Reborn in 2006, I met Mr. Zhou from the past.

As the festive atmosphere of the New Year gradually faded, life returned to normal. On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Hai Ge and Yan Zi set off back to Zhucheng. Then, early on the eighth day, the dessert shop opened on time and resumed its usual business.

Su Fengnan stayed in Zhucheng for a few days before rushing back to Zijiang. With her senior year of high school demanding, and school starting two weeks earlier than usual, she needed to get back to class quickly.

Zhou Chenyu stayed in Zhucheng because he had a project that urgently needed to be finalized. He had only shown up at the study room once since it opened, on the very first day, and hadn't had time to come back since returning to City B. This time, he was mainly there to see an important person.

The study room was quiet. The two stood side by side in front of a row of bookshelves, slowly pacing and talking in hushed tones.

"Boss Zhou, you've really done a great job here. To be honest, praising you for being young and promising is no exaggeration!" Director Liang's tone was full of admiration.

"Director Liang, you flatter me." Zhou Chenyu smiled slightly, his expression humble. "I just had a bit of an advantage in terms of location and skill; it's really nothing to mention."

"Haha, so young and promising yet so humble, truly a force to be reckoned with!" Director Liang laughed heartily.

He stopped, his gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged bookshelves before him, then changed the subject, steer the conversation back on track: "Let's get down to business. Construction can begin on that land after the New Year. The rest of the implementation work is up to you."

"Don't worry, I have the funds and manpower ready, and we can start work at any time." Zhou Chenyu's answer was crisp and decisive, showing complete confidence.

"Okay, I feel relieved to hear that." Director Liang nodded with satisfaction and earnestly instructed, "I hope that more job opportunities can be provided for the local people in the future, which can be considered as working for the benefit of the local area."

"Of course. As long as the project requires it, I will definitely prioritize this aspect and will never let you down," Zhou Chenyu solemnly agreed.

Half an hour later, the two finished discussing business. Zhou Chenyu had intended to treat Director Liang to a casual meal, but Director Liang, always decisive and efficient, waved his hand and left without hesitation.

After seeing Director Liang off, Zhou Chenyu stood in front of the spacious and bright floor-to-ceiling window of the study room, gazing at the bustling streets outside, his thoughts drifting away.

In the new year, his business empire is expanding at a faster pace than expected, with all businesses growing healthily and being managed by someone. But it is precisely at this time that he knows he cannot let his guard down.

A great building is not made from a single piece of wood; a vast ocean is not formed by a single stream.

He knew all too well that the bigger the business, the more things he needed to worry about. Thinking of this, Zhou Chenyu's gaze grew even more resolute. He pushed open the door and stepped out; Zhao Chuan was already waiting by the car.

"Boss, where to now?"

"Let's go home." Zhou Chenyu opened the car door and got in, her tone calm.

"Yes."

The car drove smoothly back to his home in Zhucheng. After leaving the hustle and bustle outside and taking a short rest, he sat down at his desk, opened his notebook, and began to systematically organize his work priorities for the future.

……

Furthermore, Zhou Chenyu's strategic moves in the capital market had been quietly underway since before the Lunar New Year. The Zhou family in City B were envious of his enormous success online, and many secretly imitated his methods, actually making some quick money. This time, Zhou Chenyu outwardly appeared to be steadily accumulating shares, enticing greedy followers who were willing to bet their entire fortunes. Little did they know, Zhou Chenyu's shares were already being secretly transferred and sold off bit by bit.

After the New Year, the bull market surged like a runaway horse, but Zhou Chenyu keenly sensed something amiss amidst the euphoria. Having stirred up trouble in the stock market since he was eighteen, he knew the ins and outs of it all; only a tiny minority truly profited. However, he had not only prepared countermeasures but also planned to use this wave of frenzy to settle accounts with those who harbored ill intentions and plotted against him.

After the official start of the school year, the tense atmosphere surrounding the college entrance examination became increasingly intense. Tang Qiuyue and Ning Xiaojun, who rarely had a day off on the weekend, would both come to her to help with practice problems. As the three of them were engrossed in their studies in the study, there was a knock on the door.

"Knock knock—"

A knock broke the silence. The door was gently pushed open, and Su Fengxia peeked in, whispering, "Sister, I have to go back to school. It's already five o'clock, you guys hurry up and get something to eat, don't be late for evening self-study."

Su Fengnan nodded: "I understand, you can go now."

Hearing Su Fengxia close the door, Su Fengnan asked softly, "Are you finished?"

"I only have one last big question left." Tang Qiuyue glanced up at her, then looked down and continued writing.

"I still have two questions," Ning Xiaojun replied.

Su Fengnan put down her pen, rubbed her sore eyes, and gently shook her stiff wrists. Seeing their tense expressions, she gently advised, "No rush, keep going if you haven't finished. I'll cook you some noodles, eat your fill before you leave."

"Susu, aren't you coming with us?" Ning Xiaojun stopped writing and asked, somewhat puzzled. The words had barely left her mouth when she suddenly slapped her forehead, unable to suppress a soft laugh. "Oh dear, look at my memory! I completely forgot you don't have to go to evening self-study anymore."

"Even though we don't have to attend evening self-study sessions, I haven't missed a single practice problem." Su Fengnan leaned back in her chair, watching the two of them engrossed in their work, and asked softly, "The college entrance exam is just around the corner, have you thought about which university you want to apply to?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Qiuyue put down her pen, raised her head, and looked at Su Fengnan with unusual determination: "Wherever you take the exam, I will take the exam there too."

The study fell silent for a moment after he said that.

Su Fengnan and Ning Xiaojun were both stunned. Before Su Fengnan could speak, Ning Xiaojun couldn't help but ask, "Why? You might not even be in the same school or studying the same major."

Su Fengnan was momentarily speechless. Looking at Tang Qiuyue's serious expression, she tentatively asked in a soft voice, "So... what major do you want to study?"

Tang Qiuyue lowered her eyes, thought carefully for a moment, and then answered, "Journalism." As she said this, she sighed slightly, her tone revealing a hint of insecurity, "However, the best journalism program in the country is at Peking University, and I don't know if I have the ability to get in."

"The journalism department at Peking University is one of the best in the country. Getting in would be incredibly difficult," Su Fengnan said truthfully, but her tone was not discouraging; rather, it was encouraging.

"I know, but I'll do my best." Tang Qiuyue took a deep breath, looked at Su Fengnan again, and her eyes lit up once more. "And you? Where do you want to apply?"

"I also want to go to Peking University." Su Fengnan smiled slightly.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Xiaojun pouted sourly and muttered under her breath, "You two have clear goals, but what about me? I haven't even figured anything out yet."

Seeing her friend's aggrieved expression, Su Fengnan couldn't help but chuckle and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, there are still several months left. Take your time thinking, and you'll eventually find someone suitable for you."

As she spoke, she stood up, supporting herself on the table, and straightened her skirt: "You guys continue, I'll go to the kitchen to cook noodles for you."

Su Fengnan busied herself in the kitchen for a while, cooking three bowls of noodles with pickled cowpeas and minced meat. The aroma was enticing, and the noodles were steaming hot.

After the two had finished eating and drinking, she smiled and saw them off at the door. Standing downstairs, she watched their figures disappear from sight before turning around to go upstairs.

But as soon as she turned around, she stopped in her tracks—Zhou Chenyu had somehow appeared behind her and was standing there quietly.