You Must Be Good 25p1

Chapter 25 p1

Chu Fengyi was deeply moved. She stared at Qiao Xiaoxiao for a long time and said slowly, “My sister’s relationship with you… it shouldn’t be just about sponsorship.”

These words stirred countless ripples in Qiao Xiaoxiao, whose eyes were already brimming with tears. She stared blankly at Chu Fengyi, not even blinking, her heartbeat thundering in her ears, each beat faster than the last, as if it would burst from her chest.

Could it be… could it be—

“My sister has always been very measured when it comes to sponsoring students,” Chu Fengyi suddenly became serious. “She provides timely help when needed and withdraws when it’s no longer necessary. I see you working from dawn till dusk to earn money, enough to even rent a place outside. You’re not short of money at all.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: …

She kind of wanted to dump the bowl of congee in her hand on the Second Miss’s head.

Chu Fengyi: “Alright, we’ve talked so much. I’m hungry now. Weren’t you going to treat me to a meal? I want to eat hot pot, the numbing and spicy kind!”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: …

The Second Miss was really not pretending anymore. She had accepted Qiao Xiaoxiao from the bottom of her heart. Although she was a little jealous of her sister’s affection for her, she was, after all, a magnanimous person and could bear this little grievance.

Before she left, Qiao Xiaoxiao packed a bowl of plain congee and some side dishes.

The Second Miss was speechless. “You’re really frugal.”

What’s so great about plain congee that’s worth taking away?

Qiao Xiaoxiao ignored her, picked up the bag, and led her through a series of twists and turns into a narrow alley. At the end of the alley was a red-painted, mottled iron box with a rusty exhaust pipe sticking out from the top, puffing out white smoke.

Chu Fengyi’s eyes lit up. “It smells so good.”

Lifting the greasy plastic door curtain, a whole new world was revealed inside. Four folding tables were crammed into a space of less than ten square meters. The red oil in the copper pot was bubbling, and the spicy aroma of chili peppers mixed with the rich scent of beef tallow rushed to meet them.

Chu Fengyi couldn’t wait to sit down. She took the menu and checked off tripe, aorta, brain, and duck blood in one go… She had been dragged around by Qiao Xiaoxiao all day and was starving.

The lady boss was very enthusiastic when she saw Xiaoxiao. “Xiaoxiao, you’re here?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao smiled and nodded. “Yes, yes, sister. I came to see you. I even bought your favorite plain congee.”

The lady boss took it, her eyes shining with a smile. “Oh, it’s still Xiaoxiao who thinks of me. Order whatever you want. I’ll give you a 30% discount!”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: “Thank you, sister!”

The onlooking Second Miss: …

She was truly, fucking impressed.

Wholeheartedly impressed.

“Do you come here often?” The Second Miss now looked at Qiao Xiaoxiao with different eyes. How did it seem that Qiao Xiaoxiao knew everyone in the vicinity, from teachers to students to small vendors?

Qiao Xiaoxiao shook her head. “I don’t have that much spare money.”

Chu Fengyi didn’t believe her. “Then why are you so familiar with them?”

Judging from the lady boss’s familiarity, the two of them must have greeted each other often.

Qiao Xiaoxiao: “When I was buying popsicles before, I saw that the liquor at the wholesale market was very cheap, so I would occasionally come over to deliver some liquor and earn a little money.”

The Second Miss wasn’t stupid. “You’re a small-time vendor. Why would they use your beer?”

Although this shop was small, it must have had a supplier who delivered goods regularly.

The Chu family’s situation was complicated. The inheritance right had originally wavered between Chu Fengyi and Chu Xinrou. Later, after Chu Fengyi lost her leg, she was naturally excluded. But no one had expected that the always stable and obedient Chu Xinrou would suddenly become “rebellious.”

At first, the family thought she was just under too much pressure and was throwing a rich girl’s tantrum, going out to relax, and would be back soon.

But she was gone for several years without any contact with the family.

Chu Fengyi was forced to become the heir of the Chu family. Although she was still young, she had learned some things through observation.

Qiao Xiaoxiao rinsed the disposable bowls and chopsticks with hot water and handed them to Chu Fengyi. “Before, when the lady boss was too busy, I would help clear the bowls and chopsticks and do some odd jobs.”

She had worked in a restaurant before and was extremely deft.

When she first came, it was indeed difficult to even get a word in with the lady boss. The other woman was so busy she didn’t have time to stop. Why would she bother with her? Although the shop was small, it had a large flow of customers and business was booming. How many people were vying to deliver liquor to her? Why would the lady boss casually take a liking to a little girl?

