The next day.
Republic Normal University, North Shanzhong Road Campus.
Peng Hao followed behind Zheng Bowen like a passerby, keeping a distance—not too close, not too far…
In today's world where information flows freely, just knowing someone's name and school is enough to locate them.
As long as you use the internet, everything about you is recorded in big data.
Peng Hao's process of finding this "Zheng Bowen" went smoothly—almost surprisingly so.
All he did was type in the keywords "Zheng Bowen, Republic Normal University" into Baidu and hit search.
The results page popped up...
Qiandu found approximately 14 related results for him.
Skipping the first four irrelevant links, Peng Hao clicked on the fifth.
The link title was Republic Normal University School of Economics and Management, and the URL showed it was the university's official website.
Clicking into it led him directly to the academic information section of the School of Economics and Management.
There, Peng Hao saw a public academic report.
The title was: 2018 Social Practice Arrangements of the School of Economics
Underneath the article were subheadings: first, Practice Reminders; second, Practice Assignments.
Under the second subheading, within the student list of Group 3, Peng Hao found the name "Zheng Bowen," along with his student ID: "117-0540-012".
Peng Hao jotted all of this down.
From this link alone, he confirmed Zheng Bowen's school, ID number, and major.
Afterward, Peng Hao opened a few more links.
Among them were pages from Renren Network and logs from the Republic Normal University Student Union posted in 2017.
One such post was titled:
Notice on the Written Exam Results of the Student Union Recruitment at Republic Normal University
Again, Peng Hao found "Zheng Bowen's" name listed, further verifying the details.
The sheer amount of lingering personal information on the internet was downright alarming.
…
Following one lead after another, it didn't take much effort for Peng Hao to confirm Zheng Bowen's identity and location—he was now following him from a distance.
At the same time, Peng Hao created a Weiba account and posted a thread:
"Does anyone know the senior 'Zheng Bowen' from the School of Economics and Management? I bumped into him during P.E. on Tuesday—my heart was racing, my palms were sweating… I want to know more about him... #shy##shy##shy#"
On one hand, he was tracking him physically; on the other, he was digging online.
Information about "Zheng Bowen" began flooding in.
"Rich second generation"
"Generous"
"Currently pursuing the School of Economics goddess"
Peng Hao collected one keyword after another.
…
Past 9 p.m.
A riverside open-air restaurant.
Having completed his resignation process, Lu Li sat with Brother Li, Liu Yang, and Xia Juhuan—who had left work early—and ordered a big table full of dishes.
Lu Li and Brother Li, Liu Yang were chugging beer together.
Next to them, the young woman Xia Juhuan had reddened eyes and looked slightly choked up…
She hadn't been working long—just over two years. On her very first day, Lu Li had been the one to show her the ropes.
Without realizing it, Xia Juhuan had developed feelings for Lu Li. But she had never dared to say it—and now, he had resigned and was switching careers.
"Brother Li, you've mentored me since I joined the company. I owe you this drink!"
Lu Li was already tipsy. He poured himself a full glass, raised it high, and spoke.
After his words, he tilted his head back and finished the beer in one go.
He even let out a satisfied burp afterward…
"Lu Li, even if you're leaving, we're still brothers!"
Middle-aged, balding, pot-bellied, and wearing thick glasses, Brother Li patted Lu Li on the shoulder, his eyes slightly red as well. He downed his beer and said loudly, "My daughter likes you the most. Just the other day, she begged me to ask you to pick her up from school."
"Next time you and your wife are tied up, Brother Li, just give me a call—I'll go pick Xin'er up for sure!"
Lu Li patted his chest and promised. By now, they all knew Lu Li wasn't actually leaving Modu City.
"Liu Yang..."
Lu Li raised a glass and looked at the young man—short, honest, and a little younger than himself.
"Cheers!"
"Lu Li, thanks for taking care of me all these years. I'll always remember what you've done for me," Liu Yang said.
After a few more drinks and bites of food, the breeze coming off the river stirred up everyone's emotions again.
In that moment, Lu Li felt like he was still that ordinary guy—no apathy, no air of superiority.
Perhaps this version of Lu Li was his truest self.
They kept drinking and chatting until after 11 p.m.
The four of them staggered shoulder-to-shoulder through the nearly empty streets…
As they walked, they split off one by one at each street corner.
In the end, Lu Li flagged down a taxi to head home.
Sitting in the back seat, he gently wiped at the corner of his eye…
To Lu Li, this night was a farewell to his old, ordinary life—and the start of a bold march toward a new one.
No regret for the past. No shame in the future.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]