WWFILABR 91 to 100

 Chapter 91: Chance Encounters and Deliberations

TL: Etude

Just past one in the afternoon, everyone from Room 208 had already left, leaving behind a cluttered desk strewn with tangled wires and a pile of stripped sockets.

Jiang Qin was holding Feng Nanshu’s delicate and adorable pale jade feet, helping her put on her socks. He playfully tickled the sole of her foot, provoking the little rich lady to struggle involuntarily, almost kicking him in the face.

“Don’t randomly reward a gentleman,” Jiang Qin said with feigned anger.

“?,” came the puzzled response.

After putting on her shoes, Jiang Qin sent her back and then took his luggage to Linchuan train station.

It was the National Day holiday period, and the train station was swarming with people, enough to give anyone a headache. Though not as extreme as the Spring Festival travel rush, the level of crowding was nearly comparable.

Guo Zihang arrived later, appearing a bit plumper. His already round face now lacked any discernible contours.

“The auntie with the baby voice must really pamper you, fattening you up like this?” Jiang Qin said with a toothy grin.

Guo Zihang’s breath hitched: “Don’t… don’t mention it.”

“What happened? Did her husband find out?” Jiang Qin’s heart skipped a beat, wondering if Guo Zihang’s swollen face was due to being beaten.

“No, I added her on QQ and chatted for a couple of days. I felt our social circles were too different, with little common ground. I didn’t understand what she talked about, and she was clueless about the business topics she discussed. We soon lost contact.”

Guo Zihang looked disheartened, apparently having his first brush with romance quickly dashed by reality.

Jiang Qin patted his shoulder reassuringly: “Don’t worry, there’s all kinds of weirdos in this world, and I definitely don’t discriminate against you.”

“Jiang, I think I just felt a void after suddenly leaving home, looking for some sense of security.”

“Enough, no need to justify your quirks. Let’s get on the train.”

Jiang Qin pushed Guo Zihang onto the train, making their way through the crowded aisle to their seats. In front of them, a man carrying a white snake-skin bag, bulging and blocking Jiang Qin’s view, finally sat down.

Only then did Jiang Qin realize he had reached seat 41 and awkwardly took his place.

As he sat down, his gaze froze, and he involuntarily furrowed his brow.

“Jiang Qin, long time no see.”

Wang Huiru greeted him, while Chu Siqi sat beside her, her face a mix of emotions.

“Long time no see.”

After responding, Jiang Qin turned to Guo Zihang, only to find him equally surprised, clearly not expecting the two women to be there.

“Let’s go, need to use the restroom.”

“Huh? I don’t need to,” Guo Zihang replied, confused.

Jiang Qin didn’t care, pulling him towards the front of the train: “Even if you don’t, you’re going to try.”

They reached the connecting area of the carriage, leaning in the smoking section, staring at each other.

“You told them?”

Guo Zihang coughed: “Wang Huiru asked me which train I was taking the day before yesterday. I didn’t think much of it and told her.”

“Damn, you can’t specify which carriage for train tickets, right? How could we end up together?” Jiang Qin thought, wondering if he had neglected to consult the almanac before leaving home.

“Actually, it’s normal. People heading to similar destinations are usually arranged in the same carriage. You don’t like Chu Siqi, and she doesn’t bite. Just treat her like a stranger.”

“…”

After pondering, Jiang Qin realized Guo Zihang was right. He was indifferent towards Chu Siqi, so there was no need to avoid her like a mouse evading a cat, letting others think she had deeply hurt him. How embarrassing that would be.

Thus, they returned to their seats, sitting in silence, not uttering a word until the train started moving, the scenery outside rapidly passing by.

Jiang Qin’s suspicion wasn’t unfounded, as Chu Siqi had indeed deliberately engineered this encounter.

Having been blocked on her mobile and QQ by Jiang Qin, and even Wang Huiru’s number was blacklisted, creating this chance encounter through Guo Zihang seemed the only way to see Jiang Qin again.

Of course, she hadn’t anticipated this encounter would be so thorough, with fate placing them face to face.

Chu Siqi was thrilled because she really wanted to see Jiang Qin and talk to him.

She wanted to say, “I won’t test you anymore. I accept your confession. Can we forget the unpleasantness of this period and start anew, from a fresh relationship? I may be a bit willful, but can I just be willful with you from now on? As long as you don’t like Hong Yan and prevent her from gloating in front of me, I can definitely be your girlfriend. I didn’t appreciate your goodness before, thinking it was a given. But when someone else wanted you, I realized how great you are. Being with you is not a loss for me.”

But seeing Jiang Qin’s vacant eyes and his expressionless face, Chu Siqi swallowed her words.

She couldn’t understand why she became timid in front of Jiang Qin.

She, who used to lose her temper easily, had become cautious in front of someone who let her be temperamental.

“Are you all university students? I’m from the University of Science and Technology. What about you?”

The train seating was generally three on the right and two on the left. Jiang Qin was by the window, Guo Zihang in the middle, and a young man sat on the aisle seat, seemingly another university student from Linchuan.

He had been staring at Chu Siqi since boarding and, twenty minutes into the journey, finally couldn’t resist striking up a conversation.

“Linchuan University.”

“University of Science and Technology.”

“Linchuan University.”

“…”

The group responded listlessly, but it didn’t deter the enthusiastic student: “I’m Sun Yanbin. And you?”

“Guo Zihang, we’re schoolmates.”

“And the two ladies?”

Wang Huiru just smiled without speaking, while Chu Siqi ignored him, her gaze fixed on Jiang Qin, who pretended to be asleep. Her lips were pale and bloodless from biting them.

Just then, the train jolted slightly, and Chu Siqi’s phone slid out of her hand. The jolt was minor, and her grip on the phone was firm, but somehow it precisely fell near Jiang Qin’s feet.

Jiang Qin changed his position, continuing his feigned blindness, but then he heard a voice.

“My phone fell. Can you pick it up for me?”

“…”

Chu Siqi and Hong Yan’s ongoing battle had indeed caused her to grow a lot. She was now using such deliberate tactics. However, the well-meaning Sun Yanbin, too eager to help, swiftly picked up the phone, his actions brisk and decisive.

‘Thank you. That’s very kind of you.’ Jiang Qin silently thanked him in his mind and shifted his position again.

“Here’s your phone, miss.”

Chu Siqi, speechless, replied, “Thank you.”

“No problem. How about we add each other on QQ?” Sun Yanbin took out his phone.

Chu Siqi, frustrated, responded, “I don’t use QQ. I use Fetion.”

The good-natured Sun Yanbin laughed awkwardly but quickly changed the subject: “Are you all together?”

As he spoke, everyone turned to Jiang Qin, expecting him to say something. He simply shook his head: “I don’t know them. It’s a coincidence.”

“Oh, I see. Let’s create a group for those of us who travel home together. It’s more convenient and safer to have company on the road.”

Sun Yanbin was quite adept; he knew Chu Siqi was deliberately avoiding him, so he proposed this idea. It was a common practice for university students traveling home to band together, a legitimate reason.

To disguise his real intention, he added Guo Zihang first, appearing very proper.

Unexpectedly, when he tried to add Jiang Qin, he was once again rejected.

“I don’t use QQ.”

“Do you use Fetion too? Is it that popular now?” Sun Yanbin was slightly taken aback.

Jiang Qin half-opened his eyes: “I use carrier pigeons.”

At that moment, Wang Huiru’s phone vibrated. She opened it to find a message from Chu Siqi, asking her to help Sun Yanbin create the group and add Jiang Qin.

She had lost all contact with Jiang Qin and, having engineered this chance encounter, was now hesitant to speak. Her only hope now was Sun Yanbin’s “Travel Home Together” group proposal.

Without pre-settings, adding someone to a group doesn’t require their approval, a feature Chu Siqi was aware of.

Jiang Qin, who didn’t even know how to delete friends, probably hadn’t set this feature.

Chapter 92: Am I the Only Outsider?

TL: Etude

Returning to Jizhou, the weather was clear and bright.

