Chapter 54

At the end of February, most universities had reopened, and college students with money in their pockets brought another peak in business for Brother Wen's studio.

In 2003, game studios were a highly profitable industry. The two of them, adhering to the principle of not keeping too much money in their accounts, would start dividing the money once they had accumulated a certain amount.

Bian Xuedao took back 250,000 yuan from Brother Wen, and as usual, went to the bank outside the campus to find Guan Shunan to deposit the money.

Just as he finished, Li Yu called Bian Xuedao.

Bian Xuedao took the call and walked out the door. As soon as he stepped out, he ran into Shan Rao.

Bian Xuedao hung up and greeted Shan Rao, "What a coincidence? Are you here to do some business too?"

"Uh-huh," Shan Rao responded vaguely, "Why didn't you do it at the bank on campus?"

Bian Xuedao said, "I went out to do some errands, just got back, and came here. I'll be off, talk to you later."

Guan Shunan, who hadn't left yet, stood inside the door and watched in surprise as Bian Xuedao and Shan Rao talked through the glass.

Shan Rao walked into the bank and saw Guan Shunan standing by the door. She said happily, "Sister Nan, were you waiting for me?"

Guan Shunan, watching Bian Xuedao walk away, asked Shan Rao, "Do you know Mr. Bian?"

Shan Rao was taken aback: "Mr. Bian? What Mr. Bian? Who is he?"

Guan Shunan pointed in the direction Bian Xuedao had left.

Shan Rao understood: "You mean Bian Xuedao?"

Guan Shunan knew Bian Xuedao's name: "Yes, him. Do you know him?"

Shan Rao found a seat and said, "Yes, he's an alumnus, and we're quite familiar!"

Guan Shunan heard clearly: "Alumnus? He's from your school? Is he still a student?"

Shan Rao said, "Yes, he's a year below me!"

Shan Rao and Guan Shunan grew up in the same residential complex. Guan Shunan, who is four years older than Shan Rao, has always taken good care of this pretty little sister. Both being only children, they are as close as sisters.

After chatting for a while, it was almost noon. Guan Shunan asked for a short leave from her boss and took Shan Rao to a nearby KFC for lunch.

The meal cost Guan Shunan 90 yuan. Looking at what Guan Shunan brought back, Shan Rao exclaimed, "Finally, a change in diet!"

Guan Shunan's fiancé also grew up in the same residential complex, three years older than her. He had little interaction with Shan Rao, but she had a deep impression of him. He was always an outstanding student, graduated with a master's degree, and then went to the United States for further study on a public scholarship. He and Guan Shunan were already engaged and planned to get married after he returned.

Shan Rao asked Guan Shunan, "Have you chosen the house for your wedding?"

Guan Shunan said, "I picked a few and sent the photos to Chen Gaoyuan. He said we don't have enough money yet, and we might go somewhere else in the future."

Shan Rao said, "Somewhere else? Why? Your family went to great lengths to get you into the bank, and you'd just leave to follow him?"

Guan Shunan didn't say anything.

Seeing the atmosphere turn a bit cold, Shan Rao changed the topic, "Why did you call Bian Xuedao 'Mr. Bian' just now? How old is he? He's a year younger than me!"

Guan Shunan took a sip of cola and said, "Mr. Bian is our VIP customer."

Shan Rao widened her eyes and asked, "VIP?"

Guan Shunan nodded, "Yes, a VIP customer."

Shan Rao asked, "How VIP?"

Guan Shunan said, "How much do you have in your savings?"

Shan Rao said, "Including various scholarships and part-time jobs, I have... about 9,000 yuan!"

Guan Shunan looked around to make sure there were no colleagues from the bank, then leaned in and said to Shan Rao, "Do you know how much your alumnus has?"

Shan Rao didn't understand why Guan Shunan was asking this and subconsciously asked, "How much?"

Guan Shunan used a French fry dipped in ketchup to write "130" on the table.

Shan Rao looked at it, confused, and asked Guan Shunan, "What does this mean?"

Guan Shunan whispered, "1.3 million. He has this much in our bank, I don't know about other banks."

Shan Rao was stunned. After a while, she said, "You mean Bian Xuedao has 1.3 million in your bank? How can you be sure the money is his?"

