Chapter 82: Chapter 80 Everyone is Full of Longing
"The class committee election is over. It’s an annual event, so those who didn’t get elected, don’t be discouraged; there’s always next year," said Zhou Qianqian. "Generally, it’s my habit not to let anyone stay in the same position for two years."
"Okay, now I’ll talk about a few things."
"Firstly, let’s discuss credits and GPA."
"There are course credits, quality credits, and quantification. The first two represent your academic and moral cultivation over the four years in university. Not accumulating enough means you won’t graduate. The last one represents your overall performance in an academic year, and the difference is..."
"As for GPA..."
"..."
"Do you guys understand?" Baozi whispered, turning her head.
"Nope." Zhou Li hadn’t really been listening at all.
"I’m also confused," Baozi admitted, noticing Zhou Li seemed to be texting someone. She glanced at Brother Nan and saw her listening intently, so she asked, "Brother Nan, do you understand?"
"No." Brother Nan was still focused on listening.
"It feels a bit complicated."
"Of course, it’s hard to understand if she just explains it verbally like this. Being able to hear her clearly is good enough; don’t worry about it," Brother Nan reassured her. "You’ll understand it a few days after school starts."
"Oh."
"No talking!" Zhou Qianqian glanced over at them. "Next, I’ll talk about some rules and arrangements for our university and college..."
"Lastly, about safety."
"Some students are too hot-tempered and yet have the nerve to claim they’re mild-mannered..."
"..."
Zhou Qianqian began to scold Zhou Li, her expression so fierce she looked like a banshee, yet it made everyone laugh uproariously.
Brother Nan, the type to always carry a retractable baton, was also eyeing Zhou Li, teasing him about being scolded by the teacher for fighting. Zhou Li kept his composure on the surface, but internally he analyzed the situation. He concluded that this was probably because Brother Nan had been laughed at like this since she was young and never had the chance to laugh back, so now she was taking her revenge by laughing heartily at him. Psychologically, this is called compensation.
"That’s all I have to say." Zhou Qianqian wasn’t one to ramble.
"If there’s anything else, I’ll notify you in the class group. Don’t mute the class group, or have a class committee member pass on messages. I’m trying to find a method that’s convenient for both you and me."
"Lastly, we’re all adults now, and there’s quite a difference between university and high school. I hope everyone can adapt quickly, think rationally when faced with different situations, learn to pursue and exercise restraint, and have a wonderful time in university. If you have problems, you can talk to me. Even if I don’t want to listen, I will still lend an ear. If you’re short one player for a game, you can call me too. Even if I let you down, you wouldn’t dare scold me."
"Class committee, stay behind; the rest of you are dismissed!"
The classroom buzzed as everyone else left, and Zhou Qianqian called the class committee to the front.
Brother Nan leaned on a desk, watching Zhou Qianqian intently, feeling genuinely fond of her round face.
Zhou Qianqian gave some reminders to the class committee, seemingly about minor, trivial matters, and even she seemed impatient as she spoke. Eventually, she began to joke around, turning the conversation back to gaming.
"Does anyone play League of Legends? King of Glory or PUBG Mobile is also fine."
"Yes."
Many hands shot up.
Zhou Qianqian glanced at Zhou Li and said frankly, "Don’t you play, Zhou Li? I’d like to play with a handsome guy."
"I don’t."
"Li Nan plays, why don’t you?"
"Yeah."
"Too bad... What’s your rank, Li Nan?"
"I’m at the highest rank in LoL!"
"Really?"
Zhou Qianqian’s eyes widened in surprise.
The others were also amazed.
"Yes, I reached it just a few days ago!" Brother Nan wasn’t the least bit sheepish. "Recently, I’ve been into playing auto-chess."
"Let’s add each other as friends!" Zhou Qianqian quickly said.
"Sure! I’ll carry you!" Brother Nan nodded.
"..."
To everyone’s surprise, the casual chat went on for quite a while, even longer than the formal speeches. Zhou Qianqian talked briefly with each person, getting to know everyone’s names and positions and forming an initial impression of their personalities. Then, she signaled the end of the meeting with a wave of her hand.
She walked at the forefront, chatting with Brother Nan about in-game stuff.
The members of Dorm 502 followed behind.
Zhou Li looked up and saw that Zhou Qianqian was short and plump, a stark contrast to Brother Nan’s tall figure. Their conversation also floated back to him, leaving him baffled.
Zhou Qianqian was talking about something like Dragonmancer builds...
Brother Nan was discussing Noble Knight compositions...
Zhou Qianqian said it wasn’t good to gamble.
Brother Nan said she loved to gamble. She claimed if she mentally chanted a few times, she could quickly get three-star units and secure a win with a population of six.
Gradually, Brother Nan draped an arm over Zhou Qianqian’s shoulder.
As if they were buddies.
...
Speaking of Dorm 502, they were actually quite impressive: one study committee member, one organization committee member, even Liu Zhengming as the life committee member, and Zhou Li as the ’crap’ psychology committee member—all four held committee positions.
The class committee was linked with the student council.
Each class’s study committee member automatically joined the academic department, organization committee members joined the organization department, and life committee members joined the student accommodation department—but only for freshmen.
The psychology committee member was the exception, having no corresponding department.
The academic department’s most common task was to take attendance. The organization department’s included some tedious work and also the evaluation of other departments. The student accommodation department’s most common task was to check dormitory cleanliness. These responsibilities had the members of Dorm 502 dreaming big.
Chen Yang had the most vivid imagination: "Once I make a name for myself in the academic department, or even become the department head, you guys can skip classes as you wish!"
