Chapter 53
After registration was finished, the counselor gathered all the freshmen for a class meeting, and classes officially began on Monday.
Most freshmen had not yet adjusted to the rhythm of university life. They were full of excitement at the start of the first class, but by the time the professor was only halfway through, most of them had already wilted. Some were sprawled over their desks catching up on sleep, while others kept their heads down, playing on their phones, and did not look up again until class ended.
No matter when or where, studying was always dry and dull. The colorful side of college life did not lie there, but rather in the rich variety of clubs and other activities after class.
The guy sleeping across from him was called Liu Zhengnian. His social skills were maxed out. Even before school started, he had already been haunting every freshman group chat and getting familiar with upperclassmen from every major. While everyone else was still trying to learn their way around campus, he was already meeting people offline and arranging meals. By now, he had become the campus know-it-all—there was nothing he did not know.
After they finished eating in the dorm, Liu Zhengnian knocked on the table. “Zhang Yunqiu, hurry up and take the lunch boxes out. I’m going to give you all a proper rundown of the school clubs.”
Zhang Yunqiu copied the style of a palace drama and answered with a “Yes, Your Majesty,” then darted out along the wall at top speed. Lin Huaixi carried over a little stool and scooted with all his might until he was right in front of Liu Zhengnian, looking like an eager, well-behaved student.
Liu Zhengnian was very satisfied with their attitude. He spread out the guide he had made himself across the table, lowered his voice, and put on the air of a worldly master. “All right, then let me explain it to you.”
Liu Zhengnian really had done a lot of homework. His explanation sounded quite professional. He broke everything down into academics, research, campus life, and interpersonal networking, then listed the top clubs in each category and even gave each one a recommendation score.
Zhang Yunqiu nodded nonstop as he listened. “Our school actually has a Finance Society? And lots of big shots from all sorts of industries came out of it? I heard it was founded by Finance majors. I happen to be a freshman in Finance, so do I need to interview too, or can I just go check it out anytime?”
Using the paper tube he had rolled up, Liu Zhengnian tapped him lightly on the head, looking every bit the strict teacher. “Idiot. There are so many people in your major—how could every single one of you get in? And a high-class club like the Finance Society has a very high admission bar. Sure, people from your major get priority, but you still have to go through layers of selection. There is one exception, though.”
“What kind?” Zhang Yunqiu leaned forward in excitement, watching him with eager eyes.
“Top ten in the major,” Liu Zhengnian said, then pointed at Lin Huaixi. “Someone like him. Huaixi isn’t just number one in the major—he’s handsome too. He’s basically a walking billboard. For someone like him, the Finance Society would fight over him even without an interview. Same with Qi Wang. He just happens to be in Finance too, and he was practically already a member of the Finance Society before he even enrolled.”
“Our school also has a Law Society. It’s pretty similar to the Finance Society. If you want to get to know some big names and build connections that’ll help your future career, go for clubs like that. You could even join both and pull each other along.”
As he talked, Liu Zhengnian drifted off topic and looked at them with envy. “Is the feng shui where you’re from especially amazing or something? Or did you two grow up taking genius pills? You’re way too strong. One of you is number one in Finance, the other is number one in Law, and you’re both this handsome too. Standing next to you makes me feel like a total embarrassment!”
Zhang Yunqiu clicked his tongue twice. “Before college, I was a famous genius at my school. I barely had to study and still ranked first in the grade. You could say legends about me were everywhere. I came to university fully intending to create a myth of my own, and then the first thing I saw was you two. Ah, why must there be Yu when there is already Liang?”
This was the top university in the country, with a sky-high admission threshold. Even the most average student here would still be among the best in any high school nationwide.
Lin Huaixi smiled modestly. “This is only the beginning. Your learning ability is so strong—within the next few years, you’ll definitely become top ten in the major too. I might even slip back by then.”
Liu Zhengnian and Zhang Yunqiu were only envious, not jealous. Hearing that, they just smiled.
Lin Huaixi steered the topic elsewhere. “Then what about the other clubs? Like the Astronomy Club—what kind of members do they prefer?”
“For clubs like that, there isn’t much utilitarian purpose,” Liu Zhengnian said. “It’s basically just a bunch of like-minded people getting together to talk about things they enjoy. But it’s one of the hottest clubs in our school, and a lot of people want in, so the competition is pretty fierce.”
