Past eight thirty in the morning, the boys, having primped themselves, started to emerge from the dormitories one after another. A group of flashy fellows, they managed to project the air of a male model supergroup.
Of course, some quickly faltered.
"Lang Ge, you've got your socks on inside out."
"Nani?"
"Holy crap, my shoelaces came undone again. What kind of trash shoes are these? And I spent hundreds on them."
"Who did your hair for you?"
"I did it myself. What about it?"
"Do you think you're the God of Gamblers? Who styles their hair like this anymore? Are you trying to show off your broad forehead?"
"Damn, is it that ugly? You should have said so earlier!"
...
Qin Tian walked ahead, listening to the banter of the jesters behind him, and almost burst out laughing.
It wasn't just their class; all along the way, they could see similar groups of second-year male students from other departments.
And it wasn't just the boys; some girls had also dressed up meticulously, wanting to showcase their charm as senior students as much as possible.
Times have changed; sibling relationships can be quite appealing too!
Junior students might be even more obedient and cute!
It was evident that everyone was taking today very seriously.
The exceptions, of course, were those like Qin Tian and Zhuang Zhe, who already had girlfriends and were absolutely devoted.
As for Chen Zhuang and Zhang Lang, well, that's another story.
The students of Economics Class 1, along with a few other classes, were responsible for receiving and guiding the new students of their major.
Following the tasks assigned by their class presidents, some headed to the school gate to greet students, while others went to the reception points set up by the School of Economics and Management.
A smaller, less fortunate group, drew the short straw and had the more demanding task of holding up signs at the train station exit to pick up people.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan, as class presidents, had no specific assigned tasks; they were to coordinate and direct the other students in their class, and help out wherever else they were needed.
It was still early, and not many freshmen were arriving at school at this hour; most were locals from Jiangcheng, who lived nearby.
Therefore, those who arrived at the school gate were temporarily idle, gathering together to chat and laugh, exchanging experiences on how to pursue junior female students.
Even the lifelong singles who had never dated before spoke eloquently and seriously, as if they were fully confident of success today.
Qin Tian also came to the school gate, listening with amusement to these guys boasting.
The girls still needed time to do their makeup, so they hadn't arrived yet.
"Tian Ge, don't just stand there laughing, share some of your experience with us."
Zeng Xin said to Qin Tian.
Upon hearing this, the gazes of several boys fell on him, and they chimed in one after another.
"Yeah, Tian Ge, don't just watch us like we're a joke!"
"Tian Ge, give us some advice, brother!"
"That's right, Tian Ge, you're an expert at winning over the sister-in-law so effortlessly. Teach us a few moves before the pretty junior girls arrive!"
"Tian Ge, come, have a smoke!"
One quick-witted guy playfully offered a cigarette.
Qin Tian waved his hand with a smile, "I'll pass on the smoke, but since you've all said so, I have a word for you that might be helpful."
As his words fell, several pairs of eyes lit up instantly, looking at him with eager anticipation.
"There are no tricks to pursuing girls, sincerity is the ultimate skill."
Qin Tian said with a hearty smile.
The boys exchanged glances, then looked at Qin Tian with admiration and reverence.
"Damn, Tian Ge, what you said is worthy of someone who can chase after the sister-in-law!"
Someone couldn't help but exclaim.
Others nodded in agreement.
"It's a shame that Cao Cao isn't here. He should hear this too. Why be a scumbag when you can be anything else?"
Chen Zhuang said with a look of disgust.
The others looked at him, and Zhang Lang jokingly remarked, "Brother Zhuang, but you have Siqi now, don't you? Why did you dress up so nicely today?"
Qin Tian and the others wore knowing smiles upon hearing this.
"What are you talking about!"
Chen Zhuang glared at Zhang Lang and said seriously, "I'm not as flashy as you guys, fussing over hairstyles and nice clothes. I'm just cleaner and tidier than usual. When we receive new students later, the parents will see this and think it's how a senior should look, right?"
"Tch..."
Everyone snorted with disdain.
"Shen Siqi, your Brother Zhuang is teaching us how to pick up junior girls!"
Zeng Xin suddenly shouted towards the distance.
Qin Tian and the others looked over and saw Shen Siqi, Xia Nuannuan, and a few other girls from their class approaching.
"Damn, Zeng San Jin, are you looking for a beating?"
Chen Zhuang glared at him furiously.
"He can teach you guys?"
Shen Siqi said with surprise.
"We're all single dogs. He has a girlfriend like you, so he speaks with such confidence!"
Zeng Xin said with a chuckle.
Chen Zhuang's face turned dark, and he reached out his large, fan-like hand to grip Zeng Xin's neck.
"Ah—ouch, ouch, ouch, I was wrong, I was wrong."
"Say that again. Aren't you quite the storyteller?"
"Just kidding, Brother Zhuang, I was wrong."
Zeng Xin shrank his neck, smiling sheepishly and admitting defeat.
Zhang Lang and the others rolled their eyes speechlessly, expressing their contempt for the spineless fellow with their expressions.
They selectively forgot that in front of the crude warrior Chen Zhuang, their own bones hadn't been very strong a few times either.
"Chen Da Zhuang, you're dressed so well today, what are you up to?"
As the girls approached, Shen Siqi narrowed her eyes slightly and stared at Chen Zhuang, questioning him meaningfully.
Chen Zhuang's expression stiffened.
"What? Are you really going to teach us firsthand how to pick up junior girls, just like Zeng Xin said?"
Shen Siqi's face showed a faint smile, but in Chen Zhuang's eyes, it looked like the deadly smile of a witch.
"How could that be! Siqi, you know my feelings for you, it's impossible. I'm just being polite."
Chen Zhuang denied it earnestly.
"Then why is Qin Tian, as the class president, dressed the same as usual?"
Shen Siqi gestured towards Qin Tian with her chin.
"This..."
Chen Zhuang was speechless for a moment and cast a resentful glance at Qin Tian.
Qin Tian chose to ignore him directly and said to Xia Nuannuan, who was covering her mouth and giggling, "You're still laughing. You're dressed so beautifully today, what are you up to?"
"Ah? Really?"
Xia Nuannuan blinked, looked down at her outfit, and said with a confused expression, "These are all old clothes, I haven't even put on makeup, I didn't dress up at all!"
"Is that so? Then why do I feel like you're even more beautiful today?"
Qin Tian raised his hand and rubbed his chin, feigning a serious look as he appraised her, nodding, "Hmm, then I must have misunderstood. My Nuannuan is naturally more beautiful day by day, it's quite normal."
"You always know how to say nice things."
Xia Nuannuan's cheeks flushed, and with a mixture of shyness and joy, she gave him a playful glare.
The surrounding classmates watched this scene with complex expressions, feeling like they had been force-fed a wave of dog food first thing in the morning, leaving them feeling choked.