Chapter 68 I Have Someone I Like

Chapter 68: I Like Someone

For the past two days, Qi Yanze hadn’t received a single message from Jiang Ruotang.

He opened Jiang Ruotang’s social media profile, scrolling through it over and over. The posts were all about his art studio assignments and some personal works.

Though Qi Yanze didn’t understand them, he inexplicably felt that Jiang Ruotang was someone who had moved beyond basic tastes and possessed a really sophisticated taste.

Even though he had liked every single one of Jiang Ruotang’s posts, he still couldn’t find an excuse to send him a message.

Just then, his older brother Qi Yanfeng passed by and noticed his precious younger brother constantly checking someone’s social media. With slight surprise, he remarked, “Oh? Changed your type? Not into playboys anymore, but artsy types now?”

Qi Yanze quickly shook his head. “He’s just a friend, not… not that kind of relationship.”

Qi Yanfeng knew his brother’s every habit like the back of his hand—to put it bluntly, if Qi Yanze even moved, Qi Yanfeng could guess what he was thinking.

“An artsy type isn’t bad. Might help you mature and calm you down.”

A while later, Qi Yanze asked, “Bro, do we have any collaborations with Director Jiang Huaiyuan?”

Qi Yanfeng shook his head. “Not much. Universe Pictures is usually the main investor for Director Jiang’s projects. We’ve invested together before and rarely lost money. But these past two years, there hasn’t been any news about Jiang Huaiyuan working on anything.”

Qi Yanze exhaled heavily.

*Sigh, Director Jiang, you’re way too inactive! Hurry up and start filming something so my brother can invest, and then I’ll have an excuse to talk to Jiang Ruotang!*

Two days passed like this, and finally, the day arrived for Qi Yanze’s meeting with Zheng Huasheng to discuss their collaboration.

Previously, Qi Yanze had been quite curious about this Mr. Zheng, but now, his mind was entirely preoccupied with finding ways to get closer to Jiang Ruotang. The business discussion with Mr. Zheng just seemed dull in comparison.

This time, Qi Yanze had booked a VIP room, killing time playing pool while waiting for Mr. Zheng to arrive.

A knock came at the door, and Qi Yanze responded without enthusiasm, “Come in.”

“Brother Qi.”

A bright, youthful voice rang out. Qi Yanze’s heart skipped a beat as he looked up to see Jiang Ruotang’s smiling face.

“Xiao Jiang… why are you here?”

Was this a case of wishful thinking coming true?

Jiang Ruotang replied, “Because I’m the one here to discuss the collaboration with you today.”

Qi Yanze froze. “Wait… wasn’t it supposed to be some older guy named Zheng?”

Jiang Ruotang stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and smiled. “Mr. Zheng is my manager. I’m in my senior year of high school and don’t have time to handle everything myself, so I entrusted investment matters to him. But when I heard that the person he was meeting was you, I took a day off from school to come see you in person.”

Though Qi Yanze had feelings for Jiang Ruotang, he wasn’t naive.

He asked warily, “So that day at the pool place… it wasn’t a coincidence? You deliberately approached me?”

Jiang Ruotang immediately shook his head. “Of course not. I don’t know anyone around you—how could I have found out your schedule? Actually, I only learned that Mr. Zheng had arranged to meet you at a pool hall. To leave a good impression, I specifically asked my master to practice my game with me there to brush up my skills. If you don’t believe me, I can show you our texts.”

Hearing this, Qi Yanze’s mood instantly brightened.

*Jiang Ruotang actually practiced pool just for me.*

“Did your family give you money to practice investing too?”

Jiang Ruotang shook his head. Since this was about collaboration, honesty mattered most.

“This money comes from my grandfather’s inheritance. My parents and friends don’t know about it. Since I’m still in high school, if word got out, it might attract the wrong kind of attention. So whether or not this collaboration works out, I hope Brother Qi can keep this a secret for me.”

