The next morning, the Mechanics Engineering Class of '03 reconvened after a long winter break.
With thesis defenses and future career prospects looming, the classroom buzzed with lively chatter.
Nearly everyone crowded the back rows of the large classroom.
Fatty, with his silver tongue, was always the center of attention wherever he went.
In contrast, Zhōu Kǎi, the class monitor, academic representative, model student, student union president, league secretary, and calligraphy club president, sat alone by the front window like a clear stream, lost in thought while staring at an English document on his desk.
If the unreliable Fatty was a quirky character in the class, then Zhōu Kǎi, who was disliked by all his classmates, was undoubtedly another.
The situation instantly changed with the counselor's belated arrival.
"Sigh! Your Class 3 is simply the worst class I've ever had," the counselor sighed, pouring a bucket of cold water on the students' high spirits.
"I don't even want to mention some people who still haven't passed the preliminary thesis review..."
Though he said this, the counselor's gaze was fixed directly on Sū Zhé.
"Are you attending university for me? Playing around for three and a half years is one thing, but not having any sense of urgency in the last six months."
"Zhāng Wěi, Sū Zhé!"
The counselor grew increasingly angry, finally calling out names.
"Don't tell me you spent this winter break playing again."
"Haven't you even asked around? How many people in the class aren't doing internships?"
Although Sū Zhé planned to pursue postgraduate studies and didn't need an internship, he blushed with embarrassment.
Fatty, whose thick skin was like a city wall, had no such worries and stood up with a grin.
"Report, I plan to start a business next semester, and the company is already being registered!"
"Start... a business?"
Not only the counselor but all the classmates looked at Fatty with astonishment.
Fatty beamed with pride, "Warmly welcome all classmates to join my company and be my oxen and horses!"
"Hmph!"
This remark was immediately met with everyone's disdain.
"Quiet!" The counselor banged the table, "Zhāng Wěi, it's not some shell company, is it?"
"How could it be? Am I short of a few trifles?"
"My Cousin (female) invested 500,000 yuan for me, my uncle gave 300,000, my aunt gave 100,000, my eldest uncle gave 150,000, and my third uncle gave 250,000..."
*Creeeak...*
A sound of grinding teeth echoed through the room.
"Don't stop me, I want to beat this fatso to death!"
"Is it the end of the world? Hurry up and come, I want to perish together with these damned capitalists."
Not only Zhōu Kǎi in the front row, but Sū Zhé, sitting beside him, also widened his eyes in surprise.
He only heard Fatty say his company was being registered but had never known he had secured so much sponsorship.
Thinking of Fatty's earnestness, Sū Zhé smiled knowingly.
However, this smile was caught by the sharp-eyed counselor.
The counselor sneered and called out, "Sū Zhé! What are you laughing at? Could it be that Chairman Zhāng has arranged a general manager position for you?"
Both were speechless. Fatty really wanted to say yes, but Sū Zhé had repeatedly instructed him to be the behind-the-scenes controlling shareholder.
"I... I plan to pursue postgraduate studies!" Sū Zhé mumbled in reply.
"What?"
All eyes in the room instantly focused on Sū Zhé.
This statement generated a bigger reaction than Fatty starting a business and opening a company.
"It’s been a month, and you two truly impress me!"
"One wants to start a business, the other wants to pursue postgraduate studies. I ask you, is your GPA sufficient?"
The counselor crossed his arms, looking down at Sū Zhé with a dismissive gaze.
"Uh... my compulsory courses should be completed with full marks!" Sū Zhé shrunk his neck.
"What about the thesis?"
"It's... it's almost done too!" Sū Zhé pursed his lips, not directly mentioning his plan to change advisors.
"Truly remarkable! Someone without internship experience, no competition results, no papers published in authoritative journals, failing the CET-4, and not even passing the preliminary thesis review actually wants to pursue postgraduate studies?"
"Sū Zhé, if you can get admitted, I'll eat a pound of feces upside down!"
"You all have the same advisor. Look at Zhōu Kǎi, he decided to pursue postgraduate studies in his junior year and is actively preparing. He has three internships and even won a national silver award in a mini-project."
"I'm laying it out here: this year's recommendation for postgraduate admission will definitely include him."
"And then look at you..."
"Fine, I'm not your father or mother. Saying too much will only breed resentment. Since you like courting death, then go ahead and court it!"
After speaking, the counselor distributed some materials related to the defense and left with lingering resentment.
"Damn it, it must have been that scoundrel whispering poison in Méi Chāofēng's ear. I'll make him pay later."
Fatty stared at Zhōu Kǎi by the window, cursing under his breath.
"If it were as simple as putting him in a sack, it wouldn't be so bothersome, nor would it attract so much trouble!"
Sū Zhé also guessed the reason, but he wouldn't easily swallow this insult.
"Estimating the recommendation spots from previous years, our major should still have only three spots this year."
"His advantage isn't significant. Since that's the case, I'll take a gamble and try to push him out!"
As his devoted supporter, Fatty naturally supported his godfather wholeheartedly, but the reality of the situation was clear...
"Sū Zhé, you're not going to tell me you plan to accomplish the feat of changing advisors, starting a new topic, and completing your thesis in the next half month, are you?"
Sū Zhé glanced at Fatty and smiled, pursing his lips.
"Just watch, buddy, I'm about to perform!"
With that, Sū Zhé stood up and walked out of the classroom.
Recalling Sū Zhé's pathetic image earlier, like a horned frog, Zhōu Kǎi couldn't help but let out a pig-like snort of laughter.
"Postgraduate studies? Pfft~~~ "
"It's like a tadpole with a frog tattoo, are you showing off your mother?"
Thinking again about the counselor saying he would definitely get a recommendation spot, Zhōu Kǎi's smile grew even brighter.
However, when he turned his head, he inadvertently caught sight of Sū Zhé's retreating figure outside the window.
"Hiss~ What is this kid doing at the administrative building? He's not going to complain to the school leaders, can't stand the counselor's verbal abuse, right?"
Sū Zhé was indeed going to see school leaders, but not to complain, rather to apply for a change of advisor.
A police car slowly drove into the riverside villa area after Captain Liu presented his credentials.
Before they had driven five hundred meters, an incredibly tall bust model of Optimus Prime gradually appeared in their line of sight.
Even though this Optimus Prime looked rather shoddy and couldn't compare to the one at the amusement park, it still made Section Chief Luó, sitting in the passenger seat, urge him on excitedly.
"There, it must be there, hurry!"
Captain Liu, who was forced to come, looked like he was about to cry.
The director himself had to plead and persuade the iron lady to give up the idea of suing Changlong Amusement Park.
The compensation for the people had been resolved, but everyone had overlooked that the compensation for Optimus Prime was the main issue.
Don't Yúngē's words alone amounted to 10 million yuan, but as soon as the amusement park's bastard heard the figure, he immediately lay on the ground and refused to get up.
He shouted, "Come, shoot me dead! I have no money, I'll give my life for a life!"
He was so worried that his hair had turned white, and now Section Chief Luó was here to add to his troubles.
And he came to visit without a word of warning.