Chapter 44: A Misunderstanding

"Hey! Shen Yan, did you go out to set up a stall and earn money earlier?"

"I did not!"

"It wasn't you? Could it be your twin brother?"

"What are you talking about? Where would I get a twin brother?"

"There's someone on the forum selling rice noodles who looks exactly like you."

Five minutes later, Yu Youwei hung up the phone with a sudden realization; her moth-eyebrows smoothed out like distant mountains holding dark ink, and her eyes were like the rippling waves of an autumn stream—she was truly movingly beautiful.

Shen Yan's uncle did indeed run a noodle shop, so it was normal for him to have learned such culinary skills.

This guy is really not a good friend; after mastering it, he didn't even think to make a bowl for me to taste.

Seeing Yu Youwei remain silent, Wu Yueer couldn't help but ask, "What's the word? Does it sound like Shen Yan is really out there setting up a stall?"

Yu Youwei shook her head, "It is Shen Yan in the video, no doubt, but he isn't the stall owner. He just suddenly wanted to eat rice noodles, so he borrowed the stall for a moment."

Once this was said, everyone understood.

I didn't realize Shen Yan was so good at cooking; he can even do fancy tricks while stir-frying rice noodles.

Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Yuan Mingqing walked out with her wet hair draped over her shoulders, wearing an orange nightgown; the attention of the girls shifted instantly.

"Hey! Mingqing, did you go out with Tang Song just now?"

"How was it? How was it?"

"Confession brings leniency, resistance brings severity; what is the relationship between you two now?"

"Did you kiss?"

Yuan Mingqing, having just finished her shower, felt her already flushed cheeks turn even redder, and she stammered, "No such thing..."

Building 9, Dorm 115.

Looking at the rapidly trending post on the forum, Shen Yan was completely bewildered; no, are these people too idle? Is there any need to be so dramatic about stir-frying rice noodles?

"Wow! Rice Noodle Brother is so amazing, going out to set up a stall and earn money before military training is even over."

"Heavens! It's enough that he's handsome, but his cooking is also so good; I really want to marry him."

"Begging to ask, where can one find a boyfriend like this?"

"Who knows which class Rice Noodle Brother is in?"

"Handsome junior, the seniors love you."

There were countless comments like this under the post; of course, this world is never short of keyboard warriors, and a few dark-hearted guys were there mocking him, "Just a poor kid, destined to struggle and linger at the bottom of society," "Pretty boy."

It was fortunate that short-video apps hadn't been released yet, otherwise, with such high popularity, it would have definitely hit the trending list.

Switching to the QQ interface, Hao Anqi sent a message at the right time.

"Shuai Yan, that stir-fried rice noodle video seems to have spread; should I delete it?"

Shen Yan: "Do as you please; it's already spread, it makes no difference whether you delete it or not."

Hao Anqi: "You aren't angry, are you? (pitiful)"

"Of course not. Sleep early; staying up late is bad for your phone." Recalling some ways to tease girlfriends from later generations, Shen Yan suddenly felt mischievous.

"You too! Goodnight!"

"??? Bad for my phone?"

On the other end, Hao Anqi widened her fox-like eyes, thinking he must have made a typo.

Shen Yan continued to tease: "Yeah, batteries have a lifespan."

"Lifespan your big head! You did that on purpose to annoy me, didn't you?"

"Haha! Just a joke."

Hao Anqi hummed twice, then couldn't help but burst into a giggle, her eyebrows curving like crescent moons; no, I have to go tease those girls.

Then she started mass-messaging.

It earned her a bunch of question marks and frantic emojis.

Hehe! Completely relieved; it's sure to be a good night's sleep.

Before long, the video of the freshman stir-frying rice noodles became highly popular on the forums of the Communication University of China and Hangzhou University, and the Law Class 1 group chat was full of messages @Shen Yan.

A few girls were suggesting they donate money to Shen Yan.

Military training is so hard, and he's still out there setting up a stall, sob sob sob! He's just too pitiful.

Counselor Huang Shuren: "Bumps and stumbles are inevitable on the road of growth; encountering difficulties is not scary..."

Shen Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so he had to explain: "Thank you all for your kindness, but I solemnly declare that I am not short of money, nor am I pitiful. The stall is not mine; everything can only be said to be a matter of coincidence."

Lin Yang: "Stop worrying for nothing, everyone. Old Shen has a phone worth over five thousand; who is the one who's actually pitiful?"

The students were all shocked; after all that, it turned out to be a huge misunderstanding, but after this incident, the nickname "Rice Noodle Brother" was firmly pinned on Shen Yan.

There were also many people joking and suggesting he actually open a fried rice stall; with Shen Yan's skills, he would surely make a lot of money.

Zhu Baoping even calculated the initial costs of opening a fried rice stall, with a profit margin of at least 50%, which was quite considerable; if done well, he could earn several hundred a night.

The more they talked, the more excited they got.

"Old Shen, a fried rice stall is definitely a good idea!"

A gleam of excitement appeared in Zhu Baoping's eyes, mixed with a trace of annoyance; why didn't he have this skill? Watching a mountain of gold and silver right before his eyes, yet being unable to obtain it—so painful! So sad!

On the bed, Shen Yan felt it was uncomfortable to lie flat, so he turned to his side and said indifferently, "University is still mainly for studying; there will be plenty of opportunities to make money later."

"Pair of threes!" Lin Yang finished playing a set of cards and started spraying: "Stop spouting nonsense; can someone like Old Shen really go set up a stall?"

In Lin Yang's view, setting up a stall was ultimately not presentable; as a top student at Hangzhou University, a future flower of the motherland, and a rising star in the legal world, having such a history of setting up a stall would make people laugh their heads off if they found out.

Zhu Baoping, however, disagreed; with money in his pocket, he wouldn't panic. Making money didn't distinguish between noble and base. If Shen Yan didn't want to do it, he could pass the skill to him, invest with his technique, and split the profits after making money.

Those with different paths do not conspire together.

Nowadays, there were countless broad roads in front of Shen Yan; how could he possibly care about the petty change from a stall? He just smiled and didn't say anything more.

Open the stock interface.

What was gratifying was that everything was developing methodically according to its original trajectory; excluding weekends, Haitong Group had hit eight consecutive daily limit ups, reaching a price of 7.7 per share, more than doubling.

In a few more days, it will be time to harvest the results.

How delightful!

The night air was slightly cool, and moonlight shone through the window into the dormitory; amidst the low, excited snores of his roommates, Shen Yan drifted into a hazy slumber.

In his dream, he saw his own future, scenes of a life spent in mutual support with Hao Anqi, free from worries about food or clothing, surrounded by children, and occasionally traveling with the family, leaving footprints in every corner of the world—it was simply the paradise of his dreams. But for some reason, Yu Youwei kept appearing again and again, tearfully cursing him for being a heartless man.

At daybreak, the sky was tinged with a touch of pink, and the bright light gradually broke through the darkness.

Shen Yan opened his eyes abruptly, and upon realizing he was in the dormitory, he could not help but let out a long sigh of relief; he raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, his left hand pressed against his chest, trying his best to calm his little heart that was beating like a drum.

Fortunately, it was only a dream!

And an utterly absurd dream at that; how could Yu Youwei possibly like him?

In the end, it was Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly; you are both a blessing and a calamity.