After signing the supplementary agreement, Xiao Shan immediately began contacting professors from Q University.
As expected, the process did not go smoothly.
The moment those on the other end heard what he wanted to do, the ones with better tempers would at least find an excuse to decline politely, while the short-tempered ones hung up directly.
Xiao Shan sighed.
But then he picked up the phone and kept calling.
No one knew where he’d gotten that list, it contained the names and contact information of nearly every famous professor and scholar across Q University’s various departments, well over a hundred people.
Every time he looked at it, Xiao Shan couldn’t help but marvel at the profound foundation of this century-old university.
That kind of heritage couldn’t be built with money alone.
Just from that list, there were over twenty academicians.
Xiao Shan sensibly didn’t bother the old “Mount Taishans” sitting at the top of the pyramid. Instead, he set his sights on the mid-tier group, the ones in their forties to sixties, the most numerous and active.
He considered the offer he was making to be generous:
Each would only need to teach one course per semester, for two years. No attendance checks, no clocking in, no mandatory meetings unless absolutely necessary. Total freedom of comings and goings, as long as class hours were fulfilled, everything else was negotiable.
Their files would remain at Q University; they’d still be publicly recognized Q professors, it would just be a side appointment, essentially a part-time gig.
In exchange, Ming University would not only match Q’s on-staff compensation, but would also gift each person a fully-owned apartment.
Yes, with property deed and full ownership transfer.
Located within the Third Ring of the capital, worth over five million yuan.
That alone was enough to make anyone’s heart flutter.
Yet in reality, very few even gave Xiao Shan the time of day.
Even those who politely listened till the end would promptly hang up the moment he suggested meeting face-to-face for further discussion.
“Why do you think that is?” Xiao Shan spread his hands at Jiang Fuyue, who sat there relaxed, expression unchanged.
“Since ancient times,” she said evenly, “scholars have been proud and aloof, they won’t bow for five pecks of rice.”
“You mean… they think it’s vulgar?”
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “Indeed. Vulgar.”
Xiao Shan gave a frustrated laugh. “Whose side are you on? Why are you always defending them?”
“Just stating the facts. Though they might sound unpleasant to you.”
“…”
Jiang Fuyue lifted her teacup and took a sip. Suddenly, she paused and raised an eyebrow. “You changed the tea?”
“The old one’s finished. I just grabbed two taels at the supermarket yesterday.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. So unrefined.
“Most educators are idealistic. Q University professors especially treasure their reputations. A house is tempting, yes, but they won’t lose their reason over it. They’re cautious, they won’t accept benefits without merit.”
The greater the gift, the greater their suspicion.
So they’d rather freeze in indecision/ You stay vague, I stay silent; you don’t make the first move, I won’t bow my head and everything stalls.
“You’re saying they’re waiting to see how things play out?” Xiao Shan asked.
“That’s right.”
“But there has to be a limit to waiting, doesn’t there? They can’t just watch forever while we keep waiting endlessly! Aren’t these professors tired of all their politicking and circling around? Is it that hard to give a straight answer? It’s like they’re terrified we’ll cling to them once we get close!”
He snorted. “Besides, apart from giving them a free apartment, I can’t think of any better offer.”
Jiang Fuyue put down her teacup, clearly unimpressed. “You still have to give the apartments. Keep the calls going. What’s missing now is just the first person willing to take the plunge.”
Once there’s one, the second and third won’t be far behind.
That afternoon, Jiang Fuyue went to Q University.
“Well, well, a rare guest!” Professor Xu Kaiqing came down from the lab bench.
Jiang Fuyue handed him a paper bag. “Fresh from the oven, still warm.”
He opened it. Egg tarts.
They went to the tea room.
Xu Kaiqing grinned. “You came just when I was getting hungry, are we in sync or what?”
“I thought you’d say: ‘Showing up with gifts means you’re up to something.’”
“How could I? You rarely visit, and you brought food, I’m not that ungrateful.”
“I’m serious.”
“…Huh?” Xu Kaiqing froze mid-bite, looking dazed.
