It was not far away, so they walked back. When they reached the gate of the community, Sheng Min asked Li Xuan to wait for a while, turned around and went into the supermarket next door. When he came out, he was holding two pillows in his hands.
"Why did you buy a pillow?"
Sheng Min pondered for a moment and whispered, "Don't you think it's a bit weird for the two of us to sleep on the same pillow?"
Li Xuan didn't think anything was strange, he just thought he had a lot of problems. He took one and heard Sheng Min ask him, "How about I buy another bed?"
"Can you fit two beds in one room?"
Of course it can be placed in the study. Sheng Min thought about it and said nothing.
"My sleeping habits aren't that bad, right?" Li Xuan saw that he was speechless, "I'm not used to sleeping with others either, don't make it sound like you've made a big sacrifice."
"No." Sheng Min shook his head, sighed, reached out and pressed the elevator button, and did not continue the topic.
It was raining heavily, and even with an umbrella, their clothes and hair were soaked. They didn't feel cold when they were walking on the road, but when they got back to the house, they felt cold. Sheng Min took a shower, changed his clothes, sat on the sofa and ordered takeout.
"Is there anything you want to eat or avoid?" Before he made up his mind, Li Xuan had already finished washing and came out of the bathroom with half-dry hair.
"It's all right, just something lighter. No celery."
Sheng Min hummed, and pointed to Li Xuan's phone on the table: "You called just now."
The call was from Qi Boyuan. Li Xuan wiped his hair and dialed back carelessly. Hearing this voice, Qi Boyuan was stunned: "Who are you? ... Where is Li Xuan?"
"Wait a minute." Li Xuan came to his senses and quickly threw the phone to Sheng Min, asking him to take it first. Sheng Min had no choice but to pick it up.
"Who was that just now?" Qi Boyuan asked curiously, "Why is your phone with someone else?"
Sheng Min subconsciously glanced at Li Xuan, who was taking out a laptop from his schoolbag. He pressed the power button, but there was no response at all. It was probably broken in the car accident the day before. Li Xuan frowned and mouthed to Sheng Min, asking him if he had a computer at home.
Sheng Min pointed to the study room and continued to deal with Qi Boyuan: "A friend, I was busy just now, let him help pick up the phone."
"Ah?" Qi Boyuan seemed very surprised.
Sheng Min had no idea who was on the other end of the phone, nor did he know what the relationship between him and Li Xuan was. The more he said, the more mistakes he made, so he could only say, "I have something to do. I'll get back to you later."
He hung up the phone without waiting for the other end to answer. When he walked into the study, he saw that Li Xuan had already downloaded the voice-changing software and was adjusting it.
"Come over and say a few words." Li Xuan sat behind the desk, frowning slightly as he stared at the screen without raising his head. "I'll give it a try."
Sheng Min nodded and handed him another pair of headphones. This was also the first time Li Xuan used this. He adjusted it for half an hour until the sound was about 80% similar. He then converted the format and put it back on the phone. He called back and Qi Boyuan was on the phone.
"Then let's eat first." Sheng Min said, "The takeaway has arrived."
They ordered Suzhou cuisine for dinner. Sheng Min changed the plate and served the food, but before he took two bites, the phone rang again.
"Hello." Li Xuan swiped the call button.
"Li Xuan?" Qi Boyuan asked tentatively.
"It's me. Why are you so sneaky about calling?"
"What if it's not him? Let me confirm it." Qi Boyuan said, "Why does your voice sound a little hoarse? I thought it was someone else. Weren't you in school today? When I went to your dormitory, your roommate said you didn't come back. By the way, who was it just now? Why haven't I heard of it before?"
"No. I'm out for something." Li Xuan said calmly, "Have you finished your work? You're free."
Qi Boyuan smiled: "Curious."
It's no wonder he was surprised. He and Li Xuan had known each other for three years since their freshman year, and he had been working on outsourced projects with Li Xuan for more than two years, so they were pretty familiar with each other. But apart from himself, Qi Boyuan had never seen anyone he had a close relationship with.
Li Xuan seemed to be able to get along with everyone, but in fact, he was very cautious. Qi Boyuan sometimes joked that he had paranoid delusions, and felt that he was able to get along with Li Xuan because he was bold and thick-skinned. He was a little surprised that Li Xuan suddenly had a friend who was familiar enough to help answer the phone.
"You don't know him." Li Xuan said casually, "I picked him up on the roadside."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Min on the opposite side subconsciously looked up at him, but Li Xuan didn't look at him. He stood up and went to the balcony with his mobile phone.
"Have you changed your career to scavenging?" Qi Boyuan asked seriously.
