Chapter 76: Don’t Worry, I Will Definitely Get Into College!

Bai Qingxia opened her mouth slightly, wanting to respond politely. Yet having only met Lu Yuanqiu’s mother once and not being familiar with her, she found herself at a loss for words. All she could do was awkwardly fidget with her hands in front of her, her voice hurried and soft, “You don’t need to thank me… really…”

It was at this moment that Lu Yuan finally understood.

He asked, “So you two know each other?”

Lu Yuanqiu replied, “Yes, Third Uncle. Her name is Bai Qingxia, she’s my classmate.”

Bai Qingxia quickly turned to Lu Yuan, immediately bowing her head in a respectful greeting to Lu Yuanqiu’s third uncle.

Lu Yuan was taken aback, sighing in surprise, “What a coincidence…”

Lu Yuanqiu then sat up and said to Bai Qingxia, “This is my eldest uncle, and this is my second uncle.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Qingxia turned again, hurriedly bowing to both the eldest and second uncles. She suddenly found herself quite busy.

Lu Yuanqiu couldn’t help but laugh at the girl’s flustered antics.

Eldest Uncle Lu Cheng stepped forward to help Bai Qingxia up, “No need for that, child, you’re being too formal.”

After helping her up, he studied her face closely, his brows knitting together, then turned to look at his younger brother. The two exchanged a sorrowful glance and sighed quietly.

“What a beautiful girl,” Lu Cheng said, glancing at Bai Songzhe and sighing inwardly at the pity of it all.

Second Uncle Lu Xuan chimed in with a smile, “Indeed, if only the girls in our family had these genes.”

The eldest uncle scoffed at himself, “What are you thinking? Look at us brothers—how could we have good genes? Dongdong only looks better because of Xiaoya. Look at Bai here, her father’s so handsome he could’ve been a star in his youth, so of course his daughter is lovely.”

Bai Qingxia lowered her head at these words, her ears tinged red, her hands nervously twisting in front of her.

Just then, Third Uncle Lu Yuan spoke sternly, “You two, stop digressing. What are you waiting for?”

The eldest and second uncles paused, then the second uncle pulled out his briefcase and extracted two stacks of red bills—twenty thousand in total—and handed them to Bai Qingxia.

The girl was startled, instinctively hiding her hands behind her back and protesting, “I can’t accept this!”

Second Uncle’s already stern face grew even more serious, “And why not? Your father saved my own nephew’s life! Girl, you have no idea how precious my nephew’s life is.”

Lu Yuanqiu quickly added, “Bai Qingxia, just take it. Is my life so worthless to you?”

Even if it was a bit of moral coercion, he desperately hoped she’d accept the money.

Bai Qingxia shook her head anxiously, glancing back at her father before she explained, “My father was only doing what he should. He’s always been that kind of person, and besides…”

She turned and looked at Lu Yuanqiu, seeing in front of her the very same cropped-haired boy from six years ago, their images overlapping in her mind.

Her beautiful eyes grew gentle.

She remembered everything Lu Yuanqiu had done—she had never forgotten. Nor had her father.

Staring at Lu Yuanqiu, she spoke sincerely, “My father was willing to save Lu Yuanqiu because it was him. Even if he wasn’t in his right mind, he’d have acted on instinct, because Lu Yuanqiu is worth it.”

Second Uncle asked, puzzled, “What… what do you mean? I don’t quite understand.”

Suddenly, realization dawned on Lu Yuanqiu’s face.

So Uncle Bai’s rescue—Bai Qingxia had always known? She went to the same middle school? Was she the girl from back then…?

Lu Yuanqiu’s eyes narrowed slightly. He took a deep breath and nodded, “It’s fine as long as I understand. Second Uncle, put the money away.”

At these words, Bai Qingxia looked at him, as if a knot in her heart had finally unraveled. She smiled for the first time in front of others, relieved.

Now, she could finally voice the kindness the boy had once shown her, without fear.

Lu Yuanqiu, meanwhile, thought of that girl with the broom years ago, her figure now merging with the one before him.

But he could not smile.

His heart ached.

Had they once been so close? Six years ago, had Bai Qingxia stood less than five meters away when she suffered at the hands of bullies?

If only he could do it over… Lu Yuanqiu would have walked to that girl with wild, tangled hair and comforted her: “Don’t cry, your father is amazing, truly amazing! He’s no different from anyone else!”

That sentence was finally spoken today in the hospital room, but it was six years late.

Thinking of the years in which the girl’s confidence had gradually withered, Lu Yuanqiu lowered his head, his heart a tumult.

He looked up after a moment, as if steeling himself, “Second Uncle, what’s the name of the deputy at White Rhino Foods?”

Second Uncle Lu Xuan glanced at Bai Qingxia, but seeing no reaction on her face, realized she probably didn’t know of her father’s connection to the company—it made sense, she was only three when it went bankrupt.

Lu Xuan replied, “Zhang Zhisheng. He was the deputy back then, now he’s in charge of White Rhino Foods.”

Lu Yuanqiu continued, “He’s the one competing with your branch company?”

“Yes.”

“Second Uncle, give me the branch.”

Lu Xuan exchanged a knowing smile with his brother, feeling as if their nephew had finally found his way. He replied reassuringly, “Of course. I’d planned to, but you need to get into college first.”

Lu Yuanqiu nodded, “Don’t worry, I’ll make it.”

Bai Qingxia didn’t understand what they were talking about, but Lu Yuanqiu’s promise brought a smile to her lips.

“Oh, right,” Lu Xuan added, “Zhang Zhisheng’s son goes to Lucheng No. 7 High School—junior or senior year, I think. His name is Zhang Yifei. Have you heard of him?”

Lu Yuanqiu, surprised, shook his head, “No. I never paid attention to things like that.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lu Yuan turned to see his secretary.

The young secretary approached and whispered a few words in Lu Yuan’s ear. Lu Yuan nodded and announced, “They’ve brought him.”

Lu Yuanqiu frowned instinctively.

He said to his parents, “Dad, Mom, why don’t you take Bai Qingxia and Uncle Bai downstairs for dinner?”

Lu Tian understood at once, “Alright.”

Bai Qingxia stepped forward to support her father’s arm, looked back at Lu Yuanqiu, and saw the youth smile at her. She lowered her head shyly, lips pursed, and turned to leave with Lu’s parents.

About a minute after they left, the bald director entered the ward, followed by a young man with dyed blond hair, who was thrust roughly inside, rolling awkwardly on the floor, two burly men following behind.

(End of this chapter)