arents haven’t dreamt of owning large stores or making huge profits; no amount of money can compare to health and safety. As long as you get into a good university smoothly, your parents won't hesitat...Chapter 21: Sprinting Towards 1772
When Li Qiyang sat down to chat with Sun Man, Su Can could roughly understand what they were discussing. Although Su Can had only been at No. 27 High School for a week, he had heard about the prestigious reputation of the school magazine "Morning Flowers." Many influential alumni from No. 27 High School had their roots in this magazine, which led to more than twenty-five companies sponsoring it within the province.
The off-campus version of "Morning Flowers" was boldly displayed alongside magazines like "Caijing Magazine" and "Reader's Digest" in libraries across various universities.
Many influential figures who were once mere teenagers still cherished their youthful days with this magazine. As a non-profit publication run within the school, "Morning Flowers" had never lacked external support from individuals or organizations.
This was a substantial resource!
In this era, people's business acumen hadn't shifted towards the enormous potential in campus markets. For Su Can, who carried experiences and knowledge from another world, this should be an excellent opportunity. In his future life, it was effortless to establish a campus consumption magazine that led university students' guidance on shopping, entertainment, fashion trends, dining, among other aspects of college life.
Contemporary students, especially college students, were not distant from society but lacked the necessary connection紐帶. The student market on campuses had yet to be tapped into; however, Su Can, with his two lifetimes' experiences, knew there was tremendous potential in this area.
Currently, while various business opportunities were brewing, no one would focus their attention on the fertile grounds of college campuses.
The entire city boasted over twenty major universities and high schools with substantial consumer power. The number of students alone exceeded three hundred thousand, and their total disposable income was around two billion yuan.
How many business opportunities could this two-billion-yuan market generate At the moment, only Su Can had noticed this potential gold mine and found it feasible to act upon.
Su Can's lofty aspirations were triggered by Li Qiyang's conversation about someone else. However, he was pulled back to reality by Tang Wu's next words.
"Someone else" Although Li Qiyang sounded puzzled, his gaze immediately fell on Su Can. Having read Sun Man’s interview with him, he knew that Su Can was the "Jet Li" who had made bold claims; however, he didn't expect this boy to have pulled off a double feat by sitting between Sun Man and Tang Wu, enjoying himself before he arrived.
Tang Wu just couldn’t stand Sun Man and Li Qiyang’s neglect of Su Can. She observed many minor details that were bothering her but hadn't mentioned them openly. Now, feeling displeased, she casually rejected Li Qiyang's invitation to contribute articles and expressed her admiration for Su Can.
When Su Can first arrived at No. 27 High School, he immediately clashed with Sun Man, who enjoyed a high approval rating among the students. The pressure Su Can might face in class or grade level wouldn't be small. By speaking up for him now, Tang Wu was openly boosting his morale and support.
Even back when Su Cen was in Xiahai No. 1 High School, though his grades were not as high as Xiao Rihua's expectations for him, Su Cen's essay scores were rarely surpassed by anyone else in the class. Of course, the fluctuations in his scores were unmatched by any other student. Miss Xiao Ri Hua, who was also their Chinese teacher, could give Su Cen the highest score among all students' essays but sometimes wouldn't hesitate to give him a zero. This made Su Cen's essays one of the hottest topics for discussion in class.
Every time Xiao Rihua assigned an essay, people would start predicting what grade Su Cen would receive. The range was either the highest or the lowest score.
Xiao Rihua often marked Su Cen's essays with comments like "Your thoughts are incorrect and your writing is too extreme! What basic grammar do you even know"
But Tang Wu always read what Su Cen wrote, trying to understand his way of thinking.
The surface level of an essay is about the writing style, but at its core, it reflects a person’s thoughts. However, in Tang Wu's eyes, there was something unusual about Su Cen's essays. His thoughts didn't seem to be restricted to just this stage; instead, they seemed to have a broader perspective, as if he already transcended his time.
Therefore, Tang Wu had confidence in him and did not want Sun Man to neglect him.
"He!" Sun Man glanced at Su Cen immediately with obvious disdain. She thought she understood the psychology behind Tang Wu's support for her old classmate but found it excessive.
After all, how many outstanding articles were required to be selected in the "Yaotai" section of Chao Hua magazine There were countless students at school who wanted to have their work featured here. How could Tang Wu not value this opportunity
This made Sun Man somewhat disdainful towards Su Cen, but she still needed to maintain a certain degree of politeness in front of Li Qingyang. "Oh What kind of article can you write Could you come up with sentences like 'the moon’s shadow grows cold and faint, your gentle sigh sears my thousand-year slumber' or 'after countless turns and returns, the tipsy Yi An cannot dream her boat into a vision' "
Li Qingyang couldn’t help but feel slightly smug. Everything Sun Man mentioned was from his article; she recited it beautifully, which gave him some confidence in Tang Wu’s eyes.
"It has the flavor of Tsang Yezhe," Su Cen smiled and expressed his admiration for Li Qingyang's work before turning to Sun Man with a smile. "I tend to write things like 'the land rises high; one stream flows through ages, forever green' or 'overlooking the sea, three rivers converge into water that will flow for ten thousand years!'"
