Chapter 5
As Jiang Shangwan’s plane landed after returning from Barcelona, she immediately received good news.
Two students from Haidi High School, which she had previously sponsored, had achieved excellent results. One was successfully admitted to Peking University, while the other surprisingly applied to the Finance Department at Jiang University.
“Did they apply to us?” Jiang Shangwan asked over the phone. “Contact them to see if they are willing to work at our Jiang Group after graduation. We will provide an internal referral offer, and once they start university, they can consider interning with us. The internship will pay at least 5,000 yuan per month.”
Jiang Shangwan felt very pleased. Having the sponsored students choose to apply to Jiangcheng and work for her company was the best outcome, especially since they were top students. Many companies actively recruit such promising talents from schools, sponsoring them and offering direct employment after graduation.
After all, with this kind of sponsorship relationship, employers tend to trust and feel more confident, saving the hassle of background checks. Most students are filled with gratitude.
“Is it the girl who applied here?” Jiang Shangwan’s mood softened. “Also prepare a 200,000-yuan scholarship to cover her university tuition and living expenses for four years. And prepare a 20,000-yuan shopping card for her, take her shopping for new clothes.”
“No,” the assistant replied awkwardly, quickly explaining, “That girl went to Peking University for a minor language program. The one who applied to Jiang University is the boy named Shi Yu.”
“Oh?” Jiang Shangwan was a bit surprised. She remembered reviewing the summary report where the boys consistently held the top spots. If only one person got into Peking University, it should have been him with a higher probability.
“That boy performed very well, didn’t underperform at all. In fact, he did even better than the girl, ranking in the top ten province-wide. But he voluntarily gave up Peking University and Tsinghua to go to Jiang University. He said he didn’t like the climate in the northern city — too cold and bleak, just like Haishi. He prefers Jiangcheng’s warm weather.”
“I see.”
Jiang Shangwan casually tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing a small pearl earring shaped like a bee.
She found this student unusually interesting and felt a subtle rise of curiosity. Giving up Peking University and Tsinghua was like giving up a huge 5 million yuan bonus for a worker — an almost unfathomable, very counterintuitive decision. Many people would never earn that amount in a lifetime.
“Then keep the scholarship as planned, but change the shopping card to a full set of electronic products — a computer, a phone, and a tablet for him.”
Just as Jiang Shangwan was about to hang up, her assistant cautiously added, “The boy informed our foundation through his teacher that he will refuse all further sponsorships. He said he is about to become an adult, and after graduating high school, he can earn money on his own.”
Her thumb hovered just above the red hang-up button, then paused. Jiang Shangwan smiled meaningfully, the corner of her lips curling up: “Good, that’s fine.”
Sometimes human nature was truly interesting. God gives some people poor origins and difficult family situations, but also grants them indomitable courage and the strength to improve themselves.
In this regard, Jiang Shangwan thought Haishi was indeed a pretty good place. That cold and bleak environment had also given some people a proud soul, like plum blossoms standing alone in the frost.
After returning to the country, Jiang Shangwan stayed at a hotel for one night. The next morning, she had to catch an early flight to a neighboring province to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony, representing Jiang Group as the main investor.
After the doorman carefully attached the luggage tags and respectfully handed her the tags and documents, he led her to a presidential suite of over a hundred square meters. The night bed and goodnight dessert had been prepared in advance, along with a bottle of opened champagne.
With a soft beep, she entered the room and saw a brand-new, huge floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, towering skyscrapers stretched endlessly, their sparkling lights twinkling like stars, reflecting the dazzling, extravagant life of the bustling city. Jiang Shangwan’s tall, swaying silhouette was mirrored faintly on the glass, even her strands of hair seeming to dance enchantingly.
“Second Uncle.” Jiang Shangwan dropped ice cubes into a glass, poured half a glass of champagne, and answered a familiar phone number. Calling this late probably meant something important.
“Xiao Wan, are you back? Your cousin Tingting was just admitted to the Finance Department at Jiang University this year. I sponsored a teaching building at the school, and I hope you can attend a meeting for me after she starts. Also, please check on Tingting’s environment and teachers for me. I’m in Singapore now, preparing to meet the project manager tomorrow to discuss cooperation details. You’re close to her, so please look after her for me.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Shangwan hung up and prepared to message her cousin Jiang Yingtin. Her profile picture was a flourishing tree, with only a splash of fresh green on a white background — easy to find. When does school start?
Jiang Yingtin was the daughter of Jiang Shangwan’s Second Uncle Jiang Mu and his ex-wife. The ex-wife was a freelance artist living in France. Due to some differences in views, their divorce was messy and bitter, and both had remarried, leaving the relationship with their only daughter very strained.
Most of the younger generation in the Jiang family were only children.
