WWFILABR 81 to 90

 Chapter 81: Second Half-Price Offer

TL: Etude

“Gosh, such a grand event. Did Liu really invest eighty thousand?”

“Looking at this scale, eighty thousand seems about right.”

“Good heavens, how many cups of milk tea must he sell to make that back? Liu is really going all out!”

“Why bother about that? If it really takes off, a steady income can be satisfying too!”

Merchants stood shoulder to shoulder, pondering as they watched students buy milk tea at the entrance, each starting to calculate their own profits.

Even they hadn’t realized that although they had previously fantasized about the money being wasted, they were now considering the sustained income after the promotion.

That’s because the feel of online and offline advertising can be vastly different.

Take these conservative-minded merchants, for example. A banner ad online might not be as eye-catching as a two-meter-tall PVC board right in front of them — tangible and visible.

This felt similar to the early years of online shopping, where many were resistant due to not being able to see the product. But once they understood the convenience and speed, perceptions changed.

Jiang Qin wanted to create an atmosphere that would translate into a sense of trust.

Don’t think your investment has just turned into a string of digital codes.

I will hang advertising banners and pull up streamers for you!

Doesn’t that instantly raise the ceremonial feel?

Meanwhile, teachers in the office were also discussing the leaderboard they saw outside the window.

“This event is quite impressive!”

“Yes, it was small-scale a few days ago, but today, it feels like a major event. I’m even curious about who will win the ‘Campus Beauty’ title.”

“I heard that a freshman from the Finance Department started this website?”

“From the Finance Department, yes, but a freshman? That’s unlikely. The military training just ended; could a freshman organize such a big event?”

“Regardless of whether it’s a freshman, the person behind this website must be very insightful. They’ve tightly integrated traffic and products: using the ‘Campus Beauty’ contest to drive traffic, using traffic to promote products, and then using products to further stir interest. It’s brilliant.”

“It seems brilliant now, but the initial investment must have been significant. So capable and yet so mysterious. When did our university get such a student?”

As the Xi Tian Milk Tea shop finished its preparations, the voting channel on the forum also opened on time.

Dong Wenhao’s warm-up activities had a good effect. By two in the afternoon, the website was bustling with activity, with a massive increase in threads, almost crashing the server.

The initial posts about choosing the ‘Campus Beauty’ were not enough!

There were endless arguments; everyone believed their idol was the most beautiful.

But now it was different. With clear data, it was time to compete based on popularity.

Even if some were indifferent about who became the ‘Campus Beauty’, there would always be a few zealous friends dragging them to vote. What choice did they have?

Interestingly, the forum’s voting rules allowed each person three votes per day, but not for the same person.

This led to dilemmas: after voting for our department’s goddess, who should receive my other two votes?

Some loyal fans might choose not to vote for anyone else, devoted to their idol, but most would opt to cast all their votes, even supporting beauties from other departments.

“Engineering folks, vote for Wu Meng. Show them our department isn’t just a monk’s temple!”

“Comrades, stop flipping. I’ve posted a link; it leads directly to Liu Yiyi’s voting page!”

“I don’t care about the rest; just go drink milk tea. I want Fang Xuan’s limited edition milk tea cup!”

“Why is Xi Tian only in our university? It’s so unfriendly to students from the East Campus. Thumbs down!”

“I want Chu Siqi’s limited edition milk tea cup, please!”

In the morning, Jiang Qin was monitoring the data in room 208. He watched as Liu Yiyi, Chu Siqi, Hong Yan, Wu Meng, Sun Xiaoyu, Fang Xuan, and Liu Tian’s flower counts broke through two hundred, smoothly entering the candidate zone. Meanwhile, others were closely following, pushing their way to the front ranks.

These girls, being the most popular in their respective departments, were expected to quickly rack up the numbers.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Jiang Qin’s gaze shifted from the computer screen to the door, where a woman with glasses and a bun hairstyle peeked in.

“Hello, I’m the manager of the Beilan Dessert Shop in Front Square. Can I place an advertisement?”

“Please, come in.”

Jiang Qin gestured to a chair and summoned Tan Qing to attend to this potential client.

“Big sister, our website currently offers a 20% discount on advertising. The main page banner promotion is 19,999, secondary page 9,999, and carousel small image 5,999. Prices are negotiable, and there’s a half-price offer on the second purchase,” Tan Qing explained skillfully.

“Half price for the second purchase?”

Tan Qing nodded earnestly, “For instance, if you find the ad effective and wish to place a second one, that would be half the original price.”

The manager of Beilan Desserts pondered, “Can I get half price for the first one?”

“That’s not how it works. Our promotion is as stated. Unless…”

Jiang Qin suddenly patted Tan Qing on the shoulder, interrupting her. He then lowered his voice to the manager, “If you bring a neighboring merchant to advertise with us, wouldn’t that count as your second purchase?”

The manager appeared thoughtful, then pulled out her phone and stepped outside to make a call.

Tan Qing looked up at Jiang Qin, “Boss, is this okay?”

“The website is just starting. Rules are not set in stone; we need to be flexible.”

“Okay.”

“These days, we’ll likely see many such merchants. They might not all intend to advertise; some may just inquire and leave. Be patient and don’t rush them,” Jiang Qin advised.

Tan Qing pursed her lips, “Understood, boss. I’ll handle it carefully.”

Jiang Qin gave her an encouraging look, then left room 208 and returned to the Xi Tian Milk Tea shop in Front Square.

The previously deserted tea shop was now bustling with a queue, partly drawn by the billboards and partly by the forum advertisements.

People adhered to the principle of ‘since I’m here, I might as well’, and the orders steadily increased.

Fang Xiaoxuan was bustling about in the shop, sweating but still moving efficiently.

“I support Fang Xuan from the Media Department. Whoever votes for her, I’ll treat them to a milk tea of any flavor!”

A voice suddenly rang out in the square, making Jiang Qin’s eyes light up.

He knew that even in Linchuan University, there would be no shortage of ambitious figures like Qin Zi’ang!

Turning to look, Jiang Qin saw the unknown Linchuan’s Qin Zi’ang generously waving a stack of red bills, which fluttered with his wrist movements, creating a rustling sound.

So much money, soon to be in the hands of the little rich lady.

“Xiaoxuan, where’s your boss lady?” Jiang Qin casually asked as he entered the shop.

Fang Xiaoxuan looked up at him, her eyes a mix of confusion, bewilderment, and incomprehension.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Jiang Qin was taken aback by her expression.

“Sorry, boss lady, I’m a bit dazed. I didn’t understand what you just said. Are you asking where you are?”

Jiang Qin was also puzzled, “I’m the boss lady?”

“Ahh, that’s what the boss said,” Fang Xiaoxuan muttered under her breath.

Chapter 82: The Drama of a Lovestruck Brain

TL: Etude

“I’m the boss lady? Do you think a burly gentleman like me has no shame? Change it back.”

“Oh, sure, boss. The boss lady has returned to the dorm, she just left not long ago. She doesn’t seem to like crowded places.”

Jiang Qin nodded, but couldn’t help muttering to himself, thinking that the terms ‘boss’ and ‘boss lady’ were too ambiguous. Wasn’t it said that even dogs don’t talk about love?

However, it was a good thing that Feng Nanshu wasn’t here; otherwise, the whole marketing plan would be ruined.

Why?

A bunch of people shouting their support for the school beauty coming to buy milk tea, only to find out that their goddess is less attractive than the milk tea shop owner. Who could bear such a blow?

In the long run, the goddesses would lose their followers, the competition for school beauty would cool down, and the website’s activity would decline again.

Better to keep a beauty like the little rich lady hidden, lest she brings disaster to the nation and causes greater conflicts.

Alas, it’s all on me to bear it all and protect the whole school.

They really should award me a fucking ‘Good Student’ title for this.

“Xiaoxuan, is my milk tea ready yet?”

“Just one more cup, it’ll take a minute.”

Fang Xiaoxuan held the milk tea cup, one hand operating the machine, the other shaking the cup vigorously, creating a constant rustling sound.

A minute later, six cups of milk tea with different flavors were ready. Fang Xiaoxuan was about to pack them in a large bag when Jiang Qin stopped her with a wave of his hand.

“Split them into two parts, three cups in each bag, so it won’t hurt the hand.”

“Oh, okay.”

Fang Xiaoxuan switched to two smaller bags, packed them, and handed them over. Then, Jiang Qin, carrying six cups of milk tea, leisurely headed towards the girls’ dormitory of the Finance Department.

Arriving at the dormitory, Jiang Qin took out his phone and after some thought, called Gao Wenhui, telling her there was a secret matter to discuss in detail and to bring Fan Shuling along, without fail.

