Chapter 0025: I Once Crossed Mountains and Seas

In Zhao Fusheng's view, a poem was far less important than his friendship with Tan Kaixuan. If he wrote it, so be it; at worst, if someone discovered it, he could just say he heard it from someone else.

But after thinking it over, he felt it was better to write something with more impact. If Hu Xia still didn't accept Tan Kaixuan after reading this, then he would advise him to give up.

Best not to meet, so no love would start.

Best not to know, so no longing would grow.

Best not to accompany, so no debt would be owed.

Best not to cherish, so no memories would be kept.

Best not to love, so no abandonment would be felt.

Best not to face, so no reunion would be sought.

Best not to misunderstand, so no betrayal would be wrought.

Best not to promise, so no continuation would be caught.

Best not to rely, so no embrace would be bought.

Best not to meet, so no gathering would be fought.

But since we met and knew, meeting was worse than not.

How to sever ties with you, to end this life of longing and thought?

Having finished the lengthy "Ten Precepts Poem," Zhao Fusheng casually handed it to Tan Kaixuan and said indifferently, "If Hu Xia still won't be with you, just let it go."

Tan Kaixuan was taken aback, never expecting Zhao Fusheng to say such a thing, but he could clearly feel that Zhao Fusheng was sincerely advising him.

"So-called love is mutual tolerance, not one side humbly begging for the other's pity or charity." Zhao Fusheng picked up his things and glanced at Tan Kaixuan. "Unrequited love is actually quite awkward, isn't it?"

Tan Kaixuan stood there, holding the poem Zhao Fusheng had left, thinking for a long time.

People always say youth has no regrets, but the truth is, when you regret, you're no longer young.

Because we never had time to be young seriously, and by the time we understand, we can only choose to grow old seriously.

…

…

What Tan Kaixuan would choose, Zhao Fusheng didn't know, nor did he intend to interfere.

Everyone has the right to choose their own way of life. The future is uncertain—Zhao Fusheng knew this better than anyone. So he was cautious, step by step, afraid that a single misstep might change something that shouldn't be changed.

For instance, the Zheng Yao sitting across from him now. Zhao Fusheng couldn't quite figure out what impact his words that day had had on her.

If he remembered correctly, in his previous life, after Zheng Yao resigned to go into business, things hadn't gone smoothly. She soon closed shop, and later, he heard she married an American and got a green card.

But now, she hadn't resigned.

"Surprised that I'm back?" Zheng Yao looked at Zhao Fusheng and asked with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng was a bit embarrassed and laughed it off. "No, I'm just... just a little surprised."

In fact, it was more than surprise. When he heard that Zheng Yao hadn't resigned, Zhao Fusheng felt utterly exasperated—after all that, he had inadvertently changed another person's fate.

Zheng Yao didn't believe Zhao Fusheng's words at all. A faint smile curled at the corners of her mouth as she looked at him with a half-smile. "What, did you want me to resign, or are you reluctant to see me go?"

Perhaps because there was no one else in the office, or because Zhao Fusheng had seen her at her most embarrassing, she spoke to him very casually, even teasingly.

Zhao Fusheng felt a bit uncomfortable. Hiding his inner turmoil, he forced himself to remain calm. "I'm just a little surprised. Didn't you say you were going to resign and go into business?"

"Going into business? It's not that easy." Zheng Yao squinted. What Zhao Fusheng had said to her earlier had actually had a big impact.

Zheng Yao wasn't stupid. As Zhao Fusheng had said, doing business required talent, opportunity, and capital.

With her abilities, after the initial enthusiasm cooled, she realized she still had a long way to go.

Rather than jumping headlong into the business world, it was better to first enrich herself and make a plan.

"So, you called me here..."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Zheng Yao tentatively and asked cautiously.

"Nothing much, just to let you know I didn't resign." Zheng Yao blinked and smiled. "If anything comes up, you can come to me. We're friends now."

People easily grow close when they share a secret, like Zheng Yao and Zhao Fusheng.

"Okay." Zhao Fusheng nodded with a smile. No matter what, he was willing to have such a friend.

Perhaps a bit utilitarian, but befriending a counselor wasn't a bad thing for a student like him.

At that moment, he noticed several sheets of paper on Zheng Yao's desk. Familiar with the advertising process, he could tell they were an advertising proposal.

"What's this?" Zhao Fusheng didn't beat around the bush and asked directly.

"Oh, an old friend of my father's started a company and asked me to help brainstorm an ad copy." Zheng Yao laughed, self-deprecatingly. "I guess this is all I'm good for."

Zhao Fusheng didn't even hear the second half of her sentence. When he heard the first part, his expression became animated.

People often overlook those who are kind to them every day, yet feel grateful for a small favor from a casual friend. Or they ignore what they're best at and always try to succeed through other means.

If not for Zheng Yao's words, Zhao Fusheng might have forgotten that when it came to advertising planning, his ability was stronger than anyone's.

A leaf before the eye blocks the view of Mount Tai.

Sighing inwardly, Zhao Fusheng forced a smile, unaware that in Zheng Yao's eyes, his smile looked strangely eerie.

"What... what are you going to do?" Zheng Yao asked curiously, her voice trembling slightly. It was because Zhao Fusheng's smile was too strange.

"What does your father's friend's company sell?" Zhao Fusheng asked.

"Herbal lozenges."

"Lozenges?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned slightly. When it came to lozenges, he remembered an ad from his past life, one that even made a female star famous for many years.

Of course, that ad was also quite controversial, given that the social climate at the time wasn't so open.

"What, do you have an idea?" Zheng Yao was startled and then asked.

After all, Zhao Fusheng was an advertising design student. Although Zheng Yao thought it probably wasn't much use, it might give her some inspiration.

"I need to see the materials." Zhao Fusheng didn't directly state his idea but said to Zheng Yao.

Zheng Yao nodded and handed him the product materials. "Take a look."

Zhao Fusheng didn't stand on ceremony. He took the materials and looked down to read. After just a few minutes, a slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

This product was the same as the Yangshengtang herbal lozenges from his previous life, except now it was called Runshengyuan Lozenges, without the name he remembered.

"Hmm, the product name isn't good." Putting down the materials, Zhao Fusheng rubbed his chin. His first words made Zheng Yao pause.

"What do you mean?" Zheng Yao asked curiously.

"Look, 'Runshengyuan Lozenges'—I think the name isn't good. If we could add a vivid name, I think it would attract more consumers." Zhao Fusheng spoke with confidence.

"That makes some sense." Zheng Yao thought for a moment and nodded. After all, she was a graduate student, not someone without knowledge.

"Teacher Zheng, if—just if—I could design an ad copy that satisfies your father's friend and boosts the product's sales, how much would I get paid?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at Zheng Yao expectantly.

Zheng Yao's brows furrowed slightly. "Do you have an idea?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "I have a rough idea. If it's executed, it should be quite effective."

Accustomed to doing things flawlessly, Zhao Fusheng didn't make grand claims but just gave Zheng Yao a heads-up.

"Hmm, so confident?" Zheng Yao was a bit surprised. She could sense that although Zhao Fusheng didn't say it outright, his words were full of confidence.

"Heh, facts speak louder than words." Zhao Fusheng summed it up in one sentence.

"Alright, take the materials back and draft a copy first. As for the price, I'll ask around for you later." Zheng Yao thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded without being polite. In his mind, he actually had a bold idea. Though a bit fanciful, he thought it might really succeed.

Of course, he first had to win this ad and cross the mountain before him.