141: Chapter 141 Returning to School

He knew about the tip papers, and he knew about the Biology laboratory, but this thing about a math conjecture? Wang Ming was hearing it for the first time!

Each and every one of these things was no simple matter!

How could his little clothing business take up Brother Yang's time every day?

"Woo—"

Just as the two were chatting, a dull whistle sounded from the tracks in the distance.

The green-skinned train slowly pulled into the platform and stopped in front of them.

"The train is here! Let's go!"

The two followed the crowded flow of people and squeezed onto the carriage with great effort.

This time, they had bought soft sleeper tickets.

Compared to the noise and crowding of the hard-seat carriage outside, the soft sleeper compartment was exceptionally quiet. There were only four bunks, and the sheets and quilt covers were reasonably clean.

Zhao Yang put his luggage away, sat by the window, took a book out of his bag, and began to read.

As a qualified corporate slave, Zhao Yang would never pass up any opportunity to read.

Every time he grinded through a book and watched the corresponding subject experience on his panel increase, Zhao Yang felt incredibly satisfied.

Although this growth was just a drop in the bucket for leveling up his subjects.

But as the saying goes, if you work hard enough, you can grind an iron rod into a needle!

Zhao Yang was unwilling to waste even a single moment!

After a long journey of more than a dozen hours, the train finally arrived at Yanjing Station.

After arriving at Yanjing Station, Zhao Yang and Wang Ming parted ways. Zhao Yang hailed a taxi and headed straight to Beijing Forestry University.

By the time he returned to Yanlin University, it was already afternoon.

Pushing open the door to Dorm Room 302, a familiar scent wafted toward him..

"Yo! Brother Yang is back!"

"Brother Yang, you're finally back!!"

Li Tianqi was wiping the table shirtless. Seeing Zhao Yang enter, he immediately dropped the rag and rushed over, letting out a weird cry.

Wang Mian, who was sitting on his bed fiddling with his guitar, jumped down when he saw this: "Brother Yang, Happy New Year! Hand over the red envelope!"

"Happy New Year."

Zhao Yang smiled, pushed his suitcase in, and pulled out several bags of local specialty crispy candies from his bag to toss to them.

"No red envelope, but there's plenty of candy."

"Hehe, candy is fine too!" Li Tianqi peeled one open and popped it into his mouth. "Brother Yang still treats us best."

Zhao Yang looked around and noticed Sun Xu crouching on the floor with a huge snake-skin bag spread out in front of him.

The bag was filled with various items packed in plastic bags: dried sweet potatoes, roasted peanuts, dried persimmons, and a few jars of homemade pickles in canned food bottles.

Sun Xu was dressed as simply as ever, even somewhat shabbily.

He carefully arranged the local specialties on his desk.

"Brother Yang, you're back."

Sun Xu stood up, rubbed his hands together somewhat embarrassedly, looked at his roommates, and pointed to the pile of things on his desk.

"Um... my mom asked me to bring these. They're all grown in our own fields, they aren't worth much, it's just... just for everyone to try something fresh.

Whatever you want to eat, just help yourselves."

Sun Xu seemed a bit uneasy while speaking.

Zhao Yang took a look.

The dried sweet potatoes were cut neatly and dried until they were golden and translucent; they had obviously been carefully selected;

The peanuts were roasted to perfection, not a single one burnt. The lids of the pickle jars had been wiped clean, and carefully wrapped in plastic film to prevent leakage.

These things were indeed not worth much, but in Sun Xu's not-so-wealthy family, this was likely the best they could offer to thank his roommates for taking care of their son.

Although Li Tianqi and Wang Mian were usually careless and had some of the flaws typical of city residents, thanks to Zhao Yang's guidance, they knew how to handle such situations.

They certainly knew what to do.

"Wow! These dried sweet potatoes look so sweet! This is my favorite!"

Li Tianqi didn't put on any airs and didn't stand on ceremony with Sun Xu; he grabbed a handful and shoved them into his mouth.

"These are way better than the ones sold in the supermarket! Thank your mom for me!"

"These peanuts are fragrant too! They're perfect with alcohol!"

Wang Mian also joined in, picking up some peanuts to eat.

Seeing everyone eating happily, the unease on Sun Xu's face vanished, replaced by a smile: "I'm glad you like them. There's plenty more in the bag, just help yourselves! I brought them all for you."

Zhao Yang walked to the table, picked up a dried persimmon, and took a bite.

Very sweet! It had the natural fragrance of purely organic food.

"Delicious."

Zhao Yang patted Sun Xu on the shoulder. "It just so happens I don't want to go to the cafeteria tonight. Let's buy some beer and have a get-together right here in the dorm with these specialties."

"Good idea!"

Li Tianqi raised both hands in agreement.

"I'll go buy the beer! We won't stop until we're drunk tonight!"

"I'll go buy some deli meats and cold dishes!" Wang Mian also responded enthusiastically.

"Then... then I'll go get hot water." Sun Xu happily picked up the thermos.

After eating, drinking, and chatting with his roommates.

Zhao Yang continued to read.

His roommates also did their own things.

After everyone went to bed that night, Zhao Yang was still reading seriously as usual.

"Brother Yang, you're way too serious!"

Li Tianqi, watching Zhao Yang still sitting below reading, couldn't help but complain.

"It's one thing on normal days, but today is the first day of school, we just arrived! Brother Yang, aren't you tired from the train ride? Why not rest earlier?"

"Yeah, Brother Yang, let's go to sleep early today! You've been on the train for so long, and you just had some beer. Rest early, can't you just get up early tomorrow to read?"

Wang Mian also tried to persuade Zhao Yang.

"I'm fine, you guys go to sleep."

Zhao Yang smiled slightly. He didn't tell Wang Mian and the others that his physique had already reached 18 points, a nearly superhuman level.

The current slight fatigue and the alcohol didn't amount to anything at all.

"Alright..."

Li Tianqi and Wang Mian didn't try to persuade Zhao Yang any further.

They knew very well that Brother Yang had a very strong personality; once he made up his mind, it was useless for them to try to persuade him otherwise.

The roommates had all gone to sleep.

Gradually, their breathing became steady.

The whole dorm became quiet, and the sound of breathing was very obvious in such an environment.

"Ding! User read a math paper, gained Math Experience + 1!"

"Ding! User gained Math Experience + 1!"

Occasionally, the system notification sound would ring in Zhao Yang's ears.

Zhao Yang didn't climb into bed until 12 o'clock at night after reading.

Zhao Yang closed his eyes, and soon after falling asleep, the Deep Sleep passive skill automatically took effect.

The chaotic thoughts were instantly cut off, and his consciousness sank completely into darkness.

The next day.

The first official day of school at Beijing Forestry University.

According to custom, there were no classes in the morning, and each class was to hold its first class meeting of the new semester.

In the classroom of Class 1, Grade 2008 of the School of Life Sciences, it was bustling with noise.

The students hadn't seen each other for over a month and had endless topics to discuss.

Zhao Yang sat in the second to last row by the window—this was his fixed "lucky spot."

He held an all-English copy of "Introduction to Riemannian Geometry" in his hand, calmly flipping through it.

Although many students around him were sneaking glances at him, and even girls from the next class were pretending to pass by and peeking into the doorway, given Zhao Yang's current aura, no one dared to easily come up to strike up a conversation or disturb him.

Zhao Yang had already gotten used to this kind of attention last semester.

Nine o'clock sharp.

The classroom door was pushed open, and Li Yan walked in.

The noise in the classroom gradually died down.

Zhao Yang looked up and frowned slightly.

Li Yan's state today was very off.