In the end, a red-eyed Lin Nian was also called to the office. Qin Jiao watched her. One moment, Lin Nian’s face was blank, but as she left the classroom and headed for the principal’s office, tears began to pour down her cheeks.

What an actress.

’No wonder I lost so much to her in my past life,’ Qin Jiao thought. ’This Lin Nian is a real piece of work.’

"Let’s go home," Shen Yi said, his body subtly blocking Lin Nian’s path.

Qin Jiao didn’t think much of it and nodded.

The two of them rode their bikes home together under the stars.

The bicycles made a CLANK-CLANK sound. A gentle autumn wind blew around them, with the bright moon shining overhead.

The two of them didn’t say much on the way. As they neared Shen Yi’s house, Shen Yi spoke up and called out to Qin Jiao.

"Qin Jiao, the family next door is moving to the provincial capital. They’re planning to rent out their house."

Qin Jiao froze and turned to look. The family living there was the Lis. She’d always really liked their house, but it was just too expensive.

She brought her bicycle to a stop with one long leg and shook her head. "No, the rent must be too expensive. My family can’t afford it."

"The rent should be three to four times what you pay for your current place. But it has a yard and is on the ground floor, which would actually be more convenient for your parents selling buns every day."

"But the rent is still too expensive." Although Qin Jiao really liked the house, she subconsciously didn’t want to be neighbors with Shen Yi.

’I promised myself I’d stay away from him. I can’t just keep getting closer and closer.’

But Shen Yi said, "Qin Jiao, I want to ask your parents for a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"My grandfather’s health isn’t good, and he can’t cook for himself. I worry about him when I’m at school during the day. I was hoping your family could live next door. You could help look after my grandfather with his meals and just keep an eye on him. We would pay for the food, and that money could go toward part of your rent."

Shen Yi looked up, his eyes deeper than the night sky. He said, "Qin Jiao, I’m begging you."

Qin Jiao...

In her past life, at the height of their arguments, fights, and mutual pain, Qin Jiao had spoken to him in that exact same tone.

Shen Yi, I’m begging you, let’s get a divorce.

The tables had turned. Now, the one saying those words was Shen Yi.

Qin Jiao wanted to refuse him outright, but when she remembered this was for Mr. Du, she swallowed the words of rejection.

In the end, she said, "This isn’t my decision to make. I’ll go back and discuss it with my parents."

"Okay." Shen Yi lowered his gaze, his expression half-hidden by the tree’s shadow. He said, "My grandfather’s health is poor. My mom and I have been trying to convince him to see a doctor in the provincial capital, but he refuses. I have one year left of high school, and I want to persuade him to go back to the provincial capital then."

Qin Jiao knew as well that her Spiritual Spring Water was merely supplementary. For Mr. Du to make a full recovery, he needed to go to a proper hospital.

She nodded, then turned and hopped onto her bicycle.

The night wind brushed her face, and Qin Jiao’s mind was in turmoil. She glanced back and saw the young man still standing by the gate.

She quickly turned her head back around.

’All in all, Shen Yi was being a little weird.’

When Qin Jiao got home, she explained the situation. She pulled out a newspaper, which had a listing for another rental near Mr. Du’s house. The asking price was 80 yuan a month.

"We can negotiate; I estimate we could get it for around 75. That house is a bit smaller than Grandpa Du’s place, and since we have a referral, we should be able to get it for under 70."

Qin Zhonghui and his wife, Su Yun, exchanged a look. They both felt the rent was far too expensive!