Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared-Chapter 72 - Difficulties in Ideological Work
72: Chapter 72 Difficulties in Ideological Work
72 -72 Difficulties in Ideological Work
Having a job means having an income, and having an income means being able to spend.
Spending drives production, and production creates jobs.
This is the simplest economic concept.
Gu Fan is an economics and finance major.
He understands that for an economy to grow, money must circulate.
Being stingy isn’t right, and neither is squandering money.
But spending money while dating his girlfriend is reasonable because he’s investing in their future together, possibly marriage and kids.
Within five days of working, Gu Fan earned a considerable sum of money for a college student.
Being in high spirits, he decided to do something, like having dinner with Lin Xi and watching a movie.
He opted for group buying deals whenever possible, as he had no intention of spending more than he could afford.
With some economic support, his pace of dating accelerated.
Lin Xi started sensing something strange.
She clearly felt the increasing frequency of Gu Fan’s embraces and kisses, and was taken off guard by the overwhelming affection she got.
Upon Lin Xi’s questioning, Gu Fan opened up about having taken a part-time job that was paying pretty reasonably.
More importantly, he had even made a saving to buy her a lipstick she liked.
This unexpected surprise nearly thrilled Lin Xi.
Those designer bags that cost thousands, or even tens of thousands, were out of Gu Fan’s reach.
But he could certainly manage to gift a lipstick.
The reason why Lin Xi was so delighted was that Gu Fan took action before she said anything.
She felt cherished, sensing the feelings of being loved.
This joy lowered her defenses, and she willingly fell into Gu Fan’s arms again.
Afterward, they went to watch a movie together.
With Lin Xi leaning into Gu Fan, they spent the time whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears.
The plot of the movie didn’t matter; they simply enjoyed the comfort of being with one another.
When the movie ended and the young couple was reluctantly parting ways, they noticed something unusual happening in the crowd outside.
Everyone was attracted by something, craning their necks to catch sight of the spectacle.
Curiosity prompted Gu Fan and Lin Xi to head in the same direction to see what was happening.
They were stunned to spot two men squabbling, grunting and swinging their fists, with an utterly helpless woman standing aside.
Gu Fan and Lin Xi exchanged astonished looks.
The girl was Shen Yun, and one of the men fighting appeared to be Feng Jin.
They wondered in astonishment if history was repeating itself.
“Are you okay?” Lin Xi and Gu Fan dashed to Shen Yun’s side.
Recognizing her classmates, Shen Yun immediately asked for help.
“You want my help to stop them?” Gu Fan looked at the two men whose eyes were shooting daggers at each other amidst a flurry of punches and kicks.
Gu Fan had almost been hit by an errant punch when he approached them; their defensive stance for male dignity deterred him from getting any closer.
Lin Xi asked Shen Yun, “What happened here?”
“I …
I…” Shen Yun faltered, clearly embarrassed.
Gu Fan inferred a bit, “You were watching a movie with Feng Jin and ran into…”
Shen Yun nodded stiffly in affirmation.
Gu Fan sighed, thinking of Feng Jin’s rotten luck — two fights in a movie theater and over the same girl both times.
The only difference was that the first time, Feng Jin was the third wheel who got beaten, and the second time, he fought as the official boyfriend.
The fight between the two finally came to a stop with the persuasion of the movie theater staff.
The man who battered Feng Jin tried to leave in a huff, clutching Shen Yun’s hand to declare her as his girlfriend.
Feeling guilty, Shen Yun quickly withdrew her hand.
Her eyes darted around nervously, and she hung her head, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
“You better watch out,” the man turned abruptly and left in a huff, and Feng Jin gave Shen Yun a stern look, wanting to confront her.
Knowing that Feng Jin would likely act rashly in his fury, Lin Xi took on a protective stance for Shen Yun.
If Feng Jin intended to cause trouble, he could have another brawl with Gu Fan.
Unable to bear the embarrassment, especially with acquaintances around, Feng Jin left in a huff.
“You stay with Shen Yun; I’ll go after Feng Jin.” After saying this, Gu Fan chased after Feng Jin, worrying that Feng Jin might do something reckless.
As the crowd dispersed, Lin Xi accompanied Shen Yun out of the movie theater and into a restaurant while waiting for Gu Fan to return.
Looking at Shen Yun’s uneasy face, Lin Xi remarked, “What are the odds of running into this kind of trouble at the movie theater twice?”
“I didn’t want this either, but… ” Shen Yun heaved a sigh and forced a bitter smile.
Lin Xi shook her head, “Last time, you asked me to keep your secret.
