Chi Ye’s expression gradually grew tense.
Li Zhiyin watched him with interest, waiting for his response.
Yet he said nothing, quickly walking away instead.
Li Zhiyin: “?”
Could it be that so-called chaebol heirs just run away whenever a conversation doesn’t go their way?
Truly, a man’s heart is as deep as the ocean.
She shook her head mockingly, deciding not to return to the infirmary and heading back to the classroom instead.
Just as she turned the corner, she bumped into a table.
The table was placed right in the middle of the hallway, with a familiar-looking gift on top.
It was actually a brand new pencil case identical to the one she had broken!
Beside it was a miniature pencil case keychain and a card.
[Please accept this, Li Zhiyin. It’s what you deserve.]
The handwriting on the card was beautiful, with strong and forceful strokes, though she didn’t recognize whose it was.
She looked around but saw no one, then picked up the pencil case.
It was completely new.
The creamy white pencil case had minimal decoration—a classic model from a certain brand that had long been discontinued.
There was no oxidation or signs of aging; it looked exactly as it had when Lele first gave it to her.
She picked up the keychain, her nose stinging as memories flooded her mind like waves—
Li Le held out a black gift box with both hands.
“Ta-da! Birthday gift!~”
She took it in surprise: “Where did you get the money?”
Li Le smiled shyly: “I earned it by taking notes for classmates. I saved up for a long time! Open it and see!”
Carefully, she tore open the wrapping to find a brand new pencil case, with a small keychain beside it.
It was from a brand specializing in stationery.
As far as she knew, the pencil case wasn’t cheap.
She felt a pang of guilt: “Why did you buy something so expensive?!”
“Because my sister deserves it~” Li Le linked arms with her, smiling playfully. “I know you like this pencil case because you always stop to look at it when we pass the store window. So I wanted you to have it.”
“But the keychain is mine!~”
Li Le spun the keychain around her index finger, happily saying: “This way, you have a pencil case, and I have a keychain. Every time we see these things, we’ll remember today and each other~”
Li Zhiyin pressed the keychain to her chest, biting her lip to hold back her emotions.
She glanced around.
No one was there.
No surveillance cameras either.
With a choked sob, she bent over and wept quietly, her cries almost drowned out by the birds chirping outside.
Li Xinghao and Li Yanlang peeked out from their hiding spot, watching her tears fall.
She didn’t even dare cry loudly, clutching the pencil case and keychain to her chest as if they were long-lost treasures.
Unbeknownst to them, guilt and pity flickered in their eyes, and their hearts felt as if something had quietly torn open a small gap, letting a sour ache seep through.
Like fizzing carbonated drinks, it prickled their chests with a dull, lingering pain.
But they remained oblivious to their own physical reactions, silently and intently watching Li Zhiyin cry.
Like two rats hiding from the light.
Neither would step forward.
Li Zhiyin’s phone buzzed.
She wiped her tears and picked it up to look.
Shen Lianyan: «Sweetie, what did you do at school?! Why am I getting so many orders from smaller families?!»
Li Zhiyin was taken aback and replied: «I fought with Li Xinghao and Li Yanlang, and I also beat up Li Wuyou and her lackeys.»
Shen Lianyan: «…Did you win or lose?»
Li Zhiyin: «I won.»Shen Lianyan: “?”
“??”
“???”
Shen Lianyan: “My two nephews with modified cybernetic bodies were actually beaten up by you! And you won?!”
Shen Lianyan couldn’t believe it: “What kind of devil are you? What kind of genius are you? What kind of devilish genius are you?!!”
“Damn it, why aren’t you in front of me right now? Otherwise, I’d definitely give you a big kiss!!”
Shen Lianyan’s messages were flooding the screen, and even through the screen, her excitement was palpable.
Li Zhiyin was both amused and exasperated: “Mom, are you happy or not?”
Shen Lianyan: “Of course I’m happy! I’m not just happy—I’m over the moon!”
Shen Lianyan added: “Just now, over ten clients suddenly came to me and placed some orders. They all mentioned your name, saying their kids are in the same school as you and that you should learn from each other in the future.”
“Although these families aren’t particularly well-known, this is the first time I’ve seen such a large batch of clients appear all at once.”
“So, as we agreed, as long as you bring in orders, I’ll give you a commission. I’ve already transferred the money to you!”
Li Zhiyin received a transfer.
It was actually one million?!