WWFILABR 101 to 110

 Chapter 101: The True Boss Lady Certification (Seeking First Subscription!)

TL: Etude

Hi everyone, happy Valentine’s Day 🙂

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be a 单身狗 again this year.

If you’re like me, here’s a 10 chapter gift for you. Don’t feel too sad ok?

…

On a sunny, cloudless Thursday afternoon, Jiang Qin took the bus to Shengshi. Guided by a staff member, he visited the sample room and meticulously examined their trophy samples. Eventually, he chose a design featuring angel wings folded and overlapping.

Goddesses and angels are both used to describe beauty. While it’s hard to concretely depict a goddess, a pair of pristine white wings often symbolizes an angel.

Jiang Qin thought that if he were the campus belle, he would definitely like this angel wing design. It might not be the most beautiful, but it would surely catch the eye.

“Can it be made in white?”

“White? We usually make them in gold. I’ve never seen a white trophy.”

“Ask if it can be done. I’m talking about a glossy white, one that looks pure and innocent.”

The staff member went to the workshop to inquire and soon confirmed that it was possible.

Jiang Qin felt gold trophies were too common. Not only did they look cheap in hand, but the color also easily chipped off. Wings with chipped paint were no better than a plucked chicken. But white was different. Whether for a campus belle or a goddess, it inherently carried a sense of purity and sanctity, perfectly matching the theme.

Most importantly, a pure white trophy paired with a stark black base looked extraordinary and eye-catching.

As for the certificate, it was more or less standard: a red folder with an inner core, or a clear acrylic case with an inner core.

Jiang Qin chose the latter, as transparency always seemed more upscale regardless of the occasion.

The layout was simple: the Zhihu logo and the Xi Tian logo side by side, followed by the title “Campus Belle of Linchuan University” and the winner’s name.

These certificates should never explicitly state “First Place in the Campus Belle Contest” or “Second Place” and so on. Girls don’t want to concede in terms of beauty, so the top five were all labeled as Campus Belles without specific ranking. This way, the recipients would be happier, and importantly, it would be less burdensome to show to others.

“Damn, I’m so considerate, thinking of all these details. Should I be behind a dog in line?”

Jiang Qin mused to himself, then followed the staff member to another sample room to examine their badge and nameplate designs.

Although the Entrepreneurship Center’s Room 208 was gradually taking shape, efforts to strengthen team cohesion were essential. To subconsciously foster a sense of team unity, badges and nameplates were indispensable.

With these badges, a subconscious bond would form, much like the idea behind matching outfits for couples or families.

Unity breeds cohesion.

“All the badge designs are here, and the nameplates are on the right,” the staff member pointed out.

After careful consideration, Jiang Qin decided: “For the badge, I’ll take the second row, fifth design, and for the nameplate, the first row, last design.”

“Alright.”

The staff member quickly jotted down the numbers on a notebook, recording the chosen designs.

However, as Jiang Qin was about to leave the sample room, he hesitated, then stood in front of the badge display, lost in thought, a flicker of indecision in his eyes.

“What’s the matter, Mr. Jiang? If there’s anything unsatisfactory, feel free to change your choice since we haven’t placed the order yet.”

Jiang Qin pursed his lips, pondering for a moment before speaking, “Make an additional set. For the position, write ‘Boss Lady,’ and for the name, ‘Feng Nanshu.’ I want a badge, nameplate, and certificate.”

“Boss Lady? That’s not exactly an official position, is it?” The staff member was somewhat surprised.

“The Boss Lady is a hidden position. Although not formally recognized in every company, it exists in all of them and holds immense power. Do you have one at home?”

“Well, yes, but Mr. Jiang, since there’s a Boss Lady, shouldn’t there also be a set for the Boss’s position?”

“…”

Jiang Qin’s expression suddenly turned icy, causing the staff member to involuntarily restrain his smile. “Don’t you understand? Talking about couples? Matching everything only leads to trouble!”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Jiang, I spoke out of turn.”

“It’s fine, don’t be nervous. I’m just sensitive about this pairing stuff. Are you in a relationship, young man?” Jiang Qin’s tone softened.

The staff member shook his head. “I’m currently single. I’ve been too busy with work to look for someone.”

“Then it’s work that saved you. You should be thankful to your boss,” Jiang Qin said, his words carrying a hint of sarcasm.

“Yes…”

“Can you make the Boss Lady set first? I’ll pick it up in two hours.”

“Sure, but it will take about two hours. Can you wait?”

“You start making it. I’ll come back in two hours.”

After finalizing everything, Jiang Qin went to a nearby mall to select gifts for the winners of the campus belle contest.

Since the certificates and trophies didn’t reflect the rankings, the gifts certainly had to, otherwise the effort put into voting would seem meaningless.

For the first prize, Jiang Qin bought an instant camera, a compact and fashionable item, ideal for a campus belle contest prize. However, the thought that Chu Siqi might win gave him an odd feeling.

Buying her a gift? It felt more uncomfortable than losing money.

But for the sake of market value, he tolerated it, resolved not to personally award the prize.

The second prize was a video-capable MP3 player, a trendy item in 2008.

The third prize was also an MP3 player but without video capability. It was only the size of a mahjong tile, with a ring of function buttons, and a hundred yuan cheaper than the video-capable version.

Additionally, Jiang Qin bought a bunch of earphones, bookstands, and hardcover notebooks as participation and consolation prizes.

After purchasing the prizes, Jiang Qin returned to Shengshi Advertising. The complete Boss Lady set was ready, including a badge, nameplate, and acrylic certificate, all neatly arranged on the table, looking very official.

Shengshi Advertising, a major advertising firm, didn’t disappoint with its advanced machinery and superior craftsmanship. The engravings on the metal signs were natural and fluid.

“Do you have gift boxes?”

“Yes, we have all kinds. I’ll bring some for you to choose from.”

The staff member returned from the warehouse with a pile of gift boxes and some raffia grass for padding.

Jiang Qin placed the badge, nameplate, and certificate inside, watching as the staff expertly tied a pink ribbon into a bow, his expression turning increasingly peculiar.

It’s just a gift, it won’t change the nature of our friendship, right?

Maybe it’s better not to give it for now. It might give the little rich lady the wrong idea.

Though she’s naive and innocent, knowing nothing about love, she has Gao Wenhui, a cunning advisor behind her, a person to be wary of.

Chapter 102: If I’m Not Here, This Place Falls Apart!

TL: Etude

After securing the full set of documents from the boss lady, Jiang Qin returned to his dorm at Linchuan University. He placed the items by his bed, planning to find an appropriate time to deliver them.

Meanwhile, Shengshi was in a rush to produce materials, coordinating with Jiang Qin for the final battle of their project.

On Saturday morning, just as the sun began to rise, a white van entered the university gates, carrying the materials for the award ceremony, including the custom-made trophies and certificates.

Having already obtained permission from the university, Jiang Qin arranged to use the sports field from 1 to 2 PM for the ceremony. He arrived at the scene with Feng Nanshu.

The two sat on the plastic track, watching the staff busy themselves while sipping on their sweet milk teas—one looking relaxed and carefree, the other cool and detached.

Autumn leaves, blown by the southern wind, drifted into the sports field from beyond the fence, slowly falling and carpeting the ground in golden hues.

Jiang Qin opened a seasonal large pomegranate, offering half to the little rich lady.

“Do you want the bigger half or the smaller one?”

“Jiang Qin, I’d like it peeled, one seed at a time.”

“…”

Jiang Qin smacked his lips, thinking to himself how adorably naive the little rich lady was, and then he began to peel the fruit. However, he had barely started when Wei Lanlan, in charge of staff recruitment, rushed into the sports field. She carried a stack of registration forms, filled with candidates applying to be Jiang Qin’s secretary.

There were five male and five female candidates, all meticulously selected by her.

The men were chosen for their strong business skills, capable of managing affairs both on paper and in action.

The women were selected for their beauty, either having a good figure or a pretty face.

“Boss, here are ten candidates for the secretary position. Please have a look. I’ve already done an initial screening, and these are the most suitable ones.”

Jiang Qin took the forms, examining them carefully.

Truth be told, he wanted a competent secretary. Not necessarily outstanding, but at least efficient and diligent. He didn’t want someone who would take the job lightly and think of leaving halfway through. That wouldn’t be ideal.

So, he ruled out all the first-year students.

Freshmen had yet to settle in. Those who seek part-time jobs were usually driven by novelty or the desire to earn some extra cash for dating, fearing their allowance might not suffice.

But if a student was still interested in part-time work in their second or third year and had experience from their first year, it meant they were either really in need of money or genuinely eager to improve themselves.

“Hey, beauty, can you kick the ball over here?”

“Wow, she’s so pretty. Which department’s goddess is she?”

“Beauty, let’s exchange QQ numbers. How about dinner tonight?”

While Jiang Qin was reviewing the forms, he heard the voices and turned to see several male students playing football on the field, teasing and calling out to Feng Nanshu, who was sitting nearby.

Frowning, Jiang Qin was about to go over and scold them, but to his surprise, Feng Nanshu stood up in response.

Driven by her kind nature, even her social anxiety couldn’t stop her from helping others. She approached the ball that had rolled over and kicked it away, unexpectedly sending it several meters high and out of the sports field.

“…”

“…”

The college boys’ smiles vanished, and after a moment of silence, they chased after the ball.

Jiang Qin felt a tingling in his scalp and pretended not to see, turning back to the forms. However, he noticed that Wei Lanlan had grabbed the stack of papers from him.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Qin asked, puzzled.

Wei Lanlan, looking tense, took the forms back, removed all the female candidates, and handed it back to him. “Nothing, I just remembered that I wasn’t very strict in my selection. A few unqualified candidates slipped through. Okay… now it’s fine, they’re all very suitable for you.”

“…”

Jiang Qin glanced at the remaining five forms in his hand, thinking, ‘All these are guys, and I’m not in a government office. What male boss would prefer a male secretary?’

I’m not being sexist, but when it comes to attentiveness and patience, women do seem more suited for the role of a secretary.

“Forget the secretary for now,” Jiang Qin handed the forms back to Wei Lanlan.

Wei Lanlan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking how crucial her role was. Without her, everything would fall apart, and the boss couldn’t survive without her: “I’ll go back and look again, and report to you as soon as I find someone suitable.”

“Alright, go back to the office. Oh, and call Dong Wenhao over to host the award ceremony. I’d rather not show up.”

“Okay, boss.”

Half an hour later, the workers had finished setting up the stage, which looked professional and well-made. The designer, Pang Hai, had clearly advanced in his skills, creating a design that was simple yet elegant.

Dong Wenhao arrived at the scene, rehearsing the award speech written by Shi Miaomiao over and over.

The notified students began to gather at the sports field, eventually surrounding the stage, making it impenetrable.

Truth be told, Jiang Qin didn’t enjoy such grand events. After all, a campus beauty contest is more entertainment than serious business for college students. But since everyone had already come, he couldn’t just turn them away, so he let them in one by one.

