After a month of leisurely inactivity at home, the start of the school year soon arrived.
Now in their second year, they returned to their home at Moxiang Shuyuan a few days earlier than the new freshmen.
On the afternoon of September 2nd, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan drove back home.
Of course, their dog Xi Tian also came along.
After two months of good food and walks with his mother at home, Xi Tian appeared to have grown a size bigger and looked more energetic.
As soon as Xia Nuannuan put the dog down, Xi Tian began to run around the house, joyfully wagging his tail, as if he missed his home after a long absence.
"You go feed her, I'll put the luggage in the room first, and then we'll go out to the supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner."
Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Okay!"
Xia Nuannuan nodded sweetly and walked towards the dog, who had already jumped onto the sofa.
"Xi Tian, it's time to eat."
"Woof!"
After tidying up a bit, Xia Nuannuan also fed the dog lunch, and then the two prepared to go out shopping.
Xi Tian squatted obediently, watching them leave.
"Be a good guard dog, we'll be back soon!"
Qin Tian said to the dog with a smile.
"Woof woof!"
Xi Tian stuck out his tongue and barked happily.
Then, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan left the house.
Coincidentally, they ran into Lu Yaoyao, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, in the elevator!
"Hey, you guys are finally back! Is it time for school to start?"
Lu Yaoyao, seeing them enter the elevator, asked with pleasant surprise as if meeting old friends.
Qin Tian turned away directly, ignoring her.
"Yes, school is starting!"
Xia Nuannuan replied with a polite smile.
Ding dong!
The elevator doors closed.
"Hehe... Let me tell you some news. In a few days, when the freshmen start school, I'll be your junior."
Lu Yaoyao said with a beaming smile, delivering astonishing news.
Xia Nuannuan froze, her expression one of bewilderment. "You took the college entrance exam this year?"
"I was already attending university, but that school was quite boring, so I withdrew my student status, went back to high school, and took the exam again this year. My score was decent, so I applied to the nearest Jiangcheng University. That means we'll be at the same school from now on!"
Lu Yaoyao explained with a smile.
Xia Nuannuan's eyes widened in disbelief. She glanced at Qin Tian beside her with a complex expression.
At this moment, the elevator reached the first floor, and the three stepped out.
Lu Yaoyao quickly caught up, moving to Xia Nuannuan's side with a friendly and bright smile.
"Senior sister, please take care of me in the future."
"Uh..."
Xia Nuannuan was speechless, unsure of what to say.
"Could you please keep your distance from us? Don't cling to us like sticky candy."
Qin Tian suddenly stopped and said to Lu Yaoyao expressionlessly.
The two girls also stopped and turned to look at him.
"I haven't done anything, have I?"
Lu Yaoyao put on a wronged expression.
"Then could you please not act like we're very familiar? It's really annoying, you know?"
Qin Tian frowned, his sharp gaze fixed on her.
Lu Yaoyao lowered her eyes, her eyes slightly reddening.
Always strong and independent since childhood, unlike other girls, she rarely cried.
But at this moment, she really couldn't hold back.
"Brother!"
Xia Nuannuan felt a pang of sympathy and gave him a look.
Qin Tian withdrew his gaze, walked forward, took her hand, and left directly.
Xia Nuannuan glanced back at Lu Yaoyao. Seeing her looking up, she immediately turned her head away and shook her head vigorously.
No, no, she couldn't be soft-hearted!
Qin Tian was hers alone, and she absolutely couldn't let any other girl have a chance.
She knew she couldn't be lenient in this matter.
Lu Yaoyao watched them walk away, raised her hand to wipe her eyes, and then forcefully patted her cheeks.
"Slap, slap!"
It was like she was slapping herself, the force not small, the sound crisp and loud.
"Don't cry, Lu Yaoyao, be strong. You won't be defeated by this little difficulty."
While she was cheering herself on, Xia Nuannuan and Qin Tian had already walked out of the community.
"Brother, don't be angry anymore."
Xia Nuannuan hugged Qin Tian's arm and said consolingly with a smile.
"I'm not angry, I just find it a bit annoying."
Qin Tian shook his head.
"She's not wrong. She hasn't done anything yet, so there's no need. Don't worry, if she still openly shows her affection for you like before, I won't compromise."
Xia Nuannuan said with a determined expression.
Qin Tian glanced at her and gave a helpless wry smile. "You're so adorably foolish. She's eyeing your man, and you're still speaking up for her."
"I'm not speaking up for her, not at all. I just think you don't need to be angry and annoyed."
Xia Nuannuan retorted earnestly.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go buy something."
"Mhm!"
...
...
After having lunch at home, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan went to the school to pay fees and register.
Qin Tian was exempt from tuition fees, but he still had to go through the procedural steps.
The evening roll call was scheduled for the next night, so there weren't many people registering today. The others in the dormitories where Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan were staying had also not arrived yet.
Therefore, after registering, they prepared to go home and relax.
Just as they were about to leave the school gate, the counselor called.
"Hello?"
"Student Qin Tian, what are you doing? Have you arrived at school?"
The counselor Shu Peng's voice came through.
"I've arrived, just finished registering."
Qin Tian replied with a smile.
"Where is Student Xia Nuannuan? Is she with you?"
The counselor asked.
Qin Tian glanced at Xia Nuannuan, who was tilting her ear to listen, and replied, "She's here, what's up?"
"Nothing much. You've been class monitor for a year now, and your work has been diligent and responsible, which has made me, your counselor, very at ease. Therefore, I think it's necessary to show my appreciation. Since you're here, how about we have dinner together tonight? My treat."
Shu Peng invited with a smile.
Qin Tian looked to Xia Nuannuan for her opinion.
Xia Nuannuan nodded with a radiant smile.
"Sure, then we won't be polite. What time and where should we eat?"
"How about six-thirty? But I'm not as well-off as you two, I can't afford a fancy meal, counselors' salaries are quite low."
"No problem, then six-thirty it is. We'll eat whatever, you decide!"
"Then... how about some skewers and crayfish? Maybe some beer for us?"
The counselor suggested tentatively.
"Sure, I like that!"
Qin Tian readily agreed.
"Then it's settled. See you this afternoon!"
"Alright, I'll hang up now!"
"Mhm!"
After making arrangements, Qin Tian hung up the phone and looked at Xia Nuannuan with a smile.
"Well, we don't have to cook dinner tonight."
"Isn't that good?"
"You know what they say, 'eating someone's food makes you soft and accepting their gifts makes your hands shorter.' After this barbecue, I'm afraid there will be more troublesome things this semester!"
"Will it be less troublesome if you don't eat? Can the counselor and classmates really stop you from being class monitor if you don't?"
Xia Nuannuan retorted.
"What you said... is actually not wrong. No, I have to eat more tonight, and you should eat as much as you can."
"Hehe..."