After the day’s military training ended, Jiang Fan dragged his exhausted body to the cafeteria.
No matter how hard or tiring things were, he would not mistreat his stomach.
In summer, it got dark very late. By the time he finished eating, it was already past six in the evening, yet it was still bright outside.
Under the setting sun, Jiang Fan walked back to the dorm while admiring the scenery and buildings on Xiling University’s campus. After returning, he took a shower and collapsed onto his bed.
Soon, Tong Ming and Zhao Hainan came over.
Jiang Fan raised his hands protectively in front of his chest. “What are you doing? I’m not into men. Stay away from me.”
Tong Ming rolled his eyes. “Jiang Fan, there’s no one like that in Dorm 606. We’re all straight men.”
Zhao Hainan interrupted, “Jiang Fan and I are definitely straight. As for you, that’s hard to say, considering you’re from the Sichuan-Chongqing Region.”
Tong Ming’s face darkened. “Can you two just talk normally?”
After complaining, he grinned and said, “Jiang Fan, didn’t you say you don’t have a girlfriend? Then how do you explain Senior Xia Chan?”
Zhao Hainan pulled over a chair and sat down. “Confess honestly and we’ll go easy on you. Resist and we’ll be strict.”
Jiang Fan shrugged. “Senior Xia Chan is not my girlfriend. If I’m lying, I’m a puppy.”
“That kind of oath isn’t convincing. If you’re lying, your manhood will shrink.”
“… ”
Jiang Fan glared at Tong Ming. “I’m not familiar with Senior Xia Chan at all. Believe it or not.”
Tong Ming refused to believe it. “Not familiar? She came to the field under the blazing sun to see you and even gave you water in front of so many people. How can you not be familiar?”
Zhao Hainan nodded in agreement. “Exactly. We’re all in the same dorm. Can’t you just tell the truth?”
Jiang Fan sighed tiredly. “That is the truth.”
Tong Ming nudged Jiang Fan’s leg and changed the topic. “Senior Xia Chan invited you, right? You agreed, didn’t you?”
Jiang Fan nodded.
Seeing this, Tong Ming and Zhao Hainan both showed approving expressions.
“That’s more like it.”
“Go for it. Try to win over Senior Xia Chan. She’s the second-ranked beauty on the campus list. If you succeed, it’ll make us look good too.”
Their excited looks left Jiang Fan speechless. “Senior Xia Chan and I are, at most, just acquaintances.”
“What are you saying? Just go all out and win her over.”
“I get it. First you’re friends, then she’s your girl, and finally she becomes your little darling.”
Jiang Fan fell silent.
Fine.
He had figured it out. No matter what he said, these two would not believe him. They only believed what they wanted to believe. Explaining further was pointless.
Their minds were completely pure. Full of nothing but nonsense.
Over the next few days of military training, perhaps because he had gotten used to it, Jiang Fan’s suffering gradually lessened.
When one fully focused on something, time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was the last day of training. That day, the school organized a military exercise.
Jiang Fan got to handle a gun and even did some target practice. Although they were only using blank rounds, it still felt very satisfying.
Gun control in Xia Country was strict. Most people would never even touch a gun in their lifetime, let alone fire one.
A little after four in the afternoon.
On the field of Xiling University, when the instructor announced the end of military training, the freshmen erupted into cheers like a roaring storm.
Jiang Fan looked at his sun-darkened arms, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. As his body relaxed, his thoughts drifted uncontrollably to his new novel, “Sword Immortal.”
It had been half a month. He wondered how the data was doing.
With that thought, Jiang Fan did not delay any longer.
Destination. The academic affairs office.
Unexpectedly, just as he left the field, someone blocked his path.
Xia Chan stood there in a long dress, a black bow clipped to her hair, with a few cute hairpins on the side of her head as the finishing touch. Her sweetness was at its peak.
She had clearly been waiting for a while. She walked up with a smile. “Junior, long time no see.”
Jiang Fan’s lips twitched uncontrollably.
Xia Chan smiled faintly. “Junior, why do you always keep a straight face when you see me? Am I that scary?”
Jiang Fan nodded. “Yes.”
Xia Chan held her forehead.
This guy…
He really did not know how to speak pleasantly.
She stopped beating around the bush and stated her purpose directly. “Junior, you haven’t forgotten what you promised me, right? How about we have dinner together tonight?”
Hearing this, Jiang Fan’s heart trembled. He wanted to refuse, but the words stuck in his throat and were swallowed back.
Forget it.
You could avoid the first day, but not the fifteenth.
What was coming would come.
“Senior, just pick a place and send it to me on WeChat. But let me say this first. I don’t have much living allowance. If you can treat me, then treat me. If not, please choose somewhere cheaper. Preferably under 50 yuan per person.”
After saying that, he turned and left.
Xia Chan watched his departing figure, momentarily lost in thought. “It’s only been half a month since school started. Is he already this short on money? Or… in his eyes, am I not even worth him treating me to a meal?”
Cold. Even a little dismissive.
At the academic affairs office.
Jiang Fan successfully retrieved his phone and laptop.
The teacher in charge joked, “Student, military training ended at 4:10, and you showed up at 4:17 to collect your phone and laptop. Very proactive. If you used this kind of enthusiasm in your studies, a scholarship would definitely be within reach.”
Jiang Fan, who was about to leave, paused and said righteously, “Teacher, my financial situation is indeed not good. But I believe there are people in worse situations than me. Something like a scholarship should be given to those who need it more. As for me… sigh, I don’t need it.”
The teacher fell silent.
This student… spoke in an interesting way. As if he could get the scholarship just by wanting it.
Back in the dorm, Jiang Fan turned on his phone and saw dozens of missed calls. One was from Liu Meili, and the rest were all from Yu Mingchuan.
This made his heart tighten.
Why had his editor called him so many times? What happened?
Could it be…
Something went wrong with his new novel?
The next second, Jiang Fan dialed Yu Mingchuan’s number.
The call was answered instantly.
“Thank goodness you finally picked up. What’s going on with you? Jinse, why has your phone been unreachable? If I couldn’t contact you any longer, I was about to call the police.”
Jiang Fan smiled awkwardly. “Brother Yu, we had to hand in our phones during military training…”
“Military training?”
Before Jiang Fan could finish, Yu Mingchuan exclaimed in shock, “Are you telling me you’re still in school?”
“Is that not allowed?” Jiang Fan asked, confused. “I just started university.”
“Damn… can I ask how old you are?”
Jiang Fan was not surprised by the question. The platform had author profiles, but since he had not achieved much success, it was unlikely his editor had ever bothered to check.
“I just turned eighteen.”
“Damn.”
Yu Mingchuan was speechless. “I always thought you were some balding middle-aged man in his thirties or forties. Turns out you’re a young college student. You’re so young. Why did you choose such an old-fashioned pen name?”
“Old-fashioned? It’s alright. If those pen names I came up with before had passed review, I wouldn’t have used ‘Jinse’.”
“They didn’t pass? What kind of pen names were they?”
“My Grandma Often Slaps Zhao Zilong, Sima Doesn’t Smash Guo De’s Jar, Bunao Biao Tiao Dang Tian…”
“… ”