Chapter 56: To be a little closer

"How was your first day of university? Was it also as crazy as this?" Xu Tingsheng asked Apple.

"Some seniors came to help us. Still, ninety percent of the students in our university are female. It was because of you that I specifically chose it. You can rest assured; ever since that day when you carried me on your back, I decided that I would guard my body like jade for you." Apple said.

The two stayed in the room for a while, properly tidying the place up. Then, they apologised to Xu Tingsheng's roommates and left.

Tonight's dinner was originally supposed to have been the first group event for the freshmen staying in the dormitories. Still, university had yet to begin for Huang Yaming and Song Ni, who were both currently staying in a motel. Xu Tingsheng and Fu Cheng could only accompany them first.

After briefly explaining things to his roommates, Xu Tingsheng left the room with Apple.

"Everyone, please help to watch over my hubby for me from here on out," Apple finally said to them.

Xu Tingsheng's thoughts were that he would let Apple mess around however she wanted today. Additionally, he also didn't plan on looking for a girlfriend in university. Therefore, even if news of him having a girlfriend spread, it wouldn't actually be a bad thing.

Xu Tingsheng gave Fu Cheng a call. He learnt that they were staying in the same dormitory area but in different buildings, and also asked whether he needed any help in unpacking.

Fu Cheng said, "Just help me to buy a couple of things."

Xu Tingsheng bought the things and Apple volunteered to help send them up. More than ten minutes later, the two came down, Fu Cheng saying that the bestial creatures in his room had already all gone crazy.

On the way to the town of Xishan, Apple was all smiles as she conversed with Fu Cheng. Xu Tingsheng could tell that Apple was trying hard to improve her relationship with Fu Cheng. They had only been normal classmates before, but it was best that they could be friends in the future. The reason for this was that he was one of Xu Tingsheng's two best friends.

The three headed directly to the motel in question. Having known that Apple was here, Song Ni had booked a double room.

Huang Yaming had booked a triple room as he said to Xu Tingsheng and Fu Cheng, "The two of you are sleeping with me tonight."

However one listened, this just seemed wrong.

The group of five ordered a few simple dishes and had dinner together. Apple complained with tears in her eyes that if she had known they would all be studying here, she would have applied for Yanzhou University as well. Broaching that topic, it really was rare that good friends like Xu Tingsheng's trio and Song Ni could actually still remain so close to one another in university.

Of course, they would individually be making yet more, new friends thereafter, not spending all their time together like they had in senior high. Still, they weren't limited as best friends to meeting only during holidays, and were able to assist one another at a moment's notice as well. Really, this was already good enough.

As for what Apple was doing here, before Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng had asked, Apple herself had already explained it.

"I came here to pursue Xu Tingsheng, of course," She said.

Afterwards, at Huang Yaming's suggestion, they called for a few bottles of wine. Song Ni could drink a little, while Apple's alcohol tolerance could be considered passable as well. However, in order to grow closer to Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng, Apple drank a little too cheerfully and readily. In the end, when the meal ended a little after 7pm, only Apple was a little tipsy.

Xu Tingsheng got Song Ni to help Apple back to their room to rest. He and Fu Cheng having skipped the group dinner, they should now return to show their face at their dormitories at the very least.

Huang Yaming said, "You'd better remember to come back and sleep with me."

"…"

The eighth person of Room 602 ultimately didn't show up, perhaps having given up on his placing and gone back to retake the university entrance examinations.

Xu Tingsheng decided to move onto the upper bed, leaving the lower bed empty for everyone to place their things. When he was moving his things over, something dropped out from beneath the blanket. Xu Tingsheng picked it up. It was the little singlet of Apple's that she had changed out from at the clothing store earlier.

It was made of a soft and supple material, and contained her smell. This demoness.

As his roommates all burst out snickering, Xu Tingsheng put the singlet inside his cupboard.

There was no seniority ranking amongst the seven of them, because everyone feared that they might just be that one ranked number two. Now, they individually did some basic self-introductions. Actually, Xu Tingsheng's other six roommates had already gotten to know each other during that dinner earlier. In starting all over again now, it was mainly for his sake.

The tall, handsome one was Tan Yao of Shandong. While introducing himself, he admitted to having a rich history of chasing girls. With that and his good looks, it was evident that he was an expert in this area.

