Extra 7: Zhou & Zhu-1

In September 2014, new students started school during military training season.

“Okay, disband!”

Following the instructor’s clear instruction, the neatly arranged student teams immediately scattered in all directions.

Zhu Qing and her three roommates walked toward the cafeteria, chatting and laughing.

There were freshmen wearing camouflage uniforms everywhere, and no one could recognize each other from a distance.

Zhu Qing was very hungry, so she stared ahead while waiting in line, occasionally standing on tiptoe to see what dishes were available at that window.

“Braised spareribs, fried fish, stir-fried pork with peppers…”

A familiar voice suddenly came from above her head, and Zhu Qing turned her head in disbelief.

Zhou Xiangming touched the top of her head sympathetically: “Eat more so you can grow taller.”

He is 1.85 meters tall, while Zhu Qing is only 1.53 meters tall. When Zhou Xiangming touches her head like this, she looks more like an elementary school student!

Zhu Qing pushed him aside unhappily.

Zhou Xiangming grinned, and because he was tanned, his two rows of neat teeth looked especially white.

After saying hello, he walked to the next row. The three boys in front of him were his roommates.

His roommates started to make a fuss and asked him who that girl was.

Zhou Xiangming: “She’s in the same class as you, senior year.”

Even though she was just an ordinary classmate, his bored roommates still paid more attention to the girl.

She is about 1.5 meters tall and looks petite. She is wearing a military training uniform, revealing a white and slender neck.

Some people are short and have bad body proportions, but this female classmate happens to have a good body proportion.

She is not a stunning beauty at first sight, but she has bright eyes, and when she turns around to talk and laugh with the girl behind her, a shallow dimple appears at the left corner of her mouth.

Like a carefree little sun.

Zhou Xiangming was also paying attention to Zhu Qing.

During the two-month summer vacation, they only met two or three times, and both times were to create atmosphere for Lu Jin and He Ye.

He had seen Zhu Qing wearing the No. 2 Middle School uniform and Hanfu when taking photos, but this was the first time he had seen her in military training clothes.

The weather was very hot, and she must have sweated a lot; a strand of hair stuck to her ear.

Although she looked messy, she didn’t seem to care at all and laughed heartily…

Just as he was thinking this, Zhu Qing seemed to notice his gaze, glared at him fiercely, and then turned away.

Zhou Xiangming smiled. His temper really hadn’t changed at all.

Soon, Zhu Qing and her roommates walked out of the line and gathered around an empty dining table.

There were so many people just now that the roommates held back. As soon as they sat down, Gao Lei asked Zhu Qing, “Who was that boy just now? He was so handsome.” 

Zhu Qing: “Is he handsome? That’s my best friend’s ex-boyfriend. His good friend, who you haven’t met yet, is the real handsome one.”

After saying that, she took out her phone and showed a secretly taken photo. 

It was a picture of He Ye and Lu Jin at dinner with a group of six in late August. They were sitting together, and Lu Jin had just peeled a shrimp and put it on He Ye’s plate.

Gao Lei and the others exclaimed, “Wow, what a great atmosphere!”

Zhu Qing sighed, “We were fine at first; I don’t know why they broke up.” 

She felt it was a shame because it was such a lovely relationship.

Gao Lei said, “Ahem, let’s not change the subject. Let’s continue talking about that handsome guy.”

If the boys in the photo were very handsome, then Zhou Xiangming, who had just been there, would score above eight out of ten, especially when he touched Zhu Qing’s head, looking a bit playful and affectionate.

Zhu Qing replied, “…There’s not much to say. His brother is pursuing my best friend, so we’re somewhat familiar.”

Gao Lei remarked, “He seems to be interested in you.”

Zhu Qing was silent. She realized why He Ye didn’t like her flirting with Zhou Xiangming at the start of their senior year. How could there be anything between her and Zhou Xiangming?

Zhu Qing studied Accounting, while Zhou Xiangming studied Business Administration.

But since they were at the same university, they would encounter each other occasionally.

One Saturday afternoon, Zhu Qing left the library and headed to the cafeteria.

Suddenly, a mountain bike stopped in front of her.

