《My 26-Year-Old Female Tenant》


 Chapter 1 – Pregnant with your child

    It was a rainy evening, with cold wind swirling and leaves scattered in this city. Le Yao and I stood at the entrance of the Maternity and Child Health Hospital, holding umbrellas. Amidst the crowd, she looked at me with a slightly pale face.


    "Zhao Yang, I''m pregnant."


    I was stunned for a moment, then stared at her and said, "Go find the person who got you pregnant. Why did you call me out?"


    "I''ve only been with one man this past year, and that''s you. If not you, then who?"


    "I can say I''ve only slept with one woman this past year. Do you believe me?"


    "Zhao Yang, are you even a man?"


    "We were just fooling around. Don''t drag me into this mess. If you want me to take responsibility, show me some evidence. Don''t play empty words with me. Who the hell wants to be a father without any proof?"


    Le Yao fell silent for a moment and said to me, "I''ve already had an abortion. There''s no evidence anymore."


    I was getting angry. "Do you think I''m a fool? You had an abortion and then... " I raised my hand, feeling speechless. "And then, you tell me the child is mine, are you pretending to be innocent or am I just stupid?... Le Yao, we''re both adults now. Can we do something decent?"


    Le Yao bit her lip and looked at me. After a while, she said, "If you don''t want to take responsibility, I''ll go to your company tomorrow..."


    "What the hell... Are you serious?" I said angrily.


    Le Yao tightly bit her lip and looked at me. But I felt that she was a good actress. We met at a bar and had a one-night stand. If she claims to have only been with one man in a year, I would be a fool to believe her.


    I didn''t want to get involved with her anymore. I took out my wallet, pulled out all the one hundred yuan bills and handed them to her. "You just want money, right? Take it, and don''t bother me again!"


    Le Yao didn''t say anything or bother me anymore. She nodded and turned around, holding the umbrella as she walked towards the hospital, as if there were still some unpaid fees...


    Watching her lonely figure in the rain, I suddenly felt an indescribable emotion. Although I didn''t believe that the child in her belly was mine, and although I was annoyed with her, I felt that her current life must not be easy. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have ended up in this situation with me.


    I remained silent for a while and finally called out to her, "Wait..."


    Le Yao turned around and looked at me.


    I took out a bank card from my wallet and handed it to her. "This card can be overdrawn. You just had surgery, so buy something to replenish your body."


    But Le Yao didn''t take it. "No need... My purpose was to see if you were willing to take responsibility. I came to you because I didn''t want to be slept with and get pregnant without knowing who the father is!"


    ...


    In the bar, I drank alone while waiting for my only close friend and colleague, Circle.


    Since the first day I came to this bar, I have seen too many lonely women and empty men drinking various kinds of alcohol here. They were either silent or filled with desire, searching for something called "living in a drunken dream".


    In fact, when we cast aside our physical bodies during the day and let our souls get lost in this world of lights and alcohol, we were already living in a drunken dream.


    I can''t remember which night it started, but I considered this place my home. I liked the women twisting their waists here, the swaying lights, the various colors of drinks, the scent of perfume mixed with tobacco. I liked the drunken dream here, and in that drunken dream, I engraved my messy past into a tombstone.


    I lit a cigarette, peeled off the film on the cigarette pack, and covered it in front of my eyes. I looked at the flickering lights, and my body swayed along with them. In the light refracted by the film, I seemed to see a kind of decadence of living for the moment! I couldn''t help but get lost in it!


    ...


    Circle took the film from my hand, and suddenly my world became clear again.


    "Why are you so anxious to find me?" Circle put down his briefcase and took out a cigarette from my pack to light it for himself.


    "Borrow me some money. I''ve been scammed!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Did you get another girl pregnant?" Circle said nonchalantly.


    "What the hell! This time I really got scammed..."


    "Who scammed you this time?"


    "Why are you asking so many useless questions?"


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    "Every time I lend you thousands and thousands, can you at least let me know who scammed my money?"


    "Le Yao." I angrily lit another cigarette and said.


    "The model?"


    "Yeah, it''s her. The entertainment circle is so messed up. She claims to have only been with one man in a year. Do you believe that? Circle, if this happened to you, would you believe it?" I banged the table with my fingers, making a loud noise."Such a thing could never happen to me. Besides, she wouldn''t scam you for just a few thousand yuan, would she? Last month, all the promotional posters for our department store were shot by her, and she was paid over ten thousand just for that..."


    I snorted and interrupted Circle, "Don''t you see her usual spending habits? Can ten thousand yuan last her a month? Now she''s in trouble and out of money, she thinks of me, her cheap fling... I''m such a fool. I should never have introduced her to our company. I didn''t shortchange her, and now she''s scamming me. Is there any professional integrity left?"


    Circle ignored my anger, lowered his voice and asked, "Did you use protection when you slept with her?"


    I thought for a while, only remembering that I was almost blackout drunk at the time. I couldn''t remember if I used a condom or not. After a while, I said, "I did... otherwise, I wouldn''t say I was scammed!"


    Circle looked at me suspiciously for a long time before sighing and saying, "Zhao Yang, we''ve been friends for almost ten years. Sometimes I really want to advise you. I know that breaking up with Jian Wei hit you hard, but it''s been two years. You really don''t need to degrade yourself like this... Youth doesn''t wait for anyone. Find a girlfriend and settle down, okay?"


    When Jian Wei''s name was mentioned again, I subconsciously paused before saying, "Don''t worry about me. I''m doing just fine!"


    "No worries, right?"


    ...


    Circle tried to advise me for a long time, and I impatiently humored him. In the end, he left with a huff, saying "You can''t make a brick without clay," forgetting about the money I borrowed from him.


    Fortunately, I''ve been frequenting this bar for two years and often bring friends here. I''m quite familiar with the bar owner, so this time, my drinks were put on a tab.


    Walking out of the bar, holding an umbrella on the rain-soaked streets, I truly understood what it meant to be alone. I''ve been struggling in this city for two years, and all I''ve gained is endless emptiness and loneliness. To escape this poisonous loneliness, I had to put on a mask of shame. With this mask, I could live in indulgence without guilt.


    But no matter how much I struggle on the edge of pain, she will never come back!


    ...


    I walked several blocks in a daze before returning to my apartment complex. It''s an old complex, so old that there''s no property management. In my first year here, I heard from the older women in the complex that it was built in the early 1990s. Over the years, each building in the complex has become dilapidated, but they all stand close together, as if afraid of being alone. This gives me the feeling that at night, when all is quiet, they might whisper to each other to alleviate decades of loneliness.


    With a cigarette in my mouth and keys in my hand, I walked towards my building. It''s the only one in the complex covered in ivy. Every summer, the south-facing wall is very green. If these buildings had genders, this one would undoubtedly be a woman, a cold woman.


    One that often makes people feel sad for her!


    ...


    To my surprise, a red Audi Q7 was parked under this dilapidated building. In my two years living here, I don''t recall ever seeing a car worth over half a million in this complex.


    Without thinking too much, I whistled and walked up the stairs to my apartment. When I reached the top floor, I was shocked to find the door ajar. I was sure I had locked it when I left. Instinctively, I thought there was a thief in the house, but then I remembered that I hadn''t paid my landlord, Old Li, rent for two months. It was probably him coming to collect.


    I pushed the door open to find Old Li and a strange woman sitting on the sofa. An Audi Q7 keychain was on the coffee table, undoubtedly belonging to the woman who owned the Q7 parked downstairs.


    A question flashed in my mind: How did Old Li, a commoner, manage to bring such a noble, untouchable woman like a white lily to this humble room? I was truly puzzled!

 Chapter 2 – A woman who drives a Q7

    I looked at this woman again. She sat upright, with slightly curled long hair hanging down to her shoulders. Her fair skin and slender figure, along with the upward curve of her mouth, exuded a confident and sharp aura. In short, she was an unquestionable beauty. Just by looking at her for the first time, it seemed like there was nothing in this world that couldn''t be forgiven!


    Lao Li waved at me, "Zhao Yang, come over, I have something to tell you."


    "Is it about the rent? I''ll pay it together next month when I receive my salary, okay?" I said with a forced smile, after all, I had been delaying the rent with Lao Li for so long.


    "It''s about the house... um... this house has been bought by this girl."


    "You sold this house?! Who''s the idiot willing to buy this old house that can''t withstand an earthquake!" I looked at the woman and shouted. In the face of the crisis of homelessness, I couldn''t care less about her elegance and beauty. I got angry first!


    Lao Li looked at the woman with a frown, feeling embarrassed. After a while, he said to me, "You should move out tonight. I won''t ask you for the rent for the past few months either!"


    "Lao Li, the older you get, the more you act like a grandson... Even if you want to sell the house, you should have let me know in advance. Where am I supposed to find a new place to live on such a rainy day?"


    "Just find a hotel to stay for now." Lao Li said without caring about my feelings.


    "You don''t even have the ownership of the house anymore, don''t talk to me!" I retorted at Lao Li, then turned to the unfamiliar woman and said, "The house is yours now, can I continue renting it from you?"


    The woman shook her head, "I bought it to live in myself, I have no plans to rent it out."


    I immediately became unsettled, "Miss, are you okay? You drive a million-dollar luxury car and come to live in this rundown house!... Are you intentionally trying to make things difficult for me?"


    The woman ignored my anger and calmly said, "You have one hour to move out..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, I interrupted, "I''m not moving... Have you ever seen someone who doesn''t give any notice and just tells others to move out?" I finished speaking and sat down next to the woman on the sofa. The woman instinctively moved to the other side.


    I lit a cigarette and looked around this old house. A sense of loss overflowed in my heart. Two years ago, when I came to Suzhou, I had been living here. In this house, I had endured the most difficult period of my life.


    Here, I had confided in the living room''s clock, and poured my heart out to the old floor lamp in the bedroom all night long. Every object here seemed like a close friend who had gone through hardships with me. Leaving here meant losing the last trace of my livelihood.


    The smoke emanating from my mouth made the woman annoyed, and she stood up from the sofa and walked to the other side.


    I felt even more unlucky. It seemed like all the bad things had happened to me today, and everyone who came to find me was unhappy.


    After a while, Lao Li said to both of us who were deadlocked, "I have something to attend to at home. You two can discuss the house matter slowly..." Without waiting for a response, he walked out as if he had thrown away a hot potato, stepping on the oil on the soles of his feet, as if he was skating, and left with his bag.


    There were only me and the woman left in the house.


    ...


    Outside the window, the strong wind and cold rain began to rage again. Such harsh weather made me even more unwilling to move out. I decided to sit here and stubbornly stay with this woman. After all, I had nothing left but time.


    I spoke to her, "Miss, may I ask for your name?"


    She responded without smiling, "Is it important?"


    "Of course it''s important. I need to know which immortal brought me to this homeless state on a cold rainy night!"


    She ignored the sarcasm in my words and replied coldly, "You only have 40 minutes left now. If you don''t move, I''ll call the police."


    I was about to explode when the phone rang. I frowned at the woman before taking out my phone from my pocket. It was a call from Le Yao, another woman who annoyed me.


    Impatiently, I answered the call, "What''s wrong again? Didn''t I give you money?"


    Le Yao remained silent for a moment before saying, "Zhao Yang, tomorrow is the weekend... Can you accompany me to the hospital for a check-up?"


    "Is the baby in your belly mine? Can''t you find a friend to accompany you? Do you think I have nothing to do?" I said in a rapid-fire manner, trying to make her give up on this unrealistic idea with my imposing manner. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "In this city, you are the only friend I have."


    "Le Yao, you''re mistaken. We are just friends with benefits, not friends... Do you know what friends with benefits means?"


    Le Yao ignored me and said softly, "I''m really scared alone!... If you don''t come, I''ll just let myself perish! I won''t go for the check-up anymore!"


    I patiently said, "You went alone today, so tomorrow you should be more familiar with the route."


    "I felt how terrifying it was precisely because I went alone yesterday!"


    Le Yao''s persistence was driving me crazy. Out of habit, I cursed, "Fuck you!"


    "Fuck you too! The child was conceived by you. If I had known, I would have given birth to the child and raised him, telling him that his father is a beast!"


    The sound of a disconnected call echoed from the phone.


    ¡­¡­


    "What a mess!" I lit a cigarette, smacked my forehead vigorously. For two years, I had never encountered such a troublesome friend with benefits like Le Yao. Despite her solemn promises, I could equally assert: the child is not mine! She claimed that I was her only friend in this city, which made me suspect that she was trying to swindle me. Just last week, I saw a photo of her partying at a bar with a bunch of people on Weibo.


    "Scumbag!"


    I looked up, only to find a woman staring at me with an extremely disgusted expression. It was just the two of us in the room, so there was no doubt that she was cursing me.


    "Were you listening to my call?" I asked emotionlessly, not caring that she had called me a scumbag, because even I couldn''t tell if I was one or not.


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    "You have 30 minutes left." The woman''s tone was even colder than before.


    What a troublesome rainy night. After giving all my cash to Le Yao today, I was penniless. Where could I move to now? The world is vast, yet there seems to be no place for me, Zhao Yang.


    After a moment of silence, I said to the woman, "Miss, look at the storm outside, it''s quite late now, I definitely can''t move out tonight!"


    The woman glanced out the window, finally giving me some leeway, "When will you move?"


    "Tomorrow."


    "What time?"


    "Before one in the afternoon." I said in a softer tone, because I was about to ask her for a favor.


    She nodded, "You can leave now, remember to move your things out on time tomorrow."


    I remained seated, leaning towards her after a while, and asked hesitantly, "Miss... could you lend me some money?"


    She seemed surprised, but firmly said, "I have no obligation to lend you money."


    "So you won''t lend me any? Then don''t expect me to leave tonight. I can''t possibly sleep under a bridge without a penny to my name!" I slumped onto the sofa, warning her, "Don''t even think about calling the police. This is your and Old Li''s fault for not giving me a heads up, at least let me prepare."


    She looked at me as if I were a plague, further confirming her eagerness to get rid of me. Unexpectedly, she said, "I don''t have any cash."


    I stared at her in disbelief. Her statement of not having cash was a sign of wealth and class. Wealthy people nowadays don''t usually carry cash in their wallets. Their consumption often reaches tens of thousands, and the small amount of cash that could fit in their wallets obviously wouldn''t suffice.


    "Miss, it''s fate, I also don''t like stuffing cash in my wallet!" I shamelessly told the truth, I rarely carried cash in my wallet.


    She ignored me.


    I continued, "How about this, you lend me your card, I''ll only swipe a thousand. I''ll return it to you when I move out tomorrow, or there''s an ATM 200 meters away downstairs, if you don''t trust me, you can come with me..."


    She pulled out a bank card from her wallet and interrupted me, "The password is six zeros. Before one o''clock tomorrow afternoon, get everything done."


    I took the bank card she handed me, "No problem!"


    I wasn''t surprised that she trusted me with her bank card. Old Li knew my phone number, workplace, and network of contacts very well. Or perhaps there wasn''t much balance on this card.


    ¡­¡­


    She sat quietly on the sofa. I took another look at her. Honestly, I had never seen such a beautiful woman in my twenty-something years of life. She seemed to possess a quality that other women didn''t have. However, the regrettable thing was: we didn''t seem to get along!


    As I was leaving, I half-jokingly, half-seriously said, "Miss, would you consider cohabiting with me? I can cook and give massages. After a long day of work, I can provide you with a full range of services at home, guaranteed to make you comfortable..."


    "Get out!" She finally lost her temper, a throw pillow flew towards me with missile-like precision.

 Chapter 3 – I only love you

    ?I left the small house I had lived in for two years with an umbrella. In fact, I didn''t feel good at all in my heart. When I proposed to live together with that woman, it was not a joke or taking advantage of her. At this moment, my mood was like a homeless child, losing the feeling of warmth, but no one knew that I felt like crying a little.


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    But people have to learn to respect reality, don''t they? When Lao Li sold this house, my departure was already inevitable.


    I found an ATM nearby and withdrew 1000 yuan from the card according to the agreement. I also checked the user information and found out that the woman who was excessively beautiful was called Mi Cai.


    I really like her name. "Mi" represents having enough to eat, and "Cai" represents colorful. If life has both rice and color, it is undoubtedly happiness. But I have neither of these two things. All I have left in my life now is hunger and black and white. So Mi Cai''s appearance is more like an irony to me! It mocks my lack of everything and my dead-end life!


    ...


    At the corner of the street, there is a hotel. I stayed there. Under the raging wind and rain all night, I fell asleep in a daze until morning. When I woke up, it was almost noon.


    I looked at the phone and found dozens of missed calls, all from Le Yao. She is really persistent. Seeing that I didn''t answer the phone, she sent me a message, saying: "If I had known, I should have given birth to the child in my belly and then used this so-called child to punish me for a lifetime."


    I found it a bit funny. She is not afraid of being an unmarried mother. Do I still fear being a cheap father in name only? Obviously, her complaints did not burden me mentally...


    After a simple wash, I hurriedly went to the hospital. The reason why I went may be because of the remaining bit of kindness, or perhaps out of sympathy between pao friends. I can''t explain why. Many times, people don''t necessarily understand themselves well.


    Arriving at the maternity and child hospital, I got off the taxi and saw Le Yao waiting for me with an umbrella at the entrance of the hospital.


    She noticed me the first time, and her expression of insecurity finally eased a bit. She walked towards me.


    I was very angry, but when I thought that she had been lying on the operating table here, facing the cold scalpel, I held back and didn''t lose my temper.


    Le Yao held my arm with a serious expression and looked at her belly. She looked like she loved me deeply, but I didn''t pity her.


    I broke free and finally couldn''t stand it anymore: "What the hell!... Tell me honestly, who made you pregnant?"


    "You, Zhao Yang!"


    "Do you believe that I will strangle you?" I stared at Le Yao and said.


    "Beast, strangle me if you want. If you had strangled me yesterday, it would have been a double murder. If you do it today, you will be in the headlines, and the whole country will know that there is such a beast like you!" Le Yao squinted at me and said, but her body pressed closer to mine.


    "Do you ever stop? I slept with you two months ago. How long have you been pregnant? Show me the ultrasound pictures."


    Le Yao ignored my doubts, but her tone suddenly softened. She held my arm tightly with deep regret and said, "Zhao Yang, if you didn''t have the abortion yesterday and let this child call you dad, how happy you would be!"


    I suppressed my anger and pushed her aside, saying, "Stop playing, okay?... Go for a check-up quickly. Once you walk out of this hospital, consider me dead and never bother me again!"


    Le Yao lowered her head and said to me after a while, "Don''t talk about living or dying. I won''t bother you anymore!"


    ...


    After Le Yao finished the check-up and was receiving intravenous fluids in the ward, I sat next to her like a family member, but I didn''t want to say a word. I always felt a little suffocated in my heart.


    The doctor pulled me aside outside the ward and said, "Young man, your girlfriend has a weak constitution and mild anemia symptoms. The post-abortion recovery must not be taken lightly, otherwise it will leave hidden diseases when she gets older. I will give you some medicine and supplements for recovery. You can go to the pharmacy on the second floor to get them."


    I nodded without thinking too much. I felt that the 1000 yuan I swiped with Mi Cai''s bank card yesterday should be enough to buy the medicine.


    With the prescription from the doctor, I went to the second floor. The staff took a full five minutes to hand me a bag full of medicine and supplements, and then asked, "The total is 3016 yuan. Will you pay by card or cash?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I was stunned and then cursed, "What the hell is this elixir that costs over 3000 yuan? Do you think I have a lot of money and want to rip me off?"


    The staff didn''t find it strange and looked at the man who had just bought medicine next door, saying to me, "See, he just bought 8000 yuan worth of medicine and supplements. If you don''t have money, don''t let your girlfriend get pregnant!"


    "You''re still so happy when you''re being taken advantage of, idiot!" I cursed at the man''s back, and then thought of Le Yao''s weak and helpless appearance after the abortion. I suppressed my anger and took out Mi Cai''s bank card from my wallet, saying, "Give me a discount, or just round down the 16 yuan."


    The staff took the bank card from my hand, gave me a disdainful look, and said, "How fresh, have you ever seen a hospital that gives discounts?"


    Holding the medicine I bought from the pharmacy, my heart was bleeding. Being a pao friend is really expensive!


    ...


    I supported the weak Le Yao out of the hospital after she finished receiving intravenous fluids, but the rain was still drizzling, and the air was heavy because of the continuous rain, making people feel depressed.


    Le Yao leaned against me and walked for a while, unexpectedly asking me, "Zhao Yang, there is a film crew inviting me to go to Hengdian to shoot a movie next month. Should I go?"


    "Is it reliable?" I asked gently, trying not to stimulate her emotions, but in fact, I had no interest in where she would go to shoot a movie.


    "I have already tried the makeup. The director and producer are very satisfied and think I am suitable for this role.""Alright, you guys who work as models, aren''t you all eager to break into the entertainment industry? This is your chance, seize it... Oh, this is the post-surgery medication prescribed by the doctor. Take it and follow the schedule. I''ll text you later on how to take it." I said, extending the bag in my hand towards her.


    Le Yao didn''t take the bag I handed her, but stared at me for a long time before softly saying, "Being a model is just a transitional phase for me. Actually, I graduated from the acting department of Shanghai Theatre Academy."


    "Holy shit! No wonder you were so convincing when you were scamming me. You''re a professional! I really am blind, not recognizing a top student from the Theatre Academy!" I exclaimed, half sarcastically, half teasingly.


    Le Yao completely ignored my outburst, and looked at me, asking, "Zhao Yang, do you think I''m beautiful?"


    "Would I sleep with you if you weren''t beautiful?" I retorted, staring at Le Yao. She was indeed a beauty, and a very down-to-earth one at that. Bright eyes, red lips, white teeth, a bit sexy, a bit charming.


    Le Yao nodded, "Zhao Yang, forget about Jian Wei. Once I become a female star, I will only love you!" After saying this, she took the bag from my hand and left like the wind.


    ......


    I came back to my senses after a while. A cold wind blew over, and I suddenly remembered that I had promised Mi Cai to help her move before one o''clock. It was already half past one. I immediately hailed a taxi and headed to my old place. On the way, I remembered that I had just swiped Mi Cai''s bank card for 3016 yuan worth of medication. I had told her I would only charge 1000, so now I owed her 4016 yuan. How am I going to pay back all this money?


    Thinking of Mi Cai''s face, so beautiful yet so serious, I was in turmoil!

 Chapter 4 – Collided with an evil weekend

    When I returned to my original residence, it was almost 2 o''clock. After paying the taxi fare, I walked towards my building. I wasn''t particularly anxious since it was the weekend, but I was annoyed about the 4016 yuan that I owed her. Even if I sold myself, I wouldn''t be able to get that much money.


    When I arrived at the building where I lived, I was stunned. I was filled with anger as I saw that my luggage had been moved to the corridor of the hallway. Some of the luggage that couldn''t fit in the corridor had already been soaked by the rain, including a pair of black leather shoes that Jian Wei had given me a long time ago.


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    I threw away the umbrella and took out the key from my pocket. I unlocked the door and kicked it open. Standing in the living room, I angrily shouted, "You damn bitch, get out here!"


    I shouted three times but no one responded. I kicked open the door of the room she lived in, but there was no one inside.


    Looking at the spotless room that had been tidied up, I thought about my luggage getting soaked outside in the rain. The fire in my heart burned even stronger. I raised my hand and threw her blanket onto the floor, and in my anger, I even overturned the mattress. Pillows and blankets were scattered all over the place.


    ...


    After my hysterical outburst, I stood in Mi Cai''s room and lit a cigarette to calm my anger. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai appeared outside the room at some point, holding a mop and a plastic bag filled with daily necessities. She had probably gone to the supermarket just now.


    She glared at me angrily. I grabbed her clothes at the chest and dragged her into the room, causing her to drop the bag and mop. The items scattered all over the floor, turning the previously spotless room into a mess due to my anger.


    I dragged her to the window and opened it, making her look at my luggage getting soaked in the rain. I scolded, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you throw my luggage in the rain?"


    Mi Cai broke free from my grip and coldly said, "You didn''t show up, so I asked someone to help you move out. Is there a problem?"


    "I was delayed by something else. What''s wrong with being a little late?"


    "Promise a time and stick to it." Mi Cai stood her ground, her eyes filled with determination.


    "You''re so unreasonable!" My anger grew even stronger, and I made a motion as if I was going to hit her.


    I thought she would instinctively dodge or close her eyes, but she continued to look at me coldly without even blinking.


    I put down my raised hand and squinted at her, saying, "You bring all my things back up here, and I''ll pretend this never happened."


    "I won''t go." Mi Cai''s beautiful eyes shimmered with tears, but she remained resolute.


    I nodded. "You won''t go, huh?..."


    As soon as I finished speaking, I threw the blankets and comforters on the floor out of the window, venting my frustration and seeking revenge.


    In the wind and rain, the falling blankets and comforters looked so helpless and innocent, like scars being mercilessly exposed. I stared at them absentmindedly, feeling regretful. I shouldn''t have been so impulsive, shouldn''t have treated this stubborn woman in front of me like this. Perhaps it was the sight of those black leather shoes in the rain that triggered something in me. My heart twitched, and in the reflection of the rain falling on the black leather shoes, I seemed to see the love between Jian Wei and me that had died out.


    ...


    The blankets and comforters finally landed on the ground amidst the alternating rain and wind. Feeling guilty, I said to Mi Cai, "Now we''re even!"


    After I finished speaking, tears fell from Mi Cai''s fair face. She bit her lip and looked at me.


    Looking at the devastated room, a sense of guilt suddenly filled my heart, but I still stared at her and said, "I know you despise me and look down on me. Yes, I''m poor and worthless, but that''s not a reason for you to disrespect me and my luggage. You''re a woman, and today I will show you some gentlemanly manners. I threw your blankets and comforters, but next time, I''ll throw you out as well!"


    After saying that, I took out the bank card she gave me yesterday from my wallet and placed it on the table. "I withdrew a total of 4016 yuan from the card. I don''t have the money to pay you back now, but I will find a way to repay you as soon as possible."


    Tears swirled in Mi Cai''s eyes. "Bastard, all of you are untrustworthy bastards..."


    I looked at her in surprise, unable to describe the feeling in my heart. After a while, I said, "I''m leaving. I will definitely repay the money I owe you. Although I''m late in fulfilling my promise, it doesn''t mean that I''m untrustworthy as you think."


    Mi Cai didn''t respond to me and continued to look at me with resentment.


    ...


    I left. I didn''t know if Mi Cai was still crying, but I knew that staying in that room, which I had turned into a mess, must have been unbearable for her.


    But just like what she had cursed at me before, I was indeed a scumbag, a beast like Le Yao had said, someone who couldn''t control his emotions and acted recklessly like a scumbag!I hailed a taxi and moved my luggage to a roadside pavilion where I could shelter from the rain. For a moment, I didn''t know where to go. The money I had left was not enough to rent a room, and staying in a hotel was not a long-term solution. The only person I was willing to borrow money from, Circle, was upset with me because I didn''t listen to his advice yesterday, and he temporarily refused to contact me.


    Yes, over the years, I''ve only borrowed money from Circle. I consider him a close friend and never hesitate to show him my hardships and destitution. But I would never do that to anyone else.


    It felt as if I had suddenly been abandoned by the world!


    ......


    I lit a cigarette and sat on the stone bench in the pavilion, watching the passing vehicles in a daze.


    My life shouldn''t be like this, but for the past two years, I''ve been living as lonely and helpless as the silent buildings in this city. All of this was because of that woman. I knew I would never have the chance to hold her hand again in my life, but I was still stubbornly stuck, unable to escape from her tenderness.


    The wind made me feel a bit cold, so I took out a scarf from my bag and tied it around my neck, finally blocking the endless cold wind pouring into my chest.


    For the next hour, I just sat in the pavilion, lost in thought and smoking, until it started to get dark, and I truly felt a desire to be saved.


    The sudden ring of my phone startled me. I wiped my face and took out my phone from my pocket. It was a call from Mr. Ban.


    Mr. Ban is my father. He is old-fashioned and reticent. He has been working in the procurement department of a small and medium-sized state-owned enterprise for 15 years. He was the deputy head of the department in his first year, and 15 years later, he still hasn''t been able to remove the "deputy" from his title. What''s more, the procurement department is a place where one can make extra money through kickbacks, but in 15 years, he has never accepted a single gift or kickback. His ironclad integrity has earned him the private respect of his colleagues, who call him "Mr. Ban". So, when I was 17, I also started calling him "Mr. Ban", but he always thought I was saying "my dad".


    I answered the phone and heard Mr. Ban''s emotionless voice. He said, "Zhao Yang, I''ll be in Suzhou soon. I have an exhibition to attend tomorrow morning, so I''m going to stay at your place tonight."


    I felt bitter. This weekend was really cursed. I couldn''t let Mr. Ban know that I was penniless and homeless! He might be old-fashioned, but that doesn''t mean he doesn''t have a temper.


    I quickly said, "Mr. Ban, can you find a hotel near the station to stay in? I''m having dinner with my colleagues tonight, and it''s going to take a while."


    "You eat your dinner. Don''t you always leave your keys under the door frame? I can get in."


    "There have been a lot of thieves recently, so I didn''t leave them there."


    Mr. Ban insisted, "Then wait for you. Don''t go out and play after dinner. Come back early."


    "Mr. Ban, you''ve been on the bus for half a day, you must be tired. Just find a nearby hotel to stay in. You don''t even want to take a taxi to my place, and it''s rush hour now. You can''t stand the squeeze on the bus!"


    Despite my excuses, Mr. Ban wasn''t in a hurry. Finally, he said, "Your mother knitted a sweater for you. I''ll bring it over."


    ......


    Listening to the "beep" of the hang-up, I was stunned for a moment. When I came to my senses, I immediately hoisted my luggage bag onto my shoulder, dragged my suitcase to the roadside, and looked around for a taxi. Tonight, I had to go back to the house that now belonged to Mi Cai.


    Whether she liked it or not, I had no choice but to stay. If Mr. Ban knew about my current situation, he would be furious.


    ¡ª¡ª---------------------


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 Chapter 5 – Wait a moment

    In the wind and rain, I took a taxi back to the run-down neighborhood where I had lived for two years. After getting off the car, I instinctively looked around to see if Mi Cai''s Audi Q7 was parked downstairs.


    Luckily, the car was not there. Even luckier, I hadn''t returned the house key to Mi Cai yet. I optimistically thought to myself: since Mr. Ban is only staying for one night, if she doesn''t come back tonight, everything will be smoothly resolved.


    I quickly ran back to the house, put my luggage back in its original place, and made the bed. Then I stood under an umbrella at the bus stop, waiting for Mr. Ban''s arrival.


    After about fifteen minutes, a bus from the long-distance bus station slowly arrived. I looked up and indeed saw Mr. Ban getting off the bus with a briefcase in his hand.


    I waved and shouted at him, "Mr. Ban, over here!"


    Mr. Ban came over to me with some surprise and asked, "Weren''t you going out to eat with your colleagues?"


    "Eating is a small matter, but you coming here is a big deal. I can distinguish between priorities," I said as I took the briefcase from Mr. Ban''s hand.


    Mr. Ban remained silent and followed me into the neighborhood.


    I complained, "Mr. Ban, since this is a business trip paid for by the government, can''t you just take a taxi next time you come here? It''s not like it won''t be reimbursed!"


    "Even if it''s paid for by the government, it''s still money. Saving a little bit is still saving," Mr. Ban said seriously.


    "Our government has trillions of foreign exchange reserves stored in the United States, so they won''t be short of money for your taxi fare!"


    Mr. Ban didn''t say anything. It was clear that he didn''t want to argue with me about values. He was always like this. If he believed something was right, he never wanted to explain. It was as if he was an independent world, and he had been a deputy section chief in this independent world for fifteen years.


    ...


    Back in the house, Mr. Ban took out a stainless steel lunchbox from the other bag besides the briefcase and said to me, "This is the wild crucian carp I caught last week. Your mother cooked it and asked me to bring it to you. Just heat it up when you want to eat it, it''s fine even if it''s not hot."


    "Let''s eat it tonight."


    Mr. Ban looked at me with confusion and asked, "Didn''t you already eat with your colleagues?"


    "I did, but you came, so I came back halfway." Then I quickly changed the subject, "By the way, did you bring the glutinous rice wine my mother made?"


    Mr. Ban nodded and took out a bottle from the bag that was originally filled with orange juice. Inside was the glutinous rice wine that I liked to drink.


    Mr. Ban and I each poured a glass of glutinous rice wine, ate the cooked crucian carp and peanuts, and waited for the rice porridge cooking in the rice cooker while chatting casually.


    I was somewhat absent-minded, afraid that Mi Cai would suddenly come back. It wouldn''t matter if she got scared, but if I revealed my true intentions in front of Mr. Ban, I would be done for.


    ...


    Just as I finished drinking a glass of glutinous rice wine, footsteps could be heard outside the door, followed by the sound of a key being inserted into the lock. I panicked a bit, glanced at Mr. Ban, and then at the door that was within reach.


    The door opened, and indeed, Mi Cai walked in. The scene in front of her made her stunned, but Mr. Ban didn''t react much. He just treated Mi Cai as someone who shared the rent with me, or maybe even as a girlfriend.


    Before Mi Cai could speak, I grabbed her arm and asked with concern, "You''ve been drinking, right? Let me help you into the house... Don''t thank me, we''re roommates, it''s what I should do."


    I said politely, but from an angle that Mr. Ban couldn''t see, I raised my hand and covered Mi Cai''s mouth, then pushed her into her room in a few steps.


    "Scum... Let go of me!" Mi Cai struggled and mumbled.


    "Don''t scream!" I said in a low voice. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai struggled again and took out her phone from her pocket. Even a fool would know that she was going to call the police to deal with me. My actions could indeed be considered as trespassing a private residence.


    I snatched the phone from her hand and pushed her onto the bed, straddling her to prevent her from continuing to struggle. I couldn''t care less about how thuggish this position was.


    In a low and nervous voice, I said, "Stop screaming, if my dad hears it, I''m dead!"


    Mi Cai completely ignored me, her expression filled with fear. She instinctively raised her hand and tightly grabbed my hair.


    It hurt so much that I felt like I was going to collapse. I gritted my teeth and didn''t dare to make a sound. "Be gentle, you''re almost pulling out all my hair!"


    "Scum..." Mi Cai mumbled with her mouth covered.


    "I am indeed a scum!" I angrily said.


    Then I whispered, "But in my dad''s eyes, I''m not! He has high blood pressure. If he knows that I''m broke and don''t even have a place to live, he''ll be so angry that he''ll have a heart attack... Sister, just pity me and put up with it for one night. He''s here on a business trip and will leave tomorrow morning... I promise I won''t bother you in the future!"


    Mi Cai finally stopped struggling, released my hair, but her beautiful eyes still stared at me with hatred and disgust.


    I cautiously removed my hand covering Mi Cai''s mouth. This time, she didn''t scream again.


    I let out a sigh of relief and only then realized that I was still straddling Mi Cai''s body. Just as I was about to apologize and get up, Mi Cai twisted her body and pushed me hard. I fell straight off the bed with a loud thud.


    "Zhao Yang, what were you doing in there?" Mr. Ban heard the noise and asked.


    I endured the pain and said, "I bumped into the cabinet..."


    Mr. Ban didn''t ask further. Mi Cai finally looked at me with a revengeful smile mixed with anger.


    "I warn you not to talk nonsense! My dad really has high blood pressure. He can''t handle any shocks. Stay in your room and don''t come out!"


    Mi Cai neither agreed nor disagreed.


    I made a pleading gesture, but she still didn''t say anything. I could only console myself that she had tacitly agreed. I looked at her imploringly before closing the door and walking outside.


    ...


    In the living room, Mr. Ban had already filled three bowls of rice porridge and said to me, "Zhao Yang, go and bring a bowl of porridge to that girl. She should eat something after drinking. Can''t let her go hungry."


    "You should let her rest."


    As soon as I finished speaking, Mi Cai came out of her room with a handbag in hand...Given all the wrongs I had done before, it wouldn''t be too much if Mi Cai decided to skin me alive. Revealing my true colors in front of Mr. Ban now, it was indeed my retribution.


    Just as I was getting nervous to the point of my legs going weak, Mi Cai, without a sidelong glance, walked towards the door. It seemed that she intended to leave the room to me for the night.


    Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the usually reticent Mr. Ban spoke to Mi Cai, who was about to step out of the door, "Miss, I''ve made you a bowl of porridge. Have it while it''s hot."


    I wished for nothing more than for Mi Cai to leave quickly. I kept giving her signals with my eyes, but to my surprise, Mi Cai looked at me, then nodded at Mr. Ban, saying, "Thank you, uncle."


    ......


    The two people who were just at each other''s throats were now inexplicably sitting at the same table, eating porridge. I remained silent like a guilty suspect, always on guard against Mi Cai saying something she shouldn''t.


    I occasionally glanced at Mi Cai out of the corner of my eye, not knowing what she was up to. However, it seemed that she had no intention of exposing me to Mr. Ban, and was just quietly sipping her porridge.


    Mr. Ban, always reticent and more focused on his meals than others, finished his bowl of porridge first. He got up, picked up his bag, and said to me, "Since you have a guest, I''ll go stay at a hotel."


    I looked at Mi Cai and said to Mr. Ban, "Mr. Ban, don''t leave. You can sleep with me later."


    "I''ve been snoring heavily lately. You have to work tomorrow, I can''t disturb your sleep." Mr. Ban shook his head, then took out a sweater from his bag and handed it to me, "Your mother knitted this for you."


    I took it and looked at it, somewhat puzzled, "Why did she knit two?"


    "One for you and one for your future partner. The sweaters knitted at home are warm!"


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    I was a bit helpless. I knew Mr. Ban and my mother were subtly reminding me to find a girlfriend soon.


    I looked at Mi Cai, who was still sipping her porridge, and teased, "It''s getting cold. I''ll give you a sweater later!"


    Mi Cai glared at me, but ultimately didn''t lose her temper in front of Mr. Ban. I was secretly pleased.


    ......


    When he was about to leave, Mr. Ban took out 3000 yuan from his wallet and handed it to me, "Take it."


    I laughed carelessly, "Why are you giving me money? I''m not short of money!"


    Mr. Ban stuffed the money into my hand, "You''re my son, I know you too well. How many times have I told you, you need to plan your spending... Pay your utility bills when you have time." He glanced at the utility bill reminder that had been dropped on the floor a few days ago.


    I suddenly felt a lump in my throat. I really wasn''t a son who could make my parents worry-free. I pushed the money back into Mr. Ban''s hand, "I really don''t need it. My mother is not well, you keep it to buy her some medicine. I''ll get my salary next week."


    Mr. Ban didn''t say much, he left the money on the table, took a look at Mi Cai, and walked out the door alone.


    ......


    I caught up with Mr. Ban and saw him off downstairs. The always silent him said to me, "That girl just now is not bad, she''s pretty!"


    I stopped Mr. Ban, pointed to the Q7 parked nearby and said, "Mr. Ban, give up your fantasies. She''s not my type... See that car? It''s hers."


    Mr. Ban followed my gaze to the red Q7, looking puzzled. I guess he was also surprised why Mi Cai, who drove such a car, would live in such an old place.


    Mr. Ban eventually chose to remain silent as usual. He was helpless about my terrible situation. Whether we like it or not, we are indeed living in an era where love needs to be proven with money. So I told him to give up his fantasies, and I was even less willing to fantasize!


    That night, after Mr. Ban left me with a "work hard", he walked away in the rain with his umbrella.


    Looking at his aging figure in the rain, I read his expectations in his words. He hoped that I would work hard, marry a good girl, and give him a grandchild... But Mr. Ban, I''m living in my own helplessness and struggle, in the heaviness and pull of reality. Those many good things to be realized, can they wait a bit longer?... Is that okay?

 Chapter 6 – They are getting married

    Back at the residence, Mi Cai had almost finished her bowl of porridge, while my bowl of unfinished porridge was still steaming. I took out two salted duck eggs from the bag left by Mr. Ban and handed one to Mi Cai, saying, "Try it."


    "I''m almost done eating." This was the first time Mi Cai spoke to me in a normal tone since we met two days ago.


    I smiled and said, "Have another bowl. Eating plain rice porridge won''t make you fat."


    Mi Cai ignored my suggestion and said, "Your dad has already left, so you can move out too."


    I looked at the storm outside the window and negotiated with Mi Cai, "I won''t move today. Let me stay for one more night, okay?"


    "No." Mi Cai said firmly.


    I slammed the chopsticks on the table and angrily said, "What''s wrong with you? Don''t you understand the concept of gratitude? Spit out the porridge you just ate, and I''ll move out immediately."


    Mi Cai looked at me with beautiful eyes, speechless at how quickly I changed my attitude.


    I softened my tone and said to her, "Sister, I''ve been running around all day today and I''m exhausted. Please let me off the hook."


    "Scum, who''s your sister!"


    "Miss... Miss is that okay?" I quickly said, promising, "Tomorrow, I promise I''ll move out after work."


    After a while, Mi Cai finally relented and said to me, "Remember what you said."


    "Of course, I''ll definitely move out tomorrow!"


    Mi Cai looked at me dissatisfied, picked up the bowl and walked towards the rice cooker filled with plain rice porridge, and then filled herself a small bowl.


    "Aren''t you not eating anymore?"


    Mi Cai glared at me and said, "Since I''ve already eaten, what''s wrong with having another bowl?"


    I shook my head and sighed, "Ah! This is how people become corrupted!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Although I was joking, I peeled the salted duck egg and handed it to Mi Cai. She didn''t refuse, and so the two of us continued eating in this strange atmosphere.


    ...


    After dinner, I handed the 3,000 yuan left by Mr. Ban to Mi Cai and said, "Here''s 3,000 yuan for now. I''ll give you the rest when I get my salary next week."


    "Do you still have money to rent a place after giving it to me?... Let''s pay it back together in the future."


    "You''re considering me, aren''t you? It''s not that I don''t want to pay you back." I said as I put the money into my wallet.


    "As long as you move out quickly, everything else doesn''t matter." Mi Cai said, taking another sip of porridge. It seemed that she really liked this porridge. Indeed, Mr. Ban''s porridge-making skills were extraordinary. He could turn ordinary rice porridge into something delicious.


    "I''m not a plague, there''s no need for you to despise me like this!" I sighed.


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    "With your character, how could I like you?"


    I smiled and didn''t say anything else. Maybe my character was really not good, or maybe she misunderstood me a bit, but it didn''t matter. I didn''t need to clarify or explain because after work tomorrow, we would draw a clear line between us.


    I finished the porridge in my bowl in one gulp, then stared at Mi Cai. At this moment, she was wearing a white long-sleeved chiffon shirt, black and white checkered pencil pants, and her slightly curled medium-length hair added to her charm, but she looked fragile.


    I took out the knitted sweater left by Mr. Ban and gestured in front of Mi Cai. After a while, I sighed and said, "It''s getting cold. Don''t you think this sweater suits you?"


    Mi Cai frowned and said, "What? Do you want me to owe you a favor?"


    "Really, it suits you... If you''re willing to let me continue renting this room, I don''t mind giving it to you. My dad said this sweater was knitted by my mom herself. It''s thick and warm for the winter!"


    "No need for such a luxury."


    I smiled and handed her the sweater, saying, "I was just joking. Even if you don''t rent it, I''ll still give it to you. I don''t have any plans to have a girlfriend for now, and it''s a waste to keep such a good sweater by my side. I also want to apologize for my unreasonable behavior towards you yesterday."


    I looked extremely sincere, and Mi Cai hesitated for a moment before actually accepting the sweater I handed her. She said to me, "Fine, I accept your apology... and be nicer to your dad. Don''t deceive him anymore and make him worry."


    "Is there a logical connection between accepting an apology and being nicer to my dad?" I asked in surprise.


    Angry at my questioning, Mi Cai said, "You really are scum!" After speaking, she stuffed the sweater into her handbag and pushed the door open, leaving.


    I was left alone in the room, a little confused about Mi Cai''s sudden anger. I sat there thinking for a long time before finally understanding. Perhaps she temporarily accepted my apology and even allowed me to stay for another night out of sympathy for Mr. Ban. But she still had no feelings for me and was annoyed by me. In her eyes, I played with a woman''s feelings, deceived my own father, and broke my promises. If that didn''t make me scum, then what was I?


    Mi Cai didn''t stay in this room that night. I thought to myself: she must have another place to stay in this city, but why did she have to stay here?


    I racked my brains but couldn''t figure it out, so I stopped thinking about it. There are always strange people and strange things in this world, and compared to the countless wonders in the world, this was not too surprising. So there was no need to dig deeper, just consider it a form of artistic behavior for the rich.


    Actually, I quite liked living in such a confused manner most of the time because the truth could bring pain, and gaining something meant the possibility of losing it. So not knowing the truth meant no pain, and not gaining meant no loss.


    ...


    The next day, after the weekly routine meeting of the planning department, Circle and I walked out of the meeting room side by side, followed by another colleague, Zhao Li.


    I lit a cigarette and waved to him, saying, "Come here, Zhao Li."


    Zhao Li looked at me warily and asked, "What''s up?"


    "I heard you like outdoor sports?"


    "Yeah, I really like it!"


    I smiled and said, "I have a set of professional outdoor sports equipment that I bought but haven''t used much. I''ll sell it to you cheap.""Why are you buying outdoor gear when you don''t even like outdoor activities?" Zhao Li asked with a puzzled look.


    "It''s precisely because I don''t like it that I''ve never used it. It''s as good as new, absolutely fantastic! It''s from Arc''teryx, I''m giving you a bargain, selling it to you for 2000." I said, slinging an arm around Zhao Li''s shoulder.


    "Really?" Zhao Li asked, his face lighting up with joy.


    I replied impatiently, "Of course it''s real. Hurry up and give me the money. I''ll have Circle bring it to you tomorrow. It''s been sitting at his place since I bought it."


    Zhao Li counted out 2000 yuan from his wallet and handed it to me, reminding, "Don''t forget to bring it to me tomorrow. I can use it for rock climbing next weekend."


    I stuffed the money into my pocket and said, "You can tell Circle yourself."


    Zhao Li then turned to Circle, who was not far away and seemed distracted, "Circle, remember to bring me the outdoor gear that Zhao Yang left at your place."


    Circle, coming back to his senses, asked with a puzzled look, "What outdoor gear?"


    "The Arc''teryx gear from Zhao Yang. He sold it to me." Zhao Li patiently explained.


    I took a deep drag on my cigarette and headed straight for the restroom. Behind me, Circle cursed loudly, "Damn it, what the hell did he sell? That''s mine!"


    I heard Circle reluctantly tell Zhao Li, "Alright, don''t be upset. I''ll bring it to you tomorrow."


    ......


    After finishing my cigarette in the restroom, I returned to the office. There was a cup of coffee on Circle''s desk. He was wearing anti-radiation glasses, his fingers tapping away on the keyboard.


    I turned on my computer and played with the lighter in my hand while the system was booting up. I struck up a conversation with Circle, "Still working on the proposal for GUCCI''s counter in our mall?"


    Circle didn''t hold a grudge about the earlier incident and sighed, "Yeah, I''ve been busy for almost a week. The business development department is waiting for our proposal to negotiate with GUCCI''s representative."


    I responded and didn''t ask further. Circle and I were polar opposites. He was a workaholic, while I was always just getting by. The result of our different attitudes was that after two years of working, Circle had become the team leader of the planning department''s copywriting team, while I was still at the bottom.


    Suddenly, Circle stopped typing and stared at me with a heavy look for a long time.


    "What''s wrong?" I asked, puzzled by Circle''s strange behavior.


    Finally, Circle said, "I noticed you''ve been down lately, and there''s something I didn''t tell you... Yan Yan and I are getting married next week."


    "You''re finally getting married!" I blurted out, then felt a pang of heartache.


    Circle had met Yan Yan because of Jian Wei and me. Yan Yan was Jian Wei''s best friend, and Circle and I were close buddies. After Jian Wei and I started dating, Circle and Yan Yan had the opportunity to meet, and they fell in love.


    During our college years, the four of us often hung out together and built a deep friendship. We joked several times about getting married after graduation.


    Circle and Yan Yan''s marriage was a joyous occasion, but it also ruthlessly exposed my pain and loneliness... I couldn''t continue my love story with Jian Wei.


    Sometimes, people''s pain comes from comparison... But what else could I do at this moment, other than envy and bless Circle and Yan Yan in my pain and loneliness?


    The past will eventually turn into dust, but the wind can''t blow it away. It settles in my heart, covering my world in a layer of ash.


    I smiled at Circle and said, "Where''s your wedding invitation, buddy? Hand it over."


    Circle nodded and took out the invitation from his drawer. I opened it, and in the photo on the invitation, Circle and Yan Yan were beaming with happiness.


    ......


    After a long silence, I asked Circle, "Will Jian Wei come back to China for your wedding?"


    "You know, ever since she moved from Los Angeles to New York, we''ve lost contact. But a few days ago, Yan Yan sent her an email. She hasn''t replied yet, so we don''t know if she''ll come back."


    "Oh, really?" I responded indifferently, stopped talking to Circle, and started typing on my computer. But my eyes were lost in the screen.

 Chapter 7 – The child is originally yours

    I spent the whole day in a daze, until the lazy evening sunlight reflected on the transparent glass, I realized it was time to get off work.


    Circle at the next table was still busy, while I had some free time, so I went to the bathroom to smoke and waited for the end of work.


    When I came back, Yan Yan was sitting on my office chair, it seemed she was waiting for Circle to get off work.


    I teased Yan Yan, "Yan Yan, your buttocks have become plump again, my chair can hardly fit you!"


    "Stop it, you''re so annoying!" Yan Yan glared at me and said.


    I raised my eyebrows and smiled at Yan Yan. Actually, she was a beauty, very sexy, especially her buttocks, round and perky, with long and slender legs, tall and slim figure, all combined together, it was a perfect match. If she walked on the street, looking at her back, her curves, she was definitely the most beautiful.


    I went to Circle''s side and patted his shoulder, asking, "Have you finished the overall framework of that planning proposal?"


    "I have finished the overall idea and framework, just need to add some explanatory text at the end," Circle replied.


    "Then let me do the rest, you can leave first, don''t let Yan Yan wait for you."


    Yan Yan happily held my face with both hands and said, "Zhao Yang, you''re so considerate. Don''t you know how busy we will be later?"


    "Getting married, there will definitely be a lot of things to do," I said, removing Yan Yan''s hands from my face.


    Circle finally stretched his body and stood up, saying to me, "Alright, I have to go to the wedding company with Yan Yan, and also to the bridal shop... If you have any questions, we can communicate through phone anytime."


    "Don''t worry, go and do your work," I said, sitting on Circle''s office chair.


    Circle quickly packed up his things, Yan Yan held his arm, and before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and said to me, "Zhao Yang, our company''s building is about to open for sale. If you want to buy, I can help you get an internal price, which can save you 1500 yuan per square meter!"


    Yan Yan was the sales department manager of a local real estate company, and the internal price she could get was definitely attractive. Buying a house could save at least a hundred thousand yuan. But even so, I didn''t have the ability to buy a house.


    "We''ll talk about it later," I replied.


    Circle asked Yan Yan, "Which project is opening this time?"


    "Zhongyuan Ecological City Phase 2," Yan Yan replied.


    Circle put down his briefcase and said to me seriously, "Zhao Yang, buy it. This project is really good. If you miss this opportunity, who knows how long you''ll have to wait for the next one, and the housing prices will definitely skyrocket in the future!"


    "What''s the point of buying? You know my financial situation," I said.


    "Yan Yan and I have tens of thousands of yuan in savings. We can lend it to you first, and you can figure out a way to gather the down payment with Mr. Ban, it shouldn''t be a problem, right?"


    "You two still have mortgage and car loans to pay, and you''re getting married soon. You''re spending money everywhere, I don''t need to worry about it," I said, urging Circle and Yan Yan to leave.


    Yan Yan and Circle glanced at each other, sighed softly, and looked at me before leaving.


    ...


    Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, I saw Yan Yan holding Circle''s arm and walking towards the white Mazda 6 they had just bought. I felt a strange feeling in my heart.


    Circle, Yan Yan, and I all graduated from Suzhou University. They already had their own house and car in this city, and they were about to enter the hall of marriage. I couldn''t understand why there was such a big gap between us. Was it a joke from heaven, or did I ruin myself?


    In my lonely gaze, I couldn''t help but think: if Jian Wei and I hadn''t broken up, should we be getting married too?


    ...


    At 9 o''clock in the evening, I finally finished the planning proposal left by Circle. I stretched my body and carried a cup as I walked towards the employee rest area. I was ready to have the last cup of coffee before leaving work.


    I absentmindedly listened to the sound of coffee liquid falling into the cup from the coffee machine, like a gentle call, and even my desires had nowhere to hide.


    I took a sip of coffee, looked at the heavy night outside the window, and the struggling neon lights. I really wanted to abandon this tired body!


    ...


    The phone rang, I took it out of my pocket and saw that it was Le Yao again.


    I answered the call, and Le Yao''s voice sounded weak, "Zhao Yang, where are you?"


    "Working overtime," I responded with an unclear mood. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Can you come and help me with the laundry? I can''t touch water with my hands."


    "What the hell, don''t you have a washing machine? I''m annoyed and asked angrily.


    Le Yao''s voice sounded tired as she said, "You come and f*ck me."


    I was speechless for a moment and said, "My focus is on the washing machine, not f*cking you!"


    "Some clothes can''t be washed with a washing machine."


    "Then take them to the dry cleaner. I''ve been working all day, tired as hell, I don''t have the energy to do it," I firmly refused.


    "Underwear and panties can''t be taken to the dry cleaner, right?"


    "Are you crazy? Let me wash your underwear and panties!"


    "Zhao Yang, I just had surgery, I really can''t touch water with my hands. Can''t you show some mercy?" Le Yao choked.


    "I know you graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Please, can you not act with me anymore?"


    Le Yao burst into tears, "I''m pregnant with your child, and you treat me like this? Have you ever thought about my feelings? Do you know how much it hurts me?"


    "You''re acting like a character from a Qiong Yao drama, asking questions in parallel!"


    Le Yao sobbed, "Zhao Yang... you beast... Do you believe that I''ll die for you?"


    I was at a loss for what to do with Le Yao''s behavior. "Miss, I''m afraid of you. Can I leave now?"


    Le Yao''s tone suddenly became calm. "Hurry up and come. I''m waiting for you."


    Hearing the sound of the phone hanging up, I suddenly thought: if Le Yao can''t make it to the level of a leading actress, then the entertainment industry is truly blind. Her acting skills are simply incredible!


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    People who study acting are truly terrifying, especially women who study acting!


    ...


    Leaving the company and standing on the side of the road waiting for a taxi, I suddenly remembered that I promised Mi Cai to help her move after work. It was already almost 9:30!


    "I hope she didn''t throw my things out again," I muttered to myself.


    The taxi had already stopped beside me. I thought for a moment: since I''ve already broken my promise, I''ll go wash Le Yao''s clothes first. As for the moving, I''ll deal with it later when I go back.


    After about 15 minutes, I arrived at the single apartment where Le Yao lived. I stood at the door and repeatedly pressed the doorbell, venting my frustration at being forced to come.


    Le Yao, wearing pajamas and holding a stuffed toy in her arms, opened the door for me with a haggard expression. Her pitiful appearance made me swallow all the harsh words I had prepared, and I only complained, "You''re such a troublemaker!"


    "If you didn''t sleep with me, we wouldn''t have these problems," Le Yao said, moving aside to signal me to come in.


    I didn''t have the mood to argue with Le Yao. I walked into the room and asked her, "Where are the clothes?"


    "In the dirty laundry basket in the bathroom."


    I went to the bathroom and was shocked. The two extra-large laundry baskets were filled with clothes. I angrily said, "Did you intentionally save up a year''s worth of clothes to torture me?"


    Le Yao ignored me, but the sound of the TV in the living room became even louder.


    I was so angry that my liver hurt, but I still gritted my teeth and dumped all the clothes from the laundry basket. I piled up the ones that could be washed in the washing machine and the ones that needed to be hand-washed separately. I also separated the underwear and put them in another pile.


    I spent the next hour working with the washing machine, finally finishing washing this pile of clothes. I carried the clean clothes to the balcony one by one and hung them up. After finishing everything, I stood on the balcony and lit a cigarette to relieve my fatigue.


    Le Yao came to my side with a fruit plate and asked softly, "Do you want to eat?"


    "I have no appetite," I took a deep drag of the cigarette and said.


    Le Yao took the cigarette from between my fingers and wiped the sweat off my forehead with a tissue from her pocket. Her tone was gentle as she said, "Zhao Yang, the magazine says that a man who is willing to wash a woman''s underwear is definitely a gentle and reliable good man."


    "Get lost, okay? Do you think I want to help you wash them?"


    Although I scolded her, Le Yao still held onto my arm and leaned against my body, asking, "Have you ever washed clothes for other women besides me?"


    "No," I impatiently replied.


    "What about Jian Wei?" Le Yao pursued.


    "Are you annoying or what? Why are you asking such pointless questions?" I said, pushing Le Yao away.


    Le Yao had long been accustomed to my attitude. She didn''t get angry or say anything, she just looked at me.


    I put on my coat and said to her, "I''m leaving. Don''t call me anymore."


    Le Yao grabbed onto me. "I won''t let you go."


    "Let go," I raised my arm and shook off Le Yao''s hand.


    Le Yao blocked the doorway and said, "Don''t leave yet, I have something for you." She took out a bank card from her pajama pocket, which seemed to have been prepared in advance, and handed it to me. "Here, there''s ten thousand yuan in the card. I know you spent a lot of money this time."


    I was stunned and asked, "Where did you get the money?"


    "I received an advance from the crew."


    "Have you suddenly grown a conscience?"


    Le Yao stared at me with a mournful look for a long time. "The child is yours... I said, I just want to see your responsible attitude. I will naturally repay the money you spent."


    The more serious Le Yao''s expression became, the more I felt that she was acting. In my eyes, she was just a woman who enjoyed indulging in the nightlife. The responsibility she spoke of was completely unreliable, and I was the same. So I understood it too well.


    The reason why she insisted that the child was mine might just be a kind of consolation after emptiness, or perhaps she herself didn''t even know whose child it was... It''s hard to explain this strange consolation in words, but those who live in this decadent circle understand... We may seem carefree, but our hearts are empty!


    ...


    In the end, I didn''t take Le Yao''s card, even though I was in need of money. As for why I didn''t take it, I can''t really say. Perhaps deep down, I sympathize with Le Yao. I may scold her, but when she needs help, I will still lend a hand.


    No matter how glamorous she appears, I understand the emptiness behind her, because we are the same kind of people. The only difference is that one day she may truly become famous in the entertainment industry, while I am destined to live an ordinary and lonely life!


    ...Leaving Le Yao''s place, I immediately hailed a taxi to my old residence. I sincerely hoped that Mi Cai hadn''t moved my luggage out because I failed to keep my promise. I didn''t want to work overtime, nor did I want to be bothered by Le Yao to do laundry! But life is full of such unexpected events that leave me helpless.

 Chapter 8 – Your punishment

    The car drove into the old neighborhood. I pressed the car window first to see if Mi Cai had taken out my luggage. I was satisfied with the result. Although I didn''t follow the agreement, my luggage was not downstairs. It seemed that my warning last time worked.


    I floated upstairs lightly and opened the door. The room was pitch black. I looked into Mi Cai''s room, but there was no light coming through the crack in the door. It turned out that she didn''t come back tonight. No wonder I didn''t see her car downstairs, and no wonder she didn''t move my luggage.


    It''s good that she didn''t come back. I can stay here for the night again. Perhaps this is the only comfort given to me by heaven at the end of the day.


    After a simple wash, I lay on the bed. When I closed my eyes and turned off the light, the world suddenly became quiet. I thought I could quickly fall asleep in this state, but some fragments rushed into my mind.


    All these fragments were about the past, recalling the past and bringing out the emptiness and decline of the present. I don''t understand why Circle and Yan Yan could persist and eventually get married after graduation, while Jian Wei and I ended so dimly. What did I do wrong? I really hope Jian Wei can tell me in person. But such a simple request has become a luxury!


    So I suffered in pain for two years without understanding, and indulged for two years.


    ...


    I wiped my face heavily, sat up from the bed, and sat still for a long time. I got out of bed and found the long-sealed guitar from the cabinet. I wanted to sing a song, for myself... for Jian Wei.


    I tuned the guitar with a tuner, plucked the strings, and hummed "Lost" by Qu Yinghao.


    "Who can see through this prosperity, once again, eyes blurred; who can escape from this noise, once again, eroding you; who has mentioned these past events, once again, forgetting you; who will meet again in the next life, once again, falling in love with you.


    I''m lost, can''t find the map, it''s so hard to walk this path of emotions; I''m lost, can''t find the way back, why has the world become so numb; I''m lost, can''t find the way I came, the people around me are all strangers; I''m lost, standing still in place, while your heart has flown far away..."


    When I sang the last sentence, I felt a warm sensation in the corner of my eye. I''m lost, really lost. I thought I had come a long way in these two years, but I was just standing still on a map called love, while her heart had flown far away...


    I lit a cigarette and took a puff. Suddenly, the door was knocked, and I was so scared that I almost broke the guitar strings. Isn''t there no one at home?


    Mi Cai''s voice came from outside the door, "If you''re in the mood for singing, please find a place where there''s no one. This is a residential area."


    I put on slippers, opened the door, and Mi Cai stood in front of me wearing a camisole. Her well-proportioned figure was comparable to Yan Yan''s, and her pretty face was so quiet under the dim light, making her temperament unparalleled.


    "Didn''t you hear me singing ''Am I Lost''? If I''m lost, can I find a place where there''s no one?" I said with a half-smile.


    "You''re twisting the facts!"


    I ignored Mi Cai''s dissatisfaction and asked, "Why are you at home?"


    "I''ve been here."


    "I didn''t see your car downstairs!"


    "It''s parked in the empty space across the street."


    "No wonder!" I sighed and immediately wanted to close the door, afraid that Mi Cai would bring up the topic of moving. It''s almost one o''clock in the morning now, where can I move to?


    Mi Cai pushed the door with both hands, not letting me succeed.


    I glared at her angrily and asked, "Are you really planning to make me move out now?"


    "No." Mi Cai paused and said, "Since you want to sing and get lost, I can take you to a place where there''s no one and let you vent."


    "Really? Are you that kind?" I asked cautiously.


    "Anyway, I can''t sleep because of your noise. If you''re still interested, I can be your audience." After thinking for a moment, she added, "Your voice is not bad!"


    I felt that Mi Cai was taking the initiative to repair our relationship, or she was amazed by my singing, or she pitied me, this decadent man. Anyway, no matter what her motive was, I felt that I could agree to her request because I couldn''t sleep either. Let''s go crazy together!


    ...


    After a while, Mi Cai changed her clothes, and I wore pajamas. We walked downstairs with the guitar, one after the other.


    Mi Cai drove her own car, and I opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. I had sat in luxury cars before, but it was my first time in a Q7, so I couldn''t help but take a few more glances.


    Before I could fasten my seat belt, Mi Cai had already stepped on the accelerator heavily. The powerful thrust of the Q7 almost killed me against the windshield.


    "At this late hour, do you want a corpse sitting next to you?" I rubbed my sore head and angrily said to Mi Cai.


    "Who told you not to fasten your seat belt? Those who don''t follow the rules deserve to be hit!" Mi Cai said indifferently.


    I pointed at Mi Cai in anger and helplessness and said, "You''re really getting back at me!"


    Mi Cai completely ignored me and continued to drive expressionlessly.


    ...


    After about twenty minutes, Mi Cai really brought me to a deserted wasteland where no one would come. She stopped the car, pulled up the handbrake, and finally turned off the engine, saying to me, "There''s no one here, sing to your heart''s content."


    "The space in the car is too small, I can''t fully display my skills."


    "Then sing outside.""Do you take me for a fool? If you drive off later, where can I go to complain?" I said warily. Ever since she deliberately started the car while I hadn''t fastened my seatbelt, I''ve been suspicious of her intentions.


    "You sure talk a lot!" Mi Cai unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car first, acting as if she was the innocent one and I was the villain.


    I also got out of the car, standing shoulder to shoulder with Mi Cai, and looking up at the sky, I realized: the weather tonight was good, the moon was bright, the stars were sparse, and the air was fresh. I felt a sense of relief, as if I had finally escaped from the hustle and bustle.


    My heart gradually calmed down. I was genuinely grateful to Mi Cai for bringing me to this quiet place. I needed to vent, to release all the unhappiness and dissatisfaction with reality in my heart.


    I strummed the guitar and started singing a song by Jin Wulin called "Metamorphosis".


    After I finished singing, Mi Cai unexpectedly clapped and asked, "Do you also like serious music?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "YES, it feels better to sing with more instruments," I replied, surprised that Mi Cai knew this song. Serious music is not mainstream, it has strong artistic and academic qualities, and both performers and listeners need a certain aesthetic ability.


    Mi Cai nodded and said, "You''re not as dumb as you look!"


    "Judging people by their appearance is your narrow-mindedness."


    Mi Cai didn''t argue with me and said, "Please continue."


    I put down the guitar and said to Mi Cai, "You seem to know a lot about music. Can you play the guitar? Play a song."


    "We agreed that I would be the audience. You continue."


    I nodded. On such a dim night, in the boundless wilderness, having a woman as beautiful as her willing to be my audience was a gift from heaven!


    Thinking about it, I felt even more guilty for being so rough with Mi Cai before. She had been quite nice to me, lending me money, letting me stay at her place for an extra night, and now accompanying me to vent my frustrations. Maybe I really should change my bad temper!


    A cold wind blew, and Mi Cai subconsciously pulled her thin clothes tighter.


    Feeling a bit sorry for her, I said, "You should get in the car. I can vent on my own."


    "Are you sure?"


    I nodded.


    Mi Cai opened the car door and got in, but she didn''t completely isolate herself from me. She rolled down the window, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at me, as if she was looking forward to my next song.


    I strummed the guitar and started singing another song. As I was getting into it, the car behind me suddenly started. I turned around abruptly, and Mi Cai had already fastened her seatbelt.


    She said to me with a smirk, "Your voice is really good... but I have to go now. This is your punishment for breaking your promise and being rude." With that, the car shot off into the night like an arrow.


    "Damn you!" I took off my slipper and threw it at her car, but it didn''t do any damage.


    "You bastard, you bitch, I knew you were up to no good... taking advantage of my sympathy, you better watch out for divine retribution... damn it! I''m not done with you!" I was so angry that I was spinning around, cursing at Mi Cai who had already disappeared from my sight.


    ...


    I''ve always been a friendly person, easy to trust and not fond of being on guard. I deserved this!

 Chapter 9 – Repay evil with kindness

    Mi Cai drove me here at a speed of 100 miles per hour for 20 minutes, which means that I am at least 30 kilometers away from my residence now. I feel like dying. Why do I always encounter these absurd things recently?


    I picked up my slippers from the ground, adjusted my clothes, and looked up. Fortunately, the North Star was still twinkling. I found the brightest star, Jade Balance, and determined the directions. I walked towards the dim lights in the distance, like a lonely escape.


    After half an hour, I finally saw a road with cars passing by. I took a closer look and wanted to strangle that wicked woman. It was the intersection of the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway between Suzhou and Wuxi.


    ...


    After struggling until dawn, a kind passerby finally drove me to the city. I took a taxi back to my place, but because I didn''t bring my wallet, I didn''t even pay for the fare. I just threw the half-finished pack of cigarettes to the driver and ran away.


    As I entered the residential area, the flames of anger started burning inside me. I wanted to talk to Mi Cai, not about life or ideals, but about why she treated me like this.


    I put the guitar on the table in the living room and went to Mi Cai''s door. I knocked on it vigorously, venting my frustration, "Is it fun to play with me? Do you know that I have to go to work tomorrow..." I looked at the sky outside the window, which was already getting bright, and corrected myself, "No, it''s today. You''ve been messing with me all night. How can I go to work in this state? If the boss is unhappy and fires me, will you support me?"


    I kept talking, but there was no response from inside the room.


    "If you want me to curse even more harshly, just keep pretending not to hear me." I said and knocked on the door again.


    There was still no response from inside.


    "Could it be that she hasn''t come back?" I wondered as I twisted the doorknob, only to find that it was locked.


    Anyway, in Mi Cai''s eyes, I am scum. It wouldn''t make much difference if I committed the crime of breaking into her room at night. I found the key to her room from a bunch of keys, and then opened the door. I didn''t care if she was sleeping or not, I had to talk to her.


    I turned on the light and finally saw Mi Cai lying on the bed with her back facing me, covered with a quilt, still silent.


    "You sleep so soundly. Have you ever thought about the suffering I''ve been through?... The wind blew my nose all the way..." I sneezed, rubbed my nose, and angrily said, "Let me tell you, I''ve been alive for more than 20 years, and I''ve never seen anyone like you, so sneaky, so unkind!"


    I kept scolding, but she remained as calm as Mount Tai, motionless!


    Just as I was about to pull her up from the bed and confront her face to face, she suddenly had a severe coughing fit...


    Based on common sense, if my sneeze just now was a cold, then her coughing definitely indicated a fever. She must have caught a cold last night.


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    ...


    I was stunned for a moment, then cursed, "Heaven has eyes!... You''re getting your retribution!"


    Mi Cai coughed again, but didn''t say anything to me. I didn''t know if she ignored me on purpose or if she was too weak and in pain due to the fever.


    "Get out." After a while, Mi Cai spoke coldly to me.


    "No need to remind me. I like to see others suffer without helping. It would be great if you coughed to death!... You deserve it, retribution..." I said and walked out of Mi Cai''s room in big strides. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I was ready to take a hot shower and then take a nap, but I heard intermittent coughing coming from Mi Cai''s room.


    I stopped in the bathroom and suddenly found myself struggling for no reason. I felt like I was the only man in this house, and she was coughing so helpless. Should I just watch her like this?


    "Never mind. I''ve been scum for so long, let me do a good deed for once. Consider it accumulating some virtue." I said to myself.


    ...


    I placed the towel on the sofa and went to the kitchen. I found a piece of ginger and a bag of brown sugar, lit the gas stove, and started boiling ginger brown sugar soup.


    I was already so tired that I could barely keep my eyes open. I lit a cigarette to stay awake, and then numbly watched the ginger brown sugar soup boiling in the pot.


    The first rays of sunlight had already leaked through the window on the eastern side, and a gentle breeze brushed through the hanging spider plants on the balcony. A new day was filled with the vitality and freshness that had been going on for billions of years. I was a bit fascinated. The world at this moment was enchanting, as if it belonged only to me... Perhaps, compared to this rare morning, I didn''t really like the nightlife with its lights and revelry.


    Mi Cai''s cough brought me back from my trance. I realized that the ginger soup had been boiling for quite a while. I turned off the gas stove, scooped a bowl, and walked towards Mi Cai''s room.


    ...


    "I made a bowl of ginger soup. Drink it." I stood by Mi Cai''s bed and said to her.


    "No need to be so kind."


    "Who''s being kind to you? I''m just afraid that your coughing will disturb my sleep!" I said discontentedly.


