Meng Ji Ning also remembered Zhen Bao, and he believed that any boy who was once in the same class as Zhen Bao would not forget her. But Meng Ji Ning's deepest impression of Zhen Bao was not her delicate and sweet face, but that no matter the class or grade honors, Zhen Bao's name was always right behind his. For the midterms and finals, the seat behind his, which was #2, always belonged to Zhen Bao. A beauty, a studious beauty, Meng Ji Ning thought it would be hard not to have an impression.
But after being in the same class for a year, Zhen Bao sat in the middle of the classroom while he sat in the last row. Meng Ji Ning and Zhen Bao had barely spoken. Only once during an exam, Zhen Bao's eraser fell to the ground and he picked it up for her. Zhen Bao smiled at him and thanked him, her smile was pure and bright, her gaze towards him only contained the most simple gratitude between classmates, without any shyness or affection that other girls had.
As for exam grades, Meng Ji Ning did not intentionally compete with anyone. Being number one every year was nothing to be arrogant about, but when the rankings for the end of freshman year came out, he realized Zhen Bao had surpassed him. Meng Ji Ning inevitably felt a little complicated inside, it wasn't self-blame or jealousy, just a feeling that Zhen Bao was very smart and getting high science scores was not something diligence and hard work alone could achieve.
After summer vacation started, Meng Ji Ning forgot about the score sheet and went travelling everywhere. When he returned to school for sophomore year, he continued with classes. The class arrangements for science students were posted on the bulletin board. Meng Ji Ning saw his own class, he was still #1, but the #2 below had a different name. Meng Ji Ning thought of Zhen Bao, assuming she had been placed in another class. He looked through each science and liberal arts class, but did not see the familiar name.
Later Meng Ji Ning heard from classmates that Zhen Bao had dropped out of school because her family did not have money.
Meng Ji Ning felt regretful, and from then on whenever he entered the classroom for an exam, he would habitually glance at the seat where the second-ranked student used to sit. It changed almost every time, never again sitting there was a simply dressed girl with her hair in braided pigtails, that girl with the especially warm smile.
Zhen Bao was a unique shadow of Meng Ji Ning's high school years, a memory belonging to his youth. He did not intentionally reminisce about her, but when Zhen Bao appeared before him again, Meng Ji Ning could not conceal his shock.
"Zhen Bao, do you, do you still recognize me?" After a brief moment of shock, Meng Ji Ning left his seat and smiled gently at Zhen Bao, as if seeing an old friend.
"The grade's perpetual number one, of course I remember you. But you seem different from high school, I didn't recognize you at first just now." Zhen Bao held the big white cat in her arms and spoke as naturally as she could. She had to admit, holding a cat seemed to make her less nervous.
"You know each other?" Feng Yue's smile was somewhat stiff, because she noticed Meng Ji Ning's attitude towards Zhen Bao was much warmer than with her.
"We were classmates in freshman year."
Meng Ji Ning gave a simple explanation, then looked at the well-behaved big white cat nestled in Zhen Bao's arms. Meng Ji Ning resignedly laughed, and said to Zhen Bao: "Cat Lord was a stray cat picked up by a department director in the tech department previously, he's always been kept here and doesn't like people much. So we started using Cat Lord to interview new members. Everyone's professional skills are about the same when they first enter university, so we just competed on who has better rapport with animals."
Last year when I came to interview, Cat Lord just stretched his neck to sniff me a little. You did better with him."
This cat is called Cat Lord?
Zhen Bao also laughed, looking down at Cat Lord, his chubby eyes narrowed to a slit, he really did look like the big shot characters on TV.
"We're taking three people this time. Zhen Bao you're definitely in, Feng Yue why don't you try?" There were still other new students waiting to interview outside, so Meng Ji Ning got down to business first and had Zhen Bao put Cat Lord on the table, then asked Feng Yue to give it a try.
Zhen Bao did as told, placing Cat Lord on the table. Cat Lord lazily glanced at her, keeping his round cat head facing her direction. Feng Yue went forward and bent over to reach out to Cat Lord for a hug, but Cat Lord turned his head the other way instead, curling up into a big white ball.
Feng Yue was unwilling to give up and went around to try and play with the cat. Cat Lord seemed very impatient, suddenly stretching out and lightly jumping off the table. Then he stood up his fluffy tail and walked over to rub against Zhen Bao's legs, closing his eyes comfortably. Being petted by an animal was a very enjoyable thing, Zhen Bao bent down to pick up Cat Lord, smoothing his fur, then walked over to Feng Yue's side, using her eyes to signal Feng Yue to try stroking him.
