Chapter 2701 — Knife-Cut Noodles
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"I... all right, all right, Wei Zhao, what exactly do you want?" Yu Xiaoke was getting exasperated. "What do you want from me? Are you determined to force my hand? I already told you, I have someone I like, so why do you..."
"Oh. Then pretend I never said it." Wei Zhao lowered his head and ate his noodles, and did not bring up the subject again.
Yu Xiaoke was so furious her teeth itched, yet there was nothing she could do. She did not want to compromise and bow to him, but she had no way out either. In her agitation, the tears came, and once they started they fell like raindrops, pattering down into her bowl of noodles...
Wei Zhao had not expected Yu Xiaoke to cry. This tough girl, of all people, had actually shed tears—how wronged she must feel inside. Nor had he expected that his teasing would wound her so deeply. Feeling somewhat unable to bear it, he sighed and said, "I'm planning to speak with the Gu Group about sending the orphanage children of school age to school. At present, the Gu Group's First High School only has a middle-school division, no elementary division. If it's needed, I'll suggest they open an elementary division for the orphanage children to attend classes."
"Ah! Is that really possible?" Hearing this, Yu Xiaoke forgot all about crying; her every thought had gone to the orphanage children. She raised her head, her big, watery eyes gazing at Wei Zhao with hope. "Then... you don't have any extra conditions attached?"
"Extra conditions?" Wei Zhao started, then understood what Yu Xiaoke meant. He shook his head with a faint smile. "None. It's entirely for the orphanage."
"That's good, then. Thank you!" Yu Xiaoke stood up and bowed to Wei Zhao, then said, "Wei Zhao, you're actually a good man—I know that. If there weren't someone in my heart, I would surely be with you. But as things stand now, I truly have no way... I'm sorry..."
"Is this what they call a nice-guy card?" Wei Zhao rubbed his nose and asked.
"That... I don't know either..." Yu Xiaoke shook her head.
"Heh. I'm not going to give up," Wei Zhao said.
"Ugh, I knew it!" Yu Xiaoke lowered her head in frustration, then glared at Wei Zhao again. "Fine, fine. Have it your way."
"Shall I walk you back?" Seeing that Yu Xiaoke had nearly finished eating, Wei Zhao felt it was best not to keep sitting there. This was a snack street, after all, with a tremendous flow of customers; he and Yu Xiaoke occupying a table was affecting the owner's business.
"Ah, ah, ah, we can go? Wonderful!" Yu Xiaoke stood up at once and waved her hand. "No need, no need. I'll go back by myself. Go on and do your business—don't worry about me."
"All right." Wei Zhao smiled, thinking to himself that Yu Xiaoke clearly did not want to spend another minute in his company. But he did not want to walk her back either; he needed to find a place to turn his clothes inside out and put on the Thousand-Silk Mask.
"You... aren't going to walk me back?" Wei Zhao's ready agreement made Yu Xiaoke feel that it was somehow unreal.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't let me? So, shall I walk you back?" Wei Zhao asked in return.
"No need. I'm off. Goodbye!" Yu Xiaoke shook her head, turned, and went away quickly. Wei Zhao left shortly after, though not in the same direction as Yu Xiaoke.
Wei Zhao found a place where no one was around and put his clothes on inside out. The garment was the reversible kind, well suited to travel in the wilds. He also put the Thousand-Silk Mask on his face, and in that moment Wei Zhao became a stranger—exactly as he had been back at the ** market.
That done, Wei Zhao came once more to the orphanage gate. By this time, Yu Xiaoke was already waiting there.
"Male Thief!" Yu Xiaoke spotted Wei Zhao from a distance and waved to him with delight and excitement. She must have been waiting a long while; the gloom from her meal with Wei Zhao earlier had been swept clean away, and she seemed a different person altogether.