4. Don't want to let everyone down

Lu Jincheng, carrying several bags, pushed open the dorm room door and found that his roommates had all returned.

The dorm rooms at Nanhu University in Jiang City were quite decent, featuring standard four-person accommodations, bunk beds with desks underneath, air conditioning, and private bathrooms.

The timing of military training placed the roommates at a point where they had just met but were not yet very familiar with each other.

So, when Lu Jincheng entered the room, he saw the following scene.

Near the balcony, a young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and dressed in designer clothes was on the phone, cursively swearing in the local Jiang City dialect.

"Fucking hell! That zebra instructor won't let me rest at all..."

This was Qiang Zhihao, a local from Jiang City, coming from a well-off family, and indiscriminate in his eating habits.

Closest to the dorm door, a skinny boy had turned on a desk lamp and was tossing his clothes and socks into a wash basin.

The rather modest young man was named Zhang Gaoqiang, from Gansheng.

From what he remembered, Zhang barely spent on entertainment or anything extra during his four years in college.

The last roommate was lying on his bed, quietly using his phone, not even glancing up.

He was Liu Yisheng, who in a previous life had been Lu Jincheng's closest friend—cold on the outside but warm on the inside, actually quite the jokester.

As Lu Jincheng opened the door, everyone's gaze naturally focused on him, and Qiang Zhihao, having finished his phone call, came over with a smile.

"I'm not criticizing you, but man, how come you're so frail?"

"Next time we go out for barbecue, let's order a bunch of kidney skewers to beef you up!"

After all, it was only the first day of military training, and in the Management College squadron, Lu Jincheng was the only male student who had suffered a heat stroke.

"Right, I do need to take better care of myself this time."

Middle-aged men, when teased about their deficiencies, would often turn red-faced and try to argue.

In reality, without fighting strength, they lacked confidence.

But the current Lu Jincheng felt completely calm inside, able to catch jokes lightly and even reflect on them.

Because he was full of confidence in his current self.

An eighteen-year-old body, strong, invincible!

"What were you doing sneaking out this afternoon? Didn't see you at the field."

Zhang Gaoqiang, halfway through his laundry, also started a chat upon seeing Lu Jincheng return fully laden.

"Bought a couple of clothes and got a haircut; the previous style didn't really suit me."

Lu Jincheng cut off the tags from his newly bought Versace and placed them in the wardrobe while responding.

It's easy to shift from frugality to luxury but hard to revert.

Although Mr. Lu reminded himself to budget carefully while shopping, he still failed.

A 3400 yuan Medusa t-shirt, along with a pair of well-fitted jeans, wiped out his entire savings.

Of course, that didn't include his acquired loans.

Having been reborn splendidly, he couldn't possibly go back to being scruffy and wearing cheap t-shirts for socializing like in his past life.

Although a master once said that a woman who truly likes you wouldn't care about the color of the Ferrari you drive.

But first, you'd have to have one!

Most college girls are visual creatures, and Mr. Lu couldn't afford to lose face.

"Really, your new hairstyle looks much cooler than before!"

After giving his compliments, Zhang Gaoqiang seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, "So, how does the girl's face feel, soft?"

Topics that rapidly close distances between male college students typically involve bragging, gaming, and chasing girls.

Lu Jincheng had publicly made advances towards Zhong Ruixi in front of the whole college squadron, so once back at the dorm, they were bound to dive deep into gossip.

"Lu Jincheng, you're really something... boldly making your move in broad daylight. What's that girl's name again? She's pretty good-looking."

Liu Yisheng put down his phone and sat up in his bed to ask.

"She's called Zhong Ruixi, I've already looked her up," one side remarked.

Qiang Zhihao immediately added.

"Then isn't she just good-looking? I'm not boasting here, but among our cohort at the Management College, after I checked everyone out, she is absolutely the one!"

The meaning was clear.

Zhong Ruixi was the most outstanding girl of the 2014 batch at the Management College, outshining all the rest, unmatched.

After saying this, Qiang Zhihao gave a thumbs up, then turned to Lu Jincheng to express his admiration.

"High school classmate, just joking with her."

Lu Jincheng shrugged, with an unfazed expression.

"Ah? Brother Lu, you two were high school classmates?"

Hearing this, Qiang Zhihao immediately perked up, even changing his way of addressing him.

He leaned in close to Lu Jincheng, handed him a cigarette, and stretched both hands out to light it for him, his intentions as clear as day.

"Yeah, but we weren't close."

Lu Jincheng patted Qiang Zhihao's shoulder, took the Yu Xi cigarette he offered, and placed it expertly between his fingers, taking a drag.

Mmm... the cheap spice, not as good as a cigar.

"Not close but you can joke like that? Come off it!"

Qiang Zhihao scoffed, clearly unconvinced, and then wrapped an arm around Lu Jincheng, "Brother Lu, they say when you're away from home, rely on fellow townspeople. Let's use this opportunity; next time help me ask her out for a meal, will you?"

Watching the coy act, the tobacco scent tempering rosy cheeks.

Indeed, Zhong Ruixi's charm wasn't something these fresh, young college boys could resist.

According to statistics...

During the military training period, just within the Management College, the number of boys who expressed a liking for Zhong Ruixi had hit double digits.

Some asked directly for her contact information, others had roommates inquire on their behalf, and some tried everything they could to approach and strike up a conversation.

Qiang Zhihao was no exception, being a local rich second generation from Jiang City with plenty of girlfriends during his high school days.

But he was still far from reaching the level of a top beauty like Zhong Ruixi, which made him itch with eagerness.

"Qiangzi, you're asking for a bit much here."

Liu Yisheng smiled as he took over the conversation, "You're asking Lu Jincheng to help you ask a girl out, and then the three of you hang out together?"

"That would be so awkward!"

"How about listening to my idea instead, using his connection, let's organize some activity together between our two dorms, what's it called, a mixer!"

Liu Yisheng, who seemed harmless, also had his own clever plans.

He used his advantage of joining the freshmen group early to get a clear picture of some basic details about the Management College.

Although they were in the same major, they weren't in the same class.

Typically, they wouldn't even recognize each other's faces or match names until they attended common courses.

Liu Yisheng had already assessed all the freshman girls in the college group, and there were quite a few beauties!

Even if he couldn't win over Zhong Ruixi, what if her roommate was also beautiful?

"Right!"

Qiang Zhihao's eyes lit up, feeling that it was indeed a good idea.

Even Zhang Gaoqiang, who had been quietly doing laundry on the side, stopped his chore and looked towards Lu Jincheng.

"To be honest, I'm really not close with her."

Lu Jincheng grinned and waved his hand, then added a few more words.

"But since the brothers are so interested, I can't spoil the fun."

"I'll find a chance to ask."