Chapter 36

According to Lulin, the registration at his school was quite lively, with four to five thousand new students, and there were plenty of beautiful girls. The music college, however, was much quieter, with only about three hundred people reporting over two days, and no upperclassmen came to observe and scout for beautiful girls or handsome guys.

The music college itself was small, taking only a few minutes to walk from south to north, with just a few buildings for teaching and administration. The college used to have only a few hundred students, but due to the expansion of enrollment, it had only recently surpassed the thousand mark.

Lulin was majoring in Electronic Information Science and Technology in the Department of Electronic Information Engineering. His department had three hundred students, and his major had over a hundred.

Yang Jingxing belonged to the Composition and Conducting Department, with only over twenty new students, and ten of them were in the Composition and Composition Technology Theory major. After paying the tuition, Yang Jingxing went to get his enrollment certificate and then reported to the department.

"Are you Yang Jingxing?" The person in charge of welcoming new students was probably a graduate student or a young teacher, a short man in his late twenties with a serious face and black-rimmed glasses.

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes, I am."

"I'm Zheng Jinyu, nice to meet you." The other person forced a smile and extended his hand to Yang Jingxing.

Yang Jingxing smiled back, "Please take care of me."

It turned out that Zheng Jinyu was the counselor for the Composition Department. They chatted for a while, as Zheng Jinyu had been a student of Professor He Hongchui before. He had graduated with a master's degree three years ago and stayed at the school to teach and serve as a counselor.

Zheng Jinyu also asked about the preparation of Yang Jingxing's compositions, hoping he would perform at the Composition Department's new student concert. Yang Jingxing humbly said that his works were not yet mature.

After leaving the school, the family went to have lunch. Then, Yang Jingxing bid farewell to his parents who were returning home, and he was finally free! Back at his place, he took a shower, looked out the window, feeling good, and contacted his friends.

Lulin, Zhang Yang, and Xu Wei had already started military training and were suffering, so he couldn't call them at this time. Yang Jingxing first sent text messages to Liu Miao and Xia Xue, then asked about Du Ling's situation. Du Ling was also reporting in the next couple of days and was still handling various procedures. He then called his teachers, Hu Yiqing, Li Yingzhen, and He Hongchui.

There was also Tao Meng. When the call connected, Yang Jingxing asked, "Are you a college student now?"

"Yes, what about you?"

"I am too."

Tao Meng said, "I'm in the dorm now, chatting with my classmates."

Yang Jingxing said, "I won't disturb you then."

Before dinner, Tao Meng called Yang Jingxing and asked, "Where are you?"

"At home, about to have dinner."

Tao Meng was puzzled, "At home? Which home?" Upon hearing that Yang Jingxing wasn't staying in the dorm, Tao Meng criticized him, "How will you connect with your classmates? I think it's important for music students to interact with each other!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Living together fosters friendship, but it's not necessary for studying."

Tao Meng added, "That's true... The dorm is much worse than Shangpu's, with four people in one room, which is very inconvenient."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "You're asking for trouble."

Tao Meng disagreed, "Many people can overcome it. Do you have to do military training?"

"Two weeks."

Tao Meng was a bit annoyed, "We have to do it until National Day. Do you have any plans for the break?"

"Get-together." Friends had already made plans to meet in Puhai.

Tao Meng said, "Jiang Qing also suggested that we meet up with our classmates in Puhai."

Yang Jingxing wasn't enthusiastic, "I might not have time, have fun."

Tao Meng got angry, "So, we're not your friends?"

Yang Jingxing teased, "I just want to have a get-together with you."

Tao Meng hesitated, "My mom is coming to see me, I don't know if I'll have time, we'll see."

Yang Jingxing said, "Looking forward to your good news, I'll go have dinner now."

"Okay, me too. I don't know if the cafeteria food is edible, it's probably not as good as Shangpu's." Tao Meng was worried.

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Just adapt, if it's really bad, you can go home."

Tao Meng believed in herself, "Everyone is the same, we can overcome it."

On the morning of the 10th, Yang Jingxing bought a computer and a small set of audio equipment and moved them back home. The five thousand yuan his father gave him was now down to half. In the afternoon, he went to the school for a gathering, with no formal enrollment ceremony, just to meet the classmates in his class.

The base of the 2006 Composition Department was in Room 214 of the North Building. When Yang Jingxing arrived, he found that everyone else was already there. There were more than a dozen, and many faces were familiar from previous tutoring classes and exams.

Twelve males and eight females. This ratio was quite favorable, making Lulin, who was in the Electronic Information major, envious.

