Married Thrice to Salted Fish

UniversityUpdat𝒆d fr𝒐m nov𝒆lb(i)n.c(o)m

Lunch time at the university cafeteria. Jiang Xing held a plate in one hand and a bottle of Coke in the other. After looking around the crowd for a while, he spotted his classmate who came to eat with him.

Jiang Xing sat down opposite his classmate. He saw that his classmate’s eyes were dull and his expression was dazed, as if he were already a waste.

Jiang Xing has long been used to this kind of situation and he no longer even bothers to ask. This classmate of his is always like this every time he finishes his major subject class. He took out his mobile phone, lowered his head and read WeChat as he let his classmate rant.

“Why why why!” This classmate yelled, holding his head in his hands, a copy of “Solid State Physics” and “Quantum Mechanics” in his hand. “Why did I choose physics in the first place? With my IQ, how dare I! Does physics even really exist???”

Jiang Xing didn’t even raise his head. “I don’t know why you’re studying physics. Anyway, I want to go back to ancient times to be the emperor.”

His classmate was stunned. “What?”

Jiang Xing explained solemnly, “Physics is the law of all things and all production and construction are inseparable from basic physics. Only by learning physics well can I benefit my people.”

His classmate had this constipated look on his face. “You think you’re funny, Mr. Campus Heartthrob?”

Jiang Xing shrugged. “If you don’t believe me, it’s no skin off my back.”

His classmate asked again, “Then did you chose a double degree in architecture to build a new palace for yourself, Your Majesty?”

Just as Jiang Xing was about to answer, another person suddenly sat beside him. It was their class representative. Jiang Xing saw that he only had a large steamed bun and a vegetarian dish his dinner plate and asked, “Is this all you’re going to eat?”

The class representative said bitterly, “Yeah, I’ve got no money right now. I just came back from seeing my girlfriend last week and the airline tickets were so expensive.”

Jiang Xing rejoiced at meeting a bosom friend. “Oh? Are you also in a long-distance relationship?”

The class representative said, “Yeah, my girlfriend’s in Shanghai. That’s more than two hours by plane.”

Jiang Xing sighed, “I have a deep understanding of the pain of long-distance relationships.” He put down his chopsticks, “Come here. Let’s shake hands in camaraderie. Next time you need money, you can always borrow from me.”

The class representative firmly clasped Jiang Xing’s hand and feeling moved, asked, “My dear brother Jiang! Where’s your partner?”

Jiang Xing: “In the Med Studies Department.”

Class representative: “Huh?”

Their classmate said, deadpan, “Yeah, you heard that right.”

The class representative still didn’t quite understand. “Med Studies Department? Our university’s Med Studies Department?”

Jiang Xing explained, “All med studies classes are concentrated in the southern area, while our classes are all in the northern area. It takes half an hour to ride a bicycle from here to the southern area. Isn’t that so far?”

The class representative picked up his plate and left, not forgetting to say. “Damn it, Jiang Xing. You’re gonna get it one day!”

*

A match was about to be held on the football field of the sports university. In the stands, besides the students of their school, there were also many girls from nearby schools who came to watch the excitement — no one can refuse the charms of a sports student, no one.

But today, the object of attention of the face-obsessed audience wasn’t the sports students exuding hormones on the field but a young man standing by the stands.

This young man wasn’t as tall as the sports students nor did he have exaggerated muscles. His figure was slender and thin. Just standing there, his whole body exuded an aura that could be seen even from a distance. But despite being so cool and good-looking, the young man was wearing a loose, even a size too big, hoodie. E=mc2 was printed on the hoodie. It looked extra casual and it was this sense of casualness that lent the young man a sense of real existence.

Shen Huaishi, who was warming up on the court, saw Lin Qingyu walking towards him. Like a primary school student who was about to perform and finally saw his parents, his eyes lit up. “Qingyu!”

Lin Qingyu walked up to Shen Huaishi and said, “Jiang Xing has classes the whole day today, so he can’t come to watch your match. He asked me to tell you sorry.”

Shen Huaishi hurriedly said, “No apologies needed. I’m already very happy that you’re able to come.”

Lin Qingyu smiled. “Do your best out there. I’ll be watching you from the sidelines.”

Shen Huaishi watched Lin Qingyu return to the stands. A teammate patted him on the shoulder and asked, “Who’s that? He isn’t from our school, is he?”

“He’s a good friend of mine.”