    Mi Cai said ungratefully, "Move out, then you won''t hear it anymore.""I''m moving out. If you die coughing at home, no one would know... Enough with the nonsense, drink the ginger soup now!" I said, putting down the bowl in my hand and propping up Mi Cai''s pillow, then roughly helped her sit up.


    I touched her forehead, indeed she had a fever. I picked up the bowl from the bedside table and handed it to her, "Drink the ginger soup first."


    Mi Cai stopped fighting with her body and took the ginger soup from my hand to drink. Although she remained silent, her expression was not as cold as before.


    "After you finish drinking, sleep under the blanket. Leave the bowl, I''ll come back to collect it later. You have a mild fever, take some antipyretics, sweat a bit and you''ll be fine."


    ...


    Afraid of worsening my cold, I put on a thick coat before going out. I rarely get sick and don''t have any common medicines at home, so I had to go to the pharmacy to buy some antipyretics and cough medicine for Mi Cai.


    It was still too early, and the pharmacies hadn''t opened yet. I had to travel several stops before I found an open clinic. After buying the medicine, I immediately took a taxi back home. After all the hassle, it was already 7:30.


    When I returned to the apartment and entered Mi Cai''s room, she was already asleep. Seeing her breathing evenly with a peaceful expression, I didn''t wake her up.


    I found her phone in her bag, dialed my number, and left a note on her bedside table: "Remember to take the antipyretics and cough medicine when you wake up. If you have any problems, call me. The number is already saved in your phone... The scum in your eyes, the angel in mine - Zhao Yang."


    After tucking her in gently, I left her room.


    ...


    After taking a hot shower and not having time for breakfast, I caught the bus to the company and started a day of work in a state of exhaustion.


    I was so sleepy, yawning one after another, and finally fell asleep in a technically perfect posture with one hand propping up my chin. Unless you came close, you wouldn''t notice I was sleeping.


    Circle, who was busy preparing for his wedding, didn''t arrive at the company until almost ten. He woke me up with a slap, "Did you go clubbing again last night?"


    Thinking of last night''s events made me angry, but there was no point in taking it out on Circle. I yawned and replied, "I didn''t sleep well, it was a restless night!"


    Circle misinterpreted my words, saying, "You need to take care of your kidney, even though you''re young, you can''t handle messing around with women without restraint!"


    "We''re both educated people, can we speak more subtly?"


    Circle laughed helplessly, then asked me, "Did you finish the GUCCI counter proposal for me yesterday?"


    "It''s done, I saved it in your D drive."


    Circle nodded and handed me a note, saying, "Zhao Yang, I''ll ask the manager for a leave of absence for you later. You accompany Yan Yan to the mall and buy everything on this list."


    "Are you getting married or am I? You want me to accompany Yan Yan to go shopping!" I asked with a smile.


    Circle sighed, "I have no choice, there''s so much to buy, Yan Yan can''t carry it all by herself. I have to go to Shanghai with the business development team to discuss setting up a GUCCI counter in our mall. I can''t let my personal affairs affect the company''s business plan that has been prepared for several months, right?"


    "Alright." I agreed, but yawned again. I had walked half the night and hadn''t slept, how could I not be tired!


    Circle patted my shoulder, "Hang in there, I''ll treat you to dinner tonight."


    I waved at Circle, "Go do your thing, I''ll take a quick nap!"


    "Don''t nap, Yan Yan is waiting for you downstairs at the company! ..." Circle paused, then whispered in my ear, "By the way... Jian Wei replied to the email. There''s an eighty percent chance she''ll come back from the U.S. for my wedding!"


    I stared at Circle, my sleepiness completely gone, suddenly feeling like I was caught between ice and fire. After three years, was she finally coming back?

 Chapter 10 – There are bad people among the masses

    After a while, Circle and I went downstairs together. He got into the company''s business car, and I sat in Yan Yan''s car.


    My nerves were caught in an inexplicable pain. I even blamed Circle for suddenly telling me the news that Jian Wei would come back. After three years, I no longer knew what emotions to face her with.


    Countless days and nights, I went crazy thinking about seeing her, but I was also afraid to see her... afraid of the silence and awkwardness after meeting, it would be too painful.


    Yan Yan started the car and looked at the rearview mirror after changing lanes. She asked me, "Zhao Yang, why do you look so troubled?" Then she shook her head and added, "It doesn''t seem like you!"


    I smiled and said, "Do I have to be carefree to be like me?"


    "Did Circle tell you the news that Jian Wei will come back?"


    "Yeah," I replied, but opened the car window and lit a cigarette.


    "No wonder. In this world, besides Jian Wei, no one can disturb your melancholic nerves like Circle!" Yan Yan sighed.


    "You''re thinking too much. She''s not that invincible, and I''m not that vulnerable." I continued to smile in response.


    Yan Yan shrugged and said, "Zhao Yang, you know yourself best... The more radiant you smile, the more pain you feel inside."


    "You act like you understand me so well." This time, I finally put away the smile that Yan Yan thought was a disguise, to prove that I wasn''t as hurt as she said.


    "We''ve been friends for so many years, and I know you better than anyone... Zhao Yang, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. Although we all feel sorry for you and Jian Wei, I have to tell you: when a woman changes her heart, the man she once loved becomes a used cigarette that can no longer bring pleasure. It only makes her eyes red from the smoke. At this time, the only thing she can do is to abandon this used cigarette. Do you understand what I mean?"


    "Why are you telling me all this?" I took a deep breath of smoke and asked.


    "I hope you can be more carefree."


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    I remained silent for a long time and asked unwillingly, "What is love? Isn''t it just a promise, and then a lifetime of persistence? Why give a promise to the other person, but not have the courage to persist?"


    "Zhao Yang, love is really not as simple as you think. Why can Circle and I make it to the end, but you and Jian Wei can''t? You should understand."


    I fell silent again. I did understand. Circle and Yan Yan, although not from wealthy families, had decent backgrounds. They were a good match, while Jian Wei and I... I clearly remembered that before Jian Wei went abroad, her father bought her a Cadillac CTS as her graduation gift... But does love really have to be measured by material possessions? I don''t quite understand!


    Yan Yan continued, "Jian Wei really loved you, and you know that she went to study in the United States to avoid her parents'' arranged marriage. She hoped to spend three years abroad and then return to China, hoping that her parents would accept her being with you. But why did she break up with you after going to the United States? I also can''t figure it out... Maybe it''s really because..."


    I didn''t want to relive the feelings I had when we broke up, so I interrupted Yan Yan, "Stop. Just like you said, when she changes her heart, I''ll be a used cigarette that can''t bring pleasure."


    "I said she changed her heart just as an analogy..." Yan Yan tried to comfort me.


    There is a kind of person in this world who has a special ability to comfort someone who wants to die until they actually die. Undoubtedly, Yan Yan is one of them.


    ...


    I spent the whole day with Yan Yan buying the items on the list provided by Circle for their wedding. It wasn''t until evening that we had a simple meal together and went our separate ways.


    Although I didn''t sleep all night yesterday and worked hard all day today, I surprisingly didn''t feel sleepy as night approached. Walking on the street, every time I saw couples cuddling under the neon lights, I felt endless loneliness and emptiness in my heart.


    I still had the habit of emptying myself, as if my nights belonged to nightclubs. I told myself: maybe drinking some alcohol will make me sleep better tonight.


    Listening to the booming music in the bar, watching the changing and flickering lights, and the people dancing wildly, I had already drunk several bottles of beer in no time. I liked this feeling, no worries, no love or hate, only a hazy and illusory state.


    There were two resident bands in this bar, and the bands took turns performing every night. Today happened to be Robben''s band, "Nerve Tear," performing. Robben and I had a good relationship, and sometimes we played music together.


    Robben used his fingers to hold the guitar strings, making a noise similar to friction, and teasingly smiled at me, "Zhao Yang, come up and play...?"


    I put down the beer bottle and jumped onto the stage, taking the guitar from Robben''s hand. I said to the other members of the band, "Let''s play ''Still Sunny.''"


    Everyone nodded, and various instruments started to sound. Under the flashing lights, heavy metal music began to swell.In the aftermath of my drunkenness, I stepped on a prop shaped like an ammunition box with one foot, and began to play the electric guitar wildly, singing in a roaring, explosive voice: "The hand of fantasy holds the flag, my bones tucked in my coat, desperately recalling the route I came, turning around and shattering on the thumping wall; oh mama, I can''t come back; oh mama, you''re a bit tired, mama, hurry up and give birth to me, give birth to me... I raised my voice and stretched my neck..."


    I had only sung half of it when a young punk with long hair, wearing a black jacket and a gold chain, glared at me from the audience and yelled, "What the hell are you singing... change the song now..."


    I stopped, squinting at him: "Say that again, you punk."


    The long-haired guy kicked over the nearest drum set: "You''re an idiot, I told you to change the song!"


    "Fuck you..." I was standing high, and I kicked the long-haired guy in the face. It felt like a release, and I jumped down from the stage with my guitar and started smashing. In a blink of an eye, the guitar was smashed to pieces by me, and the long-haired guy was beaten to the point of curling up on the ground, screaming in agony.


    A few people who were with the long-haired guy rushed at me with beer bottles, but they were blocked by Robben and the band members. In the chaos, I saw someone calling the police, and I immediately threw away the remnants of the guitar and ran out of the bar.


    ......


    In the interrogation room of the police station, the light was shining on me, and sitting across from me was an older policeman who seemed quite amiable.


    "Name, gender, age, place of work."


    "No... Officer, that punk really deserved a beating. He was the one who kicked our drum set first. You know, for us musicians, our instruments are like our brothers. He hit my brother, how could I let it go?... Officer, I really didn''t want to fight, but there are bad people among the public!!" I said with a mournful face.


    "Young man, cut the crap. No matter how many reasons you have, fighting is wrong. The law does not give you this right, understand?"


    "Officer, I know I was wrong. I have deeply reflected and reviewed my actions in my heart. I should not have ignored the dignity of the law. In the future, I will definitely raise my awareness, be a good citizen who obeys the law, and absolutely not drag down our harmonious society!"


    "Alright, stop being sarcastic!... Go pay the fine."


    "No detention, right?" I asked cautiously.


    "The young man you hit only suffered some minor injuries. He agreed to settle privately. You need to compensate him for his medical expenses and lost wages, plus the fine, a total of 6,000 yuan."


    "6,000!!!... Officer, I don''t have that much money on me!"


    "Call your family or friends."


    Hearing the words "family and friends", I suddenly felt lost. At this moment, I truly felt how lonely I was in this city where I had lived for two years.


    I definitely couldn''t ask Circle or Yan Yan. Firstly, they were about to get married and I didn''t want to bring this trouble to them. Secondly, they had expressed their hope for me to live a stable life countless times. It''s better not to let them know about this, for fear of disappointing them!


    ......


    After thinking for a while, the face of that extremely hateful yet overly beautiful woman appeared in my mind.


    Find Mi Cai, yes, find Mi Cai! Anyway, in her eyes, I''m just a scumbag with no image to speak of. Let her help me pay the fine first, and when I get my salary next week, I''ll pay her back the money I owe her.


    At this moment, I was really glad that I had taken down her phone number in the morning.


    I took out my phone from my pocket, found Mi Cai''s number, and dialed it.


    S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 11 – Man silent, woman in tears

    The phone rang a few times before being answered. I pretended to be concerned and asked Mi Cai, "Did you take the fever-reducing and cough medicine I bought for you?"


    "I took them," Mi Cai replied calmly, lacking the previous disgust in her voice.


    "Are you feeling better now?"


    "I''m feeling better," Mi Cai said, followed by a cough.


    "Wear more clothes, and you''ll feel better soon," I said with concern.


    "Why should I wear so many clothes if I''m not going out?" Mi Cai questioned.


    Seeing that Mi Cai had fallen into my trap, I said, "I actually need you to come out. I got into a fight and don''t have enough money to pay the fine. Can you come and help me pay it?"


    Mi Cai hesitated before asking, "You got into a fight?"


    "Yeah, that guy deserved it. I fought him to teach him not to live so recklessly!"


    "You''re the one who lives recklessly!" Mi Cai retorted, neither agreeing nor refusing to come.


    Getting anxious, I asked, "So, are you coming or not? Can you give me a definite answer?"


    Mi Cai remained silent, and her silence seemed intentional.


    Getting more anxious, I pressed, "Are you coming or not? They''re about to use private punishment on me!"


    Before Mi Cai could respond, the police officer got angry and shouted at me, "We are the people''s police. Do you think we''re the mafia? What private punishment?"


    I quickly covered the phone and whispered, "Calm down, calm down... I was just using exaggerated language to describe the situation, so she would come and help me pay the fine. That way, I''ll be free, and it''ll save you trouble, right, Officer?"


    The police officer made a gesture for me to hurry up and settle it, and then remained silent. I nervously waited for Mi Cai''s response. If she didn''t want to come, I would have to trouble Circle and his wife.


    Mi Cai seemed to make a difficult decision before asking me, "Which police station?"


    I quickly replied, "Guanqian Police Station."


    Mi Cai made a sound of agreement and hung up the phone. Her ambiguous attitude made me feel uneasy. Considering her previous act of leaving me in a deserted area 30 kilometers away from the city, it was not impossible for her to trick me again.


    The police officer left, and I remained in the interrogation room. For me at this moment, the cold walls and the words "Confess and be lenient, resist and be strict" representing the dignity of the law felt oppressive. I couldn''t wait to leave this place, but as time passed, I began to doubt if I had been tricked again!


    ...


    Half an hour passed, and the closed door finally opened. This time, a female police officer came in and said to me, "Are you Zhao Yang? Someone has paid the fine for you. Go register with your ID!"


    Those words relieved the tension in me. When I stood up from the chair, I felt a bit weak, but my heart was free from heaviness and oppression. She had really come to rescue me from this predicament!


    ...


    Mi Cai and I left the police station side by side, and I felt as if I had entered a different world. Even the air outside, filled with car exhaust, seemed fresh.


    Mi Cai tucked her messy hair behind her ear and covered her mouth with the back of her hand, coughing again. She had come to help me despite being sick.


    Feeling guilty, I said to Mi Cai, "I caused you trouble today, with the fine and the money I owe you..." I scratched my head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "It seems like even with my next week''s salary, I still won''t have enough to pay you back!"


    Mi Cai didn''t mind about the money. She stopped and said to me, "You know you caused me trouble. Don''t get into this kind of trouble again in the future."


    I laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "You called me scum, right? To be a qualified scum, I have to fight, play with women, and do everything!"


    Mi Cai looked at me without saying a word, her eyes filled with renewed disgust. Perhaps she thought it was stubborn nonsense, not understanding that it was my self-deprecating expression tinged with a hint of sadness.


    Mi Cai continued walking, and I followed her. I softened my tone and said, "Actually, with my next week''s salary, I can pay you back the money my dad left me. But then I won''t have enough money to rent a place... What do you think? I can pay you back first, and you let me stay for another month until I recover financially, and then I''ll move out."


    Mi Cai looked at me with an emotion I couldn''t decipher...


    In the silent exchange between Mi Cai and me, a taxi, as if injected with chicken blood, stopped not far from us. The door opened hastily, and Le Yao hurriedly got out of the car with her handbag.


    ...Le Yao came to me and stood face to face with Mi Cai. The two of them had similar heights and different styles of dressing, but they both had a unique temperament. They were also rare beauties in the true sense. Even the two male police officers passing by couldn''t help but take a few more glances.


    "Why are you here?" I asked in confusion.


    Le Yao said to me with a concerned and nervous tone, "Robben called me and said that you were taken to the police station after a fight at the bar!"


    "I''m fine now," I replied in a relaxed tone.


    Le Yao didn''t respond to me, but said to Mi Cai beside me, "Miss, can you please step aside? Zhao Yang and I have something private to discuss."


    Mi Cai wasn''t interested in staying by my side in the first place. She just nodded and walked towards her car, then drove away.


    ...


    It seemed to be a troublesome night. I was a bit annoyed and habitually lit a cigarette for myself.


    Le Yao looked in the direction where Mi Cai disappeared and asked, "Did she help you pay the fine?"


    "It''s obvious, so don''t ask, okay?" I said impatiently.


    "What''s your relationship with her?"


    "Whatever relationship you think I have with her is the relationship we have," I replied dismissively.


    My dismissive and impatient attitude made Le Yao look a bit down, and she fell into silence.


    After smoking half a cigarette, I finally said to Le Yao, "You should go back. It''s windy now, and you just had surgery. Your body can''t handle it."


    Le Yao shook her head, indicating that she didn''t want to leave, and asked me again, "Why did you fight? Is there something uncomfortable in your heart?"


    I was stunned. After Le Yao asked me this question, I couldn''t help but question myself why I fought. I had been in the bar for two years, encountering all kinds of drunk and unruly people. In the past, I would just ignore them. Why didn''t I want to tolerate it today?


    Find the original at ".


    Although I didn''t want to admit it, it was indeed related to the news that Jian Wei was coming back. When she was far away, those pains had always been lurking in my heart. When she was about to return to the country, those pains suddenly erupted and stimulated my fragile nerves.


    I looked at Le Yao, wiped my face with my hands, and said, "Consider it a favor, don''t ask anymore, okay?"


    "Zhao Yang, am I just annoying to you?" Le Yao said with tears in her eyes.


    I remained silent and continued smoking, standing with Le Yao in the cold wind, performing a classic scene of a man''s silence and a woman''s tears.


    After a long time, Le Yao finally said to me, "I''m going to Hengdian next week. The crew will start filming in advance."


    "Really? I wish you great success in advance!"


    Le Yao looked at me with a complicated look and said lightly, "The reason I told you is not to ask for your blessings, but to hope that you can live well and be happy at least while I''m away."


    I continued to be silent, with various emotions intertwining in my heart, but I couldn''t figure out where these emotions came from.


    Le Yao took out a pen from her bag and said to me, "Give me your hand."


    Although I didn''t know what she was going to do, I mechanically stretched out my hand in front of her.


    Le Yao wrote down a series of phone numbers on my hand and said, "I will be in Hengdian for a long time this time. If you''re in a bad mood or have something on your mind, you can call me with this number. We can at least chat like friends." She paused and added, "This number is available 24/7."


    I didn''t know what to say for a moment, I just looked at her in silence.


    Le Yao put the pen back in her bag, smiled at me, and said, "We haven''t seen each other for a long time... Goodbye, Zhao Yang!"


    ...


    Watching Le Yao''s figure disappear, I suddenly felt a sense of sadness from parting. Perhaps even if it was just a **, over time, there would be some feelings. Although most of the time, I was annoyed by the troubles she brought me one after another.


    ...


    It was late at night, and I should go back, but where should I go? Although I still lived in that old but warm house, I had stayed there with a thick-skinned face. If Mi Cai insisted on asking me to leave, where should I place the troubles, the sadness, the loneliness that troubled me? Should I really leave them to this boundless night?


    No, I don''t want to leave. I should have a good talk with Mi Cai, even if it means begging her to let me stay, just to properly place those troubles, sadness, and loneliness!


    -----------------------------------------


    PS: Today''s update is finished, a total of 11 chapters... I hope everyone can leave more comments in the comment section. The new book needs to climb the new book rankings, flower collections are important data for the new book rankings. It would be a great help if everyone can spare a moment to do so.


    There were many people who voted today, so I won''t thank each one individually. I will create a separate chapter in the future to express my gratitude.This book is intended for film and television adaptation, and that''s how the website positions it. Therefore, updates won''t be too frequent, but there won''t be any discontinuation either. I hope to work with everyone to bring this book to the television screen, making up for the shortcomings of the previous book.


    Let me explain the rules for additional updates. For every 5000 VIPs, an extra chapter will be added. For every 500 stamps, an extra chapter will be added. For every 10,000 flowers, an extra chapter will be added. An extra chapter will be added if any of these conditions are met. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The conditions for additional updates are set high, not because I''m being arrogant, but because I must devote 120% of my energy to writing this book. Quality is the top priority.


    Let me remind you again, don''t forget to give flowers, add to your collection, and sign in. These are simple tasks. The success of a book is accumulated bit by bit by everyone. I hope this book can make a breakthrough. Readers who have finished the book, please leave a comment in the book review section and share your thoughts on this book. Let me see that you are always there.


    My book belongs to the night. I suggest you read it at night, with a cigarette in hand, and a music player on. Listen to the songs mentioned in the book. It''s quite nice.


    Good night, everyone!

 Chapter 12 – Request for co-renting

    It was late at night, and I was sober. I zipped up my jacket, lit a cigarette, and walked aimlessly on the street under the neon lights. My mind was filled with endless trivial thoughts. I suddenly felt tired of my current life and wanted to do something for myself, but I didn''t know where to start, so I became even more confused.


    Passing by a hotel, I looked at the lights scattered from dozens of windows, as if peeking into the bodies moving up and down on the bed, causing the whole hotel to shake. Tonight, some people were enjoying the ecstasy of the night in warm rooms, while others were walking on the street, enduring the loneliness of the night.


    But it is because of such a contrast that the world appears so three-dimensional and real. I should understand that this world is originally a complex contradiction. Loneliness and loss always have to be borne by someone, so I don''t need to feel wronged or complain.


    But the moon tonight is so beautiful, shining on the loneliness that has nowhere to hide. So, I beg the celestial beings in the sky to turn off the moon''s power. I am willing to bear the loneliness, but it doesn''t mean that I am willing to expose it in this cruel world!


    ...


    Back at my place, I habitually stood downstairs and looked around. I didn''t see Mi Cai''s car. I went to the opposite side of the building and looked again. The car was there. It seemed that Mi Cai was used to parking her car here.


    I squatted next to the car, smoked another cigarette, and went back upstairs. Then I stood at the door of Mi Cai''s room for a while before knocking on her door.


    "Mi Cai, are you asleep?" I asked in a low voice.


    "What''s the matter?"


    "I want to talk to you."


    Mi Cai''s response was within my expectations: "There''s nothing to talk about between us."


    "At least let me say thank you in person for tonight. I''m really grateful to you!"


    "No need." Mi Cai still refused me with three words.


    "I insist. If I don''t say it, I won''t feel at ease!" I said without getting Mi Cai''s consent, and opened her door in the name of gratitude.


    The light in the room was still on. Mi Cai was sitting at the desk, looking at a book or maybe some documents.


    Mi Cai seemed to be used to my rudeness and didn''t react to my entering the room without permission.


    I came up behind her and glanced, asking, "What are you reading?"


    Mi Cai ignored me and kept her attention on the documents.


    Find the original at ".


    I stood there like that, brewing in my mind how to tell Mi Cai that I intended to continue living here.


    "Do you think it''s appropriate to stand in a woman''s room late at night?" Mi Cai asked coldly.


    "I just want to say thank you, nothing else." I quickly said.


    "Then say it and leave."


    "Oh..." I agreed and asked in a pleasing tone, "By the way, did you take your medicine tonight? I heard you coughing just now."


    Mi Cai closed the document, frowned, and looked at me, saying, "If you have something to say, say it quickly. I''m going to rest."


    "You asked me to say it, so don''t turn against me when I do." I hurriedly said.


    "Then don''t say it."


    "I can''t do that. Once words are spoken, they can''t be taken back. You asked me to say it, so I will say it..." After a moment of contemplation, I finally said, "The truth is, I don''t want to move out at all!" After saying that, I instinctively stood up straight, trying to suppress Mi Cai with a powerful aura and make her agree to my request to stay.


    Mi Cai looked at me calmly and said, "I said you don''t have to pay back the money for now, so you have no reason not to move out."


    "I said I don''t want to move out at all. Don''t you understand what I mean?" I raised my voice.


    "But you have promised me more than once to move out. Is your promise so cheap in your own eyes?" Mi Cai''s words were cold, but her eyes flashed with anger.


    "What''s wrong with letting me stay here?" I was also angry with my words. While Mi Cai didn''t understand me, I didn''t understand her either. There are many people who share apartments in this city. Why am I so dependent on this room while she keeps pushing me away? Besides, I think I am a very reliable roommate and a safe person to live with.


    Mi Cai retorted, "Tell me what''s good about it."


    "Everything is good!" After thinking for a moment, I said, "With me living here, if there''s any neighborhood dispute in the future, I can easily handle it for you. Let me tell you: I''m the boss of this neighborhood..."


    "Don''t be so childish, okay?" Mi Cai interrupted me.


    I sneered, "You don''t believe it, do you?... You can go to other neighborhoods and see if there are square dance aunties disturbing the peace every night. Have you seen any in our neighborhood?... No, right? Let me tell you: Although this neighborhood doesn''t have property management, having me here is much better than any property management.""Even if what you''re saying is true, it can''t be a reason for you to continue living here. You must move out," Mi Cai insisted firmly.


    I was angry again, "Are you out of your mind? What''s wrong with me living here? At least when the pipes are blocked or the lights are broken, I can fix them. If it rains and you''re not home, I can help collect the clothes. Like today, you''re sick, I can''t just stand by and do nothing. I have to buy medicine for you, make you some ginger soup... Why do you insist on making both of us unhappy?"


    "I''m not unhappy."


    Mi Cai''s words left me speechless. After an awkward silence, I finally said, "Anyway, I don''t want to move. I owe you so much money, I think it''s more important to pay you back than to move."


    Unexpectedly, Mi Cai asked, "Why do you think paying back the money is more important than moving?"


    Without much thought, I replied, "Paying you back will make me feel at ease, but moving makes me feel like I''m alone and empty. If it were you, would you choose to pay back the money first, or move out first?"


    "You can live somewhere else if you move out from here. Where does this feeling of emptiness and helplessness come from?" Mi Cai continued to ask.


    I looked around the room, a wave of indescribable emotions welled up in my heart. Mi Cai didn''t understand my feelings and attachment to this house. Every time she asked me to leave, she never considered my feelings. But then again, she didn''t have to. My deep attachment was mine alone.


    I lit a cigarette to ease my feelings of loss and helplessness.


    "Don''t smoke in my room, okay?"


    Mi Cai''s words were filled with disgust, but I couldn''t blame her. I had been too presumptuous, forgetting that I was still in her room.


    "Sorry, I''ll smoke on the balcony," I said quietly.


    ...


    After finishing a cigarette on the balcony, I returned to the living room. To my surprise, Mi Cai was not in her bedroom but sitting on the living room couch.


    For the first time, she initiated a conversation with me, "You haven''t answered my question just now."


    "You were asking why I would feel empty and helpless if I moved out, right?"


    Mi Cai nodded.


    I sat down on the couch opposite Mi Cai, closed my eyes, and the countless days and nights I had spent here surfaced in my mind like a series of clips.


    After a long silence, I finally said, "I moved in here two years ago. The days when I first moved in were the darkest days of my life. I suffered from insomnia almost every night... The reason for my insomnia was that I had a lot on my mind, but I couldn''t share these thoughts with anyone. But keeping them to myself was painful. So, I treated the floor lamp, the cabinet, the wall clock, even a mop in the room as my friends, telling them the thoughts I couldn''t share with anyone. Although they never responded, they were very patient. No matter how long I talked, they were patient. So, after venting, I didn''t feel so bad. I''m grateful to them, grateful for everything in this room. They are my support, my friends. That''s why I don''t want to leave. I love this room. Even though it''s simple, it''s the safest, warmest place in my world...!!"


    After I finished speaking, Mi Cai looked at me with a complicated expression. I had no idea what this complexity meant, I was just anxiously waiting to see if she would let me continue to live here.


    --------------------


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 Chapter 13 – No more going to nightclubs

    The moonlight outside the window was unusually bright, shining into the living room through the window, making the lights dim, and Mi Cai''s beautiful and ethereal face also dimmed under the moonlight.


    I stared at her like this, her face was quiet, which made me a little uneasy. Perhaps my nostalgia for this house couldn''t move her "cold" heart.


    After a long time, Mi Cai finally spoke to me, "Do you love this house?"


    I nodded seriously, "I love it, love it... There is no one in this world who loves this inconspicuous house more than me."


    Mi Cai smiled and said, "That''s not necessarily true."


    I looked at her in surprise, "Are you the one who loves it more than me?"


    In fact, I have always been curious why Mi Cai bought this house from Lao Li, although I can imagine it as a kind of artistic behavior of the rich, but the real answer is probably not as simple as I imagined.


    Mi Cai did not answer my question. She asked me, "How long do you plan to stay?"


    "Did you agree?" I asked excitedly.


    "Zhao Yang, can you face the problem first?" Mi Cai said with some dissatisfaction.


    I smiled and sighed, "So you know my name!?"


    Mi Cai frowned again.


    I smiled awkwardly, afraid that she would change her mind, made an apologetic expression, and kept saying, "I will answer the question first, I will answer the question first. I plan to stay... for another month, is that okay?"


    Mi Cai remained silent for a while, and finally said, "Okay... but you have to promise me two conditions first."


    "Okay, as long as you don''t kick me out, I will do anything. I promise." I patted my chest and said.


    "Don''t make empty promises. Wait until you actually do it." Mi Cai interrupted me.


    I smiled awkwardly again and said, "I know I don''t have much credibility in your eyes. So, let''s put it this way, I will do my best to meet your requirements, okay?"


    "Okay." Mi Cai paused and said, "First, you can''t go to nightclubs in the future. Can you do that?"


    "Ah!" I exclaimed subconsciously. I didn''t expect Mi Cai to make this request.


    Mi Cai looked at me, waiting for my answer.


    Although I was puzzled why Mi Cai made this request, considering that women''s thoughts are always unpredictable, and I didn''t want to inquire about the reasons, the most important thing was to settle down first. Without much consideration, I nodded and said, "Yes, and what''s the other one?"


    "During your stay here, you can''t enter my room. You have to return the key to my room."


    "This request is reasonable." I said, taking out the key from my pocket and placing it on the coffee table in front of Mi Cai''s room.


    Mi Cai stood up from the sofa and finally said to me, "Remember what you promised me. If I find that you can''t fulfill any of the conditions, you have to move out on your own."


    ...


    After washing up, I returned to my room. This was supposed to be a night to settle down, after all, I could temporarily stay here, but I couldn''t help but think randomly.


    There are only four days left until Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding day. As friends who have come a long way, their wedding cannot fail to stimulate me. Actually, I am not someone who opposes marriage. If I can meet a woman who I truly love, I also desire to get married. However, my material conditions are indeed lacking, and I have very little to offer in a marriage. So, the desire to get married for me can only be an unrealistic fantasy, temporarily sealed away.


    I thought of Jian Wei again. On the day of Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding, we will definitely meet. If she comes with her boyfriend or if she is already married with a husband, will I collapse again?


    I shook my head and smiled. If I really collapse at a friend''s wedding, it would be quite spectacular!


    ...


    The next day, I arrived at the company on time. Circle had also returned to Suzhou from Shanghai, and we met by the coffee machine during the break.


    We each held a cup of coffee and chatted. I asked Circle, "How is it? Did you settle the GUCCI counter project?"


    Circle smiled with relief and said, "It''s settled. If nothing goes wrong, we will be able to sign the contract for the store next month."


    "Not bad. With a first-tier brand like GUCCI entering our department store, you have made a great contribution. Your future is limitless, young comrade!" I patted Circle''s shoulder and joked.


    Circle, however, said seriously, "Zhao Yang, do you have any thoughts about your work? I can help you fight for it."


    I continued to smile and said, "You don''t have to worry about me. If I have any ideas, I will fight for them myself."


    I knew Circle was worried about me, but he had only been the leader of the planning and copywriting team for half a year, and his experience was still shallow. The company''s politics were deep, and combined with our well-known friendship, it wouldn''t be good for him.


    "Give it up. We have worked together for two years. When have you ever fought for yourself?" Circle''s tone sounded displeased.


    I laughed carelessly, "That''s because I don''t have any ideas. I think it''s pretty good like this. At least the work is easy. Even if the sky falls, it will fall on you hardworking models who climb up desperately!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Circle was speechless by my words and sighed after a while, "You are really something! It has been two years..."I immediately interrupted, "Alright, stop lamenting. Tell me about what happened yesterday. I spent the whole day shopping with your wife. You have to compensate me for this hard work."


    Circle nodded, "Let''s have dinner together after work."


    As they spoke, they walked from the break room to the office, holding their unfinished coffee cups. When they were about to enter the office, Circle suddenly stopped me, causing the coffee to spill on my sleeve.


    "What''s wrong?" I shook off the coffee from my sleeve, feeling surprised and a bit displeased. I always felt that Circle was acting strangely, ever since he suddenly asked me if I had any thoughts about work.


    Circle looked at me with piercing eyes and paused for a while before saying, "...Jian Wei contacted Yan Yan last night. At that time, she was already preparing to board the plane back to China. She should arrive in Shanghai around noon!"


    I was stunned for a moment, my mind went blank, and I didn''t know how to face this news.


    Circle patted my shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Are you going to Shanghai to see her?"


    I was silent for a while and asked Circle in return, "Tell me, how can I go and see her? Should I go as her ex-boyfriend?"


    "If you think it''s awkward, then forget I told you. But you have to meet her at least once."


    Of course, I knew that Circle meant we would meet at his and Yan Yan''s wedding. On that day, Jian Wei would attend, and so would I. But that kind of meeting would just be a formality, not intentional. I thought to myself: If I can be open-minded enough at that time, I will treat her as a stranger I coincidentally met, no need for small talk, no need... to tear my heart apart!


    ...


    In the morning, I continued to work intermittently, feeling scattered. It wasn''t until noon when all my colleagues went to the cafeteria for lunch that I lit a cigarette, closed my eyes, and reclined on the office chair, taking a puff.


    Amidst the dissipating smell of tobacco, Jian Wei''s face from the day she left kept lingering in my mind. I felt a bit of pain, a bit lost, but I didn''t know how to dispel this inexplicable anguish.


    Two years ago, I already understood that the pain caused by the fantasy of breaking up was meaningless self-torture. But "being cheap" is human nature. I would rather grit my teeth and endure false pain than give up being "cheap" and become enlightened.


    Perhaps at this moment, Jian Wei was enjoying a pleasant afternoon tea with her family and friends, while I sat in the empty office, feeling melancholic, surrounded by a cloud of sorrow and gloom that I couldn''t escape.


    I stubbed out the cigarette fiercely, wishing I could slap myself in the face and tell myself not to be so cheap.


    In the end, I couldn''t bring myself to do it and could only smile helplessly. These years of indifference, all the deviant behavior, now seemed to be the sorrow she left me with. And I have always carried this sorrow, immersing myself in an inescapable past, causing self-inflicted harm.


    The smell of smoke gradually dissipated. In the spacious office, I was still alone. The warm afternoon breeze, carrying a hint of inexplicable melancholy, blew in through the open window, just like my mood. After sitting still for a while, I finally felt hungry and put the cigarette in my pocket, ready to go eat something.


    After coming out of the elevator, my phone rang. It was Robben calling.


    I answered the phone, and Robben apologized, "Zhao Yang, I''m really sorry about yesterday. I couldn''t help you handle it."


    I laughed and said, "If we''re brothers, don''t apologize to me. You guys are in a band, getting into fights at bars. How can you handle that? Besides, it''s my responsibility as a good citizen to teach those ignorant bastards a lesson. You guys don''t need to join in the fun!"


    Robben also laughed and said, "Alright, I won''t say anything more, by the way, there''s a fashion show at Suhe Bar tonight, full of beautiful girls. I know a few of them pretty well, I can introduce you to someone you like."


    "Sure!" I almost instinctively agreed without thinking.


    "Okay, tonight I''ll treat you. Let''s have a crazy night."


    I held my phone and had already walked away from the office building. Suddenly, I was enveloped in sunlight, and my thoughts seemed to expand. I suddenly remembered that I had promised Mi Cai not to go to nightclubs anymore.


    I stopped in my tracks, remembering my unreliable words and actions towards Mi Cai in the past few days. I decided to be a man of my word this time...


    After a moment of silence, I said to Robben, who was still waiting for my response, "Oh... look at my memory. I have something private tonight, so I really can''t make it."


    "What could be more important than hanging out with a group of friends, eating, drinking, and having fun?" Robben jokingly asked, but he was also a bit surprised. In his eyes, Zhao Yang had always treated eating, drinking, and having fun as the most important things in life.


    "Some things are more urgent. Let''s make plans for another day. I really can''t make it today."


    Robben responded with a slight disappointment, but in the end, he didn''t force me and fulfilled my promise to have a plain night because I kept my word.After hanging up the phone, I walked down the street in the warm breeze, somewhat surprised at my own transformation. In fact, even if I had agreed to Robben, it wouldn''t have mattered. With my character, I could have told Mi Cai with a clear conscience: I just attended a company party and had a few drinks. She may control everything else, but she surely can''t control my legitimate gatherings with my colleagues.


    So why didn''t I choose to deceive her? I was a bit puzzled...


    After a while, I still couldn''t figure out why. I simply chalked it up to: she was just too beautiful, and men are instinctively willing to comply with beautiful women.


    However, this baseless logic didn''t seem to hold up.


    So what was the real reason?... After a long time, I still didn''t quite understand!


    ---------------


    Today there will be four updates, this is the second one. Looking forward to your continued support, the new book period really needs support. We haven''t even made it onto the new book list yet, which is quite terrifying!

 Chapter 14 – You are my new tenant

    In the evening after work, Circle and I found a Chinese restaurant near the company. We ordered some simple dishes and sat facing each other.


    After a while, the food was served. Circle picked up his chopsticks and started eating by himself. Seeing that I didn''t move my chopsticks, he said, "Aren''t you going to eat?"


    "Aren''t we waiting for Yan Yan?" I asked in confusion.


    "She went to Shanghai to see Jian Wei. It''s just the two of us for dinner today," Circle said calmly.


    "She went to see Jian Wei? You''re getting married in a few days. Can she leave?" I asked with some doubt.


    Circle didn''t care and replied, "She just left after work. She''ll be back tomorrow morning. It won''t delay anything." I nodded and started eating as well.


    Circle put down his chopsticks and stared at me. After a moment, he asked, "Zhao Yang, how about having some drinks?"


    "Not today."


    After a while, he looked at me and said, "You seem a bit depressed!" Then he looked at his watch and continued, "Yan Yan shouldn''t have gone far yet. Should I call her to turn back and pick you up? You can take this rare opportunity to see Jian Wei while you''re sober..."


    I remained silent for a while and sighed, "Yan Yan really follows the dog!"


    "What do you mean?" Circle asked, changing his sitting posture. He didn''t mind me indirectly insulting him.


    "Both of you are heartless. I beg you not to comfort someone who wants to die until they actually die, okay?"


    "Did I comfort you?" Circle asked innocently.


    I was furious and said, "Can you still eat this meal? If not, get lost."


    My anger made Circle sigh. He shook his head and said, "You''re still the same. Every time something related to Jian Wei is mentioned, you change your attitude faster than turning a page. Can''t you get over her?"


    Only then did I realize that Circle was just testing me. I didn''t know how to respond and fell into silence again.


    Circle asked the waiter to bring two cans of Qing beer. He opened one and handed it to me, and he drank one himself. He deliberately changed the topic and asked me, "How''s it going with that model? I think she seems interested in you."


    "Stop it. At most, I''m just a toy for her when she''s bored."


    "A sex toy?"


    "However you interpret it." I said indifferently, then picked up the beer in front of me and took a big gulp.


    Circle took a sip of his beer and asked again, "Honestly, have you not been attracted to any girl in these years since Jian Wei left? I feel like there must be someone who has caught your attention."


    "No, there isn''t." I answered without hesitation.


    Circle shook his head and said, "You don''t seem like a sentimental person. In fact, it''s your own indecisiveness these years. If you calm down and think about it, maybe there''s a girl who has been by your side all along, but you just haven''t noticed."


    "I''m indecisive?" I asked Circle in confusion.


    Circle nodded seriously and made a guiding gesture, saying, "Take a sip of your drink and think about it. Right now, there must be something you''ll find."


    I was skeptical, but I followed Circle''s advice and took a sip of my drink. Then I let my thoughts wander and tried to recall all the girls who had been around me in these years. After a while, I realized that I hadn''t been attracted to anyone. I preferred to keep the memories of being with them confined to one night of passion.


    I still remembered the mornings after each night of passion, when the sunlight fell on the bedsheet supported by our bodies. It didn''t give me a sense of security. I often wanted to put on my pants and run away, as if the dawn sunlight only revealed material poverty. I didn''t remember the excitement and ecstasy of the night.


    "If there is?" Circle raised his beer and clinked it with mine, asking with concern.


    I just shook my head, took another sip of beer, and didn''t feel like saying anything else. I didn''t want to think about any woman anymore. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But human thoughts are strange. When I didn''t want to think about it, suddenly the unrealistically beautiful face of my female landlord, Mi Cai, flashed in my mind.


    I quickly denied it. It was an absurd idea. I had only been with Mi Cai for a few days. Even if she was as beautiful as Chang''e, I didn''t need to be attracted to her. My fantasies and impulses towards women had long died in the harsh years.


    Circle was still waiting for my answer with anticipation, but I didn''t want to dwell on the meaningless word "attraction" anymore. I chose to continue my silence.


    ...


    After finishing a can of beer, we continued eating. Unnoticed, the sky outside darkened, and the streetlights on both sides of the road painted the city under the night sky in the same way.


    Circle and I each lit a cigarette and passed the time after dinner. We continued chatting, and as we chatted, Circle looked at the night outside and jokingly asked, "Zhao Yang, something seems off today. It''s already dark outside. How can you sit still? Don''t you need to find some fun?"


    "Nowhere to go. I''ll go home and sleep later."


    Circle seemed shocked by my answer and exclaimed, "Who murdered your nights?"


    I was taken aback by Circle''s question. Indeed, my drunken and dreamy nights had been killed by a woman who had just appeared in my life.I was not in a hurry to answer Circle''s question, but I urgently wanted him to help me analyze a question that had been bothering me for many days. I still couldn''t figure out why Mi Cai, who drove a luxury car, would live in that run-down house. I didn''t want to believe that this was a deliberate fate created by heaven. It was even a stretch to call it fate, because a few days ago, she threw my blanket away and then threw me into the wilderness. It seemed that there was no such tormenting fate in this world.


    After a while, I said to Circle, "Let me tell you something fresh."


    "Is this fresh thing directly related to you not going out fooling around?"


    I nodded and then selectively told Circle about the various things that happened between Mi Cai and me because of that house.


    After listening, Circle looked at me with some skepticism, paused for a moment, and then asked, "Are you sure she, who drives a car worth hundreds of thousands, moved into your dilapidated house?"


    "Of course I''m sure. Help me analyze, analyze. What is her motive?" I said seriously to Circle.


    "It''s definitely not for money or to harm you." Circle said disdainfully, glancing at me.


    "I know I have no money and a miserable life, but now I''m really telling you something serious. Can you take it seriously?"


    "Zhao Yang, we live in a very realistic world. Actually, you shouldn''t expect her to be repaying some debt from a past life in this life."


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    I rubbed my chin and said seriously, "Don''t say that. Maybe there is a possibility. You know, I''ve done a lot of good things in my past life, maybe my female landlord was helped by me in her past life and now she''s repaying me."


    "Repaying you? Didn''t you say she tricked you into going to the intersection of the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway in Suzhou and Wuxi in the middle of the night, freezing you with snot running down your nose? Is that how she''s repaying you?"


    I pointed at Circle, speechless for a while, and then said, "You''re just a bad friend!"


    Circle smiled, got up, patted my shoulder and said, "Zhao Yang, actually, it''s not a bad thing for a woman to divert your attention from Jian Wei..."


    Before I could respond, he said again, "It''s almost 7:30. I have an appointment with the wedding planning company at 8. Let''s call it a day today."


    Watching Circle leave, I lit another cigarette in a daze. I always felt that I didn''t quite understand what he said. Why would Mi Cai''s appearance divert my attention from Jian Wei?


    ...


    After leaving the restaurant, I bought a can of beer and walked home in the direction of the crowd, listening to the laughter and noise of others, thinking about my own troubles.


    When I got home and opened the door, the house was pitch black. I turned on the living room light and looked around. The house was empty and cold. My female landlord, Mi Cai, seemed to have not come back yet.


    Feeling bored, I sat on the sofa and turned on the TV. Without the drunken nights in nightclubs, the night seemed endlessly long. I couldn''t remember when was the last time I spent the evening like this, like a homebody, looking for entertainment in front of the TV... and feeling bored!


    It was only 8:30, but I was tortured by boredom. I lit a cigarette, stared into space for a while, and after only ten minutes, I felt like dying. It turned out that a person''s night could be so difficult to endure!


    I took out the guitar from the room and found a guitar score. I started practicing a song. If there was something I liked to do besides living a debauched life every night, it would probably be playing the guitar to pass the time.


    After finishing a song and preparing to play the next one, there was finally some movement outside the house. Then the door opened, and I saw Mi Cai, carrying a handbag, looking stunning.


    Although we had some conflicts, I was not a narrow-minded person, so I didn''t belittle her beauty. This woman seemed to be a masterpiece created by God in a moment of impulse.


    I put down the guitar and asked with a smile, "Back?"


    "Yeah," Mi Cai replied and walked towards her room.


    "Stop." I said in a deep voice, with a serious face, trying to play a prank on her out of boredom, not willing to be lonely alone.


    Mi Cai turned around and looked at me. "Is there something?"


    I looked at Mi Cai and became more and more puzzled about how this woman could be so beautiful. Then I blurted out without thinking, "How come you''re so beautiful? Are you some kind of monster?"


    Mi Cai frowned slightly and coldly said, "Please don''t make me feel like I''m inviting trouble. Okay?"


    I immediately stood up, pretending to be excited, and said, "Miss, are you mistaken? I moved in here first. Your talk of inviting trouble is a bit inappropriate, isn''t it?"


    Mi Cai ignored my claim of being the first to move in and still spoke in a cold tone, "If you think I''m a monster, you can move out anytime. I won''t mind."


    "Why should I move? This house was originally mine. You''re just a new tenant. Besides, you agreed to live here, and I''ve kept my promise. So, don''t mention moving out to me in the future." I stood up from the sofa to show my excitement.


    "I''m your new tenant?" Mi Cai''s tone was clearly displeased.


    But I didn''t care about her displeasure and said, "Yes, from today on, you should consider yourself a female tenant in front of me. In this house, whoever has more experience is the landlord.""Don''t you find yourself boring? Besides, I need to remind you, there''s no need to misrepresent things, forcing the title of ''female tenant'' onto me. I only agreed to stay here for a month. You''ll soon be leaving here forever, carrying the identity of a tenant," Mi Cai said, looking at me with an expression of fearless confidence.


    "What''s wrong with a month? Even if I''m only a landlord for a month, I''m happy!" I retorted stubbornly, but my mood sank at Mi Cai''s words, "leaving here forever."


    Mi Cai didn''t want to argue with me anymore. After saying "Who cares about you," she turned and walked towards her room.


    ......


    In the living room by myself, I took out a cigarette and lit it. As I inhaled and exhaled the smoke, I found it amusing that I had fought so hard to become a landlord through shameless means.


    The smoke I exhaled drifted towards the window under the light, captivating me. A gust of wind from somewhere blew me back to reality. In this seemingly borrowed wind, I suddenly saw the vague silhouette of Jian Wei. I suddenly remembered: in three days, we will meet at Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding. I have a premonition that the next three days might be harder to endure than the three years of separation...


    To this day, I still can''t understand. We spent the best years of our lives nurturing a love for four years, why couldn''t we end it well? Even if we broke up, at least give me a reason, but...


    I closed my eyes, the smoke continuously emanating from my fingertips made me feel like shedding tears!

 Chapter 15 – Teasing Mi Cai

    Sitting back on the sofa, I finished smoking the cigarette in my hand and then extinguished it in the ashtray. I looked at the guitar beside me, but I didn''t have the mood to sing even a song.


    I lay back on the sofa, once again tortured to death by boredom. I glanced at Mi Cai''s room and felt somewhat unhappy. If it weren''t for her constraints, I would have been drinking beer and watching a show with Robben and the others, so to a large extent, the boredom I feel now is bestowed upon me by her.


    If she hadn''t suddenly bought this house, I wouldn''t have to compromise to continue living here, nor would I have to change my lifestyle. In a night like this, dying in the torment of boredom.


    I feel that she has a responsibility to help me get rid of this endless boredom. Regardless of how unreasonable this logic may seem to others, I think it is only natural. Boredom is so terrifying in my world of understanding, and it is completely derived from loneliness. If one is alive, who wouldn''t be afraid of loneliness?


    I came to Mi Cai''s door, determined to break free from the prison of loneliness on this not-so-late night. I knocked on the door and said to Mi Cai, who knows what she was doing inside, "Hey, do you have time? Let''s chat."


    "We don''t have a common language," Mi Cai''s voice came from inside the room.


    "We all speak Chinese, so how can we not have a common language?... Besides, I am the landlord and you are the tenant. We live under the same roof, so it is necessary to communicate in order to live in harmony in the long term."


    Mi Cai ignored me, and I could only hear a slightly awkward echo from inside the room.


    I immediately changed my strategy and adopted a conciliatory policy. I knocked on her door again and said, "Have you had dinner? How about I cook some supper..."


    Mi Cai didn''t appreciate it and interrupted me with annoyance, "Please do something meaningful."


    "Damn it, I offer to make supper for you, and you mock me for living a meaningless life, right? Then I won''t bother anymore. I''ll go play with a spoon..."


    I sat back on the sofa in frustration, but I was not willing to give up. Why does she have the attitude of ignoring me? I may be poor and not very successful, but that doesn''t mean I''m willing to use lowliness to fulfill her high attitude. Since I am alive, I still care about my dignity.


    I really found a spoon from the kitchen and placed it on the coffee table, using my fingers to spin the spoon handle, making it spin like a top.


    ...


    Half an hour later, Mi Cai''s door was opened. She had changed her clothes and was wearing a white coral fleece pajama. She walked towards the bathroom, seemingly ready to wash up and rest.


    I stared at her, but she didn''t look at me. She only glanced at the spinning spoon when she reached the coffee table, then stopped and looked at me. I, on the other hand, looked at her expressionlessly and spun the spoon handle even harder, as if venting my frustration.


    My boring behavior finally brought a slight smile to Mi Cai''s face, but I couldn''t tell if she found it genuinely funny or if she was mocking me.


    "What are you laughing at? Didn''t I just tell you that I want to play with the spoon?" I said while spinning the spoon even faster.


    Mi Cai nodded and said, "You really keep your word. That''s progress." After speaking, she didn''t say much and walked towards the bathroom.


    I glanced at Mi Cai''s departing figure and slapped the spinning spoon to make it stop.


    ...


    A moment later, Mi Cai came out of the bathroom. Her hair was already loose, with some water stains on the tips. Although she had removed her makeup, her skin was still fair and delicate, as if it could be broken with a gentle touch. This further highlighted her natural beauty. Among the countless women I have known, there are not many who still look so beautiful after removing their makeup.


    She continued to ignore my existence and walked towards her own room.


    I mustered up the courage and shouted at her again, "Stop right there."


    "What do you want?" Mi Cai''s words were cold, and her expression was even colder as she looked at me.


    Feeling a bit guilty, I forced myself to say, "I... I''m bored. Can you chat with me for a while?"


    "Find someone as boring as you to chat with. I''m going to rest," Mi Cai replied, her words and expression full of sarcasm.


    It was as if I had been granted a reprieve, and my tone became more assertive, "But you said so yourself. I''m going out to have fun now."


    "You can go out, but take your luggage with you. There''s no need to come back," Mi Cai said.


    "I knew you would use my weakness to entertain yourself... Seriously, after more than three years of renting, I''ve seen all kinds of people, but I''ve never seen a tenant as arrogant as you. Can''t you be a bit more polite to your landlord?" I expressed my dissatisfaction and once again forced the title of "tenant" onto Mi Cai.


    Mi Cai retorted, "I''ve never seen someone as shameless as you!"


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    "If I weren''t shameless, I would have been sleeping on the streets. It''s all because of you." I glared at Mi Cai, feeling annoyed as I recalled the experiences of the past few days.


    "Aren''t you the landlord? Who dares to force you?" Mi Cai looked at me with a smile that wasn''t really a smile, her words full of mockery.I pointed at Mi Cai, feeling so angry that my liver hurt. After a while, I said, "You wicked woman, I said I''m the landlord, but you want to find a fig leaf for yourself? Can you leave some dignity?" After saying that, I sighed heavily, "The life of the poor is bitter... Ah! There''s no sense of happiness in living... Ah!"


    "You are a troublemaker in ancient times, and a rascal in modern times!" Mi Cai glared at me, and after saying that, she didn''t want to argue with me anymore. She turned around and walked towards her own room.


    Looking at the closed door, I spat and angrily said, "So what if you''re the bourgeoisie? Comrade Xiaoping has said that the Chinese people will eventually move towards common prosperity. Let you guys who have become rich in advance show off for a few more years. In a few years, you''ll see..."


    After messing around in the living room for a while, I finally returned to my own room. I closed the door, lay on the bed, and lit a cigarette out of habit. I still thought about the argument with Mi Cai just now. Although I didn''t gain any advantage, I felt a sense of satisfaction in my heart when I thought about Mi Cai''s angry scolding of me as a rascal and a rogue. My mood seemed to be less irritable. After a while, I fell asleep in a daze, finally escaping from the torment of boredom!


    ...


    Maybe I slept early last night. I woke up at six in the morning and couldn''t fall back asleep no matter what. I just stared at the ceiling absentmindedly, and involuntarily thought about Circle and Yan Yan''s upcoming wedding. My mood became anxious. I understood that this anxiety was not groundless, it was related to my upcoming meeting with Jian Wei. It was troublesome! No matter how I comforted myself, it seemed that I couldn''t remain calm...


    Furthermore, I was also curious. I had dedicated my youth to Jian Wei just like her. I was anxious because I was about to meet her, but what about her? Was she feeling the same as me?


    I didn''t have the answer. I couldn''t use myself as the standard to measure Jian Wei, because sometimes women were different from men, and sometimes Jian Wei was not equal to me. Perhaps when we meet again three years later, she would only treat me as an ordinary friend, or even a stranger!


    The genius dawned, and under the continuous anxiety, I didn''t plan to sleep anymore. After getting up and freshening up, I prepared breakfast for myself. I opened the refrigerator and saw that there were still a few salted eggs that Mr. Ban brought a few days ago. I cooked a pot of porridge, bought a few youtiao, and it was considered a good breakfast combination.


    I went to the breakfast shop downstairs and bought some youtiao, then went to the convenience store and bought a few bags of pickled vegetables. When I came back, the water in the pot was already boiling. I poured in the rice and then found a mop to clean the house.


    A gust of cold wind suddenly blew in from the window of the balcony, and I realized that both Mi Cai and I had forgotten to close the window last night. No wonder this morning was colder than usual.


    It was already halfway through autumn, and the morning temperature was very low. I wrapped myself in clothes and walked to the balcony to close the window. The first ray of sunlight in the morning also shone through the glass and reflected onto the colorful leaves on the balcony, as if telling me that it was a good morning.


    In order to blend into this good morning, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Gradually, my restless mood calmed down a bit.


    When I opened my eyes, I saw Mi Cai walking out of the room. She was still wearing pajamas and her expression was still in a daze from just waking up.


    I leaned on the mop and greeted Mi Cai with a frivolous smile, "Good morning, my female tenant!"


    Mi Cai seemed unwilling to be entangled in the identity of a tenant that I imposed on her. She tied up her messy hair and asked me, "Do you always wake up this early?"


    "Of course not. I woke up early today specifically to make breakfast for you." I casually lied.


    "Is that so? But I planned to sleep a little longer."


    "Then why did you get up now?" I looked at Mi Cai knowingly. Getting up at this time was obviously to go to the bathroom, but I was curious about what it would be like for such a beautiful woman to say the two vulgar words "go to the bathroom". Or maybe she was too embarrassed to say it!... It didn''t matter whether she was embarrassed or not, as long as I could find some amusement for myself at the beginning of the day.


    Mi Cai frowned at me but didn''t say anything. It seemed that a beautiful woman like her found it difficult to say the two words "go to the bathroom". I felt proud in my heart and took advantage of the situation to block the entrance of the bathroom.


    After a while, Mi Cai said to me, "Move aside."


    "No way!... Don''t you understand manners? I asked you a question and you haven''t answered. You made me so angry early in the morning!" I raised my voice. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai stood still, her face slightly red. It might be because of my anger, or it might be because she had been holding it in all night... How could she not be uncomfortable!


    I felt extremely satisfied in my heart, as if Mi Cai had already avenged the grudge of occupying this house with money. I arrogantly said, "Tell me, since you still plan to sleep, what are you getting up for now?"


    "I''m getting up now because I need to use the bathroom. Please move aside." Mi Cai said with an annoyed expression.I was afraid that I had taken my joke too far, even more afraid that Mi Cai would get angry and ask me to move out. I quickly moved aside, making room for Mi Cai to enter. Suddenly, I realized that I didn''t necessarily have to say "I need to pee". Saying "I need to use the bathroom" could also subtly express the same thing. This was the difference between a rough man and a beautiful woman!


    After Mi Cai came out of the bathroom, I sincerely invited her to have breakfast together again. However, she seemed to be disgusted by my previous teasing and ignored me, going straight into her room to continue sleeping. As a result, on this seemingly fine morning, I ate a boring breakfast alone and then, like a machine, started the day that had already been set.


    Wait, I need to correct myself. Strictly speaking, I''m not like a machine, because lately, I''ve been anxious with human emotions. Every time I think about Circle and Yan Yan''s upcoming wedding, and the inevitable meeting with Jian Wei, I instinctively feel anxious... At this moment, I would rather be an emotionless machine, because another day has passed, and I still don''t know how to face Jian Wei after three years of separation!


    At this moment, the perfect morning sunlight shifted its angle and shone into the room, illuminating the black coat in the wardrobe, extinguishing my emotions, but Jian Wei''s face became clearer and clearer...

 Chapter 16 – Two shameless thieves

    Arriving at the company, as usual, I turned on the computer and read some social news for a while. Then I went to my friends'' Weibo and tried to find some funny jokes to cheer myself up.


    By chance, I found a Weibo post from Yan Yan two days ago. The main content of the Weibo was her wedding photos with Circle. She mentioned many people in the post, but not me. Of course, I knew that she was afraid that Circle and her getting married would remind me of the sad ending between Jian Wei and me. Actually, she didn''t have to worry. I can bless them with pain.


    Their wedding photos had many themes, and one set of photos was named "Silent Joy". In this set of photos, Circle and Yan Yan held hands but had no expression on their faces. They looked silent, while the background of the photos was a smiling sunflower, highlighting the theme of "Silent Joy".


    It was a great theme, but it didn''t belong to them. This theme was proposed by Jian Wei more than three years ago when she had a forward-thinking idea of how to take our wedding photos. I had a sudden inspiration... I thought that joy in silence could withstand the test of time and erosion of years, and always remain.


    I sighed lightly, but my heart was in pain due to the merciless passage of time. I fell into silence for a while, then I smiled and left a comment under Yan Yan''s Weibo post: "Two shameless thieves, I wish you eternal happiness!"


    I lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled slowly. However, the smoke was instantly blown away by the wind, revealing a cracked image. In the image, Jian Wei, who still looked the same as three years ago, was lying in my arms, praising the theme of "Silent Joy" that I proposed. We happily decided that one day when we got married, we would use this theme for our wedding photos.


    But in the end, we didn''t get to use this theme. It was stolen by Circle and Yan Yan, two friends who lacked innovation... Hehe, I''m not upset about it at all, really... It just reminds me of that evening when we were full of joy because of our anticipation of getting married.


    ...


    At noon, Circle and I had lunch in the company''s cafeteria. Starting from this afternoon, Circle would take a two-week wedding leave, and he needed to temporarily hand over some work to me.


    After spending ten minutes discussing work with Circle, we started talking about his upcoming wedding with Yan Yan.


    I asked Circle, "Has Yan Yan found her bridesmaid?"


    Circle nodded and said, "Originally, Yan Yan planned to find a female colleague from her company to be her bridesmaid. But now that Jian Wei is back, she will definitely choose Jian Wei."


    I didn''t react for a moment and stayed stunned for a while before asking Circle, "I''m your groomsman, right?"


    "What''s wrong? Are you planning to back out at the last minute?" Circle''s face sank as he asked.


    "What are you two thinking? Have you ever considered how awkward it would be to arrange Jian Wei and me as your groomsman and bridesmaid?" I added.


    After a moment, Circle finally realized and said, "Oh, I and Yan Yan didn''t think about this. It would indeed be awkward to arrange you and Jian Wei like that."


    "Good that you know. Besides, Jian Wei and I have already broken up. It''s not auspicious for us to be your groomsman and bridesmaid!" I added.


    "Now that you mention it, I''m a little worried!" Circle paused and asked again, "So, who should withdraw, you or Jian Wei?"


    "You''re taking a wedding leave, and all the work is being handed over to me. I don''t have that much time to be your groomsman. I''ll withdraw." I thought for a moment and said.


    "Alright, there''s really no perfect solution to this matter." Circle said with some regret in his words.


    Of course, I also felt regret, but according to wedding customs, it''s not very auspicious for a couple who have already broken up to be the groomsman and bridesmaid.


    After a moment of silence, I asked Circle, "Have you thought of any other candidates for the groomsman?"


    Circle made a reassuring expression and said, "No need to think about it, we already have someone in mind. We''ll ask Xiang Chen."


    I have to say, Xiang Chen is the perfect choice to be Circle''s groomsman. Back in college, the three of us had the closest relationship in our class. It''s just that Xiang Chen is from Nanjing and returned to Nanjing after graduation, not staying in Suzhou with us. But the friendship between revolutionaries has always remained.


    I nodded and asked Circle, "I haven''t been in contact with him for a while. What has he been busy with lately?"


    Circle sighed and said, "Their family''s tobacco and liquor business has been doing well these past two years. I heard they opened several branches in Nanjing. Recently, they are preparing to operate as a company and have set up a flagship store of 800 square meters. The image design fee for the flagship store alone cost over 300,000 yuan. It''s quite high-end!"


    I also sighed and said, "His father is really amazing! Even in his old age, he managed to turn this kid into a second-generation rich!"


    Circle shrugged and said, "This has nothing to do with his father. You know that his third uncle works in the Business Bureau and has real power. It''s only a matter of time before their tobacco and liquor business becomes big!"


    I agreed with Circle''s point of view. In this society, having connections or not makes a huge difference. For example, Xiang Chen and I are two completely different cases.


    ...


    In the afternoon, Circle left the company. My work became busy, and I didn''t finish until 8 o''clock in the evening. The next day, even though it was Saturday, I continued to work for a whole day, mainly taking over Circle''s work for the GUCCI counter project in our shopping mall. These past two days, I have been coordinating with the inspection team from GUCCI and modifying the project proposal according to their requirements.Just two days, and I already feel overwhelmed and tired. This made me realize that compared to Circle, my work ability is lacking. At least he has always been capable in handling these events.


    On Saturday night at nine o''clock, I dragged my exhausted body onto the last bus home. However, my mood did not lighten because of tomorrow''s rest. All I could think about was the scene at Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding tomorrow. Although I am happy for their happy union, I am unwilling to meet Jian Wei in such a joyous occasion. This unwillingness grows stronger as time goes on. In my eyes, Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding is a cruel punishment and torment for Jian Wei and me.


    Perhaps Jian Wei doesn''t care about this torment, but I really do!


    ...


    I arrived home at half past nine, but I didn''t immediately wash up and rest. I just sat on the sofa in the living room and lit a cigarette out of habit. I became immersed in anxious emotions and even forgot to play a song on the guitar to relax.


    I drank a glass of cold water and lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. After a while, I heard the sound of the door opening. I knew it was Mi Cai coming back. She came back later than me these past two days, maybe she has her own nightlife, but that has nothing to do with me.


    The smell of smoke in the room made Mi Cai furrow her brows. She walked over to me and said, "Can you not smoke in the living room?"


    I didn''t care about Mi Cai''s question and casually said, "What''s wrong with smoking in the living room? I didn''t go to your room to smoke."


    "The living room is also not allowed. I don''t want to come home every day to a smoky room," Mi Cai said sternly.


    "Then I''ll open the window next time I smoke. The wind will blow it away in a while," I said patiently to Mi Cai in my anxious state.


    "That''s not allowed either. From now on, you can only smoke outside. It''s not allowed in this house."


    I sat up from the sofa and furrowed my brows, saying, "Not allowed here, not allowed there. Do you think of me as your grandson?... I''ve been smoking in this house for over two years, in every corner, including the room you''re living in now and... the toilet."


    After I got angry, Mi Cai suddenly said calmly, "If you''re so dissatisfied, then go find another place to live. You can even climb up to the roof to smoke, no one will stop you."


    I didn''t say anything, but I felt annoyed being pinched at my weak spot. However, I couldn''t resist. I hated that I couldn''t buy this house myself and then smoke arrogantly on the roof.


    After a while, I crumpled the cigarette box into a ball and angrily threw it into the trash can. I glared at Mi Cai and said rudely, "I won''t smoke anymore, are you satisfied?"


    Mi Cai calmly looked at me and asked, "Won''t smoke anymore? Didn''t you just say you''re my grandson?"


    I angrily said, "Nonsense, you''re the one treating me like a grandson. When did I say I''m your grandson?"


    Mi Cai smiled, shrugged, and walked back to her room.


    I was stunned for a while before realizing that she was setting a trap for me, making me unknowingly admit that I am her grandson... I suddenly had the urge to spray blood in front of her room. She''s really bullying an honest person!


    ... S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After washing up, I returned to my room and closed the door tightly. I found another pack of cigarettes, opened it and lit one, then opened the window and lay on the bed, smoking.


    After a while, the phone that hadn''t rung for a long time suddenly rang without any warning. I was stunned for a while and only picked up the phone from the cabinet next to the bed when the ringtone was about to end. Then I answered the call.


    I heard Yan Yan''s familiar voice on the phone, "Zhao Yang, are you asleep?"


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    "I''m lying down, but I haven''t slept yet."


    Yan Yan sighed, "Thinking about something again? Single men are really pitiful!"


    "Call me back later, I''ll go cry in the bathroom for a while." I said unkindly. Yan Yan and Circle are the same, always comforting people to death.


    Yan Yan laughed and said, "Alright, let''s talk about something serious."


    "Go ahead." I took another puff of smoke and said.


    "...I''m with Jian Wei now. She''s staying at my house tonight." Yan Yan lowered her voice and said to me.


    I restrained my heartbeat and pretended to be calm as I asked, "Aren''t you with Circle?"


    "Are you stupid? I''m definitely at my own house now." After saying that, she sweetly added, "My husband will come to marry me tomorrow!"


    "Oh."


    "Um... Do you want to say a few words to Jian Wei? She''s chatting with my parents in the living room." Yan Yan''s voice became even lower.


    I was speechless...


    Suddenly, another voice came from the phone, "Yan Yan, what are you doing?"


    Then the phone suddenly hung up with a "beep" sound. However, I didn''t hang up the phone for a long time. I could tell that it was Jian Wei''s voice.


    Finally, the phone automatically hung up. After a while, Yan Yan sent me a text message: "Did you hear Jian Wei''s voice just now... I was so scared. I called you behind her back. This matter needs to be communicated with you and Jian Wei''s consent before I can help you connect. Otherwise, it will seem like I have no sense of propriety!"


    I didn''t reply to the message. I just extinguished the cigarette in silence. Her voice still lingered in my ears, and I remembered the joyous us in the rainy dusk.


    Actually, whether we communicate tonight or not doesn''t have much practical significance for us. After all, we will meet face to face with our real bodies tomorrow, and three years have passed. Do we still care about enduring another anxious night?Today, as always, I''m updating four times. I''m putting in the effort, and I hope you all continue to support me. Our book has a realistic style, so it takes a while to heat up. The new book period is always the most challenging! Yesterday evening, we finally slowly climbed into the new book list, currently ranked tenth.


    Flowers, collections, check-ins, and for those who can afford it, VIPs, let''s all come together to get through the toughest new book period.

 Chapter 17 – Meeting after three years

    I didn''t really sleep that night. Deep down, I wanted to go back to the days when she still loved me, and we held hands in silence, filled with joy.


    But I am living in the present, living in the shadow of her turning away from me, and I can''t help but think of her cruelly and mock her!


    The night turned into morning, and sunlight seeped through the curtains into my room. It settled on the glass vase with flowers, creating a colorful halo, as if indicating that it was going to be a great morning.


    Yes, even without the sunlight''s indication, it was still a great morning. Today, a couple will tie the knot, and I shouldn''t taint this morning and their wedding with anxious emotions. I told myself that I must have a sunny attitude.


    I found the most handsome suit from the wardrobe, shaved off my beard, and used a hairdryer to style my hair energetically. I smiled at myself in the mirror, confirming that I looked sunny. Only then did I prepare to leave the room and give my blessings to Circle and Yan Yan on their wedding day.


    ...


    It was almost noon, and I, along with other guests, waited outside the hotel for the wedding procession and for Jian Wei, who would be accompanying Yan Yan as the bridesmaid.


    The wedding procession was taking longer than expected, as there was heavy traffic on the road. This was torture for me. At this point, I would rather see Jian Wei earlier. The agonizing wait before meeting her was unbearable. Since we couldn''t avoid seeing each other, it would be better if we treated each other as strangers without saying a word. That would be best!


    I squeezed out of the crowd and sat on a stone bench across from the hotel. My emotions became even more anxious. It was hard to describe this anxiety in words. I felt that Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding, symbolizing completeness, was a cruel interrogation for me.


    This interrogation was not only emotional but also material. Why did Circle and I graduate from the same school, start from the same starting point, and yet he achieved success in his career and found happiness with his loved one, while I was so destitute, living a life of uncertainty and borrowing money everywhere?


    In my self-interrogation, my heart was filled with suffocating loneliness and despair. At this moment, I really wished there was a woman by my side, helping me conceal this loneliness and despair, allowing me to wear at least a seemingly happy smile to bless Circle and Yan Yan.


    I lit a cigarette and finally took out my phone from my pocket. I dialed the number of my female tenant, Mi Cai.


    After waiting for a while, Mi Cai answered the phone. I quickly asked, "Are you awake?"


    "Why?" Mi Cai''s tone was somewhat cautious.


    I smiled, trying to make her relax first before saying, "I actually wanted to invite you to have a meal..."


    "No need. We''re not that close," Mi Cai rejected without hesitation.


    "There is a need. Think about it, you lent me money and let me stay with you. It''s a great favor to me. If I don''t treat you to a meal, I''ll become a scumbag in your eyes!" I emphasized, pretending to be "hurt."


    Mi Cai fell silent for a moment, then said to me, "Where are we eating?"


    "Yaming Grand Hotel."


    "Yaming Grand Hotel? Did I hear it correctly?" Mi Cai asked, full of doubt.


    "Of course, you heard it correctly. Only a five-star hotel can show my sincerity in inviting you to dinner. So... you must come. This meal is worth a week''s salary for me!" I emphasized with sincerity, pretending to be "hurt."


    "Got it. Wait for me for 20 minutes." After a pause, she added, "Don''t be so extravagant in the future. It doesn''t matter where you sincerely invite me to eat."


