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The four of them spent the whole morning at the milk tea shop. Cheng Lang interviewed several young women who came to apply for jobs, while Shen Huaiyu kept working on his Milk Tea Whisking Method. The two roommates had nothing to do. They had initially wanted to help out and clean up, but Liang Yanyan alone was worth all four of them.

The two roommates had no chance to play hero and could only shamelessly mooch two cups of tea Shen Huaiyu had whisked.

"This is actually pretty good!" The two roommates clicked their tongues in amazement. "It feels different from the tea we usually drink. It's kind of like a beverage."

Shen Huaiyu smiled faintly. "I mixed this milk tea powder myself. It's only a semi-finished product for now. I'm planning to go back and make some tea paste myself."

The two roommates looked stunned. "You can make tea paste too?"

"Mm." Shen Huaiyu nodded. "My dad likes Tea Painting. When I was little, I learned Tea Whisking from him, and I also know an uncle who specializes in making tea paste."

Shen Huaiyu planned to ask that uncle for help and see whether he could make Milk Tea Paste.

"Does that mean you've invented a new way to drink tea?" As expected of finance students, the two roommates had sharp business instincts. "I think this is pretty trendy, but also kind of retro. If you can really develop it, you might make a fortune. Remember to apply for a patent when the time comes. What if someone takes a liking to your Milk Tea Paste and is willing to pay for the formula?"

The two roommates did not really understand the difference between Milk Tea Paste and regular milk tea powder. But they knew how much girls nowadays loved milk tea. If Shen Huaiyu really managed to develop his Milk Tea Paste and paired it with that nearly showy tea-making technique he had just displayed, it might actually start a trend.

"I don't understand that stuff. I'm only responsible for developing the Milk Tea Paste and the Tea Whisking method. Cheng Lang will handle everything else." As Shen Huaiyu said this, he looked at Cheng Lang with complete trust. "Right?"

Seeing Shen Huaiyu grow increasingly confident amid the roommates' admiration, Cheng Lang smiled and nodded. "We're business partners. You handle the technology, and I handle the marketing. That's only natural."

Watching Shen Huaiyu and Cheng Lang interact, the two roommates suddenly sighed. "We're so jealous of you two. You found something to strive for right after starting college. The two of us are different. It's been so long since school started, and we're still like headless flies. Every day, apart from studying, attending class, and playing games, we have no idea what else to do."

Cheng Lang said with a smile, "If you're interested, once Shen Huaiyu develops the Milk Tea Paste, you two can help expand the market. Consider it a work-study job."

The two roommates' eyes lit up. "That could work."

Then they could not help asking, "So when are you planning to expand into the market?"

Cheng Lang smiled. "That depends on when our Mr. CTO can develop a finished Milk Tea Paste and a Tea Whisking technique for making milk tea."

The two roommates turned to Shen Huaiyu in unison and raised their fists in encouragement. "Then work hard."

Shen Huaiyu shyly lowered his head, his ears turning a little red.

After lunch, the two roommates got bored and went to the internet café next door to play games.

Cheng Lang stayed at the shop, registering official accounts for the milk tea shop on various platforms while keeping Shen Huaiyu company as he practiced Tea Whisking.

"...Are you really going to apply for a patent for the Milk Tea Paste I invent?" Shen Huaiyu could not help asking Cheng Lang.

Cheng Lang said, "That depends on the quality of the finished Milk Tea Paste you develop. If necessary, then of course we'll apply for a patent."

Shen Huaiyu nodded. Looking at Cheng Lang, he seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Cheng Lang patiently asked, "What is it?"

"I went out with Lu Chengxuan last night." Shen Huaiyu hesitated for a long time over what he wanted to say. In the end, he only lowered his head and asked in an extremely soft voice, "Will you look down on me?"

Cheng Lang carefully chose his words in his heart, then looked Shen Huaiyu straight in the eyes. "Why would you ask that?"

"I..." Shen Huaiyu did not know how to explain it. Clearly, he felt deeply inferior because of this experience.

"The way you two began this relationship was not voluntary on your part. And whether this relationship could end was clearly not up to you either. From beginning to end, you were the one forced to endure it. Although I don't know whether this kind of coercive behavior is protected by law, I don't have a habit of blaming victims." Cheng Lang spoke with exceptional clarity.

Hearing Cheng Lang's answer, Shen Huaiyu blinked and inexplicably let out a breath of relief. Then he sighed again. "It's a pity other people won't think like you do."

"What others think depends on how you tell the story." Cheng Lang said, "Public opinion needs to be guided too."

"People naturally love novelty and enjoy spreading rumors that sound shocking and thrilling. It does not matter whether those rumors are true, because in spreading them, they have already enjoyed the thrill of standing on moral high ground and condemning immorality. Who doesn't like condemning injustice from the side of justice? Even seven-year-olds watching cartoons want to wipe out villains on behalf of the moon. What's more, spreading rumors usually goes unpunished because the law does not punish the masses. They can praise or condemn someone without bearing any consequences, or even destroy someone..."

At this point, Cheng Lang quietly looked at Shen Huaiyu's pale face. "Most of the time, people who speak do not realize they are merely tools for others to spread rumors and eliminate dissidents. But those destroyed by rumors should understand this: if you don't want to be misunderstood, then at the very least, learn to clarify the rumors yourself. Learn to make others consider things from your perspective."

In the original novel, Shen Chengan's family spread rumors to slander and ostracize Shen Huaiyu. Shen Huaiyu's only response was to submit and endure. He never tried to explain himself and never fought back. Cheng Lang found that utterly unbelievable.

"Human nature is to seek benefit and avoid harm. If you want to protect yourself, the first thing you need to do is stop taking blame for things that aren't your fault." Cheng Lang lectured him. "As a victim, you need to have the awareness of a victim. You have reason on your side because you're vulnerable. Why are you afraid of public attacks?"

Shen Huaiyu stared blankly at Cheng Lang. He clearly could not digest Cheng Lang's unconventional "crooked logic" all at once.