Pursuing Her Best Friend after Confession Failed-Chapter 35 - 34: A Clever Misunderstanding, I Really Was Just Passing By

Chapter 35: Chapter 34: A Clever Misunderstanding, I Really Was Just Passing By

Li Yuan smiled and didn’t refuse.

Yi Jing looked like the kind of diligent student who had studied tirelessly, but anyone admitted into Daxia University naturally carried a sense of pride.

He had been the same way in his past life. Only after being battered by society for many years did he understand how worthless things like face, pride, and ambition truly were—far less tangible than cold, hard cash. We’re all just ordinary people. Who can truly claim they’ve never had to bow down for a paycheck? In his previous life, he’d been half that way himself, which was why he’d ended up so miserable!

Changing the topic smoothly, Li Yuan asked curiously, "Yi Jing, what made you decide to major in computer science?"

Generally speaking, students from rural families like him and Yi Jing would opt for majors like aerospace engineering, mechanical design and automation, civil engineering, or disciplines like physics and chemistry. At this time, computer science was far from the hot-ticket major it would later become.

Yi Jing said a little shyly, "I really like computers. My teacher said job prospects in the field would be good in the future and that it required living in a big city, so I applied for the computer science program at Daxia University."

Li Yuan was astonished. Yi Jing’s teacher had made a lot of sense—far more than his own homeroom teacher, Old Wang from next door.

With a computer science degree from a 985 university like Daxia, he would graduate just in time to ride the next wave of the internet boom. If he got into a major tech company, he could potentially earn an annual salary in the seven to eight hundred thousand range. After working hard for a decade or so, he might even be able to settle down in Modu. This made Li Yuan sigh all the more. In his past life, his own vision had been poor and his timing terrible.

"Your teacher was right. The future of computer science is limitless, and it’s a good fit for people like us."

Hearing Li Yuan’s approval, Yi Jing’s eyes brightened. "After graduating from high school, I read a lot of books on the subject, like *Basic Programming Techniques* and *Computer Languages*. They’re fascinating! You can use the simplest characters to create various animations and videos. It’s practically magic..."

Li Yuan couldn’t help but size up Yi Jing again. Perhaps this guy really was a computer genius.

He couldn’t help but think back to his previous life, to that time he moonlighted as a coder. He had also stayed up late, poring over books to learn about computers and complete various programming jobs. The income from that was much more substantial than his main job. Computer science graduates from his alma mater who caught the wave at the right time could earn annual salaries of three or four hundred thousand. After working hard for seven or eight years, they were able to buy homes in the suburbs of Modu...

Not long after they returned to the dorm, the bedding they’d ordered was delivered. The two of them tidied up the dorm a little, then waited for their next roommate to arrive.

Registration was open for three days, and today was only the first. Students from far away might arrive early, but those who lived closer wouldn’t come so soon.

After a few hours together, Li Yuan had gotten to know Yi Jing fairly well and had a decent grasp of his personality.

He was a very innocent young man. In high school, he was probably the stereotypical "bookworm" who blocked out the world and focused solely on his studies. Back in his hometown, his high school’s "Olympiad class" was full of students like that. In this era, high school romance was still a minority pursuit, after all.

"Yi Jing, I’m going out for a walk. Want to come along?"

Yi Jing quickly waved his hands. "No thanks, you go ahead. I’m going to organize my luggage."

Li Yuan nodded. "Alright then. I’ll take a stroll and see if our school has any beautiful ’queenly types’ or ’cuties’."

Yi Jing asked blankly, "Li Yuan, what do you mean by ’queenly types’ or ’cuties’?"

Li Yuan’s eyes widened as if he were looking at an alien, seriously wondering if he was faking his innocence. "You don’t even know what ’queenly types’ and ’cuties’ are?"

Yi Jing rubbed his hands awkwardly, his gaze clear and pure. "I really don’t know. What does that mean?"

Li Yuan was speechless and explained with a teasing laugh, "Haha, they’re just two types of pretty girls. One is mature and sexy, and the other is sweet and adorable."

"So, what do you say? Want to join me for some eye candy? The girls here at Xia University are top-notch. I saw several beautiful young ladies on the way here."

Hearing Li Yuan’s explanation, Yi Jing’s expression changed instantly. He looked a bit shy, though it wasn’t very obvious because of his darker complexion.

"Li Yuan, you go on ahead. I don’t think I’ll go."

