You Make Money, I'll Spend It: Stepmother's Ultimate Pleasure in the Aristocratic Family

The scorching summer had passed, but the heat had yet to relent. The oppressive heat of the Indian summer was even more dreadful than in August.

The ten-day military training had only reached its third day, and the new students were already complaining endlessly.

If it were just the physical exertion, it would be bearable.

But the real hardship was that the training grounds were located near the school's sports field, which was not far from the lake.

Before everyone could be exhausted from standing in various military postures, they were already tormented by an unbearable itch caused by the countless mosquitoes.

The mosquito repellent sprays in the small supermarket were sold out within half a day.

Only the quick ones were able to secure a bottle, while the slow ones were left empty-handed.

When Qi Shaobai's roommates invited him to go to the off-campus small supermarket to buy a new batch of mosquito repellent sprays, he wore a smug expression and said, "I won't go. I have some already."

Before coming, Cheng Muxu had packed a lot of them in his luggage.

Although he said he wouldn't go, in the end, his roommates dragged him out of his seat and took him to the small supermarket.

On the other side, in the girls' dormitory building.

All the members of Room 205 were out, just like the previous three days, heading to the food street near the school gate to eat hot pot potato noodles.

The proprietress would always give them a few extra meatballs in their bowls when she saw them wearing camouflage uniforms for military training.

Food was the best comforter.

The proprietress's goodwill and the fragrant broth of the potato noodles became a soothing remedy for their arduous training.

After eating their fill and satisfying their thirst, the four of them took a stroll to aid digestion and returned to the dormitory.

As September arrived, the sky grew dark earlier than in July and August.

The clock was approaching seven o'clock, and the streetlights had not yet been lit on both sides of the road. There were many students walking on both sides of the road.

The students heading out of the school walked faster, mostly discussing the world-class problem of "what to have for dinner."

The students walking into the school had a leisurely pace, mostly recommending idols, discussing the newly released movies, or gossiping about recent entertainment news.

Chi Xia and the youngest girl in the dormitory were holding hands and chatting about a variety show. Suddenly, the youngest girl stopped talking and tugged at Chi Xia's arm.

Then, she saw the youngest girl excitedly patting Jian Miao's shoulder.

"Miao Miao! Look at the eleven o'clock direction. Isn't that the senior you took a photo of last time?"

The eleven o'clock direction.

Qi Shaobai walked half a step behind his three roommates, with his hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt. He was walking a bit slower, closer to the inside.

As if sensing that someone was looking at him, he involuntarily glanced in the direction they were pointing.

When his gaze met a pair of familiar eyes, Qi Shaobai subtly paused.

Isn't she that girl?

In the brief moment when their eyes met, Chi Xia remembered the afternoon when they first met.

During the joint mobilization meeting for the college entrance examination held by Jing City No.1 Middle School and the girls' high school, he walked a step ahead of her on the road lined with camphor trees, pretending to be passing by and pointing her in the right direction.

Then there were the teahouse, the bookstore, and the movie theater entrance where they bumped into each other several times.

The most recent time was after the Jing City No.1 Middle School Art Festival ended, he helped her escape smoothly when she was stopped by the gatekeeper. In return, she bought him a can of grape-flavored soda.

Chi Xia became a little absent-minded.

She hadn't made a mistake. The person captured in Miao Miao's photo was indeed him.

It was too coincidental.

It was so uncanny that she almost felt it had a supernatural quality.

Qi Shaobai had changed from before.

Perhaps influenced by a certain guardian at home, the once black-and-white world now had vibrant colors.

He was no longer immersed in his own world, nor was he as stubborn and unsympathetic as before.

For instance, in the past, even if his roommate tried to persuade and drag him, he would never go to the supermarket.

But today, he felt that a collective dormitory activity was not a bad idea.

Similarly, in the past, even if he encountered a classmate on the road, he would only give a casual glance without greeting.

But now...

He stopped in his tracks, and his chin lifted slightly. At that exact moment, the clock struck seven o'clock.

The dimly lit road suddenly lit up as streetlights on both sides turned on in an instant.

A warm yellow light descended from above, casting a soft glow on his handsome face.

With broad shoulders, having taken a quick shower before leaving, he wasn't wearing the camouflage uniform for military training.

The edge of his black T-shirt collar still had water stains from wet hair, and there was a hint of surprise and contentment at the corners of his mouth as he looked at the girl just across a small path.

His voice was still annoying.

"Hey, directionally challenged girl, it's you again. You're also at this school?"