The moment Qi Yanze heard his collaboration partner was Jiang Ruotang, his heart had already softened by thirty percent. But he wasn’t the type to invest carelessly. He said, “You’re just a high schooler with no investment experience. Even if I agree to work with you, why should I listen to you?”

For Qi Yanze, this was absolutely unacceptable.

*Your money comes from your grandfather’s inheritance, mine comes from my parents—who’s any better than whom?*

*Besides, I’m older than you. I’ve been around longer… probably.*

Jiang Ruotang had anticipated this response. He pulled out a financial report from his bag and handed it to Qi Yanze with a smile. “I may not have as much investment experience as you, Brother Qi, but my track record is good.”

“Huh?” Qi Yanze frowned and took the document.

Jiang Ruotang began explaining beside him. “My *Tangyun Investments* is a shareholder in FAIRY, with about a five percent stake. Not a huge amount, but the quarterly payouts are in the millions.”

Qi Yanze was quietly impressed. He had originally wanted to buy FAIRY’s stock too, but his investment manager had dismissed it as a trendy fad—*bubble tea isn’t like cola, how far can its stock really go?*

Who would’ve guessed that getting a cup of FAIRY had now become a lifestyle habit for young people? Profits were soaring, and they’d even expanded into bottled drinks sold in supermarkets. In less than three years, they were poised to become the top beverage brand in China.

Qi Yanze flipped to the second page and saw Aoxiang Technology listed.

“You actually have shares in Aoxiang Tech? My brother couldn’t even secure allocation back then—how did you manage it? And you bought so much?”

Given the current and future applications of cloud technology, Jiang Ruotang was probably drowning in dividends by now.

“I happened to know someone with stock allocation connections.”

Jiang Ruotang didn’t mention Mu Xianqing’s name, as they hadn’t finalized their collaboration yet.

As Qi Yanze kept flipping, his jaw nearly dropped. “You even invested in Dream Bubbles? And you own thirty percent?”

“Mhm. So, Brother Qi, my investment instincts aren’t bad, right?”

Qi Yanze turned another page and was shocked. “You’re invested in Xiaolan too?! Xiaolan’s new model prices have tripled—it’s the hottest domestic brand right now, endorsed by a famous actress… I’ve heard even several big stars are using Xiaolan phones. The model Bai Yingchuan uses is totally sold out… My brother said Xiaolan’s projected net profit for the first quarter after their new release is 150 million, and next year’s could exceed a billion… How much are you making from dividends?!”

Jiang Ruotang smiled without answering—that was confidential information.

Moreover, Jiang Ruotang had already discussed with Mu Xianqing about expanding into international markets. High-end smartphones were too expensive for many countries, but as long as Xiaolan maintained good quality, strong signals, and full functionality, they could easily break into overseas markets.

By then, their net profits wouldn’t just be in the hundreds of millions.

Mu Xianqing had shared Jiang Ruotang’s ideas with his father, Mu He, who was deeply impressed. He said that despite Jiang Ruotang’s youth, his vision was broad, and his market insights weren’t limited to the present. He directly told Mu Xianqing to stay close to Jiang Ruotang and listen to his opinions.

With the Mu family’s connections and backing, many of Jiang Ruotang’s investments came together easily. Most importantly, whatever Jiang Ruotang favored, Mu Xianqing would invest in as well. The Mu family’s business connections far surpassed Jiang Ruotang’s, and the two sides worked perfectly together, making money together.

Mu He found Jiang Ruotang incredibly interesting and even mused that if the young man continued displaying such sharp instincts as he grew older, Deyi Tianxia’s board of directors might welcome him as fresh blood.

At this point, Qi Yanze had to admit that in terms of investment vision and capability, he was nowhere near Jiang Ruotang.

Jiang Ruotang, meanwhile, was carefully observing Qi Yanze’s expression. He could sense their collaboration was mostly guaranteed—all that remained was giving this young heir of the Qi family a way to save face and strengthen his trust in the partnership.

