Chapter 18 Take Me With You

The next morning, before dawn, Bai Tian carefully climbed out of bed to wash up and prepare for school.

Seeing Meng Er get up, she thought she had woken her up and whispered, "Was I too noisy? It's still early, Meng Er, you should rest a little longer."

"No need, I'm used to getting up at this time too."

Today, we still need to negotiate and finalize the contract with Chen Jingze's people. To be fair, Meng Er has a clear plan for her entrepreneurial direction. Her experience and the information she had in her previous life can guarantee her success in the future.

But her confidence that there's a 90% chance is purely due to her tendency to leave room for maneuver in everything she does.

Therefore, Meng Er did not intend to give up too much of Chen Jingze's investment this time. She knew that even after the first round of financing, the company's market value could increase several times.

What does her relationship with her main account have to do with her secondary account?

Therefore, this negotiation will probably require some effort.

After washing up, Meng Er went out for a jog and brought back a large bag of steamed buns, which she placed in a room at the welfare home that usually served as a canteen.

The welfare home is located in a remote suburb, and there are not many buses going to the city. We waited for a while before one finally came.

Scattered among a group of middle-aged and elderly people and students, amidst the noise and the unique swaying and shaking experience of the bus, Meng Er finally arrived at the Third People's Hospital of Hecheng.

The hospital in the early morning has a quiet yet bustling atmosphere.

Everyone was doing their work as quietly as possible, speaking softly.

Meng Er first went to the payment counter to pay off the outstanding fees owed by the former hospital director, and then prepaid some more.

She met an aunt from the welfare home in the morning and learned the details of the incident from the aunt's enthusiastic and loud voice.

It wasn't as desperate and complicated as Bai Tian and the other children thought.

Since its establishment, many children have left the welfare home.

The old dean was always well-liked; the old man always had a cheerful demeanor, as if he would never get anxious or angry.

But she was also the fierce little old lady who would run to the office more than a dozen times in the sweltering summer to fight for treatment at the welfare home, and finally storm into the office and slam her fist on the table to give a good scolding.

When the old director fell ill, the children who had left the orphanage and grown up all did their best to send money.

After learning about this, the volunteers also launched a fundraising campaign.

Everyone has witnessed the old lady's selfless dedication over the years.

Although the final amount was not enough to settle the bills and cover the costs of subsequent treatment, it was not entirely hopeless.

The former hospital director has actually been transferred from the ICU to a regular ward, and he is now conscious more often, usually waking up around this time in the morning.

Meng Er hadn't seen the old lady for a while, so he decided to come over early to pay the outstanding fees and then talk to her.

In the double ward, the old lady lay on the bed near the balcony. She looked unwell and had lost a lot of weight. Her already somewhat fierce appearance had become even more striking, making her look exactly like the fox grandmother she used to tell stories to her friends when she was a child.

Her cheeks were almost sunken, with very little flesh, as were her eye sockets.

The people who stayed here to take care of her were from the welfare home. When they saw Meng Er push the door open and come in, they showed a surprised expression, then smiled at her with some helplessness. Just as they were about to get up and call her out to talk, they heard the old man's weak voice from the hospital bed.

"Meng Er? Why didn't you go to class? Did you skip school again?"

Meng Er nodded to the man, then carried the fruit over and sat down directly on the edge of the bed.

“I didn’t skip school, have you forgotten? I’ve already been admitted to a university without taking the entrance exam.” She took out an apple, reached for a fruit knife from the bedside table, and started peeling it.

The old man opened his slightly cloudy and listless eyes, thought for a moment, and seemed to recall something like that. "Then I still have to study hard. There's university, and once I get there, there's so much to learn..."

After saying just a few words, she paused as if she were getting tired.

"Have you spent money again?"

Meng Er looked down at the apple, picked out a bunch of peels and threw them into the trash can. "You didn't pay anything. You know how popular you are, old lady. When I went to the payment counter, they told me directly, 'Is this the old lady in bed number 2 of ward 605 again? Don't pay anymore. If you pay any more, you can buy a house in their hospital.'"

"……puff."

