Chapter 47: I Never Expected You to Secure It

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Shenhai University, First Cafeteria.
Wang Can, Chen Xiaobei, and Yang Shuang once again gathered at their familiar spot.
On the table lay the usual large chicken cutlet set from their favorite shop.
“Old Wang, I admit this chicken cutlet is really good,” Chen Xiaobei said, biting into the crispy yet tender cutlet. “But you can’t bring us here two days in a row.”
Today, upon arriving at the cafeteria, Wang Can didn’t say a word and led them straight back to the chicken cutlet shop. At least this time, he was less extravagant and didn’t order the whole family bucket like before.
“Consider it supporting Bailan,” Wang Can said, wiping the grease from his hands. “He’s got big expenses on dates over the weekend; we’ve got to help him out a bit.”
“Then I shouldn’t be eating this at all,” Chen Xiaobei pouted, a hint of self-mockery in his tone. “After all, I don’t even have a girl to ask me out.”
Since enrolling, Chen, the wealthy heir, had realized his high school flirtation tricks were utterly useless in university.
In high school, pulling out the latest iPhone or iPad would catch many girls’ eyes.
But at university, apart from class gatherings, who really cares what phone you use?
As for Chen’s luxury brands, very few people knew about them. The mobile internet wasn’t that developed yet, and students’ fashion knowledge was limited.
A coat costing several thousand yuan didn’t hold a candle to an iPhone 4s, notoriously called a “kidney machine,” in terms of status.
“Doesn’t our class have Guo Wanwan? And there’s Chu Shuya in Class One,” Wang Can casually suggested.
“Forget Guo Wanwan—her poker face is just boring to look at,” Chen Xiaobei waved off the idea. “As for Chu Shuya, her classmate Zhou Yang is a super-rich second-generation heir. I have no chance competing with that.”
Wang Can knew that, despite Chen’s words, he was too proud to actively ask for contact information from the wealthy heirs.
It was like many top high school students entering college, where their academic excellence had made them popular among teachers and classmates, surrounded by admirers every day.
But once in university, all that attention disappeared because everyone had similar grades.
The psychological gap required time to adjust.
“Why not have Bailan invite his girlfriend and roommates out? Organize a dorm social gathering. We can help him screen the candidates.”
As dorm leader, Yang Shuang thought it necessary to evaluate his roommates’ love interests and perhaps solve the singlehood problem for others.
Chen Xiaobei immediately perked up, nearly choking on his chicken cutlet. “That’s a good idea! Old Wang, what do you think?”
Wang Can wasn’t interested and was about to refuse when Yang Shuang, as dorm leader, cut in:
“Wang Can, though I follow your lead, I still hope you’ll actively participate in our Dorm 404 collective activities to maintain harmony.”
“Alright, alright,” Wang Can reluctantly agreed.
University friendships were naturally shallow, but roommate relationships were worth maintaining.
“By the way, almost forgot to tell you,” Yang Shuang suddenly remembered something. “The counselor said the school specifically wants you to participate in the freshman welcome gala. Someone will contact you next week for rehearsals.”
“Huh? Why me?” Wang Can asked.
“It’s because of that song you sang during military training. It went viral on Renren, with over a million views. I heard even the professors from the music academy want to recruit you.” Yang Shuang answered excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Wang Can immediately understood the school’s intention.
Shenhai University needed this kind of buzz to boost its reputation. Once the welcome gala was recorded in high definition and posted online, next year’s art department enrollment would be much easier.

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But while Shenhai University wanted to use him for publicity, he could also promote himself in return.
His first live-stream promotion was set.
After deciding, Wang Can took out his phone to check how viral the song had become on Renren, only to see a message from Qi Xia:
“Wang Can, have you forgotten your senior right after school started?”
“I was just about to message you, but you beat me to it,” Wang Can quickly replied.
Qi Xia sent a rabbit spitting emoji: “Pfft, no one believes you.”
Wang Can teased her: “If you don’t believe me, I think Sister Qi Dong would.”
Qi Xia: “Bold devil! What are you up to? Do you really have your eyes on my sister too?”
Wang Can: “Oh? If the sister’s off-limits, then what about the younger sister?”
Qi Xia: “The younger sister… of course not either!”
Wang Can: “Well, then goodbye—I’m off to find a girl who’s available.”
After sending this, Wang Can closed the chat, knowing well that a teasing girl like Qi Xia should be left hanging sometimes.
Just as he was about to exit WeChat, he noticed a message from Qiao Huayang:
“Brother Neng, why aren’t you replying?”
Wang Can scrolled up and saw several recent messages from Qiao Huayang: “Is military training over?” “My roommates are so bored, can we come visit you?” “Brother Neng, is that really you in the Shenhai military training video?! Our high school QQ group is going crazy!”
Apparently, this guy was still a nobody in the finance department.
