novelraw Chapter 716 - 677: Flowers in the Greenhouse
Chapter 716 - 677: Flowers in the Greenhouse
「The last day of August, morning.」
Zhou Li carried a large suitcase and headed to the storeroom to pick up this semester's textbooks.
Everyone had experience by now, so no one arrived too early. They came just on time or a little late. Otherwise, they'd have to stand around foolishly, waiting for the warehouse manager. That manager was always late, and sometimes they even had to call him to get him to come down and unlock the door.
"Where is the class president?"
"Here!"
"What major are you?"
"Biological Sciences."
"Wait a moment..."
The manager began to carry out stacks of books, dropping them on the floor with a THUD. He then passed them to the class committee members to distribute by dormitory.
As the dormitory head, Zhou Li stepped forward to receive them, placing each book into the suitcase and counting them aloud curiously, "Entomology, Mycology, Biochemical Separation Engineering, Plant Taxonomy, Plant Anatomy, Conservation Biology, Plant Resource Science, Developmental Biology, Genetic Engineering... Is that all? How many are there in total?"
The manager, standing aside and watching, replied coldly,
"Nine books."
"Is that all?"
"How many more do you want?"
"The more books, the better," Zhou Li responded calmly to the manager's somewhat explosive tone. "That's all for our dormitory; 502 has taken everything."
"Once you're done, get out! Don't linger here!"
"Yes, sir."
"Dorm head, wait for us," Chen Yang called out while distributing books, craning his neck. "Once we finish distributing all the books, we'll carry them back with you."
"I'll wait for you outside."
Zhou Li actually felt the load wasn't too heavy and didn't need so many people to carry it, but he still stood outside waiting for them.
The smell of new book ink was strong—the scent of knowledge, mixed with a faint hint of dust from the warehouse.
Zhou Li took a sniff, his gaze constantly on Brother Nan. His girlfriend looked really pretty. She looked good in any clothes she wore; even having just woken up without any makeup, she looked really good.
She was just a tiny bit less good-looking than him.
He could never get tired of looking at her.
While picking up books, Brother Nan curiously grabbed a white plastic strap the manager was stepping on. This strap, used for bundling books, was tough and strong. She widened her eyes, seemingly unsure where it came from or why it was there, and then pulled hard on it.
"BANG... OUCH!"
"Oops! Sorry, sir..."
"OUCH..."
Zhou Li stood outside, a smile appearing on his lips, then quickly retracted it. He frowned as he watched Brother Nan.
His girlfriend looked even prettier.
However, Brother Nan didn't give him a single glance, as if it truly had been an accident. His frown was for nothing.
「A few minutes later—」
Chang Xiaoxiang and the others finally finished.
By then, all the books had been distributed, and most of the dorms had taken their books and left. Brother Nan's dormitory had also departed.
Zhou Li only started pulling his suitcase back when Chang Xiaoxiang and his group came over. As they walked, he said, "It seems there are no courses like Situation and Policy or Career Planning this semester."
"It doesn't seem like it," said Chen Yang. "Dorm head, once you pull it to the slope up ahead, I'll take over."
"It's okay," Zhou Li said.
"No way!" Chen Yang insisted firmly.
"Alright then," Zhou Li replied. He then asked them, "Did you see the timetable?"
"Saw it."
"Are there many classes?"
"Not many, even fewer than last semester," Chang Xiaoxiang blurted out, pausing for a moment. "But, starting this semester, it seems we're supposed to go for an Internship."
"A practical internship?"
"No, this Internship is mainly observation. It's learning, just in a place with some practical opportunities so we don't graduate completely out of touch with society," Chang Xiaoxiang, who was always in the know, explained. "Each department's Internship content is different. For example, the computer science department goes to training bases—it's essentially the school paying for them to attend a workshop. We usually go to botanical gardens."
"I see."
Zhou Li nodded and said no more.
「Classes would start in September.」
The freshmen would also begin military training.
As Chang Xiaoxiang had said, there were even fewer classes than last semester, averaging not even two classes a day. Even with electives and physical education, there was a lot of free time.
Actually, at this stage, students doing well academically would often participate in various research and competition projects initiated by the college. Learning wasn't limited to attending classes; more free time could actually be beneficial. Alternatively, some students might feel their major was no longer suitable and, having identified another direction for growth, needed time to delve into it.
Of course, most people still used this free time for fun.
