Now, he already couldnât really do much in the IT aspect of the platform. Many of the employees that Hucheng had newly employed as technicians had undergone professional training before, also having accrued a certain level of work experience as their abilities had surpassed his.
More of the time, his job was just to implement the plans that Xu Tingsheng had decided on as well as supervise their work. This was really humiliating to a former programming geek like him, causing him to feel greatly pained.
Xu Tingsheng had discussed this problem with him before, asking him to make use of his ânot having anything to do at allâ as a chance to learn things and thus charge his batteries. This was indeed what Old Wai had done, having clarified what he couldnât understand with the employees below him in an unquenchable thirst as he frenziedly strove to improve himself every day.
Who knew that the usually very reliable Xu Tingsheng would suddenly pull something like this.
Old Wai gazed nervously at the doorway. The usually conscientious Li Linlin who was habitually the first to arrive at the office every morning had still yet to show up today.
The previous night, in the midst of sending Li Linlin back to her dormitory after work, Old Wai had forcibly pulled her into a dimly lit small clearing. Beneath her wary gaze, he had taken out the gift box that Xu Tingsheng had prepared for him.
âThis is for you,â Old Wai said.
âSomething else you got from Bro Xu again?â
Li Linlin had already received presents Old Wai had gotten from Xu Tingshengâs travels several times now. Thus, she inevitably felt it rather strange that Old Wai suddenly seemed so solemn.
Remembering Xu Tingshengâs advice, Old Wai shook his head, âNo, itâs not from Bro Xu this time. I specially picked it for you myself. I spent a few days choosing it. ThisâŠthe significance is different. I hope you like it.â
âThank you.â
Li Linlinâs personality was such that she wasnât very concerned about such things. Still, she felt rather touched. She was touched by the fact that while Old Wai had suddenly risen greatly in status, he still remembered these little details. Thus, after saying âthank youâ, Li Linlin leaned in and kissed Old Wai lightly.
Actually, in Li Linlinâs initial conception of things, this relationship between her and Old Wai was likely to be like just any normal schoolyard romance, elapsing for four years before they finally broke up during graduation, both going their separate ways into the distant horizonâŠthus, she had always been carefully protecting herself.
However, because of Old Waiâs actions in that previous incident as well as the shares which they shared in Hucheng, their futures had suddenly turned bright because of Xu Tingsheng. They would continue being together, next graduating, getting married and remaining in Hucheng, accompanying and helping Xu Tingsheng in forging a future that they never would have thought possible at the start.
This being a rare show of Li Linlinâs affections, Old Wai felt very grateful towards Xu Tingsheng, feeling that he was indeed an expert. No wonder Apple, and also Lu ZhixinâŠ
âWell then, we should be going,â Li Linlin said.
âAbout that, why donât you open it and have a look?â Old Wai was actually feeling very curious himself, not having opened the box beforehand due to trusting in Xu Tingsheng too much and also because the box was really too pretty.
âNow?â
âYeah, open it and see.â
âAlright,â Li Linlinâs curiosity was also hooked.
With some effort, Li Linlin finally managed to lift up one end of the box, extending a hand withinâŠand pulling outâŠa small piece of clothâŠ
âThis isâŠ?â Li Linlin was rather puzzled.
Old Wai was not puzzled. As a new generation university student who had watched so many X-rated movies before, he certainly knew what this was. He had recognised it with a single glance. It was due to this that he felt like he had suddenly been struck by a thunderbolt, suddenly feeling thatâŠthis world had suddenly become such an unfamiliar place.
âBro XuâŠswindled me? So warmly, so sincerely, patting me concernedly on the shoulder and talking about helping to improve our relationship, not forgetting to coax my girlfriend due to spending too much time on workâŠthen, it turned out like this? He wasnât like this originally!â
âHuh?â Lu Zhixin tilted her head to the side and uttered a sound of puzzlement as she saw Old Waiâs strange expression.
âOhâŠthis isâŠa face mask. Right, a new product, a new type of face mask.â
Old Wai reached out, wanting to snatch the box from Li Linlinâs hands.
