Chapter 148: Tightness Across the Chest

The second floor of the Chang'an Institute of Technology canteen serves stir-fried dishes. Pang Haofei found a seat near the edge, and after ordering, he grabbed two bottles of beer.

In truth, he had mixed his drinks last night, and his stomach still didn't feel quite right, but this day had to be commemorated; Qiu Zhilan had not only acknowledged being his girlfriend, but had done so in a public setting.

Yang Tianxing bit the cap off a bottle, filled a glass, and said, "This is a toast to you both, for witnessing the first couple in the campus part-time enterprise, Rocket 101."

Pang Haofei and Qiu Zhilan exchanged a glance and politely raised their glasses in return.

"How did you two meet?"

Setting down his glass, Yang Tianxing asked curiously.

Pang Haofei gave a "hehe" laugh and countered, "Brother Yang, when you reported to university, did your parents accompany you?"

Yang Tianxing shook his head.

Pang Haofei wasn't surprised; Yang Tianxing's personality didn't seem like the type that needed an escort.

"My parents didn't accompany me either, but that was because my grandfather was having surgery and hospitalized, and they needed to take care of him."

"It happened to be raining on the day of registration, and I got ripped off for 50 yuan by a black-cab driver at the Chang'an train station. I even got lost when I reached the school. Just as I was soaked to the bone and feeling completely helpless, Senior Sister Qiu appeared."

"She was holding an umbrella, led me all the way to the payment office and the dormitory, and even thoughtfully introduced me to the situation inside the school."

Pang Haofei looked at Qiu Zhilan: "At that moment, I felt that even the little freckles on her face were charming."

Qiu Zhilan spat playfully, feeling a bit embarrassed as she recalled the past: "I was an official in the Student Union at the time; I had an obligation to help the freshmen anyway."

"Later, I spent two years pursuing Senior Sister Qiu, from freshman to junior year."

Pang Haofei raised his beer and clinked it with Yang Tianxing's.

"I originally thought there wouldn't be any result throughout my entire university career..."

Pang Haofei's voice choked up as he reached this point, and Yang Tianxing smiled to smooth things over: "This is the legendary romance between a senior sister and a junior brother; it makes us juniors envious."

"Don't just talk about us, what about your love life?"

Pang Haofei asked. He hadn't been working part-time at 101 the whole time and assumed Liu Jiaoyue was just an ordinary part-time student; only people like Fu Yiming and Hua Xiaoyu knew Liu Jiaoyue's status.

Yang Tianxing smiled: "Mine is much more complicated. There are many people who want to date me seriously, and quite a few who are scheming to sleep with me; it's really a headache."

Pang Haofei and Qiu Zhilan thought Yang Tianxing was bragging, and both of them laughed.

Having talked a bit about romantic matters, their relationship felt much warmer, so Yang Tianxing asked Qiu Zhilan: "Does that Entrepreneurship Center Director Liu Xu have any hobbies? I tried to ask her out for a sit-down today, but she wouldn't agree."

Qiu Zhilan thought for a moment: "Senior Liu isn't from a particularly wealthy family, but he shouldn't be short on money either. He usually likes to collect calligraphy and paintings; he often wanders around the antique street."

Yang Tianxing nodded and directly took out his phone to call Yang Jianjun: "Dad, you're familiar with the president of the Jinzhou Calligraphy Association, right? Get me two pieces of calligraphy or painting with a seal. They don't need to be particularly famous; I'm just taking them to bluff people."

Old Yang didn't know what Yang Tianxing was up to, but there were plenty of those kinds of paintings, so he could just grab two.

"Next time I'll cater to his preferences and pick up some hobbies of an intellectual," Yang Tianxing said with a smile.

After eating, Yang Tianxing prepared to take the bus to the Fruitwood Fragrance Barbecue Restaurant to drive that second-hand Santana back.

Before leaving, he also instructed Pang Haofei and Qiu Zhilan to start printing promotional materials and to develop some suitable downlines in preparation for signing contracts when he came back next time.

"Tianxing doing this, while a bit blunt, is still for the sake of business."

Pang Haofei was worried that Yang Tianxing's method of building personal relationships was too worldly and that Qiu Zhilan would look down on it given her temperament.

Qiu Zhilan shook her head: "After my mother got sick, I realized that high-minded principles aren't very useful. Sometimes, being a bit worldly isn't a bad thing."

"I have never forgotten that the money for this month's dialysis was borrowed from Yang Tianxing."

……………

Yang Tianxing returned to school, but before he could even pinch Liu Jiaoyue's little cheek, colleagues from his class, the department student union, and the college student union all came looking for him at the same time.

