Although today is the first day of the new term, the girls' dormitory at Finance University is already quite crowded.
Aside from the fourth-year students preparing for postgraduate exams and those planning to intern for graduation, most of the second and third-year students have returned to campus.
There are also quite a few freshmen, with parents in tow, bustling towards the dorms.
Gu Bai's Night Shadow slowly pulled up under the girls' dormitory building.
The number of cars on registration day was ridiculous. Gu Bai stared for a while before finally spotting a vacant spot. A Volkswagen that intended to take the spot hesitated upon seeing Gu Bai's Night Shadow and eventually drove away slowly.
The driver was quite self-aware; a parking spot could be found with some patience, but scratching or bumping into Gu Bai's car wouldn't lead to tears—it'd just be silent despair.
As the scissor doors lifted, passersby, whether young female students or their parents, couldn't help but stop and stare.
After getting out, Gu Bai grabbed Yao Pei and the others' luggage and stood beside Zhang Yumeng by the car, waiting.
The surrounding started buzzing with comments.
"That guy is so handsome and he's driving a supercar! Is he from our Finance University?"
A girl, who seemed to have come to register solo, eyes twinkling with stars, asked the senior guiding her.
No senior who helps freshmen register has purely innocent intentions, and this one was no exception.
Seeing the adorable freshman sister he fancied almost get her soul hooked by Gu Bai, this Finance University senior internally cursed Gu Bai, but could only adjust his glasses and helplessly replied, "There are guys in our school who drive sports cars; after all, this is Shanghai, where rich people are everywhere. However, I'm certain that no one in our school owns a supercar like a Lamborghini.
So this guy is either an outsider dropping someone off, or he's a freshman himself."
"I wish he were a freshman at our school."
The little devil in the girl's heart urged her to go ask for Gu Bai's contact information, but after touching her own face and looking at Zhang Yumeng beside Gu Bai, she ultimately dismissed the thought.
Gu Bai, listening to the discussions around him, naturally and directly tuned them out.
After so many days, Gu Bai had grown accustomed to such attention and was close to being immune to it.
It was different for Zhang Yumeng; even if she experienced it ten thousand times, she still relished the feeling, her pale neck raised like a proud swan.
A few minutes later, Yao Pei and the others arrived leisurely.
"Meng Meng, you sure are enjoying yourself, having such a great boyfriend driving you around in a supercar while we nearly died from the heat."
Shi Jingjing took out a tissue, wiped her sweat, and complained coyly.
The other girls said much the same.
Zhang Yumeng cheerfully linked arms with Shi Jingjing, "Next time, I'll have Gu Bai take you for a ride, too. How about that?"
"Yes, yes, please do."
Shi Jingjing cheered excitedly.
It was evident that among the girls, Shi Jingjing had the best relationship with Zhang Yumeng; after all, a green tea girl loves having friends who play along with her.
But Gu Bai had no intention of humoring Zhang Yumeng; he picked up their luggage.
"Alright, let's get you to your dorm first. I have an appointment with Brother Zhun and some other affairs later."
"Oh, okay."
When it came to serious matters, Zhang Yumeng was quite clear-headed.
That was something Gu Bai liked most about Zhang Yumeng; despite being a tease, she was obedient.
Zhang Yumeng's dorm was on the third floor. The typical state of university dormitories in Hua Country—no elevators. To display his gentlemanly demeanor, Gu Bai went back and forth several times to carry their luggage to the dorm.
Standing at the door of their dorm, Shi Jingjing thoughtfully handed him a bottle of water.
Gu Bai smiled at her and thanked her. Having worked up a sweat from all the moving, there was no need to be reserved.
Watching Shi Jingjing's actions, Zhang Yumeng couldn't help but squint but said nothing.
Gu Bai, ever observant, noticed Zhang Yumeng's expression but paid it no mind. To Gu Bai, it was purely a mutual attraction to each other's qualities; she craved his money, he desired her body. Material conditions were something he could provide for her, but as for obligations as a boyfriend...
Like rejecting ambiguous advances.
Sorry, not happening.
Not even an official girlfriend could stop Gu Bai from flirting!
In a free moment, Gu Bai took a look at Zhang Yumeng's dormitory. Despite two lifetimes, it was his first time in a girls' dorm.
Honestly, it didn't look that different; not much unlike their boys' dorm.
After finishing the water and cooling down a bit, Gu Bai was about to say goodbye to Zhang Yumeng when he saw a girl rushing into her dorm.
"Yuanyuan, why are you in such a hurry?"
Zhang Yumeng was the first to step out and ask.
"Yu Meng, come down with me quickly, He Pengfei is right beneath our dormitory building."
"He Pengfei?"
Zhang Yumeng's face shifted. She cautiously glanced at Gu Bai, then asked again, "What's he doing here?"
The one called Yuanyuan smirked teasingly, "What else? He's bought a big bouquet of roses and is waiting downstairs for you; he asked me to come up and get you."
Shi Jingjing chimed in directly, "That He Pengfei definitely hasn't given up—here to confess his love again!"
