"Deduct another month's pay." Lin Tiancheng said.
Lin Tiancheng was still a fourth-year student at Yun City University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Due to his family situation, he had taken up this part-time job.
Last year, his father fell seriously ill. The family had already been impoverished trying to support his education. When they were at their wits' end, Wang Mengxin prepaid Lin Tiancheng's salary for ten years, saving his father's life.
He knew how frugal Wang Mengxin was, so he understood the significance of her prepaying him ten years of salary.
Although the agreement between him and Wang Mengxin was for him to work on holidays, he would come to help in the store whenever he didn't have classes.
Before he had the ability to see through things, Lin Tiancheng wouldn't have had the courage to ask, but now he felt it was easy to repay Wang Mengxin, so he felt no psychological pressure.
"Sister Xin, help me out, will you? After all, I'm your guy. If I can't even afford a birthday meal for my girlfriend, it's your face I'm losing too."
"Alright, alright, I really don't know if I owe you from a past life. Let me tell you, you'd better not die before you turn 33!" With that, Wang Mengxin transferred one thousand yuan to Lin Tiancheng.
"Knew you'd treat me the best, Sister Xin." Lin Tiancheng took the money and was about to head out when he suddenly thought of something. "Sister Xin, can I borrow your phone to make a call?"
Wang Mengxin gestured toward the phone charging on the table with her lips pursed.
Lin Tiancheng picked up the phone and dialed Wang Xiaomin's number. "Xiaomin, where are you? I'll come pick you up now."
"Is this Sister Xin's number? I'll send my location to Sister Xin's WeChat, just come over directly." Wang Xiaomin hung up right after saying that.
Lin Tiancheng handed the phone back to Wang Mengxin. "Sister Xin, Xiaomin said she'd send her location to your WeChat. Could you check for me?"
Wang Mengxin glanced at the phone, then showed a hint of a strange expression. "Tiancheng, is Wang Xiaomin's family pretty well off?"
"Average, I guess. Why?"
"Nothing, she's on Fuzhou Road, at the Silver Bay Entertainment Club."
Lin Tiancheng thanked her, then rushed out the door.
He and Wang Xiaomin had been classmates since high school. In their freshman year of college, Lin Tiancheng started pursuing Wang Xiaomin, and they confirmed their relationship in their junior year.
At Yun City University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, there were far more men than women. Wang Xiaomin was reasonably attractive and was considered one of the campus beauties. She faced many temptations, and some people even advised her to break up with Lin Tiancheng, but their relationship remained stable.
This made Lin Tiancheng feel guilty toward Wang Xiaomin, so for her birthday this year, when the iPhone 7 was released, he got her one on an installment plan.
Now that he had acquired the ability to see through things, he was filled with confidence about the future. He silently vowed that once he started making money, he would make it up to Wang Xiaomin.
Silver Bay Entertainment Club was a place Lin Tiancheng had never been. Thinking he wouldn't lack money in the future, he decided to splurge and took a taxi.
An hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of Silver Bay Entertainment Club. Immediately, a waiter dressed in a white suit approached to open the door for Lin Tiancheng.
Looking at the lavish and opulent entrance, Lin Tiancheng briefly doubted if he was in the right place.
He thought Silver Bay Entertainment Club was just an ordinary karaoke bar, but it turned out to be such a luxurious establishment. How much did it cost per night here?
Having never been to such a place before, Lin Tiancheng felt a bit nervous as he followed the waiter into the club.
The lobby was brightly lit and extravagant. Every staff member Lin Tiancheng made eye contact with would stop, bow, and greet him politely.
Especially while going upstairs, on either side of the wide staircase stood two rows of tall, slender women in white floral-embroidered qipaos.
As Lin Tiancheng approached each pair of women, they would bow and say, "Good evening, sir. Welcome."
Lin Tiancheng felt a bit embarrassed, but then he thought to himself, with his newfound ability to see through things, he would be wealthy in the future, and he could come to places like this whenever he wanted.