Fan Shuling was reading in the dormitory when she heard Gao Wenhui say Jiang Qin had called for her. Her heart skipped a beat.

A few days ago, she had forcefully recommended Zhang Xinyu to Feng Nanshu. Although it hadn’t caused any trouble, Gao Wenhui’s words were still deeply imprinted in her mind.

“Jiang Qin will strangle you if he finds out!”

Fan Shuling had said she wasn’t afraid, but now, thinking about it, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of palpitations. Blatantly helping others undermine someone, ending up breaking the shovel, and getting it rebound on herself was not the worst part. The key was getting caught. Not getting beaten up for it would be a miracle.

But Fan Shuling was not the kind to cower.

The more she knew she would be troubled, the less she wanted to hide. She felt her intentions were good; hiding would mean admitting guilt, right?

So the two of them put on their shoes and headed out.

However, just as they opened the door, Gao Wenhui suddenly had a mischievous idea. She turned to Feng Nanshu, who was lying on the bed.

“Nanshu, Jiang Qin just called me.”

“…”

Feng Nanshu sat up instantly, blinking her clear eyes, and was about to get off the bed to put on her shoes.

But Gao Wenhui immediately stopped her, feigning a sigh: “But Jiang Qin didn’t call for you, just for the two of us. He specifically instructed me not to let you come down.”

Hearing this, Feng Nanshu’s face instantly showed a look of grievance, her eyes wide and watery as she looked at Gao Wenhui.

“Alright, actually, we do have important matters to discuss. Once we’re done, he will take you out.”

“Then you guys talk quickly.” Feng Nanshu’s eyelashes quivered.

Gao Wenhui was almost floored by the situation, thinking to herself what a heavenly romance this was. She would eagerly watch if this were a TV drama. Then, with a response, she led Fan Shuling out of the dormitory.

By the time they left the dormitory, Jiang Qin was idly playing Snake under the shade of a tree.

Gao Wenhui, remembering the secret Jiang Qin mentioned, walked briskly, while Fan Shuling, fearing trouble, lagged behind.

Turns out, there was no secret or quest for love. Jiang Qin just handed them a bag of milk tea, saying he wanted to treat their dorm to it.

“Little Gao, could you call Feng Nanshu down when you go back? Thanks, you’re such a good person.”

“Pfft, a good person being your free labor. But considering the milk tea, I’ll help you this time!”

“Gao Wenhui, you’re so noble.”

Gao Wenhui took the plastic bag, giving one to Fan Shuling, carrying a grudge for not hearing the secret, and entered the building.

It wasn’t until they had climbed the first flight of stairs that Fan Shuling, still in a daze, wondered if that was it. Wasn’t he supposed to strangle her? She had braced herself for it.

“Do you now understand why Nanshu is always clinging to him?”

Gao Wenhui suddenly turned to Fan Shuling.

“Why?”

Fan Shuling looked puzzled.

“Just for six cups of milk tea, he couldn’t bear to let Feng Nanshu come down and get them, tricking us to come down instead. After bringing the milk tea up, he’ll call her. This jerk, always talking about friendship, but actually dotes on her so much.”

Gao Wenhui seemed to see through everything.

“Wenhui, did I meddle too much before?”

Fan Shuling looked at the milk tea in her hand, feeling uneasy.

“Not really. You did it for Feng Nanshu’s good. Jiang Qin doesn’t say it, but he’s very clear about human relationships. These six cups of milk tea, couldn’t I carry them alone? He had to split them into two, calling two people down, each carrying three cups. His thoughts are very detailed.”

Jiang Qin, of course, didn’t hear this. If he had, he would surely give a thumbs up, thinking Gao Wenhui was really dramatic with her love-struck brain, thinking so intricately, something he hadn’t even considered himself.

Back in the dorm, Gao Wenhui entered to find Feng Nanshu already changed and waiting, having swapped her slippers for small leather shoes.

Quiet, cute, prim and proper, she looked obediently adorable.

“Feng Nanshu, Jiang Qin is waiting for you downstairs.”

“Then I’m off!”

Feng Nanshu opened the door and dashed out, not even taking her cup of milk tea. The slight heels of her shoes tapped a rhythmic sound in the hallway, echoing in the empty corridor.

Witnessing this scene, the five people in the room couldn’t help but exchange glances, their eyes filled with a bit of envy.

Indeed, sweet love was the main melody of college life.

Downstairs, upon meeting, Jiang Qin waved his hand to signal departure, and Feng Nanshu followed him closely.

“Where are we going, Jiang Qin?”

“To get you a ‘boss lady’ certificate. From now on, you’ll be the rightful boss lady.”

Jiang Qin led her through twists and turns to the Entrepreneurship Center, arriving at the office door.

The business at Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop was booming, but the little rich lady’s paperwork wasn’t complete. He brought Feng Nanshu here to get Cao Xinyue to register her for a self-employment certificate, to avoid any future problems.

Chapter 83: The Goddess Filter Shattered

TL: Etude

“Is anyone there?”

Jiang Qin arrived at the Entrepreneurship Center and pushed the door of the main office, but it wouldn’t budge. Peering through the window, he saw that the room was empty.

Cao Xingyue and the TV-loving senior, also students from Linchuan University, probably couldn’t manage their work here while attending classes. Moreover, the Entrepreneurship Center itself was a relaxed establishment, so there was really no need to have someone on duty at all times. Being greeted by a closed door was nothing out of the ordinary.

“Let’s go, no one’s here. We’ll come back another time.”

“What about my lady boss certificate?” Feng Nanshu looked woefully disappointed, feeling like an important document that was almost in her grasp was slipping away.

“There’s no one inside, we can’t do it.”

“Then I’ll wait here,” Feng Nanshu said seriously, determined to stay.

Jiang Qin found it amusing. It was just a self-employment certificate, not that important: “Okay, how about this? You come with me to room 208 for a bit, and we’ll come back down when the person who handles the certificates arrives.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Qin led Feng Nanshu to room 208. As soon as they entered, the crisp sound of keyboards could be heard, rhythmic and reminiscent of an internet café.

However, when the little rich lady followed Jiang Qin inside, the sound of the keyboards noticeably paused, then slowed down, and the keystrokes became softer.

This was followed by hushed whispers, spoken in suppressed tones.

“Who’s that dazzling beauty behind the boss?”

“I heard from Sister Su Nai that she’s our lady boss.”

“Wow, our lady boss is so beautiful?!”

“Yes, like the boss, she’s also a freshman from the Finance Department, and I heard they’re from the same high school.”

“The boss is really something, snatching her up in high school? No wonder it’s so hard to find a partner in college; some people prefer to take the initiative early!”

“Have you ever considered that your inability to find a partner isn’t because all the beauties are taken, but because of your face?”

“???????”

Amidst this chatter, the technical team stopped their work and glanced at the names and photos on the leaderboard, their gazes turning peculiar.

Especially the two boys in the group, Chen Wenxing and Yang Shuai.

They had been excited about taking on the school beauty contest, as it meant they could personally help choose the most beautiful girl in the school – what boy wouldn’t be thrilled?

But now, seeing the lady boss, they suddenly felt that the school beauties and goddesses being praised by each department paled in comparison. Their interest waned, replaced by deep curiosity.

“Isn’t the lady boss joining the contest? Who could beat her if she did?”

“The boss won’t let her compete. It wouldn’t be fair to everyone else.”

“Tsk tsk, hiding a beauty in a golden house, yet he always talks about not dating. His heart is truly wicked.”

“All bosses are wicked. I even heard from someone in the Finance Department that the boss has a model girlfriend off-campus.”

“Damn, really? That’s low!”

The reaction from the content team was similar to that of the technical team, perhaps even more disheartened.

Why?

Because they had just finished interviewing the goddesses from each department and were writing their biographies, using all sorts of lavish descriptions – skin delicate enough to break with a blow, stunning beauty, sparkling eyes, and smiles bright as sunshine.

As a result, in front of the lady boss, they all felt utterly defeated.

“It’s pointless, I don’t feel like doing this anymore.” Lu Feiyu from the content team pushed away his keyboard, feeling completely disinterested.

Dong Wenhao glanced at him and said, “Don’t you want your salary anymore?”

“Of course I want it.”

“Then get back to work.”

Lu Feiyu’s hands hovered over the keyboard for a while: “I can’t do it, my goddess filter is gone. How can I continue exaggerating?”

“Who are you writing about?” Dong Wenhao peered at his computer screen.

“It’s her, Liu Yiyi from the Literature Department. I started off quite enthusiastically, describing her as ‘nation’s beauty’ and ‘autumn water-like eyes’, but now I can’t continue. She’s not as beautiful as our lady boss, and yet we’re rating her as a campus beauty. Isn’t that like telling a blatant lie?”

