Because Mi Cai and CC returned to the bar again, I had to stop arguing with Leyao and compromised once more in my heart. After all, since I had already waited for so long, I didn’t mind waiting another day.
After briefly sitting in Afeng’s bar for a while longer, we ended the birthday party. Thus, I officially entered the ranks of 27-year-old senior youths. This made me desire more from life: longing for marriage, longing for a career, and hoping to live smoothly without so many past twists and turns.
After returning to the inn, everyone went back to their rooms to rest. I remained at the front desk with Tongzi to tally the day’s sales data. The final result was within my expectations, yet still shocking. Because in just one day, our inn, combined with the “Yuanlai Inn” subleased from Zhou Zhaokun, made a profit of fifteen thousand yuan. This already equaled a senior white-collar worker’s monthly income. If this could be sustained for two months, I would have surplus funds to expand into other areas, even giving me initial confidence to seek financing. Therefore, I believe that from today onward, my career has gradually started to get on track and will soon enter a high-speed lane.
Early the next morning, Badie and Mom left Xitang first. Mi Cai and I saw them off. Before parting, Mom spoke to me, though it felt more like she was speaking to Mi Cai: “When do you have time to come back and visit Xuzhou? All your uncles and relatives are eager for you to get married.”
I nodded and replied: “I’ll go back to visit once this busy season at the inn is over.”
“Not just you going back…”
I smiled, took Mi Cai’s hand beside me, and said: “Of course, your future daughter-in-law will come too. I understand.”
Mi Cai seemed somewhat embarrassed, avoiding my joyful gaze and slightly lowering her head. Finally, Badie spoke with a reminder: “Zhaoyang, be more considerate of Xiaomi when you’re together, okay?”
I nodded again, instinctively tightening my grip on Mi Cai’s hand. As long as she was by my side, I was willing to spare the most time to give her a sense of family.
Badie gently patted Mom’s shoulder, signaling her to get in the car. Mom looked at me affectionately one last time before following Badie toward their car. Mi Cai and I walked with them to the car’s side, waving goodbye.
The engine started, the old Santana 2000 began moving with a shudder and a trail of black smoke. I felt a deep sadness at this scene, because over these years I had owed my parents too much. Yet, although unwilling, they continued to indulge my pursuit of freedom, even traveling all the way to Xitang just to celebrate my birthday.
The car gradually disappeared from my sight, my eyes slightly moist. I muttered to myself: “Once I start making money, I will definitely get Badie a better car!”
Mi Cai beside me picked up my words: “What if I give one to Uncle as a gift? Those cars have too many safety hazards!”
“He won’t accept it.”
Mi Cai thought for a moment and said: “What if I, as his future daughter-in-law, gave him one on his birthday?”
Because of Mi Cai’s words, I instinctively felt happy, but after thinking, I replied: “He would be very happy, but still wouldn’t accept it.”
Mi Cai suddenly realized: “So your personality seems to have inherited from Auntie, but actually deep down, you’ve inherited Uncle’s traits.”
Looking again in the direction where Badie and Mom had left, I smiled: “Maybe you’re right.”
In a moment of silence, I pulled Mi Cai into my arms, enjoying the gentle sunlight, the soft breeze, and the sense of fulfillment she brought. Leisurely lighting a cigarette, I boredly asked her: “Want to take a puff? Just like CC?”
Mi Cai ignored my boredom and seriously said to me: “Zhaoyang, I want to meet Uncle this afternoon. Would you like to come with me?”
Instantly, a strong sense of resistance arose in my heart: “Why would I want to meet him… Anyway, whether he agrees or not, we’re getting married. When the time comes, we’ll just get the marriage certificate and slam it in front of him, telling him it’s already done, making him feel deeply helpless with our efficiency.”
This time, Mi Cai didn’t insist. She said: “Then let’s talk about this after I return from abroad. But there are some hurdles I still hope we can face together, not avoid!”
“Am I avoiding? I just don’t want to see Mi Zhongde. I just can’t stand him.”
In my stubborn refusal to budge, Mi Cai chose silence, not continuing the debate with me. But I didn’t think there was anything wrong with refusing to meet Mi Zhongde. I simply despised having any contact with him, especially after attending his birthday banquet last time, which only intensified this feeling of disdain.
…
At noon, Mi Cai, Fangyuan, Jianwei, and I returned to Suzhou together. True to her word, Mi Cai had indeed arranged a meeting with Mi Zhongde and went alone. Taking this opportunity, I called my old boss, Chen Jingming, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. I wanted to learn about Zhuomei’s current situation and Fangyuan’s recent status through him. Although Fangyuan had personally assured me, I still remained wary, because this concerned Mi Cai and Zhuomei’s major matters. Without triple verification, I couldn’t possibly let my guard down completely.
Coincidentally, Chen Jingming was spending the weekend in Suzhou. With just one phone call, I managed to meet him. We met at the “Seaview Café” located at the foot of the Zhuomei building.
The café had a designated smoking area. After we sat down, I respectfully lit a cigarette for him. He took a puff and smiled, asking: “Why did you suddenly think of inviting this old boss of yours?”
“I missed you, really missed you!”
“You’re being fake, getting more fake as you grow older, even sentimental…”
Unembarrassed by Chen Jingming’s blunt exposure, I still smiled and said: “I really want to hear life lessons from you. After all, you are a beacon lighting my long life path!”
Chen Jingming smiled, lit his lighter, and lit the cigarette in my mouth. After I took a puff, he said, “You want to know about the internal affairs of Zhuomei, right? With my age, can’t I tell that you’re worried about Miss Mi?”
I nodded, dropping my playful demeanor, and said seriously, “Yes, I really want to know what’s going on with Zhuomei right now and how likely it is for Mi Cai to successfully manipulate the IPO.”
Chen Jingming took a sip of tea and remained silent for a moment before telling me: “Actually, as long as the IPO is successful, Mi Zhongde losing complete control over Zhuomei is inevitable. Mi Cai is leveraging the board members’ desire to increase their personal wealth through the IPO, effectively choking Mi Zhongde’s throat. He has no way to refuse the IPO.”
“So you mean Mi Zhongde is definitely going to lose this time?”
Chen Jingming shook his head: “Not necessarily. This old, cunning fox must have another trick up his sleeve, but personally, I think he’s beyond saving unless…”
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