Chapter 7

The episode just now didn’t affect Zhou Qingluo’s enthusiasm at making money. He sorted out his mood and the leftover desserts at the banquet, pushing them towards the night market.

Lou Yang was dubious but set up stall at the night market with Zhou Qingluo anyways.

In the noisy and chaotic night market, the exquisite desserts quickly attracted everyone’s attention.

Zhou Qingluo smiled and yelled, “Desserts after dinner, sweet like first love, healthy and happy like a fairy. Don’t miss it when you pass by!”

Lou Yang was stunned. Zhou Qingluo this guy who looked like everyone’s first love made an ambiguous joke the moment he opened his mouth. The shock factor was quite strong.

Passerby probably felt the same way as Lou Yang, and there was a crowd shortly.

The appearance and quality of desserts at a five-star hotel banquet wouldn’t be bad, and another group came up to admire the appearance.

Someone asked: “How are you selling?”

Zhou Qingluo replied, “This one is 15, this one is 12. All of them were made today, freshness guaranteed. Shelf life is three days, buy four get one free.”

Lou Yang couldn’t figure out how Zhou Qingluo made up the numbers, but seeing that more and more people were buying, he believed in his ploy.

After a while, all of the desserts were sold and the two earned 4,000 yuan.

Zhou Qingluo transferred 2,000 to Lou Yang.

Lou Yang was ecstatic, grabbing and shaking his shoulder: “Qingluo, you’re awesome!”

Zhou Qingluo: “Stop! Laozi’s about to have a concussion!”

“This is the first time I’ve made money!”

Zhou Qingluo was puzzled, “Aren’t you working part-time in the cake shop?”

“It hasn’t been a full month, so Sister Cui hasn’t paid me yet.”

Zhou Qingluo smiled and packed up.

Lou Yang suddenly sighed, “Ai, I should’ve studied harder in college so I wouldn’t fall to this point. Couldn’t get a diploma, and can’t even find a serious job.”

At least Lou Yang went to a key university, but he was obsessed with games during his university days and only liked programming classes. Other subjects were extremely lacking, so the university didn’t issue him a diploma.

Everyone around him thought he was a waste.

Zhou Qingluo: “Why are you looking for a serious job?”

“Earn money well, buy a house and marry a wife.”

“Then aren’t you making money well right now too?”

Lou Yang was encouraged, “I’ll take a break tomorrow and persist in food delivery! Qingluo, you bring me along.”

Zhou Qingluo: “I’m also resting tomorrow.”

“…You rest? I thought you were making money like your life depended on it.”

“The body is the capital of revolution.”

At this time, Zhou Qingluo’s phone dinged. It was a message from Xingchen Comics.

[Dear Mr. Zhou Qingluo, the comic “Broken Cocoon” under your pseudonym “Sange” has passed our company review. We sincerely invite you to be a contracted author. Please log into the website to complete registration.]

Zhou Qingluo put away his phone and smiled. He turned to Lou Yang and said, “You know how to program and can take on some private work.”

Lou Yang excitedly hugged Zhou Qingluo and jumped up and down: “Qingluo, you are the God of Wealth!”

“Yes, we will get richer and richer!”

Lou Yang pointed at the Porsche on the road, “See that Porsche? It will be mine in the future.”

Zhou Qingluo pointed at the sky, “I’m different. I’ll be flying a plane.”

Lou Yang calmed down and asked, “Oh yeah, how did you come up with this idea? Why do the same cakes sell for different prices? Some 15, some 12? What’s the trick?”

“By giving two prices, customers would have a narrower selection range so they can naturally choose more quickly. Most of the people on the night market are small gatherings of two or three, so if you buy four and get one free, the larger parties fulfill that requirement and everyone is satisfied.”

Lou Yang was convinced, giving him a thumbs up: “Qingluo, have you sold before?”

Zhou Qingluo scolded jokingly, “You sold yourself.”

“I meant selling cakes, why are you so yellow?”

(TN: Yellow is a euphemism for dirty/porn/sexual stuff in Chinese.)

“I’m also talking about cakes, why are you so yellow?”

The two were so happy it seemed like they earned 40 million, not 4000.

They were passionately discussing their dreams, unaware that Song Ling was sitting in the black Porsche.

The person that came to pick him up was Jiao Zuo.

Jiao Zuo had to go out to handle some things and couldn’t watch Song Ling. As expected, this guy ran over to Jiang Shiyan’s celebration banquet.

He wasn’t surprised at Song Ling’s self-abusive behavior, what made him surprised was that he actually received a phone call from yours truly Song Ling, asking him to come pick him up.

Now that Song Ling went to find Jiang Shiyan to torture himself, Jiao Zuo was ready to scour the whole world for him.

Unexpectedly, when he got to the hotel, Song Ling was sitting obediently in the lobby. He was a bit dirty, and there was even some blood on his chest, as if he was pressed to the ground and beat up.

Jiao Zuo angrily said, “F*ck, you were beaten by someone?”

Song Ling raised his eyes and gave him a glare.

Jiao Zuo was amused by his own thoughts. Usually, it was Song Ling beating others. Who would dare beat him?

