WWFILABR 61 to 70

 Chapter 61: Love, My Foot!

TL: Etude

On a sweltering summer night, an old fan whirred tirelessly above the door frame, buzzing rhythmically.

This buzzing subtly masked the presence of mosquitoes, biting unsuspectedly, much to the irritation of Cao Guangyu, who cursed loudly in frustration.

Jiang Qin also suffered a few bites but had no time for cursing. He quickly scratched a cross on each welt with his fingernail, then resumed his focus on the data bars in the administrator’s backend on his computer screen. Barely a moment had passed when the computer’s side speaker emitted a series of beeps, and Feng Nanshu’s QQ avatar, a silly-looking tabby cat, popped up in the bottom right corner of the screen.

“Good night.”

“?”

Jiang Qin glanced at the time and saw it was only eight o’clock in the evening. Looking outside, the sky was just dimly dark, and the outlines of poplar trees were still visible. How could someone of Feng Nanshu’s young age fall asleep so early?

And more so, why send a random “good night” without any prior conversation? Nevertheless, he didn’t dwell on it, replying with a “good night” and a waving hand emoji.

“Are you going to bed so early?” came Feng Nanshu’s reply.

Jiang Qin was momentarily startled, his fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard, “Weren’t you the one who said good night?”

“Oh.”

“Get some sleep if you’re tired. We have military training tomorrow. Don’t stay up late.”

Feng Nanshu was silent for a minute before sending another message: “Jiang Qin, there are people singing under our dormitory building. The joyous sparrows are ‘sleeping’ naked on the telephone poles.”

Jiang Qin replied, “It must be noisy, right? College students’ hormones go wild at night. You’ll see it often in the future. Just close your door, and you probably won’t hear them.”

“Oh.”

“Sleep well.”

After a brief silence, Feng Nanshu responded, “Wenhui said the carps in Moonwatch Lake have grown so big they’re almost mythical.”

Jiang Qin replied, “Impossible. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, no mythical beings are allowed. Even the Inspiration King (fish monster from Journey to the West) would have to lay low in the lake.”

“Okay then.”

“Good night. Apply some Six God (mosquito repellent) before sleeping, the mosquitoes seem especially fierce tonight.”

Meanwhile, in room 503 of the girls’ dormitory building 7, Gao Wenhui sat beside Feng Nanshu, scratching her head in agitation and clicking her tongue in disbelief.

What century’s pure love drama was this? You miss him but don’t dare to say it directly, resorting to various tests?

Too sci-fi!

Feng Nanshu, oh Feng Nanshu, you look like a fairy, beautiful enough to cause calamity. Can’t you be a bit bolder? Like Daji or Baosi, weren’t they all brave? (famous Chinese consorts)

If I had your looks, I’d find a hundred men, gather them in a group, and play the love game.

“Nanshu, give me your phone. I’ll help you.”

“?

Feng Nanshu lifted her clear eyes in confusion, looking at Gao Wenhui, but still obediently handed over her phone.

Gao Wenhui had never been in a relationship either, but that didn’t stop her from indulging in romance novels, especially the recent “You Are the Colors of the Human World,” from which she gleaned plenty of tactics, knowing full well the adage that coquettish women lead the best lives.

“I—miss—you—”

Before Gao Wenhui could finish typing, Feng Nanshu swiftly snatched the phone back and held it protectively, eyeing her with a wary gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t miss him.”

“You do.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Trust me, you definitely miss him.”

Feng Nanshu clutched her phone, a slight frown creasing her beautiful brows, “I just want Jiang Qin to take me out for a walk.”

Gao Wenhui wore a mischievous grin, “That feeling is missing someone. Why else wouldn’t you want other guys to take you out? Isn’t it because he’s your only boyfriend?” Feng Nanshu puffed her chest out with pride, her stance firm and righteous.

Suddenly, Fan Shuling removed her book from in front of her face, “Wenhui, stop leading her astray. Why pine over such a jerk? She’s just bored and wants to go out. Nanshu, where do you want to go? I’ll accompany you after I finish this chapter.”

Feng Nanshu patted her pillow, “I’m a bit sleepy, I think I’ll go to bed.”

Fan Shuling was baffled, “??????”

Gao Wenhui couldn’t help but laugh, thinking to herself that Nanshu should be under the car, not in it. She then turned to Feng Nanshu, “Nanshu, men are often oblivious. If you don’t spell things out for them, they’ll never understand.”

Just then, Feng Nanshu’s phone lit up, displaying a new message from Jiang Qin.

“Come out, I’m downstairs at your dorm. The supermarket across the street seems lively, let’s go have a look.”

Gao Wenhui glanced at the message and exclaimed in shock, “He understood without you saying anything? Damn, isn’t this too sweet?!”

“I’m going to the supermarket now,” Feng Nanshu stated coolly.

“Wait for me, I’m coming too. I broke my earphones last night, so I need to buy a high-fidelity pair at the supermarket.”

Gao Wenhui kicked off her slippers, put on sneakers, and followed out, her voice echoing in the corridor, “How could he possibly guess you wanted him to take you out? This is unscientific!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin, dressed in a black t-shirt and shorts, stood under the girls’ dormitory building, swatting mosquitoes and reviewing their chat history on his phone.

Jiang Qin, there’s singing under my dormitory.

That must mean you want me to come down and listen to the music with you. A good opportunity to meet you.

Wenhui says the carps in Moonwatch Lake have grown big enough to become mythical.

That must mean you want me to take you to Moonwatch Lake, the same place we went last time, where you even touched my foot.

Sure, it’s not about dating, but what’s wrong with hanging out with friends? She’s just a cute and pretty friend.

Why worry about friendship turning into something else? Nanshu is so naive and innocent, she doesn’t even understand why men like to look at breasts, let alone know anything about love.

“Jiang Qin!”

Lost in thought, Jiang Qin was suddenly approached by a triumphant Gao Wenhui, “I just taught Feng Nanshu some tips about dating. You should thank me later.”

Jiang Qin’s face darkened, “You and your misguided advice!”

“?????”

At the same time, Feng Nanshu emerged from the dorm, dressed in a black lettered T-shirt and a grey and white checkered skirt. Under the warm light of the street lamp, her face looked radiant, her lips red, her teeth white, and her skin seemed almost dewy.

Gao Wenhui glanced at her, then at herself.

Pink loose pajama pants, okay, ugly enough, but the sleep shirt was dark green and didn’t match the pants.

Her mind went blank, thinking, “Feng Nanshu, are you playing me? No wonder you didn’t change into pajamas after returning to the dorm. You were secretly waiting, ready to leave as soon as he arrived, weren’t you?”Chapter 62: I Can’t Take It Anymore!

TL: Etude

“Feng Nanshu is really beautiful, Jiang Qin, you’re really lucky,” someone said.

Jiang Qin snapped out of his daze, looking away from the beautiful face before him. “Gao Wenhui, you’re not bad yourself.”

“Oh, come on, I know my place. I’m not even in the same league as Feng Nanshu!” Gao Wenhui pouted.

Jiang Qin’s eyebrows shot up, his expression turning serious. “Nonsense! As a proud female university student, you should never belittle yourself. I think you and Feng Nanshu together would be a picture of beauty and grace.”

“Really?” Gao Wenhui felt flattered and thought to herself that Jiang Qin should speak his mind more often.

Jiang Qin nodded firmly. “Look at our little rich lady. Even after military training, she’s still as radiant and fair as jade, isn’t she?”

“Well, that’s true. But if that’s the case, does that mean I’m the beautiful flower here?”

Gao Wenhui realized something was off right after she spoke. ‘Ruhua’ was the name of an ugly character from the movie “Hail the Judge,” popular among college students since its 1994 release. The name ‘Ruhua’ had since become synonymous with ugliness, and everyone knew it. Was Jiang Qin implying she was ‘Ruhua’?

“Jiang Qin, are you insinuating that I’m ugly? I’m never going to help Feng Nanshu with her love life again!”

“That’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for you to say! Let’s make it a promise!”

Before Gao Wenhui could react, Jiang Qin raised his hands and hooked his little finger with hers. “I swear, if anyone teaches her about love again, they’ll stay single for life!”

“That’s just cruel!”

Gao Wenhui was stunned. Offering relationship advice was her passion, and the thought of not guiding the pure Feng Nanshu was unbearable.

