Chapter 60

"By the way, Mr. Chen, I've seen you come out of the basement several times these days. What are you doing down there?"

Walking with a beautiful woman was a pleasant and relaxing experience, but when a beautiful woman said something like this, it could make a man dislike her.

"Oh, wasn't the basement used to store clutter before? Last week, I thoroughly cleaned it up and put some things in there. I usually rest and take a nap in there when I have nothing to do. Compared to upstairs, the basement is much cooler."

Chen Yang looked straight ahead and casually explained the reason.

Xiao Rui had just asked out of curiosity. Hearing Chen Yang's explanation, she didn't pay much attention and followed him to a barbecue and hotpot stall.

Most of the shops on this street were restaurants, with hotpot places, night beer bars, and stalls everywhere. It was almost 5:30 PM, and at a glance, every table was full of guests.

The two found a seat and a waiter brought them a menu.

"Hmm, what would you like to eat?"

Chen Yang looked at the menu for a while and then raised his head to ask.

"Me? Anything is fine."

Xiao Rui took a sip of tea and said politely.

"Alright..."

Chen Yang quickly marked several dishes on the menu and handed it to the waiter.

"Sir, you ordered so many dishes for just the two of you..."

The waiter took the menu, was surprised, and hesitated to speak.

"It's fine. I eat a lot, so just bring what's on the menu."

The waiter could only take the menu and leave. Xiao Rui, curious, asked, "How many dishes did you order? I don't eat much, don't waste it."

"It's fine. We can take the leftovers home if we can't finish them."

Chen Yang smiled, not really caring.

When the oil pot was brought to the table, the two fell into an awkward silence. Well, to be precise, only Xiao Rui was in an awkward silence, while Chen Yang stared at the oil pot, estimating when they could start eating.

To avoid the suffocating awkwardness, Xiao Rui decided to find an interesting topic to talk about.

"By the way, Mr. Chen, there's an expo in Donghai soon. Are you interested in going?"

"An expo?"

Chen Yang thought for a moment and shook his head. "Not really. Expos are just like that, nothing much to see."

"Is that so..."

Xiao Rui had hoped Chen Yang would say something interesting and that he wanted to go, so she could say she was also interested and suggest they go together. But Chen Yang's rejection left her speechless.

"Where is your hometown, Mr. Chen?"

Xiao Rui found another topic.

"My hometown? It's in Sichuan..."

"Wow, that's impressive. You came from Sichuan to Donghai and managed to accumulate a building."

Xiao Rui was very impressed.

"It's nothing. My family came early and took advantage of the situation. Decades ago, this place was a suburb, and few people came here to make a living. Both land prices and labor costs were very low, unlike now. As they say, times have changed."

"That's still impressive!"

Xiao Rui was about to say more when a surprised voice came from behind.

"Xiao Rui, is that you?"

Both of them turned to look behind them. A man wearing shorts and holding a large skewer of barbecue was looking at Xiao Rui with a joyful expression.

"Zhu Tianming, what are you doing here?"

Xiao Rui's body trembled, and she exclaimed.

"Wow, what good luck today, Xiao Rui. Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"

The man named Zhu Tianming pulled a chair over and sat down without hesitation. "After we broke up, I couldn't eat or sleep. I deeply regretted breaking up with you and wanted to make up with you. But you not only moved away but also changed your phone number..."

"Zhu Tianming, I've already told you, we've broken up. Don't come after me anymore!"

Xiao Rui said angrily.

"Xiao Rui, please forgive me. It's all my fault. I swear, I'll change and do everything you ask. As long as you make up with me, we can start over."

Zhu Tianming begged bitterly, not even noticing the oil from the barbecue splashing onto his pants.

"What do you mean 'start over'? It's impossible!"

Xiao Rui's firm words completely shattered Zhu Tianming's love.

"No, no, I don't believe it. Xiao Rui, you love me, right? You're just lying, right?"

Zhu Tianming couldn't believe it and looked at Xiao Rui with a hopeful expression.

"You're wrong."

Xiao Rui said firmly, "It's impossible!"

"You..."

Zhu Tianming's face turned angry. He suddenly looked at Chen Yang, who was silently watching, and pointed at him. "I see, I understand. Is it because of this man that you no longer love me?"

"That's right, he's my new boyfriend."

To completely disappoint Zhu Tianming and make him leave, Xiao Rui gave Chen Yang a look.

"I never thought you'd be this kind of person, Xiao Rui!"

Zhu Tianming held a skewer in his right hand and a beer glass in his left, in deep pain. "I know I don't deserve you. I'm short, poor, stupid, and not handsome. I'm a complete loser! But don't be too smug, Xiao Rui. Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west. There's a saying: don't look down on the poor young man. You'll regret it!"

Chen Yang: "..."

Friend, you're already in your late twenties. Is it appropriate to call yourself a 'young man'?

"Miss Xiao, is your friend always like this?"

Chen Yang said with a hint of helplessness.

Xiao Rui looked at him with a helpless expression and nodded slightly, indicating that Chen Yang was right.

Now Chen Yang understood why Xiao Rui had broken up with this man.

"Alright, Zhu Tianming, since you mentioned thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, show me what you can do. I'll wait thirty years for you to come back."

Xiao Rui said impatiently, "Thirty years from now, you must make me regret it!"

"No, no, no..."

Zhu Tianming finished his beer in one gulp and said angrily, "As the saying goes, love and career are about the present. I can't wait that long. I just want you to know that thirty years from now, I will definitely be a successful person. If you follow me now, you won't regret it then."

"No, no, no, just make me regret it, I beg you!"

Faced with Zhu Tianming, Xiao Rui was both angry and amused.

"No, I can't let you cry in someone else's arms. I know this man is just a bit rich, but he doesn't truly love you. Only I, only I truly love you. Believe me, Xiao Rui, only I can give you happiness!"

Zhu Tianming took a bite of the barbecue and begged bitterly.

"You love me? Can your love put food on the table? If you have the ability, show me the money!"

Xiao Rui said mercilessly.

"Money? Do you love money so much? Money can't buy true feelings!"

"Ha ha..."

Zhu Tianming's loud voice made a little girl behind them laugh.

"Friend, since Miss Xiao asked you to leave, why are you still纠缠不休 here?"

Chen Yang glanced at Zhu Tianming and then focused on the oil pot.

"Bang!"

Zhu Tianming angrily put the beer glass on the table and stared at Chen Yang. "You're Xiao Rui's new boyfriend? I advise you not to have false hopes. A pure girl like Xiao Rui isn't someone you can touch."

Chen Yang struggled to move his gaze from the oil pot to Zhu Tianming. "Friend, you have no money, no talent, no looks, no car, no house. What do you have to compete with me? I advise you not to be a toad lusting after a swan."

Chen Yang's sharp words made Zhu Tianming speechless. He then stared at Chen Yang silently, making Chen Yang feel a bit uncomfortable.

"I..."

Zhu Tianming took a deep breath and said heavily, "I'll treat you to barbecue. Can you give up?"

Chen Yang: "No."

"So there's no room for negotiation?"

"Thirty years from now, you can make me regret it."

"I can't wait that long. I want you to regret it now."

Zhu Tianming's face turned pale. He finished the barbecue in his hand and turned to leave.

Not long after, Zhu Tianming returned, but this time he was followed by two shady-looking thugs.