The four of them, holding parasols, walked from the dormitory to a restaurant outside the school. Just as they finished ordering and were waiting for their food,
Xiong Wan, unable to contain her curiosity, started searching online for information about her new roommates. Her search led her to a post on Hupu.
This particular post was one of Hupu's so-called "expose" pieces, discussing the location and price of the house where the school beauty and top student lived.
Liu Chen was unaware of the internal shift happening within Xiong Wan, who sat across from her. Liu Chen was discussing her thoughts on the new PC game, "League of Legends," with Sang Ling.
"I think this game is very interesting, and it has a high probability of becoming a long-lasting game. If you want to join the company, it's best to be familiar with this game," Liu Chen said.
Tang Sheng Nan, who was listening nearby, saw the two of them chatting and laughing and brought up the company. She asked with some curiosity,
"Does Liu Chen's family also own a company? Does Sang Ling want to join your family's company in the future?"
Liu Chen quickly waved her hands with a smile,
"I'm not that capable or resourceful. We're talking about the company started by Senior Ren Yu, who is in his third year at our school, Shen Hai Technology. Since it's a company founded by a senior, I think graduates from our school will have a higher chance of getting hired."
"Shen Hai Technology? Is that company big? Start-ups probably only have a few people, right? After graduating from our school's computer science department, there are plenty of big companies that will fight to hire you. Why go to such a start-up?"
Xiong Wan put down her phone and offered a more sensible opinion for once. She frowned slightly and looked at Liu Chen again, asking,
"But this Shen Hai Technology sounds a bit familiar. Have they produced anything?"
This time, before Liu Chen could speak, a senior walking by behind them, wearing glasses and with a few pimples on his face, chimed in:
"Shen Hai Technology is the company that created Penguin Farm. They sold this game to Penguin and receive monthly dividends. Last month, they also launched their first PC game, 'League of Legends.'
After its launch, its monthly active players have reached fifth place in the current PC game active index. Their monthly revenue is estimated to be over ten million. I heard that the senior in charge said that they can now earn over twenty thousand yuan per month.
Furthermore, Senior Ren Yu has stated that if the momentum continues, there will be substantial bonuses distributed at the end of the year."
Seeing him speak such a long passage in one go, Liu Chen couldn't help but hand him a can of iced cola.
"Thank you. So, although Senior Ren Yu's company is a start-up, it's still a company that everyone at our Shui Mu University wants to join. Good luck, junior!"
Sang Ling was startled by this sudden encouragement but instinctively nodded, "Thank you, senior."
After they left, Xiong Wan finally let out a sigh of relief. "Suddenly talking from behind us really scared me. Anyway, let's not think about it. Judging by your tone, Liu Chen, you seem quite familiar with this Senior Ren Yu?"
Although the question was directed at Liu Chen, Xiong Wan's gaze was fixed on Sang Ling.
Sang Ling, who appeared cheerful, simply picked up her teacup and took a sip, showing no intention of speaking on Liu Chen's behalf.
Xiong Wan then had no choice but to look back at Liu Chen. Liu Chen put down her teacup and said with a faint smile,
"I only just enrolled, how can I be considered familiar? I just thought that since we're from the same school, and it's our strong suit academically, I said that."
Xiong Wan's expression clearly showed disbelief, but since Liu Chen wouldn't say more, she couldn't force her. In the end, she could only open her phone again and start searching for Ren Yu on the campus forum.
Thus, what was supposed to be the first gathering of the roommates turned into Xiong Wan constantly scrolling on her phone, reading out posts about Ren Yu to her dorm mates at the table.
"Ren Yu was the top scorer in the liberal arts in Province S?"
"Wow, Ren Yu's grades at school are also very good, first in his major."
"His company has already become a top-tier domestic gaming company in just two years."
"He seems quite handsome?"
Xiong Wan placed her phone on the dining table, allowing everyone to see the photo.
Liu Chen glanced at it. The photo was a candid shot of Ren Yu in a large lecture. He seemed to sense someone taking a picture and was looking sternly in the direction of the camera. His eyes behind his glasses seemed to be searching for something, their gaze sharp as blades.
Liu Chen stared at the photo, lost in thought. She had never seen Ren Yu display such a commanding demeanor in front of her.
Recalling him, the Ren Yu she knew had always smiled from the beginning, expressed his dreams with youthful passion, and compromised.
Seeing Liu Chen's dazed expression, Xiong Wan's alarm bells went off. She smiled, took back her phone, and said,
"I think this Senior Ren Yu is quite interesting. I want to pursue him. I'm saying this first, you're all my good sisters, you won't fight me for him, right?"
Hearing this, Sang Ling was about to retort, but seeing that her younger sister, Liu Chen, had no objections, she remained silent.
"Senior Ren Yu is a person, not an object. It doesn't matter if we compete for him or not."
