Chapter 88: Chapter 85: So You Also Read Alice
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The next morning.
Beside a stone table inside Ke Da campus.
Xu Yun was sitting across from a young man of short stature, the atmosphere slightly strange and awkward.
Several times during the meeting, Xu Yun wanted to speak but hesitated, unable to find a way to start.
In his past life, Xu Yun quit his job and ventured into business after turning thirty. During those years, he attended various gatherings or drinking sessions with clients.
Although not someone adept at socializing, he did have some experience in keeping the atmosphere lively.
While he might not make people feel like a breeze in spring, he at least wouldn’t easily let both sides fall into an awkward state.
Unfortunately, the conditions for this meeting were somewhat special; even Xu Yun didn’t know how to start.
Anyone who has used WeChat and Penguin should know that unless you choose to add a friend directly from a group, the application bar will automatically attach the note you wrote last time.
Some people might not notice and let their fingers act faster than their brains, pressing the send button inadvertently.
If the previous note was generic, it’s not a big deal, but if it involves some private information, it easily leads to social death.
For instance, the young man in front of Xu Yun, who now looked conflicted, his cheeks puffed, as if he might crush his own molars.
After a while.
Perhaps feeling that continuing like this wasn’t viable, the young man finally gathered his courage and said to Xu Yun:
"Dr. Xu, the previous incident was my mistake. I saw a benefit girl on Weibo and couldn’t resist adding her as a friend..."
Seeing the other party open up, Xu Yun found it easier to respond, saying with a dry laugh:
"Oh, it’s nothing, really. Young people are naturally vigorous, just be more careful next time."
"Lesson learned, lesson learned."
The young man nodded quickly, but for pride’s sake, explained a bit further:
"Actually, it’s my first time doing this kind of thing. Seeing Buzhihuo Wu’s cosplay, I couldn’t resist adding her as a friend..."
"Buzhihuo Wu? Does she also have Alice?"
"Of course, there’s Alice, Tifa, Asuna, and even Yula... hmm?"
As he spoke, the young man suddenly realized something, abruptly looking up to meet Xu Yun’s gaze.
Moments later, both faces revealed an indescribable smile.
"Send me a copy later, I have a friend who wants to see it too."
"No problem!"
Recognizing a fellow enthusiast, the young man visibly relaxed, lightly coughing before saying:
"Dr. Xu, let me introduce myself. I am Lin Zhennan from the school’s news center publicity department, currently in my senior year.
This time I’m reaching out mainly representing the publicity department to discuss the upcoming East District cockroach extermination live broadcast arrangements with you."
Seeing the other party bring up official matters, Xu Yun also gradually grew serious, solemnly saying:
"Reporter Lin, if there’s anything you need my cooperation with, feel free to say."
Lin Zhennan nodded, taking out a map of the East District of Ke Da.
Unlike many schools located in the suburbs, Ke Da’s geographical location is rather special—it’s not only situated in the Lu Zhou City District but right at the city center.
This is actually related to the historical debts when Ke Da moved from Yanjing. It was quite a dramatic story; the pioneers of Ke Da even dug out everything from cement blocks in labs, scrapped boilers, to underground cables, loading them onto the southbound train.
At the time, Ke Da actually didn’t have many options; most provinces refused them, except for the impoverished Ba Wan, who tightened their belts to accept Ke Da, offering the city center’s core area as the campus site.
Currently, some argue that Lu Prefecture drags Ke Da down or Ke Da limits Lu Prefecture’s development, but this is basically like speaking without standing properly.
If it wasn’t for Lu Prefecture’s acceptance, Ke Da might not have even a foothold, let alone provincial support following afterward.
And had Lu Prefecture chosen not to accept Ke Da, present-day Lu Prefecture likely would still be an agriculture-tourism province, needing at least eight to ten years to reach its current economic level.
And the East District of Ke Da is a witness to this complex history.
The East District is a somewhat trapezoidal irregular quadrilateral, with the straight Susu Road on the right, the Jinzhai Road Overpass as a sloped side on the left, and the remaining two sides tapering from top to bottom.
"The school’s idea is to set up four extermination points in the East District."
