Chapter 39 Rumors
It was past six o'clock, and the sky was still dark.
Like most of her classmates, Song Qiqi's face was icy cold from the wind, and she was still very sleepy as she walked into school, yawning.
"Hey, is that her?"
"It seems so."
"To act like nothing happened after something like this, it doesn't seem like someone who's completely innocent..."
"Tsk, they're all no good."
The campus was crowded with students hurrying towards the teaching building. Song Qiqi vaguely heard some voices, but she wasn't sure if she was being too sensitive.
Why? It's as if these words are describing her feelings.
Song Qiqi frowned slightly, a bad feeling rising in her heart, and glanced around.
Most of the faces, whether familiar or unfamiliar, quickly looked away when she looked at them. Some, however, stared at her without any restraint, their expressions amused, or they would purse their lips and turn away to whisper to the people next to them.
Song Qiqi felt dazed. Her already pale complexion, which had been strained from studying late into the night, turned slightly yellow, and she appeared somewhat listless because she couldn't make any expressions.
She wasn't sure, her heart was pounding, and she had a strange feeling that her soul had left her body. Almost dizzy and confused, she walked into the classroom and sat down in her seat.
"...Qiqi, um, did you see the messages in our group chat last night?" Her deskmate hesitated for a moment before leaning over to ask Song Qiqi, who looked to be in a bad mood.
"No, my mom took my phone away because of final exams." Song Qiqi let out a soft sigh, her eyes already somewhat vacant as she looked at her, her voice dry, "What message?"
"Um..." Her deskmate hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "Then let's wait until you get your phone and see for yourself before we talk about it."
During the morning classes that followed, Song Qiqi could hardly concentrate on anything; only a growing sense of fear and unease filled her heart.
So much so that later on, she always felt that her classmates' every move, even a glance, was a reaction to the thing she least wanted others to know.
Finally, class ended, and Song Qiqi hurriedly left the classroom. After she left, a buzzing discussion suddenly broke out in the classroom.
She arrived at Zhao Yannan's classroom, her face pale, trying her best to ignore the blatant stares of astonishment, and called out Zhao Yannan's name.
"Nannan, can you tell me what's going on..."
Song Qiqi couldn't even wait to go with Zhao Yannan to their usual spot during breaks. Grabbing her hand, tears welled in her eyes, she asked urgently, "My mom took my phone. Tell me, do they know about that? Why? This matter was clearly only..."
"Hey, isn't this the club hostess?"
"Hahaha, Liu Junjie, do you go there often? You sound so familiar with me."
A group of boys walked past them, making strange noises and laughing before quickly running away. Every now and then, they would blurt out something they thought was very interesting, like needles piercing Song Qiqi's brain.
She was speechless for a moment, feeling as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Her legs went weak, and she could only hold Zhao Yannan's hand tightly, looking at him in disbelief.
Zhao Yannan glanced at the boys with disgust, then looked away and met Song Qiqi's gaze calmly.
"Qiqi, I know what you want to say, but it really wasn't me."
She knew Song Qiqi was terrified, but Lian Yi always had to pay the price for what she had done. In her view, Song Qiqi's fear was just another form of protecting bad people.
It's better to have a short, sharp pain than a long, drawn-out one. Everyone will know what Lian Yi did, and Qi Qi is just a victim.
Zhao Yannan, supporting Song Qiqi, said without any guilt, "I had no reason to do this, but I think perhaps this is Lian Yi's revenge... It's aimed at me, but it has implicated you."
"How could this be? Lian Yi would never do such a thing." Song Qiqi's face was pale, and she was sweating slightly as she murmured in disbelief.
“Why is it impossible? Isn’t that the kind of person she is? Qiqi, you really don’t need to be afraid or think it’s your fault.” Zhao Yannan said in a low voice, “Don’t worry, this matter will pass quickly.”
By then, Song Qiqi will no longer be threatened by Lian Yi to keep quiet, and Lian Yi will pay the price for what she did.
