Chapter 29: A Three-Thousand-Word Examination

  "Let's just be friends!" The girl's soft voice echoed in Chen Chufan's ear.

  "Oh!" Chen Chufan responded softly, without asking why. In fact, the proposal that Han Xiaoxiao had just made left him feeling a bit dizzy himself. He had even sensed earlier that this seemingly weak girl actually had her own strong convictions. How could such a girl really agree to Han Xiaoxiao's somewhat childish suggestion?

  "In the café, I didn't intentionally agree to Haixiao Xi's proposal. I understand her better than you do, and I know she really likes you deep down. But you just so happen to be that boy from the music room, and she thinks I like you. Of course, I do have feelings for you, but after all, it was Xiao Xi who liked you first, and...” The girl seemed afraid of hurting Chen Chufan, so she started explaining herself. However, her words were somewhat confusing, and she couldn't clearly express her thoughts. Or perhaps the girl herself was in a dilemma, making it even harder for her to convey what she wanted to say."

  Fortunately, Chen Chufan understood the girl's meaning and interrupted her words, saying softly: "I understand what you mean. In fact, I didn't take that proposal seriously either, because it wouldn't be fair to you or Xiaohui."

  "Ah!" Upon hearing Chen Chufan understand her meaning, Ye Siying let out a deep sigh, as if she had finally put down a heavy burden, yet also seemed to be lost and regretful.

  "It's not about being fair or unfair, emotions aren't something that can be fair anyway. It's just that Xiaohui is my best friend and I hope she can be happy every day. Don't look at her usual straightforwardness, but actually she's a very sensitive girl. So promise me to take good care of her and don't let her get hurt or sad, okay?" The girl looked into Chen Chufan's eyes and said solemnly.

  "Uh-huh, I will!" Chen Chufan said seriously.

  "This is our agreement, don't tell Xiao Xi!" Ye Siying heard the man's promise and felt a sense of relief at the same time, but her heart began to feel a faint sense of loss.

  "Alright, I'll call you girlfriend in front of her too!" Chen Chufan casually joked, causing the girl's face to flush red.

  "Alright, I've said all I wanted to say, let's head back! By the way, if you have any questions about your studies, feel free to come find me in the music room anytime. We're still friends, okay!" Ye Siying said softly, especially emphasizing the last sentence.

  "Of course I will find you, a free teacher, and it's me who is taking advantage!" Chen Chufan said matter-of-factly.

  All the way without a word, it was only when they arrived at the girls' dormitory building that Xiao Ge was still waiting there foolishly.

  "Xiao Mei hasn't come down yet?" Seeing Xiao Ge still guarding the dormitory building, Ye Siying asked somewhat curiously.

  Xiao Ge awkwardly waved a single-serve machine in his hand and said: "You came early, I was specially waiting for this brother!"

  "Oh?" Ye Siyi thought of Xiao Ge's conversation with Chen Chufan earlier and couldn't help but smile again. "You guys chat, I'll go up first!"

  "Wait, what's your dorm number? I just forgot to ask." Seeing Xiao Ge, Chen Chufan suddenly remembered that he still didn't know his girlfriend's dorm number, and felt a wave of embarrassment, hastily asking.

  "217, by the way, I think I haven't given you our dormitory phone number yet. Let me tell it to you, can you remember?" Ye Siying asked again.

  "Go ahead and report it, just remember!" Chen Chufan said with a smile.

  Ye Siying reported the dormitory's phone number to Chen Chufan and then went upstairs.

  "Brother, it turns out you're not bragging! You're the real deal!" Xiao Ge exclaimed as he saw Ye Siying turn around and go upstairs, and then he hugged Chen Chufan.

  Chen Chufan, who was feeling a bit sentimental after being consoled by Ye Siying at the South Lake, was suddenly amused by Xiao Ge's words and his melancholy disappeared. He then said with a mixture of tears and laughter: "Xiao Ge, what's so great about me? Actually, I'm just ordinary friends with Ye Siying."

  "Come on, brother, don't be modest. An ordinary friend would take the initiative to ask you out for a stroll around Nanhu? This is an honor that many boys can't even beg for! Ah, brother, I was blind today." Xiao Ge's explanation to Chen Chufan was met with a face full of disbelief.

  Chen Chufan was really speechless now, at first he said he had some connection with the school flower, Xiao Ge didn't believe him, now he said they were just ordinary friends, Xiao Ge still didn't believe him, what do you want, Xiao Ge?!

  "What you say goes!" Chen Chufan said irresponsibly, anyway he wouldn't be at a loss.

  "It's not just about admitting it, brother has been waiting for you here for half a day just to have a good chat with you, but it's too late today, why don't you leave me your phone number and we'll catch up another day!" Xiao Ge made it clear that he had been foolishly waiting for Chen Chufan all along.

  "Alright! I'm Chen Chufan from the History Department, room 302 in building 7. My dorm number is XXXXXXX." Chen Chufan thought Xiao Ge was indeed a decent person to get along with, so he straightforwardly reported his number.

  "Chen Chufan? This name sounds so familiar! Where have I heard it before?" Xiao Ge's face was filled with puzzlement.

  "Haha, common name, too many people are called this, so it sounds familiar." Chen Chufan heard Xiao Ge's words and broke out in a cold sweat. It can be said that recently he has been really showing off, to the point where even a stranger would find his name familiar.

  "That's probably it!" Not thinking clearly, Xiao Ge simply didn't think about it anymore and directly accepted Chen Chufan's explanation. He then continued to introduce himself: "My name is Xiao Can, I'm from the Management College, Department of Business Administration, I'm a junior this year, one grade higher than you, so calling me 'Xiao Ge' won't be a loss for you! I live in building 13, my phone number is xxxxxxx. It's too late today, let's not chat anymore, remember to contact me when you're free!"

