novelhk #1788 - Meet again, Li Jia's entanglement
#1788 - Meet again, Li Jia's entanglement
"It's almost the end of the semester again, Lin Dongzhe, are you going to fail this time?"
Zhou Chen took a French fry and put it in his mouth, looking at Lin Dongzhe.
Hearing this, Lin Dongzhe immediately became anxious: "Brother, please don't be such a pessimist. Under Xiaoting's supervision, I am studying very seriously. I will definitely not fail the course at the end of this semester, for sure."
Zhuang Xiaoting's smiling face also changed instantly.
"If he fails again, I'll break up with him."
Lin Dongzhe scratched his head and didn't dare to refute. In this relationship, he respected Zhuang Xiaoting very much and listened to her very much.
"Brother, you will graduate from graduate school next year, right? What are you going to do next? Continue writing?"
Zhuang Xiaoting asked curiously. This year was the last year of Zhou Chen's three-year graduate program. She knew that Zhou Chen would not have trouble finding a job and would definitely stay in Shanghai.
"Yes, Brother Tuxi, you are about to graduate, aren't you planning to buy a house in Shanghai?"
Zhou Chen said, "There are new properties in Huangpu recently. I plan to buy two houses there after the New Year. As for after I graduate from graduate school, the school leaders have already told me that they hope I can stay on as a teacher and study for a doctorate at the same time."
With his current achievements, the school would like to keep him in the school forever. After all, if he stays in the school, he will achieve more in the future, and the school will also benefit from it, with a huge amount of foreign exchange every year.
While others were trying their best to stay in school, the school leaders begged him to stay and directly guaranteed him a doctorate degree.
Zhou Chen didn't want to do anything big, so he readily accepted the school's invitation. Being a university teacher is quite compatible with "creation". Moreover, with his qualifications and reputation in school, he doesn't have to worry about the future, which saves him a lot of trouble.
Lin Dongzhe gave a thumbs up: "As expected of our second brother."
Zhuang Xiaoting said unhappily: "It's my second brother."
Lin Dongzhe licked his face: "Same, same, he is still my second brother now."
Zhuang Xiaoting rolled her eyes at him, and Zhou Chen asked, "What about you two? You are also juniors this year. What do you think? Do you want to study for a master's degree?"
Lin Dongzhe said, "I'm not going to graduate school anyway. I want to find a job in Shanghai before graduation. Xiaoting and I have discussed that we can either stay in Shanghai together or go back to Suzhou together."
Zhuang Xiaoting added: "We prefer to stay in Shanghai. I want to study for a master's degree, but I am hesitant about whether to work first. Brother, can you give me some advice?"
"You are my sister, I will definitely help you. If you want to study for a master's degree, I still have some face here at Fudan. As long as you can pass the exam, I can help you find a good advisor. The process of studying for a master's degree and writing a graduation thesis will be very simple. But if you don't want to study for a master's degree and want to work, I can also find someone to help you find a unit in Shanghai so that you can stay in Shanghai and solve the household registration problem. Of course, it depends on your own ideas. If you have other ideas, I will also support you."
Even though she is his biological sister, Zhou Chen has no intention of taking on too much responsibility. As a human being, he doesn't like to make decisions for others unless it is necessary.
Zhuang Xiaoting looked hesitant. She looked at Zhou Chen and then at Lin Dongzhe.
She believed what her brother said and knew that Zhou Chen loved her. Of course, she wanted to stay in Shanghai, but she was in a passionate relationship with Lin Dongzhe now. If Lin Dongzhe was assigned to Suzhou, she really didn't know what to choose.
At this time, Zhuang Tunan also squeezed in.
"Brother Tunan, here."
Zhuang Tunan came over and said, "You guys came early. Have you ordered?"
"No, I'll go order it now. Brother Tunan, brother Tusi, what do you want to eat?"
"I don't mind."
Zhou Chen said casually, and Zhuang Tunan said, "I'll go with you. I'm going to give you a good meal today."
Lin Dongzhe said in a mean way: "Brother, what are you talking about? You can ask me to treat you whenever you want, just don't talk about ripping me off."
The two of them went to line up to order food arm in arm, and Zhou Chen and Zhuang Xiaoting sat together.
After waiting in line for more than ten minutes, Zhuang Tunan and Lin Dongzhe finally came back with the plates.
"There are so many people, but the prices here are really expensive."
Zhuang Tunan was very emotional. He was about to graduate from graduate school and could earn some salary by doing design work with his supervisor. However, his salary was not enough to buy a few meals here. On average, it was more than ten to twenty yuan per person, which was not affordable for ordinary people.
The four of them ate and chatted.
"Brother, I heard that Sister Shanshan was assigned to a publishing house in Shanghai as an editor and was even given a permanent residence. She's really lucky."