But Jiang Qin ignored her protests, content with the thought that as long as no one taught Feng Nanshu about love, all would be well.

Why should they focus on love? Friendship was just as precious.

He feared that if Feng Nanshu learned about love and one day confessed to him with innocent and clear eyes, he wouldn’t be able to resist. Jiang Qin was confident in his career aspirations, focusing on earning money since his rebirth, but he had his weaknesses.

If Feng Nanshu ever confessed to him, he doubted he could resist. She was incredibly beautiful and also a kind-hearted rich girl, which was his Achilles’ heel.

However, Jiang Qin harbored an unexplainable fear of love. He didn’t believe he was mentally prepared to love someone.

So, the best course of action was to keep the little rich lady from becoming too curious about love.

What was this strategy? It was the wisdom of not falling into the trap of love.

Love was too taxing on the body, only a fool would repeat the same mistakes.

“Little rich girl, hurry up. After we finish shopping, I need to go to sleep.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Feng Nanshu hurriedly responded, running from under the streetlights. Her skirt fluttered, revealing her fair and slender legs, a breathtaking sight under the dim night sky.

…

The university’s supermarket was always bustling in the evenings, especially between eight and ten at night. The area was crowded, as the supermarket’s back door led to Front Square of the campus. With an outdoor seating area and a milk tea bar nearby, it was a popular social spot.

At Linchuan University, students maintained an unspoken understanding regarding relationships. Those looking for love would socialize in Front Square, new couples would talk about their life dreams on the sports field, and those deeply in love would sneak into the small woods behind the comprehensive building. Everyone had their space.

The little rich lady, despite her mild social anxiety, became visibly nervous in crowded places. Since entering the supermarket, she had been following closely behind Jiang Qin, not straying an inch.

Her delicate features attracted the attention of many university students, leading to whispers all around.

“Jiang Qin, I want that,” she pointed out.

“Alright, let your lifelong good friend buy you a colorful cotton candy,” Jiang Qin said generously as he handed two yuan to the part-time female college student behind the counter. The student looked puzzled, wondering why he emphasized the ‘friend’ status despite being with such a beautiful girl.

But Feng Nanshu seemed delighted upon hearing this, her pretty eyes lighting up instantly.

After buying the cotton candy, Jiang Qin led Feng Nanshu out the back door and found a relatively quiet corner in the plaza to sit down.

Holding the cotton candy, Feng Nanshu licked it gently, her pink tongue flickering in and out of her cherry-red lips.

“Jiang Qin, can good friends really stay together for a lifetime?” Feng Nanshu asked, tilting her head and peering at him with her clear eyes from behind the cotton candy.

Jiang Qin touched his nose, uncertain. “I guess they can.”

“Then, when I get old, I’ll still be eating cotton candy you buy for me,” Feng Nanshu half-promised.

“When you’re old, you might not like cotton candy anymore.”

Under her plaintive gaze, Jiang Qin tore a piece of the candy and ate it. “But if you still want it when you’re old, just call me. I’ll come get it for you, even if I have to wheel myself there in a wheelchair!”

Feng Nanshu responded with an “Oh,” but she didn’t seem as happy as expected. “Will we still not be living together when we’re old?”

“Why aren’t you concerned about why I’ll be in a wheelchair when I’m old?”

“Eh??”

Jiang Qin frowned. “I’m talking about being in a wheelchair, and you’re still thinking about your cotton candy? Feng Nanshu, do you even have a conscience?”

Feng Nanshu was dumbfounded. “I do have a conscience…”

“Then why don’t you ask why I’ll be in a wheelchair?”

“I… I didn’t think of that.”

“See? Love is a scary thing. Never fall in love. If you do, life will be full of such confusing twists and turns, impossible to guard against.”

A hint of fear flickered in Feng Nanshu’s eyes. “I understand.”

“Good girl.”

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but smile, thinking to himself that Gao Wenhui should come and see whether she could teach faster than he could dismantle.

“But Wenhui said friends can’t stay good forever, only lovers have a chance,” Feng Nanshu couldn’t help but add.

Jiang Qin scoffed at this. “Nonsense. The end result for most lovers is either not seeing each other again or even becoming enemies. A lifetime? That’s too sci-fi.”

“Oh.”Chapter 63: Test of Love

TL: Etude

“What are you two talking about?”

Gao Wenhui, with newly bought headphones, squeezed out of the crowded area and plopped down next to Feng Nanshu.

“I’m educating Feng Nanshu on the most advanced love knowledge.”

“You didn’t let me teach, and now you’re doing it secretly? Oh, I get it, you’re into the nurturing game!”

With a cold smile, Gao Wenhui retorted, “Sly dog, you really have many tricks up your sleeve.”

Feng Nanshu finished the last bit of cotton candy and looked up with her moist eyes, “Wenhui, what’s this ‘nurturing game’?”

“There are always some naive girls in the world, clueless about love, like a blank slate, yet they tend to trust others easily. Some men exploit this, molding them into shapes they prefer. That’s what ‘nurturing’ means.”

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but twitch his mouth, thinking, “What’s wrong with you, Gao? Why is every sentence so suggestive? Aren’t you supposed to be focusing on your postgraduate studies?”

Feng Nanshu understood this simplistic explanation, but felt it was irrelevant to her, “Wenhui, I’ve never met such girls.”

“You are exactly that kind of girl.”

“…”

Feng Nanshu was struck as if by lightning, “Am I really that foolish?”

Gao Wenhui frowned, “This ‘foolishness’ doesn’t mean stupid. It describes someone who’s slow in matters of the heart, taking a long time even to recognize their own feelings.”

“When did I ever feel that way?”

“Your heart’s already fluttering, okay?”

Jiang Qin couldn’t resist interrupting, “Gao Wenhui, stop teaching already. My little rich lady scored 671 in her college entrance exam. Dare you call her foolish? What did you score?”

“I also got six hundred… well, anyway, less than her.”

Jiang Qin scoffed and turned to Feng Nanshu, “She’s never been in a relationship but acts like a teacher. You’d definitely be misled!”

Gao Wenhui felt a sore spot hit, “Though I’ve never been in a relationship, I think I understand more than Feng Nanshu!”

“Fine, let me ask you a question. Your boyfriend sees a beautiful bouquet of flowers on his way to the hospital but doesn’t buy them for you. What would you do after finding out?”

“How can that be okay? Why wouldn’t he buy them for me? Love needs little gifts to stay fresh. I think I’d directly ask him why and then decide whether to forgive him.” Gao Wenhui was fully immersed, already beginning to get angry.

Jiang Qin mocked, “Let the little rich lady answer.”

Feng Nanshu pursed her rosy lips, “I should ask, ‘Why are you going to the hospital? Are you sick?'”

“…”

Gao Wenhui was stunned for three seconds, then cursed inwardly, feeling like a fool, disbelief flashing in her eyes.

Jiang Qin laughed at her reaction, thinking, “There’s indeed a difference between those who’ve been tutored and those who haven’t.”

As for the little rich lady, she’s genuinely smart. Her ignorance in many areas is because she’s never learned or experienced them. But once you explain the logic to her, she’s incredibly adept.

And Gao Wenhui? She’s just theorizing without experience, thinking she understands love from reading a few romance novels. But those novelists might be inexperienced themselves!

“Enough, let’s all go back to sleep. We have military training tomorrow. None of us has been in a relationship; what insightful discussion can we have?”

Jiang Qin was ready to leave, but Gao Wenhui couldn’t accept it, “No, no, ask another question. I’m sure I can answer it!”

Jiang Qin sat back, exasperated, “If your boyfriend sees a beautiful bouquet on his way to a hotel room but doesn’t buy them for you, what would you do?”

“I know, ask him why he’s going to a hotel. Who’s he staying with?”

“Pah, are you questioning me? Don’t you trust me? Break up!”

“??????”

Gao Wenhui felt as if she had been struck on the head, her world going dark.

Jiang Qin laughed so hard he almost cried, thinking, “You can’t even handle my two punches, and you’re teaching my little rich lady about love? Now do you realize how treacherous the human heart can be?”

“Jiang Qin, I have a question for you too!” Feng Nanshu suddenly spoke up.

Jiang Qin turned his attention to the little rich lady, “Alright, go ahead.”

“If I saw a particularly delicious cotton candy on my way to the hospital but didn’t buy it for you, would you scold me when I got home?”