In just a few seconds, Chi Xia's arm was almost shaken into a blur by her three roommates.

They didn't say a word, but their eye contact and body language spoke volumes.

They were amazed at how Xia Xia knew "Senior Bai"!

They couldn't contain their expressions of curiosity.

Chi Xia took a shallow breath.

With people coming and going, and Qi Shaobai speaking loudly, she noticed several people looking in their direction.

She knew she wasn't good at finding her way, but she was trying her best to overcome this flaw.

For this registration, she deliberately refused her parents' company, familiarized herself with the layout of the University of Science and Technology Jing City campus in advance, came to register alone, didn't ask anyone to show her the way, and completed all the registration procedures!

She had made so much progress, yet she was being called directionally challenged.

She was annoyed!

After a while, Chi Xia finally pursed her lips and looked over, not in a good mood.

The three boys opposite, apart from Qi Shaobai, looked at each other.

To avoid misunderstandings, Chi Xia called out their names, in a tone that was far from polite.

"Qi Shao, who are you calling directionally challenged?"

Qi Shaobai's brow twitched.

Confused.jpg

Qi Shaobai's roommate A: "You still have a stage name, huh?"

Qi Shaobai's roommate B: "Qi Shaobai, you dare to say you haven't seen the top beauty before! You've even exchanged greetings, you move fast!" (Gritting teeth in secret.jpg)

Chi Xia's roommate: "So Senior Bai's surname is Qi (suddenly realizing, stroking chin)"

*

As they say, coincidences make for a good story.

Under a series of coincidences, the two of them seemed to have developed a certain understanding, so encountering each other in various situations no longer felt strange.

During military training, when lining up at the cafeteria, attending dull seminars at the university activity center...

Even the seniors and senior sisters who were recruiting new members for clubs happened to bring the two of them together under the same roof to fill out forms.

Again and again.

They could always find each other almost at first glance amid the vast crowd.

With time, a sense of familiarity grew.

The previous misunderstanding was finally resolved, and they also learned each other's real names.

Gradually, the two of them went from merely brushing past each other and nodding in acknowledgement to occasionally having a few more conversations.

"Are you going to class?"

"Yes."

"Is the cafeteria crowded?"

"Very crowded. Today, Aunt Rong is in charge of cooking, and the portion size is at least reduced by half. I suggest you go to the second cafeteria."

"What elective course did you sign up for?"

"Traditional culture, taught by Teacher Fang Jun. How about you?"

"Teacher Fang? He's really impressive."

"Oh, is that so? That's great."

"He's really accurate with his three-point shots."

"...Is that what you mean by 'impressive'?"

"Yeah, what else would you think?"

"...Never mind."

Qi Shaobai was the type who seemed aloof when you didn't know him, but once you got to know him, he gradually revealed his sarcastic and mischievous side.

Chi Xia, on the other hand, was the opposite—outwardly warm but inwardly cold.

When they weren't very familiar with each other, she was the queen of topics and a spokesperson for optimism. Many people's first impression of her was as a "sweet girl."

Only those who were familiar with her knew that she wasn't a typical sweet girl at heart.

Influenced by her gentle and humble father, she smiled at everyone and could have conversations without burden, ensuring that the conversation never fell flat.

Also influenced by her mother's strong and capable personality, she chose to study management and wanted to become a successful woman like her mother.

As time went by, the dynamic between the two of them changed.

Unexplainably, it started heading in the direction of an amusing antagonistic relationship.

In the public teaching building, the class bell rang.

Qi Shaobai balanced a book on his fingertip and leisurely climbed the stairs.

Suddenly, he saw Chi Xia hastily running up from below with her bag slung over her shoulder, panting for breath.

He couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark, "You're late."

Chi Xia swiftly passed by him and gave him a fierce glare, saying, "As if you weren't late."

Qi Shaobai couldn't hide his satisfaction, "Our teacher doesn't take attendance."

Chi Xia: "..."

In the cafeteria, waiting in line for food.

"Hey, directionally challenged—"

Standing in separate lines, Qi Shaobai called out to Chi Xia.

"—Has your class been notified about the specific holiday schedule for the National Day?"

Without fully turning her head, Chi Xia had already identified the source of the voice from the lazy and insolent tone.

She turned her head and put on a fake smile, "Yes, we've been informed. We're getting off this afternoon. Hurry back to your dorm and pack your luggage."

Qi Shaobai: "..."

Could she be any more obvious in her indifference?