Chapter 6: 005 The Disciples Who Betrayed Their Sect

The sun came out in the morning, but by afternoon a light rain fell, and the air felt clingy, matching the mood.

Yu Xing took Zhong Zhiling running around all day, bringing both good news and bad.

The good news was that Zhong Zhiling’s girlfriend found a client who thought the “romance contract” was interesting—perhaps another 500 yuan in earnings.

The bad news was that registering a company costs money.

Registering a company costs money…

Yu Xing was stunned when he heard it at the Administration for Industry and Commerce, then realized: the paid-in capital system was still in effect—registering a company required actual cash outlay. The amended Company Law, effective January 2006, stipulated a minimum registered capital of RMB 30,000 for limited liability companies.

First, pay 30,000!

But there was a policy supporting student entrepreneurs: those who started businesses independently within two years of graduation could pay registered capital in installments if under 500,000 yuan, with the initial payment no less than 10% of registered capital, and full payment reaching at least 50% within one year, with the remainder due within three years.

So, if you calculated it, you only needed to pay 10% of 30,000—that is, 3,000 yuan.

Yu Xing felt the warmth of the policy and immediately pooled money with his junior, reaching 2,000 yuan, then kept adding funds with his junior’s girlfriend until they finally gathered exactly 3,000 yuan.

Just as Yu Xing and Zhong Zhiling were happily preparing to pay and name their company, the clerk pointed at the 3,000 yuan and politely rejected the birth of “Guai Ai Wang,” then gave a detailed explanation of the policy.

“There is indeed a 10% support policy, but that 10% cannot be less than 30,000 yuan—meaning, if your registered capital is 300,000 yuan, you qualify for this policy,” came the calm voice from the window.

The policy allows installments, but the initial payment must be no less than 10%, and the actual paid-in amount cannot be less than 30,000 yuan.

Zhong Zhiling, squeezed beside him, panicked: “Hey, why didn’t you say that earlier! If we had 30,000, why would we need this 10%?”

The voice from the window sounded innocent: “You didn’t ask.”

“You just said we wouldn’t have to wait in line! We waited so long, and now you say we need 300,000!” Zhong Zhiling was furious.

The voice from the window popped out: “You didn’t ask—how was I supposed to know your company couldn’t even afford 30,000?”

Zhong Zhiling’s face flushed red, ready to argue with the lady at the window.

“Enough, enough.” Yu Xing grabbed his junior’s arm, noticing the security guard already pacing toward them, and said simply, “Let’s go back and talk.”

Reluctantly pulled away, Zhong Zhiling left the Administration for Industry and Commerce, head hanging low.

Yu Xing didn’t dwell on the minor incident; after thinking a while, he noticed his junior was still upset and had to comfort him: “Think about your field—how good can service attitude possibly be?”

Zhong Zhiling: “…”

Senior, you…

Indeed, there are no classes that betray interests—only individuals who betray their class…

But not all support policies were invisible and out of reach; besides the frustrating capital threshold, corporate income tax could be waived for two years.

Yu Xing pondered: “Guai Ai Wang,” still in its infancy, should count as an information industry—after all, it’s related to the internet.

Moreover, student entrepreneurs could get loan support!

The loan amount was around 20,000 yuan, with a maximum term of two years, and one extension could be applied for.

How to put it…

Overall, this trip left Zhong Zhiling with drooping eyebrows and a slumped posture.

Yu Xing saw his junior’s expression and knew he was again lost in thoughts of his blue pill—so he shattered the idea with one sentence: “Even the blue pill needs capital.”

Zhong Zhiling snapped awake: Yes! Why had he fixated on this?

“Xing Ge, I’m not thinking about that anymore.” He denied it while gloomily asking his senior, “What do we do now? We can’t even afford registration.”

“If you can’t earn it, earn it.” Yu Xing replied directly. “If you can’t even earn enough for registration, there’s no point going further. Tomorrow, first talk to Old Liu about keeping your enrollment. The day after, visit a few school clubs to see if you can get more clients.”

Zhong Zhiling realized it made sense—if you couldn’t even raise the starting capital, there was no point continuing.

But the moment he heard they had to see their advisor, his heart shriveled.

Zhong Zhiling hesitated: “Liu Laoshi… maybe we don’t need to rush him?”

“I’ll speak to him first about my own matter—you can wait. Also, I want to borrow money from Old Liu.” Yu Xing considered. “We need to use our student status to operate among students; later, whether dealing with clubs or the student union, we can use sponsorship to get them to help us recruit.”

