Chapter 17: Everyone is Unique

Near Jiangling University, there's a Yiwu commodity center that offers affordable goods, including internet cafes, pool halls, restaurants, coffee shops, and rows of hotels, making it a convenient spot for university students to eat, entertain, and sleep.

Chen Hanxing and his group walk to the street lined with food stalls. As soon as they arrive, a waiter calls out loudly, "Hey, students, our beer is on sale! Want to try some?" 

The other male students all look at Chen Hanxing, as he's the leader. Chen Hanxing looks at Guo Zhongyun, the real "big shot" who deserves the praise. 

Guo Zhongyun shakes his head. "The Gong Bao chicken here is awful, it'll give you diarrhea. Let's go to another place."

Chen Hanxing laughs to himself. Having been a university counselor for so many years, Guo Zhongyun knows exactly which food stalls near the school are good based on his involvement in class activities.

They head to another restaurant, where the group of 27 students takes up three tables. The landlady greets them and says, "Mr. Guo, these are your new students?"

Guo Zhongyun nods, then orders familiar dishes, ensuring cleanliness and hygiene. When the landlady asks what kind of alcohol they would like, Guo Zhongyun hesitates, having previously said he didn't drink. Chen Hanxing steps in, "One box of beer per table, any extra will be refunded. If we run out, we'll get more. Bring us some peanuts to start."

With Chen Hanxing stepping in, Guo Zhongyun can maintain his authoritative role, nodding in agreement. "Let's follow Hanxing's lead, one box per table, but no more."

Some people don't really want to drink and just want to chat with the counselor or classmates, but when they hear the counselor agrees with Chen Hanxing, they can't refuse.

At first, the atmosphere is quiet, but once the beer and hot dishes arrive, it changes. In university, there aren't many things to compete on, but family background, looks, and speed in changing girlfriends all even out. The one thing that remains is drinking capacity.

At this point, no one can tell others' family situations or physical appearances. No one is as handsome as a star, and they haven't had time to change girlfriends. So, drinking ability becomes a key measure of a student's status in the dorm.

Guo Zhongyun has a good tolerance and believes that a person's drinking behavior reflects their character. While eating, he observes his students as they toast.

Some students can't drink at all, like Li Zhenan, who's a good kid. After two beers, he's already teary-eyed and homesick. Others, like Jin Yangming, can drink but pretend they can't, only drinking half a glass and secretly dumping some out when no one's looking. There are also those who can drink heavily, like Yang Shichao, Guo Shaoqiang, and Chen Hanxing, who can handle at least one and a half bottles.

But even among those who can drink, there are differences. Yang Shichao and Guo Shaoqiang enjoy picking on those who can't drink, forcing toasts and laughing when someone throws up. They like to pressure others with "If you don't drink, are you looking down on me?" Even their roommates, Jin Yangming and Li Zhenan, are roped into drinking—one gets drunk, the other falls asleep.

Chen Hanxing also toasts, but he's considerate. He clinks glasses but never forces anyone to drink more than they want. For those who really don't want to drink, he's accommodating, offering them tea instead.

His main target is those with high tolerance, like Yang Shichao and Guo Shaoqiang. "Old Yang, what's going on? You promised me that Qingdao beer wouldn't fall, and Snowflake wouldn't spill, and now look, we're barely getting started?"

After Chen Hanxing finishes his sixth glass, Yang Shichao finally gives up, his speech slurred. "You bastard Chen Hanxing, I see what you're doing, you've been feeding me drinks all night!"

With a loud thud, Yang Shichao slumps down to sleep. Chen Hanxing, now having knocked one out, turns to Guo Shaoqiang. "Come on, let's talk about our life goals."

Guo Shaoqiang, seeing that Chen Hanxing is still perfectly fine, quickly surrenders. "Old Four, I think that's enough. Life goals can wait, but if we drink too much, no one will take care of the others."

Chen Hanxing checks the time, and it's nearly 1 a.m. He decides to let Guo Shaoqiang off for now; after all, he still needs help getting the others back.

"This time, I'll let it slide. Next time, we'll settle it."

Chen Hanxing purposely leaves a little room for leverage over Guo Shaoqiang.

Guo Zhongyun has been quietly observing the situation and thinks that Chen Hanxing's drinking strategy is excellent. It maintains the lively atmosphere without pressuring the weak drinkers, and he knows when to stop.

When the time comes to pay, Chen Hanxing beats Guo Zhongyun to it. Some of the less drunk students wonder if they should pay their share, but Chen Hanxing doesn't mention it, so they all pretend not to notice.

Chen Hanxing arranges two taxis to take the drunk students back, while he walks back to the school with Guo Zhongyun.

The moonlight shimmers like silver on the quiet road as the two chat casually. Guo Zhongyun talks about his young daughter, and Chen Hanxing briefly mentions his own family background. They don't go too deep, aware that their relationship doesn't yet warrant such discussions.

At the school gate, when they part ways, Guo Zhongyun pulls out 400 yuan and says, "There's no reason for you to pay for this meal, I still need to keep my face as a counselor."

Chen Hanxing initially refuses, but eventually, Guo Zhongyun presses the money into his hand and heads back to the teacher's dormitory.

The other students assume Chen Hanxing paid for the meal, leaving the favors and unclear debt to him. 

"If we get the chance, let's see if we can help Old Guo make some extra money," Chen Hanxing thinks.

Back in the dorm, he's about to go for a walk but spots several couples kissing in the shadows of a tree. It makes him think of Xiao Rongyu and her stunning figure when she was running that morning. 

"Messed up, can't they go to a hotel?"

He reflects on this as he heads back to the dorm to shower and sleep. 

The next morning, his phone's loud ringtone wakes him up. 

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Jin Yangming apologizes, but doesn't seem the least bit regretful.

"Damn, he must be dying to show off his phone."

Chen Hanxing shakes his head, gets up, brushes his teeth, and heads to breakfast. Li Zhenan reminds him, "Chen Ge, the new student meeting is on the playground today. We need to wear military training uniforms."

"Almost forgot, Old Guo mentioned it last night."

Chen Hanxing dons his ugly, loose military uniform, leading the way with Li Zhenan following closely. Dai Zhenyou is distracted by Jin Yangming's phone, while Yang Shichao, who has cooled off, feels annoyed seeing Jin Yangming show off again. Guo Shaoqiang, still hungover, lags behind.

Everyone has their own unique qualities, as they all navigate the day in their own way.

Jin Yangming, feeling a bit regretful, wishes that if only Chen Hanxing would beg him to play with his phone, it would have truly inflated his vanity. But why he targets Chen Hanxing, Jin Yangming can't even explain. 

"Chen Ge, why are you walking so fast?" Li Zhenan asks, struggling to keep up.

"I'm heading out early to say hello to the beauties in our class," Chen Hanxing grins.

His roommates, hearing this, realize it's a good idea—they'll check out the famous beauties in their class too.