Chapter 80 Chapter 80 I'm not going to let you go tonight
The sound of the pen tip splitting echoed on the paper, and Mr. Chen, who was sitting next to me, looked over.
Shen Yu picked up the broken pen and looked back up. His expression had returned to normal. "This is truly terrible. Do you have any extra pens?"
The host quickly borrowed a pen from a classmate.
Shen Yu fixed the broken pen and put it back in his suit pocket.
On the other side, Tang Yuanyuan gave Li Mu a look that told him not to make any noise, and Li Mu immediately told his younger brothers to shut up.
Tang Yuanyuan also quickly got herself into shape. Now, the competition was the most important thing to her.
Among the six projects selected, two are Internet software. Clothes, shoes, snacks, and cake shops are all good projects, and she must give it her all.
The first item of the project was that each person had to give a 5-minute presentation. Liu Lijuan was the main person in charge of this activity and the leader of their group. She was responsible for the presentation. The entire team had spent a week carefully polishing the presentation, taking all aspects into consideration. It was a very complete answer sheet. Liu Lijuan did not disappoint and gave a fluent presentation without any mistakes or omissions.
The scores in the first round were pretty good, only Mr. Chen got the lowest score of the whole game. Fortunately, Shen Yu gave full marks, which was clearly a let-up.
The second round was for difficult questions. The professors raised issues that might arise after the project was implemented. The groups also discussed and rehearsed together, and each person was responsible for questions related to their own field.
The professor held his glasses and asked, "What do you think of the market prospects for cake shops?"
Tang Yuanyuan stood up. She had visited many cake shops recently and had a clear understanding of the statistics in this area. "Cakes are an emerging industry in China. Currently, only 5% of the cake market in Shanghai has been tapped. The current market environment is that demand far exceeds supply. People long to eat a piece of cake on their birthdays, and making a romantic birthday wish has become a trend. The price of a birthday cake ranges from 30 to 60 yuan, with a profit margin of 62%. Last year, the market share of cake shops in Shanghai was around 16 million..."
The professors nodded frequently, obviously satisfied with this precise number.
Mr. Chen said sharply, "Last year, the entire Shanghai clothing market had a market share of 270 million, and the shoe market had a market share of 180 million. A market of 10 million compared to 270 million is like comparing to 180 million. Isn't that too small?"
No one on the team stood up, but Tang Yuanyuan had carefully studied the competitors' markets and looked up some data on this. He stood up and said, "Mr. Chen, the market for clothing and shoes was 230 million last year, and the market for shoes was 160 million last year, with increases of 17.3% and 12.5% respectively. The market for cakes was only 6 million last year, with a growth rate of 166.7%. What's more, if you break down the clothing market, there are 317 supporting garment factories alone. In the wholesale sector, there are thousands of wholesalers and 30,000 self-employed households. From garment workers to self-employed households, the number of people involved in the clothing market is over 500,000."
"But the cake market is different. As of now, there are only 132 cake shops registered with the Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Bureau. Yet, these 132 shops have generated sales of 16 million yuan, with each shop generating an average market share of 1.21 million yuan. Each cake shop typically has two bakers, four kitchen helpers, and two shop assistants. Professor Zhou, after hearing my statistical survey, are you considering having your family open a cake shop as a sideline?"
Professor Zhou adjusted his glasses and said, "This number does sound astonishing. I'm tempted."
Shen Yu: "That sounds exciting to me, too."
There is no doubt that Tang Yuanyuan's dialectical direction convinced everyone, and she overshadowed the clothing, shoes, and snacks sectors, becoming the most outstanding respondent today. Their project is almost certain to win, even overshadowing the team leader Liu Lijuan.
Liu Lijuan lowered her voice and asked, "Why didn't you tell me when you found this data? If you had used it in your previous presentation, you would have gotten the highest score in the first round."
Tang Yuanyuan: "The first round was a self-presentation of the project. I focused on criticizing my opponents and went off topic. I didn't expect to use it. When I was short of cake shop data, I also learned more about other data in case of emergency."
