Chapter 37: Chapter 37: You are born to be a kept man!
Xu Musen cradled the box, which contained a meal so exquisite it could be sold for a four-digit price at a high-end restaurant.
He always felt that since his rebirth, this was the first time he had been so outrageously wrong about something.
He looked into An Nuannuan's pure eyes and couldn't help asking, "Nuannuan, isn't your family... in desperate need of money?"
"I never said my family was short on money?"
An Nuannuan earnestly replied.
Xu Musen was stunned for a moment, and realized that was indeed the case!
All along, it was he who had assumed that An Nuannuan's family faced financial difficulties, yet she never mentioned anything about her family's financial condition.
"Then why were you out selling flowers alone late at night..."
"That's because I wanted to experience what it feels like to earn my own money, plus I was contemplating new themes for my paintings," An Nuannuan tilted her head and said matter-of-factly.
Xu Musen fell silent for a moment.
It turns out he was the one truly poor enough to set up a stall!
In that instant, many of An Nuannuan's little habits were also explained.
The so-called not eating in the canteen wasn't because of an inferiority complex, but concern that her classmates would feel inferior, huh!
Everyone else is happily munching away on a few bucks' worth of food, and you show up with a table full of seafood and bird's nest - how do you expect them to eat?
And the fruits she gave him every day...
After all the twists and turns, Xu Musen still ended up eating the wealthy lady's food.
Why did it always feel so awkward?
He Qiang also stared in bafflement for a good while, struggling to accept the reality.
He looked at his good brother, patted his shoulder, and said with a hint of envy, "Moriko, you're destined to live off women in this life!"
Xu Musen: ...
Xu Musen also felt a sense of déjà vu, but seeing An Nuannuan's dazed look, he suddenly felt somewhat relieved.
It was good this way, at least she wouldn't get bullied.
As they were about done eating, a voice came from the school's PA system.
"An Nuannuan from Class Four, Grade Three, please come to the office."
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Xu Musen watched as An Nuannuan gobbled up the last piece of roast.
Indeed, that's how people are - surrounded by a table full of dishes, they look for meat to eat, and when it's a table full of meat, they prefer something vegetarian.
"It must be someone from your family, let me carry you over there."
Xu Musen packed up the things and crouched in front of An Nuannuan again.
By now, An Nuannuan had grown somewhat adept at lying on his back, clinging tightly to his neck.
Xu Musen could even feel her soft cheek against his, the full fragrance of a young girl, as well as the softness pressing on his back, all of which made him somewhat reluctant to let her go.
"Nuannuan, let's go."
"Mm."
He Qiang watched the two of them leave and muttered with a sour expression, "Isn't it hot being so clingy in the summer? Pah, pah, pah! Not as cool as my fishing rod!"
...
When they reached the office, Auntie Xiang had already arrived.
Upon seeing Nuannuan, she immediately came up with concern, ensuring that An Nuannuan was okay before she could breathe a sigh of relief.
Xu Musen put An Nuannuan down.
"Thank you."
Auntie Xiang expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Xu Musen.
"It's only right, Nuannuan and I are friends," Xu Musen said with a smile, nodding his head.
He looked at An Nuannuan who seemed still confused about what was happening: "Then, I'll be going back."
"Oh," An Nuannuan nodded toward him, her little face still a bit flushed.
Xu Musen left the office.
The class teacher began discussing the incident with Auntie Xiang, feeling it might have been an accident.
After all, An Nuannuan usually kept to herself and didn't have a grudge with anyone, plus there was no surveillance at the spot where the wheelchair had been tampered with.
However, Auntie Xiang looked at the wheelchair in the office and asked, "Has anyone other than you touched this wheelchair?"
"No, I just moved it here."
"Then that proves that there can only be your and Nuannuan's fingerprints on the wheelchair. If there is a third person's, they must have touched the wheelchair."
Auntie Xiang's demeanor suddenly changed, causing the class teacher to sweat a bit.
"That's true, but there were more than a dozen students in that time period..."
"Then we'll check one by one, you help by getting those students' fingerprints, and leave the rest to me."
Aunty Xiang's voice carried an undeniable firmness.
The homeroom teacher nodded in agreement. It would be a huge loss to the school if this matter were exposed, so naturally, they would handle it properly.
In the office, Aunty Xiang walked back to An Nuannuan, immediately putting on a smile, and crouched down to gently touch her little head.
She also didn't want Nuannuan to know she might have been a victim of campus violence.
Smiling, she said, "Nuannuan, I'll have someone customize a new wheelchair for you this afternoon. Aunty Xiang has some errands to run and might come back a bit late, so wait for me to pick you up at school, okay?"
An Nuannuan obediently nodded her head.
...
Xu Musen was heading back to his class along the corridor when at the corner, Yao Mingyue seemed to have been waiting for him already.
"I have something to tell you."
Yao Mingyue walked over and said, then headed to an unoccupied corner under the stairs.
Xu Musen followed her.
The two exchanged a silent gaze, and Yao Mingyue was the first to speak, "Just now, did you suspect me?"
"Yes."
Xu Musen nodded, admitting it directly.
After all, this little sickly beauty had once fired a female employee just for talking to him a few extra words in his past life.
It wouldn't be surprising whatever she did.
As expected, Yao Mingyue frowned slightly with displeasure. She patiently continued to ask, "Then why did you suddenly stop questioning me? What if it really was me?"
Yao Mingyue seemed to say this on purpose, observing Xu Musen's expression as if to test whether he would turn against her over that girl.
Xu Musen looked into her proud and luxurious phoenix eyes. His expression was calm and inscrutable, but then he suddenly smiled.
"I still know you to some extent. You might indeed do such a thing, but if it really were you, you would never deny it."
Yao Mingyue was momentarily stunned by Xu Musen's words.
In her past life, she had done many irrational things because of him.
But Yao Mingyue had her pride; she always owned up to her actions.
She was just like that: cunning and conceited.
A mad beauty but also a proud CEO for real.
After Xu Musen spoke, he left immediately.
Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure, his voice echoing in her mind.
"I still know you a bit..."
To be understood by him made Yao Mingyue happier than receiving his trust.
What does a yandere love the most?
It's when the person they like goes out of their way to understand them.
A smile uncontrollably curved up the corners of Yao Mingyue's mouth. Watching Xu Musen's back, she murmured to herself, "Since you understand me, then you should know... I won't let you go..."
Her smile carried a hint of morbidity. Despite the summer heat, it sent a chill down the spine.
After school, Xu Musen specially checked in on Class 4.
As expected, he saw An Nuannuan sitting alone.
There were hardly any people left in the class.
When Xu Musen entered, the few people there all glanced at him.
One of the boys seemed intent on saying something to An Nuannuan, but upon seeing Xu Musen enter, he scoffed and walked away immediately.
Xu Musen looked at him, recognizing the boy who liked to show off while playing basketball.
However, Xu Musen couldn't bother with him and went over to An Nuannuan's side.
"Haven't your family members arrived yet?"
"Mhm, Aunty Xiang said she had some errands and might take a while to return."
"What about the others at home?"
"Today my sister also has a day off, so she went to pick up my sister."
"So how long will you have to wait? It's going to get dark soon."
"I don't know..."
An Nuannuan shook her head, resting it on the desk. Her delicate little face was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, looking like a soft, pink steamed bun.
Xu Musen looked outside at the darkening sky, then at An Nuannuan with her bored yet obedient demeanor.
He slowly squatted down in front of her, each propping an elbow on a corner of the desk, eyes meeting.
Xu Musen flashed his white teeth, "How about... I just carry you home first?"