An ordinary person would have given up long ago, but Qiao Xiaoxiao was not.

After observing for a while, she started to get involved. At first, she just helped the waiters clear the bowls and chopsticks. After all, she was free labor, so no one chased her away. The lady boss watched her coldly, and the staff ignored her.

Qiao Xiaoxiao just kept herself busy. She was a master at clearing plates. Other staff could only stack a few at most and had to make two or three trips for one table. But not Qiao Xiaoxiao. She was like an acrobat. No matter how many plates and dishes were on a table, she could carry them all away in one trip, with “stability, precision, and ruthlessness.” She never made a mistake.

A week later, Qiao Xiaoxiao was already able to chat with the auntie who washed dishes in the back kitchen about which brand of dish soap was both good and cheap.

Half a month later, when Q’iao Xiaoxiao came, all the staff would greet her, and some would even offer her sunflower seeds and watermelon.

After hearing this, Chu Fengyi was silent for a while. “Where do you find so much time?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: “It’s simple. The catering industry is only busy at certain times. Just come a few more times.”

Chu Fengyi pressed her lips together. She suddenly felt that compared to Qiao Xiaoxiao, she was too fortunate, and too… useless.

The food arrived quickly.

Under the rising steam, the Second Miss ate without raising her head, her nose red from the spiciness. “I love hot pot the most.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao handed her a glass of iced plum juice. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’ll definitely have diarrhea tomorrow.”

Chu Fengyi: “So what if I do?”

How many times a year could she indulge?

Qiao Xiaoxiao: “The kind that makes your butt burn.”

Chu Fengyi: …

This person was so annoying.

Looking up at Qiao Xiaoxiao, Chu Fengyi asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: “I don’t have much of an appetite.”

She couldn’t spend all the money she earned in a day on food. She could just have some noodles when she got home.

Chu Fengyi smiled. “Did you eat too much this morning?” Speaking of breakfast, the Second Miss suddenly remembered, “By the way, I think you treated me to breakfast this morning. I’ll treat you to this meal.”

The Second Miss had no idea what a terrible statement she had just made.

At that time, seeing Qiao Xiaoxiao’s smile, she thought the other girl was just embarrassed that she was treating her.

An hour later…

Chu Fengyi stared at Qiao Xiaoxiao, dumbfounded. The small table was piled high with plates. Qiao Xiaoxiao was eating with sweat beading on her nose, fanning her mouth with her hand because of the spiciness. “What are you looking at me for? I’m done eating.”

Chu Fengyi opened her mouth and shook her head. After the sixth plate of lamb rolls was all put into the pot, she said slowly, “I feel like… you still need to be sponsored… the money you earn isn’t even enough for you to eat, is it?”

Hearing this, Qiao Xiaoxiao’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, looking particularly charming in the rising steam of the hot pot.

When they finished dinner, the innocent Second Miss asked, “Are you going home to rest now?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao wiped her mouth and shook her head. “I have to go to Gui Street to sell some celebrity posters.”

Chu Fengyi: ???

That night, the Second Miss had another unforgettable experience of being chased down half a street by the city management. When Qiao Xiaoxiao looked at the posters in her arms with a smile and said, “Luckily they weren’t confiscated,” the Second Miss said, panting, “Is it really necessary? I can just have them sign a few for you…”

Sensing Qiao Xiaoxiao’s suspicious gaze, Chu Fengyi wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Several of these celebrities are from my family’s company.”

She said it lightly, but it caused a storm in Qiao Xiaoxiao’s heart. She knew her sister’s family was well-off, but she had never expected it to be to this extent.

On the way back to the hotel, Chu Fengyi was a little sad. “I lied to my parents and said I was going to Sanya with friends. I only have three days in total. I have to go back tomorrow night. I’m so worried about my sister.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao had her hands in her pockets. “Don’t worry.”

Chu Fengyi choked up. “How can I not worry? She’s my own sister. Whether she’s eating well, sleeping soundly, or happy every day, I’m very concerned.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao is not her own flesh and blood!

Qiao Xiaoxiao was impartial. “Before you came and made a scene, my sister was eating well, sleeping soundly, and was very happy every day.”

The Second Miss stumbled, her prosthetic leg almost falling off in anger. She gritted her teeth and looked at Qiao Xiaoxiao. “Hmph, what do you know?! I’ll go make breakfast for my sister tomorrow morning and apologize!”

…