Lin Huaixi nodded thoughtfully.
Liu Zhengnian casually remarked, “That’s the second time you’ve asked about it. Do you really like the Astronomy Club that much? Is Qi Wang joining it with you too?”
The moment he heard Qi Wang’s name, Lin Huaixi reacted strongly. Even though he knew nobody else was around, he still looked around the room before lowering his voice. “Can I ask you guys for a favor? Please, whatever you do, don’t mention the Astronomy Club to Qi Wang.”
A giant question mark popped up over both Liu Zhengnian’s and Zhang Yunqiu’s heads at once. “Why?”
Lin Huaixi knew that if he did not satisfy their curiosity, there would be no end to it. His brain whirred rapidly, and he hastily came up with an excuse. “Qi Wang… doesn’t want me joining the Astronomy Club.”
This time, his two roommates reacted in perfect unison.
“Ah, that’s impossible.”
“You’ve definitely misunderstood.”
They had only been roommates for three days. Though they seemed familiar, they did not actually know one another that well. So why were they so certain?
As if reading the confusion on Lin Huaixi’s face, Liu Zhengnian explained, “Qi Wang is way too good to you. If you tell him to go east, he won’t go west. He even takes care of you like an older brother. The craziest part is that he somehow knows in advance what you want and has it ready for you. I suddenly want a childhood friend like that too!”
Zhang Yunqiu also wore a look of longing, but the moment he imagined Qi Wang’s face, he shivered.
“Still, Qi Wang is pretty aloof. One glance from him and I get goosebumps. How did you end up being so close with him?”
Aloof?
Over the years, Lin Huaixi had heard other people describe Qi Wang that way, but he had never really felt it himself. Other than when they first met in kindergarten, when Qi Wang had not been too willing to bother with him, after that he had always been gentle and not distant at all.
“Maybe it’s just because you haven’t known him very long yet. Once you get closer, Qi Wang will…” Lin Huaixi trailed off, feeling guilty even as he spoke.
Sun Baiyi definitely knew them well enough, yet Qi Wang was still very cold to him. The strongest emotion Qi Wang showed him was probably when they were arguing. As for everyone else…
Lin Huaixi thought about it and realized that besides himself, he had never really seen anyone else constantly by Qi Wang’s side.
All of a sudden, Lin Huaixi felt a bit guilty.
To clear Liu Zhengnian and Zhang Yunqiu’s suspicions, he had almost thrown Qi Wang under the bus. As a childhood friend, he was really doing a terrible job.
Shaking off the thought, Lin Huaixi changed tactics. “How about this—if you two keep this secret for me, I’ll treat you both to lunch today!”
At once, Liu Zhengnian and Zhang Yunqiu forgot all brotherly loyalty and lit up.
“All right. I want barbecue.”
“All right. I want spicy hotpot.”
Faced with the two totally different answers, Lin Huaixi was very generous. With a wave of his hand, he declared, “Then we’ll go for barbecue at noon today, and spicy hotpot tonight.”
The two foodies immediately cheered up and threw the earlier interruption out of their minds. They changed clothes and rushed out of the dorm.
Lin Huaixi called Qi Wang, and the four of them arranged to meet outside campus.
Though Qi Wang was a little puzzled by Lin Huaixi treating everyone, he did not say much and simply accompanied them through both meals.
…
Finance and Law were both brutal majors, one worse than the other. Their course loads were ridiculous. Qi Wang even had an elective class in the evening, so Lin Huaixi took the chance to say, “The classroom next door looks empty. I’ll study there and keep you company during evening self-study, and after your class ends, we can go back together.”
Qi Wang agreed.
After dinner, Liu Zhengnian went back to the dorm alone, while the other three headed toward the teaching building.
At the entrance, Lin Huaixi split off from them and went into the classroom next door, where he sat there pretending for five minutes. The moment the class bell rang, he could not wait any longer and rushed back out.
Today was the first day of club recruitment. Since the Astronomy Club was so popular, there would definitely be lots of applicants, so if he became the very first one, he could leave a deep impression on the older students and increase his chances of getting accepted.
Lin Huaixi’s little mental abacus clicked away, but when he got there, he froze.
There was already a long line outside the Astronomy Club. Forget first place—he was not even in the top ten.
