Chapter 101: Feng Yi’s Target 1/2

H University’s New Year’s Eve party was very lively, and the students kept talking about it excitedly for several days afterwards.

Of course, Feng Yi wasn’t among them.

After the New Year’s Eve party, his life continued as usual.

He went to class as usual, helped the professors as usual, and then spent weekends with Jiang Liyun, enjoying their own world together.

Wherever Jiang Liyun was, it was his home.

Feng Yi was not affected in the slightest, but the others in the dormitory were different.

A local from Shanghai who often played with Qiao Ming confessed to his crush on New Year’s Day, and she accepted. Since then, he has started dating, making the others in the dormitory envy him endlessly.

Even in class, there were people envious of him, and for a while, everyone’s hearts were unsettled, and nobody had the mind to study.

The professor often asked Feng Yi to help grade assignments, and Feng Yi noticed this situation immediately.

He talked to the professor about it, and… The professor gave another exam.

After the exam, the professor reminded everyone to study hard in the last month of the semester and not fall behind.

After class, the male students surrounded Feng Yi: “Feng Yi, you’re simply heartless.”

“Feng Yi, is this something a decent person would do?”

“Feng Yi, you have your own girlfriend; why stop others from finding theirs?”

…

Feng Yi laughed, “I’m different from you guys; I haven’t let dating affect my studies!”

Classmates: “…”

Feng Yi was telling the truth. Although he spent his weekends outside, his grades were always far ahead; he was reportedly already studying materials from the second and third years.

Their school had limited study materials, so Feng Yi even asked the professor to get various teaching materials from other schools for him.

“Feng Yi, you’re so smart; why did you start university so late? And just at H University?” someone couldn’t help but ask.

At first, some people in their class looked down on Feng Yi. He was the oldest in the class, and they thought he must have repeated several years.

Having repeated several years before getting into the same school as them meant Feng Yi wasn’t as good as them!

But over time, their perceptions changed—Feng Yi’s learning ability was incredibly strong, to the point of being astonishing.

Shao Chengdong was particularly talented in computers, performing exceptionally well in computer classes and often being praised by the professors. But his theoretical knowledge was lacking; when asked why he programmed a certain way during computer classes, he couldn’t explain.

Feng Yi was different. He had an excellent memory and could remember all the knowledge. No matter what question was asked, he could answer it quickly.

During computer classes, his performance was exceptional too. Shao Chengdong’s ideas were sometimes imaginative and prone to errors, but not Feng Yi.

A person like him was actually the most suitable for the college entrance examination, and considering his age, he had studied for several more years than them.

How come he didn’t get into a better university?

Feng Yi explained, “I dropped out in the third year of high school. It was my girlfriend who supported me, allowing me to continue my education. I actually didn’t repeat any years, and I only attended high school for two years.”

“Your girlfriend supported you. Where did she get the money?” a curious classmate asked.

Feng Yi’s girlfriend should be around the same age as him, right? How old was she when Feng Yi was in middle school and high school? Where did she get the money to support Feng Yi?

“She earned it by setting up a stall. We used to set up stalls together, and we made a decent amount,” Feng Yi explained.

“Is she the same age as you?” another person asked.

“She’s a year older than me. We grew up together as childhood sweethearts, and she has always liked me, always taking care of me,” Feng Yi said with a gentle smile when talking about Jiang Liyun.

Lu Haijun, Shao Chengdong, and a few others who had met Jiang Liyun couldn’t help but envy the situation.

Feng Yi’s luck was incredible. Not only did he know such a beautiful woman since childhood, but she also took care of him and even supported his education!

However, those who hadn’t met Jiang Liyun had a different reaction.

Feng Yi’s girlfriend was currently working as a waitress, had set up stalls before, and was even older than Feng Yi.

Keep in mind that Feng Yi was already several years older than them!

Although she treated Feng Yi well with deep affection, in their imagination, Feng Yi’s girlfriend should be an ordinary woman.

After all, Feng Yi grew up in the countryside, so his childhood sweetheart should be the same!

They might not surpass Feng Yi in other aspects, but surely they could find better girlfriends than Feng Yi!

Unaware of their thoughts, Feng Yi continued, “Sister Liyun is amazing, both smart and beautiful.”

Initially, when he wasn’t close to his classmates, Feng Yi didn’t talk much about Jiang Liyun. But once they became friends, he was happy to share the positive aspects of Jiang Liyun.