"Stop talking nonsense and get down to business." Qi Boyuan was about to say something else, but Li Xuan interrupted him, "Have you completed the handover with Xinyue?"
Xinyue is the pharmaceutical company that asked them to build their website this time.
"It's all done. The balance has been paid, and I'll transfer it to you later." Qi Boyuan became serious when talking about work. "I called again this afternoon to inquire about the company's registration procedures. They said that there is no need to supplement the materials, and it should be done next Monday. But just now, another clothing manufacturer called and said that they wanted to find us to do some functional expansion and research and development. The last time you told me that Xinyue's project was over, you would not accept outsourcing... But this price is okay. Although the procedures for our game company are almost completed, the account has not been opened yet. We can't move in until next month to rent that office in the software park. The landlord said he would rent us the current equipment together. He said it can be used. I tried it and it didn't work. I have to add more later, so it will definitely not be so fast. So if you take this project, there is still time. Please confirm it."
Li Xuan pressed his temple lightly and didn't speak immediately. He looked at the street lights across the street and his thoughts were a little confused.
He told Qi Boyuan last month, or informed him, that he would no longer take on Xinyue's project after it was completed. He was planning to open his own game studio and asked Qi Boyuan if he wanted to join.
Qi Boyuan should have known that he was planning to start a business. He had taken on a lot of website outsourcing work in the past few years, but it was just a small business. He didn't expect him to register a company so early, without even waiting for graduation. So when Li Xuan asked him if he wanted to join him, he hesitated for a while, but didn't delay for too long. He called him the next day and said that he had thought it over and would not continue his studies and would join him.
So during this month, Li Xuan was busy finishing up Xinyue's project, while Qi Boyuan went to look at the site to rent and went through the registration procedures.
If it was a week ago, or even earlier yesterday, Qi Boyuan would not have hesitated to ask this question, but now, Li Xuan lowered his eyes and looked at the small mole on his wrist... ... He hesitated for a moment before speaking: "I remember that you have the highest GPA in your department. Do you really want to stop studying?"
"Ah?" Qi Boyuan didn't expect him to suddenly change the subject, and joked, "Hey, you. I'm the top student in the computer department, but no matter what programming competition, you're from the physics department and I'm always better than you. I've only won two gold medals in three years of college, one with you and the other when you didn't participate. I'm too embarrassed to continue studying. What, you feel guilty and want to give me a raise?"
Li Xuan didn't laugh, and said in a more serious tone: "Have you thought it through?"
"What's wrong with you today?" Qi Boyuan was a little surprised. "We have known each other for such a long time. I believe in your ability and we are used to working together. I think starting a business with you is more suitable for me than continuing to study. I thought we had already discussed this issue last time. Why do you keep saying it over and over again... You can't doubt me, right? I said I want to start a business with you, but I'm secretly preparing to go abroad. What kind of person am I? I admit that my technology is not as good as yours, but you can't doubt my character, right?"
"Of course not." Li Xuan frowned, not knowing how to explain the current situation. After thinking for a while, he said, "It's just that I have something to do recently and I will be a little busy. I may not be able to take care of many things in the company, so you have to come."
"That's okay, I'll just do it..."
"You don't understand what I mean." Li Xuan raised his hand and pinched his nose. "I mean, I may not show up for some time in the future. I probably won't be able to come to the company for various follow-up matters such as account opening, recruitment, and even when we officially start operations. Of course, you can call me if you have something to talk to me about. I can answer the phone at any time."
Qi Boyuan was really stunned this time, and after a while he said, "No, what's wrong with you? What happened to you? Have you been restricted in your personal freedom?"
"No." Li Xuan interrupted him.
"Then why? If something really happens to you, just tell us. It would be good if more people could help you."
Li Xuan thought that he had to be able to explain it. He didn't know what was going on in this situation, but he didn't show it on his face: "I can't explain it clearly now, so don't ask me. I just have to make it clear to you what you will have to face if our company continues to move forward."
Qi Boyuan hesitated and asked, "How long is a period of time?"
Li Xuan said frankly: "I'm not sure, it may take a week, a year, or even longer. So I ask you to think about it."
Qi Boyuan was silent for a long time. Through the receiver, Li Xuan felt that he could see Qi Boyuan scratching his hair. After a while, he asked him, "What can you do during this time?"
"There are no problems with planning and coding, but I told you that I can't come to the company very often. You have to come to communicate with other people. If we really need to have a meeting, we can do it online." Li Xuan thought for a while, "I have the initial funding, you know that. If we need to attract investment later, you have to talk to the investors."
"Oh my god." Qi Boyuan swore for the first time, "What's going on with you? Or is there something wrong with your family again..."
