Chapter 39: The Mountaineering Club

Thursday.

It was another day of crisp, refreshing autumn air.

As soon as class ended, Luo Peng immediately grabbed Jiang Chen's hand and said in a frantic rush, "Quick, come with me!"

"What for?"

Jiang Chen was bewildered.

"Something good!"

Luo Peng acted mysterious. "You'll know once you come with me!"

The two walked out of the teaching building, crossed Camphor Avenue, passed by the First Canteen, and then saw a bustling, lively crowd ahead.

What was going on?

Jiang Chen was surprised.

"Everyone, please don't rush! Please maintain order and line up in sequence to register!" someone shouted.

"What are they doing?" Jiang Chen asked Luo Peng.

"Look, can't you see that huge sign over there?"

Following Luo Peng's gesture, Jiang Chen turned his head and saw a bulletin board through the gaps in the crowd.

It seemed to say something like "Mountaineering Club Recruitment."

"You've got to be kidding me," Jiang Chen said, half-laughing and half-exasperated. "We're almost graduated, and you're still planning to join a club?"

There were many clubs in university for students to enrich their extracurricular lives, and the Mountaineering Club was one of them. However, they were usually of interest to freshmen and sophomores, whereas they were already seniors.

Jiang Chen turned to leave, but Luo Peng pulled him back forcefully.

"You still don't believe me? Since I brought you here, there must be something good. Hurry up, get in line to register."

"Are you crazy?" Jiang Chen looked at the bustling crowd. "Can't you see they're all freshmen and sophomores? Why are you joining in on their fun? Besides, you're a senior; even if you sign up, will the club even accept you?"

"So what if I'm a senior? Does being a senior mean I'm not a student of Dongda anymore?" Luo Peng replied dismissively.

"Then you line up at your own pace. I'm leaving." Jiang Chen had no interest in playing along with his nonsense.

"If you leave now, you'll definitely regret it," Luo Peng said meaningfully.

Jiang Chen paused.

"Alright, I won't keep you in suspense any longer." Luo Peng grinned. "Don't you find it strange? The Mountaineering Club is clearly a very niche club, so why are so many people signing up this time?"

"Why?" Jiang Chen asked, playing along.

"Because Li Shurui is in the Mountaineering Club. And the club has an autumn outing this weekend, and Li Shurui is definitely attending."

Jiang Chen froze, then quickly asked, "Is that information reliable?"

Luo Peng gave a smirk. "What do you think?"

Without another word, Jiang Chen started walking forward.

"What are you doing?" Luo Peng looked confused.

"Get in line, quick!"

They say women are fickle, but men are no different.

"Damn it!" Luo Peng gave Jiang Chen's retreating back a contemptuous middle finger.

————

A goddess's influence was indeed unparalleled. The feverish popularity of this Mountaineering Club recruitment was almost comparable to top-tier popular clubs like Dance or Roller Skating.

"I heard that the president of the Mountaineering Club had to visit Li Shurui three times like a hermit just to finally convince her to participate in this autumn outing, and they're using that as a 'selling point' to promote this recruitment," Luo Peng muttered.

He was indeed well-informed; an insider tip like this was something an ordinary person wouldn't know.

"How come I never heard that Li Shurui was in the Mountaineering Club before?" Jiang Chen asked.

Luo Peng laughed. "Even though Li Shurui is currently the flower of the Arts Academy and a goddess, when she first entered the school, she was just an ordinary student. Isn't it normal to join a club out of curiosity? You should have forgotten—aren't you a member of the Guitar Club?"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly.

True.

When you first enter university, you don't know anything and everything feels novel. It wasn't strange to join some random clubs under the persuasion of upperclassmen. Every college student went through it.

"Look at today's students. They've finally fought their way across the single-log bridge, and they should be striving for a bright future, but instead, they're putting all their energy into beautiful women," Jiang Chen sighed, sounding like an old professor in a lecture hall, seemingly worried for the nation and its people.

There were about a dozen people ahead of them. Because registration required filling out forms, the progress was slow, and more people were constantly joining the queue behind them.

"Hell, Jiang Chen, you're a hypocrite. You allow the officials to set fires but won't let the commoners light lamps. Aren't you doing the exact same thing?" Luo Peng did not hide his disdain.

Jiang Chen felt no shame at all and asked in confusion, "Since you have connections within the Mountaineering Club, why did you drag me here to line up? Why not just give them a heads-up and have them add us directly?"

This was a typical society of connections; you could use influence for almost anything. University was often called a "mini-society," and this was no exception.

"I have a reason for doing this," Luo Peng explained. "I heard that Li Shurui is personally in charge of recruitment this time, so I deliberately brought you here to create an opportunity for you to meet her. Didn't you say she's been intentionally avoiding you these past few days?"

Jiang Chen had an epiphany.

"You certainly thought this through." Then, he asked in confusion, "But where is Shurui?"

"She probably went somewhere for something. It's lunchtime, maybe she went to eat."

Just as they were talking, a dazzling, bright red Maserati drove up and came to a stop.

Seeing this, Luo Peng couldn't help but frown.

"Why is this bastard like a fly? He shows up everywhere."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Young Master Liang Zhenlun pushed the door open and stepped out of the car. Wearing a pair of sunglasses and looking incredibly handsome, he ignored the long, snake-like queue and walked straight to the registration desk.

"Sign me up."

The person at the very front was a freshman boy. Even though his spot had been taken, he was intimidated by Liang Zhenlun's aura and dared not speak up despite his anger.

Perhaps Liang Zhenlun's face wasn't yet famous enough for everyone to know, but that Maserati, a symbol of wealth and power, was enough to instill awe in these ordinary students living in their ivory tower.

The Mountaineering Club member in charge of reception was also a student and knew Liang Zhenlun. Naturally, they were unwilling to offend this arrogant and narrow-minded young master. They turned a blind eye to his line-cutting behavior and respectfully handed him a form to fill out.

"Shit."

Others could endure it, but Luo Peng could not. He was about to explode when, suddenly, a sharp, feminine voice rang out: "Please go back and get in line."

Everyone looked toward the sound, and the atmosphere instantly grew heated.

Luo Peng hadn't been bragging; the one walking over was indeed Li Shurui, accompanied by Zheng Jingjing, who was glaring at Liang Zhenlun with fury.

"I was in line," Liang Zhenlun lied through his teeth, turning his head. "If you don't believe me, ask this junior."

Facing Liang Zhenlun's gentle gaze and friendly smile, the freshman who had been first hurriedly lowered his head in trepidation, not daring to say a word.

Liang Zhenlun beamed, looking at Zheng Jingjing with a hint of arrogance.

"You..." Zheng Jingjing was speechless.

"Bullshit!"

In the face of injustice, there are always those unwilling to remain silent. Luo Peng stepped out from the queue and pointed at Liang Zhenlun, cursing him without restraint.

"You, Liang! You really have no shame at all!"

(End of Chapter)