“What if Zuo Bing finds out?” Xu Keqing asked.
Tán Nán shook her head. “Zuo Bing is from a different world than us. I’m more optimistic about Táng Jìng and Chén Fán.”
“I believe Chén Fán will make his own choices, so we shouldn’t interfere.”
Yì Lànggāo couldn’t wait any longer. “I can’t stay up late. Let’s get another room!”
Wáng Hào was a bit stunned. “You can’t stay up late?”
But as soon as he said it, he regretted it. Wasn’t this the guy giving himself an opportunity? He was as dumb as a pig.
Xu Keqing was pulled away by Yì Lànggāo, leaving only Tán Nán and him in the room.
Wáng Hào touched the condom he’d been hiding for over half a month, his palms sweating.
“Chén Fán, wait a moment.”
As Chén Fán walked out of the hotel, Táng Jìng followed him.
“Why did you come out?”
It was already past midnight. Chén Fán had planned to go back to his apartment to sleep, but he didn’t expect Táng Jìng to follow.
“I…”
Táng Jìng approached, lowering her head.
“Why don’t we find a place to sit for a while?”
“Okay!”
Since she had come, Chén Fán felt awkward refusing her.
The two left the hotel and just walked.
Outside the Jiangzhou University campus, there was a large man-made lake. It was summer now, and the lake was a good place to go.
“Why didn’t you stay in the hotel to rest with them?”
They arrived at the lake and sat down. Chén Fán asked.
“I just wanted to say thank you. There’s nothing else.”
“No need to be so polite, really.”
“But…” Táng Jìng grew anxious. “How will we ever repay such a large sum of money?”
“I already told you not to worry. I’ll handle the money situation.”
“Don’t put pressure on yourself,” Chén Fán comforted her.
“That won’t do. I can’t let you bear all of this for me.” Táng Jìng said.
“How about this: I won’t go home for the summer. I’ll find a job and work hard to pay you back.”
Seeing her stubbornness, Chén Fán thought for a moment.
“You’re only in your second year of university. What kind of good job can you find?”
“Even if you earn ten thousand a month, when will you ever repay this money?”
“Then what should we do?” Táng Jìng looked at him anxiously.
Chén Fán thought for a moment. “You should focus on your studies. We’ll talk about it when opportunities arise in the future.”
“But what if they demand the money?”
“They won’t. I’ve already told him that it might take several years to repay him.”
“However, if you really want to find a job, I do have a place in mind.”
“But it won’t be that soon. You might have to wait.”
Since Chén Fán helped her unconditionally, Táng Jìng trusted him completely.
She nodded vigorously. “Okay, I can wait. As long as I can earn money.”
Chén Fán smiled. “I didn’t expect you to be so proud before. You’ve changed so much.”
Táng Jìng blushed and explained, “When was I proud? We just didn’t know each other well back then.”
“Alright, you should go back first. I’ll tell you when something is settled.”
Chén Fán stood up. He really needed to go back to his apartment to get some sleep.
Táng Jìng’s heart pounded like a deer’s as she walked towards the school gate, feeling uneasy.
Chapter 38
These two guys didn’t do anything good last night.
Chén Fán had considered registering a company, but that would involve tax issues.
He didn’t want that kind of trouble.
Currently, trading stocks as an individual didn’t have this problem.
Chén Fán didn’t know how Yì Lànggāo and the other three spent their night.
Anyway, he went back to his apartment, and Táng Jìng returned to school.
As a result, on the second morning, neither of them showed up in class.
Chén Fán figured they probably couldn’t get up.
Liáng Dòngcái came by again to collect class fees. He planned to have a class meeting on the last day of the semester.
However, this time, Guō Jiànliáng was collecting the fees. Guō Jiànliáng took the class fees from the person next to him but didn’t even ask Chén Fán. In his eyes, Chén Fán was always the one who couldn’t afford to pay class fees.
Anyway, Liáng Dòngcái had said that not everyone was required to participate.
So, Chén Fán felt at ease not paying the class fees again.
During the fourth period, Zǔo Bīng sent him a message, asking to have lunch together.
Chén Fán agreed without hesitation.
The two got their food in the cafeteria and sat together.
Unexpectedly, Zhào Línlín and Zhōu Yǔfēi also came. She glanced at the two from afar, called Zhōu Yǔfēi, and left.
