Chapter 5, Thank You, Darwin

Heaven is my witness, I have never felt so excited and proud of being a bipedal creature.

But I persevered—every great person in this world shares a common virtue, which is persistence

My calculating mind weighed the pros and cons within ten seconds, and with determination, I decided to take the plunge for the sake of long-term benefits

I accurately identified at the first moment that this fragrance comes from Chanel's COCO Mademoiselle, a brand whose perfumes are always so ostentatious, carrying a strong sense of recognition that stimulates everyone's sense of smell

Every day after school, I walk for thirty minutes with my empty backpack to a small food wholesale market. From a distance, I can smell the mixed aromas of various foods. On the first day, I found it quite appetizing, but after three or four days, the smell made me feel nauseous

After a pause, he finally said: "Zhaojue, I do not intend to interfere with your freedom to make friends, but... you may not agree with my opinion, I just feel that this Qiao Chu is not simple."

Although that morning was very sad, by noon when I was holding a large sum of money, I felt it was worth it

I reluctantly gazed at the hairdryer worth over 2,000 yuan; it is so lovely, so precious, yet cruelly, it belongs to Qiao Chu

I am not an artist; I know nothing about art. My highest achievement in this regard is knowing a bit of gossip about Van Gogh's ear.

There are too many shared memories between Shao Qingyu and me, starting from the gossip and disputes of our high school days, we could talk for a whole day and night. However, with Qiao Chu, we are strangers, having met by chance in such a dramatic setting, and the only tool that has maintained our connection since then is a hairdryer.

If you observe carefully, you will certainly find that the existence of small circles has already been a reality during the student years

I honestly say: "I am an ordinary working girl, working as a customer service representative in an automotive supplies company. Before I got injured, I worked night shifts every two days. Now that I am injured, I can only lie in bed and be useless."

I once achieved the remarkable feat of skipping morning study sessions to buy breakfast for more than twenty classmates, a scene so moving that even the owner of the bakery, who is over forty years old, was astonished

The mucus was about to flow to the edge of my mouth, but I inhaled it back: "When we have money, we will acquire this foolish company, making them kneel at the door every morning to clock in, and hold daily meetings to sing praises of my grace."

Who can understand the feeling of me hiding under the desk counting money after class? Looking throughout history and across cultures, only Goriot understands me

I can only say: "Teacher, I am too hungry to have the energy to study."

Jian Chenye smiled and said, "Alright, you are the most impressive, you are the king of snacks"

After my repeated pleas, Jian Chenye reluctantly agreed to help me return the hairdryer to Qiao Chu across the street

After Qiao Chu finished laughing, he said with a hint of regret: "Ah, it's a pity I wasn't there at the time; otherwise, I would have definitely helped you make more money. You have no idea, my greatest skill is making ill-gotten gains"

At that time, I truly believed that the few of us would always remain this close.

I can only admit this when I return to this small apartment; I am truly heartbroken. It is all because I lack connections and abilities that I am subjected to such treatment. If I were a second-generation rich kid or a political offspring, my father would not let them off so easily

Before I had the chance to speak, the manager spoke up first: "Handsome! By the heavens and earth, it was she who acted alone; we did not retaliate at all, not even the security guard dared to lay a finger on her!"

The most striking figure in our grade is undoubtedly Shao Qingyu, who is oblivious to her own eccentricities. It is well known throughout the school that her family is wealthy, and her father is the president of the school's parent committee. Every opening ceremony, he has to represent the parents and speak on stage for half an hour, making both father and daughter objects of disdain.

However, Jian Chenye clearly did not enjoy this situation. He heated up a loaf of bread he bought yesterday in the microwave, standing at the bedroom door, nibbling on it while saying to me: "You go play with the beautiful girl, I am heading to the studio. If you want to eat anything, just call me and I will bring it to you in the evening"

How is it that you are studying law? Are you a lawyer

Every afternoon after school, the setting sun accompanies me to procure goods. Although my body is weary, my heart is filled with a joy and satisfaction that no one else can comprehend

Ah, Ye Zhao, your values seem to be problematic. Why is it that lawyers earn money through unscrupulous means?

It was not until evening that Qiao Chu got up to leave when Jian Chenye returned that day

She smiled again and said, "It's just a trivial matter... By the way, I brought the hairdryer over for you, thinking that it might be difficult for you to get out of bed and move around during this time. Your boyfriend probably wouldn't buy such things. You can use this one for now; I have another one. Just return it to me once you have recovered."

