Selecting a Tech Company for Shengsheng

"Good taste, huh? Well, that’s just unbeatable."

Su Bai casually tossed out the remark, his expression indifferent.

He’d noticed that ever since he came into money, the flattery in his daily life had multiplied.

Reading people and adjusting one’s attitude accordingly was a skill every socialite had mastered.

Even the greasy old man he’d run into while hiking, who’d been blathering unsolicited advice, shut up the moment he caught sight of Su Bai’s wristwatch.

"This coffee bean variety is different from what’s usually sold outside. The flavor profile is much cleaner, though people who don’t drink coffee often might find it hard to appreciate…"

The barista girl introduced it with noticeable pride.

Su Bai gave a polite nod.

Truthfully, he wasn’t much of a coffee drinker.

The only reason he’d ordered this particular blend was that earlier, at the lakeside villa, he’d had a cup of hand-brewed coffee made by the maid—using these very same "Castiyo" beans.

Su Bai just wanted to compare how the maid’s version stacked up against the café’s.

According to the maid herself, hand-brewed extraction tended to be slightly underdeveloped, resulting in a somewhat more acidic taste.

This was the kind of detail Su Bai would’ve never bothered with before. Back then, if he needed a caffeine kick, he’d just grab a cheap, ultra-strong instant black coffee for a few cents a packet.

Boutique cafés like this? The old Su Bai would’ve steered clear.

Thirty-four yuan for a cup of coffee? That could’ve covered several meals of the budget "poor man’s special" in the university canteen.

It just went to show—people’s tastes evolved with the thickness of their wallets.

With money and leisure, anyone could afford to cultivate refined hobbies.

"Su Bai, I heard you guys went hiking. Everyone’s back now?"

"Yeah, we’re all back on campus."

"Oh… Man, I’m so jealous. A big group trip like that must’ve been so much fun! And I heard you even threw a party at that lakeside villa…"

Liu Yuanyuan’s face was alight with longing.

Compared to that, her own holiday had been painfully dull.

Some senior from another university—a high school alum—had treated her to a meal.

Just an ordinary mall restaurant, but since he was paying, she’d gone along.

Then yesterday, hearing Xue Tao had returned to campus early, she’d tried to get him to visit a trendy spot with her. He’d refused, saying he didn’t feel like moving, and holed up in his dorm instead.

Ugh. Meanwhile, Su Bai had gone on an extra hike and still looked full of energy.

The difference between people was just…

After seeing Su Bai’s financial clout, Liu Yuanyuan’s dissatisfaction with Xue Tao had only grown.

And so had her regret.

If only she’d made a move on Su Bai during military training!

Maybe then she’d have been part of that lakeside villa gathering.

"It was alright. Renting a decent villa and splitting the cost among friends isn’t that expensive."

"Oh, come on, the fancier the place, the better the fun! Anyway, I remember chatting with you when we visited Xue Tao during military training—I had no idea back then just how loaded you were."

Liu Yuanyuan playfully stuck out her tongue.

As it turned out, this cutesy anime-girl mannerism came off as painfully forced on anyone without the looks to match.

On the other hand, someone like Chen Yusheng could pull off even the most exaggerated, sugary expressions and still look adorable.

Watching Liu Yuanyuan’s deliberate attempt at acting cute, Su Bai felt a chill.

It was clear now—this woman had designs on him!

Back when they’d eaten together at the canteen with Xue Tao and Liu Yuanyuan, Su Bai had noticed the way the sophomore kept sneaking glances at him, only to blush and look away when caught.

Those micro-expressions usually belonged to girls nursing a crush.

But Su Bai doubted Liu Yuanyuan actually had feelings for him. More likely, she just liked his looks.

And now? This "chance encounter" at the café, her overly sweet, suggestive words—

Her intentions were anything but pure.

Not that Su Bai wanted anything to do with that.

For one, Liu Yuanyuan’s looks fell far short of the standard he usually indulged in.

More importantly, she was Xue Tao’s girlfriend—his roommate’s girl. Su Bai had no interest in stirring up that kind of messy drama.

He hated complications.

So, faced with Liu Yuanyuan’s hints, Su Bai said:

"I guess it’s fate. Yusheng and I got together by chance too. I think you and Xue Tao are really well-matched."

"…How so?"

"You two have such a strong couple’s vibe!"

"…"

What? Her and Xue Tao? A couple’s vibe??

To Liu Yuanyuan, this might as well have been an insult.

After all, everyone knew what Xue Tao looked like—hardly a prize.

In fact, when one of her classmates found out she was dating him, they’d joked, "Gotta hand it to you—how do you even manage to kiss that?"

Yet Su Bai delivered the line with such earnest warmth, his smile so genuine, that she couldn’t even call him out on it.

Left seething silently, Liu Yuanyuan short-circuited on the spot.

Su Bai, meanwhile, enjoyed a temporary peace.

Coffee in hand, he settled into a corner seat by the window.

Pulled out his MacBook Pro from his bag.

Time to check up on company info.

Lately, Su Bai had been scouting for the right tech firm to use his "Self-Selected Holdings Card" on.

Why tech? Simple—it aligned with Yusheng’s career path.

Investing in her future was a guaranteed win!

Not only would it nurture an AI prodigy, but every penny spent would be reimbursed.

The Indulgence System—truly terrifying.

Ideally, he’d find a tech company with some financial licensing, to streamline future moves.

Come to think of it, working on a Mac in a café—

Such a cliché urban professional flex.

But it was comfortable. The aroma of coffee beans and pastries was pleasant, after all.

Apple’s battery life held up well, and performance didn’t take a hit off the charger.

At least for light tasks.

Anything industrial-grade would’ve been a disaster.

Half an hour later.

The coffee was finally finished, sipped at a leisurely pace.

The taste? Well, Su Bai was a philistine—he couldn’t tell much difference from the maid’s hand-brewed version.

Still, it was good. None of that cheap iced Americano bitterness or burnt aftertaste.

As for the company hunt—success.

Thanks to his Master-level Financial and Business Management skills, after days of research, Su Bai had settled on the perfect candidate.

A firm called "Shengxi Tech."

It ticked all his boxes: a pre-IPO unicorn with solid potential.

Best of all, the name even had "Sheng" in it—a nod to Yusheng.

Perfect!

For a woman worth keeping, Su Bai never held back. Spending on high-favorability targets was a thrill—it deepened bonds while paying dividends.

When you’re a tycoon playing the dating game, it’s all about the numbers.

As Su Bai worked with full focus, Liu Yuanyuan kept stealing glances his way.

Gotta admit—

A man in his element was seriously attractive.

Xue Tao never had this kind of intensity. Everything about him seemed lethargic, like he was perpetually running on empty.

I have no idea how I even got into Jiangcheng University.