Outside the restaurant, Monkey started the car and looked at me in the passenger seat, saying, "Was that woman in the room Gao Ya? She's really changed a lot since she was a girl; I didn't even recognize her! But Young Master Duan, what brings you to this dinner party?"

I rolled down the car window and lit a cigarette: "The people in the room are all my classmates. Gao Qiang is the one who fought with me because of Gao Ya back then. I just didn't expect that the two of them would actually be together."

"What did you say? The one who hit you back then was that bastard Gao Qiang?"

As the monkey spoke, he slammed on the brakes and made a move to open the car door: "Damn it, when you got beaten up, I missed it because I was out of town with my dad buying goods. If I had known it was this bastard, I would have beaten him up just now!"

"Monkey, let's just forget about it!"

I gently grasped the monkey's arm: "That's all in the past, and I have no feelings for Gao Ya anymore, so why bother making a fuss? I have no connection with these classmates, and today's incident was just an accident. Let bygones be bygones! By the way, about my three classmates, find an opportunity to make arrangements for them. Since the company doesn't have any real business, put them in leadership positions and give them some consideration."

"Don't worry, you're the real boss behind the company, I'll definitely do as you say."

The monkey merged the vehicle into traffic: "Where to next?"

I adjusted the seat to a comfortable angle: "We came out to drink today, but we didn't enjoy it enough. Let's find a bar and have a drink together."

...

That night, Monkey and I drank a lot of alcohol. When I got home, I didn't think about anything and slept until dawn.

All things considered, this was the most restful sleep I've had recently.

When I woke up, all my fatigue was gone. After a quick wash, I prepared to go downstairs to open for business.

Although the income from the pawnshop is now insignificant to me, keeping it open is, after all, my grandfather's last wish.

I know that my grandfather made me stick to this line of work because he was afraid that I would suffer living alone in the world. At least by running a pawnshop, I could have a livelihood and it was also a way of sticking to the Four Gates and a way of atoning for what Duan Jinyan had done.

My decision to continue the business is also a way of remembering my grandfather, and to let the warm environment here soothe the wounds left in my heart by betrayal.

After going downstairs, I pressed the switch on the roller shutter door, picked up a broom, and prepared to clean the room.

When the roller shutter door was raised, I found a figure standing outside.

It is elegant.

Today she wore no makeup, but rather a simple floral dress.

This scene reminds me of the first time I went to school with Gao Ya.

Seeing this elegant outfit, I was momentarily dazed, but quickly returned to normal.

I know very well that Gao Ya came here not because of our past relationship, but because of Gao Qiang.

Even so, seeing her waiting outside the door, I still went over and opened it: "Did you come all this way just to see me?"

"Otherwise what?"

Gao Ya smiled and rubbed her arms: "It's so cold outside, won't you invite me in for a cup of tea?"

"Come in and have a seat."

Seeing that Gao Ya was speaking, I stepped aside to make way and continued cleaning the room: "The tea bar is behind the counter, you can boil water yourself."

She gracefully made a gesture to take the broom from my hand: "Let me help you."

"Guests are welcome, there's no reason for guests to clean the room. Please rest."

I kept my distance, said a few words, and then started tidying up the room.

I originally thought that Gao Ya would find it boring and leave, but when I came down from the second floor after tidying up the room, she was still sitting at the bar.

Seeing Gao Ya's actions, I sighed helplessly: "Did Gao Qiang send you?"

"No, we've already broken up."

Gao Ya paused for a moment: "It's not what you think. I didn't leave Gao Qiang because his family's business failed. It's because he deceived me! After you finished speaking yesterday, I went back and had it appraised. I found out that all the jewelry he gave me was fake. So this morning I transferred him some money, which was no less than what he gave me... What truly chilled my heart was that he actually said in public yesterday that he was going to give me to you. Perhaps in his eyes, I've always just been a dispensable accessory!"

I didn't want to comment on her private affairs, so I picked up a glass and poured her a glass of water: "Have some water."

"Don't feel pressured. I'm not here today to ask you to rekindle our old flame. It's just that since I got together with Gao Qiang, I've lost contact with my old friends. I don't even have anyone to confide in. I didn't sleep all night. This morning, I wanted to go out for a walk to clear my head, and I ended up here in a daze. I never thought I would actually run into you."

Gao Ya lowered her head and said in a low voice, "After I went to university, Gao Qiang wanted to pursue me, so he got into the same university as me, but I never agreed to be with him. That year, my dad was in a car accident back in our hometown. Because he was driving under the influence, he had to take full responsibility. Not only did he have to pay the other party a lot of money, but my dad also had to go to jail."

When I returned to Shenyang, filled with anxiety, I found that Gao Qiang had already taken care of everything, even the compensation... Although I always said I wasn't with him for the money, the money he gave us at the time did indeed help my family a lot, and that's why I developed feelings for him, and from then on, I became his girlfriend.

I lit a cigarette and reminded him, "As you said, we're just ordinary friends. You don't need to explain so much to me."

“I told you, I didn’t come to you to rekindle our old flame. You don’t need to be so wary of me. I just wanted someone to talk to.”

Gao Ya laughed self-deprecatingly: "You saw the faces of those classmates yesterday. In their eyes, I am an exceptionally happy woman. They might even think that I'm only with Gao Qiang for money. I'm too lazy to explain, and I don't want to explain anymore."

I sighed: "Isn't that how relationships are? It's not a bad thing to see Gao Qiang's true colors sooner rather than later, when we're married and he turns out to be a conman."

Gao Ya nodded: "Yes, I am indeed very fortunate, but I feel a little sorry for you. After all, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to go through the college entrance exam..."

"Let's not bring up the past anymore."

I interrupted Gao Ya: "Even without what you did, I wouldn't have gone to university. You don't need to feel guilty."

"Then let's talk about you. I really didn't expect you to do so well. I've heard Gao Qiang mention your company before. I heard it's a big company with tens of millions in annual revenue."

Gao Ya looked at me curiously: "But I really don't understand, your career is already so successful, why would you still be running this small pawnshop?"