Chapter 66 Targeted

At noon, the three brothers of Dormitory 404 gathered at the cafeteria once again.

Except for Wang Can, the other two finally refrained from eating their eternally unchanging chicken cutlets.

In a rare move, Chen Xiaobei ordered the braised beef rice bowl he had detested since the start of the semester, wanting to challenge the limits of his taste buds.

Needless to say, after just two bites, he pushed it away again.

"Old Wang, your chicken cutlet business is even more booming than before. It's a bit abnormal."

Chen Xiaobei gazed at the long line outside the stall, unable to hold back his exclamation.

"It's just the celebrity effect," Wang Can replied casually.

Chen Xiaobei nodded thoughtfully.

Qi Dong and Qi Xia's live broadcasts, combined with Jiang Yixue coming to the cafeteria to buy chicken cutlets over the weekend, had indeed attracted quite a few student copycats.

Although he didn't understand this star-chasing consumption psychology, he chose to respect it.

"Oh, right, Old Wang."

Yang Shuang suddenly raised his head, a hint of expectation in his eyes. "The department student union is recruiting members after the second class this afternoon. Are you going together?"

Yang Shuang was definitely going; although the selected civil servant examination didn't mandate student union experience, having this on his resume was always a plus.

Yet, facing this kind of interview-bound occasion for the first time, he inevitably felt nervous inside. If he had someone reliable like Wang Can accompanying him, his confidence would be much stronger.

However, Wang Can genuinely couldn't work up any interest in such a bureaucratic organization, where going in would likely mean nothing more than becoming a beast of burden.

Still, there really wasn't anything urgent scheduled for the afternoon, so keeping Yang Shuang company for the trip wouldn't hurt.

Just as he was about to agree, his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, excuse me. I'm from the Literary and Art Department of the University Student Union. Is this classmate Wang Can?"

"I am."

"Just to inform you, all participants in the welcome gala need to head to the main auditorium for a rehearsal after the second class this afternoon."

"Alright, I understand."

Hanging up the phone, Wang Can shrugged helplessly. "I can't accompany you anymore. I have to go rehearse for the welcome gala this afternoon."

"Fine..." Yang Shuang could not hide his disappointment.

"Hey, hey, Shuangzi."

Slurping down his newly purchased potato noodles, Chen Xiaobei interrupted with dissatisfaction. "Why didn't you ask me? Am I not capable of giving you a sense of security?"

Thinking about it, Yang Shuang figured that made sense too. After all, it was just an interview; even if Wang Can couldn't make it, having Chen Xiaobei tag along would still boost his courage.

It was just like chatting up girls at a bar: one person alone would be scared out of their wits, but two people could walk sideways.

"Then are you going?" he asked.

"Not going," Chen Xiaobei answered with a chuckle.

"Damn it! The moment I get back, I'm going to burn incense and sever all your romantic luck!"

"Don't, don't, don't, Brother Shuang. I'll go with you, alright?"

......

......

When the second class ended in the afternoon, the students scattered in all directions like freed pets.

Yang Shuang and the other two headed toward the student union together, while Wang Can made his way alone to the main auditorium in the center of the campus.

The spacious auditorium was already gathered with quite a few students, huddled in groups of twos and threes, conversing in low voices.

The rehearsal atmosphere was somewhat relaxed. Members of the Literary and Art Department would occasionally call out a name, and whoever was summoned would go on stage to perform, while the rest observed from the audience, occasionally whispering among themselves.

This rehearsal format actually gave the participants an opportunity to preview other programs in advance.

"Oh? Is that our stinky underclassman?"

A crisp voice suddenly came from behind and to the side.

Wang Can turned around and saw the sisters Qi Dong and Qi Xia.

Qi Xia's lively eyes were filled with curiosity. "You signed up for the welcome gala too?"

Since the participants couldn't see the complete program list, Qi Xia was exceptionally surprised by Wang Can's appearance.

"Mm, though strictly speaking, I didn't sign up," Wang Can said with a rising smile. "The school specially invited me to come."