Zhong Zhiling asked: “So the money we borrow from Liu Laoshi is for sponsorship?”

Yu Xing rolled his eyes at the unlucky guy: “Of course not. Each client brings 500 yuan—give them 100 yuan as sponsorship for every one they bring.”

Zhong Zhiling was stunned: Ah, the wool comes from the sheep itself…

After thinking a moment, he suddenly said: “Xing Ge, what if some clubs just bypass us entirely? What if they sign contracts with couples themselves?”

Yu Xing gave his junior an approving look—he was finally getting it.

He nodded: “Yes, that’s possible. But their focus is on club activities—they can’t specialize in this. Students will also worry about the risks. Besides, we have first-mover advantage—we’re already at a different scale. We have a thousand clients, we’re familiar and confident; they’re still hesitating.”

Zhong Zhiling thought: “Do we wait until we have a thousand clients before approaching them? That’ll take forever.”

“We already have them.” Yu Xing looked at his junior and smiled. “Out there, your identity is self-made, your achievements are self-made.”

Zhong Zhiling: “…”

“We already have achievements, and after detailed market research, we’re already in contact with investors. Our future goal is the national market.” Yu Xing said seriously. “That’s what ‘Guai Ai Wang’ is.”

Zhong Zhiling whispered carefully: “Guai Ai Wang hasn’t been established yet.”

“Exactly. Guai Ai Wang already has these results before even being officially registered—what will happen when it is?” Yu Xing shifted perspective.

Zhong Zhiling felt he was almost being tricked—his senior’s tone was so certain.

“In short, this month we must rapidly launch the project across all universities in Jin Ling. If we fail this month, we immediately find another path.” Yu Xing paced, speaking seriously. “Zhiling, I’m not joking. Starting today, by this time next month, if I don’t see hope, we part ways.”

Zhong Zhiling felt panic rise: “Xing Ge, why must it be exactly one month? Can’t we be more flexible?”

“No—it’s the market that gives us only this opportunity.” Yu Xing spoke softly. “All universities in Jin Ling will be on summer break next month.”

No matter how much they lamented, the arrival of July’s summer break would objectively scatter student couples—some going home, some working, some apart; such concentrated campus scenes wouldn’t return for another two months.

Hearing his senior say this, Zhong Zhiling felt the same tension and anxiety as during his college entrance exam years ago.

Thirty days until the decisive battle!

What would it be like after thirty days…

He didn’t dare imagine—he only knew he had to follow Xing Ge now.

That night, Zhong Zhiling couldn’t sleep. When he met his senior again in the morning, he held his phone blankly and said strangely: “Xing Ge, I might… I might…”

“What’s wrong? You don’t have to come today—I’ll speak to Old Liu first.” Yu Xing assumed his junior still had doubts about keeping enrollment, but that was normal—everyone had their own thoughts.

“No, my girlfriend texted me, but I don’t feel any urge to reply.” Zhong Zhiling sighed after a few seconds of blankness. “Xing Ge, I think my dopamine isn’t secreting anymore!”

Yu Xing was speechless. Clearly, this couple had no future anyway—now he wondered what would happen this time.

He had some ideas, but now wasn’t the time to act—he simply bought fruit and drinks, then took his junior to visit their advisor, Liu Jingrong.

Yu Xing had never graduated under his advisor, but that wasn’t the advisor’s fault—it was his own. He simply refused to listen back then.

This time… he’d hesitated before, but his mother’s words left him no room for doubt.

Yet when the two juniors knocked, the door opened not to their advisor, but to his first-year daughter, Liu Zhi Shan.

“Auntie, auntie, it’s Brother! It’s Yu Xing!” Liu Zhi Shan called out cheerfully after opening the door. “Auntie, Mom and Dad aren’t back yet!”

“Shanshan, your dad isn’t home?” Yu Xing knew the teacher’s daughter well—he’d picked her up many times since his first year of graduate school.

Yu Xing was the first disciple of his advisor at Jin Ling Medical University—in other words, Liu Jingrong was young; he’d completed his undergraduate degree at Nanke University, then earned his master’s and Ph.D. in the U.S., returned to his alma mater as a professor, and was promoted to associate professor last year, beginning to take on graduate students.

As the senior disciple, Yu Xing had once felt guilty for not graduating under Old Liu.

But now he felt even more guilty—he might have to take away his junior too.

