“Quiet down, everyone will be classmates from now on, so let’s all get along!” Kelly, of course, knew what was going through everyone’s mind: “Alright, Ou Tong, find a seat to sit in!” “Okay, teacher!” Ou Tong had seen this situation before — boys admiring, girls despising — so she didn’t feel much, just smiled and nodded at the teacher. Tongtong’s eyes quickly scanned the available seats, thinking about where to sit… Suddenly, she noticed the seat by the window on the far left was empty, and most importantly, in front of that seat was an Asian girl with yellow skin, black hair, and black eyes, smiling kindly at her. To the right of the seat, a boy with brown hair was seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, his face buried in his arms, his long hair covering all visible features… Tongtong thought, at least the Asian girl could be considered a half-countrywoman, and the boy who could sleep through such noise probably wouldn’t be aggressive, definitely better than sitting next to those lecherous boys or hostile girls! So, Tongtong smiled at the teacher and said, “Teacher, I’ll take the last seat on the left, is that okay?” “Of course, go ahead!” Kelly said with a smile. Tongtong walked through the gaze of everyone to her seat and sat down. The Asian girl in front turned around and said in Cantonese, “Hello, I’m Su Wen from Guangzhou! We’re sort of fellow townspeople! Hehe.” Tongtong looked at Su Wen in surprise, “That’s great, I thought you were Japanese or Korean, didn’t expect you to be from my hometown, and so close!” “Hehe, there are many students from China here, I’ll take you to our fellowship club later!” Su Wen said kindly. “Thank you, Su Wen, nice to meet you!” “Just call me Wenwen, can I call you Tongtong?” “Yes!” “Alright, let’s listen to the class, I’ll show you around the campus after class!” “Okay!” The two girls exchanged smiles and began to listen attentively to the lesson. Unintentionally, the sleeping boy next to Tongtong turned over, his face now facing her, although his features were still hidden, Tongtong caught a glimpse of his prominent nose… He must be a good-looking boy… After all, the acting department was full of handsome guys and beautiful girls… She didn’t bother to wonder why the teacher ignored the boy sleeping so freely in class… There must be some background or reason for it… Shaking her head, Tongtong wasn’t one to be overly curious, so she turned her attention back to the lesson…
[Side Story: Starry Dreams: V. The Rules of the Cafeteria] “This is our school’s gym… over there is the outdoor sports field…” Su Wen stood on the balcony, pointing at the distant buildings and introducing them to Ou Tong: “Oh, and that red building with floor-to-ceiling windows is the student cafeteria… we’ll be heading there for lunch soon!” “So the academy is so big…” Ou Tong looked at the vast campus engulfed in greenery, with its ancient auditorium and modern dining hall… a perfect blend of modern and European architecture. “Yeah… behind us, there’s a whole area of teaching buildings, and at the very back are the student dormitories… I live in the dorms… by the way, Tongtong, where do you live?” “I live with my aunt…” Ou Tong answered. Su Wen took Ou Tong’s hand: “You’re lucky to have an aunt to rely on, I’m here studying abroad in the US… sometimes it’s tough, I miss home… it can get pretty lonely… sigh… look at me, what am I saying… let’s go to the cafeteria, or we won’t get a seat… if there’s no room, we’d have to walk to a restaurant outside campus… and that’s far…” “Wenwen, if you ever feel lonely, just call me, we’re fellow townspeople, so I’ll keep you company in the future! You won’t be lonely!” Ou Tong said kindly. “Thanks! Let’s hurry!”
“Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be about loneliness… it would be about hunger…” Su Wen made a funny face at Ou Tong, laughing. “Hehe… let’s go!” The two vibrant Eastern girls strolled along the tree-lined path of the campus, naturally attracting the attention of many boys… especially Ou Tong’s extraordinarily ethereal face…
In the dining hall, there were already many students bustling about… “Sigh… we’re too late…” Su Wen sighed helplessly, looking at the crowded first-floor hall. “Isn’t there space on the second floor?” Ou Tong asked, puzzled, looking up at the open second floor. “That’s the sophomore dining area… above that are the junior and senior dining areas, then the graduate student area… the top floor is for specific school personnel and students with an extremely powerful background!” Su Wen explained. “So we can only eat on the first floor?” Ou Tong asked, touching her slightly hungry stomach. “In principle, yes, unless someone from another grade is willing to take you to their dining area; otherwise, we can’t go up there to eat alone!” As Su Wen spoke, two blonde beauties from their class, arm in arm with older male students, strutted past Su Wen and Ou Tong, heading upstairs. They glanced at them with a disdainful look: “Hmph… can’t even find a place to eat, how pathetic…” The two blondes exchanged a knowing smile and quickly went upstairs with their male companions who were staring blankly at Ou Tong. Su Wen, hearing this, clenched her fists in anger…
“It’s okay, Wenwen, I’ll make a call, and I guarantee we can eat on the top floor!” Ou Tong comforted Su Wen and took out her phone… dialing… “Tong… where are you?” Kai answered with an immediate question. “Kai, I’m at the dining hall, come quickly, there’s no space… I’m starving…” Tong said into the phone. “Silly, I told you to wait for me!” “I forgot… hurry up!” Tong cooed. “I’ll be right there! Don’t move!”
“Who did you call?” Su Wen asked curiously. “Kai.” Tong said. “Who’s Kai? Can he take us to the top-floor dining hall?” Su Wen asked skeptically, “I guess so…” Actually, Ou Tong wasn’t sure either, but considering how respectfully the principal and the dean had treated him that morning during registration, Kai should be able to handle it… Su Wen rolled her eyes, feeling that Ou Tong hadn’t fully understood her explanation about the dining hall system earlier, so she began to explain earnestly: “Tong, the top floor is only for top-tier professors, school VIPs, and no more than ten students with super elite backgrounds!” “Hmm… I heard that…” Ou Tong said nonchalantly, looking at the entrance. “You know… and you still…” “Kai!” Ou Tong excitedly waved at the tall figure entering through the door. “Tong!” Kai gave a cool, lip-tight smile, walking towards Ou Tong… Su Wen stared blankly at Kai approaching Ou Tong — turns out, Kai was the Kai Irving Lawrence, who was the heartthrob of the entire school! Since only a few friends and family could call him Kai, everyone else, including his admirers and schoolmates, referred to him as ‘Irving’…
“Kai, this is my new friend, Su Wen, she’s also from China!” Tong introduced with a smile, holding onto Kai’s left arm. “I… uh… hello, Senior Irving…” Su Wen stammered, looking at Kai’s stern yet handsome face… excited and nervous. “Hmm!” Kai just nodded slightly… his sharp gaze briefly swept over Su Wen, who was blushing… he had seen many girls in love with him before… “Kai, I want to eat on the top floor… I’m so hungry…” Tong shook Kai’s arm. “Let’s go!” Kai pulled Tong along, and Tong pulled the dazed Su Wen, and the three of them entered the clear, bright elevator…
The transparent elevator allowed everyone dining to see the girl, beaming brightly and holding onto Kai Irving Lawrence’s arm, and Irving’s indulgent smile… No one could believe their eyes; the usually aloof Irving could look so tenderly at a girl… Meanwhile, the blonde beauties who had just walked past Tong and Su Wen with arrogance, now twisted their beautiful faces in jealousy…
The elevator took the trio straight to the top floor…
