Chapter 15: Laying the Cards on the Table
Before going to bed, Xiong Yaqian sent him a message as usual.
These past few days, her initiative had been completely different from before. She would casually send "good night," "good morning," and sometimes even say "can't sleep" in the middle of the night.
It was obvious that she was quite eager to push things forward.
According to the usual pace of blind dates, if things developed steadily like this until the end of the year, both sides' parents would probably have already met.
But…
Zhang Yang didn't have such noble awareness. He was just an ordinary person. If he were still that useless office worker with nothing going for him, and a girl like this was being so proactive, he would naturally be delighted.
But now…
Call it arrogance or whatever, but with his current income of twenty thousand a day, plus the limitless possibilities ahead, was he really ready to steadily continue developing a relationship step by step with a girl like this?
To be honest, his willingness wasn't very strong.
But he also didn't want to string someone along and toy with their feelings.
"Better not reply for now." Zhang Yang gave up on replying and planned to give it the cold treatment for a couple of days. If that still didn't work, he would just speak plainly and make things clear.
That night, he really didn't reply.
~~~~~
Early the next morning, Zhang Yang set off to inspect the new apartment in person.
"Sir, our apartment comes fully furnished with high-end decoration. We provide a large-capacity refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, oven, a full set of cookware and tableware. Public facilities include a gym, an independent outdoor garden, a private clubhouse, an audio-visual room, a lobby lounge, an underground garage, and 24-hour concierge service…"
Inside this serviced apartment right next to Zhongshan Park, a staff member showed Zhang Yang around the model unit.
This one was a 93-square-meter (~1,000 sq ft) one-bedroom apartment, with a monthly rent of over twenty thousand, and the minimum lease was six months.
As for the quality, it went without saying. Every detail had been refined to the extreme. After all, the target residents were not ordinary office workers.
Zhang Yang stood on the balcony. Not far away, he could overlook the lush Zhongshan Park. He preferred quiet to noise, and had always felt that if you were going to live somewhere, it should actually feel like living there. There was no need to insist on choosing the most bustling commercial center.
This place balanced liveliness and tranquility, making it very suitable for living.
"I'll take it then. Let's sign the contract." Zhang Yang decided decisively.
After all, he wasn't buying a house. His daily cashback alone was enough to pay a month's rent now, so there was nothing to hesitate about.
"This way please." The staff member said with a smile.
That afternoon, Zhang Yang finalized the serviced apartment next to Zhongshan Park and rented it for six months first.
"In six months, how far can I grow?" On the way back while driving the Cayenne, Zhang Yang looked at the towering skyscrapers outside the window and couldn't help but feel filled with anticipation.
Perhaps by that time, he would already have a home of his own in Shanghai.
In the afternoon, back at his old apartment, Zhang Yang carefully packed up his belongings.
Actually, after several years in Shanghai, he didn't have many personal items. After all, these past two years had basically been nothing but work.
A no-brand refrigerator, a Midea electric fan, old clothes…
He had always been used to being frugal, so he was reluctant to throw things away. He called a recycling service for old items and packed up the clothes he would never wear again, placing them into the recycling bin downstairs.
Returning to the now empty apartment.
Zhang Yang suddenly felt as if he had never left any trace on this land of Shanghai, as if he had never even come here.
"Fortunately, I'm no longer the same person I used to be." Zhang Yang felt deeply relieved.
He opened the window, letting the cool evening air flood into the room. As he looked ahead to the days to come, he suddenly felt that life was only now truly opening a new chapter.
Checking the time, Zhang Yang sent a message to Xiang Youde.
"Off work yet?"
"My back is sore and my whole body aches… I'm exhausted…" Xiang Youde complained endlessly. He had already used up his annual leave and had no vacation left.
"Come over to my apartment and have a meal. Let's eat something good." Zhang Yang invited him.
The refrigerator was full of good stuff bought from Sam's Club. He couldn't just throw it away. It was perfect to have a good dinner with Xiang Youde tonight, and the rest could be taken away by him.
Since he was moving into a new apartment, everything should start fresh.
"I'll be right there. Want to drink a little?" Xiang Youde immediately got excited upon hearing that.
"Drink?" Zhang Yang murmured to himself. His long-term discipline had almost made him forget what alcohol tasted like. But what was the purpose of self-discipline? After going around in circles, wasn't it ultimately to enjoy life better?
"Bring a bottle!"
Later that evening, the apartment door was half open.
Inside the empty dorm, a square table held a hot pot and grill combo. Around the pot were cherries, marbled beef, beef ribs, various vegetables, and a bottle of alcohol.
Xiang Youde ate a sweet and sour cherry, then another one. Both cheeks bulged out.
"This is so damn good." He drooled happily. "By the way, Zhang Yang, are you planning to…?"
He had thought Zhang Yang was preparing to go back to his hometown.
"Not that serious. Just moving." Zhang Yang placed two steaks on the pan and took a small sip of alcohol.
He hadn't drunk for a long time. The spiciness hit his head in a single gulp.
"Man, you scared me. I thought you were about to change jobs or something." Xiang Youde let out a long breath of relief. He impatiently grabbed a piece of meat from the hot pot, immediately burning his mouth and letting out a yelp.
Their glasses were filled as they ate and drank, chatting about everything.
They talked about their first days in Shanghai, their first day at work, life, dreams, and even looked ahead to the future.
After a while, both of them were slightly drunk.
"When are you planning to go back to your hometown to develop your career?" Zhang Yang asked casually. He had heard Xiang Youde mention that he would return home in a couple of years.
"At the very least… I guess I have to wait…" Xiang Youde's eyes turned slightly confused. "Until I finish paying off my mortgage and find a wife, I suppose. What about you?"
"Me?" Zhang Yang laughed. Could he say that he was planning to find a way to settle down in Shanghai?
He hesitated for a moment, but Xiang Youde burst into laughter, leaning forward and back as if he had seen through Zhang Yang's thoughts.
"Come on… Zhang Yang. We've been out of college for years and working for years already. Still this naive? You think you can really settle down and stay in Shanghai?"
"Maybe. What if it works?" Zhang Yang said noncommittally.
"What 'what if'? That's not something you can talk into reality. For working stiffs like us who can already see what the next ten years will look like, where are all these possibilities supposed to come from? Unless you win the lottery…" Xiang Youde said while stuffing meat into his mouth.
Zhang Yang didn't continue the topic. Looking at Xiang Youde devouring food as if he hadn't eaten meat for a month, he got up and took everything out of the refrigerator.
"You can take all this with you later."
"No need, no need. You're just moving to a new place, not going back to your hometown. All this stuff costs quite a bit to buy." Xiang Youde shook his head.
"You don't want it? Fine then. If you don't want it, I'll give it to someone else." Zhang Yang muttered to himself. "I remember there are a few girls sharing an apartment on this floor. I'll ask them later if they want it."
"Hey, don't!" Xiang Youde immediately looked up. "What's the point of giving it to girls? You're moving away anyway. You expect them to remember your kindness? Giving it to me is different. We're brothers in hardship, comrades in the same trench. You definitely won't lose out giving it to me! I could even call you my sworn-"
Xiang Youde kept rambling nonstop.
At Zhang Yang's side, his blind date Xiong Yaqian suddenly sent a string of question marks.
"What's going on? Why aren't you replying?"