```
As the two chatted and laughed, they had arrived in front of the noodle shop.
The storefront still maintained its appearance from over a decade ago, clean and tidy.
If there was a single change, it would be the prices on the white wall's menu.
"You take a seat first, I'll cook you a 'Family Bliss' bowl," Xiao Meier efficiently parked her cart and turned to enter the back kitchen.
"E'er jie, you've been managing the shop by yourself all these years, it must have been tough, right?" Chen Cheng said earnestly.
Xiao Meier waved her hand, "Where is it tough for me. I only have this one skill, and as long as I can earn a bit of money, I'm satisfied."
"I see Li Dinger, Shu Biao, and Xia Bao, those three, still frequently visit your shop."
"Yeah, more often than you. Basically, three to five times a week. But in the blink of an eye, you four brothers have all grown up!"
Xiao Meier skillfully started a fire to boil water, tossing a handful of noodles into the pot. "When I first met you guys, you were all still greenhorn lads!"
Chen Cheng took out a cigarette, "But our eternal E'er jie is still as beautiful!"
"Cut it out," Xiao Meier playfully pointed, her delicate orchid finger hitting Chen Cheng right between the eyebrows.
Soon, a bowl of steaming noodles, with more meat than noodles, was served in front of Chen Cheng.
"Have a taste! Beef, pork intestines, plus a mixed sauce fried egg, the 'Family Bliss' bowl!" Xiao Meier untied her apron, looking at him expectantly.
Chen Cheng took a sniff, "It smells amazing!"
"You just have a sweet mouth!"
Chen Cheng picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.
The noodles were al dente, the broth was rich, and together with Xiao Meier's special chili and seasonings, it was truly a heavenly flavor.
He gave a thumbs-up, "This is top-notch."
"Hahaha..." Xiao Meier handed him a bottle of Arctic Ocean and asked, "Where are you staying tonight?"
"Shu Biao told me to go to his place, I'm worried I'd cause him trouble." Chen Cheng spoke while eating, "Otherwise, I might just sleep in the car for a night, or just find some random hotel to get by with, since the city's so big..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Meier said, "Eat up and just stay here."
"Ah? Stay here at your place?"
"Yeah, it's late at night, and you've drunk so much, it's dangerous to go out! You can sleep upstairs, I just changed the pillowcase yesterday, it's clean."
Chen Cheng swallowed, "Then where will you sleep?"
"Of course, I'll sleep downstairs, on a cool mat."
Xiao Meier pointed to a bamboo mat standing to the side, "Just lay this out, and prop it up with some chairs underneath."
"E'er jie, you really don't need to go through this trouble, I..." Chen Cheng stood at the foot of the stairs, "Moreover, how can I sleep like that?"
"Why can't you sleep? Sometimes when I don't want to turn on the air conditioning, I sleep just like this."
Xiao Meier turned and glared at him, "Oh, stop fussing, there's no need for politeness with your sister."
Chen Cheng could only smile and nod, "Okay, then, how about I sleep downstairs?"
"It's dark and cramped down there, what if you need to get up in the night and bump into something? Stop talking and just come up!"
Xiao Meier's home in Beijing was a small loft space set up using the height of the noodle shop, only seven or eight square meters.
Though it wasn't large, she kept it meticulously organized.
A single bed, a small wardrobe about chest-high, and beneath the window, a small square table with several pots of succulents on it.
The floral curtains fluttered gently with the night breeze, bringing in a hint of coolness.
Walking on the wooden floor laid upon steel frames, each step would make a light creaking sound.
Xiao Meier went to the wardrobe, took out a nightgown and a pillow, "You go to sleep first, don't think too much. I'll go down and clean up."
"Thanks, E'er jie."
```
Xiao Meier placed her hands on her hips, making her slender waist even more enchanting, "If you say 'thank you' again, I'll get mad!" She feigned anger and then headed downstairs, not forgetting to add, "The air conditioner remote is on the nightstand."
Chen Cheng nodded with a smile.
"Just settle in comfortably, and let me know if you need anything."
"Okay."
Whir whir whir!
Half an hour later, there suddenly came the sound of the rolling door closing downstairs.
"Xiao Cheng, I'm going to rest now!"
In a daze, Chen Cheng walked to the stairwell, "Okay, Sister Er."
Yet his gaze involuntarily lingered downstairs.
Moonlight slanted in through the diamond-shaped holes above the rolling door, casting its light on Xiao Meier and outlining her delicate figure.
Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks, her waist slender, her upper body narrow.
Her black nightgown was slightly lifted at the side of her legs, revealing a section of plump, comely legs, crossed tightly together, with skin so smooth that not even pores could be seen.
Chen Cheng stood at the stairwell and was momentarily captivated by the sight.
He had never seen Xiao Meier so tranquil and tender, as if she were a completely different person from the candid and straightforward woman she usually was.
"Xiao Cheng..."
Xiao Meier murmured, and Chen Cheng's heart leaped!
But half a second later, he realized she hadn't awoken, merely mumbling, "There's still beef in the pot, eat more..."
Chen Cheng tiptoed back to bed, but tossed and turned restlessly.
The pillow still held a faint scent of Xiao Meier's body, which kept bringing to his mind the image of her sleeping downstairs.
"How can I possibly fall asleep like this!"
However, the next second, something happened that made it even harder for him to sleep.
[Interest Settled for Today]
[You have received 323.8 yuan]
[Current Fund: 6,799.8 yuan]
[Current Interest Rate: 5%]
Chen Cheng jolted up from the bed, staring at the prompt in his mind, almost not believing his own eyes.
"This... it's here already?"
Chen Cheng murmured to himself.
He hurriedly opened the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's APP, eyes glued to the numbers on the screen, repeatedly confirming them.
Only after seeing "Transferred from another bank" and the foundation that made the payment, did Chen Cheng finally believe that his life was about to undergo a dramatic change.
"Money really makes money, interest upon interest!" Chen Cheng was excited, his eyes shining with exhilaration.
This timely income not only alleviated his current predicament but also gave him hope for a change in destiny.
"Just as soon as the loan comes through, this money..." Chen Cheng couldn't even imagine what the next reward would be.
He took several deep breaths and lay back down.
"No, I need to take care of my health now, can't smoke anymore, no more staying up late! Sleep early and wake early! Only with good health can I enjoy spending this money!"
"Right, sleep now!"
With that thought, Chen Cheng forced himself to close his eyes, trying not to think about those exciting matters.
But the unfamiliar bed, the impending rich life, or the unforgettable figure of the woman downstairs, Chen Cheng wasn't sure which was keeping him awake, tossing and turning, sleepless all night.
He suddenly sat up again, looking out at the bright moonlight, and muttered to himself, "I really can't sleep!"