Chang Xiaoxiang didn’t want to be outdone: "Then, if someone reports you to me, I’ll intercept it!"
Liu Zhengming didn’t say a word.
Chen Yang spoke on his behalf: "If your department comes to check our dorm cleanliness, you can give us a heads-up! We aim to be the model dormitory. I heard that the three-star dormitory of the year even gets extra quantification points, which also helps with scholarships!"
Liu Zhengming nodded in agreement.
Zhou Li listened silently.
He initially thought it was none of his business, but alas, the imaginations of these young men were simply too fertile—
"If anyone has any objections, just tell Brother Li and let Brother Li give him some psychological counseling!"
"Yeah."
Zhou Li didn’t want to interrupt their enjoyment.
He thought these roommates were full of energy and looking forward to their upcoming college life with great anticipation... regardless of what the future reality might actually be like, at least for now, it sounded pretty awesome to him, sort of contagious, even.
Back in the dormitory, Chen Yang suddenly said, "Oh, right, who are we picking as the dorm leader?"
Everyone exchanged glances and eventually turned to look at Zhou Li.
Zhou Li pondered for a bit and said, "Actually, I have something to tell you."
"What’s that?"
"I have a cat, remember? It just so happens my sister has an apartment off-campus, and she let me stay there. I’ve moved the cat over, so I might sometimes stay there, but of course, I’ll often come back here too," Zhou Li said.
"Didn’t your cat run away?" Chen Yang asked.
"It came back later and brought Zhou Li two mooncakes, don’t you remember?" Chang Xiaoxiang said.
"Didn’t it run away again after that?"
"It came back again, this time with fifty yuan... Oh, you weren’t in the dorm then!" Chang Xiaoxiang looked at him regretfully. "If you’d seen it, you’d definitely think that cat was enchanted."
"Even without seeing it, I think that cat is enchanted," Chen Yang said, veering off topic unwittingly.
"Right, where’s your apartment?"
"In Tianruikang Garden."
"Where’s Tianruikang Garden?"
"A bit far off."
Zhou Li thought for a moment and added, "About six or seven kilometers."
Students at Cai University usually rented apartments in Tianshuijia Garden or Shilijin City. These complexes were close by, and the rent was cheap. Most were shared apartments with single rooms costing just a few hundred yuan.
Tianruikang Garden was quite far.
After some discussion, they still decided to let Zhou Li be the dorm leader, saying they’d leave it to Zhou Li to handle any issues.
Zhou Li felt that explaining his genteel and easy-going nature again wouldn’t make a difference, so he agreed. If there really were problems, well, this hot mess was left by Huai Xu, so Huai Xu could be the one to clean it up.
「September 16, Monday.」
Since they had just finished military training, there were no classes for these two days. However, bright and early, a notice appeared in the group chat instructing them to collect their textbooks.
Chang Xiaoxiang, like an energetic little monkey, was especially active. He got up early, checked the route, and was waiting at the door half an hour in advance. He didn’t hurry anyone else, just strolled back and forth or paced in place by the door, eagerly watching everyone.
So, the members of Dorm 502 set off early, backpacks on.
Surprisingly, some had set off even earlier than them.
Zhou Li couldn’t fathom why everyone was so eager.
It was now club recruitment season. Along the path, many tents were set up, displaying various club names. Many attractive seniors had been stationed out front as the ’face’ of their clubs. Flamboyant flyers and posters were everywhere, utterly captivating.
This got the three from Dorm 502 all fired up.
Once they reached the place to collect their books, as expected, over a hundred people were waiting under eaves and by the roadside, either squatting or standing, mired in a dreary wait.
Zhou Li looked around; Brother Nan hadn’t arrived.
It was the agreed-upon time, but the teacher hadn’t shown up.
Neither had Brother Nan.
Ten minutes past the scheduled time, the teacher finally arrived on a small electric scooter. Brother Nan also arrived late with her three roommates, each sipping a cup of milk tea. Their unhurried demeanor seemed to mock the waiting crowd.
Zhou Li noticed Brother Nan had a suitcase in tow.
"Morning," Brother Nan greeted.
"Good morning, Brother Nan," a male student called out.
"Morning."
"Morning, class rep," a girl from Class Four shouted.
"Morning."
Brother Nan responded to the greetings while casually walking into the room. Zhong Xin, the class rep for Class Three, quickly followed her in. Soon, Zhong Xin emerged and had the class committee members help carry the books; she herself pitched in energetically.
Brother Nan watched them toiling away, holding her milk tea.
Zhou Li didn’t join in the hustle.
He saw a girl get her foot hit by a falling stack of books, her clothes also covered in dust, while Brother Nan actually grinned at the sight.
Then, books were distributed by dormitory, with Zhong Xin directing.
The books were numerous and heavy, their sharp edges making the backpacks angular and uncomfortable.
Zhou Li caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye. Baozi was stacking all their dorm’s books into a suitcase. He should have brought a suitcase too. Then he could have had Chen Yang and Chang Xiaoxiang pull it, saving him the trouble of carrying it.
Brother Nan had sidled up next to him at some point, glancing at him and declaiming, "In the capital, there are those skilled in vocal mimicry!"
Zhou Li retorted, "...And thenceforth the sovereign neglected morning court."
Brother Nan nodded, satisfied. "Did you see those club recruitment tents on the way here?"
"Yeah."
"Hehe, I think it’s so fun!"
"Oh."
"Let’s remember to sign up for a club later!" Brother Nan said. "I even saw a Hanfu Society. There was a girl in traditional Hanfu standing out front. I took a picture with her, and she practically dragged me to join."
"Are you going to join?"
"No, I’m thinking of joining too many clubs already."
"I see."