Chapter 325: Meeting the President Again

"We can split up and get in different lines. Each of us can buy stuff for the group, then we’ll eat it all together," Chen Mo said with a smile.

"Sounds good. I want some noodles. I’m gonna check that out over there. Anyone else?" Li Zhe pointed to a stall with a sign that read "Hunan-Style Noodles."

"No noodles for me. I’m going to see if they have any steamed buns." Wang Lan’s eyes landed on a window with steam billowing out of it.

At the mention of buns, the other three all requested one vegetable and one meat bun each, dispatching Wang Lan on a supply run.

Shen Xinghe, meanwhile, headed to the stall serving Western breakfast and salads. He planned to get a salad for each of them to add some nutrition to their meal.

Chen Mo scanned the area and spotted the stall selling scallion pancakes and soy milk—the one Su Yuqing had mentioned in a message just a little while ago. The line was incredibly long, so it seemed her recommendation was solid.

He smiled and got in the back of the line.

After about a seven or eight-minute wait, Chen Mo bought four scallion pancakes and four cups of soy milk.

The other three soon gathered with their trays and found an empty table.

By the time Chen Mo got back, the table was already laden with food.

On Wang Lan’s tray were the meat and vegetable buns.

Since no one else wanted noodles, Li Zhe returned with just a single steaming bowl of beef noodle soup for himself. The chili oil floating on top was a brilliant red, and it looked incredibly appetizing.

Shen Xinghe’s tray looked exceptionally fresh: four vegetable salads, each topped with a sliced hard-boiled egg.

Once all four were together, they immediately divvied up the food.

Chen Mo and Shen Xinghe ended up with the same breakfast: one vegetable bun, one meat bun, a scallion pancake, a salad, and a cup of soy milk.

The two of them were clearly the most health-conscious about their figures in the dorm.

Wang Lan, in contrast, had four meat buns, four vegetable buns, a fried dough stick, a scallion pancake, a salad, and a cup of soy milk.

Li Zhe’s meal was the same as Chen Mo’s and Shen Xinghe’s, but with an added bowl of beef noodle soup.

Once everything was distributed, the four of them, who were already eager to eat, immediately began to happily enjoy their breakfast.

Wang Lan took a huge bite of a meat bun and said to Li Zhe, his words muffled, "Your noodle soup looks amazing!"

The tip of Li Zhe’s nose was dotted with sweat from the spice, but he was eating with great relish. "Yeah, it’s pretty spicy, but it’s delicious."

Chen Mo bit into his scallion pancake. The outside was crispy, and the inside was soft and savory. It was also quite good.

As he ate, he listened to his roommates chat, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the other tables in the cafeteria. He was subconsciously searching for a familiar figure, but he didn’t see Su Yuqing or her friends. Apparently, they had finished their meal long ago and moved on.

"What should we do after we eat?" Wang Lan asked, swallowing a large meat bun in one go. "Head back to the dorm to blast the AC and play games?"

"I don’t know. The opening ceremony isn’t for another three days. There’s really nothing to do until then," Li Zhe said, sounding a bit adrift.

Chen Mo took a sip of soy milk and said, "I’m thinking of checking out the library and wandering around campus to get familiar with the layout. I also want to see where our classes will be. What about you guys?"

Shen Xinghe picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth. "I’ll go with you. It’s a good chance to learn my way around."

Wang Lan and Li Zhe glanced at each other, clearly uninterested in the idea of wandering around campus under the hot sun.

"Well... then we’ll just head back to the dorm first?" Wang Lan scratched his head. "Once you two figure it out, we’ll just follow you around. You can be our guides."

"Alright," Chen Mo nodded, not forcing the issue.

After breakfast, the four of them split up at the cafeteria entrance.

Wang Lan and Li Zhe headed back, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, debating whether to team up for some games or watch a new anime series.

Chen Mo and Shen Xinghe, meanwhile, walked side by side toward the library.

The morning sun grew more intense. The newly planted trees lining the campus paths didn’t yet provide much shade.

Shen Xinghe produced an exquisite parasol from somewhere, opened it with a practiced motion, and offered to share it with Chen Mo. "Want to get under? Sunscreen alone might not be enough in this sun."

Chen Mo stared at the parasol being offered to him, slightly taken aback. It was the first time another guy had ever invited him to share a parasol for shade. The experience felt a little strange.

He glanced at Shen Xinghe’s fair, almost luminous skin and figured the parasol was indeed a necessity for him. He accepted with a smile. "Sure, thanks."

And so, a rather peculiar sight appeared on campus: two exceptionally handsome young men, both with striking figures and presence, sharing an elegant parasol as they walked at a leisurely pace, drawing many sideways glances from passing students.

To outsiders, however, it looked like a handsome man walking alongside a beautiful woman, a sight that drew many envious stares.

Faced with the stares and second glances from passersby, Chen Mo remained perfectly composed. After all, he’d been in situations that drew even more attention than this.

Shen Xinghe was even more accustomed to it, seemingly not noticing the stares at all.

The two soon arrived at the university’s landmark library.

The library was a magnificent, modern-style building. Its massive glass curtain wall glittered in the sunlight, giving it a solemn air.

Inside, the space was wide and open. The air conditioning was running strong, and the quiet atmosphere was broken only by the faint rustle of turning pages.

Even though classes hadn’t officially started, many students were already inside, reading or studying on their own.

"The academic atmosphere in here is intense," Chen Mo remarked quietly.

Shen Xinghe nodded. "Well, we are in one of the university’s top programs. The competition is bound to be fierce."

Just then, a group of people walked out.

At the head of the group was none other than the student council president, Qin Xue, whom Chen Mo had briefly seen that morning.

She seemed to have just finished a meeting and was turning to give instructions to a subordinate walking beside her. Her expression was focused and serious, her steps quick, exuding an air of decisive efficiency.

Her eyes immediately fell upon Chen Mo and Shen Xinghe.

Her pace faltered for an almost imperceptible moment. Her gaze once again held the same quick, evaluative look from that morning, but this time, it was tinged with a hint of curiosity.

Chen Mo saw her too, but this time, he didn’t give a polite nod.

This time, however, Qin Xue’s reaction was different. She stopped, said "one moment" to her subordinate, and then walked toward Chen Mo and his companion.

Shen Xinghe remained as calm and unruffled as ever, as if everything happening in front of him was of no concern.

"Excuse my interruption, and I apologize if I have the wrong person, but are you Shen Xinghe?" Qin Xue asked. Her voice was cool and clear, her gaze focused mainly on Shen Xinghe, though she kept Chen Mo in her peripheral vision.

"I am," Shen Xinghe replied evenly, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.

He didn’t seem particularly concerned about how she knew who he was.

"I’m Qin Xue, the student council president," she said, giving a brief self-introduction. Her eyes flicked between the two of them. "I’ve seen your modeling work in *Youthful Charm* magazine. It was quite impressive. The university is planning to shoot some promotional videos and brochures this year, and we were wondering if you’d be willing to participate. The pay, however, definitely won’t compare to what you’d make on a professional gig." She spoke quickly, but her words were perfectly coherent.