Tonight’s main speakers were originally meant to be Wang Guang Ping and Professor Liu. The adults were discussing serious matters, partly intending to matchmake Wang Jian Hua and Liu Shan. Unexpectedly, Xia Zi Yu stole the spotlight midway. When she first appeared, Wang Guang Ping was extremely displeased, though his deep sophistication prevented him from showing it publicly. However, after listening to Xia Zi Yu’s eloquent speech, Wang Guang Ping saw her in a new light—her rural background and provincial manners seemed to have vanished.
Wang Guang Ping found it peculiar how Xia Zi Yu’s displayed abilities fluctuated between extremes. One moment she was circling Wang Jian Hua, the next she could talk business?
The tutoring institution would certainly be profitable, but it wasn’t just about money—like teachers who educate while earning a salary, who would accuse them of being money-grubbing? In the past, Wang Guang Ping might not have cared, but now that he worked in the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education, Xia Zi Yu’s tutoring institution might complement the existing education system.
Wang Guang Ping thought this idea could be useful with some polishing.
Professor Liu listened attentively, especially when Xia Zi Yu mentioned recruiting over two hundred students in her first trial. He secretly sighed: tutoring was originally Liu Shan’s idea, yet Xia Zi Yu had turned it into something bigger. If Liu Shan had led this project, he could have secured a national honor for his daughter.
After dinner, the Liu family of three left.
On their way home, Professor Liu declared, “You’re forbidden from seeing Wang Jian Hua anymore.”
Liu Shan protested, “Love should be free and equal. As long as Jian Hua isn’t married, I have the right to date him!”
Mrs. Liu sighed, “You silly girl, your father means that Xia Zi Yu is too cunning—you’ll lose to her! She’s determined to have Wang Jian Hua. Did you see how she came to stake her claim today, acting all innocent? She’s deeply calculating! Besides, Wang Jian Hua’s heart is with her now; you can’t compete.”
One shouldn’t go against the tide, right?
Even though the feelings were good, anything Liu Shan did would only bring them closer together.
The only way to compete with Xia Zi Yu would be to wait for their relationship to develop problems and then seize the opportunity.
Mrs. Liu didn’t approve of Liu Shan doing such things. If Liu Shan didn’t like other boys at school, she and her husband could introduce her to other talented young men. Why fixate on Wang Jian Hua? Mrs. Liu couldn’t understand what her daughter saw in him.
Liu Shan had her thoughts:
“My feelings are my own business. You and Father should stay out of it!”
Wang Jian Hua possessed a reliable, steady quality, mixed with a touch of melancholy reluctance to speak. The heavy burden of fighting for his parents’ reinstatement had weighed on his shoulders, yet he had succeeded and persevered!
Liu Shan believed in his capabilities.
Moreover, his unwillingness to abandon Xia Zi Yu made him seem even more dependable. A man who stood by Xia Zi Yu now would surely never betray her in the future.
Did Wang Jian Hua not have any feelings for her?
Following her feminine intuition, Liu Shan thought the situation wasn’t so certain. Eyes don’t lie, and there was emotion stirring in his gaze when he looked at her.
After the Liu family left, before Ran Shu Yu could express her anger, Wang Guang Ping spoke kindly to Xia Zi Yu:
“You didn’t finish what you were saying in front of Professor Liu earlier. What other ideas do you have for the tutoring school?”
Xia Zi Yu felt relieved, knowing she had gambled correctly tonight.
Heaven must be helping her—Wang Guang Ping’s reinstatement had placed him in the Higher Education Department! And her tutoring school was ultimately aimed at college entrance preparation.
“You’re right, Uncle. I want to turn the tutoring school into a chain institution. Just like how people think of ‘Phoenix’ when mentioning bicycles, or Beijing when thinking of roast duck, I want people to think of my institution first when considering tutoring.”
Wang Guang Ping nodded continuously—she aimed to build something substantial.
Anything that captures the first-mover advantage and remains unique can become remarkable, even if it’s just a needle and thread factory.
Ran Shu Yu didn’t understand what was so important about this tutoring school, but since Wang Guang Ping showed interest, she held back her anger. Xia Zi Yu explained that this was just the beginning—earning a few hundred yuan monthly, but if the student numbers doubled or increased tenfold, the profits would be truly considerable.
Ran Shu Yu was skeptical—could it be that profitable?
Why hadn’t others done it then?
Then they heard a touch of shyness in Xia Zi Yu’s voice: “My abilities are average, and I can barely manage the current scale. If we expand, I’d like to ask Jian Hua for help. He has the capability; he just needs a stage to show it…”
Wang Jian Hua was her man, and she would provide him a stage to soar!
She wanted Wang Guang Ping and Ran Shu Yu to know that although she lacked family background and couldn’t compare to Liu Shan or other girls who might appear in Wang Jian Hua’s future, what she could offer him wasn’t inferior to what a professor’s or official’s daughter could provide!
Wang Guang Ping couldn’t help tapping the table lightly:
“Zi Yu, Uncle believes in your vision, and believes you and Jian Hua can succeed in this!”
Since learning about Wang Jian Hua dating a rural girl, this was the only moment Wang Guang Ping felt genuinely happy. Making money from the tutoring institution was secondary; Wang Guang Ping himself was already confined to his position in the Education Department, so he naturally wanted to pave the way for his son Wang Jian Hua.
Xia Zi Yu only saw the profit potential of the tutoring school, completely missing the real benefits.
Wang Guang Ping didn’t plan to explain, while Ran Shu Yu managed to force a smile. Somehow, she found Xia Zi Yu more agreeable now.
“Jian Hua mentioned your parents came to Beijing. When? We should invite them over…”
Wang Jian Hua was overjoyed—Zi Yu was right, presenting the tutoring school project might change his parents’ attitudes.
Xia Zi Yu showed a faint smile.
Whatever she wanted would eventually be hers. Sometimes the process might be tortuous, but the result would be beautiful. As long as she remained patient, endured, and could grasp others’ weaknesses.
She was probing Wang Jian Hua’s parents’ weaknesses and had already found some clues.
So what was Xia Xiao Lan’s weakness? Now that Xia Xiao Lan has been admitted to Hua Qing University, she must be quite proud. Let her laugh for now—she would wait patiently and deliver a fatal blow when Xia Xiao Lan least expected it!
…
Xia Xiao Lan wasn’t proud at all.
She was busy dealing with her relationship issues.
After writing a letter to Zhou Cheng, Xia Xiao Lan’s college life officially began. The course schedule had been distributed, and the first semester’s arrangement wasn’t light. Besides architecture-related major courses, she couldn’t avoid basic subjects like English and Advanced Mathematics.
‘Physical Education’ also appeared prominently on the schedule. Before university, this class was often occupied by other subjects, with various teachers making casual excuses: your PE teacher is sick, your PE teacher has something to attend to, I’ll substitute for this class…
The schedule showed two blank weeks.
Just two words: Military Training.
Then Xia Xiao Lan faced academic confusion—for some unknown reason, several teachers seemed to dislike her.