Chapter 70: So You're the Damn Lu Yuanqiu!

Lu Yuanqiu was momentarily stunned.

A few seconds later, he lowered his head, took Bai Qingxia’s meal card out of his pocket, and handed it back to her.

“What a coincidence. I forgot to use your card to pay just now and used one of mine instead. Now you can go buy another meal.”

Before she could speak, Lu Yuanqiu urged her, “Go buy another meal.”

Seeing Bai Qingxia hesitate as if she wanted to say something, Lu Yuanqiu tapped the table with his finger. “Is it really necessary to return such a small amount? Worst case, just do more chores tonight.”

The girl looked at him deeply, her expression tinged with sadness, before she stood up and hurried toward the counter, her anxiousness evident even from behind.

Once she left, Lu Yuanqiu picked up his chopsticks, intending to continue eating. He brought the food to his mouth, then set it down again.

Placing his chopsticks to the side, he suddenly lost his appetite.

“I couldn’t help myself and finished it all.”

As she said this, her voice was thick with guilt.

When she returned with a new meal, neatly packed and placed in front of Lu Yuanqiu, he hesitated, then asked tentatively, “You... care about your father a lot, don’t you? What kind of person is he in your heart?”

Bai Qingxia placed the plastic-wrapped lunchbox to the side, sat up straight, her hands resting on her knees, and looked at him earnestly. “To me, he is the best person in the world.”

Seeing the sincerity in her expression, Lu Yuanqiu nodded.

Then he smiled, raising an eyebrow casually. “What about me? Your deskmate—what kind of person am I to you?”

At this, Bai Qingxia’s demeanor stiffened; she swallowed imperceptibly, her hands under the table unconsciously clutching her uniform pants.

The girl replied, “You are, too.”

Lu Yuanqiu was surprised and met her gaze, not looking away for a long while.

She actually placed me on the same level of importance as her father?

A moment later, the boy broke into a delighted grin.

The girl, embarrassed, averted her eyes, lowering her head shyly, the tips of her ears flushed red.

…

Evening, at Happy Lane.

Lu Yuanqiu shrugged helplessly. “She refuses to go outside, and she’s pretty stubborn about it. I’m out of ideas. What should I do?”

In the living room, Su Xiaoya and Lu Tian sat facing their son. Upon hearing this news, they, too, were at a loss.

Because in Lu Tian’s memory, his son seemed to handle Bai Qingxia quite well.

He said, “Try a mix of gentle and firm!”

No sooner had he finished than Su Xiaoya grabbed a clothes hanger and smacked his arm, saying forcefully, “No! You are not to be harsh with her!”

Lu Tian recoiled, raising his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. Then what else can we do? I’ll find a chance to talk with her alone. She can’t possibly refuse both her boss and her uncle, can she?”

Lu Yuanqiu looked up. “I’m her boss.”

“Get out! You’re useless—always making things worse!” Lu Tian retorted.

Then, as if remembering something, he added, “By the way, your three uncles were overjoyed when they heard you improved in the monthly exams. In a few days, they’re coming over to throw you a celebration dinner for your progress.”

Lu Yuanqiu’s mouth twitched.

A celebration dinner just for improving in the monthly exams—these three uncles really are starved for good news.

Just then, Su Xiaoya noticed Lu Yidong sneaking out for a drink of water.

“Stop right there,” she called.

Lu Yidong paused, looking obediently at her mother, blinking her large, doll-like eyes. “Yes, dearest Mom?”

Su Xiaoya folded her arms. “Your brother’s monthly exams are over, and there’s already been a parent-teacher meeting. Why haven’t we heard anything about yours?”

A fleeting panic crossed Lu Yidong’s face. She raised a small hand to wipe away an imaginary bead of sweat, forcing a smile. “No news means there isn’t one!”

Lu Tian tugged at his wife. “Dongdong’s improved, too. Parent-teacher meeting or not, we know how she’s doing, right?”

With her father coming to the rescue, Lu Yidong carried her cup of water back toward her room. At the door, she turned to Lu Yuanqiu. “Brother~ come to my room, I have something to show you~”

Lu Yuanqiu followed her.

The door closed.

“Brother, save me!!!” Lu Yidong threw herself at him, clinging to him like a sloth, her teary eyes rubbing desperately against his chest. Lu Yuanqiu’s face remained expressionless.

Watching this little drama unfold in the living room, he’d already guessed as much.

When this girl lied, her pinky toes always instinctively parted by a centimeter—a detail their parents didn’t know.

Lu Yuanqiu looked down at the little crybaby on his chest. “You asked me to go to the parent-teacher meeting for you again?”

Lu Yidong nodded vigorously, head tilted up, sniffling pitifully.

Lu Yuanqiu gazed skyward in despair. “What was your rank this time?”

“Forty-fifth in the class.”

“Tell the truth.”

“Last place.”

Lu Yuanqiu’s expression grew even more grave.

He took a deep breath, suddenly understanding Lu Tian’s earlier exasperation.

He looked down. “Lu Yidong, I’m telling you, if you go on like this, you’re doomed. We have to tell Mom and Dad.”

Still clinging to him, Lu Yidong whimpered, “Brother, please! I’ll do anything you ask! Just this once! I swear I won’t do it again! I’ll do anything!”

Lu Yuanqiu paused, exhaling heavily.

Forget it.

He’d been given a second chance at life; he should be kinder to his sister.

…

The next day, after the first afternoon class.

Lu Yuanqiu began packing his things at his desk and said to Bai Qingxia, “I’m skipping class to go to my sister’s parent-teacher meeting. If the teacher asks, just say something urgent came up at home.”

Before Bai Qingxia could react, Lu Yuanqiu dashed out of the classroom.

The bell for the second period rang.

Zheng Yifeng had fallen asleep, his handsome face pressed against the desk.

Liu Wei entered the classroom, started the lesson, and then suddenly noticed the empty seat at the back.

Bai Qingxia immediately tensed up.

“Where is Lu Yuanqiu?” Liu Wei asked.

Instinctively, the girl stood up from her seat, reciting the lie she’d rehearsed countless times in her mind. “Lu Yuanqiu had an emergency at home!”

Liu Wei was momentarily surprised, then smiled. “So he told you, Qingxia. That’s fine—sit down, sit down, quickly.”

Bai Qingxia sat down slowly, placing her hands on the desk, and finally breathed a sigh of relief for having completed the daunting task Lu Yuanqiu had left her.

She wasn't used to lying.

…

Lu Yuanqiu stood at the crosswalk, glancing back in confusion, but saw nothing.

When the light turned green, he crossed the street and headed toward the gate of No. 65 Middle School.

As before, he waited for Lu Yidong to come fetch him. He’d planned to chat with the man in the overalls at the gate, but the man was nowhere to be seen.

Sitting by the flowerbed, Lu Yuanqiu suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him.

He turned, smiling. “Uncle?”

But what greeted him was a red brick, looming large in his vision.

“So, you’re Lu Yuanqiu, huh!”

(End of this chapter)