The aunt from the welfare home behind him couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The old lady on the hospital bed grinned, her breathing a little heavy, and said, "Alright, do you really think I'm too old to tell?"

"You should rest well and be more careful in the future. You scared the children in the yard half to death this time." Meng Er cut the apple in half and handed one piece to the person behind him.

"There are some things that you can let others do, so don't take on all the burdens yourself."

The old lady was amused by her cold and lecturing manner and couldn't help but say, "You little brat, why are you lecturing me?"

The two talked for a while longer, and she habitually inquired about Meng Er's studies.

"Are you settling into your new school? I know you're smart, but you still need to put in more effort so you can get into a good school in the future..."

Meng Er calmly replied, "The new school is great, and I get along well with my classmates. Don't you know? I've already been recommended for university admission, so there's no need to worry about whether I can get into university."

The elderly woman with sparse, white hair on the hospital bed opened her eyes and thought for a while before smiling, revealing many missing teeth. "You've been smart since you were little. It's only right that you were recommended for admission..."

"Hehe, I'm never worried about whether you can get along with your new classmates."

She squinted, her wrinkled eyes drooping, with a somewhat smug look on her face.

“Back then, the slide in our yard was broken. You complained that the other kids were making too much noise. What could we do? We didn’t even have chalk to draw hopscotch. But you, instead, coaxed them to pee and play in the mud.”

Meng Er's expression was indifferent, but his tone seemed somewhat helpless. "You remember this matter very clearly, old man."

"Don't think that just because I'm an old woman, I have a bad memory." The old lady's smile became even more smug.

"It's good that we weren't bullied. We can't let anyone bully us..."

The old lady almost murmured to herself before slowly dozing off.

-

When Chen Jingze called Lian Yi, she was confidently holding Meng Er's student card and swiping it at window number two of Jingyun Cafeteria to order a dish of steamed pork ribs with taro.

Back in her occupied seat, Lian Yi placed the steamed taro and pork ribs between the jade shrimp balls, buttered toast, and xiaolongbao.

"Huh?" she exclaimed in exaggerated surprise, "You said last night you'd pick me up for breakfast? Oh—"

"I didn't hear it."

Chen Jingze stood in front of the rented room, carrying the soy milk and shrimp dumplings he had bought early that morning in the south of the city. He was so angry at her tone that he couldn't speak for a long time.

After a long while, he listened to the sounds of people eating over there, and said in a sinister tone, "Lian Xiaoyi, give me your location. If I don't pick you up and throw you away today, I'm not a Chen."

Lian Yi paused, swallowed what was in her mouth, and then slowly said, "Isn't this a bad idea? Grandpa Chen only has you as his grandson. Besides, if you weren't surnamed Chen, you would have been beaten to death and waiting to be reincarnated long ago. Don't harm others and yourself."

"...Is this how you act when you need something from someone?" Chen Jingze tried to calm himself down, his emotions nearly causing him to have a heart attack from her anger.

"Alright, I'm just strolling around Jingyun. If you want to come over, hurry up."

Lian Yi has always been a flexible and adaptable person. She happily picked up the soup dumpling that was about to fall off the plate and blew on it. "It's perfect timing. You can finalize the contract with my friend later and then treat me to dinner."

"Do I have to treat you to a meal just because I do something for you?"

Chen Jingze laughed as he walked out, then realized something was wrong. "Heh, no wonder you didn't stay in bed. Turns out you were out walking around campus with your best friend."

"...Come on, it's just me."

The person on the other end of the phone said "Oh," and then said with a slightly excited tone, "I also graduated from Jingyun University. Today, I'll do my best to be a good host and show you around."

Lian Yi clicked her tongue, hung up the phone, and frowned impatiently.

Where did this guy learn to speak so sarcastically? Meng Er has never had any contact with him, so it's impossible for her to offend him. Why is he making a fuss about it?

Could it be that people envy her for being so outstanding and able to start her own business at such a young age?

Thinking of this, Lian Yi revealed a smug smile.

