《Forcing Me to Be Reborn?!》


 Chapter 1 - 1 Force Me to Rebirth, Right

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Force Me to Rebirth, Right


    Wu City, inside an e-commerce park.


    Cheng Zhu left a live streaming studio where a female anchor was promoting products, and returned to his office.


    He plopped down into his chair, skilfully clamped a cigarette between his lips, then picked up a S.T. Dupont lighter that was on his desk.


    With a flick of his thumb, Cheng Zhu flipped open the lighter''s lid, producing a crisp "ding!"


    This particular S.T. Dupont lighter had an official price of 13,200.


    As he always said, he bought it just for the sound.


    Inside the office, Cheng Zhu freely puffed out clouds of smoke, even resting his feet on the desk.


    He picked up his phone, opened TikTok, and immediately saw one of his female anchors busily promoting products.


    Cheng Zhu watched for half a minute and then casually swiped past it.


    "I''m quite confident in Yiyi''s business capabilities."


    Yiyi was the top anchor in his company, whom he had personally mentored.


    Just her alone brought him close to an eight-figure income annually.


    That was certainly less than the top product promoters,


    but it was more than enough to make Cheng Zhu''s profits overflow.


    Cheng Zhu treated her well too, in return, occasionally discussing billion-yuan projects with her in the suites of five-star hotels.


    No choice, Chairman Cheng Zhu, and Yiyi knew her role early on.


    The next TikTok he scrolled to was an interactive one.


    On the image was written, "If you were given a chance to be reborn and return to the past, would you want it?"


    This particular TikTok received over two thousand comments.


    Out of boredom, Cheng Zhu opened it and saw as expected, the majority said they would.


    Some wanted to mend a romance, others wanted to go back and make money, still others wished to focus on their studies... all kinds of desires.


    Cheng Zhu, with a cigarette still in his mouth, typed a comment directly: "Not interested."


    Then, he attached an image.


    It was a screenshot of one of his bank account balances showing over six million.


    As a successful young man with over six million in just one account, rebirth my ass!


    Go back to a life of poverty and be a loser again?


    Among this circle of friends, Cheng Zhu was recognized as the king of boastfulness, no one could out-brag him.


    While boasting is a natural trait for most people, he truly excelled at it!No?v(el)B\\jnn


    He lived more carefree than most, with a touch of unrestraint.


    Unlike some of his friends who had to beat around the bush to show off.


    Li Rui wasn''t tall or particularly handsome, unlike Cheng Zhu who was 182 cm tall and had a roguish charm.


    During this initial romance, Cheng Zhu found Li Rui the most annoying.


    Under the guise of childhood friends, Li Rui would chat with Li Xinyue every day. Each time the couple argued, he would immediately comfort her, even inviting her for meals and movies, all under the flag of growing up together.


    Whenever an opportunity arose, he would try his best to show how gentle and considerate he was, a true "nice guy".


    Unfortunately, at this stage, Li Xinyue was still focused on looks, not yet transitioning towards materialism.


    As the dead memories continued to assault Cheng Zhu, he remembered going back to make up with Li Xinyue, tails between his legs, after the fight.


    Initially, the fight had started because she had been unreasonable, but as soon as she played the breakup card, Cheng Zhu would foolishly surrender.


    Of course, in the end, they truly made up, and Li Rui ended up like a tool, having consoled Li Xinyue for three days, only to be sidelined with a "good brother" card.


    In those days, acknowledging each other as brothers and sisters was still popular among students.


    Just as Xu Song still sings in his song, "She is just my little sister~~"


    At that moment, seeing Cheng Zhu still silent, Li Rui couldn''t help but say again, "Cheng Zhu, it was wrong of you to start smoking, don''t you see how upset Xinyue is?"


    Standing to the side, another guy and girl spoke up; the guy, with dark skin and acne, said, "Brother Zhu, let''s not take up smoking, it indeed harms our health."


    Cheng Zhu glanced at the boy called Wang Anquan, his gaze softening slightly.


    Wang Anquan''s father was a firefighter. Sticking to the principle of "safety first," he had named his precious son accordingly.


    He had been Cheng Zhu''s high school desk-mate and was his best friend from those days.


    The girl standing next to Wang Anquan was Chen Rongrong, Li Xinyue''s best friend.


    Unlike Li Rui, who used the smoking issue to bring Cheng Zhu down, Wang Anquan genuinely cared for him.


    Cheng Zhu turned to look at Li Rui, scrutinizing this relentless monitor who was continually scheming to steal his girlfriend, and smirked:


    "Do you know the saying, ''Nice guys finish after dogs''?"


    What level are you to steal my girl?


    In the pecking order of guys, warm guys rank even below the bootlickers.


    Even if Li Xinyue and I don''t make up this time, it''s not your turn, you sheep in wolf''s clothing.


    However, at this time, the term "warm guy" seemed still to be a compliment.


    Although Li Rui didn''t fully grasp the underlying message in Cheng Zhu''s words, anyone with half a brain would realize he was being insulted.


    "Cheng Zhu, you... you..."


    In front of Li Xinyue, he held back even from saying "you f***..." maintaining what he believed was a gentlemanly and nice guy image.


    In the end, he could only slightly raise his voice and said, "What do you mean!?"


    "What do I mean? Do you really need to ask?" Cheng Zhu raised his eyebrows slightly.


    He grinned and said, "You know, I generally don''t say things to embarrass people, but if I ever do..."


    Cheng Zhu paused briefly, his smile broadening: "It means I really want to embarrass you."

 Chapter 2 - 2 Read Again

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Read Again


    Cheng Zhu could now be sure that he had indeed been reborn.


    He couldn''t figure out why, with so many people wanting a do-over, he, who didn''t want one, was chosen.


    He still had over six million in that card that he hadn''t had time to spend.


    If it had been him right after high school graduation, he probably wouldn''t have had the guts to confront Class Leader Li, who was notorious for encroaching on other people''s territories.


    But the him now came from many years in the future.


    Back then, he was akin to a lotus that went untainted through muddy waters, naturally having no respect for the so-called warm, lovable man Li Rui.


    Why had the phrase "nice guys finish after dogs" become popular again recently?


    Wasn''t it because someone on TikTok had commented under a girl''s near-the-knuckle video saying, "Stop that, you deserve to be loved"?


    And she simply replied, "Nice guys finish after dogs."


    Li Rui, with his excessively caring and considerate, omnipresent attitude towards other people''s girlfriends, as dumb as it gets, the highest treatment he could hope for in legends was: Standing by the door for the sound, or using the condom he bought tonight, so he gets at least some involvement.


    Cheng Zhu was in a good mood; he didn''t even feel like he was insulting Li Rui, he felt like he was his living Buddha, giving him a wake-up call.


    And deep down, he didn''t like Li Rui one bit.


    When everyone had just graduated from college, Li Rui, who had landed a cushy job thanks to his family''s influence, had a bit of a bureaucratic air when he spoke.


    Back then, Cheng Zhu was still struggling to find his way, constantly belittled and taunted by him.


    Ultimately, Li Rui just couldn''t get over the fact that his childhood goddess Chen Rongrong ended up with Cheng Zhu.


    However, at subsequent class reunions, Li Rui stopped showing up, or rather, he couldn''t.


    After some incident, he landed himself another type of cushy job, eating prison meals.


    At the moment, Li Rui''s face was flushed red with anger, his fingers trembling with rage.


    But for some reason, when he looked into Cheng Zhu''s eyes, he felt somewhat intimidated.


    Cheng Zhu figured it was probably because he was a young achiever, accustomed to higher standing, radiating an aura completely unlike that of a regular high school graduate; he saw Li Rui as nothing but a child.


    But in Li Rui''s eyes, Cheng Zhu, for some reason, really seemed like the, you know, the epitome of worldly, like some street-smart person!


    Cheng Zhu''s brows were naturally arched high, the corners of his eyebrows slightly upturned, and his face chiseled with a touch of roguish handsomeness.


    Add to that his tall stature, and it was easy to be mistaken about him, making people think he might be one of those school tyrants.


    Since middle school, if there was a standoff between two groups of boys, just standing on one side for show seemed like a show of force, and as soon as the fight broke out, the other side, abiding by the principle of "capture the leader first," would invariably target him, beating him within an inch of life.


    During his school days, he never really got to enjoy being the big shot, but he did take quite a few beatings that were meant for one.


    But funny enough, that kind of guy was actually pretty popular among students; he never lacked girls who took a liking to him.


    "That''s a bit telling."


    "Also, this kind of person, when pursuing someone, is intensely passionate, but once in the relationship, becomes incredibly difficult to handle. From my later experience, a part of these women are very likely to be fickle."


    Wang Anquan looked at his buddy, feeling that he had changed somewhat but couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    But, for a student like him, Cheng Zhu''s current air of nonchalance was really kinda cool; he felt overshadowed by him.


    Cheng Zhu looked at Wang Anquan, whose skin was a bit dark and still had some acne, and couldn''t help but pat his shoulder, giving him a heartfelt talk, "If I''m not mistaken, you like Li Xinyue''s friend, Chen Rongrong, right?"


    Chen Rongrong wasn''t as pretty as Li Xinyue, but she knew how to dress up, had a bit of a lisp, and was quite adept at getting along with boys.


    Hearing Cheng Zhu''s words, Wang Anquan hung his head slightly and said, "Brother Zhu, you see I''m not good in studies, my family''s just average, Rongrong doesn''t even fancy a guy like Wang Kai, let alone me."


    "I''m glad you have this self-awareness," Cheng Zhu said, nodding in approval.


    "Brother Zhu, can''t you just comfort me?" Wang Anquan sounded exasperated.


    Cheng Zhu looked at him seriously and said, "You can be poor in your studies, you don''t need to make money, you don''t have to be good-looking."


    "You can be average, lack ambition, you can even be not smart."


    Listening to this, Wang Anquan felt like what would follow would surely be some comforting words.


    Cheng Zhu continued, "But I can''t be!"


    As soon as the words dropped, Wang Anquan was first stunned, then fuming and ready to square off in a duel.


    Wang Anquan was indeed quite sturdy, thick as a bull, and pretty strong. Cheng Zhu turned on his heels and ran.


    He laughed as he ran.


    What he had just said was truly how he felt: You can be ordinary, but I can''t be; after all, I have to take you under my wing.


    If there''s a bowl of rice for me to eat, there''ll be one for you to wash��that''s a promise from a brother.


    The two of them, with one chasing the other, eventually boarded the bus home.


    On the bus, Wang Anquan still couldn''t help but ask, "Brother Zhu, are you really just going to break up like this, not getting back together with Li Xinyue?"


    Li Xinyue was the type who threw around breakups like confetti, always threatening to end things, but would agree to get back together once soothed.


    "Of course, look Anquan, I''m telling you, you can''t be a doormat in the future. Some people''s hearts, I don''t know what they''re made of, the more you lick, the harder they get," Cheng Zhu said earnestly.


    It was 2014 now, and the word "doormat" hadn''t become very popular yet, but Wang Anquan could roughly grasp the meaning.


    He chimed in, "But in the end, doesn''t it soften?"


    This made Cheng Zhu instantly worry for his little buddy; not only did he want to play the doormat, he was determined to stay the course, foolishly hoping to soften her up by persisting. Wouldn''t he just end up wounded by love?


    Seeing Cheng Zhu''s furrowed brows, Wang Anquan didn''t pursue the topic and instead said, "Brother Zhu, although Li Xinyue is a bit of a princess, you''ve broken up and gotten back together so many times, this one shouldn''t make much of a difference, right?"


    Gazing out the window, Cheng Zhu said with an air of nonchalance, "Reading the same book again may give you new insights, but it won''t give you a new ending."

 Chapter 3 - 3 Good Girls and Bad Girls

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Good Girls and Bad Girls


    Wang Anquan was stunned upon hearing this, feeling the words were profound.


    "When you reread a book, you might discover new insights, but the ending remains the same." He silently noted this statement, deciding to share it with others at an appropriate occasion after college.


    Moreover, when Brother Zhu was talking, he didn''t look at me; he looked out the window, which made him seem even more profound.


    You see, after Cheng Zhu became accomplished at a young age, all the second-generation rich and first-generation entrepreneurs around him acknowledged that he had the strongest vibe. Wang Anquan, still a student party member, couldn''t handle him.


    But the amount of information in that statement was quite a lot. Wang Anquan felt that Cheng Zhu might be disheartened, seemingly determined to break up and resolve the outcome once and for all.


    He just sighed and said, "Actually, Rongrong told me that Li Xinyue is just a bit of a princess at heart, but she still cares about you a lot."


    This made Cheng Zhu turn his head abruptly, sizing up Wang Anquan from top to bottom. He frowned and said, "Is it because Chen Rongrong and Li Xinyue are best friends, so you don''t really want me to break up with her, making it easier for you to get close to Chen Rongrong?"


    Although this was partly what Wang Anquan was thinking, he still bluffed loudly in defense, "How could that be, Brother Zhu, your mind is really dirty!"


    "If it isn''t, then good," said Cheng Zhu to him.


    His impression of Chen Rongrong was rather vague. Although some memories had resurfaced after his rebirth, he only remembered her as the first female classmate to get married in his class, seemingly getting pregnant before graduating from college, then forcing the man to marry her, or she would create a big scene.


    He hadn''t interacted much with her afterwards, so he didn''t have many memories.


    All he knew was that she seemed to have borrowed money from Wang Anquan after getting married, but he hadn''t delved deeper into it because he was too busy at that time.


    Speaking of which, Cheng Zhu found the concept of rebirth quite fascinating.


    He had returned to his teenage years, yet with the mindset of many years later.


    During this period, he would have had a few years of being rather innocent.


    He had broken up with Li Xinyue after college and was heartbroken.


    But during that time, there was a female classmate who really cared about him, often initiating conversations with him and comforting him.


    Although this classmate was not as pretty as Li Xinyue, she spoke softly and, more importantly, had long legs.


    Cheng Zhu fell in love again, only to experience the stifling sensation of drowning in love, with the outcome still being awful, something he''d rather not remember.


    From then on, Cheng Zhu underwent some changes.


    He didn''t become afraid of falling in love, didn''t start preaching "closing off one''s heart" or "the first move in getting back on track is to sever the person in your heart."


    His mindset simply changed, but life went on.


    Interact when it''s time to interact, break up when it''s time to break up.


    Wang Anquan watched the process, feeling, "Why do I feel like Brother Zhu is too practiced at doing this sort of thing?"


    He dumbfoundedly said, "Did you just delete her?"


    "What else?" Cheng Zhu responded naturally.


    I complied with her wish, what else should I do?


    Wang Anquan couldn''t help but say, "Brother Zhu, must be driving Li Xinyue crazy right now, right?"


    Cheng Zhu casually smiled and said, "Actually, how I treated her is already pretty decent."


    "Huh?" Wang Anquan was baffled.


    Cheng Zhu explained, "With Li Xinyue''s personality, when she goes to college, she will most likely break up with me, then fall into the arms of someone else."


    "Huh?" Wang Anquan was even more confused.


    "But you see, that would be after she starts college and we''re in a long-distance relationship. Think about it, I could have continued dating her over the summer."


    That way, he''d have daily kisses, daily cuddles.


    It would be a long summer, and with his current skills, he could easily have her completely entangled and unlock everything that needed to be unlocked.


    Then, just wait for the long-distance to play out.


    Utilizing resources in the limited time.


    Li Xinyue, being fickle-hearted and a bad girl, truthfully, wouldn''t even put a psychological burden on Cheng Zhu.


    Of course, Wang Anquan couldn''t understand any of this, and Cheng Zhu wasn''t planning to let him.


    At this moment, a thought suddenly struck Cheng Zhu.


    It was a quote left by someone who many netizens referred to as Grandmaster.


    Although he hadn''t planned to implement this famous saying on Li Xinyue, after thinking it over, he decided to note it down in his memo, feeling it had some referential value.


    Cheng Zhu opened the memo app on his phone and began typing.


    Wang Anquan watched from the side, feeling the first half was quite ordinary, and he even thought it was a bit cliche?.


    But he was stunned by the second half of the statement, which shocked his innocent student''s heart.


    Cheng Zhu wrote down the Grandmaster''s quote:


    "Don''t let down the good girls, don''t waste the bad ones."

 Chapter 4 - 4 The Wind in Destiny

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4 The Wind in Destiny


    Wang Anquan felt like his soul had been hit by a formidable force.


    "Good girls shouldn''t be let down, and bad girls... shouldn''t be wasted?"


    Brother Zhu actually wrote it down in his notes?!


    The bus arrived at its stop, at the neighborhood where Cheng Zhu and Wang Anquan lived.


    Sashaying off the bus, Cheng Zhu disembarked first, quickly followed by Wang Anquan.


    At the entrance to the neighborhood, they said their goodbyes, as their homes were in different directions.


    "It''s four in the afternoon, probably no one''s home," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    His family owned a small restaurant, the Yunlai Restaurant, located across the street from the neighborhood.


    The restaurant was small, consisting of just two rooms.


    In those days, private kitchens weren''t yet popular, and the delivery industry was still developing. So places like this little restaurant mostly made money from dine-in customers.


    Cheng Zhu''s father, Cheng Donglai, was the owner and chef of the restaurant.


    Overall, the business was neither particularly good nor bad.


    This meant that although Cheng Zhu grew up without any real wealth, he also never had to worry about food and clothing.


    Cheng had limited skills but never let Little Cheng go hungry.


    Looking back, running a restaurant was quite tough, with the smoke and flames every day, and occasionally dealing with difficult customers.


    "I''ll go home first, change clothes, and take a shower. I''ll head to the restaurant for dinner at five-thirty," Cheng Zhu decided.


    Upon arriving at home, he went straight to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror.


    "This hair is so long and such an ugly perm," Cheng Zhu couldn''t help but think.


    During those days, perming hair in the style of a middle part or a four-six part seemed to be the trend. Once high school was over, many students let loose and splurged at hair salons.


    "But this perfect hairline is really something to miss," Cheng Zhu couldn''t help but say.


    Before showering, Cheng Zhu looked for a change of clothes in the wardrobe.


    He searched for a while and found that his trousers were either cropped or so long they dragged on the ground.


    "Oh, I remember now, showing ankles was the fashion at that time. Either wear cropped pants or roll up the trouser legs," Cheng Zhu chuckled.


    He faintly remembered a special method of rolling up the trouser legs to create the look of tapered pants.


    In the end, he picked out a pair of black sweatpants.


    After the shower, he did not rush out but sat at the desk in his room, took out his phone, and checked his total assets.


    "I have a total of 12,312 yuan," Cheng Zhu murmured.


    After the high school graduation exams, his elders would give red envelopes as gifts.


    In Zhejiang Province, people were quite generous with their red envelopes.


    Xu Yun was exactly forty years old, indeed a middle-aged woman, but compared to the image in Cheng Zhu''s memory, she looked much younger.


    "What''s the matter?" Xu Yun, puzzled, stared at her son who was staring blankly at her.


    "Mom, you''re really young. No, I mean you look really young today," blurted out Cheng Zhu.


    "What nonsense!" Xu Yun, usually gentle, furrowed her brow involuntarily and quickly turned to grab a bowl of iced mung bean soup from the fridge for her son.


    This generation of mothers might ask their sons if the food they prepare tastes good, but they rarely ask if they look pretty.


    Likewise, children seldom compliment their mothers on looking young and beautiful.


    Cheng Zhu''s thought was simple; lavish praises on an outsider woman, and she might still regard you as a sycophant. But casually compliment your mom, and truly, she would be happy all day long.


    Today, Xu Yun was unexpectedly flattered by her son''s unconventional praise.


    It took her a while to pretend everything was normal and went to the bathroom, where she bashfully looked at herself in the mirror back and forth.


    At first glance, she didn''t notice anything, but as she kept looking...


    "I guess... there''s a bit?" she whispered to herself, joy spreading at the bottom of her heart.


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu sat in his family''s little restaurant, pretentiously sipping the mung bean soup. Soon enough, a little head popped out from beside the checkout counter, and with a roar like a fierce dragon, tried to startle him.


    Looking at the tiny Nezha-like hairstyle, Cheng Zhu pretended to be utterly frightened, and the little girl immediately giggled.


    He picked up the little girl and looked at her round chubby cheeks, her shining black eyes, and the endearing Nezha hairstyle, and felt like he''d been struck by his sister''s cuteness.


    "Little Youzi is only five this year; this is when she''s at her most adorable," he thought to himself.


    He had always missed his sister from this period.


    Cheng Youu at this current age was also the closest to him, extremely clingy.


    Later, when he moved from Hang City to start a business in Wu City, first getting into e-commerce and then live-streaming sales, he was away from his family, seeing Cheng Youu only a few times a year.


    After giving her a few rounds of "lift high" play, Cheng Zhu put her down to sit next to him.


    "Little Youzi, do you want your brother to feed you some mung bean soup?" he asked.


    "Just a moment!" Cheng Youu, small but savvy, raised a hand.


    "What''s up?" Cheng Zhu looked puzzled.


    "Brother, I wanted to ask you something," said the little girl.


    "Go ahead," Cheng Zhu said with a smile.


    "All day today, I was not at home. Did you miss me?" Little Youzi looked up, her chubby face lifted.


    "I sure did," Cheng Zhu responded promptly, in a way that had a double meaning.


    It wasn''t just a day I haven''t seen you; it''s been many years since I''ve seen this version of you.


    Little Youzi immediately placed her small hand over her chest, breathed a sigh of relief like a little adult, and said in a sweet voice:


    "That''s good. I was worried it was just me secretly missing you at the restaurant."

 Chapter 5 - 5 The First Step to Making Money

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5 The First Step to Making Money


    My sister''s simple words melted Cheng Zhu''s heart.


    "Fuck, my sister is so damn cute!"


    With Cheng Zhu''s current mindset and status, ordinary women couldn''t tug at his heartstrings.


    But a word in Little Youzi''s milky voice, and she could ask him to do anything right now, he would go do it.


    Hooked, totally fucking hooked!


    How could he not earn a castle for the princess?


    Making money, this life he had to try even harder to make money!


    Cheng Zhu sipped green bean soup as he was plunged into memories.


    "Thinking about it, I still have regrets regarding Little You," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    In his memories, his sister Cheng Youu was a particularly lively and quirky little girl when she was young.


    But after starting junior high, she became more and more reserved and introverted.


    It was only later and by chance that Cheng Zhu learned she had been verbally harassed by some of her female classmates in middle school, just because she matured early and the loose school uniform could not hide it, leading them to brazenly and secretly call her a slut.


    This caused Little You to begin hunching her shoulders and slouching; over time, her whole demeanor could not be changed back, and she became more and more insecure.


    For a girl, posture and temperament are really important.


    The same face, paired with different demeanors and temperaments, can undergo earth-shaking changes.


    These things, he only learned later on from Little Youu''s best friend, angering Cheng Zhu to the point of wanting to tear those girls'' foul mouths.


    That girl loved to chat with Cheng Zhu, thinking her best friend''s brother was completely different from the boys in school.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Afterward, Cheng Zhu insisted on sending his sister to attend Pilates classes that cost a few hundred yuan each, as well as hiring someone to correct her posture, but her character was hard to change back.


    "In the future, I need to pay more attention to this issue," he thought to himself.


    With that thought, he stood up again and went to the restaurant kitchen.


    "Here?" As his father Cheng Donglai glanced at his son, he said indifferently.


    The Cheng family was famously biased towards girls; Cheng Donglai was as passionate as fire with his daughter, a complete slave to her, and laissez-faire with his son, as long as he didn''t cause troubles outside.


    "Dad, is there anything I can help with?" he asked.


    Comrade Cheng was frying chili pork and gave his son a surprised look, saying only a few words: "Go out and enjoy the air conditioning."


    Cheng Zhu didn''t press the issue and obediently left the kitchen realm.


    Cheng looked at his son''s retreating back and muttered: "It''s really strange, this lazy bum actually offering to help?"


    Back at the dining table, Cheng Zhu started planning again.


    "If I remember correctly, this year my second uncle will come to scam money, leaving our family empty-handed, and Cheng endured a few tough years afterward."


    "His health has always been not so good afterward, probably because of the exhaustion over the years."


    This world is such to the poor��anything that can be solved with money has to be solved with health, life, time, dignity... things more precious than money.


    People, many of them exchange their health for money when healthy, then exchange money for health when sick.


    Luckily, Cheng Zhu was quite successful in his career afterward and particularly cared for his parents'' health; Cheng gradually got healthier year by year, and his mother Xu Yun also became younger and livelier.


    He was fortunate that the speed he earned money caught up with the pace his parents were aging.


    Fulfilling filial duties comes too late for some.


    "But since I''ve been reborn, I should at least make them live more comfortably," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    The reason was simple; he was planning to make money till late tonight, and if he came home when it was bright outside, his parents wouldn''t be happy. It would be better to simply not return home at all and lie to them that he spent the night at Jiang Wanzhou''s place.


    As for Jiang Wanzhou''s family, they were quite peculiar; they couldn''t accept their son playing outside until dawn but didn''t mind him... not returning home overnight.


    For someone like Cheng Zhu, whose family prohibited him from staying out all night, it''s because they were afraid he''d mess around outside.


    As for someone like Jiang Wanzhou, his effeminate behavior from childhood is clear to his family, fearing he wouldn''t mess around in his lifetime.


    "Thank goodness it''s 2014, and there aren''t so many cunning ''zeroes'' and calculating ''ones'' on the market."


    "Otherwise, the social norms shift, and the Jiang family would probably worry more."


    Of course, Cheng Zhu clearly knew Jiang Wanzhou was indeed not gay; the heartthrob of the gay community had no interest in men, he was simply innately effeminate with no other choice.


    When his mother Xu Yun heard Cheng Zhu was staying at Jiang Wanzhou''s house that night, she wanted to ask more, but after being praised by her son, she was in a good mood and kept silent.


    As night fell, it wasn''t even ten o''clock yet, when Jiang Wanzhou arrived to pick up Cheng Zhu in his Mercedes G-Class.


    The two had gone to driving school at lightning speed right after their college entrance exams and soon came out with driver''s licenses.


    The difference was, Cheng Zhu''s license was of no use without a car. Jiang Wanzhou, on the other hand, had too many cars at home to choose from daily.


    The Mercedes G-Class of that generation hadn''t been refreshed yet, nor had it gained the reputation of "scumbags drive G-Classes" that it would a few years later.


    In 2014, many people didn''t even know its selling price, mistaking it for a normal Mercedes.


    But, to be honest, the comfort level of the old G-Class was indeed not that great, and Cheng Zhu felt uncomfortable and somewhat disdainful as he sat inside.


    At Jiang Wanzhou''s age, he should have preferred his mother''s white Bentley Continental GT.


    But don''t forget, although he looks and acts gay, he dreams of being a domineering CEO, so he prefers cars with a more dominating presence.


    Once inside, Cheng Zhu closed the car door with force, listening to the sound unique to a Mercedes G-Class, akin to the loading of a bullet.


    "Long time no see, Boss Jiang!" Cheng Zhu said genuinely.


    "You still know it''s been a long time?" Jiang Wanzhou gave him a Bone-softening Palm, slapping his left arm.


    Saying so, he also spoke with a touch of sourness, "Why isn''t Brother Zhu out on a date today?"


    It then dawned on Cheng Zhu that when he was dating Li Xinyue, Jiang Wanzhou was adamantly against it, always thinking Li Xinyue wasn''t a good person, but Cheng Zhu completely ignored it.


    "Split up," Cheng Zhu said.


    "What!?" Jiang Wanzhou exclaimed, his right hand ceaselessly patting Cheng Zhu''s shoulder, his expression gradually turning to delight.


    "Could you please focus on driving first!" Cheng Zhu panicked with this driving novice.


    "So, you thought of drowning your sorrows with me after being dumped, huh? When you were in love, I couldn''t even schedule a dinner, had to make an appointment." Jiang Wanzhou said sourly.


    "I wasn''t dumped, dammit! Can you not be such a drama queen?" Cheng Zhu glared at him, annoyed, "When you read CEO romance novels, which side are you even sympathizing with?"


    "What are you babbling about now~" Jiang Wanzhou got pissed.


    Cheng Zhu noticed he was even wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses today.


    What a pity, the CEO vibe still didn''t come out; instead, he looked even more like a gentle bottom.


    Cheng Zhu stopped teasing him and got straight to the point: "Boss Jiang, how''s the business at the bar your cousin opened?"


    "It wasn''t great at first, but recently it''s doing well. You know, the World Cup; suddenly there are more customers coming in to drink beer and watch soccer. My cousin is also a die-hard soccer fan. He even asked me if I wanted to place bets, offered to stake me a grand just for fun."


    For some reasons, Cheng Zhu had come into contact with Jiang Wanzhou''s cousin in his previous life; the guy was quite generous, loved saving face, and was a show-off second-generation rich.


    He seemed careless, but his mind was already scheming: "Really? Can he stake some for me?"


    "Sure, you can add him on WeChat and transfer the money to him when the time comes; he always tells me the odds he gets for betting are higher than the official lottery," Jiang Wanzhou said.


    Speaking of which, Jiang Wanzhou revived his spirits and asked, "How much you planning to bet, a few hundred? This CEO will join you for some fun."

 Chapter 6 - 6 The Pattern is Too Small

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6 The Pattern is Too Small


    "A few hundred? Who are you looking down on? I start at ten thousand." Cheng Zhu laughed as he spoke, giving a preemptive warning.


    Jiang Wanzhou didn''t take it seriously, treating it as a joke, and continued to struggle with controlling the steering wheel of the big Mercedes G with his thin arms.


    It was only now that Cheng Zhu noticed the watch on Jiang Wanzhou''s wrist.


    It was a Vacheron Constantin.


    If it had been the inexperienced Cheng Zhu from before, he wouldn''t have known the value of the watch and would have thought it was fucking ugly, not comparing to his digital watch at all.


    You, just a mongrel secretly wearing your parents'' watch.


    And me, a trend-setter at the forefront of campus fashion.


    In fact, the watch was a gift from Jiang Wanzhou''s mother for his eighteenth birthday. As for his father, he gave him a Porsche 911, but he didn''t like driving it because he felt it didn''t match his domineering CEO temperament and made him look more like a rich kid.


    Later, after Cheng Zhu made it big, the first designer watch he bought was also a Vacheron Constantin, because he liked the name of the watch and the special shade of blue on its dial. This series was called "Overseas."


    Jiang Wanzhou''s cousin owned a bar named Jiuyin, a pun on the word for alcohol addiction.


    His cousin thought that, located in a prime pricey area yet named with a character for ''hidden,'' it had a lot of prestige.


    After parking, Jiang Wanzhou confidently led Cheng Zhu inside and then sat down at the bar.


    During the World Cup, the bar business was indeed booming.


    And now it was July 13; at 3 a.m. on July 14 would be the final of the 2014 World Cup.


    Therefore, Jiuyin already had quite a few customers.


    "I was just saying that, but if you really want to open a bottle, wait until I start working here so I can earn a commission," Cheng Zhu cheekily said.


    Jiang Wanzhou glanced at him and retorted without good humor, "Keep dreaming. I''ll just take a bottle from my family''s liquor cabinet and bring it back tomorrow, don''t even think about making that money."


    Cheng Zhu gave him a thumbs up and said, "Brilliant! How can you say such ice-cold words with a 37-degree mouth?"


    Ye Zi, standing aside, felt like the two seemed to be flirting and thought she might be developing a fujoshi tendency, even slightly intrigued to ship them.


    "The boss''s cousin is handsome and refined, and his friend has a bit of a rogue charm, they seem like a great match," Ye Zi thought secretly.


    "Campus rich well-behaved student and school bully, aaahhh!" She screamed internally.


    Cheng Zhu was completely unaware of what Sister Ye Zi was thinking; if he knew, he might have tried his best to win her over, and then acted out:


    "I''ll show you how to look at people, you fujoshi! I''ll show you how to look at people, you fujoshi! I''ll show you how to look at people, you fujoshi! Huh?"


    The cocktail was soon ready, and Ye Zi slowly pushed the drink, which cost only a few dollars to make but sold for several times that per glass, in front of them.


    Then, she looked up towards the door and smiled, saying, "Little President Jiang, your cousin and cousin-in-law are here."


    At first, Cheng Zhu didn''t think much of it, but hearing Ye Zi mention "cousin-in-law," he was slightly stunned.


    He later attended Technology University in Hang City; Jiang Wanzhou''s cousin was Cheng Zhu''s senior by one year at the university, very famous, the dream campus goddess for countless people, absolutely a rich and beautiful girl.


    When Jiang Wanzhou came to Technology University to find him, he had also invited his cousin to have a meal together.


    He wasn''t sure if he was serious or just teasing, but he had privately told Cheng Zhu that his cousin had never been in a relationship and asked, "What do you think, want to give it a shot?"


    But Cheng Zhu thought that someone of her social class could easily spend on a piece of clothing what amounted to his living expenses for several months; he couldn''t afford to date, much less maintain her.

 Chapter 7 - 6 The Pattern is Too Small_2

    Chapter 7: Chapter 6 The Pattern is Too Small_2


    Looking back now, I just think I was hasty.


    Hilarious, only the moneyless ones need your support, the rich ones end up supporting you. You really think about that crap? Playing the macho card here, are we?


    As the saying goes: Marry a good person first, strike it rich with a noble person later.


    ����Marry a rich woman and do both.


    "Damn, did I think too small?" Cheng Zhu joked to himself.


    Back then, he had brushed it off with, "What, you want to call me brother-in-law, huh?"


    He thought it was an immature idea.


    As for now, well, he often had some... overly mature ideas.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu was also clear in hindsight that with his standards from his past university days, relying on his somewhat rogue handsome face and an athletic build comparable to sports students, snagging an average pretty girl would certainly not be a problem. But when it came to the level of Jiang Wanzhou''s older cousin, the chances were next to none.


    At this moment, he turned his head toward the entrance of the bar and noticed many male customers uniformly looking in the direction of the door.


    Some of them were acquainted with the bar owner, Shen Minglang, while others were drawn by the woman beside Shen Minglang.


    Her name was Shen Qingning, with a height of at least one meter sixty-eight, wearing a black knee-length dress that revealed a pair of smooth and well-proportioned calves.


    Half a circle of small pearls adorned the neckline of the dress, but the pearls'' white was far less enticing than the paler white of her skin.


    She was the typical kind with cold, fair skin which, under the bar lights, appeared even more delicate.


    More importantly, her aura was also the cooler type, giving off a keep-away vibe.


    Cheng Zhu noticed a detail at this time.


    That is, when many beautiful girls are looked at by men, some pretend not to notice, others avoid their gaze.


    But Shen Qingning was different.


    She simply glanced around the bar.


    And with the sweep of this cool beauty''s gaze, several men who had been sizing her up actually looked away.


    "Strong presence, as cool as ever." Cheng Zhu sighed internally.


    In his opinion, this kind of woman not only cut through men but also women.


    In fact, Shen Qingning was also very popular among the female students at Technology University �� Ah! Sister, slay me!


    He suddenly remembered that at this time, luxury watches were still affordable, unlike later on when popular Patek Philippe and Rolex models almost always sold over the retail price, some even quadrupling in value in the secondary market!


    That''s also a way to make money.


    Why do some rich people get richer?


    You see, Shen Minglang spends money on a watch to show off, but after a few years, he''ll realize: "Hey! If I sell it now, I even make a damn profit!"


    "What''s up?" At that moment, Shen Minglang raised his wrist and asked, "Looking for the time?"


    "No, it''s cool," Cheng Zhu complimented the watch directly.


    Shen Minglang immediately beamed.


    Strangely enough, because the compliment came from a recently graduated high school student, it felt especially sincere.


    People in his circle would validate the price of the watch, but a high schooler''s praise, that''s a nod to my taste and style!


    On the side, Jiang Wanzhou was shocked, "Why do I feel like cousin got easily played by him?"


    Feeling validated by the high school student, Shen Minglang laughed and made a big gesture, "Don''t sit at the bar anymore, come to A01, I''m keeping that seat for myself. And Ye Zi, put the drinks for my little cousin on my tab tonight."


    "You pay for your own." He didn''t forget to point at Jiang Wanzhou.


    This earned Jiang Wanzhou another big eye roll.


    And so, the four of them made their way to A01 and took their seats.


    Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Minglang sat on either side of Cheng Zhu.


    The future cool and distanced school senior, Shen Qingning, sat directly across from him.


    Bathed in the dim light of the bar, he found his future school senior to indeed be a campus goddess, and he affirmed her beauty.


    "Jiang Wanzhou once said his cousin is also talented, she plays the piano and does ballet."


    A goddess is one thing, long legs another, and damn it, she''s a long-legged goddess who can do splits.


    And she has that icy cold face to boot.


    This made him feel increasingly good tonight; who comes to a bar wanting a bunch of plain Janes at their table? He thought to himself:


    "My parents always wanted me to become an outstanding person, and clearly, I''ve completed four-fifths of that, becoming quite the ''colorful'' person."


    ...


    (ps: Thanks to "In Poor Journey Yet One May Prosper" for the Silver League reward, and also thanks to some new friends for their rewards and votes, are these two Chapters of nearly 8000 words considered an extra update?)

 Chapter 8 - 7 Showdown

    Chapter 8: Chapter 7 Showdown


    Outside Jiuyin Bar, a Mercedes-Benz was struggling to perform a parallel parking maneuver.


    The Benz''s S-Class model was already long-bodied, and Li Rui, who had only recently acquired his driver''s license, had tried several times without success to park it.


    Sitting in the back were Li Xinyue and her best friend Chen Rongrong, which made Li Rui''s face turn bright red with tension.


    The more nervous he became, the harder it was for him to park the car.


    Unfortunately, this was the only marked parking spot available, and he dared not park anywhere else. After all, he had managed to take his dad''s car out for the night, and getting a ticket from the police would undoubtedly lead to a scolding.


    Li Rui finally managed to awkwardly park the big Mercedes and immediately got out to open the car door for Li Xinyue, in a bid to display his gentlemanly demeanor and warm-hearted charm.


    He was in a particularly good mood today because Li Xinyue had broken up with Cheng Zhu, and they had even unfriended each other this time.


    "There''s no going back now, their relationship is definitely beyond repair!"


    So, he immediately sought out Chen Rongrong and asked her to invite Li Xinyue to the bar for a drink that evening.


    Chen Rongrong had sneaked off to nightclubs back in her high school days and had even dated a club promoter.


    How else to explain her radiant aura of fertility?


    Li Xinyue, on the other hand, had never been to a bar.


    For some students at this stage, a nightclub was a forbidden place, yet there was also a curious attraction.


    Li Rui specifically chose a quiet bar, not one of those dance clubs, because he knew that would surely result in a refusal from Li Xinyue.


    On their way there, he was posturing the whole time.


    "This bar called ''Jiuyin,'' I''m pretty familiar with the owner."


    In reality, it was his cousin who knew Shen Minglang, and the bar had just opened when his cousin helped to advertise it on social media. Li Rui didn''t personally know Shen Minglang at all.


    When he went to pay later, he was going to use his cousin''s membership card as if it were his own, thinking that it would make him look cooler.


    Before they left, he had already discussed with his cousin about transferring the money afterwards.


    Quite a childish act, but some guys just go through such phases. And, believe it or not, some dudes, not just at eighteen but even at twenty-eight, still like to front with all kinds of inexplicably lame pretenses.


    On the way to the bar, Li Xinyue and Chen Rongrong sat at the back, chatting about Cheng Zhu.


    Li Xinyue retold their conversation, which was frustrating and amusing to Chen Rongrong.


    When Yueyue told him, "We''re truly finished this time," he actually responded with a casual "Okay."


    What kind of rare genius comes up with that!


    A simple "Okay" or "Sure" wouldn''t have been as bizarre as that.


    "How can he be like that!" Chen Rongrong couldn''t help but blurt out her criticism.


    Li Rui chimed in at the right moment, "When I heard him say he was behind warm guys and dogs, I knew something was off about his attitude. A man should always treat a woman unconditionally well; a woman is there to be unconditionally adored."


    This kid was still sticking to his ''warm guy'' persona.


    Li Rui felt that at this moment, he must appear in stark contrast to Cheng Zhu in Li Xinyue''s eyes.


    "Exactly!" Chen Rongrong voiced her agreement.


    She and Li Xinyue were similar: both tended to be high-maintenance during their romances. Birds of a feather, so to speak, which is why she resonated strongly with Li Rui''s views, deeming Cheng Zhu to be in the wrong.


    Little did she know, in Cheng Zhu''s eyes, acting out as a true princess was considered ''princess sickness.'' But what were they displaying? It looked more like ''Wild Chicken Emotional Instability Syndrome.''


    Li Xinyue shook her head, clearly distracted.


    Li Rui, however, seized the moment and boasted, "In a few hours, it will be the World Cup final between Argentina and Germany. I''m planning to place a small bet of 2,000."


    He began subtly flaunting his financial power, slightly raising his voice.


    "You''re betting two thousand? That''s a lot!" Chen Rongrong exclaimed in surprise.


    "It''s okay, just a bit of fun," Li Rui said, making his voice echo a tad more.


    The bar''s background music was soft, but the volume of the World Cup replay was louder, making Li Rui''s words faintly audible to those sitting with Cheng Zhu.


    "Tch, betting two thousand, little rich kid, eh?" It was unclear whether Shen Minglang was genuinely impressed or being sarcastic.


    At that moment, Jiang Wanzhou left for the restroom.


    Cheng Zhu had been waiting for this opportunity.


    So he said, "Cousin, Jiang Wanzhou mentioned I could ask you for help with placing bets, said you have good odds."


    "Yeah, if you trust me, of course, it''s just a simple favor," he replied with a smile.


    He had already placed his bets, rooting for Germany to win the championship, with a stake of 50,000.


    The odds were good, at 2.3.


    Meaning, if Germany really did win, he would earn a handsome 65,000.


    Shen Minglang asked, "Cousin, which side do you think will win?"


    "Germany," Cheng Zhu responded without hesitation.


    "Hmm? Good choice! I''ve also bet on Germany. Just a small wager of 50,000," Shen Minglang patted his shoulder.


    Cheng Zhu laughed, "Weren''t you just claiming to be a diehard Messi fan? Why not bet on Argentina?"


    "Right, so for the sake of my idol, I did bet 500 on Argentina winning," Shen Minglang nodded.


    As if he''s a granny sneaking into the cookie jar��got me laughing.


    Cheng Zhu gave him a thumbs up, "Touching."


    "How much are you betting on Germany to win, cousin? I''m offering odds of 2.3," Shen Minglang said to Cheng Zhu.


    Unexpectedly, Cheng Zhu shook his head, "Cousin, I''m not betting on the championship; I''m betting on the score."


    "Woah! Ambitious! You''re going straight for the correct score bet, what scores are you looking at?" Shen Minglang asked.


    Getting the winner right was one thing, but predicting the exact score much more improbable.


    Of course, that meant much higher odds!


    Cheng Zhu inquired, "What are your odds for a 0-0 draw?"


    Shen Minglang checked his phone, "Let me see, the odds are... 7.5."


    "Then bet on that for me; I think it''s going to be 0-0 during regular time and then go to overtime. Cousin, what''s the easiest way for me to transfer the money to you?" Cheng Zhu asked.


    "Damn, you''ve got guts, betting on 0-0. Any way is fine for transferring, I''m okay with anything," Shen Minglang replied. "How much are you betting?"


    "Twelve thousand," Cheng Zhu said without hesitation.


    "Twelve thousand, sure... wait, how much did you say?" Shen Minglang looked up, his face showing surprise.

 Chapter 9 - 8: The Warmth Technique

    Chapter 9: Chapter 8: The Warmth Technique


    The Shen family was very wealthy, not inferior to Jiang Wanzhou''s family.


    Shen Minglang, as a second-generation rich kid, casually opened a small bar and invested over two million.


    When it came to soccer betting, fifty thousand at a time was considered less among his circle.


    A little gambling for fun.


    Around him, some gambling addicts would bet hundreds of thousands on a single game, even more!


    It was all for the thrill!


    Cheng Zhu was a friend of his cousin Jiang Wanzhou. Shen Minglang didn''t know his background, but from his manner of speaking and his casual demeanor, he instinctively felt that this plainly dressed "new cousin" must have quite the backing at home.


    When people interact, their aura is quite clear.


    Despite calling him "cousin" all the time, when everyone chatted, it really felt like they were just friends talking.


    Children from wealthy families, just graduated from high school and accepted into college, probably received many red envelopes. It wasn''t surprising for them to take out over ten thousand yuan to play around.


    But spending twelve thousand yuan on a specific score, moreover betting on a score of 0:0, now that was a whole different story!


    People like them, if they bet on scores, wouldn''t just bet on one result.


    After all, with such high odds, betting on several scores meant that hitting any of them would bring in profit!


    Betting like Cheng Zhu was too risky.


    Buying twelve thousand yuan on Germany to win wouldn''t have surprised Shen Minglang at all.


    But betting twelve thousand on a score of 0:0, Shen Minglang couldn''t help but double-check with this university reservist again.


    "Yeah, just twelve thousand," Cheng Zhu said.


    Truth be told, he just regretted not having more money on him.


    Damn it, he''d spent over a thousand a few days ago buying couple shoes for Li Xinyue.


    Were those just a thousand? No! With a rate of 7.5, that expenditure was close to ten thousand!


    In Cheng Zhu''s memory, the final score of the 2014 World Cup was 1:0.


    But Germany scored during the overtime, and the bets were based on the regular time score, which was 0:0.


    That meant he couldn''t bet on 1:0; he had to bet on 0:0, otherwise, it counted as a loss.


    That year, many gamblers ended up broke! Almost everyone who bet on scores lost.


    Back then, he hadn''t started watching the World Cup yet, but he watched all the games of the subsequent World Cups.


    This resulted in him only remembering the scores of two games from 2014.


    Both games were frequently mentioned in the commentary of later World Cups.


    One of them was the already concluded Germany vs. Brazil.


    That game was shocking, ending with a score of 7:1!


    That year, a famous news story claimed that a Dutch drunkard, after getting drunk, placed 200 euros on 7:1 with the odds being 6500 times!


    Indeed, young men of this age are all about love and jealousy.


    In her view, her brother Shen Minglang was the same. She heard that if Shen Minglang encountered a love rival in a nightclub, and the other party ordered a set of spades A, he would directly order three sets.


    Shen Qingning glanced at Cheng Zhu once again and felt even more that today''s trip to the bar was rather boring.


    ...


    ...


    At Jiuyin, Shen Minglang''s voice was quite loud. After all, this was his bar, so every word he said could be clearly heard by Li Xinyue''s group.


    Cheng Zhu, on the other hand, spoke at a normal volume, making it harder for their side to hear clearly.


    Thus, Li Xinyue and others only understood that Shen Minglang had placed a twelve-thousand yuan bet for Cheng Zhu, but they weren''t clear on the details.


    However, just the figure of twelve thousand was enough.


    This made Li Rui suddenly feel his own two thousand yuan seemed embarrassing.


    "Cheng Zhu''s just boasting, right? Really betting twelve thousand?" Chen Rongrong whispered.


    "He''s nuts, where did he get that much money?" Li Xinyue frowned.


    Based on her understanding of Cheng Zhu, he was unlikely to do such a thing.


    She thought she must have misheard something and missed some information.


    On the other hand, upon hearing this, Li Rui felt the urge to show off his own financial power again. Cheng Zhu couldn''t, but he could.


    He immediately sent a WeChat message to his cousin, asking him to place a bet for him.


    After that, he said, "I just analyzed it with my cousin and felt Argentina will definitely win, so I placed another ten thousand."


    "Oh?" Chen Rongrong was surprised, and Li Xinyue also looked up at Li Rui.


    Li Rui actually didn''t understand soccer. He hardly followed it.


    And actually, whether you understand it or not isn''t always important.


    Which World Cup didn''t have upsets?


    For the game between Germany and Brazil, who could have thought of an unbelievable 7:1?


    Li Rui declared solemnly, "Argentina has Messi, it''s a sure thing."


    To be precise, he really only knew Messi.


    "You guys want to bet something for fun?" Li Rui said.


    Chen Rongrong was quite interested and decided to bet five hundred, urging Li Xinyue to join in.


    Li Xinyue had no interest in soccer, but she couldn''t ignore her friend''s chattering. Combined with not knowing what was happening with Cheng Zhu, she ended up betting five hundred on Argentina to win.


    Li Rui had already thought it through��if Argentina won, he would transfer the money to Li Xinyue; if Argentina lost, he would claim there was a communication error with his cousin and the bet never went through.


    "No way I will let Xinyue lose money and spoil her mood for hanging out."


    Even dogs would bark a few times hearing this: "Warm, he''s really warm!"

 Chapter 10 - 9 A Bit Interesting

    Chapter 10: Chapter 9 A Bit Interesting


    After all that had happened, Jiang Wanzhou spent four or five minutes tidying up his hair in the restroom before he leisurely returned.


    As soon as he sat down, Shen Minglang said, "Little President Jiang, are you betting on the final? My cousin has already placed his bets with me."


    As his real cousin, Jiang Wanzhou gave him an indifferent glance, then curiously asked, "Brother Zhu, what did you bet on?"


    "I went for Germany vs. Argentina 0:0," Cheng Zhu frankly admitted and also explained what 0:0 meant.


    He knew Jiang Wanzhou would immediately ask how much money he had placed on the bet, so he preempted by saying, "If you trust your Brother Zhu, just follow my lead and bet."


    "I trust a fart from you, you don''t know jack about football," Jiang Wanzhou said with annoyance.


    Shen Minglang asked, "Little President Jiang, are you betting or not?"


    "Sure, I''ll bet on Germany vs. Argentina 0:0, put down two thousand," Jiang Wanzhou said.


    He didn''t understand any of it, odds and whatnot, he didn''t know, nor did he care.


    He was just following suit to add to the excitement.


    "Hey, I thought you didn''t trust me?" Cheng Zhu said with a laugh.


    "I''m not trusting you, it''s just that I have this hunch!" Jiang Wanzhou said, "Consider yourself lucky that I''m also betting. I''m giving you good luck, you can''t lose."


    Cheng Zhu just shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.


    He knew Jiang Wanzhou''s character, knowing he would definitely bet on the same thing as himself.


    The point was to be in it together at the end, to curse in unison if they lost, or to celebrate together if they won.


    Cheng Zhu, of course, didn''t point out that Jiang Wanzhou could actually afford to bet more.


    "Small bets make for good fun, big ones hurt the body, gamblers die miserable deaths."


    "It''s fine to play around, but he shouldn''t savor too much of victory, that would be a bad precedent," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    He personally believed that gamblers don''t end well.


    "But this isn''t gambling, not knowing whether to win or lose, that''s gambling. This is pure hacking."


    "Hacking is for the chosen ones, dumbasses shouldn''t imitate."


    After Shen Minglang placed Jiang Wanzhou''s bet, he immediately turned to his sister with a smile, "Qingning, I''ll bet a little for you too. If you win, it''s yours; if you lose, it''s on me."


    "No need," Shen Qingning flatly refused.


    "It''s fine. Otherwise, it''s boring for you here. I''m not going to bet much, just the same as Little President Jiang," Shen Minglang insisted on pampering his sister, adding to the excitement of a 0:0 bet.


    As mentioned before, Shen Minglang was frank yet liked to show off. Having such a pretty sister with a good temperament made him proud in his circles, so he was quite fond of Shen Qingning and felt that nobody was worthy of being his brother-in-law.


    As a man, he understood men all too well.


    You chumps want to chase my sister? Dream on.


    Seeing how adamant he was, Shen Qingning didn''t say much more.


    Li Rui watched the scene unfold, mouth agape, wanting to say something but unable to get the words out. His chest felt instantly blocked.


    Outside the restroom, Cheng Zhu was stopped by Li Xinyue.


    "Cheng Zhu! What are you doing at the bar!" Li Xinyue confrontationally stated from the get-go.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at her and, ignoring her, continued walking toward the men''s.


    The restrooms were separated by a curtain from the outside, emboldening Li Xinyue''s actions and words.


    She directly grabbed Cheng Zhu''s arm, a look of anger on her face demanding, "What''s with that attitude!"


    Cheng Zhu looked at her, speechless, thinking this little fairy had serious issues.


    "In any case, people are different," he thought to himself.


    In his past life, he had seen girls at a similar age who were "sensible" enough to cling to his neck, then whisper in his ear, "It''s fine even if it''s inside, I''ll take care of it myself."


    But others could be such drama queens, always feeling like they were never the problem.


    This argument began because Li Xinyue found a "Boyfriend Quiz" on Weibo and demanded Cheng Zhu answer it, then she would grade him, threatening him with a "see what happens if you fail!"


    Cheng Zhu glanced at the explosive questions and immediately lost any interest in answering.


    These were the sorts of bizarre queries like, "If my mom and I fell into the water together, who would you save first?"


    Cheng Zhu didn''t want to take the quiz, and as they went back and forth, Li Xinyue flipped out.


    Later, she started talking about breaking up again, but this time Cheng Zhu didn''t pander to her.


    Now, Cheng Zhu stood there staring at Li Xinyue until she let go of her grip on his clothes.


    For some reason, under his gaze, Li Xinyue felt a bit flustered. She thought Cheng Zhu''s eyes seemed a little different than before but couldn''t pinpoint how.


    "When in a relationship, being a bit whimsical is one thing, but now that we''ve broken up, let''s part on good terms, okay?" he said lightly.


    "Just because of that?" Li Xinyue''s temper flared again, glaring.


    Of course, it wasn''t just because of that, but they hadn''t even been through a long-distance relationship yet��future events were still unfolding.


    Just then, Shen Qingning walked out of the ladies'' and glanced casually at them without saying anything, going straight to the sink to wash her hands, ignoring both of them.


    Li Xinyue suddenly felt uncomfortable again and stopped talking.


    Shen Qingning''s aura was undeniably intimidating, too aloof.


    But Cheng Zhu didn''t care at all; for him, it made no difference whether there were people around or not. He shrugged and smiled, "Yes, because of that. Didn''t I tell you that before?"


    "If you never remember after a few times, then let''s forget it. It makes you unhappy and makes me look petty." After saying that, he walked into the men''s without another glance at Li Xinyue.


    After washing her hands, Shen Qingning pulled out a paper towel and, as if no one else was there, carefully dried the water off her delicate fingers.


    ...


    (ps: Seeking monthly and recommendation tickets for my new book~)

 Chapter 11 - 10: The Joys and Sorrows of Mankind Are Not Interconnected

    Chapter 11: Chapter 10: The Joys and Sorrows of Mankind Are Not Interconnected


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu entered the men''s restroom, leaving only Li Xinyue and Shen Qingning by the sink.


    Shen Qingning didn''t even look at her, simply glancing up at the mirror, but Li Xinyue felt unbearably uncomfortable, as if everything reflected in the mirror didn''t belong to her.


    She had originally planned to wait for Cheng Zhu to come out, but in the end, she didn''t know why she returned to her seat, fuming.


    It was definitely a suppression of aura.


    She picked up her phone but she had already unfriended Cheng Zhu, so she texted: "What am I to you now in your heart?"


    Cheng Zhu, who had just finished in the restroom, replied instantly: "You''re not."


    It took her a while to understand this reply, and she was instantly infuriated again.


    "What''s wrong, Yueyue?" Chen Rongrong immediately started gossiping: "Did Cheng Zhu upset you again?"


    "Don''t talk about him, I''m so mad! I definitely won''t reconcile with him, even if he begs me to in the future!" Li Xinyue said.


    Li Rui, listening on the side, immediately felt relieved. This was the outcome he had hoped for!


    Without Cheng Zhu around, it seemed like he, holding the token of love, might have a chance now.


    Chen Rongrong comforted on the side: "Come on, you said it yourself, didn''t you? That you didn''t like him as much after being together."


    "That''s a different matter!" Li Xinyue retorted.


    Indeed, there are many girls in the world who get really into someone when they are in love and might even actively pursue them. But once the ambiguous period is over and they start dating, their enthusiasm fades instantly.


    She liked him so much when they weren''t together.


    How come she suddenly doesn''t feel that much for him now they are together?


    These girls might say something artistic like: "I like the moon, but if the moon rushes towards me, I won''t like it anymore."


    Cheng Zhu had seen plenty of such girls and just thought: "Chang''e went to the moon herself, who do you think you are?"


    Right then, Cheng Zhu returned to his seat after using the restroom and noticed Li Rui looking over at him.


    He stared back and shaped his lips into: "What are you staring at?"


    With his ruffian handsome face often mistaken for that of a school bully, together with his unrefined demeanor, Li Rui quickly bowed his head, pretending to sip his cocktail.


    Jiang Wanzhou looked at Cheng Zhu and said, "How about it, has your ex-girlfriend contacted you, feeling any sympathy for her?"


    "No, and she probably won''t come looking for me again," Cheng Zhu replied.


    "What did you say to her?" Jiang Wanzhou started gossiping.


    "I told her that I''m now with you," Cheng Zhu, annoyed by his gossip, replied grumpily.


    "Get lost~" Boss Jiang couldn''t stand it anymore.


    But he always felt that Cheng Zhu seemed a bit different than before.


    Could love really make a man grow?


    ...


    ...


    On the other hand, Shen Minglang was driving his Porsche Panamera, taking his sister Shen Qingning home.


    All the way, Shen Qingning was chatting on WeChat, her phone buzzing non-stop.


    "Who is it?" Shen Minglang frowned, worried the person on the other end might be a man.


    "Lin Lu," Shen Qingning replied.


    "Oh, her," Shen Minglang knew she was his sister''s close friend.


    Lin Lu came from a well-to-do family, and she was very cute and lively.


    The main thing was her voice is very versatile. He heard that she even took a part-time job as a voice actor after high school graduation, earning some pocket money.


    That kind of girl is truly a boon for those who love voices.


    Li Xinyue didn''t respond.


    Time ticked by, and the 2014 World Cup final finally began.


    The commentary of He Wei began echoing inside, quite eloquent indeed!


    His commentary skills need not be mentioned, very high-quality, with great empathy and a rich vocabulary.


    The bar''s patrons, all tipsy, were particularly spirited.


    Every shot at the goal caused a commotion in the bar.


    After Iguain scored a goal, some even stood up to shout: "Offside! That''s offside!"


    "What''s he excited for, running around celebrating all over the field, that doesn''t count, definite offside!"


    Shen Minglang tapped Cheng Zhu on the shoulder: "Cousin, if that''s not offside, then it''s a goal for Argentina, your 0:0 is gone."


    He really wanted to teach Cheng Zhu a lesson, oh cousin, betting on scores is enough, but betting on just one, and damn it, 0:0, that''s too risky!


    Jiang Wanzhou, not savvy about soccer, watched for the first time but was also extremely excited, continuously asking what offside meant.


    Contrarily, Cheng Zhu was utterly cool, saying: "It wasn''t counted, was it?"


    As it turned out, both teams kept going back and forth the entire game, each having several chances to score, but all sadly did not succeed.


    Regular time ended, and the score was stubbornly still 0:0!


    Jiang Wanzhou''s eyes were wide in shock.


    "Damn!" Boss Shen, too, was shocked, damn it, someone actually won betting on 0:0?


    He was still anxious, since he had bet on Germany to win.


    Li Rui, on the other hand, was growing increasingly nervous as he watched, barely able to keep his composure.


    After all, he had bet twelve thousand on Argentina to win, and right now, from the looks of the battle, everything was uncertain.


    "Argentina, score a goal!"


    Finally, at 113 minutes, it was the German team that scored first!


    The atmosphere in the bar instantly climaxed, with a group of people cheering and another cursing.


    Li Rui was momentarily dazed, forcing a smile: "It''s okay, it''s okay, the match isn''t over yet."


    Shen Minglang first shouted: "Yes!"


    It seems, tonight he was likely to win money, Germany was winning, so he was naturally in a good mood.


    But then he thought, still, Cheng Zhu is awesome! A betting odds of 7.5 times, the miraculous 0:0, damn that''s cool!


    Time passed, and the 2014 World Cup final concluded, with neither side scoring any more goals in the subsequent time, only Germany scoring during extra time, the score froze at 1:0!


    Boom! The bar suddenly exploded!


    Although in the last few minutes, everyone had already anticipated the likely result.


    But such is human nature, never giving up until the last moment, always believing there might be a miracle.


    Unsurprisingly, the rooftop was crowded tonight, many gamblers lined up to jump off.


    On one side, Jiang Wanzhou was trembling with joy.


    On the other side, Li Rui''s heart was bleeding.


    Considering Li Xinyue and Chen Rongrong''s five hundred each, he had lost thirteen thousand tonight! This was no small sum!


    Only Cheng Zhu, thought very pretentiously: Human joys and sorrows do not coincide, I just find them noisy.


    At that moment, a familiar bar patron loudly said to Shen Minglang: "Brother Lang is awesome, you bet fifty thousand on Germany winning, you have to give us a discount on our bar tab!"


    Shen Minglang stood up, cursing with a smile: "Get lost! Do you think my money came from the wind? I won it fair and square!"


    "It''s still my cousin who''s badass!" He suddenly slapped Cheng Zhu, nearly causing him to choke while eating a fruit platter.


    Boss Shen looked at the familiar bar patron, enviously loudly said: "He bet twelve thousand on 0:0! A betting odds of 7.5 times, damn that''s satisfying!"

 Chapter 12 - 11: The Second Bucket of Gold

    Chapter 12: Chapter 11: The Second Bucket of Gold


    (ps: A mistake was discovered. Germany scored during extra time. The bet before the match should have been on a 0:0 score because goals scored in extra time don''t count. The previous text has already been modified.)


    ...


    For a moment, countless gazes in the bar converged on Cheng Zhu.


    After all, those customers who remained were surely football enthusiasts, and among them, a high percentage placed bets.


    Whispers spread rapidly amongst the crowd.


    "He looks pretty young, probably still a student, huh?"


    "Damn, daring to bet twelve grand on a 0:0, these young folks are impressive!"


    "Tough guy indeed, I wouldn''t even dare to bet twelve grand on a win, and he dared to bet on the exact score!"


    "I recall the odds were around 7. something times. He''s made a fortune!"


    "Can someone really be that lucky!?"


    Those who also won money were fine, but those who lost tonight after hearing Shen Minglang''s words were so envious they almost went mad.


    The customer who had previously stirred the crowd to ask Shen Minglang for a discount on the drinks, quite familiar with him, couldn''t resist asking, "How many scores did your cousin bet on? I want to pick his brain and study his strategy for betting on scores."


    Shen Minglang boasted arrogantly, "Of course he fucking only bet on 0:0! Hit the jackpot on a single score, bad-ass, right?"


    This revelation shocked the surrounding patrons even further.


    For a moment, they couldn''t tell if this young student was just a naive newbie, or genuinely extraordinarily lucky.


    He didn''t even hedge his bets with several possible scores, and chose the most unlikely regular match draw of 0:0, but he actually won!


    Nothing left to say, winning money is badass!


    Moreover, you have to realize that though Shen Minglang also won money, he had bet a whopping fifty grand.


    However, the money he earned today was still less than what Cheng Zhu made!


    In the entire bar, many had wagered not just on wins or losses, but also on handicaps, corners, over/unders, card counts, and so on.


    Some of these bets had higher odds than simply betting on wins or losses, while others offered lower payouts than betting directly on the winning team.


    One could say that just in terms of profits, Cheng Zhu was definitely among the few who won big today.


    Shen Minglang couldn''t help saying, "If I''d known, I''d have followed you and bet on 0:0 too."


    After finishing his words, he glanced at Jiang Wanzhou saying, "Lucky you, tagging along with your cousin, you bet two grand."


    However, as soon as Shen Minglang finished speaking, he noticed Jiang Wanzhou''s expression was a bit complex.


    "What''s wrong, you won money but still not happy?" He couldn''t be bothered with his cousin right now; there were folks offering toasts, and he happily clinked glasses with them.


    As soon as Shen Minglang left, Jiang Wanzhou stared intensely at Cheng Zhu.


    Cheng Zhu spoke up directly, "I know what you want to ask. It wasn''t just me who bet twelve grand; several people asked me to join in. Out of that, I only chipped in eight hundred."


    He seriously began to spew nonsense and added that he didn''t win much with an initial stake of eight hundred. He also cheekily demanded, "You, rich man, bet two grand, so President Jiang is footing the bill for all the expenses tonight!"


    Cheng Zhu wasn''t really stingy or keen on taking advantage, it was purely about solidifying his credibility.


    Jiang Wanzhou was indeed easy to fool, but being good brothers, Cheng Zhu felt he had to be earnest in his deception, not careless, as a sign of respect.


    Otherwise, it would seem a bit disrespectful.


    After receiving a wave of "respect" from Cheng Zhu, Jiang Wanzhou''s mood indeed improved a bit, and he even generously offered, "I''ll give you half of my winnings!"


    "Tsk, the arrogant CEO wants to crush me with his money, huh." Cheng Zhu said disdainfully, adding, "You haven''t even finished the drinks you welshed on just now, hurry up! We''re leaving soon!"


    "Wu wu wu, lost five hundred on the World Cup finals, need consolation."


    Li Xinyue just nodded, her gaze still occasionally drifting towards Cheng Zhu.


    She didn''t care about losing five hundred; what truly shocked her was Cheng Zhu winning a huge amount of money.


    All this Li Rui saw, and it cut him like a knife.


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu paid no attention to their side from the beginning to end.


    "Yueyue, shall we get going?" Chen Rongrong suggested while flirting on her phone.


    "I''d like to sit for a while longer," said Li Xinyue.


    Li Rui had no objections; he was more than happy to keep her company.


    Just then, Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou got up.


    They greeted Shen Minglang to let him know they were leaving first.


    The bartender Ye Zi also waved goodbye to them and took the initiative to grab her mobile phone, wanting to add Cheng Zhu on WeChat.


    Cheng Zhu, considering her ample assets, didn''t refuse.


    When Li Xinyue saw Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou walking towards the door, she immediately stood up and said, "Let''s go, we should leave too."


    Engrossed in her chat, Chen Rongrong looked up confused, whereas Li Rui, sensing a clue, felt another stab in his heart.


    For some reason, Li Rui''s mind flashed back to Cheng Zhu''s words to him, "A caring man is just behind a dog."


    The three of them stood up, and Li Rui went to pay the bill.


    He stubbornly wanted to finish playing the role he''d planned. When the server asked him if he had the bar''s membership card, he replied with feigned calm and sophistication, "Yes, use the card."


    After paying and turning around, he found that Li Xinyue and Chen Rongrong hadn''t waited behind him at all, but had already gone out to the front of the bar.


    In the scorching summer heat, they didn''t linger even for a moment longer in the air conditioning.


    Li Rui walked out looking dejected, to find Li Xinyue still looking around for something.


    Chen Rongrong then suddenly exclaimed, "Ah, Yueyue, why are you crying?"


    ...


    ...


    Elsewhere, in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class.


    The bar manager was driving, acting as their designated driver, this was something Shen Minglang had arranged.


    Jiang Wanzhou, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to Cheng Zhu and suggested, "How about we go somewhere on vacation in a few days?"


    "Forget about a vacation, but I''m planning to visit a place to scout the market," Cheng Zhu replied.


    "Tsk, market research? You sure use pretentious terms," remarked Jiang Wanzhou.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t take you. It wouldn''t be convenient," Cheng Zhu responded.


    "Why not? What''s so inconvenient about it? Could it be... you fucking want to get back together with Li Xinyue?" Jiang Wanzhou glared at him like he was staring down a jerk.


    "Enough, enough, let''s leave closed Chapters behind," said Cheng Zhu.


    �� Life''s a stage, once you''re done, don''t come back.


    "Then why can''t you take me?" pressed Jiang Wanzhou.


    "Your vibe is too gloomy; that place isn''t suitable for you," Cheng Zhu said, raising an eyebrow, utterly serious.

 Chapter 13 - 12: The Chain Reaction After Winning Money

    Chapter 13: Chapter 12: The Chain Reaction After Winning Money


    Inside the Mercedes G-Wagon, an inebriated Jiang Wanzhou shouted furiously, helpless rage spilling from his voice.


    "Cheng Zhu, you''ve angered me now!"


    "Who''s got a gloomy vibe, just say who''s got a gloomy vibe!" he yelled, orchid-finger pointed accusingly at Cheng Zhu.


    "Win a bit of money and you start talking all high and mighty, huh!"


    Cheng Zhu turned a deaf ear, he rolled down the car window, considering whether to light up a cigarette.


    But then he thought about the fact that it was Jiang Wanzhou''s family car; he wasn''t sure about their living habits, so he ended up not smoking in someone else''s vehicle.


    Overnight, Cheng Zhu''s assets had increased several times over.


    But honestly, he didn''t think much of such a small sum of money.


    He was in a good mood that night, but it was only just that��good.


    Ever since he was reborn, there''d always been a sense of disparity in his heart.


    After all, he used to be quite accomplished for his age, amassing a fortune close to a hundred million before he was even thirty.


    Now look at him, several zeroes short.


    "Looks like I''ll have to start from scratch and earn it all over again," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    Suddenly, he remembered a classic line from the previous seasons of "Extreme Challenge"��this is destiny.


    "Is this the work of fate?" he wondered.


    But he quickly chuckled to himself: "To hell with fate, destiny is the excuse of the weak, luck the humblebrag of the strong."


    Encouraged by the alcohol, he felt like bursting into song: "Victory or defeat, life is bold and unrestrained, it''s just about starting anew."


    But Cheng Zhu held back, afraid of startling the timid Boss Jiang.


    He pondered for a while and decided to set a goal for himself.


    "In three years, my assets will surpass those of my past life, and then some."


    With that thought in mind, he took out his phone and opened his notes app.


    At the moment, only one phrase lay quietly within his phone''s note app�� "Don''t let good girls down, don''t waste the bad ones."


    Cheng Zhu wrote another sentence below it.


    It was a phrase that he would use to admonish himself every time he failed in his entrepreneurial ventures in his previous life.


    "Although I''ve been reborn, not failed in business, this phrase damn well fits the scene," he thought.


    He began to type.


    "[Don''t fear starting over because this time, you''re not starting from scratch, you''re starting from experience.]"


    ...


    ...


    As Shen Qingning was brushing her teeth, she looked at her cousin''s emoticon and couldn''t help but find it somewhat amusing. However, the messages from Jiang Wanzhou that followed made her burst into laughter.


    Jiang Wanzhou, unable to stand Shen Ming Lang showing off in the group, instantly got irritated.


    What does ''under your brilliant leadership'' mean? Didn''t I clearly follow Cheng Zhu to place the bet?


    He immediately typed, his sarcasm reaching its peak: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, the sun rises because the chicken crows, ha-ha."


    Her cousin, puzzled about what had happened, then asked: "???"


    Shen Ming Lang: "I don''t care, you and Ningning owe me a meal."


    Jiang Wanzhou: "Shouldn''t that be treating Cheng Zhu?"


    Her cousin: "Who''s Cheng Zhu?"


    Shen Ming Lang: "Let''s compromise, treat both me and Cheng Zhu to a meal."


    Jiang Wanzhou: "I''ll consider it."


    Her cousin: "Seriously, who is Cheng Zhu?"


    Shen Ming Lang: "Consider nothing! It''s settled!"


    Jiang Wanzhou: "I''ll ask Cheng Zhu later."


    Her cousin: "Seriously, can someone pay attention to me? What am I in this group?"


    Shen Qingning''s cool face softened with a faint smile as she read through the group chat history.


    After closing the group chat, she turned her attention to the messages from Lin Lu.


    This part-time voice actress and lovely girl loved to bombard with voice messages. Shen Qingning clicked on the audio, and Lin Lu''s excited voice immediately filled her ears.


    "Aaah! Not a single goal scored!"


    "Ah! It''s really zero to zero! It''s really zero to zero! So exciting! I won money, I won money!"


    "I never knew football matches could be so thrilling. Next time, we must watch together! Ningning, you''re awesome, making me money and taking me flying!"


    Shen Qingning, couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time as she opened the last voice message.


    Clearly, after more than ten minutes, Lin Lu had calmed down a bit. Her message, utilizing her monstrous vocal skills as a voice actress, carried a very commanding tone:


    "Woman, I''m going to treat you to dinner."


    "This isn''t a discussion; it''s an order."


    Shen Qingning put down the phone in her left hand, then rinsed the foam off the electric toothbrush with water before proceeding to rinse her mouth.


    After doing so, she picked up her phone, ready to graciously accept the dinner invitation from Lin Lu, who had won money.


    However, for some reason, the next moment, the words Jiang Wanzhou had said in the group came to her mind.


    "Yeah, yeah, yeah, the sun rises because the chicken crows, ha-ha."


    With that thought, she began to reply with typed messages to her still-sleeping girlfriend, Lin Lu: "Actually, the credit goes to someone else, you should be treating them, not me."

 Chapter 14 - 13 Sister and Sister

    Chapter 14: Chapter 13 Sister and Sister


    In the twin room of the hotel, Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou were awakened by a phone call for check-out.


    Both groggily got out of bed, then went to the bathroom to brush their teeth and wash their faces.


    Cheng Zhu had slept very soundly.


    Perhaps because he had stayed up late right after being reborn, he felt extremely fatigued.


    But fortunately, he was still young and in good health, feeling totally refreshed after a nap.


    Even in his past life, after Cheng Zhu had made a fortune, his body hadn''t been completely drained by indulgence.


    He was actively taking care of his health and fitness.


    His thought was simple, "I must take care of my body, my mind is already twisted enough, my body must stay healthy."


    After checking out, the two hopped into the Mercedes G parked in the parking lot.


    Jiang Wanzhou suddenly said, "Oh, by the way, my cousin said to invite you to dinner, and to bring my other cousin along too."


    If Shen Minglang knew that Jiang Wanzhou had distorted his original words like this, he would probably be furious.


    "Sure, but not today. Let''s do it tomorrow," Cheng Zhu said.


    A gathering with friends was quite normal; he had just won some money playing with Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Qingning, so a meal was nothing.


    Moreover, Shen Qingning was his future schoolmate. It would be good to build a rapport in advance��certainly not because she was pretty, wealthy, and could do splits.


    While driving, Jiang Wanzhou asked, "Why not tonight?"


    "Because tonight I feel like eating at the restaurant," Cheng Zhu replied directly.


    In his previous life, when he started his business in Wu City, his parents lived in Hangzhou. He might not eat a meal cooked by his father even once a month.


    Having tried the food at Yunlai Restaurant the day before, he realized why he had been chubby as a child.


    Don''t look down on chubby people; that''s because you''ve never eaten at their homes and don''t know how delicious their cooking is.


    It can be said that their chubbiness is well-justified.


    "Alright then, tomorrow it is," Jiang Wanzhou said.


    He also felt that since he hadn''t gone home the night before, it would be best to go home for dinner today and mark his presence.


    Following Cheng Zhu''s guidance, Jiang Wanzhou drove him to the Yunlai Restaurant.


    "I want to go in and sit for a bit, haven''t seen Little Youzi for a long time," Jiang Wanzhou said.


    "Sure."


    It was afternoon and not yet mealtime, so the restaurant was pretty empty.


    Cheng''s dad and his mother Xu Yun were selecting vegetables, and his sister Cheng Youu was watching TV.


    "You''re back. Wanzhou is here too."


    "Uncle, Auntie," Jiang Wanzhou greeted.


    Cheng Zhu, following him, sat down next to his sister.


    "Brother, Brother Jiang," Cheng Youu greeted politely.


    "What are you watching?" Cheng Zhu asked.


    Right in front of Little Youzi, he solemnly put the two dollars into his pocket and zipped it up.


    Joking, he might never be willing to spend this money in his lifetime.


    To be cherished! Kept and cherished!


    Listen up, you seductive vixens outside, if you can''t reach my sister''s level of dedication, don''t even think about seducing me!


    At that moment, Cheng Youu raised her little hand and grasped one of Cheng Zhu''s ears, then leaned her mouth close, whispering, "Be careful about mom~ and also, this money is for brother, don''t share it with Brother Jiang."


    Jiang Wanzhou, who always had sharp ears: "....."


    Kids will be kids, I''m the super-rich second generation, do you think I care about your two dollars?


    What I care about is having a sister like you, okay?


    Jiang Wanzhou turned to Cheng Zhu with a serious look, "Cheng Zhu, I''ve seriously considered it, and I want to become sworn siblings with Little You."


    "Scram, scram, scram!" Cheng Zhu instantly got annoyed.


    "What level are you, to compare with me?" He was utterly unwilling.


    Affection was one thing, but don''t think about intruding on our sibling bond.


    Jiang Wanzhou pouted, thinking about whether to persuade his parents to have another child.


    But then he thought again, not every girl was like Little You, too risky, better forget it.


    ...


    On the other hand, Shen Qingning was at home reading a book when her phone began to vibrate repeatedly, receiving a video call invitation from Lin Lu.


    She hung up and called back instead.


    The voice actress used a very cutesy voice and said, "Humph! Honey, why won''t you accept my video call, could it be that there..."


    "Spit it out," Shen Qingning''s tone was icy.


    "Oh!" Lin Lu responded, but still cheerfully said, "What did you mean in your WeChat message? You''re not thinking of inviting that scumbag brother of yours to dinner, are you?"


    Lin Lu''s voice suddenly changed, becoming sticky sweet, "I''ve never been in love before, you naughty, pushing me into a pit."


    "He doesn''t deserve it; your winning money didn''t have much to do with him," Shen Qingning cut straight to the point.


    "Ah?" Lin Lu paused.


    Holding her phone, Shen Qingning concisely summarized the situation.


    "So it''s because of the bets made with Jiang Wanzhou''s friends, right?" Lin Lu got it.


    "Right," Shen Qingning said.


    After speaking, she added, "So if my brother tries to use the winning money as an excuse to invite you to dinner, ignore him."


    ��Indeed, his own sister.


    "Alrighty!" Lin Lu quickly agreed.


    Then, she used a very sweet voice, "Then let me take you out to dinner tomorrow, I miss you."


    "Disgusting," Shen Qingning''s tone was cold, but she quickly explained, "I''m not free tomorrow, I have to have dinner with my cousin and his friend, and also bring my brother along."


    "Huh?" Lin Lu, upon hearing this, suddenly became vigilant.

 Chapter 15 - 14: The Highly Profitable Industry

    Chapter 15: Chapter 14: The Highly Profitable Industry


    Hang City, a high-end residential area.


    Lin Lu was wearing pajamas with cartoon patterns, half-lying on the pillow with one leg slightly raised.


    After blowing her bangs with her lower lip, she questioned her friend like a police officer interrogating a suspect, "Shen Qingning, are you sure there''s nothing else you need to tell me?"


    "Huh? What are you talking about?" Shen Qingning was slightly puzzled.


    "Did you perhaps leave out some details, like how handsome your cousin''s friend is?" Lin Lu asked.


    "You''re sick." Shen Qingning bluntly said.


    "Then just tell me, do you think he''s handsome or not?"


    In Shen Qingning''s mind, Cheng Zhu''s somewhat rogue-handsome face appeared, and she immediately responded, "Definitely not my type."


    "Got it, he''s handsome," Lin Lu concluded.


    Shen Qingning: "......"


    Lin Lu knew her friend well; she was a person of cold temperament, usually serious and cool, seldom complimenting others.


    Some people, more euphemistic in their speech, might convert "ugly" into "not my type" as a high EQ response.


    Shen Qingning was not like that.


    Since she avoided answering the question directly, Lin Lu firmly believed�� he must be handsome!


    "Why don''t you add me to the dinner?" Lin Lu whimsically suggested.


    To her, the dinner wouldn''t be awkward because she knew Shen Minglang and had met Jiang Wanzhou a few times; they were acquaintances, just not very close.


    The only stranger was the mysterious man who had made her earn more than ten thousand unwittingly.


    She really enjoyed watching that match because she loved seeing her dad''s dumbfounded expression.


    "I was initially saying to bet on 0:0, and he was reluctant to buy it!" Lin Lu thought to herself.


    Hearing this, Shen Qingning thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I''ll mention it in the group chat."


    "Group? You have a group with this Cheng Zhu?" Lin Lu became alert again.


    "What are you talking about? I meant my family group, I''ll just inform my brother and my cousin that you''ll come too," Shen Qingning sighed deeply. "Can you not be so suspicious all the time?"


    "Oh, okay, okay!" Lin Lu said playfully, "Hehe, I get to have dinner with a handsome younger guy!"


    "You''re only good with words," Shen Qingning mocked.


    "You haven''t even kissed me; how would you know, hmm?" The voice actress switched her tone to a sultry mature voice, the kind where the last tone of her sentence slightly dips while giving a hint of a pitch bend, making her last "hmm" sound particularly sexy.


    Shen Qingning couldn''t tolerate her, saying, "With that skill of yours and only using it on a woman like me, what great ability is that."


    "Hehe!" Lin Lu didn''t mind and even felt somewhat honored, saying, "That''s because I haven''t met someone I like yet. If I do, watch me flirt him to death!"


    ...


    ...


    Inside Yunlai Restaurant, Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou were watching another episode of "Balala the Fairies" with Little Youzi.


    During the commercial break, Cheng Zhu kept chatting on his phone.


    "Who are you chatting with, looking so happy?" Jiang Wanzhou asked, fearing it was Li Xinyue.


    The two had undergone numerous breakups and reconciliations, and Jiang Wanzhou had witnessed it all. So regardless of how definitively Cheng Zhu spoke, he remained skeptical.


    "I''m chatting with Ye Zi, the bartender at your cousin''s bar," Cheng Zhu candidly said.


    Indeed, Cheng Zhu had chosen QQ Underwear as his e-commerce niche.


    With the rapid growth of e-commerce, the competition among merchants was increasingly fierce.


    Now, it''s 2014, an era still booming.


    But, look at 2023: there were so many e-commerce operators complaining.


    However, even in 2023, if you knew how to operate, this path still held great prospects!


    This was because public perceptions were changing, and so were social norms.


    Cheng Zhu''s decision to venture into this was after careful consideration.


    "First, I know where to source the products."


    "Next, just by looking at the designs, you can tell they use less material, costing less, thus, higher profit."


    "If operated well, a 70% profit margin is quite standard."


    "Customers might scrutinize costs for other items. But with this, they never consider your cost; the less material you use, the happier they might actually be!"


    "Massive profits, just massive!"


    "Also, crucially, the return rate is extremely low!"


    Yes, this category had one of the lowest return rates in e-commerce.


    Returns are a tough issue in the e-commerce industry.


    "Also, there''s no off-season; there''s market demand throughout the year. Although it''s cool, well, there''s air-conditioning in winter,"


    "Furthermore, choosing this niche is also because it doesn''t require much capital."


    "It''s still 2014, and Guan Yun is in its development phase, nowhere near as exaggerated as in later years when the government directly allocated billions of dollars to support and create ''Clothing Town,'' where many factories have a mature system and process."


    "But even now, they should be able to handle ''dropshipping.''"


    This meant Cheng Zhu didn''t need to bear much capital costs and also saved effort.


    Note: In the garment industry, inventory is one of the biggest cost pressures.


    Factories supporting ''dropshipping'' could solve this problem.


    Moreover, most customers tended to shop online because many were embarrassed to visit physical stores to pick these items.


    It was still an era where sex was a taboo topic.


    "It seems once you step through that door, you''re branded a pervert."


    "Laughable, whether you step through that door or not, men will be perverts till death!" Cheng Zhu amused himself with the thought.


    Thus, in these times, people making millions annually through this weren''t few!


    And QQ Underwear was interesting for another reason.


    Women were users, and so were men.


    Therefore this industry might not seem dignified, but Cheng Zhu felt a sense of mission.


    "I''m improving people''s happiness index here."


    "It''s just that in the process, I''m making a tad bit of disgraceful money."


    In 2023, on Taobao, you couldn''t see buyer shows for these kinds of clothes, but now in 2014, you still could.


    This made girls like Ye Zi useful.


    Holding such a noble idea, Cheng Zhu continued to flirt with Ye Zi.

 Chapter 16 - 15 Voice Actress Girl

    Chapter 16: Chapter 15 Voice Actress Girl


    The next day, Cheng Zhu woke up bright and early.


    "Almost thirty-year-olds just can''t compare to eighteen-year-olds," he reveled in this fact.


    Each morning, the "dragon''s head raising" exercise would tell him, "You''re in great shape!"


    For this trip to Guan Yun, Cheng Zhu planned to bring Wang Anquan along.


    He now had only two close friends, one was Jiang Wanzhou and the other Wang Anquan.


    Jiang Wanzhou had too gloomy an aura, Cheng Zhu didn''t want to bring him to this kind of place, lest he opens the doors to a new world for him.


    Wang Anquan had a fiery spirit, it was time to open the doors to a new world for him.


    And let''s not forget, as mentioned before, based on experiences from a past life, Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou should not partner in business. Separately, they were each incredible, together they were just a pile of crap.


    But Wang Anquan was different; his integrity was solid, he was honest and reliable, very obedient. Cheng Zhu trusted him a lot, as in his previous life he was also part of Cheng Zhu''s gang.


    Previously mentioned, Wang Anquan''s daddy was a firefighter, and with the name "Anquan" meaning safety, he hoped for his son''s lifelong safety, also implying his son was his number one.


    Cheng Zhu lived on the third floor, a few years back the second floor had a fire that spread upwards, it was Wang Anquan''s daddy who extinguished it.


    "They''ve done us a favor," Cheng Zhu always remembered this.


    In the afternoon, he picked up his phone and sent Wang Anquan a WeChat message.


    "I''m planning to start some e-commerce, earn some living expenses. Come with me to a place in a few days, I''ll cover all costs."


    He quickly received a reply from Wang Anquan: "Sure, Brother Zhu, where to? I''m about to go stir-crazy at home."


    Wang Anquan seemed to think of it as a trip.


    "Men''s paradise," sent Cheng Zhu over WeChat.


    "Could it be that place in Guangdong..." Wang Anquan''s eyes lit up but hesitated to type out that city''s name.


    In the hearts of many young men, it was a taboo yet sacred and legendary place.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at the message, suddenly remembering that the globally renowned service city was indeed swept this year.


    Since then, the market prices have gone to hell.


    "Otherwise, I heard that just one district in that city needs at least 300,000 QQ lingerie pieces a year," he recalled the news he''d seen before.


    Not in the mood to keep up the suspense, Cheng Zhu typed: "Not where you''re thinking, we''re going to Guan Yun."


    "Guan Yun? Where''s that?"


    "Why so many questions? Just follow me, and you''ll see something incredible."


    Wang Anquan replied with a "got it" emoji.


    After chatting with his buddy, Cheng Zhu began to gather some information he needed online.


    He always had a serious attitude when it came to making money.


    Though the goods we sell don''t seem very solemn, still it''s a legitimate business, something that can be sold openly and proudly.


    He didn''t see anything dishonorable or embarrassing about it.


    He forged ahead with wide strides, so it served him right that he made money.


    Besides, these are everyday items, normal life necessities for many ordinary people; nothing to fuss about.


    "Golden Sand Hall," said Jiang Wanzhou. "Shen Minglang chose the place."


    Cheng Zhu nodded, aware that the place was rather expensive.


    When the two reached the Golden Sand Hall, they found that Shen Minglang had arrived even earlier.


    "It''s rare for you to be so punctual for a meal," Jiang Wanzhou started teasing his own cousin again.


    Cheng Zhu listened on the side, more convinced from the exchange: "Shen Qingning''s friend must really be pretty."


    Today, Shen Minglang wore a Givenchy T-shirt with a dog print, even making a special trip to the barber to style his hair.


    As Jiang Wanzhou sat beside him, he immediately covered his nose with disgust, "You''re wearing cologne now?"


    "How is it? The salesgirl told me, this is one of the fragrances most loved by women worldwide, Hermes'' Terre d''Hermes," Shen Minglang radiated confidence from head to toe.


    "A tofu in fragrance is still tofu," Jiang Wanzhou rolled his eyes.


    At this moment, Jiang Wanzhou surely sat next to his cousin, with Cheng Zhu sitting beside Jiang Wanzhou.


    This meant that a young lady would certainly sit next to Cheng Zhu.


    Everyone agreed to meet at six o''clock, and at 5:58, Shen Qingning, along with Lin Lu, arrived gracefully.


    She didn''t like people who were late, and she was never late herself, a rather nice quality among women. After all, these days there are quite a few girls who deliberately do not keep to time, intentionally arriving late.


    Today, Shen Qingning still wore a black dress, but she switched from a knee-length skirt to a long one that hid her shapely, straight legs.


    However, the dress had a distinct cinching effect at the waist, making it immediately obvious her incredible lower-body proportions.


    To match her outfit, she also wore little high heels about four or five centimeters tall, a classic from CL: black on top but red underneath.


    Cheng Zhu couldn''t help but think of a phrase, "Red against black, powers unfold."


    For men, these shoes practically added attack speed.


    And it must be said, Shen Qingning indeed emitted a strong, cold aura; as she walked in her high heels, she gave the impression that the restaurant belonged to her home.


    Lin Lu walked beside Shen Qingning, but with a contrasting style.


    She had a slightly more voluptuous face than Shen Qingning, with beautiful, lively eyes, truly resembling a deer in the woods.


    Her height appeared to be about 165 cm, shorter than Shen Qingning.


    Her clothing style was also different, wearing a white short-sleeved blouse from miumiu on top and a black skirt from the same brand on the bottom, complemented by white socks and a pair of black round-toe leather shoes.


    Stylistically, she leaned more towards a sweet girl. She greeted Shen Minglang and the others with a smile, dimples appearing on her cheeks.


    Cheng Zhu thought she looked twice as attractive when she smiled than when she didn''t.


    When the two women sat down at the table, Shen Qingning naturally took her place on the other side of Shen Minglang, leaving Lin Lu to sit beside Cheng Zhu.


    Self-assured as if he was in the central seat, Shen Minglang started to take charge, introducing Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu to each other.


    Lin Lu had an open and lively personality.


    When Shen Minglang mentioned she was a talented voice actress, Cheng Zhu looked at her in slight surprise.


    Meeting his gaze head-on, the young lady nodded earnestly, confidently affirming herself along with Shen Minglang''s praise, saying, "Quite talented indeed."


    ...


    (ps: A new week, asking for monthly votes and recommendations, pushing for the new book rankings.)

 Chapter 17: 16 Chapters of key points, study well

    Chapter 17: 16 Chapters of key points, study well


    "Hello, amazing voice actor, my name is Cheng Zhu, and I am an amazing... holder of a high school diploma."


    It took Cheng Zhu a few seconds to come up with a title for his current self.


    He felt like a blank-slate newbie, struggling to even pick a "title."


    Lin Lu, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but laugh and said, "I know who you are, I also followed Ningning and bet on 0:0, thanks to you I won some money."


    Cheng Zhu looked at her and thought again, "A sister with dimples and big eyes really does look cuter when she laughs."


    Cute as hell��she was the epitome of cute.


    He was getting interested.


    At that moment, the conversation started off centered around football.


    Although Lin Lu had only watched this one game, she talked about it with more enthusiasm than anyone else.


    This left Shen Qingning, the only one who hadn''t watched the final, completely out of the loop.


    By nature, she was aloof and didn''t mind, but she was actually quite good at listening; as others chatted away heatedly, she would quietly listen on the side.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Shen Minglang still found Cheng Zhu''s 12,000-yuan bet on 0:0 truly badass, and at that moment, he sincerely asked, "Cousin, what made you bet on 0:0?"


    "I was told in a dream."


    "Who did you dream about?"


    "Myself, a few years from now." Cheng Zhu said earnestly.


    Shen Minglang immediately wore a speechless expression, while Lin Lu found this boy with a slick appearance rather amusing when he spoke.


    How did that saying go again?


    ��Humor is a man''s best form of cosmetic surgery.


    At this time, the dishes began to arrive.


    As everyone was of similar age, there was plenty to talk about, ensuring that the meal didn''t have any awkward silences.


    As they chatted, the topic shifted to university life.


    After all, there were two campus goddesses who would be sophomores after the summer break, as well as two prospective university freshmen.


    Shen Minglang, who had only graduated two years ago, missed the days when he drove a Panamera to school and the girls sitting in the passenger seat changed frequently.


    Suddenly, he remembered something and said, "By the way, Lin Lu, Ningning told me that you two are planning to rent a place outside next year for your sophomore year?"


    "Yeah, that''s right, we''re going to live together, hehe," Lin Lu said with a laugh.


    "Why the sudden move out?" Shen Minglang began to probe, trying to learn the real scoop on his sister''s university life.


    On the side, Shen Qingning listened, fully aware of his ulterior motives, but chose not to call him out.


    "It''s nothing big, we just want to live together, and there''s this girl in our dorm whose way of talking is really annoying; Ningning and I don''t like her," Lin Lu said.


    "I see. That is quite a hassle, dealing with awful roommates in university," Shen Minglang said, showing understanding.


    Perhaps for a lesson they give outside, they would charge tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands.


    Their consulting fee could be thousands per hour.


    They might have even written the textbook you use.


    When your teacher is discussing the case they''re working on, they might still be waiting on a 2 million payment while sharing the details with you.


    And maybe their ideas in your local area are what shape policies.


    Cheng Zhu had no intention of not attending classes once in university, nor did he want Jiang Wanzhou to merely waste his time there, so he made a special mention.


    This even caused Shen Qingning to glance at him.


    Lin Lu, however, found the boy contradictory; sometimes he seemed frivolous, yet at times more mature than the average high school graduate.


    The voice actress thought his words made some sense but still sighed, "Ah, it''s just too bad that I easily get sleepy whenever I study."


    Cheng Zhu looked up at her and said out of the blue, "Is it because you often stayed up late doing homework as a kid?"


    "That''s right, that''s right!" Lin Lu excitedly agreed, "I was so slow doing homework as a kid, others finished quickly, but it took me forever."


    "That''s it," Cheng Zhu smiled, reminded of a segment he had seen on the debate variety show "Strange Talk" in his previous life.


    It was something Chen Ming had said, which just happened to apply here.


    And coincidentally, Chen Ming was also a university professor.


    "Behavioral psychology tells us that if a person always studies when they''re tired, in the future, they''ll get tired as soon as they start studying."


    "You know about Pavlov''s dogs, right? Bell rings, they eat, and they drool. Bell rings, they eat, and they drool. Eventually, just the bell ringing causes them to drool without food."


    "This is what we call ''classical conditioning.''"


    "Same principle applies here: study, night, sleepiness. Study, night, sleepiness. Later on, studying causes sleepiness regardless of the hour."


    "The conditioned stimulus field is thus created."


    As he said this, he smiled at Lin Lu, kindly saying, "It''s really not your fault, but those late nights during childhood."


    Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Qingning: "???"


    Shen Minglang inwardly cursed: "Damn, I''ve learned something new. Why is it that when I talk about this topic with girls, all I can say is that I get sleepy too!"


    Lin Lu at first was dumbfounded but the more she listened, the more it made sense, until she was completely convinced, feeling as if she had found a brilliant doctor who had diagnosed her condition.


    Watching the voice actress''s shocked little face, Cheng Zhu spoke earnestly, "So if you have kids in the future, take this as a warning and don''t let them study too late."


    "Definitely, definitely!" Lin Lu nodded earnestly, "I''ll remember that."


    As she said that, she added, "But having kids is still a long way off for me, if I forget about the seriousness of this issue later on, you must remind me."


    Cheng Zhu, who seemed like he never initiated conversations but always controlled the pace, chuckled upon hearing this.


    ��His goal had been achieved.


    He grinned, looking at the energetic girl with dimples who looked especially cute when she smiled, and showing his own "fangs," he slowly said:


    "I don''t have your contact information."

 Chapter 18 - 17 Call Me Grandmaster

    Chapter 18: Chapter 17 Call Me Grandmaster


    All the groundwork had finally paid off at this moment.


    Lin Lu took the initiative to add Cheng Zhu''s WeChat and did so cheerfully.


    As for Cheng Zhu, he left many "hooks" during the conversation.


    Mentioning not to let the kids study late at night was one such hook.


    The hook might not necessarily serve the natural purpose of getting WeChat contact, after all, how Lin Lu would respond was unknown.


    But no worries, there were going to be more hooks one after another.


    He would say at the right moment, "I don''t have your contact info."


    It wasn''t hard to ask for contact information.


    Cheng Zhu could have asked after dinner, which was also fine.


    But having Lin Lu take the bait herself would be a little different.


    Just like now, Lin Lu not only added him as a friend voluntarily but also found Cheng Zhu quite interesting.


    Of course, the premise is that you have a robust comprehensive condition. For those with good overall conditions, that''s called a sense of humor in men; for those with poor conditions, that''s called the funny or goofy guy.


    Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Minglang were both astonished on the side.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Especially Shen Minglang, who was stunned.


    He prided himself on being a scumbag, and indeed, he was never short of girls around him.


    But for some reason, he suddenly felt quite inferior in front of Cheng Zhu.


    "A coincidence? Just happen to chat to this point, and the atmosphere built to here, then he got added?" Shen Minglang thought.


    "Right, right, must be a coincidence."


    "He''s so young, just graduated from high school!"


    Speaking of which, Shen Minglang indeed found Lin Lu very cute, full of energy, and also a voice actress with a versatile voice.


    But he was clear that he had no chances with Lin Lu.


    And this so-called "sister''s best friend" was high-risk.


    If things went well, it was like blood relatives, if not, it meant animosity with his own sister.


    Shen Minglang was clear about this.


    Also, his self-perception was very lucid; the girls he flirted with were either after his money or fun. He was just playing around at the moment and wasn''t serious, switching girls very fast.


    Lin Lu was not the type he could play with, nor would she fancy him.


    He dressed up specifically, even buying clothes and styling his hair, purely because he was flippant!


    Of course, he didn''t believe Cheng Zhu could win Lin Lu over either.


    "Lin Lu is way out of his league. If a high school graduate like him could get her, I''d damn wash his underwear for a year!" Shen Minglang thought to himself.


    Only Shen Qingning couldn''t help but take another thoughtful look at Cheng Zhu at that moment.


    On the way, Jiang Wanzhou could not resist gossiping, "Do you fancy Lin Lu?"


    "Why do you keep asking me this? When I chat with Ye Zi, you say I want to date her. Today when I meet Lin Lu, you also say I want to date her." Cheng Zhu was annoyed, "Why don''t you say I want to date your cousin?"


    "Uh." That did make Jiang Wanzhou feel a bit paranoid lately, but he still said, "I just feel that way. What''s wrong with that?"


    "Exactly, exactly, your intuition is quite accurate," Cheng Zhu teased, "Why don''t you call me ''brother-in-law'' to see how it sounds?"


    "Get lost, get lost, get lost." Jiang Wanzhou started cursing.


    Meanwhile, Shen Qingning drove her white Land Rover to take Lin Lu home.


    It has to be said, some domineering vehicles, when driven by women, really add a sense of style.


    In school, Shen Qingning and Lin Lu were both campus goddesses of the same caliber.


    But those who dared to pursue Shen Qingning were fewer than those who pursued Lin Lu.


    No helping it, she had that kind of presence.


    Living in Hang City and studying there, she would drive to school in her Land Rover.


    Plus, Shen Qingning''s naturally cool temperament and cool looks would intimidate most guys.


    When they were close to the residential area, Lin Lu spoke in the tone of a CEO''s spoiled wife, "Honey, could you take me upstairs? I''m scared to take the elevator alone."


    Shen Qingning glanced at her annoyedly, "If I take you upstairs, you''ll ask me to sit for a while, sit for a while, and then you''ll ask me to stay over at your place, to sleep with you."


    "Is hugging me to sleep so bad? Are you tired of me?" she said in a pitiful voice.


    "Stop messing around, looks like you''re in a good mood today." Shen Qingning ignored her clingy antics.


    "I did have a fun day," Lin Lu didn''t deny and directly said, "I wasn''t wrong, this Cheng Zhu is quite handsome."


    "So, did you take a liking to him?"


    "I''m not purely about looks, I only care a little about looks," Lin Lu honestly said, "I just think he''s an interesting person."


    At that moment, the car had just entered Lin Lu''s apartment''s underground garage.


    Shen Qingning put the car in park, turned to look into her best friend''s eyes, and asked, "Have you ever heard a saying?"


    "What?"


    "A so-called interesting soul actually possesses an information density and knowledge level far superior to yours and is willing to stoop down to listen to your nutritious nonsense and interact with you, presenting views you''ve never heard before, overturning your shallow imagination and values."


    Lin Lu digested this comment from Shen Qingning for a moment, her bright, expressive eyes wide open.


    Soon, she rebelled, "He''s a younger brother, just graduated from high school. You''re looking down on me!"


    Upon finishing, Lin Lu added, "Your brother Shen, can''t give me such a feeling. Shen Minglang, who at least has social experience and has opened several shops, is older than us and is the most verbally playful scumbag."


    "Maybe," Shen Qingning responded noncommittally, "Maybe you feel he''s relatable because you two are on the same wavelength."


    "Maybe I''m overthinking it. If he can resonate with anyone..." Shen Qingning paused and laughed, "My brother, who deems himself a smooth talker, would have to call him ''Grandmaster.''"


    ...


    (ps: Thanks to "Newspaper Salesboy" for the Silver League and also to many new friends for their rewards and votes~)

 Chapter 19 - 18 Resource Sharing

    Chapter 19: Chapter 18 Resource Sharing


    In the end, Shen Qingning did not accept Lin Lu''s invitation to stay over and drove back to her own home.


    Around ten o''clock in the evening, due to the bar''s business being lackluster, Shen Ming Lang, who was bored to death, began to actively send out messages in the group: "Little brothers and sisters, did everyone get home safe?"


    Jiang Wanzhou, who loved to tease him, replied directly, "It''s been more than an hour and you''re just asking, you''re really caring, aren''t you? I''m almost back to Shanghai."


    Cheng Zhu looked at WeChat and cracked a smile.


    An active atmosphere in a group is important, thankfully there was their "atmosphere team"��there was no need for him to personally stir up the mood.


    Lin Lu, being more lively by nature and not as reserved as Shen Qingning, would surely join in the group chat.


    Everything went as Cheng Zhu had expected.


    And so, everyone chatted in the group, laughing and joking, in a sporadic conversation that lasted over an hour.


    "As a reborn, one must be a step ahead in everything." This was Cheng Zhu''s personal demand for himself.


    "College sure takes many years to complete."


    And just like that, even before the semester had started, he''d taken a step ahead in making contact with beautiful upperclasswomen.


    Of course, he also kept repeatedly reminding himself, "Don''t be misled by Lin Lu''s cute appearance!"


    "Who would have thought that such a sweet appearance could hide a terribly... colossal figure!"


    Men are such a peculiar species��they might get dizzy from naked-eye 3D, but never from a 36D.


    "I''m still in my teenage growth spurt, I can''t wean off during my four years of college."


    ...


    ...


    On days filled with chatting, time always flies by fast.


    Shen Ming Lang had no idea that his new "cousin" was not only interacting with him in the group chat, but also chatting with his employee, the bartender Ye Zi, every day.


    Through Ye Zi''s mouth, Cheng Zhu had found out that Jiuyin wasn''t doing well in business, having gone downhill since the World Cup ended.


    As a bartender earning commission, Ye Zi was also feeling financial pressure.


    She had been hinting both overtly and covertly to Cheng Zhu��I really need money, I want to earn money.


    Cheng Zhu was well aware that many girls working nightlife were burdened with loans.


    As for why such young girls had loans, there were plenty of reasons.


    "Like getting plastic surgery or breast augmentation," he thought.


    Men might not understand��are there really so many of these people?


    In fact, there are indeed many, and the loan-for-cosmetic-surgery had even formed an industry chain.


    "Speaking of which, when a woman is willing to reveal her needs to you in a conversation, it''s actually a good sign," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    But he had no extra thoughts about Ye Zi, and certainly wouldn''t waste money on her; he needed his money to make more money.


    He glanced at the half-watermelon on the table and thought, "She scooped out the middle part, the sweetest bit."


    Cheng Zhu did not refuse and really started eating the portions in the bowl, ignoring the remaining bits in the halved watermelon.


    He was very clear��do not reject children''s kindness; she''s young and doesn''t understand you''re doing it for her good, she would just be secretly heartbroken.


    With the chilled watermelon going down his throat, Cheng Zhu looked at the blazing sun outside and suddenly felt this summer season wasn''t so hot after all.


    He had been thinking that going to Guan Yun County to find supplies in such weather was simply an impossible task.


    Now he figured it wasn''t so bad; he could simply eat some chilled watermelon again when he got home.


    The TV began airing "Balala the Fairies" again.


    Every time the fairies transformed, Little Youzi would excitedly stand up and dance around, as if she herself could transform.


    Cheng Zhu, with his delinquent-face that was 1.82 meters tall, would loudly voice-dub for his sister: "Balala Energy! Shala Shala, little fairy, transform!"


    Old Cheng and Xu Yun watched their silly son in shock, murmuring softly, "He didn''t use to be like this, did he?"


    Little did they know, Cheng Zhu couldn''t care less about other people''s gazes, he only cared about whether Little Youzi''s smile was brilliant or not.


    ...


    ...


    At night, after Cheng Zhu got home, he sent a WeChat message to Wang Anquan.


    "Tomorrow we set off for Guan Yun."


    "Roger that!" Wang Anquan replied instantly, full of anticipation.


    After all, Brother Zhu had said, it was a paradise for men.


    That night, Wang Anquan, a strong-bodied youngster with some acne on his face, struggled to sleep and even had a series of wild dreams when he finally dozed off.


    The next day, in the scorching summer heat, the two young men, with their luggage, boarded a high-speed train.


    Just after sitting down, Cheng Zhu saw Wang Anquan happily typing on his phone, his grin almost reaching his ears.


    "Who are you chatting with that''s making you so happy?" Cheng Zhu frowned, already having a suspicion.


    "With Rongrong ah, Brother Zhu, I feel like I might start dating Chen Rongrong," Wang Anquan said.


    "Heh, did you install a GPS? Do you know your positioning?" Cheng Zhu laughed.


    "Brother Zhu, what do you mean? I didn''t quite catch that," said a puzzled Wang Anquan.


    "It doesn''t matter. I''m just asking, what made you feel this way?"


    "We''ve been getting along really well these past few days. She wouldn''t usually initiate conversation with me, but these days she always reaches out, and she just asked if I got on the train yet. Hehe." His smile grew wider, and he was already feeling sweet.


    "Didn''t you tell me a few days ago that Chen Rongrong was hot and cold towards you, sometimes engaging in pleasant conversation and sometimes not replying to your messages for long periods?"


    "Well... it was a bit like that." Wang Anquan admitted.


    Gazing out the window, with a light tone but words that heavily struck Wang Anquan''s heart, Cheng Zhu said:


    "You know, when you''re taking a shower and the water temperature suddenly changes from hot to cold, you know someone else has started using the water supply."

 Chapter 20 - 19 You Are Not at the Required Level

    Chapter 20: Chapter 19 You Are Not at the Required Level


    Wang Anquan listened to Cheng Zhu''s words and at first didn''t react.


    But he wasn''t a fool, just somewhat emotionally ignorant, so after a little thought, he understood.


    Cheng Zhu recalled for a moment and thought to himself, "Actually, this has to do with the times. It''s 2014, and there are still plenty of fools in love."


    "As time goes on, whether it''s because of the bombardment of information online or changes in social attitudes, fools haven''t decreased, but many truths are understood by everyone."


    "Such as lickspittles, tender men, spare tires, etc."


    "Of course, for some people: I understand all the principles, but that doesn''t stop me from being a silly little fool in love."


    Wang Anquan, having caught on, asked Cheng Zhu, "Brother Zhu, are you saying that Rongrong might be in touch with other guys?"


    Cheng Zhu didn''t answer, but counter-asked, "What do you think?"


    Wang Anquan opened his mouth, wanted to deny it, but ultimately said weakly, "Maybe... maybe it was like that before."


    After speaking, he lifted his head and stubbornly said, "But this time it''s different, she''s been reaching out to me very actively these past few days. A girl, initiating chats with you every day, caring about your schedule, that... that must mean something, right?"


    "You wish," Cheng Zhu looked at him speechlessly.


    He had caught a piece of information from what Wang Anquan had said when he had just boarded the high-speed train. Chen Rongrong had asked him if he had boarded the train.


    Therefore, Cheng Zhu asked, "Did you tell Chen Rongrong that you were going out with me?"


    "Uh, yeah." Wang Anquan did not deny it.


    Speaking of which, he was indeed a rather honest person, he just told Chen Rongrong that Cheng Zhu wanted to try e-commerce, and everyone was going to check out some suppliers.


    If it were some adolescent boys, they might have tried to sound cool and said, "We''re trying to do some e-commerce, the two bros are going to check out some suppliers."


    A good buddy''s venture, I''m just tagging along and flexing a bit, that''s not too much, right?


    Listening to his reply, Cheng Zhu roughly understood why Chen Rongrong would initiate contact with him.


    The reason was simple, because right after the World Cup Final, Chen Rongrong had sought out Cheng Zhu.


    At first, she had posed as caring about his and Li Xinyue''s relationship issues.


    But after Cheng Zhu warned her not to bring it up again, she naturally slid away from the topic of Li Xinyue and kept finding topics to chat with Cheng Zhu, occasionally using little tricks she thought were clever for girls of her age.


    "I know what kind of person she is; she''s half a pound, even worse than Li Xinyue."


    "It''s just that she knows what I dislike about Li Xinyue and purposely tries to cater to my preferences."


    "To the ordinary young guy, now heartbroken, who could handle her games?" Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    But judging by his tea-tasting skills, he could only comment, "Mid-grade green tea."


    Cheng Zhu opened his backpack and took out a big piece of bubblegum.


    Wang Anquan also wanted some, but he was ruthlessly rejected with a petty remark, "It''s from my sister, not for you."


    As he chewed on the overly sweet bubblegum, he said, "Anquan, let''s be realistic, bro. Ask yourself, do you think Chen Rongrong is a good girl?"


    Wang Anquan''s response was somewhat unexpected to Cheng Zhu: "Not really."


    He had occasionally heard some gossip about Chen Rongrong.


    "Damn, pretty high awareness there, I underestimated you," Cheng Zhu slapped him lightly.


    Wang Anquan looked up confusedly, pointed at Cheng Zhu''s phone, and said, "But Brother Zhu, it''s you who seriously noted it down in your memo: ''Don''t let a good girl down, don''t waste a bad girl.''"


    Cheng Zhu was startled.


    "Damn, you little brat, so your awareness isn''t just high, it''s too high!"


    He swore and said, "That saying was for me, not for you. It''s my memo, not yours."


    "So, you''re planning to ''not waste a bad girl,'' huh?" Cheng Zhu almost wanted to stand up and applaud him.


    Cheng Zhu had seen too many guys digging their own graves.


    Some people start with the thought, "I''m just playing," but then get more hooked and obscured than anyone else!


    "Too many, there are just too many of these people."


    "If you don''t have the skills to detach whenever, then you should be prepared to be manipulated," Cheng Zhu silently thought.


    He could never have imagined that Wang Anquan was attempting such a leap in growth.


    So, with earnest seriousness, he said, "You, first have a normal relationship. At your level, you''re just stubborn bronze, can''t even handle the silver league, and yet you freaking think you can play the freeloading game?"

 Chapter 21 - 20: You Still Aren鈥檛 Convinced

    Chapter 21: Chapter 20: You Still Aren''t Convinced


    Wang Anquan had always listened to Cheng Zhu, considering him a reliable younger brother.


    But no matter what, everyone is an independent individual.


    If you ask him to do something, he might do it. If you teach him how to behave, he might not grasp it immediately.


    He had always admired Cheng Zhu because he felt that Cheng Zhu had an indescribable vigor from a young age.


    Brother Zhu was quite wild in his ways, and his temperament was also carefree.


    However, when it came to love life, Brother Zhu, you''ve only had a first love, and it didn''t end particularly well.


    Although you appeared nonchalant and could easily let go, it still lacked some persuasive power.


    Thus, Wang Anquan was still somewhat unconvinced internally.


    Out of respect for the leader, Wang Anquan did not directly contradict him to avoid embarrassing Cheng Zhu.


    He simply changed the subject and asked about the schedule for this trip to Guan Yun County and specifically what they were going to do there.


    Cheng Zhu could tell that he didn''t want to talk about Chen Rongrong anymore, and he was happy to save his words.


    Pubescent boys are somewhat rebellious; it isn''t something a few words can just cast aside their nai?ve love.


    They''re all stubborn kids in love.


    For this situation, he just needed to be more cautious.


    For him, it was easy to handle.


    At worst, he would sacrifice himself a little and then find an opportunity to show Wang Anquan exactly how Chen Rongrong was throwing herself at him, Brother Zhu.


    He would wake up to reality all at once and might even mature from the experience.


    Of course, the premise is that he knew Wang Anquan was not the kind of person blind to the favors he received. Some people really are blind to goodwill and even lack basic reasoning; he wouldn''t hate the girl for it; he would choose to hate his own brother.


    Cheng Zhu blew a bubble with the gum in his mouth before saying, "This time we''re inspecting the ''local specialties'' of Guan Yun County."


    Speaking of which, when Wanzhou learned that Cheng Zhu was going on a long trip today, he specially reminded him, "Remember to bring me some local specialties when you come back."


    Cheng Zhu agreed immediately but, fearing he would open the doors to a new world of women''s fashion for him, added, "Promise me, learn to share with others and consume it together with others."


    Which left Wanzhou perplexed.


    At this moment, Wang Anquan wondered, "Is it something edible?"


    Cheng Zhu didn''t keep him guessing and softly said, "It''s QQ lingerie."


    A few simple words, but they caused a cosmic explosion in Wang Anquan''s mind.


    His feeling at that moment was as if his body was sitting inside a bullet train but his soul was outside.


    "I... fuck!" he was utterly stupefied.


    He had always thought Brother Zhu was wildly imaginative, but he hadn''t expected this level of wild!


    For a young teenager like Wang Anquan, who had never even held a girl''s hand or gone to a spa, this stuff was too taboo, too far from himself.


    His impression of such products might still reside in a few ''teachers'' in his computer''s hard drive.


    Inside the factory, workers were busy.


    You could see some semi-finished products and some finished products.


    While Wang Anquan dared not even look, Cheng Zhu was already wandering inside, and directly... started handling things.


    "Why is Brother Zhu directly picking things up to look at, and looking so closely! What is he rubbing there?" Wang Anquan was already feeling embarrassed.


    Cheng Zhu was feeling the fabric with his hands, experiencing the texture.


    With his actions, it was hard not to attract the factory people''s attention.


    A middle-aged man immediately came over and took a serious look at Cheng Zhu.


    There was no helping it, this young man''s behavior was quite peculiar, most importantly�� he looked slick!


    "These days, public security is not bad, he wouldn''t be a hoodlum here to cause trouble, right?"


    "And his accomplice, standing outside not coming in, a pretty solid figure, and keeps looking around, like he''s keeping watch."


    "What''s the matter?" the middle-aged man walked over and asked, his attitude was not particularly warm.


    Cheng Zhu was not surprised by this, after all, he was too young. He put down the product in his hand which he disdained for being too old-fashioned and asked, "Boss?"


    "Yes."


    "I came to check the goods; I called you a few days ago, do you remember?" said Cheng Zhu.


    Speaking of which, he hadn''t gotten through to one of the factories and he somewhat forgot which one hadn''t answered the phone.


    But he didn''t care, he just said it.


    The middle-aged man was slightly stunned upon hearing this. But seeing his slick appearance, it closely matched his image of their customer demographic.


    He didn''t know why, but he felt like this young man looked exactly like someone who would use their products.


    "The retail is a bit more expensive," the boss directly said.


    "I''m into e-commerce," Cheng Zhu also said directly.


    Wang Anquan stood outside in the scorching sun until Cheng Zhu couldn''t stand it anymore and waved at him to come to a shady spot.


    By the time Wang Anquan scurried over, his Brother Zhu was already standing outside in the shade smoking with the factory boss.


    There''s no smoking inside a clothing factory.


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu, while puffing smoke, started to entice the factory boss, bargaining in various ways.


    "Buddy, our profit margins aren''t that high; bargaining like this, there''s no point in this deal," the factory boss took a puff of his cigarette, looking quite distressed.


    "You also saw the quality of our goods, they are very good; you get what you pay for," the factory boss indicated inside with his hand holding the cigarette.


    Cheng Zhu, however, waved his hand and said, "I don''t need good quality; I want good texture."


    "The fuck good quality is useless; recently a customer left a bad review on my shop, saying no matter how they tore it, it wouldn''t rip. You tell me, isn''t that fucking crazy?" Cheng Zhu feigned anger as he bluffed.


    The factory boss looked at him, this time really believing him��this young man actually turned out to be an experienced QQ e-commerce person.


    Wang Anquan stood to the side, feeling as if the smoking duo were blowing smoke right onto his face, and he couldn''t help thinking, how the fuck am I so confused by all this?

 Chapter 22 - 21 Men Can Also Be Fickle

    Chapter 22: Chapter 21 Men Can Also Be Fickle


    Outside the factory, Wang Anquan muttered to himself, "Brother Zhu just keeps spouting nonsense."


    They had just graduated from high school, and in his eyes, Cheng Zhu had absolutely no experience in e-commerce.


    He didn''t have a store, let alone so-called negative customer reviews.


    Even when the factory boss asked his age, he bluffed, claiming he was born in ''92.


    Wang Anquan doubted, "If you asked him what ''92 corresponds to in the Chinese zodiac, Brother Zhu probably couldn''t answer on the spot."


    But you know what, another cigarette''s time and the factory boss''s attitude toward Cheng Zhu had completely changed.


    Cheng Zhu called him boss, and he started to call Cheng Zhu boss in return.


    Moreover, this factory boss was using that kind of complaining tone, "Boss, no one cuts prices like you."


    "How could that be, just the style we''ve talked about, the price I quoted you definitely leaves you with a profit," Cheng Zhu immediately said.


    He was quite satisfied with this factory.


    The reason was simple: this factory indeed met the requirements he described��having a quality feel but without actual quality.


    Cheng Zhu always felt that this type of products should be pursued like stockings.


    Do they look full of quality, and do they feel silky smooth to the touch?


    Meeting visual and tactile standards was enough.


    As for quality, well, it was already hinted at in the earlier mentioned negative reviews.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Sometimes you have to treat these things as consumables," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    For garments, the return rate is relatively high.


    Many customers use them first and then return them.


    Like a piece of clothing, worn once and then returned within the return period.


    But such "battle damaged goods" are not so easy to return, huh!


    Even if you''re shameless enough to try to return your girlfriend''s or wife''s worn items.


    The premise is that they must be undamaged.


    You''ve worn it to tatters, and now you talk about returning it and getting a refund��are you out of your mind?


    That''s one of the reasons why returns are low for these items.


    "Of course, the quality can''t be too outrageously bad." Cheng Zhu still had a clear understanding of this.


    It can''t be too high, nor too low.


    At that moment, seeing that the factory boss was adamant about not lowering the price any further, Cheng Zhu immediately put out his cigarette, walked into the factory, and picked up the product that had caught his eye.


    "Then I won''t haggle over the price anymore, but can you add a zipper to this part of the pants for me?"


    The factory boss visualized the design in his head and couldn''t help but exclaim, "Brilliant!"


    Wang Anquan glanced at the spot Cheng Zhu was pointing at, turned his head away, and thought about the ingenuity of adding a zipper, his heart beginning to race uncontrollably.


    How does Brother Zhu manage to discuss these things so seriously? It''s killing me!


    Approaching the destination, Wang Anquan felt the samples in his hand burning hot and asked, "Brother Zhu, is it okay to bring these samples into another factory? Should I put them in my bag?"


    "It''s fine. It''s pretty normal to compare goods from different sources when making purchases; just let the boss see them. We''re offering them an opportunity to make money; what''s there to feel embarrassed about?" Cheng Zhu said with a raised eyebrow.


    Being a student meant having thin skin.


    He scolded Wang Anquan, "Don''t you fucking become one of those people-pleasing types."


    That kind of personality was becoming ever more common these days.


    "Huh?" Wang Anquan was initially stunned but out of admiration for Cheng Zhu which continued to surge, he quickly added, "Okay, got it."


    Frankly, he also longed to be like Brother Zhu.


    Just today, several times he thought Cheng Zhu was freaking cool.


    That posture, that demeanor, tsk, he wanted to learn!


    It''s like when you go shopping with your mom and see her haggle over a little bit of money, you might even feel embarrassed.


    But if a peer manages to leave a seller speechless, you might think, "Wow, that''s kind of badass!"


    That''s just human psychology, absurdly complex.


    At that moment, Wang Anquan saw Cheng Zhu pick up his phone and suddenly snap a photo.


    He was taking a picture of the samples.


    "Brother Zhu, who are you sending that photo to?" Wang Anquan urgently asked.


    Not that he dared to order Cheng Zhu around; he was purely afraid that their leader would get a picture of his face.


    Still thin-skinned.


    "Don''t worry, I didn''t get you in the shot," Cheng Zhu saw right through to his concerns, "I''m looking for models, sending out the samples for people to see."


    "We''ve got to have a seller show for our e-commerce business," Cheng Zhu explained matter-of-factly.


    Hearing this, Wang Anquan couldn''t help but look down at the bag with samples that could only be described as "shoddy."


    "Look for... models?"


    "Take... pictures?"


    �� Brother Zhu, you are my idol!


    Right then, Wang Anquan''s phone rang again��it was Chen Rongrong reaching out proactively on WeChat.


    The message read, "What are you and Cheng Zhu up to?"


    If it were before, Wang Anquan would have engaged in an enthusiastic conversation, completely missing the undertones and attitude in that message.


    Of course, he still didn''t pick up on anything extra.


    But for some reason, as he looked down at the samples in his arms, he suddenly felt less eager to chat with Chen Rongrong.


    He began to actively discuss the seller show with Cheng Zhu.


    ...


    (ps: First update, currently the new book is fifth on the overall list, asking for monthly tickets and recommendation votes to continue climbing the ranks, once again thank you to our new friends for their rewards.)

 Chapter 23 - 22 Full of Harvest

    Chapter 23: Chapter 22 Full of Harvest


    "Auction show production is simple��you just find a model, a location, and take pictures according to my specifications before doing some editing," Cheng Zhu said.


    He knew that wasn''t what Wang Anquan wanted to hear.


    But how could I possibly discuss the unspeakable on a taxi ride, in front of an outsider like the taxi driver?


    Wang Anquan wanted to speak several times but decided against it.


    Cheng Zhu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Given the unique nature of our products, it''s not really convenient to go to a photography studio."


    Cheng Zhu suddenly remembered that nowadays, with the rise of ecommerce, photography studios were becoming quite popular.


    Such studios are large areas filled with numerous scenery setups, used as backdrops for product photography.


    "Well-run photography studios can be quite profitable," he thought. It had been a decent way to make money in recent years.


    Hearing this, Wang Anquan''s heart began to race. If it''s inconvenient to have the auction show in public places, then those were the places to go.


    Seeing that Wang Anquan''s imagination had kicked in, Cheng Zhu mischievously added, "The shooting scene should also feel homey, you know��like a sofa, a bed, a bathroom sink, inside a bathtub..."


    "No, Brother Zhu! If you go to these places to shoot our kind of products, would it be... inappropriate for me to be there?" Wang Anquan stumbled over his words.


    "Wow, you sure know your stuff!"


    "Since you''re so sensible, make sure you don''t come then!" Cheng Zhu said with a smirk.


    ...


    ...


    The taxi driver was recklessly weaving through traffic and overtaking other vehicles, quickly bringing them to their destination.


    As they got out of the taxi, Wang Anquan took advantage of the absence of others and mustered the courage to ask, "Brother Zhu, could I see your masterpiece when it''s done?"


    Damn it, you''re still thinking about the photoshoot?


    "For that attitude, you''ll be the first to see it!" Cheng Zhu grandly gestured.


    After all, an auction show is meant to be seen, so what''s the big deal?


    At this moment, they arrived at their second factory visit, which was slightly larger than the first.


    The owner, a man in his forties, was neither warm nor enthusiastic and firmly refused to engage in drop shipping.


    Cheng Zhu didn''t mind too much and left the place with Wang Anquan straight away.


    They found a small eatery, and despite the food not being great, they ended up eating a lot.


    "Brother Zhu, why don''t we just go with the first factory?" Wang Anquan asked.


    "Let''s stay overnight and continue visiting factories tomorrow," Cheng Zhu shook his head.


    "Ah? What if we end up busy for nothing and the first factory still turns out to be the best suited for us?"


    Wang Anquan wasn''t afraid of the hard work; he could handle it, which was why Cheng Zhu liked bringing him along.


    It was just the experience of the whole day that gave him this bad feeling.


    "What? You think your time and effort are so valuable?" Cheng Zhu said.


    "Brother Zhu, that''s not what I meant," Wang Anquan quickly clarified.


    "I know," Cheng Zhu smiled.


    He continued, "Right now, we''re in the position to make choices, to have the right to choose. So we should take a good look at our options."


    "When it comes time to actually sell, we are the ones being chosen."


    "When you have the power to choose, you need to use it fiercely, got it?" Cheng Zhu started doling out philosophy, regardless of whether Wang Anquan could digest it after the meal.


    Hearing this, Wang Anquan was about to say he''d learned a lesson, but then Cheng Zhu shifted gears.


    "Of course, when it comes to picking models, I won''t bring you. You seem like the type who wouldn''t be too picky and might settle too quickly. I can''t do that, I like to have a wide selection."


    Wang Anquan: "....."


    At night, they found a clean and comfortable hotel to stay in. Cheng Zhu never skimped when it came to hotels.


    He also didn''t want to deal with promotional cards being slipped through the door crack late at night.


    The room they got was a standard double, and goddammit, they still want to slip advertising cards, seems like they think it''s time to ask for more money for two guys.


    That night, Wang Anquan snored loudly. Cheng Zhu was so annoyed that he ended up out-snoring him.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, the young men visited three more factories in the unfamiliar town, and their final verdict was, "The first factory really was the best!"


    Cheng Zhu was quite proud of his foresight. After all the insights he had shared with Wang Anquan, who had run his legs off the day before, he truly appreciated the level of Brother Zhu''s insight.

 Chapter 24 - 23: Realms

    Chapter 24: Chapter 23: Realms


    Cheng Zhu was indeed gifted, born with a deep, rumbling voice��what people call the "bass cannon".


    No matter the era, those obsessed with voices never diminish.


    A pleasant voice, regardless of gender, always earns points.


    Just like on TikTok, some guys aren''t exactly good-looking, but their voice alone unleashes endless imagination upon hearing it.


    The same goes for female livestreamers who don''t show their faces.


    In real life, some guys, once aware of their advantage, really wish they could use it anytime, anywhere��like those who are tall and wish they could post their height on their forehead, even engrave "Six Feet Tall" on their tombstone when dead.


    But in Cheng Zhu''s view, that''s not the way to go.


    Take the bass cannon for example, if you constantly send voice messages when chatting with girls, it might come off as sleazy and the novelty quickly wears off.


    Instead, if you''ve been texting all day and when it''s time to say goodnight, you find a legitimate excuse to say you''re too busy for typing and then use a voice message for it, wouldn''t you know, the other person might just suddenly not feel sleepy anymore.


    They might even dream about you!


    Use your strengths as a finishing blow, not just another regular attack.


    Cheng Zhu and Ye Zi had been flirting for several days, having tossed all kinds of cheeky lines at each other.


    A "are you there, baby" wouldn''t even qualify as effective flirting without a voice message.


    He also intentionally added a bit more grease, solely to liven up the chat atmosphere��after all, what''s flirting without a bit of grease?


    Ye Zi would pretty much instantly reply to his WeChat messages, sending an emoticon.


    "What''s your decision about the thing I mentioned last time?" Cheng Zhu asked.


    Ye Zi didn''t reply immediately.


    After a while, she sent a message: "When are we going to shoot?"


    "The day after tomorrow or the day after that would be best," Cheng Zhu replied.


    "I''m feeling a bit under the weather these days, the day after that works for me," Ye Zi replied, even adding a sickly emoji from WeChat.


    After sending that, she added, "Actually, I don''t mind telling you, I''ve done modeling before, but never this kind."


    Cheng Zhu laughed, started getting nostalgic, and directly replied to her, "What a coincidence, I''ve done some modeling myself."


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu and Wang Anquan took a roundabout way and boarded the train back to Hang City.


    He had already been giving his little brother intensive training these past few days.


    When the time came, the two of them would serve as customer service reps for a Taobao shop.


    These days, customer service had just a few tricks up its sleeve.


    Wang Anquan was actually excited about the idea of pretending to be a female customer service rep.


    It''s true, many guys just love pretending to be girls online to mess with people and find it incredibly amusing.


    Some even use it to trick people out of their money.


    Cheng Zhu even suspected that since they were selling QQ fashion items, no matter what he asked Wang Anquan to do, the guy would be pretty eager.


    "And don''t forget this, in the apparel e-commerce world, customer service always actively encourages customers to take buyer show photos."


    "Many shops even offer a rebate for doing so, giving out cash directly."


    Some were discussing games, others travel, and where to get a good and cheap haircut...


    And there was talk about part-time jobs, then someone piped up offering work at their family company.


    When the conversation turned to money, one classmate named Qin Wei suddenly mentioned Cheng Zhu, saying: "I heard you won a few thousand at the World Cup?"


    Cheng Zhu first was taken aback, then it clicked��probably Jiang Wanzhou had let something slip.


    After all, he had tricked Jiang Wanzhou into believing he had only bet 800, claiming the rest of the money belonged to someone else.


    If this guy said he won a few thousand, it must have been President Jiang singing Cheng Zhu''s praises.


    The circle at school was small, and although Jiang Wanzhou wasn''t in the same class, some news could easily reach his classmates'' ears.


    "Holy shit, that badass? Won a few thousand?" Immediately, the group chat ignited.


    "You gotta send out a red packet for this."


    "What''s up, how do you win money at the World Cup?"


    "How much did you bet to win?"


    "666, that''s a few months'' living expenses in your pocket huh!"


    Chen Rongrong, who had been quiet, now spoke up, boldly saying: "Where''d you get that rumor? Cheng Zhu clearly won over seventy thousand!"


    "Damn it, why are you helping to spread it?" Cheng Zhu cursed inwardly.


    For a moment, the chat fell silent, and then the entire group exploded!


    Shocked, oh so shocked!


    Chen Rongrong began to vividly describe the matter.


    Cheng Zhu just felt it was too much.


    He never planned to make waves in the group, but eventually, his only choice was to bluff: "The 12,000 wasn''t just my money, I only bet 800, just following the crowd for fun."


    "Winning was purely luck, look at our class monitor who lost over ten thousand in one night, I take that as a lesson. Anyway, I''ve decided to never gamble again in my life, thanks for the warning, monitor." Cheng Zhu started deflecting and even salted up this warm-hearted guy''s wounds.


    ��Leave behind personal morals, savor a shameless life.


    Sure enough, the topic quickly shifted to focus on Li Rui.


    Cheng Zhu immediately exited the group chat.


    Leaving Li Rui to put on a brave face in the group, emphasizing that over ten thousand wasn''t a lot of money.


    As if by bragging a few more times, he''d earn the lost money back.


    Wang Anquan, sitting beside him, knew that Cheng Zhu had indeed bet twelve thousand and won several tens of thousands, using that money to start the e-commerce business.


    He didn''t know why Brother Zhu wouldn''t admit it, but suddenly felt Cheng Zhu was clearly superior to Li Rui.


    "Here''s someone who won money and isn''t bragging, and there''s you who lost money and keep saying it''s just a little cash."


    Just like a clown!


    "When will I reach Brother Zhu''s state." He began to aspire.


    Wang Anquan himself didn''t realize that after spending just several days with Cheng Zhu, he himself had changed quite a bit.


    At that moment, the train arrived at the station, reaching Hang City Station.


    Once in the taxi, Cheng Zhu frequently glanced out the window.


    "Brother Zhu, what are you looking at?" Wang Anquan was curious.


    "None of your business, I''m picking a hotel for the photoshoot the day after tomorrow."

 Chapter 25 - 24: A Gift for You

    Chapter 25: Chapter 24: A Gift for You


    At the entrance to the neighborhood, Cheng Zhu and Wang Anquan, who lived in the same community, said goodbye to each other.


    After returning home, Cheng Zhu immediately hid the "local specialties" he had brought back from Guan Yun.


    If his family found out about these things, it would be hard to explain.


    Yes, Cheng Zhu wasn''t planning to tell his parents just yet that he was going to start an e-commerce business and sell QQ merchandise.


    It would save him a few beatings.


    "I was raised by Cheng with much toil, how could I not understand him?" Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    As night fell, after Yunlai Restaurant closed, Cheng and Xu Yun brought Little Youzi home.


    Having not seen her brother for a few days, Cheng Youu became even clingier.


    Today, she didn''t sport her usual pigtails; her hair was down, casually draped.


    Cheng Zhu gave it a few rubs with his large hand, messing it up, and the little girl immediately fixed her hair, already a bit vain.


    "It''s time to brush your teeth and wash your face," said Cheng Zhu, checking the time.


    "Brother, can you tell me a bedtime story tonight?" Cheng Youu looked up with her round, big eyes fixed on Cheng Zhu, reminiscent of a little pet begging for treats, her gaze filled with "pretty please."


    "It''s hard to say no," thought Cheng Zhu and then said, "Okay."


    "Yay!" Little You cheered, jumping up and raising her hands over her head in celebration, then she prepared to run to the bathroom.


    "Wear your slippers," Cheng Zhu said.


    "Oh!" She obediently turned back, slipped her little feet into her cartoon slippers, and quickly pitter-pattered to the bathroom.


    "Be thorough with brushing your teeth!" Cheng Zhu couldn''t help but call out loudly.


    After washing up, Little You jumped onto the small bed in her room, dimmed the bedside lamp to its faintest glow, tucked herself in with the comforter, and then lay down obediently, looking at Cheng Zhu with eyes full of anticipation, ready for the bedtime story.


    "A six-year-old still wanting bedtime stories," Cheng Zhu pinched her little face and then began the story.


    The story he told was a revised version of a satire.


    "A king wanted to choose a princess for the prince, but he had a strange requirement: the princess had to weigh exactly 100 pounds.


    Then, a princess came, but when she weighed herself, she was just a little off.


    On her way home, she met a little fairy. The fairy gave her an idea, saying it could hide in her ear and cast a spell, so she would weigh exactly 100 pounds.


    One for work purposes, to hustle for performance, flaunting shamelessly in Moments for customers to spend.


    The other for personal life, displaying a beautiful and refined lifestyle, selling the concept of peaceful times.


    Cheng Zhu understood this well. He just smiled and said, "Can we get a discount on the model fee then?"


    Ye Zi ignored him, opened her own bag, and took out various lipsticks, makeup powders, contour kits, highlighters, and even hair curling tools.


    "Wow, you sure are professional, not bad for a former model," Cheng Zhu complimented.


    Then he saw some other things in her bag and couldn''t help saying, "Why did you also bring makeup remover and facial cleanser, skincare products, wow, and even chargers? What are you implying here?"


    All these were typical overnight essentials.


    Ye Zi, hearing his teasing, wasn''t embarrassed but hit back, "You, too, are no slouch as a former model��the attention to detail, how much you know. Boss, what do you think I mean?"


    After saying that, she ramped up the pressure, "Hey handsome, help a sister out with a drink, not the mineral water, but a cold beverage from the mini-fridge."


    She even deliberately winked when she mentioned the cold drink.


    Equipped for an overnight stay, and her body can handle cold drinks��she came prepared.


    Unfortunately for her, Cheng Zhu''s reaction was a letdown. She didn''t see any blush of a young man on his face; instead, he urged her, "Let''s hurry, we agreed on an hourly rate, but chit-chatting doesn''t count."


    Ye Zi put on an exasperated expression, picked up one of the samples Cheng Zhu brought, and asked, "Which one should we start with?"


    "Secretary," Cheng Zhu stated the style.


    It was best to start with the items with more material and gradually work up from there.


    Ye Zi nodded her head, just as she was about to stand up to change in the bathroom, her fingers lightly lifted one of the products.


    To call it a piece of clothing was a stretch��it was more like several strings.


    "No way, we didn''t agree on this beforehand. I won''t shoot this type," Ye Zi said.


    Sitting on the couch with a cigarette lit, Cheng Zhu replied, lounging back with his legs crossed, "I''m a man of my word; we''re not shooting this style."


    "Then why bring it?" Ye Zi thought he was being disingenuous.


    He leaned back on the couch with his legs crossed, and with a grin, said, "It''s a gift for our first collaboration, consider it a welcoming present."


    "A small token, not much to mention," Cheng Zhu purposely brought it to test Ye Zi''s limits for the shoot. Then he added,


    Holding it between her fingers, Ye Zi quickly placed it down gently and snorted, muttering to herself, "Pretty thin, isn''t it?"

 Chapter 26 - 25: Tool Man

    Chapter 26: Chapter 25: Tool Man


    The photoshoot for the online store "Persistent Visit" was proceeding in an orderly fashion.


    "Yes, sit on the table, tilt your head back, yes, yes, yes, click, click!"


    "Yes, cross your legs in a leisurely style, lean to the side of the sofa, yes, yes, yes, click, click!"


    "Let''s take a shot from the back, put a pillow under your butt. Your curve isn''t quite right, sit back a bit more to enhance the curve, yes, yes, yes, that''s good, hold it! Click, click!"


    After about half an hour, Cheng Zhu, holding a camera borrowed from Jiang Wanzhou, said, "This set should be enough, go change into another."


    After speaking, he added, "Hurry up, don''t dawdle. A change takes you ten minutes, are you being paid to just prettify yourself in the bathroom?"


    Ye Zi was so irritated by him, she gave him an eye roll full of allure.


    The young man in front of her was clearly still quite youthful, but he had a knack for stirring your emotions, possibly making you laugh with one sentence and annoying you with the next.


    ��Really good at flirting.