The rider propped himself up on one foot and smiled, “Why are you all alone? Are you that unpopular?”

Zhu Qing glared at him, “Aren’t you, too?”

Her three roommates were lazy and didn’t like studying. Zhu Qing felt embarrassed to watch TV shows every day because her best friend was a top student, influenced by He Ye.

Zhou Xiangming smiled, “Going to the cafeteria? I can take you.”

Zhu Qing glanced at his bike and asked curiously, “Is that a mountain bike? Why does it have a back seat?” It didn’t seem to match well.

Zhou Xiangming turned to explain, “I learned it from Lu Jin. Remember, we both were day students in high school and chose mountain bikes together in sophomore summer. Before school started, he fell for He Ye and added a back seat without telling me.”

Zhu Qing asked, “…Does He Ye often ride in his bike?”

Zhou Xiangming replied, “No, He Ye rides her own bike. I don’t know if Lu Jin went to meet her when she wasn’t at school.”

Zhu Qing was still upset about her best friend’s breakup. Zhou Xiangming impatiently said, “Are you coming or not? If not, I’m leaving.”

This place was quite far from the cafeteria. Since there was a free ride, why not take it?

Zhu Qing wasn’t shy, so she walked to the back seat of Zhou Xiangming’s bike.

The added back seat was high. Zhou Xiangming teased, “Can you get on? Do you want me to carry you?”

Zhu Qing playfully hit him on the back.

Zhou Xiangming took a deep breath.

Zhu Qing carefully climbed on, subconsciously grabbing his clothes because she was high above the ground.

Once she was settled, Zhou Xiangming rode slowly and sighed, “I added the seat to make it easier for me to pick up my girlfriend. I didn’t expect my girlfriend hasn’t enjoyed it yet, so I’ll let you use it first.”

Zhu Qing replied, “I didn’t ask you to.”

Zhou Xiangming insisted, “I’m just being nice to help out old classmates.”

Zhu Qing said, “Stop with the nonsense. Have you talked to Lu Jin recently?”

Zhou Xiangming replied, “Not much. He doesn’t really reach out. He got colder after He Ye broke up with him. I’m the one who told him about He Ye.”

Zhu Qing asked, “How did he respond?”

Zhou Xiangming answered, “No response.”

Zhu Qing said, “Maybe he gave up.”

Zhou Xiangming laughed, “You’re silly. No response means he’s okay with it. If he really wanted to give up, he’d tell me not to contact him.”

Zhu Qing remained quiet.

They reached the cafeteria and got their meals together.

Zhou Xiangming stood behind Zhu Qing.

She stood on tiptoe, trying to see what dishes were available.

Zhou Xiangming held her shoulders, explaining everything.

His slender fingers rested on her shoulders, neither too light nor too heavy.

Zhu Qing glanced back, then noticed Zhou Xiangming’s Adam’s apple moving as he spoke, causing an odd feeling in her heart.

After they had their meals, they sat facing each other at a table.

Zhu Qing lowered her head to eat when Zhou Xiangming suddenly asked, “Are you wearing makeup?”

Zhu Qing fluttered her eyelashes and denied it, “No.”

Zhou Xiangming tilted his head, looking closely at her face, “Then why do I feel something’s different?”

Zhu Qing pointed at her eyebrows, saying, “I plucked my eyebrows, but that’s not makeup. Makeup is putting stuff on your face.”

Zhou Xiangming thought that Zhu Qing seemed prettier than in high school, but said, “You should wear makeup too. You’re not that good-looking. Who would like you if you don’t dress up?”

Zhu Qing retorted, “Take care of yourself. Don’t spend four years in college without a girlfriend. It won’t help you to have a back seat.”

Zhou Xiangming laughed, gesturing at his own body, “With my looks and figure, isn’t it easy to find a girlfriend?”

He then snatched a large piece of meat from Zhu Qing’s plate.

Zhu Qing quickly took it back without hesitation.

Until the second semester of sophomore year, Zhou Xiangming still hadn’t found a girlfriend, but he and Zhu Qing grew closer.

One day, while riding his bike, Zhu Qing sat behind him, complaining about a teacher when Zhou Xiangming suddenly slowed down.

