The person Lin Ming mentioned was sitting with his back to them, at the inner side of the booth.
A few coworkers secretly glanced over for quite a while but couldn’t catch a glimpse of his face.
Just then, the waiter came by with more dishes, and the group immediately dove in to snatch the meat, completely forgetting about the mystery man.
To Lin Wushui, this hotpot meal tasted like chewing wax.
With Lin Ming, a walking time bomb, sitting right behind him, he didn’t dare leave his seat.
Even the dipping sauce had to be prepared by Zhang Xianyu.
Fortunately, the three of them ate quickly, and Zhang Shaoying was busy with work.
After eating, they left right away.
The hotpot meal ended without any incidents, and the two of them returned together.
Back home, Zhang Xianyu began packing his things.
He only had a few days left before reporting to school and wanted to be prepared early.
Lin Wushui couldn’t help much, so he just hung around and suggested he could send Zhang to school when the time came.
Zhang Xianyu didn’t even need to think about it to imagine what would happen if he let this guy send him off — he rejected the offer without hesitation.
President Lin was hurt, and sulked in silence.
But bad news often comes in pairs.
Just as he was feeling down, Zhang Xianyu said,
“The lease is almost up.Tomorrow I’m going to tell the landlord I’ll be moving out early. Once school starts, I’ll live in the dorms.”
The unspoken implication: you have to leave too.
Lin Wushui narrowed his eyes.
He had already anticipated this.
Unhurriedly, he replied,
“Dorm life might not be very convenient, right? You’re planning to work part-time too, aren’t you? I’ve heard the dorms at Jiangcheng University are strict — they lock the doors at eleven.”
He didn’t say the other part: Zhang Xianyu wasn’t an ordinary person.
If he were to constantly perform superstitious rituals in the dorm, one day someone might report him.
Then he’d be called in for a “chat” with the counselor.
“It is a bit inconvenient,”
Zhang Xianyu admitted.
He had considered these issues too.
But moving out right at the start of the semester would make it harder to fit in, and he was still a little stingy about money.
Even if he moved off-campus, the school wouldn’t refund the dorm fee — meaning he’d be paying double.
Zhang was reluctant.
“I’ll stay for a while and see how it goes,” he finally said.
Lin Wushui’s lips curved up slightly, and he casually said,
“Actually…I bought an apartment right next to Jiangcheng University. It’s in the faculty family housing. If you don’t mind, you could move in.”
Zhang Xianyu reflexively declined.
“I can’t accept such generosity without earning it.”
Lin Wushui expected that response.
He changed tactics and delivered a line he had long prepared.
“Actually, asking you to live there is because I’d like your help with something.”
“Hmm?”
Zhang Xianyu looked puzzled.
“I have an older brother…He sometimes stays over there for a few days,”
Lin Wushui said slowly.
“But he’s a bit of a clean freak, picky eater, and doesn’t like hiring help. If you lived there, you could help tidy up a bit and cook for him when he visits — just as rent.”
That made Zhang seriously consider it.
Cleaning and cooking — it didn’t sound much different from his current routine.
Still, he didn’t immediately agree.
“Let me think about it. Can I give you an answer after military training? I want to try getting used to dorm life first.”
Pushing too hard would only expose his real motives.
Lin Wushui knew when to back off, so he didn’t press the issue.
On the day school started, Zhang Xianyu didn’t let Zhang Shaoying or Lin Wushui drop him off.
He went alone, dragging his suitcase to the university.
The campus gates were packed with private cars, and the roads swarmed with parents and energetic, soon-to-be college students.
Zhang Xianyu, pulling his suitcase, followed the route he had researched to find the freshman registration point — completely unaware of the subtle glances people cast his way from the sidewalks.
The day before, he had gone to the mall and bought a few changes of clothes and gotten a haircut, shaking off his previously dull appearance.
He was tall, slim but not weak.
In simple casual wear, he looked like a runway model.
His slightly long hair had been trimmed, exposing sharp eyebrows and striking features, adding a cool, fierce edge.
Especially his pale-colored eyes — when silent, he exuded a chill that kept people at arm’s length.
As a result, many noticed him along the way, but no one dared approach.
Zhang Xianyu remained unaware, first reporting at the freshman registration desk, collecting materials and directions, and then heading to the dorms to settle in.
Jiangcheng University was a prestigious, long-established institution.
Backed by Luocheng Mountain and adjacent to South Lake, its campus was vast.
Zhang Xianyu first took the campus shuttle and then walked a considerable distance before finally locating his dormitory building.
His dorm room was 510.
When he got there, two students had already arrived.
The two had obviously already gotten acquainted and greeted Zhang Xianyu warmly, introducing themselves.
The stylish one with curly hair was Luo Danqing, a local from Jiangcheng.
The chubby one with a watermelon-style haircut was Zheng Pang, from Chucheng.
When Zhang Xianyu heard the name “Zheng Pang,” the corner of his mouth twitched, and he barely managed to stifle a laugh.
Zheng Pang seemed quite used to his name being joked about and waved it off casually, saying,
“Go ahead and laugh. Don’t hurt yourself holding it in.”