    Honestly, the reason Ye Zi was dawdling was because she was mentally preparing herself. Taking up such a job made her slightly embarrassed and unsure if some "accident" might happen next.


    But, having shot for half an hour, she saw that Cheng Zhu was truly immersed in his work without any additional reactions, which strangely upset her a bit.


    She was actually quite confident about herself, especially regarding her figure.


    Damn her competitiveness, it had been triggered.


    She started the photoshoot somewhat reservedly, struggling to pose properly, a bit restrained.


    Later on, she went all out.


    "No way, he just graduated high school, impossible!"


    "I, your sister, just don''t believe it!"


    "This sly dog, I, your sister, have got you figured out today!"


    "Watch me sexy you to death!"


    But the response she got was an exclamation of, "Are you fucking posing in the bathroom, putting on airs while being paid, no loafing around!"


    The ugly face of capitalism was unmistakably revealed.


    "Which set should I change into?" Ye Zi hissed through clenched teeth.


    "The one with the tail." Cheng Zhu said solemnly.


    ...


    ...


    This is a demand that many models would make.


    Once Cheng Zhu finished editing all the photos, he would also send them to Ye Zi for her approval, which was her request.


    Since she was poached through casual chatting, her fee was much cheaper than regular QQ models, so Cheng Zhu tried to accommodate her requests as much as possible.


    As long as no extra fee was involved, everything else was negotiable.


    Ye Zi had her own resources, not every ordinary QQ model could match her; she could potentially become a long-term partner for the store.


    After chatting with Wang Anquan for a bit longer, Cheng Zhu started replying to other people''s WeChats.


    First was his mother, Xu Yun, asking if he would return to the store for dinner tonight. Cheng Zhu, with no time to spare and planning to quickly grab something to eat alone after work, replied that he wouldn''t be back for dinner.


    Then it was Shen Minglang tagging everyone in a five-person group chat.


    This WeChat group had a silly name, "Me and My Little Brothers and Sisters", clearly named by Shen Minglang who thought he was being funny.


    He called everyone in the group because his birthday was coming up and he invited everyone to have dinner together and then go to karaoke.


    In fact, he had a third event planned, which was to hit a nightclub, but he didn''t plan to bring his younger sister in order to unleash himself, so he didn''t mention it in the group.


    Ever since their last encounter, Cheng Zhu hadn''t met with Shen Qingning and Lin Lu, the two campus goddess-like beauties.


    Currently, he didn''t have the status or means to organize such gathering unless there was some opportunity.


    He had been waiting for Shen Minglang, the king of organizing events, to make a move.


    Turns out, this useful tool''s cooldown was quite short; it had only been a few days and he was already organizing.


    "Cousin Shen is really handy," Cheng Zhu sighed. After seeing Lin Lu also agreeing to come, he left a message in the group that he would definitely be there tomorrow.


    After stubbing out his cigarette, Cheng Zhu went back into the room to find Ye Zi rubbing her thighs and then her waist.


    He raised an eyebrow and said, "Need a male masseur?"


    "Yeah, I''m really sore," Ye Zi, currently dressed in a stepmother''s dress, said.


    "It''ll cost you, deducted from your salary," Boss Cheng never missed an opportunity to make a buck.


    Ye Zi looked at him speechlessly and said, "Boss, you really don''t know how to be tender and protect the fairer sex. You''re mistreating an employee."


    "Who was it during our chat who told me they were kind of masochistic?" Cheng Zhu looked at her: "I''m not tender and protective, I''m torturing you, isn''t that exactly what you enjoy?"


    "I said that because I work night shifts every day, I''m tired every day, and don''t want to do it anymore, but I still go back the next day; that''s why I said that! You''re taking it out of context, your reading comprehension fails big time!" Ye Zi started to argue: "It was self-deprecating!"


    Cheng Zhu chuckled sarcastically, "Ah , that''s a pity. I''m actually quite fond of the M-type thing."


    "Oh!" Ye Zi said very stiffly, yet her eyes shifted slightly and her fingers clenched a bit.


    ��She believed him.

 Chapter 27 - 26 Draw You

    Chapter 27: Chapter 26 Draw You


    To tell the truth, Ye Zi agreed to model not just because she was short on cash.


    Another reason was her misunderstanding of Cheng Zhu, thinking he was a tall, rich, and handsome guy.


    "Which ordinary family''s kid would spend twelve thousand to buy test scores, or start an e-commerce business after high school, playing boss on their own?" That''s what Ye Zi thought anyway.


    That night at the bar, she noticed Shen Minglang getting all excited, shouting about how awesome Cheng Zhu was for winning over seventy thousand in one evening, even hitting the nail on the head with a score of zero.


    But this young man seemed pretty calm about it, showing little excitement as if it was just a small event.


    Moreover, after flirting so much for days, if Ye Zi''s heart was completely still without being stirred, that would be really strange.


    Ye Zi came today with the mindset of taking one step at a time, and if the atmosphere really heated up, she''d go with the flow.


    "It''s not a no, when I think about it, I actually made a gain," she thought on her way over.


    But who would have thought that there weren''t any sparks at all.


    Especially in this kind of product!


    Logically speaking, wearing QQ attire should be more enchanting than the emperor''s new clothes.


    "Could he really be a couple with Little President Jiang?"


    Ye Zi, quite confident in her figure, never wasted time overthinking and started to doubt others instead.


    And Ye Zi really took in Cheng Zhu''s words earlier.


    "He said he''s really into the ''M'' persona?" Ye Zi believed it.


    Men usually wouldn''t joke about their own preferences.


    The photo shoot continued methodically, and now they were on the last set.


    Not to mention, this product was pretty traditional Chinese.


    Ye Zi even professionally changed her hairstyle, coiling her long hair up to match the Chinese-style clothing better.


    With the experience from earlier shoots, the two of them understood each other better, and she grasped what Cheng Zhu wanted, so the last set of seller''s show was done especially quickly.


    "Finally finished," Cheng Zhu and Ye Zi sat on the sofa together and simultaneously let out a breath of relief.


    It had been a four-hour shoot.


    Ye Zi, wearing the Chinese-style attire and with her hair coiled up, had a unique charm to her��one word��lustrous!


    "That''s a wrap, four hours and six minutes in total, shall we just forget about those six minutes?" Cheng Zhu said.


    "As you wish," Ye Zi surprisingly agreed easily.


    She looked at Cheng Zhu, showing a slightly flirtatious smile, but the words from her mouth completely mismatched her expression, "Actually, I was quite nervous on my way here today."


    "Nervous about what? Afraid I''d eat you up?" The young man with a natural arch in his brows deliberately snorted and said, "Please, don''t overestimate your charm. You can''t handle me."


    After speaking, he picked up a pack of cigarettes from the table, took one out, and put it in his mouth.


    But a full minute passed, and the door didn''t open.


    She actually felt a little disappointed.


    Standing in front of the huge mirror at the washbasin, Ye Zi scrutinized her own body curves in the mirror, for the first time in her life feeling a bit insecure.


    "Has my waist gotten thicker recently?"


    "Surely my skin isn''t as good as a high school student''s."


    "Lacking exercise lately, my butt doesn''t seem as perky as before."


    Cheng Zhu''s consistent indifference and her failing to provoke him made her feel less confident, and she suddenly felt like everything about herself was lacking.


    Cheng Zhu''s continued cold shoulder, for someone like her with her own ''attributes'', felt like being lashed with an invisible whip��


    ��a lash that whipped the soul.


    ...


    ...


    The seller''s show shoot was all finished, and it was now past six in the evening.


    Cheng Zhu really left the hotel card with Ye Zi and didn''t take away the samples, indicating that she could deal with them herself.


    You know, the original scent of these model''s clothes would sell for a high price on second-hand platforms...


    "There''s a KFC nearby, wanna eat?" the famished Cheng Zhu asked Ye Zi.


    "I''m dieting, don''t eat dinner, but there''s still time. If you''re eating, I can keep you company," offered Ye Zi proactively.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her smiling face. Although it wasn''t as cute as Lin Lu''s, with adorable dimples when she smiled, it had a charm of its own.


    "Then let''s go," Cheng Zhu walked straight ahead and ordered a spicy burger meal.


    He was really hungry and wolfed down his food.


    While eating, he said to Ye Zi, "I''ll photo edit them quickly and then send them to you to look at."


    "Hmm," Ye Zi nodded slightly.


    "Also, I want to schedule another time with you. In ten days, I''ll need you for another shoot, so you''ll need to clear your schedule for me." Cheng Zhu didn''t ask if she was available or willing.


    Upon hearing this, Ye Zi suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling as she agreed cheerfully, "Sure."


    Despite the exhausting shoot today, halfway through which she thought about never taking on such work again,


    for some reason, she was now looking forward to the second shoot and even planned to engage in more shaping exercises soon.


    Cheng Zhu stuffed fries into his mouth and said, "Don''t overdo the diet, you''ve got to maintain that great figure for me! Today''s show was perfect."


    Ye Zi had heard countless times in her life how great her figure was and should have been tired of hearing it.


    But at this moment, her heart inexplicably blossomed with delight.

 Chapter 28 - 27: Warm Man and Grandmaster

    Chapter 28: Chapter 27: Warm Man and Grandmaster


    After finishing their meal at KFC, Cheng Zhu separated from Ye Zi.


    He returned home and started editing photos.


    Now in the entire e-commerce team, only he and Wang Anquan remained.


    A lot of tasks demanded his direct involvement.


    Luckily, he had plenty of free time right now.


    And he had no intention of training Wang Anquan in this area.


    Adolescent boys, if you ask them to edit these kind of seller-show photos, their efficiency would surely be low, probably looking even worse the next day.


    Cheng Zhu magnified the image, carefully observed the details, and meticulously edited it, muttering to himself, "I might as well endure this tedious task myself."


    As soon as he finished the first photo, he sent it right away to Ye Zi.


    "I will edit the rest following similar standards," he messaged on WeChat.


    "That''s fine," Ye Zi replied, also secretly saving the picture, thinking it was as good as a professional portrait.


    "You know quite a lot of stuff," Ye Zi couldn''t help but type.


    "Jack of all trades," Cheng Zhu replied playfully.


    "I just looked at the details of your editing again, did you think my butt wasn''t perky enough?" Ye Zi suddenly sent a message on WeChat.


    Cheng Zhu was slightly startled, muttering to himself, "Women''s minds are just troublesome!"


    He chose not to respond directly but sent an emoji with a questioning face instead.


    Speaking of which, today during the shoot, especially when Ye Zi snatched the cigarette from his mouth, his heart had been racing for a while.


    That''s why, as soon as she went into the bathroom, Cheng Zhu quickly lit a cigarette and started puffing away vigorously.


    "These are the years when hormones wreak havoc," he thought to himself.


    "Fortunately, I am a man of virtue."


    "A boy''s first time is precious, you can''t just give it away carelessly."


    He believed it ought to be reserved for goddess-level girls like Shen Qingning and Lin Lu.


    As for what happens next... well, it wouldn''t matter!


    �� "A Man of Virtue, but Not Excess."


    At this thought, he suddenly remembered that tomorrow was Ming Lang''s birthday gathering.


    So, he messaged Jiang Wanzhou, "Have you prepared a birthday gift for your cousin?"


    "I was planning to go to the mall to browse, want to come?" Jiang Wanzhou asked.


    "Maybe not, I have something on tonight, could you also get something for me?"


    "Speechless, always bossing me around," Jiang Wanzhou replied with three emojis.


    "Can''t help it when you''re a tycoon living next to a shopping district," Cheng Zhu instructed, "Don''t buy something exactly like yours, that''s too insincere."


    "I got it, so annoying!"


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu woke up and continued editing photos.


    After each set of seller-show photos were edited, he would instantly update the new products in the online store.


    He kept busy until nearly five in the afternoon before he received a message from Jiang Wanzhou, who was coming to pick him up.


    The dining venue was a Michelin restaurant.


    These kinds of restaurants weren''t necessarily great, but Ming Lang preferred a show of status.


    On the way, Jiang Wanzhou asked him, "Have you eaten at this place before?"


    Cheng Zhu looked at him, saying, "Actually, often it''s those unassuming shops by the roadside that can whip up truly delicious food, as for those flashy and extravagantly decorated restaurants, I haven''t been."


    He hadn''t frequented high-end restaurants in Hang City after having moved to Wu City.


    Upon hearing this, Little President Jiang started rolling his eyes.


    They were supposed to meet at six, and Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou arrived there at quarter to six.


    While Jiang Wanzhou was looking for a parking spot, Cheng Zhu had already whipped out his phone, checking in the group chat if Shen Qingning and Lin Lu had arrived.


    Lin Lu quickly replied, "It will take about five or six more minutes."


    After parking, Jiang Wanzhou said, "Let''s go, get inside."


    Cheng Zhu shook his head, "Let''s wait a bit for your cousin and Lin Lu."


    "Why?" Little President Jiang was a bit puzzled.


    "Your cousin''s birthday, he''ll surely have other friends there. Are you familiar with them?" Cheng Zhu asked.


    "I know a few, but not very well," Jiang Wanzhou replied.


    "That''s exactly it, better to wait for them so we can all go in together. Otherwise, we might end up sitting too far apart."


    "We don''t know the others well, wouldn''t even know what to talk about," Cheng Zhu added.


    "True, a few minutes won''t hurt, let''s wait then," Jiang Wanzhou agreed.


    Of course, their willingness to patiently wait in the parking lot was also because Lin Lu spoke honestly. When the GPS said a few minutes, she said it was a few minutes.


    Unlike some who, damn it, had just left their house and when a friend asked how far they were, they''d say just two traffic lights away, almost there.


    Ask again later, and most likely they would respond, "Got a bit stuck."


    There''s no point waiting for those types, one wait could last an eternity.


    Before long, Shen Qingning arrived in her white Land Rover.


    With a parking spot available on the left side of Jiang Wanzhou''s Mercedes G, she skillfully reversed into the spot.


    As she parked, Lin Lu, sitting in the front passenger seat, rolled down the window, flashed a quick smile showing her small dimples, her spirited eyes forming crescents as she energetically waved at Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou, cheerfully shouting, "Hello! Hello!"


    "Damn, she does have quite a bit of charm," Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    Such adorable girls easily kindle the protective instincts in Cheng Zhu.


    "Be my girlfriend, I''ll surely protect you, and make sure my future girlfriends never find out about you."

 Chapter 29 - 28 Extremely Aggressive

    Chapter 29: Chapter 28 Extremely Aggressive


    Shen Qingning and Lin Lu both looked stunning today.


    Shen Qingning, the aloof beauty, seemed to have a fondness for black attire as she wore a black short-sleeve top with a white collar today, decorated with white chiffon below the neckline.


    The top was cropped, but she didn''t reveal her beautifully slender waist, instead choosing to wear a pair of high-waisted, wide-leg white trousers.


    Actually, it''s not about the tighter your clothes are, the longer your legs will appear.


    For someone like her with exceptionally long legs, these high-waisted, wide-leg trousers actually enhanced her proportions even more.


    Moreover, Shen Qingning didn''t wear too many accessories, only sporting a Van Cleef bracelet on her left wrist.


    But it must be said, as she naturally had pale, cool-toned skin, any accessory she wore seemed more dazzling, as if it added a bit of brightness.


    As for Lin Lu standing next to Shen Qingning, she wore a beige Miu Miu dress.


    This brand, with its youthful flair, was exceptionally suited for her.


    She wore white Mary Jane shoes from the same brand, which were pearl-styled with metallic chains and noticeable pearls on the buckles.


    "These Mary Jane shoes really should be worn with white socks," Cheng Zhu noted to himself.


    The four of them entered the private room together, quickly catching everyone''s attention.


    Cheng Zhu noticed that the room was predominantly male, with Shen Minglang and five other men already seated.


    There were only two women, both somewhat resembling internet celebrities, one of whom was seated next to Shen Minglang, likely his companion for the day.


    In fact, she was indeed a minor internet celebrity.


    "Have you arrived?" Shen Minglang stood up and obsequiously pulled out a chair for Shen Qingning to sit.


    Although it was his birthday today and he was the highest in status, some things had become habitual for him.


    After Shen Qingning sat down, she glanced at the little internet celebrity sitting next to her.


    This woman, with tens of thousands of followers on Weibo and daily messages from adoring fans, didn''t dare meet her gaze and averted her eyes quietly.


    This minor celebrity was dressed quite elegantly, but when a fake socialite met a true lady of wealth, she was completely overshadowed by the presence.


    Shen Minglang enthusiastically introduced everyone to one another.


    When introducing Lin Lu, the male attention in the room was particularly focused.


    They all knew Shen Minglang well and knew they had no chance of becoming his brother-in-law.


    But this new girl, she was so damn cute!


    Everyone perked up when they heard she was a voice actress.


    A woman with a versatile voice, how marvelous!


    Upon hearing that she was also Shen Qingning''s close friend and schoolmate, did that mean she was still a university student?


    Holy crap! A real catch, definitely a catch!


    Watching everyone''s expressions, Cheng Zhu felt like he could hear wolf howls in his ears: "Awooo��"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Thus, he promptly sat down next to Lin Lu, leaving Wanzhou no choice but to sit on his other side.


    Shen Minglang smiled as he walked behind the two, introducing them.


    He first clapped Wanzhou on the shoulder, said, "Little President Jiang, I won''t bother with an introduction, he''s not that interesting."


    His family owned their factory, but it wasn''t large, so they rented it out. Moreover, they had rented a vacant factory from Wanzhou''s family.


    It was originally Shen Minglang''s father who had helped both families connect and set up the rental.


    This year, Liu Hongjing''s business had been mediocre, and cash flow was indeed tight.


    But if Wanzhou''s family was short on money, that would be a joke!


    With properties lining one street and three large factories, they made a terrifying amount from rent alone each year!


    Liu Hongjing tried to speak several times but couldn''t quite put his words together, his face turning a liver color.


    "This sissy, why the hell is he so aggressive with his words today, is he sick?" he thought internally.


    But Shen Minglang pretended he didn''t hear it.


    After all, it was his father who had set up the rental, and now with the rent pending, it put everyone in an awkward position.


    Though it had only been a month''s delay and it was probably going to be settled eventually,


    What was a debtor doing, jumping around in front of a landlord like this?


    At this moment, two of Shen Minglang''s friends entered the room, having arrived late.


    Many immediately jeered at them to drink as a penalty, and the atmosphere finally shifted.


    Throughout the meal, Lin Lu felt that the men sitting across from her were so boring, discussing cars, real estate prices, and stocks one after another...


    She couldn''t get into it at all.


    "It was more interesting when we ate at Golden Sand Hall last time," the voice actress thought to herself.


    She found Cheng Zhu more entertaining to talk to.


    Hmm, and he was also better looking than them.


    After dinner, Shen Minglang began organizing the second part of the event, announcing he had booked a room where everyone could sing and have drinks.


    As the group walked to the parking lot, Liu Hongjing and a man in glasses beside him specifically looked over to see what car Cheng Zhu was driving.


    Cars were indeed something men paid extra attention to, their glances were normal.


    In the end, they only saw Cheng Zhu getting into Wanzhou''s Mercedes G-Wagon.


    After getting in the car, Wanzhou didn''t forget to remind Cheng Zhu, "I''m giving you a heads-up, Shen Minglang''s friends know how to drink like hell!"


    "Let''s not stay out too late, just make an appearance for Shen Minglang''s sake. Otherwise, you''re probably going to end up hugging the toilet tonight."


    Cheng Zhu looked at him and said, "Why, you''ve drunk with them before? You seem a bit traumatized."


    "Yes, a bunch of beasts, they really can drink! I can''t stand being provoked, ended up blacking out," Wanzhou admitted.


    "Got it," Cheng Zhu noted in his mind.


    Then, he added, "Whenever Little Lu wants to leave tonight, we''ll leave."


    Wanzhou, surprised, turned his head to look at him and said, "You''re not seriously trying to hit on Sister Lu, are you?"


    "Yes," Cheng Zhu said.


    "You actually admitted it!" Wanzhou retorted. "Didn''t you act all high and mighty last time, telling me to start calling you ''brother-in-law'' in advance?"


    "Right, I''d pursue your sister too."

 Chapter 30 - 29: My Rebellious Nature

    Chapter 30: Chapter 29: My Rebellious Nature


    ��You can get lost~�� Jiang Wanzhou rolled her eyes to the sky again.


    What a piece of work, he��s got the nerve to say he wants to hit on Sister Lu, and you even want to hit on my cousin! Go to hell~


    ��Alright then.�� Cheng Zhu, sitting in the passenger seat of the Mercedes G-Wagon, quickly unfastened his seatbelt at the speed of light and got out of the car without looking back, making his way over to the Land Rover where Shen Qingning was.


    He knocked on the window, and Lin Lu, sitting in the passenger seat, rolled it down. Shen Qingning, with her hands already on the steering wheel, looked at him in surprise.


    ��Jiang Wanzhou is in a fiery mood today, kicked me out of the car. I��m hitching a ride.��


    Yay, yay, riding in a beauty��s car~


    ...


    And so, under Jiang Wanzhou��s stunned gaze, Cheng Zhu got into Shen Qingning��s Land Rover Range Rover and even rolled down the window to wave goodbye to him.


    ��I��m so mad! I��m so mad!�� Little President Jiang was so angry that his face turned red, he hurriedly fanned himself to cool down.


    Because others had already had some drinks during dinner, they needed a designated driver to help drive.


    In the end, it was Cheng Zhu and the others who arrived at the private room first.


    It was probably only about a dozen people today, but Shen Minglang had booked a super-large room.


    On the two tables, there were sets of alcohol packages.


    Cheng Zhu went over to take a look and thought, ��Wow, they started off with two sets of Hennessy XO?��


    A set came with two bottles, so just these four bottles were quite pricey.


    ��Shen Minglang himself owns a bar, I wonder if he can tell the difference between real and fake liquor,�� Cheng Zhu mused.


    ��But then again, it doesn��t really matter if it��s real or fake. For this group of people, it��s all about drinking something expensive.��


    ��You��re supposed to play drinking games at the table, even good liquor is just for binge drinking,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    Before long, everyone had arrived.


    Following Shen Minglang��s routine, once everyone was in the private room, they��d all clink glasses once, and then the drinking games would begin.


    As for singing karaoke, that was for when they were too drunk to continue��that��s when they��d take a halftime break to sing.


    Since Shen Qingning was also there, Shen Minglang didn��t dare go to the sort of place where one can freely choose company; they hadn��t booked a business club private room and didn��t go to the so-called ��touchy-singy�� venues.


    So Cheng Zhu was doomed not to witness the classic scene he loved so: Big brother, stop the touching and sing a song, please.


    Cheng Zhu sat next to Jiang Wanzhou and watched Little President Jiang stare at his glass, his face a picture of agony.


    The reason was simple: for a high school graduate, drinking beer and the like might be routine.


    Mixing spirits with beverages, or even that might be acceptable.


    But drinking neat liquor would definitely be a bit hard to swallow.


    Everyone stood up first to wish Shen Minglang, the birthday boy, a happy birthday.


    After a shot of neat liquor, Cheng Zhu finally realized, ��This isn��t my past life, I��m reborn, this body is healthier but surely can��t hold liquor like before, haven��t conditioned it yet.��


    ��Looks like I need to take it easy tonight,�� he thought to himself.


    Hearing this, Liu Hongjing clenched his teeth and said, ��I choose Shen Qingning!��


    The little fatty said this without even daring to glance sideways at her.


    Shen Qingning looked at her brother as if she was staring at an idiot.


    Shen Minglang, infuriated, said, ��You��re damn awesome! Ningning, it��s okay, their team will definitely lose. I��ll drink for you later! Even if I have to drink double, I want these bastards to go down with me!��


    The show was actually going pretty well.


    Cheng Zhu stood aside with his arms crossed, watching.


    Then, in the second round of rock-paper-scissors, Shen Minglang won.


    Knowing that Jiang Wanzhou was easy prey at the drinking table, Liu Hongjing immediately said, ��As a cousin, shouldn��t you pick your cousin first?��


    Shen Minglang��s eyes lit up, and he said right away, ��Right, right, right!��


    He turned his head toward us and shouted, ��Cheng Zhu! I choose my cousin Cheng Zhu!��


    He still had fresh memories of the bloodbath he suffered while playing dice with Cheng Zhu during the World Cup finals.


    Jiang Wanzhou, hearing this, rolled his eyes extravagantly from across the room.


    Liu Hongjing was indifferent, thinking, ��What waves can this high school graduate cause? He��s just easy game.��


    Liu Hongjing glanced around and thought, ��This young guy who plays like a noob and has no tolerance for alcohol... today, I��m gonna make both Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou crawl out of this private room!��


    Everyone��s eyes converged on Cheng Zhu, but they saw him suddenly stand up gracefully, walk over to Shen Minglang, and whisper something as if a Think Tank plotting strategies.


    Liu Hongjing didn��t care at all, ��What can a stupid high school kid stir up? He has no experience at the drinking table.��


    Little did he know, Cheng Zhu was threatening Shen Minglang.


    ��Cousin, when you win later, first pick Lin Lu for the team,�� Cheng Zhu whispered.


    ��Why? She��s really bad at the game! Clumsy and terrible!�� Shen Minglang thought it best to pick strong players first.


    He even whispered his wisdom to Cheng Zhu, ��Cousin, even if you want to be nice to a girl at the drinking table, it��s best to wait until after she��s lost and is having a hard time refusing to drink. Then you swoop in and take her drink for her.��


    ��You become a hero saving a beauty, and using the same cup instantly elevates the flirtation!�� he winked at Cheng Zhu.


    Cheng Zhu: ��.....��


    Do I need teaching from you?


    This is all because your sister, Shen Qingning, went to the other group! I need to use this tactic on her!


    If both she and Lin Lu are in the other group, even if I take the drinks for both of them, it won��t be effective.


    What girls can��t stand is getting blatant favoritism in front of everyone, directed at just one girl.


    That��ll get them daydreaming.


    If you drink for her and then for her best friend, what��s the use? People will either think you��re a central air conditioner-style ladies�� man or just a damn thirsty fool who��s begging for booze.


    Cheng Zhu bluntly whispered, ��Anyway, it doesn��t matter to me. You pick Lin Lu for your team first, or else I��ll just throw the game and go over to the enemy��s side. I��m planning to throw the dice game later, cousin. It��s up to you.��


    ...


    (ps: A new week has begun, seeking monthly passes and recommendations to charge up the new book list!)

 Chapter 31 - 30 It Doesn鈥檛 Matter Anymore

    Chapter 31: Chapter 30 It Doesn��t Matter Anymore


    Others see Cheng Zhu and Shen Minglang as: whispering and planning big things!


    The real Cheng Zhu and Shen Minglang: ��I am rebellious, cousin, you figure it out haha.��


    �� There is an inside man, stop sharing secrets!


    Shen Minglang had a pair of single eyelids, and at this moment, his eyes were wide open in round surprise.


    ��Cousin, are you playing these games with me?�� he couldn��t believe it.


    Most importantly, he couldn��t figure out what Cheng Zhu was up to.


    ...


    I know Lin Lu is a campus goddess, and for a teenage boy like you, it��d be strange if you weren��t smitten.


    But cousin, I��ve been pouring my heart out to you, I even passed on all my flirting techniques to you.


    Why don��t you trust me, let Lin Lu join the opposite team, I guarantee it��ll be better than having her in our team!


    ��Damn, teenage boys are just dumb, they can��t be taught!�� Shen Minglang inwardly cursed.


    ��Besides, right, if he doesn��t go through some things, how can he catch up to someone like me?�� he suddenly started feeling smug.


    ��Fine, fine, we��ll do it your damn way, acting like it��s your birthday today. But it��s not like I��m not being forced here, what can I do since you��re my cousin!�� Shen Minglang grumbled.


    Cheng Zhu patted his own chest, then pointed at Shen Minglang, showing a brotherly gesture.


    From beginning to end, the two never discussed whether to pull Jiang Wanzhou into the team.


    This guy was like someone forgotten in a corner.


    Shen Minglang went back to playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with Liu Hongjing, and this time he actually won.


    ��Lin Lu! I choose Lin Lu!�� Shen Minglang exclaimed loudly.


    This voice actress was taken aback, not expecting she couldn��t be in the same team as Ningning.


    ��It��s fine, let my brother drink for you later,�� Shen Qingning softly said, beginning to arrange everything.


    ��What are you talking about, we might not lose, I��m very good too!�� Lin Lu��s self-awareness wasn��t very clear.


    Liu Hongjing��s skill wasn��t as high as Shen Minglang��s, but he wanted Lin Lu in his team, because she was a match for Shen Qingning, a heavenly beauty goddess.


    Everyone was somewhat intimidated by Shen Qingning, but this little voice actress was damn cute, full of girlish charm, her smile showing beautiful dimpiles.@@@@


    As another team��s captain, he somewhat didn��t understand what was going on in Shen Minglang��s mind.


    ��First pick a high school graduate newbie, then pick another obviously immature girl. What are you doing, collecting cannon fodder?�� Liu Hongjing thought Shen Minglang must be thirsty, just here for a drink.


    In the next three rounds of Rock-Paper-Scissors, Liu Hongjing won them all, and he picked everyone who was best at dice.


    Shen Minglang��s expression instantly soured a bit.


    ��Hey! What��s wrong with my hand today, so unlucky, still keep losing?�� he couldn��t believe it.


    And indeed, he kept losing.


    Liu Hongjing kept winning at Rock-Paper-Scissors, and towards the end, every time he won, the crowd would cheer as their team already had a numbers advantage!


    That��s one of the fun parts of ��World War��, the game where the teams are uneven.


    Such bad luck like Shen Minglang��s was rare, but not unprecedented.


    Cheng Zhu had previously played the game with two people vs eight on the opposing side.


    Seeing him so relaxed, Lin Lu couldn��t help but say, ��How can you just start eating!��


    ��Do you want some? Here!�� Cheng Zhu offered her a piece as well.


    ��That��s not...�� Lin Lu stumbled verbally, but seeing the piece of watermelon looking quite sweet, her hand unconsciously accepted it.


    Liu Hongjing on the other side was very smug, urging, ��Who��s next?��


    In his eyes, Shen Minglang was the only threat.


    If Shen Minglang was taken down, he could possibly defeat everyone on the opposite side.


    He glanced at the four people, whose expressions were: crumbling �� crumbling �� amused �� crumbling ��.


    Hmm? How did something weird slip in there?


    Cheng Zhu, you really don��t know what��s coming.


    So he added, ��Brother Lang, the default old rule, we play ��World War�� with a double stakes, okay!��


    Wow, he��s pulling out English now.


    ��What... what does that mean?�� Lin Lu asked softly.


    ��It means if he alone beats us all, we have to drink double the alcohol,�� Cheng Zhu explained nonchalantly.


    ��Ah?�� Lin Lu was flustered.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her bright, lively eyes, smiled and said, ��Next, you go. If you can beat him, at least we won��t have to drink double.��


    ��Come on, you can do it,�� Cheng Zhu cheered her on.


    Lin Lu sat on the PK throne with a serious look, holding the dice cup very firmly and shaking it vigorously as if the force would resultantly yield better dice.


    ��3 fours!�� Lin Lu glanced at her own dice numbers, her delicate brows furrowing as she spoke.


    She was a pure newbie, simply calling out whatever she had.


    Liu Hongjing decisively responded, ��Add one, 4 fours!��


    His answer was quick, as if he hadn��t thought through it at all, giving Lin Lu the illusion that he had several fours himself.


    ��Then I... 5 fours?�� She spoke to the opposite side as if asking a question.


    Liu Hongjing looked at her flawless face for a while before declaring, ��Open! I have no fours!��


    Lin Lu: ��???��


    Angered, she began beating Cheng Zhu��s arm with her small hands, exclaiming, ��Cheng Zhu, he tricked me, he has no fours! Ahhh! Not a single one, yet he called four fours!��


    Seeing her slightly aggrieved look, Liu Hongjing��s heart nearly melted, immediately saying, ��Ahem, well, that��s how the game is played, I��ll teach you later.��


    Lin Lu wasn��t listening to what he was saying.


    �� Not listening, King��s scripture.


    ��Shall we surrender?�� she suddenly proposed.


    ��It��s not allowed to surrender mid-game,�� the man with glasses from the other side stated.


    Lin Lu looked at Cheng Zhu, feeling almost doomed.


    If Cheng Zhu also lost directly to him, then they would have to drink double.


    ��What do we do, Cheng Zhu, what do we do, all eight of them are still there,�� Lin Lu whispered.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her, grinned broadly, and in a calm tone audible to everyone, said, ��It doesn��t matter, I��ll make a move.��

 Chapter 32 - 31: The Fairy鈥檚 Aura

    Chapter 32: Chapter 31: The Fairy��s Aura


    It��s 2014, and the ��Red Wall Emperor�� hasn��t yet declared online with that overwhelming bravado, ��No worries, I��ll make a move.��


    Thus, when Cheng Zhu suddenly made such a statement, both Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Minglang couldn��t help but widen their eyes and exchange glances.


    Jiang Wanzhou thought to himself, ��Has he lost his mind?��


    Meanwhile, Shen Minglang thought, ��Note this down in my little notebook; this phrase is so pretentious!��


    Lin Lu was a voice actress, having provided voices for some domestic animations; she was also a seasoned anime fan.


    She was lively and full of energy, and definitely had a bit of that ��chuunibyou�� trait in her.


    ...


    And wouldn��t you know it, when Cheng Zhu suddenly blurted out ��No worries, I��ll make a move,�� she actually found him pretty cool!


    No choice, the atmosphere had built up to this point, and Cheng Zhu was bearing the team��s greatest pressure.


    Under such circumstances, to still utter such words, one could say his swagger was almost spilling over.


    On Liu Hongjing��s side, he was outright dumbfounded.


    ��What did he say? What was he even saying just now?�� He couldn��t wrap his head around it, wondering where on earth this high school graduate got his courage from, Liang Jingru would even say he could really pose.


    The guy with glasses sitting next to him whispered quietly, ��So funny, so young yet so boastful.��


    These guys felt that if Cheng Zhu could beat Liu Hongjing, that would be considered a victory.


    A one versus eight, wishful thinking!


    Cheng Zhu swapped places with Lin Lu and sat on the seat designated for PKing.


    He picked up the dice cup and one by one placed the dice inside.


    After doing all that, he held up the cup to Lin Lu and said, ��Come on, blow some ��fairy breath�� into it.��


    ��What?�� Lin Lu didn��t expect him to still play such childish tricks at this time.


    ��Just blow. You��re the rookie, with the rookie��s aura. Don��t disbelieve it, my luck gets better.��


    The whole crowd was waiting for him to roll the dice, yet he adamantly didn��t, teasingly staring at Lin Lu��s little face with a faint smile.


    ��Oh my! Fine fine fine!�� Realizing everyone was waiting, Lin Lu quickly puckered her tender little lips and blew into the cup, ��Hoo����


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu finally, with a satisfied expression, started shaking the dice.


    Before looking at his specific numbers, he even told his teammates sitting next to him, ��Don��t look at my dice. I always feel like there��s a mole in our team, signaling to the other side. Otherwise, we couldn��t lose so many times.��


    The people opposite were speechless.


    Seriously, is his brain malfunctioning?


    Damn it, he��s really making a show of everything!


    Liu Hongjing couldn��t help remarking, ��Little Cheng, couldn��t it be because I��m just good with the dice?��


    Cheng Zhu ignored him.


    Who who is calling it Little Cheng here?


    He silently opened the dice cup, glanced at his numbers, then gently closed it.


    Right now, the dice game they were playing was called ��Bluff,�� also known as ��067.��


    ��Win another one, Cheng Zhu, win another one!�� Her little face tensed, fists clenched to encourage him.


    And indeed, as she wished, Cheng Zhu won another round.


    The two high-fived again, and Lin Lu began to believe she was really blowing ��fairy breath!��


    The third time she blew, she didn��t just give a casual puff, but ��Hoo hoo hoo���� blowing three times.


    It was their third opponent; some extra effort was needed, heh heh!


    Cheng Zhu smiled defiantly at the enemy, outwardly calm, but secretly he was always adjusting the dice numbers.


    Yes, he was cheating.


    A one versus eight wasn��t about skill anymore, you needed some luck.


    But cheating was different; he could change the dice numbers during the game.


    The dumbest method would definitely be sticking your little finger in and furtively moving them around. This way was too obvious and easily caught!


    Cheng Zhu used a clever technique. Each time he opened and then closed the cup, he would gently tap one of the dice with the rim of the cup to make it flip.


    As long as you could remember each side��s number on the dice and practice it, you could change the number on a die each time.


    Like earlier when he was playing with Liu Hongjing, he actually had six points. Seeing the loudmouthed donkey continuously increasing the score, he quickly changed his six into a sequence.


    In his past life, Cheng Zhu used to go drinking with friends, and they all had agreed to only check their dice numbers once and not repeatedly open the cup��because everyone... was cheating!


    This trick wasn��t hard to learn nor was it very high-level. But don��t forget, Cheng Zhu knew Shen Minglang��s level. Boss Shen was so bad yet so boastful in friends�� circles showed that they were all mediocre players.


    But when he and Boss Shen had a one-on-one dice showdown at Jiuyin��s place, he didn��t use this trick because they were friends. But if someone trash-talks too much and even gets Jiang Wanzhou drunk, that��s a different story altogether.


    With already excellent skills and a sharp mind, plus his ability to cheat, he swiftly moved onto the other side��s fifth player.


    This time, he deliberately pretended to forget to ask Lin Lu to blow into the cup and was slowly about to close it.


    Sitting next to him, Lin Lu immediately rushed and grabbed his wrist.


    You could even say she was quite excited now, her palms slightly warm, letting Cheng Zhu clearly feel the warmth from her hands.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at her hands, finding them rather beautiful, meeting the level of ecstatic joy for someone obsessed with beautiful hands, deserving of the term ��jade hands.��


    Lin Lu, feeling his gaze, suddenly felt a bit shy and let go of his hand.


    In the past, how could she possibly make such an outrageous move towards a guy she had met only twice?


    ��Too forward, too forward!


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu played the ��sudden realization�� card and slowly lifted the cup, saying, ��Right, right, forgot to blow into it!��


    Lin Lu had already snapped out of her battle-focused state, and at that moment, she felt everyone��s eyes fixed on her and Cheng Zhu, making her suddenly feel shy.


    She��d never had such an experience with any boy before.


    So when Cheng Zhu reached the cup towards her, this time she didn��t keep blowing persistently. Instead, she blew a quick, perfunctory puff and immediately pushed the cup away.


    Cheng Zhu had a thick skin, and while his mouth kept ��tsk tsk tsk-ing,��


    his other hand firmly capped the cup, muttering, ��Not much air this time, it might all leak away.��


    ��He held it very tightly.


    ...


    (ps: New January, seeking reservations for August tickets!)

 Chapter 33 - 32: Shen Qingning鈥檚 Sense of Disparity

    Chapter 33: Chapter 32: Shen Qingning��s Sense of Disparity


    Lu Lu didn��t know why, but she suddenly felt that her body��s sound insulation effects were extremely poor.


    Thump thump��, amidst the noisy private room, she could hear her own heart pounding like thunder.


    Cheng Zhu had only made a gesture of firmly covering the shaker, yet it was precisely this that flirted with her.


    Because from the start, he purposefully asked her to blow on the dice, then progressively advanced, pushing the atmosphere higher and higher, followed by conveniently forgetting to let her blow, making her slightly annoyed, and finally, with a special move, he stirred emotions with the details.


    ��Everyone is watching, why are you covering it up?�� Lu Lu screamed in her mind, feeling more and more embarrassed.


    I couldn��t possibly be your lucky star, a puff of air won��t ensure your win.


    ...


    Jiang Wanzhou was dumbfounded by the side.


    ��Look at you, Cheng Zhu, playing like you��re in an idol drama inside the private room!�� he internally ranted, holding back the urge to smack Cheng Zhu with a Bone-softening Palm.


    Shen Minglang��s feelings were even more complex.


    Initially, when he saw Cheng Zhu asking Lu Lu to blow on the dice, he thought: ��Damn high schoolers are so childish! Dumber than a bag of rocks!��


    But he later realized, if you really are the dice king and keep winning, girls will indeed feel a great sense of involvement!


    Of course, that��s provided she doesn��t dislike you and is willing to interact, otherwise it��d be: blowing and blowing, blow your damn head off!


    But that little interaction between these two had indeed made him feel as if he ��had stumbled upon something.��


    In the private room, the two little internet celebrities with their internet-famous faces, looking at Cheng Zhu��s rascal-charming face, were getting squirrelly.


    ��This must be what a ��younger suitor�� looks like!�� the two women thought.


    If Cheng Zhu knew their frame of mind, he might be unable to resist teasing: ��What��s with all this puppy love stuff, so silly.��


    As for Liu Hongjing, the plump one, he felt like he was splitting apart.


    A sweet girl of Lu Lu��s level, who wouldn��t harbor some unrealistic fantasies?


    Her face is blushing, damn! He made her blush!


    Only Shen Qingning watched everything from a distance, her cool face frowning once again.


    Her gaze was sharp, closely observing every little interaction between Cheng Zhu and Lu Lu, determined to notice everything.


    ��Jiang Wanzhou��s good friend here, definitely has a problem,�� the cold girl muttered to herself.


    ...


    ...


    In the next round of the game, Lu Lu was somewhat distracted and not as tensely observant as before.


    It wasn��t until Cheng Zhu won again and raised his left hand for a high five that she robotically responded, which seemed to bring her back to her senses.


    Cheng Zhu continued to tease her with an under-the-breath blame, ��Look at that, this was a close victory!��


    That��s what you get for not blowing properly!


    This time, he didn��t flaunt his win by calling ��Next!�� directly. Instead, he honestly shook the sieve and looked at the points, securing a narrow victory by sheer skill.


    The game was such that even if someone was highly skilled, they could still cheat and would not be able to win every single time.


    Now, only that glasses guy was left��the one called Wang Wei.


    As far as Shen Minglang had mentioned, this guy seemed to be helping with his family��s e-commerce business, though what they sold was unclear.


    Suddenly, all the pressure shifted to Wang Wei��s side.


    Damn it, seven teammates all wiped out!


    ��I can��t lose this one!�� Liu Hongjing was still imposing mad pressure at the side.


    Cheng Zhu laughed, thinking ��It��s better to attack the heart than the citadel,�� and thus he spoke, ��Wasn��t someone saying earlier, the old rules, something with ... ah yes, they said it in English, double!��


    He enunciated his English with extra precision, and many people laughed.


    ��I can��t quite remember who said it.�� Cheng Zhu continued, ��Since the rules include a double penalty for drinking, then as the last man standing on my team, I should also be able to take on eight, right?��


    Hearing this, Shen Minglang got excited and stood up, shouting at Liu Hongjing, ��Right, right, right! If there��s a double, there should be a reverse double! As the last on our team, if Cheng Zhu wins, you guys have to drink double too!��


    ��Woohoo��!�� Shen Minglang no longer cared about winning or losing; he felt like he had already won in terms of momentum.


    Even if they ended up drinking as the losing team, Shen Minglang would happily guzzle down drink after drink, letting his younger companions drink less. After all, the alcohol was part of the fun!


    Meanwhile, Wang Wei felt the pressure mounting.


    Damn, it felt like they weren��t playing a game, but rather betting on their team��s dignity!


    ��The dignity of men at the drinking table!


    While one side was betting on their dignity, on the other, flirting was still ongoing.


    Cheng Zhu lightly nudged Lu Lu, who was inching closer to him, whispering, ��No need to blow anymore, this round, you shake.��


    ��Really?�� Lu Lu glanced at him with eyes as innocent as a fawn in the woods, then eagerly said, ��Okie-dokie!��


    She shook the shaker vigorously several times before pushing it towards Cheng Zhu.


    Cheng Zhu had previously said that no one on his team was allowed to see his dice, suspecting that there were traitors among them.


    This time, he played the ��exception�� card, telling Lu Lu, ��Since you shook it yourself, you can look.��


    After saying that, he gestured for Lu Lu to come closer, and the girl cooperated by leaning in.


    Thus, their faces were close together, and they both bent down sneakily to look at the dice.


    Cheng Zhu felt his left cheek itch as Lu Lu��s hair brushed against him.


    See, you made me itch first with your hair, later on as compensation, I might just encounter a classic episode����Cheng Zhu, you��re pressing on my hair.��


    On the opposite side, Shen Qingning watched, her brows creased tightly. She had never seen Lu Lu be so close with any boy before, and thought to herself: ��Your two faces are about to stick together!��


    She couldn��t help but recall a conversation she had with Lu Lu, when they had discussed whether or not to date during university.


    Shen Qingning expressed that she had no intention of dating in college.


    Lu Lu revealed a look of anticipation and said, ��If I meet someone I like, I definitely will.��


    Shen Qingning bluntly replied, ��Only fools fall in love.��


    Who knew, Lu Lu chuckled, showing off her cute dimples, and with a tone full of longing, said:


    ��I really want to be a fool.��


    ...


    (ps: A new month is here��seeking monthly tickets, seeking recommendation tickets!)

 Chapter 34 - 33 I鈥檝e Got Your Back

    Chapter 34: Chapter 33 I��ve Got Your Back


    In the private room, Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu were extremely close.


    As they both leaned down to look at the dice, he could smell the light fragrance emanating from her.


    Well, it��s normal for a beautiful girl to smell nice.


    A man��s scent, on the other hand, would at best be that of laundry detergent.


    But he had heard that if a girl really liked sniffing your scent while dating, she probably really liked you.


    After checking the dice, Cheng Zhu gently closed the shaker.


    ...


    What surprised him was how quickly this voice actress had grown; she was already using external distractions, pretending with an amazed expression as if she had rolled extraordinary dice.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her, compliantly nodding slightly and even covering her face with his hand, as if he didn��t want the others to see her expression and reveal the strength of our dice.


    And to think, Lin Lu had always found dice games boring and never thought they were fun.


    Yet, tonight, she found it incredibly thrilling and really good fun, putting her in a great mood.


    Being with a man of Grandmaster caliber has that effect; not much else to say, it definitely boosts your spirits.


    On the other side, glasses-wearing Wang Wei pushed his wooden-framed glasses up his nose, looking tense.


    There was a trend back in the day for wooden-framed glasses, though their popularity had declined.


    He was about to roll the dice when he heard Liu Hongjing say, ��Little Cheng��s side had Lin Lu roll; we��ll have me roll this time and use my roll.��


    Saying this, he pushed his shaker towards Wang Wei.


    Wang Wei took it and saw triple sixes inside!


    Liu Hongjing had rigged the roll.


    Everybody��s attention was on the drama king Cheng Zhu and queen Lin Lu, so for a moment, nobody noticed Liu Hongjing and Wang Wei��s slight of hand.


    Suddenly feeling confident with his triple sixes��essentially six 4s��Wang Wei thought arrogantly, ��Ha, six fours, this��ll crush you!��


    ��I have triple sixes, how can I lose?�� Wang Wei thought confidently, sure he��d win.


    His dice were: one one one four four.


    Cheng Zhu��s dice were actually decent too: one one one two three.


    But the moment he closed the shaker, he was already cheating again.


    He turned to Lin Lu and said, ��You remembered the numbers, right? Okay, you can��t look anymore, lest your expression gives away our dice strength!��


    ��Okay!�� Lin Lu was now utterly compliant to Cheng Zhu.


    Per the rules, Wang Wei��s team had lost the last round, so they called first.@@@@


    Wang Wei didn��t bother with tactics this time, simply calling out, ��Three 4s!��


    Cheng Zhu glanced at him and said casually, ��Three 1s.��


    ��Damn!�� Wang Wei and Liu Hongjing cursed internally.


    This jerk suddenly calling 1s? Their triples were wasted!


    If 1 is called, it��s no longer a wildcard. Wang Wei��s count went from six 4s to just two.


    ��So confident, he must have 1s. We have three, and he��s adding one!�� Liu Hongjing, acting as the Think Tank, whispered to Wang Wei.


    ��Four 1s!�� Wang Wei shouted.


    ��Add one,�� said Cheng Zhu coolly.


    Liu Hongjing analyzed again softly, ��If he was bluffing from the start, he wouldn��t dare call five 1s. He must have several. Damn it, just go higher!��


    ��Six 1s!�� Wang Wei nearly broke his voice, feeling desperate.


    Lin Lu was getting nervous listening to this.


    But really, shouting about six 1s in the final round was indeed thrilling.


    Cheng Zhu leisurely opened his shaker, seemingly pondering which number to call, but actually manipulating his dice again.


    As everyone knows, many magicians have accomplices.


    You��re my only accomplice, a sign of my ultimate trust in you!


    See, you were the one rolling the dice after all!


    In a way, he was just bluffing at the table, cheating actually.


    But that��s not how you say it; I performed a magic trick for you, which sounds rather romantic!


    Suddenly, Lin Lu felt a little disheartened, her heart racing as she faced the gaze of this ��little brother��.


    A subtle atmosphere had started to stretch between the two.


    However, at this moment, Liu Hongjing and Wang Wei couldn��t sit still.


    ��Impossible! I don��t believe he got seven 1s!��


    ��There must be an issue; those odds are too low!��


    Both had drank a bit during dinner and were slightly tipsy.


    And you should see how men usually act carefree but become ridiculously nitpicky over drinks at the table.


    What��s worse, they��re the type to force others to drink while being bad drinkers themselves.


    Liu Hongjing was utterly speechless; damn it, he purposefully set up a triple and still Wang Wei lost?


    At that moment, Lin Lu felt like she was being questioned, since she was the last to roll the dice.


    But as a witness to the ��magic,�� she didn��t feel confident enough to argue back.


    Indeed... there definitely was an issue.


    Cheng Zhu, however, couldn��t care less, just thinking about arguing with them.


    He even deliberately rolled the seven 1s just awaiting their complaints.


    ��Little Cheng, little Cheng, been calling me that all night,�� he cursed internally.


    Damn it, ruining the atmosphere I was just creating with Lin Lu.


    I��m going to show you who��s boss at this table today!


    Cheng Zhu picked up the shaker and methodically started dropping the dice back in one by one.


    As he did this, he said, ��We were all watching during the game.��


    *Clack,* a dice went in.


    ��You have doubts about my skills, fine.��


    *Clack,* another dice went in.


    ��How about this then? Let��s drop the group game. One of you come out and face me alone, Lin Lu will still roll the dice, and we can only check them once they��re rolled, no chance to tamper then.��


    ��Five rounds, three wins, whoever loses, drinks half a bottle of wine.��


    Holding the shaker in one hand, he gently shook it, the striking sounds clear in the quiet room.


    Earlier, he had taken down eight people single-handedly, pushing his momentum ever upwards, now at its peak, his presence overwhelming!


    Little trash, dare to play?


    One-on-eight is a bit about luck, so I��m giving you a task; in a one-on-one, I��ll play you to death!


    Understand the value of a Drink King?


    Today, you��re going out of this room door sideways!


    Lin Lu sat beside him, watching his sharp profile, her large eyes twinkling.


    Right now, the young girl was not thinking about the cheating, because that��s how human thought patterns work: People think from their own perspective.


    Since she had rolled the dice and had just been silenced by accusations, she suddenly thought:


    ����He��s supporting us!


    ��Ah, I think I might be getting a little bad,�� she felt as if the little devil inside her was about to jump out.


    ��But, today was really, really fun!��

 Chapter 35 - 34 Let Me Do It

    Chapter 35: Chapter 34 Let Me Do It


    As Cheng Zhu��s words fell, the atmosphere in the private room began to change, a hint of gunpowder entering the air.


    But this is how men of this age drink, they just love to trash talk each other.


    Even men in their forties and fifties do the same.


    Shen Minglang, being both the captain and the cousin, obviously had to step up at this time.


    ��What the hell are you talking about! Drink the alcohol first, you agreed to the bet, now drink double!��


    ��Eight people lost, and you still have the face to whine, you can��t shirk the alcohol for sure. Even if you want a one-on-one challenge, you have to finish the penalty drinks first!��


    ...


    With that, the birthday boy ran over happily, lined up eight cups on the table, and poured the alcohol evenly into them.


    As he poured, he continued to curse, ��Damn it, it��s only a bottle split between eight people, yet you��re saying there��s something wrong with our dice. I don��t even trust your roll of triple sixes. Do you want me to pull up the surveillance from the private room?��


    No sooner had he finished speaking than a fair and slender hand reached over before Shen Minglang even noticed and took away a glass and drank the contents.


    ��Huh? Ningning, why did you drink it just like that?�� Shen Minglang finally realized that Shen Qingning had drank so decisively on her own.


    He had planned to drink for his sister.


    Moreover, there were five men in Shen Qingning��s group, and Shen Minglang felt that these rookies should be the ones to help drink.


    Shen Qingning shook her head, glanced at Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu, and said, ��It��s fine.��


    Hearing this, Shen Minglang didn��t say much more.


    He knew about Shen Qingning��s alcohol tolerance.


    Their father, who seemed to be surfing the net all day, had learned something online one day and called the two siblings over for a drink.


    They ended up drinking for several days straight.


    First beer, then wine, followed by spirits, and liquor...


    And his tolerance was good; he was always the one to get the siblings drunk.


    One day, he finally said to Shen Qingning with all seriousness, ��Ningning, Daddy asked you to drink with me for so many days because I wanted you to know your own limit, to know if you��re drunk. That way, if you really need to drink in the future, you��ll have an idea, and Daddy can rest a little easier.��


    After saying that, he didn��t even spare his son a glance, continuing the father-daughter bonding.


    Shen Minglang: ��???��


    So I��m just here for show, am I?


    Of course, it was also for this reason that Shen Minglang understood Shen Qingning��s alcohol tolerance.


    ��Better than the average girl, but definitely not up to those who run wild in the world of alcohol,�� he thought to himself.


    Shen Minglang even thought, ��It��s normal for her to want to drink a bit on her beloved brother��s birthday, she��s happy after all.��


    With me here, what could possibly go wrong?


    Seeing Shen Qingning drink voluntarily, if the guys like Liu Hongjing kept cursing and refusing to drink, it would indeed be embarrassing for them.


    The voice actress girl was so excited, she felt like her ��Ren Du meridians�� were cleared by her master.


    Time flew by in the rotation of cups and dice games, and such moments of showing off always passed in the blink of an eye. It was almost midnight.


    Although Cheng Zhu had high skills and could cheat, it didn��t mean he could win every time in this game. There was still the possibility of losing.


    After five rounds of [World War], their team had lost one round, and the other team had lost four. It was quite an impressive outcome.


    Shen Minglang was so boisterous towards the end that he started to say, ��Oh, I��m so thirsty!��


    He felt that this birthday party was awesome!


    Jiang Wanzhou, at the end of the last round of games, remembered something, ��Shen Minglang, we still haven��t eaten the birthday cake!��


    ��Oh, right, right, it��s almost midnight, I almost forgot!�� said Shen Minglang.


    He had arranged for the cake shop to deliver the birthday cake directly to the front desk here, then had the service staff put it on ice.


    They had been so caught up in the drinking games that they had completely forgotten about cutting the cake.


    Of course, it didn��t really matter whether they ate the cake or not. What was important was to make a birthday wish!


    So Shen Minglang said to Jiang Wanzhou, ��You supervise their team��s drinking. Sun Yue, come here and help me unwrap the cake.��


    ��And you, Ningning, don��t drink anymore. I��ll drink for you later!�� He also reminded his sister.


    Shen Qingning was already blushing, feeling a little dizzy.


    Her alcohol tolerance was quite good among women, but she was already feeling the effects of the alcohol.


    Not to mention, after drinking, the coldness she usually carried with her instantly dissipated by a large margin.


    Plus, she had that sort of frosty white complexion that glows, and now with the flush from the alcohol, her skin looked even more delicate.


    And it seems that Shen Qingning belonged to those who are slightly allergic to alcohol, the type whose body lacks the enzyme to break it down. They don��t necessarily feel uncomfortable all over as soon as they drink, but their skin turns red.


    Her long, white, and seamless legs were now tinged with a faint redness as if carved from red jade, absolutely captivating.


    At that moment, she flicked back her long hair, ignoring Shen Minglang��s words, and reached for her wine glass.


    However, a large hand extended at that moment, covering her glass.


    Shen Qingning looked up, puzzled, to see the distinct face of Cheng Zhu.


    The two locked eyes for a second, and Cheng Zhu felt her slightly drunken gaze to be particularly alluring.


    There was a strong sense of contrast about Shen Qingning at this moment.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t drink from her personal cup directly, but silently poured her penalty drink into his own, then downed it all.


    Since the rule here was to drink double for someone else, he silently added the same amount of alcohol to his glass and tilted his head back to gulp it down.


    The adam��s apple moved, downing the drink in one go.


    ��Drink less.�� After he finished everything, he said these three simple words to Shen Qingning.


    Then he turned and left the place without having any further interaction with her, immediately returning to his seat.


    Anything more would have been superfluous.

 Chapter 36 - 35: Senior Sister and Junior Brother

    Chapter 36: Chapter 35: Senior Sister and Junior Brother


    Shen Qingning watched Cheng Zhu from a distance until Lin Lu returned from the restroom and sat next to him, only then did she divert her gaze.


    But she still observed Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu��s interactions from the shadows.


    Lin Lu patted her own cheeks with her cold hands and said to Cheng Zhu, ��I just looked in the mirror, and my face is so red!��


    ��You don��t drink pure alcohol often, do you?�� Cheng Zhu looked at Lin Lu, her cheeks indeed flushed.


    But the reddest part of her was actually her ears. The translucent, fair earlobes now felt hot to the touch.


    Lin Lu replied, ��I actually have a very low alcohol tolerance. Thankfully our team didn��t lose much today, otherwise I would have sneaked back home after two rounds to avoid throwing up in the private room and embarrassing myself.��


    ...


    After she finished, she checked the time on her phone and said, ��Oh! It��s almost midnight! I��ll probably leave after we eat the birthday cake.��


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu nodded slightly and said, ��Wanzhou and I agreed on the way here that we��d leave at midnight too.��


    Sitting nearby and eating fruit, Jiang Wanzhou couldn��t help but sneer and said, ��Yeah, we had agreed on that a long time ago.��


    Little President Jiang felt that he had been worried for nothing before.


    ��I was afraid he might be heartbroken after breaking up with Li Xinyue and wouldn��t be able to move on,�� thought Jiang Wanzhou.


    ��Now, it seems like he��s moved on too well!�� Jiang Wanzhou thought annoyedly.


    But honestly, he really admired people with Cheng Zhu��s personality.


    Carefree, unrestrained, generous, and quite gutsy.


    Damn, he had advanced quickly! Complete ultimate evolution!


    A typical high school student, even upon encountering a goddess like Lin Lu, wouldn��t dare to do anything.


    Let alone Cheng Zhu, who comes from an ordinary background, while Lin Lu obviously comes from better circumstances.


    Then, everyone in the private room sang a birthday song for Shen Minglang and shared the birthday cake.


    After midnight, Shen Qingning and Lin Lu prepared to leave.


    Cheng Zhu and Jiang Wanzhou also stood up to say goodbye.


    Seeing this, Shen Minglang rallied everyone to leave the private room together.


    These people were planning to go drink at a third venue and were preparing to hit a nightclub.


    With Shen Qingning not around, he could really let loose.


    For Shen Minglang, external girlfriends couldn��t control him, but a single look from his sister scared him; it was a form of bloodline suppression.


    As everyone was leaving the private room, Shen Minglang draped an arm around Cheng Zhu��s shoulder, warmly saying, ��Cousin, coming to the club?��


    ��No, thanks,�� Cheng Zhu declined.


    Wang Wei: ��...��


    Lin Lu stood by listening to everyone��s conversation, wanting to show some support for Cheng Zhu, and said, ��Send me the link when you have time, I��ll definitely buy some.��


    Shen Qingning did not speak; for some reason, she felt that Cheng Zhu was just talking nonsense.


    Cheng Zhu looked at Lin Lu, smiled, and waved his hands, saying, ��No need, no need, if there��s a chance in the future, I��ll gift you a few sets.��


    ��Gifting me? Your shop is just starting out, so don��t worry about it. Wait until you make big money, I��ll come asking for it myself! Hehe!��


    After a bit of alcohol, Lin Lu became even more lively, walking backward with her hands behind her and smiling brightly at Cheng Zhu.


    ...


    ...


    After calling for a designated driver, the group parted ways at the entrance.


    Shen Minglang was still a bit worried as he saw Shen Qingning had drunk quite a bit.


    Lin Lu immediately jumped in to say she hadn��t drunk much tonight and would be staying with Shen Qingning, so there was no need to worry.


    Shen Minglang then felt relieved and even found a female designated driver specifically at the KTV entrance.


    As for Cheng Zhu, he was too lazy to have the designated driver take a detour in Jiang Wanzhou��s car to drop him home.


    He directly hailed a taxi.


    Inside the white Land Rover Range Rover, Lin Lu and Shen Qingning sat together in the back seat.


    On the way, the tipsy Lin Lu was still excited, chatting away, even saying how she had called Cheng Zhu ��master�� a couple of times, and he had taught her quite a few tricks!


    ��Didn��t you find this kind of event boring last time?�� In the dimly lit car, Shen Qingning��s beautiful eyes stared at her.


    ��Yeah, maybe it was because the people we played with last time... weren��t fun?�� Lin Lu said.


    ��Last time it was just us, you, me, my brother, Jiang Wanzhou, and my cousin who has already gone to work in Beijing,�� Shen Qingning continued to stare at her.


    ��No wonder then, that lineup does sound boring,�� Lin Lu said with a giggly smile.


    Shen Qingning: ��...��


    Why don��t you just say outright that you find Cheng Zhu fun?


    She couldn��t help but say sardonically, ��Let me tell you, Jiang Wanzhou told me that Cheng Zhu is also attending Technology University in Hang City, and will be our junior when the semester starts. And there you are, calling him ��master�� all the time.��


    ��Really?�� Upon hearing that, Lin Lu��s spirited eyes brightened even more, as if gleaming with light.


    ��That��s great! Later on, I can call him ��master��, and he can call me ��senior��, and we can mind our own business, hehe!�� the cheerful voice actress said jovially.


    Shen Qingning was speechless; your calling him ��master�� really rolls off your tongue conveniently.


    At that moment, Lin Lu suddenly said, ��How come he never told us that he��s going to the same university as us? That��s not okay��I��m going to talk to him about it now!��


    Shen Qingning: ��...��

 Chapter 37 - 36 I Just Won鈥檛 Add Friends

    Chapter 37: Chapter 36 I Just Won��t Add Friends


    Inside the white Land Rover, slightly tipsy Lin Lu lifted her cell phone to show Shen Qingning.


    ��Ningning, look at the WeChat nickname I set for Cheng Zhu,�� Lin Lu said.


    Shen Qingning looked down and saw the nickname: Mentor Cheng Zhu.


    ��When did you change it?�� Shen Qingning said speechlessly, thinking it was quite childish.


    ��I did it while we were in the private room,�� Lin Lu explained. ��Remember how everyone started to drink a bit too much later on and did their own thing? I wanted to learn a unique skill from him, like how to... uh, just a little magic trick!��


    She was hoping that next time, if she had a chance to play dice with Shen Qingning, she could use this skill to ply her with drinks, so she quickly corrected herself.


    ...


    ��Magic?�� Shen Qingning was puzzled.


    ��It��s not important!��


    With just those four words, Shen Qingning��s sharp senses picked up: Oh ho! You two have a little secret now, eh?


    ��Anyway, as a price, he asked me to change the nickname and add a ��Mentor�� prefix to show sincerity,�� Lin Lu said. ��Annoying, isn��t it?��


    Shen Qingning was about to say ��He��s pretty childish too,�� when she saw Lin Lu had already started typing a message.


    The voice actress girl narrated like a voice-over as she typed, ��No way, I must make him add the prefix ��Senior�� to my nickname! Humph!��


    She was in high spirits, her face still wearing a smile, as if she was involved in the most impressive endeavor in the world.


    The word ��childish�� got stuck in Shen Qingning��s throat.


    Because she remembered that Lin Lu did sometimes act like a childish spirit, and Shen Qingning just happened to like that.


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu, sitting in a taxi, soon received a WeChat message from Lin Lu.@@@@


    She barged in with a question: ��Are you hiding something from me?��


    Cheng Zhu��s heart tightened: Could it be he was caught helping Shen Qingning drink?


    No, that couldn��t be it. Their relationship hadn��t progressed to that point, and there was nothing to make a fuss about.


    Cheng Zhu decided to play dead and didn��t reply.


    From his understanding of Lin Lu, she wouldn��t be able to hold back and would spill the beans within minutes.


    Sure enough, after just twenty seconds of no reply from Cheng Zhu, Lin Lu typed on her own: ��Roar! You��re also going to study at the University of Science and Technology, and you didn��t tell me!��


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but mutter to himself: ��This little voice actress sure uses a lot of exclamation words when chatting. She wouldn��t be voicing her inner thoughts while typing, would she?��


    Indeed, he had never actively told Shen Qingning and Lin Lu that he was their junior.


    When it was about two-thirty in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu nearly finished his work at hand.


    He opened WeChat and sent the last two sets of seller��s show photos to Ye Zi.


    After looking at them, Ye Zi said, ��I like the last set the most.��


    She was referring to the stepmother dress.


    Of course, such dresses didn��t have such an outrageous name these days; it��s just that netizens were geniuses at naming things later on.


    To Ye Zi, the stepmother dress had the most charm out of all the products.


    This woman felt that Cheng Zhu was mostly dealing with peers, and certainly, she couldn��t compare with those eighteen or nineteen-year-old girls in some aspects.


    But the stepmother dress was different; high school graduates couldn��t emulate that vibe.


    Only urban, mature women like herself could pull it off!


    After chatting a bit more with Ye Zi, Cheng Zhu began to message Wang Anquan.


    ��Starting today, I��ll be working on ��Direct Traffic�� for the store,�� he said to Wang Anquan.


    Wang Anquan, originally clueless about e-commerce, had been following Brother Zhu and brushed up on some knowledge and understood that ��Direct Traffic�� meant spending money to promote products.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu was planning to operate in the grey zones, which involved many tricks; he didn��t plan on teaching Wang Anquan all of that just yet.


    Cheng Zhu had taken a moment to check out the store of Wang Wei, the glasses-wearing guy; the store name was what he himself had mentioned the night before.


    Wang Wei had thought that Cheng Zhu, new to e-commerce, would be shocked by his store data!


    Actually, Wang Wei��s store was somewhat in the stage of losing money to shout and climb the ranks, but that didn��t affect him from showing off.


    Cheng Zhu just glanced and immediately thought to himself: ��Just this?��


    ��How could he dare to share his store name publicly?�� Cheng Zhu wondered.


    If he were Wang Wei, he would never reveal the store name if asked, it was too embarrassing, let alone proactively sharing it himself.


    Had it been in his past life, when such company people came to ask Cheng Zhu for advice, the meal would be set at a high price, and several bottles of Moutai would need to be prepared, with a humble toast at the table.


    Upon receiving Cheng Zhu��s WeChat message, Wang Anquan replied immediately: ��Brother Zhu, does this mean we��re going to have a surge in orders soon?��


    ��How could it be so exaggerated all of a sudden?�� Cheng Zhu found it laughable but said, ��However, we will gradually get busier.��


    ��It��s time to give a little shock with a small order to Guan Yun��s factory boss,�� Cheng Zhu typed.


    ��Alright!�� Wang Anquan was already raring to go.


    He was like a brainwashed man, shouting the store��s internal slogan [Persistent Visit] in his heart,


    ����Use the least fabric to earn the most money!��

 Chapter 38 - 37 Hoping One鈥檚 Father Becomes a Dragon

    Chapter 38: Chapter 37 Hoping One��s Father Becomes a Dragon


    Over the past few days, Cheng Zhu had carved out a bloody path on Taobao��s Direct Train platform with his superb ��black cab�� tactics.


    He could bring in the maximum benefits with the minimal operational funds!


    If Wang Wei, who had spent a considerable tuition on the Direct Train, knew this, he would probably cry with envy.


    But honestly, Cheng Zhu had discovered that Wang Anquan, this little brother of his, was indeed very suited to be a customer service representative at the current stage.


    He was extremely patient with customers and seemed to enjoy the work.


    Unlike Cheng Zhu, who would find it torturous.


    ...


    Anyone who has worked in customer service knows that in this big world, there are all kinds of birds, and the customers really do come with their own unique characteristics.


    He even suspected that some customers didn��t come to buy things at all; they were there to hit on the customer service staff.


    And then there were customers whose thought processes were even more bizarre.


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu received another message from a customer asking, ��What should I do if I buy it and my wife refuses to wear it?��


    Cheng Zhu: ��???��


    Do they seriously need to ask customer service that?


    Should I go help her put it on?


    In fact, he knew that indeed there might be people who would leave a bad review for the store because the user didn��t want to use the product they purchased.


    ��How unjust!


    For the type of inquiry he didn��t feel like handling, he would just pass it to Wang Anquan.


    And sure enough, Wang Anquan really did offer serious and patient advice, like suggesting a romantic candlelit dinner, a trip somewhere close by, preparing a small gift...


    Since Cheng Zhu had mentioned that when answering questions, customer service should try to sound more feminine, this customer really thought there was a caring little sister painstakingly thinking of solutions for him.


    ��Female customer service staff really seem quite good!


    ��I wonder what this buyer would think if he knew that on the other end was a high school graduate who��s never even held a girl��s hand, teaching you how to get your wife to dress up voluntarily,�� Cheng Zhu mused.


    He checked the date; it was already August.


    ��Time sure flies.��


    The reason Cheng Zhu glanced at the time was not to calculate when school would start again,


    but because it wouldn��t be long before his uncle would come to the house to scam money.


    Though he had been very busy lately, he never forgot about this matter.


    ��My uncle is a standard gambling addict,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    He had always believed that gamblers do not end well.


    Don��t be fooled; even though Cheng Zhu made his first pot of gold from the World Cup finals, it was because he was a reborn cheater, playing with an advantage.


    ��Being profitable in such conditions would be miraculous.��


    Remember, when everyone thinks it��s a good business, it��s very likely the time it starts to decline.


    But now in 2014, opening a community fresh supermarket is still profitable.


    Of course, a significant reason was that Cheng Zhu��s parents had an advantage; their Yunlai Restaurant was quite well-known in the area, having been open for so many years and familiar with the locals.


    Being restaurant owners already, they also had clear procurement channels.


    ��In the coming years, many online platforms will be in their rapid development phase and can indeed catch the wave,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    ��Parents have this idea but are also hesitant because that��s the dowry prepared for me, which they would consider carefully, and they haven��t found the right location yet.��


    ��Doing business certainly shuns rushing into things blindly.��


    However, Cheng Zhu remembered clearly that in a few days, a small supermarket in the community that had been open for many years would be up for transfer.


    This memory was quite vivid to him.


    That��s because in his past life, he used to buy cigarettes from that store, and he was quite familiar with the owner.


    He was too scared to buy cigarettes at a nearby store, fearing the neighbors he knew well would tell his parents.


    Despite seeming fearless outside, he was actually quite intimidated by Cheng.


    He was raised strictly by his father and wasn��t spared from scolding.


    Curiously though, Cheng Zhu was a bit of an anomaly. Some kids become more obedient after a few spankings. But after a few spankings, Cheng Zhu realized he was quite resilient and gained a deeper understanding of his strengths.


    The reason he remembered the store��s transfer so clearly was that he later heard the owner had gotten one of the female employees pregnant.


    After the abortion and a payout, the woman and her family still came by every so often to make a scene, wanting more money. Cheng Zhu had even witnessed it happen once.


    It was quite a typical incident and thus memorable.


    Needless to say, he hadn��t got the girl pregnant, but bizarrely, he drew some life lessons from it.


    ��I remember the transfer fee was pretty reasonable, and it was rented out in just a few days,�� he recalled. When he went to buy cigarettes later, the store��s sign had changed.


    With his current vision, he thought the location was particularly good for opening a fresh supermarket, and he figured his parents would be very interested.


    He just didn��t remember exactly which day the transfer would start.


    ��No matter, I��ll just hang around that area more often,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    Speaking of which, if conditions allowed, he��d quite like to help his parents earn more money, so they could feel more accomplished in life.


    It��s one thing for a son to make money, but it��s a completely different emotional satisfaction from earning it yourself.


    ��I��d just give them a push from behind the scenes,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    Heck, Little Youzi and I might just unwittingly become rich second generations!


    Just then, his phone rang.


    The caller was his mother, Xu Yun, but when he answered, he heard the sweet voice of a little girl.


    ��Brother, I was very good this afternoon. I didn��t have any snacks and got hungry at only five o��clock. Can you come to the restaurant earlier to have dinner with me, huh?��

 Chapter 39 - 38 Everyone鈥檚 18th Birthday

    Chapter 39: Chapter 38 Everyone��s 18th Birthday


    After hanging up the phone from Little Youzi, Cheng Zhu sprinted downstairs.


    Information obtained one: Little sister was hungry.


    Information obtained two: She��d only eat if I got there.


    Cheng Zhu ran faster than a sports student, like a wild dog off its leash.


    August in Hang City was scorchingly hot, so by the time he got to Yunlai Restaurant, he was dripping with sweat.


    Xu Yun looked at him, puzzled, ��Where did you go?��


    ...


    ��I didn��t go anywhere; I just ran here all the way from home. Fast, isn��t it?�� Cheng Zhu was slightly proud.


    Just then, a pair of small hands suddenly appeared, holding two tissues: ��Brother, wipe.��


    Little Youzi remembered her mother��s teaching: after sweating a lot, wipe it off before entering an air-conditioned room, or you might catch a cold.


    Cheng Zhu smiled and didn��t take the tissue but bent down to let Little Youzi help him wipe it off.


    After arriving at the restaurant, he suddenly recalled that he had promised Shen Minglang and Lin Lu to treat them to a meal here if he got the chance.


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu glanced at his sister and couldn��t help but straighten his back, thinking to himself, ��Look at my status in my sister��s heart. Shen Minglang might have to find a place to cry!��


    During the meal, Cheng Zhu ��casually�� mentioned to his mother, ��Mom, didn��t I hear you talking with dad about wanting to open a fresh supermarket?��


    ��Why do you bring this up?�� asked Xu Yun.


    ��I have a classmate whose family runs one,�� Cheng Zhu began to bluff.


    ��Oh?�� Xu Yun got interested.


    ��Seems like the business is doing quite well.�� Cheng Zhu said indifferently, then continued eating with Cheng Youu.@@@@


    Xu Yun took out a bowl of mung bean soup from the fridge and placed it on the table for the siblings, saying, ��Your dad and I indeed thought about it, but we haven��t found a suitable place nearby.��


    ��You kids, don��t worry about these things. Just have fun during the summer vacation, and study hard when you��re at university...�� Xu Yun started her usual nagging.


    But, funny enough, Cheng Zhu didn��t find it annoying; instead, he rather enjoyed listening.


    Speaking of which, Xu Yun worked as a cashier and half a waitress in the restaurant.


    She was replaceable; they could just hire another person.


    She could put all her energy into the community fresh supermarket.


    The restaurant didn��t serve breakfast, so Cheng could help in the morning.


    Cheng Zhu felt that if in the end his parents couldn��t make up their minds to start the business, it would still be okay.


    He would just come up with another plan, surely not letting his uncle swindle the money.


    As the day grew late, Cheng Zhu��s phone pinged, a WeChat message from Ye Zi.


    ��Boss, I checked the store, sales have been pretty good recently, congratulations!�� She had gotten used to calling Cheng Zhu ��boss.��


    Speaking of which, she was a full seven years older than him.


    As for women, even less needs to be said.


    Now it��s 2014, the ethos isn��t like a few years later.


    A few years later, some online platforms are skirting the edges sharply.


    Thinking of quitting looking at lewd stuff? You��d need to disconnect from the internet, it��s all a hindrance!


    Cheng Zhu was well aware, do you think the buyer��s showcase in the comments of these kinds of products is really from buyers?


    Not really!


    The sellers have a bunch of pictures, they just find some customers to help out, send them the pictures, and have them include them when giving a good review.


    The pictures are provided by us. Add some coupons from the shop, and there will be a bunch of people willing to post.


    Ye Zi had been in nightlife, working for a year in bar marketing in Shanghai, then went to a pub to apprentice in bartending before coming to Hang City to become a bartender.


    In her circle of friends, there were no shortages of girls who were open-minded.


    Because in this line of work, they were always eager to add female friends to their social media. If you can bring girls to the party, surely men will come to spend!


    With this in mind, Cheng Zhu suddenly realized he��d overlooked something.


    ��Some pictures don��t even need girls to take; Wang Anquan and I, two big men, can do it!�� he thought to himself.


    The photos didn��t need people, just needed to capture the ��battlefield�� aftermath.


    People tend to fill in the blanks on their own!


    Moreover, asking some male customers to shoot a person, they might be extremely reluctant, but if you ask them to shoot a battlefield to show their ��manly prowess,�� they might get really excited!


    Oh ho, so impressive, discovered by the customer service girl? Ha ha, ha ha!


    Some people, it��s possible they even fake their own battlefield outcomes!


    Like taking a bottle of mineral water and repeatedly spraying the bed sheet.


    �� Oh, men!


    Thinking this, Cheng Zhu immediately sent a WeChat to Wang Anquan.


    Wang Anquan was deeply impressed after reading it.


    ��Brilliant, Brother Zhu, you are truly brilliant!�� he admired him immensely.


    Wang Anquan thought about his classmates, each one either madly in love or hanging out in internet cafes.


    At their age, feeling utterly awesome just for getting a night package at an internet cafe?, bragging all day about getting a triple or quadruple kill in a game! A pentakill could fuel their bragging for a year!


    If they could have girls accompanying them to surf the internet, they might even think they��d won at life.


    Then looking at class monitor Li Rui, who was persistently warm every day.


    And Brother Zhu? He almost had his own QQ picture library now!


    While some classmates were still playing with QQ Show by getting a Super VIP for their QQ account, Brother Zhu was already playing with real-life QQ Show!


    Wild, just too wild!


    ��Our eighteen years and Brother Zhu��s eighteen years seem quite different, don��t they?�� Wang Anquan thought to himself.

 Chapter 40 - 39: Shown Off

    Chapter 40: Chapter 39: Shown Off


    The next day, Brother Zhu called Wang Anquan to his house and asked him to bring his laptop for a meeting.


    Now, Wang Anquan was completely devoted to Brother Zhu and endlessly admired him as a leader.


    He felt this summer vacation had been more exciting than all his previous years combined, especially after the launch of the online store ��Persistent Visit.��


    As a customer service agent, he was having a blast chatting every day��his enthusiasm was even greater than when he used to chat with Chen Rongrong!


    After all, there were indeed many female customers who took the initiative to buy.


    They might start the conversation with the customer service asking, ��I��m a 36D, what size should I buy?��


    ...


    Or, ��I��m flat, but have a curvy butt, how should I buy?��


    For special styles, they would even ask, ��How do I wear this cat tail accessory?��


    How could a young, spirited guy like Wang Anquan handle this?!


    Could he ever chat to this extent with Chen Rongrong?


    ��Man, I love this job!


    Initially, he had thought, ��I seem to have forgotten to ask Brother Zhu about my salary, so I don��t know how much he��ll pay me per month.��


    Now, he didn��t care anymore, as long as he had food to eat.


    Salary or no salary, we are brothers from different fathers!


    Indeed, Brother Zhu wanted him to work in customer service as a form of training.


    In his view, customer service was all about dealing with people of all sorts.


    And selling their type of products meant dealing with all sorts of colorful characters.


    It was just uncertain which direction Wang Anquan would grow into.


    It wasn��t even 2:00 PM when Wang Anquan arrived at Brother Zhu��s house.


    Brother Zhu didn��t own a laptop; he had a desktop computer at home.


    Wang Anquan��s laptop was a graduation reward from his family after finishing the college entrance exam.


    Both of their family statuses were incomparable to Li Rui��s, who had his dad buy him an Alienware laptop right away, which he boasted about non-stop in his classmates�� group.


    Those Alienware laptops are so heavy, but he insisted on carrying it everywhere.


    At this moment, Brother Zhu, dressed in slippers, went to open the door for Wang Anquan.


    After opening the door, he quickly ran to the desktop, mumbling, ��Didn��t we agree on 2:30? How come you arrived at 2:00? I just started this game. Wait a bit.��


    Wang Anquan was very familiar with Brother Zhu��s house; he took out a pair of guest slippers from the shoe cabinet and went to join Brother Zhu, just in time to see him instantly pick Yasuo as his mid-laner.


    The young man��s lips twitched, knowing full well how terrible Brother Zhu was. Even if the team got wiped out, he��d probably still be blissfully farming.


    Happy Wind Man, happy and that��s it!


    Which, naturally, provoked strong protest from Lin Lu.


    Wang Anquan felt like they were flirting with each other.


    After a bit, Brother Zhu got solo-killed again; he put down his headset and said to Wang Anquan, ��I��m going to the toilet, help me farm a bit, just eat the economy.��


    ��Sure.�� Actually, Wang Anquan played much better than him.


    Wang Anquan sat at the computer and habitually put on the headset. After putting it on, he realized, this is Brother Zhu��s senior sister, what do I have to talk to her about?


    He was about to take off the headset, but then he heard a voice coming from the other side.


    Lin Lu, this voice acting girl, started talking to herself like a narrator.


    The first time Brother Zhu duo queued with her in League of Legends, he noticed she loved reciting classic lines of the heroes during the game.


    Because she had a versatile voice, capable of being commanding or sweet, and could sound both like a young girl or a mature woman, there was indeed a unique flavor to it.


    This game, she didn��t pick Malphite; she chose Fiora to play top lane, and at that moment, in a commanding voice, she delivered Fiora��s classic line:


    ��Precision and grace, I am an... artist with my sword!��


    When Brother Zhu returned from the bathroom, he immediately saw Wang Anquan��s flabbergasted expression.


    ��What��s up?�� Brother Zhu was puzzled.


    Wang Anquan hurriedly took off the headset, then respectfully stepped aside for Brother Zhu, treating him as if he were serving a grandmaster, the spiritual leader of men.


    ��That voice, it��s unbelievable!�� Wang Anquan thought to himself.


    He figured many big-name streamers couldn��t match that level!


    Duo queuing with such a senior sister in the game was truly an auditory feast, a sublime spiritual pleasure.


    ��So this is how Brother Zhu lives? Is this his life?�� Wang Anquan felt utterly enlightened from inside out.


    I bow down completely to you.


    If Brother Zhu knew what he was thinking, he��d probably mock him for being pathetic.


    Thinking too small, right?


    You think she just has a nice voice?


    Who would have guessed behind such a lovely voice there was also a flawlessly sweet, beautiful face.


    And buying our QQ products, she even ordered a larger size for her tops!


    After the game, Brother Zhu briefly said goodbye to Lin Lu.


    Lin Lu didn��t forget to send a blessing, ��Good luck with your e-commerce, make big bucks, and send me a few pieces to wear! Bye~��


    Brother Zhu closed the game, put down his headset.


    He had just turned around when Wang Anquan��s expression startled him.


    ��What��s wrong?�� Brother Zhu asked, puzzled.


    ��Brother Zhu, please start a class, I want to listen!��

 Chapter 41 - 40: Lin Lu鈥檚 First Time in Life

    Chapter 41: Chapter 40: Lin Lu��s First Time in Life


    ��Starting class?�� Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but cry and laugh.


    Wang Anquan��s little-boy thoughts during puberty, could Cheng Zhu not see through them?


    It was simply that Cheng Zhu hadn��t planned to show off in front of him, but somehow ended up being shown up.


    Wang Anquan honestly said, ��Brother Zhu, when you went to the bathroom just now, I reflexively put on the headphones, and this senior girl said a line from Fiora, it was so powerful!��


    ��Oh, I forgot to tell you, she��s a voice actor, a voice-over artist.�� Cheng Zhu gave a brief introduction.


    In his view, Wang Anquan was his most loyal lackey and would definitely have the opportunity to meet Lin Lu in the future. A brief introduction in advance was also no big deal.


    ...


    But when Wang Anquan heard this, it was a completely different story.


    ��Voice... voice-over artist? That awesome?�� He hadn��t expected the other party to be a professional.


    Wow, she wore so many hats, she had the campus attribute of a senior sister and the professional attribute of a voice actor.


    If her appearance and figure were also decent, then she would definitely be the kind of girl many in the university could only dream of but never reach!


    With this thought, Wang Anquan suddenly remembered something and asked, ��Brother Zhu, since she��s a voice-over artist, can we find her work online?��


    ��Right.�� Cheng Zhu didn��t even know what works Lin Lu has voiced over.


    He opened Baidu, after typing in Lin Lu��s name, he suddenly realized and cursed with a laugh, ��We are such idiots, of course, she would have a stage name, just like how web writers have pen names.��


    He scrolled down the page and indeed didn��t find anything related to voice acting, but he did see Lin Lu��s name in a forum.


    Speaking of which, it was normal for Lin Lu��s name to appear in the forums of Technology University in Cheng Zhu��s view.


    Even as a man with extensive experience with women, he had to admit that Lin Lu was a top-tier presence in the sweet-girl category.


    But to his surprise, a few posts mentioning Lin Lu also appeared in the forums of Measuring University across from Technology University.


    The Xiasha area of Hang City was a famous university hub with many densely packed schools.


    Some universities were even just across the street from each other.


    ��So Lin Lu has become popular beyond her own school? Is she really that popular?�� This slightly surprised Cheng Zhu.


    He casually clicked on a few posts and browsed through them.


    One of the threads was the legendary ��School Beauty Contest,�� which amused Cheng Zhu.


    ��I think Lin Lu is definitely our Technology��s school beauty. How the hell is there such a long, sweet, and cute girl?��


    The word ��girl�� alone gave Cheng Zhu a sense of the era.


    ��I, Shen Qingning, am the first to disagree! The goddess who drives a Land Rover to school!��


    Ho, there��s even someone holding the banner for the rich and beautiful Shen Qingning.


    ��Cuteness is nothing in front of sexiness. I think Jiang Cen is the real school beauty.��


    Cheng Zhu silently took note of the name Jiang Cen.


    Watching the computer screen, Wang Anquan was even more dumbfounded.


    When decorating, the balcony was also included, surrounded by single-pane glass, turning it into a little sunroom and further expanding the room��s space.


    Here she had set up a very soft and comfortable lounge chair and a small coffee table.


    As the chair swayed, Lin Lu hummed a tune, her fair little legs and feet also lightly swaying in the air.


    She picked up her phone and sent Shen Qingning a video call.


    Just now while playing games, Shen Qingning had texted her, and she had planned to reply after her glorious in-game death, but she got so absorbed in the game that she later forgot about it.


    This gradually made the voice-acting girl understand why so many boys forget to reply to their girlfriend��s texts when playing games.


    As expected, the video call was rejected, and Shen Qingning switched to voice call.


    ��I��ve said it so many times, don��t just send me a video call all the time,�� Shen Qingning��s cool voice came through.


    ��Girl, it��s because I missed you, that��s right.�� Lin Lu spoke with the tone of an overbearing CEO addressing his delicate wife.


    ��I don��t buy that, don��t pull these stunts,�� Shen Qingning remained cold.


    ��Then which stunt do you buy? I can do any!�� The voice-acting girl was absolutely confident in herself.


    Shen Qingning sighed, ��Use these skills on your future boyfriend instead, I��m not fortunate enough to enjoy them.��


    ��Jeez, I wonder which lucky bastard it will be in the future. Being in a relationship with me must be so comfortable; I can simulate all kinds of women, all kinds of scenarios with my voice, wow!�� Lin Lu began bragging.


    Shen Qingning had no choice but to put up with her, asking, ��Why did you reply so late? Were you taking a nap just now?��


    ��No, I was playing games with Cheng Zhu, I completely forgot to reply.��


    As she spoke, she sincerely adopted the overbearing CEO��s tone again, ��Girl, let��s just say I was wrong this time.��


    ��You were playing games with him? Online or offline?�� Shen Qingning asked with a hint of sensitivity.


    ��Of course it��s online duo queue, what else, playing games together in an internet cafe??�� Lin Lu said.


    Whether intentionally or not, Shen Qingning casually mentioned, ��It��s the first time I��ve seen you duo queue with a guy in games.��


    ��Right!�� Lin Lu appeared to have just realized, immediately saying, ��No, I have to record this!��


    She stood up from the rocking chair, looking for her slippers with bare feet.


    Only then did Shen Qingning remember that Lin Lu kept a record book of moments worth marking in her life.


    Come to think of it, Lin Lu was someone who enjoyed recording life, keen on photography, videography, and keeping a diary.


    This habit started after her grandmother passed away when she was sixteen; before that, she wasn��t like this.


    At the moment, she pulled out a locked notebook from the drawer. After entering a four-digit code on the lock, the notebook could be opened.


    She flipped quickly through the recent entries, where the most frequently appearing content was the name Shen Qingning or the nickname Qingning.


    Soon, she turned to a brand-new page.


    Come to think of it, she hadn��t really thought playing games together was worth noting, so she hadn��t actively thought of recording it. But after Shen Qingning mentioned it, she suddenly felt like she could write it down.


    Lin Lu began to write with her pen: ��August 3, first time duo queuing with a guy in games.��


    After writing, she tapped her little face with the top of the pen and quickly drew a line through the middle of the words ��a guy��, crossing it out.


    Then, she added parentheses below it, and inside the parentheses, she wrote the name Cheng Zhu.

 Chapter 42 - 41 Opening a Store for You

    Chapter 42: Chapter 41 Opening a Store for You


    In the room, Lin Lu continuously lifted the tip of her slipper-wearing jade foot, then put it down again, tapping against the wooden floor.


    She stared at the record book spread out on her desk, and the name Cheng Zhu somehow gave her a weird feeling.


    ��I kind of want to cross him out.��


    But then she thought about it and decided it was better to just write names directly.


    ��Everyone��s friends, after all, friends should be straightforward. If I don��t write names directly, it makes me look like I have something to hide, huh!�� thought Lin Lu.


    Speaking of which, it was she who had initially invited Cheng Zhu to play games.


    ...


    But unexpectedly, both of their skills were equally mediocre, uniquely terrible in their own ways.


    Yet, she wasn��t annoyed, finding their mutual critique of each other��s poor skills quite entertaining.@@@@


    And today, she even learned a new term.


    In a game just now, she executed a useless ��Flash,�� dodging neither skills nor assassination.


    Cheng Zhu caught that death of hers and chuckled, commenting that her move was like a ��flashy relocation to a grave.��


    Lin Lu was infuriated at the moment but looking back now, she found it amusing.


    The voice actress laughed as she closed her record book and put it back in the drawer.


    Since her grandma passed away, she had continued this habit which started when she read a sentence: ��Pausing time is a divine skill, but photography and recording let us peek into the skills of the gods.��


    She felt quite regretful when she saw that sentence.


    She hadn��t taken many photos with her grandma.


    So then, she began to actively document her life.


    It was as if her grandma��s death had changed some of her life habits, affecting drips and drabs of her life.


    ��The departure of a loved one isn��t just a momentary downpour, but a lifetime of dampness.


    Unlike Shen Qingning, who wasn��t into taking photos or videos, initially, Lin Lu often asked to take photos with her, which made her slightly uncomfortable.


    But as she came to understand her idea, the aloof girl gradually became more cooperative.


    And after ending the voice call, what was Shen Qingning doing?


    The reserved girl blanked out for about half a minute.


    Then, she picked up her phone and messaged in her cousins�� WeChat group.


    The group included Shen Ming Lang, Jiang Wanzhou, and a cousin.


    Shen Qingning: ��Do you guys feel something off about Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu?��


    In this group, only the cousin wasn��t in Hang City but worked in Beijing, missing Shen Ming Lang��s birthday due to this, yet he was always the most active in the group.


    Cousin: ��Lin Lu? You mean the voice actress, your sweet friend Lin Lu?��


    Shen Ming Lang: ��What��s the issue?��


    Jiang Wanzhou: ��I also think there��s something off.��


    Cousin: ��By the way, who the hell is Cheng Zhu? No one told me last time.��


    Shen Ming Lang: ��Now that you mention it, I noticed they��ve been less active in the group lately.��


    Jiang Wanzhou: ��Duh, that��s just the most superficial aspect!��


    Cousin: ��What? You have another group without me!?��


    Shen Qingning: ��I think Lin Lu actually enjoys playing with him.��


    Shen Ming Lang: ��What��s so strange about that? I like playing with my cousin too!��


    He ordered a cup of her favorite flavor and specifically added coconut jelly. She didn��t like tapioca pearls but had a special fondness for coconut jelly.


    After paying, while waiting for the milk tea, Cheng Zhu snapped a photo of Little You and sent it to the group, tagging Jiang Wanzhou.


    ��Aren��t you interested in recognizing a god-sister? Little You wants some milk tea, aren��t you going to contribute?��


    Seconds later, Jiang Wanzhou sent Cheng Zhu a large red packet in the group chat.


    The red packet was generous enough to buy two cups of milk tea, effectively treating Cheng Zhu to a cup as well.


    ��He really [I��m crying to death].


    Lin Lu then jumped in: ��Wow, how cute your sister is!��


    Cheng Zhu directly replied, ��What sister? Don��t be disrespectful; call her Auntie Teacher!��


    Shen Ming Lang, always enthusiastic about such topics, also chimed in: ��Ningning was very cute when she was little too, too bad she��s not cute at all now.��


    Shen Qingning saw the message but couldn��t be bothered to respond.


    After the milk tea was ready, Little You, with her milky voice, said to the cashier, ��Thank you, sister.��


    Cheng Zhu, with a stern face, said, ��I paid for it, you should thank me too.��


    ��Thank you, brother,�� said Little You.


    As for Jiang Wanzhou, Cheng Zhu didn��t mention him at all.


    With her milk tea, Little You��s walking pace quickened.


    It didn��t take long for them to arrive at the small supermarket.


    Cheng Zhu had visited two days ago and still hadn��t seen a transfer notice, but today it was posted.


    ��Let��s head back,�� he said to his sister after buying a bottle of water.


    As they quickly returned to the restaurant, the siblings intuitively didn��t enter immediately but found a corner to sit down, waiting for Little You to finish sipping her milk tea before going inside.


    Just then, a table of customers had finished their meal, and Cheng Zhu went to help his mom clean up the table.


    While tidying up, he casually shared what he had seen and heard.


    It was like the usual family small talk �C he talked about his last visit to a supermarket where a girl and an old man had caused a disturbance because the girl had gotten an abortion for the supermarket owner...


    Cheng Zhu chatted like he was performing a stand-up comedy, even playing his own straight man.


    Xu Yun glanced at him annoyed and said, ��Always running your mouth, wonder who you take after!��


    She didn��t say anything else but memorized the fact about the supermarket��s transfer, planning to discuss it with Cheng later.


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu turned his head and saw Little You listening intently.


    He knew she didn��t understand, but in her eyes, any supermarket where you could buy snacks was one of the most amazing places in the world, comparable to a milk tea shop, so she listened even though it made no sense to her.


    Cheng Zhu, contemplatively, asked, ��What kind of shop would Little You want to open when she grows up?��


    The little girl hesitated greatly before making her choice between a supermarket and a milk tea shop, saying, ��A milk tea shop!��


    Cheng Zhu gently tapped her head and boasted in front of their mom, ��That��s fine. When your brother makes money, he��ll open one for you!��


    Xu Yun didn��t take it seriously but smiled and looked at her son, saying, ��Look at you showing off.��


    But Little You was full of anticipation, ��Can we pinky promise?��


    ��Of course,�� Cheng Zhu smiled and extended his hand.


    At that moment, Cheng, having no dishes to cook, came out of the kitchen to drink a bowl of chilled mung bean soup.


    Xu Yun immediately said, ��Cheng, your son is bragging again, saying he��ll open a milk tea shop for your daughter in the future.��


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu immediately raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of antagonism, and said, ��Mom, you��re exaggerating. I didn��t say I��d open the shop just for her.��


    ...


    (ps: Temporarily first on the new book leaderboard, I need votes to secure it! I love being on top.)

 Chapter 43 - 42 It鈥檚 My Fault

    Chapter 43: Chapter 42 It��s My Fault


    Days had passed.


    These days, Cheng Zhu had been exceptionally busy.


    Because the visitor volume at the store ��Persistent Visit�� was increasing daily, he and Wang Anquan had to respond to a large number of customers every day.


    In Guan Yun County, the factory owner supplying Cheng Zhu was named Chen Bin.


    He had now gotten quite familiar with Cheng Zhu.


    Chen Bin never expected that this somewhat ruffian-looking young man could actually sell goods so well!


    ...


    ��He��s running a new store, huh? How long has it been, and there are so many orders every day?�� Chen Bin thought.


    It wasn��t like he had never worked with e-commerce before; he knew how exaggerated this was.


    Just yesterday, their factory��s biggest client had come to the factory, and naturally, Chen Bin had to invite this important client to have dinner at a hotel.


    During the meal, as the drinks circulated and they were on their third round, Chen Bin, driven by curiosity, asked this client, who owned a chain of physical QQ product stores, what level of a new store ��Persistent Visit�� was considered?


    This big client, who had also tried his hand at e-commerce last year and made a mess of it, losing a good deal of money, looked at the ��Persistent Visit�� data and fell silent.


    After a while, he finally said, ��Hey Chen, do you know the operator of this store?��


    ��What��s up?�� asked Chen Bin. ��The store owner didn��t hire an operator; it��s a young guy doing it himself.��


    The man sighed, raised his glass to clink with Chen Bin, and said, ��Then there��s nothing to be done, otherwise I really wanted to poach such a capable operator; the pay would be up for negotiation.��


    With just that short exchange, Chen Bin had a good idea of the situation.


    He couldn��t help but recall the last time they parted, standing at the factory door smoking with this young man.


    The young man had looked around the factory boastfully and said, ��Boss, if our cooperation goes well, expect it next year. You��ll need to hire more people and add a few more lines in this factory.��


    At that time, Chen Bin didn��t take it seriously, chalking it up to a bit of bravado while they smoked.


    Now it seemed, if this store called ��Persistent Visit�� could maintain this momentum, it might just break into the top ten in its category one day.


    ��Damn, it��s still the young folks, sharp-minded,�� Chen Bin repeatedly marveled internally.


    ...


    ...


    The weather in Hang City was hot in the afternoon.


    Cheng Zhu was looking at a negative review in the backend.


    The content of the negative review was: poor gathering effect.


    Cheng Zhu looked at the size purchased by the customer, and indeed, it was the smallest size available.


    Regarding such reviews, he was somewhat helpless.


    ��Damn, we��re selling QQ products, not magic products.��


    ��If your chest is flat like your back, how can it gather well? And to insist on buying this model, isn��t that just highlighting the shortcomings?��


    But as an e-commerce merchant, negative reviews definitely had to be addressed as much as possible.


    Cheng Zhu immediately delegated this task to Wang Anquan.


    Outside, Little You was responsible for knocking on the door.


    Immediately, the voice of Grandpa Xu Chenglin, feigning ignorance, came from inside: ��Who is knocking at the door?��


    ��Grandpa, Grandpa, it��s me!�� Cheng Youu said sweetly.


    After the door opened, a rich scent of chicken soup wafted out, very fragrant.


    ��Shh��, it smells so good,�� Cheng Zhu said immediately.


    ��I stewed a free-range chicken,�� Grandpa Xu Chenglin said with a smile.


    Cheng Zhu had never really understood whether free-range chickens and free-range eggs actually had higher nutritional value.


    All he knew was that free-range chickens and eggs indeed seemed to taste better.


    When Cheng Zhu entered the house, he felt that the living room was still rather cool, but not overly so.


    Obviously, the air conditioner had only been turned on recently.


    Elderly typically only turn on the air conditioner in their rooms during hot days, sparingly using it in the living room.


    It seemed that the elderly couple had timed their grandchildren��s arrival and had turned on the air conditioner in the living room in advance.


    During the meal, although Cheng��s and Grandpa��s cooking skills were inherited from the same lineage and had many similarities, Cheng Zhu still found it incredibly delicious.


    Cheng Zhu really turned into a pig, gobbling up the food until he was stuffed before finally putting down his chopsticks.


    He knew well enough that the elders�� happiness was simple: the more vigorously you ate, the happier they were.


    If he ate less, they would sensitively wonder if there was something wrong with their cooking.


    Once people age, they often become sensitive like children.


    After eating, Grandma went to the kitchen to cut some fruit, while Grandpa seemed to suddenly remember something, stood up, and opened the fridge, taking out two bottles of fresh milk.


    He walked to the sofa with a smile, placing one bottle in front of both Cheng Zhu and Little You with stability.


    Cheng Zhu was somewhat used to this; apart from last week, he had been visiting almost every week, and each visit included fresh milk, obviously prepared specially by his grandpa.


    Little You was busy watching TV, not bothering with the milk.


    Cheng Zhu immediately opened the bottle and was about to gulp it down.


    After one sip, he realized something was off.


    The fresh milk��s shelf life was too short; it seemed to have expired. It was probably prepared for Cheng Zhu last week, but he had been too busy to visit.


    Though Cheng Zhu tried to hide it well, Grandpa Xu Chenglin still noticed something was amiss and checked the bottle, annoyingly saying, ��Oh my, my mind, it��s been over ten days.��


    He wasn��t upset about the money but annoyed that he had given his beloved grandson spoiled milk.


    The elderly man quickly got up to pour water for Cheng Zhu, muttering continuously, ��Oh, I��m so forgetful, really so forgetful.��


    ��Look at you, almost half a month without a visit, and when you do, your grandpa serves you expired milk.��


    He began to repeat those few words, ��I��m so forgetful... I��m so forgetful...��


    Listening to these words, Cheng Zhu felt an inexplicable pain in his heart.


    He thought it was time to hire more staff; many tasks didn��t need his direct involvement. He needed to free up time to continue visiting his grandparents at least once a week.


    Because Cheng Zhu knew deep down, it wasn��t the elders�� fault for the expired food...


    ��It was you who came back late.

 Chapter 44 - 43: The Greatly Shocked Boss Shen

    Chapter 44: Chapter 43: The Greatly Shocked Boss Shen


    After about two minutes, Cheng Zhu��s grandma brought in a plate of sliced oranges from the kitchen.


    Xu Yun glanced at her parents and told them she needed to talk with them about something. The three of them went into a room together, while Cheng Zhu and Little Youzi watched TV in the living room.


    This made Cheng Zhu more certain than ever that his mom must really be there to borrow money.


    At that moment, ��Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf�� was playing on TV.


    Thus, Cheng Zhu kept Little Youzi company watching TV for about ten minutes, his main focus on the later very popular Boiling Sheep character.


    Boiling Sheep was all over Mei Sheep, but Mei Sheep, even when Grey Wolf wanted to cook them, despised the thought of being in the same pot as Boiling Sheep.


    ...


    Just then, the door to the room opened and he glanced back to see his mother��s eyes were slightly red, and his maternal grandfather, Xu Chenglin, was gently patting her shoulder.


    Cheng Zhu knew his mother��s tear ducts were shallow and she cried easily.


    He guessed his maternal grandparents had said something personal, and she couldn��t help but let her emotions show.


    ��It reminds me,�� Cheng Zhu thought, ��that Mom still receives a red envelope every year for New Year. Our grandparents give her one.��


    ��Every time she refuses it, Grandpa will glare at her, saying, ��Who says that when a daughter is married off, her father can��t give her money to spend?''��


    The family sat in the grandparents�� home for another half-hour before leaving.


    During that time, everyone was watching cartoons with Little Youzi.


    It wasn��t until they were in the car that Xu Yun mentioned to Cheng Zhu, ��Remember that small supermarket you brought up last time that was up for transfer? Your dad and I went to take a look and decided to take over it to open a fresh produce store.��


    ��Really?�� Cheng Zhu instantly showed a surprised expression. He thought he could be a candidate for an acting textbook for the Beijing Film Academy.


    Xu Yun didn��t notice anything amiss and nodded, saying, ��Your dad and I figured while we��re still able to work, we should do more, because when we��re older, we might have the desire but not the strength.��


    Cheng Zhu returned to his usual jesting demeanor and said, ��Don��t work too hard either. Your son is destined to achieve great things in the future.��


    ��Your nature!�� Xu Yun laughed, but she didn��t continue the subject, merely adding, ��Then I��ll look forward to it a little.��


    Cheng Zhu��s parents weren��t like some parents who prefer to use a form of ��destructive�� education.


    They wouldn��t undermine their child��s self-confidence.


    In Cheng��s view, a man without ambition couldn��t accomplish great things.


    He indeed couldn��t earn much money, not enough to be a strong backing for his son. But the least he could do was to not always negate his child and stoke his sense of insecurity.


    After arriving home, Xu Yun asked Cheng Zhu to take Little You upstairs to wash up, as she still needed to go to the restaurant and discuss matters with Cheng.


    Cheng Zhu nodded, taking Little You by her small hand to go upstairs.


    During the gaps when Little You was brushing her teeth and bathing, Cheng Zhu turned on the computer and checked the back-end of his online store.


    These days had gotten busier for Cheng Zhu because he had been trying to create a hit product for his store, ��Persistent Visit.��


    This was a fairly common operational approach.


    The product Cheng was now mainly pushing was the ��stepmother skirt.��


    This skirt looked normal at the front, but the focus was really on the back and the side slits.


    Cheng Zhu had a simple reason for promoting this skirt. The name ��stepmother skirt�� had become popular only recently, coined by mischievous netizens in a wave of random naming.


    He had to admit, the mere three words carried a sense of taboo that hit people right in the face.


    ��Fine, I won��t tell anyone the store name. You��re not selling something dirty, are you? Ha ha ha!�� Shen Minglang joked.


    Cheng Zhu knew that although Shen Minglang was cynical in nature, he was someone who took his promises seriously. So, he sent the link to the store.


    And then, good heavens, Shen Minglang didn��t reply to his WeChat messages for a full fifteen minutes.


    ��Is it that interesting?�� Cheng Zhu wondered.


    Then he checked the back-end and saw Shen Minglang frantically placing orders.


    ��Buying everything?�� Cheng Zhu was slightly startled, ��Generous indeed!��


    That little internet celeb was going to be busy; tough days lay ahead.


    Meanwhile, within a certain villa in Hang City, Shen Minglang was genuinely cheerfully opening his wallet.


    He was stunned upon entering the store.


    ��What the hell, this is like a miraculous shop!��


    ��Good job, Cheng Zhu! Is this the sporty style you��re talking about?�� Shen Minglang exclaimed in surprise.


    And sure enough, because of Cheng Zhu��s superb Photoshop skills, and the fact that the QQ model��s seller show generally made the real person��s photos look sort of like virtual characters, somewhere in-between virtual and real, even Shen Minglang did not recognize the model was Ye Zi.


    He first checked out the store��s best-selling style.


    ��Not bad at all, hasn��t been that long and this one��s monthly sales have already broken a thousand?��


    ��Wow wow wow, this style is cool, looks full of charm, then, dammit! The back is entirely full of fun and games, very playful!�� Shen Minglang was undoubtedly a connoisseur.


    But when he saw the name of the style, he was drinking water and almost sprayed it out.


    ��Stepmother skirt?!��


    ��Unbelievable! Damn brilliant!��


    ��Where did the naming genius come from? How did they come up with this?�� Shen Minglang was dumbfounded.


    Though he was cynical, he was still influenced by his family.


    Shen Minglang knew very well that a good product name could aid in subsequent promotion and marketing.


    Initially, he had regarded Cheng Zhu as a reliable ��bad influence,�� full of little tricks, entertaining talk, and someone who was fun and uninhibited.


    But now, he realized that his cousin was no ordinary person.


    ��What kind of 18-year-old high school graduate is like this?��


    When he graduated from high school, what sort of person was he, what were his classmates like �C was he not aware?


    Back then, with the red envelope his family gave him upon graduation, he impulsively spent tens of thousands of yuan on ��Dream West Journey,�� and when he quit the game, he even made a bit of profit, thinking himself incredibly cool!


    Now compared to that, it really was a case of ��goods should be thrown out when better ones are found, people should give up when someone better is found.��


    Dare to bet on a 0:0 in the World Cup, able to think of selling this thing on e-commerce, and also able to cook up so many little tricks and little gimmicks...


    ��My cousin, geez, he��s a bit wild!�� Shen Minglang was eye-opened.


    After being shocked to the core, a thought that seemed both ridiculous yet not so funny struck Shen Minglang:


    ��He couldn��t actually be a business prodigy, could he?��


    He heard his own father mention such people, saying how they have their own way of doing things at a young age and have limitless potential for the future.


    ��When you encounter such a hidden dragon, even a simple guy like you could afford to flatter them a bit.�� Those were his father��s exact words.

 Chapter 45 - 44: Sneaky

    Chapter 45: Chapter 44: Sneaky


    At night, after Shen Minglang had bought every product from ��Persistent Visit,�� he even went to give Cheng Zhu a piece of his mind.


    ��Cousin, why didn��t you tell me earlier about selling such great stuff? What��s the meaning of this?��@@@@


    Cheng Zhu replied, ��I was worried about your health.��


    ��Come on! I��m only a few years older than you, in the prime of manhood!�� Shen Minglang protested.


    ��Totally understand, totally. Otherwise, why would you have bought everything?�� Cheng Zhu didn��t mind giving a few insincere remarks when facing a customer.


    You managed to buy everything, cousin, which makes me happy. With such healthy ��kidneys,�� great ��kidneys.��


    ...


    After chatting for a bit longer, they both went off to do their own things.


    Shen Minglang also took the initiative to promise Cheng Zhu that he would keep his store a secret.


    He asked himself, if he were in this line of work, he would also maintain some mystery at the beginning.


    Of course, once you make big money, it doesn��t matter anymore. In this day and age, as long as it��s legitimate business and you can make big money, then you��re awesome!


    After Cheng Zhu had finished up his work, he lay down in bed.


    He thought it was time to hire more people, and then rent a place to set up a studio.


    ��The trend is good now, and because we��re leading the fashion, we can definitely launch a hit product in August.��


    ��By September, we might even get a flood of orders.��


    ��Need to prepare early,�� he thought.


    Wang Anquan had now become a seasoned QQ industry customer service representative. Having him train new recruits wouldn��t be much of an issue.


    As for whether to hire women or men as staff... of course, hire men!


    In our line of work, we need men to do it!


    Only men truly understand men!


    Some young, shy female customer service representatives can��t really open up when dealing with male customers.


    Not like male service reps, cursing the client as an idiot while chatting away happily.


    Cheng Zhu decided he would rent a place in the next few days and then buy some inexpensive computers.


    Time flew by, and it was the day for Shen Minglang to receive his order.


    He had thought the delivery would be local, but it turned out to be shipped from Guan Yun County.


    After noticing this detail, he went to ask Cheng Zhu about it.


    Cheng Zhu told him that he had partnered with a factory; they would ��drop-ship�� items for him, so he didn��t need to rent a warehouse or hire staff.


    Boss Shen gave it his high praise: ��Quality stuff!��


    He took out his phone, snapped some photos, and sent them to the little internet celebrity Sun Yue.


    The internet celebrity replied with a ��Don��t wanna!�� followed by a shy emoji.


    Understood, she really wanted to wear it.


    After doing all this, Shen Minglang had a sudden stroke of brilliance.


    He had no experience in e-commerce, so he had no real concept of the achievements of a store that had just started up.


    ��But Wang Wei knows about this stuff!��


    ��He burnt quite a bit of money, like paying tuition fees at Taobao. Recently his dad has been signing him up for classes; at his age, he still freaking needs to go to school, it��s laughable,�� Shen Minglang thought to himself.


    Right now, Shen Minglang was simply very curious about what point a high school graduate could reach with his business during the summer holidays.


    ��Cheng Zhu had said last time that he won some money on the World Cup Final, which made him think of starting a small business for fun,�� Shen Minglang thought.


    ��I really want to see to what extent he��s managed to ��play��.��


    Shen Minglang picked up his phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message to Wang Wei using a standard pretext that began with:


    ��I have a friend...��


    Listening to his lengthy description, Wang Wei replied, ��Brother Lang, your friend isn��t actually you, right? If you��re really selling these, remember to send me a few.��


    ��It��s not me; I��ll show you my order screenshot��I bought every model.�� Shen Minglang said.


    ��Jealous of Brother Lang��s fairy-tale life.�� Wang Wei was pretty sycophantic to Shen Minglang; he was the sort of person who acts tough with those below and overly flattering with those above.


    The Shen family and his were not on the same level.


    Real good buddies wouldn��t talk like this. After seeing you bought these things, they would most likely rib you a few times, saying something like: Are you spending that much blood, sweat, and tears for just a few seconds of pleasure? Wow, son, you really know how to live it up!


    Shen Minglang texted: ��Cut the crap, the store��s name is ��Persistent Visit��, check it out for me.��


    ��Sure, I��ll have a look.��


    In these days of big data, the various statistics of others�� businesses were pretty open for those in e-commerce to inspect, all of which could be found if one looked.


    Things like ��Business Advisor,�� ��Sheng-e-Jing��, and such software provided this functionality.


    Wang Wei said he��d take a quick look but ended up staring at it for over ten minutes.


    Shen Minglang felt it was just like his own initial reaction.


    ��Damn, he better not be busy placing an order now, right? What��s he buying, several models?��


    After quite a while, Shen Minglang finally received his WeChat message.


    Wang Wei had indeed been studying the store��s data, looking more and more meticulously, increasingly seriously, and finding it more and more unbelievable.


    ��Such skill!


    This prompted the goosebumps-raising Wang Wei to send a WeChat: ��Brother Lang, can I invite you and your friend to a meal?��

 Chapter 46 - 45: Female Internet Celebrity

    Chapter 46: Chapter 45: Female Internet Celebrity


    Wang Wei was very clear about his intentions, as long as Shen Minglang could get his so-called friend to come out for a meal, he could choose the venue.


    Wang Wei took the initiative, ��Brother Lang, how about going to Osmanthus Tree House?��


    The average cost per person at this restaurant was over a thousand, it was not cheap.


    If they ordered a good bottle of wine as well, the meal would cost quite a bit.


    Shen Minglang was no fool, he could tell from Wang Wei��s reaction just how impressive this new place called ��Persistent Visit�� really was.


    He ignored Wang Wei��s dinner invitation and instead typed, ��From the sound of it, this place isn��t bad?��


    ...


    ��It��s more than not bad, this place could blow up with orders at any time!�� Wang Wei still had some perceptiveness.


    ��The operations of this restaurant are amazing, very amazing!�� Wang Wei added.


    This only confused Shen Minglang further.


    Cheng Zhu was just a high school graduate, where did he get such capabilities?


    Maybe someone in his family was involved in e-commerce? Or had he received guidance from a master?


    But no matter the reason, the results showed that the young man definitely had some serious skills.


    On the other hand, Wang Wei, who was given a substantial sum of starting capital by his family, frequently joined them in seeking advice from major e-commerce bosses in Hang City and was even taking courses recently, hadn��t achieved much.


    Useless as a log!


    Shen Minglang couldn��t help but think of the day of his own birthday party, when Wang Wei was showing off in front of Cheng Zhu, trying to offer him some advice.


    Thinking back now, with his tone and demeanor, coupled with today��s chat record... Damn, how come I feel like there��s a copy of your ID in my deck of cards?


    He replied dismissively to Wang Wei, ��I��ll ask him about the dining thing when the time comes.��


    He had no intention of asking Cheng Zhu at all, since Cheng Zhu kept even the name of the shop a secret, not wanting others to know. There was no way he would come out to dine with you.


    Unaware Wang Wei immediately typed, ��Alright then, thanks Brother Lang! I��ll buy you a drink another day!��


    ��Drinks are fine, I��m available anytime.�� Shen Minglang readily agreed on that matter.


    ��Sure, and when the time comes, call your cousin over too,�� Wang Wei added, ��I meant Little Cheng.��@@@@


    Wang Wei was holding a grudge, looking for an opportunity to regain face after a shameful drinking bout last time.


    Shen Minglang, looking at the WeChat messages, found it more and more amusing.


    Shen Minglang looked at her, puzzled, ��Why do you ask?��


    Shen Qingning thought to herself, ��Yes, why do I ask?��


    She put down her fork and said, ��I��m done eating.��


    Then, she got up from the dining table.


    As Shen Qingning walked upstairs to her room, she thought, ��Have I been paying too much attention to them lately?��


    Back in her room, she put on her headphones and then eagerly began reading a romance novel.


    Who would have thought that this unattainable ice queen in the eyes of her Technology University peers, a rich and beautiful girl driving a Land Rover to school, was a hardcore romantic novel fan, refusing to read anything without heart-wrenching drama.


    She had indeed once told Lin Lu, ��Only fools fall in love.��


    The wise do not fall in love, but they can often enjoy a romance novel.


    ...


    That afternoon, Cheng Zhu went out to look at a few properties and ended up renting a house.


    ��It��s only 2014, and the rent in Hang City is already quite expensive,�� he couldn��t help thinking to himself.


    In his previous life, Cheng Zhu had bought a large apartment in Hang City.


    He had just passed by to check it out, and it was still an old community, not yet demolished and converted into commercial housing.


    ��Compared to previous years, the housing prices in 2014 were actually not low.��


    ��But compared to later years, they were indeed cheaper.��


    ��Not to mention housing prices, by a few years later, even the price of gold was significantly higher than in 2014.��


    Cheng Zhu, a talented young man, definitely had friends working in banks who would often post gold prices, urging people to buy gold.


    He had checked the gold prices of 2014 in recent days, which were a whole 200 less than when he was reborn!


    Of course, he had no intention of hoarding houses or gold bars at the moment. He knew how to make money from money, and the next few years presented big opportunities that he needed to seize firmly.


    After renting the house, he also bought a well-configured laptop on his way back home.


    With an extra laptop at home, his parents wouldn��t say much, just assuming Cheng Zhu bought it with his academic scholarship money, at most they��d casually ask about it.


    It��s normal for a college student to have a laptop.


    In the still of the night, just as Cheng Zhu was getting ready to stealthily boost his shop��s profile, he received a WeChat message from Shen Minglang.


    He directly sent several images, all of which were not suitable for viewing alone at night.


    ��Cousin, there��s a female influencer wearing your stepmother��s skirts!��

 Chapter 47 - 46 Please Arrange at Will

    Chapter 47: Chapter 46 Please Arrange at Will


    Cheng Zhu looked at the WeChat picture sent by Shen Minglang, and his first reaction was, ��You old lecher can really do it, huh? Scouting for Pyrex at midnight on Weibo?��


    It��s only 2014 now, and the live streaming industry hasn��t taken off on a large scale yet.


    2016 was called the first year of live streaming by many, but it��s still early days.


    During this period, internet celebrities primarily gathered on platforms like Weibo and even thrived in the QQ Space.


    If Cheng Zhu remembered correctly, internet celebrities now have significant influence and can make a lot of money.


    Take Weibo as an example, if you have enough followers and high engagement, a simple advertisement can easily rake in thousands or even tens of thousands.


    ...


    The top Weibo internet celebrities could quote hundreds of thousands for a single ad post! Comparable to stars!


    Just one top account could bring in revenues worth tens of millions.


    Tens of millions in 2014 was quite considerable.


    Cheng Zhu had researched this industry in his past life and even contacted several well-known companies to get their price lists. He knew the quotes of many big-name V��s that were famous around these times.


    And when he started venturing into the e-commerce industry, he certainly heard of those few female internet celebrities in e-commerce.


    For some big internet celebrities, although there weren��t as many ways to monetize traffic as there would be later, there were still quite a few.


    Opening an online store was one of them.


    Especially in the women��s fashion industry, many successful shops were backed by female internet personalities.


    Among them, Wang Sicong��s former girlfriend was a representative figure here, having earned a fortune in e-commerce and even evading taxes.


    The internet celebrity Shen Minglang sent to Cheng Zhu had only a few hundred thousand followers, likely inflated with a large number of inactive accounts, or zombie accounts.


    Her post included nine pictures, in which she was wearing a stepmother dress from Cheng Zhu��s brand, shot from various angles while tactfully maintaining decency to avoid censorship.


    She was quite the seasoned edger.


    ��Six or seven hundred comments, that��s not bad,�� thought Cheng Zhu after taking a glance.


    He knew well that if a design was good and could set the trend, some internet celebrities would buy it for photoshoots.


    After all, the lesser-known ones were all about attracting attention.


    Cheng Zhu suspected that it was just a coincidence that Shen Minglang had spotted this edgy internet celebrity �C there were likely many more smaller influencers wearing his clothes that went unnoticed.


    And let��s not forget, the internet was full of ��female Bodhisattvas.��


    Or to put it another way, many Fortu-ni-ties.


    ��As long as our clothes set the trends and are cleverly designed, then they��re my free models, my free publicity,�� Cheng Zhu had realized this long ago.


    Don��t underestimate the traffic this could bring. After all, among the lechers who followed them, a portion indeed represented potential customers.


    Someone like Shen Minglang, on a whim, might start searching for the same style.


    ��It seems our Persistent Visit doesn��t just benefit from internal site traffic,�� Cheng Zhu chuckled to himself, pleased with this point.


    He picked up his phone to reply to Shen Minglang: ��Cousin, send me 50 bucks as hush money, or I��ll share the stuff you��re looking at in the group chat at midnight.��


    Wang Anquan watched as Cheng Zhu bustled around and thought, ��Where does Brother Zhu get all this experience from? It doesn��t seem like armchair strategy.��


    Hmm, armchair strategy? Isn��t that the perfect description for us paper pushers?


    He looked at Cheng Zhu who picked up his phone, stood up, and walked outside, clearly about to discuss deeper issues with Chen Bin.


    Outside, Chen Bin said to Cheng Zhu, ��Boss Cheng, let me tell you, many factories here are now producing stepmother dresses. The trend has swept up.��


    ��Brother Bin, I can��t control other factories; just don��t sell these goods to anyone else,�� said Cheng Zhu as he lit a cigarette.


    ��That��s for sure. Our factory��s number one goal right now is to fully supply Boss Cheng,�� Chen Bin replied.


    Despite Cheng Zhu always calling him Brother Bin, Chen Bin wouldn��t go along with that and call him Brother Cheng. He always called him Boss Cheng.


    The patron is giving you face; you don��t really think that by calling him elder, you become his big brother, right?


    Of course, Cheng Zhu didn��t really want to call him Brother Bin either. He always wanted to call him Ah Bin and ask about his high school grades.


    Chen Bin��s intention in telling him all this was to let him know that many businesses were now jumping on the bandwagon, wanting a piece of the stepmother dress market pie!


    Cheng Zhu had already realized this.


    Forget about others, when he was using ��Direct Auction,�� he couldn��t outbid others for the keyword stepmother dress, and the keyword��s price became more outrageous by the day.


    While Cheng Zhu was the first to coin the term stepmother dress, it couldn��t stop others willing to spend big money.


    Because others were willing to burn cash, searching for stepmother dress on Taobao now brought up ads for other stores�� products.


    But fortunately, Cheng Zhu had already accumulated a good amount of sales, and key metrics like monthly sales were impressive, leading to a virtuous cycle.


    Plus, being a master at ��running under the radar,�� he wasn��t worried about traffic for the time being.


    During the call, Chen Bin could sense the calmness of the other party.


    ��Is it that young people lack a sense of urgency, or is he really not worried at all?�� Chen Bin wondered.


    Since starting his factory, he had never dealt with a buyer like Cheng Zhu.


    You just never know what��s going on in his mind.


    After ending the call with the factory owner, Cheng Zhu finished his cigarette by the window, looking into the distance.


    Then, he took out his phone to message Ye Zi.


    He had been so busy lately that he was only able to chat with Lin Lu when he could spare some time, and so he had neglected Ye Zi even more.


    But what do you know, the colder he was to Ye Zi, the more actively she sought him out.


    Ever since the invisible whip appeared, her attributes had been on full display, as if caught in a strange loop.


    And well, Cheng Zhu had once said he really liked the M routine; Ye Zi was utterly convinced of this despite it being bluff on his part!


    Cheng Zhu typed: ��Let��s shoot some new products in the next couple of days.��


    Ye Zi replied instantly, sending three consecutive stickers.


    The first and the third were the same: a shower of flowers.


    Only the middle sticker was different.


    It was a text sticker that read �C ��At your command.��

 Chapter 48: 47: All I Have Are Trump Cards in My Hand

    Chapter 48: Chapter 47: All I Have Are Trump Cards in My Hand


    Ever since her last modeling gig, Ye Zi had been eagerly anticipating a new photoshoot. She��d been looking forward to it for a long time.


    Now, finally, it was time for her to ��suit up�� again!


    During this period, Ye Zi would do some shaping exercises whenever she had free time.


    At the same time, she was also diligently applying face masks to take care of her skin.


    She knew Cheng Zhu was highly skilled at photoshopping, but she still wanted to maintain the best model physique possible.


    Additionally, she was indeed very active in promoting buyer shows for Cheng Zhu��s online store.


    ...


    She enlisted the help of various girls through her own channels to take photos.


    Cheng Zhu even thought about recruiting her into his team.


    Not to mention, the store where she modeled was performing well, and Ye Zi was quite happy about it, feeling a rather unique sense of vanity being satisfied.


    She would often check the sales and rankings of Persistent Visit.


    Seeing it climb steadily, she felt a shared sense of pride.


    The two chatted for a bit on WeChat and fixed the time for the shoot, which was set for tomorrow afternoon at half-past one.


    At night, Ye Zi even made a special trip to the beauty salon for a hydrating treatment.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu and Ye Zi met in the lobby of the hotel they had booked, then took the elevator up, room card in hand.


    Cheng Zhu noticed that, just like the last time, Ye Zi was carrying a big bag.


    And this time, the things inside seemed even heavier and more abundant.


    ��Are you going to need to bring a small suitcase next time?�� Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but say.


    ��Possibly,�� Ye Zi nodded.


    After entering the room, Cheng Zhu immediately said, ��You go change, and I��ll take some shots of the empty room to check the effects. We��re shooting more styles today than last time, so it��s a big task.��


    ��Alrighty,�� Ye Zi agreed and went into the bathroom.


    The efficiency of this shoot was noticeably higher than the first.


    Ye Zi already knew how to work with Cheng Zhu.


    ��Good, hold that, move your thigh a bit more to the right,�� directed Cheng Zhu.


    ��Yes, perfect, tilt your head back a little, hey! Don��t stick out your tongue, there��s no need!��


    Cheng Zhu eventually couldn��t help but praise her, ��Not bad at all, only the second shoot and you already look like a seasoned QQ model.��


    He had spent amateur money and got professional quality.


    Ye Zi gave him a white look, oozing charm as she said, ��I don��t want to be any professional QQ model. I don��t take jobs from others.��


    After they finished shooting two products, both took a short break.


    Cheng Zhu checked the photos on his camera, while Ye Zi symbolically wrapped herself in a bathrobe, crossed her legs in the Lord Erlang��s pose, and lazily hooked her slippers with her toes, staring straight at him.


    According to Ye Zi, although Shen Minglang wasn��t short on funds, he still wanted the bar to do well to save face.


    However, while her body was at the bar, her heart was with the online store. When she talked about the bar, it was ��his bar,�� but when it came to Persistent Visit, it was ��our store.��


    Though the shoot left her exhausted, she also felt fulfilled.


    As night fell, Shen Minglang came to the bar.


    He was a bit puzzled, ��Ye Zi seems to be in quite a good mood today, all smiles.��


    ��Indeed, business at the bar is improving; naturally, she, as a member of the bar, is happy,�� Boss Shen thought to himself.


    Meanwhile, after returning home, Cheng Zhu selected a cover photo for each product for the buyer shows.


    Then, he quickly edited them to perfection.


    These images were about to come in handy.


    Done with that, Cheng Zhu opened Taobao and began searching for his competitors.


    ��Some small shops aren��t worth worrying about, but these big stores are a different story,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    Some stores had been in business for years, with solid fanbases and money to spare.


    They were vying for the top spots in the same category.


    Take the term ��stepmother dress�� for instance; it now attracted significant online buzz, almost becoming a viral sensation, spreading like wildfire.


    As mentioned before, the cost of the keyword ��stepmother dress�� in ��Direct Traffic�� was soaring.


    It was a fierce battle!


    Big stores: You created a great term, but it��s mine now!


    Big stores: Your style is great, I��ll copy it as a tribute.


    Cheng Zhu noted the names of these stores, murmuring to himself, ��Well then, let��s play a game!��


    When his store had risen abruptly, it was like sitting down at a poker table.


    The opponents had stacks of chips in front of them.


    Money, heritage, the number of fans... these were all chips.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t have many chips, and had to win round after round to accumulate slowly.


    But he wasn��t the slightest bit anxious.


    He had made a fortune in his previous life; with his second chance, why fear them?


    In his hands, he held nothing but royal flushes!


    Since they so loved to copy others, it was time they learned just how much more there was to emulate.


    Cheng Zhu opened Weibo and started contacting some bloggers.


    These were individuals he had picked out before.


    Now in 2014, the manga domain was still ruled by Japanese manga.


    But, as time went on, one country��s comics shone in a particular niche, rising remarkably!


    ��Perhaps, you��ve heard of Korean manhwa?��

 Chapter 49: 48 I Suspect Hes Dating

    Chapter 49: Chapter 48 I Suspect He��s Dating


    Korean comics, one of the main reasons countless people struggle to quit lewd content.


    Its unique artistic style has drawn criticism!


    Many people despise the dazzling glow in the comics when they try to read.


    Cheng Zhu, well-informed as he is, had seen a few. There were several Korean comics that still left a deep impression on him and whose titles he could still recall.


    How did he stumble into this world?


    It was because he had a bed partner back then who was a die-hard fan of Korean comics and often brought him along to read, adding to the fun.


    ...


    Sometimes, she even played plot-based games with Cheng Zhu.


    He never understood why the websites where they read these comics always disappeared suddenly, nor did he know where she found them.


    Cheng Zhu��s task was simple, which was to emulate the style of Korean comics and find artists to draw.


    Based on his own photos, and replicating them in comic form.


    When the time came, Cheng Zhu planned to combine the photo and the comic and upload it as a complete seller��s showcase.


    This technique was later adopted by many QQ merchants and was quite effective.


    Some shops even turned it into their standout feature.


    You see, many people just love comics!


    Some people��s preference for them even surpasses that for real people.


    Real people, no ripple in the well.


    Comics, slurping sounds!@@@@


    Years later, after relentless internet exposure, everyone had broadened their horizons but still fell for this trick.


    It was just 2014, and Korean comics hadn��t yet come into their own, let alone reached their golden age��too much for anyone to handle!


    Indeed, if this thing worked well, there would certainly be a crowd following suit.


    That��s just reality...


    �� Wasteland unattended, but once tilled, a battle ensued.


    But what of it?


    ��I have so many trump cards in my hands, I��ll just implement some new tricks by then.��


    ��I��ll simply overtake in the fast lane, so fast you won��t even see my tail lights, just eat my dust!��


    Cheng Zhu, in one go, contacted several little-known artists on Weibo.


    Among them were two who would later become very popular, but for now, they were still unknown.


    This group of artists, well, let��s just say they had a high lech rating.


    Some well-known lecherous artists even made it onto Weibo��s most popular artists list, ranking first.


    He opened WeChat and saw that the artist named Hu Yan had sent images at four o��clock in the morning.


    Cheng Zhu took a good look and nodded slightly, ��Not bad, just a few modifications and it��s ready to use.��


    He guessed this lecherous artist named Hu Yan was probably still asleep, so he simply left a message indicating a few details that needed to be modified.


    After finishing this, he continued to edit images.


    By three in the afternoon, he finally received a WeChat message from Hu Yan; apparently, her sleeping hours were reversed, sleeping till late afternoon.


    Her reply was also very concise: ��I��ll modify it right away!��


    Cheng Zhu liked such efficient people since he himself was someone who handled things briskly without procrastination.


    Procrastination is a difficult condition to cure.


    You want to cure your procrastination, and procrastination tells you to wait a bit more?


    You��d likely really wait.


    Hopeless, almost hopeless!


    It��s even harder than quitting lewd content.


    At five in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu received a message in the WeChat group that Jiang Wanzhou and others had set off.


    Previously, Cheng Zhu had promised to treat them to a meal at Yunlai Restaurant.


    Today was the day he was paying.


    Cheng Zhu had asked his mom to reserve the only private room in the restaurant, to keep it unbooked.


    When Xu Yun heard it was for a friends�� meal, she agreed.


    She and Cheng planned to secretly observe if any among his son��s friends were female.


    Lately, Cheng Zhu was always out early and back late, and whether at the restaurant or home, he was always on his phone.


    Most importantly, he just used his phone, often avoiding family members so they could not see the content of his phone.


    It was so like dating!


    Xu Yun and Cheng had been attentive to this for a while now, and today, since he actively invited a group of friends to dine, Cheng decided to personally serve dishes in the private room, to observe closely!


    Cheng Zhu was of age already; they weren��t opposed to him dating during his adolescence, they were just a bit curious.


    The surveillance team was hereby established, and they resolved to uncover their son��s true colors tonight!


    However, Xu Yun and Cheng had agreed that even if they had solid proof tonight, they would not reveal it in front of their son, acting as though they knew nothing.


    When it was five-thirty, Cheng Zhu saw through the restaurant��s glass that a white Land Rover was reversing into a parking spot at the door.


    As the host for today, he stood up to greet them.


    Xu Yun, busy doing accounts at the cashier, subtly sideways glanced, secretly observing.


    As Cheng Zhu stepped out of the restaurant, the window of the Land Rover��s passenger side slowly slid down, revealing Lin Lu��s delicate face.


    She waved at Cheng Zhu with her usual smile, her cute dimples showing, her eyes curving into a smile, and cheerfully said,


    ��Cheng Zhu, hello! Hello there!��

 Chapter 50: 49: What Does He Have to Rely On?

    Chapter 50: Chapter 49: What Does He Have to Rely On?


    It was just past five in the afternoon, and since it was still August, the sun was blazing brilliantly.


    Golden sunlight shone on Lin Lu��s petite face, making her look all the more charming.


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu finally understood why so many love stories would include the phrase����The sunlight was just perfect that day.��


    The expressions of the Chinese always carry a sense of restraint yet reveal a touch of romance, much like when writing about mountains, one would not only write about the mountains; one must include the flying birds and the white clouds. You clearly noticed her in an instant, she alone filled your eyes in that moment, she stood out so prominently in your world, but you would say: ��That day, the sunlight shone perfectly upon her.��


    Cheng Zhu thought that Lin Lu��s beauty came from the vitality that radiated from within her to the outside.


    These bright, lively eyes and the cute little dimples when she smiled were the finishing touch.


    ...


    Sitting in the driver��s seat, Shen Qingning helplessly wound up the passenger window and said, ��Can��t you greet him after getting out of the car? What��s the hurry?��


    ��He has come out to greet us already, I definitely have to say hello right away!�� Lin Lu quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and then got out of the car with her bag in hand.


    Shen Qingning sighed lightly and hurriedly followed.


    Inside the restaurant, Xu Yun, who was sitting by the cashier, looked through the restaurant��s glass window at the incoming guests.


    Just one glance, and Xu Yun��s gaze was slightly stunned.


    The girl who got out of the car first was full of youthful vigor, extremely attractive and pretty with a hint of whimsy.


    The girl who got out after was entirely different in temperament.@@@@


    She was dignified and elegant, with a strong presence and an unmistakable air of a wealthy heiress, like a luxurious bloom of this world.


    To Xu Yun, these two young ladies were no less beautiful than some of the female celebrities on television.


    ��Where did this youngster meet them?�� Xu Yun couldn��t figure it out.


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu entered the restaurant with the two ladies and briefly introduced that the person sitting at the cashier was indeed his mother.


    Shen Qingning and Lin Lu immediately greeted her in a straightforward and polite manner, ��Hello, Auntie.��


    Nowadays, many young people tend to shy away from their friends�� parents, especially if it��s the parents of a friend of the opposite sex.


    Right now, all Xu Yun could think was, ��These two girls are even more beautiful up close!��


    After exchanging greetings, Cheng Zhu led them into a private room and couldn��t help but say, ��Cousin and Jiang Wanzhou are really slow; you two arrived before them.��


    ��We were just at a nearby hair salon for a wash, so we got here quickly,�� said Lin Lu.


    ��In the private room,�� Xu Yun said with a smile, ��Your Uncle Cheng is going to make you your favorite vinegar chicken in a bit.��


    ��Alright!�� Jiang Wanzhou replied with a smile.


    Shen Minglang took a brief look around the restaurant, a bit more modest than he had expected.


    But he wasn��t the type to categorize friends according to their family circumstances.


    On the contrary, he admired Cheng Zhu even more for his ability to thrive in business during the summer holidays without relying on family background.


    As the door to the private room opened, Jiang Wanzhou immediately said, ��Little You, your Brother Jiang is here! Did you miss me?��


    Cheng Youu raised her head and her two little braids flipped backward. She raised a little hand with her thumb and index slightly apart, gesturing a distance and said, ��I missed you this much.��


    Jiang Wanzhou exaggeratedly clutched at his heart with both hands and cried out, ��Ah~~��


    I��m struck! I��ve been hit!


    He was greeted by Cheng Zhu��s disdainful expression, twisted in distaste, reminiscent of the classic meme: the old man on the subway looking at a smartphone.


    President Jiang, unamused by his gaze, snorted, ��Weren��t you the one who didn��t want Little You to acknowledge me as her godbrother? I tell you, I��m going to find Auntie later and acknowledge her as my godmother!��


    ��Rebel, how dare you!�� Cheng Zhu hadn��t expected him to come up with new tricks and couldn��t help but roar in anger.


    ��Just be content being called Brother Jiang, got it?�� Cheng Zhu��s glare started to get sharp.


    Then he turned to Little You and said, ��From now on, you call him Sister Jiang.��


    Jiang Wanzhou instantly bristled, pointing at Cheng Zhu with an ornate gesture in his fingers, but he couldn��t swear in front of Little You.


