031
Nan Ke didn't care much: "Then you have to find a school closer."
She nodded gently. "It's okay not to live on campus. You'll have to live on campus when you get to college anyway. High school students are unstable and will be led astray if they don't have enough self-discipline."
She laughed again: "I'm not talking about you. You are almost the most self-disciplined person I have ever met in my life."
Xing Chen raised the corners of his lips: "How long have you walked in this life..."
Nan Ke didn't hear clearly: "What?"
Xing Chen shook his head slightly: "If I don't live on campus, I can cook for you when you come back on weekends."
During the time they spent together, Xing Chen discovered that Nan Ke would occasionally cook, but the results were usually not satisfactory.
Nan Ke returned frustrated several times and said that he really seemed to have no talent in cooking.
Xing Chen took the initiative to suggest that Nan Ke should not enter the kitchen anymore.
For her own good, and for the good of the kitchen.
He said he could cook, and Nan Ke readily agreed.
Soon he showed frustration because he confirmed that he was not good at cooking.
After eating and drinking, they walked home together.
"Oh, I almost forgot."
Nan Ke stopped, took something out of her bag and handed it to Xing Chen.
"What's this?"
"A birthday present."
Nan Ke rolled his eyes and said, "Consider it as a gift for your academic advancement."
Xing Chen was surprised that Nan Ke knew his birthday.
But it's not hard to guess if you think about it.
Nan Ke had seen his ID card and must have remembered it at that time.
"You've given me so much."
Xing Chen didn't even look at what was inside the small box and wanted to return it to Nan Ke.
Of course Nan Ke refused.
"You should at least open it and take a look. It's not something valuable."
Nan Ke said, "I know you definitely can't have what I'm going to buy, so I thought about it for a long time before deciding to give it to you."
She smiled and said, "Just don't think I'm insincere."
After hearing her words, Xing Chen hesitated for two seconds before opening the small box.
"Is it... an amulet?"
"yes."
Nan Ke continued to move forward, and Xing Chen followed her closely.
"This is what I asked for when I went on a trip with Susu after I graduated last year. I've been carrying it with me all the time, so I'll give it to you today. It's a little old, though, so I hope you don't mind."
Xing Chen took it out and looked at it over and over again: "I don't mind, but you give me the amulet, you..."
"I'm fine."
Nan Ke said, "I originally brought it for fun. Actually, I don't know if it will work or not. I just want to be at ease."
Xing Chen accepted it. He liked the gift very much, and it was Nan Ke’s own thing.
"You don't believe this?"
“I don’t really believe in it, but I am afraid of ghosts.”
Xing Chen smiled: "Then why are you driving up the mountain alone?"
Nan Ke looked back at him and said, "It's really amazing to meet you now. I usually don't drive up the mountain alone."
That was fate's deliberate arrangement.
Xing Chen thought.
Nan Ke smiled and patted his shoulder.
"I gave you the amulet to let you know that if meeting me is a good thing for you, then your life won't be so despairing."
She pointed to the sky and said, "Whoever is up there might be blessing you."
Xing Chen was in a daze for a moment, and Nan Ke rubbed his hair.
"So don't think about anything related to death anymore, okay?"
Xing Chen's eyes were hot, and he looked into Nan Ke's eyes and nodded gently.
Nan Ke's steps became lighter.
Xing Chen followed closely behind, mustering up the courage to speak: "I have something I want to ask you."
Nan Ke smiled brightly: "What do you want to ask?"
Xing Chen became embarrassed and repeated himself several times before he finally expressed his doubts.
Unexpectedly, Nan Ke laughed for a long time.
It confused him.
"So this is why you've been so worried lately?"
Nan Ke finally stopped laughing and asked him, "Do you think I'm broke? Are you worried about my tuition?"
"No." Xing Chen shook his head decisively: "I am secondary. I am worried about your situation."
Nan Ke looked at him with a smile for a while.
"I've been thinking a lot lately..."
Xing Chen blushed.
Nan Ke walked in front and said, "Let's go. I'll tell you about this when we get home."
Xing Chen did not follow immediately this time. He was still thinking about what Nan Ke had said before.
"I've been thinking lately that it might not be a good thing for you to meet me. Maybe it's actually a good thing for me to meet you. Between you and me, it's hard to say who helped who."
Soon, he quickened his pace to catch up.
Xing Chen really likes Nan Ke’s words “go home”.
It's like... like they're a real family.
Nan Ke sat on the sofa, and Xing Chen sat opposite her, staring at her without blinking.
At this time, Nan Ke turned on the TV.
