Stop Chasing the School Belle, My Shy Deskmate is Sweet and Soft - Chapter 98

“W-what?”

The classroom was noisy with students chatting, and Xia Tian’s voice wasn’t very loud to begin with.

Ye Ningyu only caught him calling her name; the rest of what he said was muffled.

“Nothing, I was just saying how unbelievably pretty you look.”

“Ah… no, no I’m not.”

Ye Ningyu’s face turned beet red from the compliment as she shyly turned her head away.

Xia Tian chuckled but didn’t repeat what he had just said.

Not yet. Just wait.

The gaokao was almost here.

—

As class was about to end, Xia Tian went to the teacher’s office to request leave from Wang Qingshan.

He had arranged to meet Jiang Jianwei for dinner the previous night and planned to discuss finding a job for his father.

As he left Wang Qingshan’s office and was about to go downstairs, he ran into Qiao Shaoxuan, who was returning from taking out the trash.

When Qiao Shaoxuan saw Xia Tian, his expression immediately turned smug and mocking.

“So, Xia Tian, do you understand the Children’s Day gift I mentioned yesterday now? Your dad must be lying comfortably at home by now. I think you should thank me.”

“My dad was laid off because of you?”

“Watch your words. Your dad was going to be laid off anyway. I just moved him from the second batch to the first.”

Xia Tian narrowed his eyes. Now it was confirmed—Qiao Shaoxuan was behind this.

Qiao Shaoxuan, feeling full of himself, continued to boast.

“Don’t look at me like that. If you want me to stop your dad from being laid off, it’s simple. Apologize to me in front of Little Yuan and everyone who saw me thrown out of the Heartbreak Museum. Oh, and hand over 50,000 yuan. Then I might consider asking my dad to give your dad a pass.”

“Did you drink too much tainted milk as a kid? It’s broad daylight, and you’re already daydreaming?”

Qiao Shaoxuan froze, not expecting Xia Tian to talk back.

He stretched his neck, his face red with anger.

“Say that again, and I’ll make sure your dad never works at his old job again!”

Xia Tian rolled his eyes and casually threw out, “Idiot,” before turning to leave.

Realizing what had just happened, Qiao Shaoxuan yelled after him.

“Xia Tian, you’re just a broke loser with a trashy dad who’ll never get ahead!”

“You’re just raging out of powerless anger because you’re worthless. All you can do is insult me. What else can you do? My dad makes more in bribes every year than your entire family does in a decade!”

“And you act all high and mighty with Little Yuan. Who do you think you are?”

Xia Tian turned slightly, a meaningful smile on his face.

“More in bribes every year, huh? Alright, alright, a full-level dutiful son, dutiful to the point of disaster.”

What Qiao Shaoxuan didn’t realize was that in Xia Tian’s previous life, his “dutiful son” act for Xu Yuan had cost his father most of the money he had saved over a lifetime, only for it to amount to nothing in the end.

And now, in this life, he had crossed Xia Tian’s bottom line.

Their family was about to face utter ruin.

If Qiao Wu had an omniscient perspective, he probably would’ve wished he had shot Qiao Shaoxuan into the wall when he was still a tadpole.

“Raise a son only to have him sabotage you?”

—

After leaving school, Xia Tian immediately took a taxi to the restaurant he had reserved by phone.

Not long after he arrived, the private room door opened, and Jiang Jianwei walked in with a briefcase in hand, smiling.

“Brother Xia, long time no see.”

“Brother Jiang, long time no see. Judging by your look, you’ve been making a lot of money lately, huh?”

“Haha, just some small deals here and there… Wait, don’t tell me you can tell fortunes by looking at people?”

Xia Tian smirked. “I was just making polite conversation, but it looks like I wasn’t wrong. Damn!”

Jiang Jianwei stumbled, nearly tripping.

“Brother Xia, you’re as blunt as ever. I’m not sure I can handle it!”

“Hehe, you’ll get used to it.”

Xia Tian grinned, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket and offering it to Jiang Jianwei.

By the time he finished his smoke, any awkwardness from not having seen each other in a while had disappeared.

“Brother Xia, your gaokao is less than a week away, yet you still find the time to ask me out for dinner. Shouldn’t you be in the classroom studying?”

“The gaokao is secondary. Strengthening our bond is what really matters.”

Jiang Jianwei laughed. “Brother, you don’t need to butter me up. One thing I like about you is that you’re straightforward. Just tell me what you need. If it’s within my power, consider it done!”

“Hehe, since you put it that way, I won’t hold back… My dad just got laid off from his job. He’s getting older and doesn’t have any standout skills. I was wondering if you have any projects you’re investing in where he could find work?”

“Is that all? Easy. Go home and wait for my call. At the latest, I’ll have an answer for you by tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Jianwei took on the task without hesitation.

Xia Tian’s eyes filled with gratitude as he raised his glass to toast him.

“Brother Jiang, I owe you one. I’ll repay this favor someday.”

“Haha, no need for that. It’s just a job. This is just a little help between partners. I’ve been making a lot from the Heartbreak Museum you sold me. I should be the one thanking you.”

Xia Tian said nothing more but mentally noted the favor.

In this world, relationships were priceless.

If you could repay a favor, you should do so as soon as possible.

—

After dinner with Jiang Jianwei, it was already past 8 p.m., just a few minutes before evening self-study ended.

Xia Tian hurriedly took a taxi back to school.

He still needed to deliver the pink bike to Little Ye.

After a quick chat with the security guard at the gate, Xia Tian slipped into the school and entered through the back door.

When Ye Ningyu saw him return, a flash of joy crossed her eyes.

But soon, she wrinkled her nose.

“Xia Tian, d-did you drink?”