[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-what-s-wrong-with-me-being-the-last-to-get-rich":3,"chapter-what-s-wrong-with-me-being-the-last-to-get-rich-what-s-wrong-with-me-being-the-last-to-get-rich-chapter-5":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","What's Wrong with Me Being the Last to Get Rich?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2272582,4439,"Chapter 5: 004 Swear by the Petri Dish","what-s-wrong-with-me-being-the-last-to-get-rich-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling signed a love contract, nearly broke up with his girlfriend, confirmed his investment had sunk and he’d lost money, and half-heartedly agreed to start a business with his senior brother…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, back in the dorm, he felt lost, wanted to scream, but everything that had happened that day tangled together and choked his throat, leaving him lying on the bed, only able to sob “wuwu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sleep a while, cry a while, sleep again, cry again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Classmates were all interning or job-hunting; the empty dorm held nothing but endless loneliness and sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling woke up dazed, washed his face with cold water, thought about yesterday’s events, and slipped again into doubt and fantasy—what if the American senior had his reasons? What if he sent the money back soon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying this thought, he silenced his phone and went to the lab as usual, numbly preparing for his upcoming first-year graduate life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held his breath, focused, and the worries slowly faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling had never been so focused, as if immersed in an ocean of study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lab door was pushed open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling turned around blankly and saw his senior brother Yu Xing stride in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing scanned the lab, saw no one else, then saw this junior still observing the petri dishes under the incubator, and flew into a rage: “Why didn’t you answer my calls? What are you still doing here, wasting time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? I…” Zhong Zhiling was stunned by the accusation, left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, senior brother, you’re my senior brother, I’m just…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re just…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who the hell is the real priority here?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing stormed over to the incubator and demanded: “Are you still clinging to illusions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…” Zhong Zhiling stammered, unable to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you call Yu Xuhui this morning?” Yu Xing pressed. “Has he called you back since yesterday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling shook his head—he hadn’t called, and hadn’t received a reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing stared into this unlucky fool’s eyes and spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “I called! His phone’s still off! That bastard Yu has probably fled! Stop dreaming about him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling stared blankly at his senior, then whispered softly: “Senior brother… you’re also surnamed Yu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s different! Besides, even if I wanted to run, it’d be later—right now, we have to get through this!” Yu Xing raised his voice. “I’m asking you one last time—if you can’t commit, go back to your books!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling nearly cried again: “Xingge, don’t push me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing said nothing, just stared at his junior. After five seconds without response, he turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling’s hesitation and illusions shattered under this action—he took two steps forward, grabbed his senior’s arm like a lifeline, and finally knew this was the real path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xingge, I’m in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing turned, pointed at the incubator: “Take out the petri dishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling, confused, carefully removed the petri dishes from the incubator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultured cells inside were fragile—easily contaminated, and if so, everything had to be restarted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take out mine too,” Yu Xing ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling still didn’t understand what his senior planned, but obeyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him hesitate, Yu Xing snatched his own petri dish, pulled out a pen from his pocket, and violently stirred the cultured cells into a mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling gasped: “Xingge…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing tossed the petri dish and pen onto the table, then silently pointed at the pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling looked at his senior, then at the petri dish in his hand, gritted his teeth, grabbed the pen, and similarly stirred his own cultured cells into a ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stirred while crying—this stirring meant betraying his master’s door, this stirring meant abandoning a dim future…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing had grown used to his junior’s crying, nodded approvingly: “Good. Today, we swear by the petri dish—we’ll carve out a path!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his junior didn’t respond, he added, trying to stir up courage: “This year, we’ll make a million!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stirred the cultured cells into a mess—this year, vowed to earn a million!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling’s tears stopped. He looked up at his senior: “What about the remaining debt? Didn’t your family invest five million?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing clenched his lips—damn it, why bring up the worst part?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snapped back: “The rest? We’ll earn it slowly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he saw potential, Yu Xing didn’t set the love contract project too high—just enough cash to keep going, just enough to survive this phase—time was still on their side!