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  Chapter 144: The Polite Robbery

  TL: Etude

  Footsteps echoed through the empty corridor.

  Vice Principal Zhang Baiqing, in charge of school affairs, and Directu lei of the Publicity Department, arrived at the Entrepreneurship ter. Apanied by a group of teachers, they walked around, stopping occasionally to briefly i various entrepreneurial projects.

  “Principal Zhang, Directu, this is a photography studio started by students from the Media Department.”

  “This is a tut css initiated by the Fn Languages Department.”

  “…”

  Cao Xinyue, ag as the receptionist, followed closely behind the leadership team, providing a brief introdu to eatrepreneurial project.

  Vice Principal Zhang Baiqing listened and nodded along, but it was clear that he wasn’t very ied.

  To be ho, sutrepreneurial projects were onp many schools and could hardly be sidered real entrepreneurship, merely minor ventures.

  “Let’s go see Jiang Qin’s forum project first,” he suggested.

  “Jiang Qin’s project is in Room 208.”

  “The’s head straight to Room 208 and skip the rest.”

  Sihe Vice Principal had spoken, Cao Xinyue didn’t insist on introdug every project. Truth be told, some of these projects had beeablished before her time at the general office, and were rarely active except during official iions.

  Her introdus were based on what she had memorized from files; otherwise, she wouldn’t even know what each was used for.

  Thus, the group hurried to the sed floor, heading towards Room 208.

  The atmosphere in Room 208 was notably gloomy, starkly different from the bright and active s they had seen earlier, creating a somepressive feeling.

  The teical team, sisting of five people, took turns using a single puter. Su Nai was the operator, while the other programmers gathered around, occasionally suggestions.

  Dong Wenhao’s tent team also shared a single puter. Lu Feiyu was responsible for typing, while the others buzzed with ideas.

  “Principal Zhang, Directu, this is Room 208…”

  Cao Xinyue reached the doorway of Room 208 first, and upon gng inside, she paused in surprise.

  What’s going on here?Why is it so dim, almost like the lights are off? She recalled Room 208 being different.

  “How e the ditions in Room 208 are so poor?” Zhang Baiqing frowned as he stood at the door.

  “That’s nht. I remember the photos published in the Qin Youth Neer. Room 208 looked quite vish, with desks full of ptops, eveer than our school offices.”

  Gu lei also looked puzzled, feeling like she was experieng the disparity often fouween product photos and the actual item, like when shopping for snacks at a supermarket.

  Cao Xinyue, familiar with Jiang Qin’s antics, knew he must be up to something again.

  He had previously e up with a clever ploy to acquire Room 207, eveending to find the key by act. It was clear that he must have set arap this time.

  “Jiang Qin, Principal Zhang and Directu are here.”

  Cao Xinyue called out from the doorway. As her voice fell, Jiang Qin slowly raised his head from behind the desk, straightened his clothes, and stepped forward to greet them.

  He had heard the otion earlier but had waited to make an appearanot wanting to disrupt the leaders’ initial impression of Room 208’s humble setting.

  “Good day, Principal, Director, and distinguished leaders! Wele to your iion visit!”

  Principal Zhang Baiqing greeted him with a kind smile: “Your website is doing well, and the work-study program is progressing nicely. I’ve heard about it for a while but only found the time to visit today.”

  Jiang Qin nodded in uanding: “It’s an honor for everyone in Room 208 that the Principal and Director, despite your busy schedules, could spare time to visit us.”

  “What’s with the lighting here?”

  “Oh, it broke a few days ago. We’ve been too busy to tact the mainteaff, and it doesn’t really affect our work, so we just left it as is.”

  Curious, Gu lei walked in for a closer look, growing more baffled: “Jiang Qin, the Qin Youth Neer published photos of your office, and it definitely didn’t look like this. Where are the puters? I remember there was even an impressive executive chair.”

  Jiang Qin coughed slightly: “When I khe reporters from Qin Youth Neer were ing, I specifically borrowed some puters and chairs to avoid embarrassing our school. After the photos were taken, I returhem all.”

  “Only three puters for over a dozen people. Doesn’t that affect efficy?”

  “It’s manageable during downtime, but when it gets busy, we have to work in shifts.”

  Vice Principal Zhang Baiqing couldn’t help but ent, “Since you’re short on equipment, haven’t you applied for more from Professor Yan?”

  Jiang Qin sighed with a troubled expression: “I did apply, and it was quickly approved. Both Professor Yan and Senior Sister Cao are very supportive of Room 208, but the application requires multiple approvals, and the implementation is admittedly slow…”

  “How long ago did you submit the application?”

  “Half a month now. Up to this moment, we haven’t seen even a mouse pad, let alone a puter. We’ve been relying ohree puters to develop our business with the Sd Teology Uy. Just the other day, Su Nai’s keyboard nearly caught fire from overuse, and there’s something wrong with the sound system. When someone is in the office alorange noises often emanate.”

  Su Nai, who was g, stiffened, her eyes widening with a fsh of cold i.

