Lin Nianwei nodded: "Hi everyone!"

"You sly guy, keeping secrets to yourself! You've even met the parents, just asked you and you said you're single!" Ma Chang grumbled in a complaining tone.

Zhang Yang chuckled without further explanation: "You've all heard, I really have something to do, let's catch up later! I'm out of here!"

After saying that, Zhang Yang left the private room with Lin Nianwei, quickly disappearing from everyone's sight.

Watching the beautiful woman leave, Ma Chang couldn't help but swallow, and only when Zhang Yang went downstairs did he grumble resentfully: "That woman's really something! Damn, she's got the looks, she's got the body! Zhang Yang, the lucky bastard, must have his ancestors' graves smoking!"

Xiaoli, sitting to the side, became instantly displeased, pinching the soft flesh on Ma Chang's side with her fingertips, giving him a big eye roll.

Xue Yang, more scheming than the others, quickly steered the conversation: "Since he's got something to attend to, let's continue! Come, come, there's still a box of wine, let's have another round!"

…

Meanwhile, on Zhang Yang's side, after they went downstairs side by side, Lin Nianwei released her arm from his.

Zhang Yang said in a deep voice: "Thanks for that just now."

Lin Nianwei smiled softly: "Before knocking, I stood outside for a while. Your classmates don't seem to have much of a connection with you! Plus, they seem unsure what you're doing now."

"I'm hanging out with a pretty girl, what else could I be doing?" Zhang Yang deliberately dodged the topic.

"Oh, come on, you know what I mean! Class reunions are all about comparing these things!"

Zhang Yang shook his head: "They organized the reunion without notifying me, I just happened to run into it and had to make an appearance.

There's a saying that summer insects cannot speak ice, people on different wavelengths are better off keeping interactions superficial for everyone's sake, why get unnecessarily involved?"

Hearing the aphorism 'summer insects cannot speak ice' from Zhang Yang's mouth, Lin Nianwei was taken aback, her emotions becoming complicated.

When Lin Nianwei questioned him, she thought about how Zhang Yang now had a company, assets, and a significant hold, doing far better than these so-called classmates. A class reunion was the perfect occasion for flaunting and grabbing attention.

But from Zhang Yang's behavior, it was clear that he didn't even put himself on the same level as these peers.

This realization had a significant impact on Lin Nianwei.

How to describe the depth of this difference in thinking? It's like playing a game of LoL, you're racking your brains thinking about how to gain a small advantage in minion farming, while your opponent is already strategizing several minutes ahead about how to secure the team's advantage for winning by securing the drake.

In a nutshell, while seemingly on the same lane, the two people are actually operating on very different levels of thinking and awareness.

"What's up? Why suddenly quiet? Are you full? Want to battle another round?" Zhang Yang asked casually as Lin Nianwei remained silent.

"I'm full, how about we settle the bill and go?" Lin Nianwei said softly.

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go pay the bill!"

Zhang Yang strolled over to the service counter, found a waiter to settle the bill, and then left the hotpot restaurant with Lin Nianwei.

Coming out from the indoors, the breeze outside made Zhang Yang shiver instantly.

"In a hurry to get home? I just chugged a beer, if you're not in a rush, let's take a walk, and drive back later?" Zhang Yang suggested, not eager to start driving right away.

Lin Nianwei was only too happy to spend more time with Zhang Yang, nodding: "Sure, let's take a walk and chat!"

"I know a place with great crushed ice, wanna taste it?"

"Let's go!" Hearing about food, Lin Nianwei's eyes lit up, and she agreed decisively.

The two wandered down the bustling street lights of the city, neither speaking for a while.

Lin Nianwei gathered her courage, after a long silence, she leisurely said: "I think you're different from others."

"Ah? How do you mean?" Zhang Yang was a bit muddled by her sudden comment.

"Remember the first time we met? You were participating in a river fishing competition, and happened to be in the same zone as me!"

"Yeah, remember? Hadn't even entered, just parked, and Wang Yan mentioned a girl in a volunteer vest was really pretty, and later found out during the first match we were in the same zone!"

