Chaрtеr 7: VIР Сustоmer at the Sсrаp Reсycling Stаtiоn
Тhе bеll rаng for thе еnd оf clаss, and Jiаng Er stretсhеd lazilу, not fоrgеtting hеr main tаsk fоr the dау.
Тhе рlауground wаs under mаintеnance todаy, sо therе wаs nо mоrning exеrcise, аnd thе brеаk betwеen сlasses wоuld bе а bit lоngеr.
She glаnced at Fu Тinghаn bеsidе hеr, hesitating betwееn hеading tо the snаck shoр first tо buу sрicy striрs оr trying to сoaх sоmе infоrmatiоn оut of Fu Tinghan.
But coaхing informаtiоn rеquirеd finеsse—shе needed tо prеpаre hеr approach in advance. She couldn’t just bluntly ask him if he was his mother’s biological child.
How inappropriate would that be?
After weighing her options for two seconds, she decided to go buy a pack of spicy strips first to perk herself up.
Just as she was about to leave, Little Fatty knocked on her desk with a stack of homework notebooks in his arms:
“The homeroom teacher wants to see you, probably about the seating arrangement. Be prepared.”
“…”
What perfect timing.
Jiang Er got up and followed Little Fatty to the office.
As she was about to leave the classroom, she inexplicably turned back.
At sixteen or seventeen, students were bursting with energy. Most of the classmates were roughhousing, the noise so loud it felt like the roof might blow off.
Except for Fu Tinghan.
He sat alone in the corner reading, his back straight, as if an invisible glass dome separated him from everyone else.
As if by some unspoken agreement or mutual understanding, no one ever tried to break that glass dome.
Everyone watched Fu Tinghan’s loneliness through that transparent barrier, coldly observing it and taking pride in it.
Jiang Er seemed to understand a little why Fu Tinghan, in the future, always carried an air of unshakeable aloofness and indifference.
Perhaps it was because his youth was utterly lifeless.
—In every sense of the word.
After walking just a few steps, Jiang Er couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.
Little Fatty thought she was worried about the homeroom teacher’s questioning and comforted her as they walked:
“It’s fine, Teacher Wang has a good temper. He won’t scold you.”
“I’m not worried about that,” Jiang Er said listlessly.
Little Fatty was curious: “Then what are you troubled about? You’ve been sighing nonstop since earlier.”
Jiang Er hesitated, her expression grave.
Seeing this, Little Fatty also turned serious. He ran through every possibility, from family troubles to being extorted by a tanned sports student from another school, and his tone grew heavy:
“Don’t be afraid. We’re classmates, and I’ll do my best to help you however I can.”
As he spoke, he clenched his fist. “If necessary, I’ll activate my biggest connections at school. No matter what trouble you’re in, I can help you settle it.”
Jiang Er: “I don’t know how to do my physics homework.”
Little Fatty: “”
He slowly typed a question mark in his mind.
Jiang Er looked at him expectantly: “Pang Pang, can you ask your connections to help me with my physics homework?”
Little Fatty: “”
He unclenched his fist and lectured her with heartfelt disappointment:
“Classmate Jiang, knowledge can’t be faked. If you let someone else do your homework today, someone else will receive your admission letter for you tomorrow. Then you’ll regret it—why didn’t you work just a little harder today, why…”
“Stop.”
Jiang Er’s head was buzzing. “Just pretend I never said that. Take back your long-winded lecture.”
Little Fatty frowned: “If you said it, you said it. If you didn’t, you didn’t. How can you say something and then pretend you didn’t? Classmate Jiang, listen to me…”
Jiang Er rubbed her temples. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re really talkative?”
She said it casually, but to her surprise, Little Fatty actually nodded, beaming with pride:
“Yes, my connections often praise me like that~”
You’re quite proud of it, aren’t you?Jiang Er pouted and changed the subject:
“How much do you know about Fu Tinghan?”
At the mention of Fu Tinghan, Little Fatty blinked his eyes, “Fu and I have been in the same class since junior high. I basically know everything about him.”
This was truly a case of a pillow arriving just as one was about to fall asleep—heaven was helping her.
Jiang Er probed, “For example… do you also know about his family situation?”
When this topic came up, Little Fatty glanced around and motioned for Jiang Er to lean in closer.
Jiang Er did as he said.
He whispered, “Fu Tinghan’s family is very poor, extremely poor, unbelievably poor.”
Jiang Er cautiously asked, “How poor exactly?”
Little Fatty tactfully replied:
“Someone saw him fighting with an old man over a plastic water bottle on the street.”
