Chapter 24: Peeking

"I'm so sorry, truly, my apologies."

Jiang Ying flushed bright red, hurriedly returning the pen to Yu Siyan. He, however, pushed it back toward her with a hint of a smile. "It's no trouble at all. Go ahead and use it; I’m not in a rush."

After signing the documents, Jiang Ying walked downstairs with Yu Siyan and asked with curiosity, "You aren't from our university, are you?"

The project was open to psychology students across the country. Having never seen him in her department, she guessed he must be from another school.

"That's right. My undergraduate university is actually quite close to Hua University—just cross the street after exiting the north gate."

Jiang Ying paused, then immediately realized, joking, "So you’ve defected from Qing University to join the light."

Yu Siyan laughed as well. "Exactly. Even though I spent four years in the 'enemy camp,' I’m practically Hua University family. My older sister was in the Art Department here, though she graduated last year. Her name is Yu Shan."

"Senior Yu Shan is your sister?" Jiang Ying was surprised. "She’s a legendary figure at our school."

Yu Shan was a campus celebrity at Hua University; she was beautiful, a gifted singer, and had won first place in the campus singing competition during her sophomore year before venturing into the entertainment industry. Looking closely, the two did indeed bear a strong resemblance.

However, the siblings gave off very different vibes. On stage, Yu Shan was a sexy, powerful woman with a vibrant, outgoing personality, whereas Yu Siyan carried an air of restraint that fit the stereotypical image of the disciplined, composed students from his school.

As Jiang Ying remarked on the differences between him and his sister, she heard him say with a smile, "Perhaps the primacy effect is at play. In truth, I can be quite lively as well."

"Really?" Jiang Ying reconsidered him.

Yu Siyan chuckled helplessly. "Just not in the way my sister is. I know she really knows how to work the stage."

They both burst into laughter.

Just then, they passed a standing poster near the department entrance filled with lecture information. Yu Siyan asked, "What was your concentration as an undergrad? I focused on cognition and intelligence."

"What a coincidence, I was similar, though here we call it cognitive neuroscience. My previous research projects tended to be more clinical, though. Does your school focus more on artificial intelligence?"

"Yes, my research is mostly related to intelligent interaction, involving computer simulations of the brain and behavior. There should be some overlap with your research interests."

Although both universities had psychology departments, their curricula differed slightly, likely due to their respective institutional strengths. Regardless, the most important part of undergraduate study was building a solid theoretical foundation, and Jiang Ying and Yu Siyan shared many core courses.

They exchanged WeChat contacts and spent some time commiserating over the soul-crushing nature of their computer science and mathematics courses.

Both had plans for the evening, so they stopped at a fork in the road on campus.

"Let’s grab a meal together sometime," Yu Siyan said with a smile.

"Sounds good! Let's stay in touch on WeChat!" Jiang Ying waved goodbye.

*

At seven in the evening, Jiang Ying and Zhou Anning arrived punctually at the small tavern near the school gate.

It was the beginning of the new academic year, and since the freshmen had only recently arrived, the place was bustling with social gatherings. New faces were everywhere, the air was thick with the scent of grilled skewers and beer, and the television mounted on the wall was playing a soccer match, as it always did.

The tavern had been there for seven or eight years, evoking the feeling that while the seasons change and the faces shift, the spirit remains the same. Students graduated and new ones arrived in waves, but the lively, youthful energy of the tavern never seemed to fade—it felt just as it had the year Jiang Ying first enrolled.

Amid the clamor, Jiang Ying saw Xu Chengming waving at them. She pulled Zhou Anning through the crowded aisle and sat down opposite him.

A cola and two bottles of beer were already on the table. Xu Chengming placed the menu in front of them. "My treat tonight. Promise me we’re staying until the early hours, okay?"

Zhou Anning asked with a look of astonishment, "What's gotten into you today? You’ve always been quite moderate with your drinking."

"I'm happy," Xu Chengming said with a deep, serious expression. "You two are like kids I helped raise; seeing you both doing so well makes me incredibly happy."

"Then why do you have a look that says 'seventy percent sadness, twenty percent melancholy, and ten percent sorrow' on your face?"

"How should I put it?" Xu Chengming sighed. "My ex-girlfriend wanted to get back together. I thought about it and decided against it. Our future plans don't align; we wouldn't make it in the long run."

Though Xu Chengming was usually sociable, he rarely opened up about his own troubles. Being willing to tell them this meant both that their bond was close and that the situation was genuinely weighing on him.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Anning declared they wouldn't stop until they were drunk. Fearing they would actually overdo it, Jiang Ying said with concern, "Take it easy, you two. I can’t carry two drunks, and alcohol isn't exactly good for you..."

"Don't worry, it's just for tonight. You just enjoy your cola. Besides, plenty of old friends are here today anyway." Xu Chengming gestured with his chin toward two tables near the entrance. "Look, Senior Lao Cen from the Art Department is here with the new members of his a cappella group. Our dorms are right next to each other; he can carry me back if I get drunk."

