"Sister Zhu, you say the way those two are looking at each other is so intense, are they really just friends?" Yu Chuhui looked at the two people on the sofa and clicked her tongue in wonder.

Zhu Zhe poked Yu Chuhui in the waist. "Who gossips right in front of people?"

Ye Zhenzhen's kitchen was open-concept, and the three people in the kitchen saw Chen Cheng and Ye Zhenzhen's interaction perfectly clearly.

"Oh~" Yu Chuhui pursed her lips.

"Alright, friends, let's eat," Zhu Zhe called out to everyone.

Chen Cheng walked over to take a look. Zhu Zhe had made noodles with beef sauce; it had been a long time since he'd had this.

It was fine when he didn't see it, but now that he did, his mouth started watering.

"Sister Zhu, thank you for today. I've only just met you all and already I'm bumming a meal; it makes me feel a bit embarrassed," Chen Cheng smiled.

"You, embarrassed~?" Ye Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at Chen Cheng. "Sister Zhu, don't listen to him. Back when we first met, this guy was already bumming meals and lodging at my place."

Chen Cheng shrugged and helped carry the noodles, sauce, side dishes, and some beef to the table.

Looking at the complete meal on the table, Chen Cheng felt like something was missing.

He slapped his forehead. "I'll treat everyone to some wine. It's our first meeting, consider it a gift. I'll go up and get some."

Saying this, Chen Cheng didn't ask for their opinions and headed out of 2203 to go upstairs and get the wine without looking back.

When Chen Cheng returned, he heard the four of them discussing the discrimination women face in employment.

"Chen Cheng, from your perspective, how do you see this issue?" Ye Zhenzhen asked Chen Cheng.

Uh... Chen Cheng couldn't hold it in. How could he see it? With his eyes.

"Let's pour the wine first and talk while we drink. Red wine is good for the skin; raise your hand if you aren't drinking." Chen Cheng smiled and held up the '98 Mouton in his hand.

For a moment, no one spoke.

It was the weekend, it was already dark, and they were at home; naturally, no one objected to someone offering a treat.

"Zhen Zhen, could you get five glasses and a decanter?" Chen Cheng gestured to Ye Zhenzhen.

Ye Zhenzhen watched Chen Cheng pour the wine into the decanter. The wine needed to breathe for a while, so she told everyone to eat first.

Pulling up a chair, Chen Cheng sat down. Seeing everyone staring at him with wide eyes, he realized he wouldn't get away without saying something. He pondered for a few seconds and then began:

"Regarding this matter of employment discrimination, I think it might not exist with me.

After a year of employment, I can fully accept it if you get married, have children, and take maternity leave.

But if the employment time is too short, like getting married and taking maternity leave right after starting, that kind of person is just treating me like a fat sheep to be slaughtered. I would blacklist them directly."

Taking maternity leave right after arriving, and quitting right after the leave ends.

Isn't this bullying an honest person?

Are you just looking for a free ride?

"Heh, look at that capitalist face of yours," Ye Zhenzhen teased with disgust.

"Zhen Zhen, we're having a purely academic discussion, no personal attacks." Chen Cheng lightly kicked Ye Zhenzhen under the table.

"Think about it yourself, isn't that the logic? You've only been here a few days, and you want to take advantage of your boss?

At least stay for a while, get familiar with your colleagues, managers, and the boss before doing that, wouldn't that be better?

It would save face for everyone, and no one could really say anything."

"We live in a world that values human relationships; you should at least put some effort into managing those relationships. You do nothing, and then when things happen, you start cursing the heavens and the earth, calling people heartless and cold? It makes everyone look bad, both inside and out."

"Once bitten, twice shy. If you encounter one person like that, do you think the boss, HR, and the direct managers wouldn't be afraid of encountering it again?"

"So, essentially, it's not discrimination, it's fear!"

"Capital is inherently profit-driven. If you cannot create value for the enterprise, there is naturally no reason for the enterprise to support you for nothing."

"In today's economy-first society, such 'discrimination' is an inevitable result. Don't just talk about the job market discriminating against women of marriageable and childbearing age. When people get older, both men and women are discriminated against together."

"Look at it, all those exams only recruit people under 35. Why is everyone afraid of unemployment once they hit 35?"

Chen Cheng shrugged. "That's the baseline!"

Chen Cheng continued: "Most people reach a certain age, and their finances, family, and life tend to stabilize. Note, most people. It's representative, not universal. Many people at this age no longer have that much drive. Just like a monk ringing a bell, getting through one day at a time."

"Chen Cheng, I've noticed you sound more and more like a capitalist. After all that talk, isn't it still discrimination?" Ye Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, disagreeing with his words.

