“The club president insisted on making this phoenix crown back then, and I thought it was unnecessary. But today, seeing the junior in costume, hey! I have to say, the money was well spent.”

“The performance was amazing, especially that look of hatred, combined with the lightning outside, I was almost scared to pee my pants.”

“Hahaha, you’re exaggerating. Hmm… I need to go to the bathroom, you handle this first…”

“What did you say!!”

Everyone was still discussing the play enthusiastically when a high-pitched voice suddenly erupted.

Turning around, they saw Pei Hengzhi glaring angrily at the newly joined junior.

“What happened?” Xia Lin was the first to come over.

Luo Yunqing had already lowered his hand from his ear, pursing his lips, “I just said I would move into the senior’s dorm, and then the senior…”

“The junior is moving into our dorm?” You Jianan rubbed his arm, grinning, “That’s great!”

“But the senior…”

Luo Yunqing hesitated, glancing at the person with the unpleasant expression.

Xia Lin understood immediately.

The junior was good-looking and talented, even more popular than the vice president from a wealthy family, which made him feel unbalanced.

“It’s okay, junior.” Xia Lin patted his shoulder comfortingly, “If someone doesn’t want us, we can find another dorm. Plenty of people would welcome us.”

“Who said I don’t want it?” Pei Hengzhi retorted, regretting his words as soon as they left his mouth, “I…”

“You said it.” Xia Lin quickly stepped closer, covering her face with her hand and whispering, “Come on, you’re a senior, don’t be so petty.”

Pei Hengzhi: “Who’s petty? You don’t know him!”

“What about him? He’s got the looks, the talent, and with some development, he’ll definitely become the pillar of our drama club. Even if he has a bit of a stutter, it’s not too serious, he can work on it.”

Xia Lin was graduating next year.

The drama club would definitely be handed over to Pei Hengzhi, the vice president, and Luo Yunqing was a promising talent she valued. She hoped they could get along peacefully.

“Broaden your horizons, don’t fuss over one thing.” Xia Lin laughed, patting him twice, almost knocking him off balance, “The rain seems to have stopped outside, shouldn’t the senior take our junior to the dorm?”

You Jianan immediately chimed in, “I was just about to head back.”

“What are you going for?” Xia Lin grabbed his collar, dragging him back bit by bit, “The recruitment isn’t over yet, is one enough? You stay, and you too, Cheng Xu.”

Xia Lin grabbed one in each hand, not forgetting to wink at Pei Hengzhi.

Luo Yunqing also took a step closer at this time, “Senior, sorry to trouble you.”

…

The dormitory building wasn’t far from the Cultural Activity Center, just a couple of turns away.

Pei Hengzhi had bought an apartment off-campus and rarely came back here. In the four-person dorm, usually only You Jianan and Cheng Xu were around.

“Usually, when a new student moves in, we’re notified in advance.” Pei Hengzhi thought all the way. It was one thing for him not to know, but why did You Jianan and Cheng Xu also seem unaware?

“Well…” Luo Yunqing slowly surveyed the room, finally fixing his gaze on him, raising one corner of his mouth, “I was planning to apply for a transfer.”

“You!”

“What, nephew, not welcoming me?”

Pei Hengzhi’s expression changed several times, “You’re the son Uncle Song and the others found?”

Luo Yunqing walked straight to the only empty desk, pressing two fingers on it, slowly wiping off a layer of dust, feigning surprise as he turned back, “You didn’t know?”

Regarding Song Xuechen, how could he not know?

But thinking about it, he hadn’t followed the news, missed Xiao Xue’s birthday party because his dad beat him up, and the only time the paparazzi caught a blurry photo, it was just a back view.

Counting it, this was their first official meeting.

Let’s not talk about that now, “So you’re the one who bullied Xiao Xue, stole the necklace, and falsely accused her of pushing you into the water!”

Outside, the rain had cleared, and the cicadas began a new round of chirping on the trees.

Luo Yunqing looked at him steadily, after a while, letting out a very faint laugh, “So, that’s what he told you.”

Pei Hengzhi: “You don’t admit it!”

“I didn’t do it, why should I admit it?” Luo Yunqing rubbed the dust off his fingers, blowing it away, “There were many people who witnessed it at the time, if you don’t believe me, you can ask them.”

“What?” Seeing him silent, Luo Yunqing stepped closer, “Afraid to ask? Or do you already have the answer?”

