A Chance for Change

“A timid yes-man, always at everyone’s beck and call,” Zhou Yi interjected, seizing the opportune moment. “You can find someone like that anywhere; it’s not like they specifically need you, is it?”

Her words refocused Li Yanze’s scattered gaze, and he stared at her in a daze.

Zhou Yi softened her tone slightly. “If you truly like Su Xiao, then change yourself. Create your own value, become irreplaceable in her heart, and make her see you anew.”

Jiang Chen reached out and pressed a hand onto Li Yanze’s shoulder. “Li Yanze, listen carefully. I’m not begging you; I’m offering you an opportunity.”

He leaned in slightly, his gaze piercing as he met Li Yanze’s eyes.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t join our team. I can still find other people for this competition, and I’ll still win. I just want you to understand that the more you grovel, the more she’ll look down on you. If you truly like her, you should become stronger.”

He paused, then added, “Make her regret, one day, ever having underestimated you.”

These words plunged Li Yanze into turmoil. It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to him with such earnestness.

He remained silent for a long while, before finally nodding slowly.

“I understand…” He lifted his head, his previously hunched posture now ramrod straight. “Senior Sister, Senior Brother… thank you.”

No sooner had he spoken than a look of guilt resurfaced on his face. He turned to Zhou Yi. “Senior Sister, I’m sorry… about that post. I wanted to help you clarify things, but…”

Zhou Yi, however, waved a hand dismissively, her expression unconcerned. “It’s fine; I don’t mind at all.” With that, she cheerfully pulled out her phone, opened the school portal, and began filling out the registration form.

It was Jiang Chen who, with his sharp perception, caught the keyword. “What post?”

Li Yanze’s hands trembled as he swiped open his phone, showing Jiang Chen the pinned post: [Business School Senior Bullies Freshman].

Jiang Chen quickly scanned the post, which accused Zhou Yi of bullying a junior, along with a slew of clearly inflammatory and biased comments, and deliberately angled photos. The expression on his face darkened visibly.

“When did this happen?”

“Just, just yesterday…” Li Yanze whispered. “Outside the girls’ dormitory building…”

Jiang Chen frowned. He recalled that Zhou Yi had indeed called him from outside the girls’ dorm yesterday; it was nothing like the post described.

He handed the phone back to Li Yanze, then looked at Zhou Yi, baffled as to how she could remain so calm. Even he felt angry at the vile comments on the forum, yet she was still focused on filling out the registration form.

“Hey, about that post, don’t you have anything to say?”

Zhou Yi, busy with her phone, simply waved a hand. “Oh, don’t mind them. It’s just a misunderstanding, isn’t it? The buzz will die down in a few days. How could that possibly be as important as the twenty thousand yuan prize money for the competition?”

Jiang Chen chuckled softly at her magnanimous attitude, yet he quietly committed the matter to memory.

“Done!” Zhou Yi exclaimed, excitedly raising her phone. “Registration successful!”

Li Yanze still looked uneasy. “Senior Sister, can we really do this? That’s the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition…”

Zhou Yi looked up, a righteous smile on her face. “I don’t know if you can, but I only know one thing: just do it! Besides, don’t we have Jiang Chen?”

Jiang Chen shot her a sidelong glance. “Oh, so I’m just being used as a tool, am I?”

“Wrong!” Zhou Yi held up her index finger, shaking it emphatically. “You’re the core strength! The face of our team—it absolutely has to be you.”

Amused, Jiang Chen laughed and shook his head, then reached out to pat Li Yanze’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. As long as we divide the work effectively, our team will be complete.”

Spurred on by their playful banter, the unease in Li Yanze’s heart finally subsided. He nodded firmly.

This profound sense of validation felt like a singular beam of light, piercing through the long-standing shadows of his self-doubt and repression.

Zhou Yi put away her phone, clapped her hands, and stood up, her eyes glinting mischievously. “Since the team is formed, shouldn’t we have a formal introductory meeting? For instance…”

She gestured towards the area outside the basketball court, a cheerful grin on her face. “How about a small meeting at the milk tea shop? We can discuss our division of labor while we drink; how efficient would that be?”

Jiang Chen stifled a laugh. “…You’re truly adept at finding excuses to drink milk tea.”

“This is called efficient resource utilization!” Zhou Yi declared righteously. “Besides, team building is also very important, okay?!”

Jiang Chen sighed, nodding. “Alright, Captain, you call the shots.”

[System Notification: Target sycophancy index has dropped to 64%. Current mission progress is good. Please continue to maintain.]

Zhou Yi’s lips curved into an unconscious smile upon seeing the pop-up. It was thanks to her stable mindset, enduring all the pressure and persevering until now, that she was finally seeing results!

Her heart swelled with joy, and she skipped forward, her ponytail bouncing merrily in the sunlight.

Li Yanze followed closely, feeling for the first time a profound sense of purpose, as if his life had finally found its direction.

Jiang Chen walked behind them, pulling out his phone to send a message: [Coach, I have an urgent matter this afternoon. Requesting leave from training.]

After sending it, he casually tapped open the campus forum’s trending post and scanned it once more.

Having exited the campus forum page, he opened another messaging app, his fingers rapidly tapping on the screen. A series of messages were sent out silently.

He then looked up at Zhou Yi, bouncing along ahead of him with her small bag, and a faint smile slowly softened his features.

With practiced ease, Zhou Yi led the two to the milk tea shop. As she pushed open the door, the familiar sweet aroma mingled with the clinking of ice, wafting towards them.

“Let’s sit here!” She briskly chose a spot near the counter, then, without a word, tossed her bag onto a chair and clapped her hands. “I’ll go order!”

This was the milk tea shop where she worked in real life. She knew the menu inside and out—which teas were popular, which were quick to prepare, and which offered the best discounts.

Moreover, it was only right to help boost the manager’s sales, wasn’t it?

With that thought, she not only ordered their signature milk teas for the three of them but also an extra plate of golden, crispy popcorn chicken, allegedly for the sake of efficient discussion.

Soon, the table was laden with drinks.

Zhou Yi casually pushed the bobo milk tea—less ice, three-tenths sugar—towards Jiang Chen.

“Here, yours.”

Jiang Chen took it, took a sip, and then looked up at Zhou Yi in surprise. The sweet tea aroma, combined with the chewy pearls, was exactly his usual order.

He remembered never having drunk milk tea in front of her, much less mentioning his preferred sweetness or ice level.

His brow subtly arched, a mix of surprise and an inexplicable warmth spreading within him… that strangely familiar feeling resurfaced.

Zhou Yi then turned and pushed another cup, full sugar, towards Li Yanze. “Junior, drink this. Replenish your sugar to soothe your soul~”

Li Yanze, flattered, took the cup and quietly murmured his thanks.

Jiang Chen lowered his head and took another sip, ultimately deciding not to ask.

‘How on earth did she know I drink it with less ice and three-tenths sugar?’