Freshmen had to undergo military training, so their registration date was earlier than that of returning students. On this day, Jiangcheng Media University was adorned with fluttering banners and colorful flags. The迎新 teams from various departments, wearing vests of different colors, mingled with the beaming new students and their parents, creating a lively scene.
However, the area of the School of Business and Media was much quieter, as it was a small department with only two majors: Electronic Media and E-commerce.
"Film School is the best. Look, they even have reporters taking photos," a boy sighed and complained under the tent of the School of Business and Media.
"That's because they have more celebrities—some who got in as stars, and others who will become stars in the future!" A girl beside him pursed her lips. She had put on light makeup today, but it clearly wasn't enough to catch anyone's attention. Over at the Film School, there were plenty of beautiful girls!
And each one was more stunning than the last! Long legs, slender waists, oval faces, cherry lips, perky noses, big eyes—one glance and you'd be enchanted, two glances and you'd be mesmerized, a third and you'd want to fall in love... Every new girl who came to register was killing the reporters' film.
The boys were also sneaking glances, lowering their voices to comment: "Hey, this one's good. Really long legs. I think I could play with those for a year!"
"What's the use of long legs? I think this one's better—petite and delicate, with big eyes so cute you just want to pinch her!"
The girl nearby overheard and couldn't help but purse her lips again: "What's so great about that? Big eyes? How many of them are actually real? Isn't it just the effect of colored contacts?"
Just then, today's person in charge, Mao Peifu, finally arrived. She clapped her hands and said, "Alright, alright, stop gawking and get to work! Daqing, take someone with you to the logistics office and bring our water over. Don't actually carry it—there are handcarts; borrow one..."
"Linlin, you and Xiaoyue, Fangfang, stay at the base camp to register new students, distribute supplies, and arrange for the boys to help guide them to the dorm buildings. Oh, and remind them to get their medical checkups!"
"Ding Xiang, and everyone who was at the meeting yesterday, come with me. We'll split into groups as planned last night and head to the two school gates to pick up new students!" Mao Peifu gave orders crisply, exuding authority and presence.
"Oh, okay!" Ding Xiang, the most diligent, took the lead and grabbed several large signs.
The school gate wasn't as comfortable as the base camp—no sunshades, no place to sit. Before long, a few boys were complaining bitterly under the scorching sun.
"Hey, can't you guys act like men? Look at Ding Xiang—how many students has she already received? Every one of you is slacking off. If I weren't here, would you all just retreat back into the school?" Mao Peifu said irritably.
"Hehe, Sister Peifu, Ding Xiang's used to the sun, you know. Look how dark she is," one shameless guy retorted.
"The next student, Ding Xiang will take them to the base camp and the dorm. You guys, swap places with her!" Mao Peifu said with a stern glare.
"Ah..." A chorus of groans followed.
They didn't want to stay at the school gate. Escorting students inside meant they could slack off—grab a drink at the base camp, sit for a while in the dorms—all better than being watched by Mao Peifu at the gate!
Ding Xiang had just turned back. Hearing this, she quickly said, "Senior, it's fine, I—"
"What do you mean 'fine'? Listen to my arrangement. Let these guys suffer a bit!" Mao Peifu pulled Ding Xiang aside, speaking with concern. "Men these days are useless. They don't see themselves as men, and they treat women like men!"
The boys nearby smiled bitterly, not daring to argue.
What could they do? Mao Peifu was quite pretty—not as stunning as the Film School stars, but she was practically the campus beauty of the School of Business and Media! Though her temper wasn't great, beauty was truth!
As they spoke, a sweaty, chubby boy struggled off the bus, dragging a large suitcase, carrying a laptop bag, and lugging a big duffel bag. He looked around, spotted the sign near Mao Peifu and the others, his eyes lit up, and he panted as he dragged everything over: "Hey, here, here, I, I'm—"
"Are you from the School of Business and Media?" Ding Xiang asked.
"Yeah! Yeah!" After half a month of drifting in Beijing, Guo Ziyi hadn't lost weight but had gotten tanner. His originally youthful sixteen-year-old face now looked more mature. "I'm in the Electronic Media major."
"Oh, perfect!" Mao Peifu smiled. "Ding Xiang, your direct junior. Come on, give me the sign. Take him over."
"Senior..." Ding Xiang couldn't argue with Mao Peifu, who snatched the sign and casually handed it to a grimacing guy.
Guo Ziyi looked confused, feeling a bit unfairly slighted.
"...Is it that bad? Am I that ugly? I'm at least a celebrity face in the chubby world, okay?" Guo Ziyi thought Ding Xiang was avoiding him.
"Alright, let's head to the base camp. I'll take you to register first." Ding Xiang finally followed the arrangement, walked up to Guo Ziyi, and gave him a gentle smile, revealing her clean, white teeth.
"Great! What's your name, senior?" Guo Ziyi, easygoing and broad-minded, didn't mind at all. He placed his duffel bag on top of the suitcase, ready to push it.
But the duffel bag was too big. As soon as he pushed the suitcase, it wobbled and fell off.
"I'm Ding Xiang." Ding Xiang reached out, picked up the duffel bag, and carried it herself.
"Hey, senior, I can handle that!" Embarrassed to let a girl carry his stuff, Guo Ziyi rushed to grab it. In the process, the suitcase toppled over with a crash. The chubby boy stood there dumbfounded, utterly awkward!
"Pfft!" Ding Xiang laughed, not bothering to cover her mouth, her smile bright. "It's fine, I can help you carry it. I've been used to working since I was a kid, unlike you city kids."
Alright then. Guo Ziyi had no choice but to drag the suitcase and walk alongside Ding Xiang.
"Senior, is your name the 'Xiang' from clove flower?"
"No, it's the 'Xiang' from Xiang Province. I'm from there."
"Oh! So, senior, are you from the Miao ethnic group? I know there are many Miao villages in Xiang Province."
"Yeah, I grew up in a Miao village!"
"Hehe, senior, do you know how to cast love spells? I heard that if a Miao girl falls in love with someone, she'll put a spell on him. If he abandons her, the spell will take revenge for her!"
"..."
Luckily, they reached the base camp quickly, or Guo Ziyi might have been flattened by Ding Xiang's duffel bag on the road. Under the blazing sun, he might have been cooked in no time... like an egg...
"Sign in here for the Electronic Media major and pick up your materials," Ding Xiang said.
Just as Guo Ziyi was registering, a commotion broke out at the Film School. Surrounded by classmates, teachers, and even reporters, a handsome boy was escorted to the registration desk.