Resolution on Certain Historical Issues

Although Lin Yuan had only worked as a tutor for one month during the summer vacation, he still received excellent reviews.

He had even attended various parties hosted by some of his employers' families at that time, which meant he had some connection with the middle class of Zijin City.

These middle-class individuals were truly middle-class in the meaningful sense, not just statistics.

In Lin Yuan's view, the more appropriate term for the middle class in statistical data should be the “median class.”

As the name suggests, these are people who are in the middle position in the income ranking system. The characteristic of this group is that they are temporarily free from the worries of livelihood, but due to their shallow foundation, they are at risk of returning to poverty at any time.

Take, for example, the vast group of programmers. Taking advantage of the IT boom in recent decades, a large group of ordinary programmers bought houses and settled down in big cities or local provincial capitals, but they knew very well that if the next generation's education was a bit worse, that next generation would very likely return to their parents' class.

Therefore, using the words “middle class” to describe this group seems a bit comical no matter how you look at it.

Compared to those pseudo-middle class whose lives are as thin as paper, only those who live in high-end communities at the foot of Zhongshan with assets starting at tens of millions are qualified to be called “middle class.”

Of course, these true middle-class individuals are not without worries.

Even if their next generation is mediocre, they are highly likely to have a decent livelihood. If worst comes to worst, by inheriting the assets of the previous generation and buying stable financial products like national bonds, they can ensure two or three generations live comfortably without worries about food and clothing.

However, most people in the world are greedy. They also want to go further. Just like Vice President Li.

For these people, an additional few hundred thousand in annual income is merely icing on the cake.

Lin Yuan had previously been somewhat smug about his 500,000 annual salary at a young age, but after calming down a bit, he realized: with a 500,000 annual salary, after deducting personal income tax and daily expenses, he still wouldn't be able to afford a small villa at the foot of Zhongshan in his lifetime.

Although Lin Yuan is no longer a common laborer, he still hasn't seen Rome.

Based on Lin Yuan's superficial understanding of Gu Xuan, he might belong to this type of true middle-class family.

Therefore, Lin Yuan's 500,000 annual salary was really nothing to show off in front of them. Lin Yuan finally realized this painful truth.

He also quickly understood that those few student parents were willing to give him face, firstly because they valued his potential future entry into the university education system, and secondly because they valued his current entry into the internet big tech company circle.

To summarize in one sentence: they valued Lin Yuan's future connections.

Therefore, Lin Yuan smoothly found a dance private tutor for Xia Ye at 400 yuan an hour, and the parents of those two girls were also willing to cooperate with Lin Yuan to conceal his identity from Xia Ye.

Lin Yuan's excuse was that he didn't want his girlfriend to feel that he was helping her behind the scenes. He wouldn't be so foolish as to tell others about his game of pretending to be a delivery driver and playing a love game with Xia Ye.

To avoid being exposed, Lin Yuan then warned Xia Ye, “Never say you have a delivery driver boyfriend, lest you lower your own level.”

Xia Ye was very puzzled by this, “I don't dislike you, what's wrong with delivering food? I even worked at a maid cafe.”

Lin Yuan quickly covered her mouth, “To earn money from rich people, you must maintain your class. Understand? Don't mention a single word about being a delivery driver or a maid cafe. You are there to teach dancing, speak less and do more.”

“Oh.” Perhaps because she had been hit hard enough by society, Xia Ye had never thought of herself as too high and mighty.

Even after half a month, after Xia Ye had visited those high-end communities several times, she was not changed by the lifestyle there.

Xia Ye initially would secretly bring Lin Yuan leftover desserts from the employer's home, and only after Lin Yuan's strict instruction did she abandon this common behavior.

She then used very comical body language to perform the etiquette lessons she saw at the employer's home for Lin Yuan.

“They teach their children to drink tea like this, you have to gently sip it first. The small spoon for milk must be placed like this, you have to first lift the lid with your hand, then gently scoop it out spoon by spoon. You absolutely cannot pick up the whole thing and pour it into the teacup….”

“And also, the sitting posture must be like this. Legs together and angled, back straight….”

Lin Yuan looked at Xia Ye, who was like a sketch actress, “The village gala should give you a chance to perform.”

“I'm serious. Oh, looking at those two kids, I feel tired for them.”

“Did they complain to you?”

“Occasionally.”

“Then in that environment, did you feel like you were on pins and needles?”

