Returning to my senior year of high school before college, I became addicted to dating.

Chapter 44: Calling Parents in Kyoto.

The phone rang twice, and then Lin Feng's mother, Guo Yan, spoke: "Son, do you still remember you have a mother?"

Raymond Lam laughed and said, "I can't forget. Mom, where's Dad?"

"Your dad just got back from the construction site. You're on summer vacation now, so Mom will buy you a ticket. Come to Beijing! Mom misses you so much."

Raymond Lam replied, "I don't have time right now!"

The tone on the other end of the phone changed instantly: "You have time to play games? You have time to cause trouble? You're on summer vacation, what are you doing at home? Your grandma is too old to control you anymore. I heard you even moved out. You've really grown up."

The sound made Lin Feng's ears ring, and he moved the phone away from his ear:

"Mom, listen to me, you and Dad should both quit your jobs! I've sent you a million yuan."

There was a silence of about three seconds on the other end of the phone, then Guo Yan's voice boomed out: "What the hell did you say?!"

"One million has been transferred to your account. Check it."

"Did you fucking rob a bank?!"

"I didn't rob a bank; I earned my money through business."

"What kind of business do you do to make a million? Are you selling heroin? Or dealing in weapons?"

Lin Feng guessed his mother wouldn't believe him, so he said helplessly, "I run a legitimate business."

"A legitimate business? You stole your grandma's bicycle! She's still nagging about it! With your looks and build, what kind of legitimate business could you possibly run? Even if you put all your parts together, you wouldn't be worth a million bucks!"

Lin Feng took a deep breath: "Mom, why don't you check your phone messages first? See if the money has arrived!"

A moment later...

Guo Yan's voice was trembling with tears: "Son! What have you done? You're our only son! I don't ask you to be rich and powerful, just that you're safe and sound is more important than anything. Tell me the truth, where did this money come from?"

Lin Feng explained for a long time, but Guo Yan still didn't believe him.

That's normal, though. If an 18-year-old high school senior who used to do nothing but play video games and get into fights suddenly gets a million dollars, any parent would think the money is dirty.

Finally, his father, Lin Haiyang, snatched the phone away.

His father's voice sounded calm, but he could tell that the calmness was feigned: "Son, tell Dad the truth. If you've really done something wrong, Dad will take the blame for you."

"Dad, I really didn't do anything wrong. I just opened a Taobao shop and sold game cards. I caught a good wave and made a fortune."

His father was silent for a moment: "Earn a million?"

"Three million, and I used the rest to start a physical store."

There was another moment of silence. Then Guo Yan's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Give me the phone! I haven't finished speaking yet!"

Then there was a tearing sound. In the end, his father still didn't give it to him, but Lin Feng heard his father say, "Wait a minute."

Then Lin Haiyang's voice came back:

"Dad, I believe you. My son has never been a bad person. So what are your plans for this million?"

Lin Feng said, "With this money, you can buy a bungalow within the Fourth Ring Road but outside the Second Ring Road in Beijing, preferably in Chaoyang or Fengtai District. But you must have a property ownership certificate; just go through the normal procedures."

"Buy a bungalow? One million?"

"Yes. It will be demolished later."

How did you know there would be demolition?

"Dad, you just need to trust me."

Lin Haiyang fell silent again. That's how men from Northeast China are; their hearts are churning, but their faces remain expressionless, and their words are calm and collected.

"Okay, your mom and I will go look at houses tomorrow."

Raymond Lam breathed a sigh of relief: "Dad, don't worry about the money, spend it if you need to. I'll give you even more money in the future. You just need to do as I say."

"Great, my son has really made something of himself."

Lin Feng added, "Both of you should stop going to work and wait for my message in Beijing. Go to Shibalidian and look at some more bungalows. They're cheaper there, and we'll buy more bungalows later."

"Remember, do not reveal this information to anyone. People's hearts are unpredictable, and wealth should not be flaunted, understand?"

Lin Haiyang could sense that his son's tone was very calm, and he felt that his son had grown up, so he repeatedly agreed.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette.

His father operates a tower crane at a construction site in Beijing, earning 200 yuan a day. His mother runs a stall selling grilled cold noodles, earning 1.5 yuan per noodle.

The two of them saved up for most of their lives, but they couldn't even afford a toilet in Beijing. Now, a million yuan is transferred to them all at once.

Lin Feng finished his cigarette and started the car.

The next day, Lin Feng went to the online entertainment center.

