Zhao Qiang really didn't want to run into Su Su. So he quickly dressed and went inside. Su Su went out to open the door for him, and Su Su walked into the bedroom, bringing with her a chill. She plopped down on the bed and put her hands under the warm blankets to warm them up.
"Zhou Busu, how's it going? Give me some news, I haven't been able to sleep all night."
Su Su then realized that she hadn't borrowed the money from her sister, and she hadn't even mentioned to Zhao Qiang that Zhang Zhiqiao had pleaded for Liu Wei. Su Su stammered, "We haven't been able to contact her yet. Can you wait another day?"
Su Su said, "Are we still waiting? My friend was very unhappy that I didn't deliver the money last night. Secretary Zhang isn't there to serve people like us. We can wait, but he can't."
Su Su said, "But I haven't been able to get in touch with them yet. Can we wait another morning?"
Su Su could only stand up and say, "Fine. You have to give me an answer by noon."
Su Su nudged her sister and said, "Okay, I know, you should go to work now."
Su Su turned to leave the bedroom but suddenly turned back. "Hey, are you in such a hurry to get rid of me because there's someone hiding in the room? I smell something wrong in the room. It smells like smoke."
Actually, Zhao Qiang didn't smoke at all last night. It was just that his clothes smelled of tobacco, which is why Su Su was able to smell the smoke.
Su Su looked somewhat flustered: "Smell of smoke? Where is it?"
Su Su said, "No, no, it smells like smoke."
Su Su said, "Oh, I was too bored last night, so I took a few puffs, but then I found the cigarette too hard to smoke and threw it away."
Su Su asked, "Is it really you who smokes?"
Su Su said, "Who else could it be?"
Su Su said, "You're insisting on living alone, do you have a boyfriend?"
Su Su sat on the edge of the bed and said, "Think whatever you want."
Su Su said, "Let me tell you, Su. Never be fooled by men. Some men are all looks and all they know is sweet talk. If you want to find a boyfriend, you must find one who is rich and powerful, otherwise you will end up like me, being bullied and having no way to complain."
Su Su asked, "Sister, what should I do if I run into someone rich and powerful?"
Su Su said, "What should we do? Of course, we should keep chasing them."
Su Su said, "You support me."
Su Su coughed and said, "Theoretically, I support it, but you're still studying. Let's talk about these things after you graduate from university."
Su Su said, "By the way, sis, can you tell me about Zhao Qiang?"
Su Su said, "Why are you bringing him up again? Didn't I tell you that I really dislike him?"
Su Su said, "But I think he's a good guy. He's honest and trustworthy."
Su Su said, "But precisely because he is honest, he is destined to achieve nothing in his life, and he only earns a few hundred yuan a month now."
Su Su said, "He didn't graduate from university, so maybe he'll have a lot of money in the future."
Su Su scoffed, "Him? If he had a lot of money, I could use it to clean up my mess. By the way, who was driving that Chery Tiggo SUV by the door?"
"Tiggo? I don't know, maybe someone else put it in front of our store."
Su Su said, "I'm not going to talk nonsense with you anymore. Just remember this: you are not allowed to associate with Zhao Qiang. He is destined to be a good-for-nothing. He is not good enough for you. Don't be fooled by his appearance."
Volume 2 [178] Taking Care of You
Su opened the door and left. Su Su patted under the bed and said, "How did you offend someone like that? They didn't even say a nice word for you."
Zhao Qiang poked his head out with a frustrated look on his face: "How should I know? Maybe she was disgusted by my ambition to have my cake and eat it too."
Su Su asked, "Do you still like my sister? Hehe, she told me before that you had a crush on her."
Zhao Qiang shook his head: "No, to be honest, I hate your sister, just like she hates me. We'll never see eye to eye." Su Su said: "Then if I asked you to help her, you definitely wouldn't agree."
Zhao Qiang said, "If it's what you said, I'll consider it. If she begs me, I'll tell her to go cool off somewhere else."
Su Su exclaimed happily, "Really? You're really going to listen to me like that?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Yes, I can't let you down, can I? You just praised me for being honest and trustworthy."
Su Su laughed and said, "So you have to keep it up, otherwise I'll hate you like my sister did."
Zhao Qiang said, "I will do my best."
Su Su pulled him out from under the bed: "Come on, let's go have breakfast, otherwise my parents will be here soon. If they find out that their daughter is hiding a man under her bed, I think things will get really bad."
After washing up, the two left the pharmacy. Su Su locked the security door, and Zhao Qiang took out his car keys and started the Chery Tiggo with a beep. Su Su turned around and asked in surprise, "Is this your car?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Yes, it's inconvenient to go back and forth without a car. Do you know how to drive?"
Su Su nodded excitedly: "I know a little. My sister taught me before."
Zhao Qiang tossed the keys to her and said, "Okay, you drive."
Su Su was excited but also worried: "But I don't have a driver's license."