"Bros, if anyone catches your eye in the future, remember to tell me about it first, lest I accidentally harm allied troops," he said.

It seemed like this guy's university life was going to be a very colourful one.

The short and stout Li Xingming was a local whose dream was to lose his virginity in university.

The only one in the room who had brought along a computer was called Old Wai. The reason for this was a very awkward one. His actual name was Wa Aiyi. His father was surnamed Wa, and his mother was surnamed Yi. When choosing a name for his son, his father had acted all loving and given him a name that literally meant Wa Loves Yi. Therefore, just having entered junior high, he had already begun telling others, "Just call me Old Wai."

Even while speaking, Old Wai was still pounding frantically away on his keyboard. At first, Xu Tingsheng thought that he might be playing a game. Having taken a closer look, though, he realised that he was actually programming.

Currently, the use of computers was still not widespread. There were very few who were as familiar with using computers as him, and freshmen who knew programming were even rarer.

"This old man applied for Computing, but just got pushed over to Chinese," Old Wai let out an earth-shaking mournful howl, "This old man doesn't want to be a bitter literary person, you bunch of bitter literary people…at any rate, we'll be in this same room from now on. I won't be attending the lessons; I want to attend the Computing lessons."

Old Wai had precisely the look of an IT male.

The small, honest kid was called Zhang Ninglang. Xu Tingsheng knew that while he wouldn't usually stand out, when they needed help for attendance taking or with the end of term examinations, he would become the most important person in the room.

The other five guys told Xu Tingsheng the nickname that they had already given Zhang Ninglang, 'Lil' Bro Ning'.

Of the final two, one was called Lu Xu while the other was called Huang Keshen.

Lu Xu said, "I have a catchphrase while speaking. I like to say 'You still have the face to smile?' Today, I'm keeping it in and not speaking much for fear that you guys might misunderstand. If I accidentally say it in the future, please don't mind it. I mean no harm-it's just that I'm used to it."

Xu Tingsheng felt that this guy was likely to suddenly get into a fight with someone out of the blue.

Huang Keshen was a little arrogant, and looked from his appearance like he came from a rather well-off family.

He said slightly not so simply, "I am Huang Keshen from Xihu City. I scored 588 marks in the university entrance examinations and failed to get into Jianhai University by just a bit. I didn't want to come here originally, but my parents both work in the government. They say that it's just getting a paper qualification anyway, and they'll make arrangements for me afterwards. I thought that this was fine as well, so I came."

After he had finished speaking, someone smiled derisively a few times but said nothing, while someone said for him out of goodwill, "What a high score."

Perhaps Huang Keshen was trying to show off a little, but Xu Tingsheng felt that there was nothing really wrong with this. Instead, his manner of speaking made it seem like he was not a scheming person, which was pretty good. Also, just having entered university, everyone sharing their university entrance examination results was really a perfectly normal thing. Still, it was inconvenient for Xu Tingsheng to bring his results up. With how high he had scored, there was absolutely no way for him to broach the matter himself.

"I actually performed below standard in the university entrance examinations or I'd have stably gotten into Jianhai University. My girlfriend usually does worse than me, but even she managed to get into Jianhai," Huang Keshen said.

Huang Keshen was the second person in the room to have openly admitted to having a girlfriend, if Xu Tingsheng could be considered the first.

Finally, Xu Tingsheng gave a basic self-introduction as well, "I'm Xu Tingsheng from Libei County in Jiannan City."

"With such a hot girlfriend, you definitely won't have to look for another one in university, fighting for food with your bros in the dorm…" Li Xingming helped to substantiate, and Xu Tingsheng just let it be.

"Xu Tingsheng? You are Xu Tingsheng? …I didn't hear it clearly when Sister-in-law said it this morning," On this relatively rare occasion that Lil' Bro Ning, Zhang Ninglang, spoke, his tone felt rather emotional.

"What? What skeletons in the closet does he have?" Tan Yao hurriedly asked.

"When reporting today, I heard it being discussed. They were saying that the highest scorer in our batch came in with 627 marks, and his name is Xu Tingsheng."

The ensuing silence within the room was only interrupted by Old Wai's sudden slapping of his computer, "The hell, are you sick in the head? You scored so high, but instead of studying Computing, you’re studying Chinese?"

Computing was indeed currently a profession that could not be any more popular, but Old Wai seemed to be missing the point here.

