d simply pay and be done with it. They all tended to be generous, though none of them were lacking in funds.With Wei Chao's words, some people froze. This practically signaled a clear exclusion of Su...Chapter 165 Listening to Music Together

Sometimes, time flies so quickly that one doesn't even notice. In the vast campus, there are always busy recruitment paths for clubs and societies that suddenly become bustling, as if the roadside trees which were once bare have suddenly flourished like a canopy overhead. A stream of bicycles穿梭其間，或者行政樓下麵停放的各種各樣的汽車群每天擺放的位置都不一樣。

The school remains calm and composed as usual. The tiles on the buildings shine with a faint light in the morning sun, and from 7:30 onwards, people come and go punctually. These are usually first or second-year students who are still getting used to university life, or those few diligent students whose schedules are as precise as a clock.

Sometimes, clusters of two or three girls pass by, talking about whether they have passed their English proficiency test. Occasionally, there are exclamations like "Oh no, it's terrible" or "I can't take it anymore", facing various exams with the hope of graduating from this school in a relatively decent manner and finding a job that at least provides sustenance and offers some prospects for the future.

In comparison to these fourth-year students who are busy attending job fairs, interviews, and taking tests until their muscles ache, those students who still live like they're in a greenhouse and whose graduation seems far away are indeed fortunate.

For example, Zhang Xiaqiao and Li Han from Su Cen's dormitory. They would still skip classes, go to meet with girls from another dorm on the opposite side of the building at the school’s simple coffee shop under the pretext of a "get-together", or run back and forth between the two campuses due to student organization activities, doing trivial tasks such as moving items for the student council or club.

As an industrious member of 602 dormitory, Xiao Xu's main task every morning is to watch his nose while sitting calmly. When the professor calls out "Li Han", he responds; when calling out "Zhang Xiaqiao", he pinches his nose and responds; and when calling out "Su Cen", he lowers half of his head and responds. The professor glances at him, somewhat irritatedly moves on to call the next name, not bothering to pursue further because Su Cen's performance in this course is good enough to leave a deep impression on the professor. His classmates sitting beside Xiao Xu look at him with admiration; this is what it means to band together and fight through university.

When walking along the school streets, Su Cen would sometimes recall his past university life. He often woke up unkempt like Mark Zuckerberg in California, wearing slippers. Then he would walk on the path between the hot water room and cafeteria, acting like some particularly artistic rock youth. Back then, only first or second-year students cared about their appearance; after that, they might groom themselves when receiving a cute little senior sister to leave an impression of a handsome senior brother. There was a small road leading to Gate No. 4 in the university which had the affiliated kindergarten beside it with high walls around them. The surrounding area was filled with camphor trees and occasionally rusty utility poles and high-voltage transformers, while tangled high-voltage wires split up the sky overhead.

During summer when they were all idle, Su Cen and his die-hard friends would sit on this path's steps for hours. They listened to rock music and European pop songs in a state of despondency; only the shrill cries of cicadas seemed like the only exuberant sound in this scene of depression. That was always a moment when graduation seemed distant and uncertain.

The facade in front is the teaching building of the Management College, with white brick walls. Entering through the stepped flower bed and walking across the hall to room 3-2, a class is held there, roughly the Public Economics course offered by Nan University around the year 2001. Su Can enters from the back door and sits beside a ponytail girl in the third-to-last seat.

Tang Wu stares at Su Can who suddenly appears and asks, "Why are you here"

"Nothing much, I just wanted to take a class with you," Su Can grins. Sitting side by side with a campus beauty like Tang Wu is the ultimate dream of countless university boys; if they could receive a flirtatious glance from such a charming and gentle girl, they would be so ecstatic that it would feel as if they were reborn. How else to explain why libraries or night study rooms are always packed even during winter when no one wants to leave their dormitory

Tang Wu softly says "Oh" and feels slightly sweet inside but then sees many people in the back turning around to stare at them. Both of them act calmly, Tang Wu smiles, as if having a boy like this by her side is perfectly normal.

Su Can hands a line-controlled earphone to Tang Wu. Tang Wu is taken aback and Su Can says, "There's a Sony Walkman in Zhang Xiaqiao’s dormitory that plays good music; it has gone through tapes," he adds with a faint sense of nostalgia. Seeing Su Can interested, Zhang Xiaqiao immediately hands him the earphones saying, "I don't use them much anyway, just return to me when you graduate." He then opens his drawer filled with countless limited edition albums and says, "Listen to whatever you want."

The next day, Tang Wu, who feels restless without seeing Su Can, goes to the Economics Department classroom. Many people in her class see the usually modest and elegant Tang Wu taking over the earphones, loosening her ponytail, letting her hair down, then gently tilting her head to put an earphone in her ear, with her black hair shining brightly under the morning light.

