When Zheng Su Nian entered the dormitory building, he ran into Pei Shu coming down the stairs. It was cold outside, and Pei Shu was wearing a gray down jacket, his head down as he rushed down like a fish darting through water.
“Where are you off to?” Zheng grabbed Pei Shu by the arm. “Who’s chasing you?”
Pei Shu looked up, his eyes bloodshot from staring at a computer screen for too long. He wiped his face and pointed upstairs meaningfully. “I can’t stand being in that dorm anymore. If you can handle it, go ahead.”
Zheng Su Nian snorted, letting go of Pei Shu, and with a determined “I don’t believe in such nonsense” attitude, he headed upstairs.
The dorm room door was slightly ajar, and inside, he could hear a girl laughing. Wearing only a light jacket, the sound of the laughter made Zheng shiver with discomfort. He raised his hand and pushed the door open.
He recognized the girl inside. Xue Ning, a fellow student from the design school and a friend of Bai Yun Sheng’s from back home. A girl from Suzhou, her voice chirpy like a yellow oriole. Even in a school full of beautiful women, her looks were exceptional in their class. She was sitting on the empty bed across from Bai Yun Sheng, wearing his jacket, which made her look even more petite and adorable.
Zheng poured himself a glass of water and, in a neutral tone, asked, “What are you two doing?”
Xue Ning, having met Zheng Su Nian before, noticed his cold demeanor and hesitated. She picked up her backpack and greeted Zheng before turning back to smile at Bai Yun Sheng. “I’ll head back now?”
“Go ahead. If you need anything, just come find me.”
She pressed her lips together and, in a voice that Zheng could clearly hear, said, “I’ll wash your jacket and give it back.”
Bai Yun Sheng didn’t seem to notice, walking her to the door. “It’s cold outside, just keep it on.”
Despite the freezing weather, Xue Ning was wearing ankle-baring shoes as she clicked her way downstairs. Zheng glanced out the door and muttered, “Dressed like that—no wonder she’s cold.”
Bai Yun Sheng, puzzled, asked, “Why are you being so unfriendly today?”
“Am I?”
“Well, you scared Xue Ning off.”
Zheng Su Nian raised an eyebrow and looked at Bai Yun Sheng. “This is a guys’ dormitory. What’s she doing here? You too—if your girlfriend is far away, you should be more mindful. This isn’t how you handle things.”
Earlier in the winter, Pei Shu had bought a computer. Studying digital media, he needed one for his work, so he installed internet in the dorm. It also expanded Bai Yun Sheng’s long-distance relationship, allowing for regular video calls with Gu Yun Jin, who had also bought a computer on her end. During video chats, she even greeted Zheng Su Nian as she passed by. Zheng had a good impression of her—she spoke gently and seemed genuinely concerned about Bai Yun Sheng’s life at school. Hearing her talk made him think of the occasional calls he had with Shao Xue, which were mostly him asking about her well-being, leaving him feeling melancholic and self-pitying.
Bai Yun Sheng, slightly exasperated, pulled up a chair and sat across from Zheng. “Do you think I’m interested in Xue Ning?”
“Well, things don’t seem very clear between you two.”
He chuckled, shaking his head, then lowered his voice in a more serious tone. “Su Nian, do you know what Xue Ning’s father does in Suzhou?”
Zheng Su Nian looked surprised.
“He’s in the fabric business. One of the top fabric distributors in Jiangsu, with a massive turnover every day.” He pushed the chair back with a meaningful look. “Clothing and jewelry—those industries are inseparable.”
The wind outside was strong, and Zheng Su Nian suddenly felt a chill.
Later that evening, he had dinner with Pei Shu. The cafeteria was noisy, and Pei Shu passed him a piece of tofu before hesitantly asking, “Su Nian, what do you really think of Yun Sheng?”
Zheng, lost in thought, was caught off guard by the question.
“Huh? I don’t feel much about it. Why?”
Pei Shu took a moment to organize his thoughts before finally saying, “I think he’s loyal to us, but sometimes I just don’t get him.”
