“A life-saving kindness…” Lu Xuan murmured to himself, his fingertips gently stroking his chin.
In his previous life, his impression of his Second Aunt's family wasn't good at all.
Second Aunt's mouth always seemed to be laced with arsenic and poison; her words could choke a person to death.
But now, his mother's words were like a key, unlocking a dust-covered corner deep within his memories.
Four years old, high fever, pneumonia… those blurry, dizzying fragments of illness now became exceptionally clear.
He could still feel his tiny self being held in someone’s arms back then, with anxious calls and suppressed sobs in his ears, and a pair of slightly rough yet warm hands repeatedly wiping his burning forehead.
If his mother hadn't mentioned it, he probably would never have remembered this past event.
“Tsk,” Lu Xuan clicked his tongue. The unpleasantness and resentment that had arisen from his memories of his previous life instantly seemed ridiculous in the face of this heavy, life-saving kindness.
Lu Xuan had always been clear about gratitude and grudges; a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, and a life-saving kindness naturally couldn't be taken lightly.
As for how to help… a name immediately flashed in his mind: Zhang Yining.
Didn't this young lady's father have some influence in the Education Bureau?
Although he had previously intended to report Zhang Yining, it now seemed that putting her to good use wasn't a bad idea.
Lu Xuan took out his phone, found Zhang Yining’s number in his contacts, and dialed it directly.
The phone rang three times before she cautiously picked up, and Zhang Yining’s voice, tinged with a hint of timidity and flattery, came through: “Hello… Lu, Lu Brother Xuan?”
“Yes, it’s me.” Lu Xuan’s voice showed no emotion. “I need your help with something.”
“Ah? H-help?” Zhang Yining on the other end of the phone was clearly nervous, her voice trembling slightly. “Lu Brother Xuan, you… please just tell me what you need; as long as I can do it, I will definitely…”
“I have a cousin who took the college entrance exam this year, and it seems his scores were replaced by someone else.” Lu Xuan said concisely, “Isn't your father in the Education Bureau? See if he can help investigate what exactly happened.”
“College entrance exam scores… replaced?” Zhang Yining’s voice instantly rose several octaves, then abruptly lowered, with obvious panic.
She herself had entered Yanjing University by relying on her father's connections to falsify her scores, so she was as sensitive to such matters as a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
“Lu Brother Xuan,” Zhang Yining’s voice was somewhat weak, with a barely perceptible tremor. “This… this kind of thing, it’s not very convenient to talk about over the phone, is it? How about… how about we meet to discuss it?”
She was afraid Lu Xuan would say something shocking over the phone, and if someone overheard it, it would be terrible.
Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly but didn't refuse: “Alright. The Youth Cafe on campus, you know the place, right? Be there in half an hour.”
“Y-yes! I’ll be right there!” Zhang Yining responded repeatedly, as if granted a great pardon.
After hanging up, Lu Xuan put his car keys in his pocket.
He strolled to the parking lot, opened the car door, got in, and started the M4, driving towards the cafe.
Youth Cafe was a well-known establishment within Yanjing University, with an elegant ambiance and relatively affordable prices, making it a preferred choice for many student couples on dates or for group discussions.
Lu Xuan steadily parked his car in a parking spot in front of the cafe, drawing glances from many passing students.
After all, a student driving a million-level sports car like this on a university campus was quite eye-catching.
As soon as he got out of the car, two fashionably dressed girls’ eyes lit up. They nudged each other, then bravely walked up to him.
“Hi, handsome, are you from our school?” One of the girls with long wavy hair smiled beautifully, her voice sickly sweet. “Can we add each other on green bubble? We’re also freshmen; we can hang out together later.”
The other short-haired girl also blinked her big eyes, looking at him with anticipation.
Lu Xuan merely glanced at them indifferently, his handsome face expressionless, and walked straight between them, pushing open the glass door of the cafe.
His cold, unapproachable demeanor, however, left the two girls stunned in place, somewhat at a loss, yet also feeling that this handsome guy was incredibly cool.
Inside the cafe, Lu Xuan chose a quiet seat by the window and casually ordered two cappuccinos.
Not long after, Zhang Yining rushed in like a gust of wind.
She had clearly run all the way; fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, her carefully styled pink long hair was a bit messy, her chest rose and fell slightly, and she was panting.
Seeing Lu Xuan, her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over, sitting opposite him, her voice still unsteady: “Lu Brother Xuan… *huff*… I, I’m not late, am I?”
Lu Xuan looked up at her, his tone flat: “Not bad, quite punctual.”
Zhang Yining nervously twisted her fingers, secretly glanced around, and lowered her voice to ask: “Lu Brother Xuan, what… what exactly is so important that we had to meet in person to discuss it?”
Her heart was pounding, terrified that Lu Xuan was going to “settle accounts” with her.
Lu Xuan picked up his coffee cup but didn't drink from it, instead lightly tapping the rim with his fingertips, producing a crisp sound.
He raised his eyelids, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.
“Zhang Yining,” his voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, “Have you forgotten who the hell you are now? Is my business something you should be prying into?”
His tone suddenly turned cold, with undisguised mockery: “I’ll speak, and you listen. After you’ve listened, do as I ask. As for those unnecessary questions, swallow them back down! Understand?”
Zhang Yining trembled all over, startled by his sudden display of power. Her face instantly turned pale, and her previously calmed breathing became rapid again.
“I’m… I’m sorry! Lu Brother Xuan! It’s my fault! I talked too much!” Intense fear seized her; without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped herself across the face.
“Slap—!”
The crisp sound of the slap was exceptionally loud in the quiet cafe, instantly attracting the attention of everyone around.
Several students at the next table looked over in astonishment, their faces full of surprise and gossip.
“What the hell is going on? Why is that beautiful girl hitting herself?”
“Did she argue with the guy opposite her? Doesn’t look like it; that guy seems pretty calm.”
And in a corner not far away, a somewhat scholarly-looking young man with black-rimmed glasses suddenly looked up.
When he clearly saw that the one slapping herself was none other than Zhang Yining, with her eye-catching pink long hair, who was usually so high and mighty, he froze.
“Holy crap! Old Zhu, look! Isn’t that your goddess Zhang Yining, the one you talk about every day?”
His companion nudged his arm, lowering his voice, with a hint of schadenfreude, “What… what kind of act is she putting on? She seems to be begging that handsome guy for mercy? Tsk tsk, your goddess’s private life is quite explosive!”
The young man called Old Zhu felt a rush of blood to his head, his face flushed red, his lips trembling, as he mumbled: “No… impossible… Yining, she… how could she…”
He watched helplessly as the goddess, who was pure and flawless in his heart, humbled herself to the dust before another man, even slapping herself. Her tearful, pitiful appearance made his heart ache, and at the same time, he felt a strange sense of humiliation and anger.