Chapter 42: Asking He Chen for Help!

"I'm in investments; the company doesn't have a spot for Fang Yuan..." Qiao Weidong offered an awkward explanation, meeting He Chen's half-mocking gaze.

Fair enough.

He Chen was right; everything ultimately came down to money. It wasn't that Qiao Weidong couldn't afford to hire Fang Yuan, but what would he have him do? He couldn't exactly have him return to his old profession. A legal consultant pushing fifty who hadn't even passed the bar exam, and who had recently been sent to jail by a high schooler for "knowingly breaking the law"—that wasn't the kind of professional anyone would want, even for free. That would be like hiring Zhang the Lawyer from *iPartment* to handle a case; it was practically asking for disaster.

If not his old job, what else could Fang Yuan do? He already had a driver, and he couldn't just fire the man to make room for Fang Yuan. A clerk? The meager salary wouldn't mean much to Fang Yuan's "average family," and he’d be better off staying home as a professional househusband. Besides, once a hierarchy was established, friendship would be hard to maintain, and their weekly "Song of the Week" gatherings would be ruined.

So, although they were friends, the most he could do was elevate the quality of their gatherings and perhaps treat Fang Yuan to a better meal on weekends to help him de-stress. Anything beyond that was simply out of the question.

"Uncle Qiao, it's no wonder people ask for your autograph as Bai Zhantang. You’re not just as handsome as him, you’ve got the same seasoned experience in the 'rivers and lakes'!" He Chen joked.

"You brat!" Qiao Weidong felt both embarrassed and touched. He was embarrassed by the teasing, but touched because it was true—he was just as experienced as "Old Bai." He’d taken his fair share of hard falls in his youth; how could he not be a veteran of the world?

"How come you don't feel like a high schooler at all? Your mindset is so mature!" Qiao Weidong couldn't help but remark as they exited the restroom.

"Not as young-minded as you, Uncle Qiao~" He Chen replied, glancing toward Xiao Meng, who was sitting at the table chatting with Ruan Lu and was over a decade younger than Qiao Weidong.

"That mouth of yours..." Qiao Weidong naturally caught the gaze and shook his head, caught between laughter and frustration.

The kid wasn't just mature and knowledgeable; the key was that he always told the blunt truth. He was far more interesting than Fang Yuan. If only he weren't so young and handsome—a potential threat to his daughter—Qiao Weidong would have long since invited him for a few drinks to chat and gain insight into what young people like his daughter were thinking, so he could strengthen his relationship with her.

After the two families grew more comfortable with each other, they chatted and ate happily. He Chen’s group didn't drink, so when they were finished, they rose to leave. Qiao Yingzi decided to join them.

Her father was already tipsy and losing his filter. Not only was he engaging in intimate displays with Xiao Meng that made his daughter feel awkward, but he had also started complaining about her mother. On top of that, her mother had been sending message after message since she arrived, warning her not to eat junk food and nagging her about her grades, having already prepared two sets of practice papers for her to complete to "strengthen her foundation" for failing to place first or second in the placement exams.

She decided to just leave with them.

Qiao Weidong, though reluctant, saw them to the door and insisted on paying for their meal, which Ruan Lu firmly refused. Only after He Chen said a word did he relent. Ultimately, Qiao Yingzi suggested that her father’s driver take her home, with He Chen and his family tagging along. Since the two residential compounds were just across the street, they didn't object.

Qiao Yingzi sat in the passenger seat, while He Chen, Ruan Lu, and Ruan Liuzheng sat in the back, with Ruan Lu in the middle. As the car started, Qiao Yingzi immediately pulled out her phone and sent a message. Ruan Liuzheng's phone buzzed; she checked it and cast a glance at Qiao Yingzi in the front seat.

Qiao Yingzi turned around, giving her a pleading look. Ruan Liuzheng thought for a moment and forwarded the conversation to He Chen. Qiao Yingzi was asking for help to keep a large Lego model at their place, as she wasn't sure if her mother would allow it. She clearly didn't want to bring it up in front of the driver, so she wanted to test the waters through He Chen first. If he agreed, her mother likely wouldn't object; she had been increasingly receptive to He Chen’s opinions lately, treating him almost like the pillar of the household.

As for why she only forwarded the message instead of creating a group chat—well, that was just a bit of teenage shyness. Qiao Yingzi didn't have He Chen’s WeChat.

He Chen checked his phone and smiled at the request. He sent a message back: "Ask her why."

Seeing that he didn't immediately agree, Ruan Liuzheng tilted her head and asked. Upon seeing the question, Qiao Yingzi hesitated. Her request was abrupt because her mother currently opposed anything unrelated to the college entrance exam. The small Lego set Fang Yifan had given her was already confiscated by her mother. If she brought home a large one from her father, it would undoubtedly be seized immediately. Her father would be upset, her parents would argue, and that was the last thing she wanted.

Her first instinct had been to call Fang Yifan and leave the Lego there until she had a chance to play with it. But with the situation in Fang Yifan's family and his own poor exam results, he was already struggling; asking him now would only add fuel to the fire. Plus, Fang Yifan’s mother was her mother's best friend—if she found out, her mother would know immediately.

Having run into He Chen and Ruan Liuzheng, she felt she could trust them, so she made the request. Now that they were asking, she explained her reasoning.

"You're right not to put it at Fang Yifan's," He Chen replied through Ruan Liuzheng. "But you have a better option."

Qiao Yingzi sent a question mark.

He Chen shook his head and typed back: "Huang Zhitao, your best friend—shouldn't she be your first choice? She lives alone and has no parental restrictions. She's in your compound, too. You could drop it off without telling anyone and go play there whenever you have time. Unlike Fang Yifan, who lives so far away, she wouldn't leak the news to your mother. Isn't that perfect? She's your best friend! You completely overlooked her and only thought of Fang Yifan. What do you think that says about your psychology?"

"..." Qiao Yingzi slapped her forehead, feeling incredibly ashamed.

Once He Chen pointed it out, she realized Huang Zhitao was indeed the best choice, bar none. Yet, in the heat of the moment, she hadn't thought of her best friend at all, fixating only on the unreliable Fang Yifan who carried so much risk. What was wrong with her brain? Did she care about Fang Yifan more than her best friend? That didn't seem right!

As Qiao Yingzi fell into self-doubt, He Chen already had the answer. Why else? Probably just for the sake of forced drama and conflict, leading her to ignore the obvious best choice.