Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Yi Jiahe was true to his word. During the lunch break, the classroom remained empty.

Yi Jiahe extended a hand to You Nan. "Come here."

You Nan remained in his seat. In all his days interacting with Yi Jiahe, this was the first time he had hesitated.

You Nan looked down at his desk and spoke to Yi Jiahe, "I thought about it yesterday. We're both students, and your money doesn't grow on trees. Maybe what you said to me yesterday should just be void."

Yi Jiahe's smile faded. Standing, his gaze fell on You Nan's profile, outlined by the light. The boy asked again, "Don't you need money?"

You Nan nervously clasped his hands together. "But this is my business—"

Before he could finish, his vision suddenly darkened. Yi Jiahe walked over and abruptly cupped his face with both hands.

You Nan looked at him in shock. He heard Yi Jiahe speak in a low voice, "Then smile for me, okay?"

The boy's beautiful, clear eyes wavered slightly, fixed intently on You Nan. That striking appearance bewitched the person whose face he held. "Smile for me just once, and I'll give you a hundred."

You Nan didn't move, his brows furrowed as he stared at him. There was an emotion in his eyes that Yi Jiahe couldn't understand.

The light outside the window was bright, and the curtains fluttered in the wind. You Nan's fair and innocent face seemed to glow in Yi Jiahe's eyes.

His gentle brows, beautiful red lips, and eyes that seemed to hold stars—within them, a tiny reflection of Yi Jiahe himself.

"You don't believe me?" Yi Jiahe released You Nan, reached in his pocket, and pulled out a wallet. He took out four hundred yuan and placed it in front of You Nan. "See, this is the money for the two times you smiled at me yesterday."

"Is a hundred not enough? I can give you two hundred at a time."

This side of Yi Jiahe left You Nan at a loss. He stood up flustered. "What... what's wrong with you?"

Yi Jiahe forcefully stuffed the four hundred yuan into You Nan's hand. You Nan refused to accept it, unwilling to close his hand, so Yi Jiahe used his own hand to cover You Nan's, forcing him to clasp it.

The boy's hand was large enough to easily cover You Nan's. You Nan couldn't resist his strength.

"Does your younger brother have enough money to buy new school uniforms this semester? He's so sensible—he probably didn't tell you that his school requires several new sets each semester, did he?"

Yi Jiahe's words struck a chord in You Nan's heart. You Nan froze. The other boy leaned against his shoulder. Though it wasn't heavy, the pressure made You Nan sway and fall into Yi Jiahe's arms—somehow, Yi Jiahe had moved behind him without him noticing.

Yi Jiahe held You Nan's hand. Neither of them noticed the ambiguous posture they were in.

"I know a bit about their school. They have to wear uniforms too, and they need to change into different ones for classes and activities. If your younger brother doesn't have new uniforms, he won't be able to participate in some activities. What will the other students think of him?"

What else could they think?

Without a uniform, he couldn't join group activities and would be excluded by the other students.

You Nan's eyelids twitched. He bit his lower lip, leaving a deep mark. Uncontrollably, he clenched the money tightly in his hand.

You Ruan really hadn't mentioned the uniform issue to him.

You Ruan had experienced the collapse of his family and was far more mature than a child his age should be.

He only shared good news, never the troubles.

Every day, the child came home happy and cheerful, telling him about interesting things at school, what he had learned that day, and what score and rank he got on his tests.

Every time You Nan asked if he had enough money, the child always said he didn't need any, that everything at school was fine.

You Nan parted his lips slightly, breathing rapidly a couple of times. It felt as if a ball of cotton had brushed against his chest—not painful, but leaving a sore, weak sensation.

His heart ached for You Ruan, who had been forced to grow up at such a young age.

You Nan's part-time job pay was monthly, and he hadn't received this month's wages yet. A few days ago, he had paid the water and electricity bills, and yesterday he bought thank-you gifts for Jiang Songen and Yi Jiahe.

