Chapter 79 of 100

Chapter 79

14 min read3,498 words

Chapter Thirty-Five: Gift Giving - Part 2

Li Yi calmed down. He couldn't let Zuo Xiaoxia's good intentions turn into a farce. He replied calmly, "I don't know yet. I'll follow the organization's arrangements. As a party member, I'm like a brick—wherever I'm needed, I'll be placed."

Seeing Lu Jun's expression, Zuo Xiaoxia felt a bit regretful, thinking she had been too rash today.

Lu Jun had always had a secret crush on Zuo Xiaoxia and considered any boy around her a rival.

Lu Jun's anger intensified after hearing Li Yi's words. It felt like hitting a wall of cotton. He sneered, "What about your girlfriend, the campus beauty? Why don't you bring her out to play?" As he said this, he glanced at Zuo Xiaoxia, reminding her that Li Yi had a girlfriend and she shouldn't be a third wheel!

Sure enough, Zuo Xiaoxia's fair face turned scarlet. She fidgeted, feeling at a loss, but quickly recovered and said coolly, "We're all classmates. I just brought Li Yi over to sit for a while. Why, are you not welcoming us?"

Lu Jun smiled lightly, "How could I not welcome you? You're a rare guest! I can't even invite you over."

Lu Zhibang listened silently to the three of them sparring, understanding that his son was jealous. Although he was dissatisfied with his son's behavior, he couldn't criticize him at this moment, as it would make him lose face. Of course, he wouldn't insult Li Yi in front of everyone, as that would be a low move, even though he looked down on Li Yi for relying on women to build connections.

Lu Jun regained his composure from his initial anger, his upbringing allowing him to control his emotions. He put on a smile, walked over, and sat next to Zuo Xiaoxia. Looking at the peeled tangerine in her hand, he took it and ate it, saying, "Thanks! Haha, I've only ever eaten tangerines peeled by my mom."

This was a rather ambiguous statement, but Zuo Xiaoxia smiled lightly, "Sorry, I peeled it for Li Yi."

Lu Jun glared, "He has Guo Xiaoling to peel tangerines for him!"

Zuo Xiaoxia didn't respond, finding Lu Jun's pretense repulsive and regretting bringing Li Yi here.

Seeing his son about to lose his temper, Lu Zhibang timely said, "Let's eat!"

Zuo Xiaoxia stood up, "Uncle Lu, we'll take our leave. We've disturbed you today, I'm really sorry."

Li Yi also stood up.

Deng Zhi, from behind the door, pushed the items Li Yi had brought back into his hands, "You're classmates with my little Jun. Just come over to play next time, no need to bring gifts."

Lu Jun sneered, "We're in the same school but different classes! We're alumni, not classmates! Besides, my family doesn't need such things!"

Li Yi was so embarrassed he wanted to sink into the ground. This was the greatest humiliation he had ever experienced! Just as he was about to retort, a soft, delicate hand grabbed his arm, a cool sensation calming his anger. He glanced at Zuo Xiaoxia's bright eyes, said nothing, smiled at Deng Zhi, and turned to leave.

Deng Zhi called out to Zuo Xiaoxia, "Come over to play when you have time!" After closing the door, she said to Lu Jun, "Little Jun, what's wrong with you today? Even if you're alumni, you didn't have to act like that. After all, he came here with Xiaoxia."

Lu Jun was also annoyed, secretly hating Li Yi for making him lose face in front of Zuo Xiaoxia.

"Little Jun, you're too focused on her," Lu Zhibang said, lighting a cigarette.

Lu Jun was taken aback.

Lu Zhibang continued, "The more you hate someone, the better you should treat them. Make them trust you, so when you stab them in the back, no one will suspect you. If you want to succeed in politics, you need to practice this."

Lu Jun nodded as if he had learned something, "I understand, Dad. I couldn't control myself today. Li Yi is too despicable! He has a girlfriend but still chases after Xiaoxia, and he even brought gifts for work! Truly despicable."

Lu Zhibang shook his head, "I think Li Yi is not simple! You all underestimate him."

Deng Zhi laughed, "A young kid, how powerful can he be? Can he be as good as my little Jun?"

Lu Jun gave his mom a flying kiss.

Lu Zhibang, smoking, said with a bitter smile, "You don't understand! Today, it was clearly Xiaoxia who brought him here. He might not have come on his own. But he maintained his composure throughout, which is quite remarkable for a recent graduate. Even you, Little Jun, might not have done as well in that situation."

Deng Zhi huffed, "If he didn't come, it's because he knows his place! What kind of family do we have, for him to come here so casually?"

Lu Zhibang frowned, "We don't have much in common anymore!"

"Hey!" Deng Zhi drawled, "Am I too old for you? Did you meet another fox spirit outside?"

