Rebirth in a Shura Field, but in an Abstract Version

018 Rewards for Obedience

As evening approached, the last rays of the setting sun shone through the window onto the floor, casting long shadows of the two people.

"I...I should go back."

Jiang Di glanced at the clock on the wall. Although she was reluctant, she had no choice but to stand up. If she went back any later, her parents, who had just calmed down, would start acting up again, and that would be a big problem.

Wang Zhe sat in the computer chair, turned around and looked at her: "Okay, your house is so close, I won't take you there."

"Um……"

The girl slowly moved to the door, changed her shoes, but her hand remained on the doorknob, unable to turn it.

Wang Zhe raised an eyebrow: "Is there anything else?"

Jiang Di, with her back to him, hesitated for several seconds before suddenly turning around. In the setting sun, her cheeks were flushed, like a ripe peach, and her eyes sparkled with a light that seemed to say, "Take an inch and want a mile."

"Um... even though I was punished today, I behaved very well, right?"

Wang Zhe crossed his arms and looked at her with great interest: "So?"

Jiang Di's voice grew softer and softer, like a mosquito's hum: "So, could you give me a little reward? I don't want anything else, I just... I just want a hug."

After saying that, she quickly looked down at her toes, which were still fidgeting inside her shoes.

Wang Zhe smiled, stood up, and walked over.

He approached the girl, said nothing, but simply opened his arms and gently embraced her.

Jiang Di's body stiffened visibly for a moment, then softened. She buried her face in Wang Zhe's chest, greedily inhaling the boy's scent. It was a faint smell of laundry detergent, mixed with a hint of tobacco.

The smell of tobacco came from her.

Just as the girl was immersed in this tender moment, Wang Zhe suddenly lowered his head and brought his lips close to her ear.

The warm breath sprayed on his earlobe, making Jiang Di tremble all over.

"Do those ten blows you just gave still hurt?"

His magnetic voice, tinged with a hint of playfulness, pierced straight into my ears.

Jiang Di tensed up suddenly, her fingers gripping Wang Zhe's clothes tightened abruptly, and her face instantly turned as red as if it were about to bleed.

"No...it doesn't hurt anymore!"

She shook her head frantically, her voice trembling.

"It's good that it doesn't hurt. Go back now, see you tomorrow." Wang Zhe let go of her and casually ruffled her hair.

It's like petting a well-behaved pet.

"See you tomorrow!"

Like a startled rabbit, Jiang Di flung open the door and dashed out as if fleeing. Even as she ran down the stairs, she could still feel her heart pounding violently in her chest and a burning sensation in her ears.

She had only blew a breath, so why was there such a big reaction? She couldn't understand it herself.

After seeing Jiang Di off, Wang Zhe closed the door and quickly returned to his calm and composed state.

He returned to his computer, opened his browser, and began searching for the latest financial news and stock market updates.

While the European Championship offers easy profits, it only lasts for a month. Once the tournament ends and you have your first pot of gold in hand, you certainly can't waste this golden opportunity for a fresh start.

"2012..." Wang Zhe looked at the green A-shares on the screen and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

The A-share market was sluggish that year, in a prolonged period of bear market volatility. But for those who were reborn, a crisis often meant a good opportunity to buy at the bottom. He vaguely remembered that in the next few years, several speculative stocks would emerge out of nowhere, and the mobile internet boom was just around the corner.

"How much is Moutai worth now? No, that's a long-term stock. There are even shorter-term ones, I think they're called something like 'cars'..."

Wang Zhe was quickly calculating in his mind. Although he couldn't remember the specific candlestick chart, he had a clear understanding of the general trend.

Suddenly, the old cell phone on the table started vibrating.

Nokia's classic, monotonous ringtone.

Wang Zhe picked it up and saw that the caller ID showed it was Jiang Di.

This girl, she's only been gone for ten minutes, why is she calling again?

"Feed?"

"My dad just told me that he bought the right thing as you suggested, so..."

On the other end of the phone, Uncle Jiang's voice could be faintly heard: "Quick, ask Wang! Why are you dawdling like that..."

A burst of static followed, then Jiang Di's voice came through again, tinged with helplessness and apology: "My dad insists I ask you which team should I bet on to win the next match. He also said that if you bet right again, he'll definitely treat you to a big meal!"

Wang Zhe smiled and asked, "Is your uncle next to you?"

"Yeah, he practically has his ear glued to his phone," Jiang Di complained softly.

Wang Zhe spoke calmly and confidently into the microphone: "Since Uncle is so sincere, then tell him. The next match will be a draw for 120 minutes, and it will go to a penalty shootout in the end."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, clearly someone was relaying the message.

Immediately afterward, Uncle Jiang's booming voice came through the receiver: "Good, good, good! Xiao Di, tell Wang that tomorrow at noon! At the best restaurant around here, it's my treat! You absolutely have to treat him! Make sure he does me the honor of coming!"

Jiang Di picked up the phone again, her tone full of embarrassment: "Um... did you hear that? My dad is usually unreliable, but he's quite persistent when it comes to treating people to dinner. If you don't go, he'll probably nag me to death."

Wang Zhe leaned back in his chair, looking at the completely dark sky outside the window, and casually said, "Okay, let's wait until tomorrow noon and see what the result is. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if I got it wrong?"

After hanging up the phone, he casually closed the stock market information page.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next day at noon, the sun shone brightly.

Chengdu's summers are always humid and hot, but this does nothing to dampen people's enthusiasm for food.

The place Uncle Jiang arranged to meet wasn't some grand hotel, but a small restaurant in an old alley. The signboard was blackened by cooking fumes, and only the words "Zhang's Old Brand" were barely legible.

"Wang, come, come, have a seat!"

Upon seeing Wang Zhe, Uncle Jiang was overly enthusiastic, as if he had seen a long-lost relative. He even pulled out the slightly greasy wooden chair for Wang Zhe, his face beaming with a wide, wrinkled smile.

Jiang Di followed beside him, wearing a simple white T-shirt. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at her father's eagerness, but when her gaze fell on Wang Zhe, she immediately became gentle and obedient.

"Uncle, you're too kind." Wang Zhe wasn't shy at all and sat down gracefully.

"Of course, of course!" Uncle Jiang waved his hand and shouted to the waiter, "Bring out all your signature dishes! The largest portion of the boiled beef! And the twice-cooked pork, with lots of garlic sprouts!"

Not long after, the dishes were served.

The first dish served was a pot of bright red and oily boiled beef. The sizzling hot oil was poured over the chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, and the domineering spicy and savory aroma instantly filled the nostrils, making one's mouth water.

"Try it, have a taste!" Uncle Jiang enthusiastically urged. "This is a well-established brand in Chengdu. Usually, you have to queue for two hours in the evening. We only get this treatment because we came on a weekday at noon."

Wang Zhe picked up a slice of beef and put it in his mouth. The beef slice was tender and smooth, with a strong spicy flavor that didn't overpower the meat's aroma; it was truly a rare delicacy.

"It tastes really good." Wang Zhe nodded.

Jiang Di's little mouth was also red from eating, and she kept panting as she stuffed more food into her mouth.

Wang Zhe noticed the enthusiastic look in Uncle Jiang's eyes and understood why the other party was so enthusiastic.

As expected, the match in the early hours of the morning went to a penalty shootout.

I wonder how much money Uncle Jiang made this time.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.