“Why would I let you go to the hospital alone? Stop kidding. I’d definitely be by your side, buying the cotton candy for you.”

As he finished speaking, Feng Nanshu couldn’t help but smile, her eyes starting to shimmer with a watery glow, twinkling and dazzling.

Meanwhile, Gao Wenhui stood there dumbfounded, first staring at Feng Nanshu and then at Jiang Qin, thinking that among everyone present, she was the least experienced.

How did they come up with such answers?

She had also tried to think of a response, wondering why one would go to the hospital, only to be completely blindsided by Jiang Qin’s answer!

It was half past ten at night, and the darkness had deepened.

After escorting the little rich lady back to her dorm, promising to go see the carp with her the next day, Jiang Qin walked back, his face heavy with thoughts.

To be honest, after seven years of unrequited love and being asked for money and property in arranged meetings, he felt a bit fearful of romance.

Could a person who has lived twice really grasp love so easily? What a joke!

Moreover, he was still unclear whether the little rich lady relied on him more or liked him more, making it really hard for him to think clearly.

But…

The phrase “a lifetime” sounded really significant.

When a girl asks how to be with you for a lifetime, it’s fatal.

“Old Jiang, why are you so distracted?”

As soon as he entered, Cao Guangyu sat up from his bed, surprised by the troubled look on Jiang Qin’s face.

Old Jiang had always been impressive since the beginning of the term, handling everything with ease. This was the first time he showed such an expression, so Cao Guangyu immediately became curious.

“It’s nothing.”

“We’re brothers, what can’t you tell us?”

The more Jiang Qin said that, the more Cao Guangyu couldn’t resist inquiring.

“It’s nothing major, just a bit troubled,” Jiang Qin said, rubbing his forehead and inadvertently furrowing his brows.

Seeing this, Cao Guangyu got excited. He recognized this feeling; it was the trouble of dealing with a difficult situation. It was the first time he’d seen Jiang Qin flustered since the start of the term. If he couldn’t pry it out and have a good laugh, he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight!

“Old Jiang, spit it out. I’ll help you analyze it!”

Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang also gathered around, “Yeah, tell us. Three heads are better than one!”

Jiang Qin sighed, “Alright, I’ll keep it brief.”

“Wait, let me sit up first!”

Cao Guangyu rolled out of bed. He wasn’t stupid; lying down while laughing was the easiest way to get a stitch, “Go ahead, Old Jiang. I’m ready.”

Jiang Qin cleared his throat, “I once swore not to get involved in love, but today suddenly a girl said she wants to be with me for a lifetime. Now I kind of feel like gnawing on a bone. Do you guys know where to buy tasty ribs?”

“…”

Cao Guangyu slapped himself, thinking, “That’s what I get for being nosy. I’ve brought it on myself.”Chapter 64: Promotion Progress

TL: Etude

The spread of new things among university students is remarkably fast. After two days of fermentation, the blue advertising fans could be seen everywhere on campus. The number of registered users on the forum had also broken through three thousand, with a still increasing trend.

The next day, during military training, Jiang Qin arrived at the playground and saw many freshmen using “Zhihu” fans.

One, two, three, four… On average, each squad had about four to six fans, which they began to shake vigorously during breaks.

The fans, with their bright base colors and jumping fonts, easily caught the attention of those nearby as they fluttered.

Why?

Because when something suddenly appears and everyone else has it but you don’t, this kind of trend effect is the most captivating. Simply put, it’s the power of popularity.

“Where did you get that fan?”

“What forum?”

“Is it fun?”

“Holy cow, you can even find a partner?”

“Really? Someone on the forum revealed that Huang Panpan from the aviation department has two boyfriends?”

Thus, discussions about the forum began to intensify.

Jiang Qin took off his hat, sat on the scorching playground, and listened to the discussions around him, his expression gradually becoming thoughtful.

In 2008, smartphones weren’t widespread, WiFi was unheard of, telecom companies’ data prices were exorbitant, watching videos on phones was impractical, and games were limited to Snake and Bubble Dragon. Therefore, text forums naturally became the entertainment of choice for university students.

Like Zhou Chao, who enjoyed watching football but disliked going to internet cafes to watch live broadcasts. He always read text-based football updates on his phone.

“XXX’s shot missed.”

“XX dribbles past one player, then another, with unpredictable steps and unmatched speed, finally hitting the goalpost.”

“XXX scores another own goal in this match.”

The entire football match was broadcast in text on 3G news, with no images, not even accompanying pictures. Yet Zhou Chao found it thrilling. Such practices, unimaginable in the future of viral short videos, were the most convenient forms of entertainment in that era.

Jiang Qin knew that if the promotional efforts continued to ferment, the forum’s active user count would explode after the National Day holiday.

Once he gradually gained control of the discourse in the university town and led the media propagation, he would have a responsive audience for whatever he did in the future.

At that moment, Jiang Qin suddenly felt an unusual breeze from behind, blowing cool and refreshing gusts.

“Feeling cool?”

Song Qingqing had, unbeknownst to him, come up behind him. She was smiling gently, fanning him continuously with an advertising fan, sweating profusely from the effort.

“Not really cool, stop it.”

Jiang Qin frowned slightly, fanned himself a couple of times with his hat, but Song Qingqing, instead of stopping, increased her efforts, with a couple of strokes comparable to an electric fan.

He found it very strange.

What exactly are girls?

If you are kind to her, she takes you for granted. If you ignore her, she finds ways to bother you and attract your attention. When you give her a hard time, she tries all sorts of ways to please you. It’s really incomprehensible.

Jiang Qin turned to look at her: “Classmate Song Qingqing, you don’t have to fan me. Fan yourself.”

“It’s okay, I’m not tired,” said Song Qingqing, wiping the sweat from her forehead, continuing to shake the fan with both hands holding the handle.

Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao watched from the side, muttering under their breath, and didn’t even bother to call Jiang Qin when they went to relieve themselves.

A while later, a flamboyant figure sauntered onto the playground, with a swaggering gait, dragging his legs, and holding a watermelon with a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

“Hey Jiang, how’s military training going? Hehe, hot isn’t it? Want some watermelon?”

“It’s not hot.”

“Always so tough, can’t you just envy me for a bit?”

Cao Guangyu, grinning, squeezed past the surrounding students, about to sit close to Jiang Qin. But then he saw Song Qingqing, panting as she fanned Jiang Qin, her face covered in sweat beads, looking like a little maidservant.

Seeing her like this, who would remember that she was the most beautiful girl in the Finance class? Who would recall her aloof and unapproachable demeanor on the freshman orientation day?

Cao Guangyu’s face turned pale, his heart fluttered, and he was about to squat down in a horse stance but then, driven by a strong will, he stood up. He limped towards the edge of the playground, his eyes gradually losing their sparkle.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if his decision to skip military training was right or wrong.

Yes, he didn’t have to endure training, but he also lost the opportunity to quickly develop a rapport with female classmates.

What if, just what if, he hadn’t skipped training, would he be the one sitting there, enjoying the attention of a beautiful girl fanning him?

He decided to go back to look for Weiwei. Everyone in the world loved Jiang Qin, but only Weiwei saw his true value.

He thought with a bit more effort, Weiwei would surely respond to him.

At 11:30 AM, military training ended, and Jiang Qin went to the cafeteria.

He didn’t rush to get food but casually strolled around the cafeteria, his gaze fixed on those who were eating while playing with their phones.

Many of them were chatting on QQ, quite a few were reading news, and only a small portion were using his forum.

No matter, he thought, let the bullet fly a little longer.

After all, it takes time for people to know and accept something new. This process varies from person to person, with some adapting quickly and others slowly. During the promotion phase, patience is key.

“Boss!”

Just then, Jiang Qin suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind. Turning around, he saw Su Nai, wearing black overalls, her meal only half finished.

Jiang Qin sat down opposite her and inquired about the progress on the experience points and titles.

“That’s a bit hard to do. It’s really tough for me alone, boss.”

Jiang Qin pondered for a moment: “You could also find a few people to help. There must be many students in the computer science department, right? Don’t you also design small programs for your class assignments? Why not form a team?”

“Finding people is easy, but boss, can you provide some recruitment funds?” Su Nai’s eyes shone when talking about money.

“I’m in a tight financial situation recently. Are there any altruistic students who’d help out? Find a couple for me?”

