When close-knit girlfriends gather to shop, they can’t really call each other besties unless they’ve gone through every brand’s store in the mall, eaten some delicious food, and caught up on gossip.
But Li Qing knows that every time they get together, whenever personal topics come up, Ning Youguang always avoids them.
She doesn’t like getting involved in those disputes, nor does she like judging others.
However, she still doesn’t quite understand, "Why isn’t it important?"
She asks, "She was your roommate before, our classmate, aren’t you curious about the story behind her big changes?"
"Not curious," Ning Youguang says, "Regardless of who she is to us, the important thing is that she is herself." That’s called "respect."
Li Qing lightly bites her lip, "Alright, let’s not talk about her anymore, let’s go to the women’s clothing store."
Her high heels tap briskly on the marble floor of the mall.
Ning Youguang in flat shoes casually strolls behind her.
She wasn’t planning on buying anything originally, but ended up buying more than Li Qing.
...
"I really wish I could be your boyfriend," Li Qing says enviously, looking at the pile of luxury men’s clothing bags in Ning Youguang’s hands.
"Sorry, I like men," Ning Youguang says mercilessly.
Li Qing pouts, "My heart hurts, only food can heal it now."
"Let’s go, I’ll treat you to a meal," Ning Youguang smiles.
Li Qing cheers up.
The two of them head out of the mall with bags, and go to the food street behind the mall to eat to their heart’s content.
Li Qing burps and feels quite regretful, "Eating delicious food indeed makes people happy, but eventually, it just feels the same."
Ning Youguang sighs, "I’ve warned you many times already, don’t overdo it."
Li Qing reflects deeply on her own poor eating habits of binge eating today—"So, I think food, money, brands can’t bring us lasting happiness."
Ning Youguang wholeheartedly agrees, "Congratulations, you have a new realization! It looks like treating you this afternoon wasn’t in vain."
Li Qing feels a tad bit ashamed, "When someone comes to the food street for the first time and sees so many delicious things, of course they want to taste them all, otherwise, wouldn’t it be a pity?" Then, she thinks of a comeback for herself, "Teacher Ning, how can one achieve permanent happiness?"
Ning Youguang says, "I’m searching too, some say it’s having a heart that’s unwavering, I want to find it."
Li Qing gives her a big thumbs up, "Keep going, share it with me when you find it."
"Certainly," Ning Youguang says, "It’s getting late, I should head back, I’ve got a class to teach tomorrow morning."
"I need to get back too," Li Qing says, "Our company has a meeting tomorrow morning, it’s dreadful~ Let me tell you, our boss is a greasy middle-aged guy, every time he babbles on and on, loves to lecture, wastes time and is super boring."
"Then I’ll send you back," Ning Youguang looks at the time, "I’m headed in the same direction anyway."
Once they reach the underground parking lot.
"Did you get a new car?" Li Qing asks curiously, looking at the latest model energy car.
"My boyfriend won it in a lottery," Ning Youguang smiles with her eyes curved.
"Oh my, Ning Youguang, you shameless person, can’t you stop flaunting?!" Li Qing raises her eyebrow, pretending to be angry.
"Oh." Ning Youguang’s smile instantly vanishes completely.
Seeing her serious look, Li Qing can’t help but laugh, "Your boyfriend’s luck is amazing, which lottery can win a car?"
"Golden egg smash," Ning Youguang says.
"..."
Could you be any more Versailles*?!
...
That afternoon, just after dropping Li Qing home, as Ning Youguang was about to start her car to return to school, she suddenly received a WeChat message from Jiang Wei.
［Jiang Wei: My dear, when do you have time? Can I invite you for a meal?］
Ning Youguang paused:
［It’s almost vacation, school is a bit busy. If there’s something, we can talk on WeChat.］
Soon she receives a reply:
［Jiang Wei: If you’re willing, I can come to the school to see you. We can just have a simple meal outside the campus, is that okay?］
A few minutes later, another message comes through—
［There’s something I’d like to tell you face to face.］
Ning Youguang thinks about her schedule and replies:
［I’m free on Thursday from ten in the morning to two in the afternoon.］
The reply comes almost instantly:
［Great, I’ll see you at school Thursday at ten.］
After receiving Jiang Wei’s message wanting to meet, Ning Youguang couldn’t help but wonder what was so important to discuss face to face.
To be honest, among college classmates.
After graduating, the ones you keep in touch with most usually are your roommates.
The connections forged through four years of sharing life, eating, and studying together in college are far deeper than those with ordinary classmates.
But in reality, years after graduating from undergraduate.
Li Qing, who lived next door in the dormitory, became her best friend.
Jiang Wei, who lived in the bunk below her for four years, grew more distant.
Especially since junior year, for some reason, it seemed Jiang Wei often intentionally kept her distance.
She tried hard to dissolve the barrier between them.
However, unfortunately, Jiang Wei disliked her attempts at closeness even more, avoiding her more.
Realizing this, she retreated to a suitable distance, quietly remaining just roommates, no longer hoping to continue as friends.
After Jiang Wei no longer wanted to be her friend, the reason she still tried to get close, wanting to salvage their relationship, partly because she valued the unique bond of having her as her only roommate across two lifetimes.
She knew full well that not all close relationships could become friendships.
...
Because of this unexpected invitation, Ning Youguang was rather distracted after returning to school.
So much so, when she returned to her dormitory, she realized all the things she bought were left in her car’s trunk.
She had no choice but to lock her dorm door again and go get the items.
"Where are you going?" Shi Wangyue, just back from work, sees Ning Youguang locking the door to go get her stuff from the car.
"I left my things in the car trunk," Ning Youguang says helplessly.
Shi Wangyue walks over and asks with concern, "Is something on your mind?"
"Yeah." Ning Youguang nods.
She then shares today’s story about seeing Jiang Wei in the mall and Jiang Wei inviting her to eat.
"Oh." Shi Wangyue hugs her shoulders, "You’ll know soon enough."
He further asks, "Was shopping fun today?"
"Not bad," Ning Youguang says, "I wasn’t planning to buy anything, but ended up buying a lot."
Shi Wangyue smiles gently, "As long as you’re happy." 1314
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*Note: "Versailles" is a slang term referring to someone who shows off in a subtle or seemingly self-deprecating manner.