Just as Leaf Xun logged in, "Nanke Yimu" sent her a message.
"Miss Qiancao, long time no see!"
"Wordsmith, how have you been?"
"I know you were hoping to catch me off guard, but it seems you're disappointed!"
"Nanke, your words carry a provocative tone, are you looking to stir up trouble? I'm not afraid of you! Come at me!"
Leaf Xun swiftly tapped the keyboard.
"You're the one challenging me, already declaring war!" Yang Ke chuckled.
"Are you scared now? Seems like your courage hasn't diminished over the years!"
"You've still got your courage too! Hehe!" Yang Ke replied.
"Nanke, after talking with you for so long, I always feel like you resemble a certain type of plant!"
"Which plant would that be?"
"Aloe vera!" Leaf Xun chuckled. "It's intimidating to look at, so I dare not approach!"
"Wrong, Miss Qiancao!" Nanke said. "Seems like you have quite a misconception about me! But speaking of plants, there's one I quite like!"
"Oh, really? Which one is it? I'd love to hear more!" Leaf Xun replied.
"Flowers blooming with eloquence!"
Leaf Xun sent a mocking emoji sticking out its tongue.
"Miss Qiancao, what kind of plant are you then?"
"Lavender, with fragrant stems and leaves, known as aromatic herbs since ancient times!"
"I don't think so! Despite knowing you for so long, I haven't smelled your fragrance!"
"If that's the case, perhaps we're birds of a feather!"
"I dare not! I dare not!"
"Nanke, you jumped to conclusions a bit too hastily just now. After all this time, you don't even know my name, how can you judge my character?"
"Miss Qiancao, I think your name must contain the character 'Xun,' because 'Hei Qiancao' combines to form that character."
"Then your name must also contain the character 'Ke'!" Leaf Xun retorted.
"Admiration! Admiration! Looks like we're still evenly matched today!"
"Nanke, what have you been busy with lately?" Leaf Xun asked.
"I've been busy with arguing! Isn't the school debate already underway?"
"So you're a debater too, huh? I really want to compete with you!"
"Aren't we competing every day? Every time it's a clash of swords and bloodshed!"
As the dormitory door opened, Tong Tong rushed in, brimming with energy and excitement.
"Nanke, I won't talk to you anymore. A friend's here, so I'm logging off!"
"Then goodbye, Miss Qiancao with lingering fragrance, until next time when we battle it out, and I emerge victorious over you!"
"Leaf Xun, here are the documents you wanted!" Tong Tong handed the books to Leaf Xun, then clenched her fist. "Make sure to beat them black and blue, use whatever means necessary, I'll prepare the necessary tools for you!"
"How should I beat them?" Leaf Xun playfully asked. "The debate rules clearly state that we can't resort to excessive actions, meaning we can only use our mouths, not our hands!"
"Well, that's easy!" Tong Tong pulled Leaf Xun in front of a mirror, making her open her mouth, then pointed at Leaf Xun's rows of white teeth. "Then use these rows of teeth to leave round imprints of calcium carbonate on their faces!"
"I can't do that! That's your trademark move!" Leaf Xun countered.
"Then use the lion's roar!" Tong Tong opened her mouth, mimicking a lion's roar.
"You can handle these mysterious techniques!" Leaf Xun said. "Will you come to watch me debate? Don't say you don't have time, this time I absolutely won't allow any excuses!"
"Leaf Xun, I'm sorry! I really can't make it this time!" Tong Tong said. "I have classes at the Jiangbei campus next week and will be staying there until the weekend!"
"So you're not coming back at night?"
"My aunt lives near the school, so I'll have to stay there for now!" Tong Tong glanced around and said, "Leaf Xun, be careful at night. These past few nights, I've been seeing things moving and floating in the house, really scary!"
Leaf Xun knew Tong Tong was deliberately trying to scare her, so she chased after Tong Tong to punish her, and the two began to playfully wrestle in the room.
Tong Tong turned off her phone and entered the private room of the restaurant according to Yuanyuan's address. Yuanyuan was chatting and laughing with several people. When Tong Tong entered, they all stood up to greet her. Most of them Tong Tong recognized, except for one person who seemed both unfamiliar and familiar—Yang Ke, whom she had met at the last lantern riddle event.
