Chapter 29: Sigh! Meetings & Capitalism

Dark clouds blocked the sunlight, making the entire day feel hot and oppressive. It wasn’t until noon that a fine drizzle finally fell for a while, leaving people on the roads feeling as though they were being steamed in a giant pot.

Fortunately, by the time classes ended, the sun finally broke through.

The clouds dispersed, and golden-orange sunlight spilled over the students walking across campus.

After finishing her final elective class, Lin Zhiyan received a message.

[Zeffi: The car is waiting outside the school.]
[Zeffi: I’ll take you home after we’re done.]

Lin Zhiyan stared at the terminal for a moment before replying directly.

[yzy: No.]

[Zeffi: ?]

It was only a single question mark, but Lin Zhiyan could instantly imagine Zeffi raising an eyebrow.

She didn’t respond. After walking a few more steps, her terminal vibrated.

Zeffi was calling.

The moment she answered, his gentle voice flowed through the speaker like notes from a string instrument.

“I thought we’d already reached a certain understanding. Has one night really been enough for you to change your mind?”

…That sounded a little ambiguous.

Lin Zhiyan suddenly laughed.

“I don’t think there was any ‘one night’ between us.”

She heard his breathing grow slightly heavier, as though he were suppressing something.

A few seconds later, Zeffi laughed softly.

“An adequately humorous and equally tasteless joke. You know what I mean. Or do you think you have the qualifications to play hard to get?”

“If you know I’m trying to raise my price, why not ask how much?” Lin Zhiyan shifted her bag onto one shoulder, waved goodbye to a few familiar classmates, and walked out of the classroom.

“Maybe it’s a condition you’re willing to accept.”

“Any attempt to push your luck shouldn’t be tolerated.”

Zeffi lowered his voice.

“You should remember your place.”

“Then maybe you should consider your credibility.”

Lin Zhiyan walked through a corridor.

“If you can’t guarantee my safety, I’m not getting in that car. I need your promise that after I leave Li Siheng’s place tonight, the person taking me home will be Aiven.”

Zeffi sounded amused.

“You should know that harming you now would bring me no benefit.”

“That’s not my concern.”

Her tone remained light.

“I’m not your servant. You can’t just tell me to do something and expect me to obey without thinking. We reached an agreement, sure, but who’s to say you won’t use that agreement as an excuse to order me around in the future?”

“It seems yesterday’s events gave you quite a bit of confidence. Enough to try establishing dominance over me.”

His voice carried a faint, distant quality.

“Still, your request is reasonable. Fine.”

“And since this is only a trial period,” Lin Zhiyan added, “I’ll be asking for more later.”

“Being unreasonable won’t get you very far.”

Zeffi let out a mocking laugh and hung up.

Lin Zhiyan put away her terminal in a very good mood.

He was right.

She was establishing dominance.

Otherwise, wouldn’t she end up being exploited for free later?

If she couldn’t have less work, she could at least have more money.

---

Crossing the academy plaza, Lin Zhiyan entered a maze of garden paths.

The moment she stepped forward, however, she suddenly felt a mysterious force grab her backpack strap.

Shit, a bag snatcher?!

She immediately grabbed her bag and spun around.

The first thing she saw was a wall of academy uniform.

Looking upward, she soon found a sharply handsome face with deep features, raised brows, a diamond eyebrow piercing, and gray-blue eyes that gleamed like gemstones.

Lu Weixi.

Apparently he’d been waiting for a while.

Under platinum-blond hair, his gray-blue eyes looked lazy.

“Why aren’t you talking? You were pretty talkative on the phone last night.”

So he figured it out.

Lin Zhiyan tugged at her backpack strap.

“I’m in a hurry. Can we talk later?”

“I can’t. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Lu Weixi lifted one arm, nearly hauling her up by her backpack.

Leaning down, his shadow covered her.

His hair sparkled under the sunlight.

“We need to clear things up. First, you need to solve the Jiang Yi problem. Second, I don’t mind doubling your pay. Third, the leverage I have—”

“Lu Weixi.”

Lin Zhiyan interrupted him.

His expression shifted slightly.

She could almost see the faint blue veins beneath his porcelain-like skin.

Meeting his gaze, she felt heat rising in her head.

“I really don’t have time. Maybe we can schedule another meeting. And regarding the attendance-substitute thing…”

She paused.

“I already did everything I could.”

Lu Weixi grinned.

A burning intensity shone in his eyes.

“But you still have to fix it. Or maybe I should use a more primitive kind of threat. If you don’t give me an answer, you’re not leaving.”

Lin Zhiyan’s scalp tingled.

Oh no. Absolutely not.

She had no solution, but she couldn’t afford to stay here arguing.

Her mind raced.

Based on their interactions so far, she was certain of several things.