    Just then, a knock on the door of the private room sounded, and Cheng, holding a dish of smashed cucumbers and saltwater peanuts, entered.


    He was there to snoop on the situation and also felt that as the father, he should show his face since his son had brought new friends to dine.


    Upon entering, he suddenly realized his wife hadn��t exaggerated at all.


    The two girls were ridiculously pretty!


    The onslaught of beauty left Cheng in a daze.


    They had been running the restaurant for so many years, and yet they had never entertained such beautiful guests who came in twos.


    ��Our own homegrown pig can play with these top-level delicate cabbages?�� Cheng plunged into profound confusion.


    An inner voice of a baffled father echoed, ��But why, what��s so special about him?��

 Chapter 51: 50: Writing Poetry for You

    F{h*F5.,	V	hapter 50: Writing Poetry for You


    Cheng left the private room, and Xu Yun immediately came over.


    ��I told you, isn��t it pretty?�� Xu Yun said.


    ��It��s still not quite as good as when you were young,�� Cheng didn��t miss any opportunity to flatter his wife.


    ��Cut it out, when it��s too fake it becomes meaningless,�� Xu Yun said displeased.


    The couple guessed that Cheng Zhu��s knowing these friends might be related to Jiang Wanzhou.


    Cheng Zhu was a bit wild, and somewhat unruly, which his parents were aware of.


    ...


    But because of his personality, his parents were somewhat more at ease.


    In the eyes of middle-aged people, if the economic gap is too big, it��s often hard for friends to play together.


    For many parents, being from an ordinary family and suddenly having their child making friends with a bunch of rich second generation, showing up in three luxury cars just for a meal can be quite worrying.


    At the same time, the parents might also feel a lack of confidence.


    They would compare themselves with the parents of these people, some might even feel guilty towards their child.


    However, it must be said, Cheng Zhu had always carried a bully-face since childhood, looked a bit rogue, but indeed never did anything that made his parents worry significantly.


    Cheng and Xu Yun were quite confident in him.


    So, one went back to the kitchen to cook while the other continued managing the accounts at the cashier.


    But initially, they suspected Cheng Zhu was in a relationship, now they bizarrely didn��t think in that direction anymore.@@@@


    In the private room, Little Youzi was originally doing her summer homework.


    With all the hustle now, she naturally couldn��t concentrate.


    Instead, Lin Lu and Qingning sandwiched her between them, very curious about what kind of summer homework a kindergarten kid could have.


    ��Did we have homework in kindergarten?�� Lin Lu asked.


    ��I don��t quite remember,�� Qingning replied.


    Cheng Zhu, watching them, said, ��Her summer homework doesn��t really matter, it can be done or not, the kindergarten isn��t strict about it.��


    ��It��s just that she herself really loves studying,�� Cheng Zhu said, amused but helpless.


    In fact, indeed some children love studying when they��re younger, and then a few years later, that enthusiasm suddenly disappears.


    Little Youzi, hearing her brother prasing her love for studying, silently sat up straight, lifting her little face proudly as if she was being commended.


    Wanzhou, nibbling on smashed cucumbers, asked, ��Little Youzi, tell Brother Jiang, what homework you need to complete today. I��ll tutor you, definitely better than your brother.��


    ��No way!�� Cheng Youu immediately retorted.


    Wanzhou, unfazed, smiled and said, ��Why not, I��m really good at teaching kids.��


    Cheng Zhu heard this and didn��t interject.


    Because he knew Wanzhou was indeed skilled in this area, as Little President Jiang was a caring person, a regular at the orphanage, and got along well with many of the orphanage��s kids.


    Maybe two guys walking on the street suddenly:


    ��If you can touch that leaf, then you��re amazing.��


    Who can resist not jumping at that leaf on the tree?


    While jumping also putting on airs with a line, ��Are you kidding?��


    Like hell I can��t touch it!


    Phrases like ��you��re amazing,�� ��then you��re badass,�� ��I admire you��... These are truly the highest honors in the world of men.


    Listening to Wanzhou��s words, Cheng Zhu thought, ��Oh boy, I��ve got to get serious now!��


    Suddenly, everyone��s gaze converged on him.


    Cheng Zhu said to Little Youzi, ��Come on, give me your notebook and pencil.��


    He quickly began writing in the notebook, his strokes bold and confident.


    Cheng Zhu��s idea was simple, children memorize slowly because their world is different from ours.


    Their comprehension abilities and those of adults are also different.


    What kind of poem can a child memorize quickly?


    Naturally�� a poem written by a child!


    He quickly wrote down a poem composed by a third grader:


    ��[The black cloud and the white cloud got married,


    We cheered,


    Picking up the wedding candies they scattered.


    �� ��Rain��.]��


    This poem seemed to be written by a third grader.


    After finishing one, he still felt unsatisfied, glanced at the street lamp outside the window, and couldn��t resist writing down that widely-known poem written by a 7-year-old.


    Before he started, he glanced at Wanzhou and thought, ��Now I��ll let you see who really has an awe-inspiring aura, who��s half naive and half divine!��


    The perky voice actress, curious like a cat, walked up behind Cheng Zhu to see what he was writing.


    Cheng Zhu, holding the pencil, swiftly wrote down:


    ��[��Lamp��:


    Lamp, burns a hole


    In the night.]��


    ��Done!�� Cheng Zhu put down the pencil, turning his head cheekily to Lin Lu and said, ��You couldn��t have memorized even this kind of poem when you were little, right?��


    Lin Lu, watching behind him, couldn��t help but hit him lightly, frustratedly saying, ��Ah! Cheng Zhu, you��re so shameless!��


    The others, watching their interaction, were immediately drawn in.

 Chapter 52: 51: Liking Her

    F{h*F5./	V	hapter 51: Liking Her


    Shen Qingning sat to one side, watching Lin Lu raise her little hand and tap Cheng Zhu. She couldn��t help but think, ��Are you guys flirting?��


    But to be honest, her curiosity had piqued about what exactly Cheng Zhu had written on the paper.


    Cheng Zhu then turned to Lin Lu who was standing behind him and said, ��How is that unreasonable? I��m asking you, isn��t this a poem?��


    ��Who says it��s not a poem just because it��s a bit short?�� Cheng Zhu spoke confidently.


    The affair of a writer, could that be called short?


    It��s called concise!


    ...


    After all, Lin Lu was a college student. Though these days, college students might be the best examples of the phrase ��clearly foolish,�� she still possessed basic appreciation skills.


    Whether a poem is good or bad really depends on who you ask, as people have different tastes.


    But to say it��s not even a poem, that surely wasn��t justified.


    Everyone else had become curious and crowded around to see what Cheng Zhu had written.


    Shen Qingning glanced over and felt that the first poem ��Rain�� exuded a sense of innocence and romance, filled with childish charm.


    As for the second one titled ��Lamp,�� though it was just two lines, the word ��hot�� had really impressed her!


    This poem written by a seven-year-old had caused quite a stir online.


    Personally, she quite liked both poems, especially the second one.


    Such simple yet charming poems could certainly be memorized by kids in an instant. They could also expand the children��s thinking and broaden their imagination with words.


    ��Who wrote these?�� Shen Qingning couldn��t restrain her curiosity and asked.


    ��Don��t know, but it definitely wasn��t me,�� Cheng Zhu casually remarked as he picked up some salted peanuts with his chopsticks.@@@@


    Being a copywriter indeed felt great, but he certainly wouldn��t steal a kid��s work.


    At that moment, he couldn��t help but glance at Shen Qingning, who was now searching for the poems on her phone.


    ��She seems quite interested?�� Cheng Zhu was slightly stunned, thinking, ��Could she be an artsy type?��


    In his past life, he had interacted with many artistic girls and had deep exchanges with them.


    From his experience, a portion of these women showed a stark contrast!


    On the surface, they seemed intellectual and artistic, but at times, their contrasting nature was quite something.


    He wasn��t sure what the principle behind it was, whether it was because these women usually restricted themselves quite a bit?


    Now, Shen Qingning searched online but didn��t find anything.


    However, it was just two small poems; it wasn��t something to dwell over too much.


    In Cheng Zhu��s memory, there were several other memorable poems written by children.


    Some of these poems, despite their childlike naivety, hinted at a bit of misery.


    Take for instance, the poem ��Dad��:


    ��Dad��s notebook,


    Everyone reads books, goes online, what kind of knowledge does he absorb all day?


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu received a picture on WeChat from ��Hu Yan,�� who had adjusted some details according to the instructions from her sponsor, making them even more risque?.


    Cheng Zhu, who was in the midst of feeding Little You, couldn��t let his sister sitting next to him see this type of picture.


    So, when he checked his WeChat, he tilted his phone screen in a different direction.


    Good grief, Shen Minglang had a clear view of the content on his phone.


    ��Damn it, is this what he looks at all day? And there are even people specifically collecting these resources and sending them to his WeChat for sharing?�� Shen Minglang was shocked.


    ��Isn��t what I watch in my everyday life detailed enough?�� Shen Minglang was puzzled.


    The meal was almost over.


    Shen Minglang started encouraging everyone to go out for a bit; his playful and lively nature really couldn��t keep him contained.


    Throughout the meal, Little You, like most children, might seem silent but was actually paying attention to their conversation.


    When she heard they were going out to play, her eyes immediately sparkled, and her pigtails seemed to lift in excitement.


    But Cheng You was also aware that it might not always be convenient for her brothers and sisters to take her out since she was a child who needed looking after.


    The expression on her face was caught by Lin Lu.


    So, the voice actress proposed, ��How about we go to an arcade? We could take Little You along.��


    ��An arcade! The kind where you can win stuffed animals?�� Even a sensible child like Little You couldn��t contain her excitement at this point; her big round eyes nearly sparkled with stars.


    She thought this sister, who could impersonate a goose and even mimic Crayon Shin-chan, was really nice!


    Everyone was amused by her, and Shen Minglang said, ��Alright then, shall we go?��


    Jiang Wanzhou nudged Cheng Zhu, ��Why don��t you go ask the uncles and aunts? I haven��t been out with Little You in a long time.��


    He added to Little You, ��Just wait and see how Brother Jiang shows off, I��ll win ten toys for you!��


    Cheng Zhu smiled, nodded, and got up to ask his mom for permission.


    It��s almost the end of kindergarten kids�� summer vacation; going out for a walk with the kids once in a while isn��t a bad idea.


    Cheng You immediately got up, saying, ��Brother, I��ll come with you!��


    ��Ah? You want to come along too? Can��t stand a second away from your brother, huh?�� Lin Lu joked.


    Cheng Zhu shrugged and said, ��No, she has her own little tricks. Watch, she��ll first give my mom a kiss then go ��Please please, mom, can I go out with brother?''��


    Everyone laughed again, finding that the kids these days are indeed quite clever and quirky.


    In the end, Xu Yun didn��t want to spoil the kids�� fun; she just instructed them not to come home too late and to be careful.


    Cheng Zhu assured her with a smile, then holding Little You��s hand, prepared to call everyone to head out right away.


    Unexpectedly, Little You gently tugged on him.


    ��What��s up?�� Cheng Zhu looked down at her.


    Cheng You beckoned him to lean down, indicating that he should bring his ear closer.


    Cheng Zhu complied, albeit reluctantly.


    Little You whispered in his ear, cunning beyond her years, ��Brother, I want to tell you a secret, I kind of like Sister Lu!��

 Chapter 53: 52: Heres a Gift for You

    F{h*F5..	V	hapter 52: Here��s a Gift for You


    Cheng Zhu looked down at his sister upon hearing the words.


    He wasn��t surprised that Cheng Youu liked Lin Lu.


    This voice actress girl was always lively and full of energy, and her voice could change to mimic many cartoon characters.


    Just a moment ago, it was she who proposed that everyone go to the arcade, and she brought little Youzi along.


    No wonder she instantly captured the hearts of the little ones!


    The affection of children is just like that, enthusiastic and direct, and they are very willing to express it.


    ...


    Unlike adults, who always drag their feet, speaking sarcastically and asking questions with the answer in mind, pretending to be confused when they very well understand.


    ��Do you like Sister Lu?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    ��Yes!��


    ��And you don��t like Sister Ningning?��


    ��I like her too, but I like Sister Lu more!��


    ��Oh, I see.�� Cheng Zhu smiled, patted her head, and then went into the private box to tell everyone to get moving.


    The arcade they were heading to wasn��t far from Cheng Zhu��s family restaurant.


    Hang City, being a big city, had many business districts, and some malls housed arcades.


    Before setting off, Shen Minglang remarked, ��I think I��ve been to this arcade before, but I��m not sure if I have a membership card.��


    This scumbag had taken many girls to arcades, where they would play with claw machines and video games��a nice dating spot.


    Young Master Shen was generous; he usually got a membership because it was more cost-effective to buy coins this way.


    The coins in the card weren��t a worry if they didn��t get used up in one day.


    Next time, with a new girl, they would certainly be spent.


    In his past life, Cheng Zhu often visited arcades too, but he rarely bought a membership, fearing girls would incessantly ask whom he had visited with last.


    Blame his past life for being an e-commerce businessman in Wu City; if little Youzi had been in Hang City, he could have said he brought his sister.


    On the way there, Lin Lu sat in the passenger seat next to Shen Qingning, quite excited.


    ��I haven��t been to an arcade in so long; I��m going to win ten plushies today!�� She set a goal for herself.


    ��How childish, what��s so fun about arcades? It��s just a place for kids and couples,�� Shen Qingning remarked lightly as he drove.


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu, along with little Youzi, got into Jiang Wanzhou��s Mercedes G-class, his mind pondering the business potential of arcades.


    Back in the day, opening an arcade was a pretty good business venture, but it became less profitable over time.


    After all, the arcades back then were somewhat related to gambling.


    He looked over at Jiang Wanzhou and suddenly remembered, ��Didn��t your family own an arcade before?��


    ��Yeah, but that was many years ago, it was a friend of my dad��s who opened it. We invested some money, and later there were some unpleasant issues,�� Jiang Wanzhou recollected.


    Little Youzi, listening to Jiang Wanzhou��s words, let out a soft ��Wow~��


    Yet she failed... once, twice, three times, all failed hooks.


    The claw of the machine was too loose, not even managing to lift the plushies to the top, just unhooking them directly.


    This made Lin Lu feel slightly embarrassed.


    After all, little Youzi had been eagerly watching, her big eyes shimmering with stars, full of expectation.


    Well, now that was shattered!


    ��Cough! This machine��s claw is faulty, let��s go, sister will catch that Shaun the Sheep for you!�� Lin Lu used her voice acting skills again to mimic Shaun the Sheep.


    Seeing her leave, Cheng Zhu immediately seized the machine Lin Lu had just used.


    ��Heh, you were that nervous? I just touched it, and the button was all sticky��with sweat from your nervous hand?�� he teased.


    Lin Lu glanced at her palm and objected, ��Nonsense! Don��t use this machine, it��s a scam!��


    ��Really?�� Cheng Zhu said airily.


    As a common visitor to arcades, he knew well that the operators could adjust the machines.


    He had stubbornly played the same machine before, knowing that although the claw was typically loose, it would occasionally tighten up like a hawk��s claw and firmly clutch a plushy.


    ��It��s a probability game!�� he muttered to himself.


    Indeed, there��s a knack to catching plushies, and many masters would share tips online, attracting boys wanting to impress girls to scramble in learning.


    But the actual operation was tricky.


    Damn, catching a plushie, yet you end up applying mathematical and physical knowledge��so hard to get started!


    My teachers couldn��t teach me back in school, yet you think your posts will? Joke!


    Cheng Zhu��s own trick was simpler��follow others.


    If a customer had just successfully grabbed a plushy from this machine, he would definitely not play it next; because the claw would likely be very loose after a win.


    But if a previous customer had tried several times without success, well, he��d unapologetically think that plushy was his for the taking!


    This strategy wasn��t particularly brilliant, but it certainly was better than randomly trying your luck.


    Plus, arcade staff could be a resource; you could ask an attendant responsible for your area to arrange the plushies inside the machine to make them easier to grab.


    That was part of their job; they had to tidy up the messy array of plushies into an apparently easy-to-grab arrangement to trick patrons into spending their game coins.


    If plushies were piled on each other, only a fool would try their luck on that machine.


    So, occasionally, asking the staff to rearrange wasn��t usually refused.


    Seeing Cheng Zhu determined to play the deceptive machine, Lin Lu couldn��t be bothered to stop him.


    ��Ignore this fool, watch sister catch you a Shaun the Sheep!��


    However, while she focused on catching Shaun the Sheep, Cheng Zhu stalked over with a swagger, ready for phase two of his plan.


    In his grasp was the very plush pig Lin Lu had just failed to catch!


    Her mouth agape, she was stunned.


    Just as she was about to say something, she heard Cheng Zhu speak.


    ��Little Youzi, Sister Lu tried really hard just now, it seems she really wanted this plush pig, but she��s so useless, she couldn��t catch it. How about this, let��s give it to this foolish sister, shall we?��

 Chapter 54: 53: This is a Form of Invasion

    Chapter 54: Chapter 53: This is a Form of Invasion


    Cheng Zhu was holding a piggy toy that was indeed quite adorable.


    It looked simple but chubby, and felt nice to pinch, though its expression was quite mischievous.


    Clearly, this arcade wasn��t too bad, as the quality of the toys inside the claw machines was pretty decent. It was just the machines themselves that were ludicrously adjusted��the claws were so loose they were desperate to make money.


    Little Youzi, being a sensible child, nodded in agreement immediately when her brother said he was going to give the piggy toy to his sister.


    This pleased Cheng Zhu, and he planned to help her win another piggy later.


    Lin Lu was initially surprised when she saw Cheng Zhu, not expecting him to win one so effortlessly. Nor did she expect that Cheng Zhu would gift it to her.


    ...


    However, his words were really infuriating, and Lin Lu felt her temper flare.


    ��What do you mean I��m too useless, what do you mean ��stupid sister��! Ah! Cheng Zhu, you��ve made me mad again!�� Lin Lu screamed inwardly.


    She had just failed spectacularly at grabbing any toys, and her previous boast had been a bit embarrassing. Now she was outright mortified.


    Fortunately, Little Youzi proved to be a decent wingman as she pouted at Cheng Zhu and defended her favorite, Sister Lu, saying, ��Brother, you��re talking nonsense, Sister Lu is not a fool!��


    Upon hearing this, Lin Lu instantly calmed down but still huffed at Cheng Zhu.


    She snatched the toy he handed over and then gave it to Little Youzi, saying, ��You��re the cutest, keep the piggy; I don��t want it.��


    But the little girl shook her head, her two pigtails swinging side to side, and said, ��Brother and mom always said, you can��t take back something you promised to give.��


    ��Oh, is that so?�� Lin Lu nodded, patted her little head, ��Then sister will reluctantly accept it!��


    Saying this, she glared at Cheng Zhu and punched the piggy toy furiously a couple of times, venting her frustration on him.


    Little did she know that Cheng Zhu had a tight grip on all her emotional ups and downs.


    There was a vending machine near the arcade��s counter, and Cheng Zhu walked over with big strides.


    However, at a hidden corner, he spotted Shen Qingning intensely operating a keychain machine with the same principle as the claw machines, just smaller with smaller toys.


    She put another coin in forcefully, clearly failing several times already, muttering something under her breath��he was too far to hear clearly.


    This time, the claw tightened slightly and successfully allowed her to grab a Pikachu keychain.


    The cool, pale girl lifted her snow-white arm, made an excited ��yes�� motion with a fist pump, her toes slightly lifting off the ground, then bouncing lightly several times.


    She squatted down to retrieve her prize, and the sight of her crouching figure was indeed eye-catching, especially the stunningly proportioned long legs visible from the side.


    Had she been wearing stockings, few could��ve resisted.


    After retrieving her keychain, Shen Qingning held it high between two fingers, admiring it closely, with a faint smile playing across her face, even looking a tad smug.


    The typically aloof girl thus seemed a bit more vibrant.


    Cheng Zhu saw she was about to turn around and nonchalantly continued toward the vending machine as if nothing happened.


    Shen Qingning turned around and her initial smile withdrew instantly, returning to her usual cool, dominant demeanor before swiftly leaving.


    After buying the water, Cheng Zhu didn��t directly return to Lin Lu and Little Youzi, but an idea struck him, and he walked briskly towards the keychain machine Shen Qingning had been using.


    At that moment, a couple tried three times unsuccessfully to win a prize and walked away disappointed. Cheng Zhu smirked and started operating the machine skillfully.


    He pressed the button forcefully, cursing, ��Damn, this is harder than the claw machines, this greedy arcade really wants to make a buck, huh?��


    ��Just now, that young guy brought his girlfriend to win a keychain and gave up after just three tries, not knowing how to build up a few layers for me, still a shallow love.��


    His target was one, and only one �C the Pikachu keychain!


    Cheng Zhu played five more times before he finally caught the electric yellow rodent.


    He tucked the Pikachu keychain carefully into his pocket, then casually walked back with a few bottles of mineral water.

 Chapter 55: 54 Unable to Refuse

    Chapter 55: Chapter 54 Unable to Refuse


    ��Come on, everyone, have some water,�� Cheng Zhu, with six bottles of mineral water in his arms, said to Lin Lu and the others.


    Shen Qingning was also nearby, looking as cool and aloof as usual, watching Lin Lu and Little Youzi trying to win soft toys from the claw machine with boredom written all over her face.


    Cheng Zhu helped his sister unscrew the cap of the bottle, ignoring the two girls.


    Most girls can easily open your topknot, let alone a bottle cap. They don��t need help.


    At that moment, he glanced at his sister and quickly noticed the Pikachu hanging from her overalls.


    It seemed that Shen Qingning had given her hard-won Pikachu keychain to Little Youzi.


    ...


    Cheng Zhu didn��t say anything, pretending not to have noticed.


    After distributing the water to them, Cheng Zhu started scouring the arcade for Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Minglang.


    ��Where the heck did those two idiots go?�� he wondered, puzzled.


    He didn��t find them in the area with the arcade machines, nor by the basketball games or the racing games...


    Eventually, he found them sitting on the small benches in front of the dance machines.


    Every arcade has a couple of dance machines.


    Sometimes, they��re really not short on dancers.


    Sometimes these are customers who come to play on the dance machines, and occasionally, the arcade hires girls to play.


    ��Damn it, I spend ages looking for you, and you��re sitting here ogling girls as they shake their butts!�� Cheng Zhu, holding two bottles of Farmer��s Spring water, said with a deadpan face.


    ��Low-life!��


    Then he also sat down on a small bench behind the dance machines and joined the crowd of onlookers.


    Not to mention, although you could only see her from behind, the girl dancing had a nice figure and really knew how to move.


    She wore black, tight-fitting denim shorts and a pink crop top that revealed her slender waist.


    ��Tsk, there��s a black tattoo on her waist too, but only a part of it is showing. The rest is covered by the denim,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself when he noticed.


    It seemed familiar, and soon it hit him, ��This bloody looks like she��s got an arrow tattoo on her lower back, with the freaking arrow pointing down, towards her butt.��


    ��Tsk, she��s got game!��


    Jiang Wanzhou unscrewed his bottle cap and said to Cheng Zhu, ��Shen Minglang, that lech, is agonizing over whether to ask her for her WeChat.��


    Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhu immediately said, ��Then I��d better take off, otherwise she��ll find out that the man coming to ask for WeChat has an even more handsome friend!��


    ��Get lost, get lost, get lost!�� Shen Minglang began cursing at him.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t even bother to ask him, ��What about that little internet celebrity from before?��


    Lin Lu chimed in, ��Somebody was telling me on the way here how childish arcades are, but ended up disappearing and then reappeared holding a keychain.��


    Shen Qingning, who had been listening, nonchalantly said, ��I guessed Little Youzi would like it, so I casually grabbed one for her.��


    Cheng Zhu heard this and just smiled without saying a word.


    It was quite casual indeed; one couldn��t even tell you wanted it so much.


    Shen Minglang came over, took a look at the keychain, and reminisced, ��It really is Pikachu. Ningning and I used to love watching ��Pocket Monsters�� back then. I remember watching over a hundred episodes at once, with discs rented by our parents.��


    ��Oh! Now that you mention it, you used to imitate Pikachu��s voice!�� Shen Minglang got excited.


    The cool and distant girl shot him a glance, and he felt a chill that made him understand the message and chose to shut up.


    On the other hand, voice talent Lin Lu actually started imitating Pikachu��s voice nearby, ��Pika pika����


    These little tricks made Little Youzi laugh heartily, and she joined in with her own ��Pika pika����


    The two started to ��communicate�� like this, calling out to Shen Qingning in the same way.


    Shen Qingning watched them, seemingly finding it truly childish, and naturally didn��t join in.


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu, holding Little Youzi in one arm, reached into his pocket with his other hand. He looked troubled as he fished out his own Pikachu keychain.


    ��Darn it! When I was out buying water, I spotted this keychain and thought it was cute, so I won one for Little Youzi as a surprise. And now, you��ve beaten me to it.��


    He jingled the keychain; the electric yellow mouse was indeed somewhat endearing.


    Shen Qingning looked at the item in his hand and was momentarily taken aback.


    ��It��s the same thing, no need for two,�� Cheng Zhu told his sister. ��If you take it home, Mom is probably going to nag at you.��


    ��Eh? Right!�� Cheng Youu seemed to have already imagined Xu Yun��s lecturing scene.


    She reached out and took the Pikachu from Cheng Zhu��s hand, then extended it towards Shen Qingning.


    ��Sister Ningning, you gave me a Pikachu, so my brother and I will give you one back, so we��re even!�� Little Youzi shook the keychain in her hand.


    Cheng Zhu thought his parents had really blessed him with a good sister.


    Cute, understanding, and so useful!


    Many kids would say, ��Then I��ll give you one too,�� naturally thinking that what their brother got them belongs to them, which is alright.


    But she said, ��My brother and I will give you one too,�� which just makes her all the more endearing.


    ��Ah?�� Shen Qingning was caught off guard.


    But how could one refuse the kindness of a child?


    Certainly not because she really liked the Pikachu, nor because she had tried so hard in front of the machine over a dozen times.


    ��Then... then, thank you,�� she smiled slightly, thawing like ice and snow.

 Chapter 56: 55 We Didnt Add Friends

    Chapter 56: Chapter 55 We Didn��t Add Friends


    Outside the arcade, Shen Qingning, imitating Little Youzi, also hung a Pikachu keychain on her jeans.


    As she walked, her impressively long legs caused the yellow rodent to sway left and right.


    Cheng Zhu sometimes wondered if God had given her a special ��long leg effect�� when she was born.


    Thus, Lin Lu��s home gained a little pig plushie, and Shen Qingning��s home gained a Pikachu keychain.


    Everyone took the elevator together to the parking lot and then waved goodbye.


    Cheng Zhu, carrying his sister, got into Jiang Wanzhou��s car, who drove them home.


    ...


    Not long after getting in the car, the exhausted Little You fell asleep cuddling the plush toy.


    The little girl looked adorable as she slept, occasionally smacking her lips as if she were having a delightful dream.


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu��s phone received a WeChat message; he quickly turned on silent mode to avoid waking Little You.


    Of course, children��s sleep is quite deep and not so easily disturbed, unlike many adults who suffer from insomnia and light sleep, waking up at the slightest noise.


    He picked up his phone and saw that the artist ��Hu Yan�� had sent another drawing.


    She had gradually understood what Daddy wanted in terms of style; this drawing was mature, requiring almost no modifications, ready to be used as is.


    Cheng Zhu inwardly praised the artist��s skill with risque? themes.


    Some artists are like that; ask them to draw something straightforward, and they just don��t get it.


    But ask them to dabble in sensuality, and they innovate and thrive.


    While waiting at a red light, the driver, Jiang Wanzhou, gave Cheng Zhu a puzzled look and said, ��What are you looking at? You look so deep.��


    ��Really deep?�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    ��Yeah. It feels like you��re full of curiosity.��


    ��Good, deep and curious, that��s right!��


    Jiang Wanzhou: ��???��


    He felt that Cheng Zhu had been keeping more and more secrets lately, no longer the childhood friend who used to share everything.


    He couldn��t help feeling that Cheng Zhu had been up to a lot without him.


    When the Mercedes-Benz G arrived at Cheng Zhu��s house, he carried Little You out of the car.


    The little girl was half-asleep, and bid Jiang Wanzhou goodbye in a groggy voice: ��Goodbye, Brother Jiang.��


    ...


    ...


    Hang City, in an upscale villa community.


    After dropping Lin Lu off at her home, Shen Qingning had returned to her own, so she had just finished showering and was now applying body lotion on her long white legs.


    Her legs, with lotion applied under the light, glistened like white jade; one could imagine many would love to give her a massage daily.


    Shen Qingning was a girl who lived a life of finery, as were most girls from well-to-do families.


    After she finished her skincare routine, she lay on the bed and picked up her tablet, watching ��Pocket Monsters�� which she hadn��t seen in years.


    She quickly became engrossed.


    ��I remember collecting cards with my brother when I was young,�� Shen Qingning smiled slightly, falling into reminiscence.


    After watching an episode, she reached for the water glass on her bedside table and took a small sip.


    As she set down the glass, her gaze landed on the Land Rover car keys and the Pikachu keychain on the bedside table.


    Deep down, she really liked the keychain.


    It totally clashed with her usual sophisticated style and attire, but somehow, she had impulsively hung it on her car keys.


    The aloof girl held Pikachu and the car keys, having been unimpressed by Lin Lu and Little You��s attempts to mimic Pikachu at the arcade, now sat on her bed and softly mimicked Pikachu using ��Thunderbolt��:


    ��Pika��chu!��


    Thinking of adorable Little You, Shen Qingning picked up her phone and snapped a photo of the car keys and Pikachu together.


    She planned to send the picture to the group chat and have Cheng Zhu tell his sister that she was making good use of it.


    Yet, for some reason, her hands naturally clicked on Cheng Zhu��s profile in the group.


    He used a cartoon avatar because, according to him, scammers don��t target people who use cartoon avatars.


    After Shen Qingning tapped the avatar, she was greeted by a restricted profile view and the option ��Add to Contacts.��


    She remembered that Cheng Zhu had never added her, consistently choosing only to chat in the group.


    At that moment, the cool girl��s attractive eyebrows furrowed slightly as if she had just realized this, and she quickly sent a friend request.


    After doing this, she tossed her phone aside and continued watching TV, seemingly indifferent as to when he would accept the friend request.


    A while later, her phone vibrated. Shen Qingning picked it up and saw that after Cheng Zhu accepted her friend request, his first message was:


    ��Huh? We weren��t friends already?��

 Chapter 57: 56 s Bring the people, show the map!

    Chapter 57: 56 chapters Bring the people, show the map!


    Cheng Zhu received a message on WeChat from Shen Qingning, which made her pause momentarily.


    Regardless of whether his words were true or false, it proved that the sender had never considered initiating a private chat with her.


    Shen Qingning sent a photo she had taken, along with the message, ��Remember to tell Little You tomorrow that I am using this keychain properly.��


    ��Alright,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    And with that, the conversation abruptly ended.


    A good online chat shouldn��t just consist of a question followed by an answer, but rather, it should involve passing the conversational baton back and forth.


    ...


    Your reply should not only respond to her message but should also continue the topic or start a new one.


    Cheng Zhu clearly understood this simple principle and knew full well that by replying with a mere ��alright,�� this private chat was effectively over.


    But he wanted to end it there.


    At that moment, he stopped chatting with Shen Qingning and just glanced briefly at the photo she had sent.


    The photo captured not only her car key and a Pikachu but also a bit of her bedsheet and curtains.


    Judging by the color scheme and style, Cheng Zhu thought to himself, ��Could she really be one of those women who feel a strong need for self-restraint?��


    He never believed that women who dress in a restrained fashion and decorate their homes in dark tones were truly consistent inside and out.


    He had been to many women��s bedrooms.


    You never know, they might completely change once the lights go out.


    With that thought, he turned off the image.


    He wasn��t the type to obsess over a photo someone casually sent, analyzing it over and over again.


    He had valuable time at the moment.


    Just as he was about to attend to his store ��Persistent Visit,�� he received another message on WeChat from Lin Lu.


    She had taken a photo of a pig plush toy and sent it to Cheng Zhu.


    ��You two really are like besties, doing nearly identical things,�� Cheng Zhu muttered.


    Upon opening the image, he saw the words ��Cheng Zhu�� on the toy��s clothing, complete with a little pig head drawn after them.


    ��Do you intend to dishonor your ancestors?�� he typed back irritably.


    ��You��re my mentor, and I��m your senior��let��s not get too fussy about it!�� Lin Lu responded instantly.


    Cheng Zhu continued, ��Originally, our master-disciple combination could have taken one character from each of our names to form ��Chasing Deer,�� which has quite a powerful ring to it, doesn��t it?��


    ��You just had to make it zoo-like, with me as the deer and you as the pig��how is that fun?�� Cheng Zhu expressed his dissatisfaction.


    Lin Lu, looking at the WeChat message, muttered, ��Pshaw, taking one character from each of our names, are you trying to pair us in a couple��s nickname or what?��


    But she actually found ��Chasing Deer�� to be quite domineering!


    In this day and age, there are professional ��negative reviewers�� who make a living by posting negative reviews and then extorting merchants.


    But these few were special; they just wouldn��t respond. You offer money, they don��t want it. Each one behaved like this, simply pissed off, claiming they didn��t care about the money, just wanting to leave the negative review hanging there.


    Or they would not interact at all, completely unreachable, let alone deleting their negative review.


    Interesting��suddenly encountering so many with such poor resistance yet tough attitudes.


    One of the buyers was truly amusing��almost as if they had studied The Art of War by Sun Tzu. After leaving a negative review about developing red spots, the very next day they purchased another item, immediately followed by another negative review��talk about resolution!


    Damn it, did they think another area of their body was missing red spots? Was it OCD acting up?


    This was just explicitly foul play, a ploy to mess with your mind.


    Nice psychological warfare!


    ��The flavor is too overwhelming,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    There was a high chance of malicious negative reviews from competitors.


    Some inexperienced merchants might not even know how to deal with it.


    But Cheng Zhu knew what to do; there were many solutions, even able to hire professional teams to handle it.


    ��No big issue.��


    To him, all this fuss was rather pointless.


    ��Low-end business warfare is like this��neither thrilling nor direct!��


    ��If anyone��s to blame, it��s me for not yet earning big bucks, not qualifying to participate in high-end business wars.��


    He had long yearned for high-end business warfare.


    You might think high-end warfare involves capital maneuvers, stock market turbulence, or hacking?


    No, No, No!


    It��s about leading a group straight to an office to forcefully seize the official seal, an official seal that they fucking have to strap onto their belts, holding on tight.


    It��s about pouring boiling water onto your rival��s fortune tree or giving the cleaning lady a couple hundred bucks to secretly cut your company��s power every two hours.


    It��s like the shared bicycle manager personally going out early in the morning to slash the seats of the rival��s bikes, eventually getting caught by the police.��


    And there��s also the classic ice cream incident where one publicly uses their official account to stir up trouble in the competitor��s comment section: ��How come only half the people are typing insults? Do the others not have hands?��


    ��This is the exhilarating battlefield I long for!�� Cheng Zhu lamented.


    The next day, in the afternoon, the artist Hu Yan finally finished the images.


    Holy cow, they were awesome!


    Cheng Zhu increasingly believed this person was a talent that crass old folks needed.


    ��Oh, my beloved QQ apparel industry, are you ready for the ��unified march of people and comics��?��


    Cheng Zhu sat at his computer, raised an eyebrow, and prepared to upload.

 Chapter 58: 57 Planning Benefits for the Brothers

    Chapter 58: Chapter 57 Planning Benefits for the Brothers


    [Persistent Visit] The shop��s studio had a bit over eighty square meters but housed only four desks and four computers.


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu sat in front of a computer, his mouth clenched on a Mimi shrimp stick, beginning to upload images.


    Wang Anquan sat beside him, looking at the images Brother Zhu had opened, his single-lidded eyes suddenly widening.


    ��Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!�� He was dumbfounded.


    The art style was absolutely sensational, and it was in full color!


    The characters drawn were incredibly similar to those in the photos, but they provided a completely different visual impact.


    ...


    It was a different kind of appeal, especially to someone like Wang Anquan who still followed animations; he found it very eye-catching!


    ��Brother Zhu, did you find someone special to draw this?�� asked Wang Anquan: ��It��s drawn so freaking awesome!��


    His surprised words made the two male customer service reps sitting across from them itch with curiosity about what the boss was up to.


    But their relationship with Cheng Zhu was only subordinate, so they dared not crowd around and stare.


    ��The drawing��s not bad; this artist has some serious talent,�� Cheng Zhu spared no praise for Hu Yan.


    Customer service rep Wang Haitao immediately chimed in: ��That must also owe something to Mr. Cheng��s guidance.��


    Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but glance at him.


    ����Here it comes! The sordid office warfare of grown adults!


    At this moment, hearing those words, Wang Anquan felt not the slightest ripple, because that��s exactly how he saw things too, with unconditional admiration for Brother Zhu.


    The other customer service rep, Zhao Yong, scorned internally: ��Such an ass-kisser, damn good at bootlicking. The boss is so young, and you can say that, and do it so awkwardly!��


    Little did he know that it was precisely because Cheng Zhu was young that Wang Haitao acted this way.


    He analyzed that it was the boss��s first entrepreneurship; thus, he never called him boss but Mr. Cheng instead, seizing any chance to lick boots because he thought a young person of this age couldn��t handle flattery and would easily get carried away.


    Zhao Yong was a typical wage earner who only thought about earning a steady salary. I��ll do my job well, but don��t expect any extra effort from me.


    Wang Haitao was a bootlicker and a hustler. He had previously worked in an e-commerce company and realized the potential of [Persistent Visit], harboring his own little schemes.


    Cheng Zhu looked at him and said: ��You were a bit stiff with the flattery; try to be more natural next time.��


    ��Roger that!�� Wang Haitao said.


    Zhao Yong was rolling his eyes internally: ��Shameless.��


    As Wang Anquan watched Cheng Zhu continuously upload comic images, he curiously asked: ��Brother Zhu, will this actually work?��


    Cheng Zhu did not respond directly but instead beckoned Zhao Yong and Wang Haitao over to take a look.


    They had been itching to see what the boss was up to, immediately scurrying over.


    Cheng Zhu just asked one question: ��Do you guys think it looks good?��


    The three exchanged glances, initially embarrassed, then simultaneously revealed that knowing smile that appears on a man��s face: ��Looks good!��


    Cheng Zhu felt like taking a photo of the three of them to make into an emoticon, adding the text ��Hehehe�� laughing dumbly, would fit without any sense of inconsistency.


    Then Li Mantang and the operations manager executed a series of actions, copying what they could, splurging on keyword bidding, and setting little traps for their competitors.


    The traffic a top-tier shop in any category can garner is immense.


    And securing a top-tier position isn��t easy��the barrier for others to climb upwards needs to be raised.


    So many in e-commerce, upon reaching the top, would choose actions like cutting prices, making some concessions.


    That way, any rival wanting to climb up would have to consider their operational costs since profit margins have been lowered. Can you afford to burn that cash?


    The barrier has to be raised.


    After all, you need both overt and covert strategies.


    At that moment, the operations manager of the Manmiao flagship store entered and chatted briefly with Li Mantang.


    They soon brought up [Persistent Visit] again.


    ��Mr. Li, that store will definitely hit big sales soon; their momentum up to now has been too strong, and their operational tactics are indeed killer. They can��t be stopped,�� said the head of Manmiao��s operations.


    ��Let them explode. As long as we get a share of the pie, we��ll be sucking their blood,�� Li Mantang said.


    As he spoke, he also made a request to the operations manager: ��They have clever ideas. Occasionally, your team should come up with some innovative gimmicks to lead the industry trend, right?��


    Operations Manager: ��...��


    Since ancient times, the lot of a worker has been this, with the boss always making unrealistic demands.


    Workers are like Ben Boerba from Journey to the West; as soon as they��re on the scene, Nine-headed Snake commands, ��Go dispose of Tang Seng and his disciples!��


    Just great, a salary of eighteen hundred, and you want me to risk my life for it?


    Me, a minor demon to slay the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? A kick from the White Dragon Horse could probably blast out my fish roe.


    This operations manager didn��t believe his team had the ability to lead the trend. Everyone was up there in age. They couldn��t even bring out the trend on QQ models, let alone the entire industry; body and soul simply couldn��t keep up.


    At that moment, he picked up his phone to search for [Persistent Visit].


    Because the store had announced they would be introducing new products today, he thought of discussing with Li Mantang to see if there were any designs worth imitating.


    But, upon opening the store, he was stunned.


    ��What��s this?��


    ��What am I seeing?��


    You have to know, if it��s a photo, at least when you Photoshop it, you have to stick with reality; you can��t make the body proportions too unrealistic, or it will actually put people off.


    But these comic images that hit you in the face, I��m not obligated to discuss reality with you!


    I��ll present whatever draws attention, whatever tricks the eye, however I please.


    That waist-to-hip ratio, those curvaceous long legs, how outrageously incredible!


    ��Mr. Li! Look!�� The operations manager hurriedly handed over his phone.


    Li Mantang caught a glimpse of [Persistent Visit]��s show, where they had somehow spliced comic images with photos.


    ��Ssss!�� The middle-aged man took a sharp intake of breath, his tone laced with uncertainty: ��Does this kind of thing really work?��

 Chapter 59: 58 This is not a surprise for you

    Chapter 59: Chapter 58 This is not a surprise for you


    The operator of the flagship store of Graceful felt overwhelmed, having two big headaches.


    He didn��t know whether this combination of comics and real person images would be effective or not.


    Because no one had ever done it before!


    You ask me, but whom should I ask?


    For some reason, the chief operator had begun to rather dislike the marketing tactics of the ��Persistent Visit�� store.


    ��Damn, you really pull out all the stops!�� he cursed inwardly.


    ...


    It made it seem like we aren��t using our brains when we��re working every day.


    What kind of response such moves would get was still unknown.


    But in the eyes of the boss, the outcome was one thing; whether you were diligent, that was another matter.


    Of course, what was more irritating was, if someone else didn��t get good results, the boss would still say: at least they put in the effort.


    But after you put in the effort, the boss would still look at your results, and if they weren��t good, then it meant��you weren��t diligent enough!


    Li Mantang looked at his own operator and finally said, ��Keep a closer eye on this store for the next few days.��


    ��Alright.�� He nodded eagerly in agreement.


    After leaving the office, the operator prepared to go and study ��Persistent Visit�� thoroughly.


    He was entitled to a share of the profits, so he was motivated.


    Of course, this did not prevent him from cursing Li Mantang as a big idiot in his heart.


    ...


    Night fell over Shanghai.


    A senior customer named Zhou Kang, who used QQ for underwear purchases, was sitting in front of his computer, chatting in a Tencent group.


    This was the fan group of the Graceful flagship store.


    Many stores set up fan groups, some even take good care of them.


    In such groups, there would be loyal old customers, as well as some young people with wild fantasies.


    Some youngsters thought, could there be female customers in the group who bought QQ products?


    Add them! Join the group to flirt!


    And sure enough, in such Tencent groups, there indeed would be female customers joining, even some women working ��hidden businesses�� would sneak in to solicit customers. Of course, there would also be scammers pretending to be girls and merchant-managed accounts to stimulate consumption.


    It was a real hotchpotch.


    Zhou Kang loved chatting in this group because it was chaotic enough to always bring plenty of fun.


    He even saw two people... openly engaging in cybersex in the group!


    Damn, that was truly eye-opening.


    Chen Bin continued over the phone: ��It��s my first time doing such large-scale stockpiling, to be honest, this kind of inventory pressure should have been borne by you merchants, now it��s become pressure on my factory.��


    ��That��s because you know these goods will sell.�� Cheng Zhu showed no signs of stopping, painting a rosy picture: ��Strive to make the efficiency of your entire factory multiply this year!��


    After a few more words, Cheng Zhu hung up the phone.


    After all, they were not a web celebrity store, so the speed of delivery was important, and they definitely had to stock up sometimes to take on this risk.


    ��It��s more comfortable in a web celebrity store, where you let the fans place orders first and then rush the goods. Many stores take about two weeks to ship, and the fans are willing to wait,�� Cheng Zhu envied.


    ��The fan economy is really nice.�� He harbored thoughts of making easy money.


    Just as he was about to put his phone back in his pocket, the phone vibrated.


    Cheng Zhu picked it up and to his surprise, it was a WeChat message from Ye Zi.


    ��Is this the business secret you refused to tell me about last time?��


    It took him a moment to realize that he had indeed played the role of a mystery man last time, not telling Ye Zi the next move, not mentioning the comics.


    Being a mystery man should be despised, but playing the role sure felt good.


    ��How is it, do you like it?�� Cheng Zhu typed.


    ��Yes! I really like it!!!�� Ye Zi replied with three exclamation marks.


    Cheng Zhu thought: ��Sure, the drawing is of her; she must feel differently about it.��


    Ye Zi continued to send messages: ��I saved every comic image. My mood has improved today, thank you for the surprise you prepared for me!��


    Cheng Zhu: ��???��


    Damn, why do I smell a self-hypnotizing beta-male, how did it turn into a surprise prepared for you?


    But then he had a change of heart, thinking that hard-working models like her were hard to find, so he sent her the several comic drafts stored on his phone that hadn��t been selected.


    ��Don��t leak them, got it?�� he warned sternly with an unfriendly tone.


    ��Yep, yep!�� She was overjoyed, immersed in the experience.


    Holding her phone, she looked at the discarded drafts that Cheng Zhu hadn��t chosen, each drawing was exquisite and lovely; she felt that a lot of money was obviously spent on her, the effort showing through in every detail.


    With one hand holding the phone and the other lifting her index finger, she swiped across the pictures, swiping to the end and then back to the first one, repetitively swiping through the images several times, never getting tired of them.


    Her eyes were almost brimming with tears.


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu went to the Pomelo Fresh Supermarket to check on the renovation progress of his fresh food store.


    ��Not bad, also about to be completed,�� he thought.


    Just then, his phone��s ringtone went off, the currently popular song ��Ordinary Road��.


    ��I used to cross mountains and seas, as well as throngs of people, what I once had, in the blink of an eye, dispersed like smoke...��


    Cheng Zhu chose this song as a ringtone purely to remind himself that the wealth and everything he had in his previous life had all been blown away like smoke, and he needed to make money desperately in this life.


    The call was from Wang Anquan, the team leader who was second only to one person and above everyone else in his company.


    ��Brother Zhu! The store is getting a flood of orders!��

 Chapter 60: 59: The Clown (Please Subscribe First!)

    Chapter 60: Chapter 59: The Clown (Please Subscribe First!)


    The ��Persistent Visit�� shop just exploded in sales like that.


    Everything was within Cheng Zhu��s expectations, but it happened a few days earlier than he had anticipated.


    ��We must take advantage of this wave of high traffic to gorge ourselves,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    He was excited to see how much money he could make from ��Persistent Visit�� before school started.


    Cheng Zhu walked to the side of the street, hailed a taxi, and headed to the studio.


    ��These next few days are going to be busy,�� he thought to himself.


    ...


    Fortunately, he had the foresight to make many arrangements in advance.


    The studio had just hired two more people, which facilitated shift work.


    The factory had also stockpiled a large amount of inventory, so there would not be too much pressure to ship goods for the time being.


    In addition to that, he had completed a lot of the preparation work, ensuring that operations could proceed smoothly.


    Many people bought QQ uniforms on impulse, either out of excitement or out of lust, and placed orders immediately.


    If shipping was too slow, and that impulse faded, they might apply for a refund.


    For some young couples who probably wanted to spice things up during a vacation trip, they would find it ridiculous if their trip ended and the goods still hadn��t been shipped.


    A high refund rate is not a good thing for a shop, so the only solution was to stockpile in advance.


    One must think several steps ahead; otherwise, when good fortune arrives, you might not be able to catch it.


    After arriving at the studio, Cheng Zhu listened to the sound of rapid typing and thought the noise was music to his ears.


    As for the expressions of the employees, only Wang Anquan seemed excited, even Wang Haitao, who loved to butter up to his superiors, looked a bit lifeless now.


    They simply couldn��t keep up��they were overwhelmed by customer messages!


    Their keyboards were nearly smoking from the non-stop typing.


    If this continued, their hands would cramp, and they might even develop tendonitis in the future.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t waste words, just said directly, ��Work hard, and everyone will get a big red envelope at the end of the month!��


    A single sentence ignited a spark of life in everyone��s faces.


    In his view, a boss indeed needs to paint big pictures for their employees but cannot just paint pictures. During the subsequent process, at the very least, employees should taste a little cake, then, while chewing on these little cakes, strive towards the grand vision offered.


    These days, it��s becoming harder to deceive people, harder to hoodwink them.


    Cheng Zhu settled down at his seat and touched the leaves of the money tree he was growing with his fingertips.


    Lush and thriving, it was a pleasing sight.


    ...


    ...


    Glasses-wearing Wang Wei prattled on non-stop, occasionally letting slip some professional jargon he had learned at the e-commerce school, emphasizing over and over how awesome ��Persistent Visit�� was!


    Ye Zi had already prepared the Long Island Ice Tea and handed it to Wang Wei, then naturally shifted her stool closer within the bar to listen in.


    A single thought occupied her mind: ��Keep praising it, please do, and be more specific!��


    Some of the professional terminology he spouted was beyond her comprehension. In fact, some of the jargon in e-commerce is really just for show, but Ye Zi found it fascinating and even felt gratified.


    Shen Minglang was baffled as he listened. Although he did not understand it all, he was still greatly shocked.


    Damn, my younger cousin had just graduated from high school and was already making big bucks?


    After extensively praising ��Persistent Visit,�� Wang Wei finally said, ��So, Brother Lang, you really have to do me a solid. I genuinely want to seek advice from that shop owner!��


    ��Damn, within just over a month, they managed to take a new store to such heights, and without major cash burn!��


    ��How about this, Brother Lang? Remember I mentioned dining at Osmanthus Tree House last time? Let��s keep our dinner date, and afterward, I��ll treat you all to ��touch and sing��, okay?�� Wang Wei even began to up the ante, offering to take everyone to a KTV club afterward, wanting to hire a few models.


    By the way he talked, it seemed like he was planning to cover the model fees too.


    In circles like Shen Minglang��s, it��s common to treat others to outings; however, one would only cover the cost of drinks, the private room booking, and the host services��the model tips would come from their own pockets.


    If I��m paying for you to fondly stroke legs and sing, while the girl��s legs are nearly rubbed raw, are you dreaming?


    Meaning, Wang Wei��s string of treats��an evening of dinner, drinks, plus tips, all at high-end spots��wouldn��t cost any less than a small 20,000 yuan.


    Shen Minglang could practically hear the cogwheels turning in his heart��he was looking to form a friendship and seek long-term advice.


    Therefore, Boss Shen laughed it off and said, ��Alright, but I can��t guarantee whether they��ll be willing to come. And, as you know, since the shop is booming, they must be busy, right?��


    ��Understood, all understood.�� Wang Wei picked up his Long Island Ice Tea and downed his penalty drink in one go, adding, ��It��s all in the drink!��


    ��Hahaha, sure, sure.�� To Shen Minglang, watching this slacker drink was pure pleasure.


    Wang Wei put down his glass and suddenly asked, ��By the way, Brother Lang, how��s Little Cheng��s shop management going?��


    Shen Minglang almost died laughing internally when he heard another mention of Cheng Zhu, but feigned ignorance outwardly, ��Not sure, I haven��t talked about that stuff with him. Do you think he can handle it?��


    Wang Wei immediately scorned, ��That guy��s too fake. At such a young age, he doesn��t listen to advice. That day, I was kind enough to share my experience with him, and you saw his nonchalant attitude! It��s like I was just showing off in front of him!��


    ��Since he hasn��t proactively discussed his shop��s business with you, it��s probably going so badly he��s too embarrassed to speak about it.��


    The more Shen Minglang listened, the more amused he became, and finally, he couldn��t help but tell Ye Zi, ��Bring over a deck of playing cards later. Weizi, let��s play cards later!��


    Wang Wei, oh Wang Wei, I suspect you��ve lost your ID card, I��ll have to help you find it embedded in the poker deck.


    That joker card��nobody else should fight over it��it��s exclusively yours!


    ��Have you ever considered the possibility that you��re just not qualified to teach him?�� Shen Minglang thought to himself.


    He was actually beginning to look forward to it��if one day Wang Wei found out that the amazing person he wanted advice from was Cheng Zhu, what would his expression be?


    Ye Zi watched Wang Wei, and for some reason, she felt that today was the most delightfully satisfying day since she started working at Jiuyin.


    Just thinking of Cheng Zhu, underneath her bartender uniform, made her feel a slight itch on her backside.


    ��They will definitely play games and drink later, and the losers will have to drink penalties. When I make drinks for that pretentious guy with glasses, I��m going to adjust the alcohol content a bit higher!�� Ye Zi thought to herself.


    ��Calling him Little Cheng��as if you��re worthy? Wait until you��re puking your guts out!�� Ye Zi secretly thought, viciously.

 Chapter 61: 60: The Swindler Arrives (Please Subscribe!)

    Chapter 61: Chapter 60: The Swindler Arrives (Please Subscribe!)


    Cheng Zhu��s summer vacation was gradually coming to an end.


    The explosion of orders from ��Persistent Visit�� could be said to have put a fine full stop to this summer break.


    Since Wang Anquan was also going to attend university, Cheng Zhu promoted Wang Haitao to deputy team leader.


    He did this, not because Wang Haitao was good at brown-nosing, but purely because he was more ambitious and indeed had good business capabilities; he was a real grind dog, rolling inwards.


    Cheng Zhu calculated that he had made almost three hundred thousand in August alone.


    And that was mainly the money from the second half of the month; when the store just opened in the first half, it was just so-so.


    ...


    Of course, since the explosion of orders happened at the end of the month, the profits would only be higher starting from the next month.


    These days, their seller show-off had already shown signs of going viral outside the circle.


    It spread widely in many groups where old lechers gathered.


    ��People-Comic Integration�� looked really fresh in this day and age, and the images produced by Cheng Zhu were indeed top quality.


    ��I feel like I��ve even threatened the status of some freelance photographers in their little ponds,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    At the moment, after being busy in the studio for an afternoon and feeling a bit tired, he opened the comment section of his own store and switched to melon-eating mode.


    Soon, his attention was captured by one of the comments.


    ��Tried it out with my lover for an entire afternoon; that will do for today, we��ll wear it and try again with my husband tomorrow to compare the feelings. Thanks to the seller for sending two pairs of stockings, haha, so thoughtful, here��s a positive review.��


    Cheng Zhu: ��???��


    He even wondered if he had given her only one pair of stockings, she might have left a neutral or even a negative review.


    Damn, as expected of a married woman, pretty thrifty about the household; didn��t even treat it as a disposable item.


    Immediately afterward, his attention was drawn to another positive review.


    ��Originally wanted to buy the step-mother dress from that Graceful store, it��s cheaper there, but it always felt like the vibe of their seller show-off wasn��t as good as yours. When I received the actual product, it was indeed not bad. I��ll try it during ovulation, I hope this time I can get pregnant.��


    Cheng Zhu: ��.....��


    Taking our store for the Guanyin Temple that grants children, huh?


    But he quite liked the first half of this comment.


    After the ��People-Comic Integration,�� the lethality of the images in his store had risen more than a notch.


    What��s the use if you copy my style, set your prices lower than mine?


    The purpose of such products is to bring an extra experience, to be enjoyed.


    What��s the use of your product being a few bucks cheaper?


    Do customers care about your ten or eight yuan? Do you look down on us QQ realm people, huh?


    As long as my seller show-off is more attractive than yours, customers will still choose my side.


    ��And if their store sets the prices a lot lower than mine, they will face a new problem, customers will actually question their quality.��


    ��Clothes you wear so close, that��s just it, everyone gets this mindset, and they dare not buy from their store.��


    Nowadays, everyone playing ��League of Legends,�� buying a skin costs quite a bit.


    Is it expensive to give a real person a new skin?


    Cheng wasn��t like that. He felt, what business did they have pointing fingers?


    Did a little blood relation really make them half a parent?


    Cheng Zhu knew Cheng would be annoyed, so he deliberately did this before the serious talk, to build up Cheng��s rage meter.


    Besides, Cheng Zhu was also clear on another thing: gambling dogs at the gambling table swing wildly with the wins and losses, and over time, this can cause their temperament to become increasingly irritable and prone to emotional outbursts.


    Uncle was already temperamental, and after gaining wealth, he became even more arrogant. Now as a gambling dog in debt, he was even more impatient.


    And what��s this attitude? I, Cheng Zhu, am currently the richest in cash among those present, the family tycoon!


    ��I��ll go in once I finish the apple,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    He sat there leisurely eating the apple, crunch after crunch, the sound quite crisp.


    And really, he was eating it so cleanly, Cheng Nanli thought, is he planning to gnaw on the apple core too?


    After finishing, Cheng Zhu got up and didn��t go to his room but instead went to wash his hands in the kitchen. Then he went back to the living room, took a paper towel from the coffee table to wipe his hands, and after wiping, plunked himself back on the sofa.


    It wasn��t until Uncle started glaring at him that he seemed to suddenly remember and said, ��Oops, I forgot, I��ll go to my room right now.��


    Cheng Nanli just thought: Damn, has this kid become like this?


    After entering his room, Cheng Zhu even eavesdropped for a while, hearing Uncle still laying the groundwork for the scam, talking up some big project he was supposedly working on, how promising it was, and so on.


    ��Looks like another ten minutes of blowing hot air,�� Cheng Zhu sat on the chair and started playing with his phone, planning to eavesdrop again later.


    Uncle��s boasting routines held no value to him, not even worth the hot air, no need to hear this dross.


    It wasn��t until the tone of the conversation outside got a bit louder that Cheng Zhu pressed his ear to the door again.


    He vaguely heard Uncle asking Cheng to take out a loan.


    He guessed it was because Xu Yun told him that they opened a fresh produce supermarket and didn��t have cash on hand.


    ��That��s ruthless, asking our family to take out loans for your gambling,�� Cheng Zhu thought, underestimating gambling dogs.


    Uncle Cheng Nanli��s debts were huge now; even if he could borrow a few hundred thousand, he wouldn��t think of repaying. To a gambling dog, that��s just a drop in the ocean, only thinking about using it to turn the tables.


    Maybe at the start, he��d only want to take out a few tens of thousands for gambling, but once the bets get going, he��d inevitably get carried away!


    Luckily Cheng and Xu Yun wouldn��t be blinded by kinship; don��t forget, they even borrowed some money from Grandpa Cheng to open the supermarket.


    In the end, everyone parted on bad terms.


    Cheng Zhu stood by the window in his room, from his viewpoint, he could perfectly see Uncle��s BMW parked downstairs.


    This car would eventually be taken away by the loan sharks.


    He stood there, watching Cheng Nanli approach his car, trembling all over before looking around anxiously for a while, and then started cursing while furiously tearing at the paper stuck to the car window.


    Only then did Cheng Zhu leave the room and entered the living room.


    ��Is Uncle gone?�� he asked.


    ��Yep,�� Cheng nodded, his expression so-so.


    ��When I came home just now, I saw that someone had glued a piece of paper to Uncle��s car window that said ��pay back the money��. I didn��t dare to bring it up in front of Uncle, worried about making things awkward.�� From Cheng Zhu��s tone, there was a hint of pride, as if he had become a considerate adult, please praise me, come on and praise me.


    Cheng and Xu Yun exchanged glances and then, quite in sync, walked to the window to see if Uncle and his car were still there.


    Cheng Zhu grabbed his water cup and went to pour some hot water.


    Not looking back, but in his heart, he estimated: ��Must still be tearing at it. I put so much glue on it, it��ll take a while to scrape off with his nails.��

 Chapter 62: 61 Unstable Taoist Heart (Please Subscribe!)

    Chapter 62: Chapter 61 Unstable Taoist Heart (Please Subscribe!)


    Cheng Zhu got home, and the first thing he saw was his uncle��s black BMW.


    He immediately went to the neighborhood convenience store to buy paper, pens, and glue.


    The characters for ��repay the debt�� he wrote were bold and untamed, and he used his left hand.


    After writing, he sneaked over and plastered it on, slathering glue on the glass as if it cost nothing.


    In the end, while sticking the paper, it nearly seeped through, dammit.


    After all this was done, Cheng Zhu joyfully ran upstairs.


    ...


    Although he had already prepared the groundwork, causing his parents to spend all their money and open a fresh food store, who knew if his uncle would pull some other trick.


    ��Today, I��m going to expose him directly as a gambling addict!�� That was Cheng Zhu��s goal.


    He had borrowed so much money and probably couldn��t even keep track of which group was pestering him for money; that was the most lethal part.


    Cheng Zhu had a friend in his past life who became a gambling addict and had borrowed from every conceivable source. In the end, as the interest compounded, he himself couldn��t quite figure out how much he really owed.


    All he could think about was getting more money to gamble!


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu stood in the living room, pouring boiling water into his teacup. His eyes, cold and detached, followed the pouring stream.


    He could hear his mother Xu Yun talking with Cheng.


    ��He was really knocking on the glass, you should go down and ask.��


    ��Ah, he��s already in the car, Cheng, call him and find out what happened. Do you think he might have run into some trouble?�� said Xu Yun.


    Cheng fell silent for a moment, then finally said, ��No need to call him, I��ll call Shuping.��


    Shuping was Cheng Zhu��s uncle��s wife.


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu could sense his father��s wisdom.


    If he couldn��t find out anything from his own siblings, there were two possible outcomes.


    The first outcome was that the husband and wife had already conspired together to hide the truth from our family, meaning that the purpose behind borrowing money was definitely not simple.


    The second outcome was that Shuping really didn��t know anything; if that was the case, then things would really blow up!


    Besides, given Cheng��s understanding of his own brother and sister-in-law, he would probably lean more towards the second scenario, which is why he chose to call the sister-in-law immediately.


    ��Indeed, the older generation, though not well-educated, has their own set of methods,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    Cheng went outside to make the call, and Cheng Zhu couldn��t be bothered to eavesdrop on the specifics.


    At this point, as a younger member of the family, he had done enough and it was time to step back.


    The family drama that would follow wasn��t something he needed to get involved in, nor could he play a significant role in it.


    In a previous life, the uncle swindled money that Cheng and Xu Yun had earned through hard work at Yunlai Restaurant, living days filled with smoke and fire, and they were used to being thrifty.


    The money saved over several years could be lost by the uncle in one night.


    Keep in mind, Cheng wouldn��t buy new clothes even once a year.


    ��Gambling addicts deserve to die,�� Cheng Zhu thought, plain and simple.


    After returning to his room, he remembered that it was 2014. Some lending businesses were still doable, especially... campus loans.


    But that was an industry he wouldn��t touch.


    Cheng Zhu certainly had a wild way of doing things, and his moral bottom line was quite flexible.


    But at least he had a bottom line.


    ��Better to just quietly continue being my QQ business tycoon.��


    ��Once I get to university, there will be plenty of opportunities, and several pots of gold to scoop up.��


    He plopped down in front of the computer and opened the backend of the online store Persistent Visit.


    ��The money I��ve made these past few days almost matches the entire previous month,�� Cheng Zhu muttered to himself.


    Too bad the store��s earnings couldn��t be withdrawn immediately.


    But no matter; he would just withdraw it bit by bit.


    He also felt that pioneering a new style in the comic field and standing out in the lewd content market meant there should be more of an impact.


    After all, the driving force was always sexual desire!


    ��Bro, how many days has it been? You should reward yourself every once in a while, right?��


    ��Man, don��t be so hard on yourself! DM me, I��ll give you top-notch content.��


    ��Not to interrupt, but you can��t just swing from one extreme to the other! Come on, relax occasionally.��


    ��Join our ��Quit Oily Foods�� team. It��s all about quitting, then breaking, then quitting again!��


    ��Wow, handsome guy, can I add your WeChat?��


    The kinder silly netizens would just talk dirty.


    The worse ones actually shared pictures or provided ��resources��.


    However, the forum��s admin was quite strict in this respect and kept a tight grip on content moderation.


    But today, one silly netizen commented in the thread and attached a picture.


    ��Haha, brothers, look what great stuff I found!��


    Comic-style QQ shop showcases like these appeared here.


    A bunch of people commented below, asking what on earth it was.


    ��Is this a new work by some foreign master?��


    ��Never seen this style before, it��s incredible!��


    ��There��s a mole among us, stop quitting porn!��


    ��Damn, the enemy is within, after all!��


    ��Someone, please explain, do any big shots know what this is?��


    Truth is, with such a vast crowd of netizens, there��s nothing that can��t be unearthed.


    Shortly after, someone replied: ��This is a show-off post by a QQ store, I dare not say the store name for fear of offending the forum��s admins.��


    ��Haha, I know this store too, but I dare not say the name, it goes against our bar��s beliefs, even at odds with them!��


    ��I know it too, but I won��t say!��


    Well, they all turned into riddle folk!


    The more you act mysterious, the more curious everyone gets.


    What kind of store name could it be, elevated to this level, breaching our ��Quit Porn Bar�� admins�� taboos?


    Moreover, think about it, who needs to quit porn? What kind of past do these people have?


    Many individuals in this forum were once regular customers of QQ shops!


    A small number were old hands, familiar with brick-and-mortar stores like the back of their hand.


    But they had never seen such a creative, artful QQ shop capable of producing comic pictures for their showcase.


    As the thread went on, even the original poster couldn��t resist asking: ��Stop teasing, what��s the name of this shop already? A name isn��t that big of a deal, right?��


    But no worries, where there are mystery folk, there will be others who talk.


    With so many active users in the forum, not everyone will play coy.


    Sure enough, it wasn��t long before someone spilled the beans and informed all the ��quitting buddies�� of the store��s name.


    For a moment, every one of them who saw the store name was stunned.


    It was actually called��Persistent Visit!


    ��Quit Porn Bar�� and... Persistent Visit?


    Bold! Daring to use such a cheeky name!


    Visit my ass!


    Persist my foot!


    Quit it! Everyone, just quit!


    This cunning QQ store, its novel and innovative showcases aside, even using such a provocative name!


    Now everyone understood why the riddle folk said what they did.


    Damn it, the store��s name and its content were a serious clash with our bar��s ��doctrine��.


    ����The scoundrel, ruining my path to virtue!!!��

 Chapter 65: 64 What Is Considered Adequate Service

    Chapter 65: Chapter 64 What Is Considered Adequate Service


    ��Relatives! They must be relatives!�� Pei Yan began to rationalize in his mind for the goddess.


    Only the kinship that��s thicker than water could produce such effect, even if it were romantic love, it would have seemed somewhat lacking.


    Imagine if you had a girlfriend during your college days, and she waited for you early under your dorm building, with a bottle of mineral water or milk tea prepared for you, and she��s also damn gorgeous, wouldn��t you brag about it in your dorm for a year?


    Wouldn��t your roommates kneel down to you as a master and beg you to teach them the secrets of your charm?


    ��He doesn��t look... well, he��s okay,�� Pei Yan surreptitiously assessed Cheng Zhu.


    ��Height? Not... indeed tall.��


    ...


    ��As for temperament... he really doesn��t look like a serious student, not someone our student council would like to recruit,�� Pei Yan desperately sought a sense of superiority.


    Cheng Zhu was a bit puzzled at that moment, why is Shen Qingning the one preparing mineral water for me?


    Lin Lu, what is your use to me?


    But he was indeed thirsty, so he just opened it and took a gulp.


    At the same time, he felt it was damn hot by the school gate and leaned towards the sunshade umbrella, saying, ��Squeeze a bit, squeeze a bit, it��s too hot today.��


    In college, if a guy held a sunshade umbrella by himself, although it wasn��t anything big, he would still be pointed at and whispered about.


    But if a girl was sharing the sunshade with him, that would make him a campus winner.


    Zhou Xiao of the student council watched from the side and thought this newcomer had a somewhat roguish handsomeness about him, tall and sturdy with broad shoulders and long legs.


    He gave off an indescribable feeling, very at ease, unflustered, unlike some who walk with their heads down and can��t look you in the eye when talking.


    ��He��s handsome, indeed!�� she sighed to herself.


    At this moment, Pei Yan walked over. Someone who could become the vice president of the student council would certainly be the social type.


    ��I was wondering why you two were waiting here all this time, turns out you were waiting for someone,�� he said, looking towards Cheng Zhu, ��Who is this?��


    Lin Lu replied, ��A friend, no, now a junior!��


    She emphasized the word ��junior�� heavily.


    Pei Yan��s heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    ��There��s a problem!


    If they were just friends, Shen Qingning wouldn��t act like this towards him. Am I not her friend? I should be, right? Why don��t I get this kind of treatment?


    No, why the hell does he deserve this, dammit!


    ��Cheng the junior, right? Hello, my name is Pei Yan, vice president of the student council,�� he said to Cheng Zhu.


    ��Oh, hello,�� Cheng Zhu responded.


    He had attended Technology University in his previous life, so he naturally knew of Pei Yan.


    His most prominent memory of him was when he got beaten up by a hothead senior from the same school outside the campus, and many of the younger students cheered when they knew, thinking the beater must be a hero. They had long been displeased with this ostentatious student council member.


    After that, the whole atmosphere of the student council improved slightly.


    ��Which department are you from, junior? Which building is your dorm? Shall I take you there?�� Pei Yan offered eagerly.


    ��Ah? No need,�� Lin Lu interjected immediately: ��Then Ningning and I would��ve been waiting here for nothing, right?��


    Saying so, she winked at Shen Qingning like mad, hinting, ��Right, Qingning?��


    ��Ah? Um,�� the aloof young lady replied, then coldly said to Lin Lu, ��Get out!��


    ��Alright!�� Lin Lu obediently left the shelter of Shen Qingning��s sunshade and quickly opened her compact umbrella.


    As Cheng Zhu was wondering, he suddenly felt the world around him grow darker as Shen Qingning��s umbrella tilted over him, blocking the blazing sun.


    ��Let��s go,�� she said to Cheng Zhu, her tone seemingly calm, but her hand that held the umbrella was slightly stiff.


    Shen Qingning was already regretting it.


    She thought Lin Lu must be out of her mind.


    She��s just screwing with me!


    But Shen Qingning had indeed agreed to Lin Lu��s request.


    You think just because you��re higher ranking you can shut my mouth? That��s something only my future boyfriend is qualified to do!


    Such big gossip not spreading in the girls�� dorm? Impossible! As long as I��m not the first one to talk about it, it��s not considered to have come from me.


    At this point, Cheng Zhu and Shen Qingning under the sunshade have already left the school entrance far behind.


    After their mock of Lin Lu, they hardly talked.


    Shen Qingning just gave a brief introduction to some of the buildings they passed.


    Cheng Zhu deliberately didn��t start a conversation, intentionally keeping it awkward with Shen Qingning.


    The flow of people was still large, and Shen Qingning was too well-known in school, and Cheng Zhu too eye-catching; who wouldn��t take a few looks when passing by?


    Just keep the awkwardness going, and her strange feelings would intensify, the experience growing more profound, and even stronger sentiments emerging.


    It��s like the first time a teenage boy and girl are alone together, when they are giggling, the atmosphere might not be odd, but when sudden silence falls, and you both have nothing to say, that moment of awkwardness is the beginning of everything wonderful.


    Of course, this all depends on whether the girl isn��t adverse to you.


    ��How about... we stop using the umbrella?�� Shen Qingning suddenly suggested.


    Although she had promised Lin Lu, she would share the sunshade with Cheng Zhu and aimed to provide full service.


    But, a man and a woman sharing an umbrella walking through campus was too weird! Too intimate!


    Many boys looking at Cheng Zhu had eyes full of envy, jealousy, and admiration, making her rather sunburn a little and absorb some UV rays than continue using the sunshade.


    She was ready to kill Lin Lu!


    ��I don��t mind, I still have military training,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    Many boys would get a small procedure done before military training to avoid it, so during the summer, many clinics would advertise heavily, encouraging boys to come in pairs, with the slogan ��half price for the second one.��


    Shen Qingning immediately closed the umbrella.


    When they arrived at the boys�� dormitory building, Cheng Zhu said to her, ��You can go back, no need to wait for me, I��ll take care of the rest on my own.��


    ��Is that okay?�� Shen Qingning stood there holding the umbrella, speaking blankly.


    Hearing these three words, Cheng Zhu somehow found it slightly cute in contrast.


    He was involuntarily reminded of when she hid in a corner of the arcade, alone, trying to grab keychains.


    ��It��s okay.��


    He raised his eyebrows and smirked, ��Why, did Lin Lu blackmail you or something?��


    ��No!�� Shen Qingning retorted.


    ��Then get going,�� Cheng Zhu took a half-step closer to where she was standing, deliberately reducing their distance, then looked down and teasingly said, ��All the guys in the dormitory are watching you.��


    Shen Qingning, already annoyed all the way, finally about to clock out from her shift, couldn��t help but raise her eyes and look around, letting her aura dissipate.


    We��re innocent, why act guilty?


    Many gazes coming her way actually did withdraw, not daring to make eye contact.


    Teenage boys are just damn cowards!


    Before parting, Shen Qingning said, ��By the way, Lin Lu says she invites you to dinner at the school cafeteria tonight.��


    ��The cafeteria, with all her little riches?�� Cheng Zhu was speechless.


    ��You can scold her, scold her hard!�� Shen Qingning had enough of her for today, dropped this sentence, and quickly left, her legs carrying her gracefully without looking back.


    Cheng Zhu, pulling his suitcase, looked at her beautiful retreating figure from afar, and couldn��t help but marvel again, ��She��s like she��s got leg-lengthening special effects, good thing I have a balanced diet, eats all kinds, if I only focused on legs, wouldn��t I be charmed to death by this ��leg demon��?��


    With that thought, he started to handle some procedures, then turned and went upstairs, not bothering with the admiring, gossiping, or murderous gazes surrounding him.


    What the hell are you looking at? This isn��t even related.


    He even left a dashing image of himself with one hand in his pocket.


    In the future, let them know what��s called: That year, I had a hand in my pocket, who in Technology University could be my match.


    Cheng Zhu��s dormitory was on the third floor, and since he was strong enough and the suitcase wasn��t heavy, he could still play with his cellphone in his free hand.


    He initially wanted to report to his parents, but then he received a new message.


    Cheng Zhu opened WeChat, probably because Shen Qingning and Lin Lu said the mission was accomplished, and this voice acting girl, feeling proud, came to claim credit.


    ��How about that? Letting Technology University��s coldest senior sister welcome you as a freshman, the service was top-notch, right?��

 Chapter 66: 65: Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix

    Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix


    Cheng Zhu walked up to the third floor, but he didn��t rush to find his dormitory. Instead, he dropped off his luggage and started replying to Lin Lu��s messages.


    ��You��re on your own if there are consequences,�� he wrote back just a few words.


    ��It��s okay, Ningning only gets mad at me for a little bit!�� Lin Lu wasn��t afraid at all.


    Little did he know, the consequences Cheng Zhu had in mind were not just about Shen Qingning��s anger.


    After chatting with Lin Lu for a bit more, Cheng Zhu went to look for his dormitory, which was room 309.


    As he was about to reach the door, he heard voices chatting inside.


    ...


    ��There are so many stunning girls among the senior students at this university!��


    ��What��s so surprising about that? Let me tell you, I just saw a freshman downstairs with his luggage. A goddess-like person brought him to the dormitory, but her vibe didn��t seem like a student��s. I suspect she��s his sister.��


    The speaker added, ��I��ve already memorized this classmate��s face, and later I��ll see if I can find him in some dorm. For the sake of his sister, I want to become brothers with him.��


    A burst of laughter erupted from the room, but it was soon interrupted by a male voice.


    ��The classmate you mentioned, does he look like me?��


    Cheng Zhu, whose eyebrows naturally arched upwards slightly, said as he dragged his suitcase into the dormitory.


    The boy who had been joking around was sitting on a stool. He looked up at this tall and imposing classmate and nervously swallowed.


    ...


    Once he had made his appearance in room 309, Cheng Zhu quickly made a memorable impression on his roommates.


    He didn��t want to make the guy feel too embarrassed, seeing he couldn��t find the words to respond, Cheng Zhu provided an out but still controlled the pace, laughing and saying, ��So you wanted to become brothers, didn��t you? Why not introduce yourself?��


    This life, he had chosen computer science as his major, unlike his previous life, so he didn��t recognize his roommates.


    He took a special look at their hairlines, trying to remember them at their most handsome.


    ��Cough, my name is Liu Feng, my nickname...my nickname is ��Slam Dunk.''��


    He didn��t exactly look like Slam Dunk��s Liu Feng��nothing alike, really.


    Short, albeit reasonably fair-skinned, but just taking someone��s name and making it your nickname, feels a bit like leeching off their fame, huh?


    ��Alright, Chuaner,�� Cheng Zhu responded.


    Liu Feng: ��???��


    Cheng Zhu then turned his attention to another guy, who was a bit chubby and looked older. If it weren��t for the lack of wrinkles, one might think he was nearly forty.


    Born looking older, and a computer geek, that��s going to be tough.


    But it seemed like he came from a wealthy family, evident from the Cartier Blue Balloon watch on his wrist.


    It��s pretty impressive for a college student to wear such a watch, not everyone is Little President Jiang, after all.


    This worldly mature guy met Cheng Zhu��s gaze and simply stated, as if cherishing his words like gold, ��Zheng Qingfeng.��


    Cheng Zhu nodded slightly and then turned to the last guy.


    He was the one who had just mentioned the ��stunning girls among the senior students.��


    Tall and skinny with narrow shoulders, making him look somewhat like a pole, he was still quite good-looking among college students. Moreover, he seemed fashionable, probably from a well-off family, wearing a pair of classic Rick Owens sneakers.


    His shoes looked similar to Converse but cost several times more.


    He introduced himself, ��My name is Dong Dong, from Chengdu.��


    For some reason, Cheng Zhu had a hunch, ��I have a feeling our room 309 is likely to produce some outstanding figures!��


    These guys didn��t quite fit his typical image of male computer science students.


    After exchanging names, the conversation returned to the previous topic.


    Although Liu Feng thought Cheng Zhu looked tough, he couldn��t hold back his curiosity.


    ...


    ...


    The four of them chatted in the dormitory for about ten minutes.


    Liu Feng was the most humble and observant when speaking.


    Dong Dong was actually quite straightforward though slightly arrogant.


    Zheng Qingfeng rarely spoke, but his serious statement, ��They all think I��m too aloof,�� left Cheng Zhu unable to figure him out yet.


    Finally, at Cheng Zhu��s suggestion, they all started cleaning the room.


    One could tell a little about a person��s character from how they clean.


    It seemed like Zheng Qingfeng had a bit of OCD and was particular about cleanliness, which made Cheng Zhu realize, ��He really believes deeply that girls find him aloof.��


    After cleaning the dormitory, Dong Dong suggested they tour the campus to familiarize themselves with the environment.


    Cheng Zhu knew the campus well, and since he had other things to take care of with Persistent Visit, he said, ��I��ll pass, haha.��


    ��You guys go ahead; I still have some stuff to do,�� he waved them off.


    But let��s be real, guys love moving in groups, otherwise they wouldn��t even go to the bathroom without dragging someone along. And guys usually have a good sense of solidarity, so they insisted a few more times: Just come along.


    Finally, realizing that Cheng Zhu really had something to do, they gave up. The trendy Skinny Dong Dong even left saying, ��We must have dinner together in the cafeteria tonight, it��s our Room 309��s first meal together. I��m treating!��


    Cheng Zhu looked up; the three were already gone. They said they were familiarizing themselves with the campus, but he was sure they were definitely going to check out girls.


    He opened his laptop on the desk and started accessing the online shop��s backend.


    ��Business is getting better by the day.��


    ��The entire market is also going to get better year by year.��


    ��Have to admit, piercing consumption really does have a promising future.��


    For the time being, Cheng Zhu definitely did not want his roommates and classmates to know he was the QQ lingerie tycoon.


    A freshman doing roaring trade on Taobao would become instantly famous on campus; even the cafeteria aunties would know his name.


    Wouldn��t the campus journalists be shoving mics in his face?


    ��Keep it low-key, also saving them the embarrassment of possibly asking me to deliver a few pieces when they go out to hook up.��


    When it hit five in the afternoon, the three guys came back.


    They planned to freshen up, change into handsome clothes, and then head to the cafeteria.


    Cheng Zhu hadn��t thought computer science guys would be so extra even when studying.


    It seems code really did strip you of a lot you had.


    As soon as Liu Feng came back, he excitedly said to Cheng Zhu, ��Brother Zhu, do you know what Dong Dong just did? He��s awesome, he directly added a female classmate on WeChat!��


    ��Oh? Met someone he likes on the first day?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    But the guy acted all cool and romantic, saying, ��How can you just say like that? It��s just that we clicked a bit, so I added her to get to know her better.��


    Oh ho, liking someone weighs that much in your heart, huh?


    This sneaky creature was testing the new roommates.


    ��I can tell, you think her appearance matches your taste,�� Cheng Zhu said calmly. ��Here��s an immature piece of advice for you.��


    ��What?�� Dong Dong was puzzled.


    But Cheng Zhu��s next words made all three look at him deeply.


    To them, each had their own unique traits, but collectively they felt Cheng Zhu wasn��t simple, yet couldn��t pinpoint exactly why.


    This sentence confirmed that feeling, making Dong Dong realize that he might not be able to dominate the dormitory during the four years of college.


    Cheng Zhu advised:


    ��Don��t rush into a relationship, first, be friends with her, and see if her friends might be even prettier!��

 Chapter 67: 66: The Legendary Mixer

    Chapter 67: Chapter 66: The Legendary Mixer


    For a moment, Dorm 309 fell into utter silence.


    The boys who just entered college were still quite innocent, plus it was still the year 2014.


    Dong Dong thought that after getting to know the campus with his roommate and adding a pretty girl on WeChat en route, he could already look down on everyone else in his dorm room.


    But who would have thought, they had someone who never went out but could charm your socks off just by opening his mouth!


    That saying... was crass but true!


    That wasn��t some immature suggestion you gave, it was a damn mature slick suggestion.


    ...


    Cheng Zhu was just testing Dong Dong on purpose, all because of the way the latter had talked earlier��trying to act cool while still being green.


    ��You meet a girl on the road, know nothing about her, come on, tell me, isn��t that just being led by lust?��


    Sure enough, as soon as Cheng Zhu��s words dropped, Dong Dong started nodding vigorously: ��Brother Zhu, you��ve got a point there!��


    In fact, Cheng Zhu had another plan.


    He began persuading gently, ��Let��s not talk about anything else. The girl just started at a new school today, she must have roommates, right?��


    ��Doesn��t that mean she made at least three new friends today?��


    ��And if the girls visit each other��s rooms in the dorm, wouldn��t she get to know even more people in one go?��


    ��If I remember correctly, it was you, Dong Dong, who said the girls at our University of Science and Technology were top-notch, right?��


    ��I personally suggest, we appoint Dong Dong as our Dorm 309 head, and extend an invitation for a gathering to that girl��s dorm room to have dinner together in the cafeteria tonight!�� Cheng Zhu raised an eyebrow: ��Let��s give it up, guys!��


    As soon as he said this, Liu Feng and Zheng Qingfeng instantly became restless.


    A dorm gathering? The legendary dorm meet-up?


    ��Clap clap clap!�� Liu Feng immediately started to applaud enthusiastically.


    Zheng Qingfeng began to raise his hands to join in clapping vigorously, then suddenly remembered he was supposed to be the aloof type. His expression changed into an indifferent one as he started clapping softly.


    I��m just... going through the motions!


    Dong Dong was initially baffled by Cheng Zhu, then became completely flustered by the applause.


    Suddenly being put on such a pedestal, and young and thin-skinned at that, how the hell could he refuse?


    He didn��t even realize yet who was controlling the entire pace, just that he had become some sort of official now.


    Being the dorm head seemed okay too; it was kind of an official position anyway.


    Wait till I tell my dad the good news; he might even send me money to treat everyone, and I could ask for more!


    But just having added the girl on WeChat, I hadn��t even figured out how to break the ice yet, couldn��t think of what should be the first thing to chat about, and they��re already assigning me tasks to organize a gathering?


    ��Ahem, it��s not like...�� Dong Dong started drafting his speech, sorting out his lines.


    But Cheng Zhu nudged him with his shoulder, asking, ��What major is that girl studying?��


    ��Fashion design,�� Dong Dong answered.


    Cheng Zhu��s voice lifted a bit: ��Do you understand the caliber of girls who study fashion design? I don��t need to say more, do I?��


    The others didn��t understand, but it seemed like they would be much better than those in our computer science major?


    ��Still...�� Dong Dong felt troubled.


    Cheng Zhu put an arm around his shoulder and said, ��Worthy of a man who wears ��big Converse��, indeed impressive.��


    Dong Dong��s heart bloomed with happiness, recognizing the quality, knowing I��m wearing RO, not regular Converse.


    ��Not bad, Brother Zhu, I didn��t know you were also trendy!�� Dong Dong now valued him even more.


    ��Stop calling me Brother Zhu, dorm head, where��s your phone?�� Cheng Zhu urged him.


    In this moment, sunlight streamed in, bathing Cheng Zhu, dressed simply, in a golden glow. Standing over six feet tall with a rogue handsome face, it was clear as day why so many girls liked him.


    Although they hated to admit it, he was undoubtedly the most handsome in Dorm 309, perhaps even in their whole class.


    In the mixer, he would outshine everyone in terms of looks, and the girls�� attention would probably focus on him.


    Dong Dong was annoyed by this, realizing that no matter how much he dressed up, the hell, he couldn��t compete with this guy.


    Now that he was the dorm head, though, for the sake of dorm unity, he said, ��Brother Zhu, can��t you dine with your senpai another time?��


    ��I��m afraid not, how about this, I��ll come for a bit, but I��m not eating,�� Cheng Zhu suggested.


    He had laid all that groundwork precisely to skip the dorm dinner and dine with Shen Qingning and Lin Lu.


    But, he definitely needed to show up for a bit.


    What if there was a stunner in the new girls�� dorm?


    Wouldn��t they be missing out if they didn��t get to see me?


    Just making an appearance, leaving an impression, couldn��t go wrong.


    Surely there must be some stunners among the freshmen.


    As for having dinner, that was optional. Cheng Zhu figured it would probably be a painfully awkward meal with forced conversation, not really his style.


    When Liu Feng heard Cheng Zhu was having dinner with an elder sister, he buttoned up his favorite floral shirt and said, ��Brother Zhu, you��re dining with that goddess senpai today?��


    ��Yeah,�� Cheng Zhu nodded.


    Zheng Qingfeng and Dong Dong exchanged a look.


    They felt that Liu Feng was a good guy overall, managed socially well, but this person seemed like he hadn��t seen much of the world. His use of exaggerated terms, could the word ��goddess�� really appear in real life? At the very least, this word should be reserved for the class beauty... no, department beauty!


    Wait till I rise in the social ranks at university, I��ll show him what��s what!


    ...


    ...


    Dorm 309 and the fashion design girls scheduled their meeting for 5:30 p.m.


    Cheng Zhu and the two elder sisters had their appointment at 5:45 p.m.


    Surprisingly, the cafeteria was quite crowded that day.


    The food at the University of Science and Technology��s cafeteria didn��t really suit Cheng Zhu��s taste. But having not had it for so many years, he indeed missed it a bit.


    ��It��s been a long while since I��ve seen the amazing skills of the university cafeteria aunties,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    As the four walked along, they had an dignified air about them, marching confidently with steps that knew no kin, chatting and laughing, pretending to be at ease.


    But the moment they stepped into the cafeteria, except for Cheng Zhu, the other three instantly wilted.


    Zheng Qingfeng kept a stern face, silent and somber.


    Liu Feng looked around anxiously.


    Dong Dong just kept his head buried in his phone, typing, not daring to look up and find the girl he had added as a friend.


    In contrast, Cheng Zhu casually bumped into him, asking, ��Is it that group coming towards us?��


    ��Ah, yes, yes, yes!��


    ��Then how about saying hello?��


    ��Oh, okay, okay!��


    After Dong Dong greeted them, he immediately felt the girls�� gaze converging on him, as if they were quietly giggling and chatting about something, somewhat egging him on.


    The mixer had already started!


    Little Dong instantly felt his face heating up, quickly crouched down, kept his head low, and somewhat inexplicably began... tying his shoelaces.

 Chapter 68: 67: Making a Name with One Battle

    Chapter 68: Chapter 67: Making a Name with One Battle


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t figure out what Dong Dong was doing; his shoelaces weren��t even loose. What was he tying?


    It��s just that, when boys feel awkward, they subconsciously find something to do.


    Of the four boys in dormitory 309, only Cheng Zhu was staring straight at the four girls walking towards them.


    The remaining three brothers were essentially at a loss.


    ��The quality is not bad, definitely a high-quality girls�� dorm,�� Cheng Zhu appraised internally.


    The girl holding her phone with a slight blush must be the one Dong Dong had added on WeChat.


    ...


    The two girls standing next to her were also pretty good. One had a nice figure, wore denim shorts, was well-dressed, and had delicate makeup, although it was a bit heavy.


    The other girl appeared quite innocent, but Cheng Zhu could tell immediately that her innocence was constructed.


    True innocent charm should radiate from within, not just wearing clothes that fit the innocent girl standard, maintaining a hairstyle that suits the persona, and having every smile seem as if it��s been designed, fervently labeling herself: ��I am the innocent type.��


    Yet, in the university community, this type of girl is indeed popular, ranking quite high.


    After all, she exudes an ��I��m very pure, very innocent�� vibe, which most guys find irresistible.


    As for the most marginalized girl in the group of four, she was relatively ordinary.


    Sure enough, though the three guys were tensely stiff, they kept glancing out of the corners of their eyes, internally thankful to Cheng Zhu.


    He really knew what he was talking about; there were indeed beauties beside this girl!


    Amazing! What a wise man!


    ��Yingying, which one added you on WeChat, the tall and handsome one?�� Yao Yina, the girl with the voluptuous figure, whispered to Zhu Yingying as the four girls approached.


    ��No, it��s the one who was tying his shoelaces.�� Zhu Yingying had noticed Cheng Zhu first.


    Her words implied a clear undertone: in her eyes, the shoelace tier did not fit the ��tall and handsome�� description.


    ��That shoelace guy seems pretty good too,�� Guan Jiayue, the innocent-looking girl, muttered while stealing glances at Cheng Zhu, understanding yet subtly managing the male-female dynamics.


    Zhu Yingying was apparently destined to pair up with Dong Dong today.


    And the most marginalized girl? Her name was Zhou Qin, slightly overweight.


    After eight of them sat down at the cafeteria table, they started with simple introductions and small talk.


    Then, Dong Dong finally remembered to get food, stood up, and asked if anyone wanted anything specific. The answers were all nonchalant except for Yao Yina, who requested, ��Check if there��s sweet and sour pork ribs.��


    Cheng Zhu also stood up, saying, ��It��s hard for you to carry everything alone, I��ll come with you.��


    He noticed Liu Feng was quite good at initiating conversations, a decent atmosphere creator, which should keep it from getting too awkward.


    As for Zheng Qingfeng, well, just leave him be; he��s probably itching inside but still playing it cool.


    They hadn��t walked far when Dong Dong couldn��t contain his excitement, ��Brother Zhu! Zhu Yingying��s roommate is really a catch; that Yao Yina is pretty good, but I prefer Guan Jiayue, such innocence!��


    ��Already fallen for someone else?�� Cheng Zhu laughed.


    ��How can you say that? It��s all just getting to know each other, there��s no talk of love or affection,�� Dong Dong replied sternly.


    Cheng Zhu gave him a thumbs-up.


    He wasn��t much interested in the girls from that dorm.


    When he brought the food back, Cheng Zhu added, ��Dong Dong insisted on ordering more, but I stopped him. If it��s not enough, ask him to get more. He��s treating today, and he��s covering drinks and desserts too.��


    Just that statement made Dong Dong stand tall and feel warmth in his heart, moved to tears �� Cheng Zhu, you��re like my own brother!


    The friendship between boys is always so simple.


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu glanced towards the cafeteria entrance and couldn��t help but smile, ��Why stand at the entrance? Come on over!��


    He picked up his phone and left quickly.


    Yao Yina couldn��t help but watch his retreating figure, asking, ��Ah? Isn��t Cheng Zhu having dinner?��


    ��He��s not skipping dinner; he just won��t eat with us. He had a prior engagement, so he just helped us get the food,�� Dong Dong replied.


    He was deliberately crafting a polite image for Cheng Zhu. Look at him, inconvenient to join, yet still helping everyone order food. Isn��t that gentlemanly?


    Liu Feng and Zheng Qingfeng were stunned; when we were getting familiar with the campus environment, you said Cheng Zhu seemed a bit aloof, never joining us outside.


    Since the three guys were facing the cafeteria door, they quickly noticed a little commotion inside.


    Many people were looking up towards the entrance.


    ��Shen Qingning and Lin Lu are here? Damn!��


    ��Man, which lucky guy gets to date such goddesses!��


    ��Why bother? They��re rich and beautiful, with super wealthy parents. Just one piece of their clothing could cover several months of your living expenses �C they��re simply not from our world.��


    Liu Feng glanced at the cafeteria door and couldn��t help slamming his hand down hard on Zheng Qingfeng and Dong Dong��s thighs.


    ��Why are you hitting us?�� Dong Dong said exasperatedly.


    ��Look! Hurry, look there!�� Liu Feng pointed towards the door.


    This made Zhu Yingying and the others, who were sitting with their backs to the door, turn their heads curiously.


    Zhu Yingying murmured, ��Shen Qingning, Lin Lu, those names sound familiar... Ah! I��ve seen their names on the school forum!��


    Many freshmen browse the school forum before starting school, noting names labelled as campus beauties or hunks, naturally garnering some attention.


    The more ambitious might even think, ��Let me see what they look like!��


    ��Now, they saw.


    At that moment, Yao Yina, who had always been confident about her legs, encountered a pair of legs she found unmatched �C even hers.


    Damn, her legs are longer than my life!


    Even Guan Jiayue, usually full of schemes, couldn��t hide the astonishment in her eyes.


    She��s the faux innocent; Lin Lu is genuinely sweet.


    Dong Dong and Zheng Qingfeng thought, ��We need to have a good talk with Liu Feng back in the dorm. This is what a campus goddess is! Stop throwing around ��goddess�� so casually, isn��t it low?��


    As Zhu Yingying and the others were present, they restrained themselves from exclaiming in surprise and didn��t immediately voice their thoughts to ��educate�� Liu Feng.


    ��They seem to be looking for someone?�� Yao Yina said.


    Soon, Lin Lu seemed to have found who they were looking for, standing on tiptoes and waving cheerfully.


    Many onlookers turned their gaze in the direction she was waving.


    Who is it? Who could it be?


    Cheng Zhu, unabashed and shameless, stood up from an empty table, vigorously waved back, and called, ��Why just stand at the entrance? Come over here!��

 Chapter 69: 68 Are We in a Vague Relationship?

    Chapter 69: Chapter 68 Are We in a Vague Relationship?


    Sometimes, people have sudden epiphanies.


    Dong Dong and Zheng Qingfeng were just like that.


    Their brains seemed to turn into vibrating cell phones, buzzing incessantly.


    These two fellas were short of shouting in unison to Liu Feng, ��Chuaner, we��re sorry!��


    Damn right, she indeed is a goddess, it��s not that you lack insight.


    Even if the Jade Emperor himself arrived, these two would still be considered goddesses!


    ...


    No wonder, no wonder Liu Feng smacked our thighs.


    So they��re here to find Cheng Zhu?


    ��So, among these two, one of them is the upperclassman who came to the male dorm with Cheng Zhu?�� Dong Dong suddenly realized this.


    He hurriedly pressed Liu Feng, asking, ��Which one? Which one is it?��


    His sudden outburst left the four girls baffled.


    Liu Feng immediately said, ��The taller one.��


    ��I knew it, isn��t her presence really strong? That��s why I thought she wasn��t a student at first, and even mistook her for a family member of Brother Zhu.�� Liu Feng chattered away.


    Had they heard Liu Feng describe an upperclassman with the word ��presence�� before meeting Shen Qingning in person, they would have scoffed.


    But now, they could only agree.


    Cold and aloof, with an air of privilege so thick they dared not approach.


    ��No way, a senior like that would volunteer to lead someone all the way to the guys�� dorm, and, damn it, even hold an umbrella for him?�� Dong Dong felt his worldview had been completely refreshed.


    Could our roommate, be somebody quite important?


    What background does he have?


    ��He really deserves to die, he really does!��


    ...


    ...


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu was naturally oblivious to the fact that after making his mark upon just entering the university, there were people harboring such malicious thoughts, wishing to mentally turn his sexuality.


    Having such advanced malicious thoughts in the year 2014, one must admit that��s quite a talent.


    At this moment, he could feel the gazes around him.


    So, he spoke up, ��You two don��t come to the cafeteria often, do you?��


    ��Yeah,�� Lin Lu replied.


    ��That explains it then,�� Cheng Zhu felt a better understanding of the situation.


    ��But why are you being so stingy, inviting me to the cafeteria for a meal?�� he looked up and questioned Lin Lu, quite displeased.


    ��Isn��t this to familiarize you with the environment? Where else could you find such a quality senior like me?�� Lin Lu resumed emphasizing her senior status and suggested, ��How about this, from now on, you can��t call me by my full name on campus, you have to call me senior, how about that?��


    ��Sure, Lin Lu,�� Cheng Zhu felt she was the most troublesome of all.


    He retorted, ��Then you should publicly call me master too!��


    ��No way Cheng Zhu!�� she thought he was quite troublesome as well.


    Although it was childishly argumentative banter, Shen Qingning, who had been irritated by Lin Lu all day, found it unexpectedly comforting to listen to.


    In the end, Lin Lu was the one who queued up for food, while Cheng Zhu didn��t budge an inch and even clamored for another bottle of Coke.


    ����The role model.��


    Technology University��s cafeteria food, as he expected, was just as unpalatable as ever.


    It made him feel like humans are really masochists; knowing full well it��s nasty, but for the sake of nostalgia, he stubbornly wanted to taste it again in this life!


    After the meal, Cheng Zhu left the cafeteria with the two women, and before going, he even greeted his roommates.


    Dong Dong and the others really wanted to follow, but they held back.

 Chapter 70: 68 Is it the Ambiguous Phase?_2

    Chapter 70: Chapter 68 Is it the Ambiguous Phase?_2


    The sky was gradually darkening; the sun was about to set, and the sunset could be clearly seen.


    Cheng Zhu��s shadow stretched long in the twilight, and Lin Lu followed behind him, purposely stepping on his shadow out of spite.


    Realizing this, he intentionally strode to the left with his left leg, dodging her attack with his shadow.


    The childishness of their actions gave Shen Qingning a headache, and she suspected Cheng Zhu was treating Lin Lu like a kid of Little You��s age.


    However, she observed the two interacting and noticed they were both relaxed and comfortable.


    But not her.


    ...


    As mentioned before, Shen Qingning and Lin Lu no longer lived on campus; they had rented a nice apartment nearby and embarked on a cohabiting sisterly life.


    The apartment had three bedrooms and one living room, with the extra room turned into a walk-in wardrobe.


    So later, they would part ways with Cheng Zhu at a fork in the road, with the two of them heading to the parking lot to drive, while Cheng Zhu would walk back to the male dormitory.


    Before parting, Lin Lu suddenly called out to Cheng Zhu, saying, ��Aiyo, my poor memory, I almost forgot!��


    She opened her bag, nicknamed ��Black Fattie,�� and took out a small bottle of dark gold substance.


    ��Here, a gift for you for the start of term��sunscreen. You��re going to have military training, right? It��s perfect for you. My all-in-one service is up to par, isn��t it!�� she handed it over.


    She had gone to do voice acting work today, and on her way back, she had specifically stopped by a mall to buy it.


    ��I��m such a tough guy; what the hell do I need sunscreen for?�� Cheng Zhu grumbled, ��What kind of gift is this.��


    While complaining, his hands moved quickly, grabbing it.


    Even if he didn��t use it himself, he could give it to other girls.


    ��What do you know, sunscreen is one of the essential measures for anti-aging, not just to avoid tanning. It��s more effective than many expensive skincare products you use!�� Lin Lu educated him, extremely annoyed by his pickiness; she felt she had been very, very thoughtful.


    ��Yeah, you��re so far-sighted, caring about anti-aging. What do I look like when I��m old, and what��s it got to do with you?��


    ��Aaah! Then give it back to me!��


    ��Bye-bye!�� Cheng Zhu turned and headed toward the direction of the male dorm, not looking back, but he raised his arm to bid them farewell.


    It was time to go back to the dorm and wait for these three adopted sons to come back and massage my shoulders and legs.


    ...


    ...


    Everything happened as Cheng Zhu had predicted; these useless fellows went to a dorm gathering, and they really just had dinner without going to a second event.


    At least they could have gone down to the milk tea street off-campus, sat there chatting, played cards, enjoyed some board games, and so on.


    Everyone��s gaze turned to Cheng Zhu, who could only nod and say, ��She added me too, she��s added us all, which is quite normal. Dong, you should be reassured now, right?��


    ��This... this is more like it.�� Dong Dong nodded and asked, ��Did anyone else add you guys as friends?��


    Liu Feng and Zheng Qingfeng shook their heads together.


    Seeing Cheng Zhu delay in responding, they couldn��t help but look towards him again.


    ��What about Yao Yina and Guan what��s-her-name?��


    ��Guan Jiayue!��


    ��Oh right, Guan Jiayue, both of them added me too,�� Cheng Zhu answered.


    This was very normal; at this age, sometimes boys are shy and cowardly, while girls are more proactive.


    To them, what��s the big deal about adding a friend?


    Even if Cheng Zhu turned out to be a god-level figure in the end, having such a friend would make me very happy.


    Hearing this, Dong Dong raised his hand to fake-slap himself, complaining, ��Damn, why did I have to ask him that?��


    Cheng Zhu consoled him, ��Don��t worry, I won��t chat even after adding.��


    Damn, the things we yearn for, he doesn��t even care for!


    Dong Dong saw Cheng Zhu��s left hand twirling a dark gold bottle between his fingers like a lighter, and he changed the subject, asking, ��Eh? Brother Zhu, what are you twirling in your hand?��


    Cheng Zhu was just doing the action unconsciously. Hearing Dong Dong��s question, he looked down and replied, ��Oh, someone just gave me sunscreen.��


    The other three��s eyes widened.


    For a moment, even the dark gold bottle in his hand seemed to shine under the dormitory lights.


    They said someone had just given it to him. Who could that person be? Do we even need to guess?


    It must be one of those two senior girls!


    With military training coming up, giving a guy sunscreen is quite considerate.


    Where is this goddess-level senior from!


    ��What does this mean, what the hell does this mean! If this isn��t early-stage flirting, I��ll chop off my head, both of them!�� Dong Dong grew increasingly restless inside.


    When I was dating, I never received a gift from my girlfriend on Valentine��s Day, yet I emptied my saving. It seems to her, Valentine��s Day wasn��t a day for mutual expression of love but a festival for her one-sidedly receiving gifts.


    I��m really tired of saying ��envious��!


    Why did I have to ask him that question?


    Dong Dong raised his hand and faked giving himself three more air slaps, hitting his chin for real on the last one.


    ��Serves you right for your big mouth, serves you right, serves you right! Hiss��!��

 Chapter 71: 69: Beset by Scandal

    Chapter 71: Chapter 69: Beset by Scandal


    In the group chat of eight, with the girls starting to respond less enthusiastically, the conversation began to die down.


    It was an unavoidable situation, especially since the most attention-grabbing, Cheng Zhu, had just posted an emoji and then remained silent.


    Liu Feng was supposed to be the life of the party. Although he was good at driving the conversation, the girls were not the least bit interested in him.


    Zheng Qingfeng was also sparing with his words during chats, always maintaining his cool persona.


    Cheng Zhu had specifically looked at his plump hands while he was typing; although he only ever sent a few words at a time in the group, his hands were never still, clearly typing and then deleting repeatedly.


    Among the Dragon and Phoenix youth, you are definitely among them!


    ...


    As for Dong Dong, he was the most eager to chat. He liked Zhu Yingying, he also liked Yao Yina, and he liked Guan Jiayue as well.


    But he could tell that Yao Yina and Guan Jiayue were very active at first and then gradually backed off.


    Zhu Yingying was still willing to chat, but it couldn��t just be her constantly talking in the group alone, could it?


    Little Dong, lacking enthusiasm, set down his phone and suddenly realized that his role as the dorm leader was rather useless. Unconsciously, Cheng Zhu had become the mainstay of room 309.


    Just like now, if everyone asked him to liven up the group chat a bit, it would definitely become more heated in an instant.


    He could even imagine that the girls hardly talked about him; the topics were likely all revolving around Cheng Zhu.


    It must be said, Little Dong was quite perceptive.


    On the girls�� side, the conversation did indeed initially revolve around Dong Dong, after all, he was the one who first added Zhu Yingying on WeChat and invited everyone to the social gathering.


    The girls asked Zhu Yingying what she thought about Dong Dong and if she wanted to get to know him better?


    Zhu Yingying, a bit shyly, said they were just friends and told them not to spread rumors.


    Eventually, the conversation naturally shifted to Cheng Zhu.


    Before coming to school, they had all browsed the university��s forum and remembered the names Shen Qingning and Lin Lu.


    Girls tend to be gossipy. After returning to the dorm, they specifically searched the forum again.


    Holding her phone, Guan Jiayue became more and more astonished.


    ��Wow, so Shen Qingning drives a Land Rover to university?��


    ��Land Rover Range Rover, that must be almost two million, right?�� she couldn��t help but blurt out.


    This model of Range Rover was indeed priced higher than the newer models that came out later.


    This made her even more suspicious that Cheng Zhu must be very rich.


    Strangely enough, after confirming that Shen Qingning came from a wealthy family, she somehow became completely convinced that Cheng Zhu��s family was likewise wealthy.


    While browsing the forum, they quickly stumbled upon a highly popular gossip post.


    ����Shock! Campus beauty Shen Qingning is taken! And by a new freshman!��


    Back in 2014, ��Shock Department�� headers were actually quite trendy...


    But seriously, a campus goddess and a first-year student together, that��s fucking eye-catching.


    Old students would want to click on it to see what bullshit was being spouted, considering the formidable aura of Shen Qingning, they��re like ��I��ll see it to believe it!��


    New students would be curious to know which guy was so awesome. Although we don��t even know what Shen Qingning looks like, the term ��campus flower�� is quite intimidating!


    The post vividly described today��s welcome scene, claiming that although today��s temperature was only in the thirties, it claimed a fiery 42 degrees!


    ��Shen Qingning and Lin Lu braved 42-degree heat, holding umbrellas, welcoming this guy at the school gate.


    Originally, she thought, even if there were top-tier beauties around Cheng Zhu, they might not end up together, she could give it a try, who knows if she could win him over?


    As the saying goes, ��men chase women over a mountain, women chase men through a veil.��


    But from the posts, it seemed Shen Qingning was also putting in effort?


    Giving water and holding umbrellas.


    Facing such a formidable rival, just thinking about her aura, let alone competing openly, she couldn��t even muster the courage to be a secret homewrecker!


    Guan Jiayue was still reflecting on herself, having already concluded that Cheng Zhu was definitely top-tier wealthy, wondering if she could find a chance to penetrate his circle and then look for prey.


    As for Cheng Zhu himself, she really didn��t dare to think further. Her own little tricks of pretending to be pure were useless against his absolute god-level good looks.


    Speaking of which, the people of room 309, despite being at the center of the gossip whirlwind, found out about the rampant school rumors even later than the girls.


    At eleven o��clock at night, everyone was already lying in their beds playing with their phones.


    Dong Dong and the others saw Cheng Zhu was typing and thought he was chatting with the goddesses, but he was actually issuing tasks in the ��Persistent Visit�� work group.


    Currently, the shop operated on a two-shift system, the shop too popular, bustling even at two or three in the morning.


    Suddenly, Liu Feng was the first to speak up, saying, ��Damn, Brother Zhu, you��ve become a hot topic on Technology University��s forum!��


    ��What��s so strange about that, becoming a campus celebrity was just a matter of time,�� Cheng Zhu continued deploying tasks in the work group without looking up.


    Everyone wanted to retort, but at the same time felt there was nothing wrong with his words.


    It really was hard to keep a low profile.


    ��But Brother Zhu, everyone is saying that you and senior Shen Qingning are in a relationship, fuck, wouldn��t this actually be quite helpful for your relationship progress?�� Liu Feng suddenly slapped his thigh while in bed.


    ��Huh?�� Cheng Zhu really couldn��t help but look up at him this time.


    He thought he was famous for his looks, but didn��t expect it to be for a scandal.


    Although he had anticipated this consequence from the beginning, he didn��t expect that the scandal��s popularity would even surpass that of his handsomeness.


    The people of room 309 each took out their phones and started browsing forum posts and comments.


    Seeing some annoying comments, Dong Dong was somewhat incensed, saying, ��I fucking want to tell them, Brother Zhu also received sunscreen from senior Shen Qingning, what are these people talking about, can��t ordinary friends offer water or help with an umbrella?��


    ��It��s obvious you��ve never had a girlfriend, would your fucking girlfriend take the initiative to hold an umbrella for you? You should be holding the umbrella for her, tilting it towards her side constantly! Whatever she wants to drink, you should immediately go buy it!�� Dong Dong seemed to fall into reminiscence.


    Speaking of which, the other three guys in the dormitory had just been shown up by Cheng Zhu, thinking rather than envying alone, better to let everyone envy together, let these barking fools take a good look, someone casually sends him triple-digit-valued sunscreen before military training! See what a high-quality ambiguous phase looks like!


    Cheng Zhu, leaning on his pillow, arched an eyebrow, said, ��When did I ever say this sunscreen was from Shen Qingning? I warn you guys not to spread rumors on the forum!��


    The three of them: ��???��


    Phew! So it wasn��t from Shen Qingning, huh? We thought too much, good, good, I was just saying, where did such a perfect campus goddess come from, us guys are famous for only being worthy of giving gifts on holidays, not receiving them.


    Feeling a bit better, their minds were slightly at ease.


    Dong Dong, the type who never learns his lesson, couldn��t help but ask curiously, ��So, who did give you that bottle of sunscreen then?��


    He sharply sensed that guys wouldn��t normally give such a thing to each other.


    ��Lin Lu,�� Cheng Zhu casually replied.


    Always reserved Zheng Qingfeng, who was usually a man of few words, couldn��t help but freak out first, exclaiming, ��Damn!��


    Liu Feng and Dong Dong just felt a chill going down their spines, sensing that those three words carried an enormous amount of information!


    They had never before considered that the sunscreen might have been a gift from Lin Lu.


    Everyone had a bad hunch, that over the next four years of college, the dorm room might often resound with the sounds of teeth gnashing in the middle of the night.


    Meanwhile, in a finely decorated three-bedroom apartment near Technology University, Shen Qingning, in her pajama shorts, lifted her long well-proportioned legs and kicked open the slightly ajar bedroom door of Lin Lu.

 Chapter 72: 70: Female Counselor

    Chapter 72: Chapter 70: Female Counselor


    ��Bang��!�� The door was kicked open by Qingning, her usually cool and frosty face now wearing waves of murderous intent.


    Lin Lu, who was in the middle of applying body lotion before bed, was first stunned, then the voice actress with a charming voice said, ��You��re so mean, launching a night raid so early?��


    She had already sensed the seriousness of the situation from Qingning��s expression.


    Although she didn��t know what was going on, she decided to crack a joke first.


    �� ��It��s all about experience.��


    So she stood up, chest out, and with swirling eyes, teased, ��Attack me, anywhere you like, come on, come on.��


    ...


    ��I��ll attack your head!�� Qingning marched over on her long white legs and stood on the bed, looking down at her coldly.


    Lin Lu saw that Qingning really seemed to be burning with rage, but with her rich experience in angering Ningning, she also didn��t ask about the specifics, instead, she just collapsed onto the bed.


    She lay spread-eagled on the bed, then closed her eyes and said, ��Although I don��t know what happened, let me apologize first. Go ahead and kill or slice me, I��ll try not to scream too loud, so as not to disturb the neighbors downstairs.��


    ��You drama queen!�� Standing on the bed, Qingning couldn��t help but lightly kick her before sitting down with a plop.


    ��Ah~~~�� Lin Lu let out a pained scream that was neither painful nor emotional, all technique and no feeling.


    With her eyes tightly shut, she first peeked at Ningning with one eye, observing her covertly.


    ��What��s wrong, Ningning?��


    ��Who made you angry? I��ll curse her to death!�� she said viciously.


    ��It��s all because of you!�� Qingning glared at her with her frosty eyes.


    ��Ah? Me? I��m cursing, I��m cursing already! I��m already doing it in my mind!�� Lin Lu immediately responded.


    The cool girl was genuinely a little helpless with her; she just had to frown and say, ��Do you know that Lin Shan just sent me a WeChat message, telling me to check out the Tieba forum, saying it��s a total mess out there.��


    Lin Shan was a classmate of theirs.


    ��What��s this mess? Any juicy gossip?�� Lin Lu was invigorated.


    ��Yeah, the gossip about me and Cheng Zhu! Do you want it?�� Qingning��s tone became even colder.


    ��Ah?�� Lin Lu was taken aback: ��Can... can I have it?��


    ��I really can��t deal with this, it��s all your fault, suddenly I��ve got an imaginary boyfriend, and lots of people on Tieba are saying I��m into a younger guy!�� Qingning forcefully freed her arm from where it had sunk in.


    ��They��re talking nonsense! How could Cheng Zhu possibly be your boyfriend!�� Lin Lu��s voice suddenly rose a few notches.


    ��Yeah! Ridiculous!�� Qingning shared the sentiment, but suddenly she felt something off in Lin Lu��s expression and tone.


    Her eyes fixed on Lin Lu, her tone unfriendly, ��You��d better be angry about someone spreading rumors about me.��


    ��Ah? Of course, what else would I be angry about?�� Lin Lu immediately replied.


    ��Hmph, you��d better be!��


    And so, the two women sat on the bed, opened the Tieba posts, scanning and criticizing as they went.


    ��Should we post a reply to explain?�� Lin Lu asked.


    ��Forget it, it��ll only get worse the more we talk, and besides, we��ve never posted anything on Tieba. If you say you��re Lin Lu, they��ll probably ask you to prove you��re Lin Lu!�� Qingning retorted with a huff.


    ��These kinds of rumors won��t last long, after all, Cheng Zhu and I are clear as day, and soon people will realize we��re just friends.�� With her character, she truly didn��t bother with explanations, she was just annoyed and felt Lin Lu was always stirring up trouble.


    Looking at her, Lin Lu finally said, ��Well... okay then.��


    She still really wanted to clarify things.


    ��In school, then, are you going to keep your distance from Cheng Zhu?�� she asked.


    ��How it was before is how it will continue to be. Why should I change myself because of some baseless gossip?�� Qingning frowned.


    ��True that.��


    Sometime later, under Cheng Zhu��s urging, the group of four from dorm room 309 finally left, heading first to the cafeteria for breakfast.


    After eating, they walked through the morning campus, white long legs and perky backsides visible beneath the dazzling sunlight.


    This Technology University in Hang City, while not quite up to par with neighboring Communication University, indeed had quality girls.


    There was a legend circulating in University City, mentioning that luxury cars crowded Communication University��s back door in the middle of the night, though no one knew if it was true or not.


    As they entered the Information College area, the amount of long legs and curvy backsides visibly decreased.


    ��Brother Zhu, do you think we��ll have any beauties in our class?�� Liu Feng asked.


    ��I��m not sure, maybe?�� Cheng Zhu replied indifferently.


    The three felt that was about right; he really had the luxury not to care.


    Cheng Zhu��s previous major wasn��t Computer Science, and the gender ratio there wasn��t great either, meaning people often went off-campus to find romance.


    Specifically, if they broke up with a classmate, it could be a little awkward, and there was a higher chance of getting back together, resulting in never-ending cycles of breakups and reconciliations.


    Of course, college romances, no matter who with, usually didn��t end well.


    The so-called ��from school uniforms to wedding dresses�� was a rarity among rarities.


    Better to believe I am Emperor Qin Shi Huang than that.


    As they neared the classroom, Liu Feng couldn��t help lamenting, ��Sigh, even if there are pretty girls, it doesn��t concern me. Not like Brother Zhu who��s naturally good-looking. Nor am I bold like Dong, who can just ask girls for their WeChat on the street.��


    Dong immediately felt slighted, saying, ��I��m not just bold, I��m handsome too, okay?��


    ��I didn��t say you were thick-skinned; that was a high-EQ comment already. But Chuaner, I must criticize you, it��s not just that I��m handsome,�� Cheng Zhu retorted.


    Zheng Qingfeng stayed silent on the side; he had no sense of involvement in the conversation since he didn��t lack courage like Liu Feng; he was just aloof.


    Among the dormmates, Cheng Zhu was most optimistic about Liu Feng because he was easy to get along with, calling him ��Brother Zhu�� after just getting acquainted.


    Not like Dong Dong, who called him ��Brother Zhu�� when he needed something, and ��Cheng�� otherwise.


    As for Zheng Qingfeng, needless to say, he rarely used honorifics when talking, as if it would incur charges, saying a few extra words as if he would get fined.


    Even celebrities aren��t as good at maintaining their public persona.


    Thus, Cheng Zhu patted Liu Feng on the shoulder with heavy significance, trying to bolster his confidence, saying:


    ��Actually if you take a liking to an outstanding girl, don��t be afraid. Let me tell you, although you��re really very ordinary, having the chance to meet such a good person means it��s destined to be a trial for her!��


    Liu Feng��s small, single-lidded eyes widened with the advice.


    It was wonderfully odd, feeling both insulted and inspired at the same time.


    Dong Dong laughed out loud, and Zheng Qingfeng tried hard to hold back.


    Before entering the classroom, the trio put on brave faces, immediately returning to their composure.


    There were already quite a few people in the classroom; while they had been eager to check out the girls on the way in, they walked in with straight backs and averted eyes, as if not even daring to look around would suggest frivolity.


    Cheng Zhu, however, began to pick his spot as soon as he entered. But the back rows were nearly full and couldn��t accommodate the four of them.


    With the good seats taken, he had no choice but to settle into a seat by the window in the second row.


    As more and more classmates entered, the number of pretty computer science girls was indeed low, but they still watched with enthusiasm.


    Just then, a woman walked in from the outside, and Cheng Zhu sensed immediately that the three hounds beside him were wagging their invisible tails.


    He looked up and saw a woman with big, brown wavy hair.


    Her makeup was impeccable, her attire mature, and she was even wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. Heading straight in, she surprised everyone by picking up the chalk and writing her name on the blackboard.


    Well, turns out she wasn��t just dressed maturely, she was genuinely mature.


    She was the instructor for class 2 of Computer Science.


    ...


    (ps: The fan group is now open; a link is available in the introduction for one-click joining.)

 Chapter 73: 71: Urban Sophisticated Woman

    Chapter 73: Chapter 71: Urban Sophisticated Woman


    ��I��m Chen Jieyu, your counselor. You can call me Mr. Chen.��


    She stood on the podium, surveying the classmates in the room.


    And the students sitting below, naturally, were all intently watching her.


    Especially the boys, who were all excitedly stirred up.


    Chen Jieyu appeared to be about 165 centimeters tall, wearing a short-sleeved beige shirt on the upper body and a pair of black loose straight-leg trousers on the lower body.


    Her makeup was meticulous, skin was fair, and with that pair of gold-rimmed glasses, she exuded a mature aura not found in students, indeed very eye-catching.


    ...


    In terms of appearance, there was definitely a gap compared to Lin Lu and Shen Qingning, but she was still way above the girls in the Computer Science Class 2.


    She and Ye Zi were comparable, both at the urban mature woman stage. However, while Ye Zi was outwardly charming, Chen Jieyu exuded a subtle intellectuality.


    Moreover, in the realm of male-female attractions, the slightly taboo identity of a counselor was actually a bonus.


    The boys of Computer Science Class 2 never imagined they��d actually encounter such an exemplary counselor.


    And the few girls in the Computer Science Class 2 didn��t expect that the one who overshadowed everyone in the class was a school staff member.


    Don��t let it come to the point where she becomes the goddess in the boys�� dreams.


    Cheng Zhu looked at the woman on the podium and thought to himself, ��I didn��t expect the counselor to be Chen Jieyu.��


    In his past life, he had heard of her, being called the goddess counselor of the Information College at Technology University, with many considering her the most beautiful counselor at Technology University.


    Come to think of it, in his past life he had graduated from Technology University so many years ago and had since been exposed to all kinds of people; it didn��t make sense for him to still remember a counselor he had never met.


    It��s mainly because Chen Jieyu was indeed famous at Technology University, and she was always embroiled in controversy.


    Initially, when she became a counselor, many claimed it was because she had a distant relative among the school leaders, suggesting it was nepotism.


    After a brief self-introduction, she let the students go up on stage to introduce themselves one by one.


    ��Let��s start with the students in the first row, from the left to the right,�� the female counselor said.


    Having finished, she walked down from the podium and stood next to the front door.


    During the whole self-introduction process, Cheng Zhu could only think that these were indeed computer science students.


    The first boy on the stage, after stating his name and which city he came from, went into detail about his ��League of Legends�� rank and his preferred position.


    With this guy setting the tone, many followed suit.


    One skinny boy was even more hilarious, claiming he was a rank booster, open for business, an invincible jungler, laughing and slaying the enemy.


    Chen Jieyu stood aside, expressionless, with no clue what she was thinking.


    Soon, it was Cheng Zhu��s roommates�� turn to go on stage.


    The introduction from Liu Feng of the atmosphere group seemed designed to liven up the class, eliciting laughter from the audience now and then.


    Cheng Zhu suspected the guy wanted to play the funny card, trying to use humor to find love at university.


    I can offer you nothing but joy.


    Dong Dong went up on stage to show off, declaring his interest in trendy clothing, making it seem like he was someone from the fashion circle.


    But since he put it that way, even if the students didn��t recognize the brand of the clothes he was wearing, they automatically assumed it wasn��t cheap trendy wear.


    As for Zheng Qingfeng, best left unmentioned, the cold guy only stated his name and where he was from, doing his best impassive performance on stage before descending without a trace of emotion.


    Cheng Zhu thought he should have also mentioned his age, his mature appearance made it easy for classmates to mistook him for someone who had repeated grades severely.


    After the three roommates had introduced themselves, it was finally Cheng Zhu��s turn.


    He went on stage and enjoyed a moment of attention from the girls in the class.

 Chapter 74: 71 Urban Sophisticated Woman_2

    Chapter 74: Chapter 71 Urban Sophisticated Woman_2


    As for his looks and temperament, he really didn��t fit the stereotypical image people had of a computer guy.


    He picked up the chalk and swiftly wrote his name on the blackboard.


    He was also the only one to take the initiative to leave his name on the blackboard, and he wrote his name, two large characters, next to the name of the instructor, Chen Jieyu, and he wrote it big.


    As a result, before he had even put down the chalk, a faint buzz of surprise rippled through the crowd.


    ��Ah? Cheng Zhu? From the online forums?��


    Some students were confused, while others couldn��t help but take a few extra glances at him.


    ...


    That bastard Dong Dong was pretty sly, immediately chiming in with, ��Yep, that��s the guy from the online forums!��


    His voice wasn��t loud, but everyone could hear.


    On one hand, he was hyping his dormitory brother, and on the other, he had his own little schemes.


    Attention all ladies, he hangs out with the two campus belles, you all better not get involved!


    Us mere mortals should just stick to our own kind, don��t try to force your way into a different circle.


    As long as Cheng Zhu becomes popular, by rounding up, wouldn��t I be considered the most handsome guy in the Computer Science Class 2?


    Suddenly, the classroom buzzed with chatter, getting somewhat noisy.


    ��Quiet,�� Chen Jieyu, with her arms crossed, stood and frowned as she spoke out.


    She glanced at Cheng Zhu on the podium from beneath her gold-rimmed glasses, a hint of surprise in her eyes.


    Don��t think that the staff gossip circle doesn��t circulate rumors about students.


    She hadn��t thoroughly checked the students�� profiles, just a brief look, and didn��t expect that this notable new student would be in her class.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t make any special self-introduction while standing at the podium; he just said a few simple words with confidence and without any shyness.


    In his view, this face and physique of his were the best social identity. What��s the point in saying all that crap?


    Sure enough, when he stepped down from the podium, the applause from the crowd was a few notches louder. Once seated, many girls in the back were still staring at his back.


    After everyone had introduced themselves, Chen Jieyu slowly went on stage and announced, ��Next, we will select two temporary leaders for the military training period, one male and one female.��


    Once her work was done, Chen Jieyu left, and everyone was free to do as they pleased. Tomorrow would be the official start of the military training.


    Watching the pretty form of the female instructor leave the classroom, that rascal Dong Dong couldn��t resist saying, ��So, adding our instructor on WeChat is fine, right?��


    Liu Feng immediately leaned in toward Dong Dong��s phone.


    He had already clicked on Chen Jieyu��s profile picture in the group but hadn��t yet sent a friend request.


    ��It should be fine, right? After all, she��s our instructor, and we��ll have to get in touch on regular days. She couldn��t possibly reject a friend request, could she? She��ll accept it,�� Liu Feng analyzed.


    But in the end, for some reason, the three of them looked to Cheng Zhu for guidance, with Liu Feng asking, ��Right, Brother Zhu?��


    Cheng Zhu looked at them, lifted his phone slightly, and said, ��Hmm, let me check, friend request accepted.��


    ��Holy shit, you added her as soon as you joined the group?�� Dong Dong asked.


    ��Why not?��


    Adding the instructor as a friend seemed totally normal to him; he figured he��d definitely need to ask her for leave in the future.


    He didn��t want anything else from her, just hoping she would be quick about granting leaves.


    If she turned out to be stingy about approving leaves, Cheng Zhu wouldn��t rule out having to resort to certain methods.


    As for what methods, things related to society were better left unspoken!


    ��By the way, if she follows the original timeline and attempts suicide when I��m in my second year, she��ll resign after that, meaning we��ll have to get a new instructor for the class?�� Cheng Zhu pondered.


    ��Why would such a good person think of suicide? What could be the reason?��


    ��Looking at her today, she seems pretty normal.��


    ��But then again, that��s a year from now. And nowadays, many people keep piling up issues inside without any of it showing on the surface.��


    ��Many people don��t know how to release stress; they just keep suppressing it.��


    At this moment, these shameless guys, finding out Cheng Zhu had already added her as a friend, decided to ask other guys if they��d added the instructor yet.


    After learning nobody had acted so swiftly, they too decided not to add her right away, thinking of sending the request later.


    ��I really can��t understand what goes on in the brains of you male college students,�� Cheng Zhu said, exasperated.


    ��Brother Zhu, aren��t you also a male college student?�� Liu Feng murmured.


    Then the three rascals crowded around, treating Cheng Zhu��s phone like a treasure and shamelessly said, ��Bro, let us take a look at Mr. Chen��s Moments, will you?��

 Chapter 75: 72 Hello, Shen Qingning

    Chapter 75: Chapter 72 Hello, Shen Qingning


    Chen Jieyu��s Moments did indeed exude the word ��exquisite�� at every turn.


    Some people post whatever they want on their Moments, but others have a unified persona to maintain.


    Chen Jieyu was the latter.


    Cheng Zhu hadn��t met her and had only heard some gossip, so he refrained from judging.


    He rarely let others�� words influence his own judgment.


    However, since persona was mentioned, one simply had to talk about our stoic, slightly chubby Zheng Qingfeng��s Moments.


    ...


    His Moments were empty; the guy never posted anything. Yet, he loved lurking on others�� posts and was damn stingy with giving likes.


    After the three of them finished checking out Chen Jieyu��s Moments, they exited them.


    Upon exiting, they saw little red notifications on Cheng Zhu��s WeChat interface��there were nine friend requests.


    Their eyes narrowed, Dong Dong said, ��Brother Zhu, check if they��re guys or girls.��


    Cheng Zhu clicked to see, out of the nine people who added him from the group chat, there were five guys and four girls.


    ��Holy shit, you mean to tell me four damn girls took the initiative to add you on WeChat?�� Dong Dong said through gritted teeth.


    There were only 11 girls in the class of computer science...


    Immediately, the three of them moved in unison, taking out their phones to check, filled with wonderful fantasies.


    Indeed, they had friend requests, but only one from a girl, and it was that Chen Tingting.


    At first, the trio was ecstatic��Even the bare-faced beauty added me!


    But then they thought about it, and it seemed she had added everyone since she was one of the military training leaders.


    Dong Dong looked at Cheng Zhu and suggested in a negotiating tone, ��Brother Zhu, have you considered switching majors?��


    ...


    ...


    On the way back to the dorm, the guys�� conversation always revolved around girls.


    Although there were only 11 girls in the class, these three lechers managed to talk the whole way back.


    ��I think the prettiest is still Chen Tingting, and she hasn��t even put on makeup. If she did, she��d definitely be better looking than Zhao Qianrou.��


    ��Right, right, but Zhao Qianrou looks like a D-cup to me!��


    ��Chen Tingting is really fair, and her skin looks great.��


    ��Yes, yes, but Zhao Qianrou is a D!��


    ��Liu Yi, pretty.��


    ��Zheng, you quiet guy, turns out you like the heavily made-up type?��


    Finally, all three agreed that the most amazing was still our counselor!


    Engrossed in their chat, the trio turned to Cheng Zhu. Dong Dong puzzled, ��Brother Cheng, who are you texting that��s making you walk so slowly? Hurry up and tell them, is Chen Tingting the highest quality of our classmates or what?��


    Cheng Zhu had all along not joined the group chat and was lagging behind the trio, typing on his phone.


    He completely ignored the latter part of Dong Dong��s statement, saying, ��I��m chatting with the counselor.��


    Instantly, the three front runners stopped in their tracks, and Dong Dong slapped himself in the face.


    Damn! Why do I always have to say the crass thing at the crucial moment?


    Shit, we haven��t even dared to add her as a friend, and you��re already in deep conversation?


    ��Brother Zhu, under what pretext are you chatting with the counselor?�� Liu Feng asked earnestly.


    Start the lesson, I��ll listen on my knees!


    He felt he could learn a lot from Cheng Zhu over these four years. He had a keen desire to learn��so ambitious!


    ��No pretext. She reached out to ask me why I didn��t run for military training leader.��


    ��Huh? There was such a thing?�� Dong Dong was flabbergasted.


    Good lord, it looks like the counselor thinks you are capable and is expressing regret about not actively campaigning for the position?


    ��What��s so strange about that? Isn��t it quite normal?�� said Cheng Zhu.


    ��It��s one thing to compete spontaneously, but it��s another for the counselor to have a preferred candidate in mind. Maybe she��s also hinting that I should run for a class committee position,�� Cheng Zhu replied earnestly.


    ��But why?�� Dong Dong was confused.


    This was just the official start of the school, and everyone had only met once and made simple introductions.


    There was nothing special when Cheng Zhu introduced himself, was it because he was the first to write his name on the board with chalk?


    Why does the beautiful counselor fancy him?


    ��Maybe she thinks I��m the face of our computer science class, a gilded name card for the class and the most eye-catching handsome poster in the School of Information Sciences?�� Cheng Zhu said.


    The three of them: ��...��


    Everyone exudes something indescribable, known as a ��vibe.��


    Perhaps she felt differently about me than the other male students.


    To be exact, it was quite normal, for I am a Reborn, after all.


    The naivety and greenness seen in most college students were hardly felt in him.


    Look at these three roommates; Dong Dong had even suddenly jumped up and made an air basketball shot at a tree.


    Liu Feng, the goof, stepped back two paces and threw one as well, exclaiming, ��I��ll take a three-pointer!��


    Bear in mind, positions like class leader are the counselor��s right-hand men��this directly impacts how the counselor carries out her work.


    Of course, he wasn��t a roundworm in Chen Jieyu��s stomach; only she knew what she was really thinking.


    Cheng Zhu thought, ��Maybe the counselor really does have an eye for talent.��


    At that moment, Liu Feng asked curiously, ��Brother Zhu, how did you reply to Mr. Chen?��


    ��Next time for sure,�� joked Cheng Zhu.


    ��Nice!�� The three guys actually believed it.


    Returning to the dorm, Cheng Zhu received a WeChat message from Wang Anquan.

 Chapter 76: 72 Hello, Shen Qingning_2

    Chapter 76: Chapter 72 Hello, Shen Qingning_2


    ��Brother Zhu, many stores have started posting their own manga-style seller shows! These copycats are really pissing me off!��


    ��It doesn��t matter, there��s no stopping it, as long as we keep leading in popularity, that��s fine. Besides, my specially designed new models are coming up next.��


    This style of manga had become a net-wide sensation, thanks in part to ��Persistent Visit.��


    Adding to that, the store was already experiencing a surge in orders, combining the two, the profits over the past few days had already matched last month��s total revenue.


    With this momentum, it would be easy to break into the top ten in the category.


    Next, Cheng Zhu was confident he could set the trend with a batch of trendy new products.


    ...


    You think the stepmother skirt is my trump card?


    That��s just an appetizer!


    With so many QQ lingerie styles used in his past life, how could he not know which ones looked good and worked well?


    ��Practice makes perfect! The key was in the execution!


    ��In the coming years, we have to make as much money as possible. The e-commerce platform will only become more competitive. In a few years, opening this kind of store won��t work with this model; it��ll be outdated, and we��ll need new strategies,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    ��Not focusing on domestic sales and instead exporting could be an option,�� he considered.


    After chatting a bit more about work with Wang Anquan, he began to inquire about his little brother��s college life.


    ��Brother Zhu, I��m doing great. Everyone in my dorm calls me Brother Anquan now.��


    ��Brother Anquan, what kind of silly name is that?��


    ��It��s not bad, right? It sounds pretty imposing?��


    Wang Anquan was also studying in Hang City, but it was quite far from Technology University, and his school was somewhat lesser in reputation.


    However, Cheng Zhu thought since he had just sent him a sizable salary, and he��d grown up a bit, there was no reason he wouldn��t be able to make his way in university.


    What he didn��t know was that Wang Anquan had taken many of his big brother��s valuable sayings to heart and saved them in his notes.


    He had not expected that he��d end up using them right at the start of the semester.


    Their school started three days earlier than Technology University. On the first day, his dormmates were discussing their love lives.


    One roommate��s situation was similar to Wang Anquan��s past experiences, with the girl being hot and cold, leading to an unhappy ending and the feeling of being a backup.


    Upon hearing this, Wang Anquan immediately looked out the window with a profound gaze and said in a low tone, ��When showering, if the water suddenly turns from hot to cold, you know, someone else is using the water supply.��


    In a word, definitive!


    He had memorized all these sayings from Cheng Zhu and had finally found the opportunity to use them!


    His roommates let out howls of understanding.


    We get it! You��re way too savvy!


    From then on, he became Brother Anquan in the dorm, with everyone asking him to safeguard their love lives!


    ...


    ...


    At night, dormitory 309��s dorm president Dong Dong began organizing the first team-building activity��online gaming at the internet cafe?!


    But Cheng Zhu rejected it again.


    ��Ah? Cheng, you��re not joining again?�� Dong Dong was taken aback.


    ��I have some things to do tonight,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    ��Well, okay then,�� they said, not wanting to insist.


    Deep down, the three of them felt Cheng Zhu��s relationship with them was somewhat distant.


    They seemed close during daily interactions, but felt like they were not quite in the same world.


    As they left the dorm and headed to the internet cafe?, they delved into this topic.


    ��I always feel like when Cheng is with us, it��s like he��s... what��s the word, something about up and down?�� Dong Dong couldn��t remember the phrase.


    The stoic and plump Zheng Qingfeng casually said, ��Backward compatibility.��


    ��Yeah! It always feels like he��s being backward compatible!��


    Liu Feng, walking beside them, remained silent. He had long been calling him Brother Zhu, and it wasn��t without reason.


    Looking at the tree-lined avenues of the campus, he thought to himself, ��I must have taken a wider path.��


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu took a moment to rest and meditate for ten minutes after his roommates left.


    Now, ��Persistent Visit�� was thriving, with a very rosy outlook.


    He planned to continue investing in the store, and necessary operating expenses could not be skimped on.


    But he was now able to draw some profit from it.


    ��How should I spend it, how to make money from money?�� he pondered.


    Suddenly, he remembered his debt to Little Youzi for the milk tea and claw machine store.


    He got up from the bed, ready to look around the street outside the school.


    He was more inclined to start with a small claw machine shop.


    As he had said before, this thing was just about making a quick buck. At the time, it had not been done much, and just a little operation could turn it into an internet-famous store.


    Some things are just weird like that.


    Which game arcade doesn��t have claw machines?


    But if a shop has only claw machines, all claw machines, it strangely draws a female crowd and becomes an internet-famous check-in spot.


    The trendsetting noodle cafeterias were like that too, presenting a similar vibe.


    Cheng Zhu was also aware that a claw machine shop didn��t have a future and wouldn��t make much money or last very long.


    But that was precisely what he wanted.


    In his plan, the store wasn��t about making big money; it was about getting a feel.


    Feeling the process of earning money from the youth and getting to know the young people of 2014 better.


    Some things, if done with future concepts in mind, might not succeed.


    Being too advanced can actually be detrimental; discussing it without considering the context of the time is foolish.


    Moreover, in his past life, his main focus was online, and he had less experience with offline investments.


    ��Of course, it��s definitely not because once this kind of store becomes an internet sensation, it will become a hit across University City, attracting countless young women for check-ins, with girls coming in a steady stream every day.��


    ��Definitely not!��


    ��I��m just a good brother fulfilling my little sister��s wish for a claw machine, what bad intentions could I have?��


    On a somewhat warm evening, Cheng Zhu leisurely made his way to the streets outside the campus.


