Chapter 1705: This Is How Business Is Done

"Hey, long time no see, Old Wang, I missed you to death."

Yu Hao greeted them with his usual vitality.

"Did you spend your holiday cramming on Feng Gong again?"

"The Spring Festival Gala feels meaningless these days; I only watch the classic ones from the past."

"Very good, then let me ask you: one big hammer plus a cup of Palace Jade Liquid Wine plus a plate of Gathering of Heroes..."

After a few moments of giggling and playful banter, Yu Hao leaned in closer and whispered, "I heard that during the holiday internship, Li Shuci worked on your documentary project. You two spent more than half a month together day and night; so, how is it, any progress?"

Wang Yan smiled without speaking, then turned to look at Xiao Haiyang: "You seem to have gotten darker."

"Eight shades!" Xiao Haiyang said. "Lu Qiaochuan and I were over there helping build prefabricated houses. Every day we opened our eyes, we were working; even eating had time limits. At first, I couldn't adapt, my muscles ached; that period was truly dark as night..."

The work Xiao Haiyang did was indeed relatively more tiring, but in reality, it was impossible for all the dirty and exhausting tasks to be left to them. College students aim high but lack practical ability; if they really did some critical work, it wouldn't be enough to cause trouble.

So he was just complaining; if one really said he did a lot of work, that would be impossible.

At this moment, Yu Hao came up again and said, "I have another piece of gossip; do you want to know it, Old Wang?"

Wang Yan glanced sideways: "If you say it, I want to know; if you don't say it, I don't want to know."

"Oh, isn't it just about me and Zhong Bai? Old Wang, don't listen to him; I'll tell you myself." Xiao Haiyang glared at Yu Hao. "How can you be so gossipy, talking about it right in front of the people involved?"

"No, no, I must be the one to say it. Haiyang, Brother Haiyang! I beg you!" Yu Hao looked as if he were dying, then hurriedly rushed to recount the whole story.

Because of last year's ancient town photography exhibition, both Lu Qiaochuan and Zhong Bai reflected on their relationship. Thus, Zhong Bai's temper flared up; since Lu Qiaochuan agreed to everything she said, she told Lu Qiaochuan that she was going to work for a charity organization during her holiday internship, so Lu Qiaochuan went there, while she herself went to the art exam side to help the art exam students.

In this process, the two discovered they were not suitable for each other, so they broke up naturally.

After the event ended, Lu Qiaochuan had intended to go find Zhong Bai, but in the end, he did not go. However, Xiao Haiyang went; after returning, Xiao Haiyang firmly insisted that nothing had happened and even said he hadn't seen Zhong Bai.

In the original drama, it was Li Shuci who told Xiao Haiyang the news that Zhong Bai and Lu Qiaochuan had already broken up, and even helped buy a train ticket for Xiao Haiyang.

Now, although Li Shuci was absent, there was still the enthusiastic Yu Hao.

After all, the problems between Lu Qiaochuan and Zhong Bai were visible to everyone; Yu Hao had been egging Xiao Haiyang on to pursue Zhong Bai from start to finish, just standing behind watching the spectacle and eating melon seeds...

Yu Hao said, "Old Wang, you heard it; he traveled all that distance, arrived right at Zhong Bai's room door, yet he didn't knock on the door to confess his love to Zhong Bai. Do you believe it?"

"I believe it!"

"You see." Xiao Haiyang clapped his hands excitedly. "Just because one goes there doesn't mean one must meet; nor does meeting mean one must confess; nor does confessing mean one must get together!"

"That is exactly how it is." Wang Yan nodded with a smile.

"Then is there no regret?" Yu Hao asked with a beaming smile, pressing further.

"Actually, you said it well; just like now, I see melancholy in your eyes. You are regretting, regretting why you weren't braver back then? You fear rejection, fear that speaking to Zhong Bai afterward will feel awkward. But in fact, while living in this world, one should still be a bit more self-centered."

Bi Shisan tilted his head: "That's right, I am exactly like that; when there is a problem, don't make things difficult for yourself, but instead throw the problem onto the other party. As the saying goes, if one has no shame, one is invincible under heaven. Xiao Haiyang, if you had confessed to Zhong Bai, then now it wouldn't be only you feeling bad; she would be just as uncomfortable as you."

Yu Hao's eyes were about to roll out of his head: "Shisan, can you, who are destined to be single for ten thousand years, please stop speaking? What kind of ghost idea is that? Kill the enemy by a thousand but self-inflict fifteen hundred? And completely cut off future contact?"

"That would only show they have fate but no destiny, showing that Zhong Bai truly does not like Xiao Haiyang; she isn't even willing to make do. So why should Xiao Haiyang be so..." Bi Shisan's words stopped, and he did not continue.