The small classroom had only about twenty seats, so everyone had to sit closely together. A few of the students were clearly from ethnic minorities, sitting together in the front right of the classroom. Yang Jingxing sat in the back left, next to a rather chubby boy who nodded at him.

They introduced themselves. The other person was named Xu Xuesi, who told Yang Jingxing that among the twenty or so people, a few were in the Sight-Singing and Ear-Training major, a few were in the preparatory class, and a few were in the定向委培 (定向委培 means "定向委培" in Chinese, which can be translated as "定向委培" in English, but in this context, it means "定向委培" which is a specific type of training program for students who are sponsored by a particular organization or company. For the sake of clarity, I will translate it as "sponsored training program.").

Xu Xuesi was a genuine student, and he knew that Yang Jingxing was also a genuine student.

When Zheng Jinyu arrived, he asked everyone to introduce themselves. The few ethnic minority students were in the preparatory class and were from the same province. Three females and one male were in the Sight-Singing and Ear-Training major, and two females were in the sponsored training program.

The genuine Composition and Composition Technology Theory major had eight males and two females, a ratio that was a bit worse. Among these ten, five were from Puhai, including one female, and Xu Xuesi was also from Puhai.

The female from Puhai was named Luo Jiaqian, and another from Chue was named Sun Zhongling. Neither was a beauty, making the situation even worse!

Given the small number of students and the variety of majors, they didn't elect a class president but chose a departmental representative. Zheng Jinyu nominated Yang Jingxing, which scared him, and he repeatedly said he had no experience. Later, a boy named Xia Xiaokang bravely took on the responsibility.

They distributed the student handbook and talked about some important matters, especially regarding the use of practice rooms and borrowing instruments. Zheng Jinyu, of course, gave a speech, urging everyone to study hard and not to think that getting into the music college guaranteed a bright future.

The course schedule for this semester was also distributed. There was nothing on Monday, University Chinese on Tuesday morning, Sight-Singing and Ear-Training and English in the afternoon. On Wednesday morning, it was Moral Education and Legal Foundations. On Thursday morning, the males had physical education, and in the afternoon, it was Harmony. On Friday morning, the females had physical education, and in the afternoon, it was Sight-Singing and Ear-Training and English.

Military training was also starting the next day, with the Composition and Conducting Department, the Art Management Department, and the Modern Instrumental Department combined into five rows, with about forty to fifty people.

Zheng Jinyu also advised everyone to maintain good relationships with their classmates, even though the students in the music college were in intense competition with each other. He said, "Actually, our department is still better. If you go to the performance major, you'll know what it means to be in a life-or-death competition."

Everyone thought he was joking and laughed.

In the evening, after Yang Jingxing returned home, he received a call from Tao Meng, "We just finished the class meeting, what about you?"

"I'm at home."

Tao Meng asked, "What are you doing?"

"Daydreaming."

Tao Meng chuckled, "I didn't become the class president."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Am I too selfish?"

Tao Meng denied, "Not for you! Mainly because I want to live at home, the dorm is too inconvenient, and there's no water heater."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Where do you live? Is it far?"

Tao Meng said, "I usually go back to Hongfu, it's closer."

Yang Jingxing was a bit naive, "I don't know what Hongfu is."

Tao Meng said, "Hongfu Xinyuan, on Yinchuan Road, about half an hour away. Where do you live?"

"Haining Road, very close."

Tao Meng asked, "Where do your friends at East China Normal University live? It should be close too."

Yang Jingxing said, "I haven't asked yet."

Tao Meng scolded, "Who are your friends! Have you met your new classmates?"

"All of them."

Tao Meng chuckled, "Any girls you like?"

Yang Jingxing sighed, "Not as lucky as you guys, I'll check out other departments."

Tao Meng asked, "Do you really like beautiful girls that much? I didn't think so before."

Yang Jingxing said, "I had you before."

Tao Meng said, "I didn't think you liked me."

Yang Jingxing was sad, "I really liked you for nothing."

Tao Meng laughed, "Don't say such nice things. I'll hang up, I'll tell them."

The next day, the school officially started, but classes didn't begin. The new students put on their military training uniforms, gathered on the playground, listened to the principal's speech, and then started the military training. They stood in military posture for the whole morning, and during the short break, there were many complaints.

Finally, it was lunchtime, and they headed to the cafeteria. On the way, Yang Jingxing ran a few steps behind a girl and whispered, "Soldier, stand at attention!"

Yu Xinting, wearing a loose military uniform, turned around sharply, looking as if she had been startled.

Yang Jingxing laughed, "What are you looking at? Don't you recognize me? Is your hand better?"