Oh heavens, how envious! In this moment, many people in the classroom are wailing in their hearts. Even top student Tang Wu has such a side, and both of them have an earphone each; it's envy that makes one weep. How can these single guys who sing love songs bear to see this Is there any room left for them to live

The song playing in the earphones is Michael Jackson’s "Smooth Criminal."

So Su Can sits side by side with Tang Wu in the morning Economics Department classroom, their backs connected by a single line. Listening to music that seems like it comes from another era and Michael Jackson himself while both are attending her class, Tang Wu still opens her bright eyes to take notes as soft music connects her and Su Can's little secret.

Su Cen knew that there were many secrets he had not shared with Tang Wu, such as Michael Jackson's premature death in the year 2009, making his music a world rarity. On the day of mourning, millions of fans shed tears over him. For example, they might be quietly enjoying their university life in an Economics Department classroom, smelling the wood and ink from books on their desks, but each passing day would diminish this undisturbed lifestyle, which may never return.

There were many more examples; back when he was a freshman, he had promised Tang Wu that he would become a legendary hero. Now, though he could not claim to be a hero, Su Cen knew that certain fated aspects of life were gradually closing in on him. With the Washington Post Group's investment, Qiu Ji became more powerful like an eagle gaining wings, and was set for rapid expansion across oceans, becoming increasingly popular and known by more people. Su Cen did not know which day he would resume his busy schedule or when he would start being someone others talked about. But he hoped that such days would come later so that he could fully enjoy this peaceful life without disturbance.

The song title was "You Won't Be Alone," and indeed, Su Cen felt no loneliness as the lyrics suggested.

While listening to the song, Su Cen fell asleep unexpectedly. The last thing in his sight was the magnolia leaves outside the window, framed by the increasingly bright morning light. It somewhat reminded him of his university days when he was aimlessly drifting. However, back then each day was filled with anxiety about an unchangeable future, whereas now sleeping peacefully next to Tang Wu brought a fresh scent from the breeze.

It felt comfortable.

Su Cen didn't know how long he had slept until Tang Wu gently touched his head, and he woke up during a break in class when people were noisy. After Tang Wu withdrew her hand, Su Cen laughed. "If so many people see you touching a guy like this, will I one day be kicked by someone"

"Then I'll kick them myself," Tang Wu teased with a playful wink of her pretty eyes. "You can rest assured no one will bully you."

Su Cen felt somewhat weak but was overjoyed at her words. He recalled how Tang Wu had kicked the baseball team senior when he tried to interfere during university orientation; this incident was legendary, and several seniors from the baseball team were still fixated on Tang Wu's affection, eagerly waiting for a chance to replace him.

"Aren't you going back" Although Tang Wu was delighted that Su Cen had come to attend class with her, skipping classes would certainly affect his duties. Therefore, she couldn’t indulge in their leisurely time together without limits.

"When are we going back to Snowsea Retreat to watch horror movies again" Su Cen said with a pleading smile.

Tang Wu blushed and turned her head away, not wanting to deal with this guy.

"I'll wait for you at noon to have lunch together," Su Cen threw out these words before tidying up his things and heading towards the teaching building where he had his next class. He thought to himself that university life was really too damn awesome.

,

After this, Su Cen received a call from Wang Weiwei. On the other end of the line, Wang Weiwei said, "Su Cen, I want to tell you beforehand that Li Lu is probably going to come looking for you. Just so it doesn't seem sudden."

"Li Lu" This was the first time Su Cen had heard this name, and he wasn't quite sure what was going on. "A person whom I don’t want to call cousin but am forced to address as such. He’s indeed my cousin, but acts in a carefree manner that I’ve disliked for a long time now. Yet, he's someone who is very favored by the elders in our family. This guy has a big ego and it makes me really uncomfortable. There’s nothing I can do about it; this might be due to genetics or habit. Ever since I was young, I've had bad feelings towards him, but I must admit that he’s one of the most accomplished members of our clan."

"What does that mean" Su Cen frowned. Although he and Wang Weiwei got along well, from what Wang Weiwei was saying, his cousin wanted to see him for some reason.

"Li Lu originally came to Shanghai on business this time, as well as to visit Lin Luoran, but he heard about you from somewhere so there’s a chance he wants to meet you. When you do meet him, don’t think of him as my brother. He’s got a big ego; if it makes you uncomfortable, just ignore him at any time.

I feel quite uncomfortable around him myself, and there's no need for you to pay attention to him."he definitely wants to keep it."Tang Wu received her copy of the latest Morning Flowers, handing over 6 yuan. Qin Wang hurriedly declined with a bitter smile, "No, no, just treat this as my personal g...