Today I’m thinking about values, and tomorrow I might think about social development. At this rate, my thoughts will soar. I’ve been assimilated by Will.

I’ve actually been assimilated by Will.

Lumi found this development trend too terrifying. I just wanted to sleep with a man, and now I’ve been assimilated by him. She tossed and turned in bed, pondering how Will had assimilated her, only to find that he had done nothing but scold her.

During the next family gathering, Lu Qing secretly asked Lumi: “Is Zhang Xiao still bothering you?”

“Would he dare? I’d kill him!”

“That’s good. My dad said someone stood up for you the other day, and it looked like he knew some martial arts. He also said that person is your boss. How come I’ve never heard you mention such a boss?”

Lumi glared at her: “My dear sister, you’ve been so caught up in luxury and debauchery lately, do you remember anything I’ve told you?”

“Nonsense, I don’t drink anymore. I’m preparing to renovate.” Lu Qing seemed to have improved a bit. Her divorce was like a trip through hell, but now she was at least back in the land of the living.

“The place you mentioned on the North Fourth Ring Road?”

“Yes.”

“What have you decided to do with it?”

“Open a flower shop.”

“Opening a flower shop is great. I’ll introduce all the friends I know to you. Many people need to buy flowers to decorate event venues. And by the way, there’s also Wang Jiexing, that bastard who runs such a big company; he’ll need them too.” Lumi’s warm heart radiated from her family to her friends and even to people she wasn’t very close with. Her only principle for helping others was: I’m willing.

The two sisters chatted for a while, updating each other on the past half month. During dinner, Lumi suddenly said very seriously: “Grandma, uncles, aunts, granduncle, grandaunt, I have something that needs to be decided by a family meeting.”

“What’s this? Just say what you have to say; what’s with this decision-making?” Lu Guoqing patted her head: “Where did you learn this fake democracy to use on your elders?”

Lumi chuckled: “My elders taught me well. Here’s the thing: for the past two months, I haven’t collected rent from a family in the hutong. I’m sure Grandma hasn’t noticed, given our large family and assets, and the fact that a few hundred yuan doesn’t matter. But I must confess today that I haven’t collected rent for the past two months, and I don’t plan to collect it from this family in the future.”

“Why is that?” Lu Guofu asked her.

Lumi explained the family’s situation in detail: “The father is ill and needs chemotherapy; the mother runs a small business and doesn’t make much money; the grandmother works as a nanny and also takes care of a toddler. I just can’t bring myself to collect the rent.”

“You make it sound like I can’t either,” Lu Qing supported her from the side. “It’s just a meal for us, but it’s someone else’s livelihood.”

“Exactly? The code of conduct in the martial arts also says to help if you can. Not saving someone in need isn’t the act of a chivalrous person.” Lumi quickly added.

So everyone looked at Grandma, waiting for the family head to decide. Grandma snorted: “I won’t be that heartless and unjust person. Back in the difficult years, our family couldn’t even afford to eat. If it weren’t for the kind-hearted people who helped us, there wouldn’t be any of you. It doesn’t matter; Grandma has plenty of money; it’s just a bit of charity.”

Grandma said it like that, but she was usually very careful with money. Someone who has suffered through hardship would teach you: Don’t you want to leave some leeway for the future? No matter what, Grandma agreed, and Lumi was very happy. She picked up her glass and clinked it with Grandma’s: “Grandma, just for your kindness, you’re sure to live to a hundred.”

The family burst into laughter. Grandma looked down at her: “Why live to such an old age? Enough is enough.” Lumi and Lu Qing each rested their heads on Grandma’s shoulders and coquettishly said: “Grandma is the best. We’ve recently taken a liking to a bag.”

Grandma took out two hundred yuan from her pocket: “Here you go!” The old lady had no idea how much the bags her grandchildren liked cost, always thinking that a hundred yuan could buy a pretty good bag.

Lumi and Lu Qing didn’t dare tell Grandma, afraid of getting scolded for being spendthrifts and possibly being reprimanded for abandoning the spirit of hard work and frugality.

They didn’t lack Grandma’s 100 yuan, but they enjoyed teasing Grandma for money, enjoying the warmth and harmony.

