Resource allocation, in fact, is an extremely common practice, employed from nations down to individual families.

The so-called fairness is merely relative. Take a family with poor economic circumstances: if all three sons wish to attend university but funds are insufficient, what choice is there? Either pour resources into one, or, in the name of equality, have them all remain home to farm. How should one choose?

Similarly, coastal regions benefit from superior transportation access and lower manufacturing costs, giving them a stronger competitive edge. For the sake of the nation's development speed, resources are inevitably tilted towards these areas. But can this truly be called fair to those inland regions, struggling on the poverty line, which serve as crucial resource contributors?

Thus, Professor Chang’s topic, while originating from a humanities perspective, impacts numerous facets, including law, ethics, and social tolerance.

Wang Zhuo neatly deflected Rong Xue Sha's question back at her, posing a genuine dilemma for the campus beauty who possessed both looks and intelligence. She frowned, gazed into the distance, pondered for a long time, and finally arrived at an answer.

“I understand!” Rong Xue Sha smiled and shook her head repeatedly, saying, “As expected of Instructor Wang, your answer was already contained within the question itself.”

Wang Zhuo was slightly taken aback, chuckling, “Oh? Then enlighten me.”

“Such a complex issue involves far too many principles. After analyzing it, I realized this question has no universally applicable answer; everyone will approach it from a different angle, leading to certainly different conclusions.”

Pausing briefly, Rong Xue Sha continued, “Since there is no standardized answer, the measure must come from each person’s starting point. I placed myself in your shoes…” and realized your answer. As the direct beneficiary, you would naturally support the resource tilt theory with both hands.”

This response made Wang Zhuo look at her with newfound respect. Women often view matters superficially, but Rong Xue Sha managed to grasp the essence beneath the appearance—a truly rare quality.

Rong Xue Sha smiled towards Wang Zhuo.

Wang Zhuo gave her a thumbs-up. Geng Bin, standing nearby, clapped enthusiastically, and the three shared a knowing smile.

“It’s so unfair. You men can be fickle and shamelessly find a shield for it,” Rong Xue Sha remarked, half-jokingly, half-seriously. “A man being fickle is called capability, but we women can’t flirt around or we get scolded.”

“If Professor Chang were here, he would solemnly tell you this is determined by the Creator,” Wang Zhuo said cheerfully. “Women must carry pregnancy for ten months, while men only need to keep sowing seeds; this is each party’s natural calling.”

Geng Bin snorted with laughter, and Rong Xue Sha gave a helpless pout, it was unclear whether she accepted Wang Zhuo’s flawed reasoning.

Just as they were talking, the dishes arrived. The three began eating and chatting. Rong Xue Sha was clearly not convinced by Wang Zhuo and kept bringing up points for debate. However, she was no match for him. Often, after formulating her arguments for a long time, Wang Zhuo would effortlessly dismantle them with a single sentence.

“How was I to know… that not only are your skills formidable, but your tongue is equally sharp.”

“You’re not bad either. Among the women I know, you might rank in the top three.” Geng Bin, who was drinking water, immediately sputtered it out. Wang Zhuo and Rong Xue Sha looked at the struggling man in surprise, then quickly understood what he was thinking.

“Are you taking advantage of me?” Rong Xue Sha glared at Wang Zhuo, caught between amusement and exasperation.

Wang Zhuo chuckled sheepishly, “I’m just stating facts. Besides, you were the one who complimented me first.”

“I’m stepping out to make a call… You two carry on,” Geng Bin raised his hand in a mock salute and left cheerfully.

Wang Zhuo leisurely sipped his tea, suddenly feeling how quickly time passed. It seemed like only yesterday he was a nervous freshman entering university, and now he was in his final year, about to graduate, bringing a complex mix of feelings. Girls like Rong Xue Sha now seemed like little sprites in his presence.

“How old are you this year?” he asked casually.

Rong Xue Sha tilted her chin up slightly, “Nineteen. Why?”

“Nineteen…” Wang Zhuo nodded slowly, recalling himself at nineteen—the greenness, the youthful fervor. He shook his head and smiled, “When I was nineteen, I wasn’t as good as you.”

“Are you complimenting me or scolding me?” Rong Xue Sha was genuinely annoyed. “I still rely on my family for tuition and living expenses. You had already started a company by then, right?” Wang Zhuo looked at her with a touch of surprise, “You seem to know quite a lot.”

“Of course, I…” Before Rong Xue Sha could finish her sentence, there was a light knock on the private room door, and half a body pushed it open.

Both turned their heads simultaneously, their brows furrowing slightly.

The person opening the door was a short, thin boy. Behind him was a tall, handsome fellow who smiled and raised his hand in greeting toward Rong Xue Sha.

“Found it, it’s this room,” the thin boy grinned and, acting familiar, pushed the door open and walked in.

“Xue Sha, what a coincidence!” The handsome guy walked in confidently, glanced at Wang Zhuo as if he were invisible, and smiled at Rong Xue Sha, “We are at Jueyuan Hall. Fan Song just said he saw you, so I came to check.”

