Chapter 34: A Man of Loyalty and Righteousness

No matter how much Yao Jia pressed, Yue Xuran just smiled and refused to reveal the second half of his sentence.

Frustrated, Yao Jia resorted to her trump card: “I hate it when people leave things half-said. If you don’t tell me the rest, I might just withdraw my investment!”

Yue Xuran shook his head, maintaining an air of elegance and refinement.

With a helpless smile, he said, “If it weren’t for our financial relationship, I honestly can’t imagine you being wealthy, given your current role as a customer service agent at Kunyu Electric.”

Of course, that wasn’t what he wanted to say. What he really wanted to say was: If it weren’t for our financial relationship, I’d really like to be your boyfriend.

However, their statuses were not equal at the moment. Although he didn’t know Yao Jia’s exact background, and despite her current job as a customer service agent, she could easily invest a significant amount into his company. She was clearly no ordinary person.

As long as he was using her money and hadn’t yet generated profits for the company, any pursuit of her would seem financially motivated, making him look like a man living off a woman.

So, for now, he couldn’t make any overt gestures. But fortunately, he had already claimed the title of her nominal boyfriend. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was also why he readily agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend.

Yao Jia laughed at Yue Xuran’s words: “It’s a bit complicated to explain right now. Give me two more months, and I’ll tell you everything in full detail.”

As it happened, she met Yue Xuran and his team at a project pitch meeting. It was just when the adult fund left by her grandfather had matured, allowing her to use it freely.

Her parents wanted to manage this money for her, thinking she was unreliable. She hurriedly searched for various project pitch meetings to invest the money before her parents could intervene.

It was at one such meeting that she encountered Yue Xuran and his team. Yue Xuran had a partner named Tao Lie, and since both their names contained the character for “water,” they named their company Four Dot Technology.

Yao Jia found the name intriguing and took notice of the team. They were working on mobile phones.

Initially, their mobile phone project didn’t impress Yao Jia because she knew the mobile phone market was already saturated, with no untapped Blue Ocean Market, only a fiercely competitive Red Ocean Market.

In such a scenario, she wondered what Yue Xuran and Tao Lie could rely on for monetization and profit.

After the pitch meeting, she approached Yue Xuran and Tao Lie privately. At first, Tao Lie didn’t take her seriously when she claimed she had money and might invest in them, seeing her as just a young girl.

But Yue Xuran didn’t underestimate her just because she was young.

They went to a café and started talking.

Once the conversation got going, Yue Xuran explained, “There are some concepts we can’t discuss at the pitch meeting because competitors could easily replicate them if they have enough funds and act quickly. Our idea at Four Dot Technology isn’t to make profits directly from the phones. We’re even willing to sell our phones at cost or at a discount, relying on value-added services tied to the phones for revenue. For example, some apps require payment to use, but if you buy our phone, you can use those apps for free. These apps include, but aren’t limited to, audio, video, reading, and educational courses.”

He added, “The future is a service-oriented era. Whoever seizes the opportunity in services will seize the future market.”

This concept moved Yao Jia, and she resolutely invested her money in Yue Xuran’s Four Dot Technology.

To this day, Yao Jia felt she hadn’t made a mistake. Yue Xuran and his team were reliable.

After parting ways with Yue Xuran, Yao Jia returned to her dormitory.

She planned to go home in the next few days to gather all the red envelope cards she had saved since childhood, and to sell some luxury items like her bags and watches. She also intended to rummage through every nook and cranny at home, hoping to scrape together some extra cash.

While fiddling with her new phone, she thought about how she might need to live more frugally in the future.

Although she had resolved to only spend money she earned herself and not rely on her parents, the money her parents had given her was still a safety net in her account, even if she didn’t use it.

But now, having invested all her savings, she had truly become someone with no financial backup. She might really have to rely solely on her customer service salary from now on.

This realization sent a chill through Yao Jia’s heart.

A firm thought took shape in her mind: She absolutely couldn’t lend Meng Xingzhe money anymore!

******

Meng Xingzhe sneezed out of nowhere.

He couldn’t figure out why his appetite was so off today. Nothing tasted good, and nothing quenched his thirst.

He had intended to ask Lu Fangfei about the personnel structure at Kunyu Electric, but their conversation was disjointed, full of fragmented thoughts.

After dinner, as they returned to the dormitory building and bid each other goodnight in the stairwell, he surprisingly felt a sense of relief.

Back in his room with the door closed, he intended to sort through what he and Lu Fangfei had discussed over dinner, hoping to piece together those fragmented bits of information into something valuable.

But he found himself unable to grasp even those fragments.

He had never been in such poor condition before, and he began to wonder if he was coming down with something.