Liu Chen finished speaking just as the food arrived. Although Xiong Wan inwardly felt that Liu Chen's words were tinged with sourness, she didn't take it to heart. After all, men, especially successful entrepreneurs like him, were most attracted to women like herself.
Who wouldn't like a beautiful woman who comes from a good family, looks good, and has excellent qualities?
Moreover, this Ren Yu was much better looking than the second son of the "Four Families" that her father always talked about, and he earned good money. That was good enough.
The first gathering of the roommates ended harmoniously, with all four of them wanting to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.
However, when Xiong Wan called the waiter to pay the bill, she was informed that someone had already paid.
"It was a girl with long, black hair, just like you. Is there anything else you need, Miss?"
"No, thank you," Xiong Wan replied.
Xiong Wan smiled softly, nodded her thanks, and walked out of the restaurant with a somewhat displeased expression.
"Sister Liu Chen, did you pay the bill? Then I'll split the money with you?"
Tang Sheng Nan's expression faltered slightly when Xiong Wan mentioned splitting the bill, but she then reached into the pocket of her faded jeans.
Liu Chen waved her hand.
"It's our first gathering, and we had a good time. You don't need to split it with me. When I graduated, my alma mater also rewarded me with a hundred thousand yuan, so I have a little money."
Hearing this, Tang Sheng Nan's face showed a conflicted expression.
"Then, Liu Chen, when I find a part-time job, I'll treat everyone to a meal to make up for it."
Liu Chen didn't refuse. She understood the mindset of someone who didn't have money in their pocket. It was precisely because they lacked money that they valued their dignity more than others, because if they lost even their dignity, they would have nothing left.
On the way back, Xiong Wan still walked with Tang Sheng Nan.
"Oh, Sheng Nan, the cost of a meal isn't much. You don't need to worry so much. Since Liu Chen treated us, she treated us. I'll treat you next time."
This time, Tang Sheng Nan, who had been nodding along on the way there, remained silent for a long time.
Upon returning to the dorm, after taking a nap, Xiong Wan invited everyone to go to the convenience store downstairs to buy some thermoses and washbasins.
"Liu Chen, you guys are going too? Look how dirty that basin was when you used it to wipe the bed this morning. It's best not to use that basin anymore; it should be used solely for cleaning purposes."
Liu Chen: "..."
Fortunately, Liu Chen's patience had been honed by her numerous part-time jobs in her previous life. Although she felt a bit speechless, she didn't feel angry, and she needed to accompany Sang Ling anyway.
So, as she got out of bed, she said,
"I heard from a senior before that things at the convenience store downstairs are a bit more expensive. We can walk outside the school to a large supermarket nearby where things are cheaper."
Xiong Wan glanced at the sun outside and immediately said weakly, "But the sun is so strong outside. Walking that far, I think I'll get heatstroke..."
Before Liu Chen could reply, Tang Sheng Nan spoke up first.
"Then Xiong Wan, write down everything you need to buy, and I'll bring it back for you. I don't mind the sun."
In the end, all four of them went out together. Xiong Wan wore a sun hat and a mask, claiming it was for sun protection.
Liu Chen and Sang Ling each wore a baseball cap, and Liu Chen lent one to Tang Sheng Nan when they left.
"Wear it, the sun in the afternoon is much stronger than in the morning."
Following the school's path, Liu Chen led everyone under the shade of trees. They passed the sports field and the teaching buildings. Perhaps due to the heat, there was no one on the sports field, only the chirping of cicadas echoing on campus.
Initially, Xiong Wan could walk calmly with Tang Sheng Nan, but gradually she slowed down, and later, she would walk ten steps and rest for two.
As they were about to reach the school entrance, Xiong Wan looked at the two people walking ahead of her, gritted her teeth, cried out "Aiyo," closed her eyes, and fell towards Tang Sheng Nan.
And with that closing of her eyes, she truly fainted.
Liu Chen heard the commotion behind her and turned to see Tang Sheng Nan holding Xiong Wan around the waist, looking bewildered.
Seeing her dorm mate faint, Liu Chen quickly walked back. She looked at the unconscious Xiong Wan, first removed her mask, and saw that half of her face's foundation was smudged due to sweat.
Seeing the three of them huddled around a fainting female student, a senior passing by on a bicycle couldn't help but ask,
"What's wrong?"
Liu Chen looked up and saw the bicycle the senior was riding. She quickly said, "She probably fainted from heatstroke. Could you help us take her to the school infirmary? The three of us probably can't carry her."
"Sure!"
The three of them followed the bicycle and learned on the way that this unremarkable, slightly thin senior was the president of the student union in his third year.
When Xiong Wan woke up, she didn't open her eyes immediately. Instead, she listened quietly for a while until she heard Tang Sheng Nan say "Thank you, President." Only then did she slowly open her eyes.
"Where am I? What happened to me?"
As she spoke, Xiong Wan frowned slightly, looking weak, and slowly raised her eyes to look at the student union president sitting by the bed.