Name: My father is Zhao Dehan, and I hope he will become a dragon!

Jingzhou Railway Station, Exit.

Zhou Xiaoyu parked her car in a temporary parking space in the station square, turned off the engine, and leaned back in her seat to scroll through her phone.

She came early today, washed the car before leaving, and wiped down the interior. The white Audi A4 gleamed clean in the afternoon sun, its body lines sharp and its wheels shiny.

A white, top-of-the-line Audi A4, costing nearly 400,000 RMB after taxes and fees.

When Zhou Xiaoyu got the keys, she sat in the car for a long time, touching the steering wheel and the seat. Finally, she took a few photos and saved them in her album, but didn't post them on her WeChat Moments.

She knew what this car meant.

A 22-year-old girl, fresh out of college, without a proper job, drives a car worth 400,000 yuan.

Anyone could tell what was going on.

But she doesn't care.

She made it very clear to Zhao Chongming that they would each get what they wanted.

She needs money, and he needs her.

fair.

It's just a bit tough.

But even if it's tough, as long as people don't suffer, that's fine.

Her phone buzzed. It was a WeChat message from Zhao Xiaoya: "I've exited the station. Where are you?"

Zhou Xiaoyu replied with two words: "East Square".

She got out of the car and stood beside it, watching the flow of people at the exit. After a while, a girl in a white down jacket and a ponytail squeezed out, dragging a suitcase and looking around. Zhou Xiaoyu waved: "Xiaoya! Over here!"

Zhao Xiaoya saw her, smiled, and quickly walked over, dragging her suitcase. The two hugged briefly, then Zhao Xiaoya let go, her gaze passing over Zhou Xiaoyu's shoulder and landing on the white Audi.

Her smile froze.

"Xiaoyu..." Zhao Xiaoya's voice was somewhat uncertain, "Is this your car?"

Zhou Xiaoyu glanced back and said casually, "Yeah, just bought it. Get in the car, it's freezing."

Zhao Xiaoya didn't move. She dragged her suitcase around to the front of the car, glanced at the logo, then at the body. An Audi. White. Gleaming. Among the cars parked in the train station square, this wasn't the most expensive, but it was definitely the most eye-catching.

"Did you buy it?" Zhao Xiaoya asked again.

"My boyfriend gave it to me." Zhou Xiaoyu opened the car door, took her suitcase, and put it in the trunk. "Get in the car first, I'll tell you on the way."

Zhao Xiaoya sat in the passenger seat, rested her hand on the leather seat, and looked around. The car was impeccably clean; there was only a phone holder on the center console, not even a single extra decoration. The car was filled with a blend of new car and perfume scents.

Zhou Xiaoyu started the car and merged into the traffic.

"Boyfriend?" Zhao Xiaoya finally couldn't hold back anymore. "When did you start dating? What does he do?"

Zhou Xiaoyu gripped the steering wheel, glanced at her sideways, and smiled: "In business. Quite wealthy."

"What kind of business do you do?"

"I'm not too sure, it seems to be something about chips," Zhou Xiaoyu said vaguely. "Anyway, it's a pretty big company. He's usually busy and doesn't come to see me often. I just do my own thing."

Zhao Xiaoya leaned back in her seat, processing this information.

She remembered that Zhou Xiaoyu hadn't been able to find a proper job since graduation, and that when they last chatted, Zhou Xiaoyu said she was "just getting by in Jingzhou." She also remembered that she was still working in a clothing store in the county town, earning a little over a hundred yuan a day.

"Is he good to you?" Zhao Xiaoya asked.

Zhou Xiaoyu thought for a moment: "That's good. He gives me money, buys me a car, and doesn't bother me. I won't bother him either. We'll each live our own lives."

Zhao Xiaoya did not ask any further questions.

As the car drove onto the main road, the streetscape of Jingzhou receded past the window.

High-rise buildings, shopping malls, office buildings, neon lights—everything is much more bustling than Qingchuan County.

Zhao Xiaoya looked out the window, her mind racing with the same thought—Zhou Xiaoyu was the same age as her, or even a year younger.

