Rounded Together
Lin Gantang was lying in bed, sending messages on WeChat.
“Today, I saved a stray cat. It’s so tiny. But my mother-in-law doesn’t like cats, so I can’t keep it.”
A message came in from Ye Qiuqiu.
Lin Gantang opened the picture. It was a little orange cat, soaked from the rain, its eyes still closed, curled up in an old towel.
“Haobo’s friend said he could keep a cat, so we sent it over.”
Haobo was Ye Qiuqiu’s husband, his surname was Chen.
Lin Gantang sensed the disappointment between the lines and was about to console her when another message arrived.
“I need to work hard and earn money. What I want most now is to buy a house.”
“At least next time I meet a cat I like, I can adopt it.”
“By the way, I heard you’re back home?”
“I knew it. How could Uncle Lin bear to let you wander around?”
The other person was typing quickly, and Lin Gantang couldn’t keep up. She sent a video call request, but it was immediately declined.
“My parents-in-law are asleep, and the old house has poor soundproofing. Let’s stick to texting so we don’t disturb them.”
Lin Gantang asked, “What about your nightlife?”
“Don’t worry about my nightlife. It’s better than being single like you, who doesn’t have a man or nightlife!”
Lin Gantang replied, “I meant going to clubs, having barbecue nights, and enjoying life. What were you thinking?”
“I just thought something lewd. We’re adults, unlike you.” Ye Qiuqiu sent a message with a disdain picture attached.
Lin Gantang said, “Alright, who told you I came back home? I didn’t even get a chance to tell you.”
“You don’t even check the high school class group? Shi Muzhen mentioned it. That group has become a gossip hub about you.”
Lin Gantang opened the group chat, realizing that she had been blocked.
After a while, Ye Qiuqiu’s video call request came through.
Lin Gantang accepted it.
“Aren’t we supposed to keep quiet?” Lin Gantang asked.
Ye Qiuqiu’s voice came through, “I went outside. It’s okay.”
Lin Gantang chuckled.
“What’s wrong with Shi Muzhen? She said in the group that you and Wen Yanqing are having an affair. I saw you two having dinner at Elegant Restaurant. Is that true?”
“Yeah, I even accidentally spilled lemonade all over Gu Zhichuan when I ran into him,” Lin Gantang replied.
Ye Qiuqiu was excited, and the gossip fire was burning. “You went to dinner with Wen Yanqing? Are you two dating?”
Lin Gantang rolled her eyes.
Ye Qiuqiu was a little disappointed. “Alright, back to the point, what are your plans for the future? I already have a plan.”
“I’ll find something to do first. Do you have any job suggestions for me?” Lin Gantang asked casually.
“What did you study in university?” Ye Qiuqiu inquired.
“You don’t remember what I studied? You call us good friends.”
“Do you remember what I studied?” Ye Qiuqiu rolled her eyes.
Lin Gantang hesitated, “Um, I majored in cultural relic appraisal.”
“Since your family is wealthy, why not consider that? Appraising cultural relics would suit you, given your family’s connections with antiques,” Ye Qiuqiu suggested.
Lin Gantang yawned lazily. “No, that won’t work. I just scraped through to get my degree. If I were to appraise, I’d be just giving away money to others.”
The top student, Ye Qiuqiu, immediately scolded, “Why did you chase after Gu Zhichuan to go abroad in the first place? And when you went abroad, you didn’t choose finance? Now that you chose this major, you aren’t even working hard. Maybe you should be a receptionist, at least your looks are good!”
“That’s because I couldn’t get into popular majors. How much does a receptionist earn per month?” Lin Gantang asked.