Chapter 237: A Good Friend’s Electric Bike
Chapter 237: A Good Friend’s Electric Bike
As the interview process continued at Wanzhong, Jiang Qin delegated the tasks to Bao Wenping and Yue Zhu, effectively becoming a hands-off manager.
He offered a generous salary, confident it would attract suitable employees.
“Guys, I signed up for the sports meet, the 1000-meter men’s race!”
At 3 P.M., Ren Ziqiang returned to the dormitory from the academic building, excitedly trying to rally everyone to train with him at the sports field. His unremarkable face was alight with eagerness.
The spring sports meet at Linchuan University was about to commence, and those wanting to show off or earn extra credits had mostly signed up.
Jiang Qin, having spent the past two months organizing competitions and recruitment, felt his health reverting to a suboptimal state. He decided to join the training at the sports field, intending to improve his fitness.
“Health is a revolutionary’s capital,” he thought, planning to develop a six-pack. He imagined showing his abs to Feng Nanshu in a secluded corner, allowing her to look but not touch, teasing her with the sight.
But reality was often harsher than dreams.
Upon entering the sports field, he felt like a super Saiyan but couldn’t even complete two laps before collapsing exhaustedly by the roadside.“I can’t do this anymore, damn it, I’m too tired, let’s take a break!” Jiang Qin cursed.
Cao Guangyu was equally exhausted, squatting by the track, refusing to run any further: “I’d rather be a couch potato in the dorm than die of exhaustion here.”
Ren Ziqiang stubbornly persisted: “You guys are too weak!”
“It’s not about being weak, it’s just that I haven’t experienced this level of physical activity since military training,” someone else chimed in.
“Exactly, suddenly doing this much is too much even for Ultraman.”
Zhou Chao, with his short legs, finally caught up: “Damn, this is killer. Ren, have you lost your mind? Why did you choose a 1000-meter long-distance race?”
Ren Ziqiang pursed his lips: “I’ve said it since the start of the semester. I want to find a girlfriend, and the sports meet is a great opportunity. How can I miss it?”
“Thinking a sports meet will get you a girlfriend, what kind of dream is that?”
“Winning first place might do it. I heard last year’s long-distance running champion changed girlfriends four times in a year, all thanks to his stamina!”
Jiang Qin glanced at Ren Ziqiang: “Ren, if you’re looking for a girlfriend, you don’t have to try so hard. Next semester, when the new students arrive, it would be easier to charm a junior.”
After pondering for a while, Ren Ziqiang replied: “Okay, but it’s not just about finding a girlfriend. Look at me, I’m not handsome, I’ve failed a course, and my sports skills are poor. Without this, I’m just useless, right?”
“Fair point, take your time to train then.”
Jiang Qin refused to run any further and sat on the ground for over ten minutes. Once rested, he left the sports field and headed to the Entrepreneurship Center with the refreshing breeze on his face.
Despite the gradual shift in the focus of their work towards societal aspects, the folks at Room 208 weren’t idle. For the past half month, they had been planning the launch of their group-buying service.
Wei Lalan and Tan Qing had been visiting clients since the semester began. With time, a considerable number of merchants were willing to join the group-buying initiative.
Chain hotels, gourmet restaurants, billiard internet cafes, swimming pools, gyms, nail and hair salons – though not many in number, they covered almost all the daily consumption categories for college students.
Therefore, Jiang Qin decided to launch the group-buying service soon, leveraging the college’s traffic to make their first impressive move.
Once the team at Wanzhong was ready, they planned to seamlessly expand the service city-wide.
“Su Nai, how’s your progress?”
Su Nai adjusted his glasses: “We’re on the third round of adjustments and optimization for the secondary pages. We’ve scheduled an online test for midnight, and I’ve already arranged the testers.”
Jiang Qin nodded: “Wenhao, what about you?”
Wenhao replied, “The topics for the group-buying service have been discussed. Feiyu is starting discussions on the forum to generate initial hype.”
While they were talking, footsteps sounded at the door.
Cao Xingyue appeared at the doorway of Room 208, looked around, then quietly called out to Jiang Qin and gestured for him to come out.
“What’s up, senior?”
Jiang Qin approached the door and closed it behind him, not wanting to disturb his employees’ money-making rhythm, always prioritizing a warm and considerate environment.
“It’s been a while. I came to see you and to show you something.”
Cao Xingyue took out a Samsung phone box from a bag she was carrying and opened it to reveal a white phone.
Jiang Qin frowned slightly: “Did you come to show off your new phone?”
Cao Xingyue looked at him with a hint of helplessness and pouted: “Didn’t I mention last week that my birthday was coming up? You forgot?”
“Oh, so this is a birthday gift from Senior Brother Chen?”
Jiang Qin immediately understood why she had come: “He really did the part-time job for this reason. That phone isn’t cheap, right?”
Cao Xingyue nodded: “I checked the official website, it’s 2,200 yuan.”
“That expensive? But he only earned 1,800 yuan from his part-time job last month.”
“Yeah, so he probably used his living expenses to buy this phone for me.”
Hearing this, Jiang Qin was astounded: “Is there really such a thing as love in this world?”
Cao Xingyue was overjoyed: “I just casually mentioned that my phone wasn’t working well, and he remembered it.”
Jiang Qin made a face: “Ugh, the smell of romance is too strong. I’m suffocating.”