Interestingly, they even made support signs, giving the event a fan-meeting vibe.

Among them, Fang Xuan, who was third in the contest, had the most fans, as the Journalism Department was on the main campus, making it convenient for them to join.

Next was Chu Siqi.

Although the Law School was on the East Campus, a bit far away, many still came to support her, indicating her status as the top campus beauty was indeed prestigious.

Then there was Hong Yan, ranked fourth.

Although she had transferred departments, many from the Law Department still liked her, and the International Trade Department, knowing she was their new goddess, also had many supporters.

Next was Liu Yiyi, the runner-up. She too had numerous fans, but her expression wasn’t great when she appeared at the scene.

To be honest, she couldn’t understand how she lost to Chu Siqi. Weren’t there as many men in the Literature Department as in the Law Department? Could it be that she only looked delicate?

Next was Wu Meng from the Architectural Engineering Department. Honestly, her looks were a bit lacking, but she was the darling of all the guys in her department and not to be underestimated.

As the music started, the award ceremony officially began. Chu Siqi, wearing a white dress, went on stage, her face full of pride.

Being the top campus beauty was an honor she hadn’t even achieved in high school, where the always radiant Feng Nanshu was an unattainable presence.

But there were far more girls in college than in high school, making this honor quite significant.

Hong Yan, on the other hand, was expressionless, neither excited nor particularly happy. Having been the high school campus beauty and called so for three years, she didn’t care much about such titles. So, after receiving her award, she planned to leave but was stopped by Chu Siqi.

“Hong Yan, let’s make peace,” Chu Siqi said to her.

Hong Yan smiled slightly: “No need. I’ve already got approval to move to the International Trade Department dormitory. We won’t have to see each other anymore.”

“Even if you leave, I still hope we can make peace.”

“Do you think that’s possible after all this?”

“It is because I won’t compete with you for Jiang Qin anymore.” Chu Siqi tried to keep her voice calm.

“Is it because you became number one and saw a broader world, making you think Jiang Qin isn’t worth it?”

Chu Siqi’s face paled, and after a long moment, she said through gritted teeth, “Yes, you’re right. With so many people liking me, I don’t need to fixate on one tree. Besides, he’s too cold towards me. We met by chance on a train, and he wouldn’t even look at me!”

After a pause, Hong Yan said, “You should know, I don’t like the false title of campus beauty.”

“So, you think I’m vain? But if you don’t care, why did you come to receive the award?” Chu Siqi was losing her temper.

“Well, since you asked, I’ll tell you the truth. I agreed to attend this event only to help Jiang Qin.”

“?”

“Don’t you know? The owner of the Zhihu forum is Jiang Qin. This top campus beauty title is also his gift to you.”

Hong Yan’s words struck like thunder, leaving Chu Siqi with wide eyes and an even paler face.

What kind of explanation was this? Her campus beauty title was bestowed by Jiang Qin? How could he have the power to influence the entire school?

“Do you think I’m a three-year-old?”

“Go ask the host who just gave you the award who Jiang Qin is.” Hong Yan left after dropping these words.

Chu Siqi lifted her dress and ran to the backstage, finding the host: “Senior, hello, I have a question for you.”

“What is it?” Dong Wenhao looked confused.

Chu Siqi took a deep breath: “Do you know Jiang Qin?”

“Of course, he’s our boss.”

“…”

Later, as evening fell, Linchuan University welcomed a light autumn rain, bringing a chill with it.

Chu Siqi returned from the main campus to the East Campus, opened her dorm room to find Hong Yan’s bed neatly made, but she didn’t care. She just sat in her chair, lost in thought.

During the holiday, to have a chance encounter with Jiang Qin, she had asked Wang Huiru to get the train number from Guo Zihang.

But it was precisely because of that encounter that Chu Siqi truly understood Jiang Qin’s dislike, even strong aversion to her.

She was a girl who cared a lot about her image, thinking if Jiang Qin didn’t like her, why should she cling to him? With so many choosing her as campus beauty and liking him, why should she lose herself over Jiang Qin?

But now she realized, the honor she was proud of was all created by him, and her pride might be worthless in his eyes.

“Siqi, what’s wrong?”

Wang Huiru found her pale and wondered, hadn’t she left excitedly to receive an award?

“It’s nothing.”

“Hey, did you know? I heard the forum that awarded you got over five hundred thousand in advertising fees, with clients booked until the end of the year. And the person running it is our freshman peer!”

Chu Siqi forced a laugh and crawled into bed.

So, the person she once thought was within easy reach had become so outstanding.

A test?

Was she crazy to even think of testing such a person…

Chapter 103: The Celestial Maiden

TL: Etude

“Siqi, time to get up and eat.”

“You go ahead, I’m not hungry.”

Chu Siqi, huddled in her blanket, replied dully to Wang Huiru. Her voice sounded weak, as if drained by a long illness, devoid of its usual proud and haughty tone.

After a while, she heard the soft sound of the door closing, indicating Wang Huiru and Si Huiying had left. Only then did she climb out of bed.

Outside, the rain had intensified, pattering loudly against the windows. The sky was ominously dark and low, as if it were about to collapse.

It was only three in the afternoon, but their unlit dorm room was as dark as night.

Chu Siqi sat on her bed for a long time, her mind blank, until the sound of a QQ notification brought her back to reality. She checked her phone and looked at the messages in her list.

“Junior sister, I heard you won first place in the campus beauty contest. Let’s go out and celebrate tonight?”

“Chu, the campus beauty, I’ve got two movie tickets. Want to join?”

“Wow, number one campus beauty, that’s awesome. Would you consider dating?”

“First place campus beauty, do you have time for a meal? I’ll take you to a western restaurant in the city!”

Chu Siqi sat silently for a long moment, then exited the incessantly buzzing QQ. She opened a bookmarked link and entered the Zhihu forum. She searched for Jiang Qin’s name and read some exposé posts by people in the know.

As she read, she stumbled upon a series of posts titled “My Unpretentious Life as a Rich Second Generation.”

“Two campus beauties vying for me, Cao Guangyu. Sorry, it’s better to part on good terms.”

“?”

“Military training, celestial maiden from the class next door seeks me out, yi!”

“…”

“Bentley? Sorry, it was me, the ordinary Mr. Cao.”

“????”

“Does wearing Patek Philippe affect driving my Bentley?”

“…”

Chu Siqi had met Cao Guangyu once, knew he was Jiang Qin’s roommate, and recognized the first post’s content. It mirrored the incident at Nanshan Restaurant on the opening day of school.

This meant these posts were actually about Jiang Qin’s life.

Luxury cars, high-end watches, charming beauties, controlling fortunes, offering sage advice, harboring global aspirations, and engaging in philanthropy.

Jiang Qin’s life seemed dreamily beautiful.

Chu Siqi’s face paled slightly, realizing how much more ridiculous she seemed.

The man she thought needed to prove himself, temporarily unworthy of her, though excellent, was seen by others as incredibly outstanding, almost unbelievably so.

But she believed it.

The 300,000 yuan during summer break, the Night Light Bar, the 500,000 yuan for the forum advertisement.

Though Chu Siqi didn’t know the details, she had heard of them all and thus didn’t regard these claims as mere bragging like the commenters did.

Since she rejected him, he had gradually transformed into an idol.

Chu Siqi reopened QQ, intending to chat with Jiang Qin, but then remembered she had been deleted. Feeling a sense of loss, she pursed her lips, feeling as if a part of her heart was hollowed out again.

She began to understand why a proud girl like Hong Yan could fall for Jiang Qin at first sight.

But she had missed her chance…

Since their encounter on the train, she knew what she had missed with Jiang Qin was a lifetime. He would never like her again.

And now, Jiang Qin already had a celestial maiden. She might not be prettier than Chu Siqi, but she must be very good to him.

Chu Siqi thought that if the girl’s beauty was as exaggerated as described in the posts, she surely would have appeared in the campus beauty contest and wouldn’t have remained unknown until now. But, as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Jiang Qin must really like her to think of her as a celestial maiden.

At that moment, the dormitory door suddenly opened, and Wang Huiru, holding an umbrella, rushed back in with two servings of fried rice. She had sensed something was off with Chu Siqi and, worried, had returned with food, bringing a portion for her as well.

“Siqi, time to eat,” Wang Huiru offered her a pair of chopsticks.

Chu Siqi thanked her and took a few bites. “Huiru, I’ve realized something. I probably can’t win him back. I’ve decided to give up.”

“Who?”

“Jiang Qin.”

“…”

Wang Huiru’s eyes glazed over, as if she had heard a fantastical tale.

“I’m serious. I suddenly realized how outstanding he is. I see now how blind I was before. Hong Yan indeed has a better eye for people. If I had been half as discerning, maybe we would’ve been together after the college entrance exams, and now I might have been the one everyone envied.”

After speaking, Chu Siqi gave a self-deprecating laugh, her expression showing resignation yet filled with regret.

“Siqi, it’s great that you can think this way. But how did you come to this realization?” Wang Huiru was happy for her friend but also a bit curious. Her friend was typically the kind of person who wouldn’t admit she was wrong unless she faced a major setback.

“There’s no use in not understanding. Jiang Qin already has someone he likes, a real celestial maiden.”

Chu Siqi’s tone was light, but it was filled with bitterness.

Upon hearing this, Wang Huiru dropped her chopsticks and sighed deeply, almost blurting out an expletive.

“Oh my god, why didn’t you say so earlier? I’ve been keeping this secret for over three months, dying to gossip about it but afraid you couldn’t handle it. Now that you’ve let go, I can finally breathe easy.”

“Siqi, you’re right in your thinking. I support you. Although we’re best friends, I must say, no one can compete with Feng Nanshu for a man. Think about it, that’s Feng Nanshu! You didn’t lose out at all!”

“?”

Wang Huiru kept talking, clearly having held back for too long: “Do you know how I felt when I found out Jiang Qin was with Feng Nanshu? I couldn’t believe it. Feng Nanshu, the moonlight of Chengnan, actually likes Jiang Qin!”

Chu Siqi’s face changed, and her voice trembled: “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you remember Feng Nanshu? The celestial maiden Feng Nanshu from our neighboring class, the one who never talks to anyone, super aloof, but is especially dependent on Jiang Qin. I even saw him pinch her face on the street. It was adorable!”

Wang Huiru, having held back for three months, finally opened up, leaving Chu Siqi utterly stunned.

Every girl loves gossip, but for the sake of her friend’s feelings and to prevent making a scene, Wang Huiru had really been at her limit. Today, she finally let it all out, feeling relieved.

Chu Siqi’s hands began to tremble.

Was the celestial maiden real? Did she also attend Linchuan University?

What a joke!

Chu Siqi couldn’t accept it. Even if Jiang Qin was outstanding enough, if he had chosen someone less beautiful than herself, she could have comforted herself by thinking they had simply missed their chance.