She knew that Chen Jingze had always wanted to do something to prove that he had 'grown up'. Chen Jingze was always a little depressed about how his grandfather, who seemed to indulge him, had never relaxed his discipline and upbringing of him.

Ugh, this damn competitive spirit.

But there's nothing we can do; Meng Er is just that outstanding.

Lian Yi leisurely finished showing off the food in front of her, tapping on her phone screen as she walked out of the cafeteria.

In just one day, the number of messages from Xu Qingyao had reached 99+.

She casually flicked away the dot and wandered around humming an off-key tune.

With her card frozen, her entertainment options suddenly dwindled, leaving her with no choice but to use Meng Er's student card to find amusement in Jingyun.

The shooting range, equestrian hall, and other facilities on the Jingyun campus are not only open when students are in class. These facilities are also available for students to use at other times, but students need to accumulate points to use them.

These points can be earned through various ratings or redeemed by recharging.

Meng Er has a considerable number of points on her student card, thanks in large part to the wealthy and powerful school.

Lianyi planned to take a walk, stroll to the school bus stop, and then go horseback riding.

Jingyun's wealth is evident from its campus, which is comparable to a university, as well as its various buildings and green spaces. There is even a glass greenhouse behind a five-story building.

The garden is filled with roses, which Lianyi loves, and there are quite a few varieties.

She was already wandering around aimlessly, so instead of turning off this road, she turned and headed towards the glass house where various beautiful flowers shone through the sunlight.

Next to the glass room, it says that only A-level student cards and teacher cards are accepted.

Lian Yi took out her card and swiped it. After a 'beep' sound, the glass door opened a crack and then automatically opened inward.

As soon as the door opened, the warm temperature inside the glass room immediately contrasted sharply with the outside, and a warm breeze, carrying the fragrance of flowers, rushed towards Lianyi.

She took a satisfied breath, then was choked by the overly rich and thick floral scent.

Rubbing her nose, Lian Yi could see the structure inside the glass room.

The roses are planted in clusters according to different varieties, with varying heights, ranging from waist-high to requiring one to look up to see them in their entirety, forming a rose maze within this glass room.

But after all, it was just a greenhouse. Lian Yi glanced at the map marking the locations of different flower varieties. No matter which entrance she entered, she could walk to the corresponding exit along one path.

So she randomly chose an entrance and went in.

It must be said that Lian Yi has had quite a few feelings about her journey so far.

Indeed, people should go out and see more of the world. Why didn't she think of building a glass room like this before? It would be best to add some crystal chandeliers made of real crystal, highlighting a luxurious and extravagant style.

Lian Yi seriously absorbed the experience, noting down such a great way to squander money, and decided that as soon as she returned to Yunhai, she would immediately start making a fuss about building a glass greenhouse to play with.

Make sure everyone knows about it.

Lian Yi wasn't impressed by the roses here. Apart from their sheer quantity, they weren't as rare or precious as the ones in her garden.

Moreover, most of them did not seem to have been carefully maintained, with withered and dry petal edges everywhere, and some were infested with insects but did not seem to have attracted attention.

Unlike the roses in her garden, which are always clean and beautiful no matter when you visit, with not a trace of dust on any of the leaves.

"Tsk—"

Lian Yi shook her head critically, her interest in the glass greenhouse greatly diminished. She walked towards a specially made archway with winding vines, intending to go from there to the nearest exit.

"I told you! I didn't come to steal flowers. Teacher Lin asked me to pick some roses to use as painting props in art class. If you don't believe me, you can ask Teacher Lin."

From the other side of a wall-like flower bush, a girl's soft but firm voice suddenly came, "Besides, I came in using Teacher Lin's teacher card, isn't that proof enough?"

"What proof do you need? You said you came in by swiping your teacher's card, but where's the card?"

"Haha, a single rose can sell for ten yuan outside, but all the flowers here are air-freighted in. How much do you usually sell them for?"

"You have to admit that these specially admitted students are much better at business than us. Last time, that idiot went to run errands for me to buy coffee. It was fifty yuan a cup, but he told me he bought eighty-eight cups."

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you going to cry? Please stop—"

"This makes it seem like we're ganging up on you. If word gets out, won't that hurt us?"