Su Nai opened her mouth slightly, and her spoon clattered onto the plate: “Boss, you’re also looking for free labor?”

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but touch his nose: “It’s the early stage of starting a business, after all. I’ve been burning through cash without any incoming revenue. My pockets aren’t deep, so I do have some hopes for free help.”

“I… I feel like I’ve fallen into a pit, and it’s big, deep, dark, and round.”

Jiang Qin’s voice softened: “Don’t lose heart. Have you heard this song? ‘Rainbow after Storms, Unyielding Roses’ [1]…”

“…” Chapter 65: Employee Training Program

TL: Etude

Jiang Qin’s singing echoed throughout the place.

And all Su Nai could think of was burying her head in her dinner plate.

Oh my, there are thousands of people in the cafeteria, and here you are, clapping and singing to me. What’s the difference between this and defecating in the street, aside from the cleanliness? At least the owner of Jiangnan Leather Factory left a wallet to cover wages before fleeing. But you, singing as a form of funding!

“Boss, can you please stop singing? I feel quite embarrassed…”

Jiang Qin stopped his song: “Did you feel the power I bestowed upon you?”

“I only felt death. Social death.” Su Nai couldn’t even raise her head.

“You’re still young, so concerned about face. Little do you know, face isn’t worth a penny.”

A trace of grievance flickered in Su Nai’s eyes: “Boss, you’re always so generous when approving funds for Dong Wenhao, giving 200 when he asks for 150. Why are you so stingy with me?”

Jiang Qin pulled out his wallet, withdrew all his money, a total of 527.80 yuan, and slapped it on the table: “As I always say, the project is in its infancy, funds are limited. Use my living expenses for now.”

“Ah? Living expenses? That’s not appropriate.”

Jiang Qin feigned a sigh: “I understand the principle of a boss just talking while the employee runs around. Just make do for now. This difficult period won’t last long, common prosperity is within reach.”

Holding the 500-plus yuan, Su Nai felt its weight like a mountain: “I understand, boss. I’ll make sure every cent is well spent.”

“Good, enjoy your meal. I’m going to get some sleep. Call me when the team is assembled.”

Jiang Qin patted his backside and left the cafeteria, forgetting he hadn’t had lunch yet.

Watching his retreating figure, Su Nai felt a touch of emotion. The boss wasn’t having an easy time either, still wearing the military training uniform from his freshman year.

“Su Nai!”

Lost in thought, she heard Jiang Qin running back from the door: “It’s too hot, give me fifty cents for an ice pop.”

“Ah, this…” With tears in her eyes, Su Nai handed him five yuan, “So pitiful, have something more expensive.”

“Thank you, you kind soul.”

Jiang Qin, clutching the five yuan, left the cafeteria for the supermarket and bought a small pudding. Eating it, he gazed at the artificial hill across the street, frowning deeply.

He asked for fifty cents but easily got five yuan…

His worries came true; the girl was too easygoing.

Setting a cap on employees’ financial requests wasn’t to make things difficult, but to make those with the power to request funds value this right.

A generous boss is a good person, but as the business starts, a policy of handing out money upon request will surely attract parasites. So, it’s crucial to strike the right balance.

Su Nai was undoubtedly a good employee, but she wasn’t like Dong Wenhao. Dong understood commissions, control, and how to split one sum of money into two, which is why Jiang Qin was generous with him.

But Su Nai was different.

Su Nai had professional skills but no clue about management.

The people she brought in might be as skilled as her, but not necessarily as diligent or honest. Some might even think of making a quick buck and leaving. If she couldn’t discern their intentions, what would happen once the team was formed and opportunists exploited loopholes?

A bit of coquetry, a show of pity, and fifty cents could turn into five yuan.

How could this be acceptable?

Jiang Qin, lacking technical knowledge, was unsure whether to approve the funds or not. In the end, he had to rely on Su Nai’s judgment. Thus, he needed to teach her to subconsciously learn control and discernment.

In his previous life, Jiang Qin had seen many technical staff fail in transitioning to management roles. They ended up either unemployed or changing careers, all because they couldn’t handle such issues.

Su Nai, a female programmer, would face a short career if she couldn’t learn to manage or balance the relationship between her subordinates and the boss. Her only outcome would be marriage and taking care of children.

Dong Wenhao, currently part of the literary club, couldn’t be openly poached, but since Su Nai was already his employee, Jiang Qin needed to lay the groundwork and pressure her to grow.

“Our boss is generous, just focus on your work, I’ll handle the funding request for you!” ×

“Our boss is stingy, is your funding request reasonable? Explain the reasons, I don’t want him ‘singing’ to me!” √

“Our boss is generous, just go ahead with this idea.” ×

“Our boss is stingy, will this even be effective? Write me a report, I don’t want to hear him complain about money.” √

However, this couldn’t be rushed. Letting Su Nai gradually adapt was fine. There was no need to push her to take charge so soon after the team’s formation.

Having finished his pudding, Jiang Qin threw the stick in the trash and returned to the dormitory for a nap. But as soon as he lay down, he received a call from Pang Hai.

“Boss, the second batch of advertising fans has arrived and has been handed over to the part-time club. Should we continue with the ground promotion?”

Jiang Qin thought for a moment: “Don’t rush. Finish distributing the flyers first, then hand out the fans.”

“Okay. Also, Wenhao is with me, he needs to talk to you.”

Then Dong Wenhao’s voice came through: “Boss, there’s a problem with the literary club. Do you want to come over?”

“East Campus? No, no, I’m not going to East Campus again.” Jiang Qin shuddered at the thought of Chu Siqi.

“It’s serious this time. Yao Yanling is holding a meeting in Classroom A, and I heard she might cancel the collaboration between the literary club and our website.”

Jiang Qin was puzzled: “So sudden? Why?”

Dong Wenhao hesitated: “I’m not quite sure myself. Boss, you should come and see.”

“A meeting to cancel our collaboration?”

“No, she’s gathering all the members for a meeting. I think she’ll officially announce the cancellation there.”

“Got it, I’ll be there.”

Jiang Qin hung up, borrowed a bicycle from his neighbor, and rode to East Campus.

Upon arriving at the main square, Dong Wenhao was already waiting under the scorching sun, waving at Jiang Qin. Though smiling, his expression was clearly anxious.

“What’s the situation?”

Dong Wenhao sighed: “Recently, several members with high acceptance rates suddenly stopped writing. I’ve urged them several times, but they keep giving excuses. I felt something was off, so I inquired privately and found out Yao Yanling had spoken to them in private.”

Jiang Qin found it unbelievable: “They stopped their part-time work just because she told them to? Are the members of your literary club that obedient?”

“The literary and debate clubs are organizing a city-level debate competition soon, and Yao Yanling is one of the judges for the preliminaries.”

“Oh, is it for credits and scholarships?”

“She didn’t say explicitly, but it seems so.”

“…”Chapter 66: Have You Heard of the Campus Belle?

TL: Etude

“I know that recently many people in our club have been doing part-time jobs outside, which is a good thing. After all, promoting work-study programs is something the school has always advocated. However, because of this, we’ve often struggled to gather enough people for activities, which is really crossing the line.”

“I hope you all can understand clearly, this part-time activity is an opportunity provided by our club, aimed at honing your writing skills, not for you to be solely profit-driven!”

“Do you still remember your initial dreams when you joined the Literature Club? Spending all day writing melodramatic fluff, do you still have the passion to create?”

“The debate competition next month is crucial. Four nearby universities will participate. Those who want to sign up should stop doing part-time jobs. This is a mandatory requirement. Think about it for yourselves; I don’t want you to bring shame to our Literature Club.”

At the East Campus, Building A, in the Literature Club’s activity room.

Yao Yanling was speaking at the podium. Her voice was so loud that it could be heard clearly even outside the classroom.

Jiang Qin stood outside the door, listening for a while, thinking to himself that whatever he thinks, happens. He had just been considering how Dong Wenhao was proficient in content management and wanted to recruit him, and now the opportunity had presented itself.

“Boss, what do you think?” Dong Wenhao asked quietly.

Jiang Qin turned to him, “Aren’t you in charge of the part-time job thing? With Yao Yanling doing this, can you still survive in the club?”

Dong Wenhao touched his nose, “Is Sister Yao targeting me?”

“Of course she’s not targeting you, she’s targeting Shi Miaomiao.”

“?”