Zǔo Bīng didn’t notice this. “Chén Fán, shall we go on a trip during the summer vacation?”
Chén Fán looked at her. “Who’s going?”
Zǔo Bīng put a piece of fatty meat from her bowl into his. “It definitely won’t work if it’s just the two of us. If our families found out, they’d scold us to death.”
“We can invite Tán Nán and the others.”
“I have to go back home during the summer vacation. We’ll see then.”
Chén Fán wasn’t sure if he would have time. After all, time was too precious for him. Every trading day, he made at least a ten percent profit. Sometimes, if he was lucky, he’d catch a buy-the-dip-sell-at-limit move on the ChiNext Market. His current funds were 1.36 billion, and he aimed to double it before the summer vacation.
“I’ll call them.”
Zǔo Bīng was about to call Tán Nán, but Chén Fán stopped her. “You probably shouldn’t call them right now.”
“Why?”
“They’re probably still asleep.”
“Ah?” Zǔo Bīng asked, confused. “It’s already noon. Didn’t you guys stay up all night?”
Chén Fán smiled ambiguously. “They were up all night playing yesterday.”
Staying up all night playing games was very normal in university. Many single guys could spend days in internet cafes.
“Then, will you accompany me to the movies this weekend?” Zǔo Bīng made a small request.
Perhaps because it was almost vacation, Chén Fán felt that Zǔo Bīng was becoming more clingy.
Actually, even if she hadn’t said anything, Chén Fán was planning to ask her out.
As for the summer vacation, he would go back home for a while and then return soon.
Therefore, Chén Fán didn’t feel any pangs of separation.
In the afternoon, Yì Lànggāo and the other one finally showed up, but Tán Nán and Xú Kěqīng were nowhere to be seen.
Chén Fán guessed the reason immediately: these two guys didn’t do anything good last night.
He figured the two girls were probably shy and didn’t dare to show up.
After all, it was their first time, so even if others didn’t say anything, they would feel guilty.
Moreover, from the two guys’ lewd expressions, Chén Fán could tell completely. Especially Wáng Hào, who was smiling like an idiot. There were many red marks on his neck and chest.
Yì Lànggāo grinned and offered Chén Fán a cigarette. “Thanks for your assist.”
“Hey, what happened between you and Táng Jìng last night?”
Chén Fán glared at the guy. “Don’t spout nonsense. I wasn’t even with her.”
“Ah? That’s a shame.” Wáng Hào said, “It’s my fault for not booking another room.”
“Alright, cut it out.” Chén Fán spotted Zǔo Bīng approaching from a distance and gave the two a fierce glare.
He was a man of virtue and integrity, unlike these two who were always plotting against their girlfriends.
It seemed Zǔo Bīng really wanted to go out, so she came to ask Tán Nán and the others for their opinions.
Little did she know, Tán Nán and Xú Kěqīng didn’t come at all.
Chén Fán said, “You should go back and rest too. They won’t be coming today.”
Zǔo Bīng said it was fine, as she had nowhere else to go.
So, she stayed at the shop to help.
Tán Nán and Xú Kěqīng had been dating Wáng Hào for a semester. This guy had been pestering them constantly for intimacy, and last night, she couldn’t resist and half-heartedly agreed.
But Táng Jìng was in the dorm. Tán Nán guiltily asked, “When did you get back?”
Táng Jìng didn’t even think in that direction. “I came back to the dorm directly yesterday.”
She saw the red marks on Tán Nán’s neck. “What’s wrong? Did you have an allergic reaction?”
Upon hearing this, Tán Nán immediately blushed deeply.
However, it also confirmed to her that Táng Jìng was indeed clueless. Only someone who hadn’t experienced it would ask such a question.
She tightened the collar of her shirt and vaguely brushed it off.
Xú Kěqīng was also in the dorm. Her personality was even more introverted than Tán Nán’s. She didn’t dare to go out and just lay on her bed pretending to be unwell.
The week passed quickly. Chén Fán continued to skip morning classes every day and went to his apartment to trade with Sū Rúzhēn.
He also didn’t have class on Friday afternoon. He decided to take some time off to spend a day with Zǔo Bīng.
He told Yì Lànggāo that he was taking a day off.
Zǔo Bīng had become clingy. When they were alone, she held his arm. “Chén Fán, how long will you be gone?”
“It’s hard to say. Why don’t you come back with me?”
Zǔo Bīng blushed and glared at him. “I