Chapter 24

Back in the classroom, Xia Shihan's face remained flushed, and she couldn't settle down to study. Her mind kept replaying the scene of Tang Yu drenching Feng Zihan. She was even quite focused on that part. "Oh, how embarrassing, I shouldn't think about it anymore," Xia Shihan commanded herself, but she still couldn't stop thinking about it.

Thus, they spoke very little for the entire afternoon. Tang Yu also reviewed on his own, thinking about the upcoming city-wide mock exam. He thought to himself that it couldn't be too difficult.

When school was over, Guo Xiaodong walked up to Tang Yu, "Boss, do you have any plans after school?"

"No. I'm going home to review," Tang Yu replied simply.

"Oh. Boss, look, isn't that Chu Yarou? She's walking towards us," Guo Xiaodong said excitedly.

Tang Yu was taken aback and turned to look. Indeed, he saw Chu Yarou walking over gracefully. He thought, does Chu Yarou not fear gossip from others? But then again, Chu Yarou is the kind of girl who is clear and untroubled by rumors. Moreover, everyone knows that the most important thing right now is to study hard.

Chu Yarou walked up to Tang Yu and smiled gently, "Thank you for lending me the money. I came to invite both of you to dinner."

Tang Yu and Guo Xiaodong exchanged glances, and Zhao Ling, who was nearby, also looked surprised.

"Xiaodong, didn't you promise to go home with me to review today? How could you forget?" Zhao Ling suddenly tugged at Guo Xiaodong's sleeve.

"When did I promise you... Ah, I remember!" Guo Xiaodong finally understood Zhao Ling's meaning; she wanted Tang Yu and Chu Yarou to be alone. "Hehe, Boss, you and Chu Yarou go eat. Zhao Ling and I will leave first." With that, he took Zhao Ling and left.

"This Guo Xiaodong!" Tang Yu muttered, then looked up at Chu Yarou, "I accept your thanks, but there's no need for a dinner."

"No, if it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do. I must treat you to this meal," Chu Yarou said, her face blushing. She had hardly ever spoken to boys before, let alone invited them to dinner.

"Um..." Tang Yu was taken aback. He originally wanted to save her money, but it seemed he couldn't refuse her kindness. "Okay. Just a light meal will do."

"Okay. I can't afford to treat you to a fancy meal. Let's go to the food stalls at the school gate," Chu Yarou said.

"Okay." Tang Yu nodded. The food stalls at the school gate were affordable for most students, and he didn't refuse.

Chu Yarou had planned this. She had 200 yuan in total. She originally intended to spend over 100 yuan on a meal for Tang Yu, Guo Xiaodong, and Zhao Ling, and then use the remaining money to buy a new bra. She hadn't bought a new one in a long time.

"By the way, I've already withdrawn the money. Here's your bank card, and this, I'm giving it to you," Chu Yarou said as she extended her hand, handing Tang Yu two items: a bank card and a small white bottle.

"What is this?" Tang Yu was puzzled as he looked at the small bottle.

"This is..." Chu Yarou hesitated, unsure how to explain. She didn't know if she should tell him about her family's secret, but she could tell that Tang Yu wasn't the type to leak secrets. For some reason, she trusted him. "I'll tell you about my family, but you have to keep it a secret, okay?" Chu Yarou looked at Tang Yu with a gentle expression.

Tang Yu nodded, "No problem."

Chu Yarou looked around and saw only a few people in the distance staring at them. She opened her mouth, "Actually, my father is a tomb raider."

"Ah!" Tang Yu was shocked. A tomb raider?

"Yes. My father was just an ordinary worker. A year ago, he met an old man who told him that tomb raiding could make a lot of money. So he followed the old man to raid tombs. But on the first big tomb raid, he was poisoned by a corpse and fell unconscious. The old man, to compensate my father, gave us this, but no one knows how to open it, and we don't dare to sell it. It's just a decoration at home. I'll give it to you as a gift," Chu Yarou said, looking at Tang Yu. She was hiding a huge secret in her heart.

Tang Yu was startled. Poisoned by a corpse?

He looked at the jade bottle in his hand, which had a lustrous sheen. It looked very valuable. He turned it around but couldn't figure out how to open it.

"Put it away quickly. Be careful someone sees it," Chu Yarou reminded him.

"Okay." Tang Yu quickly put the bottle in his pocket and looked at Chu Yarou in surprise, "How is your father's condition now?" He thought about how serious it must be to be poisoned by a corpse.

