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Chapter 181: When Soft Tactics Fail, Try a Harder Approach!
TL: Etude
Pag up their textbooks and leaving the study room, the students of Room 302 were all in high spirits.
Waking up to a ready meal was simply delightful; even the guilt of wasting half a day without learning anything had vanished.
Especially Zhou Chao, who was sound asleep before being suddenly treated to a meal, and that too on someone else’s dime. It felt like a dream, and who wouldn’t be excited?
If the mind was empty, so be it. Filling the stomach was the priority.
After all, how could oudy without energy from food?
And Jiang, he was damn incredible. Even Zhuang wao treat him to a meal, practically begging him to e. It was eous.
“Studying really is exhausting. Let’s go bad sleep right after eating.”
Jiang Qin, unfazed and not out of breath, packed his textbooks. No sooner had he left the study room than his phone in his pocket began to vibrate.
He casually pushed the textbooks behind him, as instinctively as passing dots to Wei Lann, and then took out his phoo a. Lu Xuemei’s voice immediately came through.
“Boss, where are you now?”
“Hmm? How did you know I’ve been diligently studying iudy room sihis afternoon and just finished?”
Lu Xuemei was momentarily stuhen lowered her voice, “You dare to tell su eous lie. Is the boss dy right o you?”
Jiang Qin was displeased with her rea, “Am I not fit to study iudy room? If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don’t disturb my precious study time.”
“Well, the gifts we ordered earlier have arrived,” Lu Xuemei said seriously.
“What gifts?”
“The dars, umbrels, coasters, and so on. Don’t you remember?”
Jiang Qin excimed in realization, “My brain was occupied with knowledge just now and didn’t switch gears in time. Did you check the items? How’s the quality?”
Lu Xuemei hummed, “I’ve checked them. The defective products have been sorted out. You trust my work.”
“Good. Pick two sets ahem to Director Sun of the Polyteiiversity and Director Li of the Teachers’ College.”
“Alright, boss.”
Jiang Qin had ordered a batch of year-end gifts for Christmas, including dars, umbrels, lighters, and other handy items, all printed with the logos of Xi Tian, Zhihu, and Group Buying, along with their promotional images.
This was not just for the sake of it but to maintain a presence everywhere.
For instance, Sun ming of the Polyteiiversity and Li Hua of the Teachers’ College were key figures for future promotions.
Jiang Qin’s smart mind had left a deep impression on them during the st visit, but he feared they would soon fet without a reminder.
Sending a dar would keep them gng at it now and then, building a sense of familiarity for wheime es for promotion.
If the dars were not used, the coasters and umbrels surely would be. And if not them, then the lighters.
He remembered that Sun ming and Li Hua were both heavy smokers. Although they didn’t smoke during the educational visit, their nie-stained fingers didn’t lie.
This was all about the details.
Just as Jiang Qin was about to hang up after giving instrus, he remembered something else.
“Oh, Xuemei, there’s ahing. Order two life-sized standees from Shengshi (the printing/advertising pany). I’ll send you the details via text shortly.”
“Okay.”
“Make sure the designs are doonight, and ask Shengshi to expedite the produ. I hem in two days,” Jiang Qin added, uo help himself.
Lu Xuemei sounded surprised, “That’s very urgent. I’m not sure if they make it.”
“If not, just pay extra. I don’t believe there’s anything that ’t be doh more mohis is very important, ehe timing. The finished billboards don’t o be sent to the school, send them directly to Longkai Iional Hotel, and coordih their front desk in advance.”
“Alright, I’ll call the faanager right now.”
After hanging up, Jiang Qin found everyone around him looking at him, quietly waiting for his call to end.
The people from Room 302 acted normally. They were used to hearing Jiang Qin giving orders over the phone in the dormitory and were aced to it by now.
But for the girls from the Finance Department who hadn’t experiehis before, their eyes held a mix of admiration and apprehension, not wanting to disturb his “big business,” so they all remained as quiet as mice.
This director and that director, spending money here and there, it was all very mu Jiang’s style. To the girls who had never left their ivory towers, all this was enough to make their heads spin.
“Let’s go, don’t just stand there. Hurry up a’s eat.”
Jiang Qin pocketed his phone and waved his hand to the group, striding ahead. Seeing this, the girls from the Finance Department quickly followed.
At this moment, Zhuang was trailing behind, feeling somewhat uneasy.
He liked Jian , so he often hung out with the girls from her dorm. But every time they went out, it was the girls who took the lead, and he never anded ao follow him. He always thought this behavior was gentlemanly, but now he couldn’t help feeling envious of Jiang Qin’s assertive demeanor.
“ , put your books in y first. I carry them for you.”
