Chapter 3

Ye Meng casually ordered a Long Island Iced Tea and closed the menu: "What time is he coming?"

"I’m just teasing you," Li Jinyu coaxed and deceived, leaning against her, holding the last piece of candy in his hand and urging her to come over and bite it. "This is the last one; remember to brush your teeth after eating it, or I’ll have to pull out a few of your remaining teeth tomorrow."

Jiang Luzhi was puzzled; this man had no money and no status, yet there was an air about him that demanded respect and was not to be infringed upon. Feeling indignant, she asked him, "Why? In this wretched place, can you find someone with better conditions than me?"

Jiang Luzhi did not know what he was trying to achieve, and if one were unaware, they might think he was some privileged young heir acting with false humility. Jiang Luzhi said, "You wouldn't want your grandmother to keep searching for girls for you to meet, would you? The elderly tend to become anxious as they age. Let's give it a try first, and if it doesn't work out, we can discuss it further."

"Good," the little girl said in astonishment, unable to help but sincerely praise him, "Brother, you are the richest person I have ever seen, with candy in all four pockets, while I don't even have a pocket." She also patted the empty spaces on both sides of her waist.

"Don't you think it's a bit unusual for you to handle this matter in such a way?" Fang Ya'en understood Ye Meng's character; she would go to great lengths for her friends but would not waste such time on strangers. "You are deliberately trying to make him uncomfortable"

The youth grows freely, and thus he possesses infinite possibilities

After Ye Meng left, Li Jingyu leaned against the stone pillar of the hospital building after settling the fees, gazing up at the night scenery with a sense of boredom. He casually unwrapped a piece of milk candy, chewing it absentmindedly while carelessly reflecting on how nice it was to be a nobody.

The waiter approached with the menu and greeted her warmly

"Your teeth are all gone, and you still want to eat candy. Doesn't your mother hit you?" He said with a smirk, his tone sharp and cutting.

"The essence lies in this," Ye Meng said solemnly, shaking his head. "When you receive an income that is disproportionate to your efforts, it can lead to anxiety. Within a year, you will quickly fall into depression and anxiety because you have no idea how long you can endure such a life. However, if you were to receive a salary that corresponds to your efforts, the amount you would earn while being disengaged for a month would not be worth the time wasted; you might as well pack up and go home. Guo Kai simply wants to see how good my mindset can be. He wants to see me lose my temper and then hopes I will go back to doing nothing, becoming his sycophant. But there’s nothing I can do; my only virtue is that I have an exceptionally good mindset."

Today is truly miraculous and strange, crabs, candy... Is he Santa Claus? Is there no end to this?

The little girl is quite clever; with a single glance, she sees through it and confidently says, "You're lying, there must be none at all. I clearly saw you take the candy out of your pocket just now"

After a hasty end to their date due to a lack of rapport, Jiang Luzhi clearly looked down on him and even deleted him from her WeChat. Li Jinyu was initially unaware of this; that night, when the elderly lady took his phone, it was uncertain whether it was intentional or just a careless mistake. He was caught off guard and had no time to stop it, inadvertently sending an emoji to Jiang Luzhi, which resulted in a sudden friend request notification appearing on his screen. It was then that he realized he had been deleted.

Indeed, let him pay you your salary; you can just be passive and neglect your work every day.

"Alright, then I shall take my leave, goodbye, Hell's Messenger!" The little girl said her farewell with composure, then suddenly made a grimace at her face with both hands, turned around, and stumbled away.

Because I found that after I resigned, the company's legal team was also replaced, and the new legal team is Chengran Law Firm led by Jiang Luzhi said Ye Meng

"Oh! Little Yu, you are here!" The waiter looked puzzled with wide eyes.

Li Jinyu felt a gentle tug on the hem of his clothing. He slightly furrowed his brows and glanced with his peripheral vision. It was a little girl as thin as a small bean, not even reaching the height of his thigh, with a pitiful gap where her front teeth should be, eagerly asking him if he had any candy left.

"Are you looking to get some candy from me?" Li Jinyu said meaningfully as he glanced at her, putting his hands back into his pockets and speaking as if to an ordinary friend, "It depends on my mood; I might have it every day."

Ye Meng rarely quibbles with others, but when it comes to finding a boyfriend, she absolutely cannot have anything to do with Jiang Luzhi. Otherwise, with Jiang Luzhi's overbearing nature, she would undoubtedly step on her and boast about it for a lifetime. In that case, she would rather die

"Fang Ya'en, don't be perverse," Ye Meng warned her seriously, "Not only is Xiao Pang not to my taste, even if he grew up to look like his brother, just the fact that his brother is Jiang Luzhi's boyfriend makes me pass on him and everyone around him, it's simply not a consideration."

