CH 2

OVERGROWN GRASSLAND

2

As it turns out, those who don’t say much carry a lot of power. After the round of self introductions ended, Zhu Yun realized that the person who’d left the deepest impression was still contestant number 1.

Fang Shumiao whispered to Zhu Yun, “What do you think?”

“Mmh?”

“About Li Xun.”

Keeping her voice down, Zhu Yun responded, “He’s very unique.”

“The teacher isn’t going to allow him to keep that color hair, right?” Fang Shumiao frowned. “We’re adults now. Why’s he acting so rebellious? My mom never let me befriend boys who dyed their hair.”

That wasn’t so bad, Zhu Yun thought. Her mother would probably have written a letter to the school president, berating about the unpleasant atmosphere.

Zhu Yun unintentionally looked over to Li Xun. He was leaning back against his chair, still looking rather sleepy. His eyelids were drooping and his breathing was slow.

Unconventional people like himself would draw attention anywhere they went, especially since he was also carrying the title of “top scorer.” During the break after the introductions ended, several students crowded around Li Xun, speaking with him politely, wanting to learn more about him. But he hadn’t seemed at all interested.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

After that, Teacher Zhang spoke a bit more. He gave an overview of the courses and curriculum, and then he went over future employment trends and research directions.

Zhu Yun noticed that after the introductions finished, Fang Shumiao was bent over her small notebook, jotting down something or other. From time to time, she would pause and mutter to herself.

“So, I’ll stop here for today.” Teacher Zhang finally finished his lengthy speech. “The last thing we have to do is select the class committee. I hope there are students with lots of ideas who are eager to participate. Let’s choose the class president first. Who’d like to…”

Fang Shumiao seemed to have finished whatever she’d been doing. She closed her notebook, looked up with a serious face, and raised her hand.

……

Teacher Zhang let out a sigh of relief after seeing someone so cooperative. “Fang Shumiao, was it? Come on up to the front.”

Fang Shumiao strided to the lectern at the front of the classroom and cleared her throat. “Hello, everyone. My name is Fang Shumiao. You’re probably unfamiliar with me now, but no worries. We’ll have tons of time to slowly get to know each other.”

“I’ll get to the main topic. Today, I am running for class president. Now, I’ll go over my reasons for running as well as my qualifications. First, I’m very willing to serve everyone. Second, I’d like to improve myself. Third, I have experience being a class president. Fourth, I am confident and I have a firm resolve. Next, I’d like to discuss what I consider the duties of a class president are.”

Zhu Yun, “….” This familiar progression seemed to be her mother, the second edition. Zhu Yun sat up straight and respectfully as she listened to Fang Shumiao’s confident speech for nearly five minutes.

“…That was my speech for class president. I hope that everyone can put their trust in and vote for me. Thanks you!”

The advisor started applauding. This brought the rest of the class back to the senses and they clapped along.

Teacher Zhang asked, “Are there any other students who’d like to run for class president?”

After listening to Fang Shumiao’s textbook speech, the other students were exhausted. Teacher Zhang asked several times, but no one made a sound. And so, Fang Shumiao smoothly received the position.

Teacher Zhang told Fang Shumiao, “When the meeting ends, come to my office. And bring another student along with you. There are some materials that need to be distributed.”

When she returned to her seat, Zhu Yun shot Fang Shumiao a thumbs up. “You’re awesome.”

“Thanks!” Then Fang Shumiao asked, “Hey, are you free after this?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you come to the office with me? I think I’m supposed to go get some things.”

Zhu Yun nodded. After a moment, she turned her head. Cake Ren had been completely uninterested in the class happenings after Li Xun’s introduction. She’d lowered her head and listened to music the rest of the time.

Zhu Yun gently poked her.

“What?”

“I’m helping Fang Shumiao at the office later. Are you coming with?”

Ren Di looked at Zhu Yun indifferently. “Why would I go?”

“……”

The class meeting concluded. At the door to the academic building, Zhu Yun asked Ren Di once more, but she got the same response.

“Forget it. We’ll just go, the two of us,” Fang Shumiao said quietly. “If she doesn’t want to come, don’t call her anymore.” So, we parted ways at the street.

Zhu Yun watched Ren Di’s departing figure, and she felt a bit sad. If things were already like this on day 1, then didn’t it mean that the next four years wouldn’t pass by harmoniously either?

Zhu Yun and Fang Shumiao busied themselves for the rest of the afternoon, and then they went to the cafeteria for dinner. On the way back to their dorm room, in the still and quiet corridor, they seemed to be able to hear some music playing. And it seemed to be coming from their room.

After pushing open the door, they saw Ren Di sitting on her bed, a guitar in her arms.

“Ah? You can play guitar?” Zhu Yun closed the door and turned to ask.

After they entered the room, Ren Di put down her guitar. In response to Zhu Yun’s question, she just gave a short affirmative sound.

Zhu Yun praised, “That’s amazing. I can’t play any instruments.”