Wang Can thought for a moment and replied: “I’ve been busy lately. You can come visit me this weekend, but you have to treat me to chicken cutlets.”
Qiao Huayang instantly replied: “Really? Is the chicken cutlet at your school that good?”
Wang Can: “Super delicious! Bring more classmates, you’ll regret it if you don’t try it!”
Qiao Huayang: “It’s a deal, I’ll come find you this weekend.”
Wang Can: “OK.”
A smile curled at Wang Can’s lips—once again, he had boosted the shop’s sales.
…
That afternoon, Wang Can headed straight to the Student Union office and knocked on Zhang Jiujiang’s door.
Handing over the entrepreneurship application signed by Jiang Yixue, Zhang Jiujiang visibly froze, double-checked the signature, and looked up in disbelief.
“Is this really Professor Jiang’s autograph?”
“Secretary Zhang, you flatter me,” Wang Can said. “Even if I had ten lives, I wouldn’t forge the signature.”
“You’re quite something,” Zhang Jiujiang clicked his tongue in admiration, tapping his fingers on the desk. “As far as I know, since Professor Jiang came to Shenhai two years ago, many rich kids tried to get her as their advisor, offering increasingly tempting conditions, but all failed.”
He gave Wang Can a meaningful look. “Never thought you’d be the one to land her.”
Wang Can smiled sheepishly. “Professor Jiang genuinely supports my project. She said my business plan is very forward-looking and signed on the spot.”
“In that case, the key to this startup base belongs to you.”
Zhang Jiujiang didn’t ask further, opened a drawer, and tossed a jangling bunch of keys to Wang Can.
To him, the process wasn’t important; the results were what mattered.
As long as Wang Can delivered results and brought achievements, everything else was trivial.
Wang Can caught the keys steadily but didn’t leave immediately.
Rubbing his hands, he spoke warmly, “Secretary Zhang, there’s one more thing I’d like you to approve.”
“Speak plainly,” Zhang Jiujiang said without looking up, tidying his files. “Didn’t the Student Union promise to fully support you?”
Wang Can didn’t hesitate and stated his idea directly.
“I want to live stream our school’s freshman welcome gala.”
“Live stream the welcome gala?”
Zhang Jiujiang leaned back slightly in his chair, narrowing his eyes, carefully studying Wang Can.
The welcome gala was Shenhai University’s annual grand event, attended by the entire school leadership. This year, to hype the art department, they had invited a popular singer to perform.
The event’s importance was unquestionable, leaving no room for mistakes.
“Tell me your specific plan,” Zhang Jiujiang asked calmly.
“Secretary Zhang, I’ve done my research,” Wang Can said confidently. “Though the welcome gala always has professional videographers, it’s never been live streamed. Since the event is only open to freshmen on site, sophomores and juniors who want to watch can only do so through limited volunteer quotas.”
“If we open a live stream, more students can watch in real-time from their dorms.”
He paused, then added, “Also, since the school invited a celebrity this year, live streaming would maximize the artist’s exposure and greatly boost our university’s reputation.”
“Ha,” Zhang Jiujiang chuckled softly. “You’re not only bold but well-informed. Live streaming is indeed beneficial, but if anything goes wrong, it could be a major disaster, embarrassing us publicly.”
“Rest assured,” Wang Can immediately assured him. “I’ll hire the most professional filming team. For servers, I’ve reached a cooperation agreement with Alibaba Cloud—they just successfully live streamed the European Cup. It will be perfectly smooth.”
At this stage, talk is cheap; he had to show his trump card.
Zhang Jiujiang’s eyes flickered as he weighed the pros and cons.
At his level, seeking no mistakes rather than achievements was the norm.
After a long pause, he finally said, “Alright, you hurry up and get the website running. I’ll report to the school leaders and use your site as the showcase.”
As expected of a seasoned political operator—no commitment without proof.
Wang Can inwardly sighed but kept his face calm. “No problem.”
Before leaving, he took a delicate gift box from his black bag.
“Secretary Zhang, my father brought me some tea a few days ago, but I don’t really understand tea culture. If you have time, could you teach me how to appreciate it? I’d be shameless enough to learn from you.”
Zhang Jiujiang noticed the label “Biluochun” on the box, a tea far superior in quality to what he usually drank.
He neither smoked nor drank alcohol but loved tea. Last time when Shao Wenrun brought Wang Can over, he brewed Biluochun.
This young man even knew this little detail about him.
Getting things settled before giving a gift, rather than the other way around, might sound similar but felt entirely different.
Zhang Jiujiang smiled and accepted the tea. “Alright, next time you come, I’ll brew this for you, so you don’t spoil it yourself. As for the live stream, it’s for the school’s publicity. I’ll do my best with the leaders.”
Bold, meticulous, thick-skinned, and wealthy—if you don’t succeed, who will?