Don't get married if you're reborn.

Chapter 348 Spending Money Like Water
Zeng Wenjie didn't linger in the internet cafe long; he hadn't even finished spending the two yuan internet fee before he left.

Yuan Xiuqin's two yuan was completely wasted; she turned on a computer but did nothing, considering it a donation to the internet cafe owner.

Zeng Wenjie thought that the guys who went online in the internet cafe were all straight men. When a beautiful girl like Senior Sister Da Yuan, who was good at only one subject, came along, not a single one of them took their eyes off the screen.

Zeng Wenjie couldn't help but think of how obsessed he was with games back then.

"When are you going home?" Zeng Wenjie asked.

"I'm going back in a couple of days, what about you?"

Zeng Wenjie said, "I can't leave until before the new year. I can't leave because of business matters, and I also have to go to the set of 'The Voice of China' to participate in some recordings."

"The Voice of China," produced by Chongshan Province, is currently airing and has become a huge hit. The second episode achieved a super-popular rating of 6.0, and the third episode is still climbing. Moreover, its popularity on the internet has never stopped, and some of the famous memes from the show are being repeatedly used and parodied by netizens.

Zeng Wenjie didn't just finish recording the first episode and then have nothing to do. He still had to record some scattered footage and encourage viewers to participate in SMS voting.

"Thank you for helping me last time. I've been wanting to give you a gift to thank you, but I haven't had the chance," Yuan Xiuqin suddenly said, taking out a small gift box and handing it to Zeng Wenjie.

"No need to be so polite! But since you've already given it to me, I'll accept it without hesitation." Zeng Wenjie smiled and accepted it; judging from the packaging, it was a lighter.

Yuan Xiuqin said, "Don't use those cheap plastic lighters next time, they're really ugly."

Zeng Wenjie immediately pulled out a lighter with a busty woman design from his pocket and said, "Tsk, what's ugly about it? It's pleasing to the eye!"

Yuan Xiuqin was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this. After exchanging a few words, she turned and took her leave.

After the others left, Zeng Wenjie took out the Zippo lighter that Mu Qingyang had given him from his pocket, a smile appearing on his face.

Before we knew it, it was the end of January.

Snacks panicked and conducted a year-end inventory check behind closed doors.

The business operated for less than four months in total, but due to the increased customer traffic following Zeng Wenjie's interview, coupled with the huge profits from "The Voice of China" throughout January, the total profit reached a staggering 500,000.

"It's alright, but it's still a long way from the Rolls-Royce you've been dreaming of," Ye Qiansheng said with a slight sneer.

Zeng Wenjie said, "The snack shop is where it is today thanks to everyone's hard work. As the boss, I am honored to work with all of you excellent employees!"

Feng Xiao crossed his arms and said with a half-smile, "Since that's the case, shouldn't we give everyone some money for the New Year?"

Zeng Wenjie said proudly, "Of course! This afternoon we'll go out for food, drinks, and fun, and then we'll get paid for the New Year!"

"Long live the boss!"

“The boss is awesome!”

"Boss is the best!"

"Make it look proper!"

"Me too!"

Fu Qianzhu privately told Zeng Wenjie, "I won't split the money; my family still owes you a lot of money."

Zeng Wenjie said, "Let's keep things separate. In the snack shop, you and Brother Ye worked the hardest, helping me build it from scratch. We can't mistreat anyone, especially you!"

Fu Qianzhu's expression was complicated as she said, "Then just give me a token amount; consider it as offsetting the money I owe you."

"What about love?"

"..."

Fu Qianzhu was stunned by the question, and for a moment she looked a little dejected. She said, "I'll pay it back slowly."

Zeng Wenjie laughed and said, "I was just kidding! You should take what you deserve. I won't give you anything more."

Fu Qianzhu sighed softly, "Then... alright!"

Zeng Wenjie could understand Fu Qianzhu's anxiety.

When her father passed away unexpectedly, Zeng Wenjie voluntarily paid for the funeral expenses, using this as an opportunity to win over the hearts of the short-term loan sharks in the town.

Her mother committed suicide by overdose, and it was Zeng Wenjie who paid for Fu Yong's funeral. Moreover, she felt that as a senior, she should have taken care of Zeng Wenjie more at school, but unexpectedly, she was the one being taken care of instead. As Zeng Wenjie rose higher and higher, she felt increasingly inferior, and a sense of inferiority gradually began to grow in her heart.

