After getting off the plane and following the “Kassel College Admission Guide” preserved in the sealed bag, Lu Mingfei smoothly arrived at Chicago Train Station.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Lu Mingfei, carrying his newly bought black travel bag, glanced at the train ticket in his hand.
He had gone directly from Lijing Hotel to the airport, and besides the N96 that came with the Kassel College reply, he had nothing else to take.
For this, he specifically asked Chen Motong, who said the college would arrange everything, and if not, the Student Union could help.
Lu Mingfei then felt at ease and bought a travel bag near the airport to make himself feel less empty-handed.
But his bag was indeed empty.
He only bought a sense of security.
He looked up and surveyed his surroundings; the dome of Chicago Train Station was as magnificent as a cathedral he had seen in movies.
His gaze fell upon the train schedule, but he found that the train he was supposed to take wasn't listed at all.
CC1000 Express.
Lu Mingfei composed himself; it wasn't hard to understand. If, as Chen Motong said, Kassel College only admitted students who were different from normal people, then this train being special was acceptable.
However, since he was an S-level, the highest rating at Kassel College, surely someone would come to pick him up?
Probably?
Two hours later.
Lu Mingfei sat on a train station bench, not bored yet, as he still had his phone to surf the internet.
Could they have forgotten about him?
When he was at Shilan, he was always the most unnoticeable one. Now, if Kassel College forgot to send a car to pick him up, he wouldn't be unable to accept it.
As soon as the disheartening thought appeared, someone suddenly spoke from behind him.
“One dollar, just one dollar…”
Typical begging words, similar in spirit to the lotus-rhymes sung by beggars in China.
“Sorry, Only bank cards.” Lu Mingfei shook his head, willing but unable.
He touched the spot in his backpack where his bank card was kept, realizing he truly owned this card now.
“Chinese?” The other party seemed to have noticed Lu Mingfei’s accent and immediately switched to fluent Chinese:
“Sir, could you spare some money for a cola? I’m really not a beggar, I just lost my wallet while traveling.”
Lu Mingfei became vigilant. Such fluent language switching suggested a professional beggar.
He feared that as soon as he took out his bank card, the other party would immediately snatch it.
He turned around silently, scrutinizing the other person.
A tall and burly young man, his face, buried in a full beard, could be considered handsome. His eyes, bright like candlelight, were filled with longing. His dark green plaid shirt and baggy bell-bottoms looked like they hadn't been washed or changed in a long time.
What professional clothes, very good at eliciting sympathy.
Lu Mingfei quickly found a reason for the other party's outfit.
Lu Mingfei didn't believe that someone who could eat so well would need to beg.
He immediately hugged the backpack in his arms tighter.
“Brother, I’m not a beggar, I’m a college student.” To prove his identity, the other party hastily pulled out a dictionary-sized textbook from his shoulder bag.
With curled edges and a yellowed cover, the book title was written in a mix of English and Latin, and a stylish line of letters spelled out... presumably the other person's name.
“Fingel von Frings,” the other party explained thoughtfully.
“Where’s your student ID?” Lu Mingfei still didn't dare to easily show his bank card, as he had only just started using the money in it less than a week ago.
The other party’s body stiffened instantly.
Lu Mingfei was overjoyed, he had guessed right after all.
The other party said with a mournful face, “Brother, I really am a college student! I’m just waiting here for the train to school.”
“What train number?” Lu Mingfei was certain of the other party’s identity as a professional beggar, and he was keen to expose him, otherwise, just scrolling on his phone was quite boring.
“Let me see if it’s going to the University of Chicago.”
An awkward expression appeared on the other party’s face. “Brother, my train isn’t on the schedule.”
Not on the schedule?
Lu Mingfei's heart stirred, and he asked somewhat suspiciously, “CC1000 Express?”
Both parties pulled out an identical magnetic card ticket from their pockets; on the dark ticket surface was a pattern of a giant tree with lush branches drawn in silver.
“…”
Are people from Kassel College considered college students too? Lu Mingfei thought.
“Kin! Junior, I’m the head of the college’s News Department!”
Fingel grabbed Lu Mingfei’s hand. He stated his most famous position in the college to give the other party a general impression.
But to his surprise, the other person looked bewildered.
“How do you know I’m a junior?” Lu Mingfei grasped the key question; he hadn't introduced himself as a new student yet.
Unexpectedly, the other party raised his head and said proudly, “I’m the only eighth-year student in our college, so of course, I’m your senior.”
“Eighth-year? Isn’t Kassel College a four-year undergraduate program?” Lu Mingfei asked.
“It is a four-year program, but I, your senior, was held back until the eighth year.”
What are you proud of then, senior? Lu Mingfei was speechless and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
He felt that this senior was in some aspects no less than himself.
The two ordered fast food at Burger King and sat inside, waiting for the express train to arrive.
“Lu Mingfei? Junior, your name sounds great!” Fingel took a big bite of an Angus beef burger and gave Lu Mingfei a thumbs-up.
Lu Mingfei had always wanted to eat fast food before, whether it was KFC or McDonald's, he had never tried them.
Once inside Burger King, he was flustered and didn't know what to order.
Fingel, seeing that Lu Mingfei didn't seem to care about the cost, passionately recommended the Angus Thick Beef Burger.
“Senior, are the graduation requirements at our college very high?” With an eighth-year senior before him, Lu Mingfei was very worried about his own future and had to ask.
“It’s not difficult; if you’re serious, you can all graduate.”
“Then senior, you…” Lu Mingfei was surprised.
“I wasn’t serious,” Fingel said.
“What do you mean by not serious?”
“Didn’t accumulate GPA.”
Lu Mingfei gasped, astonished beyond words. So he deliberately stayed back to be a senior, what a plan, Fingel.
Watching another train pull away, Lu Mingfei couldn't help but ask, “Senior, have you ridden that train before?”
“Yes, of course. Otherwise, you can only take a helicopter there.”
“The campus is in the mountains; only this train can get in. Do I, your senior, look like someone who can take a helicopter?”
Lu Mingfei had to acknowledge Fingel’s self-awareness.
Fingel then added, “Don’t worry too much. The college won’t forget; it will definitely come. People of lower class definitely have to wait for the train.”
“Class?” Lu Mingfei asked, “What’s that?”
“It’s a comprehensive quality evaluation, usually based on bloodline rating. Junior, since you’re a new student, it’s definitely based on bloodline rating.”
“Then it seems S-level isn’t that high after all.” Lu Mingfei muttered to himself, recalling his two-hour wait.
“Wait, how much?”
Fingel’s eyes almost popped out, staring blankly at Lu Mingfei in front of him, his cola cup squeezed so hard that some black liquid oozed out.
“S-level, Chen Motong clearly told me it was the highest rating, but I still waited two hours for the train.”
Lu Mingfei said naturally, shrugging helplessly, and only then did he look up and see the change in Fingel’s expression.
“…Senior, did you just say the college wouldn’t forget to send the train?”
Fingel was silent for a moment. “Maybe there’s an unexpected situation this time?” He forced a smile.
“After all, the college hasn’t had an S-level in a long time.”