Chapter 131

"Director Zhang? Then what should we do?"

Lu Jingyao was startled, suddenly feeling a bit panicked.

Among the long list of strategies Watching Liu Muhan had laid out for her, Director Zhang was an important figure she absolutely could not bypass; it would be no exaggeration to say that his word could decide her fate.

Watching Liu Muhan smiled and said, "Qian Shun can influence Director Zhang, and so can we! Director Zhang is moving this Sunday; would you like to go with me?"

"But he hasn't notified us; would that be appropriate?"

Lu Jingyao hesitated a bit; after all, Director Zhang moving was a private matter, and showing up uninvited could easily make them unwelcome guests.

Watching Liu Muhan packed her schoolbag while saying, "My father knows Director Zhang and asked me to deliver a housewarming gift to him; you coming with me is just a matter of convenience."

"Then thank you so much, Muhan."

Lu Jingyao finally understood what Watching Liu Muhan meant by "not necessary" earlier.

For someone who wants to study abroad, there is simply no need to go through all the trouble she herself has to.

Look at He Xue, who spends all day networking at school, flattering this person and chasing after that one, trying every possible way to find a path, yet she never thought that a truly capable person was in the same dormitory as everyone else.

Of course, perhaps ever since that bar of soap, He Xue had cut off any possibility of becoming friends with Watching Liu Muhan!

On Saturday afternoon, Watching Wen Leyu finished class early and was in a rush to have Li Ye take her to the bus station.

Li Ye rode his bike with the little girl across half the campus, asking as he rode, "Our house will be in our hands tomorrow; don't you want to go over and offer some advice?"

Watching Wen Leyu said, "What advice would I have? Aren't Hu Man and Xiao Yan not going tomorrow? I really left something at home and forgot to bring it; let's go, let's go."

"Alright then!"

Li Ye didn't try to persuade her further; he just felt that since he had bought a house, he should at least let Watching Wen Leyu go see it with him.

In his previous life, when a guy bought a house, he absolutely had to let the girl see it first, followed by a series of instructions from her.

【Add my name, add my name, you must add my name, otherwise we're breaking up.】

【I must have the final say on the renovation, I must have the final say on the furniture. You're asking if I'm paying? I've already given you my whole self, aren't you getting a bargain if you don't pay me back?】

But Watching Wen Leyu didn't care about the house at all; it seemed she didn't care about anything.

However, seeing Li Ye pedaling silently, Watching Wen Leyu gently tapped his back with her small fist.

"There's a welcome dance next week, I have to go back and get my high heels; the classmates in my dorm all have high heels."

"Also, my dad's unit issued two pairs of imported leather shoes, I'll go swipe a pair for you."

"Your dad's shoes... it wouldn't be appropriate for me to wear them, right!"

Watching Wen Leyu said triumphantly, "Don't you worry about that, I've already made an appointment with someone to exchange them for you tomorrow. Let's go, let's go, I have to get home before my brother does."

Li Ye was surprised; the "inappropriate" he meant was different from the "inappropriate" Watching Wen Leyu understood.

Watching Wen Leyu thought Wen Qingsheng was much taller than Li Ye and the shoes were at least two sizes too big, so she had already found a solution.

"Then I'll just take you back directly!"

"That's such a long way to go back and forth! You've lost weight these past two days, get some good rest."

"..."

The little girl really cared about Li Ye.

On Sunday morning, Li Ye strictly followed Watching Wen Leyu's instructions: sleep until he woke up naturally, wash up, go downstairs to eat, and then ride his bike leisurely toward Zaojunmiao.

Today, Elder Zhang was moving, and Li Ye had to go over to complete the final handover of the house.

Riding all the way to the entrance of the alley, he could see from afar that a lot of things had already been placed at the entrance of the Zhang family home; clearly, they had started moving things out early in the morning.

According to their agreement, the furniture in the house was left for Li Ye, but they had to take the books, bedding, and daily necessities; those few electrical appliances were even more precious, so it was impossible for them to be left for Li Ye.

Look at that television set; it was actually carefully wrapped in a quilt, receiving the same treatment as an infant in swaddling clothes.

Who knows how they would feel if they knew years later that any chair in the house could buy a truckload of television sets.

Furthermore, Elder Zhang was moving from here to live in the school's new apartment building, the kind of new building with a bathroom inside.

Because at this time, the state had strict regulations on housing allocation; one person could not occupy two housing units, and even if a husband and wife were in different units, they could only own one house.

So Elder Zhang had to sell the courtyard house in order to exchange it for an apartment.

Sigh~

Walking to the courtyard gate, Li Ye saw Old Song, Wei Jiaxian, and Tan Min all squatting in a row against the wall.

Hao Jian would arrive in the capital from Yangcheng this morning, so Jin Peng and Wang Jianqiang went to the train station to pick him up, and Li Ye had sent these three over to help with the move.

"What's going on?" Li Ye asked with a smile, "The three of you are so tired from moving just this little bit of stuff that you can't even stand up?"

