Chapter 18

It was the last class before the long weekend, and most students' minds had already flown home, restless with excitement.

Zhen Bao sat in the third row, while Jia Xiao Yu next to her secretly read a novel, taking diligent notes.

There were still ten minutes left before class ended, but the teacher let them out early.

The students rushed out in a swarm, leaving the classroom empty. Zhen Bao slowly finished her last sentence of notes, then started to pack up, including three textbooks her roommates had asked her to bring home. Those three, who were all from the capital city, were as excited as out-of-towners for some reason, not even planning to go back to the dorm, heading straight from the classroom to leave campus.

After putting all the books in her bag, Zhen Bao took out some tissues and first went to the bathroom. When she came back, there were sounds of footsteps clamoring down the stairs, as all the classes in the teaching building seemed to have ended. Zhen Bao sent Fu Ming Shi a text that class was over, then slung her bag over her shoulder and headed towards the stairs alone.

"Zhen Bao?" Just as she was about to squeeze into the crowd going downstairs, someone suddenly called her name from above.

Zhen Bao looked up to see Meng Ji Ning walking down the stairs while smiling at her. He wore a black plaid shirt, tall and slender, giving off a refined air when he smiled lightly. Reaching the second floor, Meng Ji Ning greeted the classmates around him, then came over to her alone, "Why are you by yourself?"

"They went home first," Zhen Bao smiled at the familiar face.

"When are you leaving?" Meng Ji Ning didn't hurry downstairs, instead stepping to the side to talk to her, "I'm asking because we were classmates last year."

Zhen Bao didn't move, just turned to face him, "I'm leaving after I go back to the dorm to drop off my stuff. What about you? Going back to City C?"

After speaking, she glanced downstairs; Fu Ming Shi said he was already at her dorm building, and she didn't want to keep him waiting too long.

Sensing her eagerness to leave, Meng Ji Ning chatted with her as they walked down the stairs, "Yeah, I have a 4pm flight, though I wanted to stay here. My grandma insists I go back."

Zhen Bao slowly shuffled along with the flow of people and said with a laugh, "Old folks miss you, so go back and see them." Meng Ji Ning lagged half a step behind her. Without turning his head, he could see Zhen Bao's fair side profile, tender and delicate. She had her hair in the simplest ponytail, revealing her ears, the pale pink earlobes petite and cute. Meng Ji Ning also noticed she didn't have pierced ears.

"Let's have lunch together?" Descending another two flights of stairs, Meng Ji Ning invited her as naturally as he could.

Zhen Bao was startled, tilting her head to look at him. Meng Ji Ning quickly smiled, "My roommates are gone too, eating alone is boring."

Zhen Bao withdrew her gaze, embarrassed to decline, "My boyfriend is here to pick me up..."

Even if Fu Ming Shi wasn't here, she still wasn't used to having meals alone with boys; she and Meng Ji Ning were merely classmates from the previous year.

Meng Ji Ning's smile froze for a few seconds before he joked, "Not bad, your boyfriend, knowing to come pick you up. Going out this afternoon?"

Zhen Bao gave a perfunctory nod.

Reaching the first floor lobby, the open space suddenly came into view. Zhen Bao casually glanced around but was unexpectedly met with a familiar figure that made her halt her footsteps and stare in shock. It was the "boyfriend" who had texted saying he'd wait for her at the dorm building entrance.

Noticing her odd expression, Meng Ji Ning followed her line of sight to see a male student. Meng Ji Ning was 1.78 meters tall, quite tall, but that man looked about 1.9 meters. Wearing a black T-shirt, hands in pockets, standing there like a fashion model on a magazine cover.

So this was Zhen Bao's boyfriend?

Meng Ji Ning instinctively sought out ways the other man was inferior, finally settling on Fu Ming Shi's plain civilian clothes to guess he likely came from a less well-off family than himself.

"Boyfriend?" Still walking alongside Zhen Bao, Meng Ji Ning prodded mockingly.

Zhen Bao awkwardly admitted it was so. Fu Ming Shi approached them then, and she made introductions, "This is Meng Ji Ning, my high school classmate."

Fu Ming Shi had determined Meng Ji Ning's identity from the moment he saw them walking down together. Just a sophomore with some lingering immaturity. Fu Ming Shi didn't give him any mind, simply nodding at Meng Ji Ning before taking Zhen Bao's shoulder bag, filled with four people's textbooks, with one hand, and putting his other arm around her shoulders to steer her directly out of the teaching building. "Did you bike here? I think I saw yours."

He ignored Meng Ji Ning. Zhen Bao felt Fu Ming Shi's warm big hand and didn't feel right about looking back to say goodbye. She quietly reminded Fu Ming Shi, "Be nice, he's human too..." Why did he always like putting his arm around her shoulders when they met up?

Fu Ming Shi obediently removed his hand.

Zhen Bao sighed in relief. The two went to get her bike, and as soon as they brought it out, Fu Ming Shi had her hold the bike while he crouched down to adjust the seat. Zhen Bao was confused until Fu Ming Shi grabbed the handlebars. Then she understood his intention.

Looking at her own pink and white bike, Zhen Bao couldn't help laughing.

"Get on," Fu Ming Shi sat firmly and looked back to call her over.

Zhen Bao obediently went over, sitting first before Fu Ming Shi tucked in his long legs and rode off with her. "Where should we eat lunch?" Fu Ming Shi asked while looking ahead, "Hot pot?" Fancy places made her uneasy when eating.

Zhen Bao had attended classes diligently that morning, four in a row, and was already hungry by now. She lightly clutched his clothes, "Let's just go to the cafeteria. With everyone leaving campus today, it should be less crowded and no need to line up."

She was so easily satisfied, even thinking of little conveniences like this. If they weren't on the bike, Fu Ming Shi really wanted to turn around and kiss her cute, pink lips that liked to say silly, endearing things.

"Alright, we'll go eat at the cafeteria." Temporarily giving up plans to improve her dining experience, Fu Ming Shi laughed and agreed.

They still had a seven-day break, no rush for this one meal.

They parked the bike below the dorm building. Fu Ming Shi locked it while Zhen Bao first went upstairs to drop off her things before coming down to eat.

Students came and went in the living area. Many who had afternoon classes still had to eat at the cafeteria for lunch. Zhen Bao only had eyes for the cafeteria, and Fu Ming Shi only had eyes for her. Neither noticed someone following them from a distance the whole time.

Watching the couple head into the cafeteria, a trace of disdain arose in Meng Ji Ning's eyes.

If Zhen Bao was his girlfriend, he would never settle for the cafeteria on a day like this.

But Meng Ji Ning was also glad her boyfriend wasn't totally perfect, leaving him a sliver of opportunity.

Standing there for a while, Meng Ji Ning eventually turned and headed for the male dorms. He'd go back for now and look for another chance later.

~

Fu Ming Shi was unaware someone was planning to steal his girlfriend. After eating, he continued waiting below the dorm building.

Zhen Bao was efficient, coming down soon after, one hand holding her bag, the other carrying the cat carrier. The black cat had been boarded for over a week, gotten its shots, the eye inflammation treated, eating and sleeping well, visibly fatter and prettier now.

"Why do you like black pets so much?" Fu Ming Shi took the cat carrier, staring at the black cat as he asked.

Zhen Bao couldn't explain it. Black Egg was a villager's gift, pure coincidence. The black cat was fate.

Fu Ming Shi teased her, "You've got cat and dog, want a crow too?"

Zhen Bao was unhappy. "You can get one yourself if you like."

The name crow just sounded completely un-cute.