December.

The last month of 2016.

On the morning of the fifth, Xu Ye got two phone calls, one after the other. The first was from Yu Jiaying. The second was from Cai Haoyu at miHoYo.

Yu Jiaying was inviting Xu Ye to her birthday party the evening after next, which was also Major Snow on the old solar calendar.

Cai Haoyu was letting Xu Ye know that a thirty-million dividend would hit his account before the end of the month.

After the two calls, Xu Ye messaged Chen Qingqing. The day after tomorrow was a Wednesday, he said. If she didn't want to go, he'd go by himself.

Chen Qingqing figured that if she went along, Xu Ye would have to run back and forth between the two schools. She checked with Zhang Ruowei, who wasn't going either, and wrote back right away. "Then I won't go. Zhang Ruowei hasn't been feeling well the last few days, so she's skipping it too."

Xu Ye replied Okay, then got up and went over to the finance department's office. "Jiang Wei, figure out a way to transfer me some money from the company account."

"How much?"

"Fifty thousand, say. Is that easy to do?"

Jiang Wei nodded. "That's simple. For small amounts, there are lots of ways to do it."

Xu Ye grinned. "And if it's a big amount?"

"There are ways for that too. You set up a sole proprietorship studio, run business between the studio and the company, and then… You wouldn't understand if I explained it. Just tell me ahead of time how much you need."

A few clicks on her computer later, Jiang Wei said, "The money's in your account."

"That fast?"

Jiang Wei went back to her own work and didn't bother answering.

Back in his own office, Xu Ye transferred twenty thousand to Qin Zhiwei. He was about to call and explain when Qin Zhiwei messaged him first.

Qin Zhiwei: "???"

Qin Zhiwei: "Why'd you send me money?"

Xu Ye: "My girlfriend says you and Shen Xinyi are getting a place together off campus?"

Qin…