Xia Fu initially thought Fang Jingcheng would take her to the regular classroom building where they usually had classes, but unexpectedly, he headed straight into an entirely unfamiliar area.

“Huh? Our project discussion isn’t in the public teaching area. We’re going to the self-study room at Yingcai Courtyard.”

F University’s campus was vast. Most students only ventured between their dorms, the cafeteria, and the building for their major, and few ever even made it to the gym, making it tough to get a full picture of the university grounds.

As for Yingcai Courtyard, that special area reserved for the top students in the Elite Class, Xia Fu had only heard about it in occasional gossip.

The so-called dormitory area, study area, and recreation area were made up of several red-brick buildings, all encircled by a green fence blanketed with ivy, making it feel like a secluded island within the campus. The only way to enter through the grand iron gate with ornate designs was with a special campus card.

It was like stepping back in time to a private academy from the early 1900s, blending Eastern and Western elements. The lush plane trees provided a canopy that shielded the area from the heat, and the breeze through the leaves created a continuous rustling sound, with several elegant villas standing quietly amidst it all.

“Just like the doctoral students, everyone here has a single room, their own bathroom and shower, and there’s even a small kitchen similar to the one in the faculty dining hall. There’s a private garden in the back, and a pond filled with koi. But the tuition is the same as for regular students. If you maintain an average score of 90 or above, you can get a tuition waiver, and there are special scholarships provided by various companies as well.”

Walking side by side on the mosaic-tiled path, Fang Jingcheng listed the amenities of the Elite Class, the details almost overwhelming, as Xia Fu felt a bit like Liu Grandma stepping into the Grand View Garden, filled with awe and a bit out of place.

Though equality was a modern ideal, in this public university, Xia Fu could still sense a faint whiff of elite education, the kind she imagined in overseas institutions for aristocrats. Yet F University was fairer than that; exceptional students could earn special privileges. It was rare for locals to enjoy such comforts that even foreign academies would envy.

Over the green water bloomed purple lotuses with pale yellow stamens, like tiny golden peas, which drew koi fish over to nibble at them, while nearby, some students took an after-meal stroll, feeding the fish and watching.

In the past, Xia Fu had only read about such scenes in travel notes from her literature class.

Gazing at the distant octagonal pavilion, she murmured to herself in awe, “It’s so beautiful…” and wondered: if only she had worked harder in high school to get into a place like this, sparing her family the hefty tuition. Would she not be struggling as much as she was now? Would she be able to sit in that pavilion, watching the fish swim?

Fang Jingcheng was carefully playing his role as a guide, but his attention was focused on Xia Fu, watching as she became captivated by the luxurious environment. He smiled slightly, pleased to see her interest deepening.

“If you like it, you could come here, too. Admission to the Elite Class is based on rolling scores. Those who don’t maintain the required GPA are moved back to the regular classes, replaced by better students.”

“This year’s admissions are still open. At the beginning of sophomore year, the university will allow students to apply for a dual degree and for supplemental admissions to the Elite Class. With solid scores, a competition win or two, and a teacher’s recommendation, you could easily qualify for an interview.”

“Then, your direct advisor wouldn’t be Jiang Rong, but the department head himself.”

With him here, the recommendation letter from the head of department was nearly guaranteed, but it was always good to play more cards. Xia Fu would probably appreciate earning her teachers’ praise through her own efforts.

Fang Jingcheng paused at the door to the self-study room, leisurely dealing his final card before making a courteous gesture, inviting Xia Fu to go in with a “ladies first” motion.

“All right, we’re here. Let’s get started on our discussion.”

Having come this far, he thought Xia Fu should have an idea of what to do next.

Before her was a small classroom that could only seat ten people. A solid wood round table was placed in front of a high-definition screen, surrounded by several butterfly chairs. The students seated around the table, both men and women, were all top students from F University. Like Fang Jingcheng, they dressed smartly and neatly, with hair and skin that seemed to shine with some sort of aura. At the front, Professor Zhou Hongxia, a Ph.D. advisor from the School of Finance, was adjusting her computer, preparing the materials for the projection.

Everything felt unfamiliar, and Xia Fu’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might leap out of her chest.

Xia Fu knew she didn’t belong here. As an outsider joining this seminar, she felt out of place and nervous.

Yet she wanted to be a part of this; she needed to prove her worth and distance herself from threats like Jiang Rong. Xia Fu took a deep breath, clutching the rare opportunity with all her might. Steeling herself, she pulled out the closest chair and focused intently on every detail around her.

