Rebirth 2010, the best

Chapter 133 Puppy
"Then... well, how should I put it. After I got my ID card, I came back. I don't like my home... I just like Shanghai. It's so nice here, with tall buildings everywhere, and the city is clean. It's beautiful during the day, and even more beautiful at night... I like it here, and I have my ID card, so I'm not afraid of the police. After I came back, I found a job as a waiter. That's all I know how to do..."

"..."

"I worked in that restaurant for about a year? I can't remember exactly, maybe because... I'm naturally good at pleasing people. Customers started to come to me to book tables one after another. Then a sister admired me very much. She changed jobs to a high-end restaurant and asked me to go over and work with her. The income there was much higher than that of my restaurant, so I went. I worked there for about a year, and then the sister went back to her hometown to get married, and gave all the customer resources to me. That's how I met Sister Xue."

"She is your client?"

"Yes. I was curious at first... She often asked me to book a table, and every time she entertained a guest, she looked... not like an ordinary person. After a while, we became familiar with each other, and then one day, the waiter in the private room accidentally broke a bottle of wine for the guest, and the guest was very angry, so I hurried over to deal with it. The guest... asked me to kneel down and drink to apologize... Sister Xue disagreed, and then the people around also persuaded him. In the end, the guest said that his bottle of wine cost more than 50,000 yuan, and he didn't want it. He didn't want the remaining bottle of wine either, so he gave it to me, but I wanted to... drink it all. Brother Lu, I can actually drink a lot. So, I drank one glass after another, and said a few words of apology to the guest. I apologized on behalf of the waiter and Sister Xue, and then I finished the bottle... The guest forgave us. He even applauded me in admiration..."

When she said this, she smiled brightly, as if she had done something great.

But Lu Yao didn't know what to say and could only remain silent.

"..."

"It was from that time that Sister Xue probably thought I was talented. After the dinner, she chatted with me and asked me how much I made a month, where I was from, whether I was married, etc. I was actually on guard at the time, so I started to beat around the bush with her. But the more I beat around the bush, the more she liked me. The next day, she asked me to have dinner with her, and during the dinner she told me what she did. At first I thought she was still a hostess, but she said she wasn't, saying that she was a legitimate modeling company, and when we went out, the clients gave us performance fees. Of course... physical contact was inevitable. But the income was high, and whether to sleep with the clients was entirely voluntary, and she wouldn't force it."

"So you agreed?"

"Not at first, because I was traumatized. But later, I saw that she drove a Porsche when she went out, and she even had a house in Shanghai, so I was actually very envious. And...it was mainly because of Sister Xue's temperament. Brother Lu, haven't you met Sister Xue..."

"..."

Lu Yao thought that Xue Qi's temperament was indeed very good.

But it also depends on who you are comparing with.

"Maybe... I was shaken from the moment she invited me. Later, I figured it out. I could make money anyway. So I agreed to her... Brother Lu."

After drinking the last drop of the second bottle, she looked at Lu Yao and said seriously:

"Actually, I don't think I made the wrong choice. Because... living in the Magic City is really difficult."

"Yes, I know."

Lu Yao nodded:
"Even for people like us who were born and raised here, it's difficult. For people who come from outside, it's even more difficult for most of them."

"Yes, but... maybe it's because of the eyesight I developed as a waiter and manager. I'm very good at judging the customers' thoughts, so I quickly passed Sister Xue's training and became the company's A-level model... a model who can participate in the group organized by Brother You Run. For a performance, I can get 15,000, and Sister Xue gets 5,000. And... unlike others, from the moment I followed Sister Xue, I realized that I would be more valuable only if I cherished myself. So, when I go to a performance, I will observe. The customers actively choose us, and we are actually actively choosing the customers..."

Before she finished speaking, Lu Yao couldn't help laughing:

"So you're targeting me?"

"……hey-hey."

The girl smiled a little embarrassedly.

