Volume 1, Chapter 52: Your Future Social Circle Is Probably Going to Be Quite Messy

The departure time quickly arrived.

Just as Li Yan was about to board the bus, Li Jianguo exhorted, "Xiao Yan, remember to listen to your teachers when you get to school, study hard, and don't run around aimlessly."

Li Yan patiently replied, "I know, Dad."

Li Jianguo continued his instructions, "If you get hungry on the road, buy something to eat. Spend money when you should, but don't squander it recklessly. Call us as soon as you arrive."

"Mm, I know. Dad, you should head back now. Ride your motorcycle slowly on the way."

If this were his past life, being lectured like a little child by his old man in front of many peers would probably have felt embarrassing, leading to an impatient boarding process.

Yet now, Li Yan found these words deeply heartwarming. It turned out that his usually reticent father could be so naggy, and even rather endearing.

Li Jianguo watched as the minibus slowly pulled away, and only then did he feel reassured enough to mount his motorcycle and head home.

Li Yan's seat was right by the window. He watched the streets and roadside trees gradually recede into the distance.

A myriad of thoughts and deep emotions washed over him.

Perhaps it was because his true mindset was already that of a man in his thirties.

Just as Li Yan's thoughts were drifting, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Li Yan, what a coincidence. We're on the same bus again."

Li Yan turned his head and saw Shu Qin sitting in the row right behind him.

Earlier, busy dealing with his father, he hadn't noticed her when boarding.

"Oh, it's you. What a coincidence indeed," Li Yan said, feeling somewhat surprised.

Shu Qin sighed, "Sigh, I just couldn't stay at home any longer, so I had to head to school, or my parents would keep nagging me."

Li Yan chuckled and said, "Your semester should be starting soon too, right? Staying at home is quite nice though; once you start wanting to stay there later on, you won't even have the time."

With a depressed look on her face, Shu Qin said, "Don't even mention it. My parents go on all day about how I don't study hard, and they're constantly comparing me to him. I simply can't take it anymore."

As she spoke, she gestured with her chin toward Li Shu, who was sitting a few rows ahead to the left.

Li Yan asked in surprise, "Ah, you two are from the same village?"

Shu Qin complained, "That's right! You have no idea. Ever since his parents found out he was admitted to Shanghai Normal University, they've been constantly dropping by our house. They just come over to show off that their son got into a tier-one university. What's so great about that? Seriously."

Li Yan smiled. This fourth uncle's household was something else—they practically went around flexing everywhere.

It was no wonder Shu Qin couldn't stand staying at home; that much he could understand.

Shu Qin asked Li Yan, "What about you, Li Yan? Which school did you get into?"

Li Yan replied, "Yunnan Agricultural University. Not as good as his, so don't worry."

Hearing this, Shu Qin covered her mouth and giggled. Back in junior high, she had never realized Li Yan could be so amusing.

Shu Qin's chatty side was fully awakened, and she said, "That's pretty close to us then, just a few kilometers away. Let me tell you, my major is e-commerce. I haven't the slightest clue what this major is actually supposed to do. Do you know?"

"E-commerce?"

"Yeah, I looked it up online, but I still don't understand what kind of jobs you can get after graduating with this. You're much better off, studying economics—just hearing the name sounds so high-end."

Li Yan said, "This major is actually very good. It has quite a promising future ahead. You could open an online store, or work for an e-commerce company."

Shu Qin looked puzzled and asked, "Open an online store? You mean selling things on the internet? Is there any future in that?"

Does e-commerce have a future? Well, the future was going to be exceptionally bright, to say the least.

Li Yan thought to himself that starting this very year, online shopping would truly rise and thoroughly rub the once-haughty physical economy into the dust.

Hearing that Shu Qin was majoring in e-commerce, he said, "I actually have an idea. We could open an online store. Since you happen to be studying this major, how about we go into business together?"

Shu Qin instantly perked up with interest. "Doing what?"

Li Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Handling rural specialty agricultural products. Once we get to Yuncheng, we can plan it out properly."

At that moment, Li Yan felt he needed to catch the express train of e-commerce.

Especially since the live-streaming e-commerce economy would boom later on.

He had originally planned to start with agriculture, and now he could begin through e-commerce.

He would start by selling his hometown's specialties: things like cured ham, walnuts, nuts, and so on.