"Gathering gems," Fang Ya'en poked her head out from under the blanket, "Are you going to smash the venue?"

Ye Meng turned around and saw a tall figure walking in through the door, carrying a large black guitar bag on his back. The local dog at the entrance, marked with a number 2 tag, was scratching at his leg

The little girl was taken aback, not expecting this brother to be so handsome, his words were too sharp, and she opened her mouth to cry

I have candy in all four of my pockets, and I will show you later

Ye Meng had not paid attention at first, but upon her reminder, she recalled that whenever she came, Li Jinyu would definitely stand up and leave within two minutes. "Are you blaming me for meddling?" Ye Meng locked her phone and placed it on the cabinet beside her, then looked up to meet her gaze directly

J: I heard that my sister got married

"In my view, being cold is narcissism; someone like Little Fatty is truly an angel."

The little girl, unafraid of threats, contentedly chewed on her candy and began to feign casualness in her approach: "Which ward do you live in? Can I come play with you? I think you are really cool, dressed all in black, just like the cool grim reaper in a Korean drama"

Beside her, there was a mutt with a tag labeled 2, panting and looking at her with a cheerful grin.

In the dimly lit hospital room, the voices of the two were as low as the buzzing of mosquitoes, yet Fang Ya'en discerned that there was more to her words than met the ear

Fang Ya'en is aware that this is likely due to the fact that the Jiang family and the Ye family hold similar status in the town, both having experienced glory and decline. However, in recent years, while the Jiang family has been thriving, the Ye family has shown no signs of improvement aside from rampant gossip.

Li Jingyu laughed uncontrollably, what a devilish messenger of hell

However, Li Jingyu has never had the habit of deleting people from WeChat, nor has he ever removed anyone from his contacts

Before 9 o'clock, there were almost no customers, so when Ye Meng appeared at the Gem Bar at 6 o'clock, the surrounding staff found it quite strange that there were actually people queuing so early at this little shabby bar

Ye Meng stated plainly: "I am looking for Li Jinyu"

Do you suspect that she is plotting against you behind your back

Fang Ya'en once again lamented how the wealthy are simply idle, sighing, "But this matter has nothing to do with Li Jinyu; you shouldn't take your anger out on him. You've made it so that he doesn't even want to see you now"

Finally, he agreed, "Alright"

The townspeople often love to compare Ye Meng with Jiang Luzhi, saying that the Jiang family is about to turn the tide due to Jiang Luzhi, while the Ye family is shrouded in dark clouds, with no one daring to touch them

At this moment, the chubby boy was pushing the old lady for a walk, and Fang Ya'en maliciously encouraged her, "Hey, are you interested in nurturing? This chubby boy has a really nice personality." In fact, the chubby boy had quite delicate features and looked handsome; if he lost some weight, he would definitely be a handsome guy. Having such a handsome cousin, it can be assumed that the genes are not too bad.

The night sky hangs high, with stars that are hard to conceal, some bright and some dim, emitting a serene and tranquil light. The rounded mountain peaks are shrouded in a thin layer of mist, and in the distance, one can faintly hear the weak chirping of cicadas.

Recently, Ye Meng has been going to the hospital frequently, as Fang Ya'en's husband is still away on a business trip, and she has been urgently appointed as a temporary caregiver. The caregiver has become like a brother to the chubby boy in the adjacent bed, and the two occasionally team up to play games together. Although the chubby boy is not very skilled, Ye Meng has no resistance to such a well-behaved person, and even when playing ranked matches with friends, she is willing to take him along to let him win easily.

After the two confirmed their relationship, Jiang Luzhi did not take a moment's rest and went straight back to Beijing. Aside from a few occasional phone calls in between, he has not returned even once. How did he suddenly become the third party?

Fang Ya'en understands very well. So that night when Li Jingyu went downstairs to extend the hospital stay, Fang Ya'en had a premonition that Ye Meng would follow him out, and sure enough, within a few seconds, she closely followed. It was clearly intentional. Ye Meng has no other merits; since childhood, she has been hard-hearted. Despite her seemingly carefree demeanor and her lack of shame with anyone, even if a fox pretends to be a cat for a few years, its nature is hard to change. Even Fang Ya'en's friends from back in the day said that this girl is definitely someone who can achieve great things. If it weren't for her intervention, the two would have sworn brotherhood on the spot.

