Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1587 Beating Chen Qiming

Although Liu Yuan wasn't particularly interested in Huang Renfa's daughter, he did take Qin Hao's words to heart to some extent.

After serving as Qin Hao's vice president for two years, Liu Yuan's biggest gain was not how much money he made, but rather a lesson he learned—Qin Hao's judgment of people was never wrong.

So this time, Liu Yuan decided to listen to Qin Hao and first try to contact Huang Renfa.

He quickly figured out Huang Renfa's daily habits—the old man would go to a restaurant called "Jufulou" near Huaqiangbei every few days, and he would always sit in the main hall and order the same few dishes.

Liu Yuan deliberately chose a day when Huang Renfa was likely to be there, and arrived at Jufulou early. He sat in the lobby, ordered a few dishes, and ate slowly.

Sure enough, before midnight, Huang Renfa's powerful voice rang out.

"Boss! Same as always, one more steamed sea bass!"

Liu Yuan waited for about twenty minutes, estimating that Huang Renfa and the others had finished several rounds of drinks and dishes, and the atmosphere was just right, before taking his wine glass and walking over.

"Oh, isn't this Uncle Huang? What a coincidence, you're eating here too."

Huang Renfa was toasting with some friends when he looked up and saw a young man he didn't recognize. He was in his early twenties, well-dressed, and handsome. He was holding a wine glass and smiling just right—neither obsequious nor stiff, with perfect tact.

“You are…” Huang Renfa squinted and looked him up and down.

"My name is Liu Yuan, the vice president of Zeus Power. I've met Uncle Huang a few times at the stock exchange, but we haven't had a chance to formally introduce ourselves." Liu Yuan said, tilting his head back and downing his glass of wine in one gulp: "Cheers!"

Huang Renfa's eyes lit up. Zeus Power? Although he was a village chief, several of his sons were in the electronics business, and he had heard of this rapidly growing company.

"Zeus Power Supply? The one that makes computer power supplies?" Huang Renfa became interested.

"Uncle Huang knows about our company too?" Liu Yuan asked, feigning surprise.

“My sons all work in electronics, and your power supplies are selling very well right now.” Huang Renfa patted the chair next to him: “Come, come, sit down and let’s chat.”

Liu Yuan didn't stand on ceremony and sat down.

Having worked alongside Qin Hao for two years, Liu Yuan's greatest skill was reading people and situations. He first followed Huang Renfa's lead and chatted about the electronics market, then "casually" mentioned his own views on stocks—these were, of course, things Qin Hao had given him beforehand, and he spoke eloquently about market trends and policy directions.

The more Huang Renfa listened, the more he realized that this young man was extraordinary. At such a young age, he was already the company's vice president, had a clear understanding of the market, and was able to withdraw from the stock market in a timely manner without being greedy. In comparison, the short guy who had lost all his money buying stocks and even borrowed money from him was far inferior.

When the old men left, Huang Renfa pulled Liu Yuan aside for a few more words and they even exchanged contact information.

This first contact was a success.

Afterwards, Liu Yuan "coincidentally" met Huang Renfa twice more, and the two gradually became acquainted. By the third time they met, Huang Renfa had already regarded him as a close friend despite their age difference, calling him "Little Liu" affectionately.

That day, the two met again at Jufulou for drinks. Huang Renfa was in high spirits and downed three cups of baijiu in a row. Suddenly, he clutched his chest and frowned.

"Ouch... I feel a bit uneasy in my chest..."

Upon seeing this, Liu Yuan immediately put down his chopsticks: "Uncle Huang, what's wrong? Should we go to the hospital?"

"It's nothing, it's just an old problem." Huang Renfa waved his hand, but his complexion wasn't good, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "I just drank too fast, I'll be fine after a rest..."

“How can we just rest for a bit and then call it a day?” Liu Yuan frowned, stood up without saying a word, and took Huang Renfa’s arm. “Uncle Huang, I’ll take you home. If you feel unwell on the way, I’ll take you straight to the hospital.”

Huang Renfa declined twice, but "couldn't resist" Liu Yuan's insistence, so he had to let him help him walk out.

