Chapter 251: Campus Farewells and Conversations

Zhao Feng and Fang Tao are catching an evening flight, while Fang Jun has to stay one more day to handle some company paperwork in the morning.

Around four or five o’clock, Xu Chen led Zhao Feng and Fang Tao out of the dormitory.

“You’re heading to the airport, so we don’t have time to go out for a meal.”

“There’s a small cafeteria in West Garden that’s supposed to be good. I’ll take you there,” Xu Chen said with a smile.

Zhao Feng grinned, looking endearingly honest:

“Thanks, Xu Chen. We can try the university cafeteria for once.”

The West Garden cafeteria sat right behind the Southwest Building, and the three walked over together.

Xu Chen pulled out his phone and called Fang Jun, asking her to join them.

On the third floor of West Garden, the small cafeteria offered a setup like a buffet line, with small plates of premium dishes.

Zhao Feng and Fang Tao each carried a tray, while Xu Chen casually picked up dishes and added them to the trays.

In no time, both trays were piled high.

“Xu Chen, that’s enough—we can’t eat all this.”

Xu Chen smiled:

“You two are built like tanks; how could you not finish? You’ve worked hard these past couple of days—time to refuel.”

You’ve worked hard these past couple of days—time to refuel.”

……

The three found a small table by the window and sat down.

Before long, Fang Jun arrived and sat without a word, looking a bit worn out.

She sat down quietly, her face showing signs of fatigue.

“Didn’t sleep well?”

“I guess I can’t drink that much anymore—still feeling foggy after a whole day.”

“Perfect, this meal will help shake it off,” Xu Chen said with a chuckle.

Fang Jun grabbed a bowl of soybeans and spare rib soup, gulping down half of it with a “gulp gulp,” then sighed in relief before picking up her chopsticks.

……

As they ate, they chatted.

Fang Jun and the others were surprised by the food in front of them:

“Who knew the cafeteria meals could rival restaurant dishes!”

“I heard someone say it’s called ‘Dining at Tonghai’—that’s how good our university food is,” Xu Chen replied.

“Well, you won’t go hungry here…”

“I’ll tell your dad; he’d be thrilled,” Fang Jun added.

She paused, remembering something, and continued:

“I also heard about ‘Love at East China Normal.’ Bing Ge’s studying there, so you better keep an eye out—don’t let some other guy sweep her away.”

Xu Chen laughed heartily:

“You don’t know Bing Ge at all.”

“Exactly! Bing Ge and Xu Chen…”

Zhao Feng quickly chimed in:

“Bing Ge and Xu Chen’s relationship is rock solid—no one could break it.”

Xu Chen: “……”

Fang Tao said in his deep voice: “Yeah…”

“At the celebration last time, I met a bunch of Bing Ge’s old middle school buddies and heard all about the stories between Bing Ge and Xu Chen.”

Fang Jun’s eyes lit up with curiosity:

“Spill it—tell me more!”

Xu Chen: “……”

Fang Tao suddenly felt awkward and buried himself in his food without another word.

Xu Chen remembered that Fang Tao and Xie Bingran were from the same village, so he said:

“Fang Tao, since you’re from the same village as Bing Ge, drop by and check on her place now and then. She left a key at the Village Committee.”

“Sure! I’ll check with Bing Ge first.”

He added proudly:

“Bing Ge’s a big shot now—the whole village treats her like a leader.”

“She really is a big figure,” Xu Chen said with a smile.

Xie Bingran didn’t seem to have much attachment to the villagers in South River Village—probably from all the indifference she’d faced growing up.

People like that—simple yet shrewd—mock you when they look down on you, but sing your praises when you’re successful…

Well, that’s just human nature.

……

“By the way, Wu Feifei’s arriving in Shanghai tonight. She wants to hang out with me tomorrow and visit your school,” Fang Jun said.

“Doesn’t she have enrollment stuff to handle? How’s she got time?”

“Shanghai Foreign Languages is just a few streets away—super close.”

“……”

“What is it?”

“Nothing…”

Fang Jun blinked her monolidded eyes and said flatly:

“She’s Wu Yongming’s daughter, so stay sharp. But don’t worry—she’s not interested in you.”

“……”

“Huang Qianqian, though, seems to like you.”

“??!”

“She’s studying in the provincial capital, so she’s too far away to bother you.”

“?”

“Plus, she likes Bing Ge too, so she’d be happy to see you two together.”

“!”

Zhao Feng and Fang Tao exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of panic and confusion.

