SLURP!
Brother Nan slurped up a mouthful of rice noodles, swallowed, and then exhaled deeply. She looked dazed for a long time before finally saying, "I really want to eat Kaiyuan Rice Noodles..."
"Oh."
"And the braised noodles..."
"We have bagged ones at home; they taste pretty decent."
"Braised noodles without mushroom soup are soulless."
"We're about to be back in Yi Province."
"Right, I checked," Brother Nan said. "If we drive back to Yi Province, we have to go through Zhaotong, where there's barbecue, and then Yibin. Apart from the braised noodles, Yibin's barbecue is also quite delicious. And then there's Ziyang; the snacks there are amazing..."
"Hmm."
Zhou Li aptly passed her a piece of tissue.
Brother Nan wiped her mouth and continued daydreaming. "Then we drive to Mountain City for mixed bean noodles, plain noodles, and how about some hot pot?"
"Hmm."
"So, shall we buy that car then?"
"Okay."
"Do you have any other preferences?"
"No."
"Then it's decided. Don't say I'm being overbearing..." Brother Nan glanced at Zhou Li, then lowered her head to slurp more noodles. "So, are we going to register it back home or just do it in Chunming?"
"Back home."
"Okay." Brother Nan nodded. "Seems like it's going to be a bit of a hassle, but I don't really mind."
"Okay."
"Then whose name should we put it under, yours or mine?"
"Yours."
"I think so too." Brother Nan nodded emphatically, then reassured Zhou Li, "Don't worry, Brother Nan won't screw you over. Once we graduate, we'll sell the car, and I'll definitely split the money with you."
"Hmm."
Brother Nan's integrity was naturally beyond question, and she even prided herself as the Successor of Destiny; possibly not even billions could tempt her to betray her morals. However, Zhou Li considered it even further. The car being registered under the name of the Successor of Destiny would surely have some invisible benefits.
Brother Nan nodded. "Then I can't be bothered to haggle with the car dealer anymore; it's just a small difference anyway... I know you're lazy. I'll take care of the paperwork; you just need to follow me and provide the money when needed."
Zhou Li hummed in agreement, bowing his head to drink his soup.
The two young boys at the next table listened silently, their hearts filled with mixed feelings. Their bowl of noodles gradually tasted less appealing.
「Back in the dorm.」
Other than Liu Zhengming, who was still gaming, Chen Yang and Chang Xiaoxiang were already packing their things.
"When are you guys leaving?" Zhou Li asked casually.
"I've got a high-speed train tomorrow morning," Chang Xiaoxiang replied.
"Tomorrow night's flight." Chen Yang was from the north, far from Chunming.
"In a few days," Liu Zhengming said.
"What about you, Dorm Leader?"
"I'll also need a few more days. I have to go with Brother Nan to sort out the car's paperwork and then head to Banna." Zhou Li wasn't in a hurry since he and Brother Nan had already decided to drive back, and he also had to say goodbye to Hong Ran.
"TSK TSK!"
The room was filled with sour envy.
Before long, two suitcases were placed beside Chen Yang's and Chang Xiaoxiang's desks. They had also tidied up the items on their desks, leaving their spots much cleaner and emptier.
In the evening, Room 502 went out for dinner together.
Chen Yang, oblivious to the consequences, impulsively suggested drinking again. Chang Xiaoxiang reluctantly joined him for a bottle of liquor and ended up floored.
「The next morning, Chang Xiaoxiang left.」
Before leaving, he brought breakfast for the three of them.
Zhou Li woke up and went for a run, then headed out with Brother Nan to handle the paperwork, under the guidance of the car dealer, of course.
The car dealer was very talkative and seemed reliable. Whenever Zhou Li or Brother Nan had doubts or questions, he would explain clearly.
The entire procedure didn't take too long. However, transferring ownership from another province required fetching the records, which would take about three business days. But Zhou Li and Brother Nan actually got the car that very afternoon. When the car dealer handed the keys to Brother Nan, he also detailed the final step of the process for when they returned to their local area, telling them to contact him if any issues arose.
Brother Nan was incredibly excited inwardly, yet she forced herself to remain calm and composed, reconfirming the process details with the car dealer multiple times. Transferring ownership from another locality could be troublesome if details were missed, requiring them to run back and forth.
She also took the opportunity to ask for some driving lessons.
Finally, after sending the dealer away...
Brother Nan quickly shed her disguise, her eyes gleaming brightly—
"OH MY!"
"TSK TSK!"
She caressed the brand-new, pale-gold sedan with her hand, muttering things like, "It's so pretty." She opened the door, sat inside, and couldn't wait to start feeling the steering wheel, the dashboard, and the central control screen she had been obsessing over.
Although it was just a cheap, second-hand domestic car with a poor reputation, she was genuinely happy at that moment.
"Isn't it prettier than the driving school's car, huh? Admit it!"
"It is."
"My taste is good, HAHAHA!" Brother Nan said, delighted with her pride, then waved to Zhou Li. "Get in the car, quick! Sit in the passenger seat!"
"Fasten your seatbelt!"
"OH MY~~ Old Li has a car now!"
"I've decided! Tonight, I'm going to sleep in the car!"
"HAHAHA..."
Zhou Li sat in the passenger seat, quietly watching her.
He felt that at this moment, Brother Nan was just a hair's breadth away from madness, yet also as adorable as a child with a new toy.
Suddenly, he heard Brother Nan muttering confusedly, "Which gear is drive again?"
Zhou Li's resolve remained firm, unwavering.
It was evident that Brother Nan's skills were quite acceptable. They made it back to school smoothly, aside from Brother Nan constantly chattering about her beloved car and demanding Zhou Li's agreement the entire way.
