Chapter 11: As If an Old Friend Has Returned (2)

To avoid everyone getting tangled up in that topic, Fang Yu quickly changed the subject. “It’s rare for us all to be together today. Come on, let’s go out for a walk. Dinner’s on me.”

Wang Chao, like Baozi, never missed a chance for a freebie. “Boss Fang, you’re generous! Let’s go, but first let’s grab a drink.”

They were still boys at heart. Zhao Bin and Lu Zhen soon forgot the earlier conversation, stood up, and the four of them left the apartment complex, each finding their own bicycle.

“Does your family really give you that much pocket money?” At the restaurant, Wang Chao gazed at Fang Yu with envy. In the eyes of seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds, casually pulling out two hundred-yuan bills was a big deal.

Fang Yu just laughed, “It’s a special occasion. You guys order, I’ll go buy a pack of cigarettes.” With a wave, he got up.

When he returned, the other three were already deep in lively conversation about things that mattered to teenagers. Once a couple of dishes arrived, Fang Yu picked up a bite of fish, chewed thoughtfully, and looked across the table at Zhao Bin and Lu Zhen. “Where are you two studying now?”

Zhao Bin shrugged indifferently. “I stopped going to school ages ago. Earlier this year, my dad got me a job at a repair shop, but I just quit. I’m planning to laze around at home for six months before thinking about what’s next.”

Lu Zhen looked a bit dazed. “I just graduated from vocational school this year. I only came to hang out with Zhao Bin after my internship ended. Haven’t figured out where I’ll work yet.”

Fang Yu nodded; some things hadn’t changed. Zhao Bin had never been cut out for academics—he’d dropped out after junior high and bummed around at home, only reconnecting with Fang Yu after he started college.

Lu Zhen was a bit better off, occasionally picking up odd jobs after graduating from vocational school. But on these sweltering summer days, what teenager could willingly give up the comfort of home air-conditioning and cold drinks without knowing yet the hardships of life?

Thinking this, Fang Yu lit a cigarette and looked at the two of them. “After summer vacation, I’m heading to Xianjiang for school, but I’m planning to start a small business there. If you guys don’t have anything going on, would you be willing to help me out? Don’t worry, the pay is negotiable.”

Zhao Bin and Lu Zhen exchanged glances. Lu Zhen asked cautiously, “Aren’t you going to college? Why start a business too? Does your family even approve?”

Zhao Bin chimed in, “Yeah, how much do your folks give you each month? You’re not planning to have us set up a street stall, are you?”

Fang Yu thought to himself that he’d already been to college in his previous life—doing it again held little appeal. Besides, with memories nearly twenty years ahead of everyone else, wouldn’t it be a waste not to make something of himself?

“I’m planning to open a shop. Xianjiang isn’t like home—rent and everything is cheap. Don’t worry, if you come with me, room and board are covered, and you’ll get a monthly salary.”

After hearing this, Zhao Bin shook his head and shrugged casually. “I’m fine with anything. My grandparents know you, and I’ve got nothing to do at home anyway. I don’t even need a salary—just cover my cigarettes and meals.”

Seeing Zhao Bin agree, Lu Zhen’s eyes lit up. “Where would we live in Xianjiang? In a dorm like you?”

“No way, we’ll rent a place and live together,” Fang Yu replied with a wave of his hand. He was different from these boys now—he could no longer stomach the collective life of a school dorm.

Lu Zhen beamed and nodded. “That’s great! My parents are always nagging me about playing games all day. Going somewhere else would get me away from their grip.”

Wang Chao, two years younger than Fang Yu, was still in school and couldn’t hide his disappointment. “I can’t go—I haven’t graduated yet. Maybe in a couple of years.”

“No worries, we’ll talk about it then,” Fang Yu thought to himself. Wang Chao was too much of a petty thief; in his previous life, they’d stopped talking two years later. He wouldn’t bring him along.

They enjoyed their meal, washing down their food with half a dozen beers, then wandered over to a nearby park to chat. As they were about to part ways, Fang Yu reminded Zhao Bin and Lu Zhen, “Alright, we’ll be leaving around mid-August. You two come with me then. Give me your phone numbers.”

Once he had their numbers, Fang Yu finally felt satisfied as he headed home. Everything was ready but the final push—for a grand undertaking, you needed reliable help.

In his previous life, Fang Yu had never been a business tycoon, nor did he have wealthy friends to rely on. These few old friends were all he could count on.

The one he worried about most, though, was Cheng Chen. If Cheng Chen ended up in Nanxiang, Fang Yu might hardly see him for three years. Yet Cheng Chen was the most diligent and reliable among his friends.

Cheng Chen’s family wasn’t well-off. His father had come to Nanwu as an army engineer in the seventies, stayed after leaving the service, married Cheng Chen’s mother through hard work, bought a home, and operated a tower crane on construction sites until retirement—a stable, if modest, living.

So, Cheng Chen’s parents weren’t locals. As a child, he’d been bullied at school, but thanks to strong genes, he grew up exceptionally handsome and eventually turned things around in junior high.

He didn’t disappoint—going from the bottom of the class to the top ten in the grade, almost like a hero making it into high school from a bottom-tier middle school.

But Cheng Chen’s mind often wandered. After starting high school, he lost momentum and never managed a dramatic comeback on the college entrance exam. Still, he never forgot to strive. In the ten years after graduation, he started businesses from scratch again and again, even affording a Range Rover at his peak.

Unfortunately, due to poor market judgment and getting hooked on gambling, he quickly fell from grace. Fortunately, his mental resilience was strong, and he ended up with only mild depression.

As the saying goes, “A true hero needs three allies.” Fang Yu knew he needed reliable partners. With only the body of an eighteen-year-old, he clearly couldn’t persuade any business magnates—he might not even convince his own parents.

As for Baozi, that gluttonous fool was too greedy and lacked any real skills—best to leave him out.

These days, Fang Yu lived on edge, scrutinizing his parents every night before bed to make sure they hadn’t discovered anything about the savings account, only then daring to sleep soundly.

The year 2005 was a time of economic boom across the country, but for an ordinary person like Fang Yu, there weren’t any golden opportunities waiting to be seized. He was just a graduate of a third-rate technical college, lacking in both education and expertise—there was no hope of mastering cutting-edge technology.

He had considered simply drifting along, but every time he thought of Qin Lu’s gentle smile, a surge of determination welled up inside him. Even though he could win the heart of his beloved after being reborn, he couldn’t bear the thought of living a mediocre life. He wanted to give his white moonlight the best answer possible.