…
The discomfort Tang Yu experienced started to lessen in the afternoon, so she got up to sunbathe on the balcony.
After several consecutive days of rain, the smell of damp soil filled the air outside, and smelling it unexpectedly calmed Tang Yu's mood.
Yin Zhao-an sat on the carpet at the foot of the bed, clattering away on her laptop. Occasionally, her gaze would drift toward the balcony, the sight of tranquility there giving her peace of mind.
…
On the day the results for the National College Entrance Examination came out, Tang Yu was accompanying her younger brother in the cradle. Upon hearing that she could check her results, she promptly ran back to her room and got on her computer.
Upon visiting the exam website and entering the score-checking page, she typed in her student number and exam registration number with slightly trembling hands. Then, she clicked "View" and waited for the web page to load.
The loading process only took two seconds, which was far from enough time for Tang Yu to prepare herself mentally. Although she had already guessed her approximate score, her heart still couldn't help but grow restless.
After finally seeing her results, though, Tang Yu deeply exhaled and leaned back on her chair, her lips curving into a soft smile.
Her goal was to enter the Communication University of China, which was the university she attended in her past life. Meanwhile, just like in her past life, she had scored several dozen points higher than the university's enrollment requirement.
Originally, she thought she could have scored a lot better with her past life's experience. But in the end, fate led her back here, with roughly the same score as before.
…
In the blink of an eye, a month had already gone by since Tang Yu's results came out. Dragging a large suitcase and carrying a green canvas bag on her shoulder, Tang Yu made her way out of the military compound by herself. Her plan was to take the bus to the train station.
However, before Tang Yu could make her way to the bus stop, a black BMW stopped her.
The car's rear window rolled down, revealing Yin Zhao-an's smiling face. Leaning against the window, Yin Zhao-an smiled at Tang Yu, who was standing still, and said, "Get in; I'll take you to school."
While the driver was helping her put her luggage in the trunk, Tang Yu got into the back of the car and looked at Yin Zhao-an in confusion. "Aren't you supposed to be at school? How come you have time to send me?"
Yin Zhao-an leaned back and said with indifference, "I took a day off from school."
"Pay more attention to your studies, fellow student Yin Zhao-an," Tang Yu calmly said as she looked at Yin Zhao-an with a serious gaze.
Yin Zhao-an couldn't stand the way Tang Yu talked so seriously, and even her posture became obedient as she responded, "Okay, I'll go back as soon as I drop you off. I promise my studies won't be affected."
Tang Yu raised an eyebrow at Yin Zhao-an's words but chose not to say anything more.
After this summer, everyone would be heading their separate ways. Wen Tao was admitted to a second-tier university in S City, while Zhao Yu was admitted to a school in B City. Though, there was yet to be news about when Zhao Yu would be starting school. Yin Zhao-an also stopped seeing Zhao Yu play Art of Freedom.
After a five-hour drive, the car finally arrived at the gate of the Communication University. It was the hottest time of the day. Yin Zhao-an took out an umbrella to shield Tang Yu from the sun and a small electric fan to cool her off.
"Aren't you hot?" Tang Yu asked, feeling a little exasperated when she saw Yin Zhao-an's actions. Moreover, the electric fan was targeted only at her. Just how fragile did Yin Zhao-an think she was?
While looking around, searching for the enrollment booth, Yin Zhao-an answered, "Yes, but I'm at a higher altitude, so I'm not feeling as hot as you."
Without waiting for Tang Yu to erupt, Yin Zhao-an pulled her towards an area with numerous tents set up, saying, "That place should be it."
After arriving at the tent area, Yin Zhao-an stopped in front of a tent with a sign stating "Broadcasting and Hosting Art Major." Before she could even speak to the people staffing the booth, she heard a loud exclamation coming from the tent.
"My goodness, she's so tall!"
"Are all the junior sisters in this year so pretty?"
"Is she joining our department? Who's going to register her?"
"I'll do it! I'll do it!"
A long-haired senior sister wearing a duckbill hat came out of the tent and looked at Tang Yu and Yin Zhao-an with a smile. Then, she asked, "Are you two Broadcasting and Hosting Majors?"
Yin Zhao-an's lips curved slightly as she smiled politely and patted Tang Yu's shoulder, saying, "No, it's just her."
“Okay, wait a moment.” The senior sister turned around to grab a document and a pen from the table behind her. Then, she started leading the way as she said, "Follow me. Come on, which department are you in, junior sister?"
"I'm in the Broadcasting Department," Tang Yu replied.
The guiding senior sister nodded and wrote something on the document she held. Then, she handed the document to Tang Yu and said, "I'll take you to the registration point for the Broadcasting Department. Later, you need to hand this document to the senior sister who will be guiding you."
Tang Yu accepted the document with a smile and said, "Thank you, senior sister."
"Oh, you're welcome, you're welcome. Here, this is the registration point for the Broadcasting Department." The senior sister happily walked into the classroom, greeted the people inside, gave a few instructions, and then turned around and left, "Junior sister, I'm off now, bye!"
Tang Yu nodded at her, a faint smile on her face.
Subsequently, Tang Yu filled out various forms and paid various fees. Then, once she was finally done going through the enrollment procedures, she was guided to the dormitory, where she had to sign more registration documents before she was given a room key.
The dormitory was a four-person bedroom with four loft beds. It also came with its own bathroom and balcony.
"It's pretty good. I'll come here next year too," Yin Zhao-an expressed her satisfaction after taking a look around the room. Then, she called the driver to send Tang Yu's luggage over.
