——
[After Xiaohan left the group chat, everyone worked hard and finally raised enough funds to compete with the company in the bidding.]
[During this time, Stelle and the others helped small eateries like Shangziwei organize a joint event, successfully incorporating most of these shops into the logistics network.]
[With the support of these shops, Stelle felt more confident facing the company.]
[On the day of the bidding meeting, everyone gathered at the Sky-Faring Commission to formally debate Xiaohan's company team. If they could outargue them, they'd win the judges' support.]
["Next, both sides will explain their business plans for Aurum Alley to the Sky-Faring Commission's evaluation committee," Yukong said, glancing at Xiaohan. "Young master, let's start with you. Tell us about your plans and considerations for Aurum Alley."]
[Xiaohan nodded, smiling warmly at Stelle and the others: "Greetings to everyone from the Aurum Alley Merchants' Guild."]
[Stelle's eyes sharpened, hands on her hips: "What if we're not doing so great?"]
["Uh…" Caught off guard as if struck on the head, Xiaohan awkwardly wiped his sweat. "Are you sure you want to start contradicting me from the very first sentence?"]
——
Attack on Titan
"Pfft… Stelle's completely turned into a contrarian personality, hasn't she?"
Armin couldn't help but laugh. He'd expected a serious debate in the Palace of Astrum, but Stelle was already clowning around from the start.
"Contrarian personality? What's that?" Eren asked, puzzled.
"Hm… how do I explain this? Let me give you an example," Armin said, thinking for a moment. "Who do you think is the strongest human?"
"Easy. The Captain, obviously," Eren said, instantly picturing the short-statured giant's imposing figure.
"Wrong!"
Armin crossed his arms, a slight smirk on his face. "It's Levi."
"???" Eren was stunned. "Aren't we talking about the same person?!"
"We are," Armin explained. "That's a contrarian personality—reflexively opposing you, whether you're right or not."
"Uh… but why do that?" Mikasa asked, a bit confused.
"Who knows? Maybe Stelle just wants to mess with her opponent's mindset."
——
["The company is willing to go further, fully developing the dock's logistics potential to turn Aurum Alley into a galactic commercial port," Xiaohan said.]
["Can Aurum Alley really accommodate interstellar cargo ships?"]
["To build a commercial port, most shops would need to relocate from Aurum Alley," Xiaohan nodded. "We'll also redesign the entire commercial district to ensure the port is spacious enough, with throughput rivaling Cloudford."]
["Rest assured, relocated shops will receive generous compensation—enough to put smiles on everyone's faces."]
["The company's flexing its money again…" Sushang realized she was almost swayed by his words and quickly shook her head. "Wait, shouldn't we ask the Aurum Alley shops for their opinions?"]
[Stelle tossed a survey of the shops' intentions at Xiaohan: "Most shops here have partnered with the guild and want to keep the current business model—including Tonggong Workshop."]
["Even if many Aurum Alley merchants want this, it doesn't mean they have foresight," Xiaohan said, a bit annoyed.]
——
Dragon Raja
"He's right. If Aurum Alley wants to develop, it can't rely too heavily on the shops' opinions… Xiaohan's a qualified leader."
Caesar tilted his chin up slightly. "Development requires vision and efficiency. Shop owners are stuck on short-term issues like rent and foot traffic."
"When Paris was rebuilt, if Baron Haussmann had consulted every bakery, the Champs-Élysées would probably still be a medieval alley. A leader should steer like a captain, not serve like a waiter."
Watching Stelle and Sushang bustle around Aurum Alley on the screen, Caesar scoffed. As leaders, they should focus on the big picture, not individual shops' views.
"Hm, as expected of the student council president," Chu Zihang said expressionlessly. "But have you considered that the shops' opinions reflect real needs—like Shangziwei needing its traditional layout or Auntie Gao's snack stall relying on specific foot traffic? Ignoring these, plans become castles in the air."
"Haussmann's reforms created a grand Paris, but they also displaced tens of thousands of poor people…" Chu Zihang shook his head. "Development shouldn't come at the cost of ordinary people."
Caesar set down his champagne, finally turning to Chu Zihang. "What? They're debating on the screen, and now we're debating too? Like back at the academy? I don't mind."
"Let's not. I just have objections to your earlier point," Chu Zihang said calmly. "You call Xiaohan a qualified leader, but to me… a leader doesn't look down from above but stands in the rain to hear every drop. I agree more with Mingxi and Stelle."
——
["The guild can't exist without the shops. We'll make Aurum Alley the 'new Luofu's top night market,'" Mingxi declared passionately.]
["Luofu's top night market? Once the company invests, new commercial hubs will pop up across the Xianzhou. Who'd bother coming to Aurum Alley? No one will care anymore…" Xiaohan countered.]
["No! People do care!" Stelle presented Shangziwei's joint event to Xiaohan. "People will always need Aurum Alley's food street."]
[Through modern methods like promotional gifts and virtual shopping vouchers, tourist spending in Aurum Alley had more than doubled, proving the food street's place in people's hearts.]
[Mingxi added: "Young master, you're pouring astronomical funds into a port, but after driving out the shops, will it still be Aurum Alley?"]
["We want a future that's the 'most Aurum Alley.'"]
[Mingxi's words made Yukong's lips curve slightly. After both sides presented their views, Yukong announced the end of the open discussion and told them to await the results.]
[Not long after returning to Aurum Alley, Mingxi eagerly pulled Xiaohan back into the group chat, announcing that the results were in—they'd won the bid, and the guild would continue managing Aurum Alley's commercial district.]
[Xiaohan, representing the company, would establish a shop to join Aurum Alley.]
["Phew, this is finally over," Stelle said, looking at the now bustling Aurum Alley, a sense of accomplishment welling up in her heart.]
["Toot toot—"]
[As Stelle planned to grab a meal with Sushang, March 7th messaged her, saying she wanted to visit the Seat of Divine Foresight with Welt and Dan Heng to check on the general's situation.]