At a busy intersection, during the time waiting for the red light, through the car's rearview mirror, glanced at Mo Jingchun sitting in the back holding the baby.
In fact, Jing University, as a top national school, has had orphaned students before, and over the years, there were quite a few.
But both parents deceased, and with a baby less than a year old, it was the first time for Jing University.
When the school's academic affairs office received Mo Jingchun's call and learned detailed information from the high school he attended, the school's and the college's leadership held a meeting overnight.
Considering Mo Jingchun's actual situation, the college originally planned to provide him with a single room, since living in a four-person room might not be acceptable to other students and a little girl was not suitable to live collectively.
"Let Mo Jingchun and his sister live in the apartment assigned to me by the school, anyway, I don't stay there often."
With that, Li Na's statement in the conference room was met with a silence so deep you could hear a pin drop.
"Sounds good."
"Makes sense."
What could be said? She was wealthy, in her first year at the school, she bought an apartment over 160 square meters across the street.
The trip from the station back to school, about twenty kilometers, took Li Na more than an hour with frequent stops.
She had traveled this route occasionally, and normally, it would take at most fifty minutes.
Through the car window, Mo Jingchun noticed that there were already many people on campus.
"Your senior classmates returned one after another a week ago, and many students choose to stay over the summer vacation. Once you've been here for a while, you'll understand."
Mo Jingchun nodded in understanding. In the future, he wouldn't return during summer vacation but would go home for winter break.
Whatever the case, one has to go home for the New Year.
Li Na parked the car outside the apartment building, and after auto-parking, she turned back with a smile at Mo Jingchun: "We're here. Get out of the car."
As Mo Jingchun got out and walked to the back of the car, he saw Counselor Li Na easily lifting his heavy suitcase with one hand and then taking out the baby stroller.
Li Na, flipping her hair, saw student Mo Jingchun standing there dumbfounded and chuckled: "I'm a regular at the gym. If you keep up with exercise, this weight won't be anything to you. Even if you don't, in a year or two, this weight still won't be much."
"Let's go, the dormitory is on the sixth floor."
As Mo Jingchun followed the counselor into the apartment building, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
When he saw the elevator, he was a bit stunned. Did all Jing University student dormitories come equipped with elevators? How come no one mentioned this online?
It was only after the counselor opened the door that Mo Jingchun was taken aback, finally understanding the strange feeling he had downstairs.
Firstly, with so many students walking around on campus, there was no one in the apartment building. Secondly, it was too quiet—absolutely silent.
"Come on in!"
Mo Jingchun awkwardly replied:
"Miss, this isn't the student dormitory, right? Online they said Jing University's dorms are four-person rooms with bunk beds."
"You even did your homework?" Li Na teased.
"Alright, come in then. This isn't the undergrad four-person dorm. It's a teacher's apartment building, currently used by me."
After closing the door, Li Na led Mo Jingchun to the room on the right inside the entrance. "You and your sister will live in this room. I live next door, but I won't be here most of the time, maybe three or four days a month."
"Oh right, aside from not entering my room, there are no other restrictions. You can use the kitchen too."
"But... you have to keep the apartment clean, or I'll get mad—and trust me, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
"In a few days, there will be a half-month military training for freshmen. I suggest you participate." Li Na paused, then added, "I'll watch your sister for you then. As for your decision, just let me know by the 5th."
"During regular classes, you can take your sister along. I've talked to the teachers this semester, and it's all fine. Of course, the teachers agreed, but you need to be sure she doesn't cry in class."
"Oh, and you'll need to pay for the utilities and winter heating bill yourself. I'll send you the account information later."
Li Na, resting her chin on her hand, reflected: "Let me think if there's anything I missed."
"Forget it, I'll tell you later if I remember anything." She twisted her neck, "Clean up your room. There's a blue bag in the living room with your freshman package. Your quilt and everything are in there. I'll get you something to eat from the cafeteria."
Holding his sister Candy, Mo Jingchun listened to the counselor speak for quite some time without any sign of impatience.
Just as Li Na was about to leave to get food, Mo Jingchun called out.
"Miss."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
Li Na waved it off, "It's nothing really; I haven't done much. But if you really want to thank me, study hard. If there's a day when the teacher is proud of you, that will be my biggest thanks."
"Though I must admit, I do love hearing that."
Once Li Na left, tranquility returned to the room. Mo Jingchun didn't clean up immediately but stood there in thought for a while.
In less than two months, he seemed to have said thank you more than he did in over the past ten years.
Reluctantly placing his sister Candy in the stroller, Mo Jingchun began to tidy up.
The green bag contained two quilts, a pad, and pillows, pillowcases, and other basics covering essential living goods.
"Yayaya~"
In the stroller, Candy bounced, making baby sounds.
As he was making the bed, Mo Jingchun glanced over, continuing his task with a smile, saying, "Brother."
"Yayaya~"
"Brother."
"Yayaya~"
"Brother."
...…
Mo Jingchun tirelessly taught his sister Candy to speak.
Upon returning from the cafeteria, Li Na heard the two repeating their exchange. Her face, once filled with smiles, gradually lost its cheer, replaced with a hint of heartache.
Whose child, upon speaking their first word, doesn't say "Daddy" or "Mommy"? But for this little one, it's "Brother."
Thud, thud, thud~
Upon hearing the knock, Mo Jingchun looked back to see the counselor standing at the room's entrance.
"Let's eat first, then tidy up." Li Na waved the food in her hand.
Mo Jingchun nodded, "Alright, Miss."
Handing the food to Mo Jingchun, Li Na said:
"I'll be off. Call me if anything comes up."
...
A few minutes later, Li Na returned, "Forgot to give you the keys."