Chapter 27 Concession

Even after the meal was over, Jin Wenyi was still saying, "This kid looks really good, tall and handsome, and looks about your age. Most importantly, he's single."

Jin Zhaoxin said, "You think Tsinghua and Peking University are pretty good, right? You think the world's richest man is pretty good, right?"

Jin Wenyi then asked her husband, "Think quickly, do we have any friends who might know this young man? Could we make a connection and find out what kind of person he is?"

Zhao Xu said, "Probably not. This child doesn't seem to be from our world."

Jin Wenyi was in the middle of a good time when her husband suddenly poured cold water on her enthusiasm, saying unhappily, "So many of your students are doing well, and they come back to see you during holidays. You should think about this carefully."

"You know so many students, I can't possibly ask them one by one, can I?" Zhao Xu said, half-laughing and half-crying, and immediately began his performance, "Hey, do you know a President Meng? He looks to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven, tall, handsome and very good-looking?"

After Zhao Xu finished his performance, he analyzed the situation clearly to his wife: "And did you notice that reporter just now? She's a host from Suiyi TV, she often appears on national programs, she's very famous, at least a second-tier star in the country. But look at her posture just now, how humble was she? Think about it, can this young man be an ordinary person? To reach his position at such a young age, can his family be an ordinary one?"

“He’s good, but we shouldn’t underestimate him.” Jin Wenyi even gave an example from her own life, “Do you remember our colleague’s daughter?”

Zhao Xu really couldn't refute this, and could only say, "Fate and destiny are indeed wondrous things."

Jin Wenyi then told Jin Zhao this inspirational story in detail. The story was about the daughter of an ordinary high school teacher who met a high-ranking official's son in Beijing's elite circles while in college, and how they had a happy and fulfilling marriage, a prince and princess-like ending. This was used to encourage Jin Zhao to believe that anything is possible.

Jin Zhao didn't know what to say.

She always felt that she had been drinking the same "chicken soup for the soul" since kindergarten. The difference was that the chicken soup in kindergarten was about grades and college, but now that she finally didn't have to study anymore, the chicken soup started to be about love and marriage. Anyway, the theme was always other people's children.

Jin Zhao made an excuse to go to the restroom and took the opportunity to pay the bill, but Jin Wenyi discovered her. The aunt and niece raced to the front desk.

One said they should show hospitality as hosts, while the other said, "You've only been working for a few days, how can you expect a junior who's just started to treat you?"

Teacher Jin Wenyi has plenty of energy and blood; she even snatched Jin Zhao's phone and put it away on the spot.

The receptionist said, "Your table is on the house for free today."

Jin Zhao: "?"

Jin Wenyi: "Free meal? Why should it be free?"

The receptionist was a young girl with big eyes, fair skin, and striking features. She was prettier than many online celebrities. She smiled and said, "Mr. Meng said that the reporter came to interview us today and disturbed your meal. To express his apologies, this bill will be on his tab."

Jin Zhao had always known that Meng Yanxi was rich and powerful, but this was just too outrageous.

All he said was a couple of words as he passed by her table. He didn't make any noise or take any pictures, and he walked past quickly. How could that be considered disturbing their meal?

Jin Wenyi also said, "No need, we weren't disturbed, the price will be the same."

The receptionist smiled and said, "Not just your table, everyone's meal is free today."

"The entire audience?" Jin Wenyi was shocked.

Luxi is a high-end restaurant, with a daily limit of 30 tables. Although Jin Wenyi and her husband are both employees in the public sector, they are not poor, but they are definitely not wealthy either. They have never been willing to come to a restaurant as expensive as Luxi. This time, they hesitated for a long time before finally making a reservation to celebrate Jin Zhao finding a job.

The entire meal was free?

Receptionist: "Yes, at Luxi, we place great importance on the dining experience of our customers. Mr. Meng said he sincerely apologizes for disturbing your dining experience today and hopes it hasn't affected your good mood."

Jin Zhao: "..." It wasn't there before, but now it's affecting things.

She's starting to resent the rich.

She even recalled how he had given a dress to every student in the class who was a dancer, adding fuel to her resentment towards the rich.

But the elders liked him very much. Jin Wenyi's attitude towards Meng Yanxi changed from "good" to "praise": "This young man is very polite, really good."

Joy turned to sorrow. When getting on the bus, Jin Wenyi said she had left her phone at the front desk.

