Eric Dawson's heart skipped a beat. Following Brian Carter's gaze, he saw that outside the main entrance of the Martial Arts Club venue were nine steps, and atop them stood a young girl dressed in a red and white Hanfu. Her face was barely the size of a palm, her features delicate, instantly giving the impression of "elegant and lively"—she truly had the air of a girl from the water towns of Jiangnan. It was none other than the Grace Bennett he had been thinking about day and night.

Yes, her mother is from Jiangnan... Eric Dawson stared at her for a few moments in a daze. This was the first time he had seen Grace Bennett in Hanfu, and she was absolutely stunning.

"Why is she greeting guests for the Martial Arts Club?" Snapping out of it, Eric Dawson asked in confusion.

She was a freshman just like him, and today was only the orientation!

Brian Carter chuckled, "Isn't it obvious? If I were a senior in the Martial Arts Club and saw a junior sister of this caliber sign up, I'd definitely reach out in advance, communicate more—if I can't win her over as a girlfriend, at least she could be the club's poster girl! Unlike you, a rough guy—what use are you?"

"Says the pot to the kettle..." Eric Dawson shot back.

"Hey, I'm really not the same. I'm a bona fide amateur fifth-rank expert, the future pillar of the Martial Arts Club..." At this point, Brian Carter paused, "Normally, they should have contacted me in advance too. An amateur fifth-rank isn't exactly a dime a dozen in Songda's Martial Arts Club. Could it be that the freshmen this year are just that good? Besides the legendary Ethan Dawson, are there a bunch of amateur third- and fourth-ranks?"

As Brian Carter rambled on, Eric Dawson quietly watched Grace Bennett. She stood at the edge of the steps, drawing everyone's attention, like a star under the spotlight—so vivid, so outstanding, so dazzling that she made others feel inferior by comparison.

"Enough, let's get to the point. Orange, your chance is here!" Brian Carter finished his monologue.

Eric Dawson turned to him in confusion. "What chance?"

"A chance to strike up a conversation! A chance to make a move!" Brian Carter said, exasperated.

"Strike up a conversation?" Eric Dawson looked at Grace Bennett in the distance, stammering, "Me?"

He had never done anything like that before. Just thinking about it made him shrink back a little. Besides, would it even work?

Brian Carter clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Sure, success in striking up a conversation depends mostly on looks and charm, but if you don't even dare to try, you'll never have a chance. And girls usually look down on men who are timid and cowardly. You say you like her? What kind of liking is it if you don't even have the courage to talk to her? Besides, I've analyzed it—you've got a great shot. She might not even think you're hitting on her."

"Why?" Eric Dawson was immediately interested.

"Are you so lovestruck you've gone dumb? You two are from the same hometown and the same school! That's a great connection! Away from home, far from familiar faces, hometown classmates are the best candidates for getting together." Brian Carter said with flourish, "Think about it—a girl, far from home, studying thousands of miles away, surrounded by strangers, must be feeling the most insecure. She'll naturally gravitate toward anyone even slightly familiar. As the saying goes, 'When people from the same hometown meet, their eyes fill with tears.' Plus, you two were even in the same school and grade before, so there's so much you can talk about, and the sense of closeness is different."

"If you pretend to run into her by chance and recognize her, there's a ninety percent chance you can get her QQ number or phone number. Hmm, don't go too deep the first time, or you'll make her wary. Just getting her QQ number is enough."

Eric Dawson listened carefully, his heart pounding faster and faster, feeling a strong urge to give it a try. The love guru really seemed to make sense.

He thought it over, but then hesitated again. "But, but I'm just average height, average looks, average everything—how could I be good enough for her? I don't even know if I could ever give her the life she deserves. Maybe... maybe I shouldn't..."

That's what it means to feel inferior.

Brian Carter was dumbfounded, his mouth half open for a long time before he finally said:

"Orange, are you overthinking this? You don't even know each other yet, and you're already worrying about married life? That's some imagination you've got..."

Before Eric Dawson could dwell on it, he continued to egg him on: "Orange, if you want to put it nicely, that's called being responsible and self-aware. If you want to put it bluntly, it's just being timid, cowardly, and lacking confidence. We're only freshmen, at a top university, in a decent major. If you work hard and study diligently for four years, are you really worried you won't find a good job after graduation? You don't even have that much confidence? Or do you just not want to try? If you like her, then improve yourself for her, push yourself for her, squeeze out your potential for her—that's real responsibility. Otherwise, you're just moved by your own feelings. The key is to take things seriously!"

Eric Dawson stared at Brian Carter in astonishment, not expecting this guy to actually say something so reasonable.

Brian Carter suddenly changed his tone, waving his fist: "Besides, nothing's even started yet. Whether you can win her over is still up in the air—honestly, your chances aren't great... uh... Just go, Orange. Don't leave any regrets. At least you tried and gave it your all. There's no such thing as failure in youth. A young man's ambitions know no sorrow!"

Riled up by Brian Carter, Eric Dawson, full of youthful vigor, pushed aside all his hesitation and worries, nodded firmly, and said:

"I'll give it a try!"

"Yeah, there's no such thing as failure in youth!"