    Along the way, a girl even added him as a friend for her shy friend.


    This is a common approach in university where girls initiate contact with guys, usually not a pretense of befriending a stranger; good-looking guys should have experienced this.


    Sometimes, such encounters can send you dreaming, wondering if her unseen friend is pretty.


    When Cheng Zhu arrived on the street, he looked around, scouting the area.


    While looking around, he saw a familiar figure in a nearby fruit shop.


    Shen Qingning, all by herself, was selecting fruits with her head down.


    The key point here, Lin Lu wasn��t with her, she was temporarily alone.


    The light fell on her, and this girl with naturally pale and cool skin shone even more under the illumination.


    She bent slightly, and as her long hair impeded her view, she reached back to brush it behind her ear.


    Several strands of playful hair that didn��t stay in place draped beside her face. As the air conditioning breeze blew through, they danced in the wind, adding an air of untamed yet breath-taking beauty.


    See, beautiful people, even the wind and light seem to be more considerate around them.


    Cheng Zhu walked into the shop with a smile, thinking back to the rumors about them in the forums.


    Shen Qingning, having selected a piece of ��Bird��s Nest Fruit,�� slowly looked up; she had mild myopia and usually wore contact lenses, occasionally glasses, which she had left in the car today.


    Thus, when she looked at the newcomer, she squinted slightly, appearing a bit confused, which diminished her typically cool demeanor.


    Seeing this, Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but grin and simply greeted her, prompting her somewhat dazed eyes to suddenly widen in the bright shop light, gleaming radiantly:


    ��Hello there, rumored girlfriend.��

 Chapter 77: 73: A Young Girls Feelings are Always Poetic

    Chapter 77: Chapter 73: A Young Girl��s Feelings are Always Poetic


    Inside the fruit store at the school gate, Shen Qingning listened to Cheng Zhu��s words and was instantly stunned.


    ��Hello there, rumored girlfriend?��


    It seemed there was nothing wrong with what he said, quite the opposite, it was as if Cheng Zhu himself had descended into the arena to enjoy the drama, playing off his own meme.


    But this guy inherently looked a bit ruffian-like, with naturally upturned eyebrows, which gave off a somewhat malicious vibe when he smiled at this moment.


    Shen Qingning, a person with a strong presence like a luxurious human-made flower, hadn��t quite encountered something like this before.


    And for some reason, her heartbeat subtly quickened, and she felt a hint of embarrassed annoyance.


    ...


    He��s teasing me, isn��t he?


    He��s definitely teasing me!


    ��What are you talking about!�� Shen Qingning��s delicate brows furrowed, and she even felt like smashing the bird��s nest fruit in her hand into his face.


    But she ultimately wasn��t the unrestrained type like Lin Lu. To act in such a way would be akin to flirting.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her, the smile on his face not diminishing, and he directly began to look at the fruit plates in the cooler next to her.


    ��He sure is at ease!�� Shen Qingning didn��t know why, but she still felt a bit annoyed.


    What was even more irritating was that after Cheng Zhu picked out a chilled watermelon fruit cut, he turned to her with all seriousness upon paying and asked, ��Shen Qing... no, senior sister, do you have a discount card for this place?��


    ...


    ...


    Just like that, Cheng Zhu borrowed Shen Qingning��s membership card to get a discount, and then he transferred money to her via WeChat.


    Shen Qingning initially didn��t want to accept it, but felt this guy had just been teasing her on purpose, so within this cold and detached girl, a voice spoke up, ��I definitely don��t want to treat him to watermelon!��


    As a result, Cheng Zhu directly unwrapped the cling film from the fruit cut and offered it to Shen Qingning, ��Want some?��


    ��No thanks.��


    ��This piece looks like it��s from the center, really red and crisp.�� He picked up that piece of watermelon with a fork and then, under Shen Qingning��s gaze, took a big bite, ��Hear that crunch?��


    ��Boring!��


    The two of them left the store and then discovered that the street was indeed crowded.


    And her rate of turning heads on the street had always been quite high.


    Speaking of which, the gossip on the forums had only appeared for one day and one night, and although it spread quickly, it wasn��t possible that everyone had become an onlooker and caught the whole scoop.


    But people are influenced by their psychology.


    And a certain jerk had just greeted her in a very unique way.


    All of this made her feel a bit uncomfortable, as if everyone who looked her way was gossiping about their relationship.


    Even though she had told Lin Lu with scorn that she wouldn��t bother with such things, and she was confident she wouldn��t care, maintaining a cold stance towards rumors, standing next to Cheng Zhu amongst the crowd still left her with a strange feeling that she couldn��t quite place.


    Ironically, the male lead in the rumors, he was too comfortable.


    On this sultry evening, he was enjoying his chilled watermelon bite by bite, seemingly in great pleasure.


    ��I parked my car over there; I��m leaving first,�� Shen Qingning said to him.


    ��Sure, I was planning to head in that direction too, so we��re going the same way.�� Cheng Zhu glanced over.


    When they arrived at the white Land Rover Range Rover, Shen Qingning, before getting in, noticed Cheng Zhu looking around at each store, so she asked, ��What are you looking for?��


    She thought Cheng Zhu might not be familiar with the street outside the school and was searching for a particular store, in which case she could give directions.


    ��I��m thinking of renting a space for a store,�� Cheng Zhu replied directly.


    If an ordinary girl were standing in front of him, hearing that a freshman was considering renting a store to do business, she would likely be astonished at his financial capability.


    But Shen Qingning had a brother who was a wastrel, disinterested in the family business, eager to start his ventures, opening one failed store after another during his university years, essentially being a walking trial-and-error entrepreneur.


    The reserved young lady standing beside the car asked, ��How big of a store are you planning to rent?��


    ��Two units will do,�� Cheng Zhu responded.


    For this kind of store, if you make it look small and intimate, renting just one unit is enough.


    But Cheng Zhu was not that kind of small-minded person.


    Such a small space, where would all my sisters stand!


    However, two units were indeed almost the limit. Three units would only increase the difficulty of making a return.


    A claw machine arcade is not worth that much trouble.


    ��There are two units up for rent over there, but you��ll have to wait about ten days; they aren��t available until the leases are up in another couple of weeks,�� Shen Qingning pointed out a sushi store to the left.


    ��Is that so? The location is really good, very noticeable,�� Cheng Zhu took a glance.


    These kinds of stores outside the campus change hands every year.


    Many people think that as long as the location is good, the store will make money, but it��s not that simple.


    ��You could consider it, and if you��re interested, send me a WeChat,�� Shen Qingning said as she opened the passenger door of the car and placed the fruit inside.


    ��Huh? Don��t tell me you��re the landlord,�� Cheng Zhu commented astutely.


    Shen Qingning nodded.


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t help wanting to applaud for her.


    Indeed, those two stores were hers, gifts from her father when she was admitted to university.


    To be so young and already at university, and to start being a landlady already, right?


    Cheng Zhu was reminded of a news story he had read about the founder of Amazon, Bezos, who had been the richest man in the world for several years and faced a troubling problem: his little daughter just didn��t spend enough money.


    He gave his daughter a five-figure US Dollar allowance every week, but she always saved a lot of it.


    Once, he even found out she had bought a pair of discounted shoes, which deeply depressed him.


    To encourage her to spend, he even told her, ��You can��t keep buying useless assets, like if you��re so fond of ��Star Wars��, why not just buy its rights?��


    Goodness, we like to buy merchandise, but you��re talking about buying rights.


    When his daughter thought about traveling, wanting to go on vacation, he just bought an island.


    It��s worth mentioning that this daughter was also an adopted child Bezos had taken in from a welfare home in Changsha.


    Upon the release of this news, countless people shed tears of envy and commented, ��Does Bezos still want a daughter?��


    After reading this, Cheng Zhu thought to himself: The rich aren��t showing off in Versailles, they are genuinely concerned about this matter, thinking about how to reverse their daughter��s perspectives on spending and investing.


    For people like them, money isn��t saved, it��s spent.


    Cheng Zhu, understanding this principle, was very clear that for girls of Shen Qingning��s caliber, even if they were still in school, they already held certain resources in their hands, with parents possibly already guiding their children to start dabbling.


    There are indeed differences between people.


    But Cheng Zhu never harbored any resentment towards his parents.


    Because he knew very well that for the wealthy, they were just loosening a bit from between their fingers, letting their children grow. After all, it didn��t make sense to hand over a vast fortune to such young individuals.


    But for many ordinary parents like Cheng and Xu Yun, they were already giving their utmost effort, standing on their tiptoes, raising their arms, supporting their children, trying their best to give their children a broader perspective from the highest point.


    At this moment, after a few more words with Shen Qingning, she drove away.


    Cheng Zhu went over to have a look at the sushi store; the business was indeed poor.


    ��If I were to date a little rich woman, would I not even have to pay the rent? Euphemistically called ��investing as a stakeholder with rent.�� �� He jokingly thought to himself.


    ��Don��t say dating a rich woman is about getting money; how vulgar.��


    ��That��s called receiving support in business!��


    And so, Cheng Zhu continued forward, commencing his inspection of the off-campus market, intending to explore the entire street tonight.


    Having Shen Qingning as the landlord was indeed not a bad choice. But Cheng Zhu wouldn��t just turn back and stop wandering the streets for other options due to this.


    Many people end up regretting because they don��t do all their preparations at the beginning.


    On the other hand, Shen Qingning quickly drove to the shared living space with Lin Lu.


    Lin Lu was in the room watching anime. Shen Qingning was not interested and simply said to her, ��I��ve left the fruit on the table.��


    ��Awesome! Thanks!�� Lin Lu sat in front of the tablet computer and gestured a heart with her hands.


    Shen Qingning took a bird��s nest fruit and returned to her room, then like usual, started to read a romance novel out of boredom.


    As mentioned before, she was a seasoned romance novel enthusiast and had a particular fondness for torturous stories, not even bothering with non-torturous plots.


    She had been feeling a book drought recently, so she revisited the well-known ��Silent Separation.��


    Strictly speaking, this novel wasn��t very torturous, and she had read it several times before.


    The reason for choosing it again was that she had heard it was in line for a drama adaptation this year, and she might get to see the adapted TV series by 2015, so she decided to revisit it.


    And reading a book again after some time can bring a new perspective.


    The book wasn��t long, and she quickly arrived at the part where the male lead He Yichen and the female lead Zhao Mosheng were in their school days.


    This part of the story talked about how the school was buzzing with the news that the notable figure from the law department, He Yichen, had a girlfriend whose name was a mouthful, Zhao Mosheng.


    At that time, Zhao Mosheng was already pursuing He Yichen, but she had not yet succeeded, so upon hearing the rumors, she immediately ran to find him to clarify anxiously, ��It wasn��t me who spread the rumors, believe me!��


    She received a response from He Yichen, ��I know.��


    ��How do you know?�� she asked.


    ��Because I was the one who spread them.��


    When Shen Qingning read the book in the past, she simply found this part of the story to be sweet.


    But today, for some reason, Cheng Zhu��s face inexplicably came to mind.


    The plot in the book was vastly different from what was happening to her in reality.


    The only similarity was that there were rumors going around the school about both of them.


    The ��mastermind�� on her end was the next-door fool who was joyfully binge-watching anime!


    But somehow, Shen Qingning couldn��t help but remember the way Cheng Zhu looked in the fruit store, the infuriating smile on his face, and that phrase, ��Hello there, rumored girlfriend.��


    In an instant, she felt as if an electric current passed through her body, and she locked her phone screen.


    No more reading for her tonight!

 Chapter 78: 74: Do You Understand What a Grandmaster Is?

    Chapter 78: Chapter 74: Do You Understand What a Grandmaster Is?


    The street off campus, Brother Zhu quickly browsed through.


    He did indeed find a location even better and more suitable than that sushi place, but alas, the business of the braised chicken shop was booming, and it didn��t look like they had any intention of transferring ownership.


    Annoyed, Brother Zhu went in to eat!


    He ordered a small portion of mildly spicy, and it was damn good, not expensive either��no wonder the business was thriving.


    He had planned to eat less for supper, as any fine gentleman maintains his figure, and no meal is as delightful as spending time with the ladies, but in the end, he finished everything.


    ��It seems that right now, the optimal choice really is Qingning��s high-class store,�� Brother Zhu thought to himself.


    ...


    Of course, he wouldn��t ask for a special deal just because they were friends, but when the time came, he would just rent it at the market rate.


    Feelings and such, Brother Zhu wouldn��t waste them on trivial matters.


    After returning to the dormitory, his three rambunctious roommates were still happily playing games at the internet cafe.


    As for Brother Zhu, he had already begun searching online for claw machines and suitable doll manufacturers.


    As he searched, he inexplicably came upon realistic inflatable models.


    ��Damn it, is big data already this accurate? They know I��m selling QQ lingerie and think I want to expand my industry, huh?�� Brother Zhu pondered.


    He wasn��t much interested in that stuff as the market for it was relatively small.


    On the other hand, some QQ toys had a market that was only growing year by year, expanding like wildfire.


    Both for males and females, it was the same.


    ��Alas, societal pressure is high, it��s understandable.��


    ��These products could be considered.��


    The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility.


    The burden of the QQ realm is heavy, I, the Reborn, must shoulder it!


    ...


    ...


    The next day, the boys of Dorm 309 were jolted awake by the alarm clock.


    Today was the first day of military training.


    Brother Zhu dressed meticulously in his military training uniform, fussing over his appearance with great care.


    He was well aware that instructors liked to make examples of people, and you never knew who they��d pick to assert their authority.


    He was self-aware and knew that with his face and demeanor, his school tyrant-like appearance was bound to draw attention, like a firefly in the night.


    In his Computer Science Class 2, amidst a group of slender boys, he stood out, a distinctive, ruggedly handsome presence.


    He remembered in his past life during military training, when the instructor was trying to assert dominance, he shouted, ��Is anyone here not convinced?��


    Damn it, I just made eye contact with him and somehow he got the wrong idea, saying, ��You��re not convinced, huh?��


    It was all because of his defiant face.


    After everyone had freshened up, the three saucy dogs in the dorm saw Brother Zhu take out the bottle of dark golden sunscreen, squeezed a bit out, and began to vigorously apply it on his face and neck. Whatever was left in his palms, he rubbed onto the backs of his hands.


    ��Brother Zhu, can you apply some on me too?�� Dong Dong, the one with the biggest concern for his idol image, suddenly spoke up.


    Brother Zhu glanced at him.


    What��s your status to share the sunscreen Lin Lu gave me?


    ��Nope, this sunscreen costs three figures. Using it is like spending money, I��ll send an 18.88 red packet in the group chat later, you can consider it as if you��ve used it.��


    ��I��m not a stingy person!


    ��No need, no need, I don��t want the money. It feels uncomfortable to take it, as if you��d splattered it all over my face,�� Dong Dong refused.


    He looked at Zheng Qingfeng and Liu Feng, saying, ��We too must strive to borrow sunscreen from our female classmates during military training!��


    Liu Feng and Zheng Qingfeng nodded vigorously in agreement: ��Yeah!��


    ��Well done!�� Brother Zhu applauded on the side.


    The entire process of the first day of military training was not much different from his previous life for Brother Zhu.


    Since Technology University had hired legitimate instructors, the training was fairly standard.


    Unlike some so-called instructors who weren��t there for training, but to sleep with female students, and ironically, they had a high success rate, with some girls even flaunting such affairs.


    Brother Zhu, being tall, always stood on the very edge, making it convenient for the rest of the row to align with him as the reference.


    He was quite pleased with this; with more space around, there would be less smell of sweat.


    Plus, some girls, afraid of body odor, would even spray some perfume on themselves every day. All the scents mixed together were rather unpleasant.


    The counselor, Chen Jieyu, came over with a parasol.


    From a distance, she glanced at Brother Zhu, feeling more convinced that hinting to him to run for a class committee position was the correct decision.


    Indeed, this young man was poised and comfortable with public speaking, not showing any sign of panic. He stood out from the crowd of silly-looking college students around him.


    Moreover, given that he had been involved in rumors with the well-known Shen Qingning on campus, his comprehensive qualities couldn��t be poor.


    But his looks and aura, they made me, as a counselor, quite anxious.


    Too much of a school tyrant vibe, he looked like someone not to be messed with, and an average class committee didn��t seem capable of keeping him in line!


    Chen Jieyu had an intuition, this college guy was probably going to be a handful!


    The best way to handle this��make him join the class committee!


    It was similar to back in school when teachers would appoint the loudest student as the discipline monitor.


    ��Others probably can��t manage him, but I feel like he could keep everyone else in check,�� Chen Jieyu trusted her judgment of character.


    A cursory glance through the ranks gave her the impression: delicate boy, delicate boy, delicate boy... whoa, tough guy!


    The military uniform came with a belt, which, when worn by Brother Zhu, accentuated his gorilla arms, wasp waist, and Pacific-wide shoulders.

 Chapter 79: 74: Do You Understand What a Grandmaster Is?_2

    Chapter 79: Chapter 74: Do You Understand What a Grandmaster Is?_2


    Throwing him into the ranks of the instructors, apart from a slightly mismatched aura and paler skin, wouldn��t be too jarring.


    Although she had only recently become a counselor, she had heard from colleagues about certain class presidents who seemed to be pleading for favors every day. Eventually, they managed to accomplish their tasks, but at their own weary expense, and they exhausted their counselors as well.


    Some semblance of authority was still preferable.


    While Chen Jieyu was still covertly observing Cheng Zhu, a graceful figure approached from afar.


    The newcomer walked briskly, her gaze entirely fixed on Cheng Zhu.


    Her appearance made the instructors and counselors in the area realize something.


    ...


    That was, although the students were standing at attention, motionless everywhere else, their damn eyeballs were on the move! They followed the girl��s steps!


    Voice actress Lin Lu arrived alone; she specifically came to see Cheng Zhu suffer.


    She had invited Shen Qingning as well, but for some reason, Ningning simply refused to come, repeating over and over, ��Boring!��


    Lin Lu��s mindset was a bit like those damn upperclassmen who deliberately show up in front of the freshmen during military training to show off their watermelon-eating skills.


    Speaking of which, older students were indeed often seen near the military training formations these days.


    College students are hard to manage, and kicking them out isn��t easy either. As long as they don��t disrupt discipline, they��re left to their own devices.


    At this moment, Lin Lu stopped in front of the formation of Computer Science Class Two.


    This time, she didn��t tiptoe to wave at Cheng Zhu but just mouthed to him, ��Cheng Zhu, hello! Hello there!��


    Inside the formation, Cheng Zhu still showed some discipline, giving her a strong blink in response.


    I��ve said it a thousand times, I just love to show off, I carry an air of coolness. I��m really not some sort of campus thug.


    As long as the instructors didn��t hassle me for no reason, I certainly wouldn��t stir up trouble.


    Watching Cheng Zhu blink forcefully yet remain as still as a statue, Lin Lu couldn��t help but chuckle. Even from a distance, Cheng Zhu felt like he was having auditory hallucinations, as if he could hear the lively girl��s voice: ��Teehee!��


    In Cheng Zhu��s eyes, Lin Lu and Shen Qingning were different.


    Lin Lu was cute and radiant, lively and energetic. She truly didn��t care what others thought of her. If she wanted to see Cheng Zhu, she��d come. If she wanted to interact with him secretively, she��d do just that.


    Qingning, on the other hand, was a stubborn tsundere, always pretending.


    Moreover, she always carried herself with an air of superiority, as if seated high above the clouds.


    Which made me want to pull her down.


    At this time, directly opposite the Computer Science Class Two��s formation was a corridor of the school, and Lin Lu found a spot on the corridor to sit down.


    She looked at the gold-framed glasses-wearing woman outside holding a sun parasol and wondered, ��Could she be Cheng Zhu��s counselor? She��s quite pretty.��


    Little did she know, Chen Jieyu was also secretly noticing her.


    As mentioned before, Chen Jieyu��s family background was quite complicated, and her financial situation was rather ordinary.


    Her sophisticated lifestyle, the persona she crafted for herself, that urban air of elegance��it was all deliberately, strenuously, and even awkwardly packaged.


    But Lin Lu was different; the vibe she gave off wasn��t the same.


    Some girls, with just one glance, you can tell they��re the kind who are showered with adoration.


    Chen Jieyu was very envious of such people, very, very envious.


    Just like the clothes, shoes, and bags Lin Lu wore��Jieyu would have to budget carefully even for high-quality replicas, let alone the real thing.


    That inherent cheerfulness, confidence, generosity, brightness, and a touch of pampered pride��she might never experience in her lifetime.


    ��Is she here for him?�� Chen Jieyu had just noticed the small interaction between the two.


    Her curiosity about this freshman grew.


    After standing at attention for another seven or eight minutes on this hot day, the instructor gave everyone a five-minute break.


    It was too hot, they needed to let the students drink some water, otherwise, with the frail constitution of contemporary college students, wouldn��t a few of them just pass out?


    Upon hearing ��break,�� the scene immediately became noisy.


    ��F*ck! See that girl across there? She��s damn beautiful!��


    ��She��s been watching our military training! Don��t tell me she��s looking at me?��


    ��I��m dehydrated, want me to pee on you? Why be an informatics guy when you could be anything else?��


    ��Do we really have such a gorgeous student? Which department is she from? She can��t be from our School of Information, can she?��


    ��I��ll say this; if she keeps watching us drill, I could stand at attention for a whole day and night!��


    ��Yeah, right! How come suddenly the sun doesn��t seem so scorching and my legs don��t feel so tired anymore? Turns out this is why!��


    Even the eleven girls in the class felt that the girl sitting in the corridor was outrageously pretty.


    Having a beautiful face was one thing, but her figure broke the rules too, you could say it charted a course for D.


    Many people think that ordinary girls can��t stand to see a goddess, that they become disgusted and jealous. In reality, there��s a large number of girls who are suckers for good looks, not only feasting on handsome men��s faces but also on beautiful women��s. They tend to be friendlier towards attractive girls.


    Just like certain female celebrities have many female fans.


    Who doesn��t love a pretty girl?


    ��Oh my, she��s so sweet-looking, she��s like the pinnacle of cute girls!�� remarked a girl.


    ��Eh? She��s smiling this way, with dimples, I��m dying!��


    Following that, people in Computer Science Class Two saw a figure holding a bottle of mineral water heading briskly in that direction.


    Dong Dong and others looked on enviously at Cheng Zhu��s retreating figure.


    Damn, when will it be my turn to bask in such limelight?

 Chapter 80: 74: Do You Understand What a Grandmaster Is?_3

    Chapter 80: Chapter 74: Do You Understand What a Grandmaster Is?_3


    ��Don��t keep grinning like an idiot, are you that happy just to see some handsome guys training?�� Cheng Zhu said, annoyed.


    ��What do you mean? I��m here to see you panting like a parched dog!�� Lin Lu said with a laugh.


    ��So I��m a dog now am I? And not just any dog, a parched dog? Damn, you��re really specifying my breed now?��


    ��Forget about that, I��m asking you! Did you use the sunscreen I gave you?��


    He teased her on purpose, ��Aiyo, I really forgot!��


    ��Ah? How can you be like this? I went out of my way to buy it for you after I finished my dubbing work that day! I even reminded you last night!�� Lin Lu was a bit angry.


    ...


    She felt neglected that she��d gone to the trouble of getting him a gift and he didn��t seem to care, leaving the voice actress feeling a bit slighted. Her spirit seemed to wilt a bit as if her vitality were draining away.


    Cheng Zhu saw her deflated state, and suddenly an idea sprouted in his mind.


    ��No, I was just fooling you, I really did use it.��


    ��You liar! You definitely didn��t!�� Lin Lu was angry now and definitely wouldn��t believe him.


    She looked up at Cheng Zhu, her eyebrows furrowed and the corners of her mouth turned down, all pitiful.


    Cheng Zhu knew she wouldn��t believe him, and that was exactly what he wanted��her disbelief!


    ��Hey, still don��t believe me, huh? Just you wait!�� Cheng Zhu walked out and called over his three rambunctious roommates.


    Dong Dong and Liu Feng trotted over like excited puppies, with faces full of the excitement of front-row gossip-watchers.


    Zheng Qingfeng was also anxious inside, but he restrained himself and walked slower than the two rambunctious ones by three paces, maintaining his cool image.


    Cheng Zhu said to Lin Lu, ��These three are my roommates.��


    ��I told them that I used the sunscreen before I left in the morning, but she doesn��t believe me,�� Cheng Zhu said to them, looking to see which roommate would be the most agreeable, so he might later take them on as his sworn son.


    Lin Lu listened as Cheng Zhu made a big deal out of calling his roommates, feeling a little embarrassed and overwhelmed.


    Ah! I didn��t want to prove it like this! Ahhh! Why is he calling more people?


    What��s with your expressions, why do you look like you��re gorging on a couple��s drama, ah! You can��t possibly think I came all the way here just to ask about the sunscreen, right?


    No way! It was supposed to be a trivial matter, so why has it suddenly become such a grand show?


    Ah! There��s a weirdly ambiguous feel to the air now. Stop! Just stop!


    This was making her feel strange, to the point that the answer to her question no longer seemed to matter.


    Now, she didn��t even care if Cheng Zhu took the gift seriously; she just wanted this atmosphere to end quickly.


    But, does the answer really not matter?


    ��It matters a lot.


    You want the atmosphere to end? Then what the hell am I doing calling these three minions over as if I��m the Grandmaster?


    Pile on! Keep piling on the atmosphere!


    Among the trio of cheeky dogs, the shortest, Liu Feng, was the first to declare with all the seriousness one could muster:


    ��Sunscreen? I applied it, yeah!��


    ��We even asked Brother Zhu if he would share some with us,�� he said with a laugh. ��He refused, but he��s not a stingy guy; he said he��d compensate us with a red packet as if we��d used it! Hahaha!��


    ...


    ...


    Among the trio of cheeky dog swordsmen, Liu Feng earned Cheng Zhu��s favor first.


    Well done, lad, your path has just widened.


    Brother Zhu here, if given the chance, will deign to be your wingman.


    To let you experience the effect of the strongest wingman!


    Dong Dong and Zheng Qingfeng were not as cooperative, even playing at betrayal within their dormitory.


    What Liu Feng said was, ��We asked Brother Zhu for sunscreen to apply, but he refused to give us any.��


    But in reality, only Dong Dong, that fool, actually asked for some, while the others did not.


    Cool and usually laconic, Zheng couldn��t help but stab his roommate in the back: ��He��s the one who asked.��


    ��You damn...�� Dong Dong admitted defeat.


    The situation wasn��t a big deal, but when it was brought in front of the lady who provided the sunscreen, who also happened to be a gorgeous college goddess, he did feel a bit ashamed and quickly said, ��No, no, it was just a joke! I didn��t take the red packet either, ahem!��


    It was all too real, this whole act was too real!


    Of course, this was a genuine incident, not an act.


    Lin Lu sat on a bench in the corridor, laughing, ��What the heck, red packets now!��


    ��I get it, I get it, okay? Is it not enough to know you��ve used it?�� she looked up at Cheng Zhu beside her and murmured, ��To think you would call your roommates to prove it...��


    ��Well, it��s your own fault for not believing me.�� The dog of a man flashed a grin and started passing the buck.


    Lin Lu looked at his smile and, for some reason, just felt that he was up to no good!


    It is making me feel embarrassed. The vibes here are too weird.


    I��ve gotta escape! Run, run, run!


    ��Alright! I know, I know! It��s not important, it��s not important. I don��t care if you use it or not, why should I care? I gave it to you, it��s up to you, right?�� She promptly got up from the bench, her speech becoming increasingly disordered.


    ��You guys have another training session soon, take a good rest first. Well, I��ll be heading off now, bye!��


    ��Bye then!�� She waved to Cheng Zhu quickly, picked up her bag, and left, executing a proper ��Lu Lu, run fast�� routine.


    Cheng Zhu watched as she walked away; Lin Lu was muttering something as she hurried off, but it was unclear what she was grumbling about.


    He reached out and clapped Liu Feng on the shoulder, out of blue, asking, ��Chuaner, got any plans for a romance in college?��


    ��Brother Zhu, of course!�� Liu Feng immediately said.


    ��Got someone you like? Tell me in secret, okay?�� He raised his eyebrows suggestively at Liu Feng.


    ��Sure thing!�� Liu Feng was visibly excited.


    Was Brother Zhu about to pass on his knowledge to me?


    Dong Dong and Zheng Qingfeng exchanged puzzled looks.


    What the hell were those two doing?


    ��We can only tell Cheng in secret? Can��t we know too?�� Dong Dong even said, ��Chuaner, you��re not trying to keep it from me and Zheng, are you?��


    Liu Feng: ��...��


    Man, with your slow uptake, you��re going to struggle in the future.


    The four of them left the corridor, with Dong Dong still hung up on being betrayed by Zheng, shoulder bumping each other playfully as they walked.


    Dong Dong, skinny as he was, bumped into him, muttering curses.


    Zheng Qingfeng was chubby, he returned the bump with a cool and expressionless shoulder charge.


    People in Dorm 309 were generally easygoing, open in conversation, and fond of having fun, without holding grudges.


    In roommate relationships, it��s the secret scorekeeping that��s most feared, the issues that are never brought out in the open.


    Meanwhile, Lin Lu had walked far away.


    Girls often focus on different things from boys.


    Girls tend to think more about the details, and love to delve deeper.


    He refused to share the sunscreen but offered red packets instead��what did that mean?


    It indicated willingness and generosity, as if he would have shared it if he had bought the sunscreen himself.


    But because it was a gift from someone else, it was absolutely off-limits?


    Suddenly, the sunscreen became special, its value and significance elevated.


    Or was it not the item that was special but... the person?


    The same piece of information sounds completely different when it comes from someone else��s mouth.


    ��Ah! What am I even thinking about!�� Lin Lu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.


    Go away, get these messy thoughts out of my head!


    ��When I gave it to him, he didn��t seem to care much and even mocked me!��


    ��I can��t understand him, can��t understand him! No more thinking! No more thinking!�� She quickly strode forward, taking large steps.


    But soon, her pace slowed again and the steps got smaller.


    ��What��s with him, always saying the opposite of what he feels! Hmph!�� Lin Lu��s step lightened up a bit.


    She clutched her small bag, tapping her little leather shoes, trying not to think about it too much, only to keep coming back to it.


    Yes, she had run away, but the strange atmosphere she��d stirred up still lingered with some warmth.


    ...


    (ps: Second update, a long chapter, not splitting it, looking for monthly votes.)

 Chapter 81: 75: Putting You in an Awkward Position

    Chapter 81: Chapter 75: Putting You in an Awkward Position


    When the four from Room 309 returned to the crowd, Cheng Zhu felt like he was there to inspect the troops, as his classmates were all giving him salutes.


    The kind of attention made Dong Dong green with envy.


    Girls of Shen Qingning and Lin Lu��s caliber were like campus celebrities at Technology University.


    Online, a celebrity��s relationship could trigger quite the stir.


    While not as exaggerated on campus, they definitely garnered a lot of attention.


    At that moment, the instructor Chen Jieyu had already left, though nobody knew exactly when she had departed.


    ...


    Without the instructor present, the atmosphere became more relaxed.


    Another male student then inquired, ��Brother Zhu, was that Shen Qingning just now?��


    Cheng Zhu was momentarily stunned before quickly realizing why everyone had this misconception.


    For the freshmen, they might have heard Shen Qingning��s name and seen online rumors involving him and Shen Qingning, but they might not necessarily know what she looked like.


    Now, with such a beautiful girl appearing among them, someone was bound to mistake her for Shen Qingning.


    Cheng Zhu simply shook his head and didn��t plan on elaborating much on Lin Lu��s identity.


    However, our revered dorm leader of 309 promptly said, ��Of course that wasn��t Shen Qingning; that was Lin Lu, the one who is as famous as her.��


    Dong Dong, this guy, loved to pose in a very lowbrow fashion. And when it came to others�� chances to show off, he also enjoyed getting a piece of the action, to feel involved.


    For a moment, there were murmurs in the Computer Science Class Two.


    ��Lin Lu? I often see that name on the forums.��


    ��Ah? So that��s Lin Lu.��


    ��What? Who��s Lin Lu?��


    ��Is she really famous around here?��


    ��It seems her reputation isn��t just limited to our school; she even has admirers from the neighboring schools.��


    Many were curious as to why Lin Lu would come to see Cheng Zhu during his military training.


    Dong Dong was indeed eager to share.


    But with Cheng Zhu maintaining a silent demeanor, and with no classmate bringing up the question, Dong Dong couldn��t just stand there like a storytelling peddler, rambling on and on.


    ��Darn it, Cheng, you really don��t know how to seize the chance to show off. A spotlight handed to you on a silver platter, and you won��t take it. I have no idea what you��re thinking.�� Dong Dong grumbled inwardly.


    If it had been him, he would have sung his own praises till the cows came home, just to show the other guys in the class a thing or two!


    ��But I��ve got to admit, the way Cheng��s all cool and detached, damn, it��s handsome!�� Dong Dong decided he��d have to try and adopt that demeanor if he ever got the chance.


    He was even thinking about striking up a chat with Zhu Yingying later that evening, to see if he could coax her to drop by the class and give him some attention.


    Although it wouldn��t cause as much of a sensation as what Cheng Zhu had pulled, it would still let these bastard sons in the class know that Daddy had infiltrated the Fashion Design department!


    Right then, a voice suddenly cut in.


    ��Cheng Zhu, could you introduce me to that senior girl from just now? I mean, like, send me her QQ or WeChat,�� a male student said.


    This student was none other than Li Xianqiang, one of the two temporary leaders appointed for military training in Computer Science Class Two.


    He was rather proactive and loved showing off.


    That��s why, when Chen Jieyu asked for volunteers to be temporary leaders for training, he was the first to raise his hand and take the stage.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at him, and for some reason, thought of a meme: ��Can you give me that? I��m a college student.��


    Son of a bitch, it��s precisely because of too many thick-faced clowns like you that college students get such a bad rap.


    No wonder insults shifted from calling someone a ��primary school grad�� to, damn it, calling them a ��college student��.


    When Li Xianqiang first saw Lin Lu, he was floored by her beauty!


    How could someone be so sweet-looking?


    He had already inquired among the girls in the class and found someone in the forums mentioning that Lin Lu and Shen Qingning were best friends.


    He figured that since Cheng Zhu was rumored to be romantically involved with Shen Qingning, seemingly quite familiar, Lin Lu should be fair game.


    Moreover, before coming to university, Li Xianqiang had sought advice from so-called online romance gurus.


    They all told him to be bold in pursuing beautiful girls at university.


    Because the top-notch beauties could actually intimidate many suitors, resulting in fewer chasers and making them easier to win over!


    No doubt, Li Xianqiang... he��d taken the lesson to heart!


    ��He believed it, alright!


    Watching him, Cheng Zhu, empathetic as ever, began to understand why in his previous life, despite his youth, handsomeness, and wealth, some fairly mediocre women thought they could hook him and keep him wrapped around their finger.


    Many people have a wrong sense of self-placement and self-awareness.


    In such times, Dong Dong proved to be very useful.


    The stylish Skinny jumped in and asked bluntly, ��What the heck are you daydreaming about?��


    He thought he was considered better overall than Li Xianqiang, but even he had felt shy speaking to Lin Lu just now, so how on earth did you dare to ask such a question?


    He said irritably, ��Lin Lu was just right there, why didn��t you take the initiative to ask for her contact yourself?��


    ��I was thinking of a more indirect approach,�� Li Xianqiang responded with a smile.


    Dong Dong: ��...��


    Damn, so you think if Cheng Zhu acts as the go-between, she might actually not refuse, huh?


    You really are delusional. Lin Lu is the kind of girl to thoughtfully bring Cheng sunscreen before military training, and even come over today just to check if he��d applied it properly.


    Damn it, even I��m getting hooked!


    As for this marriage, we of Room 309 are all in agreement, be it with Shen Qingning or Lin Lu.


    But you, foul creature, better scram!


    Why are you so damn annoying!


    After these two days of interaction, the Three Musketeers of their room all felt Cheng Zhu might act tough and wear a sour face, looking all rebellious as if he was not to be messed with.


    But in reality, he was quite amiable, nowhere as foul-tempered as his face suggested.


    Moreover, this little incident made the folks of Room 309 realize that Cheng Zhu was actually rather low-key, and at the moment, he probably didn��t want to confront Li Xianqiang directly.


    This made Dorm Leader Dong Dong of Room 309 feel it was time to take responsibility!


    Even the stoic and plump Zheng Qingfeng suddenly let out a cold laugh from the sidelines: ��Heh.��


    To Dong Dong, that sneer was the signal for a full-on attack!


    He was about to reveal the whole truth to this clueless fellow when Cheng Zhu, looking at Li Xianqiang, flatly said, ��I won��t be introducing you to any friends.��


    ��Why not?�� Li Xianqiang asked.


    ��What do you mean, why not? Are we playing ��3000 Whys of Blue Cat�� here, or what?�� Cheng Zhu looked at him expressionlessly and said, ��My little sister is still in kindergarten, and even she understands that when you make a request, it��s possible for people to say no.��


    ��What��s your reason, then?�� Li Xianqiang��s face was turning red.


    ��The way I see it, saying it out loud wouldn��t be nice, but I��m too lazy to make something up, so your question...�� He walked over, patted Li Xianqiang��s shoulder lightly, and said, ��Take it back, will you?��


    In Cheng Zhu��s eyes, he��d have to be unbalanced in the head to give Lin Lu��s contact to Li Xianqiang, like setting up a clown for his own humiliation.


    Besides, he had never liked playing cupid.


    He had always been clear that in the dating market, the level of the match someone introduces to you often reflects how they perceive your own level.


    That��s also one reason why many matchmakers end up thankless for their efforts.


    Li Xianqiang was just a blockhead, obstinate and dull.


    He probably still thought that asking for a girl��s contact in front of everyone was remarkably cool.


    The sergeant gives you a break for a drink of water, and you end up getting yourself drunk?


    People all around, eavesdropping on this interaction, had their ears pricked up.


    Overhearing the commotion, Dong Dong suddenly realized that he actually found Cheng Zhu��s company quite comfortable most of the time. But he really seemed to have a knack for refusing others.


    Just like on the first day in the dorm when he proposed a dinner as Room 309��s inaugural gathering, Cheng Zhu had declined, saying he already had plans.


    And whether it was the suggestion to tour the campus together or head to the internet cafe? for some gaming, he declined, too; if he didn��t want to go, he just wouldn��t go.


    These days, actually, some people just don��t know how to say no to others, which is why they live so miserably.


    Cheng Zhu was different; born with such a scowling face, he didn��t mind letting people know he wasn��t one to be trifled with, that he was downright intractable. And I tell you, living life that way sure makes for a more comfortable ride.


    The modern trinity for a long life: being good at passing the buck, having low standards, and a filthy mouth.


    In truth, Cheng Zhu knew full well that some people, when making a request in front of others, were just trying to put you on the spot to coerce your agreement.


    But indeed, if you publicly refuse, they get really pissed off, feeling you embarrassed them in front of others, that you tarnished their dignity.


    Honestly, Cheng Zhu found Li Xianqiang admittedly intimidating, and when he came over to clap his shoulder, Li Xianqiang nearly flinched.


    It felt like Cheng Zhu was less of a student and more, well, streetwise.


    But boys at that age, once they get a head of steam, it��s really hard to say.


    They simply aren��t experienced enough.


    Cheng Zhu��s words were laden with numerous undertones, and Li Xianqiang could catch some of them, but what really grated was his attitude.


    ��What the hell is your problem, Cheng Zhu?�� Li Xianqiang demanded.


    Cheng Zhu��s patience was now utterly exhausted.


    ��Another question, you really love your interrogatives. Stop annoying me; military training is tiring enough. Get lost, go ahead, off yourself.��


    ��You better watch your mouth!�� Li Xianqiang shouted, his neck stiff.


    ��Sure.�� The man��s all about obliging others. If you want cleanliness, Cheng Zhu revised his earlier words.


    ��Just go ��die peacefully��.��


    ...


    (ps: The first update. By the way, the average daily update rate has been over 8000+ words lately, so why are people still berating me for only updating once a day?


    Also, if you have a favorite character from the book, remember to ��heart�� them in the [Characters] section, huh? Brother Zhu being top-rated in ��hearts�� is something I never saw coming, you folks must feel a strong connection with Grandmaster, huh?


    Lastly, I recommend a buddy��s book: ��Two Realms: Starting with the Awakening of the Guan Gong Statue��.)

 Chapter 82: 76: Im Revealing My Cards, Im the Big Boss

    Chapter 82: Chapter 76: I��m Revealing My Cards, I��m the Big Boss


    ��Pfft!�� Cheng Zhu and his three noisy dorm mates couldn��t hold it any longer, Dong Dong and Liu Feng burst into laughter.


    Corners of their mouths wildly lifting!


    Zheng Qingfeng tried hard to hold it in, tried so hard, but eventually his face contorted into a look similar to crying.


    ��Go to hell!��


    ��Watch your language!��


    ��Then, go euthanize yourself!��


    ...


    Dong Dong thought to himself, ��How is Cheng so darn talented, I��m gonna die laughing!��


    ��From what Cheng implies, no matter what you say, I��m destined to die, right?�� Dong Dong silently noted these phrases to see if he��ll have a chance to use them later.


    At this moment, a burst of laughter echoed through the classroom.


    This made the atmosphere, despite Cheng Zhu actually cursing someone out loud, not too tense and didn��t ruin the relaxed vibe of the class during the break.


    However, the laughter sounded incredibly grating to Li Xianqiang��s ears.


    No matter how he heard it, he felt like everyone was laughing at him.


    His face turned beet red, and veins started to pop out on his neck.


    Just then, the instructor from Computer Science Class 2 jogged back.


    They had just gone for a short meeting to discuss gathering several classes later on to have an event on the sports field where everyone would perform.


    The instructors thought it would be best not to confine it just to the School of Informatics.


    Although they were official instructors, not the unqualified type, they were still young men. Seeing the miserable male-to-female ratio in the School of Informatics, they felt sorry for these male university students.


    But, after seeing the weak performance of these computer science guys for a few hours, they began to feel sorry for the few female students.


    The instructor, surnamed Feng, jogged over, originally wanting to share this good news and then continue with the training.


    But as soon as he returned, he found the atmosphere in the class rather delightful.


    Hard to say why, but the air seemed to be filled with cheer.


    ��Goodness, they��re already having a blast every day, I feel like holding an inter-collegiate event might be unnecessary,�� thought Instructor Feng to himself.


    He started to call everyone to attention to continue standing in military posture.


    In front of the instructor, Li Xianqiang didn��t dare let out a fart, scared of being punished, and no matter how angry, he had to keep silent.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t care much either; he chuckled with Dong Dong and the others for a bit and then returned to the lineup.


    Lashing out at Li Xianqiang was partly because Cheng Zhu already had very little patience for him, he was initially speaking with some leeway, but this guy just wouldn��t relent and even blamed Cheng for not giving him face publicly, Cheng knew what to do then.


    On the other hand, this guy was the temporary leader for the military training and likely to be a class committee member later, and it would be good to keep him from bothering Cheng by acting like a leader when he��s idle.


    Of course, if other students became class committee members, the response would be the same, the main thing is equal treatment.


    But he guessed that this blockhead might be stubborn again.


    Instructor Feng leisurely told everyone that there would be an evening event later with other faculties involved.


    As soon as these words dropped, the students of Computer Science Class 2 got excited as if injected with adrenaline.


    Even Cheng Zhu was somewhat looking forward to it.


    How does the saying go?


    ��For campus entertainment, look at the female university students!


    After several major short-video platforms became popular, this saying widely circulated.


    Female celebrities in the entertainment industry are often criticized for their singing and dancing abilities, but female students in universities are indeed excellent at singing and dancing.


    Each outperforming the other in organizing events!


    ��University life is good.


    For some reason, he suddenly thought of Lin Lu.


    ��If this little dummy gets called up to perform, will she start imitating anime characters?�� he wondered to himself.


    As for him, he definitely wasn��t going to be one to get up on stage and fool around.


    Though during such times, as long as one performed well, one could gain a priority in dating within university life.


    But for Cheng Zhu, such a privilege was utterly useless.


    Time moved on by another hour or so, and Chen Jieyu, the class advisor for Computer Science Class 2, appeared again.


    Just a few hours ago she had been there, and now she was back, having changed her outfit.


    Good lord, even more of a quick-change artist than the English teacher.


    Holding a parasol, she went over and spoke to Instructor Feng.


    Upon hearing her, he quickly let everyone rest.


    Chen Jieyu looked at Li Xianqiang, the temporary leader of the military training, and said, ��Li Xianqiang, I��ve bought several boxes of water for our class; call a few male students to help fetch them.��


    If this were during training, it would have been a good excuse to slack off.


    But now, as they were just resting on the spot, this bunch of worn-out skinny dogs and fat nerds, none of them wanted to budge.


    Sit down with a plop, kick out their legs, you ask them to work and they��d play dead.


    Chen Jieyu observed Li Xianqiang from the side, full of that hierarchical arrogance typical of those in higher positions watching over their inferiors.


    Li Xianqiang first called a roommate with whom he had the best relationship, then his gaze fixed on Cheng Zhu.


    ��Cheng Zhu,�� he called out.


    Here it comes! The classic act of wielding minor power!


    High school was somewhat better, but in university, such characters began to fill the ranks, and by the time you get to society, there are boundlessly many of them.


    After all, their power isn��t significant, but when they have the chance, don��t they just use it eagerly?


    Just now, Li Xianqiang felt he had been humiliated, and now he wanted to make Cheng forcibly do the hard labor in front of the whole class, leveraging the fact that Mr. Chen was also present.

 Chapter 83: 76: Im Revealing My Cards, Im the Big Boss_2

    Chapter 83: Chapter 76: I��m Revealing My Cards, I��m the Big Boss_2


    Cheng Zhu sat on the ground without moving, his right hand gently tossing a nearly empty mineral water bottle, flipping up and down repeatedly.


    This man, naturally with slightly raised eyebrows, wasn��t pretending not to hear because his eyes were fixed on Li Xianqiang.


    Hmm, I heard, but I��m not getting up.


    ��Let��s go,�� Li Xianqiang urged.


    Cheng Zhu continued to watch him, continued tossing the nearly empty bottle in his hand, kept sitting there, and remained silent.


    ��No way! Hurry up, I and Lou Dong are waiting for you!�� Li Xianqiang even raised his voice a notch.


    ...


    But the man sitting opposite still didn��t budge, just staring dead at you.


    ��Talking to idiots is too tiring, just give him the cold shoulder.


    Just a little cold shoulder, and soon we��ll enter the classic ��he��s getting impatient he��s getting impatient�� phase.


    Chen Jieyu, watching this scene unfold, holding a parasol and dressed in an OL style, gracefully walked over.


    Liu Feng watched this unfold, quickly got up and said, ��I��ll go, I��ll go, I also wanted to grab some wet wipes on the way.��


    Cheng Zhu looked at Liu Feng with a slightly surprised glance. He found Chuaner rather amusing.


    Li Xianqiang indeed had considerable ��official authority,�� but he really didn��t dare to misuse it. He didn��t even dare to be blatantly biased. Seeing Liu Feng mediating, he could only nod with a poor complexion.


    Damn, this guy really is bad but not thoroughly bad, good but not really anything good, really makes people look down on him.


    ��Single bet, skr! skr!


    The sophomore class advisor Chen Jieyu looked at the departing figures of Li Xianqiang and others, then glanced at Cheng Zhu, who was lounging comfortably, and became even more convinced of her previous thoughts.


    ��He really can��t be controlled by other class members.��


    ��I hope he doesn��t cause any trouble in the coming days,�� she thought.


    The advisor made her presence felt for a moment by generously buying a few cases of water for the class, and then she walked away.


    The sun was too strong; she didn��t want to stand there and get sunburned.


    University advisors are quite different from high school class teachers.


    After Chen Jieyu left, Dong Dong and Zheng Qingfeng immediately came over and said to Cheng Zhu, ��Brother Zhu, badass, showing that idiot up in front of the advisor.��


    ��Aren��t you afraid of offending Mr. Chen?�� Dong Dong asked.


    ��Why would it offend her? She was asking Li Xianqiang to call people to move water. For her, Li Xianqiang��s job was to get the task done.��


    ��I didn��t want to go, so just send someone else; it��s not a big deal. He was stubbornly standing there, just delaying time, giving off a vibe of being inefficient and inflexible.��


    ��The person assigning the task often only cares about the outcome, the efficiency, why would she bother about your personal grievances?�� Cheng Zhu said.


    Like high school class teachers considering the graduation rate, they meddle in everything they think might be related to study, even fussing over whether your hair is too long.


    Advisors earn their salaries by working at the base level in a school, many are lackluster, with many barely being seen all semester.


    ��Ah? That makes some sense. How are you so clear on this?�� Dong Dong started again, ��My dad owns a company, Cheng, does your family own a big company too?��


    You really don��t miss any opportunity to show off, Mr. Dong.


    ��Because in my past life, I was exactly this kind of shitty boss in a company,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    But since everyone was on this topic, well, sorry, I��m laying my cards on the table! I��m a big boss!


    Cheng Zhu looked at Dong Dong and seriously said, ��Actually, I do some small business myself now and then.��


    ��Ah?�� Dong Dong was confused and asked, ��What do you sell?��


    What he felt superior about was his family��s better financial status.


    But now, just at the start of college, this guy had already done business?


    Was it just fooling around, setting up a stall selling phone cases by the school gates?


    Or trading game equipment in online games?


    ��I won��t talk about what I did before, but in a few days, I��ll rent a couple of shops outside campus and open a store,�� Cheng Zhu chose to reveal a bit of his background, hiding his identity as a QQ tycoon.


    Heh, the underwear I��ve sold could give several pieces to every girl in our school! Saying this might scare you to death!


    The reason he chose to unveil this now was because he was counting on these few to help out in his shop later.


    In an instant, Dong Dong was as if struck by lightning.


    The stores at the school gate were incredibly expensive.


    Just entering college and renting two shops to start a business, could an ordinary family do such a thing?


    You, Mr. Cheng, playing undercover in our dorm? Doing secret inspections?


    If this spreads in the class, wouldn��t he pull another stunt on us?


    Men should have a career!


    Have you forgotten about women��s PUA strategies?


    ��A man who works hard is the coolest!


    A voice arose in Dong Dong��s heart, ��Dad! I want to open a shop too!��


    Sitting next to him, Zheng Qingfeng looked somewhat better.


    His family situation was in fact much better than Dong Dong��s, wearing a Cartier watch costing tens of thousands, and with a monthly allowance of 10,000 in 2014, extravagant enough for a lavish college life.


    Unlike Dong Dong, who gets 5,000 a month but says 6,000.


    This stoic fat guy wasn��t so easily shaken; after all, he was a low-key rich second generation, his family was in real estate.


    Plus, he often saw Cheng making calls alone or fiddling with his computer now and then, seeming a bit busy, so he had already speculated.


    However, Cheng Zhu��s next words sent a chill down his spine.


    ��I��m planning to open a claw machine arcade, just for clawing plush dolls,�� Cheng Zhu continued to reveal.


    Dong Dong frowned slightly, ��Isn��t that thing available in every arcade? Can you make money from it, Cheng? I feel it��s not very promising, what do you think?��


    Heh, isn��t that why they say you��re slow?


    Upon hearing Cheng Zhu��s words, Zheng Qingfeng��s first thought was that there would be rows of girls in this shop!


    Certainly, there would be many couples, but definitely some single girls too.


    Are they clawing dolls?


    No! They are clawing at my heart!


    So, from Zheng Qingfeng, a man who cherished his words like gold, came perhaps the longest sentence he had ever spoken.


    ��Brother Zhu, can I invest just a little bit in your claw machine arcade?��


    Okay, even this cold fish finally learned to call someone ��brother.��


    But investing? Forget it. Partnerships between friends can lead to a lot of headaches.


    Cheng Zhu chatted a bit more with his roommates before he remembered he still hadn��t talked to Shen Qingning about renting her shop.


    So, he took out his phone and started messaging the wealthy Shen on WeChat.


    It��s worth mentioning that he previously didn��t even have her as a WeChat friend, and wasn��t active in chatting after adding her.


    This time, it was his first initiative to chat with Shen Qingning on WeChat.


    Meanwhile, Liu Feng and the others, who had gone to the supermarket to carry water, bumped into Lin Lu there, who had come to buy notebooks.


    ...


    (ps: The second update, recommending a tender new book from a close friend ��You Wouldn��t Want Your Secrets Known, Right?�� I��ve tried it out; it��s very tender, the link to the book is below.)

 Chapter 84: 77 Are You Also the Campus Belle?

    Chapter 84: Chapter 77 Are You Also the Campus Belle?


    Due to it being the first time Cheng Zhu initiated a chat with Shen Qingning, she was slightly stunned when she saw Cheng Zhu��s name appear on WeChat.


    Their chat history was very sparse, and the conversation was rather cold, lacking any potential for further discussion.


    The indifference online contrasted strongly with their unexpected encounter at the fruit store the other day.


    Shen Qingning knew very well that there were many such people in life.


    Some are fiery online but dull in reality.


    Others aren��t good at chatting through messages, but give a pretty good impression when face-to-face.


    ...


    It must be said, these days, everyone is a bit of a ��persona-switcher,�� projecting one identity online and another in reality.


    The issue, however, was that she noticed Lin Lu and Cheng Zhu could chat very enthusiastically online, and even teamed up for games from time to time.


    This made her think that perhaps she really wasn��t good at chatting.


    But she had always been this way from childhood, too proper perhaps, so she didn��t find fault with Cheng Zhu.


    Moreover, for some reason, she had previously felt that there was something ambiguous between Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu, as if there might be potential for further development. However, these past few days, she no longer felt this way and stopped thinking about it.


    On WeChat, Cheng Zhu directly stated his intention to rent the two shops.


    Shen Qingning agreed instantly, ��Okay, then I��ll have the rental information taken down.��


    They discussed the price briefly. Shen Qingning offered the same rent as she had charged the sushi shop last year and even offered a one-month rent-free period for renovations.


    Cheng Zhu was aware that rents on streets outside of Technology University had been rising yearly.


    By these standards, she had given him a friendship price, not to mention the free period for renovations.


    He never intended to take advantage, but since she had offered, it was really difficult to decline such kindness. He could only think, ��Damn, rich ladies are really something!��


    Moreover, he immediately knew how he could repay her kindness when his shop opened, finding an opportunity to return the favor.


    After briefly discussing the rental, Shen Qingqing couldn��t help her curiosity, ��What kind of shop are you planning to open?��


    Cheng Zhu didn��t hide it, ��A claw machine arcade.��


    Then, he saw on his end that Shen Qingning was typing, then deleting, then typing again.


    After hesitating a few times, she finally chose to be straightforward, ��Last year, a small arcade was opened near the school gate, but it didn��t do well and probably didn��t even break even.��


    By sharing this failed example, she essentially wanted Cheng Zhu to consider his plan more carefully.


    By conventional thinking, if someone else��s arcade with more machines and aimed at a broader student population still didn��t make money...


    He understood Shen Qingning��s thoughts clearly and said, ��Different operational tactics, but that��s my business secret.��


    The aloof girl looked at her phone and smiled slightly, typing, ��Alright, looking forward to a pleasant collaboration.��


    After finalizing everything, Cheng Zhu thought, ��Man, her identity, huh? She��s got the whole ��friend��s cousin, vibrant campus senior, urban female landlord�� thing all stacked up.��


    ...


    ...


    On the other side, in the campus supermarket of Technology University.


    As soon as Li Xianqiang and others entered, their attention was immediately drawn to Lin Lu who was queueing at the cashier to pay.


    She came to buy notebooks and sticky notes.


    In 2014, sticky notes were indeed quite popular. Many students and office workers used them.


    The colorful sheets indeed appealed to girls.


    At that moment, the first time Li Xianqiang laid eyes on Lin Lu, he felt like he had been struck by her beauty!


    Just during military training, Lin Lu was sitting across the hallway, and everyone could only glance at her from a distance.


    Now, up close, she looked even prettier.


    Silky skin, long and dense lashes, a vibrant youthfulness... everything about her was enchanting.


    While Li Xianqiang was slightly dazed, he saw Lin Lu waving his way.


    ��Hi! Cheng Zhu��s roommate, hello!�� Lin Lu immediately recognized Liu Feng, holding notebooks and sticky notes in her right hand and a phone in her left, waving slightly.


    Even though Li Xianqiang wasn��t involved, he felt his heart melt: ��Damn, her voice is so nice!��


    Liu Feng, hearing this goddess-like senior greet him personally, couldn��t help but be charmed.


    ��Lin Lu��s really friendly, doesn��t feel distant at all, very approachable,�� he thought.


    ��If Brother Zhu and her are really in a flirty phase, then for us in Room 309, we��re all in for this sister-in-law!�� he instantly became a fan of the voiceover girl and took it upon himself to speak for the whole room.


    Liu Feng��s face was an expressively cheap look, replying enthusiastically, ��Hello Lin Lu, hello. Uh, we came to carry water.��


    ��Oh, I see, then you guys go ahead,�� Lin Lu responded with a smile.


    Just then, Lou Dong, standing next to Li Xianqiang, nudged him lightly and gave him a meaningful look.


    As roommates in the same dorm, such a clear hint wasn��t lost on Li Xianqiang.


    He��s telling me to get her contact details!


    Lou Dong��s thought was simple: You��ve been dying to get her number, even had a clash with Cheng Zhu just now. Now the goddess is right in front of you, go get it! Seize the opportunity if you have one!

 Chapter 85: 77 Are You Also the Campus Belle?_2

    Chapter 85: Chapter 77 Are You Also the Campus Belle?_2


    ��`


    More importantly, she had just seen Lin Lu greeting Liu Feng. She felt that this goddess of a senior seemed quite amiable, so she thought, ��Just be shameless and go for it!��


    Face-to-face, asking for contact information, Li Xianqiang really found it a bit difficult to do.


    But he had just lost face in front of everyone because of Cheng Zhu, and now Cheng Zhu��s roommate was watching on the sideline, not knowing what they��d say about him afterward.


    Li Xianqiang felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.


    Damn it, being beheaded whether he stretched out his neck or not, he might as well just go for it!


    ...


    He gritted his teeth, ready to muster his courage.


    With two big steps, he approached Lin Lu, his words almost at the tip of his tongue, but he stumbled. From ��that guy,�� he transformed into ��that stutterer,�� stuttering, ��Senior, can I... can I add you, add you as a... as a friend?��


    Lin Lu looked up at him, without even thinking, directly said, ��Sorry, I don��t add strangers as friends.��


    Her tone was fine, but her attitude clearly kept people at a distance.


    Standing by, Lou Dong now understood, ��It��s not that she��s lively and friendly to people; she��s only lively and friendly to Cheng Zhu��s roommate.��


    He even had a funny thought: ��Damn it, why couldn��t I be Cheng Zhu��s roommate!��


    ��Uh, okay,�� Li Xianqiang didn��t know what else to say.


    Feeling all kinds of uncomfortable, suddenly, like Popeye, he vigorously picked up a box of mineral water from the ground and urged Lou Dong to leave quickly.


    Liu Feng saw the two of them not waiting for him, and suddenly didn��t feel in a hurry.


    You clowns go ahead, I, as a connected person, can still talk to the goddess for a bit longer.


    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he said to Lin Lu, who was paying, ��Senior, that guy just now was even asking Brother Zhu for your WeChat.��


    Still unsatisfied, he added an idiom: ��He was pestering him relentlessly.��


    ��Ah? Really?�� Lin Lu glanced outside the supermarket.


    ��Yeah, Brother Zhu was really annoyed by him; he even snapped at him a few times,�� Liu Feng said while stooping to pick up water bottles.


    If it were someone else, Lin Lu might worry about affecting student relationships, but thinking of Cheng Zhu, she thought it would be a miracle if he didn��t bully others actively.


    ��This guy can really curse, so arrogant,�� Lin Lu complained a bit about him; they often trash-talked each other while playing games in a duo.


    But this casual complaint, when heard by Liu Feng, why the hell did it sound kind of sweet to him!


    As a result, Lin Lu handed over the box of mint candies she had just bought to Liu Feng, saying, ��Junior, take this back for him and tell him to watch his mouth!��


    ��Sure thing!�� Liu Feng immediately took it.


    As they went their separate ways, Lin Lu bid him a friendly goodbye: ��Cheng Zhu��s roommate, bye!��


    Liu Feng felt like he had become a person who didn��t need a name.


    He watched Lin Lu��s departing figure, feeling her steps were light �C she seemed to be in a good mood.


    When Liu Feng returned to the military training ranks, he immediately ran over to his roommates and said, ��We just met Senior Lin Lu at the supermarket.��


    Dong Dong, sly as he is, didn��t need to raise his voice since the four were chatting together, but he just had to shout so that everyone around could hear him, ��What! You guys met Senior Lin Lu at the supermarket!��


    Now, all the guys around Li Xianqiang immediately turned to him for the gossip, and the girls were all ears too, some even asked him if he added Lin Lu as a friend?


    This made our Computer Science Class 2, Brother Qiang, feel as if he��d been hit by a smooth combo, damn it, how could there be collateral damage!


    Dorm room 309 is full of evildoers!


    Meanwhile, Liu Feng described the details of what happened at the supermarket to Cheng Zhu, subtly fishing for praise.


    Dong Dong, whose understanding was so low, even he got it this time, couldn��t help mocking on the side, ��Damn Chuaner! Didn��t you say yesterday at the internet cafe? you damned wouldn��t play support?��


    Liu Feng ignored him, took out the boxed mints, and said, ��Brother Zhu, these mints are from Senior Lin Lu, and the following message she insisted I repeat verbatim, representing only her personal opinion, I am just a neutral repeating machine.��


    ��What? She said tell me to watch my mouth!�� Cheng Zhu was clearly not pleased after hearing the message but still snatched the mints, complaining, ��Chuaner, how can you be a neutral repeating machine, have I ever cursed at you?��


    While stuffing mints into his mouth, he thought viciously, ��Damn it, Little Lu oh Little Lu, you��ll soon know how sweet my mouth can be!��


    ...


    ...


    Normal military training, unable to show off, time always flies by so quickly.


    When it was time for dinner, the formation dispersed in front of the canteen; everyone was starving and rushed into the dining hall.


    You have a problem with your brain if you��re not eager to eat.


    During the meal, almost all the students from the Computer Science Class 2 chatted about the evening party to be held at the field that night.


    Regrettably, the instructor said they couldn��t change into casual clothes and had to wear military uniforms.


    After all, not everyone looks good in a sack like Cheng Zhu; they really wanted to dress up a bit.


    At night, everyone gathered on the field.


    Don��t you know, quite a few colleges had people coming. All together, there were almost three hundred.


    ��Dong Dong saw Zhu Yingying and her friends from Fashion Design,�� Dong Dong excitedly noticed them and stood up to wave pompously.


    But then, the four girls from his dorm immediately whispered something to the classmates around them, and all eyes converged on Cheng Zhu sitting to the side.


    ��`

 Chapter 86: 77 Are You the School Beauty Too?_3

    Chapter 86: Chapter 77 Are You the School Beauty Too?_3


    Fortunately, Dong Dong was sufficiently self-obsessed, convinced everyone was looking at him, and he couldn��t help but straighten his spine.


    The atmosphere at the start of the evening was great, with the bolder ones shouting, ��Instructor, do one! Instructor, do one!��


    As a result, instead of students performing, the instructors put on a display of coordinated fist forms.


    Next came the staple acts of school performances, with the singers singing and the dancers dancing.


    Yao Yina, who shared a dorm with Zhu Yingying, even came up to dance AOA��s ��Mini Skirt.��


    Boy, wearing the military training attire did throw off the classic dance moves a bit. Normally, the girl group��s dance includes a step where they hook a leg up and then gently unzip a specially designed side zipper on the skirt.


    ...


    But as she started dancing, it still drew howls from the crowd, and even the girls were screaming along.


    ��Brother Zhu, she��s dancing in your direction,�� Liu Feng nudged Cheng Zhu lightly with his shoulder.


    Cheng Zhu had indeed just locked eyes with her across the air...


    ��This really is a college blinded by an overdose of hormones; when some girls take the initiative, they��re truly damn bold,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    But for some reason, he couldn��t stop thinking of Shen Qingning.


    ��Shen Qingning has been dancing since she was young, seems like she��s learned quite a variety of styles, too. I wonder what it��s like to watch her dance.��


    After Yao Yina finished, she ended with a girl group-style flying kiss gesture��a pretty spicy temperament indeed.


    Liu Feng and Dong Dong were howling as they grabbed Cheng Zhu��s arms, but the man himself was utterly composed.


    Back in his previous life when he ran a live-streaming company, how could he not have a few dance streamers under his banner?


    In his day-to-day life, inevitably, he would see some VIP content.


    Some streamers would even start a private broadcast for Cheng Zhu during their streams, giving him an exclusive view that was completely different from what was shown on the platform.


    Talk about remote kisses��those in the know would be dancing onto the boss��s lap.


    He genuinely felt not a ripple in his heart, and even thought that Yao Yina��s several moves were not up to par.


    With the atmosphere already quite lively, who would have thought that Class 2 of the Computer Science department actually had hidden talents as a chubby kid suddenly stood up, raising his hand and declaring, ��I can do ��Mini Skirt�� too!��


    When a guy gets theatrical, it has nothing to do with the girls!


    This chubby kid, named Qian Jiankang, dancing a girl group number, instantly pushed the atmosphere to a climax!


    Dong Dong and the rest could only regret their lack of singing and dancing skills, missing out on campus mating privileges.


    Cheng Zhu, however, took special note of these dancing girls, such as Yao Yina; he might find them useful in the future.


    Later, some guys went up to perform magic, but goddammit, they messed up on the spot.


    Just when the party was about to end, a mysterious guest made her appearance.


    As her name was announced, cheers immediately erupted around.


    ��Zhang Qiqi? Sounds somewhat familiar.��


    Cheng Zhu had graduated so many years ago in his previous life, and there were countless girls around him, many with similar names, so his memory of some campus celebrities had turned a bit hazy.


    But he quickly remembered, having seen this name on the school��s forum.


    Any post about Lin Lu and Shen Qingning would inevitably have comments mentioning ��Jiang Cen�� and ��Zhang Qiqi.��


    The fans of these two were pretty much chanting the same slogan, insisting that their idol was the true campus belle, the goddess of Technology University!

 Chapter 87: 78: Where is Cheng Zhu?

    Chapter 87: Chapter 78: Where is Cheng Zhu?


    Zhang Qiqi��s fame had reached some of the new students.


    At this moment, many were educating the newcomers beside them.


    ��I know her, apparently she��s the campus belle!��


    ��Ah? Seriously?��


    ��Wow, I��m totally looking forward to this!��


    Only the students from the Computer Science Class 2 were discussing differently from other classes.


    ...


    Because they had just met Lin Lu that afternoon.


    ��Wasn��t it said that Lin Lu and Shen Qingning are the campus belles?�� someone asked.


    ��Come on, what era are you living in? There��s no such thing as an officially recognized campus belle, that��s just how people refer to them.


    Everything you see online is just hyped by the media!


    Besides, everyone has different tastes; surely everyone has their own favorite,�� someone replied.


    ��You know, even Liu Yifei has her critics.��


    ��Yeah, true. But since so many people call Zhang Qiqi and Jiang Cen campus belles, they must be pretty, right?��


    ��They��re definitely pretty! Just not sure if they��re as pretty as Lin Lu.��


    While the Computer Science Class 2 newbies whispered among themselves, they couldn��t help but sneak glances at Cheng Zhu nearby.


    After all, this kind of campus goddess seemed far beyond their reach, unlike this big bro who somehow managed to cause quite a stir upon admission, standing out among the freshmen.


    ��Please wait another two minutes; Senior Zhang Qiqi is still preparing,�� the host was still stringing along the anticipation.


    Turns out, Zhang Qiqi was already a senior, two years ahead of Lin Lu and Shen Qingning. She seemed to have a small online following, with over six hundred thousand fans on Weibo and quite active in marketing the engineering school belle persona.


    Now, everyone��s appetite was thoroughly whetted.


    Earlier, they were discussing which class had pretty girls, who had the bigger chests or longer legs, but now all eyes were on goddess senior sister.


    And amidst all the anticipation, Zhang Qiqi finally strode over from not too far away.


    Behind her followed a guy, maintaining a certain distance but tailing all the way.


    Though there was some space between her and the freshmen and the night playground wasn��t that bright, she still managed to command attention��the crowd went ��Wow�� at her appearance.


    ��Wow! She��s got really long legs!��


    ��Wow, damn it, like she��s strutting a runway!��


    ��She is pretty. Do we have any freshmen of her caliber this year?��


    In some ways, compared to the girls gathered here, she did seem to overshadow them.


    She had delicate features, curly long hair, a good body figure, and a makeup look that was quite deliberate.


    And as an internet celebrity student frequently snapping photos and videos, she had a strong camera presence, making her seem more confident under everyone��s gaze.


    It helped that while the other girls were in their military training uniforms, she had come in casual wear, her denim shorts revealing long pale legs, captivating enough.


    But among the praise, there were distinct voices of dissent.


    Over by Computer Science Class 2, some opined, ��Lin Lu seems prettier. She��s too flamboyant.��


    As the saying goes, cuteness is nothing before sexiness.


    But Lin Lu, well, she��s a 36D.


    That saying applies to those with just the attribute of cuteness, and Lin Lu is not one of them.


    ��Nah, I think Zhang Qiqi��s prettier,�� said Li Xianqiang, out of the blue.


    Sounded a bit like sour grapes.


    Over in dorm room 309, the general sentiment was consistent.


    ��Lin Lu senior sister wins hands down!�� Liu Feng declared, even raising his voice a bit.


    ��Oh, Chuaner, you��re not quite yourself today, not keeping things smooth like before. I liked you better when you were slick,�� Dong Dong commented with a smile.


    The always aloof and terse Cheng was staring at Zhang Qiqi, his gaze not wavering for a second, yet he said, ��Lin Lu +1!��


    I��m staring because she��s indeed pretty, but my words are not against my conscience!


    Dong Dong, with his mischievous smirk, deliberately egged on Cheng Zhu, nudging him with his shoulder, ��Cheng, tell us! Who��s prettier, her or Lin Lu?��


    Cheng Zhu slowly pulled out a packet of mint candy Lin Lu had given him from his pocket, leisurely opened it, took one out at a snail��s pace, and slowly popped it into his mouth, like playing a video at 0.5x speed.


    ��Damn, don��t need to say anything, I got it,�� Dong Dong said, speechless.


    Chewing on the mint candy, Cheng Zhu laughed, ��She��s too much of an internet celeb style for me, I��m tired of it, not my type.��


    ��Cheng, you��re such a poser. From what you say, I almost thought you dated lots of internet celebs,�� Dong Dong replied.


    Cheng Zhu just shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.


    That internet celeb-style makeup, those trendy outfits, they were quite the bonus points back in 2014.


    Her fame paralleled Lin Lu and Shen Qingning partly because of these aspects, her natural conditions were just slightly behind theirs.


    Plus, she frequently attended events, like coming to dance today. These attributes added to her popularity outside of just looks.


    In this case, she could only manage to be on par with the other two; who was actually superior was pretty clear.


    But Cheng Zhu was indeed weary of this type. How weary? He even remembered the leading streamer Yiyi from his past life, who would be attending Communication University next year, and he wasn��t even sure if he��d bother to meet her.


    Well, he had just been reborn, so maybe he��d be less weary next year.


    Men are like that, bouncing between different types.


    They claim to have a type, but as long as someone��s pretty and has a good figure, they��re all damn interested��pure lust.


    Don��t believe me? Check out a man��s hard drive, the ��instructional videos�� inside. I refuse to believe anyone��s ��textbook�� has only one type of teacher!


    Zhang Qiqi, taking her place on the open ground, even took the mic and greeted everyone with a smile.


    ��Hello! Junior brothers and sisters, I��m your senior sister, Zhang Qiqi.��


    Not far away, the guy who had been following her was standing aside, his attention focused entirely on Zhang Qiqi.


    ��Boyfriend?�� Dong Dong glanced that way, gossiping with a hint of intrigue, ��He looks pretty rich, wearing LV clothes, and he��s quite handsome��could it be he��s not even a student?��


    By his standards, decently handsome was described as ��looking like a human or a dog.��


    Cheng Zhu level meant: please switch majors, don��t stay in Computer Science Class 2.


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu also glanced at the man, feeling he did seem more mature and stable than a college student, perhaps not a student at all.


    But whether they were boyfriend and girlfriend, he thought probably not. Of course, he didn��t care either way.


    Zhang Qiqi��s dance was to Girls�� Generation��s ��Gee.��


    As soon as the music started, even before she began dancing, the crowd was already screaming.


    When she actually started moving, she was definitely exuding charm.


    Dong Dong couldn��t help saying, ��Cheng, it��s good my will is strong, I was so close to defecting!��


    Cheng Zhu: ��...��


    Liu Feng chimed in, ��Pah! Dong Dong, I look down on you, I tell you, even if Zhang Qiqi danced against me, I��d firmly think Senior Sister Lin Lu is better.��


    Cheng Zhu: ��...��


    Wait, when did you become such a staunch supporter of Lin Lu? And I sort of don��t buy your words.


    After the dance finished, the place erupted with enthusiastic applause and cheers.


    Even the instructors were hyped, clapping almost to the point of breaking.


    Zhang Qiqi took back the mic and thanked everyone, ��Thank you, thank you.��


    And it has to be said, her slight lisp mixed with a little breathlessness after the dance, combined, had its charm.


    Wonder if that��s practiced?


    Cheng Zhu felt the party should be about over and was about to check his phone for the time when he was unexpectedly called out.


    Zhang Qiqi, mic in hand, said, ��I see a lot of students from the School of Information here, and I recently heard about a particularly famous freshman from the School of Information.��


    Many instinctively looked towards Cheng Zhu, especially the people from Computer Science Class 2.


    Indeed, Zhang Qiqi continued, ��Is Cheng Zhu present?��


    The sudden mention made Cheng Zhu frown, with no immediate idea why.


    Dong Dong, surprised, then loudly said, ��Here! Over here!��


    Many turned their heads at the sound, thinking for a moment that this guy was Cheng Zhu. He looked so-so. Thankfully, Dong Dong kept pointing aside, and only then did their gaze shift.


    Another day of being the center of attention.


    Cheng Zhu still had his military training cap on. From a distance, Zhang Qiqi could see the naturally arching brows beneath his hat and the distinct edge of his face.


    People were already whispering.


    ��Why is he frowning? Seems a bit annoyed?��


    ��Who��s this guy? Is he famous?��


    ��Ah ah ah! He��s handsome!��


    ��Putting on airs, what��s with that haughty look.��


    ��Damn, first Shen Qingning, now Zhang Qiqi, this guy surely has it coming!��


    ��Where is he? From where I��m sitting, I can��t see anyone!��


    Zhang Qiqi didn��t say much, just glanced at him a few times, raised her hand as if to fend off anything, saying, ��Junior brother, I didn��t mean anything, I was just curious about you.��


    ��Well then, junior brothers and sisters, I��m off. Hope you all have an unforgettable military training experience! Bye-bye!�� She began waving to everyone, singling out Cheng Zhu for a last wave, smiling apologetically.


    Cheng Zhu was still frowning, watching her leave, and chuckled inwardly. He had a guess.


    That man standing not far away was also staring at Cheng Zhu for a long time.


    ��Xu Shao, let��s go,�� Zhang Qiqi told him. ��Next time I attend a school event, don��t follow me, okay? I haven��t agreed to be your girlfriend yet, and it��s easy for others to misinterpret our relationship.��


    ��I don��t mind that at all; in fact, it suits me,�� said Xu Shao, withdrawing his gaze from Cheng Zhu.


    He had been pursuing Zhang Qiqi for a long time, but was still struggling with the last step. When he confessed, she said she��d think about it, but that consideration had lasted two months, and even summer break was over.


    ��I knew you did it on purpose, you��re so crafty!�� Zhang Qiqi looked at him flirtatiously, but emphasized, ��In any case, you can��t do this again. If you do, I��ll be silently deducting points from you, you know!��


    Hearing this, Xu Shao became genuinely nervous and promised quickly.


    Victory was within reach, missing just the last step. He couldn��t slack off now or affect his image in her heart!


    ��No need to walk me back to the dorm,�� Zhang Qiqi said to him.


    Xu Shao nodded; she never wanted him to walk her back, saying it was a boyfriend��s prerogative, and he was just short of that.


    Suddenly, that walk to the girls�� dormitory became sacred.


    It awakened a fierce desire to conquer in him; he swore he would walk that road someday.


    ��No stepping on the girls�� dorm grounds, no true man!


    But now, before parting, the man couldn��t resist asking, ��What��s with that guy just now? You seemed quite attentive to him?��


    ...


    (ps: Second update, and I��m promoting a friend��s book, a medical story ��Being a Doctor Does Not Have to Be Normal.��)

 Chapter 88: 79: New Products with Persistent Visit

    Chapter 88: Chapter 79: New Products with Persistent Visit


    Zhang Qiqi looked at Xu Shao curiously, ��You don��t know him?��


    But she quickly realized and said, ��That��s right, you��ve graduated from Technology University three years ago, so it��s normal for you to have not heard of this little junior.��


    ��Guess what? On his first day of school, Miss Shen was there at the school gate to welcome him. Quite a spectacle, huh?��


    ��This matter has been buzzing around these past few days, he��s practically becoming Miss Shen��s rumored boyfriend,�� Zhang Qiqi still had a smile on her face.


    Hearing her continually refer to Miss Shen, Xu Shao naturally knew who she was talking about.


    Shen Qingning started school only after he had graduated, and he hadn��t actually met her in person.


    ...


    But he had heard her name many times, especially from... Zhang Qiqi.


    Xu Shao knew that Zhang Qiqi didn��t like her.


    In the whole Technology University, Zhang Qiqi��s dislike for her probably surpassed even that of the roommate who secretly used her skincare products a few times.


    When Zhang Qiqi mentioned this roommate, she blended disdain with a touch of superiority.


    She thought to herself: Just a bumpkin from the countryside, never used high-end skincare products, sneaking a few uses is understandable.


    Zhang Qiqi didn��t mind anyway, the face cream was gifted by Xu Shao, and the toner and serum were from another classmate. Not a penny came from her pocket.


    Like when she mentioned this incident to Xu Shao, he said, ��Just expose the matter and throw out the cream! I��ll buy you two more tomorrow.��


    Zhang Qiqi replied, ��How could I do that? It was a gift from you. I��ve already cleared things up with her. The counter even gave us some sample pouches, and I gave her a pack.��


    ��Sigh, you��re just too kind!�� Xu Shao lamented.


    Little did he know that Zhang Qiqi enjoyed seeing her roommate��s flustered and helpless expression when caught, and how grateful and happy she looked when given the samples. It was quite a comforting sight for her.


    She felt content, and everyone thought she was really nice.


    Besides, Zhang Qiqi also reminded Xu Shao, ��Don��t rush to get me a new one, a jar of La Mer cream lasts me a long time, I don��t use much each time, just enough for my skin to absorb.��


    Understanding Xu Shao immediately picked up on her hint, ��You should use it to your heart��s content, why save it up at all! No, I��ll buy it now, and you��ll end up using it faster when you stack two jars in your dorm.��


    ��Stop, La Mer cream is so expensive! Too expensive!��


    With that said, could they not buy it?


    Were they the kind of people who couldn��t afford it, or the kind who couldn��t spend a bit of money?


    Not buying it would just look stingy and poor, right?


    Even if it was just bragging before, now they had to place the order!


    Xu Shao even bought an extra bottle of essence, opting for a combo pack.


    Upon receiving it, Zhang Qiqi listed it on Idle Fish to sell.


    Boys sometimes simply don��t understand how long it takes for a girl to finish a skincare product.


    And with so many people gifting her, she couldn��t use them all up herself��of course, she had to resell for cash, or else they��d expire.


    As to why she hates Shen Qingning?


    To put it precisely, she, Lin Lu, dislikes her too.


    Previously, everyone compared her only with her junior Jiang Cen, creating a sense of the two campus beauties of Technology University.


    But as soon as Shen Qingning and Lin Lu started school, they caused a sensation.


    Imagine, with Zhang Qiqi a social butterfly involved in various activities, dancing at parties to showcase her charm, and running a popular Weibo account, many students, both male and female, followed her, constantly seeing her beautifully edited photos and videos on Weibo.


    In such circumstances, Shen Qingning��s and Lin Lu��s campus popularity suddenly caught up.


    They are,...


    ...undoubtedly more beautiful.


    What made her even more uncomfortable was their excessively rich family backgrounds.


    Shen Qingning drove a Land Rover to school, and Lin Lu an Audi A4.


    They had cars, not to mention designer bags, expensive clothes and shoes, and high-end skincare products.


    These things which she prided herself on acquiring through pretense and manipulation came to others naturally, never lacking from childhood onward.


    Not to mention she hasn��t yet encountered any legendary big-shot who would buy cars for women...


    And Shen Qingning with her cold demeanor, always aloof as if above others.


    Zhang Qiqi particularly disliked, even resented the indifferent look and cold eyes she would give her.


    Thus, she repetitively referred to her as Miss Shen and started to behave even more approachably in front of others to highlight a contrast.


    And don��t forget, she had been marketing herself as the beauty of Technology University on her Weibo, aiming to quickly build her fanbase and sign with an influencer management company after graduation.


    But damn it, then people started leaving comments in her section:


    ��Not as good as Shen Qingning.��


    ��I have to say, not as good as Lin Lu.��


    Ahhh! This doesn��t make maintaining a popular Weibo account any easier!


    Zhang Qiqi really disliked Shen Qingning, really detested her! Lin Lu, slightly less so.


    At this moment, Xu Shao looked at her and said, ��So, because you don��t like Shen Qingning, you followed suit in disliking this fella named Cheng Zhu, wanting to see what he looks like today?��


    ��Right!�� Zhang Qiqi replied verbally.


    But internally she thought, ��Not at all!��


    I don��t dislike this younger student at all since he��s apparently close to Shen Qingning. Actually, I��m deeply interested in this rather handsome junior.


    ...


    ...


    On another note, out on the field, the instructors eventually taught everyone a military song, and the evening concluded amidst the resounding military anthems.


    Cheng Zhu quite enjoyed this singing of military anthems.


    Although he was quite a song pro in KTV with many hits, he always felt that singing military songs provided a rush of exhilaration and liberation.


    It was akin to shouting atop a mountain or beside the sea, offering a unique thrill.


    As several hundred people started heading back to their dorms from the field, Cheng Zhu could feel many gazes on him, with some even pointing secretly.


    ��Sigh, after all I��m akin to the average-looking Gu Tianle, rival to Edison Chen before his thirties, at par with Hu Ge during ��Immortal Sword��...�� Cheng Zhu had no solution to this, finding it hard to stay low-key.


    Damn it, he couldn��t very well wear a mask to school every day, could he?


    Back in dorm room 309, three of the roommates had returned earlier because Dong Dong couldn��t stop needing to pee during the event and rushed to relieve himself as soon as it ended.


    When he got back to the dorm, he immediately burst into laughter, ��Cheng, damn, I��ve been hearing people talk about you all the way, it��s hilarious, everyone says you��re such a poser!��


    ��Hahaha, someone even commented that you were frowning while looking at a goddess.��


    ��Someone immediately chimed in, ��Is that staring at a goddess? That dumbass was practically glaring!�� Killed me!�� Dong Dong seemed to have a low threshold for amusement.


    But eventually, he patted Cheng Zhu on the shoulder, ��But Cheng, you did get way more famous, I did hear bits and pieces, people acknowledging you��re handsome.��


    Cheng Zhu swatted his hand away, cursing, ��I suspect your damn ears have a filter installed, filtering out all those compliments about my looks because you��re obviously jealous!��


    ��Dude, could you have a little shame?�� Dong Dong retorted.


    ��Bullshit, of course I should have shame, my face at this caliber if lost on the street, wouldn��t it be frantically fought over, sparking a Technology University war?��


    ��Fine, I��ll shut it. Why don��t you say your face if lost on the street could be the cause of the next world war and have it written into history books?�� Dong Dong rambled on.


    After a while, everyone felt a bit hungry.


    As the dorm leader, Mr. Dong immediately suggested, ��Let��s go! Late-night snack! My treat!��


    As mentioned before, he received five thousand a month for allowance, but he claimed six thousand in the dorm and eight thousand in class.


    With such an allowance, frequently treating wasn��t unusual.


    As for Zheng Qingfeng, who actually had ten thousand for an allowance, he stayed quiet. Not that he didn��t want to show off or treat, but he was maintaining a cool persona, waiting for his roommates to discover his wealth suddenly.


    President Zheng was looking forward to this day and decided to treat everyone extravagantly once discovered!


    Upon hearing the treat, Liu Feng plastered a not-so-valuable look on his face, grinning brightly.


    Dong Dong then looked at Cheng Zhu, ��Cheng, you��re not going to skip again, are you?��


    ��Let��s go! I��m actually pretty hungry,�� Cheng Zhu agreed.


    But he added, ��I��ve got something to do first, you guys head out, I��ll be right there.��


    ��No need, man, we can wait a few minutes, right?�� Dong Dong was clueless.


    Liu Feng, seeing that Cheng Zhu wanted to be alone probably for something private, quickly pushed Dong Dong, ��Hey, no big deal if we head first, come on Mr. Dong, I��m starving!��


    And so, Dong Dong lost himself amid the calls of Mr. Dong, shouting, ��Order whatever you want later, don��t save money on behalf of someone who has a six thousand a month allowance!��


    ��O K!�� Liu Feng pushed him out, and Zheng Qingfeng followed slowly.


    Cheng Zhu, seeing this lively trio finally leave the dorm, stood up leisurely, opened his locker, and quietly unpacked a package he received at noon.


    What was packed inside was a set of lingerie samples designed by him and produced by Chen Bin��s factory.


    ��Living in a dorm, it��s indeed sometimes inconvenient if one doesn��t reveal their identity.�� Renowned QQ lingerie tycoon Cheng Zhu was somewhat torn.


    He locked the dorm door, then held the product high up with both hands, carefully observing and even touching every corner, feeling its texture.


    In QQ market, the current styles being sold were quite similar with only minor details differing. Stepmother dresses had also been copied.


    Thus, it was time to launch his own-designed new models!


    ��Perhaps, you��ve heard of the once-famous... grey backless sweater?��


    ...


    (ps: Thanks to the leader [Invisible like Jade] for the reward, there will be an extra release today, seeking monthly tickets!)

 Chapter 89: 80: Sorry, Its Another King Bomb

    Chapter 89: Chapter 80: Sorry, It��s Another King Bomb


    Cheng Zhu was holding in his hand the gray backless sweater that had once been super popular online, seen and even worn by many.


    By the season, it was already autumn.


    But in Hang City at this time, it was still damn scorching.


    However, as they say, a single rain signals the arrival of autumn, giving the impression that it could suddenly cool down one day.


    For those in the clothing e-commerce business, just like physical stores, they need to release new products before the season changes to capture the market early.


    Right now, the factory in Guan Yun County had just produced the sample. Next would be stockpiling, Cheng Zhu would also need to take photos and edit images, and find the artist Hu Yan to draw comics, all of which take time.


    ...


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu first focused on the texture of the sweater.


    ��Sweaters feel different against the skin compared to other materials. Many people dislike this feeling,�� thought Cheng Zhu.


    Youngsters like Little Youzi wouldn��t be fond of wearing turtleneck sweaters because they find them itchy and particularly uncomfortable around the neck. It seemed Cheng Zhu was the same when he was young, but as he grew older, it didn��t matter to him; as long as it was warm and looked cool.


    ��Not bad, it feels softer and closer to skin than average sweaters,�� Cheng Zhu was fairly satisfied.


    E-commerce was about volumes, so the pricing wouldn��t be too high nor would they focus on making luxury items.


    Given the cost control, achieving such a texture meant Chen Bin had definitely put in effort.


    ��Middle-aged Ah Bin really is a partner worth long-term cooperation,�� he complimented Chen Bin in his mind.


    Of course, to judge if a sweater is comfortable to wear, touching it with hands alone was not enough. Different parts of the body feel differently, and the sensitivity of hands is relatively low.


    ����It��s best to try it on!


    Of course, Cheng Zhu certainly wouldn��t try it on himself.


    With my pecs and abs, donning this thing would be downright... smothering you all?


    ��I��ll ask Ye Zi later and see how she feels about it.��


    After forming a preliminary judgment on the sensation, Cheng Zhu began to pull on the sweater to test its elasticity.


    ��Not bad,�� he evaluated.


    This sweater was sleeveless, but it had a high neck.


    Strictly speaking, it couldn��t be considered a top; it was more like a high-necked sleeveless sweater dress.


    Its hem just covered the buttocks.


    The hem of the sweater was in a very extreme position; once on, if you tugged forcefully downward, it would cover the posterior, but a few casual steps or a lift of the arms might reveal a hint of the buttocks.


    Naturally, its essence was in the back.


    The normal so-called backless clothing would have a slit up to the waist on both sides.


    But since it was a QQ product, it certainly wouldn��t be that modest.


    The ultimate slit connected right with the seam between the buttocks, embodying a sultry hint without revealing too much.


    The real kicker was that from the front, it looked like a tight garment that was just skirting the edge of being risque?.


    It looked form-fitting from the front.


    But from the back, the fabric was so sparing that it couldn��t tighten up, hence the back was a loose fit.


    So much so that not just from the back, even from the side, one could glimpse some intriguing details.


    ��Besides, this style is very clever indeed,�� Cheng Zhu, an old hand in the business, knew the sweater had another major selling point.


    It wasn��t picky about body shapes!


    Skinny people could certainly wear it, no question about that.


    But many QQ products aren��t that friendly to slightly overweight women.


    But this sweater is just freaking magical!


    It really isn��t picky about body shapes!


    Slender people have their charm, plump people have another kind.


    Even slightly overweight women could mask some of their flaws!


    So, looking at big data, this sweater was actually a style many female customers would actively purchase!


    ��Come to think of it, it can complement a comic, becoming a combination punch,�� Cheng Zhu already had plans.


    The reason he opted to start with comics, rather than new styles, was for this very reason.


    ��First let this style of comic heat up, gaining a certain degree of popularity and traffic across the web, then introduce this product, and many influencers will buy,�� that was his goal.


    Normally, those who buy QQ lingerie and post pictures all over the web aren��t influencers; they��re fucking internet sensations.


    But is the world short of people seeking fame by skirting the edge?


    Of course not!


    And each year there��s more and more!


    So, here��s the question.


    Everyone knows that edging generates heat and traffic, but big platforms have their own review systems, their own standards of control.


    In 2014, Weibo ruled, and if you posted images there, they had a good chance of being taken down, you couldn��t open them.


    But this sweater was different.


    If you only took photos of the front, no one could fucking fault it!


    Even the king of heaven would agree it met standards!


    However, as long as those viewing the images knew what the full design of the sweater was like, they��d naturally fill in the blanks and let their imagination run wild.


    So, the plan was to heat up the product first, using comics and the now subtly famous Persistent Visit store to build up its popularity.


    Then, the internet would be flooded with pictures and videos!


    Humans are strange creatures; when you insist on visiting certain content online without weighing the risks, watching educational videos with the majority of content fast-forwarded, even a dog wouldn��t bother.


    But on some mainstream platforms, looking at edgy photos and videos, you could be fascinated and full of fantasies. Even though what you��re watching isn��t as explicit as what you skipped through in those educational videos.


    ��All these psychological aspects can be exploited,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    As for the reception of this gray backless sweater, he was somewhat expecting it.


    It was still the same saying, he was now sitting at the poker table with a bunch of competitors.


    ��Sorry, the next hand I��m playing is a straight flush!��


    ...


    ...


    In the dorm, Cheng Zhu sent a few WeChat messages to Chen Bin, asking him to modify a couple of minor details.


    Chen Bin was already totally deferential to Cheng Zhu, not the least bit bothered by how picky and strict he was, completely in awe of the young man��s keen market instincts.


    Those in business tend to cling to one belief: in every person��s destiny, there��s a nobleman.


    Middle-aged Ah Bin almost concluded that Cheng Zhu was his destined nobleman.


    Operating a factory indeed has a bit of mystique to it.


    Sometimes, you might just take on a minor order, but think the client is a bit of a bother, initially too lazy to handle it. But then you reconsider and decide to do it anyway.


    However, customers grow, right?


    Suddenly a small order becomes a big one! A small client transforms into a big client!


    Chen Bin just wanted to cling tightly to Cheng Zhu��s coattails.


    He was no longer the youthful Ah Bin; he was middle-aged Ah Bin.


    In youth, many feel like the protagonists of the world, but come middle age, they begin to accept their ordinariness and mediocrity.


    Chen Bin was well aware that in the presence of true figures of influence, ordinary folks like him were but a speck of dust.


    He dreamed that when a big shot passed by, the gust they stirred might lift his speck of dust. Even if it was just sticking to the big shot��s shoe for a while, following along for a part of the journey, it would be a tremendous fortune.


    ��He just graduated high school, and he��s already achieved so much,�� Chen Bin was convinced Cheng Zhu would be an important figure in the future.


    Whether his factory could become a representative one in Guan Yun depended on him!


    So, whenever Cheng Zhu wanted to introduce a new style, Chen Bin would be both nervous and excited.


    It felt like the other party was presenting him with an exam.


    If done well, they would continue to make big money together.


    If not, who knows when the other party might go to someone else.


    Therefore, Chen Bin paid great attention to quality control; even for drop shipping on his end, where Cheng Zhu couldn��t see the actual product being shipped, he never cut corners!


    Basically, the sample given was exactly what customers received.


    Chen Bin always felt that although this young man looked devil-may-care and aloof, he was definitely not careless, clear-headed inside!


    Short-term gains at the expense of the future was not an option.


    After resolving some details with Chen Bin, Cheng Zhu stashed the gray backless sweater deep in his closet, sealed away tightly.


    Having completed all this, he was about to leave when his phone buzzed.


    It was Dong Dong messaging him in the dorm group chat to hurry up.


    ��Cheng, you heading out yet? I��ve also invited Zhu Yingying and the others; their dorm mates will all come.��


    ��Last time, you were a no-show at the meetup, don��t stand us up again this time!��


    The funniest part was, due to Zhu Yingying and company coming, the dining location had been upgraded to eating crayfish outside the campus, a step up in class.


    Cheng Zhu shook his head and smiled; somehow, he had left people with the impression he was a ��king of pigeons��.


    This made him think of a saying:


    ��When you think I��ll flake, and I do, that too is a form of commitment! ��Goethe.��


    He didn��t mind interacting with the people from that female dorm; previously, he had said that long-legged spicy girls like Yao Yina, who were willing to dance in public, could be useful.


    As Cheng Zhu walked out of the dorm, moving through the campus in the night, the gentle breeze stirred clearer thoughts in his mind.


    He quite enjoyed pondering problems while strolling.


    He was confident about Persistent Visit��s next round of updates, believing the products would sell out.


    Yet, he still felt he could do better, though momentarily lacking inspiration.


    ��I am aware this product will be a hit later on; that��s just my rebirth advantage.��


    ��But can I also incorporate some of my personal strengths?��


    ��Right now, I indeed have some combo moves in marketing.��


    ��But I always feel this combo is lacking an element.��


    Cheng Zhu vaguely sensed he had missed something; with a significant early advantage and his store trending towards becoming an internet sensation, he shouldn��t only achieve this much.


    As he approached the crayfish restaurant, he saw Dong Dong and others seated inside through the glass.


    The people from Zhu Yingying��s dorm had all arrived, waiting for him.


    From a distance, observing these college girls, particularly the pure-acting Guan Jiayue, a sudden inspiration struck him.


    ...


    (ps: Second update, ask for monthly tickets.)

 Chapter 90: 81: The Dancing Girl

    Chapter 90: Chapter 81: The Dancing Girl


    Cheng Zhu entered the crawfish restaurant, and almost all the customers were students, mostly seated in mixed-gender groups.


    For university students, crawfish isn��t cheap, and it doesn��t really fill you up.


    Treating a whole table to crawfish like Dong Dong really costs a bundle.


    Fortunately, Mr. Dong didn��t care. He wanted to spend, he wanted to show off his wealth.


    His approach did have some effect.


    Zhu Yingying felt that Dong Dong must really like her, otherwise he wouldn��t have invited her entire dorm to eat crawfish. Clearly, he had an ulterior motive, trying to win over even her roommates!


    ...


    What she didn��t know was that Dong Dong found Yao Yina and Guan Jiayue attractive too��he had unscrupulous intentions towards everyone!


    As for the sultry bombshell Yao Yina, she was purely a ��face-chaser.�� To her, having money was just the icing on the cake��she couldn��t stomach someone without good looks.


    On the other hand, Guan Jiayue, wearing a little white dress with elegant makeup, mentally increased her rating of Dong Dong from 60 to 70.


    ��He must get at least a few thousand for his monthly allowance,�� she analyzed.


    ��And treating so many people to a meal all at once shows he��s generous, the type willing to spend money on others,�� Guan Jiayue thought to herself.


    In her view, being wealthy and generous was important; some guys seemed rich but were incredibly stingy!


    But as soon as Cheng Zhu walked in, he became the center of attention at the table.


    Dong Dong kept shouting, ��Add two more pounds,�� continuing to flaunt his wealth, but it was useless.


    As soon as he sat down, there were subtle changes in the expressions of the girls.


    Yao Yina suddenly became a bit reserved. She had danced towards Cheng Zhu during the party, even blew him a kiss after dancing��it was just the atmosphere, she was hyped, seizing the opportunity to exude charm.


    �� ��Please Appreciate My Dance.��


    But then, Zhang Qiqi also paid special attention to Cheng Zhu after her dance, and she felt she was outshined again, feeling once more that he was an unattainable god.


    I was foolish before!


    As for Guan Jiayue, she felt Cheng Zhu glanced at her as soon as he walked in.


    This made her sit even straighter.


    Today, she wore a ��pseudo-natural makeup�� look, which was all about conveying a few messages.


    The first point, as mentioned before, is that many guys think girls without makeup are purer! Especially those high school and university students��they��d think girls who wear makeup are flashy and cheap, while the natural ones are the pure sweethearts.


    This was because there used to be fewer girls who wore makeup in school, and those who did makeup at a very young age often had poorer reputations, hence such a mindset.


    When they grow up and find every girl wears makeup, their mindset changes.


    Secondly, it��s about giving a subtle hint.


    Look, it��s only this early in the evening, and I��ve already washed off my makeup and lying in bed. This is my lifestyle, I��m a pure girl without any nightlife.


    The main point is a pure and clean image!


    This subtle hint isn��t only conveyed through makeup, but also through conversations where she would intentionally reveal little details, openly and covertly telling you she has no nightlife, using her natural appearance just to boost credibility.


    Of course, besides this, some guys would think two things.


    One: Holy shit, if she already looks this good without makeup, how devastatingly beautiful would she be if she did her makeup seriously just for me?


    Two: She��s willing to meet me without makeup; isn��t it said that many girls don��t like to meet people without makeup?


    Guan Jiayue knew men too well. During high school, she was the heavily made-up ��flashy cheap girl,�� having played all sorts of games, seen all there was to see.


    Then she had her realization, upgraded herself, and started university with a new type, mastering men with a pure image.


    Guan Jiayue had been playing the game long enough to know: men don��t treasure the girls they play with.


    It��s just a casual play for everyone.


    They��re truly indifferent.


    The more you paint yourself as simple and clean, a blank slate, the more he feels you��re exclusively his, willing to give up everything for you.


    You think only women need security? Men have their need for security too.


    The latter provides men with more security, allowing them to invest long-term emotions, money, feelings, time...


    The former is just a tool satisfying their physical and mental needs, a capital to show off to others.


    When you love playing, you can only be played, but when you decide to stop, it becomes your turn to play others.


    Guan Jiayue today, with her ��pseudo-natural makeup�� had practiced countless times over the summer break, following many tutorial videos.


    And not to mention, it��s just the start of the semester, and she already has her own ��pond.��


    In her eyes, Yao Yina, her dorm mate, was like her high school self, even more beautiful and with a better figure.


    But what does that matter now? She��s still not as popular as me!


    This is rank suppression!


    ��Look, even Cheng Zhu does the same. He barely looked at you just now, but his attention stayed on me for a long time!�� Guan Jiayue increasingly felt she was on the right path.


    Little did she know, for Cheng Zhu��it was all about identifying demons.


    We��re back to 2014, playing in the low leagues!


    Guan Jiayue��s type suddenly gave Cheng Zhu the key point he��d missed in marketing the backless sweater.


    ��Just like when I coined the provocative term ��stepmom skirt�� previously and sparked a trend,�� Cheng Zhu peeled crawfish while plotting in his mind.


    ��This time, I��m not planning to ride the trend, I��m aiming to... create a completely new one!��


    He started planning in his mind, wondering if Ye Zi could cooperate later.


    If played right, it would sweep not just the QQ community.


    ...


    ...


    The crawfish restaurant near the gate of Technology University was only mediocre in taste.


    But everyone enjoyed their meal.


    Dong Dong even suggested opening a few bottles of beer, but eventually, only he and Yao Yina had some.


    At the table, there were plenty of jokes about Dong Dong and Zhu Yingying.


    This was normal since Dong Dong had actively asked for Zhu Yingying��s WeChat at school and even organized two social events��it would be weird if people didn��t tease them.


    But Mr. Dong, hearing Yao Yina constantly mocking him, blurted out, ��I even think you have a bit of a thing for Cheng!��


    Unexpectedly, Yao Yina boldly admitted it, nodding vigorously, ��I do think Cheng Zhu is very handsome.��


    ��But don��t worry, I won��t chase you. I only look up to you as my idol!�� She was quite straightforward and a bit feisty, even gulping down the rest of the beer in her glass.


    She had sent him a flying kiss during the dance, denying it now would be sheer denial.


    Moreover, she had told her roommates several times how much she was into Cheng Zhu��s rugged good looks��Zhu Yingying and Dong Dong might have even secretly informed him during their private chats.


    Dong Dong couldn��t help saying, ��Damn, Cheng, you even have fans now!��


    Cheng Zhu smiled at Yao Yina, not continuing on this topic but steering the conversation, ��You dance really well. Did you take classes?��


    Yao Yina, seeing that he was initiating conversation with her, was ready to share everything.


    ��I really like it. I took jazz classes during the summer break, and I would also watch some MVs or dance studio videos at home for self-study. I planned to join some dance-related club at the university.�� Yao Yina smiled as she spoke.


    Cheng Zhu nodded, ��I��m planning to open a store along the street outside school soon. It will have a couple of dance machines. You can come play for free whenever you��re bored.��


    ��Ah? You��re opening a store here?�� Yao Yina was shocked.


    Not just her, all the girls at the table were stunned.


    They had heard of university students starting businesses, but none who started right after military training.


    I mean, have you even fully explored the school yet before you started reaching outside?


    And from an ordinary student��s view, anyone who can open a store outside school in their first year must be incredibly wealthy.


    ��Wow, you keep calling him an idol, but your focus isn��t on dancing freely in his store but on the minor matter that he��s opening a store,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    However, Dong Dong chose this moment to say, ��Ah? Cheng, weren��t you opening a claw machine store? Why add dance machines now? Are you planning to expand it into an arcade?��


    Cheng Zhu waved his hands, ��It��s still a claw machine store, just adding a couple of dance machines.��


    ��Oh! Claw machines?�� Guan Jiayue finally found her moment, her eyes lit up showing her immense interest.


    Yao Yina then realized she had been invited to his store to play, and she hadn��t responded yet.


    ��Sure, I��ll come when you open, I��ll even recharge!�� She said excitedly.


    ��No need, I��ll just give everyone some Game Coins,�� he looked at Yao Yina, speaking frankly, ��Frankly speaking, by inviting you to dance there, I was thinking it could improve the atmosphere of the store.��


    ��I get it. When I was taking dance classes, my teacher said we could earn money in arcades by dancing all day,�� Yao Yina was forthright, not yet realizing her words might be misunderstood.


    Dong Dong, this idiot, immediately said, ��Ah, then Cheng, you have to pay Yao Yina a salary!��


    ��Of course, that��s what I was planning,�� Cheng Zhu had intended just that.


    ��Ah, no need, no need, I didn��t mean that,�� Yao Yina hurriedly waved her hands.


    ��Let��s discuss this another time; the store isn��t even open yet.��


    Zheng Qingfeng had been silent all along but was internally thrilled.


    This store was awesome, there would even be girls dancing there! Oh my god!


    Speaking of which, Cheng Zhu had not really thought about making money from dance machines; how much could they possibly earn?


    It was purely because filling two shops entirely with claw machines seemed unnecessary.


    Moreover, arcades are noisy places filled with all sorts of sounds like electronic noises, basketball, and racing sounds.


    This creates a better atmosphere.


    Claw machine stores are more monotonous, not that noisy.


    But if it��s a couple visiting, actually, a bit more noise around on the part of couples is more conducive for them, making it easier for them to flirt and be more open to fun.


    If it��s quiet around, they might worry about others�� opinions.


    Besides, buying these two dance machines was also because he had a bigger plan for them.


    ��Just not sure if there��ll be a chance to put them to use in the future.��

 Chapter 91: 82: What Does She Want from You?

    Chapter 91: Chapter 82: What Does She Want from You?


    A meal of crayfish at the school gate cost about a month��s living expenses for an average college student.


    No way around it, Liu Feng and Zheng Qingfeng were adamant about not ordering staples and insisted on stuffing themselves with crayfish.


    Just the mountain of crayfish shells in front of those two could have formed a small hill.


    After the late-night snack, everyone headed back to the campus together. When they passed by the sushi restaurant, Cheng Zhu specifically pointed it out and told them that this was the shop he was about to rent.


    Dong Dong curiously said, ��Cheng, your parents trust you quite a bit, supporting your venture when you��ve just started college. My dad, on the other hand, tells me to focus on my studies first and says I can roll back to the family company after I graduate.��


    ��To be honest, I really don��t want to work at home. There are fifty or sixty employees in the company; they won��t miss me,�� Mr. Dong hinted with layers of meaning.


    ...


    Think about it, fifty or sixty employees, even if they were only on a base salary, his family would have to pay out a significant sum just in wages each month, which shows they have a pretty solid foundation.


    Zheng Qingfeng, whose family was in real estate, opened his mouth to say something but ultimately chose to remain aloof.


    Unfortunately, Mr. Dong��s topic wasn��t smartly chosen from the start.


    Cheng Zhu replied, ��It��s not that my parents are supporting my venture. I��m doing this on my own, and I haven��t even informed them yet.��


    Dong Dong immediately felt his level of showing off was too low, and he regretted treating everyone to crayfish just now.


    ��Damn, Cheng, are you freakin�� rich. Do you have your own startup capital?�� Dong Dong was immensely shocked.


    The rent for the two shop spaces, plus the renovations and machinery, that wasn��t a small amount of money.


    Damn it, aren��t you the freshman tycoon of Technology University?


    Liu Feng, listening on the side, only thought Mr. Dong was showing off in front of us��why go embarrass yourself in front of the king of showing off?


    Hasn��t he been slapped enough these days?


    ��Slow learner indeed!


    Cheng Zhu didn��t even bother to tell this amateur show-off that he had earned this money on his own.


    To avoid him digging deeper and nagging incessantly.


    I��ll spare you this time; I won��t educate you further today.


    The several girls studying fashion design looked at each other in disbelief.


    Yao Yina completely understood that she was not from the same world as Cheng Zhu, and should just continue to idolize him as a male god, like chasing stars on campus. Flatter him, and don��t have unrealistic daydreams.


    Guan Jiayue wanted to speak up several times but didn��t dare.


    She always felt that Cheng Zhu looked at her strangely, as if there was a hint of mockery and playfulness in his eyes.


    Honestly speaking, Cheng Zhu really disliked those girls who pretend to be pure in front of him.


    You clearly know she��s a fun, open person, yet because she has ambitions and wants a long-term strategic partnership with you, she keeps putting on an act in front of you.


    Maybe, you could��ve had a mutually beneficial relationship, right?


    But this way, it��s kind of no fun.


    We��re all thousand-year-old foxes��why play such tricks?


    Compared to her, Cheng Zhu found Ye Zi quite agreeable.


    At that moment, Zhu Yingying looked back at the sushi restaurant with some curiosity, ��Cheng Zhu, why did you think of opening a claw machine store at the school gate?��


    ��Of course, because I think it can make money, and also to fulfill a little wish of my sister,�� he said with an image of Little Youzi��s chubby face and cute little braids popping into his mind.


    ��Sister!?�� Dong Dong perked up immediately: ��Which sister, you have a sworn sister besides the two senior students?��


    ��Or are you already calling one of the senior students that in private?�� Dong Dong was shocked.


    Swearing sisterhood is so common during student days, let alone in 2014, even five or six years later people still do it. It��s pretty tacky.


    But if you��re calling an older school senior ��sister��... The girls from the female dorm couldn��t help but feel it was a delight to hear.


    Girls are very concerned about their age; clearly being older, but when a guy insists on calling you ��sister��... Ahhh, it��s killing me!


    They even started to fantasize about it.


    Cheng Zhu, speechless, said, ��It��s my real younger sister. She��s still in kindergarten.��


    ��Ah? Then you are really a good brother!�� Yao Yina immediately said.


    She has a brother too, but they��re close in age and always fought when they were young. He often ended up getting beaten and still always orders her around, even coming to her for living expenses when he��s broke!


    She felt even more firmly that the male god was excellent and had a vague feeling that any girl who dated him would be incredibly happy!


    This is how women think��when you see a guy doting on his sister, you naturally think he will also treasure his girlfriend or wife.


    That��s also why, for a while, bloggers who doted on their sisters gained followers rapidly��everyone loves to watch and fantasize.


    Furthermore, that��s why many scumbags would say, ��I want to have daughters in the future, not sons.��


    Playing the daughter-slave card can have a similar effect, scoring points in some girls�� hearts.


    Of course, these days, it seems most men indeed prefer to have daughters. But once they actually have one, given men��s understanding of other men, they are full of worries: in this world full of scumbags, what��s to become of my daughter?


    ...


    ...


    After entering the campus, everyone parted ways at the fork in the road.


    In Cheng Zhu��s eyes, these four girls were like mobile loudspeakers, possibly spreading the word about his doll machine store through their chit-chat, building up a buzz.


    A freshman opening a store right outside the school gate during military training is a good gimmick and topic.


    Plus, Cheng Zhu already kind of had the image of a campus celebrity, and it��s hard to lower such heat.


    Back in the dorm, after washing up, everyone lay in bed and started playing with their phones.


    Cheng Zhu thought for a while and then, in the WeChat group with Shen Minglang as the admin, @ Shen Qingning and Lin Lu, asking them, ��Do you guys know Zhang Qiqi?��


    ��I��ve seen her a few times but not close. Is it the senior year Zhang Qiqi?�� Lin Lu replied.


    ��I don��t know her,�� Shen Qingning responded more directly.


    Unexpectedly, Boss Shen jumped in at that moment, saying, ��I know her! She claims to be the internet celebrity campus belle of Technology University! I��ve seen her on Weibo!��


    After saying this, Shen Minglang quickly added, ��But I don��t acknowledge her status as the campus belle!��


    To tell the truth, Shen Minglang didn��t just happen upon Zhang Qiqi on Weibo unintentionally.


    He had searched for all the beauties at Technology University when he learned his sister would attend, intending to take advantage of his sister��s school connections to hit on college girls.


    He had noticed Zhang Qiqi a long time ago!


    Admittedly, there was a slight gap between her inherent conditions and his own celestial sister.


    But no matter, she was barely good enough for Young Master Shen!


    So, he had already probed Shen Qingning about Zhang Qiqi.


    Knowing her brother well, Shen Qingning had replied evasively, ��If you cause trouble in our school, you��re on your own.��


    Shen Minglang thought to himself: ��Heh! Am I your brother or are you mine? A sister now bosses her brother around! I usually indulge you, but do you really think I��m afraid of you? You better keep things in perspective!��


    So, he replied with a strong ��I won��t come if I won��t come!!!��


    Now in the group chat, after belittling Zhang Qiqi, he didn��t forget to add, ��The number one campus belle of Technology University is Qingning, and Lin Lu ranks second.��


    ��What��s this first and second campus belle nonsense, silly stuff,�� Shen Qingning retorted in the group chat, seemingly irritated.


    She and Lin Lu truly didn��t care about the campus belle title; they even found it embarrassing.


    Walking on campus, if someone called them campus belles, they would feel uncomfortable.


    But perhaps precisely because they took no interest in the title, it bothered Zhang Qiqi even more.


    She��d been actively marketing herself, crafting a campus belle persona, spending so much time and effort.


    Yet, for them, success had come without trying.


    In the group chat, Lin Lu suddenly said, ��Why did you ask about Zhang Qiqi?��


    Shen Qingning stayed silent in the chat, but she too quietly waited for Cheng Zhu��s reply.


    ��It��s nothing; it��s just that today at the military training evening party, Zhang Qiqi was there too, and even danced a bit,�� Cheng Zhu typed, deliberately omitting the part where Zhang Qiqi had specifically mentioned his name.


    Shen Minglang immediately chimed in, ��Sounds like you college kids have fun, even watching dances during the party. Remember to call your cousin next time.��


    Wanzhou, who had been quiet, suddenly appeared, ��Can you not be obnoxious?��


    He suggested, ��Let��s call the police!��


    Lin Lu then responded to Cheng Zhu��s message, ��It��s normal for her to dance; she participates in many school activities. She occasionally attends outside events too.��


    ��I��ve heard that since last year, many internet celebrity agencies have been contacting her, but she hasn��t signed with any,�� Lin Lu shared what she knew.


    ��Oh, I see, alright then,�� Cheng Zhu ended the topic promptly.


    Then he started leading the conversation, announcing in the group about opening a doll machine store at the school gate and telling everyone to come; he would give each person a few hundred tokens.


    Just as Lin Lu wanted to continue asking about Zhang Qiqi, she was immediately captivated by the new topic of opening a store.


    Shen Minglang, at his bar at the time, seeing the group chat��s content, began to type, ��Cousin, those kinds of stores don��t have much prospects nowadays. Small game arcades are popping up and dying off one after another. Your cousin isn��t going to spout empty words. Take my advice, maybe we should drop it.��


    ��The lease contract hasn��t been signed yet, we��re all family. Even if it has been, it��s no big deal. Maybe you should reconsider?�� Shen Minglang began convincing in the group.


    Although he had failed in his ventures time and time again, he knew one thing: don��t always think you��re so awesome and special��if nobody else can make a project work, there��s a reason, so don��t be stubborn.


    True, Cheng Zhu��s e-commerce was thriving, but there is a significant difference between online and offline, and now physical stores are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.


    ��It��s fine, not a big investment. I won��t spend much on renovations, and doll machines can be resold,�� Cheng Zhu didn��t elaborate.


    Shen Minglang thought about it and didn��t insist further, only indicating he would bring people to spend money when the time came.


    He knew clearly that Cheng Zhu was earning a decent income every month and could afford to dabble.


    Putting his phone down, he thought, ��My cousin might take a fall this time.��


    ��If he fails at the venture, I��ll just buy a few doll machines, after all, they can be given away as gifts to girls,�� Boss Shen thought.


    Yes, you��re still at the stage of giving dolls to girls; Boss Shen is already giving away personalized doll machines.


    As the group chat topics ended, everyone got busy with their own things.


    Lin Lu had been following an anime at home, but now she couldn��t focus on it anymore.


    Her mind was once again on the topic of Zhang Qiqi, something she couldn��t avoid thinking about.


    Even though it was a conversation from half an hour ago, it somehow kept resurfacing in her mind.


    Thus, she began to message Cheng Zhu privately, ��You still haven��t told us why you asked if we knew Zhang Qiqi.��


    Seeing her message, Cheng Zhu revealed a knowing smile.


    ��Here it comes!


    He deliberately hadn��t shared any specifics earlier, and only now, leisurely, did he inform Lin Lu that after Zhang Qiqi finished dancing, she took the microphone and specifically mentioned him, explaining the whole sequence of events thoroughly.


    ��Ah? Well, she��s indeed quite inexplicable,�� Lin Lu replied after hearing it.


    She even adorably furrowed her brows, wrinkling her nose with a little crease as her brain ran at full speed, trying to work out what Zhang Qiqi was up to, finding it quite annoying.


    Cheng Zhu quickly typed, mocking her, ��This is something that happened half an hour ago, and you came to ask me this? You seem to be quite inexplicably intrigued as well.��

 Chapter 92: 83 Ye Zis Transformation

    Chapter 92: Chapter 83 Ye Zi��s Transformation


    Cheng Zhu was in his dorm room, holding his phone, and he could already imagine Lin Lu��s expression.


    The voice acting girl, upon seeing his message, had begun to breathe more heavily, picturing Cheng Zhu��s face in her mind and imagining the expression he wore as he typed.


    He actually said that I was still stuck on the same topic a half hour later and went to ask him about Zhang Qiqi, which seemed especially absurd?


    ��Are you calling me a gossip?!�� she typed this message, but for some reason, her heartbeat subtly quickened.


    ��What do you think?�� Cheng Zhu replied ambiguously as he typed back.


    ��I can��t be bothered with you!�� Lin Lu ended the chat, seemingly tough but actually in retreat.


    ...


    She sat on her bed, her gaze immediately scanning toward the small pig plushie on her bedside table.


    After grabbing it, she punched the plushie, labeled with ��Cheng Zhu��, twice!


    ��I��ll kill you, I��ll beat you to death!�� she muttered venomously, though it took a good while for her subtly accelerated heartbeat to calm down.


    Obviously, she was not only out to gossip.


    And obviously, he was not only implying she was a gossip.


    But the topic eventually just stopped at gossip.


    This must be the ambiguity of the initial stages.


    In dorm room 309, Dong Dong��s bed was next to Cheng Zhu��s.


    Looking at his ��nemesis�� across from him, he wondered, ��Cheng, why are you smiling like that? Your smile just now looked as if you had won a victory.��


    ��You��re not gambling online, are you?�� Dong Dong sat up from his bed and asked.


    ��Gambling? What nonsense are you talking about!�� Cheng Zhu glanced at him, then quickly added, ��But you��re not entirely wrong.��


    For most people, romantic relationships could indeed be regarded as a gamble in life.


    Only now, this bastard was also regretting that Shen Qingning didn��t come to chat with him privately.


    ��Never mind, her temperament is different from Lin Lu��s, handsome guy, you shouldn��t sell yourself short,�� he thought to himself.


    The following days were filled with the miserable military training.


    During these days, Cheng Zhu��s most significant realization was that he stood in military posture under the sun, with upperclassmen actually coming specifically to watch him.


    In the forums of Technology University, his name appeared far too frequently.


    And the names coming up along with his were often the school beauties.


    One moment it was Shen Qingning, the next it was Lin Lu, and now even the issues between him and Zhang Qiqi were beginning to spread in small circles.


    Originally, Cheng Zhu didn��t have much resistance towards military training. But now, constantly having people come to watch him, and having to stand there on display, made him feel like he was a zoo animal, or rather, a scenic spot of the School of Information Science.


    Eventually, he wore a grimace every time he stood at attention.


    As for his online reputation at Technology University, it was quite mixed.


    Okay, to be honest, it was mostly curses.


    But Cheng Zhu believed for certain that these jerks were hypocrites.


    ��Just say I��m awesome, why do you have to add something like ��he really deserves to die�� behind it?��


    ��A few shameless people actually say I��m not as handsome as them, damn, they really should take a good look at themselves in the mirror.��


    ��And others say, ��Probably he��s just got some stinky money.�� Fine, I��ll take that as a compliment!��


    When military training ended that day, everyone said goodbye to the drill instructor.


    There were quite a few emotional people, with tears in their eyes.


    Drill Instructor Feng had plenty of experience in military training and managed to squeeze out a saddened expression, yet he couldn��t produce a single tear.


    Conveniently, the end of military training coincided with the weekend.


    Dong Dong suggested that everyone should go to West Lake for fun, while Cheng Zhu said he needed to go home.


    ��Huh? Cheng, at your age, why would you want to go home?�� Dong Dong didn��t understand.


    If it were him, even if he studied close to home, and even if the school was just a hundred meters from his house, he would insist on staying at the school during the weekends.


    Damn, it��s so much freedom, with air that��s fresher than at home.


    No nagging from parents, only roommates shouting at each other during games.


    ��You wouldn��t understand,�� Cheng Zhu waved him off.


    Later, he would go directly to his grandparents�� place, where his mother Xu Yun would bring Little Youzi for dinner, and Cheng would even close his store for the day.


    The You family��s fresh produce supermarket had gotten on the right track during this period and was doing reasonably well.


    One couldn��t say it was making a fortune, but it definitely had potential.


    For someone middle-aged, to have a career revival was definitely a joyous event.


    After all, in this day and age, not encountering career setbacks in middle age was considered good fortune.


    Plus, before opening the store, they had to borrow money from his father-in-law, so Cheng certainly had to go to his father-in-law��s place today to offer a few toasts, express his gratitude, and repay the old man��s money as soon as possible.


    Around five o��clock, Cheng Zhu arrived at his grandparents�� door.


    He knocked on the door and immediately heard Little Youzi��s voice from inside.


    ��My brother is back! Nobody is allowed to open the door! I��ll go open it!��


    Her simple words completely dissolved Cheng Zhu��s long-held grimace, replacing it with a smile.


    The door slowly opened, revealing Little Youzi��s chubby little face.


    She looked up at Cheng Zhu, her two braids flipping backward, her big eyes twinkling as she turned to repeat her previous announcement to everyone: ��My brother is back!��


    Then, she naturally slid her small hand into Cheng Zhu��s larger one, holding onto his index finger and leading him into the house.


    ��With such a little one at home, it��s hard for me not to be homesick,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    Today, the meal at the grandparents�� place was exceptionally sumptuous.


    The old folks somehow managed to get a free-range chicken, and it was one of those half-grown broilers, which meant the meat would be especially tender and not tough.


    Cheng Zhu��s grandmother and mother Xu Yun saw that he had gotten a shade darker and felt somewhat distressed.


    Little did they know, it was all thanks to a girl who had given their son sunscreen; otherwise, he could have become even darker.


    ��It��s fine if a man is a little darker. Dad, I toast you,�� Cheng said, not batting an eyelid as he looked at his son, focused on pleasing his father-in-law.


    On the other hand, Little Youzi chattered incessantly, bombarding Cheng Zhu with endless questions, very curious about his college life.


    After the meal, the family sat on the couch, with Cheng Zhu watching cartoons with Little Youzi, while the adults chatted about household matters.


    Today they were watching ��SpongeBob SquarePants.��


    On the TV, a classic episode was playing.


    It was where Patrick asked SpongeBob to go jellyfishing, but SpongeBob said he couldn��t go because he had to go to school that day.


    Patrick: ��But what should I do today if you go to school?��


    SpongeBob: ��I don��t know, what do you normally do when I��m not at home?��


    Patrick: ��Wait for you to come back.��


    Just then, Little Youzi gently patted Cheng Zhu��s thigh and then looked up at him, saying, ��Brother, I also wait every day for you to come back.��


    Cheng Zhu to himself: ��Huh? Mr. Zhang stopped assigning homework again?��


    Cheng Zhu aloud: ��Brother also wants to come home every day to watch cartoons with you.��


    ��But Mom only lets me watch cartoons on weekends,�� Little Youzi said.


    ��That��s why brother comes home on weekends,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    Little Youzi was perplexed by his response.


    Cheng Zhu gently patted her head, unknown to her, at her age, how precious it was for a university student to not wastefully hang out elsewhere, but to come home consistently to keep his kindergarten sister company.


    Thank goodness your brother indulged in his past life to the extent of eating health supplements as if they were meals.


    The temptations of the outside world are truly many.


    It��s far too easy to get a sister and then to forget about her.


    With this thought in mind, he suddenly remembered the box of mint candies Lin Lu had given him, which he hadn��t finished yet, still in his pocket.


    He didn��t really like candy and had kept up the pace of having one after lunch and one after dinner, so there were still a few pieces left.


    ��Do you want some?�� Cheng Zhu sneakily took them out and used his body to shield Xu Yun��s view, the siblings skillfully causing mischief in front of their parents.


    ��Can I? If I just have a tiny piece, my teeth shouldn��t rot, right?�� Little Youzi extended a finger.


    She further explained, ��I��ll use my tongue to roll it up, so my teeth won��t touch the sugar at all!��


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t decide in that moment whether she was clever or not.


    He quickly handed her a piece, and she pretended to yawn, then covered her mouth to toss the candy into it.


    In the next moment, her face froze, all her features wrinkling together. Kids don��t usually like mint candies, as they are too cool and intense.


    Cheng Zhu hadn��t expected her reaction to be so strong; his first response was to whip out his phone and snap a photo of her expression.


    Haha, fun!


    Little Youzi, unsure whether to keep eating or spit it out, had a flash of inspiration and swallowed the small mint candy.


    Cheng Zhu gave her a thumbs up and whispered softly, ��Is it that bad? Later, I��ll secretly buy you some UHA Mikakuto milk candy, but you can only have one piece.��


    Little Youzi nodded vigorously, responding firmly, ��Mhmm!��


    After that, Cheng Zhu picked up his phone and opened WeChat.


    ��The mint candy you gave, my sister doesn��t like it,�� he sent a message to Lin Lu, along with the photo he had just taken.


    He was a person who made thorough use of everything, and this applied to people as well.


    ��Haha, Little Youzi is too cute!�� Lin Lu replied instantly upon seeing the photo, ��Many kids don��t like mint candies, why did you give it to her!��


    ��Don��t worry, I didn��t say it was from you; I won��t ruin your image as Sister Lu in her mind.��


    ��That��s more like it,�� Lin Lu expressed satisfaction: ��Next time, I��ll buy her super tasty candy! You take it back for her!��


    ��What��s the meaning, I can��t eat it?��


    ��Can��t, hehe.��


    ��I suck your head!�� Cheng Zhu quickly sent the message, then realizing the typo, corrected it: ��I hiss you, and stop the hehe!��


    Damn, the predictive text really dropped the ball there.


    At seven-thirty in the evening, Cheng Zhu��s family left the grandparents�� house and went home together.


    Xu Yun saw her son returning from school with a suitcase and assumed it was packed with dirty clothes and stinky socks.


    Some boys are like that, taking clean clothes to school, then bringing the dirty ones back home for their mothers to wash.


    Cheng Zhu was not one of those.


    Inside this suitcase were all QQ lingerie items!


    Not to mention letting his mother wash them��he couldn��t even let her see them!


    After all, he had just turned eighteen, and it was too easy for parents to imagine: at eighteen, he��s already posing for such model photos, selling such clothes��could this mean he possibly started... oh!


    Therefore, once he got home, he first made sure to properly store the new merchandise to be photographed.


    In the future, he would have many roles to play, and he would just let his parents know about a few suitable ones.


    Otherwise, when the neighbors ask, ��What does your son sell?��


    They wouldn��t even know how to respond.


    Cheng Zhu decided to lock his room door.


    After doing this, he then took out his phone to send a WeChat message to Ye Zi.


    Initially, Ye Zi had been almost daily in touch for a chat, but he responded less frequently.


    Later, she began to treat their chat like a message wall, sending information once or twice a day, three at most.


    She would share small daily events or thoughts and stated that Cheng Zhu didn��t need to reply; she just wanted to share.


    Afterward, worrying that even this might disturb Cheng Zhu, she turned to posting these thoughts on her Moments and setting them to be visible only to him.


    Cheng Zhu would occasionally like her post to show he had seen it, but wasn��t necessarily going to chat with her or comment on her Moments like submitting a memorial.


    Ye Zi didn��t feel slighted at all; on the contrary, this asymmetric treatment was addictive for her, delighting and energizing her.


    ��Free up your time for the new shoot tomorrow,�� Cheng Zhu stated directly.


    Ye Zi had pinned his WeChat chat, and feeling a tingling excitement, she replied, ��Understood!��


    Cheng Zhu muttered to himself: ��Last time, she replied with an emoji bearing the words ��Understood,�� enclosed between two ��Throwing Flowers�� emojis. This time she��s started directly typing the reply. ��Understood.''��


    Not even pretending anymore, huh?

 Chapter 93: 84 Filming in Progress

    Chapter 93: Chapter 84 Filming in Progress


    ��`


    The night was deep and silent, as Cheng Zhu lay in bed; he��d just finalized tomorrow��s shooting schedule with Ye Zi.


    As usual, they set the time for the afternoon.


    He didn��t chat further with Ye Zi, maintaining his usual relatively indifferent demeanor.


    Anyway, what she needed wasn��t the pleasure of conversation.


    Before sleep, Cheng Zhu scrolled through his WeChat Moments.


    ...


    It didn��t take long for him to see the photo Ye Zi posted.


    In the picture, she wore yoga pants, performing a booty exercise, and took a mirror selfie that captured her peachy behind.


    Who could withstand such years of perfection in just one behind?


    This Moments post was visible only to Cheng Zhu.


    She was telling him that she��d been keeping up with her figure maintenance, a dedicated QQ model with no slacking off lately.


    But the caption she gave this photo was: ��Reporting recent work to the boss.��


    The boss, needless to say, was him.


    As if the waist and hips she��d toned were for the boss��s use.


    ��Autumn has arrived, and it��s the season for the leaves to turn yellow,�� Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but sigh.


    ...


    At one in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu met Ye Zi at the hotel, then they took the elevator up to the hotel��s suite.


    ��There��s no need to wear a mask, is your bare face so unbearable?�� Cheng Zhu said with a laugh, looking at Ye Zi in full gear.


    He had specially instructed her yesterday not to come with make-up on, to do her make-up in the room instead.


    ��My bare face is indeed somewhat lacking,�� Ye Zi candidly admitted.


    She truly was the type of beauty that required artificial embellishment.


    If it weren��t for her high compliance towards Cheng Zhu, she wouldn��t even be willing to come without make-up.


    ��You need to change up your makeup style later; I��ll tell you what to change, try to see if you can do it,�� said Cheng Zhu, looking at her masked face.


    Ye Zi��s usual makeup was rather heavy, so today it needed to be toned down a bit.


    Especially with regards to the eye make-up, they had to put serious effort into it today.


    The eyes are one of the key features that accentuate one��s persona.


    As it turns out, this was the first time Ye Zi was doing her makeup in front of a man, strictly following his instructions.


    The method he described wasn��t the type Ye Zi would normally choose for her everyday aesthetic.


    But this mandatory dominance, the arbitrary manipulation of her facial features, the experience of having no say over her own body... it was just too pleasurable for her!


    Cheng Zhu had his own expertise when it came to packaging a woman.


    After all, in his past life, he ran a live streaming company and had numerous female streamers under his banner.


    Each streamer��s style was determined internally by the company, with many details tailored to fit the persona, and make-up and outfits were naturally a crucial part of this.


    Sometimes even the voice they spoke with would need systematic practice within the company.


    By the time Ye Zi finished her makeup, she was almost disoriented looking at herself in the mirror.


    ��It really doesn��t look like me,�� she said, still a bit uncomfortable.


    After switching to the new product, Cheng Zhu began dictating her posing for the photo shoot.


    Her own arms and legs were being directed by him, manipulated like a mannequin, yet she found herself feeling ticklish and utterly indulged in it.


    ��Stay like that, then look up, yes, don��t make your eyes look so charming.��


    ��No, your eyes seem to be brimming with tears, snap out of it, understand the vibe of Little Lu, right?��


    ��Give me a look of bewilderment... come on, bewildered, not full of understanding!��


    Cheng Zhu knew that today��s shoot would be tough, but he didn��t expect it to be this draining.


    Because of the drastic style change from before, Ye Zi had to start adapting anew.


    Previously, since it was Cheng Zhu personally behind the camera, and they were shooting QQ products, Ye Zi could just play herself, simply put��be herself.


    In front of Cheng Zhu, she was like porcelain fresh out of the kiln, beautifully crafted!


    You don��t need to think about how to train her, tell her how to shoot; occasionally, you might even have to ask her to tone it down a bit.


    This time, she couldn��t quite grasp the essence temporarily.


    ��Maybe it��d have been easier to have Guan Jiayue do the shoot,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    But her figure was too poor, not even considered; he didn��t know how to Photoshop that.


    Fortunately, after shooting one set of new products, Ye Zi started to grasp what Cheng Zhu really wanted.


    ��Do you want me to look a bit more innocent, harmless, and untouched?�� she asked.


    Cheng Zhu nodded.


    ��But this is a shoot for QQ products,�� Ye Zi was a bit perplexed.


    ��Just do as I say,�� Cheng Zhu responded indifferently, too lazy to explain.


    ��Oh,�� Ye Zi immediately complied and nodded.


    As the shoot progressed, Cheng Zhu began introducing props.


    ��I brought some props; they should help enhance the shoot,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��Ah? Props? I... I��m actually not very good with this kind of thing.��


    ��They��re not the kind of props you��re thinking of.��


    Cheng Zhu took out a piece of cake and started smearing the frosting on her face.


    After finishing, he was incredibly satisfied.


    ��Yes, that��s it. Snap it quickly before the cream starts to melt and needs reapplying,�� Cheng Zhu urged.


    Ye Zi looked at Cheng Zhu holding the camera, now aiming the lens at her, and she spontaneously stuck out her tender red tongue, then curved the tip upwards as if licking the cream that had landed on the tip of her nose.


    After licking it, she didn��t immediately swallow, but slowly lowered her tongue and performed some tongue tricks.


    Only after that did she slowly draw the cream into her mouth.


    Cheng Zhu: ��...��


    Motherfucker, you just had to show off before shooting?


    God damn it, the cream is supposed to melt in your mouth; what��s with the swallowing reflex?


    After that smooth little combo, her face suddenly took on a bewildered, naive expression, as if nothing had happened, and she was just craving the taste.


    ��Damn, I knew you were quick-witted, but I didn��t expect this level,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    ��Okay, good performance. We��re short on time today, so no breaks in between, let��s finish this shoot and I��ll give you a reward,�� he said.


    ...


    Sanjuan Savings, a certain city.


    The boss of[Miaomiao Flagship Store], Li Mantang, was sitting in the office having a small meeting with his company��s operations team.


    Li Mantang had always felt threatened by a store named[Persistent Visit], worried that one day it could threaten his shop��s ranking in the same category.


    [Miaomiao Flagship Store] is currently second in its category, and the strategic goal for these past two years has been to maintain second place while contending for first.


    Don��t fucking end up being overtaken by that store and drop to third!


    They were one of the earliest to plagiarize the ��stepmother skirt.��


    In Taobao��s Direct Drive, they had been aggressively competing over the stepmother skirt keyword.


    Yet despite that, they were caught off guard by the ��Unity of Man and Painting�� tactic from[Persistent Visit].


    Motherfucker, we��re still playing tricks within the platform, and you just skip outside to pull off stunts?


    What��s more outrageous is that it became an instant hit! A jump to internet fame!


    If[Persistent Visit]had been slower to break through, they would just continue copying.


    Who the hell knows you��re the original and we��re the copycats.


    As long as we invest heavily, promote aggressively, and seize various positions, people will see us as an established shop and will more likely think we��re the originators.


    Maybe one day, the stepmother skirt, originally your shop��s product, will become ours with proper maneuvering!


    ��Whoever snatches it owns it!


    But now, it��s different.


    [Persistent Visit] broke through the circle because of[No-Fap Bar], and became a meme online.


    Now, how do some idiot netizens play the meme?


    ��No-Fap Check-In Day 1.��


    ��No-Fap Check-In Day 2.��


    ��...��


    ��Heh heh! Brothers, let me show you something nice!��


    Then bam! They��d post the comics from the[Persistent Visit]shop.


    More and more of these internet memes were popping up, and numerous foolhardy netizens began to create mischief spontaneously.


    Li Mantang and the operations team could only feel: ��They��re not playing by the conventional rules at all.��


    For a moment, they couldn��t even tell if the shop was just lucky to have caught fire.


    After all, some things on the internet, whether they blow up or not, really seem to be a matter of fate.


    But starting with the creation of a taboo product name like the stepmother skirt, then pioneering a new comic drawing style, and leading the market with it... it doesn��t seem like a coincidence! It must be acknowledged that this shop has something special.


    After half a day of discussion, the conclusion they arrived at was: they still had to copy!


    They had recently been desperately searching for illustrators to pair up comics with their batch of new releases.


    If only they knew who[Persistent Visit]��s illustrator was, they would even consider offering a high price to bring that person over to exclusively draw for them; they intended to go all in!


    This process did end up delaying the launch of their new releases by several days.


    During this time,[Miaomiao Flagship Store] was under a lot of pressure.


    After all, they had previously burned through a lot of money, especially in competing for the ��stepmother skirt�� keyword.


    Moreover, their pricing was even lower than[Persistent Visit], thinning their margins even more.


    But the other shop��s sales kept sky-rocketing, unstoppable.


    After becoming an internet-famous shop, many customers stopped searching for the stepmother skirt and instead directly searched for[Persistent Visit], focusing on the shop itself.


    Damn it, they were so jealous it itched!


    Shops usually announce upcoming new releases beforehand, informing everyone about the date for new items.


    [Miaomiao Flagship Store] has been keeping an eye on[Persistent Visit]��s new releases.


    Hurry up and get some of our new products out before they launch theirs.


    At the moment, the operations team was still consoling Mr. Li.


