"What do you want? Speak."
In the main dining hall of the school, Hu Linyu and Chen Hansheng were sitting opposite each other.
There was also an additional party at the table - Shen Youchu. But she was so inconspicuous that hardly anyone noticed her.
Before she was sat there, Chen Hansheng had been explaining for a while that he was not pursuing Hu Linyu. He just wanted to have an in-depth conversation with her about being class president.
Unfortunately, Linyu did not seem to trust Chen Hansheng very much. When she saw Shen Youchu sitting alone at another table, Linyu quickly called her over to make their party a trio and immediately put out any potential rumors of Hu Linyu and Chen Hansheng dating.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
Hu Linyu urged him again because Chen Hansheng suddenly became a little quiet.
Chen Hansheng had fallen silent because he saw Shen Youchu's dinner - a twenty-cent steamed bun and free seaweed egg soup that were slowly being consumed.
"Youchu didn't come from a wealthy background. Now that you're class president, you have to help her apply for a student loan and a subsidy for students in need," said Hu Linyu.
When she first met Youchu and heard about her family circumstances, it made Hu Linyu sad. She didn't expect there to be such a poor family in 2002.
"Hu Linyu, since I'm treating you to a meal, then I'll treat Shen Youchu too," said Chen Hansheng unexpectedly.
Hu Linyu quickly reacted. "Everyone deserves to have a good meal. So, don't mind us as we take advantage of your offer."
"Don't worry. I won't."
Shen Youchu quickly refused in a low voice. She was not used to being seated with others since she had almost no social skills.
Unfortunately, she still had half a steamed bun left to eat and she was not one to waste. Moreover, the other two were her classmates, so it was not very polite to leave so abruptly.
However, now that she could not eat anymore, Shen Youchu could only put down her chopsticks and keep her head down without saying a word.
Hu Linyu tried to persuade her as she sarcastically said, "I heard that class president Chen had invited all the boys to supper a few days ago. So what is it to him if he wants to treat the two of us?
"Sit down and don't leave!"
With that command, she took away Chen Hansheng's meal card to take him up on his offer. He reckoned that this dinner would not be cheap.
But Chen Hansheng did not take it to heart at all. He only focused on the hidden beauty in front of him.
In fact, if one observed carefully, one would be able to notice her smooth forehead, peach blossom eyes, and rosy little mouth, aside from the figure hidden under the military training uniform. It was undeniable that Shen Youchu was a rare beauty.
"F*ck, she's 1.7 meters tall. Well, even if she's a bamboo pole, she's still very pretty." Chen Hansheng muttered in annoyance.
Now that he thought about it, he was really stupid back then. There was such a beauty right next to him for four years and he wasn't able to notice her. How fickle university students were to pursue only what the eyes could see.
Shen Youchu had probably never eaten with boys before, or at least not one with Chen Hansheng's penetrating gaze that made her feel completely bare before him.
Just as she was about to bury her head under the table, Hu Linyu came back with a few stacks of dishes. There were fish, shrimp, meat, and eggs. It seemed that she had brought back almost all the most expensive meat in the cafeteria.
"A total of sixty-seven yuan," said Hu Linyu proudly.
Shen Youchu was very surprised. This was almost equivalent to her food expenses for more than a month.
"As long as you guys are happy." Chen Hansheng didn't care at all.
"Alright, so tell me. What did you want to talk to me about?" Hu Linyu's anger had subsided a little, just enough for her to be able to converse with Hansheng reasonably.
"Hu Linyu, why do you want to be the class monitor?" asked Chen Hansheng.
Hu Linyu was about to blabber on with a similar reason to what she had said in class earlier. But Chen Hansheng had anticipated it and immediately cut her off. "If you're not willing to be honest with me, then just eat this meal quietly and pretend that I never looked for you."
Hu Linyu suddenly stopped talking. After a moment of silence, she said, "In the future, I want to be a civil servant. Being the class president will be a stepping stone for me."
Chen Hansheng sneered in his heart. Hu Linyu still did not tell the truth. Her true goal was to be a transfer student, but it was a very competitive opportunity. She was probably afraid that her competition would increase if she said it out loud.
However, this was enough. At least it showed that Hu Linyu was willing to converse.
Chen Hansheng played along. "No wonder you wanted to be a class president. It turns out that you want to pursue a career with the government."
"What about you? Don't think that I don't know about the tricks behind your back," said Hu Linyu disdainfully.
She was still unwilling to admit defeat. However, Chen Hansheng wanted to negotiate with her, so he was willing to tolerate Hu Linyu's attitude.
"I don't want to be a civil servant in the future. I just want to make money," said Chen Hansheng simply.
Once he started to set up his business, he would no longer be able to hide it from his peers. Regardless, in order for his business to succeed, he would need some support from others. Thus, he thought that it would be best to be honest and upfront with Hu Linyu to establish a foundation of trust between the two.
"You want to set up a business?"
Hu Linyu frowned. "But how is being class president related to it?"
"If I am class president, things would be more convenient and accessible to me. And I would also gain visibility," said Chen Hansheng as he explained simply.
"Great. So being class president is basically just a stepping stone for you too," said Hu Linyu angrily.
Chen Hansheng didn't mind and smiled. He asked in return, "Isn't it the same for you too? At least I was better able to convince the class."
Hu Linyu choked.
This was the truth. Hu Linyu was indeed more dedicated. Chen Hansheng didn't intend to refute, because arguing any further would be meaningless.
But ultimately, he was the victor.
"Well, by our second year, I would probably not be interested or need to be class president anymore. If that happens, would you be interested in taking over?" asked Chen Hansheng slowly. This was also one of the reasons he called out Hu Linyu for a meal.
Hu Linyu was stunned for a moment. "You're planning to resign?"
"Even if I still need to be class president after a year, it would only mean that I have failed with my business. It is only right for me to give up my position," said Chen Hansheng with a smile, and the unruly and frivolous expression appeared on his face again.
"What do you plan to do after?" asked Hu Linyu. Chen Hansheng must have plans already.
Shen Youchu on the other hand was starting to feel restless. Why was she privy to these confidential conversations? Chen Hansheng and Hu Linyu were both influential figures in Public Administration Class 2. They were not people Shen Youchu wanted to be involved with.
"I-I'm full. I think I'll leave first."
It wasn't easy for Shen Youchu to speak up, especially when it meant that she would have to waste half of the steamed bun. But she did it anyway and started to gather her thing to leave.
"Stop," said Chen Hansheng suddenly.
Shen Youchu was shocked. She timidly glanced at Chen Hansheng and then quickly lowered her gaze.
"Sit down," said Chen Hansheng with a deep voice.
But Shen Youchu did not sit down. She only clenched her arms together even tighter. It was obvious that she really wanted to leave.
"I told you to sit down."
Chen Hansheng took a deep breath and gave another order.
Shen Youchu eventually sat down, her body trembling as if she was scared. Hu Linyu found Chen Hansheng's tone too fierce and was about to stand up for Shen Youchu.
But Chen Hansheng suddenly sighed, picked out the largest shrimp among the dishes, personally peeled it, and placed it in Shen Youchu's bowl. Then, he gently said, "Since it's for you, you have to finish it."
Linyu stared blankly at Chen Hansheng. His demeanor had changed too quickly. Wasn't this a scene straight out of a romance novel?
Various versions of a dominant CEO male protagonist popped up in Hu Linyu's mind.