After leaving the Hill Coffee Shop in Building A, Qiao Le headed straight to where he had parked his vehicle.
Upon arrival, he noticed that the Maybach that had been parked beside him was no longer there.
He crouched down to unlock his electric scooter, put on his helmet, and rode off towards the bar.
As it was nearing the end of the workday, the streets were bustling with people, resembling a flowing film reel.
Qiao Le rode his scooter across Liwan Bridge, transitioning from the dazzling lights of the bustling city to the humble and worn-out neighborhood.
Along the roadside, there were small tricycles selling fruits and vendors making pancakes.
The sounds of children practicing the piano and couples arguing emanated from the varying heights of residential buildings, filling the air with the essence of everyday life.
As Qiao Le passed under the bridge, he saw an elderly man struggling to pull a cart loaded with cardboard and empty bottles up a slope.
He parked his scooter by the roadside and ran over to help push the cart up the hill.
With the sudden reduction in the cart’s weight, the old man easily made it up the slope and gratefully said, “Thank you, young man.”
“Don’t mention it. Be careful on your way,” Qiao Le casually waved his hand and then rode off on his second-hand electric scooter, skillfully navigating through the narrow paths.
The evening breeze brushed past, lifting Qiao Le’s hair and collar, as a carefree and unrestrained smile spread across his face.
When he reached the bakery near the bar, Qiao Le got off his scooter and bought some cakes for his colleagues.
They had always been kind to him, and since he had earned a decent amount of money today, it was a good opportunity to treat them.
The place where he worked was a quiet bar called “Sip and Savor,” which opened at 6 PM and closed at 2 AM.
As soon as Qiao Le entered the bar, he placed the cakes on the counter.
His colleagues noticed his attire and exclaimed, “Wow, Le Le, you look so handsome today! Where did you go on a date?”
“Just went to make some money,” Qiao Le replied casually before quickly heading to the restroom to take a shower.
After showering and changing into his work uniform, he came out of the restroom to find Fang Jiaxu sitting with his legs crossed.
Fang Jiaxu was the owner of the bar and a friend Qiao Le had met on the “Let Me Help” platform.
Their friendship began when Fang Jiaxu’s boyfriend cheated on him, and he hired Qiao Le through the platform to “catch the other woman.”
The scene was intense, with the cheating man defending the other woman, leading to a physical altercation.
During the scuffle, Qiao Le took a vase thrown by the other woman to protect Fang Jiaxu, resulting in a gash on his head.
This incident forged a strong bond between them.
Fang Jiaxu was eating the cake Qiao Le had just bought and, seeing him come out, pointed to a lunchbox beside him, “Eat first.”
The bar didn’t provide meals, and the lunchbox had the logo of a nearby restaurant, clearly an extra order Fang Jiaxu had made for him.
“Thanks,” Qiao Le said without hesitation, picking up the lunchbox and starting to eat.
He had only had a couple of buns for lunch and had been in a hurry to help Mr. Huo with his request at Hill Coffee in the afternoon, so he was starving.
“Why the formality?” Fang Jiaxu finished his cake and asked, “Why did you suddenly buy cakes today? Did you strike it rich?”
He was well aware of Qiao Le’s financial situation, knowing he was usually very frugal, almost to the point of splitting a single dollar into two.
Yet today, he had treated everyone to cakes.
Qiao Le swallowed the food in his mouth and didn’t hide it, “I made a good sum on ‘Let Me Help’ today.”
He told Fang Jiaxu about how Mr. Huo had paid him 20,000 yuan to sabotage a blind date.
Upon hearing this, Fang Jiaxu exclaimed, “Wow, where did this sucker come from? He’s way more generous than me. I only gave you 5,000 yuan back then.”
The 5,000 yuan was the price Fang Jiaxu had paid Qiao Le to catch a mistress, and later, he also covered his lost wages and medical expenses.
Not only that.
Qiao Le added, “You also gave me a job. If it weren’t for you, my life with Qiao Man wouldn’t be so stable now.”
Qiao Man was his younger brother, five years old, currently in the senior class of kindergarten.
As for Qiao Le himself, he was nineteen years old and should have been a student at Yunjing University.
But last year, his father’s investment failed, and after accumulating a mountain of debt, he jumped from the rooftop, falling to his death with his face unrecognizable.
As for his mother, she had long since disappeared.
With only a high school diploma and a young brother to take care of, finding a suitable job wasn’t easy.
Delivering food was the most flexible job he could find.
He could pick up and drop off his brother at school and then take him along while delivering orders.
But in the long run, even if his own body could handle it, his brother couldn’t.
When he was struggling and in dire straits, it was Fang Jiaxu who extended a helping hand, giving him the opportunity to work at “Xiao Zuo Yi Qing” (Sip and Relax).
During work hours, he could let his brother, Qiao Man, do homework or nap in the break room, and they would go home together after his shift.
The other colleagues were also very caring toward him and Qiao Man.
Fang Jiaxu flicked his forehead and said, “I only hired you because you’re good-looking and can attract business for me. Plus, the shop was short on staff. Don’t make it sound like I’m some kind of saint.”
Qiao Le thought to himself, but you are a good person.
However, he also knew that Fang Jiaxu said this to prevent him from feeling indebted, so he didn’t dwell on the topic.
