Chapter Two: North China United University

After the little episode on the bus, Zhang Mingyang didn’t dare walk alongside Xu Zihan anymore once they got off. Thus, after ten minutes of hesitant steps, a sweeping arched stone gate spanning over a hundred meters came into view. On it, six bold characters were engraved: “North China United University.”

As the top-ranked university in the country and second in the world for science and engineering research, North China United boasted not only conventional disciplines like mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, but also cutting-edge fields such as new energy, intelligence, supercomputing, and aerospace science.

The campus covered nearly 300,000 mu, yet had only a little over 8,000 students and a faculty of 3,000. Most of the grounds were occupied by independent research institutes for each discipline.

Standing before the gate, Zhang Mingyang stretched lazily, gazing at the vast entrance and sighing inwardly. How many people dreamed of entering this university? He knew he owed deep gratitude to his grandmother, whose persistent encouragement had brought him here.

“What are you daydreaming about? We’re almost late!” Xu Zihan interrupted his reverie.

Zhang Mingyang gave her a sidelong glance and followed her through the gate.

At the entrance checkpoint, the two underwent facial recognition; once confirmed as students, the gate opened.

The campus, once lively and green, was now stripped of its vitality. It was winter break—sycamores lining the roads were bare, and only a scattering of people crossed the pathways. Even the magnetic levitation shuttles, usually impossible to catch, were parked in neat rows.

There was a story about those shuttles: according to upperclassmen, there hadn’t been any internal transport on campus until a group of mechanical engineering students developed a few vehicles for their own convenience. The administration quickly discovered them, and the outcome? They were ordered to build dozens more, placing them at every gate for everyone’s use.

Once aboard, Zhang Mingyang set his destination to the Energy Department auditorium. The driverless shuttle navigated the campus map on its own.

Watching the scenery and architecture slide by, Zhang Mingyang suddenly recalled something he’d seen on the campus forum that morning. He turned to Xu Zihan and asked, “Xu Second, have you ever heard about our university’s five famous spots?”

Xu Zihan looked at him as if he were from another planet. “Are you even a student here? How do you not know something so famous?”

Embarrassed, Zhang Mingyang scratched his head and stammered, “You know me, a seasoned homebody. For the past three years, aside from staying in the research institute, I only wander around the department after meals—never visited anywhere else.”

Xu Zihan shook her head in disbelief. “What a waste, with scenery like this.”

“Alright, let me enlighten you about the campus,” she said, opening the display screen on the seat in front of her and pulling up the campus map. “The so-called five spots are: the Aerospace Tower to the east in the Aerospace Department; the Abyss to the west in the Marine Science College; the Sky Roller Coaster to the south in the Mechanical Department; Emerald Mountain to the north in the Energy Department; and the Floral Wonderland in the northwest corner at the Biology Department.”

Zhang Mingyang was baffled. “What are these names? Why is our Energy Department included?”

Xu Zihan replied with a look of longing, “You single types wouldn’t understand how wonderful love can be. These are the romantic sanctuaries chosen by couples across campus!”

“Romantic sanctuaries?”

Zhang Mingyang’s head spun. What did she mean?

Xu Zihan pointed to the screen. “Look: the Floral Wonderland in the Biology Department is the confession spot; all kinds of odd machines in Mechanical are for couples to play; the weightless space in the Aerospace Tower is the dating venue; the deep-sea base in Marine Science is for holidays; as for Emerald Mountain in the Energy Department—well, that’s… that kind of sanctuary!”

Emerald Mountain?

Zhang Mingyang pressed, “What’s up with our Emerald Mountain?”

Xu Zihan blushed, answering shyly, “Go there at night and you’ll see.”

“At night?” Zhang Mingyang felt uneasy watching her shy demeanor.

Suddenly, he remembered a night when, alone on the mountain field conducting experiments, he’d witnessed something, and instantly understood.

Ahem…

Zhang Mingyang coughed twice, swiftly changing the subject.

“So, Xu Second, why are you here for this lecture?”

Xu Zihan calmed herself and replied, “You think I wanted to come? Our advisor said this lecture would benefit those about to start their internships, so here I am.”

“I thought your family was well-off? Why worry about internships?”

“Oh, please, are you here just to see me because you like me?”

“Zhang Mingyang!” Xu Zihan raised her fist and shouted, “What did you just say?”

“I was wrong…!” Zhang Mingyang raised his hands in surrender. “My mistake, hero.”

“Hey, we’re here.” Zhang Mingyang pointed ahead at the auditorium, parking the shuttle.

As soon as the shuttle stopped, before Xu Zihan could react, Zhang Mingyang darted out and sprinted toward the hall.

Outside the auditorium, a few roommates saw him rushing in and waved for him to hurry.

“Why are you just now getting here? It’s almost starting!”

Panting, Zhang Mingyang glanced at the time—08:18, twelve minutes left.

“You think I didn’t want to? Look behind me.”

The three looked back.

A fierce woman wielding a sycamore branch was charging forward, shouting thunderously!

“Who’s that?” Everyone murmured.

“Your girlfriend?”

“She’s not exactly a beauty!”

“Zhang Mingyang, what did you do?”

“What are you thinking? It’s Xu Second!”

“Who?”

Three voices exclaimed.

“Xu Zihan? When did he change gender?”

“Zhang Mingyang, get over here!” Xu Zihan’s angry shout sounded from behind.

“You think I’m stupid?” Zhang Mingyang called back, “Just because you say so doesn’t mean I’ll go!”

With that, Zhang Mingyang and his three friends dashed into the auditorium.

He pushed open the doors—clamor filled his ears. The Energy Department’s auditorium, built for five hundred, was packed to capacity.

“Over here, Zhang Mingyang,” his roommate Lin Ruofu waved at four empty seats nearby.

“Hurry up, then.”

The four weaved through the crowd and finally settled in.

Moments later, Xu Zihan burst in, slamming the door. Seeing the packed hall, she stifled her anger, scanning the crowd until she spotted Zhang Mingyang in the center, glaring at him fiercely, as if to say, “You got lucky this time.”

But Zhang Mingyang was unfazed, only smiling and pointing to the crowd around him.

It was then that Xu Zihan realized everyone in the hall was watching her—and they were all smiling.

Her best friend, covering her face, hurried over and dragged Xu Zihan away, muttering, “Grand lady, you’re going to ruin me. Since when did you learn to use makeup?”

Laughter erupted throughout the auditorium.