17. Who is Lu Jincheng?

"Lao Lu, you've been at school for so long, and I've never seen you take an interest in anyone. Are you finally smitten?"

Qiang Zhihao patted Lu Jincheng on the shoulder without taking his eyes off his computer screen.

Ignoring the low-hanging fruit but instead this kid prefers the challenge of the hard-to-get ones!

"No, she seems approachable enough."

Lu Jincheng shrugged and brushed Qiang's hand away.

"Ah, you just don't get it."

Qiang Zhihao smirked and began to pontificate.

"Do you know what having followers in the six digits on Weibo means?"

"It means her inbox is filled with endless private messages every day, no telling how many guys hit on her, she's probably immune to the fawning!"

Liu Yisheng nodded in agreement, "Indeed, a girl like that? I don't stand a chance, she wouldn't give me the time of day."

"Is that so?"

Mr. Lu blinked but remained noncommittal.

In fact, he really thought that compared to Zhong Ruixi, Mou Keyan was much simpler to win over.

The ones who usually surrounded him the most in his past life were these kinds of mini internet celebrities.

They had good looks, great figures, and talents, but most importantly, they knew how to have fun.

Early to mature, they were never short on rewards.

"Right, compared to Senior Sister Miao, I feel Zhong Ruixi suits me more, Xu Ya would do too."

"Qiangzi, you're being picky again?"

Liu Yisheng couldn't resist teasing him.

"Shit, just wait and see how I perform, and that will be it!"

Qiang Zhihao straightened his back and stood in front of the mirror, fussing with his hair.

...

Before the military training ended, as usual, each college and class organized class meetings. The objectives were two-fold: to familiarize everyone quickly and to select class officers.

In the Building 10 lecture hall, Lu Jincheng's class from the Business Administration department was also holding their class meeting.

"My fellow students, now let's introduce ourselves in seating order."

Teacher Guo Minjie had clearly applied different makeup than usual, making her look radiant and elegant in a form-fitting cheongsam, just like a delicate and graceful lady from a bustling foreign settlement.

"Hello everyone, I'm Qiang Zhihao, from Hankou..."

"My name is Liu Yisheng, from..."

After a brief self-introduction, Lu Jincheng sat in his chair like an outsider, thoroughly enjoying the performances of his classmates.

After all, many people would never see each other again after graduation, and Mr. Lu had even forgotten their names; remembering the names of his three roommates was good enough.

"That one's quite pretty!"

He watched and listened to Qiangzi from the 603 group whispering to him.

At the podium, a girl named Ying Lu, with a fluent Jin City accent, introduced herself cheerfully.

"Seems like this was the class leader in my past life."

Hearing the familiar accent, Lu Jincheng remembered this person.

Girls from Jin City were born optimists, not only witty in speech but never letting your worries touch the ground.

How did that saying go?

There's "no one" in Tianjin!

In the past life, during the military training, Ying Lu had become the class clown in almost no time, winning the position of class leader by an overwhelming majority due to her popularity.

And there she was, Ying Lu cracked a couple of jokes during her introduction, making the whole class burst into laughter, met with incessant applause.

A freshman's self-introduction could actually reveal quite a bit about their character and temperament.

For instance, those who are lively and outgoing can get most of the classmates to know them during military training, and if they're generous, inviting everyone for meals and drinks from time to time, they can at least be a familiar face around the dorms.

When introducing yourself, being a bit more generous and humorous can easily leave a good first impression.

Participating in the democratic selection of class officers, obtaining positions like class leader or party branch secretary is just par for the course, as are the additional democratic evaluation points and scholarships.

The gap between people often starts with small things and grows wider and wider until there's an insurmountable gulf.

By contrast, those who are more introverted and didn't leave a deep impression during their introduction might end up with classmates not even remembering them by graduation time. They'll only realize who it is when they see the face.

"Oh, it turns out to be an old classmate!"

Of course, all of this has a precondition.

If this student is good-looking enough, just sitting there quietly is enough.

The face given by the creator will speak for them.

Just like Mr. Lu at this moment.

He not only doesn't need to spend effort introducing himself, others will actively speak for him.

"Okay, after so many days of military training, I believe everyone is familiar with each other. Now, let me announce the appointment of class officers for this semester."

Guo Minjie raised her wrist and wrote the names of positions like class leader and party branch secretary on the blackboard.

Lu Jincheng noticed that when her hair was tied up, a segment of her pale neck was faintly visible within the embroidered low neckline.

Not all of her hair could be contained in the bun, some fine strands still sprawled out messily, yet they were quite short, like the grass that had just sprouted in spring, emerging on her long neck.

"The class leader will be temporarily held by Lu Jincheng, as he united his classmates during the military training period, was willing to help others, and actively participated in the work of the college's Youth League Committee, receiving high praise from the college leaders."

She led the applause, and many students, with bewildered gazes, could only follow suit.

Who the hell is Lu Jincheng?

When did he unite his classmates?

I don't even know him!

What's this Youth League Committee, wasn't it said that we could join clubs after military training?

Most surprised were Lu Jincheng's three roommates, who clapped vigorously while constantly winking and gesturing at Lu Jincheng.

So Lao Lu, with his thick brows and big eyes, wasn't training with us; he'd secretly made his way with the higher-ups!

Society is that realistic—some people follow the rules and go with the flow, some analyze the rules for shortcuts, and some directly participate in and make the rules.

Different tracks, different directions.

The business management class that had democratically elected their class leader in his previous life had, under Mr. Lu's butterfly effect of rebirth, become a predetermined affair.

The rest of the class committee positions were much the same as in his previous life, only Ying Lu went from class leader to party branch secretary.

"Xiao Lu, come to my office in a bit."

After Teacher Guo Minjie finished all the necessary information for the freshmen, she declared the class meeting over.

"Class leader, should we set up a group chat?"

"That makes sense, I'll add you first, then you add the other students, and I'll go find Teacher Guo."

Lu Jincheng added Ying Lu as a friend and created a group chat named [Business Management Class One], then headed toward the student counselor's office.

...

Knock knock knock.

"Good afternoon, Teacher."

The office door wasn't closed.

Guo Minjie was alone in front of the computer, looking up something that seemed to be a Taobao page.

As the youngest one on the staff, naturally, her workstation was closest to the door.

Lu Jincheng approached and gently knocked on the door as a polite gesture.

"Oh, Xiao Lu... you're here."

Guo Minjie instantly switched from the Taobao page to a search homepage, turned around, and her expression remained as usual.

But in that brief glimpse, Lu Jincheng still saw it.

It was a product he was incredibly familiar with, one he could recognize even if it turned to ashes.

Could it be?!