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“How is it? Didn’t I say I’m a genius?”
Chen Qingqing came back to herself, her lips moving slightly but unable to speak. Jiang Meilin, watching her daughter’s subtle expression, felt a tug at her heart.
She sighed silently and then sincerely said to Xu Ye, “Xu Ye, I want to apologize to you on behalf of Qingqing’s Father.”
“No problem.”
Xu Ye set his guitar on the table and smiled. “Actually, I can understand. If I were Uncle Chen, and my daughter was hanging out with a young man who still had to work summer jobs in a tavern, I’d probably want to stop it too.”
Jiang Meilin’s eyes lit up.
She hadn’t expected Xu Ye to be able to see things from Chen Hansong’s perspective.
This kid was unusually mature.
“I just don’t like how Uncle Chen talks to me with that overbearing attitude. After all, I’m young—there’s that saying about youth being reckless. But I guess after a good night’s sleep tonight, I’ll probably forget about it.”
After speaking, Xu Ye stood up. “Aunt Jiang, I’ll get you a cup of hot water.”
“Thank you.”
Xu Ye brought Jiang Meilin a cup of hot water as well. After that, Chen Qingqing didn’t speak again, and the entire time it was just Jiang Meilin and Xu Ye chatting casually.
In the end, they even ended up talking about life goals.
“Xu Ye, do you have any dreams or ambitions?”
“I haven’t thought about anything long-term yet. Right now, my goal is to make money—lots and lots of money.”
Jiang Meilin didn’t think Xu Ye was being petty; she just pressed him with a question, “How much counts as a lot?”
Xu Ye thought for a moment, then smiled, “A lot means having enough money in the bank so that Uncle Chen no longer looks down on me.”
Jiang Meilin pursed her lips, then smiled along, “Is money really that important to you?”
“Of course. For poor people, most troubles are born from money. Especially nowadays, in this era where rituals collapse and music falls apart, without money you can’t even marry a wife.”
“Rituals collapse and music falls apart?”
“Oh, it means the bride price negotiations fall apart, and everyone watching has a great time.”
Chen Qingqing burst out laughing, then quickly lowered her head. Laughing out loud in front of so many people made her feel embarrassed.
Jiang Meilin shook her head, sighing, “Actually, I used to think the same — that a man who can make money is obviously outstanding. But later, I changed my mind. Being able to earn is important, but…”
“But when choosing a partner, it’s not just about whether he can make money.”
“What else should I look at then?”
“I don’t know, I’m not a woman.”
Jiang Meilin was speechless but switched tactics, asking, “Then what qualities do you think a good man should have?”
Xu Ye scratched his head, thinking for a long while before speaking, “I’m not exactly sure, but I can give you an example. I think, just my opinion, if a man wants to eat KFC, and a single meal costs fifty yuan, he might think it’s expensive. But if his wife or child wants it, he’d buy it without hesitation. A man like that, I think, is probably a good one.”
What Xu Ye was really describing was himself.
After entering university and starting to date Gu Mengyao, he scrimped and saved every day at school, feeling things were too expensive. But whenever he went out to eat with Gu Mengyao, he wouldn’t even glance at the menu prices.
Now, Xu Ye deeply regretted it because he felt all his sincere efforts had been wasted.
Jiang Meilin’s eyes brightened noticeably at this.
By nearly nine o’clock, customers began arriving one after another. Seeing this, Xu Ye stood up and said, “Auntie, sorry, I have to get to work.”
Jiang Meilin also stood, replying, “Xu Ye, it was very pleasant chatting with you. About today, I want to apologize again. If… I mean, if Qingqing comes looking for you next time, I won’t follow her.”
Xu Ye caught the meaning behind Jiang Meilin’s words and smiled, “Then please rest assured, Auntie. What I said last time, I will stick to it.”
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
As the mother and daughter were about to leave, Xu Ye noticed the guitar still on the table and hurriedly said, “Chen Qingqing, your guitar.”
Chen Qingqing turned her head and whispered quickly, “I’m lending it to you for a few days. Remember to return it.”
Xu Ye was stunned for a moment, then gave a silly grin.
Pei Youwei, who didn’t know when she had come up beside Xu Ye, watched the mother and daughter get into the car with him. She then placed her hand on Xu Ye’s shoulder and mimicked his tone from that day, saying, “Ah, I think dating is pointless.”
Xu Ye knew the landlady was teasing him sarcastically.
He replied firmly, “It was never meaningful to begin with.”
Pei Youwei let out a coquettish huff and laughed, “You’ve met the mother-in-law twice already and you’re still shy?”
“What mother-in-law? I don’t even understand what you mean.”
“Tch, stop pretending. Chen Qingqing is such a beautiful young lady. How could you not like her?”
Xu Ye linked arms with Pei Youwei and smiled, “Landlady, if you say that, then I like you too.”
Pei Youwei pushed him away, looked him up and down, and muttered, “Playing rogue with me, huh? Do you still want today’s wages?”
“Landlady, I was wrong.”
“Go away, go away. On the first day, I thought you were a very honest kid, but turns out you’re a little scoundrel too.”
Xu Ye said seriously, “Landlady, in this world, no one likes honest people.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, haven’t you heard the saying? Honest people come after the dogs.”
“Go on, take your guitar and sing your songs. Don’t waste your breath with me.”
Xu Ye stood at attention and saluted Pei Youwei, “Yes, ma’am!”
Watching Xu Ye sling his guitar on his back and head off to sing, Pei Youwei couldn’t hold back her laughter. Leaning against the doorframe, she looked up at the moon in the sky, but her smile gradually stiffened.
She thought of the man who had already turned into a star in the heavens.
…
The next afternoon.
Xu Ye started practicing driving at the Driving School with Qin Zhiwei. But since Xu Ye’s starting point was much higher than Qin Zhiwei’s, his practice time was often ten minutes, while Qin Zhiwei practiced for fifty.
After a whole day of practice, when they returned the next day, Qin Zhiwei still wasn’t as good at driving as Xu Ye.
Qin Zhiwei’s progress had been normal at first, but because of being compared to Xu Ye, Coach Liu ended up yelling at Qin Zhiwei every day in the car.
The next day, after practice, Qin Zhiwei was nearly crushed with frustration.
“Xu Ye, damn it, I swear I’ll never do anything at the same time as you again.”
“Damn right, and you’re feeling wronged too? That old bastard Coach Liu just sits around cooling off while I show him how to drive. Then he makes me teach you how to reverse park—damn it, it’s the first time I’ve felt like this money was wasted.”
“When I get my driver’s license, the first thing I’m doing is treating old Liu to a meal. Once the dishes are all served, I’m sneaking off without paying and making him foot the bill!”
“Now that’s got some guts!”
“Xu Ye.”
“What?”
“Don’t you want to say something?”
“What exactly does your girlfriend look like?”
“She’s absolutely stunning.”