After just a few words, Michael felt that Ethan had an easygoing personality, was informal, and spoke casually.
He patted Ethan on the shoulder: "Come on, I've got all your paperwork ready. Did you bring your acceptance letter?"
Ethan pulled out the admission letter from his bag and handed it to Michael.
Michael noticed the two girls in the car at this point and asked, "Ethan, is this your car?"
"Not mine."
Ethan explained: "A friend's car. Mainly these two classmates—we were in the same high school class, took the SATs together, and they've got a lot of luggage. Taking an Uber would've been inconvenient. My car wasn't really suitable for three people today."
The rear window lowered at just the right time, revealing the faces of Ashley and Taylor.
Taylor smiled brightly, her voice cheerful: "Hello Mr. Chen! My name is Taylor, and I'm classmates with Ethan and Ashley!"
Ashley also nodded slightly, her voice cool but polite: "Hello Mr. Chen, I'm Ashley."
Michael's eyes lit up and he said in surprise: "Oh! Excellent, excellent! Welcome, welcome! Ethan, you not only came yourself but also brought us two such outstanding students—what an unexpected bonus!"
He turned to the two and said, "Quick, give me your acceptance letters too—let's do this all together!"
Under Michael's arrangement, the security guard quickly raised the barrier. Ethan drove the car through the campus gates and parked on the side of the road where it wouldn't block traffic.
Michael specifically explained to the security guard: "Tom, this is Ethan Miller, the perfect SAT scorer. From now on, his car gets waved through campus. I'll send you his photo, and I'll also notify the security department."
This was the special treatment for top talent.
With Michael, the head of admissions, personally escorting them, the registration process was lightning fast.
The three of them only needed to sign their names on a few key forms, and all procedures were completed in an instant.
Taylor whispered to Ashley in awe: "Wow, Ashley, that was so fast!"
Ashley nodded, her eyes sweeping over the other freshmen in the long queue, his cool gaze thoughtful.
Having connections really made things easier!
Under the gaze of countless curious or envious eyes, Ethan sat back in the driver's seat, and Michael happily climbed into the passenger seat.
The Audi A4 slowly drove deeper into the NYU campus while the student volunteers at the orientation point saluted them.
Behind them, discussions exploded instantly:
"Damn! That freshman who drove the Audi just now was Ethan Miller? Perfect SAT score? He's so hot!"
"I'm so mad at myself! Why didn't I rush up to get his Insta just now! Mr. Chen totally blocked me! Opportunities are fleeting!"
"Those two girls in the back seat are gorgeous! One's bubbly and cute, one's a cold goddess! They're also freshmen?"
"That's a top-trim Audi A4, right? Costs like 50 grand! His family's loaded!"
"Tall, rich, handsome + genius! Plus two stunning classmates riding with him... This setup is insane!"
"Mr. Chen, you ruined my chance to get a girlfriend!"
"Don't even think about it—didn't you see the vibe? We're not in the same league..."
Michael had waited at the main gates for days, and his intention was naturally far more than just leading Ethan through the registration procedures.
His real mission was to take Ethan to fulfill the very substantial promise of "perfect scorer special recruitment."
Ethan first drove the car to the entrance of the residence hall where Ashley and Taylor would be staying.
Michael personally got out of the car, greeted the dorm supervisor and explained the situation.
Soon, two enthusiastic upperclassmen jogged over to help carry their luggage.
Before Taylor got out of the car, she made a phone gesture to Ethan and smiled brightly: "Ethan, text me once you're settled in!"
Ashley: "Thank you, Mr. Chen."
Then he turned to Ethan, a hint of inquiry in his cool eyes.
Ethan nodded: "Talk later."
The two walked into the residence hall surrounded by their student helpers.
Watching them leave, Michael guided Ethan to drive deeper into a quiet area of the NYU campus.
The greenery here was lush and the environment peaceful, with several small buildings that had a sense of history but were well-maintained.
This was where senior professors resided and represented one of the school's most important resources.
One of them was the "perfect scorer benefit" specially reserved for recruiting Ethan.
The car stopped in front of a townhouse with a small courtyard.
Michael introduced with a hint of pride: "Ethan, this is it. The key and related paperwork are inside. From now on, this will be your home at NYU."
Ethan got out of the car and looked around.
The trees rustled gently, birds chirped crisply—the environment was truly impeccable.
Having an entire place to himself, these conditions were enough to make any student envious.
However, Ethan felt an indescribable sense of disconnect in his heart.
University wasn't just a place to study, but also a melting pot where youth collided and interpersonal connections formed. In the dorm in his previous life, the laughter and cursing, late-night conversations, and even the friction and disputes—those fragments of memories full of life suddenly became extremely clear.
"Mr. Chen."
Ethan withdrew his gaze and said in a sincere tone: "Thank you so much for the school's generosity and yours—I really appreciate this place, it's excellent. But..." He changed direction and made a request Michael didn't expect, "I'd also like to apply for a regular dorm room bed."
Michael was stunned, thinking he'd heard wrong: "A dorm room bed? You mean... you still want to live in a shared dorm?"
You have your own townhouse and you still want to stay in a dorm?
Ethan smiled and explained: "Mr. Chen, in college, if there's no joking around with roommates and late-night talks after lights out, I feel like something's missing."
He said it half-jokingly, half-seriously.
Michael looked at Ethan's frank and slightly expectant eyes, his heart full of emotion: This perfect scorer really is different! This pursuit of authentic college life is more real and down-to-earth.
He no longer hesitated and readily agreed: "Alright! That's easy enough to arrange. According to your admission, you were assigned to room 208 in the Business Administration building. The bed's still reserved for you! I'll get you the key later."
After the arrangements were made, Michael's expression became serious: "Ethan, there's one more thing. Dean Wilson specifically said that once you're settled, you should come to his office. He wants to meet you, our perfect scorer."
Ethan nodded: "I was planning to visit Dean Wilson anyway."
He'd long heard of this academic giant.
The two came to the stately administration building and took the elevator directly to the top floor.
Michael stopped in front of a heavy wooden door with a brass nameplate reading "Dean's Office," straightened his clothes, and knocked gently.
A deep and calm voice carrying unquestionable authority came from inside: "Come in."
Pushing the door open, a scholarly atmosphere mixed with a faint scent of coffee greeted them.
Behind a huge mahogany desk sat an older man with silver hair, neatly combed. He wore a well-tailored suit with reading glasses perched on his nose, and the gaze behind the lenses was deep and sharp.
This was the current Dean of NYU's Stern School of Business, renowned economist and influential figure in both academic and business circles—Professor James Wilson.
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