交谈了十分钟后，老刘满心欢喜。

大手一挥，相当大方给江年批了大后天的请假条，并顺嘴问了一句他请假去干什么。

“没什么，考科目二。”

“哦哦，那你去.....嗯？”老刘要素察觉，虎哥式...

JiangYearlookedupatOldLiu,ahintofconfusiononhisface.“Uh,whatdoyoumean?“heasked,tryingtosoundnonchalantdespitetheawkwardness.

OldLiu‘seyessparkledwithamusementasheleanedbackinhischair.“Imeant,areyougoingtobestudyingforyourexamsorjusttakingiteasy?“

JiangYearchucklednervously,feelingaflushrisetohischeeks.“Uh,well...Iwasplanningonstudying,butmaybetakingsomebreakstoo.“

OldLiunoddedthoughtfully,hisexpressionseriousonceagain.“Ofcourse,ofcourse.Youneedtotakecareofyourselfbeforetheexams.Butdon‘tforgettostayfocusedandmotivated.“

JiangYearletoutasighofrelief,feelinggratefulthatOldLiuwasn‘tgoingtopresshimformoreinformation.Hehadbeentryingtoavoidtalkingabouthisdivorceandthecustodybattlewithhisex-wife,LiMeng.

Ashestooduptoleave,OldLiuhandedhimalargeenvelope.“Here,takethiswithyou.It‘syourpayslipforlastmonth.“

JiangYeartooktheenvelope,feelingasurgeofgratitudetowardsOldLiu.Hehadbeenstrugglingtomakeendsmeetsincehisdivorce,anditwasahugerelieftofinallygetsomefinancialsupport.

“Thanks,OldLiu,“hesaidsincerely,tuckingtheenvelopeintohispocket.

OldLiusmiledwarmlyathim.“Anytime,JiangYear.You‘relikeasontome.“

JiangYear‘sheartswelledwithemotionashelookedatOldLiu.Hehadalwaysadmiredandrespectedtheoldman,butnowhefeltadeepsenseofgratitudetowardshim.

Asheturnedtoleave,OldLiucalledouttohimagain.“Oh,andonemorething!“

JiangYearturnedbackaround,feelingahintoftrepidation.WhatdidOldLiuwant?

“Becarefulwiththatwomanyou‘redating,“OldLiusaid,hisexpressionserious.“Idon‘tknowmuchabouther,butIgettheimpressionshe‘strouble.“

JiangYear‘seyeswidenedinsurprise,andhefeltaflushrisetohischeeksonceagain.HowdidOldLiuknowabouthisnewgirlfriend?

“Uh,yeah...I‘mtryingtobecareful,“JiangYearstammered,feelingdefensive.

OldLiunoddedunderstandingly.“Ijustwantwhat‘sbestforyou,that‘sall.Don‘tletanyonetakeadvantageofyou.“

JiangYearnodded,feelingasenseofgratitudetowardsOldLiuonceagain.Heknewhecouldalwayscountonhimtobethereforhim.

Ashelefttheofficebuilding,JiangYearcouldn‘tshakeoffthefeelingthatOldLiuhadseenrightthroughhim.Butdespitehisreservations,hefeltasenseofhopeandrenewalwashoverhim.

Hetookadeepbreath,feelingthecoolairfillhislungs,andsmiledtohimself.Todaywasgoingtobeanewday,fullofpossibilitiesandchallenges.

ButlittledidJiangYearknow,OldLiuhadjusttriggeredsomethingwithinhim...