Chapter 32 "Common-Law Marriage"

Have you "said" it? How did you "said" it?

Getting married later? How later? How to get married? With whom?

Don't want children? The two of you? Why not? Who doesn't want children?

A group of people were so bewildered that they kowtowed.

How absurd! It's like the kind of absurdity where you arrive at a known condition after precise calculations in advanced mathematics.

Ji Tong was still focused on adjusting the flower hair tie on Xin Xin's head, completely unaware of the numerous gazes around her.

The class monitor tugged at Li Yuan's clothes blankly.

"Li Yuan, Tongtong and Gu Lin...do they usually chat like this?"

Talk about marriage? Talk about children?

Even Li Yuan felt something was off this time, and was stunned for a while.

Tongtong's words were indeed easy to misunderstand. With the idea of ​​explaining on behalf of him and Brother Lin, Li Yuan said, "Maybe... uh, well, haven't the two of you been living together recently? You know, your relationship is closer, and the topics you talk about are correspondingly more in-depth."

Seeing that the class monitor and the few people around him still had strange expressions, Li Yuan thought for a moment and decided to lighten the mood with a joke.

"Actually, it's nothing. We were just talking about marriage and children. Didn't the old marriage registration management regulations have a special interpretation that said long-term cohabitation is considered marriage?"

"Lin and Tong have been living together for over three years, from high school until now. That's practically a 'common-law marriage,' right? Hahaha, since they're in a 'common-law marriage,' talking about having a child is perfectly normal..."

Li Yuan was still stuck on the word "chang" when Cui Mingying covered his nose and mouth with her large hand.

Shut up.

The squad leader closed his eyes as he listened.

A group of people were momentarily stunned, their blank minds racing to process the phrase "common-law marriage."

Just as I was digesting the sound, I suddenly heard a clear "thump"—it was a knock on the door.

It came from the back door.

The knocking wasn't loud, but because a group of people were gathered around the back door at that moment, they heard it very clearly.

So, apart from Teacher Wei, who was still struggling with the courseware model on the podium, and Ji Tong, who was focused on studying Xin Xin's hair, almost everyone looked towards the back door.

The classroom fell silent again.

Two seconds later, one after another, gazes turned toward Ji Tong, as if receiving a unified command.

"Tongtong," the class monitor said.

Ji Tong looked up: "What's wrong?"

The squad leader raised his hand and pointed to the back door, and the people around him automatically made way for him.

Ji Tong turned her head, following the direction of her finger and through the gaps in the crowd.

He blinked.

What brings you here?

Gu Lin walked in through the back door, carrying a leather bag in his hand.

The logo on the bag is very clear; it belongs to a small sandwich shop on campus.

How could someone like Ji Yi not see it?

The food has arrived.

"Why did you buy so much?" Ji Tong rummaged through the brown paper bag. "Is this for them?"

Gu Lin's gaze swept over the little girl in Ji Tong's arms for a moment, then he looked away and said, "Mm."

Professor Wei's teaching style is known as "gentle and unassuming" in the School of Computer Science at Anhui University. As one of the leading figures in the new discipline, Professor Wei is frequently invited by universities to exchange and teach under the educational philosophy of "sharing talent resources and helping educational development." He is often in Jiangcheng today and next door tomorrow, making it difficult for him to teach according to the course schedule.

If, due to unforeseen circumstances, classes are forced to be scheduled around mealtimes, Teacher Wei allows students to have some odorless snacks to tide them over, and she will also prepare snacks and bread herself.

If the group might have made a few quiet jeers when Gu Lin brought them food before, after Ji Tong's declaration that "we don't want children either," they were able to accept the meal with equanimity.

"Tongtong, you eat first. I think it will take Teacher Wei at least ten more minutes to finish adjusting the model." The class monitor waved his hand, signaling the people around him to disperse.

Tell them to be more considerate and not bother the young couple... Oh, no, it's three now, with another one in Ji Tong's arms.

The squad leader waved away the people around him and turned to leave, but Ji Tong called him back.

Ji Tong took out a small bag from the paper bag, which contained a lettuce and egg sandwich and a cup of matcha milk. She then picked out a slice of banana toast and handed the remaining sandwich and the bag to the class monitor.

The squad leader hesitated for a long time: "For us?"

“Yes,” Ji Tong nodded, “He bought a lot.”

The squad leader did indeed hear Ji Tong ask, "What did you bring for them?" and Gu Lin responded.

"I thought it was for Li Yuan and the others," the squad leader said.

