Neither arrogant nor humble, Tong Jing stood quietly, gazing into his eyes, unwavering. Sometimes a person can be too calm, and it's really cruel, whether to oneself or others.

  "You can rest, but let's go eat first, and then you can rest!" Facing such a woman, Bai Yang really lost miserably. He willingly gave in, trying not to make the atmosphere too awkward, because he knew that if he rushed Tong Jun, she would intentionally avoid him. She was like this when they were young, and maybe still is now.

  "I'm not hungry, you go back first." Tong Jing's face really showed fatigue, unwilling to talk more, like a solitary island, refusing everyone's landing.

  He stood still, unable to utter a word. At this moment, others had already closed their doors and were driving away customers. He couldn't stay even if he wanted to. His hands fell weakly to his thighs, then clenched into fists in confusion, shaking his head repeatedly. Turning around, he stormed off, but after just a few steps, he thought about turning back to take another look. However, the man's dignity wouldn't allow it, and he hastily descended the stairs.

  Tong Xuan let out a sigh and leaned her head against the wall, staring blankly at the sky. She had to work harder in order to appear nonchalant.

  Back to the dormitory, do whatever you want, act as usual.

  Tong's mother helped her spread the quilt while casually asking, "Has Baiyang returned? Is everything okay between you and Baiyang?"

  "Mom, are you hungry? Let's go eat." Tong Jing smiled calmly, like a low-key blooming jasmine flower, avoiding the topic and intentionally changing the subject.

  "Xiao Yun..." Mama Tong put down the quilt in her hand, sat sideways on the edge of the bed, patted the spot beside her and motioned for Xiao Yun to come sit.

  "Mom... I'm hungry..." Tong Jing touched her own stomach, saying somewhat petulantly. She didn't want to talk about this anymore, talking only made her more annoyed.

  "Alright then, I'll make your bed first and we can go eat afterwards." Tong's mom smiled helplessly, got up to tidy up the bed, and then took Tong Jing down to have dinner.

  They said they were hungry and wanted to go eat, but with all the delicious food in front of them, Tong Jing didn't have any appetite at all.

  "Why aren't you eating? Weren't you just saying you were hungry?" asked Mama Tong, as she served Tong Jing some food. "Come on, eat this!"

  Tong Jing chewed a mouthful of vegetables, intentionally furrowed her brow, pouted and shouted, "This... dish... is... not... delicious, can't get used to eating it!"

  "Really? I think it's not bad!" The mother doubted and tasted a few more dishes, indeed feeling that they were not bad. However, seeing her daughter's unappetizing expression, she was worried and continued to say, "I think it's not that the dish doesn't suit your taste, but you're just not in the mood to eat. Be good, even if you don't want to eat, you have to eat a few bites, your stomach is innocent."

  Tong Jing had no choice but to stuff rice into her mouth. She was always an obedient child, especially when it came to listening to her mother's words.

  "Xiao Xuan, tell Mom the truth, are you and Bai Yang boyfriend and girlfriend?" Tong Mama scooped a spoonful of soup into a bowl and handed it to Tong Xuan, asking with concern.

  "Yes!" Tong Jing didn't raise his head, still chewing on his food, and replied in a low voice.

  "So why did you just say it wasn't? Were you afraid I'd object? Mom isn't that old-fashioned, and with someone in Beijing taking care of you, mom is still very reassured."

  "Because... because... I like... another... boy!" Tong Jing raised her head, hiding the unknown heartache in her beautiful big eyes, quiet and sorrowful, using a lie to cover up the truth, acting it out perfectly, as if she really had a secret crush on a boy.

  "Is that boy better than Bai Yang?" Mama Tong nodded as if she understood and continued to ask faintly.

  "Mom, can't you ask less? Say something else, you're going back to Hangzhou tomorrow, and it's hard to see you again in the future."

  "Alright, alright, don't ask, don't ask. I know you girls are shy and easily embarrassed. Don't worry, I'll come to school often to see you. Your father's case has been transferred to Beijing for trial, so I need to run back and forth. Are you afraid you won't see me? You also need to learn to take care of yourself, remember to go to Dr. Hu's place for treatment on time, and try to speak fluently by the next time I come...". As she spoke, Tong Mama suddenly felt a surge of emotions, feeling reluctant to part with her, treating Tong Jing like her own daughter. After finishing her last sentence, her eyes were already moist.

  Tong Jing nodded cleverly, moving the stool closer to her mother's side, and comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself, Dad will be fine over there, everything will be alright."

