Chapter 18: The One Who Got Away
Chapter 18: The One Who Got Away
Although the boys were eager to meet their female classmates, the sound of high-pitched giggles and laughter gave them the jitters even before they could enter the classroom.
Of course, it was the same for the girls. They kept glancing sideways at the boys as the latter walked in. In the end, both parties sat in their own groups, separated by gender.
Both boys and girls sneaked peeks at each other, trying to spot any handsome boys or pretty girls in the class. Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy to do since they were all clad in military uniform that masked their distinguishing features.
"Are the girls in our class the worst in the department?" Guo Shaoqiang had already sobered up as he worried.
"It's possible. The senior I saw when I signed up yesterday was very charming. But look at the girls we got in our class." Yang Shichao sighed.
Chen Hansheng almost wanted to laugh. One should not be quick to judge.
The girls in their class were actually the best-looking ones of all. One of them was even comparable to Xiao Rongyu.
"I'll go get acquainted with them. Who wants to join me?" asked Chen Hansheng.
A few cowards shook their heads. They were just like Wang Zibo, all talk but no walk.
Chen Hansheng ignored them as he tidied up his hair. Then, he stood up, walked over with a smile, and struck up a conversation with Hu Linyu. "Hey, Linyu, we meet again."
Hu Linyu was chatting with her roommates who were starting to get worried over the lack of courage and initiative among the boys in their department. Why weren't any of them brave enough to approach them?
Thus, when Chen Hansheng walked over to her, Hu Linyu was a little surprised. Then, she turned to the girls around her and said, "Look, everyone. Even though we have twenty-seven boys in our class, only handsome Hansheng dares to approach us."
The girls had not met Chen Hansheng before and automatically started to check him out.
Chen Hansheng took the initiative to introduce himself. "My name is Chen Hansheng. I'm from Port City. Are there any beauties who are from the same hometown as me?"
"Ah, I am."
A girl immediately raised her hand.
Hu Linyu then made a suggestion. "Tan Min, now you have a companion when you return to your hometown."
Chen Hansheng had long known that Tan Min was from Port City. However, the thirty-five-year-old Hansheng did not interact much with her back in university. Although she was good-looking, she did not meet Chen Hansheng's standards. Thus, the two of them had only regarded each other as fellow classmates and countrymen.
Tan Min's roommate started to tease them. "When the time comes, whose house are we going to go to? Minmin's or Hansheng's?"
Tan Min turned shy and wanted to cover up the girl's mouth, causing the other girls to laugh.
And just like that, Chen Hansheng had successfully interacted with the girls in his class. His roommates looked at him with jealousy and envy.
"This Chen Hansheng must have had many relationships in high school. Look at how easily he handled things. He's definitely a veteran," said Yang Shichao with certainty.
"Obviously. Girls like guys like him - a little bad and a little ruffian. It's a pity that good boys like us don't stand a chance anymore." Jin Yangming agreed with Yang Shichao.
Yang Shichao scoffed and thought to himself, 'If you're a good boy, then I'm Buddha.'
Hu Linyu was already aiming to be the class president. She might not have thought it through but it was good to take risks. Besides, she had already planned to introduce Hansheng to the girls.
There were twenty-seven males and twenty-seven females in Public Administration Class 2. It was a one-to-one ratio, which was something that had been predetermined by the university heads to keep things balanced.
The School of Finance and Economics was founded by merging the School of Accounting and School of Management in Sudong Province. Although it was still a second-tier school, the School of Finance and Economics still had quite a good reputation in the province. Thus, the gender ratio, among others, had to be balanced.
But this also meant that votes could end up in a tie. Thus, it was crucial for any one side to recruit someone from the other to tip the scale in their favor.
Once Hansheng had been introduced to the girls, Linyu used the tone of a class president to entrust Chen Hansheng with a heavy responsibility. "Hansheng, there are a lot of things we have to deal with as first years. I was hoping that you can be placed in charge of the boys in the class. Let's help Professor Guo manage the class together."
Chen Hansheng nodded his head. It seemed that Linyu was interested in being class president. Would she hate him once she found out that he was on track to take the position?
The two had developed a strong desire for the position. But unfortunately, only one person could be the class president.
Hu Linyu had no plans to hide her desire to be the class president. She had made it known to the professor as well as the girls in the class.
As for Hansheng, no one else besides him knew that he desired it too.
"Linyu, is this girl from our class too?"
Chen Hansheng pointed at a girl to change the topic. The one to appoint the class president was ultimately Guo Zhongyun. He had the vote that could tip the scale too.
Hu Linyu patted her forehead. "I almost forgot. She's a girl from our class. Her name is Shen Youchu, and she's also my roommate."
Shen Youchu was 1.7 meters tall. It was a pity that such a tall figure was hidden behind the military training uniform. Moreover, her self-confidence was inversely proportional to her height.
When Hu Linyu introduced her to Chen Hansheng, Shen Youchu nodded her head with a slightly red face and eyes stuck to the ground. Then, she walked away quietly, as if she was isolating herself.
"Hansheng, don't mind her."
Hu Linyu covered for her roommate. "When I registered yesterday, I had a peek at Shen Youchu's school record. Both of her parents had died and she applied for a student loan for university. So, she can be a little timid."
But Chen Hansheng already knew that. Xiao Rongyu had set his bar high and he wouldn't so easily go for a girl inferior to Rongyu.
As for Shen Youchu, she had a pretty sad family background. Most of what Chen Hansheng could remember about her was that she wore an old and loose school uniform, ate thirty cents' worth of rice and soup, and worked part-time in the library and cafeteria.
The only thing worthy of praise was that she received a special scholarship from the university for four years in a row.
In fact, her grades were so good that she managed to enter Jianye University as a graduate student.
Jianye University was the best university in Sudong Province and ranked among the top five in the country. It ranked even higher than Donghai University. It was a dream for any second-batch student to be able to be accepted to the university.
It was only when he had heard of her successes that she started to catch Hansheng's eye.
Unfortunately, it was too little too late. On the day of graduation, Shen Youchu had most likely borrowed someone else's clothes for the ceremony.
Although it was just an ordinary knee-length chiffon skirt that didn't fit her very well, Shen Youchu's exposed skin that day was fair and smooth. Her long hair had natural slight curls and her slender calves were highlighted by a pair of black stilettos. She looked absolutely stunning at that moment.
It was unclear if it was because she was not used to being in such an outfit or being at the center of attention but she returned to her shy demeanor. But her confused yet beautiful and peachy face only made almost every male present feel a sudden urge to protect her.
And it was at that moment that Chen Hansheng realized that Shen Youchu was the prettiest girl in the class of 2002. Unfortunately, when she went to graduate school at Jianye University, Chen Hansheng was so engrossed in entrepreneurship that he lost touch with her.
'I definitely can't let the pearl be covered in dust anymore.' thought Chen Hansheng to himself.
To him, she was a treasure worth climbing over the tallest mountains and diving through the deepest seas.
Now that he had a second chance in life, he was going to do things right.
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