Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

When Li Chen returned to 302, no light came through the crack in the door.

He assumed the three guys had eaten and drunk their fill and were asleep, so he took out his key and quietly turned the lock.

"Click".

As soon as the door was pushed open a crack, a mixture of the lingering aroma of garlic and a strange, silent atmosphere rushed out.

Li Chen reached out and touched the wall switch.

"Smack."

The lights were on.

Three faces were neatly arranged on Wang Qiang's lower bunk bed.

Wang Qiang was in the middle, with Zhao Zixuan and Chen Mo on his left and right respectively. The three of them had six eyes, all green and staring intently at the door like wolves that hadn't eaten for half a month.

Li Chen was startled and almost dropped the car keys in his hand.

"Go get treatment if you're sick, don't pretend to be a ghost in the dorm."

Li Chen changed his shoes and tossed the keys back to Zhao Zixuan. "The car drives fine, thanks."

Zhao Zixuan caught the key, didn't even look at it, and casually stuffed it under the pillow, his eyes still fixed on Li Chen.

"Old Li."

Wang Qiang spoke, his voice low and languid, carrying a hint of languor and gossip after a large meal.

"Confess and you will be treated leniently; resist and you will be treated severely."

"Was that the Supreme Lobster from Tingtao Pavilion just now?"

"One of those things costs me half a month's living expenses."

Wang Qiang patted his round belly. "Don't tell me that was because you helped the old lady cross the street, and she gave it to you."

Li Chen pulled out a chair, sat down, and took a sip of the half-empty bottle of mineral water on the table.

"More or less."

"almost?"

Chen Mo pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting light. "Based on my analysis, this is most likely a scrutiny and gift from my 'father-in-law'."

"Only the older generation of江湖人 (jianghu people) like to use such simple and straightforward hard dishes to express their approval."

Li Chen paused, glancing at Chen Mo.

This kid is sometimes frighteningly perceptive.

"Alright, stop guessing."

Li Chen threw the empty bottle into the trash can. "If you ate my shrimp, then stop asking me questions."

"Keep your mouth shut, understand?"

"I understand, I understand, whatever Godfather says goes."

Wang Qiang is a typical example of someone who will follow whoever feeds him; once someone accepts his food, he's bound to do the same, and his attitude immediately undergoes a complete 180-degree turn.

He sat up, pulled a crumpled A4 sheet of paper from under his pillow, and slammed it onto Li Chen's desk.

"Let's get down to business."

Li Chen glanced at it.

Notice regarding the holding of a welcome party for new students at Linjiang University.

The document has an official red header and looks quite formal.

"Isn't this happening every year?"

Li Chen didn't take it seriously, "Just go downstairs and sit down to clap your hands."

"This time it's different."

Zhao Zixuan poked his head out of bed, looking excited. "I heard that Senior Yan Xi is personally in charge of organizing this party, and the entire student council is involved. It's a very high-profile event."

"and……"

He lowered his voice and made faces.

"I heard that all the beautiful girls at the art academy have to go on stage, doing classical dance and modern dance. It's like a battle of gods."

"so?"

Li Chen raised an eyebrow.

"So the class advisor just said that each dormitory must put on at least one performance, or send someone to do the logistics."

Wang Qiang pointed to the paper, "We in 302 can't back down, we have to do it."

"I'm not going."

Li Chen refused decisively, "I'm tone-deaf and stiff-limbed; it would be embarrassing for me to go up there."

"No, Old Li!"

Wang Qiang grew anxious. "You're the face of our 302 class now, and you're also related to Senior Yan Xi. It wouldn't be right for you not to go up and show off your skills, would it?"

"Show me your skills?"

Li Chen leaned back in his chair, the image of how he elbowed Old Zhang flying at Tingtao Pavilion that afternoon flashing through his mind.

He thought for a moment, then asked seriously, "Does hitting someone count?"

The dormitory was silent for three seconds.

"I mean, the kind of thing where you can punch someone and send them flying, or break bricks with your bare hands."

Li Chen added, "Does this count as a special skill?"

Wang Qiang rolled his eyes and slumped back onto the bed.

"If you dare to perform a fight at the freshman welcome party, Senior Yan Xi will bury you on the spot."

That's all.

Li Chen shrugged. "Besides this, all I know how to do is eat and sleep."

Chen Mo closed the book in his hand and added casually, "Based on what I know of Lao Li, his only talent is being handsome."

"I suggest you go up there and stand in the stance for five minutes; you might even win an award."

"roll."

……

Girls' dormitory, room 505.

Compared to the messy and dirty boys' dormitory, this place is so clean it looks like a showroom.

A faint lavender scent wafted in the air.

When Yan Xi pushed the door open and came in, she was visibly in a good mood.

She hummed an unknown tune, hung her bag on the coat hanger, and changed into slippers.

"Oh, what a rare guest!"

A lazy voice came from the balcony.

Leng Qingge was wearing a black face mask, sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat, only her fox-like eyes showing as she looked at Yan Xi with a half-smile.

She was Yan Xi's childhood friend and the only person in the school who knew Yan Xi's "true colors".

