Qingchuan was a beautiful city. Through spring’s departure and autumn’s arrival, the four seasons carved their clearest marks here. Su Yu had once dreamed of visiting—alas, work had bound him too tightly. He never found the time. Now, walking these unfamiliar streets, an inexplicable lightness settled over him.
Su Yu dragged his heavy suitcase through the train station, his frame looking slender. Just stepping outside, he spotted a taxi parked roadside.
"Driver, can you take me to Qingchuan University?"
"Sure can!" The driver, eager for business, hopped out and stowed the luggage in the trunk.
Glancing in the rearview mirror at the handsome young man in the back, he asked, "Freshman?"
"Yeah, reporting for first year."
"Wow, Qingchuan University’s tough to get into. My son fell short by a few points—had to go elsewhere. Wish he could’ve stayed here." His eyes gleamed with envy. "Your parents must be so proud. Good-looking *and* smart."
"Heh, you’re making me blush, Uncle," Su Yu chuckled awkwardly. The driver’s friendliness left him flustered.
"Ever been to Qingchuan before?"
"Heard of it, never visited. But it matches what I imagined."
"Qingchuan’s a gem! This is just the city center—Qingchuan University’s surrounded by fun spots." The driver lit up, chatting warmly as if introducing his own home.
The ride from outskirts to campus took barely over an hour—far smoother than back home.
"See that ahead? Qingchuan University. Lucky you came early; any later, traffic’d be a nightmare." He pointed left. Su Yu followed his gaze: a grand stone stele stood in the square, bold characters carved in vigorous, flowing strokes—the place he’d come for.
The taxi eased to a stop. The driver unloaded Su Yu’s bag with a cheerful farewell.
"Here’s my number. Call me when heading home for winter break—I’ll give you a discount."
"Thanks, Driver!" Su Yu accepted the card with a smile.
He tilted his head up. Sunlight poured warmly over him. A flicker of vanity stirred—he almost believed the sky had cleared just for him. After all, fortune had smiled on him once… why not again?
*Su Yu… his life was finally ready for a fresh start.*
...
Ahead, traffic jammed tight. The driver’s brow furrowed deep, wrinkles stacking with frustration. He honked sharply—a single blare that sparked a chorus of horns. The more impatient people grew, the tighter the gridlock.
He lit a cigarette. Smoke curled through his lungs before he exhaled, yet the cabin still reeked of tobacco. Glancing up, he caught sight of the girl in the back—delicate features, strikingly pretty. Something about her eased his irritation. He stubbed the still-glowing butt into the ashtray.
"First time here, miss?"
Xia Qian Ge didn’t answer. Beneath her bangs, her eyes—deep, shadowed—stared blankly out the window. Her pitch-black pupils crowded the whites into corners, veiled in a gloomy haze like storm-heavy clouds. She disliked this city: too vast, too crowded, roads forever choked. Yet she had her reasons. A faint, eerie smile touched her lips.
Silence unnerved the driver. Guiltily, he flipped the rearview mirror up and focused on driving. *Why did someone so lovely suddenly feel… unsettling?* He’d glimpsed her smirking at her own reflection in the glass—cold, unnatural. Goosebumps prickled his spine. He pressed the accelerator, eager to drop her off.
"We’re here."
"Mm."
Xia Qian Ge stepped out. Then she heard his muttered whisper:
"Ugh, bad luck. Is she… off her rocker? That creepy stare."
*Rude to judge strangers behind their backs.* She swallowed a surge of irritation and slammed the door shut with a sharp *bang*.
...
University move-in day buzzed with energy. Blazing sun mirrored student enthusiasm—fresh blood revitalizing the campus air. Nearly every newcomer was a top scorer from across the nation, pride glowing in every step. Strangers yet, but a quiet current of comparison already hummed beneath the surface.
At the gate, students hauled heavy luggage in and out. Zhou Yang had just escorted a freshman to her dorm. Sweating heavily in the heat, he chugged mineral water, soaking his shirt.
Then—a faint gardenia scent drifted past.
He tossed the empty bottle and turned. A slender girl dragged a white suitcase. But what stole his breath were her long, straight legs and elegant neck—pale, poised, like a swan gliding above the crowd.
Zhou Yang’s eyes lit up. He hurried after her. "Freshman? Which dorm? I’ll walk you!"
Xia Qian Ge turned. Zhou Yang froze. His heart hammered; breath caught. Her smile framed exquisite features—stunning as a figure stepped from an ink-wash painting, radiant as blooming peach blossoms. *Love at first sight?* He’d spent a year here and never seen anyone more beautiful.
"I’m fine, thank you. Others need help too," she declined gently. Zhou Yang felt no annoyance—only dazed admiration. Long after she vanished, he stood rooted, the crowd of new students suddenly dull. *Should’ve asked for her number.* He cursed himself silently, shoulders slumping as he walked away.
