Chapter 4, the meaning is unclear

Su Riqin smiled and said, "Since we have met, let's go eat together. Having one more meal voucher doesn't matter!" Chen Qiaoqi impatiently replied, "No need, we are going back first." Zhao Xiaojun hesitated a bit, contemplating whether to accept, since it would be reimbursed by the school anyway. Chen Qiaoqi said, "I have something to discuss with you." Zhao Xiaojun thought he had something he didn't want to say in front of everyone, and immediately said, "Then you all go eat, I have some matters to attend to, so I won't go. We will leave first. Do we still need to come in the afternoon?" Chen Qiaoqi appeared sullen. Chen Qiaoqi said, "I have something to discuss with you." Zhao Xiaojun thought he had something he didn't want to say in front of everyone, and immediately said, "Then you all go eat, I have some matters to attend to, so I won't go. We will leave first. Do we still need to come in the afternoon?" Chen Qiaoqi appeared sullen. Su Riqin thought to himself that he had come over specifically, and now he looked gloomy, surely there was something urgent, but it was not appropriate to ask. So he said, "Since you have something to do, you don't need to come in the afternoon. There is still a bit left, so come over when you are free." Zhao Xiaojun smiled and said, "Hearing you say that, I will try my best to come and help." Su Riqin looked at her and smiled.

Several people were seated in a small private room, the air conditioning set to a high level, causing everyone's faces to flush from the drinks. Two or three boys from Northeast China were surprisingly engaged in a drinking contest, consuming Beijing Erguotou as if it were water, downing bottle after bottle without any food, while also enthusiastically playing games of dice. A few girls were also in high spirits, displaying a more refined taste, sipping on locally produced red wine. The long cork was difficult to extract, but once it was finally pulled out, the wine was poured into glass cups, shimmering like crystal, with ripples dancing on the surface, revealing a vibrant purple-red hue, the liquid flowing like jade. A few girls were also in high spirits, displaying a more refined taste, sipping on locally produced red wine. The long cork was difficult to extract, but once it was finally pulled out, the wine was poured into glass cups, shimmering like crystal, with ripples dancing on the surface, revealing a vibrant purple-red hue, the liquid flowing like jade.

Chen Qiaoqi said over there: "I locked myself out, and I have nothing in my pockets except my phone!" Zhao Xiaojun scolded him: "Didn’t I remind you to remember to bring your keys! Then come to my school to get them. I still have things to do here!" Lin Qingchuan asked: "Is it your cousin?" Zhao Xiaojun nodded.

Chen Qiaoqi took a long time to sit up. Zhao Xiaojun stood up, kicked her legs, feeling a bit sore and numb all over. She turned off the television and said, "Quickly go in and sleep. I will turn off the lights." Chen Qiaoqi stood for a while before returning to her room. Zhao Xiaojun poured another cup of warm water, standing as she slowly finished drinking it. She turned off the lights, pushed the door, and went to bed.

Lin Qingchuan sighed and said, "I didn't expect you to be in such a situation as well. You don't know, my brother is even more outrageous; he sold another house in the family to buy a car. The car was on the road for only a few days before it got into an accident and was totaled. The only relief is that no one was hurt. My tuition fees were covered by my mother selling her jewelry, and my brother has already refused to pay for my tuition and living expenses." The atmosphere became heavy all of a sudden. Lin Qingchuan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Actually, it's not a big deal. I'll see if I can work part-time at school. Besides, I might still have a little scholarship, so saving a bit won't be a major issue."

Lin Qingchuan heard this and pinched her face, asking: "What kind of luck have you been having lately? You seem to stumble upon opportunities like falling pies from the sky! Treat us! You can't escape this!" Zhao Xiaojun was still saying: "You have no idea, their family is truly luxurious! No wonder they spend a hundred yuan every night just to hire a companion for study!" A sunny-looking boy walked over with a grin and asked: "Why are you all so happy talking when you’re not working?"

Su Riqin stood up and said, "Wu Xun, please do not make things difficult for Xiao Jun. I will drink on her behalf, is that acceptable?" The crowd erupted in cheers, each person banging their plates and bowls, shouting, "Oh! Oh! A hero saving a beauty, a hero saving a beauty!" This instantly elevated the atmosphere to a climax. Zhao Xiao Jun felt a bit dizzy, but upon witnessing such a scene, she could only support herself against the table and say, "Alas, I suppose I have mistakenly befriended a bandit. I am afraid of you all, so is it alright if I drink?" Before she could reach for her wine glass, Su Riqin swiftly downed the remaining red wine that Zhao Xiao Jun had. The crowd became even more excited, creating a deafening uproar.

