Wang Qiqi strolled slowly into the dorm room early in the morning, carrying things, a good number of chicken feet and other items in her hands. As soon as she pushed the door open, she was greeted by the familiar scene of disarray. "I brought breakfast," Wang Qiqi said, knowing that the long break followed military training, so even though it was the first official day back, no one was up particularly early.

Duan Xiaomin snatched what Wang Qiqi was carrying, opened it, and froze. "How come there are chicken feet and wings? Since when did the breakfast stall sell these things?"

"I made them myself," Wang Qiqi replied, placing a few items of clothing into the closet. They would be staying in the dorm for a while longer; only in the second half of the semester would they occasionally not return to the room.

Everyone looked at the near-empty space in Wang Qiqi’s cabinet with envy. Fewer clothes meant it was easier to find something to wear, but they also knew Wang Qiqi's ease was thanks to her friend in Beijing having an apartment. "Qiqi, can I put a box under your bed?"

Although Wang Qiqi had the lower bunk, she had to split the space beneath her with Bai Ge, so Wang Qiqi couldn't give Duan Xiaomin a definitive answer.

"One box is enough for me," Bai Ge said, climbing down from her top bunk. She casually picked up a chicken wing, took a bite, and looked up at Wang Qiqi. "You made these yourself? They're delicious." Refreshing, really, though perhaps the quantity wasn't vast—that was, of course, factoring in the equal share.

Han Meina glanced at the plastic bag Wang Qiqi brought, immediately diverted her gaze, and said, "Gong Yiying, let's go to the cafeteria. I don't like eating steamed buns for breakfast." Although her steps paused briefly when she heard Bai Ge compliment the wings, she continued walking out of the dorm.

As Han Meina's follower, Gong Yiying offered an apologetic look, but the disdain in her eyes as she regarded the chicken wings was unmistakable.

Zhang Yan walked to the bag, picked up a bun, and asked, "Red bean filling?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Yes. I was worried the pork might be suspect, and the greens weren't cleaned thoroughly, so I only got red bean and sesame fillings. But I did get the turnip filling; I actually quite like turnip buns."

Zhang Yan found this odd. "You don't like vegetarian buns?" Zhang Yan had been down south once and eaten vegetarian buns at a temple whose taste she still frequently recalled.

Wang Qiqi did enjoy vegetarian buns, but vegetarian fillings weren't just a simple mix of greens. Unfortunately, many current breakfast shops' so-called vegetarian buns were merely slightly improved vegetable buns. "I think there are no more shops making delicious vegetarian buns now. I remember a temple whose buns were wonderful, but the last time I went, they weren't as good as they used to be."

"It's a market economy now; even temples are affected," Wang Qiqi concluded. "That's why I'm no longer willing to eat vegetarian buns."

Zhang Yan was left speechless. She hadn't expected Wang Qiqi's reluctance toward vegetarian buns to stem from such a reason. Zhang Yan truly wanted to ask which temple Qiqi mentioned, desperately hoping it wasn't the one she fondly remembered for its superior buns. But what if the one she missed was exactly the one Qiqi was disappointed in? She'd be truly crestfallen, so she decided against asking.

"Were these marinated in some kind of brine?" Zhang Yan ate a chicken wing and found it quite refreshing. "These would be wonderful on a hot summer day."

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Lounging in an air-conditioned room, snacking on things like this, is a pleasure. Of course, you have to worry about your weight." Not sweating in the summer, not exercising, and eating so much meat—it would be strange not to gain weight.

The group finished their meager breakfast and slowly headed toward class. "Too bad Meina doesn't like these things," Bai Ge rubbed her stomach. "Oh, Qiqi, you should be careful around Meina today. Yesterday, when she came back to the dorm, she saw us putting on masks and got quite a scare..."

"Hmph, the look of contempt on her face, as if we were doing something illicit! And then she was shocked when she washed her face clean," Duan Xiaomin recounted Han Meina's expression yesterday, which was definitely not pleasant. "Especially after learning that the formula was yours and that it works so well. Oh, and yesterday, she and Meina went out for a late-night snack for quite a while."

When Han Meina returned from eating out with Gong Yiying, Duan Xiaomin witnessed the look Han Meina shot toward Wang Qiqi's bed—a particularly cold glare—which left Duan Xiaomin utterly baffled. But she quickly understood: that was Han Meina for you, unable to stand seeing others do well.

