GDRG CH8

Chapter 8: The Green Tea Schemer’s New Job

The towering figure of Xing Jun was sitting in the corner. Shi Xueqing froze completely, trying every excuse to avoid going over.

But such is the life of an undocumented worker. Urged on by his boss, Shi Xueqing gritted his teeth. He reasoned that with his sunglasses, hat, and mask, even someone with eyes as sharp as Xing Jun’s couldn’t possibly recognize him.

He dawdled his way over. Xing Jun kept his head down, staring intently at his phone. Shi Xueqing decided to speak in a raspy voice, “Hey…”

With a swoosh, Xing Jun’s head snapped up. His sharp, hawk-like eyes looked quizzically at Shi Xueqing’s attire.

Shi Xueqing was speechless.

He had barely opened his mouth, and the reaction was that quick.

“Handsome,” he stopped walking and, forcing his voice, said from where he stood, “what would you like to drink?”

“Oh, sorry, I forgot to order,” Xing Jun said, squinting at the electronic menu behind him. “An iced Americano, please. Thanks.”

He even said thanks.

Was Xing Jun always this polite to service staff? Then why was his attitude toward him so awful? Shi Xueqing felt a flash of annoyance, which was quickly replaced by a pang of guilt as he remembered his history of trying to woo Xing Wei.

He kept his head down making the coffee, but after a moment, a shadow fell over him. Shi Xueqing jumped in fright and quickly looked up.

“I haven’t paid,” Xing Jun said, holding a Centurion Black Card.

The Black Card!

Two numbers flashed in Shi Xueqing’s mind.

A $5,000 annual fee.

Cardholders must spend at least $200,000 a year.

Suddenly, the $8,000 scholarship he was about to receive lost all its appeal.

Xing Jun frowned when he saw him hesitate to take the card. Shi Xueqing took it and said evasively, “You’re using a card like this at a small roadside shop…”

“?”

Shi Xueqing thought that the owner of this tea shop even bullied international students; who knew if he’d try to skim the credit card. After a thought, he lowered his voice. “You should use a different card. This shop isn’t very secure.”

Xing Jun looked at him silently for a moment before pulling out a Bank of America card.

A red one.

The kind that international students without a Social Security Number could get with a click right after landing.

What a coincidence. Shi Xueqing had one too.

After swiping the card and handing over the coffee, Shi Xueqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. He pretended to be cleaning the workstation, avoiding looking in Xing Jun’s direction. After a while, the customer flow picked up, and he was so busy shaking teas that his feet barely touched the ground. He snuck a peek into the crowd and saw that Xing Jun was gone.

Before long, his coworker from Hong Kong finally came to work. Shi Xueqing went to the break room to change, took off his sunglasses and hat, and went out wearing only his mask. He hadn’t taken more than a few steps when he heard a voice from behind him, “Shi Xueqing.”

Shi Xueqing froze.

He pretended not to hear and kept walking. The person continued in a neutral tone, “I didn’t expect to find you working in a bubble tea shop.”

Shi Xueqing finally turned around. Xing Jun was standing at the mouth of the back alley, arms crossed, looking as if he’d been waiting for a while. He looked at Shi Xueqing with a strange expression. Shi Xueqing looked himself up and down and roughly understood the source of that gaze.

The last two times he’d met Xing Jun, he had been glamorous and well-dressed, with soft hair and neat clothes. Today, not only was his hair a mess, but his T-shirt was also wrinkled.

He decided to just take off his mask and smiled at Xing Jun. “Long time no see, Xing-ge.”

“…It has been a while.” Xing Jun averted his gaze from Shi Xueqing’s hair. His bangs were so messy they covered his eyes, yet he showed no intention of tidying them.

It even triggered Xing Jun’s OCD, making him want to fix it for him.

“Been busy lately?” Xing Jun asked again.

Shi Xueqing thought of his terrible boss and smiled. “Yes, very busy.”

“So busy you’ve decided to drop the act?” Xing Jun thought to himself that Shi Xueqing wasn’t even maintaining his image in front of him anymore. “Or have you switched targets?”

