Chapter 6: Why the Young Man's Heart Was Stirred

Zhao Jing, why did you give up such a promising career as a little girl gang member

A restaurant is being constructed on the east bank of the moat, featuring a four-story front building with flying eaves and carved railings, adorned with blue bricks and glazed tiles, showcasing a retro architectural style. Yulin Road is a dining street in the western city of Jinghai, where many restaurants and eateries tend to cluster, resulting in naturally high rental prices. It is unclear why the original landlord was willing to transfer the property to Guo Dequan. To the north of the restaurant, there is an annex building, and behind it, there is a courtyard by the water, with a winding corridor leading to a lush bamboo grove.

The pickup truck of the restaurant was parked in the middle of the cement path, and the iron fence of the courtyard was tightly blocked with cardboard boxes. Looking through the gap in the courtyard gate, one could see a pile of one or two hundred rotten melons stacked in the corner of the yard, which was quite a terrifying sight. Several layers of plastic film were spread out on the ground, and Guo Baolin stood barefoot in a pile of rotten melons, rummaging through something. Zhao Jing was squatting by a large plastic basin, while Fang Nan was dragging a plastic hose for drawing water over.

Only a dime? Guo Baolin's voice rose a bit, and he immediately squinted and smiled; the genes he inherited from Guo Tuzu began to awaken, and he hesitated whether even a dime might be too much.

Could the pure and beautiful girl in front of me be Zhao Jing? Moreover, didn't Guo Baolin just break up with Zhao Jing last month? How is he now sneaking into the bamboo grove? Zhao Jing is walking lightly ahead, and a bamboo leaf falls out from her pant leg.

"It's nothing, the people I've found are all quite good. I have something on tonight, but tomorrow I will invite you to dinner with Guozi. You should bring your two younger brothers along." Zhang Yifei appeared hesitant, and after waiting for a while, Lin Quan noticed that she still lacked the courage to approach. He then bid farewell to the mouse and rode his bike to the room rented by Guo Baolin.

Fang Nan recalled the incident from earlier when she changed clothes and rolled her eyes at Lin Quan with a significant look of disdain

Didn’t you say you were going to find the mouse with Fang Nan to discuss the matter? Why has it taken so long?

At this moment, there are not many people in the restaurant. A few young girls are dozing off with their heads resting on the tables. Hearing the sound of the door opening, they alertly prop themselves up, but upon seeing it is Lin Quan, they slump back down listlessly. Only the cashier, Yi Ping, gestures towards the back, indicating that Guo Baolin is in the courtyard behind.

Fang Nan blushed as she opened the door, her coffee-colored casual pants accentuating her curvaceous long legs. She wore a light green sleeveless shirt, tucking her hair behind her ears, which were slightly flushed with shyness. Just moments ago, Lin Quan had unconsciously turned to look at her as the wind blew the curtains aside, and at that moment, with a look of infatuation, Fang Nan pouted and muttered softly, "All men are no good."

To his astonishment, Zhao Jing's face was unexpectedly flushed with a layer of shyness, could it be that she felt ashamed of what had just happened in the bamboo grove; Guo Baolin beside her puffed out his chest

I just got off the train at noon today and happened to see a job advertisement on the utility pole. If you are not satisfied, I will find another one.

In Lin Quan's impression, Zhao Jing had a head of fluffy, dry curly hair dyed in the three primary colors, wearing purple lip gloss. Her long, glossy black fingernails sent a chill down one's spine, while her silver toenails were even more unsettling. She was dressed in hot pants that exposed her buttocks.

The four women brought by the mouse included three who were around thirty years old, and one young girl who appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen. She had a pointed chin and somewhat dry, yellowish hair. Her shirt sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and the buttons were fastened all the way to the collar. Her dusty gray pants were somewhat short, exposing her scuffed sneakers and bony ankles. She looked a bit frightened, as if she had been forcibly brought along.

The mouse blushed, likely feeling shame on behalf of that group of people

Lin Quan glanced at the identification card: Zhang Yifei, nineteen years old, with a slender physique, flat-chested, not yet developed, and her exposed wrists and elbows were bony. Seeing her malnourished appearance, Lin Quan couldn't help but frown: "Selling a piece of melon for one dime, in two months' time, if you haven't earned 1,600, then I will make up the difference to 1,600." Lin Quan casually made this promise and stuffed the four identification cards into his pocket.

Fine, you can pretend. Zhao Jing, let's go to the front.

As Fang Nan bent down to take off her skirt, a sudden gust of wind rushed in, causing the curtains to flutter and wrap around her back, covering her head and face, revealing a patch of pale skin that dazzled Lin Quan. It was hard to tell how full Fang Nan's backside was while she was wearing the skirt; the delicate, snow-white curve of her buttocks peeked out from beneath her underwear, enticingly taut. Lin Quan had never experienced such stimulation before, and a surge of heat coursed through his chest and abdomen. Fang Nan turned to pull down the curtains, colliding with his gaze, and hurriedly darted behind the door. Lin Quan remained standing there, his mind lingering on the small glimpse of her breast that had spilled out of her bra when she turned.

It had only been a day since returning to Jinghai, yet Guo Baolin had somehow acquired this exquisite item again. Lin Quan winked at him, signaling him to speak to the side, and the girl giggled: "Xiao San, you don't recognize me anymore."

The matter was settled, allowing the four of them to leave. Lin Quan and the Mouse sat in the shade of a tree, chatting idly. The Mouse's full name was Yu Qiang, who had dropped out of middle school and spent his days hanging around outside. The local delinquents in Jinghai were of such low caliber that even reading Yu's name correctly was considered quite cultured. It was then that Lin Quan realized the Mouse was actually an old delinquent, which made him laugh so hard that he choked on his cigarette.

