Chaotic Times

As class let out, the hallways were filled with students hurrying back and forth.

Yet whenever they passed this area, they unconsciously slowed down.

Tang Song, dressed in a suit and carrying himself with exceptional poise, stood out sharply in the youthful yet somewhat immature university environment.

The female students who had come out early to see the Male God wore a variety of expressions as they watched the scene unfold.

Qian Lele was actually rather well-known in their department.

Photos of her running a stall had previously been posted on the school forum, drawing quite a bit of attention.

Because she lived frugally and worked part-time every day, someone had started calling her "Cinderella."

Beyond the praise, there was naturally an undertone of teasing.

Some of the girls in their major, in particular, were not very fond of this attention-grabbing "Cinderella."

Watching the scene before them, they could not help feeling somewhat complicated.

Since they were close enough, after their initial shock, Shi Xueqi and Li Wenjia could not resist secretly studying the Male God standing right in front of them.

Then they met a pair of eyes carrying a gentle smile.

They were unforgettable eyes—clear black and white, bright and sparkling.

The two girls' faces instantly turned as red as ripe apples.

Shi Xueqi stammered, "Lele, is this your friend?"

"Hello, classmates. I'm Lele's friend, Tang Song." His voice carried a reassuring calmness.

"Hello—I'm Lele's classmate, Shi Xueqi." "Hello, Brother Tang Song. I'm Li Wenjia."

The two hurriedly bent over in greeting, looking awkward and flustered.

They were both students in the Computer Science Department. Their looks could only be considered average, and they had never encountered such an outstanding guy before. Their palms were sweating now.

After chatting briefly, Tang Song smiled and nodded. "Then we'll be going first. Bye bye."

"Bye bye~" "Bye bye."

"Xueqi, Wenjia, bye bye."

Qian Lele said goodbye to her two classmates, then followed closely behind Tang Song as they passed through the bustling crowd toward the stairwell.

She could feel countless gazes fixed on her at that moment.

There was envy, curiosity, and complicated emotions that were hard to decipher.

She was not someone who liked drawing attention, and she felt extremely uncomfortable in this situation.

As the two figures gradually disappeared, murmurs and whispers began spreading through the crowd.

When they walked out of the Teaching Building's Main Door, the slightly cool Evening Breeze washed over them, cooling their burning Cheeks a little.

Looking at Tang Song beside her, breathing in his scent, Qian Lele squeezed her fingers hard.

Only after feeling the distinct pain did she confirm that this was not a dream.

Ever since the Qixi Festival, she had not seen Tang Song for a month. They had only caught a brief glimpse of each other at Glimmer Coffee's branch in the old city, without even exchanging more than a few words.

During that time, she had started school, moved dormitories, made new friends, and more.

She actually had a lot she wanted to tell him, and she also wanted to chat with him.

Sometimes, after learning something new, seeing beautiful scenery, or gaining some insight, she would want to talk to him about it. She would take the Route 31 Bus, pass thirteen stops, and arrive at Yanjing Sky City.

But she did not dare disturb him.

She could only silently hope that he would suddenly appear before her like he had today.

"Lele, it's been twenty days since school started after summer vacation, right?" Tang Song suddenly asked.

Qian Lele hurriedly pulled back her thoughts and said softly, "Yes, exactly twenty days."

Tang Song turned toward her with a smile, his gaze bright. "You're a third-year student now. How does it feel?"

Qian Lele pursed her Lips, trying hard to organize her thoughts. "There are a lot more specialized courses, and they're harder too.

"Unlike freshman and sophomore years, what we're studying now is more about preparing for future employment. Graduate Entrance Examination, finding work, civil service exams... Everyone has been talking about those things lately."

"Mm." Tang Song Nodded lightly. "Third year is an important turning point in university. Your pace of life will definitely change. Are you adapting well?"

"I don't really feel much different. I've always worked part-time, and especially now that I'm doing Frontend work, it's basically like being half-employed."