But what was happening now?

Feng Nanshu…

I lacked vision in the past and missed out on someone who only grew more outstanding and became an idol.

The hardest part to accept was that after missing him, not only did he become more impressive, he also found someone more beautiful than me…

No, this can’t be true!

Chapter 104: Jiang Qin, Stroll in the Rain!

TL: Etude

No one expected the rain to arrive so suddenly.

During the award ceremony, the sky was clear, but as soon as the competition ended, a sudden downpour began.

Jiang Qin was leisurely walking with Feng Nanshu by the lake when they were caught off guard by the rapid onset of rain. They had no choice but to jog back, eventually seeking shelter from the rain in Room 208 of the Entrepreneurship Center.

Dong Wenhao, Su Nai, Wei Lanlan, and Pang Hai had gone to the playground earlier, leaving room 208 empty. The windows were left open, and rain had already splattered inside, wetting a few campus newspapers but fortunately sparing the computers and documents.

“Wipe your hair, don’t catch a cold.”

Jiang Qin found a towel in a drawer and tossed it to Feng Nanshu, covering her face and eliciting a surprised yelp from her.

“Why didn’t you catch it?”

Feng Nanshu, expressionless, replied, “I didn’t react in time. Please wipe it for me.”

“Typical of a young lady, ordering people around must be ingrained in your genes.” Jiang Qin took the towel and roughly dried her beautiful long hair.

Feng Nanshu was slightly dissatisfied with his perfunctory effort, and with a cold gaze, she said, “Jiang Qin, aim better, don’t wipe my mouth.”

“…”

Rainy days are boring, especially in the office where you can’t lie down. The most comfortable place was the sofa in the adjacent 207. So, Jiang Qin moved Lu Xuemei’s computer to 207, planning to watch a movie and wait for the rain to stop with the little rich lady.

Why use Lu Xuemei’s computer? Because besides hers, there was only Su Nai’s computer left in the office.

He dared not touch that one.

What if there was some weird playback software running in the background, and the moans and groans would start playing at high volume? Feng Nanshu would surely be curious about the sounds.

That would be hard to explain. Really hard to explain.

“Come on, see anything you’d like to watch?” Jiang Qin opened Youku and pushed the computer towards her.

Feng Nanshu leaned towards the screen, her delicate face illuminated by its glow, “How about this one, ‘WALL-E’?”

“I suggest ‘The Village of the Dead’.”

“?”

‘WALL-E’ was definitely not an option. It was a bait-and-switch, entirely about romance, and watching it could easily make one lovesick.

The film’s characters were even worse: one was EVE, a rich and beautiful female robot, while the other was WALL-E, a worn-out lower-class robot tirelessly working. It felt too much like looking in a mirror.

Modern movies and literature seemed unable to survive without a touch of romance. Rubbish!

Eventually, under Jiang Qin’s suggestion, they watched ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’

This movie was sufficiently fantastical to suit Feng Nanshu’s taste, and the captain was a mix of scoundrel and loser, enough to shatter any girl’s illusions about men.

The windows in 207 weren’t well-sealed, letting cold air seep through the cracks. It was quite chilly.

Jiang Qin went back to 208 to fetch a blanket to cover them both, then sat close together, eyes glued to the screen.

Since the lights were off, the room was dark, and they huddled under the blanket, only their faces exposed, slightly inclined towards each other.

Click-clack—

After watching for a couple of minutes, Feng Nanshu kicked off her little leather shoes and tucked her feet, clad in lace thin socks, under the blanket, her gaze still fixed on the screen.

This time, she initiated it, right?

I must be a true gentleman, right?

Jiang Qin confidently massaged her feet, suddenly finding the movie a bit more interesting, though it seemed too short.

“Lad, I am Captain Jack Sparrow!”

“…”

“The real meaning of the Black Pearl is freedom!”

“…”

As the plot progressed, suddenly clear footsteps echoed in the otherwise empty hallway, distinctly the sound of high heels on the floor.

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but look back, seeing a long-haired woman walking past the door, but not going far. After a couple of steps, the heels stopped, presumably outside room 208.

Was she here for advertising placement in 208? At this time?

“You keep watching, I have something to take care of.”

“Okay.”

Seeing Feng Nanshu nod in agreement, Jiang Qin stepped out and, as expected, saw the woman standing at the door of 208, looking inside.

She wore a black trench coat, with a white shirt and suit pants underneath, and her long black hair had slight waves, clearly well-maintained. She appeared to be under thirty, exuding the aura of a professional woman, with a pair of silver hoop earrings dangling from her ears.

Hoop earrings like these were quite popular among city beauties back in 2008.

“Hello, can I help you with anything?”

As Jiang Qin spoke, the woman turned around.

“Are you in charge here? Let me introduce myself, my name is Ye Zi Qing.”

The woman spoke politely, revealing her basic information.

“Are you here to place an advertisement?” Jiang Qin eyed her, feeling she didn’t quite fit the bill.

As expected, Ye Zi Qing shook her head calmly: “No, I used to be a student at Linchuan University and started a business in this classroom. I just happened to pass by today and wanted to reminisce a bit. I didn’t expect someone else to be here now.”

A form Jiang Qin had seen long ago in 208 flashed through his mind: “Oh, Jiu Hui Group Buying website, right?”

“How do you know about that site?” Ye Zi Qing was slightly taken aback.

“When I applied for this classroom, I found a stack of financial reports with that name on them.”

“Do you still have those documents? Can you give me a copy? Honestly, that was my first entrepreneurial attempt. After it failed, I was quite upset. Many memorable things were lost, and now they are hard to find.”

Jiang Qin shook his head gently: “Sorry, those documents have been cleared out. If you had come a month earlier, you might have still found them.”

Ye Zi Qing couldn’t help but sigh, yet she didn’t seem too disappointed: “Alright then, I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t bother you any longer.”

“Don’t you want to take a look inside? You can go in, I don’t mind.”

“Forget it, the past is the past, and this classroom is no longer what it used to be.” After saying this, Ye Zi Qing turned and left.

“Senior Ye, actually your group buying website was quite interesting. Having such an idea in 2003 was quite advanced. It’s just that you took the wrong direction, which led to failure.”

“…”

“Seriously, if I were running it, I wouldn’t use customer resources to find merchants. Instead, I’d use merchant resources to attract customers. I don’t know if you can understand what I mean?”

Ye Zi Qing turned to look at Jiang Qin, and then glanced at 207, clearly seeing the silhouette of a girl. She was beautiful, but due to the lack of light, it was hard to see clearly.

She smiled slightly: “Young man, you should just enjoy your youth. Entrepreneurship isn’t that simple. Remember, theoretical knowledge is shallow.”

“Heh, don’t believe me then.” Jiang Qin laughed and returned to 207.

This small episode might seem insignificant to others, and so both of them didn’t dwell on it and quickly forgot about it.

Jiang Qin went back to 207, snuggled back under the blanket, and continued watching the movie with Feng Nanshu.

“This girl. How far are you willing to go to save her?”

“How much would you sacrifice to save that girl?”

“I’d die for her.”

“?”

Jiang Qin was startled, thinking he didn’t remember this movie having a romantic plot. However, turning to look at Feng Nanshu, she didn’t seem to react much, instead showing more interest in the special effects of the ships.

After a while, the rain outside gradually stopped.

In the evening, the sky brightened bit by bit, and a splendid array of clouds covered the sky above Linchuan University, looking vibrant and particularly clear after the rain.

Soon, Su Nai, Dong Wenhao, Pang Hai, Lu Xuemei, and over a dozen others returned to 208, complaining about the unfortunate timing of the award ceremony that day that left them drenched.

Coincidentally, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ ended at that moment. Jiang Qin uncovered the blanket, planning to escort Feng Nanshu back to her dormitory.

“Jiang Qin, give me back my socks,” Feng Nanshu looked up at him.

Jiang Qin wasn’t sure when he had taken off her socks, so he looked around and eventually found them under him: “Lift your foot, I’ll put them on for you.”

“Okay.”

Feng Nanshu extended her pale foot, letting Jiang Qin slip the sock on. She remained expressionless throughout, as if granting him a favor.

After they were ready, Jiang Qin escorted Feng Nanshu out of the Entrepreneurship Center towards the girls’ dormitory, where they ran into Gao Wenhui.

“Jiang Qin, I heard the campus beauty contest is over? The first place is Chu Siqi from the Law School?” Gao Wenhui asked indignantly, hands on her hips.

Jiang Qin was taken aback: “It’s okay, Little Gao, you can participate next year, or the year after. Anyway, you don’t stand a chance, but I can prepare a consolation prize for you.”

“Get lost, I don’t care about that. But Feng Nanshu should be the number one campus beauty, others don’t deserve it!”

“No, she doesn’t want to be the campus beauty.” Jiang Qin said, glancing at Feng Nanshu.

The little rich lady nodded seriously: “I don’t want to be the campus beauty.”

“Alright then, I have to go, there’s something in 208. We’ll talk another time.” Jiang Qin waved his hand and left.

Gao Wenhui looked unconvinced: “Feng Nanshu, does your world consist only of Jiang Qin? Do you listen to everything he says?”

Feng Nanshu coldly held up three fingers: “My world consists of three words.”

“What’s the third word?” Gao Wenhui was puzzled.

“Jiang, Qin, stroll.”

“…”

Chapter 105: The Meaning of the Co-pilot

TL: Etude

The campus beauty contest concluded successfully, and the project team seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Back in the office, everyone relaxed; some lay down, others chatted, making room 208 lively and bustling.

“How about a game of poker?”

“Sounds good, we’ve been working hard for days. Let’s play some poker to relax!” Lu Feiyu was the first to agree.

Dong Wenhao couldn’t help but look at Jiang Qin: “Boss, why don’t you join us for poker?”

“No, you guys go play in 207. I need to think about some things.” Jiang Qin waved them off.

So, the group bustled out of 208 and into the neighboring 207, leaving Jiang Qin and Su Nai alone in the room, each absorbed in their work.

Outside, a light rain began to fall, the sound of it adding a special atmosphere to the scene.

“Why don’t you join them for poker? Dong Wenhao even said you’ve become too serious lately,” Su Nai suggested Jiang Qin should join the others.

“You think Dong Wenhao is asking if I want to play, but he’s actually asking for permission to play. All I need to do is agree; I don’t need to participate. Besides, if I join, they certainly won’t be able to enjoy themselves.”

After saying this, Jiang Qin sank into deep thought, pondering the issue of monetization tools.

In the world of internet projects, it’s a simple truth that one must spend money to make money. Given Jiang Qin’s current financial situation, he could manage a campus network, but anything more ambitious might be out of his reach.

He knew he needed to catch the wave of opportunity, but in the right way. As the saying goes in “Transformers,” there’s a way to do things even without money.

At this thought, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but remember Ye Ziqing from the afternoon.

