Chapter 77: Qi Yan â Three New Roommates
The dormitory Pingjing University prepared for exchange students was a standard four-person room with loft beds and desks underneath. When Jiang Yunian dragged his luggage in, it was empty; the other roommates hadn’t arrived yet. He breathed a sigh of relief, chose the bed furthest inside that didn’t face the toilet, and began to unpack silently.
He hadn’t brought muchâa few changes of clothes, pillows and sheets, some necessary books, and daily necessitiesâso he finished organizing quickly. The dormitory remained quiet. Looking at the three empty beds, he felt a bit uncertain. He hadn’t lived on campus for a long time and wasn’t sure if he could integrate into dormitory life. He prayed his new roommates would be easy to get along with.
Feeling hungry, he decided to check out the cafeteria first. Leaving the dorm building, he received a check-in call from Hao Meng.
As soon as the call connected, Hao Mengâs blustering voice came through: “Yunian, have you arrived yet? Now that you’re gone, I have no one to eat with. I’m so unused to it. I really want you to pack me up and take me with you…”
Jiang Yunian held the phone a bit further away, the corners of his mouth curving up unconsciously. “I’m here. Just finished packing.”
“How is it there? Are your roommates handsome? Tell me about it.”
“Mm… they haven’t come yet, so I don’t know.”
“Alright, just asking casually. By the way, let me tell you, after you left, He Qing apparently applied for an exchange to Pingjing University too. He only told me about last semester’s stuff now. I was wondering why I haven’t seen him. Did you know?”
Jiang Yunianâs footsteps paused. “…I didn’t know.”
Since that incident six months ago, he and He Qing had lost contact. The last time they met was on a gloomy afternoon after the New Year when He Qing asked him out and stuffed a thick envelope into his hands.
“Take it.” At the time, He Qingâs expression was complicated as he persuaded him, “You saved him. This is what you deserve.”
Jiang Yunian stared at the envelope and quickly understood what it was.
It contained enough cash for him to spend his university years comfortably. Holding that heavy stack in his hand, his heart felt empty, as if a piece had been gouged out.
The person was gone, the account was settled. Now, nothing was left.
That was fine.
Since then, he had completely blocked out all people and things related to Jiang Yan, as if that absurd experience had never happened. No one knew where Jiang Yan had gone. Jiang Yunian didn’t know, nor did he want to know.
Each being well was already a rare blessing.
“He Qing quit all his part-time jobs a while ago, and Zhou Shu vanished into thin air too. I don’t know if those two are fighting again…” Hao Meng was still rambling on the other end of the phone. “Sigh, really, not a single one is worry-free…”
Jiang Yunianâs mind was a bit cluttered, so he didn’t quite catch Hao Mengâs later words. Until suddenly, Hao Meng let out a high-pitched scream on the phone: “Holy crap! Guess who I saw?!”
Jiang Yunian was startled by her. “What?”
“Look at the news! The Finance Channel! Oh my god…” Hao Mengâs voice was distorted by shock.
Before Jiang Yunian could even switch screens, his gaze swept casually across the plaza and froze on the giant electronic billboard in the center. The screen was broadcasting financial news, and the person focused on by the camera in the center of the frame was…
Jiang Yunianâs breathing stopped abruptly.
Hao Mengâs voice continued to pour into his ear: “Isn’t that Jiang Yan?! Isn’t he… didn’t he leave? Am I seeing things? How does he look exactly like that… that Young Master of the Qi family?”
Jiang Yunian slowly lowered his hand. The phone dropped along with Hao Mengâs voice; he couldn’t hear a single word anymore. His pupils constricted slightly as he stared blankly at that familiar yet incredibly unfamiliar face on the screen.
The news headline was clear and piercingâ”Power Transition at Qi Sheng Group: New Heir Qi Yan Makes First Official Appearance.”