Chen Qiaoqi remained silent all the way. Zhao Xiaojun asked, "Did you not just say you had something to discuss?" Chen Qiaoqi lowered his head, hands in his pockets, following her from behind. Suddenly, he stopped, raised his head, and stared at her in a daze. Noticing his unusual expression, Zhao Xiaojun quickly halted and asked, "What’s wrong?" Chen Qiaoqi remained silent, his dark eyes reflecting a mix of stubbornness, sadness, and persistence. After a long pause, he suddenly said, "Zhao Xiaojun!" Each word was deliberate, heavy, as if he were making a solemn vow. Zhao Xiaojun, seeing his unusual demeanor, quickly stopped and asked, "What’s wrong?" Chen Qiaoqi remained silent, his dark eyes reflecting a mix of stubbornness, sadness, and persistence. After a long pause, he suddenly said, "Zhao Xiaojun!" Each word was deliberate, heavy, as if he were making a solemn vow.

When Chen Qiaoqi opened the door, he saw Su Riqin carrying the drunken Zhao Xiaojun on his back. His face darkened as he held Zhao Xiaojun tightly in his arms, glaring at Su Riqin with a cold expression. Su Riqin found his hostility somewhat inexplicable and explained, "You must be Xiaojun's brother. Your sister is drunk and feeling a bit unwell. It would be best for her to take some hangover medicine or drink some hangover soup—" Before he could finish his sentence, Chen Qiaoqi coldly interrupted, "Thank you!" with a hostile attitude. He slammed the door shut in front of Su Riqin. Su Riqin was taken aback by the cold reception and left with a bitter smile. He thought it was his fault for getting Zhao Xiaojun drunk, so he didn't dwell on it too much. Chen Qiaoqi, dressed in a middle school uniform, certainly did not evoke any other associations.

Chen Qiaoqi saw her throw her phone and asked, "What’s wrong? Didn’t it work out?" Zhao Xiaojun sighed, "I should have applied to a better school from the start! As soon as others hear that I am from a certain university, they immediately say they will contact me next time. Some are even worse, only wanting students from Tsinghua or Peking University! This is really unfair! Even for tutoring, they have to consider the reputation of the school, it’s truly frustrating." Chen Qiaoqi said, "Alright, alright, it’s not worth getting angry over such things. When do you start school?"

Chen Qiaoqi let out a sigh of relief, then carried her back, ascending the stairs under the dim light. He helped her sit up to take her medicine, and the redness on her body quickly faded. Before long, Zhao Xiaojun's breathing became steady, and she fell into a deep sleep

Chen Qiaoqi remained silent for a long time, then suddenly said: "Zhao Xiaojun, you are not my sister. You must remember that." Zhao Xiaojun waited for a long time, not expecting to hear such a statement, she gave him a glance and said: "Is this what you wanted to say?" She thought it was surprising that after all that buildup, he still spoke in a roundabout way. Chen Qiaoqi suddenly shouted: "Zhao Xiaojun, did you hear me clearly!" Zhao Xiaojun was startled by him and repeatedly said: "I heard you clearly, I heard you clearly! What are you doing! Shouting on the side of the road! People will think I am bullying you!" Chen Qiaoqi had an emotion in his heart that he could not vent, he suddenly shouted again: "Zhao Xiaojun, did you hear me clearly!" Zhao Xiaojun was startled again and kept saying: "I heard you clearly, I heard you clearly! What are you doing! Shouting on the side of the road! People will think I am bullying you!" Chen Qiaoqi, with a fierce glare at her, said: "Zhao Xiaojun, you are not my sister! Do not say you are my sister again!" The sensitive inferiority that Zhao Xiaojun had hidden in her heart was stirred up by his few words, she looked coldly at the somewhat angry Chen Qiaoqi and said lightly: "So this is what you are angry about! Of course, I am not your sister! I do not have the surname Chen! Do I, Zhao Xiaojun, care to be your sister! Rest assured, I will never again claim to be your sister in front of others, to save you from losing face for your Chen family!"

Chen Qiaoqi sat beside her and said, "How about you move in with me? I happen to have an extra room. You could save on accommodation costs, and it's not far from your school; just two or three bus stops away. You would only need to take care of the three meals. What do you think? Sounds good, right?" Zhao Xiaojun listened and felt quite tempted. The conditions here were indeed much better than at school. It was quiet and comfortable. The dormitory had six people crammed into a small room, with constant chatter and noise, leaving no peace throughout the day. Living here alone and taking care of Chen Qiaoqi's daily life could be considered a win-win situation, fulfilling each other's needs, and it wasn't like she would be living for free. So she said, "Sure, I can cover half of the daily expenses." Chen Qiaoqi smiled and said, "It's up to you. When will you move in?" Zhao Xiaojun replied, "Actually, I don't have much to bring, just two pieces of clothing and a few books."

