"Living alone in this city, already exhausted just trying to fill my stomach, what's left for ideals? That's just our beautiful dream... After waking up, we're still running around in the rain and wind..." That's the music playing from the baozi shop downstairs.
The baozi shop owner's name is Boss Wen. He's been living alone in Shanghai for seven years. Seven years have smoothed out his rough edges, transforming him from a suave young man into a working-class individual, constantly hustling to make a living.
Every time I hear this song, I know it's 6 AM. I'm not usually an early riser, and I never eat breakfast.
But I still habitually go and buy a hot soy milk. Mi Xinxin has to drink it every morning. She always tells me that Boss Wen's soy milk is the best, especially the first 20 cups, which are extra sweet!
Over time, I've gotten into the habit of queuing up at Boss Wen's shop at 6:15 AM every day to buy soy milk, and I always buy the 19th cup. Every time Mi Xinxin drinks this cup of soy milk, she happily grabs my hand and says, "I'm the happiest woman in the world right now!"
I always ask her, "Why are you the happiest woman in the world?"
"Because I'm drinking the best soy milk in the world, bought for me by the man I love most in the world! Of course, I'm the happiest woman in the world!"
Yeah, she's always so easily satisfied.
I walked down the stairs, wanting to buy some breakfast from Boss Wen. Boss Wen was as busy as ever, so much so that I was already third in line before he even noticed me.
The familiar voice rang out again, "Next! What would you like? Fried buns, soup dumplings, and steamed buns, we have it all!"
"Give me a basket of soup dumplings and a cup of red bean milk, please." The man in front of me answered smoothly.
"Alright, here you go!" Boss Wen replied mechanically, never once looking up at the customer, while his hands kept moving, taking out the freshly steamed buns.
Finally, it was my turn. The familiar voice came again, "Next! What would you like? Fried buns, soup dumplings..."
I didn't wait for him to finish speaking and answered preemptively, "Boss Wen, the usual!"
Boss Wen was taken aback by my voice. He then looked up, saw it was me, and forced a smile.
"Still a soy milk? And still the 19th cup?"
"Yep!"
"Wait a moment, I'll get it for you."
"Hold on! Forget the soy milk. Give me two steamers of Xiaolongbao and two bowls of tofu brain."
"Okay."
I don't know why, but I suddenly changed a habit I'd had for a long time. Maybe I've changed!
I returned to this house, which was all that remained of my life. I pushed open the bedroom door and saw Yang Fei still sound asleep in the same position!
I smiled, thinking it best not to disturb her, and closed the door, retreating.
The morning sun wasn't too harsh. A few rays of light slanted onto the floor, also reflecting off the dusty corner of the table. I looked at myself in the mirror. My once handsome face was covered in stubble, making me look so downcast.
I still made myself a cup of hot tea, taking the teacup out to the balcony. The next thing I did was light a cigarette and put it to my lips, taking a deep drag, then exhaling. In an instant, the balcony was filled with smoke, which was scattered by the gentle breeze in less than three seconds. I really enjoyed this time.
Just as I was immersed in it, the landline at home rang again, "Ding ding ding."
I didn't know who would ruin this beautiful time this early in the morning. I quickly walked over and picked it up. Then, Feng Feng's voice came through.
"Thank heavens! You finally answered! What's the deal? I've called your phone so many times and you didn't pick up! I had no choice but to call your home!"
Before Feng Feng could finish, I cut him off, "Cut to the chase! What's up?"
I heard the sound of a lighter on the other end of the line. After a moment of thought, Feng Feng said, "We're short-handed here, preparing for the next exhibition, so… so we hope you can deliver the painting that customer bought yesterday!"
"Which customer?" I pondered.
"The one who was so generous yesterday, spending a hundred thousand to buy Peng Xiaoxiao's painting!"
"Damn, I almost forgot about this. I still don't know how to explain this to Yang Fei. I can't just ask her for more money on the spot!" I thought to myself, hesitating.
"Um, take down the address!"
"Go ahead, I'm writing it down." I immediately grabbed a yellowed A4 sheet from the table.
"The delivery address is Binhai Group, the recipient is Su Keya, and the contact number is…"
"Okay, I understand." I hung up the phone and silently repeated Su Keya's name in my mind.
"Su Keya… Su Keya… both crispy and elegant, it's a good name!"
"Could she be that generous boss? But why would she buy this painting, which isn't very well-known?"
With these doubts in mind, I left the neighborhood. Before leaving, I didn't forget to leave Yang Fei a note, telling her that I had bought breakfast and that she should eat her fill before leaving.
Today, I wanted to see what Su Keya was all about, and why she had intercepted my business.
Filled with anger, I quickly arrived at Boss Zhao's "Zhao Kan" studio. As soon as I entered, I saw the first group, led by Feng Feng, organizing the paintings.
"Yo, you're here so quickly! You're never usually this active!" After saying this, Feng Feng passed me a cigarette.
I took the cigarette, but didn't light it this time, instead tucking it behind my ear.
"Where's Peng Xiaoxiao's painting?" I immediately asked Feng Feng.
"What's gotten into you? Why are you acting so strange today?" Feng Feng looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Do you remember Yang Fei? The girl who had a conflict with us last time!"
"Yang Fei... Oh! I remember! So that girl's name is Yang Fei!"
"Hey, wait a minute! Why are you bringing her up? You didn't get into something with her, did you?"
I roughly told Feng Feng what happened, and then both of us fell silent.
Feng Feng lit another cigarette, took a slight puff, and slowly said, "This is on us! But the painting has already been bought by that girl, Miss Su, and she paid a full hundred thousand! So it's impossible to sell it to Yang Fei anymore! But don't worry, Miss Yang Fei will definitely get her money back."
Feng Feng's words shattered my last hope. With things as they were, I could only send the painting to the girl, Miss Su.
I wasn't in a good mood at the moment, because I didn't know how to face Yang Fei. I also couldn't just give her any painting, because I didn't like to deceive! And she hated deception the most!
After about an hour, I finally got out of the taxi. Looking at the Binhai Group, which looked like a sharp sword thrust into the sky, I immediately felt a strong sense of the gap between rich and poor!
I looked at the skyscrapers in front of me, then looked at the wealthy area across the road, and was momentarily lost in thought.
The "honk honk" of a car horn came from behind me, and I quickly moved to the side. Then, a red Porsche sped past me and entered.
In a place like Shanghai, with all its glitz and glamour, these luxury cars are a common sight on the streets. Anyone who can get a job at Binhai Group must be someone special, the cream of the crop, no doubt.