When Zhuang Xiaoting said this, Zhuang Tunan's eyes swept over Zhou Chen. Now he was the only one who knew the relationship between Zhou Chen and Wu Shanshan. He suspected that Wu Shanshan's assignment to the state-owned publishing house as an editor might have been arranged by Zhou Chen.
Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting were both shocked: "Pager?"
Now is the last few days of 1989 and we are about to enter the 1990s. Mobile phones are not yet common in China and the functions of big brothers are very simple, so pagers are the dominant means of communication. Even in a place like Shanghai, having a pager is quite prestigious.
Lin Dongzhe was also very surprised: "Brother Tuxi, a pager costs two to three thousand now, right?"
"It's about 2,000 each. I bought a few. Tunan, Xiaoting, you guys come with me to buy the cards and register the pager number."
Zhuang Tunan said dissatisfiedly: "Can you respect me a little? I am your elder brother. Is it appropriate for you to call me by my name like this?"
"Do you still want the pager?"
The next moment, Zhuang Tunan said spinelessly: "Yes, yes, call me whatever you want."
After so many years, he has accepted his fate. He admits that it is not shameful to be inferior to Zhou Chen, and he no longer holds on to his so-called self-esteem. Whenever Zhou Chen takes the initiative to give him something, he will accept it. After relaxing, he feels very happy and relieved.
Zhuang Xiaoting said, "Second brother, I don't need it. I haven't graduated yet and I'm not working yet, so I don't need it. If you have it, I can just call you directly when the time comes."
"It's just a pager, it's not worth much. I'm your brother, it's only natural for me to buy things for you, just keep it."
Lin Dongzhe gave a thumbs up. A pager worth two thousand yuan was not worth much to Zhou Chen. He was truly rich.
"By the way, as for that motorcycle, I'm not interested in riding it anymore. If you want it, just tow it away." Zhou Chen said to Zhuang Tunan.
Zhuang Tunan was surprised and asked, "You don't want a motorcycle anymore? Then what are you going to ride?"
Zhou Chen said: "A new sum of royalties has arrived. I also made some money from investing some time ago. I am going to buy a car. I don't need the motorcycle anymore. You can ride it if you want."
Zhuang Tunan fell silent. It had only been a few years and he had already traded his motorcycle for a car. Comparing himself with others was really frustrating.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Of course I want it. With a motorcycle, I don't have to take a taxi or a ferry to go to the construction site."
Lin Dongzhe looked regretful. He also wanted a motorcycle, but he also knew his own limitations.
Zhuang Xiaoting asked with great interest: "Second brother, are you really planning to buy a car? What kind of car should you buy? Then drive us around in the car."
"Of course. Once I get it, I will definitely call you and take you for a ride as soon as possible."
He is not short of money now. After all, motorcycles are not as convenient as cars. Besides, it is almost the 1990s. He is about to graduate from graduate school and will teach at a school. He is no longer afraid of being in the spotlight. Buying a car is just a reward for himself.
He was not planning to buy an expensive car for the time being, so he just bought a Jetta to drive first, and then when he wanted to change the car in a few years, he would buy a better one.
"It's settled then." Lin Dongzhe said excitedly.
It’s not that they have never ridden in a car before, the main reason is that the car Zhou Chen bought is his own, so the feeling of sitting in it is definitely different from riding in someone else’s car.
"Zhuang Tuxi, Zhuang Tunan."
The four were talking excitedly when suddenly a surprised female voice was heard. They turned around and saw that it was Li Jia.
Zhou Chen was also a little surprised. He knew that in the original plot, there was an encounter with a chicken. But the situation was very different now. He didn't expect that an encounter with a chicken would happen again.
"Li Jia."
Zhuang Tunan stood up and took the initiative to greet him: "I didn't expect to meet you here, what a coincidence."
Then he pulled Zhou Chen next to him, and Zhou Chen also stood up.
"Li Jia, long time no see."
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Li Jia looked at Zhou Chen with complicated eyes and different emotions.
"Yes, the last time we met was during the Spring Festival in 1988. It's been almost two years now, and you don't seem to have changed at all."
"You have changed a lot, and become more mature."
Compared with two years ago, Li Jia may have been working for a longer time, and her temperament has become much more mature. With a casual suit, she looks intellectual and beautiful.
"Are you guys having dinner together? Why don't I see Wu Shanshan?"
“She has graduated and is working.”
"oh."
Zhuang Tunan, Lin Dongzhe and Zhuang Xiaoting could all feel the weird atmosphere between the two. Zhuang Xiaoting and Lin Dongzhe even looked at each other and understood each other's eyes.
Lin Dongzhe took the initiative to stand up: "Sister Li Jia, do you still remember me?"
