Chapter 41

Wang Wenkai listened as Wang Deliang told him that someone in the dormitory had actually repeated their senior year three times, and he exclaimed in amazement.

Wang Deliang said, "Amazing? There's even more amazing! This Tao Qing came with a stack of his own senior year exam rankings. Looking at the rankings, this guy's usual test scores were incredibly impressive; he should have been at least a Fudan, Tongji, or Nankai candidate. But he always messed up during the college entrance exam. Also, he and his girlfriend were both admitted to Dongsen University. I saw his girlfriend in the cafeteria once; she was of very high quality, at least an 85 out of 100."

Wang Deliang continued, "The most impressive thing is that Tao Qing is extremely guarded. He doesn't even introduce his girlfriend to his dormitory brothers. When they meet in the cafeteria, he pretends not to know her, treating her like a treasure, as if he's afraid someone will take her away."

Wang Wenkai and Wang Deliang continued chatting, while Bian Xuedao fell into thought.

It was almost certain that last year, by changing his major to International Trade and bringing Song Jia along, the two of them had squeezed Xu Shangxiu, who was just above the admission line. For some reason, Xu Shangxiu chose to repeat his senior year. During that time, he met Tao Qing, or perhaps Tao Qing had already been repeating in Xu Shangxiu's class. They might have known each other before, and this time, after repeating together for a year, they became lovers, sharing the same fate.

Bian Xuedao really wanted to slap himself. Why did he change to International Trade? Why not just switch to another first-tier major at Dongsen University? How could he not have thought of this?

What should he do now?

This Tao Qing was definitely not the boyfriend Xu Shangxiu mentioned she had in her sophomore year. This guy was a wildcard. If Xu Shangxiu hadn't been squeezed out by him, they might not have had any interaction, and Tao Qing might not even be at Dongsen University.

Wang Deliang had to leave for military training in the afternoon.

When Bian Xuedao saw Wang Wenkai out, Wang Wenkai asked, "Xuedao, do you know that Brother Wen has set up a studio?"

Bian Xuedao nodded, "Yes, I know."

Wang Wenkai said, "I know someone who works in the studio. He told me that working with Brother Wen is very profitable. Can you help me talk to Brother Wen? I want to work there too."

Bian Xuedao asked, "How did you find me? I met Brother Wen through you!"

Wang Wenkai smiled at Bian Xuedao, "I've seen you and Brother Wen eating at the noodle shop outside Gongda."

Bian Xuedao laughed, "Alright, I'll ask him, but I have to say this upfront: I'm just asking, no guarantees."

Wang Wenkai said, "Alright."

After seeing Wang Wenkai off, Bian Xuedao called Brother Wen and told him about Wang Wenkai. Brother Wen hesitated for a moment and said, "Why don't we let him handle the finances?"

Bian Xuedao knew Brother Wen was overthinking it and quickly said, "Brother, that's not what I meant. Wang Wenkai just wants to earn some extra money. You know we're classmates. He saw us eating together and asked me to help. The studio's rules can't be broken. The primary consideration for hiring is skill and ability. This small place doesn't have the resources to favor anyone. And I won't interfere with hiring decisions. This is a one-time thing, no exceptions."

Hearing this, Brother Wen relaxed, "If he just wants to earn some extra money, we can arrange it. I'll have him deliver password cards to the Electronics Building and Electronics Street. It's not a heavy job, and he'll be paid by the number of cards delivered. What do you think?"

"Alright, thanks, Brother," Bian Xuedao said.

"Don't say that. I'll contact you when the offline hang is ready."

"Alright."

After hanging up, Bian Xuedao thought about calling Wang Wenkai immediately to tell him the news. But then he thought, if he resolved it so quickly, Wang Wenkai might realize he and Brother Wen were very close. If Wang Wenkai then asked him to help someone else get into the studio for money, what would he do? Help or not? If he helped, he had already told Brother Wen it was a one-time thing. If he didn't help, Wang Wenkai might feel embarrassed, and this effort would be in vain.

He decided to wait a bit before telling him.

Bian Xuedao called Brother Wen again and said he would arrange the time for Wang Wenkai, so Brother Wen didn't need to contact him. Brother Wen was puzzled but agreed.

Three days later, Bian Xuedao called Wang Wenkai and told him to go see Brother Wen.

Bian Xuedao continued to guard the entrance of Building 11A at noon and evening. Later, he found the steps uncomfortable, so he bought a small stool and kept it at the Red Building. When he went over, he would bring the stool and sit there seriously.

Some of the girls in the same year as Bian Xuedao had seen him at the entrance last year. This year, seeing him again, and with even more intensity, sitting on a stool, they wondered why this guy seemed to have a fetish for the start of each new school year.

The curtains of the girls' dormitories on the first four floors of Building 11A were tightly drawn. Some of the girls, feeling self-conscious, would pinch their collars and press their skirts as if they were afraid Bian Xuedao would see their skin and lose control.