Chu Yarou's face turned serious, "The doctors can't identify what kind of poison my father was poisoned with. They just use a certain medicine to control the poison and prolong his life. He takes it once a month. My mother and I will go to the hospital to get the medicine tomorrow. But the medicine is very expensive, 30,000 yuan per pill. So my family has been drained of all our savings and is heavily in debt."

"I can imagine." Tang Yu nodded. 30,000 yuan a month, that's a lot for an ordinary family.

"Hasn't the old man helped you at all?" Tang Yu asked. Since he led your father into this, he should help with the treatment.

"After bringing my father back, he never appeared again. He might have died in a big tomb," Chu Yarou said, her words filled with hatred. Yes, if it weren't for him, their family would have been living a peaceful and healthy life, but now they are suffering. Even the most kind-hearted girl wouldn't remain calm.

Soon, the two of them arrived at the food stalls at the school gate and found a place to sit.

"Hey, isn't that the school beauty?" the owner said, looking at Chu Yarou.

"Hehe..." Chu Yarou smiled awkwardly, not expecting that everyone here knew her. Although she had never admitted to being the school beauty and had repeatedly denied it, the rumor had spread and become a fact. So she didn't bother to explain anymore.

"School beauty, is this your boyfriend?" the owner asked, seeing the school beauty eating at her place. This would definitely attract many students, so she personally came out to serve them and found them a seat.

"No, you misunderstood. He's not. We're just ordinary friends," Chu Yarou hurriedly explained, her face turning red.

The owner looked at Tang Yu, finding him somewhat familiar but unable to place him. Seeing Chu Yarou so embarrassed, the owner didn't say much more. She smiled strangely and took the menu, "School beauty, order whatever you like. I'll give you a 20% discount today."

As soon as Chu Yarou entered, five or six boys came in to eat. The 20% discount was a good deal for her.

"Okay, thank you, owner." Chu Yarou smiled in gratitude and handed the menu to Tang Yu, "I'm treating you today, order whatever you like."

"Hehe, okay." Tang Yu took the menu and ordered braised eggplant, Kung Pao chicken, and bean sprout vermicelli. "That's enough," Tang Yu thought, considering Chu Yarou's financial situation and that two people couldn't eat much.

Chu Yarou saw that there were only three dishes, and they weren't very expensive. Although it was a luxury for her, it was a treat. She knew Tang Yu was trying to save her money, which touched her deeply.

"Owner, add a charcoal-grilled fish," Chu Yarou said to the owner. She loved fish, and charcoal-grilled fish was something she had always wanted to try but never dared to.

"Okay, you wait a moment, the food will be ready soon," the owner smiled at Chu Yarou and Tang Yu.

Tang Yu smiled at Chu Yarou, knowing that the other three dishes combined weren't as expensive as the charcoal-grilled fish.

At this moment, the other students at the food stalls looked at their table enviously. They all recognized Tang Yu and Chu Yarou, who were both famous at Jinghai High School. Seeing them eating together, others naturally assumed they had a special relationship. However, Tang Yu and Chu Yarou together didn't quite fit the image of a perfect couple.

The food arrived quickly, and after they finished eating, Chu Yarou went to pay. Tang Yu had money, but he didn't insist on paying, respecting Chu Yarou's gesture.

Leaving the food stall, Tang Yu looked at Chu Yarou, "It's getting late, let me walk you home."

"Ah, no, no need. I, I still need to buy something," Chu Yarou said, her face blushing. She couldn't bring herself to say what she needed to buy.

Tang Yu nodded, "Okay, remember my number, and contact me when you have time..."

"My phone is broken and won't be fixed soon. I'll give you my home number..." Chu Yarou said, looking at Tang Yu shyly.

Tang Yu nodded and memorized Chu Yarou's home number. At that moment, his phone rang, and he took out his old Nokia. Chu Yarou saw this and was even more convinced that Tang Yu's family wasn't well-off.

Sympathy for each other? But he had lent her money without hesitation, which moved Chu Yarou deeply.

Tang Yu took out his phone and saw it was Liu Xin, "Hello, Sister Xin, what's up?"

"Buy me a bra. You know the size, and pick any color," Liu Xin's sensual voice came from the other end.

"Ah, you, you want me to buy that?" Tang Yu was speechless.

"Yes, I'm at home," Liu Xin said.

"Okay, fine!" Tang Yu reluctantly agreed, feeling bitter as he hung up the phone.