Chapter 140: Is a 100,000 Yuan Gift Too Stingy?

“Siruo, is this really the Christmas gift you’re giving Jiang Zhou?”

In the girls’ dorm of the School of Finance, Ding Yue, freshly washed, leaned over to look at Feng Siruo’s desk.

Her eyes froze on the five neatly lined-up bank cards.

She’d seen people give chocolates. She’d seen people give clothes or watches.

But this? Directly gifting bank cards? That was a first.

“Is… is this okay?” Feng Siruo asked nervously.

She wasn’t good at choosing gifts, and this was the best idea she could come up with.

Ding Yue didn’t even know how to respond.

She picked up one of the cards and inspected it.

Each card had a neat label:

[Food].

[Clothing].

[Travel].

[Entertainment].

[Dating].

In other words, each card represented a slice of daily life.

Together, they covered everything in a college student’s routine.

Ding Yue almost burst out laughing.

Was Feng Siruo’s inner rich-lady side finally awakening? Was she seriously planning to keep Jiang Zhou like a caged bird?

This gift is… something else.

“Siruo, how much money is in these cards?”

Feng Siruo hesitated, then lifted two fingers.

“Two thousand?”

“Twenty… thousand.”

Ding Yue’s eyes went wide. “You put all your allowance into them?!”

“That’s right.”

“Wait, one hundred thousand yuan in total? You’re really giving him all of it?”

“Umm… is that not okay?”

Ding Yue nearly choked. “Do you realize 100,000 yuan is about what an average working-class family earns in a whole year?!”

Feng Siruo nodded innocently. “Wow, that’s impressive. So… will he like it?”

“…”

“I really didn’t know what else to give.”

“Well… it works, I guess. But who taught you this? This is something a wealthy woman in her thirties would do, not a college girl!”

“Umm… my dad gave my mom gifts this way.”

Ding Yue ground her teeth. “Damn rich people. I’m jealous!”

Feng Siruo tilted her chin up. “So… it’s not okay?”

“It’s fine! Why wouldn’t it be? Honestly, I feel like marrying you myself. But… are you sure you’re not just trying to keep Jiang Zhou?”

“No, no. It’s just a gift!”

Ding Yue sighed. “But if you give him all your money now, what will you give him for New Year’s?”

Feng Siruo blinked at the cards in her hands. “I… I can ask Dad for more.”

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

Ding Yue rubbed her chin. “I get it now. You’re planning to slowly drain your family’s wealth, hand it all over to Jiang Zhou, and then no one will be able to stop you two from getting married. Clever plan.”

Feng Siruo’s cheeks flushed pink. “Don’t say nonsense.”

“Seriously, though, why Jiang Zhou? If you liked me instead, I’d settle for just one card!”

“No…”

“Jiang Zhou’s a flirt, spreading his charm everywhere. What’s so good about him? If you liked me, we could even share a bed!”

Feng Siruo thought for a moment, then picked up a book from her desk and pointed to a line.

It read: I have only one lifetime, and I cannot generously bestow it upon someone I do not love.

“…”

Ding Yue’s lips twitched. “Don’t get cocky. I’ll have my own sweet romance one day!”

Feng Siruo nodded seriously. “Cheer up!”

“But I can’t find a boyfriend…”

“Xu… Xu Haodong?”

Ding Yue’s eyes went wide. “Even if every man in the world died, I would never pick that idiot!”

“Oh.” Feng Siruo lowered her head again, staring at the bank cards.

But uneasiness gnawed at her. Would Jiang Zhou even like this?

After all, giving bank cards was basically the same as handing over money.

Didn’t that make it seem like she hadn’t put in any thought?

Other girls would knit scarves or gloves — handmade things that took a month or more to finish.

But she didn’t know how to knit, and she was too embarrassed to ask.

This was all she could do.

And compared to those heartfelt handmade gifts, her 100,000 yuan seemed pitifully plain.

Who even liked receiving money as a gift?

And it was only 100,000.

Surely everyone would prefer a hand-knit scarf…

Feng Siruo’s eyes dimmed. “Ding Yue, do you think my gift is too stingy?”

Ding Yue nearly spat blood. “Feng Siruo, your values are completely broken!”

—

Meanwhile, outside the Medical School dorms, crowds of boys and girls gathered, exchanging gifts, building snowmen, laughing and playing.

Jiang Zhou called Han Rou down and handed her his Christmas gift.

“Thank you, brother.”

“So, what about mine?”

Han Rou lifted a paper bag, pulled out a purple hand-knit scarf, and tiptoed to wrap it around his neck.

“It’s winter now. Keep warm, and take care of yourself.”

Jiang Zhou lowered his head to look. “She’s just my sister. She said purple has charm.”

Han Rou gave him a strange look. “Purple is charming.”

“Yeah, but if you pull any tighter, my neck’s about to snap.”

“Really?!”

Barely holding on, Jiang Zhou nodded.

Han Rou quickly let go. “I’ve never tied a scarf for a boy before…”

Jiang Zhou rubbed her head. “Either way, thank you, little sister.”

“That’s better. Oh, and what about what we talked about last time?”

