A dorm room full of pretty girls

For tonight's meetup, Zhang Ben was fully decked out, even taking the time to apply some hair gel. After admiring himself in the mirror for a while, he turned to Zhang Yi and asked, "Hey, do you think I'd look even better if I dyed my hair?"

Zhang Yi laughed, "I suggest you go blonde—get that Super Saiyan vibe."

Zhang Ben clapped his hands, excited. "How about we each dye our hair a different color? Jinling University's own chapter of the 'Funeral Love Family'!"

"Seriously? Don't you think that's a bit ridiculous?" Zhang Yi groaned, covering his face in disbelief at how embarrassing the idea sounded.

Earlier that morning, when Chen Yuchen was out, he picked up a few new outfits—some niche brands that weren't too mainstream, priced around 800 to 1,000 yuan. He was now wearing a crisp white shirt paired with casual pants, giving him a clean and sharp look.

Zhang Yi noticed Chen's new attire and couldn't help but comment, "Whoa, Yuchen, new clothes again?"

"Yeah, I just grabbed a couple of things. Didn't bring enough when I moved here," Chen Yuchen replied casually.

Zhang Ben glanced at him and scoffed, "Yuchen, your clothes are way too basic. Nothing stands out."

Chen Yuchen just smiled, letting it slide. After showering and changing into his new clothes, Zhang Yi quickly sent a message to Zhang Ziqi, letting her know that Yuchen had agreed to dinner tonight.

Upon receiving the message, Zhang Ziqi immediately perked up and called out to her roommates, "Siyan, we've finally got someone treating us to dinner tonight—Chen Yuchen is definitely coming!"

But Lin Siyan, usually more enthusiastic, was uncharacteristically indifferent today. She merely said, "Whether he comes or not doesn't really matter to me—I don't even know him."

"Well, you'll get to know him if you come! Why not join us?" Zhang Ziqi teased with a grin.

Just then, Chen Leyi walked in. She was dressed head to toe in black—tight-fitting capris accentuating her long, slender legs, and a black tank top highlighting her figure. She slipped off her jacket and changed into a more understated outfit.

"I'm curious to see what this Chen Yuchen is like," Chen Leyi said with a soft smile.

"What? Weren't you into that young teacher who just started? Now you're interested in Chen Yuchen?" Zhang Ziqi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Chen Leyi shot her a playful glare and replied, "I'm just curious, that's all. Plus, I'm coming to keep you company."

"Oh? I get it, I get it. It's like one of those forbidden teacher-student romances, huh? So scandalous!" Zhang Ziqi teased, enjoying her little joke.

"Quit it! I'm just friends with Zhang Yi, nothing more," Zhang Ziqi retorted, rolling her eyes.

Chen Leyi shook her head, saying, "Honestly, I don't think it's fair for you to string him along like this. Zhang Yi is serious about you. You should either reject him or give him a chance—otherwise, he'll just get more and more caught up in it."

"I've already told him I'm not looking for a relationship right now. If he doesn't want to listen, that's not on me. And it's not like I don't like him at all, I just don't want to make any decisions yet," Zhang Ziqi said, sounding nonchalant.

Chen Leyi let the subject drop, changing into a loose T-shirt and shorts that showed off her long legs. "Alright, let's get going."

"Hey, Leyi, are you actually interested in that country boy?" Zhang Ziqi teased casually.

"Didn't you say it was Chen Yuchen's treat yesterday? Since I already ate his food, I might as well return the favor," Chen Leyi replied with a smile.

"Pff, isn't it normal for men to treat women to meals?" Zhang Ziqi huffed.

"If we're all about equality between men and women, then there's no 'normal' about it," Chen Leyi shot back.

Zhang Ziqi just shrugged. She clearly had a different opinion but didn't push the issue. She wasn't particularly interested in Chen Yuchen, but Chen Leyi's curiosity had piqued. She wanted to see what was so special about this seemingly ordinary guy.

"Let's go meet this mystery man," Chen Leyi said, tying up her hair into a ponytail and flashing a confident smile at her roommates.