Zhao Yannan firmly believed that Song Qiqi had not been assaulted at the club, so the rumors would have no effect whatsoever, and everyone's attention would soon be focused on Lian Yi's sinister intentions.
She glanced at Song Qiqi, who was expressionless and silent, and comforted her, "Besides, everyone's focus is on Lian Yi. I will explain it to you clearly. You did nothing wrong in this matter."
"..." Song Qiqi was speechless and could only force herself to grasp at this glimmer of hope.
It wasn't until the bell rang to signal the start of class that Zhao Yannan gently reminded her several times, at which point she suddenly snapped out of her daze.
"You have to help me explain," Song Qiqi said, her voice trembling with tears. "I'm really not that kind of person, and nothing bad happened. Lian Yi arrived just in time; they hadn't even had a chance to do anything..."
“Okay, I will. You are my best friend, and I will never let you suffer any injustice,” Zhao Yannan said firmly.
People aren't stupid; how could they not see the truth of the matter?
…
The undercurrent of rumors circulating privately could not overcome the pressure of the impending final exams.
Just as Lian Yi sighed, Xie Ling calmly looked over and said, "These are the key points I've highlighted for tomorrow's exam. I hope you can focus on memorizing them. I don't expect you to fully understand the knowledge points, but as long as you keep an impression, it will be of great help when you do the questions."
"Okay, thank you, Teacher Xie." Lian Yi's desk had never been piled with so many books before.
She looked at the open notebooks, textbooks, and exercise books filled with answers, and her head was spinning.
It's fine to just look at things; you can just get by if you're daydreaming or spacing out. But Xie Ling is incredibly strict; she'll do spot checks and even give you impromptu questions.
Lian Yi regretted it more than once. Why did she have to play along with his request for tutoring? She should have just let it go. There would have been other ways to force her to stay with him.
Now, Meng Er is in a foreign manor, surrounded by the band members having a lively party.
Various musical instruments were casually placed on the lawn, while food and wine were laid out on long tables. A group of people sang and played instruments with abandon, and different styles of music and singing filled the lawn of the manor, creating a strangely harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
Meanwhile, she was crammed into the classroom facing endless problems, with a rather dedicated 'teacher' coldly supervising her.
How did the situation suddenly turn around?
Long, slender fingers appeared before my eyes, and tapped the desk twice.
"Don't space out," Xie Ling said calmly.
"...I understand!" Lian Yi gritted her teeth slightly and said in a low voice, sounding frustrated.
-
The party was full of band members.
Compared to the group of band members who were extremely hyped and dancing wildly, Meng Er, with her sleeves rolled up and her long, straight black hair flowing freely, stood there with a calm smile watching them start their solo instrumental performances, which made her stand out quite uniquely.
In just two short days, Meng Er used Xu Yitong's money to generate nearly fifty times the return.
Based on long-term observation and analysis, she clearly saw the movements of several major market manipulators and confirmed whether they were still active in the stock market.
Of course, the plot outline obtained by the main character wouldn't include trivial matters like stock price fluctuations in this world.
However, from the subtle information between the lines, Meng Er still managed to deduce the key points. After all, whether it's the economy, policies, or certain current events, they are all inevitably related to the stock market.
The bookmakers are like ferocious sharks in the sea, driving, chasing, and hunting their prey.
Their purpose and actions should have been difficult to detect. Perhaps only after things have settled down will a group of people belatedly realize it and analyze it as yet another classic case.
Meng Er was merely a predator lurking among them, always following them like a shadow.
She divided the funds and invested them according to her expectations, following each step of her predictions, tearing off pieces of flesh and blood from the jaws of those giant sharks.
Now that she has a dedicated senior client contact at the exchange, she no longer needs to monitor stock price movements or make any personal trades.
For a small fee that is currently insignificant to her, a highly professional person will take care of the job.
