Chapter 21: Familiar Taste

March 25.

When Meng Lang entered the company, he noticed many people were giving him strange looks.

Um... like they were looking at a fool.

As soon as Ma Qiao saw Meng Lang walk in, he quickly pulled him aside and asked in a low voice.

"Tell me, you didn't really use 500,000 to buy Huaxia Energy, did you?"

"Yeah! That's right," Meng Lang nodded listlessly.

Last night, he had a nightmare where his social media feed was flooded with his own "confession audio," startling him awake.

"Where did you get the money?"

"I borrowed it."

"You... sigh!" Ma Qiao looked at Meng Lang with a pained expression.

"Do you know the stocks are still falling today?"

"Oh, I kind of knew that."

"Kind of? Do you remember that Chen Cheng from last time?"

"The one who drove an Audi?"

"The Audi is gone! The guy made leveraged trades, and ended up completely bust. He's sold the Audi now, and I heard his father is desperately looking for him to break his legs."

"Emm... I sympathize with that."

As he watched him rise high and then saw his downfall...

If he still was stuck in a "Miserable Life" fate, he was most likely headed for the same outcome, so his sympathy was genuinely heartfelt.

Ma Qiao looked at him puzzled, "What's with your carefree attitude? Did you actually buy it or not?"

"Bought it," he said.

But he hadn't bought in anticipation of a rise, but a fall...

"By the way, isn't South Wave King here today?" Meng Lang changed the subject.

He certainly wasn't keen on promoting his "divine prediction" of the stock market trends and his precise short selling.

Not to mention, being a "stock god" was really not his style. Even if it were, he knew the principle of not flaunting one's wealth.

If everyone knew he had made a fortune suddenly, well... at least those pitching insurance would be constant...

"He just left for some urgent matter, why? Do you need him for something?"

"Yeah! I'm here to resign." Meng Lang took out a resignation letter and waved it.

"Resign?!" Ma Qiao stared at him, shocked, then realized, "Are you planning to run away?"

Meng Lang: "..."

Can't I have a positive reason for resigning?

Like achieving financial independence? Or to uphold justice? Or to maintain world peace?

"Meng Lang! I was just looking for you!"

Meng Lang turned around only to see Uncle Zhang rushing towards him.

He reluctantly tucked the resignation letter back into his pocket.

"I didn't buy, I'm out of the market, there's still money in my account, no financial burdens, can take care of myself, working hard, in good spirits, just confessed my feelings yesterday, life is mildly sunny, peaceful, and full of hope!"

Elder Zhang hadn't even started speaking before he was cut off by Meng Lang's string of "answers."

Ma Qiao's mouth twitched, but catching a glance from Meng Lang's eyes, he didn't reveal anything on the spot.

Meng Lang sighed inwardly.

If even Ma Qiao thought this way, if he resigned now, lord knows what version of "reason for resignation" would circulate.

An online hot search titled "Post-90s youth resigns after making a mess in stock market" was practically guaranteed.

If Elder Zhang got proactive and reported this back home, it really would disrupt his family peace...

...

As he left the company, Meng Lang couldn't help but sigh.

Just wanted to resign, why is it so difficult?

Forget it, no performance can't last long before getting fired anyway, might as well consider it contributing to the nation by reducing the unemployment rate for this period.

Like most young people unwilling to settle for mediocrity and harboring dreams, his initial intention to sell insurance was very pragmatic.

It was to earn his first million as quickly as possible, to establish himself in this city, not necessarily to own a car or a house, but at least to rent a two-bedroom, one-living-room, one-kitchen, and one-bathroom place.

Occasionally bring his parents over to experience city life, to let them spend their later years without stress.

Once he had earned more money, to take on a decade or two of debt, buy a small place of seventy or eighty square meters, and really put down roots.

Maybe by his thirties or forties, he could make a name for himself, start a business, pass through seed and multiple funding rounds, become a billionaire, and fulfill a few more modest goals.

Now that he had ten million, to say Meng Lang had no ambition would be deceiving himself.

He wanted to resign, not because he was financially secure and wanted to relax.

But because the Fortune 500 company no longer could hold him...

"Ouch!" "Hey!" While walking and dreaming about the future, a sudden reality check jolted Meng Lang's waist.

With the cries of both individuals, Meng Lang stumbled, knocking over another person who was running from the side.

He turned his head and saw a woman in a black dress on the ground, clutching her ankle and hissing in pain.

The dress was short, and the fallen woman exposed a stretch of pale, shapely legs, making Meng Lang flush and his heart race.

He quickly averted his eyes. "I'm so sorry, I was distracted and not watching where I was going. Are you okay?"

"It's okay, I should be the one apologizing," the woman's voice was soft and timid as she apologized to Meng Lang.

"I was rushing to cross at the traffic lights, and I was too hurried."

Meng Lang looked up and indeed there was a pedestrian traffic light ahead, but it had already turned red.

He turned back to look at her hand still covering her ankle.

"Is your foot okay?"

"Hiss~ It seems to be sprained," the woman's delicately made-up face showed a hint of pain, evoking sympathy.

