Accidentally Entering the Imperial Palace

The freshman registration area was located under a building. Shen Nian didn't know its name; volunteers had guided them all the way here.

There was a line for registration.

Soon, it was the turn of the three of them.

The counselor's surname was Xu, full name Xu Wanran. She looked to be in her early thirties, with a rather gentle face and a calm tone of voice. She gave Shen Nian a pretty good first impression.

Seeing Shen Nian's files, the counselor was a bit surprised. "Oh, so you're Shen Nian, the provincial top scorer?"

"Uh, that's me," Shen Nian scratched his head.

A few nearby students who had finished registering but were still organizing their things cast glances at Shen Nian. Perhaps because they didn't know anyone around, there were no whispers. After catching a glimpse of the provincial top scorer's true face, they quickly withdrew their gaze.

"I heard you also created an online account and do live streams teaching high schoolers?"

"Yes, I do."

"That's really impressive. Keep up the good work."

Xu Wanran praised him, swiftly checked the documents, and finally had Shen Nian scan a QR code to join the class group chat, completing his freshman enrollment procedures.

Xu Wanran also slipped a dorm card to Shen Nian, with the dorm building and room number pasted on it.

"This is your single dormitory."

"Okay."

Next was Xia Yanchun. Xu Wanran knew there were two top scorers in her class, so she wasn't too surprised this time.

She knew that both Xia Yanchun and Shen Nian had their own accounts and did the same kind of live streaming. While marveling inwardly at how students nowadays were more and more impressive, she also felt a bit curious about the relationship between the two provincial top scorers.

Two people of the opposite sex from the same small town who knew each other had scored the exact same ultra-high marks, and now they were doing the same live streams. Such a thing was too coincidental; it was hard not to fantasize about their relationship.

After freshman registration ended, they needed to gather at a specific location, and then a class assistant would take them to their respective dormitories. Shen Nian, Xia Yanchun, and Li Shiyan were no exception.

Because of the upcoming military training, living on campus was mandatory at first. Applications to live off-campus were only allowed after the military training ended. Therefore, Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun also had a bed in the regular dormitory building.

Of course, Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun's status was still off-campus residents, right from the start.

The admissions office had handled this for them; they didn't need to apply at all.

Shen Nian scanned his three roommates in the dorm... They all seemed quite silent; no one spoke for a long while.

Passionate and outgoing sports students, silent and reserved top students... Sometimes Shen Nian had to admire these stereotypes; they were really quite accurate.

"Aren't you going to unpack?" An unknown skinny guy wearing glasses looked at Shen Nian curiously.

"I'm a day student. I didn't bring any luggage..."

The skinny guy looked at Shen Nian. There were indeed no suitcases or luggage behind him. Then he looked at the bed chart printed with Shen Nian's name, and a question mark slowly popped into his head.

What do you mean you're a day student but you have a spot in the dorm?

"Huang Ziyan, right? I'm Shen Nian. Nice to meet you, let's be friends." Shen Nian grinned.

"?!"

How does this guy know my name? Is he some master hacker who doxxes people?

Oh, he looked at the bed chart. Scared me for a second. Sorry, my brain is a bit rusty after not using it for three months.

Huang Ziyan laughed it off and high-fived Shen Nian.

With Shen Nian and Huang Ziyan breaking the ice, the remaining two roommates also introduced themselves to each other, and they created a dorm group chat.

Shen Nian lived off-campus and had a single dorm. Even though he had a bed in this dorm, he probably wouldn't come back in the future. But as for this roommate group chat, joining it was fine. They could still chat and keep each other informed later on.

Because he lived off-campus and had a single dorm, Shen Nian still didn't know how the military training was arranged. He would have to find time to ask the counselor or Director Huang later.

"By the way, Shen Nian, are you really a day student?" Huang Ziyan suddenly spoke up. "I remember the counselor saying day students aren't allowed during military training. So during the training, will you go home at night or stay in the dorm..."

"I really am a day student. I don't know how the military training is arranged either, I have to ask."

"Then how did you apply to be a day student...?"

"Uh, the leaders at the admissions office handled it for me."

"?" Huang Ziyan narrowed his eyes, his brain working hard.

My roommate actually has connections. I'm crying from fear.

One roommate paused, frowned, thought for a moment, and then it dawned on him: "Shen Nian... this name... Holy crap, are you the top scorer from Cinan No. 2 High School?"

"Yeah." Shen Nian nodded.

Huang Ziyan: "??!"

Scared, scared, scared, scared to tears.

Top scorers were precious resources that all major universities competed for, so having some privileges was a given. Huang Ziyan figured it out now; no wonder Shen Nian could apply to live off-campus before military training.

I heard provincial top scorers can even get a straight path through a master's and Ph.D.... If this is true...

I've accidentally stumbled into the realm of the gods.

Shen Nian didn't plan to stay in the dorm for long. After chatting casually for a few sentences, he left the dorm building.

Xia Yanchun didn't seem to be finished yet. Taking advantage of the free time, Shen Nian gave Director Huang a call.

"Hello, Shen Nian, are you here to register today?" Director Huang on the other end of the line spoke first, his tone very gentle.

"Hello Director Huang. Director Huang, I wanted to ask, since I'm a day student, how are the evenings arranged during military training?"

"Strictly speaking, there are no day students before and during military training... But you and Xia Yanchun are exceptions. For you two, you will undergo normal military training during the day, and at night, if you go home or to your single dorms, you won't need to train. I will communicate with your counselor later, don't worry."

"Oh, okay. Sorry to trouble you, Director Huang."

"No trouble at all."

"That's all, Director Huang. I'll hang up now."

"Mhm."

Beep beep.

The call disconnected, and Shen Nian stroked his chin.

Exempted from evening military training? That's pretty good.

Ah, privileges.

At noon, Xia Yanchun and Li Shiyan met up near the campus supermarket. They strolled around the stalls on the Nanjiang University side for a while. Besides the campus supermarket, there were many commercial storefronts, though a lot of them weren't open. Fortunately, a milk tea shop was open, so Li Shiyan could treat Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun to milk tea.

"Wuwu, Little Chun, I want to go hang out in your single dorm later too, let's live together." Li Shiyan pouted with the straw in her mouth, whining playfully.

"Sure, we can take naps together, saves you the trip back."

"Mhm mhm, Little Chun is the best!"

"Shiyan, don't you have low blood sugar? What about military training?"

"I told the counselor before school started that I'd be exempt from military training. I can apply for it the day after tomorrow when school starts. I'll just find a shady spot to sit, that's all."

"That's not bad, you won't get tanned."

"I'll tell you a secret. Actually, as long as I eat on time and bring a few candies, I could do the military training. But I don't want to, so I specifically went to the hospital to get a medical certificate, hehe."

"You're the cleverest one." Xia Yanchun poked Li Shiyan's arm, teasing her.

Shen Nian felt that if he didn't make his presence known, these two would forget about him.

Especially Chunbao, actually forgetting her lover for her friend. Outrageous. He was mad, and he couldn't be coaxed without sweet and soft kisses from Chunbao.

So Shen Nian stood next to Xia Yanchun, wrapped his big arm around hers, and pulled Chunbao into his embrace.

Xia Yanchun looked up at him, not understanding why, but she still leaned into his embrace. She would indulge him just a little bit.

"Shen Nian, you're so stinky."

"Let me smell you."

"Eww, no way I'm letting you!"

"Tch, it's not like I haven't smelled you before."

Li Shiyan felt like she had suddenly been force-fed a handful of PDA.