Chapter 155: Dormitory Goodbyes

Li Rui drove Xu Chen and Xie Bingran, and they reached the First High School gate in no time.

Li Rui parked the car and hurried out to open the door for Xu Chen and Xie Bingran.

Xie Bingran stepped out without a word, glanced at Li Rui with a mix of emotions, and patted his shoulder.

This time back in Tiancheng, she’d only told Xu Chen and Teacher Chen Ming—her buddies like Li Rui had no idea.

Li Rui sighed and said:

“Bing Ge, the guys all miss you…”

Xie Bingran’s expression was stern and she didn’t respond.

Li Rui chuckled and pulled out a cigarette, sticking it in his mouth.

He knew Bing Ge had quit smoking, so he didn’t offer.

As he fished out his lighter to light up, Xie Bingran reached over and took it from his hand.

With a quick flick, a small flame ignited in Xie Bingran’s hand.

Li Rui paused, then leaned in to light his cigarette from the flame, taking a couple of deep drags until the tip glowed red.

Xie Bingran smiled and handed the lighter back to him.

“Nice lighter,” she said.

Li Rui exhaled a cloud of smoke and grinned proudly,

“Xu Chen gave it to me!”

…

Li Rui drove off alone.

When Xu Chen and Xie Bingran got to the school gate, Xu Chen pointed upward.

Xie Bingran looked up and noticed the two large red banners:

【Congratulations to our school’s Xie Bingran for winning the gold in the National Youth Championships women’s 100m hurdles and breaking the record!】

【Congratulations to our school’s Xie Bingran for winning the National Middle School Track and Field Championship and breaking the national youth record in women’s 100m hurdles!】

Xie Bingran remained indifferent, as if it were no big deal.

Xu Chen looked on in disbelief:

“Is she just numb to it?”

…

The two walked through the school gate and headed straight for the dormitory building.

Today, Xie Bingran was just here to handle checking out of her dorm—the official graduation paperwork would come tomorrow morning.

The campus was quiet with few people around.

The senior students had all left, but the freshmen and sophomores were still in class.

It wasn’t even 4:30 yet, so the last class hadn’t ended.

They stopped at the girls’ dormitory entrance.

The senior girls’ rooms had a separate entry, kept apart from the lower grades to ensure peace.

The boys’ dorms were the same way…

Xie Bingran said, “Wait here for me a minute.”

Xu Chen nodded like Xie Bingran often did and sat on the nearby flower bed.

He glanced back at the shabby little building behind him—the boys’ dorm he’d lived in for three years.

Counting his past life and this one, it was more than three years.

A few days ago, he’d already moved out and handled checkout, so no more going in.

Xu Chen thought for a moment, pulled out his mobile phone, and snapped a few photos of the dorm building.

Xie Bingran returned and said:

“You can come in with me. I asked the dorm auntie—she said it’s fine since you’re helping me move stuff.”

Xu Chen smirked:

“The girls’ dorm, huh? First time stepping in.”

Xie Bingran:

“It’s empty. All the senior rooms are cleared out except for my things.”

Xu Chen: “Oh.”

…

Xu Chen followed Xie Bingran through the deep green door—it was his first time in the girls’ dorm.

The senior girls were all on the first and second floors, and Xie Bingran’s room was at the end of the first floor.

Xu Chen looked around curiously, but since everything was cleared out, it didn’t seem much different from the boys’ dorm.

They quickly reached the end of the first-floor hallway, where Xie Bingran used her key to unlock the padlock.

Inside, it was an eight-person room with bunk beds—just as basic as the boys’.

A long rectangular table sat in the middle, with storage cabinets underneath for everyone.

Seven beds were empty, but the lower bunk by the window still had bedding on it—that was Xie Bingran’s spot.

Xu Chen eyed the bed and couldn’t help frowning.

It was neat, but way too simple.

The hard board had no mattress, just a thin layer that looked uncomfortable.

The gray-black sheets were clean, topped with a matching thin blanket and pillow.

Nothing else.

This didn’t look like a girl’s bed at all…

It seemed cold and rigid, with no hint of warmth or comfort.

Xie Bingran walked in, tossed her backpack on the big table, and said:

“Have a seat and wait a bit. I’ll head to the dorm office to sort out checkout.”

