Chapter 38: What Hair Oil Are You Using? (3k Request for Follows)

At 11:01, Song Yuncheng hurriedly took her leave.

Only when he saw her change into her uniform and pick up a ladle to stand at the serving window did Chen Yansen understand why she had been pushing him to eat faster.

College students can apply for student loans, grants, and scholarships—how poor could she possibly be, working harder than even he did?

Chen Yansen silently puzzled over it.

Then he walked slowly, digesting his meal as he headed toward his dorm.

On the other side, campus forums and Baidu Tieba threads about “Chen Yansen” had already piled up hundreds of replies.

“Photos and proof! First-year rich kid dumped tens of thousands in cash at the cafeteria!”

“Is selling campus cards this profitable? Can someone take me along? I want to do this too.”

“He’s a second-generation rich kid—he arrived on opening day in a Mercedes E300!”

“Who took this photo? Looks like it was shot with a landline phone—completely blurry, can’t even make out his face.”

“I’ve met Senior Chen—he’s way better-looking than in the photo. Even Jing Boren isn’t as handsome as him.”

“You obsessed fan, get this straight—Chen Yansen is a first-year. How’s he a senior?”

“None of your business! I call him senior!”

The next two hundred replies were nothing but a brawl between fangirls and Mr. Nonsense—only when the moderator stepped in to mute them did they finally fall silent.

Coupled with the praise from dozens of secondary agents, Chen Yansen’s name had become famous not just among first-years, but even among second- and third-year students.

As for fourth-years, they were busy writing theses and hunting for jobs, so naturally had no interest in such gossip.

In the girls’ dorm.

Su Meiling sat in front of her computer, endlessly scrolling through posts about “Chen Yansen,” muttering unconsciously: “Such an outstanding guy should be my boyfriend.”

Thinking of this, she sent a text to Tang Zhenzhe.

He was class president, she was the Youth League branch secretary—they’d exchanged contact info early on.

When Chen Yansen pushed open the dorm door, he saw Tang Zhenzhe, his hair gleaming, applying lotion to his face in the mirror. He smirked: “What hair oil are you using? Looks like shoe polish.”

“Oh! Senior Chen, you’re finally back! Last night the counselor did a dorm check—I told him you were showering.”

Tang Zhenzhe grinned, pulling Chen Yansen aside to boast.

“Good job, A-Zhe—you know how to handle things. Hey, are you guys going out?”

Chen Yansen patted his shoulder with a look of approval, but then noticed the others also dressing up—he immediately realized.

The Youth League secretary organized a dorm social event—we decided to sing in the afternoon and have dinner tonight.

Song Yang put down his sports shoes and explained voluntarily.

“Oh, have fun.”

Chen Yansen dropped his bag, kicked the door shut with his foot, and said as he peeled off his shirt.

“What?! Senior Chen, you’re not coming?”

Tang Zhenzhe froze, urgently asking—he’d been specifically told by Su Meiling to bring everyone from 8302.

“Holy shit! Senior Chen, you work out? Those muscles are insane!”

Before Chen Yansen could answer, Wang Zhengqiang lunged forward, reaching to touch.

“Slap!”

“A-Qiang, didn’t know you had a thing for guys. Stay away from me from now on.”

Chen Yansen brushed his hand off, looking disgusted, smirking teasingly.

“No no no! I mean, Senior Chen, your physique is incredible—stronger than all of us who play soccer every day!”

Wang Zhengqiang quickly shook his head, grinning.

The others glanced over and nodded in agreement.

No one expected Chen Yansen’s shirt to hide such clearly defined, sharply contoured chest and abdominal muscles—unexaggerated, yet radiating pure strength.

Chen Yansen smiled but said nothing—every ounce of muscle on his body was earned through relentless personal effort.

Senior Chen, come with us this afternoon; it’s a dorm social event—you being absent ruins the whole thing. Besides, you haven’t joined a single group activity since you arrived.

Tang Zhenzhe pleaded earnestly.

“I have something to do this afternoon. Can’t make it.”

Chen Yansen ignored him, changing clothes as he shoved two Apple phones into the closet and placed another on the desk, planning to switch to a new one.

“Whoa! An iPhone 4! Doesn’t even launch for another ten days—Senior Chen, how’d you get this?”

Song Yang’s eyes lit up, curious.

“Sold a lot of campus cards—China Telecom gave it to me.”

Chen Yansen said casually.

“Is this phone expensive?”

Zhu Xiaopeng squeezed between Song Yang and Tang Zhenzhe, asking offhandedly.

“You could buy ten of your phone with it.”

Song Yang instantly recognized it—Chen Yansen’s iPhone 4 was the 32GB version, retailing for 5,999 yuan.

“More expensive than tuition?”

Zhu Xiaopeng clutched his counterfeit phone, realizing for the first time a phone could cost this absurdly.

Senior Chen, do me a favor—this is my first social event; if you’re not there, I’ll feel lost.