The two walked side by side along a small path through campus, chatting quietly.

Along the way, Tang Song spotted many familiar scenes from the "Learning God Dungeon"—the Cloud Library, Leisure Forest, and Bloody Battle Basketball Court.

Then he looked at Qian Lele, the "Piggy Bank," beside him, and a trace of wistfulness flashed through his eyes.

That half month at Teachers' University had truly been an unforgettable memory for him.

Students streamed past around them, and from time to time, someone cast them an odd look.

Qian Lele lowered her head to watch her toes as she told Tang Song about her recent life and the things she had learned. Her Cheeks flushed with nervousness and joy.

After Glimmer Coffee completed its financing, it established its own technical department. She was currently working part-time as a frontend developer, with a fixed monthly salary of 2,500 yuan.

She did not need to clock in, and the workload was not heavy. It was the kind of part-time job every student dreamed of.

Occasionally, Tang Song's side would also ask her to help build pages and write JS interactions, paying her per assignment.

As for her work as a café baker, she only went two or three times a week now, still earning fifteen yuan per hour.

Combined, the three jobs brought her over 4,000 yuan per month after taxes, already equivalent to a full-time employee's income.

However, she had heard that Glimmer Coffee had begun building its own central kitchen and would eliminate most of the baking work at its branches in the future.

Since the central kitchen would be too far from school, she definitely would not be able to work there part-time then.

Even so, she was already very satisfied.

After covering her own living expenses, she could still take good care of her family and let her mother relax a little.

In the autumn campus of Teachers' University, the trees were no longer lush with foliage.

Sparse leaves trembled in the wind, making soft rustling sounds.

When they reached a three-way intersection,

Qian Lele pursed her Lips and asked, "Brother, where are we going to eat?"

"Mm..." Tang Song thought for a moment, then turned to her. "How about the canteen? Your treat."

"Okay! Let's go this way. I just added money to my Campus Card, so you can eat whatever you want!" Qian Lele's eyes instantly lit up.

"Then I'll let you spend big for once today." Tang Song smiled and Followed her down the path to the left.

It was an overcast evening, and the sky had already gone completely dark.

After they had walked only a few steps, the Streetlights on both sides began lighting up one after another.

Dim yellow light spilled over them, stretching their shadows long and intertwining them.

Qian Lele walked briskly ahead to lead the way, occasionally looking back at Tang Song with an irrepressible smile at the Corner of the mouth. She had always wanted to do something for him, but she knew he lacked nothing.

Being able to treat him to a meal made her exceptionally happy.

Laughing and chatting, the two arrived at the familiar First Canteen.

Unlike the quietness of summer vacation, the canteen was now bustling. The whole building was brightly lit, and every food stall was open.

Qian Lele expertly led Tang Song up to the third floor, where Ningwei Creative Restaurant was located.

It mainly served local flavors and trendy specialty snacks. It was more expensive than downstairs, but also tastier.

Qian Lele pointed at the different stalls as she introduced them, asking about his preferences.

Qian Lele was very generous. Anything Tang Song showed interest in, she immediately paid for with her card.

Diao Zha Bing, Ke Fen, Rou Jia Mo, Stone Pot Rice, and drinks.

After finding a window seat, Qian Lele handed Tang Song a pair of Chopsticks. "Try it. Is it good?"

Tang Song tasted the rice noodles in his bowl. The rich broth slid over his tongue, bringing a burst of savory fragrance.

Then he took a bite of the Diao Zha Bing stuffed with potato slices and ham. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. "It's really delicious."

Qian Lele's eyes immediately curved into crescents. "I'm glad you like it."

She had hardly ever come to the third-floor canteen, but she had always heard her classmates say it was delicious, so she had brought Tang Song here.

Seeing that he truly liked it, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

"Eat the Stone Pot Rice first. We'll trade later." Tang Song Pushed the stone pot toward her, then placed a bottle of drink In front of her.