There were plenty of parking spots on campus, many along the road, and neither students nor faculty had to pay to enter.
Brother Nan showcased another parallel parking maneuver and asked Zhou Li, "The reverse parking radar—never used it before, right? Isn't it cool?"
Zhou Li continued nodding and agreed.
When he returned to his dormitory, it was already five o'clock, just in time to meet Chen Yang, who was leaving with his suitcase. He greeted him, "Leaving?"
"Leaving."
"Stay safe."
"You too, Dorm Leader. Take the necessary precautions."
"...Don't talk nonsense!"
"HEHEHE!"
When he returned to the dormitory again, the room had emptied out quite a bit; only Liu Zhengming was still sitting at his spot playing games. Zhou Li took off his shoes, switched to slippers, quickly rinsed his feet, and asked Liu Zhengming, "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"Why are you only going back in a few days?"
"I'll work for a few days first," Liu Zhengming replied cheerfully. "I'm close by, no need to rush."
"Makes sense."
Zhou Li remembered Liu Zhengming was from Caiyun, specifically the Ninglang area bordering Yi Province—the county where Lugu Lake is. Zhou Li had once asked him if their area practiced the walking marriage custom. Unfortunately, Liu Zhengming wasn't from an ethnic minority, nor did he live near Lugu Lake.
Zhou Li sat for a while, and at 6:30 p.m., he received a message from Brother Nan.
So, he stood up and asked Liu Zhengming, "Want to go eat?"
"Nope."
"It's not just me and Brother Nan; Baozi and her friends will be there too."
"Still no. I'm not familiar with them; it would be too awkward," Liu Zhengming said, continuously shaking his head.
"There's nothing to be afraid of..."
Zhou Li didn't press him further and simply went out in his slippers. Brother Nan's dormitory was on the first floor, conveniently located. By the time Zhou Li reached the main entrance, all the members of Room 106 were already waiting for him.
"Hello, Handsome Zhou!" Mianmian called sweetly.
"Hello. Are you not going back yet?" Zhou Li asked casually.
"We're waiting for Brother Nan to take us for a drive before we go back!" Mianmian's words made Qian Qian nod continuously.
"I see."
"You guys are really lavish!"
"..."
Brother Nan, also in slippers, clopped ahead. Today, she had gotten the first, and partial, ownership of a car, and her excitement was beyond words. Thus, she raised her hand high and announced—
"Tonight, dinner is on me! Let's have grilled fish!"
"Brother Nan, the best!"
"Brother Nan, so generous!"
The two cute girls cheered endlessly.
The grilled fish place Brother Nan chose was on the commercial street. This restaurant was always bustling, and its unique feature was very clear—
Spicy!
Super spicy!
Brother Nan ordered a Guian fish, a Naked Fish, a Ginger Duck, and two cold side dishes. She also got a bottle of white liquor. Then, she informed the three people from her room that she would not be returning to the dormitory to sleep that night.
The three were both shocked and excited.
But when Brother Nan mentioned she would sleep in the car, they all fell silent, exchanging disappointed glances.
「Half an hour later.」
Baozi had already put down her chopsticks. She quietly watched Zhou Li and Brother Nan before suddenly speaking up, "Zhou Li, my parents said you should visit our house before you go home. Will you come?"
"I'll come."
"Would the day after tomorrow work?" Baozi paused, then added, "Tomorrow, Brother Nan is taking us around Dian Lake, so the day after would be perfect."
"Alright."
"Then I'll tell my parents."
Baozi picked up her phone, typing and reading aloud, "I'll bring Brother Nan to my house too. They'll both be leaving the day after tomorrow, and there are fewer and fewer people at school these days. It's not good for Brother Nan to be alone in the dorm. Besides, she's been to my house before."
Zhou Li thought about it; she made sense.
Brother Nan tilted her head, thinking hard, but couldn't find any reason to object. Finally, she said, "That was a long speech..."
Meanwhile, Mianmian and Qian Qian started complaining that Baozi simply referred to them as 'the two of them,' even though they clearly had names. Zhou Li thus learned that Baozi usually called them 'the two of them' or 'you two' in the dormitory. Their dissatisfaction had been building for a long time. The young girls' pique struck Zhou Li as somewhat adorable, and he couldn't help but smile.
「Twenty minutes later, after finishing and paying.」
Brother Nan's lips were blazing red. As she sucked in air, she told the other four, "You guys go back to the dorm. I'm going back to the car."
"Really sleeping in the car?"
"OF COURSE!"
Brother Nan's matter-of-fact tone silenced Zhou Li for a moment. He had thought Brother Nan was just joking. But on reflection, nothing Brother Nan did should really surprise him.
"Will it be comfortable?" he asked.
"Don't know."
"Might catch a cold, right?"
"Oh, right!" Brother Nan slapped her head. "Looks like I need to bring a blanket over. Yeah, I need to go back to the dorm first."
"..."
「That night, Brother Nan genuinely spent it in the car.」
Only, she and Huai Xu played games until three in the morning before she slept. Zhou Li went to check on her first thing in the morning. Peering through the gap at the top of the window, he could see her curled up on the back seat. The blanket only covered her stomach, and her long legs, wrapped in jeans, were quite conspicuous.
Zhou Li quietly opened the car door and sat in the front seat, but Brother Nan still woke up, looking up at him briefly.
Luckily, she just mumbled a few words before falling asleep again.
Only then did Zhou Li take out his phone, long-pressed the volume down key, and ten minutes later, the album "Li Daimao" grew from 35 to 42 pictures.