Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 527: Li Shiqi and Shen Yu

Zheng Yanyan had always harbored the thought of pulling Shen Yu into their circle of sisters. This desire only grew stronger after she learned that Minmin had moved into Tao Tian's place.She had even mentioned it to Lu Lin, pointing out that the opposing side had three people while theirs only had two. If things continued this way, the number of times her hubby would visit their side would definitely dwindle over time.

Lu Lin felt that Zheng Yanyan was simply worrying over nothing.

Setting aside whether Zhou Yuwen would even take a fancy to a girl like Minmin, even if he did accidentally sleep with her, handling three girls at once was too much for anyone. Even Zhou Yuwen would not be able to handle that, right?

Zheng Yanyan did not think so. She felt that three was nothing.

"Even if all four of us in the dormitory went at it together—you, me, Su Qing, and Shen Yu—I reckon Zhou Yuwen could sleep with all of us once, and then go for another round," Zheng Yanyan said, counting on her fingers for Lu Lin.

Lu Lin was rendered completely speechless by these words. She had tried to advise Zheng Yanyan against this line of thought, but the problem was that Zheng Yanyan simply refused to listen.

The original plan had been to recruit Shen Yu.

However, Shen Yu was far too obsessed with keeping herself pure and aloof, always acting as if everyone else was drunk while she alone was sober. Over time, Zheng Yanyan had grown thoroughly sick of it.

Especially with her behavior during this meal, Zheng Yanyan felt that Shen Yu was losing major points.

They were just a few students from Jinling University. Did she really need to be so overly proactive with them?

Even after these students graduated, they might not necessarily have the chance to work for her hubby.

In the restroom, Zheng Yanyan gossiped about Shen Yu with an overwhelming sense of superiority.

Lu Lin suggested that she was blowing things out of proportion.

"That girl Li Shiqi is pretty good. Let's just help her out," Zheng Yanyan said, tugging on Lu Lin's arm.

Lu Lin, however, made it clear: "If you want to help her, go ahead, but do not drag me into this."

"Think about it carefully. In all your past battles, who have you ever managed to gain the upper hand against?"

Lu Lin offered this blunt reminder. At the mention of it, Zheng Yanyan genuinely blushed a little. It seemed that ever since their freshman year, aside from fighting Su Qing to a bitter standstill, Zheng Yanyan had spent the vast majority of her time getting utterly crushed by her rivals.

Take Zhou Yuwen's first "other woman," Tao Tian, for example. Zheng Yanyan had marched over aggressively, only to be slapped in the face the moment she arrived.

Not to mention Jiang Xinyi later on. Even with Lu Lin, when Zheng Yanyan first found out about her relationship with Zhou Yuwen, she had tried to tear into her as well, but ultimately failed to come out on top.

The more she thought about it, the redder Zheng Yanyan's face became. Refusing to admit defeat, she simply replied in a coquettish tone, "Oh, come on, this is completely different."

"Back then, I still considered myself Zhou Yuwen's girlfriend and did not want to share him with any of you. It is different now; now I am sharing him voluntarily. Besides, Li Shiqi does not look nearly as fierce as you girls."

Lu Lin cast a sidelong glance at Zheng Yanyan and deadpanned, "Oh, so I am too fierce."

"Hehe."

Lu Lin had given her warning, but whether Zheng Yanyan chose to listen was entirely her own business.

After they emerged from the restroom, the atmosphere at the dining table remained quite pleasant.

The students gathered here were considered the cream of the crop within the entire university town. As the vice president of the Student Union at Zhou Yuwen's college, Shen Yu was more than happy to network with outstanding individuals. She eagerly hoped to learn more advanced ideas and methods from these students of a prestigious higher education institution.

The few students from Jinling University were equally happy to share. However, as modern youths, no matter what topic they started with, the conversation inevitably drifted toward current societal issues and the global economy.

They spoke with fervor on these subjects before finally circling back to the employment prospects of graduates. Even as soon-to-be graduates of Jinling University, they still felt a sense of confusion regarding their career paths. This was especially true now, as their teacher had organized them to conduct social research focusing primarily on university student employment—specifically, whether it was better to seek a job or start a business.

