“Otherwise what? Stay here so you can call me a jinx? Be framed for breaking your precious antique?” Xiao Chen sneered.
“Be suspected of stealing your things?”
“Can’t you stop being so stubborn? Is apologizing that hard?” Xiao Yan frowned. She had already given Xiao Chen a way out.
Yet he refused to take it.
“I’ve apologized enough in the past six months,” Xiao Chen glanced at her. “If it’s not my fault, why should I apologize?”
“Besides, if I leave, won’t your family go back to being happy and harmonious like before?”
“Fine, go then. And don’t ever come back.”
Xiao Yan grew angry, and the faint guilt she had felt vanished.
“Sister, why are you trying to persuade him? Let him go. He’s just trying to gain sympathy this way,” Xiao Qian said disdainfully.
“That’s right, let him go.”
Xiao Chen’s mother looked indifferent. She believed that within three days, Xiao Chen would come back begging.
Xiao Chen shook off Xiao Yan’s hand, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked out. Xiao Yan followed him.
Outside, Xiao Chen stopped and glanced sideways at Xiao Yan. In this house, she was probably the only one who was somewhat reasonable.
On the day he had returned, she had suggested taking a family portrait. She was the only one who had ever shown him a trace of kindness.
“Is the Xiao Group planning an endorsement for a health liquor?” Xiao Chen asked.
“How do you know?” Xiao Yan froze.
“There’s a problem with that liquor. It’s going to explode into a scandal soon,” Xiao Chen said calmly.
After being reborn, he remembered everything from his previous life with unusual clarity.
The liquor was called Canghua Liquor.
It had been extremely popular, and the marketing campaign had been very successful. However, not long after, during the annual consumer rights broadcast, it was exposed for containing pharmaceutical ingredients that damaged nerves.
Because the Xiao Group had been deeply involved in the campaign, they suffered massive losses.
For the sake of the little kindness Xiao Yan had once shown him, he reminded her.
“Company matters are none of your concern. Take care of yourself,” Xiao Yan said coldly.
If you don’t believe it, so be it. Xiao Chen said nothing more. He walked to the bus stop and left.
Xiao Yan watched his departing figure for a long time without speaking.
“That unfilial son really left?” When Xiao Yan returned, Xiao Yuanhe and his wife were surprised.
They had assumed Xiao Chen was only putting on an act and would back down once they gave him a way out.
They had not expected him to truly leave.
“He left.” Xiao Yan felt irritated. She glanced at Xiao Ming, who was nestled in their mother’s arms.
“Xiao Ming, tell me, was it really Xiao Chen who broke my blue-and-white porcelain?” she asked.
“It was him, Sister.” Xiao Ming paused, a trace of panic flashing through his eyes before he hurriedly said, “I saw it with my own eyes.”
“Sister, what do you mean? If it wasn’t Xiao Chen, are you suggesting it was Mingming?” Xiao Qian said angrily. “The fragments were found in his room. He grew up in the countryside and has never seen something so valuable.”
“He must have taken it to his room to admire it and broke it by accident. Then he refused to admit it.”
“And the Cartier bracelet I lost, who knows if he stole that too.”
“Enough. If he wants to go, let him go. Without us, how will he survive?” Xiao Yuanhe was still furious.
Xiao Yan said nothing and quietly returned to her room.
At that moment, her assistant called. “CEO Xiao, the contract for Canghua Liquor has been reviewed.”
“Once you sign it, the other party will transfer the payment. The 5 million planning fee will arrive in one lump sum.”
“Don’t rush the process yet.” Xiao Yan’s heart stirred as she suddenly recalled Xiao Chen’s reminder.
Almost unconsciously, she said, “Buy a few bottles of Canghua Liquor from the market and send them to the lab for ingredient testing.”
“But CEO Xiao, the other side is urging us. They want to finalize the campaign as soon as possible,” the assistant said, stunned. “Our competitors are also pressuring us.”
“Just do as I say. Test it,” Xiao Yan replied before hanging up.
Xiao Chen took the bus back to school. The first thing he did was find his homeroom teacher to apply for dormitory housing.
The high school he attended was not particularly famous, so a student like him who had suddenly won first place in the interschool competition was highly valued.
His homeroom teacher, Su Xiao, quickly arranged accommodation for him.
After unpacking and making his bed, Xiao Chen returned to the classroom. It was evening self-study time.
He buried himself in a pile of books and began reviewing.
Although he had been a top student in his previous life, many things still needed reinforcement after being reborn.
In this life, he would not let his family’s attitude weigh on him day after day until he ended up only entering an ordinary university.
Fortunately, he already understood the key concepts, and his memory after rebirth was exceptionally sharp. A single review was enough to grasp everything again.
But he had skipped both lunch and dinner because there was no money left on his meal card. He had only a few dozen yuan in his pocket.
His part-time wages from the milk tea shop near the school gate would not arrive until next week. Once he had some startup capital, he could begin making money quickly.
For now, he could only endure.
Unfortunately, his stomach pain chose this moment to flare up. Xiao Chen lay on his desk, gritting his teeth against the pain.
A small head leaned over. He looked up to see a cute round face with glasses.
She pushed a bottle of warm milk and a piece of bread toward him. “Drink some milk and eat something. It’ll help your stomach.”
His deskmate, Song Ziyan, spoke softly. She had a sweet appearance.
In his previous life, on his birthday, the family had taken Xiao Ming traveling while he had endured a high fever and still come to school.
He had trembled and convulsed, nearly losing his life. It had been Song Ziyan who called emergency services and had him sent to the hospital.
After that, she had visited him for several days.
His own parents and sisters had only appeared when he was discharged, scolding him as a jinx before paying the hospital bill.
“Thank you,” Xiao Chen smiled and took the milk, drinking a few sips.
The warmth eased his stomach pain immediately.
After eating a few bites of bread, he finally felt better.
“You’re welcome. Um… deskmate…” Song Ziyan looked a little shy.
“What is it? Just say it,” Xiao Chen asked.
“My physics is dragging my score down a lot. You’re so good at physics. Could you… help tutor me?” She bit her lip and mustered her courage to ask.
She was naturally shy, and it had taken great effort for her to speak.
“So that’s it. No problem. I should thank you for the milk and bread,” Xiao Chen agreed without hesitation.
Song Ziyan’s overall grades were good, except for physics.
Whether for saving his life in the previous life or for the kindness just shown, he would gladly help her.
“Really? Thank you so much,” Song Ziyan said, surprised and delighted.
“Xiao Chen, the principal is looking for you. Go to the office,” a classmate ran over at that moment.
The look he gave Xiao Chen was strange, a mix of contempt and mockery.
Xiao Chen found it odd but stood up and walked out.
As he stepped out of the classroom, he heard whispers behind him.
“Liu Qiang, why is the principal looking for Xiao Chen?”
“No idea. Someone reported him for cheating in the physics competition.”
“What? So his score was from cheating?”
“No wonder he did so well. Our Tongfang High School has always been weak in physics. We’ve never even made the top ten before.”
“That’s disgusting.”