Chapter 2

After arriving at the airport, the old man prepared to get out of the car. He seemed to have forgotten to mention the job he was going to do to earn money, and Zhao Mai did not ask about it.

Although the family matters made him feel heavy-hearted, he still tried to be as polite as possible. The old man's luggage was a large suitcase, an old leather trunk that had seen better days. Its brown surface was polished to a shine, and it was secured with a copper lock, making it look like no ordinary item. However, the biggest problem was that it had no wheels, making it very troublesome to load into the trunk, and even more so to unload.

Zhao Mai ran a few steps and pushed over a luggage cart, placing the suitcase, which weighed about forty pounds, on it. He then patiently taught the old man how to use it and reminded him to check in his luggage and not miss the boarding process.

"I've taken many flights, I know all of this," the old man said with a smile. "You need to earn money, don't waste your time on me. Good young man, go on with your work."

In fact, there wasn't much to do. All he needed to do was turn on his phone and set his status to "waiting for passengers." The airport was so far from the city that it would be a big loss to return empty-handed. However, the foot traffic here was still good, and if he waited a bit longer, he would surely get a passenger.

The notification sound on his phone rang, and the fare and a ten-yuan tip from the old man arrived in his account. Zhao Mai was about to log into his mobile banking to transfer the money to his family when his phone, which had never malfunctioned before, suddenly went black.

Just before the screen went black, he saw a ride request! Now he couldn't get it...

This was the slowest boot-up in history, taking a full ten minutes to return to the home screen. Zhao Mai checked his phone, but found nothing unusual. It didn't seem to have any malicious software, so he continued with his unfinished work. There was still over ten thousand yuan in his bank account. He left some for food, rent, and gas, and transferred the rest to his family.

Perhaps he should stop renting and go back home to live, which would save him some money. However, doing so would reveal his current unemployment status. His parents were very traditional and would never consider writing novels online or driving a taxi as proper jobs, especially for their eldest son in his twenties. Although they had said they would no longer take care of him after he turned eighteen, their concern had never diminished.

Zhao Mai was an only child. When he was young, his father was often away, working with a research team in the mountains, and they only saw each other a few times a year. His mother took care of the household, and for a long time, Zhao Mai lived with his grandparents, experiencing the life of a "little emperor." Back then, he was the undisputed master of the house, and he was on the verge of becoming a useless person.

Later, due to a job transfer, his father spent more time in the office and less time traveling. It was then that he began to take Zhao Mai's education seriously again. Zhao Mai once hated being disciplined and often threw tantrums. His father was not lenient, and he used the bottom of his shoes and brooms to discipline him, causing their relationship to become tense.

One day, he overheard his parents arguing. His mother blamed his father for being too harsh on the child, saying that hitting him was wrong. Zhao Mai thought his usually domineering father would try to justify himself, but he was surprised to hear his father say:

"When he was young, I wasn't around, and I missed him more than anyone. But it's because I love him that I can't let him become a useless person. I have no other requirements, I just hope he can be a responsible person, at least for himself. Independence is the bare minimum, right? You spoil him too much, always giving in to his every whim. Then when he enters society, he will be overwhelmed by the waves and drown. At first, when I hit him, he didn't even cry, and his chubby face still smiled. Now he at least knows shame and makes fewer mistakes. How long can I hit him? He's about to be taller and stronger than me, and his character will mature. I have to change him before it's too late, so he doesn't get ruined by you!"

Zhao Mai, lying by the door, couldn't fully understand these words at the time, but he remembered them. He began to give his father fewer reasons to hit him and gradually became a "good child." Although his exam results were not great, and he could only attend a second-rate high school, he later worked hard and finally got into a top university.

This wasn't due to his father's connections as a Ph.D., but entirely his own effort, which made his family very happy. A car was a rare gift at the time, and it also strengthened his determination to be independent and self-reliant, making him quite confident among his peers. He even dared to quit his job right after graduation, which was largely due to his character.

To gain independence and freedom, one must take more risks than the average person. In a group, one can be a meek sheep, but to survive on one's own, one must have the spirit of a tiger or a bear. Zhao Mai knew he couldn't be a completely solitary tiger or bear, but his greatest hope was to be a wolf with a strong spirit. However, this wolf still needed to take care of the pack, especially the aging alpha.

He had never smoked, but now he desperately wanted a cigarette, thinking it might help him relieve his emotions. He parked the car in a temporary parking area and found a cigarette left by a passenger in the glove compartment. Just as he pressed the lighter, his phone rang.

It was not yet seven in the morning, and the call was from his mother. Zhao Mai was taken aback, took a deep breath, and steadied his nerves before answering.

"Son, how are you? What's this deposit I saw?" His mother's voice was still gentle, but Zhao Mai could detect a hint of fatigue.

"Ah, I recently got a bonus. I didn't know what to buy you, so I just transferred it all back. Cash is more practical, hehehe." Zhao Mai tried to sound relaxed and cheerful. "I'm a grown man now, I can earn money and support the family. Let me show my filial piety."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and only a trembling breath could be heard. Zhao Mai's mind was numb, and he didn't know what to say. He wanted to comfort his mother, but his parents had their own stubbornness, and their silence was a form of kindness. Kindness should not be destroyed.

"We'll be at ease as long as you take care of yourself. Your father is a stubborn old man and can't say nice things, but he cares about you. Remember, we all care about you. If you're busy, just focus on your work. Everything is fine at home, and your younger siblings are with us. You don't need to worry."

