"Why are you all looking at me like that? Don’t worry, I’m not the same Gao Teng as before." Gao Teng laughed and gave each of them a punch: "When I see her now, it’s just like seeing... a familiar stranger, no feelings at all."

The two brothers breathed a sigh of relief.

Considering how much Gao Teng used to like He Yuanyuan, they were really afraid Gao Teng would fall for her again.

"Well, you are President Gao now."

"Look at how our President Gao dresses, we can’t even begin to compete."

"Stop joking around."

Gao Teng gave each of them a playful knock on the head.

After some teasing and laughter, one of the brothers said, "But seriously, Teng, you’re spending money like this, what about saving for a wife in the future?"

"Someone once told me something."

"What was it?"

"Spend money earnestly, and then you’ll earn money earnestly."

"And what if someone only spends money but doesn’t earn it?"

"Starve, I guess."

"..."

"Who gave you such toxic advice? Shouldn’t you be saving money instead?"

Gao Teng simply smiled, looking enigmatic, making the two big brothers want to punch him.

When paying the bill, Gao Teng suddenly discovered that the black card he always kept in his wallet was missing.

Gao Teng remembered he had never taken it out...

How could it be gone?

Gao Teng went back and searched everywhere, but couldn’t find the card, even the number stored in his phone had disappeared...

Gao Teng seemed to realize something, opened his computer, and quickly typed out a line of text.

In the room, only the sharp sound of typing on the keyboard remained.

Many years later, every time Gao Teng looked at that document, he felt like his life was just a dream.

-

After Gao Teng’s incident, Chuzheng gradually completed a few other tasks.

Not asking for much, just hoping to survive.

Chuzheng wasn’t interested in the chat room, but she read quite a few books in the library.

Xi Jing was very interested in learning pastry-making, and Chuzheng even found various pastry books for him in the library.

Perhaps it was a talent, because even if Xi Jing followed the books, he could make them well.

And Chuzheng often became his first customer.

The new store’s business was booming, and Xi Jing wasn’t just the manager, but also worked part-time as a pastry chef. The boss felt slightly heartbroken, thinking why rely on talent when he could rely on looks—such a situation doubled the salary he had to pay!

But then the boss thought that since he wasn’t paying the salary, he was fine with it.

The shop launched new products periodically, favorable reputation followed, and naturally, the turnover increased.

With better business, the boss, content and well-off, started pondering opening a new store.

Of course, Xi Jing didn’t want to be involved in this matter, politely declining the manager’s offers for late-night discussions on international cooperation and commerce.

"Our boss wants to open a new store again," Xi Jing complained to Chuzheng once he got back: "He doesn’t even consider..."

"Mhm."

Chuzheng responded absent-mindedly, clearly not listening to what Xi Jing was saying.

Xi Jing just wanted to talk, he didn’t need Chuzheng to discuss with him. He murmured his thoughts on and off for a while and felt reassured with Chuzheng giving occasional responses.

Holding the fresh new product, Xi Jing placed it in front of Chuzheng like a treasure: "I made this new one."

Chuzheng took a spoonful.

"Is it delicious?"

Xi Jing watched Chuzheng eat with an expectant look.

"Try it," Chuzheng handed the spoon over.

Xi Jing blinked, leaned forward over the small table, surrounded by the lingering sweet aroma of the pastry.

After a while, Xi Jing sat back, his face slightly flushed: "It’s delicious."

Chuzheng calmly retrieved the spoon, asking without much fluctuation: "Are you tired today?"

Xi Jing was used to Chuzheng’s demeanor: "Not tired, I don’t have much to do now."

Chuzheng nodded with no particular meaning, and Xi Jing thought she would ask more, but she didn’t speak anymore, eating sweets and flipping through a book.

Xi Jing sat beside her watching. He could look at her all day like that.

It wasn’t until evening that Xi Jing realized the meaning behind Chuzheng’s question...

-

The next day.

Xi Jing pulled the bed sheets out for washing, replaced them with new sheets and blankets.

As he shook out the blankets, some things jingled and tumbled down, scattering on the floor.

Curious, Xi Jing looked down and found that they were all rings...

Different brands, different materials, different styles.

Xi Jing rummaged around for quite a while, finding many more.

He tried the sizes and discovered all the men’s rings were his finger size. How many had she bought?

And is it appropriate to just randomly throw them like this?

When Chuzheng returned and saw the pile of rings on the table, she asked very seriously, "Where did you find these?"

Xi Jing: "..."

"These things aren’t cheap, you shouldn’t just throw them around like this," Xi Jing advised her.

"Oh."

Chuzheng casually grabbed them all and stuffed them into the nearby cabinet.

Xi Jing: "..."

How come no thieves have ever targeted this place? If a thief came, they could get rich by casually stealing something!

Xi Jing had no other choice, so he prepared a nice box for Chuzheng to throw them in.

Initially, Xi Jing didn’t pay much attention, but one day he thought of checking and found the box already half full. Judging by her attitude, she was planning to fill the entire box.

And true to form, Chuzheng filled the box in a short time, tied a bow on top, and gifted it to Xi Jing.

Xi Jing: "..."

"You can wear one a day," Chuzheng suggested: "They’re quite nice."

Xi Jing: "..."

He swallowed, asking softly, "Will you wear them with me?"

Chuzheng thought for a moment: "Sure."

Xi Jing was just casually asking, but Chuzheng’s answer surprised him.

Changing rings every day... is it a bit too extravagant?

The weight in Xi Jing’s hand told him that he could afford to be this extravagant.

Of course, Xi Jing didn’t change his rings daily; he preferred the ones they’re wearing now, which he bought himself.

When the time comes for the wedding, he’ll give her an even more beautiful one.

-

That day, after finishing his work, Xi Jing returned early, took a shower, and slept. Chuzheng came back late, and in his semi-conscious state, Xi Jing felt Chuzheng kissing him and instinctively responded to her.

Just as Xi Jing reached out to hug her, she suddenly pulled away, letting a cold breeze in that made him shiver and instantly wake up.

"What’s... wrong?" Xi Jing was still cautious, carrying a bit of puzzlement and doubt.

The girl, supporting herself on both sides of him, asked seriously, "Did you change your shower gel?"

"Uh..." Xi Jing mumbled an acknowledgment: "Yeah, the previous one ran out, and I couldn’t find the same one, it seems like it’s out of stock, so I switched to a different one... Why?"

"I don’t like this scent." It didn’t smell sweet at all.

Xi Jing blinked, solely because of this?

He took a breath and followed up with the question: "Then... then what do you like?"

"The previous one."

"..." Xi Jing very obediently said, "I’ll look for it again tomorrow."

Chuzheng rarely clearly expressed her likes... except for him... Of course, the scent was on him, and indirectly a preference for him, so wanting to keep Chuzheng from being displeased, Xi Jing went on that search the next day.