Jiang Qin pulled him aside to the south end of the corridor, “Shi Miaomiao’s ‘You are the Fireworks of the World’ is very popular on the forum and has many fans. Did you know about this?”

Dong Wenhao nodded, “I know, and I’m quite happy for her. She loves writing novels, and it’s great that she’s achieving success.”

“Don’t play dumb with me. The ground promotion has been going on for so long, Yao Yanling must have seen Shi Miaomiao’s novel on the forum. That girl has always been suppressed by Yao Yanling. I rejected Yao’s submission but accepted Shi Miaomiao’s. Can’t you see the obvious here?”

Dong Wenhao’s face changed instantly, “Sister Yao wouldn’t be so petty, right?”

“A woman can be magnanimous towards a man, but towards another woman, there’s only ever jealousy, especially under similar circumstances,” Jiang Qin explained clearly.

“No, boss, I think you might be wrong.”

“?”

Dong Wenhao lowered his voice, “After I secretly submitted Shi Miaomiao’s manuscript to you, I felt it wasn’t appropriate and confessed to Sister Yao. She was very calm about it, not angry at all.”

Jiang Qin sighed, “She thinks Shi Miaomiao’s writing is trash, even if it’s published on my website, it’s still trash. She wouldn’t stop you, and might even use this to boast about her discerning eye while proving that I’m blind. See, I told you it’s not good, and it really isn’t!”

“But now Miaomiao is popular…” Dong Wenhao’s face turned pale.

“Yes, now Shi Miaomiao is popular, proving that Yao is the one without insight. And since you gave me Shi’s manuscript, who else would she hate but you?”

Dong Wenhao felt a tingling in his scalp, “She should hate you!”

After listening, Jiang Qin sneered, “What’s the use of her hating me? I’m not from the literature department, nor am I part of the Literature Club. Hating me is pointless. But don’t forget, you are the one closest to her who is responsible.”

“What should I do now?”

“Your days ahead might not be easy,” Jiang Qin clicked his tongue.

Dong Wenhao frowned, “But I love literature, I’m passionate about it.”

Jiang Qin patted his shoulder, “Don’t kid yourself. I knew from the first time I met you that you’re not suited for the Literature Club.”

“Boss, talk about the matter at hand, don’t attack me personally!” Dong Wenhao felt he had a talent for literary creation.

“You call yourself part of the Literature Club, yet you spend all day reading men’s magazines. ‘Separated for Three Years, Yet The Wife is Mysteriously Pregnant,’ is this what you call literature?”

Dong Wenhao opened his mouth, struggling to find any words to refute, “So, should I just leave the Literature Club?”

Jiang Qin nodded subtly, “But even if you leave, you can still continue working. You’re already adept at content work, so come work as a content planner for me first.”

“But I’m already a lone commander now, who would I plan for?”

“Is it only the Literature Club members who can write? Everyone is a product of compulsory education, having survived the fierce competition of college entrance exams. Why should only the Literature Club members be considered talented?”

“Boss, you’re not joking with me, are you?”

Jiang Qin opened his phone and flipped to the calendar, “I’ll give you two days. Recruit a group of people for content creation. No matter how many you can get, it’s fine if the post quality is a bit low.”

Dong Wenhao hesitated, “We’re not a club; we don’t have the right to openly recruit students for work.”

“Rules are dead, but people are alive. Other societies attract members with academic credits; we don’t have that capability. We only have a bit of money. Offer five yuan per article, and I don’t believe there will be anyone who truly sees money as dirt.”

Dong Wenhao’s mind buzzed, thinking how Jiang Qin could say such impressive words in such a humble tone. But Jiang knew that Dong’s asking this question meant he had completely surrendered. With Yao Yanling as the club president, continuing in the Literature Club was unrealistic for him.

“After establishing the content team, change the creative direction and guide the users,” Jiang Qin said.

Dong Wenhao, surprised by the swift change in topic, took a while to respond, “Change to what direction?”

“Do you know about the concept of ‘campus belle’?”

“I know, I’ve seen videos in the special section.”

“?????”

Jiang Qin was taken aback, wondering if Dong was using the same website as him.

“Keep going, boss, campus belle, then what?” Dong Wenhao’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Does your literature department have anyone who claims to be the campus belle?”

“Yes, Liu Yiyi and Sun Xiaoyu. They’ve always claimed themselves as campus belles and many guys seem to agree. But I don’t think it’s right. Although they’re pretty, they aren’t quite at the level of campus belles. There are plenty of prettier girls at Linchuan University.”

Jiang Qin nodded, “The next step is to hype up the concept of the campus belle. For instance, stating that Liu Yiyi is the number one campus belle of Linchuan University, and no one else compares. Then people will start to argue, claiming that Sun Xiaoyu is the real campus belle and Liu Yiyi, just a flat runway, should step aside!”

Dong Wenhao, still confused, replied, “What’s the point of doing this?”

“The forum’s user base has been growing, but interaction remains low. People like to watch but not participate. So, I plan to guide a highly controversial topic. Then, leverage it to organize a campus belle voting competition, where users support their favorite goddesses through posting, daily voting, and attracting new users,” Jiang Qin briefly explained his plan.

Dong Wenhao frowned, still not fully comprehending, “And then?”

“I run the website to make money. The simplest way to monetize right now is through advertising. I need to show Linchuan’s businesses how many active users are on my forum, right?”

Dong Wenhao pursed his lips, “But in terms of looks, who can compete with your girl?”

“You mean Feng Nanshu? She’s a little bug, too much of a rule breaker. She can’t participate, or else no one else would stand a chance.”

…Chapter 67: The Trouble Caused by Beauty

TL: Etude

Two days later, Su Nai’s technical team was fully recruited. The team consisted of four members: two sophomores, Chen Wenxing and Yang Shuai, and two junior female students, Wen Jinrui and Dong Miaomiao.

Around the same time, Dong Wenhao’s content team was also established, including the serial author Shi Miaomiao, and five content creators, Lu Feiyu, Duan Yan, Ma Yubao, Ding Yuzhen, and Lv Yingying, along with external editors Pang Hai and Lu Xuemei.

Two part-time girls from the club, Wei Lanlan and Tan Qing, were also part of the team.

Jiang Qin led these sixteen people to an empty classroom for their first regular meeting. The meeting’s purpose was simple: to lay the groundwork for the campus beauty contest. Dong Wenhao’s team was responsible for setting the pace, directing the forum’s topics towards the campus beauty theme, sparking discussions and debates.

Meanwhile, Su Nai and his technical team were to create a diversion page and a voting app. When the topic reached its peak, the campus beauty contest would officially launch, allowing users to support their favorite goddess by earning flowers through daily check-ins, posting, and inviting new users.

Additionally, Lu Xuemei, as the design department’s liaison, was in charge of poster design and front-end images, with Pang Hai providing guidance from behind the scenes. Wei Lanlan and Tan Qing, familiar with the market from their long-term part-time work, were tasked with seeking sponsors. The success of attracting advertising funds was secondary; the primary goal was to gauge local merchants’ receptivity to forum advertisements.

“This is our forum’s first battle. I hope everyone will be fully engaged and take this seriously,” Jiang Qin motivated the team. “If this model is successful, we’ll replicate it across various university towns, turning our campus network from points to lines, expanding widely, and eventually catering to the whole society.”

“Su Nai, you will be my Chief Executive Officer; Wenhao will be my Chief Operating Officer, and everyone else will be my various officers!” he announced enthusiastically. “When we go public, I’ll take you all to ring the bell in the United States.”

Jiang Qin painted a beautiful vision, but the reaction from the team was lukewarm, with no signs of excitement or joy.

“Su Nai, let’s take everyone out for dinner and karaoke tonight, expenses on the company,” he suggested.

The response was immediate and enthusiastic, with shouts of “Long live the boss!” and “The boss is mighty, number one in the world!” Jiang Qin gritted his teeth, thinking to himself how unprepared his makeshift team was for significant growth.

After the meeting, which ended at 1:50 PM, Jiang Qin returned to his dormitory. He found that Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang had already left for the playground, leaving only Cao Guangyu, updating his plain but luxurious second-generation rich life, looking content.

Jiang Qin didn’t disturb him and quickly changed into his military training uniform. Passing by the mirror, he couldn’t help but reflect on the stark contrast between discussing going public and returning to military training.