"Where would we need to move things," Old Song chuckled, gesturing inside with his chin, "Go inside and take a look! Each one of these college students is more capable than a strong laborer."

"Are there students here to help?"

Li Ye hadn't expected that.

For a university professor like Elder Zhang, logically speaking, the school should have arranged for the general affairs department to provide vehicles and people to move; they shouldn't need students.

As soon as Li Ye entered the gate, he indeed discovered a group of students busy around the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.

Hoes and shovels were flying in turns, digging a large trench around the osmanthus tree; it looked like they wanted to transplant the tree, roots and soil together.

Good heavens, moving a tree kills it, moving a person keeps them alive; transplanting trees is a technical job.

"Yo, buddy, you're here."

Zhang Rui saw Li Ye and hurriedly came over to greet him, "My father has been tending this osmanthus tree for many years and has some attachment to it, so..."

Li Ye smiled and said, "Understood, understood, but transplanting flowers and trees is a delicate job; you have to put in a lot of effort."

Zhang Rui lifted his chin and smiled, "Don't worry, I invited a classmate from the Agricultural Academy; he's super professional."

Only then did Li Ye notice that among that group of students, there was one student muttering away, looking particularly professional.

But hehe.

As long as you're happy.

The people digging the soil finally finished; a large ball of soil had been dug out around the roots of the osmanthus tree to increase the survival rate of the transplant.

At this time, Elder Zhang walked out of the house, inviting everyone to have tea.

"Thank you, Director Zhang, your tea is really delicious."

"Director Zhang, your tea set is so beautiful..."

"Actually, I think Director Zhang's furniture is even more beautiful..."

"That's for sure! Otherwise, how could it be worth two thousand yuan?"

"Cough, cough, cough~"

The casual remarks of a few students made Zhang Rui, who was standing to the side, feel a bit awkward.

Li Ye had spent two thousand yuan to buy his furniture, and he always felt he had gotten a bargain.

Elder Zhang smiled and introduced them to everyone, "This student is the owner of the new house, the young writer Seven-Inch Blade."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and only then did they notice Li Ye.

One of the female students asked in disbelief, "You are that Seven-Inch Blade who wrote 'Lurking'?"

Li Ye nodded and said, "Yes, that's me."

Several students immediately gathered around.

"How are you so young!"

"Why do you want to buy a house in the capital? Are you planning to settle down in the capital?"

Zhang Rui answered for Li Ye, "He's a freshman at Peking University this year! He's even younger than us, yet he's already earned tens of thousands in royalties... How about that? Feeling ashamed?"

"Tens of thousands in royalties?"

Several students were instantly shocked, and the eyes with which they looked at Li Ye seemed to reflect golden light.

"Are you from the Chinese Department at Peking University?"

"No, I'm studying World Economics."

"Then your book, did you really earn a lot of money?"

"It's alright, not too much."

Li Ye began to chat enthusiastically with the students, and before long, he figured out that these students were all from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, and most of them were from the student union.

The reason they came to help Elder Zhang move was to... express the students' high respect for their teacher.

"Hello, my name is Qian Shun. We have formed a Green Bud Literature Society at Beijing Foreign Studies University. We must exchange ideas when we have time. I've read your 'Lurking'; it's a very novel story."

"Sure, definitely when I have time."

Li Ye exchanged polite pleasantries with the other party, but had no intention of having any in-depth communication with them.

Just hearing the name "Green Bud," he knew they were literary youths, and not the same kind of people as a popular writer like himself.

But the other party was very enthusiastic, and a female student came over to shake hands with Li Ye.

"Hello, I'm He Xue from the Class of '81 English Department at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Is it convenient to leave contact information? We can correspond and exchange ideas in the future."

Is this trying to be a pen pal?

But Li Ye was stunned for a moment.

Class of '81 English Department, wouldn't that be Lu Jingyao's classmate?

Beijing Foreign Studies University is such a big school, it couldn't be that coincidental, right?

But there was an even more coincidental thing.

Two female students walked into the courtyard gate: one was Watching Liu Muhan, and the other was Lu Jingyao.

As soon as Watching Liu Muhan entered the door, she smiled, "Hello, Uncle Zhang."

Director Zhang also stood up and smiled, "Muhan is here... You child, why are you still bringing things?"

"My father didn't have time to come over, so he entrusted me to bring you a small gift to congratulate you on your move... uh..."

Watching Liu Muhan was halfway through her sentence when her expression suddenly turned strange, and she looked at Li Ye behind Zhang Rui.

Director Zhang was still being polite, "Your father is too polite, really too polite. Is he still in good health?"

Watching Liu Muhan had no choice but to respond, "Uh, yes, very good."

And He Xue and the others in the courtyard were also stunned where they stood.

They never expected that the very annoying petty-bourgeois element Watching Liu Muhan actually knew Director Zhang, and it wasn't just a casual acquaintance.

Looking at the smile on Director Zhang's face, He Xue knew exactly what she had missed out on.

