A higher-dimensional incarnation, starting by leveraging the stars.

Chapter 33 Why is someone so ordinary yet so confident?

The food street outside the west gate of Jiangcheng University is always filled with the atmosphere of lively food and youth.

The glass door of the "Turning Back" home-style restaurant was pushed open, and the wind chimes hanging on the door frame tinkled.

When Hu Biao walked in, the two girls in the booth by the window looked up at the same time, and then froze.

Lin Wanqing's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, the amber tea swirling gently in the cup. Her roommate Su Xiaoran, who was sitting next to her and had been looking down at her phone, slowly opened her eyes wide.

Hu Biao wore a simple white shirt and gray casual pants, the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearms. The aloofness he exuded during military training a month ago had vanished, replaced by a... more prominent aura.

His features remained the same: thick eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and a clearly defined jawline.

But his eyes were different. The indifferent, melancholic feeling that seemed to see through everything yet have lost interest in everything was gone. His demeanor had become calm with slightly upturned eyes. What was most striking was that when he walked this way, his steps were unhurried. There were no exaggerated movements, yet it inexplicably reminded people of those seemingly serious characters in movies, novels, and comics who were actually quite cunning underneath.

"A refined scoundrel."

These four words popped into Lin Wanqing's and Su Xiaoran's minds almost simultaneously.

Then the two looked at each other and burst out laughing at the same time.

Hu Biao walked to the table, raising an eyebrow: "What are you laughing at?"

"N-nothing." Lin Wanqing tried to purse her lips, but her eyes curved into crescents. "It's just... after not seeing you for a few days, I feel... you seem a little different."

Su Xiaoran laughed as she looked Hu Biao up and down: "Yeah, you weren't like this when Wanqing bought you a phone last time."

"What was I like before?" Hu Biao naturally pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing for the waiter to bring an extra set of chopsticks and a bowl.

"Hmm, how should I put it..." Su Xiaoran thought for a moment and found a relatively mild word, "a melancholic egomaniac."

Hu Biao twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a self-deprecating smile: "And now?"

"Now—" Su Xiaoran drawled, exchanging a glance with Lin Wanqing, and said in unison, "A refined scoundrel!"

Hu Biao: "..."

He actually knew where the problem lay.

The first chapter of "The Guide to Optimizing the Basic Consciousness Structure" is titled "Consciousness Convergence and External Manifestation." According to the guide, when an individual's mental strength becomes powerful enough but lacks effective control, it will unconsciously overflow, affecting the perception of those around them. His previous "dejected" demeanor was, frankly, the negative field unconsciously emitted after his mental trauma.

Not long ago, he tried to bring his overflowing spiritual energy back to the core of his consciousness, following the method in the guide.

He succeeded, but he only succeeded in the first step.

It's like someone suddenly learning to control their facial muscles, but still not knowing what expression to make.

He's currently in this awkward transition period. He's calmed down, but he's done it too deliberately. His original arrogant attitude is still there, but it's been forcibly suppressed into his current state.

As a result, when he first saw himself in the mirror, he was so shocked that he wanted to punch himself!

It's just that he has a good mindset right now, he's arrogant and doesn't care much about his image, otherwise he would have refused to attend this gathering today.

"Alright, a refined scoundrel it is." Hu Biao smiled, picked up the menu, and said, "Have you ordered? It's on me."

"I've ordered a few signature dishes. See if you want to add anything else." Lin Wanqing pushed the menu over, her gaze still lingering on Hu Biao's face.

She had to admit that although this guy didn't look like a good person at all, he was indeed... somewhat attractive, especially with Hu Biao's already handsome face and his well-proportioned and upright figure after practicing martial arts, there was a strange attraction to him...

Tsk tsk tsk

Ignoring their thoughts, Hu Biao quickly glanced at the menu and added a dish of boiled fish and two bottles of chilled soy milk.

After the waiter left, he turned to Lin Wanqing and asked, "So, what did you want to see me about?"

"What, can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?!" Su Xiaoran asked with a look of amusement.

"Why are you bothering me for no reason?!" Hu Biao said matter-of-factly. "You need to study hard when you get to university. I'm not studying design, so I can't help her."

"Well!"

Looking at Hu Biao's matter-of-fact expression, Su Xiaoran, who was usually quick-witted, was actually a little speechless.

Lin Wanqing blushed slightly, gently kicked Su Xiaoran, and then said, "There's something I'd like to hear your opinion on."

She paused, organizing her thoughts: "Do you know a third-year student in the design school named Fang Wenyuan?"

Hu Biao nodded. Sun Hao had mentioned him; he was a design genius in his junior year.

"I've heard of it. How did you hear that? Aren't you from the design institute?" Su Xiaoran's eyes lit up, and she asked with a gossipy look, "Tell me honestly, have you been secretly keeping an eye on Qingqing? I never would have guessed you were this kind of person!"

"I'm not secretly following her, I'm openly following her. Her parents told me to take good care of her, so of course I'll follow her."

Su Xiaoran was speechless again. How could they say that with such righteous indignation?

Hu Biao glanced at her before turning to Lin Wanqing and asking, "What's wrong? Did he harass you? I'll think of a way to kick him out of school."

"puff!"

Su Xiaoran, who was drinking tea on the side and feeling annoyed, almost spat out her water and was about to retort.

How can someone so wicked be so confident?

You even kicked them out of school? Do you have the power to do that?

He's a genius at the design institute, a treasure in his mentor's eyes. Who do you think you are, kicking him out of school so easily?

Do you have this ability?

"Alright, alright!" Seeing that Su Xiaoran was about to argue, Lin Wanqing quickly smoothed things over. Today, she came to listen to Hu Biao's opinion, not to quarrel. Strangely enough, she didn't quite understand why she came to ask Hu Biao for his opinion.

"He didn't harass me." Lin Wanqing shook her head. "He came to me today and said he saw the sketch I submitted when I enrolled and thought I had a lot of potential. He wants to invite me to join his team to participate in this year's National College Student Design Competition."

Su Xiaoran added from the side, "Fang Wenyuan is quite famous; he won the silver medal in the national competition in his sophomore year. Their team is currently lacking a member who is good at hand-drawing and color matching, and Wan Qing happens to be strong in both."

Hu Biao picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and glanced at Lin Wanqing.

"So?" he asked, "You want to go?"

"I'm a little hesitant," Lin Wanqing nodded. "The opportunity is indeed very good. It's rare for a freshman to be able to learn from the winning team."

"You know you're a freshman, huh?" Hu Biao laughed. "It's been less than a month since the semester started. Have you even grasped your major courses? How many textbooks have you read? Have you gotten first place in any exams? Forget exams, have you even gotten first place on any assignments?" Hu Biao looked at her, his eyes filled with mockery. "Strong? If you were that strong, a student organization wouldn't be inviting you. You're so ordinary, why are you so confident? Do you think everyone is a genius like me?!"

"Pfft!!" This time, Su Xiaoran couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of water.