Chapter 135
Su Bin didn’t think it was his fault for not getting basic math right, because nowadays, the national college entrance exam in his home country allows the use of computers. Besides, the cash register has a calculator—why did Su Bin insist on mental calculations?
Moreover, he didn’t get it wrong intentionally; Su Bin’s question was just too sudden… (=_=)
But since the opportunity was fleeting, Su Bin decided to keep Qi Xin away from anything related to math from now on. If he couldn’t do anything else, then all he had left was his face…
Su Bin assigned Qi Xin to stand at the restaurant entrance with a stack of new menus that included hand-held pancakes and mashed potatoes, distributing them to passersby.
With Qi Xin’s tall, handsome figure, although he looked serious, his natural charm and aura were enough to attract many curious young women. Just standing there in Su Bin’s uniform was enough to draw a crowd.
As the curious female customers approached Qi Xin, a magical scene unfolded—
Customer A: “Oh, is this a new guy? He’s so handsome!”
Qi Xin, with a faint smile, replied, “You’re quite beautiful yourself.”
Customer A blushed and shyly said, “Oh~~ you’re so flattering. What’s your name?”
Qi Xin: “Didn’t you just call the new guy?”
Customer A laughed and said, “Stop it~~ you know that’s not what I meant!”
The people inside the store: “……”
A little later, Customer B excitedly approached, “Wow, a handsome guy! I’ve never seen you before!”
Qi Xin: “I haven’t seen you either.”
“You’re so funny!” Customer B ordered some items and, while waiting for the takeout, asked Qi Xin, “Can I take a photo with you?”
Qi Xin: “Sure, but it’s not for free.”
Customer B: “Hahaha, you want to charge me? How much?”
Qi Xin: “You decide what’s fair and pay as you like.”
Customer B generously pulled out two coins and stuffed them into Qi Xin’s pocket, taking a cheerful selfie with him and posting it on Facebook—“Boss Su got a new part-timer who’s both cute and unique!”
The crowd: “……”
Shortly after, two more girls showed up, “Wow, a new guy!”
Customer C: “He looks so handsome!”
Customer D: “Can we shake hands?”
Qi Xin: “I don’t sell myself, only my skills.”
Customer C: “Pfft, what skills do you have?”
Qi Xin winked at her and whistled.
Customer C: “Help, I’m electrocuted!”
Dani, starry-eyed, said, “Xiao Su~~ What should I do? I think I’m falling for him~~ That kid is so cute~~!”
Su Bin: “Sister! Have some dignity!”
Just then, a beautiful girl approached, seemingly having seen Su Bin’s latest post on Facebook, and came looking for the new attraction.
“Boss, I heard you hired a handsome guy who’s good at flirting and takes photos with people? Where is he?”
Su Bin, with a deadpan expression, pointed to Qi Xin at the door: “That’s him right next to you.”
The girl scrutinized Qi Xin and snorted, “He’s just average.”
Qi Xin squinted his eyes and suddenly stepped forward, grabbing the girl’s hand…
Su Bin: “……Xiao Xin!” Q口Q
—Damn, don’t do anything rash! She just said that one line, and you’re already making a move? Is it really necessary?
However, Su Bin watched as Qi Xin pushed the girl against the wall and performed a perfect wall slam, leaving her stunned.
With a mischievous grin, Qi Xin leaned closer and raised an eyebrow, “Phone number?”
The girl, her legs weak, replied, “0161xxxxxxx.”
The crowd: “……”
Qin Chao glanced at Su Bin and whispered, “Boss, I think the new guy is way better than you.” →_→
Su Bin: “……” Damn, this kid is something else!
In just half an hour, Qi Xin had attracted several groups of female customers with his unique charm. His ability to amuse and flirt not only made the girls swoon but also completely shattered Su Bin and the others’ perceptions.
—First time seeing a kid take the phrase “Bad boys are loved by women” to the extreme!
“He shouldn’t be selling meat sandwiches,” Qin Chao said, admiringly, “He should be working as a host in a Japanese nightclub, seriously!”
