Two of Lin Qin's three roommates bought train tickets and went home the morning after the group dinner. The remaining one, a girl named Xia Xinyue, had signed up for a summer TOEFL prep course and, for convenience, had applied to stay on campus during the summer break.
Lin Qin didn't leave school right away either, because on June 25th, the School of Atmospheric Sciences would be holding its own graduation ceremony.
With two of the four gone, the dorm was much quieter—and not just the room itself; the entire dormitory building felt empty.
Her roommate Xia Xinyue's classes wouldn't start until early July, so in the meantime, she stayed up late every night binge-watching shows in the dorm, completely letting herself go.
One afternoon, after waking from her nap, Lin Qin went down to the communal bathroom on the first floor to wash her hair. Her hair was very long, and every time she had to deal with it, it was a pain in the neck—but because she frequently had photo shoots for traditional-style photography, she couldn't very well cut it short. High-wattage appliances were banned in the dorm, so everyone usually dried their hair in the prep room attached to the bathroom.
After drying it halfway, Lin Qin returned to the dorm and was checking her computer for the details of the aircraft design competition finals that Yan Mingxuan had posted in the group chat, when Xia Xinyue suddenly poked her head out from behind her bed curtain on the upper bunk across from her and said excitedly, "Lin Qin, have you seen the post on Moments?"
"What?"
Xia Xinyue handed her phone directly over. Lin Qin got up and leaned in to look—it was a shared post on Moments, captioned with the words "A dog for pretty faces, absolutely thrilled."
Xia Xinyue tapped the photo open. It showed a foreigner giving a speech, around forty-something years old, refined and elegant, with a high-bridged nose, gray-blue eyes, and light blond hair—a very typical Germanic look.
"So handsome," Xia Xinyue sighed, swiping left on the screen. "There's another one."
The moment the photo flashed up, Lin Qin's heart skipped a beat.
Completely unexpected—the second photo that appeared after the swipe was of Meng Jingnian.
The background seemed to be some kind of academic lecture hall. He was wearing a white shirt and dress pants, holding a microphone, smiling as he explained something.
"It seems to be a lecture organized by the School of Atmospheric Sciences, over at Yifu Building," Xia Xinyue said, climbing up from her bed. "Want to go take a look?"
"…Is it still going on?"
"It ends at four-thirty, so it should still be a while."
"You haven't eaten since you woke up, have you? Aren't you hungry?" Lin Qin asked.
"We'll grab something to eat after we take a look."
Xia Xinyue was a woman of action—she was ready in less than ten minutes.
The sun was blazing outside, and the two walked along the shade of the trees to Yifu Building.
The tiered academic lecture hall was at the easternmost end of the building, and the corridor outside was already packed to the brim.
Lin Qin hated crowded places, but Xia Xinyue was full of fighting spirit. She linked her arm through Lin Qin's and managed to squeeze a path through the crowd.
Lin Qin's gaze passed over the heads of the two rows of girls in front of her, and across the entire length of the lecture hall, she saw Meng Jingnian standing on the stage beside the foreigner.
The screen behind them displayed the topic of today's lecture: "Water Freezes at 9°C—Fun Meteorology in Everyday Life." The speaker was a man named Matthias Schmidt, and it appeared to be a popular science lecture aimed at the general public.
At this point, the formal lecture portion had already ended and they'd moved into the Q&A session. A male student was asking about the requirements for applying to graduate school at the University of Munich.
With one hand in his pocket, Meng Jingnian waited until the student finished, then raised the microphone and translated the question into German.
It was also the first time Lin Qin had heard him speak German. The syllables were numerous, the endings clipped tight, and his voice was a touch deeper than his usual tone—giving it a more rugged, harder-edged quality. She always thought the phrase "a magnetic voice" sounded terribly clichéd, but she couldn't seem to find a more natural, fitting way to describe it.
After Professor Schmidt listened to Meng Jingnian's translation, he began answering the question.
