Xu Chen went to the wardrobe to rummage through clothes. “Brother Zhao, let me find something for you to change into. You can’t wear wet clothes. It’s just that we only have girls’ clothes here, so you’ll have to make do.”
“It’s fine, no need to change. It’ll dry in a bit.”
“You’ll catch a cold.”
“My physique is amazing, I’ll be fine.”
Xu Chen still found a very loose cotton nightgown. She then mixed a basin of hot water and took out a fresh towel. “I’ll step outside. Brother Zhao, dry yourself off and change into these. Take off the clothes you’re wearing, and I’ll wash them for you.”
It was hard to refuse such earnest hospitality, and the careful consideration warmed my heart. Xu Chen left the dorm room, so I stripped naked, wiped down my body, and put on the nightgown. I knocked on the door to let Xu Chen back in.
As Xu Chen tidied up the clothes I had taken off, she said, “Brother Zhao, you rest on Qianqian’s bed for a while. I’ll cook some noodles for you later.”
Ouyang Qian happened to emerge from her shower when she saw this. She said gratefully, “Chenchen, thank you so much. With you looking after Brother Zhao, he won’t suffer the slightest bit. I really need to learn from you.”
Xu Chen blushed slightly. “I’m just doing what I can. Since you want to learn, you can wash your boyfriend’s clothes yourself. I’m going to cook.”
Lying on the bed, watching the two girls—one in the kitchen, one washing clothes—I felt an inexpressible wave of emotion and happiness. Lost in that feeling of contentment, I actually drifted off to sleep, until the sound of a mobile phone ringing jolted me awake.
Thinking the phone by the bed was mine, I answered it groggily. “Hello, who is this?”
“Huh? Did I dial the wrong number? Isn’t this Xu Chen’s phone? Who are you?” a male voice asked, not very friendly.
I brought the phone close to my eyes and looked carefully. It wasn’t mine; it was Xu Chen’s. “Apologies, Xu Chen is cooking noodles. Wait a moment, I’ll call her for you. Chenchen, phone!”
Xu Chen was running water in the washroom and rushed out when she heard me call. “Thank you, Brother Zhao. Hello, who is it? This is Xu Chen.”
“Chenchen, it’s Xie Yujia. Where are you? Why was a man answering your phone just now?”
Xu Chen replied, “I’m in the dorm. Brother Zhao was just helping me answer the phone while I was cooking.”
“Brother Zhao? Who is that?” Xie Yujia didn’t know about my connection with Xu Chen.
“It’s Zhao Qian from our Finance department. He’s my ‘Brother Zhao’…”
“What! The Zhao Qian who’s all over the forum! How could you let him into your dorm room! Isn't that inviting a wolf into the house? I’m coming over right now to see for myself, you wait for me.”
Xu Chen hurriedly tried to stop her. “No, Xie Yujia, listen to me. Brother Zhao is a good person. He’s not like what they say on the campus forum. Besides, you can’t even get into our dorm these days; security has been really tight.”
Xie Yujia retorted stubbornly, “Then how did he get in? A good person? Does a good person go around grabbing the rear ends of three campus beauties? Ouyang Qian from your dorm, Zhou Ni from the first year, and Fang Yanmeng from the fourth year—we have photos as proof! He’s a pervert, you need to kick him out right now!”
Xu Chen became slightly annoyed. “Classmate Xie Yujia, it’s my right to decide who I let into my dorm. It seems you and I have no relationship that requires me to listen to you. Brother Zhao is a good person; he’s definitely not what you imagine. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
Xie Yujia’s tone shifted, becoming resigned. “Didn’t the Star Studio need to hold a meeting this morning? I reserved a study room. I’ll meet you downstairs at the girls’ dormitory after breakfast.”
“Alright then, thank you. Our studio will secure a permanent location soon, and we won’t have to run around looking for study rooms anymore. I’m sorry for putting everyone through this inconvenience for now.”
Xu Chen hung up. Ouyang Qian asked her, “Chenchen, is this Xie Yujia chasing you? He sounds jealous of Zhao Qian.”
I apologized to Xu Chen. “Sorry, Chenchen. I was half-asleep and thought it was my phone ringing. I caused you trouble.”
Xu Chen said seriously, “Brother Zhao, Xie Yujia and I are just ordinary classmates and colleagues. He’s the graphic designer for Star Studio, a third-year in the Computer Science department. Outside of work matters, we have absolutely nothing else between us.”
Ouyang Qian chuckled. “Chenchen, you really care about your Brother Zhao.”
Xu Chen hastily used the excuse of scooping noodles to escape, while Ouyang Qian kept smiling at me in a suggestive way. Although dawn had broken, the rain was still falling heavily. The three of us ate breakfast each lost in our own thoughts. Ouyang Qian looked both sleepy and exhausted.
“Chenchen, you go take care of your errands. I’m dead tired; I’m going to sleep for a bit before washing the dishes.”
After saying that, Ouyang Qian climbed onto her bed and pulled the covers up. Xu Chen checked the time but wasn't in a hurry to leave; instead, she started tidying the dorm. I sat on Su Xue’s bed, watching her small, slender figure busily working, and felt a genuine sense of homey warmth here.
“Chenchen, you’re truly virtuous. Whoever marries you will be incredibly lucky.”
Wiping the table, Xu Chen said, “Brother Zhao, don’t tease me. Maybe no boy will like me; I’m too thin.”
“Haha, that won’t happen. Not all boys like the fuller figure. Doesn’t that classmate of yours seem quite interested in you?”
Xu Chen finished wiping the table and paused. “Brother Zhao definitely likes fuller-figured girls.”
“Not necessarily. Fang Yanmeng isn’t exactly the full type, and I think she’s perfectly fine.”
Xu Chen fell silent, diligently folding blankets, sweeping the floor, and cleaning the bathroom. She was naturally the type of girl one felt protective of, and seeing her working hard for us made me even more touched.
“Chenchen, don’t hesitate to develop Star Studio to its fullest potential. Brother Zhao guarantees you’ll be a successful girl in the future, provided you take care of your health. Do you have enough money? Buy yourself some good supplements.”
Xu Chen nodded seriously, then silently washed a pile of fruit and placed it on the table for me. “Brother Zhao, our recent living has been quite luxurious; I even sent several tens of thousands of yuan back to my mom. Actually, I don’t really want to get fat; sometimes I think being slim is nice. At least I don’t have to constantly fuss about dieting like Su Xue.”
“That’s true. As long as you don’t neglect yourself in daily life, Brother Zhao will be relieved.”
Xu Chen shouldered her small bag and said to me, “Brother Zhao, I’m heading to the meeting now. I figure you didn’t sleep well last night either, so take a nap here. I’ll get lunch for everyone later.”
I nodded, watching Xu Chen’s slender figure leave the dorm. I truly hadn’t slept a wink last night. Lying on Su Xue’s bed, that fragrant scent was truly wonderful. I reached out, pulled a large teddy bear next to me closer, closed my eyes, and drifted off to sleep...