EFB 051 Unfortunately, he is not
051 Unfortunately, he is not
In late August, the air in Shanghai and Hong Kong was filled not only with the humid moisture blowing in from the Huangpu River, but also with the restless hormones of freshmen from all over the country.
At the entrance of Shanghai University of Hong Kong, banners were everywhere. "Warmly welcome the Class of 2012 new students," "Today you are proud of Shanghai University, tomorrow Shanghai University will be proud of you"...
The taxi came to a smooth stop at the school gate.
Wang Zhe and Song Zhiyi got out of the car and pulled two suitcases out of the trunk.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar grand school gate, Wang Zhe felt a slight pang of emotion. In his previous life, he had spent five years here, experiencing both pain and joy, enduring countless all-nighters drawing, and also going through the adjustment period with Song Zhiyi here.
Now he's back, and even the girl beside him hasn't changed, but his mindset is completely different.
The two walked into the campus.
The welcome avenue was packed with people, with welcome booths from various colleges lined up in a row. Senior students, dressed in matching volunteer vests, were as enthusiastic as if they were seeing long-lost relatives.
"Hey! Which college are you from? Do you need help with your luggage?"
"Junior students, come over here to get a map!"
"Line up here to get your meal card!"
Looking at the lively but somewhat chaotic scene, Song Zhiyi subconsciously moved closer to Wang Zhe: "Shouldn't we ask someone? Or find a senior to guide us? The process seems quite complicated."
Wang Zhe didn't even glance at the enthusiastic senior students, his steps never faltering.
"No need. The procedures are actually very simple. First, go to verify your identity and get the materials, then go to the finance office to pay the fee, and then go to get the keys. You don't need to ask for directions either; I know how to get there."
"You found out again?" Song Zhiyi looked at him suspiciously. "Isn't this your first time here?"
"Basic common sense, plus a little prior research, is enough," Wang Zhe lied without batting an eye. "Just follow me, and I guarantee you won't get lost."
As they were talking, a boy noticed them.
To be precise, he did notice Song Zhiyi.
Today, Song Zhiyi wore a simple white T-shirt with a light blue denim skirt, her long hair flowing down her shoulders. With her gentle and beautiful face, she shone brightly among a group of drab freshmen.
The boy's eyes lit up, and he immediately straightened his clothes and greeted her enthusiastically.
"Hey! Junior! You're a freshman in the art school, right?" The boy wore what he thought was his most handsome smile, completely ignoring Wang Zhe beside him. "I'm a sophomore, and I'm also in our student union. The registration process is quite troublesome, running around here and there. You definitely can't carry such heavy luggage. Come on, let me help you. I'll take you to complete the procedures!"
As he spoke, he reached out to take the box from Song Zhiyi's hand.
Song Zhiyi was taken aback for a moment, then politely took a half step back to avoid the boy's hand.
She turned her head, glanced at Wang Zhe beside her, and then gave the senior apologetic but distant smile: "Thank you, but there's no need to trouble yourself."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all! It's our duty to help our juniors!" the senior insisted. "Besides, the school is quite big, you might easily get lost if you try to find your way..."
Song Zhiyi pointed to Wang Zhe and said naturally, "Really, it's not necessary. He'll help me with the procedures. We can go together."
Only then did the senior student look at Wang Zhe properly.
Wang Zhechong smiled slightly, a smile that carried the composure of an adult and a hint of "brother, you're out of luck."
"Thanks, buddy. We can handle it ourselves. See you later."
After saying that, he took Song Zhiyi's hand and skillfully navigated through the crowd, heading straight to the correct registration point.
The senior student stood there, watching the two figures walk away, especially Wang Zhe's leisurely stroll as if he were returning to his own backyard. He scratched his head and asked, "Is this guy a freshman?"
Next, under the guidance of Wang Zhe, a master guide, the check-in process for the two went extremely smoothly.
Wang Zhe didn't waste any time or wait in the wrong line; he even knew exactly where the photocopier was. All the paperwork was completed in less than an hour.
Next, it was time to check in.
"The girls' dormitory you're going to is over there. Let's go, I'll take you there first."
Song Zhiyi glanced at him, refraining from asking, "How do you even know this?" She figured he must have noticed him while handling the paperwork earlier.
The two arrived at the foot of Building No. 2.
Because it was the registration day for new students, the dormitory supervisor turned a blind eye to boys entering and leaving the girls' dormitory. The corridors were full of parents and boys carrying large bags and small packages.
"Which floor are you on?" Wang Zhe asked knowingly.
"206." Song Zhiyi glanced at the list.
"The second floor is alright, not too high, but there's no elevator, and the stairs are steep. How about it, do you need me to help you carry it up?"
Looking at the heavy box and then at Wang Zhe's clean face that hadn't sweated much, Song Zhiyi didn't stand on ceremony and said with a smile, "If you're willing, that would be great, of course."
Wang Zhe picked up the large suitcase and rushed upstairs.
Song Zhiyi followed behind, looking at his broad back and the lines on his arms that were slightly raised from exertion, and couldn't help but laugh, but she didn't say anything.
When we arrived at the door of 206, the door was ajar.
Wang Zhe knocked on the door and then pushed it open.
The dormitory is a standard four-person room with bunk beds and desks underneath. At this moment, the bed near the door is already occupied.
A short-haired girl was hanging a mosquito net on a ladder when she heard the noise and turned around.
Upon seeing that face, Wang Zhe's pupils contracted slightly.
Huang Yue.
She was an old acquaintance from her previous life, and also Song Zhiyi's roommate. She had a carefree and somewhat gossipy personality, but was very hardworking in her studies. In their previous life, she and Song Zhiyi had always had a good relationship.
However, at this moment, Wang Zhe did not intend to show that he knew her.
He simply smiled politely at the girl, dusted off his hands, and turned back to say, "Alright, you can clean up yourself. I'm leaving."
Song Zhiyi took a bottle of water out of her bag and handed it to him: "Take this."
Wang Zhe took the water, didn't linger, and turned to leave the dormitory.
Once Wang Zhe's figure disappeared through the doorway, the short-haired girl who had been hanging the mosquito net finally jumped down from the ladder.
She greeted me warmly, "Hello! I'm Huang Yue, from the Architecture Department, Class 1. Are you too?"
"Yes, my name is Song Zhiyi, and I'm in the same class as you," Song Zhiyi replied with a smile.
Huang Yue glanced at the doorway and asked in a low voice, "Hey, was that the senior who brought you here the one who helped you with the paperwork?"
It's no wonder Huang Yue misunderstood.
After all, Wang Zhe's calm and composed demeanor certainly didn't seem like that of a freshman.
Upon hearing this, Song Zhiyi paused for a moment while opening the box, and then couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"He's not some senior student."
"what?"
Song Zhiyi stood up, placed a few books on the table, and said in a light tone, "His name is Wang Zhe. He's also in our architecture department, class one. That means he's our classmate."
"ha?!"
Huang Yue was so shocked her jaw almost dropped.
"A...a classmate? A freshman!"
She recalled Wang Zhe's calm and composed demeanor just now and suddenly realized something.
"You two knew each other before school even officially started? He's not your boyfriend, is he?!"
Looking at her roommate's infatuated expression, Song Zhiyi smiled helplessly: "Unfortunately, he's not. He's just... well, a familiar old friend of mine."
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.