Chapter 7: Where Else Would Tuition Come From If Not by Stealing?

A light broth sprinkled with scallions, topped with a perfectly round poached egg resting on the noodles. Whatever was added inside, the aroma of the noodles wafted far without any greasiness, whetting one’s appetite.

“Is it good?”

The girl cupped her face, her eyes sparkling as she stared at him. “Maybe Uncle Lin and the others worried the noodles I made wouldn’t suit you, so they followed the recipe for dinner.”

Gu Huaijin’s eyes flickered slightly as he lowered his head and took a bite.

He nodded in approval. “Hmm, not bad.”

Encouraged by his praise, Qiao Weiwei’s heart blossomed with joy. She quickly said, “Then, Uncle, please eat more. If it’s not enough, there’s more in the pot.”

She served a bowl for Chen Li and herself, and the three of them sat down to eat together.

The Gu family was a century-old lineage, strict with etiquette. Even when eating noodles, Gu Huaijin’s every move was deliberate and unhurried, as if engaged in a refined art.

Qiao Weiwei was a beauty enthusiast; faced with such handsomeness, she was momentarily stunned.

No wonder all the women in his circle wanted to be with him.

The thought flashed through her mind, but she hurriedly shook it away.

That was utterly disrespectful!

By now, the noodles were finished. The man placed his chopsticks on the bowl and looked up at her. “Have you had enough of looking?”

His tone rose gently, like a cat curling up in the snow, pouncing into one’s arms and shaking off a dusting of snow.

Chilly, yet tickling.

Caught peeking, Qiao Weiwei’s ears flushed with embarrassment, and she lowered her head awkwardly.

Mumbling softly, “Everyone has a love for beauty.”

Chen Li, standing behind Gu Huaijin, was amused by her words.

It was the first time someone had openly complimented the president as a great beauty.

Miss Qiao was truly a witty one.

Gu Huaijin’s brow twitched—was he being teased?

He smiled indulgently, not bothering to argue with a child.

“Uncle Lin,” he said coldly, “handle the leftovers yourselves.”

Then, turning to Qiao Weiwei, he added, “This isn’t your responsibility. Right now, your most important tasks are to recover your health and focus on your studies. Don’t let anything distract you.”

Qiao Weiwei responded with a simple “Oh,” and bent her head to pick at the noodles in her bowl.

Though barely in her twenties, he spoke like an old official.

Unable to hear her thoughts, Gu Huaijin continued, “There’s a multinational meeting at the company tomorrow. Have Uncle Lin take you to school.”

“All right.”

Qiao Weiwei nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

Gu Huaijin’s face was too distinctive, too conspicuous; being seen with him going to school would undoubtedly cause a stir.

She just wanted to get through her final year of high school quietly, so the fewer people who knew of her connection to the Gu family, the better.

…

The next day, the alarm rang at six. Qiao Weiwei was already dressed and seated at the dining table, eating breakfast.

Gu Huaijin left earlier than her, so they did not cross paths.

Shengde High School was a key city school. To provide a quiet study environment, the senior year students had their own building, separate from the first and second years.

She asked Uncle Lin to park the car about a hundred meters from the school entrance, planning to walk the rest of the way alone.

But halfway there, Gu Zhiyuan appeared unexpectedly.

“Uncle Lin is just sending you?” He frowned in dissatisfaction.

Was he expecting a grand parade, with drums and firecrackers to see her off?

What a fool.

Meeting this jerk first thing in the morning ruined half her good mood.

She tried to walk past him, but he blocked her way.

“It’s the start of senior year. Here’s a gift for you.”

Gu Zhiyuan pulled out a red velvet wooden box containing a three-carat Swan diamond necklace, a valuable piece.

Qiao Weiwei didn’t even glance at it. “Mr. Gu, I’m going to be late.”

Her tone was icy. A wave of displeasure rose in Gu Zhiyuan’s chest. “Weiwei, why are you always so cold to me?”

Since Qiao Weiwei woke from her injury, everything had gone off course, completely different from the previous life.

Hearing this, Qiao Weiwei’s lips curved into a cold sneer. “Mr. Gu, you’re not a red banknote. Why should everyone greet you with a smile?”

How had she never noticed how narcissistic and shameless this man was before?

She grew impatient. “Uncle Lin is still behind. If you keep pestering me, I’ll tell Uncle. Then I don’t know what remote corner you’ll be banished to.”

Gu Zhiyuan was currently scheming to seize power, wary of Gu Huaijin, so he had no choice but to let her go.

Before leaving, he still reminded her anxiously, “If you’re wronged at school, remember to tell me.”

Of course, Qiao Weiwei ignored him outright.

Following her memory, she went to senior year class 7.

Fang Xue was already in the classroom. She waved at her excitedly.

“Weiwei! Over here!”

The girl’s youthful, bright face starkly contrasted with the black-and-white photo from the news in the previous life.

“Weiwei, why are you crying?”

Qiao Weiwei touched her face and realized tears had fallen without her noticing.

Her eyes reddened. “It’s nothing. I’m just so happy to see you.”

Fang Xue lifted her chin slightly, revealing a smooth, rounded jaw. “You do have a heart.”

She pulled Qiao Weiwei down to sit, eager to share her spoils. “Over the summer, my mom took me to Jay Chou’s concert. I even got his autograph—signed personally—and a photo with the idol!”

“Life is complete!”

Listening to her chatter, Qiao Weiwei finally felt the reality of her rebirth.

Although it was the first day of school, senior students weren’t allowed rest; once everyone was present, they immediately began a diagnostic test.

Fortunately, Uncle had hired a tutor, so Qiao Weiwei wasn’t left clueless.

However, near the end of the exam, an incident occurred.

A classmate, Chen Lin, claimed her sapphire necklace was missing.

“This is a serious matter. The teacher hopes whoever took it will return it during break. Otherwise, don’t blame the teacher for being harsh.”

The name Chen Lin sounded vaguely familiar, and Qiao Weiwei had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, after the homeroom teacher left, Chen Lin strode up to her and threatened to search her bag.

“At lunch break, I saw you hanging around my seat for a long time. It must be you who took it.”

Her lips were thin, and when she spoke through gritted teeth, they seemed to vanish, making her look somewhat comical.

Fang Xue was straightforward and loyal; seeing her friend accused unjustly, she immediately flew into a rage, her face flushed.

“Chen Lin, Weiwei doesn’t need money. Why would she steal your necklace? Besides, I’ve been with Weiwei the whole time. Stop slandering her.”

Chen Lin crossed her arms. “Who knows if you two are accomplices? That’s a special adult gift from my dad, custom-ordered from France. It’s worth ten million.”

“Especially you, Qiao Weiwei—heard your parents died in a car accident. If you weren’t stealing, where would you get money for tuition?”

Her arrogant demeanor was enough to disgust even a dog.

Mentioning the accident, Qiao Weiwei’s face drained of color.

Seeing this, Fang Xue snapped, “Shut your foul mouth! How dare you curse elders? Do you have any manners?”

“My aunt is the director at the city hospital. She saw your parents die with her own eyes,” Chen Lin sneered mockingly. “You think you’re Weiwei’s best friend? You don’t even know something this big?”

…