Chapter 0027: The Times Are Calling

In Zhao Fusheng's memory, starting from now, for the next ten years, the whole world seemed to board a high-speed train, developing faster and faster.

Everyone's life underwent many changes. Even the simplest communication tools changed a lot.

Take the telephone, for example. Landlines reached their peak, and mobile phones quietly appeared. The early bulky ones, known in China as 'Big Brother,' were a symbol of the wealthy back then. Dressed in suits and leather shoes, holding a 'brick,' with price tags still hanging from their sleeves—this image looks a bit ridiculous today, but in the early 1990s, it was full of swagger.

Even if a businessman going out to negotiate wasn't dressed like that, he would be mocked as 'putting green onions in a pig's nose—pretending.'

In short, this thing was a privilege of the rich.

Now, the Big Brother was gradually being phased out, and in many people's lives, a mobile phone called the Xiaolingtong appeared.

Even the Xiaolingtong wasn't something ordinary people used. Those with slightly poorer family conditions couldn't afford such a mobile phone.

For example, Zhao Fusheng couldn't afford the now-expensive Xiaolingtong.

But that didn't stop him from sneering at it, because he knew very well that this gadget's popularity wouldn't last more than five years. With the rise of various major brand phones, the Xiaolingtong would eventually fade away.

Of course, at this time, those who could carry a Xiaolingtong were undoubtedly at the forefront of the era.

Like the Tan Kaixuan in front of him.

'Hey, you've been following me for almost half an hour. Can you let me go?' Zhao Fusheng said helplessly, looking at Tan Kaixuan.

He had finished writing that proposal in the afternoon and originally planned to rest, but when Tan Kaixuan returned to the dorm, he kept looking at him with a sly grin, grossing him out.

Then, this guy kept following him from the dorm to the cafeteria.

If he didn't know that this guy was straight, Zhao Fusheng would have even doubted his orientation.

'Old Zhao, tell me, did you get some secret teachings from a master?' Tan Kaixuan looked at Zhao Fusheng seriously.

Speechless, Zhao Fusheng looked at Tan Kaixuan and thought this guy must be crazy.

'What's wrong?' Zhao Fusheng asked helplessly, looking at Tan Kaixuan. 'Did Hu Xia reject you?'

'No, no.' Tan Kaixuan quickly shook his head. 'She agreed to be my girlfriend.'

'Congratulations, congratulations.' Zhao Fusheng smiled. 'So, are you going to treat me to a meal?'

Nostalgia is indeed a thing that makes one chew on happiness, but if Tan Kaixuan could find his true happiness, Zhao Fusheng would sincerely wish him well.

After all, he didn't have many friends, and getting to see one of them happy was a good feeling.

They say fate is a game of left or right for everyone, but for Zhao Fusheng, fate was a mudslide. In his past life, he was swept away, covered in mud, but in this life, riding the waves back, all he could do was change.

'Eating is for later. I'll definitely thank you, the big matchmaker.' Tan Kaixuan smiled. 'I'm looking for you because I was asked to.'

Zhao Fusheng frowned but said nothing.

If it was about Tan Kaixuan, he would do it without hesitation, but if it was about someone else, for Zhao Fusheng, a stranger's request was completely out of his consideration.

Distinguishing between close and distant is human nature.

But regardless, since it was Tan Kaixuan, he had to give some face. So after a moment of silence, Zhao Fusheng asked Tan Kaixuan, 'What is it?'

'Well, Mu Qingqing wants to invite you to join the poetry club.' Tan Kaixuan glanced at Zhao Fusheng's expression and said.

Zhao Fusheng frowned and shook his head. 'Not interested.'

He had zero interest in that kind of pretentious literary youth club. With that time, he might as well figure out how to make money, which was more important.

'Hey, hey, don't reject so directly.' Tan Kaixuan hadn't expected Zhao Fusheng to directly turn down Mu Qingqing's invitation.

That was Mu Qingqing, the goddess of Ninghai Normal University.

Zhao Fusheng looked at Tan Kaixuan helplessly and said, 'Now, please close your eyes and imagine that today is 2069. You're seventy or eighty years old, sitting in an empty room, bloated and aged, with no money or power, unable to take care of yourself. You make a wish to the Buddha: Please, let me be young again!'

The Buddha says: Okay.

So you open your eyes and see that you're back to today.

This time, how do you plan to live?'

Tan Kaixuan was stunned. Before he could speak, Zhao Fusheng said, 'If it were me, I'd live the way I want while I'm young.'

That was his heartfelt words. Tan Kaixuan was silent for a moment, then understood his meaning.

Zhao Fusheng didn't think joining that so-called poetry club was the life he wanted.

'Alright, I'll tell Mu Qingqing that.' Tan Kaixuan finally had to say that.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, patted Tan Kaixuan on the shoulder, and headed straight to the cafeteria.

…

…

When he returned to the dorm after eating, Wen Yu and Wang Zhen had just come back too.

College was like this. Even if they were roommates, aside from classes, everyone rarely acted together. Of course, when they first entered as freshmen, they still did group activities. But as they became familiar with the campus environment, they gradually developed different routines based on their different hobbies.

It wasn't that their relationships were bad, just that everyone had different interests. Some liked hanging out in the library, some liked sports, some liked internet cafes.

You can't force others, and others can't force you.

Since that was the case, let each be well.

Most dorms were like this.

Of course, there were also some dorms where everyone shared the same hobby and often went to internet cafes together all night, but that was a few years later.

'Where's Old Zheng?' Wang Zhen asked curiously.

'Probably with Hu Xia.' Zhao Fusheng picked up a book on advertising, lay down on the bed, and replied.

'Did it work out?'

Wang Zhen and Wen Yu exchanged a glance and asked.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. 'It should have worked out.'

'Haha, this time he has to treat us.' Wen Yu clapped his hands, full of excitement.

For them, whether Tan Kaixuan and Hu Xia worked out wasn't important. What mattered was that as the first roommate to get a girlfriend, Tan Kaixuan had to treat them.

Zhao Fusheng had no objection to that. Moreover, he was quite 'angry' that Tan Kaixuan had forced him to write poems to chase a girl. Given the chance to make Tan Kaixuan feel the pinch in his wallet, Zhao Fusheng was more than happy to oblige.

Tan Kaixuan, who was walking Hu Xia back to her dorm, shuddered for no reason. He shook his head, and a sense of foreboding surged in his heart.