The morning sun poured through the thin, dust-streaked curtains of Li Wei's cramped dorm room, casting faint, golden light across the mess of textbooks, empty noodle cups, and scattered papers. His phone, which was older than most of the students on campus, buzzed relentlessly beside him, its cheap plastic screen cracking at the corner. He groaned and slapped the snooze button before he buried his face deeper into his pillow, wishing he could avoid facing another day.
Li Wei had always been a quiet student, someone who blended into the background, trying to stay out of the way. His university life, thus far, had been nothing short of uneventful. The lectures were long, and the campus was vast — filled with people that always seemed to have something important to say, someone important to talk to, while he was just... there. His grades were mediocre at best, and socializing wasn't exactly his strong suit. As far as Li Wei could tell, he was just another face in the crowd, invisible in a sea of students all eager to be seen. Li Wei walked alone, as he often did. His only real friend was Zhang Bo, a boisterous, overweight student from his dorm. Bo was the type of guy who could make friends with anyone, and while Li Wei admired his confidence, he often felt more like a sidekick than a true friend. Bo never seemed to mind, though. He was always there to drag Li Wei out of his shell, even if it was just to grab a bite to eat or play a few rounds of video games.
"Li Wei! Over here!" Bo waved, his broad face breaking into a grin as he spotted Li Wei walking towards him. He was already eating a steamed bun, crumbs scattered around his lips. "Hey, I got you a bun!" Bo said, offering Li Wei the last one from the pack.
Li Wei smiled weakly, accepting the bun with a nod of gratitude. "Thanks, Bo."
Bo didn't need much encouragement to start talking about his latest obsession — a new game he was playing. It was an online strategy game, one that everyone on campus seemed to be talking about. Li Wei wasn't much of a gamer, but Bo's enthusiasm was contagious. They discussed the game for the entire walk to class, and though Li Wei had no real interest, he appreciated the distraction from the dullness of his own thoughts.
As they entered the lecture hall, Li Wei found his usual spot at the back of the room. He liked sitting there, unnoticed, able to fade into the background as the professor droned on about whatever subject they were studying that day. The seats around him filled quickly, and soon, the lecture began. Li Wei took out his notebook and began jotting down the basics, but his mind kept wandering.
He couldn't help but notice how lively the other students were. They seemed to have it all figured out. They knew what they wanted, where they were going, and they weren't afraid to chase it. It was so different from how he felt. He had no real passion for his studies. He wasn't sure why he was even at university in the first place. It was all just a blur of lecture halls, textbooks, and assignments, none of which truly sparked any excitement in him.
He glanced around at his classmates, noticing a group of students chatting in the row ahead. They were laughing at something, and Li Wei could almost feel the warmth and ease that surrounded them. He wished he could be a part of that — just for a moment. But he quickly turned his attention back to his notes, hiding behind the routine of the day.
After the lecture ended, Bo was quick to suggest they grab lunch together. "There's a new ramen place near the south gate," he said excitedly. "We should check it out!"
Li Wei hesitated for a moment. He really should be getting back to his dorm to study, but Bo was his only friend, and he didn't want to turn him down. "Sure," he agreed, and they walked together toward the ramen shop.
The streets outside the campus were alive with energy, filled with people rushing by, all of them in their own worlds. Li Wei felt like an outsider as they walked, Bo laughing and chatting animatedly about his latest gaming achievements, while Li Wei just nodded and offered the occasional "uh-huh" in response.
At the ramen shop, the warmth of the restaurant was a welcome change from the cold air outside. The smell of broth and spices filled the air, and Li Wei couldn't help but feel a bit more at ease. The small booth they sat at felt cozy, and as Bo dug into his bowl of noodles, Li Wei took a moment to relax. There was something about being in a place like this, away from the pressures of university life, that made everything feel a little bit more manageable.
"Hey, are you still planning on going to that lecture on advanced calculus next week?" Bo asked, slurping his noodles.
Li Wei blinked, unsure if he'd even heard correctly. "Uh, I don't know. Maybe. I'll think about it."
Bo just grinned and shook his head. "You're the only person I know who'd willingly skip a math class."
Li Wei chuckled softly. "I guess I'm just not that into it."
They finished their meal, and as they stepped outside, a sudden rain shower began. Li Wei hesitated for a moment, then ran after Bo, who was already dashing toward the nearest awning to take cover. The rain poured down in sheets, drenching them both in seconds, but instead of feeling irritated, Li Wei found himself laughing. It was one of those rare moments when everything felt a little lighter, a little less heavy.
They stood under the awning, dripping wet, and laughed for a few minutes. It was such a small thing, but it felt freeing. For once, Li Wei wasn't thinking about his grades or his place in the world. He was just... there.
When they finally made their way back to the dorm, Li Wei changed into dry clothes and sat down at his desk, ready to tackle his textbooks. But as he opened his notebook, his eyes fell on something that made his heart skip a beat — a small pendant, half-buried beneath his scattered papers. It was something he hadn't seen in years, a relic from his childhood. A simple, dark stone set in silver, its edges worn from time.
Li Wei picked it up slowly, feeling its familiar weight in his palm. His mind began to drift, and for a brief moment, a strange warmth radiated from the pendant. He frowned, wondering if he was imagining it. It was just a trinket, nothing more. Yet, something about it felt... different. As if it were calling to him.
Shaking off the feeling, Li Wei placed the pendant back on his desk and tried to focus on his studies. But the strange warmth stayed with him, lingering in the background of his mind, unanswered. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change — that his ordinary life was on the brink of something extraordinary.