Chapter 43: Forgot to Bring Money

Yi Xiaoyan apologized, “Director Lu, I was with my boyfriend tonight, so I wasn’t free to answer your call. I’m sorry.”

“Your boyfriend?” Lu Huaxing’s expression changed.

Wasn’t it said that Yi Xiaoyan didn’t have a boyfriend yet? How did one suddenly appear?

“Yes.” Yi Xiaoyan knew Lu Huaxing wanted to pursue her, but she didn’t like him.

He often used work as an excuse to visit her dormitory, which annoyed her deeply.

Now that she had met He Haoxuan, she naturally used that relationship to fend him off.

“Director Lu, was there something you wanted to discuss with me?” Yi Xiaoyan asked deliberately.

“No, nothing at all.” Lu Huaxing shook his head.

Yi Xiaoyan smiled and drove toward her dormitory.

“So what if you have a boyfriend? As long as you’re not married, I still have a chance.” Lu Huaxing sneered.

It was just how things were. Lu Huaxing thought he would continue to pursue Yi Xiaoyan, and even if her boyfriend showed up, he would boldly go after her.

He even had people spread rumors that he was already involved with Yi Xiaoyan.

When Yi Xiaoyan’s so-called boyfriend heard these rumors, he would surely have a quarrel with her, perhaps even break up, and then Lu Huaxing would profit from the situation.

Cao Dawei had been extremely troubled these past few days. Originally, as someone who had worked diligently for several years, it should have been easy for him to become a permanent employee.

The leadership had even hinted they would help him secure that position.

But for some reason, their attitude changed in recent days, saying the quotas for permanent staff were now scarce and not as easy to obtain as before.

Cao Dawei also heard that this time, the quota might go to a colleague who had only been there for a year, and not to him.

This angered Cao Dawei greatly, so he went to confront the leadership.

Because Cao Dawei was quite blunt, he ended up quarreling with them, making his chances even slimmer.

Feeling down, he called He Haoxuan. “Brother, where are you?”

“I’m at home. Is something wrong?” He Haoxuan sensed something off in Cao Dawei’s voice.

“Can you come out for a drink with me? I’m not feeling well,” Cao Dawei said.

“Sure, just give me the address. I’ll be there soon.” With that, He Haoxuan headed out.

Since they would be drinking, He Haoxuan didn’t dare drive and took a taxi instead.

He arrived at a nearby barbecue stall, where he found Cao Dawei alone, already having finished two bottles of beer.

“What happened?” He Haoxuan asked.

“Sigh, things aren’t going well at work. I can’t get the quota to become a permanent employee,” Cao Dawei sighed, “If this goes on, I won’t make staff status and won’t get a pension in the future.”

He Haoxuan was puzzled, “Didn’t you say last time that you were quite happy at work? What changed?”

“I don’t know. Ever since I came back from that class reunion, it seems like the workplace doesn’t fit me anymore. Colleagues treat me poorly, and the higher-ups criticize my work. If this continues, I’ll be fired,” Cao Dawei said, opening another bottle and gulping it down.

He Haoxuan laughed, “I thought it was something serious. I’ll find someone to ask about this for you. If it doesn’t work out, you can start your own company. I’ll sponsor you.”

“Enough, Haoxuan, stop bragging. You’re barely getting by yourself and you still want to help me?” Cao Dawei waved his hand, “Xu Jipeng already said, you look flashy on the surface, but you’re really miserable in the Li family. They don’t even treat you as a person.”

Everyone knew the hardship of being a live-in son-in-law, so as long as one had any pride, they wouldn’t marry into a woman’s family.

He Haoxuan just smiled and said nothing.

This was something that Fang Yongsheng could handle.

He ran the Starshine Club and knew a lot of people; surely he could help Cao Dawei.

He Haoxuan and Cao Dawei continued drinking. In the end, He Haoxuan put Cao Dawei in a taxi.

“Boss, you haven’t paid yet!” The barbecue stall owner saw He Haoxuan about to leave by taxi and hurried over to block him.

“All right, I’ll pay. Can you take bank cards?” He Haoxuan took out his special card.

The stall owner shook his head, “Boss, we’re just a small street business; we don’t take cards. But you can use Alipay or WeChat Pay.”

“I can’t use Alipay or WeChat Pay,” He Haoxuan said awkwardly.

After returning to the country, he hadn’t used a domestic bank card. Apps like WeChat and Alipay could only be linked to domestic accounts.

His WeChat was only for chatting and video calls; he couldn’t snatch red envelopes.

“Then cash,” the stall owner said, eyeing him warily, and signaled a staff member to come over.

In this country, if a young person says they can’t use Alipay or WeChat Pay, it’s a lie.

“So you’re planning to eat for free?” The stall owner sneered, approaching He Haoxuan, “I’ll call the police and let them handle it.”

He Haoxuan replied, “Boss, there’s money in my card. How about you come with me to a bank ATM to withdraw it?”

“This card?” The stall owner laughed contemptuously, “I’ve never seen a card with only English on it. If I’m not mistaken, it’s a fake card. You’ll trick me into leaving, then run off.”

“Boss, don’t waste time talking to him. Call the police. He can withdraw money wherever he likes once they arrive,” the staff member sneered.

“Hurry up and call the police. He’s a con artist,” came a mocking voice from nearby as Wang Zhisheng and Minnie walked over.

He Haoxuan was glad to see them. “Wang Zhisheng, pay for me. I’ll transfer the money to your account from my phone.”

He Haoxuan couldn’t use Alipay or WeChat Pay, but he could use the World Bank app to transfer money to Wang Zhisheng’s card.

“Darling, how about we ask the boss not to call the police yet, and I’ll phone Li Qingwan and the others to come here for barbecue, so they can see what kind of ‘wealthy’ boyfriend Li Qingwan really has?” Minnie suddenly had a mischievous idea.

Wang Zhisheng’s eyes lit up. Yes, why hadn’t he thought of that?

Last time, he asked Bro Dao to deal with He Haoxuan, but something happened; Bro Dao hadn’t answered his calls since, as if he’d disappeared.

And according to Minnie, Li Qingwan often boasted in the dorm about how rich He Haoxuan was, making Xiao Juan and the others side with her.

Now, He Haoxuan couldn’t even pay for a barbecue—what a joke.

Calling Li Qingwan over to slap her in the face would be a great pleasure in life.