CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 62 SISTER LI

"Zhou Li, what are you doing in there?"

"Why is the door locked?"

"Zhou Li, open the door!"

"Lord Dumpling wants to go in too!"

"Let Lord Dumpling have a look inside!"

"Open the door!"

"Why aren’t you talking? Are you doing something shady behind my back? You’re not dead, are you? Why do I seem to hear the sound of running water? Where is that water coming from?"

CREAK.

The door to the restroom opened.

Zhou Li walked out with a blank expression.

Tuanzi looked up at Zhou Li, lowering her voice a bit as she asked, "What were you doing in there?"

"Using the toilet."

"Why do you need to lock the door while using the toilet? Are you afraid that a cute little kitty will peek at you?"

As she spoke, she took small steps towards the door, muttering, "Let Lord Dumpling see what you have been doing..."

Suddenly, she found she couldn’t move, her four paws slipping on the wet tiled floor.

Tuanzi turned her head, looking at the hand grasping her tail, then raised her gaze to meet Zhou Li’s, her round eyes focusing sharply. "You indeed were doing something in there that you didn’t want Lord Dumpling to find out!"

Zhou Li was rendered speechless. He gave up.

So, Tuanzi scurried to the door, craned her neck, and curiously looked inside. She even took a deep breath.

Zhou Li started to wash up.

It was his second day at school. The morning was very cool, the sky adorned with fog-like red clouds that were quickly fading, and the slightly reddish sunlight hinted it was going to be another fine day.

Zhou Li turned to Huai Xu. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"And you?"

"Not so well."

"I did okay," said Huai Xu.

"Are you cold?"

"No, I’m not cold."

"Oh..."

Huai Xu probably didn’t sleep well either, Zhou Li thought. The beds here aren’t as comfortable as the ones at home, and furthermore, Huai Xu didn’t use a blanket—his blanket from home had arrived in Chunming yesterday afternoon but hadn’t been delivered. It was only placed at the parcel station this morning.

After a pause, Zhou Li asked again, "My roommate will definitely arrive in the next two days. Where will you sleep then?"

"Don’t worry about me, I’ll always find a place," Huai Xu said. "I could even sleep in a tree and not be cold."

"Shall I find you an inn?"

"Waste of money."

"Then I’ll find you a home goods store."

"Now that works!"

"Hmm."

Zhou Li began to tally up his and Huai Xu’s assets.

Huai Xu’s five thousand yuan was almost untouched, with just a few hundred spent on a hotel stay. He usually only used it to buy food, and oddly enough, he preferred to eat at free buffets.

Zhou Li’s assets were a bit tighter. He had much more money than Huai Xu, but he needed to buy a computer, rent a place, and was also considering getting a driver’s license. There were just so many things to spend money on.

Huai Xu, sitting behind him, seemed to have read his thoughts and said, "Don’t worry. There are so many demons in Chunming, there’s bound to be one that for various reasons makes contact with humans. When that time comes, our business will take off!"

Zhou Li nodded.

Tuanzi emerged from the restroom. She looked at Zhou Li, lost in thought.

Zhou Li casually asked, "What do you want for breakfast?"

"I’ll have whatever you’re having," Huai Xu replied.

"Lord Dumpling wants to eat blood bird’s nest," Tuanzi declared.

"I’ll check the cafeteria," Zhou Li said.

Zhou Li put on his shoes and headed towards the cafeteria. Fifteen minutes later, the human and two demons began eating in the dormitory.

Zhou Li and Huai Xu ate steamed buns and pan-fried dumplings, drinking soy milk.

Tuanzi lapped up her gruel.

She seems to be enjoying it quite heartily, Zhou Li observed.

Suddenly, Huai Xu stopped and said to Zhou Li, "Li Daimao is here, and she’s brought others with her."

"Huh?"

Zhou Li also heard voices. He was very familiar with Brother Nan’s voice and recognized it immediately. "Since it’s solar-powered, on cloudy days you need to use your campus card to get hot water from the dispenser on each floor. If you want a bath, you can go to the big bathhouse..."

Then a shy male voice said, "Thank you, Senior Sister."