Jiang Fuyue smiled. “Nothing. Go ahead and eat.”
Suddenly, the egg tart didn’t go down so easily.
“Better you talk first,” he said warily. “No one eats comfortably once they owe a favor.”
“I want to invite you to give lectures at Ming University.”
Xu Kaiqing wasn’t shocked, but pondered. “You know I don’t teach undergrads anymore.”
“I know.” She nodded. “How about a graduate-level public course instead?”
“You’re serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“…Cough.” Xu Kaiqing took another bite of the tart. “I’ll have to think about it.”
Jiang Fuyue told him the offer.
“An apartment too?” Xu Kaiqing’s eyes widened.
“Third Ring.”
“Tsk… money really talks.”
After he finished eating, he said, “I’ve got one condition.”
“Let’s hear it.”
He left and returned with a document, a project proposal.
“A new experimental project. I want to invite you to join. If you agree, I’ll agree.”
Jiang Fuyue clicked her tongue. The old man was sharp.
“Fine. But I get authorship credit.”
“Of course. The project needs extensive use of the XJ separation unit, which my lab doesn’t have, I’ll need to borrow yours.”
He’d been eyeing that new lab for ages.
Jiang Fuyue narrowed her eyes. “Old Xu, have you been targeting me from the start?”
“…These egg tarts are really good, huh? Ming University makes quality stuff.”
“…”
“Happy cooperation?”
“Happy cooperation.”
Xu Kaiqing added quickly, “And I’m not doing it for the apartment, you know, it’s purely for your sake.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…” Talk about having your cake and eating it too.
After leaving the Red Building, she went to another research building, newer and more impressive.
She found Old Peter there.
“Oh! I didn’t expect to see you here. You came to find me?”
She nodded.
“Give me two minutes to prepare!” he said, darting off.
Two minutes later, he returned in a suit, hair neatly styled, not vanity, but old-fashioned courtesy: he could never greet a guest in a lab coat.
That gentlemanly European habit ran deep.
He invited Jiang Fuyue to the lounge and had his assistant bring coffee, freshly ground.
Much more refined than Xu Kaiqing.
Jiang Fuyue glanced around. The lab was clearly brand-new, and Peter was its sole occupant, proof of how highly Q valued him.
“How are you settling in?” she asked.
He spread his hands. “As you can see, not bad.”
“What about my proposal last time?”
At once his eyes lit up. “I’ve thought about it carefully, if it could really be achieved, it would be groundbreaking!”
“I visited the construction site. The new lab building’s already taking shape. Didn’t expect such progress in so short a time, the Chinese really are amazing!”
“So, would you like to come over now?”
“Now?”
She explained about the lectures, adding, “Until the lab is complete, you can use mine.”
“Excellent!” Peter agreed at once, without asking about salary or conditions.
He wasn’t on Q’s payroll anyway, only there under an exchange program. Switching universities was as simple as changing clothes, as long as he felt like it.
They finalized the agreement and had a meal together.
In the Q University cafeteria, Peter shrugged apologetically. “Sorry to make do with this, Ming’s food is far superior.”
Jiang Fuyue laughed.
The next day, Xiao Shan arrived for the signing.
When he heard the news, he was stunned.
“You got him to agree?!”
His voice was filled with disbelief.
Jiang Fuyue said calmly, “Is there a problem?”
“…No.” Only — 666.
Zhou Zhengqi saw Xiao Shan again soon after.
He’d spotted him several times lately, hurrying across campus, sometimes dejected, sometimes sighing, clearly things weren’t going well.
Zhou Zhengqi could only sigh. “Principal Xiao.”
Xiao Shan smiled. “Principal Zhou.”
“Still recruiting our professors, I see?”
“If only! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been turned down… ah, forget it.”
Zhou Zhengqi offered a sympathetic look but secretly relaxed as if Q’s professors were that easy to poach!
“Principal Xiao, I understand your good intentions, but some things can’t be forced. Better to let nature take its course.”
Xiao Shan didn’t answer directly but thanked him politely and left.
