NSFCP Chapter 7

49.

A week into the new students’ military training, various clubs had already started promoting themselves during evening study sessions, marking the most humbling moments for the “seniors.” Every gesture and glance exuded a desperate plea, “Please join us, senior.”

 

Zhou Mengyu became the vice president of the school student union and naturally resigned from his previous clubs.

But during his sophomore year, he was still an officer of the Hanfu club and remained close to it, often helping the club with activities.

Since the club is called the Hanfu Club, it naturally attracts people through Hanfu. On hot, windless nights in the summer, everyone dressed up in heavy, layered traditional attire.

The president, drenched in sweat, swung his sleeves back and forth, trying to create some airflow to cool down. Pointing to a set on the rack, he said, “Xiao Yu, if you wear this, we won’t even need to distribute promotional materials. Both men and women will flock to the Hanfu Club.”

Zhou Mengyu: “This is false advertising; they would have found out I’m not part of the Hanfu Club with just a little investigation.”

The president waved his hand: “I don’t care; let’s just get them first. Take this set back to your dorm to try. The classroom will be locked by this time.”

 

Zhou Mengyu, feeling helpless, took the set of clothes back to the dorm.

 

50.

During this week of military training, aside from the freshmen, the student council was the most exhausted.

Zhou Mengyu was also exhausted, heading straight to the bathroom to take a shower upon returning to the dorm. His junior called out to him, “Liang Pei is inside.”

Zhou Mengyu groaned, throwing his large red Hanfu on the bed and diving into it, “I’m exhausted. I shouldn’t have to guide freshmen in my senior year. What kind of fate is this, to have guided freshmen for a year and then for two more years?”

The junior poured him a cup of water, showing great sympathy: “This is the unfairness of university life. If you don’t join clubs or the student union, university life is practically like a holiday.”

The junior was speaking about himself; days without classes were filled with nothing but freedom and joy.

 

Zhou Mengyu drank half the cup in one gulp, heard the sound of the bathroom door opening, and glanced in that direction.

Liang Pei was wearing loose shorts on the bottom and had casually draped a gray towel over the top of his upper body.

He was indeed a bit darker than when he first entered the school.

 

51.

Zhou Mengyu cleared his throat. “The college clubs have all started circling around your classes, right? Which club would you like to join?”

Liang Pei reached out and pulled the towel off his shoulder, casually draping it over the back of the chair. The muscles on the back of his arms slid subtly with the movement, and his voice seemed to be tinged with a hint of ambiguity from the steam. “Hmm, the shooting club looks quite interesting.”

Before Zhou Mengyu could say anything, the junior next to him exclaimed, “Wow!” “I heard that the shooting club at the sports department is extremely difficult to get into. So many people want to get in but can’t.”

Liang Pei raised an eyebrow, looking like he wanted to hear what he had to say.

Zhou Mengyu nodded, “The most prestigious title for male students at the sports academy is ‘member of the shooting club’.”

Zhou Mengyu immediately thought of Liang Pei’s situation and tentatively asked, “You haven’t already gotten in, have you? According to the procedure, to get into their shooting club, you have to compete after the military training.”

“I got in, and the club manager gave me a membership card right away,” Liang Pei said.

 

Zhou Mengyu sighed: “I’m so disappointed with this world that judges people by their looks.”

The junior student wailed, “Neither of you deserves to say that!”

 

52.

Zhou Mengyu came out of the shower wearing only his underwear, but he didn’t flaunt it. Instead, he quickly grabbed the Hanfu from the bed and went back to the bathroom.

A faint sigh came from the toilet after a while, and then the toilet door opened.

Zhou Mengyu let out a long breath, feeling so hot that he almost immediately broke out in a sweat. He rolled up his wide sleeves, but they immediately slipped down again.

 

As soon as Liang Pei turned his head, he saw two arms that were made even whiter by the bright red fabric, sometimes showing and sometimes getting covered.

Zhou Mengyu stood under the air conditioner vent. grabbed his loose hair, pulled it up and made a messy bun, then held it on top of his head with his hand, exposing his neck, and used this position to blow air on himself.

Because of his raised hands, the sleeves slipped completely down to his upper arms, with the elbows and forearms clearly visible.

Looking at him from behind, he really does have the air of a dashing young master from ancient times.

 

“Wow! Hero! Where did you just travel back from?” the junior exclaimed.

Zhou Mengyu turned to look at him, “I’ll be helping the Hanfu club with their modeling tomorrow night, will it look good?”

“Absolutely, my brother looks good in anything, right?” the junior praised him affectionately.

As a handsome guy, Zhou Mengyu must have some vanity. Feeling very satisfied with the compliments, he asked Liang Pei, “Liang Pei, am I good-looking?”

 

53.

“Hmm,” Liang Pei replied rather coldly.

In any case, Zhou Mengyu found it quite indifferent. Looking at his junior and then at Liang Pei, he thought he was too insincere!