Xu Chen paused, then remembered something and pulled out his phone to check QQ.

He wondered if that mysterious user ‘NetAffairsLikeSmoke’ could be Huang Qianqian.

He scanned the chat logs and decided to play it cool for now…

……

After the meal, Zhao Feng and Fang Tao picked up their luggage from the Ganxun Building reception and headed for the airport.

Xu Chen and Fang Jun walked them to the South Gate and flagged down a taxi.

Fang Jun reminded them:

“Don’t forget the receipt—I’ll reimburse the cab fare.”

Zhao Feng nodded, waved goodbye, and they were off.

……

Fang Jun turned to Xu Chen:

“Got time tonight? Let’s have another drink.”

Xu Chen looked exasperated:

“Weren’t you just saying you shouldn’t drink so much?”

“We’ve still got half a bottle of Guojiao left—it’d be a waste to let it go.”

“……”

“Fine, we’ll drink half tonight and save the rest for tomorrow,” Fang Jun said, her face lighting up with a hint of eagerness.

Xu Chen asked:

“Don’t you have plenty of occasions for Moutai or Wuliangye at home? Why does it feel like you’re just discovering drinking?”

“I hardly touched alcohol before, and never white spirits. My first real taste was with your dad…”

“The way he drinks made me want to try it myself.”

“……”

……

Fang Jun headed back to the hotel to rest up for the evening’s drinks.

Xu Chen returned to the dormitory, knowing he needed to keep things smooth with his roommate Chen Wenyi.

Though he’d slipped away that afternoon, he figured Zhao Feng and Chen Wenyi had some run-in—being in the same dorm and class for four years, he didn’t want things awkward.

Still, Xu Chen found it all a bit ridiculous.

As a thirty-something at heart, he couldn’t help but look down on these childish antics.

He grabbed a few cans of iced cola and headed upstairs casually.

Stepping into the dorm, he saw Chen Wenyi strumming a guitar, though it sounded off—rhythms jumbled, chords misplaced.

Xu Chen smiled warmly and set two cans of cola in front of him.

Chen Wenyi looked embarrassed, set the guitar down, and muttered, “Hey, Xu Chen.”

Xu Chen, though inwardly rolling his eyes, replied with a grin:

“Just call me Xu Chen—that’s fine!”

The best way to handle the afternoon’s drama was to pretend it never happened.

Xu Chen acted carefree, cracked open a can with a hiss, and started chatting to break the ice.

The easiest way to connect is through questions, so he asked about Shanghai, since Chen Wenyi knew the city well as a local high school grad.

As an “outsider new to Shanghai,” Xu Chen inquired about fun spots and places to explore.

Of course, as someone who’d lived before, Xu Chen already knew the area, but it kept the conversation going.

Chen Wenyi opened up, listing spots for food and entertainment in detail.

It all sounded pretty ordinary—fitting for an eighteen-year-old who hadn’t seen much.

From his suggestions, Xu Chen could tell Chen Wenyi came from a modest working family.

This rebirth had its perks—sharper insight into people and situations.

Xu Chen played the straight man well, and soon had Chen Wenyi laughing and chatting freely.

Mostly, Chen Wenyi talked while Xu Chen nodded along, offering encouragement.

After finishing a can each, they felt more at ease.

They shared some personal stuff, and Xu Chen casually asked:

“That guy this afternoon, Chen Long—is he your brother?”

Chen Wenyi hesitated but explained briefly.

From his words, Xu Chen pieced it together: Chen Wenyi was from out of town, did elementary and middle school back home, then moved to Shanghai with his parents for better high school chances.

When he first arrived, he got bullied and latched onto a tough classmate, Chen Long, for protection.

Chen Wenyi was smart, made it to Tonghai University, but Chen Long dropped out of high school and still hung around.

Now, Chen Long had come to ‘back him up’ at university, but the open campus left him clueless—stuck trying to make a scene in the dorms.

It was all so naive and laughable.

……

After hearing it out, Xu Chen didn’t bother commenting.

Chen Wenyi looked uneasy and glanced at Xu Chen:

“What about your friends this afternoon?”

Xu Chen replied offhandedly: “Just some buddies from high school in Shandong Province—they flew in to help me move stuff.”

Chen Wenyi whispered: “They came all the way from Shandong by plane just to help you move?”

Clearly, it blew his mind.

Now, when Chen Wenyi looked at Xu Chen, there was a strange mix of awe and uncertainty.

Xu Chen sensed trouble—this ‘shrewd’ guy might be thinking of latching on next.