“Brother Qi, if you were to take the lead in Sweet Fruit’s future development, would you just follow the two major streaming platforms’ strategies? They do what they do, and Sweet Fruit just acts as a market follower? Copy their homework—even if it doesn’t get you top marks, at least you won’t fail?”

Qi Yanze was stunned. *How did Jiang Ruotang guess my exact thoughts?*

“Isn’t that the safest approach?”

Jiang Ruotang shook his head and persuaded gently, "That's the most dangerous approach—it means you become a potential competitor to the other two industry giants, who will go all out to crush you and absorb your business. Moreover, their war chest is dozens if not hundreds of times bigger than yours. What they can afford, you can't keep up with, and what they can achieve at 100%, you'd struggle to hit 30."

Qi Yanze listened carefully because the argument aligned perfectly with his big brother's take. Clearly, his brother had no solution, but Jiang Ruotang did.

"What should we do, then?"

"You're forgetting what over half of Sweet Fruit's user base is—otaku teens! Why must you chase after those streaming giants? Buying anime not only costs less but also better suits Sweet Fruit's user base."

At this point, Qi Yanze started connecting the dots. "You mean taking a niche approach?"

"Exactly."

Truthfully, differentiation required courage because the mainstream market belonged to those two major video sites, which invested in dramas starring popular actors. If Sweet Fruit focused on anime, would people really pay for legal streams?

"Look, if we collaborate, we’d each save nearly twenty million in liquidity. I’ve already researched in our anime-rich neighboring country—non-exclusive anime licensing rights cost only fifty to a hundred thousand per episode. Ten million could buy 100 to 200 episodes. Why battle for premium dramas that cost millions per episode?"

Qi Yanze still hesitated. "But... the anime market is too narrow. How can it be profitable?"

Jiang Ruotang smiled. It seemed Qi Yanze was smart enough to spot the potential flaw in this differentiated strategy.

"Because focusing on anime is just Sweet Fruit’s first step—to avoid direct competition and convert existing users to paying customers. What I truly want is a large, comprehensive platform. Once profitability is achieved in anime, we’ll gradually shift toward bigger markets like TV dramas, using anime IP adaptations and high-quality, bold, tightly-plotted shows as breakthroughs for expansion."

Qi Yanze finally understood: survive first, shift to monetization, then grow.

"Besides, video platforms don’t just rely on subscriptions. There’s ad revenue, revenue-sharing with content creators, livestreaming, recommendation engines, and more. Once Sweet Fruit is acquired, I’ll hire a full professional team to implement these."

The vision was crucial. Even if Qi Yanze didn’t fully grasp what recommendation algorithms were, he could guess from context.

For Jiang Ruotang, only like-minded partners wouldn’t stab him in the back.

Qi Yanze wasn't one for high-minded arguments—probably why his elder brother urged him to hit the books if he wanted to debate properly.

But he had one unique ability: intuition.

Right now, he had a strong premonition—he should invest in Sweet Fruit and follow Jiang Ruotang. Easy profits.

Qi Yanze pondered, then raised a few concerns his financial advisors had. Surprisingly, Jiang Ruotang, a high schooler years younger, had answers ready for everything.

This wasn’t a game—he genuinely wanted to build Sweet Fruit.

At this point, Jiang Ruotang was no longer just some interesting kid to Qi Yanze, but someone whose vision even earned his respect.

Unlike the superficial people Qi Yanze knew, Jiang Ruotang was... a dark horse!

Playing the high school card made people lower their guard.

If he was this good at making money, Qi Yanze would gladly follow—and now had a legitimate excuse to stay close. Perfect.

"Alright, I’ll think about it," Qi Yanze decided to play hard to get.

"I’ll be waiting." Jiang Ruotang smiled.

If that Mr. Zheng could string him along, Qi Yanze would give Jiang Ruotang a taste of his own medicine too.

"Up for a few rounds?" Qi Yanze asked.

"Sure." Jiang Ruotang took it in stride.