“Dad’s picking up Mom and buying groceries!” Liu Zhi Shan ran toward the living room without turning back. “Auntie’s here! Auntie’s here!”

The living room was playing an animated show. Yu Xing, having just set down his drinks, glanced up and saw Liu Zhi Shan’s aunt rising from the sofa. He was surprised—this “senior aunt” he’d never heard of was unexpectedly young and beautiful. The first thing that struck him was her beautiful, sensual lips, then her graceful figure.

Yu Xing had never heard the teacher had a biological sister—he’d assumed she was a distant relative—but her voice immediately dispelled that notion.

“You’re the senior disciple from my brother’s class, right? He’s mentioned you several times on the phone—said you’re quite hardworking.” Liu Wan Ying sized up the two men entering the living room: one self-assured, handsome male student, and another… also a male student.

She identified which one was her brother’s senior disciple and smiled as she introduced herself: “I’m Liu Wan Ying. I work in Xiangjiang.”

Though Yu Xing intended to “betray” his sect, calling her “Senior Aunt” was still appropriate—but her youth made him hesitate.

He noticed her gaze shift to his junior; seeing the unlucky guy wasn’t speaking, he stepped forward: “Yes, I’m Yu Xing. This is my junior this year, Zhong Zhiling, who was granted direct admission to graduate school.”

Yu Xing thought it awkward to address Liu Wan Ying through his advisor’s lineage, so he switched to the child’s perspective and smiled: “I never knew Shanshan had such an elegant aunt.”

Liu Wan Ying beamed, slightly surprised by Yu Xing’s mature tone, then affectionately patted her niece’s head. Shanshan was under eight—she wouldn’t understand such topics.

Zhong Zhiling, introduced by his senior, remained awkward and hesitantly greeted: “Hello, Teacher Liu.”

At that moment, Liu Zhi Shan, watching TV, looked up at the unfamiliar big brother and asked curiously: “Auntie, auntie, why does he call you teacher? Are you a teacher?”

Liu Wan Ying gestured for the two male students to sit, then smiled at her niece: “Auntie isn’t a teacher. Hmm… your new senior brother should call me…”

She blinked, slightly puzzled—calling them “Auntie” felt too strange for two grown men, but calling them “Sister” would put her on the same generation as her niece. Better to stick with the sect’s hierarchy.

Liu Wan Ying smiled and asked: “Technically, you should call me ‘Senior Aunt’ or ‘Senior Uncle,’ right? Yu Xing, how do you usually address Rong Jie?”

“I usually…” Zhong Zhiling answered honestly, “call her Senior Auntie.”

As Liu Wan Ying said, he “previously” had been diligent—he’d gotten along well with the teacher’s family. When the teacher told him to call her Senior Auntie, he did.

But now, returning, the teacher was barely forty—his mindset was completely different.

Liu Wan Ying nodded and smiled: “Help yourselves to tea—and pour some for Senior Aunt too.”

Yu Xing nodded too, then directed the flustered Zhong Zhiling: “Pour tea—for Senior Aunt and Senior Brother.”

Just as Zhong Zhiling was about to act, another clear, childish voice rang out—“Pour some for Senior Sister too!”

Liu Zhi Shan, seizing the break between cartoon episodes, joined the conversation.

Laughter filled the living room—even Zhong Zhiling relaxed.

But as Zhong Zhiling laughed, he suddenly remembered why they were here—and his heart sank again. He was torn: Should he bring up keeping enrollment now, with his senior… or wait until later?

His mood plummeted rapidly; his gaze grew dull.

Liu Wan Ying noticed the shy male student staring at her blankly and smiled: “Zhong Zhiling, your name is interesting—are you thinking about what lipstick to buy for your girlfriend? Want me to recommend one?”

Zhong Zhiling snapped back, lowered his head, and shyly sipped tea.

Yu Xing guessed the unlucky guy was nervous and stepped in: “We actually discussed lipstick on the way—but not for a girlfriend. We were thinking of giving clients small gifts.”

Liu Wan Ying was surprised: “Small gifts for clients?”

“Yes, some of our clients are female, so…” Yu Xing spoke up, “I don’t understand this at all—Auntie, could you recommend some good ones?”

Liu Wan looked at the male college student and smiled warmly. “My brother says you’re always holed up in the lab, but I don’t feel that’s true. There’s a lot to lipstick—like the shade I’m wearing now, Estée Lauder’s Dry Maple Red 333. It doesn’t care about skin tone, looks lively yet sophisticated, because it’s a matte velvet finish—it turns into a foggy matte after drying.”

