2、
After finishing experiments that morning, Anning went to the library to organize materials and return the two books she borrowed last time. There weren’t many people today, only four or five lining up. While waiting, she habitually stared blankly ahead…
This time it was the back of a tall figure. Mm, the top of her head only reached his third rib.
Then she heard the stern-faced teacher who always said she returned books late say, “Student, your card’s demagnetized.”
Anning perked up. She looked at the figure ahead and heard him say, “I see. Then write me a slip.”
Impressive ah. Usually she only nodded apologetically at stern-faced teacher .
The stern-faced teacher said again, “Do you think this is a shop? Hurry and replace your card before borrowing books again.”
The other party paused slightly, and somehow Anning very bravely stuck her head out. “Um, use my card then.”
And thus, the stern-faced teacher swiped the card with the same stern face as always.
He took the books and glanced at her. “984932. My number.”
Anning waved her hand. “Just return the books when you’re done.”
The other party hesitated briefly, said thank you, nodded, and left.
By the time Anning finished organizing her summary and returned to the dorm, it was already close to seven. The moment she entered, she saw Mao Mao sticking her butt against the wall and rubbing it, startling her.
“Could it be… monkey possession…”
Mao Mao rolled her eyes. “My butt’s been sitting too long. I think I’ve got a rash.”
Basically Mao Mao spent every day sitting in front of the computer reading novels. Her level was so high she could go twelve hours without moving her butt once, until suddenly leaping up: “I’m dying, I’m dying!” Then she would rush into the bathroom, and one minute later come out smiling brightly, return to her seat, and slowly scroll down lines like “En en… ah…” “Don’t…” “I-I already…”
As a second-year graduate student, being able to live like a sophomore was also a kind of ability. Anning deeply admired her. Unlike herself, living like a repeating decimal.
Qiangwei walked to their doorway tightening her waistband. “A-Miao, how long are we supposed to wait for you? The cafeteria’s about to run out of food.”
Qiangwei’s roommate Lili followed behind. “I mean, Weiwei, can’t you tuck your pants in before coming out of the bathroom?”
Qiangwei turned toward her and smiled charmingly. “But I like tightening my waistband in public.” Then she turned back. “Mao Mao!!”
“Wait wait wait, it’s about to reach the climax!”
Everyone black-lined.
After the group left, Anning turned on her computer. The moment she logged in, her cousin’s avatar flashed over: Bark once.
Anning: Meow.
Cousin: I’ll send you a handsome guy picture.
Anning: ==! Better not.
Cousin: I’m just letting you fantasize a bit, not telling you to sleep with him. Why are you nervous?
Anning: …I’m not nervous.
Cousin: A senior from our old department. First president of the Percussion Club.
Anning: Percussion Club? (Anning understood it as a club for beating people up)
Cousin: En en, Percussion Club! Handsome ah, come come come, don’t miss it as you pass by!
One minute later, Cousin: …Damn it, is your version too old?
Finally, after Anning was forced to install the latest MSN version, she saw the Percussion Club president… somewhat familiar, seemed like she’d seen him before on her cousin’s computer. Then since she had nothing better to do… mm… she played around with it a little. That smiling expression, those beautiful eyes, that kind where adding one point would make him too tall, subtracting one point too short, powder would make him too pale, rouge too red.
Anning only regretted she couldn’t clap her hands and shout: Good!
Cousin: Looks a little too Photoshopped. Why does he look like a girl to me… damn, who edited this?!
Anning went invisible.
The next evening, Anning’s other roommate Shen Chaoyang returned from Guangdong. This person had broken her leg some time ago and taken half a month off. Also “personal leave” requested by Anning, except when a certain Yang sprinted toward them at lightning speed, Anning felt she really was stupid…
Shen Chaoyang enthusiastically dragged along Anning, and by the way Mao Mao and Qiangwei too, to the fanciest noodle shop in the city… “One Bowl of Noodles.”
Chaoyang: “I think I got fatter.” Usually when people say this, they expect others to refute it.
So Qiangwei and Mao Mao: “No way!”
Anning: “Mm, a little.”
After the noodles arrived, Chaoyang said, “Should I lose weight? But I like lying in bed. I don’t like exercising.”
Anning thought for a second. “Then… bed exercise?”
Everyone: “Miao, you’re dirty-minded!”
Anning was speechless. “You guys are the impure ones, alright?”
Qiangwei clicked her tongue. “I’m the purest one here! Right, after dinner I’m downloading porn.”
Anning black-lined. “Wouldn’t downloading that kind of stuff give your computer a virus?”
Qiangwei: “Oh right. Then I’ll get our dorm leader to download it so her computer gets infected.”
Anning was convinced. “The British election results are out. I won.”
Qiangwei: “I knew the one I picked was hopeless! Ai, porn’s the kind of thing that can only be encountered by chance and not sought.”
Anning: “Actually Clegg just doesn’t have enough background. He’s still fairly capable.”
Qiangwei: “If I had background, I’d find people to shoot AVs myself. Wouldn’t that be great?”
Anning: “Cameron isn’t necessarily that great either. It’s just that during a financial crisis, having money always makes things easier.”
Everyone: “……”
Qiangwei, Anning: “Let’s discuss it another time.”
Then Anning heard someone at the neighboring table laugh. Turning her head, she saw a long-haired girl looking at her with amusement. Anning felt a little embarrassed. The next moment she saw the person sitting opposite the girl. Why did he look so familiar again? Mm… third rib. The other party pressed his lips together, his side profile very handsome.
Thinking back afterward, Anning felt lucky she was Anning and not Qiangwei… otherwise it would’ve been too embarrassing.