Undisguised contempt and sarcastic remarks were accompanied by a series of mocking laughs.

Lian Yi blinked, looking quite worldly.

Wanghai Middle School can be considered a semi-elite school, but on the one hand, the school spirit and rules are strict enough, and on the other hand, there is a troublemaker like her. Since she enrolled in Wanghai, bullying incidents have disappeared.

The most famous thing about Wanghai is not the head teacher who frequents the grove.

But you'll never know when, while you're leading a group of people and laughing as you corner the person you're bullying, you'll hear Lian Yi's sweet, smiling greeting from behind.

"Are you bullying me? Why didn't you include me?"

Before they could even put on the smiles they thought they had built a rapport with, they found themselves cornered against the wall, looking weak and helpless.

Lianyi quickly pushed the reputation of the new map to negative levels; it had been a long time since I'd seen anything like it.

She couldn't help but stop and stand there, feeling a deep sense of emotion.

Yes, yes, that's the tone. The face must wear a wicked, self-aware smile, followed by a cold glint in the eyes, approaching with a mixture of disdain, contempt, and disgust.

"Someone as poor and pathetic as you doesn't even deserve to be bullied by us!"

Lian Yi's DNA seemed to be stirred instantly, and she listened with great interest to how the situation would unfold.

"No matter what you say, I haven't done any of those things." The girl's voice trembled slightly, but remained firm. "Get out of my way, or I'll tell the teacher. There are security cameras in the greenhouse; everything you've done has been recorded. I hope you'll have some self-respect!"

"Yo!"

"They're going to tell the teacher!"

"Are you threatening us?"

As the last sentence was spoken, the sound of shoving was heard.

"Go ahead and sue me!" The newly joined boy's voice was a bit rough. "You really think you're so great just because you're good at studying? You can work yourself to death and go to university. If you're lucky, you might even be able to work for one of our families' companies."

"There are only a few of these flowers left, and you have a good eye for them. Our Brother Li wanted some and asked for them, and you wouldn't give them to him?"

Another voice rang out, "If you weren't planning to steal it to sell because it's valuable, what are you insisting on? Do you really think the teacher's words are gospel? What nonsense!"

Then came the sound of a hand lightly patting a cheek a few times. "Now you know fear? Feeling wronged?"

"Who can take a picture of her like this? Sun Qiang, aren't you good at Photoshop? Photoshop some details and post it on the forum. Say we caught a flower thief, hahaha, a special student working part-time, stealing flowers and selling them off-campus. How about that title?"

"You..." The girl trembled as she took a deep breath, facing the group's malicious words. "I didn't do it. If you're going to do this, I'll definitely tell the school..."

"No, are you acting in an idol drama here?"

Someone couldn't help but burst out laughing: "The school is nothing! Don't even mention a poor bastard like you. Even if that student representative named Meng Er came today, I'd slap her and see what the school could do to me."

"No way, Young Master Wu, she's incredibly alluring. If she really comes, are you really willing to let her? Or is this slap not aimed at the face? Hehe..."

"Don't go too far!"

Lian Yi's eyes, which had been slightly narrowed, gradually widened in surprise as the girl's voice sounded somewhat angry.

"Saying such insulting things to others is disgusting, and doing such things!" The angry voice paused. "I know what you mean, you're bullying me for fun, aren't you?"

"you--"

"It's really disgusting." The girl was clearly very well-mannered; the strongest thing she said was only this one sentence.

She stopped speaking, and the men and women on the other side also remained silent for a while.

But clearly, they were not ashamed by those words.

A few cold laughs were followed by a sudden burst of mocking laughter, clearly indicating that the girl's words had provoked them.

Lian Yi smiled slightly. Just as a girl screamed from the other side of the flower bushes, she turned past the beautiful roses that exuded a faint fragrance and walked into the rather lively passageway.

To the group of people with their backs to her, her dear classmates Meng Er smiled, their round eyes crinkling, their hands behind their backs, their voices clear and melodious.

"hello!"

"Are you bullying me? Why didn't you include me?"