Rong Xue Sha nodded slightly, managing a perfunctory reply, “You just arrived? My friend and I are finished eating; we’ll be leaving once someone comes back.” Just then, Wang Zhuo’s phone, resting on the table, began to ring. Seeing Geng Bin’s name on the caller ID, he immediately guessed what was happening and picked up with a wry smile.

“Boss, I have an urgent matter and have to run ahead! The meal is already paid for—you two enjoy the rest!” Geng Bin’s voice carried a hint of ambiguity, and he was speaking quite loudly, seemingly deliberately making sure Rong Xue Sha could hear to manufacture an atmosphere of intimacy between them.

“Next time you act first and report later, see if I don’t beat you into a pulp,” Wang Zhuo scolded with an amused laugh, hanging up the phone.

Using his X-ray vision, Wang Zhuo scanned the Zhuangyuan Building. Geng Bin was nowhere inside; the guy was already out on the street, meandering around with a mischievous smirk.

“Hey, who are you talking to?” A voice dripping with sarcasm interrupted Wang Zhuo’s thoughts. When he refocused his attention, the thin boy named Fan Song was leaning against the doorframe, surveying him up and down with a look of mocking disdain.

Geng Bin’s volume was indeed considerable. Not only did Rong Xue Sha, seated to Wang Zhuo’s left, hear his words, but the two uninvited guests caught every syllable. Fan Song immediately looked displeased, and the tall handsome man also began assessing Wang Zhuo with dissatisfaction.

Wang Zhuo spared Fan Song a glance, snorting dismissively through his nose. When Geng Bin stepped out earlier, this short fellow had peered into the room, seemingly spotting Rong Xue Sha. But Wang Zhuo hadn't paid it any mind; it was close to the school, and most lunch patrons were students. It wasn't strange for someone to recognize the well-known Rong Xue Sha.

However, this Fan Song barging in uninvited, accompanied by a haughty handsome man who wouldn't even look at him properly, was starting to irritate Wang Zhuo. Did these types think they could just interrupt his meal? Did they really think they were hot stuff?

Seeing Wang Zhuo’s disdain, Fan Song became even more provocative, sticking his face out to stare at Wang Zhuo: “Oh? What kind of attitude is that, Big Brother?” Though he used the respectful terms “Big Brother” and “You,” his sarcastic tone and playful gaze clearly conveyed deep mockery, showing he held Wang Zhuo in no regard.

Wang Zhuo, however, was amused by the situation. This guy was obviously a medical student but didn’t even recognize who he was. Therefore, he must be a freshman like Rong Xue Sha. These youngsters, who hadn’t even bothered to memorize the list of campus heroes, were trying to use him as a stepping stone to impress the campus beauty!

He glanced at Rong Xue Sha. The beauty sat quietly without expression, clearly waiting to see the show unfold!

Wang Zhuo chuckled inwardly. It seemed Rong Xue Sha didn’t think highly of these two either; she was deliberately staying silent, waiting for him to put these nuisances in their place.

Since he was full and had nothing better to do, he might as well humor them. Wang Zhuo raised an eyebrow at the short boy with a half-smile, “Your name is Fan Song?” Fan Song sneered, “Yeah, so what?”

“A freshman, I haven’t heard of you.” Wang Zhuo turned his face away, gesturing with his chin toward the tall handsome man, “And you?”

The handsome man smiled calmly and said, “My name is Yang Ruifeng. What guidance can this senior offer?”

Senior? Wang Zhuo was momentarily stunned, then looked between Yang Ruifeng, the stifling-a-laugh Rong Xue Sha, and the provocative Fan Song, feeling a wave of ironic amusement. Has the world changed this fast? I’m only in my senior year, and I’m already an old man?

“I said, Senior,” Fan Song drawled sarcastically, “You treat our Sister Rong to a meal, and this is all you order? Three dishes and one soup, nothing fancy. A bit shabby, isn’t it?”

Since the room was catered to students, the private dining area wasn't large, and only three dishes and one soup could fit on the square table. Wang Zhuo had long passed the stage of caring about the prestige of the food; he ate whatever tasted good regardless of the price. Rong Xue Sha, with her lighter palate, meant they hadn’t ordered anything expensive.

“The food is certainly clean,” Fan Song sneered dismissively. “If you don’t have the economic strength, why pretend to be rich enough to eat here? You’ll be drinking free soup at Cafeteria Four for a week, right?” Wang Zhuo was exasperatedly amused again. He had met sharp-tongued people, but never one so viciously cutting. He was relentless in stepping on his opponent!

Just trying to belittle me, am I? Think I don't know how? Wang Zhuo said with a gentle smile, “With food of this caliber, I can invite Sister Rong to dine. If you offered a lobster banquet, she wouldn’t go. Believe it or not?”

“Oh, you’re pushing your luck, aren’t you?” Fan Song was infuriated, hesitating whether to resort to fisticuffs.

Rong Xue Sha noticed the situation escalating and was about to speak up when Wang Zhuo subtly signaled her, stopping her words.

“Senior, I think you should save it,” Yang Ruifeng mocked lightly. “You’re just an outsider on a Kappa bicycle, buying neither a house nor a car in Jiangzhou. What’s the point of bragging here? You’re not getting any younger, so perhaps you should be more practical and stop setting your sights on girls as unattainable as Xue Sha.”