Chapter 63: The Four Who Cut in Line Halfway

Tianhai University.

Beneath the staff dormitory building.

Zhang Tian parked the car nearby. The three of them got out and quickly spotted Zhu Ziyuan, who had just come downstairs.

“Pighead, over here!”

Seeing Zhu Ziyuan’s figure, Yao Cheng waved at him. Zhu Ziyuan naturally saw Yang Hao and the others, and walked over briskly.

“Damn, I must say, you’re living the good life! Just started your doctorate, and Professor Su helped you apply for a staff dormitory. That’s a privilege almost no one gets. Your life is practically on cheat mode.” Yao Cheng glanced up at the staff dormitory in front of him, then looked back at Zhu Ziyuan, full of envy.

The Professor Su Yao Cheng mentioned was Zhu Ziyuan’s current PhD advisor. After Zhu Ziyuan qualified for direct doctoral admission, Professor Su helped him apply for an apartment here. Though it was only a temporary residence, it was enough to make others jealous—only staff members were eligible to live here.

Hearing Yao Cheng’s words, Zhu Ziyuan smiled faintly and said to the three, “You’re all doing pretty well yourselves.”

Zhu Ziyuan was pursuing a doctorate, Zhang Tian started a business in Shanghai, and Yao Cheng joined a public institution. After graduation, each took a different path, but compared to most people, none were doing badly.

As for Yang Hao, he was simply out of their league—too discouraging to consider.

Zhang Tian glanced at Yao Cheng and deliberately said, “The most important thing you seem to have forgotten: he’s got a wife now.”

“Damn, are you discriminating against singles?”

At Zhang Tian’s words, Yao Cheng immediately exploded.

Calming down, Yao Cheng retorted coldly, “Don’t forget, you’re single too.”

“If I wanted, I could have someone in no time.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Pighead, you didn’t sneak out again this time, did you?” Interrupting Yao Cheng and Zhang Tian’s banter, Yang Hao asked the question he was concerned about.

Yang Hao’s seemingly caring question actually hid a hint of mischief.

Hearing Yang Hao, Zhu Ziyuan’s face darkened.

Seeing Zhu Ziyuan’s reaction, Yao Cheng evidently remembered what happened a few nights ago and chuckled.

Zhang Tian, too, grew curious. Though he hadn't witnessed Zhu Ziyuan being caught by Xie Qingzhu at the internet café that night, he’d heard the story from Yang Hao afterward and now was eager to gossip.

Seeing their expressions, Zhu Ziyuan knew exactly what these guys were thinking, but he couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his eye.

“The research project is wrapping up, so I’m not that busy these days. I told Professor Su beforehand I’d be out this afternoon, and I informed her as well.” He explained to them, with nothing to hide.

“So, where to next?”

The teasing stopped, and Zhu Ziyuan asked.

At this time, it was clearly not mealtime—no need for a dinner gathering. Yang Hao pondered, then said, “Let’s just stroll around the campus. It’s been ages since I’ve been here.”

Since they’d returned to their alma mater, it wouldn’t make sense not to wander around.

Yang Hao’s suggestion met no opposition.

For them, what they did wasn't important—what mattered was being together again.

So, the four wandered through the dormitories, cafeteria, and teaching buildings, touring the campus spots. Everything looked the same as before, though the people had changed.

The world remains, but the people are different.

That was Yang Hao’s feeling.

Though he hadn’t been away from the university for long, Yang Hao felt as if an eternity had passed.

“Huh, what’s going on over there? It’s so lively!”

The four walked aimlessly, suddenly noticing crowds heading in one direction. As they followed, they found themselves near the entrance of the eSports club, witnessing a bustling scene.

The large open space in front of the club was packed with people, a cacophony of noise filling the air.

Seeing this, Zhang Tian asked curiously, “What’s happening here?”

“Let’s go take a look!”

Since leaving university, Yao Cheng rarely saw such lively scenes and couldn’t help but get excited.

Without waiting for Yang Hao or Zhu Ziyuan to speak, Yao Cheng plunged straight into the crowd.

Yang Hao had no way to stop him.

Soon, Yao Cheng, who had just squeezed in, returned—this time with someone in tow.

Yang Hao and the others recognized him: one of the eSports club officers, named Xiao Yu, who’d interacted with them before.

“Hey, seniors, didn’t expect you to be here!” Xiao Yu was clearly surprised to see Yang Hao and Zhang Tian, greeting them warmly.

Faced with Xiao Yu’s enthusiasm, Yang Hao and the others responded politely.

“Senior Yang Hao, Senior Zhang Tian, and Senior Zhu Ziyuan, would you be interested in joining our campus battle royale tournament?” Before they could ask, Xiao Yu posed the question himself.

“Campus battle royale tournament?”

Yang Hao was stunned.

“Yes, this is the first campus battle royale tournament hosted by our eSports club. The final qualifier still has a few team spots open, and it starts in half an hour. Interested in joining?” Xiao Yu invited them eagerly.

“Let’s give it a shot! First prize is thirty thousand!” Yao Cheng chimed in, buzzing with excitement.

Clearly, he was drawn in by the prize money.

Yang Hao didn’t need to guess—Yao Cheng was definitely hooked by the prospect of winning the cash.

“But we’ve already graduated—can we still participate?” Zhang Tian asked, puzzled.

Xiao Yu smiled and explained, “Since this is our first time organizing such an event, we wanted to attract more participants, so we relaxed the restrictions. As long as each team has at least one current student from our university, you can register. Even if you bring in outside players—professionals, if you want—we won’t object.”

With Xiao Yu’s explanation, Yang Hao and the others understood.

Of course, they knew that for a tournament like this, hiring professional players as ringers was basically impossible.

The total prize pool wasn’t much.

The appearance fees for professional players were nowhere near that low.

“Let’s join!”

Yao Cheng, already blinded by thoughts of prize money, urged them on.

Beside him, Zhu Ziyuan, though silent, was clearly tempted.

If they managed to win, the thirty thousand split among them would be a decent share.

Though Zhu Ziyuan earned well enough through projects with Professor Su, he and Xie Qingzhu had recently met each other’s parents and he was considering marriage. A few thousand, though not a fortune, was still a meaningful income.

So Zhu Ziyuan was inclined to join.

Seeing Yao Cheng and Zhu Ziyuan’s eagerness, Yang Hao and Zhang Tian had no intention of dampening the mood.

In the end, the four decided to participate.

“Great, I’ll go inform the club president and the teacher in charge of the tournament. With you joining, the competition will be even more exciting.” With that, Xiao Yu dashed off.

Yang Hao and Zhang Tian exchanged helpless glances.

Why did it feel like they’d just cut in line out of nowhere?