Wang Zhan flashed a grin and said, "But I don't want pearls or milk in mine, and I'm only willing to pay one yuan."

In other words, Wang Zhan wanted a tea that could be bought for just one yuan?

Yu Lan was taken aback. Are you serious?

If it were anyone else, Wang Zhan's comment might have ignited a fury, causing them to curse him out. Or perhaps, they would think he was trying to get people to flatter him!

But Yu Lan was a different story. Not just her background, but even her experiences were enough to make her unflappable. Thus, even if she was cursing internally, she didn't show a sliver of it and pleasantly accepted his request. "Alright! Please, wait a moment, Student Wang Zhan."

Wang Zhan watched her as she went off, silently calculating the time.

Recruiting was his business, after all. Qin Ying meddling was her business. Ultimately, it all depended on Wang Zhan's intentions. However, from the moment he heard Yu Lan introducing herself, he felt this woman was going to be a bit difficult to handle. She's a postdoctoral scholar! And he? He'd graduated from the university of life!

But it didn't matter. There was a twenty-minute deadline, after which he would wait no more. If someone wasn't there by then, either because they were incompetent or because they were taking him lightly, they were not the person Wang Zhan wanted. They could simply part ways, no pressure.

Little did he know, the call on Yu Lan's phone hadn't ended. Her conversation with Wang Zhan had been clearly heard by Qin Ying, causing her to giggle.

Yu Lan complained, "You still have the nerve to laugh! What on earth have you introduced me to? Does she really think I'm going to throw myself at him?"

Of course, she was just venting. After all, he was a Federation youth hero. Apart from being a joke to some insiders, he was still quite famous. And yet, Yu Lan wasn't aware of the deeper relationship between Qin Ying and Wang Zhan.

Unexpectedly, Qin Ying dropped the bomb. "Of course, he's my man. Do you want a piece of him too?"

Yu Lan was shocked. "Your man?"

Qin Ying actually had a boyfriend now? When did this happen?

"Yes. Apart from the most important thing, I've already given him everything else. Tell me, doesn't that make him my man?"

Yu Lan, who was walking slowly, slapped her forehead, stopped in disbelief, and said into the phone, "Oh my god, Qin Ying, do you even know what you're doing?"

"Of course I know! That's why I want you to help me watch him closely and stop him from philandering all day long!"

"OMG! He's a player too? Are you that desperate? And when did I become your maid?"

Yu Lan sighed with a bitter smile. She knew her best friend's temperament well. But the more she understood, the harder it was to imagine. She actually fell for him, so hopelessly devoted to one man, and it had already progressed to such a stage.

But…

"I'm not his main wife; at best, I'm just the other woman, breaking up someone else's love… hehehe…"

Her self-deprecating admission of being "the other woman" was so helpless it was heartbreaking.

"Do you even know what you're doing?" Yu Lan was left speechless.

Qin Ying also fell silent.

"Of course, I know. But you wouldn't understand this sort of thing. Help me. I don't care about anything else, but he must be mine! If they want a share, they can fight for it with their own abilities. Of course, if you like him, I can reluctantly share a little piece of him with you. Just a little, no more!"

"Get lost!"

"And quit stalling! He's very easygoing and also very wild. If you keep stalling, you'll mess up my plans…"

Listening to this, the expression on Yu Lan's face changed faster than the weather in June. But she glanced at the time, finally stomped her foot in exasperation—a feeling of being disappointed in her friend—and cursed, "I knew it! You never call me for anything good. You just wait! I'll make sure to 'take good care' of your adorable little boyfriend!"

A little boyfriend who had to be kept secret, underground.

Now Yu Lan finally understood why Qin Ying refused to return. She had been staying in Jing State all this time for a so-called Federation prodigy. But had Qin Ying ever considered what would happen if their family backgrounds were too mismatched? An underground relationship might be fine for a while, but if one day Qin Ying herself felt dissatisfied, could she really handle the fallout?

Never mind, Qin Ying could deal with her own issues.

Yu Lan also understood now. Qin Ying wanted her to come over to get a hold of Wang Zhan's lifeline, likely his finances. After all, people say that men turn bad when they get rich. If Wang Zhan had no money, he probably couldn't get into too much trouble, right?

But… He's broke right now too!

There was no time to think further. A powerful aura suddenly erupted from Yu Lan. She levitated into mid-air and, like a bolt of lightning, sped towards the nearest milk tea shop.

「…」

Wang Zhan glanced at the time, bored. Good, fifteen minutes had already passed. He smiled faintly, prepared to wait five more minutes and then leave. This was his way of dealing with Qin Ying's arrangement, and naturally, his response to Yu Lan.

But just then, an intellectual beauty suddenly descended from the sky. A few beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and she was panting, looking particularly charming.

It was Yu Lan!

