A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 138 A Youthful Couplet Across the Ocean

The warm afternoon sun shone on the university campus lawn. Li Shiqing lay comfortably, a book open beside her, but her mind was already on her phone screen. A WeChat notification popped up – a message from her friend Zhang Chen.

Zhang Chen: "Shi Qing, what are you doing? It's so late here. I just finished writing my thesis and I'm exhausted."

Li Shiqing smiled and quickly replied, "I'm lying on the lawn sunbathing and reading a book. You must be working too hard with your sleep schedule upside down. Tell me, how's life in England?"

Zhang Chen: "Sigh, life here is so different from back home. Take the food, for example, I'm completely fed up. Every day it's either fish and chips or all sorts of weird pies. I miss hot pot, barbecue, and my mom's home-cooked meals back home so much."

Li Shiqing couldn't help but chuckle and replied, "Haha, you've only been there a short time and you can't stand it already? But British food really doesn't suit our Chinese palates. Here at university, the school cafeteria has all kinds of cuisines, and sometimes I can even get authentic Sichuan food, which is so spicy and satisfying. Have you tried cooking for yourself over there?"

Zhang Chen: "Don't even mention it. You know how bad my cooking is. Last time I tried making scrambled eggs with tomatoes, the taste was just... well, it almost set the kitchen on fire. Now I just cook instant noodles to barely fill my stomach. By the way, how are the dorms at your school?"

Li Shiqing sat up and enthusiastically introduced, "Our dormitory is pretty good. It's a four-person room with a private bathroom. Everyone has their own desk and wardrobe, and the space is quite spacious. Everyone in the dormitory gets along very well, and we often chat together in the evening, sharing all sorts of interesting things. What about you? I hope the dormitories at your British university aren't very basic?"

Zhang Chen: "No, I live in a school apartment, two people per room. It's just that the heating is sometimes unbearably hot, and sometimes it's not warm enough. Also, the shower water temperature here is inconsistent, it's like a battle every time I take a shower."

Li Shiqing chuckled and teased, "Haha, it seems your adaptability still needs improvement. But speaking of which, how do you get around over there? Public transportation in the UK must be quite developed."

Zhang Chen: "It's quite developed, but ridiculously expensive. A bus ride of just a few stops can cost several pounds. So, if the distance is short, I usually choose to walk, which gives me exercise and allows me to enjoy the scenery along the way. If it's farther, I take the subway. But the London Underground is incredibly complicated, with lines like a maze; I still haven't fully figured it out. Is it convenient for you to get around near the school?"

Li Shiqing: "It's convenient. There are shared bikes right at the school gate; you can just scan a code and ride away. If you want to go somewhere further, the bus is also very convenient, and there are special student cards that offer discounts. By the way, have you made any foreign friends over there?"

Zhang Chen: "Yes, there is. My roommate is a British guy named Tom. It was really difficult to communicate with him at first. He speaks very fast and has a strong local accent. But after a while, I got used to it. He really likes Chinese culture and always asks me to teach him Chinese."

Li Shiqing's eyes lit up: "Really? That's great! You can take this opportunity to practice your spoken English with him. You teach him Chinese, and he teaches you English—it's a win-win situation. Has he taken you to any local events?"

Zhang Chen: "Yes, he took me to a music festival last week. The atmosphere was incredibly lively, with various bands playing passionately on stage, and everyone in the audience dancing wildly. However, the music was deafening; I feel like my ears are still ringing. What about you? Have you participated in any club activities in college?"

Li Shiqing: "I joined the business management club, where I met a group of like-minded classmates. We often discussed business cases and planned simulated business activities together. I feel that I have gained a lot. I not only learned a lot of professional knowledge, but also improved my practical skills."

Zhang Chen: "Wow, that sounds amazing. No wonder you're determined to work for your mom's company; you're already accumulating experience so early. By the way, are you under a lot of pressure studying at school?"

Li Shiqing: "It's alright. As long as you manage your time properly and complete the assignments given by the teachers diligently, you won't feel too tired. Besides, our teachers are all very nice. They explain the knowledge points in great detail, and you can go to their offices to ask them questions anytime you don't understand something. Are the courses at your British university difficult?"

Zhang Chen: "It's tough, so tough! The courses here emphasize depth and breadth, and the professors assign a lot of reading materials. You have to spend a lot of time preparing before each class. And the exam formats are also very diverse. In addition to written exams, there are papers, group projects, and so on. If you don't work hard, you might fail."

Li Shiqing: "So strict! You'll have to work hard then. But I believe you'll definitely be fine; you're the top student in our high school. By the way, is the weather in England really like the legends say, experiencing all four seasons in a year?"

