10
An eerie silence fell over the entire room.
Mr. and Mrs. Xu exchanged glances. This kid… isn’t she the Math class monitor? Since when did her Chinese get so good? She’s even using literary allusions to argue back now?
Wait, that’s not the point!
Mr. Xu quickly stood up, putting on an expression like he was about to discipline her. “How are you speaking to your Second Uncle?! Get back to your room this instant!”
Even as he said this, his face didn’t show much real anger. He was probably somewhat enlightened by his daughter’s words. Yeah, it’s my own money. I can invest it in whoever I want. Since when did you get to point fingers, and even come to my home to make a scene?
Mrs. Xu, on the other hand, felt incredibly refreshed by her daughter’s verbal smackdown. She said loudly, “Go back to what room? She hasn’t even eaten! The child goes to school every day, it’s so exhausting. If she gets sick from hunger, you might not care, but I do! Zhaixing, go eat.”
Xu Zhaixing pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile, then obediently turned towards the dining table. After taking two steps, she looked back at Xu Zhiwen, smiling sweetly. “Second Uncle, no matter how angry you are, you still have to eat. Don’t let it ruin your health, okay?”
Mr. Xu chimed in, “Yes, yes, food is still important. Second Brother, let’s eat.”
Xu Zhiwen was practically driven mad with rage, his blood pressure spiking. His entire face flushed red, and he shot to his feet. “I won’t eat! I can’t afford to eat in your house!”
Having said that, he stormed angrily towards the door.
He might have hoped Mr. or Mrs. Xu would call out to stop him, but neither said a word. All he heard was Xu Zhaixing’s cheerful voice: “Time to eat~ Wow, sweet and sour ribs again today! Aunt Liu, I love you!”
Xu Zhiwen slammed the door in fury as he left.
Silence hung in the room for a moment before Mrs. Xu burst out laughing.
Mr. Xu shot her a glare, but seeing her laugh so merrily, he couldn’t help but chuckle too. The two walked over and sat down at the table, both adopting the tone of Monday-morning quarterbacks as they scolded Xu Zhaixing: “You silly girl, how could you be so disrespectful? If you interrupt like that again, just see if we don’t teach you a lesson!”
Xu Zhaixing pouted inwardly, thinking: I didn’t even go all out.
If Xu Zhiwen dares to stir up trouble again, I’ll show him the full power of a fangirl’s sharp tongue!
After lecturing Xu Zhaixing a few more times, Mrs. Xu turned her criticism towards Mr. Xu. “In the entire Xu family, I’ve never seen anyone as spineless as you! Someone steps all over you, and you don’t even dare make a peep! If it weren’t for the two of us coming back just in time today, I bet Second Brother would have crushed you completely!”
Mr. Xu gave her an unhappy glare. “Watch your words! He’s my Second Brother. Now that Big Brother is gone, he’s my only brother left! If it weren’t for my two elder brothers looking after me when I was little, whether I’d even be alive today is questionable!”
Older generations always liked bringing up childhood. Favors from way back then could be remembered for a lifetime, even unto death.
Xu Zhaixing humphed. “People change, you know. When I was little, I had a round face. Now, I’ve got a heart-shaped face.”
Mr. Xu retorted, “You’re still talking! How much chocolate does your Second Uncle buy you every year? Where did it all go?”
Xu Zhaixing didn’t back down. “Lots of people buy me chocolate. I don’t see any of them constantly eyeing our family’s money.”
Mr. Xu paused, frowning. “Stop talking nonsense!”
Xu Zhaixing felt that if she didn’t seize this opportunity to lay things out clearly, her father might still fall for Xu Zhiwen’s schemes. She decisively put down her chopsticks. “Then why else would he be so furious? Even if you invested the money with Cousin, it didn’t cause him any loss. He keeps saying this project was for you, to help you make money. If you don’t invest, the worst that happens is you don’t make money. You’re the one losing out. What does that have to do with him? Why would he get so worked up over it?”
A flicker of realization passed through Mr. Xu’s eyes, likely recalling the urgency Xu Zhiwen had shown during their recent contract discussions. He fell silent.