There were only a few top freshmen, and the circle was small enough that everyone knew each other. Seeing Fang Jingcheng, who was always hard to find, suddenly appear, someone laughed and said, “What a coincidence, Fang Shao, you’re doing the Tech Innovation Discussion too?” They approached him casually, trying to cozy up, despite being in the presence of a professor, while others lazily glanced up and continued reading their materials.

The line between the true achievers and those who got in through connections was clear. It was obvious who was who at a glance.

Compared to them, Xia Fu was just a “keychain” dangling from Fang Jingcheng’s “bag,” an accessory hardly worth noting. But when Fang Jingcheng formally introduced her, people started to size up the petite girl beside him.

“Yes, I registered for this year’s Mathematical Modeling Competition, so, of course, I have to get some tips from the professor if I want to win.”

Fang Jingcheng was clearly comfortable in this social environment. Smiling, he turned to the woman in the center, showing a respectful attitude.

“Teacher Zhou, would you mind if I brought my teammate along to observe? She’s very interested in your research area, but since you didn’t offer a public lecture this semester, I thought I’d bring her here.”

Zhou Hongxia nodded, allowing this favor. “Of course, this room is always open to students who are genuinely eager to learn. May I know your name?” She sat gracefully in her chair, smiling at Xia Fu across the table.

A woman in her early forties with shoulder-length, wavy hair, dressed in a beige chiffon blouse and light brown linen wide-leg pants, she exuded an aura of intellectual elegance.

Xia Fu swallowed nervously, trying to keep her smile as genuine as possible.

“Hello, Professor. I’m Xia Fu, a freshman in Applied Mathematics.”

For someone who’d overlooked Fang Jingcheng’s absences, it was clear Zhou Hongxia was someone who could be “negotiated with.” But her emphasis on “genuine eagerness to learn” hinted that she had her own academic expectations. Xia Fu knew her brief self-introduction should end there. She’d need to prove her interest in the truths of econometrics during the discussion, rather than showing she was just there for an easy grade.

She’d have to show a strong desire to learn, high efficiency, and genuine admiration for the professor. Even though speaking without a prepared presentation felt risky, it wasn’t the time to shy away!

Having held several part-time jobs, Xia Fu knew the power of making an impression. That was how she’d persuaded Fang Jingcheng initially, crossing disciplines to secure the ghostwriting gig and making enough to buy her laptop.

The discussion resembled a weekly research meeting, where participants took turns presenting updates on recent experiments or analyzing standout papers, followed by guidance from the advisor on the next steps.

To her delight, Xia Fu found that some of the thoughts being shared aligned with ideas she could contribute to, especially around the upcoming Mathematical Modeling Competition.

As for her own updates, she had project codes from yesterday’s forum, data from Blue Star Corporation, and papers from Zhou Hongxia’s group. With just her notes, a simulation chart, a few equations, and a hundred lines of code, Xia Fu managed to make a passable presentation.

Her conditions were limited, and she couldn’t compare to the other elites, but her report had clear structure.

Xia Fu’s manner of expression was plain, relying heavily on phrases like “first,” “second,” and “last.” She barely used gestures, her tone lacked modulation, and she didn’t have particularly innovative insights.

But it was organized. She seemed to have chewed through others’ findings, absorbed them, and reorganized them with her own goals in mind, conveying the knowledge in a way anyone present could understand, maximizing its functionality.

Her pale face flushed lightly from nervousness, and when she spoke too long, she started to stammer, with a glistening drop of sweat at her nose tip. But her obsidian-like eyes sparkled with a captivating light due to her focus.

She had not only read the papers but was already applying them at her quickest speed.

At first, Zhou Hongxia thought it was just Fang Jingcheng pulling a trick for easy participation credit, prepared to brush it off. But she saw a promising talent here.

As the last to present, Xia Fu sat down, marking the start of the teacher-student discussion.

One of the second-generation rich students, eager to win Fang Jingcheng’s favor, wasted no time with flattery, saying, “Those diagrams are beautiful! You really are Fang Shao’s teammate!”

But to Xia Fu’s surprise, the boy who’d been silently reading his materials actually spoke up, offering her a parameter-tuning suggestion.

And as for the opinion of the crucial Professor Zhou?

Nervously, Xia Fu looked over at the woman across the round table, her heart pounding.

Zhou Hongxia spoke kindly, her expression full of obvious encouragement and admiration:

“For an introduction, reading papers is definitely efficient.”

