Wen Zhile broke into a smile. “I just remembered something wonderful.”
Zhou Jihuai raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to eat something?”
“No, you go ahead.”
Wen Zhile was so happy she felt like humming.
In this lifetime, not having to be pestered by Zhou Yusheng anymore was truly a stroke of luck.
“Brother, I think you look even more handsome today.” People really do need comparisons.
Zhou Jihuai glanced at her suspiciously. “Do you need my help with something?”
“No,” the girl’s lips curved upward cheerfully, “I just wanted to compliment you.”
“…” Zhou Jihuai thought she was being strange and didn’t respond, continuing with his meal.
Their voices were soft, so the people nearby didn’t hear them.
Zhou Jihuai ate quickly but wasn’t in a hurry to leave after finishing. He drank his juice and then water, taking over ten minutes to finish one glass.
Wen Zhile didn’t want to confront Dai Nuan and Zhou Yusheng directly right now, so she wasn’t in a rush either. She picked up her glass and drank along with Zhou Jihuai.
Only when they heard the neighboring couple leave did they put down their glasses, almost simultaneously.
They exchanged glances, and Wen Zhile smiled gently. “I know the girl who was eating next to us. I didn’t want to run into her.”
Zhou Jihuai nodded. “I know the guy.”
He stood up. “Let’s go, little sister. I’ll take you home.”
They walked out side by side, and Wen Zhile got into the passenger seat, deftly fastening her seatbelt.
Zhou Jihuai stood by the car door, watching a taxi drive into the distance for a while before getting in.
“Who was that, brother? You seemed quite concerned about him.”
“My younger brother.” Zhou Jihuai smiled. “I still care about you more.”
A brother who didn’t go home after school but used family money to take a clearly ill-intentioned girl to eat at Wangjing Pavilion wasn’t worth his concern.
Zhou Jihuai genuinely disapproved of Zhou Yusheng’s usual behavior.
When he first saw Zhou Yusheng at eleven years old, he knew they weren’t the same kind of people and wouldn’t get along.
Remembering school, he asked Wen Zhile, “Did you ask for leave from school?”
The girl shook her head. “I left in too much of a hurry to ask for leave.”
“The school teachers will probably contact the Dai Family. The Dai Family likely still wants to find me and make me marry someone. They might even tell the teachers I’m dropping out.”
Zhou Jihuai started the Jeep, thinking to himself that it would be best if that family didn’t fall into his hands.
After driving a few meters, he said, “Since you’re in Jing Zhou now, you should transfer your student records here. It’ll be more convenient to study in Jing Zhou. What grade are you in, little sister?”
Wen Zhile: “Eleventh grade.”
She relaxed against the seatback, openly sharing her thoughts. “I want to take this year’s college entrance exam. I’m not sure if it’s possible.”
Zhou Jihuai turned on the headlights. “If you want to, then try. There’s no harm in trying. Have you already registered?”
“Not yet. After I settle things here, I’ll go to school to register.”
The man raised an eyebrow slightly. “The registration period for this year’s college entrance exam has already passed.”
Wen Zhile was stunned.
In her previous life, her parents had handled the procedures for her to take the college entrance exam in eleventh grade. She hadn’t been involved at all. Her parents wanted her to experience the exam, so they completed the procedures without telling her.
She hadn’t paid attention to the specific registration dates.
It was already very late, and the dim streetlights flashed rapidly past the window.
Zhou Jihuai held the steering wheel, glancing at her stunned expression from the corner of his eye. He said casually, “It’s fine, you can still register. Which university and department do you want to apply to?”
“Jingzhou University, English Department.” Wen Zhile snapped out of her daze and sighed. “If it’s not possible, then it’s not possible.”
She’d just spend another year in high school.
She didn’t take Zhou Jihuai’s words seriously.
Although Wen Zhile had an uncle who was a commander in her previous life, her lifestyle was still far from that of a true high-ranking official’s child.
Some things that seemed to require strict adherence to rules in her eyes could be easily bypassed by certain children of high-ranking officials. Zhou Jihuai had been at the pinnacle of this privileged group since birth.
If he said it could be reported, then it could be reported.
But the current Wen Zhile was unaware of this.
After sending the young girl home, Zhou Jihuai returned to his residence.
For the next few days, he remained stationed in the military camp.
Meanwhile, Wen Zhile spent her time accompanying her Grandma, drinking traditional Chinese medicine, applying Scar Removal Cream, studying, solving problems, running, and thinking of ways to earn money to purchase clues about the murderer.
Xiao Jiu had yet to provide her with the promised free clues, so Wen Zhile was not in a hurry to earn money just yet. She wanted to see if the first clue would be useful before deciding whether to spend money on more.
Each clue cost two hundred thousand, which was no small amount.
A week later, on the evening of July 1, 1989, Wen Shuren and Shu Ying arrived at the military general hospital.
Tang Heping handed them two thin sheets of paper: “The DNA test results are out.”