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Chapter 11: Old Lu, do you want a girlfriend or not?

Was Chu Zining really this good-looking?

She was much prettier than the class belle, Shao Linlin.

Why wasn’t her name on the school beauty list?

Sadly the school uniform was baggy and ugly, so he could not see her figure or her legs…

Principal Ma Xiong looked eagerly at Dai Ming, for Dai Ming was an extremely important figure to him and to the school.

The special admission program organized by Dai Ming was directly tied to this year’s enrollment at Yongning University, which in turn determined how many of the school’s students could enter Yongning University and therefore reflected on Ma Xiong’s own performance.

If more students were admitted to Yongning University this year, his educational résumé would gain a brilliant new highlight.

The recruitment work in the latter half of the year would also become easier.

“Professor Dai, what do you think of this child?” Ma Xiong glanced at Chu Zining.

Dai Ming gave a cool nod. “I can give her a slot as well.”

Only then did Ma Xiong relax, but wait… why did he say ‘as well’?

He asked in surprise, “Could it be that another student solved the problems you set?”

Dai Ming looked at Lu Li.

Ma Xiong followed his gaze and frowned: The boy looked unfamiliar and handsome, but could his studies really surpass Chu Zining’s?

Dai Ming nodded lightly. “Yes, it was him; Lu Li finished all the problems in 40 minutes.”

Ma Xiong was shocked; so there was such an outstanding student in the school?

Dai Ming sighed softly. “Your school’s talent cultivation is truly unsatisfactory; if I had not come in person this time, an excellent student like Lu Li would almost have been buried.”

“How could that be? Our school has always valued talent, that could never happen!”

Still denying it? Dai Ming snorted and briefly recounted how Shen Huan and his son had framed Lu Li for cheating.

Hearing this, Ma Xiong flew into a rage; hadn’t Shen Huan ruined his impression in front of Dai Ming by doing such a thing?

He immediately stated his position. “Shen Huan usually seems gentle and modest, I never imagined he could do this! Rest assured, I will punish him severely!”

Ma Xiong promptly led Dai Ming to one side, away from Lu Li and Chu Zining, and poured out a stream of flattering words in a low voice until Dai Ming’s expression finally softened.

Left alone with Chu Zining, Lu Li felt a little awkward, so he cleared his throat and introduced himself, “Hi, my name is Lu Li….”

Chu Zining glanced up at him and then lowered her head.

So proud… Having made a fool of himself, Lu Li turned his head away.

What he did not know was that as soon as he turned away, Chu Zining timidly raised her head again and gave him a meaningful look.

Ma Xiong and Dai Ming soon finished talking, and Ma Xiong’s face was glowing, clearly having reached an agreement with Dai Ming on something.

They heard Ma Xiong say, “Student Lu Li, what Shen Huan did was indeed excessive, and I have decided to dismiss him from his post. Regarding your family situation, the school plans to grant you a scholarship of ¥2,000; are you satisfied with this outcome?”

Lu Li froze at these words… a scholarship?

He had applied many times before with no result, yet now it came so easily?

“Thank you, teachers!” Lu Li gave Ma Xiong and Dai Ming a deep bow.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing,” Ma Xiong laughed heartily.

Dai Ming smiled without speaking; he knew Lu Li’s gratitude was directed at him.

…

The scholarship was soon distributed: a fat red envelope containing ¥2,000, a stack of bright red Mao notes that felt wonderfully reassuring to the touch.

Back in class, Lu Li used the phone Dai Ming had given him to create a messaging account, and the first person to add him turned out to be Shen Tan.

While Lu Li was still puzzled, he soon received a friend request from Shen Huan.

After he accepted, a message arrived.

Laurel on the Mountain: ¥5,000, awaiting collection.

Bright Lu Li’s Lu Li: ¥5,000, received.

Lu Li had already linked his bank card, so he effortlessly pocketed the ¥5,000.

Bright Lu Li’s Lu Li: Director Shen, how generous! Please keep reporting me for cheating in the future; I’ll actively cooperate with any investigation!

Laurel on the Mountain: smile! smile! smile! (emoji)

Lu Li chuckled softly, hoping Shen could still smile after learning he had been dismissed.

Lu Li closed his eyes and opened the dating game’s player panel in his mind.

[Player: Lu Li

Constitution: 4 (moved like a willow swaying in the wind)

Charisma: 8 (as lovely as a quiet flower mirrored on water)

Intelligence: 8 (smarter than Bijian by one aperture)

Wealth: 25 yuan (same as the Sanya, Hainan license-plate code)

Wealth: ¥7,005 (last month you ate what the dog ate; this month the dog eats what you eat)

Martial Arts: Minor Achievement (0/10)]

Last month you ate what the dog ate; this month the dog eats what you eat?

That’s pretty accurate, although my family doesn’t have a dog, only a silly little sister.

Hiss… maybe that’s even more accurate.

While Lu Li was wondering how to spend ¥7,000, on the other side Shao Linlin was whispering conspiratorially with Tang Yang.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime request, please!” Shao Linlin clasped her hands and blinked her big eyes, which were brimming with hope.

Tang Yang’s mouth twitched. “Nonsense! When you paid me ¥50 to rank dead last this semester, you also said it was a once-in-a-lifetime request!”

Shao Linlin and Tang Yang had been friends since elementary school and were very close; logically they should have become a couple.

In reality, Shao Linlin disliked Tang Yang for being ugly, and Tang Yang thought Shao Linlin was dumb, so the two became good-natured frenemies.

Otherwise Tang Yang would never have sold his dignity for a mere ¥50 each semester, working hard to finish last so Shao Linlin could save face.

Exposed, Shao Linlin flew into a shy rage. “Are you going or not?”

“Not going! Lu Li is my dearest friend, my brother; I, Tang Yang, would never betray a brother!”

“You’d never betray a brother?” Shao Linlin snorted coldly, pulled out ¥50, and said, “Say that again?”

Tang Yang snatched the ¥50, and his resolute face melted into a fawning grin. “You have such sharp eyes! I’ll head over right away!”

Tang Yang strode toward Lu Li, slapped a hand on his shoulder, and was about to speak when he saw the phone in Lu Li’s hand and exclaimed in delight, “Wow! Lu Li, that phone is the newest Huawei model, right? It costs ¥8,000… I’ve wanted it for ages and my dad still refuses to buy me one!”

“¥8,000?” Lu Li raised an eyebrow. Was the phone really that expensive?

“Of course!”

Suddenly Lu Li felt overwhelmed by such favor.

It was far too valuable; once he earned some money, he would repay Teacher Dai for the phone… or so Lu Li thought.

“Let me play with it!” Tang Yang reached out.

Lu Li handed the phone over without the slightest hesitation.

“Whoa, the processing speed, the smoothness, the screen resolution…” Tang Yang fiddled with the phone, his mesmerized eyes as ardent as if he were staring at a stunning beauty.

After adding his own contact to Lu Li’s account, Tang Yang reluctantly returned the phone.

“Ahem!” A loud ‘soft’ cough rang out in the noisy classroom.

Tang Yang looked over instinctively to see Shao Linlin glowering at him, shaking her tiny fist in warning.

Tang Yang jolted awake and finally remembered why he had come to find Lu Li.

He let out two dry laughs and asked ingratiatingly, “Old Lu, want a girlfriend?”

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