The streetlights in front of the dormitory building lit up, and the leaves outside rustled in the gentle breeze. Many students hurried past, their figures blurred, but their laughter and chatter quickly vanished into the night.
The hallway was as noisy as ever, with people visiting, buying snacks, and bustling about.
This was the peak time for excitement.
As Xiang Ran approached the dormitory door, he could already hear the music and chatter inside.
A few people were scattered around the room, busy with different things.
But when Xiang Ran pushed the door open, there was an instant hush.
Fatty was sitting by the bed, his screen flashing with colorful images. He hurriedly shut off the video he was watching, pressing the keyboard, and the dorm fell silent.
Wang Hao was at the desk, wearing headphones and video chatting with Xiao Qiao. He suddenly stopped speaking and turned to the door.
“Wait, babe, Ran is back…”
Another guy, Qi Dong, had planned to do laundry, a pile of faded clothes in his arms. Hearing the noise at the door, he immediately tossed the clothes onto the table.
“What are you guys doing?”
The group exchanged glances, and Qi Dong dragged a chair over, forcing Xiang Ran to sit down.
“Look at you, Ran!”
“Making money quietly, secretly dating!”
“Come on, who’s your girlfriend?”
“When did you get together? You didn’t say a word! Hiding it pretty well!”
Fatty quickly hopped off the bed; he was always the first to jump into gossip.
“No way! Ran, you really… this is just outrageous!”
“Of course, I still wish you the best!!!”
Fatty said this through gritted teeth.
He was both worried about his buddy suffering and envious of his good fortune.
“What about Turing? Isn’t he great?”
“Why do you act like finding a partner is so easy?”
Wang Hao, more reasonable than the others, simply patted Xiang Ran on the shoulder.
“You know! Jealousy changes people!”
“Especially since Fatty thought he could overtake you and Qi Dong after your blind date…”
Xiang Ran listened to their endless chatter and finally pulled out some key points.
“How did you guys find out?”
“No way!”
“You really kept it from us, huh!”
Qi Dong jumped up three feet high!
Xiang Ran was confused.
Had it really been only half a month since he and the campus beauty made their agreement?
Why did it feel like everyone around him already knew he was dating?
More importantly, did it even count as dating? From Liu Shuyiao's perspective, there were still steps to follow.
“I didn’t tell you guys because it’s not stable yet. Yeah, that’s it!”
“What about now?” Fatty was eager to know the details.
“Now... it’s still not stable.”
Xiang Ran thought about the so-called steps for pursuing the campus beauty; he wasn’t very sure himself.
“But I’m pursuing her!”
Finally, Xiang Ran summarized their relationship based on the steps the campus beauty gave him, but he didn’t want to discuss the reality just yet.
“Ah? You dare to call her your girlfriend even before you’ve won her over!”
“Ran, that’s a bit self-deluded!”
“What if you don’t succeed?”
Fatty didn’t expect that, but as soon as he finished speaking, Qi Dong slapped him.
“Which is why you must succeed!!!”
“Our Ran has finally blossomed after a millennium; we can’t let it slip!”
“Get flowers and gifts all lined up!”
Xiang Ran realized their thinking had gone off track, but he didn’t mind asking further since even three cobblers could match Zhuge Liang.
Xiang Ran replied, “I’ve already given her gifts.”
A few days ago, to celebrate Liu Shuyiao’s birthday, he had already gone through the steps.
“Ah?”
“You’ve given her gifts? And it’s still not settled?” Wang Hao, being experienced, was more reliable.
“Did you choose the right gifts? You didn’t give her a crystal ball, did you?”
Xiang Ran thought of Liu Shuyiao’s surprised expression when she received the gift; she seemed pretty satisfied.
“It was suitable.”
“Ah?”
“And it still didn’t work? Sounds like you’re facing a tough challenge!”
“Do you have any photos?”
Before Xiang Ran could reply, he heard Fatty exclaim.
“Did Ran change his wallpaper? Is that your girlfriend on your phone screen?”
“What?”
“What wallpaper!”
“Quick, let me see!”
Once Fatty said this, Xiang Ran’s phone couldn’t be hidden any longer, but fortunately, it was just a back view, nothing too revealing.
“Why is it just a back view?”
“What’s she doing? Drawing?”
“Honestly, just from the back view, it’s clear she’s hard to pursue!”
“She’s studying art?”
“Wow~ impressive!”
Firstly, it was shocking that a tech student like Xiang Ran liked someone, and secondly, the fact that the girl was studying art was even more surprising!
Based on Xiang Ran’s character, everyone expected him to like a computer science girl, thinking they’d have more common ground.
But no one expected it.
“Just as I thought! Ran’s got to be competitive even when dating!”
“Art students are indeed harder to win over!”
After they summed it up, everyone felt that Ran’s future was uncertain.
Not that they lacked confidence in him, but given everything he had done, it seemed like there had been no progress?
Finally, Fatty was the first to share his personal opinion on Xiang Ran’s pursuit of a girlfriend, claiming it was all based on various online experiences.
“I think, first, you need to actively message the goddess!”
“Be a bit more enthusiastic!”
“You can’t wait for her to contact you!”
Qi Dong chimed in:
“Second, don’t think you know each other well after a few chats and start asking what she’s doing and for photos!”
“Girls hate that because they have to edit the pictures.”
Wang Hao concluded:
“Third, always actively bring your girlfriend breakfast. If you’re even a second late, it shows you’re not committed!”
“......”
Xiang Ran felt a headache from their loud discussions and frowned.
What were they even talking about?
Just then, Liu Shuyiao’s WeChat notification came in, so he climbed onto his bed, letting the others continue their noisy chatter.
Trusting these “strategists” made him feel ridiculous!
Campus beauty: [Watching from the shadows.jpg]
Xiang Ran: [Are you feeling unwell?]
Campus beauty: [No~ I’m already lying down~]
Campus beauty: [Image]
Xiang Ran looked at the photo sent to his phone, expertly zooming in and out.
In the picture, the campus beauty showed only half her face, looking a bit dazed, clearly taken while lying on her bed.
Xiang Ran: [What do you want to eat in the morning?]
Campus beauty: [Just buy something at the hospital~ no need to be so troublesome~]
Campus beauty: [You can also sleep a bit longer~ hehe (^▽^)]
Campus beauty: [By the way, have you thought about how to pursue me?]
Xiang Ran: [Yeah.]
Campus beauty: [So fast? What are you planning to do?]
Campus beauty: [So eager.jpg]
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