A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1383 Dormitory Gathering, Fang Hui Returns! (Please Subscribe!)
Zheng Wei: "Excuse me, which department are you in?"

The two walked in the same direction, and seeing that their luggage belonged to new students, Zheng Wei asked curiously.

"Civil engineering, architecture major, what about you?"

Zheng Wei exclaimed with delight, "What a coincidence! I'm also in civil engineering!"

Hua Shier looked at Zheng Wei's height: "You're so small, studying civil engineering, are you trying to become a human stake in a graveyard?"

"What kind of live stake practice?"

Zheng Wei had obviously never heard of such a frightening thing before, and asked curiously.

"it's okay no problem."

Hua Shier suppressed a laugh and said, "Let's go, we have a lot to do!"

Something's not right with you!

Ignoring Zheng Wei's suspicions, Hua Shier quickly walked away with two suitcases.

Just as Hua Shier was completing her enrollment procedures, in the girls' dormitory at Yenching University, Lin Jiamo had just settled in. She told Zhao Ye, who had come to see her off, to go back, introduced herself to her two roommates, and then pointed to the last empty bed, asking:
"There's still one person who hasn't arrived."

Just then, the dormitory door was gently pushed open, and a tall, well-proportioned girl walked in.

She wore a simple yet high-quality white dress, which made her skin appear even whiter. Her long, black hair was draped smoothly over her shoulders. Her features were delicate and bright, especially her eyes, which were slightly upturned at the corners, carrying a natural coolness and aloofness. But when you looked closely, you could catch a glimpse of a hidden tenderness and a sense of story – it was Fang Hui, whom you hadn't seen for many years.

Lin Jiamo was instantly frozen in place, her eyes wide open, her mind blank: "Fang, Fang Hui?"

Countless question marks and exclamation marks exploded in Lin Jiamo's mind, and a mix of shock, embarrassment, guilt, and even a trace of inexplicable remorse instantly overwhelmed her.

She couldn't help but recall her time in the first year of high school, the image of Fang Hui and Hua Shier standing side by side, and how she mustered the courage to pursue Hua Shier after Fang Hui left, eventually ending up with him.

Facing her former best friend and Hua Shier's "ex-girlfriend," Lin Jiamo felt like a thief who had stolen someone else's treasure, her toes curling up in embarrassment.

"Help!" she cried silently in her heart. "God, what a coincidence! What kind of karmic entanglement is this?!"

Fang Hui clearly recognized Lin Jiamo at a glance. A moment of surprise flashed across her face, followed by pure joy in her clear, cold eyes.

"Jiamo?!"

Fang Hui almost immediately put down her luggage, strode forward, and gave Lin Jiamo, who was still in a petrified state, a tight hug.

"It really is you! That's great! I never imagined we'd become college roommates! What a coincidence!"

Fang Hui's voice was filled with excitement and joy at the long-awaited reunion.

However, her next words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a storm in Lin Jiamo's heart.

"By the way, Jia Mo, did you still keep in touch with Twelve? I went back to look for him after my college entrance exam, but it seemed like no one was home. The neighbors couldn't say for sure either. Do you know where he is now? Which university did he get into?"

"."

Lin Jiamo felt her breath catch for a moment. She looked into Fang Hui's expectant and unreserved eyes, opened her mouth, but couldn't make a sound.

She was afraid of hurting Fang Hui, but even more afraid that if Fang Hui and Hua Shier reunited, their old feelings would rekindle. What should she do then? She and Shier had finally made it this far.
Under Fang Hui's probing gaze, Lin Jiamo's expression changed several times. Finally, she took a deep breath and forced a smile that was more like a grimace, her voice hoarse.
"Fang Hui, it's nice to see you too. But a lot has happened over the years."

She paused, mustered her courage to meet Fang Hui's increasingly questioning and inquisitive gaze, and said with a forced smile:
"It's a long story about Twelve, and it's not very convenient here. How about we find a place after we've settled in, and I'll tell you all about it slowly?"

Fang Hui was an exceptionally intelligent girl. From Lin Jiamo's unusual reaction, her shifty eyes, and her cryptic words, she had already keenly sensed something. The surprise and anticipation on her face slowly faded.

She looked at Lin Jiamo quietly, and after a few seconds, she nodded gently, her voice still gentle, but less enthusiastic than before: "Okay."

Beijing South University of Science and Technology.

Hua Shier dragged her luggage and followed the signs to find her assigned dormitory room.

