Chapter 147 No Advantage Taken
reasonable grounds to reject him, and they had to agree."You brat! You're usually so clever; what's going on with you today!" Upon returning home, his mother was also upset due to what his aunt said...Chapter 147: No Unfair Advantage
The Christmas of the year 2002 was soon upon them. Shanghai, nurtured by the cosmopolitan and liberal culture of old Shanghai, had a more festive atmosphere for Christmas than other cities in China. Su Can recalled that during his time in Rongcheng, even though it was foreigners' grandest festival, there wasn't much celebration. This was mostly because Rongcheng people enjoyed playing around.
A week after Christmas, New Year's Day arrived. Thus passed the eventful year of 2002 and迎來了格局不同的2003年。
As always, on New Year's Eve, all universities in Shanghai held grand New Year's Eve parties. Just like last year, this year was no different. The night sky over East China was dotted with stars, while the red tail lights of cars lined up as long dragons along the intricate road network.
Su Can and Tang Wu did not stay at Nan University on New Year's Eve but were invited by Lin Luoran to attend a performance by her department at Shanghai International Studies University. Li Pengyu, Li Han and his girlfriend Chen Jia, Zhang Xiaqiao, and Xiao Xu also joined them. The entire evening was accompanied by Lin Luoran, especially as she proudly introduced the drama that she had directed.
The audience at the New Year's Eve party included Dong Xiaojia, who, a year ago, had led her university's debate team to Nan University for a competition against Su Can. Su Can vividly remembered how he was unexpectedly pushed onto the stage and ended up debating with Dong Xiaojia and Lin Luoran. It was an unforgettable experience.
Dong Xiaojia would soon graduate that year, making this New Year's Eve her last at Shanghai International Studies University. Despite this, she was a well-known figure there. After warmly greeting Lin Luoran and others, when she saw Su Can and the rest, she paused for a moment before shaking hands with Su Can gracefully and said, "You didn't cause enough trouble in Nan University; now you're planning to come here and create chaos Shanghai International Studies University is too small for your antics." Then her eyes darted between Tang Wu and Lin Luoran, speaking with a double meaning.
Su Can felt his head ache at the sight of Dong Xiaojia. He hadn't expected her words to be so profound. Sure enough, right then, both Lin Luoran and Tang Wu exchanged glances, making the atmosphere electric.
The two girls only made fleeting eye contact before averting their eyes, smiling or remaining calm but radiating different energy.
Lin Luoran's expression was a bit unnatural. She clearly remembered the absurd situation when Su Can came to deliver books last time and how familiar his body felt from childhood till now.
When looking at Su Can before, Lin Luoran would suddenly wonder what scent there was in the back of his neck where he kept his hair short and neat, or whether the shirt he wore after washing it with soap would still have a sun-dried fragrance.
She had even imagined hugging Su Can like she did when holding baby Lin Zouwu, wondering if hugging him would be more pleasurable than her plump sister.
The list of such thoughts went on and on.
But that day in the rain, after smelling the soap scent from Su Can's shirt close by, seeing his hair at the back of his neck, and feeling the pleasure when they hugged tightly with no obstruction, her heart was like a cat being clawed, causing dizzying waves of numbness.
Lin Luoran's numb mind made her indulge in random thoughts at that moment.
She imagined the scent of Su Can running on the high school playground, and thought about the boy who appeared when Wang Weiwei's father was under investigation and Xia Hai residents were in a state of panic. She also recalled embracing the figure that had turned around to board a flight leaving the city after saying "goodbye," leaving the whole city feeling empty.
Whether it was the warmth they shared or their physical contact, everything felt so real that her heart raced and she became lost in desire and confusion.
Hearing Su Can's conversation with Dong Xiaojia rouse her eardrums, Lin Luoran jumped when she realized she had been daydreaming. Soon after, she quickly regained her composure and said with a smile, "Senior Dong Xiaojia has already passed the CCTV recruitment test this year and is now serving as a global correspondent."
A girl who was part of their circle admired enviously and said, "I heard you'll be going to France soon Eiffel Tower and Paris, how romantic!"