    I didn''t expect Mi Cai to consider my financial situation. I was stunned before answering, "Got it. I''ll wait for you outside the hotel." After that, Mi Cai and I hung up the phone. Finally, I felt relieved. I thought that if I could deceive Mi Cai into accompanying me, I wouldn''t feel so lonely and destitute later!


    ...


    A quarter of an hour passed, and the wedding procession still hadn''t arrived. It seemed that they encountered an unprecedented traffic jam. But now, I wasn''t as anxious as before, which made me feel that calling Mi Cai was a wise decision.


    After another 5 minutes, I saw the red Audi Q7. Mi Cai had really come as agreed. She parked the car in the open-air parking lot, and I immediately went to greet her.


    We stood beside the fountain in the hotel square, and I spoke first, "I was a little worried that you wouldn''t come, but I didn''t expect you to be so punctual, exactly 20 minutes."


    "I''m not like someone who treats breaking promises as a common occurrence." Mi Cai took the opportunity to tease me.


    I laughed it off and said, "You''re referring to me, right? It''s okay, you can say it directly. I won''t get angry with you."


    "You''re not angry because you have thick skin!" Mi Cai retorted.


    I laughed again but didn''t say anything more.


    Mi Cai glanced at the hotel across the street and asked me, "Can we go eat now?"


    "Of course, but we have to wait a little longer. We''re still waiting for a few more people."


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    "Are there other people?"


    As soon as Mi Cai finished speaking, the crowd that had been waiting started to get noisy. Then, eight cars decorated with "double happiness" characters and ribbons formed a straight line and drove into the hotel courtyard. They had finally arrived!


    I didn''t have time to talk to Mi Cai beside me. My gaze uncontrollably fixed on the wedding car carrying the bride. I knew Jian Wei was also sitting in that car. My breathing became erratic in an instant.Circle, dressed in a groom''s suit, stepped out of the wedding car first. He then went to the other side of the car to open the door for Yan Yan, lifting her out of the car in a princess carry. This act elicited a round of applause and cheers from the crowd, their happiness overwhelming me in an instant.


    Amidst the ebb and flow of the crowd, I finally saw Jian Wei stepping out of the car. She was holding a bouquet of flowers, dressed in a sapphire blue gown. The midday sun shone on her arms, making them glisten. Her face was as beautiful as ever, her eyes, like peach blossoms, seemed to ripple under her willow-leaf eyebrows. Among all the women I knew, her eyes were the most beautiful.


    Jian Wei handed the flowers to Yan Yan, who was cradled in Circle''s arms. As the crowd cheered and clapped, she never once glanced in my direction. Perhaps she didn''t even realize I was there. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I remained silent for a long time, took a deep breath, and said to Mi Cai, who seemed a bit confused, "My friends are here... Let''s go in for the meal."


    Mi Cai''s face was cold. "You''re here to attend a friend''s wedding, not sincerely inviting me to dinner, right?"


    "I am sincere, it''s just that there are a lot of people."


    "Scumbag!" Mi Cai cursed at me, took out her car keys from her bag, and turned to walk towards her car parked not far away.


    I couldn''t let Mi Cai leave. Yes, I had tricked her, but this trickery didn''t harm her in any way. At least she could enjoy a wedding feast. Since she was already here, it made no sense to leave.


    I reached out to hold Mi Cai back, my tone uncontrollably harsh, "Why do you always take things so seriously! What''s wrong with inviting you to a friend''s wedding feast? Just eat and drink to your heart''s content, it won''t cost you anything!"


    Mi Cai hit me with her bag as she walked, repeating, "I''ll say it again, I don''t like being lied to... From now on, I don''t want to have anything to do with you, a liar, a scumbag. Please move out of my house as soon as you get back."


    Although I didn''t expect Mi Cai''s reaction to be so intense, I still held onto her, not letting her leave. In the midst of our struggle, a figure stood opposite us.


    My hand was still tightly gripping Mi Cai''s arm, and I looked up at the person standing opposite us, my heart pounding... Standing opposite Mi Cai and me was Jian Wei!


    Three years later, at this moment, we were finally standing face to face.

 Chapter 18 – Deep Confession

    The water in the fountain pool flowed down along the giant sculpture like a waterfall. Mi Cai, Jian Wei, and I, this strange trio, looked at each other in silence amidst the sound of flowing water.


    Finally, Jian Wei smiled and said to me, "Long time no see, Zhao Yang."


    "Hmm." I only replied with one word, afraid that speaking too much would reveal my trembling voice, and even more afraid that she would know I was scared.


    Upon hearing my response, Jian Wei just smiled and looked at Mi Cai, asking, "Is she your girlfriend?"


    Only then did I realize that I was still tightly holding onto Mi Cai, too preoccupied to let go of her. I thought to myself: If Mi Cai really is my girlfriend, it would be enough to prove that I have been doing fine since breaking up with Jian Wei all these years, at least I haven''t died in the loneliness of being alone.


    Instinctively, I didn''t want Jian Wei to see me living a miserable life. Driven by this instinct, I actually nodded towards Jian Wei and said, "Yes, she''s my girlfriend."


    After saying that, I nervously looked at Mi Cai, afraid that she would expose me in front of everyone and turn me into a joke.


    Mi Cai frowned and remained silent, seemingly considering showing me some mercy, yet also unwilling to give up this perfect opportunity for revenge.


    I quickly said to Mi Cai, "Don''t you have urgent matters to attend to at work? Go quickly, I''ll explain to my friends later, they will understand."


    Mi Cai struggled and shook off my hand, seemingly eager to leave this place, without saying a word she turned and walked towards her car.


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    The red Q7 drove past me with a gust of wind, seemingly filled with Mi Cai''s angry aura. It seemed that I had really angered her.


    The fountain was still flowing, but only Jian Wei and I remained at the scene. I lit a cigarette, took a deep breath, and pretended to be helpless as I complained, "Sigh! She''s always busy, busy all the time..."


    "Is that so? But your girlfriend seems pretty good."


    "What do you mean ''seems pretty good''? Of course she''s good!" I stood up straight and corrected Jian Wei''s statement discontentedly.


    Jian Wei looked at me, and after a while, she said, "Zhao Yang, you haven''t changed."


    "What do you mean?"


    Before Jian Wei could answer, the groomsman Xiang Chen waved at Jian Wei from a distance, saying that the emcee was looking for her and there was a wedding ceremony that required her cooperation.


    Jian Wei responded to Xiang Chen and looked at me again, asking, "The lunch banquet is about to start, aren''t you going in?"


    "I''ll finish smoking first."


    Watching Jian Wei''s departing figure, my heart was filled with a sense of loss. I wanted to tell her: she was right, I really haven''t changed. I still long for the days we spent together. I still remember: that day when I couldn''t meet her family and could only hide in a corner to bid her farewell, I also remember, she cried and wrote "wait" heavily on the car window with her lipstick. I watched from afar until the two words "wait" completely blurred in my sight, until tears streamed down my face that she would never see...


    I immersed myself in the memories, even wanting to rush over and hug her regardless of everything, telling her that I still love her. But just now, our conversation after a long separation and reunion was so pale and tasteless, not even qualifying as ordinary friends. I knew that the love and joy we once had in silence had been drifting further and further away from us...


    If my heart is a city, at this moment, the entire city is weeping!


    ...


    The wedding banquet began, and everyone took their seats one by one. My colleagues and I sat in a slightly more remote location, while Jian Wei, Xiang Chen, the groom, and the bride sat at the front table.


    I resisted the urge to look at Jian Wei, but I couldn''t control myself. It was ridiculous. For a woman who had been separated from me for three years and made me think of her every night, how could I suppress the impulse to think of her when she was only a stone''s throw away from me?


    My colleagues talked to me, and I absentmindedly responded while constantly finding a reason in my heart to look towards Jian Wei. But from beginning to end, Jian Wei didn''t even give me a glance in response. She only chatted with Xiang Chen from time to time, and they would exchange knowing smiles after a few words. They seemed to get along very well, and Jian Wei''s mood seemed to be quite good.


    The emcee on the stage encouraged Circle and Yan Yan to have intimate interactions, and the crowd below cheered. I remained silent, but kept drinking glass after glass of alcohol.


    In a daze, Xiang Chen walked towards me with a wine glass in hand. I also picked up a glass of wine and drank it all in one go. When Xiang Chen reached me, I had already poured myself a full glass of wine and shouted at Xiang Chen, "Xiang Chen, my little brother, come over and drink with me."


    Xiang Chen smiled and said, "Who knows who will end up drinking? How many are you prepared to drink this time?"


    The so-called "drink with me" between Xiang Chen and me was a habit left over from our university days. When we were young and reckless, we would drink until one of us was completely drunk. At that time, the person who could still stand at the end would arrogantly call the person who fell down a grandson. In our four years of university, I fell down, Circle fell down, and naturally, Xiang Chen also fell down. So the three of us took turns being grandsons for four years, but we never admitted that the other two were the grandfathers!In fact, ever since I started working, I no longer drink foolishly like I did in college. But today, no matter if it''s Xiang Chen or anyone else, as long as they raise a glass with me, regardless of the type of alcohol or the number of glasses, I will accompany them. I feel happy for Circle and Yan Yan, but I feel sorry for myself. With all these emotions, perhaps alcohol is my best antidote.


    I switched to a larger goblet, filled it almost to the brim with white wine, and raised my glass to Xiang Chen, saying, "Just like before, one glass per person. If you can''t drink anymore, just lie down and play dead. Don''t beg for mercy, don''t explain."


    Everyone laughed at my words, thinking we were joking. But I didn''t blink, I really drank two mouthfuls of a full glass of white wine, then turned the glass upside down to show that I had finished.


    Amid exclamations, everyone''s attention shifted from Circle and Yan Yan to Xiang Chen and me, including Jian Wei.


    "Zhao Yang, you''re still as fierce as you were several years after graduation. But I will definitely drink this wine because I''m very happy today." After saying this, he also drank all the wine in his glass, then glanced at Jian Wei.


    I noticed this detail, a string in my heart was suddenly pulled. I understood who Xiang Chen was happy for.


    In college, he and I both pursued Jian Wei, but Jian Wei chose me. Then he became like a brother to Jian Wei, still giving her meticulous care. Of course, this seemed like a kind of letting go at that time. But now that Jian Wei and I have broken up, and Jian Wei has returned to China, if Jian Wei is still single, he can legitimately pursue Jian Wei again.


    I remained silent, but Xiang Chen poured another full glass of white wine and said to me, "Zhao Yang, do me a favor, let''s have another one."


    I nodded and poured another glass of white wine, ready to drink it all in one go, but Xiang Chen stopped my glass, saying, "I''ll drink first this time."


    After saying this, Xiang Chen drank a whole glass of white wine, then put the glass on the table and walked towards Jian Wei.


    Jian Wei reprimanded Xiang Chen in a caring tone, "You should drink less. Aren''t you afraid of hurting your body by drinking like this?"


    "Using the alcohol I''ve drunk, I want to tell you what''s on my mind!" After saying this, Xiang Chen closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then borrowed the microphone from the host, looking at Jian Wei with deep affection.


    I suddenly had a premonition that the next scene would be enough to tear me apart!


    ...


    The whole room was silent. At this moment, Xiang Chen''s expression was full of sincerity, gentle with emotion. He tightly held Jian Wei''s hand, gazed at her for a long time, and said, "Today is a day full of joy, and a day I''ve been looking forward to for a long time... Jian Wei, I''ve loved you deeply for 5 years, and that has never changed. Even when you were with Zhao Yang, I never gave up loving you... Once I thought Zhao Yang would make you happy, and I chose to silently bless you. But the fact proved that your love was a failure. I won''t comment on your love, after all, love is free, and it''s meaningless for anyone to dwell on the past... Now that you''re single, I hope you can be my girlfriend. I''m really willing to give everything for you, even if you plan to go back to America, I''m willing to go abroad with you. No matter where you are, I will be with you, just like the days I spent with you in America two years ago! I will make you happy!"


    My heart ached as if it was about to explode. Xiang Chen''s words reminded me of something: a month after Jian Wei and I broke up, Xiang Chen did go abroad for a while. At that time, he didn''t tell us which country he went to. Now it can be confirmed that he went to America to accompany Jian Wei after her breakup. It turns out that he has been in contact with Jian Wei all these years.


    Everyone was waiting for Jian Wei''s answer to Xiang Chen. But at this moment, I finally understood that the Jian Wei in college loved a feeling, but the Jian Wei after graduation loved a match in social status.


    From any perspective, Xiang Chen and Jian Wei are the most compatible... I think: maybe I already know the answer Jian Wei is about to give Xiang Chen.


    In the midst of the tearing pain, I seemed to see again the day I saw her off, when she cried and wrote "Waiting..." heavily on the car window with lipstick. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 19 – Castle in the Sky

    Jian Wei exchanged a look with Xiang Chen, her expression unreadable. Xiang Chen took out an exquisitely prepared gift box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a crystal pendant encrusted with diamonds.


    The lighting technician turned off the lights in the hall and used a spotlight to highlight Xiang Chen and Jian Wei. They looked radiant, while I felt invisible in the darkness.


    "This crystal diamond necklace was designed by the best jewelry designer in the country. There is only one in the world. I named it... Devotion. It represents my sincerest and purest love for you, just like diamonds and crystals. Give me a chance to put it on for you... please?"


    I wanted to tell Xiang Chen that he was wrong. Anyone with money can buy a crystal diamond necklace for a woman, but the sincerity and purity that come from love are heartfelt and do not require any material possessions.


    But how many women would believe such a pure truth? The brilliance of the diamonds had already dazzled their eyes.


    I didn''t argue with Xiang Chen. I just kept shrinking the fortress in my heart, making it smaller and smaller...


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    Everyone present was moved by Xiang Chen''s gesture, and they applauded to encourage Jian Wei to accept his confession.


    Jian Wei glanced towards a dark corner and finally nodded in silence. The applause and cheers grew louder as Xiang Chen excitedly put the necklace on Jian Wei. In that moment, a couple found love at Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding, adding to the joy!


    At this moment, no one except me remembered the rainy dusk when we promised to take a series of wedding photos with the theme "Silent Joy."


    ...


    The wedding banquet was coming to an end amidst the excitement of the crowd. The guests who attended the wedding bid farewell to each other, and I walked alone towards the hotel entrance with unsteady steps.


    The sunlight outside the hotel was beautiful, but it was too bright for me to open my eyes. I leaned against a pillar and squinted, looking at the blue sky and white clouds. In my drunken dizziness, I seemed to see the fortress in my heart flying up into the sky with the floating air, merging with the blue sky and white clouds, gradually becoming crystal clear, without a trace of loneliness and pain!


    Yan Yan and Circle, both in wedding attire, supported me as I swayed.


    Yan Yan apologized to me, "Zhao Yang, we really didn''t know that Xiang Chen would confess to Jian Wei at our wedding... I''m sure you''re not feeling well. I''m sorry!"


    "Haha... I''m not sad, why would I be sad?... By the way, did you... did you see the fortress in my heart flying into the sky, shining inside the sunlight..." I said incoherently, then took out the transparent film from the cigarette box and covered my eyes, searching for that city in the sky.


    Yan Yan and Circle exchanged glances, and Circle took the film from my hand and said, "Stop talking nonsense... I''ll call a driver to take you home."


    "No need to... bother, I can go back by myself. I''ll take a taxi." I said, breaking free from Yan Yan and Circle''s support and walking towards the street.


    As I stumbled, I saw Jian Wei supporting the intoxicated Xiang Chen as they walked from the other side. She took the car keys out of Xiang Chen''s pocket and opened the door of the black Land Rover. Circle and Yan Yan hurried over to help Jian Wei put Xiang Chen in the car.


    Actually, I didn''t feel sad looking at this scene. At least I could still stand, while Xiang Chen was already unconscious. This time, he was the one lying down, and I was the one hurting in loneliness.


    I stood still, watching Jian Wei start the car and drive with Xiang Chen towards the bustling city.


    ...


    In the afternoon, I sat by the green belt next to the moat, smoking one cigarette after another. Finally, there were no more cigarettes to smoke, so I closed my eyes and lay down, feeling the autumn afternoon breeze brushing past me.


    Even though I had drunk too much alcohol, the extreme pain in my heart prevented me from falling asleep. The agony was magnified several times in the peculiar clarity of drunkenness.


    The scenes of her waiting heavily on the car window in the past and her silent acceptance of Xiang Chen''s confession today alternated in my mind, flashing faster and faster, as if they were tearing me apart. I held my head tightly in pain, curled up and sobbed.


    The pain in my heart became unbearable, and I really wanted to end my life and follow that fortress that had already detached from my heart and transformed into the city in the sky.


    With the remaining strength, I took out my phone from my pocket and found the most recent call record in the call history. I immediately dialed the number.


    After a long time, the call was answered, and I heard Mi Cai''s determined voice. She said to me, "No matter what excuse you use this time, I won''t tolerate it anymore. You must move out today. I don''t want a liar living in my house."


    I smiled and calmly said to Mi Cai, "If you''re free now, come to the moat and stop me. I want to jump into the river. I really will jump!"I didn''t wait for Mi Cai''s response before I threw my phone into the moat. I didn''t lie to Mi Cai. Under the influence of alcohol and pain, I became numb and indifferent, truly wanting to pursue that crystal-clear city in the sky.


    A warm breeze blew with a sense of comfort. Before I could take a step, the accumulated alcohol suddenly surged up. I looked up at the dizzying blue sky, and my body suddenly softened, falling to the ground and passing out.


    ......


    When I woke up, it was already dark. The street lights on both sides of the moat were lit, reflecting on the river surface and swaying with the waves. The sound of car horns came from the road by the riverbank from time to time. Under the dual stimulation of vision and hearing, the blurry world suddenly became real.


    My head was splitting with pain, but I was staring blankly at the twinkling stars in the sky......


    A comfortable feminine fragrance drifted into my nostrils with the autumn wind of the night. I turned my head and saw that it was Mi Cai sitting next to me, her coat draped over me.


    I sat up from the ground, and Mi Cai noticed that I was awake.


    "You''re awake."


    "How did you get here?"


    We both spoke at the same time.


    Another gust of night wind blew, and the already yellowed maple leaves fell, dropping into the river not far away, drifting with the waves under the twinkling stars. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    We both looked at the river surface, and after a while, Mi Cai answered my question: "I came to see if you were dead."


    "What do you mean, dead?" I asked in confusion, having already forgotten about the call I made to Mi Cai before I passed out.


    "So you''re lying to me again, aren''t you?"


    "I have no idea what you''re talking about!" I exclaimed.


    Mi Cai patiently said to me: "You called me at noon and said you wanted to jump into the river. If you have any doubts, you can check your call history on your phone."


    "Let me check." I said, starting to feel my pockets.


    "Huh! Where''s my phone?"


    Looking at the river again, I finally remembered that in a fit of impulse, I had thrown my phone into the moat. With that, my memory was unlocked, and I remembered that I did indeed call Mi Cai at noon like a madman, saying I wanted to jump into the moat......


    I apologized to Mi Cai a bit guiltily: "I''m sorry, I drank too much at noon and was talking nonsense. I really wasn''t trying to deceive you."


    "Scumbag, deceitful liar!" Mi Cai cursed without mercy.


    "Can you stop cursing me like that?" I paused and then said, "It''s just jumping into the river, right? I can make it up to you now, it''s not too late, is it?"


    "Go ahead and jump." Mi Cai said to me, looking at the river.


    "Jump it is." I said, walking towards the river, and jumped onto the railing by the river.

 Chapter 20 – Castle in the Sky 2

    I stood on the railing, facing the wind, and opened my eyes wide, hoping to find the reflection of the "City of the Sky" on the flowing river, but all I could see was the dazzling lights of the city.


    After waking up, I realized how afraid I was of death, afraid of being submerged in the bottomless moat.


    I looked back at Mi Cai, but she seemed indifferent.


    "Aren''t you going to persuade me?" I frowned and asked Mi Cai.


    "Why should I persuade you?"


    "But if I jump, I will really die!"


    "You will die, not me." Mi Cai still had an indifferent expression.


    I jumped off the railing and angrily said, "I didn''t misunderstand you. You are a poisonous woman who doesn''t hesitate to let others die for your own purposes."


    "I have no purpose. It was you who said you wanted to jump into the river." Mi Cai still spoke calmly.


    I became even more angry and pointed at Mi Cai, saying, "Can''t you stop pushing me towards death so calmly?... I remember I called you to persuade me not to jump. According to the script I set, you shouldn''t have acted like this!"


    "When I came, you were lying there like a dead person. You wouldn''t have jumped anyway. Why did you bother calling me? Is it fun to play with me?" Mi Cai finally showed some anger in her words.


    I felt a little frustrated. I would have jumped impulsively at that time, but who knew that fate had other plans. Suddenly, the alcohol rushed up and made me fall asleep.


    I didn''t know how to explain to Mi Cai, so I made up a story and said, "I really wanted to jump into the moat. When I was about to jump, I remembered that I owed you more than ten thousand yuan. It wouldn''t matter if I died, but no one would be able to repay you. So I hesitated and didn''t jump, because I am a person with a conscience and moral bottom line. I would never do such a despicable thing as not repaying debts."


    "You sound so heroic!" Mi Cai looked at me with a half-smile.


    "It''s really heroic! You don''t know how much I struggled at that moment. On one hand, there was the relief after death, and on the other hand, there was the guilt of not repaying the debt. It was difficult to choose!... Of course, in the end, I chose to uphold my moral bottom line, so I am still alive." I exaggeratedly said.


    Mi Cai seemed unwilling to listen to my nonsense. She stood up from the ground and prepared to leave.


    "Wait." I called out to Mi Cai.


    "What now?" Mi Cai''s words were already very impatient. She put on the coat she had just covered me with.


    "Have you been sitting here guarding me since the afternoon?"


    "I came to collect your body, not to persuade you, so I came in the evening." Mi Cai said calmly.


    "Who are you kidding? You came to collect my body and even helped me put on a coat?" I exposed Mi Cai''s lie with a meaningful smile.


    Mi Cai turned around and looked at me coldly, saying, "A covering is always placed on a corpse to hide its appearance. Don''t you know that?"


    I was speechless by Mi Cai''s words, standing there dumbfounded. My attention shifted from arguing with Mi Cai, and the alcohol that hadn''t completely dissipated in my body started to wreak havoc. I felt dizzy and a strong sense of nausea came over me.


    I leaned on the railing and vomited into the moat, emptying myself. I had drunk too much at noon.


    After vomiting, I sat down against the railing, feeling exhausted. I closed my eyes, and my consciousness became clearer. The scenes from Circle and Yan Yan''s wedding at noon appeared in my mind again, followed by a tearing pain filling my body.


    At that moment, Xiang Chen helped Jian Wei put on the diamond crystal necklace that symbolized their commitment. How much I wanted to tell Jian Wei without hesitation: I want to go back to the past, to the silent and joyful past, to the past full of love...


    But I could never go back to the past. I lost Jian Wei, and I could only watch her be happy in someone else''s world forever!


    In the midst of the tearing pain, a warm feeling spread from the corners of my eyes. It seemed like I was crying!


    It couldn''t be me crying. It was the City of the Sky crying. It was using tears to dissolve the sorrow in my heart.


    "You''re crying, wipe your tears."


    I opened my eyes and realized that Mi Cai hadn''t left yet. She handed me a tissue.


    I didn''t take the tissue. It was better to let the wind dry my tears. That way, there would be no trace left.


    Mi Cai squatted down and looked at me. Her tone finally softened as she asked, "Did I say something too harsh just now? I shouldn''t have mocked you for being a corpse."


    I remained silent for a long time and whispered, "Actually, it has nothing to do with you. Even if I were really a corpse, it would just be a moment of pain before death. But the pain of being alive is the one that tears my heart apart... Do you understand this feeling?"


    Mi Cai shook her head and said, "I don''t understand. All I''m thinking about now is when you will move out of my house." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you really annoyed by me?" I smiled and asked, my tears seemed to have dried up in the wind.


    "Yes, your behavior doesn''t give me a good impression. You are a complete bastard!" Mi Cai said bluntly.


    "Is that so?... But you don''t know that the bastard who has done all the bad things also had a clean city in his heart!"


    "I don''t quite understand what you''re saying."


    "You don''t need to understand... because today, that city has separated from my body and become a City of the Sky that I can never touch!"


    I lowered my head and felt my pocket, but there was no cigarette left to burn away my melancholy and mend my broken soul.Mi Cai didn''t say anything. She sat down next to me, leaning against the railing behind us in the same posture. Our surroundings became increasingly quiet, as if we were isolated from the city''s hustle and bustle by the night. A night breeze blew past, bringing a sense of equality among all beings and extinguishing the worldly fireworks!


    I saw a half-smoked cigarette on the ground that I had extinguished. I picked it up, blew on it, and lit it again. The smell of tobacco once again filled the air, then dissipated under the dim light...


    Finally, I said to Mi Cai, "I know you want me to leave. I will move out tomorrow."


    "Is it for real this time?"


    "It''s real... I''ve lost an entire city, why would I care about a room?..."


    Mi Cai seemed curious about the city I kept mentioning. She asked me, "What does this city in the sky you speak of look like?"


    I thought for a moment and said, "It''s a crystal-clear yet always silent city. It has a kind of magic that makes people forget their troubles, their pain, their vanity. When you live in it, nothing else matters, because you will become a crystal-clear bird, breaking free from all restraints and soaring in the wind of freedom..."


    Discover the complete story on


    "But birds have to land eventually. Will it still be crystal clear after it lands?" Mi Cai asked, looking at me.


    "I don''t know... because I haven''t thought about what it would look like after landing."


    ...


    Perhaps my pitiful state aroused Mi Cai''s sympathy. That night, she didn''t leave me alone by the river. I rode in her car towards the bustling, somewhat illusory city. I had made up my mind that after this night, I would move out of that old house. After all, my life couldn''t get any worse. I might as well make Mi Cai happy and give her some peace.


    On the way, we both remained silent. I understood this silence as Mi Cai''s continued dissatisfaction with my repeated deception today. My current destitution and pitiful state couldn''t completely extinguish her anger. The fact that she brought me back from the outskirts was already very considerate.


    When we returned to our residential area, Mi Cai parked the car. We walked towards the entrance of the building, one in front of the other. To our surprise, we found Mr. Ban sitting on the steps at the entrance, with his decades-old black briefcase beside him.

 Chapter 21 – The significance of a cockroach

    Mi Cai and I walked towards Mr. Ban. I asked, "Mr. Ban, why didn''t you call me? It''s getting really cold tonight. It must be freezing for you to sit here like this!"


    "I did call, but your phone was turned off," Mr. Ban replied, still emotionless.


    Upon hearing this, I remembered that I had thrown my phone into the moat in a fit of drunkenness. I couldn''t help but feel a pang of regret. I hadn''t earned much money, and all I did was waste it.


    Mi Cai greeted Mr. Ban, "Uncle, hello!"


    "Hello to you too. You two haven''t eaten yet, right? I bought some groceries from the supermarket to cook for you," Mr. Ban said as he took out a bag from behind him. Inside were fish and some vegetables.


    "Uncle, the porridge you made last time was delicious. I''m sure your cooking is great too," Mi Cai said to Mr. Ban with a smile I had never seen before. It made me realize that I truly was an unlikeable person, and that Mi Cai''s attitude towards me was not unwarranted.


    Mr. Ban only smiled in response to Mi Cai''s compliment, then gestured for us to go upstairs.


    As we went upstairs, Mi Cai walked ahead while Mr. Ban and I followed behind. I asked Mr. Ban in surprise, "Mr. Ban, have you been staying in Suzhou these past few days?"


    "I went to Guangzhou for a trade show and passed by Suzhou on my way back," Mr. Ban replied concisely.


    I thought about it and realized that it was true. It was almost winter, the time when Mr. Ban''s state-owned enterprise received the most orders for heaters. Around this time every year, he would have to go to various places to purchase raw materials.


    When we returned to the house, Mr. Ban went straight to the kitchen and started cooking. Mi Cai wanted to help him, but he refused and she went back to her room, busy with something I didn''t know. I sat in the living room, lost in thought. I knew this bitterness would accompany me for a long time, until the day I completely forgot about Jian Wei.


    To read the uncut version, go to ].


    After a while, Mi Cai came out of her room wearing casual clothes. She looked more approachable, but still beautiful. It seemed that beauty was ingrained in her no matter how she dressed.


    "Why are you just sitting there like a statue? Can''t you go to the kitchen and help your dad?" Mi Cai seemed displeased that Mr. Ban was busy while I did nothing.


    "You don''t understand. He likes cooking alone."


    "Is that so?"


    "Because he sees cooking as a pleasure, and having someone help would take away his enjoyment."


    "Oh, so his cooking must be delicious then?"


    "You''re not a foodie, why ask so many questions?"


    "Do you have to be a foodie to ask? Everyone has the right to be curious," Mi Cai retorted, still unhappy with me.


    "You''ll find out soon enough. It won''t take long."


    Mi Cai didn''t pursue the matter further and went back to her room. She then carried a dirty laundry basket and headed to the bathroom. I was a bit surprised to see that even a goddess like her had to do laundry.


    I heard the sound of water flowing from the bathroom, followed by the sound of the washing machine running. Listening to the rhythmic sound, I became even more absent-minded, to the point where I couldn''t feel my own existence.


    A scream came from the bathroom, which was naturally Mi Cai''s voice. The sudden loudness of her scream snapped me out of my daze, and Mr. Ban was already ahead of me, running towards the bathroom with a ladle in his hand. I followed suit.


    Although Mr. Ban and I made a big fuss, a wolf could still be killed. But at this moment, Mi Cai was only facing off against a cockroach that was crawling on the edge of the bathtub. The cockroach was shaking its antennae fearlessly, while Mi Cai''s face turned pale. It was clearly an asymmetrical confrontation, and it was ridiculous that the weaker side was a human being.


    Mi Cai instinctively stepped back and hid behind me when she saw me. It was just like a scene from a cheesy Korean drama at 9 o''clock. I had the opportunity to be a hero, even though my opponent was just a cockroach.


    I walked to the edge of the bathtub and picked up the cockroach by its antennae. It struggled violently, and Mi Cai screamed again. I found it amusing that while she could make me feel nauseous every time she choked me, a cockroach hiding in a dark corner could scare her. It was a case of one creature overpowering another.


    I lifted the cockroach and said to Mr. Ban, "Let''s add this to the dish. It''s been a while since I had meat. Should we stir-fry it or steam it?"


    Mi Cai felt disgusted.


    Mr. Ban seemed to be protective of Mi Cai and frowned, saying, "Stop messing around and throw it away."


    I smirked at Mi Cai while holding the cockroach, knowing that she understood I was teasing her for always kicking me out. But she still hadn''t recovered from the cockroach incident and remained silent with a terrified expression. At that moment, a childish and somewhat funny idea came to my mind. If rich people were as afraid of cockroaches as Mi Cai, I could carry a pocketful of cockroaches and extort them easily, and I would definitely become rich.


    After the unexpected incident, Mr. Ban continued to be busy in the kitchen, while Mi Cai didn''t allow me to leave the bathroom. She wanted me to accompany her until she finished washing her clothes, afraid that another cockroach would jump out from somewhere, or maybe even a group of them. In any case, it was definitely the relatives of the cockroach from earlier.


    After a while, we finally finished washing. Mi Cai took the clothes out of the drum, and I sat on the edge of the bathtub watching her.


    After a moment of silence, I said to her, "I''m moving out tomorrow."


    "I know."


    "You must feel lonely by yourself, right?"


    "Why should I feel lonely?"


    I pretended to be very disappointed and said, "Oh, right. Why would you feel lonely? You have cockroaches to keep you company here. You can play hide-and-seek with them whenever you want. It''s so lively!"


    Mi Cai froze for a moment, then looked at me with anger. I remained calm and said, "Go hang the clothes. We''ll be eating soon." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    At the dining table, the three of us, Mr. Ban, Mi Cai, and I, sat on different sides. Mr. Ban, who was usually quiet, surprisingly took the initiative to ask Mi Cai, "Is the food to your liking, young lady?"


    Mi Cai nodded and said, "Uncle, the food you cooked is delicious!"


    I knew this was not just flattery. Mr. Ban''s cooking was really amazing, especially his sweet and sour fish, which was exceptional. Mi Cai also had good taste, as she only picked the sweet and sour fish to eat.After Mi Cai''s praise, Mr. Ban nodded and smiled, then looked at me as if to say, "Son, your dad can only help you this far, the rest is up to you!"


    I would rather misinterpret the meaning expressed in Mr. Ban''s eyes, because there was absolutely no chance for Mi Cai and I to develop into a couple. Firstly, she was extremely disgusted with me; secondly, I hadn''t yet emerged from the shadow cast by Jian Wei and Xiang Chen; and thirdly, the most important point, I was not worthy of her. Who has ever seen a beautiful girl driving a luxury car fall in love with a worthless scumbag!


    Our meeting was not a wonderful arrangement, but a way for the heavens to show me the vast gap between people, and then let me die in unbearable shame. Damn the heartless heavens!


    Lost in thought, Mr. Ban spoke to me again, "Zhao Yang, after dinner, fix the water pipe. There''s a bit of a leak at the joint. If it gets colder, it might burst."


    "Understood," I replied.


    Mr. Ban nodded, and after a while, he said to me, "Next time I come, I''ll bring more rice and flour from home. You should come home early after work and cook. Eating out is wasteful and unsanitary." After a pause, he added, "You two are living together, you should take more care of the girl. You can cook, so do more chores."


    According to the agreement between Mi Cai and me, I should move out tomorrow. Mr. Ban was still binding my future life with Mi Cai with his imagination. I felt helpless, but I couldn''t say anything. If I told him about moving out, he would probably be disappointed.


    I nodded again, then looked at Mi Cai. Her expression didn''t change, she was just focused on eating.


    Finally, Mr. Ban''s attention shifted from me to Mi Cai. He asked her, "Girl, has our Zhao Yang caused you any trouble living together?"


    I was afraid that Mi Cai would expose my various crimes, so I kicked her under the table to signal her not to speak out of turn. Unexpectedly, she took the opportunity to step heavily on my toes, causing me to almost drop the chopsticks in my hand.


    "Uncle, he''s quite good... just that he always likes to smoke in the room and doesn''t change even when told." Mi Cai revealed my crime to Mr. Ban with a mix of praise and criticism.


    Mr. Ban looked at me sternly. I pretended not to see, but Mr. Ban''s gaze was still sharp, staring at me relentlessly. Mi Cai had a look of schadenfreude.


    "I''ll change, I''ll change." I compromised in helplessness, but felt that such a compromise was meaningless. Mi Cai was also quite boring. I was about to move out, was it still worth arguing about whether I smoked in the room or not?


    After this little episode, Mr. Ban seemed to be in a good mood. He asked me to fetch the glutinous rice wine he had brought last time. I poured a glass for Mr. Ban, and then asked Mi Cai, "Do you want some?"


    Mi Cai pushed her empty glass forward and said, "A little."


    I poured a little for Mi Cai and myself. So the three of us sat around a not-so-large table, in this night of thousands of lights, and had a dinner with a family atmosphere.


    Don''t get me wrong, when I say family atmosphere, I simply mean it''s different from eating out. Because Mi Cai is not part of our family, I''m afraid that after I move out, it will be hard to even run into her in this vast city!

 Chapter 22 – Opportunities for promotion

    After dinner, Mi Cai and I escorted Mr. Ban to the outskirts of the residential area. The hotel where Mr. Ban was staying was just across the street, but he would have to leave tomorrow morning.


    As Mr. Ban was about to leave, I asked him, "Mr. Ban, when will you come to Suzhou next time?"


    "I''ll come when I have time. Next time I''ll bring you some rice and flour," Mr. Ban replied.


    When Mr. Ban emphasized ''you'', I felt a wave of helplessness. By the time he comes next, I would have already left Mi Cai''s house and drifted to some unknown corner of this city. In fact, I didn''t want Mr. Ban to come to Suzhou, because my failure and destitution always made me feel extremely guilty when facing him.


    Mr. Ban reminded me before leaving, "Remember to fix the leaking pipe when you get back."


    "I will."


    Mr. Ban nodded, patted my shoulder, and then turned around and left without saying another word.


    Watching Mr. Ban''s retreating figure, I knew he wanted to say something to me, but he didn''t. He didn''t want to burden me too much.


    I lit a cigarette, feeling waves of unstoppable loss. Today, Circle and Yan Yan got married, Jian Wei became Xiang Chen''s girlfriend, and me... it''s better not to mention.


    I thought: I should go back and pack my bags, and find a corner in this city where I can live peacefully, but not settle down, tomorrow night.


    ......


    Mi Cai went upstairs before me, and I didn''t go back until I finished my cigarette.


    Once I got home, I found the toolbox and replaced the leaking pipe that Mr. Ban had mentioned. I checked some other places to make sure there were no hidden dangers, and then I went back to my room to pack my bags.


    Mi Cai was standing at the door of my room at some point. She asked me, "Did you fix the leaking pipe?"


    "Yes, I''ve checked other places too. If the pipes break or the light bulbs need to be replaced in the future, just call me and I''ll help you fix it," I said, packing my guitar into its case.


    "Oh, but there are still cockroaches in the room. Do you have a way to get rid of them?"


    I laughed and joked with Mi Cai, "You managed to drive away a big living person like me, can''t you handle a few little cockroaches?"


    Mi Cai didn''t say anything, just looked at me.


    "I was just joking. After work tomorrow, I''ll buy some insecticide and sprinkle it in the bathroom. It''s almost winter, and the cockroaches won''t be active, so you don''t need to worry."


    "Oh."


    Mi Cai went back to her room, and I continued packing my bags. Halfway through, I sat on the bed to rest, looking around. I took a cigarette out of the pack but didn''t light it. After all these years of messing around, I should at least keep my word when I leave, even if it''s just a trivial matter.


    I put the cigarette back in the pack and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling out of habit, emptying my mind, unwilling to recall what had happened at noon. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ......


    The next day, I went to work as usual. Today, I had another meeting with the representative from GUCCI. This was the last negotiation before GUCCI set up a counter in our mall. If everything went smoothly, I would get a brief respite. Ever since Circle handed over the responsibility of GUCCI to me, I had been working overtime.


    I was discussing the advertising space with the representative from GUCCI in the mall''s square.


    The representative from GUCCI asked me, "You promised to give us the central advertising space at the south entrance as soon as possible to support our opening promotion."


    "There''s definitely no problem. We''ve reserved this advertising space for GUCCI a long time ago. Your presence has, to some extent, elevated the operating level of our mall. We will definitely prioritize international first-line brands like yours when allocating our mall''s premium resources."


    The representative from GUCCI nodded and said, "We chose to enter your mall because we saw your sincerity in the proposal. There are not only your Bao Li Department Store in Suzhou''s high-end malls!"


    "Yes," I replied, not wanting to flatter too much.


    As I accompanied the representative from GUCCI around the mall, she suddenly stopped to look at the promotional posters displayed in the middle of the aisle.


    "Miss Zhao, what''s wrong?" I was a bit puzzled. The promotional posters she was looking at were the ones Le Yao had shot.


    "What do you think of this print model?" she asked me.


    "She has a strong camera presence and is very adaptable. Her temperament and appearance are quite international. She can create an artistic image for the product''s advertisement. Oh, and she''s one-quarter Italian," I answered truthfully.


    "That''s quite a coincidence. Our GUCCI is an Italian brand. Are you close to her?"


    I hesitated before answering, "We''re friends, I guess."


    Miss Zhao nodded and looked at Le Yao on the poster again. After a while, she said to me, "I think her image and temperament fit our product positioning very well. You should contact her to shoot a promotional poster for our opening."


    I was a bit troubled and said, "I''m afraid that''s not possible. She''s filming in Hengdian right now and probably won''t have time for the next few months."


    Miss Zhao frowned and said, "I don''t want to hear words like ''afraid'' and ''probably''. Your answer makes me doubt the execution ability of your mall. We''ve already negotiated this far, and I don''t want such a small matter to affect our cooperation."Such a blunt threat left me feeling annoyed, but considering that this project was related to Circle''s career prospects, I didn''t lose my temper. However, I instinctively didn''t want to contact Le Yao. Moreover, shooting such a promotional poster might require going to other places for location shooting, which couldn''t be completed in a day or two. As a newcomer to the crew, Le Yao couldn''t possibly have the entire production team adjust to her schedule. Naturally, she would treat acting as her top priority. If I asked her to come back, wouldn''t that be making things difficult for her?


    "Miss Zhao, I''ll try my best to contact her, but I can''t guarantee whether she can spare the time," I responded, but I had no intention of contacting Le Yao.


    Miss Zhao waved her hand impatiently and said, "Forget it, I won''t make things difficult for you. I''ll go talk to your manager, Chen." She left me alone and headed towards the office area.


    ......


    As expected, shortly after I returned to my office, the manager''s office called me over.


    I was annoyed again. This was clearly a case of using superiors to pressure me. For a small employee like me, she couldn''t be bothered to waste too much time talking.


    I entered the manager''s office, where Manager Chen Jingming sat with a displeased expression.


    "I''m here, Manager Chen."


    "Do you know why I called you?" Chen Jingming asked me with a cold face.


    "I don''t know," I responded negatively.


    Chen Jingming''s voice rose a few notches as he tapped his fingers on the desk, "Zhao Yang, how can you not understand the situation? GUCCI is the eighth international first-line brand to enter our mall. Do you know what this means for our mall? ...It means that according to international rating standards, our mall has officially reached the level of top-tier B-class department stores! It''s of milestone significance!"


    "Manager, even if you don''t ask and answer yourself, I know."


    Chen Jingming suppressed his anger and said to me, "If something goes wrong at this critical moment, not only you, but our entire planning department will be in trouble!"


    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com".


    "Don''t make things difficult for me. If the model can''t fit into her schedule, what can I do? Besides, for this project of setting up a counter in our mall, both sides have invested a lot of manpower and resources. For the sake of a small matter like a promotional poster, it wouldn''t ruin the cooperation that has been discussed for so long."


    "Before the contract is officially signed, no one can take chances. Other malls are eyeing the GUCCI brand, and it''s not ruled out that GUCCI might terminate the cooperation plan at the last minute," Chen Jingming said with an increasingly serious expression.


    I continued helplessly, "Even if the company fires me, I can''t guarantee this!"


    Chen Jingming stared at me for a long time with a chilling gaze, "There''s something you probably don''t know. The board of directors attaches great importance to this matter of GUCCI setting up a counter in our company. If the counter can be successfully set up, there will be major personnel changes in our planning department. Circle, as the direct person in charge of the whole project, has the chance to become the deputy manager of the planning department, and you... have a great chance to replace Circle as the leader of the copywriting planning team!"


    ---------------------


    Three updates today, all done. Come on, give a thumbs up to the chapter below, let me see how many old readers have come. The website''s recommendation hasn''t been officially given yet, so the current readers are probably from the previous book.

 Chapter 23 – Pay your debts

    Before the opportunity for Circle''s and my own promotion, I seriously weighed the pros and cons in my heart. Actually, I was fine, but mainly for Circle. If he could really be promoted to the deputy manager of the planning department, his treatment and status in the company would take a qualitative leap, and his future would be bright.


    "Zhao Yang, if you can''t handle this, I''ll have Circle come back and take care of it. He shouldn''t even take his wedding leave!" Chen Jingming looked at me with a pressing expression.


    "No, Manager! If I can''t handle it, he definitely can''t. He''s not familiar with that model."


    Chen Jingming softened his tone and said to me, "Actually, we are about to sign the contract soon. I guess CUCCI is just using the model incident to test our company''s sincerity in cooperation. Even without this incident, they would probably create other unexpected events... Whether GUCCI will set up a counter in our department store not only concerns the company''s interests, but also the interests of our planning department, including you. So... no matter what method you use, you must help the company through this last hurdle."


    After weighing it in my heart for a while, I finally nodded and said, "I''ll do my best."


    "Doing your best is not enough, you must succeed. You have to promise me this." Chen Jingming adjusted his glasses, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Whether this matter can be done or not, I have to do it. Now I can only hope that Le Yao can free up her schedule. After weighing it over and over again, I nodded and said, "I will definitely get this done."


    Chen Jingming finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That''s great!"


    I thought to myself, "You''re fine, but I have to shamelessly beg a woman I least want to beg. Do you fucking know that?"


    As I was about to leave, Chen Jingming called me back, "Zhao Yang, don''t call that model yet. Isn''t she filming in Hengdian? You go to Hengdian tomorrow. If you travel all the way there to talk to her in person, she won''t be able to refuse so easily!"


    "Manager, you''re considerate and wise!" I forced a smile and said, but no matter how I looked at him, he seemed like a shameless old fox. Has he ever considered how others would feel if they couldn''t arrange their schedule and found it hard to refuse?


    ......


    That evening after work, I sat on the bus home, feeling restless. The source of my restlessness was that I had to go to Hengdian to see Le Yao tomorrow, and I had to move out of the room I had lived in for two years tonight. The restlessness turned into frustration. I seemed to never be able to decide my own life. Often, a few words from others would shatter my love, work, and life, like Jian Wei, the female representative of GUCCI, and Mi Cai.


    When I returned to the old room, I subconsciously looked at Mi Cai''s room. Her door was still closed, she probably hadn''t come home yet.


    Whether she came home or not had nothing to do with me. Now what I had to do was to keep my promise and move out of this room forever.


    I went back to my room and started packing my luggage. Actually, I had almost finished packing yesterday. I just needed to pack some items on the bed.


    After packing, I opened my computer and searched on the local website for a place where I could move in immediately. I found a few suitable ones, but they all required half a year''s rent and a three-month deposit. After calculating, I needed at least ten thousand yuan for the rent. I was in a dilemma. I only had a few thousand yuan left. I wouldn''t get last month''s salary until the day after tomorrow. Even if I got it, I couldn''t use it all for rent. I had to save some for living expenses.


    With no other choice, I had to lower my standards and start looking for a place where I could share the rent. The rent would be relatively less. As time quietly passed, the night had already lit up the city.


    I rubbed my face heavily to relieve the fatigue from staring at the computer for a long time. After a rest, I had to continue looking for a place to live. I couldn''t really end up on the streets. I was already down and out enough!


    I looked out the window in a daze, my soul once again lonely among the lights of thousands of homes. At this moment, I really longed for a house of my own in this city where I had lived for more than two years, a woman waiting for me to come home every day, to say goodbye to homelessness, to say goodbye to the loneliness of the night, to say goodbye to the bitterness of life...


    A while later, the sound of the door opening came from outside the room. I knew it was Mi Cai coming back. But at this moment, I could face her with a clear conscience, because I finally didn''t break my promise to her. I would move out of here in a while.


    Mi Cai, carrying her handbag and wearing her newly changed slippers, stood at my door, looked at my packed luggage, and asked me, "Have you found a place?"


    "Don''t worry, whether I find a place or not, I''ll move out tonight." I answered, subconsciously feeling that Mi Cai would like this answer.


    "Oh." Mi Cai responded, but didn''t leave.


    After a moment, she seemed to remember something and asked me, "You said you would buy some insecticide powder and sprinkle it in the bathroom today. Did you buy it?"Compared to moving, being forced by my boss to go to Hengdian to find Le Yao was really insignificant, so I genuinely forgot about buying the insecticide powder.


    I apologized to Mi Cai, "I''m sorry, I forgot. You can go buy some yourself. If you don''t want to go out, you can buy it online. It''s very convenient."


    Mi Cai''s expression turned displeased, "This is something you promised me. How can you be so irresponsible?"


    I had been frustrated all day, and I still hadn''t found a place to live. My mood was far from good, and my tone became harsher, "Can responsibility feed me? You keep bringing it up, isn''t it annoying?"


    Mi Cai didn''t expect my reaction to be so intense. She was taken aback, then lowered her face and nodded, "Fine, pay back the money you owe me. I don''t need to be responsible for you."


    I was speechless for a while, once again falling into the sorrow of being broke. After a long time, I said in a lower voice, "You said that as long as I moved out, I didn''t have to rush to pay back the money I borrowed from you."


    To read the uncut version, go to ].


    "Who cares about that, it''s only right to pay back the money you owe." Mi Cai still said coldly.


    "We''ve been living under the same roof for several days, do you really need to push me into a corner like this?" I said with my head down, not knowing what to feel.


    Mi Cai scoffed, "I''m not pushing you into a corner. You''ve been working for several years, why don''t you have any savings?... You should understand, the one pushing you into a corner is yourself."


    Mi Cai''s words ruthlessly tore open the deepest, most painful scar in my heart. In an instant, feelings of inferiority and shame made me feel utterly humiliated.


    In my confusion, I saw the guitar I had placed in the corner. This guitar was a birthday gift from Jian Wei, who had it custom-made in a music shop. It was made of very good materials and was worth far more than ten thousand.


    Looking at this guitar, I once again felt the pain of things remaining the same but people changing.


    I got up and brought the guitar to Mi Cai, handing it to her, "You can take this guitar as collateral. If you sell it to someone who knows its worth, it will definitely fetch more than ten thousand."


    Before Mi Cai could respond whether she would accept the guitar as collateral, I had already picked up my luggage. I didn''t dare to take another look at this room and walked out with my head down.


    ......

 Chapter 24 – Price of growth

    I have already left that old neighborhood far behind. I walked on the streets of the city with my luggage for a long time before finding a stone bench in a square where I could rest.


    I placed my luggage on one side of the stone bench, lit a cigarette, and sat down, looking at the neon lights flickering on the tall buildings. A wave of panic surged in my heart, unsure of where to go.


    Hastily avoiding the lights and shadows of the city, I looked up at the sky, searching for the "Sky City" that had already been separated from my body.


    I don''t know when, a group of square dance aunties with fans arrived at the square. The music immediately overwhelmed me, and I couldn''t see the "Sky City" clearly anymore. Maybe it was already hidden behind the moon, or maybe it had been blown away by the passing wind...


    But tonight, I still had to find a place to rest in this city.


    I took out my phone from my pocket and dialed Robben''s number. He lived near the train station, and since I was going to Hengdian by train tomorrow, I decided to stay at his place for the night.


    Amidst the noise, Robben answered the phone, "Zhao Yang, do you need something?"


    "Are you still performing at the bar?"


    "Yeah, our band is about to go on stage."


    "Oh... well, I want to stay at your place for the night, is that convenient?"


    Robben smiled and said, "There''s no inconvenience, why don''t you come to the bar? Wait for me to finish work, and we''ll go back together."


    "I''ll just go directly to your place, I won''t go to the bar."


    "Alright, I''ll treat you to a drink. I still have several drink vouchers left."


    "I really won''t go." I hung up the phone, leaving Robben wondering why I didn''t want to go to the bar.


    After leaving the square, I took a taxi directly to Robben''s place. It was still early, so I went to the train station and bought a train ticket from Suzhou to Yiwu for tomorrow morning.


    ...


    It was almost midnight when Robben returned from the bar, and I had already fallen asleep in the hallway, leaning against my luggage.


    Robben woke me up, complaining, "You''ve changed recently! You didn''t want to go to the bar, so you''d rather sleep in the hallway like an idiot!"


    I just smiled and didn''t say anything.


    As Robben opened the door, he asked me, "Did you move?"


    "Yeah, I haven''t found a suitable place to live temporarily. I have to go to Hengdian on a business trip tomorrow, so I thought I''d crash at your place for the night!"


    "Sure, you can stay as long as you want!" After saying that, he looked at the luggage on the floor and asked, "Where''s your awesome guitar?"


    I felt a bit down in my heart. After all, it was a guitar that had accompanied me for several years. But I casually said to Robben, "I used it to pay off a debt!"


    Robben widened his eyes and sighed, "Paid off a debt? You''re really in a tough spot! I''ve borrowed it from you a few times before, and you treated it like a treasure and didn''t lend it to me. But you actually used it to pay off a debt!"


    "Forget about it, help me move the luggage inside."


    ...


    Robben lived in a small attic on the top floor. There was only one narrow room, but there was a relatively large balcony behind the room. The balcony had a shared bathroom and a clothesline. The living environment was not good.


    Turning on the light, I first saw a few leather jackets hanging on the hanger, a guitar in the corner, several pairs of Martin boots on the shoe rack, and a few suitcases. There were no other decorations except for the beer cans scattered on the table, which didn''t look too messy.


    After arranging the luggage, Robben took out two buckets of instant noodles from a box and made one for each of us as a late-night snack.


    After a short while, the empty instant noodle boxes were placed upside down on the abandoned flowerpot under the balcony. There were several cans of beer next to us as we sat on the balcony railing.


    We opened a can of beer each, clinked them together, tilted our heads back, and half of the beer went down our throats.


    "Zhao Yang, you seem quite depressed recently. Did something happen? You don''t even go to the bar anymore?" Robben asked.


    "I''m living carefree. What could possibly make me depressed?" I said, finishing the remaining beer in the can in one gulp, but I looked absentmindedly into the distance.


    In the distance, the lights on Maxwell''s giant billboard were still flickering in the early morning of this quiet night.


    Robben didn''t ask any further questions and followed my gaze into the distance. After a long time, he patted my shoulder as if he understood, and we were both struggling on the edge of this city. Some pain was shared, and there was no need to explain too clearly.


    The wind, carrying the chill of the night, whistled past us. We continued to sit on the railing of the balcony, looking into the distance, and drank another can of beer.


    In the quiet night, people tend to think more. Robben seemed to think of someone and opened another can of beer, but I stopped him. Drinking too much alcohol was never good. I almost jumped into the moat yesterday because I drank too much.


    "Missing a woman?" I smiled and asked Robben.


    "Yeah, I think of one when I drink." Robben said straightforwardly.


    I knew that Robben had once had a girlfriend whom he loved deeply. I pushed him and said, "Do you still have a photo of your girlfriend? Show it to me."


    Robben took out his wallet from his pocket and handed me a photo from the compartment. I looked at the woman in the photo, her features were good, and she was a very intellectual and elegant woman.


    Robben seemed a bit absent-minded and said to me after a long time, "We broke up almost three years ago. She should be married by now!"


    "Why did you break up?"Robben gave a wistful smile, "She was born into a family of educators, both her parents are university professors. I''m just a musician with no stable income, living day by day. I didn''t want to hold her back."


    "So you ran away from Beijing to Suzhou without telling her?"


    Robben nodded, after a long pause, he said, "Actually, she followed me to Suzhou later, and we lived together for another half a year..."


    "Why did you break up then?" I asked, puzzled.


    "Her parents came to me, they had arranged a job for her at a university in Beijing, they asked me to let her go back."


    "You really let her go, you fool?"


    Robben nodded, "I did. I told her I was seeing someone else."


    "Did she believe you?"


    Robben chuckled, "She definitely didn''t believe me..."


    "Then...?"


    "I hired a prostitute, right in this room, in front of her..." Robben didn''t continue, his face still wore a smile, but beneath it, I saw a heart that was already dead.


    I sighed heavily, "Why did you have to be so ruthless?"


    "If I wasn''t, she wouldn''t leave. Better a short sharp shock than a long-drawn-out agony..." Robben tilted his head back and drained the beer can, some of the liquid trickling down his neck into his shirt.


    I fell silent. Despite Robben''s casual tone, I saw a heart-wrenching love story born out of helplessness. I knew Robben would never forget that woman in his lifetime.


    "Enough about me, show me a picture of your girlfriend." Robben nudged me. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I pulled out a photo of Jian Wei from my wallet and handed it to Robben. We were both reluctant to forget the past because it was too precious!


    The light from the opposite side was dim, Robben lit a lighter, examining Jian Wei''s photo in the flickering flame.


    "Your girlfriend is beautiful, not just ordinarily beautiful!"


    Hearing the word ''beautiful'', the face of my female tenant suddenly appeared in my mind. But it didn''t surprise me, because I had never seen a woman more beautiful than Mi Cai in my life. In just a moment, I was back to reality, looking at Jian Wei''s familiar yet strange face in the photo by the dying flame, my heart ached. I thought: It won''t be long before she marries Xiang Chen.


    Robben returned Jian Wei''s photo to me, and asked, "What about you guys, why did you break up?"


    I recalled, after a long while, I said, "She called me a year after she went to America and proposed the breakup."


    "Why did she want to break up with you?" Robben asked further.


    "I don''t know, she didn''t say." I replied with a smile similar to Robben''s earlier.


    "Didn''t you ask?"


    I nodded, I indeed didn''t ask Jian Wei why she wanted to break up with me, because I thought: If Jian Wei wanted to tell me, she would, without me asking. Or perhaps, deep down, I didn''t believe we could make it to the end, that a breakup was inevitable. What''s the point of seeking an answer for something expected?


    "Aren''t you afraid there might be some misunderstanding between you two?" Robben reminded me.


    I was taken aback, "What misunderstanding could there be?... Love is just a fleeting cloud. Let''s not talk about this anymore! Go get the guitar, let''s play a song, forget all these mess!"


    Robben fetched the guitar from the room, tested the sound and asked me, "Your key or mine?"


    "Whatever."


    Robben strummed the guitar strings, a melody wafted into the night air, it was Jonathan Lee''s "The Price of Love".


    "Let''s go, let''s go, one must learn to grow up. Let''s go, let''s go, life is inevitably filled with pain and struggle. Let''s go, let''s go, find a home for your heart. There were times when I cried, times when I was heartbroken, that''s the price of love. Maybe I still think of her occasionally, inevitably missing her. Just treat her as an old friend, she makes me worry, she makes me care. But there''s no spark in my heart anymore, let the past go with the wind..."


    The song floated out from our mouths, filled with vicissitudes. I didn''t quite understand if the price of love was just tears and heartbreak, but I knew: the price of growth was the love that had faded away with the passage of time.


    In this deep night when I should have seen through everything, I still regretted the love that had passed away, for Robben and that Beijing girl whose name I didn''t know!


    ...


    The next morning, I caught a train heading to Yiwu. After arriving in Yiwu, I had to transfer to Hengdian. I knew, I had to do something for myself. If Le Yao could agree to come back and shoot the opening poster for GUCCI, my career would take its first step forward.


    Promoted to the team leader of the planning and copywriting team, my monthly salary would exceed ten thousand, perhaps life could stabilize.


    Sitting on the southbound train, I said to myself for the first time, "Work hard, Zhao Yang!... Don''t let anyone look down on you!"

 Chapter 25 – Night at Dream Valley

    At noon, the train arrived in Yiwu. After a quick lunch at the station, I followed the express train to Hengdian.


    In the afternoon at three o''clock, I finally arrived in Hengdian Town. I found a family hotel on Wansheng North Street and settled down. Then I dialed the phone number Le Yao left for me.


    Le Yao might be busy with her performance, so she didn''t answer my call for a long time. I sent her a text message, telling her that I had arrived in Hengdian and asked her to pick me up quickly.


    After a while, Le Yao still didn''t reply to my message. I didn''t feel like going out, so I just lay on the bed in the hotel and flipped through a magazine.


    The window of my room faced west, and after a while, I saw the sunset in the dusk. The gentle sunlight lay softly on the quilt beside me, and the air was filled with a lazy scent. I yawned and fell asleep for a while.


    When I woke up, it was already getting dark. Le Yao finally replied to my message. She told me to find her in the Imperial Garden inside the Ming and Qing Palace. Their crew was filming there, and several big shots were also performing today. She said she would help me get autographs.


    Actually, I wanted to go, but I didn''t have much cash on me. I had to go back to get reimbursed for my travel expenses. It would be a waste to spend over a hundred yuan just to see a few celebrities. So I could only regretfully reply to her message, telling her that I would wait for her outside the scenic area.


    As the sun set, there were still many extras squatting outside the scenic area, waiting for the crew''s call. Their eyes revealed a sense of numbness and longing. I could truly see the hardships of life in them. But no one is destined to live in such suffering. Unfortunately, there are still so many people struggling and suffering, like me and these extras waiting.


    I squatted next to one of the extras, chatting with him to pass the time while waiting for Le Yao.


    As the sky gradually darkened, I saw several crew cars driving out of the scenic area, but I still didn''t see Le Yao''s figure. I couldn''t help but wonder if this damn woman had a night scene tonight!


    While I was doubting, I saw Le Yao wearing a Qing Dynasty costume at the entrance. It seemed that she hadn''t had time to change her costume. She stood at the ticket service counter, looking around.


    I stood up and walked towards Le Yao. She finally noticed me and ran towards me with a smile.


    Le Yao held onto my arm and said with relief, "You finally traveled back!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I let go of her hand holding my arm and said, "Miss, please behave yourself!"


    Le Yao held onto my arm again and asked happily, "Xiao Yangzi, tell me honestly, why did you come all the way to Hengdian to find this palace?"


    "It definitely isn''t to be your husband." I pushed Le Yao aside again.


    "Then I''ll make you a eunuch in the Imperial Household Department." Le Yao pinched my waist, but she still had a smile on her face and seemed to be in a good mood.


    Her pinch hurt, and I sternly reprimanded her, "Stop fooling around and focus on acting and being a good person!"


    "What will happen if I don''t be a good person?"


    I frowned and said, "Fuck you!"


    Le Yao burst into laughter and said, "Zhao Yang, I just love seeing you act all serious but saying rogue words!"


    ...


    I accompanied Le Yao to her hotel to change clothes. The two of us strolled on Wansheng North Street. Although Le Yao hadn''t become famous in the entertainment industry yet, people still cast their gazes towards her as we passed by. I felt that it was only a matter of time before she became famous. She was not only beautiful but also had the aura of a star. Her acting skills were also amazing, at least I had the unfortunate experience of witnessing it.


    At this moment, I didn''t mention the purpose of this trip to Le Yao. I always felt that it would be a difficult and mood-ruining thing for her. It was better to enjoy the ease and freedom before nightfall.


    It was my first time in Hengdian, and as I walked on the street, I couldn''t help but look around at the scenery. Le Yao was only interested in some street snacks and would occasionally ask me what I wanted to eat.


    As we walked towards the end of the street with the crowd, Le Yao suddenly grabbed my arm and pointed to a barbecue restaurant on the side of the street, saying, "Zhao Yang, let''s go eat barbecue."


    Find the original at "pawread dot com".


    I looked at the crowded restaurant and said, "There are too many people. Let''s eat somewhere else."


    "Many people means it''s delicious! Don''t you know? This barbecue restaurant is very famous. When Fan Bingbing came to Hengdian to film, she queued here for more than 20 minutes just to taste their barbecue." Le Yao dragged me towards the direction of the restaurant.


    "Wait for 20 minutes! Fan Bingbing is also that silly!" I stood still and refused to move, not because I didn''t want to eat barbecue, but because I didn''t want to wait.


    "She''s not silly, she''s a foodie!" Le Yao corrected me.


    I still refused to move.


    Suddenly, Le Yao looked excitedly behind me and shouted, "Hey! It''s Fan Bingbing..."


    I instinctively turned my head, and Le Yao took the opportunity to use force to drag me into the restaurant, mocking me, "Look at your eager expression when you turned your head. Did you almost break your neck?"


    "If Fan Bingbing really broke her neck, I would be happy!" I glared at Le Yao, but once again, I was fooled by her acting skills."You''re hopeless!" Le Yao said, pushing me into a chair and going to line up to order food.


    During dinner, night had quietly fallen. Le Yao and I were sipping on Sprite and eating barbecue, both of us had a good appetite. I took another big gulp of Sprite, wiped the sweat off my forehead and asked Le Yao, "I''ve eaten so much, why can''t I taste Fan Bingbing?"


    Le Yao gave me a contemptuous look and replied, "Are you stupid? You''re eating barbecue, not roasting Fan Bingbing!"


    I was speechless for a moment, then said, "Forget I asked..."


    Le Yao smiled triumphantly at me and said, "I love seeing you helpless... Hurry up and eat, we''ll go for a walk in Dream Valley after we finish."


    ...


    At seven-thirty in the evening, Le Yao and I arrived at one of the scenic spots in Hengdian, Dream Valley. Once inside, we found that the night here was almost a world made of light and shadow. Despite it not being the peak tourist season, it was still bustling. Le Yao and I walked around, finally resting on a wooden bench under the Ferris wheel.


    I closed my eyes to rest, not particularly fond of the hazy lights here. When I opened my eyes, I found that Le Yao also had her eyes closed.


    I nudged Le Yao and asked, "Why are you closing your eyes?"


    Le Yao, still with her eyes closed but with a longing expression, replied, "I''m imagining this place as a stage surrounded by lights, and I''m the star standing in the center of the stage..."


    I''ve always known what Le Yao''s dream is, and how important opportunities are for a newcomer who has just graduated from film school. In terms of pursuit, Le Yao and I are worlds apart. She likes the hazy lights here, while I''m fascinated by the crystal clear city.


    The Ferris wheel was still carrying all sorts of people, spinning in the air. I was somewhat entranced...


    I don''t know when Le Yao took my arm and nestled into my chest, and I was lost in her rare tenderness.


    "I''m very happy being with you," Le Yao said softly, leaning further into my chest.


    This time I didn''t push Le Yao away. Actually, it''s not bad letting her lean on me like this. At this moment, there was no surge of lust, only a sense of mutual dependence and warmth.


    I seemed to be very dependent on this warmth, and I held Le Yao tightly. The faint scent of her perfume was inhaled into my lungs with the cool night air, and in my brief moments of clarity, I was again lost in a haze.


    A warm tear fell on my hand. Le Yao held me tighter, choking back sobs as she said, "Zhao Yang... I''m really tired here, I feel so helpless... Every day I have to look at other people''s faces, afraid of the unspoken rules, afraid of the intrigue in the crew... Only when I''m in your arms do I feel secure!"


    Le Yao''s words made me feel a bit scared. I myself was teetering in the storm, hardly a reliable support.


    I silently comforted her, wiping the tears from her face with my hand. Apart from lending her my body to lean on, there was nothing else I could do for her.


    The wind that had been blowing finally lessened a bit. Le Yao left my body, then looked at me and asked, "You must have something to tell me since you came to see me, right?"

 Chapter 26 – Will we be together?

    The Ferris wheel behind me stopped spinning, and a new group of people got on. After a while, under Le Yao''s gaze, I nodded and said, "Yes, I did come to Hengdian to see you for a reason."


    Le Yao responded with an expected expression, "You definitely didn''t come to see me because you missed me. You probably didn''t miss me at all."


    "Don''t say that, it makes me feel like a villain, only coming to you when I need something."


    Le Yao chuckled, her words teasing, "So, have you missed me these days?"


    "Here we go again!"


    "Alright... I won''t tease you anymore. Tell me, why did you come to see me?"


    I was silent for a while before asking, "Are you free recently?"


    "The crew just started shooting, so basically, I have scenes every day," Le Yao replied.


    "You''re that busy?" I exclaimed.


    Le Yao nodded and said, "Yes, the shooting schedule is very tight recently. I have two night scenes tonight, so I have to go back to the crew soon. I can''t stay with you for long."


    My heart sank, knowing that there was a high chance that this trip would be fruitless. But I didn''t want to force Le Yao, so after a moment of silence, I said, "You should go back then. The reason I came to see you isn''t that important. If you don''t have time, it''s okay."


    Le Yao glanced at her watch and said to me, "I have to go now."


    I smiled and said, "Go ahead."


    Before leaving, Le Yao asked me, "Where are you staying?"


    "Xiao Li''s Inn."


    "Oh, then I''m leaving now, bye Zhao Yang." Le Yao waved at me and then jogged away. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    The Ferris wheel was still spinning, but I suddenly felt alone. I lay on the bench, not wanting to go back to the inn.


    Although I had promised my boss that I would get this done, I didn''t want to force Le Yao. If she really didn''t have time, then I would leave it up to fate.


    The reason I gave up so easily was that I understood Le Yao''s situation. She was a newcomer in the crew, often having to act according to others'' moods. And with the tight shooting schedule, it was indeed difficult for her to find time. I couldn''t expect the crew to stop working to accommodate her!


    Actually, I should be happy for Le Yao. The fact that she couldn''t find time meant that she had a significant role in this drama. Maybe she could become famous from this one role.


    Back at the inn, I took a hot shower to relieve some fatigue, then lay on the bed. I couldn''t help but worry about my and Circle''s career prospects. I could only hope that Chen Jingming was making a big deal out of nothing, and that GUCCI wouldn''t necessarily terminate the cooperation over this issue.


    I couldn''t fall asleep, and time passed in my anxious thoughts until it was the early morning. The world gradually quieted down.


    I walked to the window, opened it, lit a cigarette, and stared at the gray outside, emptying my mind and not wanting to think about anything.


    Suddenly, the doorbell rang. At first, I thought it was from the next room, but then I realized it was mine.


    I was puzzled. This kind of guesthouse wouldn''t have any special services, so who could be at the door so late?


    I looked through the peephole and found that it was Le Yao standing outside.


    I opened the door, and Le Yao smiled at me, "Surprised?"


    "Surprised, but not pleased!" I was indeed shocked by Le Yao. I never expected her to come to see me at this time.


    Le Yao entered the room, put her makeup and toiletries in the bathroom, and then said to me, "I came to see you as soon as I finished shooting. I''m staying here tonight."


    "Do you need it that much?" I asked, standing at the bathroom door.


    "I do! But not tonight. You can''t have sex for a month after an abortion. You should know this basic physiological knowledge, Zhao Yang!" Le Yao said while removing her makeup.


    "Why can''t you change your teasing nature? You came here so boldly, have you thought about how hard it will be for me to get through the night?"


    "Find a way to solve it yourself!" Le Yao said nonchalantly.


    I didn''t say anything more.


    ...


    I lay on the bed watching TV, and Le Yao, after washing up and putting on her pajamas, crawled into bed and lay down next to me. Then she leaned into my arms, hugged me, and said, "Stop watching TV."


    "If I can''t have you, what else should I do if not watch TV?" I kept staring at the TV.


    Le Yao found the remote and turned off the TV. The room suddenly quieted down. She spoke to me seriously, a rarity, "Tell me, why did you come to see me?"


    "I told you, it''s not a big deal!" I reached for the remote again.


    "I''m not stupid. If it was just to sleep with me for a night, would it be worth it for you to rush from Suzhou to Hengdian?" Le Yao took the remote from my hand again.


    "I didn''t come here to sleep with you, did I?"


    "Then stop beating around the bush and tell me why you came to see me."


    Under Le Yao''s persistent questioning, I finally said, "GUCCI is currently negotiating with our department store about setting up a counter. A female representative from GUCCI saw the promotional poster you shot for our mall and felt that your image fits GUCCI''s product positioning. They hope you can shoot a set of product promotional posters for GUCCI to help with the opening promotion..." I added, "If you can''t arrange the time, it''s okay."


    "Does your company attach great importance to the cooperation with GUCCI?"


    "We have seven international first-line brands operating in our department store. Adding GUCCI would make it eight, reaching the standard of a top-tier B-class department store, which is a step up. So yes, we do take it seriously," I replied.


    "Look at you. If I hadn''t asked, you wouldn''t have mentioned such a big thing?" Le Yao sounded a bit reproachful.


    "If you really don''t have time, there''s no point in me telling you. You should prioritize your work. There''s really no need to force it."


    After a moment of silence, Le Yao asked me, "How many days will it take to finish the shoot?"


