All elective courses must provide proper logistical support for Su Bai.

As a highly capable counselor, Xia Lin knew very well that to maintain her role as Su Bai's confidante big sister in the long run, she needed to build good relationships with the other girls around him.

The strategy was simple: make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible.

The problem was, objectively speaking, Xia Lin and Chen Yusheng didn’t quite click—their personalities were too different.

Both were computer science majors, yet their temperaments were polar opposites. The only common ground between them might be their shared tendency to be secretly mischievous...

This made the Wan sisters the perfect entry point.

And so, a peculiar balance formed: Xia Lin grew closer to the two younger girls, while the senior student and Yusheng formed an alliance.

The traditionalists versus the abstract faction.

...

The next day.

Nothing happened.

The second basketball game wouldn’t take place for a few more days. Even the NBA’s most grueling schedule only went as far as back-to-back games, and for students, playing consecutive matches was simply too demanding.

After all, it was just for fun—no need to go all out.

Besides, as mid-October approached, the freshmen gradually turned their attention to one thing:

Midterm exams.

Most of the core courses in the computer science department had midterms, which typically accounted for about 20% of the final grade.

That didn’t sound like much, and according to the seniors’ shared wisdom of slacking off, the midterms’ impact wasn’t that significant. Even if you bombed them, as long as you performed decently in the finals, the professors would usually show some mercy and let you pass.

But since it was still their first year, many students were still ambitious and eager to score well.

Moreover, grades were tied to postgraduate recommendations—if they could secure a spot for graduate studies without exams, that would be a dream come true.

The job market was fiercely competitive these days. Without at least a master’s degree, it felt like big companies wouldn’t even consider you human.

As a result, Su Bai doubled down on his philosophy of skipping every lecture unless attendance was mandatory.

There was no helping it—the indulgence compensation feature from his "System" was just too overpowering. Su Bai’s own efforts to study couldn’t compare.

As for elective courses...

Some were downright useless, especially those "humanities" public electives. After attending for over a month, Su Bai’s verdict was... utterly laughable.

The classes were like using Cleanse to counter knock-ups—purely visual effects with zero practical impact. Expecting to actually learn anything from them was pure delusion.

The only thing the professors did diligently was take attendance, probably because they knew deep down how nonsensical their lectures were. If they didn’t call roll, the classrooms would’ve been emptier than Zhuge Liang’s "Empty Fort Strategy."

Oh well, just grit your teeth and endure for the credits.

Before coming to Jiangcheng University, Su Bai had scoured the school’s forums and social media, and the consensus was clear: most students had complaints about the teaching quality. A few courses were decent, but the majority were... well, let’s just say they left much to be desired.

Outsiders, though, still held a rosy view of so-called "985 elite universities," assuming that prestigious institutions must offer top-notch education.

In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth...

"By the way, Su Bai, why did you pick this course in the first place? History of Craft and Fine Arts... sounds kinda dry," Wan Xinyan whispered to him during class.

Today, the Wan sisters were once again rocking their jeans—Su Bai’s favorite.

They’d practically become addicted to wearing them.

Not a bad thing, though. The weather in Jiangcheng had been unpredictable lately, with sudden temperature drops making mornings and evenings chilly. Dressing a bit warmer was wise.

Even Chen Yusheng had switched to thicker black stockings.

"Me? I just grabbed it during the course adjustment period," Su Bai replied nonchalantly.

This filler elective was something he’d snagged after the initial lottery, when he noticed there were still spots left.

At the time, he figured since the lecturer was from Jiangcheng University’s art college—and supposedly an expert in ancient artifacts—it’d be a good opportunity to dip his toes into the field.

Once his bank account was flush, he could dabble in antiques and cultured hobbies like the elites.

The money-making potential there was insane.

The art world had always been a playground for Western hype, with prices inflated beyond reason. If Su Bai didn’t take advantage of that with his System, he’d be wasting his golden ticket.

Of course, there was no need to explain all this to the Wan sisters.

If asked, he’d just say it was a whim—pure spontaneity.

After all, that was pretty much the image Su Bai had cultivated among his peers.

"But what about you two? Why did you follow me into this class?" Su Bai turned the question back on the sisters.

"Oh, we needed the credits too! Besides, if we’re in the same course, we can be of better service to you whenever you need us~"

Wan Xinyan murmured this right into Su Bai’s ear, her tone dripping with sweetness, her eyes sparkling with playful charm.

Good grief, she’d fully embraced her role as the devoted little maid.

Then again, women were quick to immerse themselves in a role—as long as the incentives were enticing enough...

Su Bai mused that all the girls around him seemed perfectly content with their assigned roles.

"But honestly, what kind of ‘service’ could this class possibly require?" Su Bai quipped.

Wan Xinyan just smiled without answering.

On Su Bai’s other side sat Chen Yusheng, struggling to stay awake. She’d pulled an all-nighter with Su Bai making absurd meme videos—and it had been weirdly addictive.

Mostly because both of them had a knack for absurd humor, having grown up on a steady diet of internet nonsense. They were the type to blast "Hakimi" music on loop for hours.

Once they got going, time just slipped away.

Su Bai didn’t mind—he slept like a log, and after his System’s intermediate upgrade, he only needed an hour or two of shut-eye to feel refreshed.

If he ever got his hands on an advanced enhancement, he might as well skip sleep altogether—five minutes of rest, two hours of chaos.

Chen Yusheng, however, had no choice but to catch up on sleep during this snooze-fest of a lecture.

Honestly, though...

There was something oddly satisfying about napping in a dull university classroom. It hit different compared to sleeping in the dorm—whether it was psychological or some scientific phenomenon, who knew?

Even half-asleep, Yusheng’s ears twitched at Wan Xinyan’s mention of "serving Su Bai."

Ugh, these maids were way too energetic! Between their "relaxation massages," homemade breakfasts, and now tailing Su Bai to class just to run errands—where did they get all this stamina?

No more slacking off—she couldn’t keep losing like this!

With sudden determination, Chen Yusheng lifted her head, bleary-eyed but glaring.

Su Bai blinked. "What?"

"Su Bai... do you think I’m a lazy woman?"

"Not really. You know the phrase ‘relying on talent to act unrestrained,’ right?"

"I’ve heard it, but I forgot who it’s about," Yusheng admitted, her lips quirking. "My Chinese grades were terrible."

She wasn’t an all-around genius.

Those straight-A students who aced every subject in high school often faded into mediocrity in college.

After all, university was about specialization—being exceptional in one area trumped being merely good at everything.

"Don’t worry, my Chinese was trash too... but that’s not the point. What I mean is, geniuses throughout history have always been lazy and unrestrained."

"Then you're a genius too."

"...The negation of a true statement isn't necessarily true. I'm just indulging myself—genius is your title to claim, my love."