Chapter 1880 — Still an Acquaintance

It was another familiar voice. Wei Zhao paused for a moment, turned his head—and there she was, just as he'd thought: "Wang Xinyan?"

"Wei Zhao?" Wang Xinyan's eyes went wide. It struck her that fate could be wondrously uncanny. The two of them had no business crossing paths in life, yet some inexplicable destiny kept throwing them together—on the train, on the plane, in the examination hall, each time seated side by side.

And in the commercial district of Songshan City, it had been Wei Zhao who stepped in to help her out of trouble. Never had she imagined she would see him again at the university registration.

Something stirred in Wang Xinyan's somewhat cold heart—perhaps this was what the ancients called the will of heaven? Fate preordained?

But it was only a passing thought. She shook off such fanciful notions, and thinking of her own lot, she sighed.

The pharmaceutical program had not been her choice. She had applied to East Sea Engineering University for Business Administration, but the Xiao family had pulled strings and transferred her into "Pharmaceutical Studies." Wang Xinyan knew what it meant: preparation for her future marriage into the Kang family.

Ever since the Great Clan Assembly ended, the Xiao and Kang families had stayed in close contact, and the matter of the marriage alliance had been placed on the agenda.

The Xiao family had brokered the dealings between the Kang family and the hidden You family, and so they knew every detail. Two families, each backed by a hidden clan, wishing to continue their alliance—naturally they struck a deal at once.

Though the Kang family's pharmaceutical company had taken a heavy blow this time, the Xiao brothers saw clearly enough: so long as the hidden You family behind the Kang family kept supporting them, the Kang family would not fall. The marriage alliance would benefit both houses.

Wang Xinyan, the sacrifice in all this, was utterly helpless—and utterly unable to change her fate.

"You're registering here?" Wei Zhao looked at Wang Xinyan in surprise. He found it hard to imagine a girl choosing such a dry, tedious program.

"Mm..." Wang Xinyan nodded without elaborating. She had always been a quiet, reticent girl, and only once—in her most vulnerable moment—had she opened her heart to Wei Zhao.

"So am I. These two are the brothers Bai Weikai and Bai Weituo. Bai Weikai is our senior—he calls himself Brother Xiaokai. Bai Weituo is a freshman, like us," Wei Zhao introduced them.

Bai Weikai's interest had perked up at the arrival of a beauty, but seeing that she and Wei Zhao apparently already knew each other, his enthusiasm died on the spot. A friend's wife is not to be coveted—and the wife of one's benefactor even less so, or his grandfather would flay him alive if he ever found out!

"Ah? Senior Bai, sorry to trouble you..." Wang Xinyan handed him her admission notice.

"No trouble at all." Bai Weikai briskly processed her paperwork, then said, "Xiaotuo, take over for me here. I'll take our benefactor and this... Miss Wang to handle the rest of the formalities!"

"No need—I'll go with Brother Lin!" Bai Weituo said instead. "You stay here and receive the freshmen, big brother!"

And with that, Bai Weituo strode off ahead.

Bai Weikai had no choice but to sit back down where he'd been, thoroughly disgruntled.

He'd finally met someone worth talking to—his grandfather's savior, no less—and his little brother had snatched the chance right out from under him!

"Brother Lin, Miss Wang, I know this school inside out—I grew up here. When there's time, I'll show you both around!" Bai Weituo said.

"Sure." Wei Zhao nodded, but something puzzled him. "Since you're from East Sea, how did you take the college entrance exam in Songshan City?"

"My hometown is Songshan City. My parents both work there, and my household registration is there too, so naturally I sat the exam there," Bai Weituo explained.

"I see." Wei Zhao nodded and asked no more. After all, they were hardly well acquainted yet, and too many questions might put him in an awkward spot.

As they talked, Bai Weituo led Wei Zhao and Wang Xinyan to the payment office—and only then did Wei Zhao realize with a start that all freshmen paid their fees at the same place. He had been here just moments ago with Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu!

Of course, Wei Zhao had never attended university before and had no experience to draw on; he'd assumed each department had its own office. Some universities did do it that way, but others funneled everyone through a single finance office.

The same went for collecting dormitory keys and supplies. What Wei Zhao hadn't expected was how familiar Bai Weituo was with the teacher in charge here. After a quick greeting, he grinned and said, "Teacher Zhang, put him in the same dorm as me!"

"Oh, no problem," Teacher Zhang agreed readily.

It was plain to see that Bai Weituo and Teacher Zhang were well acquainted. Only after collecting the keys and dorm supplies did Bai Weituo explain: "Ever since before my brother enrolled, the two of us have been helping Grandfather receive freshmen. As you know, Brother Lin, ours is a tiny top-tier program with an obvious shortage of staff, so every year we two moonlight as receptionists—we're on very familiar terms with the teachers here!"

Wei Zhao nodded. No wonder Teacher Zhang, who handled dorm assignments, had agreed the moment the request was made.

"Shall I walk you to your dorm?" Wei Zhao glanced at Wang Xinyan and asked.

"N-no... no need. I can manage on my own..." Wang Xinyan was carrying a large bag of luggage, and with the dorm supplies in her hands as well, she was clearly struggling.

Wei Zhao smiled and took half of it from her—but not all of it, which would have looked like ulterior motives. Though he was somewhat fond of Wang Xinyan, he was not about to stoop to fawning.

"Then... thank you!" A faint blush rose to Wang Xinyan's cheeks. She didn't know why, but every time she was with Wei Zhao, she felt something special—calm, and yet warm. A wondrous feeling, all in all.

"Ha... it's nothing," Wei Zhao said with a smile.

Led by Bai Weituo, the three headed toward the women's dormitory area. Wei Zhao had just come from there, but Bai Weituo assumed neither he nor Wang Xinyan knew the way, and so he took the initiative to explain, as they walked, where each little campus path led...

"Over there are the four cafeterias. Number One is for faculty and staff; Two and Three are student cafeterias; and Number Four... heh, that's really a big restaurant—you can order dishes there. The students with money all eat there!" Bai Weituo explained. "Over that way are the gymnasium and the swimming hall... open twenty-four hours. Though... there are few people around in the middle of the night, and if you happen to be there, you might see something quite thrilling!"

For the fastest updates, read without pop-ups at.