After sunset, the students of Dormitory No. 3 went out for a drink.
It was their first time together outside the dorm, so things started a bit stiff. The conversation was cautious, filled with polite smiles and careful words. But they were young, and young people rarely stay strangers for long, especially when someone like Xiao Wei was around.
Xiao Wei, as always, played the role of the bug in the system—the kind that breaks the ice, breaks the rules, and never shuts up. He joked, teased, and acted just exaggerated enough to get people laughing. Even Gu Jun, who normally stayed detached, found himself occasionally smiling.
But he didn't let his amusement distract him from what mattered.
Gu Jun studied Xiao Wei carefully. On the surface, he was all talk—lazy smiles and shallow charm—but behind that carefree attitude was someone dangerous. His cultivation was at the peak of the Bright Stage, just a step away from the Dark Stage. That alone told Gu Jun everything he needed to know: Xiao Wei wasn't some pampered young master. He was a weapon, wrapped in silk.
The Xiao Family of Tianhai had many branches, but Xiao Wei's bloodline came from the second son of the patriarch. That side of the family was known for walking a neutral line in politics, balancing influence from both the court and the military. They are also neutral regarding the issue of the Gu Empire. Though publicly considered a good-for-nothing, Xiao Wei had clearly been raised in the shadows, protected and prepared.
Only those who could see through the veil would ever recognize his true nature. If you want to see through others' cultivation, you at least have to be the peak of Huajin. Fortunately, Gu Jun was able to see through him despite not having the proper cultivation.
Still, Xiao Wei didn't seem like a schemer. There was an honest playfulness in his manner, the kind that wasn't faked. He might have been trained in silence, but he liked loud things—loud jokes, loud laughs, loud fun.
Then there was Zhou Hao. Calm, polite, and easygoing. But Gu Jun could feel the quiet power behind him. His guard, hidden in the distance, was already at the peak of the initial Dark Stage. Stronger than Xiao Wei's guard, who has just broken through to the dark level. That alone said a lot. Zhou Hao might not carry a family name like "Xiao," but his background had to be just as deep, perhaps even deeper.
This dormitory... wasn't simple.
A moment of silence passed between them as they sat at an open-air café. Drinks arrived. Snacks. Casual chatter filled the air. Zhao Ming talked about his hometown. Xiao Wei boasted about how many love letters he had received since middle school. Zhou Hao nodded and smiled, enjoying the show.
Then, as if remembering something important, Xiao Wei suddenly leaned forward with a wicked grin.
"Hey, did you guys hear? There's been a change in the Flower Rankings."
Zhao Ming looked up. "What flower rankings?"
"You don't know?" Xiao Wei's expression turned scandalized. "How can you attend Tianhai Royal University and not know about the Top Ten Flower Ranking?"
Zhou Hao chuckled. "You mean the unofficial list of the most beautiful girls in school?"
"Unofficial?" Xiao Wei scoffed. "It's more official than the university administration. Every year, students vote, argue, and campaign. It's a sacred tradition. And not just looks—personality, grades, family background, influence. It all counts."
Zhao Ming looked genuinely intrigued now. "So what changed?"
There are two reigning queens on the list," Xiao Wei began, with a dramatic flair in his voice. "One is the cold queen, and the other is the soft queen."
"The cold queen is Bai Yue. She just completed her master's and is now working as a junior lecturer. Stunningly beautiful, academically brilliant—she's won multiple national and international awards for her research. Oh, and she was also the student council president."
He leaned in slightly. "And there's more—she's the eldest daughter of the Bai family."
Although he did not know much about the Bai family, Zhao Ming whistled. "Impressive."
Xiao Wei nodded. "Now, the soft queen is Xia Qingyue. A literal daughter of heaven. She's in the arts department, currently starting her fourth year. You've probably heard her name—singer, actress, and now a top-tier supermodel. Just last week, the United Nations named her a peace ambassador."
Zhou Hao raised an eyebrow. "Two queens, huh?"
"Yup. Bai Yue used to hold the number one spot, while Xia Qingyue was second. Their beauty is on par, but Bai Yue's family background and strong personality kept her in first place—until recently."
"What changed?" Gu Jun asked quietly, though he already had an idea.
"Well," Xiao Wei said, tapping his tablet, "Xia Qingyue's father just got promoted—he's now a standing committee member in the Tianhai provincial government. Add that to her rising fame, and her fanbase exploded. They've been campaigning hard to get her to the top."
"So, who's number one now?" Zhao Ming asked.
Xiao Wei smirked. "Both. After lots of 'negotiation,' the decision was made to have a tie. Bai Yue and Xia Qingyue now share the number one spot."
Zhao Ming leaned forward. "I've seen photos of Xia Qingyue—she really is insanely gorgeous. Do you have a photo of Bai Yue?"
"Of course." Xiao Wei opened the webpage on his tablet and handed it over.
Gu Jun looked at the screen.
There it was—the official "Top Ten Flowers of Tianhai Royal University" list. Right at the top were two profiles: Bai Yue and Xia Qingyue, side by side. Below their names were professionally taken photos, radiant with youth and poise.
Gu Jun's eyes lingered briefly on Bai Yue's picture. She wore a formal outfit, minimal makeup, and a serene expression—but even so, her elegance was unmistakable.
He scanned the rest of the list.
He didn't recognize number 2 or 3.
Number 4 was Bai Xue.
Then a few more unfamiliar names... until number 7: Rong Xi.
And finally, in ninth place: Tang Mei.
Zhao Ming gawked. "All of them are insanely beautiful. I seriously need to start picking my target."
Xiao Wei gave him a side glance. "Pick all you want, but don't expect any of them to be easy."
Zhou Hao chuckled. "You'll need more than good looks and charm to impress any of them."
"Yeah," Xiao Wei added, "these aren't ordinary girls. Every single one comes with... baggage—political, academic, social. You mess up, and it's game over."
Zhao Ming laughed it off, but even he looked a bit more thoughtful afterward.
Dormitory No. 3 had just gotten its first real taste of campus gossip.