Society is developing and changing with each passing day. The world is never short of talent, and people of all kinds emerge constantly. If you can think of something, so can others. Even if you can’t, someone else will.

By the time I graduate from university, the ship will have sailed.

Xue Yang would never let such a thing happen. Therefore, he had to expose himself to as many industries as possible. As long as an industry could be profitable, he would give it a try. That way, if one of his ventures failed one day, he wouldn’t be left without any cards to play.

"You... I’m done with you. If you ruin your health one day, don’t come crying to me." Cui Hao turned his head away, wanting nothing to do with Xue Yang.

"Mhm."

Xue Yang continued to draft his plans for the milk tea business’s future. Song Fan’s new product had given him an idea. Introducing new products at the milk tea shop was an opportunity—a chance to bring the supermarket back from the dead. He could create a synergy between the milk tea shop and the supermarket. The milk tea shop would drive foot traffic, and the supermarket would then find a way to make those people stay and shop.

But this was no easy task, so he needed to plan for the long term.

Ming Yue looked at Cui Hao, then at Xue Yang. Suddenly, she felt that having a friend who thought of you so wholeheartedly was a wonderful thing. Too bad she didn’t have a friend like that.

Thinking of this, Ming Yue felt a tinge of sadness and lowered her gaze, not wanting anyone to see her vulnerability.

Xue Yang was completely engrossed in his planning, so Cui Hao knew not to disturb him. Instead, he continued the handover process with Ming Yue.

By the time they had just about finished, the sky outside had grown completely dark. The streetlights flickered on, with countless bright lamps illuminating the paths below. Vehicles drove by, their headlights and taillights flashing in the night like the very pulse of the city. Lights in the high-rise buildings switched on, revealing offices where people were still hard at work. Even on this quiet night, they continued to strive and fight.

She looked at herself. Wasn’t she one of them, too?

She smiled and turned her gaze toward Xue Yang. The pages of the notebook in front of him were densely packed with writing. Although she only gave it a passing glance, she could already guess what he had been writing about.

She couldn’t help but be shocked. In the short time it took for the handover, has Xue Yang already planned out the supermarket’s entire future? Is he even human? He must be a monster!

"I’m even thinking about transferring to work under Xue Yang," Ming Yue mused. "I want to see for myself how he’s going to bring the supermarket back from the dead."

Cui Hao’s mouth fell open. "Ming Yue, are you kidding me?"

Wait, did Godfather not only buy a supermarket but also its former boss as part of the deal? For anyone else, that would be impossible. But for Xue Yang... it actually didn’t seem like such a big deal.

"Do I look like I’m joking? Hm, I’ve decided. I’ll resign from the family and go work for Xue Yang. I wonder if Boss Xue will accept a job-hopper like me."

Xue Yang put down his pen and closed the notebook. "Of course."

"Let’s go eat. We can call it a celebration of our official collaboration."

"You haven’t even transferred yet. What collaboration? Besides, we don’t even know if your family will agree. Anyway, if my dad heard me say something like that, he’d break my legs."

Ming Yue gave a wry smile. "You don’t understand. It’s really tough for me in my current position. A lot of people are watching me, just waiting for me to slip up so they have a reason to kick me out of the Wang Family. So if they hear that I’m volunteering to leave, they’ll be overjoyed."

In fact, the members of the Wang Family had always been looking for a way to push her out. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dumped a mess like Yonghui Supermarket on her. After all, wasn’t Wang Doudou the one who created this situation? They could never kick out Wang Doudou, but she was a different story.

After all, my position has been illegitimate from the start...

Thinking this, Ming Yue’s mood sank even lower.

Cui Hao noticed her distress and said, "Then it’s settled. We’re definitely having that celebratory dinner tonight."

"Let’s go."

***

With no one else around to disturb them, their military training returned to normal.

「A month later」

On a dark and stormy night, it came to a close amidst the sound of a grand chorus.

Lin Xi and Si Wen returned to the dormitory to bid farewell to Liu Shiqi and Cao Xinrou. Though the month had been hard, it had taught them a most important lesson: the power of teamwork. One should never underestimate this power. As the saying goes, unity is strength. Sometimes, what seems like a small, insignificant force can overcome anything once it is brought together. It’s the same principle as "a small leak will sink a great ship."

Si Wen also finally understood why Xue Yang had wanted her to get along with everyone at college. All in all, Si Wen had changed the most over the month. She seemed to have truly grown up.

Having not been home in a long time, Lin Xi was eager to return. Si Wen also planned to make a trip home.

"So you’re both going back to living at home after the military training?" Cao Xinrou asked, looking at Lin Xi and Si Wen with reluctance.

"Yes, we really enjoyed living with you all this time," Lin Xi replied.

Liu Shiqi’s eyes reddened, tears welling up. "Then can you guys come back and stay often?"

Anyone watching might have thought they were witnessing some tearful, life-or-death parting. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"We can come back for a nap during our lunch break," Si Wen suggested.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot about that," Cao Xinrou and Liu Shiqi said, cheering up.

"Alright, we’re heading out now," Lin Xi said.

"We’ll walk you down."

Cao Xinrou and Liu Shiqi each helped carry a piece of luggage for Lin Xi and Si Wen down the stairs.

Xue Yang was already waiting for Lin Xi at the entrance of the girls’ dormitory.

"Xue Yang~"

Seeing him, Lin Xi immediately wanted to rush over. But her hands were full, so she had to abandon the idea.

Xue Yang walked over with a smile and took the luggage from her hands. Then he took the luggage from Liu Shiqi’s hands as well. "Thanks."

"N-No problem. We’re dorm mates; it’s the least we could do. Well... we’ll get going. The person picking Si Wen up is at the school gate, so we’re walking her there."

Xue Yang nodded and thanked them again.

Carrying the luggage in both hands, he and Lin Xi walked toward the car.

Ten minutes later, they arrived back at Tongfang Residential District.

The moment they got home and Xue Yang set down the luggage, Lin Xi clung to him like an octopus. Not only that, but she also rubbed her face vigorously against his neck, like a little Xiao Naimao.

Anyone else who saw them would have been stunned. Could this really be the same aloof and irritable campus belle?

"Xue Yang, I missed you so much~"

"I missed you so much too~"

The two hugged each other tightly, as if trying to fuse into one.