Chapter 214: Forsake the depraved path for that which is just
Seeing Li Wan about to leave just like this, Xu Tingsheng felt rather helpless as he didnât know whether to laugh or to cry, âYouâre leaving just like this?â
âHuh? IâŠwhat?â Li Wan turned, asking rather perturbedly.
She seemed to realise something immediately afterwards as she said earnestly, âI can get your physical data from Mister Angelo.â
Xu Tingsheng forced a smile, âIâm not talking about that. What I mean is-donât you require us to pay a deposit or something first? Havenât you wondered what you would do if you finished all of the work, but we didnât want it anymore?â
Li Wan came to an abrupt realisation, âRight, the deposit!â
Then, she asked, âThenâŠhow much should the deposit be?â
If she had been eighteen or nineteen, having yet to properly integrate into society, there would have been nothing strange about that. Yet, she was thirty years old, having once studied in Italy for six years. She was fluent in Italian and was also considerably skilled in matters related to her profession.
Having left that tailor workshop now, she appeared nervous, childish and at a loss, possessing no societal experience at all whatsoever.
âSheâs never discussed a business deal before, perhaps never even thought that she would ever need to do such a thing one day. Now, however, she has no choice but to force herself to do it. She needs this sum of money desperately, even more desperately than hunger pangs, because this type of person usually wouldnât speak up even if they were hungry. The story of a girl from a rich family that has fallen into decline. It is merely that.â
Already having determined this, Xu Tingsheng was too lazy to even spare her a look as he took out twenty thousand yuan in cash from his bag and handed it directly to her, âA twenty thousand deposit, is that enough?â
Li Wan hesitated for a moment before hanging her handbag on her arm and receiving the money with both hands.
She was even so particular about this.
Xu Tingsheng discovered a pain of smooth, clear hands that originally shouldnât be appearing on the body of a thirty-year-old woman, shouldnât even be used to receive money from someone. Currently, though, she was grasping that twenty thousand yuan tightly in her hands.
There were far too many people in this world who forced themselves to do things that they had once been unwilling to do. Therefore, Xu Tingsheng did not have all that much sympathy and compassion for her. It was even more improbable that he had done this because of her beauty.
He asked as cordially as possible, âThen, can you give us a form of identification or guarantee? WeâreâŠalso afraid that you might just take the money and run. I hope you can understand this.â
âI, IâŠâ Li Wan hesitated for a while before finally pulling her identity card out of her bag, gazing at Xu Tingsheng with those wide eyes of hers as she asked, âCan I use my identity card? Is it okay if I just leave my identity card with you?â
So there actually did exist thirty-year-old women who were so easy to swindle.
Xu Tingshengâs mind was thrown into disarray once more as he stiffened for a moment before eventually still extending a hand and accepting her identity card, nodding to her, âThatâs fine.â
âThen, thatâs all?â Li Wan asked.
âThatâs all,â Xu Tingsheng replied.
The word âsirâ seemed to be uttered by her with quite some difficulty.
Xu Tingsheng thought for a moment. He pointed at the clothes that the three of them were wearing that cost just around a hundred yuan each, next pointing to the decrepit Volkswagen that was parked by the roadside, âWeâre not anyone important. Our boss is paying for us to get some decent clothes, thus helping to maintain his image before others.â
As soon as Xu Tingsheng had said this, Li Wanâs nervousness clearly eased greatly.
âSorry. Rest assured, I wonât cheat you of your money. Iâll give you a call as soon as Iâm done,â She said earnestly.
âAlright. Iâll be waiting then.â
There was actually someone in this world who dared to leave her identity card with someone else as a guarantee just so easily.
After Li Wan had left, Xu Tingsheng took a look at her identity card that she had left behind: 31 years old, resident of Shenghai City. Name: Li Wanâer.
Huang Yaming and Tan Yao scooted over for a look.
Huang Yaming said, âLi, Wan, Er. Why did she call herself Li Wan?â
Tan Yao said, âItâs probably because she feels that already being 31, itâs kind of inappropriate to still carry that âerâ around.
Huang Yaming rebutted, âFeng Xiaogang still calls himself âXiaogangâ despite his age. Do you find that weird?â
Xu Tingsheng said emotionally, âFor women, if theyâre doted on by someone, they will still call themselves along with that âerâ totally naturally even if theyâre forty or fifty. No longer being doted on, that âerâ will just feel wrong no matter how one thinks about it, because no one spoils her like a child anymore. Especially in front of us, she would be even more unwilling to call herself that.â
Huang Yaming struggled to get his mind around it for a while before asking, âWhat do you mean?â
Xu Tingsheng said, âA daughter of a rich family, having lived a comfortable life up to thirty-one years of age with her family now having fallen into decline.â
ââŠHow do you know?â
âIf you cycle through all your memories from earlier, youâll be able to get it. Itâs actually not hard.â
Huang Yaming and Tan Yao thought about it a little before the latter then slapped his thigh, âThe heck! Isnât this equivalent to a little fluffy sheep transported to the wide plains of Africa?â
Huang Yamingâs face was full of saliva, âChance! Tingsheng, hurry up and give me her number.â
Xu Tingsheng double-slapped him, scolding laughingly, âDonât you go thinking that! She doesnât seem to have such intentions, not intending to benefit from that body of hers. In that case, youâd only be going to hurt her if you set your designs on her.â
âThe problem is that wolves donât care about the opinions of sheep. Can she protect herself?â Huang Yaming asked.
âThat would be her own problem then,â Xu Tingsheng said in a cold, indifferent tone.
Huang Yaming had just been about to send a few disparaging remarks Xu Tingshengâs way when Tan Yao interrupted, âWhat if she sees the light?â
Xu Tingsheng thought about it, âSees the light? In that case, she wouldnât be the kind of woman that we could aspire to. Such a woman-wouldnât she have free choice of whover she wanted? If she really went all out, the target would be on the level of Shi Zhongjun at the very least. You guys? Donât even think about it.â
âBro Xu, what about you? Wouldnât you be qualified?â Tan Yao asked him.
âI wouldnât be qualified as well,â Xu Tingsheng replied.
âWhat about in the future, whenâŠyouâre qualified enough?â
âI guess I should be qualified enough in the future?â Xu Tingsheng considered it for a moment before smiling wryly, âMany beautiful women exist beneath these heavens, and many good women as well. Yet in this life, I dare not accrue any more debts to women.â
âI understand, thereâs already too many. Someone who treats you well comes along, and you feel like you owe her. Your heart twinges, and you canât steel yourself and act ruthlessly towards anyone at all, right? This is your flaw,â Huang Yaming put an arm around Xu Tingshengâs shoulder, taunting him.
âScram! Didnât that thing with Yao Jing have a happy ending? Didnât Mr Zhou say back then that she already almost has a boyfriend?â Xu Tingsheng refuted.
Huang Yaming chortled, ignoring this as he simply continued, âIf it is me, when the day comes, I definitely wonât have feelings for anyoneâŠIâll just have their bodies. Iâll take every single one who comes, love whoever Iâve just been together with. Whoeverâs treating me well is plain unlucky, whoeverâs serious towards me deserves what they get.â
Then, he pointed first at himself and then at Xu Tingsheng, asking Tan Yao, âSay, Tan Yao, the attitudes of us two towards women-exactly whoâs the greater scumbag, really?â
Tan Yao chuckled, pointing at Xu Tingsheng, âFor the two of us, weâd merely be getting in the girlâs way for a night at most. Bro Xu? Just a little careless, and their entire lives will be done in by him.â
âSo, are you tired? Want to forsake the depraved path for that which is just?â Huang Yaming asked Xu Tingsheng.