My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 197

Chapter 197: Treating Myself

As soon as they entered the cafeteria, the two went straight to Old Cat Noodle Shop.

Both the owner and the dairy cow cat were still there after a year, which was a relief, although the dairy cow cat looked much older.

“Mian Mian is truly getting old!” the owner couldn’t help but sigh as she let the two girls in to pet the cat. “I wanted to keep it at home so it could rest properly, but it likes being around people. When it’s alone at home, I watch the security camera, and it’s always walking around, can’t even sleep well, so I brought it to the shop to ‘be around people’!”

The dairy cow cat meowed, seemingly disagreeing with her words.

“Okay, okay, I know you just want to be with me,” the owner said with a smile, stirring the noodles in the pot, then quickly serving them up, adding extra beef, cilantro, and garlic chives. “You can add the chili yourselves.”

Jiang Xue thanked her and deliberately added extra money when paying, saying it was “for Mian Mian’s cat food” when asked by the owner.

“Sigh… I really can’t handle goodbyes, whether it’s with animals or people,” Jiang Xue sighed, adding chili oil to her noodles, as they sat at their usual table. “Even though, because of Elder Sister Red Fox and Cang Ling’s situation, I can comfort myself by saying ‘they’re just accompanying me in a different way,’ not being able to talk to them face-to-face or interact with them physically still makes me sad.”

Birth, old age, sickness, and death were a part of life, something everyone had to face, and no one could escape. Because of this, Xiao Luohan couldn’t think of anything to say—although she knew that Jiang Xue was just expressing her feelings casually, and just listening attentively was the best comfort she could offer.

She silently placed the beef from her bowl into Jiang Xue’s, and fifteen minutes later, this action earned her a cup of iced coffee from Jiang Xue.

“The drinks at Si Ling’s café are also quite good, but I rarely have time to come here,” Jiang Xue said. “Try it while you can. After we start university, we won’t have many opportunities to come back.”

Xiao Luohan took a couple of sips and commented, “It’s iced Americano, but it’s sweet.”

“The school probably doesn’t want students who are still growing to drink too much coffee, so the Americano here isn’t as pure as the ones outside, either with added sugar or milk,” Jiang Xue explained. “Thinking back to my high school days, it was the same. No matter how busy we were with our studies, we still found time to have fun.”

“We can still have fun now,” Xiao Luohan said. “If we’re constantly bound by studies and work, without any enjoyment, we’ll eventually break down.”

She had often heard viewers “venting” during her “casual chat” livestreams. Sometimes, even a small matter could make a “worker” break down and cry.

Like their favorite milk tea shop suddenly closing down because the landlord raised the rent, or a tired worker, wanting a treat after work, finding that their favorite shop had been replaced by a new one. At that moment, all the accumulated frustrations and grievances would suddenly erupt.

But when asked, they could only say, “My favorite shop is gone.”

“Don’t worry, you have me and Dr. Qi looking after you! I’ll definitely find time to treat myself,” Jiang Xue quickly reassured her. “You too, remember to participate in more activities after enrolling. You said that trying new things is a way for you to relax.”

They chatted for a while longer, then, before the lunch bell rang, left Si Ling with their drinks.

In mid-September, N University also welcomed its new students.

Perhaps because her elder sister had been a general, although she had a medical exemption from military training from a reputable hospital, Xiao Luohan still wanted to experience it.

So when Jiang Xue arrived after class, she found Xiao Luohan, dressed in a military uniform, standing in formation under the sun with the other students.

She knew that Xiao Luo always had her own reasons, so she simply sat in the shade and observed, taking out her textbook and reviewing the new material.

The young female instructor quickly noticed her and even recognized her as the student who had been sketching everywhere with an easel during last year’s military training, exempt from the exercises. Patrolling past her, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why aren’t you drawing this year?”

“Crushed by my studies,” Jiang Xue said, showing her the thick textbook.

“A medical student, huh? It’s hard work,” the instructor said, glancing at the cover and understanding, then went to get a bottle of water and handed it to her. “It’s a noble profession, study hard, and contribute to our country in the future.”

Jiang Xue thanked her and, seeing that there was still some time left before dismissal, went over to Xiao Luohan during a break and whispered, “I’m going home to prepare lunch. Come back when you’re tired.”

It was still hot in mid-September. Before returning to university, Cheng Shizhu had left behind the recipe for her best sour plum soup. Jiang Xue had already soaked the smoked plums this morning, and they would be ready when she got home.

After putting the ingredients in the pot to simmer, she poured the soaked soybeans and sesame seeds into the soy milk maker, started chopping cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes while the soy milk was being made, then took out the eggs she had boiled in the morning, peeled them, and cut them in half.

When Xiao Luohan returned home, drenched in sweat, she was greeted with sweet and sour plum soup and appetizing cold soy milk noodles.

“This is a recipe A-Xi taught me. The locals in her university’s area love this in the summer,” Jiang Xue said, placing the bowls of noodles on the table, a large bowl for each of them. “I’ll make some more before summer ends.”

