After searching for a long time and only finding a pile of advertisements, Liu Chen was so angry that she did another set of Baguazhang at midnight, finally suppressing the urge to curse. After showering, she turned off her phone and went to sleep.
Liu Chen was pulled up by Mi Zhuzhu. Heaven knew that this woman, as soon as she thought of going to the Forbidden City, woke up at 5:30 in the morning, and then after editing a Weibo post, she came to drag her out of bed.
She cheerfully said, "Let's go out early, before the sun comes out, and we can visit more attractions. We can hide in a coffee shop to rest at noon."
Liu Chen, who was already thirty years old in both her lives, actually believed Mi Zhuzhu's nonsense. It wasn't until one in the afternoon when she was with Mi Zhuzhu transitioning to Houhai that Liu Chen quickly stopped Mi Zhuzhu's mad dash.
Although everyone seemed enthusiastic, Liu Chen worried that if they continued like this, they would only be able to lie at home tomorrow. The lactic acid buildup in their thighs was no joke.
"Zhuzhu, let's find a place to have lunch? It's already one in the afternoon? The last meal we had was at six in the morning?"
Mi Zhuzhu put down her card camera and, only then, licked her lips and said, "I think I'm a bit hungry? Sang Ling, are your photos ready?"
Sang Ling put down her phone and nodded fiercely, smiling and saying,
"What I've taken today should be enough to post on Weibo for several days."
Liu Chen was not surprised. Sang Ling was, after all, the top scorer in liberal arts. When she heard from Zhuzhu that someone had sent her private messages for advertising on Weibo, she had already felt the huge commercial value hidden within.
Ren Mo, on the other hand, was somewhat surprised. He turned his head to look at Sang Ling and asked, "Hmm? Sang Ling, you use Weibo too?"
Sang Ling laughed heartily and nodded, "I want fans too. Maybe I can earn my university tuition through Weibo. I chose computer science, so it will take at least two or three years before I can take on private jobs."
Hearing Sang Ling so honestly state her plans, it was Ren Mo, the one who asked the question, who felt a little embarrassed. He had never worried about money, and neither had almost all the friends he knew.
Even Lai Jielun's family was not poor; in fact, they were quite well-off. It was just that his father liked to help relatives in his hometown, and Teacher Lai was someone who spent money without counting, which led to fewer savings in the family.
However, now, in order to support Lai Jielun in attending the Beijing Film Academy, the couple had started to tighten their expenses and save money. Coupled with Teacher Lai leading their class this year, the bonus from the school and the teacher appraisal next year would likely also go up.
"I'm sorry," Ren Mo apologized a little sheepishly.
Sang Ling waved her hand, unconcerned, "It's okay, I don't think there's anything wrong with me making money to save for living expenses."
Even though Sang Ling said she didn't mind, Ren Mo still felt a little guilty. As they walked towards the place to eat, he deliberately lagged behind, proactively helped Sang Ling take photos, and even gave her advice on which places were must-visit tourist spots.
The five of them spent seven days visiting most of the major attractions in Beijing. By the end, Mi Zhuzhu's camera memory card was full.
It was only then that Liu Chen remembered to take them to buy computers.
Buying computers now was not like in later generations, where you could just click on JD.com or Tmall and wait for the computer to be delivered to your door.
At that time, JD.com and Tmall had fewer laptop models, and the discounts were not necessarily better than offline stores.
Liu Chen didn't have much experience buying computers. Honestly, her first computer was an Apple laptop given to her by her aunt for her birthday last year.
"Then shall we go browse Zhongguancun?"
As soon as Liu Chen made the suggestion, it was vetoed by Ren Mo and his group.
"No, if a few students like us go to Zhongguancun, we'll only get ripped off. Tell me what your computer usage requirements are, and I'll tell my brother Shen to help buy them?"
By the time the laptops were in hand, it was already August 16th.
Early in the morning of August 17th, Liu Chen and Sang Ling took Shen Hongkai's car to report to Tsinghua University.
Since Lai Jielun's Beijing Film Academy didn't start until early September, and Mi Zhuzhu's Communication University of China started even later, on September 8th.
Liu Chen simply left the key for the two of them, instructing the last person to leave to turn off the water and electricity.
As Liu Chen was leaving, Mi Zhuzhu's eyes were red. Liu Chen felt a bit exasperated and comforted her,
"I'm just going to report and then for military training, not a life-or-death separation. Zhuzhu, stop crying."
After finally comforting Zhuzhu, Liu Chen, dragging a pure white 28-inch suitcase, left with Sang Ling.
In fact, the "Dadi Apartment" where Liu Chen lived was located within Haidian District. Shen Hongkai drove the two of them and arrived at the gate of Tsinghua University in less than fifteen minutes.
"Today is the welcome ceremony, so cars can't go in. You two get out here first. I'll park the car and come back to take you for registration."
After saying this, the van stopped. Shen Hong got out of the driver's seat, walked to the back of the car, and carried the two girls' 28-inch suitcases down, placing them beside the car.