Meng Jingnian had a habit when listening to others speak: he would tilt his head slightly toward the speaker. Though unconscious, it easily won people over, making them feel as though every word they said was especially important.
When Professor Schmidt finished speaking, he smiled at Meng Jingnian, who nodded and began translating: "Different disciplines have different requirements. Generally, a German proficiency level of C1 or above is needed, along with one to two letters of recommendation that can demonstrate academic ability… However, Professor Schmidt advises everyone to think carefully about whether they truly have the resolve to study in Germany, because he himself—and his colleagues as well—have very strict requirements for students' attitudes toward learning and their research output."
At that moment, a male student in the audience chimed in with a popular internet meme: "The three years you spend studying in Germany will be the most unforgettable seven years of your five-year life!"
This drew laughter from the entire audience.
Professor Schmidt was baffled, so Meng Jingnian translated the joke for him, and Professor Schmidt burst out laughing along with everyone else.
At that moment, Xia Xinyue beside her whispered, "Is that translator teacher from the atmospheric sciences department or the foreign languages school? I wonder what his name is. I want to take his class next semester."
Lin Qin remained silent, because once she responded, she would inevitably have to explain how she knew him.
As a full-time researcher with no teaching duties, she wouldn't have many opportunities to appear outside the institute in the future. After thinking it over, there was no need to draw any extra attention.
A few more questions about meteorology itself followed, and the time reached four-thirty.
Meng Jingnian, who served the dual roles of translator and moderator, gave his closing remarks at the end of the lecture with a smile: "In a few days, the college entrance exam results will be released. On behalf of the dean, I'd like to do a little advertising for our institute. If any of you have friends or relatives who just graduated, they're welcome to apply to our School of Atmospheric Sciences."
The crowd dispersed through the corridor, filing out one by one.
Before leaving, Lin Qin turned back for one more look.
Meng Jingnian and Professor Schmidt had already stepped off the podium and reached the first row.
It was only then that Lin Qin saw a woman rise from the first row—beige suit, chin-length hair.
It was the same woman she had seen on the second floor of the Third Cafeteria that time.
From such a distance, she couldn't tell what they were discussing, but all three wore smiles, seemingly in pleasant conversation.
Before the jealousy could flood in, Lin Qin averted her gaze with a blank expression.
The lecture today had originally been planned for the institute only, but Professor Schmidt wanted to inspire more people's interest in meteorology, so it was changed to a science-sharing session open to the entire university. Since it was finals season and the arrangement was last-minute, they hadn't expected much of a turnout—but to their surprise, the venue was packed.
Professor Schmidt was delighted and thanked Ni Ye and Meng Jingnian in English for their hard work on the lecture.
Ni Ye smiled and said, "You're welcome. I'm very grateful that you agreed to adjust your schedule to come share with us. I've made a reservation at a restaurant off campus—we can rest at the institute for a bit, then head out for dinner."
Professor Schmidt said, "I'm looking forward to tasting different Chinese cuisines."
The three walked out together.
Ni Ye fell half a step behind and asked Meng Jingnian in a low voice with a smile: "I'll need to trouble you a bit more over dinner, if it's convenient. Schmidt heard that you studied at MPI and would very much like to exchange some academic questions with you."
Meng Jingnian smiled and said, "Professor Schmidt has come from afar and is a guest of the institute. This is naturally what I should do."
Warm, polite, flawless in every way.
And yet, so distant that there was no possibility of getting any closer.
Ni Ye glanced at him, his expression barely changing, then smiled and stepped forward to walk shoulder to shoulder with Schmidt.
At five-thirty, Meng Jingnian, along with Ni Ye, Schmidt, and two other teachers from the institute, went to Pearl Tower Restaurant for dinner.
Schmidt's everyday English was more than sufficient, but when it came to certain technical terms, he would worry about precision and choose to express himself in his native language—at such times, Meng Jingnian would translate on his behalf.
Around seven o'clock, as the dinner was drawing to a close, Meng Jingnian excused himself to the restroom.
On his way back to the private room, his phone vibrated once.
