Strangers in Sync

Chapter 4:

What a Talent...

The delivery guy standing at the dormitory entrance appeared to be about the same age as them, dressed in a uniform from a nearby snack shop. His black baseball cap obscured most of his face, revealing only a small portion of his pale chin, which made him look quite docile.

Clearly, this deceptively innocent appearance temporarily staved off Zhao Pang and Wang Fuliang's anger. The two stared at this oblivious fool in disbelief, as if questioning, "Is this guy out of his mind?"

The delivery guy noticed their attitude and slowly raised his head.

Only then did Fang Huaining see his face clearly. His eyes and brows were delicate, his nose and lips charming, and his facial features harmonious, giving him an androgynous quality. Aside from a hint of gloominess in his eyes, he possessed a very memorable face.

As if recalling something, Fang Huaining was momentarily taken aback.

"I have my reasons for asking for twenty yuan," the guy said, not glancing at Fang Huaining but maintaining steady eye contact while speaking resolutely.

"What reasons?!" Wang Fuliang asked, curiosity completely replacing his stutter.

The guy contemplated for a moment before slowly responding, "First, in just a week, June will be gone. Although some departments have their exams earlier, A University's summer vacation generally begins later than that of other schools. During this period, many recycling personnel from off-campus have already moved on to nearby universities with earlier breaks."

"It might be hard for you to find someone willing to take it." "Second," the guy blinked, his gaze drifting over Wang Fuliang and Zhao Pang, landing on the computer case at Fang Huaining's feet. "Even if your computer hardware is functional, it can't be that valuable. If it were, other students on campus would have already picked it up. Before vacations, students tend to sell more and buy less; even if someone is looking for a second-hand computer, they'd prefer to buy from graduating seniors. They're in a hurry, and their machines are relatively newer." "Third, although I'm not a student here, I've been around quite a bit over the past few years and have a rough understanding of the dormitory schedules and regulations at A University. If your cleaning scores drop too much, it directly affects your overall grades and even your graduation assessment. Losing out on such a trivial matter for a small amount of money seems quite unwise, doesn't it?" "Fourth..." "There's a fourth?" Wang Fuliang was taken aback. "Yeah, fourth," the guy nodded as if it were obvious. "Even if you disregard all the points I've mentioned, as you said earlier, carrying two heavy machines down seven flights of stairs and then walking twenty minutes in this heat is no small task. Can you manage that?" As he spoke, he scrutinized Zhao Pang and Wang Fuliang's contrasting physiques—one overly thin and the other excessively overweight. "Or you could call a car," he suggested helpfully.

The shop in K building rents out small carts for ten yuan per trip; a round trip costs twenty yuan, which is the same as my asking price.

"But we still have to pull that cart ourselves..." Zhao Pang couldn't help but interrupt.

"Right," the delivery guy threw a brief, condescending glance at him. "So I'm doing all this hard work for you, even risking my work hours and getting discovered by my boss. Is twenty yuan too much for that?"

His enunciation was clear, his rhythm calm. Although his tone lacked emotion, paired with his soft voice, it made the few people in the room even more incensed, and they couldn't help but exclaim: "Really, that's quite reasonable!"

Wang Fuliang was biting his tongue to prevent himself from uttering the words "not worth it," almost slapping his own face in frustration.

"Of course, if you think it's not worth it, that's perfectly fine, too. I'm just making a kind proposal; it's not easy doing this type of labor."

After saying this, the guy turned to leave.

"Hey, wait... wait a minute..." Zhao Pang protested, "You make it sound so easy, but we can't lift it. Can't you handle it with your slender frame?"

This delivery guy is considered on the shorter side among northern boys, but standing there alone, he didn't appear too short. It's probably due to his relatively small head, thin arms, and legs, but compared to the other three big guys in the room, there was a noticeable difference.

Wang Fuliang was half a head taller, and Zhao Pang's girth could match his twice over, not to mention Fang Huaining, who was tall and fit. The guy barely reached the top of their ears; how could he not raise doubts?

However, upon hearing their dismissive attitude, the guy simply shot them a glance and extended his hand. "Rope."

Wang Fuliang paused for a moment and then silently fetched a small bundle.

The guy took it, and under the steady gaze of the others, quickly tied the two computer cases, two keyboards, and a small speaker together with efficient and precise movements.

