Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn? - Chapter 208: The Little Rich Lady’s Back-to-School Gift

TL: Etude

Dong Wenhao was a core employee of Room 208. Although he had not received any special instructions from the boss, he still conscientiously returned to school early. After tidying up his dormitory, he headed to Room 208.

Upon entering, he saw the boss sitting with Su Nai in front of the computer, discussing some issue with serious expressions.

“Can it still be recovered?”

“Definitely not, it’s already been deleted.”

“Aren’t you a programmer? Hack into their backend for me and retrieve my previous collection records.”

“Boss, you’ve watched too many movies. If I had that kind of skill, why would I still need to borrow your membership?”

“Damn, you make a good point. I can’t even argue against that.”

Dong Wenhao, sitting in the back row, listened for a while and smacked his lips, thinking that returning to school early was indeed a wise decision.

Why? Because in the entire startup team, aside from Jiang Qin and Feng Nanshu, the highest-ranking members were Dong Wenhao, Su Nai, and Wei Lanlan.

The three of them were responsible for different areas: one for content, one for technology, and one for marketing.

Despite being on the same level as Ding Qiaona and Lai Cunqing from the University of Science and Technology, they still had to humble themselves when meeting, roughly on par with the likes of Tan Qing and Lu Xuemei.

But Su Nai was not at all arrogant. Not only had she returned to school early, but she had also already begun discussing business matters non-stop with the boss.

If Dong Wenhao hadn’t come today, in contrast to Su Nai’s diligence, wouldn’t it have seemed like he was a bit lackadaisical? That was a close call…

This is the workplace!

While Dong Wenhao was lost in his thoughts, Jiang Qin suddenly noticed him, and his face stiffened.

“Old Dong, when did you come in?”

Dong Wenhao coughed: “Boss, I just arrived. Is there a bug with the website?”

“Ah, yes, we lost some data, but it’s not particularly important,” Jiang Qin casually covered it up.

“So… what happens with the lost data?”

“Just deduct it from Su Nai’s salary.”

Jiang Qin noticed Su Nai glaring at him with clenched teeth, and his face darkened: “What are you looking at? The data you lost is a great intangible cultural heritage!”

Su Nai immediately retorted angrily: “Deduct it then!”

“Alright, you don’t have to search anymore. Hurry up and test the group-buying function. If it goes live without issues tomorrow, I won’t deduct your salary.”

“…”

The next morning, college students gradually returned to school, and the group-buying service officially resumed its online operations with three deliveries a day.

Jiang Qin, like a loafer, scurried around various dorm buildings. Watching the dashing figure in the yellow cap, he felt extremely pleased.

The start of the school term was always exhilarating. Where there were students, there was consumption, and where there was consumption, there was money to be made.

Moreover, after the New Year, most students had plenty of money on hand.

Jiang Qin felt that although these New Year’s gifts were currently in others’ hands, in a couple of days, they should be his.

There’s a saying that goes well: no college student can hold onto their New Year’s money, pocket money, or living expenses for long. They’re just temporarily keeping it safe for Jiang Qin.

“This saying is brilliant, too bad it can’t be shared publicly.”

“…”

Jiang Qin returned from the Construction Engineering Department’s dorm building, stepped into the bright morning light, and headed to the campus supermarket.

At the beginning of the new semester, there wouldn’t be many large orders from the online mall, but the campus supermarket was bound to do good business, especially with necessities like toilet paper. Every dormitory needed to stock up. By making a round here, he could get a good sense of the online business’s recovery.

“Boss Jiang, long time no see. Boss Jiang really can’t sit still, huh? Checking up on work right at the start of the semester?”

Upon seeing Jiang Qin enter, the supermarket owner immediately looked expectantly towards the door. After waiting five seconds without seeing a second person enter, the hopeful look in her eyes quickly dissipated.

Didn’t Boss Jiang’s unbelievably beautiful girlfriend come along?

Well, that was it. She couldn’t expect to swindle a single penny from him this time.

“How are the online sales today?”

“About forty percent less than the offline orders,” replied the supermarket owner.

Jiang Qin nodded, “That’s normal since it’s just the start of the semester. Everyone just buys things as they pass by, so it’s natural for online sales to be a bit lower. But the volume should return to pre-holiday levels by tomorrow.”

“Boss Jiang is eyeing the students’ New Year’s money again, isn’t he?” Jiang Zhihua hit the nail on the head.

“Nonsense, I only think of serving my fellow students. It’s just that I happen to fatten my own wallet while making things convenient for others.”

After hearing this, Jiang Zhihua felt a tingling on her scalp, thinking that anyone who could say such things was bound to be extraordinary. Jiang Qin was deceiving even himself, and without batting an eye.

“By the way, Boss Jiang, do you want to buy another couple’s cup? I just got a new design in, it’s even prettier than the last one.”

Jiang Qin glanced at her, “What couple’s cup? I don’t know, I’ve never bought one.”

“You bought it the day before Christmas Eve, you really forget quickly.”

“How could that be? I didn’t even see you that day.” Jiang Qin was adamant.

Jiang Zhihua thought he didn’t want to spend money and quickly added, “It’s been so long since you’ve seen your girlfriend. She’d be really happy if you got her a back-to-school gift.”

“…”

Pretending not to hear, Jiang Qin grabbed two sausages from the snack shelf, “Are these good?”

Jiang Zhihua’s mouth twitched, feeling like she was the one being swindled, “They’re not worth much. If Director Jiang wants to eat, just take them.”

“Then I won’t be polite.”

Jiang Qin, with sausages in hand, waved goodbye and walked out, heading towards the Entrepreneurship Center.

