After I answered my cousin's call, I suddenly remembered that her name was Xu Shu. She asked me first, "Brother, you're not asleep yet, are you?"
"Hmm, still awake... What made you think of calling me?"
"Nothing special, I just wanted to chat with you... It seems like we haven't talked on the phone for a year or two... I remember the last time I saw you was during Chinese New Year the year before last!"
I exclaimed, "It's been so long! ...Are you getting used to life in Shanghai?"
"It's a habit. Ms. Jian values me quite a bit. I'm her personal assistant now. Although it hasn't been long, I've already seen quite a few situations with her... Anyway, I feel that this job is very helpful for my personal development."
"That's good."
Xu Shu was silent for a moment on the other end of the phone, then said to me, "Brother, I'm calling you to thank you... This job is very important to me. Without your help, I probably wouldn't have gotten this opportunity... I was really desperate a while ago..."
“My aunt mentioned your condition to me… If I may ask, what exactly is wrong with you?”
Xu Shu seemed a little embarrassed to speak... so much so that he remained silent for an even longer time than before, before finally saying to me, "You're my brother, so I won't hide it from you... I... became someone's mistress, but I only found out afterward that he was a married man... Actually, the day my parents went to find you and your sister-in-law, I had an abortion at the hospital... I was almost ruined by that scumbag."
"It's good that you've learned your lesson. You'll have to be much more careful when you look for a boyfriend in the future."
"Hmm... It's also my fault. I thought that man was so outstanding, and if I followed him, I wouldn't have to struggle for the rest of my life... I reflected on myself later, and I realized that I was really ruined by my hedonistic mindset. In fact, in this world, the only person you can truly rely on is yourself... Right, brother?"
The reason I didn't want Ye Zhi to arrange a job for her back then was because I knew she was someone who craved enjoyment. Now that she's realized this herself and is willing to reflect and change, as her older brother, I certainly can't discourage her anymore. So I encouraged her, saying, "It's good that you think this way... I've always thought you're a very capable person, otherwise you wouldn't be the most educated person in our family... If you can really change your shortcomings, your future will definitely be bright."
Xu Shu finally smiled: "By the way, brother... when are you coming to Shanghai? I'll treat you to a meal... and Dai Qiang too... we all want to thank you properly."
I froze, unsure how to answer... and a wave of sadness washed over me again... What would I be doing going to Shanghai?
"Brother, why aren't you saying anything... Is the signal bad?"
"No... If you have time, you should invite your CEO Jian to Dali... The person you should thank the most for your help is her... As her older brother, I should find an opportunity to properly thank her."
"Yes, Mr. Jian has been kind to me... but the person I should thank the most is my sister-in-law... Mr. Jian has already told me that."
My Adam's apple bobbed, and I couldn't speak for a long time.
Realizing what was happening, Xu Shu quickly said to me, "I'm sorry, brother... I misspoke..."
"It's okay, it's all true... I've come to terms with it. Anyway, no one can escape birth, aging, sickness, and death, natural disasters, and everything else. It's just a matter of time..." I smiled again and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll hang up... I'm sleepy."
Before Xu Shu could reply, I hung up the phone.
But after turning off the lights, I couldn't help but think about my past with Ye Zhi... I was really deceiving myself and others; I hadn't let go.
...
The next morning, Chen Jin and I went to the studio together. We took stock of the shops we had recently signed and made a very detailed leasing plan based on the locations of these existing shops. In addition, the installation of streetlights in the commercial street was also underway. After serious discussion and research, we finally came up with a budget of 130,000 yuan for this project. Once the design plan is completed, construction and installation can begin immediately.
We have confirmed with the construction team that the entire project will take no more than 15 days... In 15 days, this commercial street will be completely transformed.
...
Around noon, Cao Xiaobei came to our studio again. Seeing that Chen Jin was there, she insisted on speaking to me privately. I don't know what her motives were.
Outside the studio, I said to him with dissatisfaction, "Why don't you stay in such a nice environment inside the studio? Why do you have to go outside to sunbathe?!"
Do you know what a private chat is?
"If you like private messaging so much, why don't you just tell me on WeChat?"
I was interrupted by Cao Xiaobei before I could finish my sentence. He said, "I came to borrow money from you... This is such an embarrassing thing, we can't let too many people know about it."
"Did I hear that right? You're asking me to borrow money!"
Cao Xiaobei pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and after taking two puffs, said to me, "I went back yesterday and told my dad about opening an inn... My dad said it's fine for me to open one, but I have to pay him rent."
"His idea is good; he wants you to do something meaningful on your own... But he's asking you for rent, so why are you coming to me to borrow money?"
“My dad said we have to borrow this money from you…”
"Your dad said, your dad said... Don't you have any opinions of your own?"
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