I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping-Chapter 2215 - 1413: Summer of Juzo (Part 2)

"Thank you, I’ve already forgotten, but you played really well."

The boy didn’t insist, he put the ukulele back on his lap, "Are you a senior?"

"No."

Jiang Chen smiled, "I’m here to find a friend."

Boss Jiang, although he appeared young—no, actually, he was quite young in reality—but his demeanor set him apart, making it impossible for him to blend into the student crowd unnoticed.

Unlike some actors, who even in middle age can still play seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girls without making the audience feel any dissonance.

"What year are you in?"

"Senior."

The boy strummed the ukulele.

No wonder he’s so carefree.

"Already found a good job, huh?" Jiang Chen casually asked with a smile.

"I haven’t found a job yet."

No job yet?

Jiang Chen was a bit surprised; Kyoto University’s students are often called the pride of the nation. Could even they be affected by employment rates?

That can’t be right?

Seemingly noticing Jiang Chen’s surprise, the boy smiled and said, "I haven’t looked yet."

Jiang Chen understood.

"Does your family have a business? Or are you planning to go into research or take civil service exams?"

"No."

The boy patted the ukulele on his lap, "I’m actually planning to be a wandering artist."

Unsurprised and without any strange looks, Jiang Chen just smiled knowingly, "Traveling the world with it?"

"Yes."

The boy nodded vigorously, caressing the instrument in his hands, "That’s my dream."

Jiang Chen smiled and nodded, gazing at the Kyoto University campus regarded as a holy shrine by all of China, "That’s nice."

"Many people think I’m daydreaming and not ambitious."

The boy sighed and said, "Including my family and parents."

Beyond adherence to character and morality, Boss Jiang always maintained an attitude of equal respect toward Kyoto University students, considering he himself was unable to gain admission to Kyoto University in the past.

"To put it plainly, living your life the way you want is true happiness. However, it’s understandable that your parents and relatives would think differently. Raising a high-achieving Kyoto University student is an honor for the family, and you’ll surely be a source of pride. Naturally, they hope you achieve greater success and have a broader future."

The boy looked at him for a moment, seemingly touched.

"Yes, that’s probably what they think. They feel I shouldn’t waste my education and should contribute to society. But..."

The boy scratched his head and, possibly because they had just met, or perhaps precisely because they had just met, he candidly laughed and said, "But I really have no big ambitions."

Jiang Chen’s smile grew wider.

"So what counts as big ambitions? Running a huge business, amassing vast wealth, or becoming a high-ranking official?"

The boy also laughed; he didn’t expect to meet someone with similar interests on an ordinary afternoon.

"Do you really think I can pursue the kind of life I want?"

Jiang Chen didn’t answer directly, "Do you know what my dream was when I was your age?"

"What was it?"

The boy asked curiously.

He knew the other person could only be a few years older than him and, coupled with Boss Jiang’s down-to-earth friendliness, no one could feel any distance from him.

"To go to Russia and take pictures with bears, drink whiskey in a cabin while watching the snow fall outside, and go on a road trip with friends and loved ones along the 318..."

The boy’s eyes gradually lit up, nodding immediately, and he couldn’t help but echo, "That’s the life I want too!"

So it seemed.

He really did resemble Boss Jiang back in the day.

"Speaking of lacking ambition, I was even less ambitious than you back then. I thought that life is just a few decades, and you never know when it might end, so you must pursue what you truly want. You don’t need a big house, clothes don’t need to be brand names, and this Earth is just a playground. The money you earn is play money—some have more, some have less, affecting which rides you can go on, but not how long you get to play."

The boy’s eyes gradually changed, and because he was a student at Kyoto University, he felt even more awed and respectful.

What a broad-minded perspective on life!

At least, he wasn’t at that level yet.

"Aren’t you worried about what others might think?"

It’s a reasonable question, but when it came to Boss Jiang, it was meaningless.

Having come through countless judgmental eyes, Jiang Chen chuckled.

"My parents are gone."

The boy was taken aback, then quickly said, "I’m sorry."

This boy, whose ideal is a free life, might not care about others’ opinions, but his parents certainly put some pressure on him, creating inner worries and concerns.

"The most fundamental need for parents is their child’s happiness; they might not even realize it, coming to an understanding later on. As long as you believe that life is what you truly want, I’m sure your parents will eventually understand and support you. Of course, the premise is that you can financially sustain your ideal life without relying on your parents. Otherwise, it’s best to work honestly for now, save up your travel expenses, and then chase your dreams."

"I can definitely support myself!"

The boy said firmly.

Jiang Chen smiled and nodded.

Soon after, the boy, holding his ukulele, unconsciously lowered his voice.

"But am I being selfish? My roommates and classmates haven’t wasted the country’s efforts in educating them; some have joined research institutes, others have joined cutting-edge enterprises, and they will certainly make outstanding contributions to society in the future."

Indeed.

Kyoto University is, after all, Kyoto University.

He had never thought of such things back then.

"If everyone at Kyoto University were like you, wanting to become a wandering artist, the country would surely be doomed."

Jiang Chen was frank yet humorous.

"But that’s obviously impossible. Being a wandering artist is your pursuit, not others’. Some people’s dreams are to make a name for themselves, leave their mark in history, bring honor to their ancestors, and serve their country... What you don’t do is what others pursue."

The boy became a bit absent-minded, lost in thought.

"And also, aren’t those people working hard so more wandering artists can pursue their freedom without burden?"

Calm and breezy.

Yet it struck a chord!

The things you don’t do, others will.

And what some people do is to allow others to chase their own pursuits.

The boy sat silently for a while.

"Bro, have you achieved your dreams?"

At first. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Even though he knew the other person was older, he hadn’t addressed him as "bro."

Jiang Chen’s smile was bright, devoid of stress or aging.

"Life is always full of changes. As long as you can achieve your dreams, that’s what matters."

"Bro, wait a moment."

The boy once again glanced at the "Diary of a Madman" in Boss Jiang’s hand, having noticed it earlier. Intelligence is different; to prevent Boss Jiang from leaving without saying goodbye, he handed his ukulele to Jiang Chen for temporary safekeeping, then got up and quickly ran downhill toward his dormitory.

About twenty minutes later, the boy, breathless, climbed back up the slope.

"Bro, thank you for what you said today, I will definitely strive to live the life I want!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and handed over a book he had brought.

"Utopia"

"It’s for me?"

The boy nodded.

"Ding-ling-ling..."

The crisp and melodious sound of the class bell spread and resonated throughout the campus.

Jiang Chen patted his butt and got up, returning the ukulele he had kept in one hand and accepting the gift in the other.

"The ’Summer of Juzo’ you just played will probably sound even better in Polar Town."

The boy’s smile was bright, shedding all his worries and burdens.

"Bro, maybe one day you’ll see me on social media platforms because I just might become an influencer."

Jiang Chen, holding a book in each hand, smiled and waved the newly received "Utopia."

"Then should I ask you to sign it in advance?"

"Haha, I already did."

Jiang Chen, surprised, opened the not-new "Utopia" and indeed saw a signature on the title page.

"Thanks, bro!"

The boy waved goodbye, sweating yet relieved, carrying his ukulele lightly as he walked away.

Jiang Chen stood on the slope, his smile serene.