Jin Zhao wanted to go back to get it for her, but Jin Wenyi stopped her, saying, "You get in the car first, I'll go back by myself."

Jin Wenyi returned to the front desk, where the young receptionist smiled warmly at her and asked, "Hello, is there anything you've left behind?"

Jin Wenyi leaned against the marble countertop and smiled, "No, I just feel a little bad. It's mainly because I don't know your President Meng, and I just ate a meal from him for free without even saying thank you."

Jin Wenyi is a Chinese language teacher. With years of experience dealing with teenagers, she's eloquent and has a gentle, kind face that exudes approachability. As she's grown older, she's become increasingly skilled at gathering information. If she wants to, there's practically nothing she can't get out of a story.

But before she could even get started, the receptionist spoke up: "Mr. Meng is the owner of Luxi Courtyard. It's nothing for the owner to give guests a free meal. If you really feel bad about it, I can give you a phone number so you can thank him in person."

Jin Wenyi: "!"

Is it really that easy?

She hasn't even used the excuse she came up with yet.

Jin Wenyi quickly unlocked her phone: "Okay, go ahead and tell me, I'll write it down."

There was a slip of paper under the counter with a string of numbers written on it in a flamboyant style, which the receptionist read aloud without batting an eye.

Everything went so smoothly that Jin Wenyi's hands trembled slightly. Just as she finished writing and was about to double-check, Jin Zhao came in from outside: "Auntie, did you find the phone?"

Jin Wenyi quickly exited the notes app, turned off her phone, picked it up, and glanced at it: "Found it."

"Let's go then. My uncle said he wants to visit my school."

Jin Wenyi said yes, and didn't forget to turn back to the receptionist and say, "Thank you, young lady!"

The receptionist smiled and said, "You're welcome, Auntie, take care."

*

In the afternoon, Jin Zhao took her aunt and uncle for a short walk around the campus. In the evening, Jin Wenyi and her husband had dinner with Jin Wenhui's family and left around 4:30 pm.

Jin Wenyi did not ask Jin Zhao if she wanted to go together, and Jin Zhao pretended not to know about their subsequent itinerary.

After that incident, Jin Wenhui focused on living with his new family and treated her as if she didn't exist. During the years that Jin Zhao studied alone in a foreign country, only Jin Wenyi and his wife visited her twice. Jin Wenhui never inquired about her, and Jin Zhao had long since given up any expectations.

She looks forward to her own life more than she cares about the happiness or unhappiness of others.

It's not something that just started now; she seems to have been like this since she was little.

National Day was just around the corner, and Jin Wenyi arranged a blind date for her. After a slight hesitation, she agreed.

Jin Wenyi is right; the first step in choosing a partner is to stop resisting.

I no longer resist forgetting that person, no longer resist meeting more people, and try to find someone I like.

The meeting was scheduled for noon on October 1st at a Thai restaurant near the school.

The elective course "English and American Poetry" that she is going to teach this semester will officially start after the National Day holiday. The deputy director notified her before the holiday that the textbook she ordered had arrived. She happened to be leaving early in the morning and went to the college office to pick up the textbook first.

As I was leaving, I heard someone call out behind me, "Teacher Zhao Zhao!"

Turning around, I saw it was Wang Nan.

Wang Nan wore makeup today, her hair was down, and her autumn long dress was meticulously styled without a single wrinkle. She carried a Celine bag and, unusually, wore a pair of stiletto heels.

Jin Zhao's eyes lit up, and he asked with a smile, "A date?"

Wang Nan walked forward with a reserved air: "Will you make up for the person I missed on my date?"

"Next door," Wang Nan nodded her chin toward the west gate and said, "Older."

Suiyi University and Suiyi Normal University are very close, separated only by a street, but their status is vastly different. Suiyi University, if not the top one, is at least among the top five in the country, while there are countless universities like Suiyi Normal University across the country.

Wang Nan, a master's student, said to Jin Zhao on the way, "Today there is a donation ceremony for well-known alumni returning to school, and I, as an unknown alumnus, also came back to join in the fun."

"What's the point of joining in this commotion?" Jin Zhao realistically put himself in the situation and said, "It's not like it's being donated to me."

She'll go if you donate to her.

Wang Nan scoffed, "Can I say that I haven't seen the president in my three years of master's studies? I'll go back and bask in the glory of being a top student, and also see what the president of my alma mater looks like."

