Font Size:
During the day, Xu Ye would sleep, work on practice problems, and watch the stock market.
At night, he worked part-time at a tavern during the summer break.
Xu Ye’s life gradually settled into a routine. Beyond these activities, he also began paying attention to physical exercise. Every time he went to work, he would leave half an hour early to run there, and after finishing his shift, he would run home the same way.
In his previous life, Xu Ye had ruined his body completely in his pursuit of money.
Most eighteen-year-olds don’t really understand the saying “health is the foundation of revolution,” but Xu Ye was different.
Today was the weekend.
Old Xu and Zhang Hong were both resting at home. At lunch, Zhang Hong finally showed some concern about Xu Ye’s work.
“What exactly is this summer job you found? You come home so late every day.”
Xu Ye shoveled his food as he casually said, “Didn’t I say it’s a service job?”
“Be more specific.”
“I’m a male model at a bar.”
Zhang Hong put down her chopsticks and immediately launched into a tirade: “I spend so much money supporting your education, and you go work at a place like that? I’ve raised you for nothing. Don’t call me Mom anymore.”
Xu Ye said the lie without batting an eye: “Eight thousand a month.”
Zhang Hong’s tone instantly changed: “Well, when you put it that way, a good job doesn’t care about status. It’s all about earning with your own hands. There’s no shame in that… By the way, can your Father do it?”
Old Xu nearly sprayed his food out.
Wiping his mouth, he said helplessly, “Can you two just talk properly?”
Xu Ye grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth and said, “Actually, I’m just a waiter at a quiet bar. A quiet bar is different from a nightclub; only decent people go there, and the Madam treats me well.”
“So, how long do you plan to keep this job?”
“It’s not tiring anyway, so I’ll just keep doing it for now. Staying at home doing nothing is the same as doing nothing.”
After finishing his meal, Xu Ye went back to his room and started picking out clothes from the wardrobe. Not long after, he stuck his head out and said, “Mom, next time can you buy me clothes a little bigger?”
“Weren’t you the one who asked me to buy tighter ones?”
“From now on, just get the oversized kind.”
“Oversized?”
“It just means looser.”
Zhang Hong smiled and said, “You’re an adult now. From now on, buy your own clothes.”
Xu Ye tried on two pairs of pants and found they were skinny jeans. Wearing them, his legs looked like bamboo poles. In the end, he took them off and changed into a pair of faded, worn-out jeans.
Then he took the Driving Test Part One practice twice in his room.
First time: 87 points.
Second time: 91 points.
Xu Ye thought that after a few more days of studying, passing Driving Test Part One should not be a problem.
There was no rush for the license. With over two months left in summer vacation, he could casually practice the time-consuming Driving Test Part Two and Part Three for a couple of days and then take the exams.
This afternoon, Xu Ye had something more important to take care of.
He needed to go to the bank to get a card and, at the same time, open a stock trading account.
Just after two o’clock.
Xu Ye left and rode a shared bike toward the bank.
Hongye Villa.
“Aunt Wang, I want to go out for a bit.”
“Now?”
“Mm.”
“Where to?”
Chen Qingqing searched through the wall of shoe cabinets and found what was probably the plainest pair of white Converse. Sitting on a nearby chair, she slipped on the shoes while saying, “First, I’ll go find my Father, then maybe buy a few things.”
Chen Qingqing rarely went out shopping because their home never lacked anything. So when Wang Ruxue heard Chen Qingqing say she was going out to buy something, she immediately realized today was Chen Qingqing’s birthday.
Recalling what Jiang Meilin had instructed, she quickly put down her work, grabbed the car keys, and prepared to leave.
“It’s the weekend. Will your Father be at the bank?”
“He will,” Chen Qingqing said lightly. “He always spends more time at the bank than at home.”
Wang Ruxue detected a hint of complaint in Chen Qingqing’s tone but said nothing.
About twenty minutes passed.
The car stopped at the entrance of China Merchants Bank. Before Chen Qingqing got out, she said to Wang Ruxue, “I’ll go up by myself,” so Wang Ruxue didn’t get out with her.
Chen Qingqing pushed open the heavy glass door of the bank, glanced briefly at the lobby, then strode up the stairs straight to the bank manager’s office upstairs.
Inside the office.
Chen Hansong was standing by the window with his back to the door, on the phone with the head of finance from a large corporation. When Chen Qingqing pushed the door open, his brow furrowed.
“Alright, alright, no problem, let’s leave it at that for now,”
Chen Hansong said, his previously smiling face instantly turning serious. “Who told you to come in without knocking…”
He stopped mid-sentence when he saw it was his daughter standing at the door.
“Qingqing?”
Chen Hansong smiled and stepped forward. “What brings you here?”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to pat Chen Qingqing’s head, but she took a step back and dodged him.
Chen Hansong awkwardly withdrew his hand. Like Jiang Meilin, both of them felt that there was no resentment between them over the divorce; the only person they felt they had let down was their daughter.
“I heard from your Mother that you still plan to attend the art school?”
“Mm.”
“I know you’ve always loved music, but studying this now will make it hard to find a good job later. Have you considered studying abroad? The United States, Singapore, Japan—your Father can find a way to send you overseas.”
Chen Qingqing replied coldly, “Do you think me staying in the country would affect your chances of finding another woman?”
“Qingqing! I’ve told you many times, the reason your Mother and I divorced was because of work, nothing else.”
“…”
“What did you want to see your Father about today?”
“Do you have time tonight?”
“Tonight?”
Chen Hansong thought for a moment, then sighed, “Tonight, your Father has already scheduled an important client meeting.”
“Just say you’re busy next time,” Chen Qingqing seemed to have expected this answer long ago. Her tone was utterly emotionless, as if speaking to a stranger.
Chen Hansong sensed something was wrong and quickly grabbed Chen Qingqing as she tried to leave.
But Chen Qingqing violently shook off his hand and shouted, “Don’t touch me! In your eyes, I’m not even as important as one of your clients. Have you forgotten what day it is today?”
After saying that, her eyes red, she ran out.
What day was it today?
Today…
Oh no!
It was Qingqing’s birthday.
Realizing this, Chen Hansong hurriedly chased after her.
…
On the first floor, Xu Ye, having just finished opening his stock account, was about to leave the bank when he collided full-on with Chen Qingqing, who was running down the stairs.
After Xu Ye caught sight of Chen Qingqing’s face, he instinctively shouted, “You again!”
Within one week.
This was the third time they had run into each other.
Chen Qingqing heard footsteps behind her and knew Chen Hansong had followed her down. Seeing Xu Ye, she immediately grabbed his hand and whispered urgently, “Don’t say a word!”
Xu Ye froze in place.
What’s going on…?
Her hand—holding it, it felt so soft and warm.
Chen Hansong stopped at the corner on the first floor. He saw Xu Ye, saw Chen Qingqing, and then saw their hands tightly clasped together.
Suddenly, his heart tightened with anxiety. His face darkened as he walked down and coldly demanded, “Who is he?”
“My boyfriend.”
“!!!”
…