Chapter 10

Yoda couldn't withstand Xie Yiyi's increasingly chilling words. Enduring Shi Xing's gaze, he shakily reached out and ended the call.

"Well, actually, Yiyi just likes to joke, haha." After a few awkward laughs, Yuda noticed that Shixing remained silent. She was somewhat at a loss. Although she trusted Shixing, not because she believed he would always stay by her side while she was unconscious, but because she believed that even if he had new feelings for her, he would never hide it from her.

However, it was unclear how much Shi Xing had heard, and while he wanted to explain, it seemed difficult to do so.

Shi Xing fell into deep thought, quietly recalling for a moment. "You should know that girl too."

Yoda nodded. "She's a fellow alumna of my university. Yes, she's a very nice person."

Yoda didn't believe there was anything between the two of them, but since Shi Xing was willing to talk, they decided to talk it out together.

Shi Xing shook his head: "Do you remember the child who ran out of the teaching building with you back then? That's her."

Yoda tried to recall, but her mind was a blur. She vaguely remembered the child's appearance, but it was completely different from the Zhou Ying she had met. However, so many years had passed, and it was normal for the child to gradually mature.

"I don't doubt you." Shi Xing's silence these past few days made Yoda feel that there was a distance between them. If it were before, these worries would not have existed at all, and Yoda would not have bothered to explain.

"But I feel that we are different from before."

Shi Xing watched as Yoda lowered his head, his eyes filled with disappointment. His lips moved slightly, but he couldn't say anything.

The two finished their meal in silence. Back in the car, as usual, Shi Xing was supposed to take her home before dark, but he showed no intention of driving.

"What's wrong?" Yoda turned his head.

Shi Xing's hands rubbed the steering wheel a few times. "The thing she gave you is in the glove box."

Yoda was a little confused, but he still subconsciously reached out and opened the box. It was empty except for a lone envelope lying inside.

Yoda opened it and found a neat stack of money, some in small change and some in large bills.

"What is this?" Yoda looked at the envelope, puzzled.

Shi Xing didn't look at Yoda; his gaze was fixed on the empty space in front of the car, unfocused. "She said you were the one who sponsored her before, and she came to the hospital to repay that money."

Yoda looked at the envelope, smiled slightly, and felt a warmth in his heart. The thing he had done so casually back then, so many years later, was still remembered. Thinking about Zhou Ying's kindness towards him during this time, he now had a reason.

However, Yoda knew about Zhou Ying's situation. She really wanted to continue her studies, and she had been supporting herself through part-time jobs to cover her tuition and living expenses. The thought of Zhou Ying finding time to work part-time amidst her demanding studies, slowly saving money to repay him, warmed Yoda's heart.

However, Yoda counted and said, "This is more than I gave her."

Looking at Shi Xing, the other person shook his head. He had just casually placed the envelope in the car after getting it back; at that time, he was completely dazed and hadn't even thought about what to do with the money.

Yoda wanted to return it all, but after thinking about it, she decided to keep only the amount she remembered. She carefully packed the rest away. For someone with such a thoughtful heart, accepting it was the greatest recognition she could receive.

Yoda couldn't help but glance at Shi Xing and said, "You're a little different than before."

Is there something wrong with it?

Yoda shook his head: "You've become more silent most of the time. Are you too tired from work?"

Shi Xing hesitated for a moment. Yoda quickly added, "I'm not blaming you, I just want to share the burden with you."

Shi Xing smiled and said, "The projects have been a bit chaotic lately, but it should be fine in a while. I'll be more careful in the future, trust me, don't worry." He then ruffled Yoda's fluffy head.

The familiar movements brought Yoda a sense of relief, and he muttered as usual, "It's already so irritable, and you're still rubbing it. It's turning into the Lion King."

As soon as he parted ways with Shi Xing, Yoda immediately explained to Xie Yiyi that he had hung up in a hurry and didn't want Xie Yiyi to worry about him anymore.

"I didn't expect it to be like this." Xie Yiyi nodded. It made sense and aligned with her understanding of Shi Xing. "However, you two are still the same as before, saying whatever comes to mind directly, which makes me seem like I have ulterior motives."

Seeing Xie Yiyi's worried expression, Yoda felt a little guilty and decided it was best not to tell her. If it weren't for her call, he wouldn't have been able to explain things so quickly.

"No, you're doing this for my own good, and Shixing knows that too."

"Alright, alright." Nothing could dampen Xie Yiyi's enthusiasm for continuing her work. Meanwhile, Yoda, with nothing else to do, continued her "solo performance" on her laptop.

"Why didn't you bring the baby out today?" Yoda asked curiously, looking at Xie Yiyi, who was traveling alone and nimbly.

Xie Yiyi: "My childcare time is over, now it's my work time."

Yoda: "You're not a freelancer; you can work from home. Why do you come here every day? Isn't that a hassle?"

Xie Yiyi's expression was profound: "I only just realized that myself. Before I had children, I could sit at my desk and start working. But that's not possible now. Whenever I'm with my baby, I only have one identity: a housewife. Taking care of the baby has become my top priority, and the rest of my time is fragmented. How can I possibly work?"

