I've been reborn, I'm definitely going to become an internet celebrity!

Chapter 4: [Friends Who Are Drifting Away]

Will childhood friends of over ten years drift apart?

Will do.

It's not necessarily that they had a conflict; it's just that they haven't seen each other for a long time, and they've gradually drifted apart.

From that year onward, they saw each other less and less.

After graduation, I stayed in Guangzhou and worked my way up in the restaurant industry.

After graduating from junior college in another city, Zhuang Zicong chose to stay in his hometown and went straight to work in a factory, living a predictable life from 8 am to 6 pm.

Cai Jiahao failed his college entrance exam and joined the army. After being discharged, he found a job as a security guard with an injured leg, and his salary was just enough to make ends meet.

A few years later, Zhuang Zicong and Cai Jiahao got married.

I couldn't attend the wedding myself because I was negotiating a supply chain contract at the time. I just transferred the money via WeChat and sent a few dry blessings.

Later, Zhuang Zicong got divorced. His wife liked to joke around with other people in front of him at the factory, and he couldn't stand it anymore, so he left her.

Cai Jiahao suffered an injury while serving in the military, which made it difficult for him to walk. His married life was also not very happy, and the couple often quarreled.

Liu Zhuohao occasionally returns home for the Lunar New Year. When the three of them get together, the conversation no longer revolves around games and dreams, but rather Zhuang Zicong complaining about being "trapped" by getting married too early, or Cai Jiahao lamenting, "If only I had..."

But in the end, the two always ended with the words, "You're so lucky to be free on your own."

But actually?

He works hard outside, just as hard, with no freedom whatsoever. Every day he wakes up to rent, wages, cash flow, and competition.

As a result, gatherings became increasingly silent, and contact became less and less frequent.

To be precise, it was he who lost contact with the two of them.

But there's nothing we can do about it.

"What happened to you yesterday? You were fighting and then suddenly you were gone!" Zhuang Zicong rushed into the room as soon as he entered and turned on the computer tower with practiced ease.

Cai Jiahao followed behind, his eyes lighting up when he saw the mountain of scallion pancakes piled on the living room table: "Wow! So many pancakes?"

He reached out and grabbed a piece, stuffing it into his mouth and mumbling, "Did Auntie make so many today?"

Zhuang Zicong also came out, took a card, and crunched it loudly: "In yesterday's game, my ADC was already farmed up, and you fucking AFK'd!"

Liu Zhuohao replied sincerely, "Suddenly I feel like there's nothing fun left in games."

The two of them stopped chewing their biscuits at the same time and looked at him as if he were a monster.

"You? Liu Zhuohao?" Zhuang Zicong adjusted his glasses, which had slipped down to the tip of his nose. "Who was it that shouted 'I want to play professionally someday'? Who was it that went on a losing streak all night and then wanted to play one more game?"

Cai Jiahao chuckled and patted him on the shoulder: "Back in your first year of high school, you had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius and still sneaked off to an internet cafe. Your dad dragged you home by the ear, remember?"

Liu Zhuohao let them tease him, listening with a smile as if he were an observer.

He hadn't experienced this kind of uninhibited playfulness in a long time.

When adults gather, the topics always revolve around mortgages, car loans, and children's schooling, with everyone wearing a layer of polite formality.

Although she is not married.

In Minnan culture, one is not considered an adult until one has started a family, and one is not required to give red envelopes to nephews and nieces.

Even so, the words that came out of his mouth always had an old man's accent.

"Is it tasty?"

After they finished laughing, Liu Zhuohao finally spoke, "I did it."

"..."

Their laughter stopped abruptly.

"ah?!"

Then, they all made a sound that was difficult to understand.

Zhuang Zicong forgot to chew the pancake in his mouth, while Cai Jiahao stood frozen in place, holding half a pancake.

"No, you did it?"

Zhuang Zicong adjusted his glasses and asked incredulously.

"Really?"

Cai Jiahao was equally surprised, "Did your aunt make this?"