Had Zhou Zhengqi known Xiao Shan was on his way to meet Peter, he wouldn’t have felt so at ease.
In the following days, Jiang Fuyue also met with Xiang Pengyi, He Longchang, Li Zhao, and Yuan Bentao, all agreed.
Then Yan Zhenfeng, Qin Libin, and Sun Qun, they too nodded readily.
Once that core group joined, other professors began reaching out to Xiao Shan themselves.
Within half a month, Zhou Zhengqi saw Xiao Shan on campus daily. They greeted each other like old friends.
Until—
“Permission form? What permission form?” Zhou Zhengqi blinked, confused.
“According to regulations, professors need their home university’s approval to teach elsewhere.”
“Teach elsewhere? What university?”
“Ming University, of course! Didn’t they say they’d already talked to you? Told me to come get your signature.”
Zhou Zhengqi froze.
“What? They didn’t tell you? That’s odd, Xiao Shan spoke so confidently… Principal Zhou?”
“Huh?” Zhou Zhengqi snapped back to himself.
“You alright?”
“Fine… fine.”
“So, the permission form?”
“Let me see.”
Thirty seconds later—
“You’ve still got active projects. Why agree to teach at Ming?” he asked evenly.
“They’re wrapping up soon. And since the other side’s showing such sincerity, why not?”
“Oh.” Zhou Zhengqi held the pen but didn’t sign. “Didn’t think you guys would actually agree.”
“Everyone else is going, so I figured I’d join the fun.”
Zhou Zhengqi’s eyelid twitched. “Everyone?”
“Sure — Old Xiang, Old He, Old Li…”
Zhou Zhengqi’s expression darkened.
“Oh, and Xu Lao and Professor Peter too.”
“What?!” Zhou Zhengqi shot up, completely losing composure.
“You didn’t know?”
He didn’t know a d*mn thing!
Xu Kaizing and Old Peter weren’t formally part of Q’s faculty, so they could go freely, Zhou Zhengqi had no control over them.
“How could this be?! Xu Lao would never agree and Peter, doesn’t he avoid working with domestic universities?”
“I heard Xu Lao agreed as a favor to a friend. And there’s a new experimental project being moved to Ming.”
“Moved?!” Another blow.
“Yeah, already approved. Ming’s students will join too.”
That meant the research results wouldn’t belong solely to Q anymore, Ming would share the credit.
And academic achievements directly affected university rankings.
It was practically stealing meat from a tiger’s mouth.
“Good! That Xiao Shan—”
Zhou Zhengqi slammed the table in fury.
When Xiao Shan received his call, he wasn’t surprised. “Principal Zhou.”
“Well, aren’t you something, quietly stealing half of Q’s faculty!”
“Principal Zhou, that’s unfair. These professors are merely teaching at Ming, but their posts remain at Q. How is that ‘poaching’?”
“Don’t give me that nonsense! Lecturing takes time and energy, that’s time away from their research! Those were Q’s exclusive assets, and now you’ve barged in!”
Xiao Shan hadn’t expected him to blow up so fiercely. “Principal Zhou, that’s not fair. You did agree to inter-school cooperation before, and Ming’s shown nothing but sincerity. All facilities are open to your students, and we’ve even increased their competition rewards.”
“What you’re offering is just money. What we’re losing are top scholars!”
He had a point, Xiao Shan admitted that.
But still—
“Please, calm down. It’s not truly a loss. Their posts are still under Q, so technically, Q hasn’t lost anyone.”
“Semantics!” Zhou snapped coldly. “I’m ordering you to stop immediately! I won’t approve this.”
“Principal Zhou, you’re a man of honor, surely you wouldn’t go back on your word?”
“Go back on my word?!” Zhou Zhengqi’s voice shot up.
“Didn’t you agree to resource sharing between our schools? You told me to contact them myself. Now that they’ve agreed, you’re suddenly changing your tune, what does that mean?”
Xiao Shan paused. “Or was it that you thought none of them would say yes, so you just gave me permission for show?”
Zhou Zhengqi choked because that was exactly what had happened.
