Section 3

Seeing Emily deftly make the bed, Mingmei finally came to her senses and exclaimed in surprise and joy, "Why didn't you tell me? Don't you have class in the afternoon?"

After checking the dormitory arrangement table, the counselor looked up from the computer and said: "We can only mix with students from other departments."

On Thursday morning, there are only two classes. After class, Mingmei goes to the department office to seek the counselor's assistance in applying for accommodation. There are five girls in her class, including her, and the other four girls are all from out of town, just enough to fill one dormitory.

A teacher who is adept at lecturing always makes the classroom time fly by, and in the blink of an eye, ninety minutes have passed. When the class bell rings, Mingmei tidies up her textbooks and makes her way against the crowd, finally managing to squeeze to the podium, only to find that Professor Song is already surrounded by a throng of people, indicating the true charm of his class. After waiting for a moment, Mingmei lets out a sigh and quietly exits the classroom

My name is Xia Chunqiu, and I am from the Department of Physical Education," said the tall girl, pointing to the delicate one beside her, "Her name is Lin Miao, and she is from the Department of Chinese.

I received a call from Emily around noon, inviting her to have a meal together. I heard that Mingmei was packing her quilt at home, and she exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me you were going to stay in the dormitory!"

The food street outside the university town is always bustling at night, offering a wide array of dining, drinking, and entertainment options, which is no less than that of the city center

After the octopus left, the four girls sat for a while longer until the wine bottles on the table were completely empty and the dishes were cleared. Only then did they step outside. Emily and Xia Chunqiu walked unsteadily, with Mingmei and Lin Miao each supporting one of them. Just after crossing the road, Xia Chunqiu suddenly broke free from Lin Miao and leaned against a tree by the roadside, vomiting violently. This triggered a chain reaction, and Emily rushed over to vomit as well. Lin Miao had never encountered such a situation before and was momentarily stunned, saying, "Mingmei, what should we do?"

Alright, it is not a problem, thank you, teacher

Mingmei went to the dormitory supervisor to collect the keys and then returned home to organize her luggage

After everything was tidied up, the five of them went out to eat. It was already 7 o'clock, and the cafeteria was about to close. Emily suggested going to the seafood restaurant at Octopus House, but Mingmei quickly stopped her, saying that by the time they took a car to the city, they would probably all be too hungry to function.

At that moment, a sudden knock on the door sounded. Lin Miao quickly opened the door and asked, "May I ask who you are looking for..."

"Hi, welcome." One of the petite and delicate girls waved at her, smiling adorably

Mingmei listened and laughed; the three individuals from three different backgrounds truly lived up to the name of a mixed ensemble

Wow, Emily, you are truly amazing, there really is a younger brother of Spring and Autumn named Summer and Winter Sleep!" Lin Miao couldn't help but exclaim

Thank you. The quilt is actually very light, but Mingmei did not refuse her kindness

"Not yet, the dormitory manager said a new roommate has moved in. Chunqiu said to wait for you before going to eat," Lin Miao said. She was from Jiangnan, possessing the typical delicate features of a Jiangnan girl. When she smiled, two small dimples appeared on her cheeks, and her brows and eyes curved gracefully, resembling a well-behaved and adorable cat.

Emily shook Xia Chunqiu's hand and said: "Emily, from the Foreign Languages Department. Your name is really nice; it makes winter feel less cold, doesn't it? By the way, you don't happen to have a sibling named Xia Dongmian, do you?"

"Did I not mention it beforehand? Where does this surprise come from? Hehe, are you moved? Do you want to cry? Go ahead, I lend you my shoulder!"

Island University and Ocean University are neighboring institutions; however, due to the expansive campus areas of both universities, it takes twenty minutes to walk between the two.

The afternoon classes were packed, and they did not end until after 5 o'clock. A classmate invited her to dinner, but Mingmei declined, feeling it would be more convenient to make her bed while her roommates were out eating. Upon opening the dormitory door, she noticed that the two girls were both present.

Of course, it must be you who pays, you are the only gentleman

Emily! Zhang Xiaoyu! Mingmei was instantly stunned when she clearly saw the people standing outside and the large and small bags in their hands. "You... you!"

The bed and belongings were quickly tidied up, and Mingmei noticed that they had been standing by the side, seemingly waiting for her. "Have you had dinner yet?"

If you do not mind the distance, come to the food street outside our school. There is a particularly delicious hot pot restaurant, and I will treat you.

Uh, Mingmei, shall we go in first..." The octopus scratched its head, feeling a bit embarrassed. Many girls were coming and going in the dormitory corridor, all casting curious glances at him. The management regulations of the Haida dormitory clearly state that it is prohibited for boys to enter.

"Surprise!" Emily exclaimed, opening her arms wide, her smiling eyes curving into a brilliant rainbow.

"Cough, this is one time, that is another time." Emily embraced her shoulders and turned to face Xia Chunqiu and Lin Miao, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she teasingly said, "I am not worried about you being bullied, aren't newcomers said to be the easiest targets for bullying?"

At that moment, the octopus's phone rang, and he ran outside to answer it. After a moment, he walked back in and said, "Sorry, I have something to attend to, I must leave first." He glanced at Emily and Xia Chunqiu, who were already tipsy yet still not satisfied, and said, "Mingmei, Lin Miao, you two need to keep an eye on them later. When entering the dormitory building, make sure they don't cause any trouble."

Mingmei glanced at her, then looked at the pile of luggage on the ground, her thoughts momentarily not quite catching up.

Three individuals made way, allowing the two people outside to enter

When they entered, a table had just become available in the hot pot restaurant. The room was filled with steam and fragrant aromas, making it impossible to resist swallowing.