No amount of wisdom can adequately describe how dull life has been in the month since I got out of bed. In the past, when I was working overtime, I longed for a holiday; even a single day of rest felt like a gift from heaven to me

She, who is three to four years younger than me, revealed a sweet smile: "There was a time when I forgot to bring my wallet in the morning, and you helped me pay for breakfast. I have always remembered that in my heart"

Both classrooms erupted in laughter simultaneously, even the teacher was laughing, yet I remained unmoved.

I cried so hard that bubbles of mucus came out: "It's all my fault for being poor, it's all my fault for having no money and no power..."

Having finished speaking, I can now leave this place devoid of any warmth or humanity without looking back

Jian Chenye squatted in front of me, holding my hand, and softly asked me: "Has anyone ever laid a hand on you?"

Thus, I recounted the entire sequence of events from that day with a mix of sorrow and indignation, while Qiao Chu listened and ungraciously laughed heartily. It was utterly lacking in sympathy, especially when she heard the part in the hospital where that idiot Jian Chenye exposed that I was not a ballet dancer; she nearly went mad with laughter.

Jian Chenye did not even glance at the manager, still waiting for me to answer his question

How should I put it, we discussed many topics, from beauty and skincare to gossip about people's livelihoods, it seems like we talked about everything yet nothing at all. This feeling is quite peculiar, completely different from the kind of friendship I have with Shao Qingyu

If my life is a book that has already been written, then I am merely at the page of Qiao Chu at this moment

At that time, the two of them had not yet experienced the incident with He Tiantian. They spent the whole day holding hands behind the teacher's back and leaning on each other in front of their classmates. Even when they went to restock, they were as inseparable as conjoined twins. Even the owner of the wholesale department could not bear to watch and secretly asked me, "Are they your classmates?"

Thus, under the gaze of more than one hundred pairs of eyes from two classes, I uttered the most outrageous lie since the establishment of the school: "Report to the teacher, I did not help anyone bring these, they are all for myself."

That's enough, I am tired as well, and I do not want Jian Chenye to get into conflicts with others over my trivial matters. In any case, I have nothing much to say to those petty individuals.

Neither Qiao Chu nor I could escape the norm. I said, "He, he is an artist, and it takes about half an hour to walk to his studio from here."

Time will prove that in terms of judging people, Jian Chenye's insight is far more accurate than mine

Of course, I have not implemented most of the plans—when a person returns home exhausted like a dog the day before, collapsing onto the bed and refusing to get up, all they desire is to sleep in and feel satisfied; they would never be willing to crawl out of the soft bed and squeeze into the bustling crowd on the street.

She corrected my thoughts: "No, I am studying languages, but I have not been able to apply what I have learned; most of the time in my life, I am just having fun"

At that time, I was holding more than twenty servings of nutritious breakfast, including bread, cake, milk, yogurt, and a few bags of out-of-place dumplings, standing in the middle of two classrooms. My classmates and those from the adjacent class had all put down their books and were staring at me.

When the manager finished that sentence, there was a few minutes during which I felt they were truly despicable

Looking back, I believe that was the first time in my life I faced a test of personal integrity. I am well aware that if I betray others this time, it will be difficult for me to regain the trust of my classmates in the future

I have spoken foolishly again. If it were really like that, would I still need to work so hard to make a living

So I told my boss: "They are my parents, how about that, quite young, aren't they"

I smiled at her and said, "Thank you, I suppose I have died with clarity."

Indeed, I am a very straightforward person. My academic performance is quite average, and all my focus has been devoted to the matter of making money

After this incident, my fame greatly increased, and sometimes while walking on campus, I could enjoy the kind of attention that only celebrities are entitled to.

I shyly said, "Isn't this how it is portrayed in TV dramas?"

After he left, only Qiao Chu and I remained, but strangely, I did not feel awkward

A few minutes later, the stunning beauty came over with Jian Chen, her bright eyes and white teeth shining radiantly. She sat down by the bed, exuding an air reminiscent of a queen visiting her maidservants.

When I was excitedly sitting in a taxi with my cane, heading to the company for my first day of work, a devastating piece of news struck me like a billboard suddenly falling from a ten-story building.

Unexpected disasters always arrive earlier and weigh heavier than I anticipated

In the past, for the most part of my life, I was not a loquacious person. Perhaps it was due to my limited experiences, or perhaps because I had not seen much of the world. It might also stem from an instinctive self-protection, or to put it more directly, a lack of confidence. When facing strangers, I always felt like a tightly strung violin string; unless absolutely necessary, I tried my best to remain silent.