"Oh, it's better... Are you having lunch too?" Yu Xinting turned to face Yang Jingxing.

Yang Jingxing glanced at Yu Xinting's hand and said, "I saw you earlier." The Piano Department was in the second row, quite far from their fifth row.

Yu Xinting lifted her fingers and looked down.

Yang Jingxing said, "Let's go have lunch."

Yu Xinting nodded.

Yang Jingxing asked, "Tired?"

Yu Xinting shook her head, "Not really." She looked quite tired, without her usual bright smile.

Yang Jingxing asked, "Want to go eat hotpot after the training?"

Yu Xinting smiled and asked, "How long have you been at school?"

"Three days, how about you?"

Yu Xinting nodded, "A day earlier. Do you live in the dorm?"

Yang Jingxing said, "No, I rent a place outside."

"Oh, I live in the dorm."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Why aren't you with your roommates? I know a couple of girls."

Yu Xinting said, "They are from the Drama Department and the Education Department, we're not familiar yet."

At the cafeteria, Yang Jingxing's plate had about three to four times more food than Yu Xinting's, and he sat opposite her like a shadow.

Yang Jingxing asked, "Which professor are you assigned to?"

Yu Xinting said, "Professor Li."

Yang Jingxing said, "You're in trouble, she likes to scold people."

Yu Xinting said, "I'm not afraid."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Do you still keep in touch with Orange and the others?"

Yu Xinting nodded and briefly mentioned that Geng Xidong had been admitted to a music department at a university, and Orange had given up on music...

As they finished eating, Yu Xinting asked, "Do you take a nap in the afternoon?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No, I don't need to."

Yu Xinting said, "I'll go back and take a nap, see you later."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "See you in the afternoon."

Yang Jingxing sat in the cafeteria for over an hour, calling Lulin and the others. After two o'clock, he went back to stand in the scorching sun for military training and marching.

When they were dismissed for dinner, Yu Xinting was waiting at the exit of the playground. She took out an apple wrapped in a small plastic bag and gave it to Yang Jingxing, saying, "It might not be very good."

Yang Jingxing took the apple and said, "Guess how many bites it will take me to finish it."

Yu Xinting boldly said, "Four."

Yang Jingxing tried, and it only took three bites to finish the apple, leaving only the core.

Seeing Yang Jingxing's mouth stretched wide, Yu Xinting couldn't help but laugh.

Yang Jingxing scolded, "This is to tell you, next time give me a bigger one."

Yu Xinting nodded and asked, "Did you do well on the college entrance exam?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Yes, we encouraged each other, didn't we?"

Yu Xinting was embarrassed, almost regretful, "I felt like a clown back then."

Yang Jingxing was puzzled, "Did we see different clowns?"

Yu Xinting added, "But I didn't tell my family about your help, or they would blame me."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes, in this society, people's hearts are unpredictable."

Yu Xinting was quick to clarify, "Not about you, about me, I was careless."

Yang Jingxing said, "I told everyone I know about you, and they all said you're cute."

"Ah..." Yu Xinting was really worried.

"Joking, who told you to give me such a small apple."

Yu Xinting explained, "I was afraid a bigger one would be noticed by the instructor and not allowed."

Yang Jingxing boasted, "I can crack half a pound of sunflower seeds while standing at attention for half an hour."

Yu Xinting was a bit proud, "I secretly ate a few chocolates."

Yang Jingxing held out his hand, "I want some too."

Yu Xinting regretted, "I finished them, couldn't resist."

Yang Jingxing was sad, "Not loyal."

Yu Xinting felt wronged and explained, "I ate them in the morning!"

Yang Jingxing said, "I saw you, I should have reported you then."

Yu Xinting didn't believe him, "Definitely not."

While eating, Xu Xuesi passed by with his tray and smiled, "How fast."

Yang Jingxing said, "If I wait, there won't be any left."

Xu Xuesi looked at Yu Xinting again and said, "I didn't mean the food."

Yang Jingxing said, "Neither did I."

Yu Xinting didn't show the same enthusiasm towards Xu Xuesi as before. After he left, she asked Yang Jingxing, "Which high school did you attend?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Shangpu High School, you probably don't know it."

Yu Xinting asked, "How many students were in your class?"

"Forty to fifty."

"Equal number of boys and girls?"

"About the same."

Yu Xinting guessed, "Many of them are still in Puhai, right? Only three of my high school classmates came, and they're not my friends."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "I don't know how many are in Puhai."

Yu Xinting said, "I didn't think about my friends or family when I came for the exam, but now I do."

Yang Jingxing suggested, "Call them."

Yu Xinting hesitated, "Frequent calls will make my family worry."