A street urchin turned academic genius, starting by saving the blind school beauty.

Chapter 96 Reshaping the Worldview

After hugging for a while, Lu Zhaoye finally couldn't stand the heat and they separated.

Lu Zhaoye grabbed Xu Qingwan's wrist, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm, and said weakly,

"Honey, let's take a taxi back, or we'll die of heat on the way."

Xu Qingwan was also very hot, but she shook her head so that she could spend more time with Lu Zhaoye.

However, Lu Zhaoye couldn't stand the heat any longer and let out a miserable scream. He flagged down a taxi, thus ending his "walk".

The two didn't go into the school immediately after returning to the school gate. Luo Tian had already asked the school for permission for them, so it wouldn't be a problem for them to go back later.

And it just so happened to be lunchtime. Lu Zhaoye glanced around. Since No. 2 Middle School was located in a village, there weren't any upscale restaurants nearby.

Finally, at Xu Qingwan's request, Lu Zhaoye took her to eat a local specialty of Hong Kong, cold noodles.

The two sat at a roadside stall, and Xu Qingwan looked around with great curiosity, like a curious child.

Seeing this, Lu Zhaoye frowned and asked with some suspicion,

"Xu Qingwan, you've never had cold noodles before, have you?"

Xu Qingwan nodded, then honestly replied,

"I haven't eaten out much. I've seen this before, but I've never tried it."

Lu Zhaoye was a little puzzled, because Xu Qingwan ate lunch and dinner out, but there were very few places to eat nearby. She should have eaten out at least once, right?

"I remember you've been eating out for almost two years now, haven't you eaten out even once?"

Xu Qingwan nodded obediently again, and pointed to a boutique fast food restaurant behind Lu Zhaoye.

"I've been eating here for the past two years; I haven't been anywhere else."

Lu Zhaoye looked back and understood. That upscale fast food restaurant was very expensive, costing at least twenty yuan for a meal, but the advantage was that it was very clean and quiet.

Lu Zhaoye turned his head and continued to ask,

"Then why do you suddenly want to eat this?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingwan lowered her head, a blush creeping onto her face, and timidly said,

"I heard it's cheap."

"..." Lu Zhaoye frowned, as if something had come to mind. He continued the conversation along the lines of the topic.

Where is your money?

Xu Qingwan was taken aback, her eyes looking somewhat guilty, and she clutched the hem of her school uniform with both hands.

Lu Zhaoye took in Xu Qingwan's subtle movements. His eyelids twitched, and he said in a cold voice,

"To tell the truth."

Xu Qingwan then raised her head, her eyes darting around.

"I...I have no money left, I've given it all to you."

Lu Zhaoye rubbed his forehead and sighed helplessly. This silly child...

"Why didn't you leave any money behind?"

"I...I forgot."

Lu Zhaoye chuckled, a helpless, exasperated laugh. He waved his hand.

"I'll pay you back when we get back, so you don't starve."

Xu Qingwan immediately refused, but she was a little scared when she saw Lu Zhaoye's suddenly cold eyes.

She counted on her fingers; there were still four days until next Monday, and then she said...

"You...you just need to give me two hundred yuan, that way I can last until my mom gives me money."

Lu Zhaoye was startled again and asked in confusion,

"What do you mean?"

"My mom gives me four hundred dollars every Monday, which is just enough for a week's food expenses, so you just need to give me another two hundred dollars so I can eat for the next four days."

Lu Zhaoye covered his head, listening to Xu Qingwan's calm tone, his mind was reshaping his worldview.

What era are we living in? There are still restrictions on spending. Xu Qingwan eats out all the time, and her daily expenses must be at least fifty yuan. That's three hundred and fifty yuan a week. Four hundred yuan is just too much.

Lu Zhaoye was puzzled. He himself had three thousand yuan in pocket money, so why didn't Xu Qingwan, a rich second-generation, have any?

"You don't have any pocket money at all? Do you have enough for food?" Lu Zhaoye pressed.

Xu Qingwan didn't hide anything and obediently said,

"That's enough, I'm not eating breakfast."

"???"

"If I eat breakfast in the morning, I'll feel sleepy during class. If I eat too much, I'll feel sleepy."

Lu Zhaoye was shocked. "Then where do you run off to every day after morning reading?"

"I went to the rooftop balcony to recite my lessons," Xu Qingwan said calmly.

Lu Zhaoye rubbed his temples, opened his mouth as if to say something, but suddenly found that he couldn't say a word. He turned his head away, feeling a little choked up.

He knew what it felt like to be hungry. In his previous life, Lu Zhaoye had worked in Beijing for a while after graduation. When he was broke, he slept in parks on an empty stomach. The next day, he had to force a smile and look for a job, making him seem no different from an ordinary person.

Just like Lu Zhaoye when he saw Xu Qingwan now, he forced his tired body to study hard, just for that damned grade.

"I'll bring you breakfast from now on."

Lu Zhaoye said irritably, his tone carrying an unquestionable air.

"Also, you must go to bed early every night."

Xu Qingwan was taken aback. Seeing Lu Zhaoye's fierce expression, she didn't dare to argue back, but only protested softly.

"We haven't even discussed it yet, and I haven't even looked at the test paper you wrote this morning."

Lu Zhaoye didn't hear him and had no interest in dwelling on it; he continued to ask.

Who are you sharing a dorm with now?

"Class monitor, Minmin, and Nana," Xu Qingwan said truthfully.

Lu Zhaoye nodded. Since Ren Min was there, he would have her keep an eye on the housekeeper.

"By the way, where did you get that ten thousand yuan? It wasn't your New Year's money, was it?"

Lu Zhaoye made a joke, easing the slightly tense atmosphere.

Xu Qingwan's lips curled slightly, and she shook her head.

"My grandfather secretly gave it to me. It's okay, Lu Zhaoye, you can use it without worry."

Lu Zhaoye didn't mean that; he just wanted to know more so he would be aware of the situation. Just then, two bowls of mixed cold noodles were served.

"Okay, let's not dwell on it anymore, let's eat first."

Lu Zhaoye said, and started slurping his noodles.

Xu Qingwan was initially quite elegant, eating in small bites, but after her taste buds were awakened, she began to slurp the noodles like Lu Zhaoye.

"Wow, this is so delicious!"

Xu Qingwan's eyes were bright, and her beautiful eyes smiled so much they seemed to sparkle.

Lu Zhaoye smiled as he looked at the housekeeper's happy face, but he felt a little sorry for her.

After spending time together, Lu Zhaoye guessed that Xu Qingwan's parents were not actually very good to her.

Hsu Ching-wan's obsession with grades may not be so much due to her inherent competitiveness, but rather because she has been forced into this state.

"There are so many delicious foods in our Dagang City! I'll take you there to eat sometime."

Lu Zhaoye said with a smile, and couldn't help but gently pat Xu Qingwan's head.

Even though Xu Qingwan was extremely socially awkward, she didn't mind the gesture. She gently shook her head and rubbed it against Lu Zhaoye's hand.

"Okay~~"

After the two finished eating, Lu Zhaoye also packed a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) to take away.

Xu Qingwan blinked and asked curiously,

"Lu Zhaoye, aren't you full?"

Lu Zhaoye walked ahead with one hand in his pocket, without turning around, and said something.

"You still have evening self-study, I'll take this to you as a late-night snack."