Chapter 625: Who Really Wins?

Wars are provoked easily but can you just stop them whenever you wish? If you don’t want to fight, it doesn’t stop me from hitting you unilaterally.

You might be afraid to burn money in Hungry Yet, but we in Group-Buy Delivery have no such concerns.

However, Jiang Qin feels that if burning money meant just dumping funds, the outcomes would be quite limited.

Consumers have always followed the bargains. Today you offer discounts and they flock to you; tomorrow another does and they shift there.

So, Jiang Qin plans to make some additional preparations.

Upon receiving the orders, every city branch started to act while Jiang Qin received a WeChat message from Jiang Tian.

“Jiang Qin, there’s a class gathering tonight. Are you free?”

“Okay.”

As graduation nears, gatherings at school increase. Some interns take advantage of the thesis defense period to return and enjoy a last reunion with friends.

Class Three has gathered twice this week already.

Once after the thesis presentations, and once hosted by Old Lu, making this the third time.

Really, the reason for gathering is just an excuse. The reality is the mutual reluctance about the impending separations.

Four college years, neither long nor short, but definitely the best years of youth for everyone.

Some experienced their first love, others found their dreams, significant turns in life that all will bring bittersweet feelings as they end.

Jiang Qin scrolled through his contacts, called the little rich girl to ask if she wanted to join the gathering.

Coincidentally, Class Four has a meeting today, which makes Feng Nanshu feel torn.

“Go to your class gathering. After all, there won’t be many more chances, and you can’t just live by the term ‘good friends’.”

Gao Wenhui, overhearing, couldn’t help but shout, “She’s not just living as a ‘good friend’, she’s living as a ‘slave to her husband’!”

Feng Nanshu covered her face with her phone, “I’ll join you after a bit.”

“All other friends part ways after graduation; only you stick so close.”

As night fell, the breezy summer night saw the restaurant, both inside and out, completely packed, almost spilling onto the street.

Temporary lighting cast warm glows across the ground, attracting a swarm of flying insects.

Beneath these lights, students filled the space, talking and laughing, surrounded by battles of beer bottles.

At this moment, Jiang Qin looked eastward and noticed a pair of shining eyes also glancing his way.

The gatherings of Class Three and Class Four really are just next to each other…

“Brother, drink more liquor.”

“?”

In no time, all members of Class Three arrived, and dishes started coming to the table.

Everyone ate and chatted, reminiscing about the past – from the first to the final year, Jiang Qin listened in, realizing he had missed many interesting events.

Masked balls, campus singing contests, garden fairs…

Even though he paid the same tuition fees, it felt like he attended a different university.

The Finance Department even had a matchmaking dance that he knew nothing about.

As the gathering went on, some physically attractive and cheeky male students, caught up in the drinks, stripped off their shirts, causing their female classmates to blush and whisper.

Some couples, who would be separated by work post-graduation, looked at each other, feeling uncertain about the future.

Fifty percent of the class succeeded in their postgraduate studies applications, mostly to universities in big cities like Kyoto and Shanghai; another thirty percent had secured jobs and would start immediately after graduation.

Others either didn’t apply or didn’t succeed in their postgraduate applications, and hadn’t secured jobs either – this was not uncommon.

Such as young master Cao, Song Qingqing, and Jian Chun.

Young master Cao’s family was wealthy, Jian Chun also came from an affluent background, and although Song Qingqing’s family was average, she had a secret dumpling recipe that would support her for life.

Besides, there were those preparing for civil service exams or planning to study abroad.

After graduation, everyone would scatter across different cities and even countries.

“Four years went by so fast…”

“Yeah, when I close my eyes, it feels like the military training from freshman year was just yesterday.”

“Maybe the next time we meet will be at someone’s wedding, or maybe we’ll never meet again.”

“We could gather every year, like we used in high school, getting together over the summer and winter breaks to sing and chat.”

“That was because back then, we were college students with holidays. But after graduation, we work, and matching schedules will be tough.”

It’s hard to keep class connections after university; often, only the bonds formed by dorm roommates last.

And yet, despite these daily interactions, this might truly be the last shared moments in life for many.

As the alcohol and mood intertwined, some girls could not hold back their sombre feelings.

