Chapter 43

Before the lights were turned off at night, Chen Jian called Bian Xuedao out of the dormitory, smoked a cigarette, but still didn't say a word.

Bian Xuedao asked, "What's up?"

Chen Jian said, "Su Yi's birthday is coming up, and I want to give her a gift."

Bian Xuedao remembered what Zuo Heng said during the group meal about giving Su Yi a gift, and asked Chen Jian, "What do you plan to give her?"

Chen Jian lit another cigarette, "I've been thinking for many days and want to give Su Yi a computer."

"Um," Bian Xuedao nodded, "Your gift is decent and practical, well chosen."

Chen Jian said, "I went to the electronics building yesterday and looked at the components and monitors. But I'm not sure. Yu Jin said you know about this stuff. I want you and Li Yu to come with me tomorrow. If it's good, we can use Li Yu's car to bring it back."

Bian Xuedao asked, "Do you want to buy a desktop?"

Chen Jian said, "Yes."

"Alright, I'll go with you tomorrow," Bian Xuedao said.

The next day, Li Yu drove Chen Jian and Bian Xuedao to the electronics building near the university. Last night, Bian Xuedao had already decided to buy a laptop. If Chen Jian didn't have enough money, he would help him out.

After sitting at the back door of 10A for over a month, the things Bian Xuedao saw and thought about accumulated, and he felt a lot of pent-up emotions.

He didn't dare to go to a KTV to sing, fearing that the more he sang, the more he would think of Xu Shangxiu.

He couldn't hit anyone; besides Tao Qing, there was no one he wanted to hit.

He had nowhere to spend money. Songjiang had plenty of places with bright lights and red wine, but they were all places of trouble. When he was happy, he could invite his classmates and friends out for a meal to share, but when he was sad, he wouldn't. He was especially afraid that he might say something drunk or do something wrong.

"Impulse is the devil!" The understanding of this phrase is always deeper for a 30-year-old than for a 20-year-old.

Yu Jin and Li Yu had both asked him why he didn't get the latest phone or buy a laptop to play with, but Bian Xuedao just smiled and didn't respond. There was no way; with his perspective, the phones and computers of 2002 just didn't spark his interest to spend money.

In the morning, when he returned to the Red Building, Bian Xuedao brought the 20,000 yuan he had at home. He needed to spend money to release his stress. If he had nowhere to spend it, spending it on his friends and earning their gratitude was also good.

When they entered the electronics building, Chen Jian was about to lead them to the store he visited yesterday, but Bian Xuedao directly pulled Chen Jian to the fourth floor. Li Yu, not knowing what was going on, followed behind, looking around.

When they reached the laptop brand counter, Bian Xuedao said, "Buy this one, it's portable and looks good."

Li Yu, following behind, heard Bian Xuedao's words and immediately chimed in, "I said yesterday, if you're buying, get a laptop. It's the same to give, but it's more complete."

Chen Jian's face immediately turned sour, "The cheapest one costs over ten thousand. I don't have enough money. I barely managed to save up by prepaying next year's tuition."

Bian Xuedao said, "Not enough? Li Yu will cover it."

Li Yu's face also turned sour, "Are you forcing me to sell my car, Boss Bian?"

Bian Xuedao smiled and didn't say anything, then started leading the two around.

Chen Jian and Li Yu followed behind, exchanging glances. Finally, Bian Xuedao pointed to an IBM T3086C and asked, "How much is this one?"

The salesperson immediately came over, "Hello, sir, this laptop is priced at 23,500 yuan."

"Is there a stock?"

"Yes, sir."

Bian Xuedao fiddled with the laptop, tapping the keyboard, as if looking for a feel, and gestured for Chen Jian and Li Yu to come over, "Take a look, how about this one? IBM, durable, just a bit thick and heavy. But since your Su Yi is tall, it's still manageable. What do you think? Give me your opinion!"

Chen Jian stroked the surface of the sample, "No!"

Bian Xuedao asked Chen Jian, "How much money do you have?"

"7,140."

Bian Xuedao said, "Take out 4,000."

Chen Jian didn't understand, but Li Yu took out the money from his pocket, counted it, and handed 4,000 to Bian Xuedao.

Bian Xuedao took out 20,000 from his pocket, held the money, and said to the salesperson, "This one, invoice it."

The salesperson, who had never seen anyone buy a laptop so decisively, was overjoyed and went to find the manager.

On the way back to school, sitting in Li Yu's car, Bian Xuedao felt better after spending the money. Chen Jian, sitting in the back, was full of thoughts but didn't know how to express them.

