Meng Ji Ning arranged to meet at the main gate of A University at 8am. Zhen Bao set her alarm for 7am, but before it could ring, her phone was already ringing.
Qian Lele and the other two roommates were still asleep. Zhen Bao was wide awake almost instantly and quickly picked up the phone, softly saying “Hello?”
“Not awake yet?” Fu Ming Shi’s low, clear voice came through the phone, sounding very spirited.
“Mmm,” Zhen Bao hummed, then stifled a yawn.
“I’m here already. Let’s get breakfast together in a bit. Remember to bring your meal card,” Fu Ming Shi said with a laugh before ending the call.
Zhen Bao checked her phone. It was ten minutes to seven.
She cancelled her alarm, and quietly climbed out of bed. She got ready in ten minutes, then double checked what was in her backpack: two bottles of mineral water, a clean pair of underwear wrapped in a plastic bag (hidden in a compartment), a phone charger, an umbrella, and a book of prose to pass the time on the road...
The backpack was a little heavy. Zhen Bao took out the book, then checked again before heading out with her meal card.
The dorm building was peaceful and quiet, with most students still sleeping in. Occasionally she could hear flushing from a couple rooms. Zhen Bao went down several flights of stairs to the first floor lobby, where she saw Fu Ming Shi casually dressed and standing outside the dorm, a gray hiking backpack over his shoulder.
He really looked like a college student.
“Why so early?” Zhen Bao asked in a small voice.
“Woke up early, so came over first,” Fu Ming Shi took her heavy backpack, “What's all packed in here?”
Worried he would see her underwear, Zhen Bao hurriedly snatched it back, “Two bottles of water, an umbrella...”
“Give them all to me.” Fu Ming Shi opened his hiking bag for her to transfer things over.
Zhen Bao obediently put the heavier items in his bag. When doing so, she inadvertently noticed Fu Ming Shi also had a bag in his backpack. Thinking he might have packed underwear too, Zhen Bao’s face grew hot. Fu Ming Shi was still zipping up his bag, so she walked ahead first.
A University's cafeteria offered a good variety of breakfast options. There were few people in the cafeteria. Halfway through her meal, Feng Yue also came for breakfast. Seeing Zhen Bao, she brought her tray over and casually teased Fu Ming Shi, "Ming Shi, you got here so early. Was it because you missed Zhen Bao too much, or because you were craving our school's breakfast?"
Fu Ming Shi looked at Zhen Bao with a smile.
Zhen Bao blushed.
But Feng Yue was stunned by Fu Ming Shi's gentle smile. Sensing him looking over, she quickly averted her gaze and busied herself with eating, occasionally sneaking glances at Fu Ming Shi. She had secretly crushed on Meng Ji Ning since high school. After starting at A University and finding out Meng Ji Ning was interested in Zhen Bao, Feng Yue had been a little worried Zhen Bao would get in the way. But after interacting up close with Fu Ming Shi, Feng Yue was suddenly not worried about Zhen Bao at all. At least in terms of looks and temperament, Meng Ji Ning couldn't compare with Zhen Bao's boyfriend at all.
Relaxed, Feng Yue couldn't help envying dainty, elegant Zhen Bao as she ate.
Zhen Bao and Fu Ming Shi finished first.
Seeing Feng Yue's nearly full tray, they didn't want to make her wait. Feng Yue smiled and urged them to go ahead first.
Fu Ming Shi listened to Zhen Bao.
If it was just her, Zhen Bao wouldn't have minded waiting for Feng Yue either, but with Feng Yue there, Fu Ming Shi basically went silent. Sensing he wasn't very comfortable around Feng Yue, Zhen Bao didn't stand on ceremony. She picked up her bag, said bye to Feng Yue, and agreed to meet at the school gate.
As Feng Yue watched the two leave, Fu Ming Shi reached for Zhen Bao's hand. Zhen Bao struggled briefly before he grasped it firmly. It was a small gesture, yet revealed the man's fondness and care for Zhen Bao.
Feng Yue suddenly lost her appetite.
She wanted a relationship, wanted Meng Ji Ning to treat her like that too.
~
Fu Ming Shi held Zhen Bao's hand as they strolled around A University before leisurely heading to the school gate for the meetup.
Including Fu Ming Shi, there were fifteen people total for the autumn outing, only five of whom were female. And the prettiest girl Zhen Bao had brought her partner. As the only outsider in this gathering of people from the same hometown, Fu Ming Shi already stood out a bit. Add the fact he was taciturn and wouldn't actively socialize, he instantly seemed aloof.
Meng Ji Ning had rented a minibus. After everyone boarded, he passed out white tennis hats to each person, with an "A University" logo on them. As he distributed them, he joked, "When we get there, remember to put on the hats so we don't get separated."
When he reached the back where Fu Ming Shi and Zhen Bao sat, Meng Ji Ning immediately noticed their clasped hands.
He passed the hat to Fu Ming Shi with a very upbeat smile. "No need to worry about Zhen Bao, she has family looking after her."
There were cheers and teases from the front. Zhen Bao lowered her head as she put on the hat, trying to hide her blushing face.
"Thank you." Fu Ming Shi accepted the hat courteously.
Meng Ji Ning just smiled and headed back up front.
Fu Ming Shi looked at the hat, then casually set it aside. Oblivious to everyone else, he leaned in by Zhen Bao's ear, "Stay close to me when we get off so you don't get lost."
His warm breath tickled her ear. Zhen Bao shrank her neck, failing to detect his teasing tone.
Fu Ming Shi gave her hand a squeeze, in high spirits.
They departed, at least a two hour drive.
Meng Ji Ning passed out bottled waters up front. Fu Ming Shi suddenly recalled something. He took out the two bottles Zhen Bao packed and asked, "Got one for me?"
