"Big Bro, what... what are you doing?" Xiao Dongbei took the initiative to ask.
He always thought of himself as a brave bull, but it wasn’t until he spoke that he realized he was trembling.
Han Lie looked up in confusion. "Just tidying up some trash... Why didn’t you two turn on the lights?"
"We’ll turn them on, right away!"
The brothers were overjoyed.
Ding Ding "whooshed" to the switch and impatiently turned on the light.
The dormitory became brightly lit. Looking at Han Lie again, the brothers finally didn’t feel that terrifying, horror-movie sensation.
The brothers both let out a huge sigh of relief; their hearts, which had been lodged in their throats, finally settled back down.
Xiao Dongbei subconsciously turned to glance at the black plastic bag. It seemed quite full but didn’t look heavy. Huang Wei probably isn’t inside... right?
Ugh, PTUI! PTUI! What ’probably’? Definitely not!
The two wiped their sweat and went to their respective beds.
"Bro Han, I brought you some specialties from my hometown."
With a beaming smile, Ding Ding opened his travel bag and took out a bunch of salted ducks, vacuum-packed snacks, and the like.
Han Lie wasn’t interested in those snacks but accepted them graciously, then casually asked, "What kind of factory does your family run? Snack processing?"
"Yes, these are all produced by my family."
Ding Ding nodded shyly and emphasized, "Our family pays great attention to hygiene, so you can rest assured and eat them, Bro Han!"
Han Lie glanced at the packaging—something called "Meat Plenty," a brand he had never heard of before.
But Ding Ding seemed like a sincere kid. He himself opened a bag of chicken gizzards and took a big, crunchy bite, his mouth glistening with oil.
"My sister and I have been eating our family’s cooked food since we were young. Absolutely no problem!"
Well, if the young owner dares to eat it, then it must be reliable.
Han Lie casually opened a bag of pickled pepper chicken feet and tasted it. The flavor was all right, but it didn’t have any special, memorable aspect.
Still, he had to compliment, "Not bad, tastes pretty good."
Ding Ding grinned broadly, looking rather endearingly simple.
This kid is much cuter than Huang Wei...
Xiao Dongbei finally opened his package, heaping several large bags of pine nuts, hazelnuts, large almonds, and candied chestnuts onto Han Lie’s table.
"Here, Big Bro, try our Northeast forestry products!"
"Whoa! That’s way too much, bro!"
Han Lie hurriedly refused. "No need, I’ll just taste them, that’s it. You take the rest back."
"You just take them and eat!"
"If you can’t finish them, give them to others. Don’t be polite at all!"
"I brought these especially for you, Big Bro. I’ve been eating this stuff since I was a kid, and now I really don’t want to touch it."
Xiao Dongbei slapped his chest emphatically, as if a softer sound would make him seem insincere.
Han Lie thought to himself: What have I done to scare these kids ? What a mess I’ve made...
Of course, there’s nothing to regret.
If I hadn’t scared them, I would’ve been the one getting bullied, no doubt.
Even though Huang Wei started it, it’s obvious that if he’d made the first move, the others would’ve followed.
Are they bad people? Most of them aren’t. They’ve just been spoiled rotten, never taking bullying seriously, and daring to do anything when they’re part of a crowd.
Looks like Ding Ding and Xiao Dongbei can still be reformed. Not like that Huang Mao.
Thinking of Huang Wei, Han Lie casually asked, "Where’s Xiao Huang? Has he completely moved out?"
It was just a casual question, but Ding Ding and Xiao Dongbei clearly didn’t think so.
The brothers exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding fiercely. Look, Big Bro is still holding a grudge! Damn, we have to warn Huang Wei. He better not show his face around here if he knows what’s good for him... That plastic bag can hold trash... but it can also hold other things!
Xiao Dongbei mumbled in reply, "Don’t worry, Big Bro, he definitely won’t dare to mess with you anymore. Whether he moves out or not... it’s all the same, right..."
Ding Ding nodded hastily. "Right, right!"
Han Lie couldn’t help but laugh.
"All right then, let’s not talk about him. You two just got back. Have you eaten yet?"
"Then let’s go. You two brought me so many specialties, I’ll treat you to a meal, as a gesture of reciprocity."
