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[That new Great Zhou World development, right? I went to take a look before too. The community seemed decent, but I'm not really into high-rises. I like detached houses.]

[Exactly. If you've got money, how great would it be to live in a villa? A detached three-story house with its own yard. Peaceful. Plenty of room for cats and dogs to run around.]

[Still, that location really is excellent. Not only is it close to downtown, it's in the school districts for both the experimental elementary school and the key middle school. It's convenient for commuting too.]

[The main thing is that the feng shui is good! It can bring in wealth! When I renovate, I'll have to get a master to take a proper look!]

[Hey, Old Sun, didn't you say before that you wanted to move your company headquarters to City A and get into film and television investment or something?]

[I'm working on it now! A few dramas have been submitted to me, all about young people falling in love. Crying, howling, hugging, and cuddling all day long. I don't like watching that stuff either. But those production companies insist this kind of show makes money.]

[I don't think much of it. We're just rough men who know how to dig coal. Since when do we understand cultured people's stuff? Don't let yourselves get scammed.]

As they chatted, the conversation turned to business again. Gu Chen couldn't get a word in and could only remain silent.

After more than half an hour, the four older men finally remembered that there were more than just the four of them in the group. Someone asked, [Where is he? Didn't a young fellow join to introduce the houses to us?]

[Why hasn't he said anything since joining? This salesperson isn't qualified!]

Gu Chen promptly spoke up. [Hello, bosses!]

[How can a young man who doesn't like talking work in sales?]

President Sun explained for Gu Chen. [Don't be fooled by how little he talks. He has a sharp eye. That stock I had before? He told me to hold onto it for a few more days, and sure enough, things turned around!!!]

[You know stocks too, little brother? Recommend a few for us.]

Gu Chen said, [I'm only a freshman. I don't have any experience.]

President Sun said, [He's in the finance department at A University. He scored over seven hundred on the college entrance exam.]

[Now that's talent! Why did you go work as a salesperson at a real estate office?]

Gu Chen said, [To earn some pocket money.]

[What a sensible kid! My son is the same as you, a freshman this year. Getting into a third-tier university cost his old man hundreds of thousands. All he knows is how to ask me for money every day. Not a bit of peace of mind. He even thinks it's embarrassing that his dad sells diapers!]

[That's why poor children grow up early.]

[Where exactly is your new development? I'll go take a look one of these days. If it suits me, I'll buy a unit. I can be Old Sun's neighbor.]

Gu Chen immediately sent him the location and also told the bosses that he only worked part-time on weekends.

Not wanting to make himself annoying, Gu Chen went quiet again after speaking up. Unless someone called on him, he stayed silent.

When he returned to the classroom, Cheng Yi was looking at him with an apologetic expression.

Gu Chen: "?"

Cheng Yi explained, "Didn't I say this morning that I'd help you answer when the professor called attendance? I messed it up!"

Before Gu Chen could ask, Cheng Yi continued, "When the professor called your name, I answered. Then your younger brother answered too. When the professor saw two people responding, he obviously knew something was wrong! He told everyone who answered to stand up. At first, neither I nor your brother stood up. Then I figured I should stand, but your brother stood up too..."

Cheng Yi was practically speechless. He hadn't expected his first attempt at sucking up and currying favor to end like this.

He didn't offend Gu Chen, did he?

Gu Chen was speechless too. He suddenly thought of President Sun, who couldn't go three sentences without mentioning feng shui and birth charts. Gu Chen felt certain that he and Gu Xiu were incompatible by birth chart too!

"The professor told you to go to his office." Cheng Yi carefully studied Gu Chen's expression. "You... won't blame me, will you?"

"I won't." Gu Chen shook his head and asked Cheng Yi, "You got caught answering for me. Did I get you into trouble too?"

"It's nothing." Cheng Yi shook his head. He was fine, after all. He had attended class in person, so the professor hadn't made much of it.

"But the professor called in a lot of classmates and asked about you!"

Shang Rui leaned over and looked at Gu Chen with concern. "Are you okay? Why did you take leave? Are you feeling unwell again?"

"No." Gu Chen explained, "My part-time job needed me to go over there."

"Oh." Shang Rui thought for a moment before saying, "Didn't you say you only worked on weekends? Why are they calling you over even when you're not scheduled? Gu Chen, you can't be so easygoing. You should refuse when you need to, or those capitalists will treat you like cheap labor."

Gu Chen smiled and was just about to thank her when Cheng Yi sincerely remarked, "I don't think anyone needs to worry about that with Gu Chen. He's probably the best person at refusing people I've ever met."

At least, in Cheng Yi's impression, during the past half month on the basketball team, the words Gu Chen said most often were "No," "Can't," "Not going," and "Not interested." He had turned down so many people, so many times, that even Cheng Yi found it frightening to watch.

Shang Rui gave Cheng Yi a speechless look.

Gu Chen smiled. "I understand. Thank you both."

Gu Chen went to the professor's office before the first afternoon class. The professor was sitting behind his desk reading a magazine. When he saw Gu Chen enter, he ignored him. Only after finishing an article and taking off his reading glasses did he slowly say, "It's only been a few days since the semester started. You're the first student who's dared to skip my class."

Gu Chen swallowed, wondering how he should explain himself. Then he saw the professor pick up a sheet of paper beside the desk and gesture for Gu Chen to come over. "I know the students at A University are all heaven's favored children. It's inevitable that some are arrogant because of their talent. How about this? I won't make things difficult for you. There's a question here. I'll give you ten minutes to prepare. After ten minutes, you'll explain your ideas. If your answer satisfies me, I'll let this absence slide. If it doesn't, you'll receive no regular coursework grade this semester. When finals come, whether you get a perfect score on the exam or have to retake it will depend on your own efforts."

"But I need to remind you of something. Our university has a rule: students applying for national scholarships are not allowed to have retaken any exams. The same goes for postgraduate recommendation slots. Some research projects that recruit students also do not allow applicants with retake records."

At this point, the old professor fixed Gu Chen with a piercing gaze. "Youth can be reckless. But you must pay the price for your actions."