After wrapping up her tasks, Su Yuan browsed a few news sites, then followed Ji Yehan’s lead and watched a movie.

By ten thirty in the evening, the film ended. A wave of people flooded into the internet café, students prepping for all nighters. Su Yuan turned to Ji Yehan. “It is late. Should we head back”

When he nodded, she called to Yang Xiaowei, who was glued to QQ chats with his girlfriend. “Xiao Wei, log off”

Yang Xiaowei looked up, smiled calmly, typed a final message, then logged out. Su Yuan teased, “You and your girlfriend are disgustingly sweet. Cannot stand being apart for five minutes”

“Of course. Xiao Ying and I have deep feelings, a day apart feels like three years” He shot a smug glance at Su Yuan and Ji Yehan. “You two should work harder too. Aim to escape singlehood this year”

Su Yuan did envy them, but she hated Yang Xiaowei flaunting it. He was plain looking. How did he snag a girlfriend before us. She scoffed, grabbing Ji Yehan’s arm. “Ignore him. Gao Jun wants that Family Bucket. Let us go buy it”

Ji Yehan gave a faint smile. “Xiao Wei, sleeping in the dorm tonight. Or”

“Obviously he is staying with Xiao Ying” Su Yuan cut in.

Yang Xiaowei gave her a thumbs up. “You know me best, Su Su”

Su Yuan grinned knowingly. “Then hurry off. It is late, your Xiao Ying might think you are out fooling around”

“Relax. We trust each other” Yang Xiaowei said, used to her barbs.

He and Mo Ying had been dating since freshman year, moving in together off campus. Their passionate romance made Su Yuan envious, so she often mocked him. He had grown immune.

After parting ways, Su Yuan and Ji Yehan bought a Family Bucket at a nearby KFC and headed toward the dorms.

“You are finally back” Gao Jun snatched the bucket as soon as they entered. Three people sharing one bucket was light for a meal, but perfect for a late night snack.

Su Yuan took a chicken leg and bit into it, then froze. Rumors about KFC using hormone fed chickens flashed in her mind. Even if unproven, her appetite vanished. She stared at the golden brown leg, throat tightening. I am on medication. Better avoid anything that might interfere. She set it down. Play it safe. I will feast later when I stop taking the pills.

“Why did you stop eating” Gao Jun asked, tearing into a chicken breast.

“I do not like this stuff” Su Yuan lied smoothly.

Ji Yehan gave her a curious look. “Then do not eat it. There is still two bread rolls and half an ear of corn left for you”

Reluctantly, Su Yuan put down the chicken leg, sipped her drink, and took the bread. Watching others enjoy chicken while she nibbled bread and corn left her deeply resentful.

The Higher Education Park had residential areas and bustling streets, quieter than downtown, but lively nonetheless.

Under a cloudless sky, the sun scorched the pavement. Across a wide road lay a small plaza. At two in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day, a fountain shot high into the air. Mist shimmered with rainbow hues under the blazing light.

Few people braved the heat. Su Yuan stood near a supermarket, wearing a sun hat, a stack of flyers in hand. She had found this part time job online yesterday.

Sweat beaded on her forehead. Heat pressed down through her hat. She regretted taking this job. Self reliance sounded noble, but in reality, it was grueling. Eighty yuan a day plus free cold drinks could not ease the misery.

Half her flyers remained. She inched toward the supermarket entrance, lured by escaping cool air, a lifeline for her parched spirit.

This spot was perfect. More people entered and exited here. Flyers disappeared rapidly.

“Take a look. Welcome to visit. Thank you” She handed a flyer to a young man.

“Cold drinks on sale” he asked, glancing at her after scanning the paper.

It took her a second to realize he was talking to her. “Yes. New store promotion, buy two drinks, get one free. Spend over twenty yuan on snacks, get a free cold drink” She knew the details by heart. Most customers just glanced at flyers, but this was the first time someone asked in person. Treating customers like gods, she answered warmly.

“Nice to meet you. I am Peng Jie, third year economics student at Binhe Tech” He extended his hand.

Su Yuan hesitated. “Sorry. I am just handing out flyers. Not here to make friends”

Peng Jie withdrew his hand awkwardly, shot her a doubtful look, and walked away.

“Was that guy hitting on you” A pleasant female voice sounded beside her. Su Yuan turned to see a pretty girl holding the same flyers. “Hitting on” Su Yuan echoed blankly.

“You do not know what hitting on means” The girl laughed.

Of course Su Yuan knew, but she did not think Peng Jie was flirting. Just making friends. Though the line blurred. “You are also handing out flyers” she asked, noticing the identical stack.

“Yep. I am Xia Linfei. And you are”

“Su Yuan” She readily shared her name, it was just a girl.

“Su Yuan. Nice name”

“Thanks”

“Wanna team up”

“Sure”

Xia Linfei was tall and slender, not intimidatingly so. Her white blouse and short skirt highlighted a curvy figure. Jet black hair pulled into a high ponytail gave her a striking mix of grace and wild energy. She drew every male eye.

Su Yuan was instantly impressed. Their handsome guy and beautiful girl combo turned heads. Hours flew by.

Xia Linfei fanned herself, complaining to the sky. “This heat is unbearable”

“Yeah. Forecast says thirty five degrees. At least it is cooler than last week’s thirty nine degree highs. That was brutal”

After enduring extreme heat, thirty five degrees felt manageable. Their prime spot by the supermarket entrance sped up flyer distribution. Xia Linfei’s beauty drew more takers on her side, but Su Yuan kept pace, clearing her stack quickly.

Flyer jobs had set hours and quotas. Exceeding targets earned bonuses.

At five in the afternoon, work ended. Sitting in a cold drink shop, Xia Linfei stretched lazily, a move that made Su Yuan’s vision blur.

Catching Su Yuan staring, Xia Linfei laughed, slapping her shoulder. “Little guy, where are you looking. Never seen a pretty girl before. You must not have a girlfriend. At your age, that is a problem. I will introduce you to some classmates, maybe you will find someone you like”

Her confident tone embarrassed Su Yuan. During work, she had learned Xia Linfei was a first year graduate student at the neighboring Medical University, now at Binhe Tech for her master’s. They were alumni.

Dating a grad student. Even before her transformation, Su Yuan had not considered it. “No need” she mumbled.

Xia Linfei grinned. “What. Looking down on your big sister. My friends are all gorgeous”

“I do not mean that” Su Yuan rushed to explain.

“Do you think they are too old for you”

Older women were supposedly golden bricks, but men rarely preferred girlfriends older than themselves. Xia Linfei thought she had cracked it. Her eyes lit up as she leaned close, whispering softly. “Let me tell you, mature women have real charm. Some of my friends act cold and princess like, but with my help, they are easy to win over. As the saying goes, even the strongest fortress falls from within. Want to try”

Su Yuan stayed silent, her neck tingling from Xia Linfei’s breath.

Xia Linfei loved playing matchmaker. Smiling, she pressed on, whispering urgently into Su Yuan’s ear.

“You are so cute and handsome. If you make a move, you will definitely win them over. Who knows, you might even end up with two girlfriends. How happy would that be”

Hot breath tickled Su Yuan’s neck. She jumped, staring into Xia Linfei’s bright eyes, and suddenly felt chilled to the bone.