Chapter 468 — Feng Xiaoxiao's Confession

Early Monday morning, Wei Zhao brought the freshly prepared shark fin to visit Tang's father. To young ladies of the caliber of Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu, such a thing was nothing to write home about.

Tang's father was naturally overjoyed. At the sight of the shark fin Wei Zhao had brought, he was grinning so wide he could barely close his mouth, and Tang's mother was delighted too. Wei Zhao's arrival had turned the family's fortunes around overnight — a complete and earth-shaking transformation.

"Wei Zhao, I've been thinking it over, and after the relocation I've decided to take a shopfront unit instead. It may cost a bit extra, but it would let us open a barbecue restaurant." Tang's mother laid out her thinking, a decision she had reached after Tang Zhi told her that Wei Zhao had suggested she open a shop.

"That's a fine thing!" Wei Zhao nodded. "That way, shop in front and home in back — you won't have to worry about a place to live for the time being either."

"Yes..." Tang's mother said, then hesitated. "But... the money we borrowed from you, I'm afraid we won't be able to pay it back so quickly. We've made a bit these past days, and with what's left over from Old Tang's surgery, it should be enough to cover the down payment on the shopfront."

Tang's mother knew that if she left it to Tang Zhi to say such things, Tang Zhi would never bring herself to ask. Better that she said it herself. Even if Wei Zhao refused, it was no great matter — the one losing face would be her, after all.

"Ha, that money doesn't need to be repaid." Wei Zhao smiled. "If it's not enough, just tell me."

"It's enough, it's enough!" Tang's mother's brows and eyes bloomed into a smile at Wei Zhao's words, and she turned to Tang Jucheng. "Old Tang, you see? I told you there'd be no problem on Little Yi's end!"

"That's good then..." Tang Jucheng breathed a sigh of relief. He had indeed been worried before. Wei Zhao and Tang Zhi were courting, but they were only boyfriend and girlfriend — no betrothal, no marriage. Owing Wei Zhao so much money had always left Tang Jucheng uneasy.

"Mom, why are you both so greedy for money!" Tang Zhi was a little displeased. Though she no longer felt the same resistance as before to Wei Zhao giving money to her family, she always felt she owed him. If her parents could not repay this money, it would ultimately fall on her shoulders. And if she could not repay it, then what? How was she supposed to repay it?

"This child, what do you mean greedy? Isn't the family in difficulty!" Tang's mother glared at her daughter, thinking to herself: here's a resource right in front of you and you don't know how to use it. Wei Zhao is so generous — couldn't you just open your mouth and borrow a little more? Then we could buy a bigger shopfront, maybe even the first and second floors together!

Tang Zhi pursed her lips in grievance and lowered her head. She could not out-argue her mother, and if she tried, her mother might well say something even more embarrassing, so Tang Zhi simply kept silent.

"All right, Uncle Tang, Auntie, Tang Zhi and I are off to school." Wei Zhao smiled and smoothed things over, rescuing Tang Zhi from her awkwardness.

"Fine, it's about that time. Off you go then." Tang's mother smilingly saw Tang Zhi and Wei Zhao to the door. As Wei Zhao left, he pressed a bank card into her hand.

Tang's mother was slightly taken aback, then her face lit up and she tucked it into her pocket. She knew perfectly well it was from Wei Zhao — and the key point was that he had done it behind Tang Zhi's back. Which meant the money was as good as a gift, not a loan! There was not even any evidence of it, and Tang Zhi had not seen a thing.

Wei Zhao had come today not only to bring Tang's father the shark fin, but also to give Tang's mother this card, hoping she would get the barbecue restaurant up and running quickly and lighten Tang Zhi's burden a little.

"What did you just give my mom?" Tang Zhi had sharp eyes and had spotted something.

"Nothing." Wei Zhao smiled.

"Did you secretly give her money?" Tang Zhi was no fool either, and had more or less guessed.

"No, just a little piece of jewelry." Wei Zhao said offhandedly.

"Oh..." Tang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. She was afraid of owing Wei Zhao too much, more than she could ever repay.

Wei Zhao drove Tang Zhi to school and parked the car on the snack street. No sooner had they gotten out than Feng Xiaoxiao's Audi TT pulled up as well, parking beside Wei Zhao's car.

Feng Xiaoxiao had once again commandeered a stall on the snack street, and the vendors dared not voice their anger. She was acquainted with Wei Zhao, after all — who would dare risk offending her?

"Hubby!" Feng Xiaoxiao parked the car and waved at Wei Zhao.

"Gah?" Wei Zhao's eyes went wide, and he stared at Feng Xiaoxiao in bewilderment. Was this girl sick in the head? Calling him hubby?

Tang Zhi's expression darkened as well, and she stared at Feng Xiaoxiao with puzzlement. Earlier, in the cafeteria, Feng Xiaoxiao had already shown an excessive closeness to Wei Zhao that left Tang Zhi somewhat uneasy, and now she was openly calling Wei Zhao "husband" right in front of her — who did this woman think she was?

"Wei Zhao, didn't you say you were going to make things clear with her?" Feng Xiaoxiao ran over and caught hold of Wei Zhao's arm. "You liar! Yesterday you told me you were going to give her a breakup fee and then break up with her — so why are you still with her?"

"Feng Xiaoxiao, are you out of your mind?" Wei Zhao was about to explode with anger at her baffling words.

"Wei Zhao, I think I might be pregnant. Take me to the hospital to get it checked?" Feng Xiaoxiao did not answer him at all, but went on speaking as though to herself.

Tang Zhi frowned and studied Feng Xiaoxiao. From what she knew of Wei Zhao, she did not believe a word of it — yet anyone hearing such things would feel some doubt. "What's going on here?"

"Didn't Wei Zhao give you the breakup fee?" Feng Xiaoxiao looked at Tang Zhi in confusion. "Wei Zhao and I have known each other for ages. At first I thought you were pitiful, so I wanted to let you be the mistress and share Wei Zhao with you. But since you wouldn't play along, I had no choice but to have Wei Zhao say goodbye to you!"

Tang Zhi was taken aback. Though she did not quite believe Feng Xiaoxiao's words, the girl had spoken with such solemn conviction that Tang Zhi could not help but doubt. After all, reputation mattered greatly to a girl — how could Feng Xiaoxiao, who did not even have a boyfriend, pour such filth over herself and say such things?

Seeing the students passing by all turning to look their way, Tang Zhi felt her face burn with embarrassment and anger. Feng Xiaoxiao's words were plainly meant to humiliate her; even if they were lies, Tang Zhi still felt deeply uncomfortable. Now the passing students would think she was fighting another woman over a man.

Never had Tang Zhi imagined that one day she would become the leading lady of a love triangle.

"Wei Zhao, you sort things out with her first. I'm leaving — come find me after class!" Not wanting to meet everyone's strange gazes, Tang Zhi said this to Wei Zhao and then turned and walked quickly toward the school.

Wei Zhao, meanwhile, watched Feng Xiaoxiao with a dark, grim face. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Wei Zhao, I like you!" Feng Xiaoxiao lifted her head, her little face flushed pink as she looked at him. "I've realized I've fallen for you beyond saving! Especially yesterday, when you saved me — that made my heart flutter even more!"