Users’ appetites were greatly whetted. They hadn’t expected this theme to pass censorship. Such a bold and novel theme, exquisite and beautiful visuals, and cool and sleek animation design left audiences clamoring for more. Coupled with Sweet Fruit’s anti-recording function, many users who watched low-quality pirated versions registered as members.

This truly exceeded the expectations of Unicorn and Cloud Maple Video. They found it strange, wondering how a post-apocalyptic wasteland theme, especially an animated film aimed at teenagers, could pass the relevant departments’ review, and so suddenly?

But Jiang Ruotang knew what was going on. This had to involve Jiang Ruotang’s high school classmate, Geng Yu. Previously, Geng Yu, instigated by Lin Lu, had reported Jiang Ruotang for cheating on his art exam. 

Unexpectedly, he exposed his own cheating, causing his father to be transferred from his original position to the cultural department. However, with Jiang Ruotang’s reminder, Geng Yu’s father stayed away from Lin Chendong, and Geng Yu’s mother also maintained a good relationship with Zhao Yunshu.

The approval of “Hope” was thanks to Director Geng’s explanation and communication with his superiors, telling them that if this theme was done well, it would be sent to participate in the “Nebula Award” selection in the Asian animation industry. If it was truly nominated, it would mean their cultural department supported the national animation industry going global, which would be a huge KPI.

Immediately, the first episode of “Hope” gained astonishing popularity, becoming a must-see cultural and entertainment event for animation enthusiasts. Even the approval department, which had been criticized by young people, received praise this time. Everyone joked, “Heaven has opened its eyes, animation is about to take flight.” Director Geng looked at the online reviews and felt that he had seized the opportune moment. As long as “Hope” could maintain its current production quality, it would dominate the entire summer, and then be selected for the “Nebula Award,” which would undoubtedly add glory to Director Geng’s resume.

Seizing the massive summer traffic, Sweet Fruit continuously attracted users, and its growth scale also allowed Qi Yanzhe, a co-investor, to stand tall in front of his elders at home. His elder brother reminded him with amusement, “Jiang Ruotang got into the Capital Academy of Fine Arts. Even if you don’t care, you should represent me and send him a congratulatory gift.”

Hearing this, Qi Yanzhe was quite annoyed. Why was it that they were both rich second-generation, but Jiang Ruotang not only had a money-making mind but also got into the top art academy in the country with his own abilities, while he was branded as “idle” and “living off his brother”?

“What should I send?” Qi Yanzhe asked ungraciously. “Flowers? Jewelry? A Cadillac?”

Qi Yanfeng almost couldn’t resist grabbing the paperweight from the table and throwing it at his head.

“He’s not like those little boys you fool around with; he’s your proper business partner. Since he likes art, you could consider finding someone to help you commission a suitable piece of art to give him.”

“Find who?”

“Mu Xianqing, the owner of Deep Blue Gallery. That way, we can also establish a connection with Mu Xianqing, killing two birds with one stone.”

Qi Yanzhe was dismissive: “Jiang Ruotang will definitely see through your little scheme. I’m going to congratulate him my own way!”

“What way?”

“Flowers, luxury cars, and handsome models!”

Qi Yanfeng: “…”

---

Admission notices were being finalized in batches, and large red honor rolls were posted at the school. Lu Guifan’s name was the largest, written in the first row, and he was even invited to be interviewed by the media. The area in front of the honor roll was bustling with people, not only graduating seniors but also many parents. Jiang Ruotang’s name was in the fourth row, the closest he had ever been to Lu Guifan’s name throughout his three years of high school, after countless monthly and mock exams.

Someone gently patted his shoulder. Jiang Ruotang turned and saw Teacher Song Qinghe.

“Jiang Ruotang, you’re truly amazing.” Song Qinghe’s eyes held an appreciative smile.

“Not at all…” Jiang Ruotang rubbed the tip of his nose.

“You know what? For my teaching career, you’re like a dream, a miracle. The entire teaching and research team and I never imagined that in your final year, you would make such rapid progress and get into such a good university through your own efforts. In the past, those teachers called you ‘the big director’s son.’ Every time I told them it was impolite, but no one seemed to listen. Unexpectedly, in the final year, gradually, no one around me called you that anymore; they all called you Jiang Ruotang,” Song Qinghe said with a smile.

The three years of hard work had turned his temples gray at only thirty-five, and there were fine lines at the corners of his eyes. Whether in the past or present, he was always the teacher who genuinely cared for Jiang Ruotang.