“I also like this,” Xiao Luohan said, quickly mixing the ingredients. “I heard adding shredded chicken makes it even better.”

“Then I’ll add some next time, slightly marinated with salt, for more flavor,” Jiang Xue said, her cheeks puffed out as she ate, reminding Xiao Luohan of a hamster.

Xia Yun was also nearby, happily eating its “dog food.”

Xie Xitong, a veterinary student, had been researching “dog food” recipes in her free time, and Jiang Xue would alternate between those and regular dog food for Xia Yun, occasionally adding various supplements according to A-Xi’s instructions, ensuring a balanced diet.

To take care of her health, Xiao Luohan only participated in half a day of military training. In the afternoon, as planned, she audited classes in the Department of Traditional Music, familiarizing herself with the professors and the important locations at N University.

University classes were truly free. Even for required courses, the teachers didn’t care if the students present had actually enrolled in their classes, just lecturing and leaving after finishing the prepared material, only staying if there were any questions.

In Xiao Luohan’s opinion, the only disadvantage of auditing was not getting credits.

But the Department of Traditional Music was indeed small. She soon encountered Shen Xianyue and Yun Chanchan, who were attending classes together.

Although there weren’t as many classes in their junior year, there were still required courses and electives for credits. They couldn’t graduate without enough credits.

“Welcome to our department officially!” Shen Xianyue said happily, seeing her, and even offered to share her textbooks.

Without needing Yun Chanchan to speak, Xiao Luohan immediately refused, “There’s no need to trouble yourself, Senior, I’m just auditing out of interest, I might leave after this class.”

Required courses were usually two consecutive periods.

Xiao Luohan didn’t mind attending classes with Shen Xianyue and Yun Chanchan, but she was worried that Shen Xianyue, with her “close friend” and “collaborator” filters, would be overly enthusiastic towards her, so after class, she quickly found the schedule for the junior year required courses and recorded the times in her newly downloaded scheduling app.

Jiang Xue turned off her phone during class. Afraid that Xiao Luo would be lonely, she created a four-person group chat with Xie Xitong and Cang Ling, so Xiao Luo’s messages would always be answered.

After class today, as soon as she turned on her phone, she was greeted by a long string of “hahaha” from Xie Xitong, filling three lines.

Puzzled, she opened the group chat.

【XiXi Drifting North: Shen Xiejie is so oblivious! Yun Xiejie: I’m used to it .jpg】

【Mu Mu Loves Stargazing: I think someone needs to tell Shen Xianyue that this isn’t right, but that person can’t be Xiao Luo.】

Jiang Xue scrolled up and, after reading Xiao Luohan’s account of what happened, understood.

【Yu Xue: Leave it to me!】

After several interactions, Jiang Xue had a good understanding of Shen Xianyue’s thought process.

This person was carefree and treated everyone she approved of with sincerity, but she wouldn’t realize that her actions might make her girlfriend uncomfortable unless someone told her directly.

Even if Yun Chanchan was used to it, just in case, Jiang Xue still contacted Shen Xianyue and sent her a long, analytical message explaining “why this wasn’t appropriate.”

As for whether Shen Xianyue could understand and accept the advice, that was her own business. Anyway, their collaboration wouldn’t be affected, and they could still maintain contact.

Less than a class period after sending the “small essay,” Jiang Xue received an apology and a self-reflection from Shen Xianyue, who even added that Xiao Luohan didn’t have to avoid their required courses because of this.

“It’s alright, I was just passing the time and getting to know the professors in advance. I’ll be attending these classes in my junior year anyway,” Xiao Luohan said, not changing her decision and still intentionally avoiding those classes.

But when the clubs were recruiting new members, she still went to the Traditional Chinese Music Club’s booth—the new president and vice president were sophomores, and Yun and Shen would at most just come and join the fun as “seniors.”

Although the new president and vice president had seen her livestreams, they only mentioned it briefly during their conversation, focusing on discussing music techniques and emotions.

It was a normal, casual, and peaceful exchange. When leaving the booth, Xiao Luohan happily took their flyer, then went to the sketching club with Jiang Xue.

“After my drawing skills improve, I’ll probably gradually become a ‘dual-category streamer’,” Xiao Luohan said to Jiang Xue on the way. “I’ve followed many talented artists from the sketching club on M-Station. They like to post videos of their drawing process, or even livestream their commissioned work if the client allows it.”

“I really like the feeling of gradually bringing the images in my mind to life, it’s another kind of beauty.”

“Perhaps it’s the joy of ‘creation’?” Jiang Xue said. “A process from nothing to something, like when we play those management simulation games.”

As they talked, they arrived at the sketching club’s booth and unexpectedly saw Shu Cheng there.

“Hello!” Shu Cheng immediately greeted Jiang Xue, then shyly showed them her sketchbook. “I’m picking up my old hobby again. After thinking about it, I need a relaxing activity I enjoy.”