    "It should be done in two days, or maybe one. We''re not sure how GUCCI plans to shoot yet."Le Yao nodded and said, "That''s good. Actually, I''ve already spoken to the director before coming here. I might need to take a leave of absence. He said he could arrange a two-day vacation for me. You should communicate with GUCCI and see when we can shoot."


    A weight lifted off my heart, and I reminded Le Yao, "Don''t push yourself too hard!"


    "It''s nothing to push a little for you."


    ......


    The night was deep and bottomless, with only a dim night light left in the room. Le Yao was still curled up in my arms, and neither of us seemed sleepy.


    "Zhao Yang, do you think we''ll end up together?"


    I didn''t know why Le Yao would suddenly ask this. I was stunned for a long time before I answered, "We''re from different worlds. Your future is bright, and I''ve always been just getting by. The reason we''re sleeping together now is more out of loneliness and physical needs."


    "Maybe... ever since I chose this path, I''ve stopped expecting love."


    Hearing the word ''love'', I felt so empty and unfamiliar that I momentarily forgot I was still talking to Le Yao.


    We fell into silence, experiencing the helplessness of being alive. Even though we were sleeping together at this moment, we wouldn''t really live together because we were on different paths. Eventually, we would lose sight of each other at the crossroads.


    "Le Yao, let''s not continue like this, or it will become a burden for us in the future..." I finally said after a long time.


    Le Yao hugged me tighter, silent for a long time, but finally said calmly, "Okay, after this night, let''s just be friends."


    That night, Le Yao and I slept in the same bed. She held me tightly and slept peacefully. I knew that what she needed was not a casual partner or a boyfriend, but a support to prevent herself from sinking into this heavy reality.


    What about me?... Perhaps what I need is a woman with whom I can lead a normal life, eagerly giving my heart to her for comfort. But where is she?


    I remember: I''ve searched for her on the other shore, but she wasn''t there. I''ve searched for her where the lights are dim, but she wasn''t there either...

 Chapter 27 – Dont let me see you in Suzhou

    The next morning, I left Hengdian and returned to Suzhou in the afternoon. The first thing I did was to go to the company and report the situation to Manager Chen Jingming. The issue of shooting promotional posters for GUCCI was resolved with the promise Le Yao gave me.


    That evening after work, I sat in the office for a long time without leaving. Having left the house where I had lived for more than two years, the fear of having nowhere to go kept haunting me.


    Habit is indeed a terrifying thing. My current pain is entirely due to habit. I was used to the love Jian Wei once gave me, and the warmth and comfort that the house once provided.


    I was a bit confused about what had happened over the years. Why did I always lose the precious things in my life, yet gain so little?


    Perhaps I knew the answer, but was unwilling to admit it. So I comforted myself: At least I see some hope in my work now. The progress in my work will surely make my future life better. So, I should pull myself together and prepare for a new life!


    After leaving the company, I didn''t look for a new house. I decided to stay with Robben for the time being. At least at night, two equally lonely and frustrated men could chat about music and this absurd life.


    ...


    Wandering alone on the street, utterly bored, I decided to go to the bar to find Robben and have a few drinks.


    Without hesitation, I hailed a taxi and headed to the bar where Robben was performing.


    Upon arriving at the bar, the familiar lights and the crowd with their swaying bodies were still there. I just found a relatively quiet corner and sat down.


    Robben came over with a few bottles of beer, sat down across from me, handed me a bottle of beer, and said, "I thought you were done with this place. Why are you back?"


    I looked around and joked, "I came here to soak up some decadent vibes. I''ve been living a bit too well lately!"


    Robben clinked his beer bottle with mine and laughed, "You''re just too used to the hard life. What''s wrong with living a bit more comfortably?"


    I also laughed, raised my bottle, and said, "This is the realm of life. You, young comrade, still have a lot to comprehend... Cheers!"


    Robben shrugged and drank with me. Then he asked, "You went to Hengdian to find Le Yao yesterday, didn''t you?"


    "How did you know? I kept it so secret," I asked in surprise.


    "I chatted with Le Yao on WeChat today. She said you went."


    "Actually, I really went to Hengdian for work. GUCCI wants to set up a counter in our department store and specifically requested Le Yao to shoot their product promotional posters. This tough task fell on me." I said and took another sip of beer.


    "No wonder Le Yao said she was happy for nothing. She probably thought you went there specifically for her at first."


    "Even if I went specifically for her, it would have to be on the weekend."


    Robben nodded and didn''t ask any more questions. After we finished another bottle of beer and chatted for a while, Robben left. It was time for him to perform.


    More and more people came to the bar for entertainment. I was still sitting in the corner, sipping my drink, lost in thought. The night I spent with Le Yao vaguely appeared in my mind, making me feel a bit melancholic. This melancholy was puzzling, but it was real.


    On the stage, Robben and another female singer were singing a song he wrote. The applause from the audience was intermittent. My attention was finally drawn to the music, and I started snapping my fingers to the rhythm.


    Robben is actually a very talented folk singer. But he is too principled, unwilling to write commercial pop songs or participate in ubiquitous talent shows. So, he has been singing in bars for years, living a frugal life. But he doesn''t seem to mind this hardship. He often says: Playing music doesn''t necessarily mean becoming famous, but it must involve persistence.


    However, after knowing him for so many years, I still don''t know what his persistence is. But that doesn''t affect my admiration for him.


    ...


    In the midst of the music, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I continued to snap my fingers to the rhythm, took out my phone, and answered the call without looking at the number.


    It was Circle who called. He seemed to have heard the noise of the bar and said to me, "Zhao Yang, you''re hanging out in the bar again?"


    "Enjoy your honeymoon and stop worrying about me." I said, standing up from my seat and swaying with the crowd to the rhythm of the music.


    "Which bar are you in? I''ll come find you."


    "Aren''t you and Yan Yan in Sanya?" I asked in confusion.


    "It''s been raining heavily in Sanya these past few days. We''ll go in a few days."


    "Will your honeymoon leave be enough if you go in a few days?"


    "We won''t be playing for many days, it will be enough... Stop talking nonsense and tell me which bar you''re in."


    "Soho Bar. Come on, I''ll buy you a drink."


    "Then you''d better prepare more money. Yan Yan is coming too, as well as Jian Wei and Xiang Chen."


    Hearing the names of Jian Wei and Xiang Chen, my heart fluttered. After a long pause, I cursed, "Did you go stupid after getting married? Why are you bringing them?"


    "Why are you getting so worked up? The five of us haven''t gotten together in years. Besides, don''t you have a girlfriend now? Let''s all get together and forget about the past."


    "Who told you I have a girlfriend?"


    "Jian Wei. If you didn''t have a girlfriend, I wouldn''t bring Jian Wei and Xiang Chen to upset you. I know my limits!"It was then that I remembered, on the day of Circle''s wedding, I had indeed lied to Jian Wei that Mi Cai was my girlfriend. I didn''t expect this lie to come back like a stone I had lifted myself, ruthlessly smashing my own foot, and I couldn''t dodge it.


    In my daze, Circle said to me again, "Actually, the idea of getting together was Xiang Chen''s. We''re all brothers who have come through college together. Don''t let those emotional things spoil the fun... Now that everyone is paired up, isn''t it nice to get together?"


    I didn''t know what to say, so I just stayed silent.


    Circle reminded me again, "Remember to invite your girlfriend. I heard from Jian Wei that she''s incredibly beautiful. If even Jian Wei thinks so, Yan Yan and I really want to see for ourselves!"


    I was about to say something when Circle hung up the phone. Listening to the "beep beep" sound from the phone, I was dumbfounded!


    ...


    The bar was still noisy, but I was restless. Circle had made his point clear, and I couldn''t run away at the last minute. The problem was that I had recklessly claimed Mi Cai as my girlfriend that day. Given the circumstances then, I was like a drowning man clutching at straws, so I could understand my actions. But what should I do now?


    After being at a loss for a long time, I finally decided to call Mi Cai. If she had any sense of loyalty, she would definitely help me out.


    I took out my phone, found Mi Cai''s number, but hesitated to dial. I remembered that we had argued over not buying insecticide powder when I moved out the day before yesterday. Then she forced me to pay back the money I owed her. I left my guitar behind in embarrassment and almost fled. Would it be too unmanly to call her now?


    "Forget it, I''m already a scumbag in her eyes, so why bother about dignity."


    I muttered to myself, then, with the reputation of a scumbag, I plucked up the courage and dialed the number.


    Listening to the dial tone, I was surprisingly nervous. This nervousness was justified. I was afraid that Mi Cai would mock my lack of dignity, and even more afraid that she would refuse to help me in my hour of need.


    After a while, the call was answered, and I heard Mi Cai''s serious voice again, "What do you want?"


    "I need your help."


    "Need my help? Are you planning to jump into a river or a lake again?"


    I was choked by Mi Cai''s words and after a while, I said, "This time it''s not about jumping into a river. Do you remember at my friend''s wedding, I told a woman that you were my girlfriend?" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You have the nerve to bring that up?"


    I immediately followed Mi Cai''s words and sighed, "Ah~~! Isn''t that the thing that got me into trouble? My friends all want to meet you, and they''re already on their way. Hurry up and come to Soho Bar to rescue me."


    "Even Jesus can''t save someone like you!"


    "Stop mocking me, it''s really urgent. If you don''t come, I''ll be utterly humiliated today!"


    "Who cares!"


    "Please, can you do it for me?" I pleaded desperately.


    Mi Cai responded indifferently, "You''re on your own."


    I was furious, "Are you reincarnated from a heartless nun? Don''t you have any sense of loyalty... Damn it, don''t let me see you in Suzhou again..."


    The call was suddenly hung up. Listening to the "beep beep" of the hang-up tone, I was completely dumbfounded!


    ---------------------


    The friends from the mobile site are really supportive. There are already 85 recommendations. The goal has been achieved early, so there will be four updates today. Here''s the second one!

 Chapter 28 – Walking on eggshells

    After Mi Cai decisively hung up my phone, I no longer had any illusions about her. I had to bear the consequences of my own actions.


    Actually, it was normal for Mi Cai not to come to my rescue. It was my threat to her, "Don''t let me see you in Suzhou," that was truly unreasonable.


    Feeling helpless, I scratched my head. I really wanted to leave this bar. I sincerely didn''t want to face Jian Wei and Xiang Chen. This unwillingness was just to make myself feel better. But tonight, I couldn''t escape because running away would only prove that I couldn''t let go of Jian Wei.


    Just ten minutes later, I saw a group of four people enter the bar. Circle and Yan Yan were in the front, while Xiang Chen and Jian Wei were in the back. They walked towards me, chatting and laughing. I wished I could find a hole to hide in.


    Jian Wei was dressed in Chanel fashion and carried a new Hermes bag. Her luxurious appearance made me unable to look directly at her. I quickly fixed my gaze on Yan Yan and Circle, and lit a cigarette to hide my uneasiness.


    Yan Yan and Circle sat on the sofa to my left, while Jian Wei and Xiang Chen sat on the right. I remained in the middle.


    Circle and Yan Yan looked around and asked me in unison, "Where''s your girlfriend?"


    "She''s busy tonight, let''s just have fun." I replied casually.


    Yan Yan said displeasedly, "Don''t ruin the mood. Call her again and ask her to come. We''ll wait for a while."


    I glared at Yan Yan and said, "Stubborn girl, if I say she''s busy, then she''s busy. Why are you so stubborn?"


    "Don''t bullshit, hurry up and call your girlfriend. I want to see what my future sister-in-law looks like!" Circle kicked me and said.


    Xiang Chen continued, "Zhao Yang, don''t be a spoilsport. We made time for this. Just invite your girlfriend out to play. We''re all old friends, it won''t be boring!"


    I looked at Jian Wei. At this moment, deliberately keeping my distance from her only made it seem like I couldn''t let go. So I said, "I think it''s fun. Jian Wei and I haven''t seen each other for over three years. Old faces have become new faces, right, Jian Wei, my sister-in-law?"  S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jian Wei, who had been silent since she came in, looked at me and asked, "What did you call me?"


    As soon as Jian Wei asked this, my deliberately casual attitude instantly crumbled. For a moment, I didn''t know how to respond to her question.


    Circle quickly came to my rescue and said to Jian Wei, "Zhao Yang didn''t call you wrong. Strictly speaking, you can be considered his sister-in-law. When you and Xiang Chen get married, it will be even more appropriate."


    Jian Wei glanced at Circle and said, "Why are you so excited? Did I say he called me wrong? I just didn''t hear clearly earlier."


    Circle awkwardly smiled, and I remained silent. Xiang Chen hugged Jian Wei in his arms and whispered something in her ear that no one else could hear. But this intimate gesture stabbed my heart with pain.


    At this moment, I finally understood how Xiang Chen felt when Jian Wei and I were together, openly displaying our affection.


    I picked up my beer and took a sip. I wanted to leave this place. I knew that as long as I still loved Jian Wei, this gathering would be torture for me. But in the eyes of Xiang Chen, and even Circle and Yan Yan, I had already let go of Jian Wei. After all, it had been over two years, and I had a new "girlfriend."


    The waiter brought the drinks that Circle and the others had ordered. Everyone started drinking. Yan Yan leaned towards me and whispered, "Zhao Yang, we know you have a girlfriend now. Circle and I are really happy for you. We were worried that you couldn''t let go of Jian Wei, but now it seems our worries were unnecessary..."


    A bitter feeling rose in my heart. Even if I let everyone know that I couldn''t let go, what difference would it make? It was better to hold onto this lie and let my friends feel at ease.


    Yan Yan pushed me and said softly, "Hurry up and call your girlfriend, introduce her to us. We''ll have another shopping buddy!"


    I forced a smile and said, "Next time, she''s really busy tonight!"


    Disappointment appeared on Yan Yan''s face...


    Just then, almost all the eyes in the bar suddenly focused on a graceful figure walking towards us. Her figure was so good, and her walk was even more graceful and charming. However, due to the flickering lights, I couldn''t see her face clearly, but that didn''t stop me from recognizing her. It was Mi Cai! Only she had such allure, attracting so many gazes.


    Mi Cai noticed me and walked towards me gracefully. I quickly stood up and before she reached everyone, I pulled her aside and asked in a low voice, "Why are you here?"


    "Didn''t you say, ''Don''t let me see you in Suzhou''? I came to see what consequences there would be if you did see me." Mi Cai looked at me with a smile that wasn''t a smile.


    "So, you came to find trouble with me, not to help?" I frowned and said.


    Mi Cai looked at me and said, "You were the one who threatened me. How can you say I came to find trouble with you?... Now that I''m here, go ahead and do something."


    I felt like a snake being held by Mi Cai''s seven-inch grip. I was afraid she would expose me in front of everyone, so I had to soften my tone and say, "I was just angry earlier. Don''t take it seriously, okay?"


    Mi Cai disdainfully said, "Where did your arrogance go just now?"


    "Sister, I was wrong. I promise to be more cautious in the future!"


    "Is that you begging for mercy?"


    "Yes."


    "Beg again."


    A sense of powerlessness welled up in my heart. I couldn''t resist, so I gritted my teeth and said, "I was wrong. I promise to be more cautious in the future!"


    Over there, Circle shouted at me, "Zhao Yang, what are you whispering about? Hurry up and introduce your girlfriend to us."


    "I''m coming." I replied, then asked Mi Cai, "Are you not angry anymore?"


    Mi Cai remained silent, seemingly intentionally making me uneasy. It was then that I realized how difficult this woman was to deal with. She wouldn''t yield to either hard or soft tactics.


    I lowered my voice again and said, "Can you say something?""Remember to buy insecticide tomorrow, the cockroaches in the bathroom are as annoying as you!" Mi Cai said before walking towards the crowd.


    I was stunned for a moment, then puzzled. Was she letting me off the hook, saving me from a difficult situation?


    Mi Cai sat down where I had just been sitting, greeted everyone, and I sat down next to her.


    Yan Yan smiled and said to me, "Zhao Yang, you have good taste, your girlfriend is amazing and beautiful!"


    "Of course, we are a perfect match! Let me formally introduce you all, this is my girlfriend, Mi Cai." I spoke with a tone of triumph, but my heart was full of trepidation. Who knows what this unpredictable woman is thinking.


    "Hello, everyone." Mi Cai smiled and greeted everyone.


    Circle, Yan Yan, Xiang Chen, in that order, introduced themselves to Mi Cai, and finally, it was Jian Wei''s turn.


    Mi Cai and Jian Wei looked at each other, their expressions were equally indifferent, but I couldn''t understand what was hidden beneath their expressions.


    Jian Wei spoke first, "We met the other day."


    Mi Cai just nodded. Strictly speaking, she wasn''t the type to be overly friendly with strangers, she was somewhat aloof.


    "My name is Jian Wei, I''m Zhao Yang''s ex-girlfriend."


    We are all very open-minded people, so it wasn''t surprising that Jian Wei introduced herself this way. Besides, there was nothing to hide. Clarifying the relationship would make future interactions more straightforward.


    Find the original at " ".


    Mi Cai responded with a polite smile and said "hello" to Jian Wei, but didn''t say much else. The atmosphere cooled because of her indifference.


    Yan Yan started to liven up the atmosphere, asking Mi Cai, "When did you meet Zhao Yang? He''s really good at keeping secrets, we only found out yesterday!"


    I nervously watched Mi Cai. If she didn''t expose me at this moment, then today''s uncomfortable gathering could pass without incident.


    "It''s been a while." Mi Cai gave a vague answer, but it was an answer without flaws.


    Yan Yan smiled and said, "From now on, we''ll leave Zhao Yang to you. He''s a bit wild, you''ll have to keep him in check."


    Mi Cai nodded and said, "I will, his character is a bit lacking!"


    Yan Yan was taken aback for a moment, looked at Mi Cai and then at me, her expression somewhat puzzled.

 Chapter 29 – Elopement

    In Yan Yan''s puzzled eyes, I said, "Don''t look at me with those doubtful eyes. Haven''t you ever teased Circle before? It''s a healthy development for couples to tease each other. Everyone here knows that I, Zhao Yang, have a strong character."


    After speaking, I complained to Mi Cai, "Don''t make fun of me. If you want to tease me, let''s do it at home. These guys are all teasers. Don''t get involved with them."


    "Zhao Yang, you''re really crazy. For the sake of your own tall image, you''ve degraded me and the others!" Xiang Chen said.


    "I''ve always been good at doing that!"


    This time, Mi Cai took the initiative to speak, "So I''m right to say that your character is bad, right?"


    "Exactly!" Everyone agreed, and then they smiled and raised their glasses, finally livening up the atmosphere.


    I drank the remaining half bottle of beer in one gulp, feeling a little relieved. But the corner of my eye glanced at Jian Wei. Since we entered the bar, she had been even quieter than Mi Cai, only occasionally talking to Xiang Chen.


    The others continued chatting, and although I was sitting next to Mi Cai, I didn''t dare to have any physical contact with her because I was afraid she would get angry. At this moment, I just wanted this gathering to end peacefully, and I didn''t want to participate in it again no matter what. The pain in my heart was only known to myself. I just wanted to silently wish Jian Wei and Xiang Chen happiness from behind, instead of being like this now. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Reluctantly, I joined in the laughter and banter with everyone, filling my heart with pain that I couldn''t escape from.


    Oh, the pain of wearing a mask that doesn''t fit is not just on the face, but also in the heart!


    Robben, who was far away, finally finished singing. He looked at me with the microphone and said, "Zhao Yang, come up and sing a couple of songs to liven up your friends."


    As soon as Robben finished speaking, Jian Wei was the first to applaud, followed by Circle, Xiang Chen, and others. They all clapped and whistled, and the atmosphere in the bar became lively.


    I glanced at everyone, nodded at Robben, and then walked towards the stage.


    Robben handed me the guitar and took a bass from Little Wu, a member of the band. I took a deep breath and chose Zheng Jun''s "Elopement".


    "A song of elopement for you all..." I said, strumming the guitar strings and closing my eyes. Some fragmented scenes appeared in my mind.


    "Devote our youth to the glorious city behind us, paying the price for this dream. Leave love to the girl who is most sincere to me. You accompany me in singing, accompany me in wandering, accompany me in both victory and defeat, until now I suddenly understand that what I yearn for is true love and freedom. I want to elope with you to the farthest town..."


    In the sound of tearing, I improvised and sang three consecutive "elopements". My emotions were completely released at this moment. Before Jian Wei went abroad, we were forced to a dead end, hiding back to Suzhou from Shanghai, and then wanting to elope from Suzhou to Tibet. At that time, we naively believed that with the courage in this song, we could elope to the ends of the earth, and we thought that with a guitar and the two of us, running all the way would make us the happiest people. We also believed that eloping could steal a lifetime for the two of us from the real world...


    The heavy metal music tore apart the longing, drowning out all the worldly noise. I had never been so hysterical, wishing I could tear the world apart, tear apart the illusions!


    As the music gradually stopped, the applause thundered. I still looked up, and after a long time, I returned the guitar to Robben without looking back and walked towards the restroom.


    In the mirror of the restroom, my face was covered in water stains, but I was glad that I had successfully hidden the pain, the suppressed tears, and the false disguise.


    She used to be my belief in this city of desires, but now, faith has mercilessly collapsed. So all the hurt, pain, and longing were suppressed in my heart, finally becoming unbearable and mutating in the time of this song, torturing my nerves.


    ...


    Outside the bar, everyone said their goodbyes. The three of us men were a little drunk. Circle supported Yan Yan and walked towards their car first, while Jian Wei helped Xiang Chen, who was not sober, and only Mi Cai and I maintained an imperceptible distance.


    Jian Wei helped Xiang Chen into the car, and when I thought she was going to leave, she turned back and walked towards Mi Cai and me.


    She stood in front of Mi Cai and me, but didn''t look at me. She said to Mi Cai, "Go back and make him a cup of milk with honey. His stomach isn''t feeling well."


    Mi Cai nodded, and only then did Jian Wei look at me. Then she nodded at Mi Cai, without saying anything else, and turned to walk towards the other car.


    I stared at her back, unable to come back to my senses for a long time!


    "She''s already gone..." Mi Cai said to me.


    "Oh." I numbly responded.


    "Where do you live? I''ll take you home."


    "No need, I''ll take a taxi myself."


    Mi Cai smiled and said, "I promised your ex-girlfriend to make you a cup of milk with honey. I don''t like breaking promises."


    "Then let''s go."Mi Cai was driving, and I sat in the passenger seat, watching the car weave through the city''s lights and towering buildings. I felt a bit dizzy, knowing that the alcohol was starting to take effect.


    After a long silence, Mi Cai finally asked me, "Was that song you just sang for your ex-girlfriend?"


    "Her... her name is Jian Wei."


    "So, you don''t like it when people refer to her as your ex-girlfriend?"


    I replied somewhat clumsily, "Two people who have... severed ties... isn''t it cleaner to just call them by their names?"


    Mi Cai chuckled, "I''m afraid your heart isn''t as clean as your words suggest."


    I didn''t respond, just stared at Mi Cai for a while before suddenly saying, "Drive faster, I feel like throwing up."


    "Then you should get out of the car and throw up."


    "I''ll throw up at home, just drive faster." I urged again, my words becoming more fluent.


    Mi Cai slammed on the brakes, and the car came to an abrupt stop. "Get out and throw up. Aren''t you uncomfortable holding it in? There''s a river over there."


    Although I was dizzy, I wasn''t about to throw up. I had only mentioned it to avoid talking about Jian Wei. But the sudden stop almost made me vomit the alcohol I had consumed. This woman always seemed to see through my lies and punish me accordingly.


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    I opened the car door and stumbled towards the river, then began to vomit hysterically.


    Feeling weak, I lay flat on the ground, looking at the twinkling stars and feeling dizzy again.


    Mi Cai came over and handed me a tissue, reprimanding me, "I told you not to drink so much!"


    "If you hadn''t... slammed on the brakes, I wouldn''t have thrown up." I slurred.


    "Really? So you were just playing me again?"


    Realizing I had inadvertently confessed, I decided to play dead and lay motionless on the ground.


    "Keep pretending, I''m leaving."


    I remembered the night Mi Cai had left me in the middle of nowhere, and I grabbed her hand, "Don''t go..."


    I held onto Mi Cai''s hand tightly, afraid of being left alone in this rarely traveled area.


    Mi Cai was a bit flustered, struggling to free herself while asking me to let go. I clung to her legs, as if I had found a source of comfort, a solace, a lost past.


    "Zhao Yang, let go, you''re drunk!" Mi Cai''s voice was tense. This level of physical contact was too intimate for us.


    "Just let me hold you for a while, don''t go..." My voice was choked with emotion.


    "I''m not Jian Wei, Zhao Yang, sober up!" Mi Cai pushed my shoulders, struggling fiercely, and finally managed to push me to the ground and ran towards her car.


    Lying on the ground again, my world was dark. The cold autumn wind gradually sobered me up. After a while, I got up and walked towards Mi Cai''s car. But Mi Cai, still shaken, insisted that I sit in the back seat.


    The car started again, carrying my sobering sense of loss towards the bright lights ahead.

 Chapter 30 – Sudden opportunity

    Explore the extended edition on .


    A moment later, Mi Cai escorted me to Robben''s place, where I would be settling down in this small ten-square-meter loft for the day.


    I was still dizzy and headed straight for the bed, falling into a deep sleep.


    Through my half-open eyes, I saw Mi Cai bustling around. She found an electric kettle, boiled some water, and then went downstairs. A moment later, she returned with milk powder and honey, and made me a cup of honey milk.


    "Don''t sleep yet, drink the milk first."


    I didn''t want to move at all, and mumbled, "Just leave it there, I''ll drink it later."


    "It''ll be cold later."


    I struggled to sit up from the bed, and Mi Cai handed me the milk, sitting across from me and watching me.


    The freshly made milk was very hot, and I drank it slowly. Mi Cai urged me, "Hurry up and drink, I''ll clean up and leave when you''re done."


    "There''s nothing to clean up. If you''re in a hurry, just go."


    "I''ll wash the cup and pour you another cup of hot water in case you get thirsty," Mi Cai said.


    "Why are you being so nice to me?" I said as I took a big gulp of milk, but it was so hot that I couldn''t swallow it.


    Mi Cai asked in surprise, "Just because I made you a cup of milk, you think I''m being very nice to you?"


    Yes! Mi Cai just made me a cup of milk with a simple gesture, so why did I feel she was being so nice to me?


    After a long time, I realized that I had been lonely for too long, and there hadn''t been a woman by my side for a long time. No matter how much I drank, I would only vomit by myself, and then fall asleep when I couldn''t vomit anymore. There was never a woman who would make me a cup of milk.


    Finally, I finished the cup of milk. Mi Cai washed the cup and poured me another cup of boiled water. This time, she didn''t urge me to drink it. She left the cup on the table by the bed and said, "Leave this cup here, drink it when you''re thirsty."


    "Okay."


    Mi Cai picked up her handbag, ready to leave, and then seemed to remember something and asked me, "Do you remember what you need to do tomorrow?"


    "Get up on time for work," I answered without thinking.


    Mi Cai frowned, "That''s not it."


    "Then what is it?"


    "You think about it yourself, I''m leaving now." Mi Cai said as she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. She disappeared from my sight in an instant, leaving me with a question.


    I lit a cigarette and sat on the bed, thinking for a long time about what I needed to do tomorrow besides going to work. I finally extinguished the cigarette, covered myself with the blanket, and fell asleep again. Since what Mi Cai was talking about was something for tomorrow, I would think about it tomorrow...


    ...


    The next day, when I woke up, Robben was still asleep. His job required him to live a nocturnal life, and it seemed that he didn''t come back until the early hours of the morning yesterday.


    After a simple wash, I found a bowl of instant noodles in a box in the corner, made it for breakfast, and then hurriedly went downstairs to wait for the bus to the company.


    Robben''s place was quite remote, and the bus was swaying on the road. So, during this hour on the road, I kept thinking about what Mi Cai had reminded me of when she left yesterday.


    I was more awake in the morning and remembered that Mi Cai had helped me put on a show last night. Of course, she wouldn''t help me for no reason. There must be some exchange condition between us. Following this line of thought, it suddenly dawned on me that I had to buy insecticide powder for her today and spread it in the bathroom.


    I was afraid that I would forget, so I set a reminder on my phone. Only then did I feel safe.


    When I arrived at the company, before I had time to make myself a cup of tea, I was summoned by our planning department manager, Chen Jingming.


    I went to Chen Jingming''s office, and he seemed to be in a good mood, greeting me to sit down.


    "Manager, you summoned me early in the morning, did I mess up something again?" I asked subconsciously. In the two years I''ve been working, Chen Jingming usually called me in to criticize me.


    Chen Jingming smiled and said, "Don''t be nervous, this time I have an important task for you."


    "What task?"


    "This time GUCCI is setting up a counter in our department store, which officially elevates us to the ranks of top-tier department stores. The company wants to take this opportunity to launch a comprehensive marketing campaign, aiming for a grand scale to attract more international first-line brands to cooperate with our department store."


    "Manager, do you mean that I''m responsible for planning this event?" I asked in shock.


    Chen Jingming nodded and said seriously, "Yes, this is a rare opportunity for you. You know, the competition in the traditional retail industry is fierce, and it has been strongly impacted by online shopping in recent years. The survival environment is very harsh. Going high-end and brand-oriented is the fundamental way for our department store to survive in this industry. We must attract as many international first-line brands as possible to operate in our store and strengthen the brand advantage of our department store. So, this event is a manifestation of our company''s core values. The decision-making level above attaches great importance to it, and I hope you can take on this important task."


    "Manager, you know exactly how much I weigh. It''s better to leave such a big event to Circle."


    "Zhao Yang, opportunities don''t come often. It''s a foregone conclusion that Circle will be the deputy manager of the planning department because of his many contributions to the company and the department. No one has anything to say about that. But what about you, Zhao Yang? If I want to promote you to be the team leader of the planning and copywriting team, I''m afraid others will have something to say... Do you understand what I mean?"


    Of course, I understood what Chen Jingming meant. He wanted to use this event as a legitimate reason to promote me to the team leader of the planning and copywriting team. This was indeed a rare opportunity for me.


    After a long silence, I finally asked, "When will we start preparing for this event?""The preparations for GUCCI''s entry into our department store began as soon as the contract was signed. Oh, and GUCCI is planning to shoot the opening promotional poster on the 15th of this month. Please confirm with the model again to see if she is available. This is something that absolutely, absolutely cannot go wrong, understand?" Chen Jingming''s expression became increasingly serious as he spoke. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Understood, I''ll call her right away to confirm."


    Chen Jingming nodded, saying, "Make good use of this opportunity, it''s not something everyone is fortunate enough to encounter."


    "Thank you for the opportunity, Manager." I said sincerely.


    After leaving Chen Jingming''s office, I immediately called Le Yao to inform her of the date for the promotional poster shoot. Once she confirmed that there were no issues, a weight was lifted off my heart. I really should do something for my own life, so I must seize this opportunity!


    This was the first time in over two years that I had a desire to strive for progress, hoping for a significant change in my life.


    ......


    After a busy day, I came to my senses and realized it was already past seven o''clock. The various lights on the street began to illuminate the city''s night, making it dazzlingly bright.


    Sitting on the swaying bus, all I could think about was the upcoming event planning. Chen Jingming was right, this opportunity was a rare one for me, and I couldn''t afford to be careless.


    After a while, the bus was still swaying on the road. I took out my phone from my pocket to check the time, only to find that it had automatically shut down due to a lack of power.


    I looked up at the electronic clock on the bus, it was already half past eight in the evening.


    Half past eight! I suddenly remembered that I had to buy insecticide powder for Mi Cai after work today, to help her deal with those cockroaches she hated!


    I remember setting a reminder on my phone this morning, fearing that I would forget. But my phone just happened to run out of power. This coincidence was enough to ruin my reputation and make Mi Cai completely disgusted with me.

 Chapter 31 – Scammer

    I couldn''t wait to get off the bus before it even stopped. I looked around for a taxi, but unfortunately, all the ones that passed by were already occupied.


    I was starting to believe more and more that my encounter with Mi Cai was not a wonderful arrangement, but an unavoidable torment.


    Finally, a taxi arrived. I hurriedly got in and headed towards the farmer''s market. I remembered that there would be some vendors there selling insecticide powder, as the insecticides sold in supermarkets usually couldn''t kill cockroaches. So I could only hope that the vendors hadn''t closed yet.


    When I arrived at the farmer''s market, it was pitch black. Not only were the vendors gone, but all the shops inside had also closed. I felt a bit disappointed. Despite my efforts, it seemed that I wouldn''t be able to buy the insecticide powder tonight.


    With no other choice, I went to the supermarket and bought a bottle of insecticide, hoping to pass it off as the powder.


    ...


    I arrived at the old house. It was already 10 o''clock at night, and the back and forth journey had tortured me for over an hour. I just hoped that Mi Cai wouldn''t discover that what I brought was just insecticide instead of the agreed-upon powder.


    I knocked on the door, and after a while, Mi Cai, wearing pajamas, opened it for me. It seemed like she was still eating something.


    Curiously, I asked, "What are you eating?"


    "Cherries."


    "What are cherries?"


    Mi Cai seemed satisfied with my compliance today and patiently explained, "Cherries are cherries. Go wash your hands first. There are still plenty left!"


    "Are you treating me to them?"


    Mi Cai nodded, and I immediately walked towards the bathroom. I felt a bit delighted. Mi Cai''s attitude towards me had improved a lot, so there was no harm in being a reliable person.


    When I came out of the bathroom, Mi Cai had already placed the box of cherries on the sofa in the living room. She was holding a book and eating, with an elegant eating posture and a relaxed expression.


    I sat down next to Mi Cai and looked at the box. It was beautifully crafted. I realized that these were authentic cherries imported from Chile, not the kind of cheap goods labeled as imported in supermarkets. There were at least a thousand cherries in this box.


    I picked up two cherries and put them in my mouth, saying to Mi Cai, "You say we both have the same nose and two eyes. Why do you live so extravagantly?"


    "What?" Mi Cai looked at me with some confusion.


    "I mean you live extravagantly. Since my mother gave birth to me, I''ve never eaten such expensive fruit!" I said, picking up two more cherries and throwing them into my mouth.


    "A friend gave them to me," Mi Cai replied, focusing her attention back on the book she was reading.


    "Then tell me, why don''t I have friends who give me such expensive fruit? In the end, your class is corrupt and extravagant! The big parasite of socialism." After saying that, I angrily picked up several cherries and threw them into my mouth.


    Mi Cai seemed to be in a good mood and didn''t argue with me. She just said, "If you like them, you can take them home and eat."


    When you''re just trying to make great content at .


    "I must take them home." I stood up from the sofa, found a convenient bag, and packed the box.


    At this moment, Mi Cai finally put down her book and asked me, "Did you buy the insecticide powder?"


    "If I didn''t buy it, would I have the nerve to come here?"


    Mi Cai nodded in agreement and said, "If you didn''t buy it and still dared to come find me, that would be harassment!"


    "I bought it, I bought it. Don''t talk about harassment. You''re ruining my reputation." I said impatiently, taking out the insecticide I had bought from my briefcase, ready to deceive her.


    Mi Cai stared at the insecticide and frowned, saying, "Didn''t you say it was insecticide powder? This doesn''t look like it!"


    I panicked for a moment and quickly said, "Of course it doesn''t look like it. This is the latest insecticide developed. It''s extremely effective against cockroaches."


    Mi Cai looked at me with a skeptical expression and said, "I read in a book that cockroaches have strong resistance, and ordinary insecticides are basically ineffective."


    "Don''t be so dogmatic. Is this an ordinary insecticide? Without bragging, just this can wipe out all the cockroaches in this house. It''s simply inhumane!" I bluffed.


    Mi Cai still looked unconvinced and said, "Why do I feel like you''re a swindler from the martial world?"


    Feeling a bit guilty, I angrily replied, "I''m doing this for your own good. Insecticide powder is highly toxic. What if you accidentally poison a rat or something? Isn''t that disgusting?"


    Mi Cai was startled by my words and quickly said, "Then don''t just stand there. Do what you came here to do."


    "Do you want to come in and watch?"


    Mi Cai shook her head repeatedly, and I calmly turned around. Then, with a triumphant feeling, I walked towards the bathroom. At this moment, I had a sense of conquering a city. In my heart, I thought, "Silly girl, come and expose me again, come on..."I was holding the cherries that Mi Cai had given me as I bid her farewell. It was already 11 o''clock, and it would be at least midnight by the time I got back to Robben''s place. I couldn''t help but sigh at how exhausting this night had been. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before leaving, I warned Mi Cai, "Don''t use the bathroom tonight. After spraying the insecticide, there are too many toxic substances."


    "I know."


    Out of boredom, I asked, "Can you hold it in for the night? I doubt it. I usually have to use the bathroom several times a night."


    As expected, Mi Cai frowned and said, "Why do you talk so much?"


    "I''m just worried about you!"


    "I won''t stay here tonight."


    Mi Cai''s words once again piqued my curiosity. From her words, I was almost certain that she had other houses in this city. But why did she insist on buying this place and living here?


    In the end, I didn''t voice my doubts because Mi Cai wouldn''t tell me. I had asked before, and knowing the answer would only satisfy my curiosity and had no other significance to me. I had become accustomed to doing meaningful things, so it was better not to ask.


    I took another cherry out of my pocket, threw it into my mouth, and said to Mi Cai, "I''m leaving now. If there''s anything you can''t handle in this house or the community, give me a call."


    "Okay."


    I coughed, the sensor light in the corridor lit up, and I turned around to leave.


    "Zhao Yang, wait."


    I turned back in surprise and asked Mi Cai, "You''re not planning to ask me to stay, are you? The bathroom here is out of order, and I can''t hold it in!"


    "Take your guitar." Mi Cai turned around and went back to the room I used to live in, and took out the guitar.


    I didn''t want to take the guitar from Mi Cai. After a long silence, I said, "I told you to find someone who knows about this. This guitar can definitely be sold for a good price. I don''t have the money to pay you back now!"


    "When I asked you to pay me back that day, I was angry. Take the guitar. It doesn''t belong to anyone but you and Jian Wei. It''s at least a memory."


    I asked in surprise, "How do you know this guitar is related to Jian Wei?"


    "Your names are carved on the guitar." Mi Cai''s tone was very calm.


    After a long silence, I didn''t look at the guitar that Mi Cai had propped up in the corner, and said in a low voice, "I don''t want it."


    Mi Cai smiled, "You can throw away a guitar, but you can''t throw away the memories in your heart. Why deceive yourself?"


    I remained silent.


    "Take it." Mi Cai put the guitar case outside the door and then closed the door.


    ...


    With this regained guitar, I returned to Robben''s place with a heavy heart. Coincidentally, I ran into Robben at the entrance of the building, along with a flamboyantly dressed woman he was with.


    The woman took off her helmet and stepped off Robben''s modified racing motorcycle. Then Robben also took off his helmet.


    I immediately understood that this was a casual friend Robben had brought back.


    Robben, with his arm around the flamboyant woman, introduced her to me, "Zhao Yang, this is my friend Lily."


    I smiled and said, "I''m not intruding, am I? If so, I can stay at a hotel."


    "No, it''s fine. She''s not staying the night. It''ll be quick." Robben said.


    "Alright, I''ll wait downstairs... Can you take the guitar up for me?"


    Robben took the guitar from me, patted my shoulder to indicate that he would be quick, and then walked upstairs with the woman. I sat at the entrance of the building, opened the bag of cherries I had brought back from Mi Cai''s place, and started eating again.

 Chapter 32 – Payday

    I waited at the corridor for almost forty minutes, and Robben still hadn''t finished. I couldn''t resist the cold autumn wind and wanted to go up and urge him.


    Just as I stood up, a woman named Lily came down from upstairs, and the air was filled with a strong scent of perfume.


    "Finished?" I adjusted my clothes and asked.


    Lily glanced at me displeased and said, "If it weren''t for you, I would have spent the night here."


    "Robben still has several bars to visit tomorrow, so don''t bother him."


    "I don''t understand why two men live together!" Lily complained to me.


    "I''m just staying here for a while until I find a house to move out." I explained to Lily with some guilt.


    Lily nodded and then said, "I forgot to bring my wallet, give me 50 yuan for a taxi."


    I was a bit surprised, "Why didn''t you ask Robben just now?"


    "I forgot, and I''m too lazy to go back up. Stop nagging and give it to me quickly." Lily made a gesture asking for money.


    "Are you a prostitute or something?"


    Lily gave me a disdainful look and said, "Have you ever seen a prostitute who only asks for 50 yuan?"


    "You have a point." I took out my wallet from my pocket, but couldn''t find a 50 yuan bill. Lily directly took out a 100 yuan bill and waved it in front of me, as if I had slept with her.


    After Lily left, I felt that staying at Robben''s place was not a long-term solution. After all, it was inconvenient and far from the company. I needed to continue looking for a house.


    ...


    Back in the room, there seemed to be a lingering scent of debauchery in the air. I instinctively looked at the bed, but the sheets were still neatly folded.


    "I didn''t do anything on the bed because I was afraid you wouldn''t be comfortable." Robben explained to me.


    "Thank you for that!"


    Robben smiled and said, "No problem, sleeping or standing is the same."


    I put the cherries that I brought from Mi Cai on the table and said to Robben, "A friend gave them to me, try them."


    "Oh, they''re imported from Chile. Which friend of yours is so extravagant?" Robben picked one up and put it in his mouth.


    I didn''t answer for a while, realizing that calling Mi Cai a friend was a bit wishful thinking. In reality, we were at most slightly closer than strangers. At least, Mi Cai was often annoyed with me.


    "Just a friend." I vaguely replied.


    It was an insignificant matter, and Robben didn''t ask further. He took out the guitar from the guitar case, strummed the strings, and looked intoxicated. Then he asked me, "How did you get this awesome guitar back? Didn''t you use it to pay off your debts?"


    "She returned it to me." I answered truthfully.


    "Who is she?"


    "Do I have to write a book to answer you?"


    Robben smiled at me with an understanding look and said, "Calm down..." Finally, he stopped asking me and started strumming the guitar. The song "Cinderella" floated out of the ten-square-meter attic with the autumn wind at night.


    ...


    The night was quiet like a stagnant pool of water. Robben and I lay on the bed, each holding a cigarette, equally lost and silent.


    Suddenly, a gust of wind blew forcefully from outside the window, dispersing the smoke that filled the room.


    Both of us took a deep breath of the wild wind and exhaled heavily, and the smell of tobacco filled the room again.


    I quickly finished smoking a cigarette and extinguished it in the ashtray. Finally, I asked Robben, "What are you thinking about?"


    "Thinking about girls." Robben took another drag of his cigarette.


    I teased, "Didn''t you just sleep with Lily?"


    Robben smiled and extinguished the cigarette in his hand. He took out another one from the cigarette box, lit it, and after a while, he said, "I wonder how she''s doing now."


    "If you miss her, why don''t you contact her? Just treat it as caring for an old friend."


    "Can you contact Jian Wei after breaking up for more than two years?" Robben asked me in return.


    "Why are you bringing up Jian Wei?"


    "It''s the same logic. What can change by contacting her? Just think like that!"


    "I''m just feeling sorry for you. Clearly still in love, clearly forced by her parents, but in the end, leaving a name of betrayal in her heart."


    "As long as she''s happy, my little bit of grievance doesn''t matter."


    I also lit another cigarette and took two puffs, sinking into silence. I didn''t urge Robben to contact that girl from Beijing anymore.


    "Let''s sleep, it''s almost dawn." Robben extinguished the cigarette that he had only smoked halfway and said to me.


    I looked out the window and seemed to see through all the darkness before dawn. I couldn''t help but sigh in my heart: Life is truly an unsolvable puzzle, full of right and wrong, truth and falsehood...


    ...


    The next day, another busy day passed. This kind of busyness was something I hadn''t experienced in the first two years at the company. It was mainly because Circle''s work temporarily fell on me. But it wasn''t a bad thing. If I had the chance to become the team leader of the planning and copywriting group, then this was an early adaptation process.


    Besides being busy all day, I also had other gains. I finally received my salary today, so as the end of the workday approached, I planned how to spend this month''s salary.


    After thinking for a long time, I decided to use this money to invite Mi Cai to have dinner for the first time. I still remembered how I tricked her into attending Circle''s wedding under the pretext of having a meal a few days ago. She was so angry. There was no doubt that I had acted thoughtlessly in that matter. So tonight''s dinner, I must sincerely invite her, to apologize and to thank her for cooperating with me in the play at the bar the night before yesterday, so that I wouldn''t feel embarrassed in front of Jian Wei.


    I found Mi Cai''s phone number and dialed it. She answered after a while, still in a calm tone, "Hello, what''s up?"


    "I want to invite you to dinner tonight, would you honor me with your presence?" I said sincerely.


    "Is it another one of your friend''s weddings this time?"I was at a loss for words. She always had a way of leaving me speechless with her calm demeanor. After a pause, I finally said, "This time it''s not about a friend''s wedding, I just want to invite you to dinner."


    "Oh, let''s skip it today."


    I felt a bit disappointed, but I insisted, "Come on, I got my paycheck today, and you were the first person I thought of. Don''t turn down my generous offer."


    "My car is in for maintenance, and it''s not very convenient to hail a taxi here. Maybe next time." Mi Cai finally gave me a reason not to come.


    "That''s easy to solve, I have a car, I can pick you up. Where are you?"


    "You have a car?" Mi Cai asked, puzzled.


    "Yes, it''s similar to yours. Please give me some face, I''ll take you to a very interesting restaurant tonight, I guarantee you''ll like it."


    After thinking for a while, Mi Cai finally agreed, "Hmm, I''m at Liu''an Scenic Garden, you can come over."


    "You live in Liu''an Scenic Garden!" I exclaimed, because it''s a high-end residential area locally. Mi Cai must have moved there because her bathroom was unusable due to the insecticide sprayed yesterday. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why are you asking so many questions?" Mi Cai hung up the phone after saying this.


    I smiled and didn''t mind Mi Cai''s attitude. I had anticipated that she had other properties in Suzhou.


    I put my phone in my pocket and said to Zhao Li, who was still busy next door, "Zhao Li, can I borrow your Alto Little Prince tonight?"


    Zhao Li looked up at me warily and asked, "What are you going to do?"


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    "I''ll fill up the tank for you after I''m done, hurry up." I said impatiently.


    "You better not trick me." Zhao Li said, taking the car keys out of the drawer and handing them to me.


    ......


    As the sky gradually darkened, I drove Zhao Li''s Alto towards the "Liu''an Scenic Garden" residential area. I wasn''t fooling Mi Cai this time, the car I was driving was indeed similar to hers. Hers was an Audi, mine was an Alto, both in eye-catching purple-red color.

 Chapter 33 – In the empty city, there is a music-themed restaurant

    After about half an hour of driving, I finally arrived at "Willow Bank Scenic Garden" where I currently live, and Mi Cai was already waiting for me under a phoenix tree outside the community.


    Autumn leaves were swirling in the air, and the lights illuminated her figure, making her look like a character walking out of a painting, serene and indifferent.


    I honked the horn and Mi Cai looked towards me.


    I smiled at her and said, "Get in the car, let''s go eat. If we''re late, there might not be any seats left."


    Mi Cai walked towards me and opened the car door, sitting in the passenger seat without paying attention to what kind of car I was driving. I couldn''t help but feel a little guilty and said, "How about my car? It''s not bad, right? Small displacement, environmentally friendly."


    "It''s not bad, just a little sleazy like you." Mi Cai glanced at me with a smile that wasn''t really a smile.


    "Am I sleazy?" I asked, then took down the mirror in the car and looked at myself with insecurity.


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    "Sleazy doesn''t necessarily refer to appearance, I''m talking about your character."


    I put the mirror back and didn''t want to argue with Mi Cai. After all, the image of me having a bad character had already been deeply ingrained in her mind. Even if I tried to package myself as a national hero saving the people, she would still think I''m sleazy.


    Mi Cai was a little surprised by my lack of retort, and I just smiled at her and started the car. I thought to myself: Mi Cai doesn''t really understand a man with depth. They are often silent. Based on this, it''s obvious that I am a man with depth.


    ...


    The Alto shuttled through the streets and finally stopped on an old street that was about to be demolished. Mi Cai and I got out of the car. The shop I wanted to take her to would pass through a narrow alley, and the car couldn''t go in, so we had to walk.


    There were only a few dim streetlights in this narrow alley, and Mi Cai followed closely behind me, a little nervous, and asked, "Where are you taking me?"


    "To a paradise, but we have to pass through this dark place first." I replied.


    After walking through this dark alley, the space on the other side suddenly opened up. Under a bright streetlight, the "Empty City Theme Music Restaurant" appeared in front of Mi Cai.


    I lit a cigarette and said to Mi Cai beside me, "This is the restaurant. It''s opened by a friend of mine who plays music. The music atmosphere inside is great, but they mainly serve Sichuan cuisine."


    "That''s quite eclectic!" Mi Cai looked at the sign and said. Usually, music restaurants mainly serve Western cuisine.


    "Yeah, the boss is from Chongqing. Can you handle spicy food?"


    "I can."


    While I was talking to Mi Cai, we walked into the restaurant. The boss, CC, was sitting on a bar stool that could be raised and lowered, singing a song with a glass of beer in her hand and an unfinished cigarette between her fingers.


    CC noticed my arrival right away and snapped her fingers at me during a break in the music, saying, "Long time no see, Zhao Yang."


    I nodded and gave CC a thumbs up to show that her singing was great.


    CC smiled and gestured to chat later, then continued singing Zhang Xuan''s "Appearance" with the rhythm of the music.


    Mi Cai and I chose a seat, and Mi Cai seemed to really enjoy CC''s singing. She didn''t talk to me and just listened quietly.


    After ordering the food, my attention was also immersed in CC''s singing. In CC''s somewhat hoarse but extremely infectious voice, I remembered some fragments.


    Three years ago, Jian Wei and I escaped to Suzhou from Shanghai because of her parents'' crazy opposition. We were both penniless and struggled to survive. I started performing in this music restaurant owned by CC, and the income sustained our lives. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that time, Jian Wei would wait in the restaurant every day to listen to me sing. She would also help serve dishes and pour water for customers to earn some tips. Every time the restaurant closed, I would habitually light a cigarette, and she would help me carry the guitar on her back. We would hold hands and walk through that dark alley. I would buy her a roasted sweet potato from a stall at the corner...


    That winter, sometimes the wind was cold, sometimes the rain and snow were heavy, but the feeling of relying on each other made me feel warm even now!


    "Zhao Yang, why is this restaurant called Empty City?"


    Mi Cai''s sudden question broke the images in my mind. I couldn''t come back to my senses for a while and stared blankly before answering, "When everyone is born, there is an empty city in their hearts. As time goes by and they grow up, the restlessness, indifference, and worldly fame and fortune fill up this empty city, making it bloated and unbearable. It''s called Empty City to commemorate that innocent empty city."


    "Is this your interpretation?"


    "This is what CC told me." I said, looking at CC who was singing.


    Mi Cai nodded, took a sip of cold tea, and continued to listen to CC''s singing.


    ...


    CC finally finished singing a song and walked towards us, putting the microphone back on the stand.


    CC was a very unique beauty. Her features weren''t particularly attractive individually, but when put together, they were captivating and unforgettable. So, as she walked over, she attracted the attention of many diners.CC placed a large mug of draft beer in front of me and smiled, saying, "This one''s on me." She then signaled the waiter to bring a large cup of cola for Mi Cai.


    "I''m driving today, so I won''t drink."


    Mi Cai chimed in, "Go ahead, I''ll drive for you later."


    Only then did CC look at Mi Cai and ask me, "Is this lady... your new girlfriend?"


    I glanced at Mi Cai, who remained calm, and mustered the courage to say, "Yes, she''s my girlfriend."


    CC shrugged. I knew she felt regretful about Jian Wei and me, but in the end, she still greeted Mi Cai with a smile, praising her for her stunning beauty.


    The lights in the restaurant dimmed a bit, but the old-fashioned candlesticks on the table lit up, filling the entire restaurant with a faint aroma of scented candles.


    After a brief silence, CC asked me, "By the way, what has Robben been up to lately? He hasn''t been here for a long time."


    "What else could he be busy with, just running around all day."


    "Invite him over when you have time, I miss him." There was a hint of helplessness and sadness in CC''s words. She liked Robben, but Robben was always thinking about that girl from Beijing.


    "Sure, let''s set a time to get together, right here."


    "You have to promise me!"


    I smiled and made a promise, "I promise."


    Only then did CC nod in relief.


    ......


    After CC left, Mi Cai and I finally had some alone time. I raised my beer mug to Mi Cai, who also raised her cola to clink with me, and we each took a sip.


    Just then, two more people walked into the restaurant from outside. The door opened and a gust of cold wind was brought in. Then I saw that the newcomers were Jian Wei and Xiang Chen.


    A surge of emotions caught me off guard. It seemed that this was not a night where Mi Cai and I could enjoy a quiet dinner. I dreaded such encounters, feared them, and hated such coincidences that awkwardly brought us together.

 Chapter 34 – Clean place

    My expression began to look unnatural, and Mi Cai, who was sitting across from me, noticed something was wrong. She glanced at me and then turned her head, and our gazes met with Jian Wei''s.


    Mi Cai had a cold personality, while Jian Wei was naturally proud. Despite this unexpected encounter, neither of them greeted each other. Instead, Xiang Chen waved at me and said, "Zhao Yang, having a meal with your girlfriend?"


    "Yeah, since you''re here, let''s share a table." Despite my reluctance to meet them, I politely invited them. This politeness made me feel uncomfortable, but I had no choice.


    Jian Wei held onto Xiang Chen''s arm and shook her head, saying, "No need, we''ll sit over there to avoid the crowd."


    Xiang Chen obediently followed her. After smiling at me, he led Jian Wei to another table. Watching their backs, I believed that after this unexpected encounter, Jian Wei and Xiang Chen would definitely believe that Mi Cai and I were in a romantic relationship. Today, Mi Cai and I were on a date, enjoying a dinner that belonged only to the two of us. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ...


    This was probably the first time Jian Wei had come to "Sky in the Clouds" to eat since returning to the country. CC was surprised to see Jian Wei and also gave her and Xiang Chen a beer and a cola. However, she didn''t mention the past because in her eyes, Jian Wei and I had already moved on. Bringing up the past would be inappropriate and ruin the atmosphere.


    During the meal, Xiang Chen and I exchanged a few words from several tables away. I asked Xiang Chen why he and Jian Wei were still in Suzhou. Xiang Chen said that Suzhou was where we went to university, but we rarely came back in recent years. Since both he and Jian Wei had time, they decided to stay here for a few more days. However, in a few days, Jian Wei would accompany him to Nanjing.


    Xiang Chen''s answer struck a nerve. I knew that Jian Wei was going to Nanjing to meet Xiang Chen''s family. Perhaps it wouldn''t be long before I received their wedding invitation, tearing me apart once again.


    ...


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    During the meal, I remained restless, never looking towards Jian Wei''s direction and refraining from drinking too much. I repeatedly reminded myself that our past had already been diluted by the passage of time. No matter how reluctant or self-torturing I was, it wouldn''t change anything.


    I knew deep down that when Jian Wei put on the crystal diamond necklace given to her by Xiang Chen, I had already been living in a separate world, building the strongest wall around myself, shutting out any sight, thought, or pain...


    I didn''t know when, but Xiang Chen and Jian Wei had finished their dinner before us. They simply greeted us and left in a hurry. I watched them walk into a small alley, but I couldn''t see the scenery of the corner where we used to buy roasted sweet potatoes on winter nights.


    It was a chilly night.


    Mi Cai waved her hand in front of my eyes, bringing me back from my daze. It was then that I realized this was a dinner that was supposed to be just for Mi Cai and me. I smiled apologetically, raised my glass to Mi Cai, and finished the remaining beer in one gulp, still sober.


    The dinner continued. It wasn''t that Mi Cai and I were eating slowly, but rather that Jian Wei and Xiang Chen had left in a hurry. I ordered another beer, not to get drunk, as this beer couldn''t get me drunk, but to clear my mind with its cold liquid.


    Half an hour later, Mi Cai and I finished the dinner. After saying goodbye to CC, I left with Mi Cai.


    "Zhao Yang, haven''t you paid the bill yet?" Mi Cai said, grabbing my arm.


    "We''re such good friends, why bother with the bill?" I continued walking forward, joking with Mi Cai. In reality, we were mostly silent during the meal and didn''t communicate much. Teasing her before leaving at least made the night feel less heavy.


    Mi Cai exerted more force and stopped me. Her calm face was filled with anger. "You have no integrity! If everyone were like you, how could your friend''s restaurant stay in business?"


    "You''ve had too much to drink! It''s surprising that even cola can get someone drunk," I said, looking at Mi Cai with a half-smile. Her current state of agitation was completely different from her usual self.


    Mi Cai realized she had lost control and stopped arguing with me. She took out her wallet and walked towards the counter. At this moment, I understood even more how much Mi Cai despised my bad behavior, to the point where she disregarded her own appearance and argued with me in public.


    I quickly caught up and held onto Mi Cai, saying, "We agreed that I would treat you. How can I let you pay?"


    "I don''t want to associate with scum like you. Don''t talk to me."


    "Heh, I was just joking with you. The place to pay is not at the counter, but in that corner." I turned Mi Cai''s body around so she could see the box in the corner.


    Mi Cai looked at me with confusion. During her meal, she had been facing away from the box and didn''t know what was going on.


    I smiled and explained, "Didn''t you notice that there were no prices listed on the menu? Eating here relies on your own conscience. When you leave, you just throw the money into that box."


    "Can I put in any amount?" Mi Cai asked, surprised.


    "Yes, no one will supervise you here."


    "But..."


    I pulled Mi Cai to the corner where the box was placed and took out 300 yuan from my wallet, putting it into the box. Then I said to Mi Cai, "People who come here to consume have all had a pure empty city in their hearts. No one will defile this empty city with worldly materials. That''s why this restaurant has been in business for many years and is not losing money... If there is still a clean place in this world, it must be here!"


    ...


    On the way back, Mi Cai drove her compact Alto through the real city, but she still seemed interested in the "Empty City Music-themed Restaurant." She asked me, "Zhao Yang, have all the people who have come to this restaurant over the years followed this rule?"


    "Of course not. When this restaurant first opened, there were many people who came to eat without paying or tried to escape the bill."Mi Cai was not surprised by my answer, because the world is never short of those who love to take advantage of others, the petty people who want to gain without working. She asked again, "So why has it become like this now, where everyone abides by this rule?"


    I recalled and answered, "At that time, we all advised CC to give up this idealistic way of operation, because it was too unrealistic. But CC insisted on doing so. Eventually, the income couldn''t cover the expenses, and it was difficult to continue the business. Finally, one day, a notice of closure was posted on the bulletin board of the restaurant."


    "And then?"


    "On the last night before the closure, there were still many people who brought their families to have a free dinner. We were all disheartened, blaming CC for being too naive. This idealistic way of operation only revealed the ugliness of human nature in the end."


    Mi Cai nodded thoughtfully.


    I rolled down the car window, lit a cigarette, and continued, "After closing that night, we were really down. A few friends and I closed the door and drank a lot of alcohol, because after this night, there would be no more restaurant in the empty city!"


    I exhaled a long puff of smoke, smiled, and said, "Perhaps there really is a saying about life from desperation. When we and CC opened the box to settle the day''s business income, we found a full 100,000 yuan in cash... We were surprised, but no one knew which customer had put it in."


    "So the restaurant continued to operate because of this 100,000 yuan?"


    I nodded and said, "Yes, this 100,000 yuan gave CC the motivation to continue operating, to be precise, a spiritual motivation. For the sake of that unknown customer, we couldn''t close the restaurant in the empty city. Later, we replaced the box with a transparent one. Everyone could clearly see how much money was given after eating. Those petty people who only threw a few coins in, my friends and I would block them in the alley and beat them up... Over time, those who loved to take advantage of others stopped coming. But CC never knew about this. If she knew, she wouldn''t agree with us doing this... After a long time, CC replaced the transparent box with an opaque one again, but there was basically no loss, of course, it doesn''t rule out that there are still people who are muddling through!"


    After listening to my narration, the usually indifferent Mi Cai actually said indignantly, "Good for you, those shameless people deserve to be beaten... But won''t those who were beaten call the police for your abuse of private punishment?"


    "Of course they would call the police, but one of the guys who beat people with us was a local police officer, so he turned a blind eye. Besides, we didn''t extort money, and we knew how to control our strength. It was mainly a warning. As long as those scumbags didn''t come, the restaurant could maintain normal operation."


    Mi Cai looked at me and suddenly laughed...


    I looked at her in surprise, not understanding why.


    "I just find it funny to hear you calling others scumbags...!" Mi Cai explained with a laugh.


    "...Who says a scumbag can''t call others scumbags?"


    "I didn''t say you were a scumbag this time."


    "You mean that, do you think I''m stupid and can''t hear it?"


    Mi Cai laughed out loud. In all the days we''ve been together, this was the first time I saw her laugh so openly. At this moment, her cheerful demeanor made her even more beautiful and captivating. So, the little Alto car moved more briskly through the city''s lights and shadows, less burdened by reality, and filled with a string of beautiful laughter.

 Chapter 35 – You beast

    Mi Cai drove me back to Robben''s place. I hadn''t drunk too much that night, so saying goodbye was relatively simple.


    Mi Cai unbuckled her seatbelt and said to me, "Thank you for dinner tonight. I really liked that restaurant."


    "You should go there often then, but don''t try to dine and dash. I''ll gather a group of righteous people and corner you in an alley to give you a good beating," I joked with Mi Cai.


    "If I really did that, I would willingly accept your judgment."


    "You''re very enlightened!"


    Mi Cai didn''t say much more. She opened the car door and got out, looking around for a passing taxi.


    I also got out of the car and stood next to Mi Cai, waiting with her. After a while, I nudged her and jokingly said, "Let''s discuss something."


    "What is it?"


    "Let me go back to being your landlord, and you can be my female tenant, okay?"


    "That''s not very practical! You just moved out."


    "But I miss that room more and more every day!"


    Mi Cai firmly said, "Put away your inappropriate thoughts... I don''t like having a man living in my house."


    "But didn''t you take me in before?"


    "That''s because you were pitifully begging me."


    "Then I''ll pitifully beg you again."


    Mi Cai didn''t get annoyed with my persistence like before. She patiently said to me, "It''s really inconvenient for a man and a woman to live together. There are many options in this big city, why do you have to make things difficult for me?"


    "So, you won''t live with your boyfriend in the future? No matter who it is, it''s inevitable for a man and a woman to live together."


    Mi Cai gave a faint smile and said, "You''re right, so I''ll only live with my boyfriend, not you."


    Finally, a vacant taxi drove by. Mi Cai flagged it down, got in, and quickly disappeared from my sight.


    I muttered to the night, "You''re right, but why do I feel like you''re forcing me to be your boyfriend, so we can live together legitimately? Remember, I told Mr. Ban before, you''re not my type, so please put away your inappropriate thoughts about me!"


    Suddenly, I laughed. This was really audacious, I was even lying to myself!


    ...


    When I entered Robben''s house, it was still empty, not even a TV. The night was destined to be dull and boring. I dragged out a few boxes from under the bed and found a can of beer. This was nice. Drinking a can of beer and playing a few songs on the guitar was a decent way to pass the time.


    The wind on the balcony was still wild. I sat on the railing, holding my guitar, unmoving. I wasn''t afraid of the wild wind, but I was afraid of not seeing the "City in the Sky". So, I strummed the guitar strings and sang with all my might, as if calling out, as if begging, calling for that distant city to return to my heart, to settle down, to no longer wander.


    I didn''t know when Robben came back. Suddenly, he handed me a cigarette from behind, then jumped onto the railing and lit one for himself.


    I put the guitar aside, lit the cigarette, took a puff, and said to Robben, "I went to CC''s restaurant for dinner today."


    "Really?" Robben mechanically responded.


    "CC said she misses you."


    Robben looked at me, was silent for a while, and then said, "I chatted with Le Yao on WeChat today."


    "Really?" I mechanically responded.


    "Le Yao said she misses you."


    I laughed and said, "I honestly relayed CC''s words to you, but you''re clearly bullshitting."


    Robben didn''t argue with me. He took out his phone from his pocket and showed me his chat history with Le Yao. Indeed, it was there in black and white, solid evidence.


    I suddenly felt speechless. I picked up the beer next to me, took a sip, and after a while, I said, "You haven''t seen CC for a long time, right? When you have time, let''s go to her restaurant together."


    "Bring Le Yao along, let''s all go together."


    "Why do you always bring up Le Yao?"


    "Zhao Yang, my young friend, do not do unto others what you don''t want done unto you!" He laughed and continued, "You should understand better than anyone that a man''s heart isn''t big. It can only hold the first woman he loved. At least in this regard, we are the same."


    I shook my head and said, "Robben, you and CC are actually quite suitable for each other. You have the same dreams, the same hobbies, the same character. But Le Yao and I are clearly from two different worlds. She doesn''t really like me that much. To be precise, she was just dependent on me for a while. So, don''t forcefully compare us."


    "Let''s not talk about this. I''m a bit tired today, I''m going to bed." Robben patted my shoulder and jumped off the railing.


    I shouted at him, "Find some time to go to CC''s place soon."


    "We''ll see."


    After giving me an ambiguous answer, Robben left. I knew he didn''t want to defile CC with a body that didn''t love her. After all, CC was different from those women he could casually bring back to sleep with. On this point, Robben had his principles. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I could understand Robben, but I still felt a bit regretful.


    ...


    The next day, I got up a bit later than usual because I didn''t have to take the bus. Zhao Li''s car was still with me.Upon arriving at the company, I managed to clock in just before nine o''clock at the front desk. Right on my heels, Zhao Li rushed out of another elevator, sprinting towards the time clock as if he were on roller skates. Just as he was about to insert his card, the time mercilessly ticked past nine.


    With a gloomy face, Zhao Li complained to me, "Zhao Yang, it''s all your fault. I thought I had a car and slept until eight. Now...sigh! I''ve lost my perfect attendance award for this month!"


    I tossed the car keys in my hand to Zhao Li, nonchalantly saying, "It''s just a perfect attendance award, no big deal. I didn''t get it last month either."


    "Have you ever received it since you started working?"


    I was annoyed by Zhao Li''s question and my face darkened. Zhao Li quickly changed the subject, asking, "You said you would fill up my car with gas, did you?"


    "Don''t worry, it''s filled to the brim."


    Zhao Li finally seemed to regain some balance and nodded.


    I added, "By the way, I found a Sinopec gas card in your car and gave it to the gas station attendant."


    Zhao Li''s face changed dramatically, still holding onto the last hope, he said, "You don''t know the password!"


    "It''s just Pan Xiaoyun''s (Zhao Li''s girlfriend) birthday, I know it."


    "Zhao Yang, you beast!... You stole my game equipment last time, didn''t you?"


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    After entering the office, Zhao Li continued to glare at me with a look of deep hatred. I ignored him, knowing that he would still lend me his little Alto when I needed it next time.


    Just as I was about to make a cup of coffee in the break room to perk myself up, I received a summons from Manager Chen Jingming, asking me to come to his office immediately.


    I put down the cup in my hand and went to Chen Jingming''s office.


    "Sit." Chen Jingming said to me while looking at some documents.


    "I won''t sit, Manager. If you have something to say, just say it. I''m very busy."


    Chen Jingming looked up and smiled, then put down the documents in his hand and said, "There''s a matter that needs your coordination."


    "Is it still about GUCCI?"


    Chen Jingming nodded and said, "The date for the promotional poster shoot has been changed to the 10th of this month. You need to notify the model."


    "We agreed on the 15th, didn''t we? The model isn''t unemployed and available all the time. Do you know how hard it is to coordinate schedules with the production team?" I said, irritated.


    Chen Jingming also looked helpless and said, "I can''t help it if GUCCI makes a last-minute adjustment. They said the photographer has other work arrangements on the 15th, so it has to be moved up to the 10th!"


    "They really have some nerve! They tell us which model to use, and we have to find them. They say adjust the time, and we have to comply!" My anger grew.


    "Alright, Zhao Yang... you''re on the company''s payroll. This is a task assigned to you by the higher-ups, and you must complete it." Chen Jingming finally said to me, also irritated.


    I retorted sarcastically, "So, because I''m on the company''s payroll, if the company says the moon in the sky is nice, I have to build a spaceship, pluck the moon down, and present it to the company?"

 Chapter 36 – Burning with anger

    Chen Jingming was left speechless by my words, but he needed my help. After a while, he spoke to me in a softer tone, "I''m also frustrated that GUCCI changed the shooting date at the last minute, but what can we do? We can''t afford to fall out with them. They have many options for setting up their counters, but for us, finding the eighth international top-tier brand is extremely difficult... Ah! We have to go with the flow... Zhao Yang, if you want to go higher and further in your career, you must learn to endure and compromise. Keep these two words in mind."


    After hearing Chen Jingming''s words, I felt a bit embarrassed to continue arguing. He was actually a decent boss. During my two years in the company, he had taken good care of me. It was just that I was not very ambitious.


    I didn''t want to put Chen Jingming in a difficult position. He had his own problems, and I understood the pros and cons of this situation. After a long silence, I said to him, "I''ll contact her, but the day after tomorrow is the 10th, and time is tight. I can''t guarantee that I can arrange a schedule this time."


    Chen Jingming, tired, rubbed his temples and said, "Do your best to communicate with her. Tell her that if she can participate in the shooting on the 10th, I am personally willing to pay her three times the labor fee as compensation."


    I fell silent again, deeply feeling the difficulty of Chen Jingming''s situation. The company''s senior management must have put a lot of pressure on him. He and I were different. After all, he had reached this position, while I was just a grassroots employee. If I was not comfortable, I could just switch to another company... Perhaps his helplessness and compromise were a cruel reflection of the workplace.


    ...


    Leaving Chen Jingming''s office, I dialed Le Yao''s number with mixed feelings.


    Le Yao seemed to still be in bed. After a long time, she answered the phone in a drowsy voice, "Hello, Zhao Yang, why are you calling me now?"


    "Are you still sleeping?"


    "Yeah, I had two night scenes last night and shot almost all night. I''m so tired!" Le Yao yawned and asked, "Do you need something?"


    I hesitated for a moment before saying, "The shooting plan for GUCCI has been adjusted and moved forward to the 10th, which is the day after tomorrow. Can you adjust your schedule?"


    Le Yao was silent on the other end of the phone, and her silence was enough to prove how difficult this was for her. She had already applied for leave on the 15th from the crew, so the crew must have adjusted her scenes. This adjustment would involve many other actors. If she adjusted again, the other actors would definitely have strong opinions.


    "I''ll go talk to the director now. If I can arrange it, I''ll let you know as soon as possible," Le Yao said to me.


    "Okay, I''m really sorry about this!"


    Le Yao laughed and said, "What are you saying sorry for? If I can arrange it, you have to come to Hengdian to pick me up this afternoon. Taking the train is too boring!" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No problem."


    "Okay, wait for my news."


