I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping Chapter 2103: 1353: Pretty Good (2)
Jiang Chen found himself at a loss for words, but he eventually agreed with a nod, “Your classmate has a pretty sharp mind.”
“Going out doesn’t always require spending cash; it simply means your classmate understands their own desires.”
With one hand cradling the priciest avocado beverage available in the shop, Fang Qing made her observation.
Hong Xiaoyu promptly closed his mouth.
Yet Jiang Chen appeared to hold a contrasting view, casting a look toward Qing Mei, “Qing Gege, you can’t lump all women together; in most cases, the expenses of dating are really steep.”
Sipping on his fruit tea, Hong Xiaoyu wisely chose to stay quiet.
Fang Qing refrained from debating the point, maybe acknowledging that her words carried a bit of prejudice, so she turned to Hong Xiaoyu, “Simply share with the police whatever you’re aware of, and let them manage the remainder.”
Jiang Chen gave a nod, aligning with Qing Mei at that instant, “Right, this stage of your schooling is vital, so don’t allow it to disrupt your education.”
“Sister Fang Qing, Bro, got it.”
As he spoke, Hong Xiaoyu abruptly recalled a detail, “Bro, did you spot Ren Miao on campus earlier?”
Ren Miao?
It took Jiang Chen a second to catch on, “You mean the girl you had a crush on back then?”
Hong Xiaoyu showed no embarrassment, nodding straightforwardly and without hesitation.
Fang Qing quietly savored her avocado milkshake.
The fellow wasn’t spouting empty chatter.
As expected, plenty of drama.
“How did you find out?”
Jiang Chen inquired.
“She sent me a message.”
A faint smile tugged at Jiang Chen’s lips upon hearing that, “So you two still keep contact?”
“Yep.”
Hong Xiaoyu chuckled, “We’re friends, you know.”
“Not worried about stirring up jealousy?”
Jiang Chen ribbed him.
“Why worry? Ren Miao and I are nothing more than regular pals, Bro. Didn’t your ex-girlfriend from before also…”
Still so youthful, green, lacking polish,
Do you blurt out anything that crosses your mind?
But Hong Xiaoyu caught on in the end, halting abruptly and gulping down the unfinished thought, though it was too late to retract.
The words that mattered had already reached their ears.
“Which of his girlfriends was he referring to?”
Fang Qing inquired gently, her interest stirred.
Nerves gripped Hong Xiaoyu as he shot an apologetic glance at his cousin, then quietly nursed his fruit tea.
Boss Jiang confronted it directly, responding with steady indifference, “It’s the one from my college days, the first.”
Fang Qing was well aware of who his second girlfriend had been; these days, she felt almost like family.
Naturally.
She was also familiar with that initial one.
“Guys as steadfast and devoted as your brother are hard to come by these days.”
Hong Xiaoyu managed only an uneasy laugh.
That girl had visited Sha City once; he’d shown her around for a day, leaving a strong mark, which led him to bring it up moments ago.
“Sister Fang Qing, what brought you to River City alongside my brother?”
Jiang Chen felt both entertained and puzzled.
This youngster truly lacks finesse in social graces. He recognized the topic shift as an attempt to assist him, yet it came off so clumsily.
“Is it wrong for me to show up with Sister Fang Qing?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Your Sister Fang Qing came to assist me in a legal matter.”
“Ah?”
Hong Xiaoyu jumped in surprise, then voiced his worry right away, “Bro, someone’s taking you to court?”
“It’s just some business issue.”
Jiang Chen took a sip of his fruit tea, brushing it off lightly.
“How bad is it?”
Blood ties run deep, after all.
Jiang Chen shook his head, “Haven’t you noticed Sister Fang Qing right here? Nothing’s going to go wrong.”
A grin escaped Hong Xiaoyu despite himself, followed by a nod of assent.
“Yeah, Sister Fang Qing will surely look out for Bro.”
That’s how it had always been growing up.
He held back the final part.
Even so, without finishing, it was plenty to cause discomfort; to regain some poise, he added, “What’s with that? Back in the day, I was the one shielding her—you missed all the headaches she caused me.”
At last, an outlet for his long-bottled frustrations.
