Feather's First Project Proposal

The two of them had always sat together, ever since the beginning. As soon as she took her seat, Xiao was out of breath, slumping weakly over her desk. Yu took his books out of his bag with movements so graceful that, in this not-so-small class, he stood out more than anyone.

They attended the Experimental Elementary School, which boasted the most advanced teaching facilities. Yu was the most striking boy in the class, admired by ninety-nine percent of the girls. At the same time, Xiao was the most remarkable among the girls. With her personality, she was pursued by quite a few boys in the school!

Her popularity far surpassed Ouyang Xianyu’s. Some girls in the class dared not make a move simply because Xiao sat beside Yu. The two of them had been desk-mates for years, never once changing seats. Their grades were always identical! More than once, the teachers suspected them of conspiring to cheat.

Even when they were separated into different exam rooms, their results were still astonishingly good. So from then on, whenever the school held a competition, these two were sure to be participants. They were even called the “Twin Geniuses” of the Experimental Elementary School. Whether it was their rapport or any other aspect, their ability to work together was astounding, making all who witnessed it feel inferior.

Outside the window, brilliant sunlight bathed the entire campus. Wisps of white cloud drifted across the azure sky. Everything hinted at a bright and promising future. As the teacher on the podium droned on into the microphone, Xiao’s mind began to wander.

She tilted her head, sneaking a glance at Yu, only to discover that he wasn’t paying attention either! Instead, he was scribbling something in a notebook. Xiao quietly scooted closer for a look, and softly read aloud, “Hongyu Corporation Project Plan?” Puzzled, she glanced at Yu. Why was he working on this?

Yu heard Xiao read out the title of his proposal. He turned toward her, saying nothing, making no attempt to hide it. He simply let her read as much as she wished. “Riiing!” The bell rang, and the moment the teacher left, the class erupted.

“Yay! Class is over!” came the cries, and everyone surged out in groups, leaving the classroom in a swarm. Xiao sat to the side, staring at Yu with a look of utter confusion, unable to understand him. The stifling summer heat made everything feel even more oppressive and draining. She asked, a little lost, “What use is this, anyway?”

Yu didn’t look up for quite some time. Just as Xiao was about to lose her temper, Yu finally raised his head from the proposal, his expression composed and serious. “As you can see, I’m planning to start my own company,” he replied, his tone so aloof it was clear he didn’t expect her to believe him.

Xiao’s eyes lit up with amazement at his words. “That’s incredible! Is there anything I can help with?” Her enthusiasm filled Ouyang Xianyu with a sense of completeness. He picked up the proposal and handed it to Xiao so she could look over his plans.

Xiao took what he offered. Although both of them were still underage, their intelligence was in no way inferior to any adult’s. After reading it, Xiao’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, exclaiming with delight, “Currently, the success rate for this is seventy-five percent!”

Yu was astonished at how accurately Xiao had assessed the chances of success for his proposal. He could hardly believe it. “How did you know that?” he asked.

Xiao found his expression amusing. What was so strange about that?