    After ending the call with Le Yao, I immediately went to the bathroom to smoke a cigarette. I felt suffocated. I knew how bad it was for Le Yao, as a newcomer, to repeatedly make requests to the crew. But she still agreed to me so readily. I really hope it doesn''t cause her any trouble.


    Around noon, while I was eating, my phone vibrated. It was a text message from Le Yao.


    "Zhao Yang, the crew has approved my leave. It''s for 3 days. Come pick me up." She added a smiling face at the end of the text.


    I took a deep breath, and my nervous mood finally eased a bit. I immediately replied to Le Yao, and this afternoon, I would go to Hengdian to pick her up and bring her back to Suzhou.


    ...


    I went to Chen Jingming''s office again to report the situation to him. He, like me, breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately gave me his car keys and 2000 yuan in cash, asking me to treat Le Yao to a meal in Hengdian on his behalf. Once Le Yao returned to Suzhou, he would treat her separately.


    Chen Jingming also told me that the vice president of GUCCI''s China region would come to Suzhou on the day of the poster shooting to officially sign the contract for setting up a counter with our department store. This meant that the GUCCI investment plan that the planning department and the investment department had been busy with for several months was finally completed. Baoli Department Store had officially reached the standard of a top-tier B-class department store. For me personally, I had the opportunity to be promoted to the leader of the planning and copywriting team.


    I hope this time everything goes smoothly, without any more changes.


    ...


    After leaving the office, I immediately drove Chen Jingming''s Audi A4 to Hengdian. When I arrived, it was already past 4 in the afternoon. Instead of looking for a hotel, I went directly to the scenic area where Le Yao was filming. We agreed that I would wait for her outside the scenic area after she finished filming that afternoon.


    The autumn wind blew away the dusk, and it was completely dark. Le Yao had not yet come out of the set. I lit a cigarette and habitually stared at the exit of the scenic area, lost in thought.


    Le Yao finally appeared under the lights at the exit. She was walking slowly, her right hand covering her cheek. I couldn''t quite see her expression.


    I got up and walked towards her. She looked at me but didn''t act as affectionate as before.


    I smiled and asked, "Are you having a toothache? Why are you covering your face?"


    Le Yao remained silent and continued to walk forward. Her unusual behavior made me puzzled.


    I quickly caught up with her and asked with concern, "What''s wrong? Let me see your face."


    "I''m fine." Le Yao quickened her pace, but her voice was already choked with emotion.I grabbed her and forcibly removed the hand she had covering her cheek. I was shocked to see several bright red finger marks on her fair face.


    Fury surged within me. "Who the fuck hit you? I''ll kill him." I said, heading towards the entrance of the scenic area.


    Le Yao desperately held me back. "Zhao Yang, don''t go."


    "Get out of my way. If I don''t beat him (her) up, I''ll be letting you down." I couldn''t control my anger. I had a vague feeling that Le Yao being hit had something to do with this incident.


    After I shook Le Yao off, she sat on the ground, tightly clinging to my leg, crying, "Zhao Yang, I beg you, don''t make a scene... It won''t do me any good... There are too many people here, let''s go back to the hotel and talk."


    I tried my best to control myself, seeing the surrounding eyes gradually calming down. At this moment, making a scene would only add insult to injury for Le Yao, unless she didn''t care about anything and gave up this play, which was obviously impossible for her. At this moment, all I could do for Le Yao was to endure.


    I helped Le Yao up from the ground, my heart twitching with unexpressed anger. I took out a tissue to wipe away Le Yao''s tears, and said in as gentle a tone as I could muster, "Let''s go back to the hotel first, but you have to tell me what happened."


    Le Yao nodded, gently holding my arm, and we walked towards the parking area.


    ...


    In the hotel room, Le Yao sat next to me. I used an ice pack to cover the bruised area on her face, my heart still burning with anger. I gritted my teeth and asked Le Yao, "Who the fuck hit you? Was it your director?"


    Le Yao shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks again. After a long silence, she said, "It was a female actress from our crew... She said I was a vixen, seducing the director, so the director took such good care of me, arranged my schedule twice, causing them to have no rest, but I..."


    Le Yao didn''t finish her sentence, already sobbing uncontrollably. My heart felt as if it was being twisted by a knife. I guessed right, it was indeed my matter that had caused trouble for Le Yao. I wished I could find that actress right now and slap her back for Le Yao.


    "Do they always bully you like this?"


    Le Yao nodded, "The industry is complicated. I''m just a newcomer who just graduated from school. It''s normal, Zhao Yang, you don''t need to be angry for me."


    "Who is that actress?" I asked with a frown, still wanting to stand up for Le Yao.


    Le Yao shook her head vigorously, refusing to tell me.


    A wave of frustration welled up in my heart, and I hated myself even more for causing Le Yao such humiliation.


    As if seeing through my thoughts, Le Yao comforted me softly, "Don''t think about it. Her hitting me will only make me work harder. I will go higher and further than her. Maybe one day I will even thank her for the slap she gave me today!"


    I sighed with gritted teeth, thinking of what Chen Jingming had said to me in the morning. Yes! Whether in the workplace or in the entertainment industry, we must learn to endure and compromise, because we, who are struggling at the bottom, do not have the capital or the right to react. If we are impulsive, if we can''t learn to restrain ourselves, the price we pay will only be greater. That''s why Le Yao tried so hard to stop me from standing up for her.


    But just because we are humble, do we have to live such a life without dignity? Is there really no "Castle in the Sky" that is crystal clear in this world? Can''t we return to the empty city where human nature was originally?


    Who the fuck can give me an answer?

 Chapter 37 – Poor people have a hard life!

    The night deepened, and the autumn wind outside the house became more rampant. The hotel room temporarily became a place without danger. Le Yao still leaned on me, staring blankly at the air conditioner vent, and I was the same. Neither of us had the desire to eat.


    After a while, I looked at Le Yao''s face. The finger marks had finally faded a bit. I said to her, "Let''s go out for dinner, or if you don''t want to go out, I can order food."


    Le Yao shook her head and said, "Let''s go out."


    "Okay, when I came, our leader gave me 2000 yuan and asked me to treat you to a meal!"


    Le Yao finally smiled and said, "I''m tired of the boxed meals from the crew. Let''s splurge today and eat the best."


    I nodded vigorously, "Yes, eat the best. If it''s not enough, ask the leader for more. Eat him poor, make him afraid of us."


    "You''re so bad!" After saying that, the two of us shared a laugh amidst our troubles.


    ......


    The night wind was blowing "whoosh whoosh", and there were not many pedestrians on the street. Le Yao, wearing a thick pink down jacket, walked beside me. Although we said we wanted to have a luxurious meal, in the end, we only decided to have a bowl of noodles. Perhaps at this moment, we didn''t like the extravagance of fine clothes and food, but pursued the simplicity of a bowl of noodles, forgetting the pain of reality in simplicity.


    In the noodle shop, Le Yao took off her mask, looked at her face in a small makeup mirror, and said to me with some worry, "We have to shoot the poster the day after tomorrow. I don''t know if these finger marks can fade."


    "There''s still tomorrow. It should fade." I comforted.


    Le Yao nodded, "Let''s apply an ice pack when we get back."


    I looked at Le Yao with some heartache, but I didn''t know what else to say. I just regretted that I shouldn''t have been so impatient with her, disgusted with the troubles she brought me. In fact, she was very good to me, but this goodness was only discovered by me when I needed her, which made me feel guilty! S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sometimes people really shouldn''t look at another person one-sidedly. Although Le Yao is a troublesome woman, she also has her good points. At least she has a sense of loyalty among friends. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have chosen to help me willingly, even if it meant she had to suffer.


    During the meal, Le Yao and I talked about our friends. She asked me, "Zhao Yang, how have Robben and CC been recently? Are they together?"


    "I don''t think so."


    "What a pity, CC is a good girl. Although she''s a bit idealistic, so is Robben. I think they would be good together."


    I nodded in agreement with Le Yao''s words, but said helplessly, "You should know that Robben has a hurdle in his heart that he can''t get over. He doesn''t want to be with CC with this hurdle. Anyway, I can understand him."


    "What about you? Have you gotten over the hurdle in your heart?" Le Yao suddenly turned the topic back to me.


    I had an answer in my heart, but fell into silence. At this moment, I really hoped that someone would pass by that "City in the Sky", come back and tell me how long it would take for me to overcome the obstacles and meet the woman in my heart on that "City in the Sky" again... But I knew that the woman waiting in the "City in the Sky" was no longer Jian Wei.


    Seeing that I had been silent for a long time, Le Yao smiled and said, "You''ve already answered with your silence."


    I didn''t deny it, but said with some loss, "Let''s eat, the noodles are getting soggy."


    Le Yao lowered her head and took a bite of the noodles, then seemed to remember something and said to me, "When we go back to Suzhou this time, let''s gather at CC''s restaurant. I haven''t been there for a long time, and I miss it."


    "Okay, let''s do it tomorrow night, and invite Robben too."


    ......


    With the agreement to be friends with Le Yao last time, we didn''t stay together that night. In the hotel room, I lit a cigarette as usual, immersed in my own loneliness, and couldn''t help thinking of Jian Wei. This thought made me panic, but I couldn''t stop it.


    I took a deep puff of the cigarette, and laughed helplessly. Jian Wei and I had experienced so many things together, but what we pieced together was a broken love. In the end, these bits and pieces turned into brute force scattering in all directions, tearing me apart.


    In the midst of being torn apart, I seemed to see Jian Wei and Xiang Chen lying on the same bed, whispering sweet nothings. They didn''t remember the bits and pieces we had been through, so they disappeared into dust in the midst of being torn apart, hurting so much that I couldn''t feel the pain!


    A text message alert finally saved me. I put out the cigarette and picked up my phone from the cabinet. But the message that saved me surprised me. It was from Mi Cai.


    "Do you have a lot of cockroach corpses in your bathroom after you sprayed the insecticide?"


    She''s really something, even afraid of dead cockroaches! I smiled and replied to her, "There should be some."


    "Can you come and help me clean up these dead cockroaches now?"


    "I''m on a business trip in Hengdian. Wait for me to come back, or you can ask someone else for help first."


    "I''ll wait for you. I don''t want to bother others with such disgusting things."


    I looked at Mi Cai''s reply with a wry smile. She''s really something. Just because I owe her some money and haven''t paid it back, she can make me do all the disgusting things with a clear conscience. I immediately replied to Mi Cai, "It''s hard to be poor. I live without dignity, without happiness..."


    "Stop complaining! Be a good person, work hard."


    Looking at Mi Cai''s reply, I found it genuinely funny, but I couldn''t say why. Anyway, it was a very subtle feeling.


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    My mood gradually lightened. I quickly replied "Good night" to Mi Cai, pulled the curtains, turned off all the lights in the room, and fell asleep after a while.


    ......


    The next day, I took Le Yao back to Suzhou. She had already given up the room she rented in Suzhou. I arranged a hotel for her, and agreed to gather at CC''s restaurant in the evening. Of course, we had to invite Robben. This was something I had promised CC. As a principled person like me, I naturally keep my word.After returning to the company and reporting to Chen Jingming, I continued to be busy for the rest of the afternoon. It wasn''t until late evening that I finally broke away from work. I lay back in my chair for a moment of rest, then finally took out my phone and dialed Robben''s number.


    Robben answered the call quickly. I cut straight to the chase and asked, "Where are you?"


    The sound of an electric razor buzzed from the other end of the line. Robben, stealing a moment from his busy schedule, said to me, "I''m about to head to the bar for work."


    "Don''t go. Come to CC''s place tonight. I''m treating."


    Robben sounded a bit impatient, "I told you I''m not going. Can you stop giving me a hard time?"


    "Didn''t you say last time that if I bring Le Yao, you''ll come?"


    "I did say that."


    "Will you keep your word?"


    "I will, but isn''t Le Yao filming in Hengdian?"


    I chuckled and said, "How could I invite you, the big shot Robben, without bringing her back? Stop dawdling and hurry over... Oh, and bring my guitar with you. We''ll help CC liven up the place tonight."

 Chapter 38 – Restaurant encounter

    Night fell as expected, and our bodies, tired from the day''s work, finally found release. In this vast city, the night brought us endless loneliness, but also allowed us to indulge freely. Perhaps only at night could we reveal our true selves, experiencing pain and pleasure in reality, and helplessly watching our youth gradually being swallowed up by the relentless flow of time...


    Because of Le Yao, Chen Jingming''s A4 had become my private car these past few days. After ending my call with Robben, I drove to the hotel to pick up Le Yao, and then headed straight to CC''s "Empty City Music Themed Restaurant".


    By the time we arrived, Robben, carrying my guitar, appeared at the entrance of the alley on his modified racing motorcycle.


    After parking the car, Le Yao and I got out, one after the other. Seeing Robben, Le Yao was very happy and greeted him from afar.


    As they approached each other, Robben put his arm around Le Yao''s shoulder and joked, "Long time no see, big shot Le!"


    Le Yao didn''t mind Robben''s arm around her shoulder. She looked at the guitar behind him and asked, "Big shot Robben, are you planning to sing tonight?"


    "This is Zhao Yang''s guitar."


    Le Yao then looked at me and asked, "Are you planning to improvise a few songs later?"


    I nodded and said, "Yeah, it''s been a long time since I sang in CC''s restaurant. I miss the days when I used to perform here."


    "Why do I feel sour when I hear the word ''miss''?" Robben said.


    Le Yao echoed, "Because missing is shameful. We both look forward, right, Robben?"


    Robben nodded, "Makes sense. Only Zhao Yang still occasionally indulges in the shame of looking back."


    I smiled. At this moment, Robben and Le Yao''s teasing of me seemed more like a cover-up and evasion. But I wouldn''t expose them. No matter how perfect his disguise in front of others, when the night is quiet, all the disguises he painted to cover up will still be torn apart, because the night dislikes pretentious people the most.


    The three of us chatted and laughed as we walked through the dark alley towards CC''s restaurant.


    As we pushed open the door of the restaurant, the first thing we heard was CC''s familiar singing. This time she was singing a song by Xu Wei called "Time". She was so engrossed in her singing that she didn''t notice our arrival.


    We didn''t disturb CC, but just found a corner to sit down and listen to this song "Time", which evoked many feelings in us.


    When CC sang the line "You are the most beautiful spring in my memory, the yesterday I can never return to", Robben and I almost simultaneously took out a cigarette and lit it. I didn''t know what Robben was feeling at the moment, but my heart was filled with nostalgia for the past. I wished I could return to that spring, dive into her river, and swim to the end of love...


    The applause was intermittent, and it was then that I realized that the song "Time" had ended in the quiet passage of time. I looked up at CC on the small stage. She had already put down her guitar and almost at the same time noticed our arrival. Her eyes were full of surprise, of course, her surprise was due to Robben, not me and Le Yao.


    CC walked towards us with a smile, calling the waiter to bring us drinks and menus.


    Robben didn''t react much to CC''s arrival. He just continued to smoke and tune his guitar.


    CC stood next to Robben for a long time before saying, "Long time no see, Robben."


    "Sit down, let''s have a few drinks." Robben said, making room for CC, but his tone was flat and emotionless.


    CC nodded and sat down next to Robben, also lit a cigarette and asked Robben, "How have you been lately?"


    "Pretty good."


    Faced with Robben''s perfunctory answer, CC looked helpless. But Robben had always been like this to her, and she had no way to change it. She then fell silent.


    The waiter brought the drinks and beverages first. We each filled our glasses and the three of us started chatting, leaving Robben out.


    CC flicked the ash from her cigarette and asked me, "Zhao Yang, why didn''t you bring your girlfriend to hang out today?"


    I was taken aback before answering, "She''s pretty busy, always busy."


    As soon as I finished speaking, Le Yao and Robben both asked me at the same time, "Do you have a girlfriend?"


    At this point, I kind of regretted telling CC that Mi Cai was my girlfriend. But people tend to think in a certain way. I introduced Mi Cai as my "girlfriend" to Circle and Jian Wei, so I continued to introduce her as such to CC.


    "Sort of." I replied vaguely.


    Robben didn''t seem to care much about my having a girlfriend. He took a sip of his drink and didn''t ask any more questions. But Le Yao was very interested and asked, "Who is it, Zhao Yang?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''ve met her." I said, raising my glass to Le Yao in an attempt to divert her attention.


    But Le Yao ignored me, thought for a moment, and said, "Is it that woman who paid your fine at the police station last time?"


    "You guess." I said, picking up the guitar that Robben had tuned and walking towards the small stage on the opposite side, fearing that Le Yao would keep asking.


    Just as I sat down on the chair on the stage, Robben also stood on the stage with me. We looked at each other, both helpless. I was afraid of Le Yao''s questioning, and Robben was afraid of facing CC.


    Robben asked the sound engineer for a microphone, then told the band behind him, "Let''s do ''Don''t Break My Heart'' by Black Panther."


    The band found the key and signaled to us. Robben and I gave them an OK gesture, then closed our eyes and lost ourselves in the prelude of the song.


    I was so engrossed in the song that I kept my eyes closed until the end. When I opened my eyes and instinctively looked at the seats we had just been sitting in, I was surprised to find that Mi Cai had somehow come to the restaurant. She was sitting with CC, applauding for Robben and me, and the customers'' eyes were also drawn to them.It''s already rare to see a beauty, but at this moment, Mi Cai, Le Yao, and CC sitting together naturally amplified the beauty effect, attracting the eyes of the diners. However, I was feeling anxious under this beauty effect, fearing that CC would introduce Mi Cai to Le Yao as my girlfriend, and then Mi Cai would embarrassingly expose the lie, which would make me lose face big time!


    I handed the guitar to Robben, signaling him to continue, and hurriedly walked off the stage to the three women. Just as I was about to speak, Le Yao said to me, "I''ll take your shift, it''s been a long time since I''ve collaborated with big shot Robben." After saying that, she walked towards the small stage.


    I sat down next to Mi Cai, and while CC''s attention was on the stage, I lowered my voice and asked Mi Cai, "How did you find this place? Didn''t I promise you that I would help you get rid of those damn cockroaches when I have time? Why are you in such a hurry?"


    Mi Cai looked at me as if I was an idiot, and after a while, she asked, "Do you think I came here to find you?"


    Only then did I realize how self-centered I was in my nervousness. I remembered that Mi Cai once told me that she really liked CC''s restaurant, so naturally, she would come to eat, so today was purely a coincidence.


    To ease my embarrassment, I thick-skinnedly asked Mi Cai, "The song I just sang, ''Don''t Break My Heart'', was pretty good, right?"


    "The man next to you sang very well, I didn''t pay attention to you." Mi Cai spoke to me, but her chin was resting on her hand as she watched Robben on the stage, seemingly looking forward to Robben''s next song.


    I clutched my chest, twisted my face, and made a painful expression, saying, "Oh, dear, my heart hurts so much. I''m your boyfriend, you can''t treat me like this, my heart is broken!"


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    "Boring."


    Mi Cai''s attitude made me breathe a sigh of relief. If she had bluntly exposed me, it would definitely not be as simple as just saying "boring."


    I picked up the glass and took a sip of beer, then also turned my attention to the small stage, waiting for Le Yao and Robben''s duet.

 Chapter 39 – Master of Life

    On the small stage, Robben strummed the guitar, and Le Yao followed the rhythm of the music and started singing. I drank beer absentmindedly.


    After a while, I said to CC, "Le Yao is really a potential top actress!"


    CC looked at me puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"


    "Have you ever heard Yang Mi and Fan Bingbing sing well? Based on singing ability alone, Le Yao is on her way to becoming a top actress!"


    CC smiled and said, "Zhao Yang, you''re really mean. You''re indirectly mocking Le Yao. She''ll be furious if she finds out!"


    Curiosity sparked, I nudged Mi Cai next to me and said, "Why don''t you go up and sing later? I haven''t heard your beautiful voice yet!"


    "I only like listening to others sing," Mi Cai declined with a shake of her head.


    Feeling bored, I took a sip of beer and then shifted my attention back to Le Yao''s singing on the stage.


    After a while, CC asked the waiter to bring a camera and left her seat to capture Le Yao and Robben''s figures on the small stage.


    I said to CC when she returned to her seat, "You''re really biased. You didn''t take a picture of me when I was singing. I wanted to capture my magnificent figure."


    CC smiled and showed me the photos she had just taken. She said, "They turned out pretty good. Maybe this will become a photo with special meaning!"


    I nodded and looked at Le Yao and Robben on the stage. Perhaps one day they would truly become famous in the entertainment industry. The duet photo of them before they became famous would naturally hold special meaning. But even if that day came, who would know about the countless difficult yesterdays and todays they had gone through to achieve fame?


    It was a simple night, simple enough that we took turns singing on the small stage, and Mi Cai was even simpler. She hardly said anything from beginning to end, just quietly listened with her chin resting on her hand. Perhaps everyone who came to "Empty City" treated it as a beach where they could rest and listen to music, enjoying the warmth of humanity in a simple way.


    Originally, I was supposed to treat everyone to dinner, but in the end, Mi Cai took out 1000 yuan and put it in the donation box that represented humanity. I was proud of this and showed off in front of everyone, saying that my "girlfriend" was rich.


    Everyone jokingly called me the "kept man" supported by Mi Cai.


    In fact, there was no rich girlfriend or kept man. It was just young people having fun together. Our youth was running out, and only through laughter and playfulness could we make our remaining youth less lonely and heavy. Because none of us wanted to be the lonely one in the most beautiful years!


    ...


    Leaving CC''s restaurant, Mi Cai bid farewell to everyone and was the first to drive away. Robben left next, and I had to take Le Yao back to her hotel.


    On the way, Le Yao, who hadn''t been drinking, was driving, and I opened the car window, lit a cigarette, and habitually looked at the city under the night sky.


    I didn''t know when, but a light drizzle started falling from the sky, and the autumn wind felt cool.


    Le Yao suddenly changed lanes and turned the car in the opposite direction. She said to me, "It''s still early, and the hotel is too stuffy. Let''s go sit by the moat."


    "Okay," I replied and continued to immerse myself in the boundless night.


    After a while, we arrived at the moat and sat close to each other on the slightly damp grass.


    After sitting for a while, I lay flat on the grass with my face up, letting the gentle rain wet me. My emotions completely drifted away in the coolness of the autumn wind.


    Le Yao also lay down beside me, her hand resting on my chest. She whispered in my ear, "Zhao Yang, Mi Cai isn''t your girlfriend, right?"


    Surprised, I asked, "How did you figure it out?"


    Le Yao smiled and said, "It''s a woman''s intuition. I can tell she doesn''t have romantic feelings for you."


    Le Yao''s insight made me believe that women truly are creatures of intuition. I nodded and said, "Yeah, she''s not my girlfriend. I just didn''t want Jian Wei to see me in such a miserable state when we met, so I said she was my girlfriend."


    "Jian Wei is back?" Le Yao''s tone was full of surprise.


    "Yeah!" I sighed and then lit another cigarette. Taking a deep drag, I rested my arm on my head and looked at the drizzling sky with a somewhat melancholic gaze.


    Le Yao seemed a bit cold, so she hugged me tighter but remained silent. And so, the two of us, who had experienced ups and downs in life, huddled together on this rainy night, seeking the scarce warmth. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, Le Yao softly asked in my ear, "Zhao Yang, is there a place you long for in your heart?"


    "Yes, it''s a city."


    "A city? Like CC''s restaurant?"


    "No, it''s in the sky, an aerial city, crystal clear, where a beautiful woman with long hair lives."


    Le Yao thought for a moment and said, "Mi Cai is a beautiful woman with long hair.""It''s not her, her hair is slightly curly." I denied, then asked Le Yao, "What about you? What place do you yearn for in your heart?"


    "It''s a small island across the beach, but I don''t know where this island is. Later, I met a man with a sail in the middle of the sea. He took me to that island. We lived there ever since, watching the sunset on the island every day. Oh, he would cook dinner for me every dusk, so there was smoke from the cooking on the island, and we no longer had to think about the hustle and bustle of the world!"


    I smiled and said, "You really have it all figured out! Even the plot of the story is well thought out. But it''s beautiful, even more beautiful than my city!"


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    Le Yao didn''t say anything more, she pressed her face against mine. After a long time, she said to me, "Zhao Yang, stop thinking about Jian Wei. Strive for your own life. We shouldn''t be the ones defeated by reality."


    The cigarette in my hand was already wet from the rain. I took a deep puff, besides the smoke, there was also the fishy dampness of the rain, which made me uncomfortable. I couldn''t help but ask myself: Can I really forget Jian Wei and strive hard to become a master of life?


    This time I gave myself an answer. Regardless of whether I can forget Jian Wei or not, I should strive hard. I know that the opportunity I got at work this time was exchanged by Le Yao enduring great grievances for me.


    After a moment of silence, I said to Le Yao, "I should strive hard. Starting from today, I will sort out my life as soon as possible and become a master of life."


    "Mm." "¡­Zhao Yang, hold me tight, it''s a bit cold!"


    The rain was still falling gently. A low-lying area finally had a bit of accumulated water. The light from the street lamp was cast on this small puddle, as if refracting the "City in the Sky" and the "Island across the Beach".

 Chapter 40 – Dont act like a child

    After temporarily saying goodbye to Le Yao, I returned to the attic. Opening the door, I found Robben sitting on the rooftop, cradling a guitar in his hands, but not practicing any songs. The scattered beer cans around him made him look somewhat decadent.


    I handed him a cigarette and leaped onto the railing, lighting up the cigarette and listening to the sound of raindrops falling on the awning. It sounded like a sorrowful sob, wetting the dark night, waiting for dawn.


    "Why are you down again?" I asked with a smile. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Robben tore open a can of beer and handed it to me. It seemed like our nights were only filled with cigarettes and beer. He said, "I''m down every day."


    "Well, you be down then. I''ve decided to be a positive man."


    "Really? Just don''t be all talk and no action."


    Although Robben was teasing me, I didn''t mind and laughed, "I''ll talk and act." I paused and then said seriously, "It''s been over three years since graduation, and I''ve accomplished nothing. Seeing my classmates and friends getting married one by one, I feel quite empty inside."


    Robben nodded without saying a word, just threw away the empty beer can in his hand and took a deep puff of his cigarette.


    I stood up from the railing, shouting at the vast city below that was shrouded in darkness, "I''m done playing around. I want to work every day, buy a house, marry a beautiful girl, have someone to talk to and sleep with when I come home every day..."


    Suddenly, Robben strummed his guitar and hummed a song called "Don''t Be Silly". I realized then that Robben was quite a piece of work too!


    ......


    The next day, I arrived at the company early. At the same time, Le Yao also came to our company and met with a manager in charge of marketing at GUCCI. The manager praised Le Yao''s image and temperament as being very in line with GUCCI''s product positioning. I had no doubt about this. Although Le Yao was often carefree in front of us friends, when she was in work mode, she was elegant and fashionable, with a touch of exotic beauty. So GUCCI''s decision to have Le Yao shoot their promotional posters was not entirely a test of our sincerity in cooperation, but mainly because Le Yao was a good fit. This precisely highlighted the brand awareness of international first-line brands, who are often very cautious in their marketing and promotion.


    While Le Yao was shooting promotional posters for GUCCI, the vice president of GUCCI''s China region also signed a contract with our department store to set up a counter as promised. The signing ceremony was very high-profile, with many media present. Our company also took this opportunity to officially announce that Baoli Department Store has entered the ranks of top-tier department stores.


    The high-profile nature of this signing ceremony was also to pave the way for the full-scale marketing campaign that I was about to be in charge of. So my first real challenge in life officially began with GUCCI setting up a counter in our department store.


    That night, our company hosted a banquet for the vice president of GUCCI''s China region and several accompanying staff. Of course, as one of the contributors, I was also invited, which made me feel somewhat flattered. After all, having worked at the grassroots level in the company for two years, I had hardly ever spoken a few words with the top management, let alone had dinner with them.


    At the banquet, Chen Jingming praised me in front of the company''s senior management. By the end of the banquet, Li Junren, the executive vice president of Baoli Department Store, came up to me, patted me on the shoulder and said, "Young man, I remember you."


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    Of course, this was just remembering. If I wanted the company''s senior management to really pay attention to me, I needed to seize this rare opportunity, do my best in this marketing campaign, and create value for the company.


    ......


    After leaving the celebration banquet, I went to find Le Yao. Having completed her shooting task for GUCCI, she was going to leave Suzhou tomorrow and return to Hengdian to continue fighting for her acting career.


    We sat next to a section of railway track. The track extended infinitely in the direction of the wind in the dark night, seeming so free. But I knew that perhaps the next city would be the end of this track.


    A green train, which was rarely seen now, carrying a group of seemingly lonely people, hurriedly passed in front of us, leaving only some light and smell.


    Le Yao, wearing a thick coat, sat next to me. There was some distance between our bodies, which made us more and more like friends.


    I tucked in my clothes, lit a cigarette, and said to Le Yao, "When you go back to the crew, don''t let others bully you anymore."


    Le Yao hugged her knees with both hands, looking somewhat lost as she watched another passing train. After a while, she nodded and said to me, "Hmm... you should also work hard."


    "Hmm... Actually, I feel quite guilty. Because of my affairs, you have suffered so much. When I can''t sleep at night these days, I always want to go and beat up that actress."


    Le Yao smiled and said, "Don''t be like a child. Actually, I don''t even want to think about it anymore."


    "What are you thinking about then?"


    "I don''t want to think about anything. Thinking too much makes me sad."


    I agreed with Le Yao''s words, but could she really do it? At least I often let my soul, trapped in flesh and blood, wander aimlessly, the more I think, the more it hurts.


    After a long silence, I took an envelope out of my bag and handed it to Le Yao, saying, "This is your payment for this time, a total of ten thousand. You should count it."


    "Why is it so much?"


    "Our manager said that as long as you could take the time to participate in the shooting this time, he was willing to pay three times the remuneration personally. Take it, it''s what you deserve." I said and pushed the envelope into Le Yao''s hand again.


    Le Yao took the envelope and stuffed it into her handbag. After that, we kept silent until we left, but we saw many trains whistling past with the wind.


    ......


    On the way back, it was just past 10 o''clock. Actually, Le Yao and I didn''t sit by the railway for too long, but our hearts had traveled far with the speeding trains and couldn''t be reined in.


    When I got back to my place, I found that Robben didn''t go to the bar tonight. Because when I was about to open the door, I heard a woman''s moaning sound from inside the house. It might be Lily, who he brought back last time, or it might be another woman.I felt a bit embarrassed to disturb anyone, yet I had nowhere else to go. After sitting downstairs for a while, I finally remembered that I had promised Mi Cai a few days ago to help her get rid of those cockroach corpses. It seemed like a good time to fulfill that promise.


    I called Mi Cai, and she told me that she had been waiting for me to deal with the cockroaches in the old house, which was why she was still living in Liu''an Scenic Garden.


    I told her that I was free to deal with it now, and she immediately said she was also available. So, from two different directions of the city, we headed towards the old house at the same time.

 Chapter 41 – You have no shame

    In the dark night, I arrived at the residential area where I had lived for more than 2 years. Mi Cai''s purple-red Q7 was parked downstairs. She had arrived before me.


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    I whistled as I went upstairs. Along the way, the motion sensor lights lit up one after another. Under the light, the corridor looked even more dilapidated. I couldn''t understand why Mi Cai chose to live here, leaving me with nowhere to go but to stay in Robben''s filthy den.


    I knocked on the door, and Mi Cai, dressed neatly, opened it for me. I immediately complained, "I''m exhausted!"


    "Then go take care of it and come back to rest quickly," Mi Cai said in a caring tone.


    I gave her an annoyed look and said, "You may be pretty, but your emotional intelligence is lacking. When I say I''m tired, I mean I want you to help me get a cup of hot water."


    "I haven''t been staying here for several days. There''s no hot water."


    "There''s an electric kettle and a gas stove at home. If there''s no hot water, you can boil some. By the way, I like goji lemon tea. I didn''t bring the goji berries and lemons when I moved last time. Go and make it for me now." I sat down on the sofa, crossed my legs, and took out a tangerine from the fruit plate to eat.


    Mi Cai''s face turned ugly, but she still went to the kitchen to get water and started boiling it with the electric kettle. She stood opposite me, looking somewhat resentful.


    I felt triumphant. It was not the time to take advantage of her. After she had used me up, she might use malicious words to choke me half to death.


    "These tangerines are really good. Where did you buy them?" I said as I peeled another one.


    "If you like them, you can take them home. But can you help me with the important matter first?"


    I calmly replied, "Last time, I thought your cherries were good, and you let me take them home. This time, I think the tangerines are good, so you should let me take them home too. Can I take anything I like from this house?"


    "In principle, yes. I can''t argue with someone like you because you have an incredibly thick skin," Mi Cai said patiently.


    I smiled and continued, "Then I really like you. Come with me tonight."


    Mi Cai''s expression suddenly turned stormy, and she glared at me angrily, saying, "Please don''t say things that can be said to every woman in front of me. I will think you have no shame!"


    I remained calm and said, "I''m just following your logic. If you don''t want to, I don''t like you either."


    Mi Cai glanced at the boiling water and looked as if she wanted to stuff me into the electric kettle.


    I felt triumphant. This was the first time I had the upper hand in our many verbal disputes. The feeling of recapturing the city was truly satisfying. I was so proud that I couldn''t help but hum Faye Wong''s song "New Tenant."


    "Waiting for the night, welcoming the day, cleaning during the day, praying at night, leaving the noise, seeking troubles, the ends of the earth, whimsical, is anyone there, who is looking for someone, I say hello, you say disturb, neither early nor late, thousands of miles away..."


    Mi Cai stared at me as I finished singing the song, but she was helpless. Of course, she was helpless because she didn''t dare to be as shameless as me.


    I said to Mi Cai again, "Do you know what song I just sang?"


    Before Mi Cai could answer, I interrupted and answered myself, "It''s Faye Wong''s ''New Tenant.'' Don''t you think the lyrics describe our relationship?"


    Without waiting for Mi Cai''s response, I continued analyzing, "Every day, I wait for the night in this house, welcoming the day, cleaning during the day, praying at night. One day, you moved in here on a whim, and as the landlord, I said hello to you, the new tenant, but you said disturb to me... and then you kicked me out of this house!"


    Mi Cai sighed for a moment and said, "You really have a vivid imagination!"


    "This is not imagination. It''s a true and tragic story that happened not long ago!" I stood up from the sofa, feeling wronged, and glared at Mi Cai.


    Mi Cai didn''t respond to my words. She looked at the boiling water and said, "I''ll go get the water. Where did you put the lemon slices and goji berries?"


    "Next to the toilet in the bathroom," I said sarcastically, but it was to disgust Mi Cai. After analyzing it myself, I also felt greatly wronged.


    Mi Cai made a disgusted expression, knowing that I did it on purpose, and said with a stern face, "If you don''t tell me, forget it. You can make it yourself."


    "You''re so principled. You promised to make tea for me, so you must make it." I took the opportunity to mock Mi Cai''s principles.


    Mi Cai finally got angry with her words, "But did you really put the lemon slices and goji berries next to the toilet in the bathroom?"


    "Go ask the cockroaches in the bathroom. They live there, so they must know whether I put them there or not."


    Mi Cai became frustrated and said, "I won''t drink it then." She walked into her room without saying another word to me.


    Feeling like a petty person, I sang "New Tenant" again in front of Mi Cai''s room.


    ...


    Finally, I found the lemon slices and goji berries in my old room. I brewed a cup with hot water and sat comfortably on the sofa, enjoying the moment of a beautiful life.


    After finishing a cup of tea, I thought about going to the bathroom to clean up the dead cockroaches for Mi Cai, but my phone suddenly rang. I looked at the number, and it was Robben calling.


    I answered the phone, but it was a woman''s voice. She said to me, "Are you Zhao Yang?"


    "Who are you? Why are you using Robben''s phone?" I asked in confusion.


    "Lily, the Lily from last time."


    "Oh, what''s up?"


    Lily spoke to me in a consultative tone, "Robben went downstairs to buy cigarettes. I called you to tell you not to come back tonight. I want to spend the night here with Robben."


    I was a bit hesitant, but I had already caused trouble for Lily once before. If I caused trouble again, it wouldn''t be fair. After a while, I finally said to Lily, "Okay, I won''t come back tonight."


    Lily''s words suddenly became cheerful, and she instructed me, "Then call Robben later and tell him you''re not coming back."


    "No problem.""Remember, don''t tell Robben that I was the one who called and told you not to come back," Lily reminded.


    "Okay, I''ll just say I have something going on tonight and won''t be back."


    "Zhao Yang, you''re really nice. I''ll treat you to a meal when I have time." Lily said, hanging up the phone with joy. I forgot to remind her to return the hundred yuan she took from me last time. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After ending the call with Lily, I was in a dilemma again. If I didn''t go back to Robben''s place tonight, where else could I stay overnight!


    ...


    With the worry of having nowhere to go, I went to the bathroom to help Mi Cai clean up the cockroach corpses. There weren''t many, because the insecticide we used last time didn''t work at all. After a long search, I found a cockroach that was not completely dead behind the toilet. But this one was enough for me to feel justified in reporting back to Mi Cai.


    I wrapped the cockroach in toilet paper, stuffed some cigarette butts in as the cockroach''s body, and then came to Mi Cai''s door. I knocked and said, "I''ve cleaned up all the cockroach bodies. They''re wrapped in toilet paper. Do you want to come out and check? That insecticide really works."

 Chapter 42 – If you have the ability, then call the police

    Mi Cai in the room didn''t respond to me, probably really upset by my words and actions just now. I knocked on the door again and said, "If I don''t enter your room, I''ll throw in the cockroach I''ve cleaned up for you to check, to prove that I''ve indeed done you a favor and never perfunctory you."


    Mi Cai said to me nervously, "No need to check, just take it away."


    "Oh." I responded, and threw the cigarette butt wrapped in tissue paper and a half-dead cockroach out of the window.


    I said to Mi Cai again, "The bathroom is now available, guaranteed no cockroaches."


    "Oh, then you should go back and rest."


    "It''s hard to get a taxi this late."


    Mi Cai finally came out of the room again, her slightly curled long hair was tied up, and she changed into a thicker checkered woolen coat, holding the car keys in her hand, she said to me, "Then I''ll drive you back."


    I stood still, of course, to stay, because I had promised Lily not to go back to Robben''s place tonight.


    Mi Cai, who had already reached the door, turned back and asked, "Why aren''t you leaving?"


    I sighed, with a helpless look on my face, "I can''t stay at my friend''s place today." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What happened?"


    "Sigh... He brought a woman back to spend the night." I lowered my voice, full of desolation.


    "It''s been a week, haven''t you found a place to live yet?"


    "I''ve been busy, I''ve been to Hengdian twice, where do I have time to find a house, besides, it''s not easy to find a comfortable house to live in!" I said, looking around the room again, full of nostalgia.


    "Then you should go to a hotel."


    "No, hotels are too expensive! I need to save money to pay back the debt I owe you." I said, sitting on the sofa, then lying down, clearly indicating to Mi Cai that I was staying here tonight.


    Mi Cai came back to me, frowning and asked, "What do you mean?"


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    "It means I''m staying here tonight." I said, giving Mi Cai a smile.


    After a while, Mi Cai said to me patiently, "Don''t make me think you''re a rogue, okay?"


    "I am a rogue, besides, I spent over 20 on taxi fare just to come and help you, I didn''t even mention money to you, what''s wrong with letting me stay here for one night."


    "I''ll give you the taxi fare, I''ll book a hotel for you, is that okay?"


    I got up from the sofa, almost face to face with Mi Cai, and said angrily, "You know what, I can''t stand your attitude that everything can be solved with money, do you think I''m short of money?... Let me tell you, I''m not leaving here tonight, if you dare, call the police, say I''m trespassing... You''re a tenant, do you dare to call the police and say I, the landlord, am trespassing, of course you don''t dare, because you took over the house I''ve lived in for over two years with your stinky money, you''re the one who''s in the wrong..."


    I rambled on, blocking all of Mi Cai''s words, she just glared at me, I lay back on the sofa, showing a determined not to leave attitude.


    Mi Cai had no way to deal with me, the usually calm her actually stomped her foot in anger, then picked up her handbag and walked towards the door.


    "Where are you going?" I asked, turning my head.


    "I''m leaving."


    "Go ahead, don''t come back..."


    After Mi Cai left, I sneaked into her room, found a set of unused bedding from the cabinet, moved it to the room I used to live in, made the bed, and settled down with a clear conscience, hoping that Mi Cai wouldn''t come back, but I had already forgotten how I had put on a righteous attitude when I moved out of here, to make way for Mi Cai.


    ...


    The next day, I didn''t get up until eight o''clock, didn''t have time to buy toiletries, directly used Mi Cai''s, quickly finished breakfast at the familiar snack shop downstairs, and hurriedly boarded the bus to the company.


    After arriving at the company, after attending the routine morning meeting, Manager Chen Jingming kept me alone, I knew he was concerned about the all-marketing planning I was in charge of.


    Chen Jingming asked me, "How is it, do you have a plan for this all-marketing planning?"


    I nodded and said, "Yes, this time I plan to focus on realizing customer value, this is to strengthen our brand image, I believe that by first realizing customer value, customers will better realize our corporate value."


    "You''re right, our Bao Li Department Store has been operating for many years, and we are very mature in 4P (product, price, channel, promotion), now we are officially entering the top department store ranks, what we urgently need to do is to improve our image, better realizing customer value is the best way to improve corporate image, your marketing thinking is very in line with our department store''s current strategic needs."I nodded in response. Having worked at Bao Li Department Store for over two years, I naturally had my own understanding of the strategic environment in which the company operates.


    Chen Jingming continued, "I will select one person each from the graphic design team, engineering team, and display design team to join this special project team to assist you in completing this marketing plan. If you have any requirements for the personnel selection, feel free to communicate with me at any time."


    "Alright."


    "By the way, I''ve received news that our biggest competitor, Zhuo Mei Shopping Center, is planning a large-scale promotional event targeting our Bao Li Department Store. Their purpose is to overspend consumers'' demand in the short term, aiming to suppress us temporarily."


    The fact that Zhuo Mei Shopping Center is holding a large-scale promotional event at this time doesn''t surprise me. It''s entirely a strategic necessity. Our Bao Li Department Store and Zhuo Mei Shopping Center are in the same business circle, both targeting the high-end market. The conflict of interest is inherently intense. The fact that GUCCI has a counter in our store puts us in a parallel position with them in the true sense. They feel threatened and naturally want to suppress us aggressively. However, although our Bao Li Department Store meets the standards of a top-tier department store, there is still some gap between us and Zhuo Mei. Currently, Zhuo Mei has 11 international first-line brands operating counters, slightly more than us.


    I asked Chen Jingming, "So, our planning department also needs to come up with a promotional plan in response soon?"


    "Yes, and as soon as possible. Our promotional event needs to be held before theirs to disrupt Zhuo Mei''s strategic intentions. Although the time is tight, we must ensure the effectiveness of the event. This is a test of our planning department''s mobility and execution. We can only succeed, not fail." After a pause, Chen Jingming added, "Because of the significance of this promotional plan, I have asked Circle to end his wedding leave early and report back to the company tomorrow. You two will complete this promotional plan together."


    I breathed a sigh of relief in my heart. If Circle didn''t come back, I wouldn''t be able to handle such an important case alone. But this also indirectly shows how strategically significant this promotional plan is to our department store. Otherwise, Chen Jingming wouldn''t have ended Circle''s wedding leave early.


    Chen Jingming then took out a file from his drawer and handed it to me, saying, "This is the latest personnel file of Zhuo Mei Shopping Center that our PR department just got. Their company''s senior management has undergone significant changes recently. Take this personnel file back and have a look, especially pay attention to the composition of their planning department, so as to know both ourselves and our enemy."


    I flipped through the personnel file handed over by Chen Jingming. As soon as I saw the first page, I was shocked. The newly appointed CEO of Zhuo Mei Shopping Center was someone I knew all too well.

 Chapter 43 – No meeting without being enemies

    Betsy, born on September 10, 1988, is the CEO of Zhuomei Shopping Center. She hails from Suzhou and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a master''s degree in business administration.


    I was reading her resume, utterly shocked. The woman I had driven away from that dilapidated house last night turned out to be the newly appointed CEO of Zhuomei Shopping Center. Although I don''t work at Zhuomei, it is the biggest competitor of our Baoli Department Store, which indirectly connects me with Mi Cai. At least we are both in the retail industry, albeit with a vast difference in status.


    Could it be true that enemies are destined to meet? After intersecting in life, we indirectly connected at work.


    Chen Jingming noticed my abnormality and asked in confusion, "What''s wrong? Is there a problem with this personnel file from Zhuomei?"


    "No, no... I just think the new CEO of Zhuomei is too beautiful. She''s only 26. I wonder if she has a boyfriend."


    Chen Jingming looked at me helplessly, speechless for a long time.


    "Well, Manager, you go ahead with your work. I''m going to work now." Without waiting for Chen Jingming''s response, I took the personnel file of Zhuomei and left the manager''s office.


    ...


    Back in my office, I flipped through the personnel file again. After reading it all, I turned back to Mi Cai''s page, still finding it unbelievable. Subconsciously, I compared myself with her and instantly felt the gap between people could be so huge. Zhuomei has been suppressing our Baoli in Suzhou for years. As the CEO of Zhuomei, Mi Cai is more successful in the industry than our CEO, Yang Huaqing. In the more than two years I''ve been working at Baoli, I''ve hardly seen Yang Huaqing due to the difference in our ranks. In my mind, Yang Huaqing is a man I have to look up to. But not long ago, Mi Cai, who is stronger than Yang Huaqing in the industry, was treated rudely by me. I still remember the scene when I threw her sheets and quilt out of the window into the rain. Mi Cai really cried in front of me, and my behavior afterwards was even worse...


    I didn''t want to think about it anymore. At this moment, I was really glad that I was working at Baoli, not Zhuomei!!


    Zhao Li, who was sitting next to me, looked at my changing expressions and asked in confusion, "Zhao Yang, why is your face so twisted?"


    "My face hurts!"


    "Oh... What''s that document in your hand? You''ve been flipping through it for a while."


    "It''s the latest personnel file from Zhuomei. You take it and familiarize yourself with it." I said, tossing the file to Zhao Li.


    Zhao Li immediately started flipping through it. After seeing the first page, he exclaimed in surprise, "The CEO of Zhuomei has changed!"


    "Yep." I replied.


    Zhao Li continued reading and sighed, "She''s only 26 and so beautiful. Is she just a figurehead?"


    "You think she''s a figurehead too." I said to Zhao Li, feeling a sense of camaraderie, but also a sense of imbalance. Why is it that both Mi Cai and I were born in the 80s, but she lives like a fairy while I live like a cockroach.


    "But she''s a master''s graduate in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania. She probably won''t be just a figurehead. Everyone knows that the business school of the University of Pennsylvania is the best in the world." Zhao Li looked at Mi Cai''s photo and negated his previous opinion.


    I glared at Zhao Li and said, "Zhao Li, do you have a stance? What about a master''s degree in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania? Modern business competition is about wisdom and experience, not education."


    "Why are you so agitated! I was just saying. Whether she''s a figurehead or not has nothing to do with us small fries."


    "Sissy, don''t talk to me."


    "Who''s a sissy? I''m a man who loves outdoor sports." Zhao Li said to me, his face turning red.


    "Outdoor ballet, right?"


    "Zhao Yang, you beast, you''re even more damaging when you speak than when you act!"


    I replied nonchalantly, "Keep cursing, keep cursing with your pinky finger up."


    Zhao Li: "......"


    ...


    That evening, I stayed at the company with my colleagues for an extra two hours. I had been in this state of work for several days in a row, and I was gradually getting used to this busyness and pressure. This was a significant change for me, and my long-depressed life needed such a change.


    As I was about to leave the company, I received a call from Circle. He told me that he and Yan Yan had returned from Sanya and invited me to dinner. I cautiously asked him if Jian Wei was there. He told me that Jian Wei had gone to Nanjing with Xiang Chen. Only then did I let down my guard, but my heart was filled with an indescribable sense of loss. I knew very well what Jian Wei and Xiang Chen''s trip to Nanjing meant.


    The heaviness of the night kept suppressing my sensitivity, making me feel more and more depressed and lost...


    When I arrived at the restaurant where I had agreed to meet Circle, I smoked a cigarette at the door, grinned at my reflection in the window, and felt that my smile was flawless. Then I put out the cigarette and walked into the restaurant.


    Yan Yan waved at me from a distance. I struggled to maintain my smile as I walked towards them.


    After I sat down, Yan Yan immediately handed me a convenience bag and said, "I know you like beer, so I bought you a lot of ready-to-eat seafood... Zhao Yang, your sister is good to you, right?"


    I took the bag from Yan Yan and said with a smirk, "You''re a married woman now, don''t pretend to be young and call yourself a sister in front of us. I really can''t say it."


    Yan Yan slapped me and said, "You''re really mean. What''s wrong with me being a married woman? I''m still your sister."


    I laughed heartily, but my mood was still immersed in an undeserved sense of loss.


    In the midst of my laughter with Yan Yan, Circle asked me, "I heard from Manager Chen that Zhuomei will have a large-scale promotional event targeting our Baoli soon."I nodded and said, "Well, this was expected. Otherwise, Chen Jingming wouldn''t have been so eager to call you back. It''s a pity about your honeymoon." Then I turned to Yan Yan and asked, "Young lady, are you upset about being summoned back before you''ve had enough fun?"


    Yan Yan, holding onto Circle''s arm, said, "I always support my husband''s work. I don''t mind missing out on a few days of fun."


    "What a good wife, a virtuous helper!" I exclaimed sincerely.


    Circle, hugging Yan Yan, smiled at me and said, "You could also put some effort into cultivating your girlfriend into a virtuous helper!"


    To read the uncut version, go to ].


    I remained silent, looking around and waiting for the waiter to serve the dishes. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    During the meal, Circle and I talked about work. I briefly told him about my recent work situation. Suddenly, he asked, "By the way, I heard that the CEO of Zhuo Mei has changed. You should have their latest personnel files, right?"


    "Yes, Chen Jingming gave me a copy this morning."


    "Do you have it with you? Let me see."


    I suddenly realized that the new CEO of Zhuo Mei was Mi Cai. If Circle saw that personnel file, he would be shocked, and I would have a hard time explaining. It was so incredible that I never dreamed that the woman I had forcibly pretended to be my "girlfriend" was actually the new CEO of Zhuo Mei.


    I immediately said, "Why would I carry that thing around with me?"


    "You must have looked at that personnel file. Can you briefly introduce the new CEO of Zhuo Mei and the situation in their planning department?"


    I said impatiently, "It''s off work time, can we not talk about work?"


    But Circle said to me very seriously, "I''m always clear about work. For me, there''s no difference between on and off duty. As members of the company''s planning department, it''s our duty to understand the movements of our competitors as soon as possible."


    I was silent, knowing that I couldn''t hide this matter. Circle would see Zhuo Mei''s personnel file sooner or later. With a firm heart, I took out the file from my bag and threw it in front of Circle, saying, "This is it."


    Circle picked up the file and asked in surprise, "Didn''t you say you didn''t bring it with you?"


    "Don''t ask, just read it."

 Chapter 44 – Be discovered

    Circle opened the personnel file of Zhuomei Shopping Center in confusion, his expression changing rapidly, no less shocking than when I first saw it.


    Yan Yan, who was beside him, noticed Circle''s unusual behavior and asked, "What''s wrong?" She also looked at the personnel file in Circle''s hand, took a glance, covered her mouth in shock, and stared at me with wide eyes. After a while, she said, "Oh my god, your girlfriend is the CEO of Zhuomei Shopping Center!!... This is too exaggerated, or am I hallucinating?"


    Circle put down the file in his hand and looked at me with the same expression as Yan Yan, saying, "Zhao Yang, what''s going on? You never mentioned it before. Mi Cai is the CEO of Zhuomei?"


    "I only found out this morning when I saw this personnel file. I feel the same way as you guys. I also thought it was my illusion!"


    Circle and Yan Yan glanced at each other, still in a state of shock, and asked me, "How did you two meet?"


    "Do you remember when I told you that the old house I used to live in was bought by a woman driving a luxury car?"


    "Yeah, you told me."


    "It was Mi Cai who bought it, and then we naturally got to know each other."


    Circle nodded and suddenly seemed to have realized the key to the problem. He asked me with a piercing gaze, "She became your girlfriend in less than a month?"


    I tried to hide it, "There''s nothing I can do. Fate came and I couldn''t stop it!"


    "The CEO of Zhuomei was pursued by you, Zhao Yang, in less than a month? Even in a novel, the plot wouldn''t develop so quickly!"


    Yan Yan agreed, "When you introduced Mi Cai to us at first, we all thought you had been dating her for a long time, just hiding it from us. I didn''t expect you two to have only known each other for less than a month. Zhao Yang, you''re really skilled at picking up girls!"


    "Can you two stop talking to me in such a sarcastic tone?" I said angrily, glaring at them.


    Circle and Yan Yan simultaneously questioned me, "Then you have to be honest with us. What is your relationship with Mi Cai?"


    In fact, the moment I showed Circle Mi Cai''s file, I already knew that the truth couldn''t be hidden anymore. Who would believe that the CEO of a top shopping center would fall in love with an unreliable employee? If only Mi Cai was the daughter of a town enterprise owner or someone who came out of nowhere, I wouldn''t be facing this embarrassing situation.


    After a while, I impatiently said to Circle and Yan Yan, who were staring at me, "Stop looking at me like you''re interrogating a criminal. I''ve confessed, isn''t that enough?"


    "Hurry up, if you don''t confess, we''ll use torture on you," Yan Yan threatened, raising her fist.


    I lay back in the chair, finally looking at the ceiling, and said recklessly, "She''s not my girlfriend. On the day of your wedding, I felt empty inside, so I called Mi Cai and lied to her, saying I wanted to have dinner with her. I tricked her into attending your wedding banquet, and then I met Jian Wei. In a moment of madness, I said she was my girlfriend. And then I kept using lies to cover up lies, until everyone really believed that she was my girlfriend..."


    "Oh my god! Zhao Yang, does this mean you still can''t forget Jian Wei?" Yan Yan couldn''t help but exclaim, regardless of the crowded restaurant.


    "Circle, give your wife a sedative, she''s too noisy!" I said in the calmest tone.


    Circle gave Yan Yan a look, signaling her to be quiet. Yan Yan finally looked at me apologetically and fell silent, leaving the conversation space to me and Circle.


    After a moment of silence, Circle said to me, "Zhao Yang, why do you have to deceive yourself with such childish methods?"


    I smiled, "Is it childish? I just want to make myself feel better, and also Jian Wei and Xiang Chen. At least we don''t have to be bitter enemies, and we can still talk like friends."


    Circle sighed and fell silent. The most helpless thing between men and women in this world is love, which comes and goes beyond our control. No one can save me and Jian Wei from our past. Circle chose silence because he understood this truth.


    I also fell silent, a silence filled with helplessness, sadness within the helplessness. But there was no boat in this deep autumn night that could carry me away from the sadness. So I suppressed my desires, wandered with my soul, and anxiously looked around...


    ...


    After dinner, I walked alone on the street. I wasn''t exactly lost, but I wanted to leave this city. In fact, I had wanted to leave a long time ago because this city had been my fantasy for two years, and it had also exhausted me for two years.


    Countless sleepless nights, I fantasized that one day Jian Wei would return to my side. But my fantasies were shattered time and time again, and I became more and more tired. Now I finally don''t have to fantasize anymore because Jian Wei has made up her mind. When Xiang Chen put the necklace of commitment on her, I woke up.


    I really want to leave! Leave this place and return to the city where I grew up, where there is a sweater knitted by my mother when it''s cold, and a cup of herbal tea brewed by Mr. Ban when it''s hot...


    But I can''t leave this city. My soul has long been buried here. Here, there is a guitar singing loneliness, a deserted city hiding the past, and an old house comforting me.


    Sitting on the bench at the bus stop, I looked blankly at the buses carrying passengers to every corner of the city. But it seemed that I had nowhere to go on this night.


    The last bus of route 32 stopped at the bus stop, and I suddenly woke up. Then I hurriedly ran up and threw in a coin, finally having an identity as a passenger. Tonight, I will ride this route 32 bus, passing through six streets, and return to that old house.


    ...


    Subconsciously, I didn''t want to leave this old house. So this morning, I took a risk and went to Mi Cai''s room again. I found a bunch of keys to this house and naively thought that Mi Cai had really left this house for me, never to return.Pulling out the key, I opened the door to the apartment, only to unexpectedly hear the sound of someone washing up in the bathroom. Glancing at the shoe rack, I noticed a pair of women''s Chanel shoes with crystal sequins. Without a doubt, Mi Cai was back.


    I quietly stood at the bathroom door, watching Mi Cai who was in the midst of washing up, and suddenly said, "You''re back?"


    Mi Cai didn''t seem startled, probably because she had heard me opening the door earlier. However, she didn''t respond to me, seemingly still upset about my shameless behavior yesterday.


    "Did you just rinse your mouth?" I asked Mi Cai again.


    Mi Cai subconsciously looked at her toothbrush before asking, "Why do you ask?"


    "I woke up late this morning and didn''t have time to buy toiletries, so I used yours," I replied.


    Mi Cai''s expression immediately changed, her breath becoming heavier, "You..."


    "You left so decisively yesterday, I thought you wouldn''t come back. Otherwise, I would have definitely told you in advance, or bought you a new set."


    Mi Cai''s expression was similar to the one she had when she saw a cockroach, she angrily said, "Aren''t you disgusting?"


    "You''re a beauty, so I definitely don''t find it disgusting. I used it, so what?" I spoke the truth. In fact, this was a trivial matter to me. Back in college, a few of us guys would share a cigarette, each of us taking a puff. Compared to that, why would I mind using a toothbrush that a beauty had used? Besides, I really intended to buy her a new set. Who knew she would come back tonight?


    "I''m talking about your behavior being disgusting!"


    I innocently replied, "I really don''t find using your toothbrush disgusting, you really don''t need to worry about me."


    Mi Cai''s expression became even more furious. She threw her toothbrush, towel, and even her cosmetics into the trash bin. She walked over to me, who was blocking the bathroom door, and gave me a hard shove, cursing for the first time, "Get lost!" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I grabbed Mi Cai and feigned realization, "Oh!... So you find it disgusting that I used your toothbrush!... Look at your communication skills, it''s really frustrating that you can''t express yourself clearly!"

 Chapter 45 – To watch or not to watch

    Mi Cai bit her lip and looked at me, as if she couldn''t communicate with me in words anymore. After a long time, she frowned and said to me, "Why are there people like you in the world who have no manners?"


    I let go of Mi Cai and said indifferently, "Can''t you look at things from both sides? Using your toiletries shows that I am not petty!"


    "Did you get my permission to use them?"


    "So I said I am not petty. Is it necessary to make a big deal out of such trivial matters and ask for your permission?"


    "But I used your toothbrush without knowing it!" Mi Cai said with a disgusted expression.


    "I''ve already used it, should I go back in time with a time machine and remind you not to use it?... That''s unrealistic, so you should just let it go... You have to understand, there is nothing in this world, you are fake, I am fake, and of course the toothbrush is fake..."


    Mi Cai finally calmed down a bit and said, "Who knows if you have any contagious diseases."


    "If you get infected, it''s your own fault. Do you know how small the chance is for us to meet in this vast sea of people? And the chance of me using your toothbrush and other toiletries is even smaller."


    Mi Cai, who had just calmed down, became angry again and said, "According to your logic, no matter what happens in the future, it will always be my fault, and I deserve to be unlucky?"


    "You can say that." After speaking, I looked at Mi Cai and smiled, "You really understand me, you know what I''m thinking without even guessing!"


    Mi Cai, in extreme anger, sneered, "That''s how despicable people like you are. No one needs to guess, we can all see through the ugly faces of people like you."


    "You''re swearing again. Even if I am despicable, as a dignified woman like you, you shouldn''t say such things. It ruins your image!"


    "Zhao Yang, are you trying to make me angry today?"


    "If you''re afraid of getting angry, then just leave. Leave this place to me, so that everyone can be comfortable and peaceful."


    Mi Cai suddenly calmed down and said calmly, "You wish. I won''t fulfill your wish, you scum."


    "Anyway, I''m not leaving tonight. If you don''t mind, I definitely won''t mind living together again."


    Unexpectedly, Mi Cai didn''t argue back. She turned around and went back to the bathroom, slamming the door shut. I didn''t know what she was doing inside.


    I sat on the sofa and turned on the TV, but my mind wasn''t focused. I kept glancing towards the bathroom, feeling a sense of conspiracy. Suddenly, I remembered the last time she tricked me into going to a deserted place in the middle of the night, and I felt a sense of fear.


    "As an intelligent person like me, can I be fooled twice by the same person? Obviously not!" I comforted myself in my heart and felt relieved.


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    After feeling relieved, my mood inexplicably improved. So, while Mi Cai was in the bathroom, I went to the convenience store downstairs to buy toiletries. Of course, I took the key with me, just in case Mi Cai locked me out.


    I felt a little guilty, so I bought the most expensive toiletries for Mi Cai in the convenience store, and bought some random ones for myself. After all, I''m not a picky person.


    I took a walk outside the residential area for a while, smoked a few cigarettes, and dispelled the depression in my heart before returning to the place I was staying. Mi Cai happened to come out of the bathroom at the same time, with wet hair as if she had just taken a shower.


    I asked in confusion, "Didn''t you throw away all the toiletries? Why are you using them again?"


    "Don''t I have any backups?"


    I suddenly became uneasy, "You... Why didn''t you say earlier? I just went to the convenience store and bought a set for you, it cost more than 50 yuan."


    "Is that so?" Mi Cai wiped her wet hair with a new towel, her tone calm as if nothing unpleasant had happened just now.


    "Here, take a look." I handed her the bag.


    "Then put it in the cabinet in the bathroom and use it later." Mi Cai remained calm.


    I nodded and walked towards the bathroom. Inside, there was only steam and the lingering scent of shower gel. I looked around cautiously, afraid that Mi Cai would play tricks on me. Based on my understanding of her, the calmer she was, the more she would try to harm me.


    Except for the clothes Mi Cai had changed out of, there was almost nothing in the bathroom. After making sure it was safe, I opened the cabinet under the sink and indeed found many spare toiletries. If I had known earlier, I wouldn''t have used the ones she had used. After all, I''m not someone who enjoys arguing and fighting.


    After that, I washed up in the bathroom. When I was done, just like Mi Cai earlier, I used a dry towel to wipe my wet hair and walked out of the bathroom.


    To my surprise, Mi Cai didn''t rest, but sat on the sofa in the living room, eating cherries and reading documents.


    "Why aren''t you sleeping yet?" I asked Mi Cai.


    "Waiting for my hair to dry."


    I sat down next to Mi Cai and casually picked up a cherry to eat. Then I asked, "Do you really like eating cherries?"


    Mi Cai patiently replied, "Yes, I''ve liked them since I was little."


    I looked at Mi Cai and felt that something was off. With my recent bad behavior, her one-word answer of "yes" was already giving me face. She even told me that she liked eating cherries since she was little.


    I reassured myself: I''m a man, what can she do to me? Just calmly live here and there''s no need to be suspicious and overthink.


    Bored, I glanced at the documents that Mi Cai was holding in her hands. Sure enough, I saw the logo of Zhuo Mei Shopping Center on the documents. It was indeed true that Mi Cai was the CEO of Zhuo Mei.


    I nudged Mi Cai, who was engrossed in reading, and asked, "Hey, do you know what job I do?"


    "Who wants to bother with you." Mi Cai replied impatiently this time.I gave an awkward smile, feeling somewhat relieved. She should treat me with this kind of impatience. It wasn''t surprising that Mi Cai knew nothing about my work situation. Although I believed that Zhuomei also had our Baoli''s personnel files, Mi Cai would definitely not look at them. Even if she did, she would only look at the top executives of Baoli, not a small fry like me. So, she had no idea that I worked in the planning department of Baoli.


    Of course, I would never take the initiative to tell Mi Cai that I worked at Baoli. This was entirely due to my pride. I didn''t want to be so much lower than her. At least in this room, we were equals, or rather, I was superior. This was not nonsense, but logically supported. She was afraid of cockroaches, cockroaches were afraid of me, so I was two levels above her.


    In my self-delusion, I felt even more triumphant. I casually tossed two cherries into my mouth and started humming Wang Fei''s song "The New Tenant" in front of Mi Cai.


    Mi Cai was annoyed but didn''t want to argue with me anymore. She slapped the file on the table, got up, and left the couch.


    "What are you going to do?" I asked, thick-skinned.


    "Wash clothes," Mi Cai replied without turning her head.


    "So, you''re not kicking me out tonight?"


    "Stay as long as you like," Mi Cai said resentfully.


    "Will you stay with me?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Of course, I''ll stay with you."


    Mi Cai''s answer made me feel triumphant. I had easily won over a woman. I was already fantasizing about moving my luggage back here tomorrow night. In this city, this old house was the place I had always dreamed of.


    Continuing to hum the annoying "The New Tenant", my eyes glanced at the file Mi Cai had left behind. My heart suddenly pounded. This file was Zhuomei Shopping Center''s business plan for November. It must contain their strategic suppression of our Baoli and the upcoming promotional activities.


    If I read this plan, Zhuomei''s strategic intentions would be clear, which would be extremely beneficial for our countermeasures against Zhuomei''s marketing plan.


    To read or not to read, I was torn for a moment.

 Chapter 46 – Mi Cais Revenge

    After a brief struggle, I ultimately decided not to look at the business plan for Zhuomei that Mi Cai had left on the coffee table. Perhaps I''m not the most upright person, but I''m not willing to stoop to such petty theft. I constantly remind myself to know my limits in life. I would not harm Mi Cai and the Zhuomei Shopping Center she works for with such near-thieving methods for my own personal gain.


    The sound of the washing machine drum turning came from the bathroom. After a while, Mi Cai came out of the bathroom and sat back on the sofa, picking up the monthly business plan again. But she treated me, sitting next to her, as if I were air. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I couldn''t find my sense of existence, so I said to Mi Cai, "By the way, I took a set of bedding from your room yesterday. You wouldn''t want me to sleep in your bed, right? That would disgust you even more. So, I think you wouldn''t be angry about this."


    "No, you can use it," Mi Cai said indifferently.


    Her sudden change of attitude made me feel a bit embarrassed. I felt like I had bullied her before. Although she is the CEO of Zhuomei, she is still a woman. My previous actions lacked a man''s grace.


    "I''m going to bed now. You should rest early too. Don''t stay up too late," I said to Mi Cai in a softer tone.


    "Okay, I''ll go to bed after I finish washing the clothes."


    ...


    Returning to my room, I felt a sense of joy as if I had regained something lost. I could finally live in this room where I had lived for more than two years with a clear conscience. I thanked the heavens for their favor, my shameless persistence, and Mi Cai''s conscience.


    After thanking everyone I could think of, I suddenly felt relaxed, and sleepiness hit me. As I drifted off to sleep, I knew that after more than a week of drifting, I could finally have a good night''s sleep.


    As I expected, I slept soundly that night. I slept until dawn without dreaming. When I woke up, I quickly became alert.


    I sat up in bed and looked out the window. Although the autumn wind was blowing the leaves around, the sunlight was good, and the temperature was comfortable. I wiped my face, completely shaking off the morning drowsiness. Looking at my watch, it was just past 7:30. It was the perfect time to get up.


    After getting up and washing up, I planned to cook some porridge and go out to buy some breakfast. Of course, I would also buy a portion for Mi Cai. I felt that there should be no grudges between us. As a man, I could lower my posture and take the initiative to make peace with her. From then on, we could live in harmony in this house.


    I went to the cabinet where the rice was stored, but to my surprise, the cabinet was locked. I was a bit puzzled, but didn''t think much of it. I was about to check the fridge, but when I opened it, I was completely dumbfounded. The fridge was empty. A sense of foreboding filled me.


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    I almost ran to the door of the house, turned the handle of the security door, and found it was locked... I suddenly realized that I had been confined in this room by Mi Cai.


    "Damn it! No wonder she told me last night that I could stay as long as I wanted... How could I have been so stupid not to notice!" I cursed as I ran to my room with the last hope, only to find out in despair that the key to my room had indeed been taken by Mi Cai while I was sleeping.


    In the face of danger, I remained calm and thought of calling a locksmith for help. I picked up my phone from the cabinet, felt it was much lighter, and when I opened the back cover, I felt like I was about to collapse. The battery of the phone was gone.


    I walked back to the living room from the bedroom with a stern face, but I had no idea what to do. This room was on the fifth floor, jumping down would be suicide.


    ...


    I spent the morning pacing around the room like a headless fly. If it were the weekend and I didn''t have to work, it would be fine. But today was the day Circle was returning to the company. There would definitely be a meeting in the department to discuss the recent promotional plan. The importance of this meeting goes without saying. If I didn''t attend, it would definitely affect the progress of the promotional plan. I could already imagine the angry and twisted faces of Chen Jingming and Circle...


    The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I really wanted to strangle Mi Cai, this vicious woman. At this moment, I was like a poor bug trapped in a box by her, but I had no way out. This time, she was literally trying to kill me. Not only was there no food in the house, but she had also cut off the electricity from outside. I couldn''t imagine how hard this day would be.


    I lay anxiously on the sofa, each second feeling like a day. Several times, I ran to the balcony and yelled down, but no one paid any attention to me. It was as if everyone in the community had been bought off by Mi Cai, or maybe my luck was just that bad today. In any case, I was still trapped in the room, and my energy was rapidly depleting.


    By noon, I was so hungry that I was dizzy. My hatred for Mi Cai increased. I didn''t believe she would dare to trap me in this room to death. At most, she would have to come back and let me out tonight.


    In my rage, I decided: as soon as she comes back, I will call the police. This is illegal confinement, and she also stole my phone battery. She should be detained for these crimes. She must be detained. She''s too damn bullying!


    ...


    A few birds were chirping and hopping around on the window of the balcony, flaunting their freedom. The weak evening sun was reflected on the curtains. Like the sun, I was powerless, lying weakly on the sofa. I felt as if there were stars circling around my head, praying for this hellish day to end soon.After a long while, the last ray of sunlight disappeared from the balcony, and the sky turned completely dark. I was lying on the sofa, too weak to even turn over. Yet, that wicked woman, Mi Cai, still hadn''t returned. Fear gradually crept into my heart. Although I knew she wouldn''t dare to leave me trapped here to die, if she didn''t return tonight, I would be as good as dead by tomorrow morning.


    There was no light in the room. In the darkness, my anxiety from the loss of freedom intensified. I felt bouts of madness in my heart, but I didn''t even have the strength to vent. Thus, the torment of anxiety and rage was like a hundred claws scratching at my heart. My vision started to darken, and I could faint at any moment.


    Time crawled forward like a snail, and I was still struggling to survive. Finally, the sound of a key unlocking the door came from outside. I instantly woke up as if injected with chicken blood, and tried to stand up from the sofa. However, my body couldn''t keep up with my consciousness. With a "thud", I rolled off the sofa, my shoulder hitting the corner of the coffee table. The pain was so intense that I couldn''t even cry out, and my head spun...


