Chapter 303: Really Graduated

Chapter 303: Finally Graduated

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t notice. She was holding her violin, preparing to take the stage, when a student approached Zhang Kaining.

"Senior, is that your girlfriend?"

Zhang Kaining adjusted his camera. "No."

"Then I—"

"Don’t get any ideas. She has a boyfriend—they’re practically getting married."

His shoulders slumped as he walked away.

As the host’s announcement ended, Ye Xiaoxiao took the stage with her violin.

Today, press photographers were covering the event, along with students from the university’s journalism and photography departments.

From the moment Ye Xiaoxiao stood on stage, camera shutters kept firing nonstop.

And as the sound of the violin flowed gently, the thought that she was just an amateur gradually faded away.

"Who is this senior? I’ve never seen her before," a junior who had only been enrolled for a year asked in confusion.

"You? I’ve been here for two years, and I’ve never seen her either. Maybe she’s a guest performer?"

"This is Senior Ye Xiaoxiao from the Traditional Chinese Medicine department. She went abroad as an exchange student for two years, and after returning, she went straight into an internship in another city. Of course, you haven’t seen her."

"Senior is so beautiful—words can’t describe it."

"She glows like moonlight."

"Her poise is like the moon drifting through the clouds, her grace like a breeze rippling over water."

As a few boys were talking, a junior girl holding a camera suddenly spoke up in admiration.

The boys turned to look, and the short-haired young girl smiled slightly, revealing a pair of cute canine teeth. "Enough talk—I’m going backstage to meet Senior!"

The boys behind her all looked on with envy.

The piece Ye Xiaoxiao chose was an upbeat, youthful melody. After finishing, she took her bow and exited.

As soon as she reached backstage, she was approached by a young girl.

"Hello, Senior! My name is Dong Xuejiao. I’m so happy to meet you. Can I have your autograph?"

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her hand lightly.

"Why? I’m not a celebrity or an idol."

"Of course you are! From today onward, you’re my idol!"

Dong Xuejiao lifted her camera eagerly. "Senior, can I snap a picture with you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded. "Sure."

Dong Xuejiao was thrilled to snap a picture with the beautiful senior. Then, she whipped out a little notebook. "Pretty please? Just one autograph?"

Ye Xiaoxiao reluctantly signed another autograph.

But her self-styled wild cursive script was completely illegible to anyone.

"Senior Xiaoxiao, your handwriting is so... unique."

"Senior Xiaoxiao, will you still be in the capital after graduation? You're a medical student—where do you work?"

"Senior Xiaoxiao..."

The girl had too many questions, and Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t know which to answer first.

"I work at Rende Pharmacy. If you ever need anything, you can come find me."

Another customer in the bag.

"Great! I look forward to seeing you again, Senior Xiaoxiao!"

Dong Xuejiao carefully put away her notebook and watched as Ye Xiaoxiao walked off.

...

After the evening event, Ye Xiaoxiao was going to get dinner with her roommates.

Zhang Kaining kept pestering her to join them for dinner with their classmates. "Why not join us? The whole squad's gorgeous."

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "Everyone in our dorm has a boyfriend. Don't even think about it."

Zhang Kaining replied, "It’s just a meal—normal friendship between classmates. Our class is too dude-heavy; we need some girls to even things out."

Ye Xiaoxiao asked the others for their opinions.

Tang Xiuxiu said, "Let’s go together then. Li Meiru’s boyfriend’s little diner saved us seats."

Zhang Kaining said, "Perfect! It’s tough to get a table right now anyway."

So the groups joined up.

The rest of the class had no objections, though it was their first time eating out with so many girls from class, so they were a bit shy at first.

But once the food arrived, the mood got lively, and everyone shot the breeze about everything.

Ye Xiaoxiao asked, "So where's our monitor working these days?"

"Our monitor is at Beijing First Hospital. He interned there and earned high praise from Professor Sun and the director. He's got a bright future ahead."

Chu Yunxiao gave a modest smile. "I just happened to get lucky. I heard Professor Sun originally wanted to invite Xiao Xiao, so he gave our school a spot."

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "Come on, Monitor. If you weren’t capable, you wouldn’t have stayed. You earned it."

Zhang Kaining said, "So that’s what happened. But both of you are amazing—let's drink to that!"

Ye Xiaoxiao raised her glass. "Cheers!"

When they wrapped up, it was already past midnight.

"You guys gonna make it back to campus?"

"Yes, no lockdown tonight. Even if there were, the security guy and dorm mom would look the other way."

Zhang Kaining asked again, "You're not too drunk, right? Can you get back on your own?"

Ye Xiaoxiao replied, "I'm bringing my roommates back to my place for the night. There's enough of us - we'll be fine."

As long as they avoided the small alleys, the area was relatively safe.

Zhang Kaining said, "Be careful, then."

Li Meiru stayed with her boyfriend, while Ye Xiaoxiao took the other three roommates home.

On the way back, they walked home in the moonlight.

Xia Li suddenly asked, "Wonder what Wang Jiao's up to now? Have her parents found her yet?"

He Jing replied, "Your guess is as good as mine. As long as she's safe, that's what matters."

It was already very late—normally, Ye Xiaoxiao would have been asleep by now, but she wasn't the least bit sleepy.

"My place doesn’t have a TV, otherwise we could've killed some time."

Tang Xiuxiu threw an arm around Ye Xiaoxiao's shoulders, staggering a bit as she walked. "No, no, let's just clean up and crash when we get back."

There were two rooms at home, so it was two to a room.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Tang Xiuxiu shared a bed, chatting before sleep.

"How's it going with that Lu guy? It’s been a few years, hasn’t it?"

Ye Xiaoxiao sighed, "We hardly see each other. It doesn’t feel like it's been that long."

"That's what keeps things fresh."

"We're getting married soon. He's already put in the paperwork."

Tang Xiuxiu said, "You have to invite me then. I’m in the capital, so I can come anytime."

Ye Xiaoxiao asked, "So you got your placement?"

Tang Xiuxiu chuckled, "It’s in the capital, but not downtown. It's not a big hospital, but at least it’s close to home."

Ye Xiaoxiao asked, "What about Gao Lin?"

Tang Xiuxiu shook her head. "He studies foreign languages—might go study abroad."

"Are you two still together?"

"We're playing it by ear. I’m already in my twenties. I don't have forever to wait around."

Tang Xiuxiu was pretty practical sometimes, and could handle anything with a cool head.

Ye Xiaoxiao turned and gave her a hug.

...

Meanwhile, in Jiangcheng, Hubei Province, Wang Jiao, Xu Jiale, and several bandmates were stuck in some sketchy motel.

They couldn't even scrape together money for food.