Chapter 176: Starting the First Meal of University Life

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Starting the First Meal of University Life

Half an hour later.

In the Jinling University faculty cafeteria, Chen Guanjun watched Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe feed each other, a look of utter despair on his face.

First, he’d been hit with a blow to his self-esteem, and now they were shoving their public display of affection down his throat!

’What is happening to me?!’

He was already regretting his offer to treat Gu Yifan to a meal!

"Ahem~"

He couldn’t help but let out a couple of fake coughs to remind the two that this was a public place and they should be more mindful of their surroundings!

"Hmm?"

Hearing him cough, Gu Yifan turned to him and asked in confusion, "Director Chen, is your throat bothering you?"

"...-_-||"

"I’m serious, Yifan. Can’t you two just eat properly? There’s a whole living person sitting right here!"

"I’m already full just from watching you two! Can’t you spare a thought for the feelings of this old single guy?!"

Chen Guanjun said, his face full of resentment.

"Uh..."

Gu Yifan froze for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Sorry about that. It’s a habit."

"Heh heh heh..."

Chen Guanjun shook his head and didn’t say anything more.

What else could he say when Gu Yifan had put it like that? He was helpless, too!

...

At the very back of the Jinling University staff living area, in front of a standalone, Chinese-style courtyard house.

"Yifan, Qinghe, this is the dormitory the university has provided for you two."

Chen Guanjun said, his eyes filled with a hint of envy.

Don’t be fooled by his position as the deputy director of the School of Economics and Management; the housing he was assigned was just a regular apartment-style dorm.

A standalone Chinese-style courtyard house like this was reserved for only a few senior professors. From this, it was clear that Jinling University was truly willing to spare no expense to recruit Gu Yifan!

Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe looked at the Chinese-style courtyard before them, both completely satisfied.

Although Gu Yifan had enough money to buy a house outright, this one was free!

There were no fees at all—they didn’t even have to pay for utilities. All Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe had to do was live there.

’So, it’d be a waste not to live here!’

Although not living in a group dormitory meant his university experience might be missing something, Gu Yifan honestly didn’t care about that stuff.

After all, while group dorms could build camaraderie among classmates, they also came with a lot of drama.

Everyone came from different parts of the country, and each person had different living habits and schedules.

The boys’ dorms were one thing, but the girls’ dorms were practically a miniature society, with even more trouble.

Given Su Qinghe’s timid and somewhat socially anxious personality, Gu Yifan really wouldn’t feel at ease leaving her in a girls’ dorm!

So, the current arrangement was great.

However!

’Still, I have to buy a house. After all, buying property right now is a surefire investment!’

’Never mind anything else. If I just buy a place now and let it sit empty for a few years, then find someone to take it off my hands at the peak of the housing market in early 2019, I could make a huge profit.’

’It might seem a bit unscrupulous, but that’s just how capitalists are!’

’And no matter how you slice it, I’m more or less a businessman now, right?’

...

"Alright, Yifan, Qinghe, I won’t disturb you any longer."

"If you need anything later, just give me a call anytime."

Chen Guanjun said to the two of them.

"Hey, Brother Chen, won’t you come in and sit for a while?"

Gu Yifan offered.

"No, I can’t. It’s orientation for the new students these two days, and I still have some things to take care of at the office this afternoon. I have to head over."

Chen Guanjun declined with a smile.

Anyone who could become a director had to have some perceptiveness and know when to quit while they were ahead.

’In any case, I’ve renewed our connection today. There will be plenty of time in the future!’

"Oh, right. You have a class meeting tonight. If you don’t want to go, I can just let your respective counselors know ahead of time. I’m quite familiar with them!"

Chen Guanjun suddenly remembered and added.

"Never mind, we should probably go tonight. We’ve only just arrived, after all. It’s not good to be too high-profile!"

Gu Yifan said after a moment of thought.

"Mm... That works too!"

"Alright now, Yifan, Qinghe, you don’t need to see me out. Go on in and get your new home settled!"

Chen Guanjun said, waving to them.

With that, he turned and left.

After he was gone, Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe looked at each other.

"Let’s go!"

"Let’s see our new home for the next four years!"

Gu Yifan said to Su Qinghe with a slight smile.

"Mhm~"

Su Qinghe replied with a sweet smile.

Gu Yifan smiled without saying a word, pushed open the courtyard gate, and led Su Qinghe inside by her small hand.

The Chinese-style courtyard house was two and a half stories. The first floor held the kitchen and living room, the second floor had the bedrooms and a sitting area, and the remaining "half-story" wasn’t really a story at all, but a pavilion-like attic built on the roof for entertaining guests, drinking tea, and cultivating one’s disposition.

But this was a common feature in most Chinese architecture.

After touring the entire house from top to bottom, they found that it was fully equipped with all the necessary living facilities. There were even new, unopened sets of bedding and blankets in the corner of a bedroom.

’You have to admit, the university’s service is pretty thoughtful!’

’It wasn’t that he, Gu Yifan, was short on money, but at least this saved him the trouble of having to go buy it all himself, right?!’

He nodded in deep satisfaction, his favorable impression of Jinling University increasing by several points.

...

Su Qinghe was incredibly excited. After touring the house, she immediately started tidying up, completely unable to sit still.

Although the house wasn’t theirs, in her heart, this was the first home she shared with Gu Yifan!

So, of course, she had to put her heart into taking care of it and decorating it.

Gu Yifan thought the place was already nice enough and told her not to bother, to take a rest instead. But after trying to persuade her a few times, he saw that Su Qinghe still wanted to tidy up, so he finally gave up with a helpless sigh and let her be.

At five-thirty in the afternoon.

Gu Yifan and Su Qinghe had gotten their campus cards and were in the school cafeteria, eating their first meal of college.

This moment marked the official beginning of their university lives...

Just as Gu Yifan was peeling a shrimp for Su Qinghe, a figure suddenly appeared in their line of sight.

Gu Yifan looked up and froze for a moment, seeing the unfamiliar face before him.

"Um... H-hello, is anyone sitting here?"

The boy pointed to the empty seat next to them, speaking timidly in a low voice.

"Oh, no."

Gu Yifan replied casually.

"Then... then may I sit here?"

The boy asked, his voice a bit weak.

"Be my guest."

Gu Yifan thought the guy was a bit strange but said it casually anyway.

"Thank you."

After hearing Gu Yifan’s response, the boy said thanks, then carried his tray over and sat down in the seat next to them.

Gu Yifan paid him no mind and went back to peeling shrimp shells for Su Qinghe.

Seeing that he was giving all the shrimp to her, Su Qinghe picked a few from her own tray, placed them in his bowl, and whispered, "That’s too many. You eat some, too."

Gu Yifan glanced at her and didn’t argue. He just smiled slightly and said, "Alright!"

The boy who had just sat down nearby watched this scene, sizing them up with curiosity. A gossip-hungry gleam flickered in his eyes...