“Is knowledge gained from books always superficial? Hmm…”

Stretching, Jiang Qin stood up to get some water.

Su Nai, sitting across from him, quickly moved her mouse, straightened her back, pushed up her glasses, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“Stop looking, we have a meeting,” Jiang Qin glanced at her.

“I wasn’t looking!” Su Nai’s face turned even redder.

“I didn’t even say what you were looking at, how do you know what I’m talking about?”

Su Nai stiffened.

“Advising me to play poker next door? Heh, these tricks are what I’ve left behind.”

Su Nai snapped her laptop shut and followed Jiang Qin to room 207. There, they interrupted the ongoing poker game to start a summary meeting, mainly to discuss the success of the campus beauty contest and analyze the reasons for its success.

In his previous life, Jiang Qin didn’t understand why bosses liked to hold meetings, often on rest days, and without allowing leave. But after becoming a boss himself, he realized that decision-makers often have a higher perspective and see further, but can easily lose touch with the ground. A slight misstep could lead them to make assumptions and lead the team astray.

Moreover, Jiang Qin’s next plan was to replicate the campus beauty contest at the University of Science and Technology, the Polytechnic University, and the Teachers College. Therefore, summarizing the successful experience was essential.

“I think the success of the campus beauty contest is all thanks to the boss’s excellent leadership,” Dong Wenhao started the discussion.

Jiang Qin glanced at him: “Let’s not dwell on well-known facts. Anything else?”

“The key is our unity, thinking and working together,” someone else chimed in.

“Can we talk about something more practical? Details?”

After thinking for a while, Lu Xuemei spoke up: “I think the purchase of the milk tea shop was the most crucial step.”

“I agree, without the sales report of the milk tea shop, even if the contest was successful, it might not have attracted so many merchants.”

Wei Lanlan added. As a member of the marketing team, she was quite sensitive to these matters. According to her recent interactions with merchants, what attracted them the most was not the campus beauties but the sales performance of the milk tea shop.

In a commercial contest, the ultimate goal is to make money. In this regard, the small shop Xi Tian played a significant role.

“Continue.”

Tan Qing raised his hand: “I think the large PVC board in the front square was very good, very eye-catching.”

Shi Miaomiao also spoke up: “Dong Xuechang’s planning and topic selection were also excellent. A significant part of the retention rate is due to his well-placed standards.”

Lu Feiyu followed up: “I think there’s one most critical factor to the success of this contest.”

“What factor?”

“Because our ‘boss lady’ didn’t participate.”

Jiang Qin inwardly cursed at this sycophantic comment, thinking that people like Lu Feiyu really don’t deserve success or wealth if they don’t elevate themselves.

However, he had to admit that their analysis made sense. The beauty contest provided popularity for the forum, which in turn increased the sales of the milk tea shop. Ultimately, the content retained users, and the sales data attracted numerous advertisers. This tightly knit combination was indispensable, and removing any part of it would be detrimental.

In other words, the first step to expanding to other schools wasn’t just holding a contest, but also establishing branches of Xi Tian, planting a conspicuous ‘nail’ in new territories.

It seemed the little rich lady would make money again, although she hardly needed it.

After calling an end to the meeting and letting everyone return to their poker game, Jiang Qin went back to room 208 and contacted Guo Zihang via QQ.

Guo Zihang, a student at the University of Science and Technology, was familiar with his campus. Since Jiang Qin planned to replicate his previous strategies, Guo Zihang was a suitable guide, especially since he knew the aunt who ran the fruit stand.

Guo Zihang might not understand the intricacies, but the aunt surely had insights into the local commercial atmosphere.

The rise of Xi Tian was marked by its location in a poor spot, which, through advertising, experienced a dramatic revival, shocking the surrounding merchants. For this replication, Jiang Qin planned to replicate this foundational aspect too.

“Hey Guo, what are you up to?”

“I just met a senior at a club event a few days ago, and I’m chatting with her,” Guo Zihang replied instantly.

Jiang Qin sent a smiley face: “Seamlessly moving on, huh? Gave up on the fruit stand aunt?”

“I never pursued her, just added her on QQ and chatted a bit. Jiang, please don’t spread this around.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t have time for gossip. I’ll come over tomorrow, Sunday.” Jiang Qin typed energetically.

Guo Zihang immediately responded: “For real? Awesome, come over. I’m bored on weekends anyway and was thinking of visiting you. It’s much better if you come here; it’s not convenient for me to travel.”

Business, appeasing the little rich lady – being a boss wasn’t easy.

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

“Hold on, Jiang. The road south of our university is under construction, the buses are rerouted. You need to take bus 203 first, then switch to 101 at the city library to get here,” Guo Zihang helpfully advised.

“I bought a car,” Jiang Qin typed with a smile.

“…”

The next morning, Jiang Qin took a bus to the city, picked up his newly bought Audi from the Four Sons dealership in the auto city, and after a morning of paperwork and getting a temporary license plate, he arrived at Linchuan University of Science and Technology by 3 pm.

Guo Zihang was waiting at the gate, eyeing the Audi with envy.

“Does your family know you bought a car?”

“No, and don’t you spread it. I don’t want to be too ostentatious, or everyone will know your college first love is the fruit stand aunt.”

Guo Zihang turned pale and immediately vowed to keep it secret: “So, what are we doing now? Going for a drive?”

“First, let’s visit your aunt, then we’ll go for a drive. I need to consult her about something.” Jiang Qin wanted to take care of business first.

“Ah?”

“To be honest, I’m planning to open a milk tea shop at your university, but I’m not familiar with it. I need to ask someone in business about the worst location.”

Guo Zihang was stunned: “You mean the best location, right?”

“Don’t worry about these capitalist affairs.” Jiang Qin found it hard to explain to Guo Zihang.

They then visited the Green Garden Fruit Supermarket across from the university, where they met Guo Zihang’s first love, a thirty-something aunt named Wu Caifeng. She was indeed attractive and had a child-like voice, albeit a bit short, but well-matched with Guo Zihang.

Since it was getting late, Jiang Qin got straight to the point, inquiring about the local business scene.

Wu Caifeng, although only having a junior high education, had insightful views on business. She said the best business spots at the University of Science and Technology were under the girls’ dormitories, while the worst were the small plazas in front of the boys’ dormitories.

Jiang Qin nodded, finding that the situation was similar in university towns: businesses under girls’ dormitories generally did better than those under boys’. It was hard to get male college students to spend more.

Most of them spent time and money on their girlfriends or saved up for gifts, while the rest were just internet addicts.

Of course, there were those who focused solely on studies, but they were the minority.

Business targets the majority, and minorities are less of a concern.

After the discussion, Jiang Qin bought two bags of fruit as a thank you, gave one to Guo Zihang, and put the other in the trunk.

“Ready for a drive?”

“Let’s go!”

As Jiang Qin unlocked the car, Guo Zihang reached for the passenger door: “Guo!”

“Huh?” Guo Zihang was startled by Jiang Qin’s sudden high tone.

“It’s a new car. The co-pilot seat hasn’t been ‘inaugurated’ yet. Sit in the back.”

Guo Zihang sullenly moved to the back seat, thinking there was no fun in a drive if not in the front seat. But considering Jiang Qin’s perspective, he understood the significance of a car’s first co-pilot.

Chapter 106: Enduring a Moment to Save a Dog’s Life

TL: Etude

Guo Zihang was an interesting person. Although he was somewhat cowardly, he still harbored a desire to show off.

After driving around the cross-river bridge, Guo kept urging Jiang Qin, “Stepfather, let’s go to the school and park under the girls’ dormitory!”

However, Jiang Qin eventually stopped at the entrance of the University of Science and Technology and earnestly advised Guo Zihang: “Showing off with someone else’s car is never as good as being true to yourself. Drink less hot water.”

“Brother Jiang, just let me show off this once!” Guo Zihang pleaded earnestly.

Jiang Qin thought for a moment and then said, “I might be coming here next month to promote something. If you can help me keep an eye on things for a few days, buying a car shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“Buying an Audi?!” Guo Zihang was shocked.

“Something like that: a Yadea.”

“?????”

At 5:30 in the afternoon, Jiang Qin drove back to Linchuan University.

Linchuan University had a rule: private cars were not allowed on campus.

If students needed to drive to school, they had to apply in advance and could only enter the campus after obtaining a pass.

However, thanks to the long-running School Beauty Contest and Xi Tian Marketing, every time supplies were delivered, whoever was in charge would leave two packs of cigarettes at the security booth, as instructed by Jiang Qin. So, when Jiang Qin lowered his car window, the guards pretended not to notice: one craned his neck, another feigned sleep, and a third started to intervene but ended up picking up a cigarette butt from the road.

Truth be told, such social niceties didn’t play a significant role in major decisions but could be convenient in detail.

If the guards insisted on stopping him, he would have had to park outside the campus until he got the pass.

Moreover, since cars weren’t allowed on the pedestrian street, he would have had to park in the Cui Zhu Garden parking lot across the street.

Audis and Bentleys were different. Audis didn’t carry as much prestige, so the guards would dare to stop them.

When Jiang Qin reached the intersection of the boys’ dormitory, he casually parked his car on the side of the road where it wouldn’t cause trouble and then went upstairs to his dorm.

“Holy crap, is this guy really asking you to fight? We’re in college, that’s just ridiculous. Isn’t he afraid of getting expelled?”

“Fighting will definitely get you expelled, especially if you fight back. But you can’t just stand there and get hit, Old Cao. I suggest you don’t go.”

“We could sneak a peek, though. If there are a lot of people, we won’t show up, and if there are few… we also won’t show up.”

As soon as Jiang Qin entered the dorm, he heard the three roommates discussing. He opened the door and found Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao gathered around Cao Guangyu’s computer screen: “What are you up to? Watching Brother Cao’s mighty punches online again?”

“Brother Jiang, it’s Brother Cao who’s about to take some mighty punches this time. Someone with an ID wants to confront him in reality,” Ren Ziqiang blurted out succinctly.

Jiang Qin was surprised: “Good heavens, what kind of infuriating post did Old Cao write?”

“I just started a new thread saying my girlfriend overshadowed the number one school beauty. By the way, Brother Jiang, can you check who this three-letter ID belongs to?”

“That would be violating user privacy, which is illegal.”

Cao Guangyu knew about the privacy issue but was still very anxious: “Although I’m a simple and unpretentious rich second generation, I’m terrible in a fight. We’re in college; how can someone be so unreasonable?”

“You didn’t include your dorm number in your boastful little essay, did you?” Jiang Qin felt Cao might have gone overboard.

“No way, I’d never do something that brain-dead in a million years. But I did use my real name for showing off.”

“You’re brave, huh?

“Without using my real name, where’s the sense of immersion? Should I say my name is Zeng Aniu?”

“Cao Changyu, Cao Guangning, Cao Changning. If all else fails, use Cao Cao. That’s safer than using your real name. Don’t you know why I set up anonymous forums?”