Li Jia turned her gaze from Zhou Chen to Lin Dongzhe, and after a moment's thought, she remembered.
"It's you, Lin Dongzhe."
"Yes, it's me, Sister Li Jia. I also came to Shanghai to attend university. This is Zhuang Xiaoting, the younger sister of Brother Tunan and Brother Tuxi."
Zhuang Xiaoting also stood up and took the initiative to greet her in a friendly manner: "Hello, Sister Li Jia."
Li Jia responded with a pleasant smile: "Hello, I heard Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Tuxi mention you. We met once before in Tongji Library, right?"
"Yes, yes."
At this time, Li Jia's male colleague came over. He had been to Tongji University with Li Jia before and met Zhuang Tunan, so he came over to say hello, and then sat down with Li Jia at the table next to Zhou Chen and the others.
They were too close and could hear everything they said clearly. Zhuang Tunan and the others had no appetite for food and kept looking at Zhou Chen.
Zhou Chen said calmly, "What are you looking at? Eat quickly, and then we can go out for a walk together."
"oh oh."
While dealing with her male colleague, Li Jia kept glancing at Zhou Chen. She knew that her behavior was very bad. Obviously Zhou Chen already had a girlfriend, so she should forget about Zhou Chen and not dwell on the past.
Knowing is one thing, but being able to do it is another.
The people I met when I was young were so amazing that it’s really hard to forget them.
The more she wanted to forget, the more vividly she remembered it. She really regretted it, she had regretted it a long time ago. She listened to Zhou Chen's words and was afraid of dragging Zhou Chen down, so she chose to deal with it coldly. She has been regretting it since then, especially when she saw Zhou Chen and Wu Shanshan together on New Year's Day last year. After she went back that day, she cried for several days and her eyes were swollen.
When I met you again today, my heart started beating wildly again.
Li Jia and his colleagues finished eating and left first. Only after they left did Zhuang Tunan and the other three breathe a sigh of relief.
Lin Dongzhe looked at Zhou Chen cautiously and asked, "Brother Tuxi, you and Sister Li Jia, you..."
"Lin Dongzhe, shut up, eat your food, and mind your own business."
Zhuang Tunan interrupted Lin Dongzhe and glared at him. He knew about Zhou Chen and Wu Shanshan, so he didn't want Lin Dongzhe to say too much.
Lin Dongzhe slapped his mouth and said, "Okay, I was too talkative. I just think Sister Li Jia is a really nice person."
Although Zhuang Xiaoting didn't say anything, her eyes showed her concern. After all, Zhou Chen was the person she cared about the most, and she was the one who wished the best for Zhou Chen.
After eating, the four of them walked to the Bund for a stroll. Not long after they started walking, they saw Li Jia walking over alone.
"Zhuang Tuxi, can we talk?"
Zhuang Xiaoting and Lin Dongzhe both walked away tactfully, while Zhuang Tunan whispered a warning to Zhou Chen.
"Li Jia is my classmate after all, please don't hurt her."
Zhou Chen gave him a look that showed understanding, and then walked forward side by side with Li Jia.
"Do you remember the last time we were alone together?"
"Of course, you stopped writing to me after that frank conversation we had in the park."
Li Jia was silent for a moment, then said apologetically: "I'm sorry."
"No need to say sorry, you didn't do anything to me. Love is something that is consensual. I have my own ideas and you have your own persistence, but we just don't get along."
Zhou Chen really had no complaints against Li Jia. He had been through so many relationships, and although he couldn't say that he had seen through what love was, at least he wouldn't be easily trapped by it.
"Did you also tell Wu Shanshan what you told me before?"
Zhou Chen paused, met Li Jia's gaze, and then said: "I said that it might be because we grew up together. She knows our family situation, and I know their family situation, so we can understand each other."
"Even if you don't want to get married, the name is not right, the words are not right, will she be willing?"
"Yes, even if we don't get married, she will be with me."
He did not lie, he did tell Wu Shanshan those things, and Wu Shanshan did not hesitate at all. She just said that as long as he needed her and would not abandon her, she was willing to be with him for the rest of her life.
It is because he understands Wu Shanshan's feelings that Zhou Chen treats her better, giving her a home, finding her a job, and helping her arrange everything.
After all, he is different from ordinary men. To him, sincerity is far more important than a marriage certificate. To him, sincerity is the most precious thing.
Li Jia was silent. She didn't know what to say. She knew Zhou Chen would not lie to her. Compared to Wu Shanshan, she cared about him a little more, so she couldn't do the same as Wu Shanshan.
But that was in the past. If it were now, she might make a different choice, but it seems a little too late now.
The two of them walked quietly on the Bund road, their shadows stretched out very long, and behind them, Zhuang Xiaoting and the other two followed quietly, each one more gossipy than the other.