  "Alright! I'll go first then, Xiao Ge!" Chen Chufan responded with a single word, turned around and walked towards his dormitory. Leaving only Xiao Ge standing there alone, with a puzzled expression on his face.

  "Chen Chufan, this name sounds really familiar? Where have I heard it before?" Xiao Ge suddenly slapped his forehead: "Damn, isn't Chen Chufan that celebrity who was criticized for jumping into the lake and also made a big splash at the Nanhu Cup? He's a celebrity, no wonder he can get a beautiful girl!" Having figured it out, Xiao Ge muttered to himself and started moving his feet, walking back to the dormitory.

  When Chen Chufan walked into the dormitory, Xiao Pang was already asleep. Yang Tao was still guarding the phone with a bowl of congee in his arms, while Meng Wei was lying on the bed holding his "Top 10 Classic Chess Endgames" and reading it. Seeing Chen Chufan enter, Yang Tao said over the phone, "Old Three is back, Can Can, do you want to talk to him?"

  After asking, I don't know how the other end of the phone responded. Anyway, Yang Tao rushed to Chen Chufan, who had already sat down on the stool, and waved his hand, signaling him to come over and answer the phone quickly.

  "You were chatting with your family's Cuan Cuan, why did you call me to pick up?" Chen Chufan asked with a puzzled face, standing up reluctantly and walking towards the phone.

  "Come and get it then you'll know." Yang Tao said impatiently, shoving the phone receiver into Chen Chufan's hand.

  "Hey, is that Li Can?" Chen Chufan answered the phone and greeted. This wasn't the first time he'd spoken to Yang Tao's wife on the phone. Sometimes when Li Can called to ask about something, Yang Tao was busy and couldn't answer, so Chen Chufan would chat with her for a bit, and over time, they became familiar with each other, even though they had never met in person.

  "Lao San, I heard you've become more mature? Today two school beauties are sticking to you!" Li Can's bright voice came from the other end of the phone.

  "I'm dizzy, how does Yang Tao tell you everything!" Chen Chufan said with a cry and a smile, saying that he hasn't even enjoyed the blessings of Qi people yet, but his reputation has spread quickly, and now it's all over the capital.

  "Can he not tell me about such a good thing? I heard him say that he's quite envious of you, and wants me to be more lenient with him too! I really didn't expect this, usually when he calls his leaders it sounds so smooth, but now that he has an example, he wants to turn the tables!" Li Can said on the phone in a bad tone.

  Chen Chufan seemed to have understood, this is a bit of a transfer of anger, so Chen Chufan immediately put on a serious face and said in a firm tone: "Although I am a dormitory brother with Yang Tao, I must resolutely criticize Yang Tao's ideology. He has not used Marxism-Leninism and Chairman Mao's thought to arm himself well, and there are signs of being corrupted by the liberalization of capitalism. I represent our entire 302 dormitory in firmly supporting and cooperating with Comrade Li Can in carrying out any form of re-education on Yang Tao until he completely corrects his wrong worldview, outlook on life and values!"

  "Haha..." Chen Chufan's words brought a loud and somewhat un-ladylike laughter from the other end of the phone, "I'm telling you, Chen Chufan, when did you learn to be as poor-mouthed as Yang Tao? No wonder you easily hooked up with two young girls! Let me tell you, you're you, and those two young girls are willing to be with you, I won't interfere. But don't corrupt our Yang Tao, especially when you guys chat together, don't say anything about how great it is to have two girlfriends! And if our Yang Tao ever has any infidelity, you must report back to me immediately!"

  "He dares! Comrade Li Can, you can rest assured that we are absolutely on your side. If Yang Tao dares to have any improper behavior, not only I, but also our boss will definitely notify you at the first time!" Chen Chufan patted his chest to guarantee, but in his heart, he was secretly annoyed. He was so wronged! Having two girlfriends was already impossible, but the reputation of having two girlfriends had already spread out."

  "That's it, okay. I see that the lake-jumping incident didn't have much of an impact on you either, so I won't comfort you anymore! Everyone here has gone to bed, I'm going to sleep first!" Li Can concluded.

  "Will you return the phone to Yang Tao?" Chen Chufan asked hastily.

  "No need, you help me convey to him, let him write a self-criticism for me, not less than 3,000 words. If he dares to be one word short, I'll wait for him to return to the capital and see if I don't cut him off!" Li Can said finally, followed by a busy tone, and the other end directly hung up the phone.

  Chen Chufan hung up the phone and turned around to look at Yang Tao, who was staring at him with a resentful expression. With a sympathetic face, he announced the result of Li Can's handling: "Your leader said that tomorrow you must write a self-criticism and read it out loud to her."

  Yang Tao let out a sigh of relief, looking like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders: "It's fine, I just need to write a self-criticism! Ah, this is something I'm good at."

  "I haven't finished yet!" Chen Chufan looked at Yang Tao with even more sympathy.

  "What else?" Yang Tao became tense again.

  "The number of words cannot be less than three thousand, dare to miss one word, and when you return to the capital, she will cut you to death! Speaking of Yang's classmate, I finally know how he wrote his self-criticism so smoothly!" Chen Chufan continued.

  "Revision? Write three thousand words? She must be writing for the internet!" Yang Tao jumped up and down, complaining loudly.

  The excitement of emotions, the high-pitched voice surprisingly woke up the usually immobile Little Fatty. He suddenly sat up in bed, looking around in terror: "What's going on? Has the Fox Fairy come to catch people?" Following that, seemingly not finding any trace of the Fox Fairy, Little Fatty lay back down again and resumed snoring after a moment.