Chapter 113: Sister-in-law is here too, hello Sister-in-law.

"...Jiao Jiao?" Lu Yuanqiu called out, hesitating.

To be honest, seeing Jiao Jiao sitting there by the trash can, Lu Yuanqiu immediately understood why he had fought so hard today.

Hearing his name, Jiao Jiao looked up, his mouth agape. He still looked as simple-minded and adorable as ever, but he was crying in such deep distress and frustration, his voice possessing a soft, delicate quality that stood in stark contrast to his massive frame.

"I tried my best, I really did try my best. I tried so hard to grab the ball..."

Lu Yuanqiu turned away in silence and exchanged a look with Bai Qingxia.

Jiao Jiao was usually quite cute—introverted and gentle. It was rare to see him lose his temper. Despite his hulking size, he was always the one to step aside and make way when encountering people. Whether in the cafeteria or the classroom, he kept to his own quiet corner, never bothering anyone. Because his voice didn't match his appearance at all, he rarely spoke.

That was "Big Jiao"—the version of him that Lu Yuanqiu knew.

Just then, Lu Yuanqiu felt his sleeve being tugged. He turned to find Bai Qingxia bowing her head, fishing for tissues in her pockets. After pulling out two wads, she smoothed them out, folded them together, and silently handed them to Lu Yuanqiu.

Understanding her intent, Lu Yuanqiu took the tissues and walked over to the corner. Standing before the giant, he paused and said, "Jiao Jiao, from now on, if anyone bullies you, shut your mouth and let your fists do the talking."

He then leaned over and placed the tissues in Jiao Jiao's hands.

"Brother Qiu?"

A voice came from behind. Lu Yuanqiu turned to see Cao Shuang approaching the trash can with a half-eaten tray of food. Blocked by the bin, Cao Shuang hadn't seen Jiao Jiao yet. Seeing Bai Qingxia standing there, he poured his leftovers into the trash, then bent down with a smile to greet her: "Sister-in-law is here too, hello."

Hearing this, Bai Qingxia's beautiful eyes widened, and she nearly stopped breathing. She quickly moved away from Cao Shuang to the corner, turning her head aside, her small hands clutching tightly in front of her as her earlobes flushed deep red.

Lu Yuanqiu glanced at her and frowned at Cao Shuang: "You brat, stop spouting nonsense!"

"Oh, right, right!" Cao Shuang scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. Only then did he notice the large figure sitting in front of Lu Yuanqiu. "Holy crap, isn't this Big Jiao?" Cao Shuang exclaimed, his expression one of shock as he walked over to Lu Yuanqiu's side to take a closer look.

"Damn it, those guys in Class 12 love bossing Big Jiao around. In the end, you're just a coward—is that massive body of yours just for show? It makes me angry just looking at you."

After saying this, Cao Shuang gave Big Jiao’s leg a kick, seemingly frustrated by his lack of backbone.

Lu Yuanqiu raised a hand to stop him: "Alright, alright, everyone has a different personality." Quietly glancing at the girl in the corner, Lu Yuanqiu leaned toward Cao Shuang and whispered: "Help me find out if Zhang Yifei had anything to do with how Jiao Jiao was treated."

"Got it," Cao Shuang replied immediately.

Recalling the plans for tomorrow, Lu Yuanqiu said: "Tomorrow afternoon, we're going to karaoke."

Cao Shuang’s eyes lit up: "Sure, who's going?"

"Just the three of us. I'm going clothes shopping with her in the morning, and we'll grab lunch outside. I figured since your place is near the Wanda Plaza, we could just go sing in the afternoon."

Cao Shuang glanced at Bai Qingxia with a smile and whispered to Lu Yuanqiu: "Be honest, Brother Qiu, are you trying to pursue our school beauty? Don't worry, I'll be your wingman."

"Get lost! Don't mess things up for me!" Lu Yuanqiu kicked him away.

After Cao Shuang ran off, Lu Yuanqiu turned to Bai Qingxia. The girl glanced at him with an unnatural expression, paused for a moment, then lowered her head and walked out of the cafeteria. Lu Yuanqiu followed and tapped her on the right shoulder. As the girl—her ponytail draped over her shoulder—turned to look to her right, Lu Yuanqiu appeared on her left. "He’s just like that—straightforward and speaks without thinking. Don't take it to heart."

With his hands in his pockets, Lu Yuanqiu spoke to her. The girl looked back down at the ground and nodded, her small hands still nervously clenched in front of her.

...

As the night deepened, in the dimly lit rental apartment, Bai Qingxia was doing her homework behind a curtain in the bedroom. Hearing movement outside, she frowned slightly: "It's time to sleep. If you don't sleep, Xiaxia is going to get angry."

Despite saying this, the girl quickly continued writing the problems on her test paper. Bai Qingxia always finished her weekend homework on Fridays so she would have more time for other things during the two-day break. After finishing, she put down her pen, tried to compose a stern expression, and stepped out from behind the curtain.

"Why aren't you asleep yet!"

Bai Qingxia stood with her hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at the man outside.

Then she froze.

In the "room" beyond the curtain, her father was dancing happily under the dim light, holding a yellow envelope in his hand.

"What is that?" The girl was intrigued.

Bai Songzhe hopped about, laughing and speaking in a childlike tone: "Tian Tian said it's important! Important!"

Tian Tian? Bai Qingxia realized he meant Uncle Lu.

She quickly stepped forward and stood on tiptoe to take the envelope from her father’s hand. Bai Songzhe didn't mind being relieved of it; he just smiled happily, spread his arms wide, and began circling his daughter like a little airplane.

Written on the envelope were the words: "Monthly Salary."

Bai Qingxia panicked. Her father had only been working for a few days, and... the work he was doing couldn't really be called work. She opened the envelope to find five hundred yuan and a note.

[Little Xia, this is your dad's salary for the month. The supermarket pays employees in advance; you should know that tradition. We couldn't find anyone to move things in the warehouse, and your dad showed up at the perfect time. Don't let him run off with the money, haha. He's been paid, so he has to work.]

Looking at the ugly, sprawling handwriting on the note, a faint smile appeared on Bai Qingxia's beautiful face, and she felt a warmth in her heart. Another five hundred yuan.

"For Xiaxia~"

"Important things for Xiaxia~"

The middle-aged "old airplane" circled his daughter, happily chanting the words. So that was why he hadn't gone to sleep yet.

Looking up at the dim light, Bai Qingxia was suddenly reminded of a scene from thirteen years ago.

"So much money, Daddy is so amazing!"

In the living room, a young "little airplane" with two pigtails spread her arms wide, happily circling her father, "flying" back and forth. Bai Songzhe held his head high, proud of the first bucket of gold he’d earned through hard labor on the construction site. Her beautiful mother sat by the sofa stitching a handmade hat, and her handsome older brother was hunched over the table doing his homework.

Her mother put down the hat and said softly, "Xiaxia, slow down, don't make yourself dizzy."

...

"Daddy, slow down, don't make yourself dizzy."

Bai Qingxia followed her father as he circled her, smiling as she spoke.