Finally, without interruptions, Qi Yanze could watch Jiang Ruotang shoot pool.

Though his game was basic, his intense focus was attractive.

What Qi Yanze didn’t expect was that Jiang Ruotang ghosted him completely for the next three days.

Hey! I only said I’d consider it, not that I agreed! At least send a few texts to stay on my radar!

Are you giving me space or just not caring at all?

Frustrated, Qi Yanze angrily tapped Jiang Ruotang's contact icon in his phone.

During this time, Qi Yanze ran Jiang Ruotang’s plan by his elder brother, Qi Yanfeng, who immediately was sold on the idea. Since Qi Yanze didn’t reveal his collaborator’s identity, Qi Yanfeng inquired about Zheng Huasheng instead. Friends vouched for Zheng's track record, having worked for CEOs of listed companies.

Qi Yanfeng felt dropping eight figures to expose his brother to such expertise was worth it.

With his brother’s approval, Qi Yanze’s last reservations disappeared. He waited for Jiang Ruotang to reach out again.

But the guy was cool as a cucumber—utterly unfazed.

With only three days left before the deadline—time needed for contract work and finalizing terms—Qi Yanze was climbing the walls. Worried the deal might fall through, he finally contacted Jiang Ruotang.

Only then did Jiang Ruotang arrive with Mr. Zheng and Dai Ming to meet Qi Yanze’s team.

Seeing Dai Ming as their lawyer, Qi Yanze’s managers felt even more assured. The terms were reasonable too, so the deal was sealed smoothly before the deadline.

Holding the contract, Qi Yanze was over the moon—this meant a solid partnership with Jiang Ruotang.

No more playing hard to get or indifference from Jiang Ruotang now.

Yet Qi Yanze discovered partnership with Jiang Ruotang was... lonely.

When he messaged Jiang Ruotang, replies were always: "In class," "At art studio," "Nap time."

Chen Dan, glancing at Qi Yanze’s chat, couldn’t help but say, "Quit hassling a senior. Unlike you, he’s juggling portfolio prep and college apps. And given Jiang Ruotang’s personality, he probably wants to earn his college spot, not rely on family connections."

Meaning: He’s working hard—don’t drag him down.

More importantly, Chen Dan could tell Jiang Ruotang wasn’t interested in Qi Yanze.

Qi Yanze thought: If chatting won’t work, he’d send care packages instead.

So he bought a pile of care packages full of snacks—imported blueberries, nut assortments, fish oil, dark chocolate—and had them delivered to Jiang Ruotang’s school.

Jiang Ruotang was baffled. Why was Qi Yanze sending these?

His deskmate, Lin Lu, peeked over. "Did you buy these?"

"No... someone sent them."

Who’d send Jiang Ruotang gifts?

Lin Lu checked the sender’s name—Qi Yanze.

"Qi Yanze? The one who pestered me at last year’s gala?"

"Yeah." Jiang Ruotang nodded, quickly adding, "We met at a pool hall last week. Played a game and squashed our beef."

Straight to the point—to stop Lin Lu from probing further.

But at this moment, Lin Lu felt a pang of envy.

After a series of investment missteps, Lin Chengdong had also tried to curry favor with the Qi family, thinking that following Qi Yanfeng's investments would surely be more profitable than his own attempts at winging it.

But Qi Yanfeng couldn't be bothered with Lin Chengdong. Remembering how Qi Yanze had once sought out Lin Lu's company, Lin Chengdong suggested that Lin Lu find an opportunity to invite Qi Yanze out.

Lin Lu was reluctant. If Qi Yanze could punch Jiang Ruotang hard enough to make his nose bleed, he might just as easily hit him too. The memory of Geng Yu slapping him still made him flinch—he didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Qi Yanze’s fists.

But why… after just one game of pool, did Qi Yanze suddenly take special notice of Jiang Ruotang?

The connections and resources the Lin family had been striving for were effortlessly obtained by Jiang Ruotang again?