Liu Chen was wearing a light pink short-sleeved shirt and blue denim shorts. Her legs were fair and straight, and her long, straight black hair was neatly draped over her shoulders. Her bangs, which she had gotten for eighty yuan with Mi Zhuzhu in Shanghai, were still on her forehead.
Sang Ling, with her tanned complexion, wore a white printed short-sleeved shirt and black denim shorts. The two were about the same height, and standing together, they achieved the effect of one plus one being greater than two, attracting the attention of many senior students helping with the welcome ceremony.
"Holy crap? Tan Guangming, look over there! Could it be twins who got into our Tsinghua? I haven't heard about it!"
The male student called Tan Guangming pushed up his thick glasses and said, "Zhou Shixi, haven't you recognized that our senior Shen Hong is helping them with their luggage? I heard Shen Hong is from a prominent family, a third-generation rich kid.
The junior female student that he personally helps with luggage is probably either rich or noble. I suggest you stop looking; there's no hope."
A female student from the same computer science department, walking beside them, overheard their conversation. She looked at the two beautiful girls standing at the entrance and hesitated for a moment before walking up.
"Hello, are you junior students here to register?"
Liu Chen looked at the tall and thin girl in front of her and nodded:
"Hello, we are new students here to register, but our brother is coming soon."
As she was speaking, Shen Hong's voice came from the left.
"Coming, coming! Hey! Junior students, these two children are my sisters. This one here is a freshman in our Computer Science department, Sang Ling.
And this one is a freshman in our Food Science and Engineering department, Liu Chen.
I remember you, junior student Zhou Shu, you were first in your major at the end of your freshman year last year, right? After I take them to register, I'll trouble you, junior student Zhou, to take my two sisters to the dormitory as well."
Liu Chen watched Shen Hong's lengthy pleasantries, which made the somewhat reserved Zhou Shu look like she was saying, "Don't worry! I'll definitely get the two junior students to their destination safely." She couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed.
Fortunately, Shen Hong was her game partner whom she had invested in. Otherwise, with his ability to talk his way through anything, she wouldn't feel at ease if he were working for a rival company.
All the way, Shen Hong adamantly refused to let Liu Chen push her own suitcase, insisting on taking it, so Liu Chen arrived for the new student registration carrying only a straw bag she had bought in Sanya, swinging her empty hands.
When Liu Chen lined up at her department's registration point, Shen Ju, who was responsible for registration, was still in a daze. He had heard that their food department had a beautiful top student, but he had always been skeptical of online information.
No matter how beautiful, could she be more beautiful than Si Lin, the campus beauty of the computer science department in her third year?
But seeing Liu Chen standing in front of him filling out the registration information, Shen Ju understood. Their food department now had a campus beauty. No, she could even contend for the title of university beauty!
"Senior?"
Liu Chen waved her hand at the senior who was staring blankly. Seeing him snap back to reality, she handed him the registration form.
"Thank you, senior."
Shen Ju quickly shook his head, "No trouble, no trouble. After the junior student registers, go to the finance office to pay tuition, and then you can register at the dormitory building."
With Shen Hong's guidance, Liu Chen completed all the procedures for new student registration within half an hour and then waited in front of the girls' dormitory building for Sang Ling to arrive.
When Sang Ling arrived, Shen Hong carried Liu Chen's luggage and climbed with them to the third floor.
"305, we're here."
Liu Chen, holding the dormitory number written on the slip, stopped at the entrance of an open dormitory room.
Shen Hong knocked on the open door and asked, "Hello." Then, he carried the suitcase in his hand and crossed the dormitory threshold.
Liu Chen entered the dormitory last. As Shen Hong had said, it was a four-person dormitory with a loft bed and a desk underneath, and it was made of wood. Outside the dormitory was a balcony with two washbasins.
At this moment, a middle-aged beautiful woman was standing by the washbasin. She extended her finger and lightly drew it across the countertop of the washbasin. She then raised her finger, and the thin layer of dust on it made her frown. She casually took a handkerchief handed to her by another woman and wiped it off.
"Wanwan, they let you move in without cleaning this dormitory. Forget it, forget it. Sister Feng, you work hard today and clean this dormitory."
After speaking, the beautiful woman walked back into the dormitory from the balcony. She saw the three girls and one boy who had appeared and frowned slightly.
"This is a girls' dormitory, why is there a boy here? Please leave."
Although she said "please," her tone was anything but polite. Liu Chen frowned slightly.
Just then, the bathroom door on the balcony opened, and a girl wearing a white lace dress and with straight black hair walked out.
She glanced at everyone standing in the dormitory, then washed her hands at the washbasin, wiped them clean meticulously, and then walked into the dormitory. She took the beautiful woman's hand, gently shook it, and said in a Taiwanese accent,
"Hello everyone, I'm Xiong Wan from Province Y. This is my mother. Mom, don't talk about others like that. Today is the report day for the start of school. It's normal for senior students to help carry luggage in, okay, Mom."
Liu Chen blinked and looked at the best bed in the dormitory, which had already been furnished with a thick mattress. She smiled.