Starting University

Three days later, the registration period at Shengyuan University ended.

Outside the gates, Xie Yunshu held on to Yan Wen and Mu Huai'an, reluctant to let them go, and reminded them of one thing after another.

"Huai'an, you're the older brother, so look after your little brother. Xiao Wen, call Mom if anything comes up."

"Got it, Mom!"

"Mom, I'll take good care of Xiao Wen."

Mu Xingfeng laughed. "All right, all right. They're only going to university. It's not like they're never coming back. What are you crying for?"

Xie Yunshu glared at him. "You don't understand. Xiao An has never left my side, and Xiao Wen only just came back. Now they're both leaving me to live on campus. How am I supposed to stop worrying?"

Yan Wen comforted her. "Mom, I'll take care of myself. How about this? I'll call you every day."

Mu Xingfeng patted both of them on the shoulders. "All right, go on in. Call home if anything happens."

The first thing they had to do after entering the university was take a placement exam. The top hundred would be assigned to the best classes, Classes One and Two. Those ranked below the top hundred through five hundred would go to Classes Three through Nine, while those below five hundred through the last of the fifteen hundred would go to Classes Eight through Fifteen.

Shengyuan only admitted fifteen hundred students each year.

The university had already assigned everyone their dorm rooms based on their entrance scores. Yan Wen was assigned Room 316 in Building A. It wasn't so high that going up and down the stairs every day would tire him out, and its location meant he wouldn't be disturbed by students coming and going.

Mu Huai'an wasn't so lucky. He was assigned to the top floor, the eighth, though fortunately, the dorm building had an elevator.

Yan Wen put all his belongings away, then lay on his bed playing games. There was no need to report to class that day; the placement exam was tomorrow.

Xiao Qi asked, "Host, the exam is tomorrow. Aren't you nervous?"

Yan Wen replied, "What is there to be nervous about? It's not like I don't know the material. Don't interrupt my game."

"All right. I'll take a break too, then."

By the time Yan Wen finished gaming, two hours had passed. He looked Xiang outside, where a little light still lingered.

It was already past six in the evening. Yan Wen decided to get something to eat at the cafeteria and called out several times in his mind before waking Xiao Qi.

"You machines sleep too?"

"You could think of it as sleeping. Are you going out, Host?"

"To get something to eat at the cafeteria."

There were quite a few students eating in the cafeteria, most of them newly arrived freshmen.

While Yan Wen was waiting in line, a boy behind him tapped him and spoke as though they were already friends. "Hey, you're in 316, right? I'm Tang Yun, from 317 next door. Want to team up and eat together?"

Yan Wen had never met someone who talked so much. For a moment, he couldn't get a word in. Only after the other boy finished did he nod. "Sure... okay."

Xiao Qi exclaimed, "Wow, Host, I've never met someone who talks this much either. I almost thought you two knew each other well."

Yan Wen gave a couple of awkward chuckles. "Now I've seen what being overly friendly can do."

Tang Yun kept chattering even as he ate. "Oh, right, I still don't know your name. How old are you? Where are you from? I'm from Yan Jing, and I'm nineteen."

Yan Wen said evenly, "Mu Yanwen. My family is from Weicheng. I'm eighteen this year."

"Then I'm older than you. From now on, I'm your big brother. Come to me if anything happens. I've got your back."

Yan Wen froze. Had he somehow acquired a big brother on his very first day at university?

Tang Yun grinned, showing his bright white teeth. "This meal's on your big brother!"

"Is... is that really okay? Are you sure?"

"What's wrong with it? Come on, let's head back to the dorms."

Tang Yun hooked an arm around Yan Wen's neck and set off, leaving Yan Wen no choice but to go along.

Inside, Tang Yun was overjoyed. Heaven knew he'd wanted to be a big brother for nineteen years, but his parents had said they only planned to have one child. He was the youngest in the family and had spent nineteen years calling everyone else his older brothers and sisters. Now it was finally his turn to be the big brother.

On their way back to the dorms, they ran into Mu Huai'an. His worried, wounded expression left Tang Yun utterly baffled.

"Xiao Wen, I was worried you'd forget to eat, so I went to get you. I didn't expect you to have already eaten."

Yan Wen gave a brief acknowledgment. "I was a little hungry, so I came by myself. I'll get food when I'm hungry. You don't need to call me."

Mu Huai'an asked, "Do you think I'm meddling? But Mom told me to take care of you. You've only just come here from a small county town. You must not be used to life here."

Tang Yun leaned close to Yan Wen's ear and whispered, "Is there something wrong with this guy's head?"

Yan Wen shook his head. "Maybe. I'm not a doctor, so I couldn't say."

Mu Huai'an sounded concerned, but his tone was condescending. "Xiao Wen, this isn't that little county town of yours. If you do something that disgraces the Mu Family and embarrasses Mom and Dad, even I won't be able to help you."

Yan Wen didn't spare him so much as a glance and walked away, chatting and laughing with Tang Yun.

Humiliated, Mu Huai'an clenched his fists in anger. His gaze darkened as he watched Yan Wen's retreating back. "Yan Wen, the Mu Family can only have one young master, and that's me. Don't even think about taking my place."

Back in his room, Yan Wen flopped face down on his bed with his limbs spread out. "Xiao Qi, look up that Tang Yun's information for me."

"Of course, Host. Tang Yun, nineteen, the only child of his parents in the Tang Family of Yan Jing. He has four older brothers and sisters and is the youngest."

"I see. No wonder he's so determined to be a big brother. He's a little too enthusiastic, though. I can barely handle it."

As he chatted with Xiao Qi, the doorbell rang. It was Tang Yun, holding an elegant food box. "My mom made these desserts herself. Here's a box for you."

Yan Wen took the box. "Want to come in for a bit?"

"Sure!"

They ate desserts and chatted, leaving the door open without a thought.

"Xiao Wen..."

Yan Wen looked back and immediately regretted it. He should have shut the door earlier.

Tang Yun spoke without mincing words. "You again? Who bullied you? Why do you look like you're about to cry?"

Yan Wen held back a laugh. Thank goodness you're here.

Mu Huai'an spoke cautiously. "I... I came to see whether Xiao Wen was settling in and needed any help. Mom told me to take good care of him, but I feel like he doesn't need me."

Tang Yun waved a hand, indicating that Mu Huai'an could leave. "With me here as his big brother, you don't need to worry about A Yan. Go get some rest."

Neither of them noticed when Mu Huai'an left. Yan Wen asked, "Why did you suddenly start calling me A Yan?"

Tang Yun explained, "Your family probably all calls you Xiao Wen, right? Nobody calls you A Yan, so that's what I went with. It rolls off the tongue too."

"That's true."

Tang Yun stayed until past nine before returning to his own room. Yan Wen showered and was drying his hair when Xiao Qi said, "Host, there's some juicy drama happening on the sports field at four tomorrow afternoon!"

"What kind?"

"A love triangle!"

"That exciting? Give me a quick rundown."

"Two guys and a girl, but it's not as simple as you're imagining, Host. Go watch it tomorrow, and you'll see."

"All right. Juicy drama is best enjoyed live. Knowing now would spoil the fun. Time for bed."

"Good night, Host!"