Chapter 4: The Language of Steel Wool
Looking at the car keys shoved into his hand, Lu Yao felt a surge of emotion deep within.
Is this the boldness of a wealthy woman?
I’m in love!
At the same time, he sincerely regretted how he had once been indifferent to this affluent woman.
If only he had known how amazing Sister Wang was back then.
Why did he have to endure so much hardship?
Indeed, the damn love and inexplicable male pride were the biggest obstacles on the path to the pinnacle of life.
Yet, so many people in their youth fail to see through this truth.
Usually, it takes a harsh beating from society before they come to understand.
But by then, it’s often too late.
Before his time travel, Lu Yao had considered reaching out to Sister Wang.
But after some inquiries, he learned that she had been reported internally for “embezzlement” during her tenure, paid compensation, and served three years in prison.
When she came out, Sister Wang was no longer the spirited woman he once knew.
So, even if fate places a golden opportunity right in front of you, if you can’t grasp it, you’ll truly miss out.
The most typical example of this was a man named Han Yi whom Lu Yao later saw online.
That guy couldn’t even manage to live off a rich woman properly.
He became a disgrace among freeloaders.
Forever nailed to the internet’s shame pillar.
But now, reborn ten years earlier, Lu Yao finally had a profound realization and was truly enjoying the good fortune fate had handed him.
Still, holding the keys, Lu Yao frowned: “Our school charges for parking, and I can’t afford it right now.”
Sister Wang rolled her eyes with flair: “Then just move out, right? I have an apartment near the university town. Pack up today and move in.”
After all, graduation was less than a month away.
He would have to move out sooner or later.
So Lu Yao agreed cheerfully: “Alright then, see you later.”
Bidding Sister Wang farewell, Lu Yao drove her Mercedes-Benz CLS back to the dormitory.
Although the CLS wasn’t as flashy as the later upgraded models, in 2013, when domestic cars were lagging and foreign imports dominated, the CLS was still synonymous with luxury and prestige.
When many students on campus saw Lu Yao driving the car, those who didn’t know him gasped: “Whoa! Where did this rich, handsome guy come from?”
Those who knew him were puzzled: “When did he get such a nice car?”
Suddenly, pictures of Lu Yao driving the CLS spread rapidly in campus and class chat groups.
Some ill-intentioned rumors also began circulating.
One had to admit—they guessed pretty accurately!
Lu Yao parked near the dorm parking lot.
After getting out, he headed toward the dormitory.
Then he saw Xu Ziqiao speeding up on his electric bike, screeching to a halt right in front of him.
Xu Ziqiao’s expression was exaggerated: “Whoa! Dude, that really is your Mercedes?”
Lu Yao was puzzled: “Yeah, what’s up?”
Xu scratched his head: “Now the school and class groups are saying you spent last night driving a rich woman’s car, and today you’re already driving it back. They’re spreading that you’re freeloading!”
Lu Yao shrugged: “So?”
“So?!” Xu’s voice suddenly jumped eight octaves: “Aren’t you mad? I’m mad for you!”
Lu Yao laughed: “That’s just jealousy. Not everyone can eat soft rice.”
Huh?
Xu Ziqiao was stunned: “No way, man! You really freeload?”
Lu Yao neither confirmed nor denied: “Don’t dig too deep into society’s matters.”
Xu parked his electric bike beside Lu Yao’s Mercedes.
As a small rich second generation, Xu immediately recognized it as a top-spec model.
It cost nearly a million yuan.
Yet he still ran to Lu Yao, lamenting: “You’re handsome, your grades are good, and you have a bright future! This freeloading rumor will seriously affect you later.”
Affect what?
It’s the domestic economic upswing.
Everything is thriving.
But ten years later, most will realize what it means for a grain of dust from the era to fall on an individual’s head—it’s like a mountain.
Due to salary cuts and efficiency increases, a beautiful female manager who once earned 100,000 yuan a month couldn’t bear the pressure after her salary dropped to 30,000 and jumped off a building.
