Chapter 280 Romance?
Shan Xiaoyan and Yang Mei both knew about her younger sister Zhang Yueran, who studied radio engineering, so they waved goodbye and went to the library together.
Nan Zhiyi walked alone toward Zhang Yueran's dormitory building.
She knocked on the door, and her roommate recognized her, saying, "Zhang Yueran, you haven't had lunch yet, you're still over at the lab building, the radio lab on the first floor of the old building at the west end."
Nan Zhiyi thanked him and turned to walk towards the west side of the campus.
That laboratory building is quite old, and its red brick walls are covered with withered vines.
She followed the door number to the laboratory and looked inside through the glass window.
Standing next to Zhang Yueran was a young man in work clothes, who was none other than Duan Jiaming, whom she had met briefly before the start of the fall semester.
He was holding a circuit board and pointing at something, explaining something to Zhang Yueran.
Zhang Yueran nodded from time to time, occasionally pointing to the instrument screen, her profile showing exceptional seriousness.
Sunlight streamed in through the high window, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air.
The two were very close, engrossed in the experiment, and didn't notice Nan Zhiyi outside the window for a moment.
Nan Zhiyi didn't disturb the two of them, and stood silently in the corridor outside the laboratory waiting.
More than half an hour later, Zhang Yueran straightened up, closed her notebook, and as she looked up, she caught a glimpse of a figure outside the window. Her eyes lit up instantly.
She turned her head and quickly said something to Duan Jiaming before opening the door and running out.
"Sister! How long have you been here? Why didn't you call me?" Zhang Yueran shook her arm playfully.
Nan Zhiyi shook her head. "Just arrived. Yueyue, have you eaten? Are you hungry?"
After being reminded by her, Zhang Yueran touched her stomach and smiled sheepishly: "I was so focused on finishing this set of data that I completely forgot. Luckily, I'm not too hungry."
"The experiment is important, but your health is important too. Are you done now? Shall I go with you to the cafeteria for something to eat?"
"Okay, that's about it!"
Zhang Yueran readily nodded, then her eyes darted around, "Sister, wait for me a moment."
She turned around and went back into the lab, then came out a moment later with Duan Jiaming.
"Sis, let's go to the cafeteria together! Let's invite Jiaming along!"
Zhang Yueran took Nan Zhiyi's arm.
Nan Zhiyi frowned and looked at Duan Jiaming, who was following behind her sister.
Yueyue...why do you call him that?
Duan Jiaming met her gaze without flinching, and smiled politely: "Sister Zhiyi."
He wore a slightly worn, dark blue Zhongshan suit, his hair was shaved short, revealing his clean forehead and ears. His face was handsome, with a scholarly air; his fingers were long and slender, his nails were trimmed short, and the crevices were clean. He wore a pair of rubber boots, the edges of which were brushed white.
Nan Zhiyi's initial unease lessened slightly after being observed like this.
At least outwardly, they are clean and neat.
She gave a faint smile: "Comrade Jiaming."
On the way to the cafeteria, Zhang Yueran linked arms with Nan Zhiyi, constantly complaining about how difficult the final experiments were, how much homework she had to do, and how much she still needed to review.
Nan Zhiyi listened patiently, but her gaze would occasionally sweep over Duan Jiaming, who was quietly following half a step behind.
He walked steadily and didn't talk much, only adding a brief sentence or two when Zhang Yueran mentioned a certain technical difficulty.
When we arrived at the canteen, it was past lunchtime, and only one window at the back was still open, serving the remaining steamed buns and two bland stir-fried dishes.
Nan Zhiyi was about to take out her meal ticket, but Duan Jiaming stepped forward first and took out his own meal ticket from his pocket.
Zhang Yueran also took out her own meal ticket and handed it over, while explaining to Nan Zhiyi, "Sister, you don't need to. Jiaming and I can each pay our own way."
As Nan Zhiyi watched the two move in perfect unison, the discomfort she had just suppressed began to resurface.
She didn't insist any further.
After Zhang Yueran and Duan Jiaming finished getting their food, perhaps knowing that Nan Zhiyi and Zhang Yueran had something to talk about, Duan Jiaming took the initiative to say, "I'll sit over there, you two chat." He took his lunchbox to a seat not far away.
His conscious action slightly improved Nan Zhiyi's impression of him.
She turned to look at Zhang Yueran, and after Zhang Yueran ate a few bites of steamed bun, she lowered her head and drank a sip of cabbage soup.
Nan Zhiyi finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a low voice, "Yueyue, what's going on between you and Duan Jiaming? You only said you were forming a physics group and doing experiments together, but now you're even eating together all the time? You two..."
Zhang Yueran slowly swallowed the steamed bun in her mouth, and seeing her sister's nervous expression, she chuckled.
"Sis, don't worry about it. We're just ordinary classmates right now. We do experiments together, discuss problems together, and grab a meal together occasionally. It's not like what you're thinking."
Upon hearing this, Nan Zhiyi let out a long sigh of relief, gently patted her chest, and said reproachfully, "You really... you almost scared me to death. If Aunt Feng knew you were at school... she'd definitely think I hadn't kept a close eye on you!"
Zhang Yueran curled her lip dismissively, thinking that her sister and mother were making a fuss over nothing.
"Sis, I'm twenty-two already, I'm not a child anymore. Even if... even if I do fall in love at school, so what?"
She picked up a spoon and stirred the soup in the bowl. "In our department, there are quite a few couples who study together and go to the library together. Everyone is used to it."
Nan Zhiyi was speechless for a moment when she saw her self-righteous appearance.
She knew times had changed, and the atmosphere on university campuses was more open than she had imagined, but the thought that her younger sister might also... still left her feeling uneasy and unable to let go of her worries.
"Yueyue, I'm not trying to stop you. But if you really... really want to date, you have to tell me first. I need to take a good look and give you my opinion..."
She realized her tone was a bit stiff and was about to soften it a bit when Zhang Yueran nodded decisively.
"Okay! If I ever really want to be in a relationship, I'll definitely let you know in advance! If you don't agree, I'll stay single forever!"
Nan Zhiyi was startled by these words and hurriedly raised her voice: "No! You can't stay single forever!"
Seeing Zhang Yueran laughing so hard she was doubled over, she realized she'd been tricked and glared at her, saying, "You scared me!"
Nan Zhiyi was still a little worried and tried to explain the reasoning more thoroughly, "Yueyue, it's not that I don't want you to date, it's just... before you date, I have to take a look first and help you check things out."
"And you're still young. Even if... even if you really start dating, you have to know your limits. At most... at most, just hold hands..."
Seeing her usually composed older sister become incoherent over such a small matter, Zhang Yueran couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Sis, you're overthinking it!"
After she finally stopped laughing, she said seriously, "Right now, my mind isn't on this at all. Let me tell you, I've made a plan. I must get into the top three in my final exams this semester, and next semester I'll specialize in microwave technology and antennas. Professor Zheng Guodong in our department is an authority in this field, and I'm planning to get into his project group, even if I start as a general assistant. In the future, I want to continue my studies and do research!"
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