Chapter 67: Making Money

Little Ran must have run into some trouble. Her worrying like this is definitely because of my illness…

Gu An’an watched her sink into thought, her own heart aching even more.

“Little Ran, does it cost a lot of money again?”

Chu Ran turned her head and saw the guilt all over Gu An’an’s face. The way she looked at Chu Ran was filled with unease, as if she had done something wrong.

Chu Ran’s throat tightened.

She realized that Gu An’an’s psychological issues were even more serious than her physical condition. She had to help her snap out of it!

“Sister An’an, don’t overthink it. I’ll explain everything to you when we get home.”

Once they were back home, she helped her change into a clean nightgown, washed her hands and face, and wheeled her into the living room.

The two of them sat facing each other.

It was the first time Gu An’an had been treated with such solemnity by her, and she felt especially nervous.

Her mind raced with all sorts of bad possibilities. Had the doctor said the medical bills would be expensive? Did Little Ran not have the money?

Chu Ran took both her hands, pulling her back from her spiraling thoughts.

“Sister An’an, it’s not about money. It’s about you.”

“Me?” Gu An’an’s heart sank. Had her condition worsened?

“I’ve been thinking about how to make you understand that you are important.”

“Sister An’an, you’re not just a patient. You’re not just someone paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. You’re the person I care about most in this world. If you’re unhappy, I won’t be happy. If you’re not well, I won’t be well. Only when you’re okay can I be okay. Do you understand?”

Gu An’an’s almond-shaped eyes gradually widened, her pupils round and brimming with a complex mix of emotions—guilt, disbelief, shock, tension, suppressed joy, and more, all swirling together in her gaze.

Chu Ran gripped her hands a little tighter.

“So, you are important—especially to me. You’re more important than anyone or anything else in this world. Nothing else comes close.”

“So from now on, don’t do anything dangerous, anything that could hurt you, anything that makes you uncomfortable, or anything that tires you out… okay?”

Gu An’an was stunned by her serious tone and the intense way Chu Ran stared at her. A huge gap opened up inside her—the feeling that she was so worthless, yet treasured like this. The mismatch made her even more uneasy.

The better Chu Ran treated her, the more she wanted to be worthy of it!

Otherwise, how could she deserve such regard?

She didn’t even dare respond directly to Chu Ran’s words. Instead, she asked softly, “Little Ran, so… what did the doctor say about how much more money it’ll cost?”

Chu Ran was taken aback. Hadn’t Sister An’an heard her heartfelt words?

“Sister An’an, you don’t believe what I said?”

Gu An’an shook her head quickly. “No, of course I believe you, Little Ran!”

Chu Ran studied her expression closely. Gu An’an’s moist eyes gazed at her, filled with a soft, fragmented light. She really did believe her, but her reaction left Chu Ran a bit at a loss.

“So, you agree to everything I just said? You can do it?”

“Sister An’an?” Chu Ran squeezed the palm of her hand.

Gu An’an released her bitten lip, as if she’d made some resolve. “Mm, I promise. I won’t make you worry anymore.”

Chu Ran felt helpless. She still hadn’t gotten it at all.

She gripped those slender, boneless hands again and spoke in the softest voice she could muster. “Sister An’an, it’s not about me worrying. It’s about you being well—like this time. Don’t hide your injuries just because you’re afraid I’ll worry. I like worrying about you. It makes me happy. It makes me feel useful, like I’ve finally grown up enough to take care of you.”

“So if anything happens—if you’re in a bad mood, hurt, in pain anywhere, or feeling uneasy—tell me right away. If you keep everything from me, it just makes me feel useless. Only when you share your joys and sorrows with me can I help you better, make your life better, and then I can be better too.”

“Do you understand?”

Gu An’an looked up at her suddenly, a spark of unusual joy flashing in her eyes. Chu Ran’s words were like a key turning in a lock, striking right at her heart!

She finally understood—not just understood, but felt a profound connection, like they were on the same wavelength!

Chu Ran felt the same way she did!

She wanted to solve Chu Ran’s problems, make her happy, be useful in front of her, and always be her most reliable support!

Moved and excited, she was at a loss for words. She could only grip Chu Ran’s hand tightly in return.

“Little Ran, I… I feel the same way too.”

Her face was full of emotion. She desperately wanted to express that sense of perfect understanding, but she couldn’t find the words. She just looked at Chu Ran with pleading eyes.