In the end, his mother said nothing, shouldering the pressure herself. Zhao Mai decided to do the same; it was a family trait. After a few more words, Zhao Mai hung up. The warm moment was over, and now he needed to think of a plan.

As his mother said, his father was a very strong-willed and stubborn man, with a bit of an old scholar's temperament. He was always serious and factual, not good at socializing. Zhao Mai had never seen any friends at home, and his father rarely visited others or socialized. Even if there were friends he didn't know about, his father wouldn't ask for help.

His mother was a kind and warm-hearted woman, but she didn't know any rich people, and the chances of borrowing money were slim. Thinking about his own situation, he had only been out of the math department for a year and had worked for less than nine months. He didn't know many people in society. If he had to name someone with enough money to lend him, it would be his dorm mate, Wang Tianhua, nicknamed "Prince."

If he had to describe him in one word, it would be "idle." He seemed to do nothing but play, as if he was just passing the days. Unfortunately, he had an unattractive face, or he might have been known as a charming young man.

Zhao Mai knew his roommate well. Despite his carefree appearance, he was actually very sensitive. He was extremely cautious with strangers and often teased those close to him. For some reason, he firmly believed that Zhao Mai was a trustworthy friend, and after getting to know each other, they became close friends. They kept in touch frequently after graduation.

He called Wang Tianhua, and the call was quickly answered. "Prince" would never get up this early, so he must have just finished an all-nighter. Before Zhao Mai could speak, a heavy, hoarse voice came through the phone:

"Old Mai, are we still having a gathering this Saturday? I'll bring a new girl, and we can run a game together, how about it?"

"Sorry, I have some family matters, I can't make it this week. Can you tell the others in the group for me?"

"Hmph, tell them yourself, I'm not your messenger!" Prince suddenly lowered his voice and said with a smirk, "This girl is very pretty, and I can't make a move without running a game to test her true character!"

"Any girl who is very pretty and chases you must have failed a willpower check or has a high self-deception skill. Be careful. Besides, running a game is just a game, not a lie detector. What can you really tell? Are you planning to use this for matchmaking?"

"I love playing, especially the fantasy adventure games you run. If she can't even commit to playing with me, how can I expect her to commit to a relationship? Forget it, I'm going to sleep. Let me know when you're running a game again, and I'll fly back early."

"By the way, if I borrow money from you, what interest rate will you charge?"

"Did you even ask if I would lend you money?" The sound of Wang Tianhua sniffling came through the phone, followed by a few seconds of silence. "I can decide on a few thousand or a few ten thousand, but anything bigger is up to my mother. However, we can go into business together. If it's an investment, it can be more flexible. Write a proposal, the content doesn't matter, and it doesn't matter if we make or lose money. Just have the paperwork. My mother always wants me to work, and she keeps pushing me. If you can cover for me for a few years, we can do this."

"Deceive the Queen? I'll think about it..." Thinking of his aunt, who was always kind to him despite her son's description of her as "fierce and commanding," Zhao Mai felt uneasy about lying to her.

"Old Mai, I wasn't joking. If you're in trouble, just tell me how much you need, and I'll figure it out."

"Thanks, that makes me feel better." They were so close that they couldn't even say "thank you," and after a few more words, they hung up.

Although Wang Tianhua's family was wealthy, it wasn't easy money. Moreover, borrowing from a friend and borrowing from a friend's mother were two different things. So after hanging up, Zhao Mai still tried to find a solution on his own. He contacted some classmates and friends at the hospital to understand the situation and ensure the money was spent correctly. If there was a shortage, he wouldn't hesitate to ask the "rich second generation" for help. But he wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't contribute to his father's treatment.

After making a few more calls, two hours had passed. When he finally had a clear plan, he realized he hadn't opened his ride-hailing app and had missed several potential fares.

He quickly tapped the screen, and within seconds, a notification came through. He accepted the fare, which would be profitable on the way back to the city. Zhao Mai rushed to the fourth exit, but the person who got in the car was the same old man.

The heavy leather suitcase was gone, and he was now carrying a silver metal briefcase, the kind often seen in movies, handcuffed to the wrist of an unlucky bodyguard, containing either valuable gems or a bomb. Zhao Mai's mind raced, and he felt embarrassed, smiling awkwardly and saying, "Looks like you and the plane don't have much of a connection, but you and I do."

The old man squinted at Zhao Mai, his lips curling into a smile. "I didn't expect it to be you again. It seems you can't escape having to give me a ride. For saying we have a connection, I won't treat you badly."

"Where's your big suitcase?" Zhao Mai asked, after some thought. "If you were checking it in, you would have already boarded the plane. There's no reason for you to leave without it."

"You're overthinking it. I just stored my things here; I'm not a criminal. My rescheduled flight is in ten hours, and the airport hotel is tolerable, but the food is terrible. So I need to go into the city. You drive steadily, so how about you take me, and then bring me back here later? I'll keep you in 'waiting' mode, so you won't lose money."

Zhao Mai sighed with relief and nodded. The thrilling scenarios that had popped into his head were mostly just his imagination. He released the handbrake, shifted into gear, and said, "Sit back, we can catch breakfast. Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere?" The old man smiled enigmatically, tapped his phone a few times, and said, "Just follow the navigation."