Chapter 525: I Should Have Been Under the Car, Not in It

Chapter 525: I Should Have Been Under the Car, Not in It

Beijing Information Engineering College.

Zhang Yang was very enthusiastic about helping Dongzi carry his luggage and busily assisted him with all the procedures for new student registration.

After everything was done, Dongzi, seeing him drenched in sweat, couldn't help but say, "Big Brother Yang, you've really worked hard today. Let's exchange contact information. I'll go with my sister to buy some daily necessities and then I'll treat you to dinner this afternoon."

Zhang Yang smiled broadly and said, "Dongzi, since you've called me Big Brother Yang, I should be the one to treat you to dinner this afternoon to celebrate the start of your colorful university life."

Dongzi laughed and said, "Big Brother Yang, you're too kind. You've been busy helping me for half a day. It wouldn't be right for you to pay for my meal as well."

Zhang Yang said with a generous smile, "What's the big deal? I feel like we hit it off at first sight. It's only natural for me, as your senior, to treat you to a meal."

Dongzi thought to himself, If you didn't look at my sister, I might have believed you.

He didn't want to argue over who should pay, so he decided to find an excuse to settle the bill early.

With that in mind, Dongzi exchanged phone numbers with him and said, "Alright, let's do it this way. We'll go buy some things first, and once everything is settled, I'll call you, Big Brother Yang."

Zhang Yang said with enthusiasm, "Okay, then I'll go welcome other new students. If you have any questions, just call me."

As Zhang Yang slowly walked away, looking back every few steps, Dongzi put his arm around his sister's shoulder and said while walking towards the school's convenience store, "Sis, your charm is really something. Look at how this Big Brother Yang is completely smitten, ready to do anything for us. Do you have a lot of admirers at school?"

Xiaodong'er, thinking of the persistent admirers at school, replied with a headache, "There are a few guys who just won't go away."

Dongzi said, "Sis, don't worry. Once I get settled, I'll help you get rid of those guys."

Xiaodong'er glanced at him, "How do you plan to get rid of them?"

Dongzi's eyes twinkled as he chuckled, "Just tell them you already have a fiance and will get married right after graduation. That way, they won't waste their time on you. I don't believe they'll keep bothering you then."

Xiaodong'er glared at him, "What kind of ridiculous idea is that?"

Dongzi blinked, "Just tell me if it'll work or not!"

Xiaodong'er shook her head, "I only have one year left until graduation, minus the internship time, I don't have much time left at school. Don't cause any more trouble."

Dongzi said, "If you don't want to, that's fine. But Sis, you have to help me with something."

Xiaodong'er asked, "Help you with what?"

Dongzi said, "Introduce me to a pretty senior from Peking University."

Xiaodong'er frowned, "What are you up to?"

"What do you think?"

Dongzi said confidently, "To find a girlfriend, of course!"

Xiaodong'er sneered, "What are you thinking? With you being a student from a second-tier university, you actually want to find a beautiful girl from Peking University as your girlfriend?"

Dongzi retorted, "Sis, don't be so dismissive. Apart from my grades, I'm not bad in terms of appearance, physique, and social skills. I think I have the qualifications to find a beautiful girl from Peking University as my girlfriend."

Xiaodong'er shook her head, "Unless you reveal our family background, but the kind of girlfriend you find that way probably isn't the one you want. Without revealing our family background, as a student from a second-tier university, they won't even give you a second look."

Dongzi laughed, "I know Peking University seniors are proud, which is why I asked you to introduce me. With your help, I'll have a chance to meet those beautiful seniors."

Xiaodong'er shook her head, "Don't ask me to do that. Everyone who gets into our school is an elite. If you end up treating them badly, I'll have a big burden on my conscience. I won't do such a despicable thing!"

Dongzi: "…"

…

In the afternoon.

A restaurant near the Information Engineering College.

Wearing a very decent outfit and with his hair styled neatly with gel, Zhang Yang met Dongzi and his beautiful sister for dinner with a fresh appearance.

The entire dinner conversation between Zhang Yang and Dongzi was quite engaging.

Zhang Yang's family was well-off, and his perspective and experience were better than those of many of his peers, so when he boasted to his peers, they usually just sat there as listeners or played along.

As for having a meaningful conversation with him, that was impossible; he had never encountered anyone who could do that before.

To Zhang Yang's surprise, this younger Dongzi had a perspective and experience that were not inferior to his, and even seemed slightly better, which shocked him.

What Zhang Yang didn't know was that although Dongzi's academic performance wasn't great, he had traveled all over China with his grandfather and sister since he was young, and had seen a large part of the country. In terms of broad horizons and rich experiences, there were very few peers in the country who could match him.

Moreover, with his family being extraordinary, Dongzi had been influenced by them for a long time, and his perspective and experience were far beyond what Zhang Yang could match.