What kind of person is Song Xuechen?

If she was really wronged, could she endure until today?

She would have already had the Song Family backing her, causing a huge uproar.

“Ah! I knew it, no one wants me back.” His long, thick eyelashes slowly drooped, biting his thin lips, his voice trembling slightly, “So, no matter what I say or do, it’s wrong. But did I really do something so heinous, senior?”

Pei Hengzhi involuntarily took a step back, and Luo Yunqing followed closely.

He retreated even more.

His steps were a bit flustered, turning his head aside, “It’s best if you didn’t do it, if I find out…”

Before he could finish, footsteps echoed from the stairway.

“Anyway, behave yourself.”

Pei Hengzhi left a not-so-threatening remark and left without looking back, naturally missing the intriguing smile Luo Yunqing showed as he turned.

Behave?

That’s not up to you to decide.

…

In less than half a day, the scene in the drama club’s activity room sparked a heated discussion on Jing University’s campus forum, quickly climbing to the top alongside keywords like “freshman” and “new student.”

The post quickly reached a thousand comments.

…

[828L: You guys don’t know how amazing the junior’s acting is! Being there in person, it was a win.]

[1013L: (Picture) (Picture) (Picture)]

[1013L: Live photos, take them, no thanks needed.]

[1095L: Found it, sisters! From the Computer Science Department, Artificial Intelligence major, Luo Yunqing. Wait, isn’t this the third place in this year’s Yanjing college entrance exam? I read his report.]

[1157L: Wuwuwu, being good-looking is one thing, but having good grades too, which window did God close for him?]

[1206L: I’m from the same floor in the music club, heard from the drama club that he seems to stutter.]

[1207L: Stuttering is nothing, I’d even accept a mute!]

[1209L: Me too! Quietly working hard, it’s just too fitting.]

The comments started to go off-topic.

Until—

[1278L: Has a partner, thanks.]

The entire forum exploded.

Soon, someone found out it was the junior himself.

Private messages started dinging endlessly.

In the drama club’s WeChat group, it was a chorus of “Ah?”

“The junior has a partner!”

“Is it a guy or a girl?”

“Junior, do you mind adding one more, just squeeze in between you two~”

“Who is this, the SpongeBob from 1209L on the forum? Admin, kick them out for me!”

…

Luo Yunqing wiped the desk and chair clean, sitting down, scrolling through the messages as the warm wind blew in from the balcony.

It seemed like it hadn’t been this lively around him for a long time.

In his previous life, although he also attended Jing University, he only commuted between the classroom and the hospital every day, working part-time everywhere, a three-point routine, without joining any clubs.

After a semester, he didn’t even know all his classmates, and later, he dropped out due to his grandmother’s suicide.

…What am I thinking?

Luo Yunqing shook his head to clear his thoughts, then searched the forum for a few photos of himself wearing the emerald phoenix crown, saving them to send to [Husband].

[AAA Luo Luo]: (Picture)

[AAA Luo Luo]: Joined a drama club, the club’s prop, isn’t it pretty (grin)

After sending, he waited.

Nearly five minutes passed, and there was no reply, not even a “typing…”

Luo Yunqing: “Didn’t see it?”

*

Pei Family Old Residence.

Pei Yanli returned before the rain, and after lunch, she was in the study reviewing two other project proposals.

Chen Zhao brought one back to the company, got soaked, and went to change clothes and take a shower. As he entered the study, drying his hair, he couldn’t help but complain, “This rain really came out of nowhere, boss, did you hear that thunder? It was so loud, it almost scared my soul out… Boss?”

The person behind the desk didn’t look up once.

What was he looking at? So focused?

Chen Zhao tiptoed to the desk, craning his neck to peek, and it turned out to be a photo.

No, it was a photo of the lady boss!

In the photo, the young man wore an emerald phoenix crown, half covering his face with a beaded curtain, glancing slightly at the camera.

Forget the boss, even Chen Zhao’s heart skipped a beat, taking a deep breath that almost choked him, “The lady boss is truly… graceful.”

Pei Yanli snapped back to reality, raising a hand to cover the phone screen.

Chen Zhao: “…”

As if someone was going to snatch it.

He stopped looking, sitting on the sofa while drying his hair, “Did the lady boss join some club?”

“Yeah, the drama club.”

Pei Yanli long-pressed the image to save it.

