「Afternoon.」

The sun-drenched road surfaces were a no-go zone for pedestrians. Most people hid in their dorms, not daring to venture out, making the campus appear unusually deserted.

Seniors who had completed their thesis defenses dragged their suitcases under the shade of trees. The rumbling of their spinner wheels grating against the ground echoed through the empty campus, breaking the afternoon stillness.

Someone had hung banners between trees and on dormitory buildings, bearing prankish messages—

Warmest congratulations to Dorm 313, for not a single occupant finding a partner during their four college years;

Celebrating Senior Liu Xuejing's four years of singlehood;

Farewell Senior Yuan Ping, I'll take care of your wife;

Seniors, strive hard, and when you make your fortune, I'll come and find you;

…

Everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

But looking at these people dragging their suitcases and leaving campus now, most were silent. Some were giggling, but whenever they occasionally glanced back, their eyes were filled with longing.

Baozi had listened to Brother Nan and set up her stall on an essential path near one of the school gates.

She found a spot under a tree with dense shade, sat on a small folding stool, held a cup of iced milk tea, and quietly watched as the seniors walked in from her right and departed to her left. When they passed by her, they would lower their heads for a quick glance.

Zhou Li and Brother Nan stood beside her.

Baozi knew these two were there to watch her make a fool of herself, but she didn't expose them or mind. After all, if they hadn't come, she wouldn't be drinking milk tea.

A cup of milk tea costing over ten yuan was a whole day's earnings for her. She couldn't bear to buy it herself.

A breeze rustled the leaves.

A few more pine needles fell onto the little stall, landing on the postcards.

Little Cousin stared at the pine needles, quietly took a deep breath, and her round face puffed up.

"PUFF~~"

She blew out a breath.

The pine needles barely moved.

Baozi put the milk tea straw back in her mouth.

She stared silently, clenched her little fists, and made a secret resolve: once enough needles accumulated, she would get up and pick them all up!

"Sigh…"

A sigh sounded from above her.

Brother Nan couldn't be bothered to scold her anymore. He just turned to Zhou Li and said, "I have some good news for you."

"Did the club application get approved?"

"…"

"Sorry." Zhou Li immediately pursed his lips, then asked, "What good news?"

"…You already guessed it, right?"

"I can pretend I don't know."

"Then guess."

"…" Zhou Li thought hard. "I can't guess."

"EWW~~" Brother Nan made a face of mock disgust, quickly rubbing his arms where non-existent goosebumps had supposedly appeared. "So pretentious! I can't stand it!"

"Is that so…"

"Anyway, our Probability Society is now officially established!" Brother Nan lifted his milk tea above his head. "Confetti! Confetti!"

"That's worth celebrating," Zhou Li managed a smile.

"Currently, the Probability Society is just the two of us and one other: Huai Xu, an external student who isn't registered in the system. However, our dorm mates have already agreed to join our club at next year's recruitment. With our looks, if we just sit there, wouldn't the new juniors eagerly join?" Brother Nan glanced at the motionless Baozi. "Baozi, you agree, right?"

"Yeah."

Baozi's nod was barely discernible.

Zhou Li, curious, asked, "Don't you guys have your own clubs? What about your original ones?"

Another gust of wind blew past.

This time, a few more pine needles fell.

So Baozi didn't answer. She just got up and brushed all the pine needles off. Simultaneously, she tugged at the edge of her stall cloth to shift it slightly and moved herself to the side as well. The sun was slanting westward, causing the pine tree's shadow to creep along. To avoid the sun, she had to keep adjusting her position every so often, which was quite tiring.

"That's not important," Brother Nan said.

"Okay."

"I'm planning to celebrate properly!" Brother Nan felt this was quite significant. Especially since the Probability Society, for now, consisted only of him and Zhou Li. Just thinking about it felt so wonderfully dramatic!

"How should we celebrate?"

"Of course, by having a big feast!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Baozi quietly perked up her ears, her breathing even softening.

"The campus is locked down, though," Zhou Li reminded him.

"You're right." Brother Nan was also stumped. "What should we eat then…"

"Let's get it from outside! Huai Xu can help!" Brother Nan suggested. He glanced at Baozi again; she was still sitting motionless with her head lowered, as if she hadn't heard a thing. He continued, "His school seems a bit more relaxed. He can sneak out, get everything ready, and then we'll go pick it up. We'll make it a lavish spread and find a pavilion with tables and chairs. It might even have a certain charm!"

"Sounds good." Zhou Li nodded. "What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm…" Brother Nan thought seriously, then took a step closer to Zhou Li with his milk tea, nudging him with his elbow. "Hehe, I'm craving hot pot~~ Is that too much trouble?"

