Chapter 23: The Werewolf Xie Buchan (The Elders' Edition)

Elsewhere.
At a star-rated hotel.
Wang Yan asked her husband what he and their son had been talking about.
Lin Shiheng replied, "Little Zhou was complaining to me, saying that our Shushu is in a puppy-love relationship."
"Shushu has finally blossomed?" Wang Yan was pleasantly surprised.
Lin Shiheng looked at his wife with amusement. "You know what our daughter's personality is like. He said she’s associating with the Xie family’s son. Your son is still way too good at spreading rumors."
"The Xie family’s son... that boy whose mother had that incident?"
"Yes, they’re both at No. 1 High. That kid is a bit of a rebel. How could Shushu possibly like him?"
Wang Yan put on a stern face to lecture her husband. "What do you mean 'rebel'? Isn't it that Xie Jun who was asking for a beating? The child was seeking justice for his mother. Back in the old days, he would have been honored as a paragon of filial piety!"
Lin Shiheng raised his hands in surrender.
The affairs of the Xie family were quite well-known in their social circle. Mistresses forcing out the original wife were not uncommon, but it was rare for someone to be driven to their death.
The original wife's son had guts, too; he grabbed a knife and went after them.
Two slashes to his own father ruined one of his kidneys, and two slashes to his stepmother removed her spleen. Had his uncles not rushed in to pull him away, it probably would have resulted in murder. Xie Jun was so thoroughly cowed that he would take a detour whenever he saw his own son afterward.
Because of this, the moment Lin Zhou mentioned Xie Buchan, Lin Shiheng knew exactly who it was.
Such a gutsy kid was a rare sight in their circle.
He was a little intimidated, but also held a measure of respect.
That was why the impression was so deep.
Wang Yan asked what Lin Shiheng thought about it.
Lin Shiheng said to let things take their natural course; their daughter wasn't stupid and knew what could and couldn't be done. It was Lin Zhou who was the problem—grown as he was, he still spent his days hovering over his sister, just like when they were kids.
Back then, if Lin Shu played with other children for a moment too long, he would run home to tattle.
Wang Yan said, "If it could work out, I’d be happy to have him as a son-in-law."
Lin Shiheng felt a sudden chill and hurriedly expressed his loyalty. "Wife, you know me. Even if they are messing around out there, I am completely innocent."
Wang Yan was only joking, but seeing her husband’s terrified expression, she felt a bit more serious about it.
...
Information sessions are truly boring.
The trial lecture lasted only forty minutes, while the remaining hour and a half was spent bragging and promoting the course. The teaching assistant handed out forms, asking everyone to fill in their contact information, including their parents'.
Fill out what, exactly?
Lin Shu slipped away. The winter vacation course cost thirty thousand, and counting the actual class time, it was less than twenty days. That averaged out to over a thousand a day, and half of it was taught by other teachers.
Her family’s money didn't blow in on the wind.
Not many people were as bold as Lin Shu to just walk out. In the multimedia classroom, everyone was diligently filling out forms, and some even ran to the podium to ask the teacher for autographs and photos, crying with excitement.
...
Huh?
The school teachers work from dawn to dusk, working like horses, yet she never saw anyone so moved to tears for them.
Forget it.
Lin Shu left the classroom, and the teaching assistant smilingly asked her what she was dissatisfied with.
Lin Shu clutched her backpack, her movements like an old lady at a farmer's market. "It's too expensive. My family can't afford it."
"How is it expensive? If you have difficulties, you can apply for installments. Student, high school is a critical time. If you don't seize the opportunity now, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
The teaching assistant mentioned that Ji Xingshen from No. 1 High was also taught by this teacher. She was a student at No. 1 High, so she should know Ji Xingshen—the prospective top scorer for next year.
Lin Shu said, "I know him. We're in the same class, but he's in the other competition track."
The teaching assistant froze.
Lin Shu said, "Teacher, you dropped your pen."