“Teacher Song, thank you too. Because of your presence, I could become who I am today.”

Jiang Ruotang opened his arms and hugged Song Qinghe tightly. Song Qinghe paused, his eyes gradually welling up, then patted Jiang Ruotang’s back, laughing, “The next time I hear about you, it will probably be when you become a great painter!”

To his surprise, even first and second-year art students came to offer Jiang Ruotang flowers and ask for his autograph, calling him their idol. This left Jiang Ruotang overwhelmed and never expected that one day he could become an ideal in someone else’s mind.

Teacher Song released Jiang Ruotang and went to chat with Zhao Changfeng.

“Changfeng, you’re an unexpected dark horse too!”

“Of course! If I ever play in the NBA, Teacher Song, you can point at the screen and say, ‘That’s my student!'” Zhao Changfeng was beaming, and just as he was getting cocky, Jian Sha mercilessly kicked him from behind.

Jiang Ruotang shifted his gaze and inadvertently saw Lin Lu’s name at the bottom of the second red list. He was admitted to Shenzhou Business College, a rather ordinary university. It seemed the drastic changes in his life had indeed affected his exam performance. If it were the Lin Lu before the incident, with his self-esteem, he would never have accepted Shenzhou Business College. But now, going to Shenzhou to study, far from Sheng City, might also be a way to escape the harsh reality. However, without family assistance, stripped of the halo of the Lin family young master, and even with his parents leaving him no funds, he would have to struggle on his own. It was uncertain if he had that kind of courage.

He inexplicably recalled his past self. At least he had the company of Zhao Yunshu, Zhao Changfeng, and Lu Guifan by his side, while Lin Lu truly had nothing. Jiang Ruotang lowered his eyes, without a trace of sympathy for Lin Lu. On the contrary, what Lin Lu needed was to start from scratch, rediscover this world, shatter everything, and rebuild himself… but the former Lin Lu lacked such determination.

Jiang Ruotang turned and quickly ran to his friends and family, first punching Zhao Changfeng: “You little brat, you’re good! I thought it would be a miracle if you got into Capital Sports University, but you actually got into Capital University of Science and Technology? After all this, you, the least favored, ended up being classmates with our provincial top scholar! I’m not convinced, I’m super not convinced!”

Zhao Changfeng was incredibly smug, “That’s also because we won the national championship in the high school league, and I was the MVP of that game!”

“Cai Cai is awesome too! Computer Science at Capital Aerospace Industry University, as far as I know, this department produces big shots!” Jian Sha giggled, patting Cai Ji’s back.

Cai Ji shyly touched the tip of his nose, then suddenly took two steps back and bowed ninety degrees to everyone, startling them all.

“What… what’s wrong?” Zhao Changfeng quickly stepped forward to help him.

“Thank you all for your continuous support. If you hadn’t helped me, let me out, let me know that I didn’t have to stay in that home… I can’t imagine that one day I could get into a university in the capital. Without you, I wouldn’t be this strong.”

When Cai Ji raised his head again, there was a mature, incredibly inspiring light in his eyes.

Jiang Ruotang looked at Cai Ji and suddenly blurted out, “Cai Cai… you’re so handsome!”

“Yeah, super handsome!”

Lu Guifan adjusted his glasses and said calmly, “Everyone picked their schools quite well; they’re all in the university district.”

“Really?” Zhao Changfeng immediately took out his phone to search. “Oh, it’s true! Capital University of Science and Technology is on the east side of the university district, only two subway stops from Jian Sha’s Chinese University? And then the Academy of Fine Arts…”

Before Zhao Changfeng could finish, Lu Guifan answered for him: “Two bus stops.”

“Wow, how far is my Aerospace Industry University from the class monitor?”

“Three subway stops, also quite close,” Lu Guifan replied.

Jian Sha’s eyes lit up, and she laughed heartily, hands on her hips: “This is fate given by heaven!”

“As expected of the class monitor, he even checked the distances clearly!” Zhao Changfeng said, chuckling.

“Of course! If you’re playing a game, Changfeng, we’d have to drag our friends and family to be your cheerleaders, wouldn’t we?” Jian Sha stood on her tiptoes and patted Zhao Changfeng’s shoulder.

---

Today was simply too joyous. Zhao Changfeng suggested they eat something good, so the group of five specially took a bus, planning to gather at a rather fancy place called “Fugui Fang.” As the bus swayed, Cai Ji still felt a bit nervous: “I heard that while Fugui Fang’s food is good, it’s also really expensive. Are we really going there?”