Zhuang temporarily set aside his thoughts and caught up with Jian , who was ahead with her bag.
“My books are already in the bag. This isn’t mi’s Jiang Qin’s.”
Jian , holding an advanced mathematics textbook, tinued walking and spoke softly.
“Why do you have his book?”
Zhuang was a bit fused.
“He ha back when he was on the phone. I was right behind him, so I just took it.”
Jian reted the se.
“Then why don’t you give it ba now that he’s doh the call?”
“Let’s give it ba at the restaurant. It’s not that heavy.”
“…”
Nanshaaurant, located directly opposite the school gate on the pedestrian street, was more upscale than Shiwei Tian, and the prices were higher, but no one could definitively say which had the better taste.
Those who dined here sought the ambiance of the private rooms, ideal for birthdays and gatherings. For value for money, however, most still preferred Shiwei Tian.
After everyone was seated and started , Jian returhe book to Jiang Qin, leaving him utterly bewildered.
“Damn, I didn’t even realize the book was missing the entire way. In fact, I pletely fot about its existence.”
“I should have just left it in the factory, right?”
“Don’t worry, from now on, the star student will never abandon you again.”
Jiang Qin patted his advanced math textbook, grinning as if appeasing the book would prevent him from failing.
Then, the steaming dishes were served, and the meal brought both joy and sorrow.
Zhou Chao was the happiest, reveling in the free meal. Cao Guangyu and Ren Ziqiang followed iement, while the most unfortable one was Zhuang .
He couldn’t uand.
Jian wouldn’t even carry her own book, so why was she willing to carry Jiang Qin’s?
What exactly went wrong?
Of course, he had a vague idea in his mind, but it was something he couldn’t bring himself to believe.
An hour ter, with Zhou Chao’s perfect up, all the ptes oable were empty.
Jiang Qin called for everyoo leave, and the group started to disperse. The girls from the Finance Department dormitory were o the gate, so after they left, only the fuys from Room 302 and Zhuang remained.
Zhuang hesitated several times but didn’t speak until Zhou Chao and the others went to the supermarket to buy co. That’s when he finally stopped Jiang Qin.
“On the day of the Winter Solstice, Jian asked me t dumplings to you. I felt unfortable about it, so I ate them myself.”
“Hmm, it’s okay,” Jiang Qin responded indifferently.
Zhuang fell silent for a while, theively asked, “You won’t tell Jian about this, will you?”
“Fet it, I don’t have time to py these romantic drama games with you.”
“What kind of game?”
Jiang Qin waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to get involved in such matters. “Do you have anything else to say? Hurry up. Zhou and the others shop really fast. Last time, the store owhought Zhou was shoplifting and chased him all the way to the dormitory.”
Zhuang took a deep breath, “Jiang Qin, you… you stop appearing in front of Jian ?”
“?”
“I really don’t want Jian to fall for you. You wouldn’t want that either, right?”
Jiang Qin was taken aback, “I’m already skipping half my csses. Where do you expect me to go? To heaven?”
Zhuang paused, realizing that Jiang Qin didn’t appear that often after all, “But, but…”
“Stop it. A grown man whining like this… Let me tell you straight, I’m not ied in dating. Your worries are unnecessary.”
“I know, but Jian mentions you more and more, and she’s not as focused whealks to me.”
Jiang Qin looked at him someeechlessly, “Why don’t you try ging your QQ profile picture to mine?”
Zhuang ’s face turned red with embarrassment, “I’m serious!”
“I know you’re serious. But what I do? Why don’t you ask Jian what she thinks is so great about me, and I’ll ge!”
“I ’t just ask her directly…”
Jiang Qin sighed, “Look, Zhuang, I actually have some fondness for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother talking so muonseh you. My st piece of advice to you: it’s better to let go of sand that ’t be grasped.”
Zhuang ’s mouth twisted bitterly, “Jian and I are neighbors. We grew up together, went to the same kindergarten, primary siddle school, high school, and now uy. I don’t know when I started liking her, but it’s been too long, too deep.”
“What’s that got to do with me?”
“Jiang Qin, do you really want to bee enemies? I’m not sure what terrible things I might do!”
Jiang Qin suddenly widened his eyes, a hint of fear in his gaze.
Seeing this rea, Zhuang couldn’t help feeling a bit triumphant. It seemed that a harder approach did have some effect.
“Shit, did I fet my textbook in the restaurant?!”
“??????”
Watg Jiang Qin dash out, Zhuang remained silent for a long time, eventually overwhelmed with disfort.
Jiang Qin clearly didn’t care about his threats, probably didn’t even listen seriously. This was a huge blow to his pride.
EtudeTranstions
