The Price of a Smile

“Perfect!”

‘I’ve searched high and low for you!’

Zhou Yi, who had just averted his gaze, unable to bear the chilling scene unfolding with Lin Wei, caught sight of the two figures with uncanny precision from the corner of his eye.

‘Oh, so you were hiding, were you? Running away? Standing me up? You’ve finally decided to show your faces.’

Yesterday, in his desperate attempt to catch them, he had nearly worn out the running track, exceeding his step count goals without even catching a glimpse of their shadows.

And now, they’d delivered themselves right to his doorstep?

Old grudges and new resentments surged within him. Just as he was about to slam his hand down and rise, Jiang Chen gently pressed a hand onto his wrist.

“We’ll talk after class,” Jiang Chen murmured, his eyes subtly indicating the lecturer’s podium.

The professor, having just turned around, swept his gaze across the classroom. “Today, we’re discussing role allocation within startup teams,” he announced. “Can anyone tell me what a healthy team should avoid most?”

No one raised a hand. It was a typical Saturday morning classroom scene.

The professor, seemingly accustomed to the silence, adjusted his glasses and suddenly called out, “You, in the back, the one in the grey hoodie who just slipped in—yes, you. Please answer this question.”

The entire class turned in unison.

Zhao Lei, who had only just settled into his seat and hadn’t even caught his breath, froze entirely. He then rose, a picture of despair and struggle.

“Uh… well…” He scratched the back of his head, his mind a complete blank, and looked to Chen Hao for help.

Chen Hao immediately shifted his gaze towards the window, turning his neck with decisive abruptness.

Just as Zhao Lei stood isolated and drenched in cold sweat, Zhou Yi, seated in the front row, slowly turned his head. He flashed a smile so brilliant it sent shivers down Zhao Lei’s spine.

‘It seems what’s due has finally arrived, Classmate Zhao.’

A chill ran down the back of Zhao Lei’s neck.

“Classmate?” the professor prompted.

“I, I think…” Zhao Lei, startled by Zhou Yi’s smile, stumbled over his words. “A healthy team… should avoid most…” He swallowed, “In-internal friction?”

“Be more specific,” the professor pressed. “What kind of behavior leads to internal friction? Give an example.”

“For instance… for instance…” Zhao Lei stammered. Having pulled an all-nighter gaming and then spent the morning anxiously avoiding Zhou Yi, his mind suddenly went blank. He blurted out, “Like when you’re in a team fight, and the marksman and support blame each other. One complains about no protection, the other about insufficient damage, and they argue until… well, until it’s over.”

He himself froze after speaking. The classroom fell silent for two seconds, before erupting into a wave of suppressed laughter.

The professor adjusted his glasses, his expression somewhat complex. “…That’s certainly a vivid example,” he said. “However, we’re discussing startup teams.”

He waved a hand. “Alright, you may sit.”

Zhao Lei, still in a daze, slumped back into his chair. His back was already soaked with sweat; he felt more exhausted than if he’d just run three thousand meters.

Only then did Chen Hao dare to turn his head back from the window. He patted his chest, still feeling a lingering fear, and offered Zhao Lei a sympathetic look, yet his body honestly shifted half an inch away.

The professor’s gaze swept across the classroom, finally landing on Zhou Yi, who was still turned around, enjoying Zhao Lei’s predicament.

He raised a hand and pointed. “That person over there, the female classmate who’s turned around to watch the show, stop watching. Yes, you. Please elaborate on the answer.”

…

The classroom fell silent for a moment. From the back, a muffled “Pfft!” could be heard. Chen Hao had utterly failed to suppress his laughter, burying his entire face in his arms, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Zhao Lei, who had just revived, also perked up. Fearlessly, he pointed at Zhou Yi, silently mouthing with exaggerated gestures, ‘They’re calling you!’

Zhou Yi, with a dark expression, glared fiercely at those two gleeful scoundrels. Only then did he manage to force out a smile and say to the professor, “Teacher, I…”

The professor raised a hand, cutting him off. “Alright, no explanations. Answer the question first.”

The atmosphere grew somewhat stagnant. Zhou Yi stiffly turned around, meeting the professor’s scrutinizing gaze.

The professor’s face held no hint of displeasure, only a touch of amusement in his eyes.

“We’re discussing internal team friction. Since you enjoy watching the show, you can conveniently share your thoughts on the matter.”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘What does this have to do with enjoying a show?!’

“For example, regarding team resource allocation: some complain their workload is too heavy while others’ is light. Some, to show off their abilities, take on extra tasks, leaving others with nothing to do. Then, fearing their own workload is too much to complete with quality, they complain and seek help from other team members. Would you say this constitutes internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Yes, absolutely.’

“Another example: some individuals constantly spread negative energy within the team, complaining about everything, forming cliques, and ostracizing others. Is this internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Yes, absolutely.’

“Furthermore, if information within the team is not conveyed promptly or accurately, leading to asymmetry. Or if team members lack communication, acting independently, only focusing on their own tasks. Does this count as internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Yes, very much so.’

“What about small factions within a team, competing against each other, not sharing resources, and damaging the team’s interests for their own gain? Is that internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Yes, it absolutely is.’

“Or perhaps, if the team’s decision-making efficiency is low, where a simple matter requires multiple meetings and repeated discussions, wasting time and energy. Is that internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Yes, very much so.’

“And if team members distrust and suspect each other, leading to low cooperation efficiency. Is that internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Yes, that certainly is.’

“Alright, these are common behaviors that lead to internal friction within a team. What impact do you think these behaviors have on a team?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘The impact is, the team will fall apart.’

“So, how should a healthy team avoid or reduce the occurrence of internal friction?” The professor posed another question. “You answer.”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Don’t ask me, I don’t know either!’