First, Lu Weixi was definitely smart.

Second, under certain circumstances, his intelligence dropped dramatically.

Third, he genuinely cared about not failing this class.

Should I cry again?

No.

Should I cause a scene and attract Jiang Yi or Zeffi?

Also no.

That might only make things worse.

---

“Well?” Lu Weixi prompted impatiently.

“Have you decided? Yes, or—”

“I’ve decided.”

Lin Zhiyan looked directly into his jewel-like eyes.

Though I’m in a hurry, I think I should finally make everything clear.”

He frowned slightly.

“Go on.”

“I’m refunding all of your deposit.”

Her tone was firm and righteous.

“I can’t solve this problem. My relationship with Jiang Yi isn’t as close as you think. At least, after your phone call yesterday, there was no way that relationship could solve anything anymore.”

Lu Weixi raised an eyebrow.

“Are you blaming me? Or do you think I care about that little bit of money?”

“Of course not.”

Lin Zhiyan widened her eyes, looking both surprised and exhausted.

“What I mean is that even though I can’t solve it, I’m willing to take responsibility. So not only will I return all your money and stop attending classes for you, but I also don’t want the photos back anymore.”

She looked straight at him.

“If you want to show them to Li Siheng or Jiang Yi, go ahead. If you want to post them somewhere, that’s fine too.”

Lu Weixi’s pupils instantly expanded before shrinking to pinpoints.

He tightened his grip on her backpack strap and pulled her closer.

A faint scent of body wash drifted past.

“What do you mean?” he demanded.

“Are you thre—”

“I’m telling you that I’m willing to accept any punishment.”

Lin Zhiyan cut him off.

A faint mist appeared in her eyes.

Standing on tiptoe, she moved even closer.

“I truly can’t solve this. I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”

Her voice was soft.

“So whatever punishment you want to give me is fine.”

“I don’t want to puni—”

The curse slipped out before he abruptly stopped.

Then realization struck.

“Wait.”

His expression froze.

“You mean you’re quitting all the other classes too?”

“Yes.”

She nodded.

“I’ll return your money. Especially after getting caught by Jiang Yi, I realized this whole thing is too risky. I don’t want to sink deeper.”

“…”

Lu Weixi released her backpack.

He blinked.

“No, wait. What does Jiang Yi have to do with the other classes? It’s not like I can suddenly find another substitute now!”

“If something similar happens again, I can’t handle the consequences.”

Her tone remained sincere.

“Sorry. I’ll refund you right now.”

She pulled out her terminal.

Lu Weixi’s eyes widened.

He immediately pressed down on her hand.

“Stop right there! I haven’t agreed to this!”

“It’s fine. You don’t need to agree to a refund.”

The more he resisted, the more enthusiastically she pushed forward.

“I’m about to transfer it back, just wait—”

Like an alarmed cat whose fur had exploded, Lu Weixi grabbed both her wrists with one hand and held her shoulder with the other.

“Calm down, calm down!”

He almost shouted.

“You don’t have to solve this problem anymore! Just handle the classes and the coursework, okay?!”

Lin Zhiyan looked surprised.

“What do you mean?”

“It means the Jiang Yi situation isn’t your responsibility anymore. If something similar happens in other classes, you won’t be held responsible either.”

He brushed his hair back, revealing a clean forehead and sharp brows.

The aggressive hostility faded from his face.

For once, he sounded almost negotiable.

“Just finish the remaining classes for me. I’ll keep paying.”

“But I still think it’s dangerous…”

She hesitated.

“So I might—”

Lu Weixi took a deep breath.

“I’ll double it.”

He gritted out the words.

“I’ll double the money. You’ll get the photos too. Just keep my elective grades above average.”

Lin Zhiyan appeared conflicted.

Her wrist twitched.

“Can you let go first? It hurts.”

Looking down, Lu Weixi finally noticed the red marks he’d left on her slender wrists.

He immediately released her.

“You—”

The second he let go, she grabbed her terminal.

His expression changed instantly.

He seized her hand again.

“Don’t touch your terminal!”

While saying that, he pulled out his own terminal and rapidly tapped a few buttons.

Buzz. Buzz.

Lin Zhiyan’s terminal vibrated.

She glanced down.

A transfer notification had appeared.

Lu Weixi leaned over, pressed Confirm himself, and only then released her.

“That’s the full payment.”

He stared at her.

“You accepted it. From now on, you have to attend those classes for me.”

He paused.

“Even if you transfer it back, it won’t matter. Don’t end up losing the money and still having to do the work.”

Lin Zhiyan stared blankly.

Her expression resembled those classmates who always claimed they’d fail and then actually did fail.

Bitterness mixed with forced cheerfulness.

