Chapter 40 Dinner Party "The stunningly beautiful, captivating supermodel brat..."

Lost in thought, Yu Lingling's voice broke her train of thought. While reminiscing about Cheng Sijie and her boyfriend's bizarre behavior, Yu Lingling suddenly noticed something.

The sound suddenly broke the silence, and Cheng Sijie shook her head.

Yu Lingling said, "Wait a minute, your parents didn't find out you were dating Jiang Hui until your sophomore year? Aren't they pretty open-minded? Why didn't you tell them before?"

Cheng Sijie said, "We've never officially defined our relationship."

Yu Lingling was full of questions: "No, I thought you two started dating right after graduating from high school."

Cheng Sijie said, "Of course not. I've been thinking about it for a while now. We're kind of in the ambiguous stage, baby."

Yu Lingling: "..."

Well, it's like a mouse meeting a cat when someone like Jiang Hui meets someone like you. God really knows how to arrange things.

Two bizarre lunatics.

However, their relationship is quite sweet.

Yu Lingling has a kind of weird but sweet feeling about her as a couple.

Cheng Sijie continued, "Anyway, after we found out he was eavesdropping on me, we started arguing about breaking up."

Yu Lingling said, "They broke up right after getting together, hahaha."

She shrugged. "It's true what they say, every pot has its own lid."

Cheng Sijie rolled her eyes at her, about to pinch her, then asked, "Oh right, how are things between you and Gu Mo?"

Yu Lingling rested her chin on her hand and said, "He's pretty good, a rather fiery bookworm. It's quite enjoyable to talk to him."

Gu Mo signed a job at a research institute right after graduating from university and is currently pursuing a combined master's and doctoral degree under a targeted training program. He is very talented in scientific research and works in the same institute as "Sleepy God". Anyway, Sleepy God and this "guessing guy" have a good personal relationship.

Yu Lingling cupped her face and said, "I think people's tastes don't actually change. It's just that sometimes we feel a kind of illusion because we eat too much, that we don't like to eat anymore. But in fact, people spend their whole lives eating the foods they originally loved."

Yu Lingling said, "Anyway, Ms. Lu Yun said that she never expected that someone as unreliable as me would end up with such a serious boyfriend."

Cheng Sijie joked, "So, is it any good or not?"

Yu Lingling honestly replied, "Uh... it's really hot and quite rhythmic."

Okay, actually he's just unreliable, essentially the same as Yu Lingling.

Who would have thought, Gu Mo, that you, who was a rather honest and aloof academic genius in high school, are actually a quirky and unconventional guy?

Cheng Sijie concluded: "A man who is secretly passionate is either a Pisces or a Cancer."

Yu Lingling said, "No, that's not true. His sun sign is Scorpio, his rising sign is Virgo, and oh right, his moon sign is Pisces."

Cheng Sijie exclaimed in admiration, "I admire you, you're so professional!"

Yu Lingling proudly said, "Of course. I've been studying my own destiny recently."

Cheng Sijie was speechless: "I thought you were going to say that you had researched your and Gu Mo's zodiac signs."

Yu Lingling chuckled, "What's so interesting about studying men?"

When it comes to men, the two aren't that enthusiastic, but when it comes to other things, like zodiac signs and making money, Yu Lingling gets really excited.

She continued babbling on, "Why don't you study my destiny? If your boyfriend really has any psychic abilities, remember to introduce him to me. I'm running out of money now. The money I've saved up in two years of working isn't even enough to cover my monthly rent, takeout, travel, entertainment, and gaming..."

Cheng Sijie's eyes widened. "What? How much money have you saved?"

Yu Lingling said, "150,000 yuan. There are also some investment funds. It's enough for me to live a carefree life for two years. I'll start by being a freelancer and set up a studio with my former college roommate. We'll take on freelance work online. My roommate, Xiaoxiong, has also quit her job."

Cheng Sijie said, "Damn! No wonder you've become so slick and slick since you quit your job. Anyway, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters. If you need anything, your sister is here to help. I've also saved up some money, and I can even steal money from men to support you."

Yu Lingling waved her hand, "Thank you, I'll also actively steal Gu Mo's money to eat and drink well."

"Ugh, that lousy job, let's not even talk about it. You know, my sister is very capable, not only is she good at R&D, but she also has a pretty face. She can negotiate with clients over drinks and she's also the face of the department. Guess what?"

Cheng Sijie chimed in, "So, what's up? Hurry up and tell us!"

Yu Lingling rolled her eyes dramatically, furious: "Who would have thought that now even product development departments at internet companies have to have their own official WeChat accounts, posting regular updates every week? Oh, and... they even have to build personal brands and manage their own social media. The salaries are high, but I wish I could work 996 all year round, forever, and die at my desk!!"

Yu Lingling slammed her hand on the table and said, "To be honest, these are the dregs of society. Wherever there are people, there are feudal remnants and bureaucracy. If this continues, this lousy company will go bankrupt sooner or later."

