Representatives

Lan Qingxue, who had been quietly sitting at the front, turned around, her expression calm but slightly surprised. "Me?"

"Yes, you!" another student chimed in. "You're perfect for it."

Lan Qingxue hesitated for a moment, her gaze sweeping the room. She seemed to weigh the idea in her mind before nodding gracefully. "If everyone thinks I can do it, then I'll give it a try."

The class erupted into applause, clearly pleased with the choice. Qin Wei smiled and wrote her name on the board. "Alright, Lan Qingxue it is. Now, for the male representative. Any nominations?"

Bai Zheng, who had been sitting near the back, stood up confidently. His sharp features and expensive clothes made him stand out, and his voice carried a hint of arrogance as he declared, "I'll do it."

His gaze swept across the room as if daring anyone to challenge him. Lin Yun, who had been quietly observing, felt a slight tension in the air. Bai Zheng's demeanor was unmistakably provocative, and it was clear that he was eager to assert himself.

Fan Xian leaned over to Lin Yun, his voice low but filled with irritation. "That guy again. He's really full of himself, isn't he?"

Lin Yun shrugged, his expression calm. "Let him be. It's not worth getting worked up over."

But Fan Xian wasn't so easily placated. "He's been giving you looks all week, like he's trying to prove something. It's annoying."

Lin Yun smiled faintly. "Ignore him. He's not worth your energy."

Qin Wei, unaware of the undercurrents, nodded at Bai Zheng. "Alright, Bai Zheng is volunteering. Are there any other nominations?"

The room fell silent. No one else seemed willing to step forward, either out of shyness or reluctance to compete with Bai Zheng's confidence. After a moment, Qin Wei clapped his hands. "Alright, let's put it to a vote. All in favor of Lan Qingxue and Bai Zheng as class representatives, raise your hands."

Nearly every hand in the room went up. Lin Yun, Fan Xian, and Li Shun raised theirs as well, though Fan Xian did so with obvious reluctance.

"It's settled, then," Qin Wei said, smiling. "Lan Qingxue and Bai Zheng will be our class representatives. Congratulations to both of you."

The class erupted into applause once again, though it was noticeably more subdued this time. Bai Zheng stood up, a smug smile on his face, and gave a small bow. "Thank you, everyone. I'll do my best to represent this class."

As he sat down, his eyes briefly met Lin Yun's, and there was a clear challenge in his gaze. Lin Yun, however, remained unfazed, his expression calm and indifferent.

Fan Xian, on the other hand, was fuming. "That guy is unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. "He acts like he's already won some kind of prize."

Li Shun, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "He's just trying to prove himself. Maybe he feels like he has something to prove."

Fan Xian snorted. "Yeah, well, he's going about it the wrong way. Acting all high and mighty like that—it's just annoying."

Lin Yun placed a hand on Fan Xian's shoulder. "Relax. It's not worth getting upset over. Let him have his moment."

Fan Xian sighed but nodded. "You're right. I just don't like the way he's been looking at you, like he's trying to pick a fight."

Lin Yun smiled. "He's not worth our time. Let's focus on what's important."

As the class continued, Qin Wei began discussing the syllabus and the upcoming assignments. Lin Yun listened attentively, taking notes and occasionally glancing at Lan Qingxue, who was sitting a few rows ahead.

It would be a lie if Lin Yun said that he wasn't attracted to Lan Qingxue's beauty. However, he had no intention of pursuing a relationship.

When the class ended, the students began to file out, chatting excitedly about the new semester. Lin Yun, Fan Xian, and Li Shun stayed behind for a moment, gathering their things.

"Well, that was eventful," Fan Xian said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "I still can't believe Bai Zheng got elected. He's going to be insufferable."

Li Shun adjusted his glasses, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe he'll surprise us. People can change."

Fan Xian snorted. "I'll believe it when I see it."

Lin Yun chuckled. "Let's give him a chance. Who knows? Maybe he'll turn out to be a decent representative."

As they left the classroom and stepped out into the bright sunlight, Lin Yun felt a sense of calm. His campus life had finally began.

"What are you going to do?" Lin Yun asked as they left the building.

"How about playing some basketball?" Fan Xian suggested.

Li Shun hesitated briefly and said, "I… I am going to find a part-time job."

"Part-time job?" Fan Xian nodded slowly.

Lin Yun looked at Li Shun and asked, "How are your programming skills?"

"Not great, Brother Lin. The only thing I've made was a calculator program," Li Shun said embarrassedly.

"That's already better than most people," Lin Yun said with a smile. "How about this? I'll hire you as my assistant. Help me code. 50 yuan a day."

Li Shun was shocked and hurriedly shook his head. "No need, Brother Lin. I'm afraid I can't help you much."

"Don't be discouraged. Don't you see that Brother Lin is helping you?" Fan Xian patted Li Shun's shoulder.

"I…" Li Shun didn't know what to say at the moment.

Lin Yun smiled and said, "Instead of doing something that is unrelated to your studies, why don't you do this? I can tell you that once you are proficient in this programming language, you will become a highly sought-after prospect in the market. You won't have to worry about not finding a job in the future."

Li Shun was still hesitant upon hearing this. Mainly, he was too embarrassed to accept Lin Yun's kindness.

Lin Yun looked into Li Shun's eyes and spoke calmly. "Look at me. You might know a thing or two about my background. In fact, my family isn't that rich. It was fortunate that my sister got a scholarship. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to pay the tuition fee for her."

"Li Shun. Poverty doesn't define your future. As long as you work hard, you will definitely become successful. Trust me."

Li Shun stared at Lin Yun blankly, pursing his lips. He took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Brother Lin. I will work for you."

"Good," Lin Yun chuckled.

"Hahaha. That's great!" Fan Xian laughed. "Can I do it as well, Brother Lin? I'm short of money lately."

"Go away," Lin Yun said, pretending to be disgusted.