The report stated that the former CEO, Qi Liangjiâadopted son of Qi Sheng’s Chairman Qi Nanshanâhad been detained for suspected stock manipulation and bribery. The chronically ill Qi Nanshan had come out of retirement to stabilize the situation and publicly announced his only grandson, Qi Yan, as the group’s sole legal heir. Notably, this was also Qi Yanâs first public appearance before the media, marking his formal entry into the business world.
The “Qi Yan” on the screen still had a sickly pallor on his face, but the youthful spirit of a student between his brows had completely faded, replaced by a sharpness and composure. He handled the flashing lights and tricky questions with ease. His posture was noble and distant, his eyes calm and even carrying a hint of indifference. That was the posture of someone born to rule, a completely different person from the Jiang Yan in his memories who would cling to him acting spoiled and throwing petty tantrums.
Only today did Jiang Yunian truly learn his real identity.
Although he had known early on that Jiang Yan came from an extraordinary background, he never imagined it was this prominentâso prominent it was like he was in the clouds, a height an ordinary person like him could never reach in a lifetime.
The last remaining shred of resentment he had been deliberately ignoring dissolved in this moment.
They were indeed people from two different worlds.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth, a shallow bitterness appearing, then bent down to pick up the phone from the ground. He hung up on Hao Meng, whose call was still connected, turned around, and silently walked toward the cafeteria.
Everything had nothing to do with him anymore.
When he returned to the dormitory, the other two roommates had arrived.
A boy wearing a tracksuit with a sunny, brilliant smile was busy making his bed. Seeing him come in, he immediately greeted him enthusiastically: “Hi! You’re here!”
“I’m Xu Zhiyuan. The ‘Zhiyuan’ from ‘Ning Jing Zhi Yuan’ (Tranquility yields transcendence).” He scratched his head. “Both my mom and dad are teachers at this school. They probably hoped I’d be quieter, so they gave me this name.”
It was the first time seeing someone mention their background at school so openly and naturally. Jiang Yunian smiled faintly, exchanged names with him, and said shyly, “But my name doesn’t have any special meaning.”
In the bed by the window sat a trendy guy covered in brand names. He was fiddling with his phone with a sour face. Hearing this, he let out a snort through his nose.
Xu Zhiyuan didn’t mind. He smiled and pointed at the trendy guy, lowering his voice to say to Jiang Yunian, “That’s Qian Cheng. Family owns a company, second-generation rich kid.”
“His parents probably gave him that name hoping he’d have a good future (‘Qian Cheng’ sounds like ‘Future/Prospects’).” He winked playfully, signaling Jiang Yunian not to provoke this young master.
Jiang Yunian understood and nodded politely to Qian Cheng again. “Jiang Yunian.”
Qian Cheng lifted his eyelids, his critical gaze sweeping over him, finally landing on his jeans that were washed slightly white but were clean and tidy. He sneered, “Where’d you pick up those rags? Wearing them when they’re this old, aren’t you afraid your legs will rot?”
Xu Zhiyuan was right; this young master’s temper was unusually bad. Xu Zhiyuan quickly smoothed things over: “I think it looks fine. What’s this called… Retro style! Right, Yunian?”
Qian Cheng curled his lip in disdain, rolled his eyes, and continued to look down at his phone.
Xu Zhiyuan smiled helplessly at Jiang Yunian, mouthing: Big young master speaks without thinking, don’t take it to heart.
Jiang Yunian didn’t mind much. He had experienced this kind of thing plenty of times. From high school to university, there was never a shortage of wealthy classmates around him wearing glamorous brand names, while he only ever had those few sets of ordinary clothes to rotate. He was long used to it and didn’t have strong enough self-esteem to be sensitive about it.
The three of them were simply acquainted now, each busy with their own things.
