Chapter 136: Holding Hands Is Still Just Friendship

Ye Ziqing was slightly taken aback by Jiang Qin’s response.

To be honest, her earlier praise was just a perfunctory courtesy.

Strictly speaking, the words “not bad” were more like an encouragement from a senior student to a junior, like when people starting in society often say to their younger siblings, “Study hard so you can work in an office with air conditioning like me and have a house in the city and a car to drive.”

An ordinary university student hearing this would at least say “thank you” instead of feeling grateful.

But what Ye Ziqing didn’t expect was that Jiang Qin didn’t seem excited by her senior’s praise, but kept lamenting his poverty.

“You’re still in the development stage. Considering monetization too early may limit your future direction. It’s unwise to adjust your development strategy mid-course for profit.”

Jiang Qin laughed, “What development strategy? I’m just fooling around. I have no idea what this forum will end up looking like.”

Ye Ziqing was slightly baffled, “You…just want to make some quick money?”

“Of course I’d like it to get big if it can. I’m not stupid. The bigger it gets, the more I can make.”

“Then you can’t focus on monetization. Expanding outreach is the right way.”

“But I don’t have money, senior. I have four teams and two marketing groups to support. Ideals alone won’t keep us going.”

Jiang Qin’s point was simple – if he didn’t consider monetization from the start, the hundred-odd thousand he had wouldn’t last until the end of the year.

Not everyone has a rich background. For someone like him who started a business with just some pocket change, every step has to be taken cautiously, focusing on sustainable development.

“Everyone has their own ideas. I wish you good luck then.”

“Thank you, senior. When I make it big, I hope to have a chance to treat you to a meal.”

Ye Ziqing didn’t respond, just giving a slight smile before leaving the bathroom.

She felt Jiang Qin’s vision was somewhat shortsighted, similar to many speculators who just wanted to stake out a territory and cash out quickly.

Such people could definitely make a quick buck, but to really make it big, he might not even qualify to enter.

Jiang Qin wiped his hands and threw the paper ball into the trash, muttering to himself in the mirror, “Why not eat the chopped meat?”

Dammit, I need money to buy meat too.

When he returned to the private room, the five others had finished eating and were ready to leave. Old Cao and Ding Xue were still clinging to each other, arms around each other’s shoulders. Feng Nanshu looked a bit dazed until Jiang Qin patted her to snap out of it.

“Done eating? Let’s go.”

“Yes, I’m full.”

Feng Nanshu followed closely behind Jiang Qin as they exited.

In the late rapid development phase of 2008, the entire city of Linchuan had a noticeable patchwork feel. In some less prosperous areas, small street vendors still favored signboards in shades of red, blue and white. But along the pedestrian streets, neon lights of all colors shone blindingly bright.

The crowds in the city center bustled, while towering cranes stood tall in the nighttime distance, a surreal blend of fantasy and reality.

“Brother, it’s cold.”

Hearing that cloying voice, Ren Ziqiang and Zhou Chao shuddered, then watched as Cao Guangyu took off his coat and draped it over Ding Xue.

But that wasn’t all.

After doing so, Cao Guangyu turned to look at Jiang Qin with a rather defiant gaze.

He was feeling cocky now. Showing off to Ren and Zhou wasn’t enough, he still wanted to try suppressing Jiang Qin.

Additionally, Jiang Qin was wearing a black hoodie, so taking it off wasn’t an option. Old Cao had noticed this as an opportunity.

“Heh.”

Jiang Qin gave a cold laugh, reached for his car keys, opened the trunk, and to Old Cao’s surprise, took out a coat and handed it to the lightly dressed little rich girl.

Feng Nanshu glanced at Jiang Qin, “Please help me put it on.”

“No way, put it on yourself.” Jiang Qin flatly refused.

Feng Nanshu pursed her lips slightly, “Brother, it’s cold.”

Jiang Qin surrendered, having to help her into the coat. He thought to himself not to go out with Cao Guangyu and Ding Xue again. In this one meal, the little rich girl had learned more tricks than in the previous eighteen years.

And Old Cao, didn’t he say he’d never been in a relationship before? How did he become so smooth, knowing all sorts of flirting moves?

Ren Ziqiang felt sour watching this, lamenting that without a car or girlfriend, his life was so hard.

As for Zhou Chao, though envious, he still let out a contented burp after the two-thousand yuan meal.

This is the difference between people.

Old Zhou also wanted a partner, but not as intensely, so even with people shamelessly flaunting in front of him, he could still feel endless delight from the inexpensive meal.

But Ren Ziqiang was different. Seeing Cao and Ding, and Jiang and Feng, then thinking of his brotherly friendship with Pan Xiu, he felt so miserable he couldn’t eat.

Now that they were leaving, he realized he still didn’t have a partner, but he didn’t even have Old Zhou’s simple satisfaction of a full stomach.

