After returning to the school, Yujie parted ways with the others. Captain Wan had some sudden business, leaving behind an inscrutable remark before rushing off.
Back at the dorm, his roommates were nowhere to be found. Ah, though college roommates are supposed to be like brothers, their paths ultimately diverged...
Pushing distracting thoughts aside, Yujie dug out data from previous years—he had organized all of these into a booklet. Opening it brought a flood of memories.
Yujie compared this year's data with past years. Hmm... This year's water level is a bit higher than in previous years, and the nutrient content in the water is also on the high side. Could this be related to the algal bloom a few days ago?
Logically speaking, fluctuations in the water level are normal. The elevated nutrient content could also be caused by industrial and agricultural pollution or domestic sewage discharge. Yet Yujie just felt something was amiss... Ah, right, the measurement location...
Yujie took out the collected soil sample, grabbed a bit in the palm of his hand, and squeezed. Brownish-yellow muddy water oozed out.
The soil moisture content was probably over 70%...
"Old Yu, I'm back. I knew you'd be here..." A young man pushed the door open and caught sight of Yujie. "Oh... I won't disturb you." The young man promptly closed the door. "Big news, Yujie is eating shit in the dorm—"
Huh? You bastard, get back here... Disregarding the mud stains on his hands, Yujie lunged out like a fierce wolf...
"Uh, haha... So that's how it is."
"I told you already, I was just estimating the soil moisture content." Yujie banged his hand hard on the table.
"I understand, I understand. We're all in the same dorm, I won't tell anyone."
"That's good—bah! Just pretend nothing ever happened, understand?!" Yujie grabbed the young man's collar and said fiercely.
"Fine, fine, I know nothing. I also don't know anything about someone hiding away playing with some yellowish object."
"..." Yujie decided to block this person. "I'm done talking to you, I need to head to the teaching building." Yujie packed up his things and prepared to leave.
"Are you going to look for Teacher Wan? He went out."
"What! Ah... I don't want to face that old ghost."
...
In the evening, Xingyao Bar.
"Glug, glug, glug..." Yujie took large gulps of cheap beer. It was one of the few drinks he could afford, but in his own words, he drank it... he drank it for the mood.
"Tell me, isn't it annoying? He actually took away my stuff and left me hanging..."
"Heh..." The bartender looked at Yujie helplessly.
"Huh? Old Qin, aren't you going to comfort me?"
"A young person's troubles are nothing more than those—unrequited love, academic stagnation, family urging, and a confused future..."
"Wait... According to you, are there any troubles in this world at all?"
"When is life ever smooth sailing? Everything in this world is fleeting, just like this glass of beer." The bartender gently swirled his glass, watching the rising mist dissipate into the air, as if watching his youth slip away.
"Ahhhhh... I'm not talking to you anymore." Yujie slumped over the table, took out his phone, and dialed a number.
On the street, Xi placed a ham sausage in front of a three-legged black cat, watching it eat voraciously.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Haha, it actually went through!"
"Oh." Xi seemed to have thought of something. "My phone is custom-made. Waterproof, moisture-proof, drop-proof, and high-temperature resistant."
"What the heck, there's such an awesome phone? No, the reason I called is to talk about something serious."
"Oh." Xi's reaction was very calm, as if he had already anticipated it. "Go ahead."
"Sigh... It's just... Can you accompany me somewhere tomorrow?"
"I'm not going to be a third wheel."
"Damn it, just tell me whether you're coming or not."
"Um... Alright then."
Hanging up, Xi's gaze returned to the black cat. A faint light flowed into its body, making the black cat feel warm.
"Meow."
At some point, Wu had crouched down on Xi's shoulder. She quietly watched this scene, her heart touched for a moment.
"Wu, where did you go?" Xi gently stroked the black cat's head. The cat didn't resist, letting Xi pet it.
Wu was silent for a moment, just about to speak.
"Forget it, you only live once, how can anyone have no secrets?" Xi stood up, his gaze piercing through the overlapping forest of steel.
"We still have a date tomorrow," Xi said softly. Whether it's the source of life or a disaster, we'll know as soon as we check it out, Xi thought to himself silently.
What? A date? How come I knew nothing about this? Did something happen while I was away? No, I absolutely will not allow this kind of development! Wu thought darkly.