After finishing the meal, Zhao Xiaojun put down the chopsticks and said, "I still want to go to school to help out, you clean up the dishes." Chen Qiaoqi took out a math exercise book from the room and said, "I was originally thinking you would teach me how to solve these problems, which is why I hurried to your school to find you." Zhao Xiaojun glanced at it and said, "These problems are indeed a bit difficult." Chen Qiaoqi continued, "Didn't they say you could skip it? Besides, it's so uncomfortable to go out in this hot weather." Zhao Xiaojun was swayed by this and thought for a moment, then said, "Forget it, forget it, I'll send a text message to Lin Qingchuan to let her know." She picked up a pen and started calculating on the table, saying, "These problems are indeed a bit difficult." Chen Qiaoqi continued, "Didn't they say you could skip it? Besides, it's so uncomfortable to go out in this hot weather." Zhao Xiaojun was swayed by this and thought for a moment, then said, "Forget it, forget it, I'll send a text message to Lin Qingchuan to let her know." She picked up a pen and started calculating on the table, burying herself in it and saying, "You clean up the dishes first, I'll take a look at the problems. I don't know if I can still solve them." Chen Qiaoqi indeed washed the dishes thoroughly.

Lin Qingchuan immediately became playful: "Oh, it turns out that the leaders of our youth organization have come for an inspection. What’s the matter, Su Riqin, are you here to supervise whether the people below are working hard?" As she spoke, she winked at Zhao Xiaojun. Zhao Xiaojun shot her a glare and laughed, saying: "School has just started, the work in the youth organization must be very busy, right? Even we, a few insignificant ones, are being directed to and fro!" Su Riqin smiled and said: "It's alright. What were you just talking about, getting all hands-on? You almost knocked over the drawing board." Lin Qingchuan quickly recounted the situation and then teased with a smile: "Su Riqin, is my Zhao the great beauty not even as good as a drawing board?"

Chen Qiaoqi took the towel, walked over, and roughly wiped Zhao Xiaojun's head. Zhao Xiaojun struck back at him forcefully, cursing, "Are you looking for death?" Chen Qiaoqi snorted through his nose and replied, "Just looking for death!" Zhao Xiaojun snatched the towel back, scolding, "You dare to say that!" Suddenly, Chen Qiaoqi hugged her from the side, burying his head in her shoulder. Zhao Xiaojun was startled and carefully examined his expression, cautiously asking, "Have you really encountered something unfortunate?" As she spoke, she reached out to turn his face. Chen Qiaoqi stubbornly rubbed against her without raising his head. Zhao Xiaojun had no choice but to give up. She softly asked, "What exactly happened? It's late at night, and now you're acting all strange!" Chen Qiaoqi grunted, refusing to speak. Zhao Xiaojun knew that he did not want to talk, and asking again would be futile. She let him rub against her, leaning against the armrest of the sofa, and closed her eyes drowsily. After an unknown amount of time, she slipped and woke up. Seeing that Chen Qiaoqi was still leaning on her, she pushed him, saying, "Alright, alright, no matter how big the issue is, a good night's sleep will solve it! After tossing and turning all night, I'm really tired and need to sleep. Fortunately, tomorrow is Saturday, so I can sleep in."

There happened to be a hospital nearby, and after visiting the emergency department, the doctor casually glanced and then stated that it was a mild alcohol allergy, which caused the entire body to flush, but there was no major concern. He prescribed some antihistamines and advised to drink less alcohol in the future. Chen Qiaoqi inquired further about what to pay attention to, but the doctor, who was already tired from the night shift, became somewhat impatient and said: "Actually, for someone with her level of allergy, drinking alcohol is still fine. It's not a big issue; just get some rest and it will be fine! You didn't even need to come to the hospital. You're being overly cautious!" Chen Qiaoqi inquired further about what to pay attention to, but the doctor, who was already tired from the night shift, became somewhat impatient and said: "Actually, for someone with her level of allergy, drinking alcohol is still fine. It's not a big issue; just get some rest and it will be fine! You didn't even need to come to the hospital. You're being overly cautious!"

Dousing herself with slightly cooler water all over her body, she felt completely refreshed. Breathing heavily, she emerged from the bathroom and saw him still sitting on the sofa watching television, though he appeared distracted. She softly asked him, "Why aren't you going to sleep?" Chen Qiaoqi glanced at her and asked sullenly, "Why did you get drunk?" Zhao Xiaojun sat down beside him, drying her hair as she replied, "I only had a little bit, I didn't expect to get drunk." Chen Qiaoqi glared at her, saying, "You know you're allergic to alcohol, don't you?" Zhao Xiaojun retorted somewhat defiantly, "I've never drunk alcohol before, how would I know!"

