At the entrance of Seven Miles Street, two women got out of the car, chatting and laughing. Before they finished paying the fare, they saw someone waving to them.
"Boss Wen!"
"Lu Qian is here too."
"What, just because we're not in the same class, I can't come?" Lu Qian rolled her eyes:
"I always considered you a friend."
She probably didn't put on much makeup today, wearing sunglasses and a sun hat, with the brim drooping to cover her face, but her impressive figure still easily attracted the attention of passing men.
Dance department girls often have long legs.
Lu Qian was one of the best among them.
Moreover, she excelled at flaunting her strengths, still wearing shorts as short as possible, paired with sequined heels and a loose bat-sleeved top, stylish yet sexy.
In contrast, class president Wen Lei's outfit was much more plain.
Jeans, sneakers, a beige T-shirt embroidered with an unknown cartoon had a sporty, brisk, and simple cute look.
However, she had striking features, with distinct facial contours, no less attractive than a screen actress, also drew quite a few curious glances.
Boss Wen was still Boss Wen, always so eye-catching.
Boss was a homophone for class president, initially just an inside joke among classmates, but it stuck as a nickname.
"Of course, you can come." Fang Zheng smiled and said:
"Welcome!"
"Let's go." Boss Wen shook her head:
"Let's find a place to sit and talk."
She added:
"Fang Zheng, don't be too sad, take care of yourself, your uncle wouldn't want to see you like this if he were still around."
Hmm...
Fang Zheng instinctively touched his face.
Last night, he was both cold and hungry and couldn't rest well, and he's been overly excited since returning, his eyes were bloodshot.
Adding to the recent series of events, he looked quite haggard, with a sallow complexion, not in good shape.
"I'm fine." He turned to lead the way:
"This way."
Speaking of which, since the graduation gathering, the three of them hadn't reunited, so they caught up on each other's whereabouts en route.
Fang Zheng was still going from gig to gig, not yet settled.
Class president Wen Lei entered an auction house through family connections, a subsidiary of a listed company, promising future development.
As for Lu Qian...
Currently unemployed.
"So you have no family now?" Behind her sunglasses, Lu Qian's beautiful eyes blinked:
"Actually, being on your own, free and unrestrained is quite nice. I don't like my family meddling and nagging endlessly when I go back."
"Lu Qian." Boss Wen glared at her:
"Watch how you speak."
The death of a family member turned out to be a good thing from her mouth, and that's not how you comfort someone.
Fang Zheng chuckled, pointing ahead:
"That's Square Porcelain, the business my uncle left behind."
"Such a large place." Lu Qian's eyes lit up, she quickly walked to the shop door, inspected it thoroughly, and nodded repeatedly, saying:
"It must be worth quite a bit. Fang Zheng, you should be considered wealthy among classmates now."
"No." Fang Zheng shook his head:
"The storefront is rented. I am still considering whether to renew."
"I see..." Lu Qian instinctively pouted, instantly losing interest.
"Although Seven Miles is a bit remote, during the peak season, it still attracts quite a few customers. If you know the business, it could still work." Boss Wen said:
"Fang Zheng, you should consider it carefully."
"Yes."
Fang Zheng nodded.
"Can you make ceramics here?" Inside, Lu Qian raised her voice:
"I saw a ceramics experience center in Kyoto, where business was good, and customers paid to make their own ceramics to take home."
"It's all about the experience!"
"Kyoto is Kyoto; this is Qu City, the porcelain capital." Fang Zheng said:
"Ten years ago, there were already ceramic experience centers in Qu City; just this street alone has seven or eight places where you can make your own pottery. Whether business is good or bad depends on your capability."
"Ah!"
Lu Qian was disappointed.
In ancient times, pottery was a complex craft.
From clay to glazing, the processes were many and varied. Now there is ready-made porcelain clay, pottery clay, and even bisque ware, making it accessible for ordinary people.
This gave rise to the ceramics experience business.
The two women were very interested in ceramic-making, asking numerous questions, even personally making a couple of small items.
"Ceramics start from selecting the porcelain stone and clay. The clay near Qu City is fine and soft, suitable for throwing, which uses centrifugal force to shape the pieces."