However, Jiang Shangwan and Yingtin had always gotten along well. When they were little, Jiang Shangwan had accompanied her in learning ballet and painting, building a fairly deep and revolutionary friendship.
Her phone buzzed lightly — a quick reply. Several red notification dots appeared on the tree.
Jiang Yingtin: Sis, I forgot to tell you, I just got my admission notice! School starts on August 25.
Jiang Yingtin: Did Dad tell you…?
Jiang Shangwan replied: Yes, I’ll accompany you for registration.
Jiang Yingtin: 【Heart gesture.jpg】
Jiang Yingtin was one of the rare members of the Jiang family who wasn’t sent abroad to study. This was mainly because of her tense family relations with the Jiang side. She was more connected with her mother’s side.
But she also chose not to follow her mother to France. Obviously, she wanted to rely on herself to have a stable life, not get entangled in the complicated family conflicts on either parent’s side.
On the day Jiang Yingtin registered, a rare light rain fell in Jiangcheng, bringing some cool relief to the unbearably hot August. Jiang University, as the city’s best and oldest 985 university, was still seen as an unreachable peak by many. Its admission score was only 10 to 20 points lower than Peking University and Tsinghua, so students admitted here were truly top talents.
“Math department students, over here!”
“Freshmen from the architecture department class of ’25, look over here! Look at me!”
After entering through the new student passage at the South Gate One, it was a short walk before seeing red banners spread everywhere marking different faculties and departments. A series of metal tents were set up with screens as covers. Many senior students, dressed neatly and elegantly, were holding registration forms and bottles of mineral water, crouching to help cute and pretty freshmen find their seats.
Jiang Yingtin had softer, rounder facial features and a more petite frame, only about 160 cm tall. Unlike Jiang Shangwan, who was strikingly bright and dazzling in every aspect, Yingtin’s facial contours were gentler and more delicate.
She had casually tied her hair into a high ponytail and worn a simple white linen dress, which already attracted the attention of many senior students. But clearly, Jiang Shangwan standing beside her was more eye-catching in her black acetate off-shoulder half-sleeve top paired with a dark blue silk skirt with a large hem. Her red lips and sunglasses gave off an intimidating aura that made people reluctant to approach.
“Sis, everyone is looking at you,” Jiang Yingtin teased with a light smile. “Why doesn’t anyone dare to add you on WeChat?”
Jiangcheng was one of the country’s leading economically developed cities. Even at Jiang University, which had many wealthy students, Jiang Shangwan’s aura was too noble. Most college students still hadn’t fully shed their youthful naivety, so when faced with someone who seemed distant and hard to approach, they naturally hesitated.
“Once I leave, people will quickly start adding you on WeChat,” Jiang Shangwan said bluntly, lifting the corner of her lips slightly. “But is that what you want?”
If people knew that behind Jiang Yingtin’s innocent and harmless appearance stood a major shareholder father of the Jiang Group worth hundreds of billions, very few would dare add her on WeChat.
“Hello, are you freshmen of the class of ’25? This is the Economics Department,” a young man with black-rimmed glasses politely said, pushing a registration form toward them.
“Yes. Sis, this should be where we register,” Jiang Yingtin said as she and Jiang Shangwan stopped at a table. She took out her admission notice, ID, and personal file. “I’m a freshman in International Finance, Finance major.”
“Okay, please wait a moment. Your documents are fine, but you might need a few one-inch and two-inch photos.”
“Huh?”
Seeing Jiang Yingtin’s surprised expression, Jiang Shangwan guessed she probably forgot and helplessly asked, “Did you not make a checklist?”
“No… but I have electronic copies saved on my phone,” Jiang Yingtin admitted sheepishly. “I’ll go find a place to print them now. It’s so hot, I really don’t want to move.”
“Hi, I’m also a freshman in the Finance Department this year. I’m just about to print some photos. If you need, I can bring some for you,” a clear voice said quietly but clearly.
Turning around, a tall figure with a backpack was standing behind them, unnoticed until now. The young man wore a black baseball cap pulled low over half his face, shadowing one side of his eyebrows and eyes. The hat emphasized his sharp jawline, which extended to his long neck and slightly prominent collarbones, disappearing under a loose, solid-color T-shirt.
The wide brim of his cap drew attention to his exposed skin — his slightly raised chin, tightly pressed lips, and straight, high nose.
In the sunlight, his skin looked fair and translucent. His tall, upright posture was strong and not slender, with no hint of softness, only the clean, handsome masculinity of a well-built young man.
Jiang Shangwan felt this person looked familiar, but through the sunglasses his face wasn’t very clear. Her first impression was that he was quite good-looking and would probably be popular on campus. He must be at least 185 cm tall because next to him, Jiang Yingtin looked like a small cabbage about to be plucked.
The sun was too bright. Jiang Shangwan squinted, trying to shield her eyes with her handbag. “Thank you. Tingting, add him on WeChat and send him the files.”