pjbooks Chapter 3 Strangers are strangers!
Chapter 3 Strangers are strangers!
"What's wrong with Lin Shiyu?" Chen Mo asked.
Su Wan's expression was subtle as she carefully chose her words: "She... hasn't been doing well lately."
"What do you mean?"
"She's back from Shanghai and is in Jiangcheng now." Su Wan lowered her voice. "I heard from an old classmate that she was scammed by a so-called rich second-generation. That guy said he had resources to help her debut, but it turned out he cheated her out of money and sex, and she's now drowning in debt. She's working alone in Jiangcheng to pay off her debts, it's pretty tough for her."
Chen Mo remained silent for a few seconds.
He wasn't close to Lin Shiyu; their relationship was mostly just memories from their university days. But hearing this still made him feel uneasy.
"Why are you suddenly bringing this up with me?"
Su Wan hesitated for a moment, then took out her phone from her trench coat pocket, scrolled through it a couple of times, and handed it over: "Take a look for yourself."
The screen displays the chat interface of the WeChat group "Jiangcheng Old Friends". Su Wan clicks on one person's Moments.
The profile picture is a selfie. A young woman stands in front of a mirror, wearing a black off-the-shoulder dress, her collarbones prominent, her figure slender. She has a small face, large eyes, and slightly drooping corners, giving her a naturally pitiful appearance.
Lin Shiyu.
Even though they hadn't seen each other for several years, Chen Mo recognized her at a glance.
She looks much thinner in the photo than she did in college; her already slender figure appears even more frail. The off-the-shoulder top reveals her rounded shoulders, and her long, straight legs are visible beneath the hem of her skirt, giving her an alluring yet innocent look.
But what attracted him was her eyes.
Those big eyes had lost the liveliness and brightness of their college days, replaced only by weariness and numbness. A smile played on her lips, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"She posted this the day before yesterday." Su Wan put away her phone and sighed. "She works at a bar now, doing marketing or something. Someone in the group said they saw her drinking with customers, and she was being groped but didn't dare to say anything."
Chen Mo frowned.
"What do you want me to do by telling me all this?"
Su Wan looked at him, her eyes flickering: "It's nothing. I just remembered that you were quite close to her in college, and I thought you might want to visit her. If it's inconvenient, then forget it."
Chen Mo did not answer immediately.
He glanced down at the SMS message on his mobile banking app: 19,680 yuan.
Nineteen hundred and sixty-six thousand eight hundred yuan.
Ten times the cashback.
Every penny you spend now will yield tenfold returns. Helping others is also helping yourself.
Moreover, the way Lin Shiyu looked in the photos did make him feel uncomfortable.
"Which bar is she at?"
Su Wan's eyes lit up: "I'll ask for you and send it to you on WeChat later. By the way, is your WeChat ID still the same as before?"
"I've changed it," Chen Mo said, giving his new number.
Su Wan saved his number and added him on WeChat. They chatted for a few more minutes. Chen Mo knew that she was now working as a planning director at a GG company in Jiangcheng, earning an annual salary of around 200,000 yuan, and renting an apartment in a riverside community, living a comfortable life.
"I'll treat you to dinner another day," Su Wan said with a smile. "It's been so many years since we last met, let's catch up properly."
"OK."
The two parted ways in the arrival hall. Su Wan walked briskly towards the parking lot in her high heels, the hem of her trench coat swaying gently, attracting many glances.
Chen Mo looked away, slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed towards the taxi waiting area.
Jiangcheng remains the same as always.
The taxi drove along the riverside avenue. Outside the window, the river surface was hazy, and several cargo ships slowly passed by, their horns low and drawn-out. On the opposite bank, high-rise buildings stood side by side, their glass curtain walls reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, gilding the entire city with a thin layer of gold.
Chen Mo lives in the old city. His parents are ordinary wage earners, and their house is an old apartment from the 1990s, with three bedrooms and a living room, old but cozy.
The car was parked at the entrance of the residential area. Chen Mo paid the fare and walked in with his bag on his back.
"Xiao Mo is back?" Uncle Zhang, the gatekeeper, poked his head out and greeted him with a smile.
"I'm back."
"Your mom talks about you all the time, hurry up and go upstairs."
Chen Mo smiled and quickened his pace upstairs.
Third floor, room 302.
He took out his keys and opened the door, the familiar aroma of food wafting out. The TV in the living room was on, showing the local news. The sound of stir-frying came from the kitchen, accompanied by the hum of the range hood.
"Mom, I'm home."
The kitchen door opened, and Chen's mother peeked out. The woman, in her fifties, had quite a few gray hairs, wore a floral apron, and held a spatula in her hand.
"You're back? Go wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon." She looked her son up and down. "You've lost weight."
"I didn't lose weight, I actually gained two pounds."
