Chapter 165: Graduation Reflections

Guys compare themselves too, but their points of comparison can be oddly strange sometimes.

Like right now, taking the class photo, the boys in the back row are all desperately tiptoeing.

Even their chronic hunched backs from long hours of studying and forward-stretched necks have straightened out perfectly in this moment.

More effective than any traction therapy or posture correctors.

But the photographer’s DSLR camera is acting up, making them say ‘cheese’ over and over.

So beneath their straight upper bodies, the boys’ legs are trembling and shaking.

Once the graduation photo is done, they can pack up and head home.

Of course, the lively ‘recruitment roadshow’ in the big lecture hall has many students ready to check it out.

Tiancheng No. 1 High School is one of the better high schools in the province, and today, several nationally known universities have shown up.

Chen Dahai is rallying the guys for lunch together, and Xu Chen is naturally invited—plus, with his ‘top of the class’ dark horse score, he’s on the hook to pick up the tab.

Xu Chen is more than happy about it; after graduation, this group of high school buddies who crammed into the back of the classroom every day, laughing and joking, won’t get together much anymore.

Xu Chen follows the crowd back to the classroom to grab his bag.

As soon as he sits down, he realizes he’s not going anywhere yet—a bunch of girls have pulled out their ‘friendship books’ and are asking classmates for signatures and messages.

Guys generally don’t prepare friendship books; they probably think it’s too sentimental.

But that doesn’t stop them from doodling and scribbling all over the girls’ books.

For some reason, more girls than usual are asking Xu Chen to sign theirs.

Even some from other classes, girls he doesn’t even know, are coming over for his signature.

It’s leaving Xu Chen baffled, totally puzzled.

Sitting nearby, Chen Dahai twirls a pen in his hand and notices that after getting Xu Chen’s signature, most girls just turn and leave, as if he doesn’t exist.

Chen Dahai is seriously annoyed:

“Is it that my popularity is too low, or yours is too high?!”

Xu Chen just smiles helplessly:

“You’re popular with the guys; you just don’t hang out with girls much.”

Chen Dahai isn’t buying it:

“You’re not exactly chatting up girls either!”

A skinny classmate walks up, stands in front of Xu Chen, clearly wanting to say something, but looks shy and awkward.

Chen Dahai pauses, then his expression turns interesting as he leans in to listen.

Xu Chen remembers this guy’s name is Nie Sen Sen, a quiet boy in class who’s always kept a low profile.

Nie Sen Sen looks at Xu Chen and says:

“Xu Chen, I heard your dad’s company bought Bright Factory…”

Xu Chen pauses and replies:

“How did you know that?”

Nie Sen Sen: “My dad’s a longtime worker at Bright Factory. He was all set to get laid off and find a new way out.

But now that your dad’s company is taking over and they’re not letting the old workers go, we’re really grateful…”

I don’t mean anything by it; I just came to say thanks to you and your dad’s company…”

With that, the shy boy bows to Xu Chen before turning and leaving.

Xu Chen frowns a bit, feeling a wave of emotion.

Looks like after his rebirth, having his father acquire Bright Factory was a real good deed.

In his past life, Bright Factory was sold to a real estate company, and hundreds of workers got laid off.

Hundreds of workers means hundreds of families, many with kids Nie Sen Sen’s age.

A lot of those workers didn’t have other skills, and with no other suitable companies in Tiancheng to take them…

After layoffs, they had to scrape by as small vendors, and life was tough.

Among them were even people like Director Yang, university graduates from the 80s and 90s…

Chen Dahai and a few other guys stare at Xu Chen, looking surprised.

“What’s up?” Xu Chen asks.

“Your dad… bought Bright Factory?!”

“Young Master Xu, Master Xu, Director Xu…”

“That’s one of Tiancheng’s oldest big factories—are you saying your family really got it?”

“Guess we underestimated Young Master Xu’s family power!”

“Wait, is your dad Tiancheng’s richest man?!”

Xu Chen laughs and says:

“Come on, let’s go—whatever you want to eat, it’s on me!”

“Then we’re having stir-fries, and not a single veggie dish!”

Back Street, at Liu Fanxiang Stir-Fry.

Chen Dahai pulls out a pack of cigarettes and starts handing them around.

Someone teases:

“Chen Dahai, you’re a sports guy heading to Provincial Sports University soon—why are you always smoking?”

Chen Dahai: “I’m not like Bing Ge who has to compete, and at sports university, I’m studying sports education—no one’s gonna nag me anymore!”

From Xu Chen’s past life memories, Chen Dahai graduated from Provincial Sports University and became a PE teacher at a primary school in the provincial capital—steady job, easy life.

Seems like he’s still on that same path.

