In the evening, Su Jianjun and Zhao Lixia returned home, looking at their son, both wide-eyed and almost unrecognizable.
After a while, Su Jianjun finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"This five hundred bucks were well spent. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and horses need a good saddle. Our son looks pretty handsome with this makeover!"
Actually, Su Zelin's looks had always been good, but his previous fashion sense was holding him back. No matter how his parents looked at him, they just couldn't quite approve, thinking their son wasn't all that.
Su Zelin humbly said, "The key is having good genes. Dad, Mom, you were the most attractive people at the steel factory. As your superior breed, at least I shouldn't be too much of a letdown, even if I can't surpass you."
Su Jianjun proudly said, "Son, let me tell you, when it comes to looks, the Su family is solid. Going back three generations to your great-grandfather, they were all handsome!"
"Are you saying the Zhao family contributed nothing?"
Zhao Lixia was indignant.
"Look at Zelin's face shape and skin; he takes after me. If he took after your Su family, he'd have a big square face, and be as dark as coal!"
"What's wrong with a square face? It looks righteous. A lot of officials have this face shape. A little darker skin is also a sign of health. Many foreigners even tan on purpose. Plus, Zelin's eyes, the most important facial feature, are bright and spirited—definitely from the Su family!"
Normally, Su Jianjun would yield to his wife, but when it came to family honor, he wouldn't back down.
"Nonsense, except for his eyes, his nose, mouth, and ears all come from the Zhao family. He looks just like his grandpa when he was young!"
"His jet-black, straight hair is like mine!"
"His delicate fingers are like mine, and the fortuneteller says his wooden nails mean he'll be rich and won't have to do hard labor!"
"..."
The two elderly folks started arguing over who their son inherited more traits from.
"Dad, Mom, stop arguing. I've inherited the best of both of you, it's complementary!"
Su Zelin first tried to mediate, then cleared his throat and added, "I've spent all my money on clothes, can I..."
"No way!"
...
After staying home for two days, the two of them returned to school together on Sunday night.
Qin Shiqing was somehow throwing a small tantrum, riding her bike alone in front.
But after a while, she felt something was off. She looked back and saw that Su Zelin was gone.
That guy slipped away again!
She was entrusted with the task of keeping an eye on Su Zelin, making sure he didn't go off to the arcade.
You really can't let your guard down for even a second!
Qin Shiqing was both anxious and angry. She immediately turned her bike around to look for him.
Before long, she found him. Fortunately, Su Zelin hadn't gone into the arcade but was at a lottery shop by the roadside.
When Qin Shiqing found him, Su Zelin already had a thick stack of lottery tickets in his hand.
"How many lottery tickets did you buy?"
"I bet all my meal money!"
"Are you an idiot?"
Qin Shiqing was almost moved to tears with anger.
Spending all your meal money on lottery tickets, what were you thinking?
"Don't worry, I'm sure to win. Haha, these are all my keys to fortune!"
Su Zelin clutched the stack of tickets tightly, full of confidence.
Previous life, it was around this time that Jianglan won a huge prize, a full five million!
It was the first draw after the third mock exam. He remembered it clearly.
This event made it to the newspapers, and Su Zelin saw it. His parents and many neighbors mentioned it, filled with envy and jealousy.
It had been many years, but he had a good memory, and so many people talked about it back then. He vaguely remembered the winning numbers.
Su Zelin couldn't be sure, so he bought several tickets with numbers he vaguely recalled, spending his meal money for the week.
Opportunities like this are once in a lifetime!
Take a gamble, and transform from obscurity to glory!
In short, just buy, buy, buy!
"Win my foot, it's not that easy!"
Qin Shiqing was feeling a bit dizzy.
She thought Su Zelin was crazy about getting rich.
"I have very good luck. Didn't I win the lottery last time?"
Su Zelin argued confidently.
"Yeah, you did win. That time you borrowed twenty bucks from me, threw it in with your own thirty, and ended up winning five bucks. And you have the nerve to brag!"
Qin Shiqing had no energy left to gripe.
"Don't mind those details. The point is, I won!"
Su Zelin cleared his throat.
"Besides, this time is different. My grandpa came to me in a dream last night and told me I must buy!"
"You said the same thing last time!"
"Last time the dream wasn't as vivid, that's why I only won five bucks. This time it's more vivid, I have a feeling that five million is waving at me already!"
"Stop dreaming your big daydreams, pay me back the money!"
Qin Shiqing naturally didn't believe his nonsense, extending her hand in annoyance.
"Uh, it's a bit noisy, what did you say? I can't hear clearly!"
"Twenty bucks!"
"We're almost late for school, we need to hurry!"
"Stop pretending!"
"How about I give you ten 'keys to fortune' as repayment? Maybe the five million is among them!"
"I don't want them!"
"..."
As soon as they arrived at No. 2 Middle School and entered the classroom, all eyes instantly fell on them.