âOh? Thereâs still more inside.â
âDonât, donât look.â
Old Wai had already grabbed the box, but it was already too late. Li Linlin pulled out even more pieces of cloth, andâŠlooking at them, thinking for a bit, she finally understood what these were.
âOld WaiâŠâ
âNo, this isâŠBro Xu gave it to me, he swindled me.â
âBlaming it on Bro Xu? Bro Xu isnât someone like you! Moreover, didnât you just say earlier that you specially picked it yourself? Even spending a few days choosing.â
âNo, I, noâŠit hurts, it hurts!â
âŠâŠ
When Xu Tingsheng was waiting for the train at the train station, his handphone rang non-stop. Xu Tingsheng didnât pick it up. Old Wai switched to sending texts, one text after another coming:
âBro, do you know how moved, how grateful I was yesterday? I felt that you were just so good to me. Do you know how loving and emotional a scene it was when I gave that to Linlin yesterday night? I even coaxed her to open it in front of me, and thenâŠâ
âBro, Iâm crippled now. Come, pick up the phone and letâs talk. How exactly did I offend you?â
âSigh, honestly speaking, it actually looked quite nice.â
âBro, Linlinâs come to work, but sheâs bought a knife and brought it along with her. I wanted to go over and explain just now, but she pulled out the knife and slammed it on the table.â
âXu TingshengâŠwhen youâve returned, letâs fight to the death. Iâve canât stand it any longer.â
After half an hour of this, as Li Linlin was about to leave for the training institute with Lu Zhixin, she halted for a moment beside Old Wai and said softly, âRelax, Iâm already yoursâŠbut Iâll feel scared if youâre like this.â
After saying this, Li Linlin left the room.
Old Wai thought for a while before enlightenment suddenly dawned.
Seeing Old Waiâs texts suddenly going from âI canât stand it any longerâ to âThank you, Bro Xuâ, Xu Tingsheng felt rather bewildered by it, not understanding what was currently going on at all. Then, he just ignored the matter completely, because Xiang Ningâs information had sprung up on the screen.
âUncle, Iâll be back in a few days.â
Xiang Ning had scored third in class for her end-of-semester examinations. A joyful Mr and Mrs Xiang had thus brought her to her auntâs place in Beijing to play for around two weeks. Every day, she would report where she had gone and what she had seen that day to Xu Tingsheng.
As for upon her return, Xu Tingsheng had already long since agreed with Mr and Mrs Xiang that because of the rather substantial time over the summer holidays and the fact that Xiang Ning would soon be in ninth grade, Xiang Ning would be attending lessons at Hucheng Training Institute over the summer holidays.
The reason for Xu Tingsheng working so hard over this period of time was that he wanted to get things done quickly. Then, when Xiang Ning had returned, he would have the time to conduct a class over the summer holidays, giving her lessons.
After he had replied to Xiang Ning, the station crew began checking the tickets.
âBro Xu, we can get on now,â His employee beside him said.
âAlright. Letâs make good use of our time and try to get things done within two days,â Xu Tingsheng stood up and hurried to the ticket checking area.
Xu Tingsheng would be going to Shenghai this time, going to take a look at and discuss things with a new training institute that was looking for someone to cooperate with in the areas of management and recruiting students. Due to the unique nature of Shenghai City, Xu Tingsheng had actually always attached great importance to it. If possible, he hoped that Huchengâs second training institute could be established in this city.
Of course, this also entailed greater investment and greater competition.
After the train had reached the station, Xu Tingsheng and the others went for a simple lunch at a nearby fast food restaurant before hurrying over to this Dexin Training Institute. Other things aside, training institutes which could operate in Shenghai City were naturally of a greater scale.
Just standing at the school gate and looking around for a moment, Xu Tingsheng could not help but feel rather envious.
Then, Xu Tingsheng unexpectedly saw a familiar face amongst the Dexin employees who had come out to receive him. It was Zhang Xingke.
Xu Tingsheng had just been about to call out to Zhang Xingke in greeting when the latter shook his head.