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling stared at the two petri dishes on the table, then at his cold-looking senior, and didn’t know what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked his leader: “Xingge, what do we do now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call your girlfriend. I’ll think about how to implement the project. This afternoon, come with me to ask about university startup support policies—you’re a graduate, I’m still enrolled, you might have an advantage.” Yu Xing laid out the plan. “Tomorrow, find Old Liu and see if you can take a leave of absence or keep your enrollment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the second half, Zhong Zhiling’s throat moved, but he offered no objection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From yesterday to today, he’d realized his senior acted with clear goals and decisive action—far beyond himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing sat down, saw the unlucky fool still dazed, and pointed at the petri dishes: “Throw them away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling held the two disposable petri dishes, stared at the ruined cells inside, and felt his own future was just as smashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitantly tossed them away, turned to look at his senior, who already seemed absorbed in his work, and silently pulled out his phone to call his girlfriend, Lu Haiying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nervousness, Zhong Zhiling told his girlfriend his plans—he didn’t mention the financial scam, only emphasized his belief in his senior’s project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, after yesterday and today, he finally got good news—his girlfriend agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling happily shared the news with his senior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, she’d probably agree,” Yu Xing said absentmindedly, thinking. “You’re not going to grad school anymore—half your problems vanish. She’s not retaking the postgraduate exam, you’re entering society. Whether she returns home is another matter, but at least your life stages are aligned now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling’s smile froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he exploded: “Xingge, what do you mean?! Are you trying to turn us against each other?! Are you trying to steal my five hundred?! Don’t you want to pay me back my roses?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing looked up, startled, then rephrased: “Mm, mm, okay, okay, you’re right—Lu Haiying trusts you unconditionally, supports you purely out of love. She never thought that way. I was wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling’s anger deflated like a punctured balloon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat stunned, confused and heartbroken: “Would she really think that? How could she? Isn’t the point to want the best for each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s nothing wrong with thinking of yourself first,” Yu Xing soothed. “Love yourself before loving others. Besides, who defines what ‘better’ means? Didn’t you tell her our project is good, full of potential?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was just… I was just…” Zhong Zhiling muttered angrily. “I was just making up a temporary excuse!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You lied too. Fine, even. Don’t overthink it.” Yu Xing ended the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling’s emotions churned—he suddenly spotted a flaw in his senior’s words: “Xingge! You said I lied! You think this project isn’t good, has no potential, right?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not,” Yu Xing replied calmly. “You said it wrong. You should’ve said: our project is exceptional, incredibly promising—it’s just launched and already won customers and orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling gasped: “We have orders already?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing pointed at the unlucky fool: “You’re the order.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling: “…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slumped into his chair, helplessly muttered: “Damn it, Xingge, you’ve totally confused me!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his senior silent, Zhong Zhiling whined: “Xingge, how can you be so cruel? You’ve become terrifyingly distant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing paused, then looked at the unlucky fool earnestly: “Zhiling, I realize you haven’t shifted your mindset or identity yet—and that’s not your fault. Objectively, expecting you to change instantly is unreasonable. But I must say…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not me being cruel—it’s that we face brutally real problems.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your money, my money—gone. We have a massive financial hole to fill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must shift your mindset and identity quickly, or you’ll face even crueler realities ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to his senior’s blunt declaration, seeing his cold, almost ruthless gaze, Zhong Zhiling felt a chill run down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing sighed: “Otherwise, Zhiling, think—what if you hadn’t joined me? Or if you’d found out alone—what would you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Zhong Zhiling fell silent for a long while. Finally, he shivered—the rooftop wind must be fierce, the lake water must be deep…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gulped down a full glass of water, looked at his silent senior, and finally voiced his inner fear: “Xingge… we’ve never run a project, never started a business. I’m just scared… can this even work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing didn’t answer immediately—it was a valid question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, last night he’d been turning over his situation and direction. His initial test of the love contract on his junior had two prototypes: one from insurance companies, the other from ordinary commercial contracts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former once made headlines; the latter claimed over 100,000 orders. He’d even dreamed of being a potential customer—back then, he’d decided to buy a house because his girlfriend loved trying new things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing didn’t set lofty goals for the love contract—no dreams of going public, no illusions of earning millions. He