Chen Cheng shrugged. Arguing with a woman about "women being discriminated against" was inherently nonsense. It's as ridiculous as asking someone who is running fast to help someone who is running slow. Unless the person running fast is your father!

Furthermore, Chen Cheng was really thinking from a capitalist's perspective now.

"Your position determines your thinking" has never been a nice saying, but it is a golden rule. You speak according to your position, though of course, positions can change.

Uh, back to taking sides again. Life's two great questions: taking sides and going all in! Off-topic...

"As long as the human method of reproduction doesn't change, this problem is unsolvable," Chen Cheng smiled, thinking of other ways, but obviously they weren't suitable to say.

Chen Cheng looked at the group; they clearly lost their appetite after his words. They were all stunned.

Chen Cheng poured wine for them and offered a word of encouragement. "So, don't think too much. While you're young, hurry up and save money."

"Financial freedom is the fundamental way to get rid of discrimination."

Ye Zhenzhen gave Chen Cheng a reproachful look. Financial freedom? You make it sound easy. She hurriedly urged everyone to drink. "Alright, drink, drink."

"A toast to youth," Chen Cheng said with a smile, looking at the group.

"A toast to our meeting," Ye Zhenzhen gave Chen Cheng a meaningful glance.

"A toast to freedom," Zhu Zhe said, exhaling the pent-up frustration in her heart.

"A toast to wealth," Yu Chuhui's eyes gleamed.

"A toast to justice," He Minhong thought for a moment and said.

Clink.

The group didn't discuss this topic further and started talking about news, entertainment, and gossip.

After eating, they chatted for a while, and the people from 2202 went back.

"Sister Zhu, do you think Chen Cheng is 1.9 meters tall? He feels so tall!" As soon as they returned to 2202, Yu Chuhui said excitedly.

Zhu Zhe thought for a moment. "If not 1.9, then at least 1.88."

"Although he's wearing a loose t-shirt, his physique must be great. The inverted triangle shape is very obvious."

"Ugh, stop being a fangirl and hurry up to wash up." Zhu Zhe poked Yu Chuhui's forehead, annoyed.

He Minhong watched Yu Chuhui acting like a fangirl and snickered on the side.

"Oh, what's wrong with looking at a Handsome guy once in a while?" Yu Chuhui didn't care.

Among the three, only Zhu Zhe, who worked in a hotel, recognized the price of that bottle of wine—a '98 Mouton. It wasn't extremely expensive, but it was nearly ten thousand yuan.

A person who spends ten thousand yuan on a single bottle of wine was someone Zhu Zhe felt she, someone scraping by in a group rental, couldn't climb up to.

Yu Chuhui's family situation was even worse compared to hers. She had a younger brother and sister who were always asking for money, and Yu Chuhui had a troublesome father.

"Looking is fine, just don't fall for it," Zhu Zhe couldn't help but remind her.

"Oh, I know." Yu Chuhui was smart; she could figure out what Zhu Zhe understood even faster.

"I'm going to take a shower," Yu Chuhui said, walking quickly to occupy the bathroom.

The three of them shared 2202, and there was only one bathroom, which they usually had to take turns using. Mornings and evenings were all about racing to see who could get in first.

Chen Cheng chatted with Ye Zhenzhen for a while about the problems she encountered at work, mentioning that she was gradually feeling the "small society" within their laboratory.

Later, Chen Cheng was kicked out; Ye Zhenzhen disliked that he had too many girlfriends.

Returning to 2301, he lay on the sofa and started looking at the news summarized for the day.

2301 was bought the year before last; he had the idea to buy it when he met Ye Zhenzhen five years ago. It was just because he was poor that he dragged it out until he cleared out his Bitcoin holdings the year before last to free up the funds to buy the house.

He had been in Ugly Country for five years, renting for the first three. It was only when he moved from the Bay Area to Angel City that he bought the house.

During the initial period of capital accumulation, Chen Cheng spent every penny as if it were two; he would never spend money that could be invested in the stock market or crypto market on enjoyment.

Because of this, he often benefited from Ye Zhenzhen, the rich second generation.

Ye Zhenzhen didn't mind, knowing he wasn't a gold digger relying on his looks.

Chen Cheng didn't avoid her when trading stocks or crypto. After spending time together, she would inevitably see some information and know this guy had money.

After reading the news summarized by the information department, Chen Cheng brushed his teeth and lay in bed. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, until he fell into a deep sleep just before dawn.

"Ring-a-ling~ Ring-a-ling~"

The next day, his phone ringing woke the sleeping Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng reached for his phone and took a look: Tan Zongming.

He answered the phone. "Hello, big brother."