Watching groups of young people chatting and laughing as they walked past, Cheng Feng felt a sense of nostalgia, as if reuniting with long-lost friends. The drowsiness from her sleepless night was also somewhat dispelled by the vibrant energy that filled the streets.
How unfamiliar it all seems.
Cheng Feng sighed wistfully.
It had only been a little over a month since she’d last been here, yet UFU had apparently changed its “skin” again.
Just after the New Year, the campus had been decked out in festive red cloth, and lanterns had been placed at the entrances of the dining hall and other large buildings, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Now, all of that was gone. The red cloth had been replaced by red banners with yellow lettering, the lanterns had turned into billboards, and the greenery on both sides had been swapped out for some ornamental plants with bright red tips and lush green bases.
At first glance, the overall color scheme had become noticeably greener.
Cheng Feng looked more closely and realized that one of the training instructors at the base had been right – the university leaders of UFU were truly narcissistic, fond of stamping their school emblem all over every street and alley.
Take, for example, the aged artistic doll at the entrance of the cafeteria. Both of its hands had been touched so many times they’d become stiff with grime, and in the upturned palm, one could still clearly see the bold, neatly printed characters: “United Federation University.”
How had she never noticed this before?
Senior students like Chen Huayue were helping the girls carry their luggage on the side. Cheng Feng and Shen Dan didn’t have much gear, so they simply shouldered their own backpacks and trotted off cheerfully.
As she passed by the cafeteria entrance, Cheng Feng popped in to pack some lunch, fulfilling the big-meal craving she’d had since the night before. Holding the three-tier lunchbox, she was making her way down the small set of steps when she heard someone calling her name from behind.
But the person wasn’t calling her “Cheng Feng” or “Ye Guicheng” – instead, they used the puzzling address, “Sister Cheng.”
It took Cheng Feng quite a while to register who it was. The voice sounded somewhat familiar, and when she turned around, she saw that it was Song Zheng.
Although they weren’t in the same major, they had worked together several times since entering the university.
Moreover, Song Zheng seemed to have been born with maxed-out social skills. In a short amount of time and through his own efforts, he had upgraded his label in Cheng Feng’s mind from “Guy No. 1” to someone with a proper name – which was no small feat.
He was probably the most memorable infantry among her current cohort.
Cheng Feng said flatly, “My last name isn’t Cheng, buddy.”
“Isn’t that just to make sure you could hear me?” Song Zheng’s face was exaggeratedly full of tears of joy. “Sis, you’re finally back! I almost thought you’d gone missing. You were nowhere to be seen for so long – you technical folks are way too mysterious!”
Cheng Feng nodded. “Yeah, I went out for some training.”
“Training? Where?”
Song Zheng didn’t even need anyone to respond – the very next second, he said with immense envy, “Wow, that’s so impressive! A freshman getting to participate in high-level training.”
Cheng Feng: “…”
She half-suspected there was a mouse installed inside his brain, constantly clicking “Next,” skipping right past all the middle dialogue.
Shen Dan was exhausted, yawning long and wide. Seeing that their chat wasn’t going to end anytime soon, she waved a hand and said she was heading off first.
“While you were gone, us infantry majors had a miserable life! The instructors arranged two simulation matches for us against outsiders, and we got completely destroyed – lost our shirts, basically. Been getting scolded nonstop. Simulated combat is so hard!”
Song Zheng had just put on a grieving face when his darting thoughts landed on something happy. He switched moods in an instant, his brows lifting with excitement. “Oh, and two days ago, some high school students came to visit the university. I was put in charge of entertaining them, and man, they all looked so noob. Haha, that’s great – I’m about to be a senior student soon! No more being at the bottom of the food chain!”
He alternated between crying and laughing, as if he were two completely different people. Cheng Feng watched, dumbfounded, and could somewhat guess that he had gone through many worldview-shattering experiences during her absence – otherwise, he wouldn’t have mastered UFU’s signature “face-switching” essence. Only after he called out to her a couple more times did she snap out of it and play along. “Yeah, yeah.”