Not long after, Qian Chengâs phone rang. It was his mother. He put it on speaker while playing a game. A gentle and rambling female voice came from the other side, asking if he had brought everything, saying she’d have the driver send more if not, reminding him to study hard, not to play games all the time, and to learn to get along well with his roommates…
Qian Cheng interrupted impatiently, “Alright, alright, so annoying. There’s so much stuff there’s nowhere to put it.”
“Hey, you child, Mom is doing this for your own good.”
Qian Cheng perfunctorily said a few words and hung up. His character in the game died, and he didn’t restart. Looking at the several unopened large suitcases on the floor, he scratched his hair irritably.
At the same time, the dormitory door was pushed open from the outside, and someone walked in dragging a suitcase.
The other three turned their heads in unison, meeting his gaze.
The new roommate was He Qing.
He Qingâs gaze swept lightly over Xu Zhiyuan and Qian Cheng, finally colliding head-on with Jiang Yunian, who had looked up. Both of them were obviously stunned, the atmosphere turning slightly subtle.
Qian Cheng sized up He Qingâs ordinary, simple attire, then narrowed his eyes. His gaze lingered on the inconspicuous necklace around He Qing’s neck, recognizing at a glance that it was a pricey custom piece.
Poor but pretending.
He pulled at the corner of his mouth, staring at He Qingâs face for a few more seconds, suddenly feeling he looked familiar.
Xu Zhiyuan stepped forward enthusiastically and introduced them again. “Hello! I’m Xu Zhiyuan. We’re in a mixed dorm, the three of us are in the same major, what about you?”
He Qing withdrew his gaze from Jiang Yunian and stated his major.
Xu Zhiyuan said “Oh,” remarking that being so handsome, he indeed looked like an art student. He casually introduced Qian Cheng, and when it came to Jiang Yunian, he gave a more detailed introduction. But neither of them reacted much. Xu Zhiyuan asked, “Do you guys… know each other?”
He Qing: “Yeah, same university.”
“So you’re alumni!” Xu Zhiyuan realized, smiling simple-mindedly. “That’s great, same school and same dorm again, it’s fate!”
“…”
Jiang Yunian and He Qing looked at each other and didn’t reply. The atmosphere was slightly awkward.
At this moment, the chair on Qian Chengâs side scraped loudly as it was pushed back. He stood up, pointed at his pile of luggage, then pointed at Jiang Yunian, who looked the easiest to push around. “You, come over and clean this up for me.”
Jiang Yunian frowned.
Xu Zhiyuan looked troubled. “That’s not very good…”
He Qing glanced over coldly. He wasn’t as easy to talk to as Xu Zhiyuan. “Where did this giant baby come from?”
Qian Chengâs face darkened at the retort, then he suppressed it as if remembering something. He stared at He Qingâs face carefully for a few seconds, revealing a trace of mockery. “I was saying why you looked familiar. The one playing hard-to-get with Zhou Shu at the bar a few days ago was you, right?”
He Qingâs body stiffened imperceptibly, his expression looking unwell.
Qian Cheng sneered, his tone becoming even more biting. “What, serving your sugar daddy isn’t enough? You came here for further studies?”
It was a coincidence. He had come to Pingjing a few days ago, borrowing the light of a distant cousin to try and integrate into the rich second-generation circle early, leading to that scene.
He had drunk too much and gone out for some air. At the bar entrance, he saw Zhou Shu pulling and tugging with someone from a distance. Hearing people in the private room say his little lover wasn’t obedient, seeing this confirmed it. The two had a pretty ugly falling out.
He Qing clenched his fingers. “You mistook me for someone else.”
“Mistook?” Qian Cheng slowly took out his phone and scrolled, finding a chat with some rich kid and clicking on a photo inside. “How could I be mistaken? If I recall correctly, Zhou Shu is about to get engaged to the Lin family’s young miss. The invitations have already been sent out.”
He looked up, shaking the phone screen, smiling playfully. “Heh, still want to deny it?”
He Qing stared coldly at Zhou Shuâs name on the screen, not saying a word.
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