At the entrance of Gu Chenan's apartment building.
Lin Mei, carrying some groceries, was humming a tune as she walked down the street.
Her rascal of a son finally had a girlfriend, which made Lin Mei overjoyed.
Although she hadn't shown much excitement in front of Gu Chenan, as soon as she left his rental apartment, an uncontrollable smile spread across her face.
"Sister Lin, just back from grocery shopping? Why so happy today?"
An acquaintance greeted Lin Mei on the street. Lin Mei shook her head and said, "Oh, nothing to be happy about."
"Your smile is reaching the sky, and you say you're not happy? Come on, tell me what good news you've got?" The woman approached Lin Mei and asked.
Lin Mei couldn't help but smile and said, "It's nothing, just that my son found a girlfriend."
"Well, that's great news!" The woman nodded and then asked, "What's Chenan doing these days?"
At this question, Lin Mei's expression visibly became awkward. She forced a smile and said, "He's doing some small business of his own. I didn't ask much, you know how it is with young people's stuff - I wouldn't understand anyway."
"Oh, I see," the woman smiled.
"Well, I should get going. I need to cook for my husband," Lin Mei said, practically fleeing the scene.
The fact that her son did nothing but stay at home playing video games all day was Lin Mei's greatest source of shame, especially when others asked about him. At times like these, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
"How did someone like Gu Chenan manage to get a girlfriend? That girl must be blind," the woman muttered as she watched Lin Mei hurry away.
"'Doing some small business,' yeah right. Who doesn't know that her son is a good-for-nothing who just stays in his rented room playing games all day?"
In every old neighborhood, the relationships between neighbors may seem harmonious on the surface, but there's often underlying malice.
If you're not successful, they look down on you; if you're too successful, they envy you.
Evidently, the neighborhood where Gu Chenan's family lived was just like this.
...
"Old Gu, I've got big news for you," Lin Mei called out as she opened the door.
"Huh? Weren't you supposed to have dinner with that rascal tonight? Why are you back so early?" Gu Zheng asked, confused, as he came out of the bedroom.
"What dinner? Someone else is having dinner with Chenan," Lin Mei said proudly. "Guess what I'm about to tell you?"
"Did Chenan find a job?" Gu Zheng ventured.
"No," Lin Mei shook her head. "Chenan has a girlfriend!"
"What?"
Gu Zheng was stunned. He quickly approached Lin Mei, "He really has a girlfriend?"
"Why would I lie to you? That girl is so beautiful, even prettier than those celebrities in the entertainment industry."
"And not just that, she's gentle and elegant, clearly from a good family!" Lin Mei said excitedly.
Hearing this, Gu Zheng's expression became somewhat doubtful.
A well-bred lady who's also extremely beautiful...
How did a girl with such qualities end up with that rascal Gu Chenan?
"No, no, is this for real? You're not teaming up with that rascal to fool me, are you? If the girl is really as you describe, how did she end up with Gu Chenan? Is she blind?"
Gu Zheng's thoughts mirrored Lin Mei's when she first met Su Qianmo.
"Let me tell you, not only is she Chenan's girlfriend, but she's the one who pursued our Chenan, can you believe it..."
Lin Mei continued talking as she walked into the kitchen to wash vegetables, occasionally coming out to gesture to Gu Zheng as she spoke.
The more Gu Zheng heard, the more outlandish it seemed, but at the same time, he felt a surge of joy.
That good-for-nothing Gu Chenan really did have a girlfriend!
...
After Lin Mei left, Gu Chenan and Su Qianmo bought some snacks and drinks at the convenience store downstairs before returning to the rented apartment.
"This bed is a single, it's a bit small. Maybe I should sleep on the couch tonight?" Gu Chenan said awkwardly as he tossed the things they bought onto the bed.
It wasn't that he felt embarrassed to share a bed with Su Qianmo, after all, given their relationship, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
It was just that his bed was a single, and while two people could sleep on it, it would definitely be cramped.
"Can't we sleep together?" Su Qianmo asked, biting her lip.
"We can," Gu Chenan smiled. "But you'll have to hold on to me tight so you don't fall off."
"Okay!" Su Qianmo nodded immediately.
Just then, Gu Chenan's phone rang.
He saw that he had been added to a group chat.
Zhang Fan, after getting off work, had wanted to continue bragging in the group chat, but ever since he mentioned Gu Chenan buying a villa, the discussions in the group hadn't stopped.
In the end, someone directly added Gu Chenan to the group chat.
As for why Gu Chenan wasn't in this group before, the reason was simple.
He had left the group himself six months ago.
The high school classmates in the group had all found suitable jobs, and those who hadn't were running their own small businesses.
But he was still at home playing games, and whenever the group asked about his situation, Gu Chenan had no idea what to say.
So, he quietly left the group.
The people in the group didn't think much of Gu Chenan leaving. He hadn't made something of himself, so whether he was in the group or not didn't matter.
"@Gu Chenan, Old Gu, we heard you bought a big villa where Zhang Fan works?"
"Yeah, we've been hearing Zhang Fan talk about it, is it true?"
"@Gu Chenan, come out and say something, let us see if Zhang Fan is just bragging."
"Where's CEO Gu?"
Looking at these messages in the group, Gu Chenan felt exasperated.
This Zhang Fan really couldn't keep his mouth shut...
Gu Chenan replied in the group: "Yes, I just bought it today."
As soon as this message was sent, several messages immediately followed in the group.
"Damn, Old Gu, you're amazing! Zhang Fan said it cost 20 million!"
"CEO Gu, where are you working now? How about helping out your old classmates?"
"Old Gu, this isn't right. We were so close in school, and now that you've made it big, you didn't even tell your brothers? What, are you secretly getting rich on your own?"
Help out? Close?
Gu Chenan sneered.
When I asked for your help back then, not only did you not help, but you also openly and secretly mocked me for going to a no-name university.
How come now you suddenly remember we were close?
Please, at least be consistent, can you?