Taking advantage of him looking down, Lin Shu bolted. Several people in the back row who had overheard the conversation also wanted to leave, but as soon as their butts left their seats, a glare from someone made them shrink back, looking at Lin Shu through the window with shifty, timid eyes.
What are they looking at?
Never seen a pretty girl before?
After leaving that floor, Lin Shu sent a message to Zhou Ya.
Zhou Ya was shocked, because this teacher was very famous in Tong City and had advertisements everywhere; she didn't expect the tutoring center to be so unscrupulous.

Lin Shu: Zhou Ya, have you finished your homework? There are a few problems I don't know how to do.
Zhou Ya: Send them over.
Lin Shu sent the photos.
Ten minutes later—
Zhou Ya: I don't know them either. Gangzi just wants to kill us with these.
Lin Shu: What should we do? The ones found online don't have the steps. If I just copy the answer, Gangzi will definitely be sarcastic.
Zhou Ya: Ask Ji Xingshen.
Lin Shu: Uh...
Zhou Ya: Asking won't kill you. It’s not like you have ulterior motives for him anymore; just treat him like a normal classmate. You're trying to survive in Class (1), you think you can bypass him?
Lin Shu: That makes sense...
Zhou Ya: Send it to me after you ask.
Lin Shu: You!
Zhou Ya: Hehe.
...
Lin Shu squatted against the wall, her legs going numb. The message was edited, but she just couldn't bring herself to send it.
She went home, ate, drank, and played games for a while.
Finally, with the mood of someone attending a funeral, she sent the message.
Ji Xingshen: I'm at the hospital and can't get away. There's a study session at Xinhua Bookstore the day after tomorrow; I'll explain them to everyone then.
Lin Shu: A study session? Organized by Huang Pingting? Don't you have to sign up to go? Are there still spots?
Ji Xingshen: I'll talk to her.
Lin Shu: Oh, thanks.
Ji Xingshen: I should be the one thanking you. My grandma is hospitalized again, and your brother even came to visit today.
Lin Shu didn't know what to reply. She stared at the screen for a while before lying back on her bed, her thoughts swirling.
In her previous life, the elderly woman was also frequently hospitalized. Every time, Lin Shu would go to visit, and she discovered that the money her parents provided for medical expenses often didn't add up—because the nurses would come to collect payments every little while. It wasn't a huge amount, and logically, her parents had provided enough.
Back then, she would often use her own pocket money to pay.
If that wasn't enough, she would go to her brother to beg for funds.
At first, Ji Xingshen was quite grateful, but by the third year of high school, he had become accustomed to it and didn't even offer polite pleasantries. Occasionally, he would even drop hints, suspecting that her parents had only promised to pay verbally but hadn't actually sent the money.
Lin Shu not only failed to look into it but even felt guilty toward him.
She had asked her parents, and they all said that whenever they received a call from Ji Xingshen, they would transfer the money immediately; after all, it was a matter of life and death.
Later, after marrying Ji Xingshen, Lin Shu discovered her father-in-law was embezzling company funds and realized where the leak was. For the first few times, the amounts were small, and she quietly covered them with her own money, thinking of family harmony.
Perhaps sensing that his daughter-in-law was cleaning up the mess, her father-in-law, Ji Xiangyang, became increasingly brazen.
The amounts grew larger. Lin Shu mentioned it to Ji Xingshen twice, without being explicit, and he looked at her with disgust.
"My dad raised me alone. Do you know how he survived all these years?"
"My dad would never do such a thing. Look at him, he can't even bear to wear new clothes, unlike you, who is always buying new ones."
"Lin Shu, I know your family looks down on poor people like us, but slandering an elder is going too far!"
"Remember, he’s not just my dad, he’s your dad too!"
...
Whenever she thought of this "hardworking" old father, Lin Shu's mind would automatically play the voice clips.
How did she endure it all back then?
She produced evidence, and Ji Xingshen wouldn't even look at it, claiming she was slandering them.
Wasn't this just Ji Xingshen slandering her and her family?
