Restart life

Chapter 263 0260 [Old Driver Xu's Spiritual Life]

The car drove to the old, dilapidated area where Xu Fengyin and Ding Beili rented their apartment.

As Chen Guiliang walked along the walls, he saw the word "demolish" written on many places, and casually remarked, "Is this whole area going to be demolished?"

“They said they were going to demolish it at the beginning of the year, but we’re still talking about compensation,” Xu Fengyin said. “Some homeowners have even moved their whole families abroad and left their relatives to handle the rentals. In these cases, they don’t even know who to talk to about the demolition compensation.”

The core area of ​​Zhongguan West District began demolition in 2000 and large-scale construction began in 2002, and was basically completed at the beginning of this year.

As a result, old and dilapidated houses around the core area were demolished sporadically.

It's really not easy for employees of ByteDance and Game Science to find affordable housing nearby.

The earliest employees moved from Changchun New Garden to Yandong Garden, and then from Yandong Garden to an old, dilapidated apartment. Each move was forced upon them, and now they are facing demolition again. They will probably have to find a new place to rent next year.

"We've arrived. Just park at the alley entrance," Xu Fengyin said.

Chen Guiliang joked, "Since the boss brought you back, why don't you invite him inside for a seat?"

"It's inconvenient," Xu Fengyin replied immediately.

Ding Beili said, "Why don't you come to my place? I can cook, and I'll treat you two to dinner tonight."

"Never mind, maybe next time." Chen Guiliang was just joking. Did he really intend to go to the female employee's rented room?
Xu Fengyin opened the car door and got out. Afraid that Chen Guiliang would change his mind, she quickly waved and said, "Goodbye, boss!"

"Goodbye," Chen Guiliang said with a smile.

The two girls left together; they rented rooms in the same tenement building.

There was a noodle shop in the alley, and the two of them ate a bowl to fill their stomachs.

"Sigh, I told the owner to use less salt, but the noodles are still so salty." Ding Beili felt that everything she ate in Beijing was too salty.

Xu Fengyin said, "Next time, tell him not to add salt and soy sauce. He can add as much as he wants. And don't order noodles with soybean paste either. You already find the soybean paste too salty."

“That’s true,” Ding Beili said.

Xu Fengyin particularly liked this girl. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also not very smart and usually quiet, so she was not annoying.

After finishing their noodles, they each went back to their rented rooms without visiting each other.

Ding Beili's room was slightly less messy than Xu Fengyin's, at least it wouldn't be too much of a nuisance to visitors.

When she got home, she would lie on the sofa and watch TV, specifically entertainment programs.

They called it learning hosting skills.

When she first rented the apartment, Ding Beili bought several professional books, all related to interviewing and hosting. She also remembered Chen Guiliang's suggestion and planned to develop her career as an event host.

I used to read every night after get off work... well, I only kept it up for two nights.

Those books have a hypnotic effect; I kept dozing off while reading them.

This current learning method suits her better. She can watch entertainment programs on TV for hours on end without feeling tired, especially shows like "Happy Camp" and talent shows.

But if things continue like this, I might end up working as a receptionist at the company forever.

Ding Beili was somewhat worried about her future. But upon reflection, working as a receptionist wasn't so bad. Occasionally, she could work as a showgirl, or be asked by the company to cosplay female warriors from the game "Three Kingdoms Kill".

With this extra income, supporting myself shouldn't be a problem.

Why make yourself suffer so much?

Some people, given a platform, can grow continuously and take off quickly.

Some people provide him with a platform and tell him what to do, but he still stays in the same place.

Both are fine; it's a personal choice.

Xu Fengyin, already an outstanding employee at Youke, was still studying back in her room. She had finished reading "Color Design in France" and was currently looking at the Digital Dunhuang section on the Peking University Library website.

Xu Fengyin was not satisfied with browsing online; she actually wanted to go to the library in person to experience the legendary "Dunhuang Mural Light Variation Atlas" firsthand.

However, that thing is stored in a temperature-controlled warehouse on the basement floor of the old Peking University Library. It's an archive containing original experimental data, classified as an artifact. Not only can it not be borrowed, but it's also limited to 10 people per day by reservation, and you have to apply for a microscope in advance.

No more than 10 universities nationwide have this set of books.

The Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) keeps reprinted teaching materials, which are only available for borrowing by its own master's and doctoral students. They can be borrowed for a maximum of 7 days.

The Tsinghua University copy is only available for professors to reserve and cannot be borrowed; it contains handwritten annotations by Liang Sicheng.

There are also Lanzhou University, Zhejiang University, Nankai University, Fudan University... but this doesn't include the schools Xu Fengyin attended before.

"Should I apply for graduate school at Peking University? I really want to see it in person," Xu Fengyin muttered to herself, staring at the digital Dunhuang feature on her computer screen.

After a moment of blankness, Xu Fengyin took out paper and pen and began to trace the lines of the pictures on the website.

Learn to draw lines well first.

I had been studying for over an hour when my mom suddenly called.

"Hello, Mom." Xu Fengyin put the phone on speakerphone and looked at the computer screen while making the call.

Mom said, "I just spoke with your brother Shen on the phone. He said he took you to see three different neighborhoods today. Did you find one you liked? If you don't have enough money for a down payment, the family can come up with another 100,000 yuan."

