Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Snowy wandered around the community after leaving home.

  The villa was quiet. The noise of the city was blocked by the tall, guarded walls.

  Not far away, she heard dogs barking.

  “Ruff-ruff!”


  A Husky jumped out from the trees along the pond and ran towards Snowy’s Persian cat, Snowball. From behind Snowy, Snowball jumped in front of its owner to protect her. Snowball had to be really alert. Its ears opened. Its hair stood up, which made it look even larger. It was making a threatening sound. Trying to scare the Husky away, it even held up its paw in preparation for a fight.

  The Husky opened his eyes with a funny look. It made a sharp stop and fell. After rolling around, it stood up and walked around both Snowy and Snowball in a large circle.

  “Go! Go! Go away!” Snowy attempted to kick him out.

  The Husky didn’t seem to get it.

  “Oh? Isn’t this Uncle Jin’s dog?” Snowy remembered.

  “Snowy, words bleed. You just hurt my feelings!” There came Uncle Jin’s sad voice from the weeping willows.

  She realized that what she just said had a double meaning. “Oops…” She made a face and was surprised at how great Uncle Jin’s ears were.

  Uncle Jin whistled loudly, “Good-For-Nothing, come back!”


  The Husky looked at Uncle Jin, and then looked at Snowball, as if it was making a tough decision: go to its owner or stay with Snowball.

  “Ha-ha!” Snowy couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t expect such a hilarious name for this dog: Good-For-Nothing.

  “Good-For-Nothing, I am going to start counting. If you don’t come back when I count to ten, you won’t have meat for dinner tonight. One, two, three…”


  The husky jumped up and flew back to the trees. It was much faster than when it ran over.

  “Snowball, let’s go take a look,” Snowy spoke to Snowball and headed towards the trees.

  It was a nice area full of weeping willows. The spaces between the trees were similar. It was quiet, but not dark in the woods. There were hidden cameras installed on the trees along the pond. The area was monitored 24/7 in case someone fell into the water. Wearing an old jacket, some large pants, and slippers, Uncle Jin was sitting on a campstool fishing. There was a bucket next to him.

  The management office put many carp in the pond for people to fish.

  The Husky went back to Uncle Jin, smiling. Uncle Jin knocked on the dog’s head, “What a stupid dog. Eating is the only purpose in your life!”


  The Husky shook its head, put its tongue out and didn’t really care what Uncle Jin said.

  Snowy watched him fish for a while. No one was talking.

  Uncle Jin didn’t fish for food. He released them as soon he got one, and then put another worm on his hook.

  Snowy was disgusted seeing the live worms, so she was about to leave.

  “Snowy, are you sad?” Uncle Jin asked, unexpectedly.

  “What?” Snowy was in shock. He didn’t even look at her. How did he know she was sad?

  “Ha-ha… A normal Snowy would not be patient enough to watch me fish,” he laughed. “What’s up? Got dumped?”


  “Of course not!” Snowy pursed her lips, squatted down, pulled up some grass and threw the grass into the pond one piece at a time.

  “Then what is it?”


  She thought for a second and asked, “Uncle Jin, you either walk your dog or fish every day. Do you have to work?”


  “Work? I have made enough. I am retired by now, trying to enjoy life,” Uncle Jin said. Then he murmured, “What a sneaky fish! Took a bite and left!”


  “I am not like your father. Your father is a pure workaholic. I am happy with what I have,” He said as he prepared his line with new bait.

  Snowy was confused, “My father said you are wealthier than him.”


  “What is he joking about? Look at me. Do I look like a rich man? My whole outfit cost less than 100 Yuan.”


  Snowy remained silent. After a few minutes, she asked, “Uncle Jin, are you playing a RPG game?”


  For some reason, Snowy felt comfortable having a few words with this Uncle Jin, who was as casual and funny as his Husky. She was comfortable enough to discuss topics with him that she couldn’t even talk about with her parents.

  “What?” He turned his head, looking at her.

  “RPG stands for role playing game…” She explained.

  “No, no. I am not asking what a RPG is. I know what it is. You weren’t even born when I played RPG games. My question was, what did you ask that for?” Uncle Jin put the fishing pole aside and spanked the Husky who was about to run off.

  “Well… Someone said that to me. I didn’t understand…I think you are playing an RPG game, too. You are a well-off guy, yet still live a normal life.”


  Uncle Jin said with distain, “The person who told you that must not have money.”


  Zhang Zian came up in Snowy’s mind. She said, “Yeah, I don’t think so.”


  “Snowy, having money is not a bad thing. Money provides more opportunities and possibilities for us,” Uncle Jin pointed at himself, “If I don’t have much money, I can only live a normal life. I can’t do anything about it. When I am better-off, I have more options. I can choose to live a wealthy or normal life. It is my life that no one can change.”


  Snowy nodded, but she wasn’t sure if she understood it at all.

  Uncle Jin continued, “When I was at the entrepreneurs’ meeting, many people, including your father, said that I was not doing the right thing. They said I retired too soon and already lived like an old man. I told them that was bullsh*t. My mind is more youthful than any of theirs.”


  He raised his voice, “You can never make enough money. There will always be people that are wealthier than you. For me, as long as I have enough, I am happy. I’d rather spend time enjoying myself than trying to make more money. Look at people like your own father. They work extremely hard their entire life and retire old. What can they do then, other than just be old and sick, and wait for their time to go?”


  “Snowy, you are at an age to play your RPG. A normal person couldn’t afford it. They have to work for a living. You are different. You are young and wealthy. Those are your most important assets. You will only find out what you really like after experiencing life. I am sure your parents would love to see you end up with a happy life eventually.”


  “So, in the future, if someone asks you the same question, tell him bravely, ‘Yes, I am playing an RPG and it is none of your f*cking business!’”


  “Ruff-ruff!”


  Husky barked as if it also agreed.

  “Son of a b*tch! Stop barking!” Uncle Jin spanked him again. “I am trying to talk here. Be quiet!”


  Snowy’s eyes brightened. What bothered her for a few days was all gone. She was happy.

  “Snowy, what do you do for a living?” Uncle Jin glanced at her.

  “I am an online liveshow hostess,” she said proudly.

  Snowy had come back to life!