He took it out of his trouser pocket and looked—it was a message from Lin Qin.
Lin Yiyi: Uncle, are you still on campus?
Meng Jingnian replied: Still here. What's up?
Lin Yiyi: I lost my campus card and can't get into the library.
mjn: Need to look something up?
Lin Yiyi: Yeah. Need to borrow two books, due tonight.
mjn: Where are you now?
Lin Yiyi: At the library entrance.
mjn: Can you wait fifteen minutes for me?
Lin Yiyi: Okay.
Meng Jingnian put away his phone and looked up to find a gaze fixed on him from the restaurant's cashier counter.
Ni Ye was paying the bill, waiting for the receipt, standing sideways and looking in his direction.
Meng Jingnian gave a slight smile and a nod. "I'll head back to the room first."
Ni Ye nodded.
About ten minutes after Meng Jingnian returned to the private room, the dinner finally came to an end.
After exchanging pleasantries at the restaurant entrance and parting ways, Meng Jingnian re-entered the campus through the back gate.
Most institutes had already finished their exam weeks, and a large portion of the students had left. All recreational and sports activities had ceased, leaving the campus exceptionally quiet.
The library building was grand and imposing, perched on a three-story elevation—a feature students often complained about: you had to climb dozens of steps just to get to the library.
Lin Qin sat beneath the marble columns of the colonnade in front of the library, Bluetooth earbuds in her ears.
Her gaze drifted downward and suddenly paused.
She took out one earbud, propped her chin on her hand, and watched the person ascending the steps with his head lowered—ink-black hair, forehead, nose bridge, chin… and then his entire upper body emerged into view.
At that moment, he suddenly looked up, his gaze pausing for a beat, and said with a smile, "Yiyi."
Lin Qin unconsciously tightened her grip on the earbud in her hand. "…You're a little late."
Meng Jingnian lowered his head and raised his wrist to check his watch. "Mm. Sorry."
Lin Qin took out the other earbud, put it into the charging case, tossed it into her canvas bag, and stood up from the steps.
"I thought you'd already left campus," Meng Jingnian said.
"Still have some things to take care of."
They hadn't seen each other for three days.
The campus was so large that Lin Qin ran to the third canteen for every meal without ever running into him once.
Meng Jingnian walked up to her. "Did you report your campus card as lost?"
"…Yes. But today's Friday, so I won't get the replacement until Monday."
Meng Jingnian nodded, pulled a card from his pocket, and handed it to her. "Use mine for now. Return it once you've got your new one."
"Won't you need it for meals?"
"I can borrow a classmate's."
Lin Qin took the card and held it tightly in her hand. Unable to stop herself, she looked up at him.
The night breeze carried the scent of grass and trees, mixed with a hint of alcohol.
"…You've been drinking."
"Yeah."
"With the pretty teacher?" Lin Qin tilted her head slightly, speaking in a joking tone.
Meng Jingnian narrowed his eyes a little. "…You went to the lecture?"
"Yeah."
"How was it?"
"By the time I got there, it was already ending." Lin Qin was still looking at him. "Your German sounded really nice… I'd never heard you speak it before."
Meng Jingnian smiled. "Isn't that missing the point?"
"Then everyone missed the point." Lin Qin's tone wasn't great.
"Yiyi, are you in a bad mood?" Meng Jingnian's smile faded, his tone turning more serious.
"…I only realized I couldn't get in when I reached the library entrance. Hard to be in a good mood."
"Have you eaten then?"
"Are you going to treat me?"
"If you haven't eaten, of course I'll treat you. How could I watch you go hungry?"
"Too bad. You won't get the chance to be a generous, kind elder today."
Meng Jingnian was taken aback. He took half a step closer and lowered his head. "What's wrong, Yiyi?"
Lin Qin bit her lip.
They were now less than an arm's length apart. If she reached out, he wouldn't have any room to dodge.
The ink-blue night settled on his white shirt, dyeing it in a tone like moonlight washed through water, touched by the breath of the night breeze.
