Lan Ning, having heard Li Liâs words, felt much better. She said, âLi Li, I wonât like senior Wu Hao. If you still like him, Iâll definitely help you pursue him.â
Li Li had had a good feeling for Wu Hao, but after listening to Lan Ningâs words, the last bit of her fondness also faded away, âForget it, from the moment he threatened you, I stopped liking him. Donât worry, I will never be angry with you over him. We are good friends, and he canât break our friendship.â
Lan Ning said with a smile, âLi Li, thank you.â
Li Li took Lan Ningâs hand, urging, âLetâs not think about these things anymore. Werenât we supposed to have fun today? Letâs go! I just saw a few sets of clothes that I liked. You have to help me decide which one looks good on me.â
Lan Ning nodded, âAlright, then letâs go buy clothes first.â
Li Li and Lan Ning walked away hand in hand, while Tan Rou and Liang Lu were trailing behind. Liang Lu said, âAre they really okay?â
Tan Rou countered, âWhat do you mean by âokayâ?â
Liang Lu, furrowing her brow, said, âI feel that Wu Hao will still come looking for Lan Ning. If Li Li still likes him, or if Lan Ning likes Wu Hao, then their friendship might come to an end.â
Tan Rou then said, âThey are both adults; they should be able to resolve their own issues. If they fall out over a guy, then they probably shouldnât be friends in the first place.â
âAh, but if they do fall out, whose side should we take?â Liang Lu was very conflicted, âTo tell the truth, Iâd like to be on Li Liâs side, since weâve known her longer. But Lan Ning is a good person too. Itâs always better to have one more friend than one more enemy. I donât want to fall out with her either.â
Tan Rou laughed a little and replied, âIf they fall out, then Iâll stay right in the middle and not take sides.â
Liang Lu agreed, âGood, Iâll do the same.â
After shopping, the group had dinner together, and then each returned to their respective homes, with Li Li and Lan Ning heading back to the university.
Li Li moved out of Tan Rouâs house. The accommodations for graduate students were very good, with two people sharing a dorm room. All it took was a simple application to live with anyone you wanted to room with. However, in principle, cohabitation between men and women was not allowed, as the dormitories for male and female students were separate.
Li Li and Lan Ning applied for a double dorm room. Although they werenât directed by the same professor, their research directions were similar, and they were both in the same college, so applying to share a dormitory was quite straightforward.
âThe restaurant we ate at tonight was really good, and the prices were very cheap. We should go there again,â said Li Li, âBut it is a little far away, so we canât go too often, only on Saturdays.â
Lan Ning said, âSure, letâs go there again next Saturday. Tian Tian will be coming back by then. We can go eat with her.â
The two chatted and laughed as they went upstairs. Just as they stepped out of the elevator, they ran into an upperclassman living next to them, âLi Li and Lan Ning, youâre back. Someone delivered something for you, but you werenât here, so I hung it on your dorm room door.â
âWhat is it?â asked Li Li.
The upperclassman said, âItâs a kraft paper tote bag with a label on it and no logo. I donât know whatâs inside. You should check it out for yourselves.â
Li Li and Lan Ning were both puzzled. It wasnât the season for gift-giving, so why would someone send them gifts? It couldnât be research topics from their advisor, could it?
That was unlikely. If it were research topics prepared by their advisor, they would have been informed in advance on their phones, and no one would have been sent to deliver the items directly to their dormitory.
âWho sent us this?â Li Li asked again.
The upperclassman thought for a moment and answered, âIt was a very cute girl who delivered it. She was just passing the gift along as well, so I didnât feel it was right to ask who sent it. Youâd better check it out yourselves; there should be a note inside.â
After saying this, the upperclassman entered the elevator, âIâm off to have dinner. Iâve been busy all day and Iâm starving.â
Li Li waved, âAlright, go have your meal.â
After the upperclassman left, Li Li stroked her chin in thought, âWho could have sent us a gift?â