Shi Xueqing didn’t understand what he was talking about. Before he could say anything, his phone rang wildly in his pocket.

Glancing at the caller ID, Shi Xueqing’s eyes widened. He looked up at Xing Jun and smiled, “I have to go, something came up.”

“Someone important?” Xing Jun asked.

“Mhm.”

Shi Xueqing had no time to waste with him. He clutched his phone and walked past Xing Jun—breaking into a light jog as he got closer. Xing Jun caught a glimpse of his phone screen, and his eyes narrowed.

The person calling Shi Xueqing on WeChat had a girl’s profile picture.

So he really had switched targets?

Shi Xueqing quickly ran off. Xing Jun stood in place. He had originally thought that knowing Shi Xueqing wasn’t going to pester him anymore would bring a sense of relief.

In reality, it didn’t.

He even felt a little empty.

He frowned, standing there for a little while longer. Just then, Xing Wei called. “Bro, you said you had something to do. How much longer do I have to wait for you? Our restaurant reservation is soon.”

“Yeah, I’m done,” Xing Jun said, holding his phone as he slowly walked out of the alley. “Let’s go to the restaurant.”

As he was leaving, his phone pinged. It was an email notification that the statue he had purchased from the art exhibition’s official website had been shipped.

He glanced at it once before archiving the email.

So what if it had shipped? He thought that the shadow of Shi Xueqing would probably never appear in his life again.

Even if Shi Xueqing was just a manipulative gold-digger.

…

Shi Xueqing felt like he had hit the jackpot. The artsy, “green tea” persona he had persistently maintained on Instagram and WeChat Moments had finally paid off—the person who contacted him was a senior student from the year above.

Though it wasn’t a romantic return on his investment, it was still good news.

The senior student worked on campus at the rare books and special collections library, organizing old books and documents and compiling some materials. Although the job paid very well, a full $25 an hour, the work was tedious and required a lot of literary knowledge. The old administrator was also eccentric and very difficult to deal with—so many people couldn’t last.

“I’m transferring to New York to study next semester. Mr. Evert asked me to find a suitable successor,” the senior said. “After thinking it over, I feel you’re a great fit…”

$25 an hour! That was double his pay for shaking bubble tea!

“You can work up to 40 hours a week during the holidays, and 20 hours a week during the semester…”

$1000 a week!

“It’s just that the rare books library is far from the center of campus, and very few people go there. And during work hours, you’re mostly in a small room on the fourth floor, so you won’t run into many classmates…”

“Senior, say no more. Let me solve this problem for you,” Shi Xueqing said solemnly. “I will definitely do this job well. When would be a good time for me to interview?”

“Mr. Evert is an impatient man. Let’s go over tonight.”

“Wait. Can I go change my clothes first?”

Shi Xueqing knew he needed to rely on his appearance to make a good impression.

The senior was also a straightforward person. That evening, Shi Xueqing followed her up the hill to his land of fortune. The administrator, Mr. Evert, was a stubborn old white man, but after seeing Shi Xueqing’s all-A transcript, he was full of praise, also complimenting Shi Xueqing’s “good student” appearance.

“Serena said you’re a good student who loves literature, with a deep interest in Symbolist and Romantic poetry. In this day and age, there aren’t many students like you who can quietly study literature and philosophy,” Mr. Evert lamented.

Shi Xueqing thought to himself that the act he put on for his persona had brought this unexpected reward. He nodded demurely, looking at the library before him. He felt that an artistic youth working here, even if discovered by classmates, would be perfectly in line with his persona.

After all, not just any student could get into this library, which required an application and approval for entry.

Shi Xueqing felt his vanity reach the pinnacle of satisfaction.

Mr. Evert was even more impatient than the senior. The very next morning, he told Shi Xueqing that his application had been approved and he could start working at the library the following Tuesday. Seeing a life of a $1000 weekly salary right before his eyes, Shi Xueqing was on cloud nine.

Good fortune lifts the spirits. He flamboyantly wrote a letter by hand with blue ink.