The door was ajar. He pushed it open and went in. A complex smell, a mixture of sweat, instant noodles, and some kind of medicinal oil, hit him.

What comes into view is a mess: sunflower seed shells, snack wrappers, socks lying around, and underwear dripping wet hanging on a rope.

There were three people in the room, two of whom were Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai, whom they had met before.

Xu Kaiyang sat on the chair, grimacing, holding his feet and carefully applying bright red safflower oil to his toes, while occasionally gasping for breath.

Zhang Kai, on the other hand, stood in the center of the room with his legs spread apart like a compass, his face contorted in pain.

A chubby, seemingly simple-minded young man asked Zhang Kai curiously, "Brother Zhang, why aren't you sitting down? What's wrong with your posture?"

His lips twitched slightly, clearly not wanting to mention that embarrassing matter. His eyes darted around, and he began to make up a story:
"You don't understand, do you? This is called Iron Crotch Strong Pillar Kung Fu! It's a treasure passed down from our ancestors. It strengthens the body and has many benefits! A man has to be tough on himself!" He said, trying to straighten his back and create the illusion of being 'very masculine'.

Just as he was enthusiastically exaggerating, he caught sight of Hua Shier, who was standing at the door with his luggage and a half-smile on his face. His expression instantly darkened, and his tone turned unfriendly.
Hey! It's you! How did you find your way here?

He instinctively brought his legs together, but the posture still looked awkward.

Xu Kaiyang also looked up and saw Hua Shier. He immediately remembered the unpleasantness of the day and struggled to stand up to save face, but as soon as his feet touched the ground, he cried out in pain again.
"Hey hey!"

Hua Shier's gaze swept over the dormitory, which resembled post-war ruins. He frowned in disdain, placed his luggage next to the only relatively clean empty bed, and said in a flat tone:

"Of course it's fate! I was assigned to this dorm room. Otherwise, why would I have come here specifically to fight you guys?"

Zhang Kai listened intently, his eyes lighting up:
"Oh ho! What a small world! You've fallen into our hands, haven't you? Well, we'll see what happens from now on!"

He tried to make some tough statements, but his strange stance was hardly intimidating.

Hua Shier, too lazy to waste words with him, directly pulled out a hundred-yuan bill from his wallet, handed it to Zhang Kai, and said in an unquestionable tone:
"It's so messy, I can't stand living here. Quickly tidy up the room, make it like a hotel!"

Just moments ago, Zhang Kai had been all "we'll see" attitude, but the moment he saw the banknotes, his eyes lit up. He smoothly took them, his fierce expression instantly transforming into a fawning smile, and his back unconsciously bent slightly.

"Alright! Don't worry, brother, I'll make sure it's sparkling clean, even a fly would have to do the splits if it landed on it!"

This guy's ability to change his attitude so quickly is astonishing.

Xu Kaiyang pointed at Zhang Kai, his face full of disappointment at his lack of ambition:

"Old Zhang, do you have any backbone?! I look down on you!"

Zhang Kai stuffed the money into his pocket, chuckling to himself, completely unconcerned.

"You can't eat your pride, and besides, who has a grudge against money!"

He turned to Hua Twelve and smiled, "But brother, what you did during the day wasn't exactly ethical. If you hadn't framed us, saying we weren't good people, would that little girl have dared to lay a hand on us?"

Hua Twelve chuckled:
"Are you being picky? It's one thing for the welcome point not to help with luggage, but to tell me to 'go away' and ask the security guard, what's the explanation for this?"

Zhang Kai choked for a moment, then scratched his greasy hair, which was accompanied by dandruff flying everywhere with the movement:

"Well... we're all still single, and we're hoping to meet some pretty female freshmen during orientation. We don't have the time or inclination to take care of our male classmates."

"Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore. Everyone has their faults. Now that we're in the same dorm, we're brothers in arms! We'll have to look out for each other from now on. Let's not hold onto those little misunderstandings from the past!"

He knew how to save face and also acted as a peacemaker.

With his witty banter and the power of money, the tension between Hua Shier and Xu Kaiyang lessened considerably.

Hua Shier walked over to Xu Kaiyang, looked at his swollen toes, then his gaze fell on the face that looked exactly like Zhao Ye's, and suddenly said:
"Old Xu, you might not believe it, but I have a brother who looks exactly like you, like a twin."

Xu Kaiyang had a "Are you kidding me?" look on his face, completely unconvinced.
"That's bullshit!"

