The sound of the suitcase zipper was especially loud in the quiet room. Chen Yuanchu neatly stacked the books he'd brought back from school on the desk, then took out the four sets of new school uniforms he'd just collected. These uniforms hadn't been worn yet, but habitually he wanted to wash them first — after all, tomorrow classes would officially begin.
Besides the books and school uniforms, his personal belongings were pitifully few. Two change of T-shirts, two Taoist robes, plus some ritual tools specific to a Taoist priest — that was everything he owned.
"You brought so little luggage..."
A soft exclamation came from the doorway. Chen Yuanchu turned to see Su Wanyin poking her head in to look around. Earlier, the two of them had cleaned the common areas together. She'd noticed Chen Yuanchu returning to his room to organize his private space, so she hadn't followed him in to help, but out of curiosity she stood at the doorway to take a peek.
"Yeah, traveling light," Chen Yuanchu said as he tidied his things, answering casually. "Mainly because the journey was quite long — too much luggage would be inconvenient. I'll just buy whatever I'm missing later."
He paused in his movements and turned to ask, "Sister Wanyin, do you know where nearby I can buy bedding, pillows, and toiletries?"
"There's a department store just to the left outside the residential complex. They have everything." Su Wanyin responded warmly, then added, "For things like laundry detergent and shampoo, if you don't have them yet, you're welcome to use mine for now." Facing this new roommate who would soon be living under the same roof, she instinctively offered her kindness.
Chen Yuanchu smiled. "Thank you, Sister Wanyin."
"Chen, Yuan, Chu... is that the yuan in New Year's Day, or the chu in beginning?"
"It's the yuan in New Year's Day, and the chu in original intention."
After answering, Chen Yuanchu asked her in return, "So Sister Wanyin's name — is it the 'graceful' from graceful music?"
"Mmhm! You're really a Taoist priest? You look so young..."
Perhaps because Chen Yuanchu was much younger than her, even though he was a boy, Su Wanyin didn't feel overly restrained. The main reason was that during their first meeting that morning, this young Taoist had left her with a very good impression. After delivering flyers all day, she'd long forgotten all the other passersby, but she remembered Chen Yuanchu distinctly. Even without his Taoist robes, she was sure she'd remember his politeness and composure.
Of course, her ideal roommate would still be a girl — it would be more convenient. But she couldn't afford to be picky now, considering she could barely make rent next month...
"Yeah, really a Taoist priest." Chen Yuanchu didn't mind that she'd asked before, answering calmly as always. Now that he was a bit older it was fine, but when he was even younger, there had been far more people who didn't believe he was a Taoist.
"That's amazing!"
Admiration spread across Su Wanyin's pretty face, and she smiled as she asked, "That means you're the first Taoist I've ever known. I always felt like cultivation was something far away from my life, and no one around me was interested in it either. When did you start studying Taoism?"
"I've been learning Taoist teachings on the mountain with my master since I can remember."
"That young! Did your parents agree to that?"
"I was an abandoned infant my master picked up on the mountain."
"..."
The words seemed to have dried up the girl's vocal cords. Su Wanyin fell silent for a moment.
After a while, she whispered, "I'm sorry... I didn't know. I brought up something painful for you..."
"No need to worry, Sister Wanyin. You don't have to blame yourself. I actually don't have much concept of these things. My master raised me and taught me — to me, he's no different from parents or family."
Only then did Su Wanyin notice the smile that often graced his face. It wasn't just friendly and approachable — it genuinely radiated a positive and optimistic attitude.
Emotions are contagious. Perhaps influenced by him, Su Wanyin gradually relaxed too.
"How old are you this year?"
"Eighteen. What about you, Sister Wanyin?"
"Hehe, I'm quite a bit older than you. I'm twenty-two this year."
"You make it sound like you're ten years older, when it's only four years."
Chen Yuanchu said naturally, then asked with curiosity, "Does Sister Wanyin have other siblings at home?"
"Eh? How did you know! Yes, I do have a younger sister. She's younger than you — fifteen this year." Su Wanyin was very surprised that Chen Yuanchu had guessed it so accurately.