I will go show my support, even though he said he is trash, and although I am not a good person either. But I still need to apologize for my recklessness

"Do wealthy people all have a bit of..." Fang Ya'en found it hard to believe that there are actually bosses who complain about their employees working too hard

The two individuals were by the small river, with a vast and tranquil starry sky overhead, resembling a giant curtain of silence enveloping them. Behind them flowed the slowly meandering river, its bottom covered with a thin layer of smooth, rounded pebbles, while the air was filled with the incessant croaking of frogs. Jiang Luzhi could hardly believe that in such a small, dilapidated county town, where even KFC could not establish a presence, there was a man who would reject her, a flower of the high ridge that others would not even dare to imagine.

Thanks to his mother, he has a natural fear of women older than him, except for the elderly lady. Ironically, because of the elderly lady, he is quite skilled at charming grandmothers from the previous generation.

Li Jinyu was lazily leaning against Jiang Luzhi's car door, chewing on a large White Rabbit milk candy with a nonchalant expression, truly treating himself like a scoundrel. He said, "Dating is fine, but marriage is out of the question. I won't go to Beijing, and you are unwilling to stay here, so are we supposed to have a long-distance marriage? You are not afraid of me finding someone else, but I am afraid I cannot control myself. After all, I have no moral bottom line."

Ye Meng then said, "So, can you guess why Gou Kai agreed to Jiang Luzhi pushing me out?"

"You have been pampered by others since childhood, and when you encounter someone who ignores you, you label them as narcissistic," Fang Ya'en leaned back, too lazy to engage with her any further, "You might as well go back to your little chubby friend."

When Ye Meng called to inquire, the staff said that it was necessary to take a number and wait in line to enter

Fang Ya'en questioned, "Is it just because he is Jiang Luzhi's boyfriend"

He is scheduled to perform at 8:30, and is expected to arrive for rehearsal at 7:00

God knows how much I wish I could lie down every day and receive money without having to do anything

Ye Meng calmly reached for the phone beside her, casually flipped through a few photos, and tossed the phone onto the bed for her to see—these were pictures of Jiang Luzhi and her new partner. With a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes, she said, "Be more confident, eliminate the doubts"

"Why?" Fang Ya'en, puzzled like a monk who cannot grasp the situation, had no idea.

What is its use

Unexpectedly, a week later, Jiang Luzhi took the initiative to add him back on WeChat, and immediately rushed back from Beijing, directly asking him whether he would be willing to marry her.

I admit that I have not had good intentions; I have been this way since childhood. Ye Meng said candidly, with an expression that seemed to convey, 'I have always been heartless and ungrateful; do you have some misunderstanding about me?'

The operating hours of the town's bar are generally from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM

Calculating, Jiang Luzhi is two years older than Li Jinyu. She is considered attractive, but she is not the first sister to take the initiative to pursue him. In the past, Li Jinyu would generally not consider a relationship with an older woman.

Li Jinyu crouched down to let it lick his hand, and that face was far from cold and indifferent. The bright and open youthfulness was captivating, even in an ordinary sports sweatshirt. The long neck accentuated the clear and distinct collarbone lines. Ye Meng noticed the faint scar at his Adam's apple, which from a distance resembled a freshly planted kiss mark, casual and unrestrained

Guess what, and if you get it right, I will give it to you

"He is now my ex-boyfriend." Fang Ya'en took a bite of the apple and suddenly reminded.

Fang Ya'en raised an eyebrow, chewing on an apple and pointing her chin slightly towards the next table, fortunately, the person was not there. "Who else could it be? Haven't you noticed that he has been avoiding you lately?"

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from beside, "Brother."

Li Jinyu turned his head to watch her disappear down the corridor, then casually sat on the third step at the entrance with his legs spread out, his long legs resting directly on the last step. He took out the so-called candy that was supposedly no longer available from his pocket, slowly unwrapped the candy wrapper, and half-bit it in his mouth, exuding a nonchalant air of indecision. He then called Jiang Luzhi. No one answered, and he was too lazy to call again, so he hung up without hesitation, succinctly sent two messages on WeChat, and then kicked his phone back into his pocket, continuing to chew on his candy while enjoying the night view.

As evening approached, the hospital room was dim, and Fang Ya'en was dozing off in a daze when she suddenly heard Ye Meng ask, "Which bar did Xiao Pang say he was singing at?"

