People are diverse.
Some young girls dream of getting something for nothing, while others, even after living two lifetimes, are still striving.
While others were exhausted after the college entrance exam and just wanted to sleep, Wang Shuang was brimming with energy, as if injected with adrenaline. Right after leaving the exam hall, she started calling Wen Ying and the others, inviting her friends to a meal.
Wang Jun had no objections and, worried Wang Shuang’s pocket money might not suffice, generously gave her more cash. “Little one, if you’re treating others, be generous. Don’t be stingy with your money.”
It had been a long time since Wang Shuang held so much pocket money.
She used to earn some money working part-time at Tianjiao, but in the semester before the exam, she didn’t even do that, losing her income source.
The Wang family ensured Wang Shuang was never cold or hungry, but extra pocket money was scarce. Despite her title as a “Tianjiao shareholder,” Wang Shuang was broke.
Newly rich, Wang Shuang got a bit carried away. Before even putting down her chopsticks, she announced she wanted to hit a bar that evening. “The exams are over. It’s time to relax. The door to the adult world is right there. We should get a taste of it early to prepare for university life.”
Wang Shuang winked at everyone, her slogan loud and bold, but no one responded to her call.
“I’m too tired. After eating, I just want to go home and sleep,” Geng Xiao said, unsure where Wang Shuang got her energy.
Geng Xiao was physically at the restaurant, but his mind was still stuck in the exam hall.
Tang Yifeng was also exhausted. “The adult world isn’t going anywhere. What’s the difference between experiencing it a day earlier or later? I don’t want to go to a bar. I want to visit Tibet.”
The Tibet trip had been discussed before. They planned to go together after Qin Jiao’s exam, but the Longtan Lake incident happened, with Yu Wenhao and his son scheming against Qin Jiao, and Wang Shuang nearly drowning. The Tibet plan fell through. Tang Yifeng brought it up again, and Geng Xiao’s interest was piqued. “When are you leaving? I’ll plan my schedule to go with you. Wang Shuang, are you coming? The three of us can go together.”
Wang Shuang was tempted but glanced at Li Mengjiao and shook her head. “Nah, you guys go.”
In July, Tianjiao was set to compete with Yu Tianlin’s new drama for ratings. Everyone at Tianjiao was preparing for this tough battle, and Wang Shuang, as a shareholder, felt she couldn’t be absent.
Li Mengjiao misunderstood Wang Shuang’s glance. “Don’t look at me. Teacher Yuan won’t let me go to a nightclub.”
As a minor actress, Li Mengjiao was well-protected by Yuan Fenghui. Nightclubs were definitely on Yuan Fenghui’s banned list for her.
Wang Shuang’s gaze shifted to Wen Ying.
With Xie Qian watching nearby, Wen Ying, also a minor, didn’t dare act out and firmly rejected Wang Shuang. “My uncle said nightclubs are no good. Besides, I need to go home and study.”
Wang Shuang’s gaze moved on. Next to Wen Ying sat Xie Qian.
Forget it. Wang Shuang didn’t even bother asking.
If she dragged Xie Qian to a bar, he couldn’t need to do anything. Just sitting there would have the same effect as a police raid, making everyone too nervous to have fun. What’s the point of that?
Having failed to recruit anyone, Wang Shuang felt embarrassed and finally turned to Peng Guoqing, her usual rival.
From their first meeting, with Peng Guoqing’s green hair, Wang Shuang knew he was a spoiled rich kid, a party animal.
After a semester in Chengdu, Peng Guoqing must be itching to let loose, right?
Confident, Wang Shuang extended the invitation, only for Peng Guoqing to eye her warily. “Are you trying to corrupt me? I’m not falling for it.”
Nightclubs weren’t a big deal. Peng Guoqing had hit plenty of them in Beijing.
When he first transferred to Chengdu, he wasn’t used to it. The small group around Xie Qian didn’t share such hobbies, and Tai Wu and the others weren’t in Chengdu, so Peng Guoqing couldn’t organise a night out.
Gradually, the urge faded.
One week without going, two weeks, then a month later, Peng Guoqing lost interest in partying.
Party for what? Had he finished the homework assigned by the teacher?
Math done, then English. English done, more subjects awaited. For a slacker like him, the mountain of books and sea of questions were endless.
Facing Wang Shuang’s invitation, Peng the slacker wasn’t thrilled but highly cautious.
Wang Shuang could fool around freely, having finished her exams, but Peng Guoqing didn’t even qualify to take the exams this year.
Wang Shuang must be trying to corrupt him, ensuring he’d fail to qualify next year too, wanting to see him humiliated.
Or maybe this invitation was a test, Xie Qian’s ultimate trial for him?
Peng Guoqing righteously refused, then fawningly looked at Xie Qian. “Nightclubs aren’t fun. I think doing practice papers is fun now.”
Forget Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao—even Wang Shuang, freshly liberated from the exams, instinctively straightened her back at the mention of “practice papers.” It was a conditioned reflex from Xie Qian’s torment.
How could anyone find practice papers fun?
To suck up to Xie Qian, Green-Haired Peng was utterly shameless.
Only Xie Qian remained unfazed. “Practice papers are fun? I’ll pass that idea to Teacher Liang. She’ll be pleased to hear it.”
If Teacher Liang was pleased, she’d assign more papers, right?
Poor Peng the slacker.
Wen Ying and the others thought so but didn’t speak up, fearing Xie Qian’s wrath would turn on them.
Peng Guoqing was deeply disappointed. Xie Qian still hadn’t accepted him.
As they laughed and chatted, Wen Ying’s phone rang. It was Yuan Fenghui.
“…Got it, Teacher Yuan. I’ll come over right away.”
Yuan Fenghui told Wen Ying to head to the company immediately.
“I mentioned the new drama’s premiere on my blog, and Teacher Yuan said Hunan’s side has reacted. She wants me to discuss countermeasures at the company.”
Wen Ying quietly explained to Xie Qian, who nodded. “Makes sense. You’re not the same as before.”
Before, she was a screenwriter, helping Tianjiao out of loyalty.
Now, as a shareholder, helping Tianjiao was helping herself, and Yuan Fenghui had no qualms about directing her.
Xie Qian didn’t oppose Wen Ying handling Tianjiao’s affairs. He wanted her to have influence and a free creative environment, not isolated in a vacuum. If Wen Ying knew nothing about daily operations, holding shares wouldn’t give her much say, especially since she wasn’t a major shareholder, owning even less than Wang Shuang.
Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Both had heard about Wen Ying buying into Tianjiao.
With Tianjiao’s momentum, Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng weren’t blind.
But joining Tianjiao wasn’t like their early “Shrimp King” venture with friends. Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng could join Shrimp King mid-way, but not Tianjiao.
Tianjiao didn’t need their small money, and they lacked the creative talent Yuan Fenghui valued.
Shrimp King was a kids’ startup. Tianjiao was an adult battlefield.
Unknowingly, Wen Ying had come so far. Thinking about it now, going to Tibet didn’t seem like much. A trip didn’t mean growth. Growth showed in other ways, like personal ability.
Wang Shuang waited two full minutes, but her phone didn’t ring. Puzzled, she said, “I’m a Tianjiao shareholder too. Why did Teacher Yuan call Wen Ying but not me? Forget it, I’ll go with Wen Ying.”
Wang Shuang gave herself an out.
Peng Guoqing snorted inwardly: Tianjiao shareholder, so what? I’m a shareholder of Jiaxin Film Company, but Xie Qian won’t let me say it.