Seeing Ji Xingshen say his grandmother was hospitalized, Lin Shu felt a little sympathy, but not much; she felt more disgust for the father and son.
In truth, if you think about it, if the father is like that, how much better could the son be?
She must have been blinded by greed and fooled by devils back then.
Right.
She had to remind her parents. Doing good deeds is fine, but they shouldn't be played for fools.
Lin Shu sent a message to her parents, saying that for Ji Xingshen's grandmother's medical expenses, it would be better to ask the hospital and pay directly into the patient's account.
Wang Yan: Little Treasure, not asleep yet?
Lin Shu: Mom, don't ignore what I'm saying. That father of Ji Xingshen’s is a bit strange.
Wang Yan: Your father will handle it. You worry too much.
Lin Shu: Oh.
Wang Yan: Is Little Treasure dating someone?
Lin Shu: ...No. Brother went and tattled again, didn't he?!
Wang Yan: [Puppy covering mouth and giggling.jpg]
Stupid brother!
Tattletale!
Lin Shu was so angry she did a kip-up, using the same movement as Tom the Cat flexing his muscles to go find her brother. Fine, fine, fine—his room was empty. He went out to party and still went to tattle to her parents.
Let's see how she deals with him.
Lin Zhou didn't return until dawn, reeking of alcohol. He collapsed on the bed without even taking off his shoes, passed out cold.
Lin Shu crept in and used her brother's fingerprint to unlock his phone.
She went into his WeChat and changed his Moments privacy settings from "Group Visible" to "Public."
Lin Shu locked the phone and placed it back beside Lin Zhou.
Soon, the "fish" in the playboy's pond sent affectionate and friendly greetings. They popped up one after another, the vibration frequency rivaling a 6:00 AM alarm, and even then, Lin Zhou slept like the dead.
Lin Shu sneered.
Before leaving, she still tucked a blanket over her brother.
Play is play, and teasing is teasing, but siblings should still look out for each other so they don't catch a cold.
...
At night, the Central Hospital.
Ji Xingshen was hunched over a low table doing practice problems. His eyelids were struggling to stay open when Ji Xiangyang arrived to take over the shift.
"Dad, didn't you say you were on the night shift today too?" Ji Xingshen said, his voice raspy.
"Oh... I just came to check. Have the fees been paid? Did the doctors or nurses chase you out?" The man took off his hat and squeezed it nervously in his hands, his eyes darting around.
Ji Xingshen shook his head, saying the money had arrived.
Ji Xiangyang’s face was full of surprise.
The eight thousand his son asked for and the thirty thousand he later requested were all deposited into his card. Could the hospital withdraw money directly from his bank account now?
That’s not right—there was no money left on the card either.
Ji Xiangyang couldn't figure it out. He paused, then asked if anyone had come today.
Ji Xingshen hesitated, then shook his head.
Although Lin Zhou had instructed him to tell Ji Xiangyang that he, the Young Master Lin, had been there, Ji Xingshen had already decided to hide it from his father.
Let all these debts be counted on his own head. His dad had suffered enough; he shouldn't let him carry the burden of social debts.
"Oh, that's good that no one came. Hospitals only know how to eat black money. Our family is classified as impoverished, and they won't give us any deductions, yet they chase us like our lives depend on it every day. They have no medical ethics at all..."
Perhaps the medical subsidy he applied for had finally come through.
That would save him a sum of money.
Ji Xiangyang looked at his sleeping mother and waved for his son to go home.
Just as Ji Xingshen left, Ji Xiangyang opened his stock trading app to check the effect of his position-building today. Despite having "insider information," the stocks he was heavily invested in kept dropping, dropping, and dropping. For three years, they had been in a slump. He couldn't bear to cut his losses, so he could only keep adding to his positions.
"Mom, just watch. My son’s inside information and technical judgment can't be wrong. Sooner or later, I'll make a comeback with this stock and let you live a good life! I'll make that bitch who dared to divorce me regret it for the rest of her life!"