CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 269: XIAO HONG AND XIAO LU

"Chu Hong, did you give me all the profits?" Mo Siyu went straight to Yipin Inn after coming out of the bank.

Yipin Inn was ready with brewed tea, as if waiting for Mo Siyu’s arrival.

"I thought you already knew," Chu Hong said as he handed over a cup of tea: "At first, the shop didn’t make much money, so I decided to invest all the dividends into rejuvenating the business. Only in the past two years have we started to see dividends."

Chu Hong explained, "So, if you think the money is too little..."

"Chu Hong, just tell me, besides Jiang City, you opened one in Shenzhen too, right?" Mo Siyu could almost confirm, considering the size of this place, it couldn’t possibly earn so much money.

"Yes," Chu Hong said with a smile in his eyes: "There’s a Yipin Inn in Shenzhen, five times bigger than this one. Of course, the money was loaned from the bank here. Don’t worry, you won’t miss out on the profits in the future."

"Stop it," Mo Siyu drank his tea and handed back a card: "Here’s half of the money, consider it as rotating funds."

"No need," Chu Hong refused, pushing the card back: "Siyu, we still have funds for the shop to rotate. Yipin Inn in Shenzhen has been open for less than a year, so the dividend hasn’t kicked in yet. When it does, just don’t complain that it’s too much."

Chu Hong was full of confidence, his peach-blossom eyes shining with an intimidating brilliance.

Mo Siyu thought for a moment and did not refuse. He asked, "Have you considered going back to Jing City?"

"I have," Chu Hong nodded: "Once the Yipin Inn in the city here is stable, I plan to use it as collateral for another loan to open a Yipin Inn in Jing City. Of course, this is kept quiet."

Chu Hong’s peach-blossom eyes shined brightly: "I want to make Yipin Inn bigger and stronger, and then spread it all over the country."

"Okay," Mo Siyu patted Chu Hong on the shoulder, with an encouraging tone: "I believe in you, we’ll meet at the Jing City Yipin Inn then."

"Sure," Chu Hong was brimming with confidence.

Over the years, besides Yipin Inn, he had engaged in other businesses and saved a good sum of money.

Chu Hong suddenly said, "Siyu, when the time comes for Jing City’s Yipin Inn, don’t you say you can’t get half of the dividends."

"Having thirty percent would already feel like I’m taking a huge advantage," Mo Siyu said with a laugh.

Chu Hong raised an eyebrow and said nothing more. As Yipin Inn grew, the money at stake would be no small amount, but Mo Siyu’s trust in him warmed Chu Hong’s heart. Accustomed to darkness, Mo Siyu was to him like an elder brother, no, closer than a real elder brother, guiding him along the way.

*

Time flew by.

The high school exam was upon us.

When Tang Yue went to the school, her parents Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian, as well as Tang Jun, who didn’t attend classes, all came with her.

Tang Mingli and Wei Jiajia came with Tang You’an too. If it weren’t for Tang You’an making a fuss at the end, he probably would’ve stayed until Tang Yue finished her exams before leaving.

Even though they knew standing outside wouldn’t help much, it seemed like being there could make them feel a bit more at peace.

After the first exam, Tang Yue came out and saw her parents Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian as well as Tang Jun under the sun. Tang Yue said with concern, "Dad, Mom, Xiao Jun, you don’t have to come. I’m fine."

"No, we have to come," Zhang Hualian handed her water, asking if she was thirsty or feeling unwell, but there was not a single question about her exam results.

Tang Yue responded one by one. She looked around; there were people everywhere. She didn’t know where Mo Siyu was, but she was sure that he was nearby.

"Sister, what are you looking at?" Tang Jun urged Tang Yue to go home; the sun was scorching, and he was worried about Tang Yue getting heatstroke.

"No." Tang Yue withdrew her gaze and followed her family back home.

In the crowd, Mo Siyu, dressed in a white shirt, stepped out from behind a large tree. His tall figure stood out prominently among the people, and he watched Tang Yue’s family return home before he turned and left.

During the three days of Tang Yue’s college entrance exams, Tang Zhengde’s family was busy the whole time.

Every day, they came up with different dishes to make delicious food for Tang Yue, and after the exams each day, they would give her sour plum soup or mung bean soup to drink, for fear of her suffering from heatstroke.

Even with dressing and using the electric fan, Zhang Hualian controlled it all, afraid that Tang Yue would catch a cold during these days and that it would affect her performance.

"It’s finally over." Tang Yue finished the last exam and let out a sigh of relief. She said, "Mom and Dad, thank you. I’m sure I can get good results."

"It’s okay, it doesn’t matter if the results aren’t good." This was the first time Zhang Hualian talked about grades, but her purpose was to comfort Tang Yue.

She was afraid that if the results came out and were not satisfying, it would upset Tang Yue.

Tang Zhengde shared the same attitude as Zhang Hualian, constantly consoling Tang Yue.

It made Tang Yue feel as if the results were out and she had failed.

She truly felt that she had done very well in the exams. She knew how to answer all the questions, and it even seemed easier than usual tests.

However, it seemed like Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian, as a couple, didn’t believe it at all.

"Big sis, I believe you can do well, but even if you don’t, it’s okay. In my heart, you’re the most awesome, big sis," Tang Jun said as he began speaking.

Tang Yue couldn’t help but slap him and said, "Xiao Jun, I’m sure I did well."

Tang Jun rubbed his shoulder innocently and muttered, "This is just to avoid putting pressure on big sis’s mind."

After returning home, Tang Yue went out again. She went to the riverside park, where she and Mo Siyu had agreed to meet after the exams.

On both sides of the park, the willows were swaying gracefully, their long branches hanging down. The light breeze stirred them, and the beautiful and tranquil scenery was very soothing to see. She walked a few steps and saw Mo Siyu standing upright under a large willow tree.

He was facing the lake, with his back towards Tang Yue, but his straight posture was unmistakable as Mo Siyu.

Truly, Mo Siyu was the most handsome man she had ever seen in a white shirt.

Tang Yue quietly approached, intending to scare Mo Siyu from behind.

She instinctively held her breath, carefully walked up behind Mo Siyu—who was much taller than her—and on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his waist, covering his eyes with her hands and said, "Guess who I am."

"Xiao Hong?" Mo Siyu guessed.

"That’s wrong." Tang Yue puffed her cheeks as she spoke.

Mo Siyu said, "Xiao Lu?"

"Wrong again." Tang Yue shook her head.

"Then it must be my home’s beautiful and pretty little fairy," Mo Siyu praised extravagantly: "These hands are so soft and fragrant; other than my little fairy, there’s no one else."

"Liar, just now you guessed Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu," Tang Yue let go of her hands, realizing by this point if she hadn’t understood that Mo Siyu had long ago guessed it was her, then she would be an idiot.

Mo Siyu turned around, holding in his hand a bunch of brightly glowing red roses. "For my Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu, to the most beautiful little fairy in my home."