Chapter 24
In the end, Gu Tang wore the bracelet with the two little rabbits, instantly deterring many potential admirers.
After all, most people were normal and wouldn’t try to pursue someone who was already in a relationship.
After military training ended, at the closing ceremony, Gu Tang changed into a more impressive honor guard uniform.
It wasn’t the camouflage uniform worn by the students, but a pure white military uniform, adding a touch of aristocratic elegance to his handsomeness.
The honor guard uniform could be bought or rented. Gu Tang, disliking wearing other people’s clothes, generously chose to buy it.
But the uniform ultimately became a prop, discarded in the trash that night, and the red string bracelet on Gu Tang’s wrist was also untied and then stuffed into the young master’s mouth.
The red string against his jade-like, fair cheeks, the golden rabbits swaying in his soft mouth, it was indeed quite a sight.
Mm… Gu Tang didn’t have a very clear memory of that night, he just felt that the young master, like a little rabbit, looked quite beautiful with red eyes.
After military training, the university students, having adapted to campus life, seemed to have settled into a mundane yet busy routine.
University courses weren’t particularly memorable. It was mostly professors lecturing on the stage, while the students listened, took notes, completed assignments, or, using their desks as cover, played with their phones.
After all, many students were used to the high-pressure environment of high school and tended to relax with their phones more in university.
Courses in different departments varied greatly. In some science and engineering departments, the schedule was almost full, seemingly no different from high school, or even more intense due to the difficulty of the assignments and the addition of metalworking internships.
But in departments like philosophy and humanities, the courses were very relaxed. Freshmen often found almost half their schedule free.
Besides classes, the most noteworthy aspect of university life was the rich variety of club activities and competitions.
For example, the campus sports meet, which all teachers and students paid attention to, the lively campus singing competition, and the XX Cup debate competition.
These were the most popular and influential competitions at the school. After all, B University was prestigious and attracted attention, with the singing and debate competitions even being broadcast on television.
Of course, for juniors and seniors, the most important activities were internships at large companies or starting their own businesses.
For Young Master Ling Fengli, his freshman year consisted of training and participating in the sports meet. He joined several clubs: roller skating, martial arts, and nunchaku, all clearly favored by sports enthusiasts.
He even tried to recruit Gu Tang: “You’re so athletically gifted, joining these clubs would be easy for you, and club activities give extra credit and GPA points.”
Indeed, a considerable number of university students weren’t enthusiastic about participating in activities. If they could, they would rather stay in their dormitories all day, only participating in activities for GPA points.
They strategically chose lectures and activities that offered the best return in terms of effort and credit.
Jiang Huaisheng scoffed at those clubs: “Join the student union. You can continue to follow me, start as a member in the Discipline Department, and when I become the student council president, I can make you the head of the department.”
He, of course, joined the student union on his first day and became the vice minister of the External Liaison Department in his freshman year.
Normally, freshmen started as regular members, then worked their way up to vice minister, minister, or even competed for the student council presidency.
The External Liaison Department was mainly responsible for raising funds and securing sponsorships for student activities. The more sponsorships obtained, the more secure the minister’s position.
Compared to elementary and high school, university was a microcosm of society. While retaining some student innocence and purity, the social dynamics and importance of connections were more prominent.
Young Master Jiang, with his formidable financial power, immediately injected a large sum of money into the student union’s activity fund and secured more corporate sponsorships than they usually had in a year. If all went well, he could become minister by the second semester of his freshman year and compete for the presidency in his sophomore year.
Besides this, he joined the debate team, serving as the dazzling first debater, elegantly and sharply defeating his opponents.
He also became the vice minister of the school newspaper. These three organizations were highly influential within the school and held a certain amount of power.
If Gu Tang needed extra credit, Jiang Huaisheng could arrange for him to participate in more than ten projects, guaranteeing high-value certificates and ensuring a first-class scholarship as long as his grades weren’t terrible.
“I’m not joining any of those. I joined one club, the marathon club.”
As a member with a proven track record, Gu Tang thrived in this club, saving a lot of valuable time.
He didn’t plan to join the computer club, but he had befriended the president and would participate in relevant competitions if any arose.
As for romance, which university students yearned for, in the relaxed campus environment, attractive individuals, regardless of gender, had many pursuers.
Especially after being the flag bearer in the honor guard, Gu Tang was inundated with confessions.
Faced with subtle advances, Gu Tang would simply flash his bracelet, indicating he was taken.
Some were persistent: “Senior, can I know who your girlfriend is? Is she beautiful?”