My nerves, which had been tense for so long, finally got a brief respite.
However, even with billions in her account, Meng Er calmly contacted her teacher, Terbni, and arranged a time to visit him. She was about to board a plane back to China the next day, and before leaving, she should see the old man who had helped her so much.
For Meng Er, suddenly becoming rich was within expectations; several billion yuan was indeed a lot, or rather, too much.
But for her and Lian Yi's future, it was far too little.
Like a company like Gugu Machine, which is barely surviving, it's just a little chick that swallows money without chewing it.
The billions of yuan invested in Meng Er's future plans are at most just initial start-up capital. After several years of preparation, Meng Er doesn't feel surprised at all about the results.
As for the party in front of him, Meng Er picked up his champagne glass, a hint of helplessness showing in his lowered eyes.
Once one person in the band knew she was going to visit Professor Teberni, a second person found out, and in the end, a hastily put-together party just appeared out of nowhere.
But the old man was now watching his disciples fool around with a smile, his cheerful expression showing no sign of displeasure.
"Meng! Come here quickly and show her your amazing skills!" The curly-haired, bearded man who had lost the solo match shouted at this direction.
Across from him, the brown-haired woman who had slightly loosened her grip on her cello curled her fiery red lips into a mocking smile: "Andrew, when will you learn not to act like a child, calling for your mother every time you lose!"
"Ha!" Andrew said dismissively, grinning widely, "Lina, don't tell me you don't want to hear more of this amazing instrument!"
Lina's big eyes turned to Meng Er, who was smiling faintly and remaining silent. She then shrugged and said, "Okay, I admit, this time you've found an excuse that no one can refute."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone started cheering and calling out Meng Er's name.
Several people who were quite drunk raised their hands, completely forgetting about their glasses, spilling wine everywhere, causing a burst of screams, laughter and curses.
The temporary lighting was blindingly white, shining on the lawn.
Meng Er leaned casually against the edge of the long table, his white shirt loosely draped over his body, the sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing faint blue veins from his arms to his wrists and the backs of his hands, until his slender fingers lightly held a champagne glass.
Her skin beneath her long, straight black hair was somewhat pale, as if it radiated a coldness.
His black and white eyes, which always seemed devoid of emotion, stared quietly at the group of people making a fuss, as if he were smiling, but it wasn't very obvious.
Her long legs, encased in black wide-leg pants, were crossed, showing no sign of moving.
This group of people were so enthusiastic about playing that they didn't care at all about Meng Er's coldness. No matter how indifferent he was, they were like a joyful flame, rushing to embrace him.
A petite blonde girl picked up an instrument from among the casually placed instruments on the ground, blushed, and ran to Meng Er's side to hand her the instrument.
Whether it was because she had been drinking or for some other reason, her jewel-like eyes looked up at Meng Er, and she smiled shyly with her lips pursed.
With such enthusiasm, Meng Er naturally had no reason to refuse. She looked at the group of people who were clapping and cheering excitedly after she took the instrument, and a smile appeared on her lips.
"This is a musical instrument from Mengjia Township, called... Erhu!" someone introduced to their companions, their tone sounding a little strange when they mentioned the instrument's name.
She exclaimed excitedly, "You know what? Meng actually used this instrument with such a unique and melancholic tone to play electronic music. It's truly amazing!"
“I know, I know.” Her partner burped. “Who in our band hasn’t seen it yet? Oh, the newbies who joined after she went to high school… Yes, let them see it!”
He clenched his fist and laughed heartily a few times.
Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Meng Er slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, plucked the strings, and the famous piece "Erquan Yingyue" (Moon Reflected in the Second Spring) poured forth with the movement of the strings.
It's nothing, she just wanted to play some classic songs for everyone.
There is absolutely no other ill intention involved.
-
Meng Er wasn't sure if the party would regain its former enthusiasm afterward. She was called to her side by a helpless-looking Terberney.