“…Sigh. Fine. I’ll do my best.”

Only then did Lu Weixi finally release her.

He still looked extremely irritated.

His handsome face carried an air of suppressed frustration.

“Then I’ll go now,” she said.

He waved impatiently.

“Just go. I’m in a terrible mood.”

Lin Zhiyan disappeared around the corner almost immediately.

---

Lu Weixi ran a hand through his golden hair.

Turning around, he kicked a nearby tree.

He felt like the unluckiest man alive.

He’d intended to pressure her.

Instead, she’d nearly quit all his classes, and he’d ended up paying extra money just to persuade her to continue.

Damn it.

He’d lost both the battle and the spoils.

Looks like failing this class was unavoidable.

And sooner or later, Lu Suiyuan would probably cross half the planet just to beat him up.

He kicked the tree again.

Then suddenly paused.

…Wait.

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Maybe there was another way.

After a few moments of thought, he pulled out his terminal and sent a message.

[Lu Weixi: Get someone to access the Joint Military-Political Academy’s academic records system.]

[Lu Weixi: I want the elective course grades of all first-year Literature Department students.]

[Lu Weixi: Within a few days.]

---

The sky turned orange-red as the setting sun painted everything in warm colors.

On her way toward the car waiting at the school gates, Lin Zhiyan admired the balance displayed on her terminal.

With this much money, she could buy nearly half an apartment back in District Sixteen.

She really was amazing.

Extracting this many “gold coins” from Lu Weixi wasn’t easy.

…And if Le Mans actually gave her that house, she wouldn’t even have to worry about buying property anymore.

Maybe she should’ve rented somewhere near the academy from the beginning.

Or even rented a property in a good school district!

Her imagination ran wild.

She immediately deposited all the money into long-term savings and began calculating how much she’d have once her teaching assistant salary arrived.

And if she moved into the dormitories later, she could rent out her house and collect rent too.

Another source of income!

For a brief moment, the version of herself that dreamed of “seeing all the flowers of Chang’an in a single day” returned, imagining life after saving her first million.

---

The car drove on as the sky gradually darkened.

Before arriving at Le Mans’ residence, Lin Zhiyan asked the driver to stop outside a convenience store.

Stepping out, she decided to reward herself extravagantly.

She bought several of the store’s most expensive breads and ate them right there.

Afterward, she picked up a small bottle of alcohol, a pack of cigarettes, and a box of condoms.

The clerk stared at her purchases, then at her.

Finally, they asked tactfully,

“You and your boyfriend must have a very good relationship. Would you like to enter his terminal number so he can pay himself?”

…Wonderful.

She’d been mistaken for some poor little girl supporting a delinquent boyfriend.

Lin Zhiyan smiled with practiced ease.

“No need.”

Then she added softly,

“All his money is with me anyway.”

The second half came out sounding oddly forced.

The clerk’s expression became even more complicated.

In the end, they used their employee discount card for her before checking her out.

---

After leaving the store, Lin Zhiyan didn’t immediately get back into the car.

Standing beside a trash can, she lit a cigarette, smoked half of it, extinguished it, and returned it to the pack.

Then she opened the alcohol, drank half the bottle, and sealed it again.

When she got back into the car, even the driver’s expression looked strange.

Probably thought she was being cheap.

Hmph. What do they know?

It wasn’t just about saving money.

It was about avoiding addiction.

And preparing for what came next.

---

By the time she arrived at Le Mans’ residence, the alcohol and smoke had left her feeling slightly light-headed.

Passing through pavilions, gardens, and lavish buildings, she was eventually led by servants to Le Mans’ room.

Opening the door, she walked through the spacious interior.

Soon, she found him.

The scene wasn’t remotely what she’d imagined.

Rather than looking like a helpless bird trapped in a cage…

Le Mans was sitting cross-legged on top of a massive desk with absolutely no regard for decorum.

Books were piled everywhere—on the desk and across the floor.

Hearing someone enter, he said hoarsely,

“Get out. I don’t want to see anyone.”

Lin Zhiyan said nothing.

She approached and picked up a book from the floor.

Its title read:

“Negotiation Techniques: How Natural Geniuses Win Every Battle.”

“…”

She picked up several more.

“Healing Childhood Trauma”
“Using Human Weaknesses to Gain Victory”
“Love Warfare: How They Conquered Everything Through Love”

“…”

Honestly, reading random internet articles would’ve accomplished the same thing.

---

Sensing that the visitor hadn’t left—and was even flipping through his books—Le Mans became furious.

He slammed his book onto the desk and spun around.

“Are you deaf?! I told you to—”

His voice stopped abruptly.

At the same moment, Lin Zhiyan finally saw his face.

His red hair was a mess.

His eyes were bloodshot.

Dark circles lingered beneath them.

