'She went home. Sigh, if only she knew... skipping one meal with me means she misses out on saving 9,600!'
He knew her father was a migrant worker who was rarely home, so she would of course want to go back and spend time with him. He sent her a text: "Since you're going home, buy some cigarettes and liquor. I'll cover it!"
She replied, "I already bought them. Why would I let you pay for something I'm getting for my dad?"
"It's just a small gesture. It'll be late by the time you finish dinner, so let me come pick you up. I have a car, so it's no trouble!"
"No need, I'll just grab a cab. You should get some rest!"
She was a very independent person. She avoided troubling others if she could help it, and "others" meant absolutely everyone.
"That won't do. It's not safe for you to be out alone at night!"
"Mister, I've been getting by on my own like this for eight years. Why is it suddenly not safe?"
"I couldn't do anything about it before, but not anymore!"
In the end, he couldn't win her over, so he conceded, "Fine. But before you get in the cab, send me a picture of the license plate!"
"Fine, fine! Geez, you're such a handful!"
'Looks like I need to get her a car, and soon,' he thought. 'Otherwise, it's not safe for her to come back late at night every time she visits. After all, her brother's place is in the suburbs.'
Zhao Xiangjun's brother lived in Happiness Garden, a resettlement community in the suburbs. Her brother had a lazy attitude toward work, preferring to spend his time drinking and playing mahjong.
His wife, her sister-in-law, worked for the community's property management office and didn't make much. Fortunately, they owned their apartment and had no mortgage. Even so, money was tight. Every month, Zhao Xiangjun would give them 5,000 yuan, disguised as living expenses for her parents. If she didn't, they wouldn't even have enough for baby formula.
Her brother's family lived in a three-bedroom apartment with two kids. No wonder when Chen Xiao had asked where she slept when visiting, she had joked about plastering herself to the wall.
In their younger years, her parents had fought almost daily. Now that they were older, her father's temper had mellowed somewhat. Combined with him working away from home for most of the year and only returning for short visits, the family atmosphere was much better.
Perhaps the old couple felt guilty for not providing a good home environment for Zhao Xiangjun when she was a child. As a result, they doted on her. Of course, this "doting" was mostly just not meddling in her life and generally respecting her opinions. When it came to money and assets, however, everything was for their son.
Dinner was a rather lavish affair. The family gathered together, and on the surface, everything seemed happy and harmonious.
Zhao Xiangjun had a cool and distant personality and wasn't one for idle chatter. However, she was wonderful with innocent little children, so whenever she returned, her nephew and niece would always gather around her.
But just because she was quiet didn't mean the conversation would avoid her, especially since she was already twenty-five.
"Xiangjun," her father began, "your brother has a point. You should at least meet him. You're twenty-five now; it's time to start a family!"
She put down her bowl and chopsticks. "Why do I have to start a family? I'm perfectly fine on my own!"
"Dad, Mom, see? She's like this every single time!" her brother exclaimed. "The family of Wang Hao, the guy I want to introduce her to this time, is incredibly wealthy. Wouldn't it be great for her to marry him and live a life of ease and comfort?"
"Plus, Wang Hao's family lives nearby. We could all help each other out!"
Her parents said nothing, but they looked at Zhao Xiangjun with hopeful eyes, clearly agreeing with her brother.
"What do I need money for? Why do I need a 'life of ease and comfort'? A person's life isn't that long. Why shouldn't I just make myself happy instead of chasing after things I don't even like?"
"What you're chasing? What you like? You like locking yourself in your room, not even stepping out for a week! What's the point of a life like that!"
Zhao Xiangjun said, "It's my life, and I have the right to choose how I live it. Please don't worry about me, thank you!"
"See? This is her attitude every time!" Her brother, furious, slammed his chopsticks down on the table with a sharp CLACK, startling the two-year-old little girl, who immediately started wailing.
She took the opportunity to comfort her little niece, leaving the dinner table and moving to the living room sofa.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Her brother quickly got up to answer it.
"Uncle?" he said, surprised.
"Ah Hui," the man said, "I heard my brother-in-law was back, so I thought I'd drop by."
Zhao Xiangjun's brother's name was Zhao Hui. Her uncle lived in the same building, and she stood up to greet him as well.
The moment her uncle saw her, his eyes lit up. "I knew it! If my brother-in-law is back, Xiangjun must be back too!"
At this, Zhao Xiangjun's parents invited the uncle to sit. They had barely exchanged a few words before the uncle turned the topic to Zhao Xiangjun.
"Xiangjun, my dear, it's been ages since your uncle went shopping. When will you have time to take me out?"
A wave of helplessness washed over Zhao Xiangjun. She knew her uncle asking her to go shopping with him was a pretense. What he really wanted was for her to buy him new clothes.
Whenever he decided he needed new clothes, he would ask her. Being generous, Zhao Xiangjun never disappointed him. Over time, it had become an expectation.
'What made her feel so helpless was the fact that her uncle had two sons of his own. Why are you constantly bothering your niece for this stuff instead of asking your own sons?!'
'She was generous, yes, but her monthly income was finite. She was already supporting multiple family members; even if she didn't spend a single yuan on herself, it still wouldn't be enough.'
But now that her uncle had brought it up, she felt she couldn't refuse. "Uncle, I work in the city," she said. "If you have time, come by Wansheng Mall, and I'll go around with you on my break."
Her parents looked worried too. To be honest, they always dreaded her uncle finding out that Zhao Xiangjun was back, because this would inevitably happen every time they met.
Her uncle was ecstatic. He insisted on chugging the rest of the liquor from the decanter with his brother-in-law.
Zhao Xiangjun frowned at the sight and stood up. "Uncle, you can drink, but don't binge. If you're going to act like this, I'm putting the liquor away!"
"Oh, okay, okay! We'll listen to Xiangjun."
Just then, the knock came again. This time, her brother was lightning-fast, rushing to the door in a few quick strides to pull it open.
"Ah, President Wang! Wang Hao! Come in, come in, please!"
Everyone in the room was stunned for a moment. But since they had guests, they all stood up to be welcoming. The only one who didn't move was Zhao Xiangjun, who remained silent as an angry expression spread across her face.
She had a fiercely independent spirit; no one could force her to do anything she didn't want to. She was a woman of principle and strong opinions, one who would never compromise on matters of importance.
Of the two men who entered, the one in the lead was middle-aged, around fifty. He had a crew cut, a broad face, and a prominent potbelly. He walked with a splay-footed swagger, every inch the picture of a successful and wealthy man.
The young man trailing him appeared to be under thirty. Dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, he was strikingly handsome, but the slight, permanent curl of his lips betrayed a hint of arrogance.
"Mom, Dad, this is President Wang I was just talking about, a huge construction boss. And this is his son, Wang Hao, President Wang Jr. — very young and successful!"
Zhao Xiangjun's parents and her uncle scrambled to greet their guests. Noticing his sister hadn't moved, Zhao Hui called out, "Xiangjun, come over here. This is Wang Hao!"
As he said Wang Hao's name, Zhao Hui turned to look at him, only to find that Wang Hao's eyes were locked onto Zhao Xiangjun, as if glued to her, unable to look away.