Chapter Sixteen: An Older Girlfriend Must Be Wonderful

The sordid past is nothing worth boasting, today’s unrestrained thoughts know no bounds.
With the spring breeze at my back, my horse gallops swiftly; in a single day, I behold all the blossoms of Chang’an.

To the older generation, going to university was the dream everyone ought to have. But the younger crowd knows well that even a college degree is becoming less valuable nowadays.

Of course, for Xia Shu, receiving an admission letter from Yuncheng University was truly unexpected. After checking the school’s official website, he learned that he had been accepted right at the lowest cutoff score. He had just compared scores with his roommates, and even Liu Zhuang, who ranked second-to-last in their dorm, had ten more points than him.

This was indeed a stroke of luck! After all, in the college entrance exam, a single point can mean tens of thousands of places in the rankings.

But everyone just chatted casually about it; now that they were all in the same dorm, no one cared much about whose grades were better. Among boys, the conversation inevitably drifted off course.

“Older girls are great! My girlfriend is three years older than me,” Lin Xiang said, a proud smile on his face.

“Three years older? That’s impressive! When did you start dating?” Wang Yang’s eyes lit up, curiosity and excitement in his voice. His expression made it clear he was eager for gossip.

“It’s been about three years now!” Lin Xiang replied, grinning.

“Three years? So you started back in your first year of high school?” Wang Yang was incredulous. As a freshman who had never dated, his shock was understandable. Liu Zhuang’s expression mirrored his exactly.

Xia Shu was a little more composed. He smiled slightly and said nothing.

“That’s right.”

“So where is your girlfriend studying now?”

“She’s at Yuncheng Normal University, really close by.”

“That’s wonderful, you’ve finally ended your long-distance relationship!”

“Yeah, now we can see each other every day.” Lin Xiang’s eyes sparkled with joy, and as he spoke, his excitement was obvious. To be honest, persevering for three years and getting into Yuncheng University was all thanks to the faith he placed in his beloved, his guiding light…

“So jealous!” Wang Yang and Liu Zhuang echoed.

“What about you, Xia Shu?” Lin Xiang turned his gaze to Xia Shu.

“My girlfriend?”

“Yes, is she in the same year as you?”

“No.”

“Oh? Senior or junior?”

“A senior.”

“!!!”

Wang Yang and Liu Zhuang’s eyes widened again.

“So it’s the trend these days to date older girls? Xia Shu, how much older is your girlfriend?”

“Hmm… is it okay to say?”

“What’s the big deal? Look, Lin Xiang told us directly!”

“Twelve years older.”

Xia Shu decided to be honest. After all, they’d be together for four years, and everyone seemed straightforward, so there was no need to hold back.

“Twelve years?!!!”

Now not only Wang Yang and Liu Zhuang were stunned—even Lin Xiang was left speechless, jaw dropped. Their voices were so loud, even the neighboring dorm could hear their amazement.

“Yeah, it’s nothing too serious, right?” Xia Shu scratched the back of his head, remaining calm.

“How long have you been together?”

“Not long, started after graduation.”

“Where is she from?”

“Yuncheng.”

“Damn, so you’re dating an older woman who’s supporting you?”

Wang Yang suddenly felt so envious he could cry. He’d always fantasized about being embraced by a beautiful, mature woman.

“It’s alright.” Xia Shu maintained his composure, though beneath the calm surface, he felt a secret satisfaction.

Lin Xiang raised his eyebrows, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he looked at Xia Shu and teased, “There’s something I’m not sure I should ask…”

“What?” Xia Shu eyed him warily, certain he was about to say something outrageous.

“Well… have you, you know, celebrated your love yet?”

The question instantly piqued the curiosity of Wang Yang and Liu Zhuang, both single and eager for details.

“It’s normal for couples to have something happen, isn’t it?” Xia Shu had expected Lin Xiang to be this bold.

“Heh, so what’s it like being with a thirty-year-old woman?”

Once men start talking about this topic, the conversation accelerates and becomes harder to stop.

“It depends on the person, really. It’s hard to describe. If you get the chance, you might want to try dating a thirty-year-old yourself.” Xia Shu’s thoughts raced, and he decided to dodge the specifics, turning the question back: “And you? What’s it like being with someone three years older?”

“Cough, cough… well, I have to say, those two months living together over summer break were something else.”

“My first experience—I was so nervous, hadn’t prepared anything, and was worried about causing big problems. But luckily, nothing happened. Living together, though, I realized women can have even stronger needs than men… So, if you ever start dating and move in together, think carefully and keep control, or you’ll be overwhelmed!”

Lin Xiang really dared to say anything.

Wang Yang and Liu Zhuang listened intently.

Xia Shu could relate—forget two months, even a few days felt exhausting.

After their talk about relationships, the roommates shifted to the latest popular games, discussing everything from Genshin Impact to the Rift…

As they chatted, Xia Shu gained a rough understanding of his new friends.

After washing up, Xia Shu lay in bed, impatient to start messaging Su Rouxue.

“Baby, what are you doing?”

“I’m lying here with a face mask, thinking about you *giggles*”

“Me too. I’ve been so busy today, barely had time to talk.”

“It’s fine, no need to stay in touch every minute. A daily greeting is enough.”

“Alright, my roommates are in bed now, it’s quiet. Otherwise I’d want to call you.”

“Hehe, get some good rest. When your military training is done, let’s find somewhere fun to go together.”

“Okay, you rest early too *heart gesture*.”

“Mm, good night *heart gesture*!”

Lying on the sofa, Su Rouxue smiled at her phone. The background of their chat was a photo of the two of them together.

Sending “good night” made her reluctant to part.

Alone at home tonight, she felt the absence of someone beside her pillow, and Xia Shu’s figure drifted into her mind once again…