Jiang Qin briskly pulled his suitcase out of the station without a moment’s pause, leaving Sun Yanbin puzzled.

Why was this man so indifferent to the presence of such a beautiful girl? He seemed to be hurrying away as if fleeing, thought Sun.

Unaware of Sun’s thoughts, Jiang would have laughed had he known. “You’re really walking into a trap with your eyes wide open,” he’d think.

Chu Siqi, watching Jiang’s resolute departure, felt deeply hurt. She wanted to vent her frustration but didn’t know whom to direct it at. Everything seemed irksome to her, culminating in a fierce glare at Sun Yanbin.

Did she just look at me? Sun was slightly startled.

Half an hour later, Jiang returned home. The long-awaited return of a child studying away was naturally met with enthusiastic reception from his parents. Yuan Youqin even took a day off to prepare a feast for Jiang.

However, this warmth and affection were often fleeting.

On October 1st, his mother was overjoyed, “My son, you’re back!”

On October 2nd, she was still happy, “Sleep in a bit, studying must be tiring.”

By October 3rd, Mrs. Yuan’s mood soured, “Could you tidy up your room?”

And on October 4th, with a furrowed brow, she asked, “When do you start school again?”

Jiang knew the warmth of this reunion was fading. From the fifth day, he started getting up early and going out, avoiding any chance for his mother to find fault with him.

“Uncle, you’re here?”

“Yes, I am. Shu’an, you seem to have grown taller, almost as tall as your uncle. Impressive.”

“…”

At Yang’s Lamb Soup Restaurant, Yang Shu’an looked at his old classmate and now uncle with mixed feelings. Watching him chatting amicably with his father, shoulder to shoulder, calling each other ‘brother,’ Shu’an felt awkward.

Jiang had invested in the restaurant just for fun. When Yang Jianguo wanted to calculate his dividends, Jiang declined, advising him to use the money to open a third branch.

He also suggested diversifying the menu. Specializing in lamb soup was fine, but too much focus on a single item wouldn’t take them far. After all, aiming for a national chain with just lamb soup seemed overly ambitious.

Yang Jianguo had always wanted to open a third branch. Hearing Jiang’s suggestion, he was thrilled, playfully chiding his son, “Look at your uncle, we were in the same class in high school. Why can’t you be as mature as him?”

“Heh,” Yang Shu’an’s mouth twitched with a hint of regret.

He regretted not stopping the drunken pledge to become sworn brothers that day. If he had, he wouldn’t be awkwardly calling Jiang ‘uncle’ now.

Later, as Jiang prepared to leave, Yang Shu’an’s father insisted he escort his ‘uncle’ out.

“Uncle, can we talk about something?” Yang Shu’an asked nervously.

Jiang turned with a radiant smile, “Sure, my nephew, what’s on your mind?”

“Can we just call each other by our names? You call me nephew, and I’ll call you brother.”

“Nice try, but that would mess up the seniority,” Jiang chuckled and strolled away, leaving Yang Shu’an feeling uncomfortable. Having an overly brilliant classmate made even reminiscing about school days a cringe-worthy affair.

Returning home from the restaurant, Jiang checked the website’s traffic. As expected, with university students away from campus, the school beauty contest’s popularity began to wane.

However, this decline was not continuous. From the fourth day, the website’s traffic picked up again, probably because people were tired of playing and started surfing the web again.

The confession wall saw an increase in posts, even from students of other schools confessing to girls from Linchuan University. Titles like “Encounter with a Goddess” were common.

The anonymous forum was filled with rants, mostly about roommates and classmates. Complaints ranged from someone never buying shampoo and always mooching off others, to someone dressing flamboyantly but having body odor.

The school beauty rankings continued, with Chu Siqi firmly in first place.

Originally, Hong Yan was the number one in the school beauty rankings, but due to her transfer of major, she suddenly lost the support of the law faculty. Overnight, she fell behind in the rankings, allowing Chu Siqi and Liu Yiyi to surge to the top. The two fluctuated in their positions for three days, unable to clearly outdo each other.

However, just a few days before the holiday, Liu Yiyi’s fans, for some unknown reason, began to lose momentum, their votes dwindling. This allowed Chu Siqi to firmly overtake her.

Jiang Qin had no particular thoughts about this outcome. He was the one who initiated the artificial flower campaign, but he had no interest in influencing who would ultimately win. His focus was on the economic benefits behind the scenes, not the individuals involved.

Next, Jiang accessed the user backend to check the site traffic. Shi Miaomiao’s account had broken ten thousand followers, a testament to the quality of her book, “You are the Color of Fireworks in the World”. However, what surprised Jiang was that Old Cao’s account had also amassed six thousand followers, closely following Shi Miaomiao.

But while Shi Miaomiao’s followers were genuine fans, Old Cao’s were mostly detractors, criticizing his overblown ego and expressing a desire to bring him back to reality.

Notoriety is a form of fame, too. Old Cao’s current status was indeed earned through his own efforts.

“Only two days left of the holiday. When are you guys heading to Linchuan? Shall we go together?”

Suddenly, a message popped up in the bottom left corner of Jiang’s computer screen from an unfamiliar group chat. Feeling puzzled, Jiang clicked on it and found himself in a five-person group he didn’t recall joining. The message was from someone named Sun Yanbin, who used a non-mainstream profile picture with sunglasses.

Guo Zihang: “How about leaving on the 6th?”

Jiang casually replied: “You don’t have a partner. What’s the rush to go back so early?”

“So, when shall we leave?”

“Let’s go on the 7th. I won’t be back till the New Year.”

“Chu, when do you plan to leave?” Sun Yanbin directly ignored their decision and asked Chu Siqi, as that was his real purpose for creating the group.

Chu Siqi: “Then I’ll also leave on the 7th. Shall we go buy tickets together in the afternoon?”

Sun Yanbin: “Great, I’ll leave on the 7th too.”

Jiang Qin: “…”

Jiang Qin: “I just remembered something. I’ll leave on the 8th.”

Upon seeing this message, Sun Yanbin inwardly celebrated. With Jiang, who was more attractive than him, out of the picture, his chances with Chu Siqi would be better: “Then you go by yourself. We’ll stick to the 7th. Chu, what time will you be at the station? I’ll join you.”

Chu Siqi: “Never mind, I’ll also leave on the 8th.”

Jiang Qin was speechless: “Then I won’t leave. I plan to rot at home.”

Sun Yanbin was confused by the chat history, and before he could make sense of it, he noticed one less person in the group. Then he received a notification that Jiang had left the group immediately after his last message.

With one person missing, the change in the five-person group was too obvious, and the others quickly noticed Jiang’s departure.

Chu Siqi: “Since he’s left, I’m leaving too.”

Sun Yanbin: “?????”

Wang Huiru: “If Siqi’s leaving, I guess I’ll leave too.”

Sun Yanbin: “…”

Guo Zihang: “Goodbye.”

Sun Yanbin remained silent for a long time, unable to comprehend what just happened. What exactly went on in that group?

He pondered this until late into the night, then suddenly it dawned on him – was he the only outsider in that group?

Chapter 93: Never Falling in Love!

TL: Etude

After dealing with the website and leaving the inexplicably joined QQ group, Jiang Qin felt hungry and opened his room door to ask his mother for a meal.

Yuan Youqin looked up at the clock, realizing it was dinner time. She went into the kitchen and prepared two dishes: stir-fried garlic shoots with eggs and spicy shredded potatoes, accompanied by two cold steamed buns.

“I could choose dishes when the holiday just started, but now this is all I get?” Jiang Qin protested.

Jiang Zhenghong passed the chopsticks to Jiang Qin, “Dare to complain about the food your mother makes? You must not be that hungry. Find someone who can cook for you if you can.”

“…”

Jiang Zhenghong was showing his loyalty to Yuan Youqin, but Jiang Qin heard it differently: “Dad, I should warn you, I might never fall in love. Don’t you and mom ever push me into it.”

“Yes, focusing on your studies is important. It’s correct to prioritize your education,” Jiang Zhenghong agreed, thinking his son, only eighteen, was too young for such matters.