Zhang Wei, the chair of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department Student Union, was there to discuss the department basketball tournament.

Yang Tianxing was very surprised: "Does our department even have a basketball tournament?"

Zhang Wei shook her head helplessly: "It's always had one."

"Then how come I didn't know?" Yang Tianxing asked.

"Exactly, how does our Humanities and Social Sciences Department vice-chair not know?" Zhang Wei countered.

Yang Tianxing gave a "haha" laugh. His ball-handling skills were decent, but unfortunately not for basketball, so other than occasionally watching the NBA, he hadn't paid much attention to school activities.

"You and Senior Sister Tong can coordinate it; if there's anything you need me for, just give the order," Yang Tianxing stated.

Zhang Wei knew she couldn't expect too much from Yang Tianxing, but having his word was enough.

The college student union was there to discuss the autumn sports meet. The time was set for mid-November, and as the Minister of the External Liaison Department of the college student union, Yang Tianxing had to take on the responsibility of securing sponsorships.

This wasn't difficult for Yang Tianxing; if all else failed, he could cover it himself.

As for class matters, Yang Tianxing actually cared more, since these were classmates he would be with for four years.

He Yulin always spoke directly when looking for Yang Tianxing: "The class fund is gone."

Yang Tianxing waved his hand and said: "If the class fund is gone, just collect more. The standard is 50 yuan per person. If anyone has difficulties, I'll help cover it. Don't bother me with such small matters next time."

He Yulin curled her lip: "The one with the most difficulties has already been solved by you; no one else will have any problems."

He Yulin was referring to Liu Jiaoyue, who was slumped over her desk, her little face resting on her left arm, her right hand holding a pen and doodling; this was likely Liu Jiaoyue's most relaxed posture.

"Hey."

Yang Tianxing suddenly called out.

Liu Jiaoyue hurriedly raised her head to look over, her cheek marked with a red imprint from the desk, her peach-blossom eyes clear and transparent, her face filled with confusion.

"Let's not apply for the impoverished student quota this year. Let's not take advantage of the school; let's be a bit high-minded for once," Yang Tianxing said.

"Oh, oh, okay."

Liu Jiaoyue nodded earnestly.

He Yulin sighed inwardly. From the current situation, Liu Jiaoyue was completely wrapped around Yang Tianxing's finger, and she didn't know if there would be any changes in the future.

The most critical thing was whether Liu Jiaoyue herself even wanted such a change.

"Also."

He Yulin continued: "In the second half of the year, our class still needs to organize some class activities to increase cohesion."

Yang Tianxing agreed, "That's a good suggestion. Do you have any recommendations?"

He Yulin thought for a moment, "Should we choose a place further away for hiking? Cuihua Mountain in Chang'an District is too close."

"Hmm, it is indeed too close," Yang Tianxing also agreed.

"Then..."

He Yulin gritted her teeth, "Let's go to Mount Hua; it is, after all, a famous mountain in Qinhan Province."

Yang Tianxing smiled, "Little He, you spent all that time thinking just to stay in Chang'an City? Mount Hua is great, but it's still right on our doorstep."

Yang Tianxing didn't give He Yulin a chance to take charge, "Don't think about it. We'll go to Mount Huang for a few days. Increase the class fund to 100; I'll cover the rest. Let's leave a wonderful impression on the college lives of the students in Public Management Class 2."

He Yulin was startled, "Mount Huang isn't just outside the city, it's outside the province! It's too far away."

Yang Tianxing didn't want to haggle, "It's Mount Huang. We'll drag Old Xie along too, and have a grand reunion."

Yang Tianxing's words still carried a lot of weight in the class, especially regarding travel activities like this, which won the support of all the students. Everyone immediately started buying travel supplies.

Even He Yulin and Liu Jiaoyue went to buy backpacks.

He Yulin picked out a black backpack, "Jiaoyue, look at this bag; it's nice, the space is large and it has compartments."

"Mm."

Liu Jiaoyue thought the bag was cheap and quite sturdy.

The two girls went out carrying their bags, but one carried hers in front, and the other carried hers in back.

"Oh, Jiaoyue, carrying this kind of bag in front is not only convenient for getting things, but it's also safer."

He Yulin said in an "experienced" tone, "Come on, carry the bag in front."

Liu Jiaoyue obediently moved her bag to the front.

"How is it? Don't you feel more comfortable?"

He Yulin asked with a smile.

"It's... it's uncomfortably tight."

Liu Jiaoyue said with a blushing face.

He Yulin thought the shoulder straps weren't adjusted properly, but after checking, she found they were fine.

"How could that be..."

He Yulin stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing why.

"Jiaoyue, you're going to have no friends like this!"