Sun Man rolled her eyes but everyone could tell she was forced to do so. She didn't even bother saying "banal" and her gaze towards Li Qingyang became clearer.
Li Qingyang smiled and asked Su Cen's name after learning his identity, then he said, "Since Tang Wu recommended you, there’s not much time left, could I trouble you There are still a few days before the final draft is due. You take over the manuscripts for 'Yaotai' during this period! I’ll help promote it!"
Su Cen looked at Tang Wu who was looking forward to him with understanding of her thoughts and squeezed her hand under the table. Tang Wu replied with a faint smile.
If he refused, it wouldn't only be seen as a sign of weakness but would also boost Li Qiyang's arrogance. Su Can nodded and agreed to the challenge.
Li Qiyang smiled and shook hands with Su Can. However, his overly enthusiastic handshake starkly contrasted with his usual demeanor, revealing his true thoughts.
To begin with, he had already become wary of Su Can who was by Tang Wu's side. Hearing Tang Wu vouch for him and seeing Su Can boldly accept the challenge despite his lack of awareness, it only fueled Li Qiyang’s pride.
Had the situation been different and Tang Wu refused to act on his behalf, he could have found a famous school writer to draft an article. However, now that his pride was swelling, he also felt a bit reckless and wanted to see Su Can humiliated. His mind swiftly formulated plans.
After shaking hands with Su Can, Li Qiyang flashed Tang Wu a charming smile before turning away. He unlocked his bicycle and rode home.
Having said their goodbyes at the roadside shop to Sun Man and others, Su Can and Tang Wu walked around the corner, entering a bustling area outside the school. Elevated roads, skyscrapers still under construction could be seen in the distance. Of course, this part of Erqianzhong School was not as developed as it would become in the future; many areas were still equivalent to abandoned grasslands or old residential buildings.
As dusk approached,
in a spot where few students passed by, seeing a lot of workers waiting at the station and long queues outside a well-known honey cake shop, with an older child around four years old holding his parents' hands curiously looking at them beside the Yonghe Soybean Milk Store, Su Can moved his hand over to Tang Wu's. Her hand was cool and soft as he held it.
Highways were above, cars silently flowing past. In this moment, their shadows stretched long.
In this city, young Su Can didn't know how many people missed each other every day; those who got on the bus at one station and off at another would occasionally gaze at a corner, hoping for something to happen there—a hero rescuing a damsel in distress or ten kilograms of professionally bundled cash falling from the sky, or an eccentric old man opening a fan-shaped martial arts manual asking if they wanted to uphold world peace.
Mildly speaking, it was a hope that at some corner in years to come, they would meet someone from long ago.
But this damned life often leaves us so tired that we even lose the luxury of daydreaming.
This moment, Su Can didn't know where those who were looking at corners would wander aimlessly next. Their faces often wore a soulless numbness, sorrow and inexplicable disappointment.
This is a sweet and blissful moment that two high school students like Su Tang don't have to consider, but Su Cen often looks at those middle-aged men with weary faces and notices their slightly stooped shoulders.
He used to live such a meager and uncertain life, just like a deer dog struggling to find food but mostly coming up empty. But now, he doesn't want to become the corpse trampled by everyone else; he wants to start stepping over his enemies one step at a time.
To firmly grasp this warm sensation in his hand, it requires some strength.
"Shall we go watch a movie" Su Cen pointed at a cinema they just passed. Ever since the midnight bell incident at Tang Wu's house, Little Su Cen had developed an inexplicable fondness for movies; horror films often bring unexpected surprises beyond the initial shock.
“I need to head home now. I have class tomorrow,” Tang Wu softly replied.
The internal conflict between her emotional and rational sides was reflected in her delicately furrowed brows, but Su Cen didn't get upset; instead, he enjoyed this feeling of straying from the usual routine軌道上的偏離出軌搖擺的不真實和刺激。(Note: The last part is redundant as it repeats "偏離出軌" which means deviating or going off track, so I'll omit that in translation to avoid redundancy and improve fluency)
There's plenty of time ahead.
In front of the bus stop, there was a long silence during which no one felt like talking. Every moment此刻的時光值得細細體味。(Note: Repetitive phrase omitted for better flow) in this moment was worth savoring.
The bus finally arrived. Tang Wu wrapped her hand around Su Cen’s waist and gently hugged him, a scent of first love. This action made everyone on the platform, whose expressions were increasingly indifferent, take notice.
“I’m off now.” Tang Wu let go and walked into the bus with the crowd, just like any ordinary student.
Su Cen felt relieved as he watched Tang Wu's figure disappear from sight on the departing bus. He knew that right now her home was still a forbidden zone for him, but there would come a day when he could strengthen himself and challenge this禁區。(Note: The word 禁區 is left untranslated as it refers to an area considered off-limits or restricted in context)
Congratulations on the successful event today. A big thank you to all my brothers for their support, and gratitude to everyone who contributed both front and back stage.
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This book has grown under the support and contributions of everyone from the very beginning. I hope it will be a story that brings joy and satisfaction to all readers.rticular individuals, which created quite a contrast that irked some of those present.Seeing Chen Lingshan still behaving friendly and approachable like she usually did in class without putting on any...