“Of course, as soon as I stepped through that door, I felt like I was also there for a lesson.”

“What do you think of the lives of the rich?”

“Hmm~, I can't quite put it into words.”

“Then just tell me casually, just to let me experience it.”

“I feel,” Xia Ye lifted her head, trying hard to organize her words, “it's so tiring to talk to them. They always look at me smiling, but I don't like talking to them.”

“Why is that?”

Xia Ye thought hard for a while, “I don't know. If it weren't for the money, it would be happier to work in a milk tea shop.”

“Don't you feel tired in the milk tea shop?”

“In the milk tea shop, I can speak loudly and laugh freely, and if I'm tired, I can just plop down on the floor. But there, I have to be like this, with my back straight, hands clasped, and I have to think before I speak.”

“Does it feel like every time you go, you're taking a four-hour class?”

“Exactly, it feels like taking a four-hour dance class continuously.”

“Alright,” Lin Yuan teased, “then it seems you're not destined for a life of wealth, and you deserve to be a delivery driver's wife.”

“That's fine too, anyway, my family doesn't have money, and I also have a dark past.”

“Huh? Dark past? You didn't really work as a paid companion, did you?” Lin Yuan asked casually.

“What's wrong? If I really did, would you dislike me?”

“I, I'm just asking.” Lin Yuan was still very conflicted about this, and after a moment of pause, he couldn't help but ask, “So, did you or didn't you….”

“Hmph, you men are all like this, and you're indeed like this too. I don't dislike you for delivering food, so you're not allowed to dislike me.”

“Alright.” Although Lin Yuan said this, he still wanted to know the answer in his heart. If he were truly a delivery driver, then there would indeed be nothing to ask.

As the saying goes: a poor man cannot choose his wife, nor a hungry man his food.

With Xia Ye's looks and figure, even if she reached Song Xiaoxiao's level, she wouldn't be reduced to finding a delivery driver to take over.

But Lin Yuan wasn't a delivery driver, so he felt uncomfortable.

However, at the moment, he was playing the role of a delivery driver, and he was very conflicted about how to ask subtly.

‘Forget it, I'll find an opportunity to ask later.’ Based on his understanding of Xia Ye, it shouldn't be too exaggerated; being a paid companion should be the bottom line.

“Are you feeling very uncomfortable?” To his surprise, Xia Ye spoke first.

“Uh…” Could Lin Yuan not be uncomfortable? What man wouldn't be uncomfortable?

“That's it. It's written all over your face.” Even if Xia Ye was dull, she still had a woman's intuition.

“I haven't done it. If I had met you later, I probably would have really become a paid companion. I've answered you now, and you're not allowed to ask me again in the future. Otherwise, I won't like you anymore.” Xia Ye said with a crying voice, “I really won't like you.”

Lin Yuan pulled her into his arms, “Alright, I won't ask anymore. As a delivery driver, I really have no right to dwell on such questions, but I just couldn't help but want to know. This is my fault.”

“Don't say that, I actually understand you, but I just couldn't stand that look in your eyes just now. Although I stood at the entrance of that shop wearing stockings for a few days, I swear, I am clean inside and out. You are not allowed to look at me with that kind of look again.”

Lin Yuan himself hadn't even noticed what kind of look he had just now. Was it the look of a man worried about his green pasture? However, whether there was a look in his eyes or not was no longer important, because that was exactly what Lin Yuan was thinking in his heart.

“I admit I mind that, but I won't demand it unilaterally from you. I, Lin Yuan, can ensure you live a life of comfort and security.”

“Let's work hard together. If you don't like it, I won't go there to teach anymore.”

“What don't I like?”

“My teaching classes in the rich community. You asked me so many questions, are you worried that I'll meet rich people and leave you?”

Lin Yuan suddenly realized that while he called Xia Ye dull, she sometimes wasn't. No wonder she told him so much about her teaching experiences there.

But as the “mastermind” who recommended Xia Ye, Lin Yuan was well aware of her every move there. Those parents would even send him videos of Xia Ye's lessons.

Just like… a kindergarten teacher sending videos of children to parents.

Lin Yuan suddenly felt a mix of amusement and helplessness, “I'm so afraid you'll leave me….”

“I won't leave you….”

....

Amidst their playful banter, Lin Yuan and Xia Ye reached a resolution regarding several historical issues concerning Xia Ye.