Originally, Zhang Yang's intention was not purely about the dinner, but as he chatted more with Dongzi, he genuinely wanted to befriend this well-traveled junior.

When the meal was almost over, Zhang Yang felt that he had become quite familiar with the brother and sister, so he boldly asked, "Dongzi's sister, did you come specifically to see Dongzi off to school?"

Xiaodong'er replied, "I'm also studying in the capital, so dropping him off for his enrollment was just a side trip."

Zhang Yang smiled and said, "I guessed as much. I wonder which school Winter Sister attends? Is it far from ours?"

Dongzi chimed in with a grin, "Brother Yang, my sister goes to Peking University!"

Zhang Yang was taken aback by this news. If Dongzi's beautiful sister was just a regular college student like them, he might have had a chance to pursue her with his family background. However, with her being a Peking University student, his chances were extremely slim.

After all, being so beautiful was already rare, and she was also a talented student from a top university. Such exceptional qualities, both in appearance and intellect, were not something a student from a second-tier university like him could aspire to.

Even with his family's wealth, it wouldn't make a difference.

Zhang Yang was well aware of this.

Despite this, Zhang Yang quickly adjusted his mindset and said admiringly, "Peking University is a bridge that thousands of people try to cross, and those who succeed are the pride of the nation. I didn't expect Winter Sister to be so remarkable. Truly impressive!"

"Thank you, you're too kind!"

Xiaodong'er modestly replied.

Seeing that it was getting late, Dongzi said, "Brother Yang, it's getting late. How about we meet up another day? I need to take my sister back to her school!"

Zhang Yang agreed, "Sure, let's meet up another day."

...

As the sister and brother walked out of the school gate, a black Audi A6 was already waiting on the opposite street.

This was the bodyguard car assigned to them by Deng Shirong. The bodyguard had been secretly protecting Xiaodong'er before, and with Dongzi's arrival, considering that the siblings would often need to travel between their schools, it was decided to increase the security. Traveling by car would be more convenient and safer.

Thus, Deng Shirong increased the number of bodyguards and formed a specialized team to protect his grandchildren. He also gave the contact number of the bodyguard team to the siblings, so they could call for assistance when needed.

Xiaodong'er said, "Alright, no need to see me off. Go back and get to know your roommates. You'll be living together for the next four years, so it's important to build a good relationship."

Dongzi nodded, "Got it. I'll call you once I'm back at school. I'll come visit you at Peking University once I'm settled."

Xiaodong'er glanced at him and said, "You can visit me, but don't expect me to introduce you to anyone."

Dongzi replied helplessly, "OK, I'll find someone on my own. No need for you to introduce me, alright?"

Xiaodong'er could already imagine her brother's future struggles. She smiled expectantly, "Alright, I'll be watching. See you later!"

Watching his sister get into the Audi A6, Dongzi finally felt at ease and walked back to his dorm room.

As he approached the dorm room, he heard a familiar song playing inside:

I was caught off guard

And could only stand there

I should have been under the car

Not in it

Seeing how sweet you two are...

Dongzi laughed and said, "Old Li, you like Ah Du's songs too?"

Li Wentao's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Dongzi, you like Ah Du's songs too?"

Dongzi nodded, "Ah Du's voice is so distinctive. The more I listen, the more I enjoy it. And his first album is simply amazing. At least half of the ten songs are hit-level tracks. It's incredible that a newcomer can launch such a high-quality album."

Li Wentao felt a strong sense of kinship and said excitedly, "Yes, Ah Du is indeed impressive. This album is a rare gem in the music industry. Songs like 'He Must Love You So Much,' 'When It Gets Dark,' 'Andy,' 'Tearful Night,' and 'Farewell' are all hit-level tracks.

While the other songs in the album might not be as impactful, each one has its own unique qualities. No one would have expected such a high-quality album from a newcomer. I'm sure this album will be a huge hit."

Dongzi smiled, "It already is. I heard it has sold over a million copies."

If you were to ask which singer was the hottest this year, it would undoubtedly be Ah Du. With just this one album, he has directly risen to the status of a top-tier artist, a rare feat in the music industry.

The other roommates listened to their conversation with puzzled looks.

Music is something most people enjoy, and some, upon hearing a good song, can't help but look up the singer and their other works, even digging into who wrote and composed the song.

However, some people listen to music casually and only remember the song's name, without much further interest.

Among the six roommates, only Dongzi and Li Wentao were passionate about music. The others had also heard 'He Must Love You So Much,' as it was incredibly popular, making it hard to avoid.

But they didn't care as much about who sang the song, so when they heard Dongzi and Li Wentao's conversation, they felt a bit out of the loop.

Zhang Hailin couldn't help but ask curiously, "Old Li, Dongzi, isn't this Ah Du's first album? How do you two know so much about him?"

Dongzi smiled and replied, "If Ah Du were just a regular singer, I wouldn't have the motivation to learn about him. But his album is so impressive, with several songs I really like, so I took the time to research him a bit.