She gave another example: “Take the classic Dior 999—I love using it too. It’s a pure, vibrant red, yet incredibly versatile. Even with no makeup, just applying it instantly brightens your complexion, like it ignites the passion of the whole world.”

Liu Wan spoke fluently, then noticed the two male students staring blankly, and couldn’t help smiling. “This is probably way over your heads. Anyway, different lipsticks have different features and different usage standards.”

Yu Xing was as unfamiliar with this field as ever, but he immediately spoke up: “No, all lipsticks have only one standard.”

Liu Wan raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“A good lipstick is one that makes women look beautiful,” Yu Xing said, both flattering and truthful. “Your Dry Maple Red 333 fits that standard perfectly.”

Liu Wan smiled sweetly. She didn’t mind indirect compliments, but this was certainly different from what she imagined her brother’s disciple would be like.

No, the quiet one beside him matched perfectly.

Zhong Zhiling, hearing his senior’s words, mentally noted them down, thinking he could try complimenting his girlfriend tonight.

“Auntie really knows lipstick. Our project has zero understanding in this area—we hope to learn more from you in the future.” Yu Xing spoke sincerely again.

Liu Wan had never thought “Auntie” sounded odd, but after chatting with Yu Xing this long, hearing him say it again felt strangely off.

She volunteered: “Don’t call me Auntie. My brother’s much older than me—we should address each other as equals. Just call me Sister Ying.”

Yu Xing immediately complied: “Alright, Sister Ying.”

Zhong Zhiling hesitated, wondering whether to change his address, but before he could speak, Sister Ying continued asking.

“My brother says you’re holed up in the lab—so what project do you have that involves lipstick? Are you doing a summer job?” Liu Wan’s interest in casual chat deepened.

Yu Xing paused, then said carefully: “Zhiling and I are exploring more possibilities. It’s graduation season, so we launched a ‘Love Contract’ project: couples pay 500 yuan to sign with us, and if they marry three years later, we gift them 999 roses.”

Liu Wan stared at the two male students, then laughed in disbelief. “You’re serious?”

Yu Xing didn’t answer. He continued: “According to our survey, only 1.5% of college couples make it to marriage after graduation. That’s the foundation for our project’s growth.”

Liu Wan asked casually: “Is your survey scientific? So low? Only 1.5%?”

Zhong Zhiling, hearing the doubt, held his breath, silent. Scientific? What scientific? What survey?

Yu Xing, unfazed, replied: “Isn’t that why graduation season is breakup season?”

He smiled slightly embarrassed. “Sister Ying, that rate isn’t actually that low—I exaggerated. In our sample data, it’s actually 6%.”

Liu Wan nodded thoughtfully. Four times—6% is four times 1.5%. Though the exaggeration was high, the absolute number remained low: roughly six out of every hundred college couples make it to marriage.

Calculating that way: recruiting 100 clients means 50,000 yuan in revenue. In the end, you only need to fulfill six contracts of 999 roses. If you partner with a rose supplier, the cost for six contracts could be cut to 15,000–20,000 yuan—or even lower.

Zhong Zhiling, watching Sister Ying believe him, felt his scalp prickling. His senior didn’t speak a single truth.

He glanced again at his serious-faced senior, suddenly unsure—could there really be such a survey?

Yet, after drinking some water, Yu Xing immediately retracted his earlier claim and laughed: “Sister Ying, that data was made up. We don’t yet have the capacity to conduct market research—we’re relying purely on intuition to judge this project’s feasibility.”

Liu Wan raised an eyebrow, amused. “Made up?”

“Yes,” Yu Xing leaned forward slightly, sincere. “We’re just starting out—no time, no resources. So to better establish consensus, I fabricated the data.”

Liu Wan thought for a moment, glanced at the bewildered Zhong Zhiling, and smiled faintly. “Fabricating data to establish consensus?”

“When I said the rate of college couples marrying after graduation was extremely low, Sister Ying, you only slightly doubted it—and accepted it,” Yu Xing smiled, certain. “At that point, the exact number didn’t matter. Everyone believed it instantly based on their perception of reality. That very act of belief is the foundation for this business’s viability.”

The two male college students in the living room displayed starkly different demeanors—one mature and confident, the other bewildered, even frightened…

Originally lounging lazily, Liu Wan now fixed her gaze on Yu Xing. Though on vacation, she suddenly felt like she was at work. She sat up a little straighter on the sofa. This male student was truly different.