Rebirth 04: Starting from Taking an Unconventional Approach

Chen Zhengyuan's extensive experience with women told him that in very rare cases, if he felt that he not only wanted a certain woman, but absolutely had to have her, then there were only four possible reasons: she was more beautiful than other women; she could satisfy him better than other women; she could make him feel like a man better than other women; and most importantly, she liked other men.

Chen Zhengyuan was certain that Wen Shuyan was this kind of woman.

Moreover, given the current situation, Wen Shuyan is no longer just a woman to him, but an indispensable part of his plan against Qingniao.

Ever since Chen Zhengyuan went to the Cuihu Tiandi residential area to try to meet Wen Shuyan alone, but bumped into Han Fei and Wen Jie downstairs, he went to Shanghai Normal University to find Zhang Huaili, hoping to get Wen Shuyan's information without leaving a trace. However, what he said was far from "leaking a trace," and Zhang Huaili knew he had ulterior motives as soon as he heard it.

Zhang Huaili is the vice president of Shanghai Normal University, in charge of arts education, industry-university cooperation, and human resources.

Two autumns ago, Zhang Huaili was just the vice dean of the School of Arts at Shanghai Normal University, struggling to secure funding for his application to become a "municipal-level art education demonstration base." The school was facing financial difficulties, and the vice principal in charge passed the buck to him, leaving him to figure it out himself. At a school-enterprise symposium organized by the Municipal Education Commission, Zhang Huaili met Chen Zhengyuan, then general manager of NetEase's South China region.

At the time, Chen Zhengyuan was eager to expand NetEase's brand influence in Shanghai, and especially needed the "official endorsement" of the education system. The two hit it off immediately: Chen Zhengyuan donated a batch of computer equipment to the art college in the name of NetEase and established the "NetEase Art Innovation Scholarship," with 200,000 yuan per year for three consecutive years. Zhang Huaili, on the other hand, strongly recommended NetEase as a "model of school-enterprise cooperation" in front of the school leaders and helped NetEase obtain the title of "Shanghai University Student Employment Internship Base."

This deal allowed Zhang Huaili to be promoted to dean of the College of Arts within six months, and a year later, based on his "outstanding achievements in school-enterprise cooperation", he was transferred to the school office and eventually became the vice president in charge of arts education, school-enterprise cooperation and human resources.

After Zhang Huaili was promoted to vice principal, Chen Zhengyuan did not stop using this relationship. On one occasion, Zhang Huaili's only son, who had just graduated from university, was detained for drunk driving and causing an accident. Chen Zhengyuan used his connections to secretly arrange for Wangyi's public relations team to intervene, reach a settlement with the victim, and help Zhang Huaili's son get a nominal project manager position in a subsidiary of Wangyi, receiving a monthly salary of 5,000 yuan, with almost no need to go to work.

Therefore, when Chen Zhengyuan suddenly inquired about a beautiful female student teacher at the school from Zhang Huaili, although he knew that Chen Zhengyuan's motives were impure, he still used his well-informed skills as usual.

Wen Shuyan is 26 years old, one year older than Wen Jie, and holds a Master's degree in Musicology from Shanghai Normal University. Originally from Zhejiang Province, her father has a long-term business relationship with Japanese tea merchants, enjoying a stable and wealthy income. He not only supported Wen Jie through university and Wen Shuyan through graduate school, but also provided significant support for their down payments on apartments in Shanghai.

Zhang Huaili said that, based on his judgment, Wen Shuyan probably doesn't have a boyfriend, as he has never seen her alone on campus with a male of similar age. Wen Shuyan began a two-year teacher qualification internship at Shanghai Model University last year, which will conclude next June. If she passes the assessment, she will be promoted to a full-fledged lecturer. The university's evaluation of Wen Shuyan's internship over the past year is: solid professional foundation, responsible, and introverted. With improved communication skills and experience in organizing activities, she has the potential to become an outstanding young teacher.

After getting Zhang Huaili's contact information, Chen Zhengyuan called Wen Shuyan the next day, using the excuse that Wangyi was planning a charity concert for university students in Shanghai and needed a professional musician as an artistic advisor. Principal Zhang had recommended her, and he asked if she would like to meet to discuss the possibility of collaboration. It was Friday afternoon, and Chen Zhengyuan suggested meeting at a bar next to the Bund Source Hotel to grab a beer.

Wen Shuyan politely declined his invitation, saying that work collaborations should be discussed during working hours in the office or school conference room. The school has clear regulations prohibiting teachers from meeting privately with personnel from external companies.

He asked cheerfully, "I've heard that you student teachers have to prepare lessons, rehearse, do teaching research, and also prepare for the welcome concert. It must be quite stressful, right? Does your generation spend all your free time working? Does your boyfriend have any complaints, thinking you're too busy?"

Although Wen Shuyan did not give a direct answer, Chen Zhengyuan was further convinced from her reaction that she was currently single.

He was delighted with the discovery when he hung up the phone, though he was somewhat annoyed because the phrase "your generation" emphasized the age gap between them.

Chen Zhengyuan's next phone call to Wen Shuyan came the day after he and Zhang Huaili reached a small preliminary agreement, and the day before he was summoned to headquarters by Ding Lei and given a three-month pledge. That time, he directly invited Wen Shuyan to dinner, without using any excuses. Wen Shuyan politely but firmly declined.

Chen Zhengyuan was puzzled. He was the senior vice president of NetEase, with money and status, and even someone like Zhang Huaili had to give him some face. What reason could Wen Shuyan, a single intern teacher, have to refuse him? After a long silence, Chen Zhengyuan came to the only reasonable explanation: Wen Shuyan had someone else in her heart.

According to Zhang Huaili, Wen Shuyan's social circle was very small: school, home, and her younger brother. Since Zhang Huaili had never seen her alone on campus with any men her age, that left only her brother and home as possibilities. Could it be that pretty boy, Han Fei, who came to Wen Shuyan's house late at night? Young, good-looking, and involved in some kind of cultural career, and her brother was working for him... Could she have been attracted to that kind of thing?

"Is your brother doing well at Qingniao? What do you think of Han Fei?"

After Chen Zhengyuan asked the question, he heard the breathing on the other end of the phone gradually become more rapid.

"I heard Han Fei is quite young, twenty-five?" Chen Zhengyuan asked again. "To have turned a nearly bankrupt publishing house around like this, he's really got some skills. Have you met him?"

After a long silence, I heard her reply: "It's not convenient to talk any longer, I'll hang up now."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhengyuan threw the phone against the wall, and a piece of plaster fell down.

He buried his head in his hands, trying to calm himself down and prevent himself from exploding.

Damn, I knew it!

He understands women too well. Avoidance is an admission, and wariness is a sign of insecurity.