“No, what I mean is I might never fall in love in my lifetime.”

Yuan Youqin came out with the porridge, “You wrote love letters in high school, and now you say you won’t fall in love? Do you think I’d believe that?”

“That was youthful folly. I’ve realized now that everything is false, only money is real,” Jiang Qin asserted confidently.

“Son, what exactly have you learned at university?”

“I studied finance.”

“What else?”

“A bit of foot massage, a little.”

Jiang Zhenghong coughed, “You don’t have to declare your resolve here. You’re a university student; if you want to date, we won’t overly interfere.”

Jiang Qin sat up straight, unable to resist asking, “Dad, if you had to choose, would you pick a fun soul or a pretty face?”

“I choose your mom.”

“I’m serious. Can’t you stop always looking at mom’s face?”

“I still choose your mom.”

Jiang Zhenghong, seasoned by a lifetime of marriage, knew how to maintain family harmony. Looking for a different answer? No chance! This is a skill honed by an adult man through the long years of matrimony, tougher than any armor! (TL: Hahaha good man)

Yuan Youqin, familiar with all of Jiang’s tactics, showed no reaction. Instead, she frowned at Jiang Qin, “What do you mean by a fun soul and a pretty face?”

“A fun soul weighs over 200 pounds and wants a car and a house. Mom, which should I choose?” Jiang Qin tossed the question back.

Yuan Youqin pondered and asked, “Isn’t there anyone who has a fun soul, looks good, doesn’t want a car or a house, and is gentle?”

“No, but there are plenty of fun souls who weigh over 200 pounds and still want a car and a house.”

After hearing this, Yuan Youqin and Jiang Zhenghong exchanged looks, feeling their son’s thoughts were somewhat off, too negative: “Jiang Qin, we sent you to school for you to progress, not to indulge in these whimsical thoughts.”

“It’s okay, I just like to ponder over things. I’ll stop doing that,” Jiang Qin quickly changed the subject, knowing his parents were getting worried.

“That won’t do, Jiang Qin. Tell us the truth, what are you really thinking?”

Jiang Qin fell silent for a moment, “I was thinking, if I stay single for life, you won’t have to pay a 300,000 yuan bride price or get me a house. It’s more comfortable that way.”

Jiang Zhenghong’s face darkened, “That would be great. I’d be too ashamed to face our ancestors even in death.”

Yuan Youqin suddenly stood up, took a bankbook from the room, and slammed it on the table, “I won’t say much, but today I’ll make it clear: we have savings. It’s not much, but your father and I can still earn. Stop obsessing over money!”

“Mom, it’s not about the money. I just wanted to let you know my plans for the future.”

After dinner, Jiang Qin found the shredded potatoes quite tasty, thinking Feng Nanshu would like this flavor. But it was already the fifth, and she hadn’t returned from Shanghai, probably missing the chance to try it.

After dinner, Yuan Youqin returned to the bedroom and nudged Jiang Zhenghong with her elbow, whispering, “Are the living expenses too little?”

“Huh? You’re going to increase my allowance?” Jiang Zhenghong’s eyes gleamed.

“I’m talking about Jiang Qin’s living expenses!”

Jiang Zhenghong’s face fell, but he seriously considered it: “Five hundred a month is indeed not much. Old Hu’s daughter, a junior in college, gets over eight hundred a month and often asks for more to buy clothes.”

After some thought, Yuan Youqin made a decision: “Then let’s give him eight hundred from now on.”

“…”

Jiang Zhenghong was stunned for a moment, then turned serious, “Wife, I have something to tell you. I’ve been feeling quite negatively as well.”

“Stop it, go wash your feet and sleep. You read the newspapers all day, acting like a diplomat, but I haven’t seen any major issues that require your involvement,” Yuan Youqin retorted sarcastically.

The next morning, Jiang Qin left home after getting dressed. He first bought a wool coat at the mall, then a set of tea utensils from Taoxuan Residence.

The wool coat was something his mother had always wanted, and the tea set was something his father had been wanting to replace. But giving them money wouldn’t work; they wouldn’t spend it on themselves and would just save it. So, Jiang Qin decided to buy these himself, tearing up the receipts so they couldn’t be returned. It was a ‘like it or lump it’ situation.

In the evening, Jiang Qin arrived home with two bags. Before he could even change his shoes, his parents pulled him to the sofa.

“Jiang Qin, your dad and I discussed it and decided to increase your living allowance to eight hundred.”

Jiang Qin looked baffled, “Did you discuss raising my allowance with me? I disagree!”

“??????”

Jiang Zhenghong gave his son a look, implying that if he didn’t want it, he could give it to his old man: “If we tell you to keep it, you keep it!”

Yuan Youqin was firm in her decisions, not allowing for objections: “Eight hundred it is. Spend it however you like, just don’t get into trouble and study hard.”

“Alright then.” Jiang Qin accepted the eight hundred yuan and handed over the bags.

“What’s this?”

“Gifts for you.”

Yuan Youqin and Jiang Zhenghong took them, peeked inside, and their expressions changed instantly, “Where did you get the money to buy these?”

“I earned it working part-time as a boss at university.”

Jiang Qin said the word ‘boss’ a bit quieter, planning to gradually let his parents accept this fact.

As expected, his parents didn’t catch the word ‘boss’ and focused on the part-time job.

“Part-time job? So, you’re not short of money?”

“It’s okay. I can afford a discounted wool coat and tea set,” Jiang Qin deliberately added the word ‘discounted’.

Yuan Youqin looked at her son with a puzzled face, “What was the point of everything you said last night?”

“The point is, I’m not interested in dating, and it’s very likely I never will. You two should get used to it in advance to avoid being unable to accept it later. I mean what I say, so you’d better take it seriously.”

After speaking, Jiang Qin took out his phone, which started vibrating. He saw the icon of a little rich lady bouncing and couldn’t help but smile, a glimmer of pleasure in his eyes.

“I mean what I say, I will never fall in love!”

Jiang Qin repeated the sentence, then returned to his bedroom with his phone, leaving his parents looking bewildered.

“Did he… fall in love?” Yuan Youqin turned to Jiang Zhenghong.

Jiang Zhenghong was also a bit dazed, “I don’t know, but that expression just now seemed like it.”

Chapter 94: The Abstract Male God

TL: Etude

The next evening, Jiang Qin, a man who vowed never to fall in love, strolled around the Xincheng District to check on the four houses he had been allocated.

Although these houses had been simply furnished, they were currently vacant. The infrastructure development in Xincheng District was still underway, and with few people around, finding tenants was not an easy task.

Jiang Qin wasn’t in a hurry. He casually listed the properties with a real estate agency, thinking that if they could be rented out, great; if not, he wasn’t bothered about the lost rental income.

Unexpectedly, soon after posting the rental listings, he received a call from the agency.

While enjoying a bowl of noodles nearby, Jiang Qin wiped his mouth and went over with the keys in hand.

“Male God?”

At the sight of Chu Siqi’s other best friend, Yu Shasha, Jiang Qin’s lips twitched with amusement. “What a coincidence.”

“I’ve been trying to invite you for a meal, but you never show up. It’s infuriating,” Yu Shasha complained, though her tone was more endearing than angry.

“Cut the chatter. Five hundred a month.”

After stating the rent, Jiang Qin eyed the young man beside Yu Shasha. “Moving in with your boyfriend?”

“No, he’s just a friend. His name is Lu Chao. He’s helping me find a place for my sister, who got into a nearby junior high school,” Yu Shasha clarified, decisively distancing herself from the young man.

Internally giving a thumbs-up for her straightforwardness, Jiang Qin suggested, “Take a look around. If it’s suitable, we’ll sign the contract. If not, I’ll leave.”

“Of course, it’s suitable. Why wouldn’t I want to rent from you as the landlord? But how come you have properties here?” Yu Shasha asked curiously.

“That’s a secret.”

Yu Shasha’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, causing Lu Chao to look uncomfortable. “Shasha, who is this guy?”