Bian Xuedao looked at Chen Jian in the rearview mirror and said, "Second Brother, don't be anxious. I don't expect you to do anything bad to repay me. Zuo Heng is a bit arrogant, and I want to see if he can still show off. Besides, you know I've been in a bad mood lately. Spending money makes me feel better. I'm helping you and myself."

Li Yu chimed in, "Yes, yes, I also spend money when I'm in a bad mood, but I'm not as bold as Boss Bian. I think my name is wrong; this 'Yi' character suits you better. Shouldn't you be called Bian Xueyi?"

Bian Xuedao said, "Get lost."

Bian Xuedao continued, "Second Brother, don't worry about the money. You know, I made some money online with Yu Jin. You can pay me back whenever you have the money. If you haven't paid me back by the time you get married, you don't have to. Consider it my early contribution to your wedding."

Chen Jian didn't say anything, just looked out the window.

With the remaining money, Chen Jian, after some hesitation, bought a thin platinum necklace and carefully wrapped it in a gift box. Chen Jian was really upset by Zuo Heng last time; he didn't believe Zuo Heng could give Su Yi a car.

Su Yi's birthday was on Thursday. Li Yu washed his car in advance. At 4:30 PM, Li Yu drove Chen Jian and Bian Xuedao to the entrance of 11A. Bian Xuedao called Su Yi and said someone was looking for her downstairs.

Chen Jian, dressed in a suit, held a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a cake in the other, standing by the car. Most of the boys passing by the entrance would avoid him from a distance. It was impossible to approach such a handsome guy without feeling inferior. The girls entering and exiting the building all took a second look at Chen Jian.

Today, Su Yi looked especially beautiful, wearing jeans and a black jacket, with her hair loosely tied back, exuding a natural elegance. Seeing Chen Jian with so many things, Nan Jiao, Li Xun, and Zhang Meng also came down, but they stayed behind to avoid overshadowing Su Yi.

Seeing Li Xun, Li Yu exclaimed, "You tricked me, you little guy. Li Xun is in the same dorm as Su Yi. If Second Brother gives her a laptop, what do I do for Li Xun's birthday? You can't favor one over the other. You have to cover my laptop too."

Su Yi walked up to Chen Jian confidently, "Didn't I tell you not to spend so much? A single flower would have been enough." She then looked into the car and greeted Bian Xuedao and Li Yu, turning to Chen Jian, "I'll take the things upstairs. Where are we going later?"

"Here," Chen Jian, with a confident and happy smile, took out the gift box from his suit pocket and handed it to Su Yi with both hands, "For you."

Nan Jiao and the other girls, seeing that Su Yi's hands were full, came over to help her with the flowers and cake, urging her to accept the gift.

Su Yi opened the gift box and saw the necklace lying quietly inside.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes, I do."

The girls encouraged Chen Jian to put the necklace on Su Yi right away.

Chen Jian knew Su Yi's personality, shook his head, closed the gift box, and handed it to her. Then, he turned around, opened the car door, and took out the computer.

This action stunned the students watching from upstairs and nearby.

"What is that?"

"A laptop?"

"IBM?"

"Doesn't that cost over 20,000?"

In 2002, when most students' monthly living expenses were around 500 to 600 yuan, Chen Jian's gift was equivalent to four years of university expenses for some students.

At first, most people around were wishing him well, including some boys who liked Su Yi, thinking that this guy was just handsome, and if they had his looks, they might also be favored.

When Chen Jian took out the computer, it was different. Even the girls in 603 felt a bit jealous. The boys picking up their girlfriends nearby were even more upset: "You're handsome, that's enough. Do you have to be rich too? Can't you give it to her privately? Do you have to do it at the entrance? Do you want to let us, the not-so-handsome and not-so-rich guys who rely on our sweet talk and hard work, live?"

Seeing the computer in Chen Jian's hand, sighs and gasps could be heard around. Chen Jian handed the computer to Su Yi, but she didn't take it.

"It's too expensive."

"Nothing is as precious as you."

"I can't accept it."

"Your department does a lot of drawing, and next semester, the school will arrange for you to intern in Suzhou. Having a computer will make things easier. Don't look at how much it costs; just understand my heart."

Lowering the car window, Bian Xuedao, sitting in the car and watching Chen Jian's performance, sighed, "Second Brother is really skilled."

Finally, Su Yi reached out and took the computer.

The boys in 10A, who had been watching from upstairs, whistled loudly, expressing their extreme dissatisfaction with Chen Jian, who was raising the cost of dating for everyone.

When Chen Jian asked Su Yi and the others to take the computer and cake upstairs, an Audi pulled up.

The Audi parked nearby, and Zuo Heng got out, holding a rectangular box. He glanced at Li Yu's car, then looked at Chen Jian and Su Yi, and clapped wildly.