Now, even more people knew that Zhou Yi was going to participate in the competition.
Of course, Zhou Yi had done this intentionally.
He knew this TikTok post would definitely spark discussion.
The CGDA, as an internationally renowned design competition, carried significant weight.
Zhou Yi's bold declaration was sure to provoke skeptics who would mock him.
The harsher the criticism now, the sweeter his eventual triumph would feel.
After all, with his system resources, he could acquire any advantage he needed.
But he hadn't expected most fans would focus on his appearance.
Soon after posting, fans began flooding the comments section.
[Go for it, my idol! You've got this!]
[Is the assistant Ms. Ruolan?]
[Even when drawing, you look so handsome. Truly impressive.]
[I've already messaged him privately; we had a great chat. He told me about his pet turtle and invited me over...]
[If it's you, big brother, I don't mind taking it all, even if things get rough.]
[Ah... I can't take it anymore. Every time I see God Yi, my heart races. Are there really people as perfect as him? Please... give me more content.]
[Handsome guy, I can only give you half marks until I see the rest of your work.]
Zhou Yi's fans were full of witty remarks, making readers blush and laugh simultaneously.
Meanwhile, his critics remained as harsh as ever.
[Money really can buy anything these days, huh?]
[Was there really no foul play in winning first place in the provincial math modeling competition? I doubt it.]
[Let's see if you can win first place in the national competition before calling yourself a genius.]
[Dreaming of CGDA? Let's see if you can even qualify first.]
[You think you're from Ogilvy? Hilarious. A student from a lower-tier visual communication program acting so arrogant.]
[Fans, stop hyping him up. If he even makes it into the top ten in the national competition, I'll eat my words.]
[The national math modeling competition is brutal. There's no way he'll make it into the top ten.]
[He's in visual communication? Does he even understand what CGDA represents? Talking about taking first place is just ridiculous.]
[I'm also participating in the national math modeling competition. We'll see how you perform. I'm from University A, so if you're unconvinced, let's settle it then.]
...
Zhou Yi never directly responded to these comments. After all, those who disliked him would always find reasons to criticize him.
On Friday morning, Zhou Yi represented Huaiyi in an art competition. The results were still unknown, pending announcement.
But none of this concerned him, as he had already prepared his advantages through the system.
The stage was set for his comeback, and the answer would come next week.
That evening, it was time for Zhou Yi's dinner appointment with Jiang Ruolan.
Today, Jiang Ruolan wasn't dressed in her usual professional attire. Instead, she wore a high-quality purple bodycon skirt, her waist accentuated by a gold chain that highlighted her curves. She paired it with black stockings and high heels.
The so-called S-curve figure was perfectly embodied in Jiang Ruolan.
She also wore a pair of rimless glasses today, her wavy hair cascading down to her chest, her décolletage subtly alluring. She looked both mature and enchanting.
Zhou Yi handed her the menu. "I'm not sure about your preferences, Ruolan. Why don't you order?"
Jiang Ruolan could tell that Zhou Yi was very easygoing in private, without any of the usual boss-like airs.
She smiled and didn't stand on ceremony, ordering a few dishes she wanted.
"I actually didn't expect you to invite me here for dinner, Mr. Zhou."
"As long as you like it. I'm sorry for taking up your rest time."
[Jiang Ruolan Affection Level +1]
Jiang Ruolan was once again impressed by Zhou Yi's thoughtfulness. She smiled softly and said,
"Mr. Zhou, you're going to spoil your employees. What boss apologizes for taking up their employees' rest time when treating them to dinner?"
Zhou Yi also smiled. "Spoil them, then. As long as they get their work done, that's what matters. I don't need my employees to be as docile as kittens. Everyone has their own personality—why try to change that? What's so great about everyone being the same?"
[Jiang Ruolan Affection Level +1]
Jiang Ruolan couldn't help but marvel inwardly. A boss like Zhou Yi was truly hard to come by.
It seemed joining Huanyi was the best decision she could have made.
"So, for the interviews tomorrow and the day after, will you be hiring employees with strong personalities?"
"Of course. The more unique the personality, the higher the creative potential."
"What if they're not very obedient to you?"
"My words aren't necessarily always right. This is my first time being a boss, and if I make mistakes, I hope my employees will point them out. I'm open to that."
"With that mindset, Mr. Zhou, you're bound to succeed in anything you do."
The recent discussions about Huanyu's recruitment had caused quite a stir, and Jiang Ruolan had been feeling the pressure.
Yet, Mr. Zhou seemed completely unfazed. Sigh, just his mindset alone was something she needed to learn from.
Jiang Ruolan had always thought she was doing well, but compared to Zhou Yi, she realized there was still much room for improvement.
Whether as a boss or an assistant, it was all a lesson in self-cultivation.