Chapter 323 - 320: Getting a Room

Chapter 323: Chapter 320: Getting a Room

Wang Ming opened his suitcase and took out a vacuum-sealed package of Imperial Capital roast duck. Then, he pulled out another bag containing spring roll wrappers, various julienned cucumbers, scallion whites, and radish, as well as a bottle of special sauce.

"I bought this roast duck at Quanjude. Give it a try and see if you like it," he said with a smile.

Shen Ying froze. She remembered mentioning it offhandedly before she went to university, never thinking he’d actually taken it to heart. For a moment, she was deeply touched.

"How do you eat this?"

"You just wrap the fillings and duck meat in a spring roll wrapper, dip it in this special sauce, and eat it."

Wang Ming put on a pair of disposable gloves and made one to demonstrate. After dipping it in the sauce, he handed it to her.

"You eat it. I’ll make my own," Shen Ying said, blushing slightly.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ve had it plenty of times in the Imperial Capital. I bought this especially for you."

Wang Ming held it out in front of her. As if possessed, Shen Ying leaned forward and took a bite. Both of them froze for a second, their eyes meeting. The atmosphere suddenly became inexplicably awkward.

She snapped back to her senses and, blushing, reached out to take it from him.

"It’s delicious!" Shen Ying said, quickly changing the subject.

"Quanjude’s roast duck really is good. I was amazed the first time I had it, too. If you like it, you can finish this whole one, no problem. I have more anyway. I bought them all for you, so you can take them back and enjoy them later."

"Mmm, but there’s no way I can finish a whole one."

"Just take your time. Perfect, I’ll have hot pot, you’ll have roast duck. We can trade," Wang Ming said with a smile.

Thinking about how Wang Ming had just fed her, Shen Ying felt her ears burn. She copied what he did, rolled one for herself, and ate with great satisfaction.

"Huh? Why does this duck neck look so... mouse-like?"

"Let me see... Hey, it really does look a bit like one, but this is definitely a duck neck!"

"Is it?"

"Definitely. It must be a new breed. I’m a duck, ’mouse’elf."

"Oh."

Although it was unlikely Wang Ming would lie to her, Shen Ying really couldn’t bring herself to eat something that looked like this. She had never seen a duck neck with teeth and fur.

After dinner, the two strolled along the streetlamp-lit Xuefu Avenue. Above them, a light rail train roared past, arriving from the distance and then heading off into it.

"Want to go up for a ride? Yu Du’s light rail runs high up, so you can see the city’s nightscape," Shen Ying asked.

After coming to Yu Du, she had gone through a phase where she loved riding the light rail just to see the different scenery.

"Nah, if we go too far, I can’t be bothered to come back," Wang Ming said, shaking his head.

"That’s true."

"Where in Yu Du is this?" he asked, dragging his suitcase and looking toward a relatively desolate, empty plot of land in the distance.

"Banan District. It’s still under development, so in terms of progress, it definitely can’t compare to the luxury of the Imperial Capital," Shen Ying said.

"You’re not going to be here in the future anyway. You’re coming with me to make a career in the Imperial Capital."

Shen Ying looked at him with a grin. "Coming with *you*?"

"Uh... no, I mean, with *us*," Old Wang explained awkwardly. "Everyone’s in the Imperial Capital, so you’ll definitely come too."

"I’ll go next summer vacation! What about my spot? Did you save one for me?"

Wang Ming nodded quickly. "Of course! If anyone dares to take your spot, I’ll be the first to deal with them."

"Tsk tsk, now that you’re a director, you sound so domineering," Shen Ying teased.

Wang Ming blushed. "I’m still a long way from being a director. I can just barely manage to draw the storyboards for *Cat and Mouse* now."

"Sounds like you’re learning pretty fast. It’s only been a few months and you’re already about to graduate."

"With Old Jiang teaching me one-on-one, how could I not be fast? He’s putting all his time and energy into *Slam Dunk* now, so the burden of *Cat and Mouse* has fallen to me. I don’t want to disappoint him, so all I can do is work harder and harder, pushing myself as much as possible."

Wang Ming sighed softly. ’In this lifetime, I’m so lucky to be Jiang Xia’s brother.’

’Without his influence, I probably wouldn’t have even gotten into the Central Academy of Fine Arts. I’d be like other people my age, glued to a computer playing games all day, just drifting through life.’

’Not like now, where I have a lifelong goal to strive for. I’m no longer a frog in a well, but an eagle about to spread its wings and soar.’

’Ultimately, I can’t live under Jiang Xia’s protection forever. Only by going from a sailor to a captain can I lead the great ship on a long voyage across the vast ocean.’

"Don’t push yourself too hard. Just take it one step at a time. Honestly, you’re already amazing." Shen Ying pursed her lips and turned to look at Wang Ming’s profile, realizing that in the past six months, he really had matured a lot.

’At least, he’s become more responsible.’

’That’s something you don’t see in a lot of people our age.’

"This isn’t tiring. My mom and Old Jiang are the ones who are really tired," Wang Ming said with a sudden smile. "Starting with season six, I’m the one drawing the storyboards for *Cat and Mouse*. You can see how they turn out then."

"Okay."

The two walked along Xuefu Avenue to the next light rail station. Once they had more or less digested their food, they started walking back.

"Where are you planning to stay tonight?"

"Hmm, I’ll just find a random hotel near your university."

Shen Ying nodded.

Ten-odd minutes later, they arrived at a hotel, and Wang Ming took out his ID to get a room.

"One room with a king-sized bed?" the owner asked, glancing at the two of them. His gaze then fell on Wang Ming’s face as he carefully compared it to the ID.

- 1992 = 18.

’He’s already 18.’

"Yeah, one room," Wang Ming confirmed with a nod.

"120, plus a 100 deposit."

Wang Ming was about to pay when Shen Ying stopped him. "You came all this way to see me. How could I let you pay?"

His eyelid twitched slightly. ’Since when does a girl pay for a guy’s hotel room?’

But in the end, he couldn’t win against her.

"Upstairs, room 302. There’s hot water and air conditioning. Any damages will be charged at cost. Please check out before 1 PM tomorrow," the owner said, handing over the room card.

Wang Ming nodded. The two were about to head upstairs when the owner called out to them.

"Miss, what about your ID? If two people are getting a room, I need to register both of your information."

Shen Ying’s face flushed red. "I’m just going up with him to take a look! I’m not staying here tonight!"

"Oh, oh, oh, my mistake. Sorry about that."

Wang Ming was snickering on the side. "Well, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if you stayed. It’d be nice to have some company."

"Are you asking for it?!"

Shen Ying shot him a glare. ’Spend half a year in the big city and now your wings have hardened, huh? You even dare to tease me now.’

"I meant, you could get another room. It’s almost nine o’clock, are you really going back to the university?" Wang Ming said, feigning injury.

"Yeah, I’m going back."

The Business University isn’t that big anyway. It’s just a short walk.

’Anyway, there’s no way I’m getting a room here with him. What would people say?’

She glanced around the room. It was pretty decent.

"Well, you get some rest. I’m going to head back now," Shen Ying said.

Wang Ming gave a slight nod. Watching her turn to leave, he fidgeted with his fingers, hesitated for a few seconds, and then suddenly said, "Shen Ying, why don’t we... go back together tomorrow?"

Shen Ying froze for a moment, then turned back to him with a smile.

"Okay."

...

(To all the students taking their college entrance exams, wishing you a triumphant start and brilliant success! Don’t forget your admission tickets, ID cards, pencils, erasers, rulers, and gel pens. You can do it, everyone!~~~~~)