The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 82

The brief family gathering ended in yet another unhappy fallout.

After Li Rong left, the grandmother seemed to lose all her energy at once, her wrinkles deepening further.

Gu Nong had been her pride and joy. It was impossible for her not to feel heartache. Her harsh words were her way of trying to protect Li Rong from harm. 

The situation was so complicated that just surviving was a blessing. But clearly, the incident that nearly killed Li Rong had only emboldened his defiance.

The grandmother murmured to herself, “He really is like Nong Nong.”

Gu Zhaonian sneered, “Equally stubborn and equally rigid. It’s because he’s been put on a pedestal his whole life. This world is full of gray areas.”

The old lady glanced up at him, her eyes red with emotion. “Has your university president caused you any trouble over this?”

The incident surrounding Li Qingli and Gu Nong had made waves, and their family had naturally felt the impact.

Gu Zhaonian scratched his head. “Not at all. Our president is reasonable. He even asked about Li Rong.”

The old lady furrowed her brow. “He knows about Li Rong? What did he ask?”

Gu Zhaonian thought back. “He asked if we kept in touch with Li Rong and looked out for him. I told him the truth—that the boy is independent and not close to us. The president said we should be mindful of his mental state. He mentioned that neither online rumors nor the Hongsuo Research Institute’s stance would affect A University. The school treats all students equally, without bias or favoritism.”

The old lady sighed deeply. “The tree wants to stay still, but the wind won’t stop.”

***

By late August, on registration day, A city was enduring a relentless heatwave, with temperatures hovering over 40 degrees Celsius.

There was no wind, no clouds; the scorching sunlight blazed down on the earth. The asphalt road felt sticky, squelching underfoot with every step.

Li Rong had hired someone to move his luggage to the dormitory.

The dorms at A University were spacious, housing three students per unit. Each unit had three bedrooms, with a shared bathroom and living room, ensuring both personal privacy and a social atmosphere.

Li Rong’s two assigned roommates were both from other provinces. One was He Changfeng, a tall, heavyset guy.

He wasn’t particularly good-looking, with a long face and a buzz cut. He walked with a slight waddle, his stomach sticking out, and his feet turned outward.

However, he came from a well-off family. Two drivers helped him move his luggage, make his bed, and clean the room. Meanwhile, he casually pulled a chair into the living room, sat back, and watched them work.

Everything he wore and used seemed expensive. When he stretched, the logo of a luxury brand belt peeked out.

The other roommate, Song He, was lean and wiry, with dark skin, rectangular glasses, single eyelids, and slightly long hair. He had a reserved expression and spoke very little. From the moment he entered the dorm, he busied himself with his own tasks.

Of course, he secretly sized up both He Changfeng and Li Rong. He Changfeng’s aura of wealth made Song He keep a respectful distance, but he wasn’t keen on approaching Li Rong either.

Li Rong, for his part, had no interest in making small talk with his new roommates. He didn’t plan to stay in the dorms long-term. Since Cen Xiao had to balance classes and his work in District Nine, the Cen family had purchased an apartment located between the two places. Li Rong planned to stay there whenever he had downtime.

He Changfeng’s two drivers were not only attentive to him but also polite to Li Rong and Song He.

“Is it okay to put this here?” one would ask.

“Do you guys want a small dining table in the living room?”

“Should we split the fridge into three sections?”

“Oh, I forgot to bring up the vacuum cleaner. You can share it later.”

…

One of the drivers dashed downstairs and came back moments later with two large appliances in hand.

Not only had he brought up a vacuum cleaner but also a garment steamer—both top-of-the-line brands, easily costing tens of thousands.

Song He glanced at them, his lips pressed tightly together. Out of the corner of his eye, he studied Li Rong’s expression.

It didn’t take long for him to notice that Li Rong showed no reaction to these expensive items. With no comments forthcoming, Song He quietly lowered his head again, continuing to fold his belongings.

Li Rong, after all, had been raised in a relatively pampered environment. Although Li Qingli and Gu Nong disapproved of extravagance, their family was indeed well-off.

Li Rong caught Song He’s glance and understood that he was seeking affirmation, hoping for him to agree that He Changfeng was over-the-top, too extravagant, too ostentatious.

But Li Rong didn’t oblige.

