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  Chapter 136: Holding Hands as Friends

  TL: Etude

  Ye Ziqing was slightly startled when she heard Jiang Qin’s response.

  To be ho, her pliment just now was merely a casual politeness.

  Strictly speaking, the phrase “pretty good” sounded more like an encement from a senior to a junior, simir to how people in society ofteheir younger siblings to study hard, so they enjoy a life like theirs, w in an air-ditioned office, owning a house iy, and driving their own car.

  Ordinary college students would at least express gratitude upon hearing this, if not feel thankful.

  However, what Ye Ziqing didn’t expect was that Jiang Qin showed ement of being praised by a senior. Instead, he kept pining about his financial struggles.

  “You’re still in the development phase. Thinking about moization too early might limit your future dires. Adjusting your development strategy for the sake of profit is not a wise choice.”

  Jiang Qin ughed: “I don’t have any development strategy. I’m just messing around. I myself have no idea what this forum will turn iually.”

  Ye Ziqing was slightly taken aback: “You… just want to make a quick buck?”

  “I obviously want to expand it if I . I’m not stupid. The bigger it gets, the more I earn.”

  “Then you shouldn’t fooization. Promoting it externally is the right way.”

  “I don’t have money, senior sister. I have to support four teams and two marketing groups. I ’t survive on ideals alone.”

  Jiang Qin’s point was simple: If he didn’t sider moization from the start, the huhousand or so in his possession wouldn’t st until the end of the year.

  Not everyone es from a wealthy family background. For someone like him, who dares to start a business with just a little money, every step must be taken cautiously, fog on sustainable development.

  “Everyone has their own ideas. I wish you good luck then.”

  “Thank you, senior sister. When I make it big, I hope to have the opportunity to treat you to a meal.”

  Ye Ziqing didn’t say anything but smiled slightly ahe restroom.

  She thought Jiang Qin’s vision was somewhat short-sighted, simir to many specutors, only wanting to make a quick buck.

  People like him could definitely make a quick profit in the short term, but to grow and strengthen, he might not even qualify to ehe arena.

  Jiang Qin dried his hands, threw the paper towel into the trash bin, and muttered to himself in the mirror, “Why minced meat?”

  Damn it, I need moo buy meat too.

  Wheuro the private room, the five people inside were already pag up to leave. Old Cao and Ding Xue were still ging to each other, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, which made Feng Nanshu stare in a daze until Jiang Qin snapped her out of it.

  “Have you eaten enough? It’s time to leave.”

  “Yes, I have.”

  Feng Nanshu followed quickly, walking behind Jiang Qin from the io the outside.

  In 2008, Lin was in the middle to te stages of rapid development, giving the ey a somewhat spicuous patchwork appearance. In less busy areas, small shops along the streets still preferred signs with red, blue, and white as the main colors. But as you reached the pedestrian street, the various brightly colored neon lights were somewhat dazzling.

  The city ter was bustling with people. In the distahe es uhe night sky stood tall, blending the surreal with reality in a unique way.

  “Brother, it’s cold.”

  Hearing this coquettish voice, Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao both shuddered, then saw Cao Guangyu taking off his jacket and draping it over Ding Xue.

  But that wasn’t all.

  After doing this, Cao Guangyu also turned back to g Jiang Qin, his eyes somerovocative.

  He was feeling a bit overfident now. Merely outdoing Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao was no longer satisfying for him; he was always eager to outdo Jiang Qin.

  Moreover, Jiang Qin was wearing a bck hoodie today, which he obviously couldn’t take off. This was also why Old Caeted this point.

  “Heh.”

  Jiang Qi out a cold ugh, reached for his car keys, opehe trunk, and to Old Cao’s astonishment, he took out a coat and ha to the thinly dressed little rich dy.

  Feng Nanshu g Jiang Qin: “Please help me put it on.”

  “No, put it on yourself.” Jiang Qin decisively refused.

  Feng Nanshu pursed her lips: “Brother, it’s cold.”

  Jiang Qin surrendered aantly helped her put on the coat, thinking that he should avoid going out with Cao Guangyu and his partner iure. This one meal had taught Feng Nanshu more tricks than she had learned in the past eighteen years.

  And what about Old Cao? He had never been in love before, so how e he was so naturally adept at all these annoying tactics?

  Ren Ziqiang watched them, feeling bitter ihinking to himself that he had her a irlfriend, making his life seem particurly hard.

  Then there was Zhou Chao. Although he looked envious, he was happily belg, tent with the vish meal.

  This just showed the differeween people.

  Old Zhou, although he also wanted a partner, wasn’t as desperate as Ren Ziqiang. Even if he saw others funting their happiness, he could still find immense pleasure in a small meal worth a couple of thousand.

  But Ren Ziqiang was different. Seeing Cao Guangyu and Ding Xue, Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu, and then thinking about his ptonic friendship with Pan Xiu, he felt so upset he couldn’t eve.

  Now, as the gathering dispersed, he realized he was still single and didn’t even have the simple joy of a full stomach like Zhou Chao.

