Xu Xu said: "After lunch in the future, don’t rush to chat with the guy sitting behind you. Listening to his nonsense all the ti wastes a lot of ti! Instead, I can tutor you in English and guarantee you’ll score full marks in the finals."
Zhao ii’s eyes lit up: "Really?"
Xu Xu sneakily glanced at the guy behind Zhao ii, then looked back and nodded, "Really."
During lunch, Zhao ii ate with Xu Xu. As soon as she closed her lunch box, the guy behind her rushed back from outside the classroom, sweating. Upon seeing her, he imdiately waved with a smile, "ii! Co here, I have sothing good to show you!"
The guy behind Zhao ii was a dark, skinny classmate. He looked average but was particularly good at talking. Anything he said could make people laugh.
Zhao ii usually enjoyed listening to his chatter, finding it interesting and fun.
Zhao ii never thought about why the guy behind her always returned to school sweaty despite eating lunch at ho. She also never thought about why he only wanted to make her laugh or talk to her, nor why he often brought her nice things.
What Zhao ii didn’t notice, Xu Xu had sensitively detected. Every noon, he would linger around Zhao ii and join her to listen to the male classmate’s stories.
Whenever the guy spoke, the light in his eyes would reflect Zhao ii’s image in his dark pupils.
Sitting beside them, Xu Xu might not show it on his face, but internally, he was in turmoil, constantly plotting ways to break the close connection between Zhao ii and the guy behind her, wanting to disrupt their lunchti storytelling session.
Just when he was racking his brain about it, fate handed him the chance to effortlessly eradicate the threat of an invisible rival.
Hearing the guy behind her call, Zhao ii was about to instinctively respond, but then Xu Xu said, "ii, I’ll go wash the lunchboxes. You should go to the bathroom first. When you co back, I’ll tutor you in English."
Even though Zhao ii agreed quickly yesterday, when it ca ti to study, she hesitated. She was preoccupied with the guy’s jokes; every ti she listened to him, she would also learn his techniques, rembering the funny parts so she could later share them with Brother Yangyang over the phone to make him laugh.
Without those jokes, she wouldn’t hear Brother Yangyang’s lovely laughter over the phone.
Zhao ii was torn between opting for funny stories or improving her English.
Xu Xu casually remarked, "Your total score this ti is only ten points higher than the fourth and fifth places. If they catch up in the finals, your record of staying in the top five might be at risk."
Alarmingly, Zhao ii glanced at Xu Xu; this ti, she didn’t hesitate. She decisively agreed, "Okay, I’ll use the bathroom, and then we can study."
After saying this, Zhao ii turned to the guy behind her and said, "What’s that good thing you have? Show later, I need to study now!"
The guy behind her: "Huh? Study?"
Zhao ii waved her hand: "Yes, I’m going to the bathroom."
The guy behind her: "Hey! ii!"
As Zhao ii dashed out of the classroom, she waved at him too.
Xu Xu took out a bottle of dishwashing liquid from the desk, clamped it under his arm, and carried the lunchboxes of Zhao ii and himself to the washroom to clean them.
As he walked, he caught a glimpse of the disappointed look on the guy behind Zhao ii.
Xu Xu’s mouth slowly curved into a beautiful smile, a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes, fleetingly.
While Zhao ii was wholeheartedly striving to improve her English, Shi Yang was preparing for his thesis defense. He had been busy taking on jobs, and, as the date approached, he quickly gathered materials, reviewed, compiled, and printed them. Once all tasks were completed, as he was about to graduate, Shi Yang’s father specially brought Shi Yang’s mother to visit him in the provincial city.
Sitting in a restaurant’s private room, Shi Yang’s mother kept putting food on Shi Yang’s plate worriedly: "Oh dear, look at how thin you are, what have you been busy with all day? No matter how busy you are, you can’t neglect your health!"
Shi Yang ate a couple of bites and reassured her with a smile: "Don’t worry, I have it under control."
As Shi Yang spoke, he glanced at his father; their eyes t in the air, and with a look, they both understood each other.
Shi Yang’s father had brought his mother over specifically to persuade him to return ho to develop his career.
Shi Yang’s father planned his future ticulously. He cherished his only son since his birth. Although he didn’t fulfill much of the paternal duties, his love for Shi Yang was no less than his mother’s. He felt guilty for being too busy with work and not expressing his affection well enough.
Sitting opposite Shi Yang, his father asked: "Yangyang, after graduation, are you planning to stay in the provincial city to further your career?"
Shi Yang replied: "No, I plan to go back ho after the graduation ceremony."
No matter how shrewd Shi Yang’s father was, he hadn’t expected Shi Yang’s plan. He asked: "Why? Haven’t you already started expanding your business channels here? Isn’t using your current resources to grow your business the plan you should be executing?"
Shi Yang frowned: "How did you conclude that? I have my own reasons for wanting to return ho."
Despite his ticulous thinking, Shi Yang’s father couldn’t imdiately comprehend what kind of need would lead Shi Yang to abandon two years of effort and start anew at ho.
Shi Yang’s father never thought Shi Yang would rely on him for entrepreneurship, although he was eager to help. He knew too well how capable and independent his son was, and how much he resented him.
His father’s first reaction was: "Shi Yang, are you dating soone in college? Is this person from our hotown? Or do you know so powerful partner here? Who is it? Is this person reliable?"
Already a bit impatient, Shi Yang didn’t want to put his father in an awkward position in front of his mother. He frowned, feeling his father was ddling too much.
His father said: "Actually, developing at ho would be better. Although the provincial city has abundant resources and a promising developnt future, it’s slowly becoming saturated. On the other hand, software developnt at ho is just starting to thrive and is at the best ti to develop."
His father smiled as he poured tea for Shi Yang: "If there are any difficulties in starting your business at ho, let know, I can lend a hand."
Shi Yang glanced at his father, speechless, thinking the old man was absurd. Was he just joking? Were his earlier persuasion attempts to stay in the city rely teasing?
Shi Yang took a deep breath and didn’t hold back with his father, directly stating: "Then lend so startup funds."
Surprised, Shi Yang’s father looked at him with a mix of shock and joy: "How much do you want to borrow?"
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