“The wind is so strong, can you see my soul? In the negative space of existentialism, if there was an extra movie ticket, would you be willing to come with me?” After writing a bunch of vague phrases, he specifically printed out a QR code for the film “The Blue Room,” placed it in an envelope along with the handwritten letter, addressed the envelope, and spritzed it with a little Chanel No. 5.

His luck had finally arrived!

He left the handwritten letter at the front desk of Xing Wei’s apartment building, asking them to be sure to pass it on. Just then, his phone rang. When Shi Xueqing saw the caller was the bubble tea shop owner, he sneered and immediately hung up.

A moment later, the owner called back, fuming. Shi Xueqing patiently waited for him to finish his threats about whether he still wanted his job and that he was going to fire him, before saying nonchalantly, “Fine, fire me.”

After enjoying the owner’s momentary silence, he added smoothly, “You still owe me $240 for this week. Remember to Zelle it to me.”

With that, he hung up.

So satisfying!

He turned up the volume, listening to a rock song on his $900 headphones. Although the $1000 from the library job hadn’t arrived yet, he was already fantasizing about how to spend it along with the music.

He opened Burberry’s official website again.

Searching for that new cape.

$3,000.

Shi Xueqing’s mood soured.

A thousand a week at most meant four thousand a month, but rent cost money, food cost money, and once the semester started, his work hours would decrease.

How long would he have to work to save up for a single luxury item he wanted?

Besides, he wasn’t just saving for himself…

Shi Xueqing stared at his phone screen, his fingers unconsciously tapping the side of the phone for a while. He sighed.

Working was just a drop in the bucket.

He still wanted to find a rich woman.

Finally, before heading to the bus stop, he looked at the pool below the luxury apartment building—the heated pool was so clean and even had a hot tub, completely different from the long-abandoned, leaf-filled pool at his old apartment complex.

He turned his back to the luxurious pool, faced the road ahead, and took a picture of the beautiful street scene as the sun was setting.

He posted it on his Moments, adding an artistic caption.

“Your absence is like a helpless stone, that will make many a twilight dim.”*

He made sure to get the branded bracelet on his wrist in the shot. It was a very good counterfeit; Shi Xueqing was very confident in his shopping abilities.

He looked at the unread green icon, waiting for a “1” to light up.

…

“Bro, I’m going to the lake with my besties today. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“You girls go have fun. I’ll just walk around your campus some more,” Xing Jun said.

“Alright… You’re leaving tomorrow morning. If there’s anywhere you want to go, make sure you do,” Xing Wei reminded him, then happily left with her friends.

There wasn’t much for Xing Jun to do by himself in the “big countryside.” He wandered aimlessly down the commercial street near the school. Faced with the boring little shops, his only thought was that from yesterday to today, Shi Xueqing still hadn’t posted anything on his Moments.

Nor were there any signs of him messaging Xing Wei or himself.

Shi Xueqing had probably really given up.

Without realizing it, he had walked to the entrance of yesterday’s bubble tea shop.

He might as well go in and see what Shi Xueqing was doing. Maybe he could figure out what he was thinking.

The situation was similar to yesterday; there was still no one at the counter. Xing Jun sat down and handled some work on his phone. After waiting for over ten minutes, still no one appeared.

He closed his phone, a little impatiently.

What exactly was he waiting for?

Just as Xing Jun was about to leave, he heard the loud, profane voices of the owner and an employee from behind the curtain, as if they were cursing someone out.

“He still wants that $240 back? In his dreams. Where am I supposed to find a new employee at this hour?” the owner cursed. “I’m being nice by not making him pay a fine. Always covering himself up so tightly just to shake some bubble tea… He’s not some rich kid, what’s he pretending for?”

“Boss, he’s always been a show-off. He even wore fake shoes here before…”

Xing Jun listened for a while and realized they were badmouthing Shi Xueqing.

Shi Xueqing was indeed a bit vain. But to think he’d wear fakes that even these employees could spot.

The owner and employee were still speaking ill of Shi Xueqing: “These international students, they just don’t know how to be grateful, you know? The ones from China, they’re all like that…”

The employee glanced and saw someone outside the curtain. “Boss, I think there’s a customer.”

