I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

Shen Kang put his suitcase on the ground, tossed his laptop bag on top, looked at Xiao Bonian, and nodded. "He did say some things."

"Shen Kang, I know you are a very mature and intelligent child, and I am very touched by what you did."

Xiao Bonian tried his best not to hurt the boy in front of him with his words, "I am really touched, but I think that at your age, you should be enjoying your university life. It will be a very beautiful memory for you, and I don't want my affairs to hold you back. I will handle it myself."

Shen Kang smiled and said, "Professor Xiao, you also said that I've matured. I don't find ordinary university life exciting enough. If I could influence the ownership of this project, or even more broadly, affect the 863 Program, that would be awesome, and that would be exciting."

Xiao Bonian was taken aback, never expecting that Shen Kang could find an angle for this: "Then do you think that what you did today will have an impact on this matter, or even allow me to win on the judging panel? Dai Qiu is not a member of the judging panel."

"News will always circulate."

Shen Kang said, "Perhaps this news will reach the evaluation committee and let them know that Professor Xiao, you have a very wealthy wife, and that your wife attaches great importance to the integration of industry, academia, and research."

"Since you and the other competitor are evenly matched, it doesn't really matter who you choose, so why not choose you? You might even bring some project funding to Yang University. In fact, Professor Xiao, you've already done just that. You secured a project for Yang University's student Li Su and his team, and they received more compensation than normal projects. The project isn't big, and the money isn't much, but it's a promising start."

"Of course, this won't be the deciding factor, and the news might not even get through, but any chance to add even 1 gram of weight is better than doing nothing."

Finally, Shen Kang gave a lazy smile: "Anyway, I need to get an access pass. Since I'm already here, it's just a small favor. Professor Xiao, don't expect me to make any special efforts for you in the future. I still want to enjoy my university life."

Xiao Bonian remained silent for a moment before sighing, "I can't argue with you."

He has mixed feelings right now and suddenly feels the urge to confide in someone.

"Shen Kang, would you mind chatting for a while?"

"I would be delighted."

So the two of them stopped and squatted down next to the car, where they had a heart-to-heart talk.

Xiao Bonian asked with a smile, "I'm curious, in your mind, am I dull and lacking in social skills? You did most of the talking during the meal, and I barely said anything."

Shen Kang shook his head: "Professor Xiao, you are worldly-wise but not cynical. You devote all your energy to your research and are too lazy to waste energy on these trivial matters. I am different. I don't have the intelligence to do such great things as you, so I can only engage in petty scheming in places like this."

Xiao Bonian then asked, "I'd like to know what your true opinion is of people like us? I hope you'll speak from the heart."

Shen Kang said earnestly, "I truly believe that Professor Xiao and your colleagues are great; they are the true pillars of the nation and the real source of its strength."

Having lived through the ages, he realized just how powerful people like Xiao Bonian were. It was countless individuals like them who, one after another, changed the world and the times.

Xiao Bonian was flattered and waved his hands repeatedly, "You flatter me, you're too kind... In fact, Professor Yu's professional ability is no worse than mine. Sometimes I think that if this project were in his hands, it would probably be about the same."

After saying that, he shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly: "But I still want to participate. By doing this project, I will take another step on the road to becoming an academician. So, Shen Kang, you went too far just now. I do have selfish motives, not as noble as you make them out to be."

Shen Kang disagreed: "Everyone has selfish motives, and there is no such thing as a perfect idol. As long as Professor Xiao has made a contribution, does it matter whether you have selfish motives or not? As long as you have made a contribution, I think you are great."

After saying that, she added, "Furthermore, Professor Xiao, you were originally unmarried, but you suddenly got married and had a child for this project. This shows that you have a very strong determination. Can Professor Yu be that dedicated? Can he get a divorce?"

Xiao Bonian was both amused and exasperated. "What are you talking about? Professor Yu has a happy family, why would he want a divorce? Don't curse him."

Shen Kang chuckled, "Isn't this just an example?"

