Rebirth and Conquest

After returning home, Chen Yan stayed for a short while before the start of the new semester. After saying goodbye to Yan Minghui and the others, Chen Yan embarked on his journey to H University to begin his college life.

H University, while not a top-tier institution, is still a decent first-class university. Moreover, compared to other universities, it has a bit of an elite feel to it, with a large portion of its students coming from wealthy and influential families.

After completing all the enrollment procedures, Chen Yan took his things to the dormitory. The dormitory was a three-person room. When he arrived, there was already someone there. As soon as he saw Chen Yan enter, the roommate who had arrived earlier greeted him with a smile: "Hello, you must be my roommate. I am Wen Mu."

"Hello, my name is Chen Yan." Chen Yan responded politely. Her roommate was slender with a fair and delicate face and a gentle smile. She seemed to be a good-tempered person.

As it turned out, Wen Mu's personality was indeed just like his name: gentle and shy. Apart from the initial greeting, he didn't say much. Chen Yan wasn't a talkative person either, so when the two of them were together, there was always a bit of an awkward silence.

Two days later, the other roommate arrived. This roommate could only be described as high-profile. He was over 1.8 meters tall, had a handsome appearance, wore clothes that looked very high-end, and even drove a sports car. This roommate, who was like a walking beacon of light, was named Gao Chenxing.

Gao Chenxing is not only outstanding in appearance, but also has a very charming personality. He is cheerful, generous, and loyal. In just a few days, he has already become a brother to everyone. Chen Yan and Wen Mu are also quite good-looking, but under the brilliance of Gao Chenxing, this "tall, rich, and handsome" guy, all their highlights are overshadowed.

Despite living in the same dormitory, the three had a good relationship. Compared to Chen Yan, who was sixteen, and Wen Mu, who was eighteen, Gao Chenxing, who was nineteen, was the oldest of the three. So he always called himself "brother," and Wen Mu would also call him "Brother Chen."

Not long after the start of the semester, Gao Chenxing was already receiving several dating calls every day, so he often didn't stay in the dormitory at night.

Chen Yan and Wen Mu were like two silent, taciturn people. Apart from mandatory group activities, they almost never went out to play. After class, Chen Yan would spend her time in the library, while Wen Mu would stay alone in the dormitory. Sometimes, when he got bored, he would come to find Chen Yan, and the two of them would bury themselves in books together.

Gao Chenxing couldn't understand these two 'unconventional' people at all, and often lectured them with exasperation, saying, "I'm telling you, you're both in college now, why are you still studying hard and striving for excellence every day? What's the point of staying indoors? How about you come out with me tomorrow? There's a party to attend, I'll show you some beautiful girls and help you relax."

"We don't have your charm, attracting the attention of beautiful women wherever we go," Wen Mu replied with a smile, glancing at Chen Yan, who was still looking at something and seemed not to have listened at all.

Gao Chenxing also looked at Chen Yan. Although Chen Yan was always silent, when he did something, he had an aura that made people afraid to disturb him. Gao Chenxing pursed his lips and could only say to Wen Mu, "Ayan is still young and it's understandable that he doesn't have this need. But you're eighteen years old now, so don't always act so innocent. This kind of thing isn't popular anymore. Why don't you come with me tomorrow?"

"No need, Brother Chen. I think this is fine. I probably wouldn't know what to say when we get there anyway," Wen Mu said with a smile, declining the offer.

Three months later, Gao Chenxing moved out of the dormitory because he had a girlfriend and wanted to live with her for a while. Before leaving, he patted Chen Yan and the others on the shoulder and joked with a smile, "I'm leaving now, so it'll just be the two of you in the dormitory. Remember to take care of each other and love each other."

Chen Yan remained silent, while Wen Mu seemed somewhat embarrassed.

After Gao Chenxing left, only Chen Yan and Wen Mu remained in the dormitory. "Alright, it's just the two of us now," Wen Mu said to Chen Yan. Chen Yan just nodded and went back to her seat to look at her things.

Wen Mu felt a little embarrassed. Actually, the two of them didn't talk much. Most of the time, it was Gao Chenxing who brought the three of them together to chat and laugh. When the two of them were together, they rarely talked.

Chen Yan was intently looking at her computer at the table when Wen Mu leaned over and casually asked, "I always see you looking at things. What are you looking at?"