"After air-drying and fine-tuning, you get bisque ware, on which you can paint, glaze, and kiln-fire it — this is called underglaze."
"The store has ready-made bisque ware, so you can skip the initial steps…"
Wen Lei, with her family background in art, quickly got the hang of it, no wonder she managed some business when she entered the auction house, having solid painting skills.
Lu Qian, on the other hand, was doodling and smearing on the bisque ware.
Once the work is completed, place the glazed bisque into the electric kiln to set the temperature, humidity, and time, then just wait.
"It's time; let's eat first."
Fang Zheng clapped his hands:
"Once everything's ready, I'll send it to you as a memento."
"Sounds good." Boss Wen straightened up and stretched, even her loose clothing couldn't hide her impressive figure:
"Let's go!"
Lu Qian pouted at this sight.
She was a dance student, and dance students had long legs but usually not large chests. A large chest was a burden for dancing, but she was well aware of how much advantage it held outside the dance world.
*
*
*
"Have you heard? A group of tombs was discovered deep in Celestial Plate Mountain, reportedly containing imperial family nobles from hundreds of years ago, and they unearthed quite a few treasures."
"Weren't they all stolen by grave robbers?"
"Only partially."
The restaurant wasn't large, but a few tables were occupied.
"I've heard of the Celestial Plate Mountain tombs too," Lu Qian said mysteriously:
"Apparently there are still many treasures circulating on the black market."
"There certainly are," Boss Wen nodded:
"But they won't surface publicly for a few years; they can only circulate underground until they're rebranded and auctioned openly."
"Ah!"
"It's none of our business."
"Exactly." Fang Zheng raised his glass:
"Thank you both for visiting me; let me drink first in appreciation!"
"Cheers!"
Lu Qian's eyes lit up:
"I'll join you!"
After a few glasses, the conversation became less restrained.
"Fang Zheng, you wouldn't know... hic..." Lu Qian leaned forward, her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling as she laughed:
"The girls in our dorm talk about you quite a bit."
"Oh!" Fang Zheng asked curiously:
"What do they talk about me for?"
He was aware of his average looks and build, nowhere close to the handsome guys in the performance and dance departments, and he was rather reticent.
"I won't tell you!"
Lu Qian giggled foolishly.
She wasn't lying; they did talk about Fang Zheng in the dorm.
It's just that it wasn't about his talent but his honest nature, suitable for marrying after other men have tired them out.
Commonly referred to as a scapegoat!
Lu Qian was a bit tired herself, and she heard Fang Zheng might have inherited some wealth after his only relative passed, so she came by to check it out.
No parents, with a car and a house—the perfect scapegoat.
The key was they had a close relationship for a while, giving her an advantage.
Unfortunately...
A happy thought wasted.
"Cheers, cheers." Boss Wen, aware of Fang Zheng's standing among the female students, quickly raised her glass to change the subject.
Fang Zheng smiled, not asking further.
He wasn't foolish. He had some suspicions and could see from Lu Qian's initial warmth and subsequent indifference.
"Yo!"
At that moment, a somewhat flippant voice rang out:
"Hey, brother seems to be doing well, finding two such pretty girls to drink with, surely, you're quite flush with cash?"
Fang Zheng frowned and turned around to see Da Wei, the debt collector, swagger in with a few people.
Da Wei, hands in pockets, approached the table, casually grabbed a peanut, tossed it into his mouth, and smiled:
"Got money now; shouldn't you think about paying your debts?"
"Fang Zheng!" Lu Qian looked displeased:
"Who is he?"
"I'm your friend's creditor," Da Wei cut in:
"Your friend owes me two hundred thousand. Want to pay for him, miss? No money, no problem—even other things could suffice."
He eyed her up and down.
"Shameless!"
Lu Qian's mouth twitched; she grabbed her bag and stood up, glaring coldly at Fang Zheng, and with a swish, she stood up:
"You owe money? Gross, I lost my appetite!"
"Oh, come on!" Da Wei raised an eyebrow:
"Don't let me ruin your mood, miss; we can talk about the debt later. Today I have guests too; take your time chatting."
Saying that, he gestured and led his group towards the second-floor private rooms.
But after his interruption, the meal was naturally off.