"The first time I saw you, I didn't have a good impression! Your eyes seemed so mischievous, always looking at people with a certain hook." Lin Nianwei said leisurely.

"Huh? Can't be! I felt perfectly normal, seeing a pretty girl, who wouldn't steal a few glances!"

Zhang Yang was righteous, as if he was speaking a justified truth.

"Oh please! Denying it! Later on, I found you weren't so bad, seemed like your fishing skills were pretty good too, catching over a hundred twenty pounds in a single session, really scared me back then!"

"Haha, I'm a fishing expert, you know! Catching a hundred-pound fish is child's play!" Zhang Yang boasted when fishing was brought up.

"You're quite odd, immature in some ways, yet when dealing with numerous interpersonal matters, you see more clearly than anyone!

If I call you smart, when it comes to fishing-related things, you seem quite juvenile! You know what juvenile means, right?"

"Oh, come on, you're the juvenile one! Having no power yet being self-centered is what's juvenile!

I'm someone with true skills, that's called having a pure heart, you understand pure heart?" Zhang Yang defended like he was stepped on a sore spot.

"Pfft!"

Observing Zhang Yang's spirited defense, Lin Nianwei couldn't hold it anymore and started giggling.

The laughter was so lively that passersby glanced over.

"What are you laughing at! Is it really that funny?"

Zhang Yang scratched his head, feeling this seemingly smart girl by his side was actually quite goofy.

Only after a minute did Lin Nianwei stop laughing, and continued to ask: "I've always been curious about something, with your skill, why don't you pursue national competitions?

My dad told me the competitive master title is really in demand now, with your situation, representing your brand can quickly boost its reputation!"

Talking business, Zhang Yang got serious for once: "I've considered chasing competitions, but the timing isn't quite right to set it on the agenda!

The foundation on the company side is still too thin, chasing competitions not only involve costs, but also the time investment is too great! I plan to wait a year or two and revisit."

"With the way the company is running now, short on money?"

Hearing his explanation, Lin Nianwei couldn't help but pout, Zhang Yang's words were pretty different from what she had observed and heard.

"Seems not lacking, but once you really do it, you'll realize the shortfall! Not just money, but time!

Don't you feel that the domestic fishing sports industry is currently in a period of transformation?

Take the simplest example, our company's laboratory has already had an investment of several hundred thousand.

If this money goes into competitions, what tangible benefits does it create? A Third-level Master title?

But what if it's invested in research instead?

The outcomes might be a whole set of new fishing additives! You understand the commercial potential behind that?

As for brand awareness, I believe any brand seeks recognition through its products speaking for themselves!

Even if I win Fishing King, if the product's no good, no one will buy it!

We're currently leveraging social media videos for brand promotion, which actually isn't worse than gaining fame through competitions!

Currently in the fishing equipment industry, most companies focus still on traditional TV media, and how pricey is advertising there! And restrictive too.

Look at our current public account, roughly 220k followers, do you realize the business potential in that?"

As Zhang Yang spoke, his words sounded righteous, but his inner thoughts were quite different.

International joke aside, the insider knowledge Zhang Yang, this cheat player, held was time-sensitive.

If he gets busy with competitions now, and misses the timing, once various products follow the timeline and emerge, there'd just be no room for Zhang Yang.

Though these thoughts were only murmured internally, they couldn't be shared with anyone.

After a thorough explanation, Lin Nianwei was once again left astounded.

Zhang Yang's statement left her brain feeling like it had an enlightening sensation, an experience she hadn't felt in a long time, the last being during a university professional course taught by a very famous professor.

The young lady couldn't help but marvel. Zhang Yang was simply a commercial genius!

...

While strolling, the two went to the Bingbing Ice Drink Shop Zhang Yang mentioned to get two servings of ice drinks. After eating and paying, they strolled towards the parking lot and saw a gathering of people at the exit from afar.

Zhang Yang squinted from a distance and couldn't help but slightly frown; isn't that Ma Chang and the others? Did they drink too much and start a fight?