Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 9 My First Love Was Given to the Wrong Person!

The moonlight was beautiful, and the surroundings were noisy, filled with laughter and curses.

Instant noodles, thermos flasks, IC phone booths, dim streetlights, and the smell at the dormitory entrance—whether it's disinfectant or something else—together create the atmosphere of high school after evening self-study.

Chen Xuebing was familiar with all of this, because his high school years had ended there, and he had never returned. But the city outside the school gates was constantly changing in his life.

It's hard to imagine that this city, which doesn't have many tall buildings, will become a smart Chongqing 20 years from now, where one floor equals five floors, five floors equals three basement levels, and so on, like eighteen layers of human life.

"Chen Xuebing, I think you can get into university."

"You asked me to come along just to encourage me?"

“No…”

Yang Qingyue glanced at Xin Mengzhen, who was quietly wearing headphones beside her, and said somewhat apologetically, "Actually... Mengzhen just transferred here this semester, and there's this boy who keeps waiting for her at the school gate. It's quite annoying. If you're here, he won't dare to come, so..."

"Oh." Chen Xuebing nodded.

He roughly knew from his past life that a girl like Xin Mengzhen would definitely have no shortage of suitors, and it was normal for a few to be particularly persistent. If they weren't in the same class, and the other party didn't do anything inappropriate, it wouldn't be easy to resolve the issue by reporting them to the teacher.

He wasn't stupid back then; he knew he was a protector whom Yang Qingyue and Xin Mengzhen didn't dislike too much and tacitly approved of.

They seemed to be colleagues, living in the same neighborhood, less than a kilometer from the school. So every day, he would tacitly escort them a few hundred meters from the school gate, then turn at an intersection to go to the internet cafe where Lu Yiwen and his friends often hung out, play for a while, and then go home.

His home is actually in another direction. If he doesn't go to the internet cafe, he'll have to turn back quite a distance after dropping them off.

However, one is never afraid to waste time when one is young.

Hiding in one place, remaining motionless, waiting for someone to come find you.

Several people gathered around a game machine, each playing one life.

I spent the whole night repeatedly pressing a few keys to level up my game character.

Post a status update on QQ Space and keep refreshing, waiting for someone's reply.

Take the time to lock the shared bikes.

Clear-headed and foolish, yet endlessly enjoyable, but the time wasted back then was better than any other time, more like time itself.

That's why I get all sentimental when I think about my youth.

"If I don't come, in a society governed by the rule of law, no one can do anything about it, right?"

"A reborn person naturally wants to explore all the possibilities," Chen Xuebing asked with a smile.

"There are still a lot of bad people, you know!" Yang Qingyue immediately became a little angry: "Mengzhen is because..."

The conversation stopped.

Yang Qingyue made a half-complaint, then seemed to realize that continuing was not a good idea. Her chest heaved as she began to think of another reason.

But Chen Xuebing understood from this half-sentence that something similar had happened before, which was why he transferred schools.

To confirm his speculation, Chen Xuebing deliberately changed the subject:
"She transferred here this year, right? From out of town?"

Xin Mengzhen is not a local. Although Chen Xuebing has not heard her speak much, he knows that she speaks Mandarin.

This is also one of the sources of Chen Xuebing's goodwill.

He's a Chongqing firecracker, a Sichuan Yin-Yang master. Even his father, a soldier who fought in the Vietnam War in his youth and survived countless battles, was completely controlled by his mother. He had no intention of inheriting his father's henpecked ways and particularly disliked the phrase "I'll count to three." In his previous life, he didn't date many girls from the Sichuan and Chongqing areas.

“Hmm, Guangzhou.” Yang Qingyue said, then seemed to remember something funny and giggled, “No, it’s Africa!”

Chen Xuebing turned his head: ? ? ?

“It really is Africa! She’ll be African from now on!” Yang Qingyue said with a confident smile.

Yang Qingyue's gasping laughter echoed around the road; it was melodious yet wild.

“…Say something I can understand.” Chen Xuebing said, somewhat speechless, seeing that she couldn’t stop laughing.

"Goose...goose...her family immigrated to Hong Kong, but there's no such policy for mainlanders..."

Chen Xuebing knew as soon as Yang Qingyue mentioned it.

"Oh...investment immigration."

Now, Yang Qingyue became curious: "You know?"

Chen Xuebing nodded: "650 million? With Hong Kong residency secured, she's a rich woman..."

In his past life, when he was living a life of luxury, an agent approached him and gave him a detailed introduction about moving to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's economy was severely affected after the SARS outbreak in 2003, prompting the implementation of a population introduction policy. Domestically, this was called relocation, which generally required going through a talent scheme and certain certifications. Internationally, it was called immigration, which could be done through investment. Moreover, these days, buying property and speculating in stocks are also possible, as long as the quota is met.

650 million before 2010, 1000 million after 2010.

Just as the situation in Hong Kong had stabilized for a few years after its return to China, the trend of wealthy mainlanders settling in Hong Kong began in 03. They would first go to countries with relaxed immigration policies, such as Gambia in Africa, and then go to Hong Kong, as the procedures would be simpler.

