CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 85 LEND ME SOME MONEY

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 time wastes a lot of time! Instead, I can tutor you in English and guarantee you’ll score full marks in the finals."

Zhao Meimei’s eyes lit up: "Really?"

Xu Xu sneakily glanced at the guy behind Zhao Meimei, then looked back and nodded, "Really."

During lunch, Zhao Meimei 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 immediately waved with a smile, "Meimei! Come here, I have something good to show you!"

The guy behind Zhao Meimei was a dark, skinny classmate. He looked average but was particularly good at talking. Anything he said could make people laugh.

Zhao Meimei usually enjoyed listening to his chatter, finding it interesting and fun.

Zhao Meimei never thought about why the guy behind her always returned to school sweaty despite eating lunch at home. 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 Meimei didn’t notice, Xu Xu had sensitively detected. Every noon, he would linger around Zhao Meimei and join her to listen to the male classmate’s stories.

Whenever the guy spoke, the light in his eyes would reflect Zhao Meimei’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 Meimei and the guy behind her, wanting to disrupt their lunchtime 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 Meimei was about to instinctively respond, but then Xu Xu said, "Meimei, I’ll go wash the lunchboxes. You should go to the bathroom first. When you come back, I’ll tutor you in English."

Even though Zhao Meimei agreed quickly yesterday, when it came time to study, she hesitated. She was preoccupied with the guy’s jokes; every time she listened to him, she would also learn his techniques, remembering 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 Meimei was torn between opting for funny stories or improving her English.

Xu Xu casually remarked, "Your total score this time 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 Meimei glanced at Xu Xu; this time, she didn’t hesitate. She decisively agreed, "Okay, I’ll use the bathroom, and then we can study."

After saying this, Zhao Meimei turned to the guy behind her and said, "What’s that good thing you have? Show me later, I need to study now!"

The guy behind her: "Huh? Study?"

Zhao Meimei waved her hand: "Yes, I’m going to the bathroom."

The guy behind her: "Hey! Meimei!"

As Zhao Meimei 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 Meimei and himself to the washroom to clean them.

As he walked, he caught a glimpse of the disappointed look on the guy behind Zhao Meimei.

Xu Xu’s mouth slowly curved into a beautiful smile, a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes, fleetingly.

While Zhao Meimei 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 met 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 home to develop his career.

Shi Yang’s father planned his future meticulously. 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 home 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 home."

Despite his meticulous thinking, Shi Yang’s father couldn’t immediately comprehend what kind of need would lead Shi Yang to abandon two years of effort and start anew at home.

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 someone in college? Is this person from our hometown? Or do you know some 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 meddling too much.

His father said: "Actually, developing at home would be better. Although the provincial city has abundant resources and a promising development future, it’s slowly becoming saturated. On the other hand, software development at home is just starting to thrive and is at the best time to develop."

His father smiled as he poured tea for Shi Yang: "If there are any difficulties in starting your business at home, let me 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 merely teasing?

Shi Yang took a deep breath and didn’t hold back with his father, directly stating: "Then lend me some startup funds."

Surprised, Shi Yang’s father looked at him with a mix of shock and joy: "How much do you want to borrow?"