Jiang Er: “…”
“According to rumors, he’s also a VIP-level customer at the local scrap collection station.”
Jiang Er: “…”
She nearly choked on her own saliva, frantically patting her chest as she coughed uncontrollably.
No way, no way?
Fighting over plastic water bottles?
Jiang Er struggled to imagine the scene and couldn’t help but shiver.
…It was utterly absurd, beyond belief.
But one thing was undeniable: her guess was correct.
Fu Tinghan was not yet the future heir of the Fu family she would come to know.
For now, he was just a pitiful soul picking up bottles—or, to be more precise:
A VIP customer at the scrap collection station.
It didn’t seem to make much difference either way.
She rubbed her forehead, “Have you ever met his family?”
Little Fatty was about to answer when he noticed they had arrived at the teachers’ office. He hurriedly said:
“I’ll tell you later.”
With that, he stepped forward and knocked on the door.
After receiving a response, Little Fatty pushed the door open, and she followed him inside.
The air conditioning was set too low, making the room feel like an ice cellar. Jiang Er sneezed, rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, and stood with Little Fatty in front of a particular desk.
A middle-aged male teacher was sitting there, chatting and laughing with the teacher at the neighboring desk, momentarily ignoring them.
The male teacher said, “This week’s model class is going to be your Class Six again, isn’t it?”
“Not at all, not at all. The results aren’t out yet, so it’s not certain,” Teacher Wang waved his hand dismissively.
“Your class’s students are truly outstanding in every way. They have a good attitude toward learning, are obedient and sensible, never cause trouble outside, and even know how to help each other. I’m genuinely convinced that the model class flag should go to your class.”
Teacher Wang feigned modesty, “Not at all, not at all. This is just what’s expected.”
Beside the desk, Jiang Er, who had been eavesdropping, sneered silently.
Helping each other?
Did that mean helping everyone except Fu Tinghan?
Over there, the male teacher was about to offer a few more compliments when, with a loud “bang,” the office door was forcefully pushed open.
This was followed by the sharp “click-clack” of high heels.
A female teacher in a red dress walked in with a stern face, followed by a tall girl who looked carefree and somewhat unruly.
The female teacher ignored Teacher Wang and the other teacher who raised their hands to greet her, sat down directly, and slammed the written confession in her hand onto the desk.
The girl still wore a cheeky grin, “Don’t be angry. If you’re not satisfied, I’ll rewrite it.”
Seeing this, the male teacher couldn’t help but sigh:
“It seems not everyone is like Teacher Wang, with such a harmonious class.””That Lin Ling in her class is already enough of a headache,” Teacher Wang shook his head, “not to mention this Cheng Zhi—neither of them are easy to handle. It’s no wonder she gets pushed around.”
The male teacher felt greatly comforted. “Looking at it this way, even though the kids in our class aren’t outstanding, they’re not too bad either.”
“You’re here.”
Teacher Wang finally remembered that two people were standing by his desk and nodded with a smile at Jiang Er.
Little Fatty put down the stack of homework in his arms and said quietly, “Teacher Wang, all the homework is here.”
“Go back to the class first. There’s a pop quiz next period—tell everyone to get ready,” Teacher Wang said kindly. “I’d like to have a chat with Jiang Er.”
Little Fatty acknowledged and left, glancing back repeatedly as he went.
Once the door closed, Teacher Wang lifted the lid of his thermos and took a slow sip of hot tea, but the topic he brought up was unexpected to Jiang Er.
“It’s been about a week since you transferred from Xinghai, right? Are you settling in okay at Sanzhong?”
Jiang Er gave a noncommittal “Mm,” replying indifferently, “It’s fine.”
Teacher Wang said with pride, “Although our school can’t compare to Xinghai financially, our discipline and school culture are much better.”
As he spoke, a hint of disdain crossed his face:
“What do those Xinghai students have besides money? Relying on that, they waste their days without any ambition. If you’d stayed there, you’d only end up as a useless rich kid who does nothing but squander the family fortune.”
“But now that you’re at Sanzhong, it’s different. Here, you have limitless possibilities!”
His tone grew impassioned:
“Come on, tell me—what kind of person do you want to be in the future? A scientist? A writer? Or perhaps someone in another profession who makes outstanding contributions to society?”
Hearing this, Jiang Er fell silent for a moment before slowly answering:
“I want to be—”
Under his gaze, filled with expectation and encouragement, she continued with a face full of determination:
“A useless rich kid who does nothing but squander the family fortune.”
Teacher Wang: “…”