A leisurely life starting in a bar after being reborn

The next morning, Fu Yan rode his newly bought electric bicycle back to the courtyard house.

Saying he "rode" isn't quite accurate—he first took a taxi to an electric bike shop in Xidan, spent a long time looking around, and finally bought a dark red Yadea, the kind with pedals, a top speed of 25 kilometers per hour, a range of 60 kilometers, and a basket that could hold things.

The shop owner asked him if he wanted to register the vehicle, and he said yes. The shop owner then asked him if he wanted to buy a helmet, and he said yes as well.

"Are you using this for transportation or for business?" The boss asked, noticing that he was wearing a coat and gloves and didn't look like someone who rides an electric scooter.

"To pick someone up."

"Who are you picking up? Your girlfriend?"

Fu Yan thought for a moment and said, "Well, I guess so."

The shop owner grinned knowingly and slyly: "Bro, picking up your girlfriend on an electric scooter? You're going for the down-to-earth look!"

Fu Yan didn't explain. He paid, put on his helmet, twisted the throttle, and with a "whoosh," the electric scooter shot off.

The wind whistled into his ears, making him grimac and wince from the cold.

But he smiled.

This feeling is much more interesting than driving an A8.

……

At 1:40 PM, Fu Yan arrived at the entrance of the Central Bank on his electric scooter.

He parked his car in a non-motorized vehicle parking space on the side of the road, took off his helmet, and leaned against the car to wait.

At 1:55, Xu Wenshu came out ahead of schedule.

Today she wore a cream-colored short down jacket over a beige turtleneck sweater, paired with dark jeans and Chelsea boots. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and she looked more energetic than yesterday.

She was looking down at her phone when she left, but when she looked up at the roadside—hmm?

She saw a dark red electric scooter and a man leaning against it, smiling at her.

Xu Wenshu stood there, stunned for three seconds.

"You...really came by bicycle?"

"I mean it." Fu Yan patted the back seat. "Get in."

"This is electric!"

"An electric bicycle is still a bicycle."

"You're lying! This isn't what we agreed on!"

"What's different? Four wheels have become two wheels, gasoline has become electric, it's environmentally friendly and low-carbon, you should praise me."

Xu Wenshu was both amused and exasperated. She looked at the electric scooter, then at Fu Yan's grinning face, and hesitated for several seconds.

"...Without a backrest, I'll fall off if I sit down."

"If you hold me tight, it won't happen."

Xu Wenshu's ears turned red instantly.

She bit her lip, but eventually went around to the back of the car and carefully straddled it.

"Slow down!"

"Don't worry, the maximum size is only 25 yards."

Fu Yan twisted the throttle, and the electric car started with a "hum" and slowly drove into the traffic.

In the back seat, Xu Wenshu hesitated for a moment before gently placing her hands on Fu Yan's waist.

Fu Yan felt the warmth emanating from her fingers through the heavy clothing; it was very gentle, as if she were afraid of breaking something.

"Hold on tight, there's a pit behind you."

Xu Wenshu didn't speak, but slowly wrapped her arms around him and tightened her grip a little.

The electric scooter traveled west along Chang'an Avenue. The winter wind blew in from both sides, chilly, but Fu Yan felt incredibly warm on his back—Xu Wenshu's face was pressed against his back, her breath mingling with his spine through her sweater.

"Why aren't you driving?" Xu Wenshu's muffled voice came from behind him.

"You said you'd let me ride a bicycle."

"I was just saying..."

"I took it seriously."

Xu Wenshu didn't say anything more.

But Fu Yan sensed that she buried her face even deeper.

-

As the electric scooter turned into Yandaixie Street, Xu Wenshu peeked out from behind Fu Yan.

"This is Yandai Xiejie? I've been here several times, always just for shopping. I never imagined there were courtyard houses hidden inside."

"It used to be a paradise for wanderers in the hutongs, but now it has become a gathering place for artsy young people."

Fu Yan parked his electric scooter at the gate of the courtyard, took out his keys, and opened the door.

"Please come in, Mr. Xu, and take a tour of my landlord's manor."

Xu Wenshu stepped over the threshold, glanced at the courtyard, and then stopped.

Bluestone pavement, old locust trees, stone tables and benches, red-lacquered wooden doors, gray brick walls—a typical two-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house), but it has all the necessary modern renovations. The windows are double-glazed, the roof is fitted with solar panels, and there is a ring of ground lights hidden in the courtyard, which must look beautiful when lit up at night.

"This courtyard..." Xu Wenshu looked around, "How much does it cost?"

"Eighteen million."

"..." Xu Wenshu's lips twitched. "You call this 'opening a small bar to live a retired life'?"

"The courtyard is for living, the bar is for running; they are two different things."

"A courtyard house worth 18 million? You're talking about two different things?" Xu Wenshu walked into the main room and saw the leather sofa and Braun stereo system, as well as the solid wood bookshelf and the ink painting of the Silver Ingot Bridge on the wall. "Fu Yan, do you know how big my place is now? 45 square meters, 2,300 a month, and there's no elevator."

"That's because you don't want to live in a nice place."

"I can't afford anything nice!" Xu Wenshu stood in the middle of the living room, hands on her hips. "Look at this house, this decor, this furniture... Are you some kind of rich landlord? All that's missing is a 'Fu Mansion' sign hanging at the door!"

"Good idea, I'll have one made tomorrow."

"You're actually going to do it?!"

Fu Yan smiled as he hung up the coat and poured her a cup of hot tea.

"Don't just look at the living room, go upstairs and downstairs too."

Xu Wenshu, carrying a teacup, walked from the main house to the side rooms, from the kitchen to the bedroom, going from room to room. With each room he turned, the corners of his mouth drooped slightly—not because he was dissatisfied, but because he was too satisfied, so satisfied that it was heartbreaking.

The difference between a 45-square-meter apartment and an 18-million-yuan courtyard house is not something that can be bridged by hard work alone.

"Where's the shop of your bar? Is it also in Houhai?" She returned to the living room and sat down, her tone now calm.

"North bank of Houhai Lake, facing the street, over 200 square meters."

"How much?"

"Twenty-four million."

Xu Wenshu put down the teacup.

"Fu Yan." Her expression was very serious.

"Um?"

"How much money do you actually have?"

Fu Yan thought for a moment and then said in a very modest way, "Didn't we go to the bank together last time? We have enough to spend."

"..." Xu Wenshu rolled her eyes. "I used to think I was pretty successful, becoming a CCTV host at twenty-six, one of the best-off among my classmates. Now look at you—buying an 18 million yuan courtyard house like that, snapping up 24 million yuan shops without batting an eye. How are hard-working people like us supposed to live?"

"Aren't you doing just fine?"

"What do I have to be happy about! I don't even have a bathtub! I have to stand under the showerhead every day, and the water keeps changing temperature!"

Fu Yan couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at! You have the face of a capitalist!"

"Alright, alright, I'm a capitalist." Fu Yan raised his hands in surrender. "Then, would you do me the honor of cooking a meal in my kitchen tonight, Mr. Xu?"

Xu Wenshu was taken aback: "Cooking?"

"There are vegetables in the fridge and pots in the kitchen. I'll take care of eating, and you take care of cooking. It's fair and reasonable."

"Why should I cook?"

"Based on what you just said, calling me a capitalist. Besides, I wouldn't do it!"

"..." Xu Wenshu was speechless at this logic.

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