The matter at the swimming pool was just a side task; Zhou You didn't take it to heart. He couldn't run around freely now since he'd just started work, otherwise he'd have already headed to Shanghai.
These days, Zhou You still went swimming when he had nothing else to do. On mornings when the weather was nice, he'd take a slow jog around Jade Lake. The difference now was that Wang Fangfang was almost always there when he swam. In her words, she had nothing going on—her retirement from the team was being processed, she didn't need to train anymore, and she'd become a bored wanderer.
Wang Fangfang propped herself up on the pool edge, kicking her feet in the water, swaying back and forth. "Brother You, what do you think I should do from now on?" Zhou You lay on a lounge chair by the pool, holding a cold drink, watching the girl splash around in the water, feeling perfectly at ease. "You can do anything. Nothing will starve you, but getting rich is harder."
"I don't want to get rich, and I don't dream about it. My family isn't even average—we're from the countryside, and I'm not educated. Right now, I just want a job that can support myself. If I'm lucky enough to settle down in Luzhou, that'd be even better." As she spoke, Wang Fangfang climbed out of the water, hopped a couple of times to shake off the droplets, and walked toward Zhou You.
Watching the vibrant young girl approach, Zhou You tossed her a towel. She wiped herself dry. "Don't rush. Rest a bit. Things will work out when the time comes." Young people's worries come and go quickly. She shared some amusing stories from the swim team with Zhou You, making him laugh heartily. He was naturally curious about the world, and hearing it from a professional fully satisfied his curiosity.
"What does your family think? What do they want you to do?" "They don't have much of an opinion. They don't interfere either. They say I'm old enough to earn money and take care of myself." Over the past few days, Wang Fangfang had opened up to Zhou You about her family situation.
Zhou You, for his part, had the desire but not the courage—mainly because he dreaded complications. He didn't want to be tied to one tree, so he held back from showing his hand. A messy breakup would be a burden for him.
"It's fine. Worst case, I'll take care of you," Zhou You joked. Hearing that, Wang Fangfang brightened. "Whether you mean it or not, I'm taking it seriously. If I end up with nothing to eat, I'll come find you."
As they were teasing each other, Zhou You's phone rang. Wang Fangfang stood up, grabbed it from the table, and handed it to him. He glanced at the screen—an unfamiliar number. He almost didn't answer but decided to pick up. In this era, spam ads and sales calls weren't as rampant yet.
"Hello, is this Mr. Zhou? Sorry to bother you. My surname is Zhao, Zhao Yun. I saw your post on Tianya and sent you a message, but you never replied. I got your contact info through the forum moderator." Zhou You was a bit confused. It had been a while since he posted, and he hadn't logged into his computer lately because of all the swimming. He'd thought the documentary market hadn't taken off yet.
"Hello, sorry about that. I've been busy and haven't checked my computer. What can I do for you?" Zhou You asked politely. "I saw your post about wanting to learn documentary filming. I've made a few documentaries before, though none of them are well-known—you probably haven't seen them. I'm planning another one and was wondering if you'd be interested," Zhao Yun said courteously.
Zhou You got it. This was someone looking for investment. Finally, he was about to take the first step. Zhao Yun was currently in Shanghai and planned to come to Luzhou to meet Zhou You in person. Zhou You agreed readily. "Sure, come on over. I'll arrange accommodation for you here."
Both were straightforward people, not ones to dawdle. After hanging up, Zhou You couldn't contain his excitement. He was looking forward to Zhao Yun's arrival so they could talk in depth about documentaries.
Wang Fangfang had been listening nearby, curiosity bubbling inside her. What exactly did Zhou You do? He wanted to make a movie? It didn't sound like a movie—a documentary? She'd never seen one. No wonder Wang Ping said Zhou You was indifferent about running the swimming pool.
She sat down beside Zhou You. "Brother You, I actually know a bit of massage. When we get tired from swimming, the coaches give us massages, and we do it for each other on the team. You've been swimming a lot lately—let me help you relax." Zhou You chuckled. "Nothing good comes from sudden kindness, but I'm not afraid of a little girl like you. Sure, let me enjoy your service today."
He lay back on the lounge chair. Wang Fangfang lifted his legs, grabbed his ankles, pulled them up, then pressed them down, loosening the tendons. Then she moved behind him, kneading his shoulders with her hands. As she worked, she noticed Zhou You had fallen asleep.
She sat there watching him. Zhou You wasn't exceptionally handsome, but his short hair made him look sharp and spirited, with a vibrant energy. Add in his frequent swimming, which kept his physique in great shape, his height of over 1.8 meters standing out here, and his status as a university professor—a high-level intellectual—and he was undeniably attractive to Wang Fangfang.
Though she held onto a sliver of hope, she knew deep down that the odds were slim. Zhou You was wealthy and talented; there was no way he'd fancy her—a girl from the countryside with no education and not particularly stunning looks.
Lost in thought, she continued the massage. Suddenly, she noticed a bulge forming in the middle of Zhou You's body. Her face flushed. In the swim team, everyone wore little clothing, but this was a first for her. Glancing around to make sure no one was nearby, she folded a towel and placed it over him, then sat beside him, watching.
Zhou You had only dozed off briefly. He woke up feeling incredibly refreshed and comfortable. Seeing Wang Fangfang beside him with a slightly red face, he assumed she was tired. "Fangfang, your skills are amazing—you actually put me to sleep." Wang Fangfang didn't know what to say, her heart still a bit flustered. "Alright, next time you're done swimming, I'll give you another massage."
Zhou You found her blushing face adorable—a feast for the eyes. He couldn't resist teasing her. "This time you massaged me; next time, I'll return the favor." Her face turned even redder. "Shameless! In our team, it's always the female members massaging each other." Zhou You burst into laughter, finally discovering the joy of teasing girls. Unlike later times, when women were bold and often flirted with men instead of the other way around.
He thought to himself that he was still keeping too low a profile. Slowly, gradually, as his reputation grew and his funding sources became explainable, he could live more freely—unlike now, where every move felt constrained.
When Zhao Yun arrived, he planned to put him up at the Guesthouse, close to home for convenience. "Fangfang, if you're free these next couple of days, come with me. I have some business to take care of." "Sure thing!" Wang Fangfang beamed with joy.