Chapter 7: University

After enduring the grueling pressure of senior year and surviving the first major exam of their lives, students emerged from the fire reborn—carrying hopes for a new life, they slung their backpacks over their shoulders and headed off toward their respective futures.

Sheng Han was stunned by what she saw: in all her life, she had never encountered so many unfamiliar faces or stepped into such an unfamiliar environment. She stood there, overwhelmed and unsure what to do.

“Hello! I’m a student volunteer for orientation. Welcome to our university! I’ll take you to the registration area to pay your fees and assign your dorm. Which department are you in?”

“Oh… hi, senior… I… I’m in the Economics Department.” Sheng Han responded shyly, a little flustered by the volunteer’s enthusiasm.

“Please follow me.”

On both sides of the walkway were neat rows of tents set up for freshmen from different departments. Student clubs were also out in full force, showcasing their talents and eagerly recruiting fresh faces.

Thankfully, with the help of volunteers and her parents accompanying her, everything went smoothly—from registration and fee payments, to getting a dorm assignment, meal card, and SIM card.

Sheng Han cautiously opened the door to her dorm. There were four beds inside. One fair-skinned girl was sitting on a chair doing her makeup with practiced precision. Another girl was on a bed arranging her bedding. When they saw Sheng Han enter, both paused what they were doing.

The girl doing her makeup bounced over with a bright smile. “Hi, I’m Tian Yu.” She gestured toward the girl on the bed. “That’s Ling Fei. We’re both in Economics. What about you?”

“Hi, I’m Sheng Han. I’m also in Economics.” She still seemed a little reserved, but the other girls’ warmth quickly put her at ease.

Sheng Han noticed the fourth bed was covered in belongings, completely blocking any place to stand. She wondered where that person had gone.

“That’s Hui Qian’s bed. She’s in Economics too. She came yesterday—she just stepped out to get a SIM card,” Tian Yu explained, sensing Sheng Han’s curiosity.

As if on cue, the door opened and a girl walked in with her parents. That was Hui Qian. After exchanging introductions with Sheng Han, everyone got busy setting up their spaces.

Hui Qian’s parents doted on her extravagantly. They insisted on doing everything themselves, afraid their daughter might get tired—packing away her belongings, organizing her wardrobe, making her bed. Even after everything was done, they continued showering her with reminders. Sheng Han, Tian Yu, and Ling Fei exchanged looks; Ling Fei just shrugged and said nothing more.

After three days of nonstop organizing, everything finally settled down. The new semester began.

Ling Fei’s parents left the day after they dropped her off. Sheng Han and Tian Yu’s parents left over the next two days. Only Hui Qian’s parents were still hanging around, unable to let go. It wasn’t until a full week later that they finally went home—but not before making another trip to buy her snacks and treats.

A group of energetic young students, finally freed from their parents’ oversight, stepped into a brand-new world. They were thrilled, nervous, and full of dreams about what lay ahead. The campus buzzed with clubs, student councils, and countless exciting activities, filling the air with youthful energy and possibility.

University—it was a place brimming with talent and intellect, but also one full of competition and challenge. For these young people who had just left the safe harbor of home, it was their first true glimpse of society in miniature.

From the campus broadcast speakers, Pu Shu’s “Those Flowers” echoed across the grounds:

“That laughter reminds me of my flowers,
quietly blooming in every corner of my life.
I once thought I’d always be by her side,
but now we’ve all scattered into the sea of people.
Have they all grown old? Where are they now?
Just like that… we each went our separate ways…”