“You really know a lot, Chen Xuebing.” Yang Qingyue’s laughter had stopped, and she looked at him curiously.

Chen Xuebing shook his head and glanced at Xin Mengzhen: "Can't she hear you talking to her like that?"

“She’s listening to original English audio,” Yang Qingyue said, then called out as if to confirm, “Xin Mengzhen!”

Chen Xuebing also openly glanced at Xin Mengzhen. She was still walking a little faster than them, but her brows were furrowed as she focused her attention.

"When looking at a girl, look at her eyes first, because the eyes are the windows to the soul. If you're sure she's not looking at you, then look at her butt, otherwise it's a bit lewd."

Chen Xuebing recalled those words and silently sized up Xin Mengzhen's figure.

Although the hoodie and sweatpants don't reveal much, she is definitely tall, with a slender figure where it should be and a fuller figure where it should be.

I think I saw her in her spring sportswear in a past life. She had a toned figure with much more defined lines, and she probably had abs.

Yang Qingyue, standing beside her, was probably fair-skinned and gentle. Although her features were not as striking as Xin Mengzhen's, she was over 1.7 meters tall, slightly taller than Xin Mengzhen.

Two or three centimeters.

"She's really quite dark-skinned. Could she actually have relatives in Africa?" Chen Xuebing quipped.

In his past life, Xin Mengzhen never spoke to him, and Chen Xuebing was too embarrassed to take the initiative to talk to her. But now Chen Xuebing wasn't going to indulge her. At worst, they would just go from strangers back to strangers.

Yang Qingyue defended her, saying, "Mengzhen's skin is amazing, okay? Where is it dark?"

Chen Xuebing's tone became increasingly bold: "How can you be so unromantic? If you don't say it, she can't hear you. Isn't it more interesting to talk bad about her?"

Mood/Atmosphere.

These two words made Yang Qingyue hesitate for a moment, then she chuckled: "Misusing words, I'm not on your side."

Chen Xuebing waved his hand dismissively and made his own move.

"Has she always been so quiet? Is it a long-term habit, or just at night?"

Yang Qingyue rolled her eyes and ignored him.

“Hey, this situation shouldn’t be ignored. I’ve heard it’s a symptom of a mental illness.”

"Don't delay, the longer you wait, the worse it will get."

"Don't your families know each other? You should talk to her parents and tell them to pay more attention to the child's development..."

Chen Xuebing got more and more excited as he talked, but he never dreamed that the other party would take action directly.

No, kick.

Xin Mengzhen had somehow retreated behind the two men, and with a steady, accurate, and ruthless kick, she delivered a side kick straight at Chen Xuebing's buttocks.

How many years of gang fight experience does Chen Xuebing have? Of course he'd discovered it.

"He must have practiced... just a few days of fancy moves."

"You can hide."

"But there's no need for that."

His quick thinking and excellent reflexes allowed him to generate three ideas in an instant, and he slightly lowered his center of gravity. *Snap*.

Xin Mengzhen's shin landed hard on Chen Xuebing's lower back.

The soldier remained as immovable as a mountain.

Then he patted her on the back with a smile: "Oh, so you can hear me."

"Mengzhen, you..."

Yang Qingyue was the slowest to react. She quickly checked Chen Xuebing's back and patted him on the back, saying, "Are you alright? Why did you have to provoke Mengzhen? She's a Taekwondo practitioner! She has a black belt!"

Chen Xuebing walked forward nonchalantly: "What kind of 'lifting fist' or 'lifting foot' is it? It's not powerful enough. It's just thugs' excitement punches."

Xin Mengzhen took off her headphones, clenching her fists in anger: "Don't go!"

She held back just now and now regrets it.

I didn't perform well.

I really wanted to kick him a second time and shut this grinning guy up.

Seeing that Chen Xuebing ignored her, she calmed down and spoke again, her voice surprisingly carrying a hint of Shao Yu's: "Hey, do you want to get even more excited?"

Chen Xuebing was stunned. He turned around and found her looking at him with a half-smile, tilting her head slightly and looking at him defiantly.

I had never seen this side of Xin Mengzhen in my previous life.

Is the female lead going crazy? She gets more excited the more she fights?

I'm not interested in the SM industry!
"Forget it, I won't argue with you." Chen Xuebing waved his hand and walked away on his own, feeling a little wronged.

I heard this girl had pretty good grades, and I thought she was a cultured person. How come she's like this?
Damn it, I gave my first love to the wrong person.

"Mengzhen, stop fooling around." Yang Qingyue quickly changed the subject: "By the way, I wanted to ask you something, which set of mock exams for the humanities subjects are you going through in your top class?"

There was a silence of four or five seconds.

"Politics is on the fifth set, while history and geography are on the sixth set."

"Wow...you guys are going so fast! We've only just started the second set..."

"That set of mock exam papers, is it even in order?" It was Chen Xuebing who spoke.

He remembered that he had already flipped through two sets of mock exam papers tonight, doing whatever he could find.