    ��Mr. Li, this kind of external site traffic, although scary at first, might not last long.��


    ��People are just looking for something novel.��


    ��My thought is, since we��ve already spent so much money, we need to keep pushing through this period.��


    ��Soon, their popularity will surely decline.��


    ��At that time, it��ll be about us truly competing on the platform. With our deep roots and advantages, we can��t possibly lose. We should try to take as many of these popular items as possible.��


    ��You know, external traffic is inherently unstable and uncertain, and the final conversion rate of orders is somewhat luck-based.��


    ��Our QQ products naturally have many rules and restrictions; it��s easy to violate policies when marketing.��


    ��Dancing in shackles, I don��t believe they can keep pulling off impressive performances every time!��


    ��`

 Chapter 94: 85th : The Boss is Definitely a Genius

    Chapter 94: 85th Chapter: The Boss is Definitely a Genius


    In the hotel suite, the photoshoot lasted until 7:30 pm.


    When photographing the gray backless sweater, Ye Zi stood in front of the mirror and just felt that the style was pretty impressive, completely different from anything else on the market.


    ��Where do you find all these new items?�� Ye Zi asked out of curiosity during a wardrobe change.


    ��Of course, I designed them myself,�� Cheng Zhu replied, organizing the photos he had just taken.


    ��Ah? You designed them yourself?��


    ��Or what?�� Reborn said, flaunting his skills.


    ...


    I could tell you I��ve even seen a teaching video with a teacher wearing this sweater, and a video of a well-known overseas student modeling it?


    This style was a hit across various industries and even countries.


    After all the work was done, Ye Zi asked for a reward and then changed into her bartender uniform.


    Who would��ve guessed that the beautiful bartender mixing drinks, under the uniform, had a pair of buttocks that were spanked red?


    Cheng Zhu felt helpless about this.


    ��My hands, the hands of a Reborn, are for slapping faces,��


    ��Not butts.��


    Now at 7:30 pm, Cheng Zhu was starving. After leaving the hotel, he just found a roadside stall to eat.


    Ye Zi, as usual, hardly ate dinner to maintain her figure, but she still kept Cheng Zhu company.


    In fact, Cheng Zhu was not someone who needed company to dine; he enjoyed his meals just as much alone. So, it was purely Ye Zi wanting to spend more time with him.


    At the moment, Cheng Zhu was enjoying a clay pot rice.


    Looking at him, Ye Zi asked, ��Boss, did you date anyone in college?��


    ��Nope, school just started a few days ago, and I��ve just finished the military training,�� Cheng Zhu replied without looking up.


    ��But I figured if you wanted to date, a few days would have been enough to date several people at once,�� she looked at Cheng Zhu.


    ��Thanks for your high regard,�� he continued eating heartily.


    The two of them were pretty open with each other.


    In front of him, Ye Zi never pretended to be an untainted night-club girl, nor hid her unique qualities.


    Likewise, Cheng Zhu didn��t play the role of a nai?ve college student in front of her; he was clearly a little mischievous.


    Ye Zi seemed to want to say something but glanced at her bartender uniform and softly said, ��Boss, if you get a girlfriend, give me a heads up.��


    ��Hmm? What��s up?�� Cheng Zhu put down his chopsticks and looked up at her.


    ��If you have a girlfriend, I definitely won��t be taking the initiative to message you on WeChat anymore. If you don��t contact me, I won��t contact you. If I have anything to say or share, I��ll just make it a ��visible to you only�� moment on WeChat,�� Ye Zi said, lowering her eyelids.


    Realistically speaking, if a man was really in a relationship, his model for work, especially a QQ model, frequently chatting him up could lead to a chaotic situation if the girlfriend finds out.


    But Cheng Zhu and Ye Zi were indeed just business partners, not partners in any other sense.


    It��s clear; they just had a little... butt issue between them?


    So, Ye Zi��s words were actually making a statement, indicating that she was aware of her place, aware of how to act in the future to maintain their long-term business or collaboration.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t say much, just noncommittally responded, ��Got it.��


    ...


    ...


    After returning home, Cheng Zhu started editing photos.


    Midway through, he received a photo in the group chat of dorm 309 from Dong Dong.


    These three mischievous musketeers actually went to West Lake and took a group photo.


    After the photo was taken, they added Cheng Zhu��s name to the edge of the photo and uploaded it to the group, tagging Cheng Zhu, ��This is our first big group photo of dorm 309!��


    ��You little rascal, always so sarcastic,�� Cheng Zhu typed.


    But in 2014, the sarcastic trend wasn��t popular, and the first thought of ��sarcastic�� people was of someone androgynous.


    This prompted Dong Dong to explode in the group chat: ��Cheng, I am the dorm leader, kindly included your name, and you call me effeminate in the photo!��


    Cheng Zhu: ��???��


    ��You think having pecs and abs is impressive? The three of us are going to the gym near school tomorrow to get memberships!�� Mr. Dong was furious.


    Liu Feng: ��No money.��


    Zheng Qingfeng: ��Not joining.��


    Cheng Zhu was puzzled; weren��t the three of them together? Sitting together but still texting in the group?


    Little Dong, Little Dong, can��t you see who��s the boss of dorm 309?


    However, Dong Dong had one good point: his temper was quick to rise but also quick to dissipate.


    But perhaps that��s why he was constantly shown up by Cheng Zhu and never learned his lesson.


    ��Cheng, what have you been up to all day?�� he curiously asked in the group chat.


    ��Woke up in the morning, watched cartoons with my sister, spent the afternoon at the hotel photographing a model,�� Cheng Zhu was quite frank.


    ��Male or female model?�� Dong Dong got excited.


    ��Guess.��


    After leaving that comment, regardless of what Dong Dong said in the group, Cheng Zhu ignored him.


    He continued editing photos, starting with the main images for each product.


    After that, he started contacting the artist Hu Yan.


    ��Are you asleep?�� Cheng Zhu directly asked.


    It was only 11 pm, and he was confident Hu Yan wasn��t asleep.


    Sure enough, she replied instantly: ��Boss, no sleep, no sleep! If it��s about getting a new commission, I can stay up all night.��


    Sugar Daddy, I��m still so young, how can I sleep!


    Cheng Zhu directly sent over the buyer��s show photos: ��Draw these.��


    ��Wow! Boss, is your store changing styles?�� Hu Yan was surprised.


    Previously, the buyer��s show photos she received were rather seductive��she��d blush just looking at them, then her old pervert index skyrocketed, resulting in a burst of inspiration!


    Being naughty is too much my forte, haha, hahaha!


    Now, these photos, whether in terms of makeup, expression, or aura, emitted a pure vibe.


    The clothes, meanwhile, had moved from scant to cleverly designed for each piece.


    Not to mention the gray backless sweater, that was Cheng Zhu��s trump product.


    Hu Yan, viewing now, was looking at a nun��s outfit.


    Her inspiration suddenly exploded once again, she even wanted to add four words after drawing the image: ��Come for confession!��


    ��Boss must be quite the pervert to think of making a nun��s outfit,�� Hu Yan increasingly believed her Sugar Daddy was a kindred spirit.


    She pushed up her large black-framed glasses, looked at the buyer��s show on her tablet, and nodded vehemently: ��Definitely right!��


    ��I really like this nun outfit too, it��s just a shame I don��t have anyone to enjoy it with,�� she even felt an urge to buy.


    In a rented room, Hu Yan walked to a full-length mirror in her pajamas.


    Holding the tablet in one hand and with her other hand on her hip, she posed in the mirror, then compared herself to the buyer��s show.


    She was slightly plump, with a bit of a sensual body, and the design of the nun outfit was quite loose in many areas.


    ��I definitely won��t look as outrageous as this sister when wearing it, but it should still look pretty good.��


    ��Yeah, definitely still going to be a bit sexy! For sure!��


    ��I��ll go buy one to keep,�� she decided in her heart: ��And reward myself with a painting!��


    As everyone knows, some artists, lacking suitable models, choose... to draw themselves.


    She walked to a chair but didn��t sit down; instead, she... squatted on it.


    Some people just have peculiar sitting positions, and Hu Yan found squatting more comfortable for viewing images.


    She continued scrolling, and her gaze was immediately attracted by a pure-looking white knit top.


    It appeared to be a plain white knit top, but it was cropped, revealing the waist.


    Besides, there was white lace at the neckline, adding a touch of design and making the top look even purer.


    But the pants... well, aren��t these just three strands of pearls plus a small strip of lace fabric?


    ��Is this lace leftover from making the top?��


    ��The amount of material used is even less than my eye mask.��


    ��But the pearls are quite clever, how did he think to remove all the fabric here and replace it with a small string of pearls?��


    ��It might be a bit tight though. But it doesn��t matter, it��s not worn for long, just a brief time.��


    ��This Sugar Daddy really is a genius.��


    ��If he weren��t in this line of work, it would indeed be a waste of God-given talent.��


    If Cheng Zhu knew she had elevated him to a genius with innate talent, he��d probably feel a bit speechless.


    �� Really, it��s not that serious.

 Chapter 95: 86: The Counselor in the Night

    Chapter 95: Chapter 86: The Counselor in the Night


    On Sunday, Cheng Zhu continued editing photos in the morning and visited his Persistent Visit studio in the afternoon.


    He had already been paid at the beginning of the month.


    It��s often said the day a company pays its employees can reflect its financial stability.


    Getting paid at the beginning of the month means the company is impressive, before the tenth is somewhat impressive, around the fifteenth means it��s just average.


    Of course, there are also lousy companies that delay salary payments.


    After a surge in orders, the customer service staff had been busy as dogs, so Cheng Zhu had promised everyone bonuses, which he indeed delivered.


    ...


    Upon arriving at the office, Cheng Zhu listened to the keystrokes inside and found them rather pleasant.


    Money isn��t a big deal; the main thing is that with every item sold, I help a couple.


    I��m just making a tiny bit of money while fulfilling my social responsibilities.


    When the boss entered the office area, the overall atmosphere instantly changed.


    It��s hard to imagine, given that the boss is younger than everybody else, even much younger, but he still manages to be imposing.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at the fortune tree he had been growing, surprisingly, it was thriving.


    ��Has someone been taking care of it?�� he asked.


    Wang Haitao, who had recently been promoted to assistant team leader of customer service, quickly said, ��Mr. Cheng, I tend to all the office plants every day before leaving work.��


    ��Here we go again! The dirty wars of the adult office!


    Wang Haitao did not say that he specifically tended to the fortune tree but that he took care of all the office plants.


    At that time, Cheng Zhu really did buy six pots of plants thinking it would improve the air and bring more vitality to the work environment.


    He didn��t know much about plants and only learned from Wang Anquan that these were difficult to maintain; his mother had killed similar ones.


    Now, he looked around and each plant seemed well-cared for.


    By tending all the plants, Wang Haitao not only showed his responsibility but also managed to earn some credit without seeming too obsequious.


    Of course, what he actually cared about was the boss��s fortune tree!


    ��Well done, I didn��t know you knew about this stuff,�� Cheng Zhu nodded slightly, half-jokingly, half-seriously, he added, ��When I buy a big villa in the future, I��ll let you manage the garden.��


    ��I work fast and will manage it quickly without wasting time. But Mr. Cheng, you��re definitely going to buy a villa with a large garden in the future, and I haven��t managed a large garden yet,�� Wang Haitao immediately responded, quite eager to try.


    Cheng Zhu looked at him, surprised at how quickly the young man was progressing, still a bit clumsy with his flattery, but slightly better than before, not secretly signing up for those deceptive online EQ courses, was he?


    Yet, Cheng Zhu found him quite interesting and planned to keep a closer eye on him in the future.


    When Cheng Zhu stepped out for a smoke, he invited Wang Anquan as well.


    ��You come here more often than I do; have you noticed Wang Haitao taking care of the plants?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    ��No, when I come, it��s always during working hours; he probably does it after work,�� Wang Anquan answered.


    ��Did he ever mention it in front of you?�� Cheng Zhu inquired again.


    ��No,�� Wang Anquan recalled and confirmed.


    ��Okay, got it.��


    ...


    ...


    At night, Cheng Zhu went to Yunlai Restaurant for dinner and then planned to return to Technology University.


    On his way back, Dong Dong was messaging him in the group chat.


    ��Come back quick, Mr. Chen is checking dorms!�� urged Dong Dong, the dorm team captain.


    ��Why don��t you go back and keep studying high school?�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    Dong Dong: ��???��


    It��s only eight o��clock, brother. If the counselor comes to the dorm, let him come. What��s it to me if I��m not there?


    Sometimes, when counselors are bored, they roam around the dorms, but it doesn��t matter whether I��m there.


    Moreover, military training just ended, and regular classes are starting; it��s normal for the counselor to visit.


    You��re so worked up, it��s not like you��re just in your underwear in the dorm, right?


    Cheng Zhu slowly made his way back to school, stopping at the fruit shop at the school gate to buy some fruit.


    As the dorm��s richest resident, he hadn��t yet treated everyone to a meal, though he had mooched a meal of crayfish from Mr. Dong.


    Unexpectedly, on his way back to the dorm, Dong Dong messaged him again to hurry.


    ��Cheng, where are you? Mr. Chen is waiting for you downstairs at the male dorm.��


    Cheng Zhu: ��???��


    No way, this slightly intellectual-looking female counselor with glasses really came specifically for me?


    He walked leisurely along the campus avenue, with no intention of speeding up.


    Because he always felt it wasn��t going to be good news.


    Walking along, enjoying the campus night air, Cheng Zhu suddenly thought, ��She might actually make a good QQ model.��


    That intellectual charm, those wire-rim glasses, and that faintly stern expression, tsk tsk.


    But he quickly shook his head, feeling that he had been too immersed in work these past days; damn, not everyone should be considered for a QQ model.


    When Cheng Zhu reached the dormitory, he looked up from afar and saw a number of guys on the balcony sneakily watching Chen Jieyu standing under the streetlight.


    Her urban sophisticated charm, something college girls lacked, was uniquely appealing to many young men of their age.


    Dong Dong, that sly dog, was secretly watching from the shadows. Seeing Cheng Zhu leisurely approaching, he waved impatiently at him, signaling him not to keep Mr. Chen waiting!


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t be bothered with him, dragging the expensive suitcase Jiang Wanzhou had given him for his birthday the previous year at his usual pace.


    Chen Jieyu was wearing a white silk blouse and a knee-length black pencil skirt that day, from which the outline of her full hips could be seen from the side.


    Beneath her skirt, she wore stockings and a pair of black shoes with about 3cm heels.


    Overall, she sported a mild office lady style.


    At that moment, Chen Jieyu also caught a glimpse of Cheng Zhu and slightly turned, looking towards him.


    ��Mr. Chen,�� greeted Cheng Zhu.


    She nodded slightly and took a few steps towards the middle of the road, clearly intending to strike up a conversation.


    Chen Jieyu glanced at the suitcase Cheng Zhu was dragging and thought to herself, ��A Rimowa suitcase, his family must be well-off.��


    In her view, if a guy��s family was just okay, he might spend money on clothes and shoes but would never spend so much on a suitcase.


    At that moment, a gust of night wind blew past, causing her silk blouse to cling to her body immediately, accentuating her physical contours.


    Chen Jieyu tidied her slightly messy deep brown hair but heard Cheng Zhu remark, ��Did you change your hair color, Mr. Chen?��


    She was momentarily taken aback but nodded, swiftly lowering her hand that was tidying her hair and clearing her throat.


    ��I came to talk to you about running for class committee,�� she looked at Cheng Zhu, said, ��I wanted to ask you if you were interested in running for any position.��


    She had previously hinted at this when she messaged Cheng Zhu about taking the role of temporary leader during military training.


    This was her way of telling him that there was a spot available for him in the committee.


    Cheng Zhu directly said, ��No, I��m not interested in running for the class committee.��


    ��Why?�� Chen Jieyu looked at him puzzled.


    She thought that some students were afraid to be committee members because they felt they couldn��t handle the responsibility, were unwilling to stand out, or feared social interactions.


    But the young man before her obviously wasn��t like that, as he communicated with her very naturally.


    And his reaction to their classmate, Li Xianqiang, was still fresh in her memory.


    This guy could suppress others, but no other student could suppress him.


    She quite straightforwardly added, ��Being a university committee member is different from middle and high school; there are quite a few hidden benefits, and it can also develop a person��s skills, which helps when entering society.��


    ��Because I��m not interested, and I don��t have the time,�� Cheng Zhu replied bluntly.


    ��You��re busy?�� Chen Jieyu frowned.


    ��Yes, I plan to open a shop off-campus, so I might be very busy soon. I definitely won��t be able to take on a committee role, and I think Mr. Chen, you were hoping I would be the class president,�� he rested his hand on the handle of his suitcase and looked straight at the woman before him.


    ��Class president? That wasn��t my intention,�� she replied directly.


    Nice, nice! Now I know why you��re not exactly popular among the faculty either, you speak too bluntly, and it��s all written all over your face.


    ��Cheng Zhu cringed for 0.1 seconds.


    Chen Jieyu continued to persuade, ��I still hope you will reconsider. The semester has just started; there��s no need to rush in opening a shop off-campus, and Technology University also supports student entrepreneurship.��


    Cheng Zhu nodded, ��Oh, I��ll apply for that later.��


    What? You��re planning to open more than just a shop near the campus gate, right?


    Chen Jieyu looked up at the young man who was half a head taller than her and continued, ��Besides, you��re studying computer science. In this information age, both the school and the local and provincial governments value online ventures by university students...��


    ��Oh, the money I��m using to open the shop is what I made online during the summer,��[Cheng, the suspected wealthy freshman, Zhu]stated indifferently.


    Under the streetlight, Chen Jieyu: ��Hmm?��


    ...


    (ps: Third release, seeking monthly votes at the end of the month!)

 Chapter 96: 87: Pure Desire Style

    Chapter 96: Chapter 87: Pure Desire Style


    Chen Jieyu came from a place that was both small and poor.


    The first time she arrived in Hang City, she swore she would stay here and break free from her complicated and painful original family.


    Everything about her was indeed carefully crafted by herself, whether it was her exquisite attire or that petty bourgeois lifestyle. The visible composure was nothing more than a disguise for the sensitivity and inferiority deep inside her heart. It was also a cover for her ambition and urgency to blend into the big city and escape her past social class.


    The freshman before her, though, was completely different.


    He was really good at putting on a show, and he did it quite blatantly.


    Don��t bother persuading me, teacher. My main selling point is being impervious to persuasion, and in my spare time, I still manage to act pretentious.


    ...


    What are the hidden benefits of being a class committee? It��s just some honor and a little... cash?


    Can you see it? I really do have some filthy money!


    College is actually just a microcosm of society. Some people just bury their heads in their books, while others just let themselves go, fixated on fun and self-indulgence.


    Some people have truly understood how to use the collegiate network and the plethora of resources to realize their dreams and aspirations.


    Internet entrepreneurship is important, not just to Technology University, but to the entirety of Zhejiang Province.


    And don��t forget, some internet giant companies are right here in Hang City.


    In fact, many of the entrepreneurial projects for college students were initially guided by instructors like counselors.


    Among school staff, counselors really don��t hold high positions.


    But for many students, counselors are indeed an important initial connection.


    But are you talking to me about future opportunities in online business?


    The future? What future? Sorry, but I already struck gold during the summer break.


    You��re playing right into my hands by bringing this up.


    Not bad, Mr. Chen, you seem to have a bit of Dong Dong��s potential!


    Under the dim glow of the street lights, Chen Jieyu, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looked up slightly at Cheng Zhu.


    ��Having a wealthy family background does indeed give you a different starting line compared to other students,�� she said.


    ��If that��s the case, I won��t try to persuade you further. I hope you can manage your time well in the future and remember your primary duty as a student. Try to cooperate with the class committee��s work on a day-to-day basis.��


    Cheng Zhu looked at her face and thought, ��How did we get on the topic of having a good family background and winning at the starting line?��


    But thinking about it, that does make sense as most people think this way, especially since he��s just a freshman. Nowadays, there aren��t that many who start from scratch.


    He had won money from the World Cup finals, which allowed him to be more at ease.


    How many noble sons of the poor were there, really?


    But then again, when you talk about cooperating with the class committee, it depends on what kind of class committee member and how that person works.


    If you��re going to be overbearing, then don��t blame me for turning a cold shoulder.


    Cheng Zhu nodded slightly, then somewhat unexpectedly said, ��Mr. Chen, actually, Liu Feng from dorm 309 would be a good choice for the class committee.��


    ��Hmm?�� Chen Jieyu pursed her lips and furrowed her brows slightly.


    I came to you offering a chance to compete for a position, you refused, and now you��re recommending someone else?


    Should I give you a form to fill out a list of candidates?


    Forget it��Chen Jieyu somewhat sensed that this freshman would really dare to fill it out.


    Cheng Zhu pointed toward the male dormitory building and said, ��Then Mr. Chen, shall I head upstairs?��


    ��When my off-campus store opens, I��ll invite you to visit,�� he said casually.


    Chen Jieyu, who carried a bit of a serious air, nodded her head, finding it a bit hard to continue the conversation with this student.


    On her way from the male dormitory, she started to recall her impression of Liu Feng.


    Honestly, she had almost... no impression.


    Liu Feng faded into the background among the students in Computer Science Class 2.


    Not like Cheng Zhu��it wasn��t even a question of being noticeable.


    The only significant memory the counselor had about Liu Feng was when Li Xianqiang, during military training, insisted on having Cheng Zhu go to the supermarket to carry water as grunt work. It ended up being Liu Feng who saw her coming to investigate, stood up to defuse the situation, and offered to carry water claiming he planned to buy some things at the supermarket anyway.


    Chen Jieyu had no further impression beyond that.


    She just knew they were dorm mates in room 309.


    ��I��m actually seriously considering this?�� Chen Jieyu frowned again and shook her head slightly.


    Why am I even thinking about this?


    Is it because in my heart, I don��t see Li Xianqiang as a good candidate for the class president?


    There was this girl named Chen Tingting whom she wanted to be the League Secretary.


    Putting her in Computer Science Class 2, she could be called the class belle, though chosen from among 11 girls...


    And she had shown interest by previously running for the temporary leader during military training.


    Moreover, when tasks are led by girls, especially pretty ones, boys tend to be more cooperative.


    All the more in the Information College, famously known for the scarcity of females amidst a surplus of males.


    As for Liu Feng, since Cheng Zhu recommended him, he would certainly cooperate with him in the future. From Liu Feng��s proactive water-carrying, you could infer something about him indirectly as well.


    Of course, if you wanted to interpret it strictly as brotherly loyalty among men, you could do that too.


    ��I keep thinking about Cheng Zhu? He really stands out in the class, but he��s just a student.��


    But for a counselor, saving effort is important too, hoping to avoid unnecessary trouble and not getting bothered by every little student issue��those can be really annoying.


    In the night of the campus, this famous and beautiful counselor from the Information College walked away into the distance.


    ...


    ...


    In dorm 309, Cheng Zhu took out the fruit he had bought from the fruit store from his suitcase.


    ��Everyone, feel free to eat. Just help yourselves,�� he said as he placed it on the table.


    ��Wow, even cherries? You��re something, Cheng,�� Dong Dong immediately helped himself without washing them.


    The three rascals in the dorm, drawn like dogs to a scent, gathered around and asked, ��What did the hot counselor want with you?��


    ��Oh, she wanted me to be the class president,�� Cheng Zhu shamelessly replied.


    She must��ve meant the opposite! Ah, women!


    ��Ah? Then you should take it! I��ve been annoyed with that Li Xianqiang for a long time, such a poser, always acting up!�� Dong Dong immediately voiced his support: ��I get 6,000 a month for living expenses, and I��m not as showy as him!��


    Liu Feng and Zheng Qingfeng nodded in unison. Everyone in dorm 309 stood as one��they all thought Li Xianqiang was an idiot, always barking like a dog.


    Cheng Zhu waved his hands and said, ��Where do I have the time to be class president? I��m swamped to death. I��d rather spend the time benefiting the female college students in our school.��


    Before Dong Dong could rib him for it, Cheng Zhu quickly changed the topic to Liu Feng, ��But I recommended you to her.��


    ��Ah? Me?�� Liu Feng pointed to himself, looking utterly bewildered and his face even began to show signs of panic.


    ��Weren��t you the one who said you had some ideas when you ran for the military training leader?�� Cheng Zhu raised an eyebrow.


    ��Ah, no, I...��


    ��You do!��


    ��No, actually...��


    ��Yes, you do!��


    Seeing his unassertive demeanor, Cheng Zhu grinned, nudged him with his shoulder, and said, ��Class President Liu Feng.��


    Dong Dong caught on fast, immediately mocking him in a mischievous tone, ��Class President Liu Feng.��


    Zheng Qingfeng, cool as ever, chimed in, ��President.��


    In the chanting of the word ��President,�� Liu Feng actually started feeling a bit smug; the tension on his face couldn��t hold back a rising smile.


    ��You��re such a sleazy smiler!�� Dong Dong couldn��t stand it immediately.


    To Cheng Zhu, Liu Feng was someone who could handle matters, sometimes quite flexibly and with good comprehension.


    He was only average in overall terms, lacked self-confidence, and needed to be put through the paces.


    This kind of person could use a push��be kicked into the fray to scratch and scramble on their own.


    Chen Jieyu seemed interested in preliminarily appointing a temporary class committee.


    After a while, when everyone got to know each other better, official elections would take place.


    He wasn��t sure if his off-the-cuff remark would be of any use.


    But talk isn��t costly; who cares?


    He was not going to be like Zheng Qingfeng, who acted as if he would be charged for speaking.


    After a while, Dong Dong finally realized and exclaimed loudly, ��Ah! Cheng! Why did you only recommend Liu Feng for the committee to Mr. Chen? You don��t think I��m fit?��


    Cheng Zhu really wanted to joke with him about an old keysmith��s pun, asking how many keys does he ��fit��!


    ...


    ...


    The night deepened, and Cheng Zhu lay in his dorm bed, continuing to Photoshop pictures for the sellers while his roommates were none the wiser.


    After a while, he received a colorless draft from Hu Yan.


    ��Tsk, not bad at all.�� Cheng Zhu heaped praise upon her: ��You��ve captured the essence of purity.��


    ��The next few models, do them this way,�� he instructed.


    ��Got it, boss!�� Hu Yan was quite enthused.


    For her, the chance to draw a variety of sensual images, trying out new styles each time, made her job quite immersive!


    She felt that she was profiting both materially and spiritually from her patron Daddy and was polishing her skills while satisfying numerous saucy desires.


    ��Ah, so satisfying working for him!��


    Hu Yan felt utterly corrupted, inside and out, fearing she might scare off future boyfriends.


    But no matter, where else could one find a job that fulfills both material and spiritual needs?


    As an artist, she knew that finding resonance with a patron Daddy was extremely rare.


    Ironically, despite having depraved and sultry deep dialogues many times, she didn��t even know her patron��s full name. She quietly changed Cheng Zhu��s WeChat note to ��Soulmate.��


    But to maintain a semblance of decorum and allegiance to money, she followed up the English word with ��Boss,�� reducing any ambiguity.


    Well, it could also be considered a saucy mate.


    Since Hu Yan was known as this on Weibo, and her WeChat handle was a series of unfathomable letters and numbers like an adult movie license plate, Cheng Zhu��s note for her was much simpler: Doujinshi Artist.


    Time flew by, moving three days ahead.


    He had already finished Photoshopping all the seller��s showcase images, and Hu Yan had drawn out all the main images.


    With two days left before the planned launch date, Cheng Zhu wasn��t in a hurry.


    He had said before, he didn��t want to simply popularize product terms like ��step-mom skirt�� this time.


    He wanted to trigger a new trend.


    Obviously, what he was about to introduce was none other than the infamous�� ��Pure Desire Style��!


    For this new batch, he would insert the term in every single item, ensuring the seller��s showcase, main image, and comics would all prominently feature these three words.


    The popularity of this style online went without saying.


    Because these three words in themselves were quite interesting.


    ��Purity�� and ��desire�� carried a built-in contrast, yet somehow they could blend together.


    He wanted this style to break away from the niches and gain widespread popularity, making these three words go viral online!


    Making money from e-commerce was minor��the profit was only a small aspect. More importantly, it was advantageous for his later plans.


    ��Let me introduce myself, my name is Cheng Zhu, or you can call me... the Grandmaster of Pure Desire Style!��

 Chapter 97: 88 Both Good-looking and Comfortable

    Chapter 97: Chapter 88 Both Good-looking and Comfortable


    ��Pure Desire Style�� has actually always existed.


    It��s just that it was only later that this new term to describe this style emerged and quickly became popular across the entire network.


    When people talk about this style, many people will spontaneously think of some representative figures.


    Among them, there are no shortage of celebrities and internet sensations.


    Going back a bit, there were those considered pure desire goddesses many years ago, like Xu Ruoxuan who shot a trilogy, and Li Lizhen who had a similarly innocent face.


    More recently, many celebrities in the entertainment industry have posted photos on social media that lean towards this style.


    ...


    Not just domestically, to be precise��when looking at Japan and Korea, and even Europe and America, there are representative figures of this style.


    If even celebrities are like this, not to mention internet stars.


    Many internet celebrities have marketed themselves as the ��ceiling of pure desire.��


    The so-called pure desire style is easy to understand from its name��it��s pure plus desire.


    It has become increasingly popular because of changes in social attitudes.


    In the past, it was mostly about being incredibly pure.


    Though innocent-looking girls have always been popular, there is also competition within the same type.


    The pure desire style allows you to stand out within the category of innocence.


    Actually, it��s just a kind of contrast.


    Playing the pure desire style well requires a lot of cunning; sometimes, it even ties into tea art.


    This is reflected in clothing choices and poses or the ambiance in photos.


    Many guys actually really go for this pure desire thing, even developing the mentality of ��always wanting something to happen but afraid to ruin the other side.��


    It��s kind of like the movie ��Lolita.��


    How women view the pure desire style, let��s not get into that right now.


    For some men, innocent girls are forever endearing.


    They can further arouse a man��s possessiveness and protectiveness, making him find her beautiful, well-behaved, natural, clean, healing, refreshing...


    They might even think the girl looks soft and smells sweet.


    And pure desire also carries a [teasing attribute].


    Many guys like having a girlfriend like that: when you take her out, she acts one way; when you��re in private, she��s another.


    You can get a sense of vanity from outsiders as well as a feeling of personal satisfaction.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu was very aware that the pure desire style in his store, due to the peculiar nature of QQ products, was more about desire than purity.


    Once this trend swept beyond the QQ circle later on, it would likely not be in this form.


    That meant his store actually represented an extreme state of this style.


    Take a gray backless sweater, for example��from the front, you can��t find any fault.


    From the back, do you even have time to find fault?


    Cheng Zhu believed that in this issue��s new products, the old pervs definitely wouldn��t be able to resist; they were completely unstoppable.


    ��In my view, the feel that a QQ seller��s show of this style ought to convey is actually very simple,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    ��It��s just...��


    ��Brother, it looks super cute and super comfortable on me.��


    ...


    ...


    ��Persistent Visit����s new product launch is already counting down.


    Earlier, when his store gradually started becoming internet-famous, Cheng Zhu immediately opened a Weibo account for it.


    And really, the follower count grew quite fast.


    Indeed, old pervs are the primary productive force.


    During these days, whether it��s the store��s official Weibo, the fan group, or on-site, new product teasers have already been announced.


    Over at Guan Yun, the factory is also frantically stocking up; Chen Bin is busier than Cheng Zhu every day, his wife even said, ��The sides of your head are getting more white hairs by the day.��


    Middle-aged Ah Bin, of course, didn��t care��how much does it cost to dye hair?


    During this period, the factory��s earnings almost caught up with last year��s total!


    Chen Bin was also feeling a strong sense of crisis.


    Don��t forget, Guan Yun County was later known by a very domineering name: the Capital of World Fun.


    Here, the QQ underwear factories can be said to be clustered together.


    Although it��s only 2014, this trend is already apparent.


    At the same time, Guan Yun County��s government also places great importance on this industry.


    After all, for economically powerful Guan brothers, Guan Yun is famously the dragging one.


    The rapid development of the QQ industry is sure to get official support from the government next.


    Chen Bin was not foolish; he understood that if he could grow the business big and strong in the next two years, the future would only bring more benefits!


    ��I definitely need to hold fast to Boss Cheng��s coattails to have a chance to become the leading figure of our Guan Yun��s QQ industry,�� thought Chen Bin.


    Speaking of which, during one phone call, Cheng Zhu told him that when he first came to Guan Yun, he visited several factories, connected with many manufacturers, and even got the cold shoulder.


    ��Who knows, will these bosses regret not grabbing onto my coattails until they��re red?�� he thought.


    Elsewhere, Cheng Zhu, after class, took the people from Dorm 309 to that sushi restaurant outside the school.


    According to the contract with Shen Qingning, they were up for renewal tomorrow.


    But some people drag their feet after their contracts are up, stubbornly clinging on for a few more days, thinking staying longer is gaining more.


    Luckily, this sushi place is particularly bad for business; one more day open is one more day of losses.


    Cheng Zhu also didn��t understand the owner��s thinking��placing the shop outside the school but not making the prices student-friendly, insisting on taking a mid-to-high-end route.


    Does he really think, like online, that every young person has a large sum of money in their pocket?

 Chapter 98: 88 Both Good-looking and Comfortable_2

    Chapter 98: Chapter 88 Both Good-looking and Comfortable_2


    ��`


    On the internet, making tens of thousands a month only qualifies you as low-income.


    Back in ��14, there were still plenty of students whose monthly living expenses were in the triple digits.


    This place just doesn��t have that many high-end consumers.


    Cheng Zhu was just bringing his three roommates here for a meal, to get familiar with the owner and support the shop for a bit of good karma.


    Once the contract is up, you guys better pack up and leave quickly, don��t hold things up.


    ...


    At the same time, he wanted these three roommates to help him out with some work after the meal today.


    ��Cheng, have you already ordered the claw machines and plush toys?�� Dong Dong had heard Cheng Zhu making calls to manufacturers in the dorm these past few days.


    ��Yeah,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    He was an entrepreneur in Wu City in his past life, and Wu City is known for its small commodities market with quite a few plush toy manufacturers.


    Some of them were people he knew in his past life.


    Although he might not have close contacts with them this time around, remote collaboration was still possible.


    He had chosen a store called Shangrong Workshop, whose owner later became the president of the Wu City Toy Association.


    The quality of their plush toys was pretty good.


    Dong Dong was puzzled: ��Cheng, why order the dolls and machines so quickly? Don��t you have to spiff up the place after they move out?��


    ��What��s there to spiff up? Need to keep costs down,�� Cheng Zhu looked at him. ��The claw machines are flashy enough as it is. Line them up inside, and it won��t look bad visually.��


    He casually pointed around the room and continued, ��These areas, we��ll knock ��em down, repaint the walls, and for decorative parts, just install some LED lights, maybe add some neon signs for embellishments with patterns. That��ll be enough.��


    Like the neon signs with text or patterns that would still be in vogue in the years to come.


    Seen in ��14, it was considered pretty trendy.


    ��Why does it sound so slapdash to me?�� Dong Dong looked around. ��Feels like you��re not really putting much effort into the shop.��


    ��That��s because you��re only on this floor, while I��m already at the top. The ideas you rack your brains for might not be as good as what I can whip up,�� Cheng Zhu spread his hands.


    ��Cheng, when it comes to talking big, I truly admire you.�� Dong Dong thought his greatest skill was that airy tone and his indifferent expression, impossible to imitate.


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu was on his phone, scrolling through Persistent Visit��s official Weibo account with his personal Weibo account.


    Dong Dong had a habit of peeking at others�� phones, and as soon as he saw Cheng Zhu scrolling through this kind of Weibo, he blurted out: ��Holy shit!��


    This startled Liu Feng and Zheng Qingfeng, who didn��t understand why Mr. Dong was making such a fuss.


    Was Cheng bothering him again?


    ��Someone needs to keep an eye on Cheng! He dares to look at those things in public!�� Dong Dong pointed at Cheng Zhu��s phone, shocked at his audacity.


    ��Damn, I wonder if there were privacy screen protectors for phones back in ��14?�� Cheng Zhu cursed inwardly.


    In fact, Cheng Zhu scrolling through the shop��s official Weibo with his personal account was purely to lead the conversation with his burner accounts.


    What you think the commercial warfare is: various business promotions on Weibo, burning money on advertising, plotting behind the scenes, and competing online with rivals.


    The reality of commercial warfare: the boss himself creating burner accounts to comment��wow, your clothes are so sexy! They��re better than others, really want to buy!


    Yep, he even had a female persona for commenting in a female voice.


    Of course, if it came to dealing with haters, he��d go toe-to-toe with them! Rip them a new one!


    At this moment, as the QQ tycoon, Cheng Zhu sneered inwardly at Dong Dong: ��Just looking gets you this agitated, what if you knew I owned this place? You��d probably make a scene. Ignorant fool!��


    Cheng Zhu looked at his three roommates, suddenly curious, and asked, ��Have you guys heard of this place?��


    Dong Dong and Liu Feng shook their heads in unison.


    Only Zheng Qingfeng glanced at the words ��Persistent Visit�� and nodded slightly, indicating he knew about this trending shop and had seen its jokes online.


    ��Damn, Zheng, you always lay low, but you��re into this stuff too!�� Dong Dong scolded loudly, then opened his own Weibo and fiercely followed Persistent Visit��s official account.


    He was convinced that during his four years of college, he��d definitely have the chance to stop by a few times.


    After the meal, the four left the sushi restaurant.


    As they stood up, they saw two people walking in.


    Dong Dong and the others looked at the girl and were immediately excited.


    ��Zhang Qiqi, the senior!��


    Cheng Zhu simply pretended not to notice.


    The newcomers were the internet-famous school flower Zhang Qiqi, and Xu Shao, whom she had hooked.


    Although not many regular students frequented this sushi place, these two were regulars and already on familiar terms with the owner.


    They became friends with the owner as some ingredients required advanced booking.


    Xu Shao saw the owner post on his circle of friends that it was the last day of business and specially invited Zhang Qiqi to have one last meal together.


    Thinking back, his first invitation to Zhang Qiqi for a meal was at this restaurant.


    ��It��s amazing how time flies. We went from strangers to almost lovers, but this place is closing down,�� Xu Shao mused melancholically.


    At that moment, he saw Cheng Zhu and his smile faded.


    Meanwhile, Zhang Qiqi��s eyes brightened, and her smile grew more radiant.


    ��`

 Chapter 99: 88 Both Good-looking and Comfortable_3

    Chapter 99: Chapter 88 Both Good-looking and Comfortable_3


    Just as she was about to greet him, Cheng Zhu had already brushed past her without so much as a sidelong glance, completely ignoring her.


    In his eyes, this ��Campus Belle�� Zhang was nothing but a tool, sometimes proving to be quite effective with Shen Qingning and Lin Lu.


    But he had no intention of befriending her privately, same old story, these web-celebrity types of women, even just reborn for a few months, still made him sick to his stomach.


    In contrast, Dong Dong and the others, upon seeing Zhang Qiqi looking their direction, broke into smiles that couldn��t be cheaper, calling out, ��Senior.��


    The sushi restaurant owner approached and greeted them, then followed Zhang Qiqi��s gaze outside, and curiously asked, ��Do you know each other?��


    ��No.��


    ...


    ��Sort of.��


    Two different voices rang out in the restaurant.


    Xu Shao glanced at Qiqi with a touch of surprise, but since she said ��sort of,�� he didn��t take it to heart.


    The sushi restaurant owner pointed to the young man who had left earlier and said, ��He looked a bit... um, like he was street-smart.��


    ��This place here, he rented the space behind,�� the owner explained.


    Luckily Cheng Zhu wasn��t there, otherwise he��d likely be fuming.


    Here I am spending money, and you��re calling me street-smart? Ever heard of ruffian chic?


    ��He rented the two shops?�� Upon hearing this, Zhang Qiqi��s interest in Cheng Zhu intensified.


    A freshman with the capability to rent shops outside of school definitely didn��t come from an ordinary family.


    Could it be that his family was even stronger than Xu Shao��s?


    She had always speculated that Cheng Zhu probably came from a well-off background, but who would��ve thought he was actually a second-generation rich kid!


    Zhang Qiqi was the sort of woman who would mentally rate men.


    Although some men also like to rate women, they generally only consider looks and figure. She was different, taking into account all sorts of comprehensive criteria.


    ��That��s a big plus,�� she thought to herself.


    Xu Shao, ever the gentleman, pulled out a chair for Zhang Qiqi, inviting her to sit, while casually asking the sushi restaurant owner, ��Do you know what kind of store he��s opening?��


    ��He says it��s going to be like a mini arcade? I was actually thinking of asking him if he wanted to buy any of these things second-hand, but he said he doesn��t need anything except the air conditioner,�� said the owner.


    Upon hearing ��mini arcade,�� Zhang Qiqi immediately said, ��Xu Shao, didn��t you invest tens of thousands in that arcade outside of school?��


    Xu Shao nodded and couldn��t help muttering with resentment, ��It wasn��t much money, but in the end, things got really awkward with Lu Yuan; the guy has a bad character.��


    Shen Qingning had mentioned to Cheng Zhu before that a small arcade outside of school had gone out of business, and the owner was this Lu Yuan Xu Shao was talking about.


    This person was somewhat of a social butterfly in school, not really having much money himself, but managed to pull in a number of friends and classmates to invest and set up the arcade.


    And it��s true, some college students�� money is so easy to swindle. When Lu Yuan opened the arcade, he actually didn��t spend as much money as he claimed, and the investment amounts he reported were inflated, quite significantly at that.


    Meaning, he was already making money from the investment other people put in.


    So, in the end, when the arcade was not managed well, he himself hardly lost any money.


    Eventually, the second-hand sale of the machines and the lease transfer of the shops resulted in quite an unpleasant situation among the group.


    Seeing that Zhang Qiqi was listening intently, Xu Shao boasted in an underhanded manner, ��When he opened that shop, I helped out with a lot of the connections. You know, there are pesky issues when starting a business. When you��re just getting started, different people will come to shake you down, and you have to deal with all sorts of departments.��


    ��Right,�� responded Zhang Qiqi, continuing her perfunctory engagement.


    Xu Shao got more animated, ��But it was not much money, I just invested fifty thousand in total, not a lot. At that time, I just casually put in some money when Lu Yuan came to me.��


    ��You know, the internet cafe? I opened outside school was doing well in the past few years, earning back that bit of money right away. It��s just that I found him disgusting,�� Xu Shao said.


    ��Well, just avoid dealing with him from now on,�� Zhang Qiqi continued her placating response.


    Xu Shao looked through the glass toward the direction where Cheng Zhu and his group had disappeared and said, ��This junior named Cheng Zhu is also not thinking straight, starting a business without even doing basic market research. If he had casually asked a few seniors or juniors, he would have known that the arcade outside of school had already failed.��


    He continued with a condescending tone, ��But that��s normal. Young people always act rashly.��


    ��By the way, Qiqi, don��t you dislike Miss Shen, and by extension, him too? I��ll take you here to see his downfall when the time comes.��


    ��I bet, in less than half a year, his shop is going to flop!��


    ...


    (ps: Second update, long chapter, seeking monthly votes at month end!)

 Chapter 100: 89: The Aroma of Tea

    Chapter 100: Chapter 89: The Aroma of Tea


    ��I��ll only keep this shop open for at most half a year,�� Cheng Zhu told everyone.


    ...


    At the moment, at a milk tea shop outside the school, Cheng Zhu was sitting with Shen Minglang and others.


    This cousin and Jiang Wanzhou had clamored to come check out the shop Cheng Zhu had rented, saying they wanted to offer him some advice. Tonight, the two of them had driven over together.


    Shen Qingning and Lin Lu were also called along, and they met at the milk tea shop at eight o��clock.


    As a result, once these two brothers sat down outside the milk tea shop, they didn��t feel like moving at all and had no intention of going to check out the sushi restaurant.


    ...


    ��I just glanced at it when I drove by,�� Shen Minglang said.


    ��Add one!�� Jiang Wanzhou nodded in agreement.


    And then, that was it.


    ��Wait, wasn��t it you who kept saying ��Three lousy deputies can match a Zhuge Liang�� on the way here?�� Cheng Zhu said, a bit annoyed.


    Shen Minglang and Jiang Wanzhou exchanged glances; they had glanced at the sushi place outside but indeed could not come up with any constructive advice.


    Familiar with Cheng Zhu, Little President Jiang sipped his milk tea and said, ��Well, even if we gave some suggestions, would you listen?��


    ��Heh, you know me, of course I wouldn��t,�� Cheng Zhu responded bluntly.


    Shen Qingning and Lin Lu were sipping their lightly sweetened milk tea on the side, listening to their bickering.


    When Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Minglang inquired about his future plans for the shop, Cheng Zhu didn��t hide anything from his friends and directly said he planned to keep the shop open for just a few months.


    ��What? Why?�� Lin Lu asked, puzzled.


    ��No reason, because this kind of shop is destined to make a quick buck,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    ��But you had me sign a lease agreement for a year,�� Shen Qingning looked at him, equally perplexed.


    Since you hadn��t planned on keeping the shop running indefinitely, we could have signed a monthly rental agreement. Why pay a year��s rent all at once?


    Cheng Zhu grinned and said, ��It��s simple, when I don��t want to continue, what if someone wants to take over?��


    ��Damn, you sneaky bastard!�� Shen Minglang couldn��t help but laugh and curse a bit.


    He knew there were some business owners who played these kinds of tricks.


    Some shops are destined to be popular only briefly.


    But some investors are deceived by this superficial burst of success.


    Whether it��s diluting their shares or selling the shop outright, there might really be someone willing to take over, maybe even people lining up to do so.


    The resale price often ends up being higher than the initial investment!


    It��s a pretty normal business phenomenon, not even necessarily a shady practice��it��s really just one person��s willingness to play against another��s.


    The typical ��buy high, sell low�� strategy isn��t so different.


    None of the people present had expected Cheng Zhu to have approached it this way from the start!


    However, the prerequisite for such a maneuver is that the shop must be extremely popular for a few months.


    In this regard, they all weren��t very optimistic.


    Shen Qingning and Lin Lu knew about a small arcade that had closed outside the school.


    Shen Minglang understood that making money from young people could sound easy but was actually very difficult.


    Jiang Wanzhou was even more knowledgeable��his family had once invested in a large arcade.


    Even a complete, diverse arcade like that is challenging to keep going, let alone a shop with just claw machines. It really didn��t seem promising.


    But Cheng Zhu was determined to proceed with his new project starting tomorrow, and it wasn��t the moment for everyone to speak discouragingly.


    They all just thought about possibly helping out when the time came.


    What they didn��t know was that Cheng Zhu had only shared half of the story; there were still many important reasons he would choose to sell the shop later.


    But there was no need to mention those now, as the shop hadn��t even opened yet.


    Meanwhile, Xu Shao and Zhang Qiqi left the upscale sushi restaurant at twenty past eight.


    Xu Shao had been chatting with the owner for quite a while; Zhang Qiqi had grown impatient early on, but had to keep a smile on her face.


    Stepping out of the restaurant, Xu Shao looked back and lamented, ��Qiqi, our first time eating out was here.��


    ��That��s right,�� Zhang Qiqi replied perfunctorily, though in her mind she thought, ��And then the restaurant will be gone; think about what you feel towards me then.��


    In her list, Xu Shao ranked in the top three.


    He might talk big and often got sentimental, trying to seem mature, but he really was generous and quick to fall head over heels, always dreaming about a bright future.


    The type that was easy to reel in.


    Xu Shao felt that the two of them had left many beautiful memories in that sushi restaurant.


    To Zhang Qiqi, though, it was just a place to take pictures to show off on social media.


    After all, for her university friends around her, posting about a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hang City might not impress them much. But this sushi restaurant outside the school was different; it was known within the school as one of the most expensive spots right at the gate.


    Seeing Xu Shao stand there lost in emotion for over a minute, Zhang Qiqi thought, ��Such a lot of nonsense from a grown man, all that pretension, really annoying!��


    Xu Shao didn��t want their evening to end just yet and suggested, ��How about we get a milk tea or a shaved ice? Of course, I mean in the mall.��


    ��I��d rather head back to the dorm for now, I still have stuff to write tonight,�� she told Xu Shao with a smile, ��Maybe just get a fruit juice from the store later.��


    ��Sure,�� Xu Shao agreed.


    As they approached the fruit juice shop, they could see Cheng Zhu and the others sitting across the street.


    Following her gaze, Xu Shao noticed Shen Qingning and Lin Lu��s features, and he felt a deep sense of amazement.


    It couldn��t be helped; both girls were naturally more attractive than Zhang Qiqi, and always stuck together, frequently seen out and about. Two such gorgeous girls together provided a visual sensation greater than the sum of its parts.


    As mentioned before, both ladies had enrolled when Xu Shao had already graduated, so this was his first time seeing them in person.


    Since Lin Lu and Shen Qingning appeared at the milk tea shop, there had been quite a lot of head-turning; the business at the shop even picked up a bit.


    Many passersby were curious about the three men at the same table: who were they?


    Looking over, the table looked like: goddess, goddess, dressed-up flirt, somewhat effeminate man, and... huh, this guy��s mom is kinda handsome, ha!


    People naturally ignored Shen Minglang and Jiang Wanzhou, feeling that these two stood no chance with the goddesses.


    Only the guy in the black T-shirt, who was chatting and laughing with them, was the target of envy.


    Damn, he really should be dead! It��s the gun ban that saved your life, you know? Otherwise, I��d have dealt with you by now!


    ��They��re pretty, right?�� Zhang Qiqi suddenly said.


    ��Cough!�� Xu Shao quickly averted his gaze, half-heartedly replying, ��You��re my ideal type, they��re not my style.��


    Honestly, if it had been earlier, seeing Shen Qingning and Lin Lu might really have turned his head.


    But how could it be the same now?


    Qiqi and I are just one step away!


    I��m about to succeed!


    At a time like this, to be swayed by external factors��wouldn��t that just be idiotic?


    Definitely got to secure the beauty within reach first!


    ��Let��s buy some milk teas to take back for my roommates; they love milk tea,�� Zhang Qiqi added a new rationale, ��We��ve been watching them so long, they must have noticed. It��d be awkward not to go over and say hello.��


    ��Uh, okay,�� Xu Shao nodded.


    Zhang Qiqi was the first to walk forward, moving so fast that Xu Shao, who hadn��t immediately reacted, fell behind by several steps, widening the distance between them.


    ��Hello, two juniors, we meet again,�� she greeted Shen Qingning and Lin Lu with a beaming smile.


    They really weren��t familiar, having only seen each other a few times; they hadn��t even added each other as friends, just acquaintances with whom they��d nod in passing.


    But many girls tend to do these superficial courtesies.


    After greeting Shen Qingning and Lin Lu, Zhang Qiqi immediately turned to Cheng Zhu, lifting a strand of her hair with a smile, ��Cheng Zhu, what a coincidence, meeting again.��


    Her eyes stayed on Cheng Zhu, tilting her face about fifteen degrees to the left with a smile that hit the right degree of warmth, giving off a slight sense of closeness.


    Back at the sushi restaurant, this guy had seemed quite aloof. Whether he really hadn��t seen her, or pretended not to see her, not bothering to chat with her, wasn��t clear.


    But it was certain; after that, some roommates who were with him had greeted her. He had stood outside the sushi shop waiting for his roommates without any intention of coming in to chat.


    The guy just stood there, far away, without moving.


    Generally speaking, under such circumstances, seeing each other privately like this, now with two other beautiful girls present, most men would try to appear even more indifferent to other women.


    Like Xu Shao, who despite being almost smitten by Shen Qingning and Lin Lu, still insisted, ��Qiqi, you��re my ideal type.��


    It��s called the survival instinct, something men typically learn.


    All this was within Zhang Qiqi��s expectations.


    Yet she still chose to stand here, showing in front of Lin Lu and Shen Qingning that she was interested in Cheng Zhu.


    No, it wasn��t just a show; she truly was interested in Cheng Zhu.


    But Cheng Zhu��s performance, contrary to what she had expected, was quite different.


    In the sushi restaurant, he had shown indifference, but now, he grinned, his expression warm, and his eyes made direct contact with hers, not moving from her delicate features, seemingly deeply captivated.


    Cheng Zhu responded, ��Oh hey, Senior Sister Zhang, didn��t expect to see you again so soon!��


    Zhang Qiqi looked at him, a thought flashing in her mind: ��What is he playing at!��

 Chapter 101: 90 The Legendary Green Tea Effect

    Chapter 101: Chapter 90 The Legendary Green Tea Effect


    Outside the milk tea shop, the crowd was dense.


    Zhang Qiqi��s sudden appearance caused the heads-turn rate at this table to explode.


    Passersby might not necessarily know that these three girls were the high school goddesses with soaring popularity on forums like Tieba.


    But everyone has eyes, all are attracted by beautiful things.


    Who doesn��t love pretty girls?


    Boys love to look, and girls, too.


    ...


    Many small stores on this street would place tables and chairs outside for people to sit and chat or play cards.


    At this moment, the attention of many around once again converged on Cheng Zhu.


    ��Damn it, how is he chatting up so lively with the new girl too!��


    ��Shit, why are all the top resources always around him?��


    ��How does he do it? If it were me, I might be nervous.��


    ��Damn it, he really deserves to die!��


    Zhang Qiqi was around the same height as Shen Qingning, both around 168 cm, slightly taller than Lin Lu.


    Today she wore a white summer spaghetti strap dress, a waist-cinched style that highlighted her graceful curves, superior shoulder and neck lines, and that slightly sexy, deep-set collarbone.


    Wearing this kind of summer spaghetti strap dress often requires a necklace as an embellishment. She wore an Hermes H buckle necklace, the white one, which matched well with her overall outfit.


    Speaking of which, her overall temperament was already somewhat like a person half-settled in society, less green than the average female college student, but not as fully mature as Chen Jieyu, sitting at an intermediate level.


    Many people were attracted by her charming figure from the moment she walked past.


    This kind of pencil dress, with her brisk strides, would cause the dress to lift alternately on both sides, then contract back.


    The rhythm of this curvature had an indescribable allure.


    Zhang Qiqi was confident that she was at her most beautiful today.


    She did her makeup before leaving home, and after finishing with the powder, her makeup was matte. But over time, the look had changed from when it was freshly done. The skin��s absorption coupled with the very slight secretion of oil made it appear with a slight sheen.


    This woman had developed a strong interest in Cheng Zhu from the start because of Shen Qingning.


    Imagine, you��re a man, you despise another man, but the girl he��s interested in deeply attracts you.


    Zhang Qiqi��s psychology was just the gender reversal of this scenario. She felt it would be very interesting, and it gave her a sense of superiority and satisfaction.


    Moreover, she was always certain that a man rumored with a lady like Shen Qingning had to be a high-quality male!


    So, no matter from which angle, she was quite willing to interact with Cheng Zhu.


    Miss Shen, you always act so aloof, so high and mighty?


    Then continue to be aloof, continue to be high and mighty, continue to keep your distance.


    What kind of person is a man, do I not know?


    If you lock yourself up so tightly, then don��t blame the outside wind for blowing in.


    Therefore, Cheng Zhu being so enthusiastic in front of Shen Qingning, always looking into her delicate face as if deeply attracted, was actually the scene she had hoped for.


    But with the sushi restaurant encounter as a prelude, she found everything abnormal, everything seemed abrupt.


    Oh, just now you ignored me, and now you��re charmed by me?


    Cheng Zhu also didn��t expect a tool person to drop from the sky.


    Catfish effect, everyone should know.


    And in male-female interactions, there��s also a similar effect, which is the green tea effect.


    Many teenagers are still naive in their emotions.


    When a green tea, who is not naive but very savvy, suddenly appears, they can stir the waters.


    �� Did I come at a bad time?


    �� No, you came just at the right time!


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu��s direct gaze made her a bit uncertain about what to do.


    ��Um... my roommate asked me to take back a few cups of milk tea, I��ll go order first.�� She pointed in the direction of the shop assistant.


    ��Mhm.�� Cheng Zhu nodded with a smile.


    Xu Shao, who had been standing behind Zhang Qiqi, hurried to follow up, gave Cheng Zhu a glance while passing by, and then rushed to take out his phone to actively pay.


    He didn��t order anything for himself because he dislikes sweets and finds milk tea too cloying.


    Four cups of milk tea would take a while to make, and the two didn��t linger outside the tea shop much longer, instead strolling to a fruit shop, grabbing some fruit cups before coming back for their drinks.


    When they left, Zhang Qiqi waved goodbye to everyone, and Cheng Zhu waved back smilingly.


    ��People have left, and you��re still staring at her back?�� The first one to pick a fight turned out to be Jiang Wanzhou.


    Cheng Zhu pursed his lips, speechless, roll away!


    Luckily, Lin Lu immediately joined Little President Jiang��s team, muttering, ��Exactly, exactly!��


    Shen Qingning, however, remained as cold as ever, her indifferent gaze on Cheng Zhu, apparently waiting for a response.


    ��It wasn��t like, didn��t he see?�� Cheng Zhu pointed at Shen Minglang, not giving a direct answer, accusingly said: ��He��s still watching now!��


    With that, he waved his hand in front of Boss Shen: ��Hey! Stop looking! She��s gone far away!��


    Shen Minglang slapped his hand away, cursing: ��I��m just curious, what kind of beauty could be wrongly rated equally with our family��s Qingning!��


    He slapped the table hard, and realizing the noise was a bit loud with everyone looking at him, he quickly bent down, propping his hands on the edge of the table, and said in a low voice: ��Nothing special!��


    ��You were practically ogling her, and you say it��s nothing special?�� Jiang Wanzhou rolled her eyes indifferently: ��Besides, there was a man with her!��


    ��No, no, no, that guy is definitely not her boyfriend.�� Shen Minglang waved his finger confidently.


    ��Know it all, huh? You can tell people��s status at a glance, right?�� Jiang Wanzhou said to him.


    ��Why are you so aggressive? Saying I was staring at her, calling me a deadbeat. Isn��t that how I normally look at women, with my affectionate eyes?�� Shen Minglang was displeased.


    He stared at Jiang Wanzhou, frowning: ��Do you dislike this Zhang Qiqi? You seem a bit too aggressive tonight!��


    ��I can��t pinpoint it, but she definitely didn��t make a good first impression on me,�� President Jiang crossed her arms in front of her chest, leaning back in the chair, voicing out.


    ��I��ve never seen you have a good impression of anyone,�� Shen Minglang was annoyed.


    ��Well, why don��t you reflect on why you always attract only charming sluts?�� Jiang Wanzhou gestured with her orchid finger, pointing at him.


    And so, the cousin brothers started bickering.


    Cheng Zhu sat aside drinking milk tea as if everything was unrelated to him.


    ...


    ...


    Since Cheng Zhu had to attend classes tomorrow and liaise with the decorators about the shop��s renovation, the group didn��t sit at the milk tea shop outside the school for too long.


    Cheng Zhu watched everyone get into their cars, thinking: ��Looks like I need to get myself a means of transport too.��


    Having no car, indeed, can be quite bothersome at times.


    At that moment, Jiang Wanzhou even rolled down the window of her Mercedes G-Class to wave goodbye to Cheng Zhu.


    ��He just told me he��s thinking about renting a place outside and not staying in the dorm.�� Cheng Zhu watched the direction the car disappeared to, pondering in his mind.


    He was going to be very busy in the next few days, thinking when he had some free time to meet Jiang Wanzhou alone for a chat or to visit his school.


    Cheng Zhu knew that this naturally enchanting Little President Jiang, thrown among a group of boys, was too unique.


    To put it simply, in the public��s eyes, he��s effeminate.


    But he��s not gay, and in a boys�� circle, there would probably be lots of idle talk and even mockery, behind his back and in his face.


    Cheng Zhu had been desk-mates with him since elementary school and classmates in middle school, often seeing some boys imitating Jiang Wanzhou��s speech and mannerisms.


    Little President Jiang did deliberately try to change his tone, demeanor, motions... but in some sudden situations, he would still reveal his true self.


    ��I wonder if he really just wants to rent a place or if he��s having trouble getting along with his roommates,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    Don��t assume that Jiang Wanzhou driving a Mercedes G-Class to school wouldn��t attract trouble.


    That would be overestimating the brains of university students.


    Reality is stranger than fiction, and no one lives purely by reason; society is a bunch of emotional people put together. So also remember not to observe everything through so-called rational glasses, thinking this is unreasonable, that is also unreasonable. This can��t happen, that couldn��t either.


    Speaking of which, some schools don��t allow freshmen to live off-campus, but rules are dead, people are alive.


    With Little President Jiang��s resources, these little matters are easy to handle.


    In Cheng Zhu��s mind, Jiang Wanzhou was indeed always a boss.


    As kids, when everyone went to clean the students�� public areas, others avoided rotten bird carcasses while Jiang Wanzhou, despite shaking in fear, would go do the work no one wanted to.


    In the end, naturally, those who did nothing would imitate his quivering and then get kicked by Cheng Zhu into their chairs, sending them flying.


    As they grew older, Jiang Wanzhou was always keen on charity, having previously mentioned he was a regular at Hang City��s welfare institute. Others would just go through the motions during the school��s summer task assignments. After one visit, he maintained a steady habit.


    Moving forward, he first earned a big sum of money in Cheng Zhu��s past life, then built a hope primary school.


    When everyone else was still playing around, he was already sheltering a group of the nation��s flowers from the storm.


    A man, the so-called ��manly�� and ��effeminate��, what is it really about?


    Anyway, he always thought Little President Jiang was quite manly.


    Back in the dorm, Cheng Zhu placed the milk teas for his three sworn sons on the table, then went off to wash up amidst their salute.


    After freshening up, he glanced at his phone on the table and noticed a WeChat message from Lin Lu.


    He smirked after scanning the message, thinking: ��Lu Lu, oh Lu Lu, such a low-level probe.��


    Lin Lu had sent: ��I see you seem really interested in Zhang Qiqi, how about this, as your senior in college, I said I would take care of you. Although I��m not familiar with her, I can still reluctantly ask her for her WeChat for you.��


    Cheng Zhu picked up his phone, about to reply.


    Then, after a second thought, he put it down.


    ��Wait five minutes before replying!��

 Chapter 102: 91 Lin Lu: I Won

    Chapter 102: Chapter 91 Lin Lu: I Won


    The WeChat message from Lin Lu was sent while Cheng Zhu was taking a shower.


    That is to say, it was sent a few minutes ago.


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu deliberately didn��t reply, which meant for her, it was already a wait of well over ten minutes.


    When everyone left the milk tea shop, Shen Qingning and Lin Lu were in the same car heading home.


    On the way back, Lin Lu suddenly started a conversation, ��Ningning, you don��t think Cheng Zhu is actually interested in Zhang Qiqi, do you?��


    Shen Qingning was not a person who liked to gossip, but while driving, she casually said, ��Is that what you think?��


    ...


    At the same time, there was music playing in the car, and she turned down the volume a bit.


    Lin Lu mentioned, ��He brought up Zhang Qiqi in the group chat the other time.��


    ��Hmm,�� Shen Qingning nodded slightly but said nothing, adopting the posture of a listener, wanting to gather more pertinent information.


    ��I went and asked him later, and he said that Zhang Qiqi danced for the new students at the military training, and after finishing, she specifically mentioned him in front of everyone. She asked if the junior Cheng Zhu was here,�� Lin Lu chattered away.


    ��Oh, really?�� Shen Qingning was a bit surprised, but she quickly nodded and said, ��That does seem like something Zhang Qiqi would do.��


    Zhang Qiqi was indeed very active at Technology University.


    She was the kind of person who knew how to ingratiate herself, giving some guys the illusion that ��she��s paying attention to me.��


    Lin Lu looked out the window, pouted and said, ��Look at how he greeted Zhang Qiqi today! He wasn��t as enthusiastic with us; he almost grinned from ear to ear!��


    Shen Qingning continued to drive and didn��t respond to that remark.


    As for the enthusiastic attitude, Cheng Zhu had never shown her any such thing, not when adding her as a friend at first or during later private chats.


    The only exception was that chance encounter in the fruit store.


    ��Well, it��s normal for young guys,�� she simply said.


    Right at that moment, as they hit the green light, a car on the adjacent lane tried to forcefully cut in on the solid line, and Shen Qingning stepped on the gas, giving the other driver a real scare.


    After the two of them got home, they each went back to their rooms.


    Lin Lu sat on the chair and picked up her phone to send a WeChat message to Cheng Zhu.


    That��s just the kind of girl she is; it��s relaxing being around someone like her, without too much beating around the bush.


    The low-level probing she sent to Cheng Zhu was the biggest curve she could manage to throw.


    But what left Lin Lu speechless was that Cheng Zhu used to reply to WeChat messages super quickly!


    Today, for some reason, he took forever to respond.


    I mean, if he didn��t reply, couldn��t you just find something else to do?


    Constantly waiting in desperation for a reply is a very bad sign, for both men and women alike.


    Lin Lu did find something to do; she punched the plush toy that had [Cheng Zhu] written on it a couple of times!


    She had recently got the hang of hitting the toy; she made sure her punches didn��t land in the same spot every time, fearing that over time the cotton inside would get compacted by her punches, creating a dent.


    Just as she was about to take another swing at the plush pig��s backside, her phone chimed.


    ��Hmph! You finally remember to reply!�� Lin Lu flopped onto the bed, picked up her phone to see the reply, and got so annoyed she threw it to one side.


    Cheng Zhu��s reply was: ��Haha, I can��t ask to add on WeChat myself? You need to ask for me?��


    ��Ah, Cheng Zhu!!!�� The plush pig suffered once again.


    ...


    ...


    Annoyed, Lin Lu stopped chatting with Cheng Zhu and went to the wardrobe to get a clean set of underwear and pajamas before heading into the bathroom to wash up.


    After she finished washing up, she collapsed onto the bed and couldn��t help but open the chat box again, staring at the words Cheng Zhu had just sent.


    ��What does he mean by that?��


    ��Does he not plan to get to know Zhang Qiqi?��


    ��Or does he think there��s no need to get to know her through me?��


    ��What the heck! His words are so ambiguous, and he even deliberately argues with me for a bit!��


    Wearing her off-white nightgown, she rolled over on the bed a couple of times.


    Beyond that, she found Zhang Qiqi to be even more mysterious and incomprehensible.


    During the military training evening party, Zhang Qiqi��s behavior was very odd, and today��s special effort to come and greet was also odd.


    ��This person is really weird,�� she murmured to herself without being able to help it.


    Little did she know, Zhang Qiqi in the girls�� dorm was saying the same thing at this very moment: ��This person is really weird.��


    However, in her heart, the person she was referring to was Cheng Zhu.


    Lying in her dorm, she recalled Cheng Zhu��s warm demeanor and beaming smile and found it all very strange.


    She couldn��t distinguish what this fresher thought or felt about her, and whether he was interested in her at all?


    ��Sigh, I don��t want to think about it anymore; I still haven��t posted photos yet.�� Zhang Qiqi opened her painstakingly managed Weibo account.


    She uploaded photos she took at the sushi restaurant today to Weibo to share her daily life and expressed her sentiment, ��I��ve always liked this place off campus, and to think today was its last day of business, it��s quite melancholy.��


    Before posting each photo, she scrutinized them strictly, ensuring that from the photos alone, one couldn��t tell that there was a man sitting across from her.


    After posting, she quickly received a like from Xu Shao.


    Xu Shao did not dare to leave comments under her Weibo posts, let alone make any direct statements about dining together.


    That��s because Zhang Qiqi had already told him that her parents checked her Weibo every day.

 Chapter 103: 91 Lin Lu: I Won_2

    Chapter 103: Chapter 91 Lin Lu: I Won_2


    And my mom is a relatively traditional woman; she wouldn��t allow me to date during my university years.


    Few men would actually give up on a girl because her parents don��t allow her to date in university, especially when her parents aren��t from Hang City.


    Men would just take it as a sign��she��s a good girl with strict family education and no dating history!


    Once, Xu Shao got into an argument with some people in the Weibo comments for some special reason, then blurted out that they had dined together, and Zhang Qiqi promptly deleted those comments.


    After deleting them, he didn��t even feel annoyed.


    ��No way, can��t let my parents know we��re in touch.��


    ...


    One sentence, and he even found it sweet!


    See, I��m not like those commenters fawning over her!


    I... I��m her little secret to be kept hidden!


    Hehe, hehehehe!


    ����Persistent Visit�� version 2.0.


    The day after the comment was deleted, he thoughtfully bought Zhang Qiqi a gift.


    She refused it, but he racked his brains for reasons to make her accept.


    Today, outside the milk tea shop, Xu Shao was also deeply impressed by Cheng Zhu��s words and smile.


    Only as a man, he felt himself being ignored, even challenged.


    ��Son of a bitch, can��t you see there��s a man standing next to her?��


    ��She��s about to be off the market, you know that?��


    ��Young freshmen just don��t bloody have any EQ or brains.��


    What irritated Xu Shao even more was that Cheng Zhu really never gave him a glance from beginning to end, truly treated him like air.


    It was only when he and Zhang Qiqi left the milk tea shop together that he and Cheng Zhu finally locked eyes for the first time.


    The look in the other��s eyes, he found it a bit incomprehensible, always felt a bit odd.


    Yes, tonight a bunch of people found Cheng Zhu really weird.


    ��But that makes sense, what kind of brains can a person have if they fail and then open a small arcade outside of school?�� Xu Shao reconciled with himself at once.


    Now, he just wanted to wait and see him fall on his face.


    Little did he know that on Zhang Qiqi��s side, she was quite looking forward to the opening of Cheng Zhu��s new store.


    By then, she could go there to spend, then observe his attitude.


    ��After all, I��m a Weibo influencer, a significant part of my followers are from Hang City.��


    Since she cultivated the image of the Hang City university belle, local attention was naturally much higher.


    ��He��ll definitely welcome me to his store.��


    Which business wouldn��t love influencers checking in at their store?


    Plus, she felt that Xu Shao, lately, had become a bit too arrogant.


    ��It��s time to give him some difficulty.��


    ...


    ...


    In dorm room 309, Cheng Zhu held his phone, briefly discussed the work arrangement following the new product launch in the ��Persistent Visit�� work group, and then leisurely opened his chat with Lin Lu.


    Their conversation stopped at the last meme Lin Lu sent, an old foreign man aiming a gun.


    These days, conversations often end in memes.


    Someone sends a meme, and if you don��t reply for a while, it��s tacitly understood the conversation is over.


    But if you want to pick it up again, that��s easy.


    ��Just didn��t look at my phone,�� he typed, responding to her meme.


    Cheng Zhu was slow to reply at the start anyway, taking over ten minutes, so the continuity in his behavior was maintained.


    On Lin Lu��s end, she had been huffily rolling on her bed, had already beaten up her piggy plushie, and had a brainstorming storm.


    Naturally, her current focus was on, ��You seem busy, huh!��


    ��Lately I��ve been super busy, was just occupied with the Taobao store, and tomorrow I have to meet with the renovation worker. Plus, my classes are pretty full right now.��


    ��I might not even have time to oversee the renovations for the claw machine store. When you��re free, could you help me keep an eye on it?��


    If it were any other day, Lin Lu, being helpful, would have gone if a friend asked and she had time.


    But today was different, so she retorted, ��Why should I help watch over your store!��


    ��Because you certainly know your stuff; doesn��t your family run a renovation company?�� replied Cheng Zhu.


    Lin Lu��s family had a building materials business and also ran a renovation design company.


    ��Psh! Why would I have to watch it for you, why should I?��


    ��Because I hired your family��s renovation team.��


    Lin Lu immediately sent three question marks: ��???��


    Crazy, not telling me sooner! I could��ve gone and said hello, you dummy!


    Now it��s probably too late with contracts signed.


    Plus, Lin Lu was well aware her family��s renovation company was busy. A small project like Cheng Zhu��s was likely outsourced, and the workers were probably not from her company.


    But it��s not something one would say outright.


    ��Seriously, I just don��t get you. I��m not going to help! I��ll tell the workers every day to skimp on your shop��s work!��


    She said it, but she��d made up her mind to help watch over it; she knew too well how deep the waters of renovation could be.


    Lucky for him to have a senior like me!


    But Cheng Zhu understood what she was thinking, yet still typed during their chat: ��I��m not afraid. If the work isn��t up to quality, on time, I��ll go to the school forum and bad-mouth you.��


    Lin Lu: ��???��


    You��re killing me! Cheng Zhu is just infuriating!


    Where��s my pair of scissors? I want to stab this Cheng Zhu to death!


    As she fumed, her phone buzzed again, and he sent another WeChat message.


    ��Oh, about Zhang Qiqi, I was just joking. Honestly, I plan to open an influencer-focused shop, and since she��s a minor influencer, I was thinking she might come in for a check-in.��


    Suddenly bringing it back to the earlier topic caught Lin Lu off guard.


    In human communication, the casual ��Oh, by the way�� often reveals a lot of intention.


    Why all these sudden recollections?


    Only if you keep thinking of it, will there be an ��Oh, by the way.��


    ��Why is he still on this topic, and explaining so seriously...�� Lin Lu couldn��t help but mutter, yet a strange sensation was taking root within her.


    It was as if this matter was so important.


    But the question was, was it he who found this matter important, or... was it he who thought I found it important?


    She couldn��t help but remember the last time she took the initiative to privately message Cheng Zhu, inquiring why he mentioned Zhang Qiqi in the group chat.


    After he gave her a rundown of the entire military training night, Lin Lu instinctively said, ��Huh? Then she��s really quite inexplicable.��


    Then, Cheng Zhu threw back at her, ��That was half an hour ago. You��re coming to me just to ask this? Seems like you��re the one who��s quite inexplicable.��


    Now, with a smile blooming on her face and her cute dimples popping out, Lin Lu frenziedly typed so hard her fingers on her phone, ��hmm-hmm�� escaping her lips. Finally, I��ve got a chance!


    She mimic his style: ��That was half an hour ago. I don��t care about whether or not you add her as a friend, you��re the one being quite inexplicable.��


    Cheng Zhu, face calm, cooperatively replied with a meme of an old lady kicking someone, indulging her, and typed to show he remembered each of their conversations: ��Copying how I talk, huh?!��


    Lin Lu saw the meme and his message, her lips immediately pouting in smugness.


    She placed the beaten piggy plushie back on the nightstand, smoothing out the wrinkles on its clothes, and murmured to it, ��This time, I��ll let you off!��


    ...


    (ps: First update, 4000 words, asking for monthly tickets at month��s end.)

 Chapter 104: 92 Good Night, Cheng Zhu

    Chapter 104: Chapter 92 Good Night, Cheng Zhu


    Cheng Zhu was lying on his bed, half-reclined, messaging Lin Lu on WeChat.


    For him, explaining the matter regarding Zhang Qiqi in this manner had an invisible benefit.


    If I really end up interacting with this online celebrity later, then I��d have already laid the groundwork for you, haha!


    This school beauty and internet star was a useful pawn; she was indeed beneficial to Cheng Zhu.


    Following the principle of not wasting anything, he was certain to make the most of people.


    He planned to squeeze out every last bit of usefulness from her.


    ...


    After exchanging a few more messages with Cheng Zhu and feeling victorious in their verbal sparring, Lin Lu declared like a conquering general that this school sister was off to bed!


    ��Good night!�� she typed to Cheng Zhu.


    ��Mm, good night,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    But after a minute, Little Lu, who had just said good night, sent another WeChat message.


    Sometimes, that��s just how conversations between men and women go; even after saying good night to each other, they inexplicably continue chatting.


    The initial good night might have been because it was already late, but continuing afterwards meant ��I really still want to talk, staying up late with you isn��t too bad.��


    There will always be one silly person who breaks their word and doesn��t sleep.


    ��I��ll make an effort to occasionally help you out and keep an eye on the renovation work!�� Lin Lu was the first to play the fool.


    ��Alright then, I won��t go and badmouth you on the campus BBS, nor will I criticize your company,�� Cheng Zhu responded.


    ��It��s not like I��m scared of your threats!��


    ��Then why?��


    Lin Lu had already wrapped herself up in the blanket, with only her little face and hands showing outside, lying on her side and typing.


    Seeing the message from Cheng Zhu made her feel a bit embarrassed and her fingers pounded the keyboard with a little more force: ��It��s because our company is just that responsible!��


    ��I��m not going to talk anymore; I��m going to sleep!�� she quickly followed up with that declaration.


    Yet the message from Cheng Zhu, echoing the previous good night, pushed the atmosphere up a notch, making her heart beat a little faster.


    ��Then really good night this time,�� he said.


    Lin Lu, who had been lying sideways on her phone, couldn��t help but bury her small face into her pillow and fiercely rubbed her face against it.


    ��What the heck!�� she mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.


    Then, turning her head to the side and freeing her right hand, she laid the phone flat on the pillow next to her, lifted a finger, and tapped the screen with the precision of one-finger Zen.


    ��Good night,�� she replied.


    The conversation ended there, and the room fell silent. Lying prone, she could feel her heartbeat even more clearly.


    Because of her larger bust size, she couldn��t lie on her stomach for long without getting uncomfortable, so she quickly turned over, causing the blanket to roll up around her like a cocoon.


    She sat up, ready to turn off the bedroom nightlight.


    As she went to turn off the light, her gaze unintentionally fell upon the [Cheng Zhu] piggy bank on the bedside table.


    The piggy bank was hideous, with a smug smile plastered across its face.


    She couldn��t help but raise her hand and press it down, forcing the pig��s face against the ground to cover up its expression.


    ��Click.�� Lin Lu turned off the light but remained wide-eyed in the darkness for a long time.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu got up early, went to the cafeteria with his three sworn sons for breakfast, and then headed to class.


    If time permitted, he wasn��t one to skip class.


    Once in the classroom, adhering to the principle of ��since I��m here, might as well,�� he paid close attention.


    In the afternoon, he went out to liaise with the construction team.


    Since he hadn��t planned for an extensive renovation, the work wasn��t going to take very long.


    Just as he left, Lin Lu, who had just finished class, ran over.


    The construction team looked at the young woman and thought the shop owner��s wife was quite attractive!


    At first, they wondered why a man would open a claw machine arcade?


    Now they understood.


    After looking over the shop, Lin Lu casually chatted with the foreman and confirmed one thing: her company had indeed subcontracted the project out.


    This meant she had to be even more attentive to the shop.


    She planned to come and keep an eye on it whenever she had time.


    Around six o��clock in the evening, it was time for [Persistent Visit]��s new product launch.


    Cheng Zhu had done all the preliminary work and put all these new products, which he had high hopes for, up for sale in the shop.


    He had labeled each style with the words ��Pure Desire.��


    This installment��s comics were also more exquisite than the previous issue��s in every aspect.


    But consumers�� reactions aren��t always immediate.


    After all, these items weren��t essential goods but rather daily consumables.


    However, his competitors had been lurking and waiting for the new release, eager to see what new tricks this up-and-coming shop would pull out.


    The owner of [Graceful Flagship Store], Li Mantang, had been waiting for a long time.


    This month, they had burnt a whole two hundred thousand more on [Direct Traffic] than in the past few months!


    Their return on investment was much lower than anticipated, and they had also failed to snatch up the hit products from others.


    Their stepmother dresses were literally selling at a loss.


    This irked the boss.


    Li Mantang was now a man with a strong career drive, constantly thinking about making his shop number one in its category.


    The reason was simple: as he had reached middle age, his health started to decline.

 Chapter 105 105: 92 Good Night, Cheng Zhu

    Chapter 105: Chapter 92 Good Night, Cheng Zhu


    Before, running a QQ store involved quite a jumble of thoughts.


    The store didn��t hire photographers; he, as the owner, would book models in hotels alone, sometimes even two QQ models, focusing on those who were diligent and capable.


    Once random thoughts piled up for a person, their attention on important matters would naturally decline.


    Always playing outside would easily lead to quarrels with the wife, and quarreling was time-consuming and exhausting, affecting work.


    After feeling overextended, things improved somewhat, and he began to focus solely on his career.


    ��Sheep��s weakness, is a blessing for middle-aged men.


    ...


    At that moment, he was sitting in front of the computer with the operator, carefully examining the details of every new item from Persistent Visit.


    ��All are our own designs!�� the operator couldn��t help but exclaim.


    He had suggested to Mr. Li before that they should occasionally try their own designs, but Li Mantang was unwilling to hire people.


    Because as Li Mantang saw it, the risks were too high��how could you know whether it would all be in vain?


    If you copied the popular styles from the market and added some minor innovations, that would be perfectly adequate.


    If they designed by themselves and failed, the overall store traffic might decrease.


    Innovation was something small and medium-sized stores should do; big stores, with their resources, could just copy and be done!


    ��How do you think these self-designed models are?�� Li Mantang, wearing reading glasses, asked.


    ��Quite impressive,�� the operator couldn��t help but praise.


    I��m not like you, Mr. Li, I am still young, and my body is still fine.


    Think about it��I, who deal with QQ products all day, looking at their new products, actually feel a rush of blood to the head, feeling a tiny urge to buy, what does that tell you!?


    How can ordinary customers handle it!


    The most important thing is, their store��s new products and the current mainstream products on the market, are not going in the same direction!


    It��s the year 2014, when everything is bold and straightforward, not much cunning involved.


    But every new product from Persistent Visit is very thoughtful.


    He had no idea what was going on in the designers�� heads at that store.


    How could they come up with all these tricks!


    When everyone else is going for lighter and thinner, you actually come out with... a sweater?


    And yet, a sweater has a certain domestic feel to it.


    The color grey is one of the strongest colors for that domestic feel.


    From the front, the garment is fine to wear out on the street.


    But from the back...


    Hey! That means if you wear a coat over it, this garment can truly be worn out on the street!


    ��No, stop thinking! Don��t think about it! Stop!�� he started to control his wandering mind.


    Damn, the plot is spilling out on its own!


    The operator had no idea that years later, a series of videos called ��Tips for Meeting Boyfriends�� would become popular on an app called TikTok.


    In these videos, many girls would lift their long pants to reveal the stockings hidden inside.


    This equaled a little surprise prepared before meeting a boyfriend, and where they were going to meet, well, that goes without saying, right?


    Grey turtleneck sweater dress with a black coat over it is a very normal outfit.


    But who could imagine that there��s a twist hidden behind it, with a big surprise prepared inside?


    Li Mantang was completely unaware that his operator��s mind was wandering.


    Wearing his reading glasses, he looked at the name of each product and couldn��t help muttering those three words: ��Pure Desire Style?��


    ��What does that mean? Is this a new trendy phrase?�� he wondered if he was falling behind the times again, ��Have you heard of this Pure Desire Style?��


    ��Eh?�� The operator snapped back to reality, shaking his head and saying, ��No.��


    He frowned and immediately started searching online for these three words, fearing he might have missed some internet trend.


    Now, online trends change in the blink of an eye, and sometimes you really can��t keep up.


    But his search turned up nothing.


    ��It��s not a trend word,�� the operator frowned.


    This was equal to their ��stepmother skirt�� from Persistent Visit, uniquely created by them.


    But he was puzzled, ��Why create a style term instead of more interesting product terms like the stepmother skirt?��


    ��What��s the use of that?�� the operator racked his brains but couldn��t understand.


    ��Forget about it, we can��t beat them in external traffic, but we must not lose internally!�� Li Mantang instructed.


    The money he had burned in these two months couldn��t go to waste.


    The operator felt a cold sweat on his forehead, feeling a vague premonition that this time it might be tougher!


    But then again, the strategy of using a high price to snatch keywords like ��stepmother skirt�� from within the site was indeed proposed by him, the operator of the store.


    The pressure immediately weighed heavier.


    ��However, their self-designed new models this time, although very interesting, probably won��t bring as much external traffic as before.��


    ��After all, the last time was when the comic had just come out, and the market had already been exploded once, and the outside world was already shaken once.��


    ��This move is certainly still effective for a while, but the second time, it definitely won��t reap as much as the first.��


    ��QQ products are, after all, not something everyone uses; these things are niche, and trying to generate traffic from outside is as hard as reaching the heavens.��


    Now, the competition within the stores is severe; everyone is relying on concessions, spending money, and other means, using a form of ��Seven Injuries Fist�� to fight with the peers within the platform.


    The tactics they had previously used against Persistent Visit were actually Seven Injuries Fist.


    The operator said to the boss, Li Mantang, ��Boss, didn��t we try external traffic before, to be precise, haven��t all stores tried it, but has anyone succeeded in drawing traffic?��


    ��This store could draw traffic because of that unexpectedly popular comic.��


    ��After all, our QQ-related products are too hard to draw traffic; not to mention, your pictures on various social platforms will be immediately blocked by the platform, making them invisible, so naturally, the effect of drawing traffic is zero, and that��s just...��


    As he spoke, the operator suddenly exchanged glances with Li Mantang, then both tacitly turned to look at the computer screen, looking at each new product from Persistent Visit, and simultaneously gasped in shock.


    Because while chatting, they immediately realized that if you only look at the front of the new products from Persistent Visit, there��s absolutely no issue with any of the items!


    ��This is probably a high-end game!


    ��Finished, all done!�� The operator immediately tensed up, suddenly realizing the seriousness of the situation!


    ...


    In fact, Cheng Zhu��s contemporaries didn��t yet know that in a particular niche community, the new products from Persistent Visit were like a thunderbolt, effortlessly igniting that special circle.

 Chapter 106 106: 93: Starting with a Small Fire

    Chapter 106: Chapter 93: Starting with a Small Fire


    Inside a rented room, a fair-skinned and slightly plump girl was browsing Taobao out of sheer boredom.


    She was selecting a suitable QQ uniform.


    The girl��s online persona was called Mengtao, a... minor internet celebrity on Weibo.


    People like her often had a character for ��door�� in their Weibo bios, signaling to fans to join groups or add a V, indicating there��s a threshold��to put it simply, you have to pay!


    In simpler terms, you could see somewhat risque? photos of these people on Weibo.


    If you paid, joined a group, or added a V, then you��d get to see subsequent... VIP content.


    ...


    From a certain perspective, these edge-skating internet girls were indeed one of the primary consumer groups for QQ uniforms.


    After all, they made a living by taking photos and videos, hence the need to keep changing outfits to keep their sugar daddies interested.


    But in Cheng Zhu��s eyes, these were essentially ��Persistent Visit�� ads placed across the entire internet, serving as our free traffic drivers and promoters.


    At this moment, lying on the bed and scrolling through Taobao, Mengtao seemed to be a conscientious little web-celebrity.


    She actually bought her own clothes and took her own photos.


    Unlike some accounts which were actually stealing images.


    Secretly, it was dim-witted big guys operating these accounts, then earning a bit of intelligence tax from the old lechers.


    Men, you see, are like this: they don��t spend much on proper things, but their spending power goes through the roof for all kinds of trash.


    Lately, Mengtao felt she couldn��t quite pick out new clothes.


    ��The photos and videos I��ve been shooting recently haven��t had a great response,�� she thought.


    And, don��t get me wrong, she actually had quite an ambitious spirit...


    And was oddly indulgent with her fans.


    ����She really does, I��m crying to death.��


    Mengtao recalled that, in their circle a while ago, there was an ��item�� called the stepmother dress that was very popular.


    But she, although having the plump figure men tend to like, had a face that looked youthful.


    So when she wore the stepmother dress, the overall effect was less than ideal��it was like a kid playing dress-up, lacking a mature charm.


    This made her quite regretful because she knew that some people in the circle had become famous overnight with this ��item��!


    No helping it, who told that store to make designs this good and to have such an awesome name?


    Therefore, the shop ��Persistent Visit�� actually enjoys high popularity in the circle of internet celebs, even catching up to those old established shops.


    Of course, the fame of this store definitely had something to do with its comics.


    Don��t mention it, now many who are willing to invest have also started hiring artists to create exclusive illustrations for their photos.


    ��I��ve heard the results are really good, I��d like to give it a try sometime,�� she thought.


    Sometimes, the people in this circle really admire the mastermind behind ��Persistent Visit.��


    They always felt this person was really innovative and creative, selling QQ lingerie online was almost a waste of talent.


    He totally had the ability to make our industry flourish even more!


    Easily could start an influencer company.


    Mengtao was now checking out the ��Graceful Flagship Store�� on Taobao, where she spent most.


    ��How come I feel their new items haven��t kept up with the latest styles?�� she couldn��t help but murmur.


    ��Now it seems that all QQ shops on the net are continuing to develop stepmother dresses; each model looks similar, new versions hardly differ from the old besides some minor details.��


    ��For someone like me, that��s really unfriendly!�� she felt her youthful looks were completely overlooked.


    Right at that moment, her phone vibrated. She had received a WeChat message from a ��colleague.��


    The one who sent the WeChat was a Weibo internet celebrity named ��Seven-foot LuLu,�� the two were familiar, from the same city, and often met offline to discuss experiences, sometimes releasing ��collaboration models�� of photos and videos to attract each other��s followers.


    Just last month, they collaborated, taking a set of photos, which received a lot of attention and made some good money.


    ��Taozi, you should check out ��Persistent Visit�� quick! Their new items are so perfect for us, I almost want to buy them all.��


    ��Ah? Don��t hoax me, Lulu,�� said Mengtao, a bit shocked.


    In her view, wasn��t ��Persistent Visit�� the originator of the stepmother dress?


    According to reason, this store was the most qualified in the entire net to deeply excavate stepmother dresses, to innovate continuously on them, and to make a killing.


    Although, to be honest, no matter how they were modified, they were quite similar to the original.


    But now, weren��t all these shops this stubborn, squeezing every last bit of value when resting on their laurels.


    Seven-foot Lulu replied: ��Just hurry and place an order, and take your photos quickly so we can be among the first to shoot the new models.��


    Birds of a feather flock together; obviously, this Seven-foot Lulu was ambitious too.


    The Mengtao lying on the bed immediately typed in the four characters ��Persistent Visit�� and carefully examined the new products.


    As soon as she saw the gray backless sweater, she was completely drawn in!


    ��This is too gorgeous, too appealing!��


    ��Wow, this vibe, it��s like it was tailor-made for me!��


    ��Plus, posting these photos on Weibo wouldn��t get pinched at all.��


    ��Very safe, absolutely no problems!��


    ��But for VIP photos, I can play around with a lot of variations.��


    One word, perfect!


    She quickly added it to her shopping cart, buying one size fits all, and even the package with white stockings.


    Then, her gaze shifted to the nun��s costume.


    ��It��s hard not to order it.�� She immediately added it to her shopping cart as well.


    And so, she kept adding item after item into the shopping cart, buying all the new products at once.


    At the same time, she also noticed those three words�� ��Pure Desire Style.��


    ��Eh, this term really suits me well,�� thought the self-satisfied internet celebrity.


    But indeed, if one didn��t have a good opinion of oneself, how could one think their photos and videos were worthy of being sold?


    She decided to include the term ��Pure Desire Style�� as a topic hashtag in every Weibo post, like this��#PureDesireStyle#.


    A ��Topic�� is one of the ways to attract traffic on Weibo.


    Many people would click into a ��Topic�� they��re interested in to browse posts with that hashtag.


    And to think that in Cheng Zhu��s previous life, the topic of ��Pure Desire Style�� had billions of views.


    Mengtao felt that this term was quite clever, and intuitively she believed it really could become a viral catchphrase!


    ��This ��Graceful Flagship Store�� and ��Persistent Visit�� really can��t be compared!��


    As a long-time fan of the former, she was starting to feel like switching sides.


    As for the latter, it was the god-tier item of the current version��an impressive armory.


    After making the full payment, she immediately went to show her order to Seven-foot Lulu.


    ��Lulu, I bought them all too!�� she typed.


    Seven-foot Lulu: ��I was just studying the buyer shows in their shop. The heat of their buyer shows is really high, there are terrifying amounts of comments underneath. Let��s try to post there next time too; we might be able to harvest some new fans!��


    ��Really?�� Mengtao immediately took a look.


    She quickly came up with a new idea.


    ��Lulu, when we take photos, we could mimic the comic poses from the store!��


    ��Eh, that does sound pretty good,�� Lulu thought it was feasible.


    After hesitating for a moment, she began to type: ��Taozi, I actually have a bold idea for our next shoot, I don��t know if you��d dare try it with me.��


    ��What��s the idea?��


    ��I��m thinking of wearing this gray backless sweater... outdoors!��


    ��What?!��


    ...


    ...


    At Technology University, in dorm room 309.


    Cheng Zhu was looking at the store��s backend data on his phone.


    Dong Dong was scrolling through Weibo when he suddenly said, ��Fuck, look at the retweets on this Weibo post.��


    He shared a Weibo from the official ��Persistent Visit�� account into the dorm group chat.


    This Weibo post contained nine buyer showcase photos of the gray backless sweater new product.


    ��Can��t you avoid posting this stuff in a dorm full of guys late at night?�� Liu Feng couldn��t help but complain, ��It��s kind of awkward.��


    ��It��s not the photos you should see��they are beside the point. What��s amazing is the retweets!�� Dong Dong said.


    The retweet count for this Weibo had reached 500 in a short period.


    Not a lot, yet not a little.


    After all, this was a product ad, and for the entire QQ community, this amount of retweets was explosively high!


    Such is the terror of an internet celeb shop!


    Of course, to an outsider like Dong Dong, he naturally didn��t understand the concept of breaking five hundred retweets in a short time.


    What shocked him was certainly not the number of retweets.


    On Weibo, you can type and edit your retweet content.


    These content pieces were viewable under the post.


    Dong Dong was stunned by the comments these retweeters made during their retweets.


    ��Baby, I��ll shoot these for you next time!��


    ��Decided, this is the outfit for the next issue haha!��


    ��Little preview~ I��ll wear this out for a shoot~��


    ��Any bros want a little static shock with my sweater?��


    ��Bros, can this sweater increase attack speed?��


    ��If I was wearing this outfit while waiting for you at home, when would you come back?��


    ��If I wore this sweater out with you for an hour, where would you take me?��


    Internet celebs came out in droves, teasing their upcoming work.


    Dong Dong clicked on these retweeters�� avatars to check their Weibo content, and damn, if Weibo cracked down on indecency, none of them would be innocent!


    Mr. Dong couldn��t help but remark, ��I thought this was just an internet celeb store��I had no idea it was actually a brothel!��


    Damn, followed intensely!


    This comment kind of upset Cheng Zhu.


    We��re legitimate businessmen selling legal, compliant products; how can you describe my official store blog with such words just because a small percentage of old clients have personal attributes like that!


    Clearly, those like you with the highest old lecher content are most active here!


    There, the three horny dogs of dorm 309 started huddling together to ogle the internet celebs.


    Cheng Zhu watched their fussing, and just felt that his three ��sons�� really hadn��t seen the world.


    ��What are you even comparing this to?�� he thought to himself.


    After all, this was just a small circle; he��s a legitimate businessman, with products mainly for the masses.


    He picked up his phone and clicked on the ��Pure Desire Style�� topic keyword.


    ��Reading volume has already broken 8 million so quickly.�� Cheng Zhu was satisfied.


    He wasn��t in a hurry, waiting as everything slowly fermented.


    And the shop description for ��Persistent Visit�� had been changed by him long ago to: Founder of Pure Desire Style.


    ...


    (ps: First update, seeking monthly votes at the end of the month!)

 Chapter 107 107: 94: The Disappearing Name

    Chapter 107: Chapter 94: The Disappearing Name


    [Persistent Visit] On the night the new products were launched, the total sales of the new items combined broke through 200,000 yuan.


    And that was done with hardly any money spent on internal platform promotion.


    This is the advantage of an internet celebrity��s store.


    ��So outrageous, no cost, all profit!


    Many regular stores have to operate slowly after launching new products and gradually accumulate sales.


    The internet celebrity store comes with a fan economy, so the data on launch day won��t be bad.


    ...


    In most cases, the sales figures on the first day might already be the peak.


    Now, [Persistent Visit] had begun to subtly feel like a trendsetter.


    Anyone who needs to stay on trend will undoubtedly choose to buy as soon as possible.


    ��Speaking of which, never underestimate the purchasing power of these internet ��benefit princesses�� and little web celebs.��


    ��Indeed, it��s not bad at all,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    But then again, there��s nothing surprising about it. After all, this is the business they��re engaged in. Buying these clothes is just an initial investment cost.


    Cheng Zhu was now looking at the large orders in the backend, especially those ordering several, or even more than a dozen, of the same style, he could virtually confirm the occupations of these customers.


    They are either peers from the QQ community, coming to our store to stock up.


    These goods might be sold in physical stores and such places.


    Apart from peers, those who buy so many pieces of the same style are likely minor internet celebrities.


    For [Persistent Visit], doing business with these web celebs is especially easy because their return rate is almost zero!


    Do you think these people would haggle, buy the stuff, take a picture, and then return the merchandise?


    That would be a big mistake!


    These individuals will sell the products as ��original flavor�� in their dedicated fan groups at high prices.


    That��s also the reason they buy so many pieces of the same style.


    ��For them, our store��s products are like their... personal merchandise?�� Cheng Zhu mocked in his heart.


    He simply could not understand this web celeb industrial chain.


    But it doesn��t matter, as long as it makes him money.


    ��Just as technology is innocent, so are our products,�� the serious QQ businessman Cheng Zhu told himself.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu got up early.


    The weather had started to cool down, and in the early morning, if you only wore a short-sleeved shirt, you would feel a bit chilly.


    Last night, it had drizzled a little.


    That brought the temperature in Hang City down a notch after the start of autumn.


    ��Autumn creeps in slowly, but the cold comes abruptly. You don��t realize summer��s gone until it��s sunny, one rain and you know it��s fall.


    The three drama queens in the dorm had already bought new autumn clothes.


    A few days ago, they were even clamoring for Cheng Zhu to go buy a long-sleeved white shirt and to wear it together when it got cold, so that the whole 309 dorm could switch to white shirts at the same time and become white shirt male gods!


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t bear to tell them that white shirts are particularly selective.


    Did they have no clue about their own suitability?


    Why not wear plaid shirts that suit your computer geek identity?


    That morning, Cheng Zhu had almost a full schedule of classes.


    He listened very attentively, always sitting in the front row of the classroom.


    ��In 2015 and 2016, the landscape online is undergoing major changes with many emerging industries popping up like bamboo shoots after rain,�� Cheng Zhu felt he needed to prepare early.


    One way to prepare was to enhance his knowledge reserve.


    There had been many hot topics in recent years.


    But whether you could soar depends on your own abilities.


    By nearly three o��clock in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu, who finally had no classes, planned to go check out his claw machine store off-campus.


    Today, the workers�� task was demolition, removing all the unnecessary decorations.


    Cheng Zhu strolled off campus and first went to a milk tea shop called Yididian on the street to buy a cup of Four Seasons Milk Green Tea.


    Then, he walked to his own shop while savoring the milk tea.


    He could hear noises from afar.


    The neighbors to the left and right of his shop were a fried chicken restaurant and a snack shop, respectively.


    Cheng Zhu had already visited them.


    If he encountered the boss, they would smoke together.


    If he met the boss��s wife, he would be a bit nicer and chat with her while showing off his handsome face.


    In the same street where everyone was trying to make a living, even though his store was short-lived and not long-lasting, it might suddenly die before even celebrating its first anniversary, he still needed to maintain basic neighborly relationships.


    When Cheng Zhu was almost at his store, he saw a man standing outside looking in.


    The visitor was none other than Xu Shao.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu didn��t know his name, he thought of him as: the curved-lip guy fetched by Zhang Qiqi.


    There was a new internet-famous dessert shop opening in Hang City, and Xu Shao queued up for a long time, then came to bring desserts especially for Zhang Qiqi.


    Passing by the shop that was under renovation, he couldn��t resist stopping to look.


    He found it difficult to be completely indifferent to Cheng Zhu.


    Not destined to have a boyfriend, yet always setting up a rival in his mind.


    At that moment, before he clearly saw what was going on inside, he saw Cheng Zhu approaching him.


    An awkward Xu Shao immediately took out a cigarette from his pocket, bowed his head to light it, and walked on.


    Their eyes crossed as they brushed past each other.


    ��Damn, what��s with that strange look again!�� Xu Shao inwardly thought, as he caught Cheng Zhu��s gaze.


    ��What the hell is that look?�� Cheng Zhu also thought.


    Just now, he had looked at the big fish in Zhang Qiqi��s pond with pity while Xu Shao, thinking Cheng Zhu was crazy to open an arcade, looked at him with pity too.


    Even though their points of interest were different, they both tacitly thought the other was a clown.


    Until a crisp voice rose from the noisy shop: ��Cheng Zhu! Hey! I��m here!��


    A figure wearing a mask trotted out of the dusty store.


    The energetic voice actress jumped down from the steps, pulled off her mask at the first chance, and took deep breaths of the fresh air outside.


    She had arrived early to keep an eye on the renovation for Cheng Zhu, and had even been chatting with the contractor for about ten minutes, hinting subtly, ��I��m an insider! Don��t you dare skimp on the work!��


    In response, the contractor had said, ��Boss Cheng is sure lucky, having such a beautiful girlfriend who is also so knowledgeable.��


    ��Mr. Chen, I��m not his girlfriend, I��m his school senior!�� Lin Lu said.


    At the time, they had been knocking down a wall, and Mr. Chen with the surname Chen misheard, ��Huh? You��re his biological sister? You don��t look very similar!��


    ��Not biological sister! School senior!�� Lin Lu raised her voice, emphasizing, ��Just a school senior!��


    ��School senior?�� Mr. Chen gave her a glance, thinking: ��Just a school senior, yet you care so much? You came early in the morning and again in the afternoon, you look like you have a bit of a cleanliness obsession, but you��re checking everything out at the construction site.��


    He just couldn��t understand the youth of today.


    At that moment, Xu Shao, who hadn��t gone far, heard the commotion behind him and turned to look.


    He saw Lin Lu jump down from the steps to Cheng Zhu��s side, remove her mask with a single motion, and take a deep breath.


    It was a simple movement, yet it gave off such a cute and vibrant impression that it struck him with a wave of beauty.


    Being in love with such a cute girl must make one smile often when looking at her.


    Xu Shao immediately shook his head, dispelling any distracting thoughts.


    ��Better hurry and deliver the desserts to Qiqi before the ice pack melts and they don��t taste as good,�� he thought.


    With that thought, he quickened his pace.


    On the other hand, Cheng Zhu looked at Lin Lu taking deep breaths and sniffed himself, saying, ��Are you also enchanted by my body scent?��


    ��Cut it out! Body scent! It��s just that the smoke and dust inside was too much, and wearing the mask was killing me,�� she complained a bit.


    Then she saw the milk tea in Cheng Zhu��s hand: ��I can��t believe you. Here I am helping you supervise the work, and you��re leisurely buying milk tea!��


    ��You didn��t tell me you were coming, or else I would have bought one for you. Don��t bother, I��ve already drunk from this one,�� Cheng Zhu told her: ��Should I send you the money?��


    ��Hah! Like I��m pining for your milk tea money!�� Rich girl Lin Lu felt that Cheng Zhu��s words, both spoken and unspoken, revealed a lack of sincerity.


    ��I��m so irritated, I won��t come to supervise the work for you tomorrow!�� Lin Lu said with a huff.


    The next day, Lin Lu really didn��t come.


    She was one to keep her word.


    Early the next morning, the moment Mr. Chen the contractor arrived at the store, he saw the masked girl.


    Everyone was running late to start work, and she seemed a bit unsatisfied.


    ...


    ...


    Time passed, and five days went by.


    In those five days, Lin Lu only missed supervising on the second day.


    She liked to record her life, enjoyed taking photos and writing little diaries.


    So, she began writing her own diary on supervising the construction.


    ��Day one of the construction, which is also my first day of supervision. The contractor thought I was amazing, understood a lot, he should see whose daughter I am! Of course, I didn��t tell him my identity, otherwise, he��d know the project he��s working on was outsourced to him by my family��s company.��


    Parenthesis: (Cheng Zhu is really annoying, he upset me again today).


    ...


    ��Day two of the construction, didn��t go, supervising diary takes a break for a day.��


    Parenthesis: (That will teach him, even I have a temper!)


    ...


    ��Day three of the construction, my second day of supervision. Today they started laying cables, I really don��t understand this. But never mind, Mr. Chen must have been intimidated by my performance last time. The store has already changed a lot, it��s all beaten up, nothing left that resembles the sushi restaurant before.��


    Parenthesis: (I told him today that I was coming to supervise and he didn��t come to keep me company, which made me mad; so I bought myself a cup of milk tea to calm down, but I absolutely can��t drink it tomorrow, I haven��t been maintaining my weight very well recently).


    ...


    ��Day four of the construction...��


    ��Day five of the construction...��


    Parenthesis: (He only showed up today to mark his presence! Makes me so mad, is it his store or mine! But at least today he knew to bring a cup of milk tea, that��s progress).


    At night, Lin Lu put down her pen and closed her little notebook.


    Since Cheng Zhu��s name first appeared in this notebook, these two characters have begun to show up frequently.


    But recently, these characters disappeared again, to be precise, the name was no longer seen, it became... unnecessary.


    Since only this person has been appearing in this period in this book, his name temporarily lost its meaning.


    Lin Lu herself was unaware of this point, as if it had subconsciously happened.


    In the notebook, she no longer wrote the word [Cheng Zhu].


    Instead, she wrote one after another �� [he].


    ...


    (PS: Second update, asking for monthly tickets at the end of the month.)

 Chapter 108 108: 95 First Date

    Chapter 108: Chapter 95 First Date


    The decoration of the claw machine store was progressing in an orderly manner.


    With Lin Lu supervising the work, Cheng Zhu was utterly relieved.


    As for the store ��Persistent Visit,�� the popularity of the new products was high.


    For some beginners in the QQ lingerie industry, these pure lust styles were relatively friendly since they weren��t too bold and beginners were more willing to try them.


    Therefore, there were occasionally some excited positive reviews in the buyer��s comment section.


    ��My girlfriend didn��t want to wear a QQ uniform before, but this time she was finally willing to try it, giving the store five stars.��


    ...


    ��My wife was absolutely against it before, but this time she reluctantly agreed.��


    ��I won��t say much, I��ll just say a number, seven times.��


    ��I wanted to surprise my boyfriend, but couldn��t take the step, this new style is somewhat more acceptable.��


    ��Today, sugar daddy transferred me 5200.��


    For old customers in the QQ world, who had played with bolder things, experiencing a bit of innocent contrast occasionally felt very exhilarating.


    The positive feedback from customers gave Cheng Zhu not only money but also an additional sense of satisfaction.


    Since this batch of pure lust new products were very photogenic, the sellers�� show gallery was also thriving!


    There was no way, Cheng Zhu wasn��t promoting just a bunch of QQ lingerie, his main push was actually the pure lust style.


    The poses for photos, angles, ambiance, and expression control... all these were textbook-level.


    These things had nothing to do with QQ lingerie.


    Wear some normal clothes, and you could achieve a distinguished effect.


    This was why Cheng Zhu knew from the start that the sellers�� show in his shop was actually the limit of the pure lust style.


    ��Next, there will be more and more women going down the pure lust route,�� Cheng Zhu was very sure of this.


    His only regret now was, it��s only 2014.


    ��These days, it��s mainly about promoting photos and videos through platforms like Weibo.��


    ��There��s no way, the live broadcasting industry hasn��t risen yet.��


    ��If the live broadcasting industry had already taken off, then, this gray backless sweater would be even more explosive!��


    ��In my memory, many big and small female broadcasters have worn this sweater.��


    ��If I remember correctly, even Sister Zhou wore it, and even danced and goofed around in it,�� Cheng Zhu recalled.


    But it doesn��t matter, you have to eat one bite at a time, and walk step by step.


    He threw out the pure lust card so early because when a few internet trends emerge later, he wanted to be qualified to participate.


    Cheng Zhu opened Weibo and saw that the browsing volume of the pure lust discussions had already exceeded 25 million.


    In addition, it had also derived a large number of new discussion topics such as [Pure Lust Makeup], [Pure Lust Outfits], [Pure Lust Photo Shoots].


    Last night, the phrase pure lust had even climbed up the Weibo trending search list.


    Although it wasn��t ranked high, it was still a joyous occasion.


    So, Cheng Zhu began to apply to Weibo��s official site for verification, the content of the certification was ��Creator of Pure Lust Style.��


    This was equivalent to an official title given, just like celebrities on Weibo would be certified with [Actor], [Singer], etc., and some internet celebrities would have a variety of messy certifications under their profiles.


    Honestly, Cheng Zhu didn��t really care how much money this batch of new products could make on Taobao.


    What he really wanted to secure was the Weibo verification!


    He needed Weibo to prove that it was he who had sparked the pure lust trend that swept across the internet!


    ��This thing will play a very big role in the future.��


    ��It will be my first gold-lettered signboard for the future.��


    ...


    ...


    In Bulk save Province, some city.


    Mr. Li, the owner of [Miaomiao flagship store], was in the office listening to the operations report.


    It��s too hot, that ��Persistent Visit�� store is too hot recently!


    This made him begin to doubt, ��Is the traffic really that big from external links?��


    Mr. Li knew that some QQ uniform shops would specifically seek out some well-known internet celebs for cooperation, using their promotion.


    Simply put, it was about sending them new products for free and paying them an additional fee to ask them to take photos in the clothes.


    [Miaomiao flagship store] never engaged in such tactics; they, being an established store, mainly focused on inner site operations.


    But recently, Mr. Li was a bit tempted to try it.


    But now, while listening to the store operations report, he was stunned.


    ��What do you mean? You contacted two people, and neither of them is willing to take the photos?��


    ��Mr. Li, it��s not that they��re unwilling, but they can��t in the near future; it would have to be at least a week later.��


    ��Why?��


    ��Because they both said that they have several sets of clothes to shoot immediately and can��t spare the time.��


    Mr. Li and the operations manager looked at each other, both feeling that the clothes mentioned might freaking well be the new products from ��Persistent Visit��!


    What, I give you money and you refuse to shoot, you prefer to spend your own money to buy clothes from another store?


    There are such things in the world! Is there no justice, no law!


    ��What are they thinking?�� Mr. Li was puzzled.


    ��They said that recently their fan group has been urging them, all telling them to shoot in that gray backless sweater...��


    Mr. Li: ��...��


    ��And also, these few clothing items are very hot across the internet right now, they said if they don��t ride the momentum now, it might be too late.��


    Mr. Li: ��...��


    Damn it! This store should die!


    We gave it bad reviews, went to high prices to steal their original keywords, and even copied their styles, even setting the price 8 yuan lower, how come we still haven��t taken them down yet!

 Chapter 109 109: 95 First Date_2

    Chapter 109: Chapter 95 First Date_2


    Have I been practicing the Seven Injuries Fist for so long only to hurt myself?


    People just don��t fall for your moves, but they keep coming up with unexpected tactics, what can you do?


    This operator faintly felt that he should not expect any profit-sharing from the store this month.


    In fact, he was well aware that the profits for [Graceful Flagship Store] this month were very poor.


    ��We didn��t take down our competitors, didn��t capture market share, but ended up nearly ruining ourselves.��


    ��What a disaster!��


    ...


    ...


    Last month, [Persistent Visit] brought Cheng Zhu nearly 300,000 in profit.


    But part of this money was reserved for operations, and he took out a portion of the remaining funds to pay rent to his landlady Shen Qingning, bought a claw machine, and used it for renovations and such.


    Which means that Cheng Zhu��s second bucket of gold after rebirth had nearly all been spent.


    Fortunately, this month��s business was much more booming than last month.


    The sales in the first few days of the month were equivalent to the total sales of the previous month.


    Subsequent days were also very stable.


    With new products launched this time, it only boosted the sales even further.


    Cheng Zhu was highly anticipating the total profit of the store for September.


    ��After all, first I have to earn back the more than 6 million that was in that Agricultural Bank card before I was reborn!�� Cheng Zhu thought through clenched teeth.


    ��Then, there are the cards from CCB and SPD... Damn! The more I think about it, the angrier I get!��


    Professionally, this reborn person has been having smooth sailing recently. And in his personal life, some interesting little events had occurred in the past few days.


    First, Liu Feng was really appointed by Chen Jieyu as the interim class leader of Computer Science Class Two for a month.


    As for the class��s belle, Chen Tingting, she became the youth league secretary.


    Official class committee selections were set for a month later, by which time the students would be much more familiar with each other and could begin democratic elections.


    Regarding Liu Feng becoming the interim class leader, the students of Computer Science Class Two hadn��t stopped discussing it privately.


    Everyone had a lot of speculation, but no one ever imagined it would be Liu Feng.


    It all happened so inexplicably. Li Xianqiang, who had been the temporary person in charge during military training, looked as distraught as if he had eaten shit.


    Cheng Zhu guessed that his words that night had likely been taken to heart by the beautiful counselor.


    He didn��t feel the counselor was blindly obedient or excessively meek. His words merely brought Liu Feng to her attention.


    She had her own observations and considerations.


    After watching closely for a few days, she noticed Liu Feng was indeed capable of handling matters competently, was tactful, and very meticulous. As for Li Xianqiang, he was just someone pretending to be important who wished to be part of the class committee.


    That��s how reality is, some people indeed have their own merits, but for various reasons, others might not see or notice them.


    ��Boluo is often found but not always recognized,�� is a phrase many have learned while studying, but many do not deeply understand it.


    Once you step into society, maybe one day you��ll suddenly understand.


    Many times, your earnest efforts may truly be outweighed by some people��s casual recommendations.


    It��s not like there are so many people who will spend their days observing other��s merits; people, you know, like to constantly pick on others�� flaws.


    In dormitory 309, Liu Feng, who had become the interim class leader, was completely stunned.


    Dong Dong couldn��t help saying, ��Damn, Cheng, you��re awesome! You recommended Chuaner to Mr. Chen, and Chuaner really got selected?��


    ��Why didn��t you recommend me too?��


    Cheng Zhu glanced at him, ��What, jealous now?��


    Take a look at how perceptive Chuaner is when handling things, then look at yourself!


    Attention-seeking much? Still want to be the class leader?


    ��Your only chance is to buy votes when the official elections come,�� Cheng Zhu told Dong Dong.


    Now, Mr. Dong��s wealth and vigor were well known throughout the information school; after all, he claimed in the dorm that he received 6,000 a month for living expenses, 8,000 in class, and at least 10,000 outside class!


    ��Fuck! Cheng, you��re underestimating me again!�� Mr. Dong burst out in anger.


    However, he soon felt that having a class leader as his roommate was pretty good, with many benefits!


    Cheng Zhu actually harbored the same thought.


    What good would it do me to be a mere class leader when I can barely handle external affairs?


    But if the class leader were my sworn brother, well, that could work.


    At this moment, Liu Feng leaned over to Dong Dong and said, ��Did you forget who recommended you as the dorm leader, Brother Zhu?��


    Then it dawned on Dong Dong, ��Right! I was the first person that Cheng appreciated.��


    After saying this, he added, ��Zheng, no intention of sowing discord between you and Cheng!��


    Zheng Qingfeng, the only one not ��appreciated�� by Cheng Zhu, indifferently nodded and remained cool.


    When it was time for dinner, dorm leader Dong Dong began rallying everyone to eat.


    Don��t go by his skinny-as-a-monkey appearance; he had a huge appetite, the infuriating type who could eat endlessly without gaining weight.


    He was always thinking about gaining some flesh to make himself appear less scrawny, but just couldn��t manage to bulk up.


    Dong Dong was planning to go get a bowl of Luosifen but definitely didn��t plan to bring it back to the dorm.


    A bowl of Liuzhou Luosifen, a testament to the steadiness of a man.


    ��You guys go ahead, I��ve got plans tonight,�� Cheng Zhu rejected his dorm leader��s proposal once again.


    ��You son of a gun, who are you meeting again this time?�� Dong Dong gave in.


    ��It��s definitely Sister Lin Lu!�� Liu Feng, as dorm 309��s top Lin Lu fan, chimed in immediately.

 Chapter 110 110: 95 First Date_3

    Chapter 110: Chapter 95 First Date_3


    Cheng Zhu nodded slightly.


    ��Yay, finally!�� Liu Feng waved his fist.


    ��Why the hell are you so excited?�� Dong Dong was dumbfounded.


    ��Come on, let��s go have some snail rice noodles,�� Liu Feng began pushing everyone outside.


    After the ��noisy dog trio�� of the dorm left, Cheng Zhu started to slowly change his clothes.


    At the claw machine store, since it only needed some simple decorations, the final touches were being made.


    ...


    Lin Lu had been frequently supervising the work recently, and it had been somewhat exhausting.


    ��I can��t just treat her to a cup of milk tea and then ignore her efforts.��


    ��I��m not the type who enjoys deliberately PUA-ing others,�� he thought.


    I, Cheng Zhu, never PUA anyone!


    So, that afternoon, he took the initiative to invite Lin Lu to dinner at the fried chicken restaurant next to the claw machine store.


    Lin Lu replied immediately, ��At least you have some conscience! I��m going to tell Ningning now. By the way, what time should we come find you?��


    However, the response she received was, ��No no no, today I am inviting you, the great contributor, alone.��


    Cheng Zhu thought to himself, ��Shen Qingning is the landlord, I can use that as an excuse to invite her out alone another time.��


    The voice actress, looking at the WeChat message, unconsciously tiptoed and swayed left and right.


    ��Humph! At least you have some conscience!�� she muttered.


    At 4:30 PM, Lin Lu entered the changing room and changed her clothes.


    Five minutes later, she returned and changed into another outfit.


    ��No, this outfit doesn��t match the hairstyle I curled today.��


    After changing into a somewhat preppy outfit, the voice actress stood in front of the full-length mirror, took a good look, and then nodded in satisfaction, ��Cute, cute!��


    Then, while picking shoes, she fell into a dilemma again.


    ��Could these shoes be slightly mismatched?��


    ��These shoes have a slightly low heel.��


    ��These don��t match my socks; I feel like I should switch to boat socks.��


    After putting everything together, she began to feel that the hair she had styled with the curling iron might be too curly.


    ��Does the volume at this section look a bit off?�� she looked in the mirror and tugged at her hair upwards.


    Half an hour passed, yet she still felt that something was off everywhere, nothing felt right.


    Seeing that it was almost time to meet, she oddly felt a bit of anticipation yet also a bit nervous.


    ��Sigh, whatever, it��ll have to do,�� she checked herself in the mirror once more.


    Before heading out, Lin Lu gently knocked on Shen Qingning��s door.


    At that moment, Miss Shen was in her room, engrossed in a romance novel, emotionally swayed back and forth, almost shedding a tear.


    She opened the door, saw the meticulously dolled-up Lin Lu, and was slightly startled, ��What��s up?��


    ��Nothing much, I just forgot to tell you, I won��t be having dinner at home tonight. Have you ordered yet?�� she said.


    ��Not yet,�� Shen Qingning looked Lin Lu up and down, couldn��t help but frown and asked, ��Who are you going to dinner with?��


    Usually, when they went out, they only applied some foundation at most, rarely wearing full makeup.


    Lin Lu had her eyebrows and eye makeup done today, had specifically curled her hair, and seemed to have even sprayed some perfume.


    But the perfume must have been sprayed earlier, to keep only a faint scent on her, so it wouldn��t be too overpowering.


    For some reason, looking at the frowning Ningning, the words ��Cheng Zhu�� got stuck in her throat, turning into, ��Just... with a friend!��


    ��Ah, I��m running late, I need to go!�� She stepped into her little leather shoes and hurried out the door.


    �� I��m off.


    Shen Qingning watched her back, her eyes flickered with suspicion.


    ...


    (ps: First release, 4400-word long chapter, seeking monthly tickets at the end of the month!)

 Chapter 111: 96 Shooting Your Heart

    Chapter 111: Chapter 96 Shooting Your Heart


    After slipping downstairs, Lin Lu let out a long sigh of relief.


    She got into her little white Audi, started the car, and couldn��t help but mutter, ��Why didn��t I have the courage to tell her directly? Ningning is clearly not the kind of person who loves gossip or making a commotion.��


    ��Even if she knew I was dining alone with Cheng Zhu today, given her personality, she wouldn��t overthink it, let alone get the wrong idea.��


    ��Forget it, don��t want to think about it anymore, I��m going to be late!�� She started driving to the dining spot.


    By the time she reached the fried chicken restaurant, she saw Cheng Zhu standing at the entrance of the arcade machine store, gazing blankly ahead, lost in thought.


    The energetic girl, seeing him distracted, planned to sneak up and scare him.


    But as soon as she quietly approached Cheng Zhu like an assassin, he suddenly turned around with a deep and loud ��Hmm���� startling Lin Lu.


    ��Ah! So annoying! Do you have eyes on the back of your head or something?�� Lin Lu gritted her teeth.


    ��There��s a shadow on the ground.�� Cheng Zhu pointed and said: ��That shadow just now was too sneaky and creepy. I guessed it was you right away.��


    ��Go die! You��re the creepy one!�� Lin Lu exclaimed angrily.


    ��Let��s go, let��s go in.�� Cheng Zhu pointed at the fried chicken restaurant next door and then helped her open the door.


    The owner of the fried chicken restaurant wasn��t there today, but the female employee recognized Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu, thinking to herself: ��Ah! The little couple from the store next door is here!��


    She had noticed them before; the girl was particularly beautiful and cute, and the guy was tall and handsome, looking quite well-matched.


    The fried chicken restaurant was doing okay, with quite a few people coming in for takeout, but only a few dined in.


    After they sat down, Cheng Zhu looked at her and said, ��What do you want to eat? I��ll order.��


    Source: , updated on ?�Ϧͨ�0.���


    ��Just order whatever, I don��t eat much for dinner. All beauties have their own figure management, you know!�� She propped her cheek with one hand, glancing at the various fried chicken combos hanging on the wall.


    ��Okay then.�� Cheng Zhu stood up, then casually glanced at her and said, ��You even put on earrings today. They look pretty good.��


    On hearing this, Lin Lu slightly tilted her head and then raised a finger to lightly tap her earring, continuing to bask in her vanity, ��It��s just a regular design. Perhaps my beauty adds extra points to it.��


    Cheng Zhu smiled and went to order.


    He hadn��t really paid much attention to the earrings; as someone who once ran a live broadcasting company with many female anchors dolling themselves up in the company makeup room, he could spot the changes in Lin Lu��s makeup and outfit at a glance.


    ��A girl��s careful dressing and attendance in full array actually affirms your handsomeness and charm. She��s heavily complimenting you with her beauty of the day.��


    ��Complimenting back is the least courtesy.�� That��s what Cheng Zhu believed anyway.


    In the end, Cheng Zhu ordered a sweet and spicy fried chicken meal and got two cans of soda.


    He personally didn��t particularly like the self-brewed sodas in some small shops, feeling the taste was off.


    Though the chicken from this shop was just okay, for a girl who paid attention to figure management, eating fried chicken once was like indulging herself.


    And indulgence always brings joy.


    So, Lin Lu was quite happy eating.


    Well, it should just be because of that.


    As it happened, this was their first time dining alone together, which, on some level, was equivalent to a first date.


    Some people rack their brains over the venue for their first dates, even spending a lot of money to go to fancy places that they wouldn��t normally patronize.


    Cheng Zhu thought that this approach wasn��t very wise.


    Besides, if you set the bar too high from the start, some girls might think you��re getting less and less sincere later on.


    Lin Lu was a very simple girl; she didn��t have much demand for the grade of the dining place.


    She now had a soft spot for the arcade machine store and naturally considered the fried chicken restaurant as her neighbor by instinct.


    The two of them had a dinner full of laughter and chatting.


    But Cheng Zhu kept teasing her, and since her emotions were always written on her face, to others, it looked like they were constantly flirting.


    ��You��re really only eating this little?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    ��Yeah, it is fried chicken, after all!�� Lin Lu still felt a bit greedy, but a beautiful girl had to learn to restrain herself.


    Most slim girls who claim to be foodies are either sipping green tea or just pretending. Lin Lu knew she wasn��t the type who could eat anything without gaining weight, and those girls were few and far between.


    ��I was thinking of treating you to some milk tea, but since that��s the case, I��ll have to drink it alone later. However, you have to come with me to queue.�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��I��m not going with you. I��m going to drive away after this!��


    ��That won��t do. You have to accompany me to the arcade machine store to have a look. As the boss, I need to properly inspect the fruits of the supervisor��s labor.�� Cheng Zhu spoke.


    ��Crazy, I��ve worked so hard, and you actually want to assess me!�� Lin Lu was irritated again.


    Ah, ah, ah! If I stay with him for too long, will I get mammary gland hyperplasia from the annoyingness?


    My bust shape is very nice; I don��t want to have surgery.


    ��Come on, let��s go buy the milk tea, help us digest after the meal.�� Cheng Zhu motioned her with a wave of his hand.


    So, Cheng Zhu took Lin Lu to the milk tea shop and ended up ordering a cup for her as well.


    ��I really don��t want it!�� Lin Lu frowned, feeling conflicted. You��re really testing me, you jerk!


    ��It doesn��t matter, it��s bought now so you can take it back to Shen Qingning later,�� said Cheng Zhu, waving the issue aside and heading toward the arcade machine store.


    Lin Lu initially held the straw, struggling inside. Suddenly, for some reason, she plunged the straw in.


    She sipped a little milk tea, and her expressive eyes squinted slightly.


    Eating fried chicken was already indulging, but following up with milk tea after fried chicken was downright breaking the fast.


    ��Living without discipline feels too good.


    With a milk tea in one hand and her purse in the other, her small black leather shoes clicked against the street as she hurried to catch up with Cheng Zhu. Intentionally lagging two strides behind him, she stepped on the head of his shadow with each foot.


    The lights in the ceiling of the arcade machine store weren��t fully installed, making it dark inside.


    Cheng Zhu groped his way in and gestured to Lin Lu, saying, ��Come on, hurry up!��


    The voice actor girl hesitated to enter the gloomy interior and prepared to switch on the flashlight on her phone.


    ��Don��t turn it on, just follow me,�� Cheng Zhu told her.


    ��Why?�� Lin Lu was puzzled, but she obediently followed.


    As soon as she entered the door, Cheng Zhu abruptly pulled down the rolling door.


    The arcade machine store��s glass door had not been installed yet; there was only a rolling door.


    Lin Lu was startled at first, then realized she was in an almost completely enclosed space with Cheng Zhu, and her heartbeat involuntarily accelerated.


    In addition to that, the surrounding darkness made her a bit nervous and afraid.


    ��Why did you pull down the door?�� Her voice grew quieter, and she felt a little overheated.


    ��You��ll know in a moment,�� Cheng Zhu said. ��Don��t move, stay here. It��s a bit messy inside, so be careful not to trip.��


    After speaking, he made his way over to the wall.


    ��Click.�� He flipped a switch, and the neon light patterns on both sides of the wall immediately lit up.


    These had just been installed that afternoon, and Lin Lu had not yet seen them.


    ��Ah!�� The sudden burst of colorful light flooded into her eyes.


    These neon light strips forming patterns made the shop not pitch black anymore, but still not very bright.


    They purely created an atmospheric effect.


    Cheng Zhu walked over to Lin Lu and said, ��Not bad, right?��


    ��Ah? Oh, yeah... it��s good,�� she replied, nervous and uncertain in the dimly lit, enclosed shop, she quickly lowered her head to drink some milk tea.


    ��I just installed it this afternoon. You��re the first one to see it,�� Cheng Zhu remarked.


    ��Oh, really!�� Lin Lu looked around, giving every neon light in the shop a once-over.


    ��Anyway, once everything is done, the shop will certainly look quite nice,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��Then I��ll look forward to it!�� Lin Lu replied.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her smiling face and those adorable dimples, then bent down and opened a drawer. He took out a glowing Crayon Shin-chan trinket.


    ��Here, it��s a gift from the neon light factory. I know you��re a serious Crayon Shin-chan fan. Do you want to keep this in the shop, or take it home?�� Cheng Zhu said.


    This was a clever question. It was clearly a gift for her, but yet he asked, ��Do you want to take it home, or would you rather keep it here in the shop?��


    He wasn��t presenting her with a choice; he was imparting significance to the shop.


    If the shop had nothing to do with her, it shouldn��t be in the same choice category as home.


    ��Then... keep it in the store!�� Lin Lu immediately made a decision.


    The little arcade machine store thus had a personal token belonging to Lin Lu.


    The voice actor girl was quite happy, looking at the glowing Crayon Shin-chan ornament, and imitated Crayon Shin-chan��s voice: ��Hello, please treat me well, my name is Nozaki Shinichiro, I am five years old.��


    ...


    ...


    After leaving the store, Cheng Zhu suggested taking a look around.


    Continuing down the street and crossing a road, there was a bustling area at night.


    Knowing she had indulged too much today, Lin Lu also wanted to walk off some calories, so she nodded and agreed.


    The two strolled slowly through the night, enjoying the cool breeze, feeling quite comfortable.


    ��Want to play?�� When they passed a small stand with a dart-throwing game, Cheng Zhu noticed that Lin Lu took several glances.


    ��Not really, it��s just for kids.��


    ��How about we compete?��


    ��Well then, you are so losing! Let��s do this!��


    Cheng Zhu, at a loss whether to laugh or cry at her words.


    At such roadside stalls, if you throw darts and score high enough, you can exchange them for prizes.


    Each got ten darts, and Cheng Zhu threw them slowly.


    He really wasn��t good at this, but with each throw, he learned, carefully observing, and then trying something new with the next one, drawing conclusions.


    Lin Lu didn��t care about angles, force, curves... Just throw them!


    ��Got it!��


    ��Got it!��


    The voice actor girl even did her own sound effects, and since her hit rate was not high, she got louder and louder.


    She quickly finished her ten darts and then counted her score, disappointedly saying, ��Ah? I��m still three points short of the third-place prize...��


    But before she even finished complaining, she couldn��t help but exclaim in surprise, ��Ah!��


    Because she saw another dart suddenly shoot out from the side and hit her target!


    A resigned male voice came to her ear: ��Oh no, I missed my target.��


    ...


    (ps: Second update, begging for monthly tickets at the end of the month!)

 Chapter 112: 97: You Actually Came Back?

    Chapter 112: Chapter 97: You Actually Came Back?


    On the street, a small dart throwing stall.


    Lin Lu just stood there amid sighs of frustration, helplessly watching as Cheng Zhu threw a dart that hit her target.


    The score of the dart wasn��t high, only the fourth ring, which showed that his skills weren��t really that great.


    But that didn��t matter anymore, did it.


    Only a fool would focus solely on scoring high at a time like this. Even if you hit a high score, what then?


    Could scoring on the target really score points in her heart?


    The stall��s owner was a middle-aged uncle.


    To be precise, with this kind of stall, and also those that involved throwing rings to win dolls, it seemed that the owners were mostly uncles.


    Cheng Zhu��s languid ��aiyo, I missed�� was also overheard by him.


    However, the difference was that Lin Lu��s attention had just been entirely on her own target, seriously calculating her total score.


    But the stall owner did watch Cheng Zhu stealthily aim and then, with the swiftness of lightning, throw the dart at the girl��s target, hitting it by complete surprise!


    In Cheng Zhu��s view, the same action, taken at different times, had different effects.


    You had to time it precisely at the moment she calculated her total, for that was the prime opportunity!


    It��s just like in gaming; the rhythm, truly matters.


    It��s like getting a kill in a game, taking down the opponent once. But sometimes, that kill is more critical, more decisive in winning or losing a game, more meaningful than any other that came before.


    Source: , updated on n?��???.���


    When Cheng Zhu had shared this piece of knowledge in his past life, he used gaming as an example, because some fools could only understand it that way.


    So, if you throw your dart at her target during her throw, the effect would be a bit less impressive.


    But doing it at the last moment like this, she would first be shocked, then delighted, and her emotions would experience a significant fluctuation.


    The scruffy middle-aged stall owner really didn��t care about these youngsters�� little romances. What he thought was, ��With that move, should I count her score or not?��


    ��By the rules, it really missed; it shouldn��t count.��


    ��There really isn��t any reason to give her a prize.��


    Lin Lu looked towards Cheng Zhu, only to find that he wasn��t looking at her at all.


    Cheng Zhu had one last dart in hand and was now aiming steadfastly.


    ��This last dart is critical. I was definitely going to win the third prize, but then such a big mistake happened,�� he was still pretending, yet subtly highlighting the sacrifice he made.


    ��Tch!�� Lin Lu responded to his words with a scoff, her hands behind her back, fingers clenched together, and her right foot lightly kicking the ground.


    ��You scoff, but you might as well count up my score. Look at my target, only eight darts, but not much less than yours,�� Cheng Zhu pointed at his own target.


    ��Whatever! Let me check, let me check!�� Lin Lu moved closer to his side, a half-step closer, and started tallying.


    The middle-aged stall owner was kind of in a hurry. Others would have thrown twenty darts in the time it took them to throw ten.


    But no one was lining up now, so he was indifferent.


    To be precise, having people playing at the stall actually attracted more attention from passersby.


    ��Did your little brain figure it out yet?�� Cheng Zhu looked down at her and smiled: ��You��re just five points away.��


    ��Hmph, as if you��re guaranteed to score high with your last dart,�� Lin Lu said.


    ��How about a bet?�� Cheng Zhu immediately went along with her line of thought.


    ��Fine, let��s bet! What are we betting on?��


    ��You name it,�� Cheng Zhu slowly put the dart down and stopped aiming.


    Middle-aged owner: ��...��


    To him, Cheng Zhu��s last dart would determine if he��d get a small prize, whether he��d have to ��bleed�� a little.


    He had been eagerly watching.


    ��Then... let��s bet dinner!�� Lin Lu didn��t think up an overly outrageous stake.


    ��Sure,�� Cheng Zhu looked at her, then threw the last dart with his right hand directly, a blind throw.


    The motion was suave and cool, the arc beautiful, and it ended up missing the target smoothly.


    ��Yes!�� Lin Lu pumped her fist excitedly, then taunted, ��That��s what you get for showing off! A blind throw!��


    Cheng Zhu just shrugged it off, saying, ��Right, you thought that throw just now was cool too, right?��


    ��Get lost, get lost! You didn��t score at all, and you still have the nerve to talk!�� Lin Lu laughed, revealing small dimples, as she teased him.


    The scruffy stall owner began to step forward, ready to charge them and inform the pair that they didn��t win any prizes.


    Cheng Zhu, however, at this moment, took out a cigarette from his pocket, casually placed one in his mouth, then tapped the cigarette box with his finger, ejecting one and offering it to the middle-aged stall owner.


    ��Boss, want one? I don��t have a lighter, can I borrow some fire?�� he said casually, raising his eyebrows slightly.


    This kind of street vendor was actually quite savvy. As he took the cigarette, he lifted a pile of small prizes, saying, ��Beauty, choose one, these are all third-tier prizes.��


    Lin Lu��s attention was immediately captured.


    Truthfully, if it weren��t for the fact that they were prizes, she wouldn��t have given them a second look in a store �C they were all cheaply made.


    But that��s just how people are; if it��s a prize, then suddenly it��s different.


    The voice actress girl was picking energetically, in high spirits.


    Cheng Zhu waved off the lighter from the stall owner, indicating that he didn��t smoke, then stuffed the cigarette back into his pocket.


    The cigarette was a good one; after forking over the prizes, the middle-aged stall owner stood to the side, puffing smoke on his own.


    In the end, Lin Lu chose a cheap third-tier prize from the pile of mess: a little ��Pig Hero�� figurine, also quite ugly.


    ��This one!�� she held it up high and showed it to Cheng Zhu.


    ��Another pig,�� Cheng Zhu commented drily.


    ��Mind your own business!�� Lin Lu put it down and tucked it into her bag.


    When she got home, she planned to place it next to her [Cheng Zhu] figurine.


    In the end, it was Lin Lu who took the initiative to pay.


    After leaving the stall, she lifted a finger towards Cheng Zhu, saying, ��Remember, you owe me a meal!��


    ��Alright,�� Cheng Zhu shrugged nonchalantly.


    Let the girl win, and she wins.


    Just like that, a matter-of-fact excuse for a date next time was set.


    ...


    ...


    The two strolled on this lively street for about ten more minutes before turning back.


    On the way home, they ran into Lin Lu��s female classmate and her boyfriend.


    ��Lu Lu!�� The girl greeted her warmly.


    ��Ah! Yuqing!�� Lin Lu also immediately waved back and looked at the boy beside her, gossiping, ��And who is this?��


    ��My boyfriend,�� the girl named Zheng Yuqing looked towards her boyfriend and said, ��Jinming, this is our Technology University��s famous beauty, Lin Lu!��


    ��What are you talking about!�� Lin Lu was embarrassed to be introduced that way.


    Zheng Yuqing sized up Cheng Zhu with a smile and said, ��Lu Lu, it��s rare to see you not with Shen Qingning. So, who is this?��


    Cheng Zhu responded first, ��Hello, Cheng Zhu, freshman from the Information School.��


    ��Eh? I feel like I��ve heard your name before... Where did I see it...�� Zheng Yuqing��s brain started turning rapidly.


    But Lin Lu interrupted, ��Ah, we won��t interrupt your date. Come on, Cheng Zhu, let��s go! Bye Yuqing!��


    She feared the other might blurt out teasing remarks.


    After all, her relationship with Cheng Zhu wasn��t like theirs. Better to be spared from the jests.


    However, Cheng Zhu was indifferent, slowly catching up to Lin Lu while waving goodbye to the couple.


    Zheng Yuqing watched the tall and handsome boy, suddenly exclaiming, ��Ah! I remember now!��


    Her excitement startled her boyfriend.


    ��I saw him on the school forum. Back then, there were rumors that Shen Qingning had a freshman boyfriend! It��s him, Cheng Zhu!��


    Jinming: ��Huh?��


    He was a bit confused but somehow found himself admiring the junior looking at his back.


    After some thought, Jinming said to Zheng Yuqing, ��Don��t spread rumors in class. They might just be normal friends. Look, they weren��t holding hands or anything intimate.��


    ��Don��t let Lin Lu and Shen Qingning start thinking badly of you.�� Jinming knew his girlfriend��s tendency to blab; she could accidentally offend people.


    ��What! You have the wrong idea about me,�� Zheng Yuqing replied.


    Although she said that, she took her boyfriend��s words to heart.