Currently, none of the dormitory's other occupants were here yet. Today was only the first day of enrollment, so the other occupants may only arrive later in the day or tomorrow. Realizing this, Yin Zhao-an casually closed the door behind her, causing the spacious bedroom to darken suddenly.
Tang Yu's heart skipped a beat at this development, and she couldn't help but look at Yin Zhao-an anxiously, her heart suddenly having a bad premonition.
However, before Tang Yu could run away, she was pulled into Yin Zhao-an's arms, and a matcha-flavored kiss fell on her lips.
Outside the room, in the hallway separated by just a door, the sounds of luggage wheels rolling and conversations between students and their family members could be heard.
Yin Zhao-an pressed Tang Yu's body close to hers, her hand caressing the back of Tang Yu's neck. As they indulged in a warm, fragrant, and soft embrace, a strange sense of excitement stimulated them as the sounds of footsteps and unfamiliar people conversing came through the door and entered their ears.
However, the excitement didn't last long, as the ringing of a phone brought the two back to reality.
With a flushed face, Tang Yu pushed Yin Zhao-an away while gasping for air.
Yin Zhao-an licked her lips, still feeling unsatisfied. However, her misted eyes quickly regained their clarity as she answered the incessantly ringing phone. Then, after exchanging a few words with the person on the other end, she hung up the phone and said, "I'll go get your luggage. Otherwise, the driver will need to get registered to come in."
"Okay."
…
As night approached, one of Tang Yu's future roommates showed up in the dormitory.
Tang Yu was in the midst of spreading the bed sheets when her new roommate arrived. When she saw an unfamiliar girl entering the room, she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
The other party also looked surprised. Then, the girl quickly snapped out of her daze and greeted Tang Yu with a friendly smile, "Hello, my name is Wu Na."
Tang Yu nodded and replied, "My name is Tang Yu."
Wu Na casually swept her hair behind her ears, revealing a slightly mature face with bright red lipstick on her lips. She was wearing a casual denim jacket and a cropped white T-shirt.
Wu Na put her things on the loft bed across from Tang Yu. However, she didn't even bother to unpack as she sat in front of her desk and began playing with her phone.
Tang Yu blinked a few times but chose not to say anything since she didn't know much about Wu Na. In her previous life, she only lived in the dormitory for a few months before moving out to live with Yin Zhao-an.
They rented an apartment near the university and lived there for several years.
From what little Tang Yu could recall of her two other roommates, one was very lively and made a lot of noise every day, while the other liked to study alone in the self-study room, seemingly for the sake of winning scholarships.
As neither Tang Yu nor Wu Na chose to speak to one another, the dormitory became terribly quiet.
Tang Yu didn't really have much to unpack, so once she was done spreading the sheets, she locked her cabinet and got ready to wander around the campus.
As Tang Yu was leaving, Wu Na glanced up at her, looking like she wanted to say something. But in the end, she didn't say anything at all.
…
The night wind was not cooling at all. On the contrary, it was suffocatingly hot and dry. Tang Yu sat down by an artificial lake, enjoying the silence of the night.
However, before she could enjoy this silence for long, it was broken by the ringing of a phone. It took Tang Yu a moment to realize it was her phone that was ringing. This was the first mobile phone she owned in this life, and her parents had only bought it for her because she would be attending university in a different city.
Pulling out her new smartphone, Tang Yu smiled when she saw it was Yin Zhao-an calling her. In a good mood, she answered the call.
"Tang Tang!"
However, the voice that came through the phone immediately after the call connected sounded somewhat anxious, and hearing it startled Tang Yu.
"What's wrong?" The smile on Tang Yu's face froze, and her brow furrowed slightly.
"Zhao Yu's father, I swear! That guy put Zhao Yu into the hospital!"
"What?!" Tang Yu couldn't believe her ears. As far as she could remember, the only time she had heard of Zhao Yu's father beating him up was when Zhao Yu refused to attend the military academy. However, at the time, Zhao Yu only had to stay home to recover for a few days before he was ready to go to school. So, how did he end up in the hospital this time?
"I just got home, and my mother told me about this. She said that Z City's Central Hospital received an injured patient who was beaten so badly that he was on the brink of death and was rushed into the emergency room," Yin Zhao-an said in a huff.
Even though it was a hot night, Tang Yu felt a chill crawl down her back. Immediately, she steadied herself and asked with a trembling voice, "Central Hospital, isn't that the hospital where Gao Rang works?"
There was a faint sigh on the other end of the phone, accompanied by a slight breathing sound. Tang Yu didn't say anything more, but looked up at the moon reflecting on the lake, finding it looking somewhat desolate.
After a long time, Yin Zhao-an spoke again, her mood evidently having struck rock bottom as she said, "I'll go see him at the hospital this weekend."
Then, after a slight pause, Yin Zhao-an called out, "Tang-Tang."
"What?"
After taking a deep breath, Yin Zhao-an said with determination and persistence, "I won't let you come into any harm. If one day we are forced to reveal our relationship, you must wait for me to come to your side first. We will face it together."
Tang Yu's eyes glowed with a gentle light. She felt as if she could see Yin Zhao-an standing before her with a determined look. With eyes full of hope for the future, she said, "Okay."
…
TL Notes:
Er, it seems I misremembered, and the yaoi arc between Zhao Yu and Gao Rang isn't entirely over… I'll continue to omit parts where possible.