Xu Liang finally couldn't stand the atmosphere anymore.
He picked up his workbook and said, "Ye Chen, I'll write in the living room; I'll come in if there's anything I don't understand."
He had no choice—Xu Liang was stuffed with dog food and needed to go digest it.
"This patch of land is still reserved for your little family of three."
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo blushed at Ye Chen's words.
"Is Xu Liang mad?" Xia Yingluo asked quietly.
"It's all your fault. Were we a bit too much just now?" Li Sitong said, embarrassed.
Ye Chen was speechless.
So I have to take the fall for everything!
"He won't be." Ye Chen shook his head with certainty.
He had known Xu Liang for two lifetimes; he understood him very well.
Xu Liang wasn't that petty—he just didn't want to be the third wheel.
"Relax, let's keep doing the problems. In a bit I'll go ask if there's anything he can't do."
Ye Chen comforted them with a smile.
Only then did Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo feel relieved.
Suddenly Ye Chen grinned wickedly at the two of them.
"Looks like you two were pretty cocky just now. Let me check your work."
As he spoke, he picked up the little ruler.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo instantly realized he was going to settle scores after the fact; they couldn't help glancing at the closed door.
They kind of missed Xu Liang now!
The next day, Ma Chao didn't come to school.
Several boys gathered together.
"Seems Ma Chao's leg injury is pretty serious."
"Sigh, how did he suddenly pull a muscle?"
"Who knows—guess Ye Chen got lucky."
"Nonsense, what leg injury? You guys don't know the inside story."
A boy who'd kept quiet finally spoke: "I was closest yesterday. Ma Chao's leg wasn't the problem—didn't you hear that ripping sound?"
Everyone froze. "Yeah, we heard it. What was it?"
The boy fought back a laugh. "Didn't you notice Ma Chao left with his legs clamped together?"
"Ah, you mean…?"
The boy nodded. "Exactly—he probably busted a nut."
Xia Yingluo's face flamed as she listened to their chatter.
She'd even asked Ye Chen about it yesterday—how mortifying.
Just then Ye Chen strode into the Classroom.
"Morning, everyone!"
Seeing him, Xia Yingluo smiled.
"Good morning."
Her smile lifted Ye Chen's mood.
He glanced beside him.
"Huh? Li Sitong didn't come today?"
"Yeah, weird—she's usually here by now," Xia Yingluo said, also puzzled.
Ye Chen sent Li Sitong a text.
At that moment Xia Yingluo slipped her hand from her sleeve toward him.
"What's this?"
Ye Chen reached out and felt something.
Soft, springy, still warm!
(All of you thought something else, didn't you?)
Ye Chen froze, then pulled it out for a look.
It was a big, steaming meat bun.
"I brought it for you."
"You specially saved me breakfast?"
Looking at the bun, he pictured the little girl carefully hiding it in her sleeve to keep it warm until he arrived.
"Have you eaten?" he asked her.
Xia Yingluo blushed and blinked. "I have."
The moment she finished…
Her stomach betrayed her with a loud grumble.
Ye Chen sighed and tapped her nose. "You little fool, you skipped breakfast just to buy me a bun?"
She lowered her head. "I… you always bought me breakfast; I wanted to do it for you once."
"So you starved yourself?"
"I really did eat—yesterday's leftover steamed buns at the Orphanage."
Ye Chen shook his head helplessly, broke the bun in half.
"Open wide."
Xia Yingluo's face turned crimson; after checking no one was watching, she timidly opened her mouth.
Ye Chen stuffed the meat filling straight in.
She stared at the empty wrapper in his hand.
"Ye Chen, you…"
He teased, "What, going to give it back? Sure—with your mouth."
Her cheeks burned even redder.
Chewing the filling, she beamed with bliss.
Ye Chen knew she rarely got meat; the Orphanage meals were poor, meat only a couple of times a week.
Kind as she was, she always gave her share to the younger kids.
Watching her savor the meat, Ye Chen's heart ached.
Meat was everyday fare for him, but not for her.
Every bite she treasured, her face glowing with happiness.
Just then his phone rang.
"Mr. Ye, the Basketball court's finished—come inspect it when you have a moment."
"Got it." Ye Chen nodded and hung up.
"Yingluo, the court's ready."
She brightened. "Great! The kids have been counting the days."
[Ding—Congratulations, Host: investment completed. Tenfold reward granted: invested 60,000, received 600,000. Successfully helped target fulfill dream; special reward: God-tier Investment Assist Card.]
Another God-tier Investment Assist Card!
Ye Chen was elated.
He tapped the card.
A tip appeared.
[bitcoin current price: $118; will surge to $1,100 in half a month!]
bitcoin—why hadn't he thought of it?
Last time stocks gave 1.5×; bitcoin would give 10×.
With over a million in capital, he'd clear ten million.
Just imagining it felt incredible.
Right—there's also little tycoon Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo.
Helping Yingluo earn money would net him another tenfold reward.
He smiled at her. "Yingluo, how much private savings do you have?"
She blinked. "With my old deposits, a bit over 10,000."
Ye Chen nodded. "Hand it all to me later; I'll invest it for you."
She agreed without hesitation. "Okay, I'll transfer it in a bit."
He thought of the little tycoon Li Sitong again.
Checking his phone, he saw she'd taken sick leave today.
Perfect—he'd visit her tonight and talk investments.
Li Sitong had about two million; profits would hit twenty million, half of which meant over ten million for him.
Delightful!
Morning classes were all problem review.
After class came lunch.
On the way to the cafeteria Ye Chen glanced at the sky.
Looks overcast—might rain.
Sure enough, halfway through the meal the rain came pouring down.
Lots of students without umbrellas were stranded at the entrance.
Xia Yingluo stood there too, gazing at the teaching building.
Only two or three hundred meters away, but running would drench her.
What to do? She frowned slightly.