"Boss, stop talking and go up quickly. You don't want to be on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper, do you?"
Zhuifeng looked around. "My goodness! Why are so many people staring at us?"
"Boss, don't tell me you've forgotten that I'm now known as a musical genius. Just me alone is enough to draw their attention, let alone me calling you 'boss'. How can they not stare at us? I bet they're already wondering if I'm involved in some gang!"
"Now I understand why celebrities are so troubled. What are we waiting for? Let's bolt!"
The two scurried back to Ling Cheng's dorm room like stray dogs. Zhuifeng marveled again.
"Celebrities really are different! Look, they even have their own suite. Impressive!"
.....
"Hey, why aren't you guys replying to me?"
After waiting for a while with no response, Zhuifeng turned around. "Damn, playing poker? And not even making a sound!"
"Landlord!"
Ling Cheng came out of the kitchen with a few bottles of water. "Sorry, Boss, this is all I have!"
So being an artist isn't as glamorous as it seems on the surface. Look, they can't even drink beer regularly.
"I see! Landlord? What's that?" Zhuifeng asked, confused, as he took the water.
"Damn! Boss, you're so out of touch! You don't even know this? I really doubt if you're from this planet," Ma Ji stood up and exclaimed, probably having finished a game.
"..." What does this have to do with whether I'm from Earth or not?
To avoid seeming too out of touch, Zhuifeng joined the "Landlord" game. However, it seemed he really couldn't get into it. After two hours, his face was covered in markings.
"Wow, the Oriental Group has moved headquarters to Beijing, China! So the Oriental Group really was founded by Chinese owners!" Ling Cheng, who was reading a newspaper, suddenly shouted.
"What?" Zhuifeng jumped up, snatched the newspaper, read for a while, then stared intently at Qiu Nuo and Zheng He.
"Really?"
Seeing Zhuifeng nod, Ma Ji also started staring at them.
"What's wrong, Boss? Is there something off about Third Brother and Fourth Brother?" Ling Cheng didn't understand.
"How did you know about this?"
"Damn, how did it get published so quickly!" Qiu Nuo cursed under his breath.
"What did you say?" Ma Ji didn't hear clearly.
"Well, how should I put this?" Zheng He thought for a moment. "Actually, both our parents work at the Oriental Group, so we know some inside information. That's normal, right?"
"Just that?" Zhuifeng was really starting to doubt them this time. Weren't they supposed to not know each other before? Now... something definitely seemed off.
"Of course it's true, otherwise how would we have gotten this information?" Qiu Nuo secretly gave Zheng He a thumbs up.
"Hey, Boss! Did you see this part?"
Zhuifeng took the newspaper from Ma Ji again. "...The Oriental Group's board of directors revealed that after moving back to the mainland, they would invest in sports. Because China was missing a brand on the world stage...
"...The focus of investment will be on racing competitions. The company is already in talks with racing clubs in China. Moreover, according to an insider, if these negotiations fail, the Oriental Group might force a buyout!
"...All signs indicate that the Oriental Group's first move after coming home is aimed at racing, and they might even be organizing an international racing league!
"...To be frank, China has never stood on the podium at world racing competitions. Why? Our strength is insufficient. And why is our strength insufficient? Because our resources are limited. Now that the Oriental Group, ranked among the top 50 global enterprises and owned by Chinese nationals, aims to lead the way, our Sports Bureau is appealing through the media to racing clubs. With your current capabilities, partnering with the Oriental Group might be the fastest route to establishing China's presence in international racing. If you want to avoid China taking decades more to gain a foothold in global racing, we urge you to seriously consider the Oriental Group's proposal..."
After reading the report, Zhuifeng and Ma Ji were stunned for a while. "Wow! That's so cool!" They couldn't help but shout.
"This is great, we'll finally have our own racing events!" Zhuifeng said excitedly.
"But I wonder if this can really work," Ma Ji said with some concern.
"Are you an idiot? This is the Oriental Group we're talking about, and they have the Sports Bureau backing them up. How could it not work?" Zheng He mocked him.
"I guess you're right!" Ma Ji was speechless. He turned to look at Ling Cheng, "Number Five, it's past five o'clock now, what are you still doing here?"
Ling Cheng was dumbfounded for a moment. "What am I supposed to do?"
"I'm dizzy. Cook dinner, of course! Don't tell me you weren't planning to treat us to a meal?"
"Well, I always eat out!"
"Geez! What are we waiting for then? Let's go!" Ma Ji, probably really hungry, walked out as soon as he finished speaking.
...
After dinner at the restaurant, Ma Ji stretched and said, "Classes start tomorrow. Sigh... we're in for some suffering."
"Suffering?"
"Damn! Boss, you really are exceptionally clueless. You don't even know this?"
"Are you mocking me?"
"How dare I! Freshmen, that's us, have to start military training from tomorrow! It's the rule!"
"Oh, what's the big deal? It's just military training! I thought it was something major." Take that, you little brat.
"Hehe, you'll see!" He grinned.
.....
The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, all four of them got up, had breakfast, and came to the drill ground. At 8 AM sharp, the school assembly began. After three hours of verbal bombardment from the school leaders, everyone was finally released.
Military training began...
The freshmen who were initially enthusiastic became exhausted after the first day of training. This was evident in the cafeteria, which was usually noisy but now eerily quiet.
"Boss, I don't want to live anymore!" Ma Ji suddenly blurted out.
"Then go die if you want. The Yangtze River is uncovered," Zhuifeng said without even looking at him.
....
The second day, in the cafeteria:
"Boss, I'm dying!"
"Hmm, I'll make sure to buy you a wreath."
.....
The third day, in the cafeteria:
"Boss, I'm dead!"
"Aren't you still sitting here?"
.....
The fourth day, in the cafeteria...
.....
"Wow! We're finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel! By the way, Boss, did you know there are many pretty girls among the freshmen?" It was already the 14th day, and Ma Ji had become lively again, probably having gotten used to the training.
"For example?" Zhuifeng pointed to a nearby table. "Like her?"
"Yeah! Look at her figure, it's amazing!"
"Damn!" Zhuifeng hit him unceremoniously. "You're such a pervert! Look at her face! If she's considered a beauty, then I guess there are no ugly people in this world!"
"...Hehe, I didn't notice that. But I heard there's a real stunner. Oh right, I think we've met her before, but I didn't get a good look. I think her name is Zhao something..."
Zhuifeng hadn't gotten a clear look at Zhao Jie several times, but seeing Ma Ji like this, he felt like hitting him again. "Forget it, I haven't seen anyone particularly beautiful among those we've met. Stop talking nonsense and eat quickly. We need to shower and sleep after eating!"
"No way, Boss. We don't have military training tomorrow, just a talent show. We don't need to sleep so early, right?"
"I don't care!" Zhuifeng pushed away his food tray. "Number Three, Number Four, what about you?"
"Boss, you don't need to ask. Of course Number Three and Number Four will go back to the dorm with you. I'm just confused, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, do you guys have some special preference? Why are you always sticking with the Boss?"
"Hehe! Ma Ji, do you really want to die?"
Seeing the three of them glaring menacingly, Ma Ji couldn't help but shrink back. "Just kidding, just kidding!" He quickly finished his food and was about to stand up and leave when he tugged at Zhuifeng.