Su Bin initially didn’t understand what a host was, but after Qin Chao explained, he frowned, “How do you know about such things?”
Qin Chao: “Lily told me.”
Su Bin: “……” That troublesome woman!
An hour of part-time work passed in the blink of an eye. Su Bin didn’t mind Qi Xin collecting extra fees for photos or handshakes. After all, those wealthy girls were happy to spend money for some fun.
Afterward, Su Bin secretly gave Qi Xin ten dollars, reminding him, “Don’t tell Cheng!”
Qi Xin, with a look of disdain, stuffed the ten dollars into his pocket as if it was too little.
Su Bin thought, — Kid, you won’t find a ten-dollar hourly wage in a Chinese restaurant in M City!
When Su Bin returned, he detailed Qi Xin’s performance at the restaurant to Yang Chengzhe.
Yang Chengzhe, thoughtful, said, “I didn’t expect him to have this ‘special skill.’”
Su Bin sighed, “That kid’s flirting skills are definitely maxed out!”
Yang Chengzhe chuckled, “He’s not learning anything useful but has mastered all these tricks.”
Su Bin: “Well, I feel like that’s probably something innate…”
Yang Chengzhe smiled, “Nothing is innate. It’s all self-discovery and environmental influence. He must have learned it from hanging around bars and nightclubs. I found out he also worked as a part-time model in China, using the stage name ‘King.’”
Su Bin: “King? As in the king?”
Yang Chengzhe: “Yep…”
Su Bin: “……” He named himself ‘King,’ how childish!
Yang Chengzhe: “He was somewhat famous in Beijing.”
Su Bin: “Oh, so why not just let Qi Xin pursue a career in entertainment? With his looks, once he’s famous, he wouldn’t need to study and would probably earn more than us!”
Yang Chengzhe was silent for a moment, then said, “Su Bin, material wealth isn’t the ultimate goal in life. Qi Xin’s family can provide him with enough wealth for several lifetimes, so he doesn’t need to pursue a career in entertainment for money. Modeling might just be a pastime or a way to pass the time.”
Su Bin: “……” The worldview of someone from a humble background like me is completely different from someone like Yang Chengzhe!
Yang Chengzhe: “Qi Xin didn’t come here to just get a diploma.”
Su Bin: “Then what is he here for? To experience life?”
Yang Chengzhe shook his head, “He’s here to find himself.”
Su Bin: “……” What the hell Orz…
“Because his family background is too privileged, he can’t understand the aspirations of ordinary people or grasp the meaning of life. That’s why he’s so rebellious and lost. Fortunately, gaming occupies his time. If he finds even gaming boring, I really wouldn’t know how to handle him,” Yang Chengzhe sighed, “Before Qi Xin went abroad, his father called me once, saying that Qi Xin had threatened to commit suicide during a family argument in his second year of high school. They lived in a high-end apartment in central Beijing, twenty-something floors high, and that day Qi Xin nearly jumped off the building… After that incident, his parents became anxious, but their concern came too late. Qi Xin was already beyond the age of acceptance and forgiveness. No matter how much they tried, they couldn’t reach his heart, which is why they sent him to B Country.”
Su Bin: “But why did they come to you? You don’t know Qi Xin well.”
Yang Chengzhe: “Qi Xin will harbor hostility towards people he knows well. When he first came, he didn’t cause any trouble, but now, as I get to know and control him more, he resists and dislikes me even more… because he’s deeply fearful inside.”
Su Bin nodded, though he didn’t fully grasp Yang Chengzhe’s analysis, it sounded quite reasonable to him…
Su Bin: “So, what should we do now?”
Yang Chengzhe: “Let him adapt to the environment here first. I see he’s getting along well with Jin Fei, so maybe we can have Jin Fei help guide him.”
Su Bin: “I feel like Jin Fei will just play games with him…”
Yang Chengzhe smiled: “That’s actually fine. Jin Fei not probing into Qi Xin’s inner thoughts will make Qi Xin feel more relaxed; unlike me, who can only talk about principles, which Qi Xin finds most annoying. So now he selectively ignores what I say.”