Liu Zhuohao said calmly, "I really made it. I plan to set up a stall to sell it now, and later open a restaurant, do chain business, and create my own brand."

This is my temporary goal.

If he were given a second chance, he would seem to have many choices, but compared to those, they were paths he was completely unfamiliar with in his previous life.

This time, he made the same choice as before—to go into business.

"...That's great. When it comes to doing business, we Chaoshan people are the most talented."

Zhuang Zicong clapped his hands, his face full of encouragement. The general impression of the Chaoshan region is that no matter what the family's situation is, they will do some small business.

Of course, this is just a thought, a stereotype.

Only a few actually take action.

"Indeed, it's quite delicious. Maybe setting up a stall would actually make it successful." Cai Jiahao chimed in, picking up the last pancake from the plate and taking a bite. The pancake had cooled down and wasn't as crispy anymore.

"Hey..."

Liu Zhuohao got to the point, "I'm facing a small problem in my startup. I might not have enough initial capital, so I'd like to ask you two for some crowdfunding."

To put it bluntly, it's about borrowing money.

The money I've received from red envelopes since I was a child, and the money I earned from working during winter and summer vacations, adds up to several thousand yuan.

Setting up a breakfast stall is a low-cost business that can barely make ends meet, but it has very little ability to withstand risks.

Therefore, you need to contact investors in advance to avoid being left helpless in times of crisis.

"Borrow, I'll lend you as much as you need."

Zhuang Zicong patted his chest, his pride soaring.

Cai Jiahao smiled and assured him that he would lend it to him.

Is it really that easy to borrow?

No, it's that they simply don't believe they really want to do business.

Although his memory was somewhat hazy, Liu Zhuohao still vaguely remembered that they had made a lot of boasts back then, and had many entrepreneurial plans. They wanted to become e-sports players, to become YY live streamers, and so on...

But none of them were achieved.

Or rather, it was just a fleeting idea without even trying.

He didn't really take that step, didn't really put in the effort to improve his gaming skills, or even buy a webcam and actually start streaming.

And the same goes for the two of them.

Many ideas are just fleeting thoughts, lacking the practical courage to put them into practice.

Liu Zhuohao's expression became more serious: "I probably didn't do very well on the college entrance exam. The tuition for third-tier universities is too expensive, so I don't plan to go."

Upon hearing this, the two who had been so confident just moments before were momentarily stunned.

Liu Zhuohao said calmly:

"I got these raw materials from the wholesale market this morning. I've basically confirmed who the supplier is. Next, I'll just have to negotiate the price."

"I might go to the hospital for a medical check-up this afternoon and get a personal health certificate. If I have enough time, I might also go and check out the dining car."

"tomorrow……"

He explained his itinerary for the next few days to the two of them, little by little.

Compared to last night at the dinner table, where her parents completely ignored her voice, her two best friends were still willing to listen, and listened with a stunned expression.

Zhuang Zicong's smile faded slightly: "You...you really want to do it?"

"What do you think? I've even met the suppliers." Liu Zhuohao pulled out a list full of prices from his pocket. "I know which suppliers offer the cheapest and best quality products—tortillas, ham, eggs, lettuce."

Cai Jiahao took the list and looked at it, his expression also becoming serious: "You actually went to the wholesale market?"

"Otherwise what?" Liu Zhuohao smiled. "Do you really think you can start a business based on dreams?"

The two remained silent for a while.

Zhuang Zicong spoke first, his tone no longer as exaggerated as before: "I can only lend you a thousand at most. You know my family is also strapped for cash..."

"That's enough." Liu Zhuohao nodded. "Thank you."

A thousand yuan is a lot of money for a student.

At the same time, one can't help but sigh at how innocent students are.

If someone is already working, they most likely won't be able to borrow that thousand, not because they don't have the money, but because they don't want to.

It's the same for myself and for others.

I don't want to owe anyone anything, but I also don't want to be owed anything by anyone.

Lending money can sometimes destroy a fragile relationship.