He walked coldly past a group of drunkards who were sobbing uncontrollably, seemingly triggered by some unpleasant memory. The old man and the young man were accompanied by several core members of the band.
There are seats for resting on the other side of the lawn.
After everyone took their seats, Teberni simply looked at his most special disciple and smiled without saying a word.
The other guys, however, couldn't hold back at all. They had all had a little to drink, or perhaps because Meng Er was right in front of them, they rushed to persuade her to cancel her flight and stay instead.
This was a scene that occurred almost every time they met before.
They didn't understand why Meng Er, who clearly had such talent and ability, would still stay in that country and follow the established path as a student.
I want to go to school, even though I can do it right here.
Previously, because the band wasn't doing well, no one really dared to bring it up.
Now that they have fame and fortune, they sincerely hope that this young genius, their friends, and those who resonate with them, can leverage her strengths in a more suitable environment.
But as always, Meng Er rejected them.
"Teacher, I really think we should go to Meng's hometown... He City?" The blonde girl clasped her hands together, her tone pleading, "to hold a concert there."
"That's a great idea, I agree."
I agree.
Teberni smiled and nodded. "According to the orchestra's plans, although I would very much like to agree with your idea, unfortunately, ladies and gentlemen, you will probably be deprived of your freedom for a long time."
Meng Er smiled as she looked at the people who were casting mournful glances at her, and said calmly, "I'm sorry, I can't help you."
"Ah, I really miss those days, playing duets with little Meng," the curly-haired, bearded man sighed.
Lina nudged his elbow and grinned mischievously, "Are you sure it was a duet, or a one-sided crushing?"
“…Shut up, ma’am, please watch your manners!” Andrew said indignantly.
"But Meng, how can you just let go like that?" Lina was a very beautiful woman who looked charming and free-spirited. When she said this, she looked at Meng Er with a puzzled look and a hint of sadness in her eyes.
These people were looked down upon and ridiculed as freaks in the past. Meng Er actually looked more like those guys from 'orthodox backgrounds'.
But he mingled with them.
Although everyone behaved very haphazardly, they looked more like a group of musicians who had just finished performing at a bar than someone performing in a magnificent hall.
But their love for music has never been questioned.
Meng Er smiled faintly, "I'm not a very patient person, and I prefer to keep chasing new things, but dear Lina, how do you know that I've given up these sources of happiness from the past?"
"Did you hear that? She called me 'darling'!" Lina clutched her chest and grabbed the bearded man's strong arm.
The rhinestone-studded nail polish dug into his hairy arm without any hesitation, and Andrew let out a loud "Ow!" and cursed.
"Speaking of which, I have a rather informal performance in a few days." Meng Er enjoyed chatting with them, where she didn't need to think too much and they were so familiar with each other that she could speak without thinking without offending the other.
"Really?" The group immediately focused their attention on her, even Teberni looked at her with curiosity, slowly taking a sip of his tea.
"It's just a performance at a school party," Meng Er said. "You can get a computer worth tens of thousands of yuan as a reward for playing a piece of music."
"Wow!" they exclaimed in genuine amazement.
A song worth tens of thousands of yuan was considered incredibly wealthy in the past. Even now, with their net worth and fame skyrocketing, they are probably used to being unknown, and they are still amazed when they hear about this reward.
"There should be a video recording; I'll send you a copy later." Meng Er picked up her teacup and raised it to them.
"Um……"
Lina's large, gray-blue eyes darkened slightly, then she suddenly curved her red lips into a smile, raised her glass, and said, "I'm really looking forward to it."
“Oh…yes, I’m looking forward to it too.” Andrew’s eyes met hers, and they suddenly understood each other. His lips twitched under his beard, as if he wanted to laugh but held it back.
Only the blonde girl seemed a little naive, still expressing her regret, "If only I could see Meng's live performance."
“Yes!” Lina, Andrew, and the others in their seats said in unison, shaking their heads regretfully and sighing one after another.