Normally carefree, young master Cao unwittingly drank a lot and secretly wiped away tears.

“Cao, are you also feeling down?”

“I didn’t get into postgraduate studies, probably have to go back to take over the vast family business, and can’t use my student ID for discounts anymore.”

Zhang Guangfa looked at him incredulously, “How do you manage to sound both pretentious and down-to-earth at the same time?”

Cao Guangyu grinned, “None of your business. Oh, by the way, what are you going to do after graduation?”

“I’m going to work as a manager at Group-Buy Supply Chain.”

“Did old Jiang agree?”

Zhang Guangfa nodded, “You know why I suddenly became a suck-up to President Jiang in our junior year?”

Cao Guangyu squinted, “Because you wanted to cling to a big leg.”

“It’s our graduation; I’ll tell you the truth. Wanting to attach to a big name was one part, but also because my family’s leftover fruits were part of the first batch dealt by Group-Buy Supply Chain.”

After hearing this, Cao Guangyu was stunned.

Zhang Guangfa pursed his lips, “The supply company kept lowering prices, and the transportation costs for fresh produce were high. If not for Group-Buy, that fruit would’ve spoiled on the trees. Do you remember the internship I went to a few months ago? It was actually a liaison for Group-Buy Supply Chain.”

“Damn, old Jiang never mentioned this to me; your family are fruit farmers, huh?”

Zhang Guangfa poured him a drink, “I only found out when I went home during the holidays, but Mr. Jiang never mentioned it to anyone. I once asked him about it, and he pretended not to know. So how can you blame me for flattering him?”

Cao Guangyu raised his glass, “Old Jiang’s alright when he’s not messing with me. Here’s to him.”

As they drank, someone at Class Four’s table started crying unexpectedly.

Having spent so much time together, everyone had formed emotional attachments, even those who had conflicts before now clinked glasses and let bygones be bygones.

But everyone understood life has phases and moving from one to another means some people are just meant to be passing figures.

The little rich girl, touched by the atmosphere, felt her beautiful eyes redden.

For her, farewells are the hardest because she never had friends before and therefore treasured these hard-earned moments of togetherness.

“Nanshu, you shouldn’t be sad; you and Jiang Qin won’t be parting.”

“Yeah, you don’t know how many graduating couples envy you two. But envy aside, no one can replicate your husband’s skills.”

Feng Nanshu glanced at Fan Shuling and pursed her lips, “I’ll miss you too.”

Fan Shuling squinted, “Then leave Jiang Qin and join me for postgraduate studies in Kyoto!”

“I can’t do that,” Feng Nanshu’s face suddenly became serious.

“You just said you’d miss me.”

“But I belong with Jiang Qin’s family.”

Watching Feng Nanshu’s earnest expression, Fan Shuling said, “Then when I finish my studies, let me into your Group-Buy company through a backdoor.”

Feng Nanshu liked the idea, “I’ll ask Jiang Qin about it later.”

“You are hopeless. What if he refuses?”

“I’ll try my best to persuade him.”

Amidst the bustle, the night grew deeper, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by stars.

Feng Nanshu left Class Four’s table and rushed over to where Jiang Qin was.

At that moment, Jiang Qin was listening to someone and then heard, “Brother, drink.”

He picked up his glass and drank.

As he set it down, the little rich girl, still holding the bottle, quickly refilled his glass to the brim without spilling, leaving Jiang Qin momentarily speechless at her skill.

Feng Nanshu glanced at him, a hint of mischief in her look, “Not drunk yet…”

He couldn’t really get drunk anyway, Jiang Qin’s alcohol tolerance was quite good, generally responding to toasts with ‘I’ll drink, you’re free to choose.’

However, he was slightly tipsy, so on the way back, Feng Nanshu was pulled into a small grove by Jiang Qin where they kissed for a long time, and he playfully took advantage of her in various ways.

The summer clothes were thin, and the little rich girl, sitting in his lap in shorts, felt his touches distinctly.

Jiang Qin pinched her backside to keep her quiet, kissing her until she was dazed.

“This kiss was quite intense…”

“Because I’m drunk.”

Feng Nanshu looked at him, “No, you’re not like this when you’re drunk.”

Jiang Qin, seeing her knowledge, thought, you know too much.