Tang Zhenzhe pleaded pitifully—his tone clashed wildly with his polished appearance.

Chen Yansen sighed helplessly—he wasn’t lying; he really had to check out an apartment this afternoon. Meng Yaqin, the Telecom regional manager, had connected him with a professor who had an empty faculty apartment.

He paused a moment, then said to Tang Zhenzhe: “I’ll come later—no later than five.”

“Alright.”

Tang Zhenzhe relaxed—he was glad Chen Yansen agreed. Later was better than not coming at all; truthfully, if Chen Yansen didn’t come at all, it’d be even better—so the girls wouldn’t fixate on him.

“Have you sold out your campus cards yet?”

Chen Yansen asked next. The commissions had all been paid out except for Tang Zhenzhe and the others.

Tang Zhenzhe and the others grinned proudly—they’d sold out yesterday.

The idea came from Meng Xibo—they’d used visits to first-year dorms as an excuse, targeting only freshmen, chatting casually first, then directly pitching phone cards.

Since everyone was a first-year, mutual trust came more easily.

“Five hundred each.”

Chen Yansen opened his wallet, revealing a thick stack of cash, then settled their commissions.

As soon as the money was in hand, they started debating whether to book a fancy KTV.

Chen Yansen shook his head, picked up his phone, and turned to leave.

“Senior Chen, try to get here early!” Tang Zhenzhe called after him.

The faculty apartments at Xucheng College were behind Building 8.

Usually allocated as a benefit for young faculty, each unit was one bedroom, one living room. Some professors moved to larger city apartments after marriage, renting out their campus units to graduate exam students.

He arrived downstairs and called: “Professor Liu, I’m Chen Yansen from the Meng-sister referral. Is it convenient to see the apartment now?”

“Oh yes, come up—room 0418.”

Professor Liu’s voice sounded young, soft, with a touch of coyness.

Fourth floor?

Chen Yansen wasn’t pleased. Faculty apartments were stair-only buildings—the lower the floor, the more comfortable. Plus, he hated climbing stairs.

“Whatever. I’m here already.”

He started climbing. Perhaps due to his cultivation, he reached the fourth floor in one breath, his legs not even aching.

“Tap tap tap—”

Liu Muyan heard the knock and instantly stood up, opening the door.

At the threshold stood an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old boy in a white shirt and black-striped casual pants—clean, fresh, tall and sturdy. Just by appearance, he looked trustworthy—not the type of bad student.

“Professor Liu, I’m Chen Yansen from Class 10 Journalism. Here’s my student ID.”

Chen Yansen glanced at her and handed over his ID.

She was twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuding scholarly charm, with a plump figure and a baby face.

Liu Muyan took the ID, glanced at it, returned it quickly, then turned to explain: “This unit has one bedroom, one living room, one bathroom. You can cook, but only with an induction stove. Air conditioner, fridge, TV, and washing machine are all here. Oh, broadband is provided free by China Telecom.”

Her voice was the same as before—soft and coy, clearly natural.

Chen Yansen nodded slightly, walked around the apartment. All appliances were top brands, the place was clean and odorless—no pets.

He was satisfied with the apartment, but the fourth floor gave him pause.

“Since you’re Meng-sister’s referral, I’ll knock off fifty.”

Liu Muyan noticed his hesitation and quickly added.

Her original price was 450—now 400. It wasn’t cheap; she’d spent considerable effort on renovations.

“Four thousand eight hundred a year? Can you go lower?”

Chen Yansen asked.

“H-how about two hundred off?”

Liu Muyan asked cautiously—she had no experience in haggling. The moment Chen Yansen spoke, she instinctively conceded.

“Alright, Professor Liu, wait a moment.”

Chen Yansen saw she was sincere, so he stopped nitpicking. The apartment was well-renovated—he’d be comfortable living here.

He pulled out his wallet, grabbed a thick stack of cash, and began counting slowly.

Liu Muyan paused slightly, thinking to herself: This student must be quite wealthy, from a good family.

“Two thousand three hundred total. I’ll rent for six months first, Teacher Liu—have you prepared the contract?”

Chen Yansen handed her the money and asked casually.

“Contract? I’ll download a template online later, draft it, and we can sign afterward?”

Liu Muyan hadn’t expected him to have thought of this ahead of her; after a moment’s thought, she replied softly.

“Fine.”

Chen Yansen didn’t overthink it—after all, she was a school teacher; nothing should go wrong.

After getting the keys, he returned to his dorm.

The room was empty; clearly everyone had gone to the KTV. He pushed his suitcase and moved part of his belongings to Room 0418 first.

Downstairs, Chen Yansen followed Xuehai Road to a two-story red-brick building beside the Yinyuexue Academy.

He went upstairs and knocked on the door of an office: “Teacher, hello—I’d like to know how to rent an office in the Entrepreneurship Park.”

(End of Chapter)