Cao Guangyu puffed out his chest: “Although my post is partly fictional, most of it is true. I have a clear conscience.”

“Old Cao, stop kidding yourself. The only true thing in your post is your name; everything else is mine.”

“…”

Jiang Qin turned on the computer: “Although I can’t invade someone’s privacy, I can help you check his posting history. Let’s see what kind of person he is. How about that?”

“That works. Thanks, Brother Jiang. I’m treating you to lunch tomorrow. I don’t have class in the morning!” Cao Guangyu thanked him with a bow.

Then, Ren Ziqiang, Zhou Chao, and Cao Guangyu gathered around to watch Jiang Qin enter the admin panel, search for the three-letter ID, and check the person’s posting history. They all fell silent.

“【xx you xx, if you xx can’t write, then hurry up and xx, disgusting me!】”

“【Stealing someone’s boyfriend and still playing the victim, do you xx have a face?】”

“【Damn, I met an xx yesterday, driving without slowing down, splashing me all over, really xxxx.】”

“【Who the xx flipped the chairs in the cafeteria with water? How can others eat? Such people are simply xxxx!】”

“…”

Jiang Qin’s hand trembled slightly as he held the mouse, his thirty-eight-year-old soul shaken: “Old Cao, my advice is not to go.”

“Brother Cao, I also suggest you endure for a moment…” Ren Ziqiang began but then paused.

Cao Guangyu, pale-faced, glanced at him: “Calm before the storm?”

Ren Ziqiang shook his head: “Endure a moment to save a dog’s life.”

“…”

The next morning, there were no classes for Finance Class 3.

Jiang Qin had just gotten up when he received a call from Cao Xinyue, saying Professor Yan was back and asking him to come over and say hello.

Jiang Qin’s startup had been very successful, and if he had to thank anyone, it definitely had to be Professor Yan.

After all, everyone in the team was getting paid for their work, so excessive gratitude wasn’t necessary. However, Professor Yan had never even met him and had been helping him selflessly. Not feeling grateful would be a lie.

Jiang Qin thought that for his first visit, he should bring something, but Cao Xinyue had specifically instructed not to. This put him in a dilemma.

Not bringing anything didn’t seem right, but knowing how quirky Professor Yan could be, it was hard to choose what to bring. This choice was harder than advanced mathematics.

Right, fruit.

Fruit shouldn’t count as a gift, should it?

Jiang Qin remembered that just yesterday, to thank Wu Caifeng, he had bought some high-quality fruits, including mangosteens, which now came in handy.

Jiang Qin went back to his car, opened the trunk, and took a bag of fruits to the entrepreneurship center’s main office.

Professor Yan wasn’t tall, his shoulders slightly stooped. Although he was spirited, his overall image wasn’t imposing – frankly, he looked like a little old man. He was not yet seventy, but he seemed more weathered than his actual age.

“Sit.”

“Have some tea.”

Professor Yan had already poured tea for him, his demeanor humble, more like a family elder.

Seeing this, Jiang Qin straightened up for once, expecting a serious lecture from the professor. Instead, the professor opened with a question about how to obtain a forum title.

The old man was indeed quirky, but not in an obstinate scholar way. Instead, he had a sense of cold humor.

The two talked for a long while, but not about entrepreneurship. Instead, they discussed more about university life.

Jiang Qin tried several times to bring up issues with the forum, but the professor always deliberately avoided it, as if reluctant to interfere in others’ affairs.

In the end, Professor Yan put down the teapot, its spout now facing the door, signaling Jiang Qin it was time to leave.

“Professor, I have classes this afternoon, so I should be going,” Jiang Qin said as he got up to leave.

Professor Yan was silent for a moment before suddenly speaking: “Jiang Qin, you must be wondering why I’ve been helping you without even meeting you, right?”

“Indeed, I am curious. Could you give me an answer?” Jiang Qin asked honestly.

“I once had a student, very intelligent, and like you, daring and decisive in action. But she tragically followed my advice and suffered greatly, still struggling to recover. Your paths are similar, and when I saw your project proposal, it was as if I saw hers.”

“I see,” Jiang Qin understood.

“Do well. Your success may inspire many.”

After hearing about the professor’s past, Jiang Qin bid farewell and left the office. He stopped in the corridor, his gaze gradually deepening.

The path of development similar to his own, suffering heavy losses and unable to recover…

“Damn, don’t let me see my own reflection. Amen, hallelujah!”

After leaving the Entrepreneurship Center, Jiang Qin drove to the women’s dormitory of the Finance Department and casually parked the Audi at the entrance. He took out his phone.

“Feng Nanshu, come out for a walk!”

“Coming right now.”

“There’s a black Audi parked downstairs. Just come up to it.”

After a while, a striking figure emerged from the girls’ dormitory of the Finance Department. She wore a faux two-piece uniform-style hoodie with white pants, exuding a youthful, naive charm that was almost enchanting. In the bleak early autumn, her beauty was captivating.

However, probably accustomed to being a young lady, Feng Nanshu instinctively walked around the rear of the car and then opened and sat in the back seat. Although her face was expressionless, there was a hint of pleasure in her demeanor.

“…”

Jiang Qin pursed his lips, feigning nonchalance: “It’s a bit cold in the back, the front is better.”

Feng Nanshu pondered for a moment before getting out of the car and then opened the front passenger door.

Jiang Qin watched as she got in, feeling his chest tighten as she settled into the seat, a suffocating sensation enveloping him. He knew this was a physiological reaction created by the shadows of his past life.

Finally, Feng Nanshu sat in the passenger seat, her clear eyes looking at him, and her cherry-red lips pressed together, looking exceptionally lively.

Unexpectedly…

The first person who ended up sitting in my passenger seat turned out to be her?!

Could this be… fate?!

Jiang Qin feigned seriousness, musing about the mysterious nature of destiny.

“My best friend, please fasten your seatbelt.”

“Okay.”

Feng Nanshu pulled down the seatbelt, clicked it into the buckle, her eyes clear and cold, sitting neatly and quietly.

Chapter 107: The Boss Lady Likes You

TL: Etude

After leaving the girls’ dormitory, the black Audi didn’t go far. It stopped at the square in front of the teaching building. After all, both occupants had a full schedule of classes in the afternoon, so going out for a drive wasn’t really feasible at the moment.

However, seeing that there was still some time before classes began, Jiang Qin took Feng Nanshu to the Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop.

“Do you want to go for some milk tea?” Feng Nanshu asked.

After hearing this, Jiang Qin shook his head. “We’re not here for milk tea. You’re the owner of Xi Tian, and although it’s a bit intimidating, you can’t always be absent.”

“I don’t even have my owner’s certificate,” Feng Nanshu remembered the issue about the certificate.

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but glance at her. “You’re always absent. Fang Xiaoxuan probably has forgotten about you being the boss. And you still want a certificate?”

“Then I’ll come here often from now on.”

As they were talking, they arrived at the entrance of the Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop.

The campus beauty contest was over, and the marketing heat had begun to wane, but the commercial atmosphere in the front square had indeed been stirred up, retaining many customers. The foot traffic was vastly different from before.

Fang Xiaoxuan’s excellent performance during the marketing phase had also proven her business capabilities, so Jiang Qin planned to promote her to manager and give her a raise.

But it was best to do this in the name of the little rich lady, as she was the nominal owner of the milk tea shop.

Upon entering, Jiang Qin saw three people.

One was Fang Xiaoxuan, and the other two were her recruits, Hu Xin and Chen Yong.

Hu Xin was originally a waitress in a restaurant on South Street, and Chen Yong was a university student on campus. Both were handpicked by Fang Xiaoxuan.

Xi Tian’s business was getting better, and the hot marketing phase had passed. It wasn’t fair to keep relying solely on Fang Xiaoxuan.

Moreover, if Xi Tian really wanted to open branches in other schools, Jiang Qin needed a few capable milk tea shop managers to run them.

Fang Xiaoxuan, having grown with Xi Tian from the start, was the obvious choice.

She was hardworking, sincere in her attitude, and efficient in her work. Jiang Qin saw all her strengths and intended to teach her how to manage a milk tea shop in preparation for the later franchise model.

She wasn’t a student of Linchuan University, so her time was more flexible. Being assigned to the Science and Technology University wouldn’t interfere with her studies, making her a suitable candidate.

However, Fang Xiaoxuan, good at making milk tea, lacked experience as a manager. So, Jiang Qin wanted to take advantage of the time before the branch plan started to train her more.

And learning how to recruit the right staff was something she needed to master quickly.

“Boss, boss lady, good afternoon,” Fang Xiaoxuan greeted Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu with a smile sweet as honey.

“How’s business lately?” Jiang Qin glanced around the shop casually.

Fang Xiaoxuan nodded, “It’s okay. It’s not as crazy as during the campus beauty contest, but it’s not far off.”

“How about these two part-timers? Are they doing well?”

“Hu Xin is doing fine, she’s quick to learn. Chen Yong didn’t have much experience before, so he’s still learning. But making milk tea isn’t a difficult job. He should adapt quickly.”

Jiang Qin nodded, not too picky about professional experience. “By the way, Xiaoxuan, we have an announcement to make today.”

“What is it, Boss?”

“Your boss lady thinks you’ve been working hard and responsibly lately, so she wants to promote you to manager of Xi Tian, with a twenty percent increase in salary.”

Feng Nanshu learned quickly, repeating what Jiang Qin taught: “Xiaoxuan, you must continue to work hard.”

“Thank you, Boss. Thank you, boss lady. I will definitely continue to work hard!” Joy was clearly visible on Fang Xiaoxuan’s face.

Her salary had already been raised once, and now it was raised again with a promotion. Her excitement was evident.

Taking advantage of her excitement, Jiang Qin also briefly discussed the next step of the plan with her.

“Xi Tian is about to open a branch at the Science and Technology University soon, and we need a qualified manager to lead the way. My idea is to recruit a new one, but your boss lady really likes you and suggests you go for some training.”

Feng Nanshu glanced at him, her eyelashes quivering slightly: “Jiang Qin is right.”

“I’m willing to go,” Fang Xiaoxuan agreed without hesitation.

“Don’t you want to think it over?”

“I don’t need to think it over. Wherever you ask me to go, I’ll go.”

Fang Xiaoxuan, who hadn’t attended much school, had always been hustling around for piecemeal jobs. She couldn’t find the best ones, the worst ones paid too little, and stability was the most important thing for her at the moment.

Xi Tian’s business had been so poor that it was on the brink of closing, and the previous owner was constantly sighing and talking about shutting down.

Fang Xiaoxuan had been prepared to be fired, never expecting that after a change in ownership, the business would revive and even start opening branches. Who would back out at such a time?

She didn’t quite understand what the boss and boss lady wanted to do, but she had the brains.

In just one month, they had made Xi Tian’s business boom to this extent, something not just anyone could achieve.

Fang Xiaoxuan had always hoped for a job with promotional opportunities, but her low education level meant her hard work wasn’t valued by others.