To this end, they had already interviewed several senior male and female students who had either started their own ventures or entered the workforce.

"Your school actually has a course like this?" Shen Yu found the concept rather novel.

The Jinling University students shook their heads with a smile, explaining that of course they did not.

"It depends on the major. However, we enrolled in a public elective course, and since both he and I decided to apply to be that teacher's postgraduate students, the teacher assigned us this task in advance."

Hearing this, Shen Yu felt an even greater sense of awe. They were practically the same age as her, yet they were already preparing for their postgraduate studies while she spent her days busying herself with trivial matters.

Postgraduate students at Jinling University.

Shen Yu suddenly felt an urge to give it a try herself.

Just as they were chatting merrily, Zheng Yanyan and Lu Lin returned.

Seeing how engaged they were, Zheng Yanyan smiled and asked, "What are you guys chatting about?"

One student smiled and told her that they were discussing employment and entrepreneurship issues for graduates.

He also mentioned the assignment given by their teacher, explaining their need to conduct in-depth social research.

He added that they could also find part-time jobs, earning living expenses while gaining a deeper understanding of how society operates.

They rambled on for a bit. Zheng Yanyan managed to grasp the beginning, but the more she listened, the more dazed she became. However, she did understand one core point: they were looking for work.

"If you are looking for work, you can just go to Zhou Yuwen's company!" Zheng Yanyan blurted out.

The moment those words left her mouth, the previously joyous atmosphere plunged into a sudden silence.

"?" Zheng Yanyan was baffled. What was wrong? Had she said something inappropriate?

It was not that she had spoken out of turn. Rather, during their earlier conversation, everyone had been speaking freely without any conflicts of interest. Deep down, they all knew that Zhou Yuwen's status was completely different from theirs. No matter how much knowledge they possessed, at present, they were destined to be mere producers.

Zhou Yuwen, on the other hand, already controlled a massive amount of the means of production. He could occasionally chime in to discuss social issues with them, but if he were to actually offer them assistance, the fundamental nature of their interaction would change entirely.

At the very least, they would no longer be on equal footing.

Another reason was that they genuinely harbored the desire to check out Zhou Yuwen's company.

Of course, they were not interested in his current local companies, but rather the financial securities firm across the ocean. They were incredibly curious about how Zhou Yuwen had managed to build everything from scratch and conquer Wall Street in just two months.

The silence was slightly awkward, but soon enough, a female student seized the opportunity. Picking up on Zheng Yanyan's words, she said, "Actually, to be honest, if the opportunity presents itself, I really would love to visit Zhou Yuwen's company."

The moment she spoke, the tension at the dinner table eased considerably.

The girl offered Zhou Yuwen a gentle smile, and he simply smiled back in response.

The girl was not particularly beautiful; she was thin and wore gold-rimmed glasses. Zhou Yuwen said, "You are all the favored children of heaven. If you genuinely want to join my company, I would naturally welcome you. My only fear is that my humble temple is too small to accommodate such immense talent."

"How could that be?"

"When our teacher was giving us a lecture, he specifically mentioned you."

"Mentioned me?" This took Zhou Yuwen by surprise. He had always assumed that, coming from an unconventional background, these orthodox academic circles would look down on him.

The girl in glasses nodded. "The teacher said that it was no easy feat for you to build such an enterprise within a single year. You are someone all of us young people should learn from. He has very high hopes for your Fun Campus app."

During previous media interviews, Zhou Yuwen had introduced several unfamiliar terms, such as O2O, online-to-offline integration, and the concept of an internet ecosystem.

To the average person, these concepts might not sound like much. But when the professors teaching at the university heard them, they immediately recognized that Zhou Yuwen was the real deal.

Currently, Zhou Yuwen's Fun Campus app was ostensibly marketed as a social networking site for university students nationwide. However, it encompassed far too many other features, such as the Super Course Schedule, food delivery, express courier services, travel guides, and much more.

The future of the internet was one where the user was king, and the primary purchasing power would undoubtedly consist of university students. If Zhou Yuwen could monopolize all the university student users from 2014 onward, there was no doubt that this demographic—with its ingrained online spending habits—would generate a steady and endless stream of money for him.

