Chapter 92: Thank-you Gift

The result of Lao Liu looking for the grade head was: not possible.

He disagreed to let Shu Lingchen come to the evening competition class a little later.

However Lao Liu also wasn't panicked; after hearing the refusal, he calmly said: "Oh, well then, my classmates Shu Shu and Pei Muyin won't be participating in the competition, haha. I've left their registration forms on your desk; they're no longer needed. You're busy, I'll go first."

"Hey wait——" the grade head was dumbfounded: "How could they not participate?!"

Shu Shu and Pei Muyin are the two key students the school must send to the urban competition venue this time; the school is counting on these two top-of-the-year students to bring back an award and honor.

Fine fine fine, just bring them along then.

This time the grade head only hesitated for half a second before agreeing, hurriedly saying: "Quick quick, take the registration forms, hurry and fill them out for them."

Okay!

Lao Liu responded, then after turning his back, his face showed a smug, sly smile.

What? School ends at ten?!

In the large supermarket, the three of them came together to buy vegetables needed for dinner, and incidentally stock up the fridge; Shu Shu told him about the competition and bringing along Shu Lingchen, whereupon the boy's face fell, reluctantly muttering: '……This is too late.'

But you also do homework and read until past ten at home every day, right? What's the difference?

Of course there is a difference." Shu Lingchen said earnestly: "I'd rather study at home until eleven than stay at school.

He couldn't describe that feeling, but that's just how it is.

Shu Shu raised an eyebrow: 'Fine then, starting tomorrow you'll have to go home alone, eat alone, and then no one will say good night to you.'

How can that be!

Upon hearing that, Shu Lingchen glared, feeling the sky was about to collapse, instantly agreed happily, and said resentfully: 'I'm going! Humph, you lot don't even think of isolating me!'

Shu Shu and Pei Muyin exchanged a smile.

To celebrate Shu Lingchen's great improvement in this month's exam, Shu Shu decided to make him a hearty dinner.

Right now the supermarket is crowded, so she had Shu Lingchen take Pei Muyin to buy daily supplies, while she went to buy vegetables, saving some time.

Thus, the three went their separate ways.

Shu Shu alone pushed a cart in the fresh produce section, having almost finished buying vegetables, when she suddenly remembered there was no soy sauce at home.

As she was pushing the cart toward the seasoning aisle, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and said to the empty corner: 'Come out, stop following me.'

As the words fell, a man in a crisp suit, emanating an elite aura out of place in this mixed crowd supermarket, with a refined appearance, walked out from behind the shelves.

Is it him?

That night, after leaving Grandpa Xu's house and opening the wrong car door, the man who had asked her, 'Little kid, you got on the wrong car, right?'

Zhou Zhi slightly curled the corners of his mouth, smiling gently: 'Shu Shu classmate, could you spare a moment? Please have a drink—'

Looking at the girl before him with red lips and white teeth, delicate features, he unconsciously swallowed the words 'coffee.'

He changed it to something matching her appearance: 'Could I get you a pearl milk tea?'

…

Dessert shop.

Shu Shu didn't know if this was a coincidence, but the location was actually that internet-famous dessert shop where she first met her daughter.

At this time, with people getting off work and school letting out, it's strange that aside from the counter server who initially brought the two cups of milk tea, there are no customers in the shop; it's quiet.

It's as if the place had been cleared out in advance.

A four-seat spot.

On the seat beside Shu Shu lay the ingredients she had just bought from the supermarket; she sent a message to Shu Lingchen saying she had something to do, asking him to take his sister home first, and that she would be later.

Sent.

After Shu Shu put down her phone, Zhou Zhi opposite her then looked over; he produced a medium-sized box from somewhere, held it with both hands onto the tabletop, then pushed it forward, placing it before Shu Shu.

Shu Shu lowered her gaze to look.

It was a very exquisite brocade box, a familiar sense of luxury hitting her; without opening it, she could tell the contents were valuable.

As expected, Zhou Zhi reached out and lifted the lid.

Inside, set in the recessed groove of the dark velvet lining, was a pair of simple yet crystal-adorned hairpins, each set with six small diamonds.

At that moment sunlight streamed into the shop and fell on the hairpins, making them dazzling and brilliant.

Shu Shu had seen this pair of hairpins two days ago while browsing a private auction website; she thought they were quite nice and had originally planned to buy them for her daughter, but upon clicking in she found they had already been snapped up.

It turned out to be this person.

Shu Shu merely glanced at the hairpins then looked away, saying nothing, but tilted her head, clearly asking what this meant.

Catching the girl's calm, composed reaction to the hairpins, Zhou Zhi became even more certain that, according to the information he had looked up, this girl was definitely of higher status than the data suggested.

Shu Shu classmate, this is a thank-you gift for your thanks.

Shu Shu: 'Oh? Thanks for what?'

I am from the Pei family, and Pei Muyin is our family's eldest young lady." Zhou Zhi paused, then said: "The eldest young lady usually keeps to herself; it's rare for her to actively befriend peers, she really likes you, and it's clear you also take special care of her, so this is my thanks.

The gift isn't valuable; I hope you'll accept it with a smile, Shu Shu classmate.

This pair of hairpins was selected by Zhou Zhi; he chose them based on the preferences of girls this age, having done some research, so it should be correct.

Shu Shu still didn't look at the hairpins; instead her gaze fell on Zhou Zhi's face, she turned it around, then suddenly asked:

Your surname is Zhou?

Zhou Zhi froze: '……How do you know?'

He had just clearly said he was from the Pei family, without mentioning his surname.

Shu Shu withdrew her gaze.

Although she didn't know this person's exact name, she felt his appearance was familiar, resembling the butler from that beautiful villa years ago.

That butler's surname was Zhou.

Shu Shu didn't answer Zhou Zhi, crossed her arms, and asked another question: 'Who are you thanking on behalf of?'

"Um, Shu Shu classmate, I said I'm from the Pei Family..."

"He hadn't finished speaking when he was directly interrupted: 'I'm asking who sent you, who told you to come, or—'"

"Speaking, Shu Shu lazily lifted her fair eyelids, scanning each surveillance camera on the dessert shop's ceiling, finally stopping at the lens directly facing their table; she found it, curled her lip, and said: 'That person is right there, in there?'"

""

"Zhou Zhi was dumbfounded; for a moment, the hairs on his back stood up."

"This female student is so perceptive, her aura is really strong."

"He hadn't felt this stage fright in a long time, but the other party is still a student much younger than him."

"Really, unbelievable."

"Shu Shu looked at Zhou Zhi again and said directly: 'I don't accept thanks given on my behalf; I want to see the person on the other side of the monitor.'"