"I'll ask him."

"Count me in."

Little Cousin's voice finally piped up.

But perhaps feeling that just saying "Count me in" was a bit lacking, she thought for a moment and added, "I'm also a prospective member of the club. I can do the dishes."

"No problem! And let's call those other two as well!" Brother Nan said generously. "What would you like to eat?"

"Handmade beef balls, shrimp paste, lettuce, and fatty beef," Baozi's voice grew increasingly faint, afraid her requests were too many and would be rejected.

"No problem!"

"Really?"

"Really."

"Mm."

Baozi began to think seriously. The food would probably be handled entirely by her cousin, Brother Nan, and Huai Xu, none of whom were short on money. In that case, she, Mianmian, and Qian Qian could discuss pooling their money for drinks. They could buy a large bottle of Sprite and a large bottle of Yibao water, prioritizing saving money. However, Brother Nan would want to drink alcohol…

Baozi raised her head and looked to her right, focusing on a senior walking slowly towards them. After much hesitation and multiple mental rehearsals, she finally opened her mouth, "Buy… postcards… souvenirs…"

The senior merely glanced at her and didn't stop.

Baozi silently lowered her head.

Right! she suddenly realized. Why do Brother Nan and Zhou Li seem to never run out of money, while I'm always this poor? Why…

She became withdrawn for a moment.

「The dorm.」

Liu Zhengming had gone out to get food.

While Zhou Li was having a counseling session with Chang Xiaoxiang, he told Huai Xu about the "club's first dinner gathering." Tuanzi sat primly to his left, watching him type, pretending she understood it all.

A creaking noise came from the top bunk.

Huai Xu rolled over to the edge of the bed, leaned out, and looked down at Zhou Li. "Cool! Just give me a list of the menu and everything you need. I'll go to Mountain City and get it all for you. I'll cover all the costs… and no need for the one-yuan-per-kilometer delivery fee either, since I'm also the vice-president of the club!"

After a pause, he added, "As for that alcohol stove you mentioned, the restaurant serving pickled cabbage and pig's feet outside has them. I reckon they won't be opening this month, so we can just borrow theirs."

Zhou Li nodded. "No rush."

The priority now was Chang Xiaoxiang's emotional well-being.

Due to a six-month long-distance relationship, Chang Xiaoxiang's girlfriend from the previous semester had broken up with him, and Zhou Li needed to console him.

Lord Dumpling, however, was utterly confused. She hastily tapped Zhou Li's hand with her paw, eager and curious. "Zhou Li, what are you talking about? What club? What 'nine jin'?"

Zhou Li picked her up and placed her on his lap, continuing to type as he explained, "A club, as the name implies, is a group dedicated to playing with Lord Dumpling. Lord Dumpling will be our club mascot. We'll play with Lord Dumpling, and Lord Dumpling will bless us with good fortune. The 'nine jin' refers to Lord Dumpling being quite heavy now, a full nine jin. She often lies on me at night, making it hard for me to breathe."

Lord Dumpling nodded vaguely. "Oh, so that's how it is… Then Lord Dumpling will be the mascot!"

"Has Lord Dumpling ever been a mascot before?"

"I have!" Lord Dumpling replied without hesitation, then stared unblinkingly at Zhou Li.

"Then that's my oversight." Zhou Li patted Lord Dumpling's forehead. "Thinking about it, Lord Dumpling is so amazing, what haven't you done? What can't you do, right?"

"That's right!!"

"But it's been a long time since Lord Dumpling was a mascot. You might be a bit rusty, right?"

"Right, right!" Lord Dumpling was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly and seizing the opening. "Lord Dumpling hasn't done it for a long time, so I'm a bit… a bit…"

"Rusty," Zhou Li supplied.

"Roasty!" Lord Dumpling repeated.

"So, how about we help Lord Dumpling get reacquainted with the role tomorrow?"

"Okay~~"

"Then it's settled."

Zhou Li planned to take Tuanzi to Baozi's stall the next day. He hoped Tuanzi's charm could help her attract some business—Baozi had only sold two postcards that afternoon, and he couldn't bear to see her struggling.

It would also give Tuanzi a chance to go out.

Two birds with one stone.

Once Tuanzi became familiar with the 'job,' during the new student recruitment next semester, he would place the already infinitely charming and newly business-savvy Tuanzi on the table. Letting her wave her little paws would surely add significant allure to Brother Nan's club.

Three birds with one stone.

Zhou Li played with Tuanzi's little paws, a smile curling up at the corners of his mouth.

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