CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 60 THE GIRL’S SHATTERED DREAM

"Zhou Li?"

"Yes."

"Oh, then I must have made a mistake. Your voice is so similar to a junior I know. It’s uncanny," Senior Sister Wang Dan mused. Then she thought it didn’t really matter that Zhou Li wasn’t Li Nan. Anyway, she was quite keen on getting to know such a good-looking junior and, if possible, recruiting him into her department.

"No worries."

"Alright, Junior Brother Zhou Li, please wait over there for a moment. Once we gather three or four people, we’ll take you through the procedures," Wang Dan said. "Then we can add each other on QQ or WeChat, and you can ask me if you have any questions."

As soon as she finished speaking, some people nearby began to tease.

Wang Dan turned and glared at them, chiding a familiar face angrily, "Don’t you have anything better to do?"

Turning back to Zhou Li, her face brightened with a smile. "Don’t mind this bunch—they’re the ones who slipped through the net of quality education."

Zhou Li calmly walked to the side.

Brother Nan approached.

Her smile was radiant and beautiful. With her tall figure, she looked like someone who might audition for Beiyin—so stunningly beautiful that the previously cheering senior students became shy and dared not utter a word as she approached.

Brother Nan had definitely left a deep impression on them, and it was about to get even deeper.

"Hello, my name is Li Nan."

"What?"

"Li Nan."

"Which ’Nan’? The ’Nan’ from Nanyuan... The ’Nan’ in ’nanmu tree’?"

"That’s right."

Brother Nan struggled to appear composed and, tilting her head, asked, "What’s the matter, Senior Sister? Is there a problem?"

Senior Sister Wang Dan looked at her, then at Zhou Li.

She caught on to something.

But Zhou Li was also looking at her.

That look made her dismiss her thoughts. Then she said to Brother Nan, "What a coincidence. It seems there’s another Li Nan."

"The men’s basketball coach," said Brother Nan.

"No, it’s a first-year from our department. I think it’s a guy. He said in the group chat that he’d also arrive in Chunming today. It’s almost six now; I’m not sure if he’ll come today or tomorrow."

"Oh."

Brother Nan mimicked Zhou Li’s expression.

After she registered, it was Baozi’s turn.

With three people gathered, Senior Sister Wang Dan looked behind and, seeing no one else coming, stood up and said, "Let me take you to get the procedures done."

The head of the Organization Department called out, "I want to go too!"

Senior Sister Wang Dan replied, "Approved! And get another guy—anyone willing to do some hard work, step up!"

She winked. "It’s a rare opportunity!"

So, the head of the Sports Department eagerly volunteered.

Zhou Li wondered if the Life Sciences Institute didn’t have many attractive female students.

"That sounds like a lot of trouble," Huai Xu said to Zhou Li from the side. "You go handle it. I’m going to look around!"

Zhou Li nodded subtly, his expression unchanged.

Wang Dan asked the three to temporarily leave their luggage behind the tent and come back for it after registration. Then, she led them onto the campus, introducing the school and their institute as they walked.

"Registration is quite simple; it’ll be done in half an hour."

"You’ll have to collect some things later, but don’t worry, we’ll help you carry them. First, let me tell you about food and accommodation."

"Our school has four student residential areas in total: Nanyuan, Ziyuan, Qiu Yuan, and Huayuan. There are two main cafeterias, and each has an attached halal canteen. Do any of you require halal options?"

"If not, it’s still nice to try them out occasionally."

"The two cafeterias are Zhiwei Hall and Yuwai Hall. Both have three floors, offering dishes at different prices; the third floor is the most expensive."

"Zhiwei Hall is next to Nanyuan, so we usually call it the Nanyuan Cafeteria. Yuwai Hall is closer to Ziyuan."

"Which one will we be staying in?" Brother Nan asked.

"Qiu Yuan. Males and females are in separate buildings," said Senior Sister Wang Dan.

"Not Nanyuan..."

"No."

"So we... don’t have a cafeteria?" Brother Nan was taken aback.

"Qiu Yuan is next to Nanyuan, so we usually go to the Nanyuan Cafeteria. We’re also close to Southern Capital, so we can eat there too. This makes dining very convenient for us in Qiu Yuan. Plus, we’re near the sports stadium and athletic fields. I think it’s a great setup."

"What’s Southern Capital?"

"It’s a large commercial street with lots of restaurants and milk tea shops. It’s good for relaxing and trying different food."

"Then I’m relieved."

Actually, Brother Nan had already looked up some of this information.

Baozi asked from behind them, her voice very soft, "Are the dorm conditions good?"

Senior Sister Wang Dan answered, "They are all four-person rooms with bunk beds over desks. They have private bathrooms, water dispensers, and water heaters. However, the water heaters are solar-powered. On cloudy days, if you need hot water, you’ll have to go to a single-story building to fetch it. For showers, you’ll need to use the main bathhouse and pay with your campus card."

"Is there air conditioning?"

"No, Chunming doesn’t need air conditioning. You’ll all need blankets tonight when you sleep."