"Do you want me to peel it for you?" Li Jinyu asked lazily

Ye Meng suddenly recalled what Gou Kai had said

"Jiang Luzhi, that dog thing, really..." Fang Ya'en exclaimed with a curse

Gou Kai had a wealthy second-generation friend who suffered from depression and attempted suicide, leading to his withdrawal from university in his third year. Since then, Gou Kai has had almost no friends. When I met him, he had just resigned from a newspaper, feeling utterly disheartened. Gou Kai extended an olive branch to me; at that time, I knew nothing and was aware of my own inadequacies, feeling too lazy to learn and having no desire to make an effort, merely going through the motions. Under such circumstances, I should have been dismissed within three days, but Gou Kai did not do so. Instead, he told me to maintain this state of passive disengagement and absolutely not to strive, as he had a friend who was excessively diligent, pursuing excellence and refinement to an extreme, which caused Gou Kai to live in anxiety from being compared to his friends since childhood. Seeing me, he found it very healing. He said that if his friend had met me earlier, perhaps he would not have committed suicide due to depression, nor would he have dropped out. He might have become an excellent journalist, news professional, translator, or diplomat, among other possibilities

Li Jinyu finds dating to be a struggle, so how can one talk about marriage? Therefore, she declines at this moment

Are you not owing me an explanation?

Ye Meng continued to narrate: "But later, I changed as well. I wanted to establish myself in Beijing, began to work overtime frantically, and kept a pair of high heels in my bag, always ready to meet clients. I wished I could split the twenty-four hours of a day into forty-eight hours to use. Gou Kai felt that I was no different from those who had migrated to Beijing. He said I had already been assimilated, so I might as well find someone who graduated from a prestigious university; why choose me from a second-rate university? He was not lacking in talent."

Jiang Luzhi is someone who believes that every endeavor must yield a return; there must be a reward for every effort. She even mentioned that dating is acceptable, as she cannot afford to come here for nothing. Do you know how much I earn in an hour? At that moment, Li Jinyu wanted to say, "Was it me who called you here?" However, this time he did not directly refuse. Instead, he relaxed his posture against the car and curiously stared at her for a few seconds, pondering something.

Fang Ya'en was quite incredulous, "Are you criticizing or praising me at this moment?"

"Well... I guess it's over here." The little girl pointed doubtfully at his left hand. Indeed, there was something there, and she happily revealed her gap-toothed smile again. Li Jinyu clicked his tongue twice, thinking that the child was truly ugly

Ye Meng lowered his head to browse the headhunting website, and upon hearing this, he was momentarily taken aback. His fingers swiftly scrolled through several job postings as he absentmindedly replied, "That was quick, who suggested it?"

Li Jinyu turned sideways, leaning his back against the stone pillar. He pretended to reach into his pants pocket with both hands, then clenched his fists and held them out in front of the little girl for her to choose.

Why do you always think he is narcissistic? I think he is just a bit aloof, not narcissistic at all

Li Jingyu's appearance cannot be considered exceptionally handsome, merely the kind that would attract a few glances in a crowd. However, he possesses a unique charm; despite never having had a girlfriend, his eyes reveal a delicate and affectionate nature, and when he speaks, he carries himself like a seasoned veteran in the realm of romance. She feels that there is a hook in this man's eyes

"Little Island Brother has not arrived yet, would you like something to drink?" the waiter explained with a smile, "He usually is still at home sleeping at this time."

Li Jinyu and Jiang Luzhi have only met twice. The first time was through an introduction, where they briefly met in a café and quickly sensed that there was little chemistry between them. Jiang Luzhi was adamant about making a name for herself in Beijing, her words filled with longing for the big city. However, what Jiang Luzhi desired were things that Li Jinyu had easily obtained since childhood, and he had long grown weary of that city.

Therefore, Li Jinyu truly did not know about this matter. If it were not for the old lady insisting on playing matchmaker, he would not have wanted to find a girlfriend. He had never sought one in the past and did not plan to in the future. Although his psychologist had suggested many years ago that he could try to engage in a romantic relationship to improve his interpersonal relationships, it was also a way to alleviate his condition.

What do you need to drink

At least he is doing well now; as long as he does not have to see his extremely perfectionist mother, he is much better off than before, even though in the eyes of many, he is just a worthless person working three jobs a day

The gathering of gems is located on the farthest hillside from the town, in a tranquil environment surrounded by lush greenery. In the center stands a small stone house, radiating a brilliant light from all directions. The surroundings are filled with vibrant colors, subtly filtering through the gaps in the trees, creating an exceptionally serene atmosphere that resembles a quiet bar rather than a lively pub.

Alright, Ye Meng drove at full speed and is now standing alone at the entrance with No. 1 in hand

"I know," she leaned back and sighed as well, "I originally wanted to ask indirectly, but his narcissistic demeanor was just too infuriating, so I couldn't help but directly pop this little balloon. I've been wanting to find an opportunity to apologize to him these past few days, but unexpectedly, he has been avoiding me."