Chapter 1734 — Asking for Help Again

"Fine, don't take it then — give me back my money," Wei Zhao said, too lazy to argue with Yu Xiaoke, and threw out the threat to frighten her.

"No!" Yu Xiaoke was short on cash right now. Now that she understood Wei Zhao had no other motive, how could a little miser like her hand the money back so easily?

"I hear you're still going to take on some missions?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Xiao Ken told you?" Yu Xiaoke pouted in annoyance. "He's certainly close to you..."

"Don't go. I'll think of a way to cover the rest of the money for you. With your skill level, if you go, you might not come back," Wei Zhao said. "If there's nothing else, I'll be off. I may have to go away for a while — if anything comes up, have Xiao Ken give me a call."

With that, Wei Zhao turned and headed downstairs, waved to Yu Xiaoke, and did not linger.

"How did that guy Wei Zhao turn into such a Good Samaritan?" Yu Xiaoke stared at Wei Zhao's departing back, puzzled and full of doubt... But then she suddenly blinked and rubbed her eyes! Because for a split second just now, she had caught sight of Wei Zhao's back and felt an oddly familiar sensation — a sensation that made her heart, unbidden, begin to beat faster!

But when Yu Xiaoke tried to look more carefully, Wei Zhao's figure had already vanished into the stairwell of the floor below, and she could not see him no matter how she tried...

Yu Xiaoke shook her head, unable to understand why she had felt that way all of a sudden, but she did not dwell on it and quickly went back up into the attic she rented.

"Sister Xiaoke, where's Brother Wei Zhao? Has he gone?" Xiao Ken saw that Yu Xiaoke had come back alone and asked in some surprise.

"He's busy. He left first," Yu Xiaoke said.

"Then... did he not say anything to you?" Xiao Ken saw that Yu Xiaoke's expression was perfectly natural, as though nothing had happened between the two of them, and was instantly a little disappointed...

Although in his heart Xiao Ken regarded Yu Xiaoke as something like a celestial being, he also knew he was not worthy of her — and besides, this kind of worship had nothing to do with love! Only someone as capable as Wei Zhao could take proper care of Sister Xiaoke, and so Xiao Ken was very much in favor of Wei Zhao!

The key thing was that he had promised Wei Zhao to keep it secret and not reveal his identity, while Sister Xiaoke seemed rather lukewarm toward Wei Zhao. So Xiao Ken was anxious but could not say it outright, and could only ask in a roundabout way.

"Say what?" Yu Xiaoke looked at the strange, anxious expression on Xiao Ken's face and instantly grew suspicious. "I say, Xiao Ken, is there some secret between you and Wei Zhao? What exactly did he say to you?"

"N-no... nothing!" Xiao Ken shook his head firmly. What he had promised Wei Zhao he absolutely could not divulge! He was a real man, and a man's word had to be kept.

"Then why are you asking me what he said to me? Just what do you know?" Yu Xiaoke asked, still unconvinced.

"I... well, actually, I think Big Brother Wei Zhao is pretty great. That Phantom Thief is far too elusive for you, Sister Xiaoke — Big Brother Wei Zhao is more real, right there in front of you..." Xiao Ken said. "Anyway, I'm just supporting you and Big Brother Wei Zhao being together..."

"What would a child know about this?" Yu Xiaoke said, a little exasperated. "Besides, Wei Zhao doesn't mean anything by it — he's just being kind, doing a good deed. He has a girlfriend, so don't let your imagination run away with you!"

"Oh..." Xiao Ken had no choice but to shut his mouth, though he figured that if he put in a good word for Wei Zhao to Yu Xiaoke more often in the future, it would surely have some effect.

Just as the orphanage was celebrating over the large sum of money, the old director was rather worried. Although Yu Xiaoke had explained that Wei Zhao was simply doing a good deed, to an old hand like the director, there was something fishy about the whole business!

Eight million from Wei Zhao — that was rather too much to give! To say Wei Zhao had no other motive — even the old director found that hard to believe. But Yu Xiaoke had spoken with certainty, and Wei Zhao did not seem to harbor any such intent. Could it really be that he was overthinking things?

But no matter what — now they had money?

That was a good thing. Tomorrow the old director could hire a design firm to look into building the new orphanage...

Wei Zhao had just left Yu Xiaoke's place when his phone rang. He assumed it was Tang Yun and the others calling, but to his surprise the caller ID showed Qiu Lingshan!

"Shanshan? You're back in Songshan City?" Wei Zhao answered the phone, somewhat taken aback.

"Yes, just got back. There's still work for me here, so I can't stay cooped up with the family forever..." Qiu Lingshan paused there, her tone a little odd. "Besides, I was driven out... Grandfather told me to hurry to Songshan City and join up with you..."

"Join up with me?" Wei Zhao was stunned. "What for?"

"To keep pursuing you — must I spell it out that plainly?" Qiu Lingshan said, somewhat glum. "Grandfather has decided you're the hope of our family's rise, and he insists I pester you relentlessly..."

"Ha... so does that annoy you terribly?" Wei Zhao did not quite know what to say.

"Of course not. I like you to begin with!" Qiu Lingshan was the bold sort — whatever she felt, she admitted, with no coyness about it.

"Never mind that. You called just to tell me you're back?" Wei Zhao wanted to get in touch with Tang Yun and the others as soon as possible, so he had no time for idle chatter with Qiu Lingshan.

"No. I've been away these past few days and a few cases have piled up. Could you lend me a hand?" Qiu Lingshan said.

"I knew nothing good would come of you looking me up — treating me as free labor? I have to go out of town these next few days, so I probably won't have the time," Wei Zhao said.

"Oh, come on, help me out..." Qiu Lingshan's tone turned a little coquettish as she wheedled, "I really do have a pile of cases to deal with and can't keep up. How about you just take one for me?"

"Let's hear it..." Wei Zhao could not quite withstand it.

"A small gang has recently sprung up in Songshan City. They use street children and trafficked kids to commit theft, but on the surface they're just street performers, running stalls and putting on shows over by the night market. Since there's no evidence, I can't take action against them for now... Aren't you close with Yu Xiaoke? Could you ask them at the orphanage whether they've heard anything?" Qiu Lingshan and Yu Xiaoke did not exactly get along. Although she had let Yu Xiaoke off for the time being because she knew the girl had turned to thieving for the orphanage's sake, Qiu Lingshan had no wish to approach her on her own initiative, and so could only ask Wei Zhao to help sound them out!

For the fastest updates and pop-up-free reading, please visit.