Li Xingming corrected, "What computing? This score was just two marks short of Qingbei; it could have stably gotten you in anywhere else. Bro, how are you even in Yanzhou University? Did your brain overheat and die?"

Xu Tingsheng smiled, saying, "I filled in Qingbei but didn't manage to get in. I didn't know about it, but they all told me to properly cover my bases. I'm timid, so I filled in Yanzhou University for my second aspiration."

"Heck, you still have the face to smile? Don't you know that wastage is to be disdained? I don't know why, but I suddenly feel like I struck it big. Someone who scored several tens of marks more than me is actually studying the same course in the same university as me, yeah…But I still don't believe that trashy excuse of yours. For real, why exactly did you come here?"

As soon as he heard that 'you still have the face to smile?', it was clear that the one who had spoken was Lu Xu. Xu Tingsheng thought for a while, thinking of Xiang Ning. He had checked his phone countless times today. He had not received any calls from her…

Perhaps it was really going to be like this, staring at her from far away once in a while and waiting for her to grow a little older before going to try again?

Xu Tingsheng said in a rather pained tone, "In order to be a little closer to that person in my heart."

"Wow, that dedication in passion, that sacrifice…it's Apple, right? Which university is she studying in here in Yanzhou? Wait, that's wrong. You could very well have gone to any other city. Does she live here?"

Xu Tingsheng's roommates thought that he was talking about Apple, but he naturally wouldn't explain and clarify what even Fu Cheng and Huang Yaming were still yet to know about as he just replied simply, "Apple's in Shenghai."

Shenghai was indeed rather close to Yanzhou, but it clearly couldn't justify Xu Tingsheng's words of 'in order to be a little closer with that person in my heart'.

While they didn't get it, having after all only just met today, his roommates couldn't very well question him on it further. They just thought to themselves: If even Apple is not that person, what kind of heaven-defying being can it be?

While aware of his roommates' doubts, Xu Tingsheng spoke no further, just thinking, "Whoever would guess that she's just a fourteen-year-old girl? But…she seems not to want me anymore."

The matter passed just like this.

Chapter 57: He came with his family

Afterwards, the topic moved on to the girls in their class. Having already met some of them during registration, they described them as best as they could, all filled with anticipation. And following that, the topic expanded to the girls of their entire university as a whole. Conquering female upperclassmen was actually also quite an achievement in their minds.

"Yanzhou University is full of these female seniors!" Tan Yao said that he had asked some male upperclassmen about this after having arrived here earlier in the day.

As Tan Yao said, Yanzhou University was a holistic university which focused mainly on the Humanities. While the male to female ratio was not as exaggerated as that in Apple's school, it was still at least 3:7 on the whole.

Li Xingming joined his hands together in prayer and thanked the heavens, "There's hope, there's hope!"

As they were chatting, a guy from the neighbouring room knocked on their door, telling them in a hushed, panicked tone, "The school leadership is coming to visit, and there're still two waves of female seniors behind them! Hurry up and tidy up the place a bit."

They hurriedly cleared up the cigarette butts and other miscellaneous items, also spraying a bit of air freshener around the room. Old Wai hid his computer. Afterwards, they began focusing on their hairstyles and clothes. It was fine as long as they did not commit a serious error with the school leadership, and however handsome they looked mattered not with them as well, but…there were still two waves of delectable female upperclassmen who would be arriving after them.

Tan Yao changed into a stretch vest to many cries of dissatisfaction. He was planning to show off his muscles.

Having gone around the entire day and still having yet to bathe, Xu Tingsheng was rather dishevelled and dirty. Still, he was instead the least concerned about his appearance. His roommates thought that this made sense. He already had a girlfriend like Apple, what more a female senior?

The first to arrive were the ones in charge of the university and their faculty. They basically did all that needed officially to be done, welcoming them into the university and asking them how they were finding themselves getting used to the place.

Jianhai Province was a flourishing province, and Yanzhou City was one of the better ranked cities within it in terms of its economy. With this also being a newly constructed academy city, there was really no fault to be found with the facilities and whatnot here. Therefore, they all sincerely praised the school somewhat to the great satisfaction of the school leadership.

Xu Tingsheng remained silent, just sitting quietly by the side. However, once they heard that he was Xu Tingsheng, the school leadership went up to him on their own accord, warmly shaking his hand and saying things along the lines of 'Thank you for choosing Yanzhou University, Xu Tingsheng' and 'Welcome to Yanzhou University, Xu Tingsheng'.