"It would be great if we could all go."
-
Meng Er, who was finally freed from the entanglement until the early hours of the morning, still woke up on time the next morning with her biological clock working hard, and got into the car that Teberni had arranged for her to head to the airport.
At the same time, Wanghai Middle School also ushered in the final exams for the senior students.
The arrangement of single-person, single-desk seating disrupted the class's schedule. When Lian Yi found the examination room, all the faces she saw inside were unfamiliar. Only a few looked somewhat familiar, but when those people saw her, they acted as if they had seen a ghost, immediately lowering their heads and focusing on checking the things on their desks.
Lian Yi chuckled inwardly and walked to her seat.
She usually missed exams.
Maintaining a persona is also a very hard thing. Just handing in a blank paper is too deliberate. Lian Yi also has to maintain just the right error rate, and make the mistakes seem natural.
For Lian Yi, this was far more difficult than getting a perfect score on the test.
But now that Teacher Xie is strict with her, Lian Yi can only sigh and admit that she has to work hard for herself this time when she thinks about her retirement plans.
Xie Ling is gradually lowering his guard against her, which is a good sign. Lian Yi has never considered unrealistic possibilities such as him falling in love with her, but it is clear that Xie Ling is gradually treating her as a friend.
That's enough.
Even after the test papers were handed out, Lian Yi was still somewhat distracted, wondering when she could fast-forward to the point where Xie Ling would completely loathe her and feel nauseous at the mere mention of her name.
Given his personality, once he knows that she's been playing with him all this time, he'll probably only have the thought of exchanging money for goods and services for her.
Having confirmed this, Lian Yi rested her chin on her hand with relief and scribbled on the test paper casually.
Seeing that her score had improved slightly compared to before, and feeling that she had spent a lot of time and energy, Lian Yi pulled out the test paper and got up to hand it in.
The same applies to every exam over the next few days.
After enduring the grueling final exams, Lian Yi didn't even want to talk to Xie Ling anymore. She buried herself in her soft bed at home and slept soundly for a whole day before finally recovering fully.
As she stepped out of the elevator into the living room, she yawned and waved to the housekeeper. She had had enough sleep and didn't feel like eating anything yet.
Lian Yi strolled to the small garden. Today was the day the shopper would come to her door with a bunch of clothes and jewelry for her to choose from. As usual, she would spend some money to show them off.
However, when they moved to the small garden, the buyer and her assistant were standing aside organizing the various designer clothes and jewelry they had brought.
Xu Qingyao and Lian Suning sat facing each other, seemingly lost in thought, or perhaps in a silent confrontation. One, with her delicate features, had her brows furrowed, while the other, with her gentle appearance, lowered her eyes and remained silent.
At the round table between them, desserts and tea were pushed aside, and the original spot was occupied by a pile of papers and tablets.
“Sister Ning, I think your idea is worth considering, but it’s not very suitable for our project as a whole. It deviates from the most basic concept,” Xu Qingyao suddenly said.
This was completely different from her usual soft, gentle voice, which seemed to drown out any louder voice from the other person. It sounded serious and powerful.
Lian Suning's originally relaxed willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly after she said those words, as if she wanted to refute them, but then she sighed softly and smiled slightly, as if she had thought of something.
"Hmm, I've thought about it carefully, and you're right. Let's put it aside for now, and then decide whether to adopt it after we have a meeting with the others, okay?"
Xu Qingyao thought for only a few seconds before nodding, "Alright, let's hear everyone's opinions first."
Standing at the entrance, Lian Yi leaned against the door frame, her mood instantly improving, and even the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
Look, even her eldest sister, who is usually so good-natured, is frowning. It seems that there has always been a disagreement between the two. Now it's just that the eldest sister has taken the initiative to back down, but what will happen next?
Even Lian Yi couldn't help but applaud her brilliant military strategy.
She walked over in a cheerful mood, and the two of them, who were originally about to continue the next topic, quickly smiled when they saw Lian Yi coming.
