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In their new home in Hangzhou, in a large, single-level apartment with a view of the West Lake, Su Ning and her parents spent several busy and fulfilling days.

They traveled through major shopping malls and home furnishing markets in Hangzhou, gradually filling this empty and cold space with the warmth of home.

Nowadays, Wang Xiuying has long forgotten about her son's extravagant spending. Instead, she is enthusiastically selecting curtains, bedding, and tableware, carefully calculating the cost-effectiveness.

Although her son repeatedly said that there was no need to save money, she still enjoyed it. Perhaps this is the joy of being a parent.

Su Daqiang was responsible for the physical work, assembling small pieces of furniture and adjusting electrical appliances. He was busy and sweating profusely, but he had a big smile on his face.

Suning, on the other hand, focuses on the overall style, striving to ensure both comfort and aesthetics.

The house, which originally resembled a show flat, gradually became full of life, with the refrigerator crammed with food and clothes drying on the balcony.

The financial pain that Su Daqiang and Wang Xiuying felt for their son's "spendthrift" spending was gradually replaced by a real sense of belonging to "home".

This place truly became a foothold for them in Hangzhou, a new haven.

……

After everything was arranged and life returned to normal, Su Ning drove to Zhejiang University's Zijingang Campus to complete the formal registration procedures for resuming her studies.

Stepping into this renowned university once again, Suning felt a mix of calm and complex emotions.

The school's teachers and administrators were clearly aware of his special circumstances, and they were all pleased to see that he had recovered well and arrived at the school in high spirits.

The procedures for returning to school went very smoothly.

His student status was retained, but because he missed all the courses and exams in his freshman year, he could not directly advance to his sophomore year.

According to regulations, he needs to start over from the first semester's courses as a freshman.

Suning accepted the result calmly.

He lost not only his memories, but also the knowledge system and learning habits that accompanied them.

However, since Suning had already undergone university military training last year, he was exempted from it this time.

For him, repeating his freshman year was not a punishment, but a valuable opportunity to solidify his foundation and readjust to university life.

He can use this time to learn, calmly handle the follow-up matters of "The Massage Therapist", and think about future plans.

……

After spending nearly half a month with their son in Hangzhou, Su Daqiang and Wang Xiuying's homesickness grew stronger.

Although I've asked a relative to look after the seafood stall in my hometown for the time being, I still can't help but worry about it.

Although Hangzhou is nice, it's not their hometown after all, and the elderly couple, who are attached to their homeland, still prefer Qingdao.

Moreover, they also know that their child has grown up, has his own world and studies, and they cannot stay by his side forever.

On the eve of her departure, Wang Xiuying prepared a table full of her son's favorite dishes and repeatedly reminded him, "Su Ning, when you're away from home, be sure to eat on time, don't stay up late studying, and if you run out of money, just tell us..."

Although she knew that Su Ning was now a wealthy man, her rambling was all a mother's concern for her son.

Su Daqiang didn't say much, but he patted his son's shoulder hard: "Study hard! Don't worry about things at home. Be calm and don't act impulsively."

His eyes were filled with trust and pride.

The next day, Suning drove his parents to Hangzhou East Railway Station.

Watching her parents pass through security and wave goodbye as they disappeared into the crowd, Su Ning felt a pang of sadness and reluctance, but even more so, a sense of responsibility and motivation to move forward.

After bidding farewell to her parents, Suning's life officially entered a new phase.

He was like a player who had reloaded a save file, with maxed-out experience and skills, yet willingly starting from the beginner village, experiencing the ordinary yet precious campus life he had once missed.

In class, he listened attentively; in the library, he buried himself in reading.

The turmoil of the world and the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry seemed to be temporarily shut out of the campus.

At this moment, he is just Su Ning, an ordinary yet extraordinary freshman at Zhejiang University.

His future holds both the vast ocean of knowledge before him and the endless, fascinating stories to be written.

……

Zhejiang University Zijingang Campus.

A week after the official start of the school year, Suning's studies and life gradually returned to normal.

However, he did not fully integrate into dormitory life like other freshmen.

That large, single-level apartment located by West Lake is undoubtedly a better choice in terms of comfort, privacy, and ease of handling personal affairs.

But this requires formal approval from the school.

So one afternoon, Su Ning brought the materials she had prepared in advance to the college counselor's office.

The counselor was a young female teacher surnamed Li, who had heard about Su Ning, this "special" freshman...

He was admitted with high scores, took a year off due to a major accident, and is now back in school to repeat his studies.

"Hello, Ms. Li. I would like to apply for off-campus accommodation." Su Ning said calmly as she handed over an application form and supporting documents.

Teacher Li took the materials, somewhat surprised: "Off-campus accommodation? Freshmen are generally not allowed to do that. Is there a problem getting along with your roommates?"

Her first thought was about common interpersonal conflicts.

“No, Ms. Li.” Su Ning smiled and shook her head sincerely. “My roommates are all very nice. It’s mainly because my personal situation is a bit special.”

