Chapter 32: Getting in the Car (The Real World)

Xu Yiliu asked subconsciously, "What kind of favor?"

"It’s a personal matter. I won't have you do it for free; I’ll treat you to a big meal once it’s done. How about that?" Fang Xiaoyi said, sounding half-joking.

Hearing this, Xu Yiliu guessed it wasn't anything serious. Relieved that she wasn't about to be lectured, she readily agreed, "Alright."

After all, building a good relationship with a counselor would only benefit her, not harm her.

Noticing Xu Yiliu casting a glance at the lush, vibrant succulents on the desk, Fang Xiaoyi said gently, "The school collaborated on some agricultural support projects a while ago. I was in charge of one, so I received quite a few perks."

Xu Yiliu had a hunch and looked at her curiously. "A lot of... fruit?"

"Exactly," Fang Xiaoyi said, looking troubled. "They're all piled up in the hallway of my apartment building now. I can’t eat them all, and I don't have the time to go door-to-door handing them out to my neighbors. You know how it is—counselors are busy, and I rarely have any free time on weekends."

"So, I was thinking, you’re clever—could you come up with a plan for me?"

Meeting Fang Xiaoyi’s trusting gaze, Xu Yiliu was surprised. She hesitated for a moment and said, "Let me think about it."

Based on the opening of the conversation, she had assumed Fang Xiaoyi wanted her to run errands. She hadn't expected it to be just about brainstorming.

In truth, running errands wouldn't have been a problem. Having worked in various odd jobs since childhood, she was well-accustomed to putting in effort to curry favor. Furthermore, she suspected this might have been Fang Xiaoyi’s way of giving her a chance to offer help proactively.

So, she took the initiative: "How about I help you distribute them this weekend? Just leave me the address."

Fang Xiaoyi chided her playfully, "Do I look so desperate that I need to order you around? I can hire a courier for that kind of work. I just wanted you to figure out the most efficient way to handle it."

She glanced at the five pots of succulents on her desk, picked up the smallest and prettiest one, and pressed it into the girl’s hand as she sat there upright. "With a brain like yours, letting you do that kind of grunt work would be a waste. This is my succulent—it’s doing pretty well, isn't it?"

No one had ever told Xu Yiliu that "letting you do that kind of work would be a waste." She stared at the succulent in her hand, looking momentarily dazed.

Fang Xiaoyi said, "You see how well it’s grown, but that’s not really down to my skill."

Xu Yiliu listened quietly.

Fang Xiaoyi smiled. "Succulents are easy to care for. I just sprinkle a little water on them every day, and they work hard to live and thrive until they grow into what you see now."

Xu Yiliu suddenly asked, "Is this for me?"

"It’s for you," Fang Xiaoyi said, patting her hand.

Xu Yiliu looked up, wanting to ask why. But Fang Xiaoyi just looked at her with a gentle smile, saying nothing, yet the meaning was clear.

*It’s like you—working hard to live, working hard to grow.*

After leaving the office, Fang Xiaoyi’s expression was still etched in Xu Yiliu’s mind. It was strange; she had always thought she hated being lectured, yet after being half-coaxed and half-guided by Fang Xiaoyi, she found herself not feeling nearly as resistant.

Xu Yiliu glanced at the new, plain blue profile picture in her WeChat list, patted her face, and carried the succulent back to the dormitory.

The task Fang Xiaoyi had entrusted to her wasn't difficult at all. A little communication with the property management was enough to resolve it smoothly, resulting in a win-win situation for everyone involved. Fang Xiaoyi was overjoyed and showered Xu Yiliu with endless praise, which made even the thick-skinned Xu Yiliu feel a rare sense of shyness.

***

When she arrived at the dormitory, Huo Zhiye had stopped crying and was curled up under her covers, playing on her phone. The sound of her tapping the screen was quite loud.

Ji Xianxing had returned as well.

Xu Yiliu noticed her hair was fluffier than when she had left, and she asked skeptically, "Did you go learn how to swim?"

"Yes," Ji Xianxing admitted.

Xu Yiliu couldn't forget the sight of her being rescued by Fang Xiaoyi and asked with interest, "How did it go?"

Ji Xianxing replied, "I drank until I was full."

Xu Yiliu: "..."

It was truly surreal to hear that sentence spoken in such a cold, deadpan voice.

Suddenly, a stifled laugh erupted from the room. Xu Yiliu and Ji Xianxing couldn't help but look toward the person huddled under the covers on the other bed.

The person peeking out at them snorted. "What? Can't a person laugh?"

Her voice was delicate and lacked any real edge. Xu Yiliu rubbed her arm, trying to shake off the illusion that the other girl was acting coy.

After that, the three of them didn't speak again, each going about their own business.