“You have to force yourself to exaggerate, even if it’s difficult. Don’t carry the burden of a literary creator. Nowadays, talent is less valuable than money.”

Lu Feiyu pursed his lips, typed the word “stunning”, then deleted it, scratched his head for a while, and replaced it with “delicate”.

There was no choice. Before the lady boss arrived, he could bestow the title of ‘stunning’ on the goddesses of each department. But with the lady boss’s appearance, all other goddesses could only be called “delicate”.

Such was the simple and clear love and hatred of male college students.

In the afternoon, Cao Xingyue had not yet arrived, but the entrance to room 208 was crowded with several merchants from Front Square, peeking into the office curiously.

Honestly, the customer flow at the Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop these past few days had been enormous, sometimes even extending to the doors of other shops. Under such circumstances, it was natural for the surrounding merchants to feel envious.

Especially yesterday afternoon, when they heard that the Belian Dessert Shop and the Fresh Fruit Supermarket also came to advertise and enjoyed a 20% discount, it was very tempting.

Tan Qing and Wei Lanlan saw this and came out to greet them, pulling them to the corner of the corridor to introduce their services.

They had no choice. The office was too crowded to have a reception room, so they had to make do in the corridor.

“Big sister, during our promotional period, all our advertising packages are 20% off. Not only are they effective, but they’re also affordable!”

“Second one half price? Oh, you heard about it from the manager of the Belian Dessert Shop, right? That’s an internal benefit for our staff. I can apply for you, but please don’t spread the word. If the boss finds out, he’ll scold us again.”

Jiang Qin stood at the door for a while and couldn’t help but think about the neighboring room 207.

As the website’s popularity increased with the contest, more and more advertisers would be attracted. They couldn’t always pull people into the hallway for business talks; it didn’t feel like a big company at all.

He thought, why not take over room 207 as well?

These past few days, he had been shuttling between the tea shop and the Entrepreneurship Center, passing by room 207 many times. He knew it was an empty classroom and figured it wouldn’t be difficult to use it.

Even if the request was denied, sneaking a key seemed feasible.

While he was pondering, Cao Xingyue came around the corner from the second floor and looked at the people at the door with some confusion.

“Junior, what are you doing? These people aren’t students, are they?”

Jiang Qin revealed a mysterious smile: “They’re clients here to bring us money.”

“You’re actually making money?” Cao Xingyue was very surprised.

“Sister, you’re always busy with your love life and don’t pay attention to the big events in school? Even stray dogs know about the campus beauty contest.”

“I know a little about the contest, but isn’t monetizing traffic the hardest part?”

Jiang Qin didn’t want to explain too much, so he pointed to room 207: “Can I borrow this room?”

“Isn’t 208 enough?”

“Look, I have to arrange for my clients in the hallway. Isn’t that inappropriate? We should at least have a reception room, right?”

Cao Xingyue pursed her lips: “Okay, I’ll ask Professor Yan’s opinion when he returns.”

“Thank you, sister. Also, there’s another thing. My friend took over the tea shop in Front Square. Can she register here for a self-employment certificate, using the fastest procedure? Credits and such are not an issue.”

“Has she come? Let her come with me to the main office.”

Chapter 84: You Have High Standards, Don’t You?

TL: Etude

“Feng Nanshu, come out, your certificate is ready!”

Jiang Qin called into the room, and immediately, a brisk set of footsteps echoed from the office.

The little rich lady was dressed in a light yellow dress with white floral prints, cinched at the waist, revealing a small, delicate section of her fair collarbone. She looked ethereal, as if she had stepped out of a painting, fresh and pure, yet not lacking in cold elegance.

She walked to the door, casting a clear glance at Jiang Qin.

In Jiang Qin’s eyes, her look seemed somewhat naive, but to Cao Xinyue, it felt chillingly cold, reminiscent of a powerful female protagonist in novels, possessing both beauty and intelligence, both innocence and desire.

Moreover, this aloof gaze, though directed at Jiang Qin, seemed to affect her as well, despite her merely standing nearby.

Such beauty, she thought, could make even a military coat look stunning. This face was flawless, unless she spoke in a Shandong dialect.

“No wonder he’s not into dating,” mused Cao Xinyue thoughtfully.

Jiang Qin, taken aback, turned to Cao Xinyue, “Senior, what did you say?”

“Junior, are you not dating because you can’t keep up? A girl like her is hell-level difficulty. I think you can forget about love in this lifetime,” Cao Xinyue clicked her tongue.

“Senior, your ability to imagine things is of web novel author caliber, isn’t it? Why not join our forum part-time? I’ll make you the new queen of romance novels, you’ll be famous, and I’ll make a fortune!”

Cao Xinyue pursed her lips, knowing that boys need to save face, and not wanting to ridicule him further, she greeted Feng Nanshu and then took her downstairs to the general office.

Applying for an independent entrepreneurship certificate was quite simple. All she needed to do was fill out an application form, get a stamp from Director Yan, and then make a record at the Bureau of Industry and Commerce when she had time.

Feng Nanshu leaned over the table, writing carefully and earnestly, as if making a life-altering application, her charming face filled with solemnity and seriousness.

Whew—

As she finished the last character, the little rich lady exhaled deeply, holding up the form towards the window, letting the sunlight illuminate her elegant handwriting through the back of the paper.

Applicant: Feng Nanshu

Gender: Female

Business Name: Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop

Role: Proprietress

Registration Location: Entrepreneurship Center General Office

Participation in Entrepreneurship Training: No

Main Business: Milk Tea

Source of Funds: Given by Jiang Qin

…

“I’ve finished filling it out.”

“Okay, junior, just leave the form here, and you can go,” Cao Xinyue said with a smile, placing the form at the very top, ensuring the professor would stamp it first. There was no helping it; being good-looking did come with privileges, especially with such universally appealing beauty.

Feng Nanshu hesitantly walked a few steps out, but couldn’t help looking back as she left, thinking about her proprietress certificate.

But she was rather socially anxious, only talkative around Jiang Qin, and mostly silent when facing someone she had just met.

So, despite her questions, the little rich lady didn’t voice them, deciding instead to go back and find Jiang Qin.

“Angel junior’s handwriting is really beautiful, even neater than printing. Truly, like the person herself. With a girl like this, Jiang Qin might lose his shoes chasing after her and still not catch up. No wonder he bristles at the mention of love, looking down on it. He must have faced many setbacks, leading to a shadow in his heart.”

“…”

“Eh?”

Cao Xinyue picked up the application form again, her eyes lingering on the “Purpose of Entrepreneurship” section, her expression gradually turning peculiar.

“To Be Jiang Qin’s Proprietress”

“?????”

After leaving the Entrepreneurship Center, Feng Nanshu walked briskly upstairs and ran into Jiang Qin coming out, “Done with everything?”

“Done, but I didn’t get a certificate. Did she forget to give it to me?” Feng Nanshu showed her empty hands.

“That means they don’t agree with you being the proprietress.”

“…”

Feng Nanshu’s beautiful eyes widened in shock, as if struck by lightning.

At three in the afternoon, as biographies of the goddesses from various departments were uploaded, the website again stirred up a frenzy.

Firstly, the content team’s writing was indeed excellent, detailed in description. Moreover, the idea of using milk tea flavors to describe the goddesses’ personalities was ingeniously cheeky.

This method of description not only made the images of the goddesses more vivid and three-dimensional, but it also instantly turned the matched milk tea flavors into bestsellers at the Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop.

Light and elegant multi-fruit grape.

Cheerful and lively cheese strawberry.

Delicate and gentle mango sago.

Curvaceously appealing full cup grapefruit.

Cool and haughty mischievous oolong.

Although the packaging remained the same, each flavor tasted much better than before, for reasons unknown.

Additionally, when interviewing the goddesses of each department, Jiang Qin had Dong Wenhao specifically sign authorization contracts with them, adding a layer of legality to the website’s activities.

Although it was the year 2008, women’s love for being praised and comparing appearances was the same, a fine tradition passed down from ancient times.

Being interviewed for their beauty and having their names used for milk tea packaging was a matter of pride for them, so they agreed happily.

However, when the biographies were spread by the forum’s users, unintended troubles began to surface.

At three-thirty, a group of male students from the literature department, filled with indignation and fiery glares, marched mightily from the east campus to the Entrepreneurship Center.

They varied in height and build, with long, short, and even middle-parted hair – a diverse group united by their admiration for their goddess, Liu Yiyi of the literature department.

Liu Yiyi was highly popular in her department and a hot candidate in the campus beauty contest.

