Chapter 2

Returning to Jiangcheng University.

Lu Chen had just returned to the dormitory when he received another notification from the system.

"Congratulations, received gratitude value +1 from Yuan Hao!"

Is the system's delay this long?

It has been about half an hour since the rescue incident at the internet cafe.

Perhaps Yuan Hao has just now recovered his normal mental state, which is why the system notification is delayed.

In the system interface.

The gratitude value has changed to 2!

However, the completion rate at the top of the system interface is still 10%.

There has been no change compared to before.

"It seems the completion rate has little to do with the gratitude value," Lu Chen thought.

At first, he thought that every time he received a gratitude value, the completion rate would increase accordingly.

Now it seems that is not the case.

Additionally, Lu Chen noticed another issue.

He could only see the color above each person's head when he concentrated his mental energy.

In daily life, as long as he did not deliberately observe, the color above others' heads would not appear.

This is good, so he wouldn't always see a "tricolor" world and eventually become color weak.

The system still has many mysterious aspects that Lu Chen cannot fully understand yet.

However, he is not in a hurry; he will definitely figure out this "system" in the future!

...

Taking out the key, he pushed open the door.

Another roommate, Zhou Jie, had already returned.

"Chen, you're back. Huang Mao and Chong Ge haven't returned yet."

Seeing Lu Chen return, Zhou Jie smiled at him.

"How did the exam go?"

Lu Chen shook his head slightly and smiled bitterly, "Not good, I messed up the comprehensive exam."

Zhou Jie was somewhat surprised; in his impression, Lu Chen's grades were the best among the four roommates.

"Chen, really? Even if you did poorly, you should still have at least 380 points, right?"

"No," Lu Chen shrugged, "I estimate I got a maximum of 360 points."

"See, I told you to stay and pursue a master's degree at our university, but you insisted on not doing it," Zhou Jie said regretfully. "Our university may not be as good as Kyoto University, but it's still better than those second-rate medical schools!"

Zhou Jie, relying on his achievements at school, chose to pursue a master's degree directly at Jiangcheng University.

Originally, with Lu Chen's grades, he could have also chosen to stay and pursue a master's degree.

But he gave up and chose to take the entrance exam for Kyoto University's medical school.

"I'll pay attention to the调剂 (adjustment) after the scores come out," Lu Chen said.

"But as far as I know, most top universities don't accept adjustments. For example, our university never accepts adjustment students!" Zhou Jie thought for a moment and said.

"Only one step at a time," Lu Chen said helplessly.

Since the unexpected has already happened, he can only accept it silently.

Regretting it now is of no use.

Moreover, he has benefited from the "system" in a way.

Although so far, apart from the color, he still doesn't know what the "system" is for...

A short while later.

The other two roommates also returned.

"What? Lu Chen failed the exam?"

Huang Mao and Chong Ge were equally shocked when they heard the news.

Huang Mao's real name is Huang Zhiming, and he is nicknamed Huang Mao because of his dyed yellow hair.

Chong Ge's real name is Wu Chong, and he is the oldest in the dormitory.

Moreover, every night, Huang Mao, who sleeps next to him, always feels that Wu Chong's bed is shaking wildly.

So, everyone respectfully calls him Chong Ge!

"Chen, don't be too upset, you can always try again next year!" Chong Ge patted Lu Chen's shoulder, trying to comfort him, "With your ability, getting into Kyoto University's medical school should be a piece of cake, right?"

"Chong Ge is right!" Huang Mao echoed from the side.

In daily life, Huang Mao often hangs out with Wu Chong, and the two are like peas in a pod.

"Don't worry, I'm not as fragile as you think," Lu Chen smiled, "I already have a plan."

He doesn't want to take the exam again, in case his headache flares up during the exam, and he would waste another year.

"That's good." Hearing Lu Chen's words, the other three roommates were relieved.

"To comfort Chen's wounded heart, let's go for some skewers tonight!" Chong Ge suggested.

Wu Chong's parents do some small business in Jiang-Zhe.

Compared to other ordinary students, his family's economic conditions are relatively good.

"That's great!" Huang Mao immediately smiled and hurried to Wu Chong, "Chong Ge is a big spender, it's time to treat us!"

Chong Ge looked at Lu Chen, seeking his opinion.

Lu Chen thought there was nothing to do now, so he smiled and nodded, "I have no objections."

"Alright, everyone, let's meet up tonight."

"Chong Ge, can I bring my girlfriend?" Zhou Jie laughed.

In five years of university, only Zhou Jie had a girlfriend and left the ranks of the single dogs.

"Sure!"

The overall atmosphere in the dormitory is good.

In five years, everyone has lived together, forming a deep friendship.

Wu Chong's family is well-off, and although his academic performance is only average, he successfully applied to a medical school in the United States through his family's connections.

Zhou Jie chose to stay and pursue a master's degree at the university.

Huang Mao, like Lu Chen, chose to take the entrance exam for a different university's graduate program.

However, Huang Mao's grades were not high enough to qualify for a direct master's program, so he had to take the exam.

Lu Chen, on the other hand, wanted to get into Kyoto University's medical school, the holy land of all Chinese medical students!

Medicine is a highly competitive field.

Not to mention the abundance of Ph.D. students, there are already many master's students.

A bachelor's degree can only get you into a secondary hospital, and even county-level hospitals require a master's degree.

Therefore, after graduating with a bachelor's degree, more than 90% of medical students choose to continue their studies for a master's degree.

...

In the afternoon.

Lu Chen received a call from his mother.

"Lu Chen, I remember you finished your exam today, right?"

As soon as the call connected, Luo Meizhen asked tentatively.

"Mom, you actually remember I had an exam today? That's really hard to believe!" Lu Chen was speechless.