At that moment, Su Riqin deliberately made his way over from the auditorium, which excited everyone even more, jokingly saying: "Su Riqin, your intentions are clearly not pure. The drunken man's intention is not in the wine!" Su Riqin smiled and replied: "I came to inform everyone that it's time to eat, and the school is covering the expenses!" The crowd cheered continuously, laughing: "Why is the school suddenly so generous today!" They also said: "You didn't need to come in person! A phone call would have sufficed! Hehe—" Su Riqin smiled without answering, handing out a free meal voucher to each person. Just as he was about to give one to Zhao Xiaojun, Chen Qiaoqi suddenly said: "Xiaojun, it's getting late, let's leave first!"

Someone stood up drunkenly and said: "That won't do, look at everyone, who hasn't had three to five drinks? Zhao Xiaojun, in my opinion, we should at least finish what we have in our hands!" Lin Qingchuan pulled him back down and laughed, saying: "Wu Xun, you must be quite drunk tonight. Why are you talking as if you're arguing? Just sit down and save some energy."

Zhao Xiaojun sighed: "We truly are two of a kind, sharing the same suffering!"

Zhao Xiaojun was feeling quite down after being hit with some setbacks. She said, "In just a few days, the school is already urging us to pay the tuition fees. It's really something; the classes haven't even started yet, and they are so eager to collect money. I've never seen such enthusiasm for anything else; everything else is always delayed. It takes a whole week just to change a faucet in the water room! We even have to pay the electricity bill ourselves!" Chen Qiaoqi suddenly asked, "Is accommodation at your school charged?" Zhao Xiaojun sighed and replied, "Of course it costs money. Where in the world can you find a free lunch?"

However, not long after, Zhao Xiaojun encountered an extremely fortunate event. It turned out that Chen Qiaoqi had heard that she was looking for a tutor, so he inquired in class to see if anyone knew where a tutor was needed. Many of his female classmates eagerly helped him ask around. Later, it was discovered that there was a foreign child in need of a companion for study, with the requirement being a female who is patient, offering one hundred yuan for half an evening. Zhao Xiaojun went, and the parents were quite satisfied, so she stayed to accompany the child in studying for a period of two months, without the possibility of taking leave. Zhao Xiaojun's daily expenses were suddenly all resolved.

Zhao Xiaojun looked at her and said, "Do you really think I can fall in love at first sight like it says in books? No matter how Cupid shoots his arrow, it will never hit my heart." Lin Qingchuan did not respond immediately, and after a while said, "You have such a procrastinating nature. Forget it, take your time. Su Riqin is quite good and serious about you. Why not give it a try? If it really doesn't work out, I can teach you a way out; at worst, you can part ways amicably." Zhao Xiaojun poked her finger at Lin Qingchuan's nose and scolded, "Be careful with what you say, or you might face retribution! Since you've already dived in, how can you expect to retreat unscathed? Once water is spilled, it cannot be retrieved, let alone something as elusive as feelings. Do you think this is like watching a prime-time drama? You're thinking too simply. Neither of us is cut out for the playground."

Zhao Xiaojun only felt the alcohol rising, her whole body was hot, and her face was flushed. The crowd cheered: "Su Riqin, you should take Zhao Xiaojun home!" Su Riqin smiled and said: "It is my duty!" Zhao Xiaojun stood up, her steps already a bit unsteady, and Su Riqin, amidst the cheers of the crowd, escorted Zhao Xiaojun home

Chen Qiaoqi noticed that not only was her face flushed, but her neck was also turning red. He pulled her hand and rolled up her sleeves, revealing her arms, which were also glowing red, causing him to feel a bit surprised. He saw that her calves, exposed beneath her skirt, were slightly red as well, which made him worry. Hesitating, he reached out to tug at her collar, seeing the white straps on her shoulders and the plain lace trim. His heart began to race, and he noticed that the fair skin on her shoulders and chest was also blushing. He touched her through her shirt, and she felt hot all over. It seemed that the situation was somewhat dire, so he immediately picked her up, taking money and keys with him. Just as he was about to put on his shoes, he turned back and grabbed his coat to wrap around Zhao Xiaojun before hastily heading downstairs.

Zhao Xiaojun let out a soft "Hmm?" and looked at him with confusion, waiting for him to continue speaking. Chen Qiaoqi had never called her "sister"; she had grown accustomed to him addressing her by her full name. She recalled that Chen Qiaoqi had been acting strangely since last night, an indescribable restlessness emanating from him, as if he were troubled by something, yet she could not pinpoint what it was. She couldn't help but feel a bit worried, thinking he might be facing some adolescent troubles. Therefore, she patiently observed him, carefully scrutinizing his expression, waiting for him to speak up on his own.