He hadn’t expected those old foxes to cave so easily!
“How did you manage it?”
Xiao Shan smiled faintly. “Once one person agrees, the rest follow.”
Zhou Zhengqi suddenly thought of Xu Kaiqing and then another name flashed in his mind.
“Jiang Fuyue?! Was it because of her?!”
He’d once asked Xu Kaiqing about her, and Xu Kaiqing had said she was “a friend.”
Who would’ve thought that this friend had such influence, enough to persuade him to join Ming!
Once Xu Kaiqing went, everyone else followed.
Xiao Shan said mildly, “I should thank Student Jiang.”
Zhou Zhengqi gritted his teeth. He was so regretful it hurt. How could he have forgotten such a key person?!
“Xiao Shan, I order you to stop at once! I will never sign those forms!”
“No problem,” Xiao Shan said calmly. “Then I’ll just take the agreement we both signed last time to the Education Bureau for filing, same effect.”
“You— fine! Very good!”
With that, Zhou Zhengqi slammed the phone down in fury.
Xiao Shan let out a quiet breath, at this moment, he couldn’t help admiring Jiang Fuyue’s foresight.
Now Zhou Zhengqi wouldn’t be able to wriggle out of it even if he wanted to.
…
Before long, news spread all over Ming University that a professor from Q University was coming to give lectures.
“For real? A Q U professor coming to our chickenscratch university? You’re joking, right?”
“Who started this rumor? At least make it sound believable, OK?”
“Doesn’t Q U always look down on us? Why would they send a professor here? You got a screw loose?”
“I’ve been seeing Principal Xiao running over to Q U a lot lately, maybe this is why?”
“Not listening, not believing—waiting for the official announcement.”
“But if it’s true, would you go to the lectures?”
“Uh… hard to say.”
“I’d probably go check it out.”
“Depends—if the lecture’s good, I’ll stay; if not, I’m out.”
“Never taken a Q U professor’s class before, kinda looking forward to it~”
…
That very afternoon, Ming University’s official account posted a notice confirming the news.
By the next day, over a dozen new elective courses showed up on the course-selection system.
“Holy cr*p—this efficiency is insane!”
“You signing up or not?”
“Let me take a look first…”
And after one look—
“It’s… it’s gone?”
“Wasn’t there a sixty-student limit? How did it fill up that fast?! D*mn it!”
“Quick! This one’s got two spots left, grab them!”
“Got it! D*mn, my hands are shaking…”
“Don’t shake! Focus! Did you get it?!”
“Phew—got it!”
“Why’s it this popular? I thought no one would bother.”
“Since when were Ming U students this eager to study?”
“Didn’t see that coming…”
The same thing was happening elsewhere—
“What the, who snagged it?”
“Already gone?”
“Wait! One seat open! Hurry—”
“Yes! Got it!”
…
In Ming University’s computer room, Jiang Fuyue stood before a monitor.
Two IT admins were typing furiously, fingers flying across the keyboard.
Xiao Shan stared without blinking, swallowed hard. “This… will that really work?”
On the front end, classes appeared instantly sold out, while on the back end, they quietly released new slots in batches, making students think they’d just scored a lucky last-minute seat.
Jiang Fuyue said calmly, “Only one way to know if it works, try.”
Fifteen minutes later—
“First five classes are full!” the admin reported.
“Any withdrawals?”
“None so far.”
Xiao Shan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Since when were Ming U students this enthusiastic about electives?
Sixty seats filling completely would already be rare but full with no one dropping out?
“This,” Jiang Fuyue said, “is called hunger marketing.”
When supply exceeds demand, value drops. But when something’s hard to get, its worth naturally rises.
Easy-to-get classes go ignored; classes you can’t get become the hottest thing around.
Xiao Shan: “…” Too d*mn cunning!
Either way, the courses had successfully launched and Q U was left thoroughly exploited.
…
October arrived.
The National Day holiday lasted seven days.
For Jiang Fuyue, though, holidays or not made little difference, she spent all her time in the lab.
She now had three projects going: one she led herself, one under Xu Kaiqing, and one under Old Peter.
