The KTV near Xucheng Academy was exactly what you'd expect from a campus in the suburbs—budget-friendly, a little worn, with a faint smell of stale beer and cleaning solution clinging to the carpet.
Chen Yansen pushed open the door to the private room. A 50-inch screen flickered with the lyrics to Andy Lau's "Ice Rain," which Tang Zhenzhe was belting out with a passion far exceeding his talent. The wired microphone cord was a tangled snake on the floor.
This kid... Chen Yansen shook his head internally. Singing a classic from the 90s? In 2010? To impress girls who idolize Li Yuchun and Jolin Tsai? At the very least, you had to know the holy trinity of QQ Music. Singing "Ice Rain" here was like showing up to a rave in a three-piece suit.
"Brother Sen! You made it!" Meng Xibo jumped up, all smiles. "Pick a song! I'll queue it for you!"
"Brother Sen!"
"Chen!"
The greetings came from his roommates, warm and slightly boisterous from the early drinks.
"Sorry I'm late, got held up. Don't mind me, you guys keep going." Chen Yansen waved them off with an easy smile, making his way to the far end of the long sofa. He sat down, leaving a clear meter of empty space between himself and the cluster of girls from the other dorm. His disinterest was a silent, deliberate wall.
His phone had been buzzing non-stop since the recruitment flyers went up. After a few trips outside to answer, he'd given up and set a standard text reply: "Interview: Startup Park, 2nd Floor, 9 AM Tomorrow."
A delicate floral scent drifted over as someone sat down beside him. Su Meiling, in a lace-trimmed mini skirt that showed off her long legs and a white chiffon blouse that hinted at curves, leaned in. "Is there a song you like? I can sing it with you," she offered, her voice soft.
Chen Yansen gave her a brief, appraising glance, then shook his head with a faint smile. "You guys have fun. I'm good."
It wasn't that she wasn't pretty. In his past life, he'd dated several girls just like her—gentle, well-mannered, with a certain cultivated charm. And without fail, after a short while, the conversations would turn to marriage, children, and settling down.
Wasn't dating fun enough?
He had a fundamental, almost instinctive aversion to the "good girl" archetype.
"Hey, Brother Sen! Don't just sit there! Come on, pick something!" Tang Zhenzhe finished his tragic chorus, putting the mic down with a flourish, clearly pleased with his performance. He was probably imagining the impressed glances from the girls, especially Su Meiling.
Zhu Xiaopeng, Meng Xibo, and Wang Zhengqiang joined in the chorus of encouragement. To them, Chen Yansen's reluctance to touch the mic could only mean one thing: he was tone-deaf. They weren't being mean; they just wanted to see the seemingly flawless "Brother Sen" reveal a human flaw. It was a form of bonding through shared imperfection.
Only Song Yang was silent, head buried in his phone, the screen glowing with dense blocks of text—completely lost in a web novel.
"Fine," Chen Yansen said, turning his gaze back to Su Meiling. The corner of his mouth quirked up. "Let's do 'Bad Girl.'"
Bad Girl?
The song by Xu Liang?
A confused silence fell over the room. In 2010, admitting to liking the "QQ Music Three Giants" (Xu Liang, Wang Junkai, another pop star) was social suicide—the very definition of "non-mainstream" cringe.
His choice, however, made another girl's head snap up.
She'd been idly scrolling through her phone in the corner. Now, she sat up straight, her eyes locking onto Chen Yansen with sudden, intense interest.
The unmistakable, slightly melancholic synth intro of "Bad Girl" filled the room.
Chen Yansen took the microphone, dragged a chair directly in front of the screen, and sat down, his broad back to the room. The lights glinted off the Rolex on his wrist. In his crisp white shirt and black trousers, he looked utterly incongruous with the song's vibe.
"That year I let go of your hand, could only say 'take care' as I turned away..."
"You didn't say a word, just cried for so, so long..."
The room froze. Those who'd been waiting for a comedic disaster exchanged stunned looks. Chen Yansen's voice was nothing like they expected—it was deep, rich, and controlled, carrying a weary, worldly emotion that somehow elevated the "non-mainstream" lyrics. He wasn't just singing; he was performing, oozing a rakish, "bad boy" confidence that fit the song perfectly.
(Power Stones if you're vibing with Bad Boy Chen! 💎)
It was a duet. After finishing the male verse, Chen Yansen moved to sing the female chorus himself. But then, a sweet, charming, and perfectly pitched female voice chimed in from behind him:
"In whose arms can I be held? In the deep night, I miss being loved... I changed for you, but I can't go back to the past..."
Chen Yansen turned.
A girl in a faded denim jacket was grinning at him, one eye closed in a playful wink.
In terms of raw looks, she was a match for Su Meiling—but where Su Meiling was soft and curated, this girl was all lively, straightforward energy.
This, Chen Yansen thought, a genuine smile spreading across his face, is more like it. The kind of playful, uncomplicated girl who knew the score, wouldn't cling, and was just here for a good time.
He raised an eyebrow and beckoned her over with a tilt of his head.
She understood instantly. In a few skipping steps, she was beside him, placing her small, soft hand confidently in his outstretched one.
The rest of the room watched, slack-jawed, as the two of them held hands and finished the duet with a natural, easy chemistry that seemed to have taken years to build.