To Chu Ran, she looked utterly adorable. Unable to resist, she reached out with one hand and patted Gu An’an’s head.

“Then it’s a deal. From now on, tell me everything right away. Don’t hide anything from me. No heavy lifting, no stressful thoughts. Just take good care of yourself!”

Gu An’an froze, like a kitten being petted by its owner for the first time.

She glanced up at her, incredulous, then looked again, still unable to believe it.

How could being patted on the head by her little sister feel so embarrassing—yet laced with an indescribable intimacy?

Her almond eyes gave Chu Ran a deep glance, her tone ambiguous. “I used to be the one petting your head.”

Chu Ran liked the feel of her hair and rubbed the top of her head again. “Now it’s my turn to pet yours.”

Gu An’an’s heart turned soft. She wanted to agree to anything she asked. But being petted like this was too embarrassing—she was the big sister, after all!

Still, she wanted to go along with it. If Chu Ran said she wanted to poke a hole in the sky, Gu An’an would probably hand her a ladder and a stick!

No, she was the sister. She wasn’t going to admit that it felt pretty nice!

She turned her face away, not wanting Chu Ran to see her shy expression. “I promise.”

Then, remembering something, she quickly added, “But you can’t hide things from me either. You have to tell me how much money you spent.”

Chu Ran agreed readily. “Okay, no secrets. The family card is in your hands anyway. I set up intimate payments for you, so every transaction is recorded. You can see them all.”

Only then did Gu An’an relax.

With her settled, Chu Ran finally turned her mind to making money.

She needed enough not just for Gu An’an’s medical bills, but also to buy a house.

Living in a rental was inconvenient for Gu An’an in so many ways. A major renovation might upset the landlord, and doing it secretly could lead to legal trouble.

The best solution was to buy a place of their own as soon as possible.

But this was the Capital City—housing was brutally expensive!

She had asked Wang Li to check the market earlier. A small two-bedroom second-hand apartment near Tsinghua University would cost at least ten million to start.

Ten million… She didn’t even have one million yet!

But the huge number didn’t scare Chu Ran. She didn’t even question whether she could earn it. Instead, she immediately assessed her assets.

She was just a student. The only thing she had going for her was her status as the Provincial Exam Top Scorer.

Right—high school tutoring!

She knew the entire high school curriculum inside out, mastered every Gaokao question type, and since her own Gaokao was recent, all the knowledge was fresh in her mind—like a pot of steaming, fragrant porridge, perfectly cooked!

No textbook, exam paper, study guide, or so-called famous teacher on the market could match her brain!

She could deliver pinpoint accuracy, maximum efficiency, and the most useful practice!

In short, tutoring a rising senior would maximize their return on investment!

But to turn this into money, she needed connections—top-quality ones!

Only rich people willing to spend big would do.

Chu Ran’s mind whirred like a high-speed precision machine, analyzing intelligently.

An hour later, she made her decision.

Target the wealthy merchants of Cloud City—precision strike!

As Cloud City’s Provincial Exam Top Scorer, she knew their textbooks, question types, key points, and education system like the back of her hand. Cloud City was the safest bet!

No wasted effort, no trial and error. Every move had to hit the mark!

That was the only way to earn enough for Gu An’an’s treatment in the shortest time possible.

As for how to get started, she needed an intermediary—someone very familiar with Cloud City’s rich elite, able to deal with them, and trusted by them.

All three were essential.

Chu Ran quickly thought of the perfect candidate.

Lawyer Qian.

Whether it was his status, connections, or abilities, he was ideally suited for the job.

As for Qian Hao, she didn’t even consider her. Chu Ran subconsciously avoided the thought altogether. She couldn’t owe her a single cent more—every bit of help from Qian Hao filled her with a heavy psychological burden.

Her debt to Qian Hao was utterly different from what she owed anyone else. She could never repay it!

After a moment of contemplation, Chu Ran picked up her phone and dialed Lawyer Qian’s number.

“Chu Ran, you’ve arrived in the capital city. How are things? Are you and your sister doing okay?”

Lawyer Qian’s tone was as warm and concerned as ever.

Chu Ran exchanged a few pleasantries before getting to the point.

“Uncle Qian, I have a plan and I’d like your advice on whether it’s feasible.”

She held nothing back, laying out her and Gu An’an’s current situation before sharing her idea.

Lawyer Qian didn’t respond right away. Instead, he pondered the matter.