"I heard it can get hot during the day?"

"If you’re worried about the heat, you can buy a small fan."

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Senior Sister Wang Dan and the two senior brothers escorted them across the campus. The weather in Chunming was pleasant, and the school grounds were beautiful. Along the way, Senior Sister Wang Dan told the three juniors about the school. However, Zhou Li and Baozi weren’t very talkative; Brother Nan did most of the chatting with her.

Gradually, she began to have some doubts. She felt that Brother Nan’s tone of speaking—that air of indifference to everything—was exactly the same as Junior Brother Li Nan’s!? And both of them were from Yi Province.

Senior Sister Wang Dan decided to go back and check the registration list to see if there were indeed two Li Nans.

Registration involved a checklist that listed the required tasks and their locations in order. Following it made the process straightforward. Even without senior students guiding them, it was easy to navigate using a map.

Once they had collected their daily necessities and military uniforms, with the two senior brothers helping to carry them, the procedures were considered complete.

Senior Sister Wang Dan then said, "You should have been able to check your dormitory numbers a few days ago. I’ll take you to complete the check-in registration now."

After they exchanged dormitory numbers, Brother Nan and Baozi looked at each other.

To their surprise, they were roommates.

Then, Brother Nan patted Zhou Li’s shoulder, laughed, and said, "See? I told you she and I were fated to meet, and you didn’t believe me!"

Zhou Li had clearly said he *did* believe her.

Baozi’s name was Ji Ran.

After arriving at Qiu Yuan, the group split up. Two senior brothers, who were department heads, led Brother Nan and Ji Baozi to the girls’ dormitory. Meanwhile, Senior Sister Wang Dan took Zhou Li to his dormitory. The division of labor was very clear.

He completed his check-in at the Student Apartment Management Center, got his keys, and found out he was on the fifth floor.

Room 502.

When he opened the dorm room door, he found the floor was quite clean, but the air was somewhat stale due to a lack of ventilation.

Senior Sister Wang Dan led the way, opened the balcony door to let the fresh air in, and said to Zhou Li, "You’re in luck. In our dorms, we get to choose our own beds. Some dormitories have bed numbers pre-assigned."

Zhou Li nodded.

Huai Xu’s figure suddenly appeared in the dormitory. He sat on an upper bunk, swinging his legs, and asked, "Which one will you choose?"

Zhou Li chose the one on the left closest to the door.

Senior Sister Wang Dan was very enthusiastic. She even helped him make his bed, asking about Brother Nan as she did. Zhou Li simply said that after joining the new student group chat, he had muted it because he was too busy during the summer vacation, so he didn’t know much.

After finishing up, she and Zhou Li added each other on QQ before she hurried away.

Zhou Li pursed his lips.

Tuanzi, who had been placed on the desk, was looking straight up at him. "Zhou Li, I want to eat matsutake mushrooms," it said.

Zhou Li pretended not to hear.

He first took out a broom and swept the floor. Then, he wiped the desk clean with a cloth and arranged his things. Huai Xu also helped him clean the washbasin and bathroom.

During this time, Tuanzi was also busy.

It was busy following Zhou Li around.

When Zhou Li went to the front of the dormitory, Tuanzi followed. When Zhou Li went to the back, Tuanzi followed.

When Zhou Li went to the balcony, Tuanzi followed to the balcony.

When Zhou Li wiped the desk, Tuanzi jumped onto it to watch.

Zhou Li was rather speechless. "What are you doing?"

Tuanzi looked up, its round eyes fixed on him. Its voice was soft and delicate, but its expression was utterly serious. "This is just what cats do."

Zhou Li was silent. But that still doesn’t mean you’re getting matsutake mushrooms.

When they finished cleaning and sat down to rest, Tuanzi had somehow climbed onto his bed. It sat there, perched high above, looking down on them. Surveying them.

Suddenly, his phone DINGED.

Li Daimao: Dinner, Southern Capital, my treat.

Zhou Li: Okay.

Li Daimao: My cover’s blown!

Zhou Li: Serves you right.

Li Daimao: [Emoticon]

Zhou Li and Brother Nan agreed to meet at the entrance of Qiu Yuan.

While going downstairs, he noticed some activity in the QQ group.

LifeSci.19.Li Ying: @Successor of Destiny

LifeSci.19.Li Ying: Brother Nan! Brother Nan! Paging Brother Nan!

LifeSci.19.Li Ying: Brother Nan, didn’t you say you were arriving today? I’m here today too. Shall we meet for dinner tonight?

Brother Nan was probably walking and hadn’t seen the message yet.

It was Wang Dan, head of the Arts and Entertainment Department, who replied: "You won’t believe this, but your Brother Nan is actually a girl."

LifeSci.19.Li Ying: ???

LifeSci.18.Wang Dan (Head of Arts & Entertainment): "And she’s even prettier than us!"

LifeSci.19.Li Ying: ...

Instantly, the new student group chat exploded.

Huai Xu, beside Zhou Li, yelled, "Watch where you’re going!"

"Oh."

Zhou Li put away his phone, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.