But he continued:

“Brother Lu, do you know what kind of man I like?”

"… like me?"

"Ok!"

Without any hesitation, she admitted it directly:
"Brother Lu is very clean. I knew it from the first moment I saw you and Brother Chen come in."

"…How did you know that?"

"Eyes. Your eyes were different from everyone else's that night. Just like now... Brother Lu actually agreed to come out to watch a movie tonight. Do you have something to say to me? And... Brother Lu is a good man. Every time I hugged you, you struggled. I think... you must love your girlfriend very much."

"..."

Lu Yao's facial muscles twitched subconsciously.

"Brother Lu, do you know? I read a book... It said that people will be trapped by what they wanted in their childhood for the rest of their lives. When I knew... Brother Lu was the top scholar in the country, I knew... I had met my best choice."

"…Have you ever thought that this is also a gamble?"

"I know. It's a gamble concerning my future and destiny."

In response to his question, the girl frankly stated an established fact:
"When I followed Sister Xue, she asked me if I wanted to make money, and I said yes. She asked me what I would do after I made money. I said I wanted to buy a house in Shanghai and stay here forever. I like it here, and everything about it! I want to stay here. Coincidentally, Sister Xue said something to me that I think makes a lot of sense. She told me that there is no love in Shanghai... At least, people like us don't deserve it. Because we have seen too much glitz and can't accept mediocrity. And the saddest part is that we are just a small group of poor people among the mediocre. Our vision is high, but our hands can't reach the clouds, but we are unwilling to touch the ground."

Subconsciously, Lu Yao thought that the person sitting opposite him was Xu Ruochen.

The girl who drank half a catty of wine did not have any drunkenness in her eyes at this moment, but only incomparable sobriety.

"And I followed Sister Xue just to make money. No matter what kind of money it is, as long as I can buy a house and settle down, I'm willing to do it. But... following Sister Xue can't change my fate. No matter how good our relationship is, an employee is an employee, and a boss is a boss. The boss will not share her interests with me, and will never really consider things from our perspective. I was very clear from the beginning, so the moment I saw Brother Lu, I knew... Brother Lu might be my only chance in this life."

"It's really straightforward and cruel."

Lu Yao's eyes were filled with emotion.

"So...you resigned without hesitation?"

"Yes, because... as long as I follow Sister Xue for one day, I will always be just a drinking model for Brother Lu. Brother Lu, you are very gentle and considerate, but... deep down, your clarity can be frightening sometimes. But you... used your gentleness to give me a chance. You told me to go sing, to sing on the app. Although I still don't understand it, I believe that Brother Lu, you won't hurt me."

"..."

“And I think I made the right bet.”

"...Or is it intuition?"

"I don't know. Maybe... or maybe it's because... yesterday..."

Having said this, she paused and continued:
"Brother Lu, actually... do you know how much I struggled yesterday?"

"...You're still struggling?"

Lu Yao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

I thought to myself, it’s not certain who will struggle more between the two of us.

"No, Brother Lu, I'm serious. I'm really struggling because I have a hunch that once we really...something happens in that situation, you will definitely not talk to me anymore."

The girl shook her head seriously:

"Sister Xue once told me that there is a type of man in the world that is the most terrifying. That is the man who can restrain his desires and instincts at all times and keep a clear mind. Brother Lu is such a man... To be honest, I was not sure at first, until yesterday... I was finally sure."

"You really think highly of me."

Lu Yao smiled helplessly.

"When a beautiful woman throws herself at me, I am tempted. But... I don't want to betray my girlfriend, that's all. It has nothing to do with desire or instinct."

"But men need balance, Brother Lu, do you know that?"

"……Um?"

Lu Yao was stunned:
"Need what? ...Balance?"

"Hehe, yes."

