Chapter 1120: Keeping Each Other Company

Qi Mu's matter was just a small interlude.

Not long after, Yu Chuhui also ran into trouble.

Because she had brought her mother to Shanghai for a long time without returning, her father came charging over. He went to her company to make a scene with reporters, assaulted people on the road, and checked into a hospital to call the police. In short, he put Yu Chuhui through a lot. In the end, she had to act out a scene where she claimed to have borrowed from loan sharks and needed to mortgage the family home to pay it back. Her father's most prized possession was that house, so he definitely wouldn't pay off debts for a daughter he didn't value, and he fled the hospital in a panic.

This, of course, was also an interlude. Wang Yan only knew about it because He Minhong had nowhere else to gossip, so she found him, pitying Yu Chuhui's hardships, reflecting on her past malice toward her, and condemning Yu Chuhui's father.

Another small interlude was that Ye Zhenzhen's parents came to Shanghai for business and invited the others on the 22nd floor, along with Wang Yan, to dinner.

Wang Yan wasn't dating Ye Zhenzhen; they were just purely "doing it." Although Ye Zhenzhen couldn't keep secrets, and her parents had already sensed something, they weren't dating, so they weren't dating.

But inevitably, throughout the dinner, Ye Zhenzhen's parents looked at Wang Yan as if he were their son-in-law. However, the conversation was much more relaxed. Finance covers a wide range, from industry to the internet, to virtual currency, and other conceptual things.

So, what was intended as a practical observation of Wang Yan's level turned into Wang Yan giving Ye Zhenzhen's parents a lesson in financial literacy. He spoke at length about corporate management, finance, operations, and analysis and foresight regarding various industries.

They exchanged WeChats and phone numbers on the spot. Ye Zhenzhen's parents expressed their intent to invest 30 million in his private equity fund, and he offered to provide friendly guidance on their company's development, including organizational restructuring and adjustments.

When it came to business—whether it was company structure, financial operations, production, or business—Wang Yan was more than capable.

He was a salesman by trade, having dominated the scene for so many years. Whether it was a legitimate company, an illegitimate one, or a gray-area one, he had done it all. Financial knowledge came naturally, organizational structures were constantly optimized, and he could even govern a country smoothly. As for business, he was well-versed. He knew the trends in industrial layout, so these things were truly effortless for him.

After these three interludes, the New Year arrived.

Ye Zhenzhen, Lucy, and He Minhong all went home for the New Year, taking extra leave, and would basically be gone for half a month. Yu Chuhui was away on a business trip and wouldn't be back until after the New Year.

Only Zhu Zhe remained in Shanghai, having scheduled herself for shifts during the New Year. She didn't want to go home anyway; after all, going back just meant being asked to pay for her brother. She had given up on her brother and sister, and she couldn't change her parents' stubborn mindset. She didn't want to truly cut ties, so the only thing she could do was stay away. If it were at all possible, how could she not want to go home...

On the morning of the 30th, Zhu Zhe tidied up as usual and called the elevator. Seeing it go all the way up to the 23rd floor, the corners of her mouth curved upward.

Soon, the elevator came down, the doors opened, and she greeted him with a smile: "Morning. Are you busy?"

"Just going out for a stroll to experience the rare peace and slow pace of the Shanghai Bund. Why did you, a manager, schedule yourself for a shift on the 30th?"

"It's all the same. I'm not going home anyway, but the young girls under me are different. Besides, there's nothing to do; there are few guests at the hotel, and even if I go there, I'll just be in a room playing on my phone. There's a big meal cooked by the chef in the evening, and it's lively with many people. Hey, what about you? What are your plans?"

Wang Yan shook his head with a smile. "My parents are both gone, and I have no relatives. What plans could I have? The New Year is no different; I'll just spend it as usual."

"I'm sorry, I forgot."

"It's fine. Don't I know your situation too? Having a home you can't return to and me having no home at all—it doesn't seem to make much difference."

Zhu Zhe looked understanding and asked, "Then how have you spent these years?"

"That's how I've spent them. Restaurants are open, people are on the streets—it's all the same. Oh, there was a period when I went out for a few years. During the New Year, I spent it with travelers and backpackers, going all over the country, which was actually quite nice."