However, Feng Yi’s classmates were sceptical.

If she’s so smart, why didn’t she go to college?

If she’s beautiful… Beautiful girls are usually proud; how could she have been so caring and good to Feng Yi from a young age?

The words Feng Yi shared with his classmates quickly spread to the School of Foreign Languages at H.

Chu Xiaoxiao, who played the piano at the New Year’s Eve party and spoke to Feng Yi, was a student from the School of Foreign Languages.

It was winter, and many people were wearing bulky winter clothes, but Chu Xiaoxiao was different.

Today, she wore a red cashmere sweater on top, a brown woollen maxi skirt below, and a black mink coat on the outside, giving off an air of elegance.

Chu Xiaoxiao had connections; in the 80s, her father made a fortune as a speculator, and in recent years, he opened a small factory, also earning a good amount.

Actually, in terms of looks, Chu Xiaoxiao might not be the most beautiful in the school, but she knew how to dress well, putting her above others by a large margin.

No girl in the school could compare to her; she became the recognised campus beauty.

Of course, people only mentioned this privately. Officially discussing such things, especially electing a campus beauty, wasn’t considered appropriate.

As for why Chu Xiaoxiao liked Feng Yi…

Their school’s playground was behind the girls’ dormitory.

Feng Yi went to the playground for a run every morning, and Chu Xiaoxiao happened to see him.

After seeing him frequently, she couldn’t help but develop a fondness for Feng Yi. So, she took the opportunity to “accidentally” encounter him several times.

Feng Yi didn’t notice Chu Xiaoxiao; he always kept his eyes straight ahead.

For other girls, this might be annoying, but Chu Xiaoxiao was tired of being noticed by boys. Feng Yi’s behaviour actually made her feel more interested.

After the New Year’s Eve performance, everyone praised her, and with encouragement from her friends, she directly went to find Feng Yi.

From childhood to now, Chu Xiaoxiao has always been the centre of attention. She was beautiful, intelligent, came from a good family, and had various talents, making her highly sought-after.

She didn’t think she would be rejected by Feng Yi.

As for the possibility of Feng Yi not being single… Chu Xiaoxiao never even considered that.

Feng Yi has never been seen with a girl; there are only two guys accompanying him everywhere, and he’s clearly single.

Chu Xiaoxiao thought that if she confessed, she could be with Feng Yi, but things turned out completely different from what she expected.

She didn’t even get a chance to confess!

In front of so many people, Feng Yi rejected her and didn’t even want to talk to her privately!

Chu Xiaoxiao felt like she had lost all face.

Later, Chu Xiaoxiao’s friends inquired and found out that Feng Yi had a girlfriend outside the school.

Chu Xiaoxiao didn’t have deep feelings for Feng Yi, so upon learning this, she stopped thinking about him.

Of course, it was inevitable for her to feel upset.

Then one day, a friend of Chu Xiaoxiao approached her, saying, “Xiaoxiao, do you know? Feng Yi’s girlfriend is an uneducated woman who used to set up stalls!”

Chu Xiaoxiao was stunned. “What are you saying?”

“It was said by someone in Feng Yi’s class. His girlfriend, who is older than him, used to set up stalls to support his education. Now, she works as a waitress in a Shanghai store, and Feng Yi visits her on weekends.” The girl elaborated, adding some embellishments.

Feng Yi’s classmates never said his girlfriend was uneducated!

Chu Xiaoxiao felt something was wrong: “Isn’t Feng Yi wealthy? Why would he need his girlfriend to support his education?”

Others might not have noticed, but Chu Xiaoxiao did. Feng Yi’s clothes were from the mall—not flashy but well-designed and not cheap.

“His girlfriend works in a store owned by a foreigner, and her salary should be high,” the girl explained. “Xiaoxiao, Feng Yi’s taste is so poor, choosing a woman like that instead of you.”

Hearing this, Chu Xiaoxiao felt annoyed.

Then another girl with glasses said, “If these rumours are true and Feng Yi’s girlfriend works as a waitress while he flaunts his wealth at school, he’s still not a good person.”

That made sense!

Although they heard some rumours, no one knew the exact details, so they decided not to say anything more.

After celebrating the Gregorian New Year, it was time for the Lunar New Year.

This year, Chinese New Year’s Eve fell on February 14th, Valentine’s Day.

On February 1st, H University began its winter break.