Originally, Old Peter hadn’t planned to include her. But when he heard she’d agreed to join Xu Kaiqing’s project, he immediately felt unbalanced and invited her to his as well, offering co-authorship.
Opportunities others begged for seemed to chase Jiang Fuyue on their own.
When Zhou Zhengqi heard, he nearly spat blood.
It was like she existed solely to spite him, every time they crossed paths, he came out the loser!
So, over the break, he decided to go up the mountain temple and pray to drive away bad luck.
“Amitabha.”
…
During the holiday, the old man called several times, asking Jiang Fuyue to come home.
“Not coming back? Impossible! The food’s bad at school, the bed’s worse, home’s way more comfortable!”
In the end, when she said she had experiments to run, he gave up but promptly had servants deliver hot meals to her anyway.
There was so much food she couldn’t finish alone, so she invited Xu Kaiqing and Old Peter to join.
The three of them ate to bursting and then had an insanely productive afternoon, three full sets of data with zero errors.
Shi Qingzhi also called; hearing Jiang Fuyue was busy, she didn’t disturb her, but later had her secretary deliver a check.
“President Shi said this ten million is her personal token of support, use it for project funds or new equipment, however you see fit.”
Jiang Fuyue accepted it and immediately called her grandmother.
“You received it? If it’s not enough, Grandma’s got more… You can’t take Han Qishan’s and not take mine!”
There was no refusing that.
Xu Kaiqing sighed. “Why doesn’t anyone send me food and money?”
Old Peter: “Wake up.”
“…You just don’t get it.”
“….”
…
The last four days of break, Jiang Fuyue dropped by the “Danggui” shop.
Niu Chunhua wasn’t there; Niu Rui was manning the counter alone, hair messy like a chicken nest.
“You’re here…” He yawned.
“Where’s Master?”
After meeting Jiang Fuyue, Ye Qianji had stayed long-term in the capital.
Later, Cen Huaishan got the address and traveled north to find him. The two old men hit it off and became inseparable, laughing and joking all day.
Cen Huaishan was that eccentric old man Jiang Fuyue had met in the south, the 26th head of the Shaoyang Sect of Qinghui Mountain, and Ye Qianji’s junior fellow disciple.
Niu Rui shrugged. “Not in his room? Then he’s definitely at the internet café. Those two old geezers are hopelessly addicted. Cen Lao was fine before, but after coming here, Master totally corrupted him. I swear, every time he drags Cen Lao out, it’s just to get him to pay the bill.”
Cen Huaishan was well-off, never short of cash, how could Ye Qianji let such a fat sheep go?
“Master’s the craftiest old fox alive.”
“Brat—!” A furious roar cut through the air. “I knew you were bad-mouthing me!”
Ye Qianji had somehow appeared right behind them, face dark, eyes glinting.
Niu Rui froze. “Uh… suddenly remembered I have things to do! Gotta run!”
“Brat! Get back here—”
Niu Rui pretended not to hear and bolted.
Jiang Fuyue laughed, stepped up, and took Ye Qianji’s arm. “Master~”
“Little Moonlight! You’re here!” His scowl vanished instantly, replaced by a beaming smile.
“I bought you snacks and fruit and a few sets of clothes, left them in your room.”
“The ones you got me last time, I haven’t even worn yet, why more?”
“What’s wrong with new clothes? Dress sharp for the internet café, old or young, you’ll charm them all!”
“Heh-heh…” The old man’s face wrinkled with delight.
She had lunch with him; when paying the bill, she asked casually, “Where’s Cen Lao? Haven’t seen him.”
Ye Qianji paused mid-toothpick. “Cr*p! I forgot him at the café! I only came back to grab my phone and wallet to pay…”
So Cen Huaishan was still stuck there, waiting for ransom.
“Can’t have that, I’d better run! Little Moonlight, you’ll be fine heading back alone, right? I’m off! Call me when you’re home safe!”
He left in a gust of wind.
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
…
The next day, Jiang Han and Ge Meng came to see her.
