Chapter 2: The First Spring of Change
A full year had slipped by since that summer morning when sunlight danced across the Jiang family and laughter echoed between tiled roofs.
2nd year of university life had arrived like a long-awaited monsoon, sweeping away the comfort of home and pulling him into a world far bigger, faster, and more unpredictable.
And within that whirlwind stood Shen Qingyan—aloof, unreadable, and may become somehow unshakably presence in Jiang Yule's new life
---
It was 7:15 AM on a Monday, and Jiang Yule was tangled in his blanket, resisting the call of the bustling household.
"Yule! If you don't wake up now, I'm telling Mama you were playing Honor of Kings again past midnight!" came the high-pitched warning from his younger brother, Jiang Ming, standing at the foot of his bed with his hands on his hips.
"Aiya, Xiao Ming, you're supposed to be my brother, not my surveillance drone," Jiang Yule grumbled, peeking out from beneath the blanket with a sleepy scowl. His unruly hair stuck up like spring shoots, and a single sock clung pitifully to his foot.
Jiang Ming rolled his eyes. "Mama's got your lunch packed, and Baba's making your favorite scallion pancakes. Do you want them or not?"
That threat did the trick. Within seconds, Jiang Yule stumbled out of bed, eyes still closed, and dragged himself into the bathroom to get ready.After dressed in cascual clothes,yule hurried to living room where the smell of breakfast grew stronger. Their mother, Liu Fen keeping a close eye on the oven to check new cake recipe, and their father, Jiang Hai, was flipping pancakes with the skill of a practiced home cook.
"Yule, don't forget your ID card. Today you're registering for your 2nd-year group project," Liu Fen reminded, her voice gentle but commanding.
"I won't forget, Maa," Yule replied, rubbing his eyes. He moved to the dining table, where his father had placed a heaping plate of pancakes, a bowl of congee, and pickled vegetables.
Their morning chatter bounced off the tiled walls, filled with warmth, humor, and the easy chaos that only close-knit families understood. Despite being from a modest background, Jiang Yule felt like the richest person alive every morning, wrapped in the security of his family's love and felt sad to finally move to his dorm on upcoming weekend.
---
Across the city, in a sleek, minimalist room near West Lake University, Shen Qingyan was already showered, dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored trousers. His hair was perfectly combed, his watch gleamed, and not a single item on his desk was out of place. His apartment was quiet—almost sterile. The only sound came from the gentle hum of the electric kettle.
"You're heading out early again?" asked Lu Zhi, Shen Qingyan's childhood friend and roommate from their shared days at the orphanage.
"Finance-Engineering Group project discussion today," Shen Qingyan said simply, adjusting the cufflinks on his sleeves.
Lin Ze sighed from the kitchen island. "Qingyan, you know there's more to university life than chasing perfection. You've never even joined a student club or attended the department dinners."
Shen Qingyan paused at the door, hand on the knob. "I came to this university to make something of myself, not to waste time on friendships that fade the moment you graduate."
Lin Ze looked at him with quiet frustration. "Not all connections are temporary. Some people are worth letting in."
But Shen Qingyan had already left.
---
West Lake University stood proud with its cherry blossom-lined avenues and red-brick buildings. Jiang Yule jogged into the Engineering Department building just as the bell rang for first period. He greeted nearly everyone with a cheerful smile.
"Jiang-ge! You're late again," his deskmate Wei Yuan teased as Yule plopped down next to him.
"Had to choose between my dad's pancakes and being on time. Pancakes won," Yule said with a grin.
Even professors found it difficult to scold him. His wit, enthusiasm, and genuine kindness made him likable to both classmates and faculty. He was the kind of student who volunteered for campus events and helped classmates cram before exams.
From the opposite desk, Zhang Qiren leaned back in his chair, crunching loudly on sunflower seeds.
"Hey," he said suddenly, tossing a seed shell in the bin with Olympic-level precision. "So, rumor has it the great Jiang Yule is finally moving into the dorms this weekend?"
Jiang didn't look up. "It's not a rumor if I told you myself yesterday."
"Still," Zhang grinned, "feels like a historic moment. The prince leaves his palace and joins us peasants."
