Li Anche eventually decided to take the job at the bank. The fact that Zheng Kejian had a girlfriend hit him hard. He no longer wanted to get entangled with Zheng Kejian.
With Li Anche going off to work, only Bai Mu Ning remained in the dormitory. The other two had already moved out long ago, leaving him alone in the now desolate space.
Bai Mu Ning was spending less and less money and had started thinking about looking for a job.
A couple of days ago, Li Li had reached out to Bai Mu Ning and given him a tip as thanks for helping her avoid a risky situation.
Her ex-husband really had set her up. If not for Bai Mu Ning’s warning, she would’ve fallen for it.
Li Li also said that if she had more work, she’d definitely think of him.
But jobs like that didn’t come often. Bai Mu Ning thought a stable job would give him more peace of mind.
He needed to save money to deal with any unexpected situations.
For instance, the school dorm only allowed him to stay until June of next year. After that, he’d have to rent a place on his own.
Jingnan’s rent was a big headache plus there was a one-month deposit, three-month payment policy. He had to save up enough money, or surviving would become a real problem.
With that in mind, Bai Mu Ning started sending out his résumé. Unfortunately, the current job market was grim, major companies were laying off employees. How many opportunities were even left for interns like them?
Besides, Bai Mu Ning’s major was known for being unemployed upon graduation, so all his résumés sank into the sea. There wasn’t even a single phone call for an interview.
After several days of hitting dead ends, Bai Mu Ning slumped in his chair and sighed dramatically, ‘The heavens are trying to end me.’
That Friday, a senior from the aquaculture major contacted him, saying a client had bought an arowana from his shop and the fish had fallen ill. He wanted Bai Mu Ning to come take a look. It wouldn’t be unpaid, he was offering money for the visit.
Back when they were in school, the senior had looked after Bai Mu Ning quite a bit. Whenever there was a money-making gig, he’d think of him. Sometimes, when the shop got too busy, he’d also ask Bai Mu Ning to help out.
Bai Mu Ning immediately agreed and soon received the address from the senior.
As he looked at the address, it felt familiar as if he’d been there before.
Following the directions, Bai Mu Ning arrived at the entrance of Sanwen Hall. He checked his phone three times to make sure it really was the address the senior had sent—No. 89, East 40th Street. Only then did he push the door open and walk in.
It was actually Sanwen Hall. This was too much of a coincidence, right?
It was noon, and there weren’t many patients. Chen Haonan stood in front of a fish tank feeding the fish. One loach after another was dropped in, but the arowana didn’t even glance at them. Instead, it swam around arrogantly, blowing bubbles for fun.
Chen Haonan was getting a bit anxious. With heartache in his voice, he said, “Dragon-ge, you’re worth hundreds of thousands, at least eat something. What if you starve and lose weight?”
“If you don’t like loaches, just say so. How about shrimp instead? Do you want saltwater shrimp or freshwater shrimp? You can even order off a menu, if you want an imperial banquet, your little brother here will make it happen for you.”
After muttering to the fish tank for a while, Chen Haonan turned around and saw Bai Mu Ning. He wasn’t even the slightest bit embarrassed, instead smiling warmly. “Looking for Dr. Wen? He’s still seeing patients.”
He sounded so gentle now, completely unlike the man who’d just been having a one-sided conversation like a lunatic.
Doctors always came with a few quirks.
“I’m not here for him,” Bai Mu Ning quickly waved his hands. “My senior asked me to come take a look at the arowana’s condition.”
Chen Haonan looked surprised. “You’re here to treat the fish?” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
He gave Bai Mu Ning a once-over, as if trying to judge whether he was serious.
After all, Bai Mu Ning had always come for Wen Jing in the past. This sudden change of target was hard to believe.
Bai Mu Ning blinked his pretty apricot-shaped eyes. “Does it not look like it? I’m a professional.”
The surprise on Chen Haonan’s face quickly faded. He waved him over and said, “Little Doctor, come take a look at what’s wrong with Dragon-ge?”
Bai Mu Ning: “…?”
Why did he always have to be called little something?
“Dr. Chen, you can just call me by my name.”
No one liked being referred to as little, he wasn’t that young!
Bai Mu Ning walked over to examine the arowana. The fish seemed indifferent to the loaches and was preoccupied with blowing bubbles.
It looked sluggish and lacked the imposing presence it had a few days ago.
