Which way to go is the road?

That afternoon, everyone knew that Xiang Fei had found a place and was moving, and they all congratulated him, including Du Xinpeng.

"Congratulations, Xiang Fei! You've gone from underground to above ground, and even climbed to the sixth floor! You've gone straight from being a lowly ghost or demon in the underworld to the Jade Emperor! Are you trying to become the Jade Emperor?!"

Upon hearing this praise, Xiang Fei immediately pictured the dark, damp, and gloomy basement, and naturally, the image of the Black and White Impermanence, sending shivers down his spine. "Hey! Old Du, can't you praise me normally? So I was a little devil all along??"

"Why do you care about little devils or big devils? Focus on the future. Think about your year-round spring-like, bright and clean house. Isn't that more comfortable and carefree than that of the Jade Emperor?"

These words were quite agreeable, and Xiang Fei nodded: "Old Du, you should write a book. Your imagination is unmatched by most people. You can make up any kind of thing and use it as a metaphor. This is the formula for online novels these days. Zhang Fei can become sworn brothers with Li Kui, then go to the Tang Dynasty to marry Yang Guifei, have a son named Xiang Yu, and then start an uprising at the end of the Qin Dynasty!"

"Hehe, Xiang Fei, you've learned it too! Let's write together!"

"Forget it, I'm doing pretty well at 'Water Cloud Pavilion,' I don't want to starve to death!"

……

The two were chatting idly when Qian Luomei's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Xiang Fei, come to the attic. I need to talk to you!"

Since Qian Luomei had called him first, Xiang Fei didn't ring the doorbell and went upstairs directly using facial recognition. Upon reaching the attic, he saw Qian Luomei, dressed elegantly and dignifiedly in casual home attire.

"Sister Luomei, did you call me?"

Qian Luomei gestured for Xiang Fei to sit down and offered him a cup of hot tea: "I heard you found an apartment? How much is it per month? How far is it from here? Is it convenient for commuting?"

"I just found it this morning, and haven't signed the contract yet. I'll go over with the money tomorrow and sign the contract while I'm there! It's 1200 a month, and it's much farther from here than that basement place, but it's near the subway station, so it's quite convenient! It should be within 40 minutes' walk, so I can just get up a little earlier in the future!" Xiang Fei put down his tea and said politely.

"Here's the thing, our internet cafe used to pay for your basement rentals. It was cheap, and it was also convenient for you to live nearby so you could work together. This time you're renting your own place, and the internet cafe should have done something for you too, but this internet cafe isn't just for you. We can't let others suffer if we're giving you this kind of treatment, so we can't help you!"

Xiang Fei had been hoping to get the 200 yuan subsidy for the basement, but it seemed unlikely. Disappointed, he still sensibly said, "Sister Luo Mei, I understand. I just became the store manager, and I don't want any special treatment, lest they become envious, which wouldn't be good for my work! Grandpa just rewarded me with 5000 yuan, which is just enough to rent a place! No rush!"

"However, since you've become the store manager, your position has changed, so your salary should also increase appropriately. Your original salary was 2000, and I'll give you another 2000, making it 4000 yuan in total!" Seeing Xiang Fei's gradually relaxing face, Qian Luomei smiled happily as well: "Not only you, but all the employees in the internet cafe will have their salaries increased by 500 yuan. It hasn't been increased for several years, so let's take your situation as an opportunity!"

Upon hearing the news, Xiang Fei couldn't contain his excitement. He jumped to his feet, pacing back and forth, wringing his hands. "Sister Luo Mei, I really don't know what to say! This morning, I was still worried about this matter, but I didn't expect you to have thought of it for me! I don't know how to thank you enough, so I'll just bow to you!"

Qian Luomei quickly stood up and stopped him, scolding, "What's wrong with you? You have to bow to express gratitude! I told you not to do that last time. Your bow makes me feel like I'm lying in a funeral home! If you keep doing that, I'm not raising your salary!"

"Okay, okay, I won't bow anymore!" Xiang Fei quickly waved his hand, then thought for a moment and changed his way of thanking him: "Then I will do my best in my work from now on, try to save you some trouble, and manage the internet cafe well!"

"That's right! When are you moving? I'll help you then!"

"We can finalize things after the contract is signed tomorrow. I'll let you know then, and we'll all come to my place for a big meal and drink until we're completely drunk!"

"Okay, it's a deal!"

Xiang Fei immediately told Bai Xue about the pay raise, and the gloom between them instantly vanished. It seems that money can indeed solve some problems.

Things went smoothly, and the rental contract was signed the next morning. Lao Hao handed the two keys to Xiang Fei. Xiang Fei glanced at Bai Xue behind him, unable to hide his excitement, and gripped the keys so tightly they almost broke.

Despite his excitement, Xiang Fei still wanted to treat Lao Hao to a simple meal to express his gratitude and also to build a good relationship with the landlord.

"No need, Xiang Fei, I still have to cook for my grandson when I get back! Otherwise, my wife and I will start arguing endlessly. Let's get together again sometime. Young men from the countryside are more sensible, and he's lucky to have such a beautiful college student as his girlfriend!"

Old Hao, still wearing sunglasses, rode his bicycle out of the residential area. Xiang Fei and Bai Xue returned upstairs and looked at their new home, unable to hide their excitement.

In their excitement, the two inevitably cuddled together on the sofa.

Afterwards, Xiang Fei, shirtless, held Bai Xue, whose clothes were disheveled, in his arms. She was wearing Xiang Fei's long shirt, and her jade-like legs were exposed in the sunlight, gleaming alluringly. In front of them was a coffee table, and to the right was a balcony filled with many potted plants. Sunlight streamed into every corner, bringing an unprecedented warmth and coziness!

"Fei, how wonderful it would be if we could stay like this forever, let time stop, let space freeze, and remain eternally in this moment, with you by my side and me nestled against you, ignoring the chaos of the world and the coldness of human relationships! Melting in each other's love, lingering in the tenderness of our gazes!" After Bai Xue finished speaking, she was once again submerged in that moist and intense affection.

After a kiss, Xiang Fei stroked her alluring glow and whispered in her ear, "Why yearn for eternity? What we should do is cherish what we have now. Time never stops, and space will never freeze in one moment, but the time we spend together is something we can control. We can stay together for as long as we want. Ms. Bai Xue, how long do you want it?"

"Forever and ever!"

"How long is 'permanent'?"

"As long as the sun shines, this love will never fade!"

Xiang Fei thought about the evening and felt that "forever" didn't seem like a very long time, but he didn't say it out loud. Looking at Bai Xue's serious yet innocent expression, he couldn't help but laugh.

"What's wrong? Isn't 'forever' long enough? How about 'As long as the Earth exists, this love will never perish'?"

"Okay, that's good, you know? The sun has a lifespan, probably another 50 billion years, after which it will stop emitting light. Although life on Earth will eventually perish, Earth might survive. So what you said is a bit longer than the previous one!"

……