I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 333: March 15 Qing Mei and childhood sweetheart

Chapter 333: March 15 Qing Mei and childhood sweetheart

"My parents said just a few days ago that you might not come back this year."

The Jiang family.

The girl helped to clean up the room,

It was very rare these days to find a girl willing to do housework, but she wiped the kitchen counter with a cloth quite naturally.

"When did you come back?"

Jiang Chen asked, looking up from mopping the floor.

"I came back as soon as vacation started. If I waited any longer, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to book a ticket."

That made sense.

The girl attended university even farther away than Jiang Chen, in the Capital City.

"Is there anywhere else that needs to be wiped?"

Having cleaned the counter, the girl turned around.

"No need, you can take a break."

Jiang Chen set down the mop, picked up the kettle, and planned to boil water to make tea for the girl.

"Alright, I’m not thirsty. Why be so formal?"

The girl laughed, then sized Jiang Chen up and down.

"What? Don’t recognize me anymore?"

Jiang Chen filled the kettle with water and plugged it in, "Or is it that at the University of Politics and Law, you haven’t seen any handsome guys?"

"Don’t even mention it, there are so many handsome guys at the University of Politics and Law, and all of them have such good temperament."

Jiang Chen grinned.

"So, have you found a boyfriend yet?"

The girl, who could be considered a top beauty at any university, suddenly choked and shot him a glare.

"No, what about it?"

The corners of Jiang Chen’s mouth curled up.

"Fang Qing, you’re almost done with university, yet you’ve never even been in a relationship. If word got out, it would be such an embarrassment for our residential compound."

"Jiang Chen, it’s not that I don’t want to date. Let me tell you, there are plenty of guys chasing after me!"

"Easy to say, anybody can."

"You!"

The girl studying law seemed to lack some emotional control, as it took only a few words from Jiang Chen to make her lose her cool.

"What about you then? Your last girlfriend, you said she was the beauty of your class, right? Why didn’t you bring her back this time?"

Jiang Chen acted nonchalant.

"You seem to be a bit out of the loop. I’ve already broken up with her."

"Broke up?"

The girl crossed her arms, "Didn’t you use to regularly post all lovey-dovey pictures on your Moments? Why did you break up? Were you dumped?"

The girl was just trying to hit back, but little did she know, Jiang Chen would nod, looking totally unfazed.

"Congratulations, you guessed right."

"..."

The girl’s tone stalled.

"You were really dumped?"

She asked tentatively.

"Hmm."

"What reason did she have to dump you?"

The girl suddenly became indignant again.

"Because I’m poor, I don’t blame her. If it were me, I wouldn’t go out with a poor boy either."

The girl sighed.

"I’ve told you over WeChat, when looking for a girlfriend, don’t go for someone too pretty. You wouldn’t listen."

Jiang Chen gave a wry smile.

They say everyone has a childhood friend.

And this girl, she was his childhood friend, Qing Mei.

They were of the same age, and because they lived door-to-door, they had known each other since they were in split-pants. Although they went to different universities far apart, their friendship, stretching from childhood to adulthood, would never change.

"Fang Qing, classmate, I disagree with that view. Go ask other guys— who doesn’t want to find a pretty one?"

"Can beauty be eaten like food?"

Fang Qing, who was definitely in the ranks of beauties herself, threw out a rather classic line.

Jiang Chen was silent for a long time.

"...Your words would be reasonable if they came from Aunt Pan."

"You men are all visual creatures, which is why you can’t blame others for your mistakes, only yourself for deserving them."

Fang Qing didn’t mince words as she gave him a look, then said, "By the way, my mom says she wants you to come over for dinner."

"That... might not be a good idea, right?"

"What’s so bad about it?"

Fang Qing laughed.

"You used to freeload meals and drinks at my place all the time. Even when we didn’t invite you, you would come. We couldn’t even chase you away. Now you’re suddenly embarrassed?"

Jiang Chen cleared his throat.

"It’s boring to always bring up the past."

"Am I not stating the facts? I haven’t wronged you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen deliberately dragged out the conversation a bit longer.

"Then, who was it that used to go around claiming to be my wife, causing all the other kindergarten girls to avoid playing with me,"

"..."

Fang Qing was taken aback, then her fair cheeks instantly turned red.

"I didn’t wrong you, did I? Uncle Fang and Aunt Pan can testify."

Jiang Chen looked completely at ease.

"Get lost! Don’t you come!"

Fang Qing, angry and embarrassed, shoved Jiang Chen away and walked out quickly, knocking the mop propped against the wall to the ground.

Jiang Chen picked up the mop, sighing inwardly.

She’s still the top student from the University of Politics and Law.

With that temperament, how will you stand up for justice or uphold the public good in the future?

Although Fang Qing told him not to come, in the end, Jiang Chen still proudly took a seat at the Fang Family’s dinner table.

It was Fang Weiguo who had personally invited him.

The layout of the Fang household was identical to that of Jiang Chen’s, the same two bedrooms and a living room, plus a small kitchen; however, the decor was definitely far superior to that of Jiang Chen’s home. Although it wasn’t large, it looked very warm and inviting.

"Xiao Jiang, today you must join your uncle for a good drink. This is deer antler wine I got in Jinmen, I don’t just bring it out for anyone. Today, we father and son will drink to our heart’s content, no going back until we’re drunk."

Fang Weiguo said with great enthusiasm, cradling a jar of wine in his arms.

