Chapter 2

Standing at the grand gates of A University with her suitcase in hand, Yue Bai experienced a brief moment of daze. She glanced up at the massive school name carved into the stone wall, then took a step forward and walked inside.

Red tents lined both sides of the road ahead, where seniors held up signs for their majors and enthusiastically explained the details to the incoming freshmen.

Yue Bai looked around but didn’t spot the Art College sign. She paused for a moment before dragging her suitcase and continuing onward.

“Hey, are you a freshman?” Urgent footsteps approached from behind. Yue Bai instinctively turned her head and saw a sweaty guy wearing a mask. A flicker of doubt appeared in her eyes.

“Ha, which college are you from? I’ll take you there.” The male student smoothly snatched the suitcase from her hand, his eyes crinkling into happy crescents.

Yue Bai let out a soft “Ah,” remembering that the school did have volunteers to help with luggage. She didn’t think much of it. “Senior, I’m from the Art College.”

“Art College, huh.” The senior nodded. “I have a friend there too. If you have any questions later, you can ask him.”

“Okay.” Yue Bai figured it was just polite chatter and had no intention of actually tracking down his friend.

“Oh, right.” After walking a couple of steps, the senior slapped his forehead as if suddenly remembering something, looking rather sheepish. “Freshman, I forgot to mention—you need to get a campus card first before you can register.”

Yue Bai frowned. What kind of rule was that?

“Come on, freshman, let’s hurry. The earlier we get it done, the better dorm you can pick.” Seeing her hesitate, the senior urged her on.

“Well… alright then.” Yue Bai agreed reluctantly.

A flash of smug triumph crossed the senior’s eyes as he pushed the suitcase, preparing to veer off in another direction.

“Yue Bai? Is that really you?” A voice laced with amusement called out. “What are you doing here? The Art College tent is over by the west gate.”

“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai called out in surprise, then gave an embarrassed smile. “I read the guides online—most people enter from the east gate, so…”

Sang Wan shook her head with a laugh. “Where are you headed now?” She glanced at the direction the puzzled male student was taking Yue Bai—down a road lined with tents for all sorts of business vendors.

“The senior said we can’t register without a campus card, so we’re going to get one now.” Yue Bai didn’t notice how the so-called senior’s face was draining of color as she spoke bluntly.

“I don’t recall any such school rule.” Sang Wan brushed past Yue Bai to eye the man behind her. She took a couple of steps forward. “I remember the class meetings in the first couple of days warning everyone: scamming new students into signing up for random cards will get you named and shamed across the whole school.”

“Are you seriously breaking the rules right in the open?” Sang Wan’s tone remained even as she pulled the suitcase back and rested her hand on the handle.

Yue Bai blinked in stunned confusion, only then piecing it together. Had she just been scammed? Suddenly, she recalled the multiple warnings in the freshman group chat about not rushing to get a campus card or anything like that.

“I was just showing the new student around.” With his scheme exposed, the guy bolted toward the crowd.

Sang Wan sighed helplessly. “I’ll take you there.”

Yue Bai let out an “Ah.” “Don’t you have class, Senior Sister?”

Sang Wan pointed to the volunteer badge hanging around her neck. “I’m a volunteer.” She smiled. “Only those with volunteer badges or wearing college shirts are the real deal—don’t get it wrong.”

“Oh.” Yue Bai felt a pang of guilt.

As they walked along the wide road, Yue Bai couldn’t help but sigh in wonder. So this was university life—even the building names were so artistic. She gazed around with keen interest.

“You only brought this much?” Sang Wan suddenly asked, eyeing the modestly sized suitcase in her hand and the backpack on Yue Bai’s shoulders. It didn’t look like it could hold a lot.

“I shipped the bedding and stuff ahead.” Yue Bai explained.

“Smart thinking.” Sang Wan couldn’t help but chuckle at Yue Bai’s smug little expression.

“Senior Sister… I’m really not dumb.” Yue Bai muttered sulkily. I’m really not dumb! she shouted inwardly.

“Mm, I never said you were.” Sang Wan replied seriously.

Yue Bai pressed her lips together and said nothing. You didn’t say it, but that look on your face clearly screams that I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.

“We’re here.” Sang Wan pointed ahead to the tent marked Art College. “Did you bring your admission notice?”

At the tent, Yue Bai shrugged off her backpack and rummaged through it. “Yeah, it’s in here somewhere… right in the bag… Huh, where’d it go? I can’t find it.”

In her growing panic, Yue Bai started pulling everything out: toner, moisturizer, face cream, all sorts of cosmetics…

The two reception senior sisters stared at the pile on the table, their lips twitching. They exchanged a glance. “Don’t worry, freshman. Take your time and look carefully.”

“It’ll be quick. I know I put it right here.” Yue Bai kept her head down, searching frantically. Finally, as a slender white arm reached into the bag and fished the red-enveloped admission notice out from a hidden pocket, she looked up gratefully—only to meet Sang Wan’s amused gaze. Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she ducked her head again.

Wuwuwu, I’m done for. I really might not be that smart after all.

“Sang Wan, you’re scaring the little newbie.” A voice called from the neighboring Music College tent as someone stepped out. “Look, now she’s too embarrassed to even face you.”

Yue Bai ducked her head even lower. Please, just pretend I’m not here. Ignore me, I beg you.

“Am I?” Sang Wan raised an eyebrow in surprise. Seeing Yue Bai shrinking like a turtle head into its shell, she patted the girl’s shoulder and pulled her forward. “What are you talking about? We already know each other. This little one’s just shy—don’t come out here startling her.”

Yue Bai’s face burned even hotter.

Just then, a new Music College freshman arrived. The speaker shrugged and hurried off to greet them.

Clutching her keycard and campus card, Yue Bai thought the ordeal was finally over. She flashed a brilliant smile. “Senior Sister, I’m off to the dorms now. Thanks so much for your help.”

“Alright…” Sang Wan watched with amusement as Yue Bai bolted off to the right. “The Art College dorm building is to the left.”

“Got it, Senior Sister!” Yue Bai picked up her pace, practically running in the opposite direction.

“What a scatterbrained little thing.” Sang Wan settled into a seat at the Music College station to help with freshmen. She took a sip of water, her gaze falling on the roster of new student contacts. After a moment’s hesitation, she walked over to the Art College tent. “Mind if I take a look at that freshman’s info from earlier?”

“Finally made it.” Yue Bai let out a long breath. “I’m exhausted.”

Ding. Her phone chimed, but Yue Bai paid it no mind.

It took her half an hour to unpack. As the first one to arrive at the dorm, she picked up her phone out of boredom to check her messages.

“Wan requests to add you as a friend.” Yue Bai read softly. “Who’s this?” She checked the verification message.

“Don’t mind me adding you from the Art College freshman roster. —Sang Wan.”

Senior Sister Sang. Yue Bai shot to her feet, double-checking before carefully tapping ‘Accept.’

“Sorry, Senior Sister, I was unpacking and just saw it now.” The moment she accepted, Yue Bai fired off an explanatory message.

“Mm.”

So curt. Is she mad that I took so long to accept? Yue Bai fretted anxiously.

Ding. Another message arrived.

“I’m tied up right now—talk later. The express pickup station is right in front of the dorm building, and it shouldn’t be too crowded now.” It was from Sang Wan.

“Got it. Thanks for the trouble, Senior Sister.”