Chapter 42: The Largest Freshman Cohort

Setting up the internet was simple enough, and gigabit fiber wasn't expensive. After ordering takeout, Li Yan called the service provider to schedule an installation for that same day. He paid a premium for the rush service, which was the only reason it could happen so quickly. When the technician arrived at the residential complex, the front desk called his apartment, and Li Yan gave them the go-ahead. He watched as the worker took about ten minutes to set up the computer and run a quick test before departing. By the time the internet technician arrived that afternoon, the hour-long installation process was complete, marking the end of Li Yan's tasks for the day.

Li Yan had placed his computer and laptop in the study, which functioned as his personal gaming room. Eschewing flashy decorations, he found the space simple and cozy—exactly the effect he wanted. He placed his Hasselblad X2D to one side and sat in the ergonomic chair left behind by the landlord, feeling quite satisfied with the setup. The only thing missing was a proper chair.

He acted on the thought immediately, opening JD.com to order a Herman Miller Aeron ergonomic chair for around 15,000 yuan. He clicked pay, noting the three-day delivery time—quite efficient. Li Yan was pleased. The Marshall speaker on his desk, purchased on a whim at the computer market, was reasonably priced at just a few thousand yuan. He clicked play on Tao喆's song "Quicksand."

"Oh~ yeah~ oh~"
"It's not really..."

Leaning back in his chair, Li Yan looked at the message from the Ferrari salesman; he could head to the bank tomorrow to process the loan, which would allow the order to be officially placed. This meant the arrival of his new car was now officially on a countdown. It also meant his rebate was imminent. He wasn't sure if the system would calculate it based on the full price or just the down payment, but either way, it would be more than enough for his current spending.

The apartment was rented, the computer was ready, and the Ferrari SF90 Spider was being fast-tracked. It seemed that before university even began, he had already laid the "hardware" foundation for this new chapter. Yet, as he calmed down, he realized there was still a "software" aspect to address: how to establish a firm footing at Sichuan University and how to become a figure of influence there. Of course, Sichuan University wasn't just any vocational or standard undergraduate school; it was a top-tier 985 university, and the resources available at such an institution were beyond what most people could imagine. Li Yan already had a plan.

He opened his QQ on his phone and browsed through a few freshman groups. He discovered that they were either limited to specific majors or small, mixed with students from other schools—none were super-groups that could cover the entire 2023 freshman class of Sichuan University.

He would build the largest Sichuan University Class of 2023 freshman group!

As for its purpose? Li Yan already had a rough idea.

He opened the QQ client on his computer, clicked "Create New Group," and selected "Interests—Campus Exchange." He named it: [Sichuan University Class of 2023 Freshman Group (Officially Verified)]. The name was simple yet intuitive; just looking at it gave people the impression that it was a large, formal group. Li Yan knew the tricks to making a "top-tier" QQ group: he paid for the highest level of QQ SVIP, which unlocked larger group capacity and advanced management features like pinned announcements, curated highlights, and custom invitations.

QQ groups had a leveling system based on activity. Li Yan planned to send out plenty of red packets and organize events to accelerate the group's level, ensuring a shiny badge would appear next to the group name. He also selected the "orange name" effect, giving the group an air of prestige. He drafted the first announcement: *This group is exclusively for 2023 Sichuan University freshmen. Verification is required upon entry; please provide your admission letter or a screenshot of your admission status. Outsiders and advertisers are strictly prohibited and will be blacklisted.* Such a strict barrier would ensure the group's purity and quality.

Sitting at his desk, seeing that the group profile was ready, he clicked "Create." In an instant, a freshman group capable of holding 3,000 people was born. Although he was the only member for now, this was the first step of a long journey; he would use promotion and verification to help it grow. Li Yan knew there were certainly more than 3,000 freshmen in the class of 2023, and he could create up to three such super-groups. Of course, that was a matter for later, once the first group was full.

A QQ group, no matter how good, was just an empty shell without members. To get 3,000 people in the shortest time, he had to spend money decisively. He logged into the QQ promotion platform and filled in the keywords—"Sichuan University 2023 Freshman Group," "Freshmen Only," "National Search Push"—and checked the box for paid pinning. The cost would be between 3,000 and 5,000 yuan per week, with higher bids ensuring higher rankings. When prospective Sichuan University students searched for keywords like "Sichuan University 2023" or "Sichuan University Freshmen" on QQ, Li Yan's group would appear at the very top.

Local or university-related forums were also prime traffic hubs. He contacted a forum administrator and paid 3,000 yuan to buy a two-week pinned post. The title was eye-catching: "The Only Official One! The Largest Verified Freshman Group for Sichuan University Class of 2023," with the body emphasizing "Rigorous Verification, Lots of Red Packets, Complete Information," followed by the group number and a QR code. He also searched for official Sichuan University WeChat accounts and paid for advertisements there as well; the results were expected to be quite good.

To prevent outsiders or spammers from sneaking in, Li Yan set up the following verification process:
• Applicants must fill out a questionnaire regarding their major, college, and admission number;
• Administrators would randomly request a screenshot of the admission letter or admission results for a quick comparison;
• Those who did not qualify would be kicked immediately or blacklisted.

While tedious, this ensured the group's integrity. Doing this would enhance the group's reputation—"This group is authentic and ad-free"—and more freshmen would want to join.

Of course, there were no administrators yet; Li Yan had to handle everything himself for the time being. He had originally thought of asking Wang Zhen to be an admin, but on second thought, it didn't seem quite appropriate. Li Yan planned to recruit a few people from the group once it grew, perhaps offering a small stipend for their help with the verification process.

As to why he wasn't recruiting girls? Li Yan felt that when it came to this kind of work, boys were more reliable. Besides, Li Yan needed people to support him after school started. Relying solely on girls wouldn't be enough. As for what they would be supporting him in? Li Yan already had a draft in his mind, but that was a matter for after the semester began.

School wouldn't start until early September, and it was only July. There was plenty of time, and Li Yan had sufficient time to polish his preparations. The group was built, the promotion was largely sorted, and Li Yan began drafting a guide on things for freshmen to keep in mind.