As they were leaving, Huang Renfa's driver went to park, so Liu Yuan offered to drive Huang Renfa back to his house in Lanyuan Village. He drove carefully the whole way, asking every now and then, "Uncle Huang, are you feeling better?" He also made sure to drive smoothly, afraid of jolting the old man.

Upon arriving at Huang Renfa's house, Liu Yuan helped him out of the car and insisted on escorting him inside. Huang Renfa sat on the sofa, catching his breath; his complexion had indeed improved considerably.

"Little Liu, thank you so much for your help today." Huang Renfa patted Liu Yuan's hand.

"Uncle Huang, you're too kind. This is no trouble at all," Liu Yuan said, preparing to take his leave.

"Don't rush off!" Huang Renfa grabbed his arm. "You've helped me a lot today, aren't you going to stay for a meal? If word gets out, people will say I, Huang Renfa, don't know how to repay kindness."

Liu Yuan declined a few times, but Huang Renfa insisted, so he had no choice but to stay.

Huang Renfa called out into the inner room, "Yunyun! Hurry up and prepare the meal, we have guests!"

A moment later, a girl in her early twenties came out of the inner room.

When Liu Yuan first saw Huang Yunyun, he was slightly surprised. He had thought that the village chief's daughter would be a rough and shrewish local girl, but Huang Yunyun was not like that at all—she was slender, wearing a simple blue dress, with long hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders, delicate and gentle features, and a hint of shyness in her eyes.

"This is Liu Yuan, Dad's close friend despite the age difference," Huang Renfa introduced. "Go and prepare a few of your signature dishes."

"Hello... hello." Huang Yunyun greeted Liu Yuan with her head down, her voice very soft and with a noticeable stutter.

Liu Yuan was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure, smiling and nodding: "Hello."

Huang Yunyun blushed and turned to go into the kitchen. Watching her retreating figure, Liu Yuan suddenly understood—Huang Renfa wasn't actually unwell; he had deliberately asked him to bring the food back so he could arrange this meal!

This old fox!

Liu Yuan cursed inwardly, but kept a straight face. He had been in the business world for two years and could handle this kind of situation.

Not long after, Huang Yunyun came out with several dishes. Four dishes and a soup, all home-style cooking, but they were all delicious and visually appealing. The poached chicken looked enticing, the steamed sea bass was tender and smooth, there was also a refreshing dish of celery and lily bulbs, and a bowl of steaming old hen soup.

Liu Yuan took a bite of the poached chicken and couldn't help but exclaim, "Delicious! This skill is even better than the chef at Jufulou!"

Huang Yunyun stood to the side, her cheeks flushed slightly upon hearing this, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up.

"I...I'll go get...you...you all some rice." She lowered her head and quickly walked into the kitchen.

Huang Renfa looked at his daughter's reaction, then at Liu Yuan's natural expression, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

This young man is not bad.

He didn't look down on his daughter's stutter, nor did he feign ingratiation. He was good-looking, had a good physique, and became the company's vice president at a young age—such a son-in-law is hard to find even with a lantern.

However, Huang Renfa also had a concern. Liu Yuan was such a good catch, a college graduate, he might not be interested in his daughter. His daughter was perfect in every way, except for a slight speech impediment… These days, what young person would want to marry someone who couldn't speak clearly?

So Huang Renfa came up with this plan, pretending to be unwell and having Liu Yuan take him home. Firstly, it would test Liu Yuan's character—whether he was the kind of person who would pretend not to see an elderly person feeling unwell—and secondly, it would allow Liu Yuan to meet Yunyun and see if they clicked.

Judging from today's situation, at least the first step has been completed.

As for what happens next, he'll have to step up his game.

At the dinner table, Huang Renfa frequently urged Liu Yuan to drink, and Liu Yuan accepted every toast. The two clinked glasses and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Huang Yunyun sat quietly to the side, occasionally getting up to add dishes and soup, her movements gentle and attentive.

Liu Yuan noticed that Huang Yunyun would subconsciously purse her lips before speaking, as if encouraging herself, before carefully uttering each word. Her earnest and cautious manner was strangely heartbreaking.

After finishing the meal, Liu Yuan insisted on taking his leave. Huang Renfa didn't try to stop him, but simply patted him on the shoulder and said, "Come again often," his tone much more intimate now.

As Liu Yuan stepped out of the Huang family's gate, a night breeze brought him back to his senses.