But now, being able to manage a branch, and possibly more in the future, was an opportunity not to be missed. If there’s an opportunity, take it; if not, create one.

Workers at the bottom might not have much education, but they understand very well what the word ‘future’ means.

Jiang Qin nodded: “Alright, since you’re willing, you’ll be our choice for the external assignment.”

“Boss, when exactly will I go to the branch?” Fang Xiaoxuan couldn’t help but ask.

Jiang Qin thought for a moment: “Next month, I suppose, but I can’t give you an exact date yet, as the location isn’t finalized. Just focus on your work here for now and try to train Hu Xin and Chen Yong as quickly as possible.”

Fang Xiaoxuan nodded: “Okay, Boss.”

“Keep it up,” Feng Nanshu said softly.

“Thank you, boss lady. You’re so kind.”

(boss lady can mean boss’s wife, since a lot of small businesses are family owned)

“So are you.” The little rich lady’s gaze twinkled.

At that moment, Fang Xiaoxuan felt that what the boss said was not just a courtesy. Her aloof boss lady might really like her a lot.

After leaving Xi Tian, Jiang Qin took Feng Nanshu to the teaching building.

The afternoon class was a joint session between Class 3 and Class 4, and it was the first time Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu attended a class together. They found the public classroom according to the timetable. Upon entering, the previously noisy laughter instantly quieted down.

Truth be told, the male students of the Finance Department were envious of Jiang Qin.

The girl who dazzled everyone at the start of the school year was always seen with Jiang Qin, as if he were the only man in the world. Others couldn’t even add her on QQ, which was infuriating.

But what could they do?

Everyone knew Feng Nanshu had two sides: one as cold as moonlight and distant to everyone. The other, lively, cute, and clingy, belonged only to Jiang Qin.

“Did you go on a date again?” Gao Wenhui asked with a face full of curiosity.

Jiang Qin spit back: “Why don’t you find someone to date? I find you’re quite focused on romance.”

“It’s no fun dating myself. It’s more interesting to watch others.”

“Right, that’s a solid point. Dating yourself is the least interesting. Better to watch a TV drama. At least you can skip to the last episode to see if it’s a happy or sad ending. That way, you can decide whether to follow it or not, rather than being upset over a bad ending and suffering yourself.”

Feng Nanshu sat quietly by the side, flipping through the first page of her textbook, showing little interest in the topic.

Jiang Qin had already sat up straight, ready for class.

It was okay to not understand advanced mathematics, but failing other subjects wasn’t as simple as retaking them. If he got expelled, Mrs. Yuan would break his legs.

Just then, Jiang Qin caught sight of someone.

Ren Ziqiang, sitting with Pan Xiu, both chatting and laughing animatedly.

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but feel surprised, wondering if a ‘licking dog’ really could have its day.

“Old Zhou, Old Zhou, why are Ren Ziqiang and Pan Xiu sitting together?”

Zhou Chao ran over excitedly: “Don’t you know? Ren Ziqiang confessed to Pan Xiu at noon today!”

“Did the lovers finally get together?” Jiang Qin was shocked.

Who would have thought Zhou Chao shook his head: “Pan Xiu said she wanted to be Ren Ziqiang’s sister.”

“Damn, so he’s ‘friendzoned’? That’s the end of it, right?” Jiang Qin’s eyes widened.

“Indeed, it’s the end. But Ren Ziqiang is happy. He says lovers often start as siblings, which gives him more chances than just being classmates.”

“…”

Jiang Qin smacked his lips, his eyes betraying a subtle but profound resistance.

Damn it, it’s because of examples like this that love is the most overrated thing in the world.

Chapter 108: The South Street Incident

TL: Etude

Jiang Qin realized that his soul really wasn’t suited for sitting upright in class anymore. He couldn’t get his focus back, and the drowsiness was becoming hard to resist.

“Feng Nanshu, pinch me.”

Feng Nanshu reached out and gently pinched him. “Does it hurt?”

Gao Wenhui couldn’t help but lean over. “Don’t be too gentle. Pinch hard, like how my mom does to my dad. Don’t grab too much flesh, just a little pinch at the most painful spot!”

“So, that’s how it’s done.” Feng Nanshu learned another little trick.

The next second, Jiang Qin grimaced in pain, instantly feeling more awake. “Gao Wenhui, can you not teach her everything? Feng Nanshu really learns it all!”

“Sorry.” Feng Nanshu quickly let go.

“It’s okay, keep doing it if you like. It’s quite effective.”

Gao Wenhui laughed. Watching others in love was indeed interesting. She was thoroughly invested!

Meanwhile, sitting behind them, Zhuang Chen glanced at Jian Chun and felt a stir in his heart. “Jian Chun, I’m a bit sleepy. Could you pinch me?”

“Just take a nap. I’ll keep an eye on the teacher for you,” Jian Chun softly spoke, her gaze not leaving the blackboard.

“Alright.”

Although Zhuang Chen didn’t get the physical contact he had hoped for, he felt quite satisfied. Watching over the teacher for him was a form of care, after all. Love is different for everyone; there’s no need to be concerned about how others interact.

In a daze of sleepiness, class finally ended. Jiang Qin went straight back to the dorm to catch up on some sleep.

He ended up sleeping until eight in the evening. When he woke up, it had started raining outside. The rain pattered against the window, filling the air with a damp, cold sensation.

Jiang Qin got dressed and went downstairs, planning to eat in the cafeteria, but unexpectedly received a call from Jiang Tian.

“Jiang Qin, can you drive to South Street?”

“I don’t want to go. You guys have fun.”

“It’s not about having fun. Someone’s been hit by a car. Can you come and help? Taxis can’t get into South Street, and we can’t find a ride.”

“Someone got hit?”

A minute later, Jiang Qin left the dorm, driving out of the school gate.

Meanwhile, in the deserted South Street, the rain poured down heavily, quickly forming streams on the road.

With no one coming out to eat, the street was desolate, only the neon signs of the shops reflecting bizarrely in the rain.

Jian Chun stood under a black awning, looking distressed.

She wasn’t supposed to bike through the pedestrian street, but because it looked like it was going to rain, she hurried to get back to the dorm, not expecting to knock over an old lady at an intersection.

She was panicking, but couldn’t help but resent Jiang Tian for rashly calling Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin was known for his biting remarks. She feared what he might say upon arriving.

Moreover, the old lady refused to go to the hospital, insisting on going home. Jian Chun thought calling Jiang Qin was useless and wished he didn’t have to know.

But actually, she didn’t understand that in such a situation, Jiang Tian and the others were also panicked and wanted someone reliable. That’s why Jiang Qin came to their minds first.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

Zhuang Chen stood under the awning, while Song Qingqing and Pan Xiu were continuously checking the old lady’s wounds to make sure she was okay.

The old lady wasn’t seriously injured, just a scraped hand and a sprained foot. Nothing else seemed amiss.

Soon, a black Audi drove through the rain curtain. Jiang Qin parked the car, opened an umbrella, and walked over.

“You changed your car?” Song Qingqing’s eyes lit up.

Jiang Qin nodded and went straight to Jiang Tian. “What’s the situation? How is the person who was hit? Is it serious?”

“It’s not serious. Jian Chun hit an old lady with her bicycle,” Jiang Tian reported truthfully.

“A bicycle?”

Jiang Qin’s heart, which had been in his throat, relaxed. He thought it was a serious car accident, but it turned out to be a bicycle accident. He wished they had been clearer in their explanation, considering how slippery the roads can be in the rain.

However, since he was already there, Jiang Qin didn’t complain much. “Then let’s not delay any further. Let’s go to the hospital.”

“The problem is the old lady doesn’t want to go to the hospital. She just wants us to leave, saying she’s fine.”

Jiang Qin frowned, thinking Jian Chun was really lucky. A bicycle accident without serious consequences usually just meant a hospital check-up and some medical expenses.

But if the old lady had been less reasonable, a small incident could have turned into a big problem. He hadn’t anticipated that she would refuse to go to the hospital and instead ask them to leave. She was indeed fortunate.

“This matter can be big or small. I suggest going to the hospital. At her age, a fall could easily lead to fractures.”

Jiang Qin advised Jiang Tian, then went under the awning to look at the old lady. She was thin and slightly hunched.

From her clothing and physical condition, it was clear her life was not easy. Her clothes were worn, and her hands were so thin that only the skin remained.

Jiang Qin observed that there wasn’t any serious injury, just a scraped hand and a bleeding wound on her heel.

“Old lady, can I take you to the hospital?”

The old lady immediately waved her hand. “I don’t need to go to the hospital. You should go back. You still have school.”

“It won’t take long. I can drive you. Just two or three hours,” Jiang Qin patiently persuaded her.

“Even two or three hours is too long. My son hasn’t eaten yet.”

“?”

Hearing this, everyone around was stunned. The old lady looked like she was in her sixties or seventies, and her son should be an adult. Why did he still need his mother to worry about his meals?

But the old lady was adamant about not going to the hospital and insisted on leaving. Reluctantly, Jiang Qin had Song Qingqing and Pan Xiu help her, and the group escorted the old lady home.

Under the drizzling rain, they led the old lady to a small alley at the end of South Street, arriving at a small fruit stand.

She pushed open the worn wooden door, revealing a small space with a wheelchair inside. Sitting in the wheelchair was a middle-aged man with a vacant expression, making only whimpering sounds, apparently paralyzed.

“You can go back now. I need to cook,” the old lady urged them again.

Jiang Qin told her not to cook. He asked Jiang Tian to buy some food from nearby shops and handed an umbrella to Zhuang Chen, giving him two hundred yuan to buy a box of milk and other necessities from the supermarket.

Watching Jiang Qin efficiently instruct everyone, Jian Chun was a bit dazed.

“Old lady, is this your son?”

“Yes.”

The old lady explained that she was a merchant on South Street, operating the small fruit stand in front of them. Her son was paralyzed and needed someone to feed him daily to survive.

She said the stall was provided free by the government as part of a poverty alleviation program, and the fruit was supplied by a kind-hearted wholesaler. They managed the small stand on South Street, earning just enough to get by.

After hearing this brief story, the girls from Class 3 were moved to tears, insisting on donating money to the old lady, who only accepted a hundred yuan.

“I may be poor, but I don’t beg. Just buy some ointment to apply, and that will be enough.”

“…”

Jiang Qin watched silently, feeling that Jian Chun had really encountered a kind soul. Otherwise, she would have definitely been in big trouble.

“Jiang Qin, is there any way we can help them?”

Jiang Tian looked at Jiang Qin with tearful eyes. She didn’t really know what Jiang Qin could do, especially since the old lady refused to take money, but she still couldn’t help asking, almost making it seem like Jiang Qin could do anything.

Jiang Qin indeed had a way to help. Considering the traffic on the forum, if he posted about the old lady’s situation, the kindness and enthusiasm of the university students would likely make her fruit stand very popular.

