Chapter 81: Housing Permit for the Dormitory
1282 Words
On the field, the episode with Luo Ye was just a minor side story.
The women’s 3,000‑meter race went on as scheduled.
When the starter pistol cracked, Su Bai Zhu stayed glued to Yu Qiu Yu, sprinting in second place.
Yu Qiu Yu glanced back at her senior.
It turned out the “rabbit‑ears” she’d seen next to Luo Ye that morning were actually Su Bai Zhu’s. No wonder neither she nor Meng Chao recognized her—who would expect a usually aloof senior to show up in such cute pajamas?
But she wasn’t holding back in the race. She accelerated, leaving Su Bai Zhu trailing behind.
Unlike the morning’s 800‑meter scramble, Su Bai Zhu didn’t conserve energy. She blasted off from the start, sticking almost right on Yu Qiu Yu’s heels—there was distance, but nothing ridiculous.
Yu Qiu Yu sensed Su Bai Zhu’s mindset. The cool senior wasn’t trying to overtake her; she just wanted to finish fast, so she surged ahead early, staying just behind the leader.
She was clearly in a hurry to meet someone.
Yu Qiu Yu sighed, “When will I meet someone like that?”
“Go, Yu Qiu,” someone shouted.
Not far away, the Track and Field Club gathered, cheering her on. A few senior members ran alongside her, shouting encouragements.
Yu Qiu Yu wasn’t exactly pretty, and her skin was on the darker side, but she was the club’s only girl—their hidden treasure.
The club has other girls, but she’s the only one who truly loves the sport; the rest are just collecting club credits.
So for the rest of the sport‑enthusiasts, she is the club’s sole female.
The spectators in the stands barely reacted to what had just happened.
After all, Su Bai Zhu is a former student‑union president, and this sports meet was the first big task for the new student‑union staff. As an old guard, it’s normal for her to drop in when something unexpected occurs.
Soon the women’s 3,000‑meter race ended, and Su Bai Zhu placed second.
She needed a few more physical‑education credits, so snagging a top‑three finish instantly filled the gap.
University life requires a mishmash of credits—club, student‑union, extracurricular activities—all count toward graduation.
In her two years of college, Su Bai Zhu hardly ever participated in any sports, so she was always short on PE credits.
But a top‑three finish in a university‑wide meet can cover all the missing credits for the entire four‑year program.
She took first in the 800 m and second in the 3,000 m—an eye‑catching double.
Besides being a computer‑science whiz, she now proved she’s an athletic prodigy too.
If she weren’t already a junior, Meng Chao would have begged her to join his club.
After the race, Su Bai Zhu didn’t linger. She gulped water, wiped her sweat, and headed for the exit.
Qin Yu Wen, trailing behind, asked, “Zhu‑zhu, where are you off to?”
“The hospital.”
Qin Yu Wen blinked. As Su Bai Zhu’s roommate, she’d never seen her act like that before. She pretended to dab at nonexistent tears and smiled, “Look at you, growing up.”
She couldn’t go with her, though—she’s on the cheer squad and still has a halftime dance to perform.
Jiangcheng Medical University Affiliated Hospital.
That was a place Shen Qiao knew well—his girlfriend worked there.
Seeing his friend headed there, Shen Qiao’s face turned a little melancholy, but he still escorted his roommates in to help Luo Ye inside.
At the hospital entrance, Su Bai Zhu’s best friend Li Xia was already waiting.
Li Xia was still an intern, not yet graduated, and usually just observed surgeries. With nothing else on her plate, she decided to lend a hand.
Medical students have longer curricula than regular undergrads, so her internship lasts a good while.
Even though she isn’t a orthopedist, she could at least take a look at a small fracture like Luo Ye’s.
“Come on in.”
Li Xia called two nurses, wheeled in a stretcher, and helped Luo Ye onto it.
In the treatment room, Li Xia glanced at him, then shook her head.
Wang Da Chui, impatient, blurted, “What’s with the head‑shaking? My kid only hurt his leg, he’s not dead.”
“It’s not that, I’m getting someone.”
Li Xia pulled out her phone and made a call.
After hanging up, Li Hao Yang asked, “Aren’t you supposed to know how to treat him?”
“Just a bit, but I’m not a surgeon.”
Wang Da Chui looked confused, “Aren’t you a doctor?”
“Sort of. I’m an intern in neurology.”
Wang Da Chui and Li Hao Yang exchanged a glance—neurology, huh? That’s a brain specialty, not leg work.
Shen Qiao chuckled helplessly. He knew Li Xia; she’s the attending’s assistant for his girlfriend, so she’s there every day.
Soon Luo Ye’s leg was wrapped tightly, and he lay on the bed, unable to move, feeling utterly hopeless. His thoughts kept circling back to the fact that he hadn’t cracked the top three in the 3,000 m.
Suddenly, Li Xia in her white coat entered, followed by another girl—none other than Su Bai Zhu.
She walked straight to Luo Ye’s room, stared at his limb swathed in bandages, and asked coolly, “How are you feeling?”
“Senior, I’m limping.”
Luo Ye lowered his head, dejected.
Seeing this, Su Bai Zhu glanced at the roommates. Shen Qiao finally understood; he pushed Li Hao Yang with one hand and Wang Da Chui with the other, nudging them out of the room.
Li Xia gave Su Bai Zhu a small smile before leaving.
Inside the room, silence fell between the two.
Su Bai Zhu sat on the bedside chair, pulled out her phone, and snapped a photo of Luo Ye’s bandaged leg.
The camera click made Luo Ye crane his neck lower. He’d just embarrassed himself in front of the whole school, and now his shame was stored on his senior’s phone.
“What did the doctor say?” Su Bai Zhu asked, expression flat.
“The doctor says my bones are solid, no fracture. I’ll stay for observation for a day; if nothing serious shows up, I can go home. But until it’s fully healed I need to rest, preferably with a crutch so I don’t re‑injure it. A real fracture would be a disaster.”
Hearing that, Su Bai Zhu relaxed a bit.
Luo Ye let out a sigh, “Too bad… I didn’t make the top three.”
Seeing his disappointment, Su Bai Zhu whispered, “I did.”
“Really? Congrats, senior.”
Luo Ye was happy for his fairy senior, yet his mood stayed a little low.
Su Bai Zhu looked at him and said evenly,
“The deal was mutual: if you hit the top three, I’ll reward you; if I hit the top three, you’ll reward me.”
Luo Ye stared, confused, unable to process.
Seeing his lack of response, Su Bai Zhu’s lips twitched into a faint grin,
“You’ll take care of all the house chores… remember, every single day.”
She said it nonchalantly, eyes on Luo Ye.
He stared blankly, then the thought clicked.
Every single day’s chores?
Does that mean… I’ve earned a housing permit for the faculty dormitory?
- Writer
