Chapter 17: A New Beginning

Chen Yuchen's university was located in the outskirts of Jinling, part of a district that had been designated as a university town in the early 2000s. After over a decade of development, the area had grown but still retained a mix of unfinished construction and undeveloped surroundings. While the town housed many prestigious 985 and 211 universities, Chen Yuchen's school was just an ordinary third-tier institution, focusing mainly on computer science. For him, this was simply a means to get a diploma. The professional knowledge he needed, he had already learned long ago. Now, it was more about going with the flow.

The taxi drove along the wide roads of the university town, and the view outside the window drew a gasp from Chen Siqi. "It's so beautiful!"

The taxi driver overheard her and shook his head with a hint of resignation. "It may look nice at first, but it's mostly just a show for outsiders. Look over there," he pointed toward a nearby area. "Those unfinished buildings and that polluted river to the south—those are the real sights around here."

Chen Yuchen glanced out the window, noticing the slum-like shacks in the distance, starkly contrasting with the gleaming new structures nearby. He said nothing, simply turning his gaze back to the passing scenery.

When the taxi stopped at the school gates, Chen Yuchen picked up his backpack without fuss. Turning to Chen Siqi, he said, "You should go report in. We'll catch up later."

Pouting slightly, Chen Siqi asked, "Can I come find you later?"

"Maybe," Chen Yuchen responded lightly, then headed into the campus.

Despite it being September, the heat in Jinling was still intense. Sunlight poured down, casting a shimmering glare across the campus. New students, dragging their luggage, moved through the university grounds, faces filled with excitement and curiosity. The student body was diverse—some were stylish city girls, others were humble students from rural areas, and some had come with their parents in tow, adding to the bustling atmosphere.

Wearing a white polo shirt, knee-length denim shorts, and clean white sneakers, Chen Yuchen's simple, neat appearance contrasted sharply with the students weighed down by bags and accompanied by their families. As he surveyed his new surroundings, a girl in a red volunteer vest and denim shorts approached him with a bright smile.

"Hi there! Are you here to register? Are you all by yourself?" She blinked playfully as she spoke.

Chen Yuchen nodded. "Yeah, I'm here for the Computer Science Department. Where do I check in?"

"Oh! Follow me, I'll take you there," she offered enthusiastically, leading the way. As they walked, she started chatting him up.

"Are you local, or did you come from another city?" she asked curiously.

"Out of town," Chen Yuchen replied succinctly.

"By the way, have you gotten a phone plan yet? The rates here are really expensive! I know someone who can get you a great deal—only 300 yuan for a package that includes a phone, monthly data, and free broadband," she said, clearly trying to make a sale.

"I'll think about it," Chen Yuchen replied nonchalantly. "I already got a data card, and I don't make a lot of calls."

The girl's enthusiasm dimmed a bit, but she kept smiling. There was an awkward pause in the conversation, but soon they arrived at the gymnasium, where the registration was taking place.

"I can find it from here," Chen Yuchen said, gesturing toward the large sign pointing to the registration area. "Thanks for showing me the way. You can get back to your other duties now."

"No problem at all! I can take you all the way to the department if you'd like," she said, clearly reluctant to leave.

"What's your name?" Chen Yuchen asked casually.

"I'm Zhang Na," she replied, giving him a shy smile.

"Alright, if I need to set up a phone plan, I'll let you know," Chen Yuchen said offhandedly.

"Let's exchange contact info!" Zhang Na suggested quickly.

At this time, QQ was still widely used, as WeChat had yet to dominate. Chen Yuchen pulled out his phone, an iPhone 4S, a rare and luxurious model at the time. Coupled with the Longines watch on his wrist, his appearance stood out in a third-tier school like this.

"Add me," he said indifferently.

Zhang Na remained composed on the surface, but she was clearly excited. After they exchanged QQ contacts, Chen Yuchen gave her a brief nod and walked toward the registration desk, ready to start his new chapter.