Chapter 33: You Must Be the Most… at Jingbei University

“Time flies like an arrow, days and months shuttle like a weaver’s shuttle.” This saying seemed to gain its most vivid annotation the moment Shen Jia Yan stepped into university.

The high school campus, once bathed in brilliant summer sunlight, had receded into the distance, replaced by a brand-new “little world.”

North City wasn’t too far from Star City—about a three-hour drive.

Though Shen Yan and Jiang Jing were usually strict with Shen Jia Yan, she was their only daughter, after all, and they cherished her deeply.

They specially rearranged their work schedules to accompany Shen Jia Yan to North City the day before school started, planning to see her settled in on enrollment day.

Although Shen Jia Yan had boarded at school during high school, it had always been in the same city, and only occasionally at that. So they wanted to come with her, make sure she was settled, before they could relax.

On the morning of enrollment, a gentle breeze blew, carrying a hint of early autumn chill in the air.

Shen Jia Yan pulled her suitcase and stood at the school gate, tilting her head to gaze at the grand and imposing entrance. Vigorous, powerful characters were engraved above it, stirring an indescribable emotion in her heart.

The campus bustled with people—students hurrying along, volunteers, new students peering at directional maps, and accompanying parents.

Just as Shen Jia Yan and her parents entered the gate, an enthusiastic freshman welcome volunteer approached them.

After confirming she was a new student, the volunteer led them to the registration desk to complete the formalities, then helped her find her major’s class assignment, and finally took them to her dormitory building.

Since her parents were with her, there was no need to trouble the senior volunteer further. Shen Jia Yan thanked her and let her go.

Her dorm was on the fourth floor—fortunately, there was an elevator.

As it was freshman move-in day, the dorm area exceptionally allowed opposite-sex visitors to facilitate carrying luggage. Shen Yan and Jiang Jing helped with her daily supplies as they took the elevator to Room 406.

The dorm door stood open; two classmates were already inside.

Shen Yan and Jiang Jing surveyed the room. It was a four-person setup with beds over desks, including a private bathroom—pretty decent.

Shen Jia Yan pulled her suitcase inside.

The girl standing by the door, chatting with her parents, noticed the newcomers and greeted her first. “Hi, are you in this dorm too?”

Shen Jia Yan set her suitcase upright and smiled faintly. “Yeah, I am.”

The girl’s eyes curved in a smile. “Then we’re roommates from now on. I’m Xu Jingyao.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shen Jia Yan.”

No sooner had she spoken than another girl stood up and came over with a smile, introducing herself. “Hi, I’m Fu Jinxi.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shen Jia Yan. Please take care of me from now on.”

After the simple introductions, everyone began unpacking their luggage and setting up their beds.

A while later, the last roommate arrived.

She was Zhang Min. After introducing herself, she started unpacking too.

Around noon, the other roommates finished greeting their families and headed out to eat. Once Shen Jia Yan had mostly settled in, she went out for lunch with Shen Yan and Jiang Jing.

The three found a restaurant off-campus and ate with the driver.

After lunch, Shen Yan and Jiang Jing had to head back.

They dropped Shen Jia Yan off at the school gate.

“We’ll leave you here,” Shen Jia Yan said softly. “It’s a long drive back—try not to travel at night.”

“Your medicine’s in the blue organizer bag, the cold remedy packets are in the inner pocket…” Jiang Jing’s voice suddenly choked. She hurriedly lowered her head to straighten her daughter’s already neat collar.

Her fingers paused when they touched the school badge Shen Jia Yan had just pinned on. She’d done this motion for eighteen years—from elementary school red scarves to high school uniforms—but today, it felt like the first time she noticed how thin the fabric was, too thin to block the northern winds. She worried.

Shen Jia Yan acknowledged each instruction, but her voice caught in her throat.

“Let’s go. Jia Yan’s right—night driving isn’t safe.” Shen Yan tugged at Jiang Jing’s sleeve, then gently patted Shen Jia Yan’s back. The warmth of his palm seeped through her jacket. “Contact me or your mom if anything comes up.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Traffic jammed up at the gate as Shen Yan and Jiang Jing got into the car.

Jiang Jing rolled down the window, her lips moving as if to say more, but in the end, she just waved with reddened eyes.

Shen Jia Yan stood in place, watching the familiar car that had shuttled her for years slowly drive away.

Then she turned and strode toward the dorm building.

The late-August sun still blazed, scorching the back of her neck. Around her, new students and parents embraced in tears, sobs and exhortations rising and falling. She pressed her lips together and headed to the dorm without looking back, her figure straight like a stalk of green bamboo.

She had never been one to depend on her parents. As a child, when she fell, she always got up herself, dusted off her knees. In junior high, with a 39-degree fever, she’d quietly hidden the fever reducers under her pillow until dawn before telling them. She was used to shouldering everything alone, as if burdening others was a luxurious weakness.

At this moment, she thought she could face it all calmly too. University wasn’t that far from home; she could go back anytime on breaks. But when the taillights vanished completely from sight, she realized that familiar strength hadn’t arrived—only a strange emotion surged up her throat.

She took a deep breath and stepped into the dorm building. Her footsteps echoed crisply and lonely in the stairwell.