“He’s my idol, haven’t I told you?” Yu Shasha shot him a glance and then entered the house to inspect it.

“There’s no furniture. How can we live here?”

“I’ll rent it even without furniture. Less talking from you.”

Jiang Qin silently followed as they inspected every corner of the house before finally signing the contract.

After receiving the rent, Jiang Qin was about to leave when Yu Shasha stopped him. “My idol, a few friends and I have planned to go to the Neon Bar. Could you take us there?”

“Why don’t you go by yourselves?”

“We’re just a bunch of young girls. You have such a presence in the bar. If you take us, it’ll be safer.”

Lu Chao was taken aback. A bunch of young girls? What about me?

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Qin agreed, seeing as it was on his way. “There’s no one among your friends I wouldn’t want to meet, right?”

“No, don’t worry.”

“You know who I mean?”

“Chu Siqi, of course, I know. Huiru already told me.”

Nodding, Jiang Qin led the two to the Neon Bar, where Yu Shasha’s friends were already waiting, dressed in trendy, revealing outfits, as if to save fabric for the nation.

“Let me introduce everyone. This is my idol, Jiang Qin,” Yu Shasha said excitedly, drawing her friends’ admiring glances at Jiang Qin and making Lu Chao grind his teeth in jealousy.

They followed Jiang Qin into the bar, located opposite the fire station. Although Jiang Qin no longer worked there as a marketing manager, thanks to a successful Olympic viewing event, the bar had made a fortune. The owner was grateful to him, and the bartenders and waitstaff respected him.

“Brother Jiang is here?”

“Long time no see, Brother Jiang.”

Jiang Qin nodded at them, causing Yu Shasha to beam, and her friends to look star-struck.

Such charisma, utterly cool.

These girls, around seventeen or eighteen years old, could distinguish between genuine respect and mere flattery in the bartenders’ eyes. No wonder he was considered a god among men.

Witnessing this scene, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but feel amused.

In this era, a young man who knew his way around a bar definitely had a market. You had to admit it, even if grudgingly. He wondered if their parents would find this scene as amusing.

Old Deng, is my Ghost Fire bike safely parked downstairs?

Jiang Qin chuckled to himself but still reminded the bartender to keep a good eye on the group, to prevent them from causing or getting into trouble.

After securing a private booth, Jiang Qin intended to leave, but Yu Shasha insisted he stay, expressing a desire to catch up.

Jiang Qin knew what she wanted to discuss. “If it’s about Chu Siqi, forget it. I’m not interested.”

“Oh, I remember now. You’re the guy who confessed to Chu Siqi and got rejected, then angrily demanded your love letter back, that idiot!” Lu Chao suddenly realized, his eyes widening.

Jiang Qin’s face darkened. “I hope you really mean ‘idiot’.”

“Of course, just slipped of the tongue.”

“Is my ‘glorious’ deed that famous?”

“It’s because our classes were close. I’m from the class next door, Lu Chao, the one who’s really good at playing ‘CF’!” (TL: cross fire)

Yu Shasha turned to Lu Chao. “Why are you, a guy, spreading gossip?”

“It’s because what he did was so sensational. Everyone in our senior year knows about it!”

Lu Chao seemed particularly proud of this revelation. He had been uncomfortable when Yu Shasha called Jiang Qin her idol, but seeing the bartenders’ respect for Jiang Qin, he didn’t dare say much, thinking Jiang must be quite successful.

But to discover Jiang had been such an embarrassingly fervent admirer, one who even asked for his love letter back, was just too explosive.

Lu Chao felt like he had shattered the idol’s aura with a single punch, feeling powerful and frustrated at the same time, as if railing against an unjust fate.

Jiang Qin, smiling outwardly but inwardly exasperated, thought about the diverse joys and sorrows of humanity. Was this incident really so unforgettable?

Taking a rare day off, he had to endure being ridiculed for such a trivial matter.

“Forget it, damn it, I’m leaving!”

Muttering under his breath, Jiang Qin wondered if he should move to a new place.

Yu Shasha couldn’t help but glance at Lu Chao. “Could you die if you kept quiet? You scared off my idol!”

“I only spoke the truth. Besides, why would you choose someone like him as your idol?” Lu Chao couldn’t understand at all.

“Why not? Jiang Qin is my idol. Is that embarrassing? Feng Nanshu from your class is also all over him!”

“??????”

Lu Chao was momentarily stunned, not immediately recalling who Feng Nanshu was.

It wasn’t because Feng Nanshu lacked presence; rather, she was so dazzling that people didn’t dare associate her with such behavior. The ethereal beauty of Chengnan High School, the moonlight of many youths’ dreams, surely couldn’t be linked to such behavior!

“Which Feng Nanshu are you talking about?” Lu Chao was confused.

Yu Shasha scoffed, “Which other Feng Nanshu could there be at Chengnan High School?”

“That’s impossible. You must be joking. That’s Feng Nanshu we’re talking about, so aloof. She would ‘coo’?”

“Don’t believe me? Check her social media then!”

Lu Chao, being in the same class, had easy access to Feng Nanshu’s social media, which was always open to classmates.

But he remembered her profile being devoid of content.

Lu Chao scrolled through her profile, his disbelief turning to shock.

He was right; throughout high school, Feng Nanshu’s profile had been empty. But since the summer, she started posting daily updates, almost like a diary.

“Got a good friend named Jiang Qin.”

“Jiang Qin took me on a merry-go-round.”

“Jiang Qin took me to a hot spring.”

“Jiang Qin said to just keep smiling.”

“Jiang Qin said he’ll take me wherever he goes, happy.”

“…”

“Jiang Qin said he could be with me forever.”

“Jiang Qin, Jiang Qin, Jiang Qin, Jiang Qin!”

A girl’s profile, almost blank before, suddenly filled with one name, and then that name was everywhere. This phenomenon was telling.

Lu Chao was sweating, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.

That guy, on one hand, asking for his love letter back from Chu Siqi, and on the other, being so intimate with the aloof goddess Feng Nanshu. How abstract could this person’s life be? Which one was the real him?

“This must be a hacked account,” Lu Chao still couldn’t believe it.

Yu Shasha’s eyes shone brightly. “Let me tell you, Jiang Qin earned three hundred thousand over the summer and even manages this bar. How will you respond to that?”

“…”

Lu Chao swallowed hard. “I need to wash my face.”

Yu Shasha huffed and turned to the nearest bartender. “Hi, I’m Jiang Qin’s sister. Could you bring me a fruit platter?”

“Sure, just a moment.”

Chapter 95: Arriving Quietly

TL: Etude

“Mom, I’m heading back to school!”

At the end of the National Day holiday, Jiang Qin had eaten the dumplings his mother had made for him and boarded a train to Linchuan.

The weather that day wasn’t great; the entire sky was overcast, seemingly on the brink of rain. There was a hint of chill in the air, as if confirming the saying, “A single autumn rain brings the cold.”

After arriving, Jiang Qin got off the train and, seeing the gloomy sky, started pondering how to return to school.

The direct bus could take him right to the campus gates, but taxis weren’t allowed on the pedestrian street. If it rained, he’d surely get drenched walking from the pedestrian street to the male dormitories, and it was quite a distance too.

“Really, I should buy a car. It’s going to be a hassle doing off-campus promotions without one.”

“Sir, would you like to learn about Haoting Villas?”

“Miss, how about Haoting Villas?”

A young woman was distributing flyers on the roadside. When it was Jiang Qin’s turn, she hesitated, then opened another tote bag: “Sir, interested in low-rent housing?”

Jiang Qin frowned, avoiding the low-rent housing flyer, and snatched a Haoting Villas flyer instead. He walked seriously towards the direct bus’s boarding entrance, holding it in his hand.

Really, not everyone in this world has the gift of foresight.

He arrived at Linchuan University after a bumpy ride. The clouds seemed even thicker, but still, no rain fell. The overcast sky rumbled with distant thunder.

Jiang Qin quickly returned to his dormitory to air it out.

Lao Zhou’s stinky socks had been hanging on the balcony for a week. As soon as the window was opened, a gust of wind blew one away, dropping it into the drainage ditch below.

