Zhiyuan Building, top floor.
Environmental Protection Club Activity Room.
There were still a few minutes left before nine o'clock, but the classroom was already packed with people.
It's Thursday today, so freshmen usually have classes scheduled.
But yesterday, Jiangcheng University went wild by commemorating 'Fan Zhongyan's' birthday, gifting the entire campus a surprise day off.
At this moment—
Yu Jin hadn't arrived yet, but in the classroom, the club members couldn't stop talking about him every couple of sentences.
...
"Did you hear? President Yu and Senior Sister Yin have a thing going!"
"Come on, your info is way outdated. Latest news says, not only do they have a thing, they even got caught going on a zoo date!"
"Huh—seriously?"
"Can it be fake? The photos are plastered all over the campus forum, go see for yourself!"
...
"I heard the reason we got a day off today is thanks to President Yu!"
"Yeah, yeah, I heard that too. Apparently, President Yu wanted to hold a club event today, so Grand Principal Jiang just gave the whole school the day off!"
"Wait… you guys are spreading some wild rumors!"
"How is it wild? Yesterday during the lecture, Principal Jiang personally backed up our president, didn't you hear?"
"Backing up is one thing, giving a day off is a bit much. I really don't think so."
"Heh, then you tell me which school gives a holiday for 'Fan Zhongyan's' birthday?"
...
Up front in the classroom.
Tang Yunxuan, the vice president, was deep in conversation with a JK Junior Sister.
They chatted from philosophy to life, from literature to art, from the cosmos to geography…
Finally—
As the clock neared nine o'clock, Yu Jin and Yin Yao should be arriving any minute.
Tang Yunxuan looked at the JK Junior Sister, and solemnly said:
"Care to show your legs?"
The JK Junior Sister stayed silent, pulled out her phone, and promptly blocked Tang Yunxuan on WeChat right after adding him.
"Hey?"
Tang Yunxuan instantly panicked.
"You're not interested in continuing our discussion about the interstellar planet 'Oumuamua' and its future?"
"What about our visit to the library to read Nietzsche together?"
"No, wait…"
"I didn't mean to check out your legs, I just wanted to see the path you've walked, learn about your past and growth, you know…"
The JK Junior Sister snorted lightly, turned her head away, and ignored Old Tang.
Old Tang stood there, awkward and speechless.
Luckily—
Just a few minutes later, the VIPs arrived.
Yu Jin and Yin Yao walked into the activity room side by side.
Instantly—
The club members who had just been gossiping about their rumors went dead silent, but their facial expressions were priceless.
"Everyone here?"
Yu Jin kept it short, not bothering to explain he just happened to run into Yin Yao downstairs.
"103 people, full attendance!"
Tang Yunxuan replied.
"Are the things ready?"
Yu Jin confirmed.
He'd spent the past couple of days grinding levels and collecting rewards, leaving all club activity prep to Tang Yunxuan.
"Leave it to me!"
Old Tang grinned, ran to the back of the classroom, and lifted the gray cloth cover.
Underneath, over a hundred fishing nets, woven sacks, and orange life vests were neatly stacked.
"Nice job!"
Yu Jin gave his praise.
"I am the vice president, after all!"
Old Tang straightened his back, full of pride.
"Hahaha—"
This scene—
made all the previously tense and quiet club members relax and laugh out loud.
Even the JK Junior Sister, after staring at Tang Yunxuan for a while, took him off her blacklist.
"Since everyone is here and the tools are ready, then—"
Up front in the classroom—
Yu Jin, as the president, scanned the crowd.
"Grab your tools, let's head out!"
"Destination—"
"The sewage river outside the campus!"
As soon as he finished—
The hundred club members looked at each other, then shouted in unison:
"Environmental Protection Club, loyal~ty~!"
"President, loyal~ty~!"
...
...
Ten minutes later.
The entire Environmental Protection Club, nets in hand, vests on their backs, sacks in tow, walked out through the main gate of Jiangcheng University.
The sewage river wasn't far from Jiang University, less than a kilometer away.
So Yu Jin picked walking as their method of travel.
Late summer in September, still scorching hot.
But the hundred-plus club members were full of energy, many unconsciously puffing out their chests.
For one simple reason—
Wherever they went, people on the street couldn't help but stare.
The stares started as curious, then surprised, and when they saw Tang Yunxuan at the front with his 'Environmental Protection' flag, it turned into admiration!
In weather like this, these college students weren't chilling indoors with the AC on, but out here doing environmental work—anyone who saw them would have to give some respect and a compliment!
"Damn, this is really getting hype now!"
Tang Yunxuan couldn't help but exclaim.
Yu Jin glanced at the giant two- or three-meter-wide flag he was holding, emblazoned with 'Environmental Protection.'
"I didn't ask you to bring that thing."
Old Tang scratched his head and grinned: "I figured a flag would make it feel more epic, you know?"
Yu Jin shook his head with a laugh.
Beside him, even the corners of Yin Yao's lips curled up slightly, for once.
Even though—
Her original reason for joining this activity was just to get in good with Yu Jin, cling to his leg, but…
Leaving all that aside, the event itself felt fresh and fun for her, definitely worth the trip.
"By the way, Old Yu—"
Tang Yunxuan, flag in hand, kept enjoying the looks from passersby and turned to Yu Jin, sounding a bit confused.
"Yesterday Grand Principal Jiang backed you up, even said other teachers and students outside the club could join in if they wanted…"
"I thought a ton of people would be here to help today."
"But right now, besides our Environmental Protection Club members, I haven't seen a single other person!"
"It's weird, man!"
"Logically, even if nobody else shows, the Student Union suck-ups should want to join in for clout…"
As Tang Yunxuan spoke, he suddenly noticed Yu Jin and Yin Yao had both stopped in their tracks.
Not just them, all hundred club members froze in unison.
"Uh?"
Tang Yunxuan was confused.
"We're not there yet!"
He knew the sewage river like the back of his hand—still two or three hundred meters to go.
"What's going on?"
With a puzzled look, Tang Yunxuan moved the flag aside and followed Yu Jin and Yin Yao's gaze forward.
Just one glance, Tang Yunxuan was dumbstruck.
"Holy crap?"
He couldn't help but curse.
Just up ahead—
Two or three hundred meters away, both sides of the sewage river were packed with crowds!
Looking over—
That wasn't just a couple dozen or a hundred—it was several hundred, maybe a thousand!
"No way?"
"Did all of Jiang University show up?"
As soon as he said it, Tang Yunxuan's eyes literally popped.
He saw, at the very front of the crowd, a few familiar figures!
"Principal Jiang Haichuan?"
"Vice Principal Grell?"
"Wait a sec!"
"Standing between them—isn't that the top boss of Jiang City?!"