The National Day holiday had officially come to an end. Reflecting on the events of the past few days, Xiang Ri found himself nostalgically yearning for campus life. Although he had been dragged to the police station and reprimanded by a certain female officer the day before, it did little to dampen his newfound enthusiasm for school today.
"What's gotten into you?" asked Chu Chu curiously, walking beside him. Knowing Xiang Ri as well as she did, she was certain he was not the type to take academics seriously. Yet today, something seemed different—especially his unusual diligence in heading to school, even breaking his habitual morning laziness. It was peculiar. Very peculiar.
"Going to class, of course!" Xiang Ri replied matter-of-factly, conveniently overlooking his frequent record of skipping lectures.
"Yeah, right," Chu Chu scoffed, rolling her eyes before continuing forward.
Xiang Ri was exasperated. For once, he genuinely wanted to attend class, yet no one believed him. Utter failure! He thought wistfully of his obedient apprentice—she would surely have trusted him. Stroking his chin, he mulled over the thought.
As they strolled across the campus, they saw only a smattering of students here and there. Xiang Ri found it baffling. In a university with tens of thousands of students, how could it be so empty? Sure, it was still early, but with so many students boarding on campus, the scene shouldn't be this desolate. Particularly on a warm morning like this, plenty of people should have been out enjoying the fresh air.
While his mind wandered to the absurd possibility of a secret nude art exhibition somewhere drawing away the crowd, a flamboyantly dressed young man sauntered toward them from a distance. Despite the oversized sunglasses he wore, Xiang Ri's sharp eye instantly recognized the unique figure.
"Garlic Head!" Xiang Ri called out.
"What garlic head?" Chu Chu asked, puzzled.
The stylish young man hurried over, removed his sunglasses, and greeted them enthusiastically, "Hello, boss! Hello, sis-in-law!"
"So, it's Xu Wei." Chu Chu's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at being addressed as "sis-in-law." She felt a bit shy but nearly burst out laughing when she caught sight of his head. Now she understood why Xiang Ri had dubbed him "Garlic Head"—it was spot on.
Noticing her gaze, Xu Wei quickly caught on and, feeling awkward, slipped his sunglasses back on to mask his discomfort.
Unfortunately for him, Xiang Ri was anything but tactful. Snatching the sunglasses away, he teased, "What's the point of wearing these? You look ridiculous no matter what. So, tell me, what's with the flashy outfit today?"
"Heh…" Xu Wei laughed awkwardly. "I was just heading over to Financial University to check things out."
"Financial University? Skipping class, are we?" Xiang Ri asked, surprised. As far as he knew, Garlic Head wasn't the type to skip lessons.
"There's no class today!" Xu Wei retorted, astonished by the accusation. Then, recalling something, he smirked. "Oh, right. The last time the teacher announced this, you two were off ditching class."
Chu Chu's face turned crimson. As a self-proclaimed model student, being called out for skipping class was mortifying. She shot a resentful glance at Xiang Ri—it was entirely his bad influence that had led her astray.
"So, no class today?" Xiang Ri scratched his nose nonchalantly, as if skipping lessons was second nature to him.
"None at all. Today's the basketball match between our school and Financial University. I thought I'd go check it out. They say the Financial U cheerleaders…" Xu Wei trailed off mid-sentence, noticing Chu Chu's presence. He chuckled sheepishly to cover his slip.
"Basketball match?" Xiang Ri easily deciphered his meaning, also realizing the flashy attire was likely inspired by certain male birds flaunting their plumage to attract mates.
"The annual National College Basketball Championship," Xu Wei elaborated. "Don't tell me you haven't heard of it? The first round this year is us against Financial University. Ugh, we'll probably lose miserably again, just like every year. Won't even make it past the group stage. Oh, and Jiang Xian showed up too. With their former golden star back, Financial's players must be over the moon. With that god of fortune on their side, our team doesn't stand a chance—we'll probably get beaten so badly we'll lose our shorts." Garlic Head shook his head in defeat.
"Idiot! How can you speak about your school like that? Not an ounce of school spirit—what a disgrace for a student of Gaoda! I feel embarrassed for you!" Xiang Ri declared with righteous indignation. Even Chu Chu glanced at him, surprised by his sudden fervor. Yet deep down, she knew he had no such sense of pride; his display was merely a cover for his ignorance of the "Basketball Championship." Ten years had passed, and he had almost forgotten the existence of the tournament. Back then, *he* had been a star player for Financial University, leading his team to victories that left competitors from all over the country in the dust. But those days now felt like a distant memory.
Garlic Head, lacking the ability to read minds, nodded fervently. "Yes, yes, boss, your criticism is absolutely right!"
"Admitting your mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue! Now, about that Jiang-whatever person you mentioned—what's the deal with him? Is he filthy rich or something? To earn a nickname like 'God of Fortune'?"
"Jiang Xian, boss!" Garlic Head corrected. "He's not called the God of Fortune because he's wealthy, but because he's an exceptional basketball player. During his four years at school, he led the team to defeat every other university, winning the championship four times in a row. That's why he's revered as the 'God of Financial University.' Over time, people just started calling him the God of Fortune."
"Four consecutive championships? What an arrogant title! Wait, that doesn't make sense. Are you pulling my leg? By your logic, he's already graduated. How could he still be playing?"
"I never said he's still playing. He's now a professional athlete and rumored to be on the radar of a top-tier team, ready to sign him any day. He probably has no interest in a college-level tournament anymore. I think he's just here to watch, maybe boost the morale of his juniors. Also, I heard that Financial University's current team captain, Lei Wei, was personally trained by Jiang Xian. He's said to be a powerhouse, the successor to the God of Fortune."
Listening to Garlic Head's lengthy string of rumors and hearsay, Xiang Ri came to one definitive conclusion: Gaoda was going to lose. And not just lose, but lose spectacularly—by at least forty or fifty points.
"Boss, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading off now. Can I get my sunglasses back?" Garlic Head asked cautiously, clearly worried that his precious, hundred-yuan pair might fall victim to his unscrupulous boss.
"Here, take them." Xiang Ri waved dismissively, sending him on his way. He was already contemplating whether to head over to Financial University himself. It had been ages since he last watched a game like this, and it seemed like a good way to spend the day.
"Chu Chu, let's go to Financial University."
"Sure!" With no classes, Miss Chu was more than happy to join the excitement. But she suddenly frowned. "Wait, what about Sister Qing?"
"Xiao Qing? Didn't she arrive at school earlier than us? I think she's already at Financial University."
"You idiot! Sister Qing isn't like that. She's probably either in the classroom reading or practicing punches in the judo hall. You go ahead; I'll call her and meet you there."
"Alright, call me when you get there."
Financial University wasn't far from Gaoda—just a few minutes' walk.
"Wow, it's lively!" Xiang Ri marveled at the bustling entrance of Financial University. It seemed even more crowded than the first day of school.
The lingering heat of the season meant most students were dressed lightly, especially the girls, who seemed determined to show as much skin as possible. Tiny tank tops and short skirts had become the unofficial uniform, and the sight left Xiang Ri dazzled.
As he was enjoying the scenery, his gaze unexpectedly landed on a tall beauty whose skirt modestly covered her knees—a rare exception amidst the sea of revealing outfits. Surrounding her were a few flamboyantly dressed men, engaged in animated conversation.
Xiang Ri's face darkened. He strode over because this tall beauty was someone he knew—and someone he absolutely wouldn't allow others to lay a hand on.