"Are you a bad girl?" Chen Yansen moved the mic away, leaning close so his warm breath brushed her ear. His voice was a low murmur meant only for her.
Under her open denim jacket, she wore a simple white tank top. From his angle, the neckline gaped slightly, revealing a tempting, snowy curve.
"You tell me!" She giggled, not pulling away. Feeling his hand tighten around hers, she boldly let her free hand brush against the firm plane of his stomach through his shirt.
Of course a guy who looked like Chen Yansen—tall, handsome, and clearly loaded—would attract girls. The logic was inescapable.
Su Meiling watched, her smile frozen. The mixer she'd meticulously planned was being stolen, right in front of her.
(Comment: Team Xu Xingxing or Team Su Meiling? Or Team Song Yuncheng? The ship wars begin! 💬)
"Whoa! Brother Sen, you're a legend!" Song Yang was the first to break from the spell, his voice full of genuine admiration.
The spell broken, the others erupted into applause and whistles. Regardless of the song's "status," the performance had been undeniably good.
Chen Yansen returned to his seat. The girl in the denim jacket followed, planting herself right next to him. "I'm Xu Xingxing," she said, leaning in. "'Xu' as in 'slowly,' 'Xing' as in 'little star.'"
"Not bad," Chen Yansen said, picking up his glass and clinking it lightly against hers. "Not bad at all."
"I might not be a bad girl," she whispered, following his gaze and quickly adjusting her top with a smirk, "but you're definitely a bad boy."
"Then why are you sitting here?" He took a sip, his eyes laughing at her.
She pouted, gesturing vaguely at Tang Zhenzhe and the others. "They're too boring. Too... safe."
"I thought the same thing." Chen Yansen's gaze flickered briefly to Su Meiling, his tone cool.
In his past university life, he had been like Tang Zhenzhe—earnest, eager-to-please. And girls like Xu Xingxing had found him "boring" too.
For the rest of the session, the two of them were in their own world—drinking, playing dice, their laughter a private bubble in the noisy room. Xu Xingxing was vibrant and engaging. Meng Xibo and Zhu Xiaopeng had tried talking to her earlier, only to be met with polite disinterest and a claim of being "socially awkward." Now they understood: she was only "awkward" around them.
The group finally spilled out of the KTV around 6 PM and headed to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Su Meiling was quiet throughout the meal, while the others chattered about campus life. On the walk back, Tang Zhenzhe nudged Chen Yansen.
"Brother Sen, if you made a move on Xu Xingxing now, you could probably have her in two days."
Chen Yansen looked at him, genuinely puzzled. "Why would I chase her?"
"Huh? But... she obviously likes you! You should just go for it!" Tang Zhenzhe sputtered, exasperated.
Chen Yansen's smile was faint, almost imperceptible. "If she likes me, let her come to me."
"Damn..." Tang Zhenzhe shook his head with a rueful grin. "As expected of Brother Sen. My mindset is too small."
"Hey, Brother Sen," Zhu Xiaopeng piped up, curious. "You didn't drive today?"
"Returned the rental," Chen Yansen answered matter-of-factly.
"Wait... you really rented that Mercedes?!" Zhu Xiaopeng's eyes widened. For some reason, the immense, unapproachable aura he felt from Chen Yansen suddenly shrank by 90%.
Idiot, Song Yang thought, watching Zhu Xiaopeng's transparent reaction. The car might be rented, but the ability to make that kind of money is 100% real.
"Yeah, a few hundred a day," Chen Yansen said, his tone laced with fake sympathy. He didn't care about their judgments. That E300, at 800 yuan a day, had been an investment that opened doors, commanded respect, and created opportunities. In this world, you're judged by your cover long before anyone reads your pages. Drive a Maybach, and the world—including the pretty girls—becomes a lot more accommodating.
Back in the dorm, the post-mixer analysis was in full swing—discussing the girls in their class, the elegant seniors—until Wang Zhengqiang's yell shattered the mood.
"SH*T! I haven't showered! The bathhouse closes in 10 minutes!"
Chaos ensued as everyone scrambled for their toiletry baskets. A cold shower in the dorm sink was a miserable prospect, even in late summer.
"Oh, by the way," Chen Yansen said, standing up and grabbing his keys. "I rented a place in the faculty apartments behind Building 8. I won't be sleeping in the dorm anymore. If the counselor asks, just tell them the truth."
"You're moving out? Already? In freshman year?" Tang Zhenzhe paused, washbasin in hand.
"I'll be around during the day. Just not sleeping here." Chen Yansen headed for the door. "You guys better run. I heard the bathhouse attendant collects the card readers five minutes early."
A fresh wave of panic swept through the room as his roommates stampeded out.
Alone in the suddenly quiet dorm, Chen Yansen allowed himself a small, private smile. He took his time, strolling leisurely toward Building 3.
The fourth-floor landing was quiet. He stood before the door of 0418, the new key cool in his hand.
Will she come?
He glanced at his watch. It was almost 8 PM.
(End of Chapter)
Author's Note: The "Bad Girl" has made her entrance! The dynamics are shifting. Meanwhile, a different "interview" is scheduled for 8 PM in Room 0418... Who will show up? And what will this night bring for Senhai's future? The plot thickens!