Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 53

Xia Tian stood across the street, hiding in a discreet spot.

Ten minutes later, Ye Ningyu exited the pharmacy, carrying a plastic bag. She carefully got on her bike and rode away, completely unaware that Xia Tian was watching her from a short distance.

Once he was sure she wasn’t coming back, Xia Tian quickly entered the pharmacy.

Inside, a woman who looked to be in her late twenties was sitting lazily at the counter, half-asleep.

“Hey, can I get a couple of band-aids?” Xia Tian asked.

“They’re over there, you can help your—” The woman began to answer without looking up. But halfway through her sentence, she raised her head, noticing the handsome young man in front of her.

Her eyes lit up, and she quickly stopped him, flashing a big smile. “Wait, I’ll get them for you!”

“How many do you need, handsome?”

“Just two will do,” Xia Tian replied.

“Got it~”

The woman fetched two band-aids for Xia Tian.

As he was about to pay, Xia Tian casually asked, “By the way, I just saw a girl carrying a huge bag of medicine walking out of here. Do people really buy that much medicine all at once?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised how many sick people there are these days, especially those with chronic conditions. They tend to buy large quantities of meds to store at home,” the woman explained.

Xia Tian nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. Ye Ningyu had mentioned before that her mother was sick and often stayed at home. It seemed like she had just been buying medicine for her mother.

His curiosity piqued, Xia Tian thought for a moment before continuing.

“Hey, while you’re at it, could you grab me some eye drops? My eyes have been feeling really dry lately.”

“Of course! Let me get that for you,” the woman replied cheerfully and fetched a bottle of eye drops.

As she entered the amount into the cash register, she turned to him. “That’ll be 10 yuan.”

“Okay,” Xia Tian said, handing her the money. He then glanced at the long trail of receipts hanging by the counter.

“Mind if I take my receipt? I need it to get reimbursed when I get home,” Xia Tian said, gesturing to the pile of receipts.

“Go ahead! Those are meant for customers anyway, but most people don’t bother taking them,” the woman replied.

Xia Tian crouched down and carefully tore off his receipt.

Sure enough, attached to it was a long receipt detailing a variety of medications—at least dozens of different types.

Checking the time stamp, Xia Tian confirmed that this was the receipt Ye Ningyu had left behind.

To avoid raising suspicion, he quickly memorized the names of two of the medications listed and then casually exited the pharmacy.

If he had asked the woman directly about what Ye Ningyu had purchased, she likely would have been suspicious and refused to tell him anything.

So Xia Tian had gambled that, like many others, Ye Ningyu wouldn’t take the receipt with her.

And just as he had hoped, the receipt was still there.

“Compound Ban Zhi Capsules… Huachansu Capsules?”

“What are these for?” Xia Tian murmured to himself as he pulled out his phone to look them up.

His expression darkened as soon as he saw the results.

Both medications were used to treat lung cancer.

“Little Ye’s mother has cancer? Lung cancer?”

Suddenly, Xia Tian remembered something.

In his previous life, Ye Ningyu had died from lung cancer as well.

And now, finding out that her mother also had lung cancer… Could there be some deep connection between the two cases?

But lung cancer wasn’t contagious or hereditary…

As Xia Tian puzzled over this, he noticed out of the corner of his eye a bald man squatting in front of the shuttered storefront he had been eyeing earlier.

Could he be the owner?

Xia Tian didn’t waste any time. Forgetting about his phone, he jogged over to the bald man.

“Hello, sir. Are you the owner of this store?”

“I am. Who are you?” the bald man asked, somewhat skeptical as he eyed the young Xia Tian.

Xia Tian smiled and immediately extended a hand.

“Hello, I’m Xia Tian. I saw the ‘For Rent’ sign on your storefront. I’m interested in renting it.”

“You? Rent my store? Are you sure?”

“Don’t worry, I may be young, but I’ve got the money to rent your place,” Xia Tian reassured him.

The bald man scanned Xia Tian up and down, then relaxed a bit.

He figured Xia Tian must be some rich kid looking to start a business.

His earlier skepticism faded, and he shook Xia Tian’s hand warmly.

“My name’s Wang Defa. Haven’t had lunch yet? There’s a noodle shop up ahead. Let’s talk there.”

“Sure, lead the way, Mr. Wang.”

At the noodle shop, Wang Defa ordered two bowls of pork trotters noodle soup and sat down across from Xia Tian.

Before Wang Defa could start, Xia Tian casually pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to him.

Wang Defa didn’t find it surprising—many university students smoked these days. But when he saw Xia Tian leaning forward to light the cigarette for him with great courtesy, he was a bit taken aback.

It wasn’t just the cigarette; it was Xia Tian’s humble and respectful attitude that caught Wang Defa’s attention.

“Mr. Wang, let’s cut to the chase. How much are you asking in rent for this place?”

Impressed by Xia Tian’s straightforwardness, Wang Defa got straight to the point. “The store is 280 square meters. I’m asking 8,000 yuan a month, with a minimum rental period of three months.”

Xia Tian wasn’t surprised by the price. After all, the location wasn’t too far from the city center, just a few kilometers away.

However, he shook his head. “Mr. Wang, your price is fair, but I simply can’t afford it.”

Wang Defa had developed a good impression of Xia Tian due to his respectful demeanor, so he wasn’t offended by the rejection.

“Don’t be so hasty, young man. Business is about negotiation. How about you tell me what price you have in mind, and I’ll consider it.”

“1,000 yuan a month,” Xia Tian replied calmly.

Wang Defa froze, staring at Xia Tian in disbelief.

“What did you say? 1,000 yuan a month?”

“Yes. 1,000 yuan a month, and I only want to rent it for two months,” Xia Tian answered, his expression steady.

Wang Defa was no longer calm. He slammed the table, his face turning red with anger.

“You’ve got to be joking! My rent is set at 8,000 yuan a month, and you want to cut it down by 7,000? And on top of that, you only want it for two months?”

“Are you messing with me, kid?!”