Xu Fengyin asked in surprise, "You've saved so much money?" Her mother replied irritably, "Do you think it was stolen? Your father and I have been saving every penny for so many years, and we've only saved a little over 80,000 yuan. If we borrow from relatives and friends, we can still come up with 100,000 yuan."

Xu Fengyin said, "I have money. My salary increased again at the beginning of this year, and my paintings are selling well. Including my salary and bonuses, I can earn at least 20 this year. More than that."

"You earn so much?" Dad suddenly asked. Mom must have had the call on speakerphone, because Dad had been listening the whole time.

My mom also said, "Your brother Shen has a master's degree and got into a big company like Lenovo. I heard that in the first two years after he graduated, he only earned three or four thousand yuan a month. You, an artist, earn more than him who works in high technology?"

Xu Fengyin explained, "He graduated several years ago, and the overall salary level wasn't high back then. Now he earns a lot more. It's different for us artists; besides a basic salary, we also have to consider whether our work sells well. Didn't I say that many people are willing to pay for my paintings?"

My dad advised, "I've also tried playing 'Three Kingdoms Kill.' The game is pretty good, but don't make your skins too revealing."

My mom suddenly blurted out, "If you think it's too explicit, why did you pay to buy it?"

"Did I buy it because I liked it? I'm supporting my daughter's work!" the father insisted.

Mom complained, "Fengyin, your dad's hooked on that game! He plays it as soon as he gets off work. He hardly ever goes fishing anymore, and he plays until midnight on weekends. He's so old, and he has to pay to play even though it's free. It's infuriating!"

Xu Fengyin found it very funny.

My dad didn't play games when he was young, but now, because of his daughter's job, he got curious and started playing "Three Kingdoms Kill". He's become a loyal fan and even recommended it to his colleagues at work.

Why are you bringing this up?

Dad quickly changed the subject, asking, "Fengyin, what do you think of Brother Shen?"

Xu Fengyin said, "He's alright, I treat him like an older brother."

My mother said, "Shen Yifan has always been an honest and obedient child, and his grades have always been excellent. Back then, it wasn't as easy for him to get into university as it is now. Now he owns a house in Beijing and has a Beijing hukou (household registration). In the past two years, many people have come to the Shen family to propose marriage."

Xu Fengyin said dejectedly, "I can also get a Beijing hukou, and I can also buy a house in Beijing."

My dad had a different focus: "Does your company offer residency registration?"

Xu Fengyin explained, "Both of the companies under our boss are key enterprises that receive special support, and they are given a quota of household registrations every year. Priority is given to senior executives, and several of them don't even need the company's quota. I'm an outstanding employee now, so I can apply right now."

"Then hurry up and apply; a Beijing residency permit is highly sought after," Dad urged.

"Okay, I know." Xu Fengyin didn't want to talk about this.

Mom added, "Your brother Shen not only has good working conditions, but he's also handsome."

"Where is he handsome? He's very ordinary, okay?" Xu Fengyin said speechlessly.

Mom said, "Where isn't he handsome? He's tall and strong, with a robust build, and he even looks like Tu Honggang."

Xu Fengyin muttered, "Tu Honggang isn't that handsome either."

My mom said again, "You've been out of college for a year now, it's time to start thinking about your personal life..."

"Oops, someone's knocking on the door, I'll hang up now. Goodbye." Xu Fengyin hung up the phone quickly.

Xu Fengyin sat in front of the computer, lost in thought.

She hadn't really thought about this kind of thing, but her parents' matchmaking made her feel that she really should find a boyfriend.

There aren't any suitable ones.

Xu Fengyin spends all her time either drawing, reading comics, or studying drawing techniques. She hardly interacts with anyone else; even when she runs into colleagues at work, she only exchanges a brief greeting.

Aside from Ding Beili, her close relationships were with a few of her own apprentices (the company's graphic designers).

Among her colleagues who frequently interacted with her, there was a technical artist named Tang Ze who was quite handsome. But he already had a girlfriend, and it was rumored that they were getting married soon.

Zhang Xiaofei, who works in system maintenance in the next department, is quite handsome. But he's already married; he married his college girlfriend right after graduation.

As for the others, they're just so-so.

As someone who prioritizes looks, Xu Fengyin only considers handsome men. Occasionally, when she gets tired of drawing at the company, she'll stare at the technical artist Tang Ze for a while; handsome men are pleasing to the eye and keep her in a good mood.

Oh, and the boss too.

Xu Fengyin often had wild and random fantasies, but they were just thoughts and she never put them into action. At most, when she felt uncomfortable thinking about them, she would sit down and draw a few borderline comics.

Commonly known as "secretly passionate".

"Sigh, I'll just read comics instead. There's never a shortage of handsome guys in comics."

Xu Fengyin took out a newly bought comic book, a traditional Chinese translation from Taiwan. As an experienced person, she could always get her hands on these things through various channels.

This comic is really exciting.

The male lead is a handsome man who has sex with multiple female leads.

Xu Fengyin thought about how her boss had coffee with a female celebrity today. Could President Chen be just as fickle? But President Chen really is like a comic book protagonist, handsome and so successful in his career.

She even started fantasizing about herself, her boss, and that female celebrity together...

She only thinks about it; in reality, she's quite conservative.

(End of this chapter)