He touched his nose and gave a wry smile.

Qin Hao was right again, just as expected. Huang Renfa did indeed have the idea of ​​finding a son-in-law, and as for Huang Yunyun—Liu Yuan couldn't quite describe his feelings when he thought of that quiet girl cooking.

I don't dislike her, but I wouldn't say I'm attracted to her either.

To be fair, that bowl of old hen soup was really delicious.

……

Han Ling returned to her rented room in high spirits.

As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Ran sitting at the table, a pile of purchase orders spread out in front of him, calculating each item one by one with a calculator. His brows were slightly furrowed, his lips were pursed into a line, and he exuded a tired tension.

"Xiao Ran!" Han Ling walked over, wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, and exclaimed with undisguised joy, "I found a job!"

Xiao Ran put down her pen and turned around: "Found a job? What kind of job?"

"Assistant!" Han Ling smiled, her eyes crinkling. "An administrative assistant at an electronics company. The probationary salary is two thousand, and three thousand five after probation!"

Xiao Ran's smile froze on his face before it could even open.

"Two thousand?" He frowned. "Two thousand for the probationary period? What kind of assistant gets such a high salary?"

"Just a regular administrative assistant, doing things like making spreadsheets and organizing documents." Han Ling, oblivious to Xiao Ran's change in expression, continued enthusiastically, "Besides, the company isn't far from here—"

"Which company?" Xiao Ran pressed.

Han Ling slowed her speech, hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully, "Yes...it's Qin Hao's company."

The room fell silent.

Xiao Ran's expression changed visibly.

"Qin Hao's company?"

"Yes." Han Ling nodded: "Sun Yumei took me there. Qin Hao was looking for an assistant, and Sun Yumei recommended me—"

"You are not allowed to go."

Xiao Ran's voice was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

Han Ling was stunned: "Why?"

"Why?" Xiao Ran sneered. "Han Ling, are you out of your mind? Why did Qin Hao hire you as his assistant? Shenzhen is such a big city, why would he specifically choose you?"

His company definitely needs people—

"Need people?" Xiao Ran's voice rose a few decibels. "His company needs plenty of people, why you of all people? Han Ling, can you please stop being so naive?"

Han Ling's expression also changed. She understood the meaning behind Xiao Ran's words, and a feeling of grievance and anger welled up in her heart.

"Xiao Ran, explain yourself clearly. What exactly do you mean?"

"Don't you understand what I mean?" Xiao Ran took a step forward, her voice low but each word sounding like it was being squeezed out through clenched teeth: "Qin Hao is interested in you. He hired you as his assistant to get closer to you."

"You're talking nonsense!" Han Ling exclaimed, "Qin Hao and Sun Yumei are already together, how could he possibly—"

"So what if we're together?" Xiao Ran interrupted her. "If he didn't have those feelings for you, why would he offer you such a high salary? There are job seekers all over Shenzhen, plenty of people with more experience than you. Why would he give you only two thousand?"

That's because Sun Yumei recommended it—

"Sun Yumei's recommendation is even more wrong!" Xiao Ran slammed his fist on the table, scattering the receipts all over the floor. "She'd love to get you next to Qin Hao so she can secure her position! Han Ling, can't you use your brain and think this through?"

"Xiao Ran, you're being too sensitive." She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "He just offered me a job, and you think he's interested in me? What kind of person do you think he is?"

"What I think of him isn't important; what matters is his feelings for you!" Xiao Ran retorted without backing down. "Han Ling, do you know how naive you are? Just because someone is nice to you, you think they're a good person? Have you ever thought about why they're nice to you?"

"Then what do you think I should do?" Han Ling's eyes began to redden. "Xiao Ran, I don't want to be a parasite. I also have a university degree, and I want to achieve something!"

You can find another job—

"I've been looking for a week! No company wants me except for this! I can't do anything but dance, are you suggesting I work on a factory assembly line?"

"Even working on an assembly line is better than being Qin Hao's assistant!"

"you--"

Han Ling trembled with anger. She glared at Xiao Ran, tears welling up in her eyes, but stubbornly refused to fall.

"Xiao Ran, I have a question for you." Her voice trembled slightly, but she emphasized each word: "In your eyes, are all men interested in me? Can you only feel at ease if I stay at home like a parasite, never going out, never interacting with anyone?"