"After encountering such a group of scoundrels, I even suspected I was cursed! I went to the Yonghe Temple to get a bracelet!"

Cheng Sijie clicked her tongue in admiration and told her about the unpleasant things that happened to her when she terminated her contract with her former company. "I thought you were busy with your resignation and had a lot of troubles, so I didn't want to tell you. I didn't expect that we were in the same boat. If I had known, I wouldn't have pretended to be strong and endured it."

Yu Lingling said, "You should have called and cursed these idiots to death with me!"

The two were of one mind and could talk about it endlessly.

Sure enough, no matter who it is, once they start complaining about their work, they seem to age ten years.

Cheng Sijie concluded indignantly, "To show my support, I will never use your company's app again."

Yu Lingling said, "Thank you."

Yu Lingling also indignantly concluded: "I'm uninstalling that lousy software from your previous platform right now, and I won't watch any of the streamers on it anymore!"

Cheng Sijie was moved: "He's a true friend."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

It had been three hours since they got home from the airport. The two of them were so engrossed in their conversation that they were completely oblivious to everything around them. Their posture changed from sitting on the sofa to collapsing on the carpet. They even got their drinks refilled twice during that time.

After saying "loyal enough," Cheng Sijie fell silent. Yu Lingling's mouth was also dry. The two looked up at the ceiling and remained silent for a moment.

Much later.

Yu Lingling asked like a ghost, "Are you still livestreaming today?"

Cheng Sijie replied like a ghost, "The duration is enough, we won't broadcast it."

Immediately afterwards, the two of them stretched at the same time with remarkable tacit understanding. Cheng Sijie chuckled, and Yu Lingling laughed heartily.

Cheng Sijie said, "We've got this much in common, I'll go open a bottle of red wine."

Yu Lingling raised her hand, "Red wine? Don't just bring out these foreign persimmons, bring out all the wine you have!! Go open the liquor you bought before, and give me the most expensive fried chicken set meal, plus two hundred yuan worth of grilled skewers! I'm going to drink myself into a stupor today, a fusion of East and West, and get drunk in your house."

Cheng Sijie: "Wait, didn't you say that liquor wasn't good? -- Okay, whatever, let's drink ourselves to death, yes sir!"

But the two still felt they hadn't had enough. At this point, they continued talking, repeating the same old things.

Actually, there's just too much bitterness in their lives, and they're missing someone to play the straight man and the comedian.

Yu Lingling said hesitantly, "It's such a beautiful night, it's really no fun with just the two of us beauties. It's more lively with more people. Can we call others over?"

Cheng Sijie thought for a moment, remembering that there was still Cheng Jiayu, all alone at school, and said to Yu Lingling, "Why don't we call Cheng Jiayu over?"

Yu Lingling said, "Okay, this is one of our insiders. We're not afraid he'll be embarrassed and won't come."

The two called Cheng Jiayu, "Hey bro, wanna come over for some barbecue? Sister 00's back, wanna have a welcome-back party? We're both exhausted from work, want to come over and listen to our woes?"

Yu Lingling called out, "Oh, come on, come on, come on~"

Through the phone, with the speakerphone on, they heard Cheng Jiayu's voice, "Oh my god, as long as I don't have to attend group meetings or write papers, I'll do anything, even be a wiretap or a spy. I'm coming right now. Is he with my sister? By the way, sister, can you send me the address of his apartment complex? Do I need to bring anything?"

When Cheng Jiayu received the call, it was like hearing celestial music, instantly clearing his ears; he immediately rushed over.

With the National Day Golden Week approaching, both companies and schools seem to be exercising their last bit of exploitation and enslavement, which has nothing to do with the supervisors; it's just the norm in the entire academic circle.

It could be said that he was living a life worse than death.

Normally, it wouldn't matter; if you were assertive and said you had something to do, you could just slip away and your supervisor wouldn't mind. But it just so happens that his project is having some problems and he needs funding, so I have to be more obedient and work like a slave.

Engineering students are alright; they're busy for a while and then take a break. They're just exhausted from processing data and developing initial plans. But it's even worse for biochemistry, environmental science, and materials science students. Sometimes they do experiments for seven or eight years without any results. They do round after round of experiments, but they can never find suitable samples, reagents, or data that meet the standards. So they just drag on year after year.

Without the academic passion of "I will explore high and low" on this path, it is easy to fail and fall into a state of despair, as if being toyed with by fate.

Fortunately, Cheng Jiayu is optimistic by nature and is from the same school as his older sister, Cheng Sijie.

Back then, he studied basic physics, and after four years of hard work, he was thoroughly outmatched by the top students in his major. His limited intelligence wasn't enough, and he realized he wasn't suited to working alone. Rather than staying in his major, sitting in a tutelage figuring out things only geniuses could understand, he decided to switch fields and find Cheng Sijie, so he could have company before graduation.

