Chapter 73 College Applications

Chapter 73: Application

In fact, Yan Zhoubai's plan was to set up a fortune-telling stall on Nantian Street a few days after his results came out. But since neither of them believed in his abilities, Yan Zhoubai was very annoyed and decided to say something impressive to shock them.

"What kind of internship would hire someone who didn't even graduate from high school normally, and with a high salary at that? You don't even have a high school diploma. You couldn’t possibly have been scammed, could you?"

Bu Qiran didn’t believe Yan Zhoubai could land any high-paying internship. He was too gullible, the type who could easily be scammed out of everything he had.

If he were a scammer—no, a human trafficker—he could easily abduct Yan Zhoubai.

"None of your business!" Yan Zhoubai refused to tell Bu Qiran.

"Xiao Bai, if you need money, just tell Mom. You don’t need to go out for an internship."

Bai Rong spoke more tactfully. She also didn’t believe Yan Zhoubai could find any high-paying internship and was worried he might be scammed.

"It’s not a scam. Ugh, you’ll find out eventually."

Yan Zhoubai didn’t want to tell them now that he was going to be Zhan Jiayu’s assistant. Anyway, he could make this decision himself and didn’t need their approval.

After this, Bai Rong specifically warned Bu Qiran not to provoke Yan Zhoubai again. If he did, she would immediately pack him off to the company to learn the ropes with Yan Anxuan.

A few days later, Yan Zhoubai’s college entrance exam results came out. He scored much better than expected, though only compared to his own past performance. Relative to his peers, his results were still below average.

If he applied to schools in Beijing, he could only get into a very ordinary one. If he applied elsewhere, he might get into a slightly better university.

Yan Zhoubai was already satisfied with his results—it was the best he could do. One-on-one tutoring with a top-tier teacher had indeed proven more useful than haphazard self-study.

Yan Zhoubai had seriously considered applying to schools outside Beijing so he could leave the Yan family.

But this idea was unanimously rejected by the whole family.

His eldest brother, Yan Anxuan, was still inquiring whether other better universities in Beijing had any preferential policies to lower the admission score for Yan Zhoubai. Yan Zhoubai even discovered that his brother had considered donating a building to a school to get him in.

Once he confirmed his brother really had this idea, Yan Zhoubai immediately put a stop to this dangerous thought—there's really no need, that's entirely unnecessary.

"I’m already very satisfied with my results. I think these universities are quite good too."

Yan Zhoubai sat on the sofa, sucking on an ice pop. The weather was getting hotter, and Yan Zhoubai, who didn't tolerate heat well, had started eating ice pops early.

On the coffee table lay a college application handbook showing the programs and admission information for many universities. The ones Yan Zhoubai had just pointed to were all outside Beijing—better in every aspect compared to what he could get into in Beijing.

"Let’s not look at out-of-province schools for now. Just pick from these in Beijing. We’d all worry if you went to school alone in another province."

Yan Ren sat on the other side of the sofa, wearing his gold-rimmed glasses and flipping through his own copy of the application handbook.

"Xiao Bai, you grew up in Beijing. You’re not familiar with life elsewhere. Besides, Beijing is already the most developed city in the country. You’ll live comfortably studying here—no need to go through the hassle of going elsewhere."

"If you don’t like any of the schools in Beijing you can apply to, I can help you ask about other universities."

Yan Anxuan had already gone through all the schools Yan Zhoubai could apply to as soon as his results came out. Honestly, none of them were up to his standards, so he had been thinking of using some connections to get Yan Zhoubai into a better university.

He might not get into Peking University, but getting into a decent one was completely possible. He had never considered schools outside Beijing.

From Yan Anxuan’s perspective, Yan Zhoubai was his brother. Beijing was already a top-tier city in the country, and the Yan family was a prominent wealthy family in Beijing. How could Yan Zhoubai possibly go study in another city? It was unthinkable.

Besides, Xiao Bai had a soft personality. While not pampered, he was still the young master the Yan family had raised for so many years. How could he go to another province alone?

When he wanted to go to that Cangru Temple, Yan Anxuan hadn’t agreed, but at least it was within Beijing, not far from home. If he went to another province for university, it wouldn’t be as easy to come back whenever he wanted.

And once in university, people tend to spread their wings and want to explore everywhere. Would that mean he’d only get to see Xiao Bai during winter and summer breaks?

Absolutely not. Going to university out of province was out of the question.

"No need, big brother. It’s not worth the trouble. This is already the best score I could get. There’s no need to insist on a better university."