Early on, the student union contacted students, offering assistance in buying train tickets. Most students would go home for the New Year, but some, like Lu Haijun and Shao Chengdong, chose to stay at school.

The two Northeastern roommates, carrying large bags, were planning to endure several days and nights of hard seats on the train. Lu Haijun and Shao Chengdong applied to stay in the dorms during the break.

As for Feng Yi, he was definitely going home. He had been looking forward to his winter break!

This winter break, he and Jiang Liyun didn’t plan to return to Qiáotóu Village. It meant they could spend the holiday in Shanghai, enjoying their own world!

Feng Yi liked Jiang’s family, but he wanted to spend the New Year alone with Jiang Liyun.

Packing his clothes and various belongings into the suitcase Jiang Liyun bought for him and stuffing his study materials into his backpack, Feng Yi walked out with the bag and suitcase.

Jiang Liyun had told him she would come to pick him up today, and he was quite excited about it.

Feng Yi left early; many people had bought tickets for tomorrow or the day after and were planning to stay on campus until then.

“Feng Yi, are you going home?” someone greeted him as he came out.

“Yes, I’m going home.” Feng Yi smiled. “Not being enthusiastic about going home shows a problem with one’s mindset.”

This remark he casually heard from Jiang Liyun, who originally said, “Not being enthusiastic about eating, there’s a problem with one’s mindset,” and he made a slight modification.

The person talking to Feng Yi burst into laughter and asked, “How are you going back?”

Feng Yi replied, “My girlfriend is coming to pick me up.”

Feng Yi’s girlfriend is picking him up. The person suddenly became lively.

Since Feng Yi mentioned his girlfriend, people in the class have been very curious about Feng Yi’s childhood sweetheart.

Some say Feng Yi’s girlfriend is very beautiful, but others claim she is older than him and uneducated, just a country girl.

With various opinions, everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of the truth.

“Feng Yi, I’ll give you a ride.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

“I have nothing to do anyway; let’s go together!”

…

Feng Yi: “…”

He wondered how these guys in his class, who couldn’t walk straight when they saw an ordinary girl, would react when they saw Jiang Liyun!

Although he vaguely knew about the rumours in his class, it was precisely because he knew that, when Jiang Liyun suggested coming to pick him up, he readily agreed.

Now, if they want to tag along, let them. He wants to show them how beautiful his girlfriend is!

As Feng Yi was heading out with his belongings, Jiang Liyun had already arrived at the entrance of H University in her car.

She took the initiative to pick up Feng Yi, and as for why she wanted to pick him up… She had business negotiations today, so she specifically rented a car.

Since the car was rented, you might as well make good use of it!

Cars were scarce in the 1990s.

In the later years, the Santana, a relatively affordable car, had a suggested retail price of around 140,000 yuan, but one had to pay extra to get it, usually around 200,000 yuan. Even cheaper models like the Xia Li and Alto cost almost 100,000 yuan.

With this amount, one could buy a detached villa in less developed areas of Shanghai!

Well, in less developed areas, referring to Pudong, which was just starting its development.

Cars were truly expensive, becoming a symbol of status. At this time, owning a car was something that would make everyone envious.

In the early 1990s, when a monthly income of four to five hundred yuan was considered good, even a taxi driver could earn four to five thousand yuan a month!

At that time, female taxi drivers in Shanghai, wearing uniforms, were particularly popular with young women.

Of course, making more money by driving a taxi, just like making good profits from running a restaurant, was common. Jiang Liyun’s two shops, without any special promotions, could earn five to six thousand yuan in daily turnover during holidays. On normal days, it could still reach two to three thousand yuan. With a monthly nett profit of 30,000 yuan for one store, the combined total for both shops was 60,000 yuan.

This was a conservative estimate.

Because after making some money with her first shop, Jiang Liyun immediately invested in opening a second one, putting all her earnings into it. Therefore, she didn’t have much money at the moment.

Although she didn’t have a car, Jiang Liyun had learned to drive from someone. If needed for business negotiations or the like, she would spend 360 yuan to rent a car.

Compared to the prices at the time, this car rental fee was quite expensive, and one had to book in advance.

Jiang Liyun felt that renting a car now was almost like renting a helicopter thirty years later.

She usually didn’t rent a car, but sometimes, for business negotiations or to make a good impression, she would rent a car.

Today, she was negotiating with a food factory.

After learning that the factory planned to produce braised chicken feet, Jiang Liyun decided to discuss and, if possible, establish a long-term, stable supply relationship from her poultry farm to the factory.