"all."
"Lian Yi!"
"Hmm, you're discussing the project?" Lian Yi glanced at the various papers with text and design drafts on the table. She glanced at them casually and didn't see any problems. They were basically doing it according to her requirements.
Spend the most money to create the most luxurious content, and then charge 999 for a ticket.
"Yes, Yi-yi, would you like to hear about the current progress?" Lian Suning smiled gently. "Qingyao is really amazing. If I didn't know that she is still in high school like you, I think I would really mistake her for a senior executive of some company."
“Even though she was sitting right in front of me, and she looked so young.”
Xu Qingyao waved her hand somewhat shyly, her tone completely different from her previous serious and professional manner, and said softly, "Sister Ning is truly amazing. Working with you has made me realize many of my shortcomings."
After they finished speaking, they couldn't help but look at each other and laugh, finding each other's seemingly business-like compliments amusing.
Lian Yi refused anything that would make her brain think. "I won't look at it. Just tell me if you want money. You'll be responsible for these things."
She knew that with her status as the daughter of the Lian family, if she really started some projects, she could at least break even, if not make a profit. There were plenty of people in Yunhai willing to fawn over her.
Of course, there will also be scammers who want to gamble and turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.
But losing money due to being scammed is not something that can be taken seriously. What if someone still has hope for her abilities?
Only deals that seem to be done very seriously but end up losing money are the most convincing.
Her hands-off attitude was undisguised. Xu Qingyao and Lian Suning exchanged a glance, but inexplicably revealed knowing smiles and said nothing more.
"Okay, don't worry, Qingyao and I will take this project very seriously," Lian Suning said with a light laugh.
Xu Qingyao nodded in agreement.
"Oh, then you guys don't need to worry about the project for now. Go pick out some clothes and jewelry to match." Lian Yi propped her chin up with one hand and muttered, "After all, you're the project leader now, so you need to have some formal attire, um... reimbursed."
She casually waved to the buyer over there, asking him to bring her the list.
"Keep my old ones in the same style, and let them choose the rest."
"Yes, Miss Lian."
Originally, Lian Yi thought she would be bored picking and choosing in the small garden. After passing on this task to Xu Qingyao and her older sister, she put her hands behind her back and slowly walked back to the villa.
She didn't forget that she had a crucial itinerary: to take Xie Ling out for fun.
How about tonight? Although the decision was sudden, she has always been someone who knows how to create surprises for people.
Xu Qingyao suddenly seemed to remember something, opened her mouth as if to call out to Lian Yi, but gave up because Lian Yi had disappeared into the small garden.
After she left, the buyer skillfully took out two more specially prepared lists and placed them in front of Xu Qingyao and Lian Suning, smiling and saying, "Ladies, please take a look. If you like anything, I will prepare a display for you."
Lian Suning was no stranger to this kind of approach. She picked up the list and looked at it carefully, then said casually, "Did you have something to say to Yi Yi just now? If it's something important, you should go find her first."
"Um……"
Xu Qingyao frowned slightly. If it were of paramount importance, she would have waited for Lian Yi to rest before reporting back.
This matter is said to be closely related to Lian Yi, but it's not really.
The day before the final exams, news suddenly spread that a girl named Song Qiqi had been taken to a club by several boys from the school.
This matched the previous rumors that the person was still unknown, and it quickly spread like wildfire among the students of Wanghai School, even reaching students from other schools.
Every version of the story that Xu Qingyao heard involved something that happened between the girl and several boys, described in great detail, as if it were true.
She wasn't interested in these things to begin with, and besides, she was busy with projects and exams, so she wouldn't pay much attention to them.
However, in some versions, the name Lian Yi appears.
Rumors circulated that the whole affair was a scheme orchestrated by Lian Yi to win Xie Ling's heart, and that the girl was tricked into going to the club, where Xie Ling was working part-time.
