Chapter 68 Business Opportunities

Zhou Yi returned to his new home in Zijin Bay.

The apartment he purchased was fully furnished, so all that remained was to buy some bedding and daily necessities.

Habitually, Zhou Yi opened his phone and tried to tap on Uber Eats for food delivery—only to suddenly remember that this world didn't have Uber Eats yet.

This world shared many similarities with the one Zhou Yi came from, but there were also significant differences.

For instance, while there was an online shopping platform here, it wasn't called Amazon Shopping; instead, it went by the name EliteMart.

However, shopping on EliteMart wasn't nearly as convenient as on Amazon Shopping, and few people used it regularly. Most still preferred offline purchases.

Similarly, the courier industry existed, but only one company had risen to prominence: StarSpeed Express. Smaller companies struggled to survive, leaving the market almost monopolized.

There were countless other examples like this.

Zhou Yi began contemplating how he could make his mark in the entertainment sector.

Forums and microblogging platforms existed, and live-streaming had already emerged.

But video streaming sites hadn't appeared yet, nor had short-video platforms.

There was no Tencent, no TikTok, no YouTube.

There was, however, one anime-focused platform called C-Station, which bore a striking resemblance to the Crunchyroll of Zhou Yi's previous life.

It combined anime with long-form videos and served as a hub for most internet celebrities who weren't active on microblogs.

Comic platforms, on the other hand, were rare since print magazines were still dominant, and most manga were serialized in them.

Novel websites did exist, but they were all pay-to-read.

Free platforms were nonexistent. At this thought, Zhou Yi recalled a free novel site from his past life—a platform that had completely disrupted paid services upon its debut.

His expression shifted abruptly, his initial regret replaced by determination.

Could he use these ideas to fill the gaps in this world's market?

If the current online shopping platforms were lacking, why not create a better alternative?

If courier services were slow, why not establish a competitor to StarSpeed—one that was faster and cheaper, perhaps something like SwiftWind Delivery?

And given that no short-video apps existed yet, couldn't he develop something akin to what would eventually become TikTok or Kuaishou?

In that moment, Zhou Yi felt as if endless opportunities—and wealth—were within reach. Ideas flooded his mind.

He resolved to start with the entertainment industry, building a solid foundation before exploring other sectors.

The dream was enticing, but reality beckoned. He needed to step out and buy some essentials.

As a high-end residential area, Zijin Bay lacked convenience stores nearby. Thus, Zhou Yi had to walk farther to shop. Without Uber Eats or any food delivery service, he had no choice but to go out himself.

Not long after stepping outside, Qiao Xi sent him a message.

[Xiao Xi: Yi-Gege, have you moved into your new place?]

Qiao Xi had always kept tabs on Zhou Yi's activities. Recently, though, she noticed he seemed busier than usual, replying to messages much slower.

Still, she understood—he'd been scoring perfect marks in several subjects, according to forum discussions.

Clearly, he'd been studying hard.

Feeling bored, Zhou Yi decided to invite her over. After all, he was about to graduate, and their differing grades meant fewer chances to interact.

[Zhou Yi: Yes, do you want to come visit? I think your place isn't far from mine.]

Qiao Xi's eyes lit up. Yi-Gege was inviting her to his new home!

[Xiao Xi: Really? Sure! Send me the address, Yi-Gege~]

[Zhou Yi: I'm heading out to buy some things now. I'll meet you downstairs at your building.]

[Xiao Xi: Okay! I'll be right there!]

Qiao Xi opened her wardrobe, intending to change into something nice.

However, aside from her school uniform, most of her clothes consisted of plain white dresses and overly formal princess gowns—none of which stood out.

She'd grown tired of those outfits.

Though the Qiao family wasn't as wealthy as Su Ning's billion-dollar empire, they were still considered affluent.

As the daughter, Qiao Xi faced strict expectations regarding her appearance and behavior.

She was never allowed to deviate from the image of a refined young lady—or simply put, she wasn't allowed to be herself.

It was exhausting.

Not even being able to choose her own clothes, forced into the mold of a socialite, her life felt anything but joyful.

With a sigh, she closed the wardrobe and opted for her school uniform, deciding it was the most comfortable option.

As she prepared to leave, her father, sitting in the living room watching TV, asked sharply, "Where are you going so late?"

Qiao Zhengguo was a stern man in his fifties. Though outwardly refined, his gaze was piercing and unyielding.

Beside him sat Qiao Xi's older siblings. Her eldest brother, Qiao Yan, twenty-eight, held a key position in the family business.

Her sister, Qiao Yu, twenty-one, had just graduated and joined the company.

Qiao Xi lowered her head and explained timidly, "A friend invited me to their new home."

Qiao Yu raised an eyebrow, her tone mocking. "You have friends? Since when? I didn't know that."

Qiao Xi's spirits sank. In her sister's eyes, she was unlikable, unworthy of friendship.

Forcing a smile, she replied softly, "It's a new friend. I'll introduce them to you next time, Sister."

Qiao Yan ignored her entirely, treating her as invisible.

As the sole heir, he commanded respect from everyone except their father.

Qiao Yu, adept at pleasing others, knew how to flatter both her parents and her brother.

By contrast, Qiao Xi, often sickly and introverted, had always been overlooked.

Qiao Yu seized every chance to belittle Qiao Xi, contributing significantly to her strained relationships within the family.

Knowing exactly what buttons to press, she remarked skeptically, "Xi, you're not sneaking out to meet some boy in the middle of the night, are you?"