Feng Yue's face was already flushed red. If she was trying to play with a stray cat on the streets with no one watching, she wouldn't care if the cat ignored her. But doing this in front of Meng Ji Ning, who she secretly liked, and having the cat disrespect her, Feng Yue felt she lost face. Especially in contrast with Zhen Bao. But Feng Yue wanted to stay openly and properly, so she still forced a smile and tentatively tried to pet Cat Lord.
Cat Lord swiped his paw at her.
"Forget it, this cat has a temper, don't let it scratch you." Meng Ji Ning promptly stopped her. After all they were alumni, Meng Ji Ning decided to give Feng Yue another chance. "Why don't you keep Zhen Bao company and wait a bit longer? If we don't get enough people in the end, I'll add you in too."
Feng Yue smiled and thanked him.
Zhen Bao put Cat Lord down and she and Feng Yue first went outside.
"Are you very familiar with him?" Feng Yue pulled Zhen Bao to a corner and asked softly.
Zhen Bao shook her head, "We barely spoke."
Feng Yue stared at Zhen Bao for a few moments. Thinking about how Zhen Bao already had a boyfriend even more handsome than Meng Ji Ning, she sighed helplessly and intimately hugged Zhen Bao, "I really envy you beauties. I was classmates with him for two years and it took him several extra seconds just to recognize me. Yet for you, this gorgeous girl he hasn't seen in three years, he remembered you with one look."
"You're beautiful too, maybe my name is just more unique." Zhen Bao laughingly analyzed. Her surname wasn't very common, paired with her unfashionable given name, she was often teased in elementary and middle school with jokes like "full from eating" and "buy treasures".
But Feng Yue insisted on her own guesses. She could make herself presentable with makeup and dressing up, but compared to Zhen Bao she simply wasn't on the same level. Men cared about looks.
Twenty minutes later, all the interviews were done. Aside from them, there was one other male and female left waiting inside.
Feng Yue could barely keep smiling.
Meng Ji Ning was also out of options. After the other two left, he comforted Feng Yue, "As a member you can still participate in all the activities together with everyone." She just wouldn't get activity points for assessments.
Feng Yue hugged Meng Ji Ning's arm and whined to him softly, "Aren't you the department head? Can't you take one more?"
Meng Ji Ning politely smiled and tactfully declined, "That wouldn't be appropriate."
Feng Yue bit her lip and looked at Zhen Bao pleadingly.
Zhen Bao glanced at Meng Ji Ning. Meng Ji Ning secretly signaled her not to get involved.
So Zhen Bao could not do anything more. The association had its own rules, and Meng Ji Ning was handling things according to the rules. It wasn't suitable for them to pressure him to relax the requirements just because they were alumni.
"Let's go eat dinner together tonight, my treat." Meng Ji Ning tidied up the table and changed the topic.
"Okay, since you're being so principled, don't blame me later for ordering the most expensive dishes." Feng Yue found a way to get off the stage.
Meng Ji Ning was very generous, "Order whatever you two beauties want, don't stand on ceremony."
Fifteen minutes later, Meng Ji Ning brought the two to the highest end restaurant near University A, called Ju Xian Lou. The interior decor was elegant and refined, clearly different from the ordinary restaurants outside. Meng Ji Ning chose a private room and sat next to Zhen Bao, letting the beauties order.
Zhen Bao had eaten at even higher end restaurants with Fu Ming Shi before. Coming here now, she was no longer restrained. She personally just liked simple, homecooked food anyway, so she only ordered one dish - spicy tofu. The hot tofu was both fragrant and paired well with rice. Because of the interview today, Zhen Bao had eaten much later than usual and was hungry.
"Zhen Bao is too considerate. Ordering like this, I don't even feel good about ordering expensive dishes." Feng Yue looked strangely at Zhen Bao.
"I just love eating this." In front of two alumni, Zhen Bao's expression was natural.
"What a coincidence, I also like eating this, the spicier the better." Meng Ji Ning chimed in agreement with her.
Zhen Bao smiled lightly.
Feng Yue lowered her head to hide the dissatisfaction in her eyes. She casually ordered two mid-priced dishes, which she did genuinely enjoy eating too.
Finally Meng Ji Ning took the menu and ordered several signature dishes.
While waiting for the food, they inevitably chatted about life in high school.
Meng Ji Ning curiously asked Zhen Bao, "Did you transfer schools again later?"
Zhen Bao nodded lightly towards the table, giving a soft "Mm", "I had a cousin who took me to live in Beijing."
Meng Ji Ning did not doubt it.
Feng Yue looked at him and interjected with a smile, "Zhen Bao, were you already with your boyfriend in high school?"