  The boss is implying something, isn’t he?What exactly are these strange sounds he’s talking about?

  “The spirit of simplicity and hardship is endable, but there’s a limit. Write a nelicatioailily what you need, and I’ll see to it personally,” Zhang Baiqing said.

  As a leader in the school affairs office, Zhang had the actual power to expedite support requests, unlike Professor Yan.

  “Then, please take a seat, Leader. I’ll write it now. Lann, go to the main offi the first floor and bring some water for Principal Zhang and Directu.”

  Wei La a bit suffocated, thinking, ‘The boss really leaves no stourned, even hiding the water dispenser!’

  “Okay, I’ll go fetch water from the first flht arincipal, Director, please wait a moment.”

  After listening, Gu lei turo Jiang Qin: “Do you usually go to the first floor for water?”

  “No, I ask them t a cup from their dorm every day. O’s fihey don’t drink any more. It saves water and reduces bathroom trips.”

  “…”

  Jiang Qin rambled on, his miirely focused on the application form.

  puters, printers, air ditioners, TVs, power strips, electric kettles, water dispensers, heaters, brooms, mops…

  He thought, ‘Might as well request everything in one go. The regur approval process is excruciatingly slow.’

  Zhang Baiqing’s smile gradually stiffehen faded away, thinking, ‘Clever boy, trying to make a fortune here?’

  “Write just half for now. Asking for too much might not be good.” Jiang Qin handed over the application form.

  Zhang Baiqing g it: “You need quite a lot, and this is only half?”

  Jiang Qin sighed: “It’s not that I’m asking for too much, Principal, but that I uch.”

  “Alright, I’ll see to it once I’m back. But get the light fixed soon.”

  “Of course, Principal.”

  “This project is tied to work-study. Do it well a any issues to the smediately.”

  After leaving these instrus, Zhang Baiqi Room 208, gng at the application fain, thinking, ‘Is this even a request? It’s more like a very polite robbery.’

  ‘I should visit Room 208 less often iure; it’s full of pitfalls.’

  Cao Xinyue leaned against the doorframe of Room 208: “Junior, quite the feather plucker, aren’t you?”

  Jiang Qin’s eyes deepened: “Starting a business is iough. I don’t like doing this, but there’s no other choice. Who doesn’t want to be a vibrant, refreshing male god? Who doesn’t want to buy whatever they ck with a graure? Being greasy and ing is a st resort. We have to survive, after all.”

  “…”

  “Senior Sister, do you look down on someone like me? I must ck the hoy and kindness of a college student. Nobody likes someone who reeks of money-grubbing, not even myself…”

  “Junior, I’m not mog you, but your situation is making even me feel distressed.”

  Cao Xinyue felt a wave of sympathy, her gaze filled with genuine .

  She wasn’t mog him; it was just a vent. She had witnessed Jiang Qin running around tirelessly, g eveime to return to his dormitory aing to staying in Room 207. She had a fair uanding of how exhausting his efforts were.

  Moreover, she uood that business was like that: every penny had to be spent wisely, saving wherever possible.

  “Here’s what we’ll do: if you need help around here, just call me. If I’m not avaible, you ask Hong Yan or Tang Lin. We’ll help whenever we .”

  After a moment of silence, Jiang Qin spoke: “Actually, there is something I need your help with right now.”

  “????”

  “I need a PowerPoint presentation for a project pitch. Could you help me with that?”

  Realization dawned on Cao Xinyue: “You were pretending to be pitiful, not just waiting for the Principal but also waiting for me!”

  “No, absolutely not. I believe professional matters should be handled by professionals. You’ve dealt with so marepreneurial projects and surely know what the leaders like. I’m about to visit Li Gong Uy and Teacher’s Uy, and this presentation is crucial.”

  “Will you pay?”

  “Yes, I will. As long as it’s well done, you’ll be fairly pensated.”

  Cao Xinyue pursed her lips, thinking that at least Jiang Qin had some sce left, not pnning to exploit her bor for free: “The main office isn’t too busy tely. I’ll go bad arrange for someoo help you with the PowerPoint.”

  Jiang Qin csped his hands in gratitude: “Thank you so much, Senior Sister.”

  “After the presentation is done, you have to treat me to a meal!”

  “Definitely!”

  Jiang Qin watched Cao Xinyue leave and then turned back to Room 208, instrug Dong Wenhao to move things around and Lu Feiyu to fix the light bulb. Having been in the dim room for so long, his eyes were nearly strained.

  “Lucky that your boss dy didn’t e by today,” Jiang Qin remarked.

  Su Nai, looking puzzled, lifted his head: “Why?”

  “If Principal Zhang had seen her buying such expensive imported fruits, our ruse today wouldn’t have worked.”

  “That’s true…”

  At that moment, Dong Wenhao entered, carrying Jiang Qin’s executive chair: “Boss, shall we py cards?”

  Rolling up his sleeves, Jiang Qin replied: “Today, with the school’s strong support, I’m in a good mood. Let’s py cards.”

  EtudeTranstions