“Who did you hit? There’s blood.”

Song Ling remained silent with a dark face, walking towards the car coldly.

He hadn’t spoken a single word until now, as if he was a pan of still water.

Jiao Zuo couldn’t help but taunt him, “They didn’t invite you, so you’re just abusing yourself by running over. Flipping idiot, you deserve it. What’s so good about that pussy Jiang Shiyan? Didn’t he just save you once from the pool when you were ten? Does it deserve you remembering it till now?”

Even Song Ling couldn’t say what was good about Jiang Shiyan. It’s just that after returning to the Song family, Jiang Shiyan was the only one willing to be good to him.

Jiao Zuo kept talking, but didn’t receive a response. When the car passed by the night market, the shrouded-in-silence Song Ling finally gave a reaction. He abruptly sat up straight and looked out the window.

Jiao Zuo followed his gaze and saw two young men talking and laughing in the bustling market.

They were even discussing whether they’ve sold themselves or not.

Jiao Zuo knew Song Ling’s sexual orientation. He was just bruised all over by Jiang Shiyan, so seeing this kind of affectionate scene was another huge blow.

Jiao Zuo: “Tsk, young people these days. Look at how indecent they are! Where’s public order?”

Song Ling was unmoved, staring firmly out the window.

It just happened to be a red light and Jiao Zuo pulled to a stop. The young couple even dared point at his car.

Just as he was about to scold them, he suddenly found that the slightly taller person was kind of familiar.

But the topic they were discussing was too exciting, selling and whatnot.

Jiao Zuo: “F*CK, isn’t that Zhou Qingluo?!”

He suddenly recognized the person and immediately blew up.

So he didn’t go find Song Ling because he sold himself!

Jiao Zuo: “He sold before?”

He was so excited his voice cracked.

Jiao Zuo felt that Song Ling was a bit miserable. The white moonlight was about to go abroad, the substitute was half-hearted, the scum man harvester of the century.

Jiao Zuo bitterly said, “Seems like none of those that look like Jiang Shiyan are good things.”

Song Ling couldn’t bear it anymore, gritting his teeth and saying his first sentence of the night: “They went to sell cakes, dumba**.”

For a moment, Jiao Zuo didn’t know who Song Ling was defending.

Song Ling rubbed his still-aching stomach, angrily closed the car window, turning around with a dark face. He coldly said his second sentence of the night: “Alike my a**.”

Jiao Zuo was taken aback. He didn’t know whether it was his illusion or not, but Song Ling seemed a bit aggrieved.

Song Ling again glanced out the window, sneering: “This is living well?”

Jiao Zuo was rendered speechless. This this this…

Did Song Ling sprout a desire to survive? He must go have a good talk with a psychiatrist tomorrow.

Zhou Qingmu would be going abroad in a few days. Zhou Shoulin calculated the days and found that today was an auspicious day, which just so happened to be Zhou Qingluo’s resting day, so they went to celebrate.

Zhou Shoulin got up early to go to the market and cooked a table of dishes. Zhou Qingluo was busy until the early morning yesterday and slept until the sun was high up in the sky. When he woke up, he could smell the delicious food all over the room.

The family was eating around the table when Zhou Qingmu said, “Dad, I don’t want to go study abroad anymore. I want to work.”

Zhou Shoulin helped the two children scoop chicken soup, saying with a smile: “There’s plenty of time to work in the future. If you can study, then study.”

Zhou Qingmu: “Mingde Hospital has decided to officially hire me, I’m going to work.”

Zhou Shoulin: “Go study first.”

Zhou Qingmu: “I’m not going.”

Zhou Shoulin was a bit anxious, “Child, this chance is so rare! In the entire school, you were the only one chosen and they also gave you a full scholarship! The tuition fees are covered, and Dad can still afford these little living expenses.”

“I’m not going!”

The atmosphere cooled.

Of course, Zhou Qingluo knew what Zhou Qingmu was thinking. She didn’t want to spend money, leaving the money to him to learn how to draw.

Zhou Qingluo sighed slowly, saying pitifully: “Is no one going to listen to me? I have some good news to announce.”

The two looked at him together.

Zhou Qingluo took out a wad of cash from his pocket, putting it on the table.

Zhou Qingluo triumphantly said, “This is the money I earned from delivering food this month: 18,000 yuan!

The stunning effect of RMB (yuan) was self-evident, and the two stared blankly at it.

Zhou Qingluo took out another smaller wad of money, “This is the sum earned from contributing to the comic website: 2,000.”

Zhou Qingmu found it incredible, “Don’t you not know how to draw? How did you earn money by drawing?”

Zhou Qingluo laughed, “I meant that I don’t know how to paint murals, but I can still draw comics.”

Zhou Qingluo: “The last good piece of news… I signed a contract with Xingchen Comics!”

Zhou Qingmu was stunned silly. Xingchen Comics had its own magazine and was very popular in the market. Many well-known masters and members of the Art Association grew up on this website. Being able to sign on this website basically meant that you were a professional.

For example, her favorite comic artist ‘Oath’.

Zhou Qingmu: “Really? Don’t lie!”

Zhou Qingluo: “Really, guaranteed returns if fake!”