However, this act could potentially invite envy from other merchants.

Oh, we spend thousands on advertising, and she gets free publicity just because she’s pitiful?

Jiang Qin had seen too much of human nature in his past life. Not everyone sympathizes with those in suffering.

And suffering has an interesting way of finding those who are already suffering.

Additionally, there was another issue. South Street had a fruit supermarket that was in partnership with the forum. If he really helped the old lady by advertising for her, it would be like violating a contract.

Being kind-hearted is one thing, but it shouldn’t be exercised recklessly.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Qin took out his phone and called Cao Guangyu, the second most popular user on the forum, known as the Unpretentious Young Master Cao.

Old Cao was not affiliated with the website, and his posts on the forum didn’t have a direct relationship with its commercial partnerships.

Moreover, Old Cao was popular!

Despite his posts being abstract, each one attracted criticism, which was a skill in itself.

The situation needed his intervention; otherwise, there was no good solution.

“Old Cao, where are you?”

“At an internet cafe on South Street? Perfect. Come out, walk towards the back, turn in where you see the public bathhouse sign, and find ‘Huimin Fruit Stand.’ I’ll wait for you here.”

After hearing this, Jian Chun bit her lip, not wanting this matter to become widely known. “Why are you calling Cao Guangning?”

“It’s Guangyu,” Jiang Qin corrected her with a glance. “Didn’t you go to school?”

“…”

Old Cao arrived quickly, annoyed at his interrupted game, and told Jiang Qin, “You’d better have a good reason for this!”

Jiang Qin explained the situation, and upon seeing the scene, Old Cao fell silent.

“You’re a big name on the forum with a strong influence. If you post about this, you might help her. But it could also ruin your online persona, and you might even get criticized, with people asking why a rich second generation like you doesn’t just give her money. Think about it. Helping is a favor; not helping is your right.”

“Then… I’ll try.”

Jiang Qin looked at him. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, trying doesn’t cost money,” Cao Guangyu nodded.

“Alright, Old Cao, I didn’t expect you to have such a good side, being so kind.”

Old Cao spat. “I had to leave my game unfinished because of you.”

“Then it’s decided. I’ll have them draft something for you, and you just post it on the forum.”

“Should I write it myself?”

Jiang Qin was surprised. “Are you sure?”

“Well, I am a student of Linchuan University. I do have some writing skills.”

Chapter 109: The Romance Simulation Game

TL: Etude

After returning to Linchuan University from South Street, Jiang Qin led them straight to the Room 208 of the Entrepreneurship Center.

Jian Chun and her friends had never been to the Entrepreneurship Center before. Initially, they were puzzled about why they were there. However, when they heard everyone in room 208 collectively calling someone “boss,” their minds went blank. It took them a long time to regain their senses as they looked around room 208, their hearts pounding rapidly.

“Old Cao, just write it according to your idea.”

“Feiyu, since you study journalism, you’ll do the final editing. I believe with you and Old Cao working together, you’ll be unbeatable.”

“Jinrui, once Old Cao’s post is written and uploaded, help him make it a sticky post. Aim to get more people to see it, but don’t label it as a sticky post, just mark it as trending.”

Jiang Qin methodically instructed the on-duty staff, arranging all subsequent tasks. Then, he asked the girls from Class 3 to find a seat and review the post for any additional details that might be needed.

There are many people suffering in the world, and this was all he could do to help.

“I’ll step out for a bit, write well.”

“Okay, I got it.”

Cao Guangyu’s fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard, his writing flowing like a spring, seemingly deeply moved by the old lady’s story.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin slipped out of the office to the main office to find Director Yan, to see if he had left work yet and to listen again to the details of the story from last time.

The path of development was the same, and the direction was similar, so he had to fully understand this story to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

Most importantly, he needed to find out what incorrect information Director Yan had given that led to the website’s downfall. He had to clarify this to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

But he was overthinking it.

It was already so late; which professor wouldn’t have left work?

So, he didn’t find anyone.

But since he was there, Jiang Qin chatted with Cao Xinyue, who was on duty.

Sister Cao’s love life was quite sweet. She had received another gift from her boyfriend today, not a store-bought item but a ceramic cup he had made himself. She treasured it immensely, which made Jiang Qin feel a bit sour.

His sourness was not because he longed for a sweet romance, but purely out of concern that Cao Xinyue might get hurt.

Sister Cao was a good person, and he could only hope that the man she liked was also a good person.

However, he heard that her boyfriend was not from their university, but from another school. Whether their relationship could truly succeed was uncertain, and Jiang Qin could only silently wish them well.

When he returned from the main office, Old Cao’s post had already been edited by Lu Feiyu and then manipulated by Wen Jinrui, making it a top post on the website.

The forum had a lot of traffic. Old Cao was quite infamous, and combined with the front-page sticky, the post instantly attracted countless replies.

“Is this true?”

“I know about this, I’ve seen that grandma too. I always buy apples from her, they’re big and sweet.”

“Holy crap, isn’t this Young Master Cao, the scoundrel? I can hardly believe this change in style!”

“It really is Young Master Cao. He’s actually got a conscience now. Then he’s definitely not a rich second-generation!”

“It’s so heartbreaking to read. If you want to eat fruits, go to grandma’s place, it’s not expensive!”

“Do they have oranges? I’ll go buy two pounds of oranges tomorrow!”

“How come Young Master Cao’s style has changed so quickly? I’m not even used to not scolding him!”

“What you wrote today is quite good. Alright, I’ll spare you for now!”

Cao Guangyu looked at the comments on the post, feeling somewhat dazed. He thought to himself that although these trolls were still cursing, their tone seemed to have softened a lot, with many even encouraging him. Even those who usually threatened him said they wouldn’t bother him anymore.

Old Cao felt an indescribable sense of achievement and unexpected warmth in his heart.

“Alright, we’ve done enough for today. The actual impact will only be known after it develops overnight. Everyone, go back and sleep.”

After Jiang Qin finished speaking, he suddenly noticed a box of green grapes on the table. Looking up, he saw that Lu Feiyu, Wen Jinrui, Lu Xuemei, and Dong Miaomiao’s desks also had a box of green grapes each, along with strawberries and other fruits, offering a wide variety.

“Who bought these fruits? Why didn’t I get any?”

“The boss lady bought them!” Wen Jinrui sweetly replied.

Jiang Qin laughed, thinking they were making up stories. That naive and cute little lady wouldn’t know such tactics to win people’s hearts. “Stop kidding, who really bought them?”

Su Nai raised her head: “It’s really the boss lady. She came here after school this afternoon and bought a lot of fruits for us to eat. Boss, your boss lady is much more generous than you.”

“?!”

Jiang Qin was bewildered, wondering if the ‘boss lady’ they were talking about was the same person he had in mind.

…

Late at night, as she left the Entrepreneurship Center, Jian Chun’s mind was still in a daze.

She knew about the campus beauty contest and had even signed up for it. She was also aware of the popularity of the Xi Tian Tea Shop and had visited it several times.

In last Wednesday’s economics class, the teacher had used this as an example, saying that this person was full of ideas and capable, bold yet meticulous, and unstoppable. He also mentioned that this person would not stop there.

But she had never imagined that Jiang Qin was the boss of the website.

That frivolous man?

No, was he really frivolous?

Jian Chun couldn’t help but recall the scene in South Street, where Jiang Qin had immediately taken control of the situation, arranging for someone to buy food, instructing Zhuang Chen to get milk, and inquiring about the incident. He handled everything meticulously and securely.

If it were her…

No, if it were anyone else present, they couldn’t have done it so thoroughly.

Realizing this, Jian Chun turned her head to find Song Qingqing, Jiang Tian, and Pan Xiu also in a daze, their eyes filled with disbelief.

“Jiang Qin is the boss of Zhihu?”

“Jiang Qin driving the Audi single-handedly was so cool!”

“I heard Zhihu made over five hundred thousand just from advertising fees last month.”

“He’s rich and capable, my god, my idol is so charming!”

As they were talking, a dark shadow suddenly appeared, racing towards them on a bicycle. It was Zhuang Chen, drenched from the rain.

He was originally heading towards the dormitory, but upon seeing Jian Chun, he quickly turned, drifting while braking, looking incredibly cool.

There’s no helping it; a nice guy resembles a dog.

It’s okay to cram six people into a car, but not one more. That’s the way of a nice guy. He has to be courteous and say, “You go first, I can go back alone.” He has to say, “It’s okay, don’t worry about me.”

So why are warm guys not as good as bootlickers?

If a bootlicker really loses all shame, maybe he can gain some advantage, but a warm guy can’t. He has to be courteous and gentlemanly, and in the end, gets nothing.

“Chun Chun, why are you guys here?” Zhuang Chen got off his bike, looking concerned.

“Jiang Qin brought us here.” Jian Chun’s voice trembled slightly when she mentioned Jiang Qin’s name.

Zhuang Chen didn’t ask further, instead expressing some reproach: “He didn’t even escort you to the dormitory, not gentlemanly at all. How about I take you back?”

“Forget it, it’s raining heavily, you go back first. I don’t want to talk, my mind is a bit confused,” Jian Chun said, not giving Zhuang Chen a chance to speak further, and walked away.

“…”

Watching Jian Chun leave, Zhuang Chen sighed softly but didn’t feel too disappointed.

He thought Jian Chun must have been greatly shocked and was understandably distraught.

So, Zhuang Chen got back on his bike and headed towards the male dormitory. When he reached the dorm building, he didn’t hurry back but went to room 302 and handed Jiang Qin two hundred yuan.

Jiang Qin naturally accepted the money for the milk and ointment he had advanced for the old lady.

“From Jian Chun?”

“It’s from me.” Zhuang Chen smiled with narrowed eyes.

Jiang Qin rubbed the collar of his shirt and couldn’t help but laugh: “She hit someone, and you pay the money. What kind of move is that?”

“My relationship with Jian Chun is like yours with Feng Nanshu, inseparable.”

“…”

Jiang Qin gave him a warm smile as encouragement, thinking to himself that his brother really should take a walk on a construction site sometime, otherwise he was bound to waste away.

Love is such that the onlooker sees clearly while the involved are lost. Others can’t save them; they can only save themselves.

Zhuang Chen didn’t stay long in room 302 and left soon after with a faint smile, mirroring the expression of Ren Ziqiang lying on his bed.

How intriguing.

Jiang Qin poured out the water and saw Cao Guangyu still typing as he passed by the bed.

“What are you doing?”

“Just chatting with a forum user.”

“…”

The next morning, the rain had stopped at some unknown time, leaving the air clear and bright.

The morning class was a joint session with Class 4, so Jiang Qin arrived early at the classroom and saw Feng Nanshu wearing a white sweater, sitting quietly beside her was the “canine strategist,” Gao Wenhui.

“You went to 208 yesterday? And bought fruits?” Jiang Qin sat next to Feng Nanshu.