【It really was a bargain for Lu Jingyao.】

He Xue looked at Lu Jingyao with a dark face, and then discovered that Lu Jingyao's expression was very ugly; she was no longer as sharp and tough as she had been a few days ago, as if she had returned to the worst state she was in half a year ago.

Director Zhang also noticed that something was wrong and finally followed Watching Liu Muhan's gaze to look at Li Ye.

"You know each other?"

"We met on the train," Watching Liu Muhan quickly recovered and said with a smile, "I didn't expect to run into each other here again."

Director Zhang smiled and said, "That's really a coincidence. Student Li Ye bought my house; if you have time in the future, you can definitely exchange ideas more often."

"Li Ye? Li Ye from Qingshui County?"

He Xue couldn't help but exclaim.

When they first entered school last year, He Xue and Ma Li had often instigated Lu Jingyao to shout out justice against that rural bully young master.

They had both helped Lu Jingyao take the letters Li Ye sent, so they knew Li Ye's name.

"You know each other too?"

Director Zhang was truly surprised; looking at Li Ye's handsome face, he couldn't help but become vigilant.

Could this kid be a romantic disaster who likes to leave his affections everywhere?

Didn't you see that Watching Liu Muhan's eyes were already looking strange just from a chance encounter on the train?

He Xue's thoughts turned rapidly, and she smiled sheepishly, "We've only heard the name Li Ye before, because he was Lu Jingyao's..."

"Uncle Zhang, I have some words I'd like to say to you. Do you think it's convenient?"

"How could it not be convenient? Let's go inside and talk."

Watching Liu Muhan timely cut off He Xue's words and led Director Zhang into the main room.

He Xue, Qian Shun, and the others had strange expressions; they gathered together and began to whisper, occasionally looking at the dejected Lu Jingyao.

Zhang Rui was also extremely curious and wanted to ask Li Ye what the situation was, but Li Ye looked at his nose and his heart, as if he were a monk in meditation, ignoring everyone.

About seven or eight minutes later, the sound of a car engine rang out outside; it was the car from Beijing Foreign Studies University coming to help Director Zhang move.

And Watching Liu Muhan also walked out of the room with Director Zhang.

"Come, come, hurry up and load the car."

Watching Liu Muhan took the lead in grabbing the branches of the osmanthus tree, putting on a show of working hard.

How could He Xue and the others be willing to fall behind? They also scrambled to lift the tree and load it into the car.

Director Zhang looked at Li Ye and nodded slightly, his eyes subtle.

Li Ye, however, spoke up, "Professor Zhang, can I take a few minutes of your time?"

Lu Jingyao, who was moving things, almost fell down.

【What is he going to do?】

【Will he destroy me?】

It can be said that in the current social climate, if Li Ye were to add fuel to the fire and say a few words, Lu Jingyao would definitely be finished.

Women who divorce normally are discriminated against, let alone those who actively break off an engagement?

Director Zhang had a strange expression, nodded, and led Li Ye into the main room.

After entering the room, Director Zhang looked at Li Ye and said, "Are you trying to tell me something about that Lu Jingyao?"

Li Ye nodded and said, "I knew Lu Jingyao before, and both our parents thought about matching us up, so we followed traditional etiquette and customs; there is nothing scandalous between us."

Director Zhang showed a surprised expression but didn't speak, continuing to listen.

"But Lu Jingyao and I have no relationship now, so I think neither of us should cause harm or interference to the other party anymore."

"If she is maliciously slandered by others because of me, wouldn't that be my sin?"

Li Ye looked outside at He Xue and the others who were carrying the tree together.

A group of students coming together early in the morning to help Director Zhang move must have some motive, and they might all be after the same thing, which creates competition.

Thinking about the situation at Beijing Foreign Studies University, what everyone is after is self-evident.

Director Zhang suddenly smiled.

"Student Li Ye, I was really surprised just now when my niece Muhan said you were a reasonable and magnanimous person. I didn't quite believe it, but now, I believe it."

"Don't worry, I will never allow anyone to influence the moral assessment of any student through malicious slander. How about that?"

Li Ye breathed a sigh of relief, nodded at Director Zhang with a smile, and turned to go out.

Li Ye is not a merciful saint; he just wants Lu Jingyao to go far away so he can have some peace.

Lu Jingyao doesn't want to see Li Ye again, and isn't Li Ye the same?

The way Watching Wen Leyu looks at Lu Jingyao makes Li Ye a bit worried, so it's better to let her go far away!

Lu Jingyao, who was lifting the osmanthus tree, felt a mess in her heart again when she saw Li Ye come out.

But Watching Liu Muhan, who was beside her, whispered, "Don't worry, he is a kind and good person."

"But..."

Watching Liu Muhan looked up at this spacious courtyard house and shook her head with a wry smile.

Perhaps going far away is the best ending for Lu Jingyao!

Thanks to the book friend for the 3000-coin tip, thanks to the brother for being generous.

(End of chapter)