Certain professors at Jinling University had indeed discussed these very points with their students, encouraging them to seek employment or work at Zhou Yuwen's company if given the chance.

Although Zhou Yuwen's company was currently just a small startup, it possessed an exceptionally brilliant helmsman. Another crucial factor was the massive cash flow Zhou Yuwen held overseas, which was more than enough to nourish his domestic company until it grew into a towering tree. The girl in glasses spoke eloquently, her words inevitably revealing a subtle sense of adoration for Zhou Yuwen.

After listening to her piece, Zhou Yuwen was quite surprised. He chuckled and said, "I never expected to have such a prominent reputation at your Jinling University."

"Prominent is an understatement. You are practically a figure our school's teachers applaud with endless praise!" the girl in glasses reiterated.

Zhou Yuwen simply smiled and remained silent.

Originally, the conversation at the table had been entirely driven by Shen Yu and the students from Jinling University. Yet, before anyone realized it, the focus had entirely shifted to Zhou Yuwen.

As a result, Shen Yu found herself inexplicably ignored.

At this juncture, Shen Yu realized she could not even get a word in edgewise. She suddenly felt like a bit of a clown today. She had spent all her effort pursuing upward social mobility, only to discover that the very circle of elites she revered acted with absolute humility in front of Zhou Yuwen.

Perhaps it was because Shen Yu had always been by Zhou Yuwen's side. Although she had heard reports of his incredible success, she had completely overlooked just how extraordinary it was to be personally acquainted with him.

Other people were racking their brains just for a chance to exchange a couple of words with Zhou Yuwen. Meanwhile, she was sitting right next to him, deliberately avoiding conversation.

Well, look at the situation now. The moment an opening presented itself, a whole crowd immediately started fawning over Zhou Yuwen.

Zheng Yanyan noticed the expression on the sidelined Shen Yu's face, but she opted not to comment. She simply listened as the crowd lamented that, unfortunately, their studies were currently far too demanding; otherwise, they would have loved to work at Zhou Yuwen's company for a while.

"By the way, President Zhou, does your company have any intention of hiring part-time students?"

The girl in glasses looked at him with bright, eager eyes.

However, Zhou Yuwen regretfully stated that they did not. The primary reason was that many of the company's internet projects were highly confidential. The programmers were swamped with overtime work every single day, unable to finish their tasks. How could anyone possibly juggle working there while keeping up with their studies?

Shen Yu felt that these Jinling University students were genuine talents and that Zhou Yuwen should not reject them so outright. Seeking to lend them a helping hand, she spoke up, "Are there not any simpler clerical jobs available?"

When Shen Yu broached the topic, it was likely that she, too, harbored thoughts of working at Zhou Yuwen's company.

At that moment, Zhou Yuwen and Shen Yu's four eyes met. Looking at her, Zhou Yuwen could not help but chuckle. He said, "For the easy jobs you mentioned, I only need to spend a couple of thousand yuan to hire a stable employee from the job market, and everything will be handled flawlessly. Why would I squander massive amounts of money recruiting part-time students from the university who have absolutely zero experience?"

Zhou Yuwen's bluntness caused a wave of disappointment to wash over the faces of the Jinling University students.

Shen Yu's expression also betrayed a hint of dejection.

It was clear that Zhou Yuwen was not giving her any face at all.

Zheng Yanyan had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines all this time. When she felt the moment was right, she chimed in with a bright smile, "Hey, Zhou Yuwen, it does not matter whether anyone else joins your company or not, but surely you wouldn't deny entry to your own girlfriend, right?"

When Zheng Yanyan said this, Lu Lin and Li Shiqi were genuinely startled, thinking she was about to start spouting nonsense.

Even Zhou Yuwen felt that Zheng Yanyan was about to say something outrageous. He genuinely had no idea who she was referring to as his "girlfriend."

Facing everyone's questioning gazes...

Zheng Yanyan simply smiled and tilted her chin up proudly, declaring, "Why is everyone looking at me? Your girlfriend is a student at Jinling University! It would be a total waste not to utilize such an incredible talent!"