Xu Chen: “Oh.”

Xie Bingran turned and left, leaving Xu Chen alone in the narrow room.

He walked over to her bed, sat down, and felt the surface.

It was rock-hard.

He could feel the wooden slats under the thin mat.

It was tough to imagine a girl sleeping on this for three years.

Xu Chen sighed and lay back.

The hardness hit his back right away—his head, shoulders, and tailbone ached faintly.

He’d been up late revising plans last night and out early today for reports, so he was exhausted.

But on this bed, closing his eyes didn’t bring any sleep…

The door suddenly opened, and Xie Bingran walked in carrying a large sack.

She saw Xu Chen lying on her bed and felt a strange twinge.

Xie Bingran stood there, a faint flush of awkwardness crossing her face.

She realized letting Xu Chen into her room—and onto her bed—was a bit too forward.

Of course, she didn’t blame him—it was her idea to bring him in.

But that odd embarrassment made the usually tough Xie Bingran feel oddly irritated.

She was still a girl, even if she acted like one of the guys.

She bit her lip, unsure what to do next.

Xu Chen didn’t notice her discomfort and sat up.

He stood and said:

“Do you have a mattress in the National Team dorm? Want me to get you one?”

Xie Bingran kept her head slightly down and replied:

“No need…

They provide them there, and it’s way more comfortable than this.”

Xu Chen smiled: “That’s good!”

Xie Bingran: “Stand over there for a second while I pack up.”

Xu Chen: “Need any help?”

Xie Bingran: “Nah, I don’t have much.”

She shook out the sack with a rustle and unzipped it.

Xu Chen stepped forward anyway and held the sack for her.

Xie Bingran didn’t protest, turned to her bed, bundled up the blanket, pillow, and mat, pressed it down, and stuffed it all in.

She opened the cabinet under the table and tossed in a few daily items.

It was just a couple of winter clothes, a water cup, an aluminum lunch box, and a stationery case…

“That’s it.”

Xie Bingran stood up and said.

Xu Chen looked at the now-full sack, his eyes catching the old blue stationery case—it seemed familiar.

He suddenly remembered: it was from middle school, when they were desk mates, and he’d given it to her.

Back then, Xie Bingran struggled, barely having enough to eat or buy supplies.

Xu Chen often passed on his old stuff to her, and this blue case was one of them.

Years later, she still had it.

He felt a quiet sentiment but said nothing, zipping up the sack.

Then it hit him—this wasn’t just ‘using’ it; she was ‘keeping’ it.

In her sparse room, one thing stood out: something from him years ago…

Xu Chen didn’t mention it, just hoisted the sack over his shoulder.

Xie Bingran said:

“I can carry it—it’s not heavy.”

Xu Chen felt a sudden irritation:

“You’re a girl, you know. Not everything has to be on your own.”

Xie Bingran kept her head down, silent.

The tough Bing Ge suddenly looked like a kid in trouble.

Xu Chen’s heart softened as he thought about her tough upbringing without parents.

He coughed lightly and said gently:

“What I mean is, when you’re out there, take care of yourself better.

Like if you get another hard bed, grab a mattress or even an extra blanket—it’s no big thing.

Or just tell me about it…

And for carrying bags, if someone’s offering help and it’s not shady, let them. Your strength’s better saved for the track.”

Xie Bingran still looked down and softly said, “Oh.”

“Let’s go—I’ll take you out for a meal.”

“Oh…”

They left the girls’ dorm one after the other.

Xu Chen thought for a moment and asked:

“Planning to take this big bag on the plane?”

Xie Bingran: “Yeah…”

Xu Chen: “…”

He shook his head with a sigh and said:

“There’s a post office right by the school. I’ll ship it back via EMS for you.

By the time you get to the National Team, it should arrive.”

“Oh.”

…

They hurried across the campus.

Xu Chen especially picked up the pace.

Xie Bingran kept up easily but asked:

“Why are you walking so fast?”

Xu Chen didn’t slow down:

“Class will let out soon, and the freshmen and sophomores will flood out.

You’re a ‘big star’ now—if they spot you and crowd around for autographs or screams, we’ll be stuck here.”