Luo Danqing had already burst into laughter earlier, so one more didn’t matter.
Zhang Xianyu finally smiled.
Your name really suits you.
It sounds like a lucky one.
Zheng Pang grinned.
“You’re sharp, bro. A monk once told me when I was a kid that I was destined for wealth and fortune.”
Luo Danqing rolled his eyes.
“Alright, alright, enough bragging. Let’s finish unpacking and go eat. I heard the food in the cafeteria is pretty good.”
The three of them got along easily and quickly became friendly.
While waiting for Zhang Xianyu to make his bed, Luo and Zheng chatted about their mysterious fourth roommate — why he hadn’t shown up yet, and what to eat later.
Once Zhang Xianyu was done tidying up, the last roommate still hadn’t arrived, so the three of them decided to go eat first and save the full dorm gathering for another time.
They had lunch in the cafeteria, picked up their military training uniforms, and shopped for daily necessities.
After everything was settled, they even packed up some snacks and strolled leisurely back to the dorm.
But before they reached the door, they saw two men in black suits standing like bodyguards outside room 510.
Zheng Pang scratched his head and muttered,
“Did some rich young master move in?”
“Let’s go check.”
They squeezed past the curious onlookers and peered inside — and sure enough, it really was a rich young master.
Dorm conditions at Jiangcheng University were considered pretty good — four-person rooms, with upper bunks and storage below.
Each had a private bathroom and a balcony, with air conditioning and hot water.
The three had been quite satisfied and hadn’t planned to make any changes.
But this last roommate was clearly not impressed.
He stood in the middle of the room, bossing around the two attendants he brought with him.
“Change out the bed and desk near the balcony — I want that spot. And take down those ugly curtains. Replace them with golden ones…”
He stood in the center like a compass, pointing here and there while the servants scrambled.
Zhang Xianyu frowned and walked in — that was his spot the guy was claiming.
Luo Danqing and Zheng Pang quickly realized what was going on and followed behind.
Especially Zheng Pang, who was very direct, and shouted,
“That’s Zhang Xianyu’s bed.”
Luo Danqing pointed to the bed near the door.
“That one’s still free.”
The compass guy’s face darkened.
He scanned the three with contempt and asked,
“Do you know who I am?”
Zhang Xianyu shook his head, his expression calm, but his pale eyes held a mysterious depth.
“No. But I do know one thing. If you keep making a scene…you’re going to be unlucky.”
He looked serious.
The rich kid’s face grew stormy.
He crossed his arms and sneered.
“My dad is Qian Wencai. If you guys play nice, you might even get a taste of the good life.”
Zhang Xianyu turned his head and asked — loudly enough for others to hear,
“Who’s Qian Wencai?”
Zheng Pang: “Never heard of him.”
Luo Danqing thought for a moment, then guessed,
“Sounds like some nouveau riche guy.”
Zhang Xianyu: “Oh.”
At that moment, Qian Sheng’s (the rich kid’s) servants were already clearing off Zhang Xianyu’s desk.
Frustrated that his show of dominance hadn’t worked, Qian Sheng vented his anger by kicking a nearby chair.
“Move faster, damn it! Did you all skip lunch?!”
The two attendants flinched and sped up.
Qian Sheng shot a triumphant glance at Zhang Xianyu, oblivious to the now-wobbly chair.
He raised his chin and said,
“Go sleep over there.”
Zhang Xianyu stared at the swirl of black energy between Qian Sheng’s brows and said slowly,
“Your family better do a lot of good deeds. Otherwise, not only will your fortune not last a generation, it might even bring disaster to your loved ones.”
“You f*cker—!”
Qian Sheng’s face twisted in anger and he lunged.
Just then, the chair he kicked finally gave out and collapsed — the back of it smacked right onto his foot.
“AHHH!”
Qian Sheng howled and jumped on one foot — straight into the space under the ceiling fan.
The fan was old and hadn’t been used much since air conditioning became common.
It swayed ominously from the ceiling.
Still wailing, Qian Sheng was helped into a chair by his attendants.
“Throw them out!” he snarled through gritted teeth, glaring at the crowd of onlookers still gathered at the door.
The students outside were giggling and didn’t budge.
The bodyguards didn’t dare use force.
Seeing the united front of Zhang Xianyu and the others, and the crowd still watching, Qian Sheng burned with rage.
He jumped to his feet again — and WHAM — the ceiling fan finally gave way and crashed directly onto his head.
Qian Sheng collapsed instantly, knocked out cold.
His two servants screamed, and in a panic, called the bodyguards to rush him to the hospital.
Luo Danqing and Zheng Pang were dumbfounded, looking like they wanted to worship Zhang Xianyu on the spot.
“Bro, did someone bless your mouth? You speak, and things happen. Like…bloodless murder.”
Zhang Xianyu stepped forward, calmly straightening up his desk again.
Noticing the doorway was still crowded with curious students peeking in, he thought for a moment and said: “I was just messing with him to scare him a little. I didn’t expect him to be that unlucky.”