The girl smiled like a flower:

"There is no cat that doesn't steal fish, and there is no bee that doesn't touch the flowers. Brother Lu, Kant said that in this world, there are two things worth looking up to for a lifetime: one is the brilliant starry sky above our heads, and the other is the noble moral law in people's hearts. Those who have no desires and no demands are saints. Those who abide by the law are good citizens. But it is precisely because the law does not allow polygamy that the moral law in our hearts is concretized into law. But when the moral law becomes the framework of the law, the curiosity about the unknown will turn into the beast and driving force in our hearts, driving us to find the moral depression."

"...???"

While Lu Yao was still amazed at how such a profound truth could come from the mouth of a "bad student" who hadn't even graduated from a technical secondary school, the girl continued:
"Because it's lonely up there, Brother Lu."

"...Did you hear this from Sister Xue?"

“No, I summarized it myself after reading the book.”

"..."

In the absurdity of Lu Yao's eyes, she shrugged:

"The scriptures say that when yin and yang work together, one can reach the great Dao. This yin and yang can refer to men and women, and it is also the two sides of all things in the world. Yin alone cannot produce life, and yang alone cannot grow. Although it is about husband and wife, I think it is the same everywhere. Brother Lu is a good man, but a good man can also become a demon with a thought. Isn't it?"

"…Do you know where these things you mentioned came from?"

Lu Yao couldn't help but ask.

The girl nodded:

"I know. Yin and Yang complement each other, or the concept of Yin and Yang complementing each other comes from the Book of Changes, and solitary Yin cannot produce and solitary Yang cannot grow, which comes from a book from the Qing Dynasty... I don't remember the specific name, hehe, sometimes my memory is not very good. Maybe it's because I drank too much..."

"..."

Lu Yao was really speechless.

Because...from what she said, it seemed that she really knew.

If I remember correctly, she was right. The latter sentence is from Cheng Yunsheng's "Youxue Qionglin·Husband and Wife". Of course, there is also a mistake here, because the more original version of this sentence seems to be the content of a Feng Shui book.

But Lu Yao had not read that book, so it is difficult to infer.

But at least now it seems...she has implemented Sister Xue's requirement of "reading a book every week and writing a handwritten review" very well.

Even though maybe she just happened to know that much.

But... reading, or studying, is like this.

It is not a process of qualitative change, but a process of accumulation over the years, which eventually leads to a deep pool.

It goes with time.

There are very few people in the world who can do this.

He couldn't even do it himself, except for professional books and papers.

But at the same time, those who don’t work hard have no right to laugh at someone who has been accumulating wealth silently.

While he was speechless, the girl had finished the skewers in her bowl.

After wiping her mouth, she glanced at Lu Yao and shouted:

"Boss, check out."

She knew that Brother Lu was not hungry from the beginning.

He just wanted to find an excuse to "chat" with her. She could probably guess what they were talking about...but she was unwilling to give up.

Just like the once miserable childhood has now become just a topic of conversation after dinner, yesterday’s events cannot be changed, but the future is still in her hands, waiting for her to throw the dice representing her will.

As for what the result will be...she may not admit it, or she may be unwilling to accept it, but before she votes, who knows who will win?

So she gave the money, came to Lu Yao, took the initiative to pull him up, and left the stall.

"Brother Lu, please take me home."

She said.

After leaving the stall, she hugged Lu Yao's arm again.

"Brother Lu, can I ask you something? When will that sister come back?"

Lu Yao, whose mind was full of absurdities, slowly regained clarity.

After thinking for a while, he said:

"After Christmas."

"…Isn't that just a few days?"

"Ah."

"Is she good to Brother Lu? ... I don't have any other intentions, Brother Lu just needs to answer me, okay?"

"……very good."

"Brother Lu likes her?"

"Yeah, we like each other."

Just when Lu Yao thought she would ask "Will you two get married?", she nodded:

“I see… So, actually, when I’m holding Brother Lu, you’re feeling conflicted, right?”

"……Um."

"Then... Brother Lu agreed to have dinner with me today and came to see me because he actually cares about me. Right?"