Everyone with ambition was deeply in debt.
Young people simply embraced the trend of lying flat.
Eventually, even those who bought homes on loans chose to stop paying mortgages.
And the banks?
At first, they aggressively foreclosed on these properties.
But when the housing market collapsed, courts stopped accepting foreclosure auctions on defaulted homes.
Banks had no recourse.
They resorted to cold treatment.
Those who defaulted just received monthly payment reminders and nothing else.
They rode the wave of the mortgage default trend.
So, personal effort was meaningless.
Better to just follow the tide of the times.
Reputation? If you have money, you can always buy that anytime.
Lu Yao smiled at Xu: “King of Players, do you know the flower language of a steel wool scrubber?”
Huh?
King of Players Xu was dumbfounded.
Steel wool scrubber?
Flower language?
How are those two connected?
Lu Yao said softly: “The flower language of the steel wool scrubber is ‘endurance and wealth.’”
Only by enduring hardship with a rich woman could one move into a grand villa.
Moreover...
Though Sister Wang was more than a decade older, she was beautiful and well-maintained.
Truly a rare gem among wealthy women!
Not much hardship at all.
The current harsh rumors are just a little wind and frost.
Endure it and it will pass.
Lu Yao patted Xu’s shoulder: “You’re young, you’ll understand someday.”
Xu was utterly confused.
Understand what?
I’m a rich kid myself, okay?
Without wasting words, Lu Yao said: “I’m here today to pack. I’m moving out.”
Xu Ziqiao: “...”
Being attached to a wealthy woman really makes a difference.
Just one night!
And already you have car and home.
At that moment, Xu seemed to understand a little.
Still, he thought freeloading on looks alone was unreliable: “What if one day the rich woman treats you so badly you can’t get up?”
Lu Yao knew that too.
Freeloading is soft and tender freshly cooked.
The longer it sits, the colder, harder, and less tasty it becomes.
Like the saying goes—
Beauty combined with any card is a winning hand, but alone it’s just a pile of crap.
But Lu Yao held nothing but winning hands!
So he smiled at Xu: “You don’t get it. This is entrepreneurship.”
Xu was unfazed: “Sure, sure.”
It’s a bespoke one-on-one service for high-net-worth individuals.
Lu Yao didn’t bother explaining.
He followed Xu back to the dorm.
The other roommates gave Lu Yao strange looks but no one mentioned the rampant rumors.
Once Lu Yao started packing, a roommate preparing for graduate school, Jiang Wangchun, awkwardly asked: “Brother Lu, are you really moving out?”
Lu Yao: “Yeah.”
Jiang Wangchun: “Did you see the group chat?”
Lu Yao: “King of Players told me. I’m too lazy to care.”
Roommates: “...”
Jiang Wangchun: “Alright then, if anything happens at school, I’ll tell you.”
Lu Yao finished packing: “Okay, I’m moving out first. We’ll meet up when we have time.”
Xu helped carry the suitcase: “I’ll see you off.”
In the hallway, Xu sighed: “Damn, there’s still more than a month until graduation, but many people have already moved out.”
The once lively dorm had grown somewhat desolate.
With Lu Yao moving out today, Xu felt a hollow sadness inside.
Reborn Lu Yao saw it clearly: “It’s just a matter of time.”
Some close roommates would feel a bit lost for a while.
But Xu...
He just wasn’t used to the sudden change in familiar surroundings.
Before rebirth, Xu had left to study abroad just six months after graduation.
He hadn’t even attended a single reunion.
So, while some college friendships were close, not everyone formed lifelong bonds.
Most were like Lu Yao’s dorm—occasional gatherings after graduation, then silence after a year or two.
Lu Yao didn’t take Xu’s sentimentality seriously.
But as they neared the parking lot, Lu Yao suddenly saw Fan Shushuo and Luo Yuyan approaching with fierce expressions!
Xu’s fleeting sentimentality vanished instantly.
Whoa!
There’s drama!