Chapter 20

Liu Xun dropped Li Qian at her school and drove alone to the Qing Institute of Science and Technology. Outside vehicles weren’t allowed on campus, so he turned into the temporary lot beyond the gate: a cracked, marked-out patch of ground holding several vans and a white Jetta. His black X5 looked out of place.

It was after three, and the class meeting began at four. He locked the car and headed to the dorm to meet Li Lei and the others. The door was ajar, but the room looked empty. He’d just taken out his phone when Wang Guowei’s muffled voice came from the bathroom, sharp with anger.

“What apple costs over eight thousand? I told you, it’s not an apple you eat. It’s a phone! A phone!”

“Everyone in my class has an iPhone, and I’m stuck with a lousy Nokia! They all laugh at me!”

“You don’t even have eight thousand? I don’t care. If you don’t give me the money, I’m dropping out!”

The door did little to muffle him. Liu Xun heard enough, glanced toward the bathroom, and left, pulling the dorm door shut behind him.

Downstairs he called Li Lei, who answered after five or six rings amid loud background noise. He was at the supermarket. Liu Xun walked over and saw Li Lei and Wu Kai beneath the awning, each holding a can of cola and wilting in the heat. Li Lei’s dark circles were visible from a distance.

“Up all night?” Liu Xun asked.

Wu Kai burst out laughing. “Lei spent all night waiting for Shen Man to accept his friend request!”

“And you can talk?” Li Lei glared. “Didn’t you wait half the night for Xia Wei to message you?”

“That’s different! Xia Wei accepted my request. We only chatted a little because she was sleepy!”

“A little? She replied with one ‘Mm’!”

“Better than not even getting your request accepted!”

“You don’t know shit! She was just upset because she lost the bet!”

They traded insults, growing louder until passersby glanced over. Liu Xun listened with a faint smile and said nothing. After another round, Li Lei seized his arm. “Xun, you have to help me!”

“With what?”

“Shen Man lost to you last night. Knowing her, she won’t let it go. If you invite her out, she’ll agree. I’ll treat you all to a big dinner after the meeting. Will you ask her?”

Li Lei was generous by student standards. A typical student had six or seven hundred yuan a month for living expenses; last night’s barbecue had cost at least four or five hundred, all paid by him. If he wanted to treat them again, he must have a sizeable allowance.

“Ask her yourself. You’re the one pursuing her, not me. You can’t have me invite her every time.”

“Come on, Xun, I’m begging you! I’m not as good as you. Even the Qing University beauty asked for your QQ! My future happiness depends on you!”

“Don’t. We’re classmates for four years. What’s the rush?”

“How can I not rush? A girl like Shen Man will have loads of suitors. If I don’t act fast, it’ll only get harder!” Li Lei looked miserable.

Liu Xun didn’t give in. They argued until Wang Guowei joined them at three forty, and the group headed to the main teaching building.

The class assistant had announced Room 302 on the third floor. When they arrived, more than thirty students were already seated, their conversations blending into a pleasant hum. Li Lei spotted Shen Man and hurried toward her, then stopped halfway.

A tall, handsome boy in a white polo with blue stripes stood before her. His hair was neatly styled and his smile confidently measured. “Let’s add each other on QQ. My cousin’s in the student union, and I’ve visited campus several times. I know which cafeterias are good and where to have fun!”

Shen Man had been speaking to Xia Wei. Interrupted, she looked up. “I don’t have QQ.”

“How could that be?” His smile stiffened, then returned. “You must be joking. We’re classmates…”

Before he finished, Li Lei stepped between them with an exaggerated grin and a booming voice. “Wow, you’re amazing! Your cousin’s in the student union? How about you and I add each other on QQ?”

The boy frowned and looked him over. “Who are you?”

“I’m Li Lei. You don’t know? My dad’s the university president!”

“Are you fucking stupid? None of our presidents is named Li!”

“Who are you calling stupid?” Li Lei pushed his chest forward, veins standing out on his neck. A fight seemed imminent, but Xia Wei hurried between them.

“Talk it out. Don’t fight!”

With a beauty intervening, the boy moved his lips but said no more. He gave Li Lei a look and walked away. Li Lei stood tall and glanced at Shen Man as though expecting credit. She nodded at him, and he nearly jumped with excitement.

A tall, thin middle-aged man in black-framed glasses entered. The classroom’s hum dropped sharply as heads turned. He placed his papers on the lectern, cleared his throat, and looked over the unfamiliar faces.

“Find a seat, everyone. Let’s begin! I’m your class counselor, Chen Hao.”

“First, congratulations on coming to the Qing Institute of Science and Technology. We may not be a key university, but we’re among the leading second-tier institutions, and the admission scores for many of our majors exceed the first-tier cutoff…”

He paused to adjust his glasses and survey the room. “To be here, you scored higher than at least ninety percent of your peers on the college entrance exam. Well done! Over the next four years, I hope you find the path you want to follow.”

Applause followed. “Our institute was founded in 1951…” He continued through its history, from founding to mergers and upgrades, in an even, unhurried voice.

Liu Xun sat toward the back beside Li Lei, listening with boredom. The setting sun fell across the desk, and the air was stuffy. He took out his phone to pass the time and noticed two QQ friend requests.

One was from Xia Wei. The other was from Shen Man.