Xiao Yufan quickly tidied up the room and plopped down directly onto the sofa. He had no interest in Yu Yihan’s bedroom, but thinking about Yu Yihan in her pajamas that morning stirred a rush of excitement through his body, causing a noticeable reaction below.
Lighting a cigarette, Xiao Yufan lounged comfortably on the sofa, but his mind was restless. He realized that over the past three years, he had become accustomed to complaining and giving up on himself.
Including love—he had never actively pursued anything. Provoked by Yu Yihan, Xiao Yufan realized he really should start seriously looking for a job to support himself.
In fact, during his four years at university, his grades had always been good. Besides majoring in computer programming, he had also earned a second degree from the law school. However, faced with the intimidating job requirements of various companies in Beijing, he realized that his advantages were hardly impressive.
“Life is damn tough!” He sighed, stubbing the cigarette butt forcefully into the ashtray. The entire room was now filled with smoke, and he immediately dialed Ma Teng’s phone number.
“Brother Teng, help me get a used computer. It doesn’t need to be great. You pay for it first—I’ll pay you back later!”
“No problem at all. But hey, you suddenly wanting a computer—could it be our big-time computer programmer is about to rise again?” teased Ma Teng from the other end of the line. He knew Xiao Yufan well enough—once he set his mind to something, he wouldn’t stop until he succeeded.
“Rise my ass! If I keep slacking off, I’ll be heading back to my hometown soon. I’m just trying to scrape by at this point!” Xiao Yufan chuckled bitterly. Forget rising—he didn’t even have the slightest motivation to work now. He just didn’t want Yu Yihan to look down on him. He couldn’t even explain why he cared so much about her opinion.
“It’s not that bad, right? You’ve made it through the past three years! By the way, I’ve got a money-making opportunity. Interested?”
“Talk straight, don’t beat around the bush. A fool wouldn’t take money when it’s offered, as long as it’s legal, I’m in!” At the mention of making money, Xiao Yufan perked up. After giving all his savings to Lin Jiayao, he was practically broke now—what he needed most was cash.
“You once told me your ancestors were into feng shui and fortune-telling, right? Today, a colleague came to me asking if I knew anyone who understood feng shui to help him check out a place. I immediately thought of you. You just need to take a look and you’ll get a few hundred bucks. Even if you just make something up, no one would know anyway.”
“Feng shui? Is it for a house or a shop? Actually, feng shui and fortune-telling are my specialties. It’s just been a while since I’ve done it!”
Xiao Yufan wasn’t bragging. His family had indeed been respected feng shui masters for generations, well-known in his hometown. Naturally, he had been influenced by this tradition. His grandfather had even said that Xiao Yufan’s skills in feng shui and fortune-telling would surpass many predecessors.
“A cemetery…” Ma Teng hesitated slightly, then added with a mischievous, almost annoying laugh. Xiao Yufan was momentarily taken aback. He could definitely do feng shui for cemeteries, but since cemeteries were associated with bad luck, he wasn’t particularly fond of doing readings for them. However, if it paid, of course, he wouldn’t refuse.
“Tell me the time and location for the cemetery visit…”
“It’s at the Ling Mountain Buddhist Pagoda Cemetery outside the Fifth Ring Road. My colleague will go there this afternoon at four to choose a burial plot. You can go together with him!”
“Fine, tell your colleague to call me directly when the time comes. I’m only doing this as a favor to you. You know, back in my hometown, quite a few people asked me to do feng shui, but honestly, hardly anyone ever asked about cemetery readings!”
“I know, buddy, you’re doing me a big favor. I’ll treat you to a night out once I have time. Tell me, what kind of girl do you want this time? I’ll cover everything for you!”
“Save it. I don’t want to die from overexertion in bed. I’d rather use my time to think about making money!” Xiao Yufan laughed and cursed. Since he had broken up with his five-year girlfriend and met Lin Jiayao, he found that he was no longer as dependent on clubs and nightlife as before.
After hanging up the phone, Xiao Yufan rummaged through his belongings looking for a decent outfit. If he went to do a feng shui reading dressed like he was now, people would surely mistake him for a common street swindler.
Back when he first moved to Beijing and was struggling financially, he had considered doing feng shui readings and fortune-telling to earn money. After all, he was quite skilled in this area. Whether or not one believed in feng shui and destiny was a personal choice, but one couldn’t deny that feng shui and destiny could significantly influence a person’s or even a family’s fortune.
Still, Xiao Yufan remembered his grandfather once telling him never to do feng shui or fortune-telling before the age of twenty-five, as it might bring bad luck. So even during his hardest times, he had held onto that belief and refrained from taking that path.
After changing into a better outfit, Xiao Yufan felt much more refreshed. Glancing at the mirror, he gave himself a slightly narcissistic smile. Standing at six foot two with a handsome face, dressed in a suit, someone might mistake him for a rich, successful guy—though “rich” was definitely not a word that described him.
His phone rang again. Xiao Yufan muttered to himself—Ma Teng sure worked fast. But when he picked up the phone, he saw it was Lin Jiayao calling.
“Miss, what do you need now?” After their last intimate encounter, Xiao Yufan couldn’t deny that he had developed some feelings for Lin Jiayao. But in his mind, they were just mutual attractions with no real future together.
“I… I got my period, and I can’t touch cold water. Could you come help me wash some clothes…”
“Wash clothes?” Xiao Yufan was first surprised, then frowned slightly. “Miss, you’re not telling me you don’t have a washing machine at home?”
“I do have a washing machine, but I can’t wash my underwear in it!” Lin Jiayao’s voice trembled slightly. Xiao Yufan inwardly cursed her little temptress.
“What the hell…” He was actually being treated like a servant. Xiao Yufan felt a bit resentful.
“Go ahead and curse. It’s not like this is the first time…” Hearing Lin Jiayao’s bold reply, Xiao Yufan was left speechless. This girl was getting bolder and bolder, speaking to him without any restraint. Since he had nothing else to do right now, he hung up and headed directly to Lin Jiayao’s place.
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