Xi Luting was the most beautiful girl in the business school across three academic years. Or, to put it modestly—she was at least one of the most beautiful. In his past life, Han Lie hadn't harbored any improper thoughts about her; they just had a normal classmate relationship. A stolen glance here, a daydream there—those weren't too terrible, right? Yet, she had nearly gotten Han Lie expelled. Right and wrong didn't matter anymore because that incident was destined never to happen again. Brother Lie was magnanimous, never one to hold a grudge. So, Brother Lie just wanted to befriend her again. That made sense, didn't it?
…
Han Lie lifted his head, a trace of bashfulness shimmering in his clear eyes, the very picture of a naive and innocent young man.
"Monitor, are you imitating the way I talk?"
Xi Luting raised an eyebrow. "So what? If you can list two things, why can't I?"
One stood, looking down, radiating confidence; the other sat, looking up, pure and unseasoned.
Their gazes met. Time seemed to stop, and the atmosphere instantly intensified.
The two girls in the front row had originally wanted to take the opportunity to check out the new classmate. Instead, they witnessed the Queen teasing a young, innocent boy, their fists clenched, their faces alight with the doting grins of fangirls. Am I really getting to see this for free?!
…
Xi Luting was an exceptionally strong-willed, aloof, and distant woman. She possessed the 179 cm height of a model, a face that exuded cold asceticism, and a pair of narrow, fox-like eyes capable of bewitching anyone. Her beauty was so aggressively striking it was almost offensive. No boys in her class dared to pursue her; they wouldn't even dare to admit to a secret crush, too ashamed to speak of it. Even looking at the entire university, only a few "elites" from the School of International Communication and some upperclassmen had the courage to approach her.
In his past life, Han Lie certainly hadn't dared to entertain any improper thoughts.
Right now, having just started university, she was still relatively unpolished, a diamond in the rough. However, once she began systematically training her chest, waist, and hips at the university fitness center, in just half a year, she transformed into the goddess of all male students on campus. Students from other departments assumed she was naturally beautiful; only her classmates in the Finance program knew how strict she was with herself.
Bust too small? Train! Once the foundational muscle group developed, her entire chest became remarkably firm and uplifted, perfectly shaped and capable of supporting more fat.
Waist too soft? Train! Her originally slim waist was intentionally thickened by a size, yet it looked more harmonious and beautifully contoured. Moreover, as her core Strength improved, her posture became as erect as a young poplar, her gait rhythmic, and her entire presence grew strikingly distinguished.
Hips too flat? Still, train! She paid no mind to her weight, training until they were round and perky. Ultimately, her hips and thighs became perfectly proportioned, creating a cohesive and shapely lower body. Her Physique became at least two orders of magnitude more attractive than before.
To this day, Han Lie vividly remembered his sophomore year. When she appeared as the host at the university gala, the air filled with heart-rending howls from the male students. A figure-hugging white dress outlined her devilish Physique. Her expression was cool, like the serene, bright moon in the sky. Her articulation was clear, her voice magnetic; though lacking overt passion, it possessed an indescribable sense of power.
After that day, no man in the university could withstand her infamous three-part dismissal:
"Need something?"
"Move."
"Get lost!"
She was always this blunt with the "flies" buzzing around her, though she was somewhat nicer to her classmates. Towards people she valued, she could be even more patient.
In his past life, Han Lie, of course, had never experienced this patient side of hers. But now, Brother Lie wanted to test his current standing in her eyes.
"Actually, it was three things…"
Han Lie suddenly blinked, a smile spreading across his face. The earlier shyness vanished in an instant. His white teeth, bright eyes, high nose bridge, and well-defined features combined to create a vibrant, youthful energy unique to a young man. The impact was palpable.
Xi Luting was momentarily stunned.
"Hmm?"
Han Lie reminded her with a mischievous grin, "Joining the class group and finding a girlfriend—is there any connection between those two? Monitor, you missed the point…"
"Indeed, there's no connection."
Xi Luting nodded, the faint smile on her lips vanishing as her expression turned cold and distant once more.
"So, could it be that I didn't miss the point, but rather that I simply don't care about your third item?"
PFFT!
The two girls in the front row couldn't hold back their snickers and quickly covered their mouths.
Damn it! This woman is tough to handle! Han Lie sighed inwardly. There was no sense of defeat in his heart, only a burning fighting spirit. There's plenty of time. No need to rush, no need to be impatient.
Han Lie also composed himself, his expression instantly becoming even calmer than hers.
"Alright, how much are the class dues?"
Xi Luting was slightly taken aback, a peculiar feeling stirring within her. I've met my match. She was quite certain of this but showed no outward sign.
"Two hundred."
She spoke softly, her tone firm, distant, and strictly business.
"Additionally, we're planning to organize a class gathering, probably around the end of September or during the National Day holiday. If only a few people come, we won't use the class funds; attendees will split the cost. If everyone comes, we'll use class funds."
Han Lie took 200 yuan from his wallet and handed it to her, politely asking, "We'll be notified in advance, right?"
"Of course. At least three days' notice."
"Then I'll tentatively sign up."
"Alright. Join the class QQ group and keep an eye out for announcements."
The Finance program's official group had always been a QQ group. Even many years after graduation, it could still rally most of the classmates—provided the news was as momentous as Xi Luting getting married, of course.
Rejoining the QQ group, Brother Lie felt a peculiar sensation. This feeling intensified as he read the messages.