"Don't overestimate yourself." Although they were all guys and had just looked down on him, seeing him take it seriously made everyone start to feel a bit reluctant.

"How about I help you carry it down?" Wang Fuliang suggested softly. "It's really not light."

But Li Ting had no intention of accepting help; he grabbed one machine and stood up effortlessly, then turned around, raising his chin toward Wang Fuliang while glancing at his pocket.

Zhao Pang reacted quickly, hurriedly fishing out some money and offering it. When he saw the other still holding that position, he thought he was displeased with the amount and hesitated about whether to fork over another hundred or so to match his efforts.

In the end, his bewildered expression prompted the guy to reluctantly remind him, "I meant for you to grab the takeout order from my pocket. The snack shop's number has changed; make sure to update it next time you order."

"Oh..." Zhao Pang was momentarily stunned, then clumsily agreed. Once they had finished, the guy simply turned and left.

"Oh, be more careful when walking..."

"Watch out for the stairs."

Two elderly men stood by the door, one reminding the other to proceed with caution, their concerned gazes following the delivery boy as he walked away, only looking back when he was out of sight.

Just a moment later, Wang Fuliang sighed, "He and I are probably around the same age. He must be a university student, but I have no idea what major he's studying."

Zhao Pang added, "Maybe he's involved in pyramid schemes or weightlifting..."

Wang Fuliang nodded in agreement, "Truly a talented individual..."

The two turned around and nearly bumped into Fang Xiangling, who stood behind them with a backpack, clearly ready to leave.

Zhao Pang's thoughts snapped back to reality as he rushed back to his computer. He was shocked to see that the three-day problem had been solved, and the man had completed it from start to finish in just over ten minutes.

Zhao Pang couldn't help but exclaim in excitement, letting out a curse.

Wang Fuliang also felt frustrated, having missed the opportunity to learn from the man, but at least they still had time.

"Xiangling, I applied for an internship at a research institute this summer, Gu Junfu's project. We'll meet up then."

"Mid-June, okay," Fang Xiangling replied with a nod.

As soon as they finished speaking, Zhao Bàng began to tease Fang Xiangling, saying, "Xiangling, that guy isn't here to study. He's after Miaoyou."

"Shut up, you're being too loud..." Fang Xiangling playfully slapped Zhao Bàng.

"If you dare say it's not true, the next time I see Miaoyou, I'll tell him..."

"Close your mouth..."

Fang Xiangling decided to leave before things escalated further.

At the end of June, the sun was shining brightly and the heat was almost unbearable as one left the dormitory. Instead of taking the shortest path, Fang Xiangling chose to walk along the dormitory's parking lot towards the north gate of A University. Although it was a longer route, the trees lining the road provided some relief from the scorching heat. However, this path was one that Fang Xiangling typically took alone, and to his surprise, he was not alone today.

Due to the heavy load he was carrying, the delivery boy had not walked far, even though he had left the dormitory earlier than Fang Xiangling. Fang Xiangling quickly caught up with him just a few minutes later.

The boy's pace was surprisingly more relaxed than Fang Xiangling had anticipated. Each step was steady and smooth, without any sign of hesitation or slowness. He didn't seem to be trying to impress anyone. However, his sleeves were rolled up, revealing several red marks on his skin where the rope had chafed.

Fang Xiangling glanced over and then looked back at the boy's figure, noticing beads of sweat trickling down from the nape of his neck into his pale yellow uniform.

As he walked, his shirt became increasingly damp.

How could someone so thin and short possess such strength?

Fang Xiangling pondered this.

A person so comfortable in A City turned out not to be a student from A University?

Fang Xiangling continued to think.

The two maintained a distance of about ten meters between them, walking at almost the same pace for approximately twenty minutes. The boy in front seemed oblivious to the follower, never glancing back.

Finally, they arrived at the north gate. Fang Xiangling headed towards the bus station, speculating that the boy might have left his delivery cart nearby, wondering if he would pick up the goods, take them to a recycling station, or perhaps just throw them away now that he had already earned his money.

However, Fang Xiangling found it hard to believe that the last option was viable.

It turned out that his thought was too simplistic.

The delivery boy neither retrieved a cart nor discarded the goods; instead, he turned around and entered a small electronics repair shop on the street.

