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Chapter 64: Keeping the Relationship Strictly Financial

Because his bicycle was still parked at the Martial Arts Club, Lu Li amazingly hailed two taxis on his way to school today.

Lu Yao’s middle school was a bit farther, while Beiyun High School was only about a 20-minute walk from Lu Li’s home.

He had planned to walk, but he worried the food in the lunchboxes would get jostled, so he reluctantly chose to take a cab.

After entering the school, he did not go to the classroom first but headed toward the infirmary.

He knocked on the infirmary door, and when a charming “Come in” answered, he carried the lunchboxes inside.

“Yo, Student Lu.”

Qin Lan, wearing a white coat, lounged lazily in her office chair and looked at him with sleepy eyes.

“Teacher Qin.” Lu Li nodded and set the boxes on her desk.

Crossing her long legs, Qin Lan waved her hand. “Don’t call me teacher; since we already have a pure financial arrangement, just use my name.”

“Uh…I’ll call you Sister Qin then.”

“That works.”

Seeing how listless she looked, Lu Li casually asked, “Sister Qin, didn’t you sleep well last night?”

“Mm… I haven’t worked in Yongan City for long and don’t even have a place to stay. I sleep in the office every night, and the quality is terrible.”

While speaking, Qin Lan gave a huge yawn; beneath her graceful brows, her flirtatious eyes glistened with two faint tears, and the tiny beauty mark at the corner seemed to sparkle.

“Haven’t you thought of renting?”

Qin Lan sighed. “Don’t mention it! I’ve been hunting for ages. Although Yongan is only a second-tier city, housing prices are hardly cheaper than in first-tier Yongning.

Places close to school are too expensive for me, and ones farther away are cheaper, but I’m lazy and don’t want to squeeze on the subway for an hour.”

She yawned again and pouted. “You have no idea how long it took me to finally find a halfway decent apartment. I went in to look around; it was a bit bare, but it felt homey, and I was satisfied.”

Lu Li chuckled. “That sounds great, doesn’t it?”

She rolled her eyes. “Great my foot; I even paid a deposit and planned to move in a couple of days. Who could have guessed that damned landlord would suddenly back out and refuse to rent. It really made me furious!”

“You can tell just from the sound of it he’s scum; people who break their word are the worst,” Lu Li sympathized after hearing her complaint, “My landlord was even worse: we had agreed nicely that I could pay at the end of the month, yet yesterday he just changed the lock, and my sister and I almost slept on the street.”

Qin Lan instantly connected and asked worriedly, “So what did you do?”

Lu Li shook his head. “What else? I went and got the key back from him.”

“That’s good, but why didn’t he keep his promise?”

Lu Li spread his hands. “Turns out he found a new tenant willing to pay more.”

“Maybe my place fell through for the same reason,” Qin Lan sighed softly. “Landlords only care about profit.”

Not wanting to dwell on it, Lu Li clicked open the lunchbox; the aroma surged out, and Qin Lan’s languid eyes lit up as she swallowed involuntarily.

Eight-treasure porridge, potato pancakes, shrimp custard…

Without another word she picked up the chopsticks and started eating; before long the gloom on her face was completely washed away by happiness.

“The quality of this breakfast is pretty good…” Qin Lan nodded repeatedly, certain she had profited hugely from yesterday’s agreement with Lu Li.

After filling herself to roughly 80%, she tilted her head toward the unopened boxes beside him. “And these?”

Lu Li said, “That’s lunch; just reheat it at noon.”

Her eyes shone. “Can I eat it now?”

“It was prepared for you anyway, so of course you can. Sister Qin, these two boxes are for me and Chu Zining; may I leave them here and come back to eat at noon?”

Rather than queuing for the microwave in the cafeteria, he preferred to borrow the one here.

“Sure, sure.” Qin Lan rubbed her hands and eagerly opened the containers.

The food was still warm; she tasted every dish, a radiant smile blooming on her charming face, her long legs swinging lightly as the slim heels tapped the floor in cheerful clicks.

“Delicious! Lu Li, with your cooking talent, going to Yongning University is such a waste; you should enroll in New Oriental and become a chef.” Qin Lan gave him a thumbs-up.

Lu Li could only laugh helplessly; checking his phone he saw class was about to start. “Sister Qin, it’s getting late, I’ll head back.”

“Hold on.” Qin Lan suddenly coughed. “Lu Li, have you thought about what I asked before?”

“What was that?” He froze.

Resting her fair hand under her seductive chin, Qin Lan blinked. “About keeping me as your mistress.”

Glancing at her crossed, shapely legs, Lu Li pondered. “If I agree, will you still pay for food each month?”

She pouted coquettishly. “Pay what? I’d be yours, and you’d be obliged to support me.”

The corner of Lu Li’s mouth twitched. “Sister Qin, I actually like them younger. Let’s just stick to our pure financial relationship.”

Trying to freeload on my cooking? No way!

He closed the door crisply and left in style.

Qin Lan pursed her lips. “They say it’s hard for a man to chase a woman but easy for a woman to chase a man; why is my experience different? Am I really getting old?”

She took out her phone, opened the camera as a mirror, and a coquettish, pretty face appeared on screen.

The woman before her looked elegant and maturely beautiful, the tiny mole at the corner of her eye adding an extra touch of irresistible charm.

Qin Lan tilted her head; from every angle she felt flawless.

“I’m this gorgeous… what man wouldn’t be moved? I’ll snag you sooner or later!” She hummed twice.

Just then the phone in her hand vibrated; a call was coming in.

Glancing at the caller ID, she answered and squealed in a sweet voice, “Hmph, you rascal! I’ve been in Yongan so long and you’re only now calling?”

After a brief pause, a cool female voice came from the other end. “I have official business at Beiyun High School shortly; be ready to receive me, and I’ll see you then.”

“Official business here?” Qin Lan brightened, then asked curiously, “What kind of business brings Officer Jiang to a high-school campus?”

“One of your students earned a Courageous Act bonus for saving someone, and I was assigned to commend him.”

“Is that so?” Qin Lan exclaimed. “I didn’t know we had such a brave young hero; introduce him to me sometime?”

“Introduce my ass… he’s a scumbag.”

“A scumbag?” Qin Lan’s gossip-loving soul blazed. “What, he dumped you? Tell me, tell me; I’m a love guru!”

“As if! Hmph, you haven’t even held a man’s hand, so stop pretending to be a guru!”

Qin Lan harrumphed. “Like you have?”

There was silence on the other end, then the voice returned. “Are you really not going home and just planning to marry any random man?”

Qin Lan pouted. “I refuse to be a pawn in a business marriage. Once the rice is cooked, let’s see who dares force me!”

“So, have you found a man you fancy?”

Looking at the lunchboxes on the desk, Qin Lan sighed softly. “I do fancy a certain youngster, but alas, he thinks I’m too old…”

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