Chen Haonan asked, “Xiao Ning, what’s wrong with my Dragon-ge?”
Bai Mu Ning said, “It’s just indigestion from overfeeding. Dr. Chen, how many times a week do you feed it?”
Chen Haonan replied proudly, “I feed it every day ah. But fish can get indigestion?”
“Fish also have a digestive system.”
“Fair enough,” Chen Haonan asked, “So how do we fix it?”
“Starve it!” Bai Mu Ning explained, “You don’t need to feed it every day. Two to three times a week is enough.”
“And your water quality isn’t great either. You need to change the water more often. If you think it’s too wasteful, you can raise it with a cleaner fish.”
Bai Mu Ning rattled off a series of instructions such as how to feed the arowana and what it liked to eat,
There were also tips for changing the water, how often to clean the tank, and how to make sure the water is slightly acidic. This was his area of expertise, and he spoke fluently and with authority.
It seemed like Chen Haonan’s head was spinning, he didn’t look like he’d retained much of anything. Bai Mu Ning sighed and said, “I’ll send you a printed list of care instructions!”
“You’re so thoughtful, Xiao Ning.” Chen Haonan helped him hold the tubes while he changed the water. “Xiao Ning, is this your major? You know how to raise fish and treat them too?”
Bai Mu Ning assumed he was just making small talk and answered casually, “Yeah, I majored in aquaculture. I can handle this stuff. If anything comes up with your fish in the future, feel free to reach out.”
“Then I won’t be polite,” Chen Haonan said, then added, “Xiao Ning, would you consider working here? Raising fish should be left to the professionals.”
Chen Haonan didn’t have any other motives. He just felt that keeping fish was a real headache, it was easier to pay someone and save the trouble. This story is hosted at g.com.
This was exactly what Bai Mu Ning needed. He’d been stressing over not finding a job, and now someone was handing him an opportunity on a silver platter. Why would he refuse?
Chen Haonan was like family to him!
Bai Mu Ning happily changed to a more intimate form of address. “Haonan-ge, really?”
“I haven’t been able to find a job lately. None of the HR people are even looking at my résumé. If this keeps up, I’ll have to go hand out flyers.”
“Haonan-ge, don’t worry. As long as I can work here, I’ll give it my all. I’ll take the best care of Dragon-ge.”
He deliberately made himself sound pitiful but it wasn’t really a lie. He truly couldn’t find a job right now.
University students were graduating in waves. If one group didn’t get a job, a new batch would soon hit the market. With a school and major as uncompetitive as his, unemployment felt inevitable.
A stable job that actually matched his major had finally appeared before him, Bai Mu Ning was determined to seize it no matter what.
“Just for that Haonan-ge you called me, you’re hired,” Chen Haonan grinned, revealing two dimples. He patted his chest confidently and said, “I’m the boss here. What I say goes. You can start work tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Haonan-ge.” Bai Mu Ning’s smile was incredibly sweet.
However, the so-called Haonan-ge, who had confidently declared he had the final say, was KO’d by a single sentence from Wen Jing.
“He won’t do, find someone else.”
And so, Chen Haonan walked back dejectedly, spreading his hands helplessly. Wen Jing didn’t approve. “Maybe try convincing him yourself?”
Bai Mu Ning, who was just about to land a job and then instantly unemployed again: “…?”
What happened to you being the boss and you have the final say?
This was the only job opportunity he’d had in the past week, Bai Mu Ning wasn’t going to let it slip through his fingers.
So he knocked on the door of Wen Jing’s consultation room and walked in with a cheerful smile.
“Dr. Wen, can’t you please give me a chance?”
Wen Jing leaned lazily against the back of his chair, lifting his eyelids slightly. “Which kind of chance are you referring to?”
Bai Mu Ning: “…?”
Did he misunderstand and think Bai Mu Ning had some ulterior motive for wanting to work here?
“The job, of course. I really need this job. It’s so hard to find one these days. If I can’t get something soon, I’ll have no choice but to set up a bowl and go beg under a bridge.”
Bai Mu Ning looked pitiful as he explained, trying to awaken some sympathy in Wen Jing’s cold heart.
Unfortunately, the indifferent old fox didn’t give him the chance and rejected him outright.
“Is that so? Then maybe you can talk to your Haonan-ge and exchange ideas. He’s got seniority in the begging business.”
Bai Mu Ning: “…?”
Why was this person started being yin-yang again?! Did he swallow a gun this morning!!!