“But to build a solid foundation and go deeper, it’s best to review textbooks on this topic. There’s a book by a scholar from Country C that’s quite excellent. Do you have a USB drive? I can transfer it for you.”

She’d succeeded!

“Y-yes, I do.”

Wide-eyed, Xia Fu fumbled with her bag, almost dropping her pencil case, but Fang Jingcheng steadied her and passed her USB drive back to her with a warm hand.

It was a pleasant exchange, reminding Xia Fu of her days with Teacher Li in high school. When the group dispersed, she slumped into her chair, repeatedly patting her chest as she laughed wryly and shared her thoughts with Fang Jingcheng:

“So nervous… My heart’s still pounding. I must have looked ridiculous just now… Thank goodness you reacted quickly.”

Fang Jingcheng’s mood was relaxed.

He seemed to savor the feeling of being the “parent pushing their kid on stage during the New Year,” watching Xia Fu perform through a teammate’s eyes—as if from any angle, she was “showing everyone how impressive she is.”

“What’s there to be nervous about? Didn’t you do well? I told you she’d like you.”

Zhou Hongxia was a smart woman. She was willing to tolerate him, a wealthy heir, while collaborating with businesses to secure project funds, which she then used to sponsor talented students. Her research group was known for its high standards but also offered excellent conditions.

“Since she’s willing to help, it’s pretty much a done deal. Want to look around the area? Even though I live off-campus, I still keep a single dorm room here. Want to see your future environment?”

He’d had a busy day! After visiting his father and brother, he’d been drained mentally and deserved a little break.

When he’d first enrolled, he’d redecorated the dorm in a burst of enthusiasm: bohemian knitted rugs, photos of scenic views covering the wall above his desk, an ergonomic chair, and a soft latex mattress.

He was utterly exhausted and just wanted to lie down.

But instead of the eager response he’d expected, Xia Fu coolly rejected him. She’d just gotten new materials and was clearly still excited.

“I want to read over the book first. I’m far behind everyone else here and need to catch up.” The private bathroom sounded tempting, and Xia Fu did want to check it out. But her studies were the priority, and if she could join the Elite Class, there’d be plenty of time to explore in the future.

The young man leaned his head back against the chair, blinking pitifully.

“You’ve got energy; I don’t. Just focusing in class makes my head spin. I need a quick nap before I can drive. Can you hang around in the lounge a bit longer? I’d like to leave with you.”

He seemed like a big dog, waiting for his owner to be nearby before closing his eyes.

“Okay, I’ll stay with you.”

Following a yawning Fang Jingcheng, Xia Fu arrived at the lounge on the second floor of the self-study room. The open-air balcony overlooked a rock garden in the back courtyard, with a few canvas wicker chairs where students could sit and gaze up at the starry sky and the gardenias in bloom.

To think a place like this even existed…

The surroundings intrigued Xia Fu, and once again, she marveled at the contrasts of the world.

A seat at a café cost sixty yuan, a starter at a private restaurant went for three hundred, and F University’s admissions required a rank in the city’s top two thousand. Meanwhile, entry to the Elite Class was limited to the top five hundred.

People liked to say that all roads led to Rome, but some roads undeniably had “gates,” which required the right “keys” for entry, whether in the form of a high price or complex social connections.

What about him? Was Fang Jingcheng her “key” now?

Once seated, the young man closed his eyes, eagerly reclining in the embrace of the canvas chair, his fluffy head resting against the back, his strong arms draped lightly over the wooden armrests.

Their chairs were close together, and his elbow nearly brushed against hers. Bathed in the moonlight, Xia Fu lowered her gaze, studying the defenseless, handsome young man beside her and the “black serpent” coiling around his arm.

They said a serpent symbolized tempting desires.

And Fang Jingcheng was indeed filled with everything she desired.

The sinuous, twisting bones seemed to form jagged “teeth,” a strange shape that fit perfectly with the lock. The moment she grasped his arm in her faltering grip, a closed world seemed to shift.

All right, this could count as a reward, too.

Fang Jingcheng relished the indescribable thrill as Xia Fu’s fingers grazed his arm, a drowsy thought taking form.

He would nurture her with things she liked, and she would, in turn, grow to like him just a little bit more.

He would build it up gradually, so that by the day of the competition, he would have her full attention. Like a serpent, he would wind tightly around Xia Fu, leaving no space for Fang Siyu to ever come close.