The shop was directly across from the bus station, and Fang Xiangling noticed it as he raised his head. It appeared to be a rundown electronics repair shop.

The old man at the counter, seeing the boy enter, immediately broke into a warm smile, clearly recognizing him as a regular customer.

"What can I do for you this time?"

The boy put down the computer and untied the rope, saying, "Sell this one, a computer."

The old boss bent down to inspect the computer. "How much is it?" he asked.

The boy replied, "One hundred."

Fang Xiangling, standing at a distance, was taken aback.

The old boss frowned. "This computer is old, and the hardware is outdated too. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have even considered it. At most, I'd offer sixty."

The boy stood his ground, pointing to a large billboard on a building in the distance. "Next month's home appliance festival has an 'Old for New' event. Old home appliances can be exchanged for 200 cash directly. There will definitely be customers who come here to trade in used goods for money. Don't tell me you don't know this."

Caught off guard, the old boss chuckled awkwardly. "I can only make a small profit within this time frame. Fine, seventy. One price, deal?"

The boy knelt down, tied the rope back up, then stood up and began to leave.

The old boss rushed over to stop him. "Okay, okay, eighty. I won't make any more profit if I have to sell it to you for that price."

After a moment of thought, the boy reluctantly agreed.

"Is that the only one you're selling?" the old boss asked, watching as the boy walked back toward the doorway and tied another computer to the electric tricycle parked outside.

"Yes," the boy replied as he handed the old boss 20 yuan, took back a 100-yuan bill, and tucked it into his pocket.

Fang Xiangling watched from a distance as the boy held a crisp 100-yuan bill, and then saw him push the tricycle in the opposite direction. The boy and Fang Xiangling locked eyes for a moment, and then passed each other without a word.

In that instant, Wang Fuliang's comment earlier echoed in Fang Xiangling's mind.

Truly a talented person, he said. You will fall in love, and be liked by someone.

Chapter 5

He said it was not true; you would indeed fall in love and be liked by someone.

When Tiantian entered the room, Dianzheng was lying on the bed, texting. He immediately sat up and enthusiastically greeted him.

Tiantian had his phone on his shoulder, listening to his sister's call as he walked.

Tiantian's sister asked, "Brother, where are you working now? Are you still at that fried chicken shop?"

Tiantian chose a corner of the living room that faced north and set up a folding table. He placed his computer on it, checked to make sure the laptop was stable, and then sat down.

"There isn't; I've changed jobs."

Tiantian selected a seat near the folding table, placed his phone on the armrest, and listened to his call.

"I just finished my exam this afternoon, can I come find you to hang out?" Li Han's voice was softer than Li Ting's, and when he acted coy, it could melt anyone's heart.

Li Ting didn't respond at first.

Li Han grew anxious: "Are you still mad at me? I really meant it last time, if you don't believe me, I can explain it again."

Li Ting said, "No, I'm actually at a dim sum restaurant right now, it's quite busy here."

"Oh, really?

Li Han felt uneasy, hesitated, and then revealed some aspects of his own situation. "To be honest, I didn't intend to keep it from you... it's just that it happened a few days ago, so I didn't have time, and in truth, I didn't think it was worth mentioning."

"What do you mean it's not worth mentioning?" Li Ting suddenly asked. "Is the person not worth it or the situation not worthy enough to be mentioned?"

Li Han paused: "Both... neither one is really worth mentioning."

After the words came out, he felt something was off, and quickly rephrased: "No, I'm not saying he has bad intentions; on the contrary, he's actually pretty nice. You saw him that day; he's quite handsome and well-liked at our school. Many people admire him, but he only focused on me from the start. It took me some time to agree to be with him." Although Li Han controlled his tone, he couldn't hide a hint of small pride: "He treats me extremely well."

"Just because he's handsome and well-liked means you can date him?" Li Ting asked.

His tone was calm, not overly aggressive as usual, but to Li Han at that moment, there was an inexplicable sharpness that felt distant, unlike how he usually let his brother dictate everything.

Li Han blurted out: "What do you know about dating, big brother? Have you ever liked anyone? Does anyone like you?"

Li Ting fell silent for a moment, then slowly turned his head to look at Tian Dian, who had leaned in to eavesdrop, and abruptly ended the call.

