Chapter 1954 — Ying Ziyu's Idea

"Haha, it's no problem. Since you have business to attend to, go on ahead — I'll explain it to your PE teacher!" Wang Zhifeng could not wait to see Wei Zhao leave, so he said this at once.

Chen Xi was not as quick-witted as Ying Ziyu. Seeing that the director, who had been so stern moments before, would actually say such a thing, her eyes went wide with disbelief.

Ying Ziyu, however, had already taken her by the hand, and the two of them followed Wei Zhao out of the teaching building...

"Ziyu, not bad at all — you actually made the cutoff for the self-funded track. Looks like Little Xi deserves no small share of the credit these past months!" The first half of Wei Zhao's remark was praise for Ying Ziyu, and she was just starting to feel smug about it, but then the second half turned into a compliment for Chen Xi, which left Ying Ziyu thoroughly deflated.

"It's true that Little Xi helped, but I worked hard too, you know!" Ying Ziyu said, a little put out.

"That's right, Brother Wei Zhao, Sister Ziyu really did put her heart into it!" Chen Xi chimed in quickly.

"I know. I just don't want her getting a big head," Wei Zhao said. "But Ziyu, you haven't let me down. Study hard — that way, in the future, you'll be able to answer to yourself, and to your brother."

"My brother..." The moment Wei Zhao brought up her brother, Ying Ziyu's expression fell. "That mission of his — is it still not finished? When will he be able to come back..."

"That I really couldn't say. Besides, some things fall under confidentiality rules — I can't just talk about them freely." Wei Zhao said, "But I imagine it will be a long while yet. Otherwise your brother wouldn't have entrusted you to my care."

"The person my brother entrusted me to isn't half bad! Brother Wei Zhao, you're amazing — wherever you go, everyone seems afraid of you. Even that big dark-faced Wang Zhifeng turns all soft and pleasant with you. That's really something!" Since she had started school, Ying Ziyu had been scolded by Wang Zhifeng a few times, so she naturally held a grudge against him. Seeing him so genial with Wei Zhao today gave her a real sense of satisfaction.

"Do you have enough money?" The main reason Wei Zhao had come to see Ying Ziyu was to ask whether she had enough to spend. The school had waived her tuition, but living still cost money.

"It's all right. I haven't finished the money you left me last time, and I don't spend much anyway." Ying Ziyu was not the kind of girl who threw money around. Her usual expenses were just bus fares and meals, and she hardly ever bought clothes.

"Good, knowing how to save is fine, but don't shortchange yourself too much. Here's a card with twenty thousand yuan on it. Use it sparingly — it should be enough for a semester!" As he spoke, Wei Zhao handed Ying Ziyu a bank card, one he had just opened before coming. "The PIN is six zeros."

"This is... something my brother told you to give me?" Ying Ziyu felt a little awkward taking Wei Zhao's money.

"Mm. Your brother left a sum of money with me, to give to you regularly," Wei Zhao said vaguely.

"Oh..." Ying Ziyu did not stand on ceremony. She took the card and tucked it into her pocket.

"Little Xi, how is your mom's health these days? Everything all right now?" Wei Zhao did not know why, but Old Man Zhu came to mind again. That creature had never meant well, and he wondered whether it had gone back to harm Chen Xi's mother.

"Mom's all better now. She's working at that beef noodle shop — waitress and delivery girl both — and she makes two thousand yuan a month!" Chen Xi was delighted to talk about her mom's situation. Not only was her mom healthy again, she could go out and earn money, which had made life much easier for the whole family all at once.

And with her mom's income, Chen Xi no longer had to go scavenging every day. She only needed to go out on Saturdays and Sundays when school was out, which did not interfere with her studies.

Wei Zhao nodded and said, "All right, then get back to your studies. I'll be going. I'm at school in Donghai City — call me if anything comes up!"

"Ah... you're leaving already..." Hearing that Wei Zhao was about to go, Chen Xi felt a sudden reluctance. But she had always been the sort who was not good at expressing herself, so she did not know what to say to make him stay.

"Brother Wei Zhao, since you've come all this way, don't leave so early. You haven't even treated me and Little Xi to a meal!" Ying Ziyu said, a bit coquettishly. "When my brother comes back, I'll tell him you treated us badly."

"Heh..." Wei Zhao laughed aloud, but inside he tensed. Perhaps Ying Ziyu would never know that her brother was most likely already dead — that she would never see the Pangolin again. At the thought, Wei Zhao's expression shifted slightly. "Come on, I'll treat you two to something. What do you want to eat?"

"Mm... I want the beef noodles from the shop where Little Xi's mom works," Ying Ziyu said. "I ate there once before and thought it was a bit pricey. This time you're treating, Brother Wei Zhao!"

"All right, let's go!" Wei Zhao gave a faint sigh. At heart Ying Ziyu was a good girl. Her earlier drift into the rough crowd at that school had really been a form of self-protection — otherwise, alone as she was, it would have been hard for her to survive in that environment. And even if she had survived, she might have caught the eye of some local thug and become his plaything.

After treating Chen Xi and Ying Ziyu to noodles, Wei Zhao walked them back to school, told them to study hard, and then left. His mood was heavy. Seeing Ying Ziyu so happy only made his chest feel tighter. Sooner or later he would have to tell her about the Pangolin — but how was he supposed to say it?

"Little Xi, I really don't know what to say to you anymore. Haven't you ever heard that happiness has to be fought for? You're like a locked gourd — can't you be a little more forward? How many years does it take for Brother Wei Zhao to come see us once? Look, you just let the chance go to waste, didn't you?" Ying Ziyu scolded Chen Xi as though she were hopeless.

"I..." Chen Xi had denied it at first when Ying Ziyu guessed what was on her mind, but as time went on she had admitted it. There was no shame in liking Wei Zhao. So Ying Ziyu had begun teaching her how to chase a boy — except that none of what she taught had ever had a chance to be put into practice.

"Ugh, no, we'll have to switch tactics next time. Do you know how to be flirtatious? Next time you get a chance, trick Brother Wei Zhao into coming to my place. Dress a little sexy, act flirtatious with him — maybe it'll work!" Ying Ziyu said.

"Oh, Sister Ziyu, what are you talking about... How would I even... That's so improper!" Chen Xi's face went even redder. Ying Ziyu had actually come up with such a rotten trick — telling her to be flirtatious. Wasn't that what bad women did?

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