Chapter Fifteen: Interested in Getting a Membership, Junior?

The start of the new semester brought a lively bustle to every university, and these days were no exception. After finishing his interview, Xia Shu braved the blazing sun and followed the crowd to his college’s registration station.

When students received their admission letters, each was also given the group number for their class chat. The class assistant had explained the registration process in the group chat, and just a week prior, they’d already held their first online meeting via voice call.

University is much like a miniature society. At this stage, students’ lives are no longer limited to academics; in many ways, subtle competitions emerge—family background, appearance, and more.

For a freshman as clean-cut and handsome as Xia Shu, as long as his personality wasn’t problematic, he would undoubtedly be well-liked at university. Along the way, many senior volunteers offered him help and guidance, so it didn’t take long for him to complete his registration and receive his room key.

“So you’re Xia Shu? You really are quite handsome, and your handwriting is excellent too.”

The class assistant, a third-year student from his major, wore glasses and looked both refined and distinctive. Perhaps she’d put extra effort into her appearance today to welcome the new students. Her skin was as fair as snow, her eyes clear as spring water; in her graceful glances, there was an elegant, lofty aura that made others feel awed and unworthy to offend her. Yet beneath that cool, lively exterior, there was a captivating charm that lingered in the mind.

When Xia Shu approached and handed over his materials, her eyes lit up, and she offered him direct praise.

“Thank you for the compliment, senior.”

Xia Shu smiled slightly, glancing around—most of those gathered here were male students.

That was to be expected; after all, engineering schools always had more men than women. So encountering a beautiful girl here was a rare sight indeed.

The class assistant was named Xiao Xiao, and she was the most popular girl in their college. Even compared with the prettiest girls from other faculties, she wouldn’t pale in comparison. Of course, her strengths weren’t limited to her looks. Once the new students heard their class assistant was a girl, they began investigating, only to learn from seniors in the college’s main chat group that Xiao Xiao was not only beautiful, but a top student as well.

And—still single!

This surprised Xia Shu. Even though he’d barely spoken with her, he could easily imagine she’d had plenty of admirers over her two years at university.

But it didn’t really matter to him; he didn’t care who was single or not. After all, his own Su Rouxue was already outstanding and captivating enough.

With registration complete and his room key in hand, Xia Shu followed the signs toward the dormitory building. The journey was less than smooth—not because of the crowds, but because he was frequently stopped by enthusiastic seniors trying to sell him SIM cards.

“Hey, freshman! Wow, you’re really good-looking. Finished registering? Welcome to Yuncheng University! I’m here to help you set up your campus SIM card—recharge one hundred, get one hundred free, plus fifty gigabytes of data per month and free campus WiFi. Come, get one!”

“Hey there, you should get a Telecom card. The connection’s fast, and Mobile’s network isn’t great on campus. Recharge a hundred, get a hundred free, plus a complimentary gym pass. Go with Telecom, you won’t regret it.”

“Hey freshman, Unicom is the best—fastest network on campus, free calls, and it’s always stable. Mobile and Telecom have constant issues here, but Unicom’s been perfect for years. Sign up for mine!”

Xia Shu couldn’t fathom why they were so eager, but after a moment’s thought, he realized these seniors must be earning a tidy sum from new students. He politely declined, eager only to drop off his suitcase and tidy up his bed before worrying about the practicalities of campus life.

He quickened his pace, and after some effort, finally reached his dormitory.

7B531.

That was his room number. Yuncheng University, reputed as the Royal Institute of Technology, charged 1,500 yuan a year for the dormitory—a four-person room, but with excellent facilities overall.

Before coming to school, Xia Shu had already seen photos shared by seniors, so he had an idea of what to expect.

He swiped his room card, and with a chime, the door unlocked.

Stepping inside, Xia Shu realized he was the last to arrive.

“Hello.”

The other three occupants all turned to look at him.

“Hi, everyone.” Xia Shu greeted them with a slight smile. Before joining the class, their dorm group had already connected online, so he knew their names, but not their faces.

A chubby boy approached him with a friendly grin. “You must be Xia Shu?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m Liu Zhuang. The three of us just met. This is Lin Xiang, and this is Wang Yang.”

Liu Zhuang enthusiastically introduced his roommates.

Following Liu Zhuang’s gestures, Xia Shu quickly matched names to faces. The boy on the right, by the inner bed, had dark skin and was half a head taller than Xia Shu, with a rugged look—this was Lin Xiang, who was always cracking jokes in the dorm chat. The boy on the left was Wang Yang, much slimmer and delicate-featured, with glasses—a perfect picture of a classic boyish charm.

As boys, introductions were straightforward. After a few words, Xia Shu began to make up his bed.

Once everyone finished settling in, Liu Zhuang eagerly suggested they all head to the campus supermarket to buy daily necessities.

The rest of the day was spent exploring the university, and when they returned, it was time for open, lively conversation with new roommates.

“So, how many bachelors in this dorm?” Liu Zhuang asked.

“Me!” Wang Yang raised his hand, followed by Liu Zhuang.

Xia Shu and Lin Xiang simply smiled politely at this.

“Glad I’m not alone,” Liu Zhuang said cheerfully. “Actually, I’d like to fall in love, but girls these days all prefer tall guys.”

Wang Yang sighed, a little melancholy. He had decent looks, but his height held him back, and he never had the courage to confess to anyone he liked.

“That’s not always true. I have a friend back home—her boyfriend’s even shorter than you. My friend’s about one seventy-five, and her boyfriend’s one sixty,” Lin Xiang joked.

“Ah… an older sister type? Feels like a little pony pulling a big cart.” Wang Yang covered his face, unsure what he was imagining, blushing a little as he said it.

And so, the first day of university life unfolded between laughter and the forging of new friendships.