Chapter 325

Isn't that the guy who always squats in a corner looking foolish, who even in his senior year of high school would carry his family's bricks to the construction site, enduring silently until the college entrance exam, when he became a dark horse that overturned the whole school? Think about it—this guy should now be a junior in college.

Zheng Tan really didn't expect to meet this kid here.

Zhong Yan's eyes were mostly doubtful; even if he felt somewhat alike, Chu Hua Shi is so far from the capital, he didn't know that person with a bad attitude carrying a backpack, and Zheng Tan now dresses like a white ball, making him hard to recognize, so confirming it now is even harder.

Zhong Yan actually didn't think this was the cat he knew, but the cat's expression was too familiar; even though they hadn't seen each other for over two years, among the cats Zhong Yan had seen, that one was the most special. Look, it's even waving its paw at him.

Is it really that one?

Should I ask this person?

When Zhong Yan hesitated, Fang Wenjie, who had already gotten the reference book, turned around, saw a person standing behind him staring at the backpack, and glared: "What are you looking at! Haven't you seen a cat before?"

Fang Wenjie turned to leave, had just taken two steps, when he heard a voice from behind say: "Hei Tan?"

Hearing that, Fang Wenjie's steps halted, he turned to look at the person just now.

"Really Hei Tan?" Zhong Yan's eyes lit up, and the annoyance from having his book knocked away earlier also dissipated.

"Do you know it?" Fang Wenjie wondered, raising his hand to point at the backpack behind him and asked.

"Yeah, but isn't it supposed to be in Chu Hua Shi?" Zhong Yan wondered if the cat had been sold to the capital, but back when they were at the construction site, didn't they say someone was backing this cat?

Hearing Zhong Yan say "Chu Hua Shi", Fang Wenjie let his guard down a little. Still not sure, he pulled out his phone to call Fang Mengmeng to come over; the bookstore is big and crowded, he couldn't find her right away, so a phone call is more convenient.

However, even the Jiao Family might not know everyone Zheng Tan knows; many people he meets while wandering around are unknown to the Jiao Family, let alone Fang Mengmeng. The two Fangs can only tell if someone is truly an acquaintance by Zheng Tan's attitude.

Fang Wenjie's plan for this afternoon was to buy books, then nap in the bookstore. It's too cold outside to move, so after settling the bill he'd go straight to the restaurant to eat. Now that he's run into Zhong Yan, he's boredly pulling him into conversation, curious how Zhong Yan knows that black cat. As for Fang Mengmeng, she came over once and then ran off again. She found a few books she's interested in and needs to spend more time with them. When someone vacated a seat in the resting area by the corner, Fang Wenjie rushed over and seized four seats before anyone else could sit down, occupying the empty seats with his bag and books.

Zhong Yan came today with a friend; in his freshman year he met two friends while working part-time at a fast-food restaurant, they're from different schools, today this person is one of them, the other graduated this year. Zhong Yan's tutoring job was also introduced by this friend; this morning he went to a senior high student's home to tutor, and this afternoon, having nothing to do, he went with that friend who also tutors part-time to look for senior high tutoring materials here.

Many say the college entrance exam isn't a fair platform, full of regional discrimination; Zhong Yan doesn't care, he's already passed it, and picking up senior high tutoring books is just to tutor another miserable senior high student. Different provinces' exam systems also differ, question types and policy preferences need to be studied. Having tutored for two years, his first year of part-time tutoring was a bit awkward, but the second year improved greatly; Zhong Yan has never been rigid, knows how to adapt, can prescribe the right remedy, his reputation is decent, and parents pay him gladly.

Zhong Yan's classmate was originally flirting with a girl, but upon seeing the situation here, he came over, and the three of them quickly started chatting.

One said, "Ugh, as soon as vacation starts I have to do cramming," the other two nodded, "Yeah, whenever we go tutoring, those students look at us like we're mortal enemies."

Zheng Tan listened from the side, and from their words learned that Zhong Yan hasn't returned home since coming to the capital; his tuition and living expenses are all self-earned, suggesting his relationship with his family is still at freezing point, which explains why he hasn't seen Zhong Yan in Chu Hua Shi these past two years.

Having heard that Zhong Yan was an ultra-dark dark horse in the college entrance exam, leaping from average class performance straight to top three in the school, slapping some people's faces left and right, Fang Wenjie was quite excited; he thinks a dark horse is practically a divine beast for showing off and slapping faces, and consequently he finds Zhong Yan more pleasing to the eye.

Although Zhong Yan doesn't talk much about himself, in the capital he still runs into high school classmates, and those who are close to him have also heard a bit, so when his friend brings it up, Fang Wenjie gets excited and the topic just takes off, impossible to stop.

While chatting, Fang Wenjie pondered: his mother is currently looking for a tutor for the winter break; rather than find someone she dislikes, it'd be better to just have Zhong Yan and them come over—when bored, there'd still be someone to talk to. From their earlier chat, Fang Wenjie thought Zhong Yan and this person were interesting, and unlike the tutors his mother had hired before, who always acted like "I'm a genius," "My word is more correct than the reference book's answer," "You have to listen to whatever I say," etc., though they rarely showed it on their faces, Fang Wenjie could tell that's what they truly thought.

Fang Wenjie also voiced his thought, not joking, but speaking seriously.

