Chapter 1282: Chapter 851: Grass Grows Just High Enough to Hide the Hoof

"You can arrange a chat with a professor," he said.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No..." Jiang Nian was awkwardly silent, fearing Li Qingrong might really arrange a meeting with a professor, which would be pointless.

"Actually, it’s not that great," Li Qingrong said, "Do you know about the electronic door locks in the dormitory?"

"Yeah, I know."

"They used to have a big iron chain. But around the millennium, someone suggested replacing them, so they gradually installed electronic locks."

"Oh, I see." Jiang Nian was at a loss, not understanding why Qingqing suddenly mentioned this.

Li Qingrong turned around, ignoring the crowd around them. She stepped forward, hugged him gently.

"Everything is getting better, no need to rush, take it slow."

"Hmm."

Jiang Nian hugged Li Qingrong back and was about to say something, but she pinched his waist.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, let’s go eat." Li Qingrong took his hand, leading him towards a place that seemed to have food.

The two of them followed the map and randomly chose a restaurant. They shared some recent trivial matters as they ordered their food.

Suddenly, Li Qingrong looked up and asked,

"Are you going back tonight?"

Jiang Nian was slightly taken aback; the school doesn’t check the dorms. Even if you don’t return for a week, only your roommates know.

But, he didn’t want to go to a hotel either.

"No place to go?"

Li Qingrong looked down, stirring the food in her bowl.

"My place."

....

Jiang Nian excused himself to the restroom, taking the opportunity to pay the bill. He also went to a nearby shop and bought a small gift.

It didn’t matter in the past, after all, he was just a student.

Now... When visiting someone, it’s customary to bring a gift. It’s polite and serves as a small surprise.

Details determine success, so it’s good to form these habits.

The gift wasn’t expensive, just a delicate little stone, greenish in color, suitable as a small trinket.

The two walked out, not in a rush to return home, but instead took a walk around the neighborhood and then called a cab when it felt right.

Upstairs, in the elevator.

Li Qingrong was about to open the fingerprint lock when she saw Jiang Nian handing her a small box, making her slightly startled.

"What’s this?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"A little gift."

"Hmm." She opened it and glanced inside, then the door unlocked with a beep, "When did you buy it?"

"When I was settling the bill."

Hearing this, Li Qingrong suddenly understood. No wonder he didn’t let her pay; he went to buy a gift.

"Thank you, I really like it."

As the door opened, Li Qingrong went inside first, turning on the entryway light and waiting for Jiang Nian to enter too.

She reached out to hug him, tiptoeing to give him a kiss.

"My sister’s not home."

"Is... is that so?" Jiang Nian felt a bit awkward, "Sneaking around like this doesn’t seem quite right."

"It’ll be fine in the future," she said.

Jiang Nian also thought so. Eventually, they’d have a place of their own. Damn, now he truly empathized with those burdened by home loans.

When you care for someone, you do things without counting the cost.

The soft spot in one’s heart.

He’s been here a few times, and there’s a pair of his slippers here. They used to be hidden in Li Qingrong’s bedroom.

Now, they are openly placed in the shoe cabinet.

Of course, it had nothing to do with him.

"Any water?" Jiang Nian asked. Honestly, the food in the Old Capital City was undeniably good.

All sorts of commercial cuisines, nothing distinctive.

"In the fridge, help yourself," Li Qingrong took off her jacket and then headed into another room.

She came back to the kitchen after changing her outfit.

Jiang Nian was sipping cold water when Li Qingrong walked in. He was about to move aside to make room.

Suddenly, Li Qingrong pulled him.

"Let me have a sip."

"Sure."

Jiang Nian passed it over, and Li Qingrong only took two sips before wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss.

Longing stretched like threads, expanding infinitely.

After kissing for a while, Li Qingrong was a bit out of breath. Then she decided to take a bath, casually inviting Jiang Nian.

The latter declined.

Otherwise, it would be uncertain how long the bath might take. Although exploring a new scenario was enticing, the bathroom wasn’t as clean as the bedroom.

As night fell.

The two talked for a while, and naturally began kissing. After a bit, Jiang Nian held her gently.

They reached the bed, but the height wasn’t quite right.

So, he added two pillows.

