Chapter 43: A Great Business Opportunity

Principal Meng listened attentively, nodding from time to time.

"Your line of reasoning is sound, but launching a startup within the university does indeed require some support."

Lin Qianfan nodded. "That is why I would like to apply for a studio space to handle the initial preparations and operations."

Principal Meng pondered for a moment. "That can be considered, but you must provide a concrete business plan. It would be best if you could demonstrate to the school that your project will benefit both the students and the institution."

Lin Qianfan quickly pulled the proposal he had written in advance from his bag. "Principal Meng, please take a look. I have already drafted it."

Principal Meng carefully reviewed it for half an hour before closing the document. "Not bad. You are well-prepared. I will discuss the studio matter with the school and do my best to arrange it for you."

Lin Qianfan breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Principal!"

After the meal, Lin Qianfan walked back toward his milk tea shop, still calculating his next steps. Although the studio had begun to take shape, there was still much preparation required before it could actually be launched. In particular, he was unfamiliar with the area around University A; renting a shop and selecting a location were the biggest hurdles.

As he walked, he took out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and sent a message to Yongpan.

"Bro, let's head over to the area around University A tomorrow to look around."

A reply came back quickly. "Sure, should I bring Dawei and Xia Ruo?"

Lin Qianfan paused, tapping his fingers on the screen for a moment.

"Bring everyone. We can conduct a bit of research while we're at it."

The other party replied instantly.

"Research? Be more specific—don't try to rope us into doing manual labor again."

Lin Qianfan called him directly.

"Don't nag. We’ll set off early tomorrow morning. I’ll rent a car in the city, and lunch is on me."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"Fine. Since you asked, we'll do as you say."

After hanging up, he turned to send a message to Xia Ruo.

"We’re going to check out the area around University A tomorrow. Would you like to join us?"

A few seconds later, Xia Ruo replied, "Sure, what time are we leaving?"

"Eight in the morning. I'll handle the car."

The next morning, Lin Qianfan stood at the school gate. Yongpan, Dawei, and another brother from his dormitory named Xiao Yang had arrived early.

"Qianfan, you're really going all out this time," Yongpan said, slinging his bag over his shoulder and waving a bottle of mineral water.

Dawei stood to the side, hands in his pockets, silent and looking sleep-deprived.

"Enough talk. Is everyone here?" Lin Qianfan scanned the group.

"Xia Ruo just messaged to say she's on her way," Xiao Yang said, checking his phone.

A few minutes later, a taxi pulled up to the curb, and Xia Ruo stepped out, carrying a small bag.

"Let's go. I've rented the car."

Lin Qianfan waved his hand and led the group toward a car rental agency near the school. The vehicle was a seven-seater business van. Yongpan sat in the front passenger seat, while the others crowded into the back, chatting and laughing in a relaxed atmosphere.

They drove to the vicinity of University A, and Lin Qianfan parked the car in a lot outside the south gate.

"The plan for today is simple," he said after stepping out, clapping his hands. "We’ll look at the commercial district here and find a suitable shop. Along the way, we'll familiarize ourselves with the campus surroundings and scout potential locations for the studio. Finally, we'll find a place to eat—my treat."

Lin Qianfan led them as they walked toward the campus. The campus of University A was vast; the north gate was the main entrance, while the south gate was closer to the commercial street. This area saw high foot traffic, with restaurants, small supermarkets, cafes, and bookstores everywhere.

Lin Qianfan stood by the roadside, scanning the storefronts on both sides.

"The competition on this street looks pretty intense," Yongpan remarked.

"High foot traffic is perfect for a milk tea shop," Lin Qianfan nodded, his eyes resting on a storefront with a "For Rent" sign. It was a closed-down milk tea shop with the words "Sublease Available" posted on the glass.

He walked over, checked the contact information on the door, and dialed the number. The call connected quickly.

"Hello, I saw that you have a shop for sublease, and I’d like to learn more about it."

A middle-aged man's voice came through. "Oh, the shop? I previously rented it to someone to run a milk tea shop, but they couldn't keep it going. The location is excellent, and the foot traffic is high; it just depends on whether you have the skill to run it."

Ignoring the man’s tone, Lin Qianfan asked directly, "What is the rent? How is the contract handled?"

The man quoted a figure that was slightly higher than Lin Qianfan had expected, but it remained within a reasonable range.

"Alright, I’ll consider it and get back to you shortly."

After hanging up, he turned to Yongpan. "What do you think of this spot?"

"The location is impeccable, though the rent is a bit steep."

Lin Qianfan nodded. "A little high is fine, as long as the business takes off, we'll recoup the investment quickly."

He then had Dawei inquire about the rental rates on the street from several neighboring shops. The final conclusion was that the rent for shops in this area was fairly uniform, with little fluctuation.

"Then we'll settle on this one," he said, clapping his hands. "When we head back this afternoon, I'll negotiate the contract with the landlord."

Xia Ruo, standing to the side and watching Lin Qianfan’s series of actions, couldn't help but ask, "You’ve decided so quickly? Don't you want to look at other places?"

"No need. The shops on this street are all much the same. As long as we choose one close to the school, it will suffice." Lin Qianfan spoke lightly, but his tone was filled with confidence.

The rest of the day was spent touring University A to get a feel for the campus environment. Lin Qianfan specifically visited the administration building to locate a space that might serve as a future studio. It was an empty room near the library—a quiet location with a decent amount of space.

"Perfect. This is the one," he noted silently.

After a full day of work, everyone was exhausted. In the evening, Lin Qianfan took them to a nearby barbecue restaurant. They ordered a table full of food, with beer and drinks scattered all over.

"Thanks for your hard work today. Eat up!" he said, raising his glass to the group.

"Cheers!" Yongpan responded.

By the time they returned to school after dinner, it was nearly ten o'clock. Lin Qianfan went back to his dormitory, freshened up, and sat down at his computer to organize the findings from the day's research. He noted the shop rental in his memo pad and updated his studio plans. Finally, he opened the backend of his official account to check the latest user data.

Over the next few days, Lin Qianfan busied himself with signing the contract while making time to visit the machinery market. He needed a machine capable of producing ice in large quantities, but such equipment was rare on the market. After visiting several shops, he still hadn't found anything suitable.

"This stuff is really hard to come by these days," he muttered, frowning as he stood at the market entrance.

A friend pointed him in a new direction. "Go to the industrial park in the suburbs. There's a factory there that specializes in refrigeration equipment. They might have what you need."

Lin Qianfan headed there immediately. The factory manager received him, and after hearing his requirements, took him to see a second-hand commercial ice maker.

"Although this machine is used, the performance is quite good. It can produce fifty kilograms of ice per hour."