Dong Wenhao and Lu Feiyu had interviewed her, and she was pleased, as all girls love beauty and appreciation of their beauty.

So, she had been eagerly anticipating her biography, curious about how she would be portrayed.

But when her biography was released, she was dumbfounded.

Why were the descriptors for others so grand like “nation’s beauty” and “heavenly fragrance”, but hers was just ‘delicate’?

She was angry and sarcastically commented in the forum’s discussion group, feeling wronged and almost wanting to cry.

Want to cry?

Liu Yiyi’s fans couldn’t stand this. They immediately gathered to demand an explanation.

Why were other department goddesses praised like flowers, but Goddess Liu was only ‘delicate’? This seemed like an insult!

The location of the forum’s headquarters wasn’t hard to find, thanks to the banner on the website’s homepage directing business collaborations to the Entrepreneurship Center, room 208.

“Who’s in charge here?”

A crowd of over twenty literature department males, all ardent fans of Liu Yiyi, ready for battle, arrived at room 208.

“It’s me,” Dong Wenhao looked around, realizing the boss wasn’t there, and stood up.

There was no way he could let a woman face such a crowd, especially since Su Nai was the only other senior member in the office.

And he recognized a few faces from the literature department.

“Who wrote Liu Yiyi’s biography from the literature department?”

Lu Feiyu swallowed nervously, “I did…”

The lead student’s expression darkened, “Are your eyes just for breathing? Goddess Liu is so beautiful, and you call her delicate? How is that different from insulting her?”

“I just made an objective assessment.”

“Objective? Oh, have you seen so many beautiful women that you call Liu Yiyi merely ‘delicate’? Your standards are pretty high, huh!”

Chapter 85: “Delicate” is Quite Apt!

TL: Etude

As a cultured individual, Dong Wenhao could only think of one phrase at this moment: “A fit of anger for a beautiful lady’s sake.”

These people obviously came in anger, and without a change, they were determined not to relent.

Thinking back, Lufei Yu really was unreliable. For the biography of a campus beauty candidate, using “beautiful” was acceptable, but using “delicate”? That’s practically an insult! What girl could be described as “delicate”? It’s a term used when there’s nothing else to praise.

A passable nose, eyes, mouth, face shape—everything just passable. That meant there was no particular feature to describe, so one could only boldly use “delicate”.

For an ordinary girl, seeing this description might be acceptable, but Liuyi Yi was the goddess of the literature department. To be described like this, it would be strange if she didn’t get furious.

“Feiyu, hurry up and change it to ‘national beauty and heavenly fragrance’, ‘beauty that brings down nations’, ‘disaster for the country and people’!” Dong Wenhao quickly pulled Lufei Yu aside. “What’s the matter with you? Didn’t I say that the pride of a scholar isn’t worth much?”

“But senior, I really can’t do such blatant lying!” Lufei Yu stood firm, not giving an inch: “I’m in the journalism department, I’ll be a journalist in the future. I believe every description I write must be objective and fair!”

“Hah, you dare claim you’re objective and fair? You’re clearly looking down on my goddess!” The leading boy rolled up his sleeves in anger.

Dong Wenhao’s face paled, realizing things were going south. Lufei Yu was definitely in for trouble today.

Sure enough, the boys, now banded together, couldn’t tolerate this any longer. Changing the description to ‘national beauty and heavenly fragrance’ was considered blatant lying? This was even worse than describing Goddess Liu as “delicate”.

Lufei Yu was stubborn, refusing to change even as the others were ready to fight.

The atmosphere was tense, on the verge of exploding.

The noise from the office penetrated the wooden door, drawing the curiosity of the passersby in the corridor, all peeking into the room.

Just then, the door of room 208 was pushed slightly open. However, due to the crowd from the literature department, the door couldn’t fully open until someone at the back moved, creating a small opening.

Jiang Qin squeezed in from outside, frowning: “What’s happening? Why isn’t the boss letting anyone in?”

“The literature department is unhappy with the biography we wrote for Liuyi Yi,” Dong Wenhao confessed honestly.

“All this fuss over such a trivial matter? Just change it. Websites are rigid, people are flexible. What’s the dissatisfaction?”

“Lufei Yu described Liuyi Yi as ‘delicate’.”

After hearing this, Jiang Qin was also stunned, thinking that it indeed sounded like an insult. No wonder these people had come knocking: “Change it quickly, to ‘national beauty and heavenly fragrance’, ‘beautiful as flowers and jade’.”

“Beautiful as flowers and jade won’t do!” The leading boy was demanding. ‘As flowers’ was not acceptable, as it was seen as an insult.

“Fine, fine, like a weeping beauty, dreamlike and fantastical, whatever works. Just change it and leave. We have clients coming soon, blocking the doorway like this is unsightly.”

Upon hearing this, Lufei Yu immediately objected: “Boss, the biography should reflect reality, we can’t just make things up!”

“That’s it, you’re still arguing?!”

Several boys instantly grabbed stools, holding them over their heads, bristling with aggression, ready to erupt into a fight.

Jiang Qin was exasperated, thinking, “Are all these literature creators so stubborn?”

Just then, the door was pushed open again. Feng Nanshu entered, her face sullen and indifferent, still upset about not receiving the “Boss’s Wife” title, adding to her cold demeanor.

Huh?

The male students from the literature department were momentarily stunned, involuntarily lowering their stools. In their eyes, confusion was replaced by awe.

Wait a minute…

Isn’t she the real campus beauty?

This is the true definition of a beauty that brings down nations, a disaster for the country!

Compared to this, Goddess Liu and the word “delicate” seemed perfectly matched.

Not bad at all, “delicate” was quite fitting.

Strangely enough, they had just felt that praising someone as “delicate” was somewhat insulting. How had it suddenly become so apt? Indeed, Chinese culture is profound and vast; the same word can evoke completely different feelings in different contexts and times.

“I won’t change it,” Lufei Yu persisted, “When I write biographies, I adhere to the truth. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘How can I bow and scrape to those in power, preventing me from being true to myself’?”

The leader frowned: “Fine, you’ve got guts. Don’t change it then!”

At around six in the evening, the sky was ablaze with the brilliant hues of a sunset.

Liuyi Yi returned to her dormitory from the teaching building and immediately opened the Zhihu forum. She then accessed her own biography and started refreshing the page incessantly, her eyes not blinking as they stared at the computer screen.

To her disappointment, the words “delicate” were still there, unchanged, which infuriated her.

She opened a discussion group and tagged Cui Qiang, who had promised to seek justice for her.

“Cui Qiang, did you go to room 208?”

“I did. I took more than twenty people with me, and we even met the website’s boss,” Cui Qiang replied quickly.

After hearing this, Liuyi Yi’s brows furrowed: “Then why does my biography still have ‘delicate’?”

“Actually, I think ‘delicate’ is quite fitting.”

“??????”

Meanwhile, in the dormitory of the literature department in the east campus, Cui Qiang opened the website’s posting feature. His fingers flew over the keyboard, typing out a short post filled with grandiose phrases like “beauty that eclipses nature”, “beauty that shames the moon”, “national beauty and heavenly fragrance”, “angel descended to earth”, describing Feng Nanshu in a way that made her seem more divine than a fairy.

If Dong Wenhao saw this post, he would undoubtedly give it high praise from a professional standpoint.

Why? Because the biography was written perfectly, every line and word exuding the aura of a goddess.

But Dong Wenhao was destined not to see this biography. Just as Cui Qiang clicked ‘send’, a prompt popped up on his computer screen.

“What the heck, my post contains sensitive words?”

“That’s impossible, let me check again!”

From dusk to sunset, and from sunset to night, Cui Qiang checked his post seven or eight times and tried to repost it five times. Finally, after being notified that his account was banned for 24 hours, he gave up.

Damn it, it felt like some mysterious force was throttling him through the internet cable! He looked at the three flowers in his account and reopened Liuyi Yi’s voting page. His mouse hovered over the voting button for a long time, but he still didn’t cast his vote.

No other reason, he just suddenly felt that the competition was a bit of a joke.

Chapter 86: Confused, Time to Skip Class

TL: Etude

As time passed, nearly all the merchants from Front Square had visited room 208 at least once, especially after the signing of a formal promotion agreement between Beilan Dessert Shop and the forum. This led to a constant stream of clients inquiring about advertising placements.

Jiang Qin glanced at the accounts. Most clients were particularly interested in the homepage carousel advertisements, to the point where all four slots were booked until the end of the year.

After accounting for various discounts, the revenue from this section had already far exceeded the forum’s investment costs.

Furthermore, clients for long-term advertisements on secondary pages and side spaces were also secured, with total income breaking through the hundred thousand mark, closely aligning with the budget projections.

