In the summer, Zhonghai fell under the influence of the subtropical high-pressure zone, leading to prevailing downdrafts. Combined with the moisture brought by its coastal location, the air humidity became excessively high. Even in September, when the intense heat had already begun to recede, the mugginess remained oppressive. As the train entered Zhonghai, Chen Zier gradually felt this stifling heat envelop him. The entire city felt like a sealed jar, making it hard to breathe.
The train station in the early morning hours offered no cool breeze. The surrounding air felt thick and stagnant, as if congealed. The four of them followed the crowd out of the train. Sun Hong, knowing his destination differed from the other three, bid them farewell and prepared to leave. Just before he left, Chen Zier remembered the stock market and reminded him, "Don't believe the nonsense about the government guaranteeing the market. Sell all your stocks by December at the latest."
Chen Zier couldn't recall the exact date the market would turn, only that it would be around mid-December. Even as he spoke, he could tell from Sun Hong's weary expression and dismissive attitude that his words weren't taken seriously. This was natural—Chen Zier was young and insignificant in his eyes. Why would a mature adult easily believe him? Chen Zier didn't press further. Some things were simply a matter of fate.
Yet, years later, even if Sun Hong hadn't heeded the advice, he would still consider this reminder the one that could have changed his life.
After Sun Hong left, Chen Zier and the Tans made their way out of the station. Tan Wanxi looked exhausted, and Tan Zhitao also seemed worn out. The awkward reality was that there were no buses at this hour. While there were many unlicensed motorcycle taxis, those were clearly not an option for Tan Zhitao.
What to do? Chen Zier's thought was to take a taxi—the overnight journey had been exhausting enough. But after inquiring, Tan Zhitao learned that it was nearly twenty kilometers to Taiyuan Road. The taxi flag-fall rate was 10 yuan for the first three kilometers, and the total fare would likely approach 100 yuan. Meanwhile, the first bus would arrive in less than an hour. Without another word, Tan Zhitao led them to the bus stop to wait.
Chen Zier considered offering to pay for the taxi himself, but he held back. Navigating social interactions could be complex—some never mastered it in a lifetime. Yet sometimes, it was simple enough to be summed up in one principle: avoid causing embarrassment, both for oneself and others. If he casually paid for the taxi, even the thick-skinned Tan Zhitao would feel ashamed, and a young girl like Tan Wanxi would likely feel even more humiliated. Moreover, as the elder, Tan Zhitao would never let a junior pay. Knowing he was reluctant to spend the money, why force the issue?
Later, when Tan Zhitao learned that Chen Zier hadn't lacked the money at all, he greatly appreciated this subtle act of consideration. Mr. Lin Yutang, in his *"Ten Vulgarities of Society"*, listed the foremost as *"If a man has ten cents, he must clink them in his pocket."* Chen Zier wasn't arrogant, but merely reading about these ten vulgarities made them seem repulsive. It was better to stay far away from them. For instance, *"In every conversation, one must mention his influential relatives,"* or *"Upon meeting a beauty, one must urgently seek to take her to bed,"* or *"After conferring a small favor, one must broadcast it to everyone"*...
And so, Chen Zier paid the price for his decision—enduring a full hour at the bus stop.
By the time they reached Zhonghai University, it was almost 7 a.m., just right for breakfast. As the saying goes, the toils of travel are exhausting, and all the back-and-forth was quite draining. Chen Zier was hungry... and he assumed the father and daughter were too. Spotting a roadside stall near the university entrance, he suggested they sit down for a bowl of doufuhua (soft tofu pudding).
After sitting down, all three found their gaze drawn to the university's gate. The Taiyuan Road gate of Zhonghai University, compared to the increasingly grandiose gates of later years, could only be described as simple. Its main structure was a single-story brick-concrete construction with an overhanging eave. The wall was made of red brick, and the central section under the eave was whitewashed, bearing the four characters: **Zhonghai University**. Simple, yet impossible to look down upon—it even carried a sense of nobility.
Tan Zhitao looked at the elegant, classical-style gate opposite and said happily, "This is my first time seeing the famous gate of Zhonghai University."
Tan Wanxi's eyes also shone with hope as she gazed at the university. Whether now or in the future, no matter how many people mocked, *"What's the use of studying?"* the halo of a prestigious university remained dazzling. Chen Zier also felt his year of intense study had been worth it. Was university useless? Nonsense. If those who said that truly had the chance to study at Peking University or Tsinghua University, how many would actually refuse?
Tan Wanxi sighed, "Thinking about it now, I should have worked harder."
Tan Zhitao patted his daughter's head. "Learning doesn't stop after the college entrance exam. Just be diligent from now on. Zhonghai Normal University is also good."
"It's too late," Tan Wanxi said.
Chen Zier offered encouragement, "As long as you're alive, it's never too late."
Tan Wanxi shot him a sidelong glance. "Why bring life and death into this?"
Tan Zhitao laughed. "The words are crude, but the reasoning isn't wrong."
As they chatted, their doufuhua arrived. When the owner brought the bowls over, Chen Zier suddenly realized—it was a girl about his own age!
And she was an exceptionally beautiful girl!
