Chapter 21: Burn, Soul of the Swindler!

Chapter 21: Burn, Oh Soul of the Scheming Merchant!

Cabbage... hmm, it’s true—watching too many brainless TV dramas really does lower your IQ.

Chen Xiao did his best to suppress the urge to laugh as he looked at Miss Cabbage, whose face was clouded with anger. He quickly changed the subject, “So, what exactly happened just now? How did you end up in a conflict with those people?”

“Hmph!” The mention of it only fanned her fury. “I’ve been getting cold stares ever since I enrolled yesterday... Is being rich really so great? This afternoon, I was eating the lunch I brought from home in the classroom when a girl walked past and knocked over my lunchbox. Not only did she refuse to apologize, she even blamed me for dirtying her purse with my lunchbox...”

Chen Xiao sighed—he deeply empathized with Miss Cabbage’s experience. Of course, Kidder Academy had a cafeteria for its students, but it was notoriously expensive. Ordinary families like Miss Cabbage’s simply couldn’t afford it. “And then?”

“She insisted I pay for her purse—when it was clearly her fault! Besides, that purse cost over ten thousand. How could I afford that?” Miss Cabbage fumed. “She just saw that I had no connections and decided to bully me!”

Chen Xiao gave her a sympathetic look. “Not all rich people are bad, you know. There are good people at school, too. Maybe the girl who knocked over your lunchbox was just in a bad mood today, or maybe she just got dumped...”

“Huh? How did you know?” Miss Cabbage looked at Chen Xiao in surprise. “I only found out later that she really did get dumped today. I didn’t even want to argue with her, but she just wouldn’t let it go, insisting I compensate her—what nonsense! She ruined my lunch, and now I have to pay her?”

“And then?”

Miss Cabbage sighed and spread her hands. “She’s pretty and rich, so of course she has plenty of admirers. She didn’t even have to speak for herself—some boys just rushed over to hassle me. My family spent everything to get me into this school, so I didn’t want any trouble and just tried to avoid them. But after school, they cornered me in the parking lot and demanded I apologize to that girl. Of course I refused, and then... then...”

Her cheeks flushed, clearly embarrassed to continue.

Chen Xiao sighed, “And then they tried to bully you?”

“That boy, Xiao Ma, tried to slap me! Hmph, I’ve never been slapped in my life!” Her cheeks were pink with indignation.

Chen Xiao thought for a moment. “If that’s how it happened, it’s really not your fault. Those guys are spoiled brats through and through. But after today’s commotion, I doubt they’ll let this go so easily.”

Miss Cabbage shook her head, her voice resolute. “My family may be poor, but that doesn’t make us inferior. I don’t want trouble, but if someone insists on bullying me, I’ll never back down!”

What a stubborn girl. Chen Xiao smiled. “You’d best not go to school tomorrow. I’ll think of a way to handle this. Those people have money and power—if they’re serious about targeting you, you won’t be able to stand up to them alone.”

He considered for a moment, then took out his phone and dialed Xu Yifan’s number. Who knew where that guy ran off to every day? The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.

“Hello?” Xu Yifan’s voice sounded a little breathless on the other end. “What’s up, Xiao Wu? You rarely call me first.” His breathing was uneven, as if he’d just finished some intense exercise.

Chen Xiao frowned. “Don’t tell me I’m interrupting something? Am I ruining your fun?”

Xu Yifan laughed and cursed. “What do you take me for, a playboy? Relax, there are no girls around right now. What do you need?”

Chen Xiao chuckled. “You sound out of breath...”

“I’m training,” Xu Yifan mumbled. “Come on, just say what you need.”

Chen Xiao quickly summarized the situation and, a little embarrassed, asked Xu Yifan to help smooth things over.

Xu Yifan just laughed lightly. “Oh, it’s Xiao Ma, is it? No worries, that kid doesn’t even dare breathe hard in front of me. Consider it done.”

He paused, then couldn’t resist revealing his true colors. “Our Xiao Wu never asks me for favors—especially not over a girl! Is your brain finally catching up? Is your long-delayed adolescence finally here? Hahaha... Still, that girl on the bike, I saw her at orientation yesterday. She’s pretty indeed—no wonder our Xiao Wu is finally interested!”

Chen Xiao snorted. “I’m not like you, always chasing after girls. I just couldn’t turn a blind eye.”

“Alright, I’ll take care of it tomorrow.” Someone in the background seemed to shout at Xu Yifan, and he quickly lowered his voice. “Gotta go, I’m busy.”

After the call ended, Chen Xiao was a bit curious—just what was Xu Yifan up to, being so secretive?

While he was lost in thought, Miss Cabbage bit her lip and glanced at him, her gaze evasive. “Th-thank you.”