The feasibility was exceptionally high.

Shu Qin's eyes sparkled, her lips puckered slightly, and her two dimples became even more charming.

"Alright then! When we get to Yuncheng, I'll look for you, and we can start a business together."

Just as Li Yan and Shu Qin were chatting away happily, they were abruptly interrupted.

Li Shu chimed in with a self-important, preaching posture, "E-commerce is a virtual economy. Even though some people are doing it now, it's far too illusory and bound to collapse eventually. The e-commerce major is just a passing trend. Only the most cutting-edge universities can support such a major; Yuncheng is still way too backward for that."

Li Yan and Shu Qin both turned to look at him simultaneously.

No one was even talking to you, so why are you sticking your nose in so eagerly?

Shu Qin smiled awkwardly and said, "Oh, is that so?"

Li Yan, however, smiled and asked, "Oh? Then what majors would you say have a more promising future?"

Li Shu immediately straightened his back. In this area, he considered himself an expert. He proclaimed, "It's definitely engineering cost, civil engineering, and rigid-demand majors like early childhood education. I actually wanted to apply for early childhood education back then, but I realized I hate kids, so I applied for journalism at Shanghai Normal University instead. That major is pretty good too; there's going to be massive room for employment in the future."

"Huh?" Li Yan was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.

He thought to himself, *My friend, what on earth is going through your head?*

*Persuading people to study civil engineering is bound to incur divine wrath; those majors turn into absolute death traps a decade from now.*

Moreover, are you certain that journalism is going to have a truly bright future?

Big brother, you've jumped right into a massive pit, you know that?

Though that was what he thought, Li Yan kept a straight face and said, "Is that so? I suppose. It seems you really have quite a profound insight into academic majors."

Li Shu glanced at Shu Qin, feeling that he was radiating absolute coolness at that moment.

He said to Shu Qin, "Shu Qin, since you'll only have a junior college diploma after graduation, you can upgrade to a bachelor's degree and then test into Chinese Language and Literature. Finding a job afterward won't be difficult at all."

Li Yan burst out laughing internally.

Good grief, Chinese Language and Literature? Yet another massive death trap.

Shu Qin didn't want to engage with Li Shu, but feeling it was impolite not to respond, she offered a perfunctory reply, "Oh, I'll see how things go."

Believing that Shu Qin must have been utterly dazzled by his brilliant aura, Li Shu continued to expound eloquently.

"I plan to enter the broadcasting industry after graduation. Actually, being a host or an editor-in-chief and things like that would be pretty great. What do you guys think?"

Li Yan nodded, suppressing his laughter as he said, "Oh my, I guess I'll have to address you as Editor-in-Chief Li from now on."

Li Shu was extremely satisfied with the title of editor-in-chief. "Hey, Li Yan, what's your major again?"

Li Yan replied, "Economics. Just trying to scrape by."

Li Shu once again assumed a condescending, lecturing tone. "Oh dear, why did you go and apply for economics? Yuncheng's economy is lackluster to begin with, and besides, the economics major at Yunnan Agricultural University isn't even a key program—teaching investments there are minimal. If you can transfer majors, you should hurry up and switch, seriously."

"Mm, I'll consider it." Li Yan couldn't take any of Li Shu's "advice"—echoing his suggestion for people to study Chinese Language and Literature—seriously at all.

Shu Qin rolling her eyes several times beside him, expressing her utter speechlessness. She kept turning her gaze toward the bus window, simply unable to listen any longer.

Yet Li Shu kept chattering away endlessly, seemingly believing that this was the primary way to capture Shu Qin's attention and affection.

There are always certain clueless prospective college students who think displaying their supposed foresight and superior intellect in front of girls is the main factor in attracting the opposite sex.

Clearly, Li Shu was one of them.

By now, he had moved on to talking about how, once he started working at a television station after graduation, he would definitely buy a car—specifically, a Cadillac.

Li Yan sighed inwardly. *This brother actually has a bit of an eye for cars.*

However, if you really end up working at a television station, going to high-end massage parlors in the future is probably going to be quite interesting for you.

Will you expose those empathetic massage therapists after getting your kicks? Or will you earnestly try to persuade them to lead honest lives?

Must say, your future social circle is bound to be quite chaotic.