Zhao Changfeng, towering over everyone while holding onto a strap, pressed down on Jiang Ruotang’s shoulder. “What are you afraid of? We have a little rich man here.”

Jian Sha also smiled: “No need for a little rich man, my novel has been seen by the editor-in-chief of Yanxin Culture and is undergoing its first round of review. I’ll treat you all!”

Cai Ji quickly waved his hands: “No, no, Sweet Fruit previously bought the copyright fee for my Classic of Mountains and Seas deities. I listened to Ruotang and bought some financial products and made a lot of money. I can treat everyone too!”

Zhao Changfeng laughed: “Wow, we have quite a few little rich people here! I should have known not to take the bus and just taken a taxi to be fancy!”

Jiang Ruotang said exasperatedly: “Isn’t it because there are five of us, and your huge frame takes up two spots when you get in a car, so we’d have to split up!”

Zhao Changfeng chuckled: “Thank you all for sticking by me!”

Jiang Ruotang playfully bumped Lu Guifan with his head, and Lu Guifan immediately understood.

“I’ll treat, then,” Lu Guifan said, lowering his eyes and smiling at Jiang Ruotang’s ear.

They enjoyed the feeling of secretly dating, wanting to see which of their friends would discover them first. Lu Guifan thought it would be Jian Sha, as a fan of shipping, Sister Sha might have already noticed the signs. But Jiang Ruotang thought it would be Cai Cai. Even though Cai Cai usually didn’t talk much, he was very gentle and sensitive.

As for Zhao Changfeng… that husky only knew how to run wild. Although he fantasized about Jiang Ruotang being with a good man like Lu Guifan, if they really were together, it would probably make Zhao Changfeng drop his bone.

Treating them to this meal was like celebrating their being together with their friends.

They arrived at Fugui Fang, but a disappointing situation arose. The manager, seeing them dressed like young students, maintained a polite demeanor but spoke in a way that was irritating. “Students, would you like to see our menu first before deciding whether to dine here?”

The subtext was clearly: Look at our prices, it’s not too late to back out.

“Let’s see, then. I want to know if your dishes are studded with gold?” Zhao Changfeng didn’t pick up on the manager’s implied meaning and actually took the menu. Jian Sha and Cai Ji immediately crowded around, letting out uncontrollable gasps.

“Oh my god, this ‘Crystal Sliced Meat’… it’s just plain boiled pork, but it’s one hundred and twenty yuan a plate? Is this pork or dragon meat?” Zhao Changfeng gasped.

Jian Sha’s eyes widened too. “Wow, this salmon is five hundred and sixty yuan a portion. Is this salmon or mermaid meat? Poverty is limiting my imagination!”

Cai Ji’s throat gulped. “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is one hundred and twenty-eight yuan per serving. If I’m not mistaken, ‘per serving’ means for one person, right?”

The manager maintained his polite smile: “Yes.”

“I feel like I’ve rediscovered the world.”

Jiang Ruotang understood. In a place like this, no matter how delicious the food was, the target audience wasn’t students like them, but rather people of certain social standing. He gently tugged at Lu Guifan’s sleeve: “Let’s go somewhere else to eat.”

To his surprise, Lu Guifan leaned into his ear and said, “It’s okay, I can afford to treat you.”

Jiang Ruotang glanced at the others; their attention was on the menu, and they hadn’t noticed Lu Guifan’s intimacy with Jiang Ruotang. He smiled inwardly, then leaned into Lu Guifan’s ear and said, “But I think it’s not only not worth it, but we might not even get full.”

In his previous life, Jiang Ruotang had been a wage earner for many years, and even though his pockets were full now, he didn’t feel such lavish spending was worth it. Not to mention, Lu Guifan said he would treat them, and in Jiang Ruotang’s eyes, that was hard-earned money from Lu Guifan’s late nights in the lab, making Jiang Ruotang even more reluctant.

The manager suggested, “Actually, at the end of this street, there’s a restaurant called Hewayizhai. Their signature boiled fish is very popular. Perhaps you all would like to check it out?” This was also giving them a way out.

Jian Sha looked at Cai Ji and Zhao Changfeng, tilting her chin, signaling to retreat.

Just then, a young man in a casual suit walked in with long strides, accompanied by a middle-aged man with sharp features and a rather imposing presence, followed by two assistants or secretaries. The manager immediately went up to them with a smile. “CEO Qin, CEO Han! Welcome, welcome, the private room is ready!”