Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Liu Rui has always been someone who speaks little and is shy. She felt that Zhao Guodong was here to stir trouble between the Ye family mother and daughter. Now seeing Zhao Guodong glare at her, her eyes reddened, and she started crying.

Zhao Guodong had never seen this before, "Hey, why do you start crying at the drop of a hat? I wasn’t even talking about you. It’s like I bullied you."

"Zhao Guodong, if you didn’t bully Liu Rui, then who did? We were all here watching you. Are you even a guy? Daring to do things but not daring to admit them." Song Mei stood up for Liu Rui.

"Why are you always everywhere? Shoo, shoo, go away." Zhao Guodong snapped, feeling unwell, "You’re always causing trouble every day."

Then he turned to Liu Rui, "Don’t cry, speak clearly. So many people are watching. Tell me how I bullied you, explain it clearly so I’m not wrongly accused. Was anything wrong with what I said? A mother apologizes to her daughter; can’t that happen at home? Things weren’t made clear, and now it seems like Ye Ling is really cruel. Isn’t that the case? Look at the way people passing by are looking at Ye Ling."

Zhao Guodong looked helpless, "You can’t win an argument and start crying, it really disgraces the compound."

As soon as he finished his words, Liu Rui covered her face and ran away crying.

Song Mei pointed at Zhao Guodong, "Bullying girls is what really brings disgrace."

She said this and turned to chase after Liu Rui.

Jiang Yan and Gao Tian didn’t dare provoke Zhao Guodong either, and they followed Song Mei. Zhao Guodong still looked puzzled, "Tell me where I was wrong? Did I really bully someone?"

Zhang Linong shook his head, but indeed, he hadn’t bullied anyone. However, Liu Rui was famously shy and timid within the compound. She had gathered her courage to say something, but after Zhao Guodong rebutted her and with his glare, it was no wonder she cried.

Originally it was just a small matter, something not held in anyone’s heart. But this scene was coincidentally seen by Sun Mingjie from high school. Sun Mingjie also belonged to the compound; he was part of Liu Zhiyuan’s circle. After returning to class, Sun Mingjie relayed this incident to Liu Zhiyuan.

Liu Zhiyuan was indifferent to other matters, but hearing that his sister, who has always been fragile and prone to crying like she’s made of water, was made to cry by Zhao Guodong, his expression turned grim.

Zhao Guodong usually forgets things after they happen. Returning to class, his thoughts were all focused on Ye Ling. Ye Ling couldn’t easily hold a pen, so he helped take notes. When Ye Ling saw his handwriting, she frowned deeply.

"Not good-looking?" Zhao Guodong looked at his writing and then at Ye Ling.

"Practice more when you have time, what is this handwriting?" Ye Ling leafed through the materials on the desk, "No need to take notes; it’s useless anyway."

"These are the questions estimated by the teacher," Zhao Guodong said, though he really did put down the pen.

Ye Ling was looking at high school materials, "The entrance exams are only a month away. It’s already set how you’ll perform; trying harder won’t help."

"Can you guarantee we’ll all pass?" Zhao Guodong became anxious upon hearing this.

"I wasn’t talking about you." Ye Ling glanced at the front of the class, "We’re in class; talk after class. Other people won’t be happy."

Song Mei, who had turned her head back at least four times during this brief period, looked at Ye Ling with an expression of suppressed anger. Ye Ling found it amusing; Song Mei was like the community aunt, always meddling in others’ affairs.

Zhao Guodong was still puzzled. Once the teacher finished writing the questions and left, he looked forward and saw Song Mei turning back again, and instantly understood, "What are you looking at?"

"I don’t feel like looking at you." Song Mei bit her lip and turned her head back.

Until the noon break, she never looked back again, finally saving face.

At noon, even though she hadn’t brought lunch, Ye Ling didn’t plan to return home. Seeing Zhao Guodong was still there, she asked, "Why aren’t you leaving?"

This guy always runs the fastest after school.

Zhao Guodong took out a lunchbox from his desk, "My grandma made noodles for me, fried noodles."

Placing the lunchbox down, Zhao Guodong hesitated to ask the question on his mind. Actually, he wanted to ask if the buns were tasty but feared Ye Ling would ask how he knew about the buns. After all, anyone would be surprised to find buns beside them in the morning, thinking someone must have entered during the night.

Ye Ling pushed the lunchbox back, "You eat, I’m not hungry."

Just one box of fried noodles for two, Ye Ling smiled and said, "I appreciate the gesture, but I’m really not hungry."

"I’m not hungry." Zhao Guodong patted his chest, "Look at my build; missing one, even two meals wouldn’t matter."

Zhang Linong hadn’t left, Wang Ping was also waiting nearby. Seeing the two pushing the box of noodles between them, Wang Ping frowned, "You two stop fighting, split it, I have buns if you need more."

It turned out Zhao Guodong had already arranged with Wang Ping and Zhang Linong yesterday not to go home for lunch today and to bring food together. Originally, Zhao Guodong had brought two boxes of fried noodles, but when Wang Ping mentioned, ’Can Ye Ling finish one box alone?’ Zhao Guodong got crafty and ’forgot’ his own, bringing Ye Ling’s box to school.

Now that Wang Ping brought this up, Zhao Guodong felt his ears burning, "That won’t do."

Afraid others would notice his little scheme, he kept his eyes fixed on the lunchbox, not daring to look elsewhere.

Zhang Linong held a bun with his fair hand, leaning back in his seat as he ate. Wang Ping also started eating his bun and occasionally took bites of vegetables. Seeing Zhao Guodong and Ye Ling still hadn’t started eating, he raised his bun towards Zhao Guodong.

"Want me to save one for you?"

Zhao Guodong shot him a glance, Wang Ping knew he’d misspoke, but then felt he hadn’t done anything wrong. How come offering good intentions resulted in a glare?

Seeing Zhao Guodong awkwardly seated there, Ye Ling simply picked up the chopsticks, opened the lunchbox, and pushed it to the center of the table, "I can’t finish it, I’ll eat first, then it’s yours."

Zhao Guodong’s eyes darted around before he nodded, "Okay."

Yet he still didn’t dare look at Ye Ling.

Ye Ling didn’t think much of it. Her hand wasn’t working well, so she forced a few bites before handing the chopsticks over to Zhao Guodong, "Alright, the rest is yours, go wash the chopsticks yourself."

"Where’d you get the energy for that?" Zhao Guodong snatched the chopsticks and started eating.

Sitting in another seat, Zhang Linong raised an eyebrow. Only those who understood Zhao Guodong could see how nervous he was, using eating to cover his panic.

Zhang Linong shook his head.

Zhao Guodong, however, felt the noodles tasted exceptionally good today. After a few bites, he forgot the earlier awkwardness and asked Ye Ling, "Aren’t these noodles tasty? My grandma made them especially for you."

"Thank your grandma for me." Ye Ling felt warmth spreading inside; Grandma Zhao hadn’t even cooked for her own grandson, and now they were having white noodles for two days straight—buns one day, noodles the next. It seemed the Zhao Family’s annual supply of white noodles was going to her.

Flour could be bought, but repaying this favor was difficult. Ye Ling memorized it in her heart, silently resolving to repay doubly in the future. (To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)