Upon Hearing the word "trade," Qian Lele's face reddened. She murmured, "Mm," then lowered her head and began to Eat a meal.

Dating was extremely common in university, especially at a teachers' college where there were many more girls than boys.

She often saw couples buy two meals and then exchange them.

That intimate gesture made her a little shy.

The canteen was filled with a roar of voices.

The two chatted as they ate.

In such a warm and lively setting, Qian Lele seemed to become more cheerful as well, displaying the youthful energy a Girl her age should have.

At seven thirty in the evening,

the two walked out of the canteen side by side and headed toward the Female Dormitory.

As Qian Lele looked at the dormitory building gradually approaching, her eyes filled with deep reluctance.

An hour and a half had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.

She knew Tang Song was busy. It was a workday, and he still had work tomorrow. It was already not easy for him to come see her.

But for the first time, she felt "unsatisfied." It still did not feel like enough.

She wanted to stay with him longer and do more things together.

Thinking that after this parting, it might be another month before she saw him again, made her feel particularly miserable.

Although she deliberately slowed her steps, the Female Dormitory still appeared before her little by little.

She Turned around and Looked at the boy across from her.

Under the soft light, his figure seemed slightly blurry and haloed.

"Thump thump..." Qian Lele heard her own heartbeat again.

A rush of heat surged into her head.

"Brother!" Her voice came out somewhat loud because she was too excited.

Tang Song raised his brows in surprise. "What's wrong, Lele?"

Qian Lele bit her plump, full lower lip. "I-I... I haven't been to the Pedestrian Street for Several days. C-could you spare a little time to go walk around with me? And Sister Wen, who sells grilled sausages, has been talking about you too..."

Her voice grew quieter and quieter as she lowered her head to stare at her toes.

She felt ashamed of her willfulness and selfishness.

"Uh..." Tang Song blinked, reached out, and rubbed her hair. "What are you thinking about? I didn't come here just to have a meal with you. It's not even eight yet. Hurry up and put your backpack back in the dorm, then come take a walk around with me."

Hearing that, Qian Lele abruptly Looked up, a delighted smile appearing on her face. "Okay, Brother, wait for me.

"I'll be right back!"

With that, Qian Lele Turned around and ran toward the dormitory building.

Watching her graceful retreating figure, Tang Song shook his head with a Light laugh, an inexplicable emotion stirring in his heart.

The door to Dorm 201 was Pushed open forcefully.

Qian Lele ran inside, set her backpack on the bed, and began rummaging through her locker.

Wu Siqi, who was lying on her bed playing with her Mobile Phone, asked curiously, "What's wrong, Lele? What's got you in such a hurry?"

"Nothing. I'm looking for some clothes." Qian Lele replied as she took a clean, neat white shirt from her locker,

along with a pair of skinny jeans.

She drew the dorm curtains and quickly took off the autumn shirt she was wearing, beginning to change clothes.

When she had been with Tang Song earlier, she had actually felt very insecure because she was dressed so casually.

But she truly did not have much decent autumn clothing. This was the only outfit that was fairly good, specially bought from a store because she sometimes had to attend meetings at Glimmer Coffee headquarters.

Seeing her roommate rush around in such a frenzy, Wu Siqi's eyes lit up with gossip. She sat up on her bed and asked in astonishment, "Lele, you aren't going on a date with a guy, are you?"

"Ah!" Qian Lele cried out softly, her face instantly turning red. "I-I'm just taking a walk around nearby..."

She stammered, not even knowing what she was saying herself.

Wu Siqi smacked her lips. "Looks like I guessed right. Sigh, what's so good about dating? School only started twenty days ago, Jing Rong got a boyfriend, and now even a pure little girl like you has fallen into it."

Upon Hearing the words "dating," Qian Lele's body trembled. She hurriedly denied it, "No, it's not what you think. We're just friends."

"Fine, fine, just friends! Haha." Wu Siqi smiled, then became worried again. "Sigh, forget it. I won't worry about your business anymore. My own affairs are still a complete mess."