Feng Nanshu nodded: “Yes, I did.”

Jiang Qin found it incredible: “Impossible, you shouldn’t be able to do something like this. Did someone teach you?”

After hearing this, Gao Wenhui burst into laughter: “Of course, I taught her. Shouldn’t a boss lady often visit the company? What if there are female secretaries wearing black stockings around the boss? Besides, what’s wrong with buying some fruits for our own employees?”

“…”

Jiang Qin suddenly realized that Gao Wenhui was not just into shipping couples; she treated their relationship like a romance simulation game: “Gao Wenhui, I advise you to mind your own business.”

“What’s wrong?” Gao Wenhui looked defiant.

“Feng Nanshu, don’t listen to her.”

“Okay.”

Feng Nanshu turned to Gao Wenhui: “Gao Wenhui, I won’t listen to you anymore.”

“What a perfect couple!” Gao Wenhui exclaimed enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Chen, sitting behind them, handed a warm cup of milk to Jian Chun and then sat down, trying to find a topic to talk about. However, he noticed Jian Chun was staring blankly at Jiang Qin’s back, her face showing confusion, irritation, and a sense of loss.

“Chun Chun, what’s wrong?” Zhuang Chen couldn’t help but ask.

Jian Chun came back to her senses: “Nothing, I was just thinking about the old lady from yesterday. I wonder how she’s doing now.”

“Let’s go check on her after class. But don’t get your hopes up too high. The forum post refreshes faster than my messages to you, and without any explosive content, it probably sank already.”

Chapter 110: The Fear of Comparison Among Men

TL: Etude

As the noon class ended, Jiang Qin rose and announced his departure, followed closely by Feng Nanshu, who hurried after him.

This scene evoked a bitter sentiment among most of the male students. Their discomfort stemmed not only from Jiang Qin’s inexplicable charm that attracted the aloof and graceful Feng Nanshu but also from a more crucial point: why were some girls, far less attractive than Feng Nanshu, also far less amiable?

It seemed only fair to possess at least one of two qualities.

If not blessed with beauty, couldn’t one at least emulate Feng Nanshu’s charm and obedience? And if one was temperamental and unreasonable, couldn’t they compensate with physical attractiveness?

Yet, Feng Nanshu embodied both traits: she was both charming, obedient, and beautiful, exclusively engaging with Jiang Qin, a man of no remarkable distinction. This stark contrast was painfully evident.

“I really want to know the story between Feng Nanshu and Jiang Qin. I can’t comprehend why she’s so attached to him,” said Zhang Guangxu, a dorm mate of Zhuang Chen, unable to hold back his curiosity.

Zhuang Chen replied with a faint smile, “Indeed. Apart from being wealthy, Jiang Qin doesn’t seem to have any other merits. But wealth isn’t really a merit, is it, Chun Chun?”

“What counts as a merit, then?” Jian Chun asked indifferently.

Zhuang Chen was momentarily perplexed.

He knew Jian Chun always disdained the stereotypes of the wealthy, frivolous, or sleazy. Yet, why did she suddenly consider wealth a merit? Slightly irritated, Jian Chun suggested, “Let’s hurry to the cafeteria for lunch, and then you can accompany me to South Street to visit the old lady.”

“Okay, I’ll carry your books.”

After lunch, under the bright autumn sun, Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu leisurely made their way to South Street, heading towards the alley at the very end.

By then, a crowd had already gathered at the entrance of Huimin Fruit Shop. The fruits had been sold out since early morning. People even requested to buy the apple crates for storing old books, but the elderly owner refused to sell them or accept any donations.

Jian Chun, Zhuang Chen, Song Qingqing, Jiang Tian, and Cao Guangyu had arrived earlier, all moved by the scene before them.

“Popularity is king,” Jiang Qin thought, reminded of the fan-economy of the future.

Hearing the word ‘king,’ Cao Guangyu’s eyes lit up, puffing up his chest, “I haven’t really put in my full effort yet.”

“Old Cao, you boast so confidently, yet when it comes to real action, you accomplished something significant. Don’t you feel any enlightenment?” Jiang Qin glanced at him.

“When did I ever boast?” Cao Guangyu retorted, unconvinced.

Jiang Qin replied with a look, “If you never boasted, why are you still single?”

Cao Guangyu was about to respond, “Aren’t you also…” but stopped mid-sentence upon seeing Feng Nanshu, radiant and enchanting next to Jiang Qin, and wisely closed his mouth.

Yes, these two were always known as just friends.

Yet, many couples who were inseparably close often envied their way of interaction. The reason was apparent without saying.

“Comparing oneself to others can be disheartening.”

“What?” Jiang Qin was momentarily puzzled.

Cao Guangyu spat, “Nothing, I’ll find someone too!”

Meanwhile, Jian Chun stood quietly to the side, listening to Jiang Qin and Cao Guangyu’s conversation, her eyes reflecting a mix of complex and indiscernible emotions.

There were two boys she disliked the most since her arrival at Linchuan University.

The first was the frivolous Jiang Qin, and the second was the greasy Cao Guangyu.

She felt that neither of these two men were as good as Zhuang Chen, who was polite and gentlemanly. However, as things stood, she realized that being a gentleman didn’t seem to hold much value after all.

Yesterday, during the accident, Zhuang Chen had gone pale, repeating the words “Are you okay?” over and over. But looking back, she realized he was more flustered than herself, only able to express concern verbally without really being able to do anything.

Some people are indeed good with details but fall short when it comes to handling major issues…

While others might not be as meticulous in everyday matters, they are decisive and clear-headed when it matters most.

This contrast was painfully striking, leaving Jian Chun at a loss for words, unsure of how to face Zhuang Chen, who had always liked her.

She felt uncomfortable realizing that Zhuang Chen was not only inferior to Jiang Qin but now seemed even less competent than Cao Guangyu.

“Chun Chun, let’s go. The old lady is fine now,” Zhuang Chen said softly.

Jian Chun nodded, “Yes, let’s go. We’re not needed here anymore.”

At that moment, a ripping sound was heard. Everyone turned to see Jiang Qin tearing apart an apple crate, revealing a plain, unprinted side.

He whispered something to Feng Nanshu, who obediently took out a pen from her bag and wrote two characters on one side and two different characters on the other.

“One side says ‘Open for Business’, the other ‘Sold Out’.”

After Feng Nanshu finished writing, she darkened the characters and handed them to Jiang Qin, who then drew a circle under “Open for Business” and a cross under “Sold Out.”

“Old lady, hang this on your door. Flip to the circle when you have fruits for sale, and to the cross when you’re sold out. This way, people won’t keep knocking on your door, and you won’t have to keep explaining,” Jiang Qin advised.

“That makes sense. I understand now,” the old lady said, looking at the sign. “I may not be able to read, but the writing is beautiful, and so is the person who wrote it.”

Feng Nanshu’s eyes sparkled, “You’re a good person.”

“You all are good people,” the old lady said, her eyes misty.

The female students from the Finance Class 3 were all silent at this scene.

Hanging signs like ‘Open for Business’ and ‘Sold Out’ were common business practices, but at that moment, aside from Jiang Qin, no one else had thought of doing it.

Yes, increased foot traffic and a wider customer base were good, but having to repeatedly explain when out of stock was a disturbance, especially for an elderly person.

Hanging a sign like this made everything clear at a glance, eliminating the need for further explanation.

Most importantly, Jiang Qin had considered that the old lady couldn’t read and used simple, understandable symbols to convey different messages.

Jian Chun fell silent too.

Some people are not only capable of handling significant issues but also adept at managing details; it all depends on whether they want to or not.

Jian Chun turned to Zhuang Chen, “Do you now see what merits Jiang Qin has besides being wealthy?”

“Hmm, he does have some clever ideas,” Zhuang Chen admitted with a hint of admiration.

…

In the following two days, Jiang Qin kept visiting the general office, accompanying Professor Yan in tea drinking, gardening, and sunbathing. However, the professor remained tight-lipped about his past failed venture, unwilling to divulge more.

Jiang Qin knew Professor Yan had his shadows.

Everyone in this world has their own shadows.

He had his too, and he was also reluctant to speak of them.

Nevertheless, Professor Yan was quite happy. Having a young person to chat and drink tea with made his otherwise monotonous work hours much more enjoyable.

Additionally, Professor Yan was puzzled by something. Although Jiang Qin was only an eighteen-year-old young man, his way of speaking and acting was exceptionally adept, showing no signs of immaturity. Instead, he possessed a maturity far beyond his years.

Even though he sometimes acted inappropriately, cracking various jokes, these could also be seen as a form of adult humor, piquing curiosity.

In the evening, with the sky awash in sunset hues, Jiang Qin accompanied Professor Yan for a walk around the sports field before returning to the general office.

There, a delicate gift box lay in front of Cao Xingyue, adorned with a card that read, “Chen Anhua loves Cao Xingyue.”

“Wow, senior sister, did you receive another sweet little gift from your boyfriend?”

“Jealous, aren’t you?”

Cao Xingyue turned around with a smug look, but upon noticing Professor Yan behind her, she quickly glared at Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin chuckled, then escorted Professor Yan off work and returned to the general office to chat with Cao Xingyue.

“Senior sister, what projects had Professor Yan supervised before?”

Cao Xingyue pondered, “I’m not sure. I joined after the professor was rehired. In these two years, besides your website, I haven’t really seen any significant entrepreneurial projects.”

“Is that so…” Jiang Qin felt a bit disappointed and then turned to ask about a drama-loving senior colleague who seemed absent lately.

“He quit.”

“Why?”

Cao Xingyue lowered her voice, “Professor Yan gave me a very important recommendation. He felt it was pointless to stay.”

“So it’s just you here now? That must be tough.”

Jiang Qin knew that, though the entrepreneurship center lacked notable projects, it was still inundated daily with students submitting applications for credit. Just the preliminary sorting of these forms was exhausting.

“Professor Yan has requested additional help from the university. They’ll assign two junior sisters to assist me soon. But speaking of this, I owe you thanks. If it weren’t for your project, I might not have received this opportunity.”

Jiang Qin was surprised, “How is that related to me?”

“Your project is the one I’m in charge of, and it’s been the most successful in recent years,” Cao Xingyue said, her mood visibly lifted.

Jiang Qin nodded, glanced at the porcelain cup she received as a gift, and then at Cao Xingyue’s smile, “Do girls really get so happy receiving gifts?”

Cao Xingyue looked up at him, “Weren’t you the one who said you’re not into dating? Why suddenly interested in this?”

“I never said I want to give anyone a gift. Just a pure inquiry,” Jiang Qin replied nonchalantly.

“Alright, I’ll tell you. Whether it makes one happy depends on who sends it and what it is. As long as it’s a meaningful gift from someone you like, no girl would be unhappy.”

After a moment of thought, Jiang Qin asked, “What if it’s just a simple gift?”

Cao Xingyue scoffed, “Who would give a gift just for the sake of it?”

“…”