Cui Bingbing laughed heartily without defending herself, letting Liu Jun drive her car while she directed him to a steakhouse she approved of. As Liu Jun devoured steak, she looked through the gifts he’d brought her. Liu Jun’s gift-giving attitude was outrageous—not one item seemed meant for a girl, all were food, with no sweets. But these foods were exactly what she missed desperately being away from home, showing Liu Jun’s careful observation of her.
“On my way here, I tried to book Jinjiang Inn, but several locations I wanted were all full. Are there any similar places near your home?”
Cui Bingbing asked curiously: “You take buses into the city and stay at budget chain hotels—brother, your current asset value is considerable, your cash flow is abundant, and your debt-to-asset ratio is zero. Are you hinting that I should restrain myself when making your New Year financial planning?”
“Hehe, I’m stingy. To tell the truth, I was more extravagant when I first returned to China than I am now. Now, if you go to the company and see which office has the lowest temperature, it’s mine. Thinking about how expensive factory electricity is makes my heart ache—I can’t bear to turn on the air conditioning. The more money I earn, the more I know how hard money come by. Some unnecessary luxuries, I just don’t pursue anymore.”
Cui Bingbing was shocked, immediately picturing individual business owners and small township enterprise bosses. Working at the bank, she dealt with all kinds of bosses and knew some big bosses were extremely frugal. She once knew a shipyard owner worth over a hundred million who never took anything but public buses when going out, mostly cycling, and the company’s best vehicle was a Golden Cup van because it could carry cargo with seats folded down and more people with seats up—excellent cost-performance ratio. That boss spoke haltingly and would be mistaken for a basic worker if thrown into a crowd of workers, only showing his prowess when settling accounts. But that image seemed completely incompatible with Liu Jun. “Truth or lie?” But she quickly grabbed Liu Jun’s left hand and said indignantly: “You changed watches—this Vacheron Constantin could pay for months at a five-star hotel. Please clean up your props before lying.”
“I’m not saying I don’t pursue any noble things—I just selectively don’t pursue unnecessary luxuries. Like this watch, since I’m fascinated by its craftsmanship level and think it’s beautiful as a fairy, I should buy it when I can, buy it to disassemble and study thoroughly, learning the principles completely. As for hotels, I can sleep anywhere as long as it’s clean and safe. Even the most high-end places have no constructive value—Jinjiang Inn is sufficient. My attitude about spending money is different from before. Previously, I’d plan out a whole year’s income early, earning as much as I’d spend. Now, when I see some inflated prices, I think about how much net profit from finished products this represents, and I can’t splurge anymore.”
“You’ve achieved enlightenment, benefactor. Tell me about your financial planning for the next two years.”
“My goal is to acquire three pieces of land. The quotes for these lands are all here—some can be paid in installments, some…”
“Absolutely no installments. With installment payments, you can’t get land certificates, and your type of company can’t get mortgage loans without land certificates.”
“Then this document is my work plan for the new year, 2003, and capital investment plan. Essential funding is marked in red. I’ve been like putting together a jigsaw puzzle—no matter how I arrange it, there’s always a funding gap. I can’t complete it, so I had to consult an expert.”
“Buy one less piece of land and you’d be much more comfortable. If you compress R&D funding, you’d be even more comfortable. The problem is you’d agree to compress anything except R&D investment. It seems some people still have faith and pursuits, unlike those who were poor since childhood and now pursue money tirelessly, seeing only copper coins, doing whatever makes money without any pursuits.”
“Did something upset you today?”
“I’ll have your financial planning ready within a week and express-mail it to you. Will that be too slow? If you need it urgently, I’ll rush it—I have many things piling up lately, including that deadly MBA semester thesis. There isn’t enough time.”
Liu Jun wished for a quick decision, getting the plan that very day, but he couldn’t pressure Cui Bingbing too much. Looking at her, getting it done in a week was already a huge favor. “Why don’t you take a rough look first and tell me if I can acquire all three pieces of land?” After Cui Bingbing nodded and said yes, Liu Jun changed the subject. “Problems at work? Rare to have a bandit friend here—why not talk about it?”
“Sigh, it’s contradictory. I was unfortunately noticed by classmate’s mother Lady Li before, and since then have been reduced to a follower and maid. Even my parents were called upon by Lady Li’s extended family to serve as family doctors, living so humbly. But this also granted me Li family status, allowing me to be assigned to the bank after graduation and enjoy privileges alongside my classmates. Developing a business was indeed smoother than for others without a background. Now I’ve gained some standing but also become someone without a background. In this dog-eat-dog environment, since I chose this path of raising my head proudly, I can only swallow broken teeth. I won’t go into specifics—there’s nothing to say. If you have the ability, fight back; if not, endure.”
“No matter how happy you were before, you were just a slave. Now you’re so much better—you have freedom. Even if you’re angry, it’s free anger.”
“This principle takes only a sentence or two to express, but you don’t understand it as a child. As a child, you even enjoy the pleasure of using the fox’s prestige to intimidate. So thinking about it, being human is terrifying—the absurd things you unconsciously did as a child are recorded item by item in some mysterious ledger, and when you gain self-awareness, heaven will give you retribution item by item.”
“Don’t think that way—you’re A’San, a bandit. Be optimistic. Isn’t it because heaven sees that we adults can bear it that it’s settling accounts now? Don’t be afraid.”
“When have I ever been afraid? It’s just that the weather’s too cold, it’s been overcast without sun for a while, and I haven’t had time to find sweets for several days—just a bad mood.”
“Ugh, A’San, I can’t tell you have this trick—this sounds like something Hongming’s wife Jia Li would say.”
“Your brother Hongming—I’ve seen him change girlfriends twice, and you can tell at a glance they’re not ordinary dating relationships.”