Nearly twenty minutes later, Luo Yunqing finally received a reply.

[Husband]: Very pretty.

[AAA Luo Luo]: Am I pretty, or is the phoenix crown pretty (smirk)

[Husband]: Both are pretty.

[Husband]: You’re prettier.

At this moment, faint complaints could be heard from outside.

“Over the summer, I think the senior sister’s combat skills have improved a lot, look, my arm is all red.”

“I heard she specifically learned Muay Thai.”

“No wonder. Wait, isn’t she already a black belt in Taekwondo?”

You Jianan said as he entered the dorm, seeing Luo Yunqing sitting in the chair with his hands covering his face, “Junior, what’s wrong! Why are you crying…”

He hurried over, releasing the fingers covering his face, revealing cheeks flushed red, eyes filled with laughter.

You Jianan’s words took a turn, “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing, nothing.” Luo Yunqing shook his head with a smile, “Just chatting with my fiancé.”

You Jianan’s eyes widened, “You really have a partner.”

“I guess…” Cheng Xu leaned against the door, lifting his face under the cap, affirming, “Your fiancé’s surname is Pei, right?”

You Jianan: “Pei? Isn’t that the same surname as Pei Ge!”

“Yes.” Luo Yunqing nodded without hesitation.

This wasn’t something to hide, and with the gossiping abilities of university students, it would soon be discovered. He might as well be upfront, “My fiancé is Pei Senior’s second uncle.”

“I thought you looked familiar.” You Jianan suddenly shouted, finally remembering, “Aren’t you the one who was switched at birth in the Song Family!”

Luo Yunqing nodded again.

“No wonder.”

Pei Ge didn’t have a good expression when he saw him, and he and Pei Ge were childhood friends…

You Jianan looked around, lowering his voice, “And you still dare to move into our dorm?”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Luo Yunqing showed his usual innocent face, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

That’s true…

You Jianan sighed repeatedly, patting his chest in relief, “Luckily, Pei Ge rarely stays here. Otherwise, seeing each other every day would be so awkward.”

Luo Yunqing smiled faintly, continuing to message Pei Yanli.

[AAA Luo Luo]: There was a big thunder just now, scared me to death~ (pout) (scared)

…

The speed at which university students spread information was beyond Luo Yunqing’s imagination. In just a few hours, his identity was thoroughly dug up.

Even though Pei Hengzhi contacted the poster to delete it immediately, it couldn’t stop others’ curiosity, and even the one from Yanjing Drama Academy was highly discussed.

The close ties between several universities meant Song Xuechen couldn’t expect a peaceful four years.

After that, Luo Yunqing participated in military training as scheduled, with his highly recognizable face, coming and going from the Cultural Activity Center.

For the upcoming freshman welcome party, he often rehearsed late into the night.

“…Don’t be fooled by the senior sister’s petite figure, she’s really strong.” On the way back to the dorm, Luo Yunqing would call Pei Yanli, “Today she moved three big boxes in one go, I secretly tried to lift them, they were so heavy… Do you think I should hire a martial arts coach for the younger siblings? Am I being too impulsive?”

After he slowly finished speaking, Pei Yanli said, “That’s a good idea, but there’s no need to make everyone learn. Maybe some kids don’t like it, let them choose for themselves.”

“That’s fine too.”

“You stayed up until ten again today.”

“Am I bothering you? Then next time…”

“I’m talking about you.” Pei Yanli seemed to sigh, “You have military training during the day, doing this every day, can your body handle it?”

“I’m… fine.” Entering the dormitory building, Luo Yunqing climbed the stairs, slightly out of breath, “This way, I won’t overthink things.”

Reaching the fifth floor, he stood in the breeze for a while.

Then the voice came again, “What are you thinking?”

Luo Yunqing hugged his phone, smiling with his eyes, “Thinking about you~”

The words fell straight into the stairwell, and even the wind seemed to pause.

After a long time, a very light “I also…” came, but it was quickly interrupted by a cough.

Pei Yanli: “It’s late, go to bed early, goodnight.”

Usually, it was Luo Yunqing who hung up first, but this time he was hung up on.

He didn’t even have time to ask if he would come to Jing University’s freshman party to see his debut.

“…Forget it, I’ll ask tomorrow.”

He turned off the phone screen, gradually lowering his smile, glancing sideways at the stairs behind him, “Have you heard enough… nephew?”