Su Bin: “I see…”
Su Bin suddenly remembered that he had also tried to advise Qi Xin and felt that he might have been disliked for it!
That day, Qin Chao and Qi Xin were chatting in the store about their work experiences—“Back when I was working illegally at another restaurant, I used to wash dishes from Friday to Sunday. The fastest I could do was wash one every two seconds, washing for four hours straight… Guess how many I could wash? Oh right, you’re not good at math, so never mind. Anyway, I washed so many that my arm couldn’t lift anymore!”
Qi Xin: “……” Damn!
Qin Chao: “And back then the pay was low, just five dollars an hour, so compared to here, this place is like paradise!”
Qi Xin: “Are you short on money? Do your parents restrict your spending?”
Qin Chao: “Well, young master, my family has no money at all.”
Qi Xin: “Then why did you go abroad?”
Qin Chao: “……” Damn, can he even hit people?
Fortunately, Qin Chao, being naturally clever, wasn’t defeated by the question. He answered, “To pursue a better life!”
Qi Xin raised an eyebrow: “Washing dishes for a better life?”
Qin Chao: “……” Kid, come here. I promise I won’t hit you! (=_=)
“Of course not!” Su Bin interjected, “Chao Ge went abroad for better education and qualifications, so he would be more competitive after graduation. Since his family can’t provide enough living expenses, he has to work to earn money, which is the price he pays for his education. So, washing dishes is just part of that price, not the ultimate goal.”
Qin Chao looked at Su Bin with a touched expression, also reflecting on how much Su Bin had grown in just half a year. He remembered when Su Bin was a naive fool in the Taifu kitchen, still immature in his views compared to Qi Xin. But now, Su Bin could speak up for himself! (Even if not perfectly)
However, Qi Xin still looked confused and asked, “What’s a better life?”
Qin Chao: “A life that’s wealthier, happier, more comfortable, and more respected.”
“Will having money definitely make you happier and more comfortable? Hah, money doesn’t just fall from the sky. Pursuing more money leads to more pressure, less time, and less freedom. My family is quite wealthy, but my father is always frowning and talking about ‘being helpless.’ It’s laughable.” Qi Xin scoffed, “Moreover, in the end, everyone dies. What’s there to pursue?”
— This guy really is a bundle of negative energy!
At this moment, Su Bin suddenly understood Yang Chengzhe’s point about “material wealth not being the ultimate goal in life” and seemed to grasp Yang Chengzhe’s analysis of Qi Xin’s psychology. However, Su Bin didn’t think Qin Chao’s definition of a “better life” was wrong.
Just when Su Bin thought Qin Chao couldn’t counter this, a mysterious smile appeared on Qin Chao’s face. He then waggled his finger in front of Qi Xin: “Young man, you’re wrong!”
“……” Damn! The seasoned brainwashing mode is about to start!
Su Bin eagerly watched him, waiting for his philosophical words.
Qin Chao shook his head and said, “You only asked me ‘what is a better life,’ but forgot to ask me ‘what is pursuit,’ because what I said earlier was ‘to pursue a better life.’ In that phrase, the important part is ‘pursuit,’ not the ‘better life’ part.”
Qi Xin: “……”
Qin Chao: “What is pursuit? Simply put, it’s having hope for life. Whether a person has a pursuit determines whether they live happily or not. For example, can a person who has only tasted sugar their whole life know what sweetness is? … The answer is ‘no.’ Sweetness can only be understood in contrast to other tastes like bitterness and spiciness. Only by experiencing other flavors can one truly appreciate sweetness; otherwise, sweetness might even be perceived as bitterness. Pursuit is similar; it’s a process of constantly experiencing pain and striving to change one’s situation to feel happiness. Those with pursuits typically find life joyful, while those without usually find it dull and painful.”
Hearing this, Qi Xin felt like his knees had been hit by an arrow…