Whenever she thinks of her mother's death, she feels heartbroken and blames herself. She feels so guilty that she can only cry every time. She also feels somewhat fearful and inferior because of this, afraid that others will attack her because of this.

Although the quote from Romain Rolland that Zeng Wenjie cited greatly inspired her, it was not easy to dispel such a thick gloom.

Sometimes, when she lay on the school lawn to rest and looked at the clouds in the sky, she felt as if the whole sky was collapsing little by little, pressing down on her so much that she could hardly breathe.

“Next year you will have to take on a heavy responsibility. After the store in Century City opens, I hope you will go there to oversee it,” Zeng Wenjie said.

"Can I do it?" Fu Qianzhu asked softly.

“Of course you can. Aren’t you in charge of the on-campus store? You understand the operating model very well. Don’t be afraid, just do it bravely,” Zeng Wenjie encouraged.

Fu Qianzhu nodded and said, "Yes, I will definitely try my best."

Too lazy to go to the bank to withdraw money, Zeng Wenjie drove directly to the jewelry store, counted the money, and put it in his car.

Then, we took out 20,000 yuan in cash to play games, such as picking up money with chopsticks and catching money with a spatula, which everyone had a lot of fun.

After playing all afternoon, when it was time for lunch, Zeng Wenjie handed out money at the table.

I have to say, it feels amazing to receive cash; it gives you a feeling of spending money like water...

No wonder some business owners like to give out money at their annual meetings, throwing stacks of cash into employees' arms, or even throwing out a handful of cash for a timed count, with employees receiving whatever amount they count.

Zeng Wenjie used to think how great it would be if he could work there whenever he saw videos like that.

No need to be envious now, I can make money on my own. Although I may not be as generous as others, if this trend continues, that day will come eventually!
"Brother Ye, you and Senior Sister Qianzhu, 40,000 each, here you go!" Zeng Wenjie took out bundles of banknotes from his bag.

Ye Qiansheng accepted it without any qualms, saying, "I deserve it, but thank you anyway, you capitalist."

His arrogant attitude left everyone both amused and exasperated, but it was truly something no one could emulate.

Fu Qianzhu stared at the 40,000 yuan, then burst into tears.

“Uh, there’s no need to be so touched.” Zeng Wenjie pushed the money in front of her. “Just accept it like Brother Ye did, without feeling guilty.”

Ye Qiansheng doesn't lack money; what he lacks is a sense of accomplishment and Ye Yixuan's recognition of him.

Fu Qianzhu was different. She came from a poor family and her father was killed in a robbery, leaving her with only 30,000 to 40,000 yuan. The 10,000 yuan that she could not get back, which was soaked in blood, became one of the triggers for her mother's suicide.

So, upon seeing these four stacks of banknotes piled together, her emotional defenses crumbled completely.

Feng Xiao went over and hugged Fu Qianzhu, gently patting her back and comforting her, "It's okay, it's all over! If we're talking about suffering, I'm not necessarily any worse off than you, and I'm still alive and well, aren't I?"

"Sister Feng...I...I'm just so sad!" Fu Qianzhu was sobbing uncontrollably and her words were not coherent.

Everyone watched this scene in silence.

Fu Qianzhu said between sobs, "I'm...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the mood...I just...I thought of my parents, and I felt a little sad..."

Feng Xiao held Fu Qianzhu and rocked her gently, laughing, "Don't cry, don't cry. No one will blame you for this. Everyone has sad times, right? Your parents will be very happy if they know how amazing you are now."

Fu Qianzhu sobbed in a low voice.

“Come here, come and cry in my arms. It’s three degrees outside, but it’s thirty-six and a half degrees inside my arms,” Zeng Wenjie said with a grin, stretching out his hands.

"Get lost!" Feng Xiao pushed him away impatiently.

Everyone was amused by his flamboyant behavior.

Fu Qianzhu was taken aback, then burst into laughter through her tears, her emotions calming down somewhat.

No one will blame her. Who doesn't have a couple of sad things hidden in their heart? You never know when something will trigger those memories and she'll suddenly break down.

In the adult world, there is no easy word.

(End of this chapter)