The next day at noon.

Lin Fei's grandfather was already waiting at my parking spot, with a simple woven bag beside him. It was filled with concern for their family. I walked over, put it in the trunk, and waved goodbye to him with a smile.

As soon as I drove out of the village, I started calling Lin Fei. He was very surprised to receive my call, because I had left home silently the summer I graduated from junior high school, without telling anyone.

"Lin Che, where have you been all these years? You just disappeared."

"In jail. Just got out," I told my best childhood friend without any pretense.

"Stop joking. How did you get my phone number?"

"I stayed in the village for a few nights these past few days. Your grandfather asked me to bring something to you guys."

"Ah... I'm at work now. My mom's at home. I'll tell you the address, can you drop it off at my house?"

Before I could answer, Lin Fei added, "It's been so many years since we've seen each other, I'd really like to meet up."

"Then how about I just deliver it to your factory?"

"Okay, add me on WeChat first, I'll send you the address."

I hung up the phone and tossed it to Xiao Wu, who was sitting next to me.

Following the navigation, Lin Fei's workplace was already in the suburbs, quite a distance away.

As soon as the navigation ended, I saw him. He was wearing work clothes and looked like an ordinary worker. It seemed that both his name and mine didn't match what we were doing now. He couldn't soar to greater heights, and I couldn't even be called "Che," or clear, as I had stained my life with disgrace.

I opened the car door and walked towards him. It wasn't until I got close that he recognized me. He excitedly gave me a hug and then carefully looked me over.

"You haven't changed much, still so handsome."

I smiled and said, "I heard you got married?"

Lin Fei looked surprised and asked, "Are you still single?"

"Yeah, still a bachelor."

"How is that possible? I already have two kids."

Perhaps a simple life leads to a conventional existence, while someone like me, with unrealistic expectations and limited skills, is destined to drift through life.

"Your grandfather told me."

"My grandfather likes to stay in the village. My dad asked him to come and live with us, but he said staying in an apartment feels like being in jail and he's not used to it."

"What kind of work do you do at the company?"

When I asked this question, Lin Fei became talkative and began to tell me, "I went to a technical school after junior high. I'm a master technician here now. You did really well on the high school entrance exam that year, your score was high enough to get into a key high school. The teacher took our whole class around to look for you and ask about you, but there was no news at all. Your grandparents were so worried."

I just smiled and didn't want to go into detail about what I was thinking back then. What kind of feeling is it to rely on the pitying care of grandparents when your own parents have given up on you?

I led him to the car, took out the big bag of things, and put it on the ground. I asked, "Do you want to drive your car over here and load it up?"

"Okay, wait for me for a while."

I watched Lin Fei run quickly towards the company. While waiting, I lit a cigarette, as was my habit for relaxation.

After taking a few puffs, I saw Lin Fei riding an electric scooter quickly to my side. I smiled and said, "This little donkey of yours is faster than a car."

"Don't tease me, I don't have the ability to buy a car yet, so I'm making do with this."

I loaded the things on, and Lin Fei politely insisted, "Lin Che, now that you're here, come to my house for dinner tonight, let's have a good drink."

"I have a friend in the car, so I have to go back to the city right away. There will be opportunities in the future. Give me a call when you go to the city, now that we have each other's numbers, we can contact each other at any time." I pointed to Xiao Wu in the car, politely declining.

Xiao Wu, who was left alone in the car, asked as soon as I got in, "Is that the old man from the village's grandson?"

"Aren't you talking nonsense! If he wasn't his grandson, would I have given him the things?"

"That's good, working steadily at the company."

After hearing this, I slammed on the brakes of the car that I had already started and looked at him very seriously, "If you think it's so good, get out of the car right now, and I'll have him save a spot for you, so you can be a solid office worker."

"That won't do, I'm a person who's going to do great things," Xiao Wu boasted shamelessly.

...

When we got to the city, it was still quite early, only two in the afternoon. I took Xiao Wu straight to the barber shop and personally told the barber, "Dye his hair black and give him a normal person's haircut."

After saying that, I left on my own. Since it was still early, I called President Li. He happened to be at the company, so I immediately drove over there.

...

Three years. I remember this place used to be a low two-story building, but now it has become a high-rise building. I looked up and roughly observed it. It was a ten-story office building with simple paint on the exterior, not luxurious.

I went straight to the floor President Li had told me. The office door was open. He was on the phone when I went in. He gestured to me, indicating for me to sit on the sofa and wait.

The phone call lasted for more than ten minutes. The conversation was about work. It seemed like someone was coming over later.

Hanging up the phone, President Li very politely poured me a glass of water. I stood up and humbly took the glass from his hand, and even said thank you.

Perhaps he was surprised by my sudden change in attitude, because in the past I wouldn't have said such sentimental words.

"Lin Che, you've become more low-key now," President Li said with a smile.

"You don't dislike me and are still willing to help me, of course I have to thank you."

"You're welcome, it's all the same who I do business with, as long as you don't disappoint me."

I just smiled again, not wanting to make promises about things that haven't been realized yet, just wanting to maintain my loyalty to him.

I saw him open a drawer and take out a prepared contract. I immediately stood up and walked to the opposite side of him.

"The contract is just a formality. Everyone fulfilling their responsibilities is the most basic rule in business. Anyway, I won't tell you anything else, you've been around for so long, you should understand."

I didn't even look at the contract and signed my name on the last page. Although it was a bit hasty to do so, I wanted to express my 100% trust in him.

President Li was surprised and asked, "Aren't you going to look at the contents?"

I replied very decisively, "I trust you!"

"You can do this in front of me, but when you cooperate with others in the future, you must read the terms of the contract carefully. Even close brothers have to settle accounts clearly."

I understood that his words were to care for me. It's better to be shrewd when doing business. I smiled again as a sign of agreement with his point of view.

"What mistake did you make to go in?" President Li suddenly changed the subject.

I was unwilling to talk to outsiders about the prison sentence caused by my family, it would only make people look down on me.

In a moment of silence, I heard the sound of high heels coming from the corridor outside. I looked at the door unintentionally, taking the opportunity to avoid the most taboo question.