Anyway, he doesn't plan to continue his academic career; he's focused on his comfort level during his master's program and his job prospects.

A meal with three people is more fun than a meal with two people. They buy a bunch of miscellaneous foods that all three of them want to eat. Cheng Jiayu belatedly realizes, "Wait, sis, are you treating me like a laborer and a deliveryman?"

Yu Lingling calmly said, "I'll reimburse you. I'll treat you and Cheng Sijie to a meal at a restaurant again tomorrow."

Cheng Jiayu: "Okay, I'll get it!"

He happily completed the shopping according to the list given to him by the two people, and carried the bags to Cheng Sijie's rented room.

All three of them were observant and helpful at home from a young age. The one-child policy actually fostered independence in many people. After all, they were the only little kid at home. They weren't exactly spoiled, but they were the only ones you could ask to do chores. Whether it was going out to buy cigarettes or soy sauce, they still had to do it.

They are quick and efficient, and can cook simple meals. With so many fast food options available now, anyone can prepare a delicious meal.

Cheng Sijie wiped her hands clean and asked Yu Lingling to cut a piece of hot pot base for her. She said, "You guys wash the vegetables first. I'll air fry the meatballs and chicken wings I bought earlier."

Cheng Jiayu said, "I see you have a lot of drinks and cakes in your fridge. Aren't you afraid of getting fat?"

Cheng Sijie said, "So what? It's not like I won't exercise after I finish eating."

Cheng Jiayu rubbed his hands together in a simple and honest manner and asked, "I'd like to save you some of the hardship of exercising. There's a really expensive chocolate that I've wanted to eat for a while, but I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Can I eat it, cousin?"

Cheng Sijie: "..."

If you're craving it, just say so.

Why bother to bring up the family relationship?

She was both amused and exasperated. "Eat, eat, eat!"

The three of them worked together, and soon the hot pot was steaming hot, along with glistening, spicy and fragrant chicken wings, meatballs, skewers, various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and a whole Basque cake—this was highly recommended by Lingling, who said that she had eaten countless cakes and this one looked delicious just from the picture.

Everyone thought to themselves, "Let's eat our fill, it's no big deal if we don't finish this piece of cake. Hehe, if we can't finish it in one meal, we can always have it as a late-night snack."

Driven by their cravings, the three of them indulged in a kind of madness akin to eating themselves to death in the face of the apocalypse.

"There are only two or three good friends and good food in this world that should never be missed; this is the truth," Cheng Sijie silently sighed.

She and Yu Lingling exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly; they both shared the same thought.

Cheng Jiayu was very attentive as he opened drinks for them, and asked in confusion, "What? Ladies, why are you suddenly smiling mysteriously? I thought you were going to kidnap me."

Yu Lingling laughed and said, "Alright, you single dog, go play somewhere else."

Cheng Jiayu said, "I'm a VIP single. What's the point of dating? I don't understand. It's not as interesting as playing games. At worst, I can just travel around by myself. Anyway, I don't plan to find a girlfriend."

Cheng Sijie said, "Then you and Wang He seem to be on the same page, as if you were in sync."

Cheng Jiayu said, "Hey—sis, don't put in the vegetables yet. Cook the wide rice noodles and meatballs first, they take longer to cook. Wang He? She's quite the fashionista now, didn't she do interviews and variety shows before? If you're struggling with your career and really want to ride the wave of popularity, why don't you invite Sunglasses Wang?"

Yu Lingling slapped her thigh: "That's right, didn't she invite people to go on a trip? Why don't you invite her to join the live stream? To be fair, our Sunglasses King is a handsome and beautiful face that appeals to men, women, young and old alike."

It's rare to describe a girl as handsome, but Wang He has always lived up to his name, never gaining weight no matter how much he eats, with a waistline of 59cm year-round—what an amazing number! But it has to be said that human genes are so incredible and diverse; he's naturally suited for this line of work, and even if he occasionally indulges in some delicious food, he still has the figure of a clothes hanger.

Fortunately, she knew Wong Kar-wai. Cheng Sijie never thought of desperately trying to lose weight when she was already at her comfortable weight. Wong Kar-wai casually advised her: "Just focus on the weight and measurements that your body feels most comfortable with and that are easiest to maintain in daily life. Otherwise, you'll gain the weight back sooner or later, and it will only hurt your health if you try too hard."

“My former colleague had to lose weight constantly in order to get on the runway. Runway models have to be even thinner than print models. As a result, she developed anxiety-induced bulimia. Human genes are terrifying. What is suitable and where is the limit is very obvious.”

Cheng Sijie chose to trust the professionals. After all, she had watched Wong Kar-wai grow up since she was a child. This girl's legs were as long as other people's height since high school, and now, eight or nine years later, she had never seen her gain weight.

Yu Lingling pinched her belly and said speechlessly, "I'll video call her and make that beautiful, stunning supermodel girl drool!"