Xiao Ran's face turned pale at these words, and although his lips moved, no sound came out.

The veins on his temples throbbed. He knew he was being unreasonable, but he couldn't control himself. The thought of Han Ling spending every day with Qin Hao made him feel something churning in his chest, making him uneasy.

His pride and insecurity were intertwined, causing him to lose all reason.

What if I firmly refuse to let you go?

"It's none of your business!" Han Ling retorted, losing her temper.

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither willing to back down. Finally, Han Ling flung open the door, rushed out, and wiped away her tears in the hallway. Then she turned back, slammed the door shut, and sat down on the edge of the bed with her back to Xiao Ran.

That night, neither of them spoke to the other. They slept back to back all night.

……

The next morning, Han Ling still went out.

She stood at the door of the rented room and glanced back. Xiao Ran had already gone to work; a note of apology was left on his desk, tucked under a half-used pencil.

Han Ling pursed her lips, turned around and left.

She wasn't disregarding Xiao Ran's feelings, but she also had her own principles. On one hand, she genuinely wanted to ease Xiao Ran's burden—1,200 yuan a month plus commission, after deducting rent and living expenses, there was practically nothing left. If she could also earn money, their lives would be much more comfortable. On the other hand, she was also a college graduate, and she wanted to achieve something and give her mother a better life.

However, when they actually arrived at the entrance of the Zeus Power Plant, Han Ling's heart was still in her throat.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous on her first day at work. She'd been in the dance troupe for so many years, and had never done anything other than dancing. What if she didn't do well? What if she made a mistake? What if Qin Hao thought she wasn't good enough and fired her before even passing her probation period?

Han Ling took a deep breath and pushed open the door of the office building.

The HR department had already been notified and assigned her a desk by the window, along with a computer and a bunch of office supplies. Han Ling sat down at her desk, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the corner of the desk, her eyes secretly glancing at her colleagues around her.

Everyone was busy with their own things, and no one paid much attention to her.

A few minutes later, Qin Hao came out of his office and handed her a document.

"Today's task is to create a table from this data, using the same format as last month's template." Qin Hao pointed to a file on the computer screen: "The template is in this path; just follow it. Also, make two copies of these purchase contracts before 3 PM, one for filing and one for Liu Yuan."

Han Ling took the document and nodded seriously: "Okay."

"If you have any questions, just ask the senior employees here." Qin Hao said before returning to his office without giving her any further instructions or special treatment.

This made Han Ling secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

She turned on her computer, found the template following Qin Hao's instructions, and began entering the data one by one. At first, she was indeed a bit rusty; her typing speed was slow, and she had to adjust the table format several times before getting it right. But Han Ling had one advantage—she was meticulous and conscientious. She preferred to be slow rather than make any mistakes.

After a morning of work, although only half of the table was completed, every piece of data was checked twice, and the format was completely consistent with the template.

She continued working on the forms in the afternoon, and then went to photocopy the contracts. She had never used a photocopier before, and it took her quite a while to figure out how to operate it, but fortunately she still managed to finish the task before 3 p.m.

When Han Ling was leaving get off work, she stood up, stretched her sore neck, and let out a long sigh of relief.

The first day went without any problems.

Although it was just simple work, Han Ling felt a small sense of accomplishment. She realized that she wasn't as stupid as she had thought; as long as she was willing to learn and work, these things weren't difficult.

More importantly, Qin Hao didn't assign her any work beyond her capabilities throughout the day, nor did he look at her with any strange eyes; he treated her just like an ordinary new employee.

This made her feel at ease and gave her more confidence.

Han Ling packed her things and walked out of the office building. Dusk was falling, but the factory area was still brightly lit, and the machines in the stamping workshop were still roaring. She stood at the door for a while and suddenly felt a sense of peace.

……

Ever since that meal at the Huang family's house, Huang Renfa would call him every few days to come over for a visit, with all sorts of reasons—sometimes to ask him to help review the terms of an electronic contract, sometimes to ask him to give advice on his sons' businesses, and sometimes simply to say, "It's been a long time since we last met, come over for a couple of drinks."