Liu Lijuan: "I'm a bit blunt, so please don't be angry with me. After all, we're all on the same team, so it's inappropriate to keep secrets. Remember to share any data in the future."
Tang Yuanyuan raised her eyelids and found that she said this with a smile, and her voice was a little playful, as if it was a joke between friends.
"I won't be angry. After all, other team leaders are not as tolerant as you."
Liu Lijuan smiled, and neither of them spoke anymore. Liu Lijuan concentrated on preparing for the third round of roadshows. This was still the team leader's job. Tang Yuanyuan had nothing to do after that, so she just had to wait for the results.
The roadshow script was presented to the senior and junior students in the audience, which was a bit like a speech to canvass for votes, and also accounted for a certain score. The script was still finalized by the team beforehand. Liu Lijuan's performance was very stable and she received a lot of votes. Unsurprisingly, Tang Yuanyuan's group made it into the top three, and the other two selected projects were both Internet software.
Li Mu circled around Tang Yuanyuan three times and said, "I knew you could do it! Your defense was amazing."
Tang Yuanyuan: "Stop talking."
Li Mu knew that she didn't want to be in the spotlight, so he lowered his voice and said, "Let's go, eat, and celebrate."
Tang Yuanyuan is in her first semester of her freshman year. In fact, she lags behind her teammates in many professional knowledge, but she doesn't want to be accused of eating for free and taking up quotas, so she has made up for her knowledge during this period and has been in the cafeteria every day. Of course, the food in Fudan University cafeteria is also very good, but people are always busy and tense, so they just want to relax.
The feeling of achieving results after such a busy schedule is quite good, and she feels relaxed too. However, she feels a little awkward when she hears the phrase "sister-in-law": "Don't call me sister-in-law anymore, just call me by my name. It's weird."
Li Mu said, "Listen to her."
Tang Yuanyuan doesn't eat meat, so he didn't have many choices, so he chose a hot pot restaurant. Tang Yuanyuan himself is not a talkative person, but Li Mu is a talkative person, and his younger brothers also like to chat. Tang Yuanyuan rarely sees such a childish side of boys. When he was drunk, he hugged a stone on the roadside, feeling that he was worthy of being Li Mu's brother.
But it was quite funny. She laughed while listening to the story while she was frying the vegetables.
The location they chose was by the window. The transparent glass floor-to-ceiling window reflected people. Through the air and the glass, Shen Yu's eyes fell on Tang Yuanyuan's face.
He rolled back with difficulty.
For the first time in my life, I experienced an emotion called jealousy.
He was jealous of this immature and reckless boy.
After Tang Yuanyuan had dinner, a group of people went to the video hall to watch a movie. Tang Yuanyuan quite liked Stephen Chow's comedy movies. On the way back to the dormitory, she was stopped by the dormitory manager. It turned out that it was Mr. Shen who was looking for her.
Tang Yuanyuan thought Shen Yu was busy. She remembered his mobile phone and called him back: "Hello, Mr. Shen, I'm Tang Yuanyuan."
On the other end of the phone line, Shen Yu glanced at the watch on his wrist. The pointer pointed to nine, and he unconsciously curled his lips.
He is a good kid.
"There's an event tomorrow that I need you to attend. The driver will pick you up from school at 4 p.m., is that okay?"
Tang Yuanyuan had no objection, so she switched the phone: "Just tell me the address, and I'll go there myself."
"The driver will be there on time."
"I see. Anything else?"
There was a silent silence.
Shen Yu: Actually, there is something going on. He wants to see her right now.
Crazy about seeing her.
"there is none left."
"Goodbye, Mr. Shen."
Tang Yuanyuan always waited for Shen Yu to hang up the phone first, but this time, she didn't hear the "beep" sound for a long time.
"Mr. Shen?"
"goodbye."
Shen Yu hung up the phone.
The project won the award, and the next step is to implement it. Tang Yuanyuan is looking forward to seeing the success of this dessert shop.
I ran to the activity room where they were meeting early and waited for a while before everyone arrived.