"We’re here. There are people inside; I’ll knock first."

KNOCK KNOCK.

"Zhou Li, open the door."

"Yes, your roommate is inside, the one I brought over yesterday. His name is Zhou Li, and he’s quite handsome."

"Zhou Li!"

Zhou Li opened the door.

Outside stood four people: Brother Nan, her hand poised to knock; a tall, somewhat shy-looking guy; a woman who seemed mature but not motherly—probably the guy’s sister; and the head of the sports department.

Brother Nan looked at Zhou Li with a beaming smile. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"I’m having it now."

"I’ve brought over your new roommate. His name is... what was it again?"

"I’m Chang Xiaoxiang."

"I’m Zhou Li."

"Hello, hello."

"Hello."

"Don’t block the doorway, come on in," Brother Nan said as she stepped past Zhou Li and started to survey Zhou Li’s dormitory. She said, "Junior Brother Chang, you’re in luck. Right after Xiao Zhou arrived yesterday, he got this dorm room all cleaned up."

"Yes, thank you, Brother Zhou."

"Just call me Zhou Li."

"Alright."

Zhou Li sat down and continued eating his steamed bun.

Brother Nan took a tour of the restroom in the men’s dormitory. When she came out, she saw that there was also breakfast laid out on the desk of the bed next to Zhou Li’s. She then imagined the ridiculous scenario of Zhou Li eating at that desk first, then switching to his own table halfway through.

Brother Nan smiled broadly, feeling incredibly happy. She walked over to Zhou Li, picked up the ancient book he had, saw that she couldn’t understand it, and put it back down.

I’m so used to her hyperactivity, Zhou Li thought.

Eventually, Brother Nan clapped her hands. "I’m going now. Little Chang, you get along well with Xiao Zhou, you hear? He’s a bit introverted, so remember to invite him out when you go play, and talk to him more. If he’s not very responsive to you, don’t mind it; just keep talking. It’s not that he’s ignoring you; it’s just the way he is, not much of a talker."

Chang Xiaoxiang nodded. "Okay, Senior Sister. Take care."

Brother Nan patted Zhou Li’s shoulder and left.

Chang Xiaoxiang’s sister was on the top bunk making his bed; he stood below handing things up to her and struck up a conversation with Zhou Li. "Did you arrive yesterday?"

"Yesterday afternoon, nearly evening."

"Were you also brought here by Sister Li?"

"Right."

"How come it seems like Sister Li is quite familiar with you?"

"We’re all in the group chat."

"Oh, no wonder! I didn’t join the group!" Chang Xiaoxiang seemed somewhat annoyed. "Does that mean you all got to know each other in the group beforehand?"

"Not many joined the group," Zhou Li said.

"That’s good then..."

"Have you had breakfast?" Zhou Li asked.

"I have, I have."

"Good."

Zhou Li continued eating his breakfast.

Huai Xu stood aside, carefully avoiding Chang Xiaoxiang, looking sadly at his unfinished breakfast.

Fortunately, after making the bed, the siblings went out to shop.

Huai Xu hastily finished his meal.

Zhou Li went to the parcel station to collect his packages. He also needed to buy things like basins, buckets, and clothes racks, but Brother Nan said they’d go shopping together in the afternoon when she was free, so Zhou Li stayed in the dorm.

The siblings came back once more, then left again.

When Chang Xiaoxiang returned, he was alone.

Zhou Li casually asked, "Has your sister left?"

"Yes!"

Chang Xiaoxiang pulled up a stool and sat down, his hands gripping its edges. Looking at Zhou Li, who was playing on his phone, he tried hard to find something to say. "That Sister Li is really pretty. I thought girls in our department wouldn’t be that attractive..."

"She’s okay."

"I wonder if Sister Li is single. I’ve never met such a pretty girl in real life!"

"She’s single."

"Even if she’s single, I don’t have a chance. But you do; you’re handsome. Hey, do you have a girlfriend?"

"No."

"I’m single too. I really want to be in a relationship."

"I see."

"Hmm... You also have a cat, right?"

"Right."

"Ummm..."