He sighed to himself, but he was not discouraged. He had already prepared a Plan B.
The interviews were split into several sessions. After only fifteen minutes, Lin Huaixi was brought into the room farthest on the left.
Inside were two older female students and one older male student, all of them very friendly and warm, which helped Lin Huaixi relax a little.
“Hello, senior students. My name is Lin Huaixi. I’m very happy to meet you.”
Lin Huaixi had fair skin and round eyes, and when he smiled, he showed two dimples. He looked just like a soft little rabbit.
The two female students’ fondness for him immediately shot to full marks, and even their voices softened. “Junior, why do you want to join the Astronomy Club?”
Lin Huaixi had already prepared thoroughly. “When I was little, I lived at my grandmother’s house, and all I had to do was look up to see a sky full of stars. Back then, every night I would count where the Big Dipper was. Later I started learning about constellations, and I became more and more interested.”
He pressed his lips together, looking a bit shy. “I’ve also read a lot of science fiction about the universe, and I have all sorts of special fantasies about different galaxies.”
The two seniors nodded, and the conversation became a little more in-depth. Lin Huaixi answered fluently, and soon even the older male student beside them became interested enough to join in.
They got along so well talking that they all lost track of time. It was only when another senior outside noticed that this interview had already taken twice as long as the others and worried it would delay the schedule that someone knocked on the door.
The three interviewers exchanged a glance and then smiled. “You don’t need to leave. Go through the door at the back and meet our president directly. If he agrees, then from now on you’ll be a member of the Astronomy Club.”
Though that was what he said, the senior already seemed to know what the result would be. He got straight to the point. “We’re all going up to the observatory on the hill behind campus this weekend. It’s a rare opportunity, so keep your schedule open.”
Lin Huaixi looked confused, not understanding the hint at all.
One of the senior girls was so charmed by his expression that she suddenly wanted to pinch his cheek, but remembering this was their first meeting, she forced down the itch in her right hand, coughed lightly, and said seriously, “Don’t worry. Our president is a really nice person.”
At that evaluation, Lin Huaixi fell into an oddly long silence.
The description in the book had been the exact opposite. Still, compared with the other two scumbag male leads, Zhong Chongqiu’s personality and character were not actually that bad. As long as he did not end up turning dark in the end, he really could be called a good person.
Lin Huaixi gave a vague smile and headed toward the back door.
When he pushed it open, he found a long hallway with many doors lining either side. He had no idea in which room Zhong Chongqiu was waiting.
All of a sudden, he felt he had been rash. He should have asked more questions. But the moment he took a step back, he heard another voice inside—apparently the next freshman had already gone in.
Not wanting to interrupt someone else’s interview, he slowly withdrew his hand and forced himself to move forward.
Fortunately, since it was night, anyone inside would have the lights on. Lin Huaixi walked through the corridor and soon noticed that only the room at the very end was lit.
He stopped and knocked tentatively. “Hello, I’m here for the interview.”
“Come in.”
The voice was steady and unreadable. Lin Huaixi took a deep breath and then stepped inside.
When he opened the door, he saw a boy in a black T-shirt standing by the window with his back to him.
The boy’s shoulders and back were broad and straight, just as the rumors had said, and he was so tall that the top of his head nearly brushed the overhang above the window. He wore a clean, close-cropped buzz cut, and the line of his neck was strikingly elegant.
The boy was not deliberately ignoring him. He seemed to be handling something. Only after a few seconds did he turn around.
Zhong Chongqiu was the captain of the basketball team and spent a lot of time in the sun, so his skin was a healthy wheat color. Compared against Lin Huaixi’s porcelain-white skin, he even seemed somewhat dark.
He was very handsome, with strongly defined features and sharp lines. His brows slanted straight toward his temples, his lashes pressed low so only half of his eyes showed beneath them, and near the tail of one brow there seemed to be a scar—very faint, almost impossible to notice.
Liu Zhengnian’s description had been accurate. He really did look fierce, the sort of person who naturally made others feel intimidated.
But Lin Huaixi was not afraid. He smiled at him and walked over with easy steps.
For some reason, Zhong Chongqiu paused for a full five seconds, then quickly lowered his head and sat down across from him, fiddling with a star chart as if nothing else existed.
Lin Huaixi blinked, at a loss, and unconsciously reached up to touch his face.