Liu Lijuan assigned everyone a division of labor: "...Yuanyuan, why don't you go find a suitable cake maker?"
Tang Yuanyuan already has a candidate in hand: "I have a suitable one. When I was doing market research before, I found a master who has excellent skills."
Liu Lijuan: "That's good, but it's too general. I need specific numbers. How long have you been in the industry? How old are you? Which hotel did you work in before?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "He is the assistant of the Golden Cake Shop. He has been working in the cake shop for two years. He..."
Liu Lijuan interrupted Tang Yuanyuan: "Which one is the Golden Cake Shop? Why haven't I heard of it?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "It's a cake shop in Jiangwan District."
Liu Lijuan: "Small cake shop?"
Tang Yuanyuan nodded and was about to continue the meeting when Liu Lijuan interrupted, "No, our goal for this cake shop is to turn it into a chain. A small bakery chef is fine, but an assistant is not qualified. It would be best if she were a pastry chef at a big hotel like Bulgari. That would be classy. We must ensure the color and taste of the cakes."
Tang Yuanyuan choked and coughed, Bulgari?
Five-star hotel?
"Look, we're just experimenting with our first store. We've only collected some data, and we're still unclear about the costs, profits, and pricing when it comes to actual operation. Furthermore, none of us have the time to participate in the profitability of this store. We're all strangers. Personally, I think it's not appropriate to hire such a powerful person for our first store. It's better to open an ordinary cake shop first to test the waters. We can adjust the business strategy later on."
Liu Lijuan said, "You want me to open one of those cake shops selling birthday peaches for grandpas and grandmas? That kind of shop has no quality, no technology, and is so unfashionable. We are a Fudan University incubation project. If the bosses knew about opening a small shop like that, wouldn't they die of laughter?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "I think our cake shop should put survival first. It's too risky to open a large store with just two people."
Liu Lijuan said, "Tang Yuanyuan, I didn't expect you to be so conservative despite your well-off family. Didn't you say it yourself? The profit margin on cakes is 62%. With such a large market share, how could you possibly lose money?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "Market share is one thing, but maintaining it is also important"
"Alright," Liu Lijuan interrupted Tang Yuanyuan. "Yuanyuan, I'm the team leader and the overall commander of this project. Forget about your unsophisticated business strategy. Your basic knowledge isn't solid enough. Just complete my requirements, okay?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "Okay, I won't participate in the store's positioning, but the chef I know is really good at cooking, even though he's just an assistant. He makes beautiful cakes. As far as I know, even though he's just an assistant, he makes all the actual cakes. I think he's capable of doing this. Would you like to take a look at his skills before deciding?"
Liu Lijuan pushed her hair behind her ears and said, "Alas, I really lost to you. But I'm very busy. Jiangwan District is too far away, and I have to take care of everything in this store. Go buy the cake he made and let me try it. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
Tang Yuanyuan: "Okay, I'll go now. You all should try it too. I think it's really good."
Tang Yuanyuan left the activity room and went down one floor when she suddenly thought, could she bring Zhu Yue with her to meet Liu Lijuan?
In fact, Zhu Yue has already reached the level of a formal master, but her boss only gives her the salary of an assistant, which is only 170 yuan a month. In Shanghai, food, drink and accommodation are expensive, and she spends all her salary on food and drink. After a month, she can't even live on this salary, so she dare not change jobs easily, so she can only work hard in the store.
She can make all the products that ordinary cake shops have, but Tang Yuanyuan feels that the bread she bakes is better than that made by other cake shops in terms of details, both in appearance and taste.
The key is that this child is honest. When Tang Yuanyuan was doing market research, many people were unwilling to reveal the true situation of the store. She often paid for it herself before others would tell her, but Zhu Yue did not ask her for money.
And although she wanted a raise and was probably a little dissatisfied with her boss, she remembered the friendship she had gained from learning the craft as an apprentice, so she worked tirelessly and provided attentive service.
His character is really good. When Tang Yuanyuan hires people, she values character more. As long as the business level is qualified, she is willing to give him priority.