Hua Shier didn't argue. He simply took out a photo from his wallet—a group photo of him, Lin Jiamo, and Zhao Ye watching the flag-raising ceremony. He pointed to Zhao Ye in the photo, who had his arm around his shoulder and was smiling broadly.

"Here, you see for yourself."

Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai went over to take a look and were immediately stunned.

The Zhao Ye in the photo, from his face shape and eyebrows to his smile, is practically a carbon copy of Xu Kaiyang!
"I go!"

Opening his mouth in astonishment, he couldn't close it, pointing at the photo and then at Xu Kaiyang:
"Old Xu, could this be your long-lost brother? Or is your dad having an affair?"

"Get lost, your dad's the one with someone else!"

Xu Kaiyang was also stunned. He stared at the photo for a long time and muttered:

"I think I heard my dad mention that his family was very poor when he was a child. I think my grandfather gave one of his uncles away, but I don't know the specifics."

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and he couldn't sit still any longer: "I have to call my dad and ask!"

Hua Shier handed him his phone directly:

"Use mine."

Zhang Kai watched with envy from the side:
"Wow, bro! Even that rich kid Lao Xu doesn't have a cell phone yet, your equipment is pretty advanced!"

"I'm just being modest. Everyone can afford a cell phone!"

Xu Kaiyang took the phone, called his father, and explained the situation.

After listening to the phone call, Mr. Xu's voice became serious, and he carefully inquired about Zhao Ye's name, age, and other basic information.

Hua Shier informed Xu Kaiyang of the situation, and after listening to him, Xu's father remained silent for a moment before decisively deciding to go to the capital in person to verify the facts.

Hua Shier didn't tell him the address, but said he would call Zhao Ye later and ask him to discuss it with his family. If they agreed, he would then tell Xu Kaiyang the address.

Although Xu's father was anxious, he knew that Hua Twelve was right and that things couldn't be rushed. He thought it was necessary to let Zhao Ye's family prepare themselves mentally, so he repeatedly agreed.

After hanging up the phone, Xu Kaiyang was still slightly dazed: "What a coincidence!"

Hua Shier patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, stop thinking about it. I'll call my brother tonight. As for whether it's true or not, just wait for the news."

After finishing discussing Zhao Ye's matter, Hua Shier called to Zhang Kai and Xu Kaiyang:
"Since we've all ended up together, it must be fate. My treat tonight, let's have a dorm get-together to celebrate our 'unexpected friendship'." He turned his gaze to the chubby guy: "Is this guy also in our dorm?"

Zhang Kai quickly waved his hand: "No, no, this is Little Fatty from next door, he came over for a visit."

He continued, "The fourth person in our dorm is Chen Xiaozheng. That guy has a bit of a strange temper and isn't very sociable. I don't know where he's gone right now, and he might not be able to come to the dinner party tonight."

Hua Shier said nonchalantly, "Just call him. We're all in the same dorm, one more person won't make a difference. It's just a matter of having more people and more chopsticks."

Next, the group introduced themselves and exchanged names.

As they were talking, the dormitory door was pushed open, and a thin, stern-faced boy wearing a faded old shirt walked in. It was Chen Xiaozheng.

He noticed the stranger in the room and the noticeably livelier atmosphere. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He walked straight to his bed, picked up a washbasin and towel, and prepared to go to the washroom.

Zhang Kai quickly called out to him, "Hey, Zheng! You're back just in time! This is our new roommate, Hua Shier. He's a very loyal guy, and he's treating the whole dorm to dinner tonight. Want to come along?"

Chen Xiaozheng paused, but without turning his head, his voice was indifferent:

"No, you guys go ahead, I have things to do tonight." The refusal was crisp and decisive.

The situation became a little awkward for a moment.

At this moment, Xu Kaiyang spoke, his tone much more casual and natural than Zhang Kai's:

"Ah Zheng, let's go together. It's no fun if everyone goes and you're the only one missing. Just do me a favor."

Surprisingly, Chen Xiaozheng, who had just flatly refused, changed his mind after a few seconds of silence upon hearing Xu Kaiyang's words, although his tone remained lukewarm:
"Okay, my clothes are all sweaty. I'll go wash them first and then hang them up to dry."

As soon as Chen Xiaozheng carried the basin out, Zhang Kai immediately leaned close to Hua Shier's ear and whispered:

"See? Old Xu's word really carries weight! Do you know why? Old Xu has a lot of connections. He often introduces Ah Zheng to some architectural model making jobs so he can earn some money to supplement his income. Chen Xiaozheng, that kid, is really pragmatic!"

