Feeling a certain spiritual power from Yang Sisi, I looked up at the gradually darkening sky and vaguely saw stars twinkling beside Cangshan Mountain. This twinkling seemed to be accumulating power, and eventually something would break through the dawn from these large and small luminous bodies. The night no longer seemed so frightening; instead, it was mysterious and captivating.
I then realized that while darkness may limit a person's actions to some extent, it can amplify their mental and intellectual capacity, thus filling them with imagination.
I let out a soft sigh before replying to Yang Sisi's message: "When I found out about your dad's bankruptcy, you were in a really bad state of mind, so I was quite worried when you first left. I was afraid you would complain to your dad and make him feel even more guilty... But now it seems that my worries were unnecessary, because you've become your dad's little sun... It's so heartwarming!"
“Although I am very willful, I am not a person who is not clear-headed... In the past few days, I have thought about a lot of things and I feel quite regretful because it was not until my father went bankrupt that I was able to truly realize that he used to be quite good to me, but I always resented him for not caring about me enough... Little did I know that there are many ways for parents to care for their children, but I failed to understand him.”
I exclaimed, "I can't believe such mature words came from your mouth!"
"Experiences help us grow, don't they?"
"Yes...who doesn't grow while experiencing pain!"
Yang Sisi replied with a smiling emoji... As far as I can remember, this is one of the few times we didn't bicker during our chat.
I lay down on the steps, my head resting on my arm... Because of the angle, my view was no longer filled with the hustle and bustle of the world, only with the star-studded sky and the highest point of Cangshan Mountain...
I calmed down, and then a wave of sleepiness washed over me... I've never felt so free before: when I'm tired, the ground is my bed and the sky is my blanket. I'm close to nature and I'm also letting myself go.
A moment later, Yang Sisi sent me another message, asking, "Did Xiao Bei come to see you?"
"Hmm, how did you know?"
“He sent me a message saying that he wanted to use the 16 shops under his name as shares in your studio... He also said that he wanted to find something serious to do.”
I smiled and replied in writing: "I think he took to heart what you said to him when you left... However, I didn't accept his shops. I suggested that he use them to turn into an inn..."
"Why won't you accept it? Haven't you always been eyeing those shops?"
"Think about it, he handed over his shop to our studio to manage and just sit back and make money. That doesn't really count as hard work, does it? I think he needs to do something real."
"I don't believe you would think so much about him."
I didn't hold back when dealing with Yang Sisi, so I answered honestly: "I'm definitely not thinking about him. As long as these shops aren't left abandoned and affect the commercial atmosphere of the whole street, it doesn't matter... You know his father is cunning. If I really take over these shops, who knows what he'll do to me in the future. If Cao Xiaobei runs these shops himself, then there's no need to worry about that at all."
Yang Sisi sighed, "You're such a bad boy. Cao Xiaobei is much more naive than you... He probably doesn't know what you're thinking. He might even think you're doing this for his own good."
"That's the difference between having social experience and not having social experience."
"Will he lose money opening an inn?"
"He doesn't have rent costs, so even if he loses money, how much do you think he can lose?"
"That's true... but if you can help him, then help him a little... He can't be constantly given setbacks; appropriate encouragement will motivate him more."
"Yes, his inn is right on this commercial street. We're in a very close relationship, so I'll definitely do my best to help him promote it..."
This message only expresses half of what I originally wanted to say, because I sensed Yang Sisi's concern for Cao Xiaobei in her words, so I wanted to express my feelings about it... In the end, I didn't say anything because whether she cares or not is their private matter, and as a third party, I have no need to say anything more.
And so, the chat with Yang Sisi ended.
...
I sat in front of the iron gate of the "bed sheet factory" for more than an hour, but I still couldn't wait for the woman. I was a little disappointed, but I didn't persist too much. So I left after smoking another cigarette.
Back at my lodgings, I talked with Chen Jin about my final decision regarding the 16 shops belonging to Cao Jinbo. He wholeheartedly agreed, sharing my view that whether our studio could make money from these 16 shops wasn't the most important thing. As long as the shops were utilized and didn't disrupt the commercial atmosphere of the entire street, any method of operation was acceptable. Furthermore, he was wary of Cao Jinbo and similarly opposed to direct cooperation with him. Therefore, all things considered, this indirect cooperation was undoubtedly the best outcome.
After we finished discussing work-related matters, Chen Jin and I chatted for a while. Then, as if remembering something, he asked me, "By the way, there's something important you haven't told me yet... Why did Cao Jinbo suddenly change his mind and have Cao Xiaobei bring the keys over to us?"
I took a deep drag of my cigarette, then replied in a low voice, "He's already invested 30% in the Cangshan Villa project... In addition, the land his paper mill occupies is now being developed in cooperation with Binjiang Group..."
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