Cai Jiahao also muttered, "I have a thousand too, but Zhuo Hao..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Are you really sure? This isn't a game where you can just restart if you lose. If you spend five or six thousand, then it's really gone."

"I've made up my mind." Liu Zhuohao took the empty plates from their hands. "The pancakes are getting cold, so I'll go fry a few more. This time, I'm really serious."

He turned and went into the kitchen.

Amidst the sizzling of the oil in the pan, he overheard two people talking in hushed tones in the living room.

"Is he serious?"

"It seems so..."

"Will it work?"

"have no idea."

Liu Zhuohao didn't turn around, focusing intently on the gradually golden-brown pancake crust in the pan.

He knew that what made people believe him was not words, but the path he had walked step by step.

But my own journey has only just begun.

……

For several days in a row, the atmosphere at home was somber, and my parents barely spoke during meals.

Clearly, they are distressed by their own way of doing things, but they don't know how to get themselves back on the right track.

Liu Zhuohao did not offer them any comfort.

What matters more than what you say or what you do.

He was constantly busy, negotiating prices with suppliers, dealing with bank cards, food trucks, personal medical checkups, and even scouting locations...

The college entrance examination results were released in the past few days, and just as he remembered, he barely passed the third-tier university admission line.

Each of these tasks is proceeding in an orderly manner.

During this process, his parents felt he was being unrealistic, his relatives felt he was neglecting his duties, and his classmates teased him in the group chat, calling him "Boss Liu," with a hint of schadenfreude in their tone.

What makes you think you can start a business when you're just a high school graduate?

Even if it's just a small-scale business, it's not something someone who's probably never even been to a farmers' market and can't even negotiate a price can do.

If even someone like that can do business, then the whole world would be full of businessmen.

Even my homeroom teacher called me to earnestly advise me that even a third-tier university is a stepping stone!

In 14, a bachelor's degree was like a gold brick for an ordinary family.

Whether you're from the mountains, the village, or the city, as long as you have this gold brick, you'll at least have a chance to knock on doors.

Others want to study, but either their grades aren't good enough, or their families really can't afford the tuition.

And Liu Zhuohao? He barely made it into a third-tier university, and his family could grit their teeth and afford to send him to school.

Why shouldn't they study? Why not study? But no one could persuade them.

Only Liu Zhuohao himself knows that the weight of this "brick" will become lighter and lighter in the future!

But can setting up a stall yourself really guarantee a successful business?

……

Later that evening, at his computer desk, Liu Zhuohao pondered for a moment before typing on the keyboard.

On the screen in front of me, several large words appeared: A letter to my juniors.

The crisp words emerged from his typing. The content was roughly as follows: he began by introducing himself as a senior who had failed the college entrance examination, and then advised his juniors to study hard before explaining his stall business on a street near the school gate.

At the same time, he emphasized in bold the details of the free sausage offer for students who present their school badge, highlighting the location and menu at the bookstore entrance from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM daily…

Edit and send!

Liu Zhuohao copied the URL and contacted the forum administrator—the current head of the radio station—via QQ.

Because they knew each other privately, he got straight to the point and asked for the post to be featured on the forum.

"Is this senior trying to earn tuition fees?"

The moderator is online on QQ almost 24/7 and replies very quickly.

Liu Zhuohao gave an ambiguous answer, "Let's give it a try first. The tuition for a third-tier university is a bit expensive."

"It's been marked as a featured post. Wishing you great success in your business, senior."

The moderator replied quickly, without any bureaucratic jargon or delays. The "junior leader" from high school still retained the straightforwardness of youth, without the pretentiousness of the student council from university.

Liu Zhuohao exchanged a few more pleasantries, mentioning that if the forum moderator came to buy scallion pancakes, he would not only add sausage but also an egg, and so on.

When he closed the chat window, he refreshed the post, which already had three replies.

"Good luck, senior!"

"The sofa on the second floor."

"What score did you get?"

He replied to each one, then leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

This is the most precise and effective publicity he can do right now.