Thinking of the young master’s delicate face, Gu Tang would reply: “Very beautiful, a bit of a temper, but a very outstanding person.”
The word “outstanding” deterred those who felt they weren’t beautiful enough.
However, the school was large and diverse, and Gu Tang’s presence on the confession wall attracted attention from students, alumni, and even people outside the university.
Some particularly strange individuals expressed a desire for excitement: “I heard Senior is working part-time. I might not be as beautiful as your girlfriend, but I have a better temper, and I’m rich.”
Gu Tang, of course, rejected such shameless proposals, retorting: “He’s more beautiful than you, and richer.”
This conversation spread quickly. Although no one had seen Gu Tang’s mysterious girlfriend, rumors painted her as beautiful as Gu Tang, a wealthy and stunning woman with a bit of a temper.
Those rejected by Gu Tang and those jealous of him fueled the flames, and the rumors escalated into outrageous accusations.
For example, they claimed Gu Tang used an expensive computer and wore designer shoes while applying for and receiving financial aid intended for poor students.
Others claimed his girlfriend was an ugly and old rich woman, and he was a gigolo.
All sorts of slander were thrown at Gu Tang, with campus forums even alleging he was a two-timing freeloader.
The rumors intensified. One day in the cafeteria, Ling Fengli, enraged, punched someone gossiping about Gu Tang, knocking out one of his front teeth: “Gu Tang can earn $100,000 from a single marathon, why would he need a rich woman? You toad, what rumors are you spreading?!”
The rumor-monger wasn’t attractive. The girl he liked had confessed to Gu Tang and been rejected, so he tried to comfort her and seize the opportunity.
Rejected and scorned, he resorted to slandering Gu Tang out of jealousy, seeking a twisted sense of satisfaction by dragging Gu Tang down.
“Stop fighting.” Gu Tang intervened, preventing the situation from escalating.
The boy with the missing tooth covered his bleeding mouth, pointing a trembling finger at Ling Fengli: “I… I’m going to sue you!”
Gu Tang stood protectively in front of Ling Fengli, his usual gentle demeanor replaced by a cold stare: “Good, I recorded you spreading rumors. Let’s sue each other.”
While Ling Fengli faced consequences for his violence, writing a self-criticism, it was just that.
The surveillance footage showed the other boy had initiated the slander, and Ling Fengli acted out of friendship and righteous anger.
If the injured student refused to reconcile, Gu Tang would sue him for defamation.
With Gu Tang, the Ling family, and the school mediating, the rumor-monger apologized to Gu Tang, Ling Fengli apologized for his impulsive violence, both wrote self-criticisms, and the matter was settled.
The school issued a clarification: “Regarding the rumors, our investigation confirms student Gu Tang did not apply for financial aid. He received a National Scholarship from the Philosophy Department.”
They attached Gu Tang’s transcript. Even at B University, his near-perfect scores and extracurricular activity points easily qualified him for the scholarship.
“We urge everyone to refrain from distorting facts out of jealousy. Do not believe or spread rumors. Analyze rationally and maintain a harmonious campus environment.”
The incident didn’t cause a major uproar, but the alleged mastermind behind the rumors, said to have a powerful background, quietly withdrew from the university.
Many whispered: “Gu Tang’s mysterious and powerful girlfriend took action.”
This, of course, was orchestrated by Jiang Huaisheng. After that, no one bothered Gu Tang again.
After all, B University was full of busy and ambitious students. Except for a few with problematic personalities, no one had time for petty drama.
However, Gu Tang’s classmates still paid extra attention to this prominent figure.
Throughout university, no one ever saw Gu Tang’s mysterious girlfriend, only the red string bracelet with rabbits, which he wore for four years. The bracelet was replaced annually, the rabbits sometimes changing to dogs or cats. The unique, handmade design indicated it was custom-made, not store-bought.
Did B University’s heartthrob, Gu Tang, break up with his mysterious girlfriend? It seemed not.
As for Young Master Jiang, he and Ling Fengli, two of the three campus heartthrobs, were figures shrouded in secrecy.
Their powerful family backgrounds ensured their information remained confidential. Any online posts mentioning them were swiftly deleted.
Only Gu Tang, seemingly without a powerful background, remained a topic of discussion, fueled by the earlier rumors.
Graduation season was also job-hunting season, study-abroad season, civil-service-exam season, and breakup season.
Jiang Huaisheng didn’t need to worry about his career or future.
But he faced a different dilemma: the four-year contract with Gu Tang was about to expire.
