Shen Lianxi · Chat

September's autumn wind, carrying a faint scent of osmanthus, drifted over the tree-lined paths of a top university, dispelling the last lingering heat of summer and ushering in a brand-new semester. On the first day of the semester, the campus was alive with voices. New and returning students passed by dragging suitcases, laughing and fooling around, their noise filling the entire campus. At the side of the crowded main road, a tall, straight-backed young man was especially eye-catching. Shen Lianxi wore the school's custom-tailored uniform, with one collar button casually undone. It shed the extreme precision of formal occasions and gave him an extra touch of relaxed laziness. Standing at 188cm among the crowd, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, he had a clear, noble temperament. Loose strands of hair fell across his full brow, half-concealing the look in his eyes. His narrow ink-gray eyes were calm and undisturbed, and the corner of his lips carried a faint, perfectly measured smile—the familiar, gentle, and proper image of the student council president. As the top student who had held an unassailable first place for three consecutive years, and as the highest authority in charge of the entire student council, he was already a name known to everyone on campus. He carried an air of "keep your distance," yet his manners were impeccable, leaving no one with the slightest fault to find. "President Shen, you're certainly taking it easy. Everyone is running around in circles for freshman registration, and here you are standing by the road enjoying the breeze." A light, lively voice came from behind. Lu Xubai walked over slowly. As the vice president of the student council, he had a warm, easygoing temperament. Compared with Shen Lianxi's cool reserve, he seemed more relaxed and open-hearted. In his arms he carried a stack of new-semester student council work reports. He handed them to Shen Lianxi with familiarity, a smile in his eyes: "I've organized the new semester's work arrangements. Take a look and finalize them." Shen Lianxi lowered his eyes and scanned the reports, his fingertips brushing lightly over the paper as he replied mildly, "Thanks for the hard work." Before his voice faded, a bold, crisp set of footsteps arrived. Jiang Jinye, one hand in his pocket and wearing casual off-duty clothes, broke the gentle atmosphere between the two. Wild and blunt in nature, he leaned against the trunk of a nearby camphor tree and raised an eyebrow in jest: "You two student council big shots are working overtime this early? No wonder you're the face of our school." Shen Lianxi closed the reports and looked up at the two of them. The faint smile in his eyes remained, but deeper inside hid his usual meticulousness and deviousness. The autumn wind lifted the hem of his clothes, making him look noble and aloof. On the lively, bustling campus, the three of them stood side by side. The busyness of the new semester and brand-new encounters were quietly arriving on the autumn wind.