Zhou Jinbei returned to her workstation with a gossipy mood and forwarded Zhan Beijue's other WeChat to Jiang Nanfang.
She said he was a fund manager.
After Jiang Nanfang bought her house, she only had over 600,000 yuan in cash left. She needed money for daily expenses, car maintenance, fuel, and other aspects.
She didn't have spare money to buy funds, and hiring a manager meant paying fees. Therefore, after Zhou Jinbei forwarded it, she didn't pay much attention.
Back in Dan Country, in her spare time, she also enjoyed perfumery.
However, at that time, her schedule was tight, and she didn't have much energy to focus on perfumery, so her career didn't see much progress.
Now that she was free these past two days, many inspirations had emerged.
When it came to perfume, people's minds immediately conjured up several well-known foreign brands.
There wasn't a single domestic brand that had gone global, which was a significant market gap.
She thought she might as well put aside electrical engineering for now and explore the perfume market, perhaps finding a new path.
Upon returning home, Jiang Nanfang threw her phone aside and pulled out all the notes from when she used to run her perfumery studio.
An hour passed, and Zhan Beijue hadn't received her friend request. Two hours, three...
During lunchtime, Zhou Jinbei, while ordering food for him, asked, "Did you two add each other on WeChat?"
Zhan Beijue glanced at her and ignored her.
He didn't know what Zhou Jinbei had said to Jiang Nanfang, as she still refused to accept his request.
He thought she was useless for not being able to handle such a small matter.
"No?"
Seeing his expression, Zhou Jinbei knew the situation was bad and felt a little smug.
"You were unfaithful outside, you're divorced, and now you're pretending to be nice to her. You deserve to be ignored!"
"Maybe she's busy. Then, you just wait."
She quickly slipped away.
While Jiang Nanfang was worrying about money, Ke Teng, who was far away in Shangcheng, wasn't faring much better.
Penniless, he could stay at Jian Fei's place for two days. By the third day, Jian Fei's wallet couldn't take it anymore, and she gave him two options.
First: the apartment would be considered a shared rental, and Ke Teng would pay half the rent by the end of the month, plus living expenses at a rate of ten yuan per meal.
Second: he had to move out immediately.
Hearing her meticulously calculate the expenses, Ke Teng was speechless.
"Does my staying here really affect you that much?"
"Even without me, wouldn't you still have to pay this much rent for a month? Even without me, wouldn't you still have to eat every meal?"
"At most, I'm only taking a bit of your air. Is it necessary to kick me when I'm down and force me into a dead end?"
Jian Fei knew he didn't want to move, so she presented her pre-written ledger to him.
She hadn't been made permanent yet and was only an intern doctor, receiving a subsidy of only 1800 yuan per month.
"I don't need to tell you what 1800 yuan means in Shangcheng, right?"
"Although this apartment is only 12 square meters, the monthly rent is 1500 yuan. That means my current salary is only enough for bus fare after paying rent."
"The money I spend on food every day is saved from previous part-time jobs and working at your place recently."
"So, it's not that I'm stingy, not that I'm kicking you when you're down, and not that I'm forcing you into a dead end, but rather that you can't imagine the life of a poor person."
"Ten or eight yuan might not mean much to you, but it could truly crush me, young master Ke."
Ke Teng had studied art in college, which was the most expensive major. He signed with an idol agency before graduating.
Growing up, he had never lacked money, except for these past few days. He couldn't imagine an intern doctor who had studied diligently for over a decade only receiving 1800 yuan a month...
It was too exaggerated.
He was immediately rendered speechless by her calculations.
"Alright. Then I'll start looking for a job tomorrow. I'll give you the money once I find one. Please give me a few days."
Jian Fei said expressionlessly, "You'd better keep your word."
"I've spent all my assets on this apartment, only to not even have a bed to sleep in. Young Master Ke, you've experienced life, so please go back. Please pity me."
That night, lying on her soft little bed and looking at the thin figure lying on the floor, Ke Teng suddenly couldn't sleep either.
No wonder she always wore the same few tasteless outfits and didn't even bother to put on makeup. Turns out she was this poor...
The next day, Jian Fei asked Ke Teng to wake up with her and go downstairs together.
At a bun shop at the entrance of the residential compound, they each bought a cup of soy milk for one yuan and two yuan buns. Jian Fei gave him 20 yuan in cash.
"This is your travel and lunch money for the day. Don't spend it carelessly."
"You must find a job today. I only have 600 yuan left, and I won't get paid for another half a month. Otherwise, I really won't let you in tonight."
After saying that, she bit into her bun and hurried off to catch the bus.
Ke Teng looked at the meager 20 yuan in his hand, sighed, and ambled out of the compound.
He didn't rush off. He leaned against a large tree and pondered his future.
He had only been away from home for less than a week. Perhaps his father was waiting for him to soften up, had prepared a lecture, and wanted him to agree not to go to Nancheng again...
He should at least hold out for ten days to half a month to make his father anxious.
He'd just find any job to get by for now!
Even if he really couldn't find one, would Jian Fei really kick him out if he didn't leave tomorrow?
Last time, he was lucky. While wandering around, he found a job distributing flyers.
Today, when he seriously started looking, he encountered setbacks everywhere.
No employer was willing to hire without qualifications and work experience.
To a young man like him, whose graduation certificate was not presentable and whose appearance was too flashy, people seemed to assume he was a loafer. They wouldn't even give him a proper glance, let alone a job.
After wandering for half the day, he ate a bowl of noodles at noon and felt extremely sleepy in the afternoon, so he went to the park.
The warm autumn sun shone on him, a gentle breeze blew, and the scenery was pleasant. The old men at the next table were playing chess under the shade of a tree, and he lay leisurely on a chair, listening.
Unknowingly, he fell asleep.
When he woke up, the old men had already packed up their chessboards and gone home. He hurried to the bus stop.
Upon returning home, it was just after work. Office workers, dragging their tired bodies, were entering the residential compound.
Ke Teng, having just woken up from his nap, was full of energy. Seeing everyone looking tired, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Afraid that others would know he was living a life of idleness, he subconsciously pretended to be tired and walked back slowly.
When he got upstairs, Jian Fei hadn't gotten off work yet.
He had figured out her work schedule these past two days and knew he had some time to wait. He leaned against the doorframe and stared blankly.
After an unknown amount of time, footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Then, two women in white shirts and blue professional suits, carrying two folders and a large bag each, came up.
They looked like insurance saleswomen or perhaps staff members of the residential compound.
The two women chatted as they walked and stopped when they saw Ke Teng, looking him up and down.