By the afternoon, everyone had mostly finished their discussions.

Kang Wei showed great interest in doing business in the Peng Cheng Special Zone. On the way back while driving Xia Xiaolan to the guesthouse, they continued their conversation.

Xia Xiaolan asked him about the situation with his work.

Kang Wei responded indifferently, “Neither good nor bad, just passing time.”

Xia Xiaolan found this extremely frustrating. So many people dreamed of working at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, but Kang Wei’s starting point was too high, which was why he looked down on such a leisurely position. While an idle job could wear down one’s ambition, anyone with drive could make even a modest position impressive. Surely Kang Wei’s family had some connections – why worry about not getting recognition?

Whether Kang Wei had tried and failed, or if his interests simply lay elsewhere, Xia Xiaolan didn’t press the matter.

“I want to establish a long-term business in Peng Cheng, but I’ll need to study in Beijing for the next four years. We can’t leave everything to Bai Zhenzhu. I’ll go to Peng Cheng during winter and summer breaks, but I’ll need you to keep an eye on things there regularly.”

During Xia Xiaolan’s three or four days in Beijing, she hadn’t seen Kang Wei go to work once, proving how relaxed his job truly was.

Since he had such free time, he might as well put in more effort elsewhere.

“Should I transfer my work to Peng Cheng?”

“Never mind… better keep your Beijing position for now. We’ll see how things go once the business is running.”

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications would become incredibly powerful in the future, so Xia Xiaolan didn’t dare plan Kang Wei’s career. What if in a few years, he wanted to make a name for himself at the Ministry? While transferring from Beijing to Peng Cheng Special Zone would be easy, moving back to Beijing might prove difficult.

Young people in their early twenties had many ideas – not just about plans, but even their personalities were often unstable.

Just as they were approaching the guesthouse, a motorcycle with a sidecar suddenly cut across their path, nearly blocking Kang Wei’s car.

“Damn! The road is so wide, are you blind?!”

Kang Wei slammed on the brakes and jumped out, only to find it was that rascal Shao Guangrong, grinning mischievously – he’d clearly cut them off intentionally.

Kang Wei wanted to give Shao Guangrong a beating.

Running into this jerk two days in a row – was Beijing really this small?

“Guangzi, are you looking for a fight?”

While Kang Wei was fuming, Shao Guangrong maintained his impish grin. “Hold on before you start throwing punches. Who’s in your car? I knew something was up with you – keeping your car close these past few days and returning so late, could it be…”

Shao Guangrong craned his neck to peer into the car.

Xia Xiaolan simply rolled down the window: “He’s driving me.”

Under the streetlight, Xia Xiaolan’s face could dispel the evening chill of March.

“So it’s Sister-in-law!”

Shao Guangrong perked up, “Kang Wei, you’re not being fair, not telling us Sister-in-law was in Beijing.”

Xia Xiaolan also got out of the car, “Tell what? I’m only here about renovating Kang Wei’s family’s house. I’ll be heading back in a couple of days.”

Shao Guangrong asked if Xia Xiaolan had visited Zhou Cheng. Though Shao Guangrong was older than Zhou Cheng, he called him Brother out of respect for Zhou Cheng’s “street status,” which naturally meant calling Xia Xiaolan Sister-in-law.

Xia Xiaolan’s preparation for the July college entrance exam was important, so Shao Guangrong kept his mouth shut this time. Zhou Yi and Tong Lili were always hanging around him, but as long as he didn’t drink with them, he could control his loose tongue while sober. He worried that Tong Lili might get excited and go find Xia Xiaolan, and he feared Zhou Cheng’s genuine anger.

“Yes, I just came back from his workplace.”

“Sister-in-law, you must let me treat you to a meal. Now that you’re in Beijing, we can’t let Kang Wei show off alone, right? Though I’m not as wealthy as Kang Wei, I can afford one meal. Pick any place in the city, and I guarantee I won’t disappoint!”

Shao Guangrong insisted on treating Xia Xiaolan to a meal, and she couldn’t refuse: “Haven’t you seen Zhou Cheng for a while too? If he can get time off the day after tomorrow, I’ll invite you to join us for a meal.”

