Chapter 12: Halley’s Comet

As Chen Xu approached, he realized the girl was the one from class who'd blurted out "porn"—the petite one next to Zhan Jing.

He and Wu Yuan had just finished dinner at the cafeteria and, with nothing better to do, wandered to the sports field. Spotting Qin Xiao'an and the crew playing soccer, they'd leaned on the railing to watch. That's when Chen Xu saw Liu Guang set the ball down, strike a free-kick pose, and aim right at Gao Xiaojie.

The distance was about thirty meters—not a tough shot for someone with decent footwork. Liu Guang flaunted Real Madrid's No. 23 jersey not just because he was the Chemistry Department's resident pretty boy, but because his passing was sharp. He'd started calling himself the "Beckham of Chemistry."

Chen Xu didn't recognize Gao Xiaojie at first, but you'd have to be blind not to see Liu Guang's game. Chen Xu wasn't planning to meddle—until he saw her lugging water for Qin Xiao'an's team. That made her one of them. Letting "one of us" get played or bullied? No way. So he bolted over.

At his words, Qin Xiao'an and the others—who'd just grabbed water and were about to resume—crowded around. The vibe turned tense.

Liu Guang hadn't expected to get called out like this. Speechless, his awkward squirming only confirmed Chen Xu's claim. His buddies, who'd been watching from a distance, sensed trouble and shuffled over too.

Gao Xiaojie prided herself on being a sharp, adorable little thing—never one to feel intellectually inferior. How could she not piece it together now? She didn't know this outspoken guy, but he looked familiar—probably a classmate. In a pinch like this, she'd side with her own.

"You're slandering me!" Liu Guang finally spat out, glancing at Gao Xiaojie. To his dismay, the tiny girl was glaring at him with pure contempt.

"Psh, I knew you'd say I'm lying or making it up. Zero originality," Chen Xu shot back, dripping with disdain. "If you've got nothing to hide, swear it in front of everyone: if you kicked that ball at her on purpose, may your wife stay a virgin forever!"

Everyone—including Liu Guang's pals—cringed. What a vicious oath! Were today's freshmen all this twisted?

Liu Guang's face flushed red, then pale—luckily, the dark hid it. He shot Chen Xu a venomous look but didn't bother with pleasantries, shoving through the crowd. His friends, humiliated, trailed after. As they left, Chen Xu's crew clearly heard Liu Guang mutter, "What's this punk so cocky about? They suck at soccer—think a hot chick cheering them on is some magic pill? Bullshit!"

That turned every Information Department face stone-cold furious!

"Stop right there! Say that again if you've got the guts!" A sharp cry rang out—shockingly, from Gao Xiaojie!

She'd stayed cool when she learned Liu Guang had targeted her, but now her little Jiangnan face was beet red. Pointing at him, she snapped, "Say it again!"

Her crisp voice echoed across the field, drawing eyes from all around.

Liu Guang wanted to die. What could he do to a girl like this in public? Hit her? Yell back? Either way, the crowd would bury him in scorn. But backing down now? He'd never live it down at Hexie University. So, he puffed up like a seasoned vet. "What? Can't handle the truth? Soccer's about skill. I'm just stating facts—what's the problem? If you're so tough, let's stick to the plan: your freshmen versus our Chemistry freshmen. Game on."

"Hell yeah, bring it! Who's scared?!" Qin Xiao'an and the crew exploded, riled up.

Gao Xiaojie gritted her teeth. "Fine, name a date!"

Liu Guang smirked. "We won't even bully you. One week from now—gives you sorry kids time to buy matching jerseys and practice. Just don't lose too bad."

Too arrogant! The Information freshmen were itching to swarm him. Chen Xu fumed, picturing himself pinning Liu Guang down and pounding him like Wu Song slaying a tiger—three punches to the end. But someone beat him to it. From the field entrance, a familiar voice roared, "Who the hell's messing with our department's newbies?!"

Chen Xu spun around, ecstatic—it was Wang Dong and his posse, somehow here. Liu Guang and his crew paled.

"Who's stirring shit?!" Wang Dong stormed in, shirtless in a jersey, shorts, and flip-flops—looking more thug than student. Spotting Liu Guang and a flushed Gao Xiaojie, he pieced it together. Knowing Liu Guang's type, he didn't mince words. "Liu Guang, I don't care how you screw around elsewhere, but the Information Department's not your hunting ground. Get lost!"

Badass!

The freshmen's admiration for this senior surged like the endless Yangtze or the unstoppable Yellow River flood! It wasn't just his bluntness or how he shielded them like a mother hen—it was that after chewing Liu Guang out, calling him a dog, the pretty boy could only clench his fists and grit his teeth, not daring to fart back!

Chen Xu quickly recapped the story. Wang Dong and his buddies sneered. "What's this? Chemistry's soccer team thinks they can flex on us now? Forgot what Halley's Comet means?"

At that, the Chemistry guys' faces twisted even more. Chen Xu, curious, whispered to a senior, "What's up with Halley's Comet?"

"Nothing much," the senior replied, smirking as the freshmen and Gao Xiaojie leaned in. Raising his voice, he said, "Blame Chemistry for sucking. Four straight years in the Hexie Cup, they've landed in our group—and with warm-ups and leagues, they've never beaten us. Over four years, we've scored 76 goals against them—19 a year on average. Halley's Comet cycles every 76 years, so that's their nickname!"

His loud explanation sparked a roar of laughter from the crowd. Even the mildest Chemistry guys couldn't take it. Liu Guang stepped up. "Fine, Wang Dong, we admit our team's been weaker…"

Before he finished, someone jeered, "Can't deny it unless you're Korean!"

Liu Guang blanched but pressed on. "But starting this year, your lead's over! Don't believe me? Let our freshmen teams duke it out—skill talks!"

As the Information Department's team captain, Wang Dong had scouted the freshmen. This batch lacked stars—way weaker than past years. He scoffed, "Got guts? Bring your full team and see who's got nothing."

Liu Guang's crew smirked, unwilling to tangle with Wang Dong further.

"Game on!" Gao Xiaojie's lungs felt ready to burst. Enough was enough—screw their smugness!

"Next Sunday, 3 p.m.!"

"Deal!"

Spotting a sly, triumphant grin on Liu Guang's face, Chen Xu couldn't hold back. "What's there to gloat about? Even if you win, so what?"

Liu Guang's crew halted. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Chen Xu decided it was time for some swagger. "I don't get it. Even if your freshmen win, what's that prove? That Chemistry's hot shit? Please—use some brain cells. It's the start of freshman year! A team's strength comes from what they brought to college, not your department's doing. You didn't train them!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Gao Xiaojie shot Chen Xu an approving look—smart, likable guy.

Emboldened, Chen Xu pushed on. "And so what if you're good at soccer?! The national team's the best in China, right? Still a joke! You're so great—go join them!"

He felt smug—until he noticed something off.

Not only did Liu Guang's crew look like he'd owed them millions, their glares sharp as knives, but Wang Dong, Qin Xiao'an, and the rest turned grim too. Gao Xiaojie's teeth clicked like she wanted to chomp him.

Chen Xu scratched his head. "Did I say something wrong?"