Seeing her father’s expression, Xu Zhaixing knew he was listening. She drove the point home: “The reason he’s so angry is that you not investing ultimately harms his interests. So, it’s simple: the fact is, he didn’t want you to make money; he urgently needed that money himself. Now the money’s gone. Who wouldn’t be angry?”
Before Mr. Xu could respond, Mrs. Xu looked over in astonishment. “Heavens, when did my precious daughter become so sharp?”
Mr. Xu’s brow remained deeply furrowed. Though he didn’t speak, his expression made it clear he silently agreed.
Xu Zhaixing sighed and picked up a piece of sweet and sour rib. “If you ask me, you should stop fantasizing about making a fortune through venture capital. You don’t understand it, and you’d just get swindled, counting money for the person who cheated you. You’re better off focusing on your main job.”
Mr. Xu nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly snapped to his senses and laughed. “Who would get sold and still count money? Is that any way to talk to your father?”
Mrs. Xu was also laughing hard. The family atmosphere was joyful and harmonious. Xu Zhaixing secretly flashed a victory sign under the table.
Her father just placed too much importance on family ties. Once that layer of relationship was pierced through, those hidden ambitions wouldn’t stay hidden for long.
She remembered that not long from now, the project Xu Zhiwen had conned her father into investing in would go bankrupt due to the partner absconding with the funds and a broken capital chain, even making it onto financial magazines.
That time, it was her father’s money that was lost. This time, it would be Xu Zhiwen’s own.
Having dealt with this major antagonist, Xu Zhaixing was in an excellent mood and even ate two extra bowls of rice at dinner. When it was time for bed, Mrs. Xu tossed and turned, replaying her daughter’s performance today. She couldn’t resist poking her husband, who was reading the newspaper. “Don’t you think Zhaixing is different now?”
Mr. Xu was distracted. “Different how? Seems fine to me.”
Mrs. Xu pondered. “I never noticed her minding so many things before? Hmm, it’s like she grew up all of a sudden. Have you noticed? Sometimes she talks and acts like a little adult.”
Mr. Xu put down the newspaper. “Isn’t that a good thing? Saves you from worrying so much. My daughter takes after me—smart, outstanding.”
Mrs. Xu pinched him. “Look at you, reading so much, and what’s the use?! Still don’t understand a thing! If it weren’t for our daughter today, who knows how far Second Brother would have led you by the nose! Takes after you? I think if she took after you, we’d be done for!”
A mother’s heart was more observant after all. Sensing the change in Xu Zhaixing, she felt a complex mix of emotions but finally declared, “Starting next week, we’re doubling our daughter’s allowance!”
Completely unaware of all this, Xu Zhaixing slept soundly. The next day, she happily shouldered her backpack and went to school.
After morning self-study, the school held the flag-raising ceremony and the routine Monday announcements.
The drowsy Xu Zhaixing jolted awake when she heard the dean energetically announcing several names for skipping class. “…and the most serious case is student Zhou Mingyu! For skipping school for an entire week, he is given a major demerit! We hope these students will reflect seriously on what they, as high school students, should and should not be doing!”
Xu Zhaixing’s sleepiness vanished. She quickly tugged at Cheng You beside her. “Why has Zhou Mingyu been skipping for so long?!”
Cheng You was also exhausted. “Didn’t I tell you? He skips class every day to look for Cen Feng at other schools.”
Xu Zhaixing grew anxious. “He’s still looking?! I thought it’d be over in a day or two!”
Cheng You replied weakly, “Didn’t he say he wouldn’t give up until he found him? Ah, if only he put that much energy into studying.”
Xu Zhaixing was utterly exasperated.
Is this guy insane? Seriously?!
She remembered that back then, because she had good grades, Zhou Mingyu started to mend his ways and focus on studying after they got together. Even though they broke up during their sophomore year, Zhou Mingyu eventually tested into a decent university.
But with the current situation, he wouldn’t even get into a decent community college.
Having been reborn, Xu Zhaixing only wanted those who had been hurt to have better lives. She didn’t want those who originally had good futures to end up in the gutter.
After thinking it over, Xu Zhaixing decided to talk to Zhou Mingyu.