Speaking of which, I should actually thank Xiao Li. If it were not for his enigmatic attitude and his hesitant gaze that established a certain psychological foundation for me, I would surely have reacted a hundred times more violently than I did when I received the notice in the manager's office stating, 'Haven't we already dismissed you?'

Thank you for the theory of evolution, thank you Darwin

I am a bit surprised: "Why are you telling me this?"

Jian Chenye looked at me coldly and said, "If you don't let go, you can return it yourself."

The girl before me, beautiful and affluent, is about the same age as I am. She does not have a fixed job, yet the things she uses are all quite expensive. Based on the incident from last time, along with a few pieces of gossip I initially heard from my landlord, it can be reasonably concluded that she is certainly very popular and sought after by the opposite sex.

In an instant, I seemed to return to many years ago, to our high school campus when we were sixteen years old

The teacher asked slowly, "Ye Zhao Jue, who allowed you to leave the classroom during self-study time? Where have you been?"

It was not until he had walked for more than a minute that I finally reacted, Jian Chenye, you beast

This ridiculous manager, in broad daylight, has completely distorted right and wrong, actually labeling sick leave as absenteeism. This is intolerable, absolutely intolerable.

Unfortunately, at that time, my eyes were solely focused on money, and I failed to perceive the secret thoughts of the handsome young man. I even enthusiastically said to him like a warm-hearted aunt: "Handsome guy, come back for more if it's delicious!"

However, I have a more concise and straightforward version—this is an era where the poor have no right to rest

Originally, I only charged one yuan for the delivery fee for bringing a breakfast, but that day, out of guilt and admiration for my courage, my classmates voluntarily increased it to five yuan

Jian Chenye handed me a tissue while helping me with the trash can, his voice barely audible, akin to soothing a small dog or cat: "Everything will get better in the future, I will work hard to earn money, so don't be afraid."

Before this, I was merely an ordinary female classmate in his eyes, but from that moment on, I became Ye Zhao Jue from the neighboring class

Now, I have a broken leg, and I can justifiably and comfortably lie in bed for twenty-four hours, or even forty-eight hours, enjoying a life where everything is brought to me. However, I feel an unprecedented sense of urgency and anxiety in my heart

I truly want to weep for my own wisdom

Good job, manager. He really said: "You have been absent for too long. Do you know that during this time your work tasks have been distributed among your colleagues? Everyone has been complaining a lot, and we, as leaders, are also in a difficult position..."

Upon returning home, Jian Chenye carried me to bed. I lazily leaned against the pillow and said to him, "You go ahead and do your thing, I'm fine."

Before the holiday, I also pretend to make many plans, such as going to see a movie, having a nice meal, visiting the counters of my favorite brands in the mall, and inviting Shao Qingyu and others to have a drink in the evening

She smiled and said, "I heard that you were injured, so I came to see you. Is it not a bother?"

He sat down by the bedside and said to me in a gentle tone that is rarely heard in a hundred years: "I will not go out; I will stay here with you. If you want to cry, then go ahead and cry for a moment."

I raised my eyebrows and said to Jian Chenye: "We get along quite well, so don't always wear a stern face towards her in the future."

Thus, I embarked on an irreversible path to wealth, and eventually, my client base expanded beyond limits, growing from sales within my class to an entire floor, and even the campus heartthrob, Jian Chenye, visited several times.

However, there is not a trace of estrangement or distance between us, I like her very much, and to be a bit narcissistic, I can tell from her gaze that she quite likes me as well

As I walked out of the company gate and waited for a ride by the roadside, the receptionist hurried over to me and said, "Sister Ye, let me quietly tell you that your position has actually been taken over by someone else. Last time, the big boss brought a woman along, and it was quite ambiguous. She insisted that the manager arrange an easy position for her, and the manager had no choice... Don't be too upset..."

Although they did not curse at me or physically assault me, they indeed bullied me

Even now, thinking back on this matter still makes me very angry. I swear, if I ever encounter Wang Ge again in this city, and if he is still riding that motorcycle that broke my leg, I will definitely puncture its tires!

I exerted all my strength to maintain the posture of the Golden Rooster Standing on One Leg, swinging my cane wildly at the manager's desk. Various documents flew through the air like snowflakes, and the thermos cup that came with the purchase of laundry detergent also clattered to the ground. The manager was flustered and panicked, his expression as terrified as if he had seen an enemy invade the village: "Ye Zhao Jue! What are you doing? I will call security!"