Jiang Qin’s gaze hardened as he seriously considered whether he should dispose of the other sock as well.

“Old Jiang, you’re back early?” Cao Guangyu pushed open the door and immediately shouted upon seeing Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin turned to him: “Old Cao, you’re quite popular on the forums, huh? Your post ‘My Five Campus Beauty Girlfriends’ is almost catching up with Shi Miaomiao’s novel in terms of comments.”

“You read it too?”

“Of course, I did. But I always feel like I’m looking in a mirror. Many of the plots seem to have happened to me, like ‘Cao Guangyu’s Competition with the Campus Beauty,’ ‘Cao Guangyu’s Shura Field.’ I can really relate.”

Cao Guangyu spat: “Damn, just thinking about it makes me angry. A bunch of people are clamoring for the truth, why can’t they just believe I’m a rich second-generation?”

“Actually, I suggest you change your approach. Don’t forcefully establish a rich second-generation persona. Why not just go with the flow and become a comedic influencer? You have a talent for it.” Jiang Qin said while cleaning the desk.

Cao Guangyu’s eyebrows shot up: “Are you serious, Old Jiang? You think I’m bluffing too?”

Jiang Qin spat back: “Don’t I know whether you have a campus beauty girlfriend and a Patek Philippe? Damn it, copying my life.”

Cao Guangyu blushed: “Then… how do I become a comedic influencer?”

“Bluffing with a straight face.”

“Isn’t that what I’m doing now?”

“Not thoroughly enough. Just say you built a manor, 960 million square kilometers, driving to the toilet every day. People will love your kind of humor.” Jiang Qin gave him advice.

“That sounds implausible. I’ll continue building my rich second-generation persona. There must be some discerning girls who will believe me.”

Jiang Qin patted Cao Guangyu on the shoulder and sighed slightly, knowing this guy was just born in the wrong era.

With such an exaggerated persona, he would have been an internet sensation if it were fifteen years later. Unfortunately, in this era not dominated by online influence, such talent was buried, which was a real pity.

After cleaning up the dormitory, Jiang Qin dragged Cao Guangyu to Room 208 of the Entrepreneurship Center, claiming it was to show him the office, but in reality, he just needed a hand with cleaning.

Cleaning Room 208 was easy; just open the windows, wipe the tables, and not much else. After all, the National Day holiday was only seven days long; it couldn’t get too dirty.

After finishing up, Jiang Qin’s phone started vibrating non-stop, with the icon of a cute tabby cat dancing in his message list.

“Jiang Qin, come out.”

“It’s going to rain, you’ll get soaked.”

“Go somewhere you won’t get wet.”

“Are you already at school?”

“Not yet, almost there. Come wait for me in my dorm. Come quietly.”

“?”

Confused by the message, Jiang Qin wondered what “come quietly” meant. But glancing at the time, he thought it was about time for dinner. He couldn’t let Cao Guangyu help out for nothing, so he dragged him to the canteen on College Second Road.

It was close to the Finance Department’s female dormitory, so they could head there right after eating.

Coincidentally, as soon as they entered, they bumped into Jian Chun and Zhuang Chen, who were sitting opposite each other. It seemed they had just arrived, as their plates were still full.

“Old Cao, aren’t you going to say hello?” Jiang Qin nudged him.

Cao Guangyu, while getting his tray, waved off the suggestion: “Forget it, it’s like giving them a test of fiery love. It’s pointless.”

Jiang Qin was surprised. Cao Guangyu really wasn’t ordinary; he knew when to back off, which was quite scary: “Not planning to find a girlfriend?”

“Of course, but these things need fate, can’t rush it.”

“Where did you go during the holiday? It’s like your EQ has been enlightened.”

“A man always grows up.”

Cao Guangyu ate his meal, his heart bitter. Damn it, he had confessed to Jian Chun over QQ during the holiday, only to be harshly rejected. She even got his name wrong.

After dinner, Jiang Qin threw his tray in the recycling bin and parted ways with Cao Guangyu, heading towards the Finance Department’s female dormitory.

But before he got far, a black Bentley drove up on the college road. Without needing to see the license plate, he knew it was Feng Nanshu arriving.

Jiang Qin waved his hand, ready to wait for the car to stop. Unexpectedly, the Bentley suddenly accelerated, buzzing away into the distance, then quickly turned into the female dormitory area.

Huh?

Jiang Qin narrowed his eyes, his expression puzzled.

Was she in a hurry to go wash her feet?

A gentleman under the bright sun surely had no need for such haste.

Meanwhile, in the back seat of that black Bentley, Feng Nanshu was sitting prim and proper, quiet and adorable.

Beside her was a woman in a black long dress, sitting gracefully and elegantly. Her exquisite makeup was flawless, her bright eyes full of life, and her carefully groomed long hair was coiled up, shining black. Her entire being exuded a sense of grace and confidence.

Feng Nanshu’s hand was held in hers, resting on their laps, their temperaments mirroring each other.

After a while, the black Bentley smoothly stopped in front of Building 7, and Uncle Gong’s voice echoed in the car.

“President Qin, Miss, we’ve arrived at the dormitory.”

Chapter 96: Thoughts on Going Live

TL: Etude

My first book is about to go live.

I had a lot to say initially, but now that the moment has arrived, I find myself at a loss for words.

Yes, I’m just an ordinary guy with limited literary skills and knowledge. All I can do is write exciting stories.

But I think that’s okay. Being able to write something that brings joy to others and eases the pressures of life is beautiful and valuable.

Life is already so realistic, isn’t it? So novels should be a bit more fantastical, right?

Let me talk about the journey of writing this book. After all, it shouldn’t be just you having fun while I suffer.

From the first chapter until now, I’ve faced numerous setbacks and doubts.

Some said this genre works for others but not for me.

Others thought I wouldn’t even make it past the first round of recommendations and should quickly think about starting a new book.

Indeed, that was the case.

When I reached 50,000 words, I only had 94 ‘collections’. The results weren’t promising enough to continue, but I couldn’t bear to give up. So, I kept asking around – can I write this? Is there any chance for improvement?

After receiving mostly negative responses, I thought, I might as well treat it as a hobby and keep going.

It wasn’t until I reached 70,000 words that I barely managed to gather 70 ‘follow ups’, earning a chance to test the waters.

Before this, I kept wanting to give up, constantly doubting myself, and kept invalidating what I had written.

So, even after writing more than 50,000 words, I was still revising the crucial first three chapters, over and over again, each time wondering why no one wanted to read it.

Being a newbie in an unfamiliar place is really hard, and it’s difficult to endure the loneliness of working alone.

But fortunately, I persisted.

Here, I want to thank my editor, Transparent, for giving me a chance to sign a contract and providing me with writing ideas, encouraging me to persevere to 100,000 words.

I’m also grateful to the chief editor, Ink, for helping me strategize and clarify the subsequent plot.

At this moment, I don’t feel triumphant or assured, only relieved to have survived. I’m thankful I didn’t give up at 50,000 words, which allowed me to reach this day and go live.

Everyone says I’m slow, but in truth, I’ve deleted nearly 50,000 words just to get the characters of the male and female leads right.

Sometimes writing more makes it feel overdone, writing less makes it too vague. So, I write and delete, and these 200,000 words have not come easy.

Don’t ask why.

Because I’m a newbie, I’m only level one, and opportunities for people to see my work are few.

Even if it means writing 100,000 words in drafts, I won’t publish them just to increase the word count.

I’m afraid that a single wrong sentence might turn away thousands of readers.

Especially the dialogues with Feng Nanshu, a few words might take me hours to perfect.

I hold a deep respect for Qidian, where I write with trepidation and nervousness, and feel anxious when facing my peers.

But whatever the case, there should be a result tonight.

In the early hours of the morning, I hope everyone will consider the effort I put into these 200,000 words and give me their first subscription.

Just one subscription could mean a full meal for me, and I would be deeply grateful.

If the results are poor, I’ll just have a good cry and continue tomorrow.