The father and son had a heart-to-heart talk for a long time, and finally, they stood up.

Shen Kang was about to get his suitcase.

Xiao Bonian looked at him sincerely and finally said, "Shen Kang, I still hope that you can sometimes stop thinking about so many things; it's too tiring. I hope you can be as simple and happy as a child your age."

Xiao Bonian didn't know what this child had gone through, but the child gave him the feeling of a hyena desperately chasing time, getting covered in wounds, but hiding everything with a smile, which made people feel sorry for him.

Shen Kang, who had been eloquent before, suddenly fell silent, staring at Xiao Bonian for a long time without saying a word.

Xiao Bonian didn't know what he was thinking, but he subconsciously felt that the other person needed a hug at that moment, so he stepped forward and opened his arms.

Shen Kang's fingers twitched slightly, and finally he reached out and silently hugged him, as if he were hugging a tall mountain.

……

After leaving the parking lot, Shen Kang and Xiao Bonian went to Shen Kang's dormitory.

Because he changed his major, Shen Kang's dormitory also changed, becoming the current No. 5 dormitory management station, Building 6, Unit B, Room 3021.

Upon entering the large living room of dormitory 302, I saw several parents pointing at the TV in the living room, marveling at how good the accommodation was and how worth the 1400 yuan per year accommodation fee was.

There was also a male student standing next to him, who was probably one of the parents' children.

Seeing Shen Kang and Xiao Bonian enter, a male parent came up and familiarly pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "You two brothers, are you also sending your kids to school? Want a cigarette? It's a local Yangcheng brand, and Xiaoguo liquor. It's my first time smoking it, and it's pretty strong."

"Thank you, no, not at all."

Neither Shen Kang nor Xiao Bonian smoked, and they both smiled and declined.

However, Xiao Bonian brought over a bag of rose sugar and immediately handed out a handful: "Try this, rose sugar, it's also a specialty of Yangcheng, everyone says it's so fragrant it's unbearable."

"Oh, thank you, thank you."

The male parent accepted the candy, ate one on the spot, and immediately praised it, "It's so delicious, I can't resist it!"

Then he called the child next to him over, "Xiao Quan, from now on you and their child will be classmates, so everyone should take care of each other. Come on, call him uncle."

The boy looked a little helpless, but still addressed Shen Kang and Xiao Bonian as "uncle" respectively.

"Don't……"

The boy shouted so fast that Shen Kang tried to stop him, but it was too late.

The male parent glanced behind them and asked, "The child hasn't arrived yet?"

Shen Kang could only point to himself, "Brother, actually I'm just a kid, a freshman in this year's college."

"..."

The male parent, probably a businessman, was only slightly embarrassed for a moment before bursting into laughter: "Haha, you're dressed a bit too maturely, kid..."

After chatting for a while, Shen Kang learned that the man's name was Feng Jingui and his son's name was Feng Moquan.

Coincidentally, Feng Moquan was in dormitory 3201, the same dormitory as Shen Kang.

After their conversation, Xiao Bonian and Shen Kang went into the small dormitory room 3201 near the door.

There were two male students and one male parent inside. After a brief introduction, Xiao Bonian started handing out rose sugar, and everyone received some.

After handing out the candy, Xiao Bonian started working, climbing up and down to make Shen Kang's bed. Then he chatted with his roommate's parents for a while before preparing to leave.

Shen Kang escorted him downstairs, but Xiao Bonian told him he didn't need to see him off any further.

"I'm going to check on Qiuzhu, then I'll leave. You go upstairs... Or you could stay here and not move while I go buy some oranges?"

"..."

Seeing Shen Kang's expression, Xiao Bonian laughed heartily, waved his hand, turned around and left gracefully, "I'm gone."

Just as he took a step, Xiao Bonian's phone rang. After talking for a while, he told Shen Kang, "President Zhou wants you to wait for her at the dormitory management office."

Shen Kang nodded.

