Chapter 254: 247 New Classmate Arrives

Suddenly, with a “puff” sound, Tang Zhinian spit out the water he had just taken a sip of, spraying it all over a woman’s face. Fortunately, the woman didn’t wake up; she was sleeping as soundly as a dead pig. If not, who knows if she would wake up and start a fight with Tang Zhinian.

“Cough…”

Tang Zhinian couldn’t stop coughing.

“Yuxin, could you…”

“No,” Tang Yuxin seriously refused, “Dad, you have to take care of her. That’s your responsibility. It’s impossible for someone to consume without excreting, you can’t take care of only one aspect and ignore the other.”

“Yuxin, could you help…”

How could Tang Zhinian agree to this? He was a grown man, and she was a woman. A woman! How could a man like himself cater to a woman’s every need? That was totally unacceptable. And considering her womanly needs…

This was simply unworkable.

He stared at his daughter, pleading.

“Dad, I’m going to school.”

Tang Yuxin packed her medical kit and let be whoever wanted to shoulder the responsibility. Anyway, she wouldn’t.

Tang Zhinian was on the verge of tears.

“So what should I do?”

Tang Yuxin bit her fingernail, “Why don’t you just abandon her? Leave her where you found her. Why did you have to bring home a human of all things? Cats and dogs would have been better.”

“With needs for food, drink, and bathroom.”

Why cause trouble for yourself? What was that about?

“No can do,” Tang Zhinian hadn’t thought about putting her out. If he could do that now, he wouldn’t have brought her home in the first place.

“Then solve it yourself, dad. I’ll be over at Aunt Xu’s house.”

Tang Yuxin put on her backpack. She was off to Xu Miaomiao’s house; they had plans to review the next day’s lessons in the evening. She wasn’t about to jeopardize their rank this semester and lose face. She knew everyone in their group felt the same.

Helplessly, Tang Zhinian could only watch as his daughter left. Meanwhile, he, a fully grown man, had to care for this woman like she was his own mother, including feeding her, making sure her medicine was in the water she drank, and checking on her bathroom needs.

No, it felt more like raising a daughter.

However, even his own daughter, Xiaoyu, was quite sensible at three years old and could handle her own affairs. Yet this grown woman, of unknown age, seemed to require his care for everything.

You’d think, of all things, why did he have to find her at his feet? And why was he even bent on picking up a human? He would have preferred a small cat or dog – he knew little Xiaoyu would be delighted to have a pet.

Girls were typically weak to such cute pets.

When Tang Yuxin arrived at the Xu family’s home, their dinner was ready.

“Yuxin’s home, come eat.”

“Alright,” Tang Yuxin went to the bathroom to wash her hands, then entered the kitchen to help Xu’s mom carry the bowls and dishes.

The more Xu’s mom saw of Tang Yuxin, the more she liked her. It sure must be a relief to have such a thoughtful daughter. Zhinian wasn’t having it easy, raising such a splendid child all by himself.

Xu Miaomiao groggily came out a while later.

“Were you sleeping?” Tang Yuxin asked Miaomiao. Wasn’t she supposed to be studying for the review?

“When you’re not around, I get sleepy as soon as I start reading,” Miaomiao yawned again, “I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because you’re not here to inspire me.”

“Ah…” Xu’s mom sighed, “Yuxin, you should know now why Miaomiao’s grades never improve.”

“She gets sleepy as soon as she opens a book,” Xu’s mom patted her daughter’s head, “We’ve tried everything, even the ancient pendant-stud method. But nothing works. Thank God you’re here, otherwise our Miaomiao might end up scavenging in the streets.”

Miaomiao’s eyes welled with tears.

Mom, aren’t I your own daughter? How could you expose me like this?

Xu’s mom brought out the dishes. Alright, let’s eat first. She would keep a watchful eye on the two children. As long as Miaomiao persevered through these three years and got into a university, she could do whatever she wanted later. Firstly, Miaomiao had to get into a university.

Once they finished their meal, Chen Lidong showed up not long after. This was his everyday ritual—studying and reviewing homework with them.

It was a system of mutual supervision, as they weren’t very disciplined individually.

Just as they sat down, there was a knock on the door from outside.

Who could it be at this hour?

Xu’s mom took off her apron and went to answer the door. But to her surprise, she found a strange couple and a girl who looked about the same age as her own children.

“Who are you…?”

Xu’s mom didn’t recognize them. Why were strangers knocking at their door?

“Excuse me, is this Xu Miaomiao’s home?”

The man asked with a smile.

“Yes,” Xu’s mom nodded her head, “May I know who are you…?”

The man introduced the girl next to him. “This is my daughter, she’s Miaomiao’s classmate.”

The girl was thin and small, her eyes wide and timid, like a wounded puppy—so pitiful, it stirred maternal instincts.

“Oh, she’s Miaomiao’s classmate. Come in, it’s cold outside.”

With winter setting in, it was bound to be chilly outside, right?

“Thank you,” the man walked in with his family, maintaining a polite smile all the while. He didn’t seem nosy or judgmental—making it obvious they were a family of good upbringing.

Xu’s mom then called out to the other room,

“Miaomiao, can you come out for a bit? Your classmate is here.”

“My classmate?” From inside, Miaomiao lifted her head in confusion. Which classmate? Wasn’t her only classmate Yuxin and Chen Lidong?

“They’re here for you,” Lidong promptly diverted the attention to Miaomiao. After all, they were not here to see him.

“Hmm,” Yuxin responded too. It wasn’t her they were looking for after all.

Well then, Miaomiao had to stand up and check which classmate had honorably visited her humble abode.

After a while, she came back in.

“Look, our classmate’s here.”

Chen Lidong set down his pen, “Lin Yile, why is it you?”

The frail-looking girl, who trailed behind Miaomiao, shrank back a little, looked at Yuxin, and then uttered in a soft and cautious voice,

“I… Can I study with you all, is that okay?”

Miaomiao and Chen Lidong looked at each other—they didn’t have a say in this, only Yuxin did. It was Yuxin’s decision whether to let Lin Yile stay or send her away.

Sensing the silence from the three of them, Lin Yile’s eyes reddened, as if bullied. It was funny, because none of them had wronged her. They had never been mean to her. They hadn’t even spoken a harsh word.