No matter where Qin Shiqing appeared on campus, she was always the center of attention.
However, this time the focus was on Su Zelin.
His transformation was too drastic, and his entire appearance was completely different!
Shedding his non-mainstream image, Su Zelin had now become a stylish man at the forefront of fashion.
Today he wore a set of new clothes in the Japanese academy style, looking less frivolous and more quietly cool and handsome, reminiscent of the male lead Jiang Zhi Shu from the once-popular Japanese campus idol drama "Itazura na Kiss," portrayed by Aiba Hiroki with similar charisma.
This outfit was just right, trendy but not overdone, instead of becoming flamboyant.
Wow, Su Zelin looks so handsome today!
The girls' eyes were all glued on.
The boys, however, were filled with envy and jealousy, particularly the class monitor Zhao Mingxuan, who felt especially indignant.
Why would heaven endow a birdman like Su Zelin with such a good-looking face!
Shouldn't a guy like me, with both good character and academics, be the one deserving?
Close friend Lu Haoran was also wide-eyed, taking a long time before tentatively asking, "Zelin, is that you?"
Su Zelin put a finger to his lips.
"Shh, don't make a sound, let me be a quiet beautiful man!"
...
The quiet beautiful man didn't keep up the act for long before Su Zelin remembered something and broke the silence.
"Mouse, let me get lunch for us this week!"
"You'll get lunch for me?"
The words were abrupt, and Lu Haoran was perplexed.
"I mean, let's get one meal and share, you pay, and I'll pick it up!"
This was the best solution Su Zelin could think of to get through the week, as he was currently penniless.
Qin Shiqing had money.
The Qin family gave her a generous meal allowance, and she saved what she didn't spend, putting both allowances and New Year money into a personal savings account.
The problem was, having watched him spend their meal money on lottery tickets, she'd bless him if she didn't report him; how could Su Zelin dare to ask her for a loan?
Besides, he hadn't even repaid the twenty dollars he borrowed for the lottery last time…
There were others in the class he was on good terms with, but asking to borrow a whole week's meal money was no easy feat, since most families weren't wealthy, and meal allowances were typically just enough, perhaps with a bit left over for snacks or drinks.
In the end, Su Zelin thought of Lu Haoran.
His buddy's family wasn't well-off either, with limited meal money.
But if he helped him get lunch, it was different.
Relying on his quiet beautiful man's breathtaking looks and his good rapport with the canteen lady, sharing one meal into two portions could just barely fill their stomachs.
"Zelin, did you again use your meal money to play the horse racing machine?"
Lu Haoran knew his deskmate well and immediately suspected something, but soon dismissed his guess.
No way, Zelin came to school with Qin Shiqing watching him closely, he couldn't have slipped into an arcade halfway.
"I bought some 'wealth codes,' don't worry, soon we'll be feasting on good food and drinks!"
"Wealth codes?"
Lu Haoran was puzzled.
"He bought lottery tickets, spent all his living expenses!"
Qin Shiqing turned around and said irritably.
Lu Haoran suddenly understood.
Zelin, this kid, always liked to talk in circles.
"Su Zelin, you're really something, using all your living expenses to buy lottery tickets!"
Tang Yan couldn't help but turn around and remark.
Su Zelin slapped the table: "Xiaoyanzi, is that any way to talk to a quiet beautiful man? Can you show a little more respect for a handsome guy!"
"Oh please, you!"
Although she said that, Tang Yan had to admit that when Su Zelin first walked in, she was indeed a bit surprised by his looks.
But Xiaoyanzi wouldn't be swayed by a pretty face, there's no way she'd bow to Su Zelin.
Shamelessly, Su Zelin extended his hand: "If you lend me a little money, I'll forgive you!"
"Get lost!"
If the money was lost, it would be one thing, but spending it on lottery tickets, sorry, girl won't bail you out!
"Ha, women!"
Su Zelin sneered, his gaze seemingly seeing through everything.
"Men and women are only for passing on the family line, real love is between men, the ancients did not deceive me!"
He put his arm around Lu Haoran's shoulder: "Sure enough, it's mouse who treats me best, don't worry, bread will come, milk will come, everything will come!"
"Mouse, I'll bring my face, you bring the money, and with my rapport with the cafeteria lady, one meal will definitely be enough for both of us to eat!"
Lu Haoran's face turned bitter.
He's not opposed to weathering hard times with his buddy.
It's just that two people sharing one meal somehow felt a little embarrassing…
While they were joking, many suddenly turned their eyes beyond the classroom.
A lovely girl, holding a plastic bag, stood charmingly at the door, her watery almond-shaped eyes fixed straight on Su Zelin's seat.
"That girl, she's here again!"
"Seems like she's a sophomore named Huang Panpan, she's delivered several love letters to Su Zelin, and often brings him things on Sunday nights!"
"Why do I never have girls interested in me, what has Su Zelin done to deserve this, is being handsome that amazing, truly unjust!"
"..."