Liu Yuan knew perfectly well that Huang Renfa was creating opportunities for him to spend time with Huang Yunyun. But he didn't refuse—not because he had any feelings for Huang Yunyun, but because he found that he felt genuinely comfortable when he was with this girl.

Huang Yunyun wasn't a talkative person; to be precise, she spoke as little as possible because of her stutter. But her quietness didn't make people feel awkward; on the contrary, it carried a calming power. She would quietly bring tea and snacks when Liu Yuan and Huang Renfa were chatting, and she would gently say "Take care...take care" when Liu Yuan was about to leave. Her earnest manner always reminded Liu Yuan of the little cat his neighbor had when he was a child—quiet and peaceful, never making a fuss. When you weren't paying attention to it, it would lie in a corner, and when you looked at it, it would gaze at you with its wet eyes.

Once, Liu Yuan went to the Huang family's house, but Huang Renfa had already left, leaving only Huang Yunyun at home. Liu Yuan was about to leave, but Huang Yunyun blushed and asked him to stay, saying, "The food... the food is ready, it would be a waste not to eat it."

That day, it was just the two of them eating. Huang Yunyun had prepared an even more lavish meal than last time. She sat opposite Liu Yuan, head down, eating her rice, occasionally glancing up at him, only to quickly lower her head again when caught, her ears as red as boiled shrimp.

Looking at her, Liu Yuan suddenly felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.

He had met many girls in his life, some were feisty, some were shrewd, and some were so beautiful that it was hard to look away, but Huang Yunyun was the first one who was quiet and earnest.

She spoke with difficulty, but every word she uttered was heartfelt. She cooked beautifully because she poured all the unspoken words into her dishes. She dared not look at him, afraid her stutter would disgust him—Liu Yuan could see a cautious expectation hidden in her eyes, as if she were waiting for something, or perhaps afraid of something.

After that day, Liu Yuan started taking the initiative to ask Huang Yunyun out.

He took her shopping in Huaqiangbei, to eat snacks in Dongmen, and to watch the sunset at the beach. Huang Yunyun was very nervous at first, following closely behind Liu Yuan as soon as they left the house, as if afraid of getting lost. But gradually, she loosened up her pace, occasionally tugging at Liu Yuan's sleeve to point out interesting things along the way, and her smile became more and more frequent.

Liu Yuan noticed that Huang Yunyun's stuttering lessened considerably when she smiled. This was probably because she was more relaxed, her tension decreased, and her tongue became more agile.

However, there was one thing that had been bothering Huang Yunyun.

She vaguely heard from her father that Liu Yuan still had feelings for a college classmate—a girl he had always liked but never received a response from. Huang Yunyun didn't know who that girl was, but just knowing that Liu Yuan still had feelings for someone else was enough to make her heartbroken.

That night, Huang Yunyun was sitting alone in her room, lost in thought, when Huang Renfa saw her.

"What's wrong? Who are you looking at with that long face?" Huang Renfa walked in and sat down opposite his daughter.

“Dad…” Huang Yunyun bit her lip, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking, “Liu Yuan… he has… someone in his heart.”

"Someone?" Huang Ren was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Who told you?"

"I heard it from you... when you were drinking with him, I... I overheard it in the kitchen."

Huang Renfa slapped his thigh, suddenly realizing that Liu Yuan had drunk too much that night and inadvertently mentioned that he had a crush on a female classmate in college. Huang Renfa had pressed him for details, and Liu Yuan had become quite agitated, saying that the female classmate didn't like him at all, and that she had later gotten together with one of Liu Yuan's roommates.

"Hey!" Huang Renfa waved his hand dismissively, saying, "What's the big deal! The person he likes doesn't like him at all and ran off with someone else. What does that mean? It means they were never meant to be!"

"But...but he still has...someone else in his heart."

"So what if he does?" Huang Renfa glared at his daughter. "He may have feelings for her, but does she have feelings for him? What's the point of wishful thinking? Yunyun, listen to your dad. Liu Yuan is a good guy, he just hasn't figured it out yet. Spend more time with him, and he'll naturally know who's truly good to him."

Huang Yunyun lowered her head and didn't speak, but her father's words gave her some courage.