    Suddenly, all the lights in the room turned on. Then, I heard Mi Cai''s "surprised" voice, "Zhao Yang, why didn''t you turn on the lights? And you''re sleeping on the floor, aren''t you cold?"

 Chapter 47 – You are just a female gangster

    I struggled to stand up from the ground, glaring at Mi Cai, who wore a face of "surprise". "Come here, let me strangle you!" I exclaimed.


    "What''s wrong?" Mi Cai asked innocently, looking at me.


    I laughed in anger, "You locked me up for a day and you''re asking me what''s wrong? The more you pretend, the more shameless I think you are!"


    "Crazy." Mi Cai casually threw out these words, then started to change her slippers.


    I walked towards Mi Cai, but my legs were weak. I used the last of my strength to grab hold of her, angrily asking, "Why did you lock the door today?"


    "Aren''t all security doors supposed to be locked?"


    "I was still at home, didn''t you know?"


    Mi Cai shook her head, "I didn''t know, I thought you had left."


    "Fine, even if you didn''t know I was at home, why did you take the key while I was sleeping?"


    "Shouldn''t I take the key to my own house?" Mi Cai retorted coldly.


    My head spun with anger. I slapped my forehead hard, struggling to keep my composure. "Alright, it''s your key, you should take it. But how do you explain stealing the battery from my phone?"


    "Who stole your battery? When I took the key yesterday, I accidentally knocked your phone over. The battery might have fallen under the bed. The room was dark, I couldn''t see clearly, so I just put the back cover on."


    "Damn, you really planned everything perfectly to kill me. I can''t even find a way to trouble you!"


    Mi Cai responded with a smile, "In your words, it''s your bad luck to meet me. What are the odds of us meeting in the vast sea of people, and what are the odds of me locking you in the room after we met?"


    "Are you admitting it?"


    Mi Cai replied coldly, "So what if I admit it? Go call the police. Say I illegally imprisoned you... You definitely won''t call the police, after all, you''re a man and I''m just a woman. Besides, you''re the landlord, how could a landlord be imprisoned by a tenant? Even if you told the police, they wouldn''t believe you!"


    Mi Cai once again hit me hard with the words I used against her before. I didn''t know how to retaliate. After a while, I blurted out, "You... you''re a female hooligan, a devil, a demon... Does your shameless behavior match your pretty face?"


    Mi Cai was unaffected by my anger, she calmly replied, "Save those words for yourself. Without your cause, there wouldn''t be my effect."


    "But the effect you gave is too poisonous. You locked me up for a day, I couldn''t make a call, how will the company see me? This is much worse than skipping work, I might lose my job!" I said, my face turning red.


    Mi Cai stared at me in silence for a while, then calmly said, "You''ve been talking so much, aren''t you hungry?"


    As soon as she finished speaking, my legs went weak and my stomach growled. I felt dizzy from the anger, and instinctively put my hand on Mi Cai''s shoulder. Swallowing my hunger, I struggled to say, "Help me downstairs to eat Zhajiang noodles, the biggest bowl!"


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    In the noodle shop downstairs, I put the battery back into my phone. As I nervously turned it on, dozens of text message alerts sounded like an earthquake. They were all missed call notifications from Circle and Chen Jingming.


    I threw the phone aside in annoyance, glaring at Mi Cai who was sitting across from me with a calm face.


    Mi Cai stood up and said to me, "I''ve brought you here, you can eat slowly."


    "Sit down, this matter isn''t over so easily. You heard the message alerts just now, right? They''re all from the company, what should we do now?"


    A hint of guilt finally appeared on Mi Cai''s face. She said softly, "I always thought you didn''t have a proper job, I really didn''t expect..."


    I was speechless for a moment. Given my previous state, I didn''t look like someone with a proper job. I patiently said to Mi Cai, "Even if I don''t have a proper job, I should still have some organization and discipline, right? Haven''t you seen those beggars in the underground passages? They gather and count their numbers every day, then divide up the begging areas!"


    Mi Cai was silent for a while, then said to me, "I was indeed a bit thoughtless about this. What do you want me to do, you tell me."


    After Mi Cai softened her attitude, I felt a bit embarrassed. Actually, I was the one who had gone too far before. Mi Cai''s reprimand was just a natural reaction after being bullied. As a shopping mall CEO, she should have some temper.


    After thinking for a while, I said, "I won''t make things difficult for you. Just call our leader and explain why I didn''t go to work today. As long as I can keep my job, I won''t mind being locked up for a day."


    "Can''t you explain it yourself?"


    "If he would believe my explanation, would I need you to explain?" I gave Mi Cai a look.


    "It seems you''ve also fooled your leaders quite a bit... Give me the number."


    I was left speechless by Mi Cai''s words. Speechless because she hit the nail on the head. I coughed to cover up my embarrassment, then gave her Chen Jingming''s phone number. She immediately dialed it.


    I was a bit curious. If Chen Jingming knew that the person calling him was the CEO of Zhuomei, what would his reaction be? But Mi Cai and Chen Jingming definitely wouldn''t talk about this, so I could only be curious.


    The call seemed to be connected on the other end, and Mi Cai began to speak, "Hello, may I speak to Manager Chen?"


    "I''m Zhao Yang''s roommate. I have something to explain to you. When I left today, I accidentally locked Zhao Yang in the room. His phone had some problems, so he couldn''t notify the company immediately. I want to express my apologies to you, I''m sorry."


    Although Mi Cai''s words were polite, there was still a sense of authority in her tone.


    After speaking with Chen Jingming for a while, Mi Cai handed the phone to me, saying, "Your manager wants to talk to you."


    I took the phone from Mi Cai and immediately said, "Manager, you heard just now, right? I''m not going to work today, it''s really an accident!"


    Chen Jingming asked with an angry yet helpless tone, "Is it true?"


    "I wouldn''t lie to you. Would I go to the trouble of finding an excuse to tell you? I, Zhao Yang, always take responsibility for my actions. It is what it is." I said confidently, because this time I really didn''t deceive Chen Jingming.


    "Alright, we''ll treat this as an accident this time. Come to the company early tomorrow and communicate with Circle. The plan this time must be efficient."


    "You can rest assured, I will go to the company early tomorrow."


    ......


    After ending the call with Chen Jingming, I called Circle to explain the situation. I finally breathed a sigh of relief. At this time, the Zhajiang noodles were served. Without a word, I started to wolf down the food. I ate two big bowls until I couldn''t eat anymore.


    I wiped the oil stains from my mouth with a napkin and said to Mi Cai, who I had forcibly kept here, "You just told our leader that we are roommates, right?"


    Mi Cai guessed my intention and immediately denied it, saying, "That was necessary under the circumstances. Otherwise, how would I explain this to your leader?"


    "Oh... oh... so you can also lie and deceive!"

 Chapter 48 – Almost hurting to death

    When I said that Mi Cai was lying and fooling around, her emotions didn''t change much. She calmly said to me, "I remember telling you last time that it''s inconvenient for the two of us to live together. Our lifestyles and habits are very different. Why do you keep making things difficult for me and endlessly bothering me?"


    I calmly responded, "Don''t say that. Am I bothering you? I care about that room. If you move out, I will never go looking for you."


    Mi Cai nodded and said, "I believe that, but the property certificate clearly states my name. What''s the point of you caring about it?"


    I earnestly said to Mi Cai, "Let''s switch places and think about it. If you lived in a house for over two years and suddenly moved out, how would you feel? In Suzhou, we don''t have a house. Our lives are unsettled, and we really long for a place to rely on, especially at night... You will never understand the fear of having nowhere to go, feeling suppressed and helpless!"


    Mi Cai fell silent.


    I also fell silent. At this moment, it wasn''t just a house that caused conflict between us, but also the barriers of social class. These barriers prevented us from understanding each other and caused us to torment each other while holding our ground.


    After a long time, I asked Mi Cai with doubt, "If you really wanted me to leave, for example, by calling the police, I would have to go. Why haven''t you done that?"


    Mi Cai looked up at me, and after a moment of silence, she said, "You haven''t become bad enough to warrant calling the police on you."


    I smiled and said, "Then I''m really lucky. I''m lucky that I''m not completely bad!"


    Although it was a sarcastic remark towards Mi Cai, she said to me seriously again, "You can help CC guard that restaurant and become friends with her. You can''t be that bad. It''s just that life and emotions have given you too much pressure, so you appear to be someone who does anything without scruples. In reality, your indifference is just a way to make yourself feel better."


    I looked at Mi Cai absentmindedly. It turned out that she was the one who understood me the most over the years. At least my closest friends, Circle, Yan Yan, Robben, and CC, have never said these things to me. It seemed like Mi Cai lightly touched the deepest knot in my heart, but didn''t completely untie it. However, it was enough to touch my sensitivity.


    Finally, I said to Mi Cai, "Are you trying to affirm my character and make me feel embarrassed to bother you, fulfilling your desire for peace? Stop playing mind games with me. I''ve been to school, and I understand the policy of leniency."


    Mi Cai fell silent, looking helpless. It seemed that my stubbornness didn''t work on her, and I already knew her bottom line. If I stubbornly refused to leave, she wouldn''t have any way to deal with me. Naturally, I wouldn''t give her another chance to lock me in the house. How could someone as smart and alert as me be taken advantage of by the same woman three times?


    I wasn''t ashamed of my behavior of bothering Mi Cai. At least she still had a luxurious house in this city. If I forced her out, she wouldn''t experience the feeling of being adrift with nowhere to go. And of course, I wouldn''t live in that old house for free. I would still pay the rent that was due.


    This was my plan. If Mi Cai could compromise, it would be a win-win situation for both of us. Indeed, she was beautiful, rich, and the CEO of Zhuo Mei. But that didn''t mean I had to like her or have any ulterior motives towards her. So I really didn''t need to bother her. As long as she was willing to rent the house to me, I wouldn''t bother her for the rest of my life.


    After thinking for a while, I said to Mi Cai, who had been silent all along, "Why don''t you just rent this house to me? Don''t you have another house in Liu''an Jingyuan? You can go back there to live. Just give me a bank account number, and I''ll transfer the rent to your account every month. We don''t even have to see each other anymore. Isn''t that great?"


    Mi Cai didn''t accept my proposal at all and said with an angry expression, "You were so determined to move out last time. Why are you changing your mind now?"


    "I''m just a scoundrel, living a wavering life. Besides, I thought I would find a suitable house after moving out. But either they were too expensive or too far from my company. I wasn''t happy being adrift, so of course, I wanted to move back."


    Mi Cai looked at me helplessly and said with a wry smile, "Your reasons are really convincing. Both subjectively and objectively!"


    "Of course, I''m someone who does things thoroughly."


    "But don''t you think you''re going too far? Who forces someone to rent their house to them?" Mi Cai still patiently said to me.


    I shouted, "Am I going too far? How about I call all my friends right now and let them judge who is going too far between us? Really, you''re just like those tyrant bandits in the past, using money to oppress the lives of poor people."


    Mi Cai finally lost her patience. She picked up her handbag from the table, stood up, and said to me, "I don''t have time to argue with you. I definitely won''t rent the house to you. Stop fantasizing."


    I followed Mi Cai out of the noodle shop, wanting to continue talking to her. In any case, I wanted to settle the matter of the house tonight.


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    Mi Cai walked fast, afraid that I would catch up to her. Her high heels made a "clacking" sound on the concrete ground. I also didn''t slow down and took a few big steps, blocking Mi Cai''s path and threateningly said, "Are you going to rent it or not..."


    Before I could finish my sentence, a sudden and excruciating pain bloomed in my stomach. I covered my abdomen and squatted down. I hadn''t eaten all day, and I just had a big meal. My already weak stomach couldn''t handle such stimulation.


    Mi Cai took advantage of me squatting on the ground, walked around me, and didn''t care about whether I was alive or dead.


    "Do you have... no conscience? My stomach hurts, and you''re just watching me suffer?" I said while enduring the pain.


    Mi Cai stopped and turned to look at me. "What? Are you planning to use the ''suffering together'' tactic on me again? I already made it clear to you just now. I won''t rent the house to you."


    I convulsed in pain and could even feel the sweat on my forehead.


    Mi Cai finally came back to my side, squatted down, and looked at me with doubt. She asked, "What''s wrong with you?""Didn''t I just tell you... I have a stomachache. How could you... just stand by and do nothing? Last time... when you had a fever, didn''t I make ginger soup for you out of kindness... didn''t I go buy medicine for you?" I said, my face twisted in pain.


    "At a time like this, you''re still nitpicking. Did I say I wouldn''t help?... I''m calling an ambulance." Mi Cai said, pulling out her phone from her handbag.


    "What planet did you parachute from, you alien? Don''t you have... any common sense? I just have a stomachache, why are you calling an ambulance... There''s a pharmacy one hundred meters to the right across the street, go... buy those fast-acting stomachache chewable tablets, I''ll be fine after chewing a couple." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai gave me a dissatisfied look and said, "You''re like this, can''t you just save your strength and talk less? Fine, I''m going now, you wait here."


    I grimaced and said, "Hurry up, I''m in so much pain I''m going crazy!"


    Mi Cai nodded, then jogged across the street... Watching her retreating figure, I sat on the ground, another wave of pain hitting me.

 Chapter 49 – Jian Weis appointment

    Returning to the old house where Mi Cai and I had countless arguments, I chewed on a painkiller and lay on the sofa to relieve the pain. Mi Cai poured me a glass of water and sat across from me.


    She asked, "Are you feeling better?"


    "After resting for a while, I''ll be fine." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai nodded and said, "When you feel better, I''ll take you back."


    I sat up in pain and asked, "Where am I supposed to go?"


    "Aren''t you temporarily staying at your friend''s place? I''ll take you back there."


    I replied angrily, "Can''t you show a little humanitarianism? I''m a patient now!"


    Mi Cai calmly said, "This is my house, not a hospital. Why do you have to act like a patient? Or do you think your health is really bad? I can take you to the hospital."


    Read the most updated version of this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at [ ]


    I lay back on the sofa, showing no interest in talking to her. Thus, we entered into a cold war due to our differing opinions.


    After a short while, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I turned over and took out my phone. It was an unfamiliar number from Shanghai. I answered the call in confusion, "Hello, who is this?"


    There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before the voice said, "It''s me, Jian Wei."


    My mind suddenly went blank, and I couldn''t even feel the pain in my stomach. After a long pause, I mechanically responded, "What''s up?"


    "Come out and meet me at our usual place."


    Before I could react, Jian Wei hung up the phone. She was still the same as before, never giving me a chance to refuse. That''s why I didn''t reject or ask for a reason when we broke up.


    The phone had been disconnected for a while, but my heart was still shaking. However, one thing was certain - if she invited me, I would definitely go and meet her. At the very least, we were still ordinary friends.


    I finally put the phone back in my pocket and said to Mi Cai, "I''m going out to meet a friend. Can you keep the door for me?"


    "Just go, there''s no need to keep the door. Take a look around the house and take anything that belongs to you."


    At this moment, I had no intention of arguing with Mi Cai. I glanced at her again, then walked towards the door. My stomach was still aching, and perhaps the pain in my heart was even harder to bear.


    ...


    I stood outside the residential area, waiting for a taxi, but I was pondering where Jian Wei meant by "our usual place." Was it CC''s music restaurant? Or by the moat? I couldn''t be sure. This also indicated that we had too many memories about Suzhou, too many places we had lingered in. Each place was a memorable past.


    In the end, I chose to go to the moat. It used to be the place where we took walks every evening. We laughed and played here, enjoying the picturesque scenery.


    Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the moat, the section of the road we used to walk on the most. I sat down on the lawn, lit a cigarette amidst the pain in my stomach. Because my heart was restless, I didn''t know why Jian Wei suddenly asked to meet me, I didn''t know how to face her, and I didn''t know what to say when we met... Look, this is the change of time, turning our once intimate relationship into ignorance!


    Half an hour had passed, and Jian Wei still hadn''t arrived. In the cold autumn wind, I finally realized that I had come to the wrong place. Perhaps Jian Wei was waiting for me at CC''s music restaurant.


    I immediately took out my phone and dialed her number, but Jian Wei''s line was busy. After I hung up, her call came in again. It seemed that we had dialed each other''s numbers at the same time.


    I answered the call, and Jian Wei told me she was at CC''s restaurant. I told her I was at the moat, and I said I would go find her. She said she would come find me. Naturally, I complied with her, and thus ended the call and began a new wait.


    I felt a bit disappointed. I couldn''t choose the old place in Jian Wei''s heart. Our hearts were no longer in sync, so breaking up was inevitable.


    ...


    The autumn wind covered the night, neon lights reflected everything around me. I lit another cigarette by the seemingly beautiful moat, watching the smoke fill the air and eventually dissipate.


    After another 20 minutes, I saw Jian Wei''s Cadillac CTS parked by the riverbank. This top-of-the-line CTS was a graduation gift from Jian Wei''s father three years ago. It was also this car that forcefully tore us apart from our innocent campus romance. I still remember it vividly: the day Jian Wei drove her new car and took me for a ride, how I forced a smile, as if in that moment, I already painfully anticipated the ending between Jian Wei and me. In fact, I did anticipate it.


    Jian Wei opened the car door and got out. She was dressed lightly, wearing only a short women''s leather jacket, slightly loose gray-white casual pants, and her hair was simply tied up. She looked casual, unlike the last time I saw her in the bar, where she was dressed in luxury brands that I couldn''t even look at.


    I couldn''t meet her gaze with my eyes. I turned my head away and took a deep drag of the cigarette in my hand. Just one puff, and half of the cigarette turned into ashes.


    The familiar scent of a woman wafted into my nostrils from Jian Wei''s body. I finally looked up at her and said stiffly, "Why did you invite me?"


    Jian Wei sat down next to me, "Do I need a reason to ask you out?"


    I tried to relax a bit, smiled and asked, "Didn''t you go to Nanjing with Xiang Chen? How come you''re back so soon?"


    "I have my arrangements."


    "Indeed, you have your arrangements." I echoed Jian Wei''s words, but didn''t know what else to talk about with her. So, I lit another cigarette, looking at the river surface stirred by the wind, my emotions alternating between confusion and anxiety.


    Jian Wei took the cigarette from between my fingers, looked at me and said, "Don''t smoke in front of a lady, you should be a gentleman."


    The corner of my mouth twitched. Jian Wei was actually asking me to be a gentleman. Time indeed changes a person. She used to enjoy playing and fooling around with me, even smoking the cigarette I was smoking. At this moment, I realized: she had really walked too far away from my world, and I couldn''t keep up with the times, just standing foolishly in place, which was why I so abruptly smoked in front of her.


    After the silence, I finally said to her, "Tell me, what''s the matter that you asked me out for? We shouldn''t just sit here in the cold wind."


    Although I said so, I was willing to sit here with her all night, watching her, carefully observing her appearance three years later, letting her know how much I liked her sparkling eyes, her slightly upturned mouth, her blooming smile, her calm demeanor, the feminine scent on her, her seemingly scolding but caring love, her whispering in my arms, our heavy panting after making love...


    I liked everything about her, everything about being with her. But now, she was like a kite that I had lost, I could only hold the broken string, helplessly watching her fly to the distant north, disappearing in the sunset of dusk, and finally only walking once in my memory.


    How lost, how melancholy, how reluctant!

 Chapter 50 – She is not worthy of me

    Finally, I took advantage of the question just now, and looked at Jian Wei legitimately, waiting for her to give me an answer. It was really surprising that she took the initiative to contact me this time.


    Jian Wei and I looked at each other, and I finally saw her face clearly. Her appearance remained unchanged. I had an impulse to hold her, regardless of who she was with now, or who she was dating.


    But in the end, reason suppressed impulse, and I just stared at her blankly.


    After a while, Jian Wei said to me, "I''m not planning to go back to the United States this time."


    I nodded, but remained silent. Whether she went to the United States or not had nothing to do with me. At most, I could only look at this matter from the perspective of an ordinary friend. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How about you, how have you been these two years?" Jian Wei asked me with a smile.


    "Very good! I live freely every day." I responded with a smile to Jian Wei, but I only told half of the truth. I did live freely, free to think about her, free to suffer, free to bury myself in the past love and stay still, and no one could stop me from doing so. Isn''t that free enough?


    "That''s good." Jian Wei looked at me and nodded.


    "How about you, how have you been?"


    This question made Jian Wei think for a while before she said, "Although I''m not as free as you, I''m doing pretty well."


    I responded stiffly, "Hehe, that''s pretty good too."


    The two of us fell into silence again. This silence seemed to mock our past when we used to talk about everything. I felt a bit uncomfortable, but I didn''t know what to say.


    Jian Wei seemed to share my feelings. She finally stood up and said to me, "It''s quite cold with the wind. I''m going back first."


    "Oh... okay!" I responded, but didn''t stand up.


    Jian Wei looked at me, turned around and left the lawn, heading towards the car parked by the river bank. I lit another cigarette and sat in the same place, still not understanding why Jian Wei wanted to see me tonight. We went through a lot of trouble to meet, but we only exchanged a few words, which made the night seem somewhat thin and meaningless.


    To be precise, this meeting with Jian Wei was not meaningless. When I returned to the old house, Mi Cai locked me out. No matter how much I knocked on the door, she wouldn''t open it. I wondered if she and Jian Wei had planned this together, one asking me out and the other locking me out. But that''s not important. What''s important is that I had nowhere to go.


    I sat at the entrance of the building for a long time, and finally decided to spend the night at Robben''s place. He should be back from the bar by now. I hope Lily wasn''t with him tonight.


    ...


    When I returned to Robben''s attic on the rooftop, I listened at the door to make sure it was quiet inside before knocking. After a while, Robben opened the door for me.


    Robben, wearing his pajamas and smoking a cigarette, looked at me in surprise and said, "You''re back!"


    "I''ve had a hell of a day, don''t even mention it!" I sighed. Today was a terrible day for me. First, I was locked up by Mi Cai for a day, then I had a stomachache from overeating and drinking, and then I was inexplicably asked out by Jian Wei. Each event was a torment, both physically and mentally.


    "You''re always having a hard time." Robben sighed, then lay back on the bed, took a puff of his cigarette, and a sip of his beer.


    At Robben''s teasing, I just smiled helplessly, didn''t say anything, washed up simply, and then lay on the bed, lit a cigarette, and the two of us filled the already small room with smoke.


    Robben suddenly asked me, "You haven''t been back these two nights, have you been staying with your new girlfriend?"


    "No, even Le Yao can tell she''s not my girlfriend, can''t you?"


    Robben asked in surprise, "What''s going on?"


    "It''s all an act, she''s not my girlfriend at all."


    Robben nodded and said, "You two don''t seem to be from the same world."


    "Yeah, she''s not good enough for me."


    "You''re awesome!" Robben gave me a thumbs up.


    I didn''t respond, put out the cigarette, pulled up the quilt, and as soon as I lay down, I was overwhelmed with sleepiness and fell asleep quickly.


    ...


    The next day, I got up early, didn''t bother to have breakfast, and unusually took a taxi to the company. I paid more than 30 yuan more than taking the bus, which was obviously a waste of money. If it weren''t for being locked up by that annoying woman Mi Cai yesterday and falling behind a day''s work, I wouldn''t have to rush like this. I probably won''t be able to escape working overtime tonight. Thinking about it, my hatred for Mi Cai increased a bit, so I made up my mind to find time to talk to her soon, not about life, not about ideals, but about why she treated me like this.


    When I finally arrived at the company, I thought I was early enough, but Circle was even earlier. Before I had a chance to greet him, he threw a document at me and said, "This is the meeting material from yesterday. Spend half an hour reading it, and then we''ll discuss the promotion plan for Zomei..." He added, "Zhao Yang, time is pressing, get into work mode quickly.""No problem." I said, sitting down and picking up the meeting materials to read.


    From these materials, I could see that yesterday''s meeting did not establish a clear promotional strategy, and there were disagreements between Chen Jingming and Circle in the formulation of the plan.


    Chen Jingming tended to be conservative, preferring to stick to previous promotional strategies to ensure the task is completed within the stipulated time. Circle, on the other hand, hoped that this promotion would be a breakthrough from the past, truly reflecting the changes and momentum of our store, Baoli Department Store, after becoming a top-tier department store, even if it meant a slight delay.


    After spending 20 minutes reading the meeting materials, Circle and I each made a cup of coffee and started discussing. Naturally, I supported Circle''s idea. Since the company''s next strategic focus is to strengthen the brand image, the promotional activities must definitely be a breakthrough from the past. The competition with Zhuomei is only a part of the business, and it is clear that we should give way to the strategic focus of strengthening the brand image. Of course, if we can achieve a breakthrough in the promotional plan and complete the task within the stipulated time, that would be even better.


    After discussing, Circle and I reached an agreement. We would try our best to formulate a promotional plan that is a breakthrough from the past within the time allowed. Of course, the agreement we reached still needed Chen Jingming''s approval, as he was the highest leader of the planning department and had the veto power.


    Chen Jingming did not appear in the company all morning and only showed up close to noon. He immediately called Circle and me to his office. He seemed very excited, which puzzled both of us.


    Upon arriving at the manager''s office, Chen Jingming asked me to close the door. Before we could even have a cup of tea, he said to Circle and me, "I met with the manager of Zhuomei''s business development department this morning."


    Circle and I looked at each other, full of doubt and shock. Chen Jingming had actually met with the manager of Zhuomei''s business development department during working hours. This was suspicious!


    Chen Jingming, unable to contain his excitement, explained to us, "The manager of Zhuomei''s business development department, Li, is an old classmate of mine. This time he brought me news that could change the fate of our Baoli and Zhuomei... Zhuomei is brewing a big storm internally, a power struggle, and the target is their newly appointed CEO."


    I was shocked. The newly appointed CEO of Zhuomei was Mi Cai, wasn''t it? Was she facing an internal power crisis at this time? Although I was guessing in my heart, I still waited calmly for Chen Jingming to continue.

 Chapter 51 – Mi Cais Crisis

    I continued to look at Chen Jingming "calmly", but Circle was full of shock and asked, "Manager Chen, do you mean that the top management of Zhuomei is planning to take action against their newly appointed CEO?"


    Chen Jingming nodded affirmatively and said, "Yes, Zhuomei is a family business, you should have heard of it." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Circle and I nodded at the same time. If it wasn''t a family business, how could Mi Cai, at the age of 26, possibly be the CEO of such a large shopping center? However, we didn''t know what her status was within the family.


    Chen Jingming continued, "More than two years ago, the founder of Zhuomei, Mi Zhongxin, went to Shanghai to attend a business meeting. On the highway, he had a severe rear-end collision with a broken-down truck that had no warning signs set up. Unfortunately, he died. Since then, Zhuomei has been managed by his younger brother, Mi Zhongde. However, Mi Zhongxin has a daughter who has been studying in the United States for the past few years. She just returned to China a few days ago. She is the newly appointed CEO of Zhuomei, Betsy (Mi Cai)......"


    Before Chen Jingming could finish his sentence, I interrupted and asked, "Manager, are you saying that the one who is planning to take action against Betsy is her uncle, Mi Zhongde?"


    Chen Jingming smiled and said, "It''s obviously him. He has been the nominal chairman of Zhuomei for the past few years. Now that Mi Zhongxin''s daughter has returned to China, his position will definitely be threatened. It''s hard for someone who has been accustomed to being at the top to step down!"


    I indignantly said, "This old man is too beastly. Zhuomei originally belonged to his brother. Now that his brother has died unexpectedly, leaving only this orphan, he, as an uncle, can still bear to take action!!"


    Chen Jingming waved his hand and said to me seriously, "The right and wrong in these family businesses are not something we outsiders need to worry about. What we need to do now is to seize this opportunity, suppress Zhuomei, and become the leader in Suzhou''s department store industry."


    Circle nodded in agreement. I didn''t say anything, but a surge of uncontrollable anger rose in my heart.


    Chen Jingming continued to tell us, "The manager of Zhuomei''s business development department, Mr. Li, met with me this morning to discuss this matter. Next month, two international first-line brands will have their lease contracts with Zhuomei expire. Mi Zhongde has already instructed Mr. Li, who is dissatisfied with the current CEO''s management style, to bring these two first-line brands to our Baoli. Then, using this as a reason, he will unite with the board of directors to put pressure on Mi Zhongxin''s daughter, forcing her to transfer her shares in Zhuomei, in order to achieve his goal of completely monopolizing Zhuomei."


    I was shocked again and exclaimed, "This is too ruthless! He would rather cut off his own arm to take over the ownership of Zhuomei!"


    This indeed shocked me. If the business development manager of Zhuomei really brings two international first-line brands to our Baoli, then our Baoli will have 10 international first-line brands, while Zhuomei will only have 9 left. Everyone understands the importance of international first-line brands to top department stores. Even if Mi Zhongde obtains the ownership of Zhuomei, the price is huge!


    Chen Jingming smiled and said, "In order for Mi Zhongde to completely take over the ownership of Zhuomei, he must make such a ruthless move. There are many loyal followers of Mi Zhongxin in the board of directors. They all support Mi Zhongxin''s daughter. If Mr. Li, dissatisfied with the current CEO''s management style, brings two international first-line brands to our Baoli, it will be a serious management accident caused by the CEO. This kind of management accident has already affected the foundation of the enterprise. The original supporters will also waver. At that time, the board of directors will collectively put pressure on Mi Cai, and it will be difficult for her not to hand over the management rights and ownership!"


    Circle, who had been silent all this time, finally asked Chen Jingming, "Isn''t Mi Zhongde afraid that Zhuomei will be seriously injured and be surpassed by our Baoli in one fell swoop?"


    I took the liberty of answering for Chen Jingming, "Even if Zhuomei is surpassed by Baoli, Mi Zhongde is still the top leader of Zhuomei. If Mi Zhongxin''s daughter stays in Zhuomei, he will be replaced sooner or later. A leader who has been in a high position for many years and is accustomed to being on top, how can he be willing to live under others?"


    Chen Jingming nodded in approval of my words and continued, "Human nature is like this. So this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our Baoli. However, Mi Zhongde is not a simple character. I heard that a large amount of overseas funds will be injected into Zhuomei soon. Zhuomei''s stores in Nanjing and Shanghai are already preparing to open. Their strategic hinterland is not just Suzhou, but a larger market. Moreover, even if they lose two first-line brands, with Zhuomei''s popularity in Suzhou over the years, they won''t collapse easily. Mi Zhongde has a trump card in his hand, so he dares to do this. As long as he can successfully deal with Mi Zhongxin''s daughter this time, he will secure his position. It''s still worth the risk!"


    Circle and I fell into silence. Even though we had been working for many years, the wars and cruelty on the business field had never been presented to us so nakedly as today. At this moment, I understood that the workplace or the business field really has rules. Those of us at the bottom want to rise to the top, relying on hard work and the ability to seize opportunities, while the high-level people play mind games. This kind of mind game makes me fear from the bottom of my heart. The ugliness of human nature is magnified several times under such mind games.


    At this time, Chen Jingming finally made himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said to Circle and me, "You have been my subordinates for several years, and you are the ones I plan to focus on training, especially Circle. I see potential in you. That''s why I shared this matter, which can be regarded as the company''s top secret, with you. The purpose is to hope that you can seize this opportunity, create value for the company while also achieving your own breakthrough. You two must perform well in this promotion plan, understand?"


    Circle nodded solemnly, but I was a bit dazed, immersed in some kind of emotion.


    "What about you, Zhao Yang?" Chen Jingming looked at me and asked.


    Circle nudged me, and I came back to my senses and said to Chen Jingming, "I understand too."


    ......Upon leaving Chen Jingming''s office, Circle immediately dragged me into the staff lounge, lowering his voice to ask me, "Zhao Yang, Chen Jingming doesn''t know about your relationship with Mi Cai, does he?"


    "Of course not. If he knew I knew Mi Cai, he wouldn''t have told me about this."


    Circle nodded, his face serious again as he said, "No matter what, you can''t let this slip to Mi Cai. Not just for the sake of your own career, but also out of respect for Chen Jingming''s kindness to us, you can''t reveal this to Mi Cai, understand?"


    I didn''t respond to Circle, still a bit dazed.


    "Zhao Yang, you need to prioritize. This isn''t a laughing matter. Even if Mi Cai really is your girlfriend, you have to keep this secret. Not a single word can leak out."


    Suddenly, I was furious, glaring at Circle and snapping, "Are you even human? Can''t you see this from Mi Cai''s perspective? She''s already lost her father, a lonely woman, and now she''s being schemed against by her own uncle, who''s trying to take her father''s property. How much more can she suffer?"


    Circle quickly covered my mouth, still keeping his voice low, anxiously saying, "Keep your voice down. This is a power struggle among the higher-ups, not something we small fry can get involved in. This not only concerns the company''s interests, but also Chen Jingming''s personal future, even ours. If you blurt it out, can you live up to Chen Jingming''s trust?"


    I finally fell silent. Chen Jingming had indeed shown kindness to both Circle and me. If this matter ended with the investment manager from Zhuo Mei bringing two top-tier brands into our company, Baoli, as the biggest contributor, Chen Jingming would at least be promoted to the level of deputy general manager. Circle and I, as his confidants, would also benefit. This matter was already tied to the fate of too many people...


    Circle spoke to me again in my silence, "Zhao Yang, you have to promise me, pretend you didn''t hear about this today, okay?"


    I remained silent for a long time, as if I was standing at the most difficult crossroads of my life...

 Chapter 52 – Gradually becoming friends

    Circle was still anxiously waiting for my response. After a fierce struggle in my heart, I finally said to him, "You''re right, I''ll pretend I didn''t hear it."


    Circle asked me seriously again, "Are you sure?"


    I nodded, turned around and left the staff lounge. My heart was filled with an indescribable sense of depression. Circle was right, this matter was of great importance, even related to the fate of two shopping malls. The people involved were numerous, and Chen Jingming had told us about it because of trust. If I couldn''t bear it and leaked it to Mi Cai, I would be unfaithful to Chen Jingming. But if I kept it in my heart and watched the lonely, indifferent woman being calculated by her own uncle, I would be aiding and abetting!


    I was distracted all day, as if I had been tormented for a long time before it was time to get off work. Looking at the complex neon lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, my heart was filled with a sudden struggle.


    After staring at the world outside the floor-to-ceiling windows for a long time, I finally picked up my backpack and said to Circle, who was still working, "I''m going to leave work early."


    Circle instinctively responded with a "Hmm", then suddenly looked up at me and said, "It''s only seven o''clock, are you leaving now?"


    "It''s not early, it''s been an hour and a half since work ended."


    Circle nodded and said, "Staying in the office won''t help you think. You can go home first. If you have any good promotional ideas, we can keep in touch at any time."


    I made an OK gesture, didn''t have time to say "see you tomorrow" to Circle, and hurriedly left the oppressive office.


    ¡­¡­


    Carrying a shoulder bag and smoking a cigarette, I swayed along the street with the crowd, not knowing where to go, but my mood became increasingly heavy.


    50 meters ahead, the giant logo of the Zomei Shopping Center was flashing on the top of the building. But who could see the struggle under this light? Who could penetrate this light and see the ugliness of human nature?


    I walked mechanically towards the Zomei Shopping Center, then my chaotic thoughts controlled my body and I followed the crowd into the mall.


    Actually, I didn''t know why I came to Zomei. Perhaps subconsciously, I wanted to tell Mi Cai about this conspiracy against her and save her from this disaster. But I was held back by another force, so I was lost as if I had lost my mind.


    I took the elevator from the first floor to the sixth floor. There were no more floors above the sixth floor, so I had nowhere to go. I found a bench for customers to rest and sat down, looking at the passing customers in a daze.


    The elevator door to the Zomei office area suddenly opened, and I saw Mi Cai coming out with a young female assistant. I instinctively didn''t want her to see me, so I stood up from the bench and slipped into the nearest shop.


    The receptionist''s "Welcome" rang in my ears. I looked up and was dazzled by the various colors of women''s underwear.


    "Sir, are you looking for underwear for your wife?" The receptionist greeted me warmly.


    "I..." I swallowed back the words "Do I look like a married man?" and smiled at the receptionist, "Yes, can you recommend something sexy?"


    The receptionist immediately showed me a piece and enthusiastically introduced it. I echoed her praises, but my eyes were scanning outside. I didn''t see Mi Cai, maybe she had gone downstairs. I breathed a sigh of relief, then interrupted the still chattering receptionist, "This underwear is good, but it''s too cheap. Didn''t you learn in training to judge customers'' purchasing power based on their clothes?" I lifted my shoulder bag to show the logo to the receptionist, "See, it''s a Rickdas. You''ve never heard of Rickdas, have you? Let me enlighten you, Rickdas is the latest luxury brand created by Reebok, Nike, and Adidas. This bag is their latest limited edition worldwide. In three words, super luxurious! Do you think I would buy underwear from a second-tier brand?"


    The receptionist was a bit speechless. I put on my shoulder bag and prepared to leave, but suddenly saw Mi Cai looking at me with a strange look outside the underwear shop.


    I braced myself and walked towards Mi Cai, squeezing out a smile and saying, "What a coincidence to meet you here."


    "I work here... But what are you doing in a women''s underwear shop?" Mi Cai asked with a look of disgust.


    I avoided the question and exclaimed, "So you work here, are you the building manager of the mall?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai shook her head, her eyes still full of contempt as she asked, "You still haven''t answered my question, what are you doing in the underwear shop?"


    I answered impatiently, "Can you stop looking at me like I''m a pervert? I went into the underwear shop to avoid you. I saw you coming down from the elevator just now."


    "You avoiding me, I should be thanking my lucky stars!" Mi Cai said with a skeptical expression.


    I sighed and said, "I feel guilty!"


    This was the truth. If I chose not to tell Mi Cai about Mi Zhongde''s power conspiracy against her in the end, I would feel a strong sense of guilt and sin.


    Mi Cai laughed and said, "You should have felt guilty a long time ago. It''s good to find a place to live and settle down temporarily, isn''t it?"Mi Cai seemed to have misunderstood the true meaning of my guilt, but I couldn''t explain it to her. So, I changed the subject and said, "You haven''t eaten yet, right? Let''s have a meal together, we''ve run into each other anyway."


    Mi Cai glanced at her watch and nodded, "It''s time for a meal. I heard there''s a new rice noodle shop on the first floor. It''s supposed to be good."


    "Are you treating me?"


    Mi Cai replied with a smile that wasn''t quite a smile, "Your backpack is all Ruike Dasi, do you really need someone else to treat you to a bowl of rice noodles?"


    Me: "......"


    ......


    Although Mi Cai said she wouldn''t treat me, she still lined up with the crowd once we got to the rice noodle shop. At that moment, she, lost in the crowd, seemed like an ordinary girl, without a trace of her CEO demeanor. I felt a wave of inexplicable sadness and struggle. Maybe I really shouldn''t have invited her to dinner, even if it was just for a bowl of rice noodles.


    A little while later, Mi Cai sat down across from me with her order ticket. She glanced at my backpack and asked with a smile, "When did Ruike Dasi come out with this? It seems pretty impressive!"


    Seeing her smile, I realized: after countless arguments, we had come to see each other as acquaintances. We would tease each other, invite each other to meals, and help each other with small things within our capabilities. As long as it didn''t involve that old house, we were gradually becoming somewhat like friends.

 Chapter 53 – A kind woman

    Following Mi Cai''s gaze, I looked at my backpack and said, "My backpack is indeed from Rickdas, but it''s not as luxurious as I made it out to be. I bought it on Taobao for 50 yuan, and it even came with a free sun hat!"


    Mi Cai bit her lip to stop herself from laughing, but I was mesmerized by her. She looked so beautiful at that moment.


    Finally, Mi Cai managed to suppress her laughter and asked, "Is the sun hat also from Rickdas?"


    "Who remembers? A friend borrowed it for fishing last time and never returned it. Such a lack of manners!"


    "It must be from Rickdas, so luxurious. That''s why your friend was tempted!" Mi Cai analyzed seriously.


    This time, it was my turn to be amused by Mi Cai. But I replied seriously, "That''s why I said he lacks manners. He sold his integrity for a hat. If he liked it, he could have just told me. I''m so extravagant, I wouldn''t care about a hat!"


    Mi Cai shook her head with a smile and stopped talking to me. Perhaps she didn''t really like my blabbering. Sometimes, she was amused by me, but it was also quite helpless.


    Finally, the waiter brought us two bowls of rice noodles and some other snacks. Mi Cai and I started eating.


    During the meal, I occasionally glanced at Mi Cai. She was quiet throughout, but I saw loneliness in her silence. This loneliness had nothing to do with material things. It was about her background. But she was still living her life with strength and independence. At least since I''ve known her, I''ve never heard her complain about life.


    I was lost in thought, looking at her. Thinking about the conspiracy she was about to face, I felt a wave of heartache and intense struggle, but also felt so powerless!


    As we were about to finish this simple dinner, I finally said to Mi Cai, "I still owe you 10,016 yuan!"


    Mi Cai replied nonchalantly, "I haven''t forgotten, but you don''t have to rush to pay me back. Find a place to live first, like you said, don''t experience the pain of having nowhere to go again."


    "You remember my words quite clearly!"


    "You said it to me just last night, of course I remember."


    I changed the subject and asked, "So why did you lock the door and not let me in when I came back after meeting my friend yesterday? I knocked for almost ten minutes."


    "Even if you knocked for an hour, I wouldn''t open it. I told you, I won''t rent the house to anyone."


    "Then tell me, why did you buy that old house and refuse to rent it to others?" I asked the question that had been bothering me for a long time.


    Mi Cai looked out the window, her expression somewhat distant. After a long time, she said softly, "That''s my private matter, don''t ask."


    I didn''t press further. I had a vague understanding of why she bought that old house, but I couldn''t be sure.


    In my silence, Mi Cai, who rarely took the initiative, said to me, "It''s still early, I''ll go house hunting with you. You should settle down soon, or you won''t know how to explain to your father when he comes to see you next time."


    ¡­¡­


    In the dark night, I sat in Mi Cai''s car, holding my phone, searching for rental information on 58 City. Whenever I found a suitable place, I would call to inquire. Mi Cai acted as my driver, driving me around every corner of the city, watching me haggle with landlords or agents in all sorts of shameless ways.


    Thanks to Mi Cai being my driver, in just over an hour, I had efficiently viewed 5 houses. But I was never completely satisfied due to various reasons, so we continued to shuttle around the vast city.


    Half an hour later, Mi Cai parked the car by the roadside and said with a sigh, "Renting a house is really not easy!" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah, there are a lot of unscrupulous agents these days. If you''re not careful, you''ll be cheated."


    Mi Cai nodded in agreement. She had just had a full taste of this, which made me realize that sometimes it''s not that we can''t understand each other, it''s just that we haven''t really lived in each other''s world.


    "Are you thirsty? I''ll go buy you something to drink." I asked Mi Cai.


    Mi Cai nodded. I even forgot to ask her what she wanted to drink, opened the car door and got out. At that moment, my mood was once again oppressively heavy. Although Mi Cai and I had argued countless times over that old house, I didn''t dislike her. As we spent more time together, I found that she wasn''t the high-handed person I initially thought she was. On the contrary, she was easygoing, seemed cold but was very warm-hearted. Maybe she really was a kind woman.


    I still remember when Mr. Ban came to find me at my lowest point. Although I had done something very excessive to her, she still chose to help me hide my plight from Mr. Ban. She even left the house to me and Mr. Ban when she left. I also remember the coat she put on me by the moat to keep me from getting cold, and the honey milk she made for me in Robben''s small house after I got drunk...


    In my inner torment, I kept asking myself, "Zhao Yang, are you really going to stand by and watch such a woman fall into your uncle''s business conspiracy?"


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    Finally, I turned back and looked at her sitting in the car, her figure somewhat lost and lonely, reflected in the car window. My heart ached at this reflection, but I still couldn''t tell her the truth. Because of Circle, because of Chen Jingming, I couldn''t selfishly ruin their bright future.


    I bought two cups of hot lemon tea and sat back in Mi Cai''s car. I inserted the straw for her and handed it over, reminding her, "It''s a bit hot, drink it slowly."


    Mi Cai nodded, holding the plastic cup with both hands, absorbing the warmth of the lemon tea. The autumn night had already begun to carry a hint of winter chill.


    We sat in silence for a long time before Mi Cai asked me, "Should we continue searching?"


    "It''s up to you. If you''re not tired, I''m fine with it."


    Mi Cai smiled and said, "It''s best to finish what we''ve started. Let''s give it our all and find your house tonight."


    I joked, "Miss Mi Cai, you''re so enthusiastic and scheming. Once we settle this tonight, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor."


    "The phrase ''sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor'' isn''t quite accurate. I''ve put in effort to help you find a house. Besides, that house was originally mine, so it''s a bit of a stretch to say I''m enjoying the fruits of your labor, isn''t it?" Mi Cai said seriously.


    "Ugh, why are you so nitpicky!" I waved my hand impatiently.


    "I learned it from you."


    I took a big sip of the lemon tea I was holding with both hands, but almost spat it out when it scalded my mouth.


    Mi Cai handed me a tissue and wiped the tea that had spilled on her, complaining, "You just reminded me to be careful because it''s hot, but you forgot when you were drinking it yourself!"


    I didn''t respond to Mi Cai. A bitter feeling welled up in my heart. I had forgotten because I was distracted, and I was distracted because I was struggling. A strong impulse surged in my heart at that moment. I wanted to tell Mi Cai about the conspiracy against her!

 Chapter 54 – Struggle of human nature

    Ignoring the pain from the burn in my mouth,


    "Zhao Yang, what''s wrong? You look upset," Mi Cai asked, looking at me with a puzzled expression.


    In my struggle, my heart suddenly calmed down. I rubbed my mouth and said to Mi Cai, "I got burned, and I think I might have a blister in my mouth."


    "Do you need to go to the hospital?"


    "Do I really need to bother the hospital with such minor injuries? Please, have some common sense!"


    "Oh, as long as you''re okay. Let''s continue looking for a house then," Mi Cai said, starting the car.


    ......


    After searching late into the night, we finally found a cost-effective studio apartment. I immediately paid three months'' rent and a one-month deposit. After the landlord left, only Mi Cai and I remained in the room.


    We stood side by side on the small balcony on the 26th floor. I lit a cigarette and looked at the city''s night view for a long time before saying to Mi Cai, "It''s very quiet up here, just like your old room. Both are very quiet!"


    "Are you finally admitting that the room is mine?" Mi Cai asked with a smile.


    "Everything is settled, why wouldn''t I admit it?"


    Mi Cai nodded as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and asked, "Are you moving in tonight?"


    "Tomorrow night..." I paused and looked at Mi Cai sincerely, "Let me stay at your place one last night. I need to say goodbye to my friends, the mop, the clock, the sofa, the cabinet. I''m afraid they''ll miss me!"


    ......


    By the time Mi Cai and I returned to the old house, it was already late. Mi Cai went to the bathroom to wash up before me, while I sat on the sofa, seemingly calm, but my emotions were churning.


    After a while, Mi Cai came out of the bathroom, applying toner to her face. She jokingly or seriously said to me, "Zhao Yang, weren''t you going to say goodbye to your friends? Why haven''t I seen you move since we got home?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I put my hand on my chest and said to Mi Cai, "I communicate with my friends with my heart. We''ve already said our goodbyes, just now."


    Mi Cai nodded and made a surprised expression, "You and your friends have a high level of understanding!"


    "Of course, in front of me and my friends, you all are ordinary people."


    Mi Cai pursed her lips, then laughed and didn''t say anything more. She turned and walked towards her room, then closed the door. Suddenly, I felt as if we were separated into two worlds by this door. My world was in chaos, while hers was the calm before the storm.


    After washing up, I returned to the room I had lived in for two years but was about to leave. I stared blankly at the ceiling, but my mind was not empty.


    The night grew deeper, and the bright moonlight outside the window filtered through the gaps in the curtains, swaying on the quilt. My consciousness gradually blurred, and after a while, I cast off the burden of human nature and fell asleep.


    ......


    The next day, I got up early, as usual, first making porridge in the rice cooker. I went downstairs to buy some doughnuts, steamed dumplings, and some pastries. After returning, I fried two eggs. I planned to have breakfast with Mi Cai, but this was not to curry favor or to thank her for helping me find a house last night. It was more like a sense of guilt, guilt for my silence.


    After preparing breakfast, Mi Cai had already gotten up. A moment later, after washing up, I prepared breakfast and said to her, "Let''s have breakfast together. I made porridge."


    Mi Cai politely thanked me and sat across from me. We started eating breakfast, but the atmosphere was always a bit oppressive and silent.


    Mi Cai seemed to enjoy this silence, but I was in torment. So, she ended up eating faster than me. She politely said to me, "Zhao Yang, take your time. I''m going to work now. Oh, and if you don''t have time to clean up the dishes, just leave them. I''ll wash them when I get back tonight."


    Mi Cai had already picked up her bag and was changing her shoes by the shoe rack. I called out to her, "Wait."


    Mi Cai didn''t stop changing her shoes and asked somewhat puzzled, "What''s wrong?"


    I remained silent for a while before saying, "Can you give me a lift? I''ll go to work with you."


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    "Is it on the way?"


    "Don''t you work at the Zhuomei Shopping Center? Our company is right across from yours."


    Mi Cai nodded and said, "Oh... What company do you work for?"


    I hesitated before answering, "We''re just a small company. I''m just earning a salary and getting by. It''s not worth mentioning."


    "Alright, then hurry up." Mi Cai had already changed her shoes and was waiting for me at the door.


    I quickly finished the porridge in my bowl, changed my shoes, grabbed my briefcase, and followed Mi Cai downstairs.


    ...


    The traffic during rush hour was not very good. We moved slowly, stopping and starting. As we neared the company, the car was once again stuck on a two-way street. With nothing to do, Mi Cai and I remained silent.


    I took a CD from the storage box in Mi Cai''s car and put it into the music player, planning to listen to a song to pass the frustrating time.


    The song "" was performed by Luo Dayou with a voice full of vicissitudes and stories. This song expressing great love filled the small car.


    The car was lightly enveloped by the autumn fog. Outside the car window, the cars waiting for passage all had their sidelights on, like fireflies resting, quieting the world. I was somewhat entranced by the quiet I had imagined, listening to "."


    Mi Cai next to me was the same. She seemed even quieter than me, but the corners of her eyes were already moist. Tears slowly fell from her cheeks. As if she didn''t want me to see, she leaned on the car''s steering wheel. So, apart from some messy hair, I couldn''t see her face at all.


    What happened to her? She just listened to a song by Luo Dayou on this inadvertent morning, and she cried!

 Chapter 55 – Struggle of Human Nature 2

    The car in front started to move slowly, but Mi Cai was oblivious. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and the car behind was already honking impatiently.


    I finally gently patted Mi Cai''s shoulder and asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Mi Cai lifted her head and wiped away her tears with her hand, but she didn''t look at me. She said, "It''s nothing," then put the car in gear and drove forward with the flow of traffic. The song "Love''s Proverbs" finally ended, and the car gradually returned to calm.


    I didn''t plan to let Mi Cai know that I was working at Baoli, so I had her drop me off at a station. Before parting, I asked her, "Hey, can you help me move tonight? It would be convenient with your car."


    "If I don''t have to work overtime today, I can." Mi Cai didn''t refuse.


    I smiled and said, "Okay, I''ll call you after work."


    Mi Cai nodded, closed the car window, and started the car. In an instant, she disappeared into the vast flow of traffic, and I stood there for a long time, thinking about how she had cried over the steering wheel because of a song, and my heart was filled with a sense of loss.


    I didn''t want to delve into what "Love''s Proverbs" reminded her of, but I did feel sorry for her, and this sympathy deepened my guilt.


    ¡­¡­


    When I arrived at the company, before I had a chance to catch my breath, Circle called a "brainstorming" session with our planning and copywriting team.


    During the meeting, everyone''s opinions turned into a verbal battle, stirring up a storm of ideas. But I sat in the corner, absent-minded and silent, until the meeting ended.


    After the brainstorming session, everyone took their folders and left. I remained seated, my mind completely lost.


    Circle lit a cigarette and waved it under my nose. The smell of tobacco brought me back to reality, and I asked him awkwardly, "Is the storm over?"


    "I just want to know where this storm blew you off to?" Circle''s tone was somewhat displeased. He was always meticulous at work.


    I didn''t say anything, took the cigarette from Circle''s fingers, lit it, took a deep puff, but Circle took it back, extinguished it, and threw it in the trash.


    I frowned and said, "What the hell are you trying to prove with me? I''m agitated!"


    Circle was taken aback, then realized why I was agitated. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to me. Before he could speak, his expression had already perfectly conveyed the bitter advice that was about to come.


    "Are you still bothered by the situation with Zhuo Mei and Mi Cai?"


    "The thing that''s bothering me... From yesterday until now, I feel like a criminal who''s committed a crime but hasn''t confessed. Do you understand this feeling? It''s like a fishbone stuck in my throat!" I said each word heavier than the last, venting my inner repression.


    Circle sighed and spoke to me in a softer tone, "Zhao Yang, I made it very clear to you yesterday about the pros and cons of the situation. No matter how guilty you feel, it''s still an internal matter of Zhuo Mei. We must stay out of it."


    I fell silent again. There was no point in discussing this matter further with Circle. He couldn''t see it from my perspective, but he wasn''t wrong either. Although Circle and I have been friends for nearly ten years, we are not the same kind of people, so our lives are different. At this moment, I understood why Circle and I, who graduated from the same university, are living different lives after graduation.


    After a while, I said to Circle, "I''ll sit here for a while longer. I''ll figure this out on my own."


    Circle nodded and reminded me, "I still don''t know what you think about this promotion plan. Let''s talk about it later." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okay," I replied.


    Circle took another cigarette from the pack and handed it to me, saying, "Go to the smoking room. Be mindful of your behavior in the company."


    I took the cigarette from Circle''s hand and looked at him numbly...


    Circle patted my shoulder and then turned and left. My fingers were spinning the cigarette rapidly, but I felt even more numb.


    ¡­¡­


    At noon, Circle and I were eating lunch in the company cafeteria. We chose a relatively quiet corner and didn''t immediately start discussing the promotion plan we were preparing.


    Circle said to me, "Yan Yan is free tonight. Let her cook a few dishes and come to my house. Let''s have a few drinks."


    "I can''t tonight. I''m moving."


    "You haven''t sorted out the moving yet?" Circle asked in surprise.


    "No, I just found a suitable house. I''ve been busy lately!"


    Circle nodded, fell silent for a moment, and then said, "Zhao Yang, not to criticize you, but you''re at the age where you should be settling down. If you can settle down, you should."


    I asked Circle seriously, "We''ve been graduated for so many years now. Our classmates and friends who should be stable are stable, and those who aren''t are desperately trying to settle down. Why do I feel like I''m living in an illusion?"


    Without thinking, Circle replied, "It''s because you''ve been living too selfishly these years. But your selfishness is filled with strong idealism. Zhao Yang, you have to understand, a castle built of sand on the beach, no matter how exquisite, will collapse at the first wave. Your pain and instability stem from this!"


    Circle''s words left me bewildered. I knew that the wave he was talking about was the harsh reality, and my pain came from my unwillingness to accept reality. So I would fantasize about that castle in the sky, and the woman with long hair waiting in the city.


    Circle said to me again, "You really shouldn''t think about the power struggle at Zhuo Mei anymore. People always live in reality. It''s good to have a conscience, but this matter has gone beyond the simple scope of conscience. If you measure this matter with conscience or humanity and tell Mi Cai in the end, reality will immediately slap you in the face. Zhao Yang, learn to respect reality. Don''t take risks!"


    "Why are you bringing this up again?" I said to Circle with a hint of dissatisfaction.


    After a brief silence, Circle sighed softly, "Because I know you, so I worry..."


    I remained silent. Although Circle and I are not the same kind of people, as nearly ten-year-long brothers, he indeed knows me better than many others. If I didn''t measure this matter with humanity and conscience, how could I be so tormented?


    Circle continued to speak to me in silence, "If Chen Jingming takes advantage of the internal strife of Zhuomei to bring two top-tier brands into our Baoli Department Store this time, with such a great achievement, he will almost certainly be promoted to the position of deputy general manager of the company. You and I, as his confidants, will truly have a firm foothold in this company, especially you, Zhao Yang, this is a sublimation for your life, your life will change qualitatively because of this."


    I lit a cigarette, took a deep puff, tilted my head back, closed my eyes, and exhaled all the smoke from my mouth as if venting. For the first time, I felt my decades-long belief was wavering. Perhaps I should really respect reality. I have reached the age to settle down and start a family. Now I finally see the dawn of life. If I extinguish it with my own hands, my future life will struggle in the dark.


    "Let''s talk about your thoughts on this promotion plan."


    Circle''s words temporarily pulled me out of the mire of struggle. I finally nodded, ready to discuss my thoughts on this promotion plan with Circle.

 Chapter 56 – Love is not extravagant

    I sorted out my scattered thoughts on this promotion plan in my mind and then said to Circle, "For this promotion plan, we can think outside the box. My idea is that, except for the eight international first-tier brands, we can still use the previous promotion methods for other ordinary brands, such as simple discounts and free gifts. We don''t need to spend too much effort on this, and time doesn''t allow us to be too distracted."


    Circle nodded and said, "I understand your point, and I agree with your idea. The main focus of this promotion activity should still be on highlighting the image of our top department store. So, let''s talk about how you plan to integrate these eight first-tier brands for this promotion plan."


    After thinking for a moment, I said, "Our Bao Li department store includes almost all categories of daily necessities among these eight first-tier brands, such as clothing, bags, watches, jewelry... This inclusiveness is our advantage and also facilitates our matching promotions."


    "What kind of matching?"


    "First, we need to create enough subjective motivation for consumers. Of course, promotions are an important means to stimulate buying motivation, but that''s not enough. We also need to further stimulate their desire to purchase at the psychological level."


    "Go on."


    "First, we need to segment the market. Those who can afford luxury brands are definitely high-end individuals, but there are also differences in professions and wealth among high-end individuals."


    Circle nodded and said, "Yes, purchasing luxury brands is mainly done by women. These women are either top elites in companies or rich girls, or..."


    "Or mistresses!" I replaced Circle and said. Having worked in the department store industry for many years, we already have a specific system for targeting consumer groups. Ironically, we have studied the consumption structure of luxury brands in Bao Li department store. Company executives account for about 20%, second-generation rich account for about 30%, and the remaining 50% are basically abnormal purchases. So, it is common to see young and beautiful women with successful-looking men entering luxury brand stores in high-end shopping places. Of course, this is just an internal investigation we conducted and does not have official or authoritative status, but it is enough to illustrate the problem.


    "So, are you planning to use this as an entry point?" Circle asked directly.


    I nodded and said, "Yes, you know these women. They have long-term lack of security in their emotions, and they need a kind of reliance. Even if this reliance is false, they will still find comfort in it."


    "So, what is your promotion theme?"


    "Love is not extravagant... During the event, we will give discounts as we should, and as long as they purchase products in luxury brand stores as lovers, we will give them a commemorative version of our department store''s membership card. In the second year of the event, if these couples are still together and purchase luxury products in our department store, we will refund them in their commemorative membership card. The refund will be 10% of their shopping amount in the second year, increasing to 15% in the third year, and 20% in the fourth year. By doing this, we can enhance the continuity of consumption and provide these consumers with both psychological and material compensation. Actually, those women don''t really care about the so-called cash refund. What they care about is a kind of psychological comfort. They also hope for love and hope that love can last."


    Circle pondered the feasibility of this idea in silence for a while and then said to me, "I basically agree with this promotion idea, but whether it can be implemented or not, we still need to have another meeting for collective discussion."


    I nodded and said, "Okay, I''ll listen to your arrangement."


    Circle joked, "Zhao Yang, it seems like you have a deep understanding of women''s thoughts. If your judgment about those women is correct, then this promotion strategy against Zhuo Mei will definitely be a great success."


    I didn''t say anything, but my understanding of those women was gained from years of nightclub experience. As for whether their psychological characteristics can be used as a basis for business behavior, I don''t know for sure. If I am fortunate enough to have the company adopt it, then the market will ultimately verify it.


    ...


    Busy for a whole day, finally, it was time to get off work. Colleagues in the office had already left one after another, and the surroundings gradually became quiet. I lay back in my office chair, closed my eyes to rest, but my mind couldn''t calm down. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Another ringtone from my phone brought me back to reality. I wiped my face heavily and picked up the phone from the desk. I looked at the number and was surprised to find that it was Mr. Ban calling. I was a little puzzled because in the years I''ve been away from home, I was the one who usually called him. He hardly ever contacted me. Sometimes I even wondered if he had forgotten about me, his son who was wandering outside. But I knew he hadn''t forgotten, so every time he passed by Suzhou on a business trip, he would come to see me. He just wasn''t good at expressing emotions.


    Out of habit, I lit a cigarette before answering the call and said, "Mr. Ban."


    "Hmm, have you eaten?"


    "I haven''t finished work yet. The company has been busy lately."


    "Oh."


    "Do you have something to tell me?"


    "I don''t have time to go to Suzhou recently. I sent the rice and flour we talked about last time through express delivery. Please pay attention to receiving it these days."


    "Oh." I replied weakly.


    Mr. Ban fell silent for a moment but didn''t mention hanging up the phone. His unusual behavior surprised me, but I still patiently waited.


    "Zhao Yang, how are you and that girl doing?"


    I knew Mr. Ban was referring to Mi Cai, but I pretended to be ignorant and asked, "Which girl?"


    "The girl who lives with you. By the way, your mother knitted two scarves this time. She also knitted one for her. Remember to give it to her. Also, you have a bad temper, don''t get angry with her, be nice to her, and don''t argue when living together."


    As Mr. Ban spoke, I counted in my mind how many words he had said in this sentence. To my surprise, it was a total of 64 words. It seemed like he had never said so many words in a single sentence since I consciously started counting. I suddenly felt that this world is truly unpredictable, even Mr. Ban has changed, becoming talkative!


    "You don''t even know her name, but you''re so enthusiastic. You even knitted scarves for her. Do you think it''s appropriate?" I said helplessly.


    Mr. Ban continued with a sentence that made me want to spit blood, "It''s you who''s going to live with her, why do we need to know her name?"


    After a while, I helplessly said to Mr. Ban, "You''re right, I''ll do as you say."


    "Treat her well, she''s a good girl."


    Mr. Ban''s repeated emphasis left me helpless, but I didn''t dare to rudely hang up on him. Once again, I said helplessly, "My dear father, you''ve only met her twice, how can you tell if she''s a good girl? Is she naive, or are you cunning?"


    Mr. Ban ignored my teasing and repeated, "Treat her well," before hanging up the phone.


    Listening to the "beep beep" of the hang-up tone, I didn''t know what to feel. I couldn''t help but ask myself: How should I treat her well? Right now, I feel like a powerless bystander watching her uncle, Mi Zhongde, raising a cruel knife against her.


    I put my phone back on the table, leaned heavily against the chair, slapped my face with my hand, closed my eyes, and thought of her long hair hanging over her shoulders, yet she looked so lonely. It felt as if the blood vessel connected to my heart had been torn apart, and a suffocating pain surged up all at once.


    The phone rang again, this time it was Mi Cai. I then remembered that she had promised me in the morning that she would help me move when she had time. She must have finished work now, so she took the initiative to contact me. She really is a woman who keeps her word.

 Chapter 57 – I want to be myself

    I hesitated for a long time before answering Mi Cai''s phone call. Her voice seemed lower than usual as she asked, "Have you finished work?"


    "Yeah, haven''t you finished work yet?"


    "I''m about to finish too."


    "Oh, where is your company? I''ll come pick you up. Today, I helped you move, so I feel relieved."


    I smiled and said, "Are you helping me move because you''re afraid I''ll continue to bother you?"


    "You used the term ''bother'' quite well!... I just asked where your company is, and you haven''t answered yet."


    I paused for a moment before replying, "I''ll come to Zuo Mei to find you. The rice noodles downstairs at Zuo Mei are good. Today, I''ll treat you as a thank you for helping me move."


    "Alright, come over. I''ll be waiting for you at the entrance of the rice noodle shop."


    I agreed with Mi Cai, and then we both hung up the phone. I temporarily put my emotions aside and left the company with my backpack.


    ...


    When I arrived at the north gate of Zuo Mei Shopping Center, Mi Cai was already waiting for me at the entrance of the rice noodle shop. Today, she didn''t wear any makeup, but she was still so beautiful. It was peak shopping time, and as people walked by, they couldn''t help but glance at her, attracted by her beauty. After all, completely natural beauties without any makeup were rare these days.


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    I approached Mi Cai, and both of us silently looked at each other, as if without the confrontation, we had no topics to talk about.


    Finally, I asked her, "How long have you been waiting?"


    "Not long. Let''s go. There are almost no seats inside." Mi Cai glanced behind her as she spoke.


    I nodded and walked towards the rice noodle shop before Mi Cai. For the first time, I politely opened the glass door for her. Mi Cai looked at me with surprise, but still politely said, "Thank you," before entering the shop.


    Mi Cai found an empty seat, and I went to order. After waiting in line for a while, I ordered two bowls of rice noodles and some other snacks. Then, holding the receipt and the order number, I sat down across from Mi Cai.


    We had been eating rice noodles at this shop for two days in a row. I couldn''t help but ask Mi Cai, who was sitting opposite me, out of boredom, "Is the reason you like eating rice noodles because your name is Mi Cai?"


    Mi Cai glanced at me but didn''t answer. She just picked up her tea cup and took a sip of water, clearly unwilling to answer my boring question.


    I smiled and didn''t mind. After all, I had gotten used to her indifferent attitude towards me, although in very few situations, we could still be considered ordinary friends.


    After a while, the food we ordered was brought over by the waiter. Mi Cai only ordered a bowl of rice noodles, and she pushed all the other snacks to me.


    I pushed the chicken leg and tofu in front of her and said, "You have to help me move later. It''s physical work, so you should eat more."


    "I''m only responsible for driving. Besides, do you have a lot of stuff? Last time when you moved out, I saw you dragging everything by yourself and moved out in one go."


    I remembered the scene when I ran away without giving the money back to Mi Cai. I awkwardly smiled and said, "I just wanted to find an excuse for you to eat more, and then use your mouth to destroy your beauty. Let''s see how you look like after becoming fat!"


    "You really have evil intentions! But unfortunately, I don''t get fat!"


    Seeing Mi Cai''s slightly proud look when she said she doesn''t get fat, I genuinely laughed from the bottom of my heart. Although she was often indifferent, there was still a childlike side to her. The childlike side she unintentionally showed in front of me also indicated that she no longer had any guard against me. Perhaps all the conflicts and unhappiness between us were really just because of that room.


    ...


    After finishing the meal, Mi Cai and I went to Robben''s place. I didn''t have a lot of things, and I originally asked her to wait downstairs, but she insisted on coming up with me. She helped me carry a few lighter bags, showing the typical behavior of most women who say one thing but mean another. However, this kind of behavior only proved that she was a kind-hearted woman. That''s why Mr. Ban judged her as a good girl after only meeting her twice.


    When we arrived at the new house, I quickly cleaned the room, while Mi Cai helped me set up the bedding at the same time. I felt guilty about this. I remembered that shortly after we first met, I rudely threw her blanket and quilt downstairs. Although it was for venting my anger at the time, comparing our actions now, I suddenly felt inferior.After tidying up everything, I ignored my fatigue and went downstairs to the beverage shop to buy two cups of hot juice. I gave one to Mi Cai and moved a chair for her to sit and rest. She was suspicious, wondering if I was preparing to sweet-talk her again, then renege on my words, and shamelessly ask to move back into that room. In fact, she misunderstood. I was just feeling guilty for my previous rudeness and current concealment from her.


    Mi Cai only drank half of her juice. She put the juice on the coffee table and said to me with a relieved expression, "You''ve finished your business too, I should go now."


    "Oh, take care on your way."


    "Mm." Mi Cai responded, already picking up her handbag.


    I opened the door for her and said, "If you have any problems living over there that you can''t handle, feel free to call me anytime. I''ll be there whenever you need."


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    Mi Cai nodded, turned around and walked towards the door. I added, "If you want to eat home-cooked meals, come over here. I''ll cook for you. Besides, it''s close to your company."


    "I know." Mi Cai didn''t look back, but her tone was not as indifferent. I understood her ''I know'' was not just to appease me. Maybe one night she would really come over for a dinner I cooked, with porridge, rice, and a few simple home dishes.

 Chapter 58 – The two letters I wrote

    This was my first night in the bachelor apartment, but I made one of the most significant decisions in my life. I wrote two letters, one for Mi Cai tomorrow, and the other was a resignation letter to Chen Jingming after completing this promotion plan.


    I knew that when I chose to tell Mi Cai about Mi Zhongde''s power conspiracy, it also meant betraying Circle, and even more so, I felt guilty for Chen Jingming''s kindness. I had no face to stay in Baoli Department Store, resignation was the only path I could choose.


    I picked up the pen, took a deep breath, and without much thought, I quickly wrote the two letters. Then I broke the pen and threw it into the trash can. The pen was innocent, but my emotions needed to vent. I had ruined my own future, and even the future of Circle and Chen Jingming.


    Thinking of the sacrifices Le Yao made for my career, I felt suffocated again. Although this decision upheld the little belief deep in my heart, it let down my true friends.


    I folded the two letters and put them in my pocket. Although I didn''t regret my choice, I knew that the night ahead would be sleepless. I wanted to drink, the more the better, then fall asleep drunk, and no longer care about these heavy realities.


    I took a taxi to CC''s restaurant. At this moment, I really wanted to drink. If CC was free, I wanted to chat with her. It didn''t have to be about my choices regarding human nature, just casual chat would do.


    ......


    A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled.


    It was already late, nearing closing time. There were very few customers dining in the "Empty City" music restaurant, and CC was sitting in a corner drinking beer, still living unlike a woman, despite her beautiful appearance.


    I sat down opposite her, and CC only then noticed my arrival. She snapped her fingers at the waiter, who immediately brought me a large glass of draft beer.


    CC looked at me and teased, "What''s wrong, Zhao Yang? Got beaten up by life again?"


    "Pretty much, you really know me well!" I said, taking a big gulp of the draft beer.


    "Otherwise, why would you come here so late?"


    I didn''t say anything, just gulped down the beer like water, until the cold pain from the alcohol stimulated my brain and I stopped.


    CC just watched me, occasionally taking a few sips of her own beer, until I stopped and then asked me, "Tell me, how has life upset you again?"


    I was silent for a long time before I said, "You''d say we''re both idealists, right? Living with ideals and sticking to them is a beautiful thing, so why does reality have to constrain us so much?"


    CC thought for a moment and said to me, "Actually, I''ve figured out something over the years. There''s nothing wrong with living as an idealist, but you need material support. Like this music restaurant of mine, it can support me now, I don''t have to worry too much about material things, so I can continue to live this idealistic life. If it wasn''t for the anonymous customer who gave the restaurant 100,000 yuan at the critical moment of life and death, allowing the restaurant to continue operating, where would I talk about ideals?"


    I was silent for a long time again before I said, "CC, you''re right! Living idealistically also needs material as a foundation."