Li Yuan raised his hand from his seat and called out to the class monitor. The class monitor turned around and found that Li Yuan and the others had already started eating.

“They’ve already taken theirs. Give the banana toast to Xin Xin, and distribute the rest as you like. It should be enough,” Ji Tong said.

The class monitor covered his mouth happily.

The presentation slides malfunctioned today. They could have appeared anytime, but today of all days. Teacher Wei was so anxious that his shirt was soaked with sweat. He was just considering whether to let the students eat first when he looked up and saw that they were already eating, and they all looked "satisfied".

"Where did this sandwich come from??" Teacher Wei asked, puzzled.

The people below were so engrossed in their food that they couldn't lift their heads. After what seemed like an eternity, a voice finally drifted over.

"Teacher, it was a gift from a family member."

A group of people were trying not to laugh.

Only Teacher Wei was so confused by the presentation slides that he didn't catch the pause in the middle: "Family members? Your teacher's wife had someone deliver it?"

They couldn't hold it in any longer, and the crowd erupted in laughter.

"Teacher, I'm not your family member."

The class monitor pointed to the last row.

Teacher Wei saw the person next to Ji Tong.

Although Gu Lin was not Ji Yi's student, all of Ji Yi's teachers knew him and were aware of his relationship with Ji Tong.

Teacher Wei realized: "This is a family member."

He chuckled and went back to working on his presentation slides.

Ji Tong was tearing off a small piece of banana toast for Xin Xin, who ate it quietly, but her bright black eyes were fixed on Gu Lin's direction.

Gu Lin noticed that gaze and lowered his eyes slightly to look at her.

The two met eyes, and Xin Xin immediately turned her face away, burying her face in Ji Tong's arms.

Ji Tong suddenly burst out laughing.

"She wants you to hold her," Ji Tong mouthed to Gu Lin.

The child felt the same way when he first met Ji Tong.

At first, Ji Tong thought that she didn't like her, until Professor Wei said that it meant she wanted him to hug her.

Gu Lin bought a lot of toast and sandwiches, but only brought one cup of matcha milk. He opened the leak-proof lid, inserted a straw, and handed it to Ji Tong.

"I'll hug you."

"You eat first, the sandwich gets cold quickly."

Xin Xin felt her whole body spin around, and when she opened her eyes again, she was in a different position, with her head raised on Gu Lin's knees.

She didn't know Gu Lin.

But the smell on them is the same.

The little girl remembered Ji Tong's scent.

She could also smell the sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits on Gu Lin.

Like an orange.

Ji Tong took a sip of milk and nudged Gu Lin with her knee: "She's looking at you."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin lowered his head and met the gaze of the little girl whose knees were only as high as a pillow.

"Speak." Ji Tong nudged him again.

Gu Lin looked helplessly at the toast in Xin Xin's hand: "Do you want some more or not?"

Ji Tong almost facepalmed.

This person really doesn't know how to take care of children.

"I asked you to speak, not to scare the children."

Ji Tong took a tissue to wipe his hands and prepared to carry the person back, but unexpectedly, Xin Xin showed no signs of crying. She nodded her head, said "Delicious," lowered her head to continue eating her toast, then leaned back and found a comfortable position to sit in Gu Lin's arms.

After the people in the front row finished enjoying a family member's free lunch and were about to throw away the trash, they turned around and saw Gu Lin and Ji Tong sitting facing each other on two chairs. Teacher Wei's daughter was sitting in Gu Lin's lap eating toast, and Ji Tong was wiping the child's right hand with a tissue.

"..."

I dare not open my eyes.

I ate too much and then I saw a family of three.

That noon, computer science students, including Chen Yongjie and Yang Ping, saw the same post on their WeChat Moments.

They were all distributed by students from Class 1 of the Computer Science Department.

The course has ended. My soul has been enlightened, my mind elevated, my stomach satisfied, my eyes delighted, and I've begun to ponder the mysteries of literature, such as the meaning of the word "family member."

The accompanying image is a photo of them taking a class in the converged computing network lab.

Someone immediately commented below.

[As expected of Professor Wei, a leading figure in the field. I hope there will be more spots available for the next course so that my soul can be enlightened and my thinking elevated. But what are stomach, eyes, and literature? What were you covering in this class?]

[Reply: Is it possible that I wasn't referring to Teacher Wei?]

【？？？】

-

After a two-week period of sunny weather, with the weather forecast indicating a return to rain, Anjing University has put the sports meet on the agenda before the Frost's Descent solar term.

