After dinner that evening, once Chen Qingqing and Shen Xinyi were back at the dorm, Xu Ye drove Qin Zhiwei to the hotel.

Whatever Qin Zhiwei had done with Shen Xinyi that afternoon, he was in a fine mood. He hummed “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style” in the bathroom while he showered.

Xu Ye got out his phone, answered several messages from Pei Youwei, and then messaged Zhang Ruowei unprompted. “I’ve set dinner up with him for tomorrow evening. Everything all right at your end?”

Zhang Ruowei replied quickly. “It’s fine. Remember to make me an opening.”

Xu Ye typed back, “Don’t worry. Leave it to me.”

Zhang Ruowei answered in a second. “Good man!”

Once Qin Zhiwei was out of the bathroom Xu Ye went in after him. When both were done they lay on their beds scrolling their phones and talking.

“What did you and Shen Xinyi do this afternoon?”

“Nothing much. Walked around the park, then got bubble tea.” Qin Zhiwei added with a laugh, “But since we went away together over the summer I think things between us have moved on quite a bit. This afternoon we were even talking about where to travel next time we get the chance.”

Xu Ye laughed. “Of course they have. A lot of people package themselves very well while they’re dating and then show their true colors once they’re married. Plenty of couples travel together for a while before the wedding now, because a trip throws up all sorts of problems and it’s easy to see what somebody is really like.”

“So desu ne (I see).”

“Just take it slowly with Shen Xinyi. Sooner or later it’ll come the way water carves its own channel.”

Qin Zhiwei broke into a foolish grin.

But he soon changed the subject. “Oh — Xu Ye, do you know where Fiji is? Shen Xinyi told me this afternoon she wants to go there and see the ocean.”

“Your old man’s never been out of the country. You ask me, who do I ask?”

Xu Ye rolled his eyes and went on, “If you do end up going, though, remember to bring me back a cup from there.”

“Huh?”

Seeing him blank-faced, Xu Ye lost interest on the spot and waved a hand. “Never mind if you don’t get it. I’m going to video-call my girlfriend. Keep quiet and don’t bother me.”

“Seriously? You two were together all afternoon and you still need a video call tonight?”

Xu Ye sighed. “Nothing to be done. She doesn’t sleep well now if she can’t hear my voice.”

“You are such a dog.”

……

The next day was Saturday.

Xu Ye slept past nine and only got out of bed when Qin Zhiwei roused him.

Qin Zhiwei kept banging on beside him. “There are only two days in a weekend as it is and you’re lying in bed sleeping in. I really do give up on you.”

“You have a damn nerve saying that to me. You started snoring at ten thirty — anybody who didn’t know would think it was thundering outside.”

Qin Zhiwei was well aware he had a snoring problem, and once that came straight back at him he had nothing to say.

It wasn’t until Xu Ye had ambled into the bathroom to wash that Qin Zhiwei asked from outside, “Xu Ye, what are we doing today?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll drop you at the school in a bit and then we each go our own way.”

“Fine by me.”

“I’ll transfer you a thousand later.”

“What for?”

“You’re not paying for the room.”

“But I haven’t paid back what I already borrowed.”

“Give me a break.” Xu Ye waved a hand. “Your parents give you that much a month and no more, and you’re too embarrassed to tell them you’re seeing somebody. Go look in a mirror and see how much weight you’ve lost. Your old man could work it out with his backside — you’ve been scrimping at school and refusing to spend a thing. Listen. You spending money on Shen Xinyi, I’ve got nothing to say about that. But when she wants to spend money on you, don’t stop her. I’ve told you before: it goes both ways. When I had no money, weren’t the clothes on my back and my phone all bought by my girlfriend? And didn’t I take every one of them?”

“Uh…”

“Message Shen Xinyi now. Ask if they’ve eaten. If they haven’t, tell them to wait for us at the cafeteria.”

“Okay.”

……

Shanghai’s low that day was 25 degrees and the high 28.

Not cold and not hot. Good weather, on the whole.

Once the group of them had finished breakfast at the cafeteria, Xu Ye tossed the car keys to Qin Zhiwei and left the school on foot with Chen Qingqing.

They followed the sidewalk, thick elms growing on both sides of the road. Chen Qingqing had on a white boat-neck T-shirt with a black skirt that left a pair of smooth, fair calves showing, and little black leather shoes. A very small bag was slung across her body, and she walked under the green shade with a light step.

She didn’t know where he was taking her, and she didn’t want to know. As far as she was concerned, as long as Xu Ye was beside her, anywhere would do.

Watching the traffic going back and forth on the road, Xu Ye asked with interest, “Qingqing, can you ride a bike?”

“No.”

“You never learned as a kid?”

“They didn’t have time to teach me.”

Xu Ye was exasperated. “Your dad really is irresponsible.”

“Exactly.”

“Do you want to learn? I can teach you if you do.”

Chen Qingqing tilted her head up and blinked. “Now?”

“Mm. Right now. It’s not as if there’s anything else to do.”

“But we don’t have a bike.”

“Does anybody in your class have one?”

“Qin Wenwen does. I’ve seen her ride one to pick up parcels.”

“Borrow it from her, then.”

Chen Qingqing got out her phone and messaged Qin Wenwen herself. Xu Ye had met her several times; she was an outgoing sort, and she agreed readily as soon as the message came through.

So the two of them turned straight back to the foot of the dormitory building. Once they had the bike, Xu Ye got on it. Seeing Chen Qingqing still standing there without moving, he gave an irritable laugh. “What are you looking at me for? Get on.”

Only then did Chen Qingqing come over and sit sidesaddle on the rack behind him.

“What are you pulling my shirt for? Hold on to me.”

“Oh.”

Chen Qingqing reached forward and put her arms around his waist, and didn’t forget to add, “Ride slowly, all right?”

“Don’t worry.”

With that he rode off toward the school gate. The bike wobbled from side to side at first, but it steadied soon enough.

Riding a bike was the kind of skill that, once learned, came back quickly even after years off it.

“Hold on. There’s a speed bump coming.”

The words were barely out before they went over the bump and jolted. Chen Qingqing’s head hit him square in the back, and the moment she felt it she reached out and pinched him lightly at the waist.

Xu Ye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Seriously? I warned you and you’re still blaming me?”

“I am blaming you!”

Out of the gate there were several more speed bumps in a row. Xu Ye saw them and deliberately didn’t warn her. After a few jolts Chen Qingqing wised up. She held her skirt down with one hand, got the other firmly around his stomach, and simply pressed her head against his back.

Once they were ten-odd meters further on, she got her revenge by pinching his rock-solid stomach several times.

“Hey, hey, hey. What are you doing? Are you taking advantage of me now?”

“Who’s taking advantage of you?”

“You’re feeling my abs. That doesn’t count as taking advantage?”

“It doesn’t.”

Chen Qingqing leaned against his back again and said, almost wheedling, “I’ll touch them when I want to. And I’m the only one allowed to… touch them.”

By the end her voice had dropped away to nothing.

Xu Ye kept pedaling. “What? What did you just say?”

“Nothing. You stinking dumb pig.”

(End of Chapter 293)