Hearing Xie Yiyi's complaints, Yoda suddenly remembered what her mother had said that day. She wondered if her mother also often felt tired. The next moment, she was interrupted again by Xie Yiyi's voice.

"That's why I come here, so I can separate my work time from my childcare time. Otherwise, I feel like I'm wasting my days on trivial housework."

"Moreover," Xie Yiyi looked at Yoda with a grin, "seeing you gives me a feeling of going back to college, and it motivates me to work more."

Yoda: "Wow, I'm actually your source of motivation. I'm so important to you."

Xie Yiyi: "No, it's not like that. When I see you, I think that at least now I earn money for every word I type, unlike when I was in school, when I had to write a lot of homework every day and didn't get a penny."

Yoda looked at Xie Yiyi and sighed helplessly, wanting to retaliate, but unfortunately, what she said was true.

But it'll be soon, graduation is just around the corner.

Yoda handed the money to Zhou Ying. She took it, completely bewildered.

Suddenly realizing that Yoda knew about her repayment and therefore must know who she was, Zhou Ying couldn't bring herself to look Yoda in the eye. "You knew everything," Zhou Ying said, feeling guilty. If she hadn't gone back and delayed Yoda from leaving the teaching building, perhaps Yoda wouldn't have been injured.

Looking at the money in her hand, Zhou Ying felt it was burning her fingers. She knew that Yoda's medical expenses over the years must have been enormous, but even with her working non-stop, she still didn't have much. Moreover, Zhou Ying couldn't help but clench the money in her hand tightly. This was what was left after paying her tuition.

Although it wouldn't have been enough even if I gave it all, I still chose to save money for my own education. I always felt that I put my own future development before Yoda's life.

"You're amazing!"

"Huh?" Zhou Ying, overwhelmed with guilt, was suddenly hugged by Yoda.

Yoda's face beamed with joy. "When I found out it was you, I thought it was amazing." He couldn't help but gesture with his hand, "You used to be only shoulder-high to me, but now you've become so outstanding."

Zhou Ying, who had been looking down, suddenly raised her head, somewhat stunned. Yoda showed no blame, only satisfaction. Faced with the praise, she blushed slightly, "Not really."

Yoda put his hand on the other person's shoulder and said, "Going through all that education and having to work part-time must have been tough."

Zhou Ying looked at Yoda and felt genuinely happy and sorry for her, as if the thing she had been struggling with didn't exist at all.

"Aren't you angry with me? If I had been walking behind you, you wouldn't have gotten hurt." Zhou Ying still felt somewhat guilty.

“You were just a kid back then. Anyone would have let you go first to ensure your safety. And it’s not like you’d definitely get hurt if you went last; it’s all about luck.”

At this point, Yoda couldn't help but sigh, "Anyway, that's just my luck. Look at me now, I'm always on time for class and never skip a class, it's because I accumulated a lot of bad luck experience when I was in school. If I don't go to any class, I'll definitely be called on. If I go, there's world peace and nothing happens. It's a good thing you weren't injured back then, otherwise, you would definitely have been implicated by me."

Zhou Ying looked at Yoda and couldn't help but laugh along.

"Let's go, the movie is about to start."

"Um."

The two held hands, their movements harmonious and natural, just like any other people their age.

Yoda kept reading his book while listening carefully to the sounds outside the door. Hearing the door open, he moved stealthily, step by step, to the bedroom door, keeping pace with the person outside.

The door, which had been deliberately left a crack, was opened. A soft sound pierced the heart in the darkness.

"Dad~".

Yoda's father felt something calling to him in the darkness. He turned around and saw a faint light coming through the crack in the door, with a head facing away from the light.

"ah/"

"Shhh."

Seeing that his father was frightened, Yoda deftly and quickly pushed open the door, stepped forward, covered his mouth, and did it all in one smooth motion.

"You scared me!" Yoda's father, who leaves early and returns late every day and is used to his family being fast asleep when he gets home, patted his chest.

"Dad, what do you think of what I told you?" Yoda helped his father catch his breath, eager for his reply.

"What's up?"

Yoda frowned, instinctively wanting to stomp her foot. She raised it, then remembered everyone else was sound asleep, and her mother would surely be unhappy if she knew she was still awake so late. She gently lowered her foot. "It's our wedding anniversary."

"Oh, oh." Yoda's father finally remembered that Yoda had arranged a whole day's worth of plans for him to refer to.

“Of course I agree. I told you yesterday that your mother isn’t too keen on it. What will you and your brothers do if you’re out all day?”

Yoda patted his father on the shoulder. "I'm here for you. I'll take good care of them."

"Your mother wants to take care of you the most. And you're taking care of others."

"I'm fine now, Mom is just too worried. I'll talk to her tomorrow, and she'll definitely agree."

As long as his father arranged the time properly, Yoda was confident he could succeed. Seeing Yoda finally smile with satisfaction, his father coaxed, "Are you satisfied now? Go to sleep. Otherwise, your mother will definitely be unhappy when she finds out."

Yoda nodded, and was about to leave when he realized something was wrong.

"Dad, why do you smell of alcohol?"