[Orange]: Peach, where are you?
[Cicada]: Just got out of class. Wait for me a bit. Wiping sweat emoji
[Cicada]: Something came up.
[Orange]: What? Getting a replacement campus card?
[Cicada]: ?! How do you know everything?
[Orange]: Don’t bother replacing it. It’s with me.
[Cicada]: ? How did it end up with you?
[Cicada]: I couldn’t find it after PE class this morning. I walked around the track twice looking for it.
[Orange]: A junior member of the student union found it. They recognized it as yours, so they brought it to me.
[Cicada]: …
Since Luo Zhiyu often went to student union meetings to freeload food and drinks, all the new members this year knew him. Whenever they saw him on the road, they’d greet him first. Luo Zhiyu wasn’t just there to freeload, either. Several students in the student union’s Arts Department were from the Academy of Fine Arts and got along very well with him. Occasionally, they’d even ask him to help out with some work.
“Student, are you still getting a replacement card?” The staff member at the student service center prompted him. “How come you’re so happy even though you lost your card?”
“I’m not getting one anymore. Thank you, I’ve found it.” Luo Zhiyu hurriedly replied. “I’ll go get it right now.”
“Congratulations,” the teacher on duty said. “You students always come up with the strangest ways to lose your cards. It’s good that you managed to find it.”
College students certainly had all sorts of ways of losing their campus cards. On average, practically everyone had lost theirs once or twice.
For example, just last month, Fan Yue had complained in the alumni group that he’d dropped his campus card into a toilet.
Then there was Tang Yuan, who, after finishing an elective class the month before that, had been walking along a dark road when a group of big cats suddenly jumped out of the bushes and snatched his student card.
Zhang Shu had also complained in the alumni group. One day, he’d forgotten to take his card out before showering. When he went to look for it the next day, all the money on it was gone.
Director Wu, who had been forcibly added to this generation’s alumni group, comforted one student today and another tomorrow. He had practically continued his “student affairs” work.
“College life isn’t complete unless you’ve lost your campus card.” Luo Zhiyu listed the incidents above for Xiao Yan and concluded, “My college life is even more complete now.”
“You can even come up with an excuse for losing your card.” Xiao Yan handed Luo Zhiyu the campus card that had been lost and found. “Luckily, someone picked it up under a tree. They said the photo looked pretty good, and when they took a closer look, they recognized you.”
[Lu Sixue]: You’re going to Xiao Yan’s place this week. We’re going on a business trip.
[Cicada]: …
[Lu Sixue]: Be good. I already told Xiao Yan.
[Cicada]: Do I need to feed the cat?
[Lu Sixue]: It’s being boarded.
Even without Luo Zhiyu saying anything, Xiao Yan had already consciously started driving toward his own home.
Luo Zhiyu walked right in without the slightest hesitation, and immediately heard the sound of wings flapping.
“Peach!” the parrot greeted him. “Peach is so cute!”
“It’s only been a few days. How did this parrot become such a little pervert?” Luo Zhiyu found some food to tease it with. “Who said you could call me Peach?”
“Ever since you started coming over so often, it hardly recites poetry anymore.” Xiao Yan pushed him toward the inner room. “Tell me yourself. How do you think it turned out like this?”
Actually, it wasn’t entirely Luo Zhiyu’s fault. Ever since their two families had cleared the air with each other, Xiao Yu had somehow learned Luo Zhiyu’s nickname. Whenever they chatted in the living room, he would casually say “Peach” every now and then. The parrot was quick to pick it up.
“Peach!” the parrot called out enthusiastically.
“Don’t call me Peach. Call me big brother.” Luo Zhiyu persisted in correcting it. “You little pervert.”
Xiao Yan smiled and let Luo Zhiyu fool around with the parrot.
[Zhang Shu Isn’t Mashed Potato]: Busy?
[Orange]: Not busy. I’m teasing someone.
[Zhang Shu Isn’t Mashed Potato]: Is Luo Zhiyu there too? Perfect timing. Let’s discuss the New Year’s gifts for the teachers.
“Peach.” Xiao Yan and the parrot called out at the same time.
“Hmm?” Luo Zhiyu looked up, a smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth. “What is it?”
As though wanting to touch that fleeting smile, Xiao Yan lowered his head and gently kissed the corner of his lips.
“Zhang Shu and the others said they want to discuss New Year’s gifts.”
The members of the No. 1 High School alumni group hadn’t managed to prepare anything for the teachers on Teachers’ Day, so they planned to make up for it at New Year’s. They wanted to prepare New Year’s gifts for several of the school’s more well-liked teachers, including Director Wu.
“We should see whether to create another group or do something else, and give them a surprise…” Xiao Yan hadn’t even finished speaking when Luo Zhiyu, a man of action, had already started doing something.
Director Wu, who was working overtime in his office, suddenly saw his phone screen light up. A new message appeared in his chat app.
“Luo Zhiyu” had removed you from the group chat.
Director Wu: “?”
Had these little brats just kicked him out of the group?
[Tang Yuan Hides from Cats]: ?
[Zhang Shu Isn’t Mashed Potato]: What did Luo Zhiyu do?
[Orange]: …
[Fan Yue]: An unconventional approach.
[Little Spicy Strip]: Director Wu must be feeling so wronged.
[Cicada]: It’s the fastest and most time-saving method. What’s the problem?
[Wallflower]: That’s so Luo Zhiyu…
[Orange]: Enough. Face-covering emoji Hurry up and discuss it. Let’s finish before he notices, then add him back.
Half an hour later, another new message popped up on Director Wu’s phone screen.
“Xiao Yan” invited you to join the group chat [Has No. 1 High School Caught Anyone Dating Today?]
[Director Wu]: ???
[Director Wu]: You need me again?
[Fan Yue]: Director, my girlfriend and I had a fight. Could you give me some advice?
[Cicada]: I just accidentally tapped the wrong thing.
[Director Wu]: You little brat. Don’t tell me you’re still holding a grudge against me.
[Cicada]: Not at all.