The two fought from kindergarten to university, their fates intertwined in a deep, ill-fated way.

"What, you finally decided to come back from your little puppy?"

Leng Qingge removed the face mask, revealing a delicate yet somewhat heroic face. "I thought you weren't going back to the dorm tonight."

Yan Xi ignored her teasing and went to the table to pour herself a glass of water.

"Don't have dirty thoughts."

"Am I filthy?"

Leng Qingge got up, moved closer to Yan Xi, and sniffed her like a police dog.

"Tsk tsk tsk."

She fanned herself with a look of disdain.

"He exudes masculinity, and... the smell of garlic?"

Leng Qingge's eyes widened. "Don't you, Miss Yan, hate having any body odor the most?"

"I used to take three showers after just one trip to a hot pot restaurant, what's wrong with me today?"

"Changed gender?"

Yan Xi took a sip of water and did not deny it.

She glanced down at her trench coat and noticed it did indeed have a faint scent of Li Chen on it.

It had a faint tobacco scent mixed with the fresh fragrance of laundry detergent; it wasn't unpleasant.

I even felt a little relieved.

"envious?"

Yan Xi put down her cup, glanced at Leng Qingge, and smiled slightly. "It's no use being envious. You won't find someone like her."

"ha?"

Leng Qingge seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Would I envy you?"

"Find a college freshman, and you'll have to pamper him every day and keep an eye out for other girls."

Leng Qingge rolled her eyes, sat back down in her chair, and said, "Aren't you tired?"

"Not tired."

Yan Xi walked to the wardrobe to get her pajamas, her tone calm yet resolute.

"That's quite interesting."

"interesting?"

Leng Qingge turned her chair around, looking at Yan Xi's back, "Xi Xi, are you serious this time?"

As her best friend, she knew Yan Xi all too well.

In Yan Xi's eyes, all those suitors, no matter how good their conditions were, were no different from air.

But this Li Chen, after only a few days in the spotlight, has already brought this unattainable beauty down to earth.

Not only did they pull it down, but they also made her willingly get covered in the smell of cooking.

Do I look like I'm joking?

Yan Xi turned around with her pajamas in her hand, her eyes bright.

"Too."

Leng Qingge shrugged. "When has our Chairman Yan ever made a losing deal?"

"but……"

She paused, then pointed to the calendar on the table.

"Does your partner know about the welcome party?"

I just mentioned it to him.

"Should we let him go on stage?"

Leng Qingge became interested, "Let me see what kind of skills this junior has that can make you so infatuated."

"he?"

Yan Xi recalled Li Chen's lazy demeanor and his words, "My back is perfectly fine."

She chuckled softly and shook her head.

"He's probably only good at fighting."

After saying that, Yan Xi took her pajamas and went into the bathroom.

The sound of rushing water filled the air.

Leng Qingge sat outside, listening to the humming coming from inside, and shook her head helplessly.

It’s over.

This time, we've really messed up.

This is no longer the decisive student council president; she's clearly just a silly woman head over heels in love.

……

Lights out at 11 p.m.

Room 302 was plunged into darkness, with only the faint glow of a few cell phone screens.

Li Chen lay in bed, listening to Wang Qiang's deafening snoring, unable to fall asleep.

My phone vibrated.

[Xi]: Asleep?

Li Chen's lips curled up as he typed rapidly.

[Li Chen]: No, Wang Qiang's snoring is too loud, it sounds like he's sleeping on a construction site.

The other side replied with a "pat on the head" emoji.

This emoji is completely out of character for Yan Xi; she probably stole it from some group chat.

[Xi]: Just bear with it. If it really doesn't work, throw him out.

[Li Chen]: I wanted to too, but he's too heavy to move.

The two chatted idly about trivial matters.

In the past, Li Chen would never have engaged in such a pointless conversation.

But now, looking at the text constantly flashing on the screen, he actually finds it quite interesting.

[Xi]: I heard that your class advisor asked each dormitory to put on a performance?

Sure enough, the news spread very quickly.

[Li Chen]: Yes, Wang Qiang was just trying to persuade me to go up and perform.

[Xi]: What are you going to perform? Break a boulder on your chest?

Li Chen's lips twitched.

This woman, how come she thinks the same way I do?

[Li Chen]: Pretty much. I told them I could hit people, but they didn't believe me.

[Xi]: Don't listen to their nonsense.

[Xi]: If you really want to go on stage, I'll arrange a good spot for you.

[Li Chen]: No, please don't. I'm a low-key person. I just want to applaud you from the audience.

[Xi]: Cowardly.

You could feel Yan Xi's disappointment and disdain even through the screen.

[Li Chen]: This is not being cowardly, it's leaving the stage for those who need it more. Besides, what if I'm too handsome on stage and steal your thunder?

[Xi]: ...

[Xi]: His thick skin is getting better.

[Li Chen]: I learned it from you.

[Xi]: Alright, go to sleep early.

[Xi]: Good night.

[Li Chen]: Goodnight, girlfriend.

Putting down his phone, Li Chen stared at the dark ceiling.

Is this what it feels like to be in love?

That's fucking addictive.