Tian Dian, caught eavesdropping, awkwardly smiled and scratched at his messy, unkempt hair that he hadn't bothered to fix at home, stiffly changing the subject: "Hey, where did this computer come from? You didn't buy it, did you?"

"Found it," Li Ting replied as he untangled the cords and began to set it up.

Despite Li Ting's proficient packaging skills, he seemed quite unfamiliar with electronic products. After fumbling for a while, it was Tian Dian who could no longer stand it and spent a considerable amount of time assisting him until they finally got it working.

Once it successfully powered on, Tian Dian stared at the enticing wallpaper and couldn't help but whistle, immediately grabbing the mouse and settling in.

"Wow, what made you think to bring this back?"

It wasn't surprising that Tian Dian was shocked; his roommate only owned second-hand phones from auctions, and aside from the refrigerator and lights, there were hardly any other appliances in their rented apartment. When did he become interested in such high-tech products?

Li Ting observed Tian Dian's enthusiastic reaction, glanced at his phone tossed aside, and said, "Just bored."

"Are you bored?"

"It's you who's bored."

Tian Dian sometimes had a thick skin, but at times he could strike with surprising sharpness. He suddenly jumped up and hugged the departing Li Ting, saying emotionally, "You must be giving me this computer, knowing I've just had a breakup and am always in tears."

"I'm at home all day feeling bored, and you've brought this to entertain me, right? I knew you cared the most; that you loved me the most."

Li Ting wriggled free from his embrace in disgust. "Get off."

But Tian Dian suddenly had a realization. "Exactly! Rather than obsess over a scumbag, why not immerse myself in the internet? I refuse to believe there aren't perfect, rich, handsome guys in the virtual world if I can't find one in real life!"

Li Ting shot him an eye roll filled with irritation.

Glancing at the time, Li Ting realized he needed to head back to the city for work, a round trip that would take him more than two hours. He could easily have brought it back after finishing work.

He quickly changed out of his sweat-soaked T-shirt and washed his face, getting ready to leave, but he was interrupted by Tian Dian calling out to him.

"Li Zi..."

Tian Dian's voice had lost its earlier playfulness, now filled with a seriousness that felt more appropriate for him.

"What he said isn't true. You can have a relationship and be liked by someone. Because aside from me, there will always be someone who knows just how wonderful our Li Zi is."

Li Ting turned back to see Tian Dian, his messy hair disheveled as he sat on a stool, seriously playing Solitaire. He pursed his lips before quietly closing the door.

Wang Fu Liang was right; Li Ting was also a university student.

Li Er Yang wasn't entirely wrong; the university Li Ting attended was indeed considered to be among the lowest tier, hardly comparable to the prestigious A University—there was simply no competition.

Li Ting barely attended any classes throughout the year. According to his father's standards, his eldest son had succumbed to a sense of self-abandonment driven by low self-esteem, acknowledging the bleak prospects ahead and ultimately giving up hope, living day by day without ambition, appearing busy while merely going through the motions.

Though this sentiment was harsh, it wasn't entirely one-sided. For example, when Li Ting returned to school one last time before the break, he received no friendly greetings from classmates he hadn't seen in a while.

"Someone with his attendance rate has passed? So why are we failing our exams? Did this teacher take money from some students?"

Knowing Li Ting was nearby, the loud, mocking voice showed no restraint, clearly aimed at him.

"They can only collect money if someone has it; look at that loser, how could he provide anything?"

"Hey? You don't get it. Haven't you read the news? Nowadays, students have many more things they can trade, regardless of gender."

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of mocking laughter erupted, striking Li Ting in the back of his head.

Li Ting paused and turned around.

The group was composed of both boys and girls, led by a boy who was about the same height as Li Ting but had a larger head and a somewhat stocky build.

Noticing Li Ting's gaze, the boy puffed out his chest and irritably said, "What are you looking at?"

Just as he finished speaking, he saw Li Ting walking straight toward him, unflinching.

The boy was momentarily taken aback. "What do you want?"