Having lived through the internet age, Chen Zier had seen his share of beauties, but ones with such natural, unadorned grace were rare. She had an oval face like powdered goose-egg, large, expressive eyes that sparkled with life. Even in an apron, her figure was tall and slender. Her long hair cascaded down her back, simply tied with a rubber band. The phrase "white wrists congealed like frost and snow" probably described someone like her. Her skin was so fair it seemed to glow with a faint luminescence, perhaps overly pale, giving her an ethereal, delicate air, with a subtle, orchid-like fragrance about her.
It truly proved the saying: when someone is beautiful, even shoveling manure seems elegant! Just like this girl, simply selling doufuhua at a stall could attract numerous gazes.
Chen Zier couldn't help but steal a few more glances. As he calmed down, he noticed the girl barely looked at anyone, focusing solely on her tasks. The only time she looked up was to check for new customers or see if anyone was trying to leave without paying. During one such glance, her eyes briefly met Chen Zier's, but she quickly averted her gaze as if startled.
And in that brief moment of eye contact, Chen Zier felt her beauty diminish somewhat. This girl... lacked confidence.
The eyes are the windows to the soul; your pupils reflect your instincts. Whether you lack self-esteem, are confident, honest, or pretending, the eyes give it away. Some people mask it so often it becomes habit; others can't hide it and are easily read. Insecure eyes always dart away, always wander. And once a person lacks confidence, even the most beautiful face loses some of its appeal.
However, Chen Zier wasn't a guardian of worldly justice. He didn't have the ability to solve everyone's problems, nor did he feel an uncontrollable desire every time he saw a pretty woman. So, better to fill his stomach first.
After breakfast, a warm feeling settled in his belly, but combined with the muggy weather, it only made him more uncomfortable. Tan Zhitao beside him felt the same; he wiped the faint sweat from his forehead and said, "At my age, this stifling heat is even harder to bear. If it's going to rain, it should just rain properly, not just hang in the air like this."
Chen Zier glanced at the overcast sky; he could indeed feel rain was coming. "Let's go get registered soon. It'll be troublesome if it really starts pouring."
Tan Zhitao nodded, paid, and they left. As they parted, he said, "I have to head back this afternoon. Wait for us at the university gate at 11 a.m. I'll take you both for lunch. Wanxi is introverted and timid; this is her first time so far from home, I don't know if she'll adapt. Don't laugh, but her mother cried when she left."
"You two are from the same hometown, and your universities are so close. Our family has no relatives in Zhonghai, so I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye out for her in the future."
Chen Zier had no reason to refuse the lunch invitation. "You're too kind, Uncle Tan. Those away from home should help each other out."
Satisfied, Tan Zhitao left with his daughter. Once they were farther away, Tan Wanxi, feeling less shy alone with her father, asked, "Dad, we just met him. We don't even know what he's really like. How could you ask him to look after me? Besides, he's about my age, what can he do?"
Tan Zhitao patted his daughter's head affectionately. "I think that young man is quite good. Look, he came all this way without his parents seeing him off—that shows he's independent and has his own mind. He's certainly capable of looking out for you. As for his character... I sense he's quite upright. Even if there were any issues..." He thought further, "He's studying here, but his parents are still in Yueshui, right? There can't be many from Huaiyang City who get into Zhonghai University each year; we can easily check. He's clever and thoughtful; he'd realize that. But that's just a worst-case scenario..."
Tan Wanxi didn't think Chen Zier was a bad person either; they'd just known each other for such a short time.
"Don't worry, your old man is a good judge of character."
Meanwhile, after Chen Zier entered the campus gates, he saw a tall bronze statue of a chairman figure. Checking a roadside sign, he found he was on Guanghua Avenue. The avenue was lined with camphor trees, ginkgos, plane trees, and other plants he couldn't name, making the campus lush and green.
Further ahead, he saw teaching buildings in Romanesque architectural style. In front of them was a large flower bed with a stone slab in the center bearing two lines of red characters:
"**Broad learning and steadfast determination; earnest inquiry and reflection on things at hand.**"
Chen Zier thought: *This must be the school motto.*
After passing the teaching buildings and turning right, he reached Mingde Building. Chen Zier wasn't sure what this building was for, but he assumed it was important. On the right wall of the building's facade was inscribed:
"**Facing the new century, build Zhonghai University into a world-class socialist comprehensive university!**"
In the lower right corner was the signature of the General Secretary and the date: June 18, 1995.
Chen Zier couldn't help but be impressed. *Damn, prestigious universities really are different. Nothing like the third-rate university I attended in my last life, where even the mayor—no, not even the district head—ever visited!*
After wandering a bit more, Chen Zier found the registration area. The process was utterly mundane: sign his name, receive his dorm assignment, and get the key from the dorm auntie.
Zhonghai University's dormitories were divided into four areas: Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, and Bamboo. Chen Zier was assigned to Bamboo Garden, Building 6. The names sounded elegant, but the dorm conditions were just average. One side had bunk beds with desks underneath, two beds with six connected desks below; the other side had bunk beds top and bottom. Six people to a room.
Chen Zier was the first to arrive. While unpacking, he tidied up the room as well. The dorm faced the sun, which was good—a whole summer of exposure had left no strange odors.