Lian Yi deliberately arranged this play to gain Xie Ling's favor, even going so far as to use a girl's innocence as a pretext.
However, because this rumor is so outrageous, it is the version with the least circulation.
Putting aside everything else, Lian Yi's reputation is not good.
But in everyone's memory, it's nothing more than her domineering and unreasonable deeds. Even the initial rumors that Lian Yi was unreasonable and specifically targeted and framed that girl are more convincing than this version.
Besides, who is Xie Ling? He's an outstanding student, the apple of the school's eye. Why would he need to work part-time at a club?
The story was so outrageous that naturally no one believed it.
On the contrary, they have all sorts of fantasies and fantasies about what exactly happened between the girl and the boys in the story, and they recklessly express their unfounded speculations across the screen.
Xu Qingyao hesitated for a moment, "Never mind, I'll talk to Miss Lian Yi about it."
She also had her own selfish motives. After all, she felt sorry for the girl who was caught up in such malicious rumors. If Lian Yi knew about this and was willing to step in, perhaps she could stop these rampant rumors.
Thinking of those offensive words, Xu Qingyao still couldn't sit still.
"Okay, then go ahead, I'll wait for you here." Lian Suning looked up at her, smiled slightly, and then continued to look down at the list.
But Xu Qingyao, who had just gotten up and left, came back.
"Miss Lianyi has gone out."
Xu Qingyao frowned. "I'll talk about it when she gets back. Actually, this matter doesn't have much to do with her."
“Okay.” Lian Suning didn’t ask any more questions. After several project-related communications with Xu Qingyao over this period, she knew that although the girl was young, she had wisdom far beyond her years.
Moreover, Xu Qingyao was actually closer to Lian Yi than she was.
So, she tactfully changed the subject, pointing to a rather sophisticated-looking top on the list and saying, "I think this outfit suits you quite well, take it."
“Okay.” Xu Qingyao nodded, putting that matter aside for the time being, and smiled, “I trust Sister Ning’s judgment.”
After selecting several outfits and matching jewelry, the buyer and assistant took the finalized list and left.
Lian Suning picked up her teacup, took a sip of the slightly cooled tea, and sighed, "I don't think I've ever used my brain like this before... It might sound funny, but in the past, all I needed to do for my career was sit in my office, listen to my manager's reports, and sign and stamp my documents."
“But I think you’re really amazing, Sister Ning.” Xu Qingyao widened her eyes slightly and said, “In many ways, if it weren’t for you, I might have confidently applied what I learned from the theory directly.”
"I've just seen a lot of things; they're just other people's experiences." Lian Suning chuckled and shook her head.
"Oh, right, Sister Ning..."
Xu Qingyao frowned and said, "I'd like to share my understanding of the request that Miss Lianyi made. Do you see if there are any problems?"
"Okay, go ahead and say it."
"That's right. Miss Lianyi specifically requested that 20% of all the profits from the glass greenhouse project be donated to charity periodically, and that this be done in secret and not disclosed to the outside world."
Xu Qingyao pondered for a moment and said, "We discussed the publicity model that Miss Lianyi was considering before, so I wonder if Miss Lianyi means... not to announce this under our official name?"
She didn't say it directly, but the meaning was clear.
Lian Suning pondered for a moment, then chuckled and said, "No, you must do as Yi Yi says and not have any other ideas."
"Hmm?" Xu Qingyao looked puzzled.
“You might think that Yi-yi has other intentions behind her words, but based on my understanding of her, she simply wants to do this.” Lian Suning sighed softly, “She always does things as she pleases and doesn’t care about the opinions of others.”
"She has actually done things like donating money to charity many times, but many people have overlooked it before, or they just don't care..."
Lian Suning's gaze became somewhat unfocused as she recalled some past memories.
Finally, she raised her voice slightly and straightened her expression, "I believe you know what kind of person Yi-yi is. Since she told you to do it this way, then do it this way."