He wasn’t just any lawyer; he was the head of a firm that served tycoons, magnates, and high-ranking officials. His experience was vast.

After a moment, he said, “First off, the true elite families send their kids abroad from the start. Their children receive top-tier upbringing from a young age, so education isn’t a concern for them. We can rule out that group.”

“Second, your target clients are elite families who place huge emphasis on their children’s education—local bosses who want their kids to bring honor to the family, and official families hoping for their offspring to take over the business. This group is massive, and the demand you’re addressing is intense. They’re wealthy and willing to spend; they’ll drop a fortune on their kids’ academics without batting an eye. They’re the ideal customers.”

“But the challenge is that the training classes they hire can’t guarantee admission to their dream universities. So I need a solid answer from you: for an average student, what’s your success rate for getting them into a 985 or 211?”

Chu Ran had thought this through carefully. “First, I only take students I’m confident about. Second, the student and their parents must fully cooperate with my tutoring. Third, if those two conditions are met, I guarantee a 90% success rate for getting into their target school. Fourth, full refund if they don’t make it after the Gaokao.”

Her terms were exceptionally strict.

Lawyer Qian chuckled immediately. He understood Chu Ran’s approach: precision targeting, hand-picking students, her own methods, and full refunds on failure. That made it far more manageable!

He spotted the huge business opportunity right away, even feeling a secret thrill.

Chu Ran struck him as utterly reliable, and as the Gaokao Zhuangyuan herself, he had 100% faith in her abilities. His own daughter was about to enter high school, and her grades had always been his biggest headache. His wife nagged him daily about not caring enough. With this setup, he’d have first dibs—his family might just produce a top university student!

The more Lawyer Qian thought about it, the happier he got. He dove into the details with Chu Ran and finally asked, “So, how do you plan to charge?”

“Uncle Qian, what do you think is appropriate? I’m going for a small, elite operation—seven students max at a time.”

“Seven? Isn’t that a bit few? If you’re worried about overload, you could group similar-performing students together.”

Chu Ran had no intention of becoming a soulless tutoring machine. She politely declined, and Lawyer Qian mulled it over. “With this model, you need to go high-end. Pricing can’t be low. For the first batch, let’s start at two million each.”

Chu Ran was stunned inwardly. Two million per student? That was way above her expectations—she’d thought twenty thousand was already high.

She was still too young, it seemed.

Composing herself, she replied steadily, “Alright, we’ll go with what Uncle Qian suggests. I’ll require a deposit upfront.”

Lawyer Qian added, “Honestly, two million is still low. Let’s charge based on the situation—five million for those who don’t balk at the price.”

Chu Ran’s mouth twitched.

Just the other day at the banquet with Qian Hao, her worldview had been shattered repeatedly. Now Lawyer Qian was shaking it up again.

She could clearly feel her mindset shifting, bit by bit.

The world was vast, the waters deep—she could no longer view its complexities through her old, narrow lens!

After wrapping up with Lawyer Qian, Chu Ran threw herself into renovating the rental apartment.

Buying a house was still a distant dream. For now, she needed to improve their living conditions quickly, giving Sister An’an a comfortable space.

After negotiating with the landlord and offering partial compensation, she overhauled the entire place.

First, she sloped the bathroom floor, added a wheelchair-accessible sink, installed anti-slip mats, fitted grab bars on either side of the toilet, and built a custom shower chair for Gu An’an.

Next, she padded every sharp corner and edge in the apartment with soft silicone bumpers.

Finally, she set up real-time cameras at the door and in every room. She wanted to monitor Gu An’an’s every move, ensuring no accidents happened again!

Gu An’an watched her work. Chu Ran wouldn’t let her help, so she sat on the sidelines.

“Little Ran, you’re not letting me do anything. I don’t like it.”

Chu Ran wanted to cradle her in the palm of her hand. She cooed, “These jobs are rough on the hands. Look at yours—so pretty. What if you cut it?”

Gu An’an still pouted. “But your hands are pretty too. Such long, slender fingers, perfectly proportioned. I love watching you write with a brush. Your hands were made for the Zhuangyuan.”

Chu Ran blushed at the sudden praise but kept coaxing. “I’m wearing gloves. No injuries for me.”

Gu An’an pounced on the loophole. “Exactly! I can wear gloves too!”

Chu Ran couldn’t bear to let her lift a finger. “Sister An’an, you just promised to obey me. Can’t back out now—that’s not fair.”

