Chapter Fifty-Two: The Beauty Makes a Request

"Tang Yan, what do you need from me?" After the tall guy and Shao Sheng left, Su Tong asked as they walked along the campus path.

Tang Yan was a marketing major, efficient in her actions and carrying the air of a future strong woman. She sized Su Tong up, satisfaction in her gaze. "Su Tong, didn't I just say? The freshmen are about to arrive. Guess what we need to do?"

Su Tong suddenly understood. "Freshman orientation, right?" But then he was puzzled. "Shouldn't the department heads be the ones contacting me about this? Why is the Arts Department looking for me?"

At this, Wang Yuanyuan, also from the Arts Department, interjected, "We're not here about that. What else would our two departments be working together on? Don't you know?"

The campus of Min University was pathetically small. In no time, the three of them reached the school's sports field.

Located in the highly coveted Zhongguancun area, Min University had only this single sports field. Outside was Zhongguancun South Street. Compared to the grandeur of Peking University and Tsinghua, Min University's students could only weep in envy.

"The Freshman Welcome Gala? That can't be it—it's a whole-school event, not just one department," Su Tong thought quickly, recalling how after their military training in freshman year, the university had put on a gala for them as well.

"Actually, if you hadn't come to find me, I was going to look for you. I want to sign up for a performance," Su Tong declared spiritedly. He couldn't keep a low profile, not with the system watching him.

Tang Yan and Wang Yuanyuan were both surprised. Su Tong had always avoided the spotlight. Last year, at the Spring Festival Gala, several influential girls had nominated him as a male host candidate, but he had refused.

"You want to perform?" Tang Yan and Wang Yuanyuan were astonished, momentarily forgetting their main purpose. "What kind of performance?"

Su Tong felt a bit frustrated. It seemed that Nian Nu Jiao was really only popular online; maybe not a single student on campus knew about him. Even though "I Believe" was a hit and many students at Min University had heard it, no one paid attention to Nian Nu Jiao or even knew who sang it—they just listened and moved on.

The Freshman Welcome Gala was indeed a university-wide event, but each department had to contribute acts.

To provide acts, the departments would gather the arts committee members from each class to collect performance ideas.

Su Tong didn’t get along with his class’s arts committee member. With Tang Yan coming to him directly, he planned to bypass the class rep, whose taste he found questionable, and sign up through Tang Yan instead.

The Arts Department of the School of Management was responsible for submitting acts to the university. Whether or not they got selected was up to the main university Arts Department and some teachers, but the department arts committee had the final say over which acts to submit on behalf of their school.

Of course, if someone had a good act, they wouldn’t block it; they’d be happy to bring honor to their department.

"Our department wants to recommend you to compete for the host spot at the Freshman Welcome Gala," Tang Yan explained. "The previous male host is stepping down in his senior year and won’t be doing it anymore."

"If you have a performance, that’s great too. What act are you planning?" Wang Yuanyuan, petite and not particularly attractive but efficient in her work, chimed in.

"Host? No thanks, that's just being an announcer," Su Tong refused. Whether for the university’s Welcome Gala or the department’s Spring Festival Gala, being a host was utterly uninspiring. With a group of upright teachers overseeing everything, there's no chance to stand out. Even if one tried to be lively like a TV show host, the teachers would consider it inappropriate and immediately shut it down.

"Just compete. It's not certain you'll be chosen. Do it for our department's honor," Tang Yan coaxed.

Su Tong laughed. "It's more for your Arts Department’s honor, isn’t it? In college, who still cares about collective honor? Everyone’s out for themselves."

He remembered back in middle school, at the sports meet, every student showed up. Whether athlete or spectator, they were all there, cheering for their classmates until their voices broke.

But by high school, things were much bleaker. Except for a few close friends, no one cheered for the athletes anymore.

And in college, forget it. Unless it was couples supporting each other, the track was lined with hardly any spectators. The only people around were athletes and student union members organizing the event.

As for classmates, they were either gaming in the dorms or out shopping.

Su Tong had noticed this difference in his first year of college.

Damn, when the sports committee looked for volunteers, not a single person was enthusiastic. In the end, they had to beg and plead, finally convincing a few who still had some passion.

Su Tong had been dragged in to run the 1500 meters. He exhausted himself, finished the race, and ended up lying alone in a corner with no one to care for him.

At that moment, he swore never again to do such thankless, pointless things.

"Come on, just say yes. We really can’t find anyone else. Even if you just go through the motions, at least our department won’t be unrepresented," Tang Yan pleaded, switching from tough to soft tactics.

Su Tong was puzzled. "But our department’s male host from last year’s Spring Festival Gala is a junior now, right? Why not just send him? Why me?"

Wang Yuanyuan explained, "He’s just one. Each department has to send two male candidates to compete for the vacant host spot."

"Why me? I have no talent for that," Su Tong insisted, unwilling to be reduced to a mere announcer—a job that required no skill.

All that job entailed was saying, "Thank you to so-and-so for their performance," or "Please enjoy the next act, titled..." The gala was already boring enough, and these announcement segments were even more irritating than commercials interrupting a TV show.

"You don’t need any skills. As long as you speak clearly and don’t stutter, it’s fine. What matters is looking good—handsome boys and pretty girls, so the freshmen think our school is full of beautiful people, giving them something to look forward to," Tang Yan replied.

"Can't I just sign up for a performance? Why must I..." Su Tong began, but before he could finish, a male voice interrupted.

"Tang Yan, you’re back too? Haven’t seen you all summer—you’re even prettier now. I almost didn’t recognize you," said the newcomer, dressed in a basketball jersey with a ball in his arms.

Tang Yan couldn’t help but turn her head at the compliment. No matter how capable she acted, she blushed a little.

"I came back yesterday. Ding Wei, heading to play basketball?" she replied with a smile.

People from the Qin Empire were all like this—full of idle chatter at every meeting.

Even beauties weren’t exempt. Ding Wei was wearing a jersey and holding a basketball; what else would he be doing if not playing basketball? Soccer? Catching grasshoppers?

Su Tong wanted to slip away quietly and leave these two to their pointless chatter; he had no interest in listening.

"Hey, Su Tong, don’t think about sneaking off. You haven’t agreed to help us yet," Wang Yuanyuan called, grabbing his arm.

Tang Yan, a bit embarrassed, turned to Ding Wei. "Ding Wei, go ahead and play. I have something to discuss with Su Tong."

Ding Wei looked at Su Tong. He wasn't from the School of Management, but he was part of the university’s Arts Department.

"Is it about the host position?" Ding Wei asked Tang Yan, but his eyes were on Su Tong, a hint of hostility in his gaze.

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