Once the bullet leaves the barrel, the shooter can relax.

As long as the shooter ensures that their wrist doesn’t tremble at the moment of firing, most bullets will reach their intended target.

Of course, as a university student, the primary duty is still to study. For Jiang Qin, how impressive his academic performance wasn’t of much concern, but at the very least, he shouldn’t fail and have to retake courses – that would be rather embarrassing.

At the end of September, during a calculus class.

Jiang Qin felt like his brain was about to explode. He listened to the teacher’s lecture, trying to dig up previous memories, only to find that what he once learned had fragmented.

He could recall bits and pieces, but couldn’t connect them. Even if he vaguely grasped something, it would quickly vanish again.

Damn it, calculus is really like love – too damn abstract!

It seems that things not frequently used can indeed be forgotten in a very short time. He could remember several rounds of drinking games, though.

Jiang Qin couldn’t help but touch his forehead and turned to look at Cao Guangyu, Ren Ziqiang, and Zhou Chao, noticing that these three were listening intently, nodding and shaking their heads, appearing extremely serious.

To get admitted to Linchuan University, one couldn’t be mediocre in their studies. Despite these three not looking serious usually, they really did study hard.

Jiang Qin finally understood what average students feel when facing top students.

Please, can we stop studying?

“Old Cao, let’s skip class and go to the Dream Fantasy Internet Cafe? There’s a deal – top up a hundred, get a hundred free,” Jiang Qin nudged Cao Guangyu with his elbow.

Cao Guangyu looked incredulous: “Old Jiang, did you buy your admission letter? Why is your attitude towards studying so lackluster?”

“…”

Jiang Qin turned to Zhou Chao: “Old Zhou, let’s not study, how about we both fail together?”

Zhou Chao glanced at him: “Old Jiang, you and I are different. You have a Bentley at home, but I don’t. If I fail and have to retake the course, my chances for postgraduate recommendation are gone. My parents would be so disappointed.”

“What about you, Old Ren?”

“I need to study hard. Plus, I have to accompany Pan Xiu.”

Ren Ziqiang raised an eyebrow, his words brimming with confidence, as if he really had a significant other.

Jiang Qin sighed, put the pen in his mouth, propped his chin with his hand, and gazed out the window at the blue sky, his mind starting to wander.

He barely made it through the class. Just before it ended, the teacher, dressed in a grey checkered shirt, suddenly put down the book and picked up the roll call list for another round of attendance checking. Cao Guangyu, Zhou Chao, and Ren Ziqiang immediately showed expressions of relief.

Jiang Qin realized that if he had spoken up earlier, they might have actually left with him.

That’s how young college students are, persuadable.

But now, after being randomly called out, they truly felt a scare. Random attendance checks after class? What kind of trick is that?

“Old Jiang, class is over, let’s go to the Internet Cafe!”

“It’s the end of class, who the hell goes to an Internet Cafe now!”

Jiang Qin grabbed his book and left swiftly. After exiting, he glanced at the neighboring classroom and noticed that Class 4 hadn’t shown up for class, probably rescheduled to the afternoon.

So, he took the elevator to the ground floor and headed straight for Front Square.

At Front Square, two small trucks were parked, and workers in grey-blue uniforms were busy moving promotional materials under the direction of Lu Xuemei.

The materials advertised various offers like “Official Partner of the Campus Beauty Contest – Beilan Dessert Shop, 20% off for the whole venue, power up the goddesses, cheer for the campus beauties” and “Campus Beauty’s Choice Clothing Store, wear like a campus beauty, shine like one.”

Additionally, Shengshi Advertising had created several authorized life-size cutouts of campus goddesses from different departments, which were placed next to the fountain in Front Square, facing the huge campus beauty leaderboard.

Through these initiatives, the entire front plaza had transformed into a testing ground for the campus beauty economy, resembling a bustling market with increasing foot traffic. Even the teachers couldn’t resist the urge to stroll around.

Businesses like Beilan Dessert Shop and Linchuan University Fashion Store had been struggling for years. For instance, the neighboring Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop only saw three customers in a morning, indicating the general business climate of the area.

This wasn’t due to poor product quality or service, but simply because Front Square couldn’t attract enough visitors.

Now, however, with the surge in popularity, sales were no longer a concern.

The location of Front Square wasn’t ideal, but Jiang Qin had managed to resolve this fundamental issue single-handedly.

There are many commercial areas in Linchuan University, with the College Supermarket being the most popular and Front Square the least. However, the situation had now reversed, attracting even the jewelry stores near the College Supermarket to set up stalls in Front Square.

The part-time student who used to promote campus cards at the college entrance had also moved to Front Square.

“I’ve never seen so many people here before…”

Lu Xuemei murmured, her eyes filled with wonder. In just a month, Front Square had transformed from deserted to bustling, a change she had never imagined possible.

And all this was achieved by the seemingly nonchalant freshman beside her.

“The teaching building leads to Front Square, which faces the maple woods. The street-facing businesses overlook the Moonwatch Lake. Although the terrain is open, it’s not conducive to business due to its openness. We used promotional materials and billboards to transform this open plaza into a ‘pocket-like’ street, creating a crowded atmosphere that enhances the shopping experience. Business will naturally pick up.”

After hearing this, Lu Xuemei was surprised, “Is there such a science to it?”

“Many businessmen consult Feng Shui experts before choosing a location, probably for this reason.”

“Isn’t that superstitious?”

“Of course, it’s superstition. As university students, we should believe in science and not my nonsense.” Jiang Qin patted her shoulder and headed towards Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop.

Lu Xuemei’s mouth twitched, thinking to herself that even his nonsense sounded convincing, no wonder he was the boss.

Thanks to the popularity of the Campus Beauty Contest and the milk tea flavors matched with the personalities of the beauties, Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop was bustling like never before. Consequently, Fang Xiaoxuan was exhausted.

“Boss, there are so many people these days, I’m completely drained after work,” Fang Xiaoxuan complained.

“Doesn’t the triple salary smell good?”

Fang Xiaoxuan immediately nodded, “It smells fantastic.”

“Then work hard.” Jiang Qin gave her an encouraging look.

“But I don’t understand, boss. Why can’t you use the money to hire two more people to help me?”

“I’m not relying on the milk tea shop for profits. I need the spectacle to attract new advertising clients. It’s a kind of hunger marketing. If we have enough hands and make tea quickly, the lines will be short, and it won’t be as attractive. Once the hype dies down a bit, I’ll hire more help.”

Fang Xiaoxuan didn’t quite understand, but she didn’t question it, as the triple salary was indeed very appealing.

Chapter 87: What’s So Great About Frivolous Men

TL: Etude

“Jiang Qin!”

“Eh? It really is Jiang Qin, what a coincidence!”

Jiang Qin was strolling around the square when he heard the call. Looking up, he saw the girls from the finance class approaching, chattering like birds in spring.

Leading the group was Song Qingqing, followed by Jiang Tian and the newcomer Jian Chun. Behind them were Pan Xiu, Liu Xiaojuan, and two other girls whose names he still couldn’t quite remember.

Among these girls, Jian Chun was indeed the most striking one.

She wore a coffee-colored miniskirt paired with a uniform-style three-quarter sleeve top, revealing her smooth, fair legs, and white slippers on her feet.

No wonder Cao Guangyu, the son from a big city, had a bit of taste. At the beginning of the term, he’d said Song Qingqing was pretty but never made a move. However, he became visibly interested as soon as he saw Jian Chun. His taste was obviously several notches above Ren Ziqiang’s.

But next to Jian Chun was a boy, whom Jiang Qin initially thought was a passerby. Yet, wherever Jian Chun went, the boy followed, his gaze always fixed on her. It was clear they knew each other.

This must be the new guy Ren Ziqiang mentioned.

The two of them had skipped military training together, entered school together, and were in the same department and class. Their relationship was probably not ordinary.

Without asking, it was clear that Cao’s romance was doomed yet again. The god of love seemed to be allergic to him.

Jiang Tian approached with light steps: “Jiang Qin, are you also here for milk tea?”

“I’m not here for the milk tea; just joining the crowd,” Jiang Qin responded.

Song Qingqing quickened her pace to catch up with Jiang Tian: “Since you’re here, why not have a cup? It’s on me!”

“How about this: the lady at the milk tea shop looks too busy. You can just pay at the counter, no need for the milk tea. Consider it your treat for me, okay?”

“Frivolous.”

“??????”

Jian Chun, who had been silent, suddenly spat out that word and rolled her eyes at Jiang Qin, leaving him utterly confused.

Damn, we haven’t even spoken a word. Why is she so rude?

The quality of modern female college students indeed needs improvement.

But before he could reply, his phone rang. Jiang Qin waved at the girls and found a corner to answer the call.