It was only then that everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

However, it was quite unexpected.

Was Zheng Yanyan actually speaking up on behalf of Li Shiqi?

Remaining completely laid-back and unbothered, Zheng Yanyan explained that the reason Zhou Yuwen refused to hire part-time university students was the fear that the talent he painstakingly cultivated would be snatched away by competitors.

But Li Shiqi certainly would not do that, would she? After all, Li Shiqi was his girlfriend.

When she graduated, joining his company would be a matter of course.

"Instead of waiting, you might as well just recruit her ahead of time."

Zheng Yanyan's logic was sound. It even left Li Shiqi, who was seated next to Zhou Yuwen, feeling rather touched. She did not understand why Zheng Yanyan was speaking up for her, but she could clearly tell that the other girl genuinely wanted to help.

Could it be that she had overheard what was said in the restroom earlier?

As he swished his food in the hot pot, Zhou Yuwen casually replied, "There really is no need for that."

"Shiqi's primary mission right now is her studying. I do not want any outside matters to interfere with her. Besides, it does not seem like she personally wants to join my company anyway."

As he spoke, Zhou Yuwen shot Li Shiqi a knowing smile.

'She is a woman destined for a career in civil service,' he thought to himself. 'How could she possibly care about my little company?'

However, the exact moment his gaze met Li Shiqi's, Zhou Yuwen suddenly realized that something was slightly off.

Li Shiqi was staring at him with a dead-serious expression. "If possible, I would like to give it a try," she said.

"?"

Zheng Yanyan beamed. "Ha! See? Your girlfriend actually really wants to help you, Zhou Yu—"

Before Zheng Yanyan could finish her sentence, Zhou Yuwen shot her a sharp, silencing glare.

That single look instantly reminded Zheng Yanyan of her place. She immediately adopted a meek persona, offering Zhou Yuwen a sheepish, placating giggle.

Zhou Yuwen turned his attention back to Li Shiqi. "Do you really want to give it a try?"

Deep down, Li Shiqi genuinely wanted to join his company. On one hand, it would allow her to accumulate valuable workplace experience; on the other hand, she could be closer to him. Yet, she also recognized that making such a request felt like overstepping her bounds.

So, when Zhou Yuwen directly questioned her, Li Shiqi instinctively began to retreat. "If it will cause you any trouble, then just forget it..."

"It is no trouble at all. Having you help me would naturally be the best-case scenario."

Zhou Yuwen was telling the truth. The company was currently severely understaffed, and from the very beginning, he had earmarked Li Shiqi as a prime talent. If he could bring her on board as a reserve executive and eventually groom her into his personal secretary, nothing could be better.

The only issue was that Zhou Yuwen wanted to know if joining the company was genuinely what she wanted, or if she had simply been boxed into a corner by Zheng Yanyan's earlier remarks and could not back down without losing face.

Now that he could see Li Shiqi was completely serious, he welcomed her with open arms.

With that settled, Zhou Yuwen straightforwardly instructed Li Shiqi to come find him at the company tomorrow.

Hearing this, the entire table erupted in laughter. Wang Meng even started playfully jeering from the side, expressing her absolute envy that Li Shiqi had snagged such an incredible boyfriend.

"Is this not exactly what they call an overbearing CEO!" Wang Meng teased with a grin.

"Please stop, that title is way too cringe-inducing," Zhou Yuwen protested.

At his response, the group's laughter grew even more raucous and joyful.

Of course, not everyone at the dinner table was filled with joy.

At the very least, Shen Yu was swimming in dejection.

Actually, when Su Qing had left, Shen Yu had been presented with the perfect opportunity to inherit Su Qing's planning company and shadow Chen Wan to learn the ropes of event planning.

However, at the time, she was solely focused on maintaining her distance from Zhou Yuwen, and so she had turned down the offer.

Looking back on it now...

It seemed she had foolishly let a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip through her fingers.

And now, Zhou Yuwen only had eyes for Li Shiqi.

Even Zheng Yanyan did not seem nearly as warm and eager toward her as she had been before.