Zhen Bao nodded, not understanding why he was asking. If she didn't pack one for him, why would she have brought two?
Fu Ming Shi placed the two bottles side by side, paired together. Thinking about how Zhen Bao bought the waters with him in mind, Fu Ming Shi was even happier. When Meng Ji Ning came by, he held up the mineral waters with a mysterious, ambiguous smile. The sight of him smiling grated on Meng Ji Ning, who turned back without pondering it further.
~
Their autumn outing destination was an international winery near the capital city. They arrived after 10am.
Being a group of out-of-town students, only Meng Ji Ning had been here before. He played tour guide today, first taking everyone around the European-style town, then to the hotel after lunch to check in. Meng Ji Ning had already booked the rooms and collected IDs individually.
"Give me yours," Fu Ming Shi said softly to Zhen Bao.
Feng Yue was close enough to overhear and nudged Zhen Bao's shoulder playfully, "There's five of us girls, two per room, so someone will be singled out. You two..."
Her expression was suggestive.
Only then did Zhen Bao realize the lodging situation. Her face quickly grew red. She was about to discuss squeezing three girls into one room with Feng Yue, when Meng Ji Ning suddenly came over. Eyeing Fu Ming Shi, he asked Zhen Bao doubtfully, "Didn't Zhou Er Ming tell me the hotel name because he was booking two separate rooms himself? He didn't mention that to you?"
That Er Ming, could it be he only booked one room, hoping to take advantage and cohabit with Zhen Bao?
Meng Ji Ning's expression was a little ugly.
Zhen Bao didn't actually know Fu Ming Shi's arrangements either and was just as puzzled.
"Forgot to tell you," Fu Ming Shi took Zhen Bao's ID card nonchalantly.
Zhen Bao relaxed with relief. Since Fu Ming Shi told Meng Ji Ning he booked two rooms, she didn't doubt him one bit.
She trusted Fu Ming Shi. Meng Ji Ning didn't, and after collecting the others' IDs, hurried after Fu Ming Shi to see just how many rooms he had booked. By the time Meng Ji Ning reached the front desk, the receptionist had just handed Fu Ming Shi two ID cards and two room keys.
Confirming it was two rooms, Meng Ji Ning relaxed.
Fu Ming Shi didn't even glance at him. Heading back to Zhen Bao, he neatly pocketed the documents, then revealed the two room keys in front of all the university students. Handing one to Zhen Bao, he said, "Yours. I'm next door." Zhen Bao was too shy, she definitely didn't want anyone to misunderstand she was sharing a room with her boyfriend.
Zhen Bao accepted the room key with relief.
"Which room are you in? Let's visit each other tonight, better than you being alone," Feng Yue said as she linked arms with Zhen Bao.
Zhen Bao checked her room key. It was on the hotel's top floor.
Feng Yue's heart skipped a beat. Looking up at Fu Ming Shi, she exclaimed, "Did you book the presidential suite?"
The words had barely left her mouth before not just the A University students, but other waiting hotel guests in the lobby were looking their way too.
Fu Ming Shi neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply took Zhen Bao's hand and said to the onlookers, "We'll head up first."
Zhen Bao numbly followed him.
As Feng Yue watched the two leave, she saw Meng Ji Ning still waiting at the front desk. Pretending to use the restroom, Feng Yue took out her phone and searched the price of this hotel's presidential suite. After seeing it, and recalling Fu Ming Shi's usually low-key attire, her feelings were complicated.
The skincare products Zhen Bao used were somewhat high end, but she only bought cheap clothes. Feng Yue didn't expect Fu Ming Shi to be just as low-key. Able to casually book two presidential suites, Zhen Bao's boyfriend's family background was probably not inferior to Meng Ji Ning's! Meng Ji Ning covered rooms for over a dozen people on this trip, plus other expenses. It likely still couldn't compare to the cost of those two presidential suites.
How was Zhen Bao so lucky? Her boyfriend was tall, handsome, attentive toward her, and apparently loaded too!
Compared to Zhen Bao, she and the other girls on this trip were practically pitiful.
Putting her phone away, Feng Yue bitterly rejoined her schoolmates.
It was several more minutes before Meng Ji Ning came over with the room cards.
Feng Yue moved her lips, on the verge of saying something but held back in the end. She wanted Meng Ji Ning to give up on Zhen Bao, but she didn't want to embarrass him. Before the room keys, Meng Ji Ning was the envy of everyone for having money. In an instant he was outclassed, and his pride...
"Ji Ning, what does Zhen Bao's boyfriend's family do?"
While Feng Yue was tactfully "considerate", someone else impatiently pried for details, either truly tactless or deliberately trying to provoke Meng Ji Ning. Everyone was happy to gain an advantage, but seeing Meng Ji Ning spending money freely inevitably bred jealousy in those who couldn't compare. They nitpicked since they couldn't measure up.
Meng Ji Ning blankly asked back, "How would I know? What about him?"
The male student who spoke up earlier maintained an innocent, gossipy tone. "Feng Yue said he booked two presidential suites. I've never stayed in one, but they're pretty expensive, right?"
Meng Ji Ning immediately turned to Feng Yue.
Feng Yue cursed that blabbermouth fellow student. She quickly explained, "I was just guessing, Zhen Bao didn't say anything. I don't actually know if that's true or not."
Meng Ji Ning smiled as he looked at the two of them. He waited until Feng Yue had finished speaking before casually continuing to hand out room keys, joking as he did so: "When I make my fortune in the future, I'll treat you to the presidential suite too. For today, let's just make do."
Feng Yue watched him nervously, and only felt relieved when she saw Meng Ji Ning really didn't mind.
But she didn't see the tightness in the corners of his mouth as he turned away.
