Chapter 25: Ning Qing is not a Tsundere

"Hey!"

On the way out to eat, seeing someone run past them, likely a Martial Artist or Martial Cultivator, Zhang Suannai praised them sincerely: "Running so fast! Almost as fast as my dog!"

After saying this, she even turned her head to look at Ning Qing:

"Right?"

Ning Qing offered no comment.

But this still couldn't dampen Zhang Suannai's enthusiasm for chatting: "Which college are you in?"

"Astronomy and Universe."

"Oh my! That sounds so high-end?"

"..."

"Why did you apply for this college?"

"Interest."

"What major?"

"Space and Plane Studies."

"That seems like a very obscure one, doesn't it?" Zhang Suannai paused for a moment, looking at Ning Qing with a sincere gaze, "Was it because the scores for other majors were too high? You couldn't get in."

"I was specially admitted."

"Specially admitted? Amazing! I admire those who get specially admitted the most!"

"Sounds like you are one too."

"Huh?" Zhang Suannai was stunned for a moment, turned her body to look at Ning Qing, and walked sideways, "How did you figure that out?"

"Guessed."

"Alright, alright, then why did you apply for this lousy major? It has no future at all."

"..."

Ning Qing did not want to pay attention to her anymore, nor did she look at her.

"Okay, okay, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

Zhang Suannai apologized repeatedly, thinking that this was her roommate after all, and she would have to live with her for four years; it would be bad if she forced someone to change dorms on the very first day.

Zhang Suannai brought Ning Qing to the canteen closest to the Dormitory area. Ning Qing's campus card hadn't been activated yet; she only told her when Ning Qing was about to swipe the card, and she proactively snatched the lead to swipe her own card for her, then took the initiative to find a seat and beckoned Ning Qing to sit.

The two sat opposite each other.

There were many new students enrolling, including parents, but fortunately, the canteen was large enough to accommodate thousands of people for meals.

There were many types of food in the canteen; it was said that dishes from all over the country and all major cuisines could be found in the Ling'an Canteen, crushing the major food courts outside. Moreover, the taste of the food courts outside might not necessarily compare to this place, and it could definitely satisfy most people's appetites.

It was just that a canteen is a canteen after all, and it had its limitations; if you were a foodie who always loved searching for delicacies, you would find it just average.

Ning Qing served very little, and she felt it was okay upon her first bite.

When she finished her meal, Zhang Suannai, who had served a huge pile of food, was still eating; she sat and waited for her, while taking out her Mobile Phone.

Chen Shu: 【Image】

Ning Qing: Are you finished packing?

Chen Shu: Not yet.

Ning Qing: Have you eaten?

Chen Shu: Just ate, had a dry pot at the Commercial Street, it was so average, not even as good as what I make.

Chen Shu: And I even had to wait in line.

Chen Shu: Did you eat?

Ning Qing: Just finished.

Chen Shu: Was it good?

Ning Qing: It's okay.

Chen Shu: Are you alone?

Ning Qing: I have a roommate.

Chen Shu: Hmm? How are you getting along with your roommate?

Ning Qing: Not great.

Chen Shu: What's wrong?

Ning Qing: She's a bit annoying, just like you, but I don't feel like hitting her.

Chen Shu: You actually think I'm annoying?

Chen Shu: /waving hands and hands on hips hmph

Ning Qing: But I can hit you.

Chen Shu: Put in more effort, you'll get along better after spending more time together. If you really can't get along, don't make things hard for yourself, just change dorms. By the way, you can change dorms, right?

Ning Qing: We'll see.

Chen Shu: Good, I have to get busy too.

Ning Qing: Busy with what?

Chen Shu: Didn't I buy a lot of things online? They all arrived today and are piled up at the courier station. I can't carry them by myself. My two roommates heard about it and were very enthusiastic; they just finished eating and are planning to take me to the station to help me carry them.

Ning Qing: Good.

Ning Qing put down her Mobile Phone and saw that Zhang Suannai opposite her was also almost finished, and was constantly sneaking glances at her.

Zhang Suannai grinned: "Reporting to your parents?"

"Eat faster."

"Oh."

Zhang Suannai was obedient for once, lowering her head to shovel food down vigorously.

After finishing, she returned to the Dormitory.

The Dormitory was still completely empty; Zhang Suannai snuck a peek into Room 1, and seeing it was still empty, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed:

"No one's come yet."

After saying this, she looked toward Ning Qing: "When do you think the last roommate will arrive?"

"I don't know."

"Guess!"

"No."

"Guess! If you guess right, I won't bother you anymore."

"Do you mind keeping a cat?"

"Huh?"

"Do you mind keeping a cat in the Dormitory?"

"Why did you change the subject so fast?" Zhang Suannai's eyes darted around. "Then you guess when the new roommate will arrive, today or tomorrow? You guess one, I'll guess the other. If you guess right, I'll agree to keeping a cat, and I'll even be responsible for helping you convince the other one."

"And you can't bother me."

"But sometimes I can't control my own self!"

"Try your best."

"Emmm..."

Zhang Suannai thought about it; wasn't this just letting her do as she pleased? So she agreed quite readily: "It's a deal!"

"You guess first."

"Then I guess today!"

"If you're wrong, then I'm right."

"Straightforward!! I'm starting to like you!"

"..."

Ning Qing ignored her, silently returning to her room to scan the area, then walked out onto the balcony.

This balcony actually faced west.

