Chapter 406 You can spend your best friend’s money too

Oh no, I’m really going to become the South River’s champion diver.

What are we talking about in the room?

Jiang Nian stood rooted to the spot, hearing Old Liu’s voice in his mind.

“I don’t want our class to have one less person, nor do I want one more.”

No need to say more.

Of course, he would be careful about such things.

While he was dazed, his mind hadn’t completely stopped thinking. He was still thinking and trying to understand the class monitor’s logic. If it were that evil succubus, Xiao Han, inviting him into her room, it would definitely be to forcefully take advantage of him, or even… that.

But this was the class monitor.

Bringing a boy home for the first time and taking him straight to her room. Perhaps it was just because the room was better, or had a glow-in-the-dark watch. “I’m not used to the living room,” Li Qingrong said.

Hearing this, Jiang Nian’s CPU nearly burned out. He stared at the class monitor intently, thinking that she definitely hadn’t finished her sentence.

Sure enough, after a few seconds of pause, Li Qingrong added two words.

+

…staying.”

Jiang Nian looked around and found the living room empty. Although the decor was high-end, there were almost no signs of use.

“It doesn’t have to be in the room. Maybe we can boil water in the kitchen.”

Li Qingrong: “Do you want tea?”

“No need.” Jiang Nian glanced at the time; it was already past eleven. “It’s very late. I’ll just stay for a bit and then…

3

Li Qingrong pushed open the room door and looked back at him. Not knowing what to say, she simply pointed to a chair and said,

“Have a seat.”

Jiang Nian was still thinking, should he really sit?

If he sat, he might be taken care of.

A cement stool, a reserved seat for South River diving.

He thought for a moment and still walked in. The class monitor was just slow, not stupid; she wouldn’t let him be caught in the act.

Besides, he had come for a home visit with a purpose.

An upright person fears no slander.

Of course, if it got a little steamy, he’d put on a slight show of modesty, but he wouldn’t refuse; he’d just enjoy it.

Being close to the class monitor, even if he died, it would be worth the price of admission.

The class monitor’s room was as simple as ever, without even a chair piled high with coats, truly lacking a homely feel.

A boy’s sense of belonging to a home is hiding paper from the state of Lu in his room. Waiting for the character ‘Jin’ to fade and yellow, then mixing it into the trash.

“Class monitor, what do you usually do at this hour?”

“Take a shower.”

“Then is your bathroom big?”

“There’s a bathtub.”

“Then…” Jiang Nian got excited, then calmed down. “That’s pretty nice. It’s good to soak a lot.”

“Too much trouble.” Li Qingrong’s language was as concise as ever.

After a few random chats, Jiang Nian leaned back in the chair and took out his phone. He pretended to look at it for a few moments, then casually asked,

“Oh, by the way, Qingqing, you said your parents would be back for New Year’s, right?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t your relationships very good?”

“Yes, not good.” Li Qingrong lowered her gaze, not knowing what to say. “After the college entrance exam, I won’t come back here.”

No, you will come back.

Jiang Nian silently complained in his heart. Although he didn’t know what the class monitor saw in him, she must have returned to Zhennan more than once.

She even very subtly asked him if he wanted to elope.

To be honest, he admired his future self. To be able to refuse eloping with the class monitor, that willpower would earn a (thumbs up) even in a no-fap community.

Living a good life with his ex-wife was more important than anything else.

“Oh, it’s fine if you don’t come back.” Jiang Nian offered a suggestion, “You can work at a research institute; it suits you quite well.”

This wasn’t just a random suggestion from him, but a reasonable inference.

Although Li Qingrong was… that… while working at the research institute, it didn’t mean that the job itself cursed her.

On the contrary, the research institute was quiet with few people, and she spent her days surrounded by machines. This bittersweet job likely cured her.

Li Qingrong thought about it and seemed to find the research institute quite good, so she nodded and said,

“Okay.”

A few seconds later, she looked up and asked,

“What about you?”

“Me…” Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment, then, after some thought, said seriously, “Probably study business, then start a small business?”

“I don’t aim for great wealth, just enough to make a living.”

He did have the capital to start a business; even if the System stopped giving him money, he could slowly accumulate savings through 【Winning the Lottery】, and his deposits were quite substantial.

Anyway, with a stable income, he wasn’t afraid of losing money.

As for why he wanted to start a business, wasn’t it better to just lie around? Because in Zhang Wanhao’s heart, he was just a scoundrel who hit on his daughter.

Zhang Wanhao, you just wait for me (voice cracking)!!!

