The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

The clatter of bowls and chopsticks continued as An Jianxing poured himself a drink from two wine glasses.

Shen Jingwan placed a piece of meat on Ye Shu's plate and began to chat casually:

"Xiao Shu, my daughter mentioned you before, are you working at a shop now?"

Ye Shu quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and nodded upon hearing this:

"Yes, Auntie, she works as a clerk in a beverage shop."

Shen Jingwan nodded, showing no sign of disdain, but instead asked with concern:

"Having a job is good and reassuring. However, working in a beverage shop isn't a long-term solution, is it? Have you considered switching to a more stable job, or one with better career prospects? Young people should always plan for the future."

Ye Shu pulled out a tissue from the side, wiped her mouth, and answered very seriously:

"I have thought about it, Auntie. It's just... there are so few reliable jobs out there these days, and so many scams. Besides, my current boss is a really good person and takes great care of me. Now, if I were to say I want to quit and switch jobs, I just feel a little... unable to bring myself to say it."

An Jianxing, who was just about to put a piece of food in his mouth, heard this, put the food back in his bowl, and replied:

"Hmm, I think you're a pretty honest guy, and not stupid either. How about... you try learning from my daughter and start your own business? Start your own business! Look at her now, isn't she doing quite well?"

After saying that, he raised his chin towards Zhi Qiu, looking proud of how amazing his daughter was.

hiss......

An Jianxing's words reminded Ye Shu. He turned to Zhi Qiu, who had been eating quietly beside him, and asked:

"Yeah! Sister Zhi Qiu, what exactly do you guys do for a living?"

Zhi Qiu turned her head and met Ye Shu's somewhat curious gaze, a smile more mysterious than the Mona Lisa curving her lips.

An Jianxing and Shen Jingwan, who were on the other side, were also a little surprised when they heard Ye Shu's question.

An Jianxing put down his chopsticks and looked at Ye Shu in disbelief:

"No, Xiao Ye, you two are in such a state... and you don't even know what my daughter does for a living?"

Ye Shu's face flushed slightly, and she gave an awkward grin.

"Well... I did ask about it before, but..."

He remembered that when they were eating hot pot that day, he asked about work and it seemed that Zhi Qiu teased him a bit... and then he forgot about it.

It's really embarrassing to say this in front of their parents.

Seeing Ye Shu's expression, Zhi Qiu's smile deepened. Without further ado, she spoke:

"Well, I didn't tell you before because I was afraid you'd get any funny ideas, but now I can tell you. Little Shu, actually... the shopping street where you go to work every day..."

"That whole street is yours?!?"

Ye Shu gasped, blurting out. In an instant, her mind flashed through various online novels she'd read, all about the domineering CEO falling in love with her. Those stories where someone casually gives away a whole street, with lines like, "This is the empire I conquered for you..."

"No, no, how could that be? What are you thinking?"

Zhi Qiu was amused by his silly appearance and couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch Ye Shu's chin.

"We just run a clothing store over there. You probably pass by it every day on your way to and from get off work."

"clothing store?"

Ye Shu thought about that street in her mind. There were indeed several clothing stores... Which one was it? But no matter which one it was, they all seemed to be quite large.

But then he thought again and realized something was wrong:

"But... I don't think I've ever seen you or anyone else go to the store?"

He thought back and realized that although their schedules were not very regular, they seemed to stay at home most of the time and he rarely saw them go out.

Zhi Qiu withdrew her hand, picked up the spoon, and slowly stirred the soup in the bowl:

"Oh, that? I rented out the shop a long time ago. I don't run it myself anymore; I just collect the rent on time every month."

"...It's been rented out?"

Zhi Qiu nodded, her smile gentle:

"Well, so I'm currently... well, unemployed? Or, I could call me... a freelancer? I mainly make a living from rent and some other investments."

Ye Shu opened his mouth, speechless for a moment. Looking at the gentle and refined Zhi Qiu before him, and thinking of the dry and tedious word "rent collection," he seemed to see three golden characters slowly emerging from Zhi Qiu's head, and blurted out:

"Landlady?"

Zhi Qiu smiled and gently kicked him under the table.

"Come on, eat your food."

"so."

Shen Jingwan suppressed a laugh and steered the conversation back on track:

"Xiao Shu, if you're really planning to start your own business, you might want to talk to Qiu Qiu more. Although she doesn't handle the day-to-day operations of the store anymore, she was the one who single-handedly opened it, chose the location, decorated it, selected products, and ran it. She still has some experience. Even if you don't open a store, seeing if there are other reliable options is better than just doing odd jobs all the time, don't you think?"

An Jianxing also snorted, picked up his wine glass, and took a sip:

"Young man, have some ambition. It's tough getting started without money, but being quick-witted and hardworking is more important than anything else. Besides..."

He glanced at Ye Shu, his gaze suggestive:

"Now we have some internal resources, don't we? Use them when you need to, don't be shy."

Ye Shu understood perfectly what "internal resources" meant. He immediately sat up straight, put down his chopsticks, and looked serious.

"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Aunt. I understand what you mean. I will keep this in mind and think it over carefully."

"Okay, let's eat first. You can think about it slowly, there's no rush."

Seeing that Ye Shu understood immediately, Shen Jingwan smiled and nodded:

"If you have any thoughts or need to know anything, talk to Qiuqiu or us."

"Yes, let's talk more."

An Jianxing echoed this sentiment, then refocused on his wine glass.

Ye Shu felt it, he really felt it. Besides his family who were thousands of miles away, another hand appeared out of nowhere behind him, steadily supporting him.

And it wasn't just one hand, because at that moment, his hand, which was resting on his lap under the table, was suddenly covered by a warm blanket.

Ye Shu turned his head, and Zhi Qiu had already quietly taken his hand. Her fingertips were slightly cool, but her palm was soft and warm.

She didn't look at herself and continued eating her meal in small bites.

But Ye Shu could feel that her fingers were gently closing, conveying a very reassuring power.

Ye Shu looked down and saw Zhi Qiu's fair hand covering the back of his hand. In his heart, it felt as if Zhi Qiu's gentle hand had caressed him.

He couldn't help but smile, then with a flick of his wrist, he gripped the other hand back.

Interlock your fingers and hold them tightly.

Zhi Qiu's smile widened; she felt the response from those around her.

Some words don't need to be spoken. Some feelings are understood without being said. Some paths, once walked alone, become journeys shared hand in hand. Some people will always be by your side.