Leaving the dormitory at 2:15 PM, he was inevitably late. Realizing this, he slowed his pace, reasoning that being ten minutes or half an hour late made little difference since the punishment would be the same.

However, unknown to him, the drill instructor wasn’t present that afternoon. Instead, a group of senior students from the finance department’s student union was there. Leading them were President Zhu Feng and Vice President Ma Mingjiang, along with several officers.

They stood in front of the finance class’s formation, surrounding Feng Nanshu, who looked cold and indifferent, her expression innocent and cute.

“Junior sister, tomorrow is the military training review ceremony. With your beauty, why don’t you want to carry the flag for the finance department?” they asked her.

“Really, junior sister, the ceremony is a campus-wide event. If you stand in front carrying the flag, all eyes will be on our finance department,” another added.

“Think about it. It’s an honor, not just anyone gets this chance,” they continued.

Feng Nanshu gently shook her head in refusal, her eyes filled with resistance. She was already uncomfortable in crowded situations, and military training was her limit. To participate in the review ceremony, stand in the front row, facing thousands of spectators? It would be daunting for anyone, let alone someone with her level of social anxiety.

Looking towards the neighboring formation, she didn’t find Jiang Qin and clutched the brim of her hat tightly, her lips pursed.

The student union leaders, Zhu Feng and others, couldn’t help but turn to Gao Wenhui and Fan Shuling, urging them, “Aren’t you close sisters? Convince her. This is a good opportunity.”

“Ah, we can’t persuade her, Nanshu is quite stubborn,” Gao Wenhui declined with a wave of her hand.

Zhu Feng felt a headache coming on. “Then who can persuade her?”

Fan Shuling glanced towards the direction of Class 3. “The person who can persuade her hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Who? Your counselor?” Zhu Feng asked.

“Not even the counselor can persuade her. Only that person can.”

After hearing this, Feng Nanshu pulled Gao Wenhui aside. “Even if Jiang Qin persuades me, I won’t go.”

“Nonsense. If he asks you, you’ll definitely go happily,” Gao Wenhui confidently asserted, having thoroughly understood Feng Nanshu’s character.

While they were talking, Jiang Qin entered the playground. Everyone in the formation turned their heads in unison, murmuring that he had arrived.

Everyone present knew that Feng Nanshu was very attached to Jiang Qin. They anticipated that only he could persuade her, so they looked forward to what would happen next.

“Jiang is going to show off again. I’m so jealous!” Zhou Chao commented bitterly.

Ren Ziqiang was puzzled. “How is he showing off?”

“The student union has been trying to persuade her for a long time to no avail. Watch Jiang Qin come over and convince the celestial girl with just one sentence. Isn’t that showing off?” Zhou Chao seemed to have seen through everything.

Ren Ziqiang shivered at the thought. “Damn, that really is showing off!”

“Alas, we’re going to be overshadowed by Jiang Qin again. We haven’t even recovered from the last time!”

Meanwhile, the student union members also looked over, seeing a latecomer. They didn’t pay much attention, as there were always a few mavericks among new students who liked to be late and laid back. They had seen too many such cases, so they continued focusing on Feng Nanshu.

However, when Jiang Qin approached and saw Feng Nanshu in the crowd, he directly squeezed into Class 4’s formation. “What happened? What’s going on?”

“These are our seniors from the finance department. They want Feng Nanshu to carry the flag in front of the formation,” Gao Wenhui succinctly explained.

Zhu Feng frowned. “Irrelevant students should go to military training and not crowd around. This matter doesn’t concern you.”

“Report to the senior, only he can persuade Feng Nanshu,” Gao Wenhui suddenly spoke up.

Feng Nanshu nodded seriously. “I only listen to Jiang Qin.”

The male officers’ faces changed, carefully scrutinizing Jiang Qin. How could such a celestial girl have a boyfriend upon entering school? And this guy seems so ordinary. What’s so special about him?

“Are you her boyfriend? Then quickly persuade her to carry the flag for our finance department tomorrow at the review,” Zhu Feng pointed at Feng Nanshu.

Jiang Qin straightforwardly refused. “Senior, forget it. She’s more timid than a peanut. You should choose someone else.”

“Can’t you persuade her?” Zhu Feng tried to provoke him.

“I can persuade her, but I shouldn’t. I know she listens to me, but why should I force her to do something she doesn’t like? What good is that?”

Hearing this, Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao turned pale, feeling insulted yet unable to pinpoint any evidence.

Was this the difference between them and Jiang Qin?

Meanwhile, Song Qingqing and Jiang Tian exchanged glances, their expressions filled with infinite sighs and their eyes sparkling with envy and aspiration.

Some seemingly indifferent people can be unexpectedly tender.

In the end, the student union had no choice but to look for someone else in another formation. The finance department, being the largest department at Linqing University, had no shortage of good-looking people, even if they couldn’t find someone of Feng Nanshu’s caliber.

After a while, Jiang Qin returned to his formation and looked up to find Feng Nanshu turning her head to look at him, her beautiful eyes full of joy.

Jiang Qin suddenly felt that the little rich lady trusted that he would refuse, which is why she confidently left the decision to him. She was not at all foolish; anyone underestimating her would regret it. Thanks for your support!

Chapter 68: Application for Major Transfer

TL: Etude

In the afternoon, the military training ended.

Jiang Qin returned to the dormitory from the training ground. Before he could even sit down, he received a call from Su Nai. She said they were dining at Nanshan Restaurant and asked if he wanted to join.

Jiang Qin agreed, thinking to himself that Su Nai was indeed considerate. She hadn’t forgotten about him, their boss, even while enjoying good food and drinks. She was truly advancing further along the right path.

However, the next moment, Su Nai’s words wiped the smile off his face.

“Boss, we’ve overspent the budget. Remember to bring your wallet to bail us out!”

“Su Nai, what kind of path are you walking on that’s so inconsistent?”

“?”

After changing his clothes and arriving at Nanshan Restaurant, Jiang Qin wandered around looking for Su Nai. He didn’t find her but unexpectedly ran into Si Huiying from the Law Department.

She was dining with three men and two women. Seeing Jiang Qin, she was startled, and her chopsticks hovered mid-air.

Jiang Qin, with an indifferent look and no extra expression, walked past as if he didn’t know her. But to his surprise, Si Huiying stopped him.

“Jiang Qin, long time no see.”

“…”

Si Huiying, seeing that he didn’t respond, started speaking on her own, “I’m really sorry about what happened before. I didn’t understand the situation properly. It was only after listening to Huiru that I realized how wrong I was. Can you forgive me?”

Jiang Qin nodded slightly, “Let’s forget about the past. I couldn’t be bothered to explain then, and it’s not worth holding a grudge now.”

“Okay, are you here alone? Our Law Class 2 committee members are having a gathering. Why don’t you join us?”

Jiang Qin held his breath after hearing this, but Si Huiying quickly added, “Don’t worry, Siqi didn’t come. She’s not a committee member. It’s just us at this table.”

“Oh, in that case, it’s fine.”

Jiang Qin sighed in relief. He was severely allergic to ‘little fairies’, especially phrases like “I won’t allow you to do this and that” or “What I say goes.” They sent shivers of fear straight to his skull.

However, while they were talking, the class leader of Law Class 2 suddenly stood up, “You’re Jiang Qin, right? Hello, my name is Liu Xi.”

“?”

Jiang Qin was slightly taken aback, thinking how enthusiastic this guy was to greet even strangers. But Liu Xi’s next words started to make his scalp tingle.

“I’m also pursuing our classmate Chu Siqi.”

“What do you mean by ‘also’? Please, not ‘also’. I’m really scared.”

“?????”

Liu Xi was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself. Si Huiying had just mentioned Chu Siqi, and Jiang Qin had also glanced around the table as if looking for her. Wasn’t the implication clear?

Si Huiying coughed awkwardly and said, “Class leader, you misunderstood. Jiang Qin and Siqi are unrelated. They’re just classmates who graduated from the same high school.”

“Oh, high school classmates. I see, my apologies, I misunderstood.”

Liu Xi had intended to subtly declare his interest but ended up making a blunder, turning red-faced in an instant.

“It’s alright. Enjoy your meal. I have another gathering to attend, so I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll be leaving now.”

Just as Jiang Qin was about to leave, Si Huiying called out to him again, “Jiang Qin, there’s something I think I should tell you.”