A west-facing balcony is rare; most face north-south, and some face east. Facing west not only means direct sunlight, but it's the afternoon sun, which many people can't stand. But for those who like to grow Chinese roses, if you want to grow them on a balcony, a west-facing one is the best.

Ning Qing examined it carefully, already having a plan in mind.

Outside the room.

Zhang Suannai simply moved a small stool to the doorway and sat down, waiting eagerly for the new roommate.

There was movement on the stairs.

She poked her head out to stare in that direction.

Someone went upstairs.

She withdrew her gaze in disappointment.

There was movement on the stairs again, and she poked her head out once more.

This time, someone walked onto this floor and started checking the door numbers one by one. Seeing this, Zhang Suannai smiled brightly, waving repeatedly and greeting them enthusiastically to ask for their room number.

Unfortunately, they were for next door.

Zhang Suannai watched with lingering attachment as the whole family walked into the neighboring Dormitory.

Ah...

So dull and boring.

It wasn't until Ning Qing opened the door and walked out of her room, looking like she was going out, that she turned her head back to look at Ning Qing: "Where are you going?"

"To pick up a package."

"Can you find it? I'll take you."

"I can find it."

"What did you buy?"

"Daily necessities."

"Don't you use the ones the school provides?" By now, Ning Qing had already passed her, so she had to crane her neck high, watching Ning Qing's side profile, then her back, "Hey, hey, don't be in such a rush to leave! Did you buy a lot? I'll help you carry it."

"I have a Space Item."

"Oh my! Isn't that thing priceless and hard to find right now? You have such an expensive item?"

"Sounds like you have one too."

Ning Qing never stopped her pace, walking toward the stairwell as she spoke; only her calm and faint voice drifted back, which one might not even hear if their hearing were a bit weak.

Zhang Suannai frowned tightly—

Did her own nature of liking to show off get exposed?

"..."

Too lazy to think about it, she continued to wait.

Ah...

Why aren't they here yet?

Jiang Lai was carrying a huge, compressed latex mattress, holding a bag of quilts in his other hand, his expression somewhat dazed.

Meng Chunqiu was also hugging a large package with many smaller packages piled on top; he turned his head and looked at Chen Shu numbly, gulping down a mouthful of saliva: "Brother Chen, I couldn't tell you had such a talent for architecture."

"You flatter me."

Chen Shu was also carrying many things, almost unable to see his own head.

Fortunately, this was the post station closest to the Dormitory area, only a ten-minute walk away.

Walking and resting, he returned to the Dormitory.

"Many thanks to you both."

Chen Shu returned to his room, and while unpacking the packages, he began to tidy up the room.

In the room, there was a 1.5-meter bed, a bedside table on each side of the bed, a wardrobe, a small set of computer desk and chair, and a very small Spiritual Air Conditioner.

On the far right of the outside balcony, there was also a combination desk; the window in this area could not be opened. The desk was clearly custom-made, much larger than the computer desk in the room, and its width matched the width of the balcony exactly; it fit very snugly when placed there, and would not trigger any obsessive-compulsive tendencies. It even came with a reading lamp and a bookshelf.

Besides that, there was nothing else.

The previous senior brother had not left him anything, not even a meditation cushion, and the wardrobe drawers were completely clean. Perhaps he had left things, but the dormitory manager had taken them all to sell.

Being completely clean was also quite good.

Chen Shu first unpacked the compressed mattress and let it expand for half a day.

He put the quilt core into the duvet cover and the pillow core into the pillowcase.

He took out other daily necessities, electronic equipment, clothing, shoes, hats, and some miscellaneous items, placing them where they belonged.

He also placed the beloved books he brought himself onto the bookshelf.

Gradually, it started to look like a proper place.

"Buy an ergonomic chair."

"Buy a Table Lamp."

"Buy a meditation cushion, the super soft kind."

"Buy some snacks."

"Get another case of Joy."

"Perfect!"

Chen Shu opened a shopping app and began to browse.

Slowly, dusk arrived; he read some books, studied some Spell, ate dinner, and night soon descended.

Before his Daily Cultivation, Chen Shu closed the balcony door, sat down at the desk, opened his newly bought laptop, logged into instant messaging, and dialed Qingqing's video call.

The other side answered quickly.

Ning Qing's face appeared on the screen, clear and ethereal.

Chen Shu asked with a grin: "Haven't seen you for a day, has Qingqing missed me?"

Ning Qing pursed her lips and answered truthfully:

"Not yet."

"Not yet? When will you miss me?"

"In a couple of days, perhaps."

"Qingqing isn't tsundere at all."

"What is tsundere?" Ning Qing tilted her head slightly to look at him, her eyes fixed directly on the screen.

"It means when you clearly miss someone, you insist on saying you don't; when you clearly want something in your heart, you insist on saying you don't; when you clearly like..."

"I am not sick."

"I haven't finished speaking yet."

"Then speak."

"When you clearly like someone, you insist on saying you don't like them."

"Are you done?"

"Done."

"I am not sick."

"Qingqing, you are so cute."

"A little bit."

"Have your roommates all arrived?" Chen Shu asked again.

"Only I have arrived." Ning Qing's tone remained indifferent, as it was just now, and as it is now, "The other one is a sophomore."

"There's a sophomore? Is your school's dormitory management that chaotic?"

"I don't know."

"Then what is she doing now?"

"Waiting outside."

"Waiting for whom?"

"Waiting for new roommates."

"Will the new roommates arrive today?"

"No."

"Oh..."