There was nothing on it. Could it be that Zhong Chongqiu’s first impression of him had been bad, and he simply did not want to look at him anymore?
Although the upperclassmen outside had all called Zhong Chongqiu a good person, Lin Huaixi knew the original plot and still viewed him through the filter of “future scumbag male lead.” Combined with Zhong Chongqiu’s less-than-friendly behavior, all the alarms in Lin Huaixi’s mind went off. Even so, he hid it very well on the surface.
“Hello, Senior. My name is Lin Huaixi. The seniors outside told me to come find you,” Lin Huaixi said quickly, afraid Zhong Chongqiu might find an excuse to send him away.
But he had forgotten to ask the older students their names, so what he said sounded rather unconvincing, and his voice grew lower and lower by the end.
Zhong Chongqiu looked up at him, responded with a low “Mm,” and said nothing more.
Lin Huaixi sat there silently with him for a full minute, and the atmosphere in the room became deeply awkward.
Remembering why he had come, he pressed his lips together and carefully asked, “Senior, don’t you have any questions you want to ask me?”
“My name is Zhong Chongqiu.” Zhong Chongqiu spoke with the speed of someone trying to cut him off, though he was still a second too late.
Lin Huaixi could only give a stiff little laugh, but he obediently replied, “Hello, Senior Zhong.”
“You…” Zhong Chongqiu set the star chart aside. After a pause, he said, “You don’t have to call me Senior.”
Lin Huaixi tilted his head slightly and tested the waters. “Brother Zhong?”
His tone was questioning, the last note lifting faintly at the end, like a tiny hook that brushed over the air.
Zhong Chongqiu’s thick lashes seemed to quiver twice. He looked as if he wanted to raise his eyes and look directly at Lin Huaixi, but in the end he kept his head lowered, his gaze not falling on Lin Huaixi’s face. “You can call me whatever you want. You can just use my name.”
Lin Huaixi smiled without saying anything.
Sure, that was how he would have liked to address him, but he had not even passed the interview yet, so for now he could only keep acting obedient.
Zhong Chongqiu really did live up to the rumors. He was not only fierce-looking, but also very cold and did not meet people’s eyes. After waiting for quite a while, Lin Huaixi had no choice but to take the initiative even as the interviewee. “Senior, do you really like stars?”
“I do.” Zhong Chongqiu glanced at him. “What’s your zodiac sign?”
“Cancer.” Lin Huaixi scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed. “Everyone says I don’t seem like a Cancer. I’m too easygoing.”
Zhong Chongqiu made no comment on that. In a stiff tone, he asked, “Then have you ever seen Cancer?”
Lin Huaixi wanted to pass the interview, but lying casually and then being exposed would only be worse. After thinking for a few seconds, he answered honestly, “No. I don’t think you can see it with the naked eye. But I’ve looked it up online.”
Zhong Chongqiu nodded. “Do you want to see it?”
That was such an easy interview question that Lin Huaixi answered without even thinking. “I do.”
“Then…” Zhong Chongqiu paused for a beat and finally met his eyes properly. “Are you free this weekend? We’re going to the observatory. You should be able to see Cancer.”
Lin Huaixi looked at Zhong Chongqiu in surprise.
Zhong Chongqiu had been cold and aloof toward him, so Lin Huaixi had assumed the first impression was not good. He had not worried that Zhong Chongqiu would deliberately make things difficult or intentionally keep him out of the club, but he definitely had not expected him to be this straightforward and directly extend an invitation.
It seemed that the older students’ assessment had been fair after all. At least within the Astronomy Club, Zhong Chongqiu was indeed easy to deal with.
Lin Huaixi’s “scumbag filter” toward Zhong Chongqiu faded a little. The smile on his lips grew brighter, and he said sincerely, “Thank you.”
“…” The atmosphere had only just eased when it quickly turned awkward again.
Zhong Chongqiu’s attitude was strange. One moment he had taken the initiative to invite him, yet when Lin Huaixi thanked him, he dropped his eyes again and deliberately ignored him.
But Lin Huaixi was too happy about achieving his goal to mind it. Instead, he looked at Zhong Chongqiu with bright eyes.