"Tong Tong, let me introduce you to a friend!" Yuanyuan pointed at Yang Ke. "This is Yang Ke, a friend I just met!"
"Hello!" Tong Tong said excitedly. "It's nice to see you again!"
Yang Ke was surprised, then a smile appeared on his face, and he nodded graciously.
After dinner, everyone dispersed. Yang Ke had barely walked a few steps when Tong Tong caught up from behind.
"Mind if I walk with you?" Tong Tong asked with a smile, her smile as charming as spring flowers, irresistibly alluring.
"Why would I mind?" Yang Ke smiled too. "I couldn't ask for more!"
"Thank you so much for today. Seriously, that wind chime was a gift from you!"
"No need to be so polite!" Yang Ke said. "We're all friends, it's nothing!"
"Yeah!" Tong Tong sighed with emotion. "Fate works in mysterious ways. These things are simply unbelievable, like something out of a movie, and each of us is a character in the script!"
The two walked side by side for a while, neither of them saying a word. Yang Ke didn't know what to say, while Tong Tong was so excited that she was a little tongue-tied. Tong Tong never believed in "love at first sight," but ever since she first saw Yang Ke, she couldn't forget his figure. For the past few days, Yang Ke's figure had been constantly swaying in her mind. Even though their first meeting had been brief and blurry, it was now crystal clear in Tong Tong's mind.
Tong Tong looked at Yang Ke standing beside her, and she couldn't quite believe her eyes. During dinner tonight, she had been sitting next to Yang Ke, staring at him with such eyes.
Yang Ke wanted to go back to the dorm, but Tong Tong hadn't said anything, so he remained silent.
"Where are you going?" Yang Ke finally couldn't help asking.
"Do you have something urgent?" Tong Tong asked Yang Ke.
"No," Yang Ke shook his head.
"Then walk with me around the campus!" Tong Tong smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Yang Ke smiled too. He couldn't refuse, so he followed behind Tong Tong.
The two walked across a small bridge, through the weeping willow forest. The lights seemed to pave a shiny path under
their feet. Tong Tong looked at this path, which seemed to lead to heaven or a bridge floating in the interstellar space, and she couldn't contain her excitement and excitement. Tong Tong couldn't help but dance along this path. In the evening, the emerald lake was quietly covered by the night, making the face of the mirror-like lake appear much more peaceful. The reflections of the lights, however, remained restless, gently moving on the surface of the lake, stirred by the gentle breeze, blending the breath of the two people together.
Tong Tong leaned towards Yang Ke, bringing his warmth with the breeze, causing her blood to surge, even feeling a bit infatuated and confused. Tong Tong couldn't help but close her eyes, savoring everything.
"What a beautiful night, and this lake!" Yang Ke said.
"Just like a gentle and elegant girl!" Tong Tong said, suddenly bursting into laughter.
"What's wrong?" Yang Ke asked curiously.
"Nothing, I just thought of a funny metaphor!"
"What metaphor?" Yang Ke asked with interest.
"A beauty hiding her face, a fish sinking in the water!" Tong Tong said. "It has another interpretation!"
Yang Ke also laughed and said, "Hands as tender as young shoots, skin as smooth as condensed fat!"
The two looked at each other and smiled. Simultaneously, they said, "So it was you!"
When Yang Ke escorted Tong Tong back to the dormitory, it was already eleven o'clock at night, but the two still had so much left unsaid!
"Extend your hand!" Tong Tong said to Yang Ke.
"What for?" Yang Ke asked.
"Don't ask questions, just do it!" Tong Tong said in a coquettish tone.
Yang Ke reluctantly extended his hand, and Tong Tong quickly wrote down a phone number.
"I left you my phone number during dinner!" Yang Ke said.
"What if you remembered it wrong? What's the harm in leaving an extra one?" Tong Tong finished writing a series of numbers.
"Hurry upstairs, it's late!" Yang Ke said.
"Remember to call me!" Tong Tong instructed, smiling coyly, then rushed upstairs excitedly.