"It's fine. I only found out after military training. Besides, I don't have her family's contact information, so how could I notify her?" In fact, when Han Meina passed by her that morning, she had said a few cold words to Wang Qiqi. Wang Qiqi knew she liked being the center of attention, but she hadn't expected Han Meina to be this way. However, it was still better than Gong Yiying. When Han Meina was happy, she was happy; when she disliked someone, she showed it openly. Gong Yiying, even when trying to flatter someone she needed favor from, wouldn't appear overtly servile, but rather give the impression of flattery in an indirect, almost peripheral way. Still, Wang Qiqi had a vague idea of the slander Gong Yiying might spread about her privately, but did she need to fear it?

Bai Ge looked at Wang Qiqi for a long moment. While maintaining good classmate relations was important, there was no need to diminish oneself so much. "You're right. By the way, Han Meina said yesterday she wants to run for class officer. Qiqi, will you vote for her?"

"Isn't she running for a position in the Department Student Union?" Wang Qiqi asked, confused. She hadn't heard Han Meina mention running for class officer before. "If she runs, I will definitely support her." In the entire dorm, she seemed to be the only one running for the Arts Representative position; why wouldn't she offer support? "Are any of you running for class officer?"

"Not interested," Duan Xiaomin shook her head. "I've been a class officer since primary school; I'm completely sick of this sort of thing."

"Being a class officer in college offers a different kind of experience, especially if you move into the Department or University Student Union," Wang Qiqi mused. She thought it might be a good idea for Duan Xiaomin to run. That way, someone else wanting to show off in the dorm wouldn't be the sole focus of attention. Moreover, when everyone didn't yet know each other well, a girl with good verbal skills and decent looks usually got preferential treatment. Most importantly, Duan Xiaomin had been a class officer for so many years; she understood the procedures. "If you plan on graduate school later, having a position in the student union always gives you a slight edge over us common folk."

Duan Xiaomin understood the implication in Wang Qiqi's words. She had been a class officer since the third grade, and it wasn't a role just anyone could fill; it wasn't reserved solely for the top students or those with the best rapport with the teacher. She had won numerous 'Three Good Student' awards, and every class had a quota. Among equally qualified candidates, the teacher usually chose a class officer, and Duan Xiaomin was exactly the type: good grades and a good relationship with the teacher.

Duan Xiaomin wasn't sure if she would pursue graduate studies, but becoming part of the university student union would be a form of self-improvement. "Maybe I should try?"

Wang Qiqi saw a spark of ambition in Duan Xiaomin's eyes. "Then give it a shot. You've already secured at least eight votes." Wang Qiqi could predict that Han Meina might not be thrilled if Duan Xiaomin ran for class officer, but she felt obligated to support Duan Xiaomin to prevent a situation where multiple people in the same dorm were vying for the role. "I'll ask Jiang Xin when I see her later."

Duan Xiaomin realized that if she only brought up running for class officer now, votes would indeed be an issue. Some people in the class had already started networking—albeit just talk—during military training. "I wonder how many votes I can get. Maybe I should just withdraw." Duan Xiaomin recognized the risk of running and potentially losing.

Wang Qiqi sighed at Duan Xiaomin's apparent retreat before even entering the fray. "How many people in the class actually want to be officers? Honestly, I'm reluctant; I have too many other plans, and I suspect many others feel the same. Bai Ge, do you want to be an officer?"

Bai Ge, who had been called upon, shook her head. "I've never been one, and I don't want to be." In Bai Ge's view, being an officer was a thankless job. "Xiaomin, you should go for it. Don't you want to see that smug look wiped off someone's face? We can help you rally votes then?"

"Thanks, I appreciate that," Duan Xiaomin said, looking at the supportive smiles of her roommates and nodding firmly. "And remember to campaign for Han Meina too."

Campaign for her? The straightforward Li Xin immediately balked. "Why should we campaign for her? Look at the expression she gave Qiqi just for kindly bringing food. Pfft, just because she's from Beijing, does she need to act so superior?"

Wang Qiqi coughed lightly while listening to Li Xin, trying to caution the girl to watch her words. Zhang Yan was sitting right there—a genuine Beijing native. Wouldn't this blunt comment cast a net over everyone?

Li Xin was initially oblivious, but when Bai Ge tugged her clothes and then looked towards the quiet Zhang Yan standing nearby, she suddenly remembered Zhang Yan was from Beijing. "Zhang Yan, I'm sorry, I wasn't talking about you."

Though Zhang Yan was from Beijing, she was remarkably quiet, perhaps even aloof. However, she always showed appreciation for any snacks roommates brought back to share. She also occasionally brought snacks to the dorm. In contrast, while Han Meina also brought snacks, the way she offered them felt like bestowing charity, which made everyone uncomfortable. Even when they ate them, they didn't consume much. Furthermore, Han Meina would viciously criticize any snacks her roommates brought back, usually claiming they were tasteless and cheap. (To be continued)