Seeing his daughter's hesitant expression, Huang Renfa sighed and softened his tone: "Yunyun, the thing I worry about most in this life is you. Your brothers are all settled down and have families, but you... It's not that I dislike you, it's that I feel sorry for you. You're good in every way, except you have trouble speaking clearly, and you've suffered a lot of grievances outside. Now that we've finally met someone who doesn't mind you and is willing to take you out, don't give up first."

Huang Yunyun's eyes reddened, and she nodded, "I...I understand, Dad."

After that, Huang Yunyun indeed became more proactive in contacting Liu Yuan. She started calling Liu Yuan on her own initiative—although it always took a lot of courage for her, and she was often so nervous that she couldn't speak a complete sentence after the call was connected, Liu Yuan never rushed her and always patiently waited for her to finish speaking.

On one occasion, Liu Yuan took Huang Yunyun to a bar.

It was a newly opened music bar in Shenzhen, dimly lit, with jazz music lazily flowing in the air. It was Huang Yunyun's first time in such a place, and she was like a frightened deer, tightly gripping Liu Yuan's arm and refusing to let go.

"Don't be afraid, just sit here for a while and listen to some music." Liu Yuan smiled and helped her into a booth, ordering her a glass of fruit wine.

Huang Yunyun sipped her drink slowly, her eyes darting curiously around. The people in the bar seemed relaxed; some were dancing slowly on the dance floor, others were chatting quietly in a corner, and still others were laughing loudly and clinking glasses at the bar. This atmosphere was so unfamiliar and exciting to her—she had always been a well-behaved girl, helping her mother with chores at home and studying quietly at school; she had never been to a place like this before.

But sitting with Liu Yuan made her feel inexplicably at ease.

Later, Liu Yuan took her to a dance hall. The deafening music, the colorful disco balls, and the men and women twirling around—Huang Yunyun was speechless with shock. Liu Yuan pulled her hand and led her onto the dance floor. She was so nervous that she froze and stepped on Liu Yuan's feet several times, but Liu Yuan didn't seem to mind.

"It's okay, just follow the rhythm." Liu Yuan held her hand and patiently guided her step by step in the dance.

Huang Yunyun blushed and took a cautious step. Slowly, she began to keep up with the rhythm. Although her movements were still stiff, the feeling of being surrounded by music and illuminated by lights excited her.

That night, when Huang Yunyun returned home, she lay in bed, the music from the dance hall still echoing in her mind, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her face.

She had never been so happy.

……

Meanwhile, Chen Qiming's life became more and more difficult.

After losing all his money in the stock market, he was completely destitute in Shenzhen. After falling out with Liu Yuan, he had no one to talk to. As for Qin Hao, that was out of the question—Chen Qiming would rather starve than ask Qin Hao for help.

In Shenzhen, a place where everything costs money, how long can a thousand yuan last?

What drove him to despair the most was the rent.

The small room he rented cost 150 yuan a month, which didn't seem expensive, but it was an astronomical sum for him now. He hadn't paid rent for two months, and the landlord had called him several times.

Finally, one day, Chen Qiming returned home after wandering around outside all day and found that his bedding and luggage had all been thrown in the passageway outside the door, and a new lock was hanging on the door.

"Uncle Zhang! What are you doing?!" Chen Qiming exclaimed anxiously, banging on the door.

The door opened, and the landlord, Uncle Zhang, stood there, his face devoid of any apology: "Chen Qiming, you owe me three months' rent. How many times have I chased you for it? This house isn't a charity; if you can't pay the rent, then don't stay here."

"Give me a few more days, and I'll find a job right away—"

"How many times have you said that?" Uncle Zhang remained unmoved. "I told you last month that if you didn't pay the rent, you'd have to move out. You didn't take it seriously, so who's to blame?"

My things are still inside—

"I've moved everything out for you, nothing's missing." Uncle Zhang pointed to the bedding rolls and several plastic bags in the aisle: "Take them away quickly, don't block my way."

After saying that, he slammed the door shut.

Chen Qiming stood in the aisle, looking at the messy pile of luggage on the ground, feeling completely drained.

Carrying his bedding and plastic bags, Chen Qiming walked out of the urban village in a daze. The streets of Shenzhen were still bustling with traffic and flashing neon lights, and everyone was rushing about. No one noticed the disheveled young man.