    CC was indeed right. Take the incident I encountered this time as an example. If I had enough financial security, didn''t have to worry about my career, and Circle and Chen Jingming were already in high positions at Baoli, then I could tell Mi Cai everything without any worries, to fulfill my conscience and belief.


    Even though I understood that living as an idealist requires material support, I still didn''t plan to change my decision. I would still tell Mi Cai about Mi Zhongde''s power conspiracy. Perhaps deep down, even if this matter cost me the hard-won career prospects, I still felt it was worth it.


    After finishing a large glass of draft beer, I ordered another one, and CC just smoked and accompanied me. We didn''t communicate anymore. This lack of communication stemmed from our idealistic perspective of seeing through the reality of this world. Seeing through it, we were tired and didn''t want to say anything more.


    After two large glasses of draft beer, I started to feel dizzy. The tension that had been tight all the time gradually relaxed, so much so that CC''s face across from me became blurred. So I took advantage of the momentum and ordered a glass of high-proof liquor and drank it all. This kind of heavy drinking with the purpose of getting drunk made my dizziness stronger and stronger, and in the end, I just lay down on the table in front of CC... My spiritual world was quiet, but the reality of tomorrow might be a mess.


    ......


    The next day, I woke up with a hangover headache. The autumn rain outside the window was drizzling, and the sky was gloomy. I looked into the room and found that I was sleeping in CC''s boudoir, and then I remembered that I had deliberately got myself drunk yesterday.


    I lifted the quilt, put on my shoes, left the bed, and walked out of the bedroom. I found that CC was still asleep on the sofa in the living room. Looking at the time, it was already 7:30, so I didn''t disturb CC and quietly left.


    I went downstairs, walked out of the community, and hailed a taxi. But the destination was not my company, but Zhuomei. Since I had made my choice last night, I would follow my choice.


    20 minutes later, I arrived at the entrance of Zhuomei''s underground parking lot waiting for Mi Cai. Knowing her, she should not have arrived at the company yet.


    After waiting for about 20 more minutes, I finally saw Mi Cai''s red Q7. As she drove the car into the underground parking lot, I stopped a passing student-looking young man.


    I said to the puzzled young man, "Could you do me a favor?"


    The young man immediately looked at me warily and asked, "What favor?"


    I took the letter out of my pocket, handed it to him, and said, "Help me deliver a letter to a girl."The boy suddenly understood and said, "Is this a love letter? But with the advancement of technology, why would anyone write a love letter? You can just send a text message or something." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Are you a 90s kid?"


    "Yeah."


    "I''m from the 80s. Do you know what a generation gap is? In our time, writing love letters was the trend. It''s called style. Please help me deliver this to her quickly. She''ll be taking the elevator soon," I said urgently.


    "But I''ll be late for school!"


    "It''ll only take a moment, it won''t delay your school."


    The boy still looked hesitant.


    I immediately changed my strategy and asked, "Do you like to look at beautiful girls?"


    Upon hearing about a beautiful girl, the boy immediately perked up and asked, "Is she beautiful?"


    "If she wasn''t beautiful, would I be interested in her? Don''t worry, she''s absolutely beautiful. You go down the elevator, wait for her in the underground parking lot... Remember, she''s wearing a purple-grey coat, long hair over her shoulders, the most beautiful woman there. Make sure you don''t get it wrong."


    "Alright, I''ll see if she''s as beautiful as you say." The boy finally took the letter from my hand.


    I reminded him again, "Just give her the letter, don''t say anything else, especially don''t describe my appearance in front of her, understand?"


    The boy nodded knowingly, "I get it, you want to surprise her. Good luck with your confession!"


    I nodded in approval, "Not bad, we don''t really have a generation gap."


    The boy chuckled and ran towards the elevator in the mall... I lit a cigarette and watched him leave quietly, feeling as if I had finally let go of a heavy burden. As for tomorrow, we''ll see...

 Chapter 59 – Give the letter to Mi Cai

    A moment later, the boy returned, his voice brimming with excitement as he said to me,


    I smiled and asked, "So, what does she look like? I want to see if you''ve mistaken someone else for her."


    I nodded and jokingly asked, "So, do you think I have a chance with her?"


    The boy looked at me seriously and said,


    I patted his shoulder and said with a smile.


    After wishing me good luck, the boy rushed off towards the distant platform.


    In the drizzling autumn rain, I adjusted my shoulder bag that was about to slip off and looked up at the giant billboard of the Zhuomei Shopping Center, silently wishing that Mi Cai could safely navigate this crisis. All I could do for her was just this.


    ......


    Back at Bao Li Department Store, I was calm. I worked calmly, attended the meeting called by Circle calmly, communicated with my colleagues calmly. My calmness came from the fact that I had already seen my own end, so I was mentally prepared for everything. After this promotion plan was over, I would resign from Bao Li. Maybe I would continue to look for work in Suzhou, or maybe I would return to the city where I was born and let Mr. Ban arrange a job for me in their company, and then live a peaceful life.


    Time flew by quickly when I was focused on work. Soon it was time to get off work. I made a cup of coffee in the break room and took a short break before diving back into work. Today, Circle had reported to Chen Jingming the "Love is not a luxury" promotion theme I proposed yesterday. Chen Jingming approved it efficiently and immediately started the process. Since I proposed this theme, I was the main author of this promotion plan. As a return for Chen Jingming''s care over the years, I had to give my 120% to this plan.


    When I left the company after a day''s work, it was already 10 o''clock at night. I was starving, so I bought some burgers and the like from the KFC store downstairs of the company. I walked on the street while eating. After a tiring day, I needed this almost leisurely way to relax.


    But I didn''t really relax. The hustle and bustle of the street and the heavy human traffic only highlighted my loneliness and helplessness in this city.


    ......


    Back in the single apartment I rented just yesterday, I felt life was so unpredictable. I thought I would live here for a long time, but after giving that letter to Mi Cai this morning, I decided I wouldn''t stay here for long. Although I subconsciously still wanted to struggle to survive in this city, finding a new job was not that easy. Everything depended on my luck after resignation. If I could find a job as quickly as possible, then I would continue to struggle. If I couldn''t find one for a long time, I would have no choice but to leave.


    After washing up, I lay in bed, my mind in a mess. I didn''t dare to plan my future life, so the high spirits of life a few days ago had degenerated into a decadent life of muddling along.


    I took the guitar out of the box, strummed the strings, and started singing Eason Chan''s song "Backpack". I just sang along with the melody played by the guitar, singing... and then I started crying. Crying for no reason, because not having a house, a job, or a woman was just a small matter to me in the past, but now I was shedding cheap tears for these small matters. Isn''t this ridiculous enough?


    The sound of rain outside the window seemed to get louder. After this rain, the weather would probably get colder, and winter was coming, covering the world with frost.


    ......


    Three days passed in no hurry. During these three days, there were both big and small things. The small thing: I received two knitted scarves and some rice and flour sent by Mr. Ban. The big thing: I completed the "Love is not a luxury" themed promotion plan efficiently during my endless overtime. I handed the completed plan to Circle, and Circle handed it to Chen Jingming. As the plan was submitted, the day I handed in my resignation letter to Chen Jingming was also counting down. I was about to leave Bao Li Department Store.


    This evening after work, I wanted to call Mi Cai and planned to give her one of the knitted scarves. I thought she would like it, because last time Mr. Ban sent two knitted sweaters, I gave one to her, and I saw her wearing it several times. So she should like this knitted scarf too.


    Regardless of the relationship between us, this knitted scarf was after all a token of affection from my mother and Mr. Ban, so it should be given.


    With a sufficient reason, I immediately dialed Mi Cai''s number, but no one answered for a long time. Just when I was about to give up, she called back.


    I quickly answered the phone, and she apologized to me, "Sorry, I was in a meeting just now. Do you need anything?"


    Instead of answering immediately, I tentatively asked, "Is your company very busy recently?""Um, there''s been a bit of an issue at the company recently, we''re working on resolving it." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh." I responded, but I knew that Mi Cai had indeed received my letter. She might be dealing with Mi Zhongde''s power scheme against her right now.


    Mi Cai urged me again, "Go on, why did you call me? What''s up?"


    I hesitated slightly before saying, "My mom knitted a scarf for you, my dad sent it over by courier. If you have time, you can pick it up, or I can deliver it to you." After a pause, I added, "It''s okay if you don''t want it."


    Mi Cai didn''t refuse, she said, "Then wait a bit, I have some things to deal with. You can go to our Zhuomei, find a place to have a drink first, I''ll come find you when I''m done."


    I jokingly said,


    "Alright." Mi Cai responded, then hung up the phone. It seemed she was quite busy at the moment.


    After ending the call, I packed the scarf into a bag, then left the company, heading towards the Zhuomei shopping center across the street...

 Chapter 60 – Fork in life

    Arriving at the Zhuomei Shopping Center, I entered a caf¨¦ called "Seaview Coffee". I didn''t order anything because it was a pre-paid, sea-themed caf¨¦ with expensive drinks. So, naturally, I had to wait for Mi Cai to arrive.


    After choosing an empty seat and texting the caf¨¦''s name to Mi Cai, I picked up a fashion magazine to pass the time. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky was gradually darkening. The various lights that were turning on blurred the city shrouded in autumn rain. I put down the magazine and listened to the sound of raindrops hitting the window, somewhat lost in thought...


    Mi Cai walked into the caf¨¦ without me noticing. She sat down across from me and asked, looking at the empty table, "Why didn''t you order anything?"


    "It''s pre-paid and too expensive. A pot of oolong tea costs more than 200. The owner of this place is a real rip-off!"


    Mi Cai ignored my complaint, called over a waiter, and ordered a pot of oolong tea for me and a cappuccino for herself.


    I tasted the 200-plus tea, but couldn''t discern any special flavor. This only confirmed my belief that the owner was a swindler, but I didn''t think it was because my consumption level was low.


    After drinking a cup of tea, I looked at Mi Cai, who was stirring her coffee with a spoon, and asked, "You look a bit tired. Have you been working hard recently?"


    "A bit," Mi Cai replied, rubbing her temples subconsciously.


    I raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You''re shooting yourself in the foot. What''s the point of going to such lengths to kick me out? If you''re tired, I can take care of your daily life. I promise to make you comfortable."


    Mi Cai frowned and said coldly, "Zhao Yang, don''t joke about this."


    "Your thinking is a bit off. When I say I can take care of you, it doesn''t necessarily mean as your boyfriend or husband. I could be your male nanny. I don''t mind being your male nanny!"


    Mi Cai was speechless with anger. After a while, she muttered "boring" and ignored me, continuing to stir her coffee, but her expression was thoughtful.


    In a short while, I finished the pot of oolong tea. Feeling hungry, I called the waiter over and ordered a pasta salad. I also kindly ordered a tiramisu for Mi Cai. Of course, she was the one who paid.


    I didn''t mind taking advantage of a woman. She was much richer than me. Spending her money was just a way to narrow the wealth gap, reconcile the main contradictions in society, and build a harmonious society.


    I quickly finished the pasta salad and took out a scarf from my backpack, which was packed in a bag, and handed it to Mi Cai.


    Mi Cai took the scarf and glanced at my Reebok backpack. She couldn''t help but smile.


    I said discontentedly, "What''s so funny? This is just my entertainment spirit. Reebok also has women''s backpacks. Do you dare to use them?"


    Explore the extended edition on


    Mi Cai shook her head to indicate that she didn''t dare. She took the scarf out of the bag and looked at it. She seemed to like it very much and said to me, "It''s pretty!"


    "Of course, the best thing my mother has ever done in her life is knitting!"


    Mi Cai nodded, then put the scarf in her handbag. She didn''t rush to leave. Her expression was more relaxed than before. She rested her chin on her hand and looked at the world outside the floor-to-ceiling window, which was wet from the rain but illuminated by neon lights.


    I also didn''t want to leave. I looked out the window with Mi Cai, turning each neon light into a piece of prosperous world, and then contrasting myself with the bleakness.


    Around 9 p.m., Mi Cai and I said goodbye in the caf¨¦. She drove off into the city''s lights towards the old house, while I walked to my newly rented apartment, dodging falling leaves in the autumn rain.


    ...


    After a night, the sky was no longer gloomy. It was a sunny morning. Although I had been awake all night listening to the rain, I still got up early in the morning.


    The morning after a rainy night, the sun seemed to carry a hint of chill. The wind was blowing the fallen leaves on the ground. I bought a bag of soy milk and a few steamed dumplings from the breakfast shop downstairs and ate as I walked.


    After throwing the empty bag into the trash can, I looked up and realized that there were so many people hurrying by. I seemed to have become still, disconnected from the city.


    Enduring the cold wind, I stood alone for a long time. Finally, I took out the letter I was about to give to Chen Jingming from my pocket. The helplessness of standing at a crossroads in life once again filled my heart.


    I had completed the promotion plan yesterday. Regardless of the final execution result, I had done my best on this plan. It could be considered my last explanation to Chen Jingming.


    When I arrived at the company, it was almost nine o''clock. As usual, after clocking in, I came to the office where I had worked for nearly three years. Sitting at my desk, which bore my mark, my mind was blank. I was just waiting for Chen Jingming to come to the company, and then find an appropriate time to hand in my resignation.


    A little while later, Circle also arrived at the company. He put down his briefcase, looking radiant and in a good mood. But his appearance filled me with guilt. However, there was nothing I could do. Whether I should or shouldn''t have done what I did, I had done it. To Circle and Chen Jingming, all I could say was sorry.


    Circle invited me to make coffee in the break room. I nodded, picked up my cup, and followed him.


    We each made a cup of coffee and found a corner to chat.Circle placed the coffee cup on the windowsill and patted my shoulder, his voice low but excited, "Zhao Yang, I have reliable news. After this promotion event, we will receive our appointment notices. I will be the deputy manager of the planning department, and you will take my place as the leader of the planning copywriting team!" He paused, looking at the sunlight flickering on the blinds, and sighed, "We''ve been struggling in this city for two years, and finally we have a foothold... Life will definitely get better and better, right, Zhao Yang?"


    A wave of sadness surged in my heart, and I didn''t know how to respond. After a while, I forced a bitter smile and said, "Perhaps."


    "Why are you so calm? Aren''t you excited at all?"


    "I''m just indifferent to fame and fortune, which only highlights how worldly you are!" I joked bitterly with Circle. In fact, I was not indifferent to fame and fortune. If I could really become the leader of the planning copywriting team, I would definitely be excited. But now, I was already prepared to hand in my resignation to Chen Jingming, so there was no point in talking about excitement. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the midst of our conversation, Chen Jingming''s female assistant found Circle and me, saying that Chen Jingming wanted us to go to his office.


    Circle said he would go right away, but I had a bad feeling. Perhaps Mi Cai had already used these few days to dismantle Mi Zhongde''s plot, and as a chain reaction, Chen Jingming''s plan might have fallen through.


    ......


    Circle and I immediately went to Chen Jingming''s office. Chen Jingming, sitting in his office chair, unusually lit a cigarette for himself, his face looking very unpleasant.


    Circle was puzzled, but I already understood, knowing what was going to happen next.

 Chapter 61 – Submitting a resignation letter

    Chen Jingming remained silent as he smoked. Circle and I stood there, waiting. Finally, with a sigh, Chen Jingming extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and said,


    Circle was shocked.


    Chen Jingming leaned back in his office chair, closing his eyes. After a long pause, he opened them again, gritting his teeth.


    I knew the girl Chen Jingming was referring to was Mi Cai. I hadn''t expected that she would dismantle this plot against her in just three days.


    I remained silent, while Circle looked at me in confusion. Chen Jingming didn''t know about my relationship with Mi Cai. He might have thought that someone within Zhuo Mei had leaked the information to her, but Circle knew.


    In the end, Circle didn''t confront me in front of Chen Jingming. However, he asked Chen Jingming in a low voice,


    Chen Jingming sighed heavily.


    Circle nodded, then tentatively asked,


    Chen Jingming shook his head.


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    Chen Jingming didn''t answer Circle. He just waved us away, indicating that we should leave. His dejection made it clear to both Circle and me that he had lost his chance to be promoted to the top of the company because of this incident.


    ...


    After leaving Chen Jingming''s office, Circle pulled me into the elevator, and we ended up on the rooftop of the company.


    I lit a cigarette, waiting for the volcanic eruption that Circle was brewing.


    Circle suppressed his emotions, not as angry as I had imagined. He was always calmer than others.


    "It wasn''t someone from Zhuo Mei who leaked it. I told Mi Cai."


    Circle''s words were cold, filled with suppressed anger.


    I remained silent, taking a deep drag on my cigarette. What I had done was indeed unfair to everyone, including myself. I had ruined not only Chen Jingming and Circle''s chances but also my own future.


    Unable to contain his anger, Circle finally kicked me in the stomach. As I fell to the ground, gasping for breath, I didn''t look at Circle. After a while, I picked up the cigarette that had fallen from my hand and took another puff. I was in pain, both physically and emotionally, but I didn''t know what to say or do.


    Circle''s face grew colder as he spoke.


    Circle didn''t want to hear my explanation and interrupted me, cursing,


    After saying this, Circle didn''t look at me again. He walked towards the stairwell, his back radiating anger.


    I finished my cigarette and lay on the ground, looking at the blue sky, letting the wind cut through me. Amid the pain, I laughed bitterly. Circle and I had been brothers for nearly ten years, but he thought I had done this to curry favor with Mi Cai. So, this was how he saw me!


    In reality, I had only written a letter to Mi Cai. She didn''t know who the sender was, and there was no exchange of benefits between us. I didn''t try to curry favor with her, but Circle didn''t even give me a chance to explain. Maybe I didn''t need to explain. If he understood me, he wouldn''t have misunderstood me.


    ...


    Leaving the rooftop battered by the cold wind, I immediately took my resignation letter to Chen Jingming''s office. At this point, I didn''t even want to find another job here. After handing over my work, I left, leaving this wounded city forever.


    I opened the door to Chen Jingming''s office, walked in with my head down. Chen Jingming, who was reading some documents, looked at me puzzled and asked,


    I placed the resignation letter on Chen Jingming''s desk, and said apologetically,


    Chen Jingming looked at me in surprise, and after a long while, he put the documents aside and asked me,


    "Manager, I''ve been thinking about resigning for a long time, and I''ve thought it through... I can''t afford a house in this city, I see no hope, and my mother''s health is not good, I want to go home and be with her. I hope you understand." I tried to speak to Chen Jingming in a calm tone. Although this was not the real reason for my resignation, it was a heartfelt one.


    Chen Jingming shook his head and said to me, "Zhao Yang, I''ve made it clear to you and Circle just now. I will do my best to apply for your promotions. You won''t be affected by this incident." He paused, then added, "Although you seem to be cynical, you are talented. This can be seen in the promotion plan you proposed. Although we don''t know the results yet, the plan is innovative... If you are willing to adjust your attitude and continue to work at Bao Li Department Store, you will have a future."


    Chen Jingming''s words made me feel even more guilty. I owed him. I knew that meeting him was my good fortune. In the future, in the treacherous workplace, I might not have the chance to meet such a good boss again. But because of this, I had to leave. I couldn''t live with my guilt. My departure was the best explanation for myself, for Circle, and for Chen Jingming.


    After a long silence, I said to Chen Jingming again, firmly,


    Chen Jingming looked at me for a long time before asking,


    Without any hesitation, I said,  Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chen Jingming nodded, took a pen from the pen holder, and signed his name on my resignation letter.

 Chapter 62 – On the eve of departure

    I took Chen Jingming''s signed resignation letter to the HR department and then to the finance department. After completing all the procedures, I returned to the office.


    I approached Circle and said, "I''ve applied for resignation with Chen Jingming, and he agreed. You should arrange someone to take over my duties."


    As soon as I finished speaking, the office fell silent. Even the sound of typing on the keyboard ceased. All eyes were on me. Like Chen Jingming, they didn''t expect me to suddenly resign.


    However, Circle wasn''t surprised at all. He said, "I''m well aware of your workload. There''s no need for a handover. I''ll arrange for someone to take over."


    I nodded without saying much, then walked to my desk and started packing up my things. Apart from feeling sad, there was a sense of relief after the suppression. Maybe I never belonged to this city. I was bound to leave one day, and this time, I just moved up the timeline.


    Zhao Li came over, tugged at my clothes, and asked in a low voice, "Zhao Yang, why did you suddenly resign?"


    I smiled and said, "Aren''t you happy that I resigned? There''s no one to suppress you in this company anymore."


    Although I was joking with Zhao Li, he seriously said, "Zhao Yang, don''t say that. We''ve worked together for so long. We''re colleagues and friends."


    "Do you consider me a friend?"


    Zhao Li nodded and said, "Although you''re a bit of a trickster, you''re not a bad person. Every time I took a leave, you willingly took care of my work. Others may not understand you, but I do."


    I smiled, feeling a strange mix of emotions. I just patted Zhao Li on the shoulder without saying anything more, then bent down to continue packing up my office supplies. Zhao Li helped me pack.


    A moment later, I finally finished packing. I said goodbye to my colleagues, with whom I had worked for over two years. Everyone stood up to bid me farewell. Perhaps over the years, they had been suppressed by me in various ways, but they didn''t hold it against me. In Zhao Li''s words: although I was a trickster, I was fair and square in this planning department. I never marginalized or slandered anyone at work.


    I nodded to my colleagues, then went to Circle, who was the only one still sitting. I patted him on the shoulder and said, "I''m leaving, bro."


    Circle didn''t look up or respond to me. His behavior surprised everyone. They wondered why we, who were usually as close as brothers, were so cold to each other at this moment.


    Finally, without getting a response, I gave a bitter smile, waved to everyone, and walked towards the company''s exit with my box.


    So, my world was free, but only for now! The future has turned into a trap, blocking my life''s path, waiting for me to fall. Maybe it will break me, or maybe in the desire to survive, I will become stronger, struggle to escape the trap, and become a master of life. But what the outcome will be, only time can tell. So, I don''t need to speculate, I just need to tread carefully with a desire to survive!


    ......


    After leaving the company, I went straight back to my newly rented apartment. The first thing I did after closing the door was to take off my shoes and lie down on the bed, covering myself with a blanket, hoping to shake off all the heaviness and get a good night''s sleep.


    Unfortunately, I didn''t feel sleepy at all that afternoon. Most of the time, I was just staring at the ceiling, lighting a cigarette in panic, and repeating the process as the sky outside the window gradually darkened. So, the city was once again enveloped in light and shadow, but I was isolated in a dark space by the four walls, unable to feel the warmth of the light and shadow. It seemed that my winter had arrived before winter itself!


    Looking at the sky outside the window, which was already dyed red by the city''s neon lights, I felt a bit dazed. In my daze, I lit another cigarette. After only one puff, I felt a sharp pain in my lungs. I realized that I had smoked too many cigarettes that afternoon. But what could I do? At least the smoke filled the room, saving me from my loneliness and helplessness. So, I took another deep puff, breaking down the helplessness, dissipating the loneliness, only to be replaced by a heavy cough. Ah, it''s hard to have it all in life!


    As the night deepened, I felt as if I had been forgotten by the world in this cold corner, still lost, still in a daze, until my phone rang, waking me up.


    I turned over and picked up the phone from the bedside table. I was surprised to see that it was Yan Yan who had called.


    I hesitated for a long time before answering Yan Yan''s call. I didn''t speak first, waiting for Yan Yan''s questioning. By this time, Circle must have told her everything that happened today.


    "Zhao Yang, where are you?" Yan Yan''s voice wasn''t as stern as I had imagined.


    Caught off guard, I hesitated before answering, "At my place."


    "Have you had dinner?"


    "I don''t think so." I answered vaguely.


    "You don''t think so?... Are you out of your mind? You can''t even give me a definite answer about whether you''ve eaten or not!" Yan Yan said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.So I immediately gave her a definite answer: "I''ve eaten."


    "What did you eat?"


    Finally, I said impatiently, "Do I have to report to you every time I go to the bathroom today?"


    Yan Yan retorted irritably, "Stop pretending, just come over to my house for dinner."


    "I won''t go, your husband doesn''t like me!" I firmly refused, but in reality, I was afraid to face Circle. No matter how justified my reasons were, I had ruined his and Chen Jingming''s career prospects.


    "Then let''s go out to eat alone. I heard from Circle today that you quit your job. He wouldn''t tell me why, and he''s always looking so gloomy..." Yan Yan didn''t finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear. She wanted to know why I quit my job, why Circle was looking so gloomy, and why I said Circle didn''t like me.


    I weighed it up a bit and agreed to Yan Yan''s request to go out to eat alone. There were some things that I needed to clarify with her before leaving this city. In the end, I also hoped that Circle could understand me and forgive me.


    ......


    I was waiting outside the restaurant where I had arranged to meet Yan Yan. Since Yan Yan drove a Mazda 6, I paid special attention to whether there was a Mazda 6 among the passing cars. However, what finally stopped in front of me was a red Cadillac CTS. I took a closer look and realized it was Jian Wei''s car, and then I saw Jian Wei and Yan Yan sitting in the car.


    Yan Yan, this big pit of a woman, said she would go out to eat with me alone, but she brought Jian Wei... After a flash of dissatisfaction, I was deeply puzzled. Why would Jian Wei come? Had she been staying in Suzhou all these days and not left? And had Yan Yan already told her that Mi Cai was just a fake girlfriend I had forcibly made up?


    These unanswered questions made me surprised, nervous, and somewhat embarrassed. Because I knew Yan Yan, she would definitely tell Jian Wei after finding out that Mi Cai was not my girlfriend. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I sighed again in my heart. It seemed to be another night of adding insult to injury!

 Chapter 63 – The Eve of Departure 2

    Jian Wei parked the car and she and Yan Yan got out from either side. I looked at the two of them, but said nothing.


    In the restaurant, Yan Yan and Jian Wei sat on one side. As soon as they settled down, Yan Yan turned to me and said, "Tell me, why did you quit your job? Just yesterday, I heard Circle say that you were almost guaranteed to be the team leader of the planning and copywriting department at your department store! This is too sudden and illogical!"


    "I''ve been drifting around for so many years, I''m tired and want to go home." I smiled and said in a relaxed manner.


    Yan Yan looked serious, "This can''t be the truth, Zhao Yang, if you have any difficulties, you can tell me, okay?"


    "I''ve already quit my job, there''s really no need for you to keep digging. I just hope you can tell Circle that I''m not the kind of scum who sucks up to women and betrays my boss and brothers for my own benefit... I''ll be going back to Xuzhou in a few days. I won''t take anything from this city because I haven''t gained anything, including the benefits that Circle thinks I have. I''ll leave clean." I said, lighting a cigarette without regard for the two women present. I felt downcast. When I realized I was about to leave this city with nothing, I realized that I had wasted the years when I should have been striving the most. So, I could only return to Xuzhou with a useless shell.


    Yan Yan waved away the smoke I exhaled and said to me excitedly, "Zhao Yang, I don''t understand. You finally saw a future in this city, in your company, why did you quit? Why did you decide to go back to Xuzhou? Even if you quit, you can find another job. Are you really willing to leave Suzhou in such a sorry state?"


    Yan Yan''s words hit a nerve, and I was silent for a long time before I said, "I''ve always lived in a sorry state, what''s there to be unwilling about?"


    At this point, the always silent Jian Wei finally spoke, "What about your girlfriend?"


    I was a bit surprised. Hadn''t Yan Yan told Jian Wei that Mi Cai was not actually my girlfriend?


    Jian Wei kept looking at me, waiting for my answer. I looked at Yan Yan, and Yan Yan gave me a look, indicating that she hadn''t told Jian Wei about this.


    I then said, "Break up. Isn''t it just a matter of a single sentence? Who expects to fall in love these days with the intention of growing old together?"


    I said this with emotion, because when Jian Wei and I broke up, she simply and decisively said to me, "Break up."


    Jian Wei looked at me again with that complicated expression, just like the last time she accepted Xiang Chen''s confession.


    This time, I didn''t avoid Jian Wei''s gaze. I just looked at her. Our many years of feelings collapsed because of her single sentence of breaking up. Was there any need to care about the love that never existed with Mi Cai?


    Yan Yan looked a bit awkward as she watched Jian Wei and me. Finally, I asked Jian Wei after a long silence, "Why did you come to find me with Yan Yan?"


    Jian Wei didn''t answer, and Yan Yan explained for her, "Jian Wei has been in Suzhou these days. We made an appointment to go to the spa together tonight, so we came here for dinner."


    I nodded. This was a reasonable explanation. But I still didn''t understand why Jian Wei had stayed in Suzhou and hadn''t left. But I didn''t plan to ask, because it had nothing to do with me.


    ......


    During the meal, the topic came back again. Yan Yan earnestly said to me, "Zhao Yang, you should reconsider leaving Suzhou. Everything is unknown when you go back to Xuzhou..."


    I shook my head and said to Yan Yan very seriously, "There''s no need to reconsider. Leaving this city is the best choice for me now. I''m really happy that you invited me to this meal. At least I''m not completely alone, someone still cares about me."


    Yan Yan sighed, her voice choked, "I''ve always treated you like a brother. I can''t bear to see you leave! You''ve suffered so much over the years, and just when you''re about to see the light at the end of the tunnel, you suddenly quit... Ah! What''s going on!"


    Yan Yan''s words made me feel bad, and I didn''t want to make her upset. So I forced a smile and said, "You''ve upgraded to a young wife, so stop mentioning your brother all the time. I''m still in the prime of my youth!"


    Yan Yan gave a bitter smile and didn''t say anything more. Indeed, there was nothing more to say. Everything was settled. Staying here might not be right, and going back to Xuzhou might not be wrong. The only thing I hoped for now was that Circle could understand me. Maybe years later, when I come back to Suzhou, we can still call each other brothers.


    After dinner, Jian Wei drove Yan Yan away. I stood alone at the entrance of the restaurant, not leaving. I took out the thin film from the cigarette box again, covered my eyes and looked up at the starry sky. Apart from the bright sky reflected by the neon lights, I still couldn''t find that crystal clear city, let alone the woman with long hair hanging over her shoulders.


    I walked along the bustling streets with the crowd, smoking. I didn''t know how many streets I had walked before I returned to my place. I mechanically opened the door, didn''t even bother to wash up, and covered myself tightly with a blanket in my clothes. Then, in the airtight space, I found a little bit of pitiful security.


    The night was deep and the only thing that made me feel connected to the world, my phone, rang again. I listened numbly, but didn''t want to answer the call.


    The ringtone kept ringing, over and over again. I was annoyed and finally lifted the blanket, grabbed my phone from the cabinet, and was about to turn it off for some peace, but I accidentally saw that the caller was Le Yao, who I hadn''t contacted in a long time.


    In hesitation, I answered the call, and immediately heard Le Yao''s complaining voice, "Zhao Yang, why did it take you so long to answer the phone?"


    "I was sleeping." I mumbled a reply.


    Le Yao didn''t argue with me about why I took so long to answer the phone, and said to me in a happy tone, "Guess where I am now?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I didn''t have the mood to guess, so I asked along with Le Yao''s words, "Where?"


    "Guess."


    "You''re definitely not in Hengdian anymore." I said.


    Le Yao laughed happily, "I''m back in Suzhou... I''m staying in a hotel now?"I asked in surprise, "Going back to Suzhou! Have you finished filming your drama so quickly?"


    "No, the crew is going to the Humble Administrator''s Garden in Suzhou for shooting. I just took the opportunity to come back with them."


    "Oh, then when you have time, let me treat you to a meal."


    "The scenes at the Humble Administrator''s Garden are all shot during the day, so I''m free in the evenings. You can treat me to dinner tomorrow night."


    "Okay, call me when you finish work tomorrow," I said.


    This is good, I still have a chance to say goodbye to Le Yao before leaving Suzhou. However, thinking about the opportunity she gave me that I didn''t seize, I felt a pang of guilt.


    "Alright, wait for my call... Oh, I want to eat bamboo chicken at Arin Restaurant."


    I laughed and said, "You really know how to eat!"


    "Everyone will meet one or two foodies in their life, and apparently, the foodie you met is me."


    "Okay, no problem, I also want to eat bamboo chicken!"


    "Hmm, then I''m looking forward to it from now on!" Le Yao said with real anticipation in her voice, further proving that she is a foodie.


    "Look forward to it, and it would be great if you could accompany me for a few drinks."


    "Sure... It''s getting late, I''m going to bed first, and I''ll wait for your invitation tomorrow.


    ...


    After ending the call with Le Yao, I looked out the window at the decent moonlight again, looking forward to tomorrow. But I don''t know if I''m looking forward to meeting Le Yao, the bamboo chicken, or the few drinks that I haven''t had yet.

 Chapter 64 – Full of gas

    I had a restless sleep that night, my weary soul struggling in a grey-toned dream until the morning sun shone through the window onto my face, waking me up exhausted.


    I sat on the bed for a long time, suddenly remembering that I no longer needed to go to the office. So, I lay back down, not wanting to get up, nor willing to fall asleep again.


    It was almost noon when I finally left the bed. After a simple wash, I immediately opened the 58 City website and posted a house rental ad.


    After posting the rental ad, I went to a snack shop downstairs and had a bowl of noodle soup for breakfast and lunch. Then, life fell into a dull routine.


    I sat in the closed room for a long time, unable to bear it any longer, I took my guitar and left the cage-like room. I came to the city moat again, wanting to sing a few songs to the blue sky, white clouds, and clear water to comfort my tired soul, and then quietly wait for dusk.


    I sang one song after another, sometimes feeling sad, sometimes elated. Finally, I put the guitar aside, lay on the lawn, and once again stared blankly at the sky where the white clouds drifted by under the slanting sunlight.


    I naively thought that the city in the sky would be hidden behind the white clouds. So, I gazed and waited, but until the sunlight became soft and the wind of dusk blew, I did not see that crystal-clear city.


    After a long time, I sat up from the lawn, lit a cigarette out of habit, and sat quietly in the dusk, not waiting for dawn, because in this city, I would no longer have a dawn.


    The wind became colder with the setting sun, which sobered me up and inevitably reminded me of everything that had happened in this city. All these things were like a sharp blade, leaving countless deep and shallow wounds on my body, and I could only watch helplessly as these wounds bled... Now the blood was almost drained, in order to survive, I had to flee this city and return to a city where there was no love, but there was family. Perhaps with the warmth of family, those wounds would slowly heal.


    My phone, which had been quiet all day, finally rang again. I knew it was Le Yao calling because we had agreed to go to Arlin Restaurant for bamboo chicken tonight.


    After answering the call, Le Yao said with a sigh of relief, "I''ve finished filming for today,


    "Let''s just meet at Arlin Restaurant."


    Le Yao thought for a moment and said, "I''ll go to your place, and then we''ll go together."


    "Why bother? Just go directly. Besides, I don''t live in the same place anymore."


    Le Yao sounded surprised,


    "Just these few days." After a moment of silence, I finally gritted my teeth and said to Le Yao, "There''s something I need to tell you... I quit my job yesterday, and I''ll be going back to Xuzhou in a few days."


    Le Yao was stunned for a moment, then asked excitedly,


    I apologized to Le Yao, "It''s my personal issue, we''ll talk about it when we meet."


    Le Yao''s mood obviously dropped, and after a long silence, she said, "Alright, then let''s meet directly at Arlin Restaurant."


    I responded, then hung up the phone with Le Yao. I looked at the river surface covered by shadows, picked up my guitar case, and walked towards the river bank.


    ...


    When I arrived at Arlin Restaurant by taxi, Le Yao had already arrived and was waiting for me at the entrance.


    The autumn wind at night was blowing "whoosh" along the street. Le Yao''s hands were tucked into her jacket pockets, and her white scarf fluttered in the wind, making her look even more frail. This powerless frailty made me feel a great sense of guilt.


    I walked up to Le Yao, she looked at me with a complex expression. I knew she was resentful about my sudden resignation.


    I didn''t want the atmosphere to be too depressing, so I forced a smile and said, "Let''s go, let''s eat."


    Le Yao said to me with a straight face.


    Le Yao''s words made me feel depressed, but I still smiled, pulling her into the restaurant and saying, "Even if you''re angry, don''t disgrace your foodie reputation! Besides, would you like to see me gloat while eating alone? That''s not a good deal for you... So don''t punish yourself for my mistakes, okay?"


    By the time I finished speaking, I had already dragged Le Yao into the restaurant, but her mood was still low. I took the menu from the waiter and started ordering with a bit of frustration.


    A moment later, the dishes were served. I poured myself a glass of white wine, but Le Yao didn''t accompany me to drink some white wine as we had agreed before. She only asked for a cup of hot water, not even wanting any kind of juice.


    I drained the not-so-large glass of wine in one gulp, smacking my lips and commenting on the strong taste of the wine, but Le Yao remained silent, which made me even more anxious.


    I picked a piece of chicken from the bamboo tube and put it into Le Yao''s bowl, smiling, "Try it, see if the chef''s skills have improved."


    Le Yao angrily picked up the chicken from her bowl and threw it into mine.


    "Well, you can''t just drink plain water, if you drink too much, your pretty little face will definitely be swollen when you wake up tomorrow, which will affect your performance."


    Le Yao ignored my joke, looked at me seriously and asked, "Tell me, why did you quit?"I poured myself another glass of liquor, downing it in one gulp, feeling the high-proof alcohol churning in my stomach. After a long moment of helplessness, I said to Le Yao, "Life is full of choices. This is a cruel choice for me. I don''t want to make it, but I have to. Don''t dig too deep into it. Even after resigning, I won''t have it easy..." I put on a smile and continued, "I''m about to leave Suzhou soon, and we''ll have fewer chances to meet. So let''s not make the atmosphere so heavy. Let''s eat and drink happily, okay?" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Le Yao looked at me, her expression gradually softening. She said helplessly, "Zhao Yang, you remind me of a song by Shao Yi Bei, ''Mr. Denial''."


    "Who is Shao Yi Bei?"


    "Don''t pretend. Last time we went to the Shenzhen Music Festival with Robben and listened to her concert. Have you forgotten so soon?"


    I grinned and said, "I just love to pretend!"


    "Jerk!" Le Yao couldn''t help but laugh and scold me. She then took back the piece of chicken from my bowl that I had originally given her and started eating.

 Chapter 65 – Can never get close

    After having dinner at Arlin Restaurant, I strolled around the streets of Suzhou at night with Le Yao, carrying my guitar. The fallen leaves, cold wind, shadows, towering buildings, all painted the city in the hues of late autumn.


    I lit a cigarette, enjoying the hazy smoke after a satisfying meal. I found myself frequently looking back at this city. It was only when I was about to leave that I realized I didn''t hate it as much as I thought. In fact, I felt a bit reluctant to leave. After all, it had witnessed my youth, my life, and even my love. Here, I understood that longing for someone was loneliness. Here, I learned that if the affection between two people evolved into marriage, it was called love. If only memories remained, it was just a legend, a lonely and bitter legend.


    Feeling tired, Le Yao and I sat on a bench by the street, each lost in our own thoughts. Finally, I asked her, "How about you? How have you been lately?"


    Le Yao shook her head in confusion, "Same as always, not great, but I''ve never given up trying."


    I nodded, not knowing how to respond. I understood the meaning behind her words. When she said she never gave up, she was also questioning why I had.


    After a brief silence, Le Yao asked me, "What are your plans for life after returning to Xuzhou?"


    I took a deep drag of my cigarette, pondered for a while before answering, "If my dad is willing to arrange a job for me at his workplace, that would be great. If not, I''ll find a job myself, find a woman to spend my life with, and then wait for life''s inevitable end."


    "Don''t plan your life so far ahead. Life is full of uncertainties, isn''t it?"


    "I''d rather see the end of my life at a glance."


    Le Yao chuckled, "That''s why you fantasize about a crystal-clear city as your mental refuge."


    "Yes, only when it''s crystal clear can you see the farthest without any obstacles."


    "Maybe we really are different kinds of people," Le Yao sighed.


    "Yes, the island with smoke you fantasize about requires swimming across a sea to reach. So compared to crystal clear, you have to experience more."


    Le Yao looked at me as if she had suddenly understood something. After a long while, she said, "Have you ever felt that we are like two stars destined not to appear together? I''m at the edge of the sea, you''re at the horizon, echoing each other from afar but never getting closer?"


    I didn''t respond, just looked into the distance. In a daze, it seemed like I could really see that city in the sky and a beach echoing each other from afar, but they could never get closer.


    That night, Le Yao and I hugged and said goodbye. Perhaps after leaving Suzhou, we would go further and further in the directions we each hoped for. Eventually, we might forget the night we spent together. Perhaps life is made up of countless forgettings, and in the end, we forget everything in death.


    ......


    Three days passed. Apart from eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom, the only thing I did was show potential tenants the single apartment I was currently renting.


    That afternoon, I showed the apartment to three potential tenants, but none of them decided to rent for various reasons. The last to come was a couple who had just graduated from university.


    The couple held hands and looked around the room. Finally, they seemed satisfied. The man asked me, "How do you plan to rent this room?"


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    "One month''s deposit, three months'' rent in advance, a total of 5200 RMB."


    The man and woman looked at each other and whispered a few words. Then the man said to me, "If you can round down the 200 RMB, we''ll take the room."


    "Kid, 200 RMB is not a small amount. If I weren''t in a hurry to leave, I wouldn''t give you this price." I said without any room for negotiation. Of course, this was the truth. I had rented the room for 5600 RMB and had only lived there for less than a week.


    The man and woman whispered again. This time the woman said to me, "5200 is fine, but we want to move in tonight. Is that okay?"


    I weighed the options and said, "That''s fine. If there are no other issues, we can sign the contract now."


    The man and woman nodded to indicate there were no problems. I immediately went into the room to get the pre-prepared sublease contract.


    While they were looking at the contract, my phone rang again. I instinctively thought it was another call to view the room. When I took out my phone from my pocket, I was surprised to see it was Mi Cai, who I hadn''t contacted for several days.


    This call stirred up a mix of emotions. I had once bullied this woman without any limits, but it was also because of her that I lost the career prospects I had fought so hard for in this city. Perhaps we were destined to be enemies, even though there was a brief period when we were friends. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I stepped outside and answered the call. Surprisingly, both of us were waiting for the other to speak first.


    In the silence, I couldn''t help but say, "You called me, why aren''t you saying anything?"


    Mi Cai seemed startled by my voice, "Ah!... Sorry, I was looking at a document. I didn''t realize the call had connected!""Oh, you seem quite busy. Aren''t you just a building manager at Zhuo Mei? It can''t be that hectic, can it?" I blurted out, fully aware that Mi Cai is the CEO of Zhuo Mei.


    Mi Cai didn''t mind my nonsense, she smiled and said, "Yes, it''s quite busy, but it''s almost over."


    "Oh, what''s up? Why did you call me? Is there a leak in the room you''ve taken over?"


    "No, I got off work early today. Didn''t you say I could come over for dinner?"


    I was a bit surprised. I did say that to Mi Cai, but I didn''t expect her to actually come. Could we really become friends after we stopped fighting over that room?


    Seeing that I didn''t respond, Mi Cai asked again, "Can''t I? Or are you not confident in your cooking skills?"


    I snapped back to reality and asked Mi Cai, "What do you think of my dad''s cooking?"


    "It''s great!"


    "Ever heard of the saying ''like father, like son''? Come over tonight, I''ll show you my skills, so you won''t think I''m good for nothing!"


    "Okay, I''ll be there in a bit."


    "Alright, buy whatever you want to eat from the supermarket. I don''t provide ingredients."


    I thought Mi Cai would call me stingy, but she just said "okay" and hung up.


    ......


    I returned to the room where the young couple had already reviewed the contract and signed their names.


    I took the contract and said to them in a negotiating tone, "I have a friend coming over for dinner later, so I can''t move out tonight. I''ll give you a 200 yuan discount as compensation, okay?"


    The couple started whispering to each other again. I was speechless. They really respected each other, discussing every trivial matter.


    After waiting for a while, they finally made a decision. The man said to me, "Make it 400!"


    I frowned and said, "Young man, be reasonable. 200 yuan is enough for you two to stay in a hotel for a night, and you''ll still have some change for a late-night snack."


    "The contract is signed. We now have the right to use this room. If you don''t give us a 400 yuan discount, we won''t agree to your request."


    "Damn it..." I blurted out a curse.


    The couple seemed startled by my outburst, looking at me with fear.


    I laughed and said, "If you two are so timid, don''t try to play hardball!"


    The man finally plucked up the courage to say, "It''s your fault for not giving us a 200 yuan discount earlier..."


    I hate whiners. I interrupted him impatiently, "Alright, stop arguing. 400, right? I agree."


    The man exchanged a glance with the woman, as if they had just struck a great deal. He happily took out money from his bag, counted 4800 yuan, and handed it to me.


    I gave them a copy of the sublease contract and a key. They left, leaving me somewhat amused. I, Zhao Yang, was actually tricked by someone, and it was a whiner!


    Without thinking too much, I picked up the mop and started cleaning the room, preparing for Mi Cai''s arrival. This was another chance given by heaven for me to say goodbye to Mi Cai, after Le Yao.

 Chapter 66 – Are we friends?

    At half past seven in the evening, the doorbell finally rang. I, in my slippers, rushed to open the door, and as expected, it was Mi Cai who had previously agreed to come over for dinner.


    Mi Cai was holding a large convenience bag in her hand. I took it from her and looked inside. There were some vegetables, some meat, a bottle of red wine, and a bottle of juice.


    Mi Cai said to me, "The red wine is for you, and I''ll drink the juice."


    "Why don''t you have some red wine with me? Are you afraid that if we drink too much, I''ll take advantage of you?"


    "I didn''t say that, I just don''t have the habit of drinking."


    I complained with a smile, "You''re really no fun. I just want to tease you a bit, why won''t you play along?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


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    "Why should I play along with your indecency?"


    "Indecency, good word. Sometimes I really don''t think I''m very noble."


    Mi Cai looked at me silently, obviously not knowing how to respond.


    I closed the door and said to Mi Cai, "You sit for a while, I''ll go cook. You can just enjoy the meal later."


    Mi Cai shook her head and said, "I can help you with what I can."


    "It''s not like we''re making husband and wife lung slices, why do you need to help me?" I said as I took the bag and headed for the kitchen.


    Mi Cai looked at me silently again.


    ......


    In the kitchen, I was cooking up a storm, averaging one dish every ten minutes. In about fifty minutes, all the stir-fried dishes were ready, and the bone soup simmering on low heat was also done at the same time. The timing was perfect.


    At this time, Mi Cai, who had been idle, finally came into use. She came to the kitchen and helped to carry the cooked food to the dining table.


    I turned on all the lights in the house, and the small dining room was brightly lit. I took off my apron and sat opposite Mi Cai. I drank red wine, she drank juice, but it was not a candlelit dinner.


    I said to the eager Mi Cai, "Shall we toast first, or do you want to taste my cooking first?"


    "I''ll taste your cooking first." Mi Cai picked up a piece of sweet and sour fish and put it in her mouth. After tasting it, she nodded in approval, "Not bad, your cooking is pretty good."


    "See, like father, like son." I said with a hint of pride.


    "It''s hard to imagine that you can cook, and cook well. When did you learn all this?" Mi Cai asked, looking at me curiously.


    I answered while eating, "My dad, Mr. Ban, said I was wild and had a bad temper, so he forced me to learn to cook when I was very young. He said it could cultivate my character and win a wife''s heart in the future!"


    Mi Cai ignored my implication and asked me, "Your dad, Mr. Ban?"


    "Yeah, I call my dad Mr. Ban. Haven''t you heard me call him that before?"


    "I didn''t pay much attention. Why do you call him Mr. Ban?"


    I patiently explained, "Because he''s old-fashioned. Not only do I call him Mr. Ban, but his colleagues also call him ''Ban Ke''. But he always thought I was calling him ''my dad''...haha...!"


    Mi Cai was amused by me and said after a while, "You''re really bad, even your own dad isn''t spared!" But then her expression suddenly darkened. I suddenly realized that she was thinking of her father, Mi Zhongxin, who died in a car accident, and finally understood why she was so kind to Mr. Ban.


    I raised my glass to Mi Cai and said, "Let''s stop talking and toast, to celebrate our chance to turn hostility into friendship."


    Mi Cai nodded, raised her juice, and gently clinked glasses with me. After taking a sip, she smiled at me again, shaking off the gloom and depression from just now.


    ......


    The dinner continued. I had already had two glasses of red wine, while Mi Cai had only drunk half a glass of juice.


    I looked at Mi Cai with a complex expression for a long time, and finally put down my wine glass and said to her, "I''m going back to my hometown tomorrow."


    "What''s wrong, are you going on vacation?" Mi Cai asked casually.


    "No, I''m going back to live in my hometown. I''ve quit my job here."


    Mi Cai looked at me, put down her chopsticks, and asked in surprise, "You quit your job! Did something happen at home?"


    No wonder Mi Cai was surprised. Just a few days ago, she had helped me rent this single apartment I''m living in now. But she didn''t know that at that time, I was struggling, although struggling, I didn''t have the idea of leaving. But when I finally chose to tell her about Mi Zhongde''s power conspiracy in an anonymous letter, my fate to leave this city was already irreversible.


    I smiled at Mi Cai and said, "You know, my job wasn''t a proper one, and I''m not getting any younger. I don''t have much time to struggle in this rootless city. So... going back to my hometown to live a stable life is also a good choice. People, especially adults, must learn to make the right judgments about their environment."


    Mi Cai nodded in agreement with my words, but didn''t say much. We are not from the same world, destined to live lives that we don''t understand and can''t penetrate each other.


    I raised my glass to Mi Cai again, and she raised her glass to me. After I nodded, I drank half a glass of red wine in one gulp. A feeling that couldn''t be expressed in words spread throughout my body along with the wine.


    ......The dinner ended with a few words exchanged between Mi Cai and me. As she was about to leave, I took out all the cash I had on me. Some of it was my salary, and some was the money I got from subletting this bachelor apartment. The total was 10,318 yuan. After paying back Mi Cai''s 10,016 yuan, I was left with 302 yuan. This 302 yuan was all I had left after struggling in this city for over two years.


    I put the money on the table and carefully counted out 10,016 yuan from the pile of loose change to give to Mi Cai, saying, "Here, I''m paying you back."


    Mi Cai looked at me and took the stack of money, which ranged in denomination from one hundred to one yuan, from my hand. To my surprise, she pulled out 16 yuan from it and handed it to me, saying, "I prefer round numbers."


    I looked at Mi Cai in surprise, not reaching out to take it. She had already put the loose 16 yuan on the table and put the other stack of money into her handbag.


    "It''s getting late, I should go," Mi Cai said to me.


    "Oh, okay... Be careful on your way."


    Mi Cai nodded and then turned to leave. I suddenly realized that after this night, we might not have the chance to see each other again. Even though I had been at odds with this woman who was about to leave for nearly two months, in the end, those fleeting moments turned into dust with my departure, slowly erased by the passage of time.


    "Mi Cai..." I called out her name.


    "What?" She turned around, her long hair hanging over her shoulders, making her look so untainted by the world.


    I was silent for a long time, then asked softly, "Are we friends?"


    Mi Cai thought for a moment, then nodded and said to me, "Yes."


    "Okay." I nodded heavily.


    Mi Cai gave me a smile, then turned and walked towards the elevator not far away. After a short while, the elevator doors closed, once again isolating us in two separate worlds.

 Chapter 67 – Farewell

    After seeing off Mi Cai, I returned to my room, finished the remaining red wine, and lit a cigarette, lying heavily on the sofa. My mind kept replaying the scene where I asked Mi Cai if we were friends. I was somewhat surprised at why I asked such a question, and what was the meaning behind it?


    I couldn''t figure it out for a long time. Perhaps it''s like the saying, "A dying man''s words are good." Even though I didn''t care how Mi Cai saw me before, when it was time to leave, I wanted to leave a good impression on her. Even if we weren''t friends, I didn''t want her to associate me with words like vulgar, shameless, and despicable.


    After freshening up, I gradually sobered up from the alcohol and started packing my luggage while I was still clear-headed.


    In my luggage, there was still the guitar that Jian Wei gave me. I found a clean cloth and wiped it over and over again, wiping out the pain of love and the wounds of memory. I felt a bit sad.


    How wonderful it would be if a love could ignore material things and last forever. Then, perhaps Jian Wei and I would already be married. I''m not afraid of marriage at all because I love Jian Wei. Being with the woman I truly love would never be boring, no matter how long it lasts.


    I remember the days after we broke up, I thought about her every moment, wanting to tell her, "Remember, I''m always waiting for you at the end of the world." But after a month, a year, I never got a response. So, I started to ruin my life with beer and women. But the guitar she gave me stayed the same, accompanying me.


    I put down the cloth, plucked the strings of the guitar, and the sound was still clear. It was as if I could hear the clear laughter of us cuddling together. Such laughter made my past happy but also hurt my present. So, I held the guitar tightly, thinking that this way, I could hold onto those happy moments.


    ...


    A ringtone pulled me back to reality. The laughter I was holding onto slipped through my fingers like sand. I couldn''t catch it, and I felt a sense of loss and a dull pain in my heart.


    I stared at my phone for a long time before answering the call. It was from Yan Yan. She cut straight to the chase and asked, "Zhao Yang, when are you planning to return to Xuzhou?"


    "Tomorrow, tomorrow morning."


    Yan Yan sighed, "So soon?"


    "Yeah, no strings attached, free to come and go." I replied with a smile.


    "I wanted to treat you to a meal before you leave! ... We''ve been friends for so many years, I really don''t want to see you go." Yan Yan''s voice choked up a bit. I knew her emotions were genuine. She didn''t want me to leave, and I didn''t want to leave her and Circle either. But this city is not for me. Leaving means liberation and a new beginning.


    "You don''t need to do that. You and Circle are both very busy. Just remember to visit Xuzhou when you have time..." I added after a pause, "If he''s still willing."


    In fact, in the four days since I resigned from the company, I haven''t had any contact with Circle. I know he''s still upset about that incident and has some resentment towards me. But I don''t know how to explain it to him because my reasons don''t count as reasons in his eyes. We simply can''t see the incident from the same perspective. This makes me feel regretful and heartbroken.


    Yan Yan remained silent, which made me guess that Circle was still angry, and might be for a long time. The negative consequences of this incident were too great.


    After a long silence, Yan Yan finally said, "What time is your train tomorrow? I''ll take you to the station."


    "You don''t have to go to that trouble."


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    I thought for a moment, didn''t refuse again, and told Yan Yan the time of my departure tomorrow morning. I also gave her my current address.


    After ending the call with Yan Yan, I finished packing my luggage and freshened up again. Finally, I returned to my bedroom, lay on the bed, and thought about calling Robben and CC to tell them I was leaving tomorrow morning. But in the end, I gave up. I knew they would go to the station to see me off, but I didn''t like the melancholy of face-to-face farewells. So, I decided to tell them when I got back to Xuzhou.


    I turned off the light and lay in the dark, reflecting on my years in Suzhou. Actually, it wasn''t all without gains. At least I made a few good friends and had a good boss, Chen Jingming. It''s just a pity that I gave up the opportunity in the end and indirectly ruined Chen Jingming''s chance for promotion. Thinking about this made me feel guilty.


    I also knew that Circle''s biggest resentment towards me was because of Chen Jingming. He has always valued Chen Jingming''s recognition and support. Without Chen Jingming, there would be no him today.


    But, is our brotherhood of so many years really going to be ruined by these workplace disputes?


    I don''t know, and I don''t have an answer. I can only hope that time will help Circle let go, and one day in the future, he and Yan Yan will visit us in Xuzhou. Then, just like before, we can have a few drinks, smoke a few cigarettes, and brag a bit...


    Fatigue finally set in amidst my chaotic thoughts. In the middle of the night, I yawned heavily and fell asleep, quietly passing the last night before my departure.


    ...Early the next morning, I moved my luggage out of the room and handed all the keys to the young couple who rented the house yesterday.


    Downstairs of the apartment, I was looking around in the morning sunlight. Today, Yan Yan and I had agreed that she would take me to the train station. However, women are naturally slow, and there was still plenty of time before the train departure. I wasn''t in a hurry. While waiting, I habitually smoked several cigarettes.


    After a while, I finally saw Yan Yan''s white Mazda 6 slowly approaching. To my surprise, there was another person in the passenger seat. Upon closer inspection, it was Circle. My emotions surged instantly. Circle and Yan Yan had come to see me off together.


    After the car stopped, Yan Yan and Circle got out of the car from both sides and then came to me.


    I smiled at Circle and said, "I didn''t expect you to come!"


    "Yan Yan is here, how could I not come."


    I jokingly asked, "You didn''t get dragged here by Yan Yan, did you? You seem reluctant!"


    "Even if I wasn''t dragged, it''s almost the same." Circle responded to my words, but he didn''t joke around.


    Yan Yan slapped Circle lightly and said, "You two have been brothers for so many years, do you really want to stop communicating? Let''s help Zhao Yang move his luggage into the car quickly, so we don''t miss the train."


    Circle nodded, and then he and Yan Yan put my not-so-much luggage into the trunk of the car. He then turned to me, who was still standing in place, and said, "What, do you want to linger a bit longer?"


    I smiled, didn''t say anything, and gestured to Circle to get in the car. Then the three of us got in the car, Yan Yan started the car and drove towards the train station.

 Chapter 68 – I want to leave with a smile

    Inside the car, Circle sat in the passenger seat while I sat in the back. The three of us exchanged only a few words during the journey. After a long silence, Yan Yan finally said to me, "Zhao Yang, Circle told me about your resignation. He misunderstood you. There shouldn''t be any transaction between you and Mi Cai. You told her about the power conspiracy in Zhuo Mei''s upper management because you couldn''t get past your own conscience, am I right?"


    I remained silent for a long time. I didn''t expect Yan Yan, an outsider, to give me an understanding explanation at the moment of my departure. She was right.


    Seeing my silence, Yan Yan softly said, "Circle shouldn''t have said that about you, but I hope you can understand him. You two shouldn''t let this matter ruin your relationship. Neither of you is wrong, it''s just a matter of different standpoints..."


    Before Yan Yan could finish, I interrupted, "I do understand Circle. I just hope he doesn''t see me as someone who forgets his principles for personal gain. Maybe I did make a mistake in this matter, but I don''t regret it. Subconsciously, I believe I did the right thing, whether it was for Mi Cai or anyone else."


    Yan Yan sighed, "I don''t know what to say. It''s a pity about the job... By the way, Circle has received his appointment notice. He is now the deputy manager of Bao Li''s planning department, and Zhao Li has become the team leader of the planning and copywriting team. So, you don''t need to worry about Circle."


    This news made me both happy and disappointed. I was happy for Circle but disappointed for myself. However, I didn''t let myself wallow in disappointment. I quickly asked Circle,


    Circle shook his head, "No, he doesn''t have any chance to become a core member of the company''s upper management anymore."


    I could hear the dissatisfaction and disappointment in Circle''s voice. I had ruined Chen Jingming''s hard-earned opportunity.


    The three of us fell silent again. It was Yan Yan who broke the silence. She asked me, "Zhao Yang, did you tell Mi Cai about this in person?"


    I shook my head, "No, I just wrote her an anonymous letter."


    "You''re really silly. You should at least let Mi Cai know, so she owes you a big favor. Given her status in the business world, the favor she returns to you won''t be small." Yan Yan sighed after finishing her sentence.


    I just smiled and said, "If I had that mentality, wouldn''t I really become the person Circle described?"


    This time, Circle unexpectedly took over the conversation. He said in a low voice, "I''d rather you be that kind of person than see you return to Xu Zhou with a downcast face. Do you know how upset I am?... I''m pissed off that you ruined Chen Jingming''s opportunity, but what I don''t want even more... is to see you leave like this. It''s suffocating, do you understand?"


    Circle''s words made my eyes well up with tears. At this moment, I realized that no matter how fiercely we argued or misunderstood each other, we were brothers at heart. We were real brothers who had struggled together in this city for a long time.


    At this moment, I didn''t know how to express myself. I just looked up, not wanting the tears swirling in my eyes to fall. Yan Yan, who was driving, had already taken out a tissue to wipe the tears from her cheeks.


    As I looked back at the city, I realized that I hadn''t been able to leave my pain behind as I had imagined. What I took with me was only a sense of grey injustice and unwillingness.


    Circle sighed heavily and took out a box from his bag and threw it to me, "These are lung-cleansing capsules a friend sent from abroad. They worked well for me. Try them and smoke less in the future. When you run out, call me, and I''ll have my friend send you more."


    I just nodded and put the lung-cleansing capsules in my bag. Finally, in silence, we arrived at the train station, marking the moment of our farewell.


    I took my luggage from Circle and Yan Yan, waved goodbye to them, "I''m leaving. Come visit me in Xu Zhou when you have time."


    Yan Yan nodded and said, "We will miss you. Have a safe journey."


    I smiled and asked Circle, who had been silent,


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    Instead, Circle suddenly hugged me, his voice choked with emotion, he patted my back heavily and said, "Say hello to Mr. Ban for me... and... don''t just get by, settle down as soon as possible, don''t make Yan Yan and me worry... understand?"At this moment, my emotions were deeply stirred.


    I looked up and took a deep breath, finally managing a smile. I said to Circle, "Don''t worry, I''ll get better. Maybe before long, you and Yan Yan will receive my wedding invitation."


    "Keep going, on your wedding day, Yan Yan and I will definitely give you a big gift," Circle hugged me tightly and said.


    Yan Yan also came to my side, pushed Circle away, and choked up as she hugged me, "Keep going, Zhao Yang, we will find time to visit you in Xuzhou! And when you have a girlfriend, you must let us meet her first, we''ll help you check her out."


    I was moved, but I pushed Yan Yan away, forcing a smile, "Stop playing the emotional card, you two. I, a man of seven feet, can hardly stand it! Don''t make me cry, I don''t want to cry, I want to leave with a smile."


    Yan Yan laughed through her tears and slapped me lightly, "Alright, we''ll let you leave with a smile. When we have a vacation, we''ll visit you in Xuzhou."


    "Please, this is the third time you''ve said you''ll visit me! But if you do come, I''ll definitely welcome you."


    Yan Yan nodded, straightened my clothes that had been messed up from the hug, and said, "Call us when you get home."


    "I know, if you keep nagging, I might start calling you mom..." I paused, then added, "You two should also live a good life, continue to be the fairy-tale couple that I envy... Alright, it''s about time, I should go. You should go home too."


    Circle held Yan Yan in his arms, and they waved at me. I looked back at the city one last time, slung my guitar over my shoulder, and walked towards the station without looking back. But the guitar on my back felt heavier and heavier!


    ...


    A moment after saying goodbye to Circle and Yan Yan, I boarded the train to Xuzhou. As the scenery outside the window became more and more unfamiliar, I finally felt that I was really leaving. But what kind of life was waiting for me?


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 Chapter 69 – After going home

    After a long journey of six hours, I finally arrived in Xuzhou, my long-lost hometown. I remember the last time I came back was before the New Year last year, and more than half a year has passed in a blink of an eye.


    Carrying my luggage, I walked out of the train station, immediately blinded by the afternoon sun. The air still had the familiar scent, a unique smell that belonged only to Xuzhou.


    In front of the train station square, I followed the crowded crowd towards the rows of fruit stalls by the roadside. I opened my wallet, only to find a little over 100 yuan left. This last bit of money was the material gain from my two years in Suzhou.


    I bought some fruits and two packs of cigarettes. The fruits were for Mr. Ban and my mother, and the cigarettes were naturally for myself.


    Carrying the fruits, smoking a cigarette, with my luggage on my back and the remaining 36 yuan in my pocket, I walked along the left side of the road towards the bus stop. These were all I had to show when facing my mother and Mr. Ban.


    ......


    After a 20-minute ride on the bus, I finally stood at the door of my home. I raised my hand twice but couldn''t press the doorbell, because I didn''t know how to face them or explain why I came back. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Zhao Yang?" A voice, unsure if it was mine, suddenly rang in my ear.


    I turned around and saw my mother standing behind me with a basket of vegetables. She must have gone to the supermarket to buy discounted vegetables in the afternoon.


    I laughed and said, "Mom, your son is back."


    My mother smiled, opened the door, and asked me, "Why did you suddenly come back? Do you have a long holiday recently?"


    I still used a feigned relaxed tone and said, "Mom, I won''t go back to Suzhou this time. I''ll stay in Xuzhou and accompany you. It''s about time I fulfilled my filial duties!"


    My mother is a person without a temper, but my words still made her frown. She put down the basket and asked me, "Weren''t you doing well at work there? Did you quit your job? Why can''t you settle down?"


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    "Mom, it''s not about whether I can settle down or not. Besides, haven''t you always wanted me to come back to Xuzhou? Now that I''m back, shouldn''t you be happy?"


    "If you had come back two years earlier, your father and I would definitely be happy. But now you''re not young anymore, and you don''t even have a girlfriend... How can we be happy?" My mother''s tone was very displeased.


    "Mom, my dear mom, stop nagging me. I came back this time to settle down and enjoy life. I promise to work hard, find a girl to date, and let you hold a grandson in a year or two! You and dad will be so happy!"


    My mother looked at me with a mix of annoyance and amusement, and after a while, she said, "You''re still not serious. Wait until your father comes back, I want to see how you explain to him."


    I still laughed and said, "Maybe Mr. Ban can''t wait for me to come back. He might even bring out the old Chen wine he''s been saving for over a decade to celebrate!"


    "I doubt it!" My mother said, picking up the basket and heading to the kitchen. She asked me, "Have you eaten yet? I''ll make you a bowl of noodles."


    "No need, let''s wait for Mr. Ban to come back and have dinner together. I''ll just eat some fruit for now."


    ......


    Before dusk, I had settled my luggage and made my bed. Feeling the warmth of home, I gradually forgot the heaviness in my heart, but I was still worried about my future life. After experiencing the setbacks of life, I no longer looked forward to the future as I once did, but was more worried. For example, if my mother now introduces a girl to me through someone, I don''t even have the money to invite her to dinner. How can I look forward to the future in such a predicament!


    After a short nap, I heard the sound of the door opening, and then my mother called out to me, "Zhao Yang, your father is back. Get up and eat."


    I responded and ran to the living room in my slippers, and sure enough, I saw Mr. Ban carrying a fishing rod and a fish basket.


    I quickly took the fishing gear from Mr. Ban''s hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Ban, you caught quite a lot of fish today. Let''s have my mom cook the fish and make a dish to go with the wine."


    Mr. Ban nodded, then asked with confusion, "Why did you suddenly come back?"


    "You ask my mom."


    "Did your mom ask you to come back?"


    "No, I''ve already told my mom why I came back. We have a generation gap, you and my mom communicate better." I laughed nervously. The reason I didn''t want to tell Mr. Ban myself was that I was afraid he would get angry. Although he seemed dull, he was actually a temperamental middle-aged man.


    Mr. Ban looked at my mother again, and my mother succinctly said, "He quit his job. He said he wants to stay in Xuzhou and accompany us old folks."


    Mr. Ban didn''t care about me quitting my job, but frowned and asked, "I thought you were getting along well with that girl. What will she do if you come back to Xuzhou?"


    Mr. Ban suddenly mentioned Mi Cai, and I felt a strange feeling in my heart. But I comforted myself, thinking that every cloud has a silver lining. Although I indirectly lost my job because of her, maybe it''s a new beginning in Xuzhou, and I can live a decent life from now on.


    I rarely called Mr. Ban "dad", and said with a bitter face, "Whether I come back to Xuzhou or not has nothing to do with her. We are just normal friends. You''ve been to Suzhou twice, and I''ve emphasized it twice. How could you forget?"


    Mr. Ban was silent for a while, then said, "I don''t understand you young people!"I didn''t respond to Mr. Ban''s words, and he didn''t seem as upset as I had imagined about my decision to quit my job and return to Xuzhou. This was understandable, after all, they were my parents. How many parents in the world wouldn''t want their children to stay by their side? So, I could rest assured and live a good life in Xuzhou.


    ......


    During dinner, the whole family sat together. Mr. Ban even took out his treasured old Chen wine, and both of us poured a glass.


    I toasted Mr. Ban with a glass of wine, and then cautiously asked, "Mr. Ban, you''re not upset that I quit my job and came back to Xuzhou, are you?"


    "No matter how good the job is, it''s useless if you can''t save money. It''s the same in Suzhou or Xuzhou."


    Mr. Ban''s words made me feel a bit ashamed, so I quickly made a solemn promise, "Xuzhou and Suzhou are not the same. With you and mom supervising me, I will definitely not waste a single penny. I will hand over my monthly salary to you two for safekeeping."


    Mr. Ban and my mother both remained silent. I didn''t know if they were skeptical about my future or dissatisfied with my past.


    I had nothing to be embarrassed about with my own parents, so I took the opportunity to say, "Mr. Ban, could you possibly arrange a job for me at your workplace?"


    Mr. Ban put down his chopsticks and looked at me. Without a moment''s hesitation, he said, "You''ll have to figure out the job situation on your own."


    Mr. Ban''s rigid attitude made me a bit flustered, and I said, "You''re my real father, can''t you consider it before giving me an answer? After all, you''re a deputy section chief. Even a job managing documents in your section would be fine! I promise to work hard and not embarrass you. Isn''t that acceptable?"

 Chapter 70 – The predicament of having no money

    Even though I had earnestly promised Mr. Ban that I would work hard, he still didn''t agree to arrange a job for me in their company.


    I was at a loss with Mr. Ban, looking at him with a gloomy face. He was drinking his wine as if I hadn''t mentioned this matter to him. His composure was truly worthy of his title as Mr. Ban.


    I looked at my mother for help, hoping she could persuade Mr. Ban. As expected, my mother was on my side. She nudged Mr. Ban and said, "Zhao, why don''t you arrange a job for our son in your company? You know well that our son is not very ambitious and is a bit wild. If he stays with you, I will feel relieved."


    I quickly chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Ban, if I could find a job immediately, that would be great. But if I can''t and just stay at home, everyone in the neighborhood will know that your son is a failure. You won''t be able to save face, unless you really don''t consider me as your son!"


    Mr. Ban remained unmoved and said, "You should figure out the job thing on your own."


    I scratched my head, feeling a bit frustrated, and said, "Mr. Ban, just tell me what you''re thinking! If I work in your company, isn''t it just to stabilize my life... Besides, how many leaders in your company don''t arrange jobs for their sons, daughters, relatives, etc.? Why can''t you change your mind?"


    Mr. Ban suddenly got angry, slammed the table and scolded me, "You ungrateful thing, I''m your father, is it your place to lecture me?... Whether life can be stable or not, it''s not something that can be solved by arranging a job for you. You should think about this clearly."


    I didn''t say anything, but I couldn''t understand what Mr. Ban meant. I just felt that arranging a stable job for me was the first step to stabilize my life.


    My mother gave me a look, hinting me not to talk nonsense, and then softly said to Mr. Ban, "Zhao, don''t be angry with our son. Let''s talk about the job thing later. Our son just came back, let him rest for a few days."


    Mr. Ban didn''t respond to my mother, nor did he say anything else. He just drank the remaining wine in his glass, but he seemed to be in a bad mood. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ......


    After dinner, Mr. Ban went straight to wash and rest. I sat on the sofa chatting with my mother. As we chatted, we started talking about blind dates.