"I've always yearned for that kind of life. For so many years, besides going to various places for training or secondment, I haven't really traveled. When I got to other places, I just looked at flowers while riding a horse, visited nearby attractions, and was exhausted. It was always so rushed, and I never dared to slack off..."

"It's all like that. If I didn't have money, I wouldn't think about traveling, let alone for several years."

"It's different. You're truly carefree. I feel like even if you were so poor you couldn't afford a meal, you could still be a backpacker and travel the world. But you couldn't be as wealthy as you are now, though it would still be enough for you to live a carefree life of eating, drinking, and playing."

"You think having no family burden makes it easier."

"Partly. Before, there was the burden of putting my brother and sister through college. I wasn't a manager then and didn't earn as much, but I had to give a lot more money. It's different now. I send my mother a thousand yuan every month, which is enough to live on where we are. I give more during the holidays, and from time to time, I buy them clothes and supplements online and mail them back. But overall, it's about 1,500 yuan a month..."

As she spoke, Zhu Zhe naturally followed Wang Yan into the underground garage, got into the car, and fastened her seatbelt. She sighed, "The main thing is the mental exhaustion. Their mindset is truly despairing, but you know I have no choice. And my brother and sister—they call me for money every so often. I say I don't have any every time, but I still send it."

"On the other hand, I don't have your confidence, and even less of your ability. I just want to make sure my social security in Shanghai is fully paid—it must never be interrupted—and then properly guard my little house."

"That's the sensible choice. You say, if I had nothing and really got sick, what would I do? The rural cooperative medical scheme covers a part, but I couldn't afford the rest. Being carefree comes at a price."

Zhu Zhe nodded. "That's the logic. But stop talking about it. It's the New Year; let's say something auspicious and happy."

"May you get a promotion and a raise next year!"

"Then I'll take your auspicious words. I also wish you wealth that grows step by step."

The two laughed. After joking for a while, Zhu Zhe said, "Are you busy tomorrow?"

"Do you have something to do?"

"No. I was just thinking that since tomorrow is a day off, we should celebrate the end of the year. Although the hotel has food, it's always inseparable from work, and it's just the boss's care for employees—it's meaningless. So I was thinking of cooking something at home tomorrow. But since I'm alone, I can't finish a whole table of dishes, and making one or two dishes is boring. You can eat quite a bit, so we'll complement each other. I'll cook more, and you eat more."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile. "That suits me perfectly. We can be each other's company."

"You probably don't have company for these two days out of the whole year, right?"

"Which company are you talking about?"

Zhu Zhe wisely shut her mouth and took out her phone. "Zhenzhen sent a message in the group. Wow, their house is really grand. She said it's a house in the countryside, but even in the countryside, building such a big villa isn't cheap. Look..."

Wang Yan didn't say anything more to tease her. They just chatted and laughed, watching the street bridges and high-rise buildings pass by.

Traffic was very good, much better than on usual workdays or holidays. There were also far fewer people on the streets, which was clearly noticeable. Of course, even so, there were still many cars and people, just relatively speaking.

After all, Shanghai has a permanent population of 24 million and a registered population of 15 million, a scale larger than Beijing's. When spread across the entire city, you can indeed feel a clear reduction in people and cars, but it's not that exaggerated. If there's anywhere truly deserted, it's likely the CBD area, which is a production zone; most people have finished work and are on holiday, and even if there are people on duty, there are far too few.

Where Wang Yan and Zhu Zhe were was different—it was a residential area, also belonging to the old city. There were new buildings that had sprung up, as well as old alleys, and there were still many people.

Moreover, the New Year is only one day, and with the inconvenience of the Spring Festival travel rush, the hustle and bustle of the big city would start to return by the first day of the New Year.

Wang Yan and Zhu Zhe bought a large pile of meat and vegetables at the market. They didn't buy seafood because the company had purchased seafood gift packages for the New Year. Wang Yan had kept some for himself and had previously given them to everyone on the 22nd floor, including the Big Wave. If you really counted, they weren't cheap, all over a thousand yuan.

They loaded everything into the trunk and got into the car.

Just as he started the engine, Zhu Zhe said, "Why don't we go to my little house? Before the New Year, I hired cleaners to tidy it up and put up spring couplets. Now that it's a new year, we should really start a fire there."