Li Qingrong didn’t quite understand Jiang Nian’s thoughts and softly hummed. Then she lowered her gaze, thought of something, and looked up again to ask,

“Starting a business must cost a lot of money, right?”

“More or less. Starting a business is burning money,” Jiang Nian said casually, leaning back in his chair. “But I have some money now.”

“Besides, that’s after college.”

“For now, let’s make our lives… no, let’s do well on the college entrance exam; that’s more important than anything else.”

Li Qingrong’s eyes were slightly lowered, lost in thought.

“Mm.”

After some detours, Jiang Nian told a joke to liven the mood.

“I have a childhood friend who, on his way to school, crashed into a car window on the roadside, and then he laughed like crazy, saying while laughing.”

“Oh dear, oh dear, still can’t get used to this body?”

“His mom walked by, looking shocked. Because of this, she dragged him to the countryside for three days of rituals.”

Hearing this, Li Qingrong almost laughed, but still pursed her lips.

“Was that childhood friend you?”

In an instant, Jiang Nian stopped grinning.

“How… how could that be?”

Jiang Nian glanced at the time; it was almost midnight. If he came home too late, his mom would nag him endlessly.

It’s so annoying to be managed in high school. It’ll be great when I go to college. I’ll just completely abandon my home and wander around!

“I should probably head back now?” He stood up.

Hearing this, Li Qingrong also stood up.

“I’ll walk you out.”

Jiang Nian didn’t refuse and glanced at her.

“Just to outside the complex is fine. My house isn’t too far from here.”

Li Qingrong originally intended to grab her car keys, but seeing Jiang Nian’s serious expression, she thought for a moment and retracted her hand.

“Mm.”

Stepping out, Li Qingrong was still wearing that purple windbreaker.

Little sister wearing purple indeed had a lot of charm.

“Qingqing, your skin is so fair.” Jiang Nian swallowed, his brain intermittently taken over by his little head.

“Huh?” Li Qingrong touched her face.

She couldn’t quite follow Jiang Nian’s thought process. Sometimes she felt he was very reliable, but other times quite childish.

The two were completely on different channels; she just didn’t know what kind of videos Jiang Nian’s channel was playing.

Fruit Warriors?

Li Qingrong occasionally heard Jiang Nian and Li Hua passionately singing that song during morning self-study.

Under the streetlights, their steps were slow.

Their shadows stretched infinitely, eventually intertwining.

“Were your parents not good to you before?” Jiang Nian suddenly changed the topic.

“Mm.” Li Qingrong’s eyes dimmed. “They want to reconcile with me, but I don’t really want to see them.”

“Your parents are…” Li Qingrong began, leaving Jiang Nian stunned.

“I have an older sister, and she’s currently providing my living expenses. Barring any surprises, she’ll continue to do so until I start working.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Jiang Nian didn’t press further, deep in thought. “Qingqing, I also have money.”

“Huh?” Li Qingrong turned to look at him, slightly dazed.

By this point, they had walked half the distance. The apartment complex gate was only a few tens of meters away.

Under the streetlight, Jiang Nian looked at her and said,

“A good friend’s money can also be spent. Although it’s not a lot now, it’s enough to support your studies.”

The class monitor’s parents were indeed not ordinary people, and they seemed to be actively trying to reconcile their relationship with their daughter, Li Qingrong.

But currently, there was no room for reconciliation between them.

After all, the class monitor was almost an adult.

Financially, she had the support of her older sister, Li Lanying. She was also personally independent, completely free from her parents’ control.

Jiang Nian could tell that the class monitor was just slow, not stupid. She also knew very well that her sister was only mediating, so she had no reason to refuse.

Therefore, Jiang Nian offered her a new choice. She didn’t have to choose it, but at least she would have more confidence in the future.

Hearing this, Li Qingrong froze.

In a trance, Jiang Nian’s figure once again overlapped with that of many years ago. The world, because of the boy’s bravery, once again emitted light.

She lowered her head, not knowing what to say.

So, under the streetlight, she directly hugged Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian walked home, his slender shadow stretching infinitely.

The river wasn’t too far from home, so he planned to walk back. The night wind blew, and his blood-rushed brain sobered up a bit.

“My head’s all flushed.”

Jiang Nian savored the feeling of being hugged by the class monitor. First, a scent filled his arms, then he felt something soft, instantly making him giddy.

This is great, we’re saved!

She’s not Pad-Man!

Midnight, the night was deep.

Jiang Nian walked alone on the road when his phone suddenly vibrated with a buzz.

He thought it was his mom calling, and with a guilty look, he pulled out his phone and saw a message from the class monitor.

