However, Xu Ze felt too embarrassed to order another rice bowl. While there might be people at the university who could eat two portions in one sitting, Xu Ze wasn’t one of them. If he ordered another bowl, the chatty owner would surely be shocked.
And without a doubt, by tomorrow, the owner would be boasting about how his rice bowls were so delicious that even Xu Ze—the picky, slim, and handsome guy from the medical school—had eaten two portions in one go and still wanted more. He’d probably add, “If I hadn’t stopped him, that poor kid might’ve burst!”
So, after some hesitation, Xu Ze walked over to the stall selling meat buns and bought two buns along with a bowl of soup. He moved to a different table and continued eating.
The freshly baked, fragrant meat buns and the warm, flavorful soup were perfect for stimulating his appetite. With half his stomach already filled, Xu Ze took his time and finished the two buns and the soup in about five minutes. Finally, he patted his round belly and let out a satisfied sigh.
Now that he was full, he could think clearly again. Remembering that he had spent nearly 20 yuan on this meal, Xu Ze felt a pang of guilt. “Oh dear, if I keep eating like this, how am I supposed to survive on my monthly income of 800 yuan?”
“It must be because I rode my bike so much today and burned a lot of energy,” Xu Ze reassured himself. He pulled out a tissue, wiped his mouth, and then leisurely made his way back to his dorm.
Since Xu Ze was usually at home at this time, he didn’t need to go to the clinic for work today. So, he headed straight to his dorm.
As he opened the door, he wasn’t surprised to see Fatty and Gangzi still glued to their computers, battling away in their World of Warcraft game. Hearing the door open, Fatty called out without turning around, “Luo, how many points did we score against the Business School today?”
Hearing this, Xu Ze chuckled and replied, “It’s me. Did we have a game today?”
“A-Ze?!” Fatty and Gangzi turned around in surprise, staring at Xu Ze. After a moment, they asked, “A-Ze, why are you back so early?”
“Haha, I couldn’t stay at home any longer, so I came back early,” Xu Ze replied with a smile. He walked to the balcony, grabbed his clothes, and headed to the bathroom for a shower.
After washing off the sweat and feeling refreshed, Xu Ze stepped out of the bathroom. Looking at Fatty and Gangzi, who were still engrossed in their game, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing. It had been a long time since he had been in the dorm at this hour. Usually, he wouldn’t return until after 10 p.m., when his shift at the clinic ended. It was rare for him to be back so early.
He walked over and watched as Fatty and Gangzi excitedly commanded their characters, weaving through the forest and skillfully taking down monsters. For a moment, Xu Ze’s face showed a rare expression of envy.
He truly envied them—being able to play whatever they wanted, freely enjoying their college years, flirting with girls, and playing games. Meanwhile, he was stuck in the monotonous cycle of work, spending his short college life in a dull routine.
But soon, the envy on Xu Ze’s face faded. He knew his own goals and responsibilities. He wasn’t like them, carefree and without worries. He had many burdens to carry.
Right now, his family had to pay tens of thousands of yuan each year for his and his siblings’ tuition and living expenses. This made life at home tight, and as the eldest son, Xu Ze knew he had to shoulder some of the responsibility. At the very least, he needed to avoid adding more pressure to the family.
If he could cover his own living expenses, it would relieve nearly a thousand yuan of financial burden from his family each month. Plus, he could learn more practical skills. For all of this, no matter how hard he had to work, it was worth it!