Early in the morning, Jiang Liyun drove to the factory. She had lunch with the factory leaders, finalised the deal for chicken feet, and also signed a contract to supply chicken gizzards.

Selling these items to the factory would earn more money than selling them to wholesale merchants in the market.

Jiang Liyun even persuaded them to package braised chicken thighs and chicken racks after marinating and sell them.

She remembered from her previous life that there were such products on the market.

Of course, when talking about chicken thighs, they would have some meat on them, and the chicken racks would be cut into pieces with some meat.

Braising the chicken thighs and racks, packaging them into small snacks, and selling them was quite popular!

This food factory currently has no plans to sell those products.

After parting ways with the leaders of the food factory, Jiang Liyun drove to H University to pick up Feng Yi.

When dealing with business, Jiang Liyun would encounter various people, including those who saw her as attractive and wanted to take advantage of her. It was challenging to completely avoid such situations, but by presenting herself as assertive and somewhat intimidating, she could discourage unwanted advances.

So today, Jiang Liyun dressed up specifically for this occasion. Instead of doing her own makeup, she had a makeup artist working in the film and television industry do it for her.

Makeup artists in the film industry were known for their excellent skills. This person not only gave her an elegant and cold makeup look but also styled her hair, loosely gathering it at the back of her head with a few strands left loose, slightly curled on both sides.

In short, today she exuded the vibe of a stylish and aloof woman from Hong Kong.

Although this makeover cost her fifty yuan, Jiang Liyun felt it was well worth it!

With this appearance, she went for business negotiations wearing high heels. The leaders of the food factory dared not speak any greasy words to her.

As she arrived at the entrance of H University…

Jiang Liyun checked the time and estimated that Feng Yi would be coming out soon. She got out of the car and stood by the side, waiting.

This was an experience she had never had before. In her previous life, she couldn’t move freely, let alone have the chance to drive and wait for Feng Yi. He used to drive her around everywhere.

After becoming well-off, Feng Yi often drove her to nearby places for outings. They didn’t go far, just to the countryside nearby. Sometimes, they would park the car by the river, enjoying the breeze and watching the passing boats.

Today, she could also take Feng Yi for a drive.

Jiang Liyun was in a good mood, with a smile on her lips. This left the surrounding students stunned.

Chu Xiaoxiao, being a local in Shanghai, was going home today. As she walked out of the school with her luggage, she immediately spotted Jiang Liyun.

This person is too good-looking!

In addition to playing the piano, Chu Xiaoxiao also learned to draw, so she especially liked beautiful people and things. In her eyes, Jiang Liyun was truly beautiful.

She couldn’t help but look at her friend, who was wearing glasses. “Did you see that girl? She’s so beautiful!”

Chu Xiaoxiao’s friend had naturally noticed.

Chu Xiaoxiao was beautiful, but Jiang Liyun was even more beautiful and had an intimidating aura.

A beautiful woman with a car!

In this era, even if someone with an unattractive appearance got out of a car, everyone would still give them a second glance, not to mention such a beautiful woman!

“So beautiful!” Chu Xiaoxiao’s friend exclaimed.

As two female students, they couldn’t help but take a few more glances. The male students, on the other hand, didn’t need any encouragement.

Many of them pretended to be waiting at the school gate while secretly stealing glances at Jiang Liyun.

But no one dared to strike up a conversation with her.

This lady seemed rich and capable, and even if they approached her, she probably wouldn’t pay them any attention.

With these thoughts, they couldn’t help but look a few more times.

At this moment, Feng Yi came out.

Upon seeing Jiang Liyun, he was immediately captivated, and a brilliant smile appeared on his face. He walked briskly towards her. “Sister Liyun!”

“Feng Yi.” Jiang Liyun smiled back at him.

“Sister Liyun, have you been waiting for a long time?” Feng Yi asked.

“No, I just arrived.” Jiang Liyun helped Feng Yi open the trunk and let him put his luggage inside.

After loading the luggage, Jiang Liyun sat in the driver’s seat, and Feng Yi took the passenger seat. The car slowly started moving forward—there were quite a few people on the road, so they couldn’t drive fast.

Once the car was out of sight, the crowd at the school gate erupted.

“Was she there to pick someone up? Who’s that guy?”

“Is he Feng Yi from the computer science department?”

“Feng Yi? The one Chu Xiaoxiao likes?”