“Huh? The same one from yesterday?” The owner looked. “Go ask him what he wants.”

The employee came out from behind the curtain, but Xing Jun acted as if he didn’t see him, got up, and walked out.

Walking down the street, Xing Jun casually called his good friend who was a lawyer. After some small talk, he said offhandedly, “Didn’t you say before that you have a pretty influential friend here in M City?”

“What’s up?”

“I want to mess with a bubble tea shop. Get them tied up in some fire and health code lawsuits.”

“A tiny bubble tea shop offended you? No way.”

“Do me a favor. My sister found a fly in her bubble tea, and they’re denying it,” Xing Jun lied without batting an eye.

“Oh, it’s for your sister. I knew it. Okay, wait for my news,” his friend said, feeling it was completely expected.

“Thanks a lot. Name your price for the trouble.”

Xing Jun hung up the phone. At first, he felt a sense of relief, but that quickly turned into a frown, wondering what he was doing.

Whatever. Who asked the owner to speak ill of international students? He, Xing Jun, had also been an international student a few years ago.

He didn’t see Shi Xueqing at the bubble tea shop. Xing Jun went back to the hotel to pack. When he saw the candle engraved with a musical score, he thought that Shi Xueqing now seemed to have completely disappeared.

Was it because he hit a wall with him and switched targets?

Was his next target Lü Yimeng?

Unfortunately, he had no connection to Lü Yimeng, and no standing to interfere.

Xing Jun tossed the candle to the very bottom of his suitcase.

He had left his power bank at Xing Wei’s apartment. She was still out, saying she was going to a club tonight and wouldn’t be back until the early morning, telling Xing Jun to go get it himself. Xing Jun drove over, watching the clock hit seven in the evening.

This is the end, he thought.

The car stopped at a crossroads. Xing Jun found the scene somewhat familiar. He glanced at the street corner and saw a convenience store.

The memory of a rainstorm came to mind. It seemed like just two weeks ago, at this very intersection, Shi Xueqing was running in the rain with a newspaper over his head.

A slender waist, long legs, dressed freshly, with a clean aura.

But since Shi Xueqing had obediently withdrawn, whatever his next plan was, or whoever he planned to seduce, it had nothing to do with him, Xing Jun.

The sun had set. It wasn’t raining today, but the twilight seemed dimmer than usual.

Xing Jun walked past the apartment front desk. Just then, he heard the receptionist call out to him.

“Hello, there’s a letter here for apartment 705,” she said.

It was a pinkish-blue envelope, with a faint scent of perfume.

Upon seeing the sender’s name on the envelope, Xing Jun paused.

“Is something wrong?” the receptionist asked.

“No, it’s great.”

The receptionist was speechless.

For some reason, she felt there was a viciousness in Xing Jun’s voice. And also a hint of… ecstasy?!

Xing Jun didn’t rush to find his power bank after entering the apartment. He grabbed a utility knife and sliced open the envelope.

Inside lay a vaguely worded handwritten letter. The writer was so busy trying to be artistic that they didn’t even write a salutation to the recipient.

There was also a movie ticket.

The movie’s start time: Sunday at 10:30 PM.

—Eight hours after Xing Jun’s flight was scheduled to take off.

Xing Jun pinched the thin movie ticket for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. He took out his phone and clicked on Shi Xueqing’s profile picture.

Shi Xueqing had posted on his Moments again.

“Your absence is like a helpless stone, that will make many a twilight dim.”*

The accompanying picture was of the empty street below Xing Wei’s apartment building.

In the corner, the logo on Shi Xueqing’s bracelet was conspicuous… Xing Jun looked it up; it was a three-year-old model from that brand.

What was Shi Xueqing trying to pull! The hardware on that brand was notoriously poor quality and would rust within a year. How could the hardware still be so shiny after three years?

It was obviously a fake.

Xing Jun picked up the movie ticket again. He stared at it, then let out another cold laugh. Finally, with an expressionless face, he placed the movie ticket in his bag.

Then he made a phone call.

“Yes, change my flight. Reschedule it for the day after tomorrow, at noon,” he said calmly to the airline representative.