Guan Shunan said, "After working in the bank for a long time, you can tell whether someone is an accountant or a boss. I can be sure, the money is his."

Seeing Shan Rao not saying anything, Guan Shunan continued, "What's your relationship with Bian Xuedao?"

Shan Rao thought for a moment and said, "We're not in the same year or college. I met him through someone, and we've known each other for about half a year. Our relationship... " Shan Rao thought about her heart racing when she saw Bian Xuedao fighting, and the rumors that spread when she helped him move, "Our relationship... is pretty good!"

Guan Shunan noticed the unusual expression on Shan Rao's face and advised her, "You'll graduate in a year. I heard on the news recently that this year is the first batch of graduates after the university expansion, and experts mentioned something called 'employment pressure.' I haven't seen you bring any boys to visit me during your college years. Think carefully, don't be like me, who only chose boys with good grades. Chen Gaoyuan's grades are indeed good, good enough to go abroad for further study, but what's the point? Now, to buy a wedding house, my family has to contribute most of the money. I feel guilty when I see my parents at home."

"Chen Gaoyuan might have a bright future, but how old will I be then? 40, 50, 60? Will I still be able to enjoy his glory? Will I be able to enjoy life's beauty in my best years?"

"Does Bian Xuedao have a girlfriend?"

Despite Guan Shunan's sudden question, Shan Rao immediately replied, "I don't think so," and then, thinking about Bian Xuedao moving alone, she confirmed, "No."

Guan Shunan said, "If you don't dislike him, I suggest you give it a try. Now that you know he's rich, you have information others don't have. If other women at school or in society knew he was rich, would he still be alone?"

"The most important thing is, I guess this money is what he earned himself. A boy who can do this in college, think about what he'll be like after graduation!"

Shan Rao returned to her dormitory in a daze, took out her passbook from the cabinet, and lay on the bed, looking at the amounts printed on it, finally focusing on 8,790.

1.3 million? That's a difference of three digits...

Is Bian Xuedao really that rich? It seems so. He didn't even blink when he spent over 1,000 yuan on a guitar last time.

Shan Rao remembered a conversation in the dormitory where the third roommate mentioned that her high school classmate at Beijiang University was being kept by a small boss for 30,000 yuan a year. This Bian Xuedao should be richer than that small boss, right?

Shan Rao lay on the bed, thinking about the scenes since she met Bian Xuedao: his composure during the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhang Meng's proactive approach, his calmness while drinking coffee, his fierce and smart fighting, his considerate and humorous behavior while ice skating, and the witty conversation while moving... Upon careful reflection, this boy was indeed different from others.

Shan Rao had only thought this boy was a bit special, but she never imagined he would be so special, having a net worth of a million by his sophomore year.

Shan Rao also thought that since Bian Xuedao was so rich, few of his classmates probably knew. From their few interactions, she could tell that Bian Xuedao wasn't short of money, but he didn't flaunt his wealth. He spent money wisely, showing a very mature mindset.

Shan Rao picked up her phone, found Bian Xuedao's name, opened the messaging app, thought for a while, typed a few words, thought again, deleted them, retyped, deleted again, and typed again. At this point, Shan Rao realized she knew very little about Bian Xuedao, except for the guitar.

Shan Rao got up from the bed, put on her clothes, and withdrew 1,500 yuan from the bank on campus. Then she took a taxi to the music street, bought a guitar identical to Bian Xuedao's from the same store where he bought his, and took a taxi back to school.

Sitting on the bed, Shan Rao touched the strings of the new guitar and looked at herself in the mirror on the table, thinking, "Am I crazy?"

On Saturday, Shan Rao called Bian Xuedao, saying she had bought a guitar but no one around her knew how to tune it, and she wanted Bian Xuedao to help.

When Bian Xuedao received Shan Rao's call, he was watching TV alone at home in the Red Building. Thinking he owed Shan Rao a favor and that they couldn't go into each other's dorms, and that the teaching building and library weren't suitable places to tune a guitar, he couldn't have them tune it on the playground, so he asked Shan Rao to wait for him at the Red Building, and he would come to pick her up.

Shan Rao was the first woman to enter Bian Xuedao's house.

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