Tang Wei lay sprawled on the bed like a lump of mud, strands of hair plastered damply across her forehead, her flushed face made even pinker by the alcohol. "Thank you, Boss Zhou, for sparing my life. I'll repay you another day—this little lady simply can't go on!"
Zhou You laughed heartily. Sanda training really builds up the body. He used to be just average, but now he could easily outperform over 90% of men, let alone those office drones working overtime every day. Those people probably had no drive left—working overtime day in and day out, how much passion could they still have? Forget about being vigorous and energetic. If a boss caught you looking too spirited, they might just pile on more work. What was the point of living like that? Miserable, truly miserable. Word had it that reproductive centers in major hospitals were booming, all filled with cases of unexplained infertility. No one could pinpoint the cause—whether it was the food, the air, or stress. Some said that when animals were under enough pressure, they would voluntarily sterilize themselves. Who knew if that was true?
But right now, Zhou You was in a great mood. He glanced at the time—evening was approaching. He took a look at the stunning woman lying on the bed and said, "I'm off. Let's keep in touch if the chance comes up." With that, he left, feeling no fatigue at all, but rather a sense of ease from the balance of yin and yang, his body and mind refreshed.
Tang Wei lay alone on the bed, too drained even to get up and see him off. Instead, she was grateful it had been brief. If it had lasted all night, she'd probably have lost half her life. You couldn't judge a book by its cover—strong, young, wealthy, the dream of countless young women. He wasn't the pretty-boy type, but had a complex aura of scholarly martial arts, a cultured man who knew kung fu, like Li Bai roaming with a sword. Tang Wei lay there, letting her thoughts wander, not wanting to move an inch.
......
Leaving the hotel, Zhou You hailed a cab straight home, arriving just as Sun Li was getting back. "Did you buy the stuff?" Zhou You asked proactively.
"Yeah, but my mom's plans changed again. It looks like she's coming to Beijing for New Year's." Sun Li seemed a bit conflicted.
"That's great. Beijing's pretty empty during New Year's, so it'll be nice to have them stay at home and bring some festive atmosphere," Zhou You said casually.
Sun Li had been wrestling with exactly this—whether she could invite her mom to stay at their place. She hadn't expected Zhou You to bring it up first. "Alright, but I didn't tell her you bought this place. I said it was rented," Sun Li said quietly.
Zhou You was never good at handling these issues; he usually let time sort them out or threw money at the problem. Hearing Sun Li say that, he felt an inexplicable pang of sympathy. Her being so considerate only made him care for her more, completely wrapped around her finger, and he loved it. "It's fine. Show them the property deed and the car registration. Tell them you're doing well now, no need to worry. Don't be afraid—I've got your back. If it's not enough, we'll buy another house next year. Go take a look first, find a new place that's not renovated, and decorate it however you want."
This house was just a temporary stop—it was a bit old, but very convenient for school. Sun Li knew Zhou You had money now. Besides everything else, just those few movies had earned over a hundred million. Lately, Shi Wenxiu had been filling her in on a lot of entertainment industry knowledge. "No need. This house is great to live in, and the neighborhood's quiet." Sun Li was growing more comfortable there and didn't want to move.
"Alright, we'll figure it out later. I was just worried it might be too small if they come and there's no room." Seeing Sun Li reluctant, Zhou You didn't push it. His money grew faster in his hands anyway, easily outpacing any rise in property prices. "Is your mom coming alone?"
"Yeah, she's on her own now. She had a family before but never had more kids. She just got divorced this year, so she's alone. Otherwise, she wouldn't have time to visit me." Sun Li's tone carried a hint of resentment. Every child misses their parents, but she'd been hurt too deeply to risk giving more affection.
Zhou You didn't know what to say. Everyone had their own way of living, and it wasn't his place to judge. "That works out then. She'll keep you company during New Year's, so I won't worry."
Sun Li couldn't help but kiss him. "I'm a grown woman. I was doing fine before I met you—don't worry about me!"
Zhou You didn't plan to meet Sun Li's mom either. He honestly didn't know what to say, so he decided to leave the next day, which earned him a string of complaints from Sun Li. "Don't be upset. I'll come back after New Year's, and I still have to attend Xiuxiu's celebration party."
Before leaving, feeling guilty, Zhou You personally cooked noodles for Sun Li to eat, as a way to make up for his remorse. He was no longer the unknown, laid-back big shot he used to be. Now, he was a leisurely big shot, with time under his control. Following his own pursuit, he aimed for what Confucius had envisioned: to follow his heart's desires without overstepping the bounds. That was the essence of carefree, leisurely living—traveling the world when the mood struck, returning home when it faded.
After getting off the plane, Li Houliang picked him up. Wang Fangfang had wanted to come, but Li Houliang beat her to it with the excuse, "I can keep Brother You safe. Your beauty would only cause him trouble." That one line left Wang Fangfang speechless. It was a twisted logic, but it had some basis. Though Ah Liang wasn't the sharpest, this remark not only secured him the task of picking up Zhou You but also indirectly complimented Wang Fangfang—killing two birds with one stone.
Li Houliang drove his newly bought car, which his wife usually used. Today, when he said he was picking up Zhou You, she handed over the keys without a second thought. "Brother You, over here!" Li Houliang, big and burly, stood out at the exit like a crane among chickens, his presence adding an extra layer of intimidation. No one dared to crowd around him.
"Why did you buy a Haval too?" Zhou You couldn't help but tease.
"Hey, with the money you gave me, I bought a house, and that was just enough for this car. It's all I could afford." Li Houliang scratched his head, thinking, I wanted a better one, but I didn't have the cash.
"You're this big, and this car doesn't suit you. Work hard, and aim for a better ride later!" Zhou You didn't complain. Having someone pick him up and still being picky—what if no one came for him in the future? That would be miserable. It's easy to go from frugal to lavish, but hard to go back.
On the road, Zhou You told Li Houliang to gather everyone from the martial arts school and the swimming pool for a small year-end party at the Guesthouse. They'd all worked hard for a year, so they'd have a meal together and hand out some bonuses. "Got it!" Li Houliang had been thinking about this too, since New Year's was near, but he'd been too embarrassed to bring it up. The benefits were getting better and better, so he had to be grateful. He couldn't come off as greedy. Even ancient landlords knew to hire a few guards to protect their homes and wealth. With Zhou You's fortune, he had to be cautious too—not just by strengthening himself, but also by leveraging external help. Why would he fight bare-handed? That would be beneath him. Of course, modern times didn't require that. A harmonious society—no kidding, they cracked down hard on gangs. But having a few friends who practiced martial arts wasn't too much to ask, was it?