Chapter 2: Five Years Later: A Chance Encounter

Five years later.

“Hello, I’m Mu Feng. Here is my resume and portfolio.”

I am currently in a job interview. As a graduate from a key domestic university, I nervously handed my prepared materials to the interviewer.

“Um…”

The interviewer buried his head in my materials for a long time before finally looking up:

“I’ve looked over your resume, and it seems quite impressive. Your work is also decent, but your major doesn’t align with our recruitment needs. Moreover, for someone as talented as you, I feel it might be a bit of a waste to come to our company…”

Hearing this, my heart, which had been hanging on, plummeted. Based on my past interview experiences, this was a clear sign of a polite rejection. It seemed that this company was another failure.

The rest of the conversation was basically meaningless.

“…You might as well go home and wait for the news.”

The end came quickly and predictably. The interviewer’s final words echoed in my mind, leaving me utterly disheartened. I walked out of the building weakly, unable to count how many job interviews I had failed since graduation. The bright sunlight made me dizzy, and I rubbed my empty stomach, remembering that my last meal was a day ago.

I needed to eat…

As soon as I thought about food, I couldn’t help but sigh.

Since leaving home and moving out, I’ve been living on one meal a day to save money for rent. I bought a steamer of buns from a street vendor for a few yuan, and that was my only meal for the day. The landlord of my rental didn’t allow cooking, and worse, even high-power appliances weren’t permitted. This meant I had to eat out every day, but as a first-tier city, the cost of living was really high. With only a part-time job at a supermarket, I found it hard to afford three meals a day outside. Plus, I had just moved, and my previous landlord, citing medical expenses for an elderly relative, had kept my entire deposit without any recourse. Adding the moving costs, I was now practically penniless. Calculating the time, I realized I wouldn’t make it through the month after this failed interview, so I had no choice but to borrow money.

Reluctantly, I picked up my phone and scrolled through the contacts, mentally dismissing each name. After reaching the end of the list, I still couldn’t find a suitable option. After some hesitation, I decided to call home…

“Hello!” My mom’s familiar voice came through. It had been a long time since I last went home. I hesitantly explained my situation.

“Mom, I need to borrow some money…”

“What? Borrow money? A grown adult like you still has the nerve to ask your parents for money? You have hands and feet, a head and a face—can’t you earn it yourself? We don’t have any money! Are you crazy?”

The phone hung up with a click. I smiled bitterly at my phone, knowing this was the response I expected. Although my mom’s words were true, I couldn’t help but feel a chill in her tone. But without any money, what was I to do? The thought of being evicted by the landlord sent me spiraling into despair.

I reluctantly scanned through my contacts again, and my gaze settled on a familiar name.

In this world, he might be the only one who could help me…

After a long internal struggle, I scratched my head in frustration and dialed the number.

“Ring—ring—”

The phone rang for a while before someone finally answered.

“Mu Feng?”

It was the same cheerful voice, with loud music and distant female laughter in the background.

“Yes, it’s me…”

“I know, it’s been a while. Finally decided to call me? How are you doing?”

He was Ren Yunkong, a classmate who had transferred to our high school. Hearing his voice, I felt a sudden rush of emotion.

“I, I need to borrow some money, not much…”

My voice trailed off, lacking confidence. This wasn’t the first time I had borrowed money, and past experiences had taught me how difficult it was to borrow in this society.

“No problem! Where are you? I’ll come find you right now.”

His response was unexpected. Really? Happiness came so suddenly that I felt a surge of energy. I quickly shared my location with him, and my heart finally eased. I then focused on dealing with today’s meager meal.

Actually, my relationship with Ren Yunkong wasn’t particularly close, but over the years, he had always seemed to take care of me. Thinking back to the years we knew each other, I realized he had never refused my requests for help.

This made things a bit intriguing. If it were someone else, considering our first meeting had been so strange, they might have wondered if Ren Yunkong had some ulterior motive. But after so many years, I was certain that this was a false premise.

Because I was just a poor university graduate, with no money or influence, often going hungry. Although I considered myself of average looks, I couldn’t compare to him. What could he possibly want from me? Perhaps this only proved that Ren Yunkong was a kind-hearted person.

Although Ren Yunkong’s transfer to our class had been sudden, it soon became clear that he was just a handsome and wealthy playboy. His father was a well-known CEO of a listed company in the city, making Ren Yunkong a rich and influential second-generation heir. When he first came to our class, his generous spending, handsome appearance, and good grades quickly attracted the attention of many girls in the school, not just in our class, but even from other classes.

This was alarming. Within a week of his transfer, rumors were already circulating about his involvement with three female students. It didn’t end there. Within a few weeks, I heard whispers of him taking a class beauty out for a night at a hotel. Soon after, rumors of his changing girlfriends spread like wildfire.

A series of swift moves left everyone dizzy. Within a month, Ren Yunkong had become the class’s undisputed ladies’ man, earning nicknames like the ‘Emperor of Love’ and the ‘Prince of Passion’…

Remarkably, despite all the rumors, none of the teachers or class advisors ever troubled him. It only highlighted how powerful his backing was.

As a classmate, Ren Yunkong and I didn’t interact much in the beginning. Our conversations were limited, and although many classmates tried to ingratiate themselves with him, I never did.

Until one day, I escaped from home again, unable to bear my parents’ violence.

“Hey, isn’t that Mu Feng? What are you doing here, what a coincidence!”

It was noon, and I was hiding in a park, lost in thought, when I heard Ren Yunkong’s familiar voice.

“I live nearby, so what?”

I snapped back irritably, remembering that the last time I saw him was under similar circumstances. I felt embarrassed, worried he had seen me at my worst again.

“You don’t live in the south side of the city? That’s quite a distance from here.”

Everyone in the class knew that Ren Yunkong lived in the upscale south side of the city.

“Well, it’s the weekend, so I’m out exploring. Don’t you get bored staying indoors all the time?”

Ren Yunkong scratched his head, unusually without any girls clinging to him.

What he said was true, but I usually had chores and homework to do on weekends, unlike him. I had escaped because I accidentally broke a plate while cooking and ran out without eating.

Just then, my stomach grumbled loudly…

“Why don’t we go grab some lunch?”

Ren Yunkong offered tentatively, clearly having heard my stomach.

I felt mortified but agreed before I knew it. He didn’t wait for a response, casually putting an arm around my shoulders and confirming the plan.

“I’m treating you, so don’t be shy. I just discovered a great restaurant nearby. Let’s go!”

“Um…”

I tried to resist, but hunger overpowered me. Since he was offering, why not take advantage? Ren Yunkong was always generous.

“So, that great restaurant you mentioned is McDonald’s?”

I devoured my burger, the taste surprisingly good. Having skipped breakfast, I had already finished three chicken wings.

“Ha ha, this McDonald’s is way better than the others. I really like it!”

Ren Yunkong explained a bit awkwardly. The truth was, the main streets nearby had few restaurants, and most shops were in side alleys or small lanes, where rent was cheaper.

“Really? I can’t tell the difference.”

I rarely ate Western fast food, so I couldn’t discern much of a difference.

“Are you full? I know a place with a great view. Want to check it out?”

I was taken aback. Was he inviting me to hang out? It felt a bit strange, but since he had treated me to lunch, I couldn’t refuse.

I looked at Ren Yunkong sitting across from me, holding only a small bag of fries. I couldn’t help but think his appetite was poor.

“Sure, as long as it’s not too far. Where is it?”

I let out a satisfied burp and wiped my hands.

“It’s just nearby!”