"Hello, Meng Yao. My name is Qin Yu. Is there anything I can help you with?" Qin Yu was a bit taken aback; he couldn't believe this beautiful girl had actually stopped him. At that moment, he could even feel the murderous aura from the boys behind him, a naked jealousy.
"Ming, I really like lotus seed porridge. I woke up late today, and the canteen has already sold out. You bought two bowls, could you sell one to me?" Meng Yao asked straightforwardly, her smile never fading.
"To be honest, I don't really like lotus seed porridge. I only bought it because there was no mung bean porridge today. Since you like it, you can have both bowls." Qin Yu handed the bag containing the two bowls of lotus seed porridge to Meng Yao, completely forgetting the instructions from the senior member of his dorm.
"Fourth, I love lotus seed porridge the most. Don't forget to bring me two bowls when you go to the canteen."
"Thank you, Ming." Meng Yao took the bag with a smile, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous light. She then took a basket of small steamed buns from her bag and said, "I'll trade this basket of buns for the porridge. I don't really like buns anyway."
...
"Fourth, didn't I ask you to buy lotus seed porridge? Why did you bring back a basket of buns?"
"I went too late, and the lotus seed porridge was sold out. It's not bad to have these buns. Don't be so picky." Qin Yu took a bite of a meat bun, sipping his soy milk, and said without turning his head.
"Big Sister, the small buns are sold out today. I got an extra bowl of lotus seed porridge. Do you want it?" On the other side, Meng Yao returned to the girls' dorm and called out to a girl who was getting ready.
"Sold out so quickly? Did all the animals in the school suddenly become vegetarians today?"
...
This was their first encounter. Later, when they were together, they would always talk about it and couldn't help but laugh. Meng Yao would stick out her tongue playfully and say, "You looked like a fool at that time!"
Their second encounter was at a dormitory get-together. The senior members of Qin Yu's and Meng Yao's dorms turned out to be from the same hometown. The two dorms decided to have a joint party, which was essentially the boys paying for the girls to eat, get to know each other, and see if there was any chemistry.
Qin Yu still remembered the surprise he felt when he saw Meng Yao again. She was wearing a white dress, her long hair flowing, and her face was carefully observing the four boys in Qin Yu's dorm, especially Qin Yu, with a warm smile.
Qin Yu's heart beat faster, and just as he was about to greet her, he noticed Meng Yao's beautiful eyes winking at him, signaling him not to reveal that they knew each other.
Because of Meng Yao's presence, the boys in Qin Yu's dorm were very excited. Actually, Meng Yao's three roommates were also quite attractive, but they paled in comparison to Meng Yao's beauty.
The atmosphere at the table was good. Qin Yu's roommates, wanting to impress the girls, accepted all the toasts. Soon, the second and third members of the dorm were already down, and the senior member realized that they couldn't let the other side win while they were all defeated.
So, the senior member, being a southerner, used his cunning and the essence of guerrilla warfare, managing to knock out three girls before collapsing. Just before he fell, he patted Qin Yu's shoulder and said earnestly, "Fourth, the great cause of the country is not yet complete. I've done my best. The rest is up to you." Then he fell onto the table.
The only ones still awake at the table were Meng Yao and Qin Yu. They looked at each other and laughed. Earlier, the senior member had mentioned that he loved lotus seed porridge, and Meng Yao's senior roommate had said she loved the small buns from the second canteen.
Meng Yao laughed so hard that her nose twitched, and it took her a while to stop. Qin Yu felt a bit embarrassed, especially when the beautiful girl across from him laughed, her full chest rising and falling, and her soft hands occasionally patting her chest, making his face turn red.
...
That night, Qin Yu couldn't sleep, his mind full of Meng Yao's image, her every smile and frown at the table, her gentle demeanor while holding a glass of juice, and her playful toast to the boys.
"I like Meng Yao. I'm going to pursue her!"
Qin Yu's declaration was bold. His roommates exchanged glances, and the third member closed the door, while the second member took out a book from under the computer and handed it to the senior member. The book was titled "Marxism."
The senior member pulled Qin Yu to sit down, and the second and third members gathered around. The senior member, with a loud voice, announced, "The second all-dorm meeting of Room 208 is now in session. There are four representatives, and all four are present. All decisions made at this meeting will be written into the 208 Dorm Code of Conduct."
The meeting, based on practical considerations, fully adhered to democratic principles, from collectivism to the eight virtues and eight disgraces, and conducted a comprehensive critique of Qin Yu, making him deeply realize that abandoning collectivism to seek personal happiness was unacceptable. This kind of behavior could not be encouraged in a united and friendly collective like 208.
The senior member, a skilled debater, after Qin Yu promised to buy breakfast for the dorm for a week, changed the tone of the meeting from criticizing Qin Yu for wanting to eat alone and undermining collectivism to praising the great song of the rich leading the poor to prosperity. The meeting also provided several suggestions on how Qin Yu could "get rich" first.
