Chapter 3220 — The Old Director Isn't In?

Of course, Wei Zhao had never spoken of these matters to anyone else. Fatso Lai and Liu Jinghan simply assumed that he donated because he liked donating, and had no idea of the deeper reasons behind it.

But none of that mattered, and Wei Zhao had no intention of explaining.

Yu Xiaoke gazed at the man before her who had done her such a great service, and her heart swelled with emotion. She felt she was a bad girl—clearly unable to be with Wei Zhao, yet again and again unable to resist the lure of his money.

Sometimes Yu Xiaoke would think that she was truly awful to the core. She had taken so much money from Wei Zhao—did she really treat him as a sucker? The same as those people she used to steal wallets from? Of course it was different. Yu Xiaoke was not heartless. It was only for the orphanage, for those children, that she would rather be punished by Wei Zhao later—even if he killed her, she would accept it.

Naturally Wei Zhao did not know what Yu Xiaoke was thinking. Seeing that she still wore the same clothes she had worn when he first met her, he could not help but sigh in admiration. The orphanage was so wealthy now, yet Yu Xiaoke still dressed like this—clearly she had not spent a single cent of the donations on herself. This filled Wei Zhao with deep respect for the girl.

This was also why Wei Zhao, as the Male Thief, had gradually come to like Yu Xiaoke. She truly was a strong-willed girl. Of course, Wei Zhao did not mind Yu Xiaoke's fierce glares at him either—so long as he himself knew the truth, that was enough.

If he had not known himself to be the Male Thief, Wei Zhao would never have fixed his sights on donating to Yu Xiaoke's orphanage. Although Old Man Wei also donated, Wei Zhao could easily have given to other orphanages or charities instead.

"Xiaoke, when you get the chance, buy yourself a few outfits too. I'm not saying you need to dress lavishly, but there's no need to be so shabby. You're at least an administrator of the orphanage—dressed like that, it won't look right when you go out soliciting sponsorships in the future," Wei Zhao said.

"I have no money—you going to buy them for me?" Yu Xiaoke's original intent was to scrimp and save wherever she could, but by the time the words reached her lips they had come out in a way that invited misunderstanding. Yu Xiaoke felt a bit glum—could she even talk properly? Wasn't this hinting at Wei Zhao?

Sure enough, Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback, then said, "Well, that could work too. How about this—in a little while I'll take you to buy a few outfits. Tomorrow is the day the fundraising gala and the concert officially begin. You can't very well go up on stage to speak in that getup, can you?"

Yu Xiaoke had meant to refuse, but hearing Wei Zhao say this, she too felt that it really was a bit off. That was true—tomorrow she would be speaking on behalf of the orphanage, and dressed so poorly, it really wouldn't do.

Those in the know would understand that Yu Xiaoke genuinely wanted to save money; those who did not would think she was putting on a deliberate show, which would instead breed resentment among the donors. After all, the high-rises, the auditorium and the gymnasium were all grand and imposing—yet Yu Xiaoke, an administrator of a charitable conglomerate, was dressed in rags. If that wasn't a deliberate show, what was?

So Yu Xiaoke hesitated. If she refused, she would begrudge spending the money; if she agreed, she would be drawing closer to Wei Zhao. This left the stingy little Yu Xiaoke truly torn. In the end she steeled herself, thinking: I'm a bad girl anyway, so let Wei Zhao think whatever he likes.

"Fine. You said it." Yu Xiaoke nodded.

Wei Zhao was rather startled—he had not expected Yu Xiaoke to actually agree, and found it rather curious. Hadn't this girl always been avoiding him? Why had she suddenly changed her tune today? But with so many people around, Wei Zhao could not very well ask, so he simply nodded in acquiescence.

"By the way, where's the old director?" Wei Zhao looked around and found that apart from Xiaoken, the old director was nowhere to be seen. By rights, for a matter this important, the old director ought to show herself for propriety's sake. After all, Xu Shilan and Chen Yiyi were big stars, and they had come to help the orphanage—as the orphanage's old director, she could hardly avoid meeting them.

"The old director isn't feeling well, so she's resting in her room." Yu Xiaoke was in fact somewhat puzzled as to why the old director had not appeared. Earlier the old director had been somewhat opposed to this concert and charity drive, though no one knew why, and now, on a day this important, the old director had suddenly pleaded illness, leaving Yu Xiaoke rather helpless.

"Oh? What's wrong with the old director? Should I go and take a look?" Wei Zhao asked, slightly alarmed and rather concerned.

"I don't know either... How about we go and see?" Yu Xiaoke was also wondering what was wrong with the old director, and since Wei Zhao was a doctor, having him take a look would be a good thing.

"Then let's go." Wei Zhao waved toward the business van behind them, signaling Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi to get out. The two of them were stars, and after arriving at the orphanage they had not gotten out directly, planning to ride straight to the auditorium and gymnasium for rehearsal. After all, much of the orphanage was under construction at the moment with many outsiders about, and if the two stars appeared rashly, the workers would crowd around and cause no end of unnecessary trouble. "Xiaohan, we're going to see the old director. Are you heading straight to rehearsal, or coming with me? If you're going straight there, have Xiaoken go with you; if not, we'll go see the old director together. She's ill, and I'm going to have a look at her."

"Then we'll come with you to see the old director," Xu Shilan said. Kind-hearted as she was, upon hearing that the orphanage's old director had fallen ill, she naturally had to go and see her now that she knew.

So Wei Zhao took Yu Xiaoke and Xiaoken into the business van. This was the van Feng Sanmang drove, and it was very spacious; with Yu Xiaoke and Xiaoken aboard, it did not feel crowded at all.

The orphanage had changed so much that Wei Zhao hardly recognized it. Xiaoken had to point the way from the front, and Feng Sanmang wound this way and that before pulling up in front of a dormitory building. Wei Zhao had been to this dormitory before, but the structure had changed a great deal.

The group got out of the van, entered the dormitory, and came to the door of the old director's room.

Yu Xiaoke knocked, and the old director's voice came promptly from inside: "Who is it? Is that Xiaoke?"

"It's me, Master," Yu Xiaoke said.

The old director opened the door without thinking, only to find Wei Zhao and the whole group standing at the doorway. By now it was hardly practical to shut the door again. Though somewhat resigned, she had no choice but to say, "Mr. Wei Zhao, you've come. And these two must be the great stars Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi? This old body is unwell and did not go out to welcome you in person. I beg your forgiveness, and ask that you bear with me."