"Then let me help you to that bench over there to sit down for a bit."

The woman hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently. "That... that would be kind of you."

With Meng Lang's support, the woman leaned on him, lifting one foot and slowly moved toward a bench by the roadside.

Their proximity was so close that Meng Lang could clearly feel the softness from her arm and a faint, intoxicating scent of perfume.

This caused Meng Lang, who was still a novice in such matters, to blush and his heart to pound incessantly.

It's over, it's over!

Could this be the legendary "collision of fate"?

Had Yue Lao finally remembered me, this unnoticed person of over twenty years?

Although the woman's looks were not as stunning as Lin Haitang, her charm and delicate demeanor made her appear like the gentle and caring girl next door, inevitably stirring up a desire to protect her.

The close contact made Meng Lang's heart wander.

It wasn't until he helped the girl sit down on the bench that he noticed her high heel was broken.

"I'm embarrassed, this is actually my first time wearing high heels, and it seems a bit forced."

Apparently noticing Meng Lang's gaze, the girl said with a painful smile as she rubbed her ankle.

"I was actually here for an interview nearby. I didn't get it and twisted my ankle rushing for the bus. I guess I'm quite helpless…" the woman's voice grew increasingly subdued.

"Uh... it's fine, it's fine. You're so young, if not this time, then try again. You will definitely find a job that suits you better." Meng Lang quickly consoled her.

Feeling responsible for the girl's fall and twisted ankle, guilt started to surge within him seeing her downtrodden expression.

"Yeah! Thank you!" The woman managed a weak smile and then glanced at her watch.

"Um... I still have things to rush back for, so... goodbye."

"But your foot..."

"It's fine, I feel much better now."

The woman said as she picked up her broken high heel and stood up, limping slightly, and almost stumbled again after just a couple of steps.

Meng Lang hurried over to support her, feeling helpless.

"Don't be stubborn, how about this, I'll call a taxi to take you home."

"No need, no need..."

"Come on, listen to me!" Without further discussion, Meng Lang helped her to the road and flagged down a taxi, pressing her into it.

"Um... Thank you!" Inside the taxi, the woman lowered her head, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"It's okay, I'm partly to blame for your twisted ankle. By the way, where do you live?"

"Binjiang New City."

Binjiang New City? Meng Lang was momentarily startled.

This community didn't seem cheap, but he didn't think much about it, maybe her family's financial situation was quite good.

"Driver, Binjiang New City."

"Alright!"

The taxi drove down the road, the inside of the car falling into brief awkward silence.

Lacking the experience of Duan Xian, and to break the awkward silence, Meng Lang took the initiative to speak.

"By the way, I still don't know your name?"

"My name is Lu Kexin, and you?"

"I'm called Meng Lang, 'Meng' from Mengzi and 'Lang' from the waves."

"That's an interesting name."

"Sigh! Born by the sea, my old man was too lazy, and the fortune teller said I lacked water, so he named me Lang.

But don't get me wrong, my name may be Meng Lang, but I'm decent."

"I can tell," Lu Kexin stared at Meng Lang.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You look a bit familiar, a lot like my first love…"

"Uh..."

When did someone ever tell me that I had the face of someone's first love?

But being told by a beautiful woman that I had the face of a first love did stir something inside Meng Lang.

After all, such a coincidence must mean there's a boost in initial good feelings, right?

Meng Lang wasn't experienced in communicating with girls and didn't know any flirting tricks, but as they spoke more, the initial strangeness faded.

In their conversation, it became clear that although Lu Kexin appeared frail, she was actually a very independent and strong girl.

She had left home alone to struggle in Su City for a few years, saved some money, and now was hoping to find a better, more stable job to bring her parents and younger brother from her hometown to enjoy a peaceful life.

Her words were filled with beautiful hopes for the future, constructing an image in Meng Lang's mind of a girl silently struggling and strong-willed, an image that was admirable.

Meng Lang couldn't help but feel a strong fondness for Lu Kexin.

The driver, observing the young man and woman chatting harmoniously in the rearview mirror, couldn't help but smile too.

This is youth...

...

At the entrance of Binjiang New City.

"Brother Meng, this is fine," she said.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Yes! I'll be fine, don't worry!" Lu Kexin smiled sweetly.

Meng Lang felt it wasn't quite right to escort a girl to her doorstep on their first meeting, and seeing that her ankle was indeed much better, he nodded.

"Alright then, you go and rest well! Goodbye!"

Just as Meng Lang turned to leave, he suddenly felt someone tug at the hem of his clothes.

He looked back puzzledly, only to see Lu Kexin standing there, head slightly lowered, a bashful expression on her face.

It was that moment of modesty, that very moment, Meng Lang had to admit, his heart genuinely skipped a beat.

"Um… could… could I…"

Lu Kexin, as if gathering all her courage, held her phone screen up to Meng Lang's eyes.

A QR code?!

Meng Lang's hormone-flooded brain suddenly cooled down.

A delusion?

Why did he feel a familiar scent?