Financial Independence through Cracked Apps

Chapter 440: Chapter 215: Returning to the College Campus 2

"Then I’ll be counting on you, partner."

"What’s a little trouble between partners? Don’t mention it."

After reaching a preliminary agreement with Jiang Wan, Lin Shen’s second company began to take shape.

Shenwan Media would focus on online business, while Shennan Pet Industry would focus on brick-and-mortar operations.

The two would complement each other. If they gained momentum later on, it would be much easier to expand into other industries.

Afterward, with Jiang Wan leading the way, Lin Shen ambled aimlessly around the campus, fully immersing himself in the university atmosphere he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

The setting sun dyed the twilight sky blood-red, and gentle ripples danced across the lake’s surface.

Since it was a Friday afternoon, the students, free from their classes, were full of anticipation for the upcoming weekend.

They headed for the school gates in groups of three and five, abandoning the cafeteria food they’d eaten for five days to go hunt for a good meal elsewhere.

This reminded Lin Shen of his own college days.

Every Friday night, Qi Junxian would always rally everyone to go out to eat. It was either hot pot or barbecue skewers, washed down with a case of cold beer. It was the definition of contentment.

’I wonder how they’re doing now?’

Lin Shen suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for his university life. Seeing these students, brimming with youth, brought his wistful feelings to a peak.

They wandered from the academic buildings to the athletic field, from the cafeteria to the dorms.

All along the way, they saw all sorts of students, their faces lit up with brilliant smiles.

It was an expression yet to be worn down by society—one of immense purity and beauty.

People say that university is the summer vacation of life, and thinking about it now, it really was true.

It was a kind of pseudo-bourgeois life, an illusion where you didn’t participate in production but still had your parents’ money to spend.

On top of that, being in Modu, a prime location, allowed you to enjoy the hustle and bustle of a major city at the lowest possible living cost.

And because you were a student, you didn’t have to face issues like marriage, family, or career survival. Some even enjoyed the respect and admiration of others thanks to their "prestigious university" title.

After graduation, however, everyone returns to their respective social classes.

Only then do you discover how difficult life truly is.

You realize that being able to spend two thousand yuan a month on whatever food, drinks, and fun you wanted was such a luxury.

You realize that the so-called "prestigious university" title was just a foot in the door for getting a job.

You realize your parents have long reached the age where they need to be cared for, and you’ve reached the age where you have to consider marriage and children.

You realize... just living with dignity is such a difficult thing to achieve.

"SIGH—!"

Lin Shen let out a long sigh, his heart filled with melancholy.

’If it weren’t for the system,’ he thought, ’I’d probably just be barely scraping by right now, let alone walking alongside the most popular, campus belle-level counselor in the entire university.’

"Hello, Professor Jiang!"

"Director Jiang! When are you updating your videos? We’re bugging you for an update in person!"

"Soon."

Jiang Wan smiled and greeted the students one by one, her attitude exceedingly gentle.

Seeing how many people knew her, Lin Shen couldn’t help but tease.

"Since you’re so famous at Shanghai International Studies University, does that mean you have a lot of admirers?"

"Quite a lot, actually."

Jiang Wan rubbed her temples, feigning annoyance.

"People send me flowers and gifts every day. It’s either students or teachers, and even people from other schools. It’s so annoying."

"You didn’t accept all of them, did you?"

Seeing Lin Shen’s curious expression, Jiang Wan covered her mouth to hide a giggle.

"Of course I returned all the gifts. The reason was simple enough: I told them I have a boyfriend."

"Only after I said that did the number of people sending flowers finally drop."

?

Jiang Wan’s words made Lin Shen freeze for a moment. Then, he took her hand with a sigh of mock exasperation.

"You should have told me sooner!"

Originally, Lin Shen had avoided physical contact with Jiang Wan, afraid that it would start nasty rumors about her on campus and affect her job as a counselor.

But now that she had proactively announced to everyone that she had a boyfriend, Lin Shen naturally didn’t have to be so reserved anymore.

"Hm? I didn’t tell you? I must have forgotten."

Jiang Wan stuck her tongue out sheepishly, her inner little devil re-emerging. It was obvious she had deliberately omitted that detail.

Seeing this, Lin Shen took the initiative and wrapped his arm around her soft waist. The intimate gesture, however, made her flustered, and she quickly laughed and dodged away.

