Li Yang woke up at ten in the morning.
Young bodies are great; after a tough night, just four or five hours of sleep can bring you back to life.
Once you pass thirty and have endured a decade of high-intensity work, wishing for such a body is mere fantasy.
I'll never become a struggling worker again.
His best chance to accumulate funds is right now.
If he can't make money this time, even if opportunities present themselves later, he won't be able to seize them.
Grabbing sand with bare hands, most will slip through the gaps, leaving you with only a pathetic amount.
That's why they call it the first pot of gold; once you have the pot, you can fill it with sand without it scattering everywhere, and even pile it high into a peak.
Just that peak alone, how many handfuls would you need to make up for it?
Rich people find success more easily because they not only have pots but also excavators and trucks...
Bai Qing didn't leave any trace, which was within Li Yang's expectations.
Returning to the dorm, he charged his phone while checking his QQ messages.
Jiang Banxia borrowed Wu Tianqi's QQ and sent just one message.
"I've applied for a new account to add you, remember to approve it. Also, I've solved the problem you asked about yesterday, but I'm not able to explain it too clearly; the type of problem is a bit advanced. By the way, Wu Tianqi said he needs his phone, so I'll chat with you using the new account during lunch."
...
After Bai Qing got home, she called over her bestie Yang Shanshan and also contacted a relative to get Wu Tianqi's number.
However, that guy had to go to class, and she didn't have a chance to ask many questions yet.
A while later, the house phone rang. She answered it and went to the door.
A pair of long legs first appeared as the car door of a red Mazda opened, followed by a tall woman in casual attire stepping out.
Her ash-blond waves amplified her mature style despite being so young.
The woman impatiently said, "Hey, I'm still in my internship period, and you're asking me to take leave?"
Bai Qing jokingly walked over, grabbing Yang Shanshan's arm, playfully saying, "Oh come on, I just missed you."
Yang Shanshan teasingly replied, "What? Those burly guys abroad didn't satisfy you? And you're seeking out my three-inch pit?"
Bai Qing put on a pitiful face, "I was nearly bullied last night, and you don't even care?"
"Haha, you probably hoped to be bullied. With your flirty self, even three or five big guys aren't enough."
"Come on… Hehe…"
Once they got inside, Yang Shanshan said, "I'm just passing by to check on you. I have to go to work soon or I'll starve."
But Bai Qing clung to her arm tightly, saying, "No way! Stay here with me!"
"Why? Are you gonna take care of me?"
"Of course, how about being my assistant in the future?"
"And what salary will you offer me?"
Bai Qing thought for a moment, "Fifty thousand?"
Yang Shanshan was shocked, mouth agape wide enough to swallow two eggs.
"Little Miss Moneybags, I'm just from a third-tier school, working as an office worker in the county for only 2,200 a month. Are you perhaps misunderstanding my abilities?"
Bai Qing chuckled, "In my eyes, that's how much you're worth."
Yang Shanshan was no ordinary person; she used to be a little gangster with extensive connections throughout the county.
Bai Qing was feeling extremely insecure, especially after last night's incident.
Just then, Yang Shanshan's phone rang.
She answered it, sharply listening for a while, then barked, "Have you finished babbling? I'm quitting! You think you can intimidate me, huh? I'd rather give it to a dog than you; go find a crack in the wall to play in!"
After hanging up, Bai Qing asked, "Shanshan, what happened?"
"Nothing, just some old punk trying to threaten me. I used to have no choice, but now that there's Little Miss Moneybags here, does what you said earlier still count? If it doesn't, I'll have to call that old guy and beg him for another chance… Boo hoo… I'd definitely have to agree to his unspoken rules."
"Of course it counts!"
Yang Shanshan immediately stretched out her hand, "Money please, I need to get gas."
Bai Qing: "…"
She walked into the bedroom, took out ten thousand dollars, and said to Yang Shanshan, "Remember to come back after refueling, don't leave me alone."
"At your command, Mistress! Anything else you need?"
"Hmm… That's all."
"Haha, I'm also gonna start living the rich life! Mua^, here's a kiss!"
Yang Shanshan hugged Bai Qing's face, gave a quick peck, and dashed out.
Bai Qing quickly wiped the slobber off her face in disdain, then picked up her phone to see that Wu Tianqi had accepted her WeChat friend request.
She remembered Wu Tianqi as an insecure guy.
So, three years ago when they met, she purposely gave him some tasks to help him change.
But when she called him an hour ago, he was still stalling.
She could practically imagine Wu Tianqi's demeanor even over the phone.
This past hour, he must've been rationalizing, building up his courage.
"Hey nephew, how are your studies going?"
Using text might be easier for him than voice chat.
"Uh, average."
"How average?"
"Over two hundred points."
Bai Qing: "…"
You call that average? That's basically garbage-level!
Wu Tianqi has definitely changed; he's grown bold enough to lie with a straight face.
Not bad, he's clearly improving.
If he's friends with someone scoring only two hundred, Li Yang's scores can't be much better either.
She continued, "Nephew, be honest with your aunt; do you know someone named Li Yang?"
A quick reply came, "Nope, never met, no clue who this Li Yang Ox Sheep is, never even heard the name."
"Oh, I met a Li Yang last night who claimed to know you."
"Oh, is it that ugly Li Yang? I suddenly remembered; I might actually know someone like that."
Bai Qing: "Is he ugly?"
"Yeah, worse looking than even me, effeminate… You surely wouldn't like that type."
"I found him quite handsome though, pretty masculine, not effeminate at all. Are you sure you're not downplaying him?"
"How could I be! I wouldn't bother lowering him; his studies aren't good, and he's dishonest like crazy."
"Then tell me more…"
"Auntie, don't get deceived. He's adept at sweet-talking, has dated several girls at school, usually drops them once he's had his fun and moves on."
"Really?"
Bai Qing wanted some real insights.
"Of course it's true; my scores are the worst in class, and his are second worst."
"Anything else?"
"That guy wastes his family's money, doesn't study well, skips classes daily."
"And then?"
"He's been dating around too, chased a girl, Wang Manqi, from humanities last year, dumped her, then turned to court our classmate Jiang Banxia—he's truly a scumbag!"
"Seems really bad."
Bai Qing did feel the difference.
Last night, there were moments her heart genuinely skipped a beat.
Her ideal partner is actually simple: either good-looking, smart, eye-candy, and beneficial for future generations.
Or someone who plays games, understands music, perfectly aligns with her interests.
"Auntie, trust me, I swear if I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning, suffer a terrible fate!"
"Hmm, Auntie definitely believes you."
Wu Tianqi continued, "Also, that guy's obsessed with gaming, like that called LOL; just by the name, you know it's unseemly. He plays all night, can't be stopped—a total waste!"
"Hmm?"
Li Yang didn't say this last night.
Li Yang claimed he's not familiar with gaming, saying he's only played a few matches.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have performed so poorly.
"Auntie thinks he's extreme too, right? Talking about going pro all the time, totally delusional! Can someone like that be reliable?"