Zhou Xiaoyu didn't attend a good school or find a good job. But now she drives an Audi, lives in Jingzhou, and receives money from someone every month.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaoya was still worrying about her brother's betrothal gifts.

"Xiaoyu," Zhao Xiaoya spoke, her voice a little muffled, "Your boyfriend... what does he do to earn so much?"

Zhou Xiaoyu chuckled, "I really don't know. It seems he owns more than one company; he has chips, mobile phones, and photovoltaics and stuff. Anyway, he's pretty impressive."

How old are you?

"Not even thirty."

Zhao Xiaoya was taken aback. He was under thirty. She had imagined him to be a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, balding, with a beer belly, and wearing a gold chain. But he was under thirty.

"So how did you meet?"

Zhou Xiaoyu paused for a moment, then said, "A friend introduced us. At first, it was just a meal, but later he thought I was quite fun and said he wanted to date me long-term. I also thought he was nice, so I agreed."

She didn't elaborate. Zhao Xiaoya didn't press further.

The car turned into a residential area and parked in the underground garage. Zhou Xiaoyu turned off the engine, unbuckled her seatbelt, and glanced at Zhao Xiaoya.

"Xiaoya, don't ask too many questions. I have my path, and you have yours. Come to Jingzhou for a visit, and I'll show you around for a few days. We'll talk about everything else later."

Zhao Xiaoya nodded.

She followed Zhou Xiaoyu out of the car and into the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, she peeked through the crack at the white Audi, which was quietly parked in its spot. The headlights flashed once, and then the car locked itself.

Zhao Xiaoya looked away, her heart pounding even harder.

The two took the elevator to the fourth floor of the mall and sat down at a milk tea shop.

Zhao Xiaoya held her milk tea, absentmindedly stirring the straw.

Zhou Xiaoyu scrolled through her phone for a while, then looked up at her.

"What's wrong with you? You've been so distracted lately."

Zhao Xiaoya hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Xiaoyu, I have something to tell you."

"Um."

I'm getting married.

Zhou Xiaoyu was taken aback: "With whom? Chen Qiang?"

Zhao Xiaoya nodded.

"Didn't you two talk for quite a while? Isn't this a good thing?"

Zhao Xiaoya lowered her head, stirred her milk tea a couple of times, and said in a muffled voice, "Actually, I don't really like him."

Zhou Xiaoyu put down her phone and looked at her intently.

"His family isn't well-off. He works at a car repair shop, earning a little over three thousand a month. His parents aren't very capable either. The bride price was pieced together from various sources; it was 188,000 yuan, and it was money from his sister."

As Zhao Xiaoya spoke, her tone carried an inexplicable frustration, "My mom added another 50,000 yuan, asking his family to contribute more. It seems his mother agreed."

"Then why did you still get married?"

Zhao Xiaoya looked up at Zhou Xiaoyu, a self-deprecating look in her eyes: "Because my mom thinks it's okay. Because the bride price is enough. Because my brother is also getting married, and the family is short of money. Because... anyway, I don't dislike him, so I'll just make do."

She took a sip of her milk tea and continued, "Actually, I won't lie to you, I also want to find someone with good conditions. But those with good conditions don't want me. Chen Qiang's family isn't that well-off, but at least they're willing to give a dowry. And his older sister seems to be doing quite well outside, earning tens of thousands a month. Maybe she can help me out in the future."

Zhou Xiaoyu listened without showing any expression.

She put down her milk tea, leaned back in her chair, and suddenly smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhao Xiaoya asked.

Zhou Xiaoyu stretched out her hand, spread her five fingers, and waved it in front of Zhao Xiaoya.

Do you know how much my monthly living expenses are?

Zhao Xiaoya looked at the five fingers: "Five thousand?"

Zhou Xiaoyu shook her head.

"fifty thousand?"

Zhou Xiaoyu shook her head again, then chuckled: "Fifty thousand. Cash. Fixed monthly. Also, he just bought me an apartment. In Jingzhou, two bedrooms and a living room, paid in full."

Zhao Xiaoya stopped holding her milk tea cup.