“Are you home yet? (Smile)”

The more Jiang Nian looked at that yellow-faced smile, the more he couldn’t hold back. “Qingqing, next time you can use a few different emojis. The smile is a bit… not a universal emoji.”

Buzz, the class monitor replied instantly.

“Oh, oh (wry smile).”

Jiang Nian immediately felt even more awkward and typed back.

“(Wry smile) That’s not how you use it.”

It seems…

…

. There’s nothing wrong with using it that way, it just looks even more Yin and Yang, so was that the class monitor’s original intention?

Mystery solved, the class monitor is a Grandmaster of Yin and Yang.

Li Qingrong: “Mm (slacking off).”

Jiang Nian felt that the class monitor’s style was about to be ruined by this emoji, so he briefly explained roughly how long it would take him to get home.

“I’ll tell you when I get there, okay?”

Li Qingrong: “Okay (smile).”

After finishing his chat with the class monitor, he found that Xu Qianqian had also sent him a message.

“Not coming back?”

Jiang Nian immediately sent several question marks, wondering how she knew he hadn’t returned.

“I’m at home, though.”

“Liar, Auntie Li asked me ten minutes ago.” Xu Qianqian sent a smiling emoji, quite sarcastically.

“I said you were at my place doing practice tests.”

“Thanks, Young Master Xu (fist bump).” Jiang Nian felt a little touched; this was Young Master Xu’s most human moment.

“I thought you’d say I went out for a foot massage. I judged a gentleman with a villain’s heart.”

“No, how could I?” Xu Qianqian sent a smile. “I said you wanted to go out drinking and fighting, and I confiscated your money.”

“Too ashamed to see friends, so you could only do practice tests at my place.”

Jiang Nian also grinned, sending a thumbs-up.

“Young Master Xu, you truly are a great person struck by lightning. I was wondering why my phone had 24 missed calls (smile).”

Xu Qianqian: “(Confused) Did you say thank you?”

“Thank you, Young Master Xu.”

Putting down his phone, Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, those 24 missed calls were made up by him. He usually had no other hobbies, just loved to tell little lies. After returning home.

He first knocked on Xu Qianqian’s door. Before knocking, he sniffed his clothes, making sure there was no lingering scent of the class monitor.

Laughing to death, how is he so skilled at secret rendezvous?

Because of Qing Bao.

After a minute, footsteps approached from far away at the door. This time, Young Master Xu didn’t use stealth steps, nor did she crouch by the door.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected Jiang Nian to knock on her door so late.

The door opened a tiny crack, revealing the girl’s disdainful face.

“Back from your date?”

“Huh?” Jiang Nian was made a little guilty by her remark, then he reacted, “Did you really say I went drinking?”

“Didn’t say anything.” Xu Qianqian glanced at him, a bit impatient. “Speak quickly if you have something to say, otherwise I’m closing the door.”

“Hey, let me see your foot.” Jiang Nian said something quite perverted, then skillfully squeezed in through the door.

“No need to look, it’s fine.” Although Xu Qianqian was reluctant, she still demonstrated a bit of a boy’s walk. “You call this fine?” Jiang Nian squatted down, poked her foot, then held it. “I’m an old doctor, let me take a look.”

“Whether you’re sick or not, I’ll know if I lick it.”

Hearing this, Xu Qianqian’s face instantly turned completely red. She struggled free abruptly, not even having time to put on her socks, and pulled her foot back.

“You pervert!”

“Of course not, just checking if you’re okay.” Jiang Nian picked up the sock from the floor, stared at it, then looked at Xu Qianqian again.

Xu Qianqian’s face darkened. “If you suck it, I’ll call the police immediately.”

“What are you saying? What kind of talk is that?” Jiang Nian instantly reacted defensively. “This is slander, I’m getting a lawyer.”

Xu Qianqian was speechless, too annoyed by him to be angry.

“I’m not lying, I’m really fine.”

Saying that, she walked a short distance seriously. She really seemed to have no major problems, meaning she had been faking it earlier.

You play well, Xu Qianqian.

However, Jiang Nian didn’t take it to heart. Old Xu was never home and didn’t care about Xu Qianqian. He was completely a hands-off manager.

Looking at it this way, it seemed a bit selfish, but it might also be deliberate on his part, wanting everyone to be disappointed in him.

That way, he could use the money earned from burying himself in work to entrust Xu Qianqian to someone else, settle her down, and leave without any attachments.

If Jiang Nian didn’t look after Xu Qianqian more, it would truly be inexcusable.

Amidst their bickering, Jiang Nian also returned to his own house across the hall. He was halfway through blow-drying his hair when he received a message from Xu Qianqian.

“(Contempt) Reconciled with Zhou Yuting?”