Chapter 21

“This is a punishment drink, right? Fine, I’ll drink it.”

Was it Chen Jing or Cheng Yanran?

“Is it one of the two men who ate with me?”

The waiter happily said, “Yes, the one wearing the gray sweater.”

Sometimes they get tips, but not often, since most people pay electronically and don’t have extra change.

But tonight, she was lucky. The man was generous. When he came, he transferred 3,000 yuan to her and said if it wasn’t enough, to ask him again. The rest would be her tip.

They ordered a lot of dishes, but the bill was only about 2,500 yuan. She expected about 500 yuan tip, so she quickly helped pay the bill to avoid problems.

Zhou Zhou realized Chen Jing wore a black shirt today, and Cheng Yanran wore a gray sweater.

She didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh.

When she went back in, she brought two bottles of beer.

“I already said I’ll pay. Why did you pay the bill early?” She put the beers in front of Cheng Yanran.

“You already bought milk tea. How could two men let you pay?” He took the beers and smiled. “This is a punishment drink? Okay, I’ll drink it.” He took several big sips.

The whole meal was over 2,000 yuan, almost half her monthly salary. Chen Jing and Cheng Yanran earned well in the past two good years, but Zhou Zhou only had a fixed salary. She didn’t know how much she made in a year but guessed it wasn’t much.

Besides, she already treated them to Cantonese dim sum last time.

He couldn’t let her keep spending so much.

Besides, giving and taking is how friendships grow, right?

“Boss Cheng, you’re really too much. I don’t earn as well as you two, but I can afford a hot pot meal.” She said angrily but also helplessly.

“When did you pay?” Chen Jing asked, confused.

“When I came in,”

Chen Jing suddenly remembered Cheng Yanran went to the service desk when they entered. He thought Cheng Yanran was asking about the room, but actually, he was paying early.

He got confused. Cheng Yanran said he wasn’t good at socializing and preferred focusing on tech work—was that true?

Cheng Yanran drank a few more sips and smiled, “Didn’t you get your skirt dirty?”

She looked down, “I bought it online, not expensive.”

This new style of clothes was just for fun, not a brand, cost a few hundred yuan, less than the cost of this meal.

Besides, only the edge of the skirt was a little dirty. She could wash it and wear it again.

Chen Jing advised, “Forget it, as long as you’re happy. Who pays doesn’t matter.”

He told Zhou Zhou, “Think about it this way: your salary also comes from taxes we pay. Different ways, same result. Same path, different routes.”

Then to Cheng Yanran, “You guys ate this meal. You can’t let one person pay. I’ll pay half.”

“Okay! You transfer me the money later.”

They decided like that, and Zhou Zhou was amazed.

Especially Chen Jing’s words about “same path, different routes”—how could he explain that?

But she wasn’t picky, so since the two men agreed, she stopped worrying and smiled, “Okay, you two are teaming up to fool me.”

“No… no… Treating Director Zhou to a meal is our honor. We should be the ones to thank you. By the way, when will the senior talent subsidy be finalized? Are we going to karaoke or a bar later? Haha…” Chen Jing laughed.

Zhou Zhou and Cheng Yanran laughed too.

Cheng Yanran added, “You treated me to Cantonese dim sum last week. This meal should be on us. When you’re free later, treat us to another meal. There’s a good Sichuan restaurant nearby.”

Zhou Zhou knew they were helping her save face. She smiled, “No need. We’re comrades who’ve stood in trouble together. Next time is mine, no changing your mind.”

Cheng Yanran’s face softened hearing her say they stood “in trouble” together.

That was back in the second semester of Grade 10.

Cheng Yanran and Chen Jing’s English improved a lot, but Chen Jing failed the Chinese test once.

Chen Jing was tall, handsome, outgoing, liked to joke, and got along well with girls. Many girls secretly liked him.

When he failed the Chinese test, a boy who saw Chen Jing as a rival mocked him. He said Chen Jing wouldn’t get into a good university, maybe only a low-level one. Without family help, Chen Jing would end up working for others like his father—bent and bowed all the time.

The boy wasn’t good-looking but worked hard and had good grades, close to Zhou Zhou’s. He came from an official’s family and acted very proud.

He didn’t like Chen Jing and Cheng Yanran for a long time.

He also disliked Zhou Zhou, who always outperformed him in studies.

Chen Jing’s family was actually okay.

His dad used to work in a mine with a good salary. That’s why Chen Jing and Cheng Yanran lived in the same neighborhood.

But his dad was injured later and got fired. Since the family was okay financially for now and his arm was bad, he became a security guard.

The boy’s words angered Chen Jing.

Chen Jing didn’t care if he got into university but wouldn’t allow insults to his father.

His dad worked hard for years to give their family a peaceful life. Even now as a security guard, he earned money honestly.

Angry, Chen Jing kicked the boy’s desk, knocking books to the floor.

The boy was furious and embarrassed in front of girls. He yelled and kicked Chen Jing’s desk.

Since Chen Jing’s and Cheng Yanran’s desks were connected, the kick knocked Cheng Yanran’s desk down too.

“What’s wrong with you?” Cheng Yanran shouted.

“None of your business! You two losers just hang out with girls all day!” the boy yelled.

Cheng Yanran grabbed his shirt, “What are you talking about?”

“You two just mess around with girls all day, no future.”

The boy then saw Zhou Zhou and said, “And you, the so-called top student, it’s just luck twice. You pretend to study English like you’ll work at the Foreign Ministry.”

Though not naming names, everyone knew he meant them.

Zhou Zhou’s heart almost exploded with anger.

Before she could react, Chen Jing grabbed a chair and rushed at the boy.

At the same time, Cheng Yanran moved to attack too.

What was going on?

Chen Jing and Cheng Yanran grew up together like brothers. Even if they got punished, they wouldn’t let their brother get hurt.

Also, when men fight, they fight men. Why drag girls in, and say such mean things?

The three struggled and fought each other.