Age of Legends

Chapter 374 Not Simple

Just as boys are always a hot topic in girls' dormitories, boys' dormitories also have the highest frequency of discussions about girls. Unless there are really not many girls to talk about in the past, then games will take the lead as an electronic addiction to numb everyone.

But this time was different. Even the leaders of the School of Computer Science and Technology were moved to tears when they saw the female freshman. They thought that after many years of hardship, the School of Computer Science and Technology had finally produced the most beautiful flower from the most barren soil. It was a case of not making a sound until it did, and when it did, it outshone all other schools and took the lead.

It is well known that the beauty economy has always been a part of human society. Humans have never lacked eyes that pursue beauty. Otherwise, from recruitment to blind dates, there would always be a requirement of having a good image and temperament, and regular facial features.

Whether or not you achieve that goal, it subconsciously reveals that employers and partners alike prefer you to be more handsome or good-looking.

The reason the college leaders were so excited was because they had been labeled the "brothel-hunger department" by students for far too long. Everyone knew they were monks, but the leaders, with their high aspirations, refused to accept it. It was common knowledge that the presence of attractive women directly impacted college application rates; otherwise, why would schools and departments push the best-looking students to the forefront of their promotional materials? They were just about to shoot a promotional video, worried about not having a leading lady to boost applications when viewing the department's brochures—and now, a model had appeared out of nowhere!

So it wasn't really a group of male students from many departments who spontaneously flocked to them; in fact, it was a bit of an overestimation of them. Many of them, even sophomores and juniors, blushed when they saw girls because of the skewed male-female ratio in the college. They were often teased by younger female students, let alone when they saw a pretty girl. Most of them didn't even dare to say a word.

It was the department leaders who saw through these spineless guys and deliberately had a group of male students help them with the registration process, just like a bathhouse manager shouting "One VIP female guest!" to a group of staff. They were so eager to serve the female freshmen who were supposed to be the saviors of the department's propaganda mission, which made the procession seem so grand.

As soon as the news spread, everyone in the dormitory perked up their ears. Having just endured the torment of the college entrance examination and been liberated from the most oppressive situation, everything in university was new to them. There was also a sense of disorientation, as if the future was incredibly free, yet they didn't know where it all began. And the liberation of their nature naturally began with the fact that they could openly date and find a partner in university.

But some people remained skeptical of Chen Liang: "Are you serious or not? Is it really that exaggerated...?"

"Does she have a boyfriend?" Zhao Yu asked tentatively.

Wang Zihao, ever the shrewd one, said, "What are you thinking? Is having a boyfriend such a big deal? You're in university now. Even if a flower is taken, you can still loosen the soil. As long as you wield the hoe well, there's no corner you can't dig down!"

The group of people yelled "Holy shit!" at him.

"Is that girl in Dormitory 8? What's her name?"

"Hey, I just arrived, how would I know everyone's name so quickly? But just wait, it'll probably spread soon..."

Among the group of boys, some were expectant, while others remained noncommittal.

The situation is different again. Among those who have expectations, there are those who are eager to try and feel they have a chance. Liu Chen and Gao Lei belong to this category. Liu Chen considers himself outstanding and wants to make a name for himself in university. Such ambitions naturally only make him worthy of the prettiest girl in the department. Gao Lei, on the other hand, comes from a wealthy family and also thinks he might be able to win her over.

As for Chen Liang, Wang Zihao, and Zhao Yu, they are the type who have the desire but not the courage, like Lord Ye who professed to love dragons but was terrified of them. They genuinely enjoy gossiping about girls and looking at beautiful women, but if a real beauty spoke to them, they probably wouldn't even know how to respond.

