Tang Yan said helplessly.
“Then hurry, don’t worry about me.”
“You’ll be all right alone?”
“Of course. It’s not my first time here. I’m a grown woman; I won’t get lost. I’ll wander a bit and head home,” Zhao Xiaoyun assured her.
“All right. Call me if you need anything.”
They parted ways. Tang Yan sped toward the College of Computing, almost flying.
Once alone, Zhao Xiaoyun roamed the campus, watching students she envied living lives she could barely imagine.
Just then a group of girls emerged nearby. The one in front sported brightly dyed hair—instantly recognizable as the driver who had accidentally scraped Zhao Xiaoyun’s car and then given her a generous sum of money. Zhao Xiaoyun had been searching for a chance to repay her. Amazed by the coincidence, she walked straight toward the girl.
Meanwhile Tang Yan reached the third floor of the Computing Building. She paused outside the counselor’s office, drew a deep breath, and knocked on the door.