r18novel 067 Dead End
067 Dead End
For freshmen, the scorching September sun is like a Damocles' sword hanging over their heads.
The morning's military training finally ended with the instructors' call to "dismissed." The green formation instantly collapsed, and the freshmen dragged their heavy steps toward the cafeteria.
The four people in room 404 were among them.
They arrived at the cafeteria, got their food, and then, carrying their trays, went to the same corner they had been to before.
As soon as he sat down, Wei Jing, who had sharp eyes, nudged Wang Zhe with his elbow.
"Hey, Lao Wang, look!" Wei Jing gestured with his chin toward the next table. "It's that senior again."
Wang Zhe followed the gaze.
It really is that extremely handsome guy from last time... oh no, it's Senior Sister Zhu Qi.
She was still dressed in a neutral style, her black work shirt giving her a sharp and cool look. Her plate was empty, indicating she had finished eating long ago. She was staring intently at her phone, her fingers idly swiping across the screen, seemingly troubled by something.
Luo Yueshi: "Didn't Lao Fang say last time, 'This is a man,'?"
Wei Jing: "I'll bet you a hundred bucks that it's definitely a woman; a man wouldn't look like that."
"Who cares if they're male or female? It's none of our business." Fang Gang remained nonchalant, but thankfully he lowered his voice to avoid being overheard by the person being discussed.
Just then, a petite figure walked over carrying a tray.
It's Su Xiaocheng.
Like other freshmen, she was wearing camouflage clothing, only it looked exceptionally oversized. Her sleeves were rolled up several times, and the belt accentuated her slender waist, but it also made her look more like a child who had stolen an adult's clothes.
Su Xiaocheng went straight to Zhu Qi's table, sat down in the empty seat next to her without any politeness, put down her plate, and started talking to her.
Judging from their familiar attitude, they had obviously known each other for a long time.
Wang Zhe squinted at the scene, recalling the information he knew from his previous life.
That short-haired senior, Zhu Qi, was a prominent figure at the art academy in her previous life. This was not only because of her beautiful yet androgynous face, but also because of her background.
It is said that her father is a real estate tycoon, making her a wealthy heiress. As for herself, although she is an excellent painter, winning numerous awards in the oil painting department, she doesn't seem to be focused on painting.
In the second semester of her sophomore year, she started her own business. She was one of the few practical people in the school who invested real money into it.
There was a girl in Wang Zhe's class who went to work part-time for Zhu Qi's startup team. It was said that the salary was very high and the payment was timely. Unfortunately, the project seemed to have come to nothing, and the girl's part-time job only lasted for two or three months.
"Starting a business..."
Wang Zhe pondered these two words in his heart.
His funds are currently mainly invested in the stock market, where they are snowballing and cannot be easily touched.
However, if you can participate in other people's entrepreneurial projects, use your reborn perspective to make some technical investments or provide consulting services, and incidentally get a share of the profits, that would definitely be a very profitable business.
In particular, the other party is a wealthy heiress from a real estate company.
Thinking of this, Wang Zhe wiped his mouth and picked up the half-eaten plate:
"Hey guys, you guys eat first. I'm going to do something."
"Do something? What do you mean?" Fang Gang asked, his mouth full of braised pork, looking completely bewildered.
Before he could react, he saw Wang Zhe stand up with the plate in his hand and walk straight to the next table.
Then, to the astonishment of her roommates, she sat down confidently opposite Su Xiaocheng, who was diagonally opposite Zhu Qi.
"Holy crap..."
Wei Jing's eyes widened, then a lewd and excited smile spread across his face. "I knew it! This kid acted all proper the other day at the barbecue, but he'd actually been eyeing Su Xiaocheng for a while now. And now, he finally couldn't hold back and made his move!"
Fang Gang also gave a thumbs up: "To pick up girls in front of such a handsome guy, that takes real courage."
Wei Jing: "I already said it's definitely a woman!"
