âAlright, Iâll head back first. Hurry up with your work and come back for the cake, or there wonât be any left for you!â
âIâll eat it all by myself!â Gu Muxi threatened cutely.
Yi Feng shook his head with a bitter smile, âOkay, okay, you go ahead.â
Why is it so hard to speak the truth these days?
But then again, maybe itâs because weâre too familiar.
The more serious you are, the more it seems like youâre joking.
âBye, Yi Feng~â
âBye, Little Master Gu.â
Yi Feng watched as Gu Muxi hopped away cheerfully, clearly in a very good mood.
Itâs her 18th birthday, after all, and she got a present she likes. Sheâs probably happy enough to last the whole night.
Yi Feng smiled, about to turn back when suddenly a sharp pain shot through his right ankle.
He crouched down, removing his shoe and sock to see his ankle swollen and bruised.
âDamn, what bad luck, really twisted my ankle.â Yi Feng spat on the swollen area, not sure if it would help, but it was at least a psychological comfort.
Gu Muxiâs home might have some bruise medicine; heâd apply some when he got back.
It felt just a bit sore at first, but it looked quite serious upon inspection.
After putting his sock and shoe back on, Yi Feng checked the time on his phone. He couldnât go back yet; he still had to fix Zhao Xingyeâs computer.
Though his ankle was twisted, it didnât stop his hands from making money.
Heâd have to endure it for now.
Yi Feng steadied himself, then went back inside to instruct Han Pingâan on the work to follow, handing him a list of wires and sockets to purchase.
With his current progress, he might finish all the wiring channels in two or three days. Then, it would be time to lay the wires, install sockets, set up the lighting, and repaint the walls.
Electrical installation requires some skill, which Han Pingâan doesnât have, so Yi Feng would have to do it himself. Fortunately, the place wasnât big, making installation not too troublesome, and Han Pingâan could help with mixing mortar and painting.
He believed that within a month, they could finish the soft furnishings as per the design.
Once decorated, it would surely amaze everyone since it was modeled after the Apple Storeâs design, emphasizing simplicity, technology, and fashion.
After instructing Han Pingâan, Yi Feng left to catch a bus to Zhao Xingyeâs shop.
After a packed bus ride, Yi Feng walked to Zhao Xingyeâs shop, hearing Zhaoâs laughter as he approached the entrance.
Hmm? Whatâs making him so happy?
Entering the shop, Yi Feng saw Zhao Xingye chatting with a bespectacled young man in a plaid shirt, who looked scholarly and seemed very familiar with Zhao.
âAh, Little Brother Yi is here! Come, let me introduce you!â Zhao Xingye greeted warmly, all smiles.
But that smile seemed a bit fake to Yi Feng.
âUh, Zhao Boss, you seem in a good mood today. Is your wife pregnant again?â Yi Feng joked.
âHa, Little Brother Yi really knows how to joke. We have to follow the policy, fewer but better births. Ah, but thatâs not what weâre talking about today!â Realizing he was sidetracked, Zhao quickly said, âLet me introduce you. This is Gao Hongxing, little Xing, my brother-in-lawâs classmate. A top graduate from Nanhai Districtâs Maritime University, just returned from graduation.â
âLittle Brother Yi, hello.â Gao Hongxing adjusted his glasses, forcing a smile, his expression somewhat awkward.
Having to call someone much younger âbrotherâ was embarrassing for a university graduate.
âHello, graduates from Maritime University are the elite of society,â Yi Feng casually complimented.
Gao Hongxingâs face showed a hint of pride, smiling slightly.
Yi Feng then turned to Zhao Xingye, âBoss Zhao, hiring such talent is forâ¦â
Zhao Xingye beamed.
âAh, didnât I tell you last time I needed to find you an assistant to ease your workload? Little Gao is perfect.â
âHe studied computer science. Although he hasnât fixed computers before, he has a solid foundation.â
âHeâll assist you from now on, so you wonât have to work as hard.â
After finishing, he stared intently at Yi Feng, curious about his reaction.
Gao Hongxing was the carefully chosen candidate to replace Yi Feng, hoping that once Gao learned enough from Yi Feng to work independently, Yi Feng could be pushed out.
Yi Feng remained calm, seemingly unsurprised, âOh, Boss Zhao is really thoughtful.â
âSince Boss Zhao has decided, I have no objections.â
Zhao Xingye was stunned; he hadnât expected Yi Feng to react this way, accepting his arrangement so readily.
Unexpected!
âUh⦠then, little Gao, Iâm entrusting you to Little Brother Yi for guidance,â Zhao Xingye gestured towards Gao, then turned to instruct him, âAlthough youâre from Haishi University, youâre still new to computer repair. You must learn from Little Brother Yi!â
Gao Hongxing looked slightly annoyed but managed a forced smile, âYes, Boss, Iâll learn well from Little Brother Yi.â
The idea of learning from someone much younger was uncomfortable, but for the sake of work, he was willing to learn.
Yi Feng glanced at them both, sneering inwardly.
Zhao Fattyâs little schemes canât fool me.
He just sees me as non-cooperative and wants someone to take over my role. Once the new guy gets the hang of it, Iâll naturally be out.
But it doesnât matter; I plan to leave in a month or so anyway.
Yi Fengâs lack of reaction was just to keep Zhao Xingye at ease.
He still needed the income from Zhaoâs place until his own shop was up and running.
Anyone else might have blown up at Zhao for this, but Yi Feng wasnât one to act impulsively. Business is about profit, and actions are based on benefits.
Of course, pursuing profit doesnât mean abandoning principles. Itâs always better to maintain peace if possible.
After all, making enemies is easy, but resolving conflicts is hard. In business, itâs better to have more friends than enemies. With more friends, you have broader options.
âBoss Zhao, how many computers need fixing today?â Yi Feng asked with a light laugh, heading to the workbench.
âToday we have 5. Some customers come specifically for you, Little Brother Yi. You fix them fast and well; your reputation is growing!â Zhao Xingye complimented.
âBoss Zhao flatters me. Customers are smart. Itâs about competitive advantage. We charge less than the electronics tower,â Yi Feng humbly said, looking for his tools.
He remembered placing his tools in different spots on the workbench, but they seemed to have been put away.
Gao Hongxing followed him in, saying, âLittle Brother Yi, I organized your tools into the drawers. Donât worry, I sorted them by category.â
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