I’m not overly ambitious. Writing is half a hobby, half a necessity for living. I don’t seek wealth or luxury, just some modest success.

About the updates after going live:

I won’t lie – I desire a top-tier patronage, a silver alliance, a golden alliance. Who doesn’t want money?

I’d bow down for even a small amount. (damn me too)

But, as I said, being a newbie, I fear messing up, so I keep on revising it. I can’t promise how much I’ll add, but at least four updates are guaranteed. I’ll try to write as much as possible before dawn.

Also, I’ll address a question many of you are concerned about.

Whether you’re a famous author from another site, an anonymous poster, or a newcomer to online literature, it doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that the story is appreciated by you all. This is an honor for me.

I came here on my own, as a newbie, sincerely engaging with a new platform. So, naturally, I am a newbie.

Another thing is about promoting and attracting traffic.

After some efforts on Douyin and Bilibili, my followers exceeded 200,000.

That’s an astronomical number.

Actually, I was unaware of this until one day a reader commented, asking for another episode instead of another chapter. That’s when I realized the influx of new readers.

I consulted with some experienced authors, and they all said that the conversion rate from such traffic is pretty low, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up too high.

But I hope those who came from other sites will support me a little.

Even donating a small amount, watching an ad, or if you have the means, a financial contribution. If not, just being present is enough. If you can’t do any of that, even a word of encouragement is appreciated.

Finally, a summary.

Along this journey, there has been continuous applause and flowers, as well as doubts and criticisms. But since I’m here, I need not fear the outcome.

If I succeed, I will remain humble; if I fail, I will stay true to myself.

Tonight at midnight, under the beautiful moonlight, I will proceed no matter the multitude against me.

Chapter 97: His Name is Jiang Qin? (Seeking First Subscription!)

TL: Etude

“Nanshu, are you sure you don’t want to stay outside?”

In the car, the woman gently turned her head to look at Feng Nanshu, her eyes filled with indescribable tenderness and affection.

“It’s fine to stay here, my roommates are really nice,” Feng Nanshu said softly.

The woman reached out to pinch her smooth and moist cheek: “Then I’ll head back? Call me when you miss me, smile more at school, get along well with your roommates, and most importantly, take good care of yourself.”

Feng Nanshu took a deep breath: “I can do it!”

“But I already miss you. How about I stay a bit longer? I heard the cafeteria at Linchuan University is quite good, let’s have lunch together?”

“I’ll be meeting… Liu Wenhui later, we’ll eat together,” Feng Nanshu fibbed with a straight face.

“I see, then go ahead.” The woman couldn’t help but touch her hair.

Feng Nanshu got out of the car, waved goodbye to the woman, and then walked into the dormitory building.

Watching her ascend the stairs, the woman suddenly turned to Uncle Gong: “The boy who greeted us just now is quite handsome.”

“Did you see him?” Uncle Gong was momentarily choked.

“You floored the accelerator; how could I not notice?”

“He’s the young miss’s friend. The master knows about him. He probably wanted to greet us as we passed by.”

The woman smiled slightly: “Jiang Qin is a pretty common name. Seems like he’s just an ordinary person.”

Uncle Gong looked incredulous: “How did you even know his name?”

“She talks in her sleep, you know. She’s called out his name eight times in seven days.”

“One day she called out twice?” Uncle Gong thought his math was pretty good.

The woman gave him a look: “She took a nap one day.”

Uncle Gong wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Ms. Qin, the flight time is approaching. We should leave now to catch the plane.”

“Let’s go, take me to the airport.” The woman withdrew her gaze, instructing softly.

Meanwhile, as the Bentley left, Feng Nanshu had already changed her clothes in the dormitory and, with bright eyes, took out her phone and sent a message to Jiang Qin.

In fact, they had already explored every corner of Linchuan University, except for the maple forest. As for the maple forest, there wasn’t much to see there — deserted during the day and frequented by those up to no good at night.

Jiang Qin decided to take Feng Nanshu to the city for a stroll, whether to a shopping mall or a movie theater, as there would always be places to cheer up a pretty girl.

Ten minutes later, Feng Nanshu stepped down the stairs lightly, spotting Jiang Qin’s figure from a distance.

“All you think about is wandering around. You’re a university student; shouldn’t studying be your first priority?”

Jiang Qin approached Feng Nanshu, noticing her dressed in washed denim jeans and a white hoodie, her smooth long hair tied into a neat ponytail, her lips rosy, eyes clear, and her delicate face both gentle and aloof.

“I scored 671 in the college entrance exam,” Feng Nanshu said, puffing out her chest and speaking expressionlessly.

Jiang Qin fell silent for a moment: “That’s useless. College entrance exam scores don’t matter in university. You’re definitely going to fail this semester.”

“If I don’t fail, can I get a reward of one carousel ride?”

“Dream on. Where’s Uncle Gong? Call him over. Let’s have him take us to the city. Today, I’ll show you what the world of luxury is like.”

“Uncle Gong went to drop someone off,” Feng Nanshu said, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Jiang Qin’s brows furrowed, quickly catching some information from her four words, and finally realizing what was odd about the car’s sudden acceleration.

So, there was another person in the Bentley just now. Did Uncle Gong drive so fast because he didn’t want the person in the car to see him? Feng Nanshu had spent the entire holiday in Shanghai, which means that person came from Shanghai.

Based on these observations, it’s highly likely that the person in the car was a relative of the little rich lady.

Jiang Qin suddenly felt a chill at the back of his head…

As Feng Nanshu’s best friend, he was bound to be introduced to her family.

And the little rich lady was notoriously honest. Phrases like “I have a friend who’s poor, loves looking at breasts, and touching feet”…

If she really introduced him to her family like that, it would be explosive, far more than mentioning it in a college entrance exam essay.

“I don’t feel like wandering anymore. You go back, I need to go be a beast, oops, I mean, buy some life insurance,” Jiang Qin blurted out.

Feng Nanshu barely stopped in her tracks, softly speaking, “Can we wander tomorrow? I can hold out for another day, but not nine.”

“…”

“Just for a little while.” Feng Nanshu quietly looked at him.

Jiang Qin grinned, “I was just kidding. Let’s go. We might not have a Bentley, but I can take you on a bus ride.”

Hearing Jiang Qin change his mind, the little rich lady’s eyes brightened instantly, and she quickly followed him.

Then the two of them left the university and boarded the 203 bus. Since it was the start of the semester and not a holiday, the bus from Linchuan University to the city center wasn’t crowded.

Feng Nanshu sat neatly by the window, her delicate, curled eyelashes trembling slightly, her eyes reflecting the roads and streets. All the scenery passed by her like fleeting shadows, leaving behind only a glimmer of joy.

“Feng Nanshu, do you like foot massages?” Jiang Qin suddenly asked.

“I’ve never tried it.”

“How is that possible? For your health, I give you foot massages every day. They relieve fatigue, inflammation, promote metabolism, regulate endocrine functions, nourish yang energy, and alleviate cold. Did you know that?”

Jiang Qin cleverly substituted the concept, turning touching feet into foot massages, shifting the purpose to promoting health.

This way, even if she slipped up in front of her family, it could be smoothly covered up. This was all part of worldly wisdom, something the little rich lady still had to learn.

“Okay, I understand,” Feng Nanshu nodded straightforwardly.

Jiang Qin pursed his lips, “But there’s one thing to remember, this technique has been lost for a long time, and only I know it.”

Feng Nanshu quietly looked at him, her eyes brimming with clear, sparkling light.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at a commercial pedestrian street and strolled along. It was a famous spot in Linchuan, with clothing stores, jewelry shops, street stalls, restaurants, KTVs, billiard rooms, and bars. Halfway through, the little rich lady was already tired. She was instantly attracted by a game arcade named ‘Da Fuhao’, captivated by the colorful arcade machines.

So, Jiang Qin led her inside and exchanged some tokens for her to play freely.

Actually, game arcades in that era weren’t very suitable for pure young girls, as owners rarely brought in dance machines, focusing more on arcade games.