"A simp!" Xiao Haiyang said with a grin.

Bi Shisan nodded slightly, with an expression saying, "You said it all yourself; it has nothing to do with me."

Yu Hao looked at Xiao Haiyang in surprise: "I always thought you didn't know you were a simp, thinking of yourself only as deeply affectionate."

"I am willing."

Xiao Haiyang said with complete indifference, "Being a simp isn't actually that bad. Is liking someone wrong? Is treating the person you like well wrong?"

"If your liking receives a response, if your devotion receives a response, then you are not a simp." Bi Shisan tilted his head. "If you ultimately 'simp' your way to Zhong Bai, then you are not a simp either."

At this moment, Lu Qiaochuan pushed his suitcase into the dormitory, hearing the tail end of the conversation.

"What happened with Zhong Bai? How did she become a simp?" He looked curiously at everyone, then suddenly realized, "Oh, so you all already know. Brother Hao told you, right? That's correct; Zhong Bai and I have officially broken up."

"Is that so? What a pity." Bi Shisan feigned humorous surprise. "Lu Qiaochuan, you will meet someone better."

"Thanks for your comfort; I feel warm in my heart." Lu Qiaochuan punched his own chest as if he had choked on something.

Seeing the scene was somewhat awkward, Yu Hao changed the subject: "Old Wang, you still haven't said how things are with Li Shuci; have you two gotten together or not?"

"We got together..."

Yu Hao's eyes widened little by little, about to jump up with joy, when they heard Wang Yan continue, "... and so what? If we hadn't gotten together, then so what?"

He waved his hand. "You guys hurry up and pack; don't worry about me."

"Old Wang, you are too cruel; how can you bear not to tell me?" Yu Hao pouted aggrievedly, looking as if he were about to cry at any moment.

Bi Shisan sat in his chair, shaking his head in disgust: "Yu Hao, you still don't use your brain. If Wang Yan and Li Shuci had not gotten together, then he would definitely have said 'no,' rather than being ambiguous and tarnishing Li Shuci's reputation. Conversely..."

"Old Wang and Li Shuci have gotten together!" Yu Hao chattered rapidly with his small mouth, then clapped his hands gratifiedly. "Wonderful, Old Wang, you've finally figured it out, finally opened your heart, and started a new relationship."

"You make it sound as if I had locked my heart and sealed away love." Wang Yan said. "How could one just get together directly? Doesn't one still need to interact? Must I break up with Gu Yixin today and seamlessly connect to the next person tomorrow?"

"Exactly~"

Accompanying the sound of speech, Ren Bao Yifan flashed in with a grin, putting his arm around Wang Yan's shoulders. "Old Wang, you've finally figured it out. In fact, what you just said is incorrect; you should have prepared the next one while you hadn't even broken up with Gu Yixin yet, and start with the next one just as you were preparing to separate. Not only seamless connection, but overlapping continuation."

Lu Qiaochuan, who had broken up not long ago, looked at his good friend: "What a fine 'overlapping continuation' you have there, scum!"

"I accept your praise!" Ren Bao Yifan cupped his fists, feeling honored rather than ashamed...

On the other side, in the girls' dormitory, the four women gathered together.

Zhong Bai spoke intermittently with Li Shuci, Lin Luoxue occasionally interjected, and Xu Lianqiao rarely made a sound.

Suddenly, Xu Lianqiao held up her phone and spoke to Li Shuci: "Shuci, congratulations."

"What?" Li Shuci hadn't reacted yet.

"Yu Hao said in our class group chat that you and Wang Yan have gotten together; everyone is congratulating you."

"Oh? Is that so?" Lin Luoxue acted as if she knew nothing, picked up her phone to confirm the message, and said, "This is truly good news; why didn't you say anything before, Shuci?"

"Huh?" Li Shuci stared blankly.

If she hadn't already spoken everything openly with Lin Luoxue, one truly wouldn't be able to tell the truth from the falsehood in Lin Luoxue's current demeanor.

"Yes, Shuci, I knew before that you were interning on Wang Yan's project; I asked you, but you wouldn't tell me."

"I... feel a bit embarrassed..." Li Shuci also began fabricating an excuse.

"Oh, this is a good thing! What's there to be embarrassed about? When I was with Lu Qiaochuan, I wished the whole world knew. You've liked Wang Yan for a long time, and now you've finally gotten your wish to be together; isn't that wonderful? Since we're free today, I propose we go out for a meal to celebrate! What do you say?"

"Agreed!" Lin Luoxue answered readily.

Xu Lianqiao looked at the two with suspicion but raised no objection; she simply felt something was odd.

She had witnessed some minor issues between Lin Luoxue and Li Shuci, as well as certain small intimacies involving Wang Yan. She couldn't understand how, after just one winter break, the relationship between the two had suddenly become so close...