Zhou Shoulin didn’t know what they were talking about and asked, “Does the website give a steady income and good benefits?”

“Good benefits are trivial matters.” Zhou Qingluo lightly pointed at the stack of money, “If the drawing is good, then one page would net this much. If published, the income will be even better. When the time comes, buying a flat or a vehicle is just a matter of saying it. We’ll go wherever we want, traveling through the great mountains and rivers.”

Zhou Qingluo smiled as he described his previous life.

Zhou Qingmu’s eyes lit up: “That Great God Oath would make hundreds of millions (yuan) with one comic, just a pity that he doesn’t draw much now.”

Zhou Qingluo patted his chest, “Xingchen Comics is about to see the rise of a mysterious new star!”

The power of money dispelled the gloomy atmosphere. Zhou Shoulin was also eager, “My health has recovered and I’ll go buy another scooter to go deliver food!”

Zhou Qingluo thought for a moment before seriously saying, “Dad, stop delivering takeout. You make such delicious food, you should open a restaurant.”

Zhou Shoulin hurriedly waved his hands, “No, no, I’m old now and can’t afford the embarrassment (in case it doesn’t succeed).”

Zhou Qingluo livened up the atmosphere and looked at Zhou Qingmu, smiling: “Zhou Qingmu, I have a monthly salary of 20,000 and a bright future. What are you worrying about? Life is short, why hesitate on your dreams? Besides, doctors save many lives, so it’s good for your patients to learn more.”

Zhou Qingmu paused, lowered her head. Her eyes were sore and tears pattered down. As she cried, she began to laugh.

Zhou Qingluo lifted his cup, “Wishing Zhou Qingmu success in her studies, cheers!”

Although 20,000 was only a drop in the bucket, Zhou Qingluo knew that they had seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

Zhou Qingluo took a day off and began delivering takeout again.

Strangely enough, the platform was undergoing maintenance and orders couldn’t be accepted.

The quiet delivery group suddenly boiled over.

Rumor said that when the programmers were doing daily maintenance this morning, they found traces of hacking into the main program. However, they couldn’t trace the hackers and luckily, the platform didn’t suffer any damage.

As the programmers patched the loopholes, they found an even more fatal loophole. Once hackers with ulterior motives attacked, the platform revenue and all of their drivers’ information could be stolen.

The traces left behind by the hacker seemed to be deliberately leading them to this fatal loophole.

It was rare for Zhou Qingluo to be so free. Looking at the endlessly flowing crowd, he took out his tablet to draw.

Delivering takeout these days gave him a lot of inspiration. He liked such busy days and wanted to record every minute, every second.

It wasn’t until his phone gave a notification of a delivery order that Zhou Qingluo put away his tablet, wore his helmet, and set off.

The sunflower on his helmet swayed in the wind, full of vitality.

Zhou Qingluo received an order to deliver a mega spicy snail noodles to the lakeside park. He was afraid of delivering snail noodles since the entire takeaway box would smell of it, but it also wasn’t safe to hold it while riding.

He was curious what strange person would want to eat mega spicy snail noodles in the hot early morning.

Zhou Qingluo arrived at the designated area, but when he saw the person, he wanted to turn and leave.

Song Ling sat on the bench under the willow tree with his laptop, many takeout boxes piled up beside him.

The packaging was all the same—all snail noodles from the same store.

There were at least 20 boxes.

As expected of him.

Zhou Qingluo put on his mask, lowered the black sun visor of his helmet, and handed him the takeout: “Sir, your delivery is here.”

Song Ling didn’t look up, as if he didn’t hear, his fingers clacking on the keyboard.

Zhou Qingluo put down the takeout and turned to leave.

The moment he took a step, he heard the laptop slap close. Song Ling’s cold voice sounded, “Zhou Qingluo.”

Zhou Qingluo acted like he couldn’t hear, walking even faster towards his scooter.

Song Ling got up, walking in front of Zhou Qingluo in two or three steps, blocking his path. He rubbed his abdomen suggestively.

Zhou Qingluo: “…” What a good actor.

Song Ling eloquently said, “You beat me up yesterday and then heartlessly left me in the bathroom. Did you forget?”

???

What was ‘the villain filing the complaint first’?

This was!

Once this matter was raised, Zhou Qingluo was enraged.

He lifted up the black sun visor and took off his mask, gritting through his teeth: “If it wasn’t because you acted like a freaking psycho, touching and feely, licking and biting, why would I hit you?”

Song Ling stared at him silently for two seconds, expressionlessly saying, “No need to describe in such detail.”

“……”

Zhou Qingluo was speechless.

Unexpectedly, Song Ling said with a face full of innocence, “Zhou Qingluo, if you kicked lower by three inches, I wouldn’t be a man anymore.”

Zhou Qingluo was silent for two seconds and realized that losing his temper against someone like Song Ling was useless.

After all, this person was a pro at reversing the table.

He got onto the scooter, patted the empty space behind him and tilted his head at Song Ling, domineeringly saying: “Come up, I’ll take you to the andrologist for a checkup.”

Song Ling: “…”

“In case you can’t be a man in the future, don’t throw the blame on me.”