Li Ting stood in front of him, scanning the faces of several people. Although he was looking straight ahead, it inexplicably projected a strong sense of condescension toward the others. "There are indeed many skills that can be traded for money," Li Ting said. "By looks, by strength, by brains. But if you can also rely on being pathetic, you must be a true expert at that." Li Ting's tone was very calm, yet it provoked a sharp rise in the boy's anger, and he shouted, "What the hell did you say?! We still have old scores to settle!" "Do you want to settle them?" Li Ting met the boy's deadly glare and asked seriously. Someone nearby, sensing the tense atmosphere, softened first and pulled the leading boy back, saying, "Cheng Peng, we can't cause a scene here; let's talk later..." But the boy named Cheng Peng was unwilling to back down easily and provocatively pointed at Li Ting. "You should say that to him; I don't believe this kid dares to act like this in school—" "—Bang!" Before he could finish his words, a loud bang erupted. Cheng Peng turned in shock to see that a stainless steel garbage bin beside him, several centimeters thick, had been dented halfway, with fresh paint peeling off in chunks.

The buzzing resonance of the impact lingered in his ears, refusing to fade. Li Ting casually withdrew his kicked leg, a questioning look in his eyes, as if to ask, "And then?" They were at the back of the teaching building, so such a commotion in the empty little garden naturally attracted attention. By the third floor, some students and teachers had already peeked out to watch, and among the provocateurs, someone began to feel intimidated. "Li Ting, don't be so cocky; you'll regret this sooner or later." With that remark, several people pulled the clearly agitated Cheng Peng away, walking and cursing, "I told you long ago not to provoke him; he's just a madman! He doesn't even fear expulsion!" Li Ting had no inclination to listen to their insults. He glanced at his watch and got on his old electric bike to head to A University, specifically to its library. He was very familiar with it, partly because he needed it for work, and partly because his own school was too shabby. Whenever he required materials or reference books, A University's library was his best option. For this reason, he had gone through the trouble of borrowing a student ID from someone there, granting him free access. With many A University students having completed their exams, the once-crowded library was finally much quieter. Li Ting strolled through the floors that had once been overwhelmed with people, meticulously browsing the bookshelves.

When he unexpectedly spotted his target, a flicker of surprise illuminated his otherwise dark face, but it vanished in an instant, quickly replaced by his usual gloom. Li Ting borrowed the book, cradling it carefully as he walked outside. He was contemplating whether to store it at the shop or take it back to his rental apartment when he suddenly came face to face with someone familiar.

"Ge? What are you doing here?"

The newcomer was his younger brother, Li Han, who was standing next to a boy from the same school—someone Li Ting had previously encountered in the backyard of the Li family—who was currently Li Han's romantic interest.

After that awkward phone call with Li Ting, Li Han had not been in touch, and now that they met unexpectedly, he seemed quite apologetic. However, this wasn't the right moment for explanations; he could only vaguely gesture to the person beside him and introduce, "Uh, Ge, this is Wang Qin, my classmate."

After saying that, as if fearing the conversation would delve deeper, he quickly asked, "Ge, what brings you here? Are you delivering something?"

"Hey? Isn't this one of our major's books?" the boy named Wang Qin suddenly interjected.

Li Han then noticed what Li Ting was holding and was surprised as well: "Ge, you came here to borrow a book? Why are you borrowing a book from our major, and it's the original text? I can't even understand it..."

Li Ting replied with an "oh," flipping the book to show the cover: "It's for work."

"Using this for work? That's impressive," Li Han remarked. "What about you? What are you doing here?" It was Li Ting's turn to ask. "I forgot to mention, I'm working on a project at A University's Computer Science Institute. I applied for a summer internship and finally got it after two years of trying! I made it this time!" Li Han was filled with excitement while sharing this news. "There are so many impressive people here; it's incredible. Oh, by the way... I still need to take our senior classmates out to eat... Hey, where are they?" Li Han glanced around, feeling confused, until he spotted a few senior colleagues from the institute lagging behind, particularly two girls who were laughing and frequently glancing back. It took them some time to catch up. "Sister, sister, what are you looking at?" Li Han asked cheerfully as he approached. "Looking at handsome guys!" the senior sister replied, blushing and smiling, "Fang Huaining." "Ah? Who is Fang Huaining?" Li Han inquired again. "What? You don't even know who Fang Huaining is?" The senior sister exclaimed in disbelief before remembering something. She lightly tapped Li Han on the head, "I forgot you're new here. But if you want to fit in during this holiday, you need to know him; he's a big name in our Computer Science Institute."

Chapter 6:

What does the gap between heaven and earth mean? Upon hearing the senior sister praise someone so highly, Li Han asked with excitement, "Is he a senior who stays at school?"

