Zhong Rou's neighbor was called 'Wang Ling'. She didn't do well in school and didn't get into university, so she's been staying at home ever since.
The two went to the county town, bought milk tea, and wandered around.
"Rou Rou, shall we go see a movie?" Wang Ling asked.
"No," Zhong Rou refused. "I'm not wasting money on that."
She was skilled at using various pirated tools, and could find movies, TV series, and novels online.
Zhong Rou's philosophy was to never spend money if she could get it for free.
She was all about getting things for free!
What? You say I'm immoral?
That's right, I have no morals.
If I have no morals, you can't say I'm immoral.
"Rou Rou."
"Yeah."
"What's it like in Shanghai? I've never left this place. Tell me about it," Wang Ling asked, blinking her bright eyes.
"It's just like that," Zhong Rou finished her milk tea, threw it on the ground, and then kicked it into the trash can.
She snapped her fingers: "I'm awesome!"
"Tell me more," Wang Ling pressed, not letting her off the hook.
Zhong Rou stroked her chin, walking slowly: "Shanghai? It's a bustling city, full of skyscrapers and colorful lights, but it's also an expensive city, where everything costs money."
"Can you believe it? A single lettuce leaf sells for 500 yuan, and a glass of plain water is 88 yuan. The prices are ridiculously high!"
Zhong Rou couldn't understand the prices in Shanghai. Things that were common in her hometown were ridiculously expensive, and even the air cost money.
Especially after Chu Fang took her to eat that expensive private cuisine, which cost nearly 100,000 yuan for one meal. If Chu Fang hadn't stopped her, Zhong Rou would have smashed the place.
It was a total rip-off!
Zhong Rou described her impressions of Shanghai, while Wang Ling's eyes gleamed: "Shanghai is a magical city. I really want to settle down there."
"Don't. The housing prices there are very high," Zhong Rou said. "My brother-in-law bought a few houses the other day, which cost tens of millions. It broke my heart."
"Hiss..." Wang Ling took a deep breath. "Tens of millions? I've never seen so much money."
After a pause, she said enviously, "If only I could be like your sister and find a handsome and rich husband like your brother-in-law. Unfortunately, I don't have that luck."
As they walked and talked, three men suddenly blocked their path. One of them had long, dyed red hair, like a 'mat 살' (a dated Chinese subculture style), with a tuft of hair dancing in the wind.
"Wang Ling, long time no see."
Wang Ling's face flushed, and she fidgeted with her clothes.
"I'm giving you a chance today to treat us to a game of pool," the red-haired man said with a dazed look in his eyes.
"I, can I?" Wang Ling asked hesitantly.
"Of course. Today is your lucky day."
Hearing this, Wang Ling's face showed visible excitement. Then, the four went to the pool hall, where Wang Ling paid for a table.
The red-haired man and his friends played pool, while Wang Ling looked at the red-haired man with deep affection, appearing to be in love.
Zhong Rou tilted her head, her gaze shifting between her neighbor and the red-haired man.
"Sis, what do you like about him?" Zhong Rou didn't understand.
How could this red-haired guy make her sister willing to spend money like this?
Wang Ling said, "Don't you think he's handsome? He has an arrogance that's second to none."
Zhong Rou: "..."
Arrogance?
She only saw rebellion.
This red-haired man was just a typical 'spiritual youth' (a derogatory term for young people with questionable taste and behavior). She didn't expect her sister to like 'spiritual youths'.
Smack~
The pool ball went into the pocket, and the red-haired man flipped his head coolly, his hair flowing. He turned to look at Zhong Rou: "Isn't it handsome? Don't be infatuated with me, bro is just a legend. You and I are not from the same world."
Zhong Rou: "..."
In Shanghai, she had seen too many elite people, some with excellent academic records, some with wealthy families, some with great talents and skills...
She thought she had seen complex humans, but today she realized... the world actually has such shameless people.
If it weren't for Wang Ling's sake, Zhong Rou would have argued with him.
Just then, three men came to the pool hall. When they saw the three men, the red-haired man and his friends' pupils shrank, and they immediately prepared to escape, but they were caught.
One of the men grabbed the red-haired man by the collar: "When are you going to pay back the money you owe?"
"Big brother, please give me a few more days," the red-haired man said with a flattering smile on his face.
"I've already given you a week. You have to pay today, or you'll be sorry."
The red-haired man's eyes darted around, thinking about how to escape. Seeing Wang Ling next to him, he had an idea and said, "Big brother, Wang Ling is my girlfriend. She has money. She can help me pay back the money."
The big brother turned to look at Wang Ling: "You're his girlfriend? Perfect, you pay for him!"
Wang Ling froze on the spot, and the big brother walked up to her.
Whoosh~
Zhong Rou clenched her fist and punched the big brother in the face. The latter covered his face: "You dare hit me? Get her!"
The three immediately surrounded Zhong Rou.
Half a minute passed.
The three fell to the ground, covering their injured body parts, howling like ghosts and wolves.
Oh my god, who knew such a cute little girl would have such great strength.
"Did you believe him just because that red-haired guy said Wang Ling was his girlfriend? Do you have brains?" Zhong Rou kicked the big brother. "Get out."
The three immediately fled.
The red-haired man and his partner looked at each other, with fear in their eyes.
They had seen clearly just now that Zhong Rou, with the body of a weak woman, faced the siege of three adult men and knocked them all to the ground.
The two looked at each other and walked forward: "Big sister..."
"You two get out too!"
"Huh?"
"If you don't get out, you'll get beaten up!"
The red-haired man and his partner immediately moved away from the scene.
Watching the two running away, Zhong Rou felt full of spirit: "Fight me? You're still too young."
Only then did she turn to look at her neighbor: "Sis, stay away from those people in the future. None of them are good."
"But he is really handsome," Wang Ling said, feeling the blow from the red-haired man's betrayal, but still not giving up.
"What's so handsome about him?" Zhong Rou took out her phone and showed Chu Fang's photo. "Look at my brother-in-law. That's what handsome is."
Wang Ling looked at Chu Fang in the phone, making a cheesy peace sign, with a bright smile on his face.
She muttered, "Your brother-in-law is indeed handsome, but I can't get close to him. What's the use to me?"
Wang Ling admitted Chu Fang's appearance, inner qualities, and wealth, but she knew her limits. It was impossible for her to get close to someone like Chu Fang in this life.
Now, she really envied Zhong Tingyue, the excellent older sister who was often praised by her parents.
... ...
Shanghai.
With Zhong Ping and the others gone, especially Zhong Rou, the house was noticeably quieter, and Chu Fang felt a little unaccustomed to it.
In the early morning, Chu Fang sent Zhong Tingyue to the studio and then headed to Yaiteng Yige.
Ma Junjie had returned to Shanghai, and as his superior, he should naturally go and see him, and inquire about the health of Ma Junjie's father.
Entering the elevator, Chu Fang shrank into a corner.
A group of people in front were chatting.
"Ah, it's so difficult lately."
"Yes, I wonder how Manager Ma is doing? He's had a dark face ever since he came back from his leave."
"Indeed, he's not the same as before. I was shocked when I saw him today."
"Maybe something big happened to Manager Ma's family?"
"It's strange. Manager Ma handed the company over to Manager Chu, but Manager Chu didn't even look at it for a day and disappeared."
"The company only has two senior executives, but neither of them manages the company. What's the use of having them?"
"That's right!"
... ...
