Life is back on track.

Chu Fang and Zhong Tingyue continued to work every day, going to work and leaving get off work together. The former would slack off, while the latter worked intensely, even more diligently than before.

Just like she said, she wants to save up for a down payment on a house in Shanghai as soon as possible.

Chu Fang couldn't understand what Zhong Tingyue was thinking.

She could easily buy a house, whether it's an apartment, a villa, or even a townhouse, it's all very simple, yet she actually wanted to buy a house through her own efforts.

Chu Fang didn't understand, but let her be.

He roughly knew Zhong Tingyue's savings amount, and based on the current income from the studio, paying the down payment for the house would be quick.

It's worth mentioning that their relationship continued to progress. As Zhong Tingyue said, they took it one step at a time, and Chu Fang did the same. In any case, they did everything that couples should do, and they were already doing things they shouldn't.

Chu Fang felt as if he could already see the dawn, and his heart was filled with boundless gratitude for his mother-in-law.

What kind of mother-in-law is this?

She's practically my own mother!

If Chu's mother heard this, she would definitely give him a beating.

Unfilial son!

It's the end of June, and the weather is getting hotter and hotter. Even at night, after playing basketball, you'll be covered in sweat.

Chu Fang, Rong Shunji, and Wen Xiangbing sat casually on the steps, watching others play ball. Chu Fang sighed and said, "Hmm... I'm getting old."

“You’re just getting old.” Rong Shunji glanced at him sideways. “You’re just wasting your days eating and waiting to die, and you don’t exercise at all. You’re practically a useless piece of trash.”

Chu Fang clenched his right fist and pointed it at the sky: "I'm just a piece of trash!"

“... ..."

You seem quite pleased and proud of yourself?

Rong Shunji took a sip of water and said, "By the way, Caixia's belly is getting big, and I'm thinking of asking her for maternity leave. What do you think?"

"Sure, go ahead and invite me," Chu Fang shrugged. "I don't care."

After a pause, she said with some emotion, "I never imagined you'd be a father soon, while I'm still not married."

Even before they've hit a 'home run,' how can the gap between people be so huge? I'm so jealous.

Of course, I kept the latter part of my thoughts to myself.

"You wouldn't believe it, I actually got ahead of you guys." Rong Shunji said with great pride.

In the past, the group always said that he would be the last of them to get married, but reality always turns out to be the opposite of what they predicted.

"By the way, how's your company doing?" Chu Fang nodded at Wen Xiangbing and asked.

"It's newly established, we've hired a few employees, and things are progressing smoothly," Wen Xiangbing replied calmly.

When the company was founded, Wen Xiangbing invited the two of them to attend. It was a small company located in the suburbs of Shanghai.

Wen Xiangbing is indeed the most capable among his brothers, and he has made the company very successful.

"When are you planning to find a girlfriend?" Rong Shunji asked.

“A man can’t talk about finding a partner until he has established his career.” Wen Xiangbing shook his head. “I haven’t thought about those things yet. I just want to make something of myself.”

“We can do both,” Chu Fang said. “Making money doesn’t have to interfere with dating.”

Wen Xiangbing is now the loneliest of the four friends. Even Shao Liang is in a relationship with the girl who came to Shanghai to pick him up.

The two were childhood sweethearts, and their parents knew each other and supported them, so they quickly got together.

The three chatted for a while, and when it got a bit cooler, they moved to a nearby barbecue stall, which was bustling with people and even had its stall set up on the street.

The atmosphere in summer is extremely pleasant.

The group sat down, and Chu Fang ordered barbecue: grilled eggplant, chives, lamb kidneys, oysters... The other two exchanged glances, their eyes full of smiles. Rong Shunji said, "Fangzi, as your buddy, I advise you to take care of your health."

"What the hell? I haven't even met that woman yet..." Chu Fang felt bitter inside. Who could understand his pain? But he couldn't say it out loud, so he kept quiet and took the blame.

Zhong Tingyue, I'm not done with you yet!

I'll kill you sooner or later!

After the food was served, the three of them ate and chatted. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from beside them, sounding somber and helpless: "Sigh, I really have no choice. I've bothered all my relatives, but I still haven't succeeded in my mission."

"Take your time with the work." Only another unfamiliar voice could be heard.

Chu Fang and his two companions looked in the direction of the sound and saw several men next door, dressed in suits and shiny leather shoes, looking like elite professionals. One of them, a young man with a worried look between his brows, was someone the three of them recognized as their college class monitor, Qiao Liangbo.

"Squad leader." Upon seeing the other person, Wen Xiangbing stood up and patted him on the shoulder. "I didn't expect to run into you here."

Qiao Liangbo was drinking alone when he suddenly felt someone tap him. He looked at Wen Xiangbing with some confusion, but quickly realized what was happening and a smile appeared on his lips: "Wen Xiangbing."

He then noticed Chu Fang and Rong Shunji and said in surprise, "Why are there only three of you? Where's Shao Liang?"

"I'm going back to my hometown to relax."

Then, Qiao Liangbo sat down at a table, and Chu Fang nodded to the old squad leader, who looked embarrassed.

Chu was helpless.

He and Qiao Liangbo had some grudges against each other.

Back in college, Chu Fang had just received a "cheat code" and spent his days messing around, frequently taking leave and being late, which had a negative impact on the class and even resulted in him being publicly criticized throughout the school.

As the class monitor, Qiao Liangbo caused him a lot of trouble, which led to a grudge between them that was not resolved until the end of university.

Qiao Liangbo even once said that he was good for nothing except money and was a complete failure.

Chu Fang was furious at the time, but now that I think about it...

Hey, you're absolutely right!

However, several years had passed since that grudge. Chu Fang now agreed with his old squad leader's assessment of him, and the grudge had completely disappeared. He poured himself a glass of wine and gestured to Qiao Liangbo, "Squad leader, I was wrong about what happened before and caused you trouble. I hope you won't take it to heart. I'll drink this, you can do as you please."

"Huh?" Qiao Liangbo was stunned for a moment, then looked at Chu Fang as he finished his drink and hurriedly said, "Ah, I was also wrong. I spoke too harshly at the time. I hope you can forgive me."

“Forgive what? Your initial judgment was correct. Fangzi is just wasting his life now,” Rong Shunji said from the side.

Once men talk things out, everything becomes very simple.

Hearing that Chu Fang had completely given up, Wen Xiangbing had started his own business, and Rong Shunji was about to become a father, Qiao Liangbo was extremely envious of all three of them having bright futures.

Wen Xiangbing asked, "Squad leader, what are you doing right now?"

"Sigh, working at a bank."

"It's great, stable and easy."

Qiao Liangbo opened his mouth as if to say something, but sighed and nodded, saying, "Indeed."

All three were shrewd individuals and could tell that the old squad leader wasn't doing well at work, so they quickly changed the subject, returning to their school days and that carefree age.