just wanted light-asset, small profits. After all, right now, no one had money, tech, or resources—and everyone had been scammed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this could just ease the coming storm, give his family some hope—it’d be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the love contract didn’t gain traction soon, they’d have to try something else while burdened with debt—but Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent had all grown for years; every popular sector already had projects. To succeed, they’d need to enter niche vertical markets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, with e-commerce booming, a price-comparison website might catch on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worst case… grow grapes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing had calmed down and seriously considered grape farming—not by returning to his uncle, but by introducing the later-popular variety: “Sunshine Rose Grapes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Japanese variety, it once sold for hundreds of yuan per catty in China, dubbed the Hermès of grapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing thought—if all else failed, at least he could sip this soup. Not to become rich, just better off than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to do any of this, he needed cash—some source of flowing water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He set modest internal expectations, considered his junior’s confusion, and softened his tone with a promise he knew wouldn’t be kept: “Zhiling, I don’t know if this will work. Here’s the deal—if this month brings no progress, no hope, we switch to your blue pill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling exhaled—he wasn’t being forced to die on this love contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to nod, then froze—wait, I never said I wanted the blue pill!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At lunch, call your girlfriend again. Ask her to rally her friends. This month, let’s see if we can stir up any buzz among students.” Yu Xing moved to the next topic. “If we can’t move even emotionally vulnerable graduating students, we switch tracks immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xingge, why do you sound like students are so stupid?” Zhong Zhiling tried to defend them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhiling, it’s not stupidity—they’re just clearer-eyed at this stage,” Yu Xing said seriously. “We’re both medical students. Let’s look at our customers, our business, from a more realistic angle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is love?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s phenylethylamine secreted by the brain—it excites, quickens breathing and heartbeat, causes love at first sight, pulls people into romance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After falling in love, dopamine floods the body—bringing joy and satisfaction, making you want to be together constantly. But sadly, it arrives fast and fades fast, never staying high for long—on average, less than two and a half years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dopamine decreases, endorphins take over, reducing anxiety and increasing feelings of stability and warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, there are oxytocin, norepinephrine, serotonin… all working together to complete the process of love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s not mystify it; we can view it more materially. What do you think?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing describes love under the influence of human hormones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling shook his head repeatedly: “Brother Xing, you’re reducing love entirely to hormone action—that’s too realistic… Not everything can be so realistic. If you say that, then everything must be treated this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t dare say it so bluntly, but Yu Xing understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just that if you apply this realistic logic to love, you must apply the same thinking to projects, interpersonal relationships, and everything else…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing smiled slightly: “I’m just describing one way to look at it. I still believe in love. As for the rest—whether this project or the little pill you want to make—when it comes to interests, we speak plainly; when things happen, don’t hold back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling felt slightly embarrassed yet surprised: “Brother Xing, are you serious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Yu Xing said seriously. “Entrepreneurship doesn’t need to be so refined or genteel. Business is business. We’re both in debt. If you find I’m planning to run off with the money or anything like that, just cut ties outright—don’t hold back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though embarrassed by his senior’s blunt articulation of his concern, Zhong Zhiling nodded, given their bleak reality: “Brother, if you put it that way, we’re being petty first, then noble. If such a time ever comes, don’t blame me for being realistic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t talk nonsense. Let’s go—we’ve got work to do today,” Yu Xing said casually as he stood up. “In the afternoon, we’ll check on the policies. Then I’ll make you the legal representative of our company.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, Zhong Zhiling asked: “Why me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Xing replied succinctly: “You’re better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling nodded without further question: “Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned to his puzzled senior, and said seriously: “Brother Xing, I’m not really going to pursue the little pill. I was just desperate and grasping at straws.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. I know you’re a good person. Let’s go,” Yu Xing said. “If you weren’t a good person, I wouldn’t let you be the legal representative.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Zhiling exhaled and caught up, relieved his senior didn’t misunderstand him.\u003C\u002Fp>",2349,"2026-06-19T22:51:34.189Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b5b4e89c731ea2eed692884884dff12bd08e353a22ced274214e1ca707c32f3a","what-s-wrong-with-me-being-the-last-to-get-rich-chapter-6","what-s-wrong-with-me-being-the-last-to-get-rich-chapter-4",328,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwhat-s-wrong-with-me-being-the-last-to-get-rich-cover.jpg"]