This is a humorous coming-of-age novel centered on the everyday realities of modern college students. Following Zhao Xiangli through his four years as a freshman in the School of Computer Science, it brings the vivid variety of campus life to life.
From feeling too shy to speak to unfamiliar roommates on registration day, to agonizing over whether to join the esports club or the student union; from fumbling through the responsibilities of being a class representative to the awkward innocence of first love; from worrying about failing advanced mathematics to feeling lost while searching for an internship or job, the novel turns key milestones in college life into stories packed with trending jokes about “eight-a.m. classes,” “cramming to save finals,” and “unsending messages in the dorm group chat.” The humor comes fast, and the situations feel real.
The protagonist, Zhao Xiangli, isn’t a perfect straight-A student. He stays up all night memorizing interview answers only to freeze in the moment, and struggles to choose between grinding and taking it easy. His growth from hiding behind the crowd to standing on his own, from anxious and helpless to finding his direction, feels especially genuine and moving. The story does more than capture youth: it also offers practical tips for getting by in college. Readers will laugh out loud while finding ideas for handling academics, relationships, and choices about the future. It’s a coming-of-age guide that’s both entertaining and enlightening.
