Chapter 035: Civilized Seat Reservation—May Those Who Snatch Seats Suffer Misfortune

Zhonghai University is situated at the heart of the university district. In earlier years, this area was merely a distant suburb, home to only a few somewhat old-fashioned institutions. As Zhonghai’s economy surged ahead, the activation of the coastal city’s economic system propelled the urbanization of Zhonghai, rapidly transforming it into one of the nation’s top three container port cities, with annual throughput ranking among the world’s top ten.

Such explosive economic growth naturally set off a rocket-like leap across various fields. Zhonghai University already enjoyed considerable renown in the country, and soon both public and private universities began to establish campuses around it. The municipal government designated the area as the university district, which now boasts a vibrancy that rivals even the most famous commercial streets.

The bus stop is right in front of Zhonghai University. Li Huan stood protectively behind Su Dieyi, and fortunately, there were no more inconsiderate people to bother her—Li Huan’s tall, imposing figure seemed more than capable of handling trouble.

Su Dieyi got off the bus first, hesitated for a moment, then waited for Li Huan. As they walked aside together, Su Dieyi spoke quietly, “Thank you for earlier… but actually, I wasn’t afraid of him!”

She clenched her fist, striking a taekwondo pose. Her simply tied ponytail swung with youthful energy; in that moment, Su Dieyi seemed stubbornly strong, making Li Huan pause and nod in acknowledgment, not contradicting her words.

Su Dieyi was studying design. According to Zhu Zhu, in the School of Design, Su Dieyi was considered a goddess—not only for her beauty but for her acclaimed works. She had once won an award described by Zhu Zhu as “so huge even Li Huan’s house couldn’t hold it.” Li Huan had never seen it himself, but from the sound of it, whoever designed that trophy must have been a bit out of their mind.

Their campuses were close; the School of Design was right beside the School of Finance. Su Dieyi walked awkwardly ahead, and Li Huan quickened his pace to catch up. They kept a person’s distance between them, silent, like a couple in the midst of a quarrel.

Su Dieyi was strikingly beautiful. Today she wore a white chiffon blouse, modest but her ample figure drew attention regardless, making her feel even more shy.

Li Huan glanced back and noticed several men staring at Su Dieyi’s hips. Her tight jeans accentuated her curves, her long legs pressed together without a gap, and the sway of her walk made hearts race.

If he could, Li Huan would have preferred to follow behind—sometimes, the sight of a shapely figure could stir primal desires in any man, and that was undeniable.

“I’m here!” Su Dieyi finally made it to the entrance of the School of Design, looked up at Li Huan, feeling nervous. This was her first time walking to school alone with a boy, an unfamiliar sensation tinged with excitement, though mostly shyness.

“Oh…” Li Huan responded, not thinking Su Dieyi was being coy. Some girls do care about such things; if you’re not officially together yet walk side by side, it could easily cause misunderstandings. He could appreciate that.

“I’ve got something to do tonight, so I won’t be home for dinner… goodbye!” Li Huan remembered he’d have to deal with the trouble at Dancing with Wolves later, so he told Su Dieyi in advance, lest she prepare dinner and he let her down.

Su Dieyi nodded, watching Li Huan turn and leave, relieved as if she’d been holding her breath. She glanced around, feeling several eyes on her, and hurriedly walked toward her department.

Just as she turned, she was startled to see a round, familiar face staring at her—a friend from her old dormitory, standing nearby, tilting her head and giving her a mischievous look.

Su Dieyi immediately felt guilty, gave a shy smile, and said, “What a coincidence, let’s go to the department together!”

The round-faced girl chuckled, exaggeratedly pointing at Su Dieyi, “You look so nervous! Is that your boyfriend? He’s pretty handsome…”

“Nonsense! He’s not!” Su Dieyi pushed her hand away, glaring in embarrassment. “Stop it, Yang Yang, don’t be so nosy all the time!”

Yang Yang wrapped her arm around Su Dieyi’s shoulder, grinning wickedly and mimicking her earlier words, “I’ve got something to do tonight, so I won’t be home for dinner… Oh my, already living together and still pretending! Tell me, is he a rich second generation? How much does he give you each month?”

