"Who is it!?"
Fang Yuting and Zhang Xinyue were enthusiastically enjoying spicy crayfish when a knock sounded at the door.
She called out but got no response from outside.
Only then did Fang Yuting reluctantly take off her plastic gloves, walk to the door, and peer through the peephole.
When she saw that face, she shivered in fright and hurriedly opened the door.
"Ch-Chen Dong, hello."
As she spoke, Fang Yuting subconsciously moved to the side.
Chen Pingjiang nodded expressionlessly and stepped into the living room.
As soon as he walked into the house, he smelled a strong aroma, which made Chen Pingjiang swallow hard.
He had been busy all day without eating, and now, encountering a late-night snack, he really couldn't resist.
Zhang Xinyue was also stunned when she saw Chen Pingjiang, her mouth still greasy, not even bothering to wipe it.
It had been a while since that absurd incident, and Zhang Xinyue had recovered.
Although she was still a bit angry with Chen Pingjiang, as more time passed, she started to miss him.
She knew Chen Pingjiang had been very busy recently and didn't dare to disturb him.
Upon seeing Chen Pingjiang suddenly, joy and grievance intertwined in her heart, and her eyes quickly reddened, partly out of emotion.
She hadn't expected that at such an important time, Chen Pingjiang wouldn't go anywhere else but would actually come to see her.
Seeing Chen Pingjiang staring at the crayfish meat she had just peeled, Zhang Xinyue stammered,
"D-do you want some?"
Without a word, Chen Pingjiang sat on the sofa and slurped it down.
His taste buds were awakened, and his stomach began to rumble.
Chen Pingjiang turned and said to Fang Yuting, who was still standing at the door,
"That's Little Fang, right? Do you have any food? Get some."
Fang Yuting jumped in fright,
"Yes, there's some leftover rice. I'll make you some egg fried rice."
"Thank you then."
Fang Yuting took out leftover rice from the fridge, cracked two eggs, and as she was about to light the stove and pour oil, she realized something was wrong.
"That's not right, why are they being all lovey-dovey while I'm stuck here like a maid, helping to cook?"
Complaints are complaints, grumbles are grumbles, but she could only hold her nose and continue frying.
Chen Pingjiang was so hungry that he directly picked up Zhang Xinyue's chopsticks, grabbed a piece of smashed cucumber, and put it into his mouth.
On the other side, Zhang Xinyue deftly peeled another shrimp, thoughtfully dipped it in some sauce, and fed it to Chen Pingjiang's mouth.
"This shrimp tastes good, where's it from?"
"Ah, you don't know? It's Little Chen's BBQ."
"Uh."
Chen Pingjiang scratched his head.
He hadn't been to the place where he started his business for a long time.
"The taste is so good now, it wasn't this delicious before."
"Don't you even pay attention to your own shop? It's crayfish season now. The Little Chen's BBQ near my home has people queuing up at 4 PM, and in the evening, they set up forty or fifty outdoor tables. I queued for an hour just to get some."
Suddenly, a scene flashed in Chen Pingjiang's mind.
It was the opening day of the first Little Chen's BBQ, and Zhang Xinyue and Ma Lingli went to support it, vigorously devouring crayfish.
That day, Zhang Xinyue was wearing a baseball cap and a black tight-fitting T-shirt.
"Where is Ma Lingli now?"
Zhang Xinyue, diligently peeling shrimp, replied without thinking,
"She went back to her hometown after graduation."
As soon as she finished speaking, her heart sank, and she looked at Chen Pingjiang, who happened to be looking at her as well.
Zhang Xinyue also remembered that day.
"Chen Dong, the fried rice is ready,"
Fang Yuting's voice broke the silence.
Chen Pingjiang nodded and pulled out a thick stack of RMB from his bag, placing it on the corner of the table.
"I'm not eating for free. I just heard you complaining in the kitchen."
"Ah!"
Fang Yuting's brain immediately crashed.
She wanted to explain, but her eyes were already fixed on the thick stack of RMB.
"Thank you, young master!"
Fang Yuting touched it with her hand; before folding, it was probably close to two thousand yuan.
"You two eat first, I have some work to deal with."
After entering her room and closing the door, Fang Yuting's eyes were practically dollar signs.
"Although the young master has a bad temper, he's truly generous with money. Woo-woo-woo, I can buy a handbag next week."
In the living room, Chen Pingjiang said,
"I'll sleep here tonight, I'm not going back."
"Ah! Oh! Okay!"
Zhang Xinyue, as if possessed, agreed.
But right after agreeing, her heart felt a tingling sensation, and suddenly her legs tightened as she recalled the craziness and passion of that day.
She became even more nervous about what was about to happen.
…
After Chen Pingjiang finished showering, he cautiously scanned the empty living room and, wearing only a pair of shorts, quickly walked two steps and rushed into Zhang Xinyue's bedroom.
In the bedroom, the crystal chandelier spun continuously, casting starry reflections on the ceiling.
Zhang Xinyue, who was in a daze, heard the door open and looked towards the door, only to see Chen Pingjiang, bare-chested and carrying his dirty clothes.
Instantly, her heart leaped to her throat, especially when she saw the bulge below Chen Pingjiang's abdomen.
Zhang Xinyue's face turned frighteningly red, as if it were about to bleed.