For example, Brother Nan, the slacker, not only neglected her own studies but also constantly dragged Zhou Li to the sports field to watch the new students' military training. She especially enjoyed the sight of the female formations.
The Chunming sun was scorching. Even with a breeze, it was still very hot. The young girls had rolled up their trouser legs, exposing their ankles and tender, pale calves. Those who still looked stunningly beautiful in camouflage were truly gorgeous, no matter what.
"That one's good! Second row, third from the left!" Brother Nan loved to share with Zhou Li and enjoyed discussing it with him. "Round-faced! Cute!"
"Not as cute as you."
"BLEGH~~ I'm gonna puke." Brother Nan made a retching sound, then suddenly her eyes lit up. "Hey, last row, far right! Quick, look! Great figure! Tall!"
"Not as great as yours."
"Just shut up, will you!" Brother Nan couldn't stand it anymore and clamped her hand over Zhou Li's mouth. "You're always spouting nonsense that everyone on Earth already knows!"
"Oh."
"It's just that my Sister Xiangxiang has retired, sigh..."
"Your drill instructor?"
"Yeah."
"Mine is still here."
Zhou Li looked into the near distance, squinting his eyes slightly.
Under the sun, a formation was training; the instructor was the one he had before. However, the class monitor of this formation wasn't very competent; all the shady spots had been taken by others.
Brother Nan also pointed in that direction. "The instructor you beat up."
"It wasn't me."
"HAHA..."
Brother Nan's voice and laughter were so unrestrained that they disturbed the nearest training formation.
The instructor of that formation turned around, his very young face frowning. He walked over sternly, scolding them and driving them away.
This instructor looked quite fierce.
Zhou Li thought he looked unfamiliar. He only glanced a few more times and actually got a fierce glare in return.
They were in the wrong first, so they had no choice but to sit much farther away.
A voice came from not far away—
"Rest!"
The formation trained by Zhou Li's drill instructor from two years ago was the first to announce a break. That old instructor now had considerable seniority, so when he called a break, other instructors followed suit. The freshmen promptly stood up to go to the restroom or buy water, while the instructors gathered to chat leisurely.
"How's it going?" the old instructor asked.
"Not bad, they train well," the young instructor, who had been fierce just moments before, now seemed shy in front of the old instructor, grinning as he said, "These students are obedient."
"Don't be too harsh; be a bit mindful. These are students, not soldiers. I'm telling you, some students may seem meek, but if pushed too far, they might not be scared of you," the old instructor said, his tone that of an experienced man. "If you really clash with the students, you're the one who will lose out."
"Yes, sir!"
The incident with this old squad leader, who was beaten up by a student during training two years ago, was still used as a cautionary tale. The leadership brought it up for a lecture every year.
Just then, a man and a woman walked by.
"Hello, Instructor."
The young instructor turned around. It was the same couple he had just scolded away. The girl was incredibly pretty with an amazing figure, making him feel quite envious.
He remembered the young man looking unhappy at the time, but after one glare back, the guy had immediately cowered. Heh, greenhouse flowers, no backbone. He wondered why such a beautiful girl would fall for him. Other than being handsome, what other merits did he have?
The old instructor raised his eyebrows. "Oh, it's you, Zhou Li!"
"Instructor, you still remember me..."
"You left a strong impression!"
"Umm..."
"This girl looks familiar too..." the old instructor said, pointing at Brother Nan. Then, realization dawned. "Oh, I remember now! You even fought over her! I got royally chewed out when I got back because of that! I knew you two had something going on back then. Lan Xiang said you were high school classmates."
"That's right."
"What are you doing here?"
"Just wandering around," Zhou Li said awkwardly, a bit embarrassed. "No classes."
"If you have nothing to do, don't loiter here. I get annoyed just looking at you!" The instructor waved his hand as if shooing a fly. "It's too hot. Go back to your dorm and relax."
"Okay, Instructor, goodbye."
Zhou Li, pulling Brother Nan along, quickened their pace to leave.
After they had gone, the young instructor asked in confusion, "Was he one of your military training students?"
"Mm-hm."
The old instructor nodded, hesitated slightly, then said quietly, "The one who hit me."
The young instructor clamped his mouth shut. He looked at the two receding figures in the distance and slowly took a deep breath. He'd heard that at the time, several instructors had tried to intervene, only for several more of them to get beaten up...