Could it be that Jiang Ruotang took that punch from Qi Yanze on purpose just to get his attention?

Lin Lu’s mind raced with thoughts. The only thing he had ever envied about Jiang Ruotang was that his father was born lucky—he didn’t need to strain his brains to work at it, yet he was the chairman of a huge film company. Even if Jiang Ruotang accomplished little, he still had a cushy position to inherit.

But now, Lin Lu desperately wanted to be Jiang Ruotang—to be valued, trusted, and liked by others the way he was.

Just then, Lu Guifan walked back into the classroom from outside. Passing Jiang Ruotang’s desk, he glanced at the pile of items he had received and remarked coolly, "Overworking your brain lately? Bought so many brain food supplements?"

"Brain-boosting?" Jiang Ruotang looked up, puzzled.

"Blueberries have antioxidants that improve memory; nuts are rich in omega-3, also good for memory; deep-sea fish oil… packed with DHA, still beneficial for the brain; and the caffeine in dark chocolate enhances focus," Lu Guifan explained matter-of-factly.

But when he flipped the box and saw the sender’s name, he froze momentarily.

From the back row, Zhao Zhangfeng’s voice rang out, "What? Brain supplements? Who’s the jerk thinking Jiang Ruotang’s dumb?"

Jian Sha, sitting nearby, deadpanned, "Ruo Tang might not need them, but Zhang Feng, you could really use some. Look at Cai Cai—his hair’s about to be pulled out from trying to teach you!"

"Huh?" Zhao Zhangfeng suddenly looked alarmed. "Then… is it too late if I buy Cai Cai some hair tonic?"

"Forget the serum—just use your head, that’d be way more useful!"

Jiang Ruotang quickly pushed the fish oil in front of Zhao Zhangfeng. "Take this daily as instructed. Hurry up and nourish that brain of yours!"

Zhao Zhangfeng: "…"

Jiang Ruotang didn’t overthink it. Someone had kindly sent these to help a burnt-out senior—it wasn’t like he could return them.

So he tore open a pack of nuts and started munching.

Though they were original flavor, they were pretty tasty.

Just as he was about to share some with Lu Guifan, the other boy turned and walked away.

"Huh?"

Why did Lu Guifan seem icy, almost displeased?

What was going on?

This distracted Jiang Ruotang for the rest of the class. He kept glancing back, but Lu Guifan’s expression remained indifferent, rarely meeting his gaze.

What did I do to upset Lu Guifan?

Wait—no, more importantly, was there even anything in this world that could upset Lu Guifan?

The moment class ended, Jiang Ruotang hurried to Lu Guifan’s desk. He nudged his shoulder lightly—Lu Guifan didn’t get angry, but he didn’t say anything either.

Jiang Ruotang lowered his voice. "*Shizun*, what’s upsetting you? Tell your disciple, and I’ll fix it right away."

Lu Guifan sighed imperceptibly, then raised a hand to the back of Jiang Ruotang’s head, pulling him closer.

"He’s interested in you."

With that, he let go.

Before Jiang Ruotang could process the brief intimacy, it was already over.

Interested? Who’s interested in whom?

It took Jiang Ruotang a few seconds to process, his brain nearly short-circuited.

He whispered back to Lu Guifan, "You’ve got it wrong, haven’t you? He punched me once—now suddenly he’s interested? What kind of weird approach is this?"

Besides, Qi Yanze had actively added Lu Guifan as a friend first, making Jiang Ruotang wonder if he was actually into Lu Guifan.

Lu Guifan replied, "Last year’s you and this year’s you are different."

Jiang Ruotang lowered his head, thinking, then said, "I’ll make it clear to him. But I’ve already opened the nuts—too lazy to buy identical ones to return. Might as well eat them. My little brother could use some brain food too."

Lu Guifan smirked at his last remark.

"Aren’t you worried that if you reject him, he’ll back out of the partnership?"

"Didn’t you win that game of pool and earn me a help card? If he refuses to cooperate, I’ll spread word of his broken promise to all his friends."