This is a bit tough, Chang Xiaoxiang thought.

After a moment, he also turned to play on his phone. But he still remembered Sister Li’s words and intermittently chatted with Zhou Li, blurting out anything that came to mind in an effort to foster a good relationship with his roommate.

Zhou Li would always respond, just not with many words.

Cai University dormitories were assigned by department, so, except in special circumstances, students from the same department lived together.

Brother Nan came by several times that morning, always making a point to tease Zhou Li.

Before lunch, Zhou Li got another roommate. This one was also brought by Brother Nan. He was a rather small and thin guy who seemed even shyer than Chang Xiaoxiang. When meeting his roommates for the first time, he just smiled as a greeting and then was too embarrassed to speak further.

His name was Liu Zhengming.

When Chang Xiaoxiang chatted with him, he would summon the courage to appear cheerful but never initiated conversation.

Listening to their talk, Zhou Li felt he was getting to know Brother Nan all over again—Sister Li was well-acquainted with the campus surroundings and knew the delicacies of Chunming’s various districts by heart. She liked sports and had invited them to join the department basketball team and the Bicycle Association. She held a high position in the student union; her lack of designer labels made her seem even more impressive, and even the department heads were willing to do manual labor for her...

At lunchtime, Brother Nan called Zhou Li out.

The student union was providing fifteen-yuan meal vouchers per person for the orientation volunteers. This wasn’t a small amount considering the cafeteria prices at Cai University, but they could only be used in the cafeteria.

Brother Nan somehow got four vouchers and said she wanted to take Zhou Li to experience the cafeteria. They even called Baozi along.

So the three of them went to Zhiwei Hall.

As soon as they entered, Brother Nan was stunned. "So big!"

Zhou Li didn’t make a sound.

However, both he and Brother Nan came from small cities, and the largest cafeteria they had ever seen was their high school cafeteria. They indeed felt a bit overwhelmed by the numerous food stalls, unsure where to go.

Brother Nan thought for a moment and said, "Let’s take a look around first."

The other two agreed.

After a walk around the first floor, they proceeded to the second. After about twenty minutes, they finally started their meal.

This tastes amazing, Zhou Li thought, trying the cafeteria food for the first time. It’s ten thousand times better than the high school cafeteria.

But Brother Nan, being ambitious and picky with her food choices, used two vouchers herself and still couldn’t finish everything.

After lunch, the three of them went shopping.

The commercial street had displayed all the items new students needed in the most prominent places, even directly on the sidewalk. At this time, the stores were aiming for low profit but high sales, so prices were very cheap. Some items were even sold in packages.

"I’ll buy this blue one. Zhou Li, how about you get the pink one?" Brother Nan suggested to Zhou Li.

"I want blue too."

"TSK TSK! How many clothes hangers do you need?"

"Two packs should do."

"That should be enough. The organization minister just messaged me, saying he wanted to invite me for dinner tonight."

"For what?"

"I didn’t ask." Brother Nan curled her lip, expressing disdain for the organization minister, who was hardly qualified to even be her little brother.

"I see."

"I really want to try Dai food; I heard some dishes are extremely spicy." Brother Nan wasn’t great with spicy food but loved it. It often made her nose run and eyes water, but she still indulged in it. Of course, pretending she wasn’t really affected by the spiciness was an essential part of the act.

"Oh."

"I know a place, it’s a bit far. Let’s take a taxi there around 5 PM..."

"I have plans already."

"What??"

"I have an older acquaintance in Chunming, a girl I knew from childhood. She asked me over for dinner tonight; we arranged it last night."

"That’s disappointing..."

"You go with Baozi."

"I’ll just order takeout Old Granny Potato then!" Brother Nan let out a long sigh, as if she had no choice but to forgive him. "I heard from Wang Dan, the one who wanted to hit on you yesterday, that this stuff is really tasty. There’s a store that’s particularly good, it’s just far."

"That works."

Actually, Senior Sister Wang Dan had also approached him for a chat earlier, beating around the bush, hoping he’d be the one to ask her out for a meal. Of course, Zhou Li didn’t get the hint.