Chapter 13.2

The sound of their conversation gradually faded away.

Shu Qingyao wasn’t very interested. She took out a leftover meat bun from her lunchbox and sat at her desk, slowly eating it.

The work problem was solved, but the Xie Hezhang problem wasn’t.

She had to find a way to get close to Xie Hezhang.

But that kid didn’t buy into her act at all. He had clearly said before that he liked her to be more enthusiastic!

Shu Qingyao sighed as she munched on her bun.

Suddenly, there was a commotion and laughter outside the door.

“That little beggar is here again!”

“Hee hee, she’s so smelly, don’t go near her, you’ll get contaminated!”

“Get out, who allowed you to come to our school!”

…

Shu Qingyao looked out of the office from her desk, eating her bun, and saw four or five third and fourth graders throwing stones at a little girl.

The little girl looked thin and small from behind, and her clothes were very worn. She wasn’t even wearing shoes.

Shu Qingyao took a closer look, and her bun almost fell out of her mouth.

—Wasn’t that Xie Hezhang’s younger sister?!

How did she hang here?

She stuffed the bun into her mouth and ran out.

“All of you, stop it!”

Shu Qingyao was furious. She scolded the little brats severely, then pulled Xie Xiaoqian, who was crouching on the ground with her head in her hands and crying, to her feet, “Xiaoqian… are you okay?”

Xie Xiaoqian blinked her eyes, recognizing the beautiful older sister in front of her, the female educated youth who had protected her when her aunt hit her yesterday. She mumbled in a small voice, “I’m fine, sister.”

The little brats who had been scolded by Shu Qingyao were not convinced, “Teacher Shu, she came to school to steal things! The other day, Principal Xu’s lunch was stolen by her!”

Xie Xiaoqian’s cat-like voice was choked with tears, “I… I didn’t! Principal Xu gave it to me!”

Wang Xingde was not at home, Xie Helan didn’t give her food, and Xie Hezhang didn’t come back until very late. She was starving. A few days ago, she ran out and passed by the school. Principal Xu saw how pitiful she was and gave her her own lunch.

But somehow, someone saw it and said that she had stolen Principal Xu’s lunch.

Shu Qingyao instinctively believed Xie Xiaoqian. Holding her hand, she said to the little brats, “Since you say she stole it, then come with me to find Principal Xu now. We’ll confront her face to face. Do you dare?”

She lowered her head and asked Xie Xiaoqian, “Xiaoqian, will you go?”

Xie Xiaoqian nodded vigorously.

Seeing this, the little brats immediately scattered like birds and beasts. They only dared to bully little girls. They had a natural awe of teachers and principals.

Shu Qingyao let out a sigh, looked at the thin and weak little girl, who was only about her thigh high, and touched her rough, yellow hair, which was due to malnutrition. She asked, “Have you had lunch? Do you want to eat with me?”

…

In the teacher’s office, Xie Xiaoqian devoured the meat bun.

Last night, Xie Hezhang came back from outside and gave her one.

It tasted exactly the same as the one in her hand.

She had never eaten such a soft and juicy meat bun before. It was so delicious that she kept crying.

Did the older sister in front of her give the bun to her brother too?

Xie Xiaoqian secretly glanced at Shu Qingyao, who was sitting opposite her. Shu Qingyao saw her looking over and thought she was choking. She handed her her water bottle, “Eat slowly, eat slowly, drink some water first.”

Xie Xiaoqian swallowed a mouthful of water, then looked at the bun in the lunchbox again and asked cautiously, “Sister, is this bun for me?”

Shu Qingyao had brought three buns today. She had a small appetite and wasn’t very hungry. She nodded, “You eat it.”

“… Then, can I take it home?” Xie Xiaoqian swallowed her saliva.

Shu Qingyao was stunned, “What’s wrong?”

“… I… I want to take it to my brother.”

“…” Shu Qingyao’s eyes softened instantly. She pinched Xie Xiaoqian’s little face and smiled, “Don’t worry, your brother has delicious food too. He won’t go hungry. You eat it.”

Hearing Shu Qingyao say this, Xie Xiaoqian was relieved and obediently ate the last bun.

After eating two buns, Xie Xiaoqian was full. She was about to slip away when she saw Shu Qingyao sitting at her desk, staring at her thoughtfully.

“Sister…?”

Shu Qingyao showed a big bad wolf’s smile, tempting Little Red Riding Hood, “Xiaoqian, do you want to go to school?”

Calculating Xie Xiaoqian’s age, she was seven years old this year, and it was time for her to go to elementary school.

As long as Xie Xiaoqian went to school, she would have a legitimate reason to get close to Xie Hezhang. That kid obviously loved his sister. If she got along well with Xie Xiaoqian, she could ask Xie Xiaoqian to be a matchmaker. She wouldn’t be afraid of not being able to get Xie Hezhang.

Xie Xiaoqian blinked her eyes, “I want to… but my aunt…”

“If you want to, it’s easy.” Shu Qingyao smiled, “I’ll talk to your aunt.”

Shu Qingyao’s plan was simple. She would go directly to Xie Helan and tell her that she had discovered Xie Xiaoqian had a lot of musical talent and wanted to take her as an apprentice. She would pay Xie Xiaoqian two yuan a month, but she would have to stay at the school to practice the piano.

This would not only prevent Xie Xiaoqian from being sold as a child bride by Xie Helan, but it would also allow her to get close to Xie Hezhang naturally.

Shu Qingyao thought she was a genius.