I am not just a tycoon

Huang Haibao and Cao Shunjin stopped paying attention to Ye Zhiyang, and meanwhile, the several chat groups they had joined suddenly started buzzing with messages.

They couldn't help but click in to take a look, and it turned out to be photos from the entrepreneurship base signing ceremony. In front of the large meeting room of dozens of people, Vice President Xu Shoutai and Shen Yuan were shaking hands warmly, and at the same time, they were both holding up that sign for the 10 million sponsorship.

"You guys shouldn't joke, Old Third changed into a new outfit and really does look quite the part."

Huang Haibao squeaked a comment.

"Yeah, that kid was already handsome to begin with, and he's got a good figure too, just like a walking clothes hanger."

Ye Zhiyang gazed at the photo, offering praise as well.

Cao Shunjin sighed, "Sigh, ever since that dog bastard gained the mating rights to all the girls on campus, he's forgotten all about us old pals. It's been a while since he's come back to the dorm."

"If I were him, I wouldn't come back either."

Ye Zhiyang disagreed, "What's the fun in hanging out with stinky old men, isn't playing with a different girl every day so much better?"

"But then again, speaking of which, if he shows up in the guys' dorm, I bet the lads from the other classes would see red."

"Why?"

Huang Haibao couldn't help but ask.

"Haven't you seen the shortlist for the entrepreneurship base? The five girls listed there are all top beauties from the International campus."

Ye Zhiyang felt a bit emotional, "Those are goddesses that countless guys have sought after but never managed to get. And now they're all running into his bowl."

Huang Haibao clicked his tongue in amazement, "Old Third is playing it pretty sly, turning the selection for the entrepreneurship base into basically a selection of concubines."

"You could play even slyer than him if you had the money."

Cao Shunjin put down his phone, saying, "Besides, this is a willing matter on both sides. If those girls hadn't applied, Old Third wouldn't have had a chance either."

Huang Haibao sighed. He didn't know much about those girls; they didn't impact him as much as the class belle, Fang Minhui did.

Just the thought of the class belle possibly rolling in the sheets with Shen Yuan caused Huang Haibao's heart to ache tremendously.

He thought about it and decided not to let the others off easy, so he said, "Old Cao, you know Fu Yingzi is now helping Old Third with his work, right?"

Cao Shunjin's eyelid twitched. Why did he have to bring up the exact thing he didn't want to hear? He replied offhandedly, "I know, what about it?"

"I don't know if Fu Yingzi has been snagged by Old Third yet?"

Huang Haibao knew Cao Shunjin really liked the radio station director Fu Yingzi; every time he heard her broadcast, Cao Shunjin would excitedly hoot and holler, so he purposefully needle him a bit.

Cao Shunjin got a bit annoyed upon hearing this, "Who knows that."

"I bet he got her already, with so much work interaction between the two of them, I don't believe Old Third could resist."

Huang Haibao continued to press.

"Roll, roll, roll."

Cao Shunjin's face was agitated as he turned over and covered his face with the blanket, trying to physically block out the noise.

He used to laugh at Old Huang for constantly thinking about the class belle who was snatched away by Old Third, but as the wheel of fortune turns, now it was his turn to don the mask of pain.

The few girls on the shortlist didn't really hurt him that much, it was just a reminder of life's inequalities.

But Fu Yingzi was different; she was the girl he'd had a crush on from freshman to junior year, timing the evening alarm each time to listen to the campus broadcast.

Every time he heard Fu Yingzi's voice, clear as a mountain spring, he felt like his heart was melting.

But he was too timid to pursue Fu Yingzi, at most he would say hello to her on WeChat.

However, Fu Yingzi never responded to him, and he could only spend his nights flipping through her Moments and contact card over and over again, fantasizing how wonderful life would be if he could be with her.

Ever since he found out that Fu Yingzi was helping Old Third, he felt like a warrior of pure love falling on the battlefield.

Experience more content on empire

It was not the sort of heartbreak that Old Huang felt. Old Huang might have liked the class belle, but he could easily turn around and pursue Tian Yuping.

Old Cao was different; he only ever had Fu Yingzi in his heart from the very beginning.

Thinking this, Old Cao uncovered himself, and with a mentality that if he was going to die, everyone was going to die with him, he asked, "Ye Zhiyang, who do you like? Or who is your dream girl?"

Of course, Ye Zhiyang was no fool. He declared with fervor, "I'd die before I tell you guys!"

"...."

Meanwhile, in the entrepreneurship base activity classroom, Lu Xinyue knocked and entered, politely greeting, "Shen Yuan, hello."

What caught his eye was a petite and fair-skinned beauty, probably around 160cm tall, but her body proportions were good, so she didn't appear short.

She wore a white lace dress, the skirt fluttering gently, exuding the grace and kindness of a lady, matched with soft, black long hair, giving off a bit of vibrancy like a cute Dongying girl.

"Mhm."

"Come over and sit."

Shen Yuan gestured, and so Lu Xinyue came over with a gentle smile, smoothing her dress as she sat down across from him.

"I see your business plan is to open a campus supermarket and later expand it off campus, wanting to become a business like Pangdonglai?"

Shen Yuan invited Lu Xinyue not just because she was a pretty girl who studied Japanese, but more so because of her business plan.

"Yeah, you could say it's my dream."

