The Showdown

Before bed, Xiong Yaqian sent him a message as usual.

The initiative she had shown over the past few days was a world apart from her previous demeanor; it was constant "goodnights," "good mornings," and sometimes even a "can't sleep" late into the night.

It was clear she was quite eager to accelerate their progress.

According to the conventions of blind dating, if things continued to develop steadily at this pace, both sets of parents would be meeting by the end of the year.

But...

Zhang Yang didn't have such noble intentions; he possessed the mindset of an ordinary person. If he were still that worthless wage slave, he would naturally be begging for such an active girl, but now...

Call it arrogance or whatever else, but with his current income of twenty thousand a day and the infinite possibilities of his future, was he really ready to follow a step-by-step path with a girl like this?

To be honest, he didn't have a strong desire to do so.

However, he didn't want to be the type to lead someone on and toy with their feelings either.

"I'll just not reply for now." Zhang Yang gave up on responding, planning to give her the cold shoulder for a couple of days. If that didn't work, he intended to be direct and lay his cards on the table.

That night, he truly did not reply.

Early the next morning, Zhang Yang set off to inspect the new apartment in person.

"Sir, our apartments are fully furnished and equipped with high-capacity refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, ovens, and complete sets of cookware and tableware. Public facilities include a gym, a private outdoor garden, a private clubhouse, a media room, a lobby lounge, an underground garage, and 24-hour concierge service..."

In this serviced apartment complex located right next to Zhongshan Park, a staff member walked Zhang Yang through a model unit.

This was a 93-square-meter one-bedroom unit with a monthly rent of over twenty thousand, with a minimum lease of six months.

As for the quality, it went without saying; every detail was refined to the extreme, as the target demographic was not the average office worker.

Zhang Yang stood on the balcony, looking out at the lush greenery of Zhongshan Park in the distance. He preferred quiet over activity and had always felt that if one were to live somewhere, it should feel like a home; there was no need to insist on being in the heart of a bustling commercial center.

This place offered a perfect balance of tranquility and accessibility, making it very suitable for living.

"I'll take it. Let's sign the contract." Zhang Yang decided readily.

It wasn't like he was buying a house; his daily cashback was enough to cover a month's rent, so there was naturally nothing to deliberate.

"Please, this way," the staff member said with a smile.

That afternoon, Zhang Yang finalized the lease for the serviced apartment next to Zhongshan Park, signing for six months upfront.

"How far will I have grown in six months?" On the way back in his Cayenne, Zhang Yang looked at the towering skyscrapers outside the window, his heart filled with boundless anticipation.

Perhaps by then, he would already have a home of his own in the Magic City?

That afternoon at his old apartment, Zhang Yang tidied up his belongings.

In truth, after several years in the Magic City, he didn't have many personal items, as the past two years had been nothing but work.

A generic refrigerator, a Midea fan, old clothes...

Having been used to frugality, he couldn't bear to throw things away, so he called a junk removal service and packed his old, unworn clothes into the recycling bin downstairs.

Back in the empty apartment, Zhang Yang suddenly felt as if he had never left a mark on this land, as if he had never been here at all.

"At least I'm finally not the person I used to be," Zhang Yang thought with relief.

He opened the window, letting the cool evening air flood into the room. Looking forward to the days ahead, he suddenly felt that his life was truly beginning a new chapter.

Checking the time, Zhang Yang sent a message to Xiang Youde.

"Off work yet?"

"My back is killing me, I'm exhausted..." Xiang Youde complained bitterly. He had already used up his annual leave and had no days off left.

"Come over to my apartment for a meal. Let's eat something good," Zhang Yang invited.

He couldn't just throw away all the high-quality goods he'd bought from Sam's Club, so he might as well have a good meal with Xiang Youde tonight and let him take the rest home.

Since he was moving into a new apartment, he would start everything fresh.

"I'm coming right now! Should we have some wine?" Xiang Youde perked up immediately upon hearing this.

"Wine?" Zhang Yang muttered to himself. Long-term self-discipline had made him forget what alcohol was like, but what was the point of self-discipline? After going through all this trouble, it was, of course, to enjoy life better!

"Bring a bottle!"

Later that evening, the apartment door was left slightly ajar.

In the empty living space, a square table was set with a hot pot and grill combo. Around the pot were cherries, marbled beef, beef ribs, various vegetables, and a bottle of wine.

Xiang Youde ate a sweet and sour cherry, then another, his cheeks bulging.

"This is so good!" He drooled with happiness. "By the way, Zhang Yang, what's this all about?"

He had assumed Zhang Yang was preparing to pack up and head home.

"Nothing like that, I just moved," Zhang Yang said, placing two steaks on the grill and taking a small sip of wine.

He hadn't drunk in a long time; the sharp, spicy kick hit him instantly.

"Good man, you scared me. I thought you were looking for a new job," Xiang Youde let out a long sigh of relief. He couldn't wait any longer and grabbed a piece of meat from the hot pot, immediately yelping as it burned his mouth.

The two filled their glasses, eating and drinking while chatting about everything under the sun.

They talked about their first impressions of Magic City, their first day on the job, life, ideals, and even took a moment to look toward the future.

As time passed, both grew slightly tipsy.

"When do you plan on heading back home to settle down?" Zhang Yang asked casually, having heard Xiang Youde mention returning home in a couple of years.

"At the very least, I have to wait until..." Xiang Youde's eyes glazed over for a moment, "until I've paid off my mortgage and found a wife, right? What about you?"

"Me?" Zhang Yang chuckled. Could he really tell him he was trying to find a way to put down roots in Magic City?

He hesitated, but Xiang Youde laughed until he was doubled over, thinking he had seen right through Zhang Yang's thoughts. "No way... Zhang Yang, we've been out of school and working for years now, are you still that naive? Do you really think you can put down roots and stay in Magic City?"

"Maybe? What if it works out?" Zhang Yang said noncommittally.

"'What if' isn't something you just say. For wage slaves like us who can see exactly where we'll be in ten years, there aren't that many possibilities for the future, unless you win the lottery..." Xiang Youde said, stuffing his face with meat.

Zhang Yang didn't continue the conversation. Watching Xiang Youde wolf down the food as if he hadn't touched meat in a month, he stood up and cleared out everything from the refrigerator.

"Take all of this with you when you go."

"No, no need. You're just moving to a new place, not heading back home. This stuff costs a pretty penny," Xiang Youde shook his head.

"You don't want it? Fine, if you don't want it, I'll give it to someone else," Zhang Yang muttered to himself. "I remember there are a few girls sharing a unit on this floor. I'll ask them if they want it later."

"Don't do that!" Xiang Youde looked up. "What's the point of giving it to girls? You're moving away, you think they'll remember you for it? Giving it to me is different. We're brothers in misfortune, comrades in the same trench; you definitely won't lose out by giving it to me! I might even call you broth—"

Xiang Youde kept rambling on incessantly.

Beside Zhang Yang, his blind date Xiong Yaqian suddenly sent a string of question marks.

"What's the meaning of this? You haven't replied at all?"