Thinking this, he hurriedly rummaged through his drawers and found a forehead thermometer, pointing it at himself and taking a reading.

The result was normal; no fever.

He felt a sense of loss.

If there was no fever, then what was wrong?

His phone rang, and when he picked it up, he saw it was Bei Luonan wanting to connect with him.

He answered with little enthusiasm. Bei Luonan was calling to discuss technical issues.

After their discussion, Bei Luonan unexpectedly scolded him, “Xingxing, did someone kick your head today? Your points are all over the place, completely disjointed!”

Meng Xingzhe didn’t even argue back, forgetting his usual rule of always retorting during debates due to his scattered thoughts tonight.

He wasn’t sure how the topic came up, but somehow they ended up talking about Yue Xuran.

“I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before,” he said to Bei Luonan over the phone.

“Who?” Bei Luonan’s voice rose a bit, “Say that Little Ponytail’s boyfriend’s name again? What did you say it was?”

“Yue Xuran,” Meng Xingzhe repeated flatly.

He heard the sound of Bei Luonan slapping his own thigh over the phone.

“Do you remember that mobile phone enthusiast forum I mentioned before? It’s really popular, gets a lot of traffic, and I’m really envious!”

Meng Xingzhe replied, “I remember. Why?”

Bei Luonan explained, “That forum is run by Yue Xuran’s team!”

“A team?” Meng Xingzhe raised his voice, “A startup?”

“Yes,” Bei Luonan said, “A team making mobile phones. The company is called Four Dot Technology. Initially, no one believed in them, and no one wanted to invest. Later, they somehow secured funding and took off. They already have a product and are about to hold a new product launch. You wouldn’t believe it, but times have changed. Now, many people are scrambling to invest in Four Dot Technology. But Yue Xuran is quite a character. He refuses to take any of the money these people offer. He clearly states that if he needs money, he’ll only ask the person who originally invested in him. That way, when the company profits, the returns will go to his initial investor.”

At this point, Bei Luonan sighed, “Ah, the capital market, always seeking profit and avoiding risk. When he was unknown, those big investors avoided him. Now that he’s successful, they all want a piece of the pie. But Yue Xuran is admirable, loyal to those who helped him in the past.”

The more Meng Xingzhe listened, the more he felt a sense of unease.

“So Yue Xuran is about to make it big?” he asked Bei Luonan.

“You could say that,” Bei Luonan suddenly remarked, “Little Ponytail’s luck is truly first-rate. She’s landed a potential-rich, loyal, and righteous partner!”

Meng Xingzhe found the conversation increasingly annoying and hung up.

After hanging up, he felt inexplicably thirsty and wanted a drink.

He grabbed a bottle, poured it into a glass, and started drinking.

It was a while before he realized he was drinking whiskey. He thought he was drinking water. He figured his taste buds were indeed off today.

As he drank the whiskey like water, he thought to himself, that girl wasn’t lying. She said she’d find a tall, rich, and handsome guy, and she really did. She actually managed to snag Yue Xuran. Huh.

******

That night, Yao Jia was already in bed, ready to sleep, when she heard the front door.

Tian Huasheng had just returned home.

Yao Jia quickly got out of bed, put on her shoes, and went out. She saw Tian Huasheng’s rugged face filled with guilt. “Jia, did I wake you?” he asked in a low voice.

Yao Jia quickly shook her head, “No, I wasn’t asleep yet.”

She observed Tian Huasheng’s face and noticed he looked a bit haggard and anxious.

“Have you had dinner? I still have some instant noodles,” she offered, thinking he might not have eaten.

Tian Huasheng forced a smile, as if a gun was pointed at his back making him smile, “No need, I’ve eaten.”

Yao Jia wanted to ask if something was wrong, but Tian Huasheng spoke first, “Jia, go to sleep. We have to get up early for work tomorrow. Goodnight!”

Yao Jia said goodnight and returned to her room, realizing that Meng Xingzhe was right. Even if Tian Huasheng had troubles, unless he was willing to talk, there was nothing they could do.

The next day was Friday, and something unexpected happened. The most outstanding new employee since joining, Tian Huasheng, made a mistake at work.

He had received many calls the previous day, one of which was to dispatch an installation order for a customer who bought an air conditioner, but he forgot. That morning, the customer had taken a day off to wait at home, but after waiting all morning, no technician showed up. Furious and anxious, the customer called to inquire, only to find out that the installation order hadn’t been sent to the After-sales Service department.