Jin Zhao: "Is the principal coming too?"

Wang Nan: "What do you think? One hundred million, if you were the principal, wouldn't you go and receive it yourself?"

Jin Zhao: "!"

There are so many rich people in this world.

She's so busy, she's about to start blaming the rich again.

But then again, there are so many rich people, what difference does one more make?

With mixed feelings, Jin Zhao asked, "Who is it?"

Wang Nan casually replied, "Meng Yanxi."

Like a pebble suddenly thrown into the cool autumn lake, it splashes and creates ripples.

Wang Nan's voice rippled through the room: "By the way, you might not recognize me, but I'm the brother of the girl you met in my office that day who caused trouble. I was young and naive, just starting out, and I almost offended the big boss."

"But then again, I didn't expect Meng Yanxi to be so old. Of course, I'm not saying that being old is bad, it's just that Meng Yanxi is so impressive. I always thought he was at least from Tsinghua or Peking University, or from an Ivy League school."

Jin Zhao unconsciously murmured, "No."

He said he would not leave Suiyi until his sister turned eighteen.

"Huh, do you know him?" Jin Zhao's response piqued Wang Nan's curiosity.

The traffic outside the West Gate was heavy, the road was wide, and the green light only lasted 20 seconds; if you didn't hurry, you wouldn't be able to cross to the other side. As soon as the two of them exited the West Gate, the red light on the other side of the zebra crossing turned green. Wang Nan seized the time to cross the road, and without waiting for Jin Zhao's reply, she grabbed her hand and followed the flow of people to the other side quickly.

"That's perfect! Come with me to see Meng Yanxi!"

Jin Zhao wanted to refuse, but she didn't know if it was because there were too many people that her voice was muffled, or if the green light was too short, which brought out her obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The green number changed, the green light turned red, and Jin Zhaoren had already followed Wang Nan to the other side.

*

The donation ceremony was held in the auditorium.

Today is the first day of the National Day holiday. I thought there would be fewer teachers and students, but the lecture hall, which can accommodate 2,000 people, was still packed to capacity, and even the aisles were crowded with people.

Meng Yanxi walked in surrounded by the principal and his entourage. He kept his eyes downcast and seemed absent-minded, frequently looking down at his phone.

This week, he kept checking his phone, looking at missed calls and WeChat friend requests. His phone got hot from all the checking, but nothing happened.

He suspected that Meng Zhuxi had ruined things.

Last week, Meng Zhuxi secretly took his phone to transfer money to herself, and even guiltily hung up on one of his calls. He didn't realize it until the next day. Looking at the unfamiliar phone number, he was unusually angry, almost scaring the little girl to tears.

He kept his phone with him at all times, waiting and waiting, but that number never called again.

That was a local phone number from Suiyi, and it wasn't linked to WeChat.

Meng Yanxi is proud at heart. He can make concessions without making a sound, such as leaving his phone number at the front desk of Luxi Hospital and waiting for someone to ask for it. But he will never bow his head and will never take the initiative to call back.

But that number just wouldn't call back, which gave him a headache.

Meng Yanxi is the donor and the main character today. She was seated in the middle of the first row, next to the principal.

The principal smiled and told him to go first. He casually raised his eyelids and immediately saw Jin Zhao walking forward from the aisle.

It was clear she had dressed up carefully today; her soft, bouncy hair reached her collarbone, her eyes were bright and clear, and her skin was so white it seemed to glow. The lecture hall was noisy and dimly lit, but he spotted her in the crowd at a glance.

The pent-up frustration in my chest from the past few days seemed to vanish in an instant; my headache was gone, and nothing bothered me anymore.

He sat down, perked up, exchanged a few pleasantries with the principal with a smile, and quickly picked up his phone again.

He pulled up the phone number that Meng Zhuxi had hung up on and dialed it back to her amidst the bustling crowd.

The beeping sound of his phone connecting rang in his ears, and at the same time he turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the crowd behind him.

In the blink of an eye, he could no longer find her, but he was no longer in a hurry.

The phone was answered.

"Hello," he said, speaking in a low voice.

A delighted male voice quickly came from the other end: "Hey, bro, hello! This is Zhifu Financial. Do you need a loan?"

Meng Yanxi: "..."

He's insane! How could he think this number belongs to her?!

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Author's Note: I changed my uncle's name. The old name always made him seem like a hypocrite, but he's a good person [laughing and crying emoji].