Shao Guangrong was quite pleased.

Talking with Xia Xiaolan was refreshingly straightforward, with no pettiness.

“Sister-in-law, then it’s settled!”

Kang Wei seemed to have more to say, but since it was just a short walk to the guesthouse, Xia Xiaolan decided to walk back herself.

Shao Guangrong complained, “You didn’t even tell me when you went to see Zhou Cheng today, that’s not right!”

Kang Wei sneered, “I’ve seen you getting pretty close with Tong Lili and the others lately, how dare I notify you? Has Tong Lili bewitched you? She’s not even pretty, yet she dares to cause trouble.”

To be fair, Tong Lili wasn’t ugly.

Shao Guangrong cleverly didn’t argue, “You dislike Tong Lili that much?”

Come on, it’s not like there was any major grudge.

“Last time your big mouth spread Sister-in-law’s story everywhere, Zhou Yi immediately brought up Sister-in-law’s existence to Zhou’s family elders, catching Brother Cheng completely off guard. Aunt Guan grilled me for ages… Everyone knows Tong Lili likes Brother Cheng, and she’s best friends with Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi is trying to help Tong Lili.”

Kang Wei had heard clearly in the Zhou family living room – Guan Huie said dating was fine, but absolutely forbade Zhou Cheng from marrying Xia Xiaolan.

But could Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan be separated?

Never mind Zhou Cheng’s personality – from Kang Wei’s perspective, what man would willingly let go of Xia Xiaolan if she wanted to be with them? Just take today’s incident of sending a lamb to Zhou Cheng’s workplace – it was a bit high-profile, a bit willful, but mostly showed class.

Why could Xia Xiaolan be so bold? Would Tong Lili dare? No! Everything Tong Lili had was because her surname was “Tong,” while Xia Xiaolan could throw money around because she earned it herself – how could their confidence be the same?

Once Kang Wei explained, Shao Guangrong understood.

Asking him for information was one thing, but bringing it to the elders’ attention – wasn’t that just trying to force the family to break up the couple?

Shao Guangrong knew Zhou Cheng’s personality well and broke out in a cold sweat. Zhou Yi might speak nicely, and Tong Lili might seem open-minded, but who knew they could be so devious? There was no shame in pursuing a man – many girls liked Zhou Cheng, and everyone had the right to pursue someone they liked, even if that person was already in a relationship!

But using such tactics, trying to break up Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan to take her place?

No man would approve of that.

Such behavior was detestable regardless of gender. Winning someone over with your own merits was completely different from relying on family pressure to force a breakup!

“Damn, those two nasty women!”

Shao Guangrong thought about how he’d been running around like a fool at Zhou Yi and Tong Lili’s beck and call lately. He was cautious by nature, but these two women were so cunning that someone as pure and honest as him would eventually fall into their trap.

Shao Guangrong’s face fell, “I shouldn’t have gotten drunk that time. I shouldn’t have said anything. Where should I treat Sister-in-law to make up for it?”

Kang Wei laughed gleefully at his misfortune, “You’d need to scrape the flesh off your bones and make soup as an apology to show true sincerity. I remember you have a small one-room apartment outside – want to renovate it too? You remember Sister-in-law’s uncle, right? He’s specialized in this business now. My place has already started renovations. While Sister-in-law is still in Beijing, she could design yours too.”

Shao Guangrong usually lived at home and changed girlfriends quite frequently, so he’d requested a one-room apartment from his work unit and sometimes stayed there.

Renovation wasn’t a problem, but Shao Guangrong wasn’t as wealthy as Kang Wei.

He spent money as he earned it, with few sources of income. He’d just bought a motorcycle before the New Year, and now his pockets were practically empty – asking him to spend several thousand yuan was impossible.

Kang Wei despised him for being embarrassing, and Shao Guangrong felt ashamed too. To regain his lost dignity, he put his arm around Kang Wei’s shoulder:

“Brother, you cover the money for me first, and I’ll pay you back when I sell my motorcycle.”