He pointed to a rehabilitation certificate and psychological assessment report issued by the hospital in the materials: "After my car accident last year, although I have basically recovered, the doctor suggested that it would be best to have a quieter and more conducive environment for recuperation, avoiding excessive noise and the potential stress that may be brought about by communal living, which will help the complete recovery of the nervous system and the stability of memory function."

He added several other documents: "This is a photocopy of my property certificate for my residence near the school. The address is right here, very close to the school, which is very convenient. This is the information of my emergency contact person and guarantor. Most importantly, this is my personal commitment letter, guaranteeing that I will strictly abide by school rules and regulations, never be late, leave early, or be absent due to off-campus accommodation, ensure that my studies are not affected in any way, and am willing to bear all responsibilities that may arise from this."

Teacher Li carefully reviewed the materials, her expression gradually shifting from surprise to understanding and caution.

The hospital's certificate was very convincing, the address provided was indeed very close, and the guarantor also seemed quite reliable.

Most importantly, Suning's maturity, organization, and sense of responsibility were entirely based on sound reasoning.

She pondered for a moment.

School rules are set in stone, but special circumstances do require special handling.

Forcing a student who still needs ongoing rehabilitation to live in a noisy dormitory carries a greater responsibility should problems arise.

On the contrary, if he can maintain his studies, living in a stable and comfortable environment off-campus might be more conducive to his recovery and learning.

"Okay, I understand your situation." Teacher Li finally nodded, signed "Special Circumstances, Approval Recommended" on the application, and stamped it. "I will submit your application and these materials to the Student Affairs Department for approval. There shouldn't be any major problems. However, Su Ning, you must remember your promise, ensure your studies, pay attention to safety, and keep in touch with me regularly."

"Definitely! Thank you, Teacher Li!" Su Ning solemnly accepted the approved application and thanked the teacher.

Leaving the office, Su Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

This reasonable reason and thorough preparation successfully secured him the freedom to live off-campus.

This means that he can find a more flexible and efficient balance between university campus life and his personal career.

He can enjoy the learning atmosphere on campus and interact with his peers, while also having a private space that is entirely his own where he can handle other aspects of his life.

……

However, Suning's face was both familiar and unfamiliar to his former classmates.

Soon, his old classmates from a year ago were all surprised, after all, they had almost forgotten about Su Ning.

"Hey, look, isn't that Suning?"

"It really is him! He's back?"

"I heard he took a year off from school and is now a freshman again..."

"What a pity, his college entrance exam score was quite high back then..."

"I feel like he's changed a lot, but I can't quite put my finger on what's changed..."

During the break, several classmates who were somewhat familiar with her came over to greet her, their tone concerned but a little awkward: "Su Ning, are you alright? Are you feeling better?"

"It's good that you're back. Are you keeping up with the classes? You can ask us if you have any questions."

Su Ning could sense their goodwill, but she also keenly perceived a subtle distance between them. A year's gap was enough for former companions to go down different paths.

They've already formed a new circle of friends, discussing internship opportunities, project competitions, and campus gossip that Suning doesn't know about.

Suning is quite unfazed by this.

He responded politely to everyone's concern, but did not make a special effort to integrate into that somewhat unfamiliar circle.

He knew perfectly well that his rhythm and path were no longer the same as theirs.

He is more like an "observer" and "experiencer" on this campus, absorbing knowledge while cultivating his own vast world.

Sometimes when we run into each other in the library, former classmates look at Su Ning with even more curiosity when they see that he is not studying his first-year textbooks, but reading "The Language of Film and Audiovisuals," "The Cinematography Course for Directors," or even the original English version of "Production Management."

This strange "junior" seems to be shrouded in an unfathomable mist.

He both enjoyed the simple and pure campus life, and seemed to maintain a calm distance from the world, running a complex program unknown to others on his own.

This low-key and mysterious quality, ironically, gave him a unique appeal on campus.

……

As soon as Fan Lin finished filming her scenes, she didn't even go back to Qingdao; she flew directly to Hangzhou with her suitcase.

The months of separation, coupled with her previous concerns about Suning's "reckless" movie-making, left her with a lot of longing and a lingering sense of uncertainty.

As soon as the plane landed, Fan Lin's first message was to Su Ning: "Su Ning, I've arrived in Hangzhou!"

This was followed by a playful emoji.

Suning replied to the message almost instantly: "Send me your location, I'll come pick you up."

"No need! I'll just take a taxi there."

"Okay! I'll wait for you at the south gate of the school."

When Fan Lin arrived at the magnificent South Gate of Zhejiang University's Zijingang Campus by taxi, she immediately spotted that figure who stood out even in the crowd.

Suning wore a simple white T-shirt and casual pants, with an upright posture and a gentle smile on his face.

He looked like an ordinary senior from a neighboring school, yet he possessed a calmer demeanor and an indescribable aura than I remembered.

After three or four months apart, the moment their eyes met, it was as if a subtle electric current passed through the air.

Fan Lin put down her suitcase, took a few quick steps, and almost threw herself into Suning's open arms.

A familiar, refreshing scent enveloped me, carrying the warmth of Hangzhou's late summer.

