Chapter 68: Unexpected Multiple Choice

  "I'm an old friend of Mr. Li's. Actually, when I invited you to the club, I had it in mind to introduce you to him as a potential apprentice. He mentioned this to me before and wanted me to keep an eye out for talented kids like you to introduce to him for training. Coincidentally, we met at the painting studio that day, and on one hand, I thought your foundation was quite good, and on the other hand, your age also fit the requirements, so I extended the invitation to you!" Liu Xiaoting explained.

  "Today, while you were performing, Professor Li came to have a meal. To put it this way, he couldn't stop praising your talent and is even willing to help you get in touch with schools in the US for further study. I personally think this is an opportunity, so I'd like to ask for your opinion!" Liu Xiaoting explained, then straightforwardly revealed the result of her discussion with Professor Li.

  "And besides the issue of studying abroad expenses, you don't need to consider it either. I can represent the club to sign a sponsorship agreement with you. The club will fully sponsor your tuition fees and living expenses for studying abroad. Of course, there are conditions. If you achieve success in the future, you must provide free promotional activities for the club at least three times. Specific details will be determined later. In addition, if the club needs to invite you to perform or participate in other activities that require your personal presence, you must prioritize the club's schedule." Liu Xiaoting continued.

  "I'm not hiding anything from you, the shareholders of the club have a series of development plans and are preparing to expand outside of W City in the future. So the investment in you is just like a venture capital investment, hoping that after you become famous, you can return the favor to the club."

  Chen Chufan was stunned, he didn't think that coming to work at the club would bring such good fortune. Studying abroad? And even helping him get in touch with a good school? Moreover, it's fully sponsored, covering all his expenses overseas? Is it really possible for free lunch to fall from the sky? As for becoming famous and repaying the club, that was originally what he should do anyway. No matter how he thought about it, it was all beneficial to himself! Chen Chufan only felt a mess in his mind, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

  Seeing Chen Chufan's astonished expression, Liu Xiaoting smiled knowingly and suggested: "You don't have to rush to answer me, you can take your time to think about it carefully. Also, in your free time, why not learn some English? This way, if your final decision is to seize this opportunity, you'll already be prepared!"

  "Alright, Aunt Liu, I'll think about it carefully!" Chen Chufan finally came back to his senses, nodded at Aunt Liu and solemnly promised.

  "Alright, I called you here for this matter. Also, your uniform and name tag require a 1000 yuan deposit, which will be deducted from your salary. I'll inform the finance department because you're part-time, so we won't issue a card for you. From now on, every Sunday after work, go directly to the finance department to collect your weekly salary." Liu Ayi also instructed Chen Chufan about some salary matters.

  "Oh! Right, Aunt Liu, Manager Liu from the HR department also helped me buy a pair of shoes! Deduct this money from my salary too!" Chen Chufan suddenly remembered that he was still wearing the leather shoes that Liu Yuanyuan had specially gone to buy for him, and hastily added.

  "This is unnecessary, I'll help you pay the money to Manager Liu. Consider this pair of shoes as a gift from Aunt Liu! If you're embarrassed, we can just call it employee benefits!" Liu Xiaoting said with a smile.

  Chen Chufan was very grateful, but not too pretentious. He sincerely opened his mouth and said thank you: "Then thank you, Aunt Liu, I will work hard and at least not disappoint you!"

  "That's all I need to hear from you! It's getting late, and you still have to rush back to school. I won't keep you any longer, hurry up and go, be careful on the road." Liu Xiaoting concluded.

  By Liu Xiaoting's words, Chen Chufan, whose mind was confused, did not follow the original plan to find the band members, but instead went directly to the band's practice room, changed out of his work clothes, and still wearing the same clothes as before, walked out of the Qing Shui Wan club again under everyone's astonished gaze.

  Sitting in the taxi on his way back to school, Chen Chufan was thinking about Liu Xiaoting's proposal. To be honest, the temptation of studying abroad is great, but Chen Chufan couldn't bear to say goodbye to his current life, couldn't bear to part with the taciturn and reserved Lao Da, couldn't bear to leave Yang Tao who was always chatty, couldn't bear to leave behind his girlfriend Han Xiaoxi who was clever and considerate, also couldn't bear to leave behind Ye Siyi who had been silently supporting him all along, of course there were many more, and most of all, he couldn't bear to be far away from his parents who had raised him with hardships.

  In short, Chen Chufan was very contradictory, and this contradictory mood continued until Chen Chufan returned to school and walked into the dormitory.

  It was already 9:30 when he returned to the dormitory, but what surprised Chen Chufan was that there was not a single person in the dorm. It was normal that Xiao Pang was not around, as he usually stayed in the internet cafe at this time, but Yang Tao and Meng Wei were usually in the dorm at this hour. This made Chen Chufan feel quite depressed, and at this moment, he really wanted someone to help him analyze whether he should seize this opportunity that sounded so beautiful.

  He came alone to the balcony of his dormitory, opened the window and listened to the cicadas and frogs singing in the summer night. His complicated thoughts suddenly disappeared, Chen Chufan suddenly thought that he shouldn't be in a hurry to consider these things, he still had unfinished tasks, he wanted to write a song and perform at the school anniversary evening party, this was what he promised, so he should do it. So at least before then, he shouldn't think about studying abroad.