Li Yuan just smiled. In this day and age, before new media had really taken off, there were plenty of innocent young men and women like him. Whenever Li Yuan told any slightly off-color jokes, Yi Jing would just give him a blank look. It didn’t seem like an act, and there was no reason for him to pretend.

"You’re really not coming? The first-year girls are still relatively naive. If you make a bold move, you might just succeed. Don’t you want to experience a sweet, sweet romance?" Li Yuan coaxed.

Yi Jing was a little tempted, but he still refused shyly, "Uh, really, I’m not going!"

Li Yuan didn’t mind. He had just arrived in a new environment. It was impossible to get familiar that quickly, become best buds, and sort out a pecking order of who’s the oldest, second oldest, and so on. That kind of thing only happened in novels.

"Okay then, I’m heading out for a stroll!"

***

Li Yuan wandered around the Xia University campus, his gaze constantly sizing up the passing students. He could tell the upperclasswomen and the freshmen apart at a glance.

The ones dressed plainly, with clear, curious eyes, yet timid and shy, were definitely first-year freshmen. Those who were dressed brightly and flamboyantly were mostly worldly upperclasswomen who knew the score.

The campus was full of enthusiastic upperclassmen helping out the new students. The older students who were usually holed up in their dorms playing DOTA and CF had all transformed into helpful young men. Of course, their "assistance" was reserved exclusively for the freshman girls.

After topping up his campus card with a thousand yuan at the cafeteria, Li Yuan meandered around. Before he knew it, he had arrived below the Bamboo Garden, the women’s dormitory building. This was the place he had often waited for Bai Weixi in his past life.

His gaze subconsciously drifted up toward a certain dorm room. There, a girl had once often sat by the window, playing her guitar while gazing at the moonlight.

Just as Li Yuan was lost in thought, a crisp voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

"Senior, what a coincidence to run into you again!"

Li Yuan turned to see Zhong Tingyue staring at him, her own eyes bright and hopeful. Beside her was a slightly plump, short-haired girl.

"Junior, what a coincidence indeed!" Li Yuan felt a little awkward. She couldn’t possibly think I was here waiting for her on purpose, could she? Wait, I really was just passing by! I had absolutely no intention of deliberately waiting here for Zhong Tingyue.

Zhong Tingyue grinned. "Senior, I was just looking for you. Shanshan and I just arrived at the university and aren’t familiar with the surroundings. I was wondering if you had time to show us the way?"

Li Yuan glanced at the girl beside Zhong Tingyue. Her name was Ding Shanshan, Bai Weixi’s roommate, a girl with a touch of baby fat on her cheeks.

Li Yuan smiled generously and answered readily, "When a beautiful lady asks, I always have time."

Zhong Tingyue blushed slightly. "Thank you, Senior!"

Li Yuan asked, "What are you looking to buy? I’m familiar with this whole area."

How could he not be? In his past life, he had come to Daxia University several times a week to pursue Bai Weixi. Little surprises, small gifts, the coffee shop on the corner, the bustling pedestrian street... his first few weeks of university had been filled with romantic moments.

Zhong Tingyue spoke up, "Senior, we’re planning to buy some quilts, four-piece bed sets, toiletries, and other daily necessities. The ones the university provides aren’t very good quality."

Li Yuan wholeheartedly agreed. "There’s a place right across the road from the school. Shall I take you?"

Zhong Tingyue’s flawless face beamed. "Okay, Senior!"

A young man walking with two young women across campus naturally attracted a lot of attention.

"There are several must-see spots at Daxia University: the drink bar, the library, Xia Yu Island, the Liwa River, the statue of the great leader..."

Li Yuan listed them off casually, like a true upperclassman giving a serious introduction. He had been to all these places with Bai Weixi, and every name brought back a memory.

What was that saying again? Everywhere I go, I’m just walking in the footsteps you left behind.

Zhong Tingyue listened with a look of longing, her bright eyes blinking. "Senior, you know so much!"

Li Yuan smiled. "You can go check them out after military training is over."

"We’re almost there," he said, pointing ahead. "This is a department store; the things inside are pretty good quality."

"Wow, this place is really nice! It has everything you could need for living and fun."

Modu’s shopping malls were bustling. While Zhong Tingyue seemed fine, Ding Shanshan appeared a bit nervous and reserved.

Li Yuan stopped, watching as the two girls entered a store to browse. Suddenly, he felt his phone vibrate. He took it out and saw more than ten missed calls.

They were all from Bai Weixi.