"I need to organize my words, otherwise I don't know how to tell you..."
Xing Chen didn't rush her and just waited.
Nan Ke changed the channel twice and turned off the TV.
Then he looked at Xing Chen and said softly, "There are many specific details about my situation that I can't tell you right now. It's not directed at you, but I can't tell you, and I don't know how to say it. You just need to understand that you don't have to worry about your tuition and daily expenses. I have money."
She smiled and said, "I can still support you for the time being."
Xing Chen didn't expect to hear these words.
He thought that he could take this opportunity to touch the secret in Nan Ke's heart today.
Nan Ke had his own secret, and he knew it at a glance.
But Nan Ke didn't say anything, and he didn't ask.
He kept a very low profile, which was natural. He had no ability to make money now, and everything he had was bought with Nan Ke's money.
He should be more obedient and more understanding, and his presence should make Nan Ke happy instead of upset.
…
But inevitably, Xing Chen was still a little disappointed after hearing these words.
"Why do you look like that? Do you think I'm lying to you?"
Nan Ke laughed, and Xing Chen immediately shook his head: "I didn't."
She looked unconvinced: "If you don't believe me, I can transfer the tuition for your three years of high school and four years of college to you right now..."
"Need not!"
Xing Chen waved his hands repeatedly. He had no idea how much it would cost.
Nan Ke looked at him and continued to speak reasonably: "...But I won't do that, because you are a minor now. Although we are not related by blood and the age gap is not that big, I hope you will recognize me as your guardian on a moral level."
She smiled and said, "Of course it's temporary."
"I admit it."
Xing Chen answered quite sincerely.
"I'm very grateful to you."
Xing Chen said: "But..."
He rarely analyzes his inner thoughts in front of Nan Ke, but today is a good opportunity.
They spoke face to face.
If he were more sincere, perhaps Nan Ke would let him see more of her inner world?
Xing Chen tried hard to continue, "But I'm worried that you'll regard me as your responsibility. Your promise to me will become a shackle on you, making it difficult for you to move forward. If you have any difficulties, we can talk openly and honestly."
He said: "My life is destined to be the responsibility of myself alone."
Nan Ke smiled and said, "I know what you mean."
She said, "But it's really okay. I still have enough money to support you."
Nan Ke shrugged: "Besides, raising you is much cheaper than I thought."
Xing Chen blinked.
Nan Ke said, "I thought you were a money-eater, but now look at you. You don't want this or that, and you can even cook for yourself and help me clean. I don't know how I'm going to spend all that money..."
"What?"
Nan Ke calmed down a little and spoke with a smile.
"Anyway, all you need to know is that I have enough money to support you."
Xing Chen expressed his doubts.
"Then why do you draw so many commercial drafts?"
He didn't quite understand: "I feel like you don't really want to paint sometimes, it's like... life forces you to do so."
“It’s really because of life’s pressure.”
Xing Chen was even more confused.
Nan Ke's words are indeed contradictory.
She looked at him for a long time, wanting to say something but stopping herself, and finally took a deep breath.
"Okay, just think I'm crazy."
Nan Ke seems to be giving up on himself.
Xing Chen's eyes were irresistible, so Nan Ke closed her eyes and began to explain to him.
"Okay, okay, I have some money on hand, and I'm quite wealthy. Your tuition and all your related expenses will come from that money. As for my own food, clothing, housing and transportation, I hope to use my own money. Do you understand?"
Xing Chen understood and nodded: "...but why?"
Nan Ke sighed.
"If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't have kept the money. I might have donated it, or maybe..."
She scratched her hair and said, "I'm not sure either, but there's no point in saying that now, because I met you and decided to help you."
Xing Chen thought about it and asked a somewhat inappropriate question for the first time.
"Is it... related to your family?"
Nan Ke's expression changed instantly, and his eyes darkened slightly.
Xing Chen knew that he guessed right, but at the same time, he also knew that he shouldn't have asked this question.
"sorry……"
Nan Ke laughed as if relieved.
"You're a real genius to have waited until now to ask. I thought you would have asked me long ago."
Nan Ke leaned closer to see his expression.
"I'm a strange person in your eyes, right? I live alone, have no family, and never mention them or myself..."
"If you are, then so am I. I didn't ask because I could tell you didn't want to talk about it."
Nan Ke nodded: "Yes, I don't want to say more."
Xing Chen's eyes dimmed.
"But I can tell you today that it does have something to do with them."
Nan Ke pinched his face and said, "Just think of you and I as two poor people who depend on each other for survival. I will help you and you will accompany me."
"OK?"
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