"Really or not?" Qi Xia tilted her head in suspicion, her nose twitching slightly. "This is my first time hearing about the school actively inviting a freshman to perform."

Qi Dong said thoughtfully, "Is it because your song became too popular?"

"Sister Dong is smart, unlike a certain someone," Wang Can laughed.

"What do you mean?" Qi Xia immediately put on a fierce little expression.

Ignoring her jab, Wang Can changed the subject. "Right, if I want to change the song I'm performing, who should I report it to?"

Over the past two days, he had carefully pondered that if he wanted to break through the mainstream with minimal cost, singing a song that could detonate the entire internet—just like during military training—was undoubtedly the best choice.

And since the song "Wukong" had lost its initial freshness, he had to change it.

"You can find the Minister of the Literary and Art Department or the Youth League Committee teacher in charge of this performance. They should be coming over in a bit."

Qi Dong curiously pursued the question, "What kind of song are you planning to change to, though? Can you even change a song designated by the school?"

Wang Can smiled mysteriously. "A new song, a new song more suited for a formal occasion like the welcome gala."

"Why are you acting all mysterious? Hurry up and sing a couple of lines for us to hear," Qi Xia tugged at his sleeve.

"Then beg me."

"In your dreams."

While the three of them were talking, a boy wearing a badge reading "Deputy Minister of the Literary and Art Department of the University Student Union" appeared at the auditorium entrance with two student union executive officers.

With his hands behind his back and his chin raised, he scanned the entire venue upon entering, his gaze finally locking onto Qi Dong and Qi Xia.

However, when his line of sight slowly shifted to Wang Can, he paused.

Why was it this guy again?

Immediately, the deputy minister sneered, strode to the front of the stage, picked up the microphone, and chided, "What are you all doing? So sloppy! The Literary and Art Department is here for you to rehearse, not to host a tea party!"

Before his voice had even faded, he pointed at Wang Can as an example to the others: "That boy, yes, you! Rehearse if you can, leave if you can't, don't stand here and affect everyone else!"

The lingering echo of the microphone reverberated through the auditorium, and the entire space instantly fell dead silent.

Dozens of gazes shot toward Wang Can in unison.

The senior students present who had participated in previous welcome gala rehearsals found this somewhat bizarre. Laughing and chatting during rehearsals was standard practice in past years; what was going on today? Had this deputy minister eaten gunpowder?

Wang Can, whose back had been turned to the stage, hadn't known who the target was, but Qi Dong and Qi Xia suddenly fell silent and motioned with their chins for him to turn around.

Only then did Wang Can realize that "that boy" referred to him, leaving him rather bewildered.

How did he get targeted the moment he arrived?

When Wang Can turned around and saw the "Deputy Minister of the Literary and Art Department" wearing black-framed glasses, he understood in a flash.

Wasn't this Zhao鹏, the guy on the train who had stubbornly insisted on swapping seats with him?

So this bastard was the deputy minister of the Literary and Art Department. No wonder Qi Dong and Qi Xia hadn't wanted to offend him back then.

"You damn well don't have a memory about what happened on the train, do you? Do I need to help you refresh it?" Wang Can spoke up directly.

"Whoa..."

Gasps of astonishment echoed through the grand auditorium. This remark sounded like prime gossip; no wonder this Zhao Peng had started targeting him the moment he arrived.

Zhao Peng didn't back down as quickly this time; after all, this wasn't the train, it was his home turf.

"Everyone heard that, right? Openly defying a university student union cadre—regardless of what program you're supposed to perform, you can leave right now."

Having said that, a wave of satisfaction surged through his heart, and the pent-up frustration from the train finally found an outlet.

If you had just ducked out of sight when you saw me, fine, but a mere freshman dares to fight me...

Hearing this, Qi Dong and Qi Xia could no longer hold back. With tacit coordination, they both stepped in front of him, one on each side.

"Zhao Peng, don't go too far. What kind of ability is it to bully a freshman by abusing your position?"

"If you don't let him rehearse, then the two of us are leaving too."