Wang Cheng had arrived rather suddenly, so Wang Ning’an had only prepared a place for him to sleep and nothing else. Now all the little problems were beginning to surface. Fortunately, Wang Cheng was not demanding about sleeping arrangements, and when circumstances did not allow for much, he was even less likely to complain.
After Wang Cheng finished tidying his room, Wang Ning’an brought him a new set of clothes and a pair of pajamas that had only been worn once or twice.
“These are mine, so they might not fit very well. Make do with them for now. I’ll take you to the mall after work tomorrow to buy some clothes. Wear the pajamas tonight.”
Wang Cheng did not care whether clothes were new as long as they were wearable. He had never been particular about that sort of thing. Going up and down the mountain and doing physical work made clothes easy to dirty, and a new outfit usually looked nothing like it had originally after less than a month. Over time, he had grown to prefer wearing old clothes rather than spending money on new ones. Besides, the old monk had never had much money either.
Wang Ning’an was 183 centimeters tall, a little taller than Wang Cheng.
Sure enough, the pajamas did not fit quite right. The trouser legs and sleeves were both a little too long. If Wang Cheng rolled them up only a little, they slipped back down, but if he rolled them too much, they became too short. In the end, he simply stopped caring. Eldest Brother’s apartment was very clean anyway. Like his boss, he probably hired a housekeeper or hourly cleaner. Given how busy his brother was, there was no chance he had time to clean the apartment himself.
“Eldest Brother, are you still going to work? Have you eaten dinner?” Wang Cheng called to Wang Ning’an, who was about to head into the study. It was nearly eleven at night. Even a workaholic could not go an entire day without resting.
“I already ate. Go to sleep first.” Leaving those words behind, Wang Ning’an turned and went into the study.
Wang Cheng stared at the closed door and shrugged helplessly. It was a pity there were no ingredients in the refrigerator, or he would have made his brother a late-night snack. Back in his room, he found that the mattress his brother had chosen was on the firmer side, softer than a wooden plank bed without being too soft. Wang Cheng had never been picky about beds, and he slept well. The day had been fairly full too, so not long after climbing into bed, he fell asleep.
When he woke the next morning, daylight was already streaming in outside.
He was used to hearing cicadas chirping endlessly in the morning. Wang Cheng sat on the bed in a daze for a moment before remembering where he was. The eighteenth floor was so high that no wonder he could not hear birds or cicadas. He sprang out of bed. Starting today, he would officially be living in this prosperous city for three months. It was not especially long, but it was not short either.
“You’re awake? Come eat breakfast.” Wang Ning’an walked in from the entryway carrying the breakfast he had gone downstairs to buy ten minutes earlier. There was a morning market nearby. Whenever he did not feel like cooking and had nothing in the apartment, he bought breakfast there. The selection was extensive, with nearly everything one could want.
“Give me a minute. I’m going to brush my teeth.” Wang Cheng had thought he would be up earlier than his brother.
Breakfast was jianbing guozi, soup dumplings, and soy milk. Knowing his younger brother had a huge appetite and was not picky, Wang Ning’an had bought plenty of everything. Once Wang Cheng came out, the brothers finished breakfast and went downstairs together.
Elio’s Notes: Jianbing guozi is a savory Chinese breakfast crepe, typically cooked with egg and a crisp fried-dough filling.
Wang Ning’an worked for Shenghui Group, one of the major companies in Shanhai City and apparently well known nationwide. Its headquarters were not located in Shanhai City, but the local branch was still substantial. Like Huaying Real Estate, it was downtown, though in a different office building.
Wang Ning’an had a car, also provided by the company. With a free ride available, Wang Cheng had no intention of squeezing onto another packed bus. He immediately accepted his brother’s offer and rode to work with him.
When he reached the office and clocked in, he found he still had plenty of time.
As he had the day before, Wang Cheng watered the plants that needed it. The old monk had also liked fussing with flowers and greenery. He had once transplanted quite a few into the temple courtyard, only to tend them sporadically and leave Wang Cheng to take care of them in the end. Once the watering was done, Wang Cheng began his workday.
To keep up with Li Yu, Wang Cheng forced himself to study planning, a field he had never encountered before. More than a dozen thick books sat on his desk, all borrowed from Li Yu. Perhaps she appreciated his initiative and serious attitude, because she treated him much better than she had on his first day and patiently explained anything he did not understand. At one point she even teased that he was beginning to look a little more presentable, though he still had a way to go because his clothes obviously did not fit.
The entire morning passed like that.
A little after noon, Zhang Yiheng invited Li Yu and Wang Cheng to lunch. Tang Sisi overheard them and said she wanted to come too. Since they all worked for the same company, it would have been awkward to exclude her, so they let her join them.
Changhe Building had both a regular restaurant and a buffet, located on the fifth and sixth floors respectively. Their customers were mostly office workers from the building and nearby workplaces. The prices were a little high, but the food was good, so many office workers who were tired of boxed lunches chose to eat there.
They were going to the buffet. The group-buy price was only forty-nine yuan, but usually only people with large appetites or higher salaries chose it. Ordinary office workers could not afford to spend that much on every meal.