Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 36. Ten Dollars and Ten Million

February 14, 1996, Wednesday.

Guan Xuchen returned to the classroom at 8:30 in the morning. He saw that a group of girls, including Ding Jiehui, Fang Jingwen, Wu Yixin, Li Peiling and Cai Yunfei, gathered together chatting and laughing. Hearing them mention such names as "Ah Yee", "Ah Cheung" and "David", he put down his schoolbag, walked over, and said with a smile, "Are you talking about yesterday's episode of 'I Do I Do'?"

Cai Yunfei replied happily, "Yes, yes. Guan Xuchen, do you watch this TV series too?"

"Yes. Though it's just a rerun at noon, I haven't watched it before." Guan Xuchen nodded and said with a little helplessness, "This winter holiday is so short; it will end on the 27th. I don't have much time for TV as before."

"Just watch as much as we can," Fang Jingwen looked calm. "In 'I Do I Do', Ah Yee chooses David over Ah Cheung. We were just discussing whether it's a good choice."

"I think David is great. He's rich and handsome." Ding Jiehui said with yearning longing in her eyes, "If he were to court me, I'd accept him."

"I wish he'd court me too, but I'm not Michelle Reis," said Li Peiling teasingly, before adding, "I think Ah Cheung is better than David. He may not be rich, but he treats Ah Yee very well."

"I would choose Ah Cheung too," interjected Wu Yixin, 'mainly because I think Kwok Chun-on is better-looking than Francis Ng."

"You have a problem with your taste," Ding Jiehui retorted unconvincingly, 'it's obvious that Francis Ng is more handsome."

"Kwok Chun-on is more handsome!"

"Francis Ng is more handsome!"

As the two girls argued, Li Peiling suddenly asked, "Guan Xuchen, what do you think?"

"I'm not a girl, so I'm not in a position to tell..." Guan Xuchen looked a little embarrassed.

"Exactly, you should ask Guan Xuchen if he thinks that Yammie Lam is pretty or Michelle Reis is pretty," Cai Yunfei said with a smile.

"Both of them are pretty," Guan Xuchen said noncommittally. He then added, "But I remember something very reasonable that Lee Hong-kum – that is, Ah Yee's mother -- said in yesterday's episode."

"Oh, was it about comparison between ten dollars and ten million?" Ding Jiehui looked puzzled, "I don't quite understand. Isn't that obvious? Any fool would choose ten million, right? Who would choose ten dollars?"

"It's not like that," Guan Xuchen smiled slightly and continued, "What Lee Hong-kum means is, if a man has ten dollars and gives you nine, it's better than if he has ten million and only gives you one hundred thousand."

"But one hundred thousand is also pretty good," Fang Jingwen interjected. "One hundred thousand is many, many times more than nine or even ten dollars."

"Well..." Guan Xuchen didn't know how to explain.

"So, Guan Xuchen, if you have ten million in future, how much will you give your girlfriend?" Li Peiling suddenly asked again.

At this time, Gao Xinglang walked into the classroom with a basketball, chatting with Ao Feifan and a few other boys.

Guan Xuchen turned to glance at Gao Xinglang and his friends, then turned back with a smile and said, "All of it, for someone I really like."

"Wow, Guan Xuchen, you're so nice," Ding Jiehui, Fang Jingwen and Wu Yixin giggled.

Li Peiling nodded her head at Guan Xuchen and gave Cai Yunfei a wink, who blushed and lowered her head.