Zhou Mengyu turned his head and saw that Liang Pei wasn’t looking at him at all, but was staring at the computer, watching some live game.

 

Zhou Mengyu squinted, took two steps to Liang Pei’s table, reached out, tapped Liang Pei’s table with his fingers, and bowed slightly, “Hello.”

Liang Pei then looked up and didn’t say anything, but there was something strange about his gaze.

But Zhou Mengyu was not afraid and bravely met Liang Pei’s gaze, and said confidently, “You didn’t even look at me just now, what are you agreeing to?”

“It’s up to you,” Liang Pei said.

Zhou Mengyu wanted to say something, but before he could speak, Liang Pei interrupted him.

“You look good,” Liang Pei said again.

 

Zhou Mengyu suddenly hesitated for a moment, blinked, then straightened up, put some distance between himself and Liang Pei, and said dryly, “Okay, thank you.”

Don’t ask him why he said okay, and don’t ask him why he said thank you. Just ask him if his brain suddenly went blank for a second.

The problem is that it’s so hot today, and these clothes are really, really too thick.

 

54.

Military training, everyone watching the clubs visit all the classes, and each class selecting a military training leader.

For the new students, these were the three major events for the first half of the month.

At first, Zhou Mengyu thought for sure Liang Pei would become the military training leader. The military training leader was essentially the same as an acting class monitor, the selection of class committee members would be after the military training, but during the training, there had to be someone who could manage things.

 

Zhou Mengyu heard that Liang Pei was directly recommended by the entire class as the military training leader, but Liang Pei refused.

Said he wasn’t interested.

The counselor persuaded him kindly: “University life is precious. Take this opportunity to do more and get in touch with things you couldn’t before, which will be very helpful for the future.”

Liang Pei remained unswayed, sitting at his desk scrolling through his phone: “I don’t have a sense of collective honor, don’t look for me.”

 

This guy is so damn cool.

When the junior brother was gossiping with Zhou Mengyu, his eyes were almost overflowing with hearts. Zhou Mengyu nodded along. Indeed, he was damn cool.

But Zhou Mengyu and Liang Pei are completely different people; compared to Liang Pei, Zhou Mengyu is incredibly mundane.

He just wanted to join a club, the college student council, and even the university student council. He wanted to be recognized by many, known by many, and loved by many.

It wasn’t because he lacked love; Zhou Mengyu had more than enough love, but he just loved to be loved. Who doesn’t love love?

Though Liang Pei doesn’t seem very fond of it.

 

55.

This issue could easily lead to some deep contemplation, making one suddenly want to engage in a conversation about it.

On Saturday night, Liang Pei and the rest of the first-year students didn’t have evening study and got some rest. Zhou Mengyu also got a break because the first-year students didn’t have evening self-study.

Liang Pei was playing games on the computer, specifically PUBG.

Unlike many boys who shout and make a fuss when playing games, Liang Pei sits quietly, even appearing somewhat relaxed.

 

Zhou Mengyu moved a stool and sat down next to Liang Pei, staring intently.

Zhou Mengyu also plays these kinds of games and can understand. Before seriously watching Liang Pei play the game, he thought that someone with his demeanor must be a pro, someone who could easily headshot opponents with a flick of his wrist.

But he didn’t expect that he wasn’t a pro at all, just an ordinary player, not bad either; just an average player.

 

Liang Pei replaced the ammo in the gun and finally spoke, “What’s up?”

“You play first.” Zhou Mengyu said.

Liang Pei directly exited the game.

Zhou Mengyu jumped, quickly explaining, “No, I really don’t have anything major, you don’t need to leave.”

“Just playing solo, I don’t care, speak,” Liang Pei didn’t mind much.

 

56.

Zhou Mengyu licked his lips and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

He and Liang Pei had only known each other for about a week, and to be honest, they couldn’t really be considered close.

……..

“I heard you don’t want to be the leader for the military training, and you don’t want to be a class officer either,” Zhou Mengyu asked.

Liang Pei seemed a bit surprised by the topic, but he still nodded.

“Why?”

“Isn’t this following your advice?” said Liang Pei.

 

Zhou Mengyu paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered what he had said when he saw Liang Pei’s advisor being too attentive towards him at the time.

Zhou Mengyu’s eyes widened slightly. Oh no, could it really be because of what he had said…

 

“Just teasing you.” Liang Pei smiled. “I really don’t want to, there’s no reason. Why waste my personal time on people and things that have nothing to do with me?”

Zhou Mengyu breathed a sigh of relief and thought carefully about Liang Pei’s words again.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he tentatively asked, “Do you think someone like me is very calculating?”

“Exactly, to put it bluntly, I just want to make a name for myself, for people to recognize me wherever I go.”

“You would feel…”

 

“Zhou Mengyu, why are you asking me this?” Liang Pei looked at him.

---