“If it’s about Chu Siqi, I’m not interested in hearing it.”

Jiang Qin’s blunt words left the Law Class 2 committee members baffled. Chu Siqi was a veritable goddess – beautiful, tall, and pursued by countless seniors in the Law Department. How did she seem so terrifying when mentioned by Jiang Qin?

Ignoring the others’ murmurs, Si Huiying took a moment to think before speaking, “What I want to discuss isn’t about Chu Siqi. It’s about Hong Yan. She has submitted an application to transfer from the Law Department to the International Trade Department.”

Jiang Qin wasn’t particularly surprised by this news, “At this stage, there are quite a few who want to change their majors.”

“Do people in your department also want to transfer?” Si Huiying was curious.

“Of course, many people’s choice of major is greatly influenced by their family’s opinion. Some enroll in a field their parents think is good, while others follow advice from elders. But after gaining some understanding, many develop new ideas, hence the desire to transfer. I’m happy she’s making a choice that follows her heart.”

“It’s not that with Hong Yan. She truly loves the Law major. I think she has other reasons for transferring, but she won’t tell me.”

After listening, Jiang Qin fell silent for a while, “She probably has her own considerations. I often have to do things I don’t like as well.”

Si Huiying pursed her lips, “Jiang Qin, can you try to persuade her?”

“Me?”

“You know, Hong Yan is very smart and has her own ideas. Although she calls me ‘sister’, I’m not as mature as her. She won’t listen to me, but she has always thought you’re more mature and capable than her. She will definitely listen to you.”

“Will my persuasion be useful?”

“Can you try, please? Even if it doesn’t work, at least find out the reason.”

Si Huiying felt the choice of university major was crucial for Hong Yan’s future. She worried about her good friend and didn’t want her to act rashly.

After a long thought, Jiang Qin nodded, “Don’t worry, I’ll find an opportunity to talk to her.”

“Thank you,” Si Huiying said sincerely.

“No need to thank me. You guys enjoy your meal. I’ll head over there now.”

As Jiang Qin left, the rest fell into silence, overwhelmed by the amount of information in the conversation, which involved both Chu Siqi and Hong Yan. They couldn’t help but recall the recent quarrel between Hong Yan and Chu Siqi in the corridor.

“Was the argument between Chu Siqi and Hong Yan because of this guy?” Liu Xi couldn’t help but ask after a long hesitation.

“Yes,” Si Huiying nodded.

Seeing her confirm, Liu Xi was utterly baffled, “He doesn’t look exceptionally handsome, so why?”

Si Huiying shook her head, “I don’t know why either, but there are many things in the world that don’t make sense.”

Hearing this, everyone at the table exchanged glances and frowned, unsure of what to feel. This disparity made them uncomfortable but also envious.

“Why can’t I be like that when we all have the same features?”

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin reached the private room booked by Su Nai and joined his startup team for dinner. The atmosphere was lively, reminiscent of a small company on a team-building outing.

Jiang Qin suggested they stop using first names and try addressing each other with surnames and the honorific ‘President,’ leading to a chorus of “President Su,” “President Dong,” “President Lu,” “President Pang,” and so on.

This shift indeed brought a subtle change, encouraging everyone to dream about the future.

“Old Dong, what’s your dream?” asked Jiang Qin.

Dong Wenhao put down his glass, “Boss, my biggest dream was to be a high school Chinese teacher, but after hearing you, I’ve changed my mind.”

Jiang Qin was pleased with this response, “What’s your dream now? Say it out loud.”

“I’m thinking of becoming a vice-principal.”

“You can’t even dream of being the principal?”

Dong Wenhao looked troubled, “The principals in high schools are mostly parachuted in. It’s difficult without connections.”

“So you can’t even brag a bit? With such a good atmosphere, your dream is too modest!” Jiang Qin said with a helpless expression.Chapter 69: For the Honor of the Department!

TL: Etude

The day after the dinner party, the manipulation of public opinion began in full force.

Dong Wenhao’s ability to control content was indeed strong. With just five people, he completely mobilized the atmosphere of the entire forum. All registered users began to participate in the discussion about the “campus belle,” sparking widespread debate in a very short time.

“Liu Yiyi from the Literature Department is considered a campus belle? Nonsense, she’s just somewhat elegant at best!”

“Please, a campus belle of Linchuan University should be stunning, not this plain-Jane type!”

“The Literature Department is not up to par. The Law Department has two freshmen this year, one named Chu Siqi and another named Hong Yan. Their beauty is what qualifies as a campus belle!”

“Why are people from the Law and Literature Departments so confident? Our Media Department’s senior Fang Xuan is the real campus belle, okay? She’s even appeared on Linchuan TV!”

“Come on, our Engineering Department’s Wu Meng is the campus belle!”

“Hahaha, I’m laughing. A campus belle from the Engineering Department, which is like a monastery? What kind of dream can produce that?”

“Enough, enough, stop arguing. Our Computer Science Department’s unanimously recognized campus belle is senior sister Liu Tian, come and debate if you disagree!”

“The Computer Science Department is hardly any better than the Engineering Department. Just go to sleep.”

The number of forum posts surged with the popularity of the topic, quickly filling the entire confession wall and anonymous treehole.

This phenomenon wasn’t surprising. After all, in their student days, who didn’t have a dream goddess? If you say someone else is prettier than my goddess, I definitely can’t agree.

Among the girls, the competition was even more intense, even among dormitory roommates. They were ruthless in the battle for beauty.

“So what if you’re fair-skinned? I have a bigger bust, doesn’t that count for something?”

“What does a big bust matter? I have a curvier figure!”

Previously, there was no comparison, or perhaps it was embarrassing to compare, but the forum’s campaign ignited this fuse.

Moreover, since the forum allowed anonymous posting, even frenzied criticism of a roommate’s looks wouldn’t harm their friendship. It was simply delightful.

Additionally, the matter of who was the campus belle wasn’t just about looks; it also involved departmental honor and the clash of opinions between men and women.

“Why should the campus belle be from your department?”

“Why can’t the campus belle be from our department?”

Among all departments, the Engineering Department was the most fervent. They were determined to prove they had beauties too, as other departments would dismiss them as a monastery. They were adamant about proving themselves.

In those days, college students had few entertainments, so a topic that could spark widespread controversy easily became popular. With Dong Wenhao’s behind-the-scenes push and the spread through forums, the discussion about “who is the campus belle” swept across the campus in an instant.

“Engineering Department’s senior Wu Meng, the most beautiful in Linchuan University, high-resolution selfie attached!”

“Computer Science Department’s senior Liu Tian, ten student outfit photos, ready for battle!”

“Literature Department’s Liu Yiyi, a casual snapshot, stunningly beautiful!”

“Law Department’s Chu Siqi in military training photos, time to raise your aesthetics, not everyone can be called a campus belle!”

“Law Department’s Hong Yan is a true beauty, alongside Chu Siqi as the double beauties, easily surpassing other departments!”

…

“Our campus forum has been a bit strange lately, why has it suddenly started discussing the campus belle issue?”

“Director, that’s not our official forum. It’s a newly emerged one that suddenly popped up these past few days.”

“Oh, I was wondering when our old forum became so fashionable.”

The head of the Literature Department’s academic office, with reading glasses on, clicked the mouse to like the post claiming Liu Yiyi from their department was the campus belle, and simultaneously downvoted posts from other departments.

“This forum is quite interesting, much more fun than the old one.”

The Literature Department’s head wandered to other sections and stumbled upon a post titled “My Unpretentious Life as a Rich Second Generation.”

“?”

Intrigued by the peculiar name, he couldn’t resist reading a few entries. The more he read, the deeper his frown became, eventually turning to outright fury. He furiously tapped the keyboard with two fingers.

“Rubbish!”

“Blatantly promoting materialism and hedonism, taking pride in laziness, vulgar through and through. Did you feed your books to a dog?!”

“And you call yourself a Linchuan University student? Which department are you from?”

Cao Guangyu: “?”

Cao Guangyu: “Blocked, hehe!”

“?????”

The Literature Department head, now in his fifties, felt an impulse to grab a kitchen knife and chop down the internet cable. He lamented the declining admission standards of Linchuan University over the years, wondering why they were admitting such ostentatious individuals.

Meanwhile, similar scenes were unfolding in other department offices.

Everyone found this mysterious forum and the sudden campus belle competition quite entertaining, each having their own opinions on who was attractive and who wasn’t.