“Classmate Zhou Yi, don’t be silent,” the professor lightly coughed. “I know you have strong insights on this topic.”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘I have no insights on this. All I know is, seeing those two gives me a headache.’

“Zhou Yi, if you don’t answer, I’ll assume you’re refusing to,” the professor’s voice turned cold.

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘I’m not refusing, I just don’t know how to answer.’

“Zhou Yi, didn’t you once say that a healthy team should have healthy competition?” The professor suddenly brought up something Zhou Yi had previously stated. “Where do you think the line between healthy competition and internal friction lies?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Professor, please don’t do this. These are completely different concepts, okay?!’

‘The healthy competition I spoke of is competition conducted through legitimate means, based on rules and boundaries, all for a common goal.’

‘Internal friction, however, is behavior where people attack and undermine each other without rules or boundaries, damaging team interests for personal gain!’

‘How can they be the same?!’

The professor watched Zhou Yi with a smile, a hint of slyness in his eyes. “It seems you do have plenty of thoughts after all. So tell me, how should a team avoid internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘There are many ways to avoid internal friction. For example, by clarifying goals, fostering division of labor, building trust, enhancing communication, ensuring fairness and impartiality, encouraging innovation, providing timely feedback, resolving conflicts, and so on.’

The professor’s smile deepened. “Very well said. It seems your understanding of internal team friction is quite thorough. So, how can a team maximize healthy competition while simultaneously avoiding internal friction?”

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Professor, you’re putting me on the spot.’

“Zhou Yi, don’t forget, you’re our class monitor. A class monitor is meant to help everyone solve their problems,” the professor said meaningfully.

Zhou Yi: “…” ‘Right now, I just want to find a hole to crawl into.’

“Alright, everyone, quiet down,” the professor tapped on the desk. “Classmate Zhou Yi’s answers were truly excellent. I hope you all can reflect on team building, just like Classmate Zhou Yi. That concludes our class for today. Class dismissed!”

Only then did Zhou Yi turn to the podium, enunciating each word to the professor, “Teacher, I… am… male.”

At this moment, the eerie silence in the classroom was broken by a more pronounced wave of whispers and hushed laughter.

Jiang Chen couldn’t hold back either. He turned his head, his fist pressed against his lips, his shoulders visibly shaking.

The professor at the podium was clearly bewildered.

He adjusted his glasses, scrutinizing Zhou Yi for two full seconds.

From the side, the contour of his face had indeed appeared soft, his skin fair. But the heroic spirit in his brows and eyes, coupled with his neat short hair…

“…Ahem, my apologies, I misjudged. Then, Classmate, please answer the question.”

Zhou Yi, his face as dark as the bottom of a wok, stood up. Amidst the lingering amusement of the entire class, he began to answer:

“A healthy team’s greatest taboo is ambiguous role definition. For instance, assigning a technical expert to market outreach, or tasking someone skilled in execution with strategic planning.”

This question hit precisely on an area he had just mastered in the simulator.

He spoke with increasing fluency, his thoughts clear and well-organized. He even effortlessly cited real-world team case studies.

Who managed the technical architecture, who spearheaded user research, who focused on core code—these processes, fresh from his simulator practice, now flowed effortlessly from him.

The professor’s initially stern expression gradually softened. He nodded repeatedly, a look of satisfaction on his face, and added, “An excellent answer. It seems you have a deep understanding of team collaboration,” as he gestured for Zhou Yi to sit.

Only then did Zhou Yi return to his seat, the heat still lingering in his ears.

He turned his head, shooting a fierce glare at Jiang Chen. The rascal was still laughing!

Jiang Chen, receiving the dagger look, not only didn’t rein it in but instead raised an eyebrow, silently mouthing, ‘Female… classmate?’

Without a second thought, Zhou Yi delivered a swift kick under the table.

“Ugh.” Jiang Chen let out a muffled grunt, the smile on his face freezing. He finally turned back, pretending to look seriously at the podium.

In his mind, however, a vague notion became clearer: this wasn’t a delusion. He wasn’t the only one who had noticed the subtle changes in Zhou Yi.

And at that moment, no one noticed Lin Wei, who had been keeping her head down, quietly turning off her phone screen and tucking it back into her canvas bag.

****

Time flowed by as the professor’s lecture continued unabated.

The two consecutive, mind-numbing long classes finally ended. The professor wrote the group requirements on the blackboard: [Four people per group. Combine classroom theory to complete a comprehensive innovation and entrepreneurship practice report. Submit at the end of the semester; it accounts for the overall grade.]

As the last stroke fell, the classroom immediately filled with a rustling of discussions and the sound of students seeking teammates.

Zhou Yi’s eyes lit up. He instantly turned to the back row; this was legitimate “team collaboration.” Where could those two rascals possibly hide now?

However, he saw Chen Hao already clinging desperately to Zhang San’s arm on the left. “Brother San, take me with you! I’ll be your ox and horse!”

Zhao Lei, meanwhile, was practically draped over Li Si on the right. “Brother Si! With our friendship, we absolutely must be in the same group! I’ll be in charge of cheering you on!”

The moment the two sensed Zhou Yi’s murderous gaze, they simultaneously turned to him, flashing fawning, yet utterly irritating, smiles.

“Uh… Brother Yi, you see… our team is already full! Yes, full!” Zhao Lei declared preemptively. “You and Brother Chen should form a team quickly too!”

Chen Hao immediately chimed in seamlessly, “Exactly, exactly! We won’t hold you guys back! The two of you, a strong alliance, are bound to get high scores! We… we academic underachievers, we’ll handle things internally, internally, okay?”

After speaking, the two exchanged a deep, meaningful glance and nodded vigorously.