She noticed two boys and three girls nearby, watching them with curious looks.

Zhou Xiangming explained in a low voice, “Classmates from our class.”

Zhu Qing felt unexpectedly nervous.

“Zhou Xiangming, you’re in love!” a girl said with a smile.

Zhou Xiangming replied, “Don’t talk nonsense. We’re just old classmates.”

At this moment, Zhu Qing felt completely exposed in front of the five classmates.

Zhu Qing smiled widely. 

All five of them looked at her.

Zhu Qing sensed their scrutiny and realized that, after seeing her clearly, they accepted Zhou Xiangming’s description of her as just an “old classmate.”

She knew she was quite ordinary among girls, while Zhou Xiangming had a perfect height, good looks, a sunny personality, and came from a wealthy family.

Anyone who knew Zhou Xiangming would probably expect him to date a stunning girlfriend, or at least someone with a unique charm.

As the bicycle approached the dormitory building, Zhu Qing suddenly jumped off.

Zhou Xiangming stopped abruptly.

Zhu Qing smiled and said, “You can eat by yourself. I forgot my campus card in the dormitory.”

Zhou Xiangming seemed amused: “Is that really worth going back for? I’ll treat you.”

Zhu Qing replied, “No, I’ll eat with my roommates later.”

After saying that, she ran into the dormitory without looking back.

Zhou Xiangming was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and left.

It was frustrating that they could have had a meal together, but now he had to eat alone, which made the meal less enjoyable.

Two days later, while riding his bike to class, Zhou Xiangming spotted Zhu Qing walking ahead.

He smiled and moved closer.

Zhu Qing was with her roommates, who were gossiping about her and Zhou Xiangming: “At the start of school, you said you were just ordinary classmates, and we believed you. But now, Zhou Xiangming often drags you to the cafeteria to eat together. You can’t be just ordinary classmates, right?”

“Yeah, yeah! Last time you were sick, Zhou Xiangming came to bring you medicine.”

Zhu Qing smiled faintly: “We’re just ordinary classmates.”

Gao Lei asked, “Could it be you don’t like him?”

All three roommates thought Zhou Xiangming must have feelings for Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing remembered Zhou Xiangming calling her “old classmate” and scoffed, “Why would I like him? Even if every man in the world died, I wouldn’t fall for him. Stop saying that; it’s not what you think.”

Her roommates sighed.

Zhou Xiangming watched Zhu Qing from a distance, then changed direction and took another route.

For the next two weeks, Zhou Xiangming stopped giving Zhu Qing rides.

They would meet on the road, but he avoided her before she could spot him.

He was unhappy that Zhu Qing disliked him so much.

He should have been angry, but after deliberately keeping his distance for two weeks, he felt worse.

Finally, when they met again, Zhou Xiangming didn’t hide. He stopped in front of her and joked: “It’s been a long time since we last met. Did you miss me?”

Zhu Qing looked him up and down, then continued walking without acknowledging him.

Zhou Xiangming followed slowly: “Come on, we’re old classmates; do you really need me to treat you?”

Zhu Qing replied, “No, thanks.”

Zhou Xiangming said, “I get it. Walking more helps you lose weight, right?”

Zhu Qing shot back: “You’re the one who’s fat!”

Zhou Xiangming stretched out a leg: “Open your eyes and look carefully. If you find even one gram of fat, I lose.”

Zhu Qing was silent.

Zhou Xiangming pulled her arm and said, “Come on, why lose weight for no reason?”

Zhu Qing wanted to explain that it wasn’t about losing weight, but considering his indifferent attitude last week, she felt it was pointless.

She silently hopped onto his back seat.

Zhou Xiangming deliberately shook the bike: “Looks like you’ve gained a few pounds!”

Zhu Qing felt both angry and amused, grabbing his waist.

Zhou Xiangming said, “Let’s talk it out nicely. Can you just touch a guy’s waist like that?”

Zhu Qing gritted her teeth and squeezed harder.

As Zhou Xiangming winced in pain, a slightly naughty thought crossed his mind.

If she didn’t pinch him but just touched him a few times, he wouldn’t mind…