Feng Nanshu played aimlessly, without much competitive spirit.

Jiang Qin, a bit tired from accompanying her, found a stool to sit on. He observed the street’s foot traffic while planning the next steps for his website.

After a while, a loud noise suddenly erupted from the arcade, drawing everyone’s attention.

Feng Nanshu was in the middle of a perfect side kick, facing a punching power tester that was shaking violently, its numbers skyrocketing. Not only the target, but the entire machine was trembling.

Honestly, the little rich lady was stunningly beautiful and eye-catching. From the moment she walked in, many in the arcade had wanted to approach her.

But after that kick, everyone fell silent.

Of course, Jiang Qin was the most silent of them all.

Chapter 98: You’re Disturbing My Tranquility

TL: Etude

Ever since his rebirth, Jiang Qin had always treasured his life.

Having struggled for so many years, he knew all too well the pain of losing good health. Though he didn’t go to the extremes of strengthening his body every day, he maintained the good habit of going to bed early and rising early.

But it was not until that moment that he realized he had always been skirting the edge of death.

He knew the little rich lady had been trained in combat from a young age, but he had never seen her use it.

The several instances of foot massages are not worth mentioning now, because after being massaged multiple times, Feng Nanshu had probably gotten used to that sensation. However, the most dangerous time was the first time, during their visit to the hot springs town. If the little rich lady had shown even a hint of dissatisfaction, a side kick from her could have sunk him into the pool.

What kind of immensely lethal weapon had he been playing with?

“Let’s go, let’s go. No more playing. This game is too violent,” Jiang Qin said, still feeling the aftereffects of fear.

“Oh.”

Feng Nanshu returned the small basket to the counter and followed Jiang Qin out.

Throughout the journey, her eyes were bright and clear, constantly following Jiang Qin’s movements. Sometimes, she would blink only when Jiang Qin called her, and her eyes shimmered like water.

The rich little lady, usually so cold and expressionless, became easy to read and adorably silly when she showed her emotions.

After strolling through the commercial street, Jiang Qin took Feng Nanshu to an automobile city, planning to choose a car. With over a million in hand and several hundred thousand in the company accounts, buying a car was not a difficult task.

After much consideration, Jiang Qin chose an Audi A6L. Being BBA, a luxury brand, was not overly ostentatious but was more than sufficient for business purposes.

His forum couldn’t always be limited to Linchuan University, or even Linchuan. As a first impression, it was essential to get something decent.

However, due to the absence of an available car and the vehicle administration office being closed, they would have to wait two days to pick it up. Thus, Jiang Qin and the little rich lady had to take the bus back.

The bus was relatively empty on the way there, but not on the way back. Jiang Qin stood at the rear right side, holding onto a handle and a horizontal bar, keeping Feng Nanshu in the corner.

The the little rich lady stood quietly and obediently, only occasionally stumbling into Jiang Qin’s arms during a jolt.

Ah, this was too sinful.

He had sworn off love, yet he found himself constantly tested. It was indeed very difficult.

“Stand firm, you’re disturbing my tranquility,” Jiang Qin said, lowering his head, wanting to ruffle her hair.

Feng Nanshu shifted her position. “Jiang Qin, this is even more bumpy than a rocking car. Shall we take it next time?”

“Tsk, a rich little lady used to riding in Bentleys experiencing the joy of us commoners for the first time, huh?”

Feng Nanshu didn’t respond, her bright eyes gazing out the window. A breeze through the window gap fluttered her hair gently.

After returning to school, Jiang Qin escorted the little rich lady back to her dormitory and then went to the Entrepreneurship Center Room 208.

By evening, the team members had all returned to school. Jiang Qin clapped his hands and called for a meeting, giving directions for the next phase of work.

“The campus beauty contest is almost at its end. This event can’t last too long, or else users will feel fatigued. After all, no one wants to compete every day. So, let’s end it this weekend.”

“The design team should come up with a list of winners, in collaboration with the tech department, to create a page that’s easy to browse and share on social media.”

“The marketing team, Wei Lanlan and Tan Qing, are in charge of recruiting. If possible, they can directly call in part-timers from the part-time club, with the usual commission.”

“Additionally, the content team should continue to guide users. Although the campus beauty contest is ending, it’s crucial to maintain user retention. We need to divert them to other sections of the forum.”

Jiang Qin meticulously arranged the tasks without the use of a speech or even a scrap of paper. This scene couldn’t help but impress everyone in the office.

Their boss’s mind seemed to have anticipated countless steps ahead, arranging numerous lines of action. They just needed to work methodically like machines, and everything would directly reach its goal.

This might sound simple, but it’s actually quite daunting.

You understand because you’re thinking in his way.

But he came up with it all on his own. The difference in difficulty between active creation and passive reception is like night and day.

“Oh, right. Remember to look for someone studying financial management when recruiting. This is urgent because I need to get the recent sales report for Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop done,” Jiang Qin suddenly remembered the most important task.

Wei Lanlan nodded in agreement: “Sure, boss. I’ll post on the forum to recruit. Can we start the recruitment session tomorrow afternoon?”

“That’s fine. Also, is there anyone who’s currently free to run an errand to Shengshi Advertising for me? We need to confirm the customization of the trophies and certificates, and also buy some gifts.”

…

After Jiang Qin finished speaking, he noticed everyone was staring at him. “Why are you all looking at me?”

“Boss, you’re the only one who’s free in our office right now,” Su Nai bluntly stated, puffing her cheeks.

“Heh, daring to call the boss idle takes some nerve,” Jiang Qin’s mouth twitched slightly. “Lan Lan, remember to find me a secretary when you’re recruiting.”

“Got it, boss.”

“Alright, let’s wrap up the meeting. Everyone, go do your assigned tasks. After the campus beauty contest ends, our team will have our first official team-building event.”

After Jiang Qin’s final words, the office erupted into cheers.

These people, despite their strong business capabilities, were still a bunch of naive college students at heart. The mere mention of eating, drinking, and having fun excited them, making them look somewhat silly.

However…

There was still an urgent issue to address – finding a monetization tool.

The Xi Tian Milk Tea Shop was too small in scale and lacked sufficient profit-making capacity. It was fine for creating hype, but not suitable as the primary tool for monetization at this stage.

He needed to broaden his approach, creating an alternative monetization method while promoting the forum. Moreover, with the internet trend on the rise, and growing faster by the day, this new monetization method could no longer rely on traditional industries.

At that moment, Jiang Qin’s eyes lit up as he suddenly saw Cao Xinyue at the door.

“Sister Cao, wait a moment, I have something to ask you!”

Cao Xinyue had no choice but to turn back and face him. “What is it this time?”

“Has the approval for room 207 come through? I really need a reception room right now,” Jiang Qin eagerly eyed the neighboring room.

Cao Xinyue estimated, “Professor Yan will probably return next Monday and then he can stamp your approval.”

“How about this, Sister Cao? Just lend me the keys, and I’ll start using it. That classroom has always been empty; it’s a waste not to use it,” Jiang Qin suggested a compromise.

Cao Xinyue took a step back. “Don’t even think about it. That’s not something I can decide.”

“What if you accidentally lose the keys and I accidentally find them? Would that work?”

“?????”

Ten minutes later, Jiang Qin successfully obtained the keys to room 207. Not because of his cunning, but because Cao Xinyue couldn’t resist his persistence. She called Professor Yan and got his permission.

“Sister Cao, what does Professor Yan like? Tobacco or alcohol? I can provide anything except a little old lady,” Jiang Qin spoke generously.

Cao Xinyue couldn’t help but glance at him. “Don’t you dare. Professor Yan has a very peculiar temper; he hates that the most.”

“Hates the little old lady?”

“Hates receiving gifts!”

Chapter 100: The Joy of the Little Rich Lady

TL: Etude

The little rich lady wanted to take a walk, but one couldn’t always take her to Moonwatch Lake for a foot massage, right? That would be far from gentlemanly.

However, without the foot massage, there weren’t many good places in Linchuan University for leisurely pastimes.