  People always chase after higher goals, fetting what’s in front of them. When they miss out on the present, they realize they haven’t achieved their higher goals, nor have they retained what was right in front of them.

  “It’s only nine o’cloow. Where shall we go?”

  “Let’s take a walk in the park across the street. It’ll help digest the food, and I’m too full to sleep right now.” Jiang Qin poio the Huang Park across the street.

  Cao Guangyu agreed, as no one in a new retionship would want to just go back to the dorm to sleep: “Sounds good. Ding Xue and I would like to stroll a bit more.”

  “Let’s go, then.”

  Ren Ziqiaated: “It would be o go back to the dorm to sleep.”

  Zhou Chao patted his shoulder from behind: “If Pan Xiu was here with you, would you still think the same?”

  “Old Zhou, don’t beat around the bush with me. You don’t even know where your ‘swallow’ has flown off to!”

  “If she’s flown away, I’ll give up and find another. Not like you, ging to Pan Xiu.”

  The six of them crossed the road oer the other, then plunged into the park. Walking on the pebble-studded path, they felt a f sensation uheir feet, far better than any foot massage.

  Cao Guangyu and Ding Xue were leading the way, reminisg about the time when they first met.

  “Do you remember the first time you ented on my post? You just blurted out, damn, you’re so cute.”

  Ding Xue remembered. She said that when she first saw his exaggerated post, she was itg to scold him, but then seeing him helping the old dy with a post, she thought he wasn’t all bad.

  “Old Jiang, how did you meet Feng Nanshu?”

  Jiang Qin thought, go to hell. If you want to show off, just do it. Why drag us into pying a couple’s role?

  Feng Nanshu softly spoke up: “I was reading in the library, and he kicked me.”

  “Damn, Jiang Qin, your flirting tactics are so sophisticated!”

  After the meal, Ding Xue had gotten quite familiar with them, casually throwing out sng.

  Jiang Qin, mimig the little rich dy, put on an expressionless fad said: “I was too engrossed in reading and didn’t notice, but ter I bought a drink as an apology.”

  “And then?”

  “Then we became friends.”

  “And after that, things naturally progressed?”

  Jiang Qin’s eyebrows shot up at this: “Progress what? After that, we became lifelong friends!”

  “That’s strange…”

  Ding Xue whispered into Cao Guangyu’s ear: “Aren’t they dating?”

  Cao Guangyu shook his head: “I don’t know what’s up with Jiang Qin. When school started, he was always ranting about not dating. Now he talks about it less.”

  “Enough, stop it. Ren Ziqiang is already overwhelmed with all this funting. Let’s just walk in peace. Have you ever sidered the feelings of us single folks?” Jiang Qin interrupted their whispering.

  Ren Ziqia somewhat grateful: “Brother Jiang still cares about me.”

  But though they stopped talking, Old Cao and his partner had other ways to show off.

  For instance, halfway through their walk, they suddenly discovered a small pond on the east side. The tranquil water mirrored the bright moon in the sky, perfectly described by the phrase “lotus pond uhe moonlight.”

  Ding Xue was immediately intrigued and insisted on walking around the edge of the pond. It was quite dark, and fearing she might actally step into the water, she asked Cao Guangyu to hold her hand from below.

  “Damn, this works too?”

  “Think they’re in a soap opera? Have they sidered our feelings?”

  Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang were sour with envy, but their ents only invited Cao Guangyu’s defiant gaze.

  However, the couple’s moonlit stroll by the pond was indeed romantio wo infuriated the two.

  Even Feng Nanshu couldn’t help but raise her fad quietly g Jiang Qin.

  But Jiang Qin, busy joining Zhou and Ren in their criticism and showing disdain for Old Cao’s couple, paid no attention to her.

  The little rich dy, after a moment of silence, cautiously stepped towards the pond, following behind Ding Xue with light steps.

  The autumn night breeze was cool, slightly rippling the surface of the pond.

  Focused ooes, she carefully moved forward. Suddenly, Ding Xue ahead of her staggered a bit, startling her and causio lose her bance as well.

  In her panic, Feng Nanshu suddenly felt her hand being grasped and then tightly held, a warm and reassuriion.

  Turning her head, she saw Jiang Qin had e to her side, one hand holding hers and the other spread out behind her.

  “Don’t fall in, it’s deep. Better get down.”

  “I want to py a bit longer.” Feng Nanshu’s eyes sparkled.

  Jiang Qin didn’t speak, but he didn’t let go either, leading the little rich dy forward with her delicate hand in his.

  Cao Guangyu looked back, his face dripping with sarcasm: “What happeo just being friends? You sly dog!”

  “We’re not interlog fingers. Even if Buddha asks, we’re just friends!”

  Jiang Qin chuckled, striding forward with the little rich dy, her soft, tender hand in his grasp, and her eyes filled with delight.

  Ren Ziqiang watched this se as if struck by lightning, thinking, Brother Jiang, you turraitor too quickly!

  EtudeTranstions