Qi Boyuan actually didn't know much about Li Xuan's family situation. He only knew that Li Xuan was extremely talented in computers, but he chose to study physics. It seemed that his family forced him to do so. He didn't know much more.
"Neither, don't guess." Li Xuan said, "This is the situation, just tell me what you think."
"You are still impatient." Qi Boyuan scolded him, and hesitated for a moment, "Then do you still want to continue?"
Li Xuan was silent for a moment. He didn't want to mess up his plan, and although he liked the feeling of being in complete control of things, his past life experience told him that in such a situation that was really out of control, it might be more practical to think that there would always be a way out when the car reached the mountain.
If there is no road, just cut one, you have to go. Li Xuan gently flicked the rain off the railing, but he didn't have the habit of dragging others into adventures, so he had to make it clear with Qi Boyuan.
"I think so," Li Xuan said affirmatively, "but if you can't accept this model, then I can only put this matter on hold. It's really not convenient for me right now, and I don't trust others to take care of it."
Qi Boyuan didn't respond for a while. He paused for a long time, and Li Xuan didn't urge him. After a long time, Qi Boyuan sighed and said, "Okay, let's do this."
"What?"
"Just keep pushing it. As long as you can do the planning and write code later, it'll be fine. Anyway, it's almost the same now. Once you take over the project, if it's urgent and you need someone, I'll be the one to hire them temporarily. The follow-up communication is also my job. After all, a genius like you just needs to use his brain."
"I also paid." Li Xuan said.
"Fuck you." Qi Boyuan laughed after scolding him.
"Thank you." Li Xuan also smiled. After he made it clear, he quickly made a decision, "Don't take on new projects. Focus on promoting the game. Don't transfer the balance to me yet. If you need anything, just use it from the balance. Come to me when you're done. You don't have to worry about the money now."
"What project... Oh, your thinking is too fast." Qi Boyuan reacted, "Okay, then I'll go back."
"The formalities have been completed, so you can start preparing to recruit people. There's no rush for other things, but we need to find an artist quickly. I have a demo of the game here, which I'll send to you later. Take some time to try it out. If you have any ideas, continue to revise them. Once it's finalized and we hire an artist later, we can follow up quickly."
"You've even made the demo?" Qi Boyuan was stunned for a moment, then he thought, according to Li Xuan's style, it seems reasonable for him to make a more thorough plan.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be used." Li Xuan said lightly, "It's just that I just happen to have a ready-made one on hand. If it's possible, it will save some trouble."
"You did that in your sophomore year?" When he said that, Qi Boyuan suddenly had some impression.
In his sophomore year, Li Xuan made a business-related mobile game and won a prize in a game planning competition held by a well-known game company.
It was from that game that Qi Boyuan truly felt the gap between him and Li Xuan.
Making a game demo is not that difficult, but completing a 3D game demo independently is definitely a huge workload. From the time he knew Li Xuan, it took him less than a month to complete the competition, and the completion rate was very high, far exceeding the requirements of the demonstration. The worst thing is that Li Xuan even took on an outsourced job at the same time. Qi Boyuan had no idea where he found the time.
The game company wanted to buy it and offered a high price, but Li Xuan didn't sell it. In the following years, Qi Boyuan occasionally saw Li Xuan still improving it.
"That one." Li Xuan hummed, "I'm also working on other plans that are not as mature as this one, so you can take a look first."
"Okay, I'll take a look and get back to you. I'll get back to you about recruiting as soon as possible." Qi Boyuan agreed readily, but suddenly remembered something else. "I'm not really sure about your current situation, but you said you're unlikely to show up, so you still have to go to class, right? Have you finished your major courses?"
"No." Li Xuan frowned and checked his class schedule. Most of his classes this semester had already ended in the second half, and he only had one course left, statistical mechanics, which would be held this Friday.
"So you're not going to school? You're not going to take the exams? Even if you start a business, grades won't matter. You still have to get your diploma, right?"
"I'll take care of it." Li Xuan responded.
"Alright." Qi Boyuan sighed, "If you really don't want to tell me, I won't ask. Anyway, you always have a clue."
"Thank you." Li Xuan repeated it again. This was the good thing about Qi Boyuan, he didn't get to the bottom of things.
"Don't thank me, that's it for now. Jiajia has to finish her evening class, I'm going to pick her up for a midnight snack and ask her if she knows anyone in the visual communication department of her school."
Zhou Jia is his girlfriend, who studies cello at a nearby art college.
"Okay. I'm hanging up now."
"You'd better go to class." Qi Boyuan said.
Li Xuan hummed casually and pressed the hang-up button.
The author has something to say:
Qi Boyuan appeared in the first chapter. If you don't remember, you can go back and watch it. See you the day after tomorrow.