Emerging from Yi Xin Restaurant, I made my way back to campus, located the student dormitory area, and found my assigned room based on the number given to me that morning. Although I didn't plan on sleeping there that night, I needed a base of operations; carrying textbooks around otherwise would be inconvenient.

The student apartments varied between new and old, and the building I was in was somewhere in between. Inside, the rooms were arranged like small cubicles, stretching from west to east. I went up to the second floor and pushed open the door to Room 222. The first thing that met my eyes was a large, bright south-facing window. Beneath the window sat a desk. To the west of the desk, two beds were arranged one in front of the other; to the east, there was only one bed. Behind the door was a small private bathroom. The space between the small bathroom and the eastern bed housed three small lockers. The eastern bed was empty, but the two beds on the west were occupied by two people.

“You’re here, brother,” the two on the west beds said, rising to greet me as I entered.

Fang Yanmeng had told me that relationships with dorm mates in college usually turned out quite well—something I hadn't experienced in high school. I responded enthusiastically, “Hello to both of you. Sorry I’m late.”

A tall young man said, “We arrived several days ago. We were afraid we wouldn't get train tickets if we waited too long, so we came to school early.”

I tossed my small bundle onto the remaining empty bed. “Haha, I’m actually from Jinshi City, so there was no need to rush.”

A short, skinny young man piped up, “So you’re from a big city. I really envy you guys.”

I replied, “What’s there to envy? I actually yearn for the small countryside. Besides, aren't you big-city people now? If anyone should be envied, it should be you.”

The short guy said, “That’s true. Being the first person from my hometown to get into Longteng University in Jinshi City is quite an achievement.”

I extended my hand. “My name is Zhao Qian. Zhao from Zhao Qian Sun Li, Qian from Zhao Qian Sun Li.”

The tall guy said, “Xu Hu, from Jilin.”

The short guy said, “Chen Chao, from Shandong.”

After the introductions, the three sat back down on their beds. The school provided every new student with four sets of bedding—two for winter, two for summer—but the payment was on us. Since we didn't know each other yet, I planned to take a nap first, then go out and look for the school library to borrow some books on finance. My time was limited, after all; I wouldn't be staying here for four years like them. I might have something I needed to attend to as soon as tomorrow, so I intended to learn as much as I could while I could.

Just then, Chen Chao remarked, “I heard Longteng University originally had two students per room, but they massively increased enrollment to boost tuition revenue, which resulted in the current three-person setup.”

Xu Hu added, “It’s actually quite spacious. In high school, eight of us shared a room this size, and that room didn’t even have a bathroom. We had to run to the corner of the sports field to use the toilet, which was very inconvenient.”

Chen Chao called out toward me, “Zhao Qian, how many clubs did you sign up for? I hear Longteng University’s clubs have quite a reputation socially; many companies specifically recruit students from certain clubs.”

I pulled back my comforter. “Clubs? I never even heard of them in high school. Our No. 1 Middle School strictly focused on admission rates; they even canceled physical education classes. However, the stack of forms I signed are in the file folder. I didn't look at them; a senior sister helped me complete the registration.”

Chen Chao asked anxiously, “Was she a girl who was plump, very cute and pretty, with a large chest?”

I said, “Yes, you know her? Are you perhaps from the same hometown?”

Chen Chao exclaimed, “What hometown? She’s a scammer!”

“What!” I shot up from the bed. “What kind of scam?” I had been in close contact with her just moments ago; I really hoped I hadn't fallen for anything. However, I didn’t have much to be scammed out of—I’d lost my virginity long ago, so there was no need to fear that.”

Chen Chao urged, “Hurry up and show me the forms you signed! She specializes in recruiting members for clubs. A guy from my hometown was scammed by her; he signed up for ten clubs! That’s going to kill him.”

I quickly retrieved the forms, and Chen Chao rushed over to help me check them. Sure enough, every form was a membership agreement. We counted eighteen in total.

“You’re finished,” Chen Chao said with a dejected expression. “If you join this many clubs, when will you have time to study? I hear you have to pay annual fees later, too. Even if it’s just ten yuan per club, you’ll owe 180 yuan—that’s enough for half a month’s worth of meals.”

I leaped off the bed, pulled out my phone, and called Su Xue. It wasn't the money I cared about; it was my time. I wouldn't attend a single one of these clubs, and I needed to cancel them all.

The person who answered was Ouyang Qian. I only knew her number because Su Xue had called her using my phone previously.

