Chapter 42: Please Ask He Chen for Help!

“I’m in investment—my company doesn’t need Fang Yuan…” Under He Chen’s half-smiling gaze, Qiao Weidong awkwardly explained.

Fine!

He Chen was right—it was all about money.

He could afford to hire Fang Yuan.

But what would hiring Fang Yuan even accomplish?

Surely not go back to his old job?

A legal affairs officer nearing fifty who still hadn’t passed the bar exam, and who’d been sent to jail by a high school student for knowingly breaking the law—such an officer, even if given for free, he wouldn’t take.

That’s not like hiring Lawyer Zhang from Apartment Love to handle a lawsuit—it’s asking for death!

If not his old job, what else could Fang Yuan do?

The driver’s already there, doing his job well—no reason to fire him just for Fang Yuan!

Surely not as an administrative clerk?

That salary wouldn’t even cover Fang Yuan’s ordinary-family household expenses—he’d be better off staying home as a full-time househusband!

Plus, once they became superior and subordinate, friendship would be impossible, and the weekly singing gatherings would be ruined for good.

So even though they’re friends, the most he could do for this situation is raise the quality of the weekly singing gatherings a bit, add extra meals on weekends to ease Fang Yuan’s stress—anything else, he firmly declined.

“Uncle Qiao, what if someone asks you to sign Bai Zhantang’s name? You’re just as handsome as him, and your street experience is just as rich!” He Chen teased.

“You little rascal!” Qiao Weidong felt both embarrassed and moved.

Embarrassed because He Chen was teasing him, moved because he truly did have as much street experience as Old Bai—both had taken major falls in their youth; how could they not be seasoned veterans?

“How come you don’t act like a high schooler at all? Your mindset’s way too mature!” As they exited the restroom, Qiao Weidong couldn’t help complaining.

“Can’t match your youthful mindset, Uncle Qiao~” He Chen replied, glancing at Xiao Meng, sitting in her seat chatting with Ruan Lü—she was over ten years younger than Qiao Weidong.

“Your mouth…” Qiao Weidong noticed He Chen’s gaze too, shook his head helplessly, half-laughing, half-exasperated.

This kid wasn’t just mature—he knew a lot, and worse, he always spoke blunt truths, far more interesting than Fang Yuan.

If he weren’t so young and ridiculously good-looking—posing a threat to his daughter—he’d have already invited He Chen for drinks, had a long chat, and learned what today’s youth really think, to deepen his bond with his daughter, whose custody he didn’t hold.

Once the two families grew comfortable, eating and chatting together was quite enjoyable.

He Chen and the others didn’t drink; when they’d finished eating, they rose to leave, and Qiao Yingzi followed suit.

Her father was already a bit drunk, his tongue loosened—he kept showing overly intimate gestures with Xiao Meng, who was openly affectionate, making his daughter cringe, and started complaining about her mother.

On top of that, her mother had been texting her nonstop since she arrived, scolding her not to eat junk food, scolding her for not ranking first or even second in the class placement exam, and had already prepared two sets of practice papers for her to strengthen her studies.

So she just decided to leave outright.

Though Qiao Weidong felt reluctant, he could only see them off outside the restaurant, insisting politely on paying for their meal—but Ruan Lu firmly refused, and only when He Chen spoke up did he give up.

Finally, Qiao Yingzi suggested that Qiao Weidong’s driver take her home, and give He Chen and the others a ride too.

The two residential complexes were separated only by the road, so He Chen and the others didn’t refuse.

Qiao Yingzi got in the front passenger seat; He Chen, Ruan Lu, and Ruan Liuzheng sat in the back, with Ruan Lu in the middle, He Chen and Ruan Liuzheng seated on either side of her.

The car started moving.

Qiao Yingzi immediately pulled out her phone and sent a message; Ruan Liuzheng’s phone vibrated, she checked it, and glanced at Qiao Yingzi in the front seat.

Qiao Yingzi turned her head, giving her a pleading look.

Ruan Liuzheng thought for a moment, then forwarded Qiao Yingzi’s message to He Chen: Qiao Yingzi wanted to ask if she could keep the huge LEGO model at home, unsure whether her mother would agree.

Qiao Yingzi clearly didn’t want to ask outright in front of the driver, so she couldn’t just blurt it out—she needed to first gauge He Chen’s opinion.

If He Chen agreed, her mother would almost certainly not object.

Lately, her mother had grown increasingly accepting of He Chen’s ideas and decisions, as if treating him like the family’s pillar.

As for forwarding instead of creating a group chat to include He Chen directly—it was just a girl’s subtle little trick.

Qiao Yingzi didn’t have He Chen’s WeChat.

He Chen pulled out his phone, saw the message, understood Qiao Yingzi’s plan, and smiled, replying: “Ask her why!”

Seeing he didn’t immediately agree, Ruan Liuzheng’s lips curled, and she immediately asked.

Qiao Yingzi’s expression hesitated.

She’d made this abrupt request because her mother now opposed any activity unrelated to the college entrance exam.

The small LEGO model Fang Yifan gave her had been confiscated outright.

How much more so this massive one—sent by her father—that would be seized the moment she brought it home.

If her father found out, he’d be furious, and her parents would fight—something she didn’t want to see.

Originally, her first thought was to call Fang Yifan and leave the LEGO at his place until she could play with it later.

But Fang Yifan’s family was in turmoil now, the atmosphere heavy, and he’d ranked last in the entire school—he was barely holding on himself; asking him for help now would only make things worse.

Besides, Fang Yifan’s mother and her mother were best friends—if Fang Yifan’s mother found out, hers would too, another risk.

Then she happened to meet He Chen and Ruan Liuzheng—one a classmate for three years, the other someone who seemed to get along well with her father—she had a very positive impression of them, so she dared to make the request.

Now that they’d asked, she gave a half-explanation.

“Not leaving it with Fang Yifan is right!” He Chen replied through Ruan Liuzheng: “But you actually have a better option!”

Qiao Yingzi sent a question mark.

He Chen shook his head, texting: “Huang Zhitao, your best friend—shouldn’t she be the first person you think of?

She lives alone, no parents watching her.

She’s in the same residential complex—you can just take it over there, no need to tell anyone, and whenever you have free time, you can go over and play with it directly.

Unlike Fang Yifan, who lives far away—you can’t even get there easily.

She won’t leak the news to your mother—what a perfect solution?

She’s still your best friend!

You have this perfect option, yet you completely overlook her and only think of unreliable Fang Yifan—what kind of psychology is that?”

“...” Qiao Yingzi immediately slapped her forehead, filled with shame.

With He Chen’s reminder, she realized Huang Zhitao was indeed the absolute best choice—no contest.

Yet at the critical moment, she couldn’t think of her best friend at all, only of unreliable Fang Yifan—what was wrong with her mind?

Did Fang Yifan matter more to her than her best friend?

No way!

Qiao Yingzi sank into self-doubt, but He Chen already had the answer.

What else could it be?

Probably just to force a dramatic conflict, deliberately ignoring Huang Zhitao—the perfect choice.