Chapter 4 Nie Haitang

• Qin Ming quitted his part-time jobs. He did not need to work as a delivery boy or security guard anymore.
• He ordered a take-away for his dinner as well after quitting his job.
• Qin Ming paid for his dinner using his phone when he received a message. It was a text from his badminton club's group chat.
• “Gather at Qin Restaurant now. Someone's going to treat everyone to a luxurious meal.”
• Qin Restaurant was an independent restaurant located inside Hua Sheng University of Technology. Qin Restaurant was considered a high-end place. The administrators of the university were usually invited to have their meal there, even the students at the university would splurge at the restaurant once in a while.
• There were ten people inside the group chat. Everyone else cheered and praised their president of the club for being so generous.
• Qin Ming was the sole person that replied differently: President, I can't make it tonight. I have some prior engagement.
• Qin Ming felt awkward during social gatherings like these. He was the only member without any sports attire or racquet due to his poverty. His only responsibilities were to pick up the shuttlecocks lying around the floor, cleaning up the court, or to buy drinks for the other members. Due to Qin Ming's low social status, he was tasked with filling up drinks for others during the club's gatherings in the past.
• But he was willing to suffer the humiliation due to the free meals. Qin Ming wanted to save up his expenses to buy Li Meng her favorite lipsticks. However, things were different now. Qin Ming's a rich man now, so he did not need to stoop so low just to enjoy a free dinner.
• Zhang Qingqing typed out another message in the group chat. “Qin Ming, what's the matter with you? I'm ordering you to get your ass to Qin Restaurant now! Don't you need to serve everyone at the dinner later? Or do you think that it is not enough that you'll get a free meal during the gathering? You better reach the restaurant in 5 minutes' time.”
• Qin Ming ignored the message with a disdainful smile.
• But he walked for another couple of steps and stumbled into Zhang Qingqing as well as a few other girls from the club.
• Qin Ming realized then, that he was on a street en route to Qin Restaurant. What a coincidence. He thought to himself.
• Zhang Qingqing spoke when she saw Qin Ming. “Oh? You're so early. Why are you wearing that cafeteria's uniform? You're so dirty and smelly right now.”
• Qin Ming had nothing to say to that comment. I've been attending classes the whole afternoon, there's no time for me to get changed.
• He said, “I rushed here after reading your message. That's why I did not get the opportunity to change into a fresh pair of clothes.”
• Zhang Qingqing's anger dissipated after listening to his words. She was satisfied with his answer. “Okay, at least you took my order seriously. When have I ever mistreated my club members? I've been sponsoring every badminton club's gathering without asking a penny in return from you. Here, carry my bag for me. Be careful now, that's a LV bag.”
• Zhang Qingqing and the few other girls handed their bags to Qin Ming as she spoke.
• Qin Ming received the bags out of habit. He was about to reject that task when he caught a whiff of a fresh scent.
• Nie Haitang, the only girl in the badminton club that had a relatively close rapport with him was standing behind the girls and looking at Qin Ming with a smile of her face.
• Nie Haitang was a second year university student from the business school. The girl was one of the top beauties in the university with her pure and pretty face. She was even prettier than some famous actress on the television. Qin Ming had heard rumors saying that Nie Haitang even had admirers from different universities gawking at her.
• Nie Haitang chuckled with a smile that could've won every man's hearts. She said, “Qin Ming, why are you so bad at rejecting Qingqing's requests? You had to carry her bags almost every time.”
• “I'm just doing this out of habit already.” Qin Ming put on a helpless smile. Of course, I wouldn't have rejected Zhang Qingqing's requests in the past because I wanted the free meals. Now that I wanted to reject her, she's already walking so far ahead.
• Nie Haitang continued. “What's the 'prior engagement' that you mentioned earlier in the group chat? I can help you to inform Qingqing if it's really something important.”
• The 'prior engagement' was to do my revision of course! That damned He Qiu tasked us with so many exercises and practice questions. Qin Ming thought to himself.
• But that man's dampened mood from the break-up was lifted upon seeing Nie Haitang's face. He felt inexplicably joyful to meet with her, so Qin Ming said, “I feel like attending the gathering, now that I know you're going too.”