In his past life, while Xu Chen struggled in the big city with loans and bills, he honestly envied Chen Dahai back home in the provincial capital.

Now, thinking about it, it’s quite moving.

As they’re chatting and laughing, a girl at the next table keeps glancing over.

Soon, one girl gets up and walks toward them.

“Xu Chen…”

Xu Chen looks up and sees it’s the alternative-style girl Zhao Linlin.

“Long time no see.” Xu Chen smiles, keeping it polite but distant.

Zhao Linlin’s still in her alternative getup, with a bunch of shiny rhinestones on her jeans.

“I heard you did amazingly on the exams— congrats!” Zhao Linlin says softly.

“Thanks!” Xu Chen replies with a standard smile, friendly but not warm.

Zhao Linlin hesitates, like she has more to say, but in the end, she doesn’t and heads back with her head down.

Chen Dahai teases a bit, but Xu Chen just smiles and lets it go.

After his rebirth, Xu Chen feels even more that people’s natures don’t change easily—they all end up in the streams they’re meant for.

Like the homeroom teacher Zhang Liqun, Huang Furen, Third Uncle… and of course, Zhao Linlin.

The ones you can’t avoid—if they mess with your life—you just have to step in and set things straight.

The ones you can avoid, it’s best to steer clear and not invite trouble.

After lunch, Xu Chen and Chen Dahai wander back to school.

They hang out by the flower bed at the school gate for a smoke, then head toward the lecture hall together.

Today’s ‘recruitment roadshow’ is worth checking out.

As a sports student, Chen Dahai’s already accepted to Provincial Sports University, but he’s just here for the fun.

He throws an arm around Xu Chen’s shoulder and asks curiously:

“Hey, Young Master Xu, picked your university yet? Which top school are you aiming for?”

Xu Chen has already thought it through.

Weighing all the factors, the obvious choice stands out.

Based on his agreement with Xie Bingran and considerations for the family business, he’s definitely heading to Shanghai for school.

Shanghai’s top three universities: Fudan, Tonghai, and Jiaotong.

Further down are places like East China Normal, Shanghai Finance, Shanghai Foreign Languages, and East China Law.

With Xu Chen’s scores, he could go for the top three, but Fudan would mean a less popular major, so he’s skipping that.

After looking at everything, his best pick is clear.

Tonghai University, Advertising major.

A top-tier 985 university, a century-old school founded by Germans, with several disciplines ranked number one nationally…

And Tonghai’s Advertising department has shot up to third in the country after bringing in professors from Germany recently.

With his scores, getting into Tonghai’s Advertising program is a breeze, with almost no risk of being switched to another major.

Xu Chen’s choosing Advertising for the family business first and foremost.

From his past life as an ad guy, he knows it ties directly into commerce and markets.

Plus, working in ads exposes you to all sorts of industries, building cross-field connections and resources.

That’s huge for the Xu family’s future business.

Another reason is that with his prior experience, the coursework will be a walk in the park.

The college entrance exam was unavoidable pressure, but for university, Xu Chen wants it as easy as possible.

As a former ad pro, tackling an Advertising major is like fighting below his level—the classes won’t be too tough.

That frees up tons of time and energy to help his dad, Xu Zhiquan, with the business and pursue his own interests.

Yifu Building, the large lecture hall.

Even before entering, it’s a sea of people, buzzing with noise.

It takes Xu Chen and Chen Dahai some effort to squeeze inside.

They see not just seniors, but plenty of parents too.

A few classmates have specific booths in mind and head off on their own.

Chen Dahai’s just here for the vibe, so he sticks with Xu Chen.

Xu Chen is just browsing, so he wanders around casually.

In a few steps, their hands are stuffed with flyers and brochures.

Xu Chen flips through them—mostly mediocre schools, even some unheard-of sketchy colleges.

Looking around, he notices something funny.

The booths with crowds are all average universities, mostly in-province second-tiers or even vocationals.

The top 985 schools, though, are practically deserted.

For example, booths from Renmin, Xia University, Zhongshan, and others have recruiters dozing off.

Xu Chen thinks about it and it makes sense—these elite schools probably only have a handful of students who can get in, so fewer people bother asking.

As Xu Chen and Chen Dahai are wandering, a voice calls from behind:

“Little Xu, teacher?”

Xu Chen turns and sees a familiar middle-aged man.

Wearing frameless glasses, a white shirt, and a slicked-back oily haircut…

Xu Chen frowns, then remembers—he’s one of the judges from the Fuyan Jie pitch in Shanghai.

Seems like a professor from some Shanghai university’s Advertising department; his name’s Wang Jian.

“Professor Wang?”

Xu Chen smiles and walks over.

Glancing up, he sees the X-stand next to Wang Jian says ‘Tonghai University’.

“What a coincidence…”