The next day, in the morning.
The temperature in winter was always cold no matter where. Even in the deserts, the night turns into a real hell. Although in some places it was more noticeable than in others, the fact that people’s clothes changed was certain.
At 4 degrees Celsius ambient temperature and an even lower thermic sensation, the morning in Shanghai was really cold. But even so, the cold weather never stopped people from moving around.
The workers and students left the comfort of their homes and went to their respective companies and study centers.
Shanghai University.
Xie Feng drove his Land Rover directly to the university, although it was fine for him, not willing to let the little beauties next to him get cold.
As he approached the entrance of the university, the first thing Xie Feng and Xie Yao saw was the sight of several luxury cars parked at the entrance of the place. Several young men dressed in extravagant clothes chatted casually with each other as they watched the girls pass by.
“Damn polar bears…” Xie Feng couldn’t help but curse. He didn’t understand the point of unnecessarily freezing. “Man, if you want a girl, go to a bar or something…”
“Hehehe…” Xie Yao laughed softly at Xie Feng’s comment. “Big brother Xie Feng, the polar bears would be angry with you if they knew you were comparing them to these guys.”
“Xie Yao, your comments are really cruel. So far I’ve only seen you acting nice to Xie Feng and his friends…” Gu Qianxue, who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle, commented, “Do you see all men as your enemies or what?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, girl.” Xie Yao rolled her eyes. Then she looked out the window and as she passed by the silk pants, she replied, “I respect those who deserve respect. But men like those who only know how to waste the money that their families got after working hard do not deserve my respect. I even wonder why they come to college? Big brother Xie Feng is right, if they want to flirt with a girl they should go to a bar or something”.
“Oh.” Gu Qianxue nodded. She also agreed with what Xie Yao said.
“Well, beauties. You don’t need to worry too much about that kind of person. We just have to give our best effort to live as well as possible and that’s all.” Xie Feng smiled and parked the car near the guy’s bedroom: “Instead of wasting time talking about others, let’s think about how to enjoy life more!”
Xie Feng took off his seat belt and calmly said, “Yaoyao, Qianxue, wait a minute. I’ll go and get those guys out of bed.”
“Okay~” Both of them responded with a funny smile.
After closing the car door, Xie Feng went into the guys’ bedroom. His roommate’s room was on the third floor.
Today, Xie Yao had prepared breakfast earlier than usual, so after spending some time with the girls, the three of them decided to go to college a little earlier. As Xie Feng was leaving Shanghai today, he decided to pay his friends a visit.
When he reached the bedroom door, Xie Feng tried to open it but it was locked, as he expected. Trying to make as little noise as possible and with a tortured smile, he picked up a couple of keys and opened the door slowly.
The room was simple. Except for four separate beds, a large wardrobe, a large table with four chairs, and a small bookcase with books, there was nothing else.
In three of the four beds, lay three young men. What surprised Xie Feng was that the bracelet and necklaces were not illuminated… That meant that his three dorm mates were not connected to the virtual world and were actually asleep.
Xie Feng walked slowly to the bookcase and picked up a book. After rolling it over to form a makeshift speaker, he put the book in his mouth and shouted loudly:
“FIRE!”
“Fire!” Yue Kai opened his eyes and jumped out of bed while screaming in panic.
“Where!?”
“What happened!?”
Xiao Luo and Hu Chen shouted in alarm and fell out of their beds, entangling their bodies with the sheets like silkworms.
“Ha ha ha!”
Xie Feng burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that his stomach started to hurt.
Hearing their laughter, the frightened trio calmed down and looked at him in shock.
Then, with an angry look, the three of them picked up their pillows and threw them at Xie Feng while cursing him.
***
“So, you’re flying to Beijing in a few hours and probably won’t be back for several days?” Xiao Luo asked as he looked at Xie Feng.
After a rude but funny awakening, Xie Feng made sure the three of them were ready as he took Xie Yao and Gu Qianxue to their respective class buildings. Then, he returned and went with his three dorm mates to the business class room.
Xie Feng was very well received by his classmates. On the way, there were even several girls who brazenly invited him to be their boyfriend. After what happened on the basketball court, he had become apparently popular… Naturally, he didn’t know he was popular even before.
“That’s right. As you know, my cousin Qianxue came from the capital and tomorrow is the birthday party of someone close to her so Xie Yao and I are accompanying her.” Xie Feng nodded and explained casually.
He did not want these three guys to have their normal life interrupted so Xie Feng did not tell them more than necessary.
The three looked at each other for a moment and Hu Chen slowly nodded, “All right. Be careful man…” After hesitating for a moment, he remarked: “If at any time you need our help with something, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Xie Feng was visibly surprised by Hu Chen’s words. With a curious look, he smiled:
“What’s happening suddenly?”
Unlike Xie Feng’s smile, Hu Chen had a serious look. He was silent for several seconds and after thinking about his words carefully, he sighed:
“Xie Feng, although I don’t know what makes you different, there is something in you clearly different from the three of us… No, not just the three of us. To all the students of this place.”
As he looked at Xie Feng with a complicated look, Hu Chen explained:
“Until recently, we didn’t even know that you were really a rich man. Ah, but don’t get me wrong… I know that the fact that you are willing to open up to us in this way is proof of your confidence in our friendship… But even so, I always feel that there are many things that for some reason you don’t want to tell.
Before coming to study at Shanghai University, my family and I visited Beijing. There, I met with a young master from a very important family… The aura surrounding that guy was something completely different from anything I had ever felt before… Arrogance, pride, confidence, strength… A man only a few years older than me gave me a feeling of pressure so great that it even exceeded my respect and apprehension for the old man in my family. For me, this was unacceptable, but it also made me realize that there are really powerful people in this world. “
Xie Feng listened in silence with a sparkle in his eyes that was hard to describe. Hu Chen probably met a young man from one of the five great families or from a family close to them.
Hu Chen looked directly into Xie Feng’s eyes and continued:
“But when I met you I realized that you could not be someone normal The aura around you, the feeling that comes from an action as simple as your walking was so overwhelming that I remember not being able to sleep properly the first few days. That’s when I came to the conclusion that somehow, you were even more powerful or influential than that guy I met in the capital”.
With a bitter smile and a complicated look, Hu Chen tapped Xie Feng’s shoulder:
“Although I don’t know what kind of life you live, remember that we are friends… Hahaha… Although we probably can’t be of much help to you…”
Yue Kai and Xiao Luo did not say much, they simply patted Xie Feng on the back and went to their respective seats.
Xie Feng was stunned, sitting in his seat. His eyes shook like waves and his mouth was slightly open, obvious proof of his inner surprise.
In fact, although he had enough confidence in the three of them, that confidence was within the range of ‘acceptable’. Even now, Xie Feng hid many things from the three of them.
Xie Feng always thought he was doing it for their sake. After all, his life was different from the life they lived. If Hu Chen, Yue Kai, or Xiao Luo tried to set foot in the chaotic world he lived in, not only would the three of them suffer; their families would too.
But, Hu Chen’s words made him think more carefully.
Was he really considering them as friends? Or were they just guys he could have some fun with while he was a student?
Was it really right what he was doing?
Xie Feng spent all morning thinking about many questions and trying to answer them all. It was also then that he realized that no matter how strong he was; he was still only 20 years old… Even he had doubts about his next step sometimes.
After a whole morning of doubts, Xie Feng’s eyes shone brightly and he finally made a decision.
“Well, let’s take it one step at a time” with a clear smile, Xie Feng murmured as he looked out the window.