On the other end, Zhou Man also hung up the phone.

She was standing at the entrance of Dormitory Management Station No. 3, with He Qiuzhu next to her.

"Professor Xiao asked you to wait for him here for a while," Zhou Man said.

He Qiuzhu hummed in agreement.

"After you see him, go back to your dorm. If anything happens at school, look for Shen Kang..."

After saying a few more words, Zhou Man finally said, "Then I'm leaving."

He Qiuzhu remained silent.

Just as Zhou Man was about to turn and leave, she suddenly moved her arm slightly and opened it a little, "It's a bit cold."

She seemed to have mustered all her courage; her body was trembling with fear.

"..."

Seeing the little girl struggling with her courage and her body still trembling, Zhou Man's heart broke instantly. She stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

He Qiuzhu hugged Zhou Man, and her body finally stopped trembling. It felt like she was embracing a warm sea.

……

After Zhou Man left, Xiao Bonian quickly arrived at the entrance of Dormitory No. 3, carrying a bag of oranges and a bag of snacks, and handed them to He Qiuzhu.

"These two bags aren't for you. Take them upstairs later and give them to your roommates. You're not good with words, so just buy some snacks and fruit for them. Even if you don't become best friends, they won't target you too much..."

He Qiuzhu listened quietly, nodding obediently from time to time.

At the same time, near Dormitory Management Station No. 5

Zhou Man handed a large bag of things to Shen Kang.

"I bought some things for Qiuzhu, but I bought too many. You can use them, don't waste them."

Shen Kang took the bag and glanced inside. He saw a whole bunch of men's products, including men's facial cleanser, aftershave, men's shower gel, men's face cream, men's eye cream, and so on.

"Got it, it must be buy one get one free. Mr. Zhou, you bought a bunch of women's products for He Qiuzhu, and just happened to give away a bunch of men's products. This business is really good at doing business, I really need to learn from them." Shen Kang made a sarcastic remark right from the start.

Zhou Man remained unfazed: "It really is buy one get one free. You're just lucky. You should learn how they do business."

Shen Kang then noticed something else inside and exclaimed, "Wait, Mr. Zhou, I can tolerate everything else, but what the heck is a face mask? Isn't that a bit too girly?!"

Zhou Man sneered, "Wearing this Van Cleef & Arpels butterfly bracelet every day, don't you think you're effeminate?"

It was a fatal blow. Shen Kang opened his mouth to speak for a long time, but couldn't utter a single word.

Another win!

Zhou Man was quite satisfied and stopped arguing with the young man: "You're so young, yet your thinking is more old-fashioned than mine. Who says men don't need to take care of themselves? You still look decent enough, so don't ruin your face. Remember to use sunscreen. Also, remember to apply sunscreen every day during military training."

"Alright, alright, I got it."

"Change into this outfit tomorrow, don't look like a little old man."

"Alright, alright, I got it."

After Zhou Man left, Shen Kang strolled back to his dormitory carrying a bag of skincare products.

The parents have all left, and only three roommates are left in the dormitory, chatting.

The one speaking at this moment is the boy named Wang Pan.

"...It's not that I'm mature, it's just that I've experienced more things. I changed classes four times in high school. First, I was in the honors class, then I was assigned to the science honors class. During that time, I hung out with a bunch of people from outside every day, and my grades plummeted. So I went to the worst humanities class in the whole grade. I guess I woke up to it, and after working hard, I went to the humanities honors class."

"After graduation, I went to work at a supermarket, selling meat, specifically pork. I didn't tell them I was doing a summer job. After two months, the supermarket manager even wanted to promote me to head of the meat section, but unfortunately, school started, so I had to politely decline his offer. Also, because I've experienced so much, I seem a bit more mature than my peers, and my dad is more at ease with me, so I came here alone, and he didn't bring me."

After Wang Pan finished speaking, he paused, took a puff of his cigarette, and slowly exhaled the smoke, as if he wanted to have the word "mature" etched all over his face.