Ryan Bennett originally wanted to watch the show, but in these brief three minutes, she vaguely heard whispers around her.

“Brian Carter.”

“I used to only sneak glances at him.”

“This is the first time I can openly look at him for three minutes.”

“Even though it’s hot, honestly I don’t mind standing a bit longer.”

“If he were the speaker, even a thirty-minute speech would be fine.”

“……”

Ryan Bennett’s mood for watching the show suddenly became a bit complicated.

The afternoon’s military training was relatively simple; the instructor went from dorm to dorm, making beds all afternoon.

By evening, after the six roommates had taken their things to the bathhouse to wash up, they lay on their beds, ready to sleep.

Technically, phones weren’t allowed during military training, but basically everyone had secretly brought theirs in their bags.

After Ryan Bennett turned on her phone, she first checked in with Grace Bennett, then opened her chat with Brian Carter.

-Are you asleep yet

-[peeking]

The reply came quickly.

-No

Ryan Bennett curled up under her blanket and typed: Then what are you doing

-Chatting with a certain shorty in the front row

-Who are you calling a shorty.

-Want me to recite your ID number?

Ryan Bennett didn’t hesitate and sent over a newly saved set of “beating up kids” stickers.

While she was chatting with Brian Carter, Emily Brooks and the others were chatting too.

Most of the six in the dorm were day students, so sharing a room felt novel.

So after lights out, Olivia Turner started, “Let’s chat for a bit.”

At first, the conversation was about the day’s military training, then Olivia Turner brought up the speech, and from there, the topic shifted to the freshman representative.

“Ryan Bennett,” Olivia Turner called her name, “I heard you know Brian Carter.”

For some reason, she felt that Olivia Turner had been deliberately trying to get close to her since morning.

Maybe it was because several times, even when Emily Brooks was talking to her, Olivia Turner would always steer the conversation away from Emily Brooks and toward her, whom she barely knew.

Ryan Bennett didn’t plan to say much, just replied with an “mm.”

Olivia Turner: “How long have you known each other?”

Ryan Bennett thought for a moment: “About... nine years, I guess.”

Olivia Turner: “That long? So you’ve known each other since you were little.”

The dorm was pitch black after lights out, and voices sounded louder.

Ryan Bennett didn’t continue the topic.

But Olivia Turner spoke up again: “Um...”

“Maybe it’s a bit presumptuous to ask, but could you give me his contact info?”

She sounded a little embarrassed: “I couldn’t find it on the forum, and people from Class One said he doesn’t add friends.”

Ryan Bennett realized why Olivia Turner had been trying to get close to her.

But she couldn’t just give out Brian Carter’s contact info on her own.

So she said, “I’ll ask him.”

It was already awkward enough to ask for contact info, and now she had to get the person’s permission. Olivia Turner instinctively tried to stop her: “Could you not ask him? Let’s add each other, and you can just send me his WeChat directly.”

After Olivia Turner said this, the others joined in.

Ryan Bennett couldn’t refuse, so she just sent over his contact card.

Olivia Turner thanked her repeatedly, and a moment later, after finding the contact, she couldn’t help but say, “His profile picture is so cute.”

Emily Brooks got curious too: “What’s his profile picture?”

Olivia Turner: “A cat.”

Emily Brooks couldn’t help but think of Brian Carter’s face: “Is this what they call a contrast?”

Ryan Bennett, who was still chatting with Brian Carter, also glanced at his profile picture.

Brian Carter’s profile picture was a cat hiding in a cardboard box.

She was the one who changed that profile picture for him.

That was probably two or three years ago. The reason for changing it was actually pretty childish—she just thought Brian Carter’s old profile picture wasn’t cute enough.

Since she always chatted with Brian Carter, she wanted him to use a cuter profile picture, and had carefully searched online for a bunch of cute ones for him to choose from.

She still remembered Brian Carter’s disdainful question at the time: “Why should I change it?”

She answered, “It’s good for my mental and physical development.”

……

Thinking of this, Ryan Bennett realized that after sending Brian Carter’s contact info, she felt a bit unhappy.

She couldn’t really describe how she felt at that moment, because she had no reason to be unhappy.

She lay in bed thinking for a long time.

In the end, she felt it was a bit like that person who had always been by her side, her good friend—

Might now be known by someone else.

It was a strange feeling, like her private territory had been invaded.

……

In the end, she tapped her phone screen and quietly told herself not to be so petty.

After some mental self-adjustment.

She tried to find something to say, and typed a few lines in her chat with Brian Carter:

-Brian Carter.

-Did you buy sunscreen?

-Don’t get tanned, as your good friend, I sincerely hope you can keep your looks at an average level.

Chi Dog: I hope you regain your eyesight soon too

Meanwhile, Olivia Turner also messaged her.

Olivia Turner: I should have listened to those people on the forum

Olivia Turner: I shouldn’t have asked for his contact info