“That’s how I comforted Bai Xiaomei, but Lin Xiyue knew it wouldn’t do for her to sit idle at home and consume without earning.”
Relying on others is never as reliable as relying on oneself.
She was still young now and didn’t have the ability to earn money. Once she entered university, she would have more time to figure out how to make money. By then, if she could bring money back to the He family, Bai Xiaomei wouldn’t have to work so hard.
Just as she was pondering how to find a job for Bai Xiaomei, a great opportunity came knocking.
During break time.
Jin Yao suddenly tapped on her desk.
“Teacher Wang is looking for you.”
Lin Xiyue was momentarily confused, mentally calculating why the teacher might want her. Seeing that He Mingchu showed no reaction, she stood up and followed Jin Yao out of the classroom.
The moment they left the classroom, Lin Xiyue understood—it wasn’t the teacher looking for her, but Jin Yao.
Jin Yao led her into a small grove.
“Lin Xiyue, you know I like your brother. What will it take for you to help me change his opinion of me?”
Lin Xiyue: Huh? Is this asking me to advance the plot?
She blinked: “Classmate Jin Yao, I’d be happy to help you. There’s a perfect opportunity right now…”
Jin Yao crossed her arms and looked down at her with an expression that said “Speak quickly.”
“My mom is currently looking for work. If you help her find a job, wouldn’t that greatly improve He—I mean, my brother’s opinion of you!”
This was killing two birds with one stone—helping Bai Xiaomei find employment while advancing the normal plot development.
The female lead shouldn’t develop negative feelings toward her existence, right?
Jin Yao sneered.
“You certainly know how to benefit yourself!
“Fine, I agree to this! Our kitchen happens to need help. Have your mother come work at our house!”
Jin Yao naturally had her own ulterior motives for doing this.
This way, He Mingchu would have an inseparable connection with her family.
Lin Xiyue inquired about the compensation.
Jin Yao curled her lip: “Fifty yuan a month, with two meals included.”
The original novel didn’t specify what job the female lead found for Bai Xiaomei, but since she was now clinging to the male lead’s support, it deviated from the original plot.
This indicated that the plot could be altered, as long as the general direction remained correct.
Otherwise, Lin Xiyue couldn’t bear the female lead’s wrath.
Jin Yao seemed like the arrogant and domineering type, true to the book’s description—spoiled and overbearing.
“Alright, your mother’s employment is settled. Now it’s your turn to help me!”
Jin Yao took a movie ticket from her pocket.
“Tomorrow at 2 PM, I’ll be waiting for him at the cinema.”
Lin Xiyue nodded.
With Bai Xiaomei’s job problem solved, Lin Xiyue’s steps back to the classroom felt light and buoyant.
She hadn’t taken two steps when someone grabbed her arm.
“Who are you…”
Lin Xiyue looked closely—oh, it was Pei Huaizhou.
“What are you doing here?”
Pei Huaizhou’s expression was somewhat strange.
“If I weren’t here, how would I have heard someone selling out her own brother?”
Lin Xiyue was shocked.
“Don’t talk nonsense! I did no such thing!”
Pei Huaizhou: “You didn’t? Then where did that movie ticket in your hand come from?”
Lin Xiyue clenched the movie ticket and said seriously to Pei Huaizhou: “Little classmate, if you have nothing better to do, go back and study more. At your age, instead of focusing on your studies, what are you thinking about all this nonsense? No wonder you’re still in tenth grade…”
As she spoke, Lin Xiyue shook her head and prepared to leave.
Pei Huaizhou wasn’t having it and grabbed Lin Xiyue, refusing to let her go.
“What are you talking about? It’s normal for me to be in tenth grade!”
Lin Xiyue couldn’t be bothered to argue with a child and nodded perfunctorily: “Yes, yes, yes!”
Pei Huaizhou: “What’s with your attitude?”
Lin Xiyue: “…”
“Let her go!” A familiar voice came through.
Lin Xiyue looked up to see He Mingchu already standing before her, rescuing her from Pei Huaizhou’s grasp.
“Why did it take so long to go to the teacher’s office?”
Lin Xiyue guiltily averted her gaze.
Completely ignoring Pei Huaizhou.
Pei Huaizhou: “Hey man, who are you?”
He Mingchu glanced at him: “Someone who’s none of your business.”
After saying this, he took Lin Xiyue’s hand and left.
Leaving Pei Huaizhou standing there: “…
“…What are you so proud about?”
That evening, Lin Xiyue told Bai Xiaomei about the job opportunity.
Bai Xiaomei was pleasantly surprised, repeatedly asking what the job involved and how it could pay so well.
He Jianguo expressed that she shouldn’t take on work that was too strenuous.
Lin Xiyue quickly explained that the job wasn’t troublesome – it was just working as a domestic helper in someone else’s home.
He Mingchu frowned.
Whether in the past or present, he never wanted family members doing servile work for others.
Seeing the uncomfortable expressions on both He Jianguo and his son’s faces, Lin Xiyue knew what was bothering them.
For decades, their ancestors had worked as tenant farmers and servants for wealthy landlords, suffering oppression. In their mindset, this kind of servile work meant being bullied.
Bai Xiaomei looked at the expressions around the table, then turned to Lin Xiyue with a pleading look.
It was clear she really wanted to take this job.
Lin Xiyue put down her chopsticks.
“Uncle, we’re just going to earn money. If we feel the money isn’t worth it or the work is uncomfortable, we’ll come back!”
Lin Xiyue thought to herself, at a time like this they were still picky about whether work was comfortable or not? In her own era, she’d have to work like an ox whether she wanted to or not!
Seeing that Bai Xiaomei clearly wanted to take the job, He Jianguo nodded.
“Alright, then go!”
With He Jianguo’s approval, Bai Xiaomei looked much more relaxed.
Since both parents agreed, He Mingchu had nothing more to say.
After dinner, Lin Xiyue dawdled her way into He Mingchu’s room.
“What are you dilly-dallying for? Aren’t you coming to do your problems?”
Lin Xiyue: “He Mingchu, do you want to go see a movie tomorrow?”
He Mingchu raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her: “You finished all your problems? And you still want to go see a movie?”
Lin Xiyue: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!”
He Mingchu felt inexplicably pleased – this little pet actually recognized how hard he worked as her teacher and even knew to invite him to a movie.
He barely suppressed the corners of his mouth from curling up, maintaining a calm facade: “Give me the tickets then!”
Lin Xiyue breathed a sigh of relief and presented the movie tickets with both hands.
He Mingchu looked at them – the tickets read: Romance on Lushan Mountain.
He Mingchu’s brow furrowed.
Lin Xiyue let out a long breath – she had finally completed her mission.
Now it was up to whether Jin Yao could perform tomorrow.
Seeing her completely unfazed expression, He Mingchu dismissed his doubts. After all, this little pet was just a child barely over ten years old – what could she possibly understand?
Maybe she just randomly picked this movie.
“Hmm, considering how seriously you’ve been studying lately, I’ll accompany you to watch it!”
The next morning, Lin Xiyue slept in.
On her rare day off, she was determined to get her fill of sleep.
Bai Xiaomei called her several times, but eventually it was He Mingchu who came knocking.
“Lin Xiyue, get up! Didn’t you say we were going to the movies today?”
Didn’t going out with him require proper preparation?
Lin Xiyue opened her eyes and got up resentfully.
“He Mingchu, don’t you think it would be more interesting if we each did our own things and met at the cinema?”