With that thought, his demeanor changed, and he confidently ascended the stairs.
"Xiaomin..." In a luxurious hall on the second floor, Lin Tiancheng saw Wang Xiaomin. His steps faltered, and his expression immediately darkened.
Wang Xiaomin was wearing a red qipao. Her fair skin, curvaceous figure, and the elegant bun of her jet-black hair atop her head, exposing her white neck, added a touch of maturity and femininity to her youthful appearance.
Next to Wang Xiaomin stood a young man—tall, handsome, and dressed in a black suit, smiling broadly at Lin Tiancheng.
Lin Tiancheng recognized him. He was Qian Haoming, the president of the student council at Yun City University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, wealthy, capable, and talented—one of Wang Xiaomin's pursuers.
There were about twenty or thirty people in the hall, most of whom Lin Tiancheng didn't recognize. When they saw Lin Tiancheng arrive, they all fell silent and looked at him with mocking eyes.
"Qian Haoming, what is the meaning of this?" Lin Tiancheng saw Qian Haoming holding Wang Xiaomin's waist, stepped forward, and pushed Qian Haoming away.
Qian Haoming remained composed, not getting angry. He shrugged at Wang Xiaomin, appearing helpless.
Wang Xiaomin looked at Lin Tiancheng and said flatly, "Tiancheng, you came just in time. Let me introduce you—this is Qian Haoming, my boyfriend."
"Your boyfriend?" Lin Tiancheng felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Thinking about how long he'd known Wang Xiaomin, Lin Tiancheng felt it was impossible. He grabbed her hand, saying, "Xiaomin, is there something else going on here? Did he threaten you?"
Wang Xiaomin flung his hand away, her face full of disgust. "Lin Tiancheng, wake up! I called you here today to tell you that we're over."
"Why?" Lin Tiancheng was unwilling to accept it.
"Why? Lin Tiancheng, I won't even mention your family's situation. As for your abilities, you know them well enough. What can you offer me? Do you really think, with what you have, that you're worthy of me? Even if I pity you and stay with you, would you truly be happy?"
"Xiaomin, I know these past two years have been hard on you, but please believe me. I will make something of myself," Lin Tiancheng said resolutely.
"With what? With your degree in traditional Chinese medicine? Western medicine is dominant now. Traditional Chinese medicine graduates can't even make a decent living. Tiancheng, you need to face reality and wake up."
Lin Tiancheng shook his head. "If you never intended to be with me, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Wang Xiaomin showed a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction before replying coldly, "This society is realistic. I wanted you as my boyfriend as a shield, to see if anyone would still care for me, even knowing I had a boyfriend."
Looking at Wang Xiaomin, Lin Tiancheng suddenly felt she was a stranger. He smiled bitterly, "So, you found someone?"
"Yes. Qian Haoming knew I had a boyfriend, but he never gave up, and he doesn't care about my past."
With that, Wang Xiaomin turned to gaze at Qian Haoming, her eyes full of affection. "Haoming, I only used him as a shield. During our time together, I always protected myself. Nothing ever happened between us."
A look of joy flashed across Qian Haoming's face. He immediately pulled Wang Xiaomin into an embrace and said passionately, "Xiaomin, this is the greatest surprise heaven could have given me."
Seeing the girl he had loved so deeply in someone else's arms, and realizing he had been a fool for two years, Lin Tiancheng felt his heart shatter.
But then he thought of his newfound ability to see through things, and of the bright future ahead of him. A sense of relief washed over him.
He looked at Wang Xiaomin with burning eyes, his expression a mix of mirth and madness. "Fine! This is fine! Luckily, I saw your true colors today. To end up with you would have been my greatest misfortune!"
Wang Xiaomin's expression turned cold. "The weak always deceive themselves. Your attitude only makes me look down on you even more. Alright, you're not welcome here. You can leave now."
"Since I'm already here, why not stay and have some fun?"
"Exactly, with all that big talk, surely you can afford a few rounds of cards?"