"Lin Shen, holding hands is enough. Putting your arm around my waist is a little embarrassing."

"Oh? So you can get embarrassed after all."

Lin Shen teased.

"I thought you were the gentle, big-sister type who could tolerate anything I do."

"And am I not?"

Jiang Wan retorted with a smile, her beautiful eyes blinking slightly.

"I’ve tolerated a lot from you, you know."

"..."

Jiang Wan’s suggestive words made Lin Shen falter. He muttered to himself internally.

’Don’t tell me she already knows about Nan?’

’It’s a real possibility!’

’Shennan Pet Society has been so popular on Douyin lately, she must have come across it.’

’Someone as smart as her would most likely deduce that the ’Nan’ in the name represents a girl.’

’After all, with "Shenwan Media" for comparison, the structure of "Shennan Pet Society" was also crystal clear.’

"Um..."

Lin Shen felt it was time to come clean. He cleared his throat a few times and was just about to say something when Jiang Wan suddenly pressed her index finger to his lips.

"Don’t say it yet. You must be very busy with work right now, right? After all, Shennan Pet Society just opened, and everything is just getting on track."

"You should be focusing on your career right now, not on relationship matters. Once things have settled down, I’ll listen to everything you have to say."

"Jiang Wan..."

Lin Shen was deeply moved by Jiang Wan’s consideration. If they weren’t on campus, he probably would have pulled her into a hug right then and there.

’Now *this* is a truly supportive partner!’

"Don’t get all moved just yet. Let me be clear, I’m not an easy person to appease."

The upward curve of Jiang Wan’s lips made Lin Shen smile knowingly in return. He then said mysteriously,

"In that case... how about I give you a big gift?"

"What kind of big gift?"

Seeing Jiang Wan’s curiosity, Lin Shen decided to be cryptic.

"We’ll talk about it after a while."

"Then I’ll have to look forward to it."

Jiang Wan took the initiative to link her arm with Lin Shen’s, and this time, he didn’t refuse.

The two of them strolled from the athletic field all the way to the commercial street outside the student dorms, planning to find a place for dinner.

They encountered many students along the way, including some from other universities.

Everyone cast surprised and curious glances at Jiang Wan and Lin Shen.

After all, this particular pairing was quite a rare sight.

Jiang Wan was usually seen by herself. But today, she was actually out with a guy?

And she was even holding his arm!

Their relationship was plain as day!

Groups of girls passing by whispered among themselves as if they had just gotten the juiciest gossip of the century.

As for the guys, their eyes were filled with envy and jealousy.

’Damn, that lucky bastard!’

’He actually managed to score Jiang Wan?’

’What gives him the right to pull off something this big?!’

Although they were fuming inside, when they compared themselves to Lin Shen’s handsome and refined appearance, most of the guys felt a sense of inadequacy.

After all, they were self-aware enough to know that a top-tier beauty like Jiang Wan could only be matched with someone tall, rich, and handsome.

Thinking this, the surrounding guys actually felt a lot better.

’At least she wasn’t snatched up by some average joe. If that happened, we’d really lose our minds!’

"Excuse me, we’ll have two orders of the potato and beef brisket over rice."

After ordering, Jiang Wan pulled Lin Shen to a quiet corner to sit down and began to introduce the place with a smile.

"The rice bowls here are delicious, especially the potato and beef brisket. The potatoes are cooked until they’re super soft, almost like a curry. It tastes amazing, you have to try it."

"Okay."

Lin Shen was full of anticipation. It reminded him of the Sichuan-style dry pot he used to eat all the time in college.

’When I found something delicious, I’d just order it from the same place over and over until they went out of business.’

"By the way, how has Qingqing been lately?"

"Not good."

’Not good?’

Lin Shen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked for more details.

"What do you mean, not good? Did the military training wear her out?"

"It’s not for that reason. She’s actually quite resilient."

Jiang Wan sighed softly.

"It’s a relationship problem. Too many people are pursuing her, and it’s starting to affect her daily studies and life."

"..."

Lin Shen was speechless when he heard this. It was only when he saw Jiang Wan’s mischievous grin, the look of a successful prankster, that he realized he’d been played by her again.

’She’s that popular, and you call that "not good"?’