Chapter One Hundred: Around the New Year

A single sentence from Han Chen saying the results were all wrong left Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan speechless.

In the silence, Han Chen sighed. "Let's start class. We're not going over these test papers. We'll begin from the first year of high school."

He had promised Boss Zhao, and he had to follow through. Turning two slackers into top students was difficult, but teaching them the basics was simple. Lay the foundation first, and deal with the rest later.

Just as Han Chen was about to begin, he caught sight of Zhao Fan out of the corner of his eye. "Is Boss Zhao listening too?"

Zhao Fan said calmly, "Reviewing the old brings forth the new. I've got nothing else to do, so I might as well sit in."

Han Chen said nothing at that, and simply started teaching from the first-year curriculum.

He lectured all morning. After lunch, Han Chen spent half an hour in his office putting everything he'd covered into a test paper, one copy for each of them.

Within a week, the three of them were studying until the world went dark. Most of the time Han Chen taught, though occasionally someone else filled in.

Every time Zhao Fan sat at the side under the pretext of reviewing the old, his foundation was better than Chen Tianyu's and Duan Gaoxuan's, plus he had the intense review session from before, so he quickly left the two of them in the dust.

By the later stage, Zhao Fan could handle everything on his own.

With that settled, Zhao Fan started thinking about the supermarket's promotions.

Not to mention anything else, the New Year was coming, so they had to put together some New Year goods events.

So Zhao Fan went to discuss things with Old Man Zhao, Old Madam Zhao, and Chen Da, and settled on a New Year goods promotion.

That left only Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan slogging through their miserable studies day after day.

But soon enough, the company went on holiday.

The students had their break, and the company had to send people home for the New Year.

On the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, the employees gradually left, and Han Chen booked a flight back home as well. Only then did Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan's studies come to an end for the time being.

"Don't think just because it's the New Year you don't have to study. After the holiday, when the company reopens, you two will come take an exam. If your scores drop..."

Zhao Fan didn't finish the sentence, but that deliberate vagueness was exactly what frightened Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan, and they both insisted there was no way their scores would decline.

"Alright, promises aren't worth anything. You have to show me results. Get in the car, I'm taking you home."

Zhao Fan dropped the two off at their homes, then drove toward Zhao Haitian's supermarket.

Zhao Haitian was busy tidying things up, preparing to close.

Zhao Yun'er sat nearby, a pencil in her hand, doing her homework.

"Uncle, you're here."

"Mm." Zhao Fan tousled Zhao Yun'er's hair. "Pack up your things. We're heading home soon."

"Okay."

Zhao Yun'er scampered off with a patter of footsteps, and Zhao Fan went over to lend Zhao Haitian a hand.

Zhao Haitian asked with a smile, "What are you doing here?"

"The company's closed, and it's not dark out yet, so I figured I'd come take a look. Tomorrow's New Year's Eve—are you opening the store?"

Zhao Haitian wiped the sweat off his face. "No. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to spend with Yun'er. It's a good chance to stay home and keep the little girl company tomorrow."

Zhao Yun'er dragged her backpack out. "Yun'er doesn't need Daddy to keep her company. Nyeh nyeh nyeh..."

She made a funny face and ran over to climb into Zhao Fan's car.

Zhao Fan and Zhao Haitian exchanged a look, both unable to hold back their laughter.

The little girl was their family's mood booster. As long as she was around, there was never a moment of unhappiness.

Zhao Fan and Zhao Haitian each drove one car. On the way home, the roads were crowded with vehicles and people.

The joy of the New Year was written on everyone's faces. Zhao Fan looked at the festive atmosphere outside, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

At this time in his past life, he had just married Wang Ying not long before. But the Wang family's house had been smashed, Wang Qiang had been dragged away, and Wang Ying had cried and begged him to help...

It was fair to say that Zhao Fan had neglected his own family entirely for the Wangs.

Now that he was out of the picture, he wondered what would become of the Wang family this New Year.

At Yilan Tiandi.

Zhao Fan and Zhao Haitian drove into the courtyard one after the other. Old Man Zhao and Old Madam Zhao were busy cleaning up all over the place. Seeing the cars return, they immediately set down their cleaning tools.

Zhao Fan asked, "Anything we can help with?"

Old Madam Zhao said with a beaming smile, "The house is almost cleaned up. If you want to help, you two brothers can go buy some fireworks. Our family's got money this year, so we absolutely have to celebrate this New Year right."

Zhao Fan nodded. "Big Brother can stay and keep Yun'er company. I'll go buy the fireworks."

"Alright."

And so, Zhao Fan, who had just gotten home, drove off again.

But just as the car reached the gate, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side.

"Zhao Fan!"

Zhao Fan was startled and slammed on the brakes.

Fortunately, he had barely left the neighborhood, so he hadn't picked up much speed. One press of the pedal and the car stopped.

"You—"

Before he could finish, Zhao Fan saw who had rushed out, and fell silent. It was Wang Ying.

"Zhao Fan. Zhao Fan, get out of the car. Help me. Please, help me, okay?"

Wang Ying pounded desperately on the car window, trying to get Zhao Fan to roll it down.

Today's Wang Ying was utterly unlike her former clean and pretty self. Her hair was a mess like a pile of straw, there was a clear handprint on her right cheek, and she wasn't even wearing shoes, standing on the freezing ground, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She looked utterly pathetic and miserable.

Zhao Fan withdrew his gaze, his expression indifferent. Just a moment ago he'd been wondering how the Wang family would fare this year, and now here was Wang Ying appearing in front of him.

Asking him for help?

Zhao Fan sneered. Did she really think he looked that generous?

He pressed the accelerator and drove off without another thought.

Wang Ying, who had been leaning against the car window, hadn't expected him to leave. Caught off guard, she was knocked down by the suddenly lurching vehicle and fell hard on the ground, unable to react for a long moment.

How... how could this be?

Did Zhao Fan really have no feelings for her at all anymore?

Liu Meiyun ran out from the side and nervously helped Wang Ying up. "My dear, what did he say?"

Wang Ying snapped back from her shock and shuddered. "I... I'm so cold."

Liu Meiyun stomped her foot anxiously. "What does being cold matter right now? What did he say? Tell me the answer, now!"

Wang Ying was shivering violently. "Forget the answer for now. Give me some clothes!"

Liu Meiyun glared. "Would it kill you to say the answer first?"

Wang Ying flared up. "Answer, answer, all you care about is the answer! I'm freezing to death here, can't you see that? Right now, this instant, give me some clothes!"

Liu Meiyun was taken aback. "You... how could you—"

"How could I what? It's freezing cold out here and you don't care whether I live or die. All you care about is the answer. If I freeze to death, you can forget about ever getting Zhao Fan to help!"

Wang Ying and Liu Meiyun faced off, neither willing to give in.

Zhao Fan, of course, had no idea that after he left, Wang Ying and Liu Meiyun had locked horns. He was busy looking for a place to buy fireworks.

As he passed through an intersection, Zhao Fan sat waiting at a red light and idly happened to glance at the car next to him. A hand suddenly appeared on the rear window.

Before Zhao Fan could get a good look, the hand had vanished.

Hm?

What was that?

Zhao Fan grew suspicious and couldn't help staring at that spot.

"Honk—"

A car horn blared.