Soon, the table was piled high with skewers, and bottles of beer followed one after another.

The three of them chatted, and acquaintances from other departments stopped by from time to time to sit for a while, have a drink, and catch up. Before they knew it, it was past eleven.

The tavern grew more boisterous as the night deepened. Perhaps having had a few drinks, the crowd’s spirits rose, and the group at the entrance began to sing. The entire tavern turned to look, and Jiang Ying joined in, peering over with curiosity.

It was the a cappella group. Senior Lao Cen took the lead, and the group began an impromptu, unplugged version of "By the Lakeside of Baikal."

As the soft humming of the men and women began, the noise in the tavern gradually faded, and everyone listened in silence. When they finished, many students cheered, "One more!"

At that moment, the tavern owner brought out a guitar. "Come on, who’s next? I’ve got the guitar and the microphone right here."

The appearance of the guitar electrified the students.

Campus folk music had long flowed through the veins of Hua University. It started in the 1980s, when students would sit on the campus lawns, playing guitars and writing lyrics; so many sorrows and hopes had been poured into those songs.

Many of the professors currently teaching at Hua University were those very students who had once written lyrics and played on the grass, and the new generation taking up the mantle was sitting right here in this tavern.

Senior Lao Cen suddenly stood up and looked into a corner. "Hey, Yu Siyan, you're here too? Come on over, give us a tune." He introduced him to the others, saying, "Yu Shan’s little brother."

The crowd erupted in cheers as soon as they heard.

Hearing the familiar name, Jiang Ying looked over in surprise, and indeed, she saw Yu Siyan walking out from a corner on the other side.

He said with a smile, "Brother Cen, this is a Hua University gathering. Why would I want to intrude?"

"You’re good at playing and singing. Come on, show our juniors a thing or two." Senior Lao Cen, clearly having had quite a bit to drink, his round face flushed red, joked, "You dared to come to Hua University territory, so don't you dare embarrass your school."

"Alright, since Brother Cen has spoken, I’ll certainly step up."

Yu Siyan didn't act coy despite being put on the spot. He calmly picked up the guitar and sat on a high stool by the bar.

With a strum of the strings, he captured everyone’s attention.

"What would everyone like to hear?" he asked.

The students shouted out various requests, unable to reach a consensus.

Yu Siyan glanced around and suddenly noticed the girl sitting against the wall. He paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "Jiang Ying? I didn't expect to see you here. Why don't you pick one?"

"Me?"

Jiang Ying was slightly stunned as their eyes met. Beside her, Zhou Anning immediately turned to look at her, her expression shouting: *Wait, you know him?*

"Yes, go ahead and pick one. I should know how to sing just about anything," Yu Siyan said.

Jiang Ying didn't hold back. She smiled and asked, "Do you know 'Mohe Ballroom'?"

"Of course."

Just like his sister Yu Shan, Yu Siyan possessed a voice gifted by the heavens. His singing was like the warm sun in winter—light, soothing, and flowing with a gentle warmth.

Jiang Ying whispered to Zhou Anning about meeting Yu Siyan earlier that afternoon, then rested her chin in her hands, watching him like everyone else and listening quietly.

Zhou Anning looked at her, then back at Yu Siyan, and said with a knowing look, "He sings so beautifully."

Jiang Ying was momentarily lost in the music and gave a soft "Mm." "It is very beautiful... but I think he’d be even better suited to singing 'By the Lakeside of Baikal.'"

Hearing this, Zhou Anning paused, then understood the implication. She asked half-jokingly, "One is heartbreaking and the other is gentle and romantic. Which one do you prefer?"

Jiang Ying thought about it seriously and then shook her head. "I don't know. My logic and my instinct seem to be making different judgments, but both songs are wonderful."

While they were talking, Yu Siyan had thoroughly heated up the atmosphere with the song. He didn't leave after finishing, saying to the crowd, "Everyone, feel free to pick songs and sing them yourselves. I’ll provide the guitar accompaniment—at your service."

Zhou Anning looked at Jiang Ying thoughtfully, then suddenly downed half a bottle of beer, stood up abruptly, and raised her hand. "I’m in!"

She grabbed Xu Chengming’s sleeve. "Brother, let’s go! Let's sing 'When the Dream Wakes'!"

With that, the entire room turned to look at their table, Yu Siyan included.

Zhou Anning was clearly buzzed. Her singing voice might have been fine for a dorm room, but here, it was likely to turn into a comedy act.

However, the usually rational and calm Xu Chengming had also had quite a bit to drink that night. He was actually goaded by Zhou Anning into standing up. "Alright!"

Jiang Ying blankly took the microphone from someone and handed it to them.

Zhou Anning asked Yu Siyan, "Do you know the Jonathan Lee version?"

Yu Siyan: "No problem."

It was originally a sad song, but the Jonathan Lee version was filled with a sense of liberation and vitality.

The guitar strings were struck, and the light, pleasant melody filled the entire tavern.