It was only after her reminder that I recalled this matter; it seems there was indeed such a thing. In fact, it was merely a trivial task that required little effort, yet unexpectedly, I inadvertently established a brilliant image for myself.

I stood up holding Jian Chenye's hand and coldly said to the manager: "Even if you beg me to stay now, I will not remain. Remember to transfer this month's salary to my account, and I wish your company a swift closure"

A breeze swept by, and she emanated a faint fragrance.

In fact, I do not care at all about whether I become famous, nor do I envy those prominent figures who flaunt their power in school every day. Compared to those classmates who frequently gather a few people to fight at the back gate of the school, I can simply describe myself as innocent.

Her gaze was elusive, as if she were caught in a situation that I could not comprehend, and her words, to some extent, piqued my curiosity, yet it was not appropriate to inquire further

However, facing this Qiao Chu, whom I had only met two or three times, I do not know why, I felt very relaxed. She was like an old friend whom I had not seen for many years, chatting with me in a casual manner on this warm and sunny afternoon. Time flowed by quietly and slowly, accompanied by these trivial conversations.

I know that I am not particularly intelligent, but I hope that others will discover this fact a little later

I want to lie and say that I went to the restroom, but over twenty pieces of evidence are right in front of me

What is the necessity of preparing such a surprise for me? I am not injured at work, so is it really necessary to celebrate me in such a romantic way

On the second day after class, just as the teacher stepped out of the classroom, I shouted, "I have snacks for sale here, at the same price as the convenience store, so don't go downstairs!"

When I recall the scene from that time, a profound sadness wells up within me. Why is it that it had to be me? I am neither a heartless person nor a third party; I am merely a kind-hearted individual. Who would have thought that a good person would receive no reward for their goodness

After closing the door, Jian Chenye unexpectedly asked me: "She has been sitting here for so long, what have you two been talking about?"

Our classroom is on the 6th floor, while the school store is located on the basement level of the building across from us. This means that in order to rush to the store within ten minutes after class, squeeze through the crowd to buy some snacks, and return to the classroom before the bell rings, one must possess the speed and physical fitness of a professional athlete, which are precisely the two qualities that most students lack

That's right, that was me. Back then, the whole school knew that there was a girl in Class 245 who was very good at making money, named Ye Zhao Jue

Isn't it just an employment relationship? There is no need to make it a matter of life and death. It is just a job; one can always find another.

I was cursing in my heart at that moment, thinking, do you really consider your tiny company to be Microsoft or Apple? Sending an email to dismiss someone, why not send me a formal letter instead

The unemployed Ye Zhaoju has completely collapsed; not to mention security guards, I am not afraid even if you call the police

The manager looked at me with an incredulous expression and said, "You really don't know? The company sent you an email."

I have said that my reputation is excellent, and my classmates quickly surrounded me, dividing up the small amount of trial goods I had, with some taking two packs and others three packs.

"What are you crying about?" I scoffed dismissively, "It's not a big deal, what's there to cry about?"

The venture of providing breakfast carries high risks and low returns, so I quickly began to contemplate other avenues for wealth accumulation

I know that using the term "lost and found" at this moment is not entirely appropriate, but I must say that seeing the hairdryer that was lost and found fills me with mixed emotions—there is indeed true affection in this world

I truly do not understand why Jian Chenye harbors such great hostility towards Qiao Chu. It has been proven that she was wrongfully accused of being a mistress. Could it be... My detective-like mind began to race: "Could it be that you have taken a liking to her, and are deliberately pretending to despise her?"

Speaking of our cohort, it can be said that it is a gathering of exceptional individuals. The number of eccentricities in our grade surpasses the combined total of all the eccentricities from the three preceding and three succeeding grades.

Qiao Chu finally could not contain his curiosity and asked me: "Was your leg injured in a traffic accident?"

In the midst of American dramas, TVB series, and various palace intrigue dramas, during the occasional visits of Shao Qingyu and Qiao Chu, and with the attentive care of Jian Chenye, who, while not overly meticulous, was nonetheless devoted, I have finally begun to recover slowly and can now get out of bed and move about with the aid of crutches

"Oh, you are an artist," Qiao Chu nodded and said, "Then you are too?"

