After leaving the hospital, Qiu Xi called Uncle Song. Once they had scheduled the contract signing time, Qiu Xi returned to school.
The next day, in the office building's conference room—
"Old Yan, here you go."
Qiu Xi, who had just returned from outside, arrived right on time.
Carrying the freshly made milk teas, she walked in. Besides the existing Dai Fei flavors, she also brought new items she had just learned to make.
"You made these yourself?"
Yan Bai Tao, who received the items, was beaming with happiness, but his words still emphasized "yourself."
"That's right! And some new ones I just learned!"
"New ones!"
Wouldn't that mean that old fellow Zhong Chenghua hadn't tasted them yet either!
After the regular meeting ended, he would go find him and show off!
"What's going on, Xiao Xi? You and Old Yan are chatting so happily?"
Today's regular meeting was for the debate team. As they were talking, a few familiar faces walked in.
"Here~ Old Yan specially spent a fortune to have me buy you all some exclusive afternoon tea for our meeting!"
"No way, isn't this Dai Fei? When did Old Yan become so generous!"
Zhang Shu, who sat down and looked at the Dai Fei packaging on the table, was a little surprised.
She knew Dai Fei. It was a new milk tea brand that had recently opened on the off-campus commercial street. Not only was the decor nice, but the milk tea itself was exceptional, though it was a bit pricey.
She hadn't expected Old Yan to be so generous this time, nor did she expect that Old Yan, at his age, would know about this.
"Ahem~"
Hearing his student say this, Yan Bai Tao strategically coughed to indicate that he was still present!
"Good afternoon, Old Yan!"
Zhang Shu, who wasn't exactly shy to begin with, became very comfortable talking with Old Yan after they got to know each other.
"Am I as stingy as you say I am?!"
"No, no, you're treating us to such expensive milk tea, aren't you?"
"I didn't specifically ask to buy these. You should thank Qiu Xi; she made them herself."
"..."
With this explanation, wouldn't it make him seem not only stingy but also someone who squeezes students?
But…
"Xiao Xi, you made these? Then are you… with Dai Fei…?"
She hadn't missed that label.
"Mhm, I am…"
"Working there!"
"Cough cough cough…"
She thought they had already figured out the truth, but it turned out they knew nothing.
Yan Bai Tao, who was drinking water, coughed several times.
After all, he had learned some details from Zhong Chenghua.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, nothing. You're right."
Qiu Xi covered her mouth and didn't deny it. It was better not to mention such things if possible.
"Alright, let's check the group message. Why haven't those two arrived yet?"
To change the subject, Yan Bai Tao started urging them.
"Old Yan, you know they're far away."
As expected, Zhang Shu took over the conversation and continued chatting with Old Yan.
"..."
He was really scared! He had almost said it, but thankfully!
After waiting for a while, Ning Feiyu and Li Du finally arrived.
As they entered and greeted Old Yan, their eyes were immediately drawn to the drinks on the table.
Then they reenacted the same performance as Zhang Shu, which finally put an end to the topic.
"If you weren't coming today, I wouldn't have planned this regular meeting…"
Yan Bai Tao had initially wanted to keep this debate team together. Since several of them still had two or three years left, it was perfect.
However, this plan was disrupted by the department. Then, as they were supposed to be training new students, he thought about having fewer regular meetings and focusing more on training himself.
But he hadn't expected the current batch of freshmen to be so difficult to manage. So, Old Yan planned to hold a regular meeting to discuss helping out with them. He worried that Qiu Xi alone might not be able to handle it, especially since he also had them and the third-year students. Besides debate competitions, he also had speech competitions and other events.
After a lengthy explanation, Yan Bai Tao finally made his intentions clear.
"So, what do you all think? Share your own opinions."
Seeing that no one was speaking, Yan Bai Tao directly called on them. "Qiu Xi, you go first."
"Old Yan, I've already agreed to your request. What other opinions could I possibly have?"
Isn't she just going to be a workhorse?
"Then what are your thoughts on finding those three to help?"
"That's great!"
Before, she had heard Old Yan mention that the junior students were difficult to teach and had their own ideas and suggestions. He had specifically reminded her to pay attention to a junior student named Gu Yansheng.
Coupled with this regular meeting, she felt even more strongly that having more people would be better.
"I'm going to hell, and I'll drag as many people with me as I can!"
"Mhm, and what about the rest of you?"
"Old Yan, it's not that we don't want to, but you know our level. What if…" what if it all goes wrong?
"You're not being asked to teach them, just to cooperate with Qiu Xi. Besides, you're not bad yourselves!"
He admired their oral communication skills, even more than his own as a teacher. Combined with Ning Feiyu and Zhang Shu's eloquence, and Li Du's writing ability, he felt they could handle it.
"Old Yan, you said that?"
Li Du was the first to look up. Although he was also afraid, who could resist having a master like her in front?
This way, who wouldn't want to enjoy the feeling of being a senior?
It wasn't just about seniority; he couldn't describe the rest, but psychologically, he felt satisfied.
"I said it!"
"Okay."
"If that's the case, then we have no problem."
"Then it's settled!"
As for what would happen afterward, Yan Bai Tao wouldn't concern himself with it.
"Alright, Old Yan."
Anyway, with Xiao Xi taking the lead!
Having more companions, that's truly great!