Chapter 45: If You Don't Work Hard, You'll Have No Choice but to Inherit the Family Business

Early the next morning, Tian Siyi arrived downstairs at the apartment complex bright and early.

But Chen Chen had arrived even earlier and was already waiting for her.

He looked at the time and said, "So, without me waking you up, you actually didn't sleep in."

Tian Siyi pouted.

"Don't make it sound like I can't do anything without you. I'm perfectly independent, okay?"

"Alright, alright."

Chen Chen nodded, then looked down at her foot.

"How is it? Can you run today?"

Tian Siyi moved her foot around and lightly tapped it on the ground.

"I tried jogging a little on my way here. It should be fine."

"Good. Stay with me later. We'll run slowly and take it easy."

"Okay."

This apartment complex was the closest one to Mujiang Conservatory of Music. It was less than a ten-minute walk to the campus, so many students rented apartments there.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that more than ninety percent of the residents were students from the conservatory.

Now that school had started, the neighborhood had become lively again. Even though it was still early in the morning, many students could already be seen carrying large bags as they returned to campus.

Tian Siyi's foot had not completely recovered yet. She looked fine while walking, but when she ran, she still had a slight limp.

Chen Chen ran beside her the whole time, watching her carefully in case she fell.

"Are you really that worried about me?" Tian Siyi asked with a smile, breathing heavily.

"If you were a little more reliable, I wouldn't have to worry so much."

"When have I ever not been reliable?"

"Watch out!"

Chen Chen suddenly reached out and pulled Tian Siyi back.

A car had stopped in front of them, and the person who got out surprised them both.

"Hello."

Wang Baihui looked at them with a friendly smile.

However, Chen Chen immediately stepped in front of Tian Siyi, protecting her with a cautious expression.

Seeing this, Wang Baihui quickly waved his hands.

"Don't be nervous. What happened last time was my fault. I'm sorry. Also, I want to thank both of you."

Chen Chen and Tian Siyi looked at each other in confusion.

But it wasn't hard to guess what had happened.

Since Zhou Jiajia was now working as a salesperson at a car dealership, it seemed likely that Wang Baihui had already broken up with her.

As for the reason, it was probably related to their last meeting.

That was most likely why Zhou Jiajia held such a grudge against them.

Wang Baihui smiled kindly.

"Let me buy you breakfast. We can talk while we eat."

Since he was apologizing and thanking them at the same time, they didn't refuse his invitation.

When they arrived at the breakfast shop, Wang Baihui told them to order whatever they wanted.

So they didn't hold back and ordered plenty of delicious food.

After they put down the menu, Wang Baihui finally spoke.

"I'm really sorry about what happened before. You were honestly trying to help me, but I treated you so badly."

Tian Siyi replied, "It's okay. You were a victim too. So... you broke up with Zhou Jiajia afterward?"

"Yes. At first, I thought Chen Hui was using her influence to bully Zhou Jiajia. But after thinking about it carefully, I realized who Chen Hui is. Why would someone like her deliberately target an ordinary young woman? So I looked into it and found out that Zhou Jiajia had been tricking men into spending money on her ever since middle school."

"Middle school?"

Even Tian Siyi couldn't help crying out in surprise.

That's way too much... She wasn't even fully grown yet!

Wang Baihui nodded calmly. It was obvious that he had already accepted Zhou Jiajia's past.

"I can't believe she's a repeat offender. I told you not to chase after her, but you wouldn't listen!" Tian Siyi said as she pinched Chen Chen's cheek, making fun of him.

Only then did Wang Baihui take another careful look at the two of them.

"So Chen Chen was fooled by her before too? No wonder you both dislike her so much."

Tian Siyi nodded.

"Back then, Chen Chen was like an idiot. He followed her around every single day."

Wang Baihui looked puzzled.

"But that's strange. You were already such an amazing girl, so why did he fall for Zhou Jiajia instead? From what you're saying, you two already knew each other before you met Zhou Jiajia, right?"

Tian Siyi froze for a moment. Her eyes darted around before she quickly came up with an excuse.

"I wasn't even fully grown back then. If he had made a move on me at that age, wouldn't that have made him a terrible person?"

Chen Chen glanced at the woman who could lie without blushing at all, but he didn't expose her. Once he argued against it, it would only become even harder to explain.

Still, he couldn't help saying, "Girls shouldn't use such rough words."

Tian Siyi quickly covered her mouth and gave Chen Chen an embarrassed smile.

Wang Baihui also smiled at Tian Siyi.

"I saw what happened to you on the school forum. You're even more popular now than Li Ya, who used to be number one on the campus beauty ranking. And the semester hasn't even officially started yet."

Tian Siyi scratched her head shyly. "Am I really that popular?"

Wang Baihui nodded.

"This has never happened before. When they vote for the campus beauty ranking again, I'll definitely vote for you."

"Thank you."

The so-called campus beauty ranking didn't have any real value, but it did help increase someone's exposure and popularity. If she wanted to become a successful celebrity, building a fan base was also very important.

"No need to thank me. It's not like I decide the results. In the end, you've earned it yourself. I watched your singing video. It was really good. Sometimes I honestly envy people like you who have talent."

Tian Siyi glanced at Chen Chen.

There happened to be someone without talent sitting right here.

Tian Siyi said, "Talent alone isn't enough. You also have to work hard."

"I can see that. It's not even daylight yet, and you're already out exercising. I also saw on the forum that you sprained your foot. It has only just recovered, and you're already running again."

"I can't help it. Because of my foot, I haven't been able to train for many days. If I wait any longer, I'll become lazy."

Chen Chen asked, "I've never seen you around this apartment complex before. Did you just move here?"

Wang Baihui nodded.

"I'm a senior now, so it's time to start my internship. Living in the dorm isn't convenient anymore, so I moved out. Honestly, if you want to work in the music industry, but you still haven't made a name for yourself by your senior year, there's usually not much hope left."

The music industry was like that.

Talent was very important, but talent alone wasn't enough. You also had to work extremely hard.

Chen Chen and Wang Baihui were actually similar. They both had passion and were willing to work hard, but neither believed they had much natural talent.

So when Wang Baihui said that, Chen Chen completely understood how he felt.

He continued asking, "So are you planning to look for work in another field?"

Wang Baihui let out a sigh.

"I'll keep looking for now. If nothing works out... then I guess I'll have no choice but to go home and inherit the family business."

Pfft!

Tian Siyi, who was eating breakfast beside them, suddenly sprayed out the food in her mouth.

Just a moment ago, the conversation had been so emotional.

Where had this sudden twist come from?

"Cough... cough, cough..."

She had genuinely choked.

Chen Chen patted her back.

"You even managed to choke while eating..."