The KTVs outside the campus were noisy and chaotic, certainly not suitable for someone with social anxiety like her.

Although the university’s Student Activity Center showed movies every day, which was a good way to pass time, most of them were romantic films. The little rich lady’s learning ability was astonishingly strong. Jiang Qin was afraid that if he took her to watch one, she might become enlightened and then impossible to control. If she wanted to whine, who could withstand it?

Not to mention Jiang Qin, even Ultraman couldn’t handle it! So, weighing the pros and cons, he decided to seek help.

Before his rebirth, Jiang Qin was also single. After coming back, he vowed not to engage in romantic relationships. The few tricks he knew to woo girls now seemed utterly insufficient.

So, he asked the girls from the finance class for suggestions on fun activities.

“Jiang Tian, are there any activities tonight?”

Jiang Tian replied almost instantly, “Yes, we’ve been playing cards and chatting on the sports field every night. Do you want to join?”

Jiang Qin pondered, “Are there many people?”

“It’s okay, not too many. It’s autumn now, and the weather is getting colder, so there aren’t many people.”

“Is it fun?”

“It’s pretty good. We play cards, chat, gossip, talk about dreams and the future. The atmosphere is lively.”

“Okay, then I’ll come over later.”

After reading the last message, Jiang Tian put down her phone, got out of bed, opened her drawer, and took out her compact powder, a small brush, eyeliner, and an eyelash curler. She started prepping in front of the mirror.

Song Qingqing, lying in the next bed, didn’t quite understand, “Why are you putting on makeup so late at night? Are you going out on a date with a guy?”

“No, not at all,” Jiang Tian replied while continuing with her brush, giving a cursory response.

Song Qingqing pouted, “What’s there to be shy about having a boyfriend? Why don’t you introduce him to us? We can help you check him out.”

“It’s not about finding a boyfriend. Aren’t we going to play cards on the sports field tonight? I was thinking maybe some handsome guy might take a liking to me.”

“Tch, I knew you weren’t being honest. I didn’t expect you to be smitten so soon after the school year started. But this is good; no one will compete with me for Jiang Qin now.”

Hearing this, Jiang Tian calmly said, “Girls should always make themselves beautiful. It’s not really for someone else; mainly, making oneself look pretty also lifts the spirits.”

Jian Chun popped her head in from the next room, “Makeup for playing cards? The sports field is so dark, with only two small lights. Can you even see clearly?”

“Oh my, hasn’t Zhuang Chen been playing cards with us these past few days? Tian Tian, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to Zhuang Chen?” Song Qingqing suddenly thought of a dramatic possibility.

Jiang Tian immediately denied it, “How could that be possible? Zhuang Chen belongs to Jian Chun; I wouldn’t dare.”

“Don’t say that; he’s not mine. If you like him, feel free to take him. I don’t mind.”

After saying this, Jian Chun also started changing clothes. She wasn’t like Jiang Tian, who felt the need to dress up so beautifully. After all, Zhuang Chen wasn’t worth the special effort for her. She just couldn’t accept going out in her pajamas.

Once they were all ready, the three girls left the dormitory. Jiang Tian, with her exquisite makeup, indeed attracted quite a few glances along the way.

Song Qingqing went out with a bare face. Her natural appearance was somewhat plain, but she still looked better than Pan Xiu.

Jian Chun could be considered naturally beautiful, on par with the delicately made-up Jiang Tian. However, her dress was more casual, giving off a girl-next-door vibe.

As soon as they reached the entrance of the sports field, they saw Zhuang Chen, who was already waiting there. He was holding milk tea in one hand and snacks in the other, enough for six people.

Seeing Zhuang Chen like that, one could tell that without some family background, it’s hard to play the role of a warm-hearted man.

When they arrived at the sports field, they spread out the mats they brought and started chatting and playing cards. Jiang Tian was clearly distracted, making several mistakes in her card play, which inevitably led to complaints from Song Qingqing.

“Tian Tian, are you preoccupied with something?”

“No, I’m just not in a good state,” replied Jiang Tian, tossing out two jokers.

Just then, Jiang Qin approached from a distance. When he reached the group, he waved at everyone and sat down on the blanket.

Song Qingqing hadn’t expected him to come and instinctively shrank back. The night was dark at Linchuan University, and from Jiang Qin’s angle, it was hard to make out Song Qingqing’s bare face, which only added to her panic.

“Why did you come?” Jian Chun still remembered being ridiculed during a dinner gathering and didn’t show a welcoming face to Jiang Qin.

“I was bored tonight and couldn’t find a place to hang out. Got any water?”

“Drink some milk tea,” Jiang Tian suggested, pointing to the bag in front of Zhuang Chen.

Jiang Qin reached out to grab it but was stopped by Jian Chun, “Can’t you be a bit more gentlemanly? Zhuang Chen bought that for us!”

Seeing this, Zhuang Chen couldn’t help but speak up, “Jiang Qin, coming out to play with female classmates and not bringing any snacks or milk tea is already ungentlemanly. And now you’re taking the girls’ milk tea, aren’t you ashamed?”

That hit the nail on the head, very on point!

Jiang Qin quickly withdrew his hand, wary of dog hair allergies, and looked toward a nearby milk tea stand, his gaze following the dim light.

At that moment, a graceful figure emerged from the night. She was slim, with flowing long hair, her delicate features appearing exquisite and ethereal in the dim light, as she sat down next to Jiang Qin, smoothing her skirt.

Actually, Jiang Tian and the others knew that Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu’s relationship was not simple. According to information from Class 4, they weren’t together but always referred to each other as “best friends.”

But seeing the two of them sitting together, they seemed perfectly matched.

This wasn’t to say that Jiang Qin was exceptionally handsome to match Feng Nanshu’s beauty, but rather that Jiang Qin had a unique aura, which didn’t make him seem too ordinary in Feng Nanshu’s presence.

“Drink.”

Feng Nanshu unwrapped a straw, inserted it into a cup, and handed it to Jiang Qin, her slender and curled eyelashes tinted silver by the light.

Jiang Qin, parched from arguing with businessmen in the afternoon and having eaten half a box of rice without a drink, eagerly sipped from the straw.

“Tastes good?”

“It’s alright, a bit bland, but good for quenching thirst,” Jiang Qin replied honestly.

Feng Nanshu’s delicate nose wrinkled slightly, then she took the straw into her mouth, her gaze coolly sweeping over the others.

Jiang Tian’s smile faded, and her expression turned wistful.

Song Qingqing shrank back again, cursing Jiang Tian in her heart, realizing that Jiang Tian knew Jiang Qin would come but deliberately didn’t tell her.

Jian Chun, looking at Feng Nanshu, felt a sense of inferiority, her expression somewhat listless.

Lastly, there was Zhuang Chen, who glanced at Jian Chun, then at the milk tea he had bought, feeling a sense of disparity.

Jiang Qin had his own thoughts. He was trying to figure out if Feng Nanshu knew about the indirect kiss. But seeing her naive expression, it didn’t seem like she was intentionally flirting with him.

“Why aren’t you chatting? Didn’t you say it was fun?”

Jiang Qin snapped back to reality, thinking Jiang Tian had exaggerated. The so-called fun card games and chats were merely silent suffering.

“Let’s stop, it’s a bit cold. I’m going back to the dormitory.”

Jian Chun tossed down her cards and sulkily prepared to leave the sports field. Seeing this, Zhuang Chen and Song Qingqing immediately followed. This left Jiang Tian as a third wheel, especially with her makeup on, making her feel uncomfortable. So, she also stood up to say goodbye and left the sports field.

What was all this about?

Where was the promised joy?

Jiang Qin looked puzzled, turning to Feng Nanshu, only to see her passing the milk tea again, her eyes shimmering with soft and warm light.

For the rest of the evening, there was no gossip, no chatting, no cards.

The two just sat dryly for an hour, and when they returned to the dormitory, Feng Nanshu’s eyes still sparkled with joy.

Jiang Qin suddenly felt that the little rich lady seemed happy no matter where she was.

But what exactly made her happy?

It was hard to understand, truly perplexing.