“I’m still learning, so I’m not very good.”

It was rare for them to have something to talk about, so Zhu Yun wanted to continue their conversation. But then, a knock sounded on the door.

“Anyone there?”

“Who is it?

“I’m from the student union. I have a few questions to ask.”

Zhu Yun opened the door. The senior student standing there was holding a pen and notebook, as if she were going to record something.

“We’re doing a census. Are any of you religious?”

Zhu Yun turned back. Fang Shumiao shook her head. “I’m not.”

Ren Di’s hopped out from her bed.

“Are there any perks?”

The senior asked with some uncertainty, “Perks?”

“For example, if you’re religious, are you exempt from morning and evening study hall or something?”

Everyone else, “….”

Zhu Yun wanted to believe that Ren Di’s words were just a sign of her unique sense of humor. But from her expression, it was obvious that wasn’t the case.

The senior scratched her face with her ballpoint pen. “That… I don’t think so. There’s no precedent for that.”

Ren Di quickly lost interest and returned to her bed.

Zhu Yun suddenly found it amusing. She turned back and said, “Then, our dorm room—”

“You’re not religious?”

Zhu Yun was taken aback. “What?”

The senior leaned in and pointed to her collar.

She looked down and saw that her cross necklace had slipped out at some point.

“Ah, this…” Zhu Yun stuffed the necklace back inside her shirt. “It’s just for looks.” The senior nodded and then headed to the next room.

Military training started. The August sun could kill a person. The weather that day was something else. Even blinking was a strenuous task. After one morning, not only were the new students drenched in sweat, even the instructor couldn’t take it any more.

“Line up under the shade of the trees! Take a break!”

Everyone sat down in a row by the road.

The sun had turned Zhu Yun muddle-headed. Fang Shumiao plopped down beside her, and then Zhu Yun shivered and came to her senses.

“I’m exhausted. There are a lot of materials to organize for the class.” Fang Shumiao’s face was all red and even her eyes were bloodshot from the heat. She grabbed her water bottle, only to realize that it was empty. She howled in grief.

“You’ve worked hard. I’ll go buy water.”

“No need, no need!”

Zhu Yun shook her water bottle and said, “I’m out as well.”

The vending machine was behind the laboratory. Zhu Yun took two turns and looked ahead, and then she stopped in place.

Li Xun’s hair was really useful in identifying him. He also seemed to be buying water, and he took a smoke while he was at it.

Go over? …Forget it. She didn’t know how she would greet him at all. Zhu Yun decided to wait until he finished his cigarette to head over. Three or four minutes later, Li Xun put out his cigarette and turned back. Zhu Yun stepped slowly, adjusting her position so that a tree was always between him and her.

After Li Xun left, Zhu Yun finally walked over to buy some water. Just as she picked up the bottles, Zhu Yun felt that her mouth was extremely dry. As she walked back, she decided to open her water bottle.

The first floor of the laboratory was unlocked for easy passage, so Zhu Yun took a shortcut through the building. After she walked inside, she spotted Li Xun talking to a girl a few meters away.

Zhu Yun turned away slightly.

“Hey. Can I get your contact info? Actually, I noticed you on the day we registered…”

Zhu Yun still hadn’t opened her bottle yet, so she could only grumble in her head. Wasn’t this bottle too tight?

“Sorry, I don’t have any intent of giving that out right now.”

Let me drink the water. I want to drink my water.

Silence.

Zhu Yun finally got her bottle open. She gulped down half a bottle and finally felt like she wasn’t going to die anymore. She turned and saw that that girl had already left. Li Xun was also about to return to the training ground as well. But before he could take three steps, another girl appeared before him, so Zhu Yun retreated into the corner again.

“I saw you on the first day of school. Can I get your contact info?” It was actually the same line.

“Give me your phone.”

……

Zhu Yun stretched her head out from behind a pillar. Not surprising. This one was much prettier than the previous one. A girl who could make the dirt-covered military uniform actually look stylish. With a quick glance over, Zhu Yun could tell that she definitely wasn’t from the computer department.

His fame had really spread far and wide.

Zhu Yun didn’t know how many girls sought him out, nor did she know how many girls caught his eye for him to leave his number. In any case, up until halfway through military training, a senior girl from the journalism school would leave with him every day.

Then, during the second half of training, that girl was nowhere to be seen. She’d been replaced by a girl who would deliver a cup of iced soy milk to him every day, rain or shine, without fail.

Pretty much as she’d expected, after the students’ initial goodwill towards Li Xun went unreciprocated, most of the students gave up on the idea of becoming friends with him. Zhu Yun also heard some of the things they would say about him.

But the thing that touched Zhu Yun was that college students were different from middle school and high school students. Everyone had matured a lot. When met with someone or something different and unexpected, even if it left them feeling unwell, most people would just go on minding their own business.

Or did high school students just have higher IQs, and so they wouldn’t let something go until they got to the bottom of it? Who knows.

In any case, after the crazy excess of heat, September came. School was officially starting.