Chapter 21: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity

“I can’t believe it—I got completely outmatched by a kid from start to finish.” It was only after Chu Zhu had left for quite some time that Zhang Song finally spoke. As he recalled everything that had happened, he couldn’t help but tug at his hair in disbelief.

He was a man in his forties or fifties, yet he couldn’t outwit a young man not even twenty years old!

“I actually think it’s quite normal!” Li Quanyuan, sitting calmly in his chair, took a sip of hot tea, smacked his lips, and spat a bit of tea leaf residue into the trash can. Noticing Zhang Song’s gaze shifting towards him, he said, “That kid has quite a presence. If I’m not mistaken, he’s probably the president of some student union or something, right?”

Though it was phrased as a question, his tone was extremely certain.

The counselor’s face twitched briefly before realizing that Li Quanyuan was signaling him to give some background. How was he supposed to explain that?

In the end, the counselor could only respond hesitantly, “Chu is planning to compete for the student union presidency.”

That was a very tactful way of saying that Chu Zhu wasn’t actually... In fact, as far as the counselor knew, Chu Zhu hadn’t even joined the student union. But who dared to tell the truth and embarrass the principal?

“?” Li Quanyuan paused for a moment, then continued in his usual tone, “That means his family runs a company! And they’ve involved this kid in managing the company from a young age—not just pretending to manage, but actually doing many things. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have that kind of aura.”

“Aura” was a rather elusive term, yet in some sense, it truly existed. The experience of being managed, managing others, holding meaningless positions, or taking charge—all these different roles shaped a person’s aura distinctly.

Li Quanyuan had encountered many people with a similar aura to Chu Zhu’s, so he was certain this was no naive, clear-eyed ordinary college student—this was someone who had managed many people, accomplished many tasks, and had braved the world, which gave him that effortless charisma.

“...” This time, the counselor remained silent, mainly because he truly didn’t understand.

“Come to think of it, it does feel a bit like when I first met our bureau chief when I started working!” Zhang Song nodded in agreement, then gave Li Quanyuan a deep look. He wasn’t sure if Li Quanyuan realized... but the truth was, chatting with Li Quanyuan was less stressful than chatting with Chu Zhu.

“All right, Teacher Zhang,” Li Quanyuan leisurely set his teacup on the table. “At this point, you should honestly go and contact the National Sports Administration. Don’t let any negative feelings arise just because Chu isn’t your student, and don’t make any rash moves.”

Li Quanyuan’s words were heavy. If Chu Zhu had been willing to become his disciple earlier, he wouldn’t have said anything. After all, as the principal, as long as Chu Zhu graduated from their school, that was enough!

But precisely for that reason, he wouldn’t allow Zhang Song to create obstacles in Chu Zhu’s path to becoming a champion just because Chu hadn’t apprenticed under him.

“...I understand.” Zhang Song could only sigh. He still found it hard to accept why he had met such a talented yet proud or well-informed person at such a critical moment.

---

After two days of frantic efforts, it all turned out to be for nothing! The priceless title of track and field champion coach had slipped away...

Moreover, since the principal had given the order, he could only obediently follow through—frankly, the principal letting him contact the National Sports Administration was a courtesy. Otherwise, couldn’t the principal just contact them himself?

...

Watching Chu Zhu stroll back to his seat, the ideology teacher nodded expressionlessly and resumed the lesson as if nothing had happened.

Lin Xia, sitting next to Chu Zhu, lowered his head and whispered, “Zhuzi, you really pulled off something big this time. The principal came personally! What’s going on? Could it be that the principal is appointing you as the student union president?”

Lin Xia didn’t know much about the school’s system, but after thinking it over, he figured you’d at least have to be student union president to talk to the principal like that, right? Probably?

“It’s about what happened at the playground last time,” Chu Zhu replied without changing his expression.

Lin Xia was momentarily stunned, his eyes slowly widening, and from that moment until class ended, he didn’t say another word.

...

After class, no students gathered around to ask Chu Zhu what had happened. At most, a few dormmates came over and asked briefly, but seeing Chu Zhu brush it off, they didn’t press further.

After all, everyone had their own things to attend to.

“Zhuzi, Brother Zhu!” Lin Xia suddenly became serious and pulled a small book with a red cover from his pocket.

“What are you doing?” Chu Zhu gave him a strange look. “Just so you know, even if I become a champion in the future, I’ll find a professional agent! You’re not specialized in that... At most, if I get famous, I’ll shoot some short videos with you to help boost your followers. Then you can see if you can become some kind of internet celebrity to sell products.”

“Where are you getting these ideas?” Lin Xia was baffled. After spinning his head a few times, he burst out laughing. “And you’re still thinking about becoming a champion? That doesn’t fit your current situation at all!”

“According to the novels I read, you should be planning to go abroad now, then make a name for yourself in that chaotic but vibrant land of Black Continent! Then you’d switch to warhammers, unify the world, call yourself the Divine Emperor, march into space, and finally sit on the golden throne...”

“No way. Who are you mocking?” Chu Zhu couldn’t hold back anymore. He always believed in focusing on what needed to be done when it needed to be done. He hadn’t even obtained the Dreamworld cultivation method or clarified his path to strength yet—why dream so far ahead?

Besides, what kind of ridiculous example was that?

Becoming an emperor? That’s a curse!

Really, Lin Xia was casting such a vicious curse on him.

“Ahem, ahem! Enough joking.” Lin Xia rubbed his face. “Of course, I’m not thinking of just relying on you. I was just thinking about what I could do to help you... After some thought, all I could come up with were some plans, though I don’t know if they’ll be useful.”

“Oh? Then go ahead!” Chu Zhu raised an eyebrow.

Lin Xia opened the little red book. “If it’s another world, no problem. But if it’s the future, can you check stocks? Get a couple of speculative stocks, and we brothers can take off! Nowadays, university students are into stock trading, right? Oh, and you can buy a lottery ticket too...”

“...You really believe that?” Chu Zhu struggled to maintain composure again. Believing in the lottery now? You’re a real genius!

“Trying doesn’t break the law!” Lin Xia said seriously. “Besides, it’s not about making money... It’s about testing whether it’s your superpower or really a dream of the future! Whether we win or not, the results will be useful.”

“Also, if I do make money, even though I’ll invest all my family’s wealth into it, all pure profits in the end... will be yours! Don’t refuse. If you don’t refuse now, letting my small strength be put to use, that will be the greatest help to me!”

Lin Xia had read too many novels. After much thought, he realized that if this truly was the future... then the chance to change that future probably rested on Chu Zhu’s shoulders.

He couldn’t change the future himself! But he could help someone who could change that desperate future—even if he only contributed a tiny bit, if it could rewrite the bleak future of human civilization...

Without a doubt, that would be the most glorious and pinnacle moment of his life.