Bian Xuedao completely ignored all the girls except Xu Shangxiu. Watching the girls with their swaying waists pass by, he saw them as pieces of wood. Sometimes, he even thought he was close to mastering the practice of viewing everything as bones.

Both Xu Shangxiu and Tao Qing knew that Bian Xuedao sat at the back door of Building 10A every day. Xu Shangxiu didn't seem to mind, but Tao Qing, like a wild dog protecting its bone, would wait at the entrance of Building 11A early every day to pick up Xu Shangxiu for military training, then escort her back to the dormitory, go to the cafeteria together, and take walks together.

Whenever Xu Shangxiu left Building 11A, Tao Qing would follow her.

Bian Xuedao didn't know what he was feeling. Every day, he watched Xu Shangxiu and Tao Qing come and go together, watched Tao Qing touch Xu Shangxiu's hair, hold her hand, and put his arm around her waist. A few times, when Tao Qing was being affectionate, Xu Shangxiu would glance at Bian Xuedao, seeing his motionless body and expressionless face.

One evening, Ai Feng was sending Nan Jiao back to Building 11A and happened to see Tao Qing holding Xu Shangxiu's hand and talking to her. Knowing Tao Qing was Bian Xuedao's rival, Ai Feng deliberately bumped into him. Tao Qing's face changed, and he was about to say something, but Ai Feng turned around and stood in front of him, saying, "If you want to be affectionate, find a private place. This is a busy entrance, not your backyard."

Nan Jiao pulled Ai Feng away, glanced at Tao Qing and Xu Shangxiu, and didn't say anything, but her eyes were full of dissatisfaction.

Tao Qing's face turned red and then white, looking vicious, but he didn't approach Ai Feng. Watching Nan Jiao enter the fire door, Ai Feng walked past Tao Qing without a glance and left Building 11A.

After Ai Feng walked away, Tao Qing made a move to chase him but was tightly held back by Xu Shangxiu, "Tao Qing, let me send you back to the dormitory. Come on, don't be angry."

After the freshmen's psychology and life stabilized, the recruitment for the new student councils of each college began.

Before this, the new student council teams of each college had already been formed, and Shan Rao, as expected, became the head of the Women's Department of the Media College.

Recruitment for the student council at Dongsen University was both simple and complicated. Each department recruited in the same large classroom, and sometimes the counselors would come to guide, but mostly they didn't interfere.

However, the student council president would definitely be present, regardless of which department was recruiting. After all, as the leader of the students in the college, it was beneficial to be familiar with the freshmen for future work. Therefore, before the recruitment began, the president's subordinates would prepare nameplates and place them on the tables.

There was another important reason why the student council presidents and other officials liked to attend the recruitment meetings. Dongsen University had an unwritten tradition, which was also a common rule in most universities: the student council did not accept ugly girls. The student officials would screen the applicants in advance, which helped to "keep the brothers happy."

Freshmen, especially girls, would soon learn from their seniors that the student council did not accept ugly girls. They would then consider their own appearance. Other departments were a bit lacking, but the Women's Department and the Cultural Department of each college were essentially the gathering places of the most beautiful girls.

Joining the student council had obvious benefits for freshmen.

Firstly, it provided various advantages. After joining the student council, as long as your academic performance was not poor and you were good at interpersonal relationships, you could persist for a few years and enjoy various preferential treatments, such as evaluations, awards, recommendations for postgraduate studies, staying at the university, joining the Party, and job recommendations.

Secondly, Dongsen University was known for its strict management. In the first year, they checked hygiene, in the second year, they checked dormitory returns, and in the third year, they checked morning exercises. All these were strictly enforced, especially in the first year. However, once you joined the student council, you were not the one being checked but the one doing the checking. What a feeling! What a treatment! What a status in the dormitory!

The situation was different for the girls' dormitory building. Male student officials could only enter under special circumstances, and certainly not for dormitory checks. This power was in the hands of the Women's Department, making it the most sought-after department among girls.

However, there were always exceptions, and Liao Liao was the exception in the Media College. The student council had invited her to join several times, but she always said she was too busy. Strangely, even though she wasn't in the student council, they never caused her any trouble, and her treatment was no different from that of a student council member. Later, it was concluded that Liao Liao's entrance in the first year was too impressive, with five new S-class Mercedes-Benzes. Additionally, her presence was so strong that no one, male or female, could stand under her gaze for long.

Of course, Liao Liao was an exception. Most girls still aspired to the various benefits of the student council.

Therefore, the recruitment for the Dongsen University student council was truly... a sea of people.

Usually, in the girls' dormitories, the roommates would encourage the most presentable girl to try joining the Women's Department. If someone from the room joined the Women's Department, it would provide significant help, even if just for early warnings.

Xu Shangxiu's dormitory was quite good, as they recommended both Xu Shangxiu and another girl to join the Women's Department, providing double insurance. In their floor, eight girls looked at each other, unable to decide who should join, and the entire floor mourned for them for several days.