However, the suggestions from his roommates were not very reliable, and Qin Yu rejected them one by one. In the end, he got Meng Yao's phone number through the senior member's hometown connection.
"Do you like me? Can I pursue you?"
This was the first text message Qin Yu sent to Meng Yao. Later, when he talked about this with his roommates, the third member sighed, "The famous NC campus beauty, not putting on any airs, was won over so easily. I should have sent the message first!"
Indeed, Meng Yao's reply was quick, just a few simple words: "Then come and try!"
Thus, Qin Yu and Meng Yao's relationship began. They often went to class, the library, and campus events together.
...
"Qin Yu, do you know why I'm here?"
Meng Fang and Qin Yu came to a banyan tree, and Meng Fang asked directly, pulling Qin Yu out of his memories.
"I can guess."
Qin Yu nodded, not denying it. He wasn't surprised that Meng Yao's brother would find him; he had a feeling about it. In fact, he had gone on a trip partly to avoid this.
"Since that's the case, I'll be straightforward. You and Yao Yao are not suitable for each other. You should break up. I don't want you to have any further contact with her!"
Meng Fang's voice was cold as he stared at Qin Yu.
"Is this your idea, or Meng Yao's?"
Qin Yu ignored the sharp gaze and asked.
"Whether it's my idea or Yao Yao's, the fact remains that you two are not suitable for each other."
"Even though you are Meng Yao's brother, you can't make decisions for her. Only the parties involved can decide if they are suitable for each other!"
"Looks like Yao Yao hasn't told you about our family." Meng Fang's eyebrows furrowed. "No matter how you look at it, you can't be with my sister. The gap between you two is too large."
"Gap? You mean family background?"
"Qin Yu, you're a smart person. I believe you've guessed that our family is not ordinary. Often, marriage requires a match in status. Give up. If you agree to break up with my sister and not contact her anymore, I can arrange a job for you in your hometown, in any department you choose."
Meng Fang's tone changed, offering a significant temptation.
"Ha, so if I don't accept the breakup, not only will I not get the job, but I'll also face your retaliation?"
Qin Yu's face was full of ridicule, his eyes fixed on Meng Fang.
"I hope it doesn't come to that."
Meng Fang didn't deny it, his gaze turning to the distance as he said softly, "Qin Yu, Yao Yao is my younger sister. As an older brother, I've always cared for her. I want her to be happy and live a good life."
"Happy! Live a good life! Breaking us up will make her happy and live a good life?"
Qin Yu roared, feeling a flame in his chest, his veins bulging, barely restraining the urge to punch Meng Fang in the face. These people only cared about family background, not about real affection.
"You weren't born into a family like ours, so you don't understand. In any case, I'm doing this for both of you. A short pain is better than a long one. This is the only way to end it."
"You want me to break up with Meng Yao because my family background doesn't match yours. But who says a noble birth is a guarantee of success? Can you be sure I won't succeed one day?"
Meng Fang smiled, thinking that Qin Yu, not knowing the power of the Meng family, couldn't understand how difficult it was to reach that level. As the first boy his sister liked, Meng Fang didn't want to force him. The best outcome would be for Qin Yu to back off on his own, so he said:
"Since you're so confident, I'll give you a chance. If you can gain my approval within two years, I'll allow you to be with my sister and help you deal with the opinions of other members of the Meng family."
"You might think this is just a delaying tactic, but I can tell you that after Yao Yao graduates, I'll arrange for her to study abroad for two years. If you can gain my approval within these two years, when Yao Yao returns, I won't interfere anymore."
"But if you can't gain my approval in two years, Yao Yao will participate in arranged meetings set up by our family when she returns, and I hope you won't appear in front of her again."
"In two years, I'll personally go to your family and take Meng Yao away!"
Qin Yu looked deeply at Meng Fang and turned to leave. He currently had no power to challenge the Meng family, but he was confident that with the Zhuge Nei Jing, he could carve out a place for himself.
"Aren't you afraid I'm just saying this to placate you?"
Meng Fang, seeing Qin Yu leave decisively, was a bit puzzled and called out.
"You won't!"
Qin Yu, upon seeing Meng Fang for the first time, automatically used the face reading techniques from the Zhuge Nei Jing to observe him: When observing a person's appearance, look for a balanced and full face, with a high forehead and a full, lustrous complexion. Meng Fang had long, straight eyebrows, a square forehead, and a full, lustrous complexion, indicating a person of integrity who would not resort to deceit.
"But you should be more careful when driving recently!"
Qin Yu turned back and gave a well-meaning warning. He observed that Meng Fang's cheekbones had a slight grayish hue, indicating a risk of a minor car accident, which wouldn't be serious, but it was still worth mentioning. After all, Meng Yao was...