When school ended at noon, she declined Cheng You’s invitation to the cafeteria and headed straight for Zhou Mingyu’s classroom. Sure enough, she found the low-achieving student sitting in the last row, messing around with his so-called “friends.”
Xu Zhaixing stood at the door and shouted, “Zhou Mingyu! Come out!”
Zhou Mingyu looked up and saw her. His eyes lit up for a second, then dimmed. His expression turned arrogant, as if saying: The me you once ignored is now beyond your reach!
Xu Zhaixing was almost driven mad by this childishness. She walked straight over and asked him, “Why are you skipping class?”
His “friends” immediately started jeering. Zhou Mingyu put on an air of importance, looking down his nose at her. “What’s it to you?”
Teenage boys at this age were truly so rebellious.
Xu Zhaixing felt a headache coming on. After enduring his disdainful look, she took a deep breath and softened her tone. “What exactly do you want? Didn’t I make myself clear enough? If you keep this up, you’ll only hurt yourself.”
Zhou Mingyu clenched his teeth tightly, looking as if he had suffered a great injustice. He said fiercely, “You were clear enough! You were too clear! That’s why I have to find that person. I have to see for myself where exactly I’m lacking compared to him!”
Xu Zhaixing didn’t know whether to laugh or hit him. “Who? Cen Feng?”
Zhou Mingyu lifted his chin and remained silent.
Xu Zhaixing sighed. “I’m not with him. I will never be with him in this lifetime.”
Zhou Mingyu froze, as if he didn’t understand what she was saying. His head slowly lowered, and he stopped looking down his nose at her.
Xu Zhaixing looked into his eyes. “I won’t be with him, and I won’t be with you either. Because I just want to study hard and get into a good university. Do you understand?”
Zhou Mingyu still looked dazed.
Xu Zhaixing thought to herself: This kid looks so good, it’s a shame his brain doesn’t work well.
She patted his arm, speaking earnestly. “I’ve said all I can. Think it over carefully. You’re fifteen, not a little kid anymore. Don’t let your hot-headedness lead you to make mistakes you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
Having said that, she turned and walked away.
It wasn’t until she had left the classroom that Zhou Mingyu seemed to snap back to reality. He scratched his head, looked at his stunned friends, and mumbled, “She sounded just like my mom.”
His “friends”: “…………”
Then what have you been chasing her for all semester? Why not just go home and chase after your mom?
Having warned Zhou Mingyu, Xu Zhaixing finally wandered over to the cafeteria. As she carried her tray looking for a seat, she heard Cheng You and a group of girls screaming from a distance.
“Really? Did Zhouzhou really reply to you? Oh my god, I’m so jealous!”
Xu Zhaixing walked over and sat down. “What are you all talking about?”
Seeing her, Cheng You leaned in excitedly. “Zhaixing! Lin Lizhou replied to Tongtong!”
Xu Zhaixing put a piece of braised pork in her mouth. “Lin Lizhou? Who’s that?”
The surrounding girls immediately gave her looks of disbelief. Cheng You said, “No way, Zhaixing, you don’t even know Lin Lizhou? The ‘Little Prince of Love Songs’! He’s super famous!”
Xu Zhaixing thought for a long moment before she remembered there was indeed such a person. But she recalled that he got arrested for drug use while she was in college, after which he basically disappeared.
Right now, though, he was still popular.
Wait… platforms like Weibo, Instagram, and Zhihu weren’t even mainstream in China yet. Where were celebrities interacting with fans?
As soon as she voiced this question, the looks of disdain around her intensified. Even Cheng You looked at her scornfully. “Don’t you even have a blog? Zhouzhou updated his blog last night. Tongtong commented, and he replied!”
Oh right, she’d forgotten about blogs.
Blogs were the precursors to Weibo. At this time, every celebrity had one, posting photos, articles, and reflections—everything was there.
Xu Zhaixing pondered this, eating. Suddenly, she froze.
Then… did Cen Feng have a blog too?!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Finally, another place where she could leave rainbow-flavored praise for her idol!!!
**
Cen Feng: You won’t be with anyone in this lifetime? Say that again?