When Shen Huaishi said the word “good friend”, he felt a little uneasy at his presumptuousness but it was overwhelmed by a warm joy.

“He’s fuckin’ attractive.” His teammate said, “Send me his WeChat.”

Shen Huaishi’s face darkened instantly and he interrupted coldly, “Do you know who you are coveting?”

Shen Huaishi has always been a good-tempered and honest person. This was the first time his teammates have seen such a scary expression on his face. His teammates have seen his skills before and they knew that this guy was really serious about fighting. Not even the Sanda team and boxing team combined were a match for him.

The teammate tried laughing it off. “I’m joking, pretend I didn’t say anything. Pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Lin Qingyu sat down in his seat and received a call from Jiang Xing.

Jiang Xing: “How is it? Has Huaishi’s match started?”

Lin Qingyu: “It’s starting soon. Aren’t you in class?”

“It’s the five minute break between classes.” In the middle of their conversation, Jiang Xing suddenly sighed, “Qingyu.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just sleepy. I want to sleep and I miss you too.”

Lin Qingyu asked, “Do you want to sleep with me?”

All in all, due to their busy schedules, they haven’t had a serious sex life these past few days.

Jiang Xing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “No, that’s not it. Didn’t we do it yesterday? I also need to rest.”

Lin Qingyu said incredulously, “Jiang Xing, are you even resting in your thoughts?”

Jiang Xing said half-jokingly and half-seriously, “Even doing it in your thoughts is tiring, you know?”

“…Amazing.”

“Missing you doesn’t mean I want to do bad things with you, I just want to see you.” Jiang Xing complained, “You woke up too early today, I didn’t even get to see you.”

Lin Qingyu had classes early this morning and when he woke up, Jiang Xing was still dead asleep beside him. He wanted to let Jiang Xing sleep a little longer and so didn’t wake him up. “If I remember correctly, you’ve got a full schedule today. You won’t have time to come to me.”

Jiang Xing complained, “True.”

“Don’t miss me too much, study hard.” Lin Qingyu comforted, “I’ll go find you when I’m free.”

Jiang Xing thought to himself, ‘free, my ass’. With four majors between them, his and Lin Qingyu’s timetables were crammed full with classes; they sometimes even had classes at night. For others, university life was a celebration of boundless youth. For him, Lin Qingyu, and Shen Huaishi it was simply two words – Purposeful Learning.

Fortunately, they’d rented an apartment near the school. No matter how busy he and Lin Qingyu were, at least they could sleep in the same bed at night.

In the afternoon, Jiang Xing was sitting in the last row of the lecture hall, feeling drowsy. Suddenly, he heard a voice ask, “Is there anyone sitting beside you?”

Jiang Xing’s half-closed eyes suddenly widened. Was that his wife’s voice?

He looked up – wow, it really was his wife.

Jiang Xing said, “No one.”

The classmate sitting next to him: ?

He was so pleasantly surprised that Jiang Xing couldn’t spare a thought to the other people around him. So he dismissed his classmate first, then took Lin Qingyu’s hand and pulled him to sit beside him. “Why are you here?”

Lin Qingyu’s answer was simple. “I wanted to see you, so here I am.”

Jiang Xing still wanted to say something but when he saw the professor walking in, he had no choice but to shut his mouth. However, he did keep staring at Lin Qingyu.

“Don’t stare at me, Classmate Jiang.” Lin Qingyu opened Jiang Xing’s textbook for him and said softly, “Read.”

Only then did Jiang Xing look away, lowered his eyes and smiled silently.

He hates studying very much. Even though he studies seriously and is able to get high grades, he still hates it.

But he likes Lin Qingyu and this like is far greater than his dislike of studying. Therefore, being able to attend class with Lin Qingyu beside him has also become a pleasure.

*

One day a week later, after Lin Qingyu finished one of his classes, he was pulled into a familiar chest just as he walked out of the classroom.

The book in his hand was taken away and Jiang Xing’s voice sounded above his head: “Good afternoon, Qingyu. I will accompany you to class today. Where’s your next class?”

Lin Qingyu was quiet for a few seconds and said, “Jiang Xing.”

“Hm?”

“My next class is Human Anatomy.”

“…I’m sorry.” Jiang Xing solemnly returned the book to Lin Qingyu, “Excuse me.”

The author has something to say:

Today’s Valentine’s Day episode~

Thank you all to those who’ve joined me until the end. Thank you so much! I hope to see you all in my other projects. Thank you!