Yan Zhoubai didn’t understand what his brother was so fixated on or why the family disagreed with him going to university elsewhere. Although Beijing was indeed a top-tier city, Shanghai was too. It wasn’t like he was going to study in some remote mountain village.

"Just listen to big brother. You took Beijing’s exam, which is relatively easier. If you go to university elsewhere, there will be many students from other provinces who studied harder subjects. If you can’t keep up, don’t regret it later."

Bu Qiran also didn’t want Yan Zhoubai to go to university elsewhere. The reason was simple: if Yan Zhoubai left, he’d have one less interesting thing to do and no one to tease. That wouldn’t do.

Although he genuinely wanted to persuade Yan Zhoubai to stay in Beijing, not a single thing he said was what Yan Zhoubai wanted to hear.

Yan Zhoubai wasn’t dead set on going to university elsewhere either. Beijing was fine. In the end, they tentatively settled on Wutong University in Beijing—a very ordinary, low-profile but decently reputable university.

On the day the results came out, the Yan family had tentatively decided on Yan Zhoubai’s college choices. That night, Yan Zhoubai received a call from Zhan Jiayu.

"Your results are out, right? How did you do?"

As Yan Zhoubai expected, he was calling to ask about his results.

Yan Zhoubai told him his situation and that he planned to apply to Wutong University.

"Wutong University? Not bad. Their new campus is very close to our company."

Zhan Jiayu had been busy all day and only now had time to ask about Yan Zhoubai’s results, but he had remembered today was the day Yan Zhoubai’s results came out. He also had a copy of the college application handbook students received.

He knew so well about Wutong University’s campus location because he had already done his homework.

"I was afraid you’d apply to a university outside Beijing."

This was the real reason Zhan Jiayu called—he was worried the little kitten might silently sneak away.

"I did consider it at first because my score could get me into a slightly better school elsewhere, but no one in the family agreed. They all said I should stay in Beijing."

Yan Zhoubai was surprised that Zhan Jiayu also cared so much about whether he applied to a local Beijing school.

Even if he did apply elsewhere, he’d just be going to study, not vanishing from the face of the earth. Why were they all acting like he would never return to Beijing?

"Baobei, if you really had the chance, would you not want to come back?" The system suddenly popped up and ominously said this.

"No, I wouldn’t. If I hadn’t acknowledged Zhan Jiayu as big brother, I might have wanted to leave. But now that I’ve latched onto him and he’s giving me work, staying in Beijing is just fine."

Knowing Zhan Jiayu really did make a difference. His presence truly influenced some of Yan Zhoubai’s decisions.

"Your family is right. Just apply to a school in Beijing. You’re unfamiliar with other places. Besides, aren’t you going to intern at my company? I haven’t expanded branches elsewhere yet, so you can only intern in Beijing."

Zhan Jiayu sat on his bedroom sofa, poured himself a glass of ice water, and loosened the belt of his pajamas, which he had wrapped around himself after showering.

The weather was really getting hotter. It wasn’t time for air conditioning yet, but this slight muggy heat made him even more irritable. The habit of drinking hot water that he'd developed after returning to China was immediately abandoned, switching back to the ice water he'd been used to for over twenty years.

"I know. That’s why I ultimately chose a school in Beijing. But I really didn’t know Wutong University’s new campus is close to your company. That means it’ll be very convenient for me to intern at your company later."

Over the phone, Zhan Jiayu could clearly sense Yan Zhoubai’s happiness—simple, infectious joy.

"So, the ultimate decision to apply to universities in Jing City was because you're considering interning at my company? Was it because of me?"

A thin layer of frost formed on the glass of ice water. Zhan Jiayu’s large hand wrapped around it, and the warmth from his palm immediately melted the frost into droplets that trickled down his palm.

For a moment, it was almost surreal, as if he were holding a juicy peach—so ripe that a gentle squeeze would send its juice flowing down his palm.

"Of course it was. You said you’d pay me a high salary."

Yan Zhoubai didn’t hesitate for even a second, directly affirming Zhan Jiayu’s question. Any hesitation would have been disrespectful towards that high salary.

Yan Zhoubai’s immediate and certain answer snapped Zhan Jiayu out of his daze. What he held in his hand was just a glass of ice water losing its chill—not a juicy peach.

The juicy peach was on the other end of the phone call—audible for now, but not yet within reach.

"Then come to my place tomorrow."

That clear "Of course it was" made his heart tingle with excitement. He couldn’t wait to see Yan Zhoubai.