A crooked pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, somehow making him look both clever and hopelessly clumsy.

Le Mans froze.

Then suddenly jumped off the desk.

A second later, he tackled her to the ground.

His arms wrapped around her head tightly.

His breathing came out rough and uneven, yet he couldn’t say a word.

Lin Zhiyan remained silent too.

She slid a hand into his hair and gently stroked it.

Under the lights, his red hair seemed even brighter.

Her vision blurred slightly.

For a moment, she felt as though she were holding a warm red fox.

“I…”

Le Mans opened his mouth.

But after a long while, all that emerged was a choked sound.

His tears fell one after another.

He only hugged her tighter.

Finally, Lin Zhiyan rubbed her cheek against his.

“You’re crushing me.”

Only then did he sit up.

His lips trembled.

More tears streamed down.

“I miss my cats.”

Lin Zhiyan blinked.

“What?”

“You know, I cook for my cats at home…”

And then he began rambling.

About preparing food for them.

About selecting fresh meat and organs.

About enriching their environment with flowers and plants.

About family meetings.

About company decisions.

About boring classes.

About always having excellent grades.

He talked endlessly.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook him.

Removing his glasses, he looked at her with tear-filled green eyes.

“I don’t want to leave.”

The tears formed a continuous line.

“You still don’t know anything about me.”

“And I don’t know enough about you either.”

His hands climbed from her arm to her shoulders, shaking her.

“Lin Zhiyan, I know you’re here to persuade me. But you’ve been tricked.”

His voice grew urgent.

“They’re doing this to separate us! Once we’re apart, they’ll use every possible method to ruin everything!”

Lin Zhiyan:

…Damn. That’s actually pretty perceptive.

---

He hugged her tightly again.

“I haven’t fully entered the family business yet, but I can stop eating. I can threaten them. I can do anything.”

His voice trembled with desperation.

“There has to be another solution.”

His breathing became increasingly heavy.

His face flushed red from talking so much.

Lin Zhiyan simply wiped away his tears with the back of her hand and held his face.

“At this time every day, I’m usually reading.”

“All kinds of books. Sometimes novels. Sometimes magazines.”

“I like bread.”

“Partly because of the taste.”

“But mostly because it’s fast.”

“You can roll it up, swallow it with water, and fill your stomach quickly.”

“Sometimes life feels like a complete mess.”

“But after eating, it somehow doesn’t seem so bad anymore.”

The panic in his green eyes wavered.

She pressed her forehead against his.

“I don’t actually like studying that much.”

“But it’s one of the easier ways to change my life.”

“So I study.”

“Even though I chose a humanities major, I actually prefer mathematics.”

“Maybe because I haven’t studied it deeply enough yet.”

“The formulas aren’t too hard.”

“I enjoy applying them, calculating things, writing out the steps.”

Her voice was slow.

So was her breathing.

As he stared at her, his own breathing gradually calmed.

The shattered light in his eyes slowly settled.

---

“My hobbies are pretty boring.”

She smiled.

“I like time-killing puzzle games.”

“In one Sudoku game, I ranked first in District Sixteen.”

“The developer even sent me a gold trophy.”

She sighed dramatically.

“When I tried to sell it, I found out only the outer layer was gold-plated.”

Le Mans pressed his lips together.

Then suddenly laughed.

A tear that had been hanging in his eye finally fell.

“Why wasn’t there prize money?”

“That’s terrible.”

“Maybe because the game wasn’t commercialized.”

Lin Zhiyan sighed.

“It didn’t even have advertisements. The developer was probably poor too.”

She leaned forward and lightly kissed the corner of his eye.

“Getting to know each other has nothing to do with distance.”

“Yes, I came to persuade you.”

“But not to say that love can overcome time and geography.”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“I’m asking you to trust me.”

“No matter what happens in the future, at this moment, I want to make plans for our future.”

His eyes trembled.

“Do you believe I can do that?”

Le Mans sniffed.

A smile finally appeared.

Instead of answering, he tilted his head.

“You smell like cigarettes.”

“And alcohol.”

“Did you take another job?”

“No.”

Lin Zhiyan knelt on his legs, arms around his neck.

“I was just a little sad.”

“Sorry.”

“It won’t happen again.”

Le Mans immediately hugged her.

Rubbing his cheek against hers, he asked quietly:

“Am I part of your future?”

Her hand hovered behind his back.

Several seconds passed.

Then she answered:

“Without you, it wouldn’t be a future.”

“Exactly.”

Le Mans nodded firmly.

“Without me, it’s hell.”

“A mountain of knives and a sea of fire.”

“A stormy day.”

“A salted fish that can never turn its life around!”

Lin Zhiyan:

“…”

Okay, that got a little vicious.

---