Lumi found time to visit the hutong again to check on the tenants. It was already late autumn, and the child was still wearing open-crotch pants.

Lumi touched the child’s bottom, finding it ice-cold. The child’s grandmother was cooking and quickly stood up when she saw Lumi: “Here to collect the rent? We’re already preparing it, including the previous months’…”

“Why collect rent? I won’t!” Lumi said to Grandma, pointing to the bag beside her: “Don’t worry about the rent; we don’t need it from your family. These are clothes and diapers I bought for the little one. It’s getting cold; make sure the child doesn’t freeze. And if they get sick, how will you manage?”

“But…”

“Why not?” Lumi pinched the child’s cheek: “Have fun with Grandma!” Then she turned and left, disliking formalities.

She went straight to the sports center. By coincidence, Lumi’s second aunt had found a job watching over a tennis court after retirement.

It was quite leisurely, just required some management, and occasionally, she could bring home nearly new tennis rackets, badminton rackets, basketballs, and the like that people gave her.

The family thought this job was pretty good. Lumi had never asked her second aunt in detail about which venue she was watching over.

When she asked that day, it turned out to be the one Tu Ming’s team had rented. Wasn’t this like a thief meeting a highwayman—what a coincidence!

When Lumi arrived, her second aunt was supervising someone cleaning the venue. Seeing Lumi, she asked: “What brought you to your second aunt’s place today?”

“I was just worried that you’re getting older and might be tired. I’ll help you when I’m free.”

Her second aunt had no children and was quite moved by Lumi’s words, her eyes turning sour: “Okay, come often. Your second aunt’s assets, who else would I leave them to if not you?”

“That’s not necessary, hehe.”

Lumi pretended to help her second aunt, and after a while, people started to arrive. She kept her eyes fixed on the entrance of the sports center, and before long, she saw Tu Ming in his sports attire.

Lumi sighed inwardly. He wore a light gray hooded quick-dry jacket and dark-colored sports pants, smiling as he spoke to someone.

He started warming up at the edge of the court, and after a while, he took off his hoodie and put it in his sports backpack, revealing a well-built and muscular physique.

His demeanor was refreshing and clean, like a sports teenager from school days, quite attractive.

Lumi discovered that Tu Ming was particularly handsome upon closer inspection. His features were etched into one’s heart, and no matter how you looked at him, he was pleasing to the eye. She couldn’t even bring herself to scold him as a bastard anymore.

Her second aunt tapped Lumi on the head: “What are you looking at, little Lumi?” She followed Lumi’s gaze: “Looking at little Tu? He plays tennis every week. Shall your second aunt help you set something up?”

“No need, Second Aunt.” Lumi winked at her second aunt: “I prefer to take the initiative myself; I don’t need anyone’s help.”

“Have you taken a liking to him?”

Lumi jumped up and down on the spot, her ponytail swinging behind her: “Just wait and see, my dear aunt!”

Tu Ming never saw Lumi from beginning to end, but all his teammates did. Sometimes their eyes would wander over, wondering why there was such a person at the tennis court today.

Tennis was one of the few social and group activities Tu Ming engaged in, without too much physical contact, making it perfect for him.

Today’s game was exhilarating, and after the first set, he was drenched in sweat. He jogged to buy water and finally saw Lumi standing next to the vending machine.

Tu Ming was taken aback, and Lumi thought: Look, isn’t this the perfect opportunity? She turned her head and greeted him: “Isn’t this Will? What a coincidence! You play tennis?”

A chance encounter. This made Tu Ming feel more at ease: “Yes, do you play too?”

“I don’t. My second aunt watches over this venue after retirement.” Lumi pointed at her second aunt: “Look, that’s my second aunt.”

“Aunt Wang?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Restaurants, nightclubs, sports centers—such coincidences kept happening. Were the Lu family members scattered all over Beijing?

Tu Ming bought several bottles of water and, seeing Lumi standing still, bought two more and handed them to her: “For you and Aunt Wang. It’s dry in the venue; drink more water.”

“Thanks!”

Tu Ming ran back to the court to distribute the water. The team captain, Da Liang, asked him: “Do you know that pretty girl?”

