CHAPTER 347: CHAPTER 179: TOP-LEVEL TUG-OF-WAR_2

Han Lie shook his head and sighed as he revealed the truth. "So they basically railroaded me into the Minister of the Arts position and tried to use a beauty trap on me..."

"Yo, that really hit the nail on the head!"

Chen Yanfei pouted, and Ding Xiang’s eyes twinkled.

But Han Lie was well-prepared and thus remained unmoved, just offering a faint smile.

Essentially, today was a confession session.

Given Han Lie’s current fame, anything he did at school would inevitably reach Chen Yanfei’s ears. The two schools were very close; one didn’t even need to ask around, as gossips would naturally ensure word got out.

Therefore, Chen Yanfei would sooner or later learn about Han Lie taking over the ’harem’ department—as some might call it—and his supposed large-scale ’selection of consorts.’

However, if Han Lie personally explained it, perhaps changing a few words and the sequence of events... the effect would be quite different.

Isn’t that what communication studies is all about? Han Lie hadn’t studied communication, but marketing combined with psychology achieved a similar effect.

"Actually, I’ve been preparing for the transfer student exam, and I feel pretty confident," Han Lie began, pivoting again to reel them in. "The school probably heard about it, so they’re a bit worried."

Ding Xiang’s big eyes instantly lit up with anticipation as she looked at him.

Then, the scoundrel heaved a sigh of regret. "Ah! It’s a pity that the main campus of Shanghai International Studies University doesn’t accept transfer students; otherwise, why would I hesitate..."

Chen Yanfei understood and immediately furrowed her brow. "You don’t want to transfer anymore?"

"Whether I transfer now or not doesn’t make much difference anymore."

Han Lie shook his head, meeting her gaze, his expression exceptionally sincere yet teasingly elusive.

"When we first met, becoming a transfer student at Fudan or Jiao Tong University was my highest goal. I even finished my sophomore math courses in advance for it.

But times change, and the Tencent stock trading competition changed everything.

Whether I win the overall championship or not, my fame has already far surpassed what this current academic level can offer.

Prestigious universities can no longer add much to my career. In fact, a ’Stock God’ rising from humble beginnings has more legendary appeal.

I don’t have surplus time to waste; finance is a practical discipline. My future is in the market, in the heart of storms and tsunamis—definitely not on a university campus.

Next up, I’ll be focusing on my private equity business.

So, I probably won’t take the transfer exam. I’ll just stay at the School of Humanities and muddle through for that diploma. After all, I can’t get into our university’s main campus, and there’s no real need to transfer to another one.

You can understand me, right?"

Chen Yanfei’s weakness was perhaps her rationality; she couldn’t find a flaw in his logic. She frowned, thinking hard, but couldn’t come up with a counterargument.

Then, before Chen Yanfei could respond, Ding Xiang was already nodding like a little chick pecking at grain. "Mhm! I also think it doesn’t matter whether you continue school or not. What’s so great about prestigious universities? Our own SISU main campus even wants to invite you for a talk!"

It was rare for Ding Xiang to say so much at once, which showed just how excited she was.

Actually, Ding Xiang was the first to admire Han Lie. Before she knew Chen Yanfei was acquainted with Han Lie, she was already very interested in this stock god from her own school.

Because... she was a very, very green ’old leek’ in the stock market.

Despite being ’harvested’ countless times, her initial enthusiasm never waned.

Chen Yanfei, exasperated that Ding Xiang wasn’t getting it, shot her an annoyed look and forcibly steered the conversation back. "So, that’s why you couldn’t resist the beauty trap?"

"What are you talking about?!"

Han Lie would die before admitting to any beauty trap, so he put on an air of helpless resignation.

"Since I’ve decided not to transfer, I have to give the school some consideration. After all, I’ll be skipping a lot of classes in the future. Whether I need to take make-up exams or can even get my diploma—doesn’t that all depend on the dean?

In other departments, every position comes with actual responsibilities; you have to spend time and energy working.

The school administration had it all figured out for me. They just handed me the Arts Department and said, ’You don’t have to do any actual work in this department. Just lend us your name, and drop by when you have time.’

What could I do? I was basically strong-armed into it, just to be a poster boy for the administration!"

Chen Yanfei basically believed him.

It wasn’t a question of her intelligence; the reasons he gave were just too damn plausible. Anyone would have been convinced.

She not only found Han Lie’s appointment as minister perfectly reasonable but even felt a sliver of vicarious pride. See? This is the man I noticed first! Isn’t he outstanding? Even the school administration has to humor him!

Well, after being jerked around by that scoundrel of a man, her emotions had fluctuated so wildly that her mental defenses were nearly shattered...

As for Ding Xiang... her nickname might as well have been ’Freebie.’

She had completely forgotten what they were initially talking about.

Unlike Chen Yanfei, Little Chen still remembered bits and pieces and was trying to steer the conversation back.

"So, it was in the Arts Department that you took a fancy to that little secretary of yours?"

"What do you mean? Couldn’t she have approached me first?" Han Lie looked indignant.

While Chen Yanfei pouted, Ding Xiang glanced at her, then timidly at Han Lie, and nodded slightly. "I think so too..."

"..."

Chen Yanfei began to regret bringing her along.

Smiling, Han Lie picked up a salted duck egg, cracked the larger end, and handed it to Ding Xiang. "Sweet douhua should be accompanied by something salty," he said. "A lack of salt will make you tire out quickly."

"Thank you."

Ding Xiang smiled sweetly, exuding an innocent and utterly devoted charm.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

Chen Yanfei picked up her chopsticks and rapped them sharply on the table. She didn’t look up, so her expression was hidden, but Han Lie understood the warning.

So he obediently replied, "It really was Liang Wu who approached me first. To be honest, I hadn’t planned on recruiting staff from the university; the student quality at the School of Humanities is a bit subpar."