The entrepreneurial base in the F Building's rooms 101 and 102 had been secured, but there were still many issues to resolve—old furniture, knee-high weeds, and bicycles scattered around the area. With the current team of "heroes" working, the efficiency was low, especially since some of them had a lack of urgency to pitch in, which Chen Han Sheng understood.
At this point, he had to rely on the class leader's resources. As a class leader with considerable influence, Chen Han Sheng openly expressed the need for help with the startup and called on his classmates to assist. As a result, most of the students from the Public Management Class 2 either helped out or came to watch the progress.
Of course, there were conditions attached. The boys requested that Chen Han Sheng organize another class event soon. The previous event, where they drew lots to pair up for a movie outing, had noticeably boosted class cohesion. The boys and girls, who had barely interacted before, were now able to chat and laugh together.
"What's so difficult about organizing a gathering?" Chen Han Sheng said loudly as he stood outside rooms 101 and 102. "Once we clean these rooms, I can turn one into a class activity room. Everyone can hang out, chat, or play cards here. We'll have gatherings every day."
The boys immediately clapped in approval. Unlike in high school, university students didn't have a fixed activity space, leading to small, fragmented groups formed based on dormitories. The idea of having a dedicated space for the class resonated with everyone, so many readily volunteered without hesitation.
Seeing the boys' reaction, Hu Lin Yu shook her head and said to Shen You Chu, "Look at how capable your boyfriend is. Even though everyone knows they're working for him personally, they're still willing to help. They're all fools."
Shen You Chu had grown accustomed to Hu Lin Yu's teasing and didn't know how to explain. She just softly said, "Lin Yu, I want to go back to the dorm for a while."
"This is your boyfriend's store. Maybe it will be your family's property in the future. Still thinking of slacking off?" Hu Lin Yu said with surprise.
"No, no," Shen You Chu quickly corrected, feeling embarrassed. "I just need to go back and change clothes first."
Shen You Chu, wearing the royal blue down jacket, didn't want to wear it while working, so she planned to change into older clothes. Hu Lin Yu sighed, watching Shen You Chu run off. "Now that's the real fool."
…
With dozens of people working together, progress was quick. Old tables and chairs were carried outside, weeds were removed, and the cobblestone ground was cleaned. Nearby, a small garden was filled with clusters of unknown greenery. In the crisp late autumn, a few chrysanthemums swayed in the wind.
Chen Han Sheng wasn't stingy, buying boxes of bottled water and snacks for everyone. Yang Shi Chao and Zhu Cheng Long were carrying cabinets while Li Zhen Nan and others were organizing the bikes. The girls either swept the floor or wiped the walls.
But there were also those who slacked off. Jin Yang Ming, complaining about exhaustion, tried to leave to go online. Guo Shao Qiang stopped him: "Hey, aren't you a net cable from your last life? This is Old Four's property. No way you're leaving! Get back to work!"
The sense of collective belonging grew through these moments of sweat and laughter. When Chen Han Sheng was drinking water, Shang Yan Yan walked over, smelling of perfume, and said with a smile, "I didn't expect you to really start a business, but I'm not surprised."
Chen Han Sheng found Shang Yan Yan a bit mysterious. Girls like her usually preferred older men. Did she see through him?
"I'm just as surprised. I don't even know how I ended up starting a business," he replied half-jokingly.
Shang Yan Yan smiled, her lips painted with red lipstick, and handed him a bottle of water. "Can you open this for me?"
Chen Han Sheng didn't refuse and opened the bottle, handing it back. During the exchange, their fingers brushed lightly.
Shang Yan Yan blushed a little. Chen Han Sheng remained unfazed.
"How much did you invest at the start?" Shang Yan Yan asked, tilting her head as she drank a couple of sips of water.
"Not much, but now I'm so poor I might have to sell myself," Chen Han Sheng replied with a laugh.
Shang Yan Yan, experienced in handling such jokes, immediately pulled out her wallet. "How much are you selling yourself for? Let me see if I have enough cash."
"Hahaha," Chen Han Sheng couldn't help but laugh, while nearby classmates watched the exchange with interest.
Hu Lin Yu, who was wiping the windows, saw the "flirting" between Chen Han Sheng and Shang Yan Yan and muttered, "No shame!"
After that, she turned to look at Shen You Chu. Shen You Chu didn't seem to notice the teasing. She was on her knees, carefully scrubbing the corners of the wall, her eyes focused, oblivious to the laughter around her.
Hu Lin Yu felt a pang of sadness. Chen Han Sheng was such a player, while Shen You Chu was so naïve and innocent.
"Scumbag!" Hu Lin Yu muttered under her breath.
…
After working through the afternoon, the cleaning was mostly done. The remaining tasks were more detailed, and these would require Chen Han Sheng's careful attention.
As everyone began to head home, tired physically but mentally satisfied, the boys and girls found themselves bonding, and the thought of the new class activity room filled them with pride.
Sitting on the steps, Chen Han Sheng smoked a cigarette, thinking about his next steps for development. Every now and then, he glanced back and saw Shen You Chu's figure.
The dirtiest parts of the room were the corners covered in spider webs. The other girls had avoided them, but Shen You Chu had been kneeling down to clean them all.
Not long after, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to ask, "Is everything cleaned up?"
"Mm," Shen You Chu answered softly.
Looking up, Chen Han Sheng noticed a few spider webs in her hair and dirt on her knees. The evening sun bathed her gentle profile in a warm glow, creating a peaceful scene that felt timeless.
After appreciating the moment, Chen Han Sheng put out his cigarette and said, "Let's go out for dinner tonight."
Shen You Chu didn't respond.
Chen Han Sheng thought she was unwilling, so he was about to back off, but to his surprise, Shen You Chu, in a soft voice, spoke up.
"I… I sent 1,000 yuan of the 1,500 yuan student grant to my grandma, and I have 475 left."
Chen Han Sheng didn't understand what she meant and listened quietly.
Shen You Chu crouched down, not wanting to stand above him, and pulled out that familiar old wallet. She took out 400 yuan, thought for a moment, and added another 50 yuan. The 450 yuan was almost a small fortune to her.
She looked up at him with clear, innocent eyes, hesitantly holding out the money to him.
"What's this for?" Chen Han Sheng asked, puzzled.
"Don't… don't sell yourself, okay?" Shen You Chu said quietly.