Dong Xiaojia smiled and replied, "It's not as fun as you think. Being a global correspondent is quite tough. It generally requires one person to handle multiple roles and master various skills. There are two central news stations in Europe and America, but they're hard to enter due to high professional requirements and complex political situations; you also need to pass a political literacy test. The Paris station closely follows the current European constitutional referendum, requiring experienced foreign correspondents who may end up being stationed elsewhere in other Latin countries or across Asia and Oceania. There’s still intensive training underway, so it might take half a year before I’m dispatched overseas. If I go to assist Africa, South America, or Asia, don’t expect me to come back; and if you see my photos, don't think the color of my skin has turned dark like an ape...
Turning to look at Su Can, she said meaningfully, "I really underestimated you back then."
Dong Xiaojia naturally had a higher level of information than students still in school, with her family background and the aunt who held fashion events for individual pieces in Shanghai. Combined with Su Can's willingness to showcase his strengths (except in public appearances), it wasn’t hard for someone like Lin Luoran to uncover deeper insights into him.
She thought that some of Su Can’s displayed talents were occasionally breathtaking, especially when considering how he was handling Facebook against American investors and international capitalists. To her, who had little experience with the business world, this looked like a foggy battle.
If she used her aunt's words, it would be described as strong but not sustainable; those capital players, experienced in navigating countless famous companies throughout history, weren’t something ordinary entrepreneurs could withstand. Financial leverage was a double-edged sword – you gain and lose simultaneously. She wished him the best of luck.
When Dong Xiaojia decided to become a CCTV global correspondent, her family initially panicked before settling down in support; she had no intention of becoming a civil servant or pursuing the political arena but rather chose this path because she believed that experiencing the world's hardships was part of her growth.
Now, instead of being as aggressive and bold as when she first went to Nan Da University, she appeared more like an approachable senior. The Mini car from her sophomore year parked nearby complemented her calm demeanor.
"I wish you success in your career," Su Can smiled, clearly remembering the formidable 'tiger lady' of Shanghai university debating circles he had encountered earlier. "Actually, I thought becoming a CCTV host was your goal."
Dong Xiaojia laughed and said, “I don’t know if this is praise or sarcasm; there are many talented people at CCTV, so unless you’re exceptionally outstanding, it’s not easy to get in. Apart from being good at debates, I also noticed that you have a remarkable ability to make girls happy…”
Su Cen didn't know if Dong Xiao Jia's approach was a deliberate veiled criticism. At least, it made the surrounding girls stare at him oddly and whisper amongst themselves. Su Cen then realized that his reputation in Shanghai International Studies University might not be good either. Lin Luoran standing by with an attitude of watching for his misfortune also irritated others.
"Not necessarily. Actually, Senior Sister doesn't need to be modest. If your family intervenes, it wouldn't be too difficult to enter CCTV..." A male student who knew Dong Xiao Jia's background raised his voice and glanced sideways at Su Cen.
The other party was making waves in the relevant range on Nanjing University’s side. There were also rumors about him in Yangpu University City. Currently, his identity and status were too eye-catching. Plus, his relationship with the campus flower Lin Luoran made Shanghai International Studies University unwilling to let their pride be overshadowed in front of him. If an outstanding senior sister from Shanghai International Studies University couldn't even enter CCTV, wouldn’t that make them look inferior
Who would have thought that Dong Xiao Jia had a displeased expression and said, "Why do you always link my family background to me as an individual I'm someone with independent capabilities. Do I not manage to do things without external help The opportunity to be a global correspondent is more challenging than being a CCTV anchor like a canary. I just want to go further in life. A person's lifetime cannot be confined to an inch of land; traveling thousands of miles surpasses reading ten thousand volumes of books. This is what my life is about."
Everyone cast changed looks at Dong Xiao Jia. Xiao Xu and Zhang Xiaqiao had a new understanding of this tiger daughter from Shanghai International Studies University, even Su Cen was impressed. It seemed as if Dong Xiao Jia's level immediately surpassed everyone else by several檔次.
Many could talk eloquently about such things, but few actually did them.