“Hello? Oh, it’s Junior Brother Qian calling. Missing me already after just a short while?” Ouyang Qian’s voice was dripping with seductive charm.

I snapped, “Get Su Xue to pick up the phone!”

Ouyang Qian replied, “What’s wrong? Why are you so angry? She’s asleep.”

I said harshly, “Then please notify her to cancel all my club memberships for me this afternoon. I want none of them! I came to university to gain knowledge, not play around with this stuff.”

“You!” My attitude must have seriously annoyed Ouyang Qian; she abruptly hung up the phone in anger.

I was still angry, so I didn't care about her reaction.

Chen Chao asked me, “You know her? And she still tricked you?”

I admitted, “I didn’t know her before; I only got acquainted with her after she scammed me. And I even treated her to lunch today. Isn’t that ridiculous?”

Xu Hu chimed in from the side, “It is a bit ridiculous. I think you were just blinded by her beauty. Although I haven't seen her, according to two freshmen she fooled, they were willing victims. And if fate gave them a second chance, they’d ask her, ‘Please trick us again.’”

With Su Xue’s looks, every guy would want to be tricked by her, but I wasn't an ordinary guy. I already had a large collection of wives; why would I eye a little kid like her?

Chen Chao offered, “My hometown friend said it’s hard to leave a club once you join. I suggest you just pay the fees and skip the activities later. Besides, being tricked by her is an honor. Some senior brothers invited her to dinner, and she refused to go. Be satisfied.”

Since it was done, what was a hundred or so yuan? Forget it; no need to argue with a child. I turned to Chen Chao. “You seem very knowledgeable about the school. By the way, do you know where the library is? I want to check out the collection first. I’ve nearly finished reading the collection at the National Library.”

Chen Chao looked skeptical. “Are you kidding? You’ve nearly finished the collection at the National Library? Even though we’re from a small place, we know what caliber the National Library is.”

I explained to Chen Chao, “What’s so strange about that? I have indeed gone through most of the National Library’s collection, but they have relatively little material on finance and economics. Longteng University specializes in those fields, so I’m sure the library here has a lot of reference books.”

Xu Hu gave me a thumbs-up. “Brother, you’re amazing. Big Water Buffalo is truly impressed.”

Chen Chao laughed. “So Brother Hu’s nickname is Big Water Buffalo, huh? Haha, to be honest, I have a nickname too. My high school classmates all called me Little Grasshopper.”

After sharing their embarrassing monikers, both of them asked me, “Zhao Qian, what’s your nickname?”

I shook my head. Besides the recent one people started calling me—‘Looking for Money’—I didn’t have any other nicknames.

Xu Hu suggested, “How about I call you Little White Face? Look how fair your skin is, you’re tall and handsome, and you managed to treat a beautiful girl to dinner right after arriving—you have the potential to be a gigolo.”

I walked over to the mirror hanging on the wall and examined myself closely. My skin really was quite good. Back home, I hadn't noticed because I was always being compared to my wives. Now, compared to Xu Hu and Chen Chao, I looked like a Caucasian; they looked like African refugees.

Looking closer at my reflection, I did have a slight 'Little White Face' look, nothing like someone who should be 24. Although I had a mature face, this maturity wasn't age-related; it was an air of premature development. Was I somehow de-aging? What should I do? I was growing younger while my wives were growing older. How could I bear it?

Fortunately, they were all still in their prime, showing no signs of aging yet. But what about after they turned 30? Would I really remain this young forever while they slowly aged before my eyes? No. I needed to find Hua Qingqing and ask her about the reason, see if there was a solution. If I was young, they needed to be even younger. If I was de-aging, they needed to follow suit. Otherwise, what was the point of me living alone in the world?

Chen Chao said, “Stop staring, Zhao Qian, you are a Little White Face. Fine, from now on we’ll call you Little White Face.”

I objected, “That won’t do. That term has a very specific connotation in modern society, and it’s inappropriate for me. It could easily lead to misunderstandings.”

Xu Hu insisted, “Then how about Little White Dragon? It has to have ‘white’ in it. Or maybe Little White Horse, Little White Cat, Little White Tiger.”

“Stop, stop,” I cut off Xu Hu. “Just call me Zhao Qian. I don't need a nickname. You two chat; I’m going to find the school library.”

Chen Chao offered, “We’ll go with you. It’ll be good to have company.”