"Did you miss me?" Fan Lin buried her head in his chest, her voice muffled and tinged with a hint of coquetry.

"I've thought about it." Su Ning tightened his arms, his answer simple yet firm, and gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head.

After a brief moment of tenderness, Su Ning naturally took her suitcase: "Come on, let me show you around our school."

"Okay! I'd like to see what top universities are like too."

Suning really acted like a dutiful tour guide, leading Fan Lin on a stroll through the vast campus of Zhejiang University.

Walk along the tree-lined avenue, pass the shimmering Qizhen Lake, and pass by the modern library and the academically vibrant teaching buildings.

"That's the Crescent Moon Building over there, its design is very unique..."

"This is our computer science department's teaching building. It's a bit old, but the lab equipment inside is still pretty good..."

"Look, that's one of the cafeterias, supposedly the second largest in Asia..."

Fan Lin wore a hat and a mask, but her eyes, which were visible, were always bright and full of curiosity.

She linked arms with Su Ning, listening to him introduce everything about the campus, experiencing an atmosphere completely different from Hengdian and Beijing.

Youthful, scholarly, free and vibrant.

"It's so nice..." she couldn't help but exclaim, "It's like going back to my student days, simple yet fulfilling."

Her career started early, and she left school very early. This pure university environment was both familiar and distant to her.

When it was lunchtime, Suning took her to experience the "Zhejiang University cafeteria culture".

Having trouble making decisions, I ended up ordering several of the signature dishes from different windows: Dongpo pork, West Lake fish in vinegar sauce, Longjing shrimp...

Of course, there are also the indispensable "miracle dishes" in university canteens.

The two of them carried their trays and found a corner to sit down.

Fan Lin took a bite of the vinegar fish and her eyes lit up: "Hmm! It actually tastes pretty good! Much better than the boxed lunches on our set!"

Su Ning smiled and put a piece of meat on her plate: "Then eat more. Our cafeteria has unbeatable value for money."

Looking at the young faces coming and going around them, discussing their homework and club activities, and eating cheap and large portions of food, Fan Lin felt a long-lost sense of ease and warmth enveloped her.

She secretly watched Su Ning eating earnestly across from her and suddenly felt that being able to quietly share in his life at this moment was better than anything else.

After dinner, Su Ning did not take Fan Lin to the hotel, but instead took a taxi directly back to the large apartment by West Lake.

When the elevator reached the top floor and the door opened, revealing a spacious, luxurious living room with a fantastic view, Fan Lin gasped in surprise, covering her mouth: "This...this is?"

“I bought a house in Hangzhou. You can stay here when you come to visit.” Su Ning said calmly, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.

He led Fan Lin on a tour of each room, explaining the layout of the house and the view from the windows.

Fan Lin's initial shock gradually transformed into a complex emotion that was difficult to describe.

She finally realized that what Suning meant by "making money from stocks" and "making movies" was far from the small-scale ventures she had initially imagined.

This level of skill and capability far surpasses the scope of an ordinary college student.

After the tour, the two sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window facing West Lake.

The afternoon sunlight softened through the white gauze curtains, and a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere filled the air.

The lighthearted jokes from before have gradually settled down.

Fan Lin leaned on Su Ning's shoulder and finally asked the question that had been on her mind for a long time: "Is filming a movie hard? Is everything going smoothly? I was worried about you before."

Su Ning gently put his arm around her, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice low and steady: "Yeah, it was tough. It was hot and tiring in Bangkok, and the pressure was immense. But it was worth it. The footage is finished, and Director Kong watched it and said it was very good."

He omitted the thrills and hardships involved, only briefly sharing the results and recognition.

Then, he changed the subject and asked Fan Lin about the fun and hard work she had experienced while filming over the past few months.

Fan Lin also started talking, gossiping about the crew, complaining about a certain actor who was difficult to deal with, sharing the challenges of playing a new role, and expressing her deep longing for him.

Outside the window, the lake and mountains are picturesque; inside, time flows peacefully.

The estrangement from months of separation and the subtle doubts from before quietly melted away in this candid exchange and warm embrace.

They no longer just share happiness, but also begin to share each other's stress and fatigue, and share plans for the future and vague anxieties.

At this moment, they are no longer lovers expressing their longing for each other through a screen, but in a real space, feeling each other's breath and heartbeat, sharing the most authentic parts of each other's worlds.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows seem to separate the world's hustle and bustle, leaving only this quiet, private, and safe space to accommodate two hearts that are gradually drawing closer.

Of course, the distance between the two was temporarily suppressed, and at this moment they only wanted to integrate the other into their own bodies.

"Suning, what are your plans for the future?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead! I'll finish my studies first."

"It's a real pity that you gave up your acting career. Many people want to be famous but don't have the luck. You should strike while the iron is hot and take on more roles."

"If I want to get roles, I have to sign with a film and television company or an agency. I don't want to be controlled by others."

"So you started a shell company called 'Bizarre and Unusual'?"

"Hehe, how about switching sides and joining my bizarre and fantastical world?"

"Hmph! I'm not stupid! My current company is giving me pretty good resources."

...(End of chapter)