The main force of each sports meet is composed of freshmen, because they can only cheat once.

Whether a sports meet is lively or not depends entirely on the number of freshmen who sign up. But college is different from high school. In high school, as long as there are no classes, let alone a sports meet where you can go wild, physical education classes are a "luxury".

But the "luxury" of high school loses its luster in college.

They don't even want to attend physical education classes, let alone sports meets.

Ge Guang, a member of the Planning Commission, was so worried that he developed a large blister on the corner of his mouth.

"Grandpas and grandmas, fill up all the projects you want to sign up for."

"Didn't the counselor say that even those without projects won't be idle? Each class will have to select about 20 people to participate in the opening ceremony formation."

Can you guarantee you won't be selected?

"The opening ceremony's formation performance is such a waste of time. Not only do you have to memorize the positions and movements, but you also have to rehearse. It would conservatively take a week, and you would have to go to the playground to rehearse every night. That's not cost-effective at all. Look, if you sign up for the high jump and long jump, the cost-effectiveness will be much better. In a flash, you'll be eliminated, and you won't even have to rehearse."

"Brother Ge, I have trouble even getting into bed, let alone jumping high?"

"It wasn't said that it had to be high jump. You can also sign up for shot put, javelin, etc. The school said that this is a student sports meet, and they will definitely not let the big shots with athlete level certificates participate. They have separate events."

"We don't expect you to win awards, just fill up the project slots. You'll get academic credits, and winning awards will give you even more credits."

Faced with Ge Guang's various temptations and incentives, some people began to think.

"That seems true. If I were to be selected to participate in the opening ceremony formation, it would definitely be more worthwhile to be an athlete."

"Tongtong, you're so well-informed, do you know how our academy's formation will march this year?"

Ji Tong vaguely knew a little bit. He said, "The specific details are not clear yet, but the School of Computer Science is together with the School of Intelligent Machines this year, and it seems that there is a robot formation."

"A robot formation? With the School of Intelligence? Holy crap, could it be those robot grandpas in big floral padded jackets from the East Third Playground a while back?"

"Last time I passed by, I almost hit him with two handfuls of glutinous rice."

"No, no, if it really is that batch, it's too embarrassing. How can I hold my head up in front of the neighbors after this? Brother Guang, Brother Guang, quickly show me, are there any other quick and easy projects? I'll sign up."

Just as Ge Guang's smile gradually turned sinister and he began sending out registration forms, the class group chat buzzed with several "dings" in succession.

[Ankyo University seeks suppression (41)]

[Share link: "A compilation of the most embarrassing moments at school sports meets"]

[Share Link: "Funny Clips from the Sports Meet"]

[Share Link: "Embarrassing Moments at the School Sports Meet"]

[Share Link: "Survival Guide to School Sports Meets"]

Ge Guang: "..."

After an eerie silence.

"...But then again, there's still a week until the sports meet, so anything is possible."

"Yes, I believe that with our School of Computer Science, the Machine Grandpa... Machine Brother will definitely shine."

"Indeed, the reason I chose computer science was to become a supporter of artificial intelligence at Anhui University. I am willing to stand behind the robot and become its most steadfast supporter. I would even be willing to dance with cheerleading pom-poms."

Ge Guang: "…………"

The hand that had been holding the registration form suddenly withdrew from the front of them.

Damn, that scared me to death! Luckily I stopped in time.

Even if the robot grandpa really crashed on the track, it would be the academy that lost face, not the square formation. But these "funny clips compilations" and "embarrassing moments" are different!!

Ge Guang's lips twitched uncontrollably: "Is this all you've got?"

"Brother Guang, why don't you add a few more items?"

"I'm practically living on the track, and I still want to register for a few more events?!"

“Brother, we have no choice,” someone patted Ge Guang on the shoulder. “You know, we’re still young and we need to find partners. We can’t let us lose our right to choose a partner in our freshman year.”

Ge Guang slammed in sharp disbelief: "You all want to find partners, so what about my application form? Are you going to only list those who 'already have partners'? Don't you even know what kind of major we're in? We're lucky if we can even find someone after graduation, let alone in our freshman year?! Dream on! Who among us had a partner the moment we entered university—"

Ge Guang suddenly fell silent.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds later, Ge Guang slowly turned his head and looked in a certain direction.

After a brief moment of confusion, the group of people below also quieted down.

A few seconds later, they also looked in the same direction.

Ji Tong was wearing headphones and listening to his hearing test when he looked up—

"?"

Why is everyone looking at him?