"Or is he doing a PhD?" But the senior sister shook her head, "Neither, he just got accepted into graduate school, and he'll only be a fourth-year student once the semester starts. But don't underestimate him; despite his young age, he has already won countless awards. You know Professor Ni Weinian, right? He's from our school, and each year, around 80% of external applicants for summer internships seek him out, yet he has never openly recruited anyone. Fang Huaining is from Professor Ni's group." "Professor Ni hasn't supervised graduate students for many years. This time, not only did he take on supervision personally, but he also has nearly every available project assigned to him, which shows how much he values him. A big name is still just a big name," a senior nearby couldn't help but exclaim enviously. "Wow, then this senior Fang is really impressive," Li Han chimed in eagerly. "Being smart is impressive, but what's even more impressive is that he's good-looking!" the senior sister pointed out pragmatically.

The university has always produced talented individuals; there are many outstanding seniors in the Computer Science department pursuing master's or doctoral degrees. While some geniuses have emerged, those with both external and internal conditions as favorable as Fang Huaining's are indeed rare. In summary, Fang Huaining excels across the board, with outstanding qualities in virtue, talent, intelligence, and appearance, earning him the title of "top student."

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, and Li Han joined in, enthusiastically saying, "I really want to get to know Senior Fang better... How about we invite the members of his team to join us for dinner later?"

"You're quite generous for a kid; your older brothers and sisters appreciate it. But if you want to treat the top student to dinner, that's not easy. Aside from a few acquaintances, Fang Huaining hardly dines with anyone. Our top students tend to be rather aloof."

"I see..." Li Han's innocent face couldn't help but look dejected, revealing his frustration.

The senior, finding him adorable, couldn't resist teasing him: "Actually, it's not impossible. Look, he's coming over. You could give it a try; maybe he'll be moved by you and agree."

At that moment, Li Ting received a text on his phone. It was from someone named A Chang, asking, "There will be a thunderstorm tonight. Do you want to come deal with it?"

Li Ting glanced at Li Han and then at the tall guy walking slowly in the distance before suddenly saying, "I'm leaving."

Li Han, still contemplating the senior's words, turned around in confusion upon hearing his brother's voice: "Huh?"

"I'm leaving now," Li Ting repeated, stuffing his phone back into his pocket.

"Oh, okay..."

As Li Han watched Li Ting quickly turn and leave, he remembered that he forgot to ask his brother if he had eaten and whether he wanted to join them. However, his thoughts soon returned to the few people who were getting closer.

Those individuals appeared a few years older and seemed to be pursuing their master's or doctoral degrees, except for the boy in the middle. With his tall, slender figure and steady gait, he exuded an aura that stood out even among the ordinary crowd.

As he drew closer, Li Han was even more astonished. Although his university wasn't as prestigious as A University, its computer science program was also well-regarded in City A. He had encountered a variety of students and knew that most science-oriented boys tended to be reserved; often, half were awkward and unrefined, and those like Wang Qin, who were neither awkward nor unattractive, were already rare. It was no wonder they attracted attention in a male-dominated school! However, compared to the person before him, he finally understood the vast disparity.

This Senior Fang looked like a star who had stepped out of a movie: a small face, fair skin, long legs, and an aura that was neither rough nor overly gentle. His striking features were infused with a strong sense of heroism; with just one glance, people could sense his impressive presence, and every movement drew their eyes to follow him.

It seemed that Li Han's behavior, being too abrupt, caught Fang Huaining and his group's attention before he could even speak. They looked directly at him.

At that moment, as their gazes met, Li Han's heart raced, and he blanked for a moment before regaining his senses and stammering, "Um... are you Senior Fang?"

He was articulate, and with a slight organization of his thoughts, he conveyed his intentions smoothly. Although the earlier invitation had been merely a formality, he now meant it sincerely.

Unfortunately, as the seniors had predicted, Senior Fang listened to Li Han's words with an expressionless face and almost immediately declined without a second thought.

"Sorry, I don't have time," Fang Huaining replied politely, glancing at Li Han before quickly bidding farewell to those beside him.

"I'm heading to the suburbs."

"Is it about the He Xin Industrial case?" several seniors acknowledged. "That project is indeed a hassle, but the company is quite generous. The work you're taking from Old Ni is still relatively conscientious."