• Nie Haitang blushed and snorted. “Aren't you a sweet talker? Why are you hitting on me when you're someone with a girlfriend?”
• Qin Ming's face darkened. “She dumped me for another rich guy from my hometown. We broke up just now.”
• Qin Ming could not contain the sorrow inside his chest when he thought about being dumped by Li Meng.
• A hint of sadness glinted across Qin Ming's eyes. I've been together with Li Meng for two years and I've treated her whole-heartedly in this period of time. How can that girl step all over my sincerity so mercilessly?
• Nie Haitang raised her brows at Qin Ming's saddened expression. She could sense the man's misery. The girl was about to speak when Zhang Qingqing suddenly called out to her. “Tang, what's the matter? Pffftt, Qin Ming, can you not latch on to my Haitang so shamelessly? Why don't you look yourself in the mirror? Tang, just hand him your bag. Let's go now.”
• Zhang Qingqing was afraid to be late. She dragged Nie Haitang along while another bag was tossed into Qin Ming's arms.
• He shook his head and made peace with the situation. I should just pretend to be poor like before in order to maintain a harmonious school life. I'll just play along today because there's still a need for me to attend badminton club's activities in the future.
• The atmosphere around the two large tables in the VIP room inside Qin Restaurant was lively.
• Zhang Qingqing arranged everybody to sit around the tables. Then she got up and motioned for everyone to quiet down. All the club members went silent.
• Zhang Qingqing put on a contented expression. She enjoyed feeling high and mighty when others followed her orders.
• But the girl was stunned when she saw Nie Haitang seated next to Qin Ming. Qin Ming and his part-time job attire stung her eyes too.
• She frowned. “Tang, come sit beside me.”
• Nie Haitang spoke without a care. “It's the same where I sit. I'm not going to hog the limelight anyway. The person that's coming is a handsome guy, right?”
• Zhang Qingqing thought to herself. She's right. I am fond of the guy that's coming later. Nie Haitang is too pretty, so it's better that she keeps a low profile. Ah, my best friend is such a wise person.
• A sophisticated and rich man entered the room not long after that. The Audi car keys in his hand attracted the attention of every person inside the room.
• That man spoke. “Hello, so nice to meet all of you. I'm Zhao Tuo from the school of engineering. I'm here to treat everyone to a meal because I've lost to Zhang Qingqing in a game of badminton. So I'm here to live up to my words. Just order whatever that you like, I'll pay for everything.”
• “Okay!” Everyone agreed happily. They had to stir up the atmosphere as a show of gratitude. The club members were delighted that someone was going to treat them tonight as the dishes at Qin Restaurant was delicious yet extremely expensive.
• Zhang Qingqing swiftly moved towards Zhao Tuo and held his hand. “Oh my, Zhao Tuo. What's this in your hand? Did you buy a new car? Seems like it's an Audi?”
• Zhao Tuo was gleeful. He spoke nonchalantly. “Yea, it's a brand-new Audi A6. I wanted to buy an A4 to keep a low profile, but the salesman said that A4 would have to wait for another month to restock. So I had no other choice but to buy an A6 with ready stock. There goes my plan to keep a low profile, hahaha.”
• Zhang Qingqing's eyes gleamed instantly. “Wow, then you must take me for a ride later!”
• Zhao Tuo could not agree more to Zhang Qingqing's suggestion. The sole reason that I bought this Audi was to show off in front of her. I've wanted to date Zhang Qingqing for some time now. But this girl sets a high standard for the guys that she wanted to date. So I had no other choice but to splurge on this car to attract her attention.
• I deliberately lost to her in a badminton game to create this opportunity to treat everyone. Then I show off my brand-new car in front of her. My plan was able to boost Zhang Qingqing's pride as well as making myself look good. This should be enough to make this girl fall for me now.
• Zhao Tuo pinched his nose just as he was seated. That man asked, “Why is there a rancid smell in this VIP room?”