Yang Qingyue looked at Chen Xuebing, who had just looked so mature but was now completely bewildered, and found him rather endearing. She crossed her arms and laughed.
"You didn't know this? I'm starting to wonder if you caused such a big scene today and got transferred to the front because you wanted to study, or because you like me?"

The air is quiet again.

Chen Xuebing was at a loss for words when Yang Qingyue suddenly spoke so directly.

"What's wrong, Qingyue?" A wall had been broken down between Xin Mengzhen and Chen Xuebing, and she actually took the initiative to speak, showing her curiosity.

"Let me tell you, Chen Xuebing is studying tonight..." Yang Qingyue immediately began whispering to Xin Mengzhen with a bright smile, oblivious to everyone else.

It wasn't very quiet; Chen Xuebing listened intermittently from the side.

"...And then Zhao Li, you know Zhao Li, right? The one who gave me milk..."

"Oh, I know, that guy who keeps commenting on your papers, he's trying to woo you, and he's really annoying."

"Yes, later the homeroom teacher came, and Chen Xuebing..."

The two of them would glance at Chen Xuebing every now and then, and then start laughing.

Chen Xuebing looked exasperated.

You guys really don't treat me like an outsider.

It turns out that the ambiguous little actions that boys think they are being flirtatious with are perfectly clear to girls, and they will even use them as a source of amusement.

Wait, do most girls really let loose like this? Does Yang Qingyue think of me as her best friend?
The two women spoke softer and softer as the conversation progressed. Chen Xuebing knew that the conversation was all about him, and although it was likely to be about praising him, he felt a little annoyed that they were talking about him in front of him and he couldn't join in.

My mindset got messed up.

"Oh, he can do math problems too?" Xin Mengzhen looked at Chen Xuebing with a half-smile, seemingly having just heard something.

"Hey, isn't that going too far? If you treat me like this to my face, what will you say about me behind my back?" Chen Xuebing said seriously, his hands behind his back.

I want to scold someone.

Yang Qingyue also put her hands behind her back, but she looked a little romantic: "Oh... I'm praising you! By the way, Chen Xuebing, Mengzhen and I are going to the milk tea bar to do some practice questions this weekend afternoon. Do you want to come? I think you might really be able to help us broaden our thinking. I really learned a lot from doing this set of questions together today."

That sounds pleasant.

Two beautiful women are inviting me; normally I'd just go for it without thinking.

But bubble tea shops... you guys are pretty rich.

Chen Xuebing really wanted to ask if it was possible to split the bill equally, or even better, to split it equally with others, so he could be the one shamelessly getting something for free.

But the soldier is a man of principle.

"Uh... I might not be free, how about we talk about it on Saturday?"

Go home and think carefully about starting a business. Take out the 10,000 yuan from your uncle as soon as possible and make some money so you won't be so strapped for cash.

"Just be straightforward, are you coming or not?" Yang Qingyue frowned.

Chen Xuebing, his mind filled with thoughts of starting a business, waved his hand and casually said, "Buddha."

Yang Qingyue, Xin Mengzhen: (＿；)
"Hmph, he's the one who's mentally ill, Qingyue, ignore him."

Xin Mengzhen remembered Yang Qingyue saying that this mentally ill person liked her, but she hadn't noticed it at all.

Still putting on airs, acting all mature, humph.

"Chen Xuebing, you're still leaving? You've already passed by! Aren't you going to the internet cafe today?" Yang Qingyue suddenly shouted.

Chen Xuebing was sorting through his thoughts on the internet when he came to his senses and realized that he had already passed the intersection where they usually parted ways.

"How did you know I was going to an internet cafe?" Chen Xuebing asked in surprise.

"Hehe." Yang Qingyue pulled Xin Mengzhen past Chen Xuebing and waved to him:

"Secret~"

Chen Xuebing couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

In his past life... were there so many "secrets" he didn't know?

Secrets? I've revealed them all to you!
……

When I got home, there was already evening fog on the road.

These days, Chongqing is still called the Fog City.

Some say the fog is due to the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers separating the city, resulting in heavy moisture, but in reality, the fog has decreased since some large factories moved out of the city and started converting farmland back to forest.

The old-style residential area was dark, and even the security guard's room was unlit. Only a small shop with a "cigarettes and alcohol" sign at the main gate was emitting incandescent light from its open window.

This ground-floor apartment is uniquely situated, with the door inside the residential complex and the window outside. To ensure the family of the model worker had a livelihood, the Public Security Bureau actually hired an expert to conduct a site survey. The expert spent a week studying the blueprints before finally managing to open a window in this brick-and-mortar building, where walls couldn't be easily demolished. The project also provided sufficient support and changed the apartment's purpose, creating a small shop at the entrance of the complex.

Chen Xuebing's home is a commercial property.

The warmth of human relationships is still visible to the naked eye these days.

"Dong dong."

Chen Xuebing knocked on the window, poked his head inside, and shouted, "Is anyone there? Stealing something, huh!"

Shouts immediately came from inside.

"Don't climb through the window! Come in through the front door! Officer Chen, open the door for your brother!"

(End of this chapter)