“About this matter. If you were Jia Li, should I tell you about Hongming’s affairs or not? I’ve been troubled by this lately—I’ve known for a while.”
“You shouldn’t ask me this question. If I were Jia Li, I wouldn’t need you to tell me—I know Qian Hongming’s every gut inside and out.” Seeing Liu Jun nod, Cui Bingbing added: “If I were Jia Li, Qian Hongming wouldn’t dare have affairs. What pot goes with what lid? Those who aren’t God’s people shouldn’t presume to change others’ lives. That’s called overestimating one’s abilities.”
Liu Jun was choked speechless. “I just wanted you to help me analyze from a woman’s perspective…”
“Women differ from other women, too. I, A’San, have a heart as broad as the ocean and sky. Although family and love are important, they’re not my everything. So if you knew my type of husband was having affairs, go ahead and tell me. Even if I’m hit hard, I won’t die. But that Jia Li you mentioned—her world and heart are only as big as her home. Even if family and love aren’t her everything, they’re close to it. If you tell her the truth, you might as well stab her directly.”
Liu Jun couldn’t help thinking of his mother. His father was busy with work, away from home most of the year, so mother devoted most of her energy to the home, father’s daily life, and his growth—these became almost mother’s everything, so her work was mediocre. Mother’s focus was at home, so her heart was only as big as home, making her the most deeply hurt by family changes. Could mother’s yesterday be Jia Li’s today? The answer was definite—Cui Bingbing’s analysis was sharp. So, did he still dare tell Jia Li?
“Meddling in your brother’s woman—isn’t there a problem with that?”
“My brother’s wife is also my friend—Jia Li is an extremely good person.”
“Oh.”
“You meddling in my management of my brother’s woman—isn’t there a problem with that?”
“Isn’t the problem obvious? You’re just turning a blind eye. You’re asking knowingly—when have I ever hidden anything?”
Facing this Cui Bingbing, this A’San, Liu Jun was extremely embarrassed. Cui Bingbing’s words were lovely, but in front of her, he could hide nothing and felt thoroughly defeated.
Cui Bingbing giggled: “Men love face—sorry about that. I won’t expose you in the future.”
“I demand to sleep on your living room foldout sofa bed tonight—you can’t refuse. Men love face.”
“If you dare go, I dare accept.”
Liu Jun had met his match. Being a civilized person, he couldn’t speak crudely to a girl and could only bristle and grit his teeth, saying “Go.” Seeing Cui Bingbing’s contemptuous smile, he was thoroughly depressed. Tonight, he’d overcome all obstacles to spend a night in Cui’s boudoir.
After the steak, Cui Bingbing ordered two desserts. She was quite rude—since Liu Jun didn’t order any himself, no matter how delicious hers were, she wouldn’t share a bite, completely enjoying them alone. After eating, having successfully teased Liu Jun again, she was in great spirits and demanded to go straight home—she had unfinished work that must be completed tonight.
Cui Bingbing’s current residence was only one bedroom and one living room. Shanghai housing prices were steep, and she refused to sell her hometown house to exchange for one in Shanghai, so her savings were only enough for a down payment on a one-bedroom apartment. However, after working in Shanghai for over a year, she had arranged the small house comfortably and was already considering early loan repayment. Now Liu Jun was following her into the tiny living room with a shameless grin. Cui Bingbing’s face couldn’t hold up—she felt the current living room was more cramped than a train compartment, and despite the cold weather, it felt burning hot.
“You drink tea, eat snacks, and watch TV. I’ll work next door. Just speak up if you need anything.”
As the saying goes, when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we advance. As soon as Cui Bingbing became shy and awkward, Liu Jun immediately turned the guest into the host, blew a kiss, didn’t turn on the TV, and sprawled at Cui Bingbing’s bookshelf looking for books to read. Cui Bingbing knew that once Liu Jun thoroughly browsed her bookshelf, she’d become transparent before him. Standing at the bedroom door, she hesitated briefly, then walked over and handed Liu Jun the car keys. “Fine, you win. Here are the keys. Go east one kilometer from the residential complex—there’s a newly opened hotel with reasonable prices. Stay there. I won’t see you off.”
From the moment Liu Jun agreed to stay at Cui’s place, he’d been somewhat restless—adults, everyone knew what this implied. Now seeing Cui Bingbing’s blushing face and dodging eyes, he reached out to grab the hand holding the car keys, pulled forcefully, embracing her: “Let me show you what inviting a wolf into the house means.”
“No! You can’t.”
“Too late.”
“Unless you promise that in the future there can only be me—heart and body.”
“During the period of dating you, only you.”
Cui Bingbing released her arms, bracing between them, and actively circled Liu Jun’s neck. Damn engineering student—even when talking love, he didn’t forget logic. Just give her a chance—she wasn’t afraid of not being able to handle this boy in a year. Anyway, she’d long loved Liu Jun, so she’d thoroughly enjoy her lover’s beautiful kiss.
From unfamiliar exploration to intense convergence, because both were willing, the process flowed naturally. At heaven’s edge, Cui Bingbing heard a breathless “I love you” and grasped a bit of rationality to ask in detail: “Conscience awakening?”
Liu Jun didn’t answer until the next morning: “On-site discovery.” Cui Bingbing thought to herself that whether love was discovered or not, she picked up the phone and called in sick to the bank. This wasn’t her first time sacrificing work for love. At this moment, with her lover’s precious caresses, she postponed work—she had this freedom and confidence.
Liu Jun didn’t reluctantly leave until the third morning. When alone, he examined his heart—did he love Cui Bingbing? He found this question difficult to answer. The unforgettable feelings of youth seemed never to return. He only knew that he was now infatuated.