Han Lie gently waved his hand, trying his best to keep his demeanor extremely friendly.
The two buddies eagerly nodded their heads, actually feeling quite honored...
The three of them didn’t go far, just found a barbecue restaurant on the snack street.
Once seated, Han Lie asked, "Do you mind if I call two more classmates from our class?"
Xiao Dongbei immediately expressed his stance, "What’s there to mind? Big Bro, do you need me to arrange some girls to accompany us?"
"Oh, man!" Han Lie laughed. "You’ve only started college for a few days, and you’ve got this much clout?"
"That’s not my clout..." Xiao Dongbei laughed bashfully and scratched his head. "Mainly because the girls in our class, after hearing about Big Bro’s exploits, are all very curious..."
Han Lie heard this and sprayed a mouthful of his drink straight out.
What ’exploits’? What are they curious about? Are they nuts?
"Stop kidding. I was planning to invite girls..."
Han Lie decisively rejected Xiao Dongbei’s suggestion.
Mainly, I’ve been freeloading off Fang Feifei and Yu Yun every day. Since I’m treating today, it’s only polite to invite them. And it just so happens I can keep Ding Ding and Xiao Dongbei in line, so things shouldn’t get awkward.
Han Lie had just taken out his phone when Ding Ding suddenly tugged at him, then quietly spoke up.
"Bro Han, don’t call yet. Those two over there are our classmates. Look, they’re coming this way..."
Han Lie turned his head and saw a stunningly beautiful girl, leading a chubby girl, sashaying into the shop from the entrance.
Xiao Dongbei’s eyes lit up as he stood up and greeted loudly, "Pan Ge, Tofu, you two out for a meal?"
Ding Ding quietly nudged Han Lie. "How about that? Pretty, right?"
She really is pretty.
The peerless beauties of the Humanities College, Class of ’13, truly exceptional. Enough to make any man swoon and despair. One was Xi Luting after her fitness transformation, and the other was Pan Ge. And unlike Xi Luting, who still needed to develop, Pan Ge arrived at school fully formed—the goddess every boy dreamed of. Her height was very approachable, precisely 166.5 centimeters.
——Don’t ask how Han Lie knew; later on, even her measurements were uncovered by people.
In terms of physique, Pan Ge had that perfectly proportioned 8.5-head-to-body ratio, a small face, straight shoulders, and long legs. Moreover, she had an incredibly high-class ’film face.’ What exactly a ’high-class film face’ meant, I never really understood in my previous life. I only knew that from freshman year until Pan Ge went abroad at the end of sophomore year, scouts were constantly trying to sign her. Now, with Level 3 Acting, I finally get it. It’s about having striking bone structure that isn’t common, allowing it to hold up on the big screen. No matter how the camera zoomed in or from what angle it shot, she was stunning. A specific description... I can’t quite articulate it. Anyway, the first time I was ever truly dumbstruck by a woman in real life was when I first saw Pan Ge. Chen Yanfei didn’t do it, Xi Luting didn’t do it; only Pan Ge did. That sense of awe was a very pure feeling. Back then, I didn’t have any lewd thoughts, nothing like ’she’s hot, I want to sleep with her.’ It was just pure astonishment—how can this girl be so beautiful? Now, reborn, looking at her again with the eyes of a mature man, I still feel the same way. This girl is truly beautiful. What a shame, though. She’s a princess, completely unapproachable. Meant to be admired from afar, not to be trifled with...
Pan Ge smiled politely and nodded to Xiao Dongbei.
"Qi Xiangbei, hello."
The girl known as Tofu, upon spotting Ding Yu sitting there, her face lit up with joy.
"Ding Ding, when did you get back?"
Ding Yu stood up, smiling shyly. "I just got here, came out to eat with my roommate. Tofu, Pan Ge, do you want to join tables?"
Tofu’s face beamed with delight, and she was about to respond enthusiastically.
But then she suddenly remembered something, turned back to look at Pan Ge, her eyes seeking approval: Is it okay?
Pan Ge instinctively glanced at Han Lie, then after pondering for a little over a second, nodded gently.
"Then, we’ll impose on you."
Her persona was understated, yet her voice rang like a bubbling spring.
Xiao Dongbei enthusiastically made arrangements, seating Pan Ge across from Han Lie.