Qin Siyang walked up to the food counter and looked at the chicken, duck, fish, meat, and fresh vegetables and fruits inside. His eyes lit up.
Although it couldn't compare to the small private kitchen at his guesthouse, it still had good color, aroma, and presentation. Just looking at it made Qin Siyang's appetite surge.
Perhaps because sequence ability users didn't need to eat three regular meals a day, there weren't many people in the cafeteria.
Qin Siyang and the others went straight to a serving aunt at one of the counters.
He politely said, "Hello, Auntie, I'd like that braised beef shank…"
"Auntie, give me one two-meat-one-vegetable combo, to go."
Qin Siyang's words were suddenly cut off by a long-haired male student who appeared beside him.
The serving aunt glanced at Qin Siyang, then at the newly arrived boy, and smiled at the latter, "Alright, two meats and one vegetable, right? What dishes do you want?"
The long-haired boy yawned, "Just serve whatever you like, Auntie. I'm not picky. I'll just grab a couple of bites and head out to hunt gods."
"Wait!", Qin Siyang interrupted, his gaze turning unfriendly, "Classmate, what gives you the right to cut in line?"
"Huh? Why? Of course it's because my points are higher than yours."
Qin Siyang immediately frowned, "Your points aren't written on your face. How do you know yours are higher than mine?"
The long-haired student gave Qin Siyang a once-over, "Freshman?"
"So what if I'm a freshman? Does that automatically mean my points are low? Do you even know my points?"
The long-haired boy brushed aside his bangs, revealing his previously covered left eye, and pointed at the gray badge on Qin Siyang's chest, "At the freshman assembly, didn't you hear about the points badge?"
Seeing that this student spoke calmly and politely, not like some arrogant, ill-mannered line-cutter, Qin Siyang's anger immediately faded, "No."
"It's just one sentence, I'll tell you straight. See how my badge has turned blue? That means within a five-meter radius around me, I have the highest points. According to South Glory University's rules, I can cut the line in the cafeteria. Got it?"
Qin Siyang lowered his head and looked. Sure enough, the long-haired boy's badge had turned light blue, clearly different from the gray badge on his own chest.
He immediately understood. This was why the school required badges to be worn on campus, to make point rankings clear and resolve disputes easily.
At South Glory University, the one with higher points was honored above others. Qin Siyang could only lower his head, "So that's how it is. Thank you."
The long-haired boy smiled, "You're pretty polite. Not common among arrogant freshmen. I think highly of you, you might even surpass that Qin Siyang someday."
After saying that, the long-haired boy took his food and left.
Once he walked away, Qin Siyang's badge turned light blue.
Qin Siyang was just about to turn around and say something when a few more students appeared in front of him, "Excuse us, we're cutting in line."
Watching his badge turn gray again, Qin Siyang could only step aside.
He cast a resentful glance at Chu Baxiang and the other four, "You guys knew the badge shows point rankings. Why didn't you remind me?"
Chu Baxiang yawned, "Same as you. I fell asleep at the time."
Hu Chan looked aloof, "I was meditating. Didn't hear it either."
Gu Yunpeng said calmly, "I thought you were picking a fight on purpose, trying to establish authority."
Zhao Sifang nodded, "Yeah, Brother Qin, I thought you had some other plan! Like using that special privilege of yours!"
'Special privilege?'
Zhao Sifang's words reminded Qin Siyang of something.
His badge was light blue, which meant Chu Baxiang's points were definitely lower than his.
The privilege was already in hand.
Should he use his first privilege to set a rule that he could cut in line at the cafeteria whenever he wanted?
That would be way too absurd, as extravagant as Shi Chong showing off his wealth.
What about setting a privilege that exempted him from the point-based hierarchy altogether?
That didn't seem right either. That would be challenging South Glory University's bottom line, and the impact would be terrible.
He suddenly realized that once he had a certain level of status, he actually couldn't act as freely as before.
The privilege to define privileges had become a double-edged sword. It looked like a benefit, but sometimes it was a cage.
A bit of dark humor, really.
After being cut in line by more than ten people in a row, Qin Siyang and the other four finally managed to get their food.
By the time all five of them had their meals, quite a few students were already seated and eating in the cafeteria.
Qin Siyang and the others found an empty table and sat down.
Before they could even pick up their chopsticks, two students came over and placed their trays in front of Qin Siyang, "Classmates, please give up this table to us. You can find another place to eat."
Qin Siyang looked up, glanced at the blue badge on the man's chest, and asked, "Students with higher points can drive away people who are already eating?"
"You're freshmen?"
"Yes."
"Alright, then let me explain. You're right, this is also a school rule. Normally, we don't ask students who have already started eating to give up their tables. But for people like you who haven't picked up your chopsticks yet, we can make this request."
Qin Siyang and the others sighed and stood up, giving up the table.
"Thanks."
The two seniors sat down and chatted and laughed as they ate lunch.
Qin Siyang and the others could only find a table in the corner to eat.
None of them spoke, their expressions heavy.
Even though they were top-ranked among freshmen in points, they still couldn't compare to upperclassmen who took on high-point tasks at the university. They could only keep taking losses.
When they had just gotten their food, it was still steaming hot.
But by the time Qin Siyang took his first bite, it was only lukewarm, which only made the frustration in his stomach grow stronger.
After this experience, Qin Siyang couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder there were no students at the start. I bet everyone knows high-point students come first, so they show up later to avoid getting cut in line and ending up pissed off."
Chu Baxiang also said, "Never eaten a meal this frustrating in my life."
Hu Chan asked, "Then will you still come to the cafeteria in the future?"
Chu Baxiang said coldly, "I'll come eat here every day from now on. I won't go anywhere else until the day I don't have to give up my seat to anyone."
Zhao Sifang scratched his head, "Chu Baxiang, do you have a masochistic streak or something?"
Chu Baxiang shot him a cold glance and didn't reply.
Just as the group had started their very unpleasant lunch for less than two minutes, someone else came over, "There are no seats left in the cafeteria. Please give up this table to me."
Qin Siyang felt puzzled, 'Isn't it the usual practice that even high-point students won't disturb others while they are eating?'
But then he thought again, the school never said that higher points meant better manners. And since his badge had turned gray again, he could only stand up helplessly.
"Alright, we'll give it up…"
Just as Qin Siyang was about to yield his seat, Chu Baxiang grabbed him.
"What is it? Prince Chu doesn't want to give it up? His points are higher."
"Qin Siyang, take a look at who this person is."
Qin Siyang looked up. Hm?
The one asking them to give up the table was actually Fu Wanli, with his shifty eyes, flat nose, and buck teeth.
'He is just a nobody, what gives him the right?'
'Wait, Fu Wanli's badge is actually blue?'
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