She suddenly walked over and turned on the chandelier in the living room, the orange-red light instantly filling every corner, like the flames from a little witch's magic wand in a fairy tale, bursting forth with a "pop". Chen Qiaoqi got up and poured her a glass of water. Zhao Xiaojun drank it in one go and said, "Can you pour me another glass?" When Chen Qiaoqi returned, she was holding some medicine and asked, "Do you want to take a little more?" Zhao Xiaojun shook her head, saying, "No need. After a nap, my head doesn't hurt much anymore. I feel much better. It's just that I'm all sticky and sweaty. I'm going to take a shower first." Chen Qiaoqi got up and poured her a glass of water. Zhao Xiaojun drank it in one go and said, "Can you pour me another glass?" When Chen Qiaoqi returned, she was holding some medicine and asked, "Do you want to take a little more?" Zhao Xiaojun shook her head, saying, "No need. After a nap, my head doesn't hurt much anymore. I feel much better. It's just that I'm all sticky and sweaty. I'm going to take a shower first."

Zhao Xiaojun was checking something using Chen Qiaoqi's notebook when he leaned over to take a look and asked, "What are you looking this up for?" Zhao Xiaojun, fixated on the screen, replied, "I’m seeing if anyone needs tutoring or something like that." Chen Qiaoqi, somewhat puzzled, asked, "Why the sudden interest in tutoring?" Zhao Xiaojun shot him a glance and said, "Do you think everyone is like you, a complete young master!" Chen Qiaoqi paused for a moment and asked, "So how's your search going?" Zhao Xiaojun responded, "I found a few that seem quite suitable; I’ll call them in a bit to ask."

Two people were walking slowly along the north-south street. Chen Qiaoqi stopped in front of a supermarket and said, "I want to eat winter melon and spare rib soup!" Then he pointed at the glass fish tank and said, "I also want to eat braised fish!" Zhao Xiaojun remembered that he was at a growing stage, and although it was somewhat troublesome to prepare, she nodded and said, "Alright! You are growing, and studying is tiring; you should indeed eat better." Seizing the opportunity, Chen Qiaoqi immediately said, "But you let me eat leftovers in the morning!" Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit embarrassed, and although it was somewhat troublesome, she still nodded and said, "Alright! You are growing, and studying is tiring; you should indeed eat better." Chen Qiaoqi seized the opportunity again and said, "But you let me eat leftovers in the morning!" Zhao Xiaojun felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Isn't there work at school? Don't complain; I can cook for you every day in the future! But if you get tired of it, don't blame me!" Chen Qiaoqi said, "Then during your classes, don't eat at school at noon. The food at school is terrible!" Zhao Xiaojun walked into the market to pick fish and spare ribs, saying, "That takes a lot of effort. Can't you eat the food at school?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded repeatedly, saying, "The food at school is terrible!" Zhao Xiaojun walked into the market to pick fish and spare ribs, saying, "That takes a lot of effort. Can't you eat the food at school?" Chen Qiaoqi nodded repeatedly, complaining about how bad the food was next to her. After thinking for a while, Zhao Xiaojun said, "Alright then, I will come back to cook." She casually bought some scallions, ginger, garlic, and other seasonings, as well as some red chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns.

As Zhao Xiaojun returned home, she could no longer hold back, stumbling into the bathroom and vomiting violently with a "wow," feeling as if the world had turned upside down in an instant, engulfed in darkness. She even expelled the yellow bile from her stomach, her face covered in tears, her throat dry and itchy. Chen Qiaoqi patted her back and said, still in a bad mood, "Can't you stop drinking when it's empty? Are you trying to kill yourself?" Zhao Xiaojun had no strength left to retort, her body felt weak and soft, as if she were walking on clouds, her blood rushing upward, her limbs unresponsive. Chen Qiaoqi patted her back and said, still in a bad mood, "Can't you stop drinking when it's empty? Are you trying to kill yourself?" Zhao Xiaojun had no strength left to retort, her body felt weak and soft, as if she were walking on clouds, her blood rushing upward, her limbs unresponsive.

After being busy for about an hour, I finally finished. A large bowl of winter melon and pork rib soup, seasoned with just a little salt; a plate of golden-brown fried fish, topped with finely chopped red chili peppers; a long eggplant, sliced thinly but not completely cut through, resembling a coiled eel obediently lying in the dish, with just a sprinkle of scallions and garlic beside it; and a bowl of tomato and egg soup. The two of us ate until we were drenched in sweat, feeling thoroughly satisfied. The long eggplant, sliced thinly but not completely cut through, resembled a coiled eel obediently lying in the dish, with just a sprinkle of scallions and garlic beside it; and a bowl of tomato and egg soup. The two of us ate until we were drenched in sweat, feeling thoroughly satisfied.

