I was sleeping peacefully when someone shook me awake. I opened my eyes in annoyance and saw Lie Yuanyun waking everyone else up. I stretched and rubbed my eyes. We had played games until late at night. I hadn't stayed up this late in a while so I was still a bit groggy.
When Lie Yuanyun saw I had woken up, he quickly dragged me out of bed.
"We're going to be late. I already bought breakfast. I'm going to bath now. Orientation classes start by 8."
He rushed into the bathroom after saying this. I looked at the two other men who were awoken by the smell of food. Lei Yuanyun had bought Soy milk and fried dough sticks. I ate silently and in no time, my share was all wiped out.
Lei Yuanyun came out of the bathroom and I went in after taking a quick glance at the two people who were still eating like zombies.
When the warm water cascaded down my back, I was fully awake. I really hadn't planned on making friends again but I guess I'll give these guys a chance.
It's been a while since I last talked to Wang Muchen. Actually since that day. Inexplicably felt that I was being used for my body. I chucked lightly and quickly finished my shower.
I walked out of the bathroom and Mu Haoran went in.
After handling breakfast and shower in controlled chaos, we all made it to the orientation hall barely in time.
We sat in the back row and listened boredly as speeches upon speeches were given.
After sitting through what felt like an eternity of speeches, I glanced around the hall, watching as most of the other freshmen shifted in their seats, eyes glazed over from boredom. The head of the department, a tall man with graying hair and sharp features, was speaking about the importance of rule keeping, but my mind drifted, his words blending into the hum of background noise.
Lie Yuanyun, sitting beside me, leaned over and whispered, "I didn't think orientation would be this dry. I thought there'd be more, I don't know, fun stuff."
I nodded absently, not really in the mood for conversation. I was still thinking about Wang Muchen. It had been days,weeks since we last spoke, since that day when everything between us changed. It wasn't like I wanted to dwell on it, but sometimes those thoughts crept in without warning, like now, when I was sitting in a room full of strangers, my mind looking for any distraction from the dull monotony of the speeches. I had tried to distract myself from all the messy thoughts springing up but that seemed to intensify them. I couldn't help but re-think. What if what happened back then was a fluke? What if he isn't really all I thought he was, what if— I shook my head to clear away the dangerous thoughts I was having. I had already chosen him in this life. I won't let myself fall into self doubt.
My eyes glossed over the throng of students and paused on one. Clean and innocent looking. No one knows what darkness lies deep in his heart better than me. I didn't know he went to this school. After being reborn, I had deliberately avoided him wether subconsciously or not. Seeing him now, with that usual smile and cheerful demeanor that had fooled me for years, my hands trembled. I took a deep breath to calm myself down and clenched my hands.
Lie Yuanyun nudged me again. "What's with you today, Zhu Ming? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I forced a smile. "Just tired."
He shrugged and went back to half-listening to the speech. On my other side, Mu Haoran was slumped in his seat, clearly having given up on pretending to pay attention. He stared blankly ahead, his face expressionless, while Zhao Ranchu , tapped idly on his phone under the table, making little effort to hide his boredom.
Suddenly, the hall erupted in applause, jerking me out of my thoughts. The speeches had ended, and people were already getting to their feet, stretching and chatting as they prepared to leave.
"Finally," Lei Yuanyun groaned, standing up and cracking his neck. "I thought we would be stuck here all day."
I stood as well, running a hand through my hair. "What's next?"
He pulled out a crumpled schedule from his pocket. "Looks like we have a break, and then the campus tour starts. We can either explore on our own or follow the guide."
Mu Haoran shrugged. "I'd rather wander around on my own. This place is huge."
Zhao Ranchu, who had been quiet most of the time, finally spoke up. "Same. I hate group tours. Too slow."
Lie Yuanyun smiled "Why don't we just walk around and see how far we can go at our own pace"
I added" Yeah then maybe we'll go eat something after that"
With our next goal set, we made our way out of the hall, merging into the crowd of students filtering into the open courtyard outside. The air was warm and fresh, a pleasant contrast to the stuffy atmosphere of the orientation hall.
We decided to split up, agreeing to meet at the central fountain in a couple of hours to compare our findings. As we went our separate ways, I wandered toward the theater building, curious about what lay inside. After all, this was going to be my home for the next four years, so I might as well familiarize myself with it.
The entrance to the theater was grand—large wooden doors framed by intricate carvings of masks, likely representing comedy and tragedy. I pushed one of the doors open and stepped inside, immediately greeted by the faint smell of paint and old wood, the kind of scent you only find in places that have seen countless rehearsals and performances.
The main theater space was massive, with rows upon rows of red velvet seats facing a large stage. The lights were dimmed, giving the room a quiet, almost reverent atmosphere. I could already picture myself standing on that stage, rehearsing lines, performing in front of a full audience.
But that wasn't what I was looking for today. I wandered down a side hallway, passing posters for old productions—some dating back decades. The further I went, the quieter it became, until the only sound was the soft echo of my footsteps.
I turned a corner and came across a narrow, unmarked door. Something about it piqued my curiosity. I hesitated for a moment before trying the handle. It was unlocked.
The door creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase leading downward. I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one was around. I knew I shouldn't be wandering into restricted areas on my first day, but curiosity got the best of me.
The stairs led to a dimly lit basement. The walls were lined with old props and set pieces—dusty chandeliers, fake trees, and weathered furniture that had probably seen their last performance years ago. It was like stepping into a forgotten world, a place where memories of past productions had been left to fade.
I moved through the space slowly, my fingers brushing against the old props as I walked. There was something eerie yet fascinating about the place. It felt like I had stumbled upon a piece of history that most students never bothered to find.
As I reached the far end of the room, I spotted something that caught my eye. A mirror—large and ornate, with an intricately carved frame that looked out of place among the discarded props. The glass was foggy, as if it hadn't been cleaned in years. I approached it, my reflection barely visible in the dim light.
I looked around again curiously and when I didn't find anything substantial, I decided to leave.
I made my way back up the stairs my quiet steps echoing.
By the time I emerged into the sunlight again, the eerie feeling had begun to fade, replaced by the hustle and bustle of campus life. Students were everywhere now, chatting in groups, laughing, and exploring. It felt like a completely different world compared to the quiet, forgotten basement I had just left.
I made my way to the fountain where we had agreed to meet. Lie Yuanyun, Mu Haoran, and Zhao Ranchu were already there, looking just as eager as I felt to share what we had discovered.
"Find anything interesting?" Lie Yuanyun asked, his eyes glinting with excitement.
"Yeah," I said slowly, "It's not anything special though. There's this old basement under the theater, full of old props and stuff. What about you guys?"
Zhao Ranchu answered
"No. But I heard Mu Haoran got confessed to twice"
Lei Yuanyun had a shocked expression on his face
"What?! But we just got here"
I just laughed. Mu Haoran was standing quietly and only his red ears betrayed his embarrassment.
We made our way out and found a small hot pot restaurant.
After eating, we walked around a bit and then went back to the dorm.