Qian Lele asked quietly, "Sister Siqi, haven't you found an internship yet?"

"Not yet." Wu Siqi Sighed. "It's too hard to find a good company. The few places I interviewed with weren't suitable."

"You'll find a suitable one eventually. Take it slow." Qian Lele comforted her, but did not say anything more.

Teacher Jiang had specially helped her switch dormitories so she could have a better environment.

However, everyone else here was a fourth-year student, facing the pressure of graduate school and employment.

Of course, these Senior Schoolmates were all very nice, and the atmosphere was much better than before.

After putting on her shirt, she untied her ponytail and carefully combed through her hair.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Qian Lele pursed her Lips. After hesitating for a moment, she finally took out the tube of Chanel lipstick hidden in the inner pocket of her backpack.

She carefully applied it to her Lips.

Since she had never worn makeup before, her movements were awkward and clumsy.

After finishing, Qian Lele picked up her Mobile Phone, said goodbye to Wu Siqi, and hurried outside.

As she neared the dormitory entrance, she slowed down again and timidly touched her lipstick in the glass reflection.

The moment she walked out of the dormitory and saw Tang Song, her heart began accelerating uncontrollably.

He stood on the curb with his head lowered, looking at his Mobile Phone.

His suit jacket was casually draped over his arm. Under the dim yellow Streetlight, he appeared especially tall and straight, giving off a mature yet warm air.

Qian Lele took a deep breath and Approached him.

Noticing her, Tang Song Looked up and Turned around to face her.

A gentle smile appeared on his face. "You changed clothes? You look beautiful."

The simple white shirt rested lightly against her body, outlining her graceful figure.

Its collar was slightly open, accentuating her slender, graceful neck and delicate face.

Her jeans tightly wrapped around her long Legs, their smooth lines fully displaying her youthful vitality.

A charm unique to female college students lingered around her.

Qian Lele felt a little embarrassed under his gaze, and a blush once again spread across her cheeks.

"Um—what I wore earlier was too casual, so I changed into something a little more formal." She lowered her head, her voice so soft it nearly melted into the night.

Tang Song stepped closer and reached out to stroke her thick, long hair, his movements natural and intimate. "You look very good. It suits you too."

He spoke with complete sincerity. Uncontainable joy flashed in Qian Lele's eyes, and her suspended heart finally settled.

No girl disliked looking beautiful, and she was no exception.

"Thank you, Brother." She gathered her courage and secretly glanced up at him, only to find that his gaze was still fixed on her.

She hurriedly lowered her head, her heartbeat speeding up, not daring to look at him any longer.

"Let's go. We'll take a look around the Pedestrian Street Night Market."

"Mm!" Qian Lele nodded vigorously, following at his side as she tried her best to calm the excitement in her heart.

Just then, her left hand was suddenly enveloped by a warm, smooth touch.

Qian Lele lowered her gaze and saw Tang Song's slender, fair hand.

Her body trembled violently, and she instinctively tried to pull away.

Of course, it was not because she rejected him, but because of her inferiority complex.

Because she often worked part-time jobs, her palms were not soft or fair at all. They were even somewhat rough, and her knuckles had become slightly misshapen from long hours of typing and operating tools.

She was afraid that such contact would make Tang Song uncomfortable, and even more afraid that he would be disappointed in her because of it.

Sensing her slight stiffness, Tang Song tilted his head slightly and tightened his fingers a little, holding her hand more firmly.

Qian Lele bit her lip and stopped struggling, but her heartbeat grew faster and faster.

The campus was not quiet at night. Conversations, laughter and playfulness, and shouts rang out without end.

Yet her ears seemed cut off from all the noise.

Only the rustling of the wind through the leaves and the sound of her own heartbeat softly echoed in the air.

At night, Pedestrian Street was like a dazzling river of stars, lights scattered throughout it, illuminating the bustling crowds and vibrant scene.