Zhou Hao and Sun Ming, two artsy young men, remained noncommittal. Zhou Hao had a girlfriend from high school, so he listened to everyone's boasting but didn't participate. When he arrived earlier, he even opened his wallet to admire a photo of himself and his girlfriend—their love seemed unbreakable. Sun Ming, on the other hand, was genuinely uninterested. Wearing thick, beer-bottle-bottom glasses, his only interest was novels, and right now he wanted nothing more than to pick up a book and start reading. Women would only dampen his enthusiasm for immersing himself in the world of martial arts.

At this moment, Zhang Chen also received a text message from Wang Shuowei. This guy had also registered at the university and boasted that he wanted to come over for barbecue. The university was located in the north, more than an hour away by bus. Although they were going to university, they seemed to have never been far apart since childhood, not to mention that their shared strategic game, "Wanxiang Jianghu," was about to launch. While Zhang Chen was observing everyone, Liu Chen was also observing and integrating them. He had a goal: one year as a Party member, two years as a member of the Youth League, and three years to take charge of the student union. He would then use these resources and connections to pave his way before graduation, using these as springboards to secure the strongest possible future.

So every step he took was purposeful, his smile perfectly timed, every remark perfectly placed, and he offered cigarettes with utmost thoughtfulness. He wanted to create the impression that he was very proper, caring, good at creating a lively atmosphere, and also very reliable. So when it came time to vote for class monitor, he was aiming for that "popular choice."

"Sometimes it's about building up momentum. Once that momentum is established, many things will fall into place naturally." These were some of the "guiding principles" his father, who had spent many years working in government offices, gave him when he entered university.

"And! You must know how to scheme!"

In fact, Liu Chen had already gotten to know each person's personality and family background by offering them cigarettes and striking up conversations with them. At least, he thought he knew them well enough.

Gao Lei's father arrived in an Audi A6. His computer was in the trunk of his father's car, and he and his father carried it into the dormitory together. Liu Chen witnessed the whole process. Gao Lei's mother mentioned that she had bought him a 3,000 yuan phone, and warned him not to lose it like last time—that was 3,000 yuan! This suggests that Gao Lei's family is indeed in business; his father is a small business owner, and his mother is always dressed in gold and jade, maintaining a respectable image. However, they wouldn't be so extravagant as to treat 3,000 yuan as nothing.

He has some money, he's a nouveau riche, he probably hasn't seen much of the world, he probably made a few million by going into business.

Looking at everyone else's clothes, none could surpass Gao Lei's. But Liu Chen felt that Zhang Chen was somewhat threatening. First of all, although his clothes weren't Adidas or Nike, his outfits were anything but tacky. Even with sports shoes like Anta and clothes from ordinary brands, he wore them with a natural, pleasing, and comfortable feel, which was inexplicably appropriate.

Liu Chen had met many wealthy and powerful children, some high-profile and some low-profile. Regardless of their character or abilities, these people, who had been pampered since childhood, always managed to wear expensive clothes with the proper fit and quality. At this moment, when Liu Chen compared Zhang Chen with those wealthy peers he had met, Zhang Chen didn't seem out of place at all.

Although Zhang Chen wasn't wearing expensive clothes, the Dell laptop peeking out from under his suitcase made Liu Chen's eyes narrow. Gao Lei had been boasting about how amazing his computer was, costing over ten thousand yuan. Zhang Chen's laptop was probably worth close to twenty thousand yuan.

What Liu Chen found even more interesting was the composure that Zhang Chen unintentionally revealed.

While other freshmen were more or less awkward, excited or nervous, and making lewd remarks when discussing pretty girls, Zhang Chen leaned against the window, surveying the entire dormitory with a calm gaze as if he were inspecting a place he knew all too well.

When Liu Chen offered Zhang Chen a cigarette, Zhang Chen waved his hand gently and said, "Thank you, but no thanks."

His tone was natural, without any deliberate flattery or feigned aloofness.

It was this composure beyond his years that made Liu Chen sense a potential threat.

"Interesting," Liu Chen thought to himself.

This dormitory room doesn't seem to be as simple as he initially imagined.

(End of this chapter)