It was Hong Yan on the line, not with anything special, just to inform him that she had passed both the interview and assessment in the International Trade Department.

“I didn’t expect you to make this decision.”

“I think what Sister Nanshu said is right. I shouldn’t change my choices because of others’ opinions. I should do what I think is right.”

“Okay, then. How about inviting Feng Nanshu and having a meal together to celebrate?”

“Let’s not do it these two days. Chu Siqi is keeping an eye on me all the time, afraid I’ll go see you alone. Let’s eat after I move to the main campus. My treat.”

“Alright, we’ll talk about it later.”

Jiang Qin hung up, pocketed his phone, and planned to head back to room 208. This stage was crucial for the website, and he was not comfortable being completely hands-off.

“Jiang Qin, we’re about to have a short holiday. I’m thinking of organizing a meal for everyone. What do you think?”

Jiang Tian had left her dormitory sisters and returned from the Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop, standing perkily in front of Jiang Qin.

“I think it’s a good idea. You’re the class leader now, so it’s your call.”

“Do you prefer something more formal or casual? If it’s formal, we can go to Nanshan Restaurant for a private room. For something more casual, we can go to Shiwei Tian for an open-air stall.” Jiang Tian earnestly sought Jiang Qin’s opinion.

Hearing the mention of Shiwei Tian, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but grit his teeth: “Let’s go to Shiwei Tian. That boss just annoyed me a few days ago; I want to get back at him today.”

“?????”

After watching Jiang Qin leave, Jiang Tian returned to the milk tea shop. Song Qingqing immediately asked eagerly, “So, what did Jiang Qin say? Did he agree?”

“He agreed. He said we’ll go to Shiwei Tian,” replied Jiang Tian.

“That’s great! Let’s hurry back after getting the milk tea. I need to do my makeup and choose my outfit. I’ll dazzle him.”

Jian Chun, who was placing her order, couldn’t help but turn around, puzzled: “Qingqing, what’s so great about that Jiang Qin? Why bother dressing up specially for him?”

“He’s got a Bentley,” declared Song Qingqing, righteously.

“A Bentley? Oh, a rich second generation. No wonder he’s so frivolous.”

First impressions are crucial for strangers, and Jian Chun’s first encounter with Jiang Qin involved him throwing a paper note at her, so naturally, her impression of him wasn’t good.

Song Qingqing couldn’t help but pout: “Yes, yes, all men in the world are frivolous. None of them are as gentle and elegant as your Zhuang Chen!”

Jian Chun glanced back at the boy who had come with her: “Him? Barely passable. But I prefer someone more mature and cultured.”

Zhuang Chen smiled sheepishly: “Chun Chun, what do you want to drink? I’ll order for you.”

“I’ll order myself. You go ahead with yours.”

“Alright then.”

After Zhuang Chen placed his order, he stepped outside, took out a tissue, and carefully wiped two adjacent chairs clean. Then he sat down on one of them, watching Jian Chun amidst the crowded shop, a faint smile on his lips.

He had liked Jian Chun for five years, since middle school, and it continued until now. Although he hadn’t won her over yet, it was clear that they were getting closer.

In junior and senior high school, they couldn’t date early, and their families were strict, so Jian Chun always rejected his confessions outright. But in college, her attitude towards him softened significantly.

He thought to himself, just a little more effort, and the days of blooming flowers surely wouldn’t be far away.

“Let’s go, we’ve bought it.”

After a while, Jian Chun came out of the shop with her milk tea.

“Aren’t we drinking it here?”

Zhuang Chen was surprised; he had just finished wiping the chairs, waiting for Jian Chun to sit next to him.

Jian Chun couldn’t help but pout: “There’s a gathering in the class tonight, everyone’s in a rush to go back and dress up.”

“How about we go somewhere else then, and join them after they’re ready?” Zhuang Chen didn’t want to go back to the dormitory too early.

Jian Chun looked down at her attire: “Never mind, I should also go back and change. Though there’s no need to dress up, it’s still the first college gathering. Wearing slippers is too casual.”

“Ah… okay, then. I’ll go back to the dorm and come to pick you up at eight.”

Jian Chun responded coldly and then turned to join her friends, heading back to the girls’ dormitory of the Finance Department.

As soon as she entered the dormitory, Song Qingqing immediately started selecting clothes from her wardrobe.

Her closet was like a miniature fashion museum, packed with various styles of dresses, so heavy that the clothes rod was slightly bent.

She tried on several outfits, and once she decided on one, she began applying makeup, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Although Jiang Tian looked down on Song Qingqing’s behavior, she was secretly competing, quietly dabbing and brushing her face with makeup.

Jian Chun couldn’t understand it at all.

Why are men like Jiang Qin so popular? Just because he has a Bentley?

Even if Song Qingqing is materialistic, Jiang Tian isn’t like that. Why is she acting this way too?

Chapter 88: Pressing the Yongquan Point

TL: Etude

In Dormitory 302, after receiving the invitation to the gathering, Zhou Chao took out his khaki trench coat, which he had kept at the bottom of his wardrobe. After putting it on and flipping up the collar, he looked as if he was ready for a high-stakes gambling showdown. However, he couldn’t stand the heat after half a day in it and obediently switched to a short-sleeve shirt.

“Damn, none of my clothes look good. Old Jiang, do you have any nice clothes I can borrow?”

Ren Ziqiang couldn’t help but laugh after hearing this: “Jiang is 1.8 meters tall. Even the best clothes would look like they’re worn by an underfed refugee on you.”

“Get lost, it’s the concentrated ones that are the essence. Don’t you understand?” Zhou Chao wasn’t insecure about his height, but he couldn’t stand others mentioning it.

Ren Ziqiang pursed his lips, then turned to the calm and collected Cao Guangyu: “Old Cao, aren’t you going to dress up?”

“Deliberately dressing up would be too pretentious. The real art of understatement is to remain unchanged in the face of changes. I always pay attention to my appearance, so there’s no need for gilding the lily now.”

Cao Guangyu spoke with a boastful air.

He had learned the phrase “the art of understatement” from Jiang Qin.

He believed that the reason Jiang Qin was so popular with girls was due to his carefree attitude and his boldness in breaking conventions.

You all dress up, hey, I don’t!

You all brag about being wealthy, hey, I just say I’m ordinary!

It was this strong contrast that always made him stand out among ordinary people.

“A load of grand principles. You lectured us at the start of the term, and in the end, you’re nothing. Till now, not to mention a girlfriend, you don’t even have a boyfriend!”

Ren Ziqiang’s words punctured Cao Guangyu’s facade of calm.

“When you guys tease each other, you’re pretty witty. But why do you become silent when you see girls?” Jiang Qin came out from the balcony, having changed into clean clothes and casually rolled up his trousers.

Zhou Chao pondered for a moment: “It’s not that we dare not speak, but that we don’t know what to say. Old Jiang, what do you talk about with Feng Nanshu?”

“Nothing much, just normal conversation.”

“What else if not conversation?”

“Pressing the Yongquan point, massaging the Neiting.” (Foot acupoints lmao)

“?????”

Cao Guangyu rolled his eyes at them: “Asking Old Jiang is pointless. If a girl likes you, she’ll enjoy listening to you talk about international affairs. If she doesn’t, even if you’re eloquent, she won’t give you a hum.”

“Old Cao, sometimes you are really clear-headed, but when it comes to yourself, you’re a mess.” Jiang Qin gave his assessment.

“Don’t worry about it. As long as you don’t show off tonight, Jian Chun is mine.”

“But as a brother, I have to break it to you. Jian Chun seems to have someone, that Zhuang Chen who skipped military training with her.”

Cao Guangyu didn’t care at all: “Old Jiang, apart from you and me, everyone else is trash. I fear no one.”

“Fine, consider what I just said as nothing.” Jiang Qin put on his shoes and opened the door. “I’m going out to run some errands. We’ll meet up at Shiwei Tian tonight.”

After hearing this, Cao Guangyu’s eyes lit up: “Don’t come too early tonight. Wait until I’ve caught Jian Chun’s eye. I’m afraid she might like you.”

“Oh, then I might as well not fucking go.”

“??????”

Jiang Qin left the dormitory and went to the Cui Zhu Garden community opposite the school to borrow a car key from Uncle Gong. He also took the opportunity to chat with Uncle Gong about Feng Nanshu.

Jiang Qin had always been curious about how the little rich lady developed her personality. So he took the chance to ask Uncle Gong, but Uncle Gong, adhering to his professional ethics as a driver, refused to discuss his employer’s family affairs. However, he asked Jiang Qin to take the young mistress out more often.