Fang Qing stayed by his side, letting him air his pent-up complaints without pushing back.
Boss Jiang vented sincerely, yet true understanding remains elusive in this world. Hong Xiaoyu nodded along superficially, offering solace, “Bro, I get it.”
But how could that deceive Jiang Chen? Seeing it as pointless chatter, he quit and jested with a curse.
“You get nothing.”
Hong Xiaoyu flashed a basic smile and turned to Fang Qing, “I might not get it, but Sister Fang Qing certainly does.”
Jiang Chen let out a sigh, shaking his head in resignation.
He figured clearing his reputation might prove impossible in this lifetime.
“Yu, hurry back, Ah Feng’s folks have arrived.”
A roommate’s voice came through.
Ah Feng.
The roommate who had vanished.
How could his parents remain back home with their child gone?
“Alright, heading over now!”
After ending the call, Hong Xiaoyu said sheepishly, “Sister Fang Qing, Brother, I need to return to campus—my roommate’s parents traveled here from afar.”
“Mm, off you go.”
Fang Qing showed comprehension.
“Bro, you and Sister Fang Qing won’t be heading out of River City soon, will you?”
“Deal with your stuff. Reach out once you’re free.”
Jiang Chen chuckled,
Hong Xiaoyu nodded, “Alright… I’m heading out.”
“Grab your milk tea.”
Hong Xiaoyu departed swiftly, abandoning Jiang Chen and Fang Qing to sit by themselves.
A scarce bit of calm.
“That boy’s schedule looks fuller than ours.”
Jiang Chen remarked under his breath.
“He’s picked up your finest traits—loyal and honorable.”
Jiang Chen’s expression soured.
Fang Qing kept her cool, “No need to read into it, just a sincere praise.”
Jiang Chen nursed his fruit tea, opting not to squabble, and after draining it, he breathed a satisfied sigh, then rattled his milk tea cup, where ice filled nearly a third.
“Milk tea cost two yuan in the old days, now it’s past twenty, more than ten times higher.”
Fang Qing skipped the reminiscing, “Tie Jun’s tying the knot this year.”
Jiang Chen paused in surprise.
“He hasn’t mentioned it to you, right?”
Jiang Chen shook his head, “Nope, is it official?”
“The families are hashing it out; likely in the latter part of the year.”
Jiang Chen offered a subtle smile, “He’s overdue for marriage—delay more, and such a fine partner might slip away to another.”
Though they’d reached the phase for rooting down and building lives, witnessing a longtime friend on the brink of wedlock still evoked… a tangled mix of feelings, tough to pin down.
“When he enlisted initially, I figured he’d serve a solid decade, never guessed he’d beat us all to the altar.”
Jiang Chen sipped his fruit tea, as if it were liquor, eyes tinged with fond memories.
Life unfolds like a voyage with fixed origins and destinations, dotted with numerous halts, yet only a handful that nearly everyone encounters.
Some arrive sooner, others delay.
Tie Jun fits those arriving neither rushed nor tardy, hitting a fated milestone precisely when due, primed for the road ahead.
“And you?”
“Me how?”
Jiang Chen stayed even-keeled.
“When do you intend to wed?”
Jiang Chen shot her a glance.
He’d assumed she’d steer clear of the question.
“Is marriage something I can just choose solo?”
He aimed for a light tone.
“Ever considered it?”
“What about you? Pondered that yourself?”
Cornered, Jiang Chen flipped it back.
“32.”
Jiang Chen’s brows knit, startled by the exact figure.
“Why 32?”
He murmured.
“Finish school at 22, then grind for a decade, building the required financial base—at minimum, securing a home in my work city. A car’s optional. Once money’s no issue, marry, start a family, nurture the kids; by their adulthood, I’d hit around 55, time to retire. Health permitting, I could roam the globe carefree.”
Jiang Chen fell quiet, then after a beat, noted, “You map out every detail with such care.”
Fang Qing let out a soft chuckle.
“Thoughts on my blueprint?”
What do I think?
In this hectic era, for everyday folks, all she outlined…
holds real promise.
Jiang Chen nodded.
“Sounds solid.”