“Gross, you’re impossible!” Su Dieyi pouted, her cheeks as red as ripe May cherries, as if they could drip juice.

“Right, your family isn’t short of money! So is he your kept boy?” Yang Yang adopted a mock-thoughtful pose, her cute, lively eyes blinking, but her words made Su Dieyi blush and her heart race, wishing she could bury her head in her pocket.

“I’m not talking to you, you’re awful!” Su Dieyi stomped her foot, shook off Yang Yang’s arm, and hurried ahead, her flustered manner only fueling suspicion.

Meanwhile, oblivious to the rumors about him being Su Dieyi’s kept boy, Li Huan headed straight to the School of Finance. Today was seminar day, with sessions in both morning and afternoon. Seniors had no scheduled classes, gathering in the large multimedia tiered classroom on the first floor.

Li Huan arrived fairly early, but nearly half the seats were already taken. It seemed this seminar had drawn plenty of ambitious students eager to make their mark. Many were hunched over their desks, organizing notes, hoping to shine when their turn came to speak.

As he entered, many eyes turned towards him. Some glanced and returned to their business; others, familiar with Li Huan, waved in greeting.

Li Huan smiled and chatted briefly, then heard a loud voice from the back of the classroom, “Li Huan, over here! I saved you a seat!”

He knew instantly it was Fatty—only he would so blatantly disregard decorum in public! But, seriously, the classroom had a thousand seats and wasn’t even half full. Was it really necessary?

Well, Li Huan knew that seat-saving was common among college students, mostly among freshmen. Seniors would only gather in such numbers for events like this seminar; otherwise, some students might never even be seen around.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Li Huan nonetheless walked over. Fatty greeted him with a mysterious look, beckoning him closer. Li Huan was curious—Fatty usually acted sleazy, but what was he up to today?

As Li Huan reached the seat, Fatty removed a brick from the desk, weighed down with a note: “Civilized seat-saving. Anyone who snatches it, may their whole family perish!”

Li Huan was speechless. Fatty’s childish antics were beyond reproach—he was a senior, top of the class, yet still acted like a grade-schooler. It defied reason.

But Li Huan knew Fatty was eccentric, prone to outrageous behavior. They’d shared a dorm since freshman year and were as close as brothers—though Li Huan would never wear Fatty’s clothes, which carried a unique scent that was simply torturous.

Fatty’s real name was Gong Haichao, nicknamed “Sister Chao.” Only Li Huan called him that; anyone else would see Fatty’s usually hypocritical smile turn savage, which made Li Huan worry that their friendship might take a dangerous turn.

“What’s up?” Li Huan eyed Fatty’s secretive manner, curiosity piqued, and leaned in for a look.

One glance and Li Huan nearly lost his composure: Fatty was reading a fan-made adult manga. Li Huan caught a glimpse of the Empress Boa Hancock’s exposed photo—did One Piece release uncensored editions now?

“Chao, where did you get this?” Li Huan couldn’t help sneaking another look—there were even more revealing pictures inside, and the full-color illustrations highlighted certain explicit features.

Li Huan had to admire Fatty’s shamelessness; such behavior had earned him a reputation for sleaziness, and if any girl saw this, the consequences would be unpredictable.

“A friend of a friend got it—the author’s supposedly the most popular adult manga artist in the country, specializes in Japanese fan comics, super juicy!” Fatty waved the manga, showing off its deluxe cover. There wasn’t a huge market for such works, but within certain anime circles, they spread through special channels.

Li Huan’s interest was piqued, but given the bustling classroom, he wasn’t as bold as Fatty and decided to wait for a more private opportunity.

In less than half an hour, the huge multimedia classroom was packed, which surprised Li Huan. Clearly, this seminar was going to be something extraordinary.

At eight o’clock sharp, student council members finished setting up the podium. Vice President Sun Xiao stepped up, tapped the desk, and swept his gaze across the room. Once silence fell, he cleared his throat and spoke, “Everyone, please remain quiet. As you all know, today we have invited a renowned economist and representatives from fourteen leading domestic and international financial firms. This could well be an opportunity to change your destiny—seize it, and perhaps your lives will shine brighter than ever before!”