As the sun set, bathing everything in its afterglow, Jiang Qin, with Bentley car keys in hand, arrived at Shiwei Tian and met up with the students from the Finance Class 3.

Actually, university gatherings weren’t very interesting. The main activities were gossiping and talking about studies. Jiang Qin wasn’t interested in either, so he just focused on eating, ignoring the subtle hints from Song Qingqing.

However, Jiang Qin’s silence inadvertently caught the attention of Jian Chun, sitting opposite him.

Before arriving, both Song Qingqing and Jiang Tian had spent time dressing him up. Even if Jian Chun’s initial impression of him wasn’t great, she couldn’t help but pay more attention to him now.

The more she observed, the more she felt something was off.

Jiang Qin’s demeanor was composed; he didn’t interrupt or show off. Even when Song Qingqing’s glances seemed to soar sky-high, he remained cool and indifferent.

Additionally, he occasionally frowned and gazed into the distance, deep in thought, appearing profound.

Would such a person frivolously pass notes to a girl he just met?

Jian Chun began to doubt her judgment. Compared to Jiang Qin, Cao Guangyu, who kept winking at her from various angles, seemed more like the flamboyant type.

At that moment, the rotund owner of Shiwei Tian walked over. Business was so good that even the owner had to step in as a waiter.

“All dishes are served. Enjoy your meal.”

“Wait a minute, boss, don’t leave just yet.”

“?”

With a slap, Jiang Qin pulled out the Bentley car keys and casually tossed them onto the table, startling the owner who thought he had knocked over a teapot. When he realized it was car keys…

“Bentley?”

“It’s been parked in the garage for too long. I rarely get a chance to drive it, so I thought I’d take it out for a spin.” Jiang Qin boasted.

The owner skeptically glanced at him: “A lighter, right?”

“Don’t you understand the difference between ‘machine’ and ‘bar’? After working near a university for so many years, how is your cultural level still so low? With that attitude, you’ll only ever drive a second-hand BMW in your life!”

The owner picked up the key and after examining it, realized it wasn’t a lighter, feeling a tinge of envy.

“Damn, driving a Bentley to school. Are university students nowadays this extravagant?”

Jiang Qin, seeing his reaction, felt smug. Since his rebirth, he had been the one to make others envious, never the other way around!

Meanwhile, Jian Chun couldn’t help but snort coldly, thinking that this man truly epitomized frivolity. Flaunting his car, was he trying to let the whole world know his family was rich? That note must have been from him.

Her fondness for Zhuang Chen, initially not strong, grew as she compared him with Jiang Qin, realizing Zhuang Chen was far better.

After the meal, Jiang Qin stood up, burped, and noticed Jian Chun coldly staring at him, puzzled.

“What are you looking at?”

Jian Chun switched to a smiling expression: “Young Master Jiang’s is so rich. With your generosity, you should treat us tonight, right?”

“Generous? I haven’t eaten your family’s rice. How can you just ask someone to treat? That’s really low.” Jiang Qin looked disgusted.

Jian Chun didn’t understand what he meant by ‘low’, but she sensed the sarcasm and her cheeks flushed red: “How about this? If you treat tonight, I’ll add you as a friend!”

“?????”

“What do you say?”

“Heh, crazy. Got drunk over a few dishes?”

Chapter 89: Undermining Discreetly

TL: Etude

Cao Guangyu glanced at Jiang Qin, feeling suddenly gloomy, realizing he still hadn’t grasped the essence of Jiang Qin’s character. If the comment made by Jian Chun earlier was directed at him, he would probably have rushed to pay the bill without a second thought. Was the gap between them still so wide?

Quietly, Cao Guangyu took out his phone, pulled out the stylus, and opened his notes. He meticulously recorded Jiang Qin’s actions from that day, planning to analyze them later to see if he could replicate them. He refused to believe that Jiang Qin was born a ‘male god’; this was definitely something that could be developed over time.

“Alright, we’re done eating, let’s head back,” Jiang Qin announced his departure.

“You really don’t want my QQ number?” Jian Chun asked in disbelief.

Jiang Qin glanced at her. “I already have one, with three suns, very dazzling. You keep yours.”

“I’m talking about QQ friends!”

“Go home and sober up.”

Jiang Qin left, and the others from the Finance Class 3 also gradually left the gathering. When they reached the pedestrian overpass, Jiang Qin went to a nearby residential area to return some keys, so he asked the others to go ahead without him.

As his figure disappeared into the night, the people from Finance Class 3 exchanged glances.

“Goodness, he couldn’t possibly be keeping a model in an apartment outside the campus, could he?”

After returning from Uncle Gong’s place, Jiang Qin, cloaked in the night, headed back to the school, walking towards the male dormitory along the college road. With the National Day holiday approaching and the impending short separation, the maple grove was full of couples, either hugging, holding, or sitting together. The evening breeze gently rustled the already yellowing maple leaves, filled with the sounds of passionate kisses.

Just then, the sound of a QQ message notification rang out. Jiang Qin received a friend request from Jian Chun.

Rejected.

Jiang Qin could now find the reject button even with his eyes closed, as he had encountered too many ‘fairies’ like this.

He then continued along the college road, passing by Moonwatch Lake. As he admired the shimmering lake, another friend request came in, this time from Zhuang Chen.

“?”

Zhuang Chen: “Jiang, please add Jian Chun. Otherwise, she won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

After reading this, Jiang Qin smiled and typed a response: “Warm guys come after the dogs.”

Zhuang Chen: “I’ll treat you to breakfast. Just add her this once.”

Jiang Qin emotionlessly typed: “And then we chat and hit it off, our feelings gradually warming, eventually leading to us holding hands, and walking up to you with her asking if I’m handsome?”

“…”

Zhuang Chen: “Impossible. She won’t like someone like you. As soon as you add her, she’ll immediately delete you, and that will make her feel better.”

“Why should I add her then? I don’t care for your breakfast.”

Jiang Qin grumbled and turned off his phone, thinking that men always seemed insecure when facing the girls they liked, yet blindly arrogant about the future.

Damn it, I wouldn’t laugh at you for believing in light, but believing in love, that’s just naive.

Meanwhile, in the fifth-floor hot water room of the girls’ dormitory, Song Qingqing and Jiang Tian were filling their thermos bottles, surrounded by steam. Suddenly, they heard a loud clank nearby, startling them. They turned off the tap and looked around, only to see Jian Chun’s expression dark and brooding.

“Still haven’t gotten over it?”

Jian Chun’s expression was icy cold. “He clearly passed me a note asking for my QQ number. He dares to act but not to admit it.”

Song Qingqing couldn’t help but glance at her. “You must be mistaken. Jiang Qin would never ask for your QQ number. Maybe Cao Guangyu, as he was sitting next to Jiang Qin when the note was passed. Jiang Qin might have just been helping.”

“You don’t believe me either?” Jian Chun felt uncomfortable all over.

“No, it’s because I was once as confident as you, and I ended up getting splashed in the face. Now, seeing you, it’s like looking in a mirror.”

Jian Chun scoffed disdainfully, “Just because he has a Bentley? Qingqing, I’m different from you. My family isn’t poor. Even if Jiang Qin’s family owned the White House, I wouldn’t be impressed.”

“You still know so little about the real face of my idol,” Song Qingqing replied. Just as she finished speaking, her expression choked, and she hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to focus on filling her water bottle. However, she forgot to turn on the tap and waited awkwardly for five seconds before finally turning it on.

On the other side, Jiang Tian seemed to have something to say but then held back, focusing on filling her bottle just like Song Qingqing.

The sudden eerie silence made Jian Chun feel strange, as if she had returned to her high school days when she whispered with her best friend in class and got caught by the sharp gaze of the teacher.

Had the conversation about Jiang Qin ended so abruptly?

Just then, Jian Chun saw a white water cup extend towards the middle tap. A pair of fair, slender hands turned on the tap, and scalding hot water immediately flowed into the cup, accompanied by the sound of water and rising steam.

But what caught Jian Chun’s eyes was not the cup being filled with water but the stunningly beautiful face of the girl filling it. The girl’s features – nose, eyes, mouth – were impeccably delicate, especially ethereal behind the veil of steam.

The girl, dressed in a pink and white nightgown, stood silently, her expressionless face and clear, cold eyes exerting an invisible pressure.

The room fell silent at her presence, the four of them standing at their respective taps, not uttering a word. The scene was quite picturesque.

The girl finished filling her cup quickly, as cups filled faster than thermoses. She screwed on the lid and left the room, instantly reducing the oppressive atmosphere by half.

“Phew…” Song Qingqing patted her chest. “Too risky. Let’s not talk about Jiang Qin in the girls’ dormitory anymore.”

