Li Weiyi giggled and leaned close to Zhang Jingchan’s ear. “What I said is true anyway… Why do you care so much about going through the formality of an oath?”
Zhang Jingchan said, “Right back at you.”
Zhong Yi coughed lightly, interrupting their exchanged glances, and said, “I believe you two.” He lowered his head, arms resting on his knees, looking at his clasped hands. After a moment, he said, “I absolutely cannot stand by and watch her be with someone like that.”
Li Weiyi was delighted and was about to say, “Then…” She was thinking of immediately bringing the two together, creating opportunities for them to spend time together—the childhood friend defeating the descending-from-heaven approach.
Zhang Jingchan raised his hand to stop her and said, “I’ll lend you 300,000 yuan. Use 100,000 to treat your father’s illness and hire a caregiver, and take the remaining 200,000 to do business. I’ll charge you 3% annual interest, to be repaid in five years. Do you dare?”
Both Li Weiyi and Zhong Yi were stunned.
Zhong Yi said, “How can I borrow money from you… Where would you get so much money!”
Zhang Jingchan said, “I don’t have money, but Zhang Jingchan does. Think it through before answering. I’m giving you a chance to turn your life around. If things work out between Li Xiaoyi and you, helping you is helping my sister. If they don’t work out, Zhang Jingchan still gets interest income—no loss.”
At first, Li Weiyi didn’t follow Zhang Jingchan’s train of thought, but thinking it over, although borrowing from Zhang Jingchan, this was the fastest way to get Zhong Yi out of the quagmire. Otherwise, he’d have to wait four or five years before making his fortune.
Li Weiyi realized that a man like Zhang Jingchan really did approach problem-solving differently than she did. Looking at the contemplating Zhong Yi, the two men’s souls clearly resonated more.
Li Weiyi had great faith in Zhong Yi’s ability and character—he would definitely be able to repay the money. Besides, she could pay it back to Zhang Jingchan on his behalf later.
Li Weiyi immediately fanned the flames. “You don’t know yet, but my dad is Zhang Moyun. For me, 300,000 yuan is just the cost of taking a girl to karaoke—pocket change, pocket change…”
Zhang Jingchan’s brow twitched slightly.
Li Weiyi continued, “Brother Zhong Yi, although we’re meeting for the first time today, I think you look like a real man. I trust you—consider it an investment in you. Don’t hesitate. Don’t you have confidence you can repay it? Do you think you can’t do it?”
This time it was Zhong Yi’s brow that twitched.
Bold and meticulous as he usually was, these two unexpected visitors today were truly surprising. First they told him that Zhou Zhihao, whom everyone favored and who made him feel inferior, was actually worse than a beast. Then they offered to lend him a huge sum to get through his difficulties. Yet Zhong Yi inexplicably trusted them both. The girl’s manner of speech was so steady, calm, and forceful—it felt like talking with a man more mature and experienced than himself. As for the boy… though he was an oily, smooth-talking sissy, his eyes still looked clear and sincere.
Zhong Yi fell into deep thought. Zhang Jingchan didn’t rush him, slowly drinking plain water and browsing recent updates on his phone. Only Li Weiyi eagerly watched Zhong Yi, the most anxious of all.
Zhong Yi asked Li Weiyi, “Are you really willing to lend me 300,000 yuan?”
Li Weiyi nodded vigorously.
Zhong Yi went into his room and brought out a red property deed and paper and pen, writing an IOU. “If I really can’t pay it back, this apartment is worth at least 240,000 or 250,000. I’ll mortgage the property deed to you first.”
Li Weiyi took the IOU and noticed the annual interest written on it wasn’t 3%, but 5%. She handed the IOU to Zhang Jingchan. After reading it, Zhang Jingchan folded it and put it in his pocket, asked Zhong Yi for his account number, and immediately transferred the money.
Zhong Yi watched the girl take the IOU and transfer money on her phone—a series of actions completely without consulting the creditor boy beside her. The boy had a carefree, happy expression. For a moment, Zhong Yi didn’t know whether to worry for the girl or admire her…
Zhong Yi saw the two to the door and said, “Great kindness requires no thanks. I’ll fight with everything I have to find a way forward, and I won’t give Xiaoyi up to anyone.”