Meng Ji Ning's brow quirked in surprise and he turned to Zhen Bao. She, she already had a boyfriend?
Zhen Bao smiled, "No, we got together after finishing the college entrance exam." Regarding her and Fu Ming Shi, her three roommates had gossiped about many questions. Discovering that relationships in university were really not as condemnable, Zhen Bao's attitude when talking about Fu Ming Shi was very natural now, as if they truly were boyfriend and girlfriend.
"Is he also at our school?" Meng Ji Ning asked in a complicated mood. He could not deny, there was a hint of fondness towards Zhen Bao, who he was reunited with after long separation.
"He goes to T University." Speaking of Fu Ming Shi, Zhen Bao unconsciously thought of him. Last Wednesday Fu Ming Shi had come to see her at school, then left the country. She hadn't heard from him these past few days, didn't know if he was back yet.
As if right on cue, Fu Ming Shi's phone call came just as the spicy tofu Zhen Bao ordered was brought over.
Zhen Bao wanted to go outside to answer but Feng Yue stopped her from leaving, "Just take it here, outside is noisy, even harder to hear clearly."
So Zhen Bao could only sit back down and answer, turning the volume down.
"Had dinner yet?"
The familiar voice came over and Zhen Bao glanced at the spicy tofu in front of her, feeling a little like laughing, "Just about to eat."
"Why so late today?" Fu Ming Shi walked out of the airport while making the call, and got in the car.
Zhen Bao honestly said, "Classmates treating me out to eat, didn't go to the cafeteria..."
Before she could finish speaking, Feng Yue suddenly leaned over to tease, "There's a big hottie here with us, do you want to come over to keep an eye on Zhen Bao?"
Zhen Bao was not used to this kind of joke, especially involving Meng Ji Ning. She awkwardly tried to stop Feng Yue, "Don't fool around."
Feng Yue had already said her piece and sat back with a grin.
Zhen Bao picked up her phone again. Silence on the other end. Zhen Bao checked the screen to make sure the call was still connected before saying in a low voice, "I'll call you after eating?"
Fu Ming Shi gave a "Mm," "Eat slowly, I'll be at your school in about an hour and a half."
Then he hung up.
"What did he say, is he coming over?" Feng Yue asked excitedly.
Zhen Bao was still mulling over Fu Ming Shi's words. She was stunned for a bit before laughing, "It's an alumni get-together, what's he coming for?"
But she decided inwardly to eat quickly and then wait for Fu Ming Shi at her dorm, avoiding Feng Yue and Meng Ji Ning seeing him and misunderstanding that Fu Ming Shi came because he was worried his "girlfriend" would be seduced away. Fu Ming Shi came to see her every few days, this time was just routine checking up after a business trip.
Hearing that Fu Ming Shi wasn't coming, Feng Yue's mood clearly dampened. She swept a glance at Meng Ji Ning.
Meng Ji Ning's expression was normal. He continued chatting as if the fact Zhen Bao had a boyfriend made no difference to him.
After eating, it was 7pm.
Feng Yue suggested strolling around campus. As soon as Zhen Bao heard that she immediately said, "You guys take a walk, I still have something to do and will head back to the dorm first."
Meng Ji Ning looked at his watch and also said, "I have a ppt to make, let's meet up another day when we're free to catch up again."
The male dorms were in another direction. The three split into two paths at the campus gate.
Meng Ji Ning left. Feng Yue's mood clearly lowered after he was gone. Zhen Bao only had Fu Ming Shi's impending arrival on her mind and didn't notice anything off about her. Returning to the dorm, she had just sat for a few minutes when Fu Ming Shi's call came. Zhen Bao habitually went out to the balcony to answer, "You're here?"
"Mm."
Fu Ming Shi was still on the main road, but could see Zhen Bao pushing open the window in the distance. The corners of his lips curved up. "Come down."
The low and brief two words sounded like a command, yet were gentler and more ambiguous than any command.
Zhen Bao didn't think too much. She thought Fu Ming Shi was already downstairs, so she turned around and went back inside. Then, amidst the clicking tongues of Jia Xiao Yu and the other two girls, she walked out the door with a red face. When she arrived at the first floor lobby, Zhen Bao felt a little nervous. She looked around but didn't see Fu Ming Shi anywhere.
Looking around again, Zhen Bao took out her phone and called back Fu Ming Shi's number.
"Who are you calling?"
The familiar voice suddenly rang out so close and gentle that Zhen Bao was startled and quickly turned around. She saw Fu Ming Shi's tall, handsome figure lit up by the street lamp. His beautiful face was illuminated and his dark eyes shone like stars in the night. Though he wasn't smiling, he gave off a sense that he was in a very good mood.