A back-to-school gift? It doesn’t necessarily have to be bought with money.

Peeling off the wrapper, Jiang Qin broke the sausages into several pieces while walking, dropping them every few steps.

Then, he pulled up his pants and squatted on the curb to play a game of snake on his phone.

Time slowly passed, the quiet road remaining undisturbed.

Ten minutes later, Jiang Qin crashed the snake into a wall and frowned at the sausages scattered on the ground.

What happened? Usually, there were loads of stray ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ around. Why were they all missing today? Even if just one came by and snatched a piece of sausage, it could have become as famous as a dog named Wang Kekou, becoming the protagonist of a ‘Humans Worse Than Dogs’ series.

Did they even know what they missed out on?

After pondering for a while, Jiang Qin suddenly realized the reason. During the winter break, most students were away from school, leaving no one to feed the strays. Plus, the cold and hunger probably drove them elsewhere.

What a pity, the little rich lady’s back-to-school gift was gone.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the small path behind the Entrepreneurship Center. Jiang Qin’s eyes lit up, thinking it might be a dog, but when he turned to look, he realized it wasn’t a dog but Lu Feiyu strolling towards him.

The guy seemed to have gained a few pounds over the New Year, his jawline much rounder.

“Boss, what are you doing squatting here?”

“I was trying to pick up a dog to keep, so I scattered some sausage pieces on the ground. I didn’t wait for a dog, but I waited for you.”

After hearing this, Lu Feiyu’s face darkened, “Boss, that sounds a bit like an insult.”

Jiang Qin looked up at him, “Don’t take it personally, I mean, that’s a status equal to Wang Kekou’s. What are you?”

Lu Feiyu didn’t know who Wang Kekou was, “Boss, is there any sausage left?”

“There’s half a piece.” Jiang Qin fished out the remaining half and handed it over.

Lu Feiyu took a bite, “Great, I’ve been rushing around all morning and haven’t eaten yet.”

“Your standards are lower than mine. I said it’s for dogs.”

“I’m a dog too, a single dog. If they can eat it, why can’t I?”

Chewing on the sausage, Lu Feiyu shook his head and headed back to the Entrepreneurship Center.

Jiang Qin also stood up, feeling he probably wouldn’t wait for a dog, so he sighed and returned to Room 208. He found that most people had already returned, sharing their holiday stories with each other, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.

“Boss, there’s something I need to report to you,” Tan Qing suddenly approached.

Jiang Qin settled into his chair, “Go ahead.”

“During the break, I got in touch with Mr. Zhang of Hongjin Restaurant and Entertainment. Their company has two Maidi KTVs and a Dadi Cinema, all located in the university town near the city center. They also recently opened a Qinghuajiao Grilled Fish restaurant, which is very suitable for our group-buying projects.”

“Are they interested in collaborating?”

Tan Qing sighed, “It’s the same situation Lanlan and I encountered earlier. As soon as they hear it’s a student startup project, they lose interest. Despite my follow-ups, I’ve been unable to arrange a specific meeting.”

Jiang Qin thought for a moment, “Bring me the information about Hongjin Restaurant and Entertainment.”

“Okay, boss.”

Tan Qing hurried to his desk and brought back a stack of documents.

Jiang Qin glanced at them, “This company’s name sounds familiar. Bring me that business card I gave you before the New Year.”

Tan Qing pointed to the documents, “It’s clipped in here.”

“In here?”

Jiang Qin shook the papers, and sure enough, a business card fell onto the table. This was a card he had obtained from a business banquet in Linchuan, with keywords written on each in ballpoint pen.

Indeed, on this card of Mr. Zhang from Hongjin, there were three words written: He Yijun.

Jiang Qin pulled open a drawer of his desk and took out a reform layout plan for Wanzhong Mall, comparing them carefully.

“No wonder it looked familiar. You and Wenhao go to Wanzhong and ask He Yijun for help in arranging the meeting.”

Tan Qing was slightly stunned, “Ah?”

Jiang Qin returned the documents to him, “Zhang Qiao and He Yijun are old friends. Their grilled fish restaurant is a project introduced by Wanzhong Mall. He definitely has influence over him.”

“Will Boss He help us?”

“Don’t worry, he’s currently under my control.”

After finishing, Jiang Qin looked up at Dong Wenhao, “Old Dong, He Yijun knows you. Take Tan Qing with you.”

“Okay, boss.” Dong Wenhao was full of enthusiasm.

Watching them leave, Jiang Qin took out a pen and ticked off on the 2009 development progress chart.

The forum promotion was imminent, and the campus beauty contest was in preparation. Capturing the student markets of the University of Science and Technology and the Normal University was almost a done deal.

Once the consumer power of these four major universities was combined, it would create a spectacular effect.

By that time, group-buying would become a lever, lifting the students’ purchasing power into full view.

Students as a group are like stars scattered across the sky, but when gathered, they blaze like a fire.

Merchants in Linchuan would surely be as amazed as He Yijun now, realizing the vastness of the student market.

With such an effect, they wouldn’t have to work so hard on partnerships anymore. They could just wait for Linchuan’s businessmen to come knocking, drawn by the scent.

Ding Ding Ding—

Jiang Qin was envisioning his dominance in Linchuan when a series of alert tones brought him back to reality.

In the bottom right corner of his computer screen, a silly-looking tabby cat was blinking incessantly.

“I’m back, big brother, let’s go.”

“Why did you start with ‘big brother’ right away? What about the process in between?”

“It’s omitted, so we can go faster.”

…

Feng Nanshu — “Big brother, please vote for this book.”