Chapter 0111: A Housewarming Celebration

Though time has worn down our edges, the child within us still refuses to grow up.

Once upon a time, Zhao Fusheng looked at himself in the mirror, as if watching the passage of time—a faint smile at the corner of his lips, the weariness in his eyes, the slightly graying short hair—a middle-aged man defeated by life.

But now, he knew that everything still had a chance, that everything could start over.

As long as he was willing to strive, one day, the world would know that he had once been here.

It's often said that poverty limits one's imagination. Zhao Fusheng deeply agreed. Back when Tan Kaixuan bought a property in Tomson Riviera, there was a popular post on Tianya titled 'Tomson, How Dare You Fool Our Intelligence!' In the article, the author ridiculed the tens of thousands per square meter price. Ten years later, the price at Tomson Riviera was 340,000 per square meter.

340,000 per square meter!

Zhao Fusheng didn't want to see himself or his children one day sighing at online news, amazed that such expensive houses existed.

Poverty is not a mistake; the mistake is being content with poverty and taking pleasure in it.

Of course, that doesn't mean having ideals is wrong. Ideals are good, but the prerequisite for realizing them is that you must first fill your own stomach, and your family's stomachs too, right?

Zhao Fusheng was no moral paragon. Sacrificing himself for the greater good—he couldn't do that, nor was he that noble. At best, he was a petty bourgeois with extreme egoistic tendencies.

Moreover, he was a guy who didn't like to show off.

"Guys, I'm moving out this weekend," Wang Zhen announced in the dormitory on Friday.

"Moving out?"

The others exchanged glances. Except for Zhao Fusheng, Wen Yu and Tan Kaixuan were clearly caught off guard, never expecting Wang Zhen to move out.

"Well, it's mainly because Chenxi found a job. I discussed it with her, and we plan to live off-campus. Otherwise, with overtime and such, staying in the dorm isn't convenient," Wang Zhen explained to his buddies.

In fact, this was also the reason he agreed to Zhao Fusheng's request. After all, if Dong Chenxi worked at Future Advertising, overtime would be common. If she came back late, the dorm would be inconvenient.

Of course, the purpose of enjoying a private world for two went without saying.

"Alright, you lucky dog. Remember to come back and visit us often," Wen Yu waved his hand, not feeling particularly sentimental.

After all, it wasn't graduation. There were plenty of students renting off-campus. Wang Zhen and Dong Chenxi, being juniors and seniors respectively, made it perfectly normal.

"Yeah, you're set. I'd be burning incense and praying if Hu Xia were willing to rent a place with me," Tan Kaixuan said with envy and jealousy.

Both were girlfriends, but Hu Xia and Dong Chenxi had completely different personalities.

Seeing these guys start to digress, Zhao Fusheng said nothing more. He had already considered the computer issue: he would buy another one from Su Xia's shop and keep it at Wang Zhen's place. The one in the dorm would stay there for his own convenience.

Accustomed to having a phone and computer, Zhao Fusheng now felt a bit uncomfortable without them.

"Alright, you two, stop showing off. Think about me and Old Zhao—what do you have to be unhappy about?" Wen Yu said helplessly.

Everyone burst into laughter. The scariest thing in a dorm was when someone with a girlfriend sighed about lacking freedom, while others were pitifully single.

"Well, to celebrate Wang Zhen's housewarming, should we go out for a meal tonight?" Boss Tan promptly suggested.

"Sure, I'm fine with that," Wen Yu said.

"No problem for me either. But can we bring our plus-ones?"

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and nodded: "Bring them. I have something to discuss with Dong Chenxi."

After some thought, this occasion was actually the most suitable. He couldn't keep hiding his identity as an advertising designer from his dormmates forever. And Zhao Fusheng felt that revealing a bit to them wouldn't hurt him.

Since he said that, Tan Kaixuan and Wang Zhen went to call their respective girlfriends. They agreed to have dinner at a restaurant near the school that evening.