Zhang Chen: "It's no exaggeration! Yesterday, when I went out, it was sunny, but I hadn't gone far when it suddenly started pouring rain. I didn't have an umbrella, so I got soaked. After I ran to a store to take shelter from the rain, the rain stopped and the sun came out again after a few minutes. It's really unpredictable."

Li Shiqing: "Haha, that's hilarious. You should always carry an umbrella when you go out, just in case. By the way, did you go sightseeing over there? There are so many famous attractions in England."

Zhang Chen: Not yet, I've been busy studying and haven't had much time. But I'm planning to visit places like Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and Edinburgh Castle during the long holidays. What about you? Do you have any plans to travel while you're in university?

Li Shiqing: "Of course! I plan to travel to nearby cities with my dorm sisters during the holidays. Reading ten thousand books is good, but traveling ten thousand miles is even better. By the way, have you encountered any particularly interesting customs or traditions in England?"

Zhang Chen: "Yes, people here pay special attention to queuing. Whether it's checking out at the supermarket or waiting for the bus, everyone will consciously line up in an orderly manner. Moreover, they are very quiet in public places and don't make loud noise. Also, the British especially love to drink tea and have the habit of having afternoon tea every day. Last time I visited Tom's house, he specially prepared an English afternoon tea for me, and the process was quite complicated."

Li Shiqing: "That sounds so interesting! English afternoon tea seems so ceremonial. I haven't tried it yet. When you come back, you must tell me all about it. By the way, did you participate in any sports activities over there?"

Zhang Chen: "I joined the school's football club and play occasionally. But the level of football here is really high, completely different from that in China. I'm just a newbie there, I can only run alongside the others. What about you, have you continued your running habit?"

Li Shiqing: "Of course, I run a few laps on the track every morning. Running not only exercises my body, but also makes me feel happy. And when I run, I can think about a lot of things, which feels great."

Zhang Chen: "That's great, I really envy you for maintaining such a good habit. I've become a bit lazy lately, and I don't really like exercising except when I'm playing soccer. I have to learn from you and start running every morning from tomorrow."

Li Shiqing: "Haha, okay, you have to keep your word. By the way, did anything particularly touching happen to you in England?"

Zhang Chen: "Yes, once I was studying in the library when I suddenly felt unwell, probably from a cold. A classmate next to me noticed something was wrong, came over to check on me, poured me a cup of hot water, and accompanied me to the infirmary. I was so touched at the time. It was really heartwarming to meet such a kind person in a foreign country."

Li Shiqing: "That's really heartwarming. It seems there are still many good people in the world. I hope you continue to meet such kind people over there. By the way, what do you do when you miss home?"

Zhang Chen: "I just call my parents. Hearing their voices makes me feel much more at ease. Sometimes I also look at old photos with family and friends to reminisce about the good old days. What do you do when you miss home?"

Li Shiqing: "I share funny stories about home with my roommates, and as we talk, I don't feel so homesick anymore. I also often send WeChat messages to my parents to tell them about my life at school. By the way, is there any Chinese food you particularly want to eat in the UK? I'll treat you when you come back."

Zhang Chen: "There are too many! Hot pot, skewers, spicy hot pot, roasted chicken wings... I can hardly count them all. I want to eat all kinds of food from China. When I get back, we must have a good meal together."

Li Shiqing: "No problem, leave it to me. We'll eat our fill then. By the way, have you gained anything special from your studies and life over there?"

Zhang Chen: "I think the biggest gain is learning to live independently. Before, when I was at home, my parents helped me with everything. Now, abroad, I have to rely on myself for everything, from washing clothes and cooking to handling all kinds of daily chores. I've gradually learned all of these. And through communicating with people from different countries, my horizons have also broadened. What have you gained from university?"

Li Shiqing: "I have gained a lot of friendships and met a group of wonderful classmates and teachers. In terms of academics, I have also gained a deeper understanding of the business management major and have a clearer vision for my future career. In addition, I have become more confident. I used to be very nervous when speaking in public, but now when I participate in club activities and often have to go on stage to present, I have overcome this problem."

Zhang Chen: "That's great! I'm so happy for you. It seems we're both growing and progressing in our respective university lives. I hope we can both achieve our dreams."

Li Shiqing: "We definitely will! Let's cheer each other on. It's getting late, you should get some rest too, don't stay up late, it's bad for your health."

Zhang Chen: "Okay, you too. Let's talk again next time, bye-bye."

Li Shiqing put down her phone, looked at the clear blue sky, and felt a surge of anticipation for the future. Although she and Zhang Chen were separated by oceans, their friendship, forged in high school, had only grown stronger through their cross-oceanic conversations.