• Everyone looked towards Qin Ming at the same time. Qin Ming's clothes were indeed smelly as he had been wearing the outfit for the entire day. Everyone except for Nie Haitang was seated far away from him. They gave the excuse of creating space for the dishes to be served, but in fact, everyone was simply avoiding him.
• “Who's that guy?” Zhao Tuo was curious. “Is he a waiter? There's someone working as a waiter in your club? That's such a low-class job.”
• Zhang Qingqing was embarrassed. She felt ashamed after listening to Zhao Tuo's words. I did not expect Qin Ming's clothes to smell so badly. What if Zhao Tuo thinks that all the people that I know are as poor as Qin Ming? He might look down on me if that's the case. I would seem like the inferior one if I ever got into a relationship with Zhao Tuo following this impression.
• Zhang Qingqing was mad too. She rebuked. “Qin Ming, what's the matter with you? How dare you sit here with us while wearing that smelly uniform of yours? Go and clean yourself up before you come back here!”
• Qin Ming was speechless. I already rejected your invitation in the first place, but you were the one to insist that I come. You wanted me to carry your bag so that you can feel all high and mighty. And now you are here giving me the cold-shoulder.
• Qin Ming did not say a thing. He got up and left.
• Qin Ming mumbled to himself angrily after he got out of the room. “What an unlucky day. I even threw away that take-away dinner that cost me 12 because of Zhang Qingqing's insistence for me to come.”
• “Qin Ming... Wait for me.”
• Qin Ming was just a few steps away from the room when he heard someone calling him from behind. Nie Haitang was seen to be rushing out of the room with her own handbag.
• Qin Ming was surprised to see her. “Haitang, why did you leave too?”
• Nie Haitang pouted her mouth as if she was angry. “I'm not happy. That's why I left. Do I need some other reason to do something that I want?”
• Qin Ming knew that Nie Haitang was dissatisfied that he was being chased out of the room after being forced to be present against his will. But Qin Ming was already used to such treatments. He said, “You don't have to be like that.”
• Nie Haitang shifted the topic of the conversation. She spoke as they walked together. “Let's not talk about this. Qin Ming, did your girlfriend dumped you for real? I heard that you were working 3 part-time jobs a day just so that you can afford a new iPhone for her. Why did she treat you in such a ridiculous way even though you treated her with such sincerity?”
• Qin Ming spoke in a saddened tone. “Everyone wants different things in life. My sincerity does not mean anything if she had to suffer poverty for staying by my side. I do not blame her, because she was the girl that I loved after all. I'm more angered by my own incompetence. She would have lived a happier life with me if I had the means to earn more money.”
• Nie Haitang stared at Qin Ming's face from the side as his words touched her heart. This loving man is not blaming his ex-girlfriend or anyone else even after having dumped.
• She patted Qin Ming's shoulder and smiled. “Tomorrow will be better, so don't give up just yet. I think that you're an impressive person for working so hard in order to please your girlfriend. It's a realistic society nowadays. Stay true to yourself and you will succeed in the future.”
• Qin Ming felt a lot better after listening to Nie Haitang's wise words. He sighed. “Thank you for comforting me. The least I can do is to show my gratitude. You haven't had your dinner, right? Let's go to Deng Feng Restaurant situated outside the university's vicinity to have our meal. The dishes at that Michelin 3-stars restaurant are superb.”
• Nie Haitang crossed her arms around her waist and asked in an angered manner. “Why are you being so generous? Are you trying to chase after me right after your break-up? Men are pigs after all.”
• Qin Ming thought that Nie Haitang was angered for real. He hurriedly explained. “Uhm, no. I just wanted to bring you to some nice place that suites your temperament. I can't possibly bring you to some roadside stall and have our dinner there. You're dressed in such an expensive outfit, so I'm just afraid that you might feel bad for having dinner at roadside stalls with me.”
• Nie Haitang chuckled after seeing Qin Ming's nervous reactions. “I'm just teasing you. I don't mind going to a cheaper place as long as it's clean. Ah....”
• Nie Haitang's phone suddenly rang as she spoke. The girl took out her new iPhone and read the message. Colors drained from her face. “Crap, something bad happened to Qingqing and the others.”