Abandoning a comfortable and carefree life in the country to endure奔波勞累，晝夜顛倒，陰暗甚至戰亂等顛沛生活。這並不是現在乃至為了幾千塊的高價就能出賣身體、將尊嚴踩在腳下的人們可以比擬的。
Su Cen suddenly froze at this moment, realizing why he always felt that Dong Xiao Jia had the demeanor of a CCTV host. He then recalled Hong Kong's Phoenix Chinese Channel from his previous life, where there was a host who resembled the grown-up version of Dong Xiao Jia. Now it seemed they were almost identical.
This would likely happen five years later; however, in the future world, Dong Xiao Jia had shorter hair and appeared more mature after her experiences. Plus, she looked intelligent and wise dressed as an OL anchor. Since Su Cen hadn't thought of this far back then due to the time gap between them being large, he couldn’t explain these accumulated satisfactions.
These pieces of information from his previous life suddenly filled his mind now. From a global correspondent at CCTV to a Phoenix Channel news host in five years – that was Dong Xiao Jia's accumulation and transformation. This distance would be what some people could look forward to for their whole lives but never reach.
"Speaking of which, I wonder if we'd need an appointment the next time we meet If you get funding from Silicon Valley in America, will you move towards becoming IT elites Would Time Magazine find you guys Considering my future career path as a journalist, who can guarantee there won't be any unexpected situations Since everyone is familiar with each other, I'll book this interview first..."
At the end of an intermission during the program, Dong Xiao Jia said to Su Cen.
"Ah." Looking at Dong Xiao Jia, Su Cen nodded and smiled. "If I say that I hope for such a day, would you think it's arrogant"
"You are indeed quite arrogant," Dong Xiao Jia replied seriously, then laughed.
Su Cen wondered what expression she would wear when recalling the words she said today at the university in a few years. Given her status back then as a famous anchorwoman, she might probably think it was just an accidental slip of tongue that led to unexpected results.
Of course, for Su Cen's confident statement at this moment, such a small interlude would likely be brushed off with a smile by the young man who had always been somewhat arrogant.
The New Year's Eve gala was nearing its end, followed closely by an award ceremony. Lin Luoran’s class won an award for their drama performance; as the director of the play, Lin Luoran naturally needed to go up on stage to receive her prize.
At this time, she was sitting in one of the guest seats waiting beside the stage curtain. Although there were many people waiting to be awarded on stage, Lin Luoran still stood out prominently.
This day, the girl wore a light blue dress. When she sat down, she didn’t forget to wave at Su Cen and others in the audience, her face bright and beautiful with black pupils that shone brightly under the lights. After greeting everyone, she started typing on her phone during the dean's speech.
This half-lazy, half-ethereal action was alluring; countless people greedily gazed at this breathtaking scene of Lin Luoran, who caused quite a stir in the international trade department at their university.
Su Cen felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Taking it out and looking down, he saw a text message: "The last issue of the journal was complete; I finally managed to finish writing the thesis with overtime work at the last minute, otherwise that crazy professor would have tortured me."
Su Cen smiled back and replied, "Congratulations. When are you planning to open your Miss Lin's purse for a treat"
"Don't be ridiculous, last time I was already generous enough not to take your advantage of me into account. Pervert guy, get lost!"
Su Cen could only laugh helplessly in response: "It’s just a friendly hug; I didn’t take any advantage."
Seeing Lin Luoran look up and glare fiercely at him, then return to her composed demeanor when she sensed someone beside the leader looking over, her face slightly red. Just now, the award ceremony was calling out her name: "The winner of this year’s International Trade Department New Year's Eve Gala first prize is... a famous adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy 'Othello'... The performers..."
Amidst applause and moving people, Lin Luoran stood up. Her slender figure was graceful as porcelain, beautiful like an elf with black pupils that sparkled vivaciously, causing quite a stir below the stage.
Su Cen only then received a text message she had sent when she got up. It carried her delicate face now under thousands of eyes and a slight bite on her cherry-red lips, harboring a hint of resentment easily overlooked by others. confrontation earlier on but now, with his confidence bolstered, he frowned and asked, "Are you really going to intervene""It's just a trivial matter," said Yang Yuandao with a smile that didn't quit...