Chapter Thirty-Four: A Bountiful Harvest
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Yuan Zhong was still in low spirits that evening while playing games. With graduation just around the corner, Not Stingy—thinking she was worried about her job—offered another suggestion: “Maybe you could ask a future colleague? There must be things you can’t find online, and besides, having someone familiar in the company might make things easier when you start.”
“As for work, I’m actually okay. I’m looking forward to it,” Yuan Zhong replied. Maybe she’d get to meet that writer, Seven Nights. She wondered what someone who could write like that looked like.
“That’s good. Then why do you seem so preoccupied?” Not Stingy asked.
“Is it that obvious? Alright, but it’s really nothing,” Yuan Zhong said. In the virtual world, there was no need to hide her mood. She’d been irritable throughout the game, snapping at everyone. But reality was different; she wanted to talk to someone, but matters of the heart were private, hard to put into words.
Not Stingy didn’t press her, and they played on in silence.
After a while, Yuan Zhong spoke first. “Hey, Not Stingy, do you have a girlfriend?” The question had barely left her lips before she hurried to add, “Just curious, you don’t have to answer.”
“It’s fine. I don’t,” Not Stingy replied directly.
“Do you like anyone?” Yuan Zhong asked again.
“No, I don’t.”
“Alright,” Yuan Zhong fell silent once more.
A while later, Not Stingy asked, “You like someone, don’t you?” He’d held back this question for some time, speculating about it with Not Reliable. Since she’d brought up the topic herself, he took the chance to ask.
“How did you know?” Yuan Zhong shot back, her response as good as an admission.
“I was just guessing. Not Reliable once said that girls who play games and work hard on support roles usually do so to play with their boyfriends. But you always play alone, so I figured you must just like someone, not actually be together,” Not Stingy explained.
“Yeah. I didn’t know how to get to know him, so I thought I’d shine in-game, make him notice me.”
“You’re a great player.”
“But it didn’t work.” Since the conversation had come this far, Yuan Zhong added, “I don’t think he even remembers me.”
“Really? That’s hard to believe,” Not Stingy said.
“After that game, he didn’t add me as a friend. We ran into each other twice before, and he never added me on WeChat either.” Yuan Zhong sighed.
Not Stingy didn’t know what to say.
Yuan Zhong went on, “A friend of mine said he might like someone, and that someone could be my roommate—also my friend.”
“Uh, that’s a little…” Not Stingy hesitated to comment.
“It’s just a possibility, but I think it’s quite likely,” Yuan Zhong sighed again.
Not Stingy could hear the disappointment in her tone and, after a moment’s thought, asked, “Does your roommate like him?”
The question caught Yuan Zhong off guard. Thinking back, she remembered Lin Hui had created opportunities for her before—why would she do that if she liked Zhang Shun herself?
“If they like each other, it’s best you move on. If not, you can still try—never mind if she’s your roommate or not,” Not Stingy advised.
“You’re right. I’ll ask her,” Yuan Zhong decided.
“Ask who?” Not Stingy pressed, curious—was she going to confess?
“My roommate.”
So that was it. In the game, she was bold and outspoken, but in real life, she was timid. She wasn’t going to ask the guy.
“Then… good luck?” Not Stingy wasn’t sure what else to say.
“It’s not about luck. I just want to know, so I can make my own plans,” Yuan Zhong replied.
“You seem pretty sure that guy likes your roommate,” Not Stingy observed.
“I’ve looked into it. He doesn’t interact much with girls, but my roommate’s managed to meet him a few times,” Yuan Zhong explained.
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So she’d done her homework. “In that case, even if your roommate doesn’t like him, it’ll still be tough for you,” Not Stingy warned.
She had never liked anyone before, and her first crush ended up like this. “Unrequited love is hard. I’ve spent months playing games for this—never played before in my life.”
That surprised Not Stingy. “If that’s so, you must really have a knack for games.” With her cheeky personality, Not Stingy would never have guessed she was new to gaming, but perhaps it was just because she was a girl.
When the game ended, Yuan Zhong remembered her new mission: to talk to Lin Hui.
That night, Lin Hui didn’t come back, which was unusual.
The next day, Yuan Zhong finally received a message from Lin Hui, saying there was an emergency at home and she had to leave unexpectedly. She didn’t return until the day of the graduation ceremony.
After the ceremony, Feng Duoduo and Zhang Cheng both left the school. Yuan Zhong wasn’t in a hurry; she packed her things slowly, then helped Lin Hui pack too, planning to move her belongings to the graduate dorm.
Lin Hui didn’t have much: a large suitcase, a big tote bag, and a few pots and jars that Yuan Zhong packed as best she could. She was determined to carry as much as possible.
It was still a struggle alone, so Yuan Zhong planned to do it in shifts, carrying things one by one.
Downstairs, Yuan Zhong unexpectedly ran into Zhang Shun.
He greeted her. “Are you leaving soon?”
