Chapter Fifteen: Good Deeds Are Rewarded

“Lili, aren’t you just making things hard for me? Usually, I save all my money for you and can’t bear to spend a bit on myself. Now, I just want to help out my best buddy for once, but you can’t be a little understanding just for an iPhone? I’ll buy you one in a couple of months.”

Lili turned on her heel and walked off.

“Enough! No more nonsense! I must’ve been blind to stick with a loser like you. Let me tell you, you fat idiot, if you won’t buy me an iPhone, there are plenty of people who will! From today on, we’re done!”

Yang Xiaofan was left with an odd, unspeakable feeling.

On one hand, he lamented the tricks fate played—how a good man like Gu Hao ended up with a gold-digger like Lili.

On the other, he was deeply moved by Gu Hao’s loyalty as a friend.

Money is easy to earn, but true friendship is hard to find.

Taking a deep breath, Yang Xiaofan made a big decision. He floored the gas pedal and zoomed up beside Gu Hao and Lili.

“Gu Hao, don’t beg her. A real man doesn’t fear being single.”

“Yang Xiaofan!”

Gu Hao and Lili stared in disbelief.

“Holy crap, this car really is yours?!”

Yang Xiaofan rolled his eyes.

“I told you before, but you wouldn’t believe me.”

“No way! Am I dreaming?”

“You can pinch yourself and see.”

Gu Hao actually did pinch himself, grimacing from the pain.

But even that couldn’t dampen his excitement.

“Damn, Yang Xiaofan, where did you strike it rich? You’re even driving an M5 now!”

“Alright, enough talk. I heard everything just now. Having a brother like you—absolutely worth it. Didn’t you say you liked this car? It’s yours.”

“What! You... you’re not joking, are you?”

“Of course not. Get in. Let’s take it for a spin.”

“Alright!”

Gu Hao’s eyes shone with excitement; without another word, he jumped into the driver’s seat.

Lili panicked. She rushed to Gu Hao’s window, knocking on it in desperation.

“Gu Hao, what I said just now was all out of anger. You know I love you most.”

Gu Hao’s face flickered with hesitation and pain, but he rolled up the window.

“Sorry, there are too many people lining up to buy you an iPhone. I don’t want to wait in line anymore.”

“You don’t have to wait. I’ll let you cut to the front, right to the very front. Tonight, even!”

But no matter how she shouted, Gu Hao couldn’t be bothered to listen anymore. He stepped on the gas and shot off.

“Gu Hao! Wait for me! Waaaah...”

In that moment, Lili felt as if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.

Gu Hao and Yang Xiaofan sped through several streets before finally slowing to a stop in a park.

Gu Hao’s eyes were red, tears streaming down his face.

Yang Xiaofan understood exactly how much pain he was in.

Since the first day of college, Gu Hao had been pursuing Lili, always scrimping and saving, refusing to spend on himself. Besides what his parents sent him for living expenses, he worked part-time, spending every penny on Lili.

It was easy to imagine how deep his feelings ran.

Now, with such a sudden breakup, his heart must be in agony.

Yang Xiaofan handed him a cigarette.

“Alright, enough crying. I’m not your dad. If you really want to chase after her, it’s not like I’ll beat you to death.”

Gu Hao shook his head and wiped away his tears.

“I definitely won’t go after her again. I’m just upset—all that affection over the past year, wasted on a dog.”

“Tough talk.”

“And you have the nerve to call me out? Turns out you’re a hidden rich kid and never told me! You really know how to keep secrets!”

Gu Hao gritted his teeth in mock anger.

Yang Xiaofan rolled his eyes.

“Heaven’s my witness, my family has been poor farmers for generations.”

“Then tell me, how did you get this car? Something worth over a million just happens to fall in your lap?”

“I already told you, I’m that painter. My paintings are worth a lot now—each one can sell for a fortune. I just bought this car today.”

With a brother like Gu Hao, Yang Xiaofan had no reason to hide anything.

“No way! So when you said you had a head injury a couple days ago, you actually unlocked some hidden artistic talent?”

“Something like that.”

“Heaven really plays favorites. Why don’t good things like this ever happen to me?”

“Alright, quit complaining. Didn’t I already give you the car?”

“I can’t take it. You worked so hard for it.”

Though Gu Hao loved the car, he had a strong sense of right and wrong—aside from Lili, that is. He would never take what wasn’t his, especially not from his best friend.

Yang Xiaofan shot him an annoyed glance.

“You messing with me? You broke up with your girlfriend for my sake, and now you’re hemming and hawing over a car? That’s not very manly.”

“It’s not the same—this car is expensive!”

“Is it worth more than our friendship?”

“...”

Gu Hao’s eyes reddened once again.

“Alright, since you put it that way, I’ll accept it. But if you ever want it back, just let me know.”

“Cut the crap. Who ever takes back a gift?”

“Heh... How about we go out for a drink?”

“Bring it on. Who’s afraid?”

...

The next morning, Yang Xiaofan dragged his groggy self to class, while Gu Hao was still asleep in the dorm, dead to the world.

The guy was heartbroken last night, and after Yang Xiaofan gave him an M5, he got so excited that he kept drinking nonstop. In the end, he left the car at the restaurant and took a cab home.

As soon as he entered the classroom, Yang Xiaofan spotted Qin Nuanyu.

She saw him as well, huffed coldly, and looked away with a stony face.

Yang Xiaofan touched his nose and gave a bitter smile.

It seemed like he really had made the class monitor angry last night.

His eyes lit up with an idea. Back at his seat, he drew a portrait with his pencil.

After his artistic skills improved, he was no longer limited to just ink landscapes—oil, pencil, chalk, any medium was at his fingertips.

As long as he had the right tools, he could whip up a flawless piece in no time.

Once finished, he folded the portrait into a paper airplane, blew on it for luck, and sent it gliding straight to Qin Nuanyu’s desk with a gentle toss.

Thanks to his now-masterful coordination, his aim was perfect.

Qin Nuanyu hesitated, puzzled, and slowly unfolded the paper plane. When she saw the lifelike drawing inside, she immediately covered her mouth in astonishment.

It was a portrait of herself, standing in front of a shooting game machine, arms full of limited-edition figurines, beaming with joy.

The most striking thing was... the picture was so realistic, it could have been a black-and-white photograph!