The morning sun cast a golden glow through the towering glass windows of the lecture hall. Zhao Yifen leaned back in his seat, adjusting his cyberpunk-style hoodie. His gaze briefly flickered toward Xu Qingya, who sat beside him, her delicate fingers brushing against the pages of her notebook. The soft fall of her hair over her shoulder framed a face of quiet concentration.
She had a way of making even the smallest movements elegant—absentmindedly twirling the corner of a page, lightly tapping her pen when deep in thought. There was something refined about her, yet she never seemed overly conscious of it.
As the final bell rang, signaling the lunch break, Yifen closed his notebook and turned to her.
"Want to eat together?" His tone was casual, as if the thought had just occurred to him.
Xu Qingya paused for a moment before nodding lightly. "Mm. Sure."
There was no hesitation in her voice, only quiet agreement. Yifen's lips curled into a faint smile.
---
An Important Call
As they walked toward the cafeteria, Yifen took out his phone and dialed a number. The call connected almost immediately.
"Calling me already? What's up?" Chen Rui's voice carried a hint of amusement.
Yifen wasted no time. "I'm starting an investment company. I want you as my Manager and Secretary."
A sharp inhale on the other end. "You're serious?"
"Would I be calling you if I wasn't?"
There was a brief silence before she asked, "What's the salary?"
"Seventy thousand AYuan per month."
Another pause. Then, a low whistle. "Seventy thousand?! That's corporate executive-level pay."
"Good talent deserves good compensation," Yifen said smoothly.
Chen Rui seemed to gather herself before responding. "Alright. What do you need me to do first?"
"Tomorrow, visit a coffee company for me. I'm considering acquiring it."
"Which one?"
He gave her the company's name. There was a beat of silence before she spoke again.
"Did you check ByBusiness?"
"What's that?"
"It's an app where private businesses list their shares for sale. Investors can see ownership details, market valuation, and even place bids. It's the go-to marketplace for acquisitions."
Yifen raised an eyebrow. "That exists?"
"Of course. I'll check if the company is listed."
A few moments passed before she returned with an answer. "They're not registered for online sale. You'll have to contact them directly."
Yifen considered this before responding. "Alright. Offer them double the market value."
Chen Rui nearly choked. "Double?! Are you trying to burn money?"
"Not at all. I just don't want unnecessary delays. If they still refuse, we'll find another way."
A pause. Then, she sighed. "Understood. I'll handle it."
The call ended.
---
Curiosity from Xu Qingya
Xu Qingya, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "Are you investing in a business?"
Yifen took a sip of his drink before replying. "Something like that."
She stirred her food absentmindedly. "You seem pretty confident about it."
"It's better to own assets than just earn a paycheck," he said simply.
She studied him for a moment before setting down her chopsticks. "Tomorrow, there's a women's celebrity football match. We don't have classes after lunch. Do you want to come?"
Yifen raised an eyebrow. "Football? Didn't expect that from you."
She shrugged. "It'll be fun. So, are you coming?"
A smirk played at Yifen's lips. "Why not?"
Xu Qingya gave a satisfied nod, her expression unreadable but subtly pleased.
---
A Friendly Challenge
After they finished lunch, Yifen casually glanced around before turning to her.
"There's an arcade in the mall, right?"
Xu Qingya looked up, slightly surprised. "Yeah, why?"
Yifen stretched his arms lazily. "Let's play a game. Loser buys ice cream."
She blinked, her fingers unconsciously gripping her bag strap. "What kind of game?"
Yifen chuckled. "Something fair. Maybe basketball shots or a racing game?"
She lowered her gaze for a moment, considering. Then, after a slight pause, she nodded.
"Fine, but don't cry when you lose."
He raised an eyebrow, amused. "We'll see about that."
At the arcade, they stood before the basketball shooting game. The timer started. Yifen smoothly sank shot after shot, his movements effortless. His confidence was unshaken.
Xu Qingya, on the other hand, struggled. She missed a few in a row, her brows furrowing in frustration.
"Ugh… why is this so hard?" she muttered.
Yifen, watching her amusedly, leaned in slightly. "You sure you don't want to give up now? Ice cream flavors are waiting for you to decide."
She puffed her cheeks and gripped the ball tighter. "Hmph. Don't look down on me."
Determined, she focused harder and finally scored a few in a row. But Yifen was still ahead. Getting impatient, she lightly punched his arm.
"Stop looking so relaxed!"
Yifen chuckled, rubbing his arm as if she had actually hurt him. "Alright, alright, I'll go easy on you."
As the game neared its end, he subtly missed a few shots, just enough for her to barely win.
When the timer ran out, Xu Qingya stared at the final score in disbelief. "Wait… I won?"
Yifen stretched casually, acting like it was no big deal. "Looks like I'm buying ice cream."
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "You… did you let me win?"
Yifen just shrugged with a small smirk. "Would I do that?"
She huffed but didn't press further. As they walked toward the ice cream stall, a small, satisfied smile curved her lips.