"Finally, we're out! What a day, it's been exhausting!"
Outside the police station, Su Ming and Gao Xiang were waiting for their ride-hailing car.
"Maybe my luck is turning around, and I've got the protagonist's halo, so trouble follows me wherever I go!"
Su Ming's words made Gao Xiang roll his eyes. "Ming, I told you to stop reading so many novels. Look at what they've done to you!"
"Haha... Alright, enough with the sarcasm, Xiang. Weren't you planning to open a barbecue restaurant? How about I sponsor it?"
"Really?"
Gao Xiang's eyes lit up.
Su Ming nodded slightly and continued, "I'll cover all the expenses. You provide the expertise and manage it. In return, I'll take 30% of the shares. What do you think?"
"What? That won't do, Ming. I've calculated that the total investment will be around three hundred thousand. If you cover everything, taking only 30% is unfair."
"I know you want to help, but even brothers should be fair. How about 50%?"
Gao Xiang shook his head immediately.
"Haha... Xiang, you're thinking too small!"
"Listen, I plan to invest three million first. Not just for barbecue, but also for cold drinks, self-service, Western cuisine, and snacks. Of course, we can expand later. You decide what to add."
"Three, three million? A food city?"
Gao Xiang was stunned. He hadn't expected Su Ming to have such big ambitions.
But soon, Gao Xiang frowned.
"Ming, if we want to build an integrated food city, three million might not be enough."
"Don't worry. I'll start with three million, and I'll handle the rest. The place we saw before is perfect. It's not in a busy area, but it has a parking lot and several main roads intersect there. Plus, the building is new, and renting the whole thing will save us a lot."
"The initial investment of three million should be enough. You'll handle the design and decoration. So, 30% is fair. Don't feel burdened."
Su Ming explained the pros and cons thoroughly.
After a moment of thought, Gao Xiang said, "Ming, even though you say that, I know you're getting less. You're just trying to help me. Thank you, Ming."
"Enough with the sentimentality. The car's here, let's go home and sleep."
Su Ming patted Gao Xiang and headed towards the car.
Gao Xiang watched Su Ming's back, deeply moved, and silently vowed to work hard and not disappoint him.
They returned to their rented apartment, which was simple but clean.
"We need to find a new place. Let's look tomorrow."
With money, they couldn't neglect themselves. Jiangzhou wasn't a first-tier city, but the housing prices were still high.
Su Ming didn't want a huge place, just something comfortable for him and Gao Xiang. They could always move later.
"Ming, there's a class reunion tomorrow night. Are you going?"
"What class reunion?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you because you were busy with your wedding. Zhang Jiaming organized it. It's been seven or eight years since we last met, and most of our classmates agreed to come."
"Oh, I don't like crowds. Besides, Zhang Jiaming is probably just showing off. I don't want to see him."
Zhang Jiaming was their high school class president and PE monitor. He was tall and handsome, and his family owned a small supermarket worth a few million. He used to look down on poor students like Su Ming.
"That's true, but Ming, Lin Yixue is in the group. She asked if you were going and said she wanted to see you. Are you really not going?"
"Her?"
Su Ming was taken aback as a long-forgotten image of a beautiful girl flashed in his mind.
Lin Yixue. That was her name.
In high school, Su Ming and Lin Yixue were desk mates, both top students, and had mutual feelings for each other. But they never confessed.
On the night of the graduation party, Su Ming planned to confess. However, Lin Yixue's father found him and prevented him from attending the party. After that night, he never saw Lin Yixue again. Later, he heard she had gone abroad.
*Ping! Choice triggered!*
"Option 1: Attend the class reunion and face the past, reward: +10 charm."
"Option 2: Refuse to attend, reward: 30 million RMB."
Su Ming was stunned, torn between the money and seeing Lin Yixue.
"Damn, 30 million... I really want it. No, 30 million is nothing with the system. I need to think big."
"I'll go!"
*Ping! Congratulations, host, for choosing successfully. +10 charm.*
Immediately, Su Ming felt lighter.
"Huh? Ming, why do you suddenly look more handsome? Did you drink too much? Shouldn't you be sober by now?"
Gao Xiang, unaware of the charm boost, looked puzzled.
"Never mind, let's go."
"Ming, since your wedding didn't happen, why don't you ask Lin Yixue if she has a boyfriend? Maybe you two can get back together!"
Gao Xiang grinned lewdly.
"Shut up and go to sleep!"
Su Ming kicked him and lay down, pondering. He was determined not to miss any opportunities in the future.
"Whatever, you obviously want to see her but pretend otherwise. I, Gao Xiang, despise you!"
Gao Xiang scoffed and went to bed.
They slept soundly until 2 PM the next day, exhausted from the day's events.
"Let's go get the car and deposit the money. You'll be busy after the reunion."
Gao Xiang agreed, and they left the apartment, postponing the house hunting.
After eating, picking up the car, and depositing the money, it was 5 PM. They drove to Jiangzhou Hotel, the location of the reunion.
The reunion was in a private room on the seventh floor. When they arrived, the room was already full of familiar faces, though everyone had changed a bit.