The customer was furious, “Do you know how hard it is for me to take a day off? Do you know how much I had to beg and smile to get this half-day off? And even then, I’ll still get docked pay! And you? You forgot to send my installation order! How do you forget to eat? How do you forget to sleep? How do you forget to breathe?! Now I have to take another day off! What the hell is this?!”

He was determined to file a complaint against Tian Huasheng and demanded compensation for a day’s lost wages.

First, Tian Huasheng was reprimanded by his supervisor. Then he had to apologize to the customer, enduring a twenty-minute tirade. After the complaint was officially recorded and he agreed to compensate for the lost wages, the customer finally calmed down and the matter was resolved.

During a break, Yao Jia went to check on Tian Huasheng.

Tian Huasheng sat at his desk, looking like a wilted blade of grass, his head hanging low in dejection.

Yao Jia thought he was upset about the criticism, so she patted his shoulder to comfort him. “What you went through—being scolded by a customer, criticized by the boss, apologizing only to be scolded again—is nothing. I go through the whole routine regularly, and look, I’m still here, lively and annoying as ever. It’s no big deal, really! Chin up, don’t be sad!”

Tian Huasheng did lift his head, but he shook it. “It’s not the criticism that bothers me, it’s having to pay.”

Yao Jia paused, then quickly asked, “Is something wrong at home? Do you need money? What’s going on?”

Tian Huasheng’s face twisted with concern. “It’s a long story. How about we talk it over tonight after work?”

******

As soon as the workday ended, Yao Jia told Tian Huasheng to go home and prepare, setting up the basics for a hotpot. She and Meng Xingzhe headed to the market to buy meat, drinks, and vegetables.

Tian Huasheng dutifully returned to the dormitory. Meng Xingzhe, despite not being asked, insisted on going back to the dorm too, refusing to go to the market.

“It’s dirty, crowded, and annoying,” he said as his excuse.

In truth, Meng Xingzhe didn’t know why, but he just didn’t want to walk with Yao Jia today, let alone shop together.

Yao Jia, however, wasn’t having any of his excuses and dragged him to the market.

“Xiao Tiantian’s in trouble today. I didn’t want him to worry, that’s why I called you. I thought you could handle it. Don’t be ungrateful!” Yao Jia scolded him.

Meng Xingzhe grudgingly replied, “How do you know I’m not in trouble myself?”

Yao Jia patiently asked, “Are you in trouble then?”

Meng Xingzhe: “No.”

Unable to hold back, Yao Jia swung her purse at Meng Xingzhe.

On the way to the market, Meng Xingzhe even tried to escape, but Yao Jia grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“You expect me to carry all the meat and vegetables by myself? Are you even human? Do you have a heart?” Yao Jia fumed at Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe had the nerve to retort, “With the strength you have, you could carry a whole cow by yourself!”

Furious, Yao Jia tightened her grip. Meng Xingzhe winced, “Damn! Are you even a woman?” He shook his arm but couldn’t break free, so he resorted to personal attacks. “You shouldn’t be so unladylike! You have a boyfriend, you know. Grabbing a guy like this in public isn’t right!”

Yao Jia let go as if she’d been shocked.

As soon as his arm was free, Meng Xingzhe felt an unexpected pang of disappointment.

Once the feeling faded, he said irritably to Yao Jia, “Are we shopping or not? If not, I’m heading back!” With that, he turned and walked ahead, grumbling.

His tone was so unpleasant that Yao Jia wondered if he was having a hormonal mood swing.

In the market, Meng Xingzhe kept complaining nonstop.

At the garland chrysanthemum stall, he said irritably, “Don’t buy this. I don’t like it. If you buy it, you carry it yourself!”

Yao Jia, ignoring his complaints, bought a large bundle of garland chrysanthemum, bagged it, and shoved it into Meng Xingzhe’s hands.

Meng Xingzhe stared at the bag in disbelief.

Was she deliberately going against him?!

“You can’t buy this either. It’s too heavy. If you insist, carry it yourself!” Meng Xingzhe declared at the winter melon stall, following Yao Jia closely.

Yao Jia acted as if he wasn’t there, bought a whole winter melon, paid, and turned to leave. The vendor, knowing his customer well, handed the bagged melon directly to Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe: “…”

He felt that one of them definitely didn’t understand human language!

“You absolutely can’t buy this. If you do, I’m not carrying it! Let it rot on the ground for all I care! Don’t think I won’t follow through!” Meng Xingzhe hurried to the lettuce stall, declaring to Yao Jia, who was inspecting the leaves.

Yao Jia didn’t even acknowledge him, paid for the lettuce, bagged it, and tossed it on the ground before walking away. Meng Xingzhe was so frustrated he could spit blood. He stepped over the lettuce and continued forward, determined not to carry it.