    My mother asked me very seriously, "Zhao Yang, tell me, do you really want to get married?"


    I nodded affirmatively and said, "Of course, I''m not young anymore."


    My mother nodded and said, "Alright, Aunt Zhang works in the neighborhood committee and knows many girls. I''ll ask her to help arrange some blind dates in the next few days."


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    "You said it, but you have to let Aunt Zhang be careful. She should find a reliable girl. After all, your son''s conditions are not bad!"


    My mother looked at me for a long time and said, "Son, are you joking with me? Tell me, what''s good about you?"


    "Just because I''m your own son, you can''t think I''m bad, right?"


    My mother didn''t respond to me, but just told me to "go to bed early" and then went back to her room.


    I finally lit a cigarette in the empty living room. Of course, I knew I wasn''t outstanding. If people were divided into substandard and superior, I would undoubtedly be substandard. The reason why I said that was just to give myself some confidence.


    ......


    Lying on the small steel bed that I had slept on since childhood, I felt very secure. Soon, I started to feel drowsy.


    In my drowsiness, the message alert tone of my mobile phone rang. I picked up the phone and saw that it was a message from Mi Cai. The content of the message was simple, just asking if I had arrived home.


    I immediately replied to Mi Cai, telling her that I had arrived home safely. After that, she didn''t reply to me anymore. But I wasn''t surprised. It was already rare for her to send a message to ask about me. Could I expect her to chat with me about life, dreams, and love?


    I could foresee that after this message, we wouldn''t have any more interactions. After all, we were in two different cities and were just ordinary friends.


    Before putting the phone back on the bedside table, I looked at the time. It was just half past nine. Suddenly, I wasn''t sleepy anymore, so I lit another cigarette and lay on the bed smoking.


    Although I had moved from one city to another in a day, some things couldn''t be forgotten so quickly. When I couldn''t sleep, I still thought about the bits and pieces of my time in Suzhou.


    My memories of Suzhou seem to be all about that woman who has long gone. Now when I think of it, it doesn''t hurt as much as before, because the city I''m in now doesn''t bear her mark, and I''ve finally let go of my obsession, willing to fall in love with another girl who I don''t know where she is yet.


    Perhaps, the moment I broke up with Jian Wei, I should have given up my persistence and left Suzhou. In this way, I wouldn''t have indulged in memories and hurt myself for two years. But could she know that the reason I stayed in Suzhou was because I couldn''t bear to leave? I couldn''t bear to leave the word "wait" she wrote on the car window with lipstick.


    The night deepened, and I finally felt sleepy again. Before turning off the light, I took one last look at the guitar standing in the corner, and my heart gradually settled down.


    ......


    In a blink of an eye, I''ve been in Xuzhou for a week. During this week, what I''ve been doing repeatedly is sending resumes online and going for interviews. Regrettably, I haven''t found a satisfactory job yet. I dare not pin my hopes on Mr. Ban. From what I know about him, he would 99% not help me find a job.


    What''s more regrettable than not finding a job is that I don''t have a penny on me. The last few tens of yuan were spent on taking the bus to look for jobs recently. But I can''t bring myself to ask Mr. Ban and my mother for money. Fortunately, I don''t need to rent a house or pay for meals now, so I can still get by.


    One afternoon, as I was browsing job ads on the computer, my mother suddenly came up behind me, patted me on the shoulder, and said joyfully, "Zhao Yang, the favor I asked you to do for Aunt Zhang last time, she really took it to heart. She found a girl for you. Since you''re free now, why don''t you meet her tonight and see if you hit it off."


    "Okay." I agreed immediately, then asked, "Mom, are you going with me tonight?"


    My mother shook her head and said, "I won''t go. Young people nowadays don''t like their elders meddling in their affairs. I know that."


    "No, you should go. I like it when you meddle!" I hurriedly said, actually hoping that my mother would go and pay the bill. I''m penniless now, and the thought of not being able to pay the bill after having dinner with the girl is too embarrassing to even think about.


    "No, both families have agreed to let you meet alone."


    I struggled desperately, saying, "Go, how will I recognize her if you don''t go!"


    My mother immediately took out her phone, sent me a photo via WeChat, and said, "This is the girl''s photo. You can recognize her by this photo when you get to the coffee shop."


    I picked up the phone and looked at it. The girl looked okay, but that''s not the point. After a long silence, I gritted my teeth, wanting to ask my mother for some money, but in the end, I just couldn''t bring myself to do it!

 Chapter 71 – The first blind date in life

    At half past five in the afternoon, half an hour before my blind date, I tidied up my appearance and walked out of the bathroom. Mr. Ban, holding his briefcase, opened the door to the house.


    Once again, I felt the urge to ask Mr. Ban for money. After a moment, I said, "Mr. Ban, you got off work quite early today."


    "Isn''t it always this time?" Mr. Ban replied indifferently.


    I quickly poured a glass of water for Mr. Ban. He didn''t notice anything unusual and naturally took the water from my hand. Then he asked me, "How''s your job search going these days?"


    "I''ve just sent out my resume and had a few interviews, but none of them were satisfactory."


    "Don''t set your expectations too high. A decent job is good enough."


    "I''m not a fresh graduate with no work experience. I can''t just settle for any job. You know how much young people spend these days. At the very least, the salary should be enough to support myself!"


    I subtly hinted at the high expenses of modern young people, hoping that Mr. Ban would understand and give me some pocket money to solve my urgent need.


    Unexpectedly, Mr. Ban casually said, "If you know the expenses are high, you should spend less."


    Mr. Ban''s logic left me speechless. I didn''t say anything for a while, and Mr. Ban, too lazy to talk more, put down his teacup and turned to walk towards his study.


    "Mr. Ban..." I finally gritted my teeth and called out.


    Mr. Ban turned around and looked at me without a smile, asking, "Is there anything else?"


    Mr. Ban''s expression made me inexplicably nervous. After a moment, I stammered, "Um... um, can I... borrow your car? I have a blind date tonight." I finished speaking and wished I could slap myself. Why is it so hard to ask for money?


    It''s indeed hard... After all, I''m an adult who has been working for several years. If I still ask my parents for money, it''s just ridiculous!


    Mr. Ban didn''t notice anything unusual. He took out the keys to his old Santana 2000, which was provided by his unit, from his bag and handed them to me.


    I stared blankly at the car keys in my hand, then watched Mr. Ban enter his room in a daze. It wasn''t until the door closed that I realized I had missed another opportunity to ask for money.


    ...


    With a stiff upper lip, I drove Mr. Ban''s nearly scrapped Santana 2000 to the prearranged coffee shop. Along the way, I thought about asking my old friends for money, but most of these friends were from high school and I hadn''t contacted them for a long time. Suddenly asking them for money seemed a bit unkind.


    Unconsciously, I passed several intersections with traffic lights. Suddenly, I saw the coffee shop where we agreed to meet about 50 meters ahead. The huge shop sign made me even more nervous.


    I parked the car slowly, then slowly walked to the second floor. I took out my phone and looked at the photo again before scanning the coffee shop.


    After scanning twice, I finally found a girl in a corner whose appearance matched the photo. I straightened my clothes and walked towards the corner.


    I arrived in front of the girl and took another look. She was quite pretty, with nice features and good skin. However, she lacked the stunning beauty and temperament of Jian Wei, the breathtaking beauty of Mi Cai, and the fashionable, avant-garde, and sexy aura of Le Yao. In short, she was just an ordinary pretty girl.


    But it''s such girls who are suitable for daily life, so my first impression of her was not bad.


    I smiled and asked politely, "Excuse me, are you Miss Li Xiaoyun?"


    The girl nodded and smiled at me, saying, "So you''re Zhao Yang?"


    "Yes, I am... Can we sit down first?"


    To access the premium content, go to [ ].


    "Sure."


    Just as I sat down, a waiter came over with a menu and asked, "Sir, Miss, are you ready to order now?"


    "Um, do you... pay after eating, or do you have to pay as soon as you order?"


    Apparently, no one had ever asked such a bizarre question. The waiter was stunned for a moment before answering, "Um, either way is fine."


    I breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Okay, give me the menu."


    The waiter gave me a menu. Li Xiaoyun and I each ordered what we wanted to eat, and then we started chatting while waiting.


    Li Xiaoyun is a lively girl. She took the initiative to say, "Let''s introduce ourselves first. You already know my name. This year is my zodiac year, so you can guess my age. I''m currently a customer department manager at an advertising company. I don''t have my own house and live with my parents. That''s about it."


    I stared at Li Xiaoyun in disbelief. Her blunt self-introduction was incredible. I felt as if I was checking her household registration.


    Li Xiaoyun was puzzled by my reaction. After a while, she tentatively asked, "Is this your first blind date?"


    "Yes."


    "No wonder. The self-introduction I just did is a necessary procedure for blind dates. If you go on more blind dates in the future, you''ll get used to it." Li Xiaoyun smiled and said.


    I nodded and said, "Oh, I see. That''s how it''s portrayed on TV!"


    "So it''s your turn to introduce yourself." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I sat up straight and said as if I were giving a speech, "My name is Zhao Yang, I''m 26 years old, currently unemployed, uh... I don''t have a car, a house, or savings. I''m living with my parents and probably will be for a long time. I don''t have any specific plans or goals for the future. I''m just muddling along."


    Li Xiaoyun seemed shocked by my self-introduction. After a while, she said, "Are you serious?"


    "Yes, absolutely!"


    "But Aunt Zhang, who introduced us, didn''t say that."


    "What did she say?"


    Li Xiaoyun thought for a moment and said, "She said you just came back from Suzhou, that you''re a white-collar worker at a large department store, diligent and ambitious... a very good young man!"I laughed heartily and said, "You actually believe in matchmaker''s words? That''s too far-fetched. I feel ashamed just hearing it!"


    Li Xiaoyun looked at me with a wry smile, and after a while, she asked, "So, Aunt Zhang said you can play the guitar and you''re talented. Is that also false?"


    Li Xiaoyun''s words made me break out in a cold sweat. This was really hard on my mom. I guess she couldn''t find any good points about me, so she simply told Aunt Zhang that I could play the guitar as if it was something significant. Then Aunt Zhang enthusiastically relayed it to Li Xiaoyun.


    After a while, I said to Li Xiaoyun, "The part about playing the guitar is true, but it doesn''t really have anything to do with blind dating, does it?"


    Li Xiaoyun nodded, not saying anything more.


    I smiled and asked, "Do you feel like your full-blown ideal has instantly turned into a skinny reality, and you''re dealing with this gap, feeling particularly disappointed?"


    Li Xiaoyun shook her head and laughed, "Not really, I think you''re not bad, at least you''re very honest, much more than most men!"


    I was overjoyed inside, thinking this was a rare opportunity to save face. So, I thickened my skin and went along with Li Xiaoyun''s words, "I also think I''m very honest, but there''s something else I need to be honest about."


    Li Xiaoyun looked at me puzzled and asked, "What is it?"


    "...I don''t have a penny on me right now, so... you''ll have to treat me to this meal!"

 Chapter 72 – Unexpected encounter

    After I suggested that Li Xiaoyun should treat us, she looked at me with a wry smile and finally said, "Alright, I''ll pay."


    I breathed a sigh of relief. My thick skin had saved me from an awkward situation. I thought for a moment and then said to Li Xiaoyun, "Don''t go home and tell your parents that I couldn''t afford to treat you to a meal. If this gets to my parents, it won''t look good!"


    "Don''t worry, I won''t say anything. It''s just like treating a friend to a meal!" Li Xiaoyun replied cheerfully.


    I gave Li Xiaoyun a thumbs up and said, "You''re very understanding, I appreciate that."


    "Sigh! It''s not that I''m understanding, it''s just that there''s no other way! We came out for a blind date, and if you can''t pay, then it''s obviously up to me!" Li Xiaoyun laughed and sighed.


    Her words made me feel a bit embarrassed, and I awkwardly said, "I heard that on the road of blind dating, you''re bound to meet one or two oddballs. I guess you''ve met one in me?"


    "If we''re talking about oddballs, you definitely take the cake."


    I glanced at Li Xiaoyun''s wallet on the table and then said something even more outrageous, "Since we know each other well, why don''t you do me a favor? I''m really short on cash right now. Could you lend me some? Once I find a job and get my salary, I''ll pay you back. It won''t take long, at most two months."


    "How much?"


    "1000."


    Li Xiaoyun immediately took out 1000 yuan in cash from her wallet and handed it to me. I said "Thank you" and shamelessly accepted it.


    About half an hour later, Li Xiaoyun and I finished our dinner. In the end, I used the 1000 yuan I borrowed from her to pay the bill. Of course, this was still a decent outcome. It could be considered that I treated her to a meal, because I would definitely pay back the 1000 yuan I borrowed.


    In the evening, Li Xiaoyun and I stood at the entrance of the coffee shop. I asked her, "How did you get here?"


    "By taxi."


    "Then let me take you home."


    Li Xiaoyun shook her head and said, "No need, my house is not far from here, it''s very convenient to take a taxi."


    I didn''t insist, because I understood that if a woman refuses a man''s offer to take her home, it means she is not satisfied with this blind date.


    I could certainly understand Li Xiaoyun. It would be strange if she was satisfied. After all, she was at the age when a woman should be married, and she had to consider the man''s financial foundation more.


    Although I understood, I still felt a bit disappointed. Pure love is becoming increasingly rare in this era where everything needs to be proven by money, and it''s even extinct.


    After a moment of silence, I said to Li Xiaoyun, "Then leave me your phone number, so I can contact you when I pay you back."


    Li Xiaoyun nodded and gave me her number. I wrote it down and smiled at Li Xiaoyun, "I hope this blind date experience didn''t leave a bad impression on you." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not at all, I think you''re quite interesting. At least we didn''t feel bored when we were together."


    I joked, "Sigh! Hearing you say that, I feel even more guilty. It seems that besides being able to make jokes, I don''t have any other redeeming qualities."


    "Everyone has their own strengths, it just takes time to discover them. But you really need to work hard. Of all the blind dates I''ve had, you''re the only one..." Li Xiaoyun suddenly stopped, realizing something.


    I understood what she meant. She must have wanted to say that I was the only one, at the age of 26, who still had no savings and no job.


    ...


    After the blind date, I drove Mr. Ban''s nearly scrapped Santana 2000 to the river opposite Xuanwu Market. I sat alone on the grass by the river, smoking a cigarette with a heavy heart. This depression stemmed from my inability to sort out my own life.


    The water in the moat flowed eastward under the night sky with the autumn wind. I stared blankly at it, gradually feeling like an outsider in this city. The lights of thousands of homes here had nothing to do with me.


    I thought of Circle and Yan Yan, and then of Jian Wei and Xiang Chen. These four people made up almost all of my memories from college. Perhaps they were all doing well at this moment.


    I lay on the grass, looking at the starry sky with a somewhat silly expression, and suddenly felt empty.


    "Zhao Yang, why are you sitting here alone after the blind date instead of going home?" My mother''s voice suddenly sounded behind me.


    I was startled and sat up from the grass, staring blankly for a moment before asking, "Mom, how did you follow me here?"


    "I followed you into the coffee shop. I''ve been sitting at the table behind you with Xiaoyun''s mother."


    My mother''s words made my heart pound. If she had been sitting behind us all this time, then she must have heard my conversation with Li Xiaoyun!


    I asked, "Didn''t you say you wanted us to be alone? Why did you follow us?"


    Ignoring my question, my mother looked at me sternly and said, "You unreliable son, who borrows money from a girl during a blind date?"


    "Mom, I really don''t have any money!" I sighed weakly.


    My mother sat down next to me. Instead of getting angry, she softened her tone and asked, "Tell me, how have you been living in Suzhou all these years?"


    After a long time, I answered, "Just living irresponsibly... Mom, I''m really not a good son. I''ve been worrying you and Mr. Ban all these years!"


    "People make mistakes when they''re young. It''s okay as long as you correct them. There''s still a long way to go."


    "Mm." I nodded heavily.


    My mother hugged me and smiled, "I''ll try to persuade your father to arrange a job for you. From now on, you can stay with us."


    "If Mr. Ban really doesn''t want to, then forget it. I''ll find a job myself. Correcting my mistakes starts with finding a job."


    "He''s just old-fashioned. If he doesn''t help his own son, who will he help?"I was speechless, in fact, I was also confused: asking Mr. Ban to help me find a job, was it right or wrong?


    After a while, I finally said, "Mom, you go back first, I want to be alone for a while."


    "Alright, but before I leave, I have to ask you something."


    "Go ahead."


    "What do you think of Xiao Yun? Do you want to continue dating her?"


    I thought for a moment and said, "Let''s talk about dating later, everything is unstable now."


    "Just one blind date and you''re already chickening out?"


    I wiped my face and lay back on the grass without saying a word. I admit I was a bit cowardly, but it wasn''t because of the blind date itself, but my own situation.


    I realized: leaving Suzhou, although I temporarily said goodbye to the pain, I was even more at a loss, at a loss for my future.


    ......


    That night, I stayed by the river alone for a long time, and thought a lot, but I didn''t come up with any ideas, and whether the future is good or bad is not something that can be decided just by thinking.


    I didn''t want to go home, still driving around in Xuzhou, the city where my life began, looking at the towering buildings outside the car window, I suddenly remembered, I once had ambitions, I wanted to be an outstanding entrepreneur, not only to realize my own value, but also to help more people realize their self-worth.


    I don''t know when I forgot this great wish, started learning guitar, and from then on, I played the guitar and sang all kinds of songs, but I couldn''t sing a complete love song, so I was even less willing to think about that wish of becoming an entrepreneur!


    People either succeed, are content with the status quo, or degenerate. My bad luck, in the end, I just degenerated like this, but I often can''t remember how I degenerated and when I started to degenerate!


    When degeneration becomes a habit, you gradually don''t feel ashamed. So I went to the game arcade again, bought a small basket of game coins, and started playing a fighting game with a kid who looked like a middle school student.


    I was smoking a cigarette and controlling the character Iori Yagami in the game, after a light kick, I followed with a heavy hand, then a three-move combo, and finally a Maiden Masher, instantly KO''ing the character controlled by the kid.


    The kid looked at me with a red face and didn''t dare to speak, which made me feel an invincible loneliness in my heart, and then I laughed at myself, I had actually degenerated to the point of seeking a sense of existence in a game.


    I threw a game coin to the kid, indicating him to continue. The kid turned his sorrow into joy, put the game coin into the game machine, and the two of us started fighting again. Amid the kid''s screams, I slapped the game machine, making a "pop pop" sound.


    "Zhao Yang, you''re pretty good at this game!" A woman''s voice sounded behind me.


    I was fully focused on the game and didn''t pay attention at first. Suddenly I realized: how could anyone in the game arcade know my name? I turned my head abruptly and found Mi Cai standing behind me.


    I stared at Mi Cai like an idiot, thinking I was dreaming, and thinking I was still in Suzhou, while the kid took the opportunity to unleash a big move, killing my character in the game!

 Chapter 73 – You like to pretend so much

    I pinched my face hard, the pain immediately hit me, confirming that I was not dreaming. After a long pause, I asked Mi Cai,


    Mi Cai smiled and said, "Of course, I came to see you."


    Compared to my shock, Mi Cai calmly said to me, "You continue playing the game, we''ll talk later."


    I asked subconsciously.


    "I''m here to watch you play."


    Just as Mi Cai finished speaking, the kid on the side had already inserted a game coin into the machine for me.


    I calmed down and started battling with the kid again, but no matter what, I couldn''t win. In the end, I handed a basket of game coins to the kid, and left the game room with Mi Cai, who was still eager to play.


    ...


    The night was getting deep, and the wind, carrying the chill of late autumn, whistled past us. Mi Cai was dressed a bit thinly, and she subconsciously tightened the houndstooth wool coat that I had seen her wear many times.


    I couldn''t help but ask again,


    Mi Cai looked at me, her expression not as indifferent as before. She took a letter out of her pocket and handed it to me, saying, "This is the letter you wrote to me, right? You knew all along that I was the general manager of Zhuomei!"


    I took the letter but didn''t open it, just stared at Mi Cai in a daze. My emotions were fluctuating wildly. After a long, long silence, I lit a cigarette and asked Mi Cai, "How did you know all this?"


    "Circle, your friend Circle told me. He said you resigned from Baoli Department Store because of this and then left Suzhou."


    "He shouldn''t have told you that. It was my choice, and then I quietly left Suzhou, a city that made me feel tired."


    Mi Cai looked at me without saying a word. In fact, even if she didn''t speak, I already knew her attitude. She was grateful to me, otherwise she wouldn''t have traveled all the way from Suzhou to Xuzhou to see me.


    I didn''t want this to become a burden for Mi Cai, nor did I need her to thank me. So I smiled and asked with the intention of diverting her attention,  sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai dropped her burdened expression, smiled slightly, and said, "Circle gave me your home address. I went to your house to find you. Your dad was home, and he even made me dinner. When your mom came back, I asked her where you were. She said that when you''re in a bad mood, you go to the game arcade, and you''re most likely there. And sure enough, I found you at the game arcade."


    "You like to play cool. If I had called you in advance and let you prepare, how could I have seen your pitiful look?"


    I was left speechless by Mi Cai. After a while, I looked at Mr. Ban''s Santana and said,


    Mi Cai shook her head helplessly and said to me, "Let''s not stand here and talk, I''m a bit cold."


    I immediately took off my jacket and put it on Mi Cai, then pointed across the street and said, "There''s a tea restaurant over there, let''s go sit inside."


    Mi Cai nodded, and we both dodged the traffic and crossed the street.


    ...


    In the tea restaurant, Mi Cai and I sat across from each other. I was drinking green tea, and Mi Cai ordered black tea. The steam from the tea cups filled the air in front of us. Through the steam, I looked at Mi Cai. She was still as beautiful as ever, as if she didn''t belong to this mundane world.


    Mi Cai held her tea cup and gently turned it. She seemed to want to say something, but didn''t know how to start.


    Finally, I broke the silence, but only asked casually, "Where are you staying tonight?"


    "Hotel." She answered absentmindedly, without even looking at me.


    "Oh, when are you going back to Suzhou?"


    Mi Cai finally looked up at me and asked, "Do you think it''s presumptuous of me to come to Xuzhou to see you?"


    "You misunderstood me. I asked because I was worried that you were busy with work." I quickly explained.


    Mi Cai shook her head and said, "No matter how busy I am, I would come to Xuzhou to see you... I''m very grateful for your selfless help."


    "You don''t have to be so polite, I would do the same for anyone else." I smiled and said.


    Mi Cai nodded in silence, and I realized that I had never been with Mi Cai like this before, which made me feel a bit uneasy.


    After a while, Mi Cai looked at me and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"


    "I''m back in Xuzhou now, so I''ll definitely stay here in the future. It''s actually quite nice here, at least I can be with my family."


    Mi Cai looked at me, wanting to say something but stopping herself.


    "How about Zhuomei, has it stabilized now?"


    "It''s temporarily stable, but this is just the beginning. Similar incidents may happen in the future." Mi Cai answered with a somewhat low mood.


    I sighed softly in my heart, knowing full well that Mi Zhongde would not give up control of Zhuomei so easily. There would surely be more malicious actions against Mi Cai in the future. I felt even more sympathy for Mi Cai, as the one scheming against her was her own uncle. But I was powerless to help, and could only assist her that one time.


    "I heard from Circle that you gave up a rare job opportunity this time. Do you regret making such a big sacrifice?"


    I shook my head and said, "I actually struggled for a long time. After all, human nature is selfish. But once I made up my mind, I wouldn''t regret it."


    Mi Cai took a sip of hot tea, and finally seemed to muster up the courage to ask me, "Zhao Yang, would you be willing to return to Suzhou and join us at Zhuomei Shopping Center?"


    "If you wanted compensation, you wouldn''t have told me everything in that way. I just hope you''ll join Zhuomei. Firstly, you''re currently jobless. Secondly, you''re originally in the planning field. Thirdly, working at Zhuomei is a good choice."


    I smiled and asked,


    "I admit I do feel guilty, but have you ever thought about why Circle told me all this? He doesn''t want you to lose your job because of this incident, and hopes you can stay in Suzhou, a place where you''ve worked hard before."


    I shook my head and said, "You''re not accurate. Suzhou is not a place where I''ve worked hard. All my memories of Suzhou are grey because I was depressed and decadent there..."


    Mi Cai didn''t say anything more. She obviously wasn''t good at persuasion, and I really didn''t want to go back to Suzhou, as I couldn''t find any meaning in returning.


    Joining Zhuomei was even more impossible, as it would make my choice seem driven by self-interest, as if I did all this just to join Zhuomei. It would make me feel even more guilty towards Chen Jingming. I wouldn''t want to live with such guilt.


    I was willing to consider Xuzhou, the city where my life began, as a safe harbor in life, and settle down here happily.

 Chapter 74 – Go to Zuo Mei to work

    The night outside the window gradually quieted down, and there were hardly any customers left in the tea restaurant. The staff announced through the speakers, accompanied by Eason Chan''s "Premonition", that the shop would be closing in a quarter of an hour. After repeating the announcement twice, a row of lights in the hall was turned off, leaving only the lights at the table where Mi Cai and I were sitting.


    We didn''t reach a consensus that night, but we had to leave. I stood up and said to Mi Cai, "We should go."


    Mi Cai nodded and stood up with me. Her mood seemed a bit low, but I couldn''t tell whether her sadness was due to worries about her future at Zhuomei, or because I was unwilling to return to Suzhou to join Zhuomei.


    I booked a hotel nearby for Mi Cai. When she got her room card, it was time for us to part ways.


    I said to Mi Cai, "If you''re not leaving tomorrow, you''re welcome to visit my home."


    "I''m not leaving. I won''t leave for the next two days."


    "Do you really need to stay that long?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xuzhou is not your home. I can stay as long as I want."


    I was a bit speechless and surprised, because Mi Cai rarely spoke with emotion, but this sentence was clearly emotional.


    After a while, I said, "Alright then, see you tomorrow."


    Mi Cai nodded, then picked up her luggage and followed the waiter to the elevator.


    ***


    On the way home, I immediately called Circle. I had to talk to him about this.


    The call was answered after a while. Before I could speak, Circle laughed and said, "I just took out my phone to call you, but you beat me to it... Did Mi Cai come to see you?"


    "Oh, not only do you do good deeds without leaving a name, but you also care about people''s feelings. Even Lei Feng didn''t do as well as you, Zhao Yang!"


    "Stop talking nonsense..."


    Before Circle could respond, Yan Yan snatched the phone and asked, "Zhao Yang, have you found a job yet?"


    I replied unhappily. I knew that telling Mi Cai about this was probably Yan Yan''s idea.


    "Did Mi Cai invite you back to Suzhou to work at her Zhuomei Shopping Center?"


    "What did you say?"


    Yan Yan laughed, "Zhao Yang, you''re making a long-distance call, take it easy. Knowing you, I''m not sure if you can afford your phone bill for the next stage!"


    I couldn''t help but admire Yan Yan''s jumping thoughts. After a while, I said,


    "What I mean is, you''re in such a bad situation, and Mi Cai personally came to find you and offered you a job. You should stop being so proud, okay? Hurry back to Suzhou and continue your life."


    Circle took the phone and said to me, "What Yan Yan means is what I mean."


    "Yan Yan doesn''t understand the situation, do you not understand it either? If I go back to Suzhou and work at Zhuomei, wouldn''t I be even more sorry to Chen Jingming? How can I get over this?"


    "You don''t necessarily have to work at Zhuomei if you go back to Suzhou. Of course, if you''ve already found a good job in Xuzhou, just ignore what I said."


    I was speechless...


    Circle continued, "You should think about it again. In Suzhou, we brothers can support each other. In Xuzhou, knowing Mr. Ban, he definitely won''t help you with work."


    I was speechless again, because Circle was right. Mr. Ban really didn''t want to get involved in my work. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have been so frustrated about work for more than a week!


    "Zhao Yang, it''s late. Let''s stop here. Think about it... Oh, I''ll recharge your phone with 100 yuan later. Your phone can''t be cut off, we need to keep in touch."


    Circle didn''t respond to my words and hung up the phone directly. My embarrassment was magnified several times after being ridiculed by Circle and Yan Yan. Indeed, if it weren''t for borrowing 1000 yuan from Li Xiaoyun, who I had a blind date with today, I wouldn''t even have money to recharge my phone.


    After another traffic light, I would be home after crossing one more street. Suddenly, the message alert on my phone rang. I picked it up and saw that it was a message confirming a successful recharge of 100 yuan. I couldn''t help but laugh and cry. Circle and Yan Yan were really talented!


    ***


    When I got home and opened the door, Mr. Ban and my mother were sitting on the sofa in the living room. I closed the door and threw the car keys to Mr. Ban, asking, "You guys haven''t gone to bed yet?"


    My mother looked at me and asked with a smile, "Zhao Yang, is the girl who came to our house to find you today your girlfriend?"


    I wasn''t surprised by my mother''s question and immediately said, Mr. Ban took over the conversation with a serious expression, "Could she have run all the way from Suzhou to Xuzhou to find you if she wasn''t your girlfriend? Did you do something to wrong her?"


    A sense of helplessness welled up in my heart. I didn''t know how to explain to them, so I habitually touched the tip of my nose.


    My mother immediately said to Mr. Ban, "Did you see that, Mr. Ban? That''s the gesture he makes every time he doesn''t tell the truth."


    Mr. Ban nodded in agreement with my mother. I was at a loss for words, so I said, "I really can''t explain this to you. I guess she will come to our house for lunch tomorrow. If you don''t believe me, you can ask her about our relationship." I quickly walked towards my room, afraid that they would keep asking me questions.


    Just as I had made a cup of tea and sat on the bed, my mother pushed open the door of my room. It seemed that she was not going to let me off and continued to dig deeper.


    My mother moved a chair and sat down opposite me, speaking to me earnestly, "Zhao Yang, I heard from your father that she is the girl who lived with you in Suzhou. I even knitted a scarf for her."


    I didn''t deny it and nodded.


    "So tell me honestly, what is your relationship? You lived together and you still say there''s no relationship. Do you think your mother is a fool?"


    "How could an ordinary friend run all the way to Xuzhou to find you?" My mother looked at me with a ''keep pretending'' expression.


    I was both amused and annoyed, so I simply lay down on the bed, covered myself with the quilt, and ignored everything...


    My mother was clearly talking to herself, but it sounded more like she was talking to me, "That girl is really beautiful and charming. No wonder you don''t want to date Xiao Yun. But how did such a beautiful girl fall for you? And she even came to Xuzhou to find you. This is really mysterious!"


    Her exclamation made me both laugh and cry. I wanted to ask her: Am I really her son? Am I that bad? But I dared not talk to her, fearing that she would keep asking questions. So, I pulled the quilt all the way up, covering even my face, not listening, not looking, not speaking...

 Chapter 75 – Trustworthy friend

    The next morning, I was still deep in my dreams when my mother woke me up. I complained groggily, "Mom, what time is it? You woke me up so early, let me sleep a little longer."


    "Stop sleeping, I have something to ask you."


    "Don''t ask, I''ve told you I have nothing to do with that girl, really nothing." I yawned heavily, closed my eyes and lay back down on the bed.


    "I''m asking what that girl likes to eat. You said she''s coming to our house today, right? I''m going to buy groceries later."


    "Just buy some lotus root, bell peppers, gluten, river shrimp, and make some spicy chicken or something."


    "Aren''t these all your favorites?"


    "Young people''s tastes are all similar, just do as you see fit."


    "This can''t be taken lightly..."


    Before my mother could finish, I interrupted, "Just go shopping with ease, she will definitely love it."


    Finally, my mother stopped nagging, thought for a moment, and asked me again, "Have you called to check if the girl has had breakfast?"


    "Mom, we are from different generations. Don''t impose your lifestyle habits on us. We don''t even know if she''s up yet. Just go buy the groceries first."


    "You always complain about my nagging, but I''m doing this for your own good. Hurry up and call the girl, ask her when she''s coming over, and you go pick her up."


    "I''ll do as you say, can you let me sleep a little longer? Just a little while." I pleaded.


    "Don''t forget what I just told you, got it?"


    I quickly nodded in agreement, and my mother nagged a few more words before finally leaving my room.


    ......


    After my mother left, I gradually lost my sleepiness. I tossed and turned in bed for a while, and finally picked up my phone to call Mi Cai.


    Mi Cai quickly answered the phone and politely said to me, "Good morning."


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    I also replied "Good morning", and then asked, "Have you had breakfast?"


    "I''m eating in the hotel restaurant."


    "Oh, you have good living habits. It''s just the right time for breakfast."


    Mi Cai responded with a "Hmm".


    The conversation felt a bit stiff, so I thought for a moment and asked, "What are you planning to do after breakfast?"


    "I''m going to visit your Xuzhou department stores and shopping centers."


    "So, Mr. Mi, you came to Xuzhou specifically for market research!" I exclaimed.


    "No, I came specifically to see you. The market research is just incidental." Mi Cai said to me very seriously.


    I''m afraid of people talking to me so seriously, and I was silent for a while.


    Mi Cai then said to me, "Xuzhou is your home turf, aren''t you going to be my guide?"


    "That''s no problem, I have plenty of time now."


    "Then I''ll wait for you at the hotel entrance."


    ......


    After ending the call with Mi Cai, I quickly got out of bed, washed up quickly, and in less than 10 minutes, I was ready. I wish those dawdling women could see what real speed is.


    Without having time for a bite of breakfast, I drove Mr. Ban''s Santana 2000 to the hotel where Mi Cai was staying.


    A moment later, when I arrived at the hotel, I saw Mi Cai waiting at the entrance. I rolled down the window and asked her, "Do you want to ride in my car, or drive yourself?"


    Mi Cai didn''t say a word, she just opened the passenger door and sat down next to me. I immediately started the car.


    On the way to the city center, Mi Cai was intently looking at a photo in the car. The photo was a family portrait of us, but I was very young in the photo, with a naive smile, hugging Mr. Ban''s leg. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Mi Cai looked a bit gloomy, then smiled. I understood that her gloominess was because of her deceased father, and her smile was out of envy for our family''s reunion and happiness.


    I put down the photo frame, not wanting this photo to continue to tug at Mi Cai''s emotions, and changed the subject, "I heard that your Zhuomei stores in Shanghai and Nanjing are in preparation. Doing market research in a third-tier city like Xuzhou doesn''t quite fit with your big city strategy, does it?"


    Mi Cai shook her head and said, "Actually, there is disagreement among our senior management about the future direction of Zhuomei''s development. I personally believe that Zhuomei''s strategic focus should be on second-tier and top-tier third-tier cities. The competition in first-tier cities is too fierce and will consume a lot of our resources. If we can''t make a profit, it will soon affect the operation of the entire group."


    I nodded, understanding that Mi Zhongde''s strategic plan for Zhuomei is focused on first-tier cities, while Mi Cai leans towards second-tier and top-tier third-tier cities. This disagreement will surely deepen the conflict between the two of them. I have a premonition that in the future of Zhuomei, Mi Cai and Mi Zhongde cannot coexist. As for who will ultimately control Zhuomei, I can''t say for sure.Throughout the morning, I accompanied Mi Cai as we visited several large department stores and shopping centers in Xuzhou. We exchanged some views on the market, which was one of the few common topics we shared.


    Before going to my house as a guest, Mi Cai insisted on buying quite a few gifts for Mr. Ban and my mother. I ended up carrying these gifts and complained, "You''re just visiting our house, you really don''t need to buy any gifts. It makes you look like my girlfriend."


    "Do I have to be your girlfriend to buy gifts?"


    "Not necessarily, but we are at the age where men should be married and women should be wed. The elders might misunderstand. When you meet Mr. Ban and my mother later, you need to explain our relationship to them."


    Mi Cai asked me back, "What do you think our relationship is?"


    I thought for a moment and replied, "More like adversaries, less like friends."


    Mi Cai shook her head in denial, "I don''t see you as an adversary."


    "Then what do you see me as?" I asked with interest.


    "A friend, a trustworthy friend."


    I smiled and said, "Just say that when you introduce yourself to my parents later. But don''t change your opinion of me because of that incident and blindly trust me. I''m really not a good person!"


    Mi Cai shook her head and said, "I don''t like to think of people as too complicated. It''s exhausting. So, I prefer to trust my intuition."


    "Did you think the same when we first met?"


    "No, at that time I just thought you were a jerk, a rare kind of jerk!"


    I said, "So, you didn''t judge me by intuition, or rather, in your first intuition, I was still a jerk."


    Mi Cai laughed and said, "Let''s not discuss this anymore. I''m hungry after shopping for half a day. Let''s hurry and taste the food Mr. Ban made."


    I grabbed Mi Cai, who was about to move forward, and asked in confusion, "What did you just call my dad?"


    "Mr. Ban!" Mi Cai answered, then quickly realized and hurriedly explained, "I just thought it was fun to call him that, so I followed your lead. I didn''t mean anything else."


    "You can''t call him that in front of him. He always thought Mr. Ban meant ''my dad''. If you call him that, it will really cause a big problem."


    Mi Cai realized the seriousness of the situation and nodded earnestly. Then we looked at each other and inexplicably laughed together. Her smile in the bright noon sun was so heart-stirring.

 Chapter 76 – Crazy

    Around 11:30 in the afternoon, Mi Cai and I arrived at my house. My mother opened the door. Mi Cai handed the gifts she had bought to my mother and said, "Auntie, I was in a rush yesterday and didn''t have time to buy you gifts. I hope you and uncle will like these."


    My mother couldn''t stop smiling, but she politely said, "We love them, we''re just happy that you came to visit, you didn''t have to go to such trouble."


    Mi Cai smiled, and my mother enthusiastically invited her in.


    Once inside, Mi Cai politely went to the kitchen to greet Mr. Ban, who was cooking, before sitting down on the living room sofa.


    I found a magazine for Mi Cai to pass the time before dinner, and sat next to her with another magazine.


    A little while later, my mother and Mr. Ban called us to dinner. Mi Cai and I put down our magazines, pulled out our chairs and sat down. We kept a considerable distance from each other, showing no intimacy typical of a couple, because we both anticipated that during dinner, Mr. Ban and my mother would interrogate us.


    Sure enough, as Mi Cai and I started to eat after taking a sip of juice, my mother looked at Mi Cai and asked, "Girl, how did you meet our Zhao Yang?"


    Mi Cai looked at me, smiled and answered, "Auntie, I bought the house that Zhao Yang used to rent in Suzhou, and that''s how we met."


    "Just like that?" my mother asked with a puzzled tone.


    I quickly took over the conversation, "How else would it be? It''s a simple matter. Since Mi Cai is here today, let her explain it to you in person, so you won''t keep wondering."


    Mr. Ban and my mother both focused their attention on Mi Cai, waiting for her explanation.


    Mi Cai put down her chopsticks, and said seriously, "Uncle, Auntie, Zhao Yang and I are just friends... I know you''re wondering why I came all the way to find Zhao Yang. I need to explain... Actually, Zhao Yang''s work in Suzhou was going well... But because he helped me, he lost his job. I feel guilty and sorry for that, so I came to Xuzhou to find him, hoping to help him with his work and make up for my guilt."


    Mi Cai''s appropriate explanation satisfied me, and I quickly added, "Mr. Ban, mom, that''s the whole story. Do you understand now?"


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    Mr. Ban remained silent, but my mother looked disappointed. Then she comforted herself by saying, "It''s okay, feelings can be cultivated. You two take your time..."


    Before my mother could finish her sentence, Mi Cai and I looked at each other again, both seeing helplessness in each other''s eyes. My mother didn''t understand, even if Mi Cai and I had ten thousand years, we couldn''t cultivate a love like that of the Supreme Treasure and the Purple Fairy.


    ...


    Finally, after my mother''s interrogation, we finished this somewhat torturous lunch, but also breathed a sigh of relief, because we finally convinced my mother and Mr. Ban to accept the fact that we are just friends.


    It was already afternoon, Mr. Ban went to work as usual, and my mother was called away by a few friends to play mahjong, leaving only Mi Cai and me in the house.


    I lit a cigarette in front of Mi Cai, saying, "I''m smoking now, don''t object, this is my house, I''m free to do whatever I want!"


    "Are you trying to get back at me?"


    "Not really, just that I felt very uncomfortable being controlled by you in that room... You even said that I could find a room of my own, climb onto the roof and smoke, and no one would bother me. Do you know how frustrated I was then?"


    Mi Cai retorted, "Since you''re so free now, why don''t you climb onto the roof and have a smoke? It''s a rare opportunity, you should let out your frustration."


    "I''m already very satisfied smoking in front of you. I''m a low-key person, I wouldn''t do something as flashy as smoking on the roof." I said, and blew a long puff of smoke towards Mi Cai.


    Mi Cai frowned and waved away the smoke.


    I laughed out loud, saying, "Now you know what ''a leopard cannot change its spots'' means, right?"


    Mi Cai: "......"


    ...


    The afternoon sun lazily streamed through the window onto the sofa. The wind blew the yellowing leaves as if they were performing a ballet in the air. I lay on the sofa, wishing time could stand still at this moment.


    Mi Cai seemed to enjoy the tranquility of the afternoon even more than I did. She had already fallen asleep on the sofa, her face peaceful and serene.


    I got up and fetched a down blanket from the room, gently laid her down, took off her shoes, and covered her with the blanket. I left the sofa, giving all the comfortable space to her, who was sleeping soundly.Standing by the window, I lit another cigarette, my thoughts drifting habitually. I knew that Mi Cai had come to Xuzhou specifically to persuade me to return to Suzhou with her, to start working and living there again. But it was only after much heartache that I had made the decision to leave Suzhou. Now that I was back, was there any need for me to return?


    In fact, there was no need for me to go back. But every time I thought of Suzhou, an indescribable emotion would surge in my heart. This emotion always prevented me from completely letting go of the city in my heart. I felt a bit hurt, a bit unwilling, yet I also resisted the idea of returning to my old place. As this emotion continued to ferment, I became even more unsure of what to choose.


    Mi Cai seemed very tired recently. She slept soundly and long, not waking up until the evening. She looked at the quilt on her body and asked me, "How long have I been asleep?"


    "It''s almost dark."


    "Oh, have you been standing here like a fool all this time?"


    "I learned it from you. Remember when I was sleeping by the river, you sat next to me like a fool for an entire afternoon!"


    Mi Cai looked at me helplessly and said after a while, "Let''s not talk about that."


    "If we don''t talk about this, what else can we do?"


    "Take me to try the local food in Xuzhou. It''s my first time here, you should play the host."


    "Alright, I''ll take you to try our local hot pot in Xuzhou. But I have to warn you, it''s very spicy!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m not afraid of spicy food. I told you that when we went to CC''s restaurant last time."


    "The place I''m taking you to is not just ordinarily spicy. You, a girl from Suzhou, better not speak too soon."


    "How spicy is it?"


    "Spicier than you can imagine!"


    Mi Cai seemed a bit unsure and asked, "If it''s too spicy, can I ask them to put less chili?"


    "That restaurant doesn''t do less spicy. If you can''t handle it, we can go somewhere else." I said with a hint of disdain.


    "Let''s go, I won''t back down from your Xuzhou challenge." Mi Cai said, steeling herself.


    "Don''t act like you''re here to conquer Xuzhou. Don''t forget that I''m here to guard it."


    "Are you really that great? Or are you just crazy?"


    "Say that again!"


    "You''re crazy, right?"


    "Do you believe I could strangle you?" I glared at Mi Cai, somewhat infuriated. She was going too far. I was just kindly inviting her to have hot pot.


    Without saying another word, Mi Cai dragged me to a mirror and calmly asked, "Look at yourself in the mirror. Don''t you look like a lunatic?"


    I was speechless.

 Chapter 77 – The real her

    After calling Mr. Ban and my mother to tell them I wouldn''t be home for dinner, I drove Mi Cai to the "Spicy to Death" hot pot restaurant where I used to hang out with my friends.


    The restaurant had been renovated this year, and its capacity had increased. The only thing that remained unchanged was Uncle Li, the chef with his hat, and his apprentices, who were bustling about in the open kitchen.


    As we entered the restaurant, the air was filled with a strong smell of chili. Mi Cai instinctively covered her mouth and nose.


    I looked at Mi Cai with a smirk and said, "If you can''t handle it, we can still change the place now."


    Mi Cai, not wanting to show weakness, lowered her hand and without a word, found an empty seat and sat down.


    I smiled and shouted to the service counter,


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    The waiter in the service counter responded, and immediately handed the written order to Uncle Li in the kitchen.


    Twenty minutes later, the hot pot chicken and fish I ordered were served. I also ordered two bottles of beer. More importantly, I was looking forward to seeing Mi Cai''s tearful and snotty face from the spiciness. This was not me taking pleasure in her misfortune, who asked her to call me a lunatic just now!


    So, if I really had to define our relationship, I think "rivals" is the most suitable and accurate.


    I poured myself a glass of beer and drank it in one gulp, then said to Mi Cai, "Miss Mi, you can start eating now, why aren''t you picking up your chopsticks?"


    "You''re cheating, you just drank a glass of beer to dilute the spiciness!" Mi Cai complained to me.


    I knew her complaint was because she was nervous. The two hot pots in front of us were covered with chili peppers, and the spiciness seemed to be boiling in the air.


    I smiled and said, "You can also have a drink first, I don''t mind."


    "If I drink too, who''s going to drive us home?"


    "That''s easy to solve, you can drink a soft drink. I''ll get you a can of herbal tea, it''s more effective than beer." I said, not giving Mi Cai a chance to make excuses. I went to the service counter and got a can of herbal tea for her, then raised my eyebrows and said, "Drink up, eat up, and remember this spicy night."


    Mi Cai looked at me unhappily and said, "I''ll eat, but you don''t have to look so smug!"


    I immediately put on a serious face and said to Mi Cai, "Am I serious enough now? Hurry up and eat, the hot pot is best when it''s hot, it won''t taste good when it cools down."


    Mi Cai looked at me, then used her chopsticks to move the chili peppers on top and picked up a piece of bread, tentatively took a bite, and then froze.


    I was secretly delighted in my heart, eagerly waiting for Mi Cai''s upcoming embarrassment. But to my surprise, Mi Cai calmly ate the piece of bread and said to me, "It''s not as spicy as I thought!"


    I looked at Mi Cai suspiciously, trying to find any signs of struggle on her face, but she looked calm and composed, even picking up a piece of chicken and eating it with relish, and even had the time to give me a disdainful look.


    I turned to look at Uncle Li, doubting whether he had lost his touch. I then moved the chili peppers aside and picked up a piece of bread to chew. The explosive spiciness was almost beyond the limit of my taste buds. After just one bite, I felt my body heating up and sweat started to bead on my nose.


    I slammed my chopsticks on the table, drank a glass of beer in one gulp, and still not satisfied, I drank Mi Cai''s can of herbal tea clean. Today, Uncle Li not only didn''t lose his touch but also outdid himself. The spiciness was literally baked into the bread!


    Mi Cai looked at me with a smirk and asked, "Zhao Yang, are you from Xuzhou? You can''t even handle this little bit of spiciness?"


    "Are you from Suzhou? Since when do people from Suzhou eat spicy food like this?" I said, pouring myself another glass of beer to relieve the spiciness, and wiped the sweat off my nose with a tissue.


    Mi Cai enjoyed watching my miserable state and finally asked with a smile, "Zhao Yang, have you ever heard of the Carolina Reaper?"


    "It''s the world''s spiciest chili pepper, bred by an American. I''ve tried it, and I couldn''t handle it at all! But this little bit of spiciness here doesn''t scare me."


    I was speechless for a long time before I said,


    Mi Cai calmly said, "There''s a saying that one becomes black when near ink. When you spend a lot of time with someone with bad behavior, you''ll inevitably pick up some bad habits!"


    I was choked by Mi Cai again and wanted to vomit blood. I held my chest and said to Mi Cai, "I have a clot in my heart that I can''t spit out..."


    "Then you should eat more chili peppers, the stimulation might help you spit it out." Mi Cai said with a concerned expression.


    I suddenly felt that I couldn''t continue communicating with her, because I wasn''t in the right state today. I decided to swallow my pride for now, and fight another day.


    ...After leaving the "Spicy to Death" hot pot restaurant, my mouth was in a fiery pain. I was gulping down a can of herbal tea to cool off, while Mi Cai walked beside me as if nothing had happened. Her calm demeanor only magnified my embarrassment.


    After a few steps, I turned back to Mi Cai and asked,


    Mi Cai shook her head and said, "It''s not time to rest yet, it''s too boring to go back to the hotel!"


    "Then let me take you to play some video games, it helps with digestion after a meal," I said enthusiastically.


    "Do we have to play those video games that only elementary school students are interested in?"


    I was a bit annoyed and said, "Do you gain weight if you don''t tease me? Who told you that only elementary school students like to play video games?"


    "When I went to find you yesterday, you were playing with an elementary school student," Mi Cai replied calmly.


    I stared at Mi Cai for a long time, then said resentfully, "Fine, I''m just a childish elementary school student, are you satisfied now?"


    "Don''t be upset, look at you now, all angry. If I tie a red scarf around your neck, you''ll look exactly like an elementary school student!"


    I finally admitted defeat and pleaded, "Please stop teasing me, or we really won''t be able to get along."


    Mi Cai, with a victorious smile, said, "I don''t necessarily have to tease you, a man who can''t even catch a chicken, but you have to listen to my arrangements later."


    "Your arrangements? Did I hear that right? I''m not used to you being so proactive."


    "You must have misunderstood me. I''m not a very passive person. Remember the last time we went to the outskirts to sing at night? That was my idea."


    I was instantly infuriated, "You have the nerve to bring that up, do you know how badly you screwed me over that time?"


    "But you didn''t learn your lesson, still doing whatever you want, acting like a rogue!"


    Mi Cai''s words reminded me of my various misdeeds, and I felt a bit embarrassed. I changed the subject and said, "¡­Let''s not talk about that, it''s pointless. Just tell me how you want to arrange things later."


    Mi Cai thought for a moment and said, "I want to listen to you sing. I didn''t get a good listen last time, I was too scared."


    "I was afraid that if you saw through me, my end would be miserable. You threw my quilt and blanket down from the upstairs, like a violent maniac!"


    "I was stubborn because I didn''t want to submit to a jerk like you. Of course I was scared, I''m just a woman!"


    Looking at Mi Cai''s aggrieved expression, I suddenly found this woman to have a cute side. Perhaps this was her after letting down her guard, a more genuine her!

 Chapter 78 – Love you instead of him

    On this deep autumn night, I chose to go along with Mi Cai''s plan. We drove home together to get my guitar, then came to a plaza by the lake. This plaza would be bustling in the summer, but now it was deep autumn, and few people came here for leisure after dusk.


    Mi Cai and I sat cross-legged on the lawn, bathed in the gentle glow of the streetlights. The wind seemed to soften under the filtered light.


    I tested the sound of the guitar and asked Mi Cai, "Now we''re entering the ''you request, I sing'' segment. What song do you want to hear? I''ll try my best to satisfy."


    "Just play whatever you like."


    After some thought, I chose to play "Winter" by the Good Sister Band. I chose this song to warm up the atmosphere because I really liked its lyrics.


    "The colder it gets, the snowflakes fluttering in winter, the year I passed by your door, the street we strolled together; the more distant, the hazy season of youth, your smile frozen in the wind, like snow drowning my eyes, time has passed for many years, flowers fall, people scatter, I want to ask the clouds, is there rain made from your longing; the moon falls, the crows cry, frost fills the sky, the sea once turned into mulberry fields, spring leaves, autumn comes again, do you still remember me..."


    I ended the song with a long note, lost in my own world. Mi Cai clapped for me with a smile of approval. I smiled back, lit a cigarette out of habit after singing, and passed the guitar to Mi Cai, asking, "Can you play? I feel like you can!"


    Mi Cai showed me her hands, which were manicured.


    "So you''re saying you can play, but it''s inconvenient?" I asked.


    "I learned a bit when I was studying abroad and had some free time," Mi Cai nodded.


    "I think your temperament is more suited to playing the piano, while a woman like CC would be good at playing the guitar."


    "You seem to have a clear understanding of women''s temperaments."


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    I exhaled a puff of smoke and laughed, "Studying women is the only pleasure left in my life... Ah! Otherwise, how could I endure the changing seasons over and over again?"


    Mi Cai chuckled, acknowledging my words. I put out my cigarette, lay back on the grass, and looked at the starry sky. The autumn wind made me feel a bit drowsy, or perhaps it had nothing to do with the wind, maybe the night was just too quiet.


    The faint scent of Mi Cai drifted into my nostrils with the breeze, making me feel at ease and comfortable. Gradually, I closed my eyes and began to feel sleepy.


    After a while, Mi Cai nudged me and said, "Zhao Yang, could you sing ''Love''s Proverb'' for me again?"


    I sat up and looked at her, remembering how she had cried when I played this song in her car not long ago. I realized that there must be a story in this song that she couldn''t forget.


    Afraid that she would cry again, I asked, "Are you sure you want to hear it?"


    Mi Cai nodded firmly.


    "Alright, but after I finish singing, you have to tell me your story with this song. Last time..."


    Mi Cai interrupted me, "Just sing."


    I didn''t get a definite answer from Mi Cai, but I couldn''t force it. As long as she wanted to listen at this moment, I would sing for her. Let everything take its course and let this autumn night continue to be simple.


    I strummed the guitar again, interpreting this song of great love with the lowest voice.


    Just as I sang the line, "Love is something no one can understand, love is an eternal melody, love is the process of laughter and tears falling, love was once me and you..." Mi Cai''s tears had already fallen. Her face was filled with heartfelt sorrow.


    I didn''t stop singing because of this. I knew Mi Cai wouldn''t want me to stop, because this song contained her memories. Interrupting her memories would be cruel to her at this moment.


    I slowly finished this soothing song, and Mi Cai was already crying like a child. In my memory, she was a strong woman who would never cry easily, but this song touched the softest part of her heart.


    The quiet night, the blowing wind, the crying woman, made me, a man, feel a sense of tenderness. I gently pulled Mi Cai into my arms, stroked her hair, and wiped away her tears.


    Mi Cai didn''t struggle. She leaned against me for a long time, choking back sobs, and said to me, "Do you know... this was my father''s favorite song... When I was 15, he took me to Luo Dayou''s concert in Nanjing. The venue was noisy and crowded, but when this song was played, the whole place fell silent. My father whispered to me that he would always love me, that I was the person he loved most in his life, but... he didn''t keep his promise, he was a liar... but I really miss him... he must be very lonely in that world!..."


    Mi Cai was sobbing uncontrollably, clinging to me like a girl lacking a sense of security. At this moment, I finally understood why she hated it so much when people broke their promises. It was because her father, Mi Zhongxin, didn''t keep his promise to always love her. But life is so unpredictable, a great promise about love was destroyed in a car accident... But I believe, if there really is another world, Mi Zhongxin would keep his promise and always love his daughter, Mi Cai.


    The breeze blew, leaving me at a loss. I didn''t know how to comfort her. After a long time, I said in a deep voice, "Don''t cry... Soon, there will be a man who will love you and protect you in place of your father. And he will love you longer, forever, without an end."Mi Cai didn''t respond to my comfort, but she leaned closer to me. I couldn''t help but gaze into the distance, asking myself: Is there really a river of happiness in this world? If there is, at this moment, I would like to hold this woman''s hand, jump into this river, and even if I''m exhausted, I would hold onto her until we reach the end of the river.


    ......


    The night grew deeper, and the cool breeze swept past us under the moonlight. Mi Cai finally detached herself from me. She tidied up her hair, which was wet with her own tears, and looked into the unlit darkness in the distance. There was no longer any weakness in her expression. After a long while, she turned to look at me and said, "Zhao Yang, I hope you will return to Suzhou, but I won''t force you. If you can''t find a suitable job in Xuzhou and feel that Suzhou is more suitable for your development, come to me. I will help you arrange it."


    I put the guitar back in its case and jokingly asked, "If I return to Suzhou, would you be willing to give me that room?"


    Mi Cai was taken aback for a moment, then said, "If you are willing to go back, I can give it to you."


    I smiled, slung the guitar over my shoulder, and said softly to Mi Cai, "Let''s go, I''ll take you back to the hotel... By the way, are you really going to stay in Xuzhou for a few more days? I can take you around to see the sights in Xuzhou."


    "No need, I''ve said what I needed to say, and done what I needed to do. You can make the rest of the decisions yourself. I will return to Suzhou tomorrow morning."


    I wasn''t surprised by Mi Cai''s hasty departure. After all, such a large corporation as Zhuo Mei needed her to manage. Even though she had only spent a day and a half in Xuzhou, it was already a long time for her, who was always busy. I just hoped that she could resolve the internal conflicts within Zhuo Mei as soon as possible after she returned, so she could be more at ease and relaxed!


    As I walked side by side with Mi Cai towards the car, I said to her, "What time are you leaving tomorrow morning? I''ll see you off." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "7 o''clock. But you don''t need to, I drove here myself, it''s very convenient."


    "You came to Xuzhou to see me after all, so I should see you off."


    "Well, as you wish."


    I nodded, and as we walked and talked, the night seemed to deepen a bit more.


    ---------------


    Second update

 Chapter 79 – Respectively

    When I got home, it was already 11 o''clock at night. I thought Mr. Ban and my mother had already gone to bed, but to my surprise, they were both sitting in the living room watching TV.


    I closed the door, took off my shoes from the shoe rack and was about to put on my slippers when my mother turned down the volume of the TV and asked me, "Zhao Yang, did you have dinner with that girl tonight?"


    "Yes, I took her to have hot pot." I quickly added, fearing they would ask more, "She''s going back to Suzhou tomorrow."


    My mother nodded and didn''t ask any more questions, focusing back on the TV drama.


    Before I could breathe a sigh of relief, Mr. Ban suddenly asked, "Did she come to ask you to go back to work in Suzhou?"


    "Something like that," I gave Mr. Ban a vague answer.


    "How did you lose your job in Suzhou? Why did she say your job loss had something to do with her?"


    "Mr. Ban, I don''t plan to go back to work in Suzhou either. It doesn''t make much sense for you to keep asking, does it?"


    Mr. Ban said sternly, "You can stay in Xuzhou, but find a job on your own. Don''t expect me to arrange it for you."


    I said helplessly, "Haven''t I been looking for a job on my own recently? Don''t worry, I won''t trouble you with my job."


    Mr. Ban didn''t pay any more attention to me and focused on the TV drama.


    ...


    Back in my room, I leaned on my bed, lit a cigarette, and couldn''t help but think about the pressing issue of finding a job. If possible, I would like to work in a department store, but there are only a few department stores in Xuzhou, and they don''t have a strong demand for staff. It''s probably not easy to find a job like my previous one. If all else fails, I might have to lower my expectations and look for some low-paying planning jobs.


    In my despair of not seeing a future, I thought of Mi Cai. Admittedly, going back to Suzhou with her seems like a good choice for now, but that city really tires me out. I have almost no anticipation left, and I don''t want to go back and walk the same path I''ve walked before.


    Sometimes people are like this. Before I decided to leave Suzhou, I had regrets and nostalgia. But once I made leaving a reality, those feelings gradually faded. And that''s the main reason why I refuse to go back to Suzhou.


    The next day, as agreed with Mi Cai, I arrived at her hotel before 7 o''clock, and we said goodbye in the morning sun.


    I handed a box to Mi Cai and said, "This is a specialty of Xuzhou, a kind of candy for kids. You can chew on it when you''re bored at night, it won''t make you fat."


    Mi Cai took the box from me, looked at it, and then smiled and said, "Thank you."


    "Drive slowly on the road. If you''re tired, stop at a service station and take a nap." I was a bit worried about Mi Cai driving long distances alone, so I reminded her.


    "I know."


    "And..."


    Mi Cai looked at me, waiting for me to continue.


    "Come visit Xuzhou again when you have time."


    Mi Cai looked a bit disappointed, but she still smiled and nodded. Then she said to me, "I will. If I have the chance, I hope to come here for hot pot again."


    "Okay, then goodbye, take care."


    "Take care!"


    After saying that, Mi Cai walked towards her car. I finally remembered what I wanted to say and shouted at her back, "Mi Cai, be careful of your uncle Mi Zhongde. He won''t give up easily."


    Mi Cai stopped in her tracks but didn''t turn around. She nodded and then drove out of the hotel parking lot without any further delay.


    Watching her car gradually disappear into the traffic, I felt a strange sense of loss. I didn''t want to dwell on this feeling too much, so I sighed lightly, opened the car door, got in, and drove in the opposite direction to Mi Cai.


    ...


    Throughout the day, I applied to several companies. Some were satisfactory, some were not. As for the final interview results, I would have to wait for their notifications.


    In the evening, I found the phone number of my first blind date, Li Xiaoyun, and dialed it.


    After a moment, the call was answered. I got straight to the point and said to Li Xiaoyun, "Are you free tonight? I''d like to invite you to dinner properly, and also return the money I borrowed from you last time." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ll be off work soon. Where do you plan to eat?" Li Xiaoyun didn''t refuse.


    "You choose the place, whatever you like."


    Li Xiaoyun thought for a moment and said, "Let''s have Japanese cuisine. A new Japanese restaurant has just opened on Fashion Avenue. I heard it''s good."


    "Sounds good. Which advertising company do you work for? I''ll come pick you up."


    "No need. I drove today. We can just meet at the restaurant."


    "OK."


    ...


    I arrived first at the newly opened restaurant on Fashion Avenue. After reserving a table, I waited outside for Li Xiaoyun. About fifteen minutes later, a red Ford hatchback stopped in front of me. Li Xiaoyun got out of the car, waved at me, and asked, "Have you been waiting long?"


    "Just a little while. I''ve already reserved a table. Let''s go in."Li Xiaoyun nodded and followed me into the restaurant.


    In the small private room for two, Li Xiaoyun and I sat across from each other. The food we ordered was served shortly. In reality, I wasn''t particularly fond of this cuisine, but since Li Xiaoyun requested it, I maintained my gentlemanly demeanor and indulged her.


    As we ate and chatted, Li Xiaoyun suddenly asked me, "Zhao Yang, did you know that our mothers were sitting behind us when we were having lunch at the coffee shop that day?"


    "Of course, I knew. Otherwise, how could I have paid you back so quickly? My mom scolded me quite a bit, but still gave me some pocket money out of her love for me," I replied with a laugh.


    Li Xiaoyun chuckled and said, "Do you know what my mom thinks of you?"


    "I''m sure it''s not anything positive."


    Li Xiaoyun burst into laughter and said, "My mom said it was an eye-opener for her. It was the first time she saw someone borrowing money from a girl during a blind date."


    I sighed and said, "Ah! Your mom has completely dismissed me. It seems our marriage is not meant to be. But I can''t blame your mom, it''s my own fault for being so unconventional."


    "Don''t be so pessimistic..."


    I laughed and asked, "So you''re saying there''s still a chance for us?"


    "Uh... That''s not what I meant."


    "Then you don''t need to comfort me. Let''s just enjoy our dinner tonight."


    Li Xiaoyun nodded and said, "Let''s not talk about this anymore. By the way, are you looking for a job recently?"


    "Yes, I''ve been troubled by this for over a week now."


    Li Xiaoyun asked with some surprise, "I heard you graduated from Suzhou University, a pretty good school. And your dad is a section chief in a state-owned enterprise. With your qualifications, it shouldn''t be hard for you to get a job in his company, right?"


    "Don''t mention it, I was adopted!" I said, somewhat frustrated.


    Li Xiaoyun laughed and didn''t dwell on the topic. She asked, "You used to work in planning, right?"


    "Why, are you planning to introduce a job to me?"


    Li Xiaoyun nodded and said, "You could say that. Our advertising company''s planning department is currently recruiting commercial planners. With your experience in planning for large department stores, you should be able to handle the planning work in an advertising company, right?"


    "There shouldn''t be a problem. The nature of the work is quite similar, I should be able to get the hang of it quickly." I said confidently.


    "Great, send me your resume later. I''ll pass it to our planning director tomorrow. If he thinks it''s okay, he''ll arrange an interview." Li Xiaoyun said.


    "Alright, thanks for your help."


    "Why so formal? Our families and Aunt Zhang (the aunt who introduced me and Li Xiaoyun for the blind date) are all quite close. Consider it a favor among friends. By the way, I have a good relationship with Director Zhou from our planning department. There shouldn''t be a problem with the job." Li Xiaoyun said with a smile.


    "Then I won''t thank you now. Once I secure the job, I''ll treat you to a meal."


    "Actually, I''d prefer if you invited me to dinner after you''ve achieved something in your work. The meal might taste even better then."

 Chapter 80 – The impulse to marry and have children

    That night, Li Xiaoyun and I talked for a long time. The atmosphere was much more natural than when we first met. We even discussed our respective college romances, which made us both feel a bit melancholic and wistful.


    Li Xiaoyun graduated from our local Mining University in Xuzhou. Her boyfriend in college was from Xiamen. Despite their deep love for each other, they eventually broke up due to geographical issues.


    When I talked about my relationship with Jian Wei, I felt even more helpless than Li Xiaoyun. I was so reckless for love, even accommodating Jian Wei and moving to Shanghai with her. I was willing to work and live in Shanghai, but in the end, I couldn''t escape the fate of breaking up. I was depressed for a long time, gradually realizing that the beauty of love is fleeting, and not many people can truly hold onto it.


    As Li Xiaoyun and I shared our feelings, it was already 10 o''clock at night, and it was about time to say goodbye.


    Standing outside the restaurant, I counted out 1,000 yuan from my wallet and handed it to Li Xiaoyun, apologizing, "I feel a bit embarrassed, asking you for money on our first blind date."


    Li Xiaoyun took the money from my hand with a smile, "It depends on how you see it. At that time, I thought you were quite peculiar, but now I think you are carefree, like a real man."


    I joked, "So borrowing money can also show a man''s carefreeness. Then next time I''ll borrow more from you."


    "That won''t do. If it happens too often, it proves that the man has a problem. A man can be down and out for a while, but he can''t always be like that, right?" Li Xiaoyun said to me, not joking at all.


    I nodded seriously, understanding Li Xiaoyun''s meaning. If I could really join their company, it would be time for me to prove my work ability.


    ***


    When I got home, Mr. Ban and my mother were still up. They were recently hooked on a family drama and went to bed later than usual.


    Seeing me come back, my mother asked with concern, "Zhao Yang, you went on a date with Xiaoyun today, right?"


    "Yes," I replied.


    "Did you pay back the money you borrowed from her last time?"


    "I did. By the way, she''s planning to introduce me to a job. So you don''t have to worry about my work anymore," I said. The reason I told my mother was because I didn''t want her to pressure Mr. Ban about my work situation.


    "Is it at the advertising company where she works?"


    "Yes, it is."


    My mother sighed, "Xiaoyun is really a good girl. Have you thought about trying to date her?"


    I said helplessly, "You know what kind of person your son is. Do you think she would be interested in me?"


    "You silly boy, if she didn''t have a good impression of you, would she lend you money, go on a date with you, and help you find a job?... Although Xiaoyun''s family is not rich, her parents both have decent jobs. Your father also has a stable job. Our families know each other well and are well-matched. I think it would be great if you two were together. The key is that you need to pull yourself together and secure a job, understand?" My mother said earnestly.


    "Mom, you''re right!" I agreed.


    My mother nodded and asked again, "Tell me quickly, do you like Xiaoyun? Do you want to date her?"


    My mother''s face lit up with joy, "That''s good. It will be much more convenient for you two to get along if you work in the same company. You must seize this opportunity, understand?"


    The future I described made my mother laugh heartily. Mr. Ban, who had been silent, suddenly asked, "Zhao Yang, did that girl from Suzhou leave today?"


    "Yes, she left this morning."


    Mr. Ban nodded and said after a while, "She''s also a good girl."


    I looked at Mr. Ban in confusion, but he didn''t say anything more. He picked up the remote control and changed the channel as if nothing had happened. I thought I might be overthinking. Maybe Mr. Ban was just simply sighing. In some ways, Mi Cai was indeed a good girl. But I always felt that her world was too unreal, and the distance between us was too far.


    ***


    Back in my room, I lit a cigarette as usual, habitually pondering life, love, and recent experiences. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At this moment, I believe I have let go of Jian Wei. Because I have subtly entered another state of life. I yearn for a stable, simple love, and then when the time is right, turn this love into marriage. And my blind date, Li Xiaoyun, is the most suitable candidate.


    I think this kind of life is good, a happy family together. I don''t have to wander, I don''t have to go to bars and rely on the dizziness after getting drunk to dispel loneliness.Perhaps my decision to return to Xuzhou was the most correct one I''ve made in my life. It was a gift from heaven, allowing me, a man who should have been outstanding, to return to the right path and realize my life''s value in a complete family.


    Suddenly, I thought of Mi Cai, and a faint pain arose in my heart. This pain made me realize that I was missing her. However, I preferred to interpret this longing as sympathy, sympathy for her background, sympathy for her current dire situation.


    Only then did I remember to send her a message, asking if she had safely returned to Suzhou.


    After a long time, Mi Cai replied to me. The content was very simple, just two words: "Arrived."


    I immediately replied to her:


    I waited for a long time, but Mi Cai didn''t respond. I fell asleep while waiting...


    I repeated her words, but before I could understand, I suddenly woke up. Looking out the window, the sky was already slightly bright. Only then did I realize that what I had just experienced was just a dream. But I was delighted because of this dream. This delight was so faint that it almost didn''t exist, so it instantly turned into loss. Do I really not understand what my heart wants?


    As I sat thinking for a long time, the phone suddenly rang. I picked it up and saw that it was Li Xiaoyun.


    I quickly answered the phone and greeted Li Xiaoyun, saying, "Good morning, Xiaoyun."


    "Good morning, Zhao Yang."


    "Do you need something so early?"


    "Did you forget that we agreed last night that you would send me your resume?"


    I apologized, "Look at my memory, I''ll get up and send it to your email right away."


    "Do you remember my email? I doubt you do."


    I said awkwardly, "Don''t think I''m that forgetful, it''s saved in my phone!"


    Li Xiaoyun finally laughed and said, "Then hurry up and send it over. Today I''ll give it to Director Zhou of the planning department. Let''s try to settle your job as soon as possible."


    I thanked her sincerely.


    "I''m afraid you won''t have a source of income, and you''ll have to borrow money from the girl at your next blind date." Li Xiaoyun laughed heartily after saying this.


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    I was speechless for a long time before sighing, "You really know how to hurt people with your words!"


    "That depends on who it is. If I don''t stay aggressive, I might be bullied by you in the future. Aunt Zhang said that you were quite naughty when you were young, bullying girls was like a daily routine for you!" Li Xiaoyun said with some emotion.


    I laughed, "I''m very good to my girlfriend."


    Li Xiaoyun paused, as if she understood the meaning of my words, and then changed the subject after a while, "It''s getting late, I need to wash up and eat, I have to go to work later."


    "Alright, you go ahead."


    "Mm, remember to send me your resume."


    After I responded, Li Xiaoyun hung up the phone. Listening to the "beep beep" sound on the phone, I smiled, thinking that Li Xiaoyun was really a nice girl. Suddenly, I had an impulse to get married and have children, right here in this city that raised me.