Zhao Qiang said, "I don't have any either. Drive with peace of mind, just don't hit anyone."
Su Su felt reassured after thinking about how respectful Zhang Zhiqiao was to Zhao Qiang last night. She excitedly got into the driver's seat. What modern girl doesn't like a car? Although it wasn't a fancy car, it was still a car after all.
Ignition went smoothly, and Su Su even knew to preheat the car. Starting was a bit tricky after that, stalling twice. However, once on the road, Su Su gradually became familiar with the Tiggo's accelerator and drove it more and more smoothly. The coordination between the gearshift, clutch, and accelerator became increasingly seamless, and they arrived at the market without any major incidents—the two locations weren't actually that far apart.
After locking the car, Su Su excitedly handed the keys to Zhao Qiang. "This car is so comfortable to drive! I'll buy one when I have the money. Now I finally understand why my sister took out a loan to buy a car. It's so different from walking!"
"
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "Really? Go learn to drive after the New Year, I'll go buy you a car later. It'll be convenient to drive it when visiting relatives during the Spring Festival."
Su Su didn't understand: "What?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Don't you like it? Let's go to the car market after breakfast."
Su Su said, "Don't tease me. A car must cost at least 60,000 or 70,000 yuan."
Zhao Qiang said, "So what? As long as you're happy."
Su Su's face still showed no joy. Zhao Qiang said, "What's wrong? Just say what's on your mind. Don't be upset."
Su Su lowered her head, clutching the hem of her clothes, and said in a low voice, "I feel like I'm being kept by you."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "Is being kept a mistress not good? Or do you think I'm a conman?"
Su Su said, "I have nothing to lie about. I know you're good to me, but the more you do that, the more afraid I am of people saying that I'm just a pretty face kept by you."
Zhao Qiang said, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Su Su shook her head: "I don't know. Actually, I know that the reason you're nice to me is because I look like the old Su Su, isn't that right?"
Zhao Qiang did not deny it, but he had long since put Su Su aside and was now only thinking about her.
Su Su added, "But I just love being with you. I'm happy and feel safe. I don't have to think about any worries."
Zhao Qiang took Su Su's hand and said, "Alright, no more buts. Let others say what they want. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. A girl as good as you deserves to be loved and cherished by a man. There's nothing wrong with being a pretty face. Besides, you're still young, and you'll have your own career in the future. Then those who want to talk about you won't have anything to say."
Su Su nodded. "You always have a bunch of reasons to convince me, so you're not allowed to laugh at me for being just a pretty face."
Zhao Qiang raised his hand and said, "I swear. Actually, you sing very well. I want to train you so you're no worse than those so-called pop stars, and I can focus on developing your talent in the future."
Su Su was clearly very excited when she talked about this. "Yes, that's what I thought too, but my parents disagreed. They said that the entertainment industry is full of unspoken rules, and if a simple girl like me went in, I would be devoured by a pack of wolves."
Zhao Qiang said, "No, you're my 'pretty face,' I'll protect you. I'll help you with this after you go to university." Zhao Qiang wasn't just saying it casually. In fact, he had this plan after hearing Su Su's singing; Su Su's image and temperament were very suitable for a youth entertainment industry. However, firstly, Su Su still had her studies to attend to. Secondly, Zhao Qiang himself lacked the talent. It wasn't the best time to package and promote Su Su. If Zhao Qiang were given another two years to develop, he was absolutely confident he could control the entertainment industry. With money, power, and control over the media, what could those big shots do?
Su Su punched Zhao Qiang: "Hey, you said you wouldn't laugh at me for being a pretty face!" You're so annoying!
Zhao Qiang ate breakfast for almost an hour and was very satisfied. He was happy to be with Su Su. Next was the moment he felt he could really show off by taking a beautiful woman to the car market. He had always dreamed of one day being so dashing as to bring a beautiful woman to choose his favorite car. Now it could finally come true. Zhao Qiang felt even more excited than Su Su. This feeling of showing off was really great; otherwise, so many people would enjoy it.
Su Su wore a ponytail that swayed as she walked. This made her, already young and energetic, appear even more youthful and vibrant. As soon as she entered the car market, she immediately attracted the attention of a group of male car salesmen. She was beautiful, energetic, and her makeup made her look incredibly cute. Every smile and gesture exuded purity and charm. Especially when she showed disdain for a certain car, her adorable pout was enough to captivate countless men.
The male salesmen all struck up conversations with Su Su, which made Zhao Qiang, who was following behind, very proud. "Mom, aren't you all envious? She's my pretty face." Sigh, typical bragging mentality, similar to Liu Wei's, except Zhao Qiang knew how to restrain himself, while Liu Wei only knew how to flaunt his wealth recklessly. That's why he got into trouble.
"Let's not buy it then." Su Su looked around and was deflated. Every car she liked was over 100,000 yuan. This was something Su Su, who had just entered the ranks of "pretty faces," couldn't adapt to at all. If Zhao Qiang hadn't forced her to come, she probably wouldn't have agreed to go to the car market. It takes time to change the mindset of being kept by a man.