Lu Zhibang said, "Nonsense! You're just idle!" and got up to go to his study.

Deng Zhi pulled Lu Jun, "Little Jun, look at your dad..."

Lu Jun quickly interrupted her, "Mom, I'm hungry! Dad, come out to eat!"

As Li Yi walked to the gate, he realized he had been holding Zuo Xiaoxia's hand the whole time. They let go and looked at each other, both saying, "Sorry!"

They smiled at each other.

"You're not angry?" Zuo Xiaoxia asked, "I brought you here without your consent and got you embarrassed."

Li Yi shrugged, "Angry? That would be punishing myself for someone else's mistake! You didn't ask because you knew I'd refuse, but you still helped me, even though you knew I was against it. You needed more courage than I did. Thank you."

Zuo Xiaoxia, moved by his understanding, opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to comfort him.

They walked side by side, neither speaking. The streets of Dujuan City were lined with camphor trees, whose leaves emitted a faint, refreshing scent, especially noticeable at night, making one feel refreshed.

Li Yi stood behind her and asked softly, "Why did you help me?"

"Because I admire you."

Zuo Xiaoxia's straightforwardness made Li Yi a bit flustered, and he could only laugh, "I'm honored."

Back in the dorm, Li Yi's mind was filled with Zuo Xiaoxia's words and expressions, especially her "I admire you," which kept echoing in his ears, making him feel itchy and uncomfortable.

Only Tao Qiwu was in the dorm. Li Yi asked in surprise, "Where are the others?"

Tao Qiwu rolled his eyes and sang, "They're all people with stories, leaving me alone, so lonely!"

Li Yi chuckled, "Not as good as you think."

Tao Qiwu pondered, "What do you think Pi Wu and Sikong Yu are doing?"

Li Yi shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

Tao Qiwu said mysteriously, "I bet they're giving gifts."

Li Yi asked, somewhat guilty, "To whom?"

Tao Qiwu said, "I saw them counting money before they left. They must be giving gifts, but I don't know to whom."

Li Yi asked, "Aren't you going out?"

Tao Qiwu sighed, "First, I'm poor. Second, I'm proud. Third, I don't know anyone. So I'm not giving gifts."

This made Li Yi laugh.

As they were laughing, Sikong Yu and Pi Wu entered, their expressions trying to remain calm but showing clear disappointment and frustration.

Tao Qiwu laughed, "How did it go?"

Sikong Yu and Pi Wu were startled, their faces showing panic.

Pi Wu glared at Tao Qiwu, "Did you follow me?"

Tao Qiwu sneered, "No need to follow. I could guess with my toes."

Pi Wu deflated, sighing, "Wasted a few hundred bucks, probably no use."

Sikong Yu glared at him, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Pi Wu sneered, "What's the problem? If Yuan Youfang were really upright, he wouldn't have accepted our gifts! Since he did, he should have given us a straight answer, not just told us to wait. That's typical of someone who takes gifts but doesn't do anything. Even a prostitute is better than that!"

"Hey!" Sikong Yu hurriedly closed the door, "Do you want to ruin your future? Shouting like that? A few hundred bucks, what do you expect? A few hundred bucks to get a city job? You're dreaming! He's already helping, which is great."

Li Yi and Tao Qiwu exchanged glances, surprised that these two had resorted to giving gifts to Yuan Youfang. Li Yi sensed something was wrong but couldn't pinpoint it.

The next day, Yuan Youfang came to class with two plastic bags.

He slammed the bags on the desk, drawing everyone's attention. Li Yi looked at Pi Wu and Sikong Yu, who looked like they were frozen.

"Bang!" Yuan Youfang slammed the bags on the desk and said firmly, "Some students in our class are not focusing on their studies but are thinking of crooked ways! They even brought gifts to my home!"

The class was stunned, whispering and guessing who the gift-givers were.

Yuan Youfang sternly said, "I warn these students, I am a party member, I am not corrupt! I don't smoke such good cigarettes or drink such good wine!"

The class burst into laughter.

Although Pi Wu and Sikong Yu tried to act normal, they both lowered their heads in shame when they met Yuan Youfang's sharp gaze.

Lu Jun looked at Li Yi, smirking.

Yuan Youfang continued, "I thought about reporting this to the disciplinary committee but decided against it. You're all young, and a small mistake is understandable. Please correct your mistakes if you have them, and if not, take it as a lesson. If you do it again, there will be no leniency!"

"Following the principle of correcting past mistakes and saving people, I'll let you off this time. I will turn in all these gifts. If anyone else wants to give gifts, please send them directly to the disciplinary committee!"

Someone led the applause, and the class erupted in thunderous clapping.

This was the most vivid and meaningful class since the start of the reserve cadre training program.

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