Era: Rise from the Wilderness

The university campus was much larger than he had imagined.

The Soviet-style teaching and dormitory buildings, made of red bricks, are nestled among tall plane and poplar trees. The main road is a wide cement road, while the side paths are paved with cinders or gravel.

Soothing music was playing over the school's public address system, interspersed with announcements and lost and found notices.

Li Yunjing stood in front of the imposing main building, somewhat bewildered.

He only knew that Lü Ruoxi had been admitted to Bincheng University of Technology, but he had no idea which department, major, or dormitory building she lived in.

These days, without cell phones or the internet, you can only find people by talking.

He composed himself and walked to a spot on the side of the main building that looked like a bulletin board, where recruitment notices for clubs, lecture announcements, and disciplinary notices were posted.

He browsed carefully, hoping to find information about freshmen class assignments or dormitory arrangements, but found nothing.

Looks like I'll have to ask for directions.

He saw a bespectacled boy carrying books, who looked like an upperclassman, hurrying past. He quickly went up to him and politely asked, "Excuse me, do you know how to get to the girls' dormitory, the freshmen who just enrolled this year?"

"Or... is there a freshman named Lü Ruoxi?"

"I'm from the same hometown as her, so I came to visit her."

The bespectacled boy stopped and looked at Li Yunjing, who was dressed simply and looked travel-worn. He pushed up his glasses and said, "Girls' dorms? There are several buildings. It depends on which department you're looking for."

"Lü Ruoxi? That name... I don't recognize it."

"Which department are you in?"

"I...I don't know which department she's in."

Li Yunjing felt somewhat embarrassed.

"That makes things difficult."

The bespectacled boy shook his head. "The school is so big, with thousands of new students. It's hard to find someone just by knowing their name."

"Why don't you go to the freshman registration area and ask?"

"Or perhaps check if the lists of new students are posted downstairs in the department office buildings?"

"However, there may not be any teachers on duty today."

After thanking the classmate, Li Yunjing was somewhat discouraged, but he did not give up.

He walked slowly along the main road of the campus, and when he saw someone coming out of the teaching building or a student who looked kind by the roadside, he would go up and ask.

Most people said they didn't know, or kindly pointed out a general direction, but no specific information was provided.

Time passed slowly, and the sun gradually rose higher.

Li Yunjing was parched from walking, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He regretted not writing to ask for more information about Lü Ruoxi beforehand, or at least calling her home first.

This impulsive "surprise" seems to have turned into a clumsy "trouble".

Just when he was about to give up and was about to go to the school cafeteria to eat something and think of a solution, he passed by a row of bulletin boards, one of which seemed to be for the "Department of Mechanical Engineering".

He glanced at it without much hope, but his gaze suddenly stopped when he saw the name "Lü Ruoxi" under the "List of Outstanding Individuals in Freshman Military Training"!

Department of Mechanical Engineering?

Did Lü Ruoxi study mechanical engineering?

She's an artist who studied mechanical engineering?

Oh!

Yes!

Her score is probably only good enough for mechanical engineering!

After all, they're art students; they don't study much on a regular basis!

Li Yunjing was somewhat surprised, but more than that, he was overjoyed!

Finally, we have a clue!

He immediately perked up and grabbed a man who looked like a teacher who came out of the nearby office building to ask for directions to the female dormitory of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Seeing his anxious look and hearing that he was looking for the freshmen who had just been commended, the teacher was quite kind and gave him directions: "Go straight along this road, turn right when you see the small square with the statue, walk about 200 meters and you will see a five-story red brick building with a sign that says 'Dormitory 3'. It seems that the female students from the Mechanical Engineering and Automation departments are all in that building."

After thanking him, Li Yunjing practically ran over.

The September sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light. His heart was pounding, whether from running or from the impending sight of that figure, he couldn't tell.

Finally, the red brick building with the sign "Sanshe" came into view.

Clotheslines stretched out in front of the building, with colorful clothes hanging in the air. Some girls carried basins in and out, their laughter ringing out.

He stood at the building entrance, but hesitated.

It was clearly inappropriate for a boy like him to go in and look for someone.

Of course, he felt he couldn't get in either; the old lady at the door seemed difficult to deal with!

Looking at that fierce gaze, Li Yunjing was even a little scared!

He found a shady spot under a big tree near the building entrance and stood there, his eyes fixed on the flow of people coming and going.

Time passed by, and many people came and went, but not that familiar face.

He was too embarrassed to ask everyone he met, so he could only wait.

Just as he was getting a little anxious and considering whether he should shamelessly go to the building manager to ask, a burst of silvery laughter came from the building entrance.

Several neatly dressed girls walked out, chatting and laughing.

The girl walking in the middle was wearing a white floral shirt, dark blue trousers, and her hair was tied in a neat ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead.

Her skin seemed a bit tanned compared to during the summer vacation, showing a healthy wheat color, but her eyebrows and eyes were still beautiful, her eyes crinkled when she smiled, and she had two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth.

It's Lü Ruoxi!

Li Yunjing's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously straightened up from under the shade of the tree. His throat was dry, and for a moment he forgot to speak.

Lü Ruoxi and her companions were chatting and laughing as they headed towards the cafeteria.

As if sensing something, she subconsciously turned her head and glanced at the building in front of her.

Then, her gaze settled on the somewhat hurried, travel-worn figure under the big tree.

Her smile froze on her face.

Those curved eyes slowly widened, their pupils first filled with unbelievable astonishment, then a huge, undisguised joy surged up like a flood bursting through a dam, illuminating her entire face.

"Clouds... Cloudscape?!"

Her voice rose slightly due to the unexpectedness, and trembled a little.

Several girls nearby also stopped in their tracks, curiously observing the strange boy who had suddenly appeared.

Looking at the genuine surprise on her face, Li Yunjing's nervousness and uncertainty vanished instantly, replaced by a warm and reassuring feeling.

"Ruoxi, it's me."

"I came... to see you."

"Military training must have been tough."

He took a few steps forward and stopped two or three meters away from her, a slightly embarrassed but genuine smile on his face.

Lu Ruoxi finally came to her senses, and two blushes quickly rose on her face, spreading all the way to her ears.

She walked up to Li Yunjing in a few steps, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, her voice still trembling with excitement: "You... why are you here? You didn't even tell me beforehand! When did you arrive? Have you eaten?"

A series of questions revealed her concern and lingering surprise.