Someone also expressed concern: "Huaining, there's going to be heavy rain tonight; remember to take an umbrella."

Fang Huaining nodded to each of the seniors and headed straight towards the school gate.

"I told you he's difficult to approach, right? The top students are always like this. Let's just go eat; the older brothers and sisters won't really make you pay," several seniors said with laughter.

Li Han stared at the departing boy until Wang Qin nudged him, pulling him back to reality.

Wang Qin asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Li Han looked down and replied, "Nothing..."

The work at He Xin Industrial wasn't a research topic; it was purely a project that Ni Weinian undertook for financial gain.

In his words, if scholars lack a sufficient income that matches their talents, how can they maintain the motivation to conduct research and innovate? He had received countless lucrative job offers, and the old man would always distribute them fairly among the younger individuals. No wonder other groups were envious and eager to join.

Fang Huaining wasn't particularly concerned about the money, but he knew Old Ni treated him well. So, despite the company frequently changing its requirements and occasionally asking them to redo their work, making the journey long, Fang Huaining didn't complain.

After nearly two hours on the bus, Fang Huaining arrived at his destination. This was a newly constructed headquarters, and he, along with two other seniors, was tasked with helping to rebuild the network and various systems. Most employees hadn't transferred over yet, and the entire building was sparsely populated.

As Fang Huaining followed the representative from He Xin Industrial through the entrance, he inadvertently caught sight of a small electric scooter casually passing by on the side path.

Fang Huaining paused, feeling an odd sense of familiarity. However, when he turned to look again, he found nothing.

Was it just his imagination?

Upon entering the main control room, he became busy for most of the day, only realizing it was past three o'clock when he thought about taking a lunch break.

Leaning against the large glass wall, Fang Huaining took a moment to rest his tired eyes, gazing out into the distance.

This location was intended to be developed into a technology park, but it remained largely undeveloped, surrounded mainly by barren land and farmland, with hardly a soul in sight.

Oh, wait, there was someone nearby.

He spotted a figure wearing a straw hat, holding a hoe, toiling in the heat of the sun.

Is he a farmer from around here? Fang Huaining mused. Working so hard under such a blazing sun is indeed tough. Glancing at the iced coffee in his hands and feeling the cool air around him, Fang Huaining couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, even though they were strangers.

Would this man suffer from heatstroke?

Wait, it seems… he's not an uncle.

As he watched the other man roll up his pants due to the heat, revealing slender, fair calves underneath, Fang Huaining felt a mix of surprise and astonishment.

Perhaps seeking shelter from the scorching sun, the farmer set down his hoe, moved to a nearby slope, and pushed over a dilapidated little electric cart, parking it beneath the large tree planted by Hexin Industrial. After ensuring the seat cushion would remain out of the sun, he adjusted his clothes, took a sip of water, picked up the hoe again, and returned to his labor.

That brief moment was enough for Fang Huaining to clearly see the man's entire face beneath the straw hat.

Fang Huaining: "......"

He, who has always been known for his aloof calmness in the eyes of outsiders, felt a subtle shake in his worldview caused by an unknown external force.

He didn't know whether to be surprised at encountering this person again or puzzled as to why this guy was here... farming?!

Was he originally a farmer?

Did he come from a poor family that forced him to take on various jobs?

Isn't he a university student?

With such outstanding money-making skills, shouldn't he be able to find an easier job?

Could it be that he's working for someone else again?

If it weren't for the discipline ingrained in him pulling Fang Huaining back to serious matters, he estimated he could have speculated for half a day. However, his extreme focus allowed him to quickly push those random thoughts aside once he dedicated himself to work. It was only when a loud clap of thunder sounded that he barely came to his senses, realizing that the sky outside had darkened without him noticing and that the thunderstorm his senior brother had mentioned was quickly approaching.

Fang Huaining walked to the window and unconsciously glanced outside; through the pouring rain, the electric cart was still parked in place, but the person was already gone. Where he had previously been busy in the fields had unexpectedly been set up with a small shelter covered in canvas to protect the crops beneath it.

Although the little wooden shack was crude, surprisingly it had managed to withstand the fierce howling winds and heavy rain for a long time. Fang Huaining stood there quietly and watched, unmoved for a long time...