Restaurants near Ninghai Normal University were mostly concentrated in two areas: the intersection of the Third and Second Academic Districts, where transportation was convenient, surrounded by Daguangming Optical, Xinhua Bookstore, and the school hospital. The Music and Foreign Languages Schools were also there. The other area was near the east gate of the Fourth District, where Zhao's parents planned to open a supermarket.

Tonight's meal was supposed to be Wang Zhen's treat, but Zhao Fusheng casually left 500 yuan at the counter when they entered.

Dong Chenxi noticed and hesitated, wanting to ask Wang Zhen, but ultimately didn't.

After all, they hadn't been together long. She didn't know how close Zhao Fusheng and Wang Zhen were. If they were very good friends, it was fine. But if they were just ordinary roommates, Dong Chenxi would rather she and Wang Zhen save money than owe someone a favor.

If Zhao Fusheng knew what Dong Chenxi was thinking, he would have laughed out loud.

"Today, we rarely gather. First, to celebrate Wang Zhen ending his single life and finding such a beautiful girlfriend as Senior Chenxi. Second, Senior Chenxi has found a job, and they're off to live together. We're here to see them off," Tan Kaixuan, always the one to liven up the dorm, stood up with a glass and gave an opening speech.

After his words, Wang Zhen was fine—the fat guy had thick skin and looked indifferent—but Dong Chenxi blushed. After all, she was a girl; no matter how poised, such teasing made her shy.

"Come on, let's have a toast first!"

Tan Kaixuan said with a smile, then looked at Wang Zhen: "Old Wang, will you drink this toast for Senior Chenxi, or will she do it herself?"

Since there were girls, everyone drank beer.

But Zhao Fusheng poured himself a soft drink. In his past life, drinking had caused trouble, so he rarely drank now, only a few sips when he couldn't refuse.

At first, his dormmates found it strange, but after a few times, they got used to it and no longer cared what he drank.

In fact, the logic was simple: friendship isn't forged through drinking. Friends are friends, whether they drink and eat meat together or not. If someone measures friendship by drinking, that person is not a true friend, because true friends understand and accommodate each other, not put each other in difficult positions.

Wang Zhen was a good drinker. He glanced at Dong Chenxi: "I'll do it."

But Dong Chenxi shook her head. Though her cheeks were slightly red, she said, "No, I'll do it myself."

Tan Kaixuan and Wen Yu exchanged a glance and chuckled: "Alright, let's down this one first."

Zhao Fusheng was also a bit surprised. He hadn't expected Dong Chenxi, who seemed quiet, to be outwardly gentle but inwardly strong.

"Come on, let's raise our glasses!" Tan Kaixuan lifted his glass, and they clinked.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Zhao Fusheng noticed that Hu Xia had also drunk two bottles of beer. Though her face was flushed, she seemed to hold her liquor well.

"Hey, you two are something. Your girlfriends can really drink," Wen Yu noticed too and teased Tan Kaixuan and Wang Zhen.

Indeed, Hu Xia and Dong Chenxi were in good shape. After two bottles of beer, they showed no change and even seemed ready for more.

Tan Kaixuan and Wang Zhen were both a bit dizzy, apparently not expecting this. They looked at each other, both seeing a hint of bewilderment.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and slowly spoke: "Senior Chenxi, have you completed the onboarding procedures?"

Dong Chenxi was startled. She wasn't surprised that Zhao Fusheng knew she was joining Future Advertising, but she didn't understand why he brought it up at the dinner table.

She nodded: "Yes, it's done. I start officially on Monday."

Zhao Fusheng looked at her meaningfully: "Did Teacher Zheng tell you who your boss is?"

Dong Chenxi shook her head: "No, just that he's the company's only formal designer and the creator of the Runshengyuan Qingpian Lozenge ad. Why, do you know him?"

Zhao Fusheng laughed: "Of course I know him. And quite well, actually."