Chapter 245: Chapter 147: Attending the Celebration
Q University is located in the southeastern part of Island City, nestled against mountains and facing the sea, with a serene environment. As you enter the south gate, the first thing that catches your eye is a sculpture of a soaring eagle. The roads on both sides are lined with hibiscus and cherry blossom trees, whose leaves are beginning to turn yellow, adding a touch of autumnal beauty.
The ten-year celebration coinciding with a Saturday, many local students’ parents also came to join the fun. With that, Luo Ye and his group, along with Little Dongdong, blended in seamlessly. The little fellow tightly held onto Luo Ye and Sister Xing Nong’s fingers, his face flushed with excitement. Visiting a university campus was something he had never even dared to dream of before today.
Sister Xing Nong affectionately touched Little Dongdong’s head: "Do you like it here?"
"Uh-huh!" Dongdong nodded vigorously, his eyes bright and shiny.
"Then study hard, and aim to attend this university in the future, okay?"
"Uh-huh!" The little guy nodded vigorously again.
Ying Nuo teasingly said: "That’s it, after entering the campus, Dongdong has become a standard ’Uh-huh’ party member, not knowing how to say anything else."
"No, that’s not true, I can speak, it’s just that I’m too happy to express it."
"Sister Nuo is just teasing you, don’t mind her," Sister Xing Nong said as she hugged Dongdong to her side, gently pinching his tender cheeks.
Tang Luo rolled her eyes speechlessly: "Yan Xingnong, I solemnly remind you to be careful. If you make Dongdong drool non-stop and he can’t find a wife later, will you marry him?"
"I’d be happy to pinch him; if Dongdong keeps drooling, I’ll marry him. What about it? It’ll make you mad!"
"Why would I be mad? Go on, pinch all you want," Tang Luo said, lightly tugging Dongdong’s ear: "Remember, if you drool in the future, just stick to your Sister Xing Nong. If she doesn’t marry you, just camp out at her house and make sure she can’t marry anyone else."
"Enough, look how hard you are making it for the child," Fu Mo quickly rescued Dongdong, whose face was turning the color of liver, from their clutches, hugging him to his side, "Dongdong, don’t listen to their nonsense. And yes, you can refuse things you don’t like in the future, like being pinched on the cheeks, got that?"
"What do you mean? Want to deprive me of my only hobby? Come on, Sister will have a good talk with you. Tangtang, it’s not my fault, it’s your Fu Mo who is being unreasonable."
Tang Luo looked conflicted as she watched Fu Mo being gnawed on the arm by Sister Xing Nong and Dongdong pleading for mercy: "I really don’t understand this girl; what’s so great about pinching cheeks? I bet she’s going to get herself into trouble over this."
"It’s no big deal; at most she’ll bring a boyfriend home, to us it really doesn’t matter. It’ll just give her a legitimate reason to pinch freely."
"Nuonuo said it right; I’m waiting to see her so entangled that she can’t shake him off, hahaha..."
Ying Nuo poked Tang Luo mysteriously: "Tangtang, are you laughing so smugly because you feel sorry for Fu Mo?"
"..." The laughter stopped abruptly, a hint of red stealthily climbed up her cheeks, and her shy demeanor caught Fu Mo, whose gaze had been fixed on Tang Luo, off-guard.
Noticing the change in atmosphere, Sister Xing Nong followed Fu Mo’s gaze, smiled knowingly, stepped forward, and pulled Tang Luo next to Fu Mo, "I’ll leave, you two enjoy your sweet time."
"We were already sweet, you’re just jealous!" Tang Luo casually looped her arm through Fu Mo’s, pretending to be unbothered, yet her twinkling eyes and the blush creeping to her earlobes betrayed her shy girlishness.
Fu Mo affectionately rubbed Tang Luo’s head, then looked at Sister Xing Nong: "Stop teasing her."
"Who’s teasing her?" Sister Xing Nong pouted: "It’s fine when you say it, but not when it’s about yourself? Don’t be coy!"
"Alright, I’m not being coy. I like Fu Mo, are you satisfied?" Tang Luo’s face tightened, and you could tell from her tone that she wasn’t joking.
"Alright, alright, why get upset over a joke?" Luo Ye frowned at Tang Luo: "Did something unhappy happen?"
Tang Luo’s eyes quickly reddened, and she sniffled: "It’s nothing, just feeling inexplicably upset."
It was clear she was dealing with some upsetting issues and holding back feelings inside; Sister Xing Nong’s antics had given her an outbreak.
From her bag, Luo Ye took out two seated tickets next to each other: "Fu Mo, take Tangtang around, and head to the auditorium when it’s time."
Tang Luo hesitated, looking at the others: "I’m sorry, I... it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, I just don’t know how to start. Can I tell you after the celebration ends?"
"Tangtang, I didn’t know you weren’t feeling well, don’t blame me, okay? Regarding the issues bothering you, you can talk about them whenever you want, we won’t mind. For now, let Fu Mo cheer you up, see you later!" Sister Xing Nong grabbed Little Dongdong and ran off: "Luoluo, Nuonuo, let’s take Dongdong around, hurry up and follow."