    ��But that junior is indeed handsome!�� Zheng Yuqing couldn��t help saying, ��He must be over six feet, right?��


    ��Huh? Am I not handsome?�� Jinming delusionally retorted.


    ��You? You��re okay too!�� Zheng Yuqing teased with a chuckle.


    ��Let��s go, I��m gonna get you later!�� Jinming made a face at her.


    The couple was heading to a love hotel outside the campus.


    For ordinary students, this was a significant expense each month.


    ��So gross!�� Zheng Yuqing laughed and teased, leaning into his embrace and on tiptoes, whispered, ��I��ve got a surprise for you today!��


    With that, she pointed inside her jacket.


    Jinming��s eyes widened, and breath grew heavy.


    Meanwhile, Boss Cheng, who had walked far away, was unaware that the senior who had just greeted him was a new customer of his shop.


    ...


    ...


    Under the moonlight, Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu quickly walked back to the claw machine shop.


    Lin Lu opened the door of her white Audi and first placed her bag and milk tea inside.


    Then she turned to Cheng Zhu and said, ��So, I��m going then?��


    ��Yeah, go ahead. Text me when you get home.��


    ��OK, bye!�� She smiled and waved at Cheng Zhu before sitting in the car.


    Cheng Zhu stood outside and could see through the window as she pulled the seatbelt across, then watched helplessly as the seatbelt got stuck.


    This kind of woman could be a co-driver killer, easily distracting the driver.


    After starting the car, Lin Lu caught a glimpse of Cheng Zhu still standing there and immediately rolled down the window again to wave goodbye: ��I��m off!��


    Cheng Zhu nodded slightly under the streetlight.


    Only then did the car leave the parking spot, heading home.


    On the way, she skipped songs in the car, ending up listening to some upbeat tracks.


    When Lin Lu got home, she saw Shen Qingning with her legs crossed, sitting on the couch, elegantly crossed at the ankles.


    The cool beauty had her arms wrapped around her chest, leaning back on the couch, looking up at Lin Lu as if waiting for her daughter to come home, emanating a formidable aura, and said calmly,


    ��You��re back?��


    ...


    (ps: First update, thanks to [����ؼ] for the alliance reward, there will be an additional chapter today.)

 Chapter 113: 98: Just a Simple Goodnight

    Chapter 113: Chapter 98: Just a Simple Goodnight


    Lin Lu and Shen Qingning rented a three-bedroom house off-campus, and the living room was quite spacious with a large TV set.


    However, both Lin Lu and Shen Qingning seldom watched TV alone in the living room.


    The two of them would occasionally watch a movie together there.


    At the moment, a TV drama from Mango TV was playing on the television, and the sound wasn��t very loud.


    The voice actress, who was bending over to switch her slippers, felt inexplicably nervous when she heard the soft ��I��m back.��


    ��I��m going to take a shower first; I sweated a bit earlier!�� She immediately ran into her room.


    Shen Qingning watched her retreating figure and silently turned off the living room TV, since she hadn��t been watching with focused attention anyway.


    ��Was she holding a milk tea cup in her hand just now?�� Shen Qingning noted the detail.


    The milk tea shop of that brand was at the school gate, but Hang City was so big, it wasn��t the only place around Technology University that had one.


    She shook her head slightly, deciding not to think further on it.


    She didn��t even know why she had sat in the living room waiting for her to come back.


    ��Maybe it��s just an instinct, always feeling that something is off with her?�� Shen Qingning thought it was her sixth sense acting up.


    ��Moreover... did she seem in a particularly good mood when she came in?�� she wondered to herself.


    The cool girl no longer sat crossed-legged on the sofa but retreated to her room.


    After closing the door, she couldn��t help but mumble, ��When did I start being so suspicious?��


    Source: , updated on ??��??.���


    ��No, it��s not that I am being paranoid.��


    ��Knowing Lu Lu��s personality, she��s the type who can��t keep things to herself, always telling me whatever she does. Usually, I might even find her too talkative, sometimes not feeling like listening at all.��


    ��There��s definitely something fishy!�� she concluded in her mind.


    ...


    ...


    Next door, Lin Lu had informed Cheng Zhu that she was home and then went to remove her makeup and shower.


    The warm water washed over her body, and the carefree girl soon forgot the pressure Shen Qingning had just put on her, humming a song in the shower.


    Having just won a little ��Pig Hero�� figurine, the voice actress was singing the theme song of ��Pig Hero.��


    ��La la la lei, la la la lei...��


    ��Smart and brave, with strength aplenty, I really admire myself...��


    She sang with a childlike charm.


    The bathroom is a magical place that makes one feel like a shower singing champion, with everyone sounding perfect.


    After her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and sat before the mirror to meticulously apply skincare products to her face.


    After applying toner, she waited for it to be fully absorbed by her skin before rubbing on the night serum.


    So, she took the opportunity to pick up her phone and text Cheng Zhu on WeChat: ��All done with my shower!��


    See, someone who wants to keep chatting with you will tell you right after they finish their shower.


    Someone who doesn��t want to chat with you would have drowned in the shower and disappeared without a trace.


    As it turned out, Cheng Zhu, who had also gone to shower, only replied after five minutes: ��I��m done too.��


    Lin Lu, who had finished applying her skincare and changed into her pajamas, picked up her phone, unable to resist typing: ��How come you take longer to shower than me?��


    ��What, are guys supposed to shower faster than girls?��


    In reality, when he got back to his dorm, he had been subjected to a ��trial�� by his three roommates.


    With gossipy faces, his roommates asked him about the entire day��s events, but Cheng Zhu, feeling no obligation to report to them as a father figure, brushed them off with a few words before taking his shower.


    If you want me to give a lecture, you��d better pay up for the knowledge first!


    After chatting for a few more exchanges, Cheng Zhu said he had to get busy with work.


    A man can��t have his mind filled with women all the time, nor can he devote all his attention to them.


    The same applies to women.


    If that were the case, most of the outcomes wouldn��t turn out well.


    ��Which sportswear shop on Taobao is yours?�� Lin Lu asked when she heard he was going to take care of his shop, unable to hold back her curiosity.


    The last time in everyone��s presence, Cheng Zhu told Wang Wei that the clothes he sold were also sporty, and everyone believed him.


    Undoubtedly, Lin Lu took it seriously.


    ��I was just talking nonsense that day; I actually sell women��s clothing,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    ��Send me the link, I��m in a good mood today, I��ll splurge a bit on you!�� Miss Lin immediately said.


    ��Forget it, the clothes in my shop aren��t suitable for you at the moment,�� Cheng Zhu texted.


    ��Don��t look down on me! I��m very versatile, everything I wear looks good!�� Lin Lu was very confident in her own beauty and figure.


    Cheng Zhu imagined her wearing a gray backless sweater, thinking it would undoubtedly be very eye-catching.


    ��When I get the chance, I��ll give you a few pieces, then don��t refuse to wear them,�� he typed with a smile.


    ��Pff, even if you sold old ladies�� clothes, I��d still make them uniquely stylish!�� Lin Lu typed back full of smugness.


    ��Alright, alright, I��m going to get busy,�� Cheng Zhu immediately disappeared, and in the end, he still didn��t reveal the name of his shop.


    Lin Lu put down her phone, talking to herself: ��Weird, being so secretive about a small business.��


    She knew some people were thin-skinned and also didn��t want acquaintances to patronize their shops out of friendship, feeling that money didn��t come comfortably and instead felt like they owed a favor.


    But she didn��t think Cheng Zhu was like that.


    ��How thick-skinned he is!�� the voice actress remarked sarcastically.


    With that thought, she got up from the bed, barefoot, looking for her slippers she didn��t know where she had kicked during her dive onto the bed, and then sat down at her desk.


    Lin Lu first opened her black bucket bag and took out the prize from her dart game.


    The ��Pig Hero�� figure did indeed emit a cheap vibe, not particularly attractive, with average quality and an overall ugly appearance.


    But she liked it quite a bit, finding it quite cute.


    At this moment, looking at the figurine, she remembered the darts Cheng Zhu had thrown on her target board.


    Whoa, as if shot by Cupid��s arrow.


    The girl sat at the desk and childishly mimed the action of throwing darts in the air, instinctively adding her own sound effects: ��Swoosh��!��


    After a while, she took out a notebook and pen from her drawer and began to record.


    Nothing significant happened today; she just ate junk food she wouldn��t usually eat, drank milk tea, checked on the shop she supervised, gained a full sense of achievement, and played darts...


    Lin Lu, who often recorded her life, was good at summarizing while writing.


    But today, she wrote a lot of words in her notebook, detailing everything very elaborately.


    She wrote about the flavor of fried chicken, how sweet the milk tea was, what pattern was formed by the neon lights in the shop, her thoughts and conclusions from playing darts, and that she finally won a little figurine.


    After writing, she added a note in brackets.


    Bracket: (Note it down, he still owes me a meal!)


    Lin Lu knew very well that she actually lost the bet, and Cheng Zhu had made it too obvious he had let her win, making her triumph feel quite cheeky.


    But this cheeky feeling was just so comfortable.


    ...


    ...


    In dormitory 309, Cheng Zhu lay half-reclined on his bed, not in a hurry to check the Taobao store��s backend.


    He could sense that Lin Lu was probably quite happy today.


    ��Peak-end rule��, still has some truth to it,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    The so-called ��Peak-end rule�� was proposed by a psychologist who surprisingly won the Nobel Prize in Economics.


    A psychological state that lets many enterprises earn more money after learning about it, indicating its significance.


    Simply put, this rule suggests that in an experience, if the climax and the ending are pleasurable, the overall memory of it is likely to be pleasurable.


    With limited resources, many businesses follow this rule for the best customer experience.


    The psychologist discovered a cognitive bias in the human brain; if the peak and end experiences are good, even with some bad experiences in the middle, the final memory would still feel quite satisfactory.


    Let��s take the dumb boys�� most understood example: gaming.


    You��re gaming in an internet cafe? and almost lost the entire night.


    But during your streak of defeats, you pulled off an impressive feat, scoring a pentakill.


    Then, right before leaving, you finally won a game.


    Thus, the memory of that night��s gaming experience is likely to be good.


    Take note, the peak-end rule also applies in male-female interactions.


    Many experienced playboys may not understand these psychological concepts, but their actions often follow the peak-end rule.


    For example, create a small highlight during a date to elevate the mood, and then tell her at parting that you actually prepared a small gift for her.


    This effect is better than presenting a gift right at the start of the meeting.


    Of course, playboys also value their own experiences, so if they��re not enjoying their time with her, they might skip the last part...


    Cheng Zhu��s plans for the day had inadvertently aligned with the peak-end rule, targeting human vulnerabilities.


    Throwing darts wasn��t something extraordinary.


    But he hit Lin Lu��s target.


    In the end, he subtly secured third prize for Lin Lu.


    Following the peak-end rule, hitting right at the weak spots of human nature.


    He didn��t really do it on purpose; some things are ingrained in the soul, and he simply interacts with people naturally.


    Just max out the emotional value for you.


    After reviewing the day��s whole process, Cheng Zhu started managing his store��s backend and arranging work for tomorrow in his work group.


    At eleven, he received a photo from Lin Lu.


    It was a group picture of the stuffed toy ��Cheng Pig�� and its new friend ��Cheng Zhuxia.��


    ��Keep busy; I��m just showing you; no need to reply. I��m going to sleep, turning on silent mode, good night.��


    Cheng Zhu read the WeChat message and really didn��t reply.


    He personally thought that saying goodnight at the same time wasn��t very significant.


    Only after finishing all his work did he message Lin Lu, who was already asleep: ��Just finished, exhausted, I��m going to sleep in silent mode too, good night.��


    In this way, Lin Lu would see the message when she woke up in the morning, and it actually continued the conversation, providing a starting point for further discussion.


    If the girl was willing to chat, then she��d reach out to you early in the morning following this cue.


    Saying goodnight might not mean much, but saying good morning to each other upon waking up is closer.


    It signifies a willingness to chat first thing upon waking up, or even a desire to reach out to you right away.


    The next day, Cheng Zhu didn��t have early classes, so he didn��t set an alarm and slept until he naturally woke up. He didn��t need to check on the claw machine store since Lin Lu would supervise for him, better to take the opportunity to sleep in.


    When he woke up, he saw Lin Lu��s WeChat messages.


    ��Ah? Busy until after midnight, seems like you��re making a fortune!��


    She also sent another message with a homemade emoji made from a little pig doll.


    The words and the emoji together said:


    ��I��m getting up for class now, Morning! Cheng Zhu!��


    ...


    (ps: Second update, asking for monthly votes at the end of the month, and there��s a third update coming today.)

 Chapter 114: 99 A Grand Introduction

    Chapter 114: Chapter 99 A Grand Introduction


    Time flew by, and just like that, three days had passed.


    Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu chatted casually every day.


    Each of them had their own studies and work to attend to, so they didn��t chat from morning to night without stopping.


    But whenever they had some free time, they��d exchange a few words.


    Besides, they were both in the same WeChat group, which hadn��t had a quiet day since its creation.


    All thanks to Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Minglang, the duo who always livened up the atmosphere!


    The off-campus arcade store was starting to bring in equipment.


    The renovation that Cheng Zhu handled was indeed simple and didn��t take much effort.


    In some areas, he even took inspiration from ��Claw Machine,�� a chain that had stores all over the country.


    For instance, making the claw machines more flashy and decorating them cutely.


    Or creating a so-called ��plush wall�� inside the store, where a multitude of stuffed toys were densely piled up and stuck to the wall. He aimed to cover the entire wall, with toys of varying sizes and designs stacked in an irregular fashion.


    These designs, along with the neon lights he��d previously acquired, were actually for use as photo spots for a trendy store.


    Simply put, he wanted customers to take photos at various spots in the store and then share them on social platforms.


    Designing photo check-in spots is one of the fundamental operations for a trendy store.


    This morning, the dance machine had arrived and was placed in its reserved spot.


    And by the afternoon, the claw machines were being set up one after another.


    Not to mention, just the transit of these machines drew many passing students to stop and watch.


    Girls, naturally, were somewhat interested in these gadgets.


    Consider that once TikTok became popular, live streams by claw machine masters could easily attract thousands or even tens of thousands of viewers concurrently.


    This showed that there was always an audience for claw machines.


    At four o��clock in the afternoon, a large number of claw machines were finally all moved inside the store.


    Two entire shops were filled with claw machines.


    Which meant that even the giant video arcades probably didn��t have as many claw machines as this place.


    From a distance, it was quite a visual impact.


    And the name of the store had already been decided by Cheng Zhu.


    Both the arcade store and the milk tea shop were Little Youzi��s dream shops.


    So, he decisively integrated his sister��s name into the store��s name and added a playful twist, naming it����Youu Come to Play.��


    Thinking about it, if it weren��t for doting on his sister, Cheng Zhu might have considered some more down-to-earth name.


    ��The trend is changing, huh. People used to like trendy store names, but now, ironically, it��s the down-to-earth names that seem to become trendy spots more easily.��


    At four-thirty, Lin Lu and Shen Qingning came together.


    Both of them were quite concerned about the store, yet their focuses were different.


    Shen Qingning��s interest was because she was the landlord; her good friend Cheng Zhu had rented her shop to set up this business.


    Lin Lu��s concern was because she was the supervisor of the store, having watched it transform bit by bit, investing time and energy into it, and naturally feeling a different kind of connection.


    ��If this store does well, I can claim some credit, huh!�� Lin Lu arrogantly thought to herself.


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu was outside the store handing out cigarettes to the movers who had been busy all afternoon.


    He spotted Lin Lu waving at him from afar.


    ��Cheng Zhu! Hello! Hello there!��


    He smiled and put out his cigarette.


    ��Here I am,�� he said to the two women.


    The female landlord looked from outside into the shop and commented, ��It��s starting to look like something.��


    ��Yeah, wait until all the plush toys are in, and it��ll give you a more direct impression,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    ��Right? Didn��t I tell you on the way here that our ��Youu Come to Play�� is really eye-catching? Right? Right?�� Lin Lu kept prompting for a response from Shen Qingning, her ��right?�� incessantly uttered.


    ��Our ��Youu Come to Play��?�� Shen Qingning��s thoughts lingered on these words.


    Amidst Lin Lu��s barrage of ��rights,�� Shen Qingning eventually just nodded faintly.


    Just then, a voice called out from behind.


    ��Hey, Shen Qingning, Lin Lu, what a coincidence!��


    They turned around to see a figure in a white shirt, its hem tucked neatly into black trousers.


    This person was none other than Pei Yan, the Vice Chairman of the Student Council, who had met Cheng Zhu on the day of orientation.


    Pei Yan was thrilled to bump into Shen Qingning on the street... if only Cheng Zhu wasn��t also there.


    ��Damn it, why is he here too!�� Pei Yan thought indignantly to himself.


    Shen Qingning, the esteemed beauty of Technology University, didn��t have many who dared to pursue her openly. Most were intimidated by her aloof demeanor and powerful presence.


    This Vice Chairman of the Student Council was one of the few brave ones at Technology University, obviously thinking highly of himself.


    As for Cheng Zhu, well, he was indeed a bit taller and perhaps a smidge handsomer than himself.


    But I��m the Vice Chairman of the Student Council, with abilities ranking among the top students at Technology University; my family is also not lacking.


    In strict terms, people who served in the student council tended to be confident in their character.


    Moreover, just like high schoolers think middle schoolers are foolish, and middle schoolers think the same of elementary students, as a senior, he saw freshmen as naively foolish and mostly immature.


    He was different; he interacted with school leaders, handled various school affairs, and received school scholarships.


    His main selling points were maturity, stability, and exceptional abilities!


    He always felt Shen Qingning wasn��t one for superficiality.


    However, among those who enjoyed reading romance novels, quite a few, in fact, do judge by appearances.


    Pei Yan approached and chatted with Shen Qingning and Lin Lu before turning his gaze to Cheng Zhu, ��Hmm... Cheng Zhu, right?��


    Cheng Zhu nodded.


    Pei Yan, curious, asked the two women, ��What are you doing here?��


    Lin Lu casually replied, ��Just checking out this store.��


    Hearing this, Pei Yan glanced inside and, seeing their interest, immediately catered to it by saying, ��All claw machines, huh? Quite interesting.��


    ��Thanks,�� Cheng Zhu unexpectedly chimed in.


    ��Hm?�� Pei Yan was momentarily puzzled. ��Were you speaking to me just now?��


    ��Uh-huh.��


    ��Err, why are you thanking me?�� Pei Yan was utterly confused.


    ��Thanks for complimenting it,�� Cheng Zhu gestured casually towards the interior, saying, ��I proudly introduce to you, this store is mine.��


    ...


    ...


    Outside the doors of ��Youu Come to Play,�� Pei Yan��s composure unraveled in the autumn breeze.


    Isn��t he crazy?


    It��s the first time I��ve heard someone use ��I proudly introduce�� in this way.


    Aren��t those words usually directed at others?


    It felt as if we were two chivalrous wanderers who met for the first time. I say to you, ��I am Pei Yan!��


    And then you hit me with, ��I am Cheng Zhu, above!��


    Here he was, showing off in front of me, joking around, huh?


    But honestly, Pei Yan was genuinely eager to try when he first noticed that Shen Qingning, an icy goddess, seemed to be interested in claw machines.


    He was planning to delve deeper into the topic of the store and see if he might have a chance to invite her out here to spend some time.


    Now he could forget it!


    Damn it, so you��re standing at the storefront because you��re the boss?


    Nevertheless, Pei Yan really began to reassess Cheng Zhu.


    ��I��ve always felt that he didn��t seem like a kid from an ordinary family, let alone a poor one.��


    ��But opening a shop off-campus in freshman year, if his family didn��t have some clout, he wouldn��t do this. Looks like he really does have some money.��


    But the conversation had reached this point, and he had just praised the shop, so there was nothing to be done.


    Real life isn��t like online chat; there��s no undo button.


    Thus, Pei Yan had to maintain his grace with a smile, saying, ��I see. I��ll help promote it at the Student Council, top-down. It should have some promotional effect throughout the school.��


    Cheng Zhu heard this with a chuckle.


    ��Top-down? Interesting, Vice Chairman Pei,�� he thought to himself.


    He knew of this man from his past life, now understanding why the man nicknamed ��Elegance Monster�� would later get beaten up by lower-grade students outside of school.


    Cheng Zhu nodded at Pei Yan, without much intention of further conversation.


    This annoyed Pei Yan even more, feeling like he was getting the cold shoulder.


    Even though he never really intended to promote for Cheng Zhu, people are like that; if he says one thing and does another, just for show, but the other person doesn��t even feign courtesy, then it gets to him first.


    Seeing that sticking around to force a chat wasn��t getting anywhere, Pei Yan eventually had no choice but to conjure up what he believed to be a very gentlemanly smile and say, ��Junior Brother and Sisters, I will be leaving now.��


    This time, Cheng Zhu was quick to respond: ��Uh-huh!��


    Get going already, you Elegance Monster.


    Before Pei Yan left, he glanced inside the shop one last time.


    He knew of an off-campus video arcade that had closed down; the incident had stirred quite a controversy, with several wealthy students making a fuss.


    Hence, he was skeptical about ��Youu Come to Play.��


    Indeed, youngsters without any real-world experience just jump into things headfirst.


    Still proudly introducing! I think your shop won��t last long before it fails!


    ��But before it closes, maybe I can get those guys from the external relations department to look him up,�� Pei Yan thought.


    At this moment, at the doorway of ��Youu Come to Play,�� Cheng Zhu glanced in the direction Pei Yan had left.


    Then he turned to Shen Qingning and deliberately asked, ��That guy��s one of your suitors, right?��


    ...


    (ps: Third update, the last day of the month, seeking monthly votes!)

 Chapter 115: 100: You are the Ace [Vote for monthly pass!]

    Chapter 115: Chapter 100: You are the Ace [Vote for monthly pass!]


    At ��Youu Come to Play����s storefront, Cheng Zhu just thought it would be fun to ask Shen Qingning if Pei Yan was her pursuer.


    Unexpectedly, Lin Lu cut in, ��I don��t really like this person. The way he talks and the vibe he gives off make me uncomfortable.��


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qingning also nodded slightly.


    See, in the realm of romance, a girl��s close friends can always influence her indirectly.


    If her close friends don��t like you, that really is a terrifying thing.


    Cheng Zhu knew this all too well.


    So, the best strategy was to win over the close friend as well.


    ��Shen Qingning is Lin Lu��s close friend, and Lin Lu is Shen Qingning��s close friend; ah well, I can��t help it.��


    After a while, the three of them entered the claw machine arcade together.


    ��When will the dolls arrive, Cheng Zhu?�� Lin Lu asked.


    ��They��ll start arriving tomorrow, and then I��ll pick an auspicious day to officially open,�� he replied.


    ��You even pick a day? I never knew you were superstitious!�� Lin Lu chuckled.


    ��You wouldn��t understand,�� Cheng Zhu waved his hand, ��Business people like to seek good fortune.��


    I, damn it, was even forced to be reborn, so I definitely have to believe in it a bit!


    ��So, do you need help arranging the dolls tomorrow?�� Lin Lu knew it would surely be busy.


    ��That��s going to be hard work,�� Cheng Zhu said. ��If you find it fun, you can come and play for a while. You don��t need to worry about the dirty and tiring work; I have roommates.��


    These three computer guys clearly lack exercise; I��ll get all of them to come work tomorrow.


    That��s the benefit of opening a shop related to women��s interests.


    Not to mention calling this cheeky dog to help; even if they weren��t paid to work in the shop, they��d probably be enthusiastic to work for a few days.


    Of course, they could only last a few days because they would quickly realize that no matter how many girls there were here, it ultimately had nothing to do with them.


    ��So, before they realize this, I might as well make good use of them,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    ...


    ...


    On the other side, ��Elegant Weirdo�� Pei Yan, took a cab to the nearby mall.


    He had a small dinner party today.


    When he reached the Korean restaurant in the mall, the two dinner companions had already arrived, Xu Shao and Zhang Qiqi.


    ��Little Pei, you��re always the last to show up for meals, huh?�� Xu Shao raised his eyes and couldn��t help but tease.


    He had already graduated from Technology University, but during his time there, he had also joined the student council and was Pei Yan��s leader.


    Thus, Pei Yan was both his junior and his right-hand man during his time at the student council.


    That��s why he always called him Little Pei.


    Of course, that��s not how Pei Yan saw it.


    ��You only made it to minister, but now I��m the Vice Chairman of the student council,�� Pei Yan felt that this showed he was clearly more capable than Xu Shao.


    The reason the three were eating together was that Xu Shao was pursuing Zhang Qiqi, and Pei Yan was helping to connect them.


    Zhang Qiqi, being an internet-famous school beauty, loved to participate in various campus and off-campus events.


    So, as Vice Chairman of the student council, Pei Yan inevitably met her often.


    Sometimes, he would specifically ask her for help.


    One thing led to another, and the two became quite familiar.


    Pei Yan��s affection for Shen Qingning was not a secret at school, and he openly admitted it.


    In Vice Chairman Pei��s view, liking someone meant openly admitting it, as it seemed more handsome and upright.


    This made Zhang Qiqi think about whether to lure him away from pursuing Shen Qingning and make him one of her catches in her pond.


    When she watched ��The Return of the Condor Heroes,�� she thought, ��If I were Li Muchou, since I dislike Little Dragon Girl so much, why not steal Yang Guo away!��


    Even if Miss Shen doesn��t like Pei Yan, if someone who originally pursued you suddenly falls head over heels for me, wouldn��t it be interesting if it spread around the school?


    But later, she found Pei Yan quite annoying. He was always preachy, loved to talk about grand principles, and often brought up values.


    So, when he introduced Xu Shao to her, she decisively chose Xu Shao, who was a better overall catch.


    Annoying Pei Yan, who was obsessed with values, was better left to bother Shen Qingning.


    At that moment, Pei Yan took his seat next to Xu Shao and explained why he was late: ��I ran into junior Shen Qingning on the way here, so I got delayed.��


    ��Huh? You ran into her? Is she also in the mall?�� Zhang Qiqi immediately perked up.


    ��No, I met her outside the campus, at a small video game arcade,�� Pei Yan answered.


    Zhang Qiqi and Xu Shao glanced at each other. As soon as he mentioned the small video game arcade, they knew it was Cheng Zhu��s place.


    However, Zhang Qiqi��s focus was all on Cheng Zhu, while Xu Shao once again sighed, attempting to stir Zhang Qiqi��s memories.


    ��Little Pei, you remember, right? The first time QiQi and I had a meal was at that sushi restaurant, and you were there too.��


    ��That was my choice, of course I remember,�� Pei Yan laughed.


    ��So I have quite a fondness for that sushi restaurant, it holds a lot of memories for me. I never imagined it would end up becoming a video game arcade; it��s really absurd.��


    ��And this owner of the arcade, both QiQi and I don��t really like him,�� Xu Shao said.


    Zhang Qiqi: ��...��


    Why am I suddenly being represented again?


    She just smiled on the side and kept silent.


    Pei Yan perked up when he heard that.


    Oh ho, teammates, huh!


    ��Do you know that Cheng Zhu?�� he asked.


    ��We don��t know him, just seen him a few times,�� Xu Shao shook his head. ��But I didn��t get a good vibe from him.��


    He continued, ��You know, that video game arcade outside the school, I even invested fifty thousand in it at the time, and it ended very unpleasantly.��


    ��Yeah, that incident actually spread quite widely around the school,�� Pei Yan nodded.


    ��Right, so I don��t know what he��s thinking, daring to open an arcade right at the school gate. Our arcade back then was twice the size, the total investment much larger, plus each of us had more acquaintances and connections at school, yet we couldn��t make it work,�� Xu Shao said as he grilled meat for Zhang Qiqi. He ate the more burnt pieces himself and used tongs to give Zhang Qiqi the better-cooked pieces.


    As for the most burnt or worst-looking pieces, they ended up with Pei Yan.


    He didn��t even bother to grill, so he only deserved the worst!


    Actually, Pei Yan wasn��t unwilling to grill; it��s just that Xu Shao insisted on doing it himself for Zhang Qiqi.


    ��I don��t think his store will last very long,�� Pei Yan said.


    Xu Shao nodded and smiled, ��When his shop fails and he��s desperate to get rid of it, I��ll rent that spot cheaply.��


    Then, he turned to Zhang Qiqi, ��QiQi, I��ll open a Japanese restaurant for you by then? Or shall I start the sushi restaurant again? You decide what to open, I still have quite a fondness for that location.��


    ��Let��s see when the time comes, I��ll think about it,�� Zhang Qiqi replied with a smile.


    If there actually comes a time, she would definitely say publicly, ��This Xu Shao says he wants to open a store off-campus for me, asking me to think about what to open. How would I know? It��s so annoying.��


    For Zhang Qiqi, she didn��t care what Xu Shao eventually opened.


    As for the sushi restaurant, I have no shared memories or feelings about it.


    She just hoped that the fact that an admirer was opening a store off-campus for her would become the talk of the town, making her, the school beauty, a legend at the school.


    Speaking of which, while Zhang Qiqi was very interested in Cheng Zhu, she also felt that this arcade definitely wouldn��t make it.


    ��Who knows, maybe one day it really will be taken over cheaply by Xu Shao?�� she thought.


    Pei Yan grabbed a piece of seafood scallion pancake for himself, picked out the onions, and said: ��I��m starting to feel sorry for this junior. Not only is his investment going down the drain, but at that time, he will probably have to contribute to our school��s External Relations Department.��


    Xu Shao couldn��t help but laugh.


    ��Are you saying to let those guys from the External Relations Department go find him for sponsorship?��


    The university��s External Relations Department had an important job: to try to get sponsorships and secure funds from outside to support the student council��s various activities.


    ��That��s how it should be. If you��re making money off our students outside the school, you should provide some funding for the activities organized by our student council, right?�� Pei Yan, as the Vice Chairman of the student council, felt this was perfectly reasonable.


    If they don��t sponsor, then that��s not right. People in the department often bad-mouth those businesses behind their backs.


    And to be frank, in the minds of the student council and the External Relations Department, university students like Cheng Zhu who open stores off-campus are really like fat sheep.


    These people often fit the profile of being young, inexperienced, especially gullible, and vain.


    Some off-campus businesses, like tough mutton, if you go to them looking for sponsorship every now and then, will completely ignore you. They might even show you a foul face or chase you away.


    But with stores opened by students from our own university, it��s often easy to get money.


    Just hanging a banner at an event or having the host briefly advertise the store would suffice to handle the sponsorship.


    ��It��s always easier to scam those you know!


    Besides, among this batch of External Relations Department members, there were several shameless tough nuts.


    These people aren��t afraid of rejection.


    You harshly reject me? No problem! I��ll dare to come again next time!


    Speaking of which, every dog that gets kicked around in relationships actually has the potential to join the External Relations Department.


    Compared to those ultimate bootlickers, the work of the External Relations Department is nothing!


    At that moment, both Xu Shao ����ҧݧڧܧ�ӧѧߧߧ���?t Pei Yan unanimously agreed that they should let the External Relations Department scoop as much as possible from him as soon as possible.


    They figured his small video game arcade would soon fail, and these few months should be seized to make him bleed a bit more.


    At this moment, Pei Yan suddenly thought of something, smiled at Zhang Qiqi, and said:


    ��Right, I just remembered, our Zhang School Beauty is practically the ace of our school��s External Relations Department!��


    ...


    (ps: First update, new month, seeking minimum monthly votes!)

 Chapter 116: 101: Power of Beauty: Ninth Rank! [Vote for Monthly Pass!]

    Chapter 116: Chapter 101: Power of Beauty: Ninth Rank! [Vote for Monthly Pass!]


    Inside the South Korean restaurant, Zhang Qiqi was slightly startled when Pei Yan suddenly mentioned her.


    She was indeed the ace of the External Relations Department.


    As long as Zhang Qiqi stepped in, sponsorship fees for school activities were never an issue.


    For instance, Xu Shao had invested in an internet cafe outside the school that��s been running for several years.


    If Zhang Qiqi asked him for sponsorship, could he even refuse?


    It was just that Zhang Qiqi rarely took action personally.


    In her view, that money could be spent on herself, so why should she help the student council fight for it?


    Only when the External Relations Department really fell into a dire funding crisis would Zhang Qiqi appear like a savior, resolving the urgent need and then turn it into a legend within the school.


    In the External Relations Department, she was more responsible for other work besides pulling in sponsorships.


    At this moment, Xu Shao took the initiative to say, ��Why should Qiqi stick her neck out for sponsorship? There��s absolutely no need. If she really has a task, she only has to tell me.��


    What a gallant knight!


    Pei Yan smirked, complimented him casually, but in his heart, he cursed, ��Dead bootlicker!��


    Not like me, although I��m also pursuing someone, I always maintain decorum and elegance, to highlight my own demeanor.


    Little did he know, in Xu Shao��s eyes, this Pei Yan was nothing but useless trash.


    Look at me, I��m about to succeed with Qiqi!


    And then look at you, would Shen Qingning give you the time of day? Do you even have the chance to sit down and eat with her?


    Ha, what a clown!


    Zhang Qiqi sat on the side with a faint smile, not continuing the conversation along that topic.


    ��Go to the electronic game city for sponsorship?�� she thought.


    She hadn��t thought about helping the student union shear Cheng Zhu��s wool, but she felt this was an opportunity and reason to get in touch with him again.


    ��I was actually just thinking of going to his store to spend money, and check in.��


    As the ace school belle of the External Relations Department, it was time to take up the responsibility of my great department!


    I should take charge and form a personal connection with him!


    ...


    ...


    The following day happened to be Saturday, so there were no classes.


    Early in the morning, all the people from Room 309 were busy inside ��Youu Come to Play.��


    The arrangement of the dolls inside the toy crane machines required some finesse.


    Cheng Zhu felt that his three roommates weren��t very adept with their hands and feet when working, fearing today��s efficiency might be low.


    ��Hurry up, after arranging the dolls for each machine, I still have to try a few captures,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��Huh? Cheng, can��t you just set these machines yourself? What��s the point of trying to capture?�� Dong Dong was puzzled.


    ��Are you stupid? The setting is one thing, but the position and height of the doll placement are another.��


    ��You see this machine here, the dolls at the bottom are piled quite high. Now look at this one, the position of the dolls is relatively low. Under the same settings, do you think it��s easier to capture those farther from the claw, or those closer?��


    ��Do you think the dolls are piled high in every machine just for looks?��


    ��This height will also affect the success rate.�� Cheng Zhu briefly explained, ��Work faster, there��s a lot more to do. Later, I��ll treat you guys to a meal and milk tea.��


    And indeed, these pesky dog trio, while inefficient, they never stopped working.


    No helping it, this store really caught some eyes on this street.


    With the doors open like this, a few guys crazily arranging dolls inside the machines in the store, many passersby would stop to watch. This was a form of early promo.


    Seeing so many girls watching from outside, Dong Dong and the others straightened their backs a bit more, their expressions grew more serious, and their gaze each deeper than the last, hoping to show everyone their most handsome moments.


    Sadly no matter how hard they tried, most of the attention was still on Cheng Zhu.


    ��Is that a staff member? So handsome!��


    ��It��s making me want to spend haha.��


    ��Does this store offer staff-assisted capture services? I wouldn��t mind recharging a card.��


    Indeed, some girls came up to chat with Cheng Zhu, asking when the store was officially opening, and if they could add WeChat to get a notification when the opening happened.


    Dong Dong and the others were so envious their back teeth were practically grinding.


    Then they continued to bury their heads in work, hoping to duplicate Cheng Zhu��s success.


    After a while, the dorm chief glanced at his phone and suddenly said, ��Zhu Yingying told me that people from their dorm also want to come help.��


    ��Sure, just tell them to come,�� Cheng Zhu thought for a moment and then nodded.


    It would be good timing for Yao Yina to try the dance machine after she arrived.


    These few girls studying fashion design took almost half an hour to finally arrive at the ��Youu Come to Play�� storefront, their efficiency terribly low, probably each sprucing up in their dorm beforehand.


    As they walked in, they all let out a collective gasp.


    ��Wow!��


    Then, the four girls began to look around the store.


    ��This doll wall looks so pretty, how many dolls were stuck up there?��


    ��This wall would make for a perfect photo!��


    ��Hey, this neon light is quite interesting too!��


    ��Cheng Zhu, did you put these stickers on the toy crane machines yourself?��


    The girls chattered away while they toured the location.


    They looked at the dolls in the toy crane machines and felt they were even more exquisite than those usually found in electronic game cities.

 Chapter 117: 101: Power of Beauty: 9 Sections! [Request for Monthly Votes!]_2

    Chapter 117: Chapter 101: Power of Beauty: 9 Sections! [Request for Monthly Votes!]_2


    Every girl��s inner child was thoroughly awakened!


    This is also one of the reasons why stores with only doll machines are more likely to become internet-famous than video arcades.


    Video arcades have too many machines: fishing games, arcade games, racing games... with such a mix, styles inevitably become varied.


    Visually speaking, a bunch of doll machines placed together certainly looks better and has a greater visual impact.


    What many internet celebrity shops do is dig deep into a specific demographic!


    They focus solely on making money from a particular group of people!


    Thinking of making a small shop like yours cater to everyone is nothing but a pipe dream, isn��t it?


    Cheng Zhu looked at them, smiled, and said, ��If you want to take photos, you can try taking some, and let me see the results later.��


    ��It��s a good time to help me promote with some pictures before the official opening,�� he added.


    ��Okay, okay!�� The four girls immediately became excited, as they had been eager to take photos for a while.


    Strangely, even when they went to play in video arcades on normal days, they wouldn��t have such a strong desire to take photos.


    But as soon as they entered this shop, they inexplicably felt the urge to take photos, feeling like every corner was photogenic!


    However, thinking a spot is suitable for a photo and the actual quality of the resulting picture can sometimes be different things since what the naked eye sees and what the camera captures are often not the same.


    But at this moment, Zhu Yingying bent down slightly and snapped a few casual photos of Yao Yina standing in front of the wall of dolls, then let out an exclamation, ��Wow! Nana! I feel the photo turnout rate is going to be high!��


    ��Let me see, let me see!�� Yao Yina, with her long legs, immediately ran over to look at Zhu Yingying��s phone.


    After looking for a moment, she nodded repeatedly: ��This one is not bad... and this one is pretty good too!��


    ��It��s so weird, why does it feel like every corner is great for photos?��


    The shop seemed to have a magical power!


    Cheng Zhu put down what he was doing and walked over, asking, ��Do you mind if I take a few shots of you?��


    Yao Yina was already a fan of Cheng Zhu��s good looks, seeing him as a campus heartthrob, so how could she refuse his request?


    She suddenly felt a bit shy, a little nervous and bashful.


    Though she was known to be the boldest person in the dormitory, in front of Cheng Zhu��s lens, she actually became somewhat coy.


    ��Um... come and stand here, yes, right here,�� Cheng Zhu began instructing.


    ��Turn your body slightly to the side, right, right, that��s good.��


    ��Then come over here, this spot is also very photogenic,�� he added.


    Yao Yina felt like a marionette under his direction, muttering, ��Ah? Oh, oh...��


    Zhu Yingying and the others watched with amusement at her antics, provoking Yao Yina to shake her fist at them in frustration.


    But seeing Cheng Zhu had already raised his phone and crouched down to take her photo, she immediately returned to the pose he had set.


    ��Not bad, not bad, you��ve got some potential to be a model, huh,�� Cheng Zhu casually complimented.


    Well, as a QQ social media mogul, he wouldn��t seriously praise like that; if he did, he would surely have to follow through with such a model!


    ��Here, see what you think of these shots,�� Cheng Zhu passed his phone over.


    Zhu Yingying and Guan Jiayue immediately crowded around, curious to see Cheng Zhu��s work.


    ��Let me see! I want to see too!��


    ��Not bad, her legs look so long!��


    ��This one is good! This one is the best!��


    ��Ah, this one actually has a great atmosphere, it��s a pity you blinked, Nana!��


    ��Cheng Zhu is really good at taking photos, it��s killing me, how does he do it so well?��


    The girls chattered away, playfully praising and critiquing each other, not forgetting to joke that Zhu Yingying��s photos weren��t as good as Cheng Zhu��s.


    Yao Yina felt a rush of excitement, further convinced of her idol��s amazing talent, wishing she could have such a boyfriend who was great at taking photos.


    Who doesn��t love a boyfriend who is great at capturing moments?


    Dong Dong and the others sneakily watched and eavesdropped, then looked at each other and exchanged looks.


    Damn it, Cheng! How many more tricks do you have up your sleeve?


    What the hell, how many guys out there can take photos that satisfy a girl? You freaking dog, how come you have so many skills!


    Joke! Do you understand the value of being a Grandmaster?


    Do you think you��re just a top-grade playboy because you��re charming and flirtatious? Better call yourself a dog of a man!


    Brother Zhu, I roam the world, not just with my super good looks, with my fun personality and rich background, but also... my talents!


    Having many skills is not at all a burden, but it can be overwhelming for others.


    Like stepping on you average guys, or overshadowing the women you desire but can��t have.


    In truth, Cheng Zhu coming in to take charge of the photography wasn��t because he was itching to show off his skills.


    Purely because Youu Come to Play is taking the route of an internet celebrity shop.


    An internet celebrity shop needs a few spots that stand out for photo check-ins.


    When customers come to the shop wanting to take photos, they will go to the same place to check-in for pictures.


    That��s how you build up popularity.


    These photo check-in spots can be discovered by customers spontaneously or can be intentionally designed by the business.


    Many businesses, in their early stages, will hire a group of people to come and check-in for photos at the same spot, and then spread these images all over social media platforms to create their check-in points.


    His personal perspective and aesthetics are definitely more advanced than those of ordinary college girls.


    So, he decided to take the lead, to let customers know where is the best and most beautiful spot to take photos.


    In simple terms, it��s like the master showing you a demo!


    This way, the initial photo output of the store will also be of higher quality.


    People do tend to follow the crowd, especially some girls.


    When they see photos taken by others at this shop online and think they look good, they will want to come and take pictures as well. They might even take photos from the exact same angle and pose!


    If you look at the check-in photos of internet celebrity shops, you��ll notice they��re almost all alike, just with different people.


    If you have a big star or a major influencer leading the way, it��s even more exaggerated.


    Haven��t you seen those roadside mailboxes that became celebrity mailboxes because a popular star took a picture with them, attracting crowds to line up for photos even in the early hours of the morning?


    ��Therefore, the initial [demo photos] are incredibly important!�� Cheng Zhu, well-versed in the ways of internet celebrity shops, understood this all too well.


    Yao Yina, as pretty as she was, was just for fun to him.


    She could create a little buzz, but certainly didn��t qualify to be the face of the check-in [demo photos].


    At least in Cheng Zhu��s mind, Yao Yina, despite her bold dressing style and long legs, was still somewhat lacking.


    The demo photo must be super popular, go viral, and make all the girls want to imitate it.


    ��If the real world were a fantasy world, then your level would only be [Power of Beauty��Sixth Rank]!��


    ��And by my side, there are two top-level players,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.

 Chapter 118: 102: The Princess [Request for Monthly Votes!]

    Chapter 118: Chapter 102: The Princess [Request for Monthly Votes!]


    Shen Qingning and Lin Lu, these two top female celebrities, were the most satisfying choices for the ��model photos�� in Cheng Zhu��s heart.


    However, Shen Qingning was a bit more reserved and had a cool personality. It was really uncertain whether she would be willing to take photos.


    But as for Lin Lu, Cheng Zhu felt it was almost a sure thing.


    ��My Sister Lu Lu will definitely not refuse such a small request from me,�� Cheng Zhu firmly believed in his heart.


    Say what you will, in the end, it has to be Lu Lu!


    To Cheng Zhu, Lin Lu was a must-have.


    As for whether Shen Qingning was willing to take promotional photos, that would just be the icing on the cake.


    To be precise, this female landlord was too aloof and had a powerful aura. If she came to ��Youu Come to Play�� for a photo shoot, the main appeal might be the striking contrast.


    Lin Lu was different. This cute, energetic girl was just too goddamn suitable for this place.


    ��It��s just a pity that I didn��t plan to invest too much time and energy in this kind of project; otherwise, I would have asked her to be the spokesperson,�� Cheng Zhu jested to himself.


    Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered someone.


    That was Zhang Qiqi, the senior who seemed to be quite interested in him.


    Although, in Cheng Zhu��s heart, her beauty was a tiny bit lesser than Lin Lu and Shen Qingning��s, she was still an internet celebrity with significant platform influence.


    Moreover, whether it was her makeup or outfits, she always followed the internet celebrity style, which perfectly matched the attributes of this kind of internet-famous shop.


    So, if she came to do a promotional visit, the effect could be even better than Lin Lu.


    ��He��s a pretty decent tool,�� he mused to himself, seriously considering this option.


    At that moment, he glanced toward the doll wall.


    Sure enough, after he casually took a few photos of Yao Yina, people like Guan Jiayue started to imitate the photos he took and posed in front of the doll wall.


    Noticing Cheng Zhu��s glance, Guan Jiayue softly asked, ��Um, I also want to take pictures like that, is it okay?��


    With a hint of inquiry, a touch of caution, and a bit of cuteness...


    People like Dong Dong were stunned, with only one thought in their mind��let her take the photos!


    Unfortunately, Cheng Zhu didn��t fall for that, or perhaps he was already tired of it, simply saying, ��You can take photos however you want in the store; there��s no need to specifically ask me.��


    After saying this, he immediately busied himself with something else.


    Dong Dong muttered softly to the side, ��Why do I feel that Brother Cheng, sometimes seems really cool, and other times a bit clueless about romance, what��s the deal?��


    Liu Feng thought to himself, ��Is there a possibility that Brother Zhu switches modes flexibly?��


    Zheng Qingfeng, however, kept his gaze fixed on Guan Jiayue until she turned to look in their direction, and then he quickly averted his gaze.


    After the girls took photos for a while, they remembered that they were there to help.


    With the addition of the four girls, work efficiency indeed improved somewhat.


    Girls are a bit more meticulous than boys. The stuffed animals arranged in the claw machine looked much nicer than those arranged by those three flamboyant guys.


    When it was time for lunch, Cheng Zhu invited everyone next door to have fried chicken for lunch.


    When the female employee of the fried chicken shop first saw him come in, her eyes lit up.


    But when she saw the group of boys and girls following behind him, the light in her eyes dimmed a bit.


    ��Aww, where��s that super cute girlfriend of yours!�� she wondered to herself.


    After finishing the fried chicken, Cheng Zhu also treated everyone to milk tea.


    The four girls studying fashion design felt the past few hours were quite joyful.


    They not only got beautiful photos taken but were also treated to lunch and milk tea by a handsome guy.


    So, when Cheng Zhu asked Yao Yina to try the dance machine, she was incredibly enthusiastic.


    And don��t get started��even though it was already autumn, this long-legged spicy girl insisted on showing her legs, showing potential for old cold legs.


    She wore a pair of tight denim shorts, which tightened and contoured the flesh of her buttocks, making one��s peach look perkier.


    During the dance, her leg flesh trembled slightly, especially the lines on her thighs, which were particularly eye-catching.


    The three flamboyant guys from dorm room 309 were stunned. Cheng Zhu wondered if he should remind them to wipe their drool.


    By the time Yao Yina finished her energetic dance, Cheng Zhu felt this girl had the potential to be a popular live streamer if she were put into the era of big live broadcasts.


    ��It seems like the volume on these two dance machines needs to be turned up just a tad more. Thanks,�� Cheng Zhu said to her.


    Such a simple thank-you might make the girl��s day.


    Of course, she also felt a strange sense of accomplishment in her heart.


    ��Ah! In the entrepreneurial project of my idol, I also have a sense of participation!��


    Good fellow, it��s a good thing Cheng Zhu didn��t have this mentality, or else, having sold so many QQ lingerie, wouldn��t he have a great sense of participation in the intimate exchanges of thousands of couples?


    Another half hour passed, and everyone got the plush toys in the claw machine all sorted out.


    The remaining toys were placed in the storage room.


    He originally wanted to try his hand at the claw machine, but considering so many people around, and occasionally passers-by watching, he decided not to mess with it.


    Later on, after the trial play, they might still need to recalibrate, resetting the claw machines again, and these things were better off not being seen by the public.


    After closing the rolling door, Cheng Zhu squatted down and locked it with the key.


    Today was Saturday, and he still had to go home for dinner.


    Thus, he said goodbye to his roommates and the girls outside the shop.


    Then, he caught a taxi home.


    On the way back, seated in the taxi, he thought again that he might need to buy a car.


    In his previous life, when he was young and wealthy, he was at the age when men love cars the most.


    He changed cars frequently and had briefly owned many luxury cars.


    ��Never mind, I��ll buy one later; just get a good one right away, no need to bother with a temporary ride.��


    ��Old Cheng isn��t even comfortable driving an inferior car.��


    ...


    ...


    Tonight��s dinner was still at Grandpa Cheng��s house.


    The only difference was that Comrade Cheng was busy at Yunlai Restaurant, and as a son-in-law, he temporarily had no time to flatter his father-in-law.


    When he knocked on the door, he immediately heard Little Youzi��s voice.


    The words were similar to last time: ��It must be my brother coming back! Mom, don��t go to open the door! I will!��


    Then, Cheng Zhu was led into the house by her little hand.


    Before dinner, Cheng Zhu took out a box of candies from his pocket and handed it to her, saying, ��For you, your Sister Lu Lu asked me to give these to you.��


    Didn��t he give Little Youzi some mint candies that Lin Lu bought last time? The little girl got a chill, almost stuck out her tongue, and found the taste too intense.


    After hearing about this, Lin Lu had been concerned and actually went to buy candies especially for Little Youzi.


    What surprised Cheng Zhu was that the voice actress girl even left a note in the box of candies.


    After Little Youzi opened the candies, the two saw the note, which had four words written on it: ��Don��t sneak any!!!��


    Yes, those four words were followed by three large, bold exclamation marks, obviously traced over with a black pen for quite some time.


    ��Goddamn it, she��s even guarding against me!�� Cheng Zhu exclaimed angrily.


    Damn you, my sneaky little sister! What do you take me for?


    ��Brother, what are these two words in the middle? Don��t what what eat?�� Little Youzi blinked, asking.


    ��Don��t eat too much,�� Cheng Zhu bluffed.


    ��You��re lying! I recognize the word ��more��! I��ll write it for you to see!�� She scampered off to find paper and pen.


    Cheng Zhu, on the other hand, picked up his phone, only caring to send a WeChat message to Lin Lu, and started cursing.


    After Little Youzi wrote the word ��more��, she looked up at her brother, puzzled, not understanding why he looked so animated.


    Mother Xu Yun sat on the other side of the sofa, secretly observing her son and daughter.


    She looked at Cheng Zhu, wanting to speak several times but then hesitated. After thinking it over, she decided not to inquire too deeply into her son��s private life.


    After dinner, Xu Yun was going to the fresh food supermarket to check the accounts, so she asked Cheng Zhu to take Little Youzi home first.


    ��Mom, how about I take her out to play a bit?�� Cheng Zhu suddenly said.


    Xu Yun glanced at him, speculating in her heart, ��Is he taking Little Youzi to play with that girl who bought the candies?��


    After pondering for a moment, she eventually just waved her hand and said, ��Go ahead, just don��t come home too late.��


    ��Okey-dokey!�� Cheng Zhu laughed in agreement.


    After getting into the taxi, Little Youzi was quite excited about going out to play.


    ��Brother, where are we going?�� she asked, her voice sweet and milky.


    The little girl sat in the back seat of the taxi with her legs placed flat on the seat, making her little feet hang in the air, swinging left and right.


    ��It��s a secret; you��ll find out soon,�� Cheng Zhu maintained the mystery.


    ��Oh!�� Some children really fall for this trick, unlike many annoying adults who would keep asking nonstop along the way.


    During the ride, Little Youzi suddenly asked Cheng Zhu a question out of the blue.


    ��Brother, the two yuan I gave you last time, did you spend it all?�� she asked.


    ��No, I haven��t,�� Cheng Zhu looked down at her.


    He had been keeping those two yuan in his wallet all the time; how could he bear to use them? That was all the savings given to him by a five-year-old child.


    Little Youzi was very fond of snacks, and it took a lot of effort for her to save those two yuan, resisting the temptation of the snack stall.


    Considering this, he asked, ��You haven��t been saving money for me again, have you?��


    ��Ah! You guessed it!��


    Today, Cheng Youu was wearing a white dress, which had no pockets, so she carried a small heart-shaped crossbody bag.


    She slowly unzipped the zipper with two fingers and then took out a coin as if offering treasure.


    Cheng Zhu patted her head, puzzled, ��Why are you saving money for me again?��


    He suspected there must be a reason.


    The last time Little Youzi gave him money, it was because she asked her mother why her brother could spend his red packet money, but hers had to be kept with Mom.


    Xu Yun��s reason was that her brother was an adult and had many places where he needed to spend money.


    What could be the reason this time?


    Little Youzi immediately confessed, ��Because I heard Dad and Mom say, they said brother might be dating... dating someone at the university? I think that��s what they said.��


    ��Dad said to Mom that we should give brother a bit more money in the future.��


    ��He said he��s afraid brother won��t have enough!��


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu, along with the taxi driver in the front, couldn��t help cracking a smile.


    So it turned out that Cheng, who didn��t have financial power, was petitioning Mom to increase my allowance.


    Damn it, why do I feel unexpectedly moved?


    But Cheng Zhu seriously doubted if his father had experienced a period of embarrassing financial hardship in his youth.


    However, your son, me, is never going to experience financial embarrassment in this lifetime, at worst just overindulgence.


    After thinking it over, he still accepted the one-yuan coin handed over by Little Youzi, and after thanking her, he carefully put it in his pocket.


    At the same time, he once again admonished his sister not to save money for him anymore.


    Not long after, the taxi arrived at Technology University, and Cheng Zhu, holding Little Youzi��s hand, came to the entrance of ��Youu Come to Play.��


    The little girl recognized the word ��Youu�� from her name in the shop��s sign and pointed at it with excitement.


    ��Brother, my name! Look, quick, look!��


    Now, the shop��s rolling shutter was pulled down, and the interior was out of sight.


    Cheng Zhu looked down at his sister, who was wearing a white dress today, which quite matched the scene.


    ��Stand here and don��t move, then close your eyes,�� he whispered.


    Then, he squatted down, unlocked the door with his key, pulled up the rolling shutter, and entered the shop, turning on all the lights.


    After these preparations, Cheng Zhu returned to Little Youzi��s side and gently patted her small head, ��You can open your eyes now.��


    The moment Little Youzi opened her eyes, her eyes sparkled as if they were alight, shimmering like stars.


    Her little mouth opened slightly in a silent ��Wow~��


    And by her ear, came her brother��s voice.


    ��Welcome to your castle, Princess Little Youzi.��

 Chapter 119: 103: Open for Business to Her Only

    Chapter 119: Chapter 103: Open for Business to Her Only


    At the entrance of ��Youu Come to Play,�� student Cheng Youu in a little white dress fell into a brief daze.


    Sometimes, the astonished expressions of the children were really cute, and a bit... funny?


    But her chubby little face, paired with her big eyes, made her look even more endearingly clueless.


    Children��s thought processes don��t necessarily align with adults, and Cheng Zhu wasn��t sure if his little sister had figured out that I, her brother, was the owner of this shop.


    However, it was clear that her focus was elsewhere at the moment.


    Cheng Zhu waved her in, and once inside, she eagerly looked around, occasionally standing on tiptoe, clutching the claw machine��s controls, and peering into each machine to see what the stuffed toys inside looked like.


    Whenever she saw a cute one, she��d let out a tiny ��Wow~��


    After she had toured every corner of ��Youu Come to Play,�� Cheng Zhu crouched down and asked her, ��Do you like it here? This shop?��


    ��Yeah! I love it!�� Little Youzi nodded enthusiastically.


    Only then did Cheng Zhu proudly thump his chest and announced, ��This shop is mine.��


    Then he gently patted his sister��s little head and added, ��Of course, it��s yours too.��


    And sure enough, he could vaguely see a look of disbelief in her eyes.


    As expected, she wouldn��t have known it was my shop if I hadn��t told her.


    ��Brother, why is there no one else in the store?�� she asked curiously, looking around as if she was concerned about the business.


    She truly is the little princess of the Yunlai Restaurant, already thinking about customer traffic at such a young age.


    ��It��s because the store hasn��t officially opened yet, sort of like... kindergarten hasn��t started?��


    ��Today is just for you,�� Cheng Zhu grinned.


    Anyway, he was going to try each machine, and it was perfect for Little You to join in.


    Besides, on the taxi ride over, student Cheng Youu had already paid her brother the one yuan coin she had saved up.


    So, Cheng Zhu turned to her and asked, ��Ready to start clawing for stuffed toys?��


    ��I am!�� Little Youzi immediately raised her hand.


    ��Alright then, what do we need to play the claw machine?��


    ��We need... I know! I know! Game Coins!��


    ��Exactly!�� Cheng Zhu patted her and motioned her to follow him.


    There was a coin dispenser in the corridor.


    In ��Youu Come to Play�� there were two coin dispensers, one at the counter and one in the hallway.


    The one in the hallway was for VIP customers with membership cards.


    As long as you had a ��Youu Come to Play�� membership card and the card still had funds, you could swipe for coins at the machine, convenient and quick.


    But for the shop owner like him, his card naturally had... unlimited coins!


    Standing before the machine, Cheng Zhu held his head high; he then pulled out the one yuan coin Little Youzi had given him from his trouser pocket.


    ��You gave your brother one yuan, right?�� he asked his sister.


    ��Yeah!�� Little Youzi nodded vigorously.


    ��Well then... I��m returning the favor.�� Cheng Zhu swiped his exclusive BOSS card on the machine, entered a six-digit password, and the coin dispenser started spewing coins crazily.


    The speed at which the coins dropped was shockingly fast!


    The silver coins, under the light, were so dazzling, so brilliant.


    The sound of their fall was also so pleasant, so resounding.


    Ten coins, fifty coins, a hundred coins...


    Cheng Zhu stood there tall and proud, enjoying the gaze of his sister, feeling like he was nailing the cool act!


    ...


    ...


    Each ��Youu Come to Play�� was equipped with wicker boxes for holding Game Coins.


    Each box could hold about two hundred coins.


    Cheng Zhu filled five boxes for Little Youzi in one go and lined them up neatly on the counter.


    For kindergarten kids, this was an incomparable visual shock!


    Cheng Zhu remembered when he was a child going to such game rooms, envying adults with boxes brimming with coins so much.


    Many children who lacked money to play would stand by and watch others at arcade games and still find it thrilling.


    Children��s happiness is always so simple. But once people grow up, happiness becomes harder to attain.


    Because everyone��s happiness threshold is, in fact, continually rising.


    But that doesn��t matter.


    Right now, Little Youzi was very happy.


    Although she knew that her brother owned the store, the sight of those five full boxes of Game Coins still made her mouth fall open in awe.


    Cheng Zhu watched her and predicted that next week at Sunshine Kindergarten, she would most likely show off to her classmates with gusto.


    For some reason, just imagining it made Cheng Zhu feel awesome.


    As someone who was a habitual braggart, recognized as the king of braggarts in his friends�� circle in his past life, he shouldn��t get such a thrill out of this.


    But family is, after all, different.


    It��s like when your parents brag about their children to others, and you listen in, you might even feel more elated than if you yourself had boasted.


    ��Ha, wait till I give the kids at Sunshine Kindergarten a little shock with these Game Coins!�� Cheng Zhu��s smile was stretching ear to ear.


    He casually picked up a box of coins and handed it to Little Youzi.


    Cheng Youu took it with both hands, almost dropping it.


    For a child, a full box of coins was indeed too heavy.


    But she held it with a determined little face, struggling to keep it, unwilling to let go.


    ��It��s okay, it��s okay; we don��t need to carry it around.��


    Cheng Zhu tersely placed one box of coins in front of each of the five machines.


    A joke, how could my little sister��s hands handle carrying around so many coins?


    I��ll just set them all up! Fully stocked in front of each machine!


    After doing this, he said to Little Youzi, ��Wait a second, I��ll get you a special little stool.��


    The child was too short to operate the claw machines by herself and needed to stand on a chair.


    Speaking of height, both Cheng and Xu Yun weren��t short. Cheng Zhu��s height of over 1.8 meters certainly made him tall in the south.


    Well, people from Shandong don��t need to comment on this!


    Little Youzi, although still young, had good proportions and would surely grow up to be a long-legged beauty.


    Cheng Zhu fetched a small pink stool from the counter, which he had prepared earlier.


    The stool legs were very sturdy, not like those cheap, lightweight plastic stools, to prevent his sister from accidentally falling.


    He followed her around, watching her play the claw machines.


    Little Youzi was conscientious, only clawing one toy per machine, even if she really liked the style, she wouldn��t go for a second.


    Because she knew that these toys were for her brother to make money with.


    Just a tiny one for me would be good!


    Cheng Zhu, meanwhile, took notes on his phone for each machine��s settings, as some probabilities he��d later increase, others decrease.


    He was going to calculate the costs and profits, making sure the final earnings met his expectations.


    Of course, these specialty claw machine shops had a higher winning rate than the average arcade.


    Also steep, but not as extortionate.


    ��Thank goodness for competition,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    Just then, two girls stopped outside the store and looked in.


    It was unclear if they hadn��t noticed the ��Not Yet Open�� notice on the door, or if it was for some other reason, but they walked in and asked, ��Excuse me, I��d like to know... is this place open?��


    Cheng Zhu glanced back at them; the girl who asked the question was quite pretty, roughly 1.2 times prettier than Chen Tingting, the beauty of the computer science class in level two.


    Shaking his head, he continued to focus on playing with his sister, as he already answered several people about the same issue, saying:


    ��I��m sorry, we will only officially open to the public on Monday. Right now, in the entire shop, she is the only one who can play.��


    ...


    ...


    By 8:40 p.m., Little Youzi had bagged a full sack of stuffed toys.


    These special bags in the store were transparent long bags, about 80 centimeters long, and could be carried.


    This design was also intended for customers to take photos; the toys could all be packed into these transparent bags and then carried for pictures.


    ��Did you only grab one from each machine?�� Cheng Zhu asked her.


    Little Youzi nodded, eventually adding, ��Brother, I really like this pink rabbit, can I have another one? I��ll just take two of them, is that okay?��


    ��Of course,�� Cheng Zhu smiled.


    Then he rolled down the shutter door, adjusted the setting of each machine by himself.


    After everything was set, he cut the power and locked the door, taking his sister home.


    In the past, Cheng Youu would have been both excited and nervous bringing so many dolls home.


    The reason was simple: she was afraid of getting a few words from her mother.


    But today, there wasn��t a trace of nervousness, she felt like a victorious general, believing she had won a battle in the stuffed toy store!


    It��s my brother��s store! He said I was the only one allowed to play today! No one can complain about me!


    When the two arrived home at half-past nine, Comrade Cheng had also come home early, suggesting the restaurant had emptied quickly that day.


    For Cheng Zhu, Cheng��s early return was also good news. After all, today was his... showdown day?


    As soon as the siblings entered the house, their parents�� attention was immediately drawn to the bag full of plush toys.


    Xu Yun frowned slightly, saying, ��Did you take her to the arcade again? And you got so many stuffed toys.��


    The Cheng family was famously biased towards the daughter, not minding spending money on her. Getting some plush toys was no big deal, little girls all like dolls, but this was too much!


    Moreover, the parents were well aware that arcades were businesses: capturing toys from machines was certainly more costly than buying them outright.


    Oh, how much wasted money...


    Xu Yun looked at her daughter and said, ��Didn��t we agree last time, dear? Mom knows you like the process of clawing toys, and I haven��t stopped you from playing, right?��


    ��Right.�� Little Youzi nodded.


    ��But you promised Mommy, right, that from now on you would only claw three at an arcade, and if you want more, we have an agreement to go buy them in a store.��


    Xu Yun was quite generous with these terms; she firmly believed that claw machines were a scam, but also respected her daughter��s experience, valuing the joy she got from the process of capturing toys.


    But still, one cannot indulge in uncontrolled happiness.


    Children can��t be spoiled without conditions.


    Little Youzi lifted her head and said, ��But we didn��t go to an arcade.��


    She looked straight at her mother, with an unshakable voice she firmly said, ��My brother said it wasn��t an arcade, it��s my castle!��


    The couple on the sofa exchanged looks, then both stared at Cheng Zhu.


    Alright, son, did you start deceiving the child with fancy talk again?

 Chapter 120: 104: No Ordinary Woman [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

    Chapter 120: Chapter 104: No Ordinary Woman [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]


    In the eyes of his parents, Cheng Zhu was a real piece of work.


    You say you dote on your sister, fine, but why all these flashy tricks and flowery speeches?


    Most of the time, the tough problems would ultimately end up in Cheng��s and Xu Yun��s hands.


    Just look! You took your sister to the arcade, fine, but did you really need to tell her it��s her castle?


    Well, it��s her castle, is it? Can I move all the toys back home then?


    Since it��s the castle and this is her home, it��s just moving places!


    Xu Yun couldn��t help but glare at Cheng Zhu, and said to Little Youzi, ��We had an agreement, remember? Just because he changed the name of the arcade, you can��t break the promise with Mom!��


    Little Youzi argued firmly, ��That place is my castle, and it even has my name on it! It��s called ��Youu Come to Play!''��


    ��That means, ��Little Youzi, come to play!''��


    Cheng and Xu Yun: ��...��


    What a weird place he found, and what a crazy name!


    Cheng sat confidently on the couch, legs crossed, beginning to power up his next big tale.


    ��Ah, actually, there��s something... Ah!�� He began sighing repeatedly.


    Cheng glanced at him sidelong, ��If you have something to say, spit it out quickly.��


    What kind of a mess is their son, do they not know?


    Previously, if Cheng Zhu did well in an exam, he liked to play it down at first, sighing before saying he hadn��t done his best and missed some points he should have gotten, so frustrating!


    If he did poorly, however, he��d be all smiles.


    ��Alright, I��ll cut to the chase,�� Cheng Zhu uncrossed his legs and leaned forward.


    He looked at his parents and began, ��I have a lot of money now.��


    ...


    ...


    Fifteen minutes later, Cheng Zhu felt incredibly wronged.


    You asked me to spit it out, so I made it short.


    Then you were dissatisfied and bombarded me with questions.


    Fine then! I might as well leisurely impress you!


    ��You forced my hand!


    I wanted to interact with you as a regular son, but what I got was your distrust.


    Alright, I��m laying my cards on the table, I��m a family tycoon!


    Cheng Zhu began rambling on about his summer, making things up as he went.


    At some point, he had to discuss his affairs with his family.


    Cheng Zhu wasn��t the type to possibly be worth hundreds of millions and still keep his parents in the dark.


    Of course, some less important details could naturally be edited out.


    For example, he didn��t mention betting on the World Cup.


    Also, he didn��t talk about selling QQ lingerie.


    Using his own phrasing, he saw some news over the summer, like some post-90s kid, not even a college graduate, made loads of money through e-commerce.


    These kinds of news were everywhere these past few years, with no idea if there were behind-the-scenes hands pushing young people into the e-commerce industry.


    Then, well, he had a scholastic red envelope, so he started selling... trendy women��s clothing.


    ��But, this trend stuff, you know, it��s just a passing fad, doesn��t last long.��


    ��So, just after a month, business was bad, and I closed the shop.��


    With a few words, he blocked off any further questioning, saving the hassle of queries about details.


    Besides, Cheng and Xu Yun had suspected Cheng Zhu of dating before, always hugging his phone, clueless about what he was doing.


    This way, it seemed like a reasonable explanation.


    Additionally, Cheng Zhu now spoke rapidly, continuously releasing new pieces of information to prevent his parents from interjecting.


    ��But, I did make money in that month,�� he finally paused for his first tactical break.


    Xu Yun promptly leaned in, asking, ��How much did you make?��


    ��150,000,�� Cheng Zhu purposely minimized the amount.


    Even so, it completely astonished Cheng and Xu Yun.


    ��What kind of business did you run with just over ten thousand in capital to make 150,000 in one month! That��s over a million a year!�� Mom��s voice trembled slightly.


    Cheng didn��t say anything right then, but inexplicably felt like having a cigarette.


    ��Mom, it doesn��t work like that. Didn��t I say this trend is only popular temporarily? After the craze, it��s wholly unprofitable. That week I even lost over 1,000, so I simply closed the shop,�� Cheng Zhu continued his deceit.


    ��Why didn��t you discuss any of this with us?�� Cheng suddenly asked, feeling something was off.


    ��Initially, I feared you wouldn��t let me do it. After making some money, I intended to tell you, but just then, didn��t Uncle come to borrow money from us?�� Cheng Zhu lied again.


    Cheng and Xu Yun exchanged glances, still frowning.


    ��Also, the money in the shop can��t be withdrawn immediately; you have to wait for the customers to receive their merchandise, and once the return period passes... It��s just complicated.��


    ��Then when school started, I saw a shop outside campus with potential... so I partnered up with some classmates to open a claw machine shop��the one I just took Little Youzi to,�� Cheng Zhu again lied.


    ��How much did you put in?�� Cheng asked.


    ��100,000,�� Cheng Zhu answered.


    Cheng and Xu Yun fell into brief silence.


    Cheng Zhu had always been a very assertive person, sometimes even a bit wild.


    They had long known that this son would be beyond their control in the future.


    Previously, while both were busy with their community fresh supermarket, Cheng Zhu had shared his opinions.


    Eventually, when the supermarket opened, everything he��d said proved right!


    Though they never mentioned this to Cheng Zhu, behind his back they discussed it several times, Xu Yun even thought her son had great ideas and would achieve great things.


    But they hadn��t expected that just after starting his freshman year, he would stir up so much trouble!


    A high school graduate making 150,000 over the summer!


    Cheng Zhu sat there, rolling an orange on the table, which would make it easier to peel later, and said:


    ��Mom, I��m planning on transferring 50,000 to you later.��


    Xu Yun didn��t respond but instead stood and pulled Cheng into the bedroom.


    What they specifically discussed, Cheng Zhu didn��t eavesdrop.


    But from the faint noises, there seemed to be a small dispute in the room.


    It was typical for a regular family��instead of seeing this as a windfall, their first reaction could even be��fear!


    Afraid that their son had done something illegal.


    15,000 in 2014 was a substantial amount for such a family.


    Everyone knew the fastest ways to make money were often written in the ��Criminal Law.��


    Though they had seen many news stories about e-commerce, having it happen so close to home still felt incredibly surreal.


    Luckily, they had some trust in their son, who had always been labeled ��bad-faced�� and never quite fit in with his peers but hadn��t done anything wrong at school, nor was he a school bully.


    Cheng Zhu sat leisurely waiting, even peeled and passed half an orange to his sister.


    He personally felt it was good for his parents to discuss things among themselves; it was a positive approach.


    After a good while, they emerged with a consensus.


    Cheng looked rather gloomy, probably having been scolded.


    After sitting down, they bombarded Cheng Zhu with more questions.


    Such as what exactly was the trendy women��s clothing he sold.


    Like having just over ten thousand in capital, how much merchandise that could get him, and how he could make so much money.


    Like whether he exploited any platform loopholes.


    Cheng Zhu answered smoothly; just this composure and poise could reassure his parents.


    He seemed to have indeed matured a bit.


    In many families, it��s strange. The moment you make money, your parents suddenly think you��ve matured.


    Continuing the conversation, the topic returned to ��Youu Come to Play.��


    His parents had criticized him for keeping things from them.


    But actually, when they argued in the room, Xu Yun had rebutted Cheng, ��When you opened Yunlai Restaurant, didn��t you keep it from Dad? Like father, like son!��


    Ultimately, Cheng Zhu had made money, so it was a good thing, and all else was easier to handle.


    People are somewhat consequentialist.


    ��Keep the 50,000 yourself; Mom won��t save it for you.��


    ��From now on, talk to us immediately about anything, got it?��


    Cheng Zhu nodded repeatedly, showing a proper attitude.


    Xu Yun initially wanted to say, if the claw machine shop doesn��t do well and money becomes tight, remember to tell us.


    But she thought of the shop hadn��t opened yet, and decided such inauspicious words were best left unsaid.


    So, the family sat in the living room for a long time, chatting until late into the night before heading to their respective rooms.


    The community fresh supermarket would be busy early in the morning, so Cheng and Xu Yun usually slept very early.


    But tonight, for both of them, it might be a sleepless one.


    Cheng Zhu was aware that this issue was only temporarily resolved; his parents needed time to digest and adapt.


    The next day, Xu Yun specifically took some time out to say she wanted to visit his shop.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu would oblige.


    On the way to ��Youu Come to Play,�� he boasted confidently about his confidence in the shop, reassuring her and Dad to not worry, and that he was definitely going to make money. He maintained that opening this store had been a thorough and reliable decision.


    Listening to him, Xu Yun smiled and echoed good fortunes all the way.


    When they arrived at ��Youu Come to Play,�� as a mother, she didn��t do much since she was genuinely clueless about the industry, not knowing what a so-called ��internet celebrity shop�� even was.


    ��She just silently cleaned the place, for a long, long time.

 Chapter 121: 105: Campus Belle Effect [Vote for Monthly Pass!]

    Chapter 121: Chapter 105: Campus Belle Effect [Vote for Monthly Pass!]


    At 3 p.m., Xu Yun finally left ��Youu Come to Play�� with Little Youzi.


    Cheng Zhu remained in the store, waiting for someone.


    About ten minutes later, a lovely figure hopped into the shop.


    ��I have answered your summons!�� Lin Lu, the voice actress, used a comic character��s overly dramatic tone.


    She had been called by Cheng Zhu for a photo shoot.


    A few seconds later, Shen Qingning walked into the store with a look of resignation.


    Clearly, as soon as Lin Lu got out of the car, she hurried over without waiting for her best friend.


    He had thought that Shen Qingning, the female landlord, might not be willing to help him take promotional photos.


    But unexpectedly, she came.


    However, she had one condition.


    She was not fond of taking photos, and her social circle was devoid of any selfies, making her an oddity among pretty girls.


    Thus, she hoped to take as few photos as possible.


    Naturally, Cheng Zhu readily agreed to this.


    As for Lin Lu, he did not hold back, even making wardrobe suggestions, asking her to wear the school-style outfit she��d worn before for the shoot.


    She complained, ��I��m already doing you a favor by taking photos for you, and you still have so many requests,�� but she ultimately put on the outfit.


    Cheng Zhu had long noticed that Lin Lu was quite fond of the Miu Miu brand. And truth be told, this brand suited her youth-themed style perfectly.


    When she had just bounced into ��Youu Come to Play,�� her skirt lifted slightly, imbuing her presence with endless youth and vitality.


    Sometimes, being around such a spirited girl could lift one��s spirits.


    Cheng Zhu showed the two women the main photo spots in the store.


    Then, he asked, ��Do you want to take photos of each other, or should I do it?��


    ��You?�� Lin Lu sized Cheng Zhu up and gave a disdainful huff.


    How many amateur male photographers can actually take good pictures?


    Often, men possess a mysterious power��the uncanny ability to find so-called ��deadly angles�� for photos, seemingly having a talent for capturing unflattering shots��no matter how you look, they make you look your worst.


    Moreover, many men are unteachable.


    You could painstakingly instruct them, and the next moment, they would inexplicably find a brand new ��deadly angle.��


    Lin Lu had seen many such comedic photos online��truly incredible!


    The most infuriating part is that men naturally love... keeping unflattering photos!


    Whether it��s of girlfriends or brothers, as long as the photo is ugly enough, they��ll keep it for a lifetime.


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu let out a cold laugh, ��Heh, do you even know whom you��re talking to?��


    ��Then let��s have a contest. I��ll take photos with you of Qingning, and let her be the judge!�� Lin Lu was immediately energized.


    Upon hearing this, Shen Qingning instinctively took a step back.


    The aloof girl sternly refused with a cold face, ��No pictures.��


    Some girls can strike a variety of affectations for a photo, no matter how many people are around.


    Shen Qingning couldn��t.


    If Lin Lu took her photo later, she would even kick Cheng Zhu out, not letting him watch. Otherwise, she would feel uncomfortable and extremely awkward.


    Therefore, to become the subject of their photography contest was out of the question.


    ��No need for such fuss,�� Cheng Zhu dismissively waved at Lin Lu and said, ��Come on, stand in front of the doll wall. I��ll just take a few random shots, and you��ll soon recognize the pecking order.��


    ��Just boasting!�� Lin Lu, not as reserved as Shen Qingning, quickly moved in front of the doll wall, ��Tell me how to pose!��


    And so, she followed Cheng Zhu��s instructions for poses.


    But just as he picked up his phone to take a picture, Lin Lu suddenly said, ��No good! Use my phone!��


    ��I don��t want you having a bunch of ugly photos of me on your phone!��


    Cheng Zhu shrugged indifferently and took the phone Lin Lu handed over.


    Shen Qingning, curious, stood behind him watching how he took the photos.


    She discovered that Cheng Zhu was not the type to madly press the capture button.


    Some people, when taking photos, find an okay angle and then keep pressing.


    Frenziedly clicking, hoping to get a few usable shots out of the multitude.


    Cheng Zhu, on the other hand, held the phone without immediately snapping photos, seemingly searching for something.


    Strictly speaking, Lin Lu actually wasn��t as photogenic as Shen Qingning.


    But this man seemed to really know at what angles she looked better.


    ��How many did you take?�� Lin Lu asked.


    ��Three.��


    ��Huh? Just three shots in all this time?�� Lin Lu was confused.


    ��That��s enough. Among these three, there are usable ones.�� He handed over the phone with feigned arrogance, ��See for yourself.��


    What he was really selling was confidence!


    Lin Lu looked at the phone, and then couldn��t help but look up at Cheng Zhu.


    ��Did you study this or something?�� she said in surprise.


    ��No. Just tell me how are the pictures?��


    ��Meh, they��re okay,�� Lin Lu spoke, not quite convinced, but she didn��t delete any of the three photos.


    She turned to Shen Qingning and asked, ��Qingning, do you want me to take the photos, or him?��


    ��I��ll take them,�� said Shen Qingning, having seen Cheng Zhu��s skills but still not wanting this man behind the camera, ��I��m going to get a hair tie from the car; I��ll tie up my hair for the photos.��


    After Shen Qingning left, Lin Lu informed Cheng Zhu, ��See! After seeing your photos, she still chose me!��


    ��You��re all talk, you know,�� Cheng Zhu scoffed. ��I made you look absolutely gorgeous, and you call it just okay!��


    However, when Lin Lu heard this, she only heard, ��Blah blah, you��re gorgeous, blah, blah blah...��


    She filtered out the rest and latched on to the key phrases.


    Wearing a pleated skirt, she clasped her hands behind her back, clenched her phone tightly, gently tapped her little leather shoe on the ground, and muttered softly, ��I get it; it��s mainly because the person is pretty.��


    ��What did you say?�� Cheng Zhu didn��t catch it.


    ��Nothing!�� Lin Lu turned around and started fiddling with the dolls on the doll wall.


    ...


    ...


    Next, Cheng Zhu took a few more photos of Lin Lu at the other photo spots.


    As for Shen Qingning, she was exclusively photographed by Lin Lu, who did not allow Cheng Zhu to watch.


    The two women would choose a few of their own photos, edit them personally, and then send them to Cheng Zhu.


    When he received the photos from Shen Qingning, he simply replied, ��OK.��


    When he got Lin Lu��s photos, he responded, ��Hilarious, what terrible skills, not even as good-looking as the actual person.��


    Then, he began to draft content for promotion at the university��s online forums and other places.


    In fact, he could have contacted those small but well-known bloggers in the University City area.


    Some Weibo accounts target a specific group, like those bloggers who exclusively introduce food and entertainment in University City.


    Others focus solely on exploring small local spots.


    In 2014, there weren��t as many explorative bloggers as later on, but some had spotted the opportunity and started capitalizing on it.


    At first, when a shop lacks popularity, you have to spend money to get promoted.


    Once it gains heat, people will start coming for exploration on their own.


    However, Cheng Zhu did not plan to spend too much on promotion.


    In his view, starting with Technology University and neighboring Measurement College was enough.


    They were filled with young people, easily influenced.


    Moreover, such a type of shop naturally wouldn��t lack initial popularity.


    So by 9 p.m., Cheng Zhu��s promotional posts appeared in the university forums around.


    Ordinarily, such a conventional ad shouldn��t have garnered much attention.


    But unfortunately... the accompanying images were far too captivating!


    The comments below the post immediately proliferated.


    ��Damn! What��s the deal with this shop?��


    ��What��s the deal? Those who know, know! No need to say more to those who don��t!��


    ��My goddess is so beautiful!��


    ��Ah, photos at this shop look so good!��


    ��A claw machine shop? I want to go! Any sisters want to join?��


    ��Are they all claw machines?��


    ��What��s the relationship like, to have Lin Lu and Shen Qingning come together for a promotional shoot?��


    ��Did they open it?��


    ��It opens tomorrow? I��ve been interested since passing by before.��


    ��I want to go!��


    ��How expensive is it?��


    Cheng Zhu looked at these comments and felt he had achieved his goal.


    Getting a little fire started in a small area was all it took; a claw machine shop naturally attracts girls.


    However, after one visit, they might not think of returning often.


    But that doesn��t matter; the purpose of a trendy shop is to get as many people as possible to check in.


    As long as it becomes popular beyond its circle, even if there are no repeat customers and everyone only comes once, it��s still profitable!


    This is also why trendy shops are more suitable for big cities and can struggle in smaller towns��one of the reasons lies in the number of the target audience. Big cities, huh? They��re all about the numbers!


    Apart from that, Cheng Zhu began urging friends to advertise ��Youu Come to Play�� on WeChat, Weibo, and other platforms.


    Yeah, and QQ Space too!


    At that time, QQ Space was still happening.


    A lot of people still maintained the habit of posting ��Shuoshuo�� and even ��Diaries.��


    When they have nothing else to do, they��d hop into others�� QQ Spaces to leave comments.


    Some guys, when pursuing girls, would literally mark attendance like clockwork, persistently visiting the girls�� QQ Spaces to leave a message, believing in the romance of their steadfastness.


    It can be said that even ��Yellow Diamond�� memberships were still selling hot!


    Unlike a few years later when fewer and fewer people would spend money there.


    Cheng Zhu was well aware that his ��Youu Come to Play�� was only so big, capable of accommodating just so many people.


    The excitement generated that night, along with the demo check-in photos from the two campus beauty queens, was more than enough!


    Afterward, it all depended on the first few customers to spontaneously take photos, check in, and share the content on social platforms.


    And just as he had expected, on the first official day of business, ��Youu Come to Play�� was swamped with customers!

 Chapter 122: 106: Just Installed It

    Chapter 122: Chapter 106: Just Installed It


    ��Youu Come to Play�� operates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.


    Of course, as everyone knows, the so-called operating hours, closing time isn��t fixed and can be extended depending on the actual situation.


    At nine thirty, Cheng Zhu had already arrived at the store.


    To be precise, all four computer guys from room 309 had gathered.


    Cheng Zhu distributed Youu Come to Play vests to everyone, and after putting on the vests, they became temporary staff.


    It wasn��t Cheng Zhu who had asked them to come for work.


    Actually, he was quite worried that these three idiots would mess things up for him.


    It was those three who had asked Cheng Zhu to give them a chance to intern at Youu Come to Play.


    They didn��t want a salary, and they even treated Cheng Zhu to a milk tea.


    It couldn��t be helped. After the advertisement was posted on Technology University��s forum yesterday, the reply section was filled with very active girls!


    Moreover, they had come a few days earlier to help out, and when the store was busy, there were female students who passed by and asked when the store would officially open.


    Thus, they acutely recognized the real value of the store!


    Go help out at Cheng��s store! Stick around and don��t leave!


    Anyway, don��t ask, it��s all for brotherhood!


    Of course, Cheng Zhu had definitely hired formal employees.


    This kind of claw machine arcade doesn��t really need too many staff, two or three are enough.


    Today, only one person was in place, a girl named Wang Wei.


    Cheng Zhu handed each a key and said, ��This key is for opening the glass doors of the claw machines. If you see any dolls in the machines positioned badly and hard to grab, open it up and rearrange them.��


    ��Sure thing, you can count on me,�� Dong Dong was already rubbing his hands eagerly.


    ��You��re the one I trust the least,�� Cheng Zhu said irritably.


    Dong Dong: ��???��


    By nine forty-five, the four girls studying fashion design arrived.


    Yao Yina was there to dance for her male deity��s store, and she was ready to give her best on the dance machine.


    Today, she was clearly dressed up, wearing black denim skirt-pants that looked like skirts from afar, but were actually shorts.


    This was more sexy looking from a distance but preventive during dance moves.


    As per their prior arrangement, she would dance at Cheng Zhu��s store for three consecutive days, and Cheng Zhu would pay her one hundred fifty per day.


    This price was actually on par with that of atmosphere creators in Hang City bars.


    Many parents encourage their children to learn dance to cultivate their grace and poise.


    Who would have thought, many girls ended up using their dancing skills to join the DJ atmosphere team in nightclubs.


    For them, it was both fun and profitable, truly enjoyable.


    Yao Yina had been brainstorming these past few days about her outfits. She had already chosen her attire for all three days.


    Today in denim skirt-pants, tomorrow she��d dance in black stockings!


    As for Zhu Yingying and others, Cheng Zhu gave each of them thirty Game Coins to act as decoys in the store.


    Anyway, with Zhu Yingying and Guan Jiayue, their ��Power of Beauty�� was almost equivalent to Chen Tingting, the class beauty from Computer Science year two.


    In Technology University, they were pretty cute.


    And according to Cheng Zhu��s forecast, business would be relatively slower in the morning, hence the need for decoys.


    ��Most of the customers should come in the afternoon and evening, and business is usually best at night,�� Cheng Zhu thought.


    But in fact, he had underestimated the enthusiasm of the female college students for the claw machine arcade, as well as the immense initial crowd a trendy store could attract under the influence of college beauties back in 2014!


    Youu Come to Play was very unique in every aspect, and with Shen Qingning and Lin Lu��s strikingly beautiful photos, a huge amount of idling girls wanted to catch up with the trend!


    It wasn��t even ten yet, just nine fifty, and customers had already started to come in.


    At ten sharp, there were already more than a dozen customers in the store.


    Cheng Zhu��s phone alarm went off, but he didn��t care how the customers would perceive him, clapped his hands firmly, and loudly announced, ��First day of official operation at Youu Come to Play! Let��s work hard, everyone! Get to work!��


    Ah, that damnable sense of ceremony!


    Yet actually, the script inside his heart was, ��60-day countdown to sell the store! Day one!��


    Thinking of selling the store right after opening, that was really something else.


    Others thought about how to make their store a perennial success, Cheng Zhu, on the other hand, just wanted to scoop up quick cash and then find some fool to take over.


    ...


    ...


    By ten thirty, Youu Come to Play had already attracted a lot of customers.


    Cheng Zhu sat at the front desk, almost too busy to manage.


    People had started to queue to buy coins, and some customers also chose to recharge and get membership cards.


    The exchange rate of Game Coins to RMB was usually 1:1.


    Of course, this rate wasn��t actually important, because even if one yuan could exchange for four Game Coins, if you couldn��t grab a toy, it didn��t matter.


    But, should you opt for a membership card, depending on the amount recharged, various discount rates would apply.


    Cheng Zhu did not set the threshold for getting a card too high��100 yuan could get one.


    Also, the membership cards were quite beautifully made, and when letting Lin Lu and Shen Qingning take demonstration photos, apart from having them hold dolls, he also had them hold the membership cards by the store��s entrance for photos.

 Chapter 123: 106 Straight Away Put It On_2

    Chapter 123: Chapter 106 Straight Away Put It On_2


    He didn��t know if this photo-taking and check-in trend could really take off, but if it did, it would definitely bring in a pretty penny!


    You see, club memberships are an important way for stores to make a quick return on investment!


    Besides, some customers come in groups.


    Just now, four girls came in, seemingly dorm mates swarming out together.


    After discussing for a bit, they chose to �� pool funds for a card!


    This way, buying Game Coins is more cost-effective, and later on they can take turns holding the exquisitely beautiful membership card to take photos at the store��s entrance.


    The nature of this was somewhat like the group-buying trend among wannabe socialites.


    But not quite the same.


    However, this was exactly the effect Cheng Zhu was going for.


    When opening a trendy store, don��t just focus on being posh and making the threshold too high.


    You want to meet the girls�� needs for taking photos as much as possible. Once they��ve taken beautiful photos, they��ll naturally post them on various social media platforms, which is equivalent to helping you promote for free.


    At the same time, it won��t be too hard on our male compatriots�� wallets since these claw machine arcades often have a lot of couple customers.


    ��Why make it tough for men?�� that��s what Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    ��Many business owners are well aware that when couples come in, men tend to not let their women leave empty-handed for reasons such as saving face and will probably catch one or two prizes. So they set the machines to be stingy and the chances extremely low.��


    ��I don��t really care, I��m all about the volume.��


    ��Win by foot traffic.�� Cheng Zhu had this in mind early on.


    He had already mentioned before that the claw machines in his store have a much higher success rate than normal arcades.


    This way, for the average guy, it feels more worthwhile, and they can keep their girlfriends happy.


    And for the jerks, it lets them believe in a delightful misunderstanding �� that they are masters at claw machines!


    Okay then, this store can be my chick-magnet shrine!


    Don��t doubt it, some jerks would indeed bring different girls to ��Youu Come to Play�� in a very short time span to show off and win the girls�� favor.


    ��Do I not understand jerks?��


    ��You bunch of good-for-nothings, if I don��t take your money, whose should I take?��


    I provide the opportunity for you to show off, and of course you should pay me, that��s fair.


    Don��t tell me you really think you��re a claw machine master?


    ...


    ...


    By afternoon, ��Youu Come to Play�� was bustling to the point of overcrowding.


    No way around it, the customer retention rate was high.


    Look, as a trendy photo spot, many girls would naturally want to head to those photo spots after playing the claw machines, right?


    That means customers would end up spending more time in the store.


    Thus, the store was always bursting with activity!


    Cheng Zhu glanced over his shop and noticed that among the three roommates, Dong Dong was the biggest sycophant.


    Just now, he actively helped two girls open the claw machine��s glass door, rearranged the dolls inside, and placed them in an easier position to grab.


    This was indeed the task Cheng Zhu had assigned, but goddamn, were you looking down on people?


    You only help the pretty ones! Shamelessly seeking attention!


    The girls gave him a polite smile and said, ��Thanks, handsome.��


    Those four simple words were enough to make him beam idiotically.


    As for Liu Feng, he was relatively more pragmatic.


    He was genuinely helpful and may have had his own agenda, but definitely not as single-mindedly selfish as Dong Dong.


    As for Zheng Qingfeng, his main act was being aloof.


    While Dong Dong and Liu Feng could be seen smiling and asking the girls, ��Need help?��


    This cool and detached fatty hardly said a word and just silently got on with his work.


    Oddly enough, because he naturally looked older, many people called him ��Boss!��


    The other employees all looked quite young; only he looked almost forty, so people naturally mistook him for the boss, assuming the others were the workers.


    This made the usually tight-lipped Zheng Qingfeng have to clarify, ��The boss is at the front desk.��


    This simple statement would often elicit a response like ��Ah! That handsome guy is the boss?��


    ��The boss is kind of handsome!��


    ��That... does your boss have a girlfriend?��


    This led Zheng Qingfeng to gradually realize, ��Even if we��re just here to help, it seems girls are out of our league.��


    First, you��ve got to be handsome.


    Otherwise, they��ll just see you as an ordinary worker.


    You��re just a service worker, do you really expect girls to actively add your WeChat?


    Damn, this superficial world! When will we hidden gems be recognized!


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu had already added 5 girls on his work WeChat.


    To put it frankly, one of them was quite attractive, in the same league as the dancing Yao Yina.


    But in his eyes now, these moderately pretty girls were just suitable tools for photo-taking.


    But you don��t sign up for a membership card and just drool over my body �C that��s a bit insincere, isn��t it!


    ��Wang Wei, come and cover for me,�� Cheng Zhu called the staff girl to the front desk.


    He had been taking money and dispensing Game Coins to customers, and the sound of coins rattling had been constant; his ears were starting to object.


    Cheng Zhu went outside the shop, needing to catch his breath, and also to have a smoke.


    But there were also many girls taking pictures at the entrance, making him walk further away to smoke, lest his stylish self accidentally photo-bomb them and inadvertently create a few memes.


    Coincidentally, ��Elegant Weirdo�� Pei Yan, still in his white shirt, happened to pass by pretending to observe the business at ��Youu Come to Play.��


    Holy moly, the business was so booming it was affecting traffic!


    With so many girls taking pictures at the shop entrance, he had to detour around them to avoid appearing in their shots.


    ��This must amount to several thousand in turnover for the day.��


    ��It��s just the opening, it��s normal for business to be good,�� Pei Yan thought to himself.


    He stood at the shop entrance, craning his neck to peer inside for a long time.


    He didn��t see Shen Qingning or Lin Lu, nor Cheng Zhu.


    Last night, Pei Yan had already noticed the advertisement post on the university bulletin board. Seeing the traditionally aloof Shen Qingning actually helping with the photo shoot and promotion, he felt a bit uneasy.


    Pei Yan was even considering whether to contact the board��s moderator to have his advertisement removed.


    Cheng Zhu, who was smoking in a corner from a distance, had already noticed him.


    ��Look at Elegant Weirdo sporting a slick pomade under the sun, shining bright!�� he thought to himself.


    ��Vice Chairman Pei!�� Cheng Zhu, holding his cigarette from a distance, suddenly called out, startling Pei Yan.


    Pei Yan had no choice but to walk over and greet him, ��Cheng, we meet again.��


    ��Here to play?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    ��No, just happened to pass by, as you know, our student council��s management is quite concerned about the entrepreneurial projects of regular college students.�� Pei Yan had no intention of patronizing the place.


    ��Oh, is that so? I was actually thinking of giving you a few coins,�� Cheng Zhu responded nonchalantly upon hearing he wasn��t there to play.


    ��No need for such politeness,�� Pei Yan could feel his insincerity but, being ever graceful and gentlemanly, he made a courteous remark, ��I see business is booming.��


    He continued, ��There was another small arcade outside school before, also a project closely watched by our student council��s management. If I remember correctly, that place made over 8000 on its first day.��


    ��Your shop��s smaller, but I reckon it should make a few thousand in a day too, right?��


    Looking at him, Cheng Zhu smiled.


    He snuffed out his cigarette on the trash can and said, ��From morning until now in the afternoon, we��ve indeed only made a few thousand. I just glanced at the tally before coming out, barely 7800.��


    ��But with the time it took for a smoke, I guess it��s probably broken 8000 now. So, it��s alright!��

 Chapter 124: 107: The Endless Pretense

    Chapter 124: Chapter 107: The Endless Pretense


    Beside the trash can, Cheng Zhu tossed his extinguished cigarette butt into the bin.


    Compared to grand figures like ��Alibaba��s Jack Ma,�� the average Joe ��Ma Huateng,�� and the penniless ��Wang Jianlin,�� this Boss Cheng with a modest eight-thousand-yuan earnings could only be considered small-time.


    But, after all, this was just within the university, and he was merely a freshman who had just started the semester.


    It was only four thirty in the afternoon now, and the peak hours for a claw machine shop like this should be in the evening, which meant, revenue was bound to surge tonight!


    If Cheng Zhu wasn��t blowing smoke, and he hadn��t inflated his numbers, then breaking ten thousand in daily sales was a sure thing.


    This figure would have been enough to impress Pei Yan, even making him feel like Cheng Zhu had shown him up big time.


    To think, Pei Yan didn��t even believe that this tiny claw machine shop could rival the first-day revenue of a small arcade before the sun had set!


    There were quite a few people around, but many were just taking pictures.


    Plus, the average spending power of college students wasn��t that high.


    You couldn��t expect every random college kid to come in and buy a hundred or even several hundred coins in one go; that��s just not realistic.


    Online, it seems everyone��s filthy rich, but in reality, everyone��s as poor as church mice.


    Moreover, Pei Yan was a college student himself, and he knew very well that the opening day of ��Youu Come to Play�� hadn��t been particularly good.


    It��s not that today wasn��t an auspicious date; quite the contrary, today was indeed a good day. But hey, it was the end of the month.


    Ha, for many students, their wallets are probably cleaner than their faces by this time of the month.


    Those who can budget their living expenses effectively are damn hardcore!


    This would also indirectly affect the average spend per customer.


    His little shop could only fit so many people after all.


    Unless there was a steady flow of customers like right now from morning to afternoon, that would be another story!


    If Cheng Zhu knew what he was thinking, he��d likely retort with a ��You guessed damn right!��


    Damn it, it��s too booming, too annoying; my shop��s too busy!


    To be honest, he did feel that the influx of too many people brought a lot of hassle.


    At this moment, the always graceful and polite Pei Yan said, ��Oh? Seems like the business is much better than I thought.��


    Cheng Zhu immediately began complaining, ��A crowd is annoying. It��s already autumn, yet it��s still blisteringly hot because of the crowds in the shop. I��ve even had to turn on the air conditioning, which is another added expense.��


    ��And with more people, you get all sorts. With the increased foot traffic, some idiots actually throw ten-cent coins into my machines; can you believe it?��


    ��But you don��t get one of those in a few hundred customers. Today, I ran into three. I suspect they��re from the same dorm because there were only a few hundred customers. By the way, Vice Chairman Pei, does the student council deal with stuff like this?��


    ��And another thing, I haven��t had a break since I sat at the front taking coins from customers. The sound of Game Coins dropping gives me a headache, and girls keep bothering me, asking for my WeChat,�� he continued.


    ��Vice Chairman Pei, as you know, I��m sincerely trying to run a legitimate business here, right? Why are they trying to get into my personal life?��


    Listening to him call out ��Vice Chairman Pei�� with each sentence, Pei Yan felt like his head was going to explode.


    Privately, many people would drop the ��Vice�� when addressing him.


    And are you griping, or what? Listening to you boast makes me want to open my own claw machine shop!


    Observing his expression, Cheng Zhu thought, ��Good, you��re taking it all in.��


    You think I��m one of those posers who flaunts every penny they��ve got?


    Oh, maybe I am.


    Otherwise, I wouldn��t have carelessly flashed a bank card balance of over six million in online forums in my past life, only to be met with a cruel reincarnation.


    But now, I have a definite purpose.


    Sooner or later, I��d have to sell this shop. Before that, letting more people know how high the revenue is isn��t a bad thing.


    There are plenty of people in this world who go after winners but ignore losers.


    A shop with poor business gets sold cheap and is likely to be ignored.


    Yet, a shop that seems to do well gets sold for a high price, making people queue up with cash in hand.


    Seeing this, Pei Yan managed to squeeze out a smile and said, ��Cheng, your shop��s doing so well; why don��t you go busy yourself?��


    Cheng Zhu casually waved his hand, ��It��s just some trivial matter; the staff can handle it.��


    I haven��t had my fun chatting with you yet!


    ��Vice Chairman Pei, as you know, there��s a saying: ��If you can��t lead a team, you��ll work to death.''��


    ��College is full of students who only talk a big game and take themselves too seriously. Shouldn��t they come and gain some experience at my place?�� he said with a grin while looking at Pei Yan.


    Pei Yan always felt there was a hint of amusement behind Cheng Zhu��s smile, but he had no evidence.


    Thus, the esteemed Vice Chairman of the student council had his ear bent for another full five minutes as Cheng Zhu presented his little essay titled ��Business Too Good, It��s Such a Hassle.��


    And, it must be said, his flamboyant groaning was actually quite amusing.


    You hang on to him, and he��s too polite to leave.


    Until Dong Dong came out and reported a new variety of idiot who threw a one-yuan coin into the machine.


    Even though the exchange rate was one-to-one, the guy simply couldn��t be bothered to queue up for more coins when he was just one short for another try, so he threw in a whole buck instead.


    Cheng Zhu took a few steps forward, stopped, and called out to Pei Yan as he hurried off, ��Hey, does the student council deal with this sort of thing or what?��


    He briskly caught up to the elegant freak and forcefully dragged him back into the shop, ��As the Vice Chairman, go and give them a scolding! The quality of today��s college students is just too poor!��


    Pei Yan: ��...��


    Damn, this guy��s strong!


    ...


    ...


    Fifteen minutes later, a dazed Pei Yan couldn��t even recall how he��d left ��Youu Come to Play.��


    After stepping outside, he took several deep breaths of fresh air, then glanced back.


    ��It��s strange; the shop��s almost only got claw machines, yet it��s busier than an arcade.�� Pei Yan couldn��t fathom what was going through women��s minds.


    But let��s not forget, he��d earlier thought about having people from the external relations department come and shear this sheep.


    With such good business and being a student entrepreneur, shouldn��t he contribute some funds to the student council?


    The classic ��Forced Donation��!


    As night fell, ��Youu Come to Play�� saw yet another surge of customers.


    The shop was packed, with crowds gathered outside as well.


    Lin Lu, as usual, was constantly chatting with Cheng Zhu via WeChat, feeling today that his replies were sluggish, probably due to the shop being busy.


    Thus, she thought about heading directly to ��Youu Come to Play�� to see him.


    To her dismay, Cheng Zhu rejected her.


    ��Don��t come over these next few days, you and Shen Qingning.��


    ��Why?�� Lin Lu was puzzled.


    ��It��s all because of those stunning photos I took for you.��


    ��Now a lot of people are taking pictures and checking in at the shop, imitating those photos.��


    ��If the original subject herself showed up, they might feel awkward while taking photos, and I don��t want to affect my customers�� experience.�� Cheng Zhu��s typing focused on being considerate toward female customers.


    Annoyed, Lin Lu typed, ��So, you really are a proper businessman now, huh? All you see are customers.��


    She originally wanted to buy a few milk teas for Cheng Zhu and even drop by the shop to recharge a card for support.


    But not anymore, no milk tea for him today, hmph!


    The voice actress was genuinely concerned about affecting his business if she went.


    She picked up her phone and, for some reason, started browsing through the photos Cheng Zhu had taken, murmuring, ��Are they really that good?��


    ��Ugh! They are actually quite nice, but mostly because I��m the one who looks good!�� she vocalized.


    After a brief exchange, Cheng Zhu set down his phone.


    It was now eight o��clock in the evening, prime time for business.


    But soon, two unwelcome guests arrived.


    The external relations department of the student council had ��Five Tiger Generals.��


    Wang Yuan, the vice-director responsible for sponsorships, was one of them.


    He was actually quite excited on his way here.


    The external relations department was in dire need of funds, with weighty fundraising tasks at hand.


    Upon learning that the shop was owned by a freshman and was currently booming, a thought crossed his mind: ��A place where the owners are naive and there��s plenty of money, I must act fast!��


    From his experience, it was indeed easier to get money from students than from middle-aged folks.


    So after finishing his tasks, Wang Yuan immediately brought his subordinates to the shop.


    And boy, the business did look bustling!


    There were too many girls inside, just the sight of all those fair, long legs was almost too much for him to handle.


    Not to mention so many girls snapping photos, quite a few of them attractive.


    ��Wow, she just puckered her lips while taking that photo; so cute!��


    ��Oh damn, that girl is hot, but it looks like that guy next to her is her boyfriend.��


    A delighted Wang Yuan entered the shop, bypassed the queue waiting to buy coins, and approached the counter, ��Is Cheng Zhu here?��


    Sitting there, Cheng Zhu glanced up and replied, ��That��s me.��


    ��Oh! Hey Cheng, I��m Wang Yuan, vice-director of the external relations department. Can we talk for a sec?��


    He thought Cheng Zhu was quite handsome and felt even more certain about securing a sponsorship. According to his experience, good-looking guys often carried a burden of vanity, and many were concerned with keeping up appearances.


    ��It��s not very convenient,�� Cheng Zhu frowned, his movements of handing out coins uninterrupted.


    His actions were a clear indication that he was busy.


    He already knew why the external relations department would come to his shop.


    Just because you come with the title of vice-director, do I have to accommodate you?


    The audacity of coming here for a sponsorship and hindering my work, you certainly have some nerve.


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but recall a classic line from ��Crazy Racing��: The local gangs really lack manners!


    It must be said, as someone who was accustomed to rejection in his role focused on fundraising, Wang Yuan really wasn��t bothered.


    Seeing so many people queuing up to buy coins, seemingly Technology University students, he took the opportunity to openly start soliciting sponsorships, urging Cheng Zhu to make a modest contribution to the school and the student council.


    The spiel was always the same��some verbal craft followed by moral blackmail, as though not contributing meant you didn��t value your own education.


    What, did I avoid tuition fees when studying?


    Then, informing you that the school��s activities would also promote your shop, maybe even display a banner.


    Listening to all this, Cheng Zhu hardly paid attention.


    In this era of widespread information, his shop could become famous overnight. As for those lousy student council events, it was they who should be advertising with him, not the other way around.


    ��Helping me with promotion isn��t necessary,�� Cheng Zhu nonchalantly asserted.


    ��Uh... Wang Wei, give our two senior students ten Game Coins each. They came all this way, so let them enjoy the place,�� Cheng Zhu thought himself quite generous.


    Looking for money? Here��s ten bucks; now go play over there, OK?


    Ready for a break, he added, ��I��m busy with something right now, I gotta go.��


    As he spoke, he slid the ten coins Wang Wei had handed over in front of Wang Yuan and apologized to the queueing customers, ��Sorry about this, can you let these two cut in line? I��ll throw in a few extra coins for you guys later.��


    Wang Yuan, seeing Cheng Zhu about to take off, hastily said, ��Hey, Cheng, don��t you have five minutes? Just five, can��t be that busy, right?��


    Cheng Zhu had had enough of these student council folks. First Pei Yan, now Wang Yuan.


    Seriously, Technology University��s student council wasn��t above sending people to pester me with their problems!


    If I keep allowing this, what��s next, seduction?


    Standing up, he said, ��As you can see, my shop pulls in over ten thousand a day, and that��s just one of my ventures. My daily turnover is tens of thousands; you tell me if I��m busy or not.��

 Chapter 125: 108: Blow Up Your Circle of Friends

    Chapter 125: Chapter 108: Blow Up Your Circle of Friends


    Cheng Zhu walked out of ��Youu Come to Play�� and then headed to a milk tea shop to queue for a drink.


    The outreach department came knocking as he expected.


    He had dealt with Technology University��s outreach department in his past life.


    He once had a fling with a girl from there, but due to some reasons, they never ended up together.


    Through her, Cheng Zhu knew the outreach department��s internal culture in seeking sponsorships: not letting go of a single opportunity!


    ��Now that I think about it, it��s good that I didn��t end up with that girl.��


    ��She was the type who replied to WeChat messages incredibly slowly, sometimes taking an hour or two to respond.��


    ��But then, every time she replied, she was super nice, the tone was intimate, and she��d sometimes end her message with a kiss! Making you feel like all the waiting was worth it. That��s the most disgusting thing.��


    ��You might reply enthusiastically, only to be ignored again. Then, after a long while, she��d throw you an ambiguous bone.��


    ��Tsk, she did have her little tricks.��


    If it were the current Cheng Zhu... he might have turned her directly against the outreach department.


    From the perspective of a business owner, he personally found the outreach department annoying.


    ��It��s not ten years ago anymore, giving you guys sponsorship money could actually bring some promotional effects.��


    ��Now it��s an information age, your methods are still about hanging banners in the school, totally not worth the price.��


    One must understand that after your business takes off, donating money to the school and giving money to the student union are two entirely different things.


    Cheng Zhu was well aware that after his pretentious talk, leaving the vice president of the outreach department in the store, the guy would probably be pissed.


    ��Just because I��m a freshman and he��s a senior, that alone makes some people uncomfortable.�� He knew it all too well.


    Humans are like this.


    Drivers curse pedestrians, and pedestrians curse drivers.


    Lowerclassmen curse upperclassmen for putting on airs, upperclassmen curse lowerclassmen for lack of respect.


    Cheng Zhu had one mindset.


    ��I don��t give a damn about what others say behind my back because I��ve sworn at plenty of people myself, and they might not even curse as viciously as I do.��


    ...


    Inside ��Youu Come to Play,�� the vice president of the outreach department, Wang Yuan, didn��t just pack up and leave because of Cheng Zhu��s departure.


    Right now, he was... trying to win a toy from a claw machine!


    Before leaving the arcade, Boss Cheng had given him and Wang Wei ten Game Coins.


    Some people might not take them and storm off in anger.


    Wang Yuan was different, though he sensed a hint of mockery, he still accepted the ten coins.


    Then what? He tried two machines and couldn��t grab a damn thing!


    Now, he was down to his last try.


    Wang Yuan watched breathlessly as the claw lifted the toy, but as it swung left and right at the apex, it eventually let go.


    ��Damn! I was so close!�� Wang Yuan was so pissed off he even considered buying ten more coins!


    But he quickly dismissed the terrible thought!


    Something was off with the atmosphere of this shop, it got on his nerves trying to grab a toy!


    If he acted impulsively, without winning any fluff, he��d be inadvertently increasing their sales!


    He looked around and noticed all the girls holding stuffed toys, nearly everyone had a catch.


    Some high-spenders even carried a long, transparent bag of toys.


    It was an environment that made you want to keep trying.


    Not catching a toy only soured Wang Yuan��s mood.


    He had planned to live up to his opportunistic principles, tasting the quality of waste truck routes on his way.


    Now, without a toy, those ten coins were as good as wasted.


    He had wanted to catch a toy to gift to our outreach department��s goddess, Zhang Qiqi.


    Little did he know, Zhang Qiqi was also quietly following ��Youu Come to Play�� online at this very moment!


    Just having finished her yoga class, Zhang Qiqi was clad in yoga attire, her exquisite figure perfectly outlined.


    But she had tied a shirt around her waist to cover her hips and buttocks, or else the legendary... camel toe might have been discernible.


    Some people wear yoga pants on the street without issue, but for others, it��s not so simple.


    It depends on one��s physique, and Zhang Qiqi was certainly the latter.


    This internet-famous beauty from Technology University remembered clearly that today was Cheng Zhu��s new store��s grand opening.


    She had planned to go today.


    But then again, she figured it��d be busy and there wouldn��t be many opportunities for contact, better to wait.


    Moreover, her largest halo now was��tens of thousands of followers on Weibo!


    Sure, those numbers are inflated, but not by much; the ratio of zombie followers wasn��t high.


    And as said before, since her tag was the Hang City University��s campus belle, the proportion of her followers in Hang City was substantial.


    Zhang Qiqi was brimming with ideas and had already planned out her moves.


    ��Xu Shao and their group had tried opening a miniature arcade outside the school before, but there was hardly any buzz.��


    ��Cheng Zhu��s shop is probably going to follow in their footsteps.��


    ��But with the new store opening, there might be some promotion happening, it definitely won��t be too bad in the beginning.��


    ��When his business turns sour, I��ll go there, snap a few pictures for him and promote it online.��


    ��Hah! In terms of online influence, even Miss Shen Qingning couldn��t compare to me.��


    ��By that time, that little junior Cheng Zhu will naturally be grateful and remember his senior��s generosity.��


    Zhang Qiqi thought her plan was flawless.


    She enjoyed comparing herself to Shen Qingning; her greatest sense of superiority actually came from her online popularity.


    However, this moment, when the internet star checked her Moments on her phone, she was drawn to some pictures posted by a female classmate.


    ��Huh? She took these photos in Cheng Zhu��s shop?��


    ��Speechless! She totally copied Shen Qingning��s poses! Can��t she have a bit of personal aesthetic?�� she cursed internally.


    Last night, ��Youu Come to Play�� had a hot post on a forum, and people from her WeChat and QQ groups were discussing the shop.


    No help for it, Shen Qingning and Lin Lu��s influence within the school was quite scary.


    That��s why Zhang Qiqi had also seen the two girls�� check-in photos at ��Youu Come to Play�� last night.


    Truth be told, she thought those photos were of high quality.


    ��Cheng Zhu must have hired professionals for the photoshoot.��


    ��The overall style is also very trendy.��


    ��It��s the kind of photo template that girls would like.��


    But now, Zhang Qiqi realized something grave.


    This classmate, Qi Fangyu, had shared her check-in photos in Moments... and, unexpectedly, they weren��t bad!


    Qi Fangyu wasn��t short either, standing around 1.7 meters tall.


    Her photos were generally imitations of Shen Qingning, the only difference being the facial appearance and physique.


    Yet, Zhang Qiqi felt that Qi Fangyu��s newly shared photos were better than her previous series posted.


    That said a lot.


    ��At first, I thought Shen Qingning and Lin Lu��s photos were taken by professionals and retouched extensively with all sorts of filters, polishing every detail of the shop.��


    ��But now comparing them, you can tell the photography skills are professional, but those photos... they didn��t even use filters!��


    ��Doesn��t that mean many scenes in that shop are truly photo-friendly! The ambiance is top-notch!��


    Indeed, this was something Cheng Zhu had envisioned from the start.


    Everyone follows your ��example photos�� to shoot, but the results are worlds apart, naturally causing disappointment.


    If you��re lagging in looks or figure, then that��s on you.


    But say the backdrop in your exemplary photo and my photo aren��t the same, customers would certainly be upset, feeling deceived by the images, that ordinary people can��t replicate that ambiance! Can��t get that effect!


    It��s akin to... tourism promo videos!


    Many tourism videos are highly deceptive.


    Only after visiting the place do you realize, damn, it��s a world of difference!


    Would tourists be happy then, feel the trip worthwhile?


    Get me a damn refund!


    Zhang Qiqi didn��t know whether freshman Cheng Zhu intentionally steered this way from the start, or it was merely a fortunate coincidence that the shop��s setting was conducive to taking photos.


    Nevertheless, the shop already possessed one of the vital conditions to become an internet-famous store!


    She zoomed in on Qi Fangyu��s photo and noticed the plush toy in hand had better quality than the typical arcade gifts.


    Even the membership card of ��Youu Come to Play�� she held was designed to be playful and cute, full of youthful charm, adding to the photogenic appeal.


    Zhang Qiqi stopped looking at Qi Fangyu��s photo series and continued scrolling through Moments.


    She already had a hunch...


    ��Sure enough! So many people are posting photos!�� She quickly found her answer in Moments.


    As a frequently seen figure at various events, and with her approachable image, she had quite a few WeChat friends.


    Casually scrolling down, she stumbled upon three girls who posted check-in photos from ��Youu Come to Play��!


    There��s a law in this world that states you��re just six acquaintances away from knowing anyone you want to meet.


    University isn��t a large social circle.


    If the number of girls posting photos tonight is sufficient, it can ignite Technology University students�� Moments overnight!


    Then, radiating from Technology University, it can spread to surrounding schools!


    Zhang Qiqi couldn��t bother scrolling any further, guessing that there��d be more posts among her WeChat friends.


    She opened Weibo to see if there were any posts there.


    Just as she suspected...


    Like Qi Fangyu, the girl had posted identical photos, not just in Moments but also on Weibo and QQ Space.


    And the captions were the damn same, all saying, ��Bunnies are so cute, of course, I had to catch it,�� followed by a few emoticons.


    Platforms like Weibo have a ��local�� feature, unlike WeChat Moments, where you can��t see if you��re not friends.


    It dawned on Zhang Qiqi, ��My original plan may be completely disrupted!��


    ...


    (ps: First update, thanks to ��Lan Xun�� for the alliance reward, there will be three updates today, seeking monthly tickets.)

 Chapter 126: 109 Crazy Claw Machine Shop

    Chapter 126: Chapter 109 Crazy Claw Machine Shop


    Right now, Zhang Qiqi, sitting on a chair in her yoga pants, had her legs tightly sealed together, making a certain area of the specially made yoga pants extra tight and even somewhat constrictive.


    ����That��s how it is in wealthy households.


    She was obsessively scrolling through Weibo, finally deciding to directly tap on the store location of Youu Come to Play.


    On platforms like Weibo, tapping on a location brings up other related posts from the same area.


    Zhang Qiqi counted carefully��there were currently 31 posts.


    Seems like not too many, right?


    But you have to realize, many people post on Weibo without adding a location!


    Moreover, it��s only the first day, and given how small the store is, even if it��s constantly full, the foot traffic is still pretty predictable.


    The main thing is, it��s still early in the day.


    Girls take forever to edit photos, who knows when they��ll be done.


    Many girls don��t even manage to edit their birthday photos in time to post on their actual birthday.


    Therefore, some girls choose to��celebrate one day early...


    After all, the main crowd for crane machine stores isn��t just couples.


    Quite a few girls also go in groups.


    Man, if it��s group photos with girls, the editing will take even longer.


    First, they have to choose a photo that everyone agrees is good enough to edit...


    Then, it��s like a relay race of photo editing��one person edits herself, saves the photo, and passes it to the next person to edit herself...


    And after finally finishing the edits, they might discuss which filter to use or whether to post a square or rectangular photo for ages...


    In summary, after all that hassling, it might already be the next day.


    And if something goes wrong at any step, who knows, it might even take until the third day!


    Of course, they might finally reach a consensus after all that manipulation, ��How about... we just don��t post a group picture at all?��


    Therefore, Zhang Qiqi was fully aware that for such a small store to achieve this on the first day was simply��explosive!


    Being an internet celebrity, her perception in certain areas was particularly sharp, and she was almost certain��this store could become a hot spot!


    ��How did he do it?�� was the first thought that popped into her mind.


    Was he really that amazing?


    She knew that many store owners deliberately aim towards becoming trending spots, trying their hardest to turn their places into internet-famous locations yet not causing even a slight ripple online.


    It��s not about hiring a few great designers or launching some photo-centric promotions.


    Trends are, by nature, elusive.


    In reality, those who can genuinely influence the trends are rare. Men think they can control the rising and falling trends, but it��s actually all about girls�� acting skills deceiving you.


    Not to mention someone who could actually start a craze across the whole internet.


    Recently, Zhang Qiqi had been particularly admiring one individual.


    ��This person, it��s a bit embarrassing to say, is the owner of a QQ lingerie store.��


    In the past half-month, a photographic style called ��Pure Desire�� had swept across the internet, rising in popularity by the day!


    And this person had become officially recognized by Weibo as: the pioneer of Pure Desire style!


    Among female internet celebrities, there was endless admiration for this mysterious figure!


    This simple six-character certification seemed like a supreme honor!


    Zhang Qiqi had also imagined��if she were the first internet celebrity to post photos in Pure Desire style, what kind of effect would it produce?


    She was so thrilled by just the thought that she couldn��t stay still, trembling with excitement.


    For personal popularity, it would undoubtedly have boundless benefits!


    Those internet celebrity companies, incessantly marketing and striving to lead trends, but how many can truly achieve it?


    But the behind-the-scenes owner of Persistent Visit was different.


    He had not only propelled Pure Desire style but also ��Human-Comic Fusion,�� which was gradually gaining popularity in the internet celebrity circles.


    For instance, some influencers sharing daily outfits now published comic-style outfit series.


    Just three days ago, the boss of Ancient Mountain Culture, the most famous internet celebrity company in Hang City, had met her.


    The person felt she had great potential and wanted to sign her to their company, promising to promote her vigorously to become a top-tier internet celebrity.


    In their conversation, the person had brought up Pure Desire style and suggested that Zhang Qiqi��s personal attributes could also lean a bit in that direction.


    From the way he spoke, if he knew who the person instigating the Pure Desire and comic styles was, he would most certainly invite him to join his company!


    This person was incredible, truly a cyberspace prodigy��a churn of viral content!


    Zhang Qiqi strongly agreed.


    Regardless of what new style sweeps the internet, the first to dive in always reaps some benefits.


    This mysterious person was definitely capable of boosting a minor internet celebrity to major stardom!


    In her view, launching a trendy store and initiating a new style across the internet were certainly great feats, but the latter undeniably held more clout.


    ��But this is already pretty impressive!��


    ��He��s just a freshman!��


    ��Not just any freshman, feels like he��s not even in the same league as average college students.��


    Zhang Qiqi felt she needed to revise her plans.


    She had initially planned to wait until the business at Youu Come to Play dipped before offering her help, allowing him to see her as a helpful sister.


    Well now, it looked like the business was just going to keep booming!


    ��I should head over for a visit sooner and post a few photos to add even more splendor to the early days!��


    ��If I delay any longer, soon there will be a large number of local internet celebrities in Hang City, rushing there to take photos!��


    ��By then, I��ll be nothing special at all.��


    ��There��s no time to lose!��


    ...


    ...


    By ten at night, the crane machine store still had quite a few customers.


    Although it was about time to close, given it was the first day of opening, they didn��t feel it was proper to rush the customers out, fearing it might jinx their financial luck.


    Cheng Zhu was seated in the store, finally able to take a breather.


    He was at the cash register and glanced at the day��s sales.


    ��I can��t believe it��s 15,000, more exaggerated than I imagined,�� he thought to himself.


    Cheng Zhu had set a goal of breaking 10,000 in daily revenue.


    He hadn��t bothered to find out the first-day sales of the arcade outside the school, since he didn��t consider the now-defunct predecessor as competition at all.


    What kind of trash store even dares to compare with my You Come to Play?


    What kind of level are you at that your kneeling means I would too?


    When large arcades are struggling to stay operational, and you just copy their model down to the small details.


    With so many entertainment options and engaging computer games, and slot machines getting cracked down, does anyone really crave your arcade?


    ��However, Pei Yan did tell me today that their first-day sales were over 8,000, not sure if there��s any padding in that number.��


    ��Looking at it now, my smaller crane machine store really did well.��


    Of course, Cheng Zhu was aware that the high first-day sales were partly because many opted to pre-load money onto game cards.


    With the grand opening, pre-load promotions were quite significant.


    Though the money had been received, many customers still had credits left on their cards, ready to be used at any time.


    Cheng Zhu picked up his phone and started fiddling with the calculator.


    ��Let��s make a rough estimate for now,�� he thought.


    ��Even conservatively speaking, I should break even within the first month.��


    Honestly, anyone who��s run a physical store knows just how terrifyingly unusual and explosive it is for a business to break even in one month!


    ��So, from the second month onward, it��s pure profit.��


    ��After two months, if I sell the store at a high price, that will be a massive profit!��


    Cheng Zhu wasn��t planning to sell based on his initial investment amount, definitely aiming for a high price!


    ��These days, there are so many rich fools. If I don��t take their money, someone else will.��


    ��For them, having owned such a famous crane machine store in Hang City, even briefly, is quite an honor.��


    Time ticked by, and at half-past ten, there was still a couple trying to win toys from the machine.


    Cheng Zhu seriously suspected the guy was intentionally wasting time.


    Must you use up all the credits? You could save them up or even refund them!


    But he later vaguely realized it was the girl who was dragging it out...


    Any moment now, she��s probably going to say, ��Oh no, I can��t return to my dorm now.��


    Would you suggest saying then stay outside? Then she would call you naughty!


    ���� True hunters often appear in the guise of their prey.


    When the store wasn��t so busy just now, he had told his three roommates to go rest.


    Now, as his shift ended, he reminded Wang Wei to remember to lock up.


    Walking back to the dorm, Cheng Zhu pondered, ��Maybe I can put off buying a car for now, aiming directly for a good one, but I could get a little e-bike to get around!��


    That��s quite the trendy equipment for a college student, and Cheng Zhu decided to go for a flashy pink one.


    He planned to get an electric bike tomorrow and become the most dashing breeze-chasing youth at Technology University.


    Strolling down the tree-lined pathway of the campus, he checked Technology University��s online forum on his phone.


    Sure enough, there were quite a few people discussing his store.


    Good news!


    ��Just passed by that crane machine store, scared the hell out of me, it was insanely crowded!��


    ��Really, are those kinds of stores that interesting?��


    ��Sharing the beautiful photos I took today, I��ll keep my face hidden, just showing you my legs.��


    ��I��m shocked, just look at how many customers this store has. I took this photo at night, damn, isn��t this a goldmine?��


    ��That dancing girl in the store really has gorgeous legs! The whole net is asking for her contact info! Any insiders willing to tell me?��


    The post seeking this information was immediately met with a flurry of responses:


    ��Can you stop asking us insiders for everything?��


    ��What��s wrong with you? She��s standing right in front of you, why don��t you ask her yourself? Idiot.��


    ��Dream on, the girl is my roommate, and she was there helping out for her crush��s store.��


    This reply, who knows which one of the fashion design girls posted it.


    Although this person spoke the truth, the simple phrase ��her crush��s store��, added another layer of intrigue to Youu Come to Play.


    You should know, in the university, spicy dancers naturally hold a mating advantage.


    Girls who are flexible and good at shaking, who doesn��t love them?


    Such a girl can easily bewitch many guys into drooling idiots.


    Plus, the post was obviously a flirty one by some guy airing his desires online, hoping to get the beautiful dancer��s contact information.


    It seems this dancing girl must also be quite pretty.


    But the store��s owner is her...crush?


    ����Damn it, give me a break!


    Aren��t crushes supposed to be unattainable?


    So this shit is supposed to be rich, handsome, and successful, huh?


    Suddenly, the responses to this post started to digress.


    From discussing the girl to chatting about the boss, gossiping about who he might be.


    ��No way, is the crush here too? Don��t misuse that word!��


    ��Don��t tell me this store is opened by some guy from our school.��


    ��Who��s the boss anyway?��


    ��Right, who is the boss, and why are there photos of Shen Qingning and Lin Lu in the store��s ad?��


    ��I want all his info in five minutes!��


    ��Is the boss that handsome guy at the cash register?��


    ��There was indeed a good-looking guy at the cash register, but I don��t know if he��s the boss.��


    ��Investigate further and report back!��


    Cheng Zhu actually picked up his phone, a smirk forming as he haughtily replied below: ��I am the boss, what about it?��


    None believed he was the boss, and a bunch of parrots appeared below echoing, ��I am the boss, what about it?��


    Cheng Zhu closed the post, then realized there were indeed quite a few independent gossip posts about him.


    He sighed helplessly, hands in his pockets as he walked towards the dorm, ��Sigh, guess I��m about to become famous.��

 Chapter 127: 110: Cheng Zhus Fame

    Chapter 127: Chapter 110: Cheng Zhu��s Fame


    Cheng Zhu thought that upon returning to the dormitory, his three roommates, who had been busy with him all day, would have already lain down to rest.


    But to his surprise, they were sitting together, moving chairs around, and furiously scrolling through the university��s online forum.


    As soon as Dong Dong saw Cheng Zhu enter the dorm, he immediately said, ��Cheng, you��re freaking famous on the forum again!��


    Cheng Zhu spoke indifferently, ��I already guessed.��


    The three roommates: ��...��


    We knew you��d be all calm about it, but we didn��t expect you to say you��d guessed you��d be famous.


    Damn dude, playing the prescient cool guy, huh!?


    And sure enough, everything was within Cheng Zhu��s expectations.


    After all, if anyone gossiped online, his identity could hardly be hidden.


    Not to mention, just his classmates from Computer Science Class 2 knew that he owned the arcade.


    Moreover, there were those girls from the fashion design department who subtly stirred things up; it��s likely many people knew who the boss was even before the store opened.


    ��Cheng, you are really a campus celebrity now,�� Dong Dong said with a face full of envy.


    ��Your life is my dream!


    Cheng Zhu pulled over a chair as well, sat down in front of Dong Dong��s laptop, and said coolly, ��What do you mean ��now a campus celebrity��, I��ve always been one, okay?��


    As he spoke, he pointed to the computer screen, ��See that? When others ask who the owner of the arcade is, how do they reply?��


    Dong Dong glanced and said, ��Cheng Zhu.��


    ��Do you see any unnecessary elaboration?�� Cheng Zhu raised an eyebrow.


    ��Damn! You even found an angle to show off!�� Dong Dong exclaimed.


    But the thing is, Cheng Zhu was making sense.


    If the arcade had been opened by Dong Dong, then when others asked who the boss was, the responders would probably use more specific words; otherwise, no one would know who Dong Dong was at all.


    But looking around the forum, many people simply replied, ��It��s that Cheng Zhu,�� and even if there were descriptions, they were sparse.


    This indicated that many people subconsciously assumed most of their schoolmates should know this person.


    Since the semester started, Cheng Zhu had always been quite famous at the university.


    Of course, most of the topics related to him were... amorous ones?


    It was either his rumored affair with Shen Qingning, or Lin Lu specifically coming to watch his military training, or his ��encounter�� at the evening party with Zhang Qiqi...


    Of course, there was also the clout built by the girls from Computer Science Class 2 and even the entire Information Science Department!


    Many female students thought he was one of the top handsome guys in Information Science Department, a real campus hunk.


    Now it got a bit more balanced, from purely amorous topics to personal capabilities and entrepreneurship.


    ��I��m a damn hexagon warrior!�� Cheng Zhu certainly saw himself that way.


    At this moment, Dong Dong and the others were browsing the forum on the computer, and the more he saw, the more annoyed he became.


    ��I��m speechless! We worked in the store all day too, how come nobody says we��re handsome?�� he complained without self-awareness.


    Looking around, all the discussions were like this.


    ��The owner of the arcade is that Cheng Zhu.��


    ��Ah? Isn��t it the handsome guy at the cashier? The roguishly handsome one.��


    ��Must be.��


    ��That��s him! He��s the hottest guy in our Computer Science Class 2!��


    ��My friend is in the same department as him, noticed him during military training, but has always harbored a secret crush.��


    Cheng Zhu looked at him, suddenly grinned, and said, ��How about... you sit at the cash register tomorrow?��


    The business was so good today that the coin dispenser at the cash register seemed to be spitting out Game Coins non-stop, and Cheng Zhu really felt like his ears were about to go bad; he might even dream of this sound in his sleep.


    ��Hmm? Sure thing! Cheng, you��re my true bro!�� Dong Dong��s eyes lit up immediately: ��The cashier is definitely the most eye-catching, after all, that��s where transactions happen face to face, right?��


    Liu Feng glanced at the room leader of Dorm 309 and really wanted to tell him, ��Tomorrow��s post will probably be: The boss is that handsome guy wandering around the store!��


    The four residents of Dorm 309 sat together and scrolled through the forum posts again.


    Soon, their attention was captured by a particular comment.


    ��Today I saw people from the external relations department coming to collect sponsorship fees. I happened to be in line, and I saw the boss grace them with ten Game Coins.��


    You gotta admit, the choice of the word ��grace�� was damn exquisite.


    That��s how the bystanders are; they don��t care if it intensifies conflicts or anything.


    They probably wanted to see just that.


    ��Hahaha, they even used ��grace��! So mean!�� Dong Dong laughed heartlessly in the dorm: ��If the people from the external relations department see this, they��ll go mad!��


    He and Zheng Qingfeng both have business-running families. After being around it so much, they��ve also developed a bit of the businessman��s superstition.


    Our business just opened today, which means we��ve just started on the road back to breaking even, and you��re already coming to ask for money, causing our wealth to flow out; what��s that all about?


    Just opened and already got your eyes on us, huh?


    Moreover, when they came to ask for money, their attitude was not particularly good, constantly calling him ��junior brother.��


    Damn, you don��t know to call me boss when asking for money?


    So, the two of them were actually quite displeased with the people from the external relations department.


    But in reality, if the arcade had been Dong Dong��s, and the first day��s business was booming, plus he loved to show off, he might have given the sponsorship to them just like that.


    After giving, he could even post on Weibo to continue showing off, claiming he strongly supported the student union!


    However, as an onlooker, he would be more sober, not blinded by the wealth he received today or the desire to impress.


    It��s just like everyone can be the Think Tank in someone else��s love life, but once the Think Tank steps into the field, he��s also lost in love.


    ��Brother Zhu, some of the content in the forum is kind of stirring trouble, man. Inviting them with ten Game Coins and gracing them with ten Game Coins are two completely different things,�� Liu Feng, the monitor of Computer Science Class 2, said.


    ��Forget it, it doesn��t matter. The internet has so many mouths; nobody can control them all.��


    Cheng Zhu really wasn��t bothered.


    In his view, he��d need to deal with college leaders or even university leaders in the future.


    His mindset was not that of an average student, so indeed, he didn��t care about a lot of things.


    ��In the past, people who came to talk business with me were freaking sent by beauties,�� Cheng Zhu began to recall his colorful past life, thinking to himself.


    ��The student union, you show so little sincerity.��


    ��So short-sighted!��


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu had no morning classes, but he didn��t go straight to the arcade either.


    He and Dong Dong went to buy electric scooters together.


    Liu Feng didn��t have this budget, so he voluntarily went to the arcade to continue helping.


    Zheng Qingfeng��s family told him to get used to the university first and that they would get him a car later, so he had no intention of buying an e-scooter either and went to help at the arcade, keeping Liu Feng company.


    Eventually, Cheng Zhu did buy a pink scooter, while Dong Dong got a black one.


    The design of electric scooters was increasingly stylish these days.


    Cheng Zhu felt that with the autumn just starting and the weather cooling down, being a wind-chasing youth was pretty enjoyable.


    After riding around for a bit, he inexplicably felt better!


    Dong Dong arrived at ��Youu Come to Play�� a little later than him, not because his scooter was slower, but because after buying it, the first thing he did was take a picture, post it on Weibo, and caption it: Bought a little ride with my living expenses.


    Good grief, you couldn��t tell if the focus of his Weibo post was on the words ��living expenses�� or on the ride itself.


    After both arrived at ��Youu Come to Play,�� as per their agreement from last night, Dong Dong sat at the cash desk to exchange Game Coins for customers.


    Cheng Zhu wandered aimlessly around the arcade, occasionally opening the glass doors of the machines to rearrange the position of the stuffed toys.


    When he had nothing to do, he could also watch Yao Yina dance by the dance machine.


    This long-legged hottie would twist her pert bottom more energetically when she saw her male idol passing by.


    And sure enough, she did wear black stockings today.


    Moreover, she wore an oversized T-shirt on her upper body, its hem covering her rounded bottom, hiding the pants entirely. Below the shirt were legs wrapped in black stockings, creating the illusion that she wasn��t wearing pants.


    This style of dressing was quite popular in these recent years, although it seemed to lose favor with girls in a few years.


    However, on platforms like TikTok, such attire in dance videos was still common.


    As for Dong Dong, he suffered several psychological traumas today.


    A few girl customers who came to buy Game Coins asked upon seeing him, ��Is the boss not in the arcade today?��


    What does that mean? Everyone says the boss is handsome, so when you see me, you automatically assume I��m not the boss?


    Ah! My heart! Shattered into pieces!


    He idly pointed in the direction where Cheng Zhu was, resulting in the two girls�� eyes lighting up immediately, whispering excitedly with vivid expressions.


    ��Forget it! I won��t come to help tomorrow!�� Mr. Dong made a decision in his heart.


    They say proximity to the water tower brings the moon within reach, so why do all the pretty girls in this store seem to have nothing to do with me?


    He even thought, ��Maybe if Cheng isn��t in the store one day, it��ll be better?��


    By two o��clock in the afternoon, Dong Dong at the cash register glanced at today��s revenue.


    The three of them thought Cheng must be making a killing, and now that he saw the exact numbers, he was still shocked.


    ��Holy shit, how much is Cheng going to earn in a month!��


    ��He��s gonna be filthy rich!��


    As he was stunned, he heard a familiar voice.


    ��Dong Dong? Are you working at Cheng Zhu��s arcade?�� A woman��s voice came from the entrance of the store.


    Dong Dong turned his head and was immediately taken aback.


    Because standing at the entrance was a woman dressed in OL-style attire: a cream silk long-sleeve blouse tucked into a black hip-hugging knee-length skirt, smooth and shapely calves beneath, and a pair of 3cm low-heeled black shoes.


    She still wore those gold-rimmed glasses, with her slightly curled hair casually draped, exuding a subtle intellectual beauty.


    ��Mr. Chen!�� Dong Dong couldn��t help but greet her.


    The arrival was none other than their Computer Science Class 2 counselor, Chen Jieyu.

 Chapter 128: 111: Grasping the Beautiful Counselor

    Chapter 128: Chapter 111: Grasping the Beautiful Counselor


    The appearance of the beautiful counselor Chen Jieyu made all the young girls queuing up to buy Game Coins at Youu Come to Play seem a little less dazzling by comparison.


    Sure, female college students possess a unique youthful vitality.


    But she was wearing an OL suit, professional skirt suits!


    And she even had gold-rimmed glasses that gave off a slightly abstinent vibe!


    Not to mention, she exuded the kind of sophisticated charm that college girls just don��t have.


    When Chen Jieyu appeared at the entrance to Youu Come to Play, many guys were already sneaking glances at her with their peripheral vision.


    Men are like that, after all. They date college girls now and find these sophisticated women attractive.


    But when they grow older, and their surroundings are filled with such women, they start falling for college girls again.


    However, speaking of which, Chen Jieyu was the type of city lady classified as ��elegantly poor.��


    She didn��t have much money, but she made sure the important parts were sophisticated.


    The way she dressed indeed had more texture and class than the average college girl, and even the bag she carried was from a high-end brand.


    Just this point alone was enough to set her apart from the female students around her.


    And by the time Dong Dong called out ��Mr. Chen,�� she had already captured everyone��s attention.


    What? She��s a member of the school��s staff!?


    Damn, we��ve got such hot teachers at Technology University? This place is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!


    At that moment, some boys started to envy Dong Dong.


    Yet, what was our Mr. Dong thinking now?


    ��What? Mr. Chen, did you actually ask if I work at Cheng Zhu��s store?��


    ��As a rich second-generation, how could I possibly be working for a classmate!��


    ��Working is impossible; I would never do that in my life!��


    Dong Dong immediately replied, ��No, Mr. Chen, I��m just here to help out.��


    Chen Jieyu immediately understood, ��Tricked by Cheng Zhu, weren��t you?��


    She didn��t continue her attempt to talk to Dong Dong, instead, she looked inside the store.


    This beautiful counselor wasn��t just passing by; she had specifically come to Youu Come to Play.