"People who are older siblings tend to carry a certain distinct quality about them. Sister Wanyin has that feeling."
"Haha, I never noticed that about myself, but you really are perceptive..."
Saying that, Chen Yuanchu added playfully, "Your sister's name wouldn't happen to be Wanyue, would it?"
"How did you — !!"
"Really? I was just guessing." Now even Chen Yuanchu himself was surprised.
"You definitely guessed the wrong character~ Her name is Wanyue, but with the yue that means pleasant, not music."
"I see. I really thought it meant music."
After chatting for a while, the relationship between the two had warmed up considerably.
At this moment, Su Wanyin's phone rang. She picked up.
A voice came through: "Your takeout is here. I left it at the drop-off point by your residential complex's entrance. Please come down to pick it up."
"Can't you bring it up?"
"The security guard won't let me in."
"That can't be right..."
"Just go get it yourself. There's no elevator, so who would carry a few-yuan discounted bento up to the ninth floor for you..."
The speaker's tone carried a carefree indifference — the kind of attitude that says 'I'm a crowdsourced delivery rider, and I couldn't care less about bad ratings' — then hung up.
Su Wanyin had no choice but to go downstairs and retrieve her takeout herself.
"Yuanchu, have you eaten? Let me order takeout for you. I still have coupons."
"It's fine. I brought food back from the cafeteria."
"Oh, alright then. I'll go get my takeout."
With that, Su Wanyin changed into a pair of shoes, casually picked up the trash to take out, and went clattering downstairs to fetch her order.
Actually, Su Wanyin rarely ordered takeout in her daily life. Either she'd cook something simple for herself, or during her part-time job there'd be a meal provided. But today, since a new roommate was moving in, she'd left work early to clean the apartment and missed the free meal at her part-time job. She hadn't had time to cook dinner either, and with the coupons she had, she'd ordered a discounted bento.
Chen Yuanchu had already finished unpacking. He took the new school uniforms and went to the bathroom to wash them.
There was a washing machine in the bathroom. He knew it was a washing machine, he just hadn't used one before and didn't know how to operate it.
Curiously, he studied it a bit and discovered it wasn't difficult at all. — Even a five-year-old could handle one; it might give his master some trouble at most.
But he still didn't use the washing machine. The new uniforms weren't dirty anyway, so he simply filled a bucket with clean water and gave them a quick rinse.
In these kinds of daily life details, the eighteen-year-old Chen Yuanchu could truly be quite the 'old man' sometimes.
...
He'd finished washing his clothes, but Su Wanyin, who had gone downstairs to get her takeout, still hadn't come back.
Just as Chen Yuanchu was starting to wonder, Su Wanyin finally returned.
No takeout in her hands, but her expression was absolutely downcast: "It's over... my discounted bento got stolen..."
Chen Yuanchu: "..."
Seeing this grown woman looking so dejected, as if the sky had fallen, the young Taoist priest didn't know quite what to say.
"Wasn't it at the drop-off point? How could someone steal it?"
"I have no idea. Maybe someone just took it by mistake..."
Su Wanyin sighed, feeling that troubles never come alone. She barely had any money to begin with, and her paycheck wouldn't come for another few days. She'd barely managed to use her coupons for a few-yuan discounted bento, and now someone had stolen it!
What was done was done. She'd just have to find another way to fill her stomach. She wasn't the type to wallow in self-pity — she knew complaining was useless. Better to quickly think about what to eat later instead.
"So what are you going to do for dinner, Sister Wanyin?"
"I still have some instant noodles in the fridge. I'm not that hungry anyway. I'll just cook some noodles to tide me over."
"..."
Are you really not that hungry? I think I heard your stomach growling!
Fortunately, just as the young woman was about to settle for instant noodles, Chen Yuanchu held out a bento box to her.
"This is the meal I packed from the school cafeteria. There's braised pork, shredded pork with dried tofu, shredded potatoes, and vegetables. If Sister Wanyin doesn't mind, please take this."
How could Su Wanyin possibly mind! Through the semi-transparent bento box, she could already see the generously piled meat and vegetables resting on top of the steamed rice!
Her stomach was