Amidst this strange atmosphere, the second semester of their sophomore year began.

The main content remained unchanged: a five-minute video assignment every week, a small thematic video assignment every half-month, and so on. The students always created videos full of laughter and tears that left people unsure whether to laugh or cry, making every day lively and cheerful.

Wang Yan, of course, continued working on his documentary; if he had no other plans, this current series alone would be enough to sustain him for a lifetime.

After all, there are so many industries, society is developing, industries are undergoing reform, and individual lives are not static. In the future, he could seek out those same people again, film them once more to showcase the changes, and indirectly reflect how societal development impacts individuals, thus earning a living from nostalgia.

The new counselor, Feng Cuicui, remained just as friendly and kind toward him, never interfering with whatever he did or how he did it. Other teachers at the school held no grievances, and the leadership was utterly satisfied.

After all, Wang Yan's single project had established a distinctive teaching model for the entire School of Television Journalism, allowing students from various majors to take turns participating and gain hands-on experience.

Therefore, while other students enjoyed their lively antics, Wang Yan's experience was vastly different.

For instance, Feng Cuicui's suppression and targeting of Lu Qiaochuan and others led to mutual disdain between the two sides, creating quite a spectacle. Wang Yan often heard them discussing Feng Cuicui's many faults...

In the blink of an eye, a month passed, and before the anniversary in May of another year arrived, Ren Bao Yifan stirred up trouble first.

At the school's small cafeteria, everyone bought fruit juices and milk tea to gather together; each looked solemn, even bringing cameras, while Lu Qiaochuan had already set up his equipment.

"Old Wang, over here!" Ren Bao Yifan waved enthusiastically.

Wang Yan strolled over leisurely and sat beside Li Shuci, who was at the end of the table: "What's this about? You started looking for me at noon, yet no matter how I asked, you wouldn't say what it was."

Li Shuci took out a piece of paper and gestured for Wang Yan to look.

It was a notice approving a college student entrepreneurship project, detailing the project scope, listing the requirements, and granting thirty thousand yuan in financial support.

"During the winter break, I helped my relatives with art exam training; their family has some influence, so this matter fell to me. The money is one aspect, and having a university entrepreneurship record is another..."

Ren Bao Yifan crossed his hands, leaned forward, and said, "Director Wang, among us, you're the only one who has actually started a business, and quite successfully at that, so I want to hear your professional opinion. Oh, it's not just thirty thousand; if that's not enough, I can add more, up to a hundred thousand."

Rich people really are different; they mention a hundred thousand yuan so casually.

However, this was also because of Wang Yan; in Ren Bao Yifan's eyes, Wang Yan was simply too reliable. Plus, having actually encountered such an opportunity and seeing Wang Yan's prior experience as a reference, he impulsively wanted to give it a try.

In the original story, it wasn't like this; they would have just squandered that money, even renting a house with it, leaving little truly used for actual work.

Wang Yan smiled and shook his head: "Think about it; if I could give you reliable, feasible advice, why wouldn't I do it myself?"

"You're not that kind of person, Old Wang; actually, you care least about fame and fortune," Ren Bao Yifan said with a grin. "You opened a studio only because of your major and housing issues; you don't care about anything else. Even if you had ideas to get rich, you'd be too lazy to act on them."

"That's right, Wang Yan; you don't lack money, and you're wholly devoted to photography, hopelessly immersed in art; for you, it would all be a waste of time," Zhong Bai added, picking up the conversation.

To help Ren Bao Yifan, she, who usually had little interaction with Wang Yan, also spoke up in his favor.

Others chimed in agreement as well, all wanting Wang Yan to come up with a viable venture.

"Some time ago, while chatting with the logistics director, I learned that the lease for the school supermarket is expiring, and there seem to be some developments regarding the on-campus delivery station..."

"What developments?" The group stared at each other wide-eyed.

Yu Hao first opened his mouth in shock, then suddenly realized, and finally adopted an air of knowing secrecy: "Rumor has it that the school leadership is changing, and reportedly, both the on-campus supermarket and the delivery station have connections to them."

Zhong Bai said, "But aren't there still contracts in place?"

Everyone looked at Zhong Bai; it was Lu Qiaochuan who provided the explanation: perhaps things wouldn't be done through proper channels.

"Originally, we couldn't secure this, but Old Wang has stronger connections within our school than Xiao Haiyang's father or Ren Bao Yifan's relative; either of these two ventures would be a guaranteed profit with no risk."

Yu Hao eagerly raised his hand: "I want to invest, and I suggest giving Old Wang a silent partnership share..."

"Alright, Brother Hao, truly worthy of being from Chaoshan," Lu Qiaochuan laughed.

"That's just how business is done..."

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