Zhao Qiang didn't waste any time. He had been observing Su Su's expression and actions. He pointed to the Hyundai Tucson 2WD manual transmission model in front of him and said, "That's it. Pay up. You guys are responsible for putting up the license plate this morning. Drive it to Heqing Pharmacy next to the bus station later."
The salesperson reminded Zhao Qiang, "This car is priced at 169,800 yuan, but we have a pre-Spring Festival promotion with a discount and gift package, but payment must be in cash. Loans are no longer available before the holiday."
Zhao Qiang said, "I know."
Su Su tugged at Zhao Qiang's sleeve: "Too expensive."
Zhao Qiang asked, "Do you like it?"
Su Su nodded shyly. This car model, silver in color, looks very stylish. It should be fun to drive; it really appeals to the modern girl's mindset—exaggerated and flamboyant.
Zhao Qiang said, "That's fine then. Let's leave our IDs, pay, and go home." Zhao Qiang felt incredibly cocky when he said this. He usually didn't try to act cool in front of Xu Xiaoya and Luo Wei because those two girls came from much better backgrounds than him, and Xu Xiaoya usually planned everything for him, including his Chery Tiggo. But in front of Su Su, Zhao Qiang finally got to enjoy himself. Forgive this newly rich kid; he deserves a chance to show off his manly power. Amen.
In the office, Zhao Qiang pulled out bundles of RMB from his old laptop bag, which made the male car salesman next to him stare wide-eyed. He hadn't really paid much attention to Zhao Qiang before, and Zhao Qiang didn't seem like a rich man, especially with that old, big laptop bag, which made Zhao Qiang look like he was losing face. He never expected there to be so much money inside!
Su Su said, "Why do you always carry so much cash with you?"
Zhao Qiang said, "It's convenient to use. We'll go to the gas station later to buy some gas cards, and then we'll load them into the car this afternoon."
Su Su, who seemed destined to be just a pretty face, stood obediently behind Zhao Qiang without saying a word. The finance staff counted the money, took Su Su's ID, and promised to deliver the car with the license plate on before lunch, guaranteeing a good license plate number, since Zhao Qiang hadn't bargained. This allowed the dealer to make a profit.
Amidst envious glances, Zhao Qiang and Su Su left the car market. The men envied Zhao Qiang's extravagant spending; in reality, it was only a few hundred thousand yuan, far less than those who bought BMWs and Ferraris. But in the Hedian District, such spending was considered classy. The women envied Su Su's purity and cuteness; with such qualities, it was only natural for her to be cherished by men.
"At the gas station, Zhao Qiang directed Su Su to drive. Su Su was somewhat numb; she had already spent most of her money, so a little more gas wouldn't make a difference. Otherwise, having a car but not having money for gas would be a real problem. Luckily, Zhao Qiang had already thought of everything for her."
Su Su didn't get out of the car. Zhao Qiang went to the office and bought 20,000 yuan worth of PetroChina fuel cards. On the way back, Su Su was already driving the Tiggo skillfully; it seemed she had a talent for it. Watching the pure-looking Su Su drive, Zhao Qiang felt a surge of pride. Keeping a girl like that as a mistress was indeed quite nice. If he hadn't acted first, he probably wouldn't even be able to get close to her in a few years. This was what they called "being near the water tower, one gets the moon first."
If you have a monthly pass, please cast one. I got up at 4 AM to write this. (I'm so frustrated!)
Volume 2 [179] Your Great-Grandfather Had Two Wives and One Concubine
Su Su didn't dare stop in front of the Qinghe Pharmacy. She was a little worried. She didn't want to explain the car issue to her parents. It was unrealistic to hide it from them.
Zhao Qiang put a gas card worth two thousand yuan into Su Su's bag and said, "Are you going home?"
Su Su nodded. Zhao Qiang pulled out a black plastic bag from the compartment in front of the gear shifter. Inside was a full 200,000 RMB. Zhao Qiang had brought 1 million RMB in cash with him this time, and the rest was kept in the storage box. He couldn't be stingy with money when he went back to his hometown for the New Year, as he would need it everywhere.
"Is this enough to solve the problems at home?" Zhao Qiang placed the plastic bag in Su Su's hand.
Su Su: "No need, only sixty or seventy thousand is enough, but I..."
Zhao Qiang said, "Let's not talk about anything else. Let's stick to our old agreement. Be happy with me. That's more important than any amount of money. Don't have any psychological burden. Remember, your future is bright. No one is better than you. You just need someone to protect you right now, understand?"
Su Su nodded heavily. Zhao Qiang's words did indeed relieve her mental pressure. As long as she made a name for herself in the future, she could repay Zhao Qiang and get rid of the "pretty face" label that she disliked. Zhao Qiang was right. Right now, she was just a blade of grass that needed the care of a big tree, and it was obvious that Zhao Qiang was the best one.