But Zhang Yumeng didn't pay attention to them. She moved next to Gu Bai and nervously explained, "This He Pengfei is our senior, a year above me. He has confessed to me several times, but I've never accepted. I didn't expect him to come on the first day of school again."
Gu Bai swallowed the water in his mouth and shrugged nonchalantly.
"It's fine, you don't need to explain to me, go down and take care of it."
"Aren't you going downstairs with me?"
"You go first, I'll be right there."
"Okay."
After speaking, Zhang Yumeng led a few roommates and the girl named Yuanyuan quickly downstairs, while Gu Bai followed leisurely behind.
By this time, a large crowd had already gathered downstairs, as it's typical for people from Hua Country to love watching a spectacle.
Just as Gu Bai came down the stairs, he saw a boy holding a large bouquet of roses standing before Zhang Yumeng, with a few other boys cheering him on, likely his roommates.
Gu Bai briefly sized up this He Pengfei.
He seemed honest and decent, impeccably dressed without a wrinkle on his clothes. While not particularly handsome, he appeared to be a very comfortable-looking guy, with quite a pleasant appearance.
As more people gathered to watch, Zhang Yumeng anxiously searched around for Gu Bai.
This boy named He Pengfei couldn't wait any longer, holding the roses, he took a few steps forward to stand in front of Zhang Yumeng.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly extended the roses.
"Yumeng, this is the fifth time I've confessed to you. Although I know I might get rejected again, I still came."
"After school starts, I'll be a senior and begin my internship, officially stepping into society. I'm afraid if I don't say some things now, I won't have the chance later. I don't want to leave any regrets in my college years."
Zhang Yumeng was anxiously waiting for Gu Bai, her eyes occasionally glancing back.
He Pengfei thought Zhang Yumeng was simply shy about being confessed to in front of so many people.
Seeing that Zhang Yumeng still didn't take the flowers, He Pengfei raised the roses higher.
"Yumeng, today marks the third year since we met. I really hope we can have many more three years together. Actually, I've already started working now, and I've heard you're doing part-time jobs outside. I hope you won't work so hard anymore. I, He Pengfei, have the capability and confidence to give you the life you desire!"
After saying this, he held the roses with one hand and took out a delicate jewelry box from his pocket.
"Inside is a Cartier LOVE series necklace. Although it's not expensive, only over ten thousand yuan, it's something I earned from part-time jobs and working over the past few months. Although I don't have much money now, this necklace is the starting point of my promise to you. Everything will be there in the future. I'm still young, and I have time to become the person I want to be!"
"Yumeng, please agree to be my girlfriend!"
He Pengfei disregarded the crowd around him and shouted directly.
Gu Bai was not far away, leaning against his car door. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and silently lit it.
"Quite ambitious, a confident good boy."
While lighting the cigarette, he mumbled softly to himself.
"Say yes! Say yes!"
He Pengfei's roommates seized the moment and started cheering him on.
The onlookers joined in enthusiastically.
"Young lady, this boy clearly likes you a lot, and it's rare to find such an ambitious boy these days. Say yes, or you'll regret it later."
An aunt dropping off her child at the school advised Zhang Yumeng with an experienced tone.
Seeing Zhang Yumeng looking like she was being grilled over a fire, Gu Bai felt it was time for him to step in.
But before Gu Bai could stand up, he heard Zhang Yumeng's cold voice.
"Is this fun for you, He Pengfei?"
"Ah?"
Hearing Zhang Yumeng's tone, He Pengfei felt uneasy.
"I've told you many times before, I don't like you. I don't like you now, and I won't like you in the future. Since you like confessing, I'll be straightforward today. I already have a boyfriend. From today on, let's not even be friends."
Upon hearing this, He Pengfei was stunned. He had anticipated the possibility of rejection but never imagined Zhang Yumeng would react so intensely. In his eyes, Zhang Yumeng was always gentle and soft-spoken.
Zhang Yumeng didn't want to say another word to him, but Shi Jingjing stepped in with a parting shot.
"Sister Meng Meng already has a boyfriend; her boyfriend is right there."
Saying this, she pointed to Gu Bai, still leaning against the car door smoking.
All the onlookers turned their attention to Gu Bai.
Gu Bai extinguished the cigarette butt, tossed it into the trash can, and slowly walked over to Zhang Yumeng, not even glancing at He Pengfei.
"Alright, let's head back to the dormitory early; it's quite hot outside."
Seeing that Gu Bai didn't seem angry, Zhang Yumeng felt relieved, but a sudden inexplicable emotion filled her heart again.
"He really doesn't care about me at all..."
Zhang Yumeng thought to herself, but softly replied, "Hmm."
"Then I'll head off first and come by to pick you up when I'm free."
"Okay."
Hearing Gu Bai's promise, the sadness that was in her heart disappeared, and she nodded obediently.
It was the first time He Pengfei saw Zhang Yumeng behave so gently and sweetly, but unfortunately, it was for another guy, making his heart feel instantly unbalanced.