Song He might have assumed Li Rong was also wealthy.

In truth, he was utterly and completely poor.

By the time the dorm was mostly in order, He Changfeng had grown bored of looking at his phone. Stretching lazily, he grabbed an ice-cold soda handed to him by one of the drivers and gulped it down in one go.

Satisfied, he jiggled his leg and glanced at Li Rong and Song He. “So, how did you two get here?”

A University was one of the nation’s top institutions, with various special admission pathways. Not every student there had perfect grades; some had exceptional talents.

Discussing admission routes was an unavoidable topic for every new cohort.

He Changfeng proudly declared first, “I got in with a gold medal from the International Olympiad.”

His tone carried unmistakable pride, as well it should.

Song He avoided his gaze and muttered, “I got in through exams. Our province has a lot of students, so there aren’t many alternative pathways.”

Competing in the International Olympiad not only required extraordinary intelligence but also substantial financial support, which was far beyond the reach of most people. Song He hadn’t even known such competitions existed.

Li Rong answered casually, “I was recommended.”

He Changfeng raised an eyebrow. “Recommendation, huh? Impressive.”

He completely ignored Song He’s response—not out of malice but simply because he lacked the awareness. Li Rong’s striking looks naturally drew more attention, and He Changfeng focused on him.

He checked his watch. “How about we grab dinner later? Fancy some king crab? Let’s order a few to enjoy.”

Song He wasn’t sure whether He Changfeng intended to foot the bill or split the cost later. Either way, he couldn’t afford it and didn’t want to face the embarrassment of choosing.

“No thanks, I’ve ordered takeout,” Song He declined.

Li Rong also smiled. “Sorry, I’ve already made plans with friends.”

Those friends, of course, were Cen Xiao, Jian Fu, and Ji Xiaochuan, who were also attending A University.

Cen Xiao was enrolled in the economics and management program, fitting well with his family background. Jian Fu was studying computer science, which was a given, as he had decided on this path early in high school.

Ji Xiaochuan, like Li Rong, was majoring in biochemistry—a path she had also followed in her past life.

Ji Xiaochuan had claimed her decision was influenced by Li Rong, but in his previous life, he had never influenced her in this regard. 

This added an intriguing parallel-world twist to the situation.

Ji Xiaochuan, clutching the textbooks she’d just bought from the bookstore, struggled to push her glasses up with her wrist. She asked earnestly, “Boss… have you prepared for the placement exam?”

At A University, all majors held placement exams two days after the start of term. In the biochemistry program, for example, students with high scores were placed in top-ranked classes. These classes had faster-paced lectures, better instructors, and more scholarship opportunities.

The lowest-ranked class in biochemistry was led by Zhang Zhaohe.

Zhang was notorious for being a slacker. His teaching ability was questionable, and he had no management skills. If not for his seniority and decades-long tenure, he would have been dismissed long ago.

Even so, due to his lack of academic achievements, students in his classes often failed or dropped out. The university president hadn’t even granted him a professorship.

After all these years, Zhang remained a mere lecturer, continuing in the biochemistry program largely because the administration turned a blind eye.

No one wanted to end up in his class. Every student at A University arrived with ambition, and wasting time in his class was the last thing they wanted.

This made the placement exam fiercely competitive. Ji Xiaochuan, full of determination, had spent her entire summer preparing.

Li Rong tilted his head in thought and then said, “I’m thinking I’ll aim for the worst class. It’ll be more relaxed.”

He genuinely didn’t mind. The knowledge covered in university was insufficient for him and wouldn’t take him a year to master.

Only in Zhang Zhaohe’s class could he avoid accidentally revealing his five-year lead in biochemistry knowledge. 

Moreover, at his parents’ funeral, Cen Xiao had mentioned that Zhang Zhaohe was somewhat peculiar. Trusting his intuition, Li Rong wanted to investigate.

Ji Xiaochuan was stunned. “Huh? Then… should I even bother preparing?”

She had assumed she needed to work hard to be in the same class as Li Rong. Not knowing the competition’s strength, she hadn’t dared to relax for a moment—only for Li Rong to set his sights on the worst class.

Li Rong turned to her with a serious expression. “Of course, you should aim for the best. Don’t waste your talent.”