Chapter 121: The First Meeting
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“Miles, I’m here.” A woman dressed in a short dress stepped into the fried chicken shop. Her attire revealed a pair of flawless, fair legs. With a look of pure innocence and beauty, she walked in, clutching her purse and wearing high heels.
She waved with a captivating smile spread across her face.
River felt confident about her carefully chosen outfit and would rate it an 82 out of 100. She believed that Miles would grant her the remaining 18 points with utmost enthusiasm.
She had made up her mind. River wanted to erase the image of a stern accountant from Miles’s memory and had therefore made a total transformation in style.
Sure enough, several customers in the shop couldn’t help but glance at her, particularly admiring her delicate legs.
“Such beautiful legs,” thought many of the male patrons silently.
“River, come over here. Or do you want me to move the table over to you?” Miles teased, raising an eyebrow and slightly lifting his head in her direction.
“Got it.” With a playful giggle that hinted at her youthful side, River obediently walked over.
“You look a bit off. Did you encounter a ghost or something?” Miles teased further, staring intently at her neck. “Do you want me to check for you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” River responded, “Stop imagining things.”
“Really? Because it feels like you’re becoming increasingly weird. Have I been out of the social loop for too long to understand current trends, or are you just drifting into some realm I can’t follow?” Miles looked at her with suspicion.
River was instantly irritated and retorted, “I dressed up specially for you, and you call me weird? I’m just being me. Please, can you think straight for once?”
“Am I the one being abnormal?” Miles countered.
River rolled her eyes, “Yes, you are abnormal.”
“So, what’s considered normal then?” Miles asked.
“Like any other young man,” River began, “one who enjoys looking at beautiful women, discussing intriguing topics, watching slightly risqué movies. For example, if you ever have any fantasies about me, I wouldn’t mind.” She said the last line with a hint of seduction in her voice.
Miles was perplexed. “You’re not young anymore, and yet you daydream about younger men, and you say you’re not strange?”
River bit her lip in frustration, contemplating the urge to flip the table.
What was she thinking when she chose to associate with such a man? Was it a generational gap issue? She just couldn’t fathom his line of thinking.
“I’m mad and don’t want to talk to you anymore,” she huffed, turning her head away.
“How about some ice cream?” Miles offered as a peace offering.
“I’d like strawberry flavor, thanks.”
Miles replied, “I’d like that too. Could you get one for me?”
“What?” River looked at him in disbelief.
“It’s on me,” Miles said.
River was a bit exasperated. Was this really about who’s paying? Shouldn’t he, as the man, offer to go buy the ice cream? She wondered why he was treating her this way while they were out shopping together. Was her pride as a beautiful woman being trampled upon?
However, moments later, River, with an ice cream cone in hand, walked away from the counter toward Miles.
“River, I knew I’d find you here. I saw your car parked outside,” a gentle voice chimed in.
River shuddered upon hearing that voice.
A man, whom she deeply feared, appeared.
“Feng, why is it always you? How did you find me?” she demanded.
“Love always guides me,” Feng responded, winking flirtatiously.
Ignoring him, River rolled her eyes and turned away.
“And who is this?” Feng followed her gaze to the man who was now holding River’s ice cream.
“My boyfriend,” River promptly replied, not hesitating.
Boyfriend? Feng scrutinized Miles. He appeared quite young, possibly under twenty. Though he had a somewhat handsome face, his attire was appalling. His shirt was filthy and stained with dirt, and he emitted a sour, unpleasant odor as if something had rotted on him. Standing too close was nauseating.
What kind of lifestyle led to this state of appearance? What could have possibly driven River to fall for such an oddball? Did she have some bizarre taste?
“Hello, I’m Feng, River’s college classmate. Nice to meet you,” Feng greeted with a polite smile, extending his hand.
Miles looked up, put down the chicken leg he was eating, and extended his own greasy hand, “Miles.”
Disgusted by the oily hand, Feng frowned, resisting the urge to shake it. “Rude.”
Observing Feng’s hesitance, Miles remarked, “You’re the rude one.”
Feng was on the brink of frustration. “Isn’t it rude to offer such a dirty hand for a handshake? Haven’t you heard of washing hands?”
“Don’t you know that interrupting someone’s meal is already quite impolite? Not to mention wanting to shake hands while they’re eating. Furthermore, you shouldn’t speak condescendingly; it’s polite to sit down when having a conversation. How many modern etiquette classes have you taken? Did you really graduate from college?” Miles challenged.
Caught off guard, Feng was momentarily speechless. This young man was surprisingly articulate.
“Feng, it’s best if you leave now. This isn’t the best place,” River intervened.
Feng smiled gracefully, “No worries. It seems like fate brought us together today. I’d like to chat with your friend here.”
Addressing Miles, he inquired, “May I ask about your current profession and where you work?” Saying this, he took a seat.
“Work? I never work a regular job and don’t ever intend to,” Miles began with a smirk. “I basically maintain my lifestyle through minor scams and extortions. You seem to be a good talker and quite thick-skinned. Interested in working for me? I’m in need of a salesperson. I’d give you a 1% commission on every deal, though there’s no basic salary.”
Chuckling, Feng replied, “You must be joking! I’m an educated person, a college graduate. Why would I work for someone like you? And do you honestly believe that money obtained through such means truly sustains your life? Would you mind sharing your monthly income?”
Miles responded, “I can’t disclose exact numbers, but I can confidently say that everything I have, including any luxuries, are all earned.”
Such confidence!
Feng looked skeptically at Miles. His clothes seemed to be worth less than a hundred dollars in total, and he ate cheap fried chicken. Miles appeared disheveled, exuding an unpleasant odor, with a makeshift bag beside him containing something that resembled a cardboard box. The only item of value appeared to be the golden-toned stick tucked into his belt, which might be worth a couple of hundred dollars. There was no sign of luxury about him.
Miles caught his gaze, “Don’t be envious. If you join me, I assure you, you’d be able to afford all of this.”
Join you? To collect junk?
Feng laughed, a hint of mockery evident, “I initially thought you were just a thug, but it turns out you’re even lower – a scavenger. How could someone like you, in such a pitiable state, be worthy of River’s love? Leave her be. You can’t provide her happiness; don’t add to her troubles.”
Miles tapped on the table with a chicken bone, his tone becoming more serious, “Although you insulted me, I can forgive you this once. And don’t misunderstand; I’m not her boyfriend. To be precise, she’s my employee. I’m her boss. She works for me.”
River interjected with a hint of resentment, “How can you say that? We’re living together! How can you not be my boyfriend?”
Feng’s eyes widened in shock.
Was he misunderstanding?
Was she really attaching herself to such an oddball?
Is this some sort of charitable act?
“We simply share a living space, but our relationship is strictly based on an employer-employee monetary agreement,” Miles clarified.
River pouted, “But we’ve been sharing a bed for several days.”
“That’s only because you couldn’t win the bed from me, and you refused to sleep on the floor,” Miles retorted.
“I don’t care. You should take responsibility for me,” River insisted.
“I am responsible only for your safety and not your emotions. And that’s only during the period you’re working for me,” Miles explained.
As Feng listened to their exchange, he felt increasingly confused. The conversation was veering off course. Wasn’t he just trying to convince Miles to leave River? He needed a moment to collect his thoughts.
He began to wonder if River was deliberately teaming up with Miles to play a prank on him. Perhaps she’d randomly selected someone to act out this scene.
“Excuse me, I need to take this call,” Feng’s phone rang, providing him with a timely excuse to momentarily extricate himself from the situation.