Free Web NovelChapter 283: Chapter 213: Downward Socializing
"Love you, mwah."
"You’re the one who gets me!"
"That’s what I was thinking too!"
Lu Ming was so moved he almost kissed Lin Chu.
He hadn’t actually been thinking that, but since Lin Chu had said it, then whatever his big bro said was what he’d been thinking.
He was getting a little carried away.
Lin Chu could tell, but he was genuinely happy for him. ’Let him be a little cocky,’ he thought. ’It doesn’t matter.’
"Get off! Don’t get all bromantic with me."
He laughed and pretended to kick him.
Lu Ming dodged nimbly and rubbed his nose. "I was just thinking, what should we call the company?"
"Oh, right. What’s your project about?"
Lin Chu had just remembered to ask.
Lu Ming immediately told him the whole story.
Lin Chu: ?
"Holy shit! You really know how to leverage your resources. It’s only the first day of class, and you’re already planning to fleece Peking University? You think they’ll agree to that?"
He was pretty surprised.
The model itself wasn’t anything special—just knowledge monetization plus offline recruiting.
Still, Lin Chu was amazed that Lu Ming had come up with it in such a short time.
And it was a surprisingly good fit.
It wouldn’t cost much, either.
A few hundred thousand would definitely be enough to get it started.
Their classmates wouldn’t have any objections. In fact, they’d probably be thrilled to use the university’s resources to make their own money. In two years, they might even earn back their tuition.
Lu Ming let out a sly laugh, a smug look in his eyes, and blew another kiss.
...
By the time the banquet started, the big shots from the official government side had already left.
Hao Wenhua, of course, didn’t count.
Although he had a rank, it was just a rank.
Besides, he couldn’t leave. It was impossible for him to.
He was the vice-president, and at the dinner table, he was naturally the one in charge.
In addition, there were three of the professors who taught the course—two men and one woman, all of them getting on in years.
The entrepreneurs present were Li Bin, Tang Rubo, and another man, Song Zhihong.
And then there was Lin Chu.
To be fair, Kong Qi was a really decent guy. He hadn’t even made it to the head table himself, yet he’d insisted on arranging a spot for Lin Chu there.
But after sitting down, Lin Chu realized this seat was not so fucking easy to sit in.
He felt uncomfortable in every way.
Li Bin, being the wealthiest person there, addressed two of the professors as his revered teachers, his attitude exceedingly respectful.
Tang Rubo and Song Zhihong, who weren’t as rich as him, were both keeping their heads down and eating, saying very little, only chiming in occasionally.
As for himself... he was clearly at the very bottom of this table’s food chain.
First, his status as a student.
Second, his age.
And third, he didn’t have any big shots from his own clique here. In a situation like this, of course no one would go out of their way to prop him up. ’Why would they?’ he thought.
’You’re young. Just bide your time.’
"Xiaolin, I hear you’re in the golf course business? And you’re currently hosting a professional open tournament?"
Hao Wenhua suddenly spoke up with a smile.
He was trying to be mindful of everyone’s feelings, spreading the conversation around so no one would feel awkward.
Lin Chu hadn’t said a word since sitting down, so he was deliberately bringing him into the conversation.
Lin Chu smiled thinly. "I am."
"Then why aren’t you focusing on running your course instead of coming here for further studies?"
Li Bin said with a laugh, his tone slightly teasing.
He instinctively felt that Lin Chu was just there to network.
Lin Chu glanced at him and smiled thinly. "Because... I can afford the tuition."
Li Bin froze for a second, realizing he’d just been rebuffed. He just shook his head with a smile and said no more, maintaining his composure.
Tang Rubo laughed and smoothed things over. "Lin Chu is a big name in the Peng City golf world right now. He bought the course outright and is spending a fortune to host a professional open. I’m in that circle, and I’ve heard plenty of my peers whispering that the wolf is at the door. Hahaha..."
Lin Chu smiled back at him and placed a piece of food on his plate with his chopsticks. "Please, don’t tease me. I’m walking on thin ice, but still broke and pushing forward."
Tang Rubo let out a hearty laugh.
Everyone at the table sensed the young man’s sharp edge, but no one said anything more about it.
The topic was quickly dropped.
As the one at the bottom of the food chain, being "ignored" like this was perfectly normal treatment.
This was actually a good atmosphere; at least he wasn’t being put through a drinking-table obedience test.
After all, it was a university banquet. There weren’t any messy vested interests, like clients and contractors, so things were relatively simple.
As Lin Chu thought about this, he felt very much like a "minion."
He had originally thought about giving out a few annual club memberships if he met any big shots he liked, which could also earn him some money. But given the current situation, he thought, ’To hell with it.’
’My status is already low enough.’
’If I start handing out golf memberships on top of that, what am I, a bootlicker?’
"Everyone, please excuse me for a moment. I’m going to go toast our counselor and classmates."
Lin Chu couldn’t be bothered to keep making small talk with them. He picked up his glass, offered the casual remark with a smile, and got up to leave.
A part of him wanted to laugh.
’Who would’ve thought,’ he mused, ’that there’d be a circle I couldn’t break into.’
But that was the reality of it.
The higher you climb, the harder socializing actually becomes. The barriers between people grow taller.
Of course, on another level, it also becomes simpler.
When everyone was just starting out, there was still friendship and loyalty. But at this level, all of that was gone. All that was left was a simple comparison of stats and backing—whoever had the higher status was the boss.
’Instead of trying to curry favor with people like this, it’s better to just focus on improving my own strength.’
’I’m not depending on them anyway.’
’My foundation is still my "brothers."’
’Quantity is king.’
’As for "quality"... to hell with it.’
’A bunch of bastards, all of them the type to suck up to the powerful and stomp on the weak.’
With that thought, Lin Chu quickly joined Kong Qi and the others, getting loud and boisterous with them.
The drinks came one after another.
