Setting off for university

The long vacation finally came to an end.

August 30 was registration day for new students at Cloudsea University.

Li Jinqiu got up early that morning to help her son pack.

As the saying went, dumplings before departure, noodles upon arrival. The couple had made the dumplings the night before.

The filling was pork and scallion, their son's favorite.

To see his son off to university, Chen Jianye had arranged to swap shifts with a coworker that day.

Seeing his wife cooking dumplings alone in the kitchen, he noticed her secretly wiping away tears as she worked.

Chen Jianye couldn't help scolding her in a low voice.

"What are you crying for? This is a wonderful thing. Our son's going places. You should be smiling."

Li Jinqiu wiped the corners of her eyes.

"He's never traveled far from home before..."

"All right, all right. He's old enough now. We should have learned to let go long ago."

"With a mother who spoils him like you do, he'll never amount to much."

Li Jinqiu shot her husband a fierce glare.

"As if you don't spoil him! Who was worrying all last night about whether he'd be safe on the road, fretting and insisting on going with him?"

Exposed by his wife, Chen Jianye flushed.

He glared fiercely at her.

"Enough. He's up. Hurry and wipe your eyes. Don't let him notice."

At breakfast, Li Jinqiu sat beside him, unable to eat. She just kept reminding her son about one thing after another.

"I sewed your tuition money into the lining of your clothes. Make sure you keep it on you."

"Keep your tuition and living expenses separate. Hold your backpack in your lap on the bus, and don't talk to strangers..."

"The weather will turn cold soon. Remember to wear long johns..."

"And make sure you get along with your classmates."

"Especially your roommates. Don't get into any fights..."

Li Jinqiu went on and on, while Chen Fan kept his head down and ate, answering with absentminded murmurs.

Honestly, in his previous life, Chen Fan would have found his mother's nagging tedious and irritating.

But after experiencing the pain of losing loved ones, he felt nothing but happiness now.

"All right, enough!"

Beside them, Chen Jianye couldn't help frowning.

"You've been going on so long that your son's full just from listening. Can't you say something important?"

Li Jinqiu glared at her husband.

"Then let's hear something important from you."

Chen Jianye looked at his son and reminded him.

"If you run short of living expenses, make sure you let us know."

Li Jinqiu immediately caught on.

"Yes, yes, exactly."

"If you don't have enough money, tell me. I'll go to the post office and send you some."

"If anything comes up, call your second aunt. Your dad's already called someone to install a landline. Once it's ready, I'll have your second aunt give you the number..."

"Yes, Mom, Dad, I've got it all."

Chen Fan looked up at his parents with a smile.

"Don't worry. I'll definitely have enough money."

"And I've already made plans. Once I'm settled at university, I'll find a part-time job alongside my studies to get some experience."

Li Jinqiu looked worried. "A part-time job? Make sure nobody scams you..."

Chen Jianye shot his wife a glare.

"Enough. Can't you say something positive?"

Then he turned back to his son.

"Give the part-time job some more thought. Your mom and I may be poor, but we can still afford to put you through university."

"Your job right now is to study hard."

Chen Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he knew better than to argue about something like this.

So he nodded vaguely to show he understood.

His parents went on with a few more reminders.

At last, Chen Fan finished two plates of dumplings, and it was time to leave.

Li Jinqiu was still a little worried.

"Fan, are you sure you don't need your dad to go with you?"

Chen Fan smiled and shook his head.

"I really don't."

"Mom, Dad, look how old I am already. If I still need my parents with me just to register for university, how will I ever amount to anything?"

"University is when I should become independent and learn to stand on my own. I've decided to start now."

Seeing that his mother still looked worried, Chen Fan could only reassure her with a smile.

"Besides, Mom, I won't be alone. There's Guo Shuai, remember?"

"He's going to university in Yunhai too. We'll travel together."

"Our son's right."

Chen Jianye looked at him with approval.

He had the distinct feeling that his son had finally grown up.

Even so, he couldn't resist quietly reminding Chen Fan one last time to stay safe on the journey.

Chen Fan didn't have much luggage: one large suitcase and a backpack.

Apart from a quilt, he hadn't brought any dorm supplies.

When they left, his father, Chen Jianye, carried the suitcase, while his mother, Li Jinqiu, held his backpack.

Chen Fan followed behind them and locked the courtyard gate.

They walked down the road and eventually reached the bus stop on the village road.

Along the way, they ran into plenty of familiar neighbors.

"Off to school, Fan?"

"A university student now! I heard it's a prestigious university, too..."

The villagers always greeted them warmly, and each time, Chen Jianye would smile and chat with them for a moment.

"Seeing my son off to university."

"That's right. University's starting, so I'm seeing him off..."

Though he spoke casually, Chen Fan could tell this was probably one of the proudest moments of his father's life.

When the bus to the county town arrived, Chen Jianye loaded the suitcase aboard, and Li Jinqiu handed their son his backpack.

Holding his backpack, Chen Fan waved to them.

"Mom, Dad, head home. I'm off."

Li Jinqiu's eyes reddened.

"Stay safe on the road. Call your second aunt's house when you get there."

"Okay, I will."

As the bus pulled away, Chen Fan could see his parents through the window, still standing by the roadside with their hands raised, waving.

His eyes reddened, and tears nearly spilled over.

Silver strands had already appeared in his mother's hair, and his father's back had begun to stoop...

Their son had grown up, but the years had bent his parents' backs.

Watching their figures recede into the distance, Chen Fan silently told himself.

Mom, Dad, don't worry. In this life, I'll make sure you have the happiest life possible.

In his previous life, his parents had died too early to enjoy the life their son could have given them. That had always been one of Chen Fan's deepest regrets.

In this life, he would never allow that regret to happen again.

A faint melancholy accompanied him all the way to the county town's main bus station.

Guo Shuai was already waiting there.

His father had driven him over.

To travel with Chen Fan for registration, he had flatly refused his parents' offer to drive him to Yunhai.

"Come on, Fan, what took you so long? I've nearly smoked a whole pack."

Now that he was heading to university, he finally didn't have to sneak around to smoke anymore.

His face was alight with excitement, like a bird released from its cage.

"Come on, come on. I bought the tickets ages ago. Let's get on."

Guo Shuai rushed over to help pull Chen Fan's suitcase.

Chen Fan gave him a puzzled look.

"Where's your luggage? Just that backpack?"

Guo Shuai chuckled.

"You don't get it, do you? I've got this."

As he spoke, he patted his backpack.

"I brought plenty of money. I'll buy everything new when I get to university."

Chen Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Speechless, he shook his head.

"Hope you like the quilt the university gives you..."

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's get on."

Guo Shuai glanced around.

"Where's Su Ruochu?"

"Why isn't your girl here yet?"

He looked at Chen Fan as he spoke. "Didn't we agree we'd all leave together?"

"I even bought her ticket."

Chen Fan's expression stiffened slightly, and he sighed.

"Let's go. Her family is probably taking her to university."

"She's not coming with us?"

Guo Shuai stared at Chen Fan, bewildered.

"No, no, something's wrong..."

"That look on your face isn't right."

Guo Shuai suddenly hurried after him.

"Hey, what happened? Come on, tell me..."