"Sure, let's go. But we have to go back and get the seafood gift package."

"Okay. Come to think of it, you'll be the first guest at my little house. I've only lived there a few times, and I haven't told anyone the address. After I bought the house, there was the renovation and the airing out, and then I was transferred to the hotel where I work now. It was already far away, and now it's even further, so I rented the place at Joyous Song."

"Then I'm truly honored. Also, let me add one thing: a house is a house, why call it a 'little house'?"

"It's only sixty-something square meters, the same size as your bedroom upstairs. Isn't that small?"

"Compared to those above, it's small, but compared to those below, it's big. If you compare yourself to a damned capitalist like me, it's definitely small, but if you think about the many people still struggling, wouldn't you be happier?"

"Spiritual victory, huh."

"It's the actual situation, dialectics."

"Are you sure that's how you analyze it?"

"That's exactly how I analyze it."

Zhu Zhe shook her head with a laugh. "Then how do you see it?"

"That's just how I see it. If you ask me to compare myself to people like Little Ma and Old Ma who are stirring up trouble, I'd definitely be in despair. But when I think about what I have now, it's already something many people wouldn't even dare to dream of, so wouldn't I be happy? Otherwise, why would I start semi-retiring at such a young age? It's because I've watched those above me for too long and felt that there was no hope of rising, and having to engage in petty schemes all day is meaningless."

"You've gained both fame and fortune. I still have to keep watching; I'm not as carefree or detached as you, and I don't have your realm."

Wang Yan didn't pick up on that, because that would lead to a discussion about life. He asked instead, "Is your kitchen fully equipped? Should I bring some things from my place? Since it's my first time visiting, and I'm the first guest, not bringing anything feels a bit off."

"I've bought everything. When the house was being renovated, I felt like everything would be useful, so I wanted to buy everything. I added a lot of miscellaneous things, and it's all fully equipped. Hmm..." Zhu Zhe thought seriously. "There's nothing needed."

She knew Wang Yan wasn't being polite, so to show respect, she really thought about it, because it wouldn't be good if they were truly missing something.

"Then pack up all the seasonings."

"Oh, right, right, right, I forgot to buy them just now."

And so, they went back to Joyous Song, got the seafood, packed the seasonings, and then drove to the house Zhu Zhe had bought.

It was an old house in the suburbs, on a middle floor. Zhu Zhe said it was because the usable area was higher, the location was better, and the surrounding life was more convenient, and so on. It was hard to say if it was good or bad. If you didn't buy an old house, you could only buy an apartment or a high-rise residence; there was no other choice. People generally value the ownership rights of a residence. Even if an apartment can be fitted with a loft floor and has more space, it's not very popular. High-rise residences are all about the usable area, and good locations are more expensive.

"Come in, see how it is." Zhu Zhe opened the door, went in, and found a pair of large-sized slippers she had prepared early for Wang Yan.

Wang Yan changed his shoes, carried the things inside, and looked around. "Your renovation wasn't cheap. Modern minimalist—the more minimalist, the more expensive."

"Otherwise, why wouldn't I rent it out? I told you before, it's a proper high-end renovation. I carefully selected all the materials myself, and I designed the style myself. No one helped me; I ran here every day during that time. The effect is quite good, so it didn't live up to my blood and sweat money."

Zhu Zhe felt a little happy, then said, "The room is small, you can see it all just by turning around. Let's hurry and cook; if we're both busy, we won't be able to eat until the afternoon."

"Good food doesn't fear being late."

Immediately, the two of them worked together to prepare the vegetables and ingredients. They finished everything for eight dishes very quickly. Zhu Zhe didn't let Wang Yan do the rest; she used both stoves to stir-fry, pan-fry, and deep-fry, clean and efficient—a proper virtuous wife and mother.

By the time the food was on the table, it was only a little past one o'clock, not very late at all.

The food on the table was steaming. Zhu Zhe washed her hands, sat down, and raised a cup filled with a drink. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year!"

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, clinked glasses with her, and they both drank it down in one gulp.

One with no home, one with a home she didn't want to return to—they had put together this New Year's Eve dinner for the first day of the New Year...

If it weren't for the ban on fireworks and firecrackers, a burst of fireworks blooming outside the window at this moment would have been perfect... ===== CHAPTER 1121 =====