Lin Qin took a deep breath. Some emotion pressed heavily against her chest.
Suddenly, a buzz sounded—Meng Jingnian's phone was vibrating.
He took it out, glanced at it, and hung up.
A moment later, the vibration sounded again. Lin Qin felt anxious listening to it. "…You should answer it."
Meng Jingnian looked at her, hesitated for a moment, then turned slightly to the side and answered the voice call.
The speaker was on. In an instant, a weary, hoarse female voice came through from the other end: "Hey? Are you busy? You haven't gone to sleep yet, have you?"
Meng Jingnian: "No."
"Oh. Right, I sent you a parcel. It has the books you wanted, plus a birthday gift for Teacher Meng. Hope it arrives in time. I've had a cold these past few days—headache's been killing me, almost forgot about it…"
It was Jiang Cheng's voice.
Lin Qin stepped back two paces, moved around Meng Jingnian, and quickly walked deeper inside.
Meng Jingnian froze for a moment, then instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist.
But he didn't grip tightly enough. Her wrist slipped from his hand, and she was already running off, disappearing behind a pillar.
Meng Jingnian instinctively followed two steps before remembering he didn't have his card and couldn't enter the library.
The library was brightly lit inside.
Lin Qin hurried up to the second floor in one breath before gradually slowing to a stop.
A faint pain came from her palm. She looked down and found she was clutching the campus card tightly.
Doctoral, master's, and undergraduate campus cards each had subtle differences. The one in her hand—Meng Jingnian's—had a deep blue theme color.
The card itself might have been recently issued, but the ID photo wasn't, because the hairstyle in it was different from now, with longer ends.
She had no memory of him looking like that, so it was most likely taken while he was in Germany. He looked slightly melancholic at the camera, and with his pale, cool skin and those deep, defined features, he appeared refined and distant.
She was incredibly jealous, yet she didn't know who to be jealous of.
It was as if it were someone in the void—someone who, during those years she had deliberately kept her distance from him, had fully participated in this stretch of his life. An abstract concept.
Suddenly, she wasn't angry anymore. Just a little sad.
Someone who looked this good—even being angry at him felt like she was the one being unreasonable.
Lin Qin took out her phone and snapped a photo of his student ID.
She wandered around the library for a while, picked up a few books, and checked them out.
She stuffed the books into her canvas bag, passed through the gate, and walked out. After two steps, she stopped short.
Meng Jingnian was standing with his arms crossed, leaning back against a marble pillar, head lowered.
He was waiting for her.
She hesitated and didn't move forward, but Meng Jingnian seemed to sense her presence and suddenly looked up.
For a long moment, she didn't move, tangled emotions surging in her chest.
Meng Jingnian straightened up, looked at her, and said in a gentle voice: "Yiyi, come here."
She couldn't help but walk over and stop in front of him.
Meng Jingnian looked down at her, his tone infinitely tender: "Did something happen?"
"…No. I just lost my campus card, and I'm a bit annoyed. Especially since it might have been dropped while I was at the lecture."
Meng Jingnian let out a small laugh. "No wonder. You're blaming me, aren't you?"
"…Yeah."
"Then what do you want me to do to make it up to you?"
Lin Qin lowered her gaze and thought for a long moment before saying, "Can you walk me back to the dorm?"
"Of course. Without your campus card, will you be able to get in?"
"I can…" Lin Qin said, then immediately wished she could bite her own tongue off. This stupid brain of hers—couldn't it think for one more second before answering?
"Alright." Meng Jingnian nodded. "Go back now?"
"…Are there other options?"
"You can do whatever you want, since I'm the one making it up to you."
Lin Qin thought seriously for a moment. "…I have a photo shoot tomorrow, and I want to go home to sleep." By "home," she usually meant the apartment her parents had left behind.
"I'll take you."
"By car?"
"I've been drinking." Meng Jingnian smiled apologetically. "Would taking a cab work? Or I could ask a friend to drive."
"Let's take the subway." Lin Qin said without hesitation.