The next morning, when Chen Qiaoqi got up, Zhao Xiaojun had already prepared breakfast and placed it on the table. While drinking milk, Zhao Xiaojun said, "I have to go to school today; remember to take the keys when you go out." Chen Qiaoqi asked somewhat displeased, "What’s the matter? Why are you going to school on a Saturday?" Zhao Xiaojun took a small bun and mumbled, "The group is holding a celebration event, and they want us to help out. Do you have anything planned for today?" Chen Qiaoqi shook his head and asked, "Will you be back for lunch?" Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly stood up and said, "I won’t be back; just eat something outside by yourself." Chen Qiaoqi fiddled with the buns on his plate and said, "I don’t want to eat alone outside; come back and cook. The food outside is terrible!" Zhao Xiaojun replied irritably, "Why are you so hard to please!" She opened the refrigerator, took a glance, and said, "There are some leftovers; if you don’t want to eat outside, just heat them up in the microwave yourself." Chen Qiaoqi remained silent until Zhao Xiaojun opened the door to leave, when he finally asked, "Who was the person who took you home last night?" Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly replied, "He is the deputy secretary of our group organization." Then she went downstairs with a "thud thud thud."

Lin Qingchuan's strange silence was profound

Lin Qingchuan readily agreed and immediately sent a text message to several members of the group organization department, stating that the boss was treating everyone to a lavish meal. That evening, a group of people noisily made their way to the "Meizhou Dongpo Restaurant" near the school. Lin Qingchuan nudged Zhao Xiaojun with her elbow and said, "What do you think of Su Riqin? He is handsome, ambitious, and devoted to you. He has never hidden his feelings in front of us."

Zhao Xiaojun has always drunk Sprite with orange juice at banquets, and in the cold weather, she opts for hot "Lulu". She has never genuinely consumed alcohol. The crowd looked at her untouched glass and began to shout loudly. Unable to refuse, Zhao Xiaojun had no choice but to take a few sips. The crowd still would not let her off, clamoring and refusing to stop. She was forced to drink more than half a glass, choking and with tears welling in her eyes, she pleaded: "Everyone, please show some mercy, let me off this time, if I drink any more, I will throw up!"

Chen Qiaoqi suddenly turned his head, quickly changing channels with the remote control. The screen flickered, causing a dizzying effect. Zhao Xiaojun couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong today? Did you eat explosives? Or did something unpleasant happen?" Chen Qiaoqi remained silent. To ease the atmosphere, Zhao Xiaojun casually tossed a towel to him, saying, "If nothing's wrong, help me dry my hair, so you won't take your frustration out on the TV. If it breaks, you'll be the one to pay for it"

Chen Qiaoqi allowed her to hold his hand, leisurely following behind with large strides, his eyes watching the corners of her skirt fluttering due to her light running. Upon reaching the opposite side, Zhao Xiaojun shook her hand, looked at him curiously, and said, "What's wrong?" Chen Qiaoqi stood silently for a moment before gently releasing her hand. Zhao Xiaojun took out a napkin to wipe her hands and also wiped her forehead, saying, "Why is it still so hot at this time? When will the autumn tiger pass?" She then handed the napkin to Chen Qiaoqi, saying, "Your hands are all sweaty, wipe them!" Chen Qiaoqi glared at her and shook his head. Zhao Xiaojun took out a napkin to wipe her hands and also wiped her forehead, saying, "Why is it still so hot at this time? When will the autumn tiger pass?" She then handed the napkin to Chen Qiaoqi, saying, "Your hands are all sweaty, wipe them!" Chen Qiaoqi glared at her and shook his head.

Su Riqin supported her and, seeing her gaze was dazed, asked, "Do you still recognize the way?" Zhao Xiaojun nodded, suppressing the overwhelming effects of the alcohol, and managed to tell the taxi driver the address, closing her eyes, feeling dizzy. Noticing that she was quite drunk, with her ears flushed and her fingers hot, Su Riqin decided to carry her upstairs.

In fact, there is nothing particularly important to do, just inflating balloons, cutting colored paper, moving tables, and decorating the venue with ribbons. These are all trivial and somewhat annoying little tasks. When Zhao Xiaojun arrived at the vacant classroom, it was the same group of people from last night’s drinking session. Everyone was making sly gestures at her, harboring ill intentions, and inevitably teasing her a bit. Zhao Xiaojun pretended not to notice and sat next to Lin Qingchuan, chatting with her. Meanwhile, Su Riqin was directing in the auditorium, checking the sound effects, thus avoiding a lot of awkwardness.