Li Weiyi said cheerfully, “You should first catch up to my sister! Keep at it!” She made a very cute fist-pumping gesture.
Zhong Yi: “…” He still couldn’t help himself. He pulled Zhang Jingchan back a step and said in a low voice, “You and him… studies should still come first for now. Do well on the college entrance exam.”
Zhang Jingchan said, “I know better than you.”
Zhong Yi: “…”
Leaving the Zhong house, Li Weiyi said, “Thanks. I’ll pay you back that money first.” True, the 2022 version of her didn’t have 300,000 yuan either. But in her pocket was a small piece of paper with several strings of numbers written on it.
Zhang Jingchan said, “No need. Deduct it from your 100 million yuan reward.”
Li Weiyi: “Uh…”
“I want to go home and look around,” Zhang Jingchan said.
“Okay, I’ll take you—do you want to change clothes first?”
Zhang Jingchan glanced at the school uniform he was wearing. “Lead the way.”
In the same complex, it was only about a hundred meters away. Li Weiyi brought him back to the Li house. At this time, Father Li and Mother Li were both at the shop, and Li Xiaoyi had gone to work. As soon as they entered, Zhang Jingchan said in a slightly low voice, “I need to use the restroom.”
Li Weiyi pointed it out to him, her face stiffening slightly. Both acted as if nothing was amiss—he walked toward the restroom while she went to the room to get clothes.
Actually, Zhang Jingchan hadn’t been able to use the toilet at school this morning. Facing those high school boys’ strange cries, he had retreated from the men’s room with an icy expression. But no matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to enter the women’s restroom. At the restaurant, he hadn’t been willing to go either.
So he’d held it until now.
Standing in the Li family’s narrow but spotlessly clean bathroom, looking at that small squat toilet, Zhang Jingchan felt his legs go weak—an extremely rare occurrence. But he still strode over with large steps and let out a long breath.
Finally…
After more than twenty seconds, the sound stopped. Zhang Jingchan remained motionless, his gaze falling on the roll of toilet paper beside him.
Did he need to wipe?
Did you need to wipe for number one too?
Occasionally passing by the women’s restroom door before, he’d heard girls conversing: “Did you bring tissue? Give me a sheet.” Things like that.
And it seemed that not wiping was… not acceptable.
Zhang Jingchan’s face grew hot in waves, another rare occurrence. He quickly tore off a section of paper.
…
Finally, after flushing the toilet, straightening his pants, and washing his hands repeatedly, Zhang Jingchan looked up at the flushed young girl in the mirror. Watching for a moment, he lowered his head and smiled. Looking at the bright, mirror-like tiles beneath his feet, his smile slowly faded, and the redness on his face gradually receded.
He thought of the parents he was about to see.
He’d never imagined such an absurd, strange encounter would happen to him. Just yesterday, he’d been holding his father’s hand as he died in despair, looking at his mother, aged and haggard from the torment of years, feeling utterly powerless. But now, it was eight years ago, when they were both still in the proud, beautiful state he remembered.
Zhang Jingchan stood there quietly by himself for a while. Putting both hands in his pockets, when he opened the bathroom door and walked out, his face was already calm and serene.
Li Weiyi, holding the deliberately chosen somewhat androgynous athletic wear, sat on the sofa waiting. At this moment, she felt like a patient boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend to use the bathroom. She tried not to think about the details of Zhang Jingchan using the toilet, but when Zhang Jingchan came out, she couldn’t help but think: did he, like her, get it everywhere?
Looking at Zhang Jingchan’s consistently calm, restrained face, she thought again: No, he wouldn’t have. It seems he handled everything without any obstacles. President Zhang is President Zhang indeed—she even felt some admiration.
But out of concern, Li Weiyi still casually asked, “President Zhang… everything okay?”
Zhang Jingchan glanced at her coolly and said nothing. He took the clothes from her hands and walked toward the bedroom.
Li Weiyi coughed lightly and said, “Then I’ll go use the bathroom too.” Zhang Jingchan turned to glance at her retreating figure, suddenly quickened his pace, and closed the bedroom door.