“Ahhh! Sister Yue, I missed you so much!” Jiang Han’s chubby body quivered with excitement. “Without you watching over us, doing homework is torture!”
Ge Meng nodded. “Yeah! Totally lost all motivation, just want to laze in the dorm.”
They’d both done well on the college entrance exams, scoring over 600. Jiang Han got into the Capital University of Finance, Ge Meng into the Capital University of Trade.
Both schools were in Shilin District like Ming U, though about half an hour away.
Jiang Han, now in college, hadn’t changed her lavish ways—“Let’s go eat something good!”
The three of them went to an upscale seafood restaurant.
Jiang Han spread out the menu. “This, this, this, this and this… skip that one. The rest, bring one of each.”
The waiter froze, stammering, “Y-you’re… sure?”
“Of course! Your menu’s not even that long. Minus the few I said no to, what’s left, twelve, thirteen dishes? What’s the big deal?”
“…Right away, miss.” Guess I’m just uncultured.
Soon the seafood arrived and honestly, it wasn’t that much. Like with Australian lobster: after removing shell and claws, there was barely a small plate of meat. The three of them finished it in a few bites.
“Another two, please,” Jiang Han waved.
“…Yes, ma’am.”
The bill neared five figures, but she didn’t even blink paying it.
Jiang Fuyue instantly understood. “Your dad transferred new property to your name again?”
“Heheh…” Jiang Han’s grin was unstoppable. “Half this time! Reward for getting into a top university, Dad’s been bragging nonstop, like a peacock in full display.”
Ge Meng added, “Can confirm, Sister Han spends half her month collecting rent, sometimes even skips class to do it.”
Jiang Han patted her round belly. “What really makes me happy, though, is seeing my stepmom’s face twist with rage! She’d just had a nose job and jawline surgery, and the very next day Dad transferred half the property to me, she was so mad her implants almost popped out!”
“Serves her right! She used to bully me and play tricks behind my back, now it’s her turn!”
Honestly, she owed it all to Jiang Fuyue.
It was Jiang Fuyue who’d taught her to strike at the vital point and inspired her to study hard, earning her father’s respect.
“Sister Yue, without you, there wouldn’t be me today. Really.” She sniffled. “Just when I thought I’d hit rock bottom, you knocked some sense into me.”
Ge Meng nodded hard. “Yeah! I used to think I wasn’t cut out for studying, but turns out if you work hard enough, you can get high scores.”
And none of it would’ve happened without Jiang Fuyue’s guidance.
“Kind of miss those days doing homework in the bathroom,” Jiang Han sighed.
But time never stops; they’d grown up, and those silly, precious, fiery days of youth would never return.
…
On the last day of break, Wan Xiutong came to see Jiang Fuyue, bringing southern specialties.
After the exams, she’d gone to A University, another top school with a pleasant climate.
She was still shy as ever, seeing Jiang Fuyue, she looked down, blushing. “JiangJiang…”
“Hot? Hungry? Come on, let’s eat first.” Jiang Fuyue took her arm.
Wan Xiutong nodded like a startled hamster.
Her former deskmate had changed, brighter clothes, a livelier smile, new hairstyle, light makeup; no longer the dull, invisible little speck she’d once been.
After eating, Jiang Fuyue took her sightseeing around the capital. Wan Xiutong was curious about everything and kept asking questions, which Jiang Fuyue answered with patient good humor.
“Jiangjiang, you’re so nice~”
Simple hearts are easily satisfied.
They sampled snacks up and down the streets, from hole-in-the-wall diners to viral restaurants.
At one stop, Wan Xiutong frowned, tasting a milky-white soup. “Mmm… weird taste… kind of sour, did it go bad?”
Jiang Fuyue laughed. “It’s supposed to taste like that. Old-timers in the capital love it.”
“What’s it called?”
“Douzhier.”
“…Figures,” Wan Xiutong muttered, seeing is believing.
Then Jiang Fuyue took her to Daoxiang Village’s old shop for traditional pastries, had her try some, and packed extra for her roommates.