Chen Qiaoqi's eyes blazed with two flames as he stared at her, the two of them locked in a standoff. After a long while, he finally reached out and tugged at Zhao Xiaojun's sleeve. Zhao Xiaojun ignored him and quickly walked ahead. Chen Qiaoqi followed at a leisurely pace, keeping a distance of two steps behind her. When they reached the next intersection and waited for the green light, Chen Qiaoqi stood shoulder to shoulder with her on the same white crosswalk, speaking in a low, muffled voice: "Xiaojun, I didn't mean it that way!" Zhao Xiaojun couldn't really be angry with him, only saying: "The way you talk is too hurtful. Am I not worthy of being your sister?" Chen Qiaoqi looked at her and said: "I don't want you to be my sister!" Zhao Xiaojun couldn't keep a straight face any longer, recalling what Lin Qingchuan had said, she laughed and said: "Then how about being your aunt? Be careful, or I might just beat you to death!" Chen Qiaoqi grew even more irritated, scratching his head vigorously, and continued: "I'm not your brother either!" Zhao Xiaojun huffed and said: "Hmph, do you think I don't have a brother?" Chen Qiaoqi placed his hand on her shoulder, prompting Zhao Xiaojun to pull her gaze from the traffic light back to him, asking: "What's wrong?" Chen Qiaoqi hesitated, as if he was making some kind of decision. Suddenly, Zhao Xiaojun grabbed his hand and said: "Hurry up, hurry up, the green light here is especially short. Before people can even cross to the other side, it turns red!" She kept running ahead.

Chen Qiaoqi politely greeted everyone and was the first to walk out. Zhao Xiaojun hurriedly followed behind him. Lin Qingchuan chased after them from behind, saying: "Zhao Xiaojun, your bag! Be careful I might take it!" She chased all the way to the corridor. Zhao Xiaojun turned around, took it in his hand, and smiled, saying: "Xiaoqing is the best!" Lin Qingchuan exclaimed, "Ew!" Zhao Xiaojun introduced her to him, saying: "Qiaoqi, this is Lin Qingchuan, we call her Sister Qing!" Chen Qiaoqi politely called out, "Sister Qing." Although Chen Qiaoqi often had a sullen face, he was always very polite to others. Lin Qingchuan, touched, said: "What a good kid! When I was in middle school, I was called Auntie by little kids, I never expected to hear someone call me sister today!" Zhao Xiaojun laughed and said: "He is my younger brother, you always wanted to see him, now you can!" Lin Qingchuan jokingly scolded: "Go away!" After walking a few steps, she turned back and said: "Remember, one 'Qiaolezi'!" Zhao Xiaojun shouted from behind: "Are you robbing me while the fire is burning? Do you have no conscience!" Lin Qingchuan laughed and walked away proudly.

Chen Qiaoqi poured water for her to rinse her mouth. Zhao Xiaojun trembled as she took it in her hands, swallowing clumsily a couple of times. When she spat it out, it triggered another wave of dry heaving. For some reason, she wanted to stop but couldn't, causing the veins in her neck to bulge. It wasn't until she could no longer bring anything up that she finally calmed down after a long while, feeling as if half her life had been drained away, and she leaned against Chen Qiaoqi. Chen Qiaoqi almost carried her into the living room and helped her sit on the sofa. Under the light, her face appeared flushed, her half-closed eyes seemed to be neither fully awake nor fully asleep, with a hint of spring in the corners of her eyes and her brows and features looking delicate. Her lips and tongue were somewhat tense, yet she dared not make any rash movements.

Thus, she briefly recounted the events. Lin Qingchuan disdainfully remarked, "So it turns out to be a little brat! I thought you were cohabiting with some man!" Zhao Xiaojun immediately hit her, saying, "Why don't you get struck by lightning!" Lin Qingchuan shrugged and replied, "As if it dares to strike me! I would strike it dead first! Just look at what I study!" Zhao Xiaojun, with a look of disdain, said, "Go away, go away, go away! Get lost!"

Zhao Xiaojun lazily said, "It's just like that!" Lin Qingchuan was so angry that she jumped up, saying, "You still look down on someone like him, what kind of person are you looking for? Do you want to find someone like Zhang Chaoyang or Li Yanhong?" Zhao Xiaojun replied sullenly, "What kind of talk is that! I feel like you are trying to push me into a fire pit." Lin Qingchuan glared at her, saying, "You really are like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, unable to recognize a good person's heart. I really fit that saying, 'When the emperor is not anxious, the eunuchs die of anxiety,' worrying for no reason!"

As Zhao Xiaojun was tidying up her clothes in the dormitory, Lin Qingchuan dragged a large suitcase past her dormitory door. Zhao Xiaojun couldn't help but scream, saying, "You finally decided to come back! What delicious food did you bring?" She leaned the suitcase against the wall and walked in casually, saying, "I didn't bring anything! It's so far, do you think I'm a laborer? What are you trying to do, escape?" Zhao Xiaojun pinched her, saying, "A dog can't spit out ivory; can't you say something nice now that you're back?"