"Ha ha, your big day, of course I remember," Luo Meizhen coughed awkwardly, "Tell me, how did it go?"

"Not good, my headache flared up again, I probably won't pass," Lu Chen said.

"Ah! Really? That's great!" Luo Meizhen's tone was very excited, with no hint of sadness.

Lu Chen: "..."

Is this my real mother?!

"Dear son, then you and your father will be waiting for you to come back," Luo Meizhen beamed, "Your father has already spoken to the director of the central hospital, and you can sign a contract with the hospital whenever you return."

"Mom, don't misunderstand, I meant..."

Before Lu Chen could finish, Luo Meizhen interrupted, "It's settled then! I'll tell your father this good news!"

"Mom, I..."

"Beep beep beep..."

Lu Chen listened helplessly to the busy signal on the phone.

He actually wanted to say that he might not get into Kyoto University's medical school, but he might get into another school!

Lu Chen knew that because he is an only child, his parents don't want him to be too far away.

If he really gets into Kyoto University's medical school, he might only be able to come home once or twice a year!

As the saying goes, "While parents are alive, do not travel far."

But, "If you must travel, do it with purpose."

Lu Chen has always adhered to the latter part.

For so many years, he has never even left the province!

The world is so big, he really wants to see it!

"Let's talk to my parents after the results come out," Lu Chen thought.

...

University campuses are never short of food.

Almost every university campus has a food street at the back gate.

Jiangcheng University is no exception.

Especially at night, you can find all kinds of local specialties on the food street next to Jiangcheng University.

As night slowly fell.

The dormitory mates, as agreed, gathered at the back gate of Jiangcheng University.

There were five people in total.

The four roommates, and Zhou Jie brought his girlfriend.

Perhaps because of the end of the exam, the food street was particularly busy today.

The smell of various barbecues, hot pots, and desserts mixed in the air, making everyone's mouths water.

"Wow, it's full!"

They arrived at their usual barbecue place, but it was packed inside and out.

"Let's try another place," Chong Ge said helplessly, "It seems everyone has the same idea, they all want to relax after the exam."

"I know there's another barbecue place on the old street," Huang Mao suggested suddenly.

"How is it?" Chong Ge glanced at Huang Mao.

"I haven't been there, but I heard from Li in the next dorm that it's pretty good and reasonably priced."

"Let's go there then!"

Without any better options, they headed to the barbecue place Huang Mao mentioned.

This barbecue place is a bit far from Jiangcheng University's food street.

They walked for about ten minutes and found the hidden barbecue place in the corner of the old street.

The place is called Qilin Barbecue, run by a couple.

The owner was busy grilling, and the owner's wife was taking care of the customers.

There were not many customers, and the inside room was empty, with only two tables outside.

Each table had about three to five young people.

"Hey, handsome and beautiful, what would you like to eat?"

The owner, a middle-aged man, was grilling and called out to Lu Chen and the others.

"There's a menu on the table, you can take a look!" The owner's wife came out from the inside room and invited them to sit down.

They found an empty table outside.

Lu Chen looked at the menu.

Lamb skewers: 2 yuan each.

Pork skewers: 2 yuan each.

...

The meat here is really cheap!

"Barbecue is best enjoyed at a street stall!" Huang Mao laughed, "Eating skewers and drinking some beer, that's the life!"

"Stop talking and order your skewers quickly," Chong Ge laughed and scolded, "If more people come, we'll have to wait a long time!"

"Let's start with twenty lamb skewers!"

"Twenty beef skewers!"

"Shrimp, grilled eggplant, soybeans, and peanuts, one of each."

"Add some kidneys and leeks!" Zhou Jie added with a smile.

"Would you like something to drink, handsome and beautiful?" The owner's wife asked.

"Let's start with a pitcher of beer."

"Sure thing!" She noted down their orders and smiled, "Please wait a moment, handsome and beautiful, I'll finish the skewers for the next table and then start yours."

The barbecue place is a bit remote, and even though it was dinnertime, there were only three tables of customers.

"When are you leaving for the United States, Chong Ge?"

While waiting for the skewers, they started chatting.

"Probably in four or five months, after I get my graduation certificate," Chong Ge laughed, "Actually, I'm not very willing to go abroad, but my parents are forcing me to get a degree and come back."

"Going abroad to get a degree is great," Zhou Jie said enviously, "Now, provincial tertiary hospitals only want overseas Ph.D. students, let alone us undergraduates. Even master's students from top universities can't get in."

"True, other majors don't value degrees as much as medicine."

"With a bachelor's degree in medicine, you can only work in a small county hospital."

There's no way around it; the medical field is highly competitive.

...

While chatting, the skewers for the other two tables were served.

"Owner's wife, when will our skewers be ready?" Huang Mao called out.

"Almost, just five more minutes!"

The owner's wife said apologetically.

No wonder there are so few people here.

First, the location is remote, and second, the service is a bit slow.

"I feel a bit dizzy lately," Huang Mao suddenly pressed his neck and massaged it, "Probably because of the recent exams and staying up late."

"Now that the exam is over, try to rest more," Lu Chen smiled.

Hearing Huang Mao's words, Lu Chen subconsciously focused his attention and looked at his head.

Green!

According to the previous logic, green represents a healthy state.

This means Huang Mao should be fine.

Lu Chen casually glanced at the colors of the others.

Zhou Jie is green!

Chong Ge is yellow!

It seems he should remind Chong Ge to go to bed early and take care of his health!

"Owner, another twenty lamb skewers for us!"

At this moment, a young man at the next table called out to the owner.

"Sure, just a moment." The owner responded quickly.

Only then did Lu Chen notice the young people at the next table.

What a surprise!

Each person at the next two tables had a red color above their heads!

Under the dim yellow streetlights, the rows of red were particularly eye-catching!