“I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m just moving Lin Hui’s things to the graduate dorm for now,” Yuan Zhong replied.
“Oh, where’s Lin Hui?” Zhang Shun asked.
Yuan Zhong looked at him. “Are you looking for her?”
He didn’t answer directly. “I just happened to be on campus. I’m free now—let me help you move these.”
Yuan Zhong nodded. “Wait a moment, I have two more things to bring down.”
“They’re heavy, right? I’ll get them,” Zhang Shun said. He went to the dorm manager, explained the situation, then beckoned for Yuan Zhong. “Let’s go.”
Having a man’s help made a difference. Watching him carry the suitcase with ease, Yuan Zhong felt her own load lighten. They headed to the campus shuttle stop together.
“Is something wrong with Lin Hui?” Zhang Shun asked again.
Yuan Zhong shook her head. “I’m not sure. She just asked me to move her things. Her old dorm isn’t available, but she’d applied for the grad dorm ahead of time.”
“When was the last time you heard from her?” Zhang Shun pressed.
“Two days ago. She told me she couldn’t attend the graduation ceremony.”
“She didn’t say what happened?”
Yuan Zhong shook her head again. Zhang Shun looked anxious, clearly concerned. “Are you looking for her?” she asked.
Finally, Zhang Shun nodded. “I messaged her on WeChat, but she deleted me.”
“Oh.” Yuan Zhong thought to herself, it seemed Lin Hui didn’t like Zhang Shun after all.
“Could you ask her for me? I feel like something’s going on,” Zhang Shun said.
“I’ve asked before. She doesn’t want to talk about it,” Yuan Zhong replied.
The shuttle arrived. Zhang Shun loaded the luggage, then reached for the basin in Yuan Zhong’s hands. There weren’t many people on the bus, so they both sat down—Yuan Zhong behind Zhang Shun, watching the back of his head.
When Zhang Shun turned around, Yuan Zhong was caught off guard and looked down in embarrassment.
“Do you know her home address?” Zhang Shun asked.
Now it was clear—Zhang Shun liked Lin Hui. Yuan Zhong realized she’d learned a lot today: she understood both of their feelings.
“Do you?” Zhang Shun pressed.
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Yuan Zhong wanted to say no—she had no intention of helping Zhang Shun pursue Lin Hui.
“Yuan Zhong, I know you’re her good friend. You must know, right?” Zhang Shun said.
So he knew her name, and knew she was close to Lin Hui. Did that mean he’d noticed her too? For some reason, this made Yuan Zhong a little happy. She wasn’t completely invisible to him after all.
“I only know roughly, not the exact details,” Yuan Zhong replied.
“That’s enough, tell me and I’ll take note,” Zhang Shun said, pulling out his phone. “Oh, let’s add each other on WeChat.”
She hadn’t expected that today she’d finally get Zhang Shun’s WeChat. Yuan Zhong felt a mix of emotions.
They added each other. Yuan Zhong sent Lin Hui’s address, and Zhang Shun thanked her.
At their stop, Zhang Shun got off first, unloading the luggage one by one.
In the dorm, Zhang Shun explained things again to the dorm manager, pointing at the suitcase. The manager looked at Yuan Zhong, smiled and nodded, and waved Zhang Shun upstairs.
With everything moved in, Zhang Shun looked around and asked, “Should we clean up a bit?”
Yuan Zhong nodded. This way, she could spend a little more time with her crush.
Zhang Shun worked efficiently—while Yuan Zhong wiped the bed and desk, he mopped the floor and scrubbed the sink clean.
“Let’s leave things packed for now, or they’ll get dusty. We’ll just put them on the bed,” Yuan Zhong said.
“Hang up the mosquito net to keep out the dust. Pillows shouldn’t stay in the suitcase too long, better to air them out,” Zhang Shun added.
Used to living independently, he clearly knew all the tricks. Yuan Zhong took note silently.
Once everything was settled, they left, and Zhang Shun carefully locked the door.
Their hands now free, they boarded the shuttle again.
Yuan Zhong found herself staring at the back of his head, wondering how to invite him to dinner.
Once more, Zhang Shun turned and asked, “Do you want help moving your things tomorrow?”
She’d mentioned she was leaving the next day, and he’d remembered—this made Yuan Zhong happy. She nodded.
“What time?”
“I’m not in a rush—whenever you’re free.”
“How about nine in the morning?”
Yuan Zhong nodded.
Zhang Shun courteously walked her back to her dorm.
Yuan Zhong hesitated, then said, “If Lin Hui gets in touch and needs help…”
“Just let me know anytime,” Zhang Shun replied.
Yuan Zhong nodded. “She’s not the type to ask for help.”
Zhang Shun smiled. “That’s what friends are for. It’s alright.”
“Yes, you’re right.” Even after Zhang Shun left, Yuan Zhong didn’t have the courage to ask him to dinner.
It didn’t matter—she’d see him again tomorrow, she told herself.