Chapter 486: About the Spare Phone

The next morning in Linchuan the rain couldn’t stop, coming in bursts and then slowing down, trickling down the tar-covered roads, now clear, now muddy.

Jiang Qin drove away from Linchuan University to the headquarters of the group-buying company.

The tasks for the app were now completed. Su Nai had made final optimizations for Tonight’s Headlines, ready for launch. Additionally, Wei Lanlan had secured a deal with a phone manufacturer. New devices marketed from May would come pre-installed with Zhihu, group-buy and Tonight’s Headlines.

They say when Wei Lanlan discussed the pre-installation collaboration, the person in charge was puzzled, not expecting such a sneaky trick.

They had bundled services with telecom operators to give away phones and gain market share, a significant investment that wouldn’t pay off immediately.

But after hearing about the pre-install plan, they realized bundling apps was also a way to recoup costs. They exclaimed it was a brilliant idea!

After hearing the report, Jiang Qin fell silent instantly.

Damn it, how did my sneaky pre-install idea become celebrated as creative? If this gets out, won’t I be cursed at?

“Lanlan and Nanako should go on a business trip to Shanghai next week.”

Jiang Qin tapped the table twice: “Arrange for those algorithm engineers we contacted earlier to come in for a focused interview.”

Wei Lanlan nodded: “Sure, boss.”

“Oh right, the station’s office has moved. It’s in the newly built Wanzhong Mall. Contact Tan Qing ahead when you go.”

“Again, above a mall?”

“Old He is too hospitable. I keep saying no, but he insists it’s only reassuring to have me as a neighbor. He wants to be neighbors in every city, talking about a ‘twin swords’ strategy that’s invincible. So cheesy.”

Jiang Qin spoke as if it were true, not even blushing, prompting smiles around the conference room, though no one believed him.

Just joking. We’ve worked together so long, who doesn’t know who?

No need to think about it. President He must have gone through phases of astonishment, rage, discomfort, and reluctant agreement, finally coerced into volunteering.

“Boss, Zhihu’s daily active users have dipped slightly, probably due to excessive redirection and advertising. It’s wearing out the users. I’m thinking of adding some voting-based activities. What do you think?”

“Sounds good. Any ideas?”

Dong Wenhao brought out a document: “There’s strong demand for another campus belle contest. After all, our first one was in 2008. It’s been 11 years, and most students have changed. It’s time for a new campus belle.”

After hearing this, Jiang Qin nodded: “Then let’s organize another campus belle contest and why not a campus beau contest too? We need to cater to female college students’ enthusiasm as well.”

“Okay.”

After speaking, Jiang Qin frowned slightly, clicking his tongue.

The insider, Old Dong, noticed: “Boss, is there something troubling you?”

“I’m wondering, if I win the campus beau title with an overwhelming lead, will people suspect I rigged the votes? You know I’ve always been talented, which might overshadow my pretty boy looks.”

“Heh.”

Lu Feiyu burst out laughing then realized no one else did and immediately put on a serious face, as if he wasn’t the one laughing.

Soon enough, both the campus belle and beau contests went live on the Zhihu forum, but didn’t make as much noise as the first time.

The first time, not many knew what Zhihu was, so there was extensive offline promotion, but this time it wasn’t necessary.

Additionally, the first belle contest was only held at Linchuan University, which made logistics easier, but Zhihu was now used by universities nationwide, making it harder to generate big buzz.

However, due to the substantial traffic on Zhihu, the event indeed caused quite a stir once it went online.

During the pre-launch period, many businesses wanted to sponsor, calling Wei Lanlan daily and continually raising the price. However, Jiang Qin wasn’t worried about the ad revenue by then, so he reserved those spots for Linchuan Business Group’s strategic brands.

Eventually, college students will graduate. They’ll become engineers, teachers, office workers, corporate slaves…

Cultivating their consumer habits during college means these brands might become their first choice in the future.

The cycle will continue, with new students entering and leaving campuses until human civilization ends.

As a massive traffic hub that gathers student groups, Zhihu will also incubate more well-known brands.

Like Xitian, it sponsored the first campus belle contest, becoming a part of many people’s youth. After they graduate and enter corporate life, Xitian remains a nostalgic youth icon, unmatched in marketing prowess starting from the student level.

Also, the campus beau contest stirred up a rowdy crowd.

Like Cao Guangyu, he registered himself and voted daily.

Young master Cao had a high profile on the forum and indeed found supporters, pushing him into the top three.

However, his popularity lasted only a few days before he was surpassed by genuinely handsome guys over 1.8 meters tall, infuriating him.

Under 1.7 meters—so what? Does that make me less handsome? Is it the face or the legs that count?

Slaughter them all! Slaughter them all!

The most excitement was among the girls, as the belle contest was a rerun while the beau contest was fresh. Many girls discovered high-quality handsome men in their own schools.

“Damn, this guy is hot! What do you think, Nanshu?”

