Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 100

Over the past few months, Ye Ningyu had clearly felt that Xia Tian had been especially good to her, even to the point of favoritism.

But she couldn’t help doubting herself—why had Xia Tian suddenly stopped liking Xu Yuan and started liking her instead?

And then…

Would there be a day when Xia Tian would suddenly stop being good to her too?

The more she thought about it, the more chaotic her mind became, and she even forgot to respond to Xia Tian.

“Hey, what are you thinking about? Why aren’t you answering me? Did your brain freeze?”

“Ah… oh, no, no!”

Startled, Little Ye almost dropped the cotton candy she hadn’t finished eating. She waved her hands, trying to explain:

“I don’t know where to go. I was just thinking… um, after Mom’s surgery this summer, I’ll find a part-time job. Once I’ve saved enough, we can go, okay?”

“Alright, think about it first. We’ll figure it out during the summer.”

Xia Tian couldn’t help but smile, thinking to himself that by the time she finished working, summer would almost be over. How would they have time to go anywhere?

By then, he’d just find a way to trick her into working for him.

—

After seeing Ye Ningyu safely home, Xia Tian stood outside her apartment complex for a while.

Before long, he saw Fang Yu pedaling furiously toward him.

“Tsk, you sure move fast when there’s money involved!”

“What are you saying? Our friendship is built on unshakable revolutionary camaraderie! Besides, the world is dangerous these days. Boys walking home alone at night isn’t safe. I figured if we go back together and some girl tries to take advantage of you, I can step in to protect you!”

Xia Tian snorted.

“Hah, your calculations are so precise they’re hitting me in the face… If a woman really wants to take advantage of me, I’d gladly sacrifice myself.”

“Not gonna happen. You’ve got Little Ye now. If you mess around, I’ll tell her.”

Xia Tian kicked Fang Yu on the butt.

Then he told Fang Yu to sit on the front bumper of the bike while he pedaled toward the nearest Construction Bank.

Fang Yu protested.

“This is my bike! Why do I have to sit on the bumper?”

“I’ve got dangerous equipment. It’s better if I don’t sit there.”

“You—fine, you win!”

Fang Yu was about to argue, but then he remembered the “impressive” sight he had witnessed during a previous exam.

He swallowed his words.

—

At the bank, Xia Tian withdrew 30,000 yuan from the ATM without hesitation and handed it over to Fang Yu.

“What the—this much?!”

“Yeah, 30,000 yuan. It’s enough for you to buy a front-row ticket for your idol Jay Chou.”

“Forget it, Xia Tian. I was joking when I said you should give me more. Just a token amount would’ve been enough. This money is yours—you earned it. It has nothing to do with me.”

Fang Yu spoke earnestly.

He knew he hadn’t contributed to earning this money and had no right to such a large amount.

Xia Tian rolled his eyes.

“Stop overthinking it. Just take it. I said you should watch Jay from the best seat, so you will. The rest can be for your living expenses.

College is starting soon. If you can avoid asking your mom for money, don’t ask her. We’re adults now. We should help ease the burden on our families. We should be mature men!”

“Yeah, you’re right—we’re adults now. But… you call carrying around Taro Ultraman to school being a mature man?”

Xia Tian froze.

Fang Yu was staring intently at his school bag.

Taking it off, Xia Tian saw it.

Crap!

When had the Taro Ultraman toy Ye Ningyu gave him poked its head out of the bag?

—

When Xia Tian got home, he received a text from Jiang Jianwei.

[Brother Xia, I’ve arranged everything. I have a small parts processing factory in the northern suburbs. It’s not very big, but one of the employees recently quit. Whenever your dad is free, have him go there and look for a man named Wang Lin. Just tell him that ‘Boss Xia’ sent him, and he’ll know.]

Along with the message, Xia Tian received a location pin.

After glancing at it, Xia Tian replied: “Thank you, Brother Jiang.”

Confirming that his dad now had a new job, Xia Tian finally felt relieved.

When he reached the front door of his apartment, he overheard his parents talking in the living room.

“Strange, why isn’t Xia Tian home yet? Did something happen on the way?”

“Meijuan, stop worrying. Xia Tian’s all grown up now, tall and strong. What could possibly happen to him?”

“Yeah… you’re right. So, how did things go with your job search today?”

Xia Zhengguo let out a heavy sigh.

“Sigh… there have been so many layoffs in the area lately. People who got word early already reached out to these factories. I was too late.”

“Don’t worry. Take your time. These things can’t be rushed.”

“Mm… I just didn’t expect to be unemployed in middle age.”

Hearing this, Xia Tian took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

“Mom, Dad, I’m back.”

“You brat, why are you so late tonight?”

Chen Meijuan immediately scolded him, but she also helped take his school bag off his shoulders.

Xia Tian scratched his nose.

“Uh… I went to find a job for Dad.”

“?”

“?”

Both Xia Zhengguo and Chen Meijuan looked up at him in shock.

Feeling a bit awkward, Xia Tian continued.

“It’s true. There’s a factory in the northern suburbs. Dad, you can go check it out tomorrow. I’ve already made arrangements. It’s at the corner of Tianzhang Avenue and Fengye Avenue. Look for someone named Wang Lin, and tell him that ‘Boss Xia’ sent you.”

“Xia Tian, don’t joke around with me.”

Xia Zhengguo gave a wry smile.

Chen Meijuan rolled her eyes and twisted Xia Tian’s ear.

“You brat, your dad’s already in a bad mood these days. Are you trying to mess with him?”

“Ow, Mom, stop! If you keep twisting, my ears will stick out! I’m serious—I really found him a job. If you don’t believe me, go with him tomorrow and see for yourself.”

“Stop babbling and go study in your room! The gaokao is coming up. Stay out of adult matters!”

Chen Meijuan glared at Xia Tian.

Her expression made it clear that if he said another word, she’d twist his ear off completely.

Knowing how fiery his mom could be, Xia Tian sighed and headed to his room.

“Sigh, I’ll talk to Dad about it alone tomorrow. Mom’s way too hot-tempered.”

—

That night, while lying in bed, Chen Meijuan and Xia Zhengguo continued their conversation.

“Meijuan, I don’t think Xia Tian would joke about something like this. Maybe he’s telling the truth?”

Chen Meijuan, wearing a face mask, reached under the blanket and pinched Xia Zhengguo hard.

“Xia Zhengguo, are you messing around now too?”

“Didn’t you hear him say to find a guy named Wang Lin and mention ‘Boss Xia’? He’s just a kid! What kind of boss could he be?”

Thinking it over, Xia Zhengguo realized she had a point and dropped the topic.

But later that night, as the lights were off and he lay in bed, he found himself tossing and turning.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that his son had changed in the past few months.

Xia Tian used to never make such ridiculous jokes.

“Forget it. I have nothing else to do tomorrow morning anyway. I’ll head to the northern suburbs to look for work and check out the place he mentioned.”