Someone like Qi Yanze valued his reputation among his peers above all else.

Jiang Ruotang was still figuring out how to arrange a talk with Qi Yanze when, unexpectedly, the guy invited him to dinner first.

Qi Yanze was considerate—he chose a place close to Jiang Ruotang’s evening art class and booked a private booth.

Assuming Qi Yanze would invite friends like Chen Dan to formally welcome him into his circle, Jiang Ruotang was surprised to find only Qi Yanze waiting inside. The other boy even politely helped with his coat as he entered.

Seemed… Lu Guifan’s guess was right. Qi Yanze really was interested in him.

This was going to be tricky.

Based on Jiang Ruotang’s past experiences, business partners were just that—partners. Mixing in emotions, even unrequited ones, often led to resentment, betrayal, and messy breakups, causing them to go their separate ways, or even stab each other in the back.

As he picked at the appetizers, Jiang Ruotang mentally rehearsed how to reject Qi Yanze tactfully. But before he could speak, Qi Yanze broke the silence.

"So… I think we’re actually pretty similar."

"Hm?" Jiang Ruotang looked up.

Though Qi Yanze’s face was calm, his voice was tense.

"I mean… both our families are in the film industry. Both of us want to achieve something on our own, without relying on them. We even both chose Little Sweet Fruit. Our backgrounds, ambitions, even investment tastes match up—it’s like fate, don’t you think?"

Jiang Ruotang nearly choked on his cola. Was this some kind of dating pitch?

"Guess we do have a lot in common," Jiang Ruotang smiled. With someone like Qi Yanze, outright rejection would bruise his pride and put him in a tough spot. "That’s why I hope we can be allies who understand, support, and trust each other. Whether it’s Little Sweet Fruit or other life decisions, we’ll watch each other's backs."

Qi Yanze was delighted at that.

"You really know how to talk. Chen Dan told me too—you’re the type who studies hard, paints seriously, and is clearly aiming for a good university."

At this point, Jiang Ruotang finally found his opportunity.

"I have to work hard. If I fail the *gaokao*, my family might arrange for me to study abroad, but I want to get into a university in Beijing."

"Why? Isn’t studying abroad good?" Qi Yanze asked curiously.

He had been sent abroad by his family to study business, but he felt he'd learned nothing before returning.

"If I go abroad, I won’t be able to see someone I like," Jiang Ruotang answered frankly.

Qi Yanze was stunned instantly. What did Jiang Ruotang just say? He has someone he likes?

No, what really struck him was that he was willing to endure the hardships of the college entrance exam just to stay close to the person he liked… The score requirements must be high, right?

How crazy must he be about them to give up the carefree path of studying abroad and choose that brutal exam instead?

After a long pause, Qi Yanze finally asked, "You… like them that much? Are you two together?"

"Not yet, we’re just friends for now. But… I don’t think I’ll like anyone else besides them." Jiang Ruotang held Qi Yanze’s gaze steadily, heading off any potential "why don’t we try dating" suggestions before they could even form.

Otherwise, things would get super awkward.

"Why? Are they really that amazing?" Qi Yanze’s voice shot up.

If Jiang Ruotang were just some minor celebrity rejecting him, Qi Yanze might have resorted to the typical tycoon playbook—luxury cars, designer gifts, and endless resources—until they gave in.

But Jiang Ruotang didn’t lack money or resources. His investments alone were hundreds of times more reliable than Qi Yanze’s. There was no way Qi Yanze could play the big shot in front of him.

Though Jiang Ruotang noticed Qi Yanze’s little outburst, he remained calm, speaking in a conversational tone. "To me, they’re irreplaceable. I used to live under others’ influence and control, getting used and stabbed in the back. It was like a failed investment where I kept pouring in more capital, only to face total collapse. I couldn’t see the true intentions of those around me and ended up hurting the people who genuinely cared for me. But they appeared in my life and helped me find myself again. They’re like a magical book—whenever I calm down and ask a question, all I have to do is open them, and I’ll find just the right answer. Sometimes, it blows my mind. How could there be someone so perfectly suited for me?"