    Before this, she had taken the initiative to visit Cheng Zhu in the male dormitory to recruit him as a class committee member, but he declined due to being too busy with entrepreneurship, and even shocked her with a display of a bit of his newly acquired wealth!


    The most eye-catching student in her class had managed to earn his first bucket of gold during the summer vacation and hurriedly set up a shop just after the school year started.


    In her daily conversations with other staff members, Chen Jieyu hadn��t heard of any student like him.


    Entrepreneurship among college students was currently booming.


    More specifically, there might even be college entrepreneurship competitions in the future.


    But for someone who had made money online right after high school and was eager to open a shop so quickly after the start of the term, he was indeed a rare breed.


    As a result, when the shop opened, it really created quite a stir!


    Not just among the student community; even the school��s staff noticed the shop.


    Chen Jieyu had a close female associate professor colleague, who originally planned to bring her daughter to catch dolls in the evening. However, when she drove by and rolled down her window for a look, the crowd was simply too much to handle.


    The associate professor immediately thought better of joining in the commotion and decided to come back another day.


    Before Youu Come to Play opened, if the staff��s circle mentioned claw machine shops, no one would have been optimistic about them.


    These places tend to attract a crowd at the beginning, but it fizzles out.


    Yet now, this new place outside the university seemed incredibly popular!


    Chen Jieyu had been a bit ��obsessed�� with Cheng Zhu��s rejection at the male dormitory down below.


    Hearing her acquaintances talk about the store today, her curiosity got the better of her and she couldn��t resist coming over.


    Upon seeing the store, she was indeed shocked.


    ��This place is... kinda cute.�� Thankfully, her girly spirit had long been sealed away.


    ��And the business is ridiculously good too!��


    From a distance, Chen Jieyu noticed many girls standing outside taking photos, somewhat obstructing pedestrians.


    The queue to buy Game Coins naturally extended outside of the store.


    Because they couldn��t queue towards the inside of the store��there were just too many people...


    This made her suddenly realize that she really seemed like a clown, having tried to tempt Cheng Zhu with the invisible benefits of being a class committee member to join her ranks, to become her right-hand man.


    This gold-clad right-hand man was a bit hard to utilize, huh!


    On second thought, it wasn��t that he was oblivious to the benefits.


    Where everyone��s gaze rested was indeed different.


    At that moment, Dong Dong, seeing that the beautiful counselor was looking inside, said, ��Mr. Chen, should I get Boss Cheng... I mean, should I get Cheng Zhu to get some coins for you to play with?��


    ��Are you fucking kidding me with your store, being generous with someone else��s money, huh? And you��re offering to collect some coins for the teacher to play with?�� a voice suddenly rang out.


    Cheng Zhu came over cursing and shot Dong Dong a glare.


    Then, he addressed Chen Jieyu, ��Mr. Chen, want to come in and try it? Shall I get you some coins?��


    Chen Jieyu was indeed curious about what made the shop so attractive, so after some back and forth, she started... queuing up to buy coins.


    She knew that many counselors would exploit their students, treating them like younger siblings they never had to pay for while hanging out with them.


    People like her, who were ��elegantly poor,�� wouldn��t want to lose face by taking advantage of students.


    But in the end, she didn��t buy many, just 20 coins, because she really didn��t have much money.


    The salary of a Hang City counselor, although high compared to schools nationwide, still wasn��t enough to sustain every aspect of her sophisticated lifestyle��maybe just a part of it?


    So, as glamorous as she appeared in public, that��s how distressed she was in private.


    For leisure activities like these, she had to be very thrifty.


    Cheng Zhu watched her from afar but didn��t follow her the whole time.


    ��She��s not some VIP coming over that I need to accompany all the way.��


    ��But leaving our gorgeous counselor among the students sure makes her stand out,�� Cheng Zhu mused.


    From his angle, he could see the graceful curves of Chen Jieyu in front of the pink claw machine.


    Cheng personally quite liked the outfit of a white shirt paired with a pencil skirt��looks good, exudes class, and also it��s easy to take off.


    So, in his previous life, his number one female broadcaster Yiyi, also loved to dress like this.


    But Yiyi had a more seductive air about her, so she favored black leather pencil skirts with a touch of sauciness.


    Chen Jieyu wouldn��t. She wouldn��t wear a leather skirt.


    ��This person is pretty fascinating, with the daintiness of an English teacher, a bit of the severity of a math teacher, and a dash of the intellect of a literature teacher.��


    ��All these combined are really quite intoxicating for men, making you want her to be your biology teacher.��


    ��While her looks were certainly not up to those of my Baby Lu or Ning Bao, the counselor��s somewhat taboo status in fact added to her allure.��


    Of course, the thing Cheng most appreciated about her was... let��s not forget, she��s an advocate for staying single.


    The beautiful counselor was lucky. She randomly chose a machine and someone ahead of her had ��set the stage,�� so on her first try, she encountered a ��sure win�� with the claw gripping a plush rabbit tightly, snatching it up in one go.


    Boss Cheng covertly took note and realized she was quite different from Shen Qingning.


    Shen Qingning was the type to carry herself with dignity and be somewhat proud. In the past, when they went to the arcade together, the tiny excited and thrilled expression she had when she snatched a Pikachu keychain in a corner was still vivid in Cheng��s memory.


    This woman was perfect for playing up contrasting characteristics.


    Absolutely very amusing!


    Chen Jieyu, on the other hand, was different; she seemed unfazed, with little interest in playing with the dolls.


    It seemed she wasn��t much into plush toys and was more focused on the overall process and experience.


    After she got the rabbit plushie, she even lifted it to inspect it thoroughly.


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t help muttering in his heart, ��So you came here to study my shop, did you?��


    Indeed, Chen Jieyu was pondering what made this place special.


    ��This rabbit plushie in my hand is very well-made, fit for cuddling in bed,�� she thought.


    A lot of plush toys are poorly made, feeling terrible to the touch.


    Also, with low-quality dolls, you can never be sure of the quality of the stuffing��there could be all sorts of rubbish inside.


    And so, Chen Jieyu moved on with the remaining Game Coins, switching machines to play.


    Wouldn��t you know it, wherever she went, she was quite eye-catching.


    She gave off the vibe of a career woman who had just gotten off work and come to the doll machine shop to unwind. If only her expression wasn��t so serious the whole time...


    After a while, she had spent all her Game Coins.


    During the process, Cheng Zhu noticed a small detail.


    Very soon, he realized, ��Ah, so that��s what you find most interesting about my shop!��


    He remembered he had seen Chen Jieyu��s WeChat Moments.


    Don��t forget, this woman was very good at self-promotion, her Moments always leaned towards fashion, mid-to-high-end vibes, sophistication, and living life to the fullest.


    With a slight hint of aristocracy.


    And how about his Youu Come to Play?


    That was definitely a high-end shop among its kind, leading the fashion trends and fitting the current internet-celebrity culture.


    But what��s most important?


    It was the fact that the shop was opened by a student from her class. She could explicitly mention this in her Moments, and the impression it would give others would be completely different.


    Thus, he casually sauntered over and said to Chen Jieyu, ��Mr. Chen, do you want me to take some photos of you in the shop?��


    The detail he had just noticed was that every time Chen Jieyu passed that wall of dolls, her eyes lingered for a moment��she wanted to check in!


    ��No need, I think,�� Chen Jieyu was a bit reluctant.


    ��Come on, it��s the opening of a new shop; at least help me advertise a bit, a few photos,�� Cheng Zhu grinned, persuading her a bit more, having his own motives as well.


    ��Well... okay then,�� the urban sophisticate nodded slightly.


    But for some reason, after she exchanged glances with Cheng Zhu, she couldn��t help feeling that his gaze... was somewhat teasing?

 Chapter 129: 112: The Gathering of the Three Women

    Chapter 129: Chapter 112: The Gathering of the Three Women


    ��It��s weird,�� Chen Jieyu always felt that Cheng Zhu��s gaze on her was different from that of an ordinary male university student.


    But where exactly the difference lay, she couldn��t articulate.


    She came to ��Youu Come to Play�� indeed with the intention of checking in.


    But as she was alone, she couldn��t bring herself to ask her students to help her take photos.


    To her, this store could add to the carefully curated content of her WeChat Moments.


    It was classy, elegantly decorated, in the vanguard of fashion, and it was also a store owned by one of her students.


    For her, the cache of checking in at this store even surpassed that of high-end venues with very high per capita consumption.


    As for Cheng Zhu��s intentions, they were even less pure.


    The circle of students, and that of college and university leaders, had a certain distance.


    Although as a counselor he didn��t rank high among the staff, he was still a member of the staff after all.


    His idea was simple: to capture the attention of those big shots at the school to the greatest extent possible.


    That was also one of the reasons why he chose to open a brick-and-mortar store first.


    Some online projects, well, if no one whispers in their ears about them, they might really have no clue about your project.


    Of course, super hot topics like the QQ Lingerie Store that could set University City abuzz were the exception.


    But with a physical store, it��s a different story.


    Unless you fuckers don��t walk down this street!


    This is the essential path to the school��s gates��prime retail property.


    As the leaders pass by, they��re bound to notice ��Youu Come to Play.��


    Unless they��re blind as well as old, which would be tragic.


    Having Chen Jieyu post on Moments was actually just the icing on the cake, who knows, maybe it could even act as a catalyst.


    Cheng Zhu needed to accumulate more cards in hand, leaving a stronger impression on the school leaders early on to make it easier to secure more benefits and resources later!


    Manipulating a beautiful counselor��s little emotions was just incidental.


    ��Men who are single-mindedly obsessed with women are all losers,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    ��Of course, if the woman is a rich lady, then disregard what I said.��


    At this moment, Chen Jieyu was still somewhat reluctant to have Cheng Zhu take photos of her.


    But since her Moments photos usually had few expressions and shallow smiles, it really didn��t matter.


    Cheng Zhu was naturally excellent at photography, more than capable of taking portrait photos, and was recognized in the QQ Lingerie field as being adept at it.


    Therefore, Chen Jieyu was quite satisfied, the surprise in her eyes far exceeded that of when she won a toy on her first try earlier!


    Just as she was getting ready to chat with Cheng Zhu a little more, she heard a voice full of vitality.


    ��Cheng Zhu! Hello, hello!��


    �� Your adorable senior, Lin Lu, suddenly appeared!


    Lin Lu and Shen Qingning came to the store together, finally finding Cheng Zhu in the crowded space.


    She was even holding two big bags of milk tea.


    Didn��t Cheng Zhu tell her not to come to the store yesterday, saying everyone was copying their ��demonstration photo�� poses, and if the real deal suddenly appeared, it would make people uncomfortable?


    Perturbed, Lin Lu decided not to care about his business today, nor buy him milk tea as a busy treat!


    So, with a lot of spirit... she came today! Bought it today!


    ��Here, in this bag, is your five-percent-sweet drink,�� Lin Lu said, lifting the bag in her right hand carrying four cups of milk tea.


    Having been around him for so long, she knew Cheng Zhu��s tastes.


    Seeing these two female students, who were very popular at the school, approach Cheng Zhu, Chen Jieyu said, ��Your friends are here; I��ll take my leave.��


    ��Okay, bye Mr. Chen,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    He noticed Chen Jieyu left in a rush, like she was escaping, and was somewhat puzzled.


    ��Why did she look like a thief, as if a mistress got caught by the legitimate wife?�� Cheng Zhu wondered to himself.


    He hadn��t actually noticed that the shoes Chen Jieyu wore were imitation versions of the shoes Shen Qingning was wearing now.


    Many high-end designer runway pieces aren��t necessarily very recognizable by their logos, and they might not be mass-produced.


    Such runway designs were often the target of imitation and copying by shops, with a few changes they become the new style of their own store.


    Chen Jieyu had noticed this point, which was why she hastily left.


    ��Was that person just now... your class�� counselor?�� Lin Lu felt she looked familiar.


    ��Yeah,�� Cheng Zhu nodded.


    ��How did you know it was his counselor? Have you seen her before?�� Shen Qingning abruptly chimed in.


    Lin Lu replied frankly, ��Yeah, I went to see Cheng Zhu��s military training, and I invited you, but you didn��t want to go! I saw their class�� counselor that day, quite pretty.��


    Shen Qingning recalled that Lin Lu had indeed invited her, but before that, she had unexpectedly met Cheng Zhu at the fruit shop. His casual ��Hello, rumored girlfriend�� caught her off guard, so she flatly refused to go.


    ��Oh, I see, alright,�� she said indifferently.


    At that moment, Lin Lu moved close to Cheng Zhu, standing shoulder to shoulder, very close.


    She asked in a low voice, ��Didn��t you say that if Ningning and I came, it would affect others�� photography? How come it doesn��t affect today?��


    ��You don��t know how many people posted photos of our store online yesterday!�� Cheng Zhu declared proudly.


    ��With so many similar photos flying all over the internet, they��ve become the standard photo check-in mode for our store, so of course things are better now!�� he explained simply.


    ��Hiss, that makes some sense!�� Lin Lu nodded slightly.


    The sudden appearance of the two school beauties caused a small commotion in the game arcade.

 Chapter 130: 112: Three Women Gather Together_2

    Chapter 130: Chapter 112: Three Women Gather Together_2


    Many gossip-driven gazes sneaked their way toward them, focusing on the trio.


    ��Indeed, this handsome guy has a deep connection with them!��


    ��Why is Lin Lu bringing him milk tea?��


    ��I don��t know which couple to ship.��


    ��Damn, three high-faced value people standing together somehow feel harmoniously weird!��


    ��Damn it, he really deserves to die!��


    Cheng Zhu only looked at the two women and said, ��I��ll go distribute the milk tea to everyone first.��


    Lin Lu had bought plenty, enough to give one cup to everyone and still have some left over.


    Naturally, Liu Feng was the most excited when he received his milk tea.


    After all, he was the most devoted Chasing Deer party member in dorm 309, and a die-hard fan of senior Lin Lu.


    Do you understand what kind of status is required to even buy milk tea for the staff?


    Do you understand the value of this simple cup of milk tea?


    ��Ah, this five percent sweet milk tea, I actually taste full-sugar sweetness!��


    While Cheng Zhu was at the counter distributing milk tea, he heard a surprised voice from outside.


    ��Cheng Zhu junior!�� Zhang Qiqi, supporting her bicycle, was standing outside the store, waving at him.


    For a moment, the student customers in the store were even more shocked.


    In this small claw machine shop, three goddess-like beauties from Technology University had gathered!


    ...


    ...


    ��During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the Three Kingdoms were divided, and flames of war raged incessantly.�� In the claw machine shop, the speaker was playing Lin Junjie��s ��Cao Cao.��


    It was somewhat fitting for the occasion.


    Back in 2014, Lin Junjie��s ��Unfortunately, If Only�� was a huge hit, and today the store was having a special on his songs.


    Many of the university student customers in the store had feasted on the juicy gossip from Cheng Zhu.


    No help there, this freshman was impressive, having been in school for only a few days, he seemed to have a connection with all these campus goddesses.


    A few girls were so excited they wanted to jump up!


    ��I just finished catching up on all his gossip yesterday!��


    ��And today I saw all three of them come to the store!��


    ��Ah ah ah! So perfect!��


    After distributing milk tea to everyone, Cheng Zhu glanced at Zhang Qiqi outside, leaning on her bicycle.


    She seemed just to be passing by, clad in a light gray sun-protective coat.


    Her chestnut-colored wavy hair was tied into a high ponytail, which fell to one side as she slightly tilted her head to greet Cheng Zhu inside.


    Zhang Qiqi��s lips were slightly parted, showing a bit of breathlessness from her bike ride, as her chest gently rose and fell.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her, grinned, and revealed a radiant smile.


    ��Perfect timing!


    ��Zhang Qiqi senior, long time no see,�� Cheng Zhu greeted loudly.


    ��Wow! Your store is doing really well! Congrats, junior,�� she said with a gentle smile, tucking a sweaty lock of hair behind her ear.


    ��Do you want to come in and experience it?�� Cheng Zhu extended the invite, knowing she was waiting for those words.


    ��Sure, I was just waiting for you to say that. I specifically rode here today to be a customer.�� She initially pretended to just be passing by, but Cheng Zhu��s pleasant demeanor made her decide to further the interaction by openly expressing her intent to patronize his store, signaling closeness.


    The Internet celebrity then parked her bicycle outside the shop and also raised her right hand, her index finger peeking from the long sleeve of her sun-protective coat, pointing at the end of the token-buying queue as if to say she was heading there.


    Cheng Zhu nodded at her and settled down at the cash register; he wasn��t in a rush to leave now.


    Indeed, it wasn��t long before Lin Lu brought Shen Qingning to the cashier.


    All three women were of the type that stood out in a crowd, so they saw each other immediately.


    ��Why is she here?�� The same thought arose in all their minds.


    Many people around, even those who were supposed to be playing games, shifted their attention.


    Seeing Lin Lu and Shen Qingning approach, Cheng Zhu smiled and said, ��Let��s go outside and talk.��


    They also felt that there were too many people in the ��secretly watching.jpg�� situation and immediately nodded in agreement.


    Boss Cheng gestured for them to walk ahead, following behind. Before he left, he secretly gestured towards the door to Zhang Qiqi, signaling that he would be right outside.


    He had dealt with many green teas before; he knew they believed they were skilled, held a higher status, and often chose to take the initiative.


    Seeing Zhang Qiqi come alone today, he trusted that even if he stood outside, she would eventually seek him out.


    That seemingly polite fingertip gesture, in the eyes of green teas, was a signal that this man could be flirted with, even though other women were around!


    The three of them moved outside, and Lin Lu immediately said, ��Haha! Is she looking for you again?��


    ��Why would she look for me? We aren��t close; she��s probably just here to patronize the store,�� Cheng Zhu shrugged.


    He quickly changed the subject, pointing to his newly bought pink electric scooter: ��What do you think? Doesn��t my little scooter match our shop well?��


    ��Ah? You��re riding a pink one? That��s hilarious! Ride it now, and I��ll take a photo!�� Lin Lu was instantly energized.


    They continued chatting outside the shop, and after about fifteen minutes, Zhang Qiqi walked out of the shop.


    ��Uh... Cheng Zhu junior, I came alone today, could you help me take some photos inside the shop?�� she approached and asked.


    ��Of course, senior, you��re a big Internet celebrity after all. Please help promote my ��Youu Come to Play�� too,�� he instantly agreed cheerfully.


    ��Let��s go, let��s shoot now.�� He waved at Zhang Qiqi, utterly ignoring that Lin Lu was already furrowing her brows slightly, while Shen Qingning was also sizing them up.


    Cheng Zhu was well aware that a simple word from him could thoroughly tickle Zhang Qiqi��s fancy.


    He could sense that Zhang Qiqi wasn��t very fond of Shen Qingning and Lin Lu; a girl like her probably enjoyed comparing herself to others.


    While she was indeed slightly behind them in many aspects, her major advantage was her social media influence!


    What does it matter if you took promotional photos for him? In the end, my influence is still greater! Humph!


    Some men just know the tricks to leave a woman secretly thrilled, blissfully ascending to the clouds, achieving unparalleled satisfaction.


    ��Just find her spot!


    Lin Lu, seeing the two enter, grabbed Shen Qingning��s hand: ��Let��s go! Qingning, let��s go inside and see.��


    Being straightforward and direct, Lin Lu thought, If I want to see, then I��ll go see!


    Shen Qingning really wanted to go, but her face forced a helpless expression, allowing herself to be dragged along, her steps quick, though she murmured, ��Slow down, slow down! What��s the rush?��


    Little did they know, Zhang Qiqi, seeing them come inside, was even more invigorated.


    Snap, go on, snap!


    The female Internet star started pulling down the zipper of her sun-protective coat, revealing the well-coordinated outfit underneath.


    It was a light gray, tight-fitting camisole that prominently displayed her perfect shoulder and neck lines, a deeply intoxicating collarbone, and her enticing cleavage.


    This kind of small camisole either exposed the waist directly or was slightly short, and Zhang Qiqi was wearing the latter kind.


    The hem of the light gray camisole perfectly met with her pants, but if she raised her arms, it naturally drew up, revealing a small section of her well-defined midriff.


    In addition, she directly lifted her arm to pull off the hairband tying her hair, lettingdown her high ponytail and gently shaking her head, then tousling her hair to make her lush locks even fuller.


    The entire action was smooth and carried a certain allure.


    Before taking photos, she seriously prepared herself.


    ��Ha! Let everyoen see what professionalism is!�� she thought boldly.


    However, Cheng Zhu deliberately did not use Zhang Qiqi��s phone to take the photos, but used his own.


    ��Next, it��s my moment to strut, my time to shine,�� he thought inwardly.


    ....

 Chapter 131: 113: Wheres the so-called green tea bitch? Clearly, its the nice sister.

    Chapter 131: Chapter 113: Where��s the so-called green tea bitch? Clearly, it��s the nice sister.


    In ��Youu Come to Play��, next to the doll wall, Cheng Zhu was holding his phone, but he didn��t immediately take a photo.


    Because the moment Zhang Qiqi took off her sun protection shirt, his thoughts changed.


    Who would have thought that underneath she was actually wearing a grey tank top?


    So what was he waiting for?


    ���� Pure desire style, here we go!


    At first, he planned to have Zhang Qiqi pose for photos in the usual check-in shooting mode.


    After all, it was a style meticulously designed by Cheng Zhu and it was the photography mode he promoted as a business owner.


    But seeing her confidently remove her sun protection shirt, undo her high ponytail, and flirtatiously toss her hair, he changed his mind in an instant.


    ��Tsk, suddenly feeling a bit itchy to shoot,�� thought the founder of the pure desire style.


    He saw Zhang Qiqi still fluffing her hair, trying to give the hair that had been tied up all this time a little more volume, and he didn��t rush her.


    Instead... he captured a moment!


    Cheng Zhu knew very well that a candid shot and a regular photo session gave off different vibes.


    A regular photo session means I strike a pose for you.


    But a candid capture, it��s like you��ve caught a lovely moment of mine!


    And you definitely thought that instant was beautiful and attractive, which is why you��d take the photo, right?


    If the final shot came out well and had a little surprise to it.


    About half a minute later, this internet-famous school beauty finally got her ��appearance�� in order.


    Whenever she spoke, there was always a soft tenderness in her voice, accompanied by a touch of precisely right... nasal sound.


    You wouldn��t think she was overdoing it, and you��d find her voice somewhat enticing.


    If it was a pure nasal voice, you might think: ��Wow! A little vixen!��


    But to her extent, it��s like tiny claws gently scratching you, a little teasing.


    Your heart would itch, wanting to know the limit of her nasal voice.


    Men are always greedy. At first I just want to know your name, then I want to know how you call out.


    These aspects are where Zhang Qiqi excelled.


    It��s like how some actors can give a ten out of ten performance with just seven out of ten looks.


    She knew how to make herself more charming, how to make herself more attractive on top of her initial qualities.


    After doing all this, she slowly looked up at Cheng Zhu and said, ��Junior, I��m sorry, I didn��t make you wait too long, did I?��


    Girls like her pay great attention to details, are attentive to your feelings every moment, and know when to chime in.


    ��No problem at all,�� Cheng Zhu smiled, his attitude very pleasant.


    Lin Lu, the voice actress standing behind him, for some reason, pouted and then softly mimicked his tone: ��No problem at all.��


    Shen Qingning, standing next to her, couldn��t help but gently tap her, signaling not to be too dramatic.


    Zhang Qiqi finally straightened her hem and then said to Cheng Zhu, ��Let��s start then, thanks for the trouble, junior!��


    The guys sneaking peeks around them felt their hearts melt.


    Zhang Qiqi, the senior sister, speaks so gently!


    Such a trivial thing as taking photos, and she even says it��s hard work!


    Compared to their own girlfriends, who only seem to give orders and complain after taking pictures.


    Damn, what kind of guy could date such a gentle big sister!


    Cheng Zhu looked at the internet-famous school beauty and said, ��Senior sister, can you take a photo according to my idea first?��


    ��Hmm?�� Zhang Qiqi paused slightly and then revealed a mild and sweet smile, speaking softly, ��Yes, I can.��


    Honestly, she didn��t understand what Cheng Zhu was up to.


    Made her feel like a professional photographer.


    But soon, she was surprised.


    She followed Cheng Zhu��s directions for poses and changed some of her micro-expressions, like Cheng Zhu lifting a finger, signaling her to look at a spot, then slightly opening her mouth.


    He would find an angle more conducive to emphasize the pure desire style.


    After trying out a shot, he handed his phone to Zhang Qiqi to check.


    When Zhang Qiqi took the phone, she realized, ��Ah, he didn��t use my phone to take the photo.��


    She decided to play along, later she could use this as an excuse to add him as a friend, and then have him send the photo to her!


    Hmm, right in front of Shen Qingning and Lin Lu! Humph!


    Pleased with herself, student Zhang looked at the phone screen and was instantly struck by the photo Cheng Zhu took.


    She understood Cheng Zhu��s style after just one glance.


    ��Pure desire style! It��s the super trendy pure desire style on the internet now!�� Zhang Qiqi was ecstatic.


    Since the pure desire style emerged a while ago, many have tried this style.


    But don��t forget, the photos in ��Persistent Visit�� symbolize the upper limit of pure desire style.


    Everyone else takes them... a bit more restrained?


    Its value lies in ambience, expression, shooting angles, and techniques.


    So now, many people are trying it online, there have been quite a few photo sets with very good feedback, and it��s still in an exploratory stage for everyone.


    But Cheng Zhu was different.


    In his past life, he��d seen too many photos and videos of pure desire style and had experienced too many cases firsthand.


    Jokingly, this is child��s play for him!


    Do you understand the value of being the creator of the pure desire style?


    Now, any photo he took for Zhang Qiqi would have the atmosphere maxed out!


    ��Wow, junior, you also know how to take photos in pure... this style? That��s kind of impressive!�� Zhang Qiqi couldn��t hide her amazement and gave him a thumbs up.


    The words pure desire style, she was too embarrassed to say in public.


    The male onlookers felt like they��d been shot.


    Ah! She even compliments others on their good photos?


    These guys wouldn��t bother whether Cheng Zhu could really take photos or not, they just knew they��d get scolded after their own attempts.


    So there��s no such thing as a green tea bitch, it��s the considerate big sister, right!


    Cheng Zhu looked at the internet-famous school beauty and nodded slightly, asking, ��Senior sister, do you like this style? If it��s okay, shall we take a few more shots?��


    ��Sure, just tell me how to cooperate,�� she replied with a faint smile on her face.


    Lin Lu watched them from a distance and couldn��t help but say softly, ��Always ��senior sister, senior sister��, as if calling me ��senior sister�� would kill him! I��m so mad!��


    ��Is that really what��s upsetting you?�� Shen Qingning suddenly threw in a comment, then stared at her with a pressing gaze.


    Lin Lu��s face recoiled slightly as she stammered, ��No, what else could it be?��


    Shen Qingning nodded slightly and didn��t continue the subject.


    Cheng Zhu was efficient at taking photos, and Zhang Qiqi was quick on the uptake with a strong sense of camera presence, so it didn��t take long to wrap up the check-in photos.


    This made him feel at ease and reminded him of the tacit understanding he had when taking photos of Ye Zi.


    Casually capturing her peach-shaped butt, with the trembling of the flesh, she��d know it was time to change positions.


    Come to think of it, Zhang Qiqi originally wanted to take photos using the style Shen Qingning used.


    She aimed to capture similar types of photos, then outshine her with stronger camera presence and facial expressions!


    No helping it, Shen Qingning was terrible at taking photos, appearing very unnatural in front of the camera, so her perfect face could only yield an eight out of ten result.


    And she was cold, which made the final photo seem even stiffer.


    The internet-famous school beauty was confident she could win!


    But when Cheng Zhu took a photo leaning towards the pure desire style, she simply couldn��t resist the temptation!


    She had always wanted to try this new style, to ride the trend and chase the online heat wave.


    Even without Cheng Zhu��s intervention, she��d have asked her roommate to help her take a few trial shots after a while.


    ��Let��s let Miss Shen off the hook this time.��


    ��I didn��t expect the pure desire style I��ve been longing for would be realized by this little junior, quite amusing.��


    She was just thinking about the mysterious person who created the pure desire style a couple of days ago, it felt quite coincidental.


    After confirming the photos were good, Zhang Qiqi immediately went to get her sun protection shirt.


    Cheng Zhu had placed the shirt aside, and she silently walked over to grab it, her smooth long hair brushing his arm as she bent down.


    When he looked down, she happened to raise her head, deliberately making eye contact and staring straight at him.


    With one hand holding the sun protection shirt, Zhang Qiqi covered her cleavage with the other to prevent exposure while bending over.


    After standing up, she began to flirt with her hair again, a move that reinforced the memory of their earlier touch for men.


    Then, she quickly put on her sun protection shirt, zipping it all the way up and covered herself tightly.


    As if the sensual tank top underneath wasn��t something she meticulously matched but just a normal undergarment for sunscreen protection.


    With a leisurely demeanor, Zhang Qiqi took off the hairband from her wrist and began to tie her hair up again, casually putting it into a high ponytail.


    Speaking of which, if a girl is pretty enough, the whole process of tying her hair can actually be quite pleasing to the eye.


    After doing all this, she pointed at Cheng Zhu��s phone and said, ��Ah! Junior, you forgot to use my phone to take the picture!��


    After saying this, she subtly glanced in the direction of Shen Qingning and Lin Lu, already prepared to stir things up.


    ��Oh, is that so?�� Cheng Zhu slowly looked down at the phone in his hand, his heart as calm as still water.


    He entered ��waiting�� mode, waiting for Zhang Qiqi to make her move, to hear what she would say, see what she would do.


    True enough, it didn��t take long for the senior sister to say, ��Junior, thank you.��


    ��What��s there to thank for, it��s actually me who should thank you for helping me promote with the photo shoot,�� Cheng Zhu immediately caught on, giving the response she wanted.


    Zhang Qiqi smiled, raising her own phone and said, ��I mean, thank you for giving me a chance to add you on WeChat!��


    She gently swayed the phone in her right hand, her face brimming with a smile, ready to add him as a friend at any moment.


    This scene caught the eyes of all the men around, and each one let out an envious curse in their hearts: ��Damn!!!��

 Chapter 132: 114 Just a Mere Asura Battlefield

    Chapter 132: Chapter 114 Just a Mere Asura Battlefield


    Inside the claw machine arcade, Zhang Qiqi held her phone and looked at Cheng Zhu with a smile in her eyes.


    ����It��s like her gaze could spin silk!


    She could compete with those women on TikTok known for their ��silky gazes.��


    Cheng Zhu pretended to be stunned for a moment, but in reality, he fell into a long reverie.


    ��How many women like her have I met in my past life?��


    ��Yiyi was definitely one of them.��


    ��And that Mei Xiao was another.��


    ��Then there was that girl I only knew as Little Meng.��


    ��Even Liu Ziting to a certain extent.��


    ��Good grief! Too many to count! Girls nowadays have such complicated names, I can��t remember them all!��


    In his memories, women of this type, if younger than him, would act very innocent and ignorant, always giving exaggerated compliments as if everything you said or did was impressive.


    They would have sparkling starry eyes, and when praising you, it seemed as if little stars twinkled in them.


    If they were older, they��d talk and act very softly, always unhurried, definitely not the queen bee type.


    But occasionally, they would throw in a little tease.


    That was exactly how Senior Sister Zhang Qiqi was behaving at the moment.


    Any younger guy would have probably turned beet red, heart racing, and utterly infatuated by now after such a conversation.


    Dammit, she��s got me hook, line, and sinker!


    Who wouldn��t be confused by this kind of older girl? Just look at the reactions of the men around.


    Dong Dong was already cursing Cheng Zhu in his mind.


    His mentality was like: Worried about his bro living a tough life yet envious if his bro drives a Land Rover.


    Motherfucker! I could��ve lived a confident university life!


    Flirting with a pretty girl like Zhu Yingying and getting five thousand yuan a month for living expenses, isn��t that blissful?


    But motherfucking Cheng Zhu is my roommate, always making me crazily jealous!


    The same old saying����Your life, my dream!��


    As for Lin Lu and Shen Qingning, they were staring straight over there.


    The cool beauty glanced out of the corner of her eye at her close friend, noting Lin Lu frowning deeply, fixated on Cheng Zhu��s phone, moving her lips without a sound, murmuring something incomprehensible.


    ��In reality, I��m pretty curious about them too,�� Shen Qingning was always clear-headed.


    At first, she paid special attention to the interactions between Lin Lu and Cheng Zhu; after all, Lin Lu was her best friend.


    But now?


    Is it because Cheng Zhu has become a good friend, and I��m somehow indifferent to Zhang Qiqi?


    She pursed her lips, but her eyes were on Cheng Zhu��s expressions.


    Upon hearing Zhang Qiqi say ��Thank you for giving me the chance to add you on WeChat,�� his face did indeed reveal a smile.


    But not the foolish grin of a man hit on by a pretty girl.


    He picked up his phone and said directly, ��Since Senior Sister said so, I definitely should be the one to take the initiative to add you on WeChat, can��t wait for you to scan mine.��


    ��Respect the elders��, let your junior brother take care of it!


    Zhang Qiqi immediately opened her QR code for Cheng Zhu to scan, whispering a reminder, ��When you send me the photo later, remember to select ��original image.''��


    ��OK,�� Cheng Zhu nodded.


    While Zhang Qiqi lowered her head to accept the friend request, he glanced towards Lin Lu and the others.


    Seeing him look over, Lin Lu immediately glared at him.


    Cheng Zhu then overacted, squeezing out a puzzled expression and blinking his eyes in confusion.


    Acting has always been a required course for playboys.


    At this moment, after Zhang Qiqi accepted the friend request, she raised her head and looked at Cheng Zhu with a hint of surprise and a touch of disappointment in her eyes.


    This was her genuine emotion, as she hadn��t expected this outcome after adding him.


    Cheng Zhu had added her using his work account for ��Youu Come to Play!��


    Not his personal WeChat!


    This gave her a sense of defeat and set her mind racing, ��Is it because Shen Qingning is here? Or because Lin Lu is watching?��


    No matter the reason, it made her uncomfortable, even awakening a competitive spirit within her.


    The smoother her earlier moves had been, the more proactive she was, the more awkward and defeated she felt now.


    Her inner desire began to grow stronger.


    A complex emotion was spreading within her heart.


    Indeed, Cheng Zhu had used the ��Push and Pull Technique�� on her.


    ��I��ve sent you all the photos, I need to head over to the cashier; there seems to be an issue, the clerk messaged me on WeChat,�� Cheng Zhu told Zhang Qiqi.


    Actually, there was one photo he hadn��t sent, the one he had snapped when she flipped her hair earlier.


    ��Sure, you go ahead and take care of it, junior brother,�� Zhang Qiqi clenched her teeth inwardly, but her tone remained gentle.


    She didn��t linger in the store, greeted some alumni she knew one by one, and deliberately waved at Cheng Zhu at the cashier before leaving ��Youu Come to Play�� and riding away on her bicycle parked outside.


    Cheng Zhu walked outside, acting as if to smoke, but in reality, he watched from a distance as she rode away, appreciating the rhythm of a beautiful woman��s hips and legs as she cycled.


    ��Stop looking, she��s gone far away now,�� Lin Lu��s voice came from beside him, as she had followed him out.


    A few seconds later, Shen Qingning also came out of the store and stood next to them.


    ��I wasn��t looking,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��Bullshit! You were!�� Lin Lu was furious, unable to believe that this jerk wouldn��t admit it.


    ��Why are you so inexplicably angry?�� Cheng Zhu looked down at her round doe eyes.


    ��Because I feel like you��re really happy and smug about it!�� Lin Lu couldn��t help but retort.


    ��Hmm? My shop is doing so well, of course, I��m happy, of course, I��m proud. Aren��t you happy for me?��


    ��That��s not what I��m talking about!�� Lin Lu grew even more irate at his response: ��When you were adding her as a friend, you were grinning from ear to ear!��


    ��No, no, what��s there to be mad about? This is utterly baffling. Do you really dislike Zhang Qiqi that much?�� He looked at Lin Lu and said, ��I merely used the shop��s work account to add her, you��re being unreasonable!��


    ��Who is being unreasonable! Who is acting inexplicably!�� Lin Lu herself started to feel that she was being somewhat irrational, but she had to stand her ground!


    She quickly grasped the main point again and reacted, ��Work account?��


    Shen Qingning also looked at Cheng Zhu in surprise.


    ��Obviously, she��s just a customer, so of course, I used the work account to send her photos,�� Cheng Zhu said matter-of-factly.


    But the words ��just a customer�� fell into Lin Lu��s ears, making her heart skip in delight and her face clear up, bouncing back to her lively self, even blurting out naively, ��Really?��


    ��Of course! Do you want to check my WeChat? I think you definitely dislike Zhang Qiqi. Do you two actually have some grudge?�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��Not at all!�� Lin Lu mumbled, kicking at the air as if to strike at an invisible stone on the ground.


    Cheng Zhu watched her with amusement, and after teasing her, he thought to himself, ��Ah, Baby Lu is quite cute.��


    Shen Qingning, looking at Cheng Zhu with a curious tone, asked a question that she was quite concerned about:


    ��Why was the way you took photos of Zhang Qiqi different from when you took photos of us?��


    She added quickly, showing she was merely curious, not bothered: ��Is there a particular reason?��


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu thought: ��Not bad, after the little dummy had her say, it��s the smarty��s turn to question, huh?��


    Smart move, Ning Bao.


    Indeed, Lin Lu began her naive onslaught: ��Right! You treated us differently!��


    ��Yes, I did treat you differently!�� Cheng Zhu took a big sip of the milk tea Lin Lu had bought him.


    Then he continued, ��Let��s be honest, not to inflate your egos, but Zhang Qiqi, in my view, is just a tiny bit less attractive than you both...��


    ��My photography skills are so top-notch that I��ve captured you both looking stunning, causing quite the stir!��


    ��This time, with the same photography technique, but with Zhang Qiqi as the subject, I don��t think the promotional effect would be as good.��


    ��So I thought of trying a different approach.��


    ��You know nothing, I��m a business genius!�� Cheng Zhu gave off the air of someone purely considering the business perspective.


    In truth, he knew that to create campus buzz, if three campus goddesses were photographed in exactly the same style, it would actually provoke discussions, with countless onlookers comparing their photos.


    It would be like a beauty pageant, guaranteed to explode across campus!


    But ��Youu Come to Play�� didn��t need more campus buzz.


    Not to mention Technology University, even students from Measurement College across the street had been flocking here.


    The fame was already reaching across University City!


    So, Cheng Zhu was actually more focused on the internet influence now.


    Hang City was not lacking internet celebrities, with small influencers abounding and plenty of big ones too.


    A truly impressive internet celebrity hotspot is not made by paying influencers to check in, but when influencers, eager to stay trendy and relevant, come on their own initiative.


    His actions were always well-thought-out and based on business strategy.


    Teasing Zhang Qiqi, using her as a pawn to stimulate the other two ladies, and taking this opportunity to come out smelling like a rose were just incidental.


    What girl doesn��t love to be praised?


    Cheng Zhu��s message was clear: you two are the real gems, Zhang Qiqi can��t compare.


    This made the two women, who were already quite preoccupied with Zhang Qiqi, shift their mindset.


    The three of them chatted for a while at the corner outside the shop, and then Shen Qingning and Lin Lu rode away together as they had classes to attend.


    Cheng Zhu re-entered the store, feeling that the customers�� gazes towards him had changed somewhat.


    Of course, different people have different thoughts, which leads to different kinds of looks.


    He could even sense that some people wished they could stab him with their eyes!


    Rebirth of the ��Damn it, he really deserved it!��


    Dong Dong and the others sneakily approached him, pulling him outside the store like they had agreed, saying, ��Brother Zhu, show us Zhang Qiqi��s WeChat moments.��


    Damn, you��ve got my utmost respect this time!


    After all, Cheng Zhu had known Lin Lu and Shen Qingning before school started, but this time, they witnessed Zhang Qiqi actively asking for Cheng Zhu��s WeChat.


    ��Checking her WeChat moments? Look at you guys, embarrassed!�� Cheng Zhu scoffed, scolding the three sworn brothers.


    ��Hehe, that��s right, I��m shameless!�� Dong Dong started to resign himself to his fate, his principles now utterly collapsed.


    Clearly, his will had been shattered, Cheng Zhu ruined him!


    Cheng Zhu impatiently handed over his phone, saying, ��Fine, fine, take a look.��


    Damn, staying in the same room with me and still being so shameless!


    ��What? Brother Zhu, you used a work account to add Senior Sister Zhang?�� Liu Feng spoke first, his eyes sparking.


    I��m shipping it! This is the unyielding love between Brother Zhu and Senior Sister Lin Lu!


    Do you realize the value of him keeping his distance for your sake?


    ��What do you know? I would never add her WeChat on my own account,�� Cheng Zhu said, raising an eyebrow.


    In the store, he had just politely mentioned that he took the initiative to scan her code, although it was Zhang Qiqi who brought up the idea of adding each other as friends.


    I never actively added Baby Lu or Ning Bao either; my signature move is treating everyone equally!


    But the bait was set, wasn��t it?


    ��Damn, you win! Brother Zhu, from now on, I��ll call you only ��brother,''�� Dong Dong was thoroughly awed by Cheng Zhu��s performance, conceding defeat with unmatched admiration.


    He decided to follow in Liu Feng��s footsteps, addressing Cheng Zhu as Brother Zhu instead of Cheng.


    After the three sworn brothers respectfully returned the phone with both hands, Cheng Zhu walked alone to the trash can and lit a cigarette.


    He took a drag and used the shop��s work account to message Zhang Qiqi.


    He sent over the candid photo he had deliberately withheld earlier and typed:


    ��Missed sending one photo earlier.��

 Chapter 133: 115 That Call of Senior Sister

    Chapter 133: Chapter 115 That Call of ��Senior Sister


    In the women��s dormitory, Zhang Qiqi, who had returned from biking, took off her sun protection clothes, revealing a strappy little vest underneath.


    Now there was only one roommate present in the dorm room. She couldn��t help but exclaim as she looked at Zhang Qiqi, ��Wow, Qiqi, you dressed so beautifully and sexily today.��


    A somewhat distracted Zhang Qiqi hadn��t heard her clearly and asked, ��What did you just say? I was spacing out.��


    After a brief conversation, Zhang Qiqi seated herself in a chair and started to check the photos she had taken at the ��Youu Come to Play�� store.


    ��They really all feel quite atmospheric,�� thought the online celebrity and campus beauty.


    At the same time, she was puzzled.


    �� Why was he so adept at taking ��pure desire�� style photos?


    This style had just emerged not long ago.


    Though it had already started a new trend online, it wasn��t to the extent that everyone knew about it.


    When Cheng Zhu took pictures, he did it with such ease, as if he had taken similar photos before.


    The technique was very professional, perhaps even too professional!


    But anyway, it still fulfilled Zhang Qiqi��s needs.


    She originally wanted to try taking ��pure desire�� style photos, and unexpectedly, visiting Cheng Zhu��s store not only ticked that box but had a two-for-one effect.


    However, the WeChat nickname of the store called ��Youu Come to Play Claw Machine�� was indeed a bit glaring!


    She couldn��t understand why Cheng Zhu would use his work account to add her.


    In her eyes, in such a public setting, most men would have already been utterly mesmerized, completely losing their sense of direction.


    Who wouldn��t be befuddled after encountering this?


    In theory, she had even publicly catered to his vanity as a man.


    Even her posture was somewhat humbled.


    ��The only explanation can be because... Shen Qingning and Lin Lu were standing on the side watching!�� Zhang Qiqi kept analyzing.


    This ignited the drums of war in her heart, and the feeling of defeat in this round invoked an intense desire to win!


    This was also why Cheng Zhu dared to brazenly use the ��Push-Pull Technique,�� particularly the ��Push Principle.��


    You can��t just push recklessly, you get it?


    In his past life, Cheng Zhu had taught a buddy that, between men and women, occasional push and pull, a bit of tugging, could actually be quite thrilling.


    Then this buddy got the hang of it instantly but was a complete disaster when he actually did it!


    He pushed with so much force, without considering the actual situation, and metaphorically ��pushed the girl into the sea,�� leading to a complete loss of contact, without a trace.


    In this situation, he still chuckled foolishly, thinking it was time to use the ��Pull Principle,�� and started to send a barrage of WeChat messages, trying to reach her.


    Then she gave him a pull principle of her own, by blocking him.


    Zhang Qiqi felt somewhat defiant now, sensing she was once again overshadowed by Shen Qingning and Lin Lu.


    But at least Cheng Zhu had publicly added her as a friend, and no one else knew he used a work account.


    This meant she hadn��t publicly lost face; they were just discreetly maintaining a distance.


    ��Didn��t expect that someone who looks like a rascal would turn out to be a sentimental guy?�� Zhang Qiqi developed such a vast misunderstanding.


    After all, in the eyes of most girls, men who know how to maintain a sense of distance with other females are rare good men.


    Just as she was preparing to stop thinking about these messy things and focus on editing photos, her phone chimed, indicating a new WeChat notification.


    ��I forgot to send one earlier.�� Cheng Zhu sent a WeChat message along with a candid shot of himself.


    The ��Pull Principle�� from ��The Push-Pull Technique.��


    This photo was actually a bit out of focus, giving it a blurry look.


    But it was this defocused blurriness that made the atmosphere in the photo totally maxed out!


    All she was doing was a simple action of flipping her hair, yet that charm overflowed from the photo, irresistibly enchanting.


    Wasn��t there a time when it was popular to take those Hong-Kong-style photos?


    For such photos, there��s a simple technique: take a beauty with striking features, apply a heavier makeup, and then capture that grainy feeling, immediately evoking a sense of old Hong Kong photos.


    Zhang Qiqi was amazed when she saw this photo!


    This slightly blurry kind of photo had an advantage��it looked good even without any editing.


    After all, it��s all about the atmosphere.


    Of course, this unexpected surprise added points to such photos.


    ��Did he... take this candidly?�� Zhang Qiqi wondered.


    She was sure that at that moment she would have been tidying up her hair, as her high ponytail had been in place for too long and needed to be fluffed a few times to get a natural, voluminous look.


    Therefore, in the photo, she wasn��t looking at the camera but was slightly looking downward.


    This unintended natural look was missing in the subsequent photos.


    ��He��s really good at capturing beautiful moments!�� thought Zhang Qiqi.


    After pondering for a moment, she began to type: ��This photo is also pretty. When did you take it, junior?��


    ��It was while you were fixing your hair. I felt it would turn out good, so I snapped a shot,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    Zhang Qiqi fell into reminiscence. Before the official shoot, didn��t she spend a long time grooming herself? She even asked him specifically, sorry, I haven��t kept you waiting too long, have I?


    Cheng Zhu had responded with a smile, saying it was fine.


    Who would have known that during this process, he had already captured a fantastic shot!


    ��So you were sneakily taking pictures of me, junior!�� she thought to herself, not annoyed but rather a bit gleeful.


    She started typing with a smile in her eyes: ��I��ll edit it well, and send you the picture first after editing?��


    ��That��s fine,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    He then went back to ��Waiting�� mode, becoming prey.


    Zhang Qiqi began to play her little tricks, asking, ��Do you often use this account on a regular basis, junior?��


    ��Occasionally, I��ll give this account to the staff to use in a few days,�� he planned accordingly.


    ��Ah? Then it��ll be difficult to contact you later, could you send me your personal WeChat card then? It��s... convenient to add friends, right?��


    Yo, the polite little green tea sure knows her manners!


    Similar classic polite phrases include: ��Sister won��t get mad, right?��


    Cheng Zhu straightforwardly sent his WeChat card over without any superfluous words.


    Bros, let��s stick to our saying: don��t let down a good girl, and don��t waste a bad one!


    ��Got it!�� Zhang Qiqi let out a triumphant cheer in her heart and decisively added him as a friend!


    After adding him, she felt a nameless... thrill?


    She had previously guessed that Cheng Zhu adding her using a work account was because Shen Qingning and Lin Lu were watching.


    ��But in the end, didn��t I manage to add him in private?��


    The cunning woman couldn��t help but beam with pride and became even more pleased with herself.


    She decided to utilise her extensive social media reach to promote his online claw machine store.


    And perhaps even tap into some of her own influence within the influencer circle!


    If internet celebrities are in the same city, it��s quite normal for them to be acquainted, and they might even help each other boost traffic once in a while.


    ��How are you going to thank me when the time comes?�� she thought.


    ...


    ...


    On the other side, Lin Lu and Shen Qingning had gone to class.


    After class, instead of going to ��Youu Come to Play�� to disturb Cheng Zhu, they found a hotpot restaurant to dine in and then went home together.


    When they got home, they went to their rooms to shower.


    ��It stinks to high heaven!�� Lin Lu lifted her arm to sniff her sleeve; the hotpot smell was indeed way too potent.


    Shen Qingning nodded in agreement and said, ��It��s even in my hair. I basically washed my hair for nothing today.��


    Both of them loved hotpot, but they always regretted it afterward, finding it such a hassle.


    When Lin Lu returned to her room, she picked up her underwear and went to the bathroom.


    The water cascaded down from the overhead shower, soaking her tender skin and wetting her hair.


    But as they slid down, they encountered two divides, dropping mid-air, with only a small stream flowing down like a creek between valleys.


    Lin Lu quite enjoyed showers as they made her feel relaxed all over.


    After showering, she wrapped herself in a bath towel and started to dry her hair.


    Her freshly dried hair was a bit messy and fluffy. She blew upwards at the strands blocking her face in the mirror, looking extremely adorable.


    Next, it was time to apply body lotion.


    She picked up her phone, beginning to play a song.


    Lin Lu hummed softly along with the music, continually massaging the lotion so that it could be fully absorbed by her skin.


    ��Smells so nice, smells so nice!�� She sniffed contentedly.


    But for some reason, she suddenly recollected the scene in the claw machine store that afternoon again.


    She realized she had overlooked an issue.


    ��Smart Detective Little Lu to the rescue!�� she thought solemnly, grabbing her phone to tap out a message to Cheng Zhu.


    ��I��m asking you, why were you so friendly calling Zhang Qiqi ��senior��? When I ask you to call me ��senior,�� you act as if someone��s going to die!�� Lin Lu sent a challenge.


    The two of them were now chatting frequently every day, and had progressed to the point where they could strike up a conversation at any moment.


    So whatever she wanted to know, she��d just send it directly without needing any preamble.


    What made her even more annoyed was that she hadn��t come by this ��senior�� status easily!


    Soon, she received a reply from Cheng Zhu.


    ��You don��t call me ��master�� on a daily basis, so why should I call you ��senior��?��


    As the saying goes: Youngsters who don��t call you ��sister�� have slightly wilder thoughts.


    Of course, it��s because I��m bad!


    Lin Lu��s nose wrinkled slightly as she furiously began to type, as if punching someone through the air, with logic on her side: ��Is that your reason for naturally calling her senior? We are both seniors; you��re showing favoritism!��


    Cheng Zhu replied instantly: ��What do you mean ��we are both seniors��? There are different kinds of seniors, okay? You��re only one grade above me. To be exact, you��re only a few months older than me. Can she be the same? She��s already a senior; it��s like she was already in university when I was in freshman high school. It doesn��t feel like we��re from the same generation.��


    ��Sss! Seems like that makes some sense.�� Lin Lu bit her thumb, murmuring to herself.


    What actually persuaded her wasn��t the age difference, but the underlying message that we are almost the same age, unlike with her.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu himself definitely wasn��t the type of man who particularly cared about age. As the saying goes, an older woman is like a treasure!


    At this moment, he suddenly laughed in his dorm room, preparing to dig a hole for Lin Lu.


    ��What? You actually like the title of ��senior�� that much? Does being taller make you happy?�� he seemed to be complaining.


    ��Yes, I do! I like it very much!�� Lin Lu typed swiftly: ��I just want to hear you say it!��


    ��You��re really annoying,�� Cheng Zhu deliberately began with a prep step, complaining about her again.


    Then, he suddenly shouted in the dorm room, calling out to Dong Dong, ��Dorm chief.��


    ��What��s up?��


    ��Wait a sec, I��ve got something to tell you, but first let me reply to a WeChat message.��


    He picked up his phone, with a resigned tone and a hint of no other choice, he pressed the voice message button and sent Lin Lu a voice message: ��Senior!��


    After saying this, he continued to hold down the voice message button without letting go.


    Sure enough, Dong Dong, who had just been called, immediately exclaimed loudly, ��Holy shit! Brother Zhu, who are you sending a voice message to?��


    His voice was also recorded and sent to Lin Lu in the form of a voice message.


    Lin Lu was lying on her bed when she received the message, and she played it immediately.


    ��Senior!��


    ��Holy shit! Brother Zhu, who are you sending a voice message to?��


    The voices echoed in her bedroom.


    At first, Lin Lu was quite surprised and felt satisfied��That��s more like it! Hmph!


    But after hearing someone else��s voice, she soon felt a bit embarrassed.


    Ah, how could someone else have heard it? I��m gonna die! Ahhh!


    She suddenly turned face down on the bed, hiding her delicate face in the pillow like an ostrich.


    Her legs rose and fell rapidly, drumming on the bed with a thumping sound, and her body began to heat up.


    ��So annoying! This guy is utterly irritating!��

 Chapter 134: 116: How could you go to his store?

    Chapter 134: Chapter 116: How could you go to his store?


    Inside Dormitory 309, Dong Dong had no idea he��d become Cheng Zhu��s tool.


    ��Brother Zhu, what did you just ask me to do?�� He had quite gotten the hang of calling him Brother Zhu.


    ��Oh, I was just checking up on how things are progressing with you and Zhu Yingying,�� he made up an excuse on the fly.


    ��Average.�� Dong Dong��s face clouded over at the mention of her.


    Cheng Zhu looked at him and suggested, ��You know, you should just focus on pursuing Zhu Yingying instead of being indecisive, be good, hmm?��


    Dong Dong opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn��t know what to say.


    Indeed, he and Zhu Yingying had started off well, and their emotional progress wasn��t bad, even slightly flirty.


    But then he saw Cheng Zhu flitting among various top-tier goddesses seemingly without any issues, which made him want to emulate him.


    He thought Yao Yina was quite hot and Guan Jiayue was very pure, so he occasionally took the initiative to chat with them too.


    As a result, Zhu Yingying became increasingly cold towards him.


    Lately, Dong Dong had also begun to realize he might have overplayed his hand.


    ��Could it be that Guan Jiayue and Yao Yina said something to Yingying?�� He wondered, but couldn��t find an answer.


    Instead, at this moment, the usually reticent Zheng Qingfeng suddenly said, ��Um... I��ve been in contact with Guan Jiayue lately.��


    The gaze of the three others in the dorm instantly focused on him.


    ��Holy shit, Zheng, what do you mean by ��contact��? You guys chat every day?�� Dong Dong immediately got excited.


    Zheng Qingfeng nodded.


    This made Mr. Dong so frustrated that he regretted it to the point of wanting to beat his chest in anguish!


    Did Yao Yina see Cheng Zhu as a god, while Guan Jiayue was more interested in old Zheng?


    Damn it! If I had just focused on Zhu Yingying from the start, we probably would be holding hands by now!


    Cheng Zhu just glanced at cold-faced old fatty and, recalling his many impressions of Guan Jiayue, figured Zheng was about to hit the first obstacle in his love life.


    Guan Jiayue was definitely someone with a lot of history.


    With Zheng Qingfeng being so introverted, he presumed Zheng would be tightly controlled.


    However, after thinking it over, Cheng Zhu didn��t say much.


    After all, Zheng was really into it right now and wouldn��t listen to reason.


    No point in talking more; it was futile and would ruin the mood.


    Some walls are meant to be hit head-on.


    As a friend, all Cheng Zhu could do was help him avoid getting too badly hurt.


    At this moment, Liu Feng also suddenly raised his hand, saying, ��Um... I��ve actually been getting along pretty well with Chen Tingting lately.��


    ��What!?�� Dong Dong found these people to be really crafty.


    They��re all so shady, doing big things quietly!


    He had no clue how Zheng Qingfeng and Guan Jiayue ended up getting close.


    Liu Feng probably used his position as the class monitor to get in touch more with Chen Tingting, who was the youth league secretary.


    As for whom Cheng Zhu was just sending a voice message to, calling her ��senior,�� Dong Dong had entirely stopped caring.


    Damn it, so I��m the only one in the entire dorm who hasn��t made any progress in his love life, and I��m actually backsliding?!


    ...


    ...


    At night, Cheng Zhu chatted with Lin Lu for a few more sentences.


    He occasionally teased her, finding it amusing.


    In his heart, Lin Lu and Shen Qingning were amusing in different ways.


    Lin Lu was adorable, and he liked to play with her. Plus, she was always energetic and lively, making him feel better just by being around her.


    Shen Qingning, on the other hand, was cool and distant, and he really wanted to bring her down from her high pedestal to show a more vibrant and contrasting side of her.


    He had already asked Lin Lu to eat with him alone before, and after the meal, he took her to play darts.


    According to his original plan, once the shop opened and business was booming, he intended to use this as a reason to ask Shen Qingning, the female landlord, to dine with him alone.


    Cheng Zhu wanted to issue the invitation tonight, but then Lin Lu mentioned she and Ningning were going to watch a movie together in the living room.


    So he had to put it off for the time being.


    There was a bit of flirting in the air between him and Lin Lu tonight.


    He certainly didn��t want that to get ruined.


    Cheng Zhu checked the backend of the shop Persistent Visit on his laptop.


    Business had been consistently good; the shop had climbed to the fifth position in its category.


    ��We��re aiming for the top three!�� Cheng Zhu was very confident.


    And you should know, many shops might have good figures but also high investments, leading to slim margins.


    Cheng Zhu��s was different; he hadn��t made major investments, and he��d even stopped driving ��black taxis,�� thoroughly formalizing his operations.


    He was all about playing the game with strategies that went beyond the traditional intense competition.


    After closing the shop backend, he picked up his phone and browsed through his circle of friends.


    As expected, his beloved beautiful instructor had posted her glamour shots on her circle of friends.


    She uploaded four photos with the caption: ��Checking in at the student-run shop outside of school, business is thriving.��


    Cheng Zhu looked through the photos and saw she hadn��t photoshopped them much, so there was a high degree of authenticity��not a huge discrepancy between photos and reality.


    Previously, Cheng Zhu had hoped to catch the attention of the college and even university leaders.


    He didn��t know whether Chen Jieyu��s post would have any small effect.


    But it didn��t matter, it was just a casual move.


    If it was useful, great; if not, no big deal.


    After all, there are only so many types of support for student entrepreneurship in college.


    Like interest-free loans, Cheng Zhu didn��t need them.


    Having faculty as technical advisors wasn��t necessary for now, but who knows about the future.


    All he wanted was for the university to approve some space for his future projects and provide a few free office locations. This way, he could save on rent, that��s all.


    Cheng Zhu was more interested in the energy and connections of university leaders than the support offered to student entrepreneurs.


    With nothing else to do, he liked the instructor��s post and casually looked at other content in her circle of friends.


    ��She really packages herself exquisitely, as if living a good life in the big city of Hang City,�� thought Cheng Zhu.


    But when he thought about the many rumors he had heard about Chen Jieyu in his past life and her near-suicidal resignation in the end, he figured his beautiful instructor must be living quite a hard life.


    Honestly, Cheng Zhu wasn��t one to play the hero.


    But he also knew about the so-called butterfly effect. As a Reborn, he was already a butterfly in Chen Jieyu��s life.


    Just how her life would change because of his colorful presence was something he didn��t know yet.


    After closing the instructor��s circle of friends, Cheng Zhu browsed the university��s forum to enjoy the shock of passersby before bed.


    ��News from the frontline, today three goddesses of the university gathered at the doll machine shop off-campus!��


    ��I��m really convinced, Zhang Qiqi senior proactively added Cheng Zhu on Weibo! But why?! What��s so special about him?��


    ��I went for a stamp today, the shop is indeed very photogenic, the dolls are cute, and the owner is as handsome as the rumors say, didn��t dare ask for his WeChat.��


    ��Let me share a selfie from the shop!��


    ��Visited Youu Come to Play with my boyfriend today, and I think we��ve found some juicy gossip!��


    ��How is it that this Cheng Zhu seems to have a connection with every goddess? Jiang Cen senior and Yue Lingjing junior better watch out!��


    Reading the last post, Cheng Zhu thought indignantly, ��What do you mean ��better watch out��?��


    As for Jiang Cen and Yue Lingjing mentioned by the person, the former was unanimously recognized as a goddess in the junior year, while the latter was a freshman, same year as Cheng Zhu.


    He had seen Yue Lingjing a few times in his past life but hadn��t interacted with her.


    To be realistic, among the four campus goddesses at Technology University, Jiang Cen was the least impressive overall, and she had been in a relationship that seemed to be quite dramatic, treating her boyfriend like a dog who nevertheless relished it.


    Then, there was Zhang Qiqi.


    But Zhang Qiqi knew how to enhance her personal charm in other ways, so she wasn��t lagging far behind.


    Yue Lingjing, however, was on par with Shen Qingning and Lin Lu in terms of appearance, and she also had a particularly pleasant temperament.


    ��Only, if I remember correctly, she seems to have only attended Technology University for a year before going abroad the next.�� Cheng Zhu mused.


    He hadn��t been paying much attention to these things, merely continuing to read posts that praised him and Youu Come to Play.


    Of course, there were people cursing on the forum, but Cheng Zhu chose to ignore them.


    Some people were quite inexplicable, and Cheng Zhu didn��t even know who they were, but they acted as if they were familiar with him, fabricating his personal history, detailing the things he supposedly did in high school, spreading wild rumors.


    They didn��t even get his high school right, but the made-up stories sounded believable.


    ��With so many birds in the forest, you never know what some people are thinking in their heads.��


    ��It��s like those people who kneel in the streets begging for reconciliation��there will always be some who challenge your views on the world.��


    Cheng Zhu didn��t bother to take any action, simply sending a friendly greeting below the post: ��Are you an idiot?��


    ...


    ...


    Around eleven o��clock at night, Zhang Qiqi started sending WeChat messages to Cheng Zhu.


    She had readied all the photos a while ago, but deliberately waited until it was late at night before chatting with Cheng Zhu.


    After all, the late hour always makes people more passionate��about everything!


    It��s easier to feel sentimental and to be enthusiastic.


    This is how many college students�� days go.


    Morning: Hahahaha!


    Afternoon: Hahahaha!


    Dawn: Pouring love into a loveless river is more tragic than a lack of love.


    The next day: Sorry, got possessed last night.


    The night seems to possess some magical power, muddling people��s brains when it��s dead quiet.


    ��Junior, are you asleep?�� Zhang Qiqi asked.


    ��Not yet.��


    ��Is it a bit of a bother to talk at this hour?��


    ��It��s okay, I sleep quite late.��


    Jokingly, college student hello! How could you possibly fall asleep at eleven o��clock?


    ��The photos have all been Photoshopped, wanna see?�� Zhang Qiqi asked.


    ��Sure.��


    This internet-famous campus belle immediately sent several photos, which Cheng Zhu saw and thought were quite good; they might even make a small splash on Weibo!


    With Cheng Zhu��s reassurance, Zhang Qiqi immediately began typing: ��I��ll post in my circle of friends first, and I��ll post on Weibo tomorrow afternoon!��


    ��Okay, you handle it, thanks for helping to promote my shop,�� Cheng Zhu replied.


    Without Lin Lu and Shen Qingning around, he didn��t even bother to address her as Senior when chatting on WeChat.


    After Zhang Qiqi posted in her circle of friends and was about to send Cheng Zhu a flirty shock wave, asking him, ��So how do you plan to thank me,�� she received a WeChat message from Xu Shao.


    This dogged pursuer, Xu Shao could sniff things out like a bloodhound; as soon as Zhang Qiqi posted, he saw it immediately.


    ��Qiqi, why did you go to his shop?��

 Chapter 135: 117 The Wicked Also Need the Wicked to Grind

    Chapter 135: Chapter 117 The Wicked Also Need the Wicked to Grind


    Xu Shao, a rare deep-hearted seed among Hang City��s rich second-generation circle.


    Or rather, a deep-hearted seed for now.


    Because if you were to interview many jerks, often you would get a somewhat consistent answer, such as, ��I��m like this all because of her!��


    Xu Shao always paid incredible attention to Zhang Qiqi��s updates.


    Whether it was her Weibo or Moments, it was the same.


    Just now, he had stumbled upon a beautiful photo she posted in her Moments.


    He had been ready to appreciate it, but as soon as he opened the photo, he was stunned!


    ��No way! This can��t be possible!��


    ��Why would Qiqi go to his shop?��


    ��She dislikes Shen Qingning so much, and she even hinted to me that because of this, she has come to loathe Cheng Zhu too!��


    ��Besides, she doesn��t like claw machines at all! She thinks dolls are something that little girls like, she��s already past that stage.��


    Xu Shao had been quite busy these past few days too, his family had arranged a small project for him to follow through the entire process.


    So he could only find time to chat with Zhang Qiqi every day.


    ��Could it be, she feels that I��ve been neglecting her lately, so she did this on purpose to spite me?�� Xu Shao thought to himself with such a dreadful idea.


    Xu Shao would like Zhang Qiqi��s every Moments post, but this one about ��Youu Come to Play,�� he didn��t hit like immediately.


    What��s more outrageous was that this internet-famous campus belle posted nine pictures in one go!


    This was simply VIP treatment!


    You know, arranging a nine-square grid is hard work!


    He��s heard Qiqi complain enough about how sometimes it��s hard to arrange the photos.


    What made him even more incredulous was the caption of the Moments post: ��Discovered a really interesting shop~��


    What��s so interesting about this crappy store!?


    ��He even added the location of this shop at the bottom, included the location?�� Xu Shao was dumbfounded.


    This treatment felt like she was a web celebrity who had taken on a business endorsement for ��Youu Come to Play��...


    Did she take money to make soft advertisements for him?


    Many might wonder why rich men also play the fawning follower?


    Sometimes it��s actually about the difference in levels.


    And another thing is, so-called fawning followers are those who constantly give money, time, energy, emotions, etc.


    You can��t bring anything to the table, you��re not even qualified to be a fawner!


    Take a look at the fawners in real life, how many of them have neither money nor free time?


    Xu Shao picked up his phone and messaged Zhang Qiqi on WeChat immediately.


    His fingers pressed against the phone screen with incredible force, as if he wanted to smash the screen.


    ��Qiqi! Why did you go to his shop!��


    After typing, he hesitated for half a second before sending, then deleted the two exclamation points, replacing them with a comma and a question mark.


    No, no, when the full picture is unknown, it��s not appropriate to use an accusatory tone; that would only deduct points.


    When chasing a girl, I��ve got some tricks up my sleeve!


    Once I��ve successfully won Qiqi over, these advanced-level details are all something to brag about.


    When Zhang Qiqi saw Xu Shao��s WeChat message, she frowned immediately.


    ��This guy is so annoying!


    Why is he so annoying!


    She was just in the middle of creating a slightly flirty chatting atmosphere with Cheng Zhu, focusing on hooking the handsome guy.


    And you just had to ruin my mood!


    I can��t be fully immersed now!


    She decided to handle this annoying guy first.


    ��His shop is quite popular online, it really is a good photogenic spot, you know, I have to post pictures on Weibo every few days, otherwise, I��ll run out of traffic.��


    ��I haven��t found any particularly suitable places to take pictures recently, this place is perfect.��


    Xu Shao��s first reaction was: ��It��s my fault!��


    ��Qiqi, I��ve been really busy these days, my family has arranged some things for me, once I��m done, I��ll take you wherever you want to go.��


    ��It��s my fault.��


    In a big city like Hang City, there are countless high-end places to take photos.


    But he was well aware that Zhang Qiqi was only from a middle-class family, and her allowance was limited.


    The shop was right outside their school, indeed convenient.


    But the problem was... why the hell is this crappy store so popular!


    The arcade I invested in has gone belly up, ice cold, his shop only has a couple of claw machines and a few dance machines, why the heck?


    Is it because his claw machines are pink?


    Could it be that he called in some favors during the grand opening?


    When their arcade first opened, they also had many friends play for free inside, in fact to act as shills to create buzz and atmosphere for the shop.


    ��Observe and observe, I really don��t believe the business could continue to be good!��


    Indeed, many men completely don��t understand these popular internet-famous shops favored by girls and what makes them tick.


    Just as he was about to continue chatting with Zhang Qiqi, she sent him a WeChat message.


    ��I��m going to sleep, I��m a bit tired today, planning to rest early.��


    ��Then you rest up, good night,�� Xu Shao replied promptly.


    Of course, he naturally did not receive a good night reply from Zhang Qiqi.


    After sending that message, she temporarily became a ��dead person�� in Xu Shao��s world, immediately switching chat boxes to chat with Cheng Zhu.


    Xu Shao was used to this by now, after all, every chat session always ended with his last spoken words.


    This was also something he learned from the internet!


    When chatting with girls, you need to end with your own words, to show yourself��that you��ll always have a response for her.


    So even if during a chat, Zhang Qiqi ended with a simple ��Hmm��, he would reply with ��Hmm hmm��.

 Chapter 136: 117 The Wicked Also Need the Wicked to Grind_2

    Chapter 136: Chapter 117 The Wicked Also Need the Wicked to Grind_2


    Brothers, these are all points of knowledge!


    Man, I��m too meticulous!


    Since Qiqi��s already about to enter dreamland, it��s time for me to make up for not having liked her Moments post.


    Honestly, he really didn��t want to like it, because he inexplicably felt an aversion to this Cheng Zhu.


    But he couldn��t break a habit he had always cultivated; it was a little bit of romance between her and me.


    She probably knew that I didn��t like this shop, but I still liked it. What did that represent?


    ��That��s like love!


    The classic segment of self-indulgence began.


    However, before liking it, Xu Shao enlarged every photo first and carefully observed every detail.


    For a girl like Zhang Qiqi, the overall aesthetic of a nine-grid post mattered a lot to her.


    So, the most central photo in the nine-grid was a picture of a plush toy in her dorm room, and the other eight pictures surrounding it were her own beautiful selfies.


    Xu Shao zoomed in on this fifth photo. The main focus was certainly the exquisite plush toy, but in the corner, he saw the face cream and serum he sent Zhang Qiqi, successfully photobombing!


    He happily gave the Moments post his like.


    Sigh, what��s the use of a loyal dog giving a girl a big-brand serum?


    The highest level of treatment is just that later on, she uses the serum you sent to switch for another man��s serum.


    ����It��s the participation that counts.��


    After Xu Shao liked the post, he immediately went to order a super-sized plush toy bigger than a person!


    And his purchase wasn��t just any ordinary hundred-dollar stuff, but an expensive branded one.


    ��When I��m busy, it can keep you company.�� He had the sweet nothings all planned out.


    ...


    ...


    Inside dorm room 309, Cheng Zhu received a WeChat message from Zhang Qiqi.


    ��Junior, I��ve posted the nine-grid. Please check it out!�� She was slightly playful.


    Cheng Zhu checked her Moments and nodded in satisfaction.


    ��An influencer who takes business tasks like this knows what��s up, putting in the geo-tag by themselves.��


    ��Some people do promotions for others without even including the shop��s name or location. Who knows where you went.��


    This was also one of the reasons why Cheng Zhu wasn��t keen on asking friends to promote for him.


    Some people didn��t have the heart to refuse, so they did it perfunctorily, even intentionally perfunctorily, but would remember in their heart: you owe me a favor.


    He had even heard of someone doing a promotion for a friend that was visible only to themselves.


    After Cheng Zhu finished looking at all nine photos, he didn��t type a message but replied with a ��nice�� sticker.


    After Zhang Qiqi got the confirmation, she immediately said, ��I also know several Hang City influencers with a similar fanbase to me, just slightly lower in fan activity. I��ll get them all to check in!��


    This campus belle influencer first bragged about her high fan activity and having many fans, then she fiercely showcased her connections.


    Having more influencers check in was indeed what ��Youu Come to Play�� needed at the moment.


    Though with the natural rise in popularity, many influencers would inevitably come to check in later, getting a head start was definitely beneficial.


    After all, ever since this store opened, it��s been on a countdown to transfer ownership...


    So, Cheng Zhu typed: ��That��s good, thank you.��


    Zhang Qiqi had been waiting for this sentence, immediately sending over the flirty words she had drafted in her mind.


    ��So... junior, how do you plan to thank me?��


    She followed it up with a fist bump sticker.


    Cheng Zhu was not so easily hooked; he continued the banter and typed: ��Next time you come to the store, I��ll give you a membership card.��


    That thing was mostly water, for example, if it had 120 Game Coins, it indeed sold for 100 yuan on the outside, but if you used it all for claw machines, you wouldn��t be able to claw a toy worth the cost of 100 yuan.


    Zhang Qiqi was actually disappointed by this response.


    She had been thinking it might be an invitation to a meal.


    This way, they could continue to deepen their communication and keep fishing for him.


    But she soon received another WeChat message from Cheng Zhu: ��By the way, it��s the first time the store has given out a card.��


    This simple sentence immediately made Zhang Qiqi comfortable again.


    The first time the store has given out a card to the public, that meant neither Shen Qingning nor Lin Lu had one!


    Cheng Zhu knew she liked this kind of talk; he said such things because he knew it.


    ��This little sister is always thinking about comparing herself to Shen Qingning and Lin Lu,�� he thought to himself.


    But actually, if they came to ��Youu Come to Play,�� they could directly use Cheng Zhu��s BOSS card, which had unlimited Game Coins.


    He had already instructed the employee Wang Wei about this.


    Like the green tea girl, a scumbag might not be able to give anything else, but they can definitely max out your emotional value.


    So, Zhang Qiqi immediately replied with an air of excitement: ��That��s really great! Next time when I bring those influencer sisters to the store for photos, I can treat them to the claw machines!��


    A high-end green tea girl is like that; no matter what you give her, you��re sure to get positive feedback, even if she does not like the thing, she won��t nitpick.


    Unlike some girls, who might curse you or criticize you for not understanding their preferences.


    Because the green tea girl wants to use this form of giving you psychological satisfaction as a way to encourage you to keep giving and keep consuming.


    Of course, at this time, she would use her own way to hint at you what kind of gift she really liked.


    Come to think of it, the only downside of a high-end green tea girl is that her love isn��t pure.


    If it were pure, then damn, she��d be a considerate sister with high emotional intelligence.


    There you go, Zhang Qiqi added with a slightly teasing and ambiguously charming touch: ��I actually thought you would choose the oldest trick in the book and invite me for a meal. But the thought of having a meal with a handsome junior does spark a bit of anticipation.��


    Cheng Zhu looked at his phone, slightly squinting his eyes.


    Eat my foot, my main mission right now is to ask out Shen Qingning alone, maintaining equal attention to Lin Lu and Rain, and keep developing both at the same pace!


    Besides, he had specifically bought two dance machines that were very useful, and they had yet to be put to use.


    Baby Lu on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Ning Bao on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Only if I have the energy left on Sunday could I barely pay attention to you, little tea tea.


    And occasionally, I have to go take photos for Ye Zi, this QQ model.


    ��Maybe there��ll be a chance in the future.�� Cheng Zhu gave a somewhat ambiguous reply to the dinner suggestion but didn��t make any commitment.


    After sending that message, he immediately said: ��I��m planning to sleep now, a bit tired today and planning to rest early.��


    Zhang Qiqi looked at the message, feeling it was familiar.


    After a while, she remembered: ��Isn��t this what I just said to Xu Shao!?��

 Chapter 137: 118: An Appointment with Shen Qingning

    Chapter 137: Chapter 118: An Appointment with Shen Qingning


    This night, Cheng Zhu ��died�� in Zhang Qiqi��s world.


    Anyway, after he sent the message saying he was going to sleep, he wouldn��t contact her anymore.


    He definitely wouldn��t be sleeping; it wasn��t even midnight yet. How could he sleep at his age?


    But as for staying in touch, forget it, I��ve got my own things to do.


    Cheng Zhu had always had the little habit of keeping track of his finances, and today��s total turnover for ��Youu Come to Play�� was also logged into his phone.


    ��Actually managing to stabilize at fifteen thousand.�� Cheng Zhu was extremely satisfied with this.


    Even more so because today��s turnover had increased by five hundred compared to yesterday!


    For a small claw machine arcade, achieving this level was indeed frightening!


    The turnover for this month was probably close to that of ��Persistent Visit�� in its first month.


    The old man now has two stores flying together, in short...never mind, there��s no abbreviation.


    Cheng Zhu��s mood was very good now.


    Not because he made more money again.


    Small change, just small change~


    Most importantly, Cheng Zhu was gradually finding the feeling of making money from the young crowd in ��14.


    Today, while he was sitting at the cash register, he overheared a few students chatting.


    From their conversation, they weren��t students from Technology University, but had come especially from Measurement College next door.


    This was a good sign, indicating that ��Youu Come to Play�� had taken its first step in just 48 hours��breaking out of the Technology University campus!


    Next, in addition to Measurement College, students from even further schools would probably follow the trend.


    ��Girls from Communication University, come and play!�� Cheng Zhu laughed wickedly in his heart.


    And you know, if a place is famous for having lots of beauties, then...there certainly won��t be a shortage of men coming to play the field!


    Male customers would flock in!


    With that thought, he even went out of his way to browse through Measurement College��s online forum.


    Just as he expected, there were already quite a few posts about ��Youu Come to Play.��


    Plus, people are strange. The same location��if it��s farther from you, and more troublesome to get to, once you visit, it seems to take on more significance.


    For students of Technology University, this is just a shop opened at the school gates.


    For those from Measurement College, this is a shop from the neighboring university, and it takes a bit of effort to get there.


    As a result, more people are willing to share it on various social media platforms after visiting.


    After browsing for about ten minutes, Cheng Zhu logged off from Measurement College��s forum with satisfaction and even made a note of the names of several goddess-level female students from the college within those ten minutes.


    His memory was quite miraculous. In his past life, he forgot the names of many girls he had close contact with.


    But for these, whom he had never even met face-to-face, he could remember their names after just one glance.


    �� ��On the Self-Cultivation of a Scumbag Man.��


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu had an unavoidable class, so he didn��t go to the store in the morning.


    Yesterday, the shop hired a new employee named Chen Duoduo. While the name sounds childish, she was actually already 29.


    Originally, the shop assistant Wang Wei wanted to bring her own cousin to the shop to work together, but Cheng Zhu declined.


    In his plan, ��Youu Come to Play�� only needed up to three employees. After all, the shop is only so big, and a claw machine arcade doesn��t have that much work.


    Most of the customers are there for self-service entertainment anyway.


    But if you cousins came together to work, there��s a high chance you��d leave together.


    Wouldn��t that leave the shop suddenly short-handed?


    Cheng Zhu would eliminate such potential trouble from the start to save himself the hassle later.


    Today, as usual, he and Lin Lu would chat on and off from morning to night.


    After his earlier maneuvers, the energetic girl would say good morning and goodnight to him every day, as if they had entered into some kind of routine.


    And just moments ago, Lin Lu sent him a WeChat message, informing him, ��I forgot to tell you, I��m going to Shanghai today, will be leaving soon.��


    ��What for?�� Cheng Zhu felt a sudden joy in his heart; didn��t this mean he could naturally just ask Shen Qingning out for dinner tonight?


    The main task of dating Shen Qingning alone (?)!


    ��My cousin works in Shanghai, and he��s getting married today, so the whole family is going,�� Lin Lu replied.


    Through earlier conversations, Cheng Zhu had figured out Lin Lu��s family situation.


    Her family was similar to Shen Qingning��s, with plenty of impressive figures among the relatives.


    The impressively connected relative of the Shen family was naturally Jiang Wanzhou��s. Both the Shen and Jiang families were famously wealthy in Hang City.


    It was said that they had another cousin who worked in Beijing, but it wasn��t clear what he did.


    According to Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Minglang, their cousin had a strange temper, often freaking out in the family group chat for no apparent reason, and it was unclear what he was up to.


    Regarding Lin Lu��s cousin, it seemed like he worked in the financial industry.


    Cheng Zhu had almost a hundred million in assets at a young age in his previous life and had naturally dealt with many people in the financial circle.


    ��The financial circle, well, how do I put it, in one word��chaotic!�� he recalled in his heart.


    There was a high proportion of scumbags and promiscuous people in this circle, a lot of people were very open, very open indeed!


    Relationships between men and women were quite messy.


    Of course, it could have just been Cheng Zhu��s own bad luck to have encountered so many. He had dealt with quite a few women in finance, so maybe that��s why he had this bias. It��s not intentional slander, haha!


    As for Lin Lu��s cousin, she herself said, ��My cousin, a pure scumbag, has settled down.��


    ��In the past, he was so wild! After meeting my cousin-in-law, he suddenly became steady. Maybe that��s what you call fate.�� That��s what Lin Lu believed.


    Others might have their own stories, but as for Cheng Zhu, he was certainly a philanderer.


    Cheng Zhu, like him, would also feel tired of playing around after a while and start to settle down.


    But that was just a phase.


    It wouldn��t be long before he entered the cycle: the prodigal son returns, only to play the field again!


    As Mu Xin wrote in ��On the Way to the Past��: ��How can the prodigal son return if he has gambled away even his own head?��


    That��s also why many scumbags, after getting tired of playing around, would suddenly feel that they had met their true love. I��m going to give up the forest for this tree!


    And then, some time later: Sorry, I just made a mistake.


    �� Ah! I must return to the forest!


    ��I��m different, my staple is not forgetting the original intention.�� This was Cheng Zhu��s self-assessment.


    ...


    ...


    Half an hour later, at the home of Lin Lu and Shen Qingning.


    The voice actor girl had already changed into clothes suitable for attending a wedding banquet, carrying her bag and saying goodbye to Shen Qingning.


    ��Ningning, my dad is already waiting for me downstairs, so I��m going to head out.�� Seeing her sullen friend, she asked, ��Ningning, you seem to be in a bad mood, is it because I��m leaving?��


    She immediately switched to a domineering lady boss��s tone, told Shen Qingning, ��Woman, can��t you live without me for even one night?��


    ��Just go, I��m annoyed because my brother is arguing with Auntie again.�� Shen Qingning pouted and told Lin Lu.


    The ��Auntie�� she referred to was not a housekeeper but her stepmother.


    ��Ah?�� Lin Lu was startled and said, ��How come it seems like he throws a tantrum more than ten times a year?��


    ��Yeah!�� Shen Qingning expressed her exasperation, ��They are both so grown-up but still act like children.��


    Rather than saying it was Shen Minglang arguing with his stepmother, it was more like Young Master Shen lashing out at his stepmother unilaterally.


    She might not have done anything wrong, but Shen Minglang was particularly sensitive and irritable towards her.


    Their mother passed away six years ago, and their father remarried last year.


    In this year, Shen Minglang actually held little to no respect for his stepmother, or should I say, absolutely none.


    But it��s understandable, considering his stepmother is only two years older than him.


    That��s still considered pretty good. Some people��s stepmoms might even be younger than themselves...


    Making it all confusing as to what to call them.


    At this moment, Shen Qingning looked at Lin Lu and said, ��Alright, hurry downstairs and don��t keep your uncle waiting.��


    ��Okay, I��m heading out then! WeChat me if you need anything~�� Lin Lu waved goodbye, ��Bye!��


    ��Bye bye bye bye.�� Shen Qingning waved back.


    After the energetic girl left home, their shared apartment suddenly became extremely quiet.


    You can��t help it, Lin Lu was always lively, and without her, Shen Qingning would sometimes feel out of sorts.


    She had no classes this afternoon, and her mood being so-so, sat on the couch watching TV.


    She randomly found a show to watch, paying little attention.


    Shen Qingning really didn��t like it when her brother argued with their stepmother.


    Because every time she found out about it, she would inevitably be reminded of her deceased mother.


    Like the saying goes: The departure of a loved one is not a sudden downpour, but a lifetime of dampness.


    It��s just like that with family wounds��they can unexpectedly cut you up on occasion.


    ��Mum would be a five-year-old little girl by now, she must be very cute, right?�� she thought.


    This girl with long legs and a perfect leg shape that could be called ��Leg Goddess,�� was now sitting cross-legged on the couch.


    She had placed a throw pillow on top of her knees.


    As she watched the TV, her eyes became increasingly unfocused.


    Until her phone��s ringtone sounded.


    It was Shen Minglang calling.


    ��Hello, Ningning, are you having dinner with me tonight? I��m absolutely not going back home for dinner,�� Shen Minglang spoke over the phone.


    Shen Qingning: ��...��


    She hesitated for a moment before softly saying, ��Alright, you decide the place, come pick me up tonight, I don��t feel like driving.��


    ��Got it!�� Shen Minglang agreed.


    After putting down her phone, Shen Qingning, clutching the throw pillow, no longer sat cross-legged, but slowly lay down on the couch, beginning to space out.


    She was the type who, when in a bad mood, would just space out, not thinking about anything, not doing anything.


    Gradually, she curled up on the couch, her long legs tucked and pressing the throw pillow up.


    Just lying there, doing nothing, she felt pretty good.


    Then, at three in the afternoon, Shen Qingning received a WeChat from Cheng Zhu.


    ��When is the monthly electricity bill for the shop settled?�� He started with a legitimate reason to communicate with the female landlord.


    If it were Lin Lu, he could have been straightforward: ��Tonight, dinner, got it?��


    Shen Qingning looked at the message he sent and replied with the fixed monthly date for settling the electricity bill at the sushi shop.


    ��Alright, I��m in the shop now, do you want to come over and play?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    ��Probably not. The shop is so busy right now, coming over might even interfere with your business,�� Shen Qingning replied.


    But honestly, for some reason, when she saw Cheng Zhu��s invitation, she really felt like going and almost agreed.


    This puzzled her because usually, when she was in a bad mood she liked to be alone.


    She felt somewhat uneasy.


    Cheng Zhu knew that Shen Qingning wouldn��t come to the shop by herself.


    But he thought that maybe Shen Qingning was also willing to spend time alone with him, but she might need an excuse.


    ��Business is booming thanks to you both. The location of this shop is absolutely perfect, meeting all my needs.


    Lin Lu helped me supervise the construction, and the decoration came out well.


    You helped with the promotion in the beginning, which was a great help,�� Cheng Zhu began to lay the groundwork.


    After laying out these words, knowing that Lin Lu was going to Shanghai today, he started typing rapidly:


    ��How about this, I��ll treat you both to dinner tonight!��

 Chapter 138: 119: Did I Crash?

    Chapter 138: Chapter 119: Did I Crash?


    Inside the ��Youu Come to Play�� store, Cheng Zhu sat in the warehouse taking a break and texting Shen Qingning to invite her to dinner.


    In his heart, Shen Qingning and Lin Lu were two girls with completely different personalities.


    Shen Qingning was too reserved, and proud, like a white swan.


    But actually, she was indeed smarter than Lin Lu.


    For example, the little trick he used just now, if Lin Lu were the target, she probably wouldn��t have thought twice.


    Yes, our Baby Lu is just naive! So easy to deceive!


    But Shen Qingning was completely different.


    She was a more clear-headed person, good at thinking.


    ��Lin Lu and I are now so close, Shen Qingning could probably guess that I know this little fool is going to Shanghai for a wedding today,�� Cheng Zhu thought in the warehouse.


    Yet, he still chose this approach��pretended he didn��t know Lin Lu was going to Shanghai, and then said, ��How about this, I��ll treat you both to dinner tonight.��


    In his opinion, letting a smart and clear-headed girl notice a hint of his ulterior motive was no big deal.


    Or rather, he thought it was quite good.


    He wanted her to know that he was scheming just to ask her out.


    In his concept, this kind of pretentious girl actually really falls for this!


    If she was really willing to engage with you, then even if she realized it was your trick, her heart would still race, feeling an atmosphere of flirtation spreading.


    I know you have ulterior motives, but I still choose to respond accordingly.


    If she wasn��t willing to engage with you, then whatever you do would be in vain! Then it wouldn��t matter.


    ��Moreover, sometimes you need to learn to expose something intentionally in front of a smart girl.��


    ��Use a form of self-exposure, to give her an illusion of ��I just guessed it would be this way��.��


    ��To prevent her from thinking deeper, digging deeper, and then discovering... something even more incredible!��


    Two best friends living and eating together, Cheng Zhu��s invitation carried a high risk of backfiring.


    He wanted this little backfire!


    Or rather, was this also his way of... testing Shen Qingning?


    Contact between men and women does not have a progress bar like in games.


    So constant mutual testing is necessary.


    Of course, sadly, sometimes the result of the test is good, and then everything progresses naturally.


    Sometimes the results are bad, unacceptable.


    Well, I��ve given you this proud girl a step to descend, inviting you to dinner in a more natural way.


    Whether you choose to step down is up to you.


    In fact, when Shen Qingning received Cheng Zhu��s message, her eyelids slightly lowered.


    ��He probably knows that Lu Lu is not in Hang City today,�� she quietly speculated.


    Then, Shen Qingning found herself struggling.


    This struggle made her somewhat dislike this side of herself.


    She was the kind of person who, when in a bad mood, liked to be alone.


    In fact, many clear-headed and smart people find it difficult to accept comforting and advice from others, preferring to process things on their own.


    But when Cheng Zhu invited her to come hang out at the store, she was quite moved!


    That was enough for her to start introspectively examining her own heart alone at home.


    Now, he used this clumsy trick to invite her to dinner, and she was actually considering it.


    Also, she clearly recognized that she wasn��t unwilling to interact with Cheng Zhu; it was just that she had never had dinner alone with an unrelated man, and she was finding it difficult to take that step.


    Yet she was still a woman with a strong aura and an independent mindset.


    This made her somewhat dislike her current self.


    She picked up her phone, began to type: ��Lu Lu went to Shanghai today; maybe let��s cancel, wait for her to return.��


    Just before sending, she impulsively deleted the last few words, then planned to add them back, but ended up deleting them again, only informing Cheng Zhu that Lin Lu was not in Hang City today.


    Cheng Zhu had been watching the chat box on his phone, seeing it show ��typing�� for a while, then disappear, and then display ��typing�� again.


    ��Silly little sister, really such a proud girl, aren��t you tired of always being so upright?�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    He had already received part of the signal, looking at the words ��Lu Lu went to Shanghai today,�� he got part of the answer.


    Therefore, he typed: ��What about you?��


    ��What about me?�� Shen Qingning stared at her phone, not replying for a moment, her heart beating somewhat faster.


    Because she knew that what she was about to reply wasn��t just about a simple dinner.


    But to figure out what she was really thinking.


    This is why the more clear-headed people tend to live tiresomely, hence the phrase��ignorance is bliss.


    Just then, she received a WeChat message from Shen Minglang.


    ��Ningning, I��ll be downstairs at your apartment at five to pick you up,�� Shen Minglang informed.


    Shen Qingning sighed in relief, having forgotten about that arrangement.


    ��Saved!


    She quickly typed to Cheng Zhu: ��I already have dinner plans with my brother tonight.��


    But then she thought about how Cheng Zhu and Shen Minglang were close too; he could easily join them.


    So, she quickly added: ��We have some matters to discuss.��


    Regarding the stepmother matter, the siblings indeed didn��t want others around when discussing it.


    After typing these two messages, Shen Qingning suddenly chuckled self-derisively.


    She had ultimately chosen to escape.


    ��Escaping might be shameful, but it��s effective.


    Yet it was revealing for someone usually so imposing like her to choose to escape.


    ��I don��t mind further interactions with him, do I?��


    ...


    ...


    Inside the ��Youu Come to Play�� store, Cheng Zhu looked at WeChat, frowning.


    He didn��t really feel like he had made a tiny mistake.


    Because based on his understanding of Shen Minglang, if the siblings really had something to discuss, this lover of excitement would probably have invited everyone.


    He just didn��t expect someone to get there first, disrupting his plans!


    ��Oh well, great uncle-in-law, he��s family.��


    Since there was no dinner party tonight, Cheng Zhu rode his pink electric scooter to the ��Persistent Visit�� studio.


    After busying himself there for a while, he went to a nearby studio and ate a pot rice meal alone.


    That night, he did not plan on going to ��Youu Come to Play�� or back to the dormitory.


    Instead, he waited in the studio for Wang Anquan to arrive, and pulled in Wang Haitao, who had recently been promoted to deputy team leader, to hold a small three-person meeting.


    Cheng Zhu was consciously training them; after all, for him, the QQ lingerie field was just one of the realms he intended to conquer.


    Granted, this realm could bring many people happiness, a great responsibility!


    But he couldn��t bury himself in it for a lifetime, deeply tilling only the QQ field.


    From his recent activities, one could tell that he was already preemptively laying out other sectors.


    ��Brother Zhu, recently more stores are hopping on the trend of the grey backless sweaters,�� Wang Anquan told him.


    ��It doesn��t matter, we aren��t competitors in the same race anymore, we��re now an internet-famous Taobao store,�� Cheng Zhu didn��t care, after all, you couldn��t stop such copycat behavior.


    His dismissive attitude, breezy and composed, made Wang Anquan think he was incredibly cool.


    He imagined himself saying that line... forget it, with my face, it wouldn��t be nearly as stylish.


    Wang Haitao then reported: ��Mr. Cheng, lately many people have tried to reach you through customer service; they seem to be from internet celebrity companies and want to engage with you for deeper cooperation.��


    Cheng Zhu smiled: ��Interesting, they can��t find a way in, so they turn to our store��s customer service? That��s one way to do it.��


    ��No need to bother with those for now,�� Cheng Zhu waved his hand.


    Wang Haitao was a bit puzzled; if it were anyone else, seeing major internet celebrity companies wanting to partner deeply would probably be thrilled to the skies.


    But the boss seemed utterly uninterested.


    After working here for a while, Wang Haitao had come to realize that this young boss was actually inscrutable!


    He probably had his own considerations.


    Until ten at night, Cheng Zhu was still in the studio, although he had mostly wrapped up his tasks.


    He aimlessly scrolled through his social media feed, seeing that Ye Zi had posted something two hours ago.


    ��Boss, can I come check in at your doll machine store, don��t worry, I��ll pretend not to know you and won��t disturb your college life.��


    Clearly, this was a post visible only to Cheng Zhu.


    ��Ye Zi, what are you up to with this?�� Cheng Zhu sipped his Coke, a bit amused and exasperated.


    We aren��t even in a romantic relationship, and you��re already doing what old lovers do.


    Prematurely registering your status, huh?!


    Ridiculous, we��re just long-term strategic partners in the QQ lingerie world, not long-term strategic life partners.


    What are you playing at!


    But her every action hinted at a humble attitude as if she were very cautious.


    ��She wants to get closer to your world but is afraid you��d find her annoying.


    After thinking a bit, Cheng Zhu sighed.


    He knew Ye Zi wouldn��t take the initiative to message him, so he sent her a WeChat: ��If you want to come, just come, let me know ahead of time in your social media, if I see it I��ll like it, but I might not be in the store.��


    Ye Zi, as usual, was overjoyed, replying with her most commonly used sticker: ��Copy that!��


    ��Don��t you have a variation of this sticker with two more words?�� Cheng Zhu teased.


    Ye Zi got the hint immediately, replying: ��What are you saying, master, I don��t have one, but if my master likes, I can make a sticker myself using a selfie.��


    Cheng Zhu felt she was being incorrigibly cheeky again, this Ye Zi really was uninhibitedly embracing her M side.


    Making one with a selfie, showing a tongue-out pose?


    The two continued their WeChat chatting, Cheng Zhu also indirectly learned that Shen Minglang��s bar business was declining again...


    So much so that Ye Zi, the bartender, had time to chat leisurely.


    Sometimes, nightspots don��t really mind staff using their phones, because you can��t tell whether they��re just playing or maintaining customer relations.


    ��Has business at my cousin��s bar gotten worse lately?�� he decided to ask about his future brother-in-law.


    ��It��s not so good; he��s at the bar now, and he��s drunk quite a bit, seems to be cursing at people, I think he��s about to pass out,�� frontline reporter Ye Zi sent the update.


    This surprised Cheng Zhu, thinking about what Shen Qingning had told him that afternoon, wondering if the siblings had run into some trouble?


    But his gut told him the problem likely lay with Shen Minglang!


    Ye Zi knew that Cheng Zhu was good friends with Shen Minglang and very familiar with Shen Qingning.


    At that moment, she watched Shen Qingning sitting at a table, cupping her chin with one hand and her cheeks faintly flushed, looking unrealistically beautiful, like a fairy descended to earth.


    This cold girl naturally had very pale skin, the kind that looked dazzlingly white, which made her appear even more ethereal.


    From the side, her incredibly long legs were overwhelmingly perfect, as if crafted by a goddess, flawless, surely killing all the so-called leg models on the internet.


    This woman with looks, physique, and even wealth��what man wouldn��t be dumbfounded upon meeting her?


    She guessed Cheng Zhu wouldn��t be an exception either.


    Ye Zi felt inferior in the presence of such a girl, feeling utterly incomparable.


    She lowered her head, fiddling with bartending tools in an empty glass; she hadn��t drunk much, but her gaze was even more hazy than Shen Qingning��s, her thoughts unclear.


    After a while, she helpfully sent another message to Cheng Zhu: ��Then... Boss, do you want to come over now?��

 Chapter 139: 120 Lets Enjoy the Evening Breeze Together

    Chapter 139: Chapter 120 Let��s Enjoy the Evening Breeze Together


    Persistent Visit��s studio was at the bottom, Brother Zhu bid farewell to Little Wang.


    Little Wang looked at Brother Zhu��s pink little electric scooter, wondering if he should get one for himself as well.


    Riding a donkey to impress girls on campus would be one of the great joys in life, wouldn��t it?


    Unfortunately, sometimes you encounter girls who look for horses while riding donkeys, prefer crying in a BMW rather than laughing on a little electric donkey.


    After some thought, Cheng Zhu decided to head to Jiuyin to check things out.


    This time, he truly came from the perspective of a concerned friend, afraid that something might have happened.


    ��It��s just after ten in the evening, and Ming Lang is already drunk?�� Cheng Zhu was puzzled.


    Ming Lang, well, he claimed to be the Little Prince of the Drinking Table.


    Horrible at drinking games, but his main trick was his drinking ability!


    Just an alcohol container without a brain.


    Logically, it was only him and Qingning. His sister wouldn��t be the one to maliciously get him drunk, so why did he get hammered so early?


    The only explanation was that he had been pouring drinks for himself!


    Cheng Zhu was very aware that some things, you just can��t help solve as a friend.


    But sometimes, friends aren��t there to solve problems.


    A friend is just there to show up.


    In life, many problems need to be solved by oneself, but in such circumstances, having someone willing to show up by your side, to care a little about you, would certainly make one feel much better.


    ��Of course, I have to take a few photos to commemorate his drunken state,�� he thought.


    ��Wanzhou will probably pay a high price to buy the embarrassing pictures. Consider it covering my travel expenses,�� Cheng Zhu chuckled to himself.


    The pink little electric scooter traveled at a steady pace through the night scene of Hang City when a red Ferrari 458 whizzed past him. Through the glass, he caught a glimpse of the white thighs sitting in the passenger seat.


    In his previous life, he owned a gray Ferrari F8 but didn��t use such transparent window film.


    Because back then, the streets were just overwhelmed with car photographers.


    If your car was too flashy, the photographers would go nuts and post pictures of it online.


    If the window film was too transparent, wouldn��t that mean people could see the interior �C and potentially, the model inside?


    That��s inviting major trouble.


    The bar Jiuyin, run by Ming Lang, was somewhat far from Cheng Zhu��s starting point. It took him about twenty minutes to get there.


    After pushing the door open and entering, he found the business at the bar was indeed poor.


    He had previously given Ming Lang some tips which momentarily improved Jiuyin��s business. Yet clearly, Boss Shen probably added personal touches in his management and ventured down the wrong path afterward.


    He felt that Ming Lang really wasn��t cut out for business.


    Many people like opening stores, not necessarily because they love the business, but because they enjoy being in their environment, doing things they like, passively Waiting for others to acknowledge their taste and then incidentally making some money.


    Fundamentally, it��s a form of personal expression.


    Many people would see this as a dream.


    ��I can��t even imagine how wonderful that kind of life would be.


    Cheng Zhu thought to himself: I can��t even begin to imagine how deep into the red that would be.


    Running a store is not about being artistic. You can��t just do whatever you personally like.


    It��s like Cheng Zhu��s Youu Come to Play, some parts aren��t up to his personal taste, but he knows clearly that his taste is not important.


    Many wealthy second-generation kids like Ming Lang are far too individualistic, hence not so suited to running businesses.


    They might have the means and conditions to run a business casually, but speaking of a real business startup, how many people can truly ignore the business aspect?


    If that��s the case, why not just decorate your own home in that style and every now and then invite a few friends over to drink? Not to mention, it��s humiliating when a business turns out poorly. Losing money is a trifling matter, but losing face is everything.


    After Cheng Zhu walked inside, Ye Zi smiled at him and then waved.


    He nodded slightly.


    Ye Zi immediately made a gesture, pointing in the direction where Ming Lang and Qingning were sitting.


    They were in the most secluded corner of the bar, where no one else was around.


    Ming Lang had already laid himself down. It looked like he was genuinely passed out from drinking.


    Qingning, on the other hand, was propping up her face with one hand, seemingly spacing out, while her other hand clutched her car keys, muttering something to herself.


    Cheng Zhu had won her a Pikachu keychain previously, Qingning had been a fan of ��Pocket Monsters�� since she was young, and she had put that keychain on her car keys.


    From a distance, he watched her, trying to guess her lip movements.


    ��Pika pika?�� He frowned, confused. She wasn��t trying to talk like Pikachu, was she?


    Or was she having a conversation with the Pikachu keychain?


    This kind of thing that Lin Lu might do every day looked odd and somewhat curious when Qingning did it.


    He took a few steps closer towards her, and it wasn��t until Cheng Zhu stood beside her that she lifted her head and noticed the newcomer.


    When their eyes met, Cheng Zhu was struck by her startling beauty.


    The usually cold aura around Qingning had cleared away completely, leaving her eyes slightly hazy from the intoxication.


    Her fair and cold skin flushed a natural rosy hue, as though bathed in a layer of natural blush.


    It seemed that Cheng Zhu��s sudden appearance made her lips part slightly in surprise.


    ��Cheng Zhu?�� Qingning blinked, then asked in confusion, ��Why are you here?��


    ��Came to spend some money at your brother��s bar,�� Cheng Zhu offhandedly lied.


    Qingning did not pursue the matter further but glanced over at Ming Lang.


    The two couches in that area were right against the wall, with Ming Lang sprawled out snoring. Cheng Zhu naturally couldn��t sit there.


    This made Qingning shift over a little to make space and then told Cheng Zhu, ��Here, have a seat.��


    After he sat down, he pointed at Ming Lang and asked, ��What��s up with him, getting this drunk so early?��


    The sibling conversation about their mother and stepmother wasn��t intended to have outsiders present.


    But now that it had finished, it was alright to share some of it with others asking about it.


    ��Nothing much, just this almost-thirty-year-old missing his mom,�� she replied nonchalantly.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at this proud tsundere, and spoke up directly, ��What about you?��


    His voice was uncommonly gentle, and his eyes held a soft and warm smile.


    Qingning met his gaze, and as if something had struck her��unbeknownst to her whether it was the alcohol or the tears she was trying to hold back��her lips quivered slightly, ��A little bit, too.��


    The conversation opened up with Cheng Zhu��s intervention. Qingning bowed her head, looking down at her cocktail glass and stirring it continuously with a straw while speaking up:


    ��They say your day��s thoughts are your night��s dreams, but it��s strange. For six years, neither my brother nor I have dreamt much of her.��


    As she said this, there was another sentence in her heart that went unsaid:


    ��I��m no longer the little child who was afraid of ghosts; mom, why don��t you visit my dreams to see how I��m doing?


    Cheng Zhu just sat by her side, listening quietly, not saying a word.


    After a while, he suddenly asked, ��What would you like to become after you die?��


    The abrupt change of subject caught Qingning slightly off guard.


    She genuinely thought Cheng Zhu was trying to prevent her from dwelling in sadness, so he forcefully steered the conversation elsewhere.


    A topic she would have normally found childish and boring.


    But now, she considered it with seriousness, then gave a typical response, ��Many say when people die, they become stars in the sky, which I think is quite nice.��


    ��Why?�� Cheng Zhu inquired.


    ��Because that way, can��t you keep watching people from up there?�� Qingning said.


    Cheng Zhu nodded, ��I, for one, don��t want to keep watching the people I care about from the sky.��


    He valued his own feelings; he believed if he could watch from the heavens everything that happened in this world after death, it wouldn��t necessarily feel good.


    It��d be nice to visit when you miss someone, sure.


    But to always watch, that��s something else altogether.


    There are things you might not be able to bear to see.


    ��What about you?�� Qingning turned to look at him.


    Cheng Zhu was silent for a moment, the only sound being Ming Lang��s thunderous snoring.


    He wasn��t thinking about what true answer he actually had in mind.


    He was just looking for a moment, a chance to comfort her.


    Or perhaps, setting the stage for what was to come.


    After a good ten seconds, he finally said, ��As for me, I��ve heard another saying that people become wind after they die. I��d like to be the wind!��


    ��Why?�� Qingning asked with her chin propped up, then, due to the alcohol-induced drowsiness in her head and body, she slowly slumped against the wall, almost slipping her face off her propped-up hand, appearing slightly silly.


    ��I��m not like you. I think constantly watching the person you want to see from the sky would make me weary,�� he replied.


    ��Me? I��d become a breeze.��


    ��Whenever I want to see someone, the wind would gust over them.��


    On hearing this, Qingning looked at him, pondering deeply as if considering something serious.


    In the end, she nodded, ��That does sound pretty nice.��


    Cheng Zhu watched her, relieved, feeling like he��d laid out all the comforting groundwork, and now it was just a matter of how things would unfold.


    Time moved forward by fifteen minutes, Ming Lang began to show heavier signs of drunkenness. Originally able to sit on the long sofa, he almost slid off and tumbled onto the floor.


    ��Let��s not let him sleep here anymore; we should send him home,�� Cheng Zhu suggested.


    ��We don��t have to send him; the manager will. He often gets drunk here until he blacks out; it��s become routine,�� was Qingning��s reply.


    Cheng Zhu nodded and went to find the manager of Jiuyin.


    Then, together with the manager, they helped the drunken Ming Lang up and staggered out of the bar, with Qingning following behind Cheng Zhu.


    Ye Zi watched their departing figures intently, wordlessly wiping the bartop with a cloth over and over.


    Though there was no water or stains, she wiped for a very long time.


    Outside the door, after Cheng Zhu and the manager loaded Ming Lang into his Panamera, he gave the manager his phone number, asking him to call after they��d delivered the man home.


    Then, he walked over to Qingning, who was standing aside, and said, ��Let��s go. I��ll drive since you��ve been drinking. I��ll take you home.��


    Qingning shook her head; though she had her car keys in her bag, she didn��t drive today. Ming Lang had come to pick her up.


    ��I didn��t drive today,�� she said, looking at Cheng Zhu.


    Cheng Zhu stood with his back straight, appearing very confident as he said, ��Well, it��s a good thing I drove!��


    ��Come with me!�� he beckoned to Qingning.


    He didn��t park his flashy pink electric scooter directly in front of Ming Lang��s store.


    People who run stores typically hate cluttering up their storefronts, so when he visited friends�� places, he stuck to that principle, not insisting on convenience at the cost of just a few steps.


    Soon, he pointed to his electric scooter.


    ��Do you remember what I said to you back in the bar?�� Cheng Zhu said to Qingning, now retrieving the groundwork he had laid earlier.


    He grinned at Qingning and gestured toward his electric scooter:


    ��Let��s go then, I��ll take you to... get some wind.��

 Chapter 140: 121 Lets Stick Together

    Chapter 140: Chapter 121 Let��s Stick Together


    ��Take me out... to feel the evening breeze?��


    Shen Qingning couldn��t help but recall what Cheng Zhu had said in the bar about ��becoming the wind after death.��


    So, it wasn��t just about experiencing the breeze.


    For some reason, she felt as if something had struck her heart.


    His gesture surpassed many cliche? comforts.


    Because some problems, some emotional difficulties, can��t be soothed just with words.


    People need to experience, need to vent.


    What Cheng Zhu had to do was simple.


    ��I��ll take you to experience it, I��ll take you to vent.��


    He had already mounted his beloved little electric scooter, turning his head to look at Shen Qingning, only to see her still standing there, dazed, and for some reason, her fingers tightly clasped.


    This cold, formidable girl rarely showed such expression.


    She bowed her head slightly, her face unclear.


    Cheng Zhu said nothing further but kicked off the ground, slowly pushing the scooter forward with his feet until he was in front of the 19-year-old girl who had been thinking about her mother all day.


    His comical movements at that moment wouldn��t make the girl think he looked foolish but would warm her heart.


    ��Your legs are so long, just hop on,�� Cheng Zhu told her.


    As he said so, he shifted forward, making room on the seat.


    Normally, Shen Qingning would never sit on a boy��s electric scooter.


    It was too close, and one could accidentally touch back to front.


    She had her own dignity, her own aloofness.


    Besides, she was usually like a domineering female boss��have you ever seen a female boss ride on someone else��s scooter?


    Well, today you have.


    Shen Qingning lifted her surprisingly proportionate long right leg and easily straddled Cheng Zhu��s pink scooter.


    This model of scooter wasn��t known for spacious seating.


    Therefore, Shen Qingning leaned back as far as she could, yet the two of them were barely not touching.


    Just sitting down, the little ice mountain began to regret her decision.


    ��Shen Qingning, did you drink too much?�� she questioned herself internally.


    She indeed had quite a few drinks with Shen Minglang and was nearing her limit.


    But at that moment, a breeze happened to pass by.


    When the cool night wind brushed against her, the girl who missed her mother froze.


    Her mind stopped wandering, and she calmed down instantly.


    On this blurry night, this hazy girl only wanted to feel the breeze.


    Chinese people are like this��we have a long cultural heritage, so we have various romantic notions that others might not possess.


    Our red beans are more than just red beans.


    Our moon is more than just a moon.


    Our reeds are more than just reeds.


    Today, Shen Qingning learned something new��apparently, people can become the wind after they die.


    This notion was made up by Cheng Zhu, just to comfort him in this moment.


    Regarding the idea that people become wind after they die, he had only read a short story about it online.


    It was about Zhou Yu and Sun Ce from the era of the Three Kingdoms.


    As everyone knows, the east wind played a crucial role at the Battle of Red Cliffs.


    The story goes like this:


    ��Zhou Yu, after dying, asked the guide leading the way: ��Has the former lord of Jiangdong, Sun Ce, been reincarnated?��


    The guide replied: ��Yes, he was reincarnated in the eighth year.


    Zhou Yu asked: ��Where did he reincarnate?��


    The guide replied: ��He became a wisp of the east wind.''��


    Cheng Zhu hadn��t expected that just before he officially started his pink scooter, a breeze would conveniently blow.


    But that was normal, after all, it was autumn, and it always gets breezy at night.


    ��Shall we go and enjoy the breeze?�� he said, pun intended, turning slightly to speak to the person seated behind.


    ��Okay,�� Shen Qingning responded softly, her voice trembling slightly.


    And so, Cheng Zhu took her through Hang City in the night.


    Passersby who saw them were quite impressed.


    The young man riding the scooter was handsome, tall, and large.


    Most importantly, he naturally had a slight upward tilt to his eyebrows, and his eyes were bright. At the moment, his gaze was very determined, as if he was fulfilling an important mission!


    The girl in the back, though she kept bowing her head causing her long hair to cover half of her face, exposed her amazingly proportionate long legs, which were simply flawless.


    Long and straight, and very white!


    Her thighs had a touch of plumpness, her calves were incredibly even, and her knee bones were not the protruding kind, which would ruin the overall aesthetics of the legs.


    Even the arch of her leg backs was quite attractive.


    If the man riding the scooter wasn��t indeed handsome, many passersby would have wondered why such a top-notch girl was sitting on an electric scooter.


    When they stopped for a traffic light, Cheng Zhu suddenly heard a voice from behind.


    The voice was still light, tinged with an indistinguishable choke.


    A pair of hands gently tugged at the corner of his shirt.


    ��Cheng Zhu, I want the wind to be stronger, even stronger.��


    ��Okay,�� Cheng Zhu nodded slightly and sped up when the light turned green.


    The wind was indeed a miraculous thing��it provided a sense of envelopment��like an embrace.


    She didn��t know whether it was the effect of the wind after drinking, or whether the girl who missed her mom had completely immersed in her emotions.


    Shen Qingning��s hands clutched Cheng Zhu��s shirt corners, her forehead resting lightly on his back.


    There was no other physical contact, and certainly no clinging.


    The night wind caused by the riding fluttered her long hair, and this normally poised woman finally found an outlet for her emotions.


    She too missed her mom, but she also had to comfort her unruly brother, ironically requiring her, the younger sister, to take on the more mature role.


    ��Damn that Shen Minglang!


    ...


    ...


    Under the streetlights in the night, the pink electric scooter had been driving for twenty minutes.


    It was now eleven o��clock at night.


    ��Feeling better?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    Shen Qingning, who had been resting her forehead on his back, suddenly pulled away, intending to let go of the shirt she was holding. However, the man sped up, and her instinctive reaction was to grip tighter.


    After a small yelp, she almost leaned into him.


    But she couldn��t really say anything, after all, she was the one who asked Cheng Zhu to go faster.


    Shen Qingning responded to Cheng Zhu��s question, not revealing her emotional state, but simply describing her physical condition. That��s how she was, unable to open up.


    ��My head is a bit dizzy,�� Shen Qingning said.


    ��You must have drunk quite a bit with your brother, huh? I can even smell the alcohol on you. It must be the cold breeze; it��s brought the alcohol effect,�� he said while riding.


    ��If you��re really too dizzy, take a nap,�� he suggested.


    The person behind didn��t reply, but Cheng Zhu felt her forehead against his back again.


    The electric scooter continued forward, and after a while, he distinctly felt the weight on his shoulder soften, becoming soft and warm.


    Shen Qingning was getting dizzier, she began leaning halfway against Cheng Zhu, resting the left side of her face on his back, increasing the area of support.


    Of course, she was still maintaining a slight distance from the man.


    Also, her eyes were still open, although they looked bewildered and stubbornly refused to close.


    ��Did you fall asleep?�� Cheng Zhu, receiving no response, turned to ask.


    Shen Qingning was about to reply when the man in front acted quickly, switching from riding with both hands to one.


    Cheng Zhu��s left hand started pulling at her hands, which were lightly clutching his shirt, then grabbed her wrist, pulling it forward so her hands could wrap around his abdomen.


    After he pulled Shen Qingning��s right hand, he alternated to pull her left hand.


    Now they were in contact!


    The eyes of Shen Qingning, who refused to close her eyes, suddenly widened.


    Her heartbeat started to race, and she began to feel warm.


    The man kept mocking in front, ��You don��t seem to handle your liquor very well, do you? You��re already knocked out?��


    ��I��m not...�� Shen Qingning internally retorted.


    ��Hold on tight, don��t fall off,�� Cheng Zhu said while slightly pressing her hands with his palm to make her hold onto him tighter.


    ��I��ll reluctantly fulfill the duty of a boyfriend today, letting you know what safety and reliability feel like,�� Cheng Zhu said in a truly conceited tone, then slowly reduced the scooter��s speed.


    ��Why is he humming now!�� Shen Qingning thought in her mind. ��He sings terribly.��


    But she didn��t move; she just stayed hugging him, half her face resting against him, only her eyes stubbornly open.


    ��I really did drink too much today,�� she thought, her eyes open, watching the street��s greenery rapidly moving backward.


    The pink electric scooter crawled along the road.


    Shen Qingning was starting to zone out.


    She increasingly felt lightheaded and oddly empty, yet very at ease.


    Once the alcohol took effect, her mind also stopped functioning clearly.


    She hadn��t thought about where Cheng Zhu was taking her.


    After all, Cheng Zhu didn��t know the address of the apartment she shared with Lin Lu.


    He only knew it was near the school, about a six or seven-minute ride.


    So, he definitely wasn��t heading to the sisters�� shared apartment.


    He had a destination in mind.


    After about ten minutes or so, they arrived.


    ��We��re here,�� Cheng Zhu gradually slowed the scooter, stopping it smoothly.


    Shen Qingning, who had been keeping her eyes open and spacing out, felt Cheng Zhu seemed about to turn around.


    At that moment, she impulsively closed her eyes!


    Cheng Zhu, of course, knew she hadn��t been asleep, as a sleeping drunk person couldn��t be as calm and motionless as her, or even... rigid?


    She maintained her position the whole time, even the side of her face resting against Cheng Zhu��s back hadn��t moved an inch.


    It��s fair to say that Miss Shen had no practical life experience at all��she couldn��t even act convincingly.


    Of course, it might also be because they were in contact, so she had remained motionless, otherwise, that would have been friction, wouldn��t it?


    Also, because Shen Qingning was tall, at about 170 cm, when she leaned completely against Cheng Zhu, her half-face was actually exposed outside his shoulder.


    After all, Cheng Zhu, being over 180 cm, wasn��t sitting very upright as he controlled the scooter.


    Because she was leaning with half her face against Cheng Zhu��s side, she couldn��t see that the scooter��s rearview mirror showed her exposed half-face, especially her stubbornly open, bewildered beautiful eyes.


    Cheng Zhu chuckled lightly and pretended it was the first time he was looking into the rearview mirror.


    He raised a hand, lightly tapped the mirror, creating a distinctly crisp knocking sound, and burst her pretense on the spot.


    ��Stop pretending to sleep; I just saw you in the mirror.��

 Chapter 141: 122: Its Fondness

    Chapter 141: Chapter 122: It��s Fondness


    The pink electric scooter was parked in front of the ��Youu Come to Play�� arcade.


    It was now past eleven at night, and there were hardly any people outside the campus, with most of the shops already closed for the day. ��Youu Come to Play�� was no exception.


    The normal business hours for this claw machine arcade were until 10 pm, but in the last few days, because business had been too good, they had often been closing at half-past ten.


    Right now, not only was the glass door of the shop shut, but the outermost roller shutter was also pulled down, sealing everything tightly.


    Shen Qingning sat on her scooter, surely having heard what Cheng Zhu had said.


    She, already slightly tipsy, found it hard to think straight.


    He saw me without closing his eyes when he had just parked the car!?


    Hmm, she had overestimated Cheng Zhu��s limit; he knew all along that she hadn��t closed her eyes and would occasionally check on her vacant, daydreaming expression in the rearview mirror.


    He thought she was quite cute.


    But the funny thing about people is that they are strange.


    When Cheng Zhu called her out blatantly, her first reaction was not to open her eyes but to close them even tighter!


    That��s right, the kind of forceful eye closing that wrinkles the corners of the eyes and furrows the brows.


    It was clear she was somewhat at a loss.


    This made the hands wrapped around Cheng Zhu��s waist squeeze even harder.


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but let out a laugh, the kind that��s heavy on the nose as if the nose was laughing along.


    ��Teasing her was indeed so much fun!


    Shen Qingning, listening to his laughter, felt an inexplicable burst of anger.


    Just when she was about to give up and throw a tantrum, Cheng Zhu gently patted the back of her hand, pretending as if nothing had happened, and said, ��Wake up, we��re here, wake up.��


    He was even going along with the act!


    That would make Shen Qingning opening her eyes at this moment a bit awkward. But not opening them, pretending to continue sleeping, would be even more embarrassing!


    Cheng Zhu wasn��t handing her a way out at all, he was just too addicted to playing.


    Like a cool girl seated aloft in the clouds.


    He was determined to pull her down today!


    Outside ��Youu Come to Play,�� he finally called it quits and asked, ��When did you wake up, just now?��


    He provided her with the lightest option after calling her out.


    ��Yeah, just woke up... right when you parked... woke up,�� Shen Qingning slowly opened her eyes and lied in a faint voice.


    She had originally wanted to stubbornly claim she was feigning sleep so he wouldn��t misunderstand, but in the end, she never voiced the excuse she made up.


    ��Get off the bike, we��re here,�� said Cheng Zhu.


    She let go of Cheng Zhu��s hands, and he distinctly felt the warmth and softness from his back disappear.


    ��Don��t say though, after she��s had a drink, her body feels strangely hot!�� he inwardly commented.


    And it seemed like it had quite a bounce...


    Shen Qingning slowly got off the bike, looking around in surprise, not expecting Cheng Zhu to bring her here.


    After parking the bike, Cheng Zhu gave her a look.


    Her cheeks were flushed with a drunkard��s rouge, spreading across her fair skin. Her eyes held a touch of drunken haze, and her hair, tousled by the wind, was slightly disheveled.


    The dim streetlight shone on her, casting a surreal beauty.


    Once a person starts looking good, it seems as if the night and the streetlights become very understanding.


    After a glance, Cheng Zhu then squatted down and started unlocking the shutter with his keys, followed by the glass door.


    After turning on all the lights in the shop, Cheng Zhu stood by the door and waved at her, ��Hurry in, quick.��


    Shen Qingning walked quickly into the shop, puzzled, then saw Cheng Zhu sticking his head out and looking around.


    Ensuring nobody was around, he, like a hostess of a questionable establishment, expertly pulled down all of the shutters, completely cutting off from the outside world.


    Besides, the shop had neon lights, adding a touch of enchantment with their varied colors.


    A young man and a young woman, alone together in one room.


    Well, it��s a completely closed space now, and in some sense...a ��secret room,�� perhaps?


    ��What are you doing, pulling down the shutter?�� Shen Qingning sobered up halfway on the spot.


    ��Classmate, you wouldn��t want people to know about us being alone in the shop, right?�� Cheng Zhu started playing with words.


    Too bad this gag wasn��t popular back in 2014.


    Shen Qingning and Cheng Zhu were already subject to romantic rumors, and now it was nearly midnight; of course, she didn��t want people to know.


    But that��s enough to close the shop!?


    Cheng Zhu ignored her and walked over to the coin exchange machine, using his BOSS card to take out coins.


    Shen Qingning watched his every move, slightly baffled.


    She thought Cheng Zhu had come all this way because there was something in the shop he had to deal with, but instead, he started getting coins as soon as he walked in.


    She wasn��t in the mood for grabbing plush toys at the moment.


    Little did she know that after getting the Game Coins, Cheng Zhu brought her to two dance machines.


    ��Last time we went to the arcade, remember? The time when my little sister Little Youzi was there too,�� Cheng Zhu suddenly began to recount the past.


    ��That day, your brother told me that you used to love playing the dance machine when you were younger, the kind that you played crazily, but you stopped as you got a little older.��


    ��Jiang Wanzhou also mentioned that he kind of remembered,�� he said, turning his head towards Shen Qingning.


    He had silently noted this at the time.


    ��They��re making stuff up,�� she internally scolded the two. It was inappropriate to casually talk about childhood stories.


    To get back at Shen Minglang, she even retorted, ��That��s because I��ve been dancing since I was little. Sometimes my mom would take us to play, and he always had more fun than I did despite having no dance training. He danced hilariously.��


    But she was also surprised that Cheng Zhu remembered these details.


    ��Oh, is that so,�� Cheng Zhu��s response was dismissive.


    He couldn��t care less about how his uncle danced.


    He then started to insert coins into one of the dance machines.


    ��Wanna play?�� he asked.


    ��No.��


    ��There you go, what��s so shameful about dancing?��


    ��Then you do one first.��


    ��No need for that, let��s just both go.�� He began to insert coins into both machines at once.


    ��Which one should we dance to? I only know ��Happy Worship.�� �� He didn��t even ask her if she wanted to dance, just started choosing songs for both dance machines.


    ��I can��t dance.��


    ��Should I change the song then?��


    ��No, I mean...��


    ��Oh, so ��Happy Worship�� it is.��


    Shen Qingning: ��...��


    Do my family members understand? I just drank a little bit of alcohol, and I have to endure this torture?


    I��m really not a child anymore; I��m not interested at all.


    But when the music started, when Cheng Zhu stepped onto the right-side dance machine, it was like something in her DNA moved.


    Sometimes music has a magical power, just like when you hear some background music from ��The Legend of Sword and Fairy,�� no offense, but I feel like I��m already flying on a sword.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t bother with her, just started hopping around on the right-side machine all by himself.


    How did he dance, you ask...


    ��No technique, all passion!


    If this was a nightclub, Cheng Zhu would be great at raving, wrapping his arms around girls�� slim waists and perky butts, dancing wildly and looking quite dashing.


    Damn it, let the Moutai-drinking, nightclub-loving Wang Jia��er come and challenge me!


    But when it comes to dance machines, he��d only played them a few times during the era when non-mainstream culture was all the rage.


    ��[Those who have forgotten their names follow me, now let��s worship happiness!]�� The music echoed in the closed space.


    ��[Put down your burdens and follow me, spread the word and establish an era of happiness!]��


    Wow! The lyrics are quite fitting!


    ��It��s mocking you, carrying such a heavy burden!�� Cheng Zhu pulled her up with a yank.


    Where did this naughty sister come from? First, you tell me to dance, I damn well dance and then you won��t.


    Drinking so much and still so uptight! Really precious!


    He had seen many women acting so prim and proper on normal days, but after a bit of alcohol, they��d go wild.


    Damn tsundere indeed lives up to the name.


    ��What��s wrong with dancing? See how Zhang Qiqi danced in front of hundreds during the military training,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��That��s her!�� Shen Qingning inexplicably glared at him, but without moving her upper body, she began stepping on the arrows of the dance pad with her long, straight legs.


    Just that was enough to bewilder an ordinary person watching her hips and legs move!


    Who could resist the dance of a leggy beauty?


    ��You��re just going to move your legs, huh? Believe it or not, I��ll make you dance ��Nirvana�� next?�� Cheng Zhu inwardly complained.


    But he didn��t want to dance ��Nirvana�� himself...


    As they danced, Shen Qingning actually started to get into it.


    ��Shen Qingning, you must be crazy tonight,�� she cursed herself inwardly, thinking it must be the alcohol that made her a bit reckless.


    When the song ended, Cheng Zhu asked, ��Another one?��


    ��No more,�� Shen Qingning said, breathing slightly hard, waving her hand.


    She was actually getting into it.


    Since she got on the electric bike, she had been venting the day��s frustrations, and just now, through ��Happy Worship,�� she was still venting.


    She could feel Cheng Zhu��s comforting intentions and also feel her own...indulgence?


    Once she started, she wouldn��t mind going for a second or third song.


    But her body wouldn��t allow it; after drinking and then being exposed to the wind and dancing, she felt somewhat in a daze.


    ��I��m feeling very dizzy,�� said Shen Qingning, frowning, not in good shape.


    ��How about some other day?�� Cheng Zhu still laughed nearby, not the least bit distressed.


    It��s not like he poured the drinks down her throat.


    Shen Qingning ignored him.


    ��Let��s go then, I��ll open the door; you just wait, okay!��


    Cheng Zhu had Shen Qingning use her phone to turn on the flashlight first, then he turned off the power in ��Youu Come to Play,�� pulled up the shutter, and inspected the surroundings outside. The two seemed as if they were having a secret affair, acting all furtive, like thieves with guilty consciences.


    Seeing nobody around, he waved to Shen Qingning, then locked up the shop door, and sat on the little electric scooter, signaling her to get on too.


    Then the pink electric scooter left the campus street swiftly.


    Shen Qingning sat on the bike, maintaining a certain distance from Cheng Zhu, just like she did when they had first left the bar, only lightly holding on to the corner of his shirt, secretly observing him.


    She saw Cheng Zhu looking around like a thief, observing the nearby conditions, and suddenly said, ��You seem to be really afraid of spreading rumors with me?��


    ��You��re too popular in school; it wouldn��t be good for people to think you like me. Some might even be afraid to date me,�� Cheng Zhu began to spin a tale as if he were the one deeply troubled.


    Shen Qingning pursed her lips, biting her lower lip lightly with her upper teeth, several times wanting to respond but then stopping herself, and eventually, she lowered her head slightly and said nothing.


    The ride was silent, and Cheng Zhu, who already knew her home address, followed the phone��s navigation prompts.


    After about two or three minutes, he said, ��Why aren��t you saying anything, are you feeling unwell again?��


    ��Um, I��m still a bit dizzy,�� Shen Qingning replied.


    ��Then close your eyes for a bit.�� It felt like history was repeating.


    But this time, Shen Qingning seemed to truly fall asleep and did so quickly.


    Naturally, as happened before, the two of them ended up close together.


    The night breeze brushed by, and her eyes were closed.


    The moon was beautiful that night, and the wind was gentle.


    Shen Qingning��s shared apartment with Lin Lu was only a six-minute electric scooter ride from the school.


    Cheng Zhu arrived downstairs after a short while.


    So, it only took about three to four minutes from when Shen Qingning closed her eyes until they reached the destination.


    He didn��t immediately wake Shen Qingning, just let her lie there on him.


    Below the dim streetlight, the shadows of the scooter and the two stretched out.


    After about a minute or so, he suddenly felt someone tugging fiercely on the corner of his clothing and then clutching it tightly, maintaining this pulling gesture.


    This tsundere girl seemed to still linger on the previous stage of their conversation. Her face pressed against Cheng Zhu��s back, fingers clutching his shirt, half-open eyes looking toward the shadows of the two and the scooter on the ground, she said:


    ��Cheng Zhu, I... I don��t like you.��

 Chapter 142: 123 Its Heartfluttering

    Chapter 142: Chapter 123 It��s Heartfluttering


    ��Before you say that, can you please not lean on me?�� �� Cheng Zhu.


    ...


    At this moment, Cheng Zhu��s small electric moped was parked next to Shen Qingning��s white Land Rover.


    He truly hadn��t expected Shen Qingning to suddenly say such a thing.


    For a moment, even the experienced Cheng Zhu felt a slight flutter in his heart.


    Through the rearview mirror of the electric bike, he couldn��t see Shen Qingning��s face this time because she had shrunk a little, though half of her face was still leaning on Cheng Zhu��s back, completely obscured.


    ��Is she responding to something I said earlier?�� Cheng Zhu wondered.


    When the two had just left Youu Come to Play, Shen Qingning, seeing him looking around uneasily as if expecting trouble at every turn, asked him, ��You seem really afraid of being rumored to be dating me?��


    Cheng Zhu replied, ��You��re too famous at school, intimidating to approach, and if everyone thinks you like me, some might be too scared to date me.��


    He was just making half-serious, half-joking comments.


    And that was a conversation from nearly ten minutes ago!


    Or, was she just being proudly stubborn?


    No matter what the reason, leaning halfway on a man��s body and speaking those words with such a faint tone, do you really think... that��s convincing at all!


    Cheng Zhu was about to say something when Shen Qingning suddenly let go of his clothes, which she had been forcefully pulling, and stopped leaning on him to disembark on her own.


    Just before letting go, she buried her face in his back and took a deep breath.


    ��Hey, take it easy, don��t hurt yourself,�� Cheng Zhu said, feeling that she really must be drunk as she was staggering.


    He was going to help, but Shen Qingning stepped back by half a step.


    She looked up at Cheng and stubbornly held his gaze, ��I drank a bit too much today, a bit too much.��


    She was either retracting her sudden earlier statement or referencing her unusual behavior throughout the evening.


    Cheng Zhu, the rascal he was, instinctively wanted to tease her a bit more at such a time.


    But looking at her defiant eyes, which seemed to carry a touch of retreat and plea for mercy, his heart softened just a little.


    So, in the end, he simply nodded slightly.


    ��I��m going upstairs,�� Shen Qingning turned quickly, her right hand lightly touching her forehead.


    Cheng Zhu watched her back, not following to escort her, but he didn��t leave either.


    After she disappeared inside, he sat astride the electric moped and lit a cigarette in the darkness of the night.


    Shen Qingning, after going upstairs, leaned on the walls with one hand and took off her shoes.


    After tossing her bag on the living room sofa for some reason, she found herself by the window, looking down, searching for something with her eyes.


    The area below the apartment wasn��t too dark, and the bright pink color of the electric moped was hard to miss.


    Especially since the man was still smoking all by himself, the light of his cigarette shining in the dark.


    Shen Qingning quickly noticed Cheng Zhu looking up in her direction.


    For a moment, she felt a bit at a loss standing by the window.


    Fortunately, the man merely waved at her, a sign of farewell.


    As if he was down there just to make sure she got home safely after being drunk.


    Then the moped rode into the night, leaving only the silhouette of a waving arm behind.


    Shen Qingning leaned with one hand on the windowsill, watching the direction Cheng Zhu had gone.


    A night breeze blew through the window, lifting strands of her hair.


    The events of the night seemed to have started with the night breeze and ended with it as well.


    The cool girl stood in the wind, feeling the breeze and realizing she��d been somewhat off-kilter tonight.


    She blamed the bar��s alcohol for being too strong, the night wind for being seductive, the pink moped for being too crowded, her emotions for being uncontrollable... There were too many things to blame.


    She felt that tonight she might have said too much.


    Yet, she also felt that she might have said too little.


    Standing in the wind, the girl closed the window and drew the curtains.


    She had said before that she was always very clear-headed. Alcohol is a funny thing, it numbs your thoughts on some matters, but it can make you even more sensitive emotionally.


    She was very aware of something.


    Admit it, Shen Qingning...


    It wasn��t the wind that moved, it was your heart.


    ...


    Inside the living room, Shen Qingning did not put on slippers but walked barefoot on the floor.


    The cool sensation helped clear her head a bit more.


    She first poured herself a cup of hot water, took a few sips, then headed to her room.


    Speaking of which, it did feel a bit colder without Lin Lu around.


    Especially since she had just been through a loud and unrestrained period.


    Shen Qingning went into the bathroom, washed her face, brushed her teeth, then put on a shower cap and took a hot shower.


    She turned the water temperature a bit higher than usual, hot enough to have a slightly scalding effect.


    Steam filled the bathroom, obscuring her expression.


    After drying off and changing into her pajamas, Shen Qingning lay down in bed, curling up slightly.


    She was wearing a black silk nightgown, and as she curled her body, the hem lifted slightly, revealing her knees tucked within the skirt, giving the hemline a slight uplift.


    Below the hemline peeked a pair of smooth and well-proportioned calves, and half of her thigh skin.


    She picked up her phone and found many unread WeChat messages.


    She immediately opened them, and when she saw that all 13 messages were from Lin Lu, her eyelids dropped slightly, becoming half-closed.


    After a few seconds, Shen Qingning extended her slender fingers and opened the chat.


    Sure enough, at first, there were typed messages, but later it was just a barrage of voice messages, all from five or six minutes ago.


    She played a voice message and then lay half-propped on the bed, letting the phone screen face down on the bed as Lin Lu��s voice came through.


    ��Ningning, you��re not still drinking, are you?��


    ��Hey! Hello! Pay attention to me! Hello, hello!��


    ��Dead woman, what are you doing? You��re not replying to me! You didn��t really drink too much, did you?��


    ��...��


    After listening to a series of voice messages, Shen Qingning picked up the phone with difficulty, thinking she should reply to a WeChat message, otherwise, there might be a bombardment of phone calls later.


    ��I��m already home. I just took a shower and feel a bit dizzy, heading to sleep now,�� she typed in response.


    ��Alrighty! I��m also going to bed. I��ll be back tomorrow afternoon, goodnight, muah!�� Lin Lu still chose to send a voice message.


    Shen Qingning placed her phone by the pillow, turned off the lights in the room, and wrapped herself in the duvet, continuing to lie on her side.


    In the darkness, she didn��t close her eyes right away.


    ��Would he overthink it?�� a thought suddenly sprang to her mind.


    ��Or would he think that after comforting me all night, busying around, I was just spouting nonsense?��


    ��I was actually quite happy and relaxed tonight. I wonder if he didn��t feel that, thinking his efforts for the night were for nothing?��


    Such wild thoughts and insecurity were incredibly abnormal for her.


    In the end, she figured out a way to let Cheng Zhu know that she appreciated his efforts and would remember this night.


    She shared a song on her Moments.


    Yes, it was that ��Happy Worship�� from the dance machine.


    Right after sharing, she immediately regreted it, wanted to delete the song, fearing he would misunderstand her intentions.


    But in the end, she didn��t have the heart to delete it.


    ��It��s okay, I drank a lot tonight,�� she said to herself, looking at the Pikachu keychain on the nightstand, ��Right, Pikachu?��


    ...


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu had returned to Youu Come to Play on his small electric moped ten minutes earlier.


    He had intended to go back to school, then suddenly realized, ��Damn it, it��s this late, I can��t get back into the dormitory!��


    Sitting on the electric bike on the empty street at midnight, he fell into silent frustration.


    ��Dammit, feeling like such a loser. Even though I��m rich now, here I am, being disheveled in the wind on an electric moped,�� Cheng Zhu complained to himself.


    He pulled out his phone and saw that Lin Lu had sent a message: ��I��m off to bed.��


    The message was from four minutes ago.


    ��Alright, get some rest, goodnight,�� he replied immediately.


    Sure enough, she responded in a second: ��Goodnight!��


    Clearly, the vigorous girl was waiting for him to say goodnight.


    After replying to Baby Lu, he saw the chaos in the dormitory group chat.


    Dong Dong and others were chattering about how Brother Zhu didn��t return all night!


    He even joked that he would go to the hotels near the school and knock on doors one by one!


    Of course, they were more curious about why Cheng Zhu didn��t return or if he might have spent the night with someone!


    Cheng Zhu couldn��t be bothered with them.


    ��The son telling his daddy what to do, huh?�� he grumbled.


    After checking WeChat, Cheng Zhu put the phone back in his pocket, not bothering to check Moments.


    He booked a larger bed in a nearby hotel since the soundproofing was not great. At 1:30 am, he heard noise from the next room.


    ��Wow, quite loud,�� Cheng Zhu commented.


    After two minutes and twenty-one seconds, it was quiet again.