After a moment of silence, Song Zheng went, “Ha ha!”
The timing of those two hollow laughs was so bizarre that Song Zheng almost broke character. He hesitated for a bit, then cautiously asked, “Could you help us run some data analysis? Nothing too detailed – just the key points would be fine.”
Cheng Feng didn’t really have a problem with it. She nodded and said, “If I have the time.”
Song Zheng said regretfully, “We don’t really have any money right now…”
Cheng Feng’s expression went blank.
Song Zheng said sheepishly, “At best, we can only take you out for a few meals…”
Cheng Feng’s features instantly lit up. She nodded vigorously and said, “I’m free anytime!”
Song Zheng’s face flushed with excitement. He unreservedly pledged his own soul and that of his comrades, shouting, “Thank you! We’ll be your loyal underlings for the next three years! You’ve worked so hard at training – let me carry your bag for you!”
With that, he rushed over eagerly to take Cheng Feng’s luggage.
Cheng Feng couldn’t refuse him, and since they were only a few dozen meters from the dormitory anyway, she just let him.
Song Zheng dashed straight to the front of the dormitory building that had allegedly already become something of a scenic spot at UFU.
Cheng Feng walked over and looked up – sure enough, there was the owl, squatting on the small balcony, gazing into the distance.
Its gaze was very cold… and its feathers, having gone too long without cleaning, had nearly turned gray.
Cheng Feng was utterly astonished.
What was up with this robot? Didn’t it know how to take care of itself? Back when she’d had it treated for baldness, the sales manager had clearly said the original factory feathers were dustproof.
Cheng Feng took her bag, bounded up the stairs in two or three strides, and pushed open the dormitory door.
Her two roommates were temporarily absent. Shen Dan was sleeping in her own room, and the faint sound of snoring could be heard through the door panel.
Cheng Feng was just about to step forward to unlock the door when it swung open ahead of her. The little robot ruffled its feathers and strutted out with an air of cold aloofness, then tilted its head up to stare at her.
It didn’t utter its usual welcoming line this time – clearly feeling guilty.
Cheng Feng reached out and grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, lifting it up with one hand. She found that its feathers were indeed very dirty, but not entirely from dust – it looked more like it had rolled around in some kind of muddy puddle and hadn’t been cleaned in time, leaving behind a rough, gritty residue after drying.
She spun it around for a full inspection, and in the blink of an eye, she could almost hear the sound of money slipping away.
She had no idea if it could be washed when it was this filthy. If the stains wouldn’t come out, wouldn’t she have to replace all its feathers?
What a detestable, spendthrift bird!
Cheng Feng’s face darkened completely.
“Did you run outside again and get into a clawing fight with a stray cat?” Cheng Feng frowned deeply. “Why would you do something like that? You need to accept yourself for who you are! You’re not capable of that right now!”
The little owl’s mechanical voice was completely flat as it replied, “No. Didn’t.”
Cheng Feng was displeased. “You’re lying!”
The little owl raised its volume in response to Cheng Feng’s accusation: “No! Didn’t!”
Cheng Feng snapped, “Then explain yourself!”
The intelligent robot fell silent and shamelessly switched itself into standby mode as a way to escape.
It had changed!
Cheng Feng put down her backpack, fished out a brown cloth bag from a corner of the room, and shoved the little owl inside, preparing to take it in for cleaning.
As she descended the stairs, Cheng Feng lamented how she and money truly had no fate together.
She tallied up the money she’d lost recently, her footsteps fierce and her expression gradually turning ferocious. She hadn’t walked far from the dormitory building when the optical computer in her pocket began vibrating incessantly.
Cheng Feng didn’t really want to answer, but after walking a bit further, she couldn’t help but pull it out for a glance. The top of the message list displayed Xiang Yunjian’s name.
Xiang Yunjian: I heard you’re back?