I want to recover quickly, I want to return to my position in my homeland where I am needed, to be a diligent cog in the machine

It is true, I really think so, so I truly cooperated: "Haha, don't joke around, let's save time, I can get back to work right now"

Jian Chenye opened the takeout box, and the aroma of the chicken leg rice immediately wafted out, overshadowing the fragrance of the perfume left by Qiao Chu

I apologize, but saying this feels somewhat insincere; in fact, I am eager to get to work and start earning money

Secondly ... . ... Secondly, it is a good friend of Shao Qingyu.

When my colleague Xiao Li saw me, he was very surprised: "What brings you here?"

Yes, it is a traffic accident, that is correct, but it is a traffic accident that was entirely unnecessary in the first place

I am reluctant to reveal the name of this good friend, but Shao Qingyu has had only one true friend in the real sense since childhood

Although my objective is quite clear, the means to achieve it are highly diversified

It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. Dickens, in "A Tale of Two Cities," uses the circumstances of the French Revolution as a metaphor for the situation in England at that time. A classic is a classic; this statement remains equally apt today.

Jian Chenye let out a cold laugh twice: "Heh heh, I do not like beautiful women"

Indeed, it was precisely because his laughter was too candid and exaggerated that the motorcycle owner immediately saw through my scheme, and later he only compensated me according to the average monthly income of this city

As for Jian Chenye and me, it is already a matter of much later.

Then I can forget about earning a single penny from them again

Adults always start to become familiar with each other through topics like these: What do you do? What was your major in university? Are you satisfied with your current job? How much is your monthly salary...

When Jian Chenye came to the company to take me home, it had already been one or two hours since I had caused a commotion in the manager's office. Now, everyone in the company regards me with a sense of awe, and Xiao Li even made me a cup of Longjing tea, but I haven't taken a single sip.

In retrospect, thinking about my foolishness at that time makes me wish I could be torn to shreds; I actually cheerfully said in front of the entire office: "I am here to generate revenue for the company"

At that time, I was solely focused on gnawing on the chicken leg. Although I heard his words clearly, I still felt indifferent. Moreover, I had tolerated someone as troublesome as Shao Qingyu for so many years; Qiao Chu is certainly much more cultured and reasonable than Shao Qingyu.

I just heard your boyfriend mention going to the studio, what does he do

Xiao Li appeared to be hesitant, much like someone who has not had a smooth bowel movement for a week and finally manages to relieve themselves after that time: "You should go to the manager's office and inquire about the situation first."

The teacher said: "Is that so? Will you starve if you wait until after class to buy it? You bought so much, and you say it was for certain people. If you tell me who they are, I won't pursue the matter any further."

I feel very ashamed: "I apologize for not returning the items to you all this time."

I sincerely feel that Qiao Chu is truly a wonderful person, and I am about to fall in love with her

I feel very embarrassed, I do not have such classmates

It is said that, but I still cried unreasonably. Yes, we have been together for so many years, and he understands me better than anyone else in the world. No matter how wild I act, how exaggerated my behavior is, or how vicious my words become at work, it is merely to conceal the grievances surging within me.

The consequence of deceiving the teacher was that I was taken to the office during class to write a 2,000-word reflection. To this day, I still remember the beginning of that reflection, which was written as follows: Today, I made a very serious mistake... I should not have been unable to endure hunger and skipped class to buy food, and I bought so much. I was like a pig, only knowing how to eat

However, the remnants of my reason compel me to humbly make one last effort: "I haven't made any mistakes, have I, Manager? You should at least provide a reason for dismissing an employee."

As the amount of money earned increases, the volume of goods purchased also gradually rises. Sometimes, I simply cannot manage it alone, and at this moment, Shao Qingyu and Jiang Yi make their brilliant appearance

Later, upon discovering the truth, Shao Qingyu chased after me, hitting me all the way, while Jiang Yi, carrying over ten kilograms of snacks, followed behind, panting heavily.

Through my keen observation, I have indeed discovered a business opportunity

Tragically, I was unexpectedly intercepted by the clever and astute homeroom teacher at the back door while returning to the classroom

At the moment of parting, I suppressed the deep sorrow within me: "Do you know that I really like you? From the very first time I saw you, I knew that there would never be such a wonderful encounter in my life again..."

Beautiful women's sisters are usually also beautiful, while handsome men's friends are certainly not far from being unattractive. Scholars form a group, and rebellious girls like to be good friends with rebellious boys. From this reasoning, it follows that oddballs will naturally associate with other oddballs

Later I learned that Jian Chenye's interest in me began with this incident

However—allow me to be a bit pretentious, to speak in an artistic tone—I feel that she is not happy