Gu An’an pursed her lips. “Sister’s being good, but why isn’t Little Sister? You used to listen to me the most~”

There was a hint of disappointment in her voice. She sensed Chu Ran growing more domineering, managing every detail. Truth be told, she didn’t mind—in fact, there was a secret joy in it. But being a total rice bug under her full protection left her uneasy.

She couldn’t help recalling Qian Hao’s heartfelt confession that day. What if Little Ran wised up one day and got together with Qian Hao? She’d still need to stand on her own two feet, right?

She mulled it over secretly, her heart a strange mix of sorrow and happiness for her.

Chu Ran relented. “This job requires bending over—bad for your body. Next time there’s work, we’ll do it together, okay?”

Gu An’an shook her head. “No, I want to help now. If you don’t agree, remodel the kitchen too. Then I’ll cook. Hmph?”

That soft hum struck Chu Ran’s heart like a gentle hammer, melting her resolve.

Ever since she’d taken over cooking, the meals had noticeably worsened. She truly had no talent for it.

“Fine, I’ll remodel the kitchen. You can cook after.”

Gu An’an beamed, her eyes sparkling with delight.

“Yay! Little Ran, you’re the best!”

Chu Ran quickly contacted the landlord, paid extra compensation, and promised to restore the kitchen upon moving out. Only then did she get approval.

Her efficiency was unmatched. Two days later, the new kitchen gleamed.

Gu An’an’s smile never faded. That very evening, she cooked four dishes and a soup.

As they ate, Qian Hao dropped by. Gu An’an warmly invited her to join.

Qian Hao accepted—she couldn’t reach Chu Ran by phone, so she’d come in person.

At the table, Chu Ran kept piling food onto Gu An’an’s plate. Qian Hao’s heart soured watching. After the meal, when Chu Ran went to wash dishes, she sat with Gu An’an in the living room.

She could tell Gu An’an was in high spirits, her cheeks flushed, eyes bright. Compared to the despondency and forced smiles from last week, she was a new person.

Qian Hao’s heart skipped. Had Chu Ran confessed?

“Sister An’an, you two must have some good news. You look so happy.”

Gu An’an was dying to share. “I’m thrilled! Haven’t you noticed the place? Little Ran did it all—mostly by hand. She revamped the bathroom, kitchen, and whole apartment for my convenience.”

And more: Chu Ran had spent every day with her. The apartment was transformed, making life so much easier. Bathing, toileting—she could do it all independently. It was rebuilding her confidence.

Qian Hao scanned the room as she spoke, noting the changes: bumpers, anti-slip mats, bathroom grab bars, lowered kitchen counters…

Her heart grew even more sour, jealousy toward Gu An’an bubbling up.

But her good upbringing kept Qian Hao from acting like some two-faced flirt, snidely mocking or getting passive-aggressive. Instead, she said with complete sincerity, “Sister An’an, Chu Ran is so good to you.”

She couldn’t help adding, a bit jealously, “If only she were that good to me.”

Gu An’an was very perceptive and picked up on the disappointment in Qian Hao’s tone. She looked at Qian Hao’s strikingly beautiful face—like a gorgeous, fragrant red rose, dazzlingly beautiful, proud, noble, and brimming with confidence. It was a kind of beauty Gu An’an could never possess. On top of that, Qian Hao came from a wealthy family, was incredibly smart, and excelled in every way… And when Gu An’an thought back to Qian Hao’s passionate confession, her own feelings suddenly grew impossibly complicated.

Qian Hao was just as outstanding as Chu Ran. They were the same age, classmates even, and Qian Hao liked Chu Ran so much. They seemed like a match made in heaven.

So why did thinking about all this leave a faint ache in her heart?

Gu An’an didn’t dare dwell on it too deeply. Her heart was too soft, and seeing Qian Hao so downcast made her instinctively want to comfort her.

After a moment of silence, Gu An’an glanced at Chu Ran’s busy figure in the kitchen and said in a lowered voice, “Qian Hao, you’re so outstanding, and you’re classmates with Little Ran. You still have a chance. She’s too young right now and hasn’t woken up to those kinds of feelings yet. My illness has been dragging her down too, leaving her no energy to think about her own life.”

Qian Hao’s beautiful eyes lit up!!!

Gu An’an was such a simple and pure person.

The way she put it meant Chu Ran hadn’t told her a thing about liking Qian Hao!

She still had a chance!

Qian Hao felt like she’d just been hit by a surprise dropped from the heavens!