The first morning of the new semester was filled with classes.
From eight o'clock until eleven-forty, classes finally ended.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan went to the cafeteria together to eat their fill, then each returned to their dorm for a midday nap.
Upon entering the dormitory, he saw Chen Zhuang stuffing his face with a rice bowl, a jar of pickled vegetables in front of him, and Cao Mingliang and Zhuang Zhe huddled around eating as well.
"Brother Tian, you're here, want some pickled vegetables?"
Chen Zhuang, his mouth full of food, gestured with his chopsticks towards the jar of pickled vegetables, asking indistinctly.
"Does this taste good?"
Qin Tian walked closer, curious.
"Don't say it, it really goes well with rice,"
Cao Mingliang said with a smile.
Zhuang Zhe, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement, "The flavor is good."
"Then I'll try it too. Do you have chopsticks?"
Qin Tian asked as he approached.
"Here, here."
Chen Zhuang opened a desk drawer and took out a pair of disposable chopsticks, handing them to him.
Qin Tian took the chopsticks, separated them, and picked up some pickled vegetables to taste.
The taste was sour, crisp, and delicious, with a unique flavor.
"It's quite good!"
Qin Tian nodded in approval.
"It's even better stuffed inside a steamed bun. Come, come, have one."
Chen Zhuang picked up a large white steamed bun and handed it to him.
Qin Tian was already full, but eating another steamed bun wouldn't hurt.
Without being polite, he took the bun, tore it open, stuffed some pickled vegetables inside, and took a big bite.
"Mmm, good, good, excellent taste."
"Right? It's a shame we don't have our Northeastern sourdough steamed buns, those would go even better."
Chen Zhuang chuckled with pride, then moved a sliced red sausage from inside the bun outwards.
"Try this too."
"Mmm!"
The red sausage was also good, very fragrant when chewed.
With the red sausage and pickled vegetables, Qin Tian finished a steamed bun in a few bites, drank half a bottle of mineral water, and climbed onto his bed, satisfied.
As soon as he lay down, his phone rang.
Qin Tian took out his phone and looked at the caller ID before answering.
"Hello, Brother Zhao."
The call was from Zhao Mingyuan.
After returning to Yucheng from his hometown after the Spring Festival, Qin Tian had visited him.
Zhao Mingyuan's wife was very virtuous and prepared a table full of delicious dishes to entertain him. They had a good drink together and discussed the development of Tianming Internet Cafe.
They summarized last year's achievements and discussed plans for further expansion this year.
Currently, Tianming Internet Cafe had ten branches in Jiangcheng, just one step away from becoming Jiangcheng's largest chain internet cafe brand.
"Brother Qin, you're back in Jiangcheng?"
Zhao Mingyuan's hearty voice came through.
"Yes, I've been back for a few days,"
Qin Tian asked with a smile.
"You've been back for days? Did your school start this early?"
Zhao Mingyuan said with a chuckle.
"We came back a few days early. School just started today. I just finished classes this morning and am resting in the dorm!"
Qin Tian replied.
"Is that so!"
"Is there something you need?"
"Yes, there's something I need to discuss with you. Do you have classes this afternoon?"
"I have a lot of classes now, and the afternoon is full of classes as well."
"Then how about this, after your classes this afternoon, come over for a meal? We can talk properly."
Zhao Mingyuan suggested.
"Sure, what is it? Can't you just say it?"
Qin Tian asked, surprised.
"It's hard to explain clearly over the phone. You rest first, and come over after class. We'll talk slowly."
"Alright!"
"Then it's settled. I'll hang up now!"
With that, the call ended.
Anyway, he would find out tonight, so Qin Tian didn't think much of it. He tucked his phone under his pillow and prepared to take a nap.
After finishing their meals, Chen Zhuang and the other two didn't play on their computers and each lay down on their beds.
They had been chatting and boasting until late last night and had woken up relatively early today. After a morning of classes, they were all a bit tired.
...
...
The afternoon also had two long classes.
Students who hadn't attended classes for so long complained incessantly.
After more than a month for Spring Festival, and not having to do as much homework as in high school, they had become accustomed to a lazy lifestyle at home. Suddenly returning to school for intense classes was quite overwhelming.
"Nuannuan, after my class ends, I have to go eat with Brother Zhao. Are you coming?"
Qin Tian asked Xia Nuannuan, who was beside him.
"I'm a bit tired. I want to grab something casual at the cafeteria and then go back to the dorm to rest."
Xia Nuannuan stretched languidly.
"That's fine too. Then I'll go by myself."
"Mm-hmm, if you're driving, don't drink."
"Got it."
"Is there something you need to discuss?"
Xia Nuannuan asked curiously.
"It should be business-related. Brother Zhao asked me to go over and talk in person."
Qin Tian replied.
"Then go ahead!"
Xia Nuannuan nodded.
"Okay. Is there anything you want to eat? I'll bring it back for you."
Qin Tian asked with a smile.
"No, no, don't tempt me. I want to lose weight."
Xia Nuannuan refused with a serious and earnest shake of her head, as if facing a great enemy.
There was a digital scale in the dormitory. After discussing "Spring Festival fat" last night during roll call, she had taken off her coat and shoes in the dorm, leaving only her inner wear, and stepped onto the scale.
The number displayed on it had struck her like lightning, making her deeply understand the pain of being prone to gaining weight.
In a short period, without paying much attention, her weight had unknowingly surpassed her self-imposed warning line.
So, early this morning, Xia Nuannuan had woken up first, called Qin Tian for a wake-up service, and then they went for a morning run at the track and field.
This was also why she was so tired today and drowsy in class.
"Alright!"
Qin Tian gave up with a wry smile.
Soon, the last class ended.
Qin Tian handed his books to Zhuang Zhe, asking him to take them back for him. Then, he said goodbye to Xia Nuannuan and quickly left the classroom.
He drove out of the campus and arrived at a restaurant provided by Zhao Mingyuan.
It was a Chinese restaurant with a classical style. Judging by the cars parked outside, business was booming.
After parking his car, Qin Tian called Zhao Mingyuan and entered the restaurant.
"Hello, Brother Zhao, I've arrived. Where are you?"
"Second floor, Yuegui Pavilion!"
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Qin Tian responded, hung up the phone, and went up to the second floor.
The second floor seemed to consist of VIP private rooms. As soon as he went upstairs, a female server wearing a qipao greeted him.
After telling her the name of the room he was looking for, Qin Tian was led by the server to the entrance of Yuegui Pavilion.
"This is it, please!"
The server stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture with a smile.
"Thank you."
Qin Tian thanked her with a smile and stepped into the private room.
The private room also had an antique decoration style, with a faint scent of tea filling the air.
"Brother Qin, you're finally here!"
A familiar voice called out.
Qin Tian turned towards the sound and was momentarily stunned.
He saw that besides Zhao Mingyuan at the dining table, there was also a woman around thirty years old. The woman was not stunningly beautiful, but she was pleasant and charming, exuding a gentle and captivating aura.
More importantly, Qin Tian found the woman very familiar, feeling as if he had seen her somewhere before.
The woman also froze when she saw Qin Tian, her expression one of surprise. "How is it you?"
"Who are you?"
Qin Tian asked, surprised.
"Amusement park, we've met before. You and your girlfriend helped our Niuniu."
The woman explained concisely.
"Oh, oh, I remember now."
Qin Tian nodded in realization.