Travel Team-Up: Inviting Jiang Qiuran

At the front of the classroom, Chen Yusheng fiddled with her phone, looking somewhat conflicted.

Yet the rippling waves in her cold yet alluring eyes betrayed her inner excitement.

Su Bai’s analogy about the Sanya trip had ignited a vivid imagination in Chen Yusheng’s mind.

She wasn’t repulsed by the idea—quite the opposite. She was looking forward to something ambiguous blossoming between them during the trip.

Glancing at the freshly deposited 15,000 yuan in her account, she felt relieved—her mother’s medical expenses for next month were secured.

This meant she could skip a few more shifts at the lab and get some proper rest.

Working in the lab was exploitative, as anyone in the know would understand.

The professors raked in hefty sums from corporate projects, but the students got only a pittance.

Taking advantage of undergrads with no other income sources, they shamelessly lowballed wages.

And then there were the overachievers, so brainwashed by the rat race that they’d even work for free just to please the professors.

Thanks to these "model students" and their bootlicking, Professor Luo’s lab enforced mandatory weekly hours before handing out meager stipends.

It was practically a part-time job.

Chen Yusheng was utterly exasperated by these people.

Of course, exasperation aside, she had no bargaining power with the professors.

Sure, she was a prodigy, but she was only a freshman—still in the developmental phase of her genius, constrained at every turn.

Compared to that, working for Su Bai was an absolute steal.

Of course, that "value" clearly included Su Bai’s less-than-innocent intentions toward her.

But then again… Chen Yusheng had her own not-so-innocent thoughts about him too.

Decision made!

Next month, she’d skip Professor Luo’s lab.

Why waste time there when she could spend it on Su Bai? The saved hours could go toward her personal coding projects—way more fun and relaxing.

So, for this trip, Chen Yusheng secretly resolved to drop some hints to Su Bai.

For someone as socially anxious as her, this was tough. But… they’d be together for two or three days. If she mustered enough courage, surely the right moment would come.

Worst case, she could just hug him and kiss him, mmm…

And her black stockings—surely men liked those, right?

Lost in her chaotic, whimsical fantasies, Chen Yusheng clutched her phone, her slender, fair neck tinged with a delicate pink.

From the lectern, Xia Lin took in the scene with keen interest.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled with gossipy intrigue.

Lately, she’d heard the rumors about Su Bai and Chen Yusheng circulating in the student chats.

In her opinion, the two made a good match.

But then she remembered the videos Su Bai had sent her, and seeing Chen Yusheng’s lovestruck expression, an unexpected pang of jealousy surged within her.

She snapped out of it, immediately ashamed.

Su Bai was just following protocol by keeping her, his advisor, in the loop. How could she, of all people, misinterpret that?!

Flustered, Xia Lin cleared her throat. "Class dismissed for free discussion. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

"Thanks, Advisor Xia!" "See you, Advisor Xia!"

As the advisor left the room, Chen Yusheng regained some composure. She glanced around—most students had already dispersed—before hurrying to the back where Su Bai sat.

Tugging lightly at his sleeve, she whispered, "Let’s go register!"

Chu Mingzhe: ???

His face cycled through a kaleidoscope of emotions, his hand trembling as he clutched his chest.

Wang Haoran, engrossed in his mobile game, sensed the disturbance and looked up.

Oh shit, this guy’s about to collapse—again!

Just as Wang Haoran braced himself for another trip to the infirmary, Su Bai asked, confused, "Register for what?"

"The trip list. I want us in the same group. I’ll go tell Advisor Xia."

"Oh, I’ll handle that. Don’t worry about it."

"Okay."

Chen Yusheng hesitated, then forced out the words, "I’m… really looking forward to traveling with you."

With that, she covered her face and bolted, flustered.

The surrounding students—especially the guys—shot Su Bai murderous glares.

Damn it!

They should’ve left with Advisor Xia when they had the chance.

Seriously, what the hell?

School had barely started, and Su Bai had already hooked up with Chen Yusheng?

They’d assumed it was just gossip, but now it seemed the campus goddess was the one making moves.

How?!

Su Bai was decent-looking, sure, but otherwise completely average.

Plenty of guys chasing Chen Yusheng were richer, hotter, and more accomplished—actual high-society heartthrobs.

How did they lose to Su Bai?!

Chen Yusheng’s words would undoubtedly spread like wildfire, sparking an uproar.

Meanwhile, Chu Mingzhe clutched his chest, finally able to breathe again.

When she’d said "register," he’d thought she meant marriage.

Turns out it was just for the trip. Hah.

"Su Bai, my man, we roommates gotta stick together. How about the whole 510 dorm joins? We’ll bring Chen Yusheng and rope in some arts majors too," Chu Mingzhe suggested.

"No objections here, but are you sure you can handle it?" Su Bai eyed him skeptically. If Chu Mingzhe witnessed any intimate moments between him and Chen Yusheng, the guy might drop dead on the spot.

"I’ll be fine!" Chu Mingzhe declared with dramatic resolve. "Let me witness your love firsthand—maybe it’ll finally cure me. Honestly, I’m starting to move on. Jiang Qiuran’s more my type now. She owns Sennheisers—she’s got taste!"

"Bruh, where’s your dignity?" Xue Tao scoffed.

"Dignity? This is called adaptability. Besides, Chen Yusheng’s taken, but Jiang Qiuran’s single—no rumors, no nothing. That’s the kind of pure-hearted girl I want."

Typical Chu Mingzhe—hopeless romantic.

Su Bai chuckled. It was refreshing. Young people should have some idealism—better than being jaded.

"Oh, right! Chen Yusheng and Jiang Qiuran are roommates. Maybe Chen Yusheng can invite her along?"

Chu Mingzhe fixed Su Bai with a pleading stare. "You’ll help me out, right?"

"Ehh… that’s up to Yusheng."

"Goddammit! ‘Yusheng’ already?! How far have you two gone?!"

Chu Mingzhe grabbed his head, spiraling into melodrama.

Xue Tao, however, darkened. A new thought struck him.

Wait, were they really letting Chu Mingzhe chase Jiang Qiuran?

What if he succeeded? It wasn’t impossible. Rumor had it Jiang Qiuran came from some backwater province—maybe she’d be swayed by a Shanghai hukou. Plus, Chu Mingzhe had that pretentious artsy vibe. He might actually pull it off.

A sense of urgency gripped Xue Tao.

Decision made—he was joining this trip too.

Wang Haoran watched the chaos unfold and sighed.

Well, guess I’m going too.