"It is unreasonable to have the new roommate treat us. Come on, I will treat you all." Xia Chunqiu stretched out his arm and confidently put his arms around Mingmei and Lin Miao's shoulders as they walked out. Xia Chunqiu is from Northeast China, and indeed, a person's character is shaped by their environment; he is tall, cheerful, and unconcerned with trivialities.

I am deeply moved! The bright sunlight makes my nose tingle. But, don't you dislike living in the dormitory?

Goodness, your parents are truly impressive, haha

I have class in the afternoon, how about I ask the stinky octopus to pick you up

Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter

Bright and dazzling, she came to her senses, pushed Emily to the side of Lin Miao, and then ran wildly across the street. She chased after the motorcycle that had disappeared in a cloud of dust, running faster than she had ever run before. The shadows of lights and people rushed past her eyes, the howling cool wind tangled her hair, rushing into her ears, nose, mouth, and eyes, her heart pounding violently as if it were about to leap out of her chest

The quilt was packed in a compression bag, and all the clothes and daily necessities were stuffed into a large box. Mingmei thought for a moment and shifted her gaze to the bottom drawer of the desk. She walked over, unlocked it, and pulled out the drawer. Unlike the clutter of the other drawers, this one contained only an old tin box. She gently took it out and wiped the surface of the tin with her fingers. In fact, there was not a speck of dust on it; rather, it was evident that the owner often cleaned it, as the tin had developed a faint sheen.

In that fleeting moment, she caught a bright glimpse of a figure in front of a restaurant across the street. Instantly, it felt as if she had been struck by lightning; her body was frozen, and at that moment, it seemed as though all the surrounding noise had ceased, as if light and shadow had also come to a standstill. In her eyes, there was only that person. A face so familiar, yet he had grown much taller. He wore a deep blue sweatshirt, black jeans, and hiking shoes, with a military green bag slung over one shoulder. She saw him mount a motorcycle parked by the roadside, and she also noticed the girl beside him jump onto the back seat. The engine roared to life, and with a thunderous sound, the motorcycle sped away.

Absolutely true

Brightly surveying the room, she couldn't help but frown; it was utterly chaotic! With just two girls, how could the table be in such disarray? The floor was also littered with fruit peels and scraps of paper. Looking at the two lower bunks that had already been occupied, it was evident that their owners had simply gotten up, tossed aside their blankets, and then pulled them back over themselves in a repetitive manner. Fortunately, the air was relatively fresh, and there was no unpleasant odor.

Lin Miao nodded while drinking milk

The beef hot pot was served quickly, and everyone was already starving, enjoying the meal particularly well. Emily was the happiest, finally meeting someone who could drink with her. They clinked glasses one after another, sitting closely together, and by the end, they were tipsy, with their arms around each other, affectionately calling each other "sister" with every sip.

Haha, is that really so

She stood at the door for a moment, then greeted them. "Hello, everyone, I am new here, my name is Mingmei, from the Department of Geology"

"I will help you carry it," another tall and sturdy girl walked over, reaching out to help Mingmei lift the quilt

She originally had quite a few questions to consult about, and also wanted to express her admiration and respect, but it seems she will have to wait until next time

"Hello!" Mingmei felt even more touched, but still gently nudged Emily, this blunt person! She felt a bit embarrassed and raised her eyes to look at Xia Chunqiu and Lin Miao. To her surprise, Xia Chunqiu actually laughed out loud twice and extended his hand: "Although your words are not pleasant to hear, I appreciate your character; you are direct! A true friend! My name is Xia Chunqiu, from the Physical Education Department"

"I am truly sorry, let's go eat together, it's on me," Mingmei said

The two individuals expressed their feelings candidly, and indeed, they seemed a bit more awake, pointing at each other and cursing their lack of ambition, before bursting into laughter. Seeing that they were in better spirits, Mingmei assisted Lin Miao in helping the two of them up, intending to return to school.

Mingmei gazed at the smiling faces of her two new friends, then glanced at the messy table and floor. The small knot in her heart immediately vanished without a trace. She smiled gently and thought, no one is perfect. A kind heart and a sincere smile are more precious than anything else

"Don't rush, don't rush. Go buy two bottles of water and a roll of tissue, and it will be fine after you throw up." This is not the first time Emily has experienced vomiting; Mingmei is quite experienced.

Nevertheless, the car ahead continued to move further away from her, weaving through the crowd, gradually becoming a blurred black dot. Yet she still ran recklessly, the name of that person rolling like a heat wave at the tip of her heart, Luo He, Luo He

With a bright smile and a shake of her head, Mingmei inquired about Lin Miao and Xia Chunqiu's opinions before the group headed towards the island.

When she arrived at the school, the afternoon classes were about to begin. Mingmei quickly dropped her belongings in the dormitory management office and hurried to the classroom

Mingmei moved the phone away a little and said, "I mentioned it while sleeping last night; it was you who didn't pay attention."

After completing the formalities, Mingmei followed her counselor to view the dormitory, located in the last building of the dormitory complex, specifically the last room on the top floor of the sixth floor. Mingmei thought to herself, indeed, there are no options left to choose from! Room 608 was already occupied by two girls, both freshmen, who were not present as they had classes in the morning.

Mingmei opened the box and stuffed the tin box at the very bottom

The bright morning forest glimmered as it winked: "Fortunately, both of us are awake; let's each take responsibility for one next time."

"No need, no need, I will bring over some things first. One person can handle it." Mingmei quickly declined, as that girl really regarded Zhang Xiaoyu as a free laborer on standby at all times

Luo River, I have finally encountered you once again