The start of the university semester, combined with the crisp and pleasant autumn weather, filled the entire night market with incomparable vitality and life.

The scent of cumin from barbecue stalls, the cloying sweetness of sugar-roasted chestnuts, and the rich aroma of Spicy Hot Pot broth—countless tempting fragrances drifted through the air.

Every stall was surrounded by people. Hawking cries and laughter rose one after another. It was noisy without feeling chaotic, instead full of the warm bustle of everyday life.

Tang Song held Qian Lele's hand as they weaved lightly through the crowd.

Sometimes, they stopped before a stall to pick out little trinkets; other times, they ducked into small shops by the roadside to enjoy some quiet.

Qian Lele seemed especially happy tonight. She even bought small things like hair ties, socks, and hair clips.

Unfortunately, Sister Wen had not set up her stall today.

Tang Song bought a cumin-and-sesame-flavored Starch Sausage from another stall and shared it with Qian Lele.

The two of them wandered around the night market for a full two hours. Only after leaving Pedestrian Street did they slow their pace slightly.

Afterward, they detoured into the small grove at Teachers' University and took a lap along the winding paths.

By the time they returned to the dormitory building, it was already close to ten at night.

The chill of the autumn night had grown even more intense, and the breeze carried a hint of cold.

"Get some rest early. You still have class tomorrow." Tang Song handed her the plastic bag he was carrying.

Qian Lele nodded. "Be careful on your way back, Brother. Be safe."

Her voice was light and warm, especially the way she addressed him as "Brother." It sounded especially pleasant.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Tang Song's lips. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes burning as he looked at her. "Call me that a few more times."

"Ah—" Qian Lele froze, not understanding what he meant.

"I mean the form of address," Tang Song added, a teasing smile flashing in his eyes.

Qian Lele's cheeks reddened. She called softly, "Brother—Brother—"

"Good girl, goodbye. Go back and sleep early. I'll come see you again when I have time. Of course, if you're willing, you can come find me anytime."

Before he had even finished speaking, Tang Song reached out and gently wrapped an arm around Cinderella's soft body, then kissed her flushed cheek.

The scent of shampoo and skincare products, mixed with a young girl's fragrance, instantly filled his nose, fresh and sweet.

Qian Lele stood there blankly, her heart pounding like a drum. Even the ground beneath her feet seemed to have become soft.

"What's going on, Lele? I heard you went on a date?"

"Quick, tell us! Who's the guy? Is he from our school?"

"It's hard to imagine that such an innocent, adorable girl like Lele would actually date someone."

"Do you have a photo? Let us see!"

Qian Lele had barely pushed open the door to Room 201 when several senior schoolmates immediately crowded around her, firing questions one after another.

Qian Lele denied it a few times in a flustered, shy manner, then hurried into the Restroom with her washbasin.

The instant she closed the door, she let out a long breath and began using the toilet and washing up as usual.

She quietly climbed onto her upper bunk, drew the bed curtain, and shut herself away from the outside world.

Qian Lele took an exquisite makeup bag from beside her pillow, pulled out several skincare samples, and began her skincare routine somewhat clumsily.

Toner, eye cream, face cream.

These things, including the makeup bag, had all been given to her by her friend Qianqian.

Qianqian had said they were trial sizes from a beauty salon and did not cost anything.

Qian Lele had specifically looked them up. Though they were only samples, none of them were cheap, and she had always been reluctant to use them.

The reason she had unhesitatingly given Qianqian the pickled vegetables last time was also to express her gratitude for these gifts.

After finishing her simple skincare routine, she hugged the cute husky plush pillow and sat blankly against the wall.

Her fingers gently touched the cheek that had been kissed. It seemed to still retain the warmth of Tang Song's lips.

Everything that had happened tonight replayed before her eyes like a movie.

At some point, the dorm lights went out, and the senior schoolmates' laughter gradually faded.

The night flowed silently onward, while her thoughts spread unchecked.

Qian Lele lay on her bed, silently feeling the chaos of being in love alone.