“Do you remember the question you asked me before?”
“What question?”
Cao Xingyue put the phone back in the box: “Receiving gifts from someone you like really makes you happy. So, start giving Feng Nanshu more gifts.”
Jiang Qin frowned: “Senior Sister, that’s too much. You know I’m not into dating, yet you keep saying this. We are just friends; giving gifts is out of the question.”
“But she would definitely want you to give her gifts. All girls are like that.”
Jiang Qin shook his head repeatedly, refusing to listen to Cao Xingyue’s advice from the perspective of someone more experienced, steadfast in his refusal to be persuaded.
However, at that moment, Kong Hui, the team leader in charge of cargo interfacing for Wanzhong Mall, arrived at the Entrepreneurship Center, followed by two people pushing a large box.
“Boss, your order has arrived.”
“Wanzhong Mall is pretty efficient, delivering by noon?” Jiang Qin was somewhat surprised.
“You don’t know, the number of orders at the mall has been increasing. Plus, with the expansion to the Normal University and the University of Science and Technology, there aren’t enough drivers. So, we’ve switched to three deliveries a day. Our team has been really busy these days.”
Kong Hui chuckled, “Sure, it’s tiring, but we’re earning more.”
After patting their shoulders and sending them off, Jiang Qin turned around to find Cao Xingyue looking at him with an amused expression.
It was because of the box, which had a picture of an electric bike painted on it, with the color labeled as pink in the bottom right corner.
“Is this what you meant by not buying gifts?”
“Please don’t misunderstand, I bought this for myself.”
After hearing this, Cao Xingyue laughed, “A pink electric bike for you? Do you think I’m a three-year-old?”
Jiang Qin looked at her coldly, “Even if it’s for the little rich lady, it’s just a gift from a good friend.”
“Ah yes, right, right, you spoil her to the skies yet still claim to be just friends. I’m just waiting to see if you dare to say that when you two have kids.”
“?????”
Cao Xingyue turned and left Room 208, humming a tune as she went, leaving Jiang Qin fuming. He opened the door, grabbed a knife, and angrily cut the plastic ropes off the box.
As he unwrapped it, a cute, pink electric bike was revealed.
“Lanlan, the recruitment at Wanzhong has started. Keep an eye on it for me and stay in touch with Yue Zhu. I need to step out for a bit.”
“Got it, boss. I’ll call Sister Yue later.”
After hearing Wei Lalan’s response, Jiang Qin pushed the electric bike out of the Entrepreneurship Center and rode away swiftly.
Surprisingly, accustomed to driving cars, he found the ride on the small electric bike quite refreshing.
Racing along, Jiang Qin passed the sports field, where Ren Ziqiang and Cao Guangyu were still running. He chased after them, urging them to run faster.
The two stopped, bewildered for a moment, before Jiang Qin sped off again.
“Brother Cao, did something just tell us to run faster?”
“Yeah, a flamboyant pink dog.”
Two minutes later, Jiang Qin arrived at the financial dormitory building and called Feng Nanshu to come down, insisting she wear pants instead of a skirt.
Gao Wenhui, listening nearby, was intrigued. Why pants and not a skirt, which would be more convenient?
Driven by curiosity, she insisted on accompanying Feng Nanshu downstairs.
Once they arrived, Feng Nanshu immediately spotted Jiang Qin and the electric bike beside him, her mouth agape in surprise.
Gao Wenhui, though slower, caught up and felt a bit let down upon seeing the bike.
She had expected something more exciting, not just a bike ride.
“I got you an electric bike, so you don’t have to run around breathlessly anymore.”
Feng Nanshu pursed her lips, “Jiang Qin, what if I don’t know how to ride?”
“I’ll teach you for a couple of rounds. With your intelligence, you’ll learn in no time.”
“I’ve told you, I’m not that smart,” Feng Nanshu stressed, pouting.
“I meant learning ability when I said ‘smart.’”
“Jiang Qin, you’re a good person.”
Gao Wenhui, hearing this, approached, “Why suddenly buy an electric bike for Nanshu?”
Jiang Qin turned to her, “You work at the front plaza, and I’m in Room 208. It’s a long walk between the two, and she often has to run back and forth. Walking is too tiring.”
“Oh, are you worried her little feet will develop calluses, making them less smooth to the touch?”
“?????”
Jiang Qin stared at Gao Wenhui in disbelief, thinking how her imagination was even wilder than that of web novelists. He reassured himself he was a gentleman with no such thoughts.
“Little Gao, I advise you not to overthink. Be careful not to hurt your salary.”
Gao Wenhui instantly became indignant, “So, you threaten to cut my salary because I guessed right?”
“You don’t know anything, damn it. Even web novel authors don’t have as wild an imagination as you.”
Jiang Qin muttered, turning to teach Feng Nanshu how to ride the bike, while Gao Wenhui settled nearby with a stool from the college supermarket, ready to ‘collect sweets.’
Feng Nanshu, having never ridden a two-wheeled vehicle, struggled to keep her balance, wobbling as she rode.
Jiang Qin had to hold the handlebars with one hand and the seat with the other, trying to help her ride in a straight line.
“Jiang Qin, please don’t touch my butt right now,” Feng Nanshu said pitifully.
Jiang Qin choked, “Feng Nanshu, don’t slander me. I didn’t touch your butt. I’m holding the seat to keep you upright, worried you might fall.”
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