Chapter 245: Heading to University

Soon, it was mid to late August, and it was almost time to report to Shanghai University.

These past few days, Xu Chen had been meeting up with a bunch of high school classmates, practically every day at some gathering or another.

At the company, things were buzzing with activity, but most projects had passed the decision stage, so they didn’t really need Xu Chen anymore.

He took the chance to relax, driving around aimlessly every day.

When he did go back to the office, it was always to Jinfeng Business Tower—he avoided the main campus to dodge getting caught by Guo Liang and the others.

…

Chen Xinyi from Jiaduobao’s Marketing Department had reached out to Xu Chen a couple of times in the last two days.

After Wang Laoshun’s ad went live, it exploded in popularity and even snagged invitations for a few advertising awards.

Xu Chen found it amusing—in his past life at the ad agency, these awards required active submissions, but here, outstanding results actually brought invitations.

“Which specific ad awards did we get invited to?”

Xu Chen asked briefly over the phone.

“I’ve compiled everything and sent it to your email!”

Xu Chen checked the email and saw invitations for five or six awards, but three or four were from obscure “fly-by-night” organizations that barely existed.

Still, two of them were genuinely prestigious ad awards.

“The Great Wall Ad Award,” founded in 1982 and hosted by the National Ad Association, was one of the oldest and largest in the country.

“The Effie Award” was an internationally renowned ad prize, started in 1968. Unlike other global awards, it judged based on ad effectiveness, making it the most credible “results-driven” award.

Xu Chen replied to the email, pointing out that only these two were worth entering.

There were also two authorization documents that needed Xu Chen’s signature as the main creator.

“Mr. Xu Chen, you mentioned you’d be in Shanghai by late August or early September, right?

Coincidentally, Fei Jie and I will be in Shanghai then too—we can drop by in person, and you can sign the authorization documents while we’re at it.”

Xu Chen: “Sure, and while you’re here, I’ll show you around our East Morning Star Advertising’s new spot.”

Chen Xinyi: “Fei Jie wanted to meet you anyway. We’re planning a promotion for our new product, and she’s applying for the group budget.

Once it’s approved, we’ll probably need to bother you about it!”

Xu Chen: “Sounds good! Let’s meet up in Shanghai and chat then!”

…

…

On the school side, Xu Chen followed the enrollment guide that came with his admission notice and logged into the Tonghai University website.

He’d already registered back in July when he got the admission notice and submitted a pile of info in the backend.

Logging in again now, he found the specific enrollment details waiting.

They’d even assigned his dorm already.

Xu Chen clicked through and saw he was in “Southwest Building 1, Room 3103, Bed 3.”

Info on his three dorm mates was there too, but only their names and student IDs—no other details.

…

There was a bunch of miscellaneous enrollment info, which Xu Chen skimmed quickly without diving in deep.

Professor Wang Jian had already secured a scholarship for him, so his tuition was covered, and the rest—like fees for classes, books, and housing—wasn’t much; he could pay it all once he got to Shanghai.

Xu Chen thought for a moment, checked his email, and sent a thank-you note to Professor Wang Jian.

Just a polite follow-up.

Thanking him for the scholarship and mentioning he’d visit in person once he arrived in Shanghai…

To his surprise, he got a quick reply from Wang Jian:

“You’re too kind, Xu Chen! Unfortunately, I’m currently on an exchange in Berlin, so we’ll have to chat in detail once I return…”

…

…

Overall, Xu Chen was really looking forward to university life.

In his past life, he’d only attended a mediocre second-tier teachers’ college, so he had a romanticized view of a top 985 university.

But at the same time, he didn’t plan to make his college years too exhausting.

As the “young boss” of Chenfeng Technology, he just wanted to stay cool and collected, without a care in the world—no competing or striving.

Things like student council or clubs held no interest for Xu Chen.

And as for major rankings or grades, he had no desire to get caught up in the grind.

He aimed for an easy, peaceful ride, just enjoying university life.

…

Xie Bingran was also heading to Shanghai, though she’d likely spend most of her time training, so there’d still be plenty of chances to hang out.

Right now, she was at the Qinhuangdao training base and would keep at it until mid-September, then head straight to Osaka for an East Asia competition.

Only after that could she return to Shanghai and start her own university journey…

In Xu Chen’s plans, during university, he’d take on a few ad projects that caught his eye and think about properly launching the Ran Bing Sports brand.

Based on his estimates, by the Asian Games in December, Xie Bingran’s fame and reputation in China would reach a solid level.

So, kicking off Ran Bing Sports around year-end or early next year would be the perfect timing.

But it was all starting from scratch—like building the supply chain for sports products, which he’d have to figure out from the ground up.

His father, Xu Zhiquan, had said to let him know if he needed any support.

Yet, with Chenfeng Technology already keeping Old Xu swamped with overtime, Xu Chen didn’t want to add more stress for his dad.

So, Ran Bing Sports would mostly be his own project to handle.

Product design, supply chains, distribution channels, marketing…

It was a big undertaking, and he’d probably need a sharp, experienced professional manager to pull it off.

Luckily, university offered plenty of time and flexibility for Xu Chen to dive into it slowly.

…

…

Xu Zhiquan still felt bad about not throwing a graduation banquet for Xu Chen.

In the end, he went back to the town and hosted a proper feast at the best hotel there, inviting close friends and neighbors to celebrate.

Xu Chen had to play along, even getting a big red flower pinned on him and posing for loads of photos.

Xu Zhiquan also donated a road in Xu Chen’s name, calling it “East Morning Star Street.”

Of course, it didn’t cost much, and in return, they got a large nursery base in the town, plus it helped Chenxin Nurseries hire a bunch of local farmers, solving Fourth Uncle’s recent headaches.

…

One midday, Xu Zhiquan mysteriously dragged Xu Chen out.

He drove them to a hotel in the city center.

Once inside, Xu Chen realized it was a banquet organized by Wu Yongming for his daughter Wu Feifei’s university start.

Most people there were Wu Yongming and Wu Feifei’s relatives, with outsiders like Xu Zhiquan and Xu Chen being few and far between.

Xu Chen couldn’t help but be surprised.

His father Xu Zhiquan’s relationship with Wu Yongming had clearly grown that close.

Wu Feifei spotted the Xu father-son duo from afar and came over with a big smile, full of warmth.

Xu Chen said:

“Sorry, I never asked—what university are you going to?”

Wu Feifei: “Shanghai Foreign Languages University.”

Xu Chen paused, showing a hint of surprise.

It was in Shanghai too.

Wu Feifei smiled: “Next time you visit Bing Ge, bring me along!”