Hua Shier nodded, indicating that he understood. In the original story, Chen Xiaozheng was indeed such a realistic person, but this had nothing to do with him.

When Chen Xiaozheng returned after getting ready, the four of them, along with the chubby boy who had come to join in the fun, left the dormitory building together, ready to head out for dinner.

Just as they reached the intersection of the dormitory area, they ran into Zheng Wei and her three roommates, who were also preparing to go out for a meal. In the original story, there was Ruan Wan, who was gentle and calm; Zhu Xiaobei, who was tomboyish and straightforward; and Li Weijuan, who was dressed a bit rusticly but had a shrewdness like a petty bourgeois.

Zheng Wei spotted Hua Shier immediately, her expression changed instantly, and she rushed over: "You little brat, how dare you say I used myself to practice on a live target! Luckily I asked someone else, otherwise I would have suffered a hidden loss without even knowing it!"

He then came up and punched Hua Twelve, though it was mostly in jest.

Hua Shier played along: "Please spare my life, heroine. We were just about to go out for a meal, how about we join you? It's my treat, as an apology."

Zheng Wei's big eyes darted around, and she said with a grin, "Alright! I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself, but there are a lot of people at our girls' dormitory social event today!"

Hua Shier wasn't short of money: "No problem, let's go together, it's more fun with more people!"

Ruan Wan smiled gently and did not object, while Zhu Xiaobei nodded indifferently.

Li Weijuan sized up Hua Shier and the others, and her eyes lit up when she saw that Hua Shier and Xu Kaiyang were dressed and had an extraordinary demeanor. She then tacitly agreed.

Zheng Wei cheered, "Where are we going?"

Without a second thought, Hua Shier said directly, "Let's go to Jinling Hotel, the food there is quite good."

Zhang Kai reminded him, "Brother, it's not cheap over there."

Hua Shier smiled and said, "It's alright. The food there is really good. As long as it's delicious, why do you care about money? Let's go!"

Seeing his attitude, the others didn't refuse, and the group took two taxis to Jinling Hotel.

On the way, the driver wanted to take a detour, but Hua Shier pointed it out in fluent Nanjing dialect, making the driver feel embarrassed.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Hua Shier, familiar with the place, ordered the dishes with ease:
"Jinling Salted Duck, Crab Roe Lion's Head Meatballs, Stir-fried River Shrimp, Stewed Raw Pork Knuckle, Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish." These were all the restaurant's signature dishes, and the waiters nodded in approval.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhang Kai asked:

"Twelve, didn't you say you were from the capital when you introduced yourself? How come you know Nanjing so well? You even knew the taxi driver took a detour, you speak the local dialect, and you know exactly how to order food."

Hua Shier chuckled. Could he possibly say that in his past life, when he was Qiao Zuwang, he had spent decades in Jinling and wouldn't be unfamiliar with the place?

He vaguely replied, "What? Just because you're not from Nanjing doesn't mean you can't get to know me? When you have time, I'll take you to the Drum Tower area to eat some authentic steamed buns."

As the food and drinks were served, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Hua Shier was cheerful, knowledgeable, and eloquent, and quickly became friends with everyone.

Because of Zhao Ye's matter, Xu Kaiyang felt a little closer to Hua Shier.

Zhang Kai is all about joking around. Xiao Pang is a pure foodie.

Although Chen Xiaozheng was a man of few words, he ate quietly, occasionally glancing up at topics that interested him.

Zheng Wei is a master at enlivening the atmosphere, and she and Zhang Kai banter back and forth, making everyone laugh.

Ruan Wan listened quietly, occasionally smiling slightly, while Zhu Xiaobei and Li Weijuan gradually relaxed as well.

At the same time, thousands of miles away in the capital.

The atmosphere in the private room of a quiet restaurant near Yenching University was far less relaxed and pleasant than in Nanjing.

Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui sat facing each other, with Zhao Ye, whom Lin Jiamo had called over, and Chen Xun, who had also applied to Yenching University, having met Fang Hui and Lin Jiamo on campus and insisting on coming along.

The reunion of four old classmates should have been a joyous occasion, but instead, an indescribable awkwardness and tension permeated the air.

Fang Hui looked at Lin Jiamo, who had matured considerably but whose timidity seemed to have lessened somewhat, and said gently:

"Jiamo, I never expected to run into you here, and we're even roommates! What a coincidence!"

Lin Jiamo forced a smile, picked up her teacup, and took a sip to conceal the turmoil in her heart.