On the stone table, Lin Zhennan spread out the map, his index finger slowly gliding over it:
"The four extermination points are the western sports field, Guo Moruo Square, the basketball court to the southeast, and Glasses Lake in the north, with the extermination events completed jointly by the security department and the School of Life Sciences.
As for the live broadcast day, Ke Da will deploy two signal vehicles, multiple drones, and no fewer than 20 high-definition cameras for comprehensive online live streaming."
Xu Yun’s gaze lingered on the map for a while, contemplating:
"Reporter Lin, I have no objections to the sports field, basketball court, and Glasses Lake, but Guo Moruo Square as a location... isn’t it somewhat inappropriate?"
Guo Moruo Square, located in the mid-western part of the East District, named after Ke Da’s first principal Guo Moruo, attests to the square’s significance.
It’s a profoundly important location within Ke Da, witnessing significant events at the school, including the annual Guo Moruo Scholarship awards, personally handed to students by school leaders at this square.
To the north of the square is the first teaching building, which is also Ke Da’s oldest building, carrying extraordinary significance.
Thus, from a historical perspective, Guo Moruo Square might not be suitable as an extermination site.
Lin Zhennan also nodded gravely; it was clear he shared Xu Yun’s concerns:
"Indeed... several school leaders initially raised objections as well. However, after repeated discussions, the executive meeting ultimately decided not to change the extermination site.
Admittedly, its location is too perfect, strategically accessible, sprawling, with a maximum theoretical coverage area.
Moreover, if cockroach extermination can be successfully completed in front of the statue, it might fulfill Mr. Guo Moruo’s obsession."
As Ke Da’s first principal, Guo Moruo frequently expressed his discontent in correspondence with friends, complaining about Lu Prefecture’s ’many insects’ and ’many cockroaches’.
It’s uncertain whether ’insects’ refer to other bugs, but ’cockroaches’ unmistakably refers to cockroaches.
Then Lin Zhennan paused briefly, continuing:
"Dr. Xu, the East District extermination will commence in seven days. During this time, the publicity department will continue warming up offline and on the network.
The school hopes you can draft a route plan—of course, the school is also working on one, but your understanding of cockroaches is more specialized, so they want to consider professional insights.
The extermination will take place during daytime, with dormitories scheduled for cleaning beforehand to minimize the situation where large numbers of cockroaches escape from dorms."
Xu Yun nodded in understanding.
In recent days, the 14th incident remains a hot topic online.
Although the specific topic has dropped from trending, almost constantly, someone is still discussing it.
Due to the incident occurring around midnight, there are hardly any clear, complete videos circulating presently.
Thus, the online curiosity regarding the incident’s ’truth’ is intense, with even some foreign media reporting on it.
Some collaborative organizations with Ke Da boldly suggested wanting to observe the extermination live.
For Ke Da, this matter represents both motivation and pressure.
If the extermination proceeds successfully, Ke Da could gain unimaginable publicity.
Leveraging Ke Da’s social resources, monetizing it would be straightforward.
For example, the annual routine examination held in late December.
If the extermination succeeds smoothly, this year’s Ke Da graduate enrollment may reach an unprecedented high purity.
But should the cockroach extermination encounter a hitch, it would undoubtedly become a laughing stock ridiculing Ke Da for centuries, one that cannot be cleaned away.
Istanbul’s Milan serves as a forewarning—even now, it’s still ridiculed, everyone only knowing ’05’ but unaware of ’07’.
Then Lin Zhennan handed Xu Yun a communications manuscript, appearing about seven to eight pages long:
"Dr. Xu, here are some interview contents we might use during the live broadcast; you can familiarize yourself first.
If nothing unexpected happens, official media might attend the upcoming live broadcast, such as Tuantuan or the Observing Animals Network, possibly needing you to appear on camera."
Xu Yun received the document, scanning it swiftly:
"Sure, I’ve noted it. Thank you for your hard work, Reporter Lin."
Meanwhile, as Xu Yun and Lin Zhennan exchanged information.
Across the vast ocean.
An old man was gazing at the computer screen in front, lost in thought...
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