I thought I’d need to keep it for a long time.
Who would’ve expected this…”
“I suppose it’s my fault…” Shen Yun admitted her mistake, maintaining her bitter smile, and Lin Xi couldn’t help but ask, “That guy probably doesn’t go to our school, right?
I think you’re a smart girl who wouldn’t make the same mistake again and have two boyfriends from the same school as before.”
Shen Yun nodded: “That guy hit on me on my way home and asked for my number.”
Lin Xi simply replied “oh,” then added, “I guess this is a sign from the gods telling you not to have two boyfriends.
They could easily run into each other.”
Hearing this, Shen Yun looked awkward, and Lin Xi detected something amiss: “You don’t have a third boyfriend, do you?”
“Well…” Shen Yun hesitated, nodding slightly, confirming the existence of a third boyfriend.
“Oh my God.” Lin Xi looked at Shen Yun in disbelief and couldn’t help asking, “You’re not satisfied with just one boyfriend, so you have two more.
That’s to say, you’re dating three boys at the same time, but all of them believe they are your main boyfriend.”
Shen Yun, without responding or refuting this, seemed to implicitly agree and smiled awkwardly: “Lin Xi, do you think I’m a bad girl…
?”
Lin Xi sighed, looking to the side with a look of worry: “I hate to say it, but if anyone else knew about what you’re doing, no one would think you’re a good girl.
That’s the hard truth.”
“I know it’s wrong, I didn’t want to get into this situation, but…” The more Shen Yun spoke, the more suffocated she felt, covering her face, almost crying.
Lin Xi was curious: “If you know it’s wrong, why are you still dating three boys at the same time?”
Instead of answering directly, Shen Yun averted her eyes guiltily.
Lin Xi seemed to understand something and asked: “I know it feels good to have so many guys around you, being pampered by many men.
Believe me, some women want it to be this way.
You’re not the only one.”
Hearing this, Shen Yun stared at Lin Xi with a strange look, as if questioning whether Lin Xi was telling the truth, and then asked: “What about you?”
Lin Xi shrugged: “I used to be like that, too, until one day a guy stood out from the crowd like a prince.
He walked through the sea of people to get to me, and then I realized, as a woman, you don’t need thousands of people to love you.
One who really treats you well and will always do so is enough.”
Hearing this, Shen Yun fell into thought.
Lin Xi watched her friend’s changing expression, thinking that it was about time Shen Yun understood her point.
Shen Yun sighed: “I guess everyone thinks differently.”
Lin Xi disagreed, shaking her head: “Even if your beliefs differ from others’, two boyfriends should be enough.
You’ve already distinguished yourself, there’s no need for you to have three at once.”
“If I can have them, why not?
They’re happy, I’m happy.
The rest is just up to luck.
It’s just that I don’t go far.” Shen Yun spoke casually, as though it was no big deal, a complete 180-degree turn from before.
From this, Lin Xi was certain: Shen Yun just wanted many men revolving around her.
She needed that sense of existence.
At this point, Shen Yun fired back: “Don’t make yourself sound high and mighty, Lin Xi.
Aren’t you the same as me, don’t you also enjoy the feeling of having everyone around you?”
Lin Xi immediately shook her head: “Yes, I used to be that way.
But now I have Gu Fan.
He treats me very well.
I’m content.
I don’t care about those things anymore.
While you, even after having one boyfriend, still want a second one and even a third.”
Shen Yun scornfully responded: “That’s because even if you have a boyfriend, you can feel that everyone is still interested in you, treating you well.
You are still immersed in the feeling of being surrounded, you never lost it.
As soon as I get a boyfriend, the other boys basically lose interest in me.
Do you know the difference between us?
It’s because you’re prettier, so you don’t understand how I feel.
So, please stop preaching to me about what I should do.” After speaking, Shen Yun angrily stood up and stormed off.
Lin Xi stood there, stunned.
She finally understood why Shen Yun’s attitude had changed so radically.
Honestly, Lin Xi had been envied many times before, but no one had ever expressed it as directly and intensely as Shen Yun.
After reflecting for a moment, Lin Xi smiled wryly at herself.
She had intended to have a serious talk with Shen Yun, to point out her mistakes and persuade her to mend her ways.
Yet, she never thought she would be the one to lose face.
“Gu Fan, you bastard, where are you?
Your girlfriend is being bullied.” Lin Xi’s face was filled with unhappiness.
She needed someone to comfort her right at that moment.
What Lin Xi didn’t know was that, at that very moment, Gu Fan was also trying to give someone advice, but, much like Lin Xi, his words had also fallen on deaf ears.