Once they got a little more familiar, he could find an opportunity to guide Zhong Chongqiu into talking about his younger sister on his own. After that, Lin Huaixi could think of a way to stop that tragedy from happening. As long as Zhong Chongqiu did not go dark, Qi Wang would not be dragged into the fallout.
Wouldn’t that be perfect? Everyone would have a bright future.
Lin Huaixi’s joy was completely unconcealed. Zhong Chongqiu sensed it, and for a split second the sharpness in his features softened—though Lin Huaixi, unfortunately, failed to notice.
“So… does that mean I’m officially a member of the Astronomy Club now?” Lin Huaixi asked.
Zhong Chongqiu finally spoke a little more. “Yes. Our club is fairly loose in structure. We don’t force members to attend activities. If you’re busy, you can go an entire year without showing up, and no one will bother you.”
Lin Huaixi shook his head over and over. “I’m not busy at all. I really like the Astronomy Club. I won’t miss a single activity from now on.”
Zhong Chongqiu opened his mouth, then closed it again, as if he did not know how to respond.
So Lin Huaixi took the initiative again. “Then, Senior, will you be at the activity this weekend too?”
“I will.” Zhong Chongqiu answered with only those two words. Then he glanced at his phone, stood up, and said, “The interviews still need me. I’m leaving first.”
“…” Lin Huaixi had never seen such an abrupt way of showing someone the door, but he followed along. “Then I’ll head out too.”
Zhong Chongqiu nodded, and the two of them walked out side by side.
Lin Huaixi stole a glance at him, his expression stiffening for the first time as he truly realized how massive Zhong Chongqiu’s build was.
Standing next to Zhong Chongqiu, he was actually made to look like a child!
The height difference alone was bad enough, but even their skin tones contrasted sharply. Next to him, Lin Huaixi looked like the type who never liked outdoor sports, the kind of person whose soft flesh would dimple if you poked it.
Still unwilling to give in, Lin Huaixi turned his gaze to Zhong Chongqiu’s shoulders.
Zhong Chongqiu wore an understated black short-sleeved shirt, but his muscles were the opposite of understated. They did not bulge like over-risen dough, but through the fabric you could still make out strong lines and contours, full of restrained power.
Lin Huaixi measured the width of their shoulders with his eyes. In reality, the difference was not that huge, but the feeling they gave off was completely different.
If someone were in danger and looking for help, they would definitely ignore him without hesitation and run straight toward Zhong Chongqiu.
Unable to resist, Lin Huaixi lowered his head and looked at his own arms, feeling deeply unbalanced.
He had studied martial arts for over ten years to protect Qi Wang. He had always been one of the best in class, constantly praised, and his master had even called him the heir to his lineage.
In real life, his fighting ability was excellent too. He could startle people into submission and keep them in check. Zong Nanze, for instance, had once been pinned by him so hard he could not move his arm, and afterward he had behaved much more carefully in front of him.
Lin Huaixi had always believed that even if he could not change the storyline, his own fighting ability alone would still be enough to protect Qi Wang from all three scumbag male leads. But Zhong Chongqiu’s appearance completely shattered that illusion and also wounded his pride.
He had practiced martial arts for so many years and loved sports too, so why was he still no match for Zhong Chongqiu? Exactly where was he lacking?
He refused to accept it, but at the same time he could not stop himself from feeling dejected.
Everyone’s physique was different. He would never grow to Zhong Chongqiu’s height. No matter how much sun he got, his skin would not darken. He trained his muscles every day, but the lines still were not obvious. Even though Sun Baiyi often praised him as a “small white rabbit with iron teeth and copper claws,” what he really wanted to be was a big dinosaur.
For a moment, Lin Huaixi could not hold back his temper and huffed through his nose.
Still, things could not be judged only by appearances. His master had said it before—if someone did not train the right way, then no matter how exaggerated their muscles looked, they would still feel soft to the touch, and their punches would not gather real force. Meanwhile, Lin Huaixi was all concentrated essence. If it came down to an actual fight, Zhong Chongqiu might not even beat him.
Perhaps because Lin Huaixi’s gaze and mood were too intense, Zhong Chongqiu noticed. He turned to look at him. “Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
Through the shirt, Lin Huaixi could not accurately judge what kind of muscle Zhong Chongqiu had. Wrinkling his small nose, he looked up at him and asked without the slightest embarrassment,
“How did you build your muscles?”