You Nan's bank card had just over two hundred yuan left. He wished he could split every penny in two.

You Nan was waiting for his paycheck at the end of the month to save up for rent and living expenses. Then he planned to invite the two who had helped him to a meal at the restaurant where he worked. With his employee discount, he could save some money.

But he was also anxious, afraid that Yi Jiahe and Jiang Songen would think it wasn't upscale enough.

You Nan's eyes stung and felt dry. His brows furrowed, and as he blinked, tears fell from his eyes, leaving wet trails on his cheeks.

You Nan lowered his head. He didn't make a sound as he cried.

You Nan's tears startled Yi Jiahe. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction from You Nan.

Yi Jiahe straightened up, took hold of You Nan's arm, and turned him around to face him. But You Nan kept his face turned away, refusing to look at him.

"Crying?" Yi Jiahe slightly lowered his head and handed You Nan a tissue to wipe his tears. "Don't cry. Take this money. If you're short in the future, come to me. What I said yesterday still stands."

You Nan turned his face away, took the tissue from Yi Jiahe's hand, and wiped his tears himself.

Yi Jiahe's hand was left empty, hanging stiffly in the air.

After a couple of seconds, he retracted it as if nothing had happened.

He waited quietly for You Nan to compose himself before reaching out to him again. "Can I see the homework I assigned you yesterday?"

You Nan's voice carried a hint of tears. "If I do as you say, is there a time limit?"

"No," Yi Jiahe answered quickly.

As long as he still liked Jiang Songen, his promise to You Nan would never change.

You Nan nodded, pressing the tissue to the corner of his eye to dab away the tears. "Alright."

In that case, don't blame me for treating you like an ATM.

You Nan collected himself, pulled the notebook with the problems from his desk, and handed it to Yi Jiahe. "I finished them all. You can check them."

Yi Jiahe directly sat down in You Nan's seat.

You Nan, who had been waiting for Yi Jiahe to return to his own seat so he could rest quietly: "..."

You Nan couldn't hold back anymore. He reached out to pull Yi Jiahe's arm. "Get up! Go back to your own seat."

Yi Jiahe didn't move. You Nan couldn't budge him at all.

You Nan gritted his teeth at him. He moved Yi Jiahe's stool over and sat on it himself.

Later, he wouldn't return Yi Jiahe's stool to him!

He would make Yi Jiahe move it back himself!

They had already spent a long time in the classroom. Yi Jiahe had just finished grading half of You Nan's homework and explaining the process when other students began trickling back in.

They were baffled to see the class monitor sitting in You Nan's seat, with You Nan beside him.

"Monitor?" The English class representative, who had never interacted with You Nan before, walked over, resting her hands on You Nan's desk. The girl bent down and asked Yi Jiahe, "Since when have you and You Nan become so close?"

Yi Jiahe didn't even lift his eyelids, his pen still moving across the paper. He paid no attention to the looks from others. "We've always been pretty close."

The English class representative then remembered that when You Nan first joined their class, the Homeroom Teacher had assigned Yi Jiahe to look after him.

Other classmates who overheard their conversation also recalled the arrangement.

They glanced over curiously, but seeing how openly Yi Jiahe and You Nan allowed themselves to be watched, they quickly lost interest and looked away.

The English class representative didn’t want to leave. Being observant, she noticed that Yi Jiahe’s desk had no stool, while You Nan, who was leaning over this desk, was sitting on an extra one.

"Monitor, I also have some questions I don’t understand. Could you teach me?"

While the girl spoke to Yi Jiahe, You Nan stayed quiet beside them.

He lowered his head, staring at the wood grain on his desk as if the ordinary patterns had suddenly captured his attention today.

Yi Jiahe didn’t refuse her. He continued correcting without pause.

You Nan had gotten seven questions wrong and three right.

Yi Jiahe closed the notebook, looked up calmly, and said to the English class representative, "Go get your notebook and let me take a look."