“Which one?”

“Which one could it be? The prettiest one in the venue! She looks really wild.” Da Liang glanced at Lumi: “Never seen her before.”

“She’s my colleague.”

“Wow! Ling Mei really has high hiring standards. I’ve heard that Ling Mei judges people by their looks, and today, I’ve seen it for myself. Why not invite her to join the team for a game?” Da Liang’s eyes roamed over Lumi. That girl was full of energy, looking both spicy and wild, making people itch with desire.

“I’m not close with her.” Tu Ming refused decisively. It was obvious that Da Liang was driven by Lu Family, and he didn’t care whether Lumi played tennis or not.

Tu Ming drank some water and prepared to go back on the court. He turned around and saw Da Liang already running towards Lumi. They exchanged a few words, both took out their phones, and Da Liang added Lumi as a friend before running back.

He patted Tu Ming on the shoulder: “It doesn’t matter if we’re not close; we’ll get to know each other as we chat. I mean me and Miss Lumi.”

Da Liang was the kind of man who, relying on his good family background, job, and looks, played the field and had never encountered any setbacks. Tu Ming saw the “I can handle this” written all over his face and frowned: “Don’t get any funny ideas. She’s my subordinate, and if anything happens, it’ll be awkward for both of us in the future.”

“What’s there to be awkward about? Consenting adults, if we get along, we’ll be together; if not, we’ll part ways.” Da Liang picked up his racket and nodded at Lumi.

Tu Ming thought to himself: I’m worried you won’t be able to handle it. Do you know what that girl is like? If she hits you with her baton, you’ll find out. He inexplicably believed that Lumi wouldn’t get involved with Da Liang; he knew his subordinates best.

Back on the court, Da Liang started showing off, constantly hitting high-pressure shots. Tu Ming let him have the first few shots, but then realized he was using killer moves, clearly trying to impress Lumi.

Tu Ming rarely felt a rebellious urge, but when Da Liang went for another killer shot, he calmly stepped over and caught the ball, swinging his racket. The ball arced beautifully over the net, and Da Liang couldn’t even react in time. While picking up the ball, he pleaded across the net: “Help a brother out, don’t be serious, let me have a few shots.”

“Why? Because you want to show off and attract a mate?” Tu Ming looked at him: “Then play properly; the girl isn’t stupid.”

Sometimes Tu Ming didn’t understand why, when a man took a liking to someone, he had to put on a show. His acting was so poor that even he could see the flaws.

As they continued playing, Tu Ming brought out his full strength. He played fiercely, moved quickly, and switched hands swiftly, gradually overwhelming Da Liang. During a break, Da Liang said to Tu Ming: “Leave me a way out. Why are you so competitive today?”

“I’m just matching your energy.”

Lumi found a place to sit, watching Tu Ming while taking photos with her phone. Today’s Tu Ming was not the old-fashioned person who sat in the office; when he moved, his muscles were engaged, his steps were lively, and his shots were fierce and precise, full of vigor.

Lumi took several photos and casually looked at them. They were good. She then browsed a shopping website to buy herself some new outfits. Her philosophy was: no matter what you’re like, your appearance must be on point. Putting on airs was probably something she was good at.

While looking at outfits, Lumi said to Shang Zhi Tao: “Today, sister has infiltrated the enemy’s ranks. I’m almost there when it comes to sleeping with Will.”

“Impressive, impressive! So, are you together now?”

“Hmm!” She sent Shang Zhi Tao a photo of Tu Ming playing tennis: “Starting today, I’m going to practice my tennis skills hard. I’ve never actively pursued anyone in my life. I never thought my first time chasing someone would be an old scholar. Tsk, tsk.”

“I have to say, Will’s physique is amazing. Especially that photo of him drenched and running, it’s lethal!” Shang Zhi Tao gave her honest review. After a while, she used Lumi’s tone to send a message: “Worth a shot.”

Lumi burst into laughter. Her second aunt had been watching her for a while and commented in the family group chat: “Little Lumi is acting strange. Little Lumi is chasing a guy all the way to the tennis court.”

“Not only chasing him to the tennis court, but also secretly taking photos of him.”