Lin Quan thought that Zhao Jing had known them for almost a year, and she should at least recognize the fact that he was more virtuous than Guo Baolin. At this moment, Guo Baolin was confused; hearing him say this, Lin Quan's gaze became even more bewildered, and he retracted his hostility towards Fang Nan. This was good, as it meant that next time he secretly observed Fang Nan, he would not feel the unease of indulging in selfishness.

Lin Quan briefly explained the situation to them, then took them to the location he had chosen for a look. He instructed them to wait there tomorrow morning, distributed the work uniforms for the eight major bowls, and asked them to submit their identification cards: "If you do well here, I will recommend you to work at the restaurant. Of course, the pay may not be as high as here, but it will still be eight hundred yuan a month."

Lin Quan pointed at her and asked the mouse: "Where did she find it?"

I want to get to know you, does it really come down to Guo Zi taking the initiative? Lin Quan stared at the girl for a couple more glances, as if there was something vaguely familiar about her.

Guo Baolin introduced Fang Nan to Zhao Jing, and the young girl displayed a look of caution on her face. Guo Baolin boasted about everything from their arrival by train to what they had been doing that morning, of course attributing all the brilliant ideas to his own flashes of inspiration. He also portrayed Lin Quan as a lecherous person, suggesting that he had ulterior motives when he extended a helping hand to Fang Nan under the guise of propriety.

I see you are experienced and have changed your tastes. However, I have never seen a girl who, after being dumped once, still clings on like this. I feel uneasy for Guo Baolin; Zhao Jing may be small in stature, but she is quite predatory. Lin Quan thought about how Guo Baolin had given everything to Zhao Jing, leaving only a skeleton behind, and a chill ran down his spine, making him shiver involuntarily

The azure sky, devoid of a single light cloud, is scorched by the blazing sun. The road from the residential area to the Eight Great Bowls restaurant has been newly paved, and the trees on either side appear even more frail than the forest and springs, with no substantial shade. Fang Nan cannot withstand the sun's rays; while riding towards the sun, he unconsciously moves closer to Lin Quan, seeking refuge in his shadow.

The girl is not tall, only reaching Guo Baolin's shoulders. She has her hair tied in a ponytail and is wearing a light yellow sari tank top. Her skin is not as fair and delicate as Fang Nan's, but it is still quite refined. Her exposed shoulders resemble exquisite porcelain, and her chest is not very large, perfectly complementing her graceful features. A glimpse of her slender waist is visible, and she is wearing light-colored shorts that reveal her long and graceful calves.

The two of them had nearly finished a box of cigarettes by the time the sun was setting, casting a huge shadow from the waiting room over the pedestrians, making it impossible to distinguish the bustling dust within the shadow with the naked eye. Lin Quan stood up, kicked his numb leg, and caught a glimpse of Zhang Yifei standing behind a tree in the distance. Upon noticing his gaze, she hurriedly turned away, with a dark green travel bag at her feet.

Fang Nan was changing clothes inside the room, while Lin Quan stood at the door. The wrinkled curtains, seemingly a bit short, could not completely block the view from outside. Leaning against the wall, Lin Quan turned his head and squinted, unable to resist peeking through the gap. Fang Nan was already on guard, avoiding the opening; as she took off her clothes, her body pressed against the curtain, casting a voluptuous silhouette that stirred the imagination.

Zhao Jing's eyes lit up upon hearing their discussion about the sale of cantaloupes, and she exclaimed that she wanted to get involved. Taking advantage of the moment when she was speaking with Fang Nan, Lin Quan pulled Guo Baolin aside and asked him, "What is going on?"

After you left, she got out of her father's car, and she looked like a different person. I was also taken aback. You know I can't resist the allure of innocent girls, and before I knew it, I had gone back on my word.

Lin Quan glanced at Fang Nan, her face slightly flushed, also thinking about what those two shameless individuals were doing in the bamboo forest

Lin Quan chuckled softly, not responding, as he helped her lock the door and pushed the cart to the courtyard gate. At this moment, Fang Nan had forgotten the earlier awkwardness, sitting down and gripping the support under the seat cushion, keeping her distance from him, likely aware that his youthful, restless heart could no longer withstand her teasing.

How much is it per month here? The young girl handed over her ID card, feeling somewhat uneasy, her voice soft and a bit fearful

It was almost time to meet the mouse, and seeing the sun blazing outside, Lin Quan had no choice but to stuff the four sets of waitstaff uniforms into the basket and ride out. Guo Baolin also disguised his family's pickup truck, as usual, by spraying paint over the emblem. This kind of thing was often overlooked; Guo Dequan either did not open his eyes to look or no one reminded him, but he most likely noticed.

Let the mouse help us walk, selling a piece of melon for one dime

Lin Quan was contemplating whether to turn back and chat with the mouse for another two hours before coming over, when Fang Nan's sharp gaze had already caught sight of his figure moving through the gap in the cardboard: "Xiao San'er, why did you just arrive? We have all been busy for a while now"

Hearing the voices of Lin Quan and Fang Nan, Guo Baolin emerged from the bamboo grove, where the sound of rustling continued. Lin Quan looked in surprise at the end of the corridor, where a graceful girl with a delicate appearance followed closely, emerging from the bamboo grove. She lowered her head to check her attire, seemingly worried that some part of her clothing was not properly arranged.