Facing his handsome face, her heart skipped a beat. She pressed her lips together and nodded repeatedly.

After sending her away, Yi Jiahe took out three hundred yuan from his wallet and slipped it into You Nan’s pocket.

In a good mood, Yi Jiahe looked at You Nan with some warmth in his expression. He patted You Nan’s hand and said, "This afternoon during physical education, wait for me in the lounge."

When he stood up, he took You Nan’s stool with him.

You Nan balled his hand into a fist.

Only after Yi Jiahe had left did he reach into his pocket, touching the three hundred-yuan bills that seemed to still carry the other’s body warmth.

Suddenly, You Nan smiled.

In less than half an hour, pretending for Yi Jiahe had earned him seven hundred yuan.

His younger brother’s school uniform fees were now covered.

During the afternoon physical education class, after the teacher had the students warm up, the girls were sent to practice stretching exercises while the boys went to play ball.

With the teacher not supervising closely, everyone scattered into small groups, and no one would notice if one or two people were missing.

The door of lounge number four was closed from the inside. You Nan sat on a soft chair, with Yi Jiahe standing in front of him.

Yi Jiahe made him smile twice. You Nan’s smile grew increasingly stiff, and Yi Jiahe even demanded he hold it for a set time. By the time Yi Jiahe said to stop, You Nan felt as though he had forgotten how to smile naturally.

He knew that his smile now must closely resemble Jiang Songen’s. Yi Jiahe was very strict about the details, leaving no room for error.

Yi Jiahe cupped You Nan’s face, adjusting his subtle expressions. He transferred all the expressions that had left a deep impression on him from Jiang Songen’s face onto You Nan.

He also made You Nan speak to him, imitating Jiang Songen’s precise diction and tone.

When the class bell rang half an hour later, You Nan pushed open the lounge door. His pants pocket was bulging, filled with the money Yi Jiahe had given him.

There was so much that it couldn’t all fit in his pocket; Yi Jiahe had even tucked some between the elastic of his waistband and his skin.

You Nan gritted his teeth and endured it all for the money.

With the money in hand, You Nan returned home and reached out to You Ruan’s Homeroom Teacher to ask if his younger brother’s class recently needed to buy new school uniforms.

The Homeroom Teacher replied quickly.

You Nan then learned that the school not only required new uniforms but also fees for after-school clubs.

Uncertain whether the money Yi Jiahe had given him today would be enough, he tentatively asked, "About how much would it all cost together?"

The Homeroom Teacher, aware of You Ruan’s family situation, did not pressure them.

She quoted the prices.

The school uniform included an undershirt, a blazer, and shoes, totaling over six hundred yuan. Without the shoes, it would be four hundred.

The after-school clubs varied by type, with a monthly fee of twenty-five hundred yuan for three sessions per week.

As she sent the message, the Homeroom Teacher couldn’t help but sigh.

You Ruan was such a well-behaved boy.

His family couldn’t afford to send him to the classes, so whenever it was time for extracurricular activities, he would sit alone in the classroom doing homework.

Meanwhile, the other children went to the nearby community center.

Sometimes, when she passed by the classroom and saw him through the window, it made her sad.

If only You Ruan’s family circumstances were a little better.

You Nan counted the money he’d received from Yi Jiahe today. It was still several hundred short of thirty-one hundred yuan.

He hadn't managed to earn that much today, but in the lounge, Yi Jiahe had gotten carried away and taught him a few more lines.

Clutching the money, You Nan thought for a moment and said, "When I take Xiao Ruan to school tomorrow, I’ll give the teacher the money for the school uniform."

"We’ll start the interest classes next month and pay then."

The Homeroom Teacher was very surprised but also relieved.

While she sympathized with You Ruan, she was glad that You Nan was willing to pay, as it meant she could finally meet her quota.

"Of course," the Homeroom Teacher responded gently.

She didn’t probe into how You Nan, still a high school student, had come by the money.

Everyone had their own struggles, and she saw no need to pry.