Hearing this, Qi Yanze felt both crushed and jealous.

Crushed because he had just fallen for Jiang Ruotang, only to be shot down immediately.

And jealous because, in his entire life, he had never met someone like the person Jiang Ruotang described.

"Sounds like you’re just seeing them as perfect. No matter what they do, you’ll root for them," Qi Yanze muttered.

Jiang Ruotang laughed. "Well, you’re my friend now too. As long as it’s not something harmful or gonna wreck you, I’ll root for you as well. Even if your older brother opposes you or people give you shit, if I can’t talk you out of it, I’ll join you—so you don’t get totally wiped out."

Though he sounded casual, Jiang Ruotang meant every word.

The phrase "if I can’t talk you out of it, I’ll join you" really got to him, leaving him both touched but melancholy.

Since childhood, everything he did—studying, making friends, even trying business ventures—had been compared to his older brother.

If his brother supported something, the whole family did. If his brother opposed it, Qi Yanze was powerless. Even if he wanted to bang his head against a wall, he’d be held back.

Chen Dan often told him he didn’t know how good he had it—having his brother as a safety net yet still feeling unsatisfied.

Only Jiang Ruotang understood the kind of friend he truly wanted.

Then Qi Yanze reconsidered—romantic relationships came and went. Who knew when they might end?

But if they could become true ride-or-die friends, having each other's backs, wouldn’t that be even better?

"Then… bring that friend of yours to meet me sometime. Since you call me ‘Brother Qi,’ you owe me that much."

Qi Yanze still wanted to see this mystery person—just how extraordinary were they?

"You’ve already met them."

Qi Yanze’s eyes bugged out.

Met them? When? The only friends of Jiang Ruotang’s he had met were two people—Lin Lu and that guy who taught Jiang Ruotang how to play pool.

At last year’s industry gala, Jiang Ruotang had been so protective of Lin Lu. Could it be him?

No way. Lin Lu was okay-looking, but he didn’t seem like the rock-solid type capable of giving Jiang Ruotang such immense emotional support.

"Jiang Ruotang, I really don’t get you. You’ve got looks, money, and talent—yet you’re stuck nursing a crush?"

"He has to take the college entrance exam too. I don’t want to distract him. Besides, we only became friends this semester. I’m still working on winning him over. He grew up in a conservative environment, so I don’t even know if he’d accept me," Jiang Ruotang said with a smile.

"What? What if he doesn’t?"

"Then I’ll just keep liking him."

Qi Yanze felt that sour taste again. So devoted and unwavering—why not like me instead? I’d never let you down.

Seeing Qi Yanze’s dejected expression, like a big dog caught in the rain, Jiang Ruotang couldn’t help but think—this guy couldn't hide his feelings to save his life.

To cheer Qi Yanze up, Jiang Ruotang changed the subject to a popular anime.

"Once we acquire Little Sweet Fruit, we can license *Ultimate Boxer*."

Mentioning animation reignited Qi Yanze’s enthusiasm, and he started rattling off several other titles they could license and share with domestic fans.

The latter half of their meal turned into an exchange between two anime enthusiasts. They hadn’t even bought Little Red Fruit yet, but they’d already drafted a whole list of stuff to license.

After dinner, Qi Yanze drove Jiang Ruotang to the entrance of Beicheng Guangyao.

Before Jiang Ruotang got out of the car, Qi Yanze paused, then said, "Xiao Jiang, I might not be as smart or as good at making money as you, but there’s one thing I have more experience in."

"What’s that?" Jiang Ruotang asked curiously.

"Loving yourself is what counts in the end," Qi Yanze said seriously.

Jiang Ruotang paused, immediately understanding Qi Yanze’s concern—that he might repeat his past life’s mistakes, throwing himself headfirst into love, only to be used and left with nothing.