Jiang sighed. "It's not a palace. I just stayed with my parents longer after the holidays."
"You mean the extended week-long sleep over at your home." Zhang stretched, popping his knuckles. "Come on, admit it—you just missed your mom's cooking."
"Of course I did," Jiang replied dryly. "Unlike your 'cooking', which involves boiling instant noodles and then forgetting them on the stove."
"That happened once," Zhang said, dramatically placing a hand on his chest. "And in my defense, the fire alarm only went off for like, 10 seconds."
"You got banned from the common kitchen for a week."
"Minor detail." Zhang leaned forward. "But seriously, thank god you finally decided to move in.I was bored to stay in that dorm this entire week and their bunter cut off when the professor entered the classroom.
During the class break, a notification popped up on his phone: Finance department project Manager Introduction Today - Joint Engineering-Finance Collaboration Project Briefing, Room 307.
He blinked at the screen.
"Finance Department? Why would we meet their manager?" he muttered.
---
At precisely 3:00 PM, the joint briefing began. The room was buzzing with second-year students from both departments. Jiang Yule sat in the third row, notebook open, bouncing his pen against the table.
The moment the door opened and Shen Qingyan walked in, the atmosphere shifted.
Dressed in a wrinkled free shirt & trousers, Qingyan exuded cold professionalism. His presence alone made the room fall silent. The students whispered among themselves: "Is he a professor?", "So young!", "Wait, is he… the Finance project Manager?"
But Jiang Yule blinked.
He knew that face.
Wasn't he the 1st year top student from the Finance Department, the same year as him? The one everyone whispered about for his brilliance and detached demeanor? The one who never attended university fests or class trips? The one Yule saw only once in the library, buried under piles of financial reports, eyes dark and focused like a predator?
It was him.
Shen Qingyan.
For the rest of the session, Jiang Yule couldn't stop glancing at him. Something about Qingyan's poise and silence made him curious. He didn't understand how someone their age could radiate such... loneliness.
"Excuse me, any questions from the Engineering side?" Shen Qingyan's voice cut through the air. It was low, composed, and emotionless.
Jiang Yule raised his hand without thinking.
"Yes?"
"You mentioned we'd be designing a cost model alongside the infrastructure draft. Will there be any training for Engineering students on financial modeling software?"
A pause. Qingyan looked directly at him.
"If you're willing to learn, I can arrange extra sessions. But I expect punctuality."
Jiang Yule smiled brightly. "I'll bring the baozi if you bring the training."
The room burst into quiet laughter. Shen Qingyan blinked—surprised.
A smile. That was unexpected.
---
Back at the orphanage, they taught Shen Qingyan survival. That emotions were liabilities. That trust invited betrayal. He rose through the academic ladder without asking for help or offering it. He had one friend—Lu Zhi—and that was already more than most orphans left with.
But something about Jiang Yule unsettled him.
His brightness. His laughter. His casual courage to speak up.
After the meeting, Qingyan returned to his classroom and looked at the signup sheet.
Under the training volunteers section: Jiang Yule – always up for baozi and numbers.
He found himself… smiling.
A dangerous beginning.
---
That night, the Jiang family gathered for dinner around the low table. The clatter of chopsticks, laughter, and a variety of dishes filled the apartment with joy.
"How was school, Yule?" Jiang Hai asked between bites of mapo tofu.
"We had a joint session with the Finance Department. Their manager is around our age. Super serious, like he walked out of a corporate drama."
"Oho, is our Yule finally admiring someone's work ethic?" Liu Fen teased.
"Don't tease him, Mama," Jiang Mian chimed in, munching on lotus root. "He's already planning to bring breakfast for that manager."
Jiang Yule rolled his eyes. "It's called networking! And I'm curious about him, that's all."
Yet as he looked at his family, safe and warm, he couldn't help but wonder—
What was Shen Qingyan's world like when he returned home?
Was there anyone waiting for him with food?
With laughter?
With love?
---
And so, two paths—one lined with warmth, another cloaked in silence—began to converge in the most unexpected of places: a university, a joint project.
Only time would reveal whether this convergence would lead to healing, heartbreak, or both.