The classroom split into left and right sections divided by a central aisle, with six seats lining each side. Two unfamiliar students from another class occupied the aisle seats, followed by Gao Jun, Su Yuan, Ji Yehan, and Yang Xiaowei.

Su Yuan had forgotten her textbooks, so she shared with Gao Jun and Ji Yehan. This first lecture would likely stay superficial anyway.

Rumors called Physical Chemistry a critical foundation course, and the school enforced strict standards. True to form, their instructor was a female associate professor in her early thirties. She began with roll call and bluntly declared anyone missing more than three classes would automatically fail the final exam. Her efficiency was intimidating.

Su Yuan’s stomach tightened. She mentally added this course to her no absence list.

After a brief self introduction, the professor launched into a syllabus overview and immediately started the first lesson. The pace left everyone dizzy.

“This Professor Liu is not easy to deal with” Su Yuan muttered, frowning at her notebook.

Yang Xiaowei gave her a thumbs up. “Your instincts are sharp, Su Su. Last year her class had about thirty six students. Half needed make up exams, and a third had to retake the entire course”

Su Yuan stared in disbelief. “Ten students retaking. That is excessive”

“Why would I lie” Yang Xiaowei shrugged helplessly. “We drew the short straw”

University operated on strict entry, lenient exit. Once admitted, graduation felt guaranteed. Most students graduated smoothly, only a few failed to earn their degrees. While make up exams were common, full retakes rarely happened.

“Hell, this is lethal” groaned a boy in front. Dressed in a leather jacket with earrings glinting, he looked like a street tough. He shouted openly after hearing Yang Xiaowei’s warning.

Su Yuan poked his back with her pen. “Fang Kai, if you actually paid attention in class, your odds would not be so grim”

“Ugh. Do not jinx me” Fang Kai snapped, shaking a fist at her like a cornered rat. After a moment, despair washed over his face.

Su Yuan burst laughing.

By normal standards, Fang Kai belonged in the delinquent category. Yet strangely, he got along well with Su Yuan’s circle. He tolerated her teasing, something he would never allow from others.

“Hey Su Yuan, did you get plastic surgery” Fang Kai suddenly asked.

Su Yuan nearly choked on her own spit.

“The boy in the back row, focus on the lecture” Professor Liu called out.

“Is she talking about us” Yang Xiaowei whispered.

“Shh. I know” Su Yuan ducked her head, hiding from the teacher’s gaze. A bad first impression could ruin her semester. She refused to repeat her Calculus failure. Thankfully, Professor Liu only glanced their way before continuing.

Ding ding ding. The bell ended the first class. Ten minutes for break.

Su Yuan’s neck ached from craning sideways all period. She collapsed onto her desk like a boneless creature, drawing confused looks from Ji Yehan and Gao Jun.

Professor Liu resumed the next lecture with remarkable clarity. Her explanations transformed complex concepts into digestible ideas. But comprehension varied. Su Yuan scanned the room to see many classmates already scrolling through phones, having given up on understanding. She recalled doing the same last semester in Calculus.

When the final bell finally rang, Su Yuan urgently needed the restroom. Morning water and soy milk had filled her bladder.

Her next classes, Human Physiology, were in another building. During the long break, she handed her books to Gao Jun and headed for the toilets.

Hallways flooded with students carrying bags and textbooks, creating human traffic jams. At the restroom entrance, Su Yuan instinctively entered the men’s room. As a registered male, using the women’s would seem suspicious. She slipped into an empty stall without hesitation.

Female anatomy changed urination dynamics. The sound differed noticeably. Post development anatomy sometimes obstructed flow, leaving many girls damp and needing tissues to clean up.

Su Yuan remembered a joke she had read about analyzing female urination sounds. It claimed a sharp hiss like a broken faucet indicated youth, strength, and tightness. A sputtering toy water gun sound suggested slightly older but still youthful women with more experience. A loud splash belonged to middle aged women or those with extensive experience. A soft shushing sound or silence implied frailty, shyness, or virginity. And a powerful whooshing sound with dramatic force, that signaled a cross dresser.

The sky held no clouds. The sun blazed overhead.

Under a giant camphor tree’s shade, a gentle breeze offered slight relief.

“Fang Kai, is this not wrong” After afternoon computer class, Room 330 had accepted Fang Kai’s invitation to gather under the camphor tree beside the rubberized training field.

Su Yuan shot him an awkward glance. Dozens of burning glares from nearby freshmen made her squirm.

Fang Kai waved dismissively. “Life is unfair. Some suffer, some enjoy. We will savor ours, ignore them”

“Pfft” Su Yuan scoffed, unable to match his carefree confidence.

“I think Su Yuan is right” Gao Jun added. “We are gathering serious hate points”

“Nonsense” Fang Kai grinned. “We are strengthening their mental resilience. This will help them later in society”

Ji Yehan and Yang Xiaowei shook their heads. “Fang Kai, look, the freshmen girls are glaring like we are villains. This will ruin your chances with them later”

Fang Kai scowled. “Shut it. You have a girlfriend already. Why do you care”

Yang Xiaowei chuckled. “I do not care, but you might become that evil senior on campus forums”

“So what. You are all here with me”

“How can you say that shamelessly”

“Why not”

Beneath the massive camphor tree, the five friends sat cross legged around a small table sharing two ice cold watermelons. Nearby, under the scorching sun, freshmen stood rigidly at attention during military training, eyes forward, minds straining to ignore the group of seniors enjoying paradise just meters away.

Su Yuan felt guilty, as if committing an unforgivable sin. Those boys probably wanted to tear them apart.

Fang Kai spat. “Do you know how heavy these melons were to carry. Be grateful. Show some appreciation”

“It still feels cruel” Su Yuan mumbled through a mouthful of watermelon.

“Then why eat so eagerly”

She gave a sheepish grin.

Earlier that afternoon, shortly after returning to their dorm, they had received Fang Kai’s call inviting them for watermelon. Excited by the offer, they rushed over, only to freeze in shock upon arrival. This guy, how could he do something so wicked.

It was utterly despicable.

Yet eating icy watermelon while watching freshmen sweat in hellish heat stirred a mischievous thrill, strangely satisfying.

“We are building their character” Fang Kai declared. “They will thank us later”

Hearing this, Su Yuan exchanged glances with the others. They had never met anyone so shameless. Suddenly, they felt like the ones failing the test.

Forget it. Every man for himself. Su Yuan took a huge bite. “There is a class meeting tonight. Coming, Fang Kai”

“A meeting. Boring. I would rather play WoW at the internet cafe” He shook his head vigorously.

Su Yuan rolled her eyes, just as expected.

“Hey Su Yuan” Fang Kai added, “you should run for class Youth League secretary this semester”

Su Yuan paused, then shook her head.

Each new academic year brought class officer elections. Re election was allowed, but to strengthen résumés for future jobs, the department encouraged rotating positions among students.