Shen Chun’s speech was very successful, at least there was continuous applause when he stepped down from the stage.
“That was a really good speech,” said the senior sister standing by, her eyes shining as she looked at Shen Chun.
“To be honest, I was still a bit nervous. Luckily, nothing went wrong,” Shen Chun said as he folded up his speech notes and put them in his pocket.
“I couldn’t tell at all,” the senior sister chuckled. “The weather is oddly hot, let’s hurry to the back and change our clothes.”
“Okay,” Shen Chun replied.
Xie Baiyuan had already changed into his usual clothes and stood aside. He hadn’t watched Shen Chun’s entire speech, but from his calm demeanor, it was evident that he didn’t have a single trace of nervousness.
Du Xin’s intuition was correct; someone like Shen Chun was indeed well-suited for public-facing roles. At least his appearance alone could provide significant promotional impact.
“After the dispersal, is the president going back together?” Shen Chun’s hand rested on the button of his suit jacket. Midway through unbuttoning, he turned back as if remembering something and asked.
Xie Baiyuan indeed had nothing urgent to attend to; otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited here. His relationship with Shen Chun had always been distant, but if what Du Xin said was true and Shen Chun was going to join the Student Council, then their chances of interacting in the future would increase. Establishing a good relationship was imperative. “Okay.”
“Sure, wait five minutes, I’ll be right out,” Shen Chun said, briskly walking away.
Xie Baiyuan subconsciously checked his watch. He was very punctual; he knew what to do at what time, and he usually achieved it within the expected timeframe. With a set schedule, some things felt like they were within controllable boundaries.
Xie Baiyuan sat backstage, waiting. The final remarks in the auditorium had concluded, and the dispersal was underway. Time ticked away, and after about four minutes, the door to the changing room opened from the inside. At that moment, Xie Baiyuan felt a sense of joy and comfort.
“Has the president been waiting long?” Shen Chun asked with a smile as he closed the door behind him.
“Not at all,” Xie Baiyuan stood up, his tone not as cold as usual. “Let’s go.”
After the freshman orientation, there was supposed to be military training, but due to some reasons, it was postponed directly to sophomore year.
In the third year, the course load had relatively decreased. While the first-year courses couldn’t be described as overwhelmingly abundant, they were still quite a few. However, for freshmen who had endured the intensity of senior year in high school, where they were practically in class from dawn till dusk, this schedule, which didn’t even include evening self-study sessions, carried a sense of relief.
Some of the larger classes were merged, and the distinctions between students within the class were not as clear-cut as they were in high school. Making friends relied more on shared values and outlooks on life than on class boundaries.
Though Shen Chun had a remarkable appearance, he lacked any trace of arrogance. Rather than hanging out with girls, he preferred to be with guys, and he had even played basketball with them a few times. Their relationship was quite good.
“Seems like your seat here is a prime spot. You attract girls’ attention every now and then,” Wang Zhuo said, sitting upright and observing the surroundings with a smile. “No one dares to sit next to you yet. If I keep sitting beside you for a while longer, I might end up being devoured by your admirers.”
“Should I start charging then?” Shen Chun joked as he opened his textbook, but his gaze landed on Xu Ze, who was sitting in the third row.
The young man had a handsome appearance, with a slightly thin body and skin that showed a paleness from years of little exposure to sunlight. Among the crowd of freshmen, he didn’t stand out or seem out of place; he just appeared particularly lonely compared to the others who were engaged in whispered conversations.
“You know what, there really is a fee schedule. Only Xie Baiyuan knows about it. There’s a strict fee for every seat before and after class, and it gradually increases as the courses decrease,” Wang Zhuo whispered to Shen Chun. “You see, while others, especially girls, spend money to get close to someone, we… except for you, it’s like finding a needle in a haystack to find a partner.”
Wang Zhuo wasn’t bad-looking either; he was tall with prominent features, although not as strikingly attractive as Shen Chun. Finding a partner wasn’t difficult for him either. Such descriptions were simply exaggerated.
Shen Chun chuckled and asked, “So, who gets the money?”
“The ones who reserve the seats,” Wang Zhuo replied.
Shen Chun grinned, “Then you better improve our relationship. There’s potential for a profitable partnership in the future.”
Wang Zhuo paused for a moment, then realized, and patted Shen Chun’s shoulder, saying, “Friends walk through life together. Whoever gets into a relationship first is the winner.”
“Get out of here,” Shen Chun laughed.
For Shen Chun, university courses weren’t particularly challenging. He didn’t consider himself inherently intelligent; rather, with time and numerous tasks under his belt, he had learned what he needed to know. Only through this comprehensive learning could he remain composed when the need arose. If others had lived as long as he had and experienced as much, they would probably be at a similar level.
Aside from the freshman courses, the most bustling activity on campus was club recruitment. There were clubs for calligraphy, chess, and various anime clubs, catering to diverse interests.
The video of Shen Chun’s freshman speech made it to the front page of the school forum and bulletin boards on the same day. Due to his exceptionally striking appearance, he had already become a prominent figure on campus even before making any significant achievements.
“Appraisal: Shen Chun’s sneakers upon enrollment cost at least four figures, and his luggage is a limited edition. Looks like he’s from a wealthy family.”
“That campus entrance photo is simply stunning. He could rely solely on his looks, yet he chooses to showcase his talent.”
“I heard Shen Chun doesn’t have a girlfriend. His first love is still intact. It’s rare to find such a seemingly arrogant but actually pure-hearted young man. Sisters, let’s go for it!”