Behind him, an old lady’s voice called out, “Young man, you dropped your vegetables. Aren’t you going to pick them up? Such wastefulness is shameful!”

Blah blah, blah blah.

Meng Xingzhe couldn’t take it anymore. The old lady’s moral lecture made him feel like he could vanish into thin air. Fuming, he turned back, stooped to pick up the lettuce, and carried it.

Unable to hold back, Meng Xingzhe shouted at Yao Jia’s back, “Yao Jia, I’m telling you, if you buy anything else I don’t like, I’ll throw all these vegetables down the drain!”

As they left the market, Yao Jia walked gracefully, her hands empty. Meanwhile, Meng Xingzhe looked like he was ready to pick a fight, his arms laden with bags of groceries as he grumbled all the way home.

When they entered their neighborhood, they ran into Tong Yumo, who was heading out. She always went home on weekends.

Seeing Yao Jia walking empty-handed and Meng Xingzhe struggling with all the bags, Tong Yumo immediately felt sorry for him.

“Yao Jia, how can you let Meng Xingzhe carry everything? He doesn’t look as tough as you. How can he manage all that? You should help him out a bit!”

Yao Jia chuckled. “Why don’t you help him then?”

Tong Yumo blinked and said, “I have a car waiting for me at the gate. I can’t delay.”

Meng Xingzhe, growing impatient, said, “Are we going or not? Standing here chatting, you don’t feel tired because you’re not carrying anything, right?”

Tong Yumo quickly chimed in, “Yao Jia, you really don’t know how to be considerate!”

Just as Yao Jia was about to retort, Meng Xingzhe cut in, “Tong Yumo, if you really care, don’t just talk about it. Help me carry something.” He was unusually irritable today, even surprising himself.

Tong Yumo quickly stepped back. “But I can’t carry it either. Only Yao Jia can handle this!”

???

Yao Jia wondered, did Tong Yumo really see her as so down-to-earth? She used to be someone who never lifted a finger!

“You’re a woman, she’s a woman. If you can’t carry it, why should she be able to?” Meng Xingzhe retorted.

“Meng Xingzhe, you really don’t know who’s good or bad!” Tong Yumo stomped her foot in frustration and ran off.

Yao Jia stifled her laughter.

She had never seen anyone better at reading people than Meng Xingzhe.

Once home, Yao Jia realized she forgot to buy wine.

“A hot pot without wine has no soul!” Yao Jia declared, slapping the table and deciding to go back downstairs to buy some.

Meng Xingzhe scoffed, “What were you thinking? You had the whole way back to remember, and you didn’t?”

Grumbling, he put on his shoes and headed downstairs.

Tian Huasheng and Yao Jia exchanged glances.

“Jia, don’t you think Brother Meng has been acting a bit strange lately?” Tian Huasheng asked.

Yao Jia nodded. “He says ‘no’ more vehemently, but his actions are more honest than ever.”

A smile finally appeared on Tian Huasheng’s weary face, the first in two days.

******

Meng Xingzhe returned, grumbling, with a case of beer in glass bottles. It was the weekend, and the canned beer had sold out.

Placing the beer on the floor, he firmly stated, “Whoever wants to drink this crappy beer can have it, but not me!”

Yao Jia ignored him.

The hot pot was set up, meat and vegetables went into the pot, and everyone started eating.

Yao Jia went to open the beer.

She hadn’t planned on pouring any for Meng Xingzhe, so she only washed two glasses, one for herself and one for Tian Huasheng.

Yet Meng Xingzhe insisted on making his presence known. “I don’t want any, don’t pour me any!”

Yao Jia, feeling rebellious, decided she had to pour him some.

Too lazy to get another glass, she grabbed a rice bowl, filled it with beer, and placed it in front of Meng Xingzhe.

“This rough beer, are you feeding a donkey?” Meng Xingzhe continued to complain.

Yao Jia felt like he had been acting up since yesterday, like a rebellious teenager challenging his mother.

“Leave it there! If you don’t drink it, then you’re not a donkey,” Yao Jia retorted, ignoring him afterward.

She and Tian Huasheng downed a glass of beer, opening up both their appetites and their conversation.

Yao Jia asked Tian Huasheng what had happened.

Tian Huasheng wiped his face with his large hand, revealing a bitter smile. “Let me tell you from the beginning.”

— Translator’s Notes —

– Four Dot Technology: In Chinese naming conventions, company names often incorporate puns or elements from founders’ names. Here, ‘Four Dot’ likely derives from ‘Sì Diǎn’ (四点), possibly playing on the ‘water’ radical (氵) in the names Yue Xuran and Tao Lie, symbolizing innovation or connectivity in tech.