Qin Tian parked his car and after returning to the dormitory, Chen Zhuang and Zhuang Zhe returned with their packed lunches shortly after.
"Tian Ge, you're back. Didn't you say you were coming yesterday?" Chen Zhuang asked with a smile.
"I had a bit too much to drink yesterday and couldn't drive, so I came over this morning," Qin Tian replied with a smile.
"What's the plan for later? It's Xia Nuannuan's birthday, we should celebrate it again, right?"
"After class. I'll treat, you guys decide what to eat."
"Great!" Chen Zhuang happily nodded, waved the packed rice bowls in his hand, and asked, "When did you arrive? Have you eaten lunch?"
"Just got here, haven't eaten yet!"
"You should have called. We could have brought you something from the cafeteria."
"It's fine, I ate a lot this morning and I'm not very hungry."
"Alright, then I won't bother you. I haven't even eaten breakfast, I'm starving." Chen Zhuang sat down in his seat, pressed the computer's power button, and quickly took a couple of big bites of food after opening his lunchbox.
"Tian Ge, I can't finish this. Want some?" Zhuang Zhe asked.
"No need, you eat it yourself!" Qin Tian smiled and declined. Zhuang Zhe nodded and also sat down to eat his lunch.
"Where's Cao Ze?" Qin Tian casually asked.
"He has class at 3:30 PM. He went out with Lü Yanran. Here, I have his books," Chen Zhuang said, patting a few books beside him. "Tian Ge, you won't believe it, they came back to school a few days early, but when I came the day before yesterday, his bed was made but the covers weren't opened."
"Maybe he made it again!" Qin Tian said with amusement, understanding the implication in Chen Zhuang's words.
"Come on, when does he usually make his bed? Only when he leaves for vacation. I bet you he hasn't been sleeping in the dorm these past few days." Chen Zhuang retorted with a hint of sourness.
Qin Tian just smiled and said nothing more. Their relationship had progressed so quickly; he was envious. Of course, despite his envy, it wasn't to the point of speaking with the sourness Chen Zhuang displayed. However, it was understandable. Both were single their entire lives, young and vigorous; who wouldn't yearn for such things!
Browsing a news article on his computer screen, Qin Tian suddenly remembered something. "Right, about the stock investment I mentioned to you two before the break, how much capital did you prepare?"
Hearing this, Chen Zhuang and Zhuang Zhe immediately perked up, looking at him with shining eyes. "I only have five thousand. I had to play the good son at home for several days to finally get this semester's living expenses." Chen Zhuang replied.
"I have eight thousand," Zhuang Zhe added.
"Holy cow, A Zhe, you have that much living expenses?" Chen Zhuang looked at him in surprise. Qin Tian was also a bit surprised, as Zhuang Zhe was usually quite frugal with his spending.
Zhuang Zhe shook his head and explained, "Five thousand of that was from my sister buying me a computer. I thought about it, and it's better to use it as capital first!" Both of them suddenly understood.
"A Zhe, you have a sister? You never mentioned it before!"
"Yeah, my sister works making clothes in Guangcheng. Her salary isn't high. Once Tian Ge helps me earn some money, I have to pay her back quickly."
"Don't worry, you won't lose money!" Qin Tian promised with a smile.
"Tian Ge, I believe you!" Zhuang Zhe nodded gratefully, and after silently eating a few bites of food, he suddenly said, "Actually, my sister had the chance to go to college. Her score was enough for a regular undergraduate program, but the family's financial situation could only support one person going to college. My sister gave up her opportunity for me."
Qin Tian and Chen Zhuang were stunned, not knowing what to say for a moment. They were both only children and couldn't truly empathize with Zhuang Zhe, but they could feel the beautiful sibling affection.
"Every time we meet, she talks about how well she's doing working there, that it's more freedom than college, and she can earn her own money. But I know she really wants to go to college." Zhuang Zhe's voice became a bit hoarse as he spoke.
Silence fell in the dormitory again.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." Zhuang Zhe apologized to them with some guilt after calming his emotions slightly.
"Haha... It's okay! Your sister is really good to you. I'm an only child too, and I've always wanted a brother or sister, but my parents weren't capable enough!" Chen Zhuang said with a laugh.
"If there's a chance to meet your dad later, I'll tell him how much you wish they had another kid," Qin Tian said, unable to suppress his amusement.
Chen Zhuang's smile froze, and he quickly changed his tune, "Don't! My dad will really kill me and make me play again."
"Hahaha..." Qin Tian and Zhuang Zhe both couldn't help but laugh at that. Just like that, the slightly sad atmosphere was swept away.
"How about this, since we have class at 3:30 PM, I'll take you to a securities firm to open an investment account, and then I'll teach you some basics about stock investment." Qin Tian suggested.
"Great! Anyway, we don't know anything. Whatever Tian Ge says, we'll do. We'll just follow you and get a little taste," Chen Zhuang happily agreed.
"Yes, we'll do as you say." Zhuang Zhe nodded in agreement.
"That mindset is good. Some people say stock trading is like gambling, and there's some truth to that. For example, both can easily lead to addiction and loss of reason. You are all adults, and you need to control yourselves. I don't want my good intentions to cause harm."
"Tian Ge, don't worry, we're not that greedy."
"We're not stupid, we won't mess around on our own."
"That's good then."
...
...
After the two finished eating and rested for a bit, Qin Tian had them bring their IDs and bank cards, and the three of them left the dormitory. Driving, he took them to a securities firm to open a stock investment account. When they returned to the dormitory, the afternoon's main class was about to begin. Qin Tian quickly grabbed his textbooks and the two books he was currently reading, then rode his bicycle towards the girls' dormitory. Upon arriving at the dormitory building, he saw Xia Nuannuan walking out, surrounded by a group of girls from her class. Blushing, she said something to the girls and then, under their envious gazes, ran over to Qin Tian and sat on the back seat of his bicycle.
"Nuannuan, what's going on today? So lively?" Qin Tian asked curiously as he rode her away.
Xia Nuannuan, sitting behind him, had a shy expression on her face. "It's those gifts you gave me. I posted pictures last night, and I didn't expect Siqi and the others to repost them. They were all asking me what those gifts were just now, and kept teasing me."
"Oh really?" Qin Tian smiled knowingly. WeChat had only come out the previous year, and at this time, people still used QQ more, sharing their lives on QQ Zone.
"I wish I hadn't posted. They even said someone posted about it on the school forum." Xia Nuannuan continued.
"On the forum again?" Qin Tian was surprised.
"Yeah, I don't know who has so much time on their hands!" Xia Nuannuan said with a tone of helplessness.
"Achoo!!" In a certain girls' dormitory, senior student Xiao Yue, who was staring at the computer screen and typing replies with a fond smile, suddenly sneezed.
"Catch a cold?" Her good friend Ning Ruo asked with concern from nearby.
"No, I don't know why!" Xiao Yue rubbed her nose in confusion.