Chapter 349 — Tang Zhi's Invitation

"What ideas?" Kang Xiaofeng asked, brightening at once.

"First, tell them the truth and try to win their understanding," Wei Zhao said.

"...I'm afraid that won't work," Kang Xiaofeng said with a bitter face. "If talking could fix it, I wouldn't be worrying at all."

"Second, then don't say Xiaofen is your girlfriend. Say she's your classmate. I won't bring Tang Zhi—let Xiaofen come with me instead. They shouldn't get suspicious then," Wei Zhao said.

"Now that's a good idea! But if Tang Zhi isn't going, will Xiaofen be able to?" Kang Xiaofeng hesitated.

"That depends on how you explain it to Xiaofen!" Wei Zhao clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, let's get to class."

Zhong Yongliang seemed terribly downcast today. He had already learned that his uncle had left the Gu Group in disgrace, and he could not put a name to what he felt about his uncle's failure.

Was it disappointment, or something else? Zhong Yongliang found that he was even a little excited! Because deep down, he had never wanted his uncle to take Gu Pengzhan's place—if that happened, then even if he won Gu Mengyao, the Zhong family would be nothing but his uncle's appendage. But now, once he won Gu Mengyao, the Zhong family was bound for meteoric success!

Gu Mengyao was Gu Pengzhan's only daughter, and once he became his only son-in-law, how could a share of the stock not be transferred to him?

So, picturing his bright future, Zhong Yongliang was at once filled with hope and fighting spirit. Yet there was simply no place to begin. The blood letter was out of the question—one writing and he bled heavily each time, and at this rate he would pass out from blood loss.

This time even Gao Xiaofu dared not casually offer suggestions. Zhong Yongliang asked him several times, and each time he gave a vague answer about thinking of something else. And so the two of them sank into gloom once more. Until they settled on their next plan, it seemed they would not be bothering Gu Mengyao again.

In the last class of the morning, Wei Zhao received a message from Tang Zhi asking what he was doing at noon.

Wei Zhao texted back that he had nothing planned, and asked whether she needed anything.

After a while, Tang Zhi replied: "Want to go to the cafeteria together at noon?"

"Heh..." Wei Zhao couldn't help smiling at her message. Had Tang Zhi finally opened her heart to him? Asking him to eat with her of her own accord?

True, gratitude for the two hundred thousand from yesterday played a part—but if Tang Zhi had not genuinely accepted him in her heart, then given her temperament, she would never have taken the initiative to invite him to a meal!

If Tang Zhi wanted to borrow money, he was sure that the moment she said the word, plenty of wealthy admirers at school would eagerly flock to her side.

At noon, Kang Xiaofeng was going to the hospital to handle Xiaofen's discharge paperwork and, while he was at it, bring up the weekend birthday banquet. Wei Zhao, meanwhile, at Tang Zhi's invitation, came to the shade of the trees beside the *** grounds.

Tang Zhi had been too embarrassed to wait for him right at the cafeteria entrance, so she had asked Wei Zhao to meet her here.

This was where the two of them had gone on their first date... well, it could hardly be called a date, but Tang Zhi still held some special feeling for this place. It was right here, after all, that Wei Zhao had taken her by the hand and, in front of Zou Ruoming and Dean Wang Zhifeng, declared that she was his woman...

Tang Zhi was a little nervous, clutching her meal card, fidgeting where she sat. The fifth period that morning had been a test, and she had handed in her paper early to wait here in the shade. She waited and waited, but Wei Zhao did not appear.

Tang Zhi checked her phone. Surely Wei Zhao hadn't texted her and she had missed it? But that seemed unlikely...

Just as Tang Zhi was growing anxious, she saw a boy come running quickly toward her. She smiled faintly and waved to Wei Zhao.

In the past, Tang Zhi would never have dared make such a bold move at school—the school rules were unusually strict. But now the rules had become a dead letter before her eyes. Wang Zhifeng turned a blind eye to everything between her and Wei Zhao, so what did she have to fear?

Deep down, Tang Zhi even felt a touch of rebellion. After years of being the good girl and model student, she could finally cut loose a little like those bad students did.

"You waited long?" Wei Zhao saw a thin sheen of sweat on Tang Zhi's smooth forehead—clearly she had been waiting for some time.

"Not really... the last class was a quiz, so I handed in my paper early..." Tang Zhi said shyly, somewhat embarrassed as she smoothed the stray hair from her forehead.

"Then why didn't you text me? I could have come out sooner." By now Wei Zhao was quite used to skipping class. The dean of academic affairs had already been informed, and the other subject teachers could not be bothered to discipline him, assuming he was some rich young master killing time at school.

"It's fine." Tang Zhi shook her head. "Let me treat you to a meal?"

"You're treating me?" Wei Zhao looked at Tang Zhi in some surprise.

"Don't look at me like that... all I can afford is the cafeteria..." Tang Zhi held up the cafeteria card in her hand, embarrassed. "The money at home all went to my father's surgery. There may be some left over, but no one can say whether we'll need more later... so if you want me to treat you to a fancy meal, that'll have to wait until I've earned some money myself..."

"Ha... no need. My cafeteria card has plenty of money on it—using mine is the same. It'd just go to waste otherwise." Wei Zhao pulled his cafeteria card from his pocket and pressed it into Tang Zhi's hand. "How is your uncle's illness?"

Tang Jucheng's ailment was a bone condition that required surgery. Though Wei Zhao was highly skilled in both acupuncture and herbal medicine, there was no way he could stand in for a hospital and operate on Tang Jucheng.

"Why are you giving me your cafeteria card?" Tang Zhi blinked, taken aback. "My mother took my father to the hospital first thing this morning... they should be there now. But he's had checkups before—it's just the surgery that's left."

"I don't eat at the cafeteria much anyway, and from now on when I do, it'll be with you, so the card's yours." Wei Zhao said, "Is there anything at the hospital that needs help?"

"I don't think so..." Tang Zhi shook her head, her eyes faintly red. "Wei Zhao, thank you! I don't even know how to thank you..."

Tang Zhi was truly moved. Wei Zhao had not taken advantage of the situation to make demands of her, nor had he raised any request that would put her in a difficult position...

"What are you saying all this for?" Wei Zhao took Tang Zhi's hand. "Come on, let's go eat..."

"Mm..." Tang Zhi's small hand was caught by Wei Zhao, and she instinctively wanted to pull away, but after a moment's hesitation she let him hold it.