Lu Xinyue smiled and showed off shallow dimples.

Shen Yuan smirked, "Then tell me, why do you think Pangdonglai is so successful?"

Lu Xinyue thought for a moment and said, "I think Pangdonglai's biggest success is its profit-sharing. The boss is willing to share the profits with the employees while reducing the selling price of goods, so it has a good reputation in the market."

"So why do you think no other business has replicated Pangdonglai's success in other areas?"

"I think the main reason is competition from peers. The moment a supermarket comes along with low prices, good services, and generous employee benefits, it squeezes the living space of other supermarkets."

Shen Yuan nodded; it seemed Lu Xinyue had done her homework. He was quite familiar with the case of Pangdonglai, which also had a case study in the Xiangjiang EMBA, so he pretty much understood it.

Shen Yuan paused and said, "Actually, it's not just competition from peers, but also their service management model, corporate culture, and their supply chain."

"The company is committed to providing value for customers, for employees, and for society."

"But for such enterprises to appear in other cities, the difficulty is very high,"

Shen Yuan had considered this issue before meeting Lu Xinyue, and he actually wanted to be an entrepreneur where good currency drove out bad.

However, Pangdonglai's purchasing channels were very cost-effective, with additional support from local government, coupled with product pricing and employee benefits and compensation. Over the years, they had already built up a reputation and trust.

Therefore, it was very difficult for others to replicate.

Although Shen Yuan had an ace up his sleeve—the System's triple cashback on revenue could solve the cost and profit issue—

the supply chain, along with the reputation and credibility, couldn't be developed overnight.

Moreover, vicious competition from peers and his lack of sufficient background meant that opening such a supermarket was likely to end in disaster.

But in the future, with the accumulation of wealth and expansion of background, opportunities would still arise.

"Your idea is quite bold. You can try it in the future, but first let's see how your campus supermarket does,"

Shen Yuan said with a smile.

Lu Xinyue nodded, "Hmm, I know talking about this now is impractical. Whatever you do, you have to take it step by step."

"Alright, let's change the subject."

Shen Yuan shifted the conversation, "You study Japanese, so why not consider related translation work, or positions in foreign-funded enterprises?"

"Actually, my major was chosen by my parents. They both work in Japanese-funded businesses, and I didn't understand at the time, so I just randomly picked this major."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"How good is your Japanese?" Shen Yuan asked further.

"Hmm, it's okay. I've got the JLPT Japanese Language Proficiency Certificate, passed the JTEST Practical Japanese Test, and also cleared the Japanese Proficiency Test Level 8..."

"Okay, what I really want to know is if your Japanese is good enough to communicate normally with Dongying people?"

"That's fine. Most everyday communications are no problem."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan felt relieved. Another reason he chose Lu Xinyue was that in the future, he couldn't just focus on the domestic market.

Dongying girls are great, aren't they? With their demure and reserved personalities, they're obedient and compliant. It's said that they are the most virtuous girls in the world.

During business, you could even hear her say "Yamate, Yamate" and experience the joy from the movies.

With that in mind, why not extend his reach to Dongying?

Thinking this, Shen Yuan teased with a chuckle, "Then let's hear you speak a bit of Japanese."

Lu Xinyue was startled for a moment, then realized something from his smile, "Uh... what do you want to hear?"

"Just anything."

After thinking for a while, in a shy sakura-girl tone, Lu Xinyue said, "Konnichiwa~"

"What does that mean?"

"It means hello."

"Say another one."

"Arigato~"

"What does that mean?"

"It means thank you."

"I want to hear something else."

"I guess you want to hear... Yamate?"

"You know me well, senior. Let's hear it then."

Lu Xinyue's cheeks reddened, she hesitated for quite a while, then shyly looked down and softly said, "Yamate~"

"Hmm, that's the spirit. Say it one more time for me to hear."

"...."

After some idle chat, Shen Yuan signed the entrepreneurship agreement with the little translator Lu Xinyue and let her leave.

The investment in the campus mini-supermarket wasn't big either. After cost accounting, Shen Yuan gave her 220,000 yuan, close to her business plan's budget.

He had also realized that the little translator Lu Xinyue's family background was quite good, considering her parents both worked in foreign enterprises. Her motivations for applying to the entrepreneurship base were probably purer than other girls.

Additionally, from her business plan, he could tell that she had put her heart into it, so this kind of girl could be observed for a while longer to see what her abilities were like.

Shen Yuan sighed in relief. It was almost 5 pm, and the time was approaching for his date with the class belle.

Thus Shen Yuan sent a WeChat message to the class belle, asking her to wait for him at the designated place.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations Host for completing 10 million yuan in investment]

[System award issuing...]

A floating panel appeared before him, brightening Shen Yuan's eyes; the System's industry reward was coming.

Since he'd already transferred the entire 10 million yuan exclusive investment fund to the school, this meant the entire amount was invested.

[Mission Reward: Obtain 100% shares of Jingfu Health Management Co., Ltd in Star City]

Jingfu Health?

Shen Yuan hadn't heard of this company, so he immediately picked up his phone to search on Baidu.

Jingfu Health, with its operations including 2 medical check-up centers, 3 fitness centers, and 1 yoga studio.

Wow, the System rocks!

The reward was generous, directly giving him a company, and it was in the health industry he had wanted to enter before.

....