On the basement level, they are digging to bury conduits. The sound of the electric drill is like a machine gun, "rat-a-tat-tat," making your head ache.

The kitchen on the first floor is a self-service cafeteria, and the stove is only half-built.

The internet cafe on the second floor has started wiring; the walls are full of holes, like a sieve.

Tiger, wearing a hard hat, stood next to a pile of sand, gesturing and pointing like a foreman.

Seeing Lin Feng come in, he ran over excitedly.

"Brother Feng! Look at this progress, isn't it fast?"

Lin Feng looked around and nodded: "The floor of that skating rink on the basement level needs to be ground smooth?"

Tiger nodded: "Understood, I'll keep an eye on it!"

"Where's the sound system?"

"They'll come and install it once the pipes are laid."

"Where are the lights?"

"The lights will be installed the day after tomorrow."

Raymond Lam was satisfied and patted Tiger on the shoulder:

"Thanks for your hard work."

Tiger grinned and said, "What's so hard about it? I'm happy to do it. You're helping me make money, how could I complain about it being hard?"

Lin Feng took out a cigarette and handed it to him.

The two squatted on the unfinished basement floor, with exposed concrete beams above them and freshly smoothed concrete floor beneath their feet. They were surrounded by electrical conduits, making it look like a post-war ruin.

Tiger took a drag of his cigarette, squinted, and said, "Brother Feng, do you think our roller skating rink will be a hit?"

"able."

Why?

Lin Feng exhaled a puff of smoke: "Because young people in Huanan County have nowhere to go. They go to school during the day, come home at night, and have nothing to do on weekends, so they either go to internet cafes or video arcades."

"Let's give them a place where they can rollerblade, play billiards, go online, watch movies, play cards, and even eat—all with one card. Do you think they'll come?"

Tiger thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh: "Come on! If you don't come, you're a coward!"

"That's right."

Tiger suddenly leaned closer, lowered his voice, and chuckled lewdly:

"Brother Feng, I heard you went to Liu Chengcheng's house yesterday?"

Lin Feng glanced at him: "Who told you that?"

"Liu Chengcheng told me herself. She texted me saying she was mine now and that I should call her sister-in-law from now on."

Lin Feng almost choked on the smoke.

"That's exactly what she said?"

"His exact words were: 'Brother Tiger, from now on call me sister-in-law. I'm your Brother Feng's woman now.'"

Tiger imitated her perfectly, even mimicking Liu Chengcheng's confident tone.

Lin Feng rubbed his forehead.

"Brother Feng, did you two... you know?"

Why are you asking so many questions?

"I'm just curious!" Tiger grinned lewdly. "How's she? Did she do anything to you?"

"What can she do to me?"

Tiger nodded, looking thoughtful.

Lin Feng stood up, dusted off his pants, and went upstairs. Tiger got up and followed behind.

The self-service cafeteria on the first floor has a row of stoves with six burners, which can cook six dishes at the same time.

Lin Feng gestured and felt it was enough.

"Tiger, is your mom's cooking good?"

"It's delicious, what's up?"

"Once we open, let your mom be in charge of cooking. Pay her three thousand a month."

Tiger's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Really. I've been eating your mom's sweet and sour pork for years and I still can't get enough. I'll bring my aunt over too."

Tiger rubbed his hands together: "Then I'll go back and talk to my mom. She'll definitely be happy. She's just sitting at home doing nothing anyway. Coming here to cook costs three thousand a month, which is more than the salary of a regular employee."

The two went up to the second floor.

The walls of the internet cafe on the second floor had just been painted with plaster, and the positions of the 120 computers had been marked. The floor was also marked with squares drawn in chalk, like a parking lot.

"Brother Feng, what should we name this online entertainment center?"

Lin Feng thought for a moment and said, "Let's call it 'Galaxy Entertainment City'."

"The Milky Way? That sounds like a planetarium."

"Then you choose one."

Tiger thought for a long time and said, "Let's call it 'Tiger Peak Entertainment City'."

"Tiger Peak? That sounds like a tiger taking a dump."

"Damn, let's go with the Milky Way then."

Outside the entertainment complex, the sunlight was blinding. Lin Feng squinted for a moment before getting into the car.

Lin Feng rolled down the car window, and a gust of wind blew in, carrying the smell of barbecue.

My stomach rumbled twice.

He thought for a moment and sent Zhang Min a text message:

"Did you make chicken stew for dinner? I'm hungry."