“Mhm,” Jiang Tian nodded in agreement.

Jian Chun blinked in confusion. “Why?”

“Undermining someone’s relationship is disgraceful. If the main girlfriend finds out, there will be bloodshed. My cousin had her face scratched up because of something like this,” Song Qingqing said, seemingly recalling something frightening.

“The main girlfriend?”

“Feng Nanshu, Jiang Qin’s darling. Didn’t you just stare at her for a long time? How does it feel, getting splashed in the face?”

Jian Chun was stunned. By the time she came back to her senses, Song Qingqing and Jiang Tian had already filled their water and were ready to leave. Jian Chun, not bothering to check if her bottle was full, hurriedly followed them.

As she walked back to the dormitory, Jian Chun kept recalling that face, thinking to herself incredulously, “What a joke.”

Meanwhile, in Room 503 of the girls’ dormitory, Feng Nanshu took out her phone and lightly tapped on Jiang Qin’s QQ.

“Jiang Qin, let’s go for a walk.”

“It’s almost eleven. No walk, sleep.”

“But we haven’t walked today.”

“I’ll make it up to you when we go home for the holiday.”

“Okay.”

Feng Nanshu hummed and then turned over to get into bed. Her petite and cute figure, even when lying down, was graceful, with her snow-white feet gently swaying at the end of the bed.

Gao Wenhui, who had just finished eating instant noodles, climbed onto her bed and caught sight of Feng Nanshu. Her eyes lit up at the sight.

Lying there, she couldn’t even lie flat. How on earth did Jiang Qin resist?

Chapter 90: The Eleven-Day Holiday

TL: Etude

On a splendidly bright morning, the eleven-day holiday began.

Early in the morning, Zhou Chao, who lived the farthest from Linchuan, hurried to the airport with his luggage, more eager than anyone to return home.

Modern college students are peculiar in this way. When choosing universities, they prefer those farthest away, seeking freedom and self-expression in unfamiliar territories. However, during holidays, their enthusiasm dwindles as they face long journeys and costly travel expenses. Confronted with this situation, they spare no mercy in cursing their own foolishness.

Freedom, it seems, can be experienced even in neighboring provinces, yet they choose to traverse half the country to places where others have long since grown weary.

Zhou Chao, for instance, lived frugally on regular days, spending all his savings on plane tickets during holidays.

“Guys, I’m off!”

“Old Zhou, remember to take out the trash!” shouted Cao Guangyu from his bed.

Grumbling, Zhou retorted, “Damn, early in the morning and you’re already annoying!”

“Safe travels then.”

“If it’s too smooth, the plane might fall!”

Jiang Qin, also up by now, dressed leisurely, slowly opened a pack of yogurt, sipped it unhurriedly, and began his morning routine at a relaxed pace.

Zhou Chao, with one hand on his suitcase and the other holding a trash bag, looked on enviously.

This Brother Jiang, you have to admire him. He chose a university close to home, which seemed uninteresting at first, but now he basks in a sense of superiority every holiday.

“Old Jiang, I’m leaving!” Zhou Chao raised his voice, hoping for Jiang Qin’s blessing.

Jiang Qin, toothbrush in mouth, grinned, “Scram, and bring back some local specialties. If you don’t, I won’t let you in.”

“One tells me to take out the trash, the other wants specialties. Damn, you guys are something else!”

Cursing, Zhou Chao opened the door and hauled his suitcase and trash bag out.

Later, Jiang Qin finished up and stepped out of the dorm. His train was in the afternoon, so he wasn’t in a hurry. He planned to have breakfast with Feng Nanshu, the ‘little rich lady,’ then go to the administrative office for some paperwork, set up holiday tasks in Room 208, and meet Guo Zihang at the train station.

Feng Nanshu wore a long skirt that day, exuding a youthful charm with her slender, fair legs peeking out, highlighting her rare purity and vitality.

“Jiang Qin, is my boss certificate ready?”

“We’ll ask after breakfast.”

Jiang Qin looked at her radiant face, tempted to pinch it but restrained himself.

Damn, the impulses of youth are strange, strongest when waking up and before bed. Everything seems pinchable at these times, which could spell trouble.

“Sure,” Feng Nanshu said, following him to the cafeteria. Her skirt fluttered with her steps, drawing numerous glances.

“When are you heading home, little rich lady?”

“My train leaves at three in the afternoon,” Feng Nanshu replied, biting her chopstick.

“Shouldn’t you leave earlier? Uncle Gong is driving you, right?”

Feng Nanshu silently gazed at him. You’re leaving at half-past two.

Jiang Qin offered her a piece of beef brisket, “I heard from Uncle Gong that you’re visiting a mister in Shanghai during the holiday. Who is he?”

“My dad,” Feng Nanshu replied, accepting the beef with shimmering eyes.

“Then why do you study in Jizhou? Shanghai has far better educational resources. You weren’t really sent away from home, were you?”

Feng Nanshu paused, her soft voice revealing, “Because Jizhou is my mother’s hometown.”

“So, you won’t be returning to Jizhou this holiday?”

“I want to go back as soon as possible, but I don’t know when I can.”

Jiang Qin didn’t press further, sensing her lack of enthusiasm for the visit. He fed her twice more, brightening her mood again.

He glanced at his chopsticks, then at a poster on the opposite wall. The slogan suggested that sharing chopsticks with others was unhygienic and advocated for the use of serving chopsticks.

Jiang Qin casually cleaned his chopsticks, thinking that this made them sanitary now.

While they were eating, Gao Wenhui arrived at the cafeteria. After getting her meal, she sat down but, unlike before, was unusually quiet. She kept glancing back and forth between Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu, her eyes filled with curiosity.

How does he restrain himself?

Fan Shuling had labeled Jiang Qin as a scoundrel, but Gao Wenhui had her doubts. To her, he seemed more like a gentleman with a peculiar fondness for feet.

“Gao Wenhui, you keep staring at me. Aren’t you afraid of getting rice up your nose?” Jiang Qin glanced at her.

Gao Wenhui’s smile faded, “I knew it, being the third wheel never ends well!”

After breakfast, Jiang Qin took the little rich lady to the Entrepreneurship Center to get her certificate, but it ended disastrously.

Cao Xingyue pointed out an error in the previous application, asking Feng Nanshu to correct it.

“Junior, you can’t write that the startup funds are provided by Jiang Qin, and the purpose can’t be to become Boss Jiang Qin’s wife.”

Feng Nanshu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, the joy Jiang Qin had fed her earlier quickly dissipating.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin headed to Room 208 to call a meeting with everyone.

The campus beauty contest was at its halfway mark, and the excitement was peaking. With the holiday and students leaving campus, the traffic was bound to decline.

Their only task for these seven days was to maintain the traffic. The content team needed to keep supplying material, dispersing the contest traffic to confession walls, anonymous forums, and other interest areas to drive conversions.

After the holiday, when the contest results were announced, they expected a small spike in traffic. However, the retention rate post-spike was uncertain. They needed to be prepared for both scenarios: one, planning another event if the traffic continued to decline, and two, pursuing business collaborations and expanding into the larger university town if retention rates were high.

“Boss, we’re short on manpower here.”

Wei Lanlan spoke up, as the number of merchants to negotiate with was increasing, and the external market team, consisting of only her and Tan Qing, was overwhelmed.

“We’ll recruit more people after the holiday. The university is full of potential recruits, preferably those with electric bikes for longer distances.”

Jiang Qin concluded the meeting and noticed Su Nai staring at him, “Boss, your membership has expired.”

“When did it expire?”

“Last night.”

“Do you check it daily? You knew as soon as it expired?” Jiang Qin looked disgusted.

Dong Wenhao curiously looked at Su Nai, “What membership expired?”

“It’s nothing, just a video subscription for site building,” Su Nai adjusted her glasses.

“You guys in the tech team are really hardworking, huh? Coding by day and studying videos at night?”

Su Nai and Jiang Qin chuckled insincerely, leaving Dong Wenhao confused, wondering if he said something wrong.

After the meeting, Jiang Qin went downstairs, planning to find the little rich lady at the administrative office. He found her standing by a window, holding an A4-sized certificate, looking cold and dazed.

“Got your certificate?”

“Yeah, but it’s the wrong one. It’s not a boss lady certificate, it’s a self-employment certificate.”

The boss’s wife certificate and the self-employment certificate were entirely different. Feng Nanshu’s unhappiness was evident, her cold demeanor carrying a certain pressure.

“It’s not a mistake. Consider it a probation period.”

“?”

Jiang Qin took the certificate, “Like making friends, you need to reach a certain stage to become good friends, just like us.”

Feng Nanshu looked at him expressionlessly, thinking to herself that he must think she’s naive.