"It's nothing." Chen Yan's voice was somewhat indifferent. "Just looking at some documents. Sorry, I don't want to be disturbed when I'm looking at things."

Wen Mu's face froze instantly. After a long pause, he managed to say, "I'm sorry to have bothered you," before silently returning to his seat.

In the days that followed, Chen Yan and Wen Mu spoke noticeably less. Wen Mu was somewhat hesitant to talk to Chen Yan, and even when he did, he would fall silent after a few words.

Gradually, Wen Mu came to realize that although Chen Yan didn't talk much before, he was still easy to get along with. But now he was very indifferent. Perhaps this was the real Chen Yan. He had been pretending before. Now that Gao Chenxing was gone, he was too lazy to pretend anymore. When Chen Yan wanted to talk to Wen Mu, he would continue the conversation. When he didn't want to talk to him, he would simply stop talking and not even bother to respond.

When Gao Chenxing was around, the three of them often ate together. Now that it's just the two of them, eating together is practically impossible. Sometimes, Chen Yan is so busy that she forgets to eat. Although Wen Mu doesn't know what she's busy with, he always brings some food when he comes back from outside. "Since we're in the same dorm, how can I let you go hungry?" Wen Mu would say with a smile after putting the food on Chen Yan's table.

Chen Yan seems to be getting busier and busier. Apart from classes, you can hardly see him. He also comes back very late at night. Wen Mu couldn't help but ask him where he went. Chen Yan just gave a perfunctory answer that he was reading in the library. Wen Mu didn't believe him because he had been to the library and there was no Chen Yan there.

However, Wen Mu didn't ask any more questions, but simply advised, "Although studying is important, you should also pay more attention to rest and not ruin your health."

Wen Mu developed a habit at some point: he couldn't help but look at Chen Yan, whether in class or in the dormitory. Chen Yan, who was studying diligently, could deeply attract his attention, and he couldn't take his eyes off her. However, Chen Yan never noticed this at all.

One night, Chen Yan returned to the dormitory late at night, and Wen Mu finally couldn't help but question him: "What have you been doing so late? Don't tell me you were reading in the library. There's no one there, and the library is already closed."

However, Chen Yan looked different that day, as if she was tired. When Wen Mu asked her that, she said irritably, "It's none of your business." After saying that, she ignored Wen Mu and went straight to bed.

Wen Mu stood there for a long time, his face turning red. Although Chen Yan was indifferent, she had never spoken in such a tone before. Wen Mu couldn't sleep all night.

The next day, Wen Mu followed Chen Yan. Chen Yan was normal during the day, but at night, he went to a taekwondo gym. Wen Mu was a little surprised. Chen Yan's impression of him was that, apart from being a bit aloof, he was definitely not someone who would fight. Because Chen Yan was young and quite 'thin', and his face was also very deceptive, people who didn't know Chen Yan would definitely think of him as a shy little brother.

Wen Mu stood outside the practice hall, secretly watching. Chen Yan was sparring with someone, completely unlike his usual self. Wen Mu simply couldn't believe that Chen Yan's slightly thin body could have such explosive power. Every move was precise and ruthless. Sweat was already on his delicate face, but he was still practicing very seriously, without reducing his strength at all. His whole person exuded a sharp aura.

Wen Mu stood at the door for a long time before leaving. On the way back, Wen Mu was puzzled, his mind a mess. The introverted Chen Yan, the indifferent Chen Yan, the serious Chen Yan, the ruthless Chen Yan, which one was he?

When Chen Yan returned to the dormitory, the lights were off, and Chen Yan assumed that everyone was asleep. However, when the lights were turned on, he saw Wen Mu sitting in his seat.

"Why aren't the lights on?" Chen Yan's expression didn't change much; she just asked casually as she walked to her desk to pour herself a glass of water.

"Are you learning Taekwondo?"

Chen Yan paused in her cup-holding hand, then immediately resumed her normal posture. "I also learned Sanda and Judo," Chen Yan replied casually. After finishing her water, she asked, "Is there anything else you want to know? Don't waste your time following me. It's not like I won't tell you."

Wen Mu looked a little awkward. "Why are you learning these things?"

"If you want to learn, then learn. It's not normal for boys to learn some kung fu."

"But……"

"But what?"

"No, nothing. I was worried something was wrong since you never come home at night." Wen Mu was at a loss for words.

"I'm going to sleep now, I'm tired." After finishing her water, Chen Yan went straight to bed to rest.

...