Cheng Feng stopped walking and began editing a message to him.
Ye Guicheng: Are you really using the original database?
Ye Guicheng: I mean for my friend – the combat robot. Didn’t you modify any of its other programs?
Xiang Yunjian: Yes. Why?
Ye Guicheng: It’s become incredibly dumb.
Cheng Feng typed with fierce intensity, the strap of the cloth bag digging into her arm. After hitting send, she looked away and saw the little owl poking its head out of the bag opening.
This ruinous robot bird had voluntarily come out of standby mode again, resting its fuzzy chin on the edge of the bag, putting on an act of utter innocence.
Cheng Feng stared at it for a moment.
Xiang Yunjian: Some functions probably aren’t compatible with an intelligent robot. You can make adjustments yourself.
Ye Guicheng: Is bird-catching-cats a kind of instinct?
Xiang Yunjian: ?
Xiang Yunjian: Cat-catching-birds might be an instinct?
Ye Guicheng: Then I get it. Going against the biological chain is probably the combat robot’s instinct. Never mind. Instincts can’t be changed.
Xiang Yunjian: …
Xiang Yunjian: Did it go chasing cats again? No way? I haven’t heard anyone say so.
Cheng Feng raised her optical computer and took a photo of the intelligent robot, exposing its dirty, disheveled state.
Ye Guicheng: [Image]
Xiang Yunjian: Oh. That might be because it was lying on the windowsill during the rain, its claws couldn’t hold on, and the wind blew it off. I remember there was a typhoon passing through in early March – the wind was really strong.
Xiang Yunjian: You could change the material of its claws and add a suction function.
Ye Guicheng: Ah…
Cheng Feng locked eyes with the little owl again.
Even though it was a misunderstanding, she was indeed going to have to spend a lot of money.
After some inner struggle, Cheng Feng concluded, “This is all the fault of poverty!”
The little owl nodded mechanically. “Yes.”
Another notification came through on her optical computer.
Xiang Yunjian: [Location] We happen to be near the mall. Are you taking it to get its feathers cleaned right now? If you don’t have any other plans, you could come by and have a meal with us.
Cheng Feng had already packed her own lunch and was about to refuse, but then Xiang Yunjian sent her a photo.
Over ten luxurious dishes filled the entire table, and right in the center was a plate of braised pork hock still steaming hot.
Xiang Yunjian: [Image] The food at this place is pretty good. Feel free to order more if you want.
Cheng Feng swiftly deleted the word “no” from her reply.
Ye Guicheng: Okay, bro.
Xiang Yunjian: ??
Xiang Yunjian: Mm.
…
Cheng Feng took the little owl to the mall. The receptionist examined it and said the problem wasn’t serious – it could be cleaned, but to protect the feathers’ functionality, it might take a while.
Cheng Feng breathed a sigh of relief, gave the little owl a quick pat, swiped her card, and immediately ran off to the nearby restaurant.
Xiang Yunjian and his group were far too conspicuous. Even sitting in a corner, they caught the eye instantly.
Because Jiang Linxia had gotten green highlights in his hair.
Cheng Feng didn’t yet fully grasp the deeper meaning of green hair – she just thought the color was very lively. And somehow, on Jiang Linxia’s head, it oddly accentuated his flamboyant temperament. Paired with his already chiseled features, he looked handsome and full of personality.
The only thing was, the staff and customers around kept sneaking glances at his head -it felt anything but ordinary.
Cheng Feng sat down next to them and admired Jiang Linxia’s new hairstyle up close. “Wow…” she exclaimed.
It looked even cooler up close. She kind of wanted one too.
Xiang Yunjian sensed she was about to go down the wrong path. He grabbed a hat, plopped it onto Jiang Linxia’s head, and pressed it down, conveniently covering his face as well. “Don’t even think about it,” he said.
Yan Shen chimed in with ill intent. “Don’t stop her. Let the kid pursue her freedom.”