She’d heard from the call that Chen Xiao was helping her.

“No need to thank me.” Chen Xiao pocketed his phone. “But please, don’t call me ‘husband’ again.”

“I was just scared out of my wits,” she said, blushing. “They threatened to scar my face.”

Scar your face? But I distinctly recall that you were the one holding the knife earlier.

Chen Xiao chuckled inwardly.

“So... where do you live? Where’s your bike?” Miss Cabbage glanced at him.

“My bike?” Chen Xiao remembered his own bicycle, still parked outside that bank in the city—after two or three days, who knows if it had been stolen by now.

“There’s no public transport on this street. Let me give you a ride,” she offered softly. “Otherwise, you’ll have to walk a long way.”

Through this ordeal, the two of them had gotten to know each other. Though Chen Xiao was usually reserved and averse to socializing, Miss Cabbage was, like him, an ordinary student at Kidder Academy—a rare peer who rode a bike to school.

They wheeled their bikes out through a side path, and along the way, Chen Xiao rode with Miss Cabbage on the back, chatting about all sorts of topics.

Chen Xiao soon learned that Miss Cabbage had much in common with him. Her family had spent all their savings on her tuition, so she had to work part-time to get by. But since transferring to Kidder Academy, which was a bit far from the city, she could no longer keep her old job. She spoke with a hint of regret.

“A job?” Chen Xiao suddenly had an idea. “Actually, I know a place where you could probably get a job. The pay’s not bad, either.”

He thought of the fast-food restaurant where he was about to resign. It wasn’t far from Kidder Academy, the work wasn’t too tough, the pay was decent, and the staff were friendly. Since he was leaving, there’d be a vacancy—besides, the manager was crafty but never harassed his female employees.

He told Miss Cabbage, and she squealed with delight, but then hesitated. “But... if I take the job, you’ll have to leave. I’d feel so bad.”

“I’m quitting anyway, whether you go or not,” Chen Xiao laughed, explaining his reasons. Miss Cabbage, sitting on the back of the bike, giggled at his story.

“That’s because you’re handsome,” she said shyly, her cheeks warming.

Chen Xiao didn’t notice anything amiss and replied coolly, “I didn’t choose how I look.”

Miss Cabbage’s voice softened. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked quietly, “Chen Xiao... I’ve heard people at school talk about you... Is it true? Were you really from a wealthy family?”

Chen Xiao fell silent for a while. She thought she’d offended him and hurriedly added, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.”

“It’s really nothing,” Chen Xiao said calmly. If she’d asked this a few days ago, he’d probably have clammed up, but after recent events and learning his parents’ secret, the resentment in his heart had dissipated. With that knot untied, the gloom within him had eased a lot. He thought for a moment. “It’s not that complicated. My parents died in an accident two years ago, and with them gone, we lost our source of income. That’s why I’m like this now.”

“...Oh.” Miss Cabbage sighed, unconsciously tightening her grip around his waist, her voice gentle. “You’re really amazing. If it were me, I probably wouldn’t have survived.”

Even Chen Xiao wasn’t sure why he was so open with Miss Cabbage today. Maybe it was because, at Kidder Academy, he’d finally found someone like himself—a fellow “non-rich” student.

They arrived at the fast-food restaurant, and Chen Xiao took Miss Cabbage to meet the manager. He politely handed in his resignation. The manager, though sly, was kind at heart. Losing Chen Xiao, his “lucky cat” who attracted female customers, was a blow, but since Chen Xiao was firm, he didn’t insist.

When settling accounts, the manager even gave Chen Xiao an extra half month’s pay—a gesture that embarrassed Chen Xiao a little, since he’d often grumbled about the manager’s sneaky ways.

Chen Xiao then introduced Miss Cabbage to the manager, who, after a few questions, immediately decided to hire her to replace Chen Xiao.

First, Miss Cabbage had prior experience working in restaurants. Second, she was a pretty girl, and an attractive waitress would draw more male customers. Third, as Chen Xiao’s classmate, she was a known quantity—safer than hiring a stranger.

And besides... a beautiful student from the prestigious Kidder Academy, coming to work by bicycle... Now that his “Fallen Prince” was leaving, perhaps he could market this newcomer as a “Fallen Princess”? That could be a great selling point...

Chen Xiao knew all too well that his own “Fallen Prince” story had been entirely cooked up by this scheming manager!

Looking at the manager’s sly glint and secretive smile, Chen Xiao knew the “soul of the scheming merchant” was burning brightly once more.

He glanced at the still-innocent Miss Cabbage and sighed... It wouldn’t be long before she was the restaurant’s new lucky charm.

(Charging up the ranks! Everyone, cast your votes!)

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