If they really try to poach the master chef from Bulgari, they won’t know how much it will cost. In the end, does this store belong to these students or to this master chef?
Thinking of this, Tang Yuanyuan changed direction and planned to tell Liu Lijuan and let her see Zhu Yue in person.
"...She's a young lady, right? She has connections, unlike us. Look, what were we doing as freshmen? I was still a student or running errands, and she'd already been hand-picked into the group. In short, no matter how dissatisfied you are, just bear it. Don't be mean to her for the sake of face."
Through the thin door, Liu Lijuan's voice was filled with a hint of disdainful ridicule and resentment.
It was Zhang Li, a member of the same group, who answered, "I'm fine, but you're our team leader and vice chairman after all. I'm just a freshman, so what right do I have to refute your position? I feel bad for you."
Tang Yuanyuan turned around and left quietly.
The excitement I had in the morning suddenly dissipated.
It's quite boring.
To confirm her guess, she went to Bulgari and packed an exquisite cake. She then went to a small cake shop and bought a triangular cake. She ate it all and packed the Bulgari cake in it. She brought it to Liu Lijuan and said, "Take a look. Is her craftsmanship up to par?"
Liu Lijuan comes from an ordinary family. She has certainly never been to a five-star hotel like Bulgari, nor has she eaten the cakes there.
The packaging box was opened and the exquisite and beautiful cake was very beautiful.
Her eyes lit up and she took a small bite with her fork. "It's a little too sweet. The craftsmanship of the chefs in this kind of small shop is still not good enough. Zhang Li has found a suitable house. I will decide on a decoration team as soon as possible. You need to find a chef as soon as possible."
Tang Yuanyuan found it funny, but she didn't show it on her face. "I understand. However, in a hotel like the Bulgari, the chefs' salaries are very high. How much are you prepared to pay?"
Liu Lijuan: "How much are their current salaries?"
Tang Yuanyuan shook her head, she didn't know.
Liu Lijuan: "You have to ask clearly first, then I can decide."
Tang Yuanyuan nodded and said goodbye. After taking two steps out, Liu Lijuan stopped her again. "Oh right, everyone has to work now. You're just poaching people, and there's too little work. The other team members will definitely be unhappy. So, how about this, I'll leave the job of looking for a decoration company to you? You go to five or six companies first, get some information, and I'll pick a reliable one. Will that be tiring for you?"
Liu Lijuan smiled like a caring older sister, and Tang Yuanyuan knew in her heart that she had no way to refuse.
If she doesn't do it, she will spread the news to everyone that she has a backer and doesn't do the work.
Then she will have fewer and fewer things to do in the future, and become a Bodhisattva worshipped in this group, just like those people with connections.
Shen Yu had built a platform for her, and if she lived like that, it would be a waste of everyone else's efforts.
She should rely on herself to truly convince them!
In fact, doing odd jobs is the social role that people without any background should have first. In fact, Mr. Shen is right, university is really half of society.
Tang Yuanyuan felt that she had nothing to complain about.
It doesn't make sense that just because you know Shen Yu, you should be superior to others and command seniors who are several levels higher than you. Who would really obey you?
Others all started out as odd jobs, so she had nothing to be squeamish about, so she just had to get back to what she was supposed to do.
What's more, her ordinary classmates don't even have the opportunity to participate in this kind of project.
She should be content that she can sign her name on the project.
She walked slowly along the way, quickly adjusted her mentality, and became full of energy again.
Tang Yuanyuan, you are just an ordinary college student.
You cannot be proud and complacent, but must bow your head like an ear of grain and strive to take root.
She was also very curious about what Liu Lijuan could do with the store.
It sounds like it will be a very high-end cake shop. Liu Lijuan herself is quite skilled, and Tang Yuanyuan is also very curious.
Whether she fails or succeeds, she can actually gain valuable experience, right?
The business environment in Shanghai is different from that in Yucheng. The reason why Yucheng's store was able to succeed smoothly was not only because of her courage, but also because of a bit of luck. If it weren't for the factory lady who inadvertently developed her knowledge of high-end products, her store's profit margin would not have been so high.