At another dining table a few meters away.
After Wang Zhe sat down, he did not show the slightest embarrassment, but instead gave Su Xiaocheng a gentle smile.
"What a coincidence."
Su Xiaocheng, who was engrossed in eating, paused for a moment, looked up, and saw a grain of rice still stuck to her lips.
The girl swallowed her food and exclaimed with delight, "What a coincidence! We bumped into each other again in the cafeteria! I also saw you during military training earlier; your squad was right next to our class."
After saying that, she seemed to realize something and turned to look at Zhu Qi opposite her.
Zhu Qi had already put down her phone and was scrutinizing Wang Zhe, who had suddenly barged in, with a look of doubt. A hint of suspicion lingered in her deep, phoenix-shaped eyes.
Su Xiaocheng quickly swallowed what was in her mouth, pointed at Wang Zhe and said, "Sister Qiqi, let me introduce you. This is Wang Zhe, a freshman in the architecture department. We just met, but we get along quite well."
Upon hearing the comment that they "got along quite well," Zhu Qi's originally indifferent face instantly became meaningful.
Despite her androgynous appearance and style, Zhu Qi's voice was that of a normal girl when she spoke: "I see, so you're a friend I get along with very well..."
She emphasized the word "friend".
After all, she knew that Su Xiaocheng was usually a homebody and rarely got this close to boys.
Upon hearing her tone, Su Xiaocheng knew she had misunderstood, and quickly waved her hand to explain, "Sister Qiqi, what are you thinking! We're really just ordinary friends! The kind we get along with, not what you're thinking!"
Wang Zhe also spoke up at the right time, his tone frank: "Hello, senior, we are indeed just ordinary friends."
Seeing that both of them denied it so readily, Zhu Qi nodded and put away her gossipy expression.
"Okay, I understand."
She lost interest in Wang Zhe and turned her attention back to Su Xiaocheng, tapping her fingers lightly on the table as she continued the conversation that had been interrupted.
"Xiao Cheng, what do you think about what I just mentioned? My team is newly assembled. We've found a few computer science majors for programming, but we're really short-staffed for art. Although you're only a freshman, I've seen your portfolio. Your fundamentals are very solid, and I really like your style. Why don't you come and help me? The salary is negotiable."
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhe's spirits lifted.
It really is entrepreneurship.
However, he didn't interrupt, but instead lowered his head and pretended to eat.
Su Xiaocheng bit her chopsticks, hesitating slightly: "Sister Qiqi, of course I want to help you. But... I don't know anything about making games. And what kind of game do you want to make?"
A gleam of eager anticipation flashed in Zhu Qi's eyes: "I want to make mobile games. Smartphones are becoming increasingly common, and I think this is a golden opportunity. Plus, I've always wanted to make those deep, sci-fi games!"
Su Xiaocheng poked at her rice with her chopsticks: "Science fiction..."
"Yes, the tentative reference direction is science fiction. Like EVE Online," Zhu Qi said, getting more and more excited. "Players can freely explore the universe, build fleets, and even control star systems. And you're a veteran science fiction fan, you've played EVE, and you have an art background, so you can definitely help me!"
Hearing this, Su Xiaocheng was somewhat tempted, but also a little unsure.
She glanced instinctively at Wang Zhe across from her, pointed at him, and said, "Well, if it's science fiction, Wang Zhe actually knows more about it than I do. Why don't you... ask him too?"
When the topic turned to him, Wang Zhe finally raised his head.
Zhu Qi looked at him and asked, "Are you interested in game design?"
Wang Zhe put down his chopsticks, met Zhu Qi's gaze, and revealed a confident smile.
"Senior, forgive my bluntness. Of course, games can be sci-fi, and I trust your taste. But the problem is, on today's mobile platforms, the more sci-fi and hardcore a game is, the less promising it is. If you really want to make a mobile game like EVE, it's basically a dead end."
Wang Zhe's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable certainty.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.