    ��Truly a case of much ado about nothing,�� he muttered and drifted off to sleep.


    After a busy night, Cheng Zhu was also tired.


    But at 2:30 am, he was awakened again by noise from next door.


    ��Damn, trying to win by frequency, huh?�� he resigned himself.


    He slept fitfully.


    However, at ten thirty in the morning, he was woken up by Counselor Chen Jieyu��s phone call.


    ��Hello, Cheng Zhu.�� A serious yet pleasant female voice came through.


    ��Um, what is it, Mr. Chen?�� Cheng Zhu��s voice sounded like he was not fully awake.


    ��You don��t have class this morning, right?�� Chen Jieyu said.


    ��Um,�� Cheng Zhu replied sleepily, eyes still closed.


    ��Are you going to your claw machine shop this morning?�� Chen Jieyu asked.


    ��Probably not,�� Cheng Zhu planned to rest for the day.


    ��I suggest you still drop by.��


    ��Why?�� Cheng Zhu became a bit more alert, sensing that Mr. Chen was about to bring up something important.


    ��Dean Zhang and Director Li will take a visit to your shop.��


    ��Our Info Department��s Dean Zhang?�� Cheng Zhu sat up in bed, frowning.


    ��Right.��


    ��And who is this Director Li?��


    ��Director Li is just Director Li, but he��s also currently acting as the head of the Entrepreneurship Center.��


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu thanked the counselor.


    ��Not bad at all, Mr. Chen, you��ve done a good job!�� He jumped out of bed and began to wash up.


    Aha! The big fish has finally taken the bait!


    Elsewhere, the Vice President of the External Relations Department, Wang Yuan, had regrouped these past few days.


    He felt pissed off by Cheng Zhu��s attitude during the last sponsorship request, thinking this damn guy, having a bit of dirty money, really put on airs.


    Even though he was actually there for the money, seeing another person flaunting wealth would still irritate him.


    Of course, that was secondary. What annoyed him most was that some bastard leaked on the forum that he went to Youu Come to Play for sponsorship, which the owner didn��t agree to, but gave him ten tokens to go play instead.


    Tokens my ass! It was a gift!


    Wang Yuan knew that many in the student union were already using that incident as gossip.


    Even the Vice President Pei Yan mentioned it in their chat, indicating that he had also heard about it.


    This time, Wang Yuan brought five people with him, arriving with a vengeance.


    He was determined to secure his sponsorship fee, no matter what.

 Chapter 143: 124: Stirring Up Trouble at the Door and the Big Fish Arrives

    Chapter 143: Chapter 124: Stirring Up Trouble at the Door and the Big Fish Arrives


    At ten in the morning on the main street outside the campus.


    ��Minister, are we going so early? His store just officially opens at ten,�� a male student from the external relations department asked Wang Yuan.


    ��What do you know? That��s exactly why we should go as soon as he opens, and then plow right in,�� Wang Yuan said indifferently.


    ��But Minister, what if the boss isn��t there? He has classes too, right?�� the male student was still confused.


    ��Making a wasted trip is just par for the course for us; don��t ask such questions in the future. Little Chen, you still lack some experience,�� Wang Yuan replied.


    Many students join the external relations department indeed to gain some experience and mature a bit.


    Whether or not it really has an effect, well, who knows?


    Many people will go through the following stages in their life:


    Immaturity��believing themselves to be mature��realizing they are still immature��becoming somewhat mature.


    After all, the university is different from society; the student union is a rather special organization, filled exclusively with students.


    When you enter society, you might still be under the tutelage of experienced people.


    But in the student union, you��re following a bunch of folks who might just have started school earlier than you and joined the union first.


    So, there actually are quite a few so-called little leaders who believe themselves to be mature.


    The male student, having listened to Wang Yuan��s admonition, nodded slightly, and being rather good at asking questions, continued, ��Minister, so in general, if we from the external relations department encounter an absent boss, do we just head back?��


    ��That depends on the person and the situation,�� Wang Yuan waved his hand dismissively.


    ��Today, we��ll just loiter in his store for a while.�� He looked around at the five guys following him.


    This little claw machine shop was so small that with the six of them standing inside, they significantly disrupted the business.


    He glanced over the group, and it was apparent that no one wanted to just stand there doing nothing.


    Wang Yuan cursed jokingly, ��You guys can��t even handle a place like this? I specifically called only the guys today, left out the girls, because this shop has a lot of pretty girls, and there might even be hot girls dancing. Time would fly just like that!��


    Of course, he left out one detail.


    He was afraid of bringing female university students here, failing to secure sponsorship, and then watching them go wild spending and taking photos...


    This claw machine shop seemed to wield a fatal attraction to young women!


    He couldn��t understand why that was!


    ��Did you bring everything?�� Wang Yuan turned to ask.


    One of the boys, carrying a backpack, nodded, ��The flyers are all in my bag, brought a lot.��


    The external relations department was planning two events at the university next week, one a big debate competition, the other a flea market.


    Anyway, since they��d probably just be waiting around at the store, why not... distribute the flyers there?


    The claw machine shop��s clientele was currently mainly students from Technology University.


    It was a good opportunity to promote the debate competition and the flea market, saving everyone from idleness.


    When they arrived at ��Youu Come to Play,�� Wang Yuan led the five boys inside, and they crowded around the cashier��s desk, practically blocking the aisle.


    ��Hello, may I ask, is Cheng Zhu, the junior student, not here?�� Wang Yuan politely inquired while up to some sneaky business.


    The clerk, Wang Wei, remembered him; the boss was annoyed with him.


    ��He��s not here. Can you guys move aside? You��re going to disrupt other customers from buying tokens,�� she said.


    ��Oh sure,�� Wang Yuan nodded, and then told the five boys, ��Let��s move inside!��


    Wang Wei frowned. Why were they sticking around?


    What was more outrageous was that when the store got busier, they really started handing out flyers.


    ��Hello, are you a student at Technology University? Why not check out the debate competition and the flea market?��


    ��Hello, beautiful, next week there��s going to be a big debate competition with the theme...��


    ��This flea market isn��t just about selling old things; there will also be student union members selling homemade food, beverages...��


    Wang Wei became more and more angry as she watched.


    ��Why would anyone come into someone else��s store, not leave, and constantly distribute flyers? It��s so disruptive to the business!��


    She went over to chase them away, but they didn��t leave.


    One newcomer to the external relations department even said, ��Many people here are alumni anyway, what��s wrong with us promoting school events? Your boss is also a student, right? It should be natural to support the promotional efforts of the school��s activities!��


    And he sounded entirely self-righteous.


    Wang Wei was close to cursing out loud.


    But she wasn��t new to the job and knew that the world was full of all sorts of messy people. If you think someone is outrageous, you probably haven��t met enough people.


    As a clerk, she dealt with a whole range of people every day, so many damn weirdos!


    The awkward part was that they were six guys in total.


    If you went to reason with them, they felt even more justified, and if you went to argue, it was bad for business.


    Just as Wang Wei was at a loss of what to do, a figure entered the shop.


    Cheng Zhu noticed Wang Yuan and his group immediately, as well as the flyers in their hands.


    ��Boss, they...�� Wang Wei hadn��t finished speaking when Cheng Zhu raised his hand, signaling her not to say more.


    Upon seeing Cheng Zhu, Wang Yuan immediately approached with a smile, preparing to discuss sponsorship again.


    ��Wait here for a minute, I��ve got something to take care of,�� Cheng Zhu said coolly, giving him a sidelong glance.


    Under the cashier counter, there was a tiny trash can.


    Cheng Zhu walked around the shop with the trash can in hand, smiling at customers, ��Hello, you can toss your trash here.��


    Many customers promptly disposed of their flyers in it.


    Aren��t flyers meant to be thrown away?


    They had come to play claw machines and take photos; what use did they have for a flyer? It��s just a nuisance!


    But in the shop, some of the more conscientious college students genuinely felt bad about littering.


    Cheng Zhu went around once, then approached each of the flyer-distributing boys.


    One of the boys wearing glasses had just handed out a flyer when Cheng Zhu walked up with the trash can and asked the female customer, ��Are you interested in these two activities?��


    ��Ah? Oh, well, I��m not from Technology University,�� the girl looked at the handsome Cheng Zhu, somewhat nervous.


    ��Oh, I see, then it��s even more useless to you. Alright then, give it to me,�� Cheng Zhu extended his hand, took the flyer from her, and in front of the bespectacled boy, shoved it into the trash can.


    The guy was stupefied.


    Cheng Zhu, however, turned and looked at him, ��She��s not from Technology University, why give it to her? But I am from Technology University, why not give me one?��


    The refined-looking young man swallowed hard for some reason.


    He felt that Cheng Zhu��s questioning was overly assertive, and with his unapproachable face, he gave the impression that punches might start flying at any moment!


    ��Here, for you,�� he said, genuinely offering a flyer to Cheng Zhu.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t take it, instead, he forcefully grabbed the whole bunch from the boy��s hand and stuffed them into the trash can.


    The thick stack of freshly produced flyers was taken, and the bespectacled guy was completely dumbfounded.


    Having done that, Cheng Zhu ignored the other four guys with flyers and walked outside the shop.


    It was quite a feat to see five people distributing flyers in such a tiny store.


    ��Wang Wei, come out for a moment, have somebody else handle the cash register,�� Cheng Zhu told Wang Wei.


    He then stood outside the shop with Wang Wei, waiting for Wang Yuan and his group to come out to find him.


    In no time, Wang Yuan did come out with the five boys.


    He looked at the trash can beside Cheng Zhu��s feet, at the big stack of flyers inside it, and for some reason, his eyelids couldn��t help but twitch.


    ��Junior Cheng Zhu, you...�� He didn��t finish speaking before he was interrupted.


    Cheng Zhu told Wang Wei, ��If you encounter something you can��t handle in the future, go to the university security office and call someone.��


    ��Say that there are students from inside the school causing trouble in the shop; the surveillance cameras record everything, and if the school doesn��t give an explanation, you��ll post it online without any pixelation.��


    ��Also, you don��t know about the cigarettes I put in the cash register drawer, do you? Next time you go to the security office, take two packs of cigarettes with you. You��re not new to working here; do I need to say more?�� Cheng Zhu raised an eyebrow towards the clerk Wang Wei.


    When running a business, it��s common sense to keep cigarettes on hand.


    People from the local streets or various offices, when they come by, you have to offer them cigarettes.


    Listening at the side, some of the boys were indifferent, thinking he was just putting on airs, while others pondered the feasibility of this operation.


    In front of them all, after Cheng Zhu finished advising Wang Wei, he abruptly turned to Wang Yuan and blurted out, ��Wanna be famous?��


    ��Huh?�� Wang Yuan didn��t understand.


    Cheng Zhu gestured toward the inside of the shop, ��My shop��s pretty hot online these days. We��ve got plenty of surveillance cameras set up, and they��re all super high-def. I��m asking if you want to become internet celebrities?��


    Wang Yuan: ��...��


    ��You��re scaring whom?�� There��s never a shortage of impulsive young people in this world.


    Just as the boys stiffened their necks, perhaps wanting to retort, Cheng Zhu��s gaze moved past them to a man with a balding head and another wearing wooden-framed glasses coming their way.


    The bald man looked older, probably in his fifties.


    The middle-aged man in wooden-framed glasses appeared to be just over forty.


    After recognizing the newcomers, Cheng Zhu lost interest in the group.


    Instead, he picked up the trash can he had placed by his feet.


    He walked past everyone, heading straight towards them with a greeting, ��Hello, Dean, hello, teacher.��


    The Dean, who had spoken on stage at the beginning of the semester, was naturally recognizable to him.


    ��Oh, hello, hello.�� A student greeting them will, of course, receive a smile in response from the teachers.


    They found this student quite odd.


    Standing at the entrance of the claw machine shop with a trash can in hand, held up high!


    It was rare to see someone greeting others with a trash can in hand.


    And the thick stack of papers in the trash can was rather conspicuous.


    This prompted the short-statured Dean Zhang, with his balding head, and Director Li, with his wooden-framed glasses, to glance inside.


    Then, the two of them couldn��t help but furrow their brows simultaneously.

 Chapter 144: 125: The Identity of the QQ Tycoon

    Chapter 144: Chapter 125: The Identity of the QQ Tycoon


    ��Youu Come to Play�� entrance, the flyers in the trash can were too conspicuous.


    There was no way around it, the words ��Technology University�� were printed very large on the flyers.


    Anyone who glanced at them couldn��t help but notice.


    And since Dean Zhang and Director Li were leaders at the school, seeing heaps of their own school��s flyers stuffed into a large trash can must have given them some thoughts!


    The two of them took a quick look and knew right away that it was about a debate competition and a flea market.


    After exchanging looks, they focused their attention on Cheng Zhu.


    ��What��s going on here?�� Director Li frowned and pointed at the trash bin.


    Cheng Zhu had just greeted them voluntarily, clearly a student from their school.


    A simple question caused Wang Yuan, the vice director of the external affairs department, to inwardly curse, realizing something was amiss.


    Damn, why are school leaders suddenly showing up at this claw machine store!


    This Cheng Zhu was really off-putting, even taking the initiative to greet them!


    Wang Yuan had watched as Cheng Zhu walked outside the store and quickly tossed the trash can aside.


    But as he stepped forward to greet them, he picked up the trash can again!


    ��Fuck me! I thought you were just an arrogant prick flaunting your money! Turns out you��re a sneaky one!�� Wang Yuan was truly flabbergasted.


    Cheng Zhu, facing the two school leaders, started with a simple introduction, ��Dean Zhang, and this teacher, my name is Cheng Zhu, and I own this claw machine store.��


    Upon hearing this, the two exchanged another look.


    They had specifically come for this store and, unexpectedly, had run into this student.


    After a necessary introduction, Cheng Zhu continued, ��Before I arrived at the store, six people from the external affairs department were busy handing out flyers, and this is the store��s trash can.��


    Director Li glanced at the six individuals not far away and frowned, ��You students, come here.��


    Wang Yuan pursed his lips, reluctantly leading them over and gently advised in a low voice, ��Talk less.��


    Director Li, looking at them sternly, asked, ��Why are you distributing flyers for a school event in someone else��s store, and why does such a small store need six people?��


    The first part of his question was about the event��it felt odd; shouldn��t flyers be distributed within the school? Who does business like this?


    Being in charge of the entrepreneurship center, dealing with numerous entrepreneurs, how could he not find such actions detestable?


    The latter part of his question was about the appropriateness��the store was so small, and having six people inside to hand out flyers was excessive!


    The two had walked all the way from the campus, chatting as they went.


    Along the street, they saw no flyers anywhere else.


    Logically speaking, given contemporary people��s manners, flyers would typically be thrown anywhere.


    But it was just this claw machine store that had flyers��gosh, were they targeting this store only?


    In the eyes of the school leaders, not distributing flyers at school gates but running to someone else��s store was a misdirection in the first place.


    Moreover, stuffing six people into a small claw machine store, and not distributing anywhere else, seemed a bit like... slacking off?


    So, was this how you completed the task for the school event?


    Wang Yuan quickly nodded, immediately admitting their mistake with a sincere attitude.


    Arguing now felt like it would escalate into a big problem!


    After admitting the mistake, he led the group away like scared dogs.


    Seeing them leave, Cheng Zhu handed the trash can to Wang Wei, standing nearby, and instructed in front of the two school leaders, ��From now on, when members of the student council come to the store for sponsorship and promotion like today, you need to notify me immediately so I can rush over to cooperate, got it?��


    ��Rush over to cooperate? Boss, are you sure you��re here to ��cooperate�� with them?�� Wang Wei mused internally.


    You just snatched an unissued flyer from their hands and stuffed it into the trash can right in front of them, talk about audacity!


    But having worked in society for three years, she wasn��t foolish enough not to grasp Cheng Zhu��s implication, and she quickly nodded, ��Sure, boss.��


    Director Pei, hearing this, couldn��t help but frown slightly.


    ��The external affairs department came for sponsorship?�� he asked.


    ��Um, they came once when the store opened, said they were discussing sponsorship fees, but I was too busy that day to get into the details,�� Cheng Zhu calmly fibbed.


    Wang Wei internally grumbled, ��Boss, that day you bluntly told them you juggle tens of thousands daily and couldn��t spare them any attention��I was there and felt quite refreshed hearing that.��


    The butt decides the brain, as part of the store; she was thrilled by Cheng Zhu.


    A simple comment made Dean Zhang��s expression sour.


    It was true that the external affairs department sought sponsorships for various student activities, but imposing on a business that just opened, just started making money back, to extract funds��what kind of practice was that? Was this a meeting for sponsorship or was the student council demanding a tribute from student entrepreneurs?


    Reflecting, they remembered that six guys had come.


    Did discussing sponsorships require six mouths, six grown men?


    It was hard not to speculate...


    ��Has the external affairs department��s culture declined this much?�� The two school leaders couldn��t help but share a tacit sentiment in their minds.


    But after exchanging glances, they said nothing in front of Cheng Zhu.

 Chapter 145: 125 Identity of the QQ Tycoon_2

    Chapter 145: Chapter 125 Identity of the QQ Tycoon_2


    Under normal circumstances, they wouldn��t discuss much in front of him.


    But today, since they had run into the owner of the shop, it was a perfect opportunity to have a chat.


    The two school leaders had noticed the doll machine shop some time ago.


    They couldn��t help it; the business was booming. It was hard not to pay attention whenever they walked by.


    At first, however, they didn��t know it was opened by a student from their school.


    It wasn��t until Dean Zhang came across Chen Jieyu��s social media post by chance.


    Chen Jieyu became a school counselor, remember all the gossip about her getting the position through backdoor influence?


    It was simple; Dean Zhang��s wife was Chen Jieyu��s graduate adviser.


    They happened to bump into each other at school and got talking.


    The School of Information encouraged its students to start online businesses. The major that Cheng Zhu was studying was even considered a specialty of national importance.


    Now, we live in the age of big data.


    The School of Information still held a good status within the school.


    But when it came down to it, it seemed like in recent years, no student had really made a mark online.


    How should I put it? A lot of students from the School of Information, especially some of the boys, you tell them to start a business online, and they come up with a very simple idea:


    �� Make games! Make games! Make games!


    These days, if you tell a bunch of guys to open a shop, their first choice would likely be... to open an internet cafe.


    In recent years, internet cafes have been popping up like mushrooms after rain in every city, many of them owned by young people.


    Anyway, it all revolves around gaming entrepreneurship!


    In fact, many male computer science students think about working for game companies after graduation.


    So, if they had the means to start an online business, the idea of developing games would naturally arise.


    After all, gaming can bring high returns with a little investment!


    But how many could actually make it happen?


    In the end, it often turned into the school providing them with free venues and various forms of support. Initially, the students might work hard, but it would eventually devolve into them just hanging out in a room, playing games together.


    Director Li and Dean Zhang were well acquainted; he privately complained more than once about the School of Information��s students.


    But funnily enough, even though Dean Zhang felt that these whippersnappers from his school were lackluster in starting online businesses, out of the blue came a guy who, instead of starting an online business, opened a doll machine shop outside the school gates, which was quite a novelty.


    And would you believe it, the place really caused a stir!


    Fortunately, Cheng Zhu never let pass any chance to show off.


    He had previously told Jieyu, while they were chatting under the men��s dormitory, that the money to open his shop had been earned by him online during the summer holiday.


    So, Jieyu told Dean Zhang everything she knew.


    ��Oh? Are you saying that this freshman from our School of Information made his first bucket of gold online before even starting school?�� Dean Zhang immediately took an interest.


    He was even curious how a high school graduate managed to make enough money online over the short summer break to open a shop outside campus.


    He estimated that renting two shops outside school to set up the business, plus the cost of machines and dolls, would definitely involve an investment of around 200,000 RMB.


    What could a just-legal student be doing online to make that much money in such a short time?


    Jieyu thought back but truly had no idea what Cheng Zhu did online.


    She had gone to persuade Cheng Zhu to become a class committee member, only to be flatly rejected.


    Of course, this counselor, whose demeanor combined the intellectual charm of a language teacher, the fashion sense of an English teacher, and the sternness of a math teacher, couldn��t possibly imagine that this 18-year-old made his fortune by selling QQ items!


    While others his age hadn��t even held a girl��s hand, he was already creating value for the masses�� happiness, leading the charge in the more risque? aspects!


    Jieyu admitted she wasn��t very clear on the details but still profusely praised the doll machine shop and mentioned that its popularity was also inseparable from the internet.


    Her statement hit the nail on the head; a trendy shop like ��Youu Come to Play�� indeed heavily relied on internet advertising.


    These praises were just up the alley of the Information School��s Dean!


    ��Little Chen, what you are saying makes sense. Physical and online businesses can be combined, right!�� he nodded in agreement.


    Here he was today, having run into Director Li, and they had talked about Cheng Zhu and ��Youu Come to Play��.


    ��This shop is opened by a freshman from your School of Information? And it��s run by a guy?�� Director Li was also surprised.


    He��d been quite curious about this shop, as he knew of a small video game arcade that had closed outside the school.


    So the two hit it off and decided to check out the shop.


    However, while Director Li wanted to study the shop, Dean Zhang was more interested in Cheng Zhu himself.


    Now, they had met him.


    But how should I put it? Looking at Cheng Zhu��s appearance and aura, it didn��t really associate with a doll machine shop.


    With his looks and demeanor, you��d think he was more suited to run a slot machine shop, not a doll machine shop...


    Dean Zhang, though appearing as a cheerful balding gentleman, was actually quite approachable. When giving speeches at the beginning of the school year, he would even humorously joke about computer science guys.


    He spoke up at that moment: ��Cheng Zhu, this is Director Li, who is in charge of the school��s entrepreneurship base. We just happened to pass by and thought we��d take a look at your doll machine shop, which has been quite famous lately.��


    Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhu promptly said, ��Dean, Director, shall I give you a tour inside?��


    The two nodded, followed Cheng Zhu for a look around, but did not stay long.


    The shop��s clientele was mainly young girls. There was even a little sister energetically dancing on the dance machine!


    A doddering old man and a sober middle-aged man wandering around inside, almost like they were inspecting the place, would indeed affect other people��s enjoyment.


    When the three stepped outside, Director Li said, ��Cheng Zhu, I��m quite interested in your business strategy. Could you share your thoughts?��


    Cheng Zhu, not one to keep secrets, succinctly explained the success secrets of ��Youu Come to Play.��


    It sounded simple, but the actual implementation was not that easy.


    After chatting for a few minutes, Dean Zhang, as the head of the School of Information, changed the subject to the question he was most curious about.


    ��Cheng Zhu, your counselor told me that you earned the capital to open this shop yourself, and you made it through online entrepreneurship during your summer holiday, right?�� he asked.


    Cheng Zhu nodded, then felt a slight foreboding.


    Sure enough, this balding, smiling gentleman asked a very delicate and taboo question:


    ��Could you tell us what exactly you did over the summer?��

 Chapter 146: 126 A Game

    Chapter 146: Chapter 126 A Game


    ��What did I do during the summer vacation?�� Cheng Zhu fell into reminiscence.


    Oh, nothing much, just bought into a game and made over seventy thousand yuan overnight.


    Then, with the money, took a trip to Guan Yun County, talked about a partnership with a QQ lingerie factory.


    Next, opened an online shop that I don��t know if you could understand the meaning of its name, and casually pulled off some provocative stunts.


    Right after that��I struck it rich!


    The rise of the QQ Tycoon was just that simple and crude!


    But, can I even talk about the above content?


    Back in the days with stricter control, I��m not sure if I could even write about this stuff on a platform like Qidian, right?


    Not to mention, Cheng Zhu didn��t really understand the two people in front of him.


    In his opinion, many older people love to criticize others for vulgarity.


    After all, they��re at the stage where... the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.


    He had no clue what kind of people Dean Zhang and Director Li were, but he was very aware that if some people knew he��d been selling QQ lingerie at his tender age, their first impression would definitely not be good.


    They would look at him through... colored glasses.


    So, Cheng Zhu started to bluff and his skill at deceiving them was even more heartfelt than when he lied to his parents back then.


    He disclosed a bit of his private life first, to add credibility to his story.


    ��In high school, I dated a girl.��


    ��Through her, I noticed some trending women��s fashions over the summer break, discovered the business opportunity, and then opened a Taobao shop with my college entry bonus, making some quick money for two months.��


    ��It was also because of my experiences during the summer that I gained a deeper understanding of the female market and then decided to open a doll machine shop off-campus with this kind of style.��


    Well, it definitely isn��t because I��ve been involved with numerous women and have a deep understanding of various types of women, hitting their hearts directly in one shot.


    Ha, the things Cheng Zhu did in a previous life, what do they have to do with me in this one? Keep them away from me!


    Both university leaders exchanged glances when they heard this.


    Once you��re in university, teachers really don��t manage who students date, unless there��s a serious issue with their behavior or they cause some major incident.


    Dean Zhang, the Mediterranean old man, was quite gossipy, and he said with a smile like a family elder, ��So the girl you dated, is she from our Technology University?��


    ��No, she��s not, and we broke up over the summer,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��Ah, I see. I didn��t expect Cheng Zhu to have experience in e-commerce,�� Dean Zhang nodded slightly.


    This entrepreneurial path did, to some extent, relate to their School of Information.


    After all, the School of Information mainly nurtures people like software developers.


    Director Li then asked, ��Are you still running the Taobao shop?��


    There were also many e-commerce related projects among the college entrepreneurship programs he endorsed.


    No help for it, this is Hang City, one of the cities with the richest culture of e-commerce nationwide.


    Director Li was very aware that being able to rise rapidly in a short period of time and earn enough to open a shop was extremely scary!


    Rather than allocating campus resources to some prosaic projects, it would be better to support this freshman in front of him.


    Cheng Zhu shook his head, however, and said, ��The trend has passed, there was no need to continue running it, so I opened this doll machine shop instead.��


    Hearing this, Director Li nodded, appreciating the young man even more.


    He had seen many youths who caught the wave of a trend, tasted sweetness, and on the ebb tide, couldn��t bear to leave.


    But when the tide goes out, it��s clear who��s been swimming naked.


    Luck plays a part in doing business, right? When fortune comes, you really can��t stop it!


    And sometimes, a stroke of luck can mask a lot of issues.


    That��s why there��s a saying: When a person��s abilities don��t match their wealth, that wealth will sooner or later return to the hands of someone who does match it.


    This saying isn��t necessarily true, but there are indeed many instances of it in reality.


    If one succeeds once by chance.


    But if they wrap things up successfully at the height of their success and then venture into another field and succeed again... that��s entirely different!


    Instinctively, he felt that Cheng Zhu wasn��t from a humble background.


    It��s actually quite disheartening, the children from big, influential families are exposed to different things from a young age compared to those from lesser backgrounds, their whole upbringing is different, so besides money and resources, there are many invisible gaps that widen between them.


    This fact is quite horrifying, very real, and very cruel.


    Thus, the second-generation group is quite a peculiar bunch; this is where some really bizarre wastes are produced, but also where extremely formidable characters are born!


    Not to mention, how would most ordinary freshmen behave when talking with the dean and director?


    Extremely nervous, unable to make eye contact, stammering... these reactions are common.


    Director Li looked at Cheng Zhu and said, ��If you have any new entrepreneurial ideas in the future, you could come by the entrepreneurship base at school and fill out a form.��


    ��Zhejiang Province always pays great attention to college student entrepreneurship, both the school and the government offer various kinds of support.��


    ��You could apply for it.��


    Anyway, for Director Li, he had his own tasks on hand.


    Cheng Zhu, smiling, said, ��Alright, I��ll probably come to bother Director Li at the entrepreneurship base after a while.��


    ��Oh?�� Director Li asked behind his wooden-framed glasses, ��It seems you already have some ideas in mind? Are you planning to work on some new projects after this doll machine shop is on track and no longer needs your personal attention?��


    Many physical stores are like this, quite worry-free once they really get on track.


    Then, you can spare time and energy for other things.


    Cheng Zhu answered the second question first, and employed the legendary tactic: Sincerity is the killer move!


    ��This doll machine shop won��t be run for too long; these kinds of internet celebrity shops don��t last,�� Cheng Zhu said directly.


    Director Li looked at the bustling shop upon hearing this.


    The serious-looking middle-aged man suddenly furrowed his brows, as if he had realized a severe issue.


    ��I see you have card top-up promotions in your store?�� he asked.


    Cheng Zhu understood what he meant immediately.


    Many people might have experienced this; for instance, you top up a card in a hair salon or an internet cafe, only to find that, before you��ve spent all the money, damn it, the place closes down, and the owner is nowhere to be found!


    With some footbath shops, you might even encounter them being shut down with money still on the card.


    You��d feel both upset about the money and relieved that you weren��t there at that moment.


    You might even wonder where that familiar technician you knew is now and how they��re faring.


    These membership card incidents are very annoying and yet, very common.


    This doll machine shop named ��Youu Come to Play,�� with a student consumer base and many from Technology University.


    As school leaders, they certainly needed to take this issue seriously.


    It would be bad if a lot of troubling issues arose later, affecting the school��s reputation.


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu assured with a guaranteeing tone, ��Director Li, you can rest assured about the membership cards; I have a contingency plan. In the end, everything will be dealt with properly. There won��t be any disputes between myself and the consumer group, and it definitely won��t affect the school.��


    After exchanging looks, Director Li and Dean Zhang did not continue to discuss the issue further.


    Cheng Zhu then took the moment to answer Director Li��s first question.


    ��Dean, Director, after entering our School of Information, I have indeed entertained some new ideas,�� he even specifically mentioned the School of Information.


    ��Oh?�� Dean Zhang was intrigued and asked, ��So what do you want to do?��


    After a brief interaction, coupled with the unique experiences they��d just learned about him, both felt they were dealing with a sharp-witted, thoughtful young man.


    Let��s hear what he��s got planned!


    However, what Cheng Zhu said next caused both of their expressions to pause.


    ��I plan to make games!��


    ...


    ...


    Ten minutes later, Dean Zhang and Director Li left ��Youu Come to Play�� together.


    Watching their retreating figures, Cheng Zhu thought to himself, ��Why do I feel like they were a bit odd when they heard I wanted to make games?��


    He shook his head, not dwelling on it.


    As for making games, Cheng Zhu had his own plans.


    He hadn��t thought about jumping from a QQ Tycoon to a Game Tycoon.


    He had never intended to fully invest himself in the gaming market.


    Because he hadn��t interacted much with this field in his previous life, nor did he really understand its ins and outs, personally, he wasn��t into gaming very much.


    Cheng Zhu was very clear, it��s not about just getting a few talented people onboard and investing some money to perfectly recreate a hit game from another lifetime.


    There are many opportunities related to computers, and games are just one of them.


    He had his own roadmap.


    Even if he wanted to work on games now, he only intended to tackle small-cost projects.


    Or rather, making this game was just one of his moves, preparing for future arrangements.


    The game itself wasn��t really what he was after.


    Doing business should be like courting, a quiet and inconspicuous approach, laying the groundwork from afar.


    ��What��s everyone still playing on their phones right now?��


    ��Still playing games like ��Temple Run,''�� Cheng Zhu adjusted to the current era, making an excellent choice in his mind.


    Meanwhile, Shen Qingning in class at school had opened her WeChat Moments countless times already.


    She wasn��t opening Moments to check others�� posts but rather looking for likes and replies to her own.


    This aloof girl rarely posted on Moments, but last night she shared the song ��Happy Worship.��


    She did receive numerous likes and comments from her WeChat friends.


    But she hadn��t seen the one comment she truly wanted to see.


    Like Lin Lu commenting under the song ��Happy Worship,�� questioning, ��Roar! You bad woman, didn��t you tell me you were going to sleep? Why are you still posting songs on Moments?��


    Every time a little red notification appeared, she��d check with anticipation.


    Only to exit out feeling let down.


    In the end, she didn��t know why, but she quietly deleted that Moments post she shared with the song.


    After class, Shen Qingning went downstairs alone, got into her white Land Rover, and drove out of the campus parking lot.


    Lin Lu wasn��t due in Hang City until the afternoon, having just set out from Shanghai.


    With no classes left, Shen Qingning drove off campus and onto a nearby street.


    Initially, she drove at a normal pace.


    But as she drew closer to ��Youu Come to Play,�� she unconsciously started to slow down, and it got slower and slower.


    Eventually, even though she had driven past it, she decided to turn around and found a parking spot nearby.


    Even though she had decided to check out the shop, Shen Qingning didn��t get out of the car right away.


    Instead, she looked in the mirror first and noticed her eyes were still slightly swollen, but they were a bit better than when she first woke up in the morning.


    After taking a deep breath, she seemed to transform back into that imposing, cool girl, walking toward the doll machine shop, wanting to see if Cheng Zhu was inside.


    Turns out, she found Cheng Zhu right away.


    He was actually holding a phone, immersively filming two girls dancing sexily on two dance machines.

 Chapter 147: 127: Shen Qingnings Sense of Oppression

    Chapter 147: Chapter 127: Shen Qingning��s Sense of Oppression


    In ��Youu Come to Play,�� Cheng Zhu was holding his phone, looking for the best angle to shoot.


    On the two dance machines, two women were sizzling their way through a performance.


    On the left machine stood Zhang Qiqi, and on the right was her internet celebrity friend, known online as Liu Mihu, a dance blogger.


    This internet celebrity belle had previously mentioned that she intended to use her personal connections to bring more influencers familiar with Cheng Zhu to the store to check in.


    Liu Mihu, the dance blogger, was one of them.


    How to describe her dance moves?


    My brother would be baffled after watching.


    From a dance style perspective, Zhang Qiqi didn��t have any provocative undertones; dancing was purely dancing for her.


    It was only because she was beautiful, with a great figure and flawless dance moves that she offered a pleasant visual experience.


    Today, she wore a light brown thin-knit long-sleeved sweater, in a slim-fit style.


    The sweater was cropped short, so raising her arms would reveal a sexy glimpse of her waistline.


    But the sleeves were slightly longer, covering her hands entirely, which visually accentuated the length of her arms.


    Below, Zhang Qiqi wore a pair of tight-fitting black denim shorts that accentuated her pert buttocks.


    Next came the essence of her outfit.


    On her right thigh, she wore a black leg ring!


    The leg ring was worn tight enough to create a slight indentation in the flesh.


    This arrangement highlighted the plumpness of her thighs.


    Below the leg ring were black short socks and a pair of black platform leather shoes.


    If Zhang Qiqi��s dance attire could be described as carefully calculated, then her dance blogger friend next to her literally had no fear of wardrobe malfunctions.


    She wore a light brown body-hugging skirt for dancing.


    When she stood still, the skirt lived up to its name, barely covering her posterior.


    Thus, as she danced and especially when her arms were lifted, the hem of the skirt naturally tended to rise a fraction.


    What came next was where the dance bloggers truly mastered their craft.


    With keen awareness, she would suddenly pull down on the skirt��s hem during these critical moments, performing the entire maneuver with practiced ease.


    And damn it, while the move felt somewhat exasperating, it also carried a hint of flirtation, and inadvertently regained your attention on the skirt.


    Many male customers in the store were ogling like there was no tomorrow.


    And there were brothers-in-arms sending out messages to each other: ��Goddesses dancing at ��Youu Come to Play,�� come quick!��


    As Shen Qingning entered the store, she just so happened to witness Liu Mihu tugging down her skirt, which caused her brows to furrow slightly.


    This dance blogger had been gaining traffic by posting edgy dance videos.


    Thus, although she was dancing the same routine as Zhang Qiqi, her movements were much more exaggerated.


    And now, as they reached the hip-swiveling part, Liu Mihu��s legs were spread so wide that the skirt was stretched to its limit, revealing the shape of her buttocks completely.


    This hip roll felt like she was wiggling her buttocks against a thin veil.


    The facial expressions of many male customers around were quite a spectacle.


    This caused Shen Qingning to glance over at Cheng Zhu, only to find him seemingly...focusing?


    Cheng Zhu was indeed recording with great concentration.


    The reason was simple: he knew that dance machine videos like these could easily go viral online.


    Especially those shot from the perspective of a bystander.


    It was the year 2014, and not many people took this approach to shoot videos.


    But in an era where TikTok prevailed, dance machine videos from a bystander��s perspective could garner hundreds of thousands of likes in abundance.


    This angle of shooting was all about an immersive, first-person experience!


    You could be sitting at home, yet your soul was already flying to the arcade.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu��s particularly diligent recording had another reason.


    ��That bodycon skirt she��s wearing, isn��t it one from my ��Persistent Visit�� stepmother skirt series?��


    ��As a QQ product, the skirts from ��Persistent Visit�� would be even shorter. The one she��s wearing is actually one size too large, which is why it barely passes for outdoor wear.��


    ��Of course, among the five stepmother skirts in the store, hers uses the most material.��


    Last time, after he finished shooting the set of pure desire photos for Zhang Qiqi, her Weibo post indeed went mini-viral online.


    Be it likes, comments, or view counts, they were all significantly higher than Zhang Qiqi��s other recent posts!


    At the same time, the fan conversion rate was not bad, netting her quite a few new followers.


    Her internet celebrity friends were quite envious of the numbers!


    Liu Mihu suggested coming in to check in today, originally planning to record a dance video of a few dozen seconds in front of the doll wall.


    It was Cheng Zhu who proposed that they should shoot on the dance machine instead, as perhaps the final video, once posted online, would bring a pleasant surprise.


    Liu Mihu was initially hesitant, feeling that the doll wall was a more suitable backdrop for recording.


    However, upon seeing Zhang Qiqi��s glance at Cheng Zhu, she grabbed her hand, expressing her willingness to join in the recording, and without a word, dragged her onto the dance machine.


    Left without a choice, Liu Mihu set up a tripod right in front of the dance machine and placed her phone on it for a conventional recording.


    Seeing all her preparations, Cheng Zhu could only shake his head internally and, relying on his rich experience, took a pseudo-bystander perspective video on his phone from the side.


    ��You��re lucky that you��re wearing a skirt sold at my shop. Otherwise, someone of your caliber wouldn��t be deserving enough for me to personally shoot,�� he thought.


    He found Liu Mihu genuinely muddled, not even realizing how to play to her strengths.


    You��ve got a face ravaged by plastic surgery, not even pretty, filming front-facing videos for what?


    Your biggest selling point is that big fat butt, okay?


    Non-facing bystander rear views are the best!


    At that moment, he was completely unaware of Shen Qingning, who was standing behind him.


    Of course, even if he had noticed her, it wouldn��t have impacted his recording.


    In his view, work was work and life was life; the two must be kept separate.


    But to be truthful, he did think: ��They��re trying so hard to dance, yet why do I feel that Ning Bao casually dancing last night looked better?��


    Shen Qingning had only done leg movements last night. Her legs were disproportionately long, tapping the dance machine keys with a grace that neglected to involve her upper body.


    Even just that seemed to totally overshadow these two.


    It must be said, those legs of hers were just too unreasonable.


    When the dance was over, the two dancers turned and stepped off the dance machine.


    Liu Mihu, having seen Cheng Zhu filming as well, thought he was just another guy who couldn��t resist recording. As a dance blogger, she often encountered such behavior outdoors where passersby unwaveringly took out their phones and filmed.


    ��Young handsome guy, you even started recording?�� she joked.


    ��Your style of recording won��t produce good results,�� Cheng Zhu commented blankly, pointing at the tripod Liu Mihu had set up.


    ��You mean to say, your video will be better?�� Liu Mihu didn��t believe it, as she considered herself a professional dance blogger.


    Cheng Zhu then cockily declared, ��Can��t say it��s better, just that it trumps your video, that��s all.��


    ��Ha ha ha! Qiqi, this male... your male friend, is quite funny,�� said Liu Mihu.


    It was curious��him carrying that top-tier rascal��s handsome face, paired with such arrogant talk, didn��t put her off.


    Zhang Qiqi blinked and then suggested, ��How about you post the one you filmed yourself, and I��ll post the video Cheng Zhu shot, and we��ll see who does better?��


    ��Sure! Any stakes?�� Liu Mihu quickly responded.


    ��The loser treats to dinner,�� said Zhang Qiqi.


    Upon hearing this, Liu Mihu glanced at Cheng Zhu and teased again, ��Young handsome guy, if Qiqi loses, you��ll have to pay for the dinner, right?��


    She thought she was being quite emotionally intelligent, giving the young cutie an opportunity.


    She knew Qiqi had many men fawning over her, and this would make them grateful while they opened their wallets.


    Yet, for some reason, he merely retorted, ��Don��t even think about it, it won��t happen. Since I��ve taken the video, surely it will be better than your selfie.��


    In his past life, Cheng Zhu wouldn��t have bothered to bolster such an influencer with her kind of pull.


    What makes you worthy of being promoted, just because you have a big butt?


    Lucky you, wearing a ��Persistent Visit�� stepmother skirt, might as well think of it as a promotional video for the product.


    Indirectly, it��ll increase your popularity, and you��ll be floating on cloud nine!


    As for me paying for dinner... what are you daydreaming about?


    Liu Mihu had initially regarded Cheng Zhu as one of Zhang Qiqi��s suitors.


    Upon meeting Cheng Zhu, she thought Qiqi��s latest pursuer seemed pretty decent, and darn attractive, too.


    But now, it seemed it wasn��t quite the case.


    However, she knew well about Zhang Qiqi��s charm. The quality men orbiting her were too numerous to count, splurging money and showing care daily, yet failing to even hold her hand.


    She had heard from this campus goddess that this good-looking young man was just a freshman.


    Could anyone of this age possibly withstand Zhang Qiqi��s allure?


    He should be easily manipulated, right?


    Just as this blogger, adept at skirting the line, was preparing to make another quip, she saw Zhang Qiqi looking ahead with a slight surprise.


    She saw Shen Qingning standing not far away.


    As Shen Qingning noticed her gazing, she silently met her gaze.


    With others, she was nothing like when she was with Cheng Zhu.


    At this moment, she had reverted back to her usual state of being powerfully aloof and imposing.


    After a few seconds of eye contact, it was Zhang Qiqi who couldn��t help but look away, which annoyed her greatly, as it always did.


    Shen Qingning, this luxurious flower of the world, only then walked forward and stood beside Cheng Zhu.


    She was dressed in a black Little Chanel suit, the latest seasonal release from Chanel.


    To put it bluntly, the most expensive thing on Liu Mihu was her surgically altered face.


    In contrast, the outfit worn by Shen Qingning trumped her face in value.


    What was more infuriating was that this girl was stunningly beautiful, with a flawless beauty and a demeanor that was both cool and breezy!


    Many of Chanel��s jackets are short to highlight the legs, accentuating the disproportionately long, enviable limbs of Shen Qingning, driving people mad.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her and naturally said, ��You��re here?��


    ��Yeah,�� Shen Qingning replied with a slight nod, then glanced at Liu Mihu, who had just finished dancing.


    Somehow, facing her gaze, Liu Mihu actually felt a bit nervous, sensing a kind of pressure.


    I mean, in her mind, beauties like Zhang Qiqi belonged on the runway modeling for luxury brands.


    And Shen Qingning?


    Her presence and aura felt more like the heiress of a luxury brand, scrutinizing your walk from the audience.


    That was the difference!


    As Liu Mihu watched Shen Qingning standing beside Cheng Zhu, she suddenly realized just how wrong and misguided her previous thoughts had been!


    Shen Qingning, having withdrawn her gaze from the two women, then said, ��I just finished class and thought I��d drop by to check in.��


    Liu Mihu: But your vibe seems more like you��re making an inspection.


    The cool young woman showed no intention of staying long and directly said to Cheng Zhu, ��I��ll head out first, then.��


    ��Okay,�� Cheng Zhu nodded, taking it as the proud beauty simply stopping by to say hello.


    Liu Mihu watched through the store��s glass as Shen Qingning got into a white Land Rover Range Rover parked across the street and drove away.


    As if her mere presence had been enough.

 Chapter 148: 128 Another Batch of New Arrivals for [Persistent Visit]

    Chapter 148: Chapter 128 Another Batch of New Arrivals for [Persistent Visit]


    Inside ��Youu Come to Play,�� Zhang Qiqi had helped the muddle-headed Liu Feng take photos at various check-in spots again.


    The sudden appearance of Shen Qingning had spoiled her mood for the day.


    If it were online, she was confident she could go toe-to-toe with Shen Qingning, as the other person wasn��t good at taking photos, had poor expression management, and a terrible sense of camera presence.


    But whenever they met in real life, she always felt overshadowed.


    Of course, Zhang Qiqi stubbornly believed it was because her family was wealthier.


    After they finished taking the photos, the duo didn��t linger in the claw machine arcade.


    She mustered up the energy to say goodbye to Cheng Zhu and mentioned that she would post the dance video on Weibo tonight.


    Liu Feng had been secretly sizing up her friend and noticed that since the appearance of that coolly detached girl, Qiqi seemed somewhat deflated.


    She, however, found it normal��how many women in the world could really compare to that kind of top-tier beauty?


    Once they stepped out of the store, she whispered, ��Qiqi, who was that girl just now?��


    ��Just... a junior in our school,�� Zhang Qiqi said.


    ��Oh,�� Liu Feng didn��t probe any further.


    Still, she couldn��t help but express her envy, ��I saw that she was wearing Chanel��s new season piece just now; that design is out of stock in domestic boutiques, and the clerks usually reserve them directly for their VIP customers.��


    People in their circle really loved researching luxury goods.


    ��Tsk tsk, driving a car worth over two million to school, I��m so envious. And not to mention, those long legs in a Land Rover really look good, super cool,�� she said.


    Listening to this, Zhang Qiqi felt increasingly uneasy.


    Seeing that Zhang Qiqi��s expression had worsened, Liu Feng immediately chose to shut up.


    She could vaguely sense that Qiqi��s attitude toward that handsome guy was completely different from how she usually treated other guys.


    But if Qiqi��s rival was that person...


    Well, it looks like even the glam internet celebrity of the school might have a taste of love��s bitterness!


    ...


    ...


    Within ��Youu Come to Play,�� after giving some instructions to Wang Wei, Cheng Zhu left his little shop.


    As he walked back to the dormitory down the tree-lined avenue, he thought for a moment and then took out his mobile phone to initiate contact with Shen Qingning, ��Are you feeling better?��


    He used to deliberately not chat with Shen Qingning, but after the dreamy night before, continuing that would be just stupid.


    Soon, he received her reply, ��Hmm.��


    It was clear this ice queen wasn��t good at small talk.


    She was really just answering questions and nothing more.


    A conversation should go back and forth, not just one person asking and the other answering.


    Cheng Zhu looked at his phone, didn��t bother finding a new topic, and deliberately stayed silent, sliding the phone back into his pocket as he continued walking.


    The autumn campus had an air of crisp freshness.


    But the youthful female students, plenty of them, were still stubbornly baring their legs.


    Of course, even if it started snowing, those who dared to bare legs still would.


    ��Not a single formidable one,�� he mused, looking at the succession of pale thighs, feeling they all fell short when compared to Shen Qingning.


    Just as he was about to reach the dormitory building, the phone in his pocket vibrated.


    ��I really troubled you last night,�� Shen Qingning initiated a WeChat message, and began to try finding topics to talk with guys.


    It was still somewhat awkward, and her typing was rather formal.


    ��It��s okay, just a bit of back pain,�� Cheng Zhu started bluffing.


    With his physique, it was unlikely that he��d be worn out just by her leaning on him for a bit, especially since she was soft and fragrant.


    After sending that, he swiftly added, ��Didn��t we say about having a meal? This meal can then cancel out the obligation, haha!��


    ��That��s fine,�� she replied very straightforwardly.


    Cheng Zhu had previously mentioned inviting her and Lin Lu to eat together.


    So, if your invitation to eat gets canceled, Lin Lu��s still stands.


    Anyways, laying the groundwork first, it could be a fallback option for him in the future.


    Standing outside the boys�� dormitory, Cheng Zhu texted, ��Your outfit today was really nice. It��s a shame you didn��t take a photo in the store.��


    He sensed that Shen Qingning seemed somewhat concerned about Zhang Qiqi and Liu Feng, probably because she saw him recording videos for them, so he mentioned it.


    Of course, he also genuinely believed that her look for the day matched her personality well.


    The most important part was... Shen Qingning wore black stockings today!


    Beneath her Chanel-style skirt, she wore black tights.


    Inside the house, Shen Qingning, looking at the WeChat message from Cheng Zhu, immediately got up and walked briskly to the full-length mirror in the dressing room.


    She checked her reflection from all angles.


    ��I seem to have worn this outfit when I met him before,�� she recalled.


    ��The only difference is...�� she looked down at her fine long legs, adorned with black stockings.


    She had chosen to wear black stockings today purely because there was a small bruise on her leg.


    Many people wake up the day after drinking to find unexplained bruises, not knowing when they hit something.


    Now, she wasn��t sure if Cheng Zhu��s sudden compliment was because stockings added points in his mind?


    She rarely wore them herself, whereas Lin Lu often excitedly adjusted her leg and exclaimed, ��Oh my, Ningning, if you wore stockings... tsk tsk, which man could resist!��


    For the moment, any displeasure about Cheng Zhu filming dance videos for others disappeared.


    After all, after filming their video, Cheng Zhu thought it was most regrettable she didn��t take any photos.


    Her phone pinged with a message from Lin Lu, saying she��d be home in about forty minutes!


    ��Miss me, Ningning?�� she teased.


    Shen Qingning replied half-heartedly, ��I did, I did.��


    Then, eyeing the time, she murmured to herself, ��Forty minutes, huh?��


    She headed to the shoe cabinet, traded her slippers for the shoes she��d worn to school, and drove back to ��Youu Come to Play.��


    She was going there to take photos.


    On the way, her feelings were mixed.


    She hoped Cheng Zhu would be at the store, yet also hoped he wouldn��t be.


    And she somewhat regretted driving back after reaching home.


    Upon arriving outside the store, she took a deep breath before opening the car door and heading towards ��Youu Come to Play.��


    Cheng Zhu was no longer in the store.


    Shen Qingning felt a slight disappointment, but it also eased her nerves.


    She approached the shop assistant Wang Wei, ��Hello, could you help me take a photo? Just one will do.��


    ��Ah?�� Wang Wei was initially startled, then promptly said, ��Sure, sure!��


    She even displayed a strong sense of compliance.


    Meanwhile, Cheng Zhu had returned to his dormitory.


    The three nosy guys in dormitory 309 immediately interrogated him, almost resorting to torture.


    ��Brother Zhu! Who did you spend the night with outside yesterday?�� Liu Feng asked.


    Being part of the ��Chasing Deer�� CP fandom, he internally screamed that it had to be senior Lin Lu!


    Indeed, it was a ship name he coined himself, taking one character from each of their names, signifying the eventual fulfillment between Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu.


    ��No night returns! As the dorm leader, I must thoroughly interrogate you!�� Dong Dong even put on airs as the dorm head.


    The usually reticent yet cool Zheng Qingfeng was concise: ��Speak!��


    But he felt he wasn��t entitled to speak to Brother Zhu so disrespectfully, aware that this was a golden thigh, so he added, ��Please, speak up!��


    Cheng Zhu stood tall, looking down upon them: ��Heh! Since when do you lot boss me around?��


    ��I didn��t sleep with any girl. There was something urgent last night, and I couldn��t come back to the dorm. This morning, Dean Zhang and Director Li visited the shop, so I went back,�� Cheng Zhu replied, annoyed.


    ��Ah? The dean went? Damn!�� Dong Dong��s eyes went wide.


    If he received such treatment, he��d call his dad immediately, bragging about his success and asking for an increase in pocket money.


    ��Brother Zhu, did the dean really take notice?�� Liu Feng was equally astonished.


    ��It��s not that serious, and it��s not as exaggerated as you��re making it sound. It��s just that they��ve recognized I have potential. Have you read fantasy novels? The prodigies always get noticed when they enroll, always...�� Just as he was about to launch into a monologue, his pocket vibrated again with his phone.


    He had been wondering why Shen Qingning hadn��t replied to his messages.


    But Cheng Zhu wasn��t the type to sheepishly wait for a reply. I��ve got plenty to do, only an idiot would just wait around.


    Dude, are you waiting for a reply, or is it an imperial edict?


    Their chat history had stopped at his last message: ��Your outfit today was really nice. It��s a shame you didn��t take a photo in the store.��


    To his surprise, Shen Qingning sent a photo at that moment.


    It was a picture of her in the outfit Cheng Zhu had casually complimented, standing in front of the doll wall.


    That photo surpassed any reply.


    ��Hisss��, she really doesn��t know much, but what she does can instantly outplay many high-level players,�� Cheng Zhu felt a small hit.


    Still, this proud girl added below the photo, ��Lin Lu said she wanted a fruit platter, so I came to the fruit shop, and then I stopped by your store.��


    Cheng Zhu replied with a silly emoji, with a kid stretching their eyes wide with fingers.


    ��Not bad, not bad at all,�� he said.


    Inside dormitory 309, everyone noticed Cheng Zhu suddenly stopped talking and began replying to messages, instantly guessing he was chatting with a girl.


    That��s when Liu Feng remembered something.


    ��Brother Zhu, I picked up your package too. Put it under your desk,�� he spoke up.


    ��Really?�� Cheng Zhu pulled out his chair, took the package from under the desk, and saw the sender was from Guan Yun County, pausing his movements and not immediately opening it.


    Because inside, there were the next series of samples from ��Persistent Visit.��


    These were designs that did not exist on the market yet.


    Cheng Zhu was well aware that the store��s regular QQ lingerie styles were already performing well.


    At this time, it made sense to expand the range a bit, to include niche but surprisingly popular styles with not negligible monthly sales.


    Just to give an example.


    ��Have you ever heard of the black Spiderman tight-fit bodysuit?��

 Chapter 149: 129 A Few Bodysuits

    Chapter 149: Chapter 129 A Few Bodysuits


    At night, Cheng Zhu opened the express box sent from Guan Yun County while Dong Dong and others went to the internet cafe. He checked the few new items inside.


    There were two designs of the Spiderman bodysuit, one was the later famous black model, and the other was a more red one.


    How explosive did the former become later?


    Many mega-influencers had worn it to record videos.


    At its peak, Cheng Zhu also bought one to play with and conducted some practical tests.


    His customer experience was very good, finding it fun to play with.


    The only trouble with this design was that the zipper at the bottom needed to be of better quality.


    Moreover, it��s not something you wear every day, just occasionally for fun. The minor issue with the zipper could actually be overlooked.


    The focus was still on the playability of the zipper.


    Speaking of which, this bodysuit was indeed tight, and the material was special enough.


    ��If it didn��t have a zipper, the damage rate would be higher, turning it into a disposable product.��


    ��Huh? A disposable product? That��s an interesting term.��


    Cheng Zhu held the garment in his hands, gently touching the zipper to feel its texture.


    Without the zipper, many would choose to tear it open or cut it out.


    But to be honest, that would degrade the visual effect and spoil the overall aesthetic of the bodysuit.


    After all, its material was different from stockings, which could look uniquely beautiful when torn.


    This kind of leather-like product simply couldn��t achieve that effect.


    Cheng Zhu had debated this several times but ultimately decided to prioritize customer experience. After all, if the customers had a bad experience, there would be no repeat business.


    ��Our main thing is reputation!�� he felt genuinely touched by his own business integrity, rare among his peers in the QQ community.


    Looking at the Spiderman bodysuit, he couldn��t help but say, ��With great power comes great responsibility!��


    I��m also working hard for everyone��s happiness.


    My store has been so highly praised by customers, even becoming the first influencer store on QQ. I can��t let them down, right?


    This QQ tycoon who always concealed his identity in daily life now had the song ��Lonely Brave Man�� echoing in his ears.


    ����Who says only those standing in the light can be heroes?��


    ...


    ...


    By ten at night, Cheng Zhu��s three sworn brothers had returned to their dorm early and thoughtfully packed some dumplings for Cheng Zhu after having their own.


    As soon as the three came back to the dorm, they were exhilarated.


    ��Brother Zhu, you��re trending again!�� Dong Dong announced loudly as he entered.


    ��What happened now?�� Cheng Zhu was puzzled.


    ��It��s just that many people are discussing you in the forum!�� Dong Dong replied, ��And seems like a lot of people are scolding the Student Union.��


    Hearing this, Cheng Zhu guessed that something about his store had been posted on the forum.


    Mr. Dong thought Brother Zhu was really too cool.


    ��These external relations department people are seriously sick in their heads, they hand out flyers on the streets, nobody ever goes into someone��s store to distribute one by one, yet they sent six people at once, they could block the hallway, aren��t their English names, ��Geneva Convention��?�� Dong Dong cursed.


    He began to visualize the scene with Cheng Zhu holding a trash can, asking customers to throw the flyers into it, and even snatching a thick stack of flyers from the external relations team to stuff it directly into the trash can!


    So cool! Seriously so cool!


    ��Brother Zhu, the next time something like this happens, you should post in the group chat immediately, we would definitely come right away!�� Dong Dong was eager to join the excitement.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at him and said with annoyance: ��You look like Skinny, with no intimidating presence at all, too jumpy and probably easy to get hit.��


    ��Nonsense, I��ve been practising push-ups and planks every day!�� Dong Dong argued back.


    Liu Feng chimed in with a tease: ��If doing five and holding for fifteen seconds counts...��


    Dong Dong shot him an angry glare.


    Cheng Zhu could guess that in the forum, people probably scolded the external relations team more.


    They came to solicit sponsorship but did such annoying things, akin to demanding protection money.


    Certainly, there were also genuinely good people in the Student Union, and not a few.


    But at times like these, those who would speak up online are surely those who have been sickened by the Student Union.


    Suddenly, they found an outlet to vent.


    ��All day long wielding their title like a commanding flag!��


    ��Such a tiny amount of power, acting all high and mighty!��


    ��The way they swaggered during the dormitory inspections, I still remember it.��


    ��There are quite a few ministers and presidents who don��t talk sense, only loving to throw their weight around.��


    ��I really laughed out loud, they keep saying: ��Then I��ll notify your academic advisor, ha! I��m so scared!''��


    ��Soliciting sponsorship is indeed cheap, they can only promise the moon, promotional effect is practically zero, and they even cut corners, the bastards agreed to hang three banners, but only hung two at the event.��


    ��This Cheng Zhu is kind of amazing! Just slapped their faces right in front of them, satisfying!��


    As soon as this comment emerged, an echo chamber immediately started, and ��satisfying!�� filled the screen.


    Of course, there were also some from the Student Union, either revealing their identities or pretending to be bystanders, arguing with these people.


    Besides, at that time, there were students from the Information Science Department in the [Youu Come to Play] store.


    Someone recognized Dean Zhang and also posted about his visit to the store and detailed how the people from the external relations department fled in disarray.


    Some insiders revealed online that some of the Student Union officials had been called in for a meeting by school leaders!


    For a while, real and fake news crazily spread on the forum, making Cheng Zhu once again the hot topic of discussion among the students, his status as a celebrity figure soared again.


    Naturally, what he never lacked was romantic gossip.


    Liu Feng was the first to gossip: ��Brother Zhu, I saw in the forum today that senior Zhang Qiqi danced in the store?��


    Dong Dong immediately followed up: ��Brother Zhu, that��s not fair, shouldn��t you have called us to come over at a time like this?��


    Zheng Qingfeng had been silent, but now he couldn��t help but say, ��Right!��


    Cheng Zhu laughed and scolded, ��She only danced to one song, could you have made it from the campus in time?��


    ��I could run like it��s a hundred-meter sprint!�� Dong Dong looked utterly shameless.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t bother with him.


    But the three adoptive brothers kept nagging.


    ��Brother Zhu, was Shen Qingning senior also there?�� Dong Dong asked.


    After Cheng Zhu nodded, he immediately exclaimed, ��Wow!��


    ��And Lin Lu? What about senior Lin Lu!�� Liu Feng, always steadfast like the leader of a couple��s fanclub, asked.


    ��She went to Shanghai yesterday and only returned this afternoon.�� Cheng Zhu answered.


    Liu Feng immediately cursed Zhang Qiqi in his mind: ��Taking advantage of senior Lin Lu��s absence to dance in the store! Bad woman!��


    ��Luckily, Lin Lu��s best friend��senior Shen Qingning, arrived in time!�� he thought anyway.


    Cheng Zhu looked at them, saying, ��By the way, I��ll go to the entrepreneurship base tomorrow morning to fill out a project form.��


    ��Ah? Isn��t one claw machine store enough for you to earn from?�� Dong Dong was dumbfounded.


    ��[Youu Come to Play] has stabilized already, I don��t need to worry about it anymore, it��s already running in a virtuous cycle.�� Cheng Zhu waved his hand casually.


    Like the dancing machine video from a bystander perspective that he shot today, it might also blow up online a bit, meaning the store��s popularity could increase!


    Dong Dong didn��t understand, but was deeply impressed.


    If it were him, after achieving great success with a claw machine store and not needing to worry about it anymore, he would definitely��enjoy a few months off first!


    Cheng Zhu, however, was brimming with energy, not feeling tired at all.


    Several big opportunities were approaching, and he had to plan ahead, time waits for no one!


    ��Brother Zhu, what do you plan to do?�� Liu Feng asked curiously.


    ��Make games, I��ll form a small team at school, and you guys can join in to learn a bit too.�� Cheng Zhu said.


    Hearing it was about making games, these three hardcore gamers immediately lit up!


    Let��s do it! Let��s really get into it!


    ��But, I have something in the afternoon tomorrow, can any sensible person help me mark my attendance in class?�� Cheng Zhu said leisurely.


    Dong Dong forcefully patted his chest: ��Leave it to me!��


    The night deepened, Cheng Zhu washed up before lying in bed, sending a message to Ye Zi: ��Shoot the new model tomorrow afternoon.��


    Ye Zi replied instantly with an emoji that read, ��As you wish, boss!��


    However, this text emoji was clearly modified by her, the original saying ��As you wish, master.�� She lightly crossed out the word ��master�� and wrote ��boss�� underneath.


    ��Always knowing to play these saucy tricks!�� Cheng Zhu muttered in his heart.


    To him, Ye Zi always had a low profile in daily interactions, but was always full of sass.


    After a few seconds, he received another message from Ye Zi.


    ��Boss, before shooting tomorrow, can I make a trip to your store? I just want to have a look, to check in, you don��t need to come to the store especially, is that okay?�� she asked very cautiously.


    Since that night in the bar when she saw Cheng Zhu leave with Shen Qingning, her self-positioning and self-awareness became increasingly clear.


    Last time she mentioned this, she hoped Cheng Zhu would also be at the store, so besides the usual shoots, she could see him one more time.


    She even promised to pretend she didn��t know him.


    This time, she really just wanted to visit his store, it didn��t matter whether Cheng Zhu was there or not.


    Besides, she wanted to sneakily visit his school.


    To take a look at the places he frequented daily, studied, and worked.


    It felt like this brief peek would already integrate her a little into his life.


    ��Come on over, but I might indeed be busy in the morning, if I��m free I��ll come by. And you don��t need to queue to buy tokens, I��ll have the staff save a membership card for you.�� Cheng Zhu replied to this important aide in his QQ enterprise.


    ��Okay!�� Ye Zi responded immediately.


    The Chinese language is always so magical; just two simple words can express a myriad of emotions.


    Such a small privilege, available even to a normal friend, was enough to make this woman, so intimidated by Cheng Zhu, bloom.


    ...


    (ps: First update, request for monthly tickets.)

 Chapter 150: 130: The Name Cheng Zhu Is Enough

    Chapter 150: Chapter 130: The Name ��Cheng Zhu�� Is Enough


    The next day, Ye Zi got up early and dressed carefully, picking out an outfit that exuded youthful vitality.


    She first took a taxi to Technology University.


    After entering the campus, she walked down the tree-lined avenue, observing the energetic university students.


    There were also quite a few young couples, radiating the sweet scent of adolescent love.


    This woman, who came from a poor family and started working at a young age, couldn��t help but sigh to herself, ��It��s so nice to be able to study.��


    So she wandered around the school, imagining Cheng Zhu��s life on the campus.


    Seeing the cafeteria, she thought, ��He must eat and chat with his friends here.��


    Seeing the library, she wondered, ��Has he ever borrowed books here? I wonder if he��s the type to come and read.��


    Seeing the campus lake, she guessed, ��He surely must have taken walks here with the girl he likes, right? The night scene must be beautiful.��


    After touring around Technology University, she headed to the off-campus ��Youu Come to Play.��


    Watching the students queuing at the cashier to buy tokens, her mouth slightly agape, she couldn��t help thinking how amazing Cheng Zhu was to be so good at whatever business he undertook��this place was truly beautiful, a perfect spot for taking photos, no wonder it was so popular with young people.


    Ye Zi didn��t go straight to the staff for a card but instead stood silently at the back of the queue, waiting her turn.


    She didn��t have any ulterior motives; she just thought that this way, she could legitimately stay in the store for a little bit longer.


    At Technology University��s entrepreneurship base, Cheng Zhu had come over at ten in the morning and filled out a form.


    He did not encounter the busy Director Li there.


    School leaders, well, you can��t necessarily find them when you��re looking for them.


    Of course, that wasn��t important.


    For now, all Cheng Zhu really needed was for the school to approve a piece of office space for him, to save him some rent.


    If it weren��t for the fear that the exposure of his side hustle selling QQ lingerie might not look good, he might have considered moving the ��Persistent Visit�� studio to the free space within the school.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu believed there are no secrets in this world, and truth can��t be concealed forever.


    No matter how careful he was, his identity as a QQ tycoon would eventually be revealed.


    The point was what height he would have reached by the time it became publicly known.


    He was currently focusing on the domestic market, but he also planned to take QQ lingerie to the international market in the future.


    Don��t forget, Guan Yun County is destined to be known as the QQ capital of the world!


    The majority of the world��s QQ lingerie comes from there.


    The export market for these goods looked incredibly promising in the coming years!


    Moreover, he��s always creating new styles. If he doesn��t sell them himself, someone else will likely knock them off and sell them overseas.


    ��Maybe in the future, I��ll also be able to wear the hat of cultural exporter?�� Cheng Zhu started to get ahead of himself with pride.


    After filling out the form at the entrepreneurship base, Cheng Zhu handed it to a senior who worked there.


    This person��s name was Zhao Xiaodong.


    Zhao Xiaodong took a look at the form Cheng Zhu handed over and couldn��t help but look up at him, ��Cheng Zhu?��


    ��Yep, that��s me,�� he responded with the awareness of a campus celebrity.


    ��You��re from the School of Information, right? Sure enough, you guys always have your hearts set on making games,�� he said with a smile, used to this trend by now.


    Zhao Xiaodong gave him a word of caution, ��The school��s game projects have all failed these last two years and haven��t made a good impression, so whether or not it will be approved... it��s hard to say. You should prepare yourself, junior.��


    ��No big issue, it will definitely be approved,�� Cheng Zhu replied confidently, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Seeing that his senior was eager to chat, he offered, ��You smoke?��


    ��I do, but not here.��


    ��Let��s go then, have one outside,�� said Cheng Zhu with a laugh.


    Zhao Xiaodong was curious about this rising star on campus and didn��t mind stepping out for a smoke and a chat.


    After taking a drag, he asked, ��Why are you so certain your project will be approved?��


    Cheng Zhu exhaled a puff of smoke and squinted his eyes, ��What the project is isn��t important. What��s important is that my name is written on the form.��


    Zhao Xiaodong: ��...��


    This junior was just as cocky as the rumors suggested!


    But for some reason, listening to his nonchalant tone, Zhao Xiaodong found himself somewhat convinced.


    After leaving the entrepreneurship base, Cheng Zhu didn��t head directly to ��Youu Come to Play.��


    ��Persistent Visit�� studio had run into a small issue, and Cheng Zhu needed to deal with it.


    Although the store had become the only internet-famous QQ shop, it was still important to participate actively in some platform events.


    There was a problem with applying for an event, which he had to address urgently.


    In 2014, the events on Taobao were not as frequent as they later became, where a new one seemed to pop up every other week.


    The rules for the events were relatively simple, unlike later when not just buyers would be confused by the calculations, but sellers might be baffled too...


    When busy, Cheng Zhu would quickly forget about Ye Zi.


    After sorting out the issues, Wang Anquan, standing to the side, said somewhat embarrassed, ��Brother Zhu, it was my bad.��


    ��It��s nothing, it��s your first time handling this kind of thing. It��s perfectly normal. Just make sure it doesn��t happen again,�� Cheng Zhu wasn��t harsh with his childhood friend.


    In the ��Persistent Visit,�� Cheng Zhu had already entrusted much of the day-to-day work to Wang Anquan, while he focused on the bigger picture.


    ��Come on out, let��s talk,�� Cheng Zhu said, patting his shoulder.


    The two stepped outside, and Cheng Zhu looked at him, ��You got enough money?��


    ��Plenty, I can��t even spend it all by myself,�� Wang Anquan replied.


    Cheng Zhu gave him a share of the profits every month, so Wang Anquan��s income was quite substantial.


    ��If I remember correctly, aside from family, you haven��t hidden the fact that you work at a QQ store from friends around you, have you?�� Cheng Zhu asked with a smile.


    ��Nope, Brother Zhu, I��ve just played it up a bit outside, always said I��m part of the management,�� Wang Anquan answered honestly.


    ��You��re not wrong to say that; in the store, you are second in command, definitely part of the management,�� he looked at Wang Anquan, curious, ��So how do your classmates and teachers view you?��


    He knew his own exposure was inevitable and wanted to learn from Wang Anquan��s personal experience.


    ��It��s a mix,�� he recalled.


    ��Some think I��m awesome, but others find it strange, insistent that I must be a scumbag, even though I��ve never even held a girl��s hand,�� Wang Anquan was a bit speechless.


    He left some things unsaid; he knew others talked behind his back, calling him sleazy.


    Cheng Zhu patted his shoulder, ��Huh? You��re in university now, aren��t you seeing any girls?��


    In his memory, according to the normal trajectory of his past life, Wang Anquan did have a first love in college, but it ended seamlessly, with the girl moving on to someone else right after they broke up.


    It��s rare for such seamless transitions to occur without someone cheating.


    Wang Anquan, hearing Brother Zhu��s question, shook his head, ��Brother Zhu, isn��t it because you taught me the meditation of ��Supreme Sword Skill������With no woman in heart, the sword naturally excels��?��


    Cheng Zhu laughed and cursed, ��I told you to keep your heart free of women, not to have no women by your side!��


    He knew Wang Anquan was the kind of person who could be deeply affected by emotional injuries, which is why he fed him such sophomoric nonsense.


    But he didn��t expect this naive guy to take it so literally.


    He certainly didn��t hope that the future power holder of ��Persistent Visit�� would be someone who��d never experienced anything in life!


    That would be outrageous, not conducive to the company��s future development.


    If you��re only strategizing on paper, how can you create a great product?


    ��Besides, when I told you to keep your heart free of women, I meant don��t be obsessed with them, you get it?��


    ��Sort of,�� Wang Anquan chuckled.


    Seeing his expression, Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but laugh out loud too.


    In the end, he just said earnestly, ��I will eventually hand over this store to you.��


    Wang Anquan��s eyes lit up immediately, ��Including the shoots for product modeling?��


    ��Damn, you��re really enthusiastic about that part, aren��t you? Not so much with serious dating,�� Cheng Zhu was impressed.


    ��Give up on that thought; in the future... perhaps someone else will be responsible for that,�� Cheng Zhu shattered his fantasy.


    ��Alright.��


    As the conversation ended, Cheng Zhu suddenly remembered Ye Zi.


    How could I forget my female model.


    He picked up his phone and messaged her, ��Are you still at the store?��


    ��Boss, I just left, I��m having lunch at your off-campus location. A guy even asked to add me as a friend just now, but I didn��t accept...�� she reported in great detail.


    ��After you��re done eating, just go directly to the hotel, I��m not at the school side,�� Cheng Zhu directed, sending her a location.


    He realized that in his chat history with Ye Zi, there actually wasn��t much conversation.


    Because he rarely messaged her and she didn��t privately message him, just posted on her Moments.


    But their chat history was littered with hotel locations��damn so many, and all different hotels at that.


    Besides that were the transaction records...


    One word, brilliant!


    Ye Zi received the hotel location and promptly replied with her ��Yes, Boss�� meme.


    And when Cheng Zhu arrived at the hotel, Ye Zi had already been waiting for a while.


    She had already checked into the room, and Cheng Zhu had to go to the front desk to register with his ID.


    Every time they went to a hotel, they arrived separately, the first person opened the room, and the latter registered with their ID.


    Damn, if you don��t register together at the front desk, and there��s a check-up, their chat history would definitely be incriminating evidence.


    Together, they stepped into the elevator and arrived on the hotel��s 28th floor.


    As Cheng Zhu walked toward the room, he glanced at the handsome photo and name on his ID card and asked, ��By the way, Ye Zi, I still don��t know your full name.��


    ��Boss, my real name doesn��t sound nice, my parents gave me a super old-fashioned name.��


    ��Oh? I get it, what��s your name in the martial arts world then?�� he asked.


    Many girls who disliked their birth names would sometimes adopt a different name for themselves when meeting others, even if they didn��t legally change it.


    Such girls, Cheng Zhu had seen many. Some, a bit more non-mainstream, liked to pick obscure characters, which Cheng Zhu didn��t even recognize.


    Of course, when he went out, he didn��t use his real name either but made up all sorts of weird names, obviously fake.


    That way, when you say the name, the other person gets the hint, and the understanding ones know what kind of relationship to maintain.


    Upon hearing his question, Ye Zi, holding the room card, opened the door, stepped inside, and answered, ��Ye Shu.��


    She slowly took off her coat, sat on the bed, and in a sultry voice said to Cheng Zhu, ��The ��Shu�� that means comfortable.��


    (ps: Second update, asking for monthly tickets.)

 Chapter 151: 131: Unparalleled QQ New Product

    Chapter 151: Chapter 131: Unparalleled QQ New Product


    ��Ye Shu? A very comfortable ��Shu��?�� Cheng Zhu listened to Ye Zi mention the name and asked, ��Did you just make it up?��


    Ye Zi sat on the bed, casually tossed the jacket she had just taken off onto the nearby sofa, propped herself up with both hands behind her, and said,


    ��I won��t tell you whether it��s my real name!��


    Cheng Zhu understood, it was probably made up on the spot.


    As for whether she was really embarrassed to reveal her real name because she thought it was too plain, or whether she was using this form of not revealing her real name as a subtle hint about their relationship, he didn��t care.


    In his heart, Ye Zi had always been a very sensible woman, even perhaps too sensible.


    Put simply, she had a clear self-awareness and quite the force of character.


    Cheng Zhu had encountered many ��average-faith women�� in his past life, inflated by lower-class sycophants; honestly, it was really off-putting.


    And then there were those even worse, inflated by playboys.


    Like some wealthy, good-looking guys who only want to sleep with you, sweet-talk you for a bit, and after they get bored, hit the road without ever thinking about a future with you.


    But the girls would think, even such wealthy, handsome guys come after me and speak sweetly.


    And my ex-boyfriend was a rich, handsome man, what right do you scrubs have to think about dating me?


    Still the same saying: some locks, once opened by a golden key, get a bit of gold dust on them and think they��re gold locks themselves.


    This scenario tends to be more common among women because playboys usually look downwards, and playgirls usually look upwards.


    For a gorgeous, wealthy woman to toy with ordinary men is relatively rare.


    Moreover, for men, it wouldn��t even count as toying; it��s a damn reward!


    In Cheng Zhu��s view, for a girl like Ye Zi who made her living in the nightlife scene yet still maintained such poise was quite exceptional.


    And honestly, her being so sensible made him feel less burdened when interacting with her.


    He took a camera out of his bag and then threw a few QQ uniforms onto the bed.


    ��You pick, which one to shoot first,�� said Cheng Zhu.


    Ye Zi looked at the new outfits and couldn��t help but gape, utterly stunned.


    She picked up a black Spiderman bodysuit and puzzled asked, ��Boss, are you sure this is a new product?��


    This type of leather QQ product was a bit beyond her comprehension.


    ��Yes, I designed it myself, how could there be a mistake? You can��t tell the effect like this, you have to put it on,�� said Cheng Zhu, adjusting the camera without even looking up.


    What joke, if ordinary people could understand it, would it still be called genius-level innovation?


    Know this, when he was reborn, this model of black Spiderman bodysuit was already not as popular as it had been during its peak craze online.


    Even so, the well-selling stores on Taobao easily chalked up five to six thousand orders a month.


    You can imagine, during its peak popularity, the sales numbers were terrifying!


    Cheng Zhu still had high hopes for this product, seeing it as opening a new market in the QQ realm, especially since no one else was doing this kind of style yet.


    It might even inspire some creatively minded QQ folks, further boosting the prosperity of the QQ market!


    ��I, the foremost contributor in the QQ world! Deserving a place in the Temple!


    At the moment, Ye Zi had taken off her jacket, wearing only a camisole underneath.


    She stood up, holding the black Spiderman bodysuit against her front to compare, ��Boss, are you sure I can fit into this?��


    Saying so, she pointed at her bulging chest.


    Given their mode of interaction in the room, this gesture was hardly out of line; Cheng Zhu was already quite familiar with her body!


    ��Don��t worry, my goods are definitely quality assured, very elastic,�� Cheng Zhu said with a smile.


    ��Really? Then it must be like me; I��m very flexible too,�� Ye Zi started again.


    ��Stop dawdling and go change,�� Cheng Zhu began to frown and urge, wondering why she was dragging it out.


    His sudden change in demeanor triggered Ye Zi��s submissive side, and she obediently went to change in the bathroom.


    This was a luxury suite in a hotel, the bathroom was spacious, and the mirror above the sink spanned the entire room.


    After Ye Zi put on the black Spiderman bodysuit, she stood in front of the mirror and took a good look��at front, back, left, and right.


    And truth to be told, this outfit did have a kind of magic to it!


    Before putting it on, she couldn��t understand what the selling point of this outfit was.


    After putting it on, she felt, ��What kind of divine product is this?!��


    The shaping effect was simply better than some shaping trousers and undergarments!


    That tightness all around the body pulled and tightened up the human silhouette, making the slender parts even more slender and rounded areas even more rounded!


    And if you look closely at its spider webbing, it presented a triangular shape.


    Starting from the shoulders and going down, forming an inverted triangle.


    And the tip of this triangle naturally connected with the zipper below.


    This could create a special visual effect, quite essential!


    Everyone must have seen those inverted triangle-design clothes, right? This bodysuit also integrated that kind of design concept.


    What��s more, the color black naturally has a slimming effect.


    Initially, Ye Zi thought that such clothes were picky about the wearer��s body, and if you weren��t slim enough, they might not look good.


    Now she realized she was utterly wrong!


    Even slightly plus-size bodies, after putting it on, could achieve unparalleled shaping results, covering up many physical flaws while magnifying the advantages brought by slight plumpness to the fullest!


    This was genuinely a breathtaking, genius-level design!


    Every detail of it was crafted with forethought.


    It made Ye Zi involuntarily admire herself in the mirror for a long time, liking it more and more, getting more and more enchanted.


    At the same time, it further deepened her admiration for Cheng Zhu: ��How did he come up with such an amazing design?��


    Before wearing it, it seemed plain, but after putting it on, it was incredible!


    Ye Zi even walked a few steps in front of the mirror.


    Just these few simple steps made her discover the exquisite wonders of this piece of clothing.


    Because it was so tight that when she moved, some areas began to show the tight folds characteristic of leather attire.


    These folds not only didn��t ruin the aesthetic but actually enhanced it!


    ��Are you done yet?�� Cheng Zhu��s slightly impatient voice came from outside the door.


    ��I��m coming, I��m coming!�� Ye Zi felt a bit embarrassed to go out.


    Honestly, they had photographed so many products, and it shouldn��t be like this.


    It can only be said that this outfit felt less like you were wearing a piece of clothing, and more like... it was painted on?


    Didn��t know if everyone had seen the news, where someone painted jeans on themselves and brazenly went out in public.


    This outfit could have a similar effect, yet also provided shaping.


    It��s good she was quite confident about her own figure. After a deep breath, not even bothering to put shoes on, she walked out like that.


    Cheng Zhu watched her walk towards him so smoothly, and honestly, the visual impact that hit him stirred some waves in his usually calm heart.


    ��Damn! This style suits her too damn well!�� Cheng Zhu mentally exclaimed.


    Under the lighting, this type of leather clothing also had an extremely subtle reflective effect.


    This feeling, like applying a layer of essential oil on the skin, also added an extra bit of allure!


    Cheng Zhu looked at her, suddenly stood up, and discontentedly said, ��Why is your hair tied up?��


    He directly walked over to Ye Zi, their bodies almost touching, then swiftly pulled out her hair tie, letting her slightly curly hair cascade down.


    This outfit needed to be worn with loose hair!


    He looked down, and Ye Zi looked up at him.


    It��s well known that spiders can spin webs.


    And Ye Zi, at that moment, was giving him that kind of captivating gaze.


    Cheng Zhu then slapped her rounded buttocks, causing ripples of flesh.


    ��Hurry up, we have a lot to get through today,�� he said.


    ��Uh~~, boss, where are we shooting?�� she asked.


    Cheng Zhu looked around the hotel suite, and found a good spot.


    ��Over there by that huge bay window. Lean your entire body against it, and show off the curve of your body,�� Cheng Zhu grinned and decided to start with the back.


    He believed shooting the back at the bay window would feel particularly impactful.


    ...


    ...


    On the other hand, on the campus.


    Director Li finally returned to his office located at the entrepreneurship center.


    Speaking of which, the total time he spent in his office each day might not even exceed an hour.


    Only each Friday and each Monday would he spend a bit more time in the office.


    As for the project applications submitted by students, Director Li generally summed them up once a week.


    Reality is such, things that are urgent and important to you, are just routine trifles to others.


    And he basically had established a schedule that rarely involved urgent responses.


    Once you enter society, you��ll realize that many people set various routines and rules for themselves.


    These things aren��t necessarily meant to confine themselves; instead, they are there for others to break.


    It just takes a price.


    Zhao Xiaodong saw Director Li return, immediately greeted him, ��Director.��


    Director Li, wearing wooden-framed glasses, nodded slightly and asked, ��What are you looking at?��


    ��Oh, I��m looking at a project application submitted by a freshman,�� Zhao Xiaodong said.


    ��Is it someone you know?�� Director Li asked.


    He thought Zhao Xiaodong was doing this deliberately in front of him, to make him look at the form earlier, a kind of subtle use of connections.


    ��Ah, no, Director, it��s just that this junior is quite famous, and I was a bit curious,�� Zhao Xiaodong was indeed honest.


    He had just discussed this matter in his group; students tend to share things they come across daily.


    Today, he and Cheng Zhu became smoke-buddies, certainly a topic worth mentioning.


    This also indirectly showed how big Cheng Zhu��s reputation was on campus at the moment.


    Sharing a smoke with him was a topic worth bringing up in conversation.


    After chatting in the group for a bit, out of boredom, he picked up Cheng Zhu��s application form again, and just then, the director walked in.


    ��So, a campus celebrity, huh?�� A rare smile appeared on Director Li��s normally serious face.


    Then, he recalled someone.


    ��You just mentioned... a freshman?�� Director Li looked up and said, ��Let me see the form.��

 Chapter 152: 132: Entering the Leaves with the Wind, Silently Moistening Everything

    Chapter 152: Chapter 132: Entering the Leaves with the Wind, Silently Moistening Everything


    In the office, Zhao Xiaodong was slightly taken aback before promptly handing the form he was holding to Director Li.


    Director Li took it and immediately noticed the name ��Cheng Zhu�� written on the form.


    ��Cheng Zhu,�� he murmured softly.


    He then quickly glanced through the content below.


    ��It��s indeed a game,�� he chuckled, shaking his head.


    Zhao Xiaodong watched Director Li��s reaction and clicked his tongue in amazement.


    It seemed that the director actually knew him?


    No way, had his fame grown so much that even school leaders had heard of him?


    He had just looked at the project application form submitted by Cheng Zhu, and honestly, he thought it was terribly written.


    To be frank, if he were the director, he wouldn��t approve it.


    Zhao Xiaodong was indeed a pretty decent person, and Cheng Zhu could sense that this senior was quite easy to get along with, hence they even shared a cigarette together.


    Thus, he had such thoughts solely because... Cheng Zhu��s writing was indeed terrible!


    Since it was a project application form, shouldn��t it briefly introduce the project?


    Guess what this freshman wrote?


    He wrote a single sentence: A mobile game similar to ��Match Three�� that involves eliminating obstacles.


    Could it be any more unoriginal?


    Are people still thinking of making such games these days?


    Are you sure you��re not here to scam for credits and support?


    Zhao Xiaodong had seen too many applications, and most people would hype up their projects to make them sound spectacular and showcase their unique qualities.


    Cheng Zhu, on the other hand, merely wrote one sentence and clearly displayed all the cliche?s.


    He couldn��t really think that just because his name filled the form, Director Li would approve it, right?


    Zhao Xiaodong discreetly observed Director Li��s expression.


    Sure enough, he slightly furrowed his brow.


    But upon reconsideration, he thought: ��What��s so special about e-commerce? What��s so special about owning a claw machine arcade?��


    ��This young man has succeeded in them.��


    Such university entrepreneurship support, from one perspective, also seemed like an investment by the school in its students.


    Sometimes, you hear investors say: ��I��m not investing in the project, I��m actually investing in the person.��


    Director Li��s situation was somewhat similar now.


    If anyone else had submitted such a form, considering the onslaught of Information Technology students making games, all of them doomed, and given how antiquated and cliche?d this project really was, he would definitely not approve it.


    Look at what you��ve written! Does it even make sense?


    But at this moment, he sat down at his desk, pulled out a fountain pen, and briskly signed the form, then stamped it.


    Zhao Xiaodong was flabbergasted on the side.


    It actually... got approved?


    And doesn��t the director only approve projects once a week?


    After completing these actions, Director Li didn��t forget to tell He Xiaodong: ��Go submit this now.��


    ��Ah?�� He paused for a moment, then quickly nodded: ��Okay!��


    As he walked out of the office, he still felt somewhat dazed.


    In his mind, he recalled what Cheng Zhu had said while they were smoking:


    ��It doesn��t matter what the project is, what matters is that my name is on the form.��


    ...


    ...


    In the luxurious hotel suite, the photo shoot progressed smoothly.


    Luckily, he had finished shooting the parts by the floor-to-ceiling windows early on because soon after, the sky turned overcast, looking like it might rain.


    They were currently shooting the cow sweater.


    Cheng Zhu personally wasn��t particularly fond of this cow sweater, but it was indeed very popular.


    As a business owner, one couldn��t always follow personal preferences; aligning with the market was essential.


    ��I may not like it, but that doesn��t mean others won��t,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    He had even specially ordered a batch of cow print tights from the factory��the ones with cow prints.


    And true enough, Ye Zi looked quite striking in them.


    During the shoot, she even proactively suggested, ��Boss, should I pour some milk on myself?��


    ��You��re really dedicated,�� Cheng Zhu gave her a thumbs up.


    They kept shooting until five in the afternoon, by which time they had almost finished.


    Cheng Zhu looked at the photos in the camera and asked, ��Tired?��


    ��Tired,�� Ye Zi admitted candidly, but quickly added, ��Do we need to reshoot anything?��


    Cheng Zhu nodded.


    He was still somewhat dissatisfied with the black Spiderman bodysuit.


    Ye Zi immediately complied, digging through the pile of clothes and asked, ��I��m actually not too tired, it won��t take much longer. Which one, boss?��


    Cheng Zhu pointed to the Spiderman outfit.


    He knew well that even some professional QQ models weren��t as dedicated as Ye Zi.


    And what he knew even better was that Ye Zi��s dedication went beyond just professionalism.


    ��If you��re tired, it��s okay to take a break,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��No need, I��m really strong, and I have good stamina. After the shoot... I can even do overtime,�� she said with a double entendre.


    While Ye Zi was in the bathroom changing, Cheng Zhu sat on the sofa and smoked.


    Today, during the shoot, he suddenly realized something.


    ��I��ve thought before that QQ uniforms shouldn��t just be sold domestically; it��s about time to start looking at exports.��


    ��But there never seemed to be a right opportunity.��


    ��Now, upon reflection, this moment is probably the best opportunity!��


    Take the grey backless sweater as an example; this garment wasn��t just popular domestically, but also seemed to be well-received in Japan and Korea!


    After all, aside from blowing up on domestic platforms like Weibo, it also had high popularity on some international social media platforms.


    Strictly speaking, many overseas platforms are even better suited for posting these photos.


    This increased the demand for exports too.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu was clear that the main target market for this product was still Asia.


    But the black Spiderman bodysuit was different!


    In the Western markets, this product was bound to explode, perhaps even more than domestically!


    He knew, before his rebirth, how terrifyingly widespread TikTok��s user base was globally, dominating a high share of the short video market internationally as well.


    Random searches on TikTok��s international version would turn up countless videos of foreign girls wearing this product.


    Some were costume videos, others simply featured dancing in it.


    This showed its immense popularity abroad.


    Cheng Zhu mulled over the feasibility as he puffed on his cigarette.


    As he was lost in the smoke, Ye Zi, not wearing slippers, tip-toed over to him.


    He marveled at how perfect the black Spiderman outfit looked on her as she sat down beside him; the visual impact of her standing versus sitting was entirely different.


    After all, when you sit, your leg and buttock muscles naturally spread a bit to the sides.


    And because the outfit was so tight, it made these areas feel even more taut.


    If her legs were closed while sitting, you could clearly see three lines; one from the seam of the legs, the other two from where the legs met the hips.


    Damn, she really was born to wear this leather suit; it suited her so well!


    Even someone as tough as Cheng Zhu found it hard to remain completely undisturbed.


    He removed the cigarette from his mouth, flicked the ash, and couldn��t help but drift into memories.


    ��I remember the first time we shot together, you were sitting on the sofa with me, and I was about to light a cigarette, but you snatched it away,�� he chuckled.


    ��Do you remember what you said then?�� he raised an eyebrow at Ye Zi.


    Ye Zi pushed her butt up slightly and said, ��Yeah, I said, ��Brother, stop smoking, if you want to smoke, smoke my butt instead.''��


    Cheng Zhu raised his hand and slapped the Spider living in Silk Cave, resulting in a crisp, pleasant sound. He irritably said:


    ��You actually said, ��Brother, stop smoking; it��s bad for your health, if you want to smoke, smoke sister��s butt instead.''��


    After feeling the pain, Ye Zi��s eyes seemed to swim, and it appeared as though she could shed water from them. She lightly bit her lower lip and shrunk a bit.


    This small reward swept away the fatigue of today��s shoot.


    Outside the hotel, thunder rumbled intermittently at that moment.


    Boom! Boom!


    Dark clouds had gathered earlier, but it hadn��t rained.


    Now, after a few peals of thunder, it suddenly started pouring.


    Ye Zi shifted to a different sitting position, raising the other buttock that hadn��t been hit yet, and said, ��I was afraid if I called you ��brother,�� boss, you might feel displeased.��


    ��I hesitated just now; I actually wanted to call you... Ah!�� Before she could finish, her wish was granted, and she was smacked again.


    ��Don��t play these games; I��m not into that,�� Cheng Zhu said as he put out his cigarette in the ashtray, ��Get me a bottle of water.��


    Ye Zi immediately got up obediently and trotted to fetch the water, her retreating figure eliciting tsk tsk sounds.


    Cheng Zhu took a sip of mineral water and then set the bottle back on the coffee table.


    Ye Zi picked up the water bottle and said, ��I��m thirsty, too.��


    Cheng Zhu remained silent, just watching her.


    He had expected Ye Zi might play up a little flirtation, deliberately drinking from where he drank.


    But unexpectedly, she tipped her head back and drank, placing the bottle above without touching it, pouring it through the air.


    Perhaps noticing Cheng Zhu watching and coupled with having been smacked just now, she couldn��t hold back. Suddenly, her tongue peeked out, touching the mouth of the bottle slightly.


    ��Wow, pretty skilled,�� Cheng Zhu was always very open in front of Ye Zi.


    ��Not really,�� Ye Zi didn��t pretend not to understand, but as she set down the bottle, while screwing on the cap, she added softly, ��I haven��t had that before.��


    With that, she began to look up at Cheng Zhu voluntarily; first, their eyes met, drawing a thread, and then her gaze travelled downward, acting like a crotch-watcher.


    Boom! The hotel continued to endure the storm.


    The rain was too heavy; driving a car wasn��t easy; it affected visibility and increased the likelihood of accidents.


    Rainwater violently washed the room��s floor-to-ceiling windows, distorting everything beyond the water droplets.


    Cheng Zhu watched her and knew why she was behaving this way.


    If she took the initiative, there might be a story. If she didn��t, there definitely wouldn��t be.


    To be precise, he had almost lost track of how many times Ye Zi had taken the initiative.


    She knew Cheng Zhu wasn��t a good man, so she also let herself be free.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu... definitely wasn��t a good man, damn it!


    This scoundrel��s character had always been consistent, even without the risk of collapsing, because he was already a ruin.


    ��From a ��Persistent Visit�� perspective, you really can be considered my right-hand man,�� he said leisurely.


    Ye Zi��s eyes dimmed upon hearing this.


    She thought the statement was too formal, even more so than the flirty talk they usually had.


    This was like sealing the relationship, wasn��t it?


    ��Boss, I understand,�� Ye Zi bit her lip, her head bowed, her long hair spilling over to cover half her face.


    Cheng Zhu, looking at the pouring rain outside the window, somehow felt that her disheveled and defeated look was like that of a drenched dog.


    ��No, you don��t understand,�� his tone had barely fallen when Ye Zi lifted her head, slightly puzzled as she met his eyes, her mouth slightly agape.


    He looked at her, dressed in the Spiderman bodysuit, grinned, and said: ��Don��t you understand the relationship between a man and his right-hand man?��


    ��Like a partner, like a wife.


    He raised his right hand, gently pressed her cheeks, then slowly traced her lips with his thumb, and said in a deep voice:


    ��You haven��t done it, have you? I��ll teach you.��


    ...


    (ps: Second update, asking for monthly passes!)

 Chapter 153 - 153 133 Possessing Manly Virtues But Not

    ?Chapter 153: Chapter 133: Possessing Manly Virtues, But Not Abundant Chapter 153: Chapter 133: Possessing Manly Virtues, But Not Abundant After showering, Cheng Zhu wrapped himself in a bathrobe and walked out of the bathroom.


    ��Using your mouth doesn��t count.�� he thought to himself.


    ��Boss, do you want to rest for a while, or should we continue the reshoot now?�� Ye Zi asked, her voice softer than before.


    The main tasks weren��t even finished yet. Originally, the plan was to reshoot a few photos first, but they ended up taking a detour.


    Unexpectedly, Cheng Zhu waved his hand and said, ��No need to shoot anymore.��


    ��Ah?�� Ye Zi was slightly stunned.


    Cheng Zhu sat on the couch, gently patted the space next to him, and motioned for her to sit beside him.


    He lit another cigarette and said, ��I know you have many resources for girls, find someone willing to be a long-term model.��


    ��From now on, you will handle the camera work in the shop, I will teach you, and you won��t need to model yourself anymore.�� Cheng Zhu flicked ash into the ashtray and spoke indifferently.


    Ye Zi opened her mouth, intending to ask for the reasons, but quickly realized.


    That morning, Cheng Zhu had told Wang Anquan that he would find someone specially for the shooting tasks.


    He had already considered it, and Ye Zi was a good choice.


    Cheng Zhu��s time was precious, and shooting was a time-consuming and laborious task.


    You know, after the shooting, the photos still needed editing.


    Cheng Zhu didn��t want to invest too much energy in these tasks.


    It wasn��t work that only he could do.


    ��I��ll select some of the best pictures we took today after I get back, then you use these templates to shoot the models.��


    ��If you can��t find the right person on your end, you can look for professional QQ models.��


    Ye Zi listened and nodded slightly.


    ��Additionally, the seller��s show photos we took before, use my templates to reshoot them with someone else, and we will replace them all in the shop.�� Cheng Zhu continued to instruct.


    ��As for salary, I��ll transfer a sum of money to you each month based on the shop��s performance, don��t worry, it won��t be less.�� He spoke very directly.


    Ye Zi opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but quickly she reacted, nodded obediently, and smiled, ��Thank you, boss!��


    She initially wanted to say that it didn��t matter how much money it was.


    But she was well aware of her personal positioning.


    With her status, spending a man��s money made the man feel at ease, relieved, and fostered a more lasting relationship.


    This also clarified the nature of their relationship, indicating what she would provide and what she wouldn��t.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her, satisfied in his mind: ��Indeed, she��s sensible.��


    Ye Zi was also aware that it was precisely because she had always been sensible that their relationship had progressed further today.


    Occasionally, like today, she felt it was good enough.


    Previously, when she was working as a bartender in another bar, a male bartender there got involved with a married woman.


    Normally, meeting occasionally, the woman being caring was a bonus for some men, carrying a thrill that made life very enjoyable.


    But the problem was that the bartender got too involved. He wanted to chat with her, dine with her, and have more overlap in their lives.


    Of course, the outcome was not good.


    Ye Zi kept reminding herself:


    ��A brief companionship is a reward, but your greed and expectations are always the greatest punishment.��


    ...


    ...


    Now, it was already past five in the afternoon, and it was still pouring outside, uncertain when it would stop.


    The hotel offered room service, so he glanced at the menu and ordered some food.


    While waiting for dinner, he took out the camera and taught Ye Zi some photography techniques.


    She was quite perceptive.


    Or rather, she was genuinely skilled in these flirtatious arts.


    The doorbell rang at this moment, he looked at Ye Zi, still dressed in her black Spiderman bodysuit, shook his head, and got up to answer the door.


    Cheng Zhu had ordered a steak and shrimp for himself, while Ye Zi stuck to her usual habit of skipping dinner.


    He picked up his knife and fork, and while cutting the steak, he asked, ��As for the bar job, do you plan to continue or resign?��


    ��I actually wanted to resign a long while ago.�� Ye Zi��s eyelids drooped.


    If it hadn��t been for Cheng Zhu, she might have left Jiuyin already.


    The reason was simple: reduced income.


    She had a revenue-sharing contract with Shen Ming Lang��s bar, which meant that as a bartender, she had a base salary, plus a cut from the cocktails she mixed.


    Initially, Jiuyin was very successful, especially during the World Cup, and Ye Zi��s monthly income was quite substantial, way above that of the average office worker.


    But as the business worsened, with barely any customers, where could she earn her commissions?


    Cheng Zhu nodded slightly at her words.


    He had already given Shen Ming Lang some advice on running the bar, but Boss Shen insisted on adding his personal touch, incorporating a lot of his own ideas.


    Given the current business volume, there was no need for two bartenders.


    Even if Ye Zi didn��t resign, it was likely that Shen Ming Lang would let one go.


    The two sat across the table from each other, Ye Zi looking at Cheng Zhu eat his steak, and noticed the rain outside had lessened, subtly pursing her lips.


    ...


    ...


    By six-fifty in the evening, Ye Zi had changed into her bartender��s uniform.


    The floor was scattered with new products from ��Persistent Visit,�� and Cheng Zhu wanted to help clean up, but Ye Zi insisted on doing it herself.


    She was afraid of getting Cheng Zhu��s hands wet.


    ��Boss, I��ll ask a friend later if she��s willing to be a model.�� Ye Zi said, then asked, ��Do you want me to show you a photo of her?��


    ��I��ve traveled to Thailand with her, we have bikini photos together.�� Ye Zi winked.


    Cheng Zhu nodded, considering it a sort of audition for the new model.


    He looked at a photo and asked, ��Is her figure real or enhanced?��


    ��Enhanced.�� Ye Zi honestly replied, ��Is that a problem?��


    ��For just shooting for the seller��s show, it shouldn��t matter.�� Cheng Zhu waved it off and said, ��Then she must be quite in need of money, right?��


    ��Yeah.�� Ye Zi nodded.


    Many women who constantly modify themselves are often short of cash.


    Once they start on the path of plastic surgery, many tend to retouch here and there repeatedly, seemingly endlessly.


    And whether it��s cosmetic surgery or procedures, they often degrade over time, and then money is needed to fix them.


    ��Well, she looks quite suitable for this line of work, her face seems photogenic. Although her figure is fake, it��s not much worse than yours.�� Cheng Zhu slightly nodded, indicating she could try.


    ��If she doesn��t perform well, then go hire a professional QQ model.�� Cheng Zhu made the final decision.


    ��Alright.�� Ye Zi nodded in agreement.


    Cheng Zhu looked at her and suddenly chuckled, ��You should know, the salary I gave you before was actually lower than what professional QQ models make.��


    ��It��s fine, boss. Wasn��t it just the start-up phase of the shop back then? I considered it a small investment!�� Ye Zi responded.


    Cheng Zhu shook his head in amusement.


    You might not have succeeded in investing in the shop, but sooner or later, I will definitely invest in you.


    But since she felt she had made a gain, what else was there to say?


    The two left the hotel suite together, and Cheng Zhu had Ye Zi take a taxi first.


    It was still drizzling outside, and as Cheng Zhu stood at the hotel entrance, his phone received a call from an unknown number.


    ��Hello, Cheng Zhu, this is Zhao Xiaodong.��


    ��Oh, Zhao senior. You must have some good news for me, calling me like this?�� Cheng Zhu casually said.


    Zhao Xiaodong became increasingly certain that this junior was really confident his project would definitely be approved.


    ��Yeah, your game project has been approved by Director Li, congratulations, junior!�� Zhao Xiaodong said.


    Then, he added, ��If you have time tomorrow, come to the entrepreneurship base again, I��ll give you another form then.��


    ��This form is just to write some basic information, and then to sign for the use of the venue. Oh yes, the use of the venue is signed annually.��


    ��Besides that, it needs a teacher��s signature, to serve as the guide for your project. Junior, do you have someone in mind or should the entrepreneurship base arrange it?��


    Cheng Zhu already had his preferred choice in mind.


    ��Can a student counselor serve as the guide?�� Cheng Zhu asked.


    ��It��s possible, but personally, I think it might be better for the entrepreneurship base to arrange a teacher if it��s a student counselor.�� Zhao Xiaodong spoke frankly.


    He seemed intent on building a good relationship with Cheng Zhu, and he revealed, ��Director Li thinks highly of you; he��s assigned you a good venue, even with air conditioning! I believe he will arrange the most suitable teacher for your project.��


    Cheng Zhu felt a headache coming on.


    This was the last result he wanted.


    He didn��t want anyone critiquing his work; he knew exactly how to handle it.


    After brief further conversation with Zhao Xiaodong, he also added Zhao Xiaodong��s WeChat using his mobile number.


    Having done all this, Cheng Zhu hailed a taxi to head back to campus.


    Sitting in the back of the taxi, he pulled up his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and located Chen Jieyu.


    Thinking of it, his beautiful student counselor was elusive on normal days, a counselor who rarely forced issues and was quite straightforward about approving leaves.


    Some counselors, when you ask them for leave, it��s quite challenging, acting like corporate leaders, as if you��re depriving them of labor.


    And especially these younger counselors, they tend to be one of two extremes: either very accommodating or very difficult.


    Zhao Xiaodong knows nothing; instead of a bald male teacher critiquing him, he��d rather have a beauty like Chen Jieyu as a decorative mentor.


    Speaking of which, it was time to get to know her.


    Cheng Zhu began to send a message: ��Mr. Chen, I��ve applied for a project at the entrepreneurship base, could you sign as a guide teacher for me?��

 Chapter 154 - 154 134 Because the Counselor is Beautiful

    ?Chapter 154: Chapter 134 Because the Counselor is Beautiful Chapter 154: Chapter 134 Because the Counselor is Beautiful Cheng Zhu hadn��t immediately received a reply from Chen Jieyu, and he didn��t know if she was busy and hadn��t checked her phone or if she was just pondering the matter.


    By the time the taxi dropped him off at the entrance to Technology University, the rain had already stopped.


    It is said that each autumn rain brings cooler weather, and although he had just given two external presentations at the hotel and wasn��t completely exhausted, he did feel the chill of Hang City��s night air.


    It was not until he was almost at the dormitory building that Cheng Zhu received Chen Jieyu��s reply.


    ��Okay.�� Her response was very brief.


    That was exactly what he wanted.


    If she were to seriously ask him for project details and make multiple inquiries at this moment, he would find it troublesome.


    Cheng Zhu felt that Chen Jieyu was not stupid and should realize that he was just looking for her to lend her name to the project.


    Once the project started, she, as the guidance teacher, only needed to occasionally make an appearance to assert her presence.


    ��I��ll take you flying, counselor.�� Cheng Zhu put his phone back in his pocket.


    As he approached the dormitory building, Cheng Zhu recalled something.


    He didn��t immediately go upstairs but found a quiet place and made a call to the factory manager of QQ Factory in Guan Yun County��the middle-aged Ah Bin.


    ��Hey, Brother Bin.�� The call was soon answered.


    ��Mr. Cheng, what can I do for you?�� Chen Bin��s side was a bit noisy, as if he were in a club.


    You could hear the unpleasant singing and the voices of socializing models, creating quite a racket.


    But after a noisy ten seconds or so, it quieted down considerably, and it seemed Chen Bin had moved to the hallway to take the call.


    ��Brother Bin sure knows how to enjoy life,�� Cheng Zhu said laughingly.


    ��It��s purely socializing; they��re cracking down on fire safety these days.�� Chen Bin felt a bit embarrassed being teased by a university student.


    Cheng Zhu glanced at the time, ��You haven��t drunk much by now, have you?��


    ��We��ve just started, is there something you need? I can go back to the factory right now to handle it,�� said Chen Bin.


    In the heart of the middle-aged Ah Bin, Cheng Zhu��s priority was the highest.


    This was his little God of Wealth, after all.


    ��I just wanted to discuss something with you, which you can consider,�� said Cheng Zhu.


    ��Alright, go ahead, I��m listening.��


    ��Do you have any plans to expand the factory? I can invest in you, and you��ll still be the factory manager,�� Cheng Zhu stated bluntly.


    If he wanted to do QQ lingerie exportation, it meant doing wholesale, which definitely would require bulk production, not like retailing on Taobao.


    Therefore, he certainly needed his own factory.


    Chen Bin was a good partnership choice. After interacting with him for a while, Cheng Zhu was quite satisfied with him.


    A simple sentence made Chen Bin instantly sober up.


    This was a big deal!


    If they cooperated to set up a factory, it would mean he was bound to drive along with Cheng Zhu in the QQ market and join his war chariot.


    At this moment, he was quite tempted.


    But the key lay in... what kind of cooperation?


    At this thought, he, a middle-aged man experienced in society, actually felt a bit nervous.


    If the terms of cooperation Cheng Zhu offered were too harsh, what should he do?


    Cheng Zhu, hearing the noise pick up again on the phone as if the private room door had been thrown open, then heard Chen Bin��s impatient voice: ��Go back in! Don��t bother me!��


    It seemed that the people inside had noticed Chen Bin��s disappearance and sent his socializing companion to find him.


    ��Mr. Cheng, should I go to my car?�� Chen Bin suggested.


    ��No need, no need, fire safety is important, you socialize well; I will send you some specific details on WeChat in a bit,�� Cheng Zhu said.


    ��How about I come to Hang City tomorrow?�� Chen Bin felt it might be better to make the trip himself.


    ��Alright then, I��ll send it to you tonight, you take a look first. After you think it over, then come to Hang City,�� Cheng Zhu controlled the pace.


    He would surely need to sign quite detailed contracts with both parties investing in Chen Bin��s factory.


    After all, Chen Bin was only responsible for the factory part, but Cheng Zhu was also responsible for external sales.


    He would become a member of the factory, but whether it was the Taobao store or later exports, none of it had anything to do with Chen Bin.


    Not to mention, if Cheng Zhu became a shareholder of the factory, what kind of price would he himself get from the factory for his own products?


    Moreover, Chen Bin could feel that Cheng Zhu was a person who required a high degree of decision-making power.


    Currently, Chen Bin was the one calling the shots at the factory.


    But if he really cooperated with Cheng Zhu, he reckoned it wouldn��t be the same story.


    After hanging up, Cheng Zhu went upstairs.


    Back in room 309, he chatted and joked with his three silly roommates for five minutes before he picked up his phone and started calculating the cash he had on hand.


    ��September��s ��Persistent Visit�� revenue was very high, but I can��t take it all out. Plus, there��s a sum of money still frozen on the platform, not yet available to withdraw.��


    ����Youu Come to Play�� has also made quite a bit of money recently, with daily sales exceeding ten thousand.��


    This means, it would be easy peasy for him now to take out a few hundred thousand.


    But for setting up a factory, now that it��s 2014, a few hundred thousand really isn��t much.


    But no worries, all this can be discussed. He could transfer money in batches, sending a sum every month.


    Personally, he planned to invest 1.5 to 2 million yuan in Guan Yun County.


    If not buying a factory, this amount of money is not considered small.


    Of course, Cheng Zhu had no intention of buying a factory in Guan Yun County at all.


    He was a Reborn who, relying on his prophetic powers, had his own plan in mind.


    After sending the WeChat message to Chen Bin, advising him to consider carefully, Cheng Zhu suddenly remembered: tomorrow was Friday.


    He was going to have dinner at his grandfather��s house, then take Little Youzi to her ��castle�� �C ��Youu Come to Play��.


    After all, since the store opened, it��s been on a countdown to transfer ownership.


    Therefore, shouldn��t he take Little Youzi there a few more times during this period?


    Cheng Zhu wasn��t worried that Princess Little Youzi would be heartbroken after the ��Youu Come to Play�� was transferred.


    Children, ah, after a few visits, they quickly lose their novelty.


    Besides, without this castle, he would build another one for his little sister.


    Don��t forget, he also had other promises to Little Youzi.


    Just at that moment, Lin Lu sent Cheng Zhu a WeChat message with a simple content: ��What are you doing?��


    That��s just the kind of person she is. If she wants to chat with you, then she��ll just reach out, direct and enthusiastic.


    Cheng Zhu shamelessly interpreted those four words in his heart as: ��I��m thinking of you.��


    He typed a reply: ��Just been doing some accounting. By the way, I��m taking Little You to the store tomorrow night to play. You gonna join us?��


    Little Youzi really likes Sister Lu, a lot. She��s mentioned several times before, asking when she can go play with Sister Lu again.


    ��Sure sure!�� Lin Lu immediately agreed, sounding very excited.


    ...


    ...


    The next day, Cheng Zhu had an early class. After class, he rode his electric scooter to Technology University��s entrepreneurship base.


    Before leaving, he had already contacted Zhao Xiaodong, who told him he would wait for him in the office.


    ��Cheng Zhu, junior.�� The person greeted him and stood up with a form as soon as he entered.


    Cheng Zhu found a pen in the office and then, right in front of Zhao Xiaodong, carelessly filled in what he could on the form.


    Zhao Xiaodong watched, his mouth twitching slightly, as he could tell how heartlessly Cheng Zhu filled it out.


    Although the form was just a formality, Cheng Zhu��s casualness was a bit too much!


    Standing by, he curiously asked, ��Junior, you��re really planning to make a game similar to ��Match Three��?��


    ��Yeah.�� Cheng Zhu nodded and continued scribbling on the form.


    Watching him, Zhao Xiaodong didn��t know what Cheng Zhu was thinking.


    It didn��t seem promising at all!


    After completing the form, Cheng Zhu handed it to Zhao Xiaodong for a look: ��And then I just need to get my counselor��s signature, right?��


    ��Yes, after you sign, bring the form here to me, I��ll submit it for you, and once it gets stamped, it��s all set,�� Zhao Xiaodong nodded.


    He looked at Cheng Zhu, asking, ��Junior, why are you so insistent on having your counselor as your guidance teacher?��


    Zhao Xiaodong still felt it was a pity; he had never seen Director Li take such an interest in a freshman before.


    ��Because she��s pretty,�� Cheng Zhu said with a grin, half-joking.


    ��Eh?�� Zhao Xiaodong couldn��t imagine that was the reason.


    ��Just wait, I��ll contact my counselor,�� said Cheng Zhu as he patted him on the shoulder and started to send a WeChat message to Chen Jieyu.


    It turned out Chen Jieyu was nearby, and she said there was no need for Cheng Zhu to find her as she would come over herself.


    Around five minutes later, a graceful figure walked into the office.


    The beautiful counselor was still her usual self, favoring an OL style, with a particular fondness for shirts and skirts, paired with a pair of low-heeled shoes.


    This outfit, added to her gold-rimmed glasses and a slightly serious demeanor, made Cheng Zhu suddenly feel as though she resembled a capable CEO��s secretary.


    Well, competent in terms of ability, not the other meaning.


    Zhao Xiaodong, looking at the newcomer, couldn��t help but feel utterly astounded!


    Damn, why is my counselor a chubby girl!?


    At first, he thought Cheng Zhu was joking, but now that he saw her in person, he suddenly felt choosing her for her looks wasn��t really a problem!


    Her beauty outshone even the class belle by a large margin!


    The girls in his class would probably feel inferior, crushed by the counselor.


    Oh, right! He��s a computer science major, so no problem there.


    ��Mr. Chen.�� Cheng Zhu greeted simply, and Chen Jieyu nodded back at him.


    Cheng Zhu handed over the form and said, ��Just sign here.��


    Chen Jieyu took the pen, quickly signing her name.


    Her handwriting was pretty good, unlike Cheng Zhu��s. He firmly believed the saying ��handwriting reflects the person�� was highly inaccurate!


    Moreover, he noticed many guys with good-looking hands always seemed to have ugly handwriting, for some reason.


    ��Is that all good?�� asked Chen Jieyu, who was standing and bending over to sign.


    ��Yeah, yeah, that��s all good,�� Zhao Xiaodong chimed in.


    Once everything was sorted, Cheng Zhu and the counselor left the entrepreneurship base together.


    ��Mr. Chen, thanks for last time,�� Cheng Zhu referred to her notifying him about Dean Zhang and Director Li coming to the store.


    ��No need to thank me, it��s what I should do,�� Chen Jieyu, facing the autumn breeze, flicked her tousled hair.


    She turned to Cheng Zhu, her eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses meeting his gaze. She said in the usual teacher-to-student tone, ��It��s the first time I��ve signed as a startup guidance teacher.��


    ��Don��t mention thanks; I hope you do well in this project.��


    The freshman with naturally slightly upturned eyebrows smiled at her and casually said,


    ��What counts as doing well? How about you set a target for me, Mr. Chen?��


    ...


    (PS: This is the second update, seeking monthly tickets.)

 Chapter 155 - 155 135 Giving the Academy a Financial Shock

    ?Chapter 155: Chapter 135: Giving the Academy a Financial Shock Chapter 155: Chapter 135: Giving the Academy a Financial Shock Outside the entrepreneurship base��s main gate, Chen Jieyu hadn��t expected Cheng Zhu to say something like that.


    ��Set a target for you?�� She blinked in slight astonishment.


    Counselors on the university campus occupy a grass-roots position.


    If one looks to climb the ladder in the future, there are generally just a few paths to take, like switching to administration or the like.


    A woman like Chen Jieyu clearly fit the type who intended to lead a good life.


    She wasn��t the sort to purely slack off at work.


    Since her name was associated with Cheng Zhu��s project, both publicly and privately, she wanted him to do better.


    But how could that be easy?


    ��Cheng Zhu, I can tell you clearly, not a single student from the School of Informatics who��s ventured into game startup these past two years has done well.��


    They all perished, not one spared.


    You could say their losses were of historic proportions.


    But then again, the male students in the Technology University��s School of Informatics were stubborn!


    One after another, they still pressed on wanting to make games!


    Our computing boys are all about the passion!


    In truth, that��s kind of nice. After all, once these computer geeks graduate and start working, their passion will probably cool down quickly.


    Listening to the counselor��s remarks, Cheng Zhu said indifferently, ��They are them, I am me.��


    Their incompetence has nothing to do with me.


    Although Chen Jieyu had limited interactions with this student, she had already grown accustomed to his temperament and wasn��t the least bit surprised by his statement.


    In the end, she simply said, ��Then I hope the revenue of this game of yours won��t be any worse than that of your doll machine shop.��


    ��Setting the bar that low?�� Cheng Zhu looked at her, unsure whether he was joking or serious, ��That��s a bit too unchallenging.��


    When I make my move, don��t I have to administer a bit of financial shock to the entire School of Informatics?


    Hearing Cheng Zhu��s words, Chen Jieyu only verbally responded, ��Just focus on it, don��t let down the support Director Li has given you. I just checked, and the space he approved for you is the best.��


    But deep down, she was quite curious about the gaming project due to Cheng Zhu��s unabashed confidence in his speech.


    His words sounded like he was joking around, but for some reason, she could feel his confidence and ambition.


    Everyone knew that ��Youu Come to Play�� was a blockbuster hit that made a fortune.


    If it could indeed be much stronger than ��Youu Come to Play,�� that would be a face-saver for the otherwise hopeless School of Informatics.


    ��I��ll have to take a closer look at how he handles it,�� Chen Jieyu thought to herself.


    After chatting for a few more minutes, they went their separate ways.


    Chen Jieyu had quite a few annoying things on her mind recently, so she walked alone toward the school��s artificial lake, intending to clear her mind with a walk.


    Watching the counselor��s graceful figure walk away, Cheng Zhu just felt that her pear-shaped body was simply tailor-made for dresses.


    At that moment, he took out his phone to check the time, then proactively sent a WeChat message to Ye Zi.


    ��How did our shop��s new model perform?�� he asked.


    Ye Zi had probably been shooting in the hotel for over an hour by now.


    A simple ��our shop�� was enough to fill Ye Zi with immense joy.


    She quickly replied on WeChat, ��I think it��s okay, but I��m not sure if it meets the boss��s standards.��


    ��Show me,�� Cheng Zhu requested.


    ��Wait a second, boss, I��ll send it to you from my computer.��


    Cheng Zhu tucked his phone back into his pocket, hopped on his electric scooter, and headed to his dormitory.


    After reaching his dorm, the three sworn brothers weren��t there, probably off to the internet cafe? for a session.


    The three were inseparable, while Cheng Zhu was a busy man and interacted with them in his spare moments.


    He sat down on the chair and casually took out his phone to view the pictures Ye Zi had sent.


    ��The shots are actually not bad, but this person is somewhat lacking compared to Ye Zi,�� Cheng Zhu appraised.


    Her shape was indeed pretty, but with the breast enhancement techniques of the past few years, the tactile sensation was definitely way off from Ye Zi��s.


    But then again, in the end, product sellers on QQ will photoshop folks until they look like fake people created by AI, utterly unlike real humans; this makes it easier to pass censorship and protect the models�� privacy, allowing them to be more liberal during shoots.


    Therefore, this model also somewhat met most of Cheng Zhu��s requirements.


    She was of the category that was good enough for work but useless in life.


    ��Everything is okay, just the look in her eyes lacks something,�� Cheng Zhu messaged Ye Zi.


    Ye Zi was one of those legendary tease sisters, whose gaze was seductive; when she looked at you, her eyes swirled in a way that seemed to create an invisible thread in the air.


    This woman��s gaze just lacked something.


    But Cheng Zhu could understand; after all, that enticing look in Ye Zi��s eyes resulted from the fact that the photographer was him, and she was looking at him.


    With different subjects, the effect could likely be very different.


    ��Boss, do we need to reshoot these photos?�� Ye Zi asked eagerly.


    That also led Cheng Zhu to guess why she had recommended her friend as the model.


    She felt she wasn��t proficient enough yet, and if they had to reshoot with a professional QQ model, it would incur additional expenses for the company.


    But with a friend, it would likely be smoother, and there would likely be more cooperation.


    ��No need to reshoot, they can be used. Let��s leave it at that for now, continue shooting, I��ve got things to do,�� Cheng Zhu terminated the chat.


    In the hotel suite, Ye Zi put down her phone.


    The room was the same one where Cheng Zhu had taken pictures of her the day before. They didn��t check out, just extended the stay.


    Xixi, the new player in the QQ modeling world, was wearing that cow-print outfit.


    Xixi turned to Ye Zi and asked, ��What did your boss say?��


    ��He said it��s fine, you just need to work a bit on your gaze,�� Ye Zi replied.


    ��Ah? Should I try a different contact lens then?�� Xixi inquired.


    ��No need, let��s just keep shooting,�� Ye Zi shook her head.


    The two friends would inevitably chat during the shoot.


    ��Ye Zi, why do you keep getting distracted by that sofa? Oh, and that table in front of the floor-to-ceiling window,�� Xixi wondered with curiosity, ��Are you thinking about how to frame the shot?��


    ��Ah? No, not at all,�� Ye Zi quickly waved her hands.


    Hearing Xixi��s words, Ye Zi glanced at the sofa and the table by the floor-to-ceiling window and, for some reason, unconsciously swallowed, making a gulping gesture.


    After shooting another set of products, they huddled over the camera and felt this set was better than the last.


    ��Send this set to your boss to check out,�� Xixi suggested, quite confident, and cheekily added, ��With such emotion in the shots, it��s bound to get a reaction from him, right?��


    Ye Zi shook her head, saying, ��We��re on a tight schedule; let��s keep shooting.��


    She also didn��t think Xixi could charm Cheng Zhu.


    She refrained from initiating further conversation because Cheng Zhu had said he��d be busy, and she didn��t want to interrupt him.


    In the afternoon, after attending a class, Cheng Zhu made a pass by ��Youu Come to Play.��


    The shop��s business was booming as usual, and clearly, there were several customers who didn��t look like college students��probably internet celebrities.


    Luxury cars were starting to accumulate at the shop��s entrance.


    Many rich kids, with nothing better to do, would drive their fancy cars to places where girls gathered.


    Many young people were like that, liking to smoke and chat next to their cars, frequently fetching something from within their vehicles, crazily flaunting their presence.


    Zhejiang Province had its fair share of lesser rich second generations.


    Many of them at this age would take the subtly flashy route, love to show off, yet shy away from making the first move, passively waiting for others to hit on them.


    Cheng Zhu glanced toward the dance machine area and saw a girl dancing, with another one filming beside her.


    The angle of shooting was identical to the one he used for Zhang Qiqi��s video.


    The pseudo-passersby angle he used for Zhang Qiqi��s dance last time was really popular online, overshadowing the selfie video of the internet celebrity named Liu Mihoo.


    This had left Zhang Qiqi in a state of excitement recently, even thanking Cheng Zhu on WeChat and offering to treat him to a meal.


    She discovered Cheng Zhu had a magical aura about him.


    He could make a simple kind of desire-themed check-in photo for her, and the feedback was great.


    The dance machine video he shot also enjoyed higher popularity than regular dance videos.


    It was as if he could outperform other��s carefully operated campaigns with just a casual effort!


    Zhang Qiqi placed great value on her Weibo account, not just for satisfying her vanity but as her career and her direction for the future.


    Obviously, Cheng Zhu could add wings to her endeavors!


    Before, the boss of Hang City��s top internet celebrity company, Ancient Mountain Culture, had chatted with Zhang Qiqi about the possibility of signing her.


    He had been monitoring Zhang Qiqi��s Weibo and, after seeing the set of check-in photos and the well-received dance machine video, he immediately sought her out for a chat.


    His first thought was, ��Did Zhang Qiqi sign with some powerhouse internet celebrity company?��


    Her recent content had transformed drastically, leagues apart from her previous work!


    The traffic she gained in this period had undoubtedly multiplied!


    As the boss of an internet celebrity company, his instincts were much sharper than Zhang Qiqi��s.


    This kind of pseudo-casual filming perspective for dance had massive potential for traffic pulling!


    You could let other accounts post such videos to make them look like they were indeed shot by passersby, then redirect traffic back to your own account.


    ��Why didn��t we think of using such passerby angles for pulling traffic before?�� he mused, starting to extrapolate the idea.


    ��For example, we could do distant shots, have a girl dance on an overpass while we film from a high-rise across the street, pretending we accidentally caught another celebrity recording a dance.��


    ��Similar tactics could definitely pull traffic!��


    He even believed this kind of passerby perspective might offer even more interesting content than regular dance videos!


    But eventually, he learned from Zhang Qiqi��s response that she hadn��t signed with any company.


    ��Mr. Zhu, as you know, I don��t plan to sign with any company before graduation,�� Zhang Qiqi maintained her usual stance.


    She herself didn��t instantly grasp why Mr. Zhu thought she had signed with another company.


    But Zhang Qiqi was smart; she soon realized the reason.


    ��Is it because my recent Weibo content��s popularity has soared, and he thinks there must be someone guiding me from behind?��


    ��But really, it��s all just Cheng Zhu playing around.��


    The last time she brought the dance internet celebrity Liu Mihoo to the shop for a check-in, she had just informed Cheng Zhu beforehand.


    Once they began dancing, Cheng Zhu casually grabbed his phone and started filming.


    One time might be lucky, but what about twice?


    She couldn��t help but remember what Cheng Zhu said in the shop to Liu Mihoo.


    ��Didn��t he claim that day that the video he shot would surely trounce hers?��


    Zhang Qiqi felt a bit dazed.


    From this angle, Cheng Zhu must have been confident before filming that he could achieve good results. So, he really was adept at internet traffic management?


    Initially, her attention to Cheng Zhu was purely because she disliked the lady Shen Qingning.


    But now she suddenly realized that this guy might even be a big tree worth clinging to for her own career!


    Yet, her invitation to dine with him was ruthlessly rejected by Cheng Zhu.


    In his mind, many bad girls think like this: You want to invite me for a meal? Then show me your sincerity first.


    So, he planned to play it that way with her.


    Hilarious, thinking an invite to eat is enough?


    Show me your sincerity first.

 Chapter 156 - 156 136 Sending You to Like Him

    ?Chapter 156: Chapter 136: Sending You to Like Him Chapter 156: Chapter 136: Sending You to Like Him At four o��clock in the afternoon, Cheng Zhu left Youu Come to Play and then went to make some purchases.


    He had a business that his family knew about, which naturally gave him enough reason and confidence to spend money on them.


    Unlike when he was doing the QQ lingerie business, he had to be discreet about his wealth to prevent them from digging too deep.


    When he arrived at his grandfather��s house for dinner, Cheng Zhu even suggested that their community��s fresh supermarket could become a franchise brand, opening a few more stores in Hang City, and he could provide financial support to his parents.


    But Xu Yun didn��t agree right away, only telling him to focus on his studies and take good care of his claw machine store, and not to worry about the family business.


    That��s normal, even if the child is capable, parents need time to adapt and change their mindset.


    Using their son��s money for business ventures?


    She just couldn��t get her head around that just yet.


    Many parents have their own ��affectations�� and ��coyness��.


    Moreover, Xu Yun didn��t actually have a clear understanding of her son��s financial situation. After all, his claw machine store wasn��t making as much money as Persistent Visit yet.


    With this thought in mind, Cheng Zhu remembered that Ye Zi should have finished shooting the seller��s show for the QQ model named Xixi, right?


    But since he was now at his grandfather��s house, it wasn��t very convenient to review the photos.


    After dinner, Cheng Zhu planned to take Little Youzi to her castle.


    Little Youzi was quite excited about seeing her favorite Sister Lu soon.


    Cheng Zhu knew that Lin Lu and Shen Qingning, although they were living together off-campus, usually went home on weekends.


    Therefore, Lin Lu was currently having dinner at home instead of staying with Qingning.


    Isn��t that great?


    Moreover, today wasn��t really about him asking Lin Lu out; he was just helping his sister arrange a meet-up with Lin Lu.


    ��I��ll ask your Sister Lu if she��s finished eating,�� Cheng Zhu said to Little You, sitting on the sofa.


    Even though Little You could hardly recognize many characters, she still leaned in to watch Cheng Zhu type.


    ��Have you finished eating?�� he asked.


    ��Not yet, I can go out in twenty minutes!�� Lin Lu replied.


    In fact, she had finished eating, but she needed a little time to dress up and make herself pretty.


    ��Mmm, I need to look beautiful because I haven��t seen Little You in a long time!�� Lin Lu thought to herself.


    She had already applied her full makeup and was in her walk-in closet choosing an outfit.


    After opening the wardrobe, she picked out a white blouse with puff sleeves.


    This type of blouse is looser at the sleeves and the neckline is a bit lower, just revealing a hint of the collarbone.


    Visually speaking, it��s a style that tends to be slimming.


    After selecting her top, she was going to pair it with a short skirt.


    But soon, Lin Lu thought, ��When playing claw games, I might need to lean forward, and my bum will stick out.��


    ��Sometimes, I might also need to squat down to talk to Little You.��


    ��No, no, a skirt is too inconvenient!��


    ��Let��s go with jeans! If the top part is a puff-sleeve blouse that��s loose, then the jeans should be slim-fit ones,�� Lin Lu had her own matching ideas.


    After changing, she jumped in front of the mirror and added her own sound effects: ��Dang dang! Pretty girl makes a dazzling entrance!��


    ��Perfect, beautiful, and cute.�� After admiring herself for a while, she felt she was missing a necklace.


    After putting on a small Q necklace from Hermes, she felt she was about ready.


    Just then, Lin Lu received a WeChat message from Shen Qingning.


    ��Do you want to go for a SPA later?�� she asked.


    Lin Lu was quite straightforward. Last time, because it was her first date alone with the opposite sex, she felt a bit shy, so she kept it from Qingning. But this time, there was no secrecy at all.


    ��I can��t tonight, Little You has invited me to play claw games,�� Lin Lu typed.


    Then she saw the chat indicate ��Typing...�� and then it stopped.


    About a minute later, she received Shen Qingning��s reply: ��Okay, then I��ll go by myself.��


    ��Don��t go, come play claw games with us,�� Lin Lu typed.


    ��No thanks, I don��t like playing claw games,�� she replied.


    In a high-end villa community in Hang City, Shen Qingning put down her phone slowly after sending the message.


    In this situation, with her personality, she would definitely decline Lin Lu��s invitation.


    ��She probably is more likable to kids,�� Shen Qingning thought.


    Lin Lu was lively and energetic, with a voice that could imitate various cartoon characters, making it strange if children didn��t like her.


    Not like her, many younger brothers and sisters at home were quite scared of her.


    Thinking of this, she lifted her finger and gently tapped the Pikachu keychain on her car keys.


    In the end, she just silently picked it up and drove herself to the SPA.


    ...


    ...


    Outside Youu Come to Play, Cheng Zhu and Little Youzi arrived earlier than Lin Lu.


    At night, the claw machine store��s entrance was even busier than during the day.


    As the business of the store flourished, some street vendors occasionally appeared nearby.


    They weren��t usually active in this area, but seeing the popularity here, some would change their location and specifically come here to set up their stands.


    ��Wow! Brother! There��s a bunny!�� Cheng Youu pointed at a vendor selling rabbits.


    Cheng Zhu: ��...��


    He knew indeed that some college girls would buy them to keep in their dorms.


    Those things looked cute, but their poop indeed stunk!


    Little Youu squatted in front of the rabbits and even gently poked one of them.


    As it moved, she immediately withdrew her little hand, holding both hands at her chest.

 Chapter 157 - 157 136 Sending You to Like Him_2

    ?Chapter 157: Chapter 136: Sending You to Like Him_2 Chapter 157: Chapter 136: Sending You to Like Him_2 ��Handsome guy, buy one for your little sister.�� The street vendor began his pitch.


    Cheng Zhu immediately refused, ��No need, I can��t keep anything alive.��


    No sooner had his words fallen than a slightly panicked voice drifted over from Little Youzi, ��Then what about me...��


    Tickled by her, Cheng Zhu couldn��t help but give her a light noogie, laughing, ��What are you afraid of, you��re raised by Mom and Dad, not by me.��


    Hearing this, Little Youzi squatted in front of the rabbits and even let out a long sigh of relief.


    ��Tch, such a little scaredy-cat; I feared nothing as a kid,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    He didn��t mind Little Youzi squatting there and playing with the rabbits for a while because he knew the little girl wouldn��t pester him to buy one.


    Both siblings understood that even if they brought one home, it would be pointless, as it would just end up being a delicious dish on the table of Yunlai Restaurant!


    At that moment, Cheng Zhu suddenly heard two men chatting nearby, ��Damn! There��s a beauty!��


    ��Top-notch ah! Even prettier than the beauties in the store!��


    ��She��s walking this way, coming this way!��


    Cheng Zhu didn��t even need to look up to guess who had arrived.


    Sure enough, it wasn��t long before he heard a familiar voice.


    ��Little Youzi! Hello! Hello there!�� Lin Lu wasn��t even close yet when she cheerfully greeted Cheng Youu.


    ��Brother, Sister Lu is here!�� Little Youzi stood up from her squat, clearly more interested in Lin Lu than in the little white rabbits.


    ��Did you miss me?�� the voice actress bent down, resting her hands on her knees, and asked the little girl with her head lowered.


    Cheng Zhu watched from the side, and as she bent over, the view of a certain area started to turn more magnificent.


    This bubble-sleeve dress had a tight collar, so it didn��t reveal the snowy white below, but the style was quite form-fitting and stretched tight, indeed nothing short of terrifying!


    ��I missed you this much!�� Little Youzi raised both hands, her palms indicating a wide distance.


    Lin Lu also joined in the childish game and showed an even larger distance with her hands, ��Oh, then I missed you this much!��


    ��What about me?�� Cheng Zhu suddenly interjected.


    ��Go away!�� Lin Lu dismissed him and walked into the store with Cheng Youu��s hand in hers.


    Once inside, Cheng Youu proudly said, ��Sister Lu, welcome to my castle!��


    ��Oh! Is this your castle?�� Lin Lu smiled and rubbed her little head, playing along, ��So are you inviting me to play?��


    ��Sure!�� the little tyke agreed heartily.


    She was wearing a pair of overalls today, looking quite adorable. She reached into her pocket and pulled out Cheng Zhu��s unlimited Game Coin BOSS card.


    ��Sister Lu, this card is really powerful!�� she bragged a little.


    Little did she know that Sister Lu had used this card before.


    Oh, and Sister Ningning had used it too.


    There might be other sisters who��ll use it in the future.


    Truly a card of infamy!


    After entering the store, Cheng Zhu hung around them, watching them play the claw machines.


    With more male customers coming to the store to check out the girls, it saved Lin Lu from being bothered by any clueless gawkers.


    After forty minutes of the claw machine, Little You was satisfied.


    ��Then how about Sister takes you to buy bubble tea, okay?�� Lin Lu suggested.


    The savvy Cheng Youu had actually been eyeing the fried chicken restaurant next door for a while. She looked up and asked, ��Sister Lu, what do they sell in that store over there?��


    ��Oh, next door? That��s a fried chicken restaurant. Do you want some?�� she asked.


    ��Can I?�� the little scamp didn��t answer whether she wanted some but instead questioningly turned to Lin Lu and Cheng Zhu.


    I��m just a little kid; my own wishes don��t count, it��s still up to you adults.jpg.


    ��Go ahead, just order a little,�� Cheng Zhu instructed.


    Then, he let them go next door to order while he went to the cashier to check the accounts.


    Sitting in front of the cashier, he did some quick calculations.


    ��It seems... we��ve broken even already.�� And it hasn��t even been a month yet.


    No helping it, who could��ve known this store would become so famous in Hang City, now a trending hotspot.


    The number of guys coming to check out the girls at the store was skyrocketing.


    Not to mention, you really see all sorts of life in this kind of store that��s suitable for young couples to date.


    In the afternoons, you often see guys queuing up in the blazing sun at the entrance, buying coins, while the girls sit in their cars or nearby bubble tea shops playing with their phones, Waiting.


    He had seen girls complain about their boyfriends not recharging their membership cards; they wanted to hold the pretty cards and take photos in the store, mimicking influencer check-ins.


    Of course, he had also seen girls hand over the dolls they had painstakingly caught to their boyfriends, saying it was to keep an eye on them while they study.


    The most incredible thing was, he even encountered girls coming with their boyfriends and then running over to him to add him on WeChat when their boyfriends were away.


    ��Running this kind of store is actually quite interesting,�� Cheng Zhu thought to himself.


    ...


    ...


    On the other side, inside the fried chicken restaurant.


    Lin Lu had already ordered a small, non-spicy portion of fried chicken for Little You.


    After the duo chose a table and sat down, the little one looked around to make sure Cheng Zhu wasn��t there and then whispered to her Sister Lu,


    ��Sister Lu, did my brother ever tell you who he likes?��


    Lin Lu��s deer-like eyes widened, she leaned forward slightly, fists clenched, and earnestly stared at her, ��Do you know?��


    ��I don��t know!�� Little Youzi was confused, wasn��t I just asking you, Sister?


    The voice actress then realized she had misunderstood.


    It was mainly because the way Cheng Youu just spoke sounded so much like she wanted to share a secret, making Lin Lu think that maybe Cheng Zhu had told his little sister something in private!


    She looked at the little girl, ��I don��t know either, but why do you ask?��


    ��Because one day I heard Mom and Dad talking, and Daddy said that a person like my brother would definitely date in school!��


    Lin Lu��s heart skipped a beat.


    They say parents know their children best, so it seemed Cheng Zhu most certainly had a restless heart!


    Little You continued sharing, ��I asked Daddy what dating meant, and he said it��s when my brother likes someone, and that person likes him back, then they��d be together, and that��s called dating.��


    ��So I asked Daddy, does that mean I��m dating my brother?��


    ��Daddy said no, it can��t be someone from the family.��


    Lin Lu couldn��t help but laugh at the child��s innocent remarks.


    However, Little Youzi��s next question was, ��Sister Lu, does anyone like my brother?��


    ��Ah? This... uh... this...��


    For some reason, Lin Lu looked down slightly, her legs stretched out under the table, the tips of her feet lifting, occasionally touching each other inwardly and then separating again, followed by another collision.


    Her thighs clamped tightly over her palms, her body leaning forward slightly, unable to give an answer for a long time.


    But then, what does a preschooler know about an adult��s hesitation?


    The frank little girl said, ��Sister Lu, I like playing with you the most. Could you go like my brother?��


    ...


    (ps: Second update, almost 4000 words, seeking monthly tickets.)