Chapter 17: The Gathering

The pre-job training at NFA was quite professional, highly targeted, and intense in its demands. Not to mention someone like Lu Yao, who was a complete outsider. Even Zuo Zuo and Zhou Beila, who had formally studied singing and dancing, found it immensely beneficial.

This is a common predicament faced by many college graduates. A significant portion of university coursework is outdated, if not outright useless. After graduation, they often have to relearn everything before they can truly start working. As a result, off-campus interview training has become an entire industry.

After three days of high-intensity, fast-paced training, Xiao Nali noticed the group’s spirits were somewhat low, so she generously offered, “Dinner’s on me tonight. What do you all want to eat?”

The lively Zhou Beila immediately cheered, “I want hotpot!”

Xiao Nali asked the others, “What about you?”

Lu Yao was indifferent. Zuo Zuo followed Zhou Beila’s lead, and Song Jing went with the flow.

Xiao Nali smiled and said, “Then let’s go to Old Beijing Hotpot.”

Back in 2013, when Shangnan City hadn’t yet seen the rise of Haidilao, the more familiar hotpot places were Xiaofeiyang and Daimei. The Old Beijing Hotpot Xiao Nali mentioned wasn’t really a brand but a style of hotpot dining, using copper charcoal stoves and fresh, hand-sliced lamb.

In terms of price range, it was considerably higher than Xiaofeiyang or Daimei. That’s why Zhou Beila immediately grabbed Nali’s arm and cheered, “Nali, you’re the best!”

Just as they were about to leave, Lu Yao suddenly received a call from Xu Ziqiao.

Lu Yao asked Song Jing to ride with him, then got into his car and answered the phone. “What’s up?”

Xu Ziqiao said, “Brother Lu, what are you up to? I want to treat you to a meal.”

After Lu Yao had explained the stock situation to him last time, Xu Ziqiao had taken it upon himself to study stocks. He even noticed that the stock Lu Yao mentioned had actually started climbing gradually. Coupled with the fact that Lu Yao was now involved with a wealthy woman, Xu Ziqiao suddenly understood everything!

Lu Yao might not know much about stock trading, but that Ms. Wang definitely had insider information. Now that Lu Yao was willing to bring him along in making money, that was truly brotherhood!

Hence, Xu Ziqiao decided to call Lu Yao.

Lu Yao replied, “I found a job, and our director said he’d treat us to dinner.”

What? Aren’t you guys buddies? You’re with a rich woman now, so why are you going out to work?

Lu Yao thought for a moment and said, “Let me ask if our director can bring you over.”

After hanging up, Lu Yao called Sister Nali. “Sister Nali, my roommate has something to discuss with me. Can he come along?”

Sister Nali was very generous. “Of course! The more, the merrier.”

Lu Yao then texted Xu Ziqiao the location of the restaurant.

Soon, Lu Yao and the others arrived first at the Old Beijing Hotpot near Yinhua Plaza. When Xu Ziqiao showed up driving his dad’s Crown, Lu Yao went out to fetch him.

Once inside the restaurant, Xu Ziqiao was stunned by the company already seated. Wow! What a gathering of beauties!

Zuo Zuo was serene and cool, Zhou Beila wild and cheerful, and even Nali, with her neat short hair, was a stunning beauty exuding the aura of a capable and composed career woman.

Such high-caliber looks made even the notorious ladies' man Xu Ziqiao feel a bit shy.

Lu Yao introduced, “This is my roommate, Xu Ziqiao, a rich second-generation heir.”

Sister Nali smiled warmly, “Sit wherever you like. If you’re Lu Yao’s roommate, you’re our friend.”

As the entertainment director at NFA, Sister Nali had long mingled in nightlife circles, so she carried a strong worldly vibe.

After Xu Ziqiao sat down, Lu Yao introduced Sister Nali and the others to him.

When the hotpot base and fresh lamb slices arrived, Sister Nali ordered a round of beer and raised her glass to toast everyone.

The steaming broth bubbled and boiled, with various ingredients swirling inside, filling the air with an irresistible aroma that made everyone’s mouths water—and soon they were sweating from the heat.

Paired with a cold beer, it was pure bliss!

Hotpot is a dining style that easily warms up relationships.

After a few more drinks, the naturally outgoing Zhou Beila grew even more lively. She raised her glass to Sister Nali, “Thanks for treating us to hotpot, Sister Nali! Cheers to you!”

Sister Nali was great at handling her alcohol, downing a beer in one gulp. Lu Yao and Xu Ziqiao cheered her on.

Putting down her glass, Zhou Beila sighed, “After this training, I finally realized how much goes into singing and dancing. It’s not just about skill—you also have to be able to energize the crowd.”

“No one at school ever taught us that!”

Lu Yao suddenly said, “Actually, many schools nowadays focus more on theory and even useless knowledge. It’s intentional.”

Zhou Beila was stunned. “Why?”

Seeing her interest piqued, Lu Yao grinned, ready to perform. “Because they’re afraid students will learn something useful.”

Zhou Beila blinked, a mix of innocence and confusion in her eyes. “But isn’t school supposed to be a place to learn?”

Lu Yao smiled. “Besides teaching, schools also manage enrollment quotas, job placements, and even social employment planning.”

Zhou Beila looked utterly baffled. Zuo Zuo pondered quietly. Sister Nali glanced at Lu Yao with mild surprise. This student’s perspective was quite intriguing—and he wasn’t wrong.

When she was in school, the knowledge she learned was solid and practical, with hardly any fluff. But now? Much of the systematic knowledge has been fragmented and scattered in teaching.

She once saw her niece’s textbooks—the content and study process were utterly ridiculous.

Lu Yao continued, “The most absurd college course is ‘Career Guidance for College Students,’ taught by a bunch of teachers who’ve probably never worked a day in their lives.”

“In that class, you learn everything except how to get a job. Like ‘What is employment,’ ‘The meaning of employment,’ ‘The relationship between employment and life ideals’...”

Sister Nali was stunned. “What? They still have that course nowadays? We didn’t have that back in my day! That’s outrageous!”

Lu Yao laughed. “Frankly, it’s designed to solve employment for some teachers, not to alleviate the increasingly tough job market for students.”

Everyone was speechless.

These things anyone who’s worked for a few years after graduating would know. But the real question was: Lu Yao hadn’t even graduated yet—how did he know all this?

Zuo Zuo, who had been quietly eating, looked curiously at Lu Yao. This senior from Dong University, two years her elder, was becoming more interesting by the minute.

As the table talk wandered from complaints about the absurdity of school to the topic of relationships, Zuo Zuo, who had never dated, listened quietly.

Zhou Beila, recently scorned, was venting her frustrations. After their ranting, they suddenly noticed Song Jing gloomily downing a beer.

Zhou Beila immediately asked with curiosity, “Song Jing, you seem troubled. What’s on your mind?”