Zhou Wei and Zhou Li's honest and simple nature, and the backward consumption concept of Yucheng people are all factors in her success.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange is different. The businessmen here are ahead of the times in terms of experience and concepts, even accumulated over several generations, and their competitors are completely different.
She also wanted to know how much she weighed.
"Tang Yuanyuan, work hard!"
Before figuring this out, Tang Yuanyuan actually thought about spending 5 yuan to hire someone to give Liu Lijuan some random information, as she wouldn't read it seriously anyway.
Now, Tang Yuanyuan doesn’t think so.
She doesn't think that she can tell whether a decoration company is good or bad from some information. Just like how she knows Zhu Juan, every industry has its own tricks, and no matter what she does, she has to deal with decoration companies.
This seems to be working for Liu Lijuan, but in fact the real relationship is one's own.
So Tang Yuanyuan put aside all his achievements in Yucheng, started again, treated himself as an ordinary person, went to several decoration companies, got the information, and handed it to Liu Lijuan like a subordinate.
But she knew that one day she would replace Liu Lijuan.
Liu Lijuan didn't expect Tang Yuanyuan to really do this, and she could explain the situation of each company in detail, so she took the initiative to ask Tang Yuanyuan what means of transportation she took and also reimbursed her for the travel expenses.
"We are financially supported. Your trip is for official business and can be reimbursed. Remember to keep the receipt next time. Forget it this time."
Tang Yuanyuan realized something about Liu Lijuan. Even if she hated you in her heart, she would still talk to you with a smile.
Selling some delicious food from time to time is a good way to attract people.
"I see. Thank you."
Liu Lijuan: "When I saw you, I felt like I had a connection with you. You're like my own sister, so of course I want to take care of you."
Tang Yuanyuan: "Thank you."
After saying goodbye to Liu Lijuan, it was almost four o'clock. Tang Yuanyuan went to the school gate to wait for the bus. The driver took her to a studio. A beautiful stylist pressed her in front of a chair, did a set of makeup for her, and asked her to change into a beautiful dress.
She looked at the person in the mirror with suspicion. The dress was made of comfortable material, and her hair and makeup were all done beautifully, like a movie star. Is this still herself?
"Could it be that you got the wrong person? I'm going to work."
The other party stuffed a handbag into her palm and said with a smile: "Yes, Xiao Shen always ordered so. This is the makeup and outfit for the dinner party."
"Inside the handbag are lipstick and powder puffs. If your makeup falls off, remember to touch it up yourself."
Dinner party?
What is this?
Tang Yuanyuan glanced at the watch on her wrist. It took her two hours to put on this outfit.
After leaving the dressing room, I didn't know when Mr. Shen came. He was sitting on the sofa, one leg folded over the other, his back relaxed against the back of the sofa, looking elegant and noble. When he heard the door open, he turned his neck to look over.
The light from the incandescent lamp fell on the lens, like a fallen star, and the black batholith-like eyeballs were brighter than usual, falling on her.
Tang Yuanyuan rarely saw him look like this; he was always gentle and scrutinizing.
She clenched the bag in her hand awkwardly, frozen in place for a moment, blinking her drooping eyelashes.
"It's time to go."
Hearing his voice, Tang Yuanyuan was slow to move. When she looked up again, Shen Yu had already left the studio.
Tang Yuanyuan was not used to high heels and walked out slowly. Shen Yu was smoking in the corridor, smoking a little hurriedly, looking like he was enduring something.
Tang Yuanyuan felt that he was not in a very good mood today, and the space in the car felt inexplicably tight.
So she pursed her lips into a line and quietly adjusted the hem of her skirt.
Silence all the way.
Tang Yuanyuan thought Shen Yu wouldn't say anything else, so he suddenly asked, "How have you been doing at school lately?"
Tang Yuanyuan: "Very good."
For some unknown reason, the air pressure in the car dropped a little, and Tang Yuanyuan felt that her breathing was a little difficult.
"Mr. Shen, are you in a bad mood?"