Li Qingrong squinted slightly, feeling weak. She just kept looking at him, noticing his distinct jawline.

A face like jade, with perfectly thin lips.

Further down were his collarbones, and a firm physique, like a sculpture, almost endlessly appealing.

People love beautiful things and healthy bodies.

Suddenly, Jiang Nian noticed she was sweating. He leaned in to help brush away the strands of hair sticking to her forehead.

"Hmm~" Li Qingrong bit her lip.

Jiang Nian opened his mouth, feeling a bit curious. But didn’t dwell on it, instead a line of poetry popped into his mind.

The shallow grass could only just hide a horse’s hooves.

....

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-October.

Tasks fell from the sky, popping up like bamboo shoots after the rain, akin to entering exam week two months early.

Nearly everyone around Jiang Nian was busy. Either they were self-studying with books or participating in club activities.

In the dormitory.

"Stop flipping, Fanzi." Da Chao put down his phone, "Bro, the sound of your page-turning is so piercing!"

Yang Jingfan turned his head, but ignored him, "No classes this afternoon, want to find a place to study?"

"Nah, I’m going on a date." Da Chao pulled out a pair of new shoes, ready to dress up nicely.

"In our field, grinding away is pointless. Just a 1/10 chance, might as well date."

Brother Bao Song tapped away at his game, turned around, and chimed in during a gray screen moment.

"Stop it, Fanzi’s different from you. He can actually get good grades, might even win a national award."

Just then, Jiang Nian pushed the door open and walked in.

"Damn, I’m exhausted."

"What were you up to?" Da Chao asked casually, then held up a pair of red basketball shoes, "Do they look nice?"

"Not bad, got roped into doing volunteer work," Jiang Nian sat down and gulped water, "Deng Yi asked, couldn’t refuse."

She did help him with an assignment last time.

"Deng... Deng Yi?" Da Chao immediately felt that the basketball shoes gifted by a female classmate were no longer appealing.

"What’s the deal between you two?"

"What deal?" Jiang Nian didn’t pay much attention, took a quick sip of water, and was ready to leave.

"Just ordinary classmates, that’s it. Nothing more. I gotta go now."

With a bang, Jiang Nian left with his suitcase.

Da Chao: "...."

"Seriously, why him?"

Brother Bao Song put on headphones and nonchalantly said, "Isn’t it simple? Just look in the mirror."

"Damn it!!!"

Elsewhere.

Jiang Nian, suitcase in hand, was hurrying towards the apartment. Today was his moving-in day.

To be honest, nothing was going on between him and Deng Yi.

They hadn’t talked much.

Plus, his current situation allowed for nothing else, and she seemed quite normal too.

Arriving at the place, he carried his suitcase up to the third floor.

Knock knock knock.

"Coming!!" This time, Xu Qianqian opened the door, and as the door swung open, she said, "Welcome! A warm welcome!"

Jiang Nian felt a bit awkward, "Why the sudden excitement?"

"You’re so ungrateful!" Xu Qianqian feigned annoyance, "Had I known, I wouldn’t have opened the door for you."

"I have a key."

"The door is double-locked!"

"Then I’d ask Song Xiyun to open it. Where is she?" Jiang Nian pulled Xu Qianqian inside, shut the door behind him.

"She has class this afternoon," Xu Qianqian said, clasping her hands together, "How about a hotpot dinner tonight?"

Jiang Nian thought about it, then nodded.

"Alright."

The place suddenly felt like a private opportunity for just the two of them. Fortunately, Jiang Nian had tasks to handle, like unpacking his room.

Xu Qianqian stood by the door, watching him unpack.

"There’s a lot of good food at the farm, have you tried their mixed noodles? The one with tomato and meat."

Jiang Nian straightened up, looking at Xu Qianqian who was chattering nonstop.

"Instead of chattering, why don’t you come help?"

"Oh dear, I feel weak," Xu Qianqian feigned frailty, "Haha, can’t help you this time."

Maybe tired of standing, she fetched a small chair. Sitting by the door where the sun could reach her.

The room was clean with wood floors. A shiny porcelain windowsill and a large table of redwood color.

Jiang Nian busied himself.

Warm sunlight enveloped them, soothing and pleasant.