Lin Qingchuan squinted at her and asked, "What happened later?" Zhao Xiaojun, while tying balloons with ribbons, replied, "What do you mean, what happened later?" Lin Qingchuan reached out and tickled her underarm, laughing, "You are still causing trouble in front of me!" Zhao Xiaojun immediately jumped up, distancing herself, and said, "I admit I'm afraid of you!" Lin Qingchuan pulled her back down and laughed, "Did anything particularly romantic happen?" Zhao Xiaojun looked at her disdainfully and said, "What are you thinking about all day? Last night, I almost lost my life and even ended up in the hospital. Do you think that's romantic enough?" Lin Qingchuan exclaimed, "Oh," and immediately asked, "Why did you go to the hospital? Were you sick?" Zhao Xiaojun replied indignantly, "It's all your doing! I'm allergic to alcohol and almost died!" Lin Qingchuan asked again, "Did Su Riqin take you to the hospital?" Zhao Xiaojun shook her head, "No, he was gone by then." Before she could finish her sentence, her phone rang.

Lin Qingchuan asked seriously: "Has something happened at your home? Your voice sounded strange during the summer vacation." Zhao Xiaojun did not hide it from her: "You know, the money for my studies comes from my stepfather. His small factory is not doing well right now, so I am considering whether I can apply for a loan through the school." Lin Qingchuan asked: "Don't you have the tuition for this semester?" Zhao Xiaojun sighed and said: "My mother barely managed to gather it. Now that I've saved on accommodation fees, the living expenses are not so tight for the time being. I am thinking of finding a part-time job outside to see if I can find something to do during the holidays."

Returning to their residence, they busily got to work. Chen Qiaoqi was asked to boil water with the electric kettle and wash the rice. Hearing the kettle bubbling, Chen Qiaoqi asked, "Is the water boiling yet?" Zhao Xiaojun, carefully cutting the fish into small pieces without looking up, replied, "Not yet! Bubbling water isn't boiling; boiling water doesn't bubble! You have to wait until there's no sound for the water to be truly boiling." Chen Qiaoqi asked again, "Why do we need to use hot water to cook rice? Can't we just put it directly into the rice cooker?" Zhao Xiaojun explained, "It's mainly because it tastes better. You have to wait until there's no sound for the water to be truly boiling." Chen Qiaoqi inquired once more, "Why do we need to use hot water to cook rice? Can't we just put it directly into the rice cooker?" Zhao Xiaojun responded, "It's mainly because it tastes better. Actually, steaming the rice would make it even tastier, but who has the time to steam rice all day!"

Su Riqin smiled without speaking, and after a while said: "It is indeed time to celebrate. Zhao Xiaojun has not yet received his salary, so I will treat this time. Let's invite a few more people, as a reward for everyone's hard work during this period without seeking compensation!"

In the early hours of the morning, Zhao Xiaojun woke up feeling restless, her body burning with heat, her throat dry and itchy, and an indescribable discomfort. She propped herself up and groggily walked outside. Upon opening the door, she saw the small lamp in the living room was lit. Chen Qiaoqi was sitting on the sofa, holding the remote control and flipping through channels one by one. The silver light from the television illuminated his face, casting it in a half-light, half-darkness, with distinct three-dimensionality, and his eyes appeared exceptionally clear. She walked over, gently tapping her temples with her hand, and asked, "Why are you still awake at this late hour?" Chen Qiaoqi looked up at her and replied with a soft "Hmm." The silver light from the television illuminated his face, casting it in a half-light, half-darkness, with distinct three-dimensionality, and his eyes appeared exceptionally clear. She walked over, gently tapping her temples with her hand, and asked, "Why are you still awake at this late hour?" Chen Qiaoqi looked up at her and replied with a soft "Hmm." Zhao Xiaojun suddenly felt a bit distracted for some reason; under the dim, yellowish light, everything seemed to carry a hint of magic, and her mood felt somewhat unusual. Looking into Chen Qiaoqi's eyes, she recalled someone describing eyes like black gemstones, sparkling brightly, and today she realized that it was indeed true.

Zhao Xiaojun asked him to go directly to the first floor to get it. Chen Qiaoqi came over, and Zhao Xiaojun handed him the key. The other girls in the classroom all gathered around, quietly asking, "Zhao Xiaojun, is this your brother? He is so handsome! It turns out your whole family is so good-looking!" One of them, with a mischievous smile, said, "Since he is so handsome, why not be my boyfriend!" Another one teased, "You flirt! Don’t you see how young he is? He is still wearing a middle school uniform! How could you say that!" She smiled cheekily and said, "If only he were a few years older! Otherwise, he might really get accused of enticing a minor! It’s a pity we can only look, not touch!" One of the more sensible ones scoffed, "You are really crazy! Young men are the most willful, knowing nothing, and still have to endure everywhere! I would rather find someone ten years older than me than someone ten months younger!" Lin Qingchuan chimed in, "What does it matter! Our little Yuer is open to both genders, suitable for all ages! Unlike you, who is so picky, be careful of becoming an old maid, with no one wanting you for a lifetime!" That person gritted her teeth and said, "Lin Qingchuan, why is your mouth so poisonous? Be careful of retribution!" The scene became quite lively.