The wind swept through the hallway, scattering the warmth at the corner of her eyes. She finally understood: so-called strength was just not having encountered a soft enough attachment yet.

What about Wan Ning? The thought hit her suddenly. Wan Ning had even less experience boarding away from home than she did. This was probably her first time leaving her parents to live elsewhere.

Unable to be by her side, a inexplicable worry rose in Shen Jia Yan’s heart.

Wen Wan Ning started school a week later, so she was still at home now.

Shen Jia Yan thought: When Wan Ning starts school, I’ll contact her more, make sure she doesn’t feel too lonely…

Back in the dorm, the other roommates had returned.

“Jia Yan, we were waiting for you.” Xu Jingyao set down her makeup bag. “Let’s go pick up the military training uniforms.” She checked the freshman guide. “Per the instructions, we can go now.”

Mentioning the uniforms pulled Shen Jia Yan’s mood back a bit.

She placed the tissues she’d just brought back on her desk. “Okay.”

The four tidied up and headed to the academic building.

Shen Jia Yan was quite looking forward to her last military training in life.

Well, mainly to the uniform.

She figured that at university, it had to be camouflage, no question.

But when she and her roommates stood in the supply room and saw her roommates receive their neatly folded stacks of clothing first, her smile froze.

A deep blue cuff peeked from the packaging bag, emblazoned with the university badge.

This actually happened to her! All those military trainings in life, and not once had she gotten to wear the coveted camouflage!

If only this “good luck” went toward buying lottery tickets—thanks!

Shen Jia Yan wanted to cry but had no tears.

She resigned herself: camouflage uniforms and her were fated to miss each other this lifetime.

Listlessly returning to the dorm with her roommates, she stowed the clothes away and finished organizing the last bits on her desk.

Fu Jinxi noticed she’d looked down since leaving the academic building. “Jia Yan, what’s wrong? Missing home?”

It was common for freshmen on their first night.

But that wasn’t it for Shen Jia Yan.

She sighed, reining in her mood. No point letting such a small thing ruin it.

She brushed back her bangs and smiled faintly. “It’s nothing.” She checked her watch. “It’s pretty late—let’s go. Dinner’s on me, to wish us a great university life ahead.”

Hearing this, the others’ homesickness eased somewhat.

They sorted their moods and happily embraced their new university life.

Since registration had just wrapped up, the next day had no packed schedule—just a notice to report to a designated classroom in the academic building at 10 a.m. for military training and class arrangements.

Shen Jia Yan and her roommates returned from dinner a bit late, so they took turns showering in sequence.

While waiting her turn, she sent Wen Wan Ning a message.

They’d both tacitly avoided mentioning the KTV incident, hadn’t gone out together since, but kept in touch via WeChat.

Their relationship… was fairly harmonious.

Jia Yan: [Wan Ning, I reported to school today.]

Wen Wan Ning knew it was her day and had wanted to message asking how it went, but worried she’d be too busy her first day, so held off.

Seeing her phone light up, she set down her book and picked it up.

Reading Shen Jia Yan’s WeChat, a smile tugged at her lips: [First day on campus—bet there was a lot to do?]

Shen Jia Yan replied quickly, her brows and eyes lifting happily: [Yeah, quite a bit, but mostly handled now.]

[Except one thing that’s really bummed me out. (sad puppy.jpg)]

Wen Wan Ning’s brows furrowed slightly. Had she run into some tricky issue?

Wan Ning: [What happened?]

Thinking of the uniform fiasco, Shen Jia Yan’s good mood dipped a little.

She pouted and typed back: [It’s the military training uniform. I’ve dreamed of training in camouflage since my very first one before elementary promotion. But elementary to junior high? School uniform. Junior high to high school—you know—also school uniform.]

[I was so hyped for my last one ever, university! How could it not be camouflage? And yet, heh heh heh, who’d think university still has school uniforms? (bawling.jpg)]

Wen Wan Ning read the messages, imagining Shen Jia Yan’s face, and couldn’t help laughing out loud.

Still so cute.

She didn’t know why she was so fixated on camouflage, but it was clear she’d been excited—and now disappointed.

Wen Wan Ning comforted her: [That’s really a shame, but I’ve seen Jingbei Media University’s uniforms—they’re nice too. I bet you’ll be the best-looking one in your major, even all of freshman year. (starry eyes.jpg)]

Shen Jia Yan was delighted by Wen Wan Ning’s words; her smile widened.

Jia Yan: [Not that exaggerated—you’re embarrassing me. (shy.jpg)]

Then quickly followed up: [Your school will definitely do camouflage for training. I’ll come watch you then—you’ll be the absolute best-looking one at the entire Jingbei University.]

Wen Wan Ning stared at the message on her phone, a faint blush coloring her fair cheeks.

Five minutes passed with no reply from Shen Jia Yan.

Zhang Min emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying her hair. “Jia Yan, your turn to shower.”

“Ah, okay.” She glanced at her phone but decided to take it in.

She’d just set it on the vanity and half-removed her clothes when the screen lit up.

She dropped her clothes and hurriedly opened it.

Wan Ning: [Okay.]