Immediately after, Zhang Xinyue felt as if she had been electrocuted, and something flowed out.
…
In the dimly lit room, both were panting.
Chen Pingjiang was covered in sweat, his body like a furnace, while Zhang Xinyue's skin was cool.
With a lingering flush of satisfaction on her face, Zhang Xinyue had completely experienced being on cloud nine.
"I got a flat from a friend; it's a large flat, about three hundred square meters. Someone will contact you later to arrange the transfer of ownership."
Chen Pingjiang took a drag from his cigarette.
The apartment had been prepared long ago, but he hadn't had the chance to give it to her until now that he was done with his immediate tasks.
Adhering to the principle of trying to be fair, Chen Pingjiang also got an apartment from He Zhiyu, and it was in the same complex as Ni Na.
A few apartments were a small matter for He Zhiyu and his associates; they would have even preferred Chen Pingjiang to ask for more.
"Are you planning to keep a mistress in a golden house?"
Zhang Xinyue snuggled further into Chen Pingjiang's embrace.
"Besides, I'm not with you for your money. I liked you even when you had no money."
"What others have, you should have too."
Zhang Xinyue didn't know that "others" in Chen Pingjiang's mouth actually referred to Ni Na; she thought Chen Pingjiang was talking about Cong Nini.
She immediately felt a pang of jealousy, and remembering the encounter that day, her teeth ached with hatred.
She then bit Chen Pingjiang sharply on the chest and said fiercely,
"Don't mention her."
Chen Pingjiang pursed his lips, thinking to himself, women are so dramatic.
They're sisters who've slept in the same bed, what's the big deal!
The next day, when Zhang Xinyue opened her eyes, she found Chen Pingjiang was gone.
She searched the house for a long time but couldn't find any trace of him, feeling a sudden sense of loss.
"Click!"
Fang Yuting's bedroom door also opened.
Fang Yuting, with her messy hair, her eyes bloodshot, started complaining as soon as she saw Zhang Xinyue:
"I'm moving out! You two were too loud last night, going on non-stop until 4 AM. I really wonder if the young master is made of iron. I'm telling you, sis, did you get poked through?"
Hearing this, Zhang Xinyue blushed and spat,
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"What nonsense? Why don't you try it? The soundproofing in this apartment is terrible; I could hear everything clearly. You were moaning and groaning non-stop, like you were being beaten. It was so uncomfortable for me to listen to."
Zhang Xinyue exclaimed,
"Oh, you brat, shut up."
Just as they were about to tickle and tease each other, there was another knock at the door.
After opening it suspiciously, they found a refined man in a black suit standing behind it.
"Miss Zhang, these are the keys to the complex, and the note has the address. The property management fees have been prepaid for five years, and the furniture and daily necessities are all ready. You can move in anytime with just your bags. On the second basement level, there is a car provided for your daily commute. Later, when you have time, you can also call the number on the note to contact me to help you with the transfer of ownership."
Until she closed the door, Zhang Xinyue was still in a daze.
Fang Yuting, who had heard everything clearly, widened her eyes in disbelief:
"Is money power that dominant? Screaming until 4 AM gets you an apartment. Woo-woo-woo, seriously, sis, next time something like this happens, can you consider me? A live-in maid doesn't care about anything else."
"Go away, go away!"
Fortunately, it was a day off today; otherwise, Zhang Xinyue and Fang Yuting would not have been in the mood for work.
The two immediately took a taxi to the address on the note.
When they opened the door and entered the house, Fang Yuting was stunned by the magnificence before her.
After circling the large flat three times, Fang Yuting finally put her hands on her hips with satisfaction and said to Zhang Xinyue,
"Alright, you've finished touring my home, you can leave my home now."
Zhang Xinyue: "?"
"Can you help me check how much this apartment costs?"
"No need to check, I already looked on the way here. The average price is currently thirty thousand per square meter, so this one probably costs close to ten million. Your young master still dotes on you; it wasn't in vain that you cried until four in the morning."
Zhang Xinyue rolled her eyes speechlessly,
"If you keep spouting nonsense about this, don't live here anymore."
Now it was Fang Yuting's turn to stare blankly.
"Ah? So you planned to let me live with you? Then I won't say anything."
"What else? Wouldn't you be scared living alone in such a big house?"
Zhang Xinyue thought, how wonderful it would be if Chen Pingjiang could live with her.
However, this might be destined to be a luxury, some things, once missed, are missed.
It was also time for her to accept her current life and their unconventional relationship.
Some things didn't need to be stated too clearly.
Last night's repeat, as well as the apartment and car before her, were all proof.
If the last time was just an accident, then from now on, their relationship had progressed to a different level.
"This is also good; at least having is better than losing."
After so many years of entanglement, internal strife, and back-and-forth, their on-again, off-again relationship finally reached a comma today.
Zhang Xinyue had also given up some unrealistic fantasies.
If she couldn't be the only one, then she would try to possess.
Her good friend Fang Yuting, having graduated from a prestigious university, knew where to draw the line, even though she sometimes liked to joke around.
She had long heard that the big boss had a legitimate girlfriend, so Zhang Xinyue's role was crystal clear.
But some things are better left unsaid, just known.
"I'd be willing too, even if I know the boss wouldn't be interested."
(End of chapter)