Going home for the New Year during the winter break, I encountered a cool school girl on the high-sp

Around 7 p.m.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window, bathing the studio in a warm golden light.

Chen Chen loosened his shoulders, stood up, and clapped his hands:

"Alright, that's all for today! Calling all day! Target—'Jufulou'!"

Jufulou is a famous five-star restaurant in Jiangcheng.

Company gatherings or banquets are usually held here.

So when everyone heard Chen Chen say he was going there, they all cheered.

"Oh yeah!"

Everyone cheered as they packed their things, their faces beaming with relaxed smiles.

The group walked out of the office building chatting and laughing. The summer evening breeze carried a hint of coolness, dispelling the fatigue of the day.

Lu Zihan hooked her arm around Chen Chen's shoulder and loudly proclaimed that they were going to drink to their hearts' content tonight.

Yan Zihao watched with a smile, occasionally interjecting a word or two.

He has changed a lot since then.

All of this is thanks to his choice to found "Fantasy Comics" with Chen Chen.

If you don't know him well, you can't imagine what kind of person he used to be.

Jiang Tao and Zhou Yuyang walked side by side, chatting and laughing.

Chen Yuanyuan and Lin Muxi followed Chen Chen, listening to everyone's jokes and laughter, and occasionally giggled, feeling that the atmosphere was really nice.

Chen Chen glanced at his smiling sister, then at his stunning girlfriend with her arm linked with his, and then at his brothers who had fought alongside him. He felt an unprecedented sense of peace and satisfaction.

As night deepened, "Jufulou" was already bustling with activity and full of lively atmosphere.

We were led to a private room by the waiter.

As soon as he sat down, Lü Zihan eagerly picked up the menu and waved it around:
"Waiter, bring me all your signature dishes, like 'Farewell My Concubine,' 'Nine-Turned Intestines,' and 'Sweet and Sour Carp'! And a case of ice-cold beer!"

"Brother Zihan, drink less alcohol. Most of the people here are students. It's not good for them to drink."

Chen Yuanyuan whispered a reminder, saying that she wasn't quite used to such lively scenes, especially with Lü Zihan's loud and boisterous personality.

In addition, her status as a student made it impossible for her to let herself go.

Lu Zihan laughed and ruffled her hair:
"Don't worry, junior Yuanyuan, you're not short of money! Besides, how can we celebrate such a big event without drinking!"

Chen Chen slapped his hand away:
"Alright, don't scare my sister. Just order what you want, and drink in moderation. We have to get up early to work tomorrow."

"I know, Brother Chen. You're the 'patriarch' of our studio, even more talkative than my mom."

Despite her complaints, Lü Zihan restrained herself and ordered a few classic dishes from the waiter, adding a "white-cut chicken" that Chen Yuanyuan liked.

Soon, dishes were served one after another, their aromas irresistible.

The chilled beer popped open with a "pop," releasing a burst of foam and a refreshing aroma.

"Come on, let's toast to our collaboration with Mingqi Technology!"

Chen Chen raised his glass, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses, the crisp clinking echoing in the private room, like the sound of another drumbeat on their journey to realize their dreams. The beer, cool and refreshing, dispelled the summer heat and the fatigue of the past few days.

Lu Zihan started talking, recounting the amusing incidents from their collaboration meeting that day with great enthusiasm. Although she eventually admitted that it was mainly due to Yan Zihao's influence, she still described the process as thrilling and exciting, making everyone laugh.

Chen Yuanyuan ate her food in small bites, listening quietly to her brother and his friends' conversation.

She didn't understand the technical jargon or the intricacies of business cooperation, but she could sense the passion and aspirations for the future in their words.

When her brother talked about the future plans for the "Fantasy Comics" website, the light in his eyes was something she had never seen in her home before.

It turns out that my brother's world is so vast and wonderful.

During the meal, Yan Zihao didn't say much, but he always managed to say a few insightful words at crucial moments, or subtly "expose" Lü Zihan when he went too far in boasting, which drew another round of laughter from everyone.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became even more lively.

Lu Zihan was already slightly tipsy, and she pulled Chen Chen along to start imagining the future listing of the studio, speaking vividly as if it were just around the corner.

"By then, Brother Chen, you'll be the big boss! I, Lü Zihan, will be the Chief Technology Officer! And Zihao... he'll be our Chief Strategy Officer!"

Lu Zihan waved his hand, full of vigor and high spirits.

Chen Chen smiled and shook his head: "It's still far from certain. Let's focus on perfecting the current redesign first. Let's take it one step at a time and be down-to-earth."

"Well, everyone needs to have dreams!"

Lu Zihan grumbled in dissatisfaction and took another big gulp of beer.

Yan Zihao looked at them, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly:
"Zihan is right. You should still have dreams. What if they come true?"

He paused, then turned his gaze to Chen Chen, a faint smile playing on his lips. "So, Mr. Chen, how about expanding our business empire?"

"Expand business?" Chen Chen was taken aback, clearly not expecting Yan Zihao to bring this up at the celebration banquet.

Yan Zihao nodded slightly: "Yes, for example, perhaps we could consider taking on some animation production work?"

Chen Chen frowned slightly and pondered for a moment before saying:

"However, we're just getting started in the comics field and our foundation isn't solid yet. Wouldn't it be a bit too hasty to rush into the animation industry so soon?"

He had considered expanding his business.

However, he believes that the most urgent task is to first establish a good partnership with Mingqi Technology.

Once you've built a good reputation, everything becomes easier.

"It's precisely because we're just starting out that we need to seize the opportunity." Yan Zihao put down his teacup, his fingertips lightly tapping the table.

"The golden age of this industry is only a few short years. If you want to seize it, you have to start planning early. Otherwise, once the market matures, you may have to watch as others take your slice of the pie."

Chen Chen fell silent. Yan Zihao's words were like a pebble thrown into a lake, stirring up ripples in his heart.

He picked up his glass, but didn't drink. He just stared at the amber liquid swirling in the glass, lost in deep thought.

"That's true, and I understand the logic, but..."

Chen Chen raised his head, his face showing difficulty, "We're currently short of manpower, funds, and energy..."

"Don't worry about finding clients, I can handle it," Yan Zihao interrupted him, his tone relaxed, as if it were just a trivial matter.

However, he abruptly changed the subject, drawing out his words with a hint of suspense, "But..."

"But what?" Chen Chen's heart tightened, and he quickly pressed for an answer. He knew that the real key lay behind Yan Zihao's "but." (End of Chapter)