That’s how people are – pursuing higher goals while forgetting what’s in front of them, only to realize later that they not only failed to achieve those higher goals, but also lost what they had before.

“It’s only nine o’clock now, where should we go?”

“Let’s take a stroll through the park across the street, work off some of this food so we can sleep tonight.” Jiang Qin pointed to the city park across the way.

Cao Guangyu agreed. Who wants to go back to the dorm right after starting a relationship? “Sure, Ding Xue and I wanted to walk around some more too.”

“Let’s go then.”

Ren Ziqiang hesitated, “It’d be better to just go back to the dorm and sleep.”

Zhou Chao patted his shoulder from behind, “What if Pan Xiu came with you? You wouldn’t be thinking that, would you?”

“Old Zhou, don’t take digs at me. You don’t even know where your little swallow has flown off to!”

“If she flies away, I’ll move on. There’s always another one. Unlike you, hung up on Pan Xiu.”

The six of them crossed the street one by one and entered the park, walking on the embedded pebbled paths that felt refreshingly firm underfoot, more professional than a foot massage parlor’s technicians.

Cao Guangyu and Ding Xue led the way, reminiscing about when they first met.

“Remember when you first commented under my post, cursing like crazy? You were so damn cute.”

Ding Xue said she remembered. Seeing such an ostentatious post, she felt like cursing, but after seeing him help an old lady write a post, she realized he wasn’t completely useless.

“Old Jiang, how did you and Feng Nanshu meet?”

Jiang Qin thought, you can flaunt all you want, but why drag us into playing couples too?

Beside him, Feng Nanshu softly spoke up, “I was reading in the library, he kicked me.”

“Damn, Jiang Qin, your pickup line was smooth as hell!”

After one meal together, Ding Xue was pretty familiar with them, cursing like it was a national pastime.

Jiang Qin mimicked the little rich girl’s expressionless look and said, “I was too engrossed in reading and didn’t notice. But I bought her a drink later to apologize.”

“And then?”

“And then we became friends.”

“And then it just happened naturally?”

Jiang Qin’s eyebrows shot up. “What the hell happened? We just became lifelong good friends!”

“That’s so weird…”

Ding Xue leaned in to whisper to Cao Guangyu, “They’re not dating?”

Cao Guangyu shook his head, “I don’t know what’s wrong with Jiang Qin. At the start of the semester, he kept going on about how relationships were for dogs. Now he mentions it less.”

“Alright, enough gossip. Even Ren Ziqiang looks mopey from all this couple stuff. Can’t you all take a break and let the single dogs feel better?” Jiang Qin interrupted their whispers.

Ren Ziqiang felt grateful, “Jiang Ge still cares about me.”

But even without talking, Old Cao and Ding Xue had plenty of ways to rub it in.

For instance, halfway through their stroll, they suddenly discovered a small pond on the east side. The mirror-like surface reflected the brilliant full moon in the sky – the perfect “pond in the moonlight” scene.

Ding Xue was immediately excited, insisting on walking along the pond’s edge. But since it was quite dark, she was afraid of accidentally falling in, so she had Cao Guangyu hold her hand below.

“Damn, is this even allowed?”

“Do they think they’re filming an idol drama? Did they even consider our feelings?”

Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang groused, but drew only defiant looks from Cao Guangyu.

However, the couple’s moonlit stroll by the pond was indeed romantic, no wonder the two single guys were whining.

Even Feng Nanshu couldn’t help but glance shyly at Jiang Qin.

But Jiang Qin was too busy joining Zhou and Ren in mocking Old Cao’s couple, completely oblivious to Feng Nanshu’s gaze.

The little rich girl fell silent for a moment, then walked over by herself and carefully stepped along the pond’s edge in light steps behind Ding Xue.

The autumn night breeze was cool, causing ripples on the water’s surface.

The little rich girl stared at her feet, stepping forward meticulously. Suddenly Ding Xue ahead of her stumbled, startling her and making her lose her own balance.

In that panicked moment, the little rich girl felt her hand being firmly grasped and a warm feeling enveloping her, putting her at ease.

She turned to find Jiang Qin by her side, holding her hand, with his other hand outstretched protectively behind her.

“You’ll be in trouble if you fall in, it’s deep. Come over here.”

“I want to play a bit more.” Feng Nanshu’s eyes sparkled.

Jiang Qin didn’t say anything, but didn’t let go either, gently leading the little rich girl’s soft hand forward.

Cao Guangyu glanced back with a sneer, “I thought you said you were just friends? You dog!”

“We’re not even holding hands properly! Even if Buddha asked, we’re just friends!”

Jiang Qin chuckled and took big strides forward, firmly holding the little rich girl’s soft, fragrant hand. The girl whose hand he held looked utterly delighted.

Ren Ziqiang was dumbstruck by this scene, thinking Jiang Ge, you’ve defected way too fast!

What a honeytrap! Definitely a honeytrap!