I'm back in 1990

Chapter 1082: Maowa's Family Photo

After dinner, Su Jin suggested taking a walk back, and the two strolled back leisurely.

Su Jin patted her belly with a satisfied expression and said to Maowa, "I'm really sorry, I said I'd treat you to dinner, but I ate more than you. You won't laugh at me, will you?"

"Laugh at you? How could that be!" Maowa quickly waved his hand.

As the two strolled through the campus, Su Jin's gaze was drawn to UC's unique architectural style.

"Why are all the buildings here made of red bricks?"

Having spent nearly two years here, Huang Zedie is naturally very familiar with the style and origin of these iconic buildings at UC, so he took on the role of tour guide for a while.

"The building we just saw is the Reuss Auditorium, built in 1929. Influenced by the culture at the time, the architectural style of this auditorium is Italian Romanesque."

There's also the Powell Library, built in 1929, but the architect added some Moorish elements to the Italian Romanesque style.

Maowa was speaking earnestly and didn't notice the slight change in the girl's gaze towards him.

The two walked and chatted for a while when suddenly, Su Jin pointed to the apartment building ahead and asked, "Huang, do you live there?"

Mao Wa looked in the direction Su Jin was pointing, and saw that it was the apartment building where he lived. He was a little surprised: "How did you know?"

Su Jin smiled slyly: "I saw you look in that direction several times, and since there are apartment buildings there, I guessed you probably live over there."

It has to be said that this girl has a very good eye for observation. Maowa nodded and said, "Yes, that's the building you're pointing to, the fourth floor."

Do you live alone?

"Yes, that's why the room is relatively small."

Su Jin's eyes darted around, and she suddenly said, "It's only polite to reciprocate. I'll treat you to dinner, how about you treat me to a tour of your apartment? I'd also like to see what your male dorms are like."

Although Mao Wa felt that Su Jin's request was a bit abrupt, he still nodded and said, "Okay, but just so you know, it's a bit messy inside, so don't laugh at me."

"It would be abnormal if things weren't chaotic, let's go!" Su Jin said with a smile as she walked ahead.

Upon arriving at the apartment building, Maowa took out his key, opened the door, and invited Su Jin inside: "Please come in, it's a bit messy, please don't mind."

Su Jin went inside and curiously looked around the room where the boy lived.

The living room wasn't large, and it was an open-plan living and dining area, but it was very tidy. There was a light gray fabric sofa next to a desk with a laptop and a stack of English textbooks on biology on it.

A small dining table was placed next to the window, with a potted plant on it that was growing quite well. This surprised Su Jin, as she knew that it was extremely rare for a boy's dormitory to have a plant.

Seeing the dormitory like this only deepened her affection for the boy.

She exclaimed, "It's not messy at all! Isn't it very clean?"

Mao Wa laughed, and even made a joke for the first time ever: "That's because I knew someone was coming today, so I specially tidied up."

Sure enough, Su Jin was amused by his words.

She looked toward the kitchen, an open-plan kitchen fully equipped with pots, pans, and utensils, with each condiment bottle neatly arranged, making it clear at a glance that this kitchen was frequently used.

What dishes can you cook?

"They are all home-style dishes, such as braised pork, sweet and sour pork ribs, and vegetables. Sometimes we also make some large wontons and freeze them. When we don't have time to cook, we take some out and cook them."

"Really?" Su Jin looked surprised, her eyes filled with admiration. "There aren't many guys who can cook these days."

Su Jin's words were based on unreliable statistics. Since the economy developed to a certain stage, the proportion of men in Shanghai who can cook has declined significantly. It is said that very few boys born after 95 can cook, and even if they do, they are as rare as the giant pandas in the West Suburbs Park.

Maowa, who is shy, was a little embarrassed by the praise: "I live alone and can't cook, so I have to eat in the cafeteria. I have no choice but to do this."

The bedroom was small, containing only a bed, a wardrobe, and a bedside table. It was all clearly visible at a glance. Out of politeness, Su Jin didn't go in, but from the outside, the bedroom was very tidy, indicating that the boy had a very strong ability to take care of himself, surpassing 99% of other boys his age.

There was also a photo frame on the bookshelf by the bedroom door, containing a family portrait.

Su Jin pointed to the photo and asked, "Are those your family members?"

Maowa, who was making coffee with the coffee machine, looked in the direction Su Jin was pointing and replied, "Yes, my dad, my aunt, and my two younger sisters."

Su Jin stood in front of the bookshelf and looked at the photo carefully. In the photo, a middle-aged man who looked very much like Maowa stood in the middle row, next to a gentle middle-aged woman, and in front of them stood a little girl. In the last row stood Maowa and a girl who was about the same age as him.

Su Jin pointed at Mi Guo and praised, "Your sister is really beautiful."

Mao Wa handed the coffee to Su Jin, then glanced at the photos: "That's my older sister, a sophomore this year, majoring in education at East China Normal University. The younger one is my youngest sister, seven years old this year, and she'll be starting first grade in September."

"What a coincidence? Your younger sister and I are alumni?" Su Jin's eyes widened.

Maowa nodded: "Yes, what a coincidence, but I guess you don't know each other. After all, there are so many colleges at East China Normal University, and besides, she's not in the same college as you."

Su Jin took a sip of coffee and nodded, "That's true." Suddenly, she remembered something and pointed at Cheng Jing, asking, "Your aunt?"

Maowa nodded and said frankly, "My parents divorced when I was young. Later, my dad married my current aunt. She treats me very well, even better than my biological mother."

Su Jin sensed there might be many complicated stories involved, so she stopped there and didn't press further. Instead, she praised, "It's clear that your family has a very good relationship."

"Don't just stand there! Please sit down!" Maowa invited Su Jin to sit down and talk.

After Su Jin sat down, she noticed two beautiful blue and white porcelain tea canisters under the coffee table. She was very curious because it was rare for a boy as young as Maowa to drink tea. This meant that the boy drank tea.

Do you usually drink tea?

Maowa glanced at the two tea canisters. They were part of the pile of things his third uncle brought him when he last visited. Although he didn't know much about tea, he knew that the tea his third uncle gave him must be something special. Everyone in the family knew that his third uncle could be casual about other things, but he absolutely could not be casual about tea.

But he didn't want to tell outsiders, so he just said casually, "Oh, that was brought to me by an elder in my family when they came last time. I don't drink much of it, mostly coffee, since it helps me stay alert."