Li Wentao chimed in, "Old Zhang, Old Chen, Old Cui, Old Huang, I suggest you also get to know Ah Du. He is truly a genius singer. With just his first album, he has already become a sensation across the country. Such a singer is really rare."

Hearing Dongzi and Li Wentao both praise him so much, Zhang Hailin, Chen Yunfei, Cui Yongchun, and Huang Hanchang all became interested and started asking questions one after another.

Dongzi and Li Wentao answered all their questions. With Li Wentao's radio still playing, the classic songs from Ah Du's album were soon played one by one.

Although the others, except for Dongzi, had very limited music appreciation skills, classic songs are called classics for a reason. Even those who don't understand music can tell they are good songs.

The roommates, who came from different provinces and had just met, now had a common topic in Ah Du. As they chatted, the initial awkwardness disappeared, and it was a good start.

…

In the afternoon.

Naye Villa Complex.

Deng Shirong sat at the entrance of his house, puffing on his water pipe with a rhythmic gurgle.

In his previous life, he had smoked a water pipe all his life, and in this rebirth, he naturally couldn't quit. Among his contemporaries, unless someone had health issues, no one would think of quitting while they were in good health.

While Deng Shirong was puffing on his water pipe, Deng Changfu walked over with a beehive that weighed at least 7-8 pounds, smiling broadly. "Elder Ninth, I just burned some hornet larvae at the corner of the field. Here, to go with your wine."

Deng Shirong immediately recognized the hornet, set aside his water pipe, and took the beehive, smiling. "Great, we'll have some fine delicacies with our wine tonight."

Deng Changfu sat down on a small stool and asked, "Elder Ninth, Xiaodong'er and Dongzi have gone to school?"

Deng Shirong replied, "Yes, they left a few days ago!"

Deng Changfu sighed, "Education really depends on fate. My two sons finished high school, but because they did so poorly on the college entrance exam, they refused to continue their education. There's really nothing I can do about it."

Deng Shirong consoled him, "Everyone has their own path. For ordinary families, education is the only way to change their fate. But given your family's conditions, it's better if they can go to university, but it's not a big deal if they can't. There are plenty of ways to make money."

Deng Changfu took the water pipe and said, "That's true. I've already decided that since they can't continue their education, I'll have them get married and start a family early. Once they have their wives, we, as parents, won't have to worry about them anymore."

Deng Shirong handed him the tobacco and a lighter, saying, "Indeed, they are five months older than Xiaodong'er. They are indeed ready for marriage."

Deng Changfu, while stuffing tobacco into the pipe, smiled, "Elder Ninth, if you come across any suitable matches, please introduce them to my sons!"

Deng Shirong nodded, "Sure, I'll keep an eye out and see if I can find any suitable girls."

Deng Changfu, while puffing on the pipe, said, "With Elder Ninth's help, their marriage won't be a concern for me anymore!"

Deng Shirong smiled and asked, "The house you bought in the capital, it must be worth a lot now, right?"

Mentioning this, Deng Changfu couldn't help but get excited. "Elder Ninth, you really are a genius. The price of our house in the capital has been rising steadily. Over the past decade, it has increased by more than ten times."

Deng Shirong smiled, "The capital has successfully bid for the Olympics, and the 2008 Games are just a few years away. The Olympic projects are being developed, and the housing prices will continue to rise. So, hold onto those houses and don't rush to sell them."

Deng Changfu was truly moved upon hearing this. Although his family received a large share of the clan's annual dividends and had made a lot of money from business over the years, they were not lacking in money. However, who wouldn't want more, especially when it wasn't a small amount.

Back then, after listening to Elder Ninth's advice, his family had put all their available cash into buying houses. Now, even if the value of those houses hasn't reached a hundred million, it's not far off.

Such a huge sum of money is probably only something Elder Ninth's family wouldn't mind.

Deng Changfu said gratefully, "Understood, thank you for your advice, Elder Ninth."

…

Dinner time arrived.

Deng Shirong's house was filled with a full table of guests, including his youngest son's family, his niece's family, and Deng YunGui. Deng YunQiang and Deng Changfu were also there.

In addition, Chief Deng Changyong was present.

Deng Changyong had already retired.

In his previous life, after retirement, Deng Changyong had lived in his hometown for a while, actively offering economic advice to the clan and even funding the planting of fruit trees for those in need. Unfortunately, few in the clan valued his advice, and the widespread gambling in his hometown greatly disturbed him. However, he lacked the authority to change the situation, so he eventually returned to the capital to enjoy his retirement.

In this life, due to Deng Shirong, Deng Changyong's sense of belonging to the clan was a hundred times stronger than in his previous life. He returned to the village as soon as he retired.

If everything went as planned, Deng Changyong would spend the rest of his life in his hometown.

…

PS: Thank you to all the relatives for your monthly votes.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end