The debate competition had ended, but its aftershocks were still spreading across Jiangnan University like a stone tossed into a calm lake. For the average student, it was just another event to gossip about in the canteen or on online forums. For the Entrepreneurship Club, however, the outcome was a tectonic shift.
No one expected Liang Chen—the boy who had once been dismissed as a quiet nobody, a mere "café owner"—to dismantle Xu Jian with such clarity, wit, and precision. His arguments weren't just convincing; they carried the weight of someone who had actually walked the battlefield of business.
And when he announced the establishment of a five million USD Entrepreneurship Fund (roughly thirty-five million yuan), it sent shockwaves that refused to settle.
Within a day, the university forum was ablaze:
Thread 1:"Five million dollar fund?! Is Liang Chen serious?"
Thread 2:"Twin Pagoda guy is literally throwing money at us."
Thread 3:"Forget internships, I'm pitching my startup idea tomorrow!"
Some posts were full of admiration, others carried thinly veiled envy, and a few even accused Liang of grandstanding. But regardless of opinion, one fact was undeniable: Liang Chen's name was now etched into the consciousness of every student.
Even professors who had never bothered to remember students' names found themselves mentioning him during classes. The Dean of the Business Faculty even quipped during a lecture:"Perhaps we should invite Mr. Liang Chen to teach this course. His results seem more immediate than our theories."
The class erupted in laughter, but the undertone of respect was real.
Liang didn't waste time. With the Entrepreneurship Club, he arranged for the first pitch session in one of the grand halls of the university. Rows of students lined up, clutching hastily prepared proposals, some typed, some scrawled on notebooks.
Liang sat at the center of the panel, flanked by two professors and the club president. His demeanor was calm, almost understated, yet every pair of eyes gravitated toward him.
The first student marched up nervously."My project is… uh… Smart Chopsticks 2.0. They can detect unhealthy oils or fake alcohol. We'll connect them with an app that provides a health report after every meal."
Some chuckled, but Liang leaned forward, genuinely intrigued."Your idea has potential in food safety markets. But chopsticks as hardware are expensive. Why not start with a simpler attachment, maybe something compatible with existing utensils? Reduce the barrier to adoption, and then scale."
The student's eyes widened. "T-That… actually makes sense. Thank you, Senior Liang!"
The next proposal was more ridiculous: an umbrella-rental service with QR codes at every street corner. The hall stifled laughter.
But Liang's response was thoughtful again."Logistics would be difficult, and maintenance costs could eat profits. But if you pivot to 'emergency rain kits' sold through vending machines—poncho, cheap umbrella, maybe tissues—you might have something viable. Keep refining."
By the fifth pitch, the audience realized something: Liang Chen wasn't just humoring people. He listened, analyzed, and responded with actionable insight. Even the weakest ideas walked away with some spark of improvement.
Professors exchanged subtle glances. This wasn't the surface-level commentary of a student showing off. This was the voice of someone who understood markets, operations, and human behavior.
By the end of the day, the Entrepreneurship Fund received over 200 preliminary pitches. The atmosphere of the university was electric; students who had never considered entrepreneurship now dreamed of being the "first chosen project" of Liang Chen's fund.
The social shift was immediate.
Students who once ignored Liang in the cafeteria now greeted him with enthusiasm. Boys who had once sneered at him for being "just a restaurant owner" suddenly wanted his advice on their business classes. Girls who never gave him a second glance now lingered near him, smiling too brightly, finding excuses to start conversations.
"Liang Chen, you're free later, right? I'd love to discuss my marketing plan with you… over coffee?" one girl asked, twirling her hair.
Another boldly added, "You don't have to worry about expenses. I'll treat—you've already invested enough in everyone else."
Even walking across campus, he felt the weight of stares. Groups of students whispered his name as he passed. It was as though overnight, Liang had transformed from an invisible figure into the nucleus of campus life.
