Chapter 18

He watched Zhao Yaqian's figure disappear.

Li Jingzhong shook his head in disappointment, sized Tang Song up for a while, and suddenly laughed: "You're Zhao Yaqian's friend, right? If you have time, advise her. Suitable jobs aren't easy to find nowadays, especially for a young girl like her who hasn't been to college."

Tang Song frowned and asked coldly: "What kind of job are you referring to?"

Judging from their conversation just now, it was obvious that the job he was referring to wasn't simple.

Zhao Yaqian was the type of person with a simple mind; if he were genuinely trying to help her, it wouldn't be with that kind of attitude.

Li Jingzhong looked into his eyes and said indifferently: "Of course, the job most suitable for her. Forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with a youngster like you; you'll understand some things later."

After saying this, he curled his lips, brushed past Tang Song, and got into a dark blue Mercedes-Benz parked on the side of the road.

"Beep, beep, beep—" A harsh horn sounded.

The black tires kicked up rainwater as they turned, and the Mercedes-Benz disappeared into the rain curtain on the street.

Tang Song withdrew his gaze, wanting to go in and chat with Zhao Yaqian.

However, after hesitating for a moment, he gave up.

The two hadn't known each other for long, and they didn't know much about each other; asking such questions would be a bit presumptuous.

Returning to Qingxin Garden.

Tang Song opened the umbrella and carefully hung it on the balcony to dry.

He sent a message to Zhao Yaqian: "Today's fried skewers were delicious, thank you. When I successfully lose weight, I'll treat you to a big meal too."

Putting down his phone, Tang Song sat on the sofa, looking at the rainy night outside the window.

He opened the system interface to check the details of the task he had just triggered.

[Side Quest: My First Car]

[Task Content: Use your savings from working to buy your first car according to your own wishes, and take a friend of the opposite sex to check in at 3 tourist spots.]

[Task Reward: Vehicle Gift Pack *1]

[Note 1: The price of this car cannot exceed 45,220.31 yuan.]

[Note 2: Owning a car of your own has been your dream since graduation. It doesn't have to be luxurious, expensive, or beautiful, but it can shelter you from the wind and rain, pick up and drop off dates, expand your living radius, and allow for self-driving tours, letting you experience the joy of having a car.]

He checked the reward details.

[Vehicle Gift Pack *1]: After opening, you can randomly obtain a car worth under 500,000 yuan.

After reading the task introduction and rewards, Tang Song stood up abruptly.

Good heavens! It directly rewards a car worth under 500,000!

He was also a young person, very interested in digital products, cars, sneakers, and music, and he knew quite a bit about them.

Owning a car of his own was indeed his dream, but he had been suppressing his desires to save money for a house.

Now, not only could he buy a small car according to his own wishes, but the system would also gift him another one.

Although it was random, even drawing one worth 200,000 or 300,000 would be great!

Moreover, this task wasn't difficult; it could even be said to be very simple.

As for the restriction that "the price cannot exceed 45,220.31 yuan," it was likely because this was his actual savings before obtaining the system.

It was money he had earned cent by cent through his own efforts.

Although this money was now invested in the [Betting Agreement], it hadn't disappeared.

Tang Song took a deep breath, sat down at the computer, opened an automotive information website, and began searching for a car that suited him.

There were very few new cars under 45,000 yuan; they were all micro-cars or small vans, and he wasn't very interested in them.

If he could find a reliable used car, he could consider it, and the room for choice would be much larger.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

"Ding-dong—" The WeChat notification sound rang out.

Tang Song raised his eyebrows; Zhao Yaqian had finally replied.

……

Tiankuo Garden residential area.

Zhao Yaqian opened the door, kicked off her flat shoes, and hung her bag up casually.

"Clack, clack, clack—" She walked into the living room barefoot with her long legs.

She unbuttoned her small suit jacket, sat down on the sofa, and started devouring the fruit platter on the coffee table.

Her best friend He Liting, who was applying a facial mask and binge-watching a show, glanced at her and said casually: "This platter of fruit cost 20 in total; remember to transfer me 10 yuan later."

Zhao Yaqian curled her lips, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

Seeing this, He Liting hurriedly comforted her: "Alright, don't cry. I know you don't have money; I was just joking."

Zhao Yaqian squeezed her eyebrows in grievance and devoured the fruit in a few bites.

Her body relaxed as she leaned against He Liting, her gaze dull: "It's too hard, Tingzi, it's too hard for me."

"Can you not be so discouraged? What's the big deal? Isn't it just that you haven't bought new clothes in a month, can't pay off your credit card and Huabei, can't pay rent, owe a mountain of debt at home, haven't been to college, and your boss has owed you two months of wages while constantly PUA-ing you... Alright, I can't go on, you really are miserable!"

Zhao Yaqian patted her chest, forced back her tears, picked up her phone, and looked at the message Tang Song had sent earlier, truly not knowing how to reply.

He Liting leaned over to look and asked curiously: "Is this the customer you mentioned last time who is very nice? The one who gave you the Swarovski earrings? Yo! You two even went on a date today? Ate handmade fried skewers together? This relationship is something! You've only treated me to eat three times!"

Hearing this, Zhao Yaqian's tears welled up: "But I feel like I scammed him. I knew Yizi Beauty was about to go bankrupt, yet I still accepted his 2,000 yuan to top up his card."

"Why are you feeling bad? You're just an ordinary employee; you did what you were supposed to do. It's not your fault the shop closed!"

"But... but... we're friends, right? He should be angry with me, right?"

He Liting said impatiently: "Zhao Yaqian, are you really stupid or just pretending? Isn't it obvious that the guy is trying to hit on you? How could he be angry over something like this? He'll probably even rush to comfort you and help you find a job!"

Hearing this, Zhao Yaqian blushed and stammered: "You, you're talking nonsense!"

"Pfft~, whether it's nonsense, you know in your heart!" He Liting sat up straight and asked curiously: "Why don't you tell me about the boy's situation? If the conditions are right, you might as well just give in to him, and then... hey, hey, don't tickle me!"

The embarrassed and angry Zhao Yaqian started wrestling with her best friend on the sofa.

After a while, the two finally calmed down.

He Liting pulled at the mask on her face: "Tell me about it. Even if you don't have that kind of intention, I'm purely curious about what kind of person he is."

Zhao Yaqian lay on her best friend's lap and murmured: "He is quite nice, speaks gently and kindly, and does things..."

"Stop! You've said all that; I'm asking about his economic situation!"

"Um... I don't know the specifics, only that he's a programmer, rents a house in Qingxin Garden next to Yunsheng Plaza, doesn't have a car, and judging by his clothes, he shouldn't be considered rich."

"That sounds very boring. Do you have a photo?"

Zhao Yaqian picked up her phone, flipped through it, and found a photo taken in the fried skewer shop today, with Tang Song just happening to be in the frame.

He Liting took it and looked, tutting: "He's not particularly outstanding either, and combined with his economic conditions, you two aren't a match!"

"Can you stop saying that all the time!" Zhao Yaqian hit her impatiently.

Looking at Tang Song's photo, she sighed and opened WeChat to reply: "Brother Song, I'm very sorry. Yizi Beauty and Hair Salon has indeed encountered operational problems. I didn't make it clear to you at the time; it was my fault."