Chen Xun's gaze was almost glued to Fang Hui, his eyes filled with the joy of finding her again and the long-suppressed affection. He couldn't wait to ask:
"Fang Hui, where have you been all these years? We haven't heard from you at all. We... we all miss you so much."

He deliberately blurred the word 'we,' but he was actually referring mainly to himself and Qiao Ran.

Lin Jiamo took a deep breath, knowing that what was coming would eventually come.

She interrupted Chen Xun's questioning, looked at Fang Hui, and tried to keep her voice steady:
"Fang Hui, we haven't seen each other for so many years. Where have you been all these years? Why... why haven't you contacted Twelve?"

She finally asked the most crucial question.

Fang Hui's expression instantly darkened. She lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, and her voice became low and somber:

“My parents were strongly against my relationship with Twelve back then. You know about that incident. They thought Twelve was too dangerous. After returning from the police station that day, they immediately arranged for me to transfer to another school and sent me to my maternal grandparents' home in the south.”

She looked up, her eyes filled with grievance and helplessness:
"After I settled in, I wrote to Twelve, and he replied to me."

"However, my parents found the letter. They told me that as long as I promised not to contact Twelve anymore, to study hard, and to get into Yenching University, they would never object to us being together again."

"But if I secretly contacted him before I got into Yenching University, my parents would never agree to my relationship with Twelve!"

Fang Hui's tears finally fell, then she quickly wiped them away with her hand:
"I can only study hard, hoping to get into Peking University so that I can come back to him openly. But when I went to see him a few days ago, no one was home. The neighbors said he seemed to have moved away!"

"Jia Mo, Zhao Ye, do you know where Twelve went? Which university did he get into?"

She looked at Lin Jiamo and Zhao Ye with anticipation, her clear eyes filled with pure longing and searching.

Lin Jiamo and Zhao Ye exchanged a glance, both seeing the difficulty in each other's eyes.

Lin Jiamo opened her mouth, but the words "Twelve is my boyfriend now" stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say them.

She didn't know how to tell her best friend, who had worked so hard for Hua Shier and returned with such high hopes, that things had changed, and the person she was waiting for already had someone else by her side? And that person was her former best friend?

Zhao Ye hesitated, feeling sorry for Fang Hui and also embarrassed for Lin Jiamo and Hua Shier.

Seeing Lin Jiamo's hesitant expression and Fang Hui's completely trusting and unaware look, Chen Xun felt a surge of anger mixed with his selfish desire to seize the opportunity for himself, and he could no longer hold back.

He spoke abruptly, his voice carrying a hint of recklessness:
"Fang Hui! Don't ask! Hua Shier is with Lin Jiamo now! They're boyfriend and girlfriend!"

These words struck Fang Hui like a bolt from the blue.

The color drained from Fang Hui's face at a visible speed, turning her ashen white.

She stared wide-eyed in disbelief, looking at Chen Xun, then at Lin Jiamo and Zhao Ye, whose faces instantly turned ashen. Her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word. A wave of shock and betrayal overwhelmed her.

Lin Jiamo glared at Chen Xun, both anxious and angry, then quickly turned to Fang Hui, trying to explain:
"Fang Hui, things aren't what you think. After you left, Twelve was very depressed. He didn't receive any letters from you, and he was in a bad state. I was afraid something would happen to him, so I often went to visit him and comfort him. Later, we got together."

Fang Hui suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the ground with a screeching sound.

She said nothing, but gave Lin Jiamo a heartbroken look, her eyes filled with shock, pain, and confusion. Then she turned and stumbled out of the private room.

"Fang Hui!" Chen Xun called out and immediately chased after her.

Only Lin Jiamo and Zhao Ye remained in the private room, and the atmosphere was so heavy it was suffocating.

Lin Jiamo sat slumped in her chair, covering her face with her hands, and said dejectedly, "What should I do?"

Zhao Ye sighed and patted Lin Jiamo on the shoulder: "Sister-in-law, this can't be kept a secret any longer. You should tell my brother as soon as possible."

At the Jinling Hotel, the dinner party was nearing its end.

Everyone ate to their heart's content, and their relationships grew much closer. After Hua Shier went out to pay the bill, his phone rang. He took it out and saw it was Lin Jiamo's number.

He walked to the side and answered the phone, his tone relaxed: "Hey, Jia Mo, missing me?"

Thanks to 08a, Little Tiger of the Demon Realm, and Brother Li Meng of the God of Death for their donations, and thanks to the brothers who voted for monthly tickets and recommendations. Thank you so much!