  Then let's talk about it! Chen Chufan thought to himself, his mind was a mess, and he couldn't help but feel anxious. Or perhaps as a young man in his prime, he shouldn't have any worries, but somehow the anxiety came anyway, without reason.

  Not an ancient person, no need to force a new word for sorrow, but it's just that there is a melody to be composed, faintly melancholic thoughts, coincidentally harmonizing with the beautiful and sad story seen at noon, and the lyrics already written, or perhaps this is inspiration. The cool and mournful tune flows over the young man's heart like water, and he can't help but become infatuated. Outside the window, it's just an ordinary summer night, with only high-rise buildings, a bright moon, cicadas chirping, and frogs croaking, yet the young man seems to have seen desolate winds and cold rains, ruined cities and villages, ancient temples, crumbling mountain gates, seeing the changes of time and space, the vast ocean and the shifting sands, the fall of prosperity, and the impermanence of all things.

  Staring at Ye Siying in the music room for a long time without any inspiration, it suddenly came. The young man couldn't help but hummed softly in his mouth.

  "The wind blows, the rain is lingering, who can understand my sorrowful thoughts? Spring has passed like water, speechless with tears, how many white hairs have been added... Outside the temple, the sound of rain longs for eternity."

  The music ended, how could there be no applause. So, the "pa, pa" sound of clapping started from behind Chen Chufan's back.

  "Didn't you just say yesterday that you wanted to write a song, and now it's already done today? Old Three, you're really a genius!" Applause erupted, followed by Yang Tao's voice.

  The atmosphere was ruined, and the so-called inspiration also receded like the tide. Fortunately, the entire melody had already been firmly etched in the young man's mind, so there was no need to worry too much.

  "Back? What did you two go and do today? You weren't even in the dorm!" Chen Chufan didn't respond to Yang Tao's seemingly praising evaluation, only asking faintly.

  "Not the boss yet, making an appointment still being afraid of this and that, had to drag me along, sigh, I had no choice but to reluctantly follow the boss for a night?" Yang Tao said with feigned distress.

  "Get out! When did I ever have to drag you along? Wasn't it you who insisted on coming yourself? And what's with the first date nonsense, she'll definitely bring a girl along, and it would be inconvenient for me to take two! Who said that?" Obviously, Yang Tao's words couldn't be trusted, and Meng Wei loudly exposed his true face.

  "Am I wrong? Didn't she bring someone along? Am I not sacrificing myself to create conditions for you?" Once the argument started, it would usually continue without reason. Yang Tao was already a person who liked to argue irrationally and wouldn't easily surrender.

  The two of them began to argue in front of Chen Chufan, and even the song that Chen Chufan had just sung was ignored. However, Chen Chufan didn't mind, watching the two people quarreling in front of him, he only felt a warmth, an inexplicable warmth, or if he really chose to go abroad, he would no longer be able to experience this kind of warmth.

  The sudden ringing of the phone stopped Yang Tao and Meng Wei's argument, and also startled Chen Chufan out of his contemplation. Judging by the time, it should be Yang Tao's turn to make a call to check on the house, so Yang Tao went forward to answer the phone directly. Unexpectedly, after answering the phone, Yang Tao put down the receiver and called out: "Old Three, your Xiao Xi is calling!"

  Chen Chufan picked up the phone just in time to say "hello", but before he could even finish, a barrage of questioning came from the other end like a machine gun: "Chen Chufan, you've got some nerve! You go off to work part-time and don't even bother to call back to let us know you're safe? You're making your family's Little Sisi worry so much! I had no choice but to help her call you to ask if you're okay! Where is your conscience?" In the background, Ye Sijun's arguing voice could be faintly heard: "Dead Xiao Xi, how shameless can you get?! Who was worried in the first place?! Don't drag me into this just because you want to make a phone call!"

  Although it was a rebuke, Chen Chufan felt warm. It feels good to have someone care about you, Chen Chufan thought silently and responded in a gentle voice: "Sorry, Xiao Xi, I got lost in thought after coming back and forgot to give you a call! Made you worry!"

  "Pfft, I'm not worried about you! It's your family's SiSi who's worried about you, do you know that? By the way, your family's SiSi also asked me to ask you, how was it going to that certain club for a part-time job today? Was it smooth?" Han Xiao Xi continued to press on, asking.

  Chen Chufan smiled wryly and shook his head, responding: "The work environment is pretty good, the colleagues are also nice, so it's quite smooth!"

  "Whatever, as long as it's convenient for you! I don't have any more questions, don't hang up the phone, your daughter Sisi wants to talk to you!"

  "Hey, don't listen to Xiaoxi's nonsense! Tonight you didn't go out on a date with her, she just sat in the dormitory, neither sitting nor standing...” Yeshi's words were cut off as the sound of scuffling came from the other end of the phone, followed by the beeping sound of the call being hung up.

  Chen Chufan quietly hung up the phone, and his thoughts about whether to go abroad or not, which had just been put down, surged up again in his mind. The beauty of love is heavy, the brotherhood is deep, but how should he choose?