Liang wasn't naive. He knew this sudden attention came not from who he was, but what he had—wealth, status, and the aura of success. Still, he couldn't deny it was… enjoyable. The warmth of admiration, the charm of flattery—it stroked an ego he hadn't realized he carried.
But for every smile he received, a darker undercurrent brewed.
While most students buzzed with excitement, Xu Jian sat in silence, nursing his humiliation like a wound that refused to heal.
That day at the debate had stripped him of more than face—it had stolen his aura as one of the campus's untouchable elites. Now, even his closest followers whispered about how Liang Chen outclassed him in every way.
Xu Jian clenched his teeth as he watched girls who once flocked around him now orbit Liang instead. His pride screamed in protest.
"He thinks he's won?" Xu Jian muttered to himself in his dorm room. "Let him enjoy the spotlight. A café owner who stumbled onto luck—let's see how long he lasts."
His phone buzzed with a message from his cousin, a junior executive in the Xu family's conglomerate.
'I heard about your loss. Don't take it personally. But if you want revenge, I might have a way…'
Xu Jian's eyes narrowed, a cruel smile tugging at his lips.
Meanwhile, Liang found himself invited to a private tea session with Professor Wu, one of the most respected faculty members in the business school.
"Liang Chen," Professor Wu began, swirling his tea thoughtfully, "I've taught for thirty years. Students impress me with grades, with diligence, with cleverness. But very rarely do they impress me with… foresight."
Liang bowed slightly. "You flatter me, Professor."
Wu shook his head. "Not flattery. Recognition. Your fund initiative is not merely generous—it reshapes the ecosystem of this campus. Do you realize? You've turned Jiangnan University into a live incubator."
Liang nodded slowly. "That was my intention. A place where students test, fail, and grow—with mentorship and support, not just capital."
The professor's eyes glinted. "I'm working on a partnership with several local firms to develop a sustainable logistics project. I'd like you to sit in on the discussions. If you're serious about this path, you need exposure to larger arenas."
Liang agreed without hesitation. Every new door was an opportunity.
But not everyone saw Liang's rise as an opportunity.
During a casual club meeting, a tall senior with sharp features leaned against the wall, observing Liang with a calculating gaze. His name was Zhou Wei, vice-president of the Entrepreneurship Club and heir to a mid-tier family conglomerate in real estate.
Unlike Xu Jian's petty arrogance, Zhou Wei's aura was different: calm, measured, dangerous.
When Liang answered a question about scaling startups, Zhou finally spoke."Impressive, Junior Liang. Your insights sound polished. Almost… too polished for someone whose only business is a restaurant."
The room fell silent. The remark wasn't openly hostile, but it carried weight.
Liang merely smiled. "Business principles are universal. Whether a restaurant, a factory, or a conglomerate, the foundations remain the same."
Zhou's lips curled faintly, as though acknowledging the parry. But the glint in his eyes said something else: You're on my radar now.
Within weeks, the first batch of projects under the Entrepreneurship Fund were shortlisted. Some were laughably impractical, but a handful had promise. Liang announced seed funding for three projects:
A student-led sustainable packaging startup.
An AI-based study aid platform.
A drone delivery prototype team.
The hall thundered with applause as the winners were announced. The chosen teams bowed repeatedly, their gratitude genuine. For them, Liang Chen wasn't just a wealthy peer—he was the bridge to their dreams.
By now, the Entrepreneurship Fund was more than a program. It was a movement. Jiangnan University was buzzing with creativity, and at its center stood Liang Chen.
Epilogue: Shifting Tides
As Liang returned to his apartment that evening, the city lights reflecting in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel the momentum building around him. From Twin Pagoda to the fund, from admiration to rivalries—everything was accelerating.
He knew some of it was shallow. He knew some of it was dangerous. But deep down, a fire burned.
This was only the beginning.
And somewhere across the city, Xu Jian was sharpening his blade, while Zhou Wei quietly studied his prey.
The ripples of reputation had spread far, but Liang Chen understood: ripples eventually become waves.