"I'll pass, I can bullshit underlings fine, but for real tutoring you should still go to Zhong Yan—this guy at least goes to Peking University, and Zhong Yan doesn't go home for the New Year, so he has time." Zhong Yan's friend said. He could see Fang Wenjie's family is well-off; although taking this job would surely make a lot of money, he also knows that the better-off the family, the more they value school, so someone from a weaker school like him can only politely decline, lest he get kicked out by the parents later.

"Not going home? Perfect, Zhong Yan, you won't need to take on other tutoring jobs during the winter break—rest assured, my mother pays generously!" Fang Wenjie's statement wasn't wrong; his mother is indeed generous with tutors—aside from the agreed-upon fee negotiated when signing the contract, she occasionally gives red packets, and the money in those red packets is never much less than the contracted fee. This is also one reason Fang Wenjie finds those tutors irritating: they haven't produced results yet still dare to take red packets? So Fang Wenjie finds excuses to pick fights with those tutors; the previous tutor was literally yelled at and sent packing by him. After all, intellectuals mostly have thin skins.

Zheng Tan felt that the Fang family members seem unreliable on the surface, but that's not actually the case—Fang Shaokang is an excellent example. And as Fang Shaokang's close nephew, Zheng Tan also doesn't think Fang Wenjie is foolish. Take the tutoring invitation: Fang Wenjie didn't issue it on a whim; finding Zhong Yan and them pleasing is naturally one reason, and also—during their chat just now, Fang Wenjie's seemingly casual, heat-of-the-moment complaints still mixed in a few study problems. Zhong Yan solved those problems, explaining them in a simple, straightforward way that's easier to understand, which made Fang Wenjie very satisfied.

Fang Wenjie never thought himself stupid; he finds it hard to understand what those so-called "high-end tutors" say. Mainly, they always spout large batches of professional jargon every time they speak. Speaking plainly seems like losing face to them. Can speaking colloquially get you killed? Are refined and vulgar really that clearly divided? Fang Wenjie has no patience for listening.

Hey, bringing this cat out was truly the right call! Not in vain for carrying such a heavy pack for so long. Fang Wenjie feels great inside; if this matter gets settled, he won't have to live in darkness and oppression this winter break.

Compared to Fang Wenjie's inner ease, Zhong Yan's heart is much more complicated. As his friend can see, he naturally can imagine too: he's still confident about tutoring Fang Wenjie, knowing this person isn't stupid, just a bit rebellious; taking this job means his tuition, room and board, and living expenses for next year are covered, whereas normally he wouldn't have such an opportunity—if it weren't for today's encounter with that cat and striking up a conversation with Fang Wenjie, even if he were at Peking University and went door-to-door offering himself, he might not catch their eye; from Fang Wenjie mentioning his disdain when recalling his past tutoring, one can tell.

He glanced at the black cat on the nearby chair, dressed like a polar bear, stretching its neck, not knowing what it was looking at; Zhong Yan thought back a bit and felt that every time he encountered this cat, his luck was good.

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Zhong Yan finally understood why the ancients listed this among life's four great joys; this feeling can only be truly appreciated when one actually reaches that situation.

Even though this is the capital, Zhong Yan often still misses home; occasionally hearing the song "Moonlight in the City" from over a decade ago makes him ache. Every time he calls home it's not very pleasant; he hasn't gone home in two years, doesn't return for holidays either, just makes a call to report he's safe, then continues working part-time to earn tuition, while his studies are also heavy, and he can't let up on either side. Before even formally entering society, he already feels the weight on his shoulders.

It can be said that these past two-plus years of studying in the capital haven't been easy. Classmates? Naturally he's also run into some—there are many schools in the capital, and going out often he's bumped into a few junior or senior high school classmates, but the relationships aren't great; plus there are two high school classmates who don't take kindly to Zhong Yan, this college entrance exam dark horse, greeting him with cold sarcasm, after which everyone goes their separate ways. They don't count as old acquaintances.

Dark horse? Sure, I guess. But even the biggest dark horse would turn bland and unremarkable in the talent-filled metropolis of the capital.

Who doesn't dream of shooting straight to the top? But how many actually make it? After the college entrance exam, Zhong Yan once thought he'd be among them, but after suffering some real-world setbacks, his confidence faded a lot. The world is wonderful yet also helpless; how should one proceed, after stumbling and falling, still continue onward—having gone through this stretch, perhaps there'll be a better future.

After lingering in the bookstore for over two hours, Zheng Tan saw several pretty girls, among them three mixed-race, and also a star wearing a hat and scarf covering half her face—though that star bolted as soon as she was recognized, and by the time store staff chased after her, she was already gone.

Fang Wenjie checked the time, called back Fang Mengmeng, and pulled Zhong Yan and his friend along to go eat.

The target restaurant is a building with a somewhat retro architectural style, like an ancient tavern, with big red lanterns hanging outside.

As they walked toward the entrance, someone came out from the side of the parking lot.

"Little Jie!"

That shout made Fang Wenjie, who was sprinting inside, stop, look over, and immediately grin: "Yo, Beast Brother, when did you get back to the capital?"

"A couple days ago, I came here for something." Saying this, Qin Tao pulled out his constantly ringing phone, "Here we are, here we are, urging your souls! Hurry up and order first. I'm starving……"

As Qin Tao was speaking, he lifted his head and saw the cat's head peeking out from behind Fang Wenjie's backpack; he froze mid-sentence, stunned for a few seconds before the roar from his phone snapped him back, ignoring the urging on the other end, he said: "Er Sha, hurry over and look at the polar cat!" (To be continued…)