Instead, he told Fang Jiaxu about the mix-up that happened at the café earlier that day.
After hearing the story, Fang Jiaxu burst into laughter, clutching his stomach and shaking uncontrollably.
“The other guy didn’t get mad at you?”
“I was surprised too. His temper is way too good.” Qiao Le recalled Shen Hechuan’s reaction earlier.
He really didn’t seem angry, and it didn’t feel like he was pretending.
Fang Jiaxu pondered for a moment, then looked up at Qiao Le and suddenly thought of a possibility.
“Could it be that he’s into you?”
Into me?
Qiao Le instinctively refuted, “No way.”
“Why not?” Fang Jiaxu chuckled, ruffling his soft hair.
“Qiao Le, do you have any self-awareness about how good-looking you are?”
There was no doubt that Qiao Le was beautiful-thick eyelashes, eyes that seemed to smile before he even spoke, and an overall striking appearance.
He was like a bright little sun, pure and radiant, making people instinctively want to get closer to him.
“Do you know how many regular customers come to the shop because of you?” Fang Jiaxu asked.
Qiao Le held his lunchbox and didn’t respond.
He wasn’t unaware that he was good-looking.
Since his school days, he had always been the “school heartthrob” in others’ eyes.
While working at Fang Jiaxu’s bar, many people had expressed interest in him, regardless of gender.
If Fang Jiaxu had been talking about someone else, he might have agreed.
But Shen Hechuan…
His first reaction was that it was impossible.
He couldn’t explain why it was just a gut feeling.
But hearing Fang Jiaxu say that, he couldn’t help but laugh: “Then should I add him on WeChat today? What if I can earn another twenty thousand?”
Fang Jiaxu exaggeratedly replied, “You missed such a great opportunity? That’s a huge loss!”
Qiao Le was amused by him, but after laughing, he firmly shook his head: “You haven’t met him. If you had, you definitely wouldn’t think that way.”
Even though they had only met once, someone like Shen Hechuan, with his noble demeanor and broad-mindedness, would never be swayed by mere appearances.
There was no reason for it, but he just felt it wouldn’t happen.
Fang Jiaxu was a few years older than Qiao Le.
Having been in society for a long time and working in the nightlife business, he had seen all kinds of people.
Seeing Qiao Le so firm in his belief, he couldn’t help but shake his head, thinking to himself that this kid was truly innocent and completely unaware of his own charm.
But since Qiao Le insisted, he went along with it: “Alright, if you say it’s impossible, then it’s impossible. Let’s just assume you met a good person.”
“He really is a good person,” Qiao Le nodded in agreement.
“I gave him my phone number and platform ID. If he ever needs my help, I’ll run errands for him for free.”
That is, if Shen Hechuan hadn’t already thrown it away.
“Didn’t you say you already paid for him? I remember that café isn’t cheap. Did you end up losing money on this morning’s delivery?” Fang Jiaxu asked.
Normally, Qiao Le wouldn’t even spend nine yuan on a cup of coffee for himself unless he was so tired he needed a pick-me-up.
The Hill Café was indeed expensive, and Shen Hechuan had ordered the most expensive items on the menu.
Qiao Le clutched his chest and admitted honestly, “It hurts a little.”
But when he thought about how he had caused trouble for someone else, the money didn’t feel as painful to part with.
Fang Jiaxu was amused and patted his head:
“Poor kid. After work, I’ll treat you to some late-night snacks.”
“No, today it’s my treat,” Qiao Le quickly finished his meal and said with a smile, “Thank you, boss, for your hospitality. I’ll work hard for you.”
“Aren’t you tired at all?” Fang Jiaxu asked.
Qiao Le tossed the disposable food container into the trash, stretched his arms, and said, “Full of energy.”
Fang Jiaxu waved his hand: “Alright, tonight’s sales depend on you.”
“Leave it to me,” Qiao Le gave an OK sign and left the changing room.
Meanwhile, the “good person” they were talking about, Shen Hechuan, had just returned home.
As he walked, he took off his suit jacket, and the housekeeper, Aunt Liu, came forward to take it.
She whispered to him, “Master Hechuan, the old master, as well as your parents, are waiting for you in the study.”
Huh?
Shen Hechuan glanced at the time, surprised: “Isn’t it dinner time?”
Their grandfather had been a soldier in his youth and was very strict about meal and sleep times.
It was unusual for him to be waiting in the study at this hour.
“It’s been delayed,” Aunt Liu whispered, covering her mouth.
“It seems like something big has happened.”
Something big?
Shen Hechuan thought the biggest thing happening in the family recently was his marriage the endless nagging about him settling down.
It seemed never-ending.
“I understand,” he loosened his tie and handed it to Aunt Liu.
“Thank you.”
With that, he quickly went up to the second-floor study.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw the people inside.
His grandfather, his father, and his mother.
The three of them sat upright, their expressions serious, giving off the atmosphere of a formal interrogation.
Shen Hechuan closed the door and was about to ask what had happened when he heard the old man ask, “I heard you got a vasectomy?!”
Shen Hechuan: “?”
Then his father asked, “I heard you’re dating a young, handsome guy?!”
Shen Hechuan: “??”
Finally, his mother asked, “And he was kicked out of his home for you?!”
Shen Hechuan: “……???”
He understood.
The reward for being a good person today had arrived.
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