Zheng, who wasn’t one to gossip behind people’s backs, didn’t want to prolong the conversation. After a few more bites of food, he slowly responded, “Maybe he does have his difficulties. He’s different from us.”
When Zheng Su Nian got a call from Bai Yun Sheng, he was watching Pei Shu play World of Warcraft in the dorm.
The computer had low resolution, and standing too far from the screen made everything blurry. Pei Shu was completely absorbed in the game, yelling excitedly through his headset. Zheng could barely make out his own phone ringing over the noise.
He slipped into the hallway, only to hear an unfamiliar male voice on the other end. “Who are you?”
Zheng was baffled. “You called me, and you’re asking who I am?”
There was some commotion on the other end, with the man whispering something to someone else before returning, slightly irritated. “Your friend is drunk. Your number was in his call log, so come pick him up.”
Zheng, startled, quickly asked for the address. It wasn’t far from their school, a hotel where people often went for business meetings. He remembered passing by it before, seeing luxury cars and beautiful women more frequently than elsewhere.
Zheng glanced at Pei Shu, deciding not to pull him away from the game. He headed outside and flagged down one of the taxis waiting near the school, sliding into the front passenger seat.
“Go straight, then take a left. Please hurry.”
When Zheng Su Nian walked in, he felt a bit uneasy. Dressed like a student, he seemed out of place in such an upscale venue. The receptionist listened to his explanation and pointed towards the restroom.
“He’s in there, throwing up. You’d better take him home.”
Though drunk, Bai Yun Sheng still had some awareness. With a mix of carrying and dragging, Zheng managed to get him out of the hotel and onto the curb. They sat there, both breathing heavily.
“It’s almost the end of the semester. What are you doing here?” Zheng asked.
The night breeze sobered Bai Yun Sheng up a bit. He rubbed his aching eyes and rasped, “I took a job. The manager wanted me to meet the client today.”
“But you’re in design, not sales or an assistant. Why are you out drinking?” Zheng asked, his frustration growing.
“He told me to come. What was I supposed to do, refuse?”
Zheng felt the anger welling up in his chest, unable to find the right words to express his frustration.
“Su Nian,” Bai Yun Sheng patted him on the shoulder, “I had no choice. The family business back home has been losing money. Things are getting harder and harder. Try to understand…”
“Who says I don’t understand?” Zheng brushed Bai Yun Sheng’s hand off his shoulder. “I’m just saying you need to know your limits. Your health is your real asset. What if you collapse before you even make any money? I mean, come on…”
“Alright, alright, stop talking,” Bai Yun Sheng waved him off. “You’re annoying.”
The two of them sat on the side of the road in the freezing winter air, both silent for more than ten minutes, neither able to find the right words.
“Are you sober now?” Zheng finally stood up and extended his hand to Bai Yun Sheng. “Let’s go, walk it off. Don’t let the dorm supervisor catch you.”
Bai Yun Sheng wobbled to his feet but didn’t move.
“What now?” Zheng asked.
Bai Yun Sheng smiled faintly and raised his hand, pointing towards a distant building. Zheng followed the direction of his finger, confused.
It was a high-end residential building, located near the school and commercial district, newly built in 2003, with grand advertising campaigns.
“What are you pointing at?” Zheng asked, puzzled.
Standing up straight, Bai Yun Sheng, in a determined voice, said, “I’m going to buy an apartment there.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Zheng sighed. “Do you know how expensive it is per square meter? Come on, let’s go back to the dorm. It’s great there—over three square meters of personal space and a private bathroom…”
Bai Yun Sheng lowered his hand and made a gesture, forming the number eight in front of Zheng.
“Eight years,” he said. “Within eight years, I’m going to buy an apartment there.”
Zheng didn’t say anything.
He sensed there was more to Bai Yun Sheng’s words.
Bai Yun Sheng turned around, his dark eyes reflecting the hustle and bustle of Beijing’s traffic. “I’ve seen it. It’s the layout Yun Jin likes. Within eight years, I’m going to bring her to Beijing.”
In the distance, a car horn blared. In the long, drawn-out sound of the horn, Zheng shook his head. “Bai Yun Sheng, I really don’t understand you anymore.”
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