  Tong Jing's side is filled with deep affection, while Bai Yang's side is gloomy and depressing, lying on the bed in a "big" shape, staring blankly at the pale ceiling, with half of his face shrouded in darkness. Today should be considered as the first quarrel with Tong Jing. It turns out that getting along really can be as complicated as a romantic drama, not smooth sailing. Damn it, I've encountered such an evil thing too! But where is the problem? It's like an unsolvable mystery, leaving me feeling bewildered, disoriented, and uncomfortable.

  The next day, I went through the classes in a daze, listlessly preparing to return to my dormitory. Along the way, I found that many girls seemed to be stealing glances at me, but I was too lazy to pay attention and continued walking forward.

  Sometimes you can still hear the girls whispering and discussing in a low voice, "This boy seems to be a freshman too. There are many excellent handsome boys among this year's freshmen. Yang Pu from the Civil Engineering Department, and another one who is said to be an American-born Chinese overseas student, from the Finance Department, Gong something?"

  Gong Shengkai.

  "Right, right, right, Gong Shengkai, I remember now, it was him, and that other guy from the architecture department, I know he's from the architecture department but I haven't gotten his name yet."

  "No matter who he is, he's so handsome! He's so handsome that you don't dare to approach him. I feel like I've aged, if only I were two years younger!"

  "No big deal, you can write BL, a love triangle between three beautiful men, how interesting is that, don't you think?"

  Bai Yang heard Yang Pu's name and couldn't help but smile as he walked, thinking it was interesting. In any ranking of handsome guys, Yang Pu would always be included, and so would he himself. But when he heard the words "BL", his face immediately fell. He remembered how in high school, there were girls who wrote fanfiction about him and Yang Pu together, which made his skin crawl with goosebumps. What he hated most was fujoshi (rotten girls) who would fantasize about two normal men being together, especially when they thought of him that way, it made him want to slap them. I'm straight, not gay, okay?

  This little episode made Bai Yang's mood even more depressed, and he couldn't help but sigh at the emotional views of women these days. He really didn't understand why, if men were all paired with each other, then these leftover women would be even less likely to get married. They were all just idle and had nothing better to do!

  "Hum, it turns out that our Ba Shao Ye is really not willing to let these rotten women have their way. But who made you and Yang Pu look so handsome? Can't bear to give you two to other women, can only fantasize about the two of you being together, at least it can be a psychological comfort, right?"

  He walked a few more steps forward, and suddenly felt that the name he had just heard was somewhat familiar. Gong Shengkai? Gong Shengkai? Gong Shengkai? Where did I hear it before? Hmm... why can't I remember? Suddenly, it dawned on him: his surname is Gong, same as Old Man Gong's! Ah, yes! He's Old Man Gong's grandson!!!!!!

  Grandpa Gong once said he had a grandson about my age, and that he would introduce us when the opportunity arose. What a coincidence! It turns out Grandpa Gong's grandson is now studying at Tsinghua University. This world really is too small!

  Just then, Yangpu called Baiyang and asked if he was free to play pool tonight.

  Haiyang thought for a moment and since he had nothing else to do in the evening, he agreed.

  That billiard room is almost five-star level, the facilities inside are almost on par with international competitions, and of course, the price isn't cheap either.

  When Bo Yang arrived, Yang Pu had already started the game with Su Yiran and several other brothers. They were all childhood friends from the same hospital, and their ages were not much different. Seeing Bo Yang coming, they turned around and came forward to greet him without exception.

  Yang Pu still held the cue stick attached to the table, striking the ball with an exceptionally focused expression, and cleanly pocketing it. "Wow" The surrounding area was filled with applause, Yang Pu stood up, one hand supporting himself on the pool table, slightly curling up the corner of his mouth as he looked at Bo Yang, "Don't you need to accompany Tong Xuan today? I originally thought you wouldn't come."

  As soon as everyone heard the two words "Tong Jing", they all smiled ambiguously and said, "Hey, Bai Yang, you're really not loyal enough. Tong MM has come to Beijing, but you didn't bring her to meet us brothers. That's not loyal enough."

  Bo Yang hummed and smiled, didn't answer, directly took the ball stick from Su Yiran's hand, looked at Yang Pu, "I'll play a game with you——"

  "Alright, but let's make it interesting by betting on something. Otherwise, it's too boring!" Yang Pu lazily jumped onto the billiard table and asked with a relaxed tone.

  "Whatever you want—" Bai Yang wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, looking rather nonchalant.

  "Ah, but you said it yourself! If I win, bring Tong Jun over and let everyone take a look!" Yang Pu's words were cut off as the crowd began to applaud and cheer, raising their hands in agreement.

  "If I lose—" Yang Pu continued saying.

  "If you lose, bring Tong Jun here!" Bai Yang raised his head and cut in coldly, his expression completely serious, not like he was joking at all.