Reborn in 2000: I just want to love a few people properly.

"Isn't this a bit too fast?"

Should I say yes or no?

"Should we observe him further?"

"Forget it, we clearly agreed on a one-month observation period that night by the river. We can't go back on our word."

He Yimei was torn between two conflicting emotions, and just as she was wondering how to answer, Zheng Wan'er made her timely appearance.

"These are mild and medium spicy. My mom also sent me extra spicy, but I didn't bring them down because I was worried you wouldn't like them."

Zheng Wan'er took out two vacuum-packed packets of base material and handed them to Xu Bo.

With business at hand, Xu Bo accepted the gift and thanked Zheng Wan'er. He then glanced back at He Yimei, only to see the girl with her head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing this, Xu Bo could only sigh helplessly.

"We're leaving now. Remember to wear sunscreen during military training tomorrow."

After saying goodbye to Zheng Wan'er, he left the dormitory building with Du Qinglong.

"What are you two talking about? There's something strange between you two." Zheng Wan'er is very straightforward and speaks her mind without hiding anything.

Faced with her roommate's question, He Yimei didn't know how to answer and stared blankly at Xu Bo's back.

"Logically speaking, girls from Northeast China should have the same temperament as those from our hometown, but why are you being so hesitant and timid?"

Zheng Wan'er, always eager for drama, laughed and said, "Unless you two are currently at a crucial juncture in officially confirming your relationship."

He Yimei was somewhat stunned after hearing this.

Confirming the relationship? Probably. If I had let go just now, the relationship between the two of us would have been different. But at the very last moment, I locked the door with a heavy lock.

"I knew something was off between you two a long time ago."

Zheng Wan'er continued, "Who would fight for you for no reason? We're all freshmen, and we'd all be eager to avoid trouble."

"Don't ever say that you two are just from the same hometown and are just friends," Zheng Wan'er said with a smile, raising her chin.

"Moreover, the atmosphere when you two eat together is completely different from that of normal friends. It's like a relationship that's more than friends but not quite lovers. In short, it's different from a purely platonic friendship."

"The only possibility is that you two like each other, but you're both too afraid to make the first move, or rather!"

Zheng Wan'er stared intently into He Yimei's eyes and said seriously, "It's just that you haven't dared to agree."

Zheng Wan'er's words struck a chord with He Yimei. She did indeed have feelings for Xu Bo, and if she agreed, the two of them would naturally become lovers.

They can be as sweet and affectionate as the couples you see everywhere on a university campus, strolling arm in arm, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

But why won't I agree?

He Yimei couldn't understand it either.

She shook her head with a wry smile. This was the first time He Yimei had ever had such an emotional outburst. Without offering any explanation, she turned and went upstairs. She needed space and time to think things through.

......

The two campuses are not far apart, and Du Qinglong reminisced about the group of girls from Hangzhou University as he walked.

As they approached the gate, Xu Bo suddenly slapped his forehead, as if he had just remembered something.

I had promised He Yimei that I would give her a bouquet of flowers every time I saw her, but I forgot about it on my second day in Hangzhou.

"Let's go buy some mutton and vegetables," Xu Bo said.

He shook the hot pot base in his hand and continued, "I'll also go to the supermarket and buy an induction cooker. We'll have hot pot tonight."

Du Qinglong licked his lips, which was a sign that he agreed to Xu Bo's plan.

So the two of them went to the supermarket near the school gate and bought an induction cooker and a power strip, completely ignoring the dormitory rule against high-power electrical appliances.

After buying mutton and beef and having the vendor cut them up, Du Qinglong went back to the dormitory first and told the others to bring their backpacks down. Otherwise, if they blatantly brought the induction cooker in, the dormitory aunt would take it away the moment their left foot stepped into the dormitory building.

"Where did you get this base?" Yu Haoqi asked, carrying his backpack.

"It was a gift from a friend," Xu Bo replied casually.

Wang Yan frowned and asked softly, "What did you and Qinglong do? Why are you clutching your waist?"

Xu Bo looked embarrassed; he couldn't very well reveal his back problems, as that would be too embarrassing.

After thinking for a long time, Xu Bo told the truth.

"My friend was being harassed by some thugs, so the two of us went to help, and we got kicked by them."

Yu Haoqi immediately flew into a rage upon hearing this.

"What! Why didn't you call us! There are so many people in the dorm, and you won't let us go!"

Xu Bo waved his hand and said calmly, "Sending you there would have been a disservice to you. The people on the other side are seasoned street thugs. Even though Qinglong and I are highly skilled in martial arts, we almost couldn't handle them, let alone your amateurish skills."

"If you go, you'll just be a punching bag."

Xu Bo is right. In high school, he had at least participated in a few fierce battles with Yang Xun and the others. Yu Haoqi and the others were all obedient students, so they definitely had little street experience.

"Is it the girl who called you last night?"

Wang Yan suddenly leaned close to Xu Bo's ear and whispered a question.

Xu Bo was stunned for a moment. He was really afraid of this roommate who was also a bit gossipy. He was obviously a socially awkward person on the surface, but how could he be so secretly passionate?

Xu Bo said in a muffled voice, "No!"

Seeing this, Wang Yan had no choice but to stop talking, feeling rather embarrassed.

As they were talking, the group returned to the dormitory door and knocked.

The door was quickly opened from the inside. The other dorm rooms were still there, waiting for Xu Bo and Du Qinglong to let them know they were safe.

In a dorm room, you don't have to worry about things getting stolen. You can leave a hundred yuan on your desk and it will probably last a month. But if you leave a roll of tissues or a few packs of cigarettes on your desk, they might disappear as soon as you leave and when you come back.

Xu Boying had placed all his cigarettes on his table; there were probably dozens of them.

"It's alright, you guys go back now. Don't go to the cafeteria for dinner tonight, come to our dorm for hot pot instead."

Xu Bo's suggestion was agreed upon by the other three roommates, since everyone wanted to have some fun on the second day of school and strengthen their bonds.

"Okay, then we'll bring beer over tonight."

"Since you brought beer, I'll buy some meat too, otherwise I'm afraid it won't be enough."

"My mom also brought me some dried sausages; I'll bring them over tonight to add to my meal."

Before leaving, the other students in the dorms all said that no one wanted to be the one taking advantage of others.

Xu Bo felt fortunate that everyone he met was a good person. What does it mean to be a good person? They rarely refuse his requests. When he first entered the small society of university, everyone was a bookworm. As long as he established a good image in their minds, no matter how sweet his words were, they would just think that he was doing it for their own good.

Xu Bo stood at the door to see his classmates off. Watching their retreating figures, he felt that free labor was within reach.