It’s not that teachers are inherently stubborn; those in professions involving young people are often more susceptible to popular culture.

Some teachers were well aware of which female students were beautiful, which male students were handsome, which girls were into dating, and which “playboys” were juggling multiple relationships. They too would gossip in the office, especially the middle-aged female teachers, whose interest in such matters often exceeded that of the young female students.

However, they maintained a professional demeanor in front of students. After all, who among us isn’t a spectator in the world?

But when this matter reached the Engineering Department, the reaction was slightly different.

In recent years, recruiting for the Engineering Department had been challenging due to a lack of interest from female students. Knowing the department wasn’t popular among women, male students were also reluctant to enroll.

Fresh high school graduates rarely insist on becoming architects. Even academic achievers consider the male-to-female ratio when choosing a major.

Why?

Why should I live in a monastery when learning anything is still learning, and there are plenty of popular professions? So, the entire Engineering Department was rallying behind Wu Meng as the campus belle, with even the student council subtly encouraging likes. If the campus belle were from the Engineering Department, it would be a huge boost for next year’s recruitment.

Recruitment highlights: The department has a campus belle, and the dormitories have air conditioning.

Simultaneously, the University Committee’s office also noticed this new forum called “Zhihu.” They found it odd, especially as they already had an official, albeit barely alive, forum. The emergence of this new forum, particularly with people from the old forum recommending it, was causing quite a stir.

“I heard this forum was created by a student from our school?”

“Seems like it.”

“Which department? Is it registered?”

“Not sure about that.”

“The website is well thought out, just a bit too entertainment-focused. Adding some educational material would be good, perhaps lectures from professors across departments. That would make it a true campus network.”

“Principal Wang, if I’m not mistaken, we have a forum like that, but I hear even dogs don’t use it.”

“……”Chapter 70: Applying for Entrepreneurial Support

TL: Etude

The popularity of the website skyrocketed quickly, and the competition among the campus beauties from various departments became increasingly intense. Although the campus beauty contest had not been officially announced, many were already urging the admins to organize it.

Simply arguing in forum threads was meaningless.

“You say your department’s candidate is beautiful, I say ours is,” but in the end, no one would concede.

The only solution was to let the data speak.

Letting the goddesses of each department stand on the same starting line, judged by all students, whoever had the highest data would be the campus beauty. How fair would that be?

Actually, the campus beauty contest was part of Jiang Qin’s plan, but he hadn’t expected the topic of “Who is the campus beauty” to become so popular so quickly, with forum users more anxious than he was.

Jiang Qin took out his phone and called Su Nai.

“Su Nai, how’s the progress on your end?”

“We’re rushing the work, boss, but there’s a major problem. Our current workspace is the computer department’s public classroom, which is often occupied by students for classes. We frequently have to move our equipment around, and team members often return from their classes to find nobody there because we’ve had to move again. It’s really dragging down our efficiency.”

Jiang Qin nodded, not surprised. He had heard this for the second time, as Dong Wenhai was in the same situation.

Ever since Yao Yanling betrayed them mid-way, Dong Wenhai had to establish his own team. But after leaving the Literature Club, they lost access to its activity room. Now, like guerrillas, they were forced to move around constantly, disrupting their thought processes and resulting in subpar writing.

It seemed urgent to find a permanent office space.

After hanging up, Jiang Qin left his dormitory and headed to the University Entrepreneurship Center located on College Fourth Road.

According to policy, university student entrepreneurial projects received school support. If he could pass the review, securing an activity room for headquarters shouldn’t be a problem.

As Jiang Qin calculated, he walked along the empty corridor to the general office.

In novels, this office typically housed a highly respected old professor, an expert in finance and business, who, upon understanding his purpose, would engage in a detailed discussion and fully affirm his business ideas, even marveling and opening doors of opportunity.

But reality proved different. The Entrepreneurship Center office had no teachers, only two students on duty.

One was playing online games, and the other was watching a TV series.

This familiar scenario reminded Jiang Qin of his past life. Indeed, slackers were everywhere.

“Entrepreneurial application? Fill out this form first. If you pass the preliminary review, someone will contact you,” said the gaming student succinctly.

Jiang Qin took the form, filling out the header. “How long does the review process usually take?”

“About a month. Oh? Are you a freshman?” The student asked in surprise after glancing at the form.

“If the review time is shorter for freshmen, then yes, I am.”

The gaming student rolled her eyes, “Freshman entrepreneurship is too unrealistic.”

Jiang Qin didn’t pick up on her hint and instead asked, “Are there many people doing startups here at Linchuan University?”

“A lot, but they’re usually graduate students working on professors’ projects or doctoral students forming their own teams. There are not many undergraduates, and you’re the only freshman.”

“That sounds cool. I like being the first to try new things.”

Just then, the student watching TV laughed, “You might as well not bother filling it out.”

Jiang Qin paused with his pen. “Why not?”

“First-year students applying for entrepreneurial projects are usually just trying to earn credits. They submit a project proposal and then don’t follow through. We’ve seen too many. Not to mention getting past Professor Yan, I wouldn’t approve you either.”

Jiang Qin walked over and glanced at his computer. “Magical Mobile Phone? The female lead is Silly Girl, right? She’s pretty.”

The student looked up, “You’ve seen it too? I love Silly Girl!”

“Seen the finale?”

“No, no computer in the dorm. I can only watch two episodes here each day.”

“Silly Girl performs an illegal operation for the last time and then runs out of energy and dies. Lu Xiaoqian cries so hard he’s unrecognizable. I still can’t bring myself to watch it a second time. It’s traumatic.”

…

Jiang Qin returned to Sister Xingxing, pointing to a blank line on the form. “What should I write in this remark section?”

Sister Xingxing continued folding her stars. “Look, freshman, your application for entrepreneurial support is bound to fail. Write whatever you want if you don’t believe me.”

“Anything?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Qin glanced at a glass jar on the desk tied with a card reading ‘Cao Xinyue loves Chen Anhua’.

Sigh, another college girl obsessed with romance.

“Done, I’ve filled it out.”

Sister Xingxing took the form and glanced at it. The basic information was ordinary, just a freshman. The other details were also mundane, but the remark made her almost choke.

[No dating dogs]

Looking at her jar full of stars, she wondered if this was a jab at her for only focusing on love. But college life was so beautiful; it was a waste not to date. As for starting a business? Such impractical dreams were only pursued by naive freshmen. Wasn’t a nine-to-five job more appealing?

After Jiang Qin left, the door to the entrepreneurship office opened again, and an old man in a Zhongshan suit walked in, startling the two duty students.

The male student frantically unplugged his earphones and turned off the TV series, while the female student pretended to do nothing, holding her jar of stars on her lap.

The old professor glanced at Sister Xingxing, frowned slightly, then picked up the application form from the desk. “Another application?”

“Yes, a freshman. I told him it’s useless, but he didn’t listen.”

“Don’t do these things in the office next time. You’re wasting your youth!”

“Got it, Professor Yan.”

Professor Yan skimmed the application, thinking what nonsense was written. A university forum? There was already one. What use was another? But the last line was good—no dating dogs. Few young people understood this nowadays, leading to so many wasting their youth in school.

Intrigued by that line, Professor Yan put on his reading glasses and entered the website address.

Hmm?

This seems interesting.

Not sure, need to look further.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin had left the Entrepreneurship Center and sat on a bench outside, frowning slightly.

A month for the startup project approval?

By then, the campus beauty contest would be long forgotten. It seemed he couldn’t rely too much on the school’s entrepreneurial support and had to find a more reliable solution. The quickest way was to rent a place, but campus spaces weren’t easily available, and off-campus locations were too far, wasting more time.

Ding ding ding—

Jiang Qin checked his phone, finding a message from Feng Nanshu, with a naive-looking tabby cat avatar.

“Goodnight, Jiang Qin.”

“It’s only five in the afternoon.”

“Oh.”

“I had plans tonight, but here’s what we’ll do. Wait for me downstairs, and you can join me for dinner.”

After replying to Feng Nanshu’s QQ message, Jiang Qin stood up and walked towards the girls’ dormitory.

The little rich girl, Feng Nanshu, was already waiting downstairs. She wore a black dress with a red belt, showing off her slender legs. Her long, smooth hair cascaded down her shoulders, less girlish but more stunning.