Early the next morning.
Li Jing, reminiscing about last night's craziness, found himself wandering to the location of the art shop in the old town, but unfortunately, He Mo was nowhere in sight.
"This woman has such random opening hours for her shop, no wonder they say overly artsy people can't make money, it'd be a surprise if they could."
Li Jing shook his head and then called his dedicated driver for the old town, Hu Dazhuang.
The reason for calling Hu Dazhuang again was partly for convenience, but also because Li Jing regarded him as honest and reliable.
Especially last night in the car when Hu Dazhuang kept his eyes pried wide open and didn't glance at the back seat even once.
For this sense of professionalism, Li Jing specifically gave Hu Dazhuang an extra thousand as a taxi fare today. But after the surprise, Hu Dazhuang reluctantly returned the money.
Facing Li Jing's confusion, Hu Dazhuang explained that he handed over the recent taxi fares to his wife, and upon learning how much he had earned from Li Jing, she insisted on returning the excess money.
"My wife says, take as much as you earn, our family has enough to live and eat, no need to earn money against one's conscience."
Hu Dazhuang scratched his head helplessly, "Boss, that's just my wife's temperament, nothing can be done about it..."
Li Jing was astonished to discover how transparent his wife's outlook on life was.
He thought about it and then said, "How about this, let's not return the previous fare, and today I'll pay the normal rate, how about that?"
"Well..." Hu Dazhuang seemed troubled, seemingly pondering how to explain this to his wife.
"Don't worry, this isn't money earned against your conscience, it's money earned through your own efforts."
Li Jing explained, "The money I gave you yesterday, besides the taxi fare, also included your service fee and tip.
Even upscale restaurants charge service fees, your excellent service certainly deserves a bit more."
Hu Dazhuang hesitantly replied, "But my car isn't exactly a luxury car..."
"Once I ride in it, it is a luxury car."
Seeing Li Jing open the car door and get in, Hu Dazhuang paused, thought for a while, and then convinced himself to agree, nodding vigorously, "Alright! Boss, then don't pay today, consider it a thank you, the money from yesterday is already enough for me for a month."
Seeing Hu Dazhuang insist, Li Jing could only nod and agree.
Seeing Li Jing agree, a smile finally returned to Hu Dazhuang's honest and dark face, as he excitedly started the car.
Seeing his satisfied look, Li Jing's initial intention to privately transfer money through his phone quietly faded away.
He turned to look at the busy morning pedestrians outside the old town window, murmuring to himself, "Contentment brings happiness, quietly guarding the years in the ordinary, enjoying the time amidst the fireworks...
Perhaps, this is the real way for ordinary people to find happiness in this complicated world."
...
This time, Li Jing went to the city center again.
Not for shopping, but because his phone got waterlogged from playing too much at the fountain last night.
Upon waking this morning, Li Jing noticed his phone screen was messed up.
Although it was still usable, considering he hadn't changed his phone in three years, he decided to buy a new one.
This small town wasn't big, there was only one mall, and it was not far west of last night's fountain square.
Upon arriving at the mall, Hu Dazhuang enthusiastically volunteered to show Li Jing the way.
Seeing Li Jing walk into the phone store and ask for the most expensive phone right away made the flesh on his face twitch, showing a slight envious look.
Really rich, always buying the most expensive stuff, what a lavish life.
Not sure what the boss does for a living, but judging by how he chatted with that beautiful woman yesterday, his educational level must be high, definitely a highly educated talent.
I must make sure my son studies hard, so even if he doesn't become as wealthy as the boss, I'd be content if he could make his way out of this small town on his own.
While Hu Dazhuang was lost in thought, Li Jing had already excitedly confirmed the phone model with the salesperson, the latest folding screen, costing twelve thousand after discount.
Compared to Li Jing's old three-thousand-yuan phone, this one was undoubtedly a few levels higher.
And it returned one hundred and twenty thousand as anticipated.
The feeling of spending this money was genuinely delightful.
Li Jing sighed, then swapped the SIM card into the new phone, and under the fiery service of the salesperson, left the store.
"Boss, your phone got waterlogged, maybe that pretty lady's phone also..."
Seeing Li Jing exit, Hu Dazhuang thought for a moment and couldn't help but quietly remind him.
