Chapter 38

As a result, Tian Yuxi’s winter break became extremely busy, no less than the time she spent preparing for the college entrance exam. In the mornings, she would study vocabulary and review course materials at home.

In the afternoons, she would receive tutoring from teachers at the Foreign Language Department of the university. In the evenings, she had to do additional exercises at home. As a result, except for a couple of visits to the business store right after the break, she hardly had time to come by.

Song Haowen understood Tian Yuxi’s feelings very well. After all, in his previous life, he had also dedicated himself to intense studying for overseas opportunities and felt the excitement.

Now, he was relaxed, no longer preoccupied with ethereal dreams and future aspirations. He was focused on making money and felt content with his life.

Currently, during business hours in the store, it was mainly Song Haowen, Zhu Hongyu, and Wang Li working in the store. Qian Youlai continued his work of collecting electronics in the streets and alleys.

Zhu Hongyu worked at the business department every day, having meals there and sometimes voluntarily working overtime in the evenings. One day, they worked late into the night, and it started snowing outside.

Song Haowen suggested that she stay overnight at the business department.

During the winter break, Zhu Hongyu’s university dormitory was like deserted house, and returning to the empty room made her feel lonely. Additionally, the room was often too cold for her to sleep at night.

When she heard Song Haowen’s suggestion to stay, especially since there was a warm kang (heated platform), she readily agreed.

Song Haowen gave the East room to Zhu Hongyu, taking the West room for himself. Initially, neither of them paid much attention, but when they each retired to their respective kangs at night, they suddenly realized that there were only the two of them in the room. As a man and a woman alone, it was inevitable that they felt a bit awkward.

However, neither of them mentioned it. After a night, they got used to it, treating each other like siblings. They didn’t hide it from Qian Youlai and Wang Li either. Later on, Wang Li also stayed overnight to accompany Zhu Hongyu.

Although Song Haowen’s home had a bathroom, it wasn’t heated, and it was too cold, making it inconvenient for Zhu Hongyu, a girl. One afternoon, Zhu Hongyu took a leave to retrieve some warmer clothes from her school dormitory and decided to use the school’s shower facilities.

Unexpectedly, when she returned, she wore a gloomy expression, buried herself in work, and avoided talking to people. Song Haowen and the others didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask, so they each went about their own business.

In the evening, Wang Li mentioned having family matters and wanted to leave early. Qian Youlai also left with her. As a result, only Song Haowen and Zhu Hongyu were left in the store.

Seeing Zhu Hongyu looking gloomy all afternoon, Song Haowen wasn’t in the mood to deal with dinner arrangements. Instead, he suggested taking her to a nearby small restaurant for a meal.

As the Chinese New Year approached, there weren’t many customers in the restaurant, so they found a relatively quiet corner to sit.

Song Haowen was about to ask Zhu Hongyu what dishes she wanted when she grabbed the menu and asked, “Younger brother, are you treating tonight?”

Song Haowen found Zhu Hongyu’s words a bit strange. In his impression, when going to a restaurant, it always seemed natural for him to treat, after all, he was the boss and had the highest income.

“Yeah. Do you want to treat me for once?” he smiled and asked

Zhu Hongyu’s face blushed slightly as she stared at him. “Treating should still be you. I just want to choose the dishes.”

“Okay, no problem,” Song Haowen laughed. As her mood improved, his worries were lifted.

Zhu Hongyu called the waiter, pointed to the menu, and ordered seven or eight large dishes in one go—pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, fish, and even roe deer.

Song Haowen was shocked and kept saying, “Enough, that’s enough.” She waved her hand and said, “It’s fine, if we can’t finish, we’ll pack it and eat it tomorrow.”

Then, she opened a bottle of Maotai and picked up two wine glasses, “Clang, clang, clang,” pouring a substantial amount into each glass. She pushed one glass towards him. “Yours,” she said, scaring him a little.

“Sis, can you handle high-proof liquor?”

“Why not? We Sichuan girls can not only handle spicy food but also alcohol. You, a Jiangnan guy, probably can’t outdrink me.”

“Drinking so much, aren’t you afraid of getting drunk?”

“Pfft, this little amount of alcohol is nothing. If I drink this whole bottle, I still won’t get drunk.”

“Okay then, the dishes are here. Shouldn’t we eat some before drinking?”

“No.” Zhu Hongyu picked up the wine glass, stood up, and said, “Let me express my gratitude first by toasting you three times.”

“Why be so polite? If we’re toasting, let me, as your younger brother, go first,” Song Haowen quickly declined.

“Brother, you don’t have to argue with sis. Sis sincerely wants to toast you. I’ll toast you three times. The first glass, thank you for helping me greatly at a crucial moment, saving my father from danger.”

“This is what a younger brother should do. Besides, you insisted on returning the money to me later. This small amount of money, I really want to give it to you.”

“The second glass, thank you for providing me with a good opportunity to make money. Not only did it allow me to repay the money I borrowed for my father’s medical treatment from you, but I also have a few hundred yuan left over. I know you intentionally gave me more. I appreciate your kindness.”

“Speaking of this, I feel a bit embarrassed. After all, the money you both received is only a very small part of what I make.”

“Don’t say it like that. If someone else were doing my job, their income probably wouldn’t be one-tenth of mine. Both Ren Hua and I are very content and grateful.”