"A little is okay, but he can’t drink too much, Jiang Chen is still a child." Pan Hui cautioned.

"What ’child’? He is about to graduate from university. He’s no child. When I was his age, Qing Qing was already born!"

Fang Weiguo didn’t agree, taking out two cups and starting to pour the wine.

There were seven or eight dishes on the table, much more than the three-person household would normally prepare, undoubtedly for the sake of entertaining Jiang Chen.

Pan Hui had no choice; though she was "the head of the family," her husband was on the road working hard all year round. It was rare for him to be in such high spirits, so she couldn’t bear to stop him and turned to her always quiet daughter instead.

"Qing Qing, what’s wrong with you? You and he grew up together since you were little. Why are you not talking now?"

"Mom, you ask him."

Fang Qing glanced at Jiang Chen.

Pan Hui turned her head, puzzled.

"Aunt Pan, it’s nothing, I just made a little joke with Fang Qing, that’s all."

"What joke?"

"Mom, he said I was his wife!"

Fang Qing seized the opportunity to tattle.

The husband and wife were both taken aback.

"No, I mean, when we were children, Fang Qing and I often played house, right? I just mentioned it, and then Fang Qing got angry."

Fang Weiguo and his wife then suddenly understood and smiled.

"Qing Qing, you’re going to be a lawyer in the future, how can you be so petty? Jiang Chen was just joking. Besides, he wasn’t wrong, when you were little, you always mumbled about being a bride at the Jiangs’, because of that, your Uncle Jiang even said, might as well become in-laws in the future..."

Thinking of his departed friend, Fang Weiguo’s mood turned somewhat sorrowful, and he let out a slight sigh.

If Jiang Chen’s parents were still here, this marriage might have really happened. After all, adding to the kinship the two families were fond of, and the two children had grown up together, knowing each other thoroughly.

What a pity.

"Alright, let’s eat."

Pan Hui quickly changed the subject to spare the child any heartache.

"Do you have any plans after graduation? Are you staying in East Sea or...?"

Fang Weiguo and Jiang Chen touched glasses.

"Hmm, I’m thinking of staying in East Sea to develop."

Jiang Chen took a sip of the deer antler wine the other had treasured. It was indeed good, very smooth and easy on the throat, even someone like him who didn’t know wines could tell it was quality liquor.

"I heard life in East Sea is very stressful..."

Pan Hui said unconsciously,

"Where’s the drive if there’s no pressure?"

Fang Weiguo added, "Do you expect Jiang Chen to come back to Sha City? The average salary in Sha City is just three thousand; one could work a lifetime without accomplishing much. A true man aims to make his mark in the world. Jiang Chen, your Uncle Fang supports you. I’ve had high hopes for you since you were little, and I believe you will be able to carve out your own domain in East Sea."

"Dad, can you not bring the set of praises you give to your friends over here, please?"

Fang Qing interjected.

"You child. What praise? I’m speaking sincerely. Jiang Chen, you must strive hard and not let down your uncle and your parents."

Looking into Fang Weiguo’s eyes filled with expectation, Jiang Chen felt as if he saw his father.

He nodded silently.

"Uncle Fang, thank you and Aunt Pan for taking care of me all these years. I want to offer a toast to you both."

"Xiao Chen, why are you so formal with Aunt Pan? Your Uncle Fang and I watched you grow up from a young age; in our hearts, you are our own child, no different from Qing Qing. And when your parents left, we promised to take good care of you. Seeing you grown up now, your Uncle Fang and I feel we’ve done right by your parents," she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

She was a mother, too.

Door to door, she had seen clearly how hard it had been for the child over the years.

"Mom, what are you doing? Are you going to let Jiang Chen eat or not?"

Fang Qing looked at Jiang Chen and spoke.

Wiping the corner of her eyes, Pan Hui forced a smile and picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs. "Auntie’s chopsticks haven’t been used, they’re clean. Try this and see if Auntie’s cooking skills have deteriorated..."

"Jiang Chen, it’s still Aunt Pan who treats you well. Qing Qing has never been treated like this."

Fang Weiguo laughed.

"It’s always been like this ever since I was little; I’ve gotten used to it."

Fang Qing muttered while picking up her chopsticks.

The dilapidated apartment building.

The room, with almost no extra space once furnished with a sofa and a dining table, was filled with a warmth that even the largest mansion couldn’t provide.

"Ah, I’ve told him many times, he’s getting old, not like before, but he just won’t admit it."

Pan Hui said, helping Fang Weiguo into the room.

"Xiao Chen, are you okay?"

Jiang Chen shook his head.

Fang Weiguo was indeed drunk, but he felt fine, maybe because of his youth or possibly because the wine was good, without too much of an aftereffect.

"Drink this, it’ll help you sober up."

Fang Qing handed over a cup of milk.

"Aunt Pan, did you go to see my parents for me?"

Jiang Chen asked.

"No, why?"

"I went to see my parents today, and I saw someone had brought them flowers."

"Oh, that was Qing Qing."

Jiang Chen looked towards Fang Qing.

"I thought you weren’t coming back this year, so I went to look after Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang for you, at least showing you have some conscience."

Fang Qing spoke nonchalantly.

Jiang Chen remained silent, finished his milk, and after leaving the Fang home, he walked three steps, opened the door, and returned to his empty house.

He turned on the water heater, undressed, stood under the showerhead, tilted his head back, and let the hot water cascade down.