He walked for a long time, and as darkness fell, his stomach growled with hunger. He felt in his pocket and found he had less than fifty yuan left—his last possession.

As he passed a restaurant, the rich aroma of food wafted out from under the door, like an invisible hand gripping Chen Qiming's stomach tightly.

He stopped and stared at the gilded signboard at the entrance of the restaurant for a long time.

Then he went inside.

"Boss, I'd like to order!"

Chen Qiming plopped down, grabbed the menu, and started ordering. Braised pork belly, poached chicken, steamed fish, garlic shrimp, and a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor). The table was overflowing with food; it was as if he was trying to make up for everything he had missed in his life.

Once all the dishes were served, Chen Qiming began to wolf them down. He was so hungry that his eating manners were quite unsightly, and he also drank the liquor very quickly, downing more than half a bottle of baijiu.

The waiter noticed something was wrong and secretly went to call the boss.

The boss walked over, looked Chen Qiming up and down, then glanced at the large table of dishes on the table, a hint of wariness appearing on his face.

"Sir, if you've finished your meal...why don't you want to settle the bill?"

Chen Qiming put down his chopsticks and looked up at the boss. The alcohol had flushed his face, and his eyes were somewhat unfocused, but a smile lingered on his lips—a smile that contained bitterness, self-mockery, and a resolute determination to go all out.

"The bill?" He swirled the wine in his glass. "I don't have any money."

The boss's face changed: "What did you say?"

“I said, I have no money.” Chen Qiming slammed his glass on the table, his voice rising a few decibels. “I dined and dashed! So what?”

The customers nearby all turned to look at the commotion. The owner's face turned bright red, and veins bulged on his forehead.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" The boss slammed his fist on the table. "If you don't have money, what kind of food do you want to order?!"

"I want to!" Chen Qiming slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and pointed shakily at the leftover food scattered on the table. "I just want to have a decent meal, so what? I'm a college student, and I can't even afford a full meal? Is there no justice in this world?"

"College students? Does that mean college students can dine and dash?" The owner sneered, then yelled at the kitchen, "Qiang! Get a few people over here!"

Several burly men rushed out from the kitchen.

Before Chen Qiming could react, several people grabbed his arms. He tried to struggle, but he was too drunk to move his limbs properly and couldn't muster any strength.

"What are you trying to do?!"

"What are you doing? This is the consequence of dining and dashing!" the owner said through gritted teeth. "Beat him!"

Fists rained down on him.

Chen Qiming was beaten so badly he couldn't fight back, and could only curl up to protect his head and face. But those people didn't care whether he could protect himself or not, and kept punching and kicking him. A sharp pain shot through his ribs, his mouth was cut, blood was streaming from his nose, and his vision blurred.

The fight lasted for two or three minutes before the boss waved his hand to signal them to stop.

"Strip him naked and throw him out!"

Several people stripped Chen Qiming of his only remaining clothes—an old shirt and trousers—leaving him only in his underwear, and then threw him out the back door onto the street like trash.

Chen Qiming lay on the cold cement floor, covered in injuries, too weak to even move.

He tried to get up, but his limbs were sore and weak that he couldn't muster any strength.

Passersby saw him in this state; some walked around him, while others glanced at him from afar and turned away. No one stopped to ask what was wrong, and no one offered a helping hand.

Chen Qiming, who was lying on the ground, suddenly laughed.

The laughter was very soft, like crying.

He, Chen Qiming, a college graduate, was lying on the streets of Shenzhen, covered in injuries, wearing only his underwear, looking like a stray dog.

He recalled his bold words when he first came to Shenzhen—that he would make a name for himself, prove that he was no worse than anyone else, and trample Qin Hao under his feet—now it seemed utterly ridiculous.

Just as Chen Qiming lay on the ground in despair, waiting to die, a pair of leather shoes stopped in front of him.

"Chen Qiming?"

Chen Qiming struggled to lift his head, and through his blurred vision, he saw a familiar face.

"How did you get like this?!" Xiao Ran exclaimed in surprise and quickly squatted down.

“Xiao…Xiao Ran…” Chen Qiming opened his chapped lips, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

Seeing his miserable state, Xiao Ran took off his coat and wrapped it around Chen Qiming without saying a word, then waved for a taxi.

"Master, to the nearest hospital!" (End of Chapter)