“I think I stand a chance.”
“Bro, you’ve never been in a relationship?!” Li Jin, who was playing basketball with Shen Chun, grabbed his neck, his expression akin to seeing a national treasure.
“No, I haven’t,” Shen Chun shrugged off his hand. “On such a hot day, don’t cling onto me. Aren’t you feeling the heat?”
“I’m fine. I want to make the girls jealous,” Li Jin said, giving him a thumbs-up. “Growing up looking like this and never dating is a waste of this face.”
Shen Chun smirked and tossed the basketball towards him. “Bro, that’s called innocence.”
Indeed, Shen Chun had never been in a relationship. Considering his age, he should have had at least one or two memorable romances, but unfortunately, he hadn’t.
Firstly, he was indifferent towards romantic relationships. After encountering those old monsters in the original world, many people in the mission world didn’t meet his standards for a partner. Secondly, due to the uncertainty of his previous missions, he tended to disappear after completing them.
The duration of his disappearances varied; sometimes, it felt like he could stay for thousands of years, while other times, it was as fleeting as a mayfly’s life span.
Although he had never been in love, he had witnessed plenty. Love and separation sometimes cost someone their life.
While he had been attracted to appearances before, it wasn’t worth causing unbearable pain to another person just for a fleeting interest.
As for engaging in casual relationships, Shen Chun had no interest whatsoever. Consequently, despite living for so long, he had never been in a romantic relationship.
“Okay, okay, innocence. Nowadays, girls are all about the innocent type,” Li Jin said, catching the ball. “You really should join the basketball club.”
“Just playing occasionally is fine. I don’t like being sweaty all the time,” Shen Chun waved at him.
Whether girls are into innocence or not doesn’t really concern him. Although he had never been in love, his past interests had mostly been with males.
“A pure-hearted boy like you can’t always be sweaty,” Li Jin joked.
Shen Chun didn’t respond to his teasing but let his skills do the talking. On the basketball court, he silenced a certain sarcastic boy with a commanding lead in points.
While the basketball court was bustling with activity, the library was a haven of coolness and tranquility. The lingering heat of late summer still hung in the air, but the central air conditioning made the environment exceptionally comfortable. Even if there was any noise, it was only the deliberately softened footsteps and occasional tapping of keyboards.
Xie Baiyuan lowered his head to focus on his book. Besides attending classes, self-study was the most important aspect of university life. To achieve good grades and acquire knowledge beyond textbooks, self-study was essential, and he was no exception.
Xie Baiyuan’s seat was always fixed, and few people would try to take it from him. Occasionally, he would glance out the window, observing the basketball court in the distance. Many people could be seen playing basketball under the scorching sun, and the dynamic scene sometimes relieved the restlessness of sitting still. However, today, as he looked out, his gaze suddenly stopped.
The distance between the court and the library was considerable, making it impossible to see the person’s face clearly. But as Xie Baiyuan watched the figure shooting hoops on the court, he inexplicably felt certain that it was Shen Chun.
The new student seemed to emit a radiance that attracted everyone who saw him. It was an indescribable charm. Xie Baiyuan acknowledged his own excellence but also admitted that it was difficult for him to effortlessly build relationships with everyone around him, as Shen Chun seemed to do with just a few days’ effort.
Xie Baiyuan realized this late. The sports activity on the basketball court didn’t last long. A group of young people left the court, chatting and laughing as they carried their basketballs. It wasn’t until they disappeared from sight that Xie Baiyuan realized he had been watching for over ten minutes without realizing it.
With today’s task nearly completed, Xie Baiyuan began to pack up his things and stood up. His departure left many people looking disappointed. However, it was well-known that President Xie was as immune to love as one could be. He rejected both male and female confessions alike.
After all, with his tall stature, long legs, and icy demeanor, he was quite the heartthrob, and his rejection only seemed to make him more desirable. Some even joked that President Xie was secretly gay.
But as soon as someone made that claim, a barrage of rebuttals flooded the entire thread. How could someone as handsome, talented, and ruthless as President Xie be anything but straight? Look at how he treated girls with such indifference; that couldn’t possibly be the behavior of a gay man. He was simply the epitome of straightness!
As soon as Xie Baiyuan left, the students who had been diligently studying around him seemed to collectively relax their shoulders. They were all capable individuals who had earned their place at University A. They understood the importance of working hard to fulfill their dreams, but they also knew the importance of balancing work and leisure. Studying endlessly didn’t align with most of their beliefs. However, they were willing to push themselves to leave a good impression on their seniors.
Though the atmosphere relaxed slightly, no one left. Xu Ze sat in his seat three rows away from Xie Baiyuan’s former position, gazing absently at the now-empty seat. It seemed there were indeed many people who harbored feelings for that person.
In the male dormitory, Shen Chun washed away the sweat from his body. Thinking the dorm was empty and the curtains drawn, he casually put on a pair of shorts and dried his hair before opening the door. However, as soon as he stepped out, he found the door to his room being unlocked from the outside.
They locked eyes, and for a moment, the air felt heavy with tension. It wasn’t until Xie Baiyuan subconsciously dropped the keys he had pulled out that the subtle atmosphere was broken.
“Why aren’t you wearing clothes?” Xie Baiyuan’s tone was slightly awkward.
Shen Chun casually dried his hair and picked up a short-sleeved T-shirt, pulling it on. His gaze wandered with interest over Xie Baiyuan’s slightly flushed ears.
Well, this just got interesting.
Support me on ko-fi for more additional updates~ ʚ(´꒳`)ɞ