There was a class at ten the next morning. Ji Xianxing left early on her own, leaving only Huo Zhiye and Xu Yiliu in the room.

Xu Yiliu’s plans from the day before had been derailed by Fang Xiaoyi, so she hadn't made it to the secondhand bookstore. She grabbed a notebook and two pens, shoved them into her bag, and prepared to head to class.

Just as she opened the door, she heard the person behind her say angrily, "Wait for me!"

Seeing Xu Yiliu turn back in surprise, Huo Zhiye slung her expensive designer bag over her shoulder, lifted her chin, and walked up behind her. "Let's go."

Xu Yiliu paused, thinking back. Had she ever said they were going together?

Huo Zhiye urged her as if it were only natural, "Oh, hurry up! What if we’re late?"

Her distinctive, haughty voice made Xu Yiliu’s skin crawl. She said nothing and walked downstairs side-by-side with her.

Huo Zhiye chattered the whole way, complaining in one breath that the walk to the academic building was too long and she wanted to buy an electric scooter, then in the next, lamenting that she didn't know how to ride one. She looked at Xu Yiliu with wide, expectant eyes, hoping she would offer to ride her to class.

Unfortunately, Xu Yiliu was better at feigning ignorance. She just offered vague nods and hums, refusing to engage further. She wouldn't mind making some extra cash, but if she took on the job of being this young lady’s personal chauffeur, there was no telling how the girl would end up bossing her around.

Besides, Fang Xiaoyi’s words from the day before echoed in her mind. Coupled with the 1.5 million in her account, her appetite for money had grown far larger than it used to be. In other words, she had no interest in small change anymore.

Seeing that she wasn't taking the hint, Huo Zhiye grew frustrated and decided to just lay it all out. "If I buy an electric scooter, will you drive me to class from now on?"

Xu Yiliu said half-jokingly, "I can't. Ji Xianxing and I are very close. If I drive you every day, she might feel uncomfortable."

Ji Xianxing, who had no idea she was supposedly "very close" with Xu Yiliu, sneezed in the classroom.

***

Huo Zhiye said angrily, "An electric scooter only has one back seat! It can’t carry two people!"

Xu Yiliu teased, "Why don't you buy a tricycle? Then Ji Xianxing and I can take turns driving you."

Huo Zhiye fell silent.

Xu Yiliu breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that wealthy girls like her were thin-skinned and would never settle for a tricycle, which is why she had used that suggestion as a polite refusal.

The first class was a professional course shared by several majors. Xu Yiliu and Huo Zhiye arrived late, so there were no seats left in the back. They had to sit in the second row, right next to Ji Xianxing.

Xu Yiliu and Ji Xianxing took notes diligently, while Huo Zhiye sat there brazenly fiddling with her phone.

After class, Ji Xianxing immediately headed for the cafeteria. Seeing Huo Zhiye grab her arm, Xu Yiliu said, "Wait a second."

Xu Yiliu’s heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition washing over her.

Ji Xianxing looked at her, confused, and asked coldly, "Is something wrong?"

"Come with me," Huo Zhiye said, pouting, and shot a glare at Xu Yiliu.

The sense of foreboding in Xu Yiliu’s heart grew stronger, and she felt a sudden urge to run away. However, both she and Ji Xianxing were held firmly by Huo Zhiye, one on each side.

In such a public place, neither of them could easily shake her off, so they had no choice but to follow.

Ji Xianxing noticed the serious expression on the young lady’s face and the heavy look on Xu Yiliu’s, assuming something major was afoot. Thinking back to how she had discovered Huo Zhiye was a cleaner the day before, she didn't resist much.

It wasn't until the young lady led them downstairs and pointed to a conspicuous object amidst the sea of shared bicycles and electric scooters, saying with the air of someone with money to burn, "Get on. I ordered food."

Xu Yiliu and Ji Xianxing stared at the beautiful red-and-blue tricycle and fell into a strange, heavy silence.

Seeing them standing still, Huo Zhiye said with dissatisfaction, "Xu Yiliu, I did exactly what you said! I bought a tricycle so I wouldn't leave the one surnamed Ji behind. What else are you unhappy about?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xianxing looked at Xu Yiliu with an icy glare.

Xu Yiliu guiltily shifted her gaze away.

Before Ji Xianxing could refuse, Huo Zhiye grabbed her arm and pushed her, saying, "Oh, I’m starving. Let’s go eat!"

Ji Xianxing clearly had no idea how to deal with this kind of pouting, and before she knew it, she had been coaxed onto the back seat of the tricycle.

Both of them looked at Xu Yiliu, who was still standing there. Passersby cast curious glances their way.

Xu Yiliu: "..."

She really wanted to slap herself from this morning.