“A little.”
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Yes," Shen Yu twirled his middle finger in a circle, "I want to hear a joke now."
Tang Yuanyuan felt that he was naturally humorless, so he thought of a joke he heard last night while having dinner with Li Mu and his friends: "A friend of mine, a boy, got drunk and kissed a big rock thinking it was his girlfriend. People were watching him. Wasn't it funny?"
Shen Yu: "Is it true?"
Tang Yuanyuan imagined the scene and laughed, nodding, "It's true. I heard it last night while having dinner. It made me laugh to death."
Shen Yu didn't laugh.
Originally, only a secretly depressed mood was expressed on his face, and the air seemed to be stagnant.
Tang Yuanyuan stopped laughing.
After a minute, Shen Yu suddenly chuckled again: "It's quite funny."
Tang Yuanyuan: "..."
This time the destination is a five-star hotel.
Shen Yu: "Today, your job is to be my female companion and keep away unnecessary people for me."
Tang Yuanyuan: "What is an unnecessary person?"
Shen Yu: "Someone who wants to develop a relationship with me."
Tang Yuanyuan nodded.
Shen Yu: "Do you know what a female companion is?"
Tang Yuanyuan shook her head.
Shen Yu extended his arm from his trouser pocket: "Hold it, is that okay?"
Tang Yuanyuan had seen how those people linked arms at the dance party, so she nodded and put a hand through his arm.
The waiter opened a pure white French door that reached the ceiling. Before my eyes were elegantly dressed women and the crystal chandeliers shone brightly and dazzlingly.
"Mr. Shen."
An alluring woman in a formal dress came over, swaying her waist. Her gaze fell on Tang Yuanyuan: "Who is this?"
The waiter came over with a goblet. Shen Yu took a glass of champagne and placed it in Tang Yuanyuan's hand. He also took a glass for himself: "My female companion today."
Another man in a suit came over and said, "How strange! It's been a while since I've seen Mr. Shen with a female companion. Here comes a beautiful lady."
Tang Yuanyuan took a sip of the champagne; it was sweet and delicious.
Shen Yu leaned slightly to the side, his lips touching her beautiful hair as he whispered a warning: "Champagne has a strong aftertaste, drink less."
Tang Yuanyuan nodded.
Shen Yu introduced the identities of each party to Tang Yuanyuan one by one. In less than half an hour, Tang Yuanyuan received a bunch of business cards, all of which were from important backgrounds.
There were also several beautiful girls pestering Shen Yu, sometimes asking him to have afternoon tea, sometimes asking him to attend a concert. Tang Yuanyuan dutifully blocked them for him and always reminded him in time if there was anything important during that time period.
Before she knew it, Tang Yuanyuan realized that it was almost ten o'clock, but Shen Yu was still talking to someone about the land. The dormitory had curfew at eleven o'clock, and she thought they shouldn't talk that late, so she ate a few snacks from time to time while listening to their conversation.
By the time we walked out of the hotel, it was already half past ten.
Shen Yu's residence was not in the same direction as hers. She lifted her skirt and said, "Mr. Shen, I'll have to take a taxi myself, otherwise I won't be able to catch the curfew."
Shen Yu: "Get in the car. You won't be left without a place to stay."
Shen Yu told the driver to go off work, went to the driving seat, and drove the car all the way into his small villa.
Tang Yuanyuan looked at the time and saw that it was already past curfew. She thought of the apartment and said, "Mr. Shen, you have the key to the apartment. How about I stay there?"
"have."
Tang Yuanyuan followed him into the small Western-style building.
She didn't know that Shen Yu, who was walking in front of her, had a turbulent look in his eyes. He was sure that he couldn't pretend anymore.
He mustered his courage, turned around, and took a step forward. A shadow suddenly loomed over him. "I have the key, but I'm not going to give it to you."
"I'm not going to let you go tonight."
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The author has something to say: Don't worry, I won't force the heroine. You'll understand after reading the next chapter. The hero will always respect the heroine, and in the emotional line, the heroine is always the dominant one.
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