"I think she made this decision simply because she hoped that no matter whether the project succeeds or fails, someone will benefit from it."
Xu Qingyao stared blankly for a long time before revealing a hint of guilt.
"Sister Ning, if you hadn't told me all this, I might have really gone astray..." She bit her lower lip lightly, feeling both relieved and disappointed, and finally stared at Lian Suning.
"You really understand Miss Lian Yi!"
Lian Suning's smile faltered slightly as she recalled the misunderstandings she had once had about Lian Yi, making it difficult for her to accept this recognition so readily.
"Remember, you must be very careful to keep the use of these charitable funds confidential." She subtly changed the subject, then said earnestly again, "Yiyi just wants to do good deeds, not to receive praise from others."
Xu Qingyao nodded vigorously, "I will follow up on this matter from beginning to end and keep a close eye on it personally. I will not let the outside world know about it or use it to make a fuss."
…
…
Unaware of the extent of their imaginations, Lian Yi sat in the car, humming a song as she waited for Xie Ling to arrive.
Although he had finished the exams and was on holiday, he was still called to school by his teacher, and he didn't know what the teacher wanted to talk about.
When Lian Yi couldn't get through to him by phone, she impulsively called the head of the teaching department, taking it for granted that he would relay her message.
"...Yes, we understand the general situation. That female student isn't doing well mentally right now, Xie Ling. I hope these words won't burden you. But if you have financial difficulties, you can talk to the school or me."
"The school will do its best to help you solve this problem. Right now, your most important thing is to focus on your studies."
The head of student affairs sighed, his expression complex. "Do you understand?"
"Director, thank you for your concern. I understand what you've said," Xie Ling said calmly.
"Um……"
The head of the teaching department paused, also feeling a bit absurd, and waved his hand, saying, "Well, Lian Yi is waiting for you outside the school. Cough, remember, you need to focus on your studies."
"Okay, Director." Xie Ling frowned almost imperceptibly, then said in a normal tone, "Director, I'll be going now."
"Go."
He walked the distance from the director's office to the outside of the school, his expression remaining indifferent and devoid of emotion, though a multitude of thoughts swirled within him.
When Xie Ling saw the familiar luxury car parked by the roadside, she lowered her eyes slightly, paused for a moment, and then walked over.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Lian Yi opened the car door and said cheerfully, "Aren't you looking forward to our first date?"
"..."
Xie Ling didn't respond to her words, but bent down and got into the car.
Lian Yi was not surprised at all by Xie Ling's cold reaction. She still smiled and complained to him about the difficulty of the final exams and talked about their date that night.
Although it was called a date, Lian Yi really didn't plan on having any romantic time alone with him.
Given Xie Ling's personality, she would probably turn around and leave as soon as she saw him.
"...They are all my friends. Although they may seem difficult to get along with at first, you will find that there is no need to be easy to get along with them after you get to know them."
Lian Yi smiled slightly and said, "However, the main purpose of tonight's gathering is not to let you meet my friends, but to introduce you to someone."
"Hmm." Xie Ling paused. He actually had some questions he wanted to ask Lian Yi, but he hadn't had a chance to speak since getting in the car.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?" Lian Yi tilted her head to look at him, and thought about it carefully. During this period, she had strictly followed the plan to let Xie Ling lower his guard and hadn't teased him much.
Could it be that the rumors about her and him at school reached the principal's ears, making him nervous that his precious academic star was dating early, and that he had Xie Ling arrested and given her a lecture?
Xie Ling frowned slightly. "Lian Yi, the director spoke to me about something today..."
"Hey, we're here! We'll talk later."
The car came to a light stop at the entrance of the club. Lian Yi wasn't interested in what he was going to say. It was just nonsense about being misunderstood as being together, and him having to uphold male virtues and be more careful in the future.
So he cheerfully interrupted, opened the car door, and got out.
"Shall we go?" She smiled at Xie Ling.
"Let's go on a group date!"
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