Sister Zhang held me tightly, as if we hadn't seen each other for a long time, regardless of Lan Ya being by my side.
As Sister Zhang held me, I stole a glance at Lan Ya and noticed her gaze was indeed different from before, a little unnatural. Could it be that this girl had truly developed feelings for me? Previously, no matter how affectionate I was with Sister Zhang, she had always taken it in stride, not like today.
It seemed I should avoid showing off my affection in front of her too much from now on.
I checked the time. It was past four in the afternoon, almost time for school to let out. I told them I needed to go to school and then head home.
Lan Ya asked, "Why are you going to school when you've already dropped out?"
I said it was about my father's case. I had asked someone to investigate a person and see if there were any leads.
Sister Zhang offered, "Do you need my help? My uncle works in the Municipal Education Bureau."
I replied that it wasn't necessary yet. I didn't know the specifics, and I'd let her know once there was a lead.
Lan Ya chimed in, "Isn't it Zhou Yingying? Is there anyone else?"
I said, "Zhou Yingying threatened me, saying she'd definitely put my father in jail. I've inquired, and someone paid Zhou Yingying to do this."
Lan Ya declared, "This bitch needs to be dealt with too. It would be best if we could kill her along with everything else this time."
I replied, "No rush. I still want to play with her. Have you ever seen a cat catch a mouse and not eat it, but play with it? I don't want to kill her outright, I want to play her to death!" Da Feng Novel Network
Lan Ya agreed, "Alright! I'll back you up."
I said, "I'm leaving now. You two continue chatting."
I went out and hailed a taxi, asking the driver to take me to the middle school.
My timing was perfect. As soon as I got out of the car, I saw students starting to pour out.
I saw Wang Xin walking out with a group of female classmates. She quickly ran over when she saw me and asked, "Aren't you busy anymore?"
I replied, "I am a bit busy, but compared to seeing you, no amount of busyness is too much."
She looked at my face, "You always know what to say. But Da Laizi has been really well-behaved these past few days. He avoids me like a mouse seeing a cat. I guess that saying is true."
I asked, "Which saying?"
She said, "The tough fear the fierce, and the fierce fear the reckless. I remember you saying that."
I said, "Just me being reckless isn't enough. It's mainly because the female devil isn't backing him anymore, so he's chickened out."
Wang Xin asked, "Why isn't she backing him anymore?"
I hesitated, then quickly changed the subject, asking, "Look at me, have I gained weight?"
She looked at my face seriously, "Yes, you really have gained weight. Your complexion looks much better too."
I've been eating more normally lately, so I've probably put on a little weight.
I smiled and said, "Maybe one day I'll turn into a fatty. By the way, let's wait for Xiao Pang. We'll go back together when he gets here. We'll go back and take a look."
Xiao Pang emerged from the school gate at that moment. I greeted him, and we started walking towards home together.
Knowing that Da Laizi was no longer bothering Wang Xin eased my mind considerably. Now I could focus wholeheartedly on my own affairs.
We went to my house together. Wang Xin had a key and, familiar with the place, opened the door for us. Then, without a word, she went to the kitchen to start cooking.
She also went to the market and bought quite a bit of vegetables and salted pork, which she hung above our heads.
With Wang Xin in the kitchen, I called Xiao Pang into my room and asked him about his findings. He said, "The person you're looking for is named Wang Liancheng. He's the vice principal of the school. He's close with the female devil, and people have seen them together."
This was similar to what Wen Siqiang had said. It seemed this was the person behind her actions.
I instructed, "Find some time after school one day to keep an eye on him and see where he goes after school. The female devil lives on Jianshe Road, so focus your attention there. See if you can find any clues."
Wang Xin called me to help her prepare the vegetables, so I quickly went to assist her.
Wang Xin cooked salted pork with celery and a cabbage and tofu soup. Once I finished preparing the greens, we could eat.
The rice was leftovers from my mother's cooking. We'd stir-fry it later and set aside some for my parents.
Wang Xin was very efficient, clearly accustomed to doing housework. It wasn't surprising; children from dual-income families often learned to cook and became self-reliant at a young age, helping to share the burden with their parents.
Wang Xin set aside the cooked dishes for them, then brought the food to the small round table. The three of us sat together, eating from our bowls, a scene of domestic harmony. I finally saw a glimpse of life in a home.
After finishing our meal and cleaning up, I offered Wang Xin five hundred yuan for groceries. She refused, but I insisted, "I have money in my pocket right now and can afford it. If I run out of money someday, I'll ask you then."
She no longer declined and put the money away. I told them to head home, as I needed to go to work.
Today, Wen Siqiang also went with us to Manager Chen's place. It was likely that Manager Chen would assign us some tasks tonight. After all, entrusting such a significant matter to us alone would require him to take precautions. If we were to abscond with the goods, the losses would be immeasurable.
Today, Xiao Li also changed into a trench coat. It was clearly new, as if she were competing with Xiao Hong or showing off. Women's thoughts are fascinating, with their subtle rivalries and hidden battles, much like current palace dramas.
As expected, as soon as we reached the lobby, the manager informed us that the boss was waiting upstairs. Wen Siqiang and I immediately headed for the elevators without a word.
Manager Chen stood up from the sofa upon seeing us and asked, "Have you both memorized the locations?"
We nodded. He continued, "As you both know, the situation has changed. You don't need to pick up anyone. Directly load the goods onto the vehicle. When the car is on the road, call me, and I'll tell you where to deliver the goods."
He then handed a cordless phone to Wen Siqiang and said, "You'll use this phone tomorrow. Remember this: the goods and your lives are both on the line. If anything happens to the goods, you don't need to come back, and you won't survive if you do. However, this shipment is a test for both of you. Your future importance hinges on the outcome you deliver. Also, if the goods reach the designated location safely, each of you will receive twenty thousand yuan tonight."
With that, he waved his hand, signaling us to leave.
As I reached the doorway, Manager Chen called out from behind me, "Hua Zi, that female student tomorrow must not have any problems. That's a separate matter from picking up the goods. You know the consequences if you fail!"
I stood with my back to him. After he finished speaking, I grunted and left the room. Damn it, we're just dogs being used by him, nothing more than tools.
Wen Siqiang, not understanding what was happening, asked me what was wrong in the elevator. I briefly explained about Old Mian wanting Xiao Hong to accompany him to bed. He patted my shoulder and said, "Women, that's what they're inherently for. You absolutely must not be foolish."
I ignored him. Did he think everyone was like him, devoid of humanity and driven solely by profit?