“Not hot.”

Gao Wenhui sat in the canteen, showed the top ten handsome rankings to Feng Nanshu, and got nothing but cold shakes of the head.

Wang Haini laughed: “No use asking her. She thinks only her husband is handsome.”

Feng Nanshu nodded seriously.

Gao Wenhui was stunned: “Eh, you admitted Jiang Qin is your husband?”

“Brother’s not here, I can be bold now.”

Gao Wenhui pouted and opened the belle rankings: “Nanshu is still a banned word? When will that jerk Jiang lift the ban?”

Wang Haini sipped her soup: “He sees Feng Nanshu as his most precious treasure. How could he let other guys judge her openly? That’s a guy’s possessiveness, not surprising, and somewhat romantic.”

“Oh, really…”

Gao Wenhui looked at Feng Nanshu thoughtfully. She saw her trying to suppress a smile: “You get happy the moment you’re associated with Jiang Qin. Hopeless romantic.”

Wang Haini suddenly thought: “Wasn’t the first belle contest in ’08?”

“Yeah.”

“Then he treated Feng Nanshu as his own since ’08. What a rotten guy.”

Gao Wenhui’s heart skipped: “Right, Nanshu, have you used that thing in his wallet that can hurt yet protect you?”

Hearing this, Feng Nanshu looked puzzled.

Wang Haini smiled meaningfully: “I can tell you haven’t used it. If you had, you’d be blushing now.”

“Not necessarily. Feng Nanshu can play dumb well.”

Feng Nanshu overheard and pinched her cheeks: “I’m genuinely dumb.”

Wang Haini turned to Feng Nanshu: “Nanshu, have you really settled on Jiang Qin for life?”

“I want to be with my brother forever.”

“Is that even a question? She’s so attached to Jiang Qin, it’s almost like she’s lost her sense without him for half a month.”

Wang Haini shook her head: “Not necessarily. I’ve been serious in every relationship too. I’ve had four in three years, each one with thoughts of marriage!”

Gao Wenhui pursed her lips: “You’re pretty wild…”

“You witch, Gao Wenhui, you’re the wild one!”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying, if Feng Nanshu can’t live without him and Jiang Qin only likes her too, I don’t mind teaching her some tricks.”

Hearing about tricks, the little rich girl’s eyes lit up.

Gao Wenhui thought for a moment: “Feng Nanshu, that husband slave, definitely can’t live without Jiang Qin. He may seem tough and unreliable, but he’s already brought her home to meet everyone. There shouldn’t be surprises.”

Wang Haini thought for a bit then waved both over, starting to whisper secrets.

Little Gao always chatting about love, really just a chick who knows nothing. After hearing, she blushed, turning to Feng Nanshu only to see no reaction from her friend.

“Nanshu, why aren’t you embarrassed? My face is burning after hearing it.”

Feng Nanshu just glanced at her: “I know the thing Haini is describing—it’s my brother’s spare phone.”

Gao Wenhui was startled then shocked: “That scoundrel used that to trick you? Damn, I’ll slaughter him!”

“Don’t you dare touch my brother!” the little rich girl wouldn’t have it.

Wang Haini coughed: “Don’t rush to slaughter him. I haven’t finished yet. Let’s continue.”

Feng Nanshu softly warned Gao Wenhui again, “Don’t slaughter my brother,” then leaned in to keep listening seriously.

After a while, when Wang Haini finished teaching, Feng Nanshu was astounded.

“I’m just teaching you some basics for now. Once you’ve got Jiang Qin handled, I’ll teach you the advanced stuff.”

“What advanced stuff?”

As Wang Haini was speaking, Jiang Qin appeared in the canteen. He had just finished a call meeting with managers from the Kyoto, Shanghai, and Guangzhou stations, discussing the gis’s internal testing, so he was late.

Hearing her voice, Wang Haini quickly grabbed her plate, ready to flee with Gao Wenhui.

“?”

Jiang Qin looked at Wang Haini, puzzled, noticing her vaguely guilty expression.

Feng Nanshu’s gaze was clear as she looked at Jiang Qin: “Brother, I’d like to borrow your spare phone.”

“????”

Jiang Qin didn’t catch on at first. It took another three and a third seconds before he was alarmed, finally understanding why Wang Haini looked so guilty and fled so fast.

He always thought Gao Wenhui was the biggest terrorist, but really, she was all talk. Wang Haini truly dared to teach mischief.

“I thought you were my best friend, and here you are trying to trick me into eating and drinking?”

Feng Nanshu: “?”

Wang Haini had still not fully imparted the nuances, lacking some details, which left the little rich girl understanding what tricking into eating meant but not the drinking.

Jiang Qin reached out and pinched her mouth, shaping it into an “O”: “You promised me not to learn from Wang Haini. Why aren’t you listening?”

“She tricked me by saying she’d teach me good stuff,” Feng Nanshu said innocently.