Xi Luting: "Let's welcome our new student! @KindlingFierceFire, could the new student please change his group nickname?"
Liu Yajie: "Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome!"
Chen Yu: "Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome!"
After a series of copy-pasted greetings, someone suddenly interjected.
Wang Hongli: "(Stares intensely) (Stares intensely) (Stares intensely) So, it's *that* 'Fierce Fire'!"
The group chat instantly erupted.
Zheng Lei: "The new student is one of those quiet-but-wild types!"
The screen flooded with messages.
Yu Yun: "(Muffled giggle emoji) That reserved, handsome guy, what kind of girl do you like?"
Again, the screen flooded.
Chen Ping: "Damn! A guy this flirty claims he's never dated anyone? I don't believe it!"
No one responded.
Chen Ping: "Hahaha, just how thirsty are you?"
Still, no one responded.
Han Lie had to suppress a laugh. The number one nuisance in the Finance program was already making his mark.
Facing the endless stream of @mentions from the girls, Han Lie typed a single reply.
"Actually, the 'Lie' in my name stands for 'Loyal and Virtuous'... (shy emoji)"
He posted this playful message, then turned off his phone, dismissing the rest. Don't be fooled by how lively the chat is now. Give it another month, once everyone gets to know each other, who'll still have the patience for group chat nonsense? Wouldn't a private chat be better for getting down to business? What kind of business? Heh, guess for yourself.
…
Just as Xi Luting was about to leave, her roommate and best friend, Yu Yun, suddenly skipped over, wrapped an arm around Xi Luting's waist, and sat in the empty seat next to Han Lie.
"Hey! Hello there!"
"Hello." Han Lie smiled and nodded.
Seeing Han Lie put down his phone, Yu Yun glanced at it, her expression unchanging as her gaze swept indifferently over the phone's brand. Han Lie was still using that thousand-yuan counterfeit phone. Initially, he hadn't replaced it because he was unsure how much money buying a house would require. Later, he was simply too lazy to bother, planning to get a new phone and SIM card once he reached the Magic Capital. Thus, the current situation.
"I'm Yu Yun, from Jiangnan!"
Jiangnan, a region famed for its beauties, was indeed home to Yu Yun, who was herself a rare beauty. But Han Lie knew her true nature all too well.
Therefore, his response was cursory: "Yu Yun. A name with a lingering charm."
"Thank you!" Yu Yun giggled, covering her mouth, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "Your name is nice too, 'Loyal and Virtuous'... PFFT!"
Brother Lie just smiled, didn't reply, and lowered his head to read his book.
Yu Yun was taken aback. A wave of confusion and hurt washed over her, and she instinctively glanced at Xi Luting. Did I take my joke too far? But that can't be right. He was the one who mentioned it in the group chat...
Xi Luting couldn't be bothered with such things. She patted Yu Yun's hand, signaling for her to leave with her.
Yu Yun didn't want to go. After a moment's thought, she forced a new topic.
"Han Lie, what brand is your phone? I don't think I've ever seen it before!"
Without looking up, Han Lie calmly replied, "A counterfeit Xiaomi Mi 1."
Yu Yun was completely dumbfounded, her emotions in turmoil. What kind of oddball is this? Dressed in genuine Nike, tall and lean, with fair skin and a good bearing, he looked like a typical well-off city kid. Yet he was using a counterfeit phone from two or three years ago?
So, she couldn't help but ask again, "Why would you use a phone like that? Do you have some Special attachment to the Mi 1?"
Han Lie looked up and glanced at her. Then, he uttered a single word—
"Poor."
Yu Yun felt her scalp tingle under his gaze, as if he were looking at an idiot. Hearing Han Lie's answer, she was so angry her chest felt like it might explode.
The truth was, among out-of-province students attending the College of Humanities, very few came from financially struggling families who still insisted on sending their children there. Most students, in fact, were from at least comfortably well-off backgrounds. If a family's financial situation was truly dire, wouldn't it be far better to attend a cheaper local third-tier college or learn a trade at a vocational school? With the Magic Capital's exorbitant tuition fees, high cost of living, and the subsequent difficulty in finding a job after graduation, why endure such hardship? Those who chose to study at one of the Magic Capital's less prestigious third-tier colleges could certainly afford it.
Yet, Han Lie was the exception. His family's financial situation was exceptionally ordinary. His father held a low-level position in a state-owned enterprise; the work wasn't tiring, but the pay wasn't much. His mother worked various odd jobs and was currently a cashier. Young Han Lie, naive and yearning for the glamour of the Magic Capital, had insisted on attending the College of Humanities.
Up to that point, it wasn't a catastrophic mistake. As long as he studied hard and acquired genuine skills, the Magic Capital indeed offered ample opportunities for advancement. But Han Lie failed to seize this final chance university offered. His mentality was too fragile; after a few setbacks, he lost all motivation. And so, his subsequent days were squandered.
Back in the present, Han Lie was telling the truth. It was indeed poverty that had led him to buy the counterfeit Mi 1. The problem was, Yu Yun would never believe him. No one looking at Han Lie's current appearance and demeanor would.
She concluded that Han Lie was being deliberately difficult and simply didn't want to chat with her. Fine, then! Goodbye! As if I, this young lady, am short of one more sycophant like you?! Blocked! Definitely blocked!
Her face stiffened. She grabbed Xi Luting and angrily returned to her seat.
Meanwhile, Han Lie continued reading, his mind as tranquil as a lake.