“Thanks, Jiangjiang! You’re too thoughtful.”
By evening, Jiang Fuyue sent her to the airport. The girl actually cried.
“If I’d known, I’d have applied to a capital school too… but my score wasn’t high enough… Jiangjiang, can I come visit again? The good times go by too fast…”
“Silly girl. You’re welcome anytime. Now go, you’ll miss your flight.”
“Mm!” Wan Xiutong reached out carefully. “Can I… hug you?”
Jiang Fuyue smiled and gave her a firm hug.
…
After the holiday, Jiang Fuyue stayed in the lab. As for regular classes—
Principal Xiao had already greeted the teachers and let her be. She’d become the freest student in the whole Peiya program.
During this time, Xie Dingyuan called once; they spoke briefly before hanging up.
Jiang Fuyue sighed.
Before hanging up, he’d said softly, “…..Yueyue, wait for me.”
That tender tone struck straight at her heart.
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
But before he could return, military training season arrived.
It was supposed to happen at the start of the semester,
but the heat back then had postponed it until mid-to-late October.
As soon as the news broke, groans filled the campus—
“This is pure suffering!”
“I heard it’s a seven-school joint military training this time.”
“Huh? Which seven?”
“The ones in Shilin District—Q U, B U, Central U, Finance, Trade, Marine, and us, Ming U.”
“That’s huge!”
“Yeah, but let’s hope it’s not too brutal.”
“Brutal? How?”
“You don’t know? Every joint training ends with a live-drill competition and rankings.”
“So what? Ming U’s used to being last anyway.”
“It’s not that simple! The ranking affects next year’s university standings.”
“What?! Since when does military training affect rankings?”
“Of course it does! The results reflect freshmen’s overall physical fitness, and these days, official rankings weigh that along with academic performance.”
“Tch—then Q U and B U will fight to the death for first place.”
“No doubt!”
“Whatever. We’re a third-rate school anyway. Like we could compete with them.”
“Exactly. We’ll just lie flat and play dead, no point fighting it.”
…
The day before departure, Jiang Fuyue and her three roommates went on a big shopping trip—snacks, sunscreen, soap, towels…
She also bought a bag of sugar and a bag of salt.
“Sister Yue, what’s that for? You planning to cook? Should we get a pan and a hotplate too?”
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
That night, they packed up and went to bed early.
The next morning, all first-year students boarded school buses to Xiyong—
Located between the capital and T City, Xiyong was a well-known military base, housing an entire division. Over the past twenty years, several massive, high-tech training fields had been built there, big enough to hold not just seven universities, but more.
The fact that they were allowed to use such a place showed how seriously the authorities took this.
At nine sharp, the buses arrived, lining up one after another. Students from B U, Q U, Central U, and others filed out.
Jiang Fuyue and her group were first stunned by the sheer number of buses, then awed by the vastness of the training grounds.
“Whoa—this place is huge! The ground’s smoother than an airport runway!”
“All I see is open space!”
“Helicopter! There’s a helicopter up there!”
“D*mn, there’s another one! Two!”
“Look! That big box thing, is that a tank?!”
“Isn’t this supposed to be military training? Why does it feel like we’re heading to war?”
“Feels like we’ve time-traveled into a war drama!”
“….”
The scene before their eyes was far too realistic. Something that could only be seen in TV dramas was now displayed openly before everyone. The crowd instantly erupted.
But Jiang Fuyue’s gaze narrowed slightly.
Setting aside the helicopters circling overhead and the tanks parked in the distance, just the training obstacles stretching out in a straight line for several hundred meters carried an aura unlike anything ordinary.
Cold, hard, iron-blooded. Lethal.
Liu Sisi had clearly sensed it as well.
The two exchanged a subtle glance.
This place did not seem like somewhere college students should be doing military training…
“Look! A whole group of soldiers, so handsome…” Cen Qiaoqiao exclaimed.
“Their steps are perfectly in sync, even their heights are almost the same.”
“This is enough to trigger someone’s trypophobia!”
“Haha, I’m a Virgo, I love anything neat and orderly!”
“……”