Still a Grandmaster… Wang Zhan muttered, recognizing her cultivation at a glance.

Making a Grandmaster go buy milk tea for me? That really elevates my status. Who else gets such treatment? At least a Martial King!

But he didn't see the milk tea he wanted, so he ignored her breathlessness and asked directly, "Where's my milk tea?"

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Just as Wang Zhan finished speaking, a dozen cups of tea appeared in front of him, lined up in a row. There was no smell of milk tea, but clearly, Yu Lan had fulfilled his request for a simple tea, without pearls or milk.

"Here. Guaranteed to satisfy you, and it didn't cost a penny."

Wang Zhan smiled. Freeloading is a true skill.

Moreover, he noticed that besides straws, there were also sugar packets and several tea bags. It was clear that if he was still unsatisfied, this woman might even, on a whim, brew him a cup on the spot.

He immediately praised her. "Very thoughtful. Since you want to stay so badly, then stay."

Anyway, even though she was Qin Ying's eyes and ears sent to watch him, Wang Zhan had nothing to hide. So, he agreed readily.

And just like that, Wang Zhan's startup team, which had consisted of a few crude Human Race warriors, directly evolved to include high-caliber, cutting-edge talent.

Following behind Wang Zhan with a clear conscience, Yu Lan, who had been observing him all along, suddenly asked, "Student Wang Zhan, may I ask, what is your relationship with Miss Xu Yuyu?"

Wang Zhan's steps faltered slightly, then he resumed his normal pace. "No relationship. Why?"

"Oh, then it's nothing. Since there's no relationship, I'll just return this photo to the person, save them from being scared and anxious."

Wang Zhan turned around abruptly. His gaze was somewhat sharp, but his tone was gentle. "I think you need to tell me what happened. Otherwise, as your boss, I can fire you at any time."

Ugh… Yu Lan felt aggrieved. If Qin Ying weren't her best friend, why would she bother with this dull, uninteresting little brat in front of her? She immediately tossed the photo in her hand to him, a half-smile on her face. "Well, if I make a significant contribution, I wonder if the boss could reward me with something?"

Wang Zhan glanced at her, thinking, Reward you with a few hundred million, how about that? Of course, at this critical moment, splurging was out of the question. So, he pretended not to hear and quietly looked at the photo in his hand. It was Xu Yuyu's somewhat dejected and sad, yet still upright and incredibly captivating, back view.

"...By the way, can I ask, have you decided on the direction for your startup?"

"No. Why decide on anything specific? Isn't starting a business just like inviting people for a meal? Why make it so complicated?"

For a moment, no one spoke.

「…」

"Student Wang Zhan, I should be going now." After Wang Zhan had resolved most matters, Qing Shu finally bid him farewell.

Wang Zhan turned back and smiled. "Alright, I'll see you off."

They spoke little on the way. Wang Zhan didn't try to persuade him to stay, and Qing Shu didn't offer to follow him. Like friends who had met by chance, Wang Zhan saw him off to the Jinmen City bus station.

"Farewell, until we meet again!"

"Farewell, until we meet again!"

A glint flashed in Qing Shu's eyes, and then he turned and left.

"You're not going to ask him to stay?" Yu Lan, who had suddenly appeared beside Wang Zhan, actually handed him a cup of milk tea, her gaze deep as she watched Qing Shu's retreating figure.

"What's the use of keeping him? Although I have some confidence in managing the daily affairs of a few Grandmasters, and I have some money in my pocket, a Grandmaster Realm expert is not someone I can handle or order around."

"But you're ordering me around?"

"Heh. You only have the shell of a Grandmaster. If we were to meet on a real battlefield, forget him, do you believe that even Grandmaster-level experts could beat you to death?"

Wang Zhan had no reason to lie, nor to tease her; it was all true. A true Grandmaster was different from one who was all show and no substance. Just like Wang Zhan himself—though only a Martial Master, he could easily slay Grandmasters. Perhaps with a bit more progress, he could even contend with Martial King Realm experts.

Yu Lan let out a cold laugh, her expression unchanged but somewhat frosty. She snatched the milk tea back from Wang Zhan's hand, turned, and walked away. "Fine, drink it yourself!"

Wang Zhan shook his head. Women… At this rate, I'll be able to categorize all their common traits.

「…」

「Chu State.」

「Chu State's Martial Arts Academy.」

Having been away from the Martial Arts Academy for a long time, Wang Zhan returned once more, walking beneath the faculty dormitory building.

From time to time, senior or junior students, or even classmates from his year, would see him. They would stop in their tracks with strange expressions, then hurriedly walk away, as if he were a jinx.

"Wang Zhan, long time no see!"

Little Fatty, who knows where he got the news, was the first to appear before Wang Zhan, accompanying him on a stroll around the campus. He still had that same slightly chubby appearance.

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