"… Mainly because I heard you were already at the gate of our school."

"Hehe~Brother Lu is the most gentle."

She hugged Lu Yao's arms tightly, her eyes full of joy.

"So... Brother Lu is actually very easy to deceive."

"..."

Lu Yao's mouth twitched.

"Really... As long as a girl plays a little trick, Brother Lu will take the bait. Well, Brother Lu, don't be angry when I say this. OK?"

"..."

She continued walking forward, holding Lu Yao's arm, in his silence.

The outline of the front door of the rented apartment can already be seen.

But... for some reason, she suddenly stopped talking.

But as the distance got closer, she held Lu Yao's arms tighter and tighter.

As if she was afraid that he would fly away in the next second.

The two of them walked slowly to the entrance of the apartment complex.

She stopped.

"Brother Lu..."

"Yeah. Let's go back."

Lu Yao said.

But the girl shook her head and still held Lu Yao's arm.

But she didn't look up.

I didn’t even dare to look at Lu Yao.

It's just that my heartbeat is slowly accelerating:
"Brother Lu, I will be very obedient..."

Her voice lowered:

"Order me...Brother Lu. Okay? Order me not to smoke...Order me not to drink. Order me to dress warmly in the winter...Order me not to wear any nice clothes except in front of Brother Lu. Don't let other men look at me more than once...No matter what the order is, I will listen to Brother Lu. Okay..."

In a trance, she became humble.

Like a homeless puppy.

Holding the only support, begging in a low voice:

"Brother Lu, I will be very good. I won't fight or rob. That sister will never know of my existence... I won't take the initiative to send messages to Brother Lu, nor will I do anything that will threaten the relationship between Brother Lu and that sister. I won't ask Brother Lu for anything. I will make money on my own and buy myself a house. Whenever Brother Lu needs me, I will be there. No one will know that I am Brother Lu's property. When Brother Lu is in a bad mood, he can vent to me. I can do whatever Brother Lu wants. Brother Lu... command me. Okay?"

"..."

The road is long and speechless.

I couldn't help but look at her.

Unfortunately, the girl lowered her head, like a lost dog.

Extremely humble.

He couldn't help but ask:
"What do you want? You know my situation clearly, what do you want?"

"I do not know either."

The girl shook her head:

"From the first time I saw Brother Lu, I wanted to follow you... I don't know why."

"…I will help you. Even if you don't say these words tonight, I will still help you."

"I have no idea……"

She still knew nothing.

I just followed my truest thoughts and said them out loud.

Even though she herself didn't know why.

Childhood? Past? Experience? Intuition or instinct.

She has no idea.

But she just wanted to.

It's like being a masochist. Even though you know you may not get anything, you still want it.

Very much.

"Whoo~"

Suddenly, the wind picked up.

Biting cold.

For some reason, she felt very cold.

I couldn't help but shiver.

The only thing that made her feel warm was the arms in her arms.

She couldn't help but hug him tighter and tighter.

Until...she heard a sigh:
"Ugh……"

dong dong dong...

Her heart beat faster and faster, as if she was unsure whether the string would stop the bomb or speed up the process of death.

She couldn't help but look up and met a pair of eyes that showed a bit of pity and struggle.

Lu Yao knew that as long as he opened his mouth, she would come close to him easily.

Besides, this girl... this little girl who just longs for a home...

This "stray dog" who can only run away when encountering problems...

Who wouldn’t feel compassion?
Regardless of whether it was gambling or true love, what she wanted was actually very simple, and it would not be an exaggeration to even say it was humble.

Men need balance?
maybe.

He didn't dislike the girl, and he sympathized with her experience. He felt even more sorry for her as she smiled and talked about the slapping of a group of people.

Life... is hard sometimes.

What she needs most is just a ray of sunshine.

But it is precisely because of this that Lu Yao feels...

"Silly girl, you deserve a better life."

He said softly.

(End of this chapter)