"No need, follow me to withdraw cash."
"Not buying a phone but withdrawing cash?"
Hu Dazhuang's eyes widened in confusion, "Boss, are you planning to give that lady cash directly? Will she accept it?"
Li Jing smiled confidently, "If I didn't misjudge her, she will accept it."
Upon hearing this, Hu Dazhuang furrowed his brow in confusion, "That lady didn't seem to love money that much..."
Even though he didn't agree with Li Jing's approach, Hu Dazhuang took him to the nearest ATM.
After withdrawing a tidy sum of ten thousand, Li Jing returned directly to the old town.
When he arrived at the spot where He Mo got off the car last night, Li Jing messaged her to let her know he was downstairs, startling He Mo into rushing down barefoot, her shoes slipping off as she bolted out of the old house.
"What are you doing? Coming downstairs with such fanfare, afraid others won't notice or what?"
Perhaps due to the thrill of yesterday, He Mo looked like she had just woken up, her hair still a bit messy, glaring at Li Jing with grievance.
"What's there to be afraid of, there's nothing shameful between us."
Li Jing seemed unconcerned, then took out his newly bought phone and handed it to He Mo, "Your phone probably got waterlogged, right? Here's a new luxury folding screen phone I bought for you."
"You bought this for me?!"
He Mo was startled at first, then picked up the phone from his hand and glanced at it, furrowing her brows, "Do you have that much money?! Even if my phone got waterlogged, it only needs repair, why buy a new phone? I don't want it!"
With that, He Mo shoved the phone back into Li Jing's hand.
Sitting in the car, Hu Dazhuang quietly shook his head: As expected, if she doesn't even want the phone, the boss's cash is probably even more impossible to give away.
"Really don't want it?"
Li Jing feigned surprise, "This phone is worth over ten thousand, don't waste it."
"A phone worth over ten thousand?!"
He Mo's eyes widened even further, her tone irked, "Is a phone necessary? Isn't this a stupidity tax? If you really want to buy me something, you might as well just give me the money!"
"Oh, then here you go."
As soon as the words finished, Li Jing immediately handed her a box.
"What's this?"
He Mo furrowed her brow as she took the box, opened it, and her beautiful eyes widened instantly when she saw the ten thousand yuan Li Jing had just withdrawn inside.
"You said it yourself, buying a phone was better than giving you money."
Li Jing's lips curled slightly, with an air of having anticipated it all, "The money's ready for you, please don't give it back."
"Did you...already guess this?" He Mo looked up at him, disbelief in her eyes.
Li Jing laughed, "Don't think you're the only one who can see through me, I see through you too,
I probably know you as well as or even more than you know me, especially...physically."
Upon hearing this, as his gaze fell upon her chest, He Mo blushed instinctively, reaching out to cover herself, spitting, "Shameless!"
"You change your face too quickly, last night we even..."
"Hey, hey, hey don't say it! People might hear us, don't you know the walls have ears?!"
"So will you take the money or not? If not, I'm not leaving..."
"You?!"
Looking at the box, He Mo hesitated for a moment and finally said, "Fine, since you have so much money with no place to spend, I'll take it. But let me warn you upfront, trying to woo me with this won't work."
Seeing her turn to head back inside, Li Jing quickly shouted, "Hey! Now that you've taken the money, won't you invite me in for a bit? I went all the way to the city this morning, you know..."
"Are you asking for death?! With that loud voice?!"
Startled by Li Jing's loud voice, He Mo quickly turned around to cover his mouth, urgently whispering, "This town has many good points, but the people here love to gossip, you're trying to ruin me!"
"Who told you not to let me come in to rest..."
"Alright, alright, your face really is the thickest I've ever seen!"
"But you like it, don't you?"
Seeing Li Jing's smug grin, He Mo was so angry she could only grit her teeth but had no choice. She had to quickly pull his arm and drag him into the old house before anyone noticed.
Meanwhile, sitting not far away in the car, Hu Dazhuang saw He Mo voluntarily bring Li Jing inside and couldn't help widening his eyes in shock.
He couldn't help but shake his head and admire:
"Is this the art of flirting in the dating world?
Impressive, the boss is truly impressive.
It's no wonder I couldn't get a girlfriend when I was young!"