Xu Tingsheng could only randomly answer stuff like 'It's my honour to be able to study in Yanzhou University'.

"You'll be receiving your admission scholarship money soon."

"There's still money to be had?" Hearing that there would be money, and even ten thousand yuan at that, Xu Tingsheng grew enthusiastic all of a sudden, all smiles as he shook the hands of the school leadership in thanks, "I'd not thought that just attending university alone could net me money."

As soon as the school leadership were out of the door, Tan Yao, Lu Xu and the others exploded, "Old Xu, ten thousand, it's ten thousand…We don't care, you've got to treat us. The location we'll choose, and the dishes we'll pick as well."

"Fine, just tell me after you've chosen the place."

"It's ten thousand, we definitely can't be too hasty with this. We've got to think properly about what to eat. This has got to be a vicious slaughter; we can't let him off so easily with this one."

Amidst their conversation, a clear voice resounded from the doorway, "What ten thousand, vicious slaughter? Is someone treating? Are we female upperclassmen invited as well?"

A dozen female upperclassmen in their second year of university surged into the room. They hurriedly began moving chairs and wiping bedsheets, inviting these female seniors to sit down.

Many universities had such a tradition. On matriculation day, the seniors would come to visit their new juniors who had just entered the university. Seeing that it was completely composed of girls over here, there should be many male seniors on the girls' side right now.

In Yanzhou University, especially for those studying Chinese, the 'demand' for the female students was usually not very high. This was not to say that their quality was low. Instead, it was a situation where supply really far surpassed demand too greatly.

Actually, these female seniors were anxious as well. Not having entered even a single relationship in university…no one would want that. Therefore, as the male seniors were filled with anticipation at the arrival of their young female juniors, it was not that the female seniors might not harbour such thoughts as well.

This visit of theirs somewhat contained the purpose of reconnaissance as they would also casually display their womanly charms, attracting these male juniors somewhat.

The female upperclassmen asked interestedly about the lives of their male juniors. Xu Tingsheng dealt with it noncommittally, and a female senior who was also from Jiannan even gave him her handphone number.

Xu Tingsheng was currently still using his old number. Having given this number to Xiang Ning, he would never be changing it. Since that was so, he could only buy another handphone, setting up another phone card.

"I haven't set up my phone card yet; I'll do it and send you my number tomorrow," Xu Tingsheng said apologetically.

Meanwhile, some female senior was still thinking about the matter of the ten thousand yuan meal that she had overheard over by the doorway. Asked by her, Li Xingming unhesitantly revealed Xu Tingsheng's university entrance examination results and the admission scholarship money that the school had decided to give to him.

Immediately, the gazes of the female seniors on Xu Tingsheng all changed.

First setting that ten thousand yuan aside, one could not make any mistake with such awesome university entrance examination results. Some female seniors who had earlier overlooked Xu Tingsheng, hiding at a corner, now looked at him and immediately realised that other than the flashily charming Tan Yao, there was still another handsome dude hidden within the room. Also, he looked exceptionally calm and mature, his smile genial and composed.

"This one looks much more reliable," While Xu Tingsheng was not as dazzling as Tan Yao, as opposed to Tan Yao who flirted with every single one of them who came up to him, he had not yet appeared particularly interested in any one of them. Their hearts having been moved, the feet of the female seniors hereby moved as well.

Seeing this, Li Xingming immediately regretted his earlier actions. Wasn't this spoiling his own chances of getting attached?

Now, he hurriedly continued, "Still, he'll probably be handing the money over to his wife after getting his hands on it. Xu Tingsheng came with his family."

The female upperclassmen who had just arrived before Xu Tingsheng halted, the one also from Jiannan who had already set her eyes on him beforehand asking rather disappointedly, "Your roommate is joking, right?"

"It's true! Sister-in-law accompanied Xu Tingsheng here in the afternoon. She's studying in Shenghai."

Before Xu Tingsheng could reply, someone answered the question for him. The one who spoke, unexpectedly, was Zhang Ninglang, having been shy and nervous all this time. This guy seemed to have taken Apple's earlier words seriously. In saying this, he had been trying to fulfil what Apple had asked of them, helping her to keep a good eye on Xu Tingsheng.

