"Because among all these people, I only know you. Come with me, it's something important that we need to discuss..."
"Oh, okay." Mu Bai stumbled along, as if his whole being had sunk into a fog, following Xiao Ya in a daze.
Mu Bai's followers were left behind, dumbfounded.
How did he just go along like that?
Meanwhile, Zhou Xiaoshu was craning her neck, still waiting for Xiao Ya to return.
Waiting and waiting... "Why is there an extra person?"
"Sit." Xiao Ya pushed a stool toward Mu Bai.
Mu Bai, unusually awkward, sat down. He instantly towered a head above the other seventh graders, standing out like a crane among chickens.
"Who's that?"
"Looks like a ninth grader."
"No wonder Zhang Ruoshui is so cold to us, so she..." The rest of the words became inaudible.
Even without hearing the rest, Mu Bai's feelings were complicated.
What? Was being warmly invited by Zhang Ruoshui supposed to be some kind of honor?
In the past, Mu Bai had been the talk of the school because of his wealthy father.
This time it was because of Zhang Ruoshui... it felt strange. Strange enough to make his heart beat a little faster.
Xiao Ya got a bowl for Mu Bai and naturally moved closer while eating, whispering to him: "What's your phone number?"
Mu Bai pursed his lips uncomfortably: "What do you... want it for?"
"So I can message you."
Mu Bai's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that after years of rumors about his crush, she actually believed it? Did she... like him too?
Mu Bai slowly took out his phone: "This is..."
They quickly exchanged contact information, even adding each other on social media.
After doing all this, Xiao Ya lowered her voice even more and said: "The staff at this nursing home are abusing the elderly."
Mu Bai's brain instantly stopped working: "What?"
"Can you use your status? Go find the director and demand to see the staff records."
Mu Bai regained some sense: "You want to handle this?"
At this age, young people are always full of passion, and with Zhang Ruoshui inviting him to join in, that feeling made him zone out for a moment again.
"Just tell the director..."
Mu Bai came back to his senses and asked: "Do we need a reason? We could just scare them and get it."
"What if the director is actually in on it? If we alert them, they might destroy the evidence."
Mu Bai looked away slightly: "Mm, I understand. Should I say I want to donate money?"
Xiao Ya nodded: "Say that you see how hard the staff and elderly work here, and you want to donate to improve their environment. Moreover, there's someone called Brother Jin who all the staff praise. You think such people deserve recognition. So, you'll fund a voting event where the elderly can vote for the top three most responsible staff members. First place will get 80,000 yuan, second place 30,000 yuan, and third place 10,000 yuan..."
"I got it." Mu Bai immediately stood up.
For some reason, sitting so close to Zhang Ruoshui now made him feel strange all over.
At this moment, Brother Jin walked over, his face full of smiles: "Are you Zhang Ruoshui? Everyone says the elderly really liked you today."
Xiao Ya suddenly grabbed Mu Bai's clothes, pulling him back onto the stool.
"I've heard about you too," Xiao Ya said brightly.
Brother Jin's eyes flickered. He was clearly wondering whether what Xiao Ya "heard" was good or bad.
"They all say you're very good," Xiao Ya looked up at him.
Brother Jin's smile immediately became warmer: "They're too kind."
At this point, Brother Jin's tone changed as he heaved a heavy sigh: "As you can see, the conditions here are poor, and everyone has it tough. I never went to school, barely know how to read. Every time I want to tell reporters about the difficulties here, to get people to pay attention... I just can't manage it."
Xiao Ya hadn't expected such a coincidence.
"You want to make a donation?"
"Yes, I had elderly relatives too, but unfortunately they passed away early. Whenever I see the old folks here having such a hard time, it hurts my heart... it's like watching my own parents suffer. I just hope you young ladies might be able to help write some stories to post online..."
"Why make it so complicated? Getting money is easy," Mu Bai spoke up, "I'll donate to you."
Brother Jin hadn't expected it to be this easy; he thought he'd need to beat around the bush much longer.
He quickly put on a touched and humbled expression: "That wouldn't be right, that wouldn't be right. How could kids like you have that much money?"
Mu Bai walked toward the director's office, saying: "You think I don't have money?"
Brother Jin thought to himself that kids really can't handle provocation - this was going too smoothly!
Xiao Ya then said to Brother Jin: "Don't talk like that, you'll make him angry. He's very wealthy."
Brother Jin awkwardly scratched the back of his head: "Yes, I misspoke."
Just as Mu Bai reached the office, his phone rang.
Xiao Ya had sent him a message: [The staff and director are working together. Be careful not to say the wrong thing]
Mu Bai was stunned.
How had she figured it out so quickly?
He couldn't help but look back; Brother Jin was no longer in front of Zhang Ruoshui, having gone to talk with others.
So in their previous conversation, had some information been revealed?
Whether Mu Bai wanted to admit it or not... she was indeed still as clever as she had been when they were younger.
"Can I help you?" came the voice of a middle-aged woman ahead.
Mu Bai looked up and saw the "Director" badge on her chest.
"It's like this, I plan to donate to you..." Fortunately, Mu Bai had a good memory and repeated everything Xiao Ya had taught him without missing a detail.
The director, knowing his identity, was overjoyed and quickly said: "Why don't we hold this event tomorrow? We can make it more formal and take some photos!"
It would make great promotional material for the internet!
Mu Bai frowned: "I don't have that much time. I have school."
"Yes, yes." The director thought to herself that rich people really were temperamental, but what could you do when they had wealthy parents?
Soon after, the director came out to announce the event, and even brought out 110,000 yuan in cash right there, stacking it up very conspicuously!
That was what Mu Bai had just called someone to bring.
"Wow!"
"How generous, truly generous!"
Now they had the donation! They could skim plenty off the top!
And there was even an event! Prize money they could get right away!
The staff members' smiles were so wide their mouths might split.
Only Brother Jin's expression darkened.
Voting?
Wouldn't that mean voting in public?
One prize of 80,000, one of 30,000, and one of 10,000, adding up to 120,000.
So much money!
Never mind the other staff members, even Brother Jin was tempted.
He absolutely had to win first place!
At this moment, the staff members exchanged very subtle glances.
Brother Jin caught the stirring ambition in their eyes.
Damn!
With money right in front of them, everyone was forgetting about brotherhood, weren't they?
Brother Jin smiled coldly. They couldn't let things get out of hand! Otherwise, when it came to splitting money in the future, these people would all get ideas.
