Chapter Ninety-Five: Return to School

“What?”

Chen Tianyu asked it reflexively.

Zhao Fan glanced up at the sky, then lifted a hand and smacked the back of Chen Tianyu’s head.

“I said I’m going back to school in a couple of days. Fine if your brain is slow, but how did even your ears go bad? Can’t hear a word anyone says?”

Chen Tianyu grinned foolishly and scratched the back of his head without saying anything.

Zhao Fan had only said it offhandedly, and afterward he put the matter aside.

“I still have to go find Old He in a bit. Do you need anything else? If not, I’m heading out.”

Chen Tianyu shook his head at once. “Nothing. Go on.”

When Zhao Fan came back, He Yongshan looked at him and snorted through his nose.

“What are you doing back here now?”

Zhao Fan let out an awkward laugh and sat down across from him.

“Old He, I just thought it over. I think what you said makes sense.”

“And?”

He Yongshan’s tone was casual. He did not think Zhao Fan was truly planning to return to school; he probably wanted to stir up some new trouble again.

“I’m going back to school tomorrow.”

He Yongshan: “...”

He even reached up and rubbed his ears.

“What did you just say? Say it again.”

Zhao Fan cooperated this time without the slightest resistance.

“I said I’m going back to school tomorrow.”

Whoosh.

He Yongshan shot to his feet and looked Zhao Fan up and down, his expression strange.

“You’ve got a fever or something?”

Zhao Fan fell silent. After a few moments, he sighed.

“Old He, no matter how you look at it, I’m still your student. You don’t have to put it so tactfully by saying there’s something wrong with my head.”

“Cough, cough...”

He Yongshan finally recovered too, clearing his throat a few times before saying, “That’s not the point. The point is, why did you suddenly change your mind?”

“It’s not really sudden. I just think what you said was right. So what do you think? Is there any problem with me going back to school tomorrow?”

He Yongshan answered without hesitation, “Of course there’s no problem. But I should make one thing clear to you as well.”

“Please do.”

“Once you’re back at school, don’t even think about meddling in those things outside. Study properly. Understand?”

Zhao Fan: “...”

He would handle things after school, and Old He would never see it anyway.

Zhao Fan nodded decisively. “I will.”

“Good. Pack up tonight, and go back to school tomorrow.”

“Fine.”

When Zhao Fan stepped out of the school, the cold wind hit his face and suddenly cleared his head. He fell silent, then remained silent.

Damn it, he still had not solved Chen Jianyu’s matter.

He turned around at once, ready to go back and ask He Yongshan for a few more days, but the school guard stopped him.

“Cough, cough. Teacher He just called me and said that once you leave the school, don’t even think about coming back in.”

Zhao Fan: “...”

So Old He had been absolutely certain he would run into something. Fine, then he would do as Old He wished.

That night, at the Zhao family dinner table, Zhao Fan mentioned that he would be returning to school.

Zhao Ming, Zhao Mu, and Zhao Haitian all froze. The three of them exchanged glances, and only then did they belatedly realize that Zhao Fan was still a student.

There was no helping it. Zhao Fan was simply too capable. The Zhao family had all subconsciously forgotten that he was still in school.

Zhao Fan was silent, then could not help asking, “Do none of you have anything to say?”

Zhao Haitian thought for a moment. “Good luck?”

Zhao Ming cleared his throat. “Since you’re going back to school, then study hard. You don’t have much time left.”

Zhao Mu ladled soup for Zhao Ming. “Your father is right. If you’re studying, then study properly. Make something of yourself. That would give our family some pride too.”

Zhao Fan fell silent again.

His supermarket. His company.

Had those not already brought honor to the family?

Zhao Ming gave a cold snort. “Making money does bring honor, but if you can make money by studying, that would be even more impressive.”

Zhao Fan’s eyes drifted away a little. “Understood. Understood.”

The matter was set aside, and the Zhao family did not bring it up again. The whole family finished dinner in harmony.

Afterward, Zhao Fan called Han Chen and Chen Da, telling them that because he would be staying at school, he could only come over on Sundays from now on, and that they should handle things properly.

“If you really can’t handle it, call me again.”

He said the same thing to both Han Chen and Chen Da. Then he put away his phone and heard a knock at the door. When he opened it, he found Zhao Yun’er.

The little girl was holding a stuffed toy in her arms, wearing the little dress Zhao Mu had specially changed her into. She stood at the doorway in a tiny bundle, and it softened Zhao Fan’s heart at once.

“Yun’er, what’s up?”

Zhao Yun’er tipped her head back and said in a sweet, babyish voice, “I want to chat with Uncle.”

Chat with him?

Zhao Fan was a little surprised, but he quickly set his thoughts aside, picked her up with one arm, and closed the door.

“All right then. What does Yun’er want to talk about?”

“Just... why is Uncle still studying?” Zhao Yun’er blinked her big eyes, full of innocence. “If Uncle is studying, why can’t Yun’er study too?”

“Because I’m at the age where I should be studying,” Zhao Fan said. Then he looked at her. “So it turns out Yun’er wants to go to school?”

Zhao Yun’er tilted her head and pouted. “Mm-hm. But Daddy says I’m still little and can’t go to school.”

A five-year-old girl really was still young.

But unlike the future, where the age for starting school would be fixed, there was no such rule now.

Zhao Fan considered it for a moment. “If Uncle can convince your daddy, would Yun’er be willing to go to school?”

“Yes! Will Uncle really say something?”

Ruffling her hair, Zhao Fan said, “As long as you want to go, Uncle can say a word or two. That won’t be a problem.”

“Yay!”

Zhao Yun’er cheered and threw herself into Zhao Fan’s arms, planting a kiss on his cheek.

“Uncle, Uncle, let’s go now.”

As Zhao Yun’er tugged him outside, Zhao Fan suddenly felt that something was off.

Hadn’t Zhao Yun’er only just been in his room for a few minutes? How was it that he was already heading to see Zhao Haitian, and even had to persuade Zhao Haitian to let Zhao Yun’er study?

A few minutes later, Zhao Fan and Zhao Haitian stood face to face.

“Cough, Brother, I can explain. This was an accident.”

Zhao Haitian pinched the bridge of his nose. “No need to say it. I know. The little girl pestered you, didn’t she? That child is a little schemer, always full of tricks.”

To be honest, Zhao Haitian had never expected that his own daughter would actually manage to coax Zhao Fan into coming.

“Putting that aside, Yun’er is only five, but I think if she wants to learn, let her go ahead. After all, when children are interested in something, they’re always more focused.”

“I know that. But the point is, she’s only five. It’s too early for first grade.”

“Yun’er is very smart.”

Zhao Fan felt that Zhao Haitian had gotten himself trapped in a mental loop. If Zhao Yun’er had been an ordinary child, he would never have brought this up.

But Zhao Yun’er was very clever. Though only five, she already showed signs of intelligence in many ways.

Just like with this matter of studying, she had found Zhao Fan, said a few words, and before Zhao Fan even realized it, she had already lured him over.

“Brother, it’s worth trying. If it doesn’t work, she can come back home and wait another couple of years.”

Zhao Haitian’s brows drew together tightly. He only had one daughter and truly could not bear to part with her, but Zhao Fan did make a reasonable point.

“Daddy.”

Zhao Yun’er called out softly and burrowed into Zhao Haitian’s arms.

“Daddy, daddy, daddy...”

Zhao Haitian was completely undone by those repeated calls and, without another word, nodded.

“All right, all right. As long as Yun’er wants to go, then she can go. Daddy will take you there tomorrow.”