“What did we talk about?”

“Bringing Feng Siruo home for Mom to meet!”

Jiang Zhou thought for a moment. “Let’s wait a while. Not yet.”

Han Rou frowned. “But I already prepared things. Feng Siruo didn’t say no either.”

“I know. But I’m worried her family might be watching. It wouldn’t be good to make a big move now.”

“Her family? You mean Feng’s family?”

Jiang Zhou nodded. “But it’s odd. They still haven’t appeared.”

Han Rou furrowed her brow. “I don’t think the incident at the investment conference was necessarily her family’s doing. It seems too coincidental.”

“I hope I’m just overthinking.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“For what?”

“Go see your Classmate Feng!”

“…Fair point.”

Jiang Zhou tapped her on the head, then turned and walked toward the Finance girls’ dorm.

But before he got there, someone blocked him like a bandit.

“My gift?”

“None.”

Huang Qi’s eyes went wide. “Again, nothing for me?!”

Jiang Zhou smirked and handed her a stocking-shaped gift bag. “Worthless trinket. Take it.”

“That’s better. Otherwise Qu Xiaoya would laugh at me again!”

“Fine, you got yours. Where’s mine?”

Huang Qi smiled slyly, slipped something straight into his pocket, and stepped back.

“What’s this? Being all mysterious?”

“Promise me not to look now. Check it when you’re back in your dorm.”

Jiang Zhou immediately reached for it. “I’ll look now. If it’s worthless, I’ll be pissed.”

Huang Qi pressed down his hand, her eyes shining. “This is the most valuable thing I could give. Please, check it later, okay?”

“…”

Seeing how serious she was, Jiang Zhou nodded. “Fine. I’ll look later.”

“Good. Oh, and I already called Feng Siruo down for you.”

She pointed at the dorm entrance.

Feng Siruo was standing there, hands tightly clenched, looking nervous.

“I won’t be the third wheel. Bye!”

Huang Qi disappeared into the dark.

Jiang Zhou straightened his clothes and hair, then strode toward Feng Siruo.

“This is for you, a Christmas gift.”

Feng Siruo didn’t take it, looking uneasy. “Jiang Zhou…”

“You did prepare something for me, right?”

“I-I did.”

“Let me see?”

Feng Siruo hid her hands behind her back. “What did Han Rou give you?”

“She said purple has charm.”

Purple?

Feng’s gaze landed on the scarf around his neck.

As expected, handmade was more thoughtful.

Compared to that, her bank cards were so plain. She didn’t dare take them out.

“And… and Huang Qi?”

“She told me not to look until later.”

Feng Siruo puffed her cheeks, feeling aggrieved.

Something that secret had to be better than 100,000 yuan.

The thought only made her more uneasy.

“What about Su Nan?”

“That brat? She gave me nothing!”

“Really?”

Jiang Zhou looked at her strangely. “So what did you prepare for me?”

Feng Siruo bit her lip. “It’s… a little shabby.”

“Shabby? Like socks?”

“No…”

“Then show me.”

Jiang Zhou stretched out his hand, suddenly serious.

Feng Siruo hesitated, swayed, then reluctantly extended her hand.

With a clack, five bank cards fell into his palm.

Bank cards?

Jiang Zhou looked them over carefully.

Good grief, they covered food, clothing, travel, entertainment, even dating.

“I know this isn’t thoughtful enough!” Feng Siruo blurted. “I’ll learn to knit a scarf next time!”

“How much is in these cards?” Jiang Zhou asked.

“One hundred thousand…”

“How much?!”

Wasn’t that all of her allowance?

Feng Siruo lifted her chin. “Each has twenty thousand.”

Jiang Zhou went silent for a moment.

Then, he said, “Actually, I’m not the kind of guy who cares about sentimental gifts. I love simple, straightforward ones.”

“Really?”

“Yes, rich lady. Please humiliate me with your money.”

Feng Siruo’s face flushed, but Jiang Zhou looked genuinely pleased.

Relief washed over her.

Then Jiang Zhou thought for a moment and handed back three cards — Food, Travel, and Dating.

“You keep these.”

Feng Siruo blinked. “Why?”

He rubbed her head. “From now on, we’ll eat together every day, travel when we can, and go on dates whenever possible.”

“…Okay.”

“I’ll keep Clothing and Entertainment, so I can buy you pretty dresses and take you to the amusement park.”

Her eyes sparkled. “An amusement park all to ourselves!”

Jiang Zhou coughed. “That place has reopened. Another private visit probably won’t happen.”

“Oh…”

“I’ll head back now.”

Feng Siruo nodded and waved goodbye, her heart pounding.

Tonight, she had unlocked a new achievement: giving a Christmas gift to the boy she liked.

—

Back in his dorm, it was already 10 p.m., and his three roommates were still out.

They were likely at an internet cafe.

Jiang Zhou sat down and reached into his pocket.

This was Huang Qi’s mysterious gift. Honestly, he was curious.

What could her most valuable thing be?

He pulled it out and froze.

A Diamond Membership Card for 7 Days Inn.

That was her most valuable possession?

Jiang Zhou’s heart began to pound wildly.