Chapter 62: Emotional Value

Kang Yuxuan was not foolish. Li Xiuyuan coming all the way to the provincial capital to find him definitely meant he had something in mind. Being college classmates, thinking of him—the former class monitor—when encountering trouble was entirely normal, and he held no resentment about it in his heart.

Otherwise, he would not have made such arrangements.

However, because he cherished this bond of friendship, he naturally hoped that others would cherish it too. What if Li Xiuyuan pulled the classic maneuver of the newly successful official discarding his longtime sweetheart?

A person who could abandon even his girlfriend was someone whose request for help required very careful consideration.

With a bitter smile, Li Xiuyuan recounted the whole sequence of events.

Seeing Li Xiuyuan’s expression, Kang Yuxuan believed him by several parts. After all, back in their university days, Li Xiuyuan was famously known as a romantic who had devoted a tremendous amount of effort to that girlfriend.

"Well, alright. Cheer up, Xiuyuan. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and realizing someone's true colors early on is a blessing in disguise," Kang Yuxuan comforted him.

Li Xiuyuan nodded. "It's all in the past now. Let's just chalk it up to bad judgment in people. Who hasn't loved the wrong person in their youth?"

"Haha, exactly. Out of everyone in our class, I always appreciated you the most. You know how to let go of what you pick up; you're a real man," Kang Yuxuan said. Right on cue, the waiter brought out the rest of the dishes, and Kang Yuxuan reached out to pour the drinks.

However, Li Xiuyuan stopped him.

"Wait, hold on a second. I need to take a picture and post it in our class QQ group. With our former monitor treating me to such a spread, I have to make the others jealous," Li Xiuyuan said with a smile.

Since WeChat Moments did not exist at this time, otherwise, he definitely would have posted it there.

"There's really no need for that..." Kang Yuxuan was secretly thrilled. He hadn't treated Li Xiuyuan just to show off, but if Li Xiuyuan was willing to let him flex in front of his classmates, that was naturally even better.

"Oh, I insist on bragging a bit about this table full of fine wine and delicious food." Li Xiuyuan immediately snapped a photo and posted it in the class QQ group, adding a caption thanking the former class monitor for his hospitality. With such great food and wine, the monitor was always the monitor!

In truth, this wasn't really about him wanting to show off; rather, it was meant to give class monitor Kang Yuxuan a chance to show off, while also subtly putting Kang Yuxuan on the spot.

As soon as Li Xiuyuan posted the photo, people in the group chat immediately started chiming in. Most of them were flattering the monitor, with some saying they wanted the same treatment next time they visited the provincial capital, and others praising the monitor for his generosity.

Kang Yuxuan looked at the messages in the group and acted modestly with a couple of replies, but the expression on his face betrayed him. The term "emotional value" didn't exist yet, otherwise Kang Yuxuan would have realized that Li Xiuyuan had brought nothing with him except a pair of lips to the meal, yet had provided an abundance of emotional value.

Even though Kang Yuxuan was paying for it, he felt that the money was well spent.

The two of them clinked glasses and drank as they chatted about the old days back in university. Kang Yuxuan also noticed that Li Xiuyuan seemed like a completely different person compared to his college days.

During their university years, the two had interacted, but Li Xiuyuan had never been this eloquent; he used to be somewhat reserved and quiet.

Yet now, listening to him speak was thoroughly comfortable, and the conversation grew more and more pleasant as it went on. What did this mean? It didn't mean they were naturally compatible soulmates—if they truly clicked like that, they would have been close friends back in college.

It could only mean one thing: Li Xiuyuan had truly been forged and tempered in the government office!

After three rounds of drinks and tasting the dishes, Kang Yuxuan proactively asked, "Xiuyuan, do you actually have some business to attend to this time in the provincial capital?"

Li Xiuyuan nodded. "Monitor, I genuinely do have a favor to ask of you. It's like this: aren't I working at the government office? The relevant documents on the construction of the new countryside issued by the provincial government happened to be my responsibility to copy and distribute to all the townships. When I read those documents on new countryside construction, I felt deeply moved.

"You see, my hometown is out in the rural countryside..."

Li Xiuyuan’s family background could be switched at will. During job interviews, he could be the grandson of a veteran revolutionary cadre, but when writing articles, he became a humble lad from the rural countryside.

Yet this time, he wasn't really lying; his hometown truly was in the countryside. It was just that starting from his father's generation, the family had moved into the city, meaning he only went back to the countryside during holidays when he was little. After his grandparents passed away, the number of times he returned dwindled to almost none.

"So, I wrote an article and wanted to ask my old classmate to help polish and refine it," Li Xiuyuan said as he took a manuscript out of his bag and handed it to Kang Yuxuan. Kang Yuxuan glanced at him.

Taking the manuscript from Li Xiuyuan, he didn't read it right away. Instead, with a half-smile, he asked, "Xiuyuan, you're awfully well-informed. When did you find out I was working at the Provincial Daily?"

"Haha, I've always kept my old classmate in my thoughts and kept track of you," Li Xiuyuan replied vaguely.

Kang Yuxuan took the manuscript and began to read. Truth be told, initially, Kang Yuxuan hadn't taken it seriously. He figured Li Xiuyuan probably didn't realize the sheer weight and prestige of the Provincial Daily; getting something published there was a different story compared to lesser newspapers.

How could a young man who had just started working ever get published in the Provincial Daily, especially on matters concerning official policies?

However, the moment he took the manuscript in hand and glanced at the title alone, a gleam appeared in Kang Yuxuan's eyes.

*A Few Thoughts and Explorations on County-Level New Countryside Construction*

The title alone sounded like an article that could actually be published in their provincial newspaper. Furthermore, the phrasing satisfied Kang Yuxuan immensely. "Thoughts and Explorations"—those two words were used brilliantly and fit the persona of Li Xiuyuan, a young man who had just entered the workforce, perfectly.

This Li Xiuyuan actually had some substance to him. No wonder he dared to bring a manuscript to seek him out. As he continued reading, Kang Yuxuan grew serious. Much of what was written inside struck him as genuinely good. Soon enough, he finished reading the entire draft.

Looking at Li Xiuyuan, Kang Yuxuan said solemnly, "This article is exceptionally well-written, with real substance. But that's just from my perspective."

"Thank you, monitor," Li Xiuyuan nodded, understanding what Kang Yuxuan was implying.

"Monitor, I know this task is difficult. What do you think should be done? Could you point me in the right direction?"

In reality, what Li Xiuyuan wanted was for Kang Yuxuan to introduce an editor-in-chief or some other leader from the Provincial Daily. However, he couldn't say that directly; he had to leave the initiative to Kang Yuxuan. Otherwise, if he brought it up rashly, it would sound like he was saying, "Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?"

"Xiuyuan, we're old classmates. Give it to me straight—did you really write this piece entirely by yourself?" Kang Yuxuan asked, looking at Li Xiuyuan with a hint of skepticism. He thought the article was good—very good indeed—but for a young man who had only been working for a short time to possess such insight and be capable of writing such an article, he couldn't help harboring some doubts.