"What do you mean 'fat'? Your face has gotten so thin." Chen's mother shook her head with concern. "Go wash your hands, your dad will be home from get off work soon."
Chen Mo responded and went into his room.
The room was the same as always: a single bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. Posters from college were on the walls, and a graduation photo sat on the desk.
He threw his backpack on the bed, sat down at his desk, and picked up the group photo.
In the photo, a group of young people in graduation gowns are smiling broadly at the school gate. He spotted himself immediately, standing on the far left of the second row, laughing carefree.
Standing beside her was Guan Yao, dressed in an academic gown, with long hair flowing down her shoulders and a gentle smile.
Next to it...
Chen Mo's gaze fell on a girl in the middle of the third row.
Lin Shiyu.
She looked fuller in the photo than she does now, with chubby cheeks and a bright, smiling face that revealed two cute little tiger teeth. She wore a white dress, the hem of which fluttered slightly in the wind, revealing a section of her slender, fair legs. One hand was resting on the shoulder of the girl next to her, while the other made a V-sign.
At that time, her eyes shone with light.
Chen Mo put down the photo, took out his phone, and opened the WeChat message sent by Su Wan.
"Lin Shiyu works at the 'Muse' bar, No. 247 Yanjiang Avenue, starting work at 8 pm."
There's another note: "If you go, don't mention you found out from me. She has a strong sense of pride and doesn't want her old classmates to see her like this."
Chen Mo replied with "OK".
He glanced at the time; it was 6:30 PM.
There's still an hour and a half left.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The image of Lin Shiyu in that WeChat Moments photo flashed through his mind: eyes devoid of light, a smile without warmth, a thin body beneath a black dress.
Then he recalled Guan Yao's appearance in the airplane lavatory: her aloof and stunning face, her eyes misty with tears, and her shoulders trembling slightly as she leaned forward.
And that cold, icy statement: "After today, even if we meet again, we will be strangers."
Chen Mo opened his eyes, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
Strangers are strangers.
With the system at his disposal, why would he worry about not having women?
Tenfold cashback, live life to the fullest.
He stood up, walked to the wardrobe, and opened the door. Inside were mostly clothes he had bought in college; the styles were outdated, and some were already pilling.
Chen Mo frowned.
I need to buy some clothes.
He took out his phone, opened JD.com, and searched for "men's winter clothing".
A Canada Goose down jacket costs 12,000 yuan.
A pair of Burberry casual leather shoes, 8,000.
A pair of Armani jeans, 3,500.
Several Versace shirts and T-shirts, totaling over 20,000 yuan.
Chen Mo didn't even blink before placing the order. The total price was 48,000 yuan.
My phone vibrated; a bank SMS notification indicated a successful deduction. My balance now stands at 439300 yuan.
A system notification sounded: [Ding! Host has spent 48,000 yuan, and the tenfold cashback of 480,000 yuan has been credited to your account! Current balance: 676,800 yuan!]
Sixty-seventy-six thousand eight hundred yuan.
Chen Mo looked at the numbers on the screen, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
Where is this?
He turned off his phone, picked out a decent-looking black jacket and a pair of dark blue jeans from his closet, and changed into a pair of clean white sneakers.
I stood in front of the mirror and looked at myself.
His clothes weren't from any big brands, but his good looks were undeniable. He was 1.78 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, sharply defined features, striking eyebrows, bright eyes, and a straight nose. Back in college, many girls said he resembled a certain popular young actor.
Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction, picked up his phone and wallet, and went out.
About an hour later.
Muse Bar, No. 247 Yanjiang Avenue.
Chen Mo stood across the street, looking at the three-story building.
The storefront wasn't large, but the decor was exquisite. A neon sign hung at the entrance, the letters "MUSE" shimmering with an ambiguous purplish-red glow in the night. Two burly security guards in suits stood at the door, their faces expressionless.
Through the glass doors, you can see the bar and a row of booths inside. The lighting is dim, and the music is low and rhythmic. A few customers have already taken their seats, mostly stylish young men and women.
Chen Mo crossed the street, pushed open the door, and went inside.
The bar's interior is much larger than it appears from the outside. The first floor has a lobby and bar counter, the second floor has booths and private rooms, and the third floor is supposedly a VIP area. The decor is a light luxury industrial style, with exposed brick walls paired with metal decorations, and warm-toned lighting creating an ambiguous and comfortable atmosphere.
Behind the bar, the bartender was skillfully shaking the shaker, his movements fluid and effortless. Several women sat alone next to the bar, some scrolling through their phones, others lost in thought.
Chen Mo glanced around the hall but didn't see Lin Shiyu.
He walked to the bar, sat down, and said to the bartender, "A Long Island Iced Tea, please."
The bartender nodded and began mixing the drinks.
Chen Mo took out his phone and sent a message to Su Wan: "Arrived, but didn't see her."
Su Wan replied immediately: "She usually arrives at 8:30. Please have a seat for a while."