Still, he had committed an error in saying that final phrase: She's studying in Shenghai.

"Long distance relationship-doesn't this mean that there's a chance then?" Such thoughts now began surfacing in the minds of some of the female upperclassmen.

Xu Tingsheng felt very helpless. Just having finished fending off the Year 2 female upperclassmen with quite a bit of difficulty, a wave of Year 3 female upperclassmen then arrived.

Really feeling spent, Xu Tingsheng made use of the interval after their departure and told his roommates, "I'm heading out to sleep tonight."

Having seen Apple in the morning, his roommates all naturally thought that they understood as they let out howling laughter like a wild pack of wolves. Not explaining himself, Xu Tingsheng left the room.

He waited downstairs for Fu Cheng for a while, after which the two returned to the motel together. Xu Tingsheng knocked on the door to check on Apple. Seeing that she had already sobered up, he reminded her to rest well before heading off to Huang Yaming's room.

The three sat down together. Xu Tingsheng spoke about how his female seniors had come to visit earlier, leaving Huang Yaming agitated beyond compare as he wished that his university term could already have begun.

"Still, there seem to be more boys in your school, and a lot more at that," Xu Tingsheng dealt him a huge blow.

Fu Cheng also talked about how it had been for him.

Now, Apple knocked on the door, asking, "Xu Tingsheng, can you accompany me for a walk?"

……

Xu Tingsheng and Apple walked the streets of the academy city.

A couple was arguing by the roadside. Angered, the crying girl flung away her hand and left. The guy also looked to have quite the temper as he just stood there looking in another direction, not trying to go after her.

Suddenly, Xu Tingsheng's heart seemed to have been struck by something.

"Friend," Xu Tingsheng walked over and said to that guy.

"Huh?" The guy looked quizzically at him.

"I've just come over from that side," Xu Tingsheng pointed in the direction in which the crying girl had left, "There're a few drunk hooligans over there obstructing girls by the roadside…Don't just stand there, hurry up and go."

"Oh…right," The boy sprinted frantically away after the girl, only leaving behind a yell of thanks.

There were actually no drunk hooligans over there. It was just that…

"They should be reconciling very soon," Xu Tingsheng thought, "What blissful days-you should treasure them well."

He thought of that scene back in his previous life, of Xiang Ning crying as she left. Back then, he had not gone after her.

Never let a crying girl walk away alone.

Apple watched on from beside him.

"You have someone you love a lot, right?" Apple asked Xu Tingsheng.

"Yup, that's right," Xu Tingsheng nodded.

"How much do you love her? …What I mean is-I want to see if I still have to put in any more effort," Apple gave a somewhat forced laugh.

She tried to feign a relaxed manner, but perhaps she had been too enraptured by all that had happened today as she had already unconsciously begun to yearn for this blissfulness.

"It's like she's my lover from my previous life. From my previous life, I've already loved her," Xu Tingsheng spoke the truth, but to others, this might seem like some mushy lovers' words.

Apple was silent for a moment before she asked, "Does she love you? The way you were yesterday…was it that she hurt you?"

Xu Tingsheng was stunned for a while. This was a question that he had actually always avoided considering. In this life, would Xiang Ning still love him? He did not know the answer. As for yesterday's matter, Xiang Ning's fear was a completely understandable one. After all, she was still so young, while Xu Tingsheng was just a stranger.

Even if she had hurt him, there was still no fault on her part. She was still young and insensible, after all. Instead, Xu Tingsheng felt that speaking of hurt, it was he who had hurt Xiang Ning. He had been too impatient and rash, having scared her as a result.

Xu Tingsheng had not replied, but Apple felt that she already knew the answer.

She bit her teeth, saying, "How about…I'll be responsible for loving you. If she doesn't love you, or if she hurts you due to her insensibility, let me be responsible for loving you. Let me be responsible for protecting you…"

"You don't have to give me an answer. If it's like today, I'll